Summer Boys

David with his "Indiana Jones Stuff".

Birthday Boys

We went to a birthday party Saturday afternoon for one of Henry's school friends. Oddly, when we got to his house, Henry started crying and said he wanted to go home. We had to have his little friend come to the car to talk him out! Once we were out though, he had lots of fun!

Jack's First Haircut

Before

During

After

Have Some Time to Waste?

I have just spent the last ten minutes looking at family photos. No, not my family. Other hilarious awkward family photos. It is hilarious. Don't look at them while drinking Diet Coke. Trust me. It didn't work out well.

Random Wednesday

• I've been so bad about updating my blog. I have no excuses, other than a busy week!
• Henry has had some constipation issues again. Seriously, I hate this more than any other part of parenting. I can't help him, and he can't help himself. He has done so well all summer - no issues. He had his allergic reaction two weeks ago and had a belly ache. So he didn't poop. Then he thought it would hurt to poop. So he didn't poop. And two weeks went by, during which he REALLY thought it would hurt. So he didn't poop. I gave the child an enema for crying out loud, and he didn't poop. FINALLY this morning, on the verge of me calling the pediatrician for a muscle relaxer for the poor child, we had some major movement. I will not let this be an issue at school for him. He will not be the child that poops his pants in pre-school and is forever labeled the child who poops his pants. Can you imagine? I hope if you are a parent you never have this issue at your house. I know it seems trivial in a sense, but it's not. It effects him physically, behaviorally, and emotionally.
  
• Jack had his 18 month appointment Monday. He's not talking as much as she'd like, but I'm not really worried about it. Shocking, considering the issues we had with David's speech for years. However, Jack's lack of talking is much, much different than David's complete absence of speech. We'll have him evaluated at 2 years old if the concern is still there. And he weighs 28 pounds and has a head the size of a three year old. I guess he is big. . .
  
• Chris had orientation for school yesterday and will register for classes by the end of the week. He is officially a college student! And I'm officially jealous. Looking into law school as we are registering him for his classes. It's much, much more affordable here than it was in Boston. As in, even on the realm of possibility. That shouldn't surprise me.
• I have so many new cute pictures to upload. All on my new camera. And I don't know how to get them off! I'll have Christopher work on it tonight.
• Our health insurance through Nissan ended June 30, and our COBRA paperwork hasn't yet been completed on their end. Shocked, right? What does that mean? We are currently without health insurance. I don't love that. I do love that our COBRA coverage is retro-active back to July 1. However, we've already paid almost $300 out of pocket for two doctor's visits and prescriptions. I'm very thankful that's not the norm for us, and that we'll be reimbursed.
• 7 days until we leave for vacation. And so, so much preparation to do before then. I'm very ready for vacation. I've had a stressful couple of weeks. I don't get stressed easily, but there's been a lot going on between Henry's issues, David being sick, Henry's allergic reaction, getting Chris registered for school, leaving my job, starting a new job, and just daily life. I feel like things never settle down for us.
• I am so excited to get back to New England for a visit!!

Have a great day!

Weird Question Wednesday

What kind of salad dressing do you use? I am in a Ranch rut. I like the reduced fat dressings, and need a new one. Any recommendations?

I Got a New Job!

I am very excited to tell you that I got a new job. While I love my current job, and I'm sad to leave my students and their families, this is a great opportunity for me. The people who own the location of The Little Gym I work at are a husband and wife. The husband is an attorney, and I will be going to work for him as his legal assistant. It will be 15 minutes from my house, as opposed to my current 40ish. It's in an area of town that I really like, and I've always been interested in doing something in the legal arena. I'm also VERY excited to work Monday through Friday from 8-5. No more Saturdays!! My last day in my current position will be Wednesday July 29, and I will start Tuesday August 11 at my new job when we get back from vacation.

Thomas Live!

Yesterday, Chris and I took David and Henry to see Thomas & Friends Live! They l.o.v.e.d it. We were very nervous about it, as David had been sick Friday and Saturday and Henry was covered with hives those days. They rallied Sunday though, and were able to go. Thank God, because Jack would have been a NIGHTMARE there if we had to take him instead. Big thanks to Gigi and Grampy for entertaining Jack while we were at the show. It was a great show - lots of singing and dancing, big trains, and it was a fast-moving performance, so the kids didn't get bored. I definitely recommend it if the show comes to your area and you have some Thomas lovers!

That's Just Nutty

Friday morning, Henry woke up covered in hives. I'm not exaggerating when I say covered. Oddly though, only his arms, legs, and face were covered. His trunk was completely normal. Reference the day 2 photo from this post and it was a similar appearance. It was worse on Friday, which seems impossible. There was not a clear patch of skin on his arms or legs. His feet were swollen, his fingers were swollen. . . it was terrible. He was also, as you can imagine, horribly itchy. I called the pediatrician to get an appointment, and gave him some Benadryl. In the hour and fifteen minutes between giving him the Benadryl and getting him to the doctor, the hives went away and started to come back again in large welts.

The pediatrician tested him for the coxsackie virus (and seriously? Who names a virus that?) and it was negative. As I suspected it would be. She asked what he had to eat the day before. I didn't want to tell her. He had a peanut butter sandwich for dinner. While he's not ever had an issue with peanuts, and has eaten peanut butter nearly every day of his life for the last 3 years, I knew that would be what she thought caused it. Sure enough. . . we're going to do an allergy test to determine exactly what he's allergic to. As for now, we're peanut free until then. I asked what the likelihood is of him developing a sensitivity to something he's eaten so frequently without a problem. She said not likely, but not impossible. Until we find out for sure, I'm packing his Benadryl and Epipen everywhere he goes!

On the Road Again. . .

I am so excited! We just reserved a house on Lake Monomonac for a week. I won't post dates here, because who knows what creepy people read this and will break into my house while we're gone, but we are THRILLED!! I'll be emailing all my Yankee peeps (what, am I 12?) with details. We'll be having a get together while we're there. YAHOO!

What the. . .

I've gained five pounds since Chris has not worked nights. . . He needs to go back to work.

And I need to go back to Weight Watchers.