a Pink-eyed, Yellow-Nosed Seal

That's Noah right now. He has Pink-eye, yellow snotty nose and has a barking seal cough. The other two are just runny-nosed hot (fever) seals.

Here's a picture of the little sick ones.

I used my awesome rug cleaner again! I love that thing, but I hate it because I always get carried away and do too much. I did the whole upstairs, the stairs, the lr area rug and two sections of couch. It started b/c Kai has a sleep-walking issue when he's really tired and he got up and pee'd in the hallway last night. It's so funny and weird to see Kai peeing inside our home (not in the toilet) and seeing no expression of guilt or remorse on his face. Just relief and a little confusion when he finally focuses on me. But it's also wicked gross to have a full bladder emptied on the hallway rug. One other time he came downstairs, dropped trou (sp?) and relieved himself on Noah's booster seat!

My arms are shaky now from all the steaming, but our rugs look great!!!

random kid-isms

Kai and I were snuggling in bed for nap time and he was looking lovingly into my eyes and said, "Mama, do you know what color your eyes are?" I was pretty sure I knew, but told him he could tell me. He said, "They are brown, black, red and white. Why are there red things in your eyes?" How come those wonderful snuggly sweet moments only last for about 5 seconds once the kids learn to talk? Feeling old and even more tired I told him they were bloodshot and how about we close our eyes and go to sleep already!

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We've been working with Zeze on saying 'please' when he demands, I mean asks, for things. He'll often ask for something and when we don't respond he'll repeat it and then add a 'please' to the end. We are constantly reminding him that he needs to say 'please' the first time he asks for something. My literal little boy now says things like, "Can I watch Diego, please the first time?" or "I want some juice, please the first time." Think about how you would explain this to him. I've tried many different ways without success. So it remains, "please the first time." even if he doesn't remember to say it until the 2nd or third time. :)

photo catch up

I painted a big chalk board on one of our walls down in the play room. The official unveiling was this morning and the boys seemed to like it! That chalkboard paint is so cool! I was so tempted to paint a couple of treads of our unfinished stairs with it and other sections of wall. But I figured this would just encourage the boys to write on things they are not supposed to.

This was done with 'washable' whiteboard markers. They don't wash off of dry-wall.

Zeze checking out his new big boy bed, with Noah's help. No more crib for Zee!!

All snuggled in!

This was a huge smiley face frizbee type toy at the Joni and Friends Family camp we attended at the end of August. Noah loved carrying it around even though it was bigger than he is.

I thought this picture would have been hilarious if I could have gotten the picture right behind Noah rather than off to the side, no luck though. Get it? A little body with a huge smiley-face head! Hahaha! Makes me laugh! :)

Chad and Zeze walking up the road from our camp cabin to the dining hall.

Kai LOVED being on the top bunk at camp.
Of course, the other two had to try it up there!
That's about it for now!

Thankful or Not

Things I am thankful for:

1. That I only used ONE of my dish towels to clean a small spot of Noah's corn-filled spit up (he has reflux)....especially since I soon realized that it was not, in fact, normal spit up, but 'spit up' from the diaper end of things.

2. I am thankful that he only smeared it across 4 of the segments of my couch rather than all 6.

3. I am thankful that my 2 week old rug steamer with upholstery attachments was already filled up and ready to go from cleaning my couch 3 days ago. I would hate to think it could sit in the closet and only be used 2 or 3 times a year. I'd rather use it 3 times in 2 weeks.

4. I am thankful that the upholstery attachment has tiny little holes to suck up the soapy water so that pieces of corn can't be sucked up into it and possibly clog a tube. I'd much rather collect all the poop crumbs and corn in my hand so that I don't clog my new steamer.

5. I'm thankful for the two flies that came in earlier this morning and how they so helpfully land on the poop to show me where it is.

6. I'm thankful for my intelligent cat that sat looking under the stove all night (for the 3rd night) waiting for a different long-dead bug to come out. His dedication is admirable and I'm so thankful that he's napping all day rather than catching the two flies that I keep swatting away from the poop on the couch. I wouldn't want a crabby and tired cat to stress himself out by actually catching a REAL bug.

7. I am thankful that my oldest son has very healthy lungs so that, from upstairs, he can scream to me downstairs, at the top of his lungs, over the roar of the steamer and right beside his sleeping brothers, that he needs me to wipe his bum.

6. I am also thankful that my oldest son has good vision so, while in the bathroom, he could point out all the microns of poop that fell off Noah and onto the bathroom rugs when I dumped said brother into the tub after the poop explosion. Nothing brings on a thankful attitude more than someone pointing out just one more poop crumb..."oh, there's another one."...."wait, is that one too?"...."you missed one over there, Mom."
Where are those flies when I need them?

7. I am thankful that my shower drain has tiny little holes too. I would hate for all that corny poop to go down the drain and mess up my pipes or septic. I'd rather pick it out of the drain and put it in my hand and throw it in the trash. SO glad I don't have to buy DRAIN-O!

8. I am thankful for the fresh, sweet, summer corn we had with dinner last night and that Noah LOVES corn on the cob and totally gets how to strip every last kernel from the cob (one of the few things we haven't had to teach him how to do). Maybe he can teach his brothers how to eat it off the cob so they can join in with helping to make their mama a muttering swearing crazy lady that writes not-so-very-thankful lists on her blog.

Update:

The poop is cleaned, the couches are finally dry, the flies are dead (no thanks to the cats), the poop clothes and towels are waiting to go into the next load of laundry, the tub is scrubbed and the bathroom rugs are cleaned. Dinner is cooking, the boys are fighting (I mean playing) and Chad is on his way home. I will try to pull it together and not be so crabby. I think writing this post helped my mood a little. It'll help me more if people leave comments to let me know that someone is reading this and empathizing with! :) :)

olives and a ladies' man

I asked Kai if he wanted olives on his pizza and he said no because they're so black and yucky. I asked if he'd eat them if they were his favorite color instead of black. He said he'd eat olives if they were purple and tasted like bananas. :)

Chad and Zeze were outside playing when our neighbor's beautiful college-aged daughter pulled up. Zeze yelled, "HI!!" to her. She smiled, waved and yelled, "Hi" back to Zeze. Zeze turned to Chad and quietly (amazing in itself) said, "Daddy, she is weally coot!" (really cute). Seeing that Zeze only knows 3 or 4 adjectives that are complimentary makes this is a HUGE amount of 'liking' going on. Let me explain.....adjective #1 is 'beautiful'. For example, "Mom, that train track you just set up is SO beautiful! Can I play with it now?"

#2 'yummy': "These cookies are so yummy AND beautiful. Thank you for making them!"

#3 'cute': "Mom, Noah is so cute. I LOVE him!" followed with kisses, hugs and the ever heart-warming eye-pokes. I'm constantly trying to explain that hugging and kissing Noah is great, but it's the eye-pokes that hurt.

So you see, Zeze saying the girl is cute is a HUGE amount of liking that he's only ever expressed toward his twin brother! I didn't know that boys could start liking girls so young! :)

I Don't Have Down Syndrome All The Time...

I found this post here at Life With My Special Ks blog. I couldn't figure out how to paste it into my blog, so please follow the link and read this neat insight from a pre-teen with Down Syndrome....

Random Photo Catch up

Kai rode the bus for the first time by himself, to go to ESY (Extended School Year). He was SO SO excited to ride the bus like a big boy, but we waited and waited and the bus didn't come. I am explaining that sometimes the bus driver forgets where to go when it's the first time picking someone up. Well, it got late and I had to load Kai and the twins up in the van to bring Kai to school. As I'm pulling out the school bus/van pulls in!! I stop and get Kai out and he happily (though flustered) climbs on the bus!

He sees a friendly face, and sits beside him. He says later, "That's my friend. He's cute like Noah." His new friend is an old pro on the school bus and shows him the ropes.

Here's a picture of the bus/van at school dropping Kai off. Yes, I am a stalker. I followed the bus to school weeping, I mean fully composed and happy that my baby is being driven to school by a stranger, a man, that I've never met before. That this is one of many strands being cut that attaches him to me. That, someday I'll have to leave him at an overnight camp, then college (will he eat, will he find his classes, what if he gets locked out of his room?) and eventually when he gets married! I know, I know! He's only 4! But I understand fully now why my mom cried at all those events when I was growing up.
Well, Kai loved the bus, but had a hard day at school and was sad that his regular teacher was not there. He was confused about the change and this is what he does to process things. I knew something was wrong b/c he hasn't lined up so many cars since before he was gluten free and fully encompased with PDD-NOS behavoirs. He moves the first car forward an inch and then the second one and so on until all the cars are moved up in the line. Then he starts over...again and again. We talked for awhile about school and the next day was MUCH better. When he came home and played with the cars and trucks, he had them all in a cluster and was having them talk to each other and throw a birthday party for the helicopter!



Fun in the pool. Noah is taking a direct hit!

Snuggly, sleepy afternoon with Noah and Daddy

....and Scout.

Blueberry picking, I mean eating! :)

Cutie pie, Noah!

Face off between Chad and our nephew, Isaac, while David and Kai get ready for more action!

Always watch your back, David!

Zeze having fun with the hose while Chad turns it on and off so it sprays Zeze's face.

Noah and Kai playing post office

Scouty is Postmaster General.

Noah LOVES LOVES corn on the cob!!

That's all for now! Sorry it's been so long (November) since I posted pictures! Hopefully, I'll keep up on it better!

Zeze the Clown

Zeze played outside with this on for an hour or more! He loves to wear hats, wigs, headbands, bowls, buckets etc. on his head! He is such a funny boy!

Monday Morning Blues

Kai asked me this morning what day it was. I told him it was Monday and he got to go to school today (trying to muster as much early morning enthusiasm as I could). Side note: Kai goes to ESY (extended school year) so he can continue to get services through the summer. He says to me, "It's Monday again?! Why is it Monday again and again and again?!! All day long it's Monday?" So I guess the Monday morning blues start at 4 years old! :)

Oh, he also said the other day, "After this week am I all done with school forever?" Oh man, I didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd be in school for 14 more years to just finish high school (he's already had 1.5 years of preschool and still has one more before kindergarten), 18 more for undergrad and 22 more years if he wants to be a baby doctor (this is what he says he wants to be). You can tell I have major school aversion! :) Maybe it's due to my 22 years of sitting in the classroom (that makes me feel ill just thinking of it!!). However, my husband LOVES to learn and told Kai with genuine excitement, "You GET to go to school for a long time and learn wonderful things!!" I'm glad I'm married to him! He balances me out and hopefully my kids will love to learn like he does!

In Kids' Words

Here is a collection of funny sayings the kids have, or unique views/comments they've made about something. I'm mostly posting it so I'll have them recorded somewhere, but you all might enjoy them too.
1. Kai is working on grammar and tenses as he continues to develop his conversational language. The following example is typical of stuff he'll say and it makes Chad and I laugh. I call this Old Colonial Eubonics: "What you said, Mama? Mine ears can't hear you." The 'mine' comments always make me want to break out singing the hymn Glory, Glory, Hallelujah ("Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord..." are you singing it yet?!!).

2. When the boys are going to kill a bug, they holler, "I'm going to SNAP him!!" Then they joyfully run around, showing me the carcass while recounting the battle and how they 'snapped' that bug. I think it's a combo of whack, stomp, smack === SNAP! However, we had to have a discussion about killing bugs in the house before all of this. After squashing a spider, I was scornfully told by Kai that I was naughty because we don't hurt animals that are in our house (footnote the talking-to I give them when they hit the cats). Now they understand that they can kill bugs outside AND in the house. How is it that Kai can't remember to use his fork when eating yet he can parrot back so many other things I tell him. Grrrrrr. :)


3. Zeze hollered, "Look! It's Santa Clause!!" When he saw the 60ish year old man with a white beard behind us in the check-out line at the store. *Blush*


4. One of Kai's classmates will soon be getting a baby brother. His mom and I are friends and I explained to Kai that her belly is big because there is a baby inside it. Kai looked at my friend's 3rd trimester belly and asked, "When the baby comes out of her mouth, can we play with him?" I love that his question wasn't about how the baby comes out. He had that all figured out...I mean, food goes in your mouth and down to your belly and when you throw-up food comes back out. The baby is in her belly and so it must come out of her mouth!! I love how this kid thinks!


5. A few weeks later: While walking to the car from school pick-up Kai looked over at one of his classmates and her father as they walked near us to get to their car. This father is quite large, probably 400lbs, and carries much of his weight in his belly. Big, round, belly. See #4 up above and begin to cringe and blush with me. Kai says, within earshot of this father, "There is Sally's father." I suddenly know what is about to come out of Kai's mouth as we can see a perfect profile of this obese, man-belly. I begin to pull Kai's arm to make him walk faster. Must make it to the van! Almost there! Kai resists my tugging and says excitedly, "He must have a baby in there! Oh, wait. Only girls have babies, I almost forgot!" There. It's out. Splattered across the rainy pavement. *Sigh*

I have to explain something, 6 months ago Kai could not create or express 1 single novel thought of his own. Almost everything he said or commented on was something he'd heard me say. No new ideas or new ways to do things. When I taught him how to wash his hands, he did it EXACTLY as I taught him. No variations. In fact, if I tried to change it up a little (like squirt soap on hands AFTER you turn on the water) there was crying and hysteria involved. That's what Kai is like with PDD-NOS while also eating gluten and dairy.
Now, Chad and I celebrate together when we hear a gluten/dairy-free Kai creating associations that we didn't teach him, making comments that we've never said or doing things in a new way (see this previous post). So I am so proud of him for observing somebody (which is him looking outside of himself) and drawing associations from a conversation we had weeks ago!!!! That is so stinkin' cool to see such a change!!!! However, I also have the job of teaching him about other people's feelings. How do I balance applauding the joy of new discoveries with teaching empathy to a very tender boy who will (or whose brother will), hopefully none-too-soon, receive comments about being different? Blah. I ended up saying, in the car, that he was so smart to remember that girls have babies, but that adults sometimes feel sad when people notice and talk about their big bellies, so we should try not to hurt their feelings by talking about their big bellies. He gave me a "that makes no sense" look, followed by a sad and confused look because he hurt someone's feelings and didn't know how. Man, parenting is tough!


6. Kai said I should pee standing up since I'm a big girl now. I explained that girls sit down and boys stand because boys have a certain anatomy and girls don't. He asked, "why?" and I was vague and said that God just makes boys and girls different. End of conversation. Yeah, right! Then he asked if Jesus cut out my p***s. WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness gracious!!! Is it still only 8am!!??!!!


That's it for now!

Uncle Computer Boy

Chad's brother is visiting with us while he's in town for a conference. We've been telling the kids that Uncle Peter was coming and talking about how Daddy was going to get him at the airport. The boys are all so happy to see Uncle Peter and when he got here we said, "Zeze, look! Uncle Peter is here!" Zeze said, "No, he's a boy." and we agreed that Uncle Peter was a boy. Zee looked confused and was obviously processing a great complexity. Then he said, "Oh, it's Computer the boy! Hi Computer Boy!" He actually thinks Pete's full name is Computer Boy and his short name is Computer!!! Today when Zeze saw him, he said, "Hi Computer!" or "Computer boy, do you want to eat a ham sandwich with me?" He cracks me up!

The Bee Whisperer

Chad and Kai were outside the other day and Chad saw Kai squatting down by some flowers and doing something with his pointer finger. Chad called over to him and asked what he was doing. Kai said, "Just petting a bumble bee." Chad jumped up and told Kai not to touch it but the bee flew away before he got there. Chad told Kai that Kai was the only person he knows to ever have pet a bumble bee and asked Kai what it felt like. Kai said it had fur like Scout (our cat). There you have it! That's what the soft fuzzy black and yellow back of a live buzzing bumble bee feels like!!!

Ailment Alliteration

Pee, puke and putrid poop perpetually pour from my preschoolers.

Loads of loathsome linens and laundry leave their lair.

Stinky scents saturate my shirt, sweatpants and schnoz.

Not nearly 'nough NSAIDs nearby for fierce and fiery fevers.

Torrents of tears and tantrum tirades from two terribly thirsty tow-headed toddlers.

Please provide plentiful parcels of purple Pedialyte!

New Skills

First off, I'm sorry about the lack of photos. I can only load pics on to our big computer that's up in the loft (not the laptop that I use downstairs). I can't really go up there while the kids are awake and after they are in bed, I'm too tired to climb up there just to load pictures. So, you'll just have to read another little story about the kids.

Today Kai showed me a new trick he learned. He has been peeing standing up more and more lately and discovered that when he stands up to pee in the potty he doesn't actually have to use his hands. He has good aim and doesn't make a mess. He joyfully told me, that because he doesn't touch anything, he doesn't have to wash his hands after he goes potty! He watched me expectantly, after he pointed out his logic, to see if I could poke holes in it and still make him wash his hands. He got me! I guess if you don't touch anything (except the the handle to flush the toilet...I didn't point that out to him b/c I figured he'd start using his foot to flush like he's seen me do in public restrooms) you don't have to wash your hands. It rankles me though! Just doesn't seem right! I guess I could just make him wash his hands no matter what...I don't want him to turn into one of those guys who doesn't wash after going poop and then pumps gas at the pump just before I get there...I saw that Dateline (or whatever) showing all the nasties on the gas pump handle!!! But, for now, kudos to Kai, for stumping Mama and getting out of washing his hands!

Juicy

Zeze has learned a new adjective: Juicy

He usually uses it in joyful exclamation about how something is SO yummy and juicy...I'm not sure if he thinks that juicy=yummy though. Examples include:

"Thank you for the banana, Mama!! It's SO juicy!" (hmmm on the instructions for my juicer it explicitly says not to try juicing 2 things: bananas and dried fruit)

"Mmmmmm Mmmmmm! This carrot is so juicy!"

"Thank you for the juice, Mama! It's so cold and juicy!!!" (I guess he's getting closer!)

He makes me laugh! :)

Both

I asked the kids this morning if they wanted eggs, oatmeal or both. Zeze excitedly exclaimed, "Both! I want both!! Both!!!" Immediately a frenzied panic ensued with all 3 boys shouting that they wanted both. I knew that Zeze was crazy hungry and him excitedly yelling about anything he's going to get often triggers this response from the boys, like herd of deer startling and none of them are sure why.

I bring out oatmeal and eggs to jittery repetitive mumblings of, "Both. I want both. Kai do you have both? Zeze did you get both yet? I want both too. both. both. both." Zeze sees what I've brought and starts wailing that he doesn't want oatmeal or eggs. He wants a 'both'. "BOTH!!! Waaaaaaaa!!!" Oh good grief! It's too early for this! I spend 5 minutes explaining the word both and finally got some very disappointed boys to understand that I only had eggs and oatmeal to offer them. (Can you all picture a 'both'? It's probably dripping with frosting and oozing chocolate out of the middle!)

On the way to school as we're praying for our day, Zeze prays, "Thank you for this day. Thank you for the eggs and oatmeal. And thank you for the 'both'!" I guess he got a 'both' when I wasn't looking. :)

Little Red Riding Kai

Kai is very excited lately to point out to us how he's growing so big. He is so happy to have himself measured and has such an innocent joy to think that he's growing and might be as tall as his mama or daddy some day. It is really cute. That is why I try to take what he says with a few grains of salt! Here is a collection of observations from Kai....

"Mama, I am such a big boy! I am growing so big! Look, my nose is small now, but it growing so big just like yours!"

"Mama, look at my teeth they are growing so big! They're almost so big as yours! Can you show me your big teeth again?"

"Mama, do you see my feet. I have small feet but soon they will be so big just like your feet!"

I guess I'm the big bad wolf.

He also said he loved me because I am soft. :) I will try to take these things as compliments, from my dear 4 year old that says these things without a spec of criticism and is purely delighted to become like me, instead of picturing myself as described.....a big puffy soft mama with huge teeth, nose and feet. From the mouths of babes....

Tonight at dinner he ate a lot of food and lifted up his shirt and said, "Mama, look at my belly! It is growing so big! (I'm thinking, "Here it comes...") Soon it will grow so big just like Daddy's!" Phew! Dodged that one! Chad and I have both eaten a LOT of chocolate this winter!! Just keeping it real, folks! :)

Oh, a truly sweet thing Kai said the other day: I bought some potted tulips and daffodils and put them in the window. Kai inhaled their fragrance and said with all earnestness and amazement, "They smell like the sun, Mama!"

Noah wins again!

Back to the pediatricians. Zeze's fever of 103 wasn't gone after 3 full days. Turns out he also has an ear infection! Now he get's antibiotics too! Kai is passing the Zithromax torch onto Zeze as it's Kai's last day on it and Zeze's first day. However, just when Zeze thinks he can top Noah with illnesses and number of medications, Noah pulls ahead and wins the race! Not only does he win his Omnicef antibiotic, but also steroids AND albuterol from a nebulizer. Guess he had pnumonia after all and the added steroids and albuterol will help open up his lungs and clean out all the junk. PLUS Noah get to start on a GI drug to help with his reflux! Congrats, Noah! It was a close race and we thought you might actually be the healthiest kid here!!

Actually, everyone is starting to feel better (except me, I caught the cold) and Noah is full of vim and vigor. Zeze is feeling better now that he's on ab's and Kai is back to normalish now that he's off the abs.

I pulled out Noah's nebulizer from last year and found his old Albuterol. It was filled last year during this same week in March! It's when we were leaving the hospital for his 2nd round of pneumonia and got the script for the Albuterol (it's good for a year). Ah, memory lane via medical records! I'm so glad this winter hasn't been filled with hospital stays! I'm so glad it's almost Spring! yay!

Not To Be Outdone

Well, Zeze got to join in the sick parade! He was up puking all last night. I finally got him to where he could keep down 3ml of water...that took a few tries with subsequent puking. I'd give a little squirt of water and then wait 1/2 hour while watching Curious George (at 1am), meanwhile he's begging for all the drinks he's ever had. 1/2 hour later another 3ml of water...repeat. After 1.5 hrs of not vomiting the little bits of water, then I increased him up to 3mls every 10 minutes. He tolerated that and I finally got his 5ml (1tsp) of Tylenol into him (oh yeah, he was burning up this whole time). After 1/2 hour when that kicked in he finally fell asleep for 4 hours, and no vomiting. We've slowly progressed this morning with an ounce or two of dilute juice every 1/h hour, another dose of tylenol and finally he kept down some jello. It's a long arduous process, but I learned it as a vet and it's the most successful way to calm their pukey stomaches down enough to keep a few drops of water in it.

Anyway, he is now the sickest one here and if the other boys are 'lucky' they'll have fevers and vomiting tomorrow too...then more medicine for everyone! Woo Hoo!! (note the sarcasm) :)

Medicine

Zeze and Kai love to get Tylenol and Motrin. They've both had a good share of fevers and sore throats the past few months so they've gotten plenty. However, now they are asking for medicine all the time. First I'd say, "You only get medicine when you're sick." So now they wake up and say they feel sick and need medicine. I started asking them what felt sick or what hurt that would make them need medicine....Kai will say, "My belly hurts." and I tell him you don't get medicine for a belly ache. Zeze will try, "My cough hurts" and I tell him you don't get medicine for coughs. He'll counter with asking for 'honey medicine' because when they have the dry painful coughs we give them honey to soothe their throats.

Today, Kai woke up from his nap (he never naps anymore, so that's the first mommy clue that something is up) crying and saying his ear hurt. This sounded legit, so I gave him some Motrin and made an appt for him to see the pediatrician tonight. Zeze woke up from his nap and was happy as can be and dancing and running around. When he heard that Kai was getting medicine he stared up with the "I feel sick, too" barrage, complete with his cough and belly hurting (meanwhile laughing and still running around). However, he came up with a new one that made me laugh. He got serious and said, "Momma, my mouth hurts. I need medicine in it." I like his creativity, but as this progresses I think I will really have to put my doctor skills to good use to determine the real illnesses! :)

P.S. Kai does have an ear infection and is on antibiotics. We brought Noah along for a visit of his own since he's had green boogers for 2 weeks along with a cough and is now as crabby as can be. The doctor gave him antibiotics too, either for a sinus infection, the start of pneumonia (his O2 sat was 93%- which isn't horrible, but not the 99-100% he usually is) or both sinus infection and pneumonia together. Poor Zeze will be very sad for the next 2 weeks as his brothers get medicine every day and he doesn't. He also felt very left out at the doctor's tonight b/c the doctor didn't examine him too. Zeze got a complimentary ear check so he wouldn't be completely left out. It's hard to be the healthy kid sometimes. :)