Catching Up Tuesday Twelve

I'm so behind on my blogging! I had a wonderful Earth Day post in my head all composed to discuss the things we do at our house to be more green, and . . . it's still in my head. We've been so busy lately!

1. Henry had his 4 year check-up and Jack had his 15 month check-up yesterday. At the same appointment. 90 minutes in a pediatrician's exam room with Jack is about 75 minutes too long. He spent about 80 minutes of in the cabinet under the sink playing with paper towels. Seriously? Why does that door not have a child lock? I understand there's nothing under there he can hurt himself with, but nor do I need to be getting him out repeatedly. I finally got sick of it and just let him sit in there.

2. Henry weighs 42 pounds and is 40.5 inches tall. He is around the 95th percentile for his age for weight and 90th percentile for his age for height. Jack is 25 pounds and 32 inches tall. He's in around the 60th percentile for weight and 80th percentile for height. Apparently we have huge kids! No shots for Henry today, although he was supposed to get his chicken pox booster. I had already told him no shots though, so I wasn't going back on that. Jack got two, and he was mad!

3. We've decided to hold off on Henry's trip to the nutritionist. After keeping a log of what he ate for three days, I can see lots, and I mean LOTS, of room for improvement that we can make without paying almost $200 for someone to tell us the same thing. I am planning his daily meals and snacks now - as well as the rest of the family's - and hopefully we'll see some results. He has been doing MUCH better with his constipation lately. Much, much better.

4. Henry had a hearing test and an eye exam at the doctor yesterday morning too. It was so cute to see him do his eye exam! And he was a bit crazed about the hearing test. He had a perforated ear drum when he was 2. What would normally probably take about 3 minutes took about 15 with Henry. . .

5. Chris got his walking papers at work! He could have had his last night be last Thursday! He's excited about it, and I was surprisingly calm at the prospect of him not having a job. I'm SOOOOOOO excited about being debt free, but we'll have to be on a very, very tight budget. I'm not excited about that, but we'll be fine. He was going to talk to his boss last night and work out a final day. He's not home yet, so I don't know the result of that discussion.

6. Jack is into everything. He is, by far, the most active child I've had. I never thought I would say that about a child other than Henry! Jack is so eager to keep up with David and Henry, he's constantly busy!

7. Our weather has been fabulous. We did some yard work this weekend, and planted some flowers in planters in the back yard. We'll do window boxes next weekend, assuming the weather is beautiful again.

8. I really want to have a garden, but don't have the time to dedicate to a big area. I'm going to try growing a few things in containers this year. If that's successful, I'm hoping next year to have an actual small garden. I'm not worried about keeping animals out of it, but I'm worried about keeping children out!

9. David and Henry are having a Mother's Day Tea at school next week. I can't wait to go - I think it will be so cute!!

10. Henry will also have a gymnastics "performance" for the tumbling class he takes at school. That should be interesting. I'm so thankful I have a flexible job so I can go to things like this.

11. I trimmed little Jack's hair on Sunday! He really doesn't have enough for an actual hair cut, nor do I want to cut what he does have. However, the sides were starting to grow over his ears. I wanted to cry!

12. I had a three day weekend with beautiful weather, and it's making it SO hard for me to get motivated to go to work!

Circus Cake

Here's a cake I did this weekend for my friend's little girl!

Henry's Pirate Party

Henry had his 4th birthday party on Sunday. I had grand plans for a pirate party outside with lots of great activities for the kids. It poured. We held it in the garage. Thankfully, it wasn't a surprise rain, so I was prepared.

*As a cake decorator, I feel I need to add a disclaimer to this post. Please note before looking at the photos - Henry had a very specific request for his cake this year. He wanted "a blue H cake wif da same color blue dots". What follows was not my idea!*

HILARIOUS

This is a riot. This guy worked in my district here in Nashville when I worked for the Gap, and he is hysterical. This is perhaps my favorite of his You Tubes.

Hump Day

• So Henry's bowel cleanse worked. I'm sure you were on the edge of your seat wondering about it. His pediatrician's suggestion for managing the constipation issue is basically a massive dose of laxatives daily. I'm not really on board with getting my 4 year old hooked on laxatives, so we took him to a "center for natural wellness" yesterday. This office treats people through a combination of traditional medicine, nutritionists, behavioral therapy, chiropractic care, massage, and acupuncture. I felt like I was in the office of the show Private Practice. We were there yesterday for an extensive physical, x-rays, etc. We will go back in a couple of weeks to review the treatment plan and meet with the nutritionist. It might be natural, but it sure isn't inexpensive. If it works though, I don't care how much it costs.
• Still no word on Chris' job. He's still working, so that's good. He's miserable in his current job though. Not good. That makes him miserable at home too. Thankfully he's on vacation this week, so it's a non-issue. I'm starting to get stressed about my job, as I work for a small business and we all know how those are going these days. I keep reminding myself that we are in a much better position than a lot of people, as we at least know exactly what Chris' severance pay will be. I have to admit I'm very nervous about it though.
• Jack? He's got the biggest temper of any baby I've ever met. That boy can throw a tantrum like it's nobody's business. He also has started waking up in the middle of the night crying hysterically and wanting to eat. What the hell? I think he needs a bigger dinner and a snack before bed to combat that issue.
• Henry's big pirate bash is this weekend. I have NOTHING done for it. Nada. And there's a 50% chance of rain. Aaargh. I don't want to have a pirate party in the garage.
• Chris and I are retooling our budget. I was SHOCKED when he suggested cancelling our dish satellite service. HELLO! No Bravo? No DVR? WTH would I do?!

I'm having a grumpy day, and on days like this I hate being a grown up!

Easter at the Farm

Happy Easter!

We've colored some eggs. . .

Hunted for some eggs. . .

And had a visit from the bunny . . .

We're headed to Chris' parents' house soon for the afternoon. Have a great Easter!

13 for Thursday

1. I took a personal day yesterday.

2. I spent the afternoon of my personal day working. . . that doesn't make much sense to me.

3. I spent the morning of my personal day at the pediatrician with Henry, as he has MAJOR constipation issues. And I do mean seriously major issues.

4. He has an obstructed bowel. Not good times.

5. We are on day number two of trying to flush out the obstruction.

6. Please don't make me tell you what the obstruction is.

7. The obstruction is so large you can feel it with your hand if you gently
press on the outside of his belly.

8. I feel horribly guilty about this situation, even though I know I didn't necessarily cause it.

9. I also feel horribly guilty about *hopeful* remedy to it, as by flushing this out,
I am basically making him sick to, hopefully, make him better.

10. PLEASE let flushing the obstruction work, because the
alternatives if it doesn't are NOT pretty.

11. So far, it seems to be moving some of it.
Not as much as I thought we'd see by now, but some.

12. He will be staying home from school today because of it.
And it's his Easter party. Again, here comes the guilty feelings.

13. Please send some pooping thoughts Henry's way!!

UPDATE: He *seems* to be flushed out. Pardon the pun. Now the key is maintaining. . . we'll be making some major dietary changes to assist with that. If you have any tips, send them our way!

5 for Friday

1. David asked me last night if we were going to have a "tomato". I asked what he meant and he said, "You know, a tomato. A twister."

2. I got Jack's registration forms for "school" for the fall. I keep cracking up thinking of him sleeping on a nap mat!

3. Our washing machine broke. It will be $100 for the part to fix it. We're getting a new one instead. Had you told me five years ago I'd be excited about a new washing machine, I mean *really* excited, I would have slapped you.

4. My new favorite morning drink: lots of crushed ice, 1 cup skim milk, 1/8 cup sugar free vanilla coffee syrup, and Folgers Gourmet caramel drizzle coffee to the top of the cup. YUM! It's similar in taste to the caramel macchiato from Starbucks, and only 2 points for my fellow Weight Watchers. You're welcome.

5. I made Jack sit on the potty last night while I was getting David and Henry out of the tub, and he peed. The big boys thought that was HILARIOUS!

Hump Day

David: Mama, how do babies get in a mama's belly?

Me: Um, what do you mean? (Thinking, what the hell?? Why don't you ask your father these questions! What am I going to say???)

David: You know what I mean. How does a baby get in a mama's belly?

Me: Well, mommies and daddies give each other special hugs and kisses, and then there's a baby in the mama's belly. (Thinking, thank you Amy for telling me this story about your own boys!)

David: Oh, that makes sense.

Yesterday. . .

David: What was that you were saying about babies getting into the mama's belly?

Henry: SPECIAL HUGS AND KISSES!

David: Oh yeah. Me and S***** are going to do that together.

Me: Oh no, only grown ups do that!!