Thursday, October 21, 2010
Elektra pictures
Here are a couple pictures of Elektra with a really cute outfit and hairdo she had. She's such a HAM!!!
DJ and his new glasses
Last night, we took DJ to pick up his new glasses. I picked up the kids from daycare, and Steve and my dad met us at "the glasses store" (as I named it that way to make it easy for DJ to understand what we were doing - you buy glasses from the glasses store). On the way to "the glasses store", DJ was a fullblown chatterbox.
"Are we going to pick up Daddy?" (no, Daddy is meeting us there)
"We're going to see Yiayia and Papou?" (yes)
"Look, Mommy! That car looks like your car!" (it was a similar blue but otherwise nothing like my car)
"Look, Mommy! That car has a wing like Daddy's blue car!" (Civic with massive wing)
"Daddy's right behind us?" (yes, Daddy happened to pull up right behind us on the way there - great timing!)
"It's quiet in the car now." (stopped at a traffic light)
"It's loud in the car now because your car turned on, and Daddy's car turned on!" (the light turned green)
"Mommy! She looks like you!" (a random caucasian girl with dark hair walking down the sidewalk)
"I see Papou's car!" (pulling into the Optician's parking lot)
The drive wasn't more than 10 minutes long, and that's only a snippet of what I can even remember!
Mr. Alfonso was waiting for DJ to fit his new glasses when we walked in. He measured how they were fitting on his face and ears, and took them back for adjustment 3 times. Each time Mr. Alfonso put the glasses on DJ, DJ would look in the mirror and make a face...fingers pulling his cheeks out, mouth wide open, etc., ... hilarious! But he also didn't try to take them off immediately after putting them on. I was starting to get my hopes up that he might actually leave them on! Papou asked DJ if he could see better with his glasses on, and he did say yes!
Meanwhile, between each adjustment, DJ and Elektra were full blown running up and down the aisle with all the exuberance of toddlers, amusing all adults in the room at the same time.
Once his glasses were adjusted, he put them on, and left them on! In fact, he didn't take them off until it was time for bed. Way to go, DJ! He's even learned how to shove them up the bridge of his nose then they start to slip while he's playing.
Steve and I each took a picture with our iPhones, and I sent my copy to Eleanor, hoping she would open it before Grace left for the day (so that Grace could see it, too). Although Grace was getting in the car when my picture arrived, Eleanor did manage to catch Grace before she left. In fact, Grace was so excited to see DJ in his new glasses, that she ran from the car to go see the picture. Eleanor printed the picture I had sent, and Grace asked to take it home with her. How sweet!
Also, as we were leaving "the glasses store", DJ asked where Papou was going. I told him that Papou was going to a meeting and he said, "I want to go to the meeting with Papou!" I'm sure Papou would have loved to have taken him, but he would have had his hands full because DJ was full of very excited energy!
This morning, he put on his glasses like a trooper, and still says he sees better with them on. YAY!
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| Our little Harry Potter |
Last night, we took DJ to pick up his new glasses. I picked up the kids from daycare, and Steve and my dad met us at "the glasses store" (as I named it that way to make it easy for DJ to understand what we were doing - you buy glasses from the glasses store). On the way to "the glasses store", DJ was a fullblown chatterbox.
"Are we going to pick up Daddy?" (no, Daddy is meeting us there)
"We're going to see Yiayia and Papou?" (yes)
"Look, Mommy! That car looks like your car!" (it was a similar blue but otherwise nothing like my car)
"Look, Mommy! That car has a wing like Daddy's blue car!" (Civic with massive wing)
"Daddy's right behind us?" (yes, Daddy happened to pull up right behind us on the way there - great timing!)
"It's quiet in the car now." (stopped at a traffic light)
"It's loud in the car now because your car turned on, and Daddy's car turned on!" (the light turned green)
"Mommy! She looks like you!" (a random caucasian girl with dark hair walking down the sidewalk)
"I see Papou's car!" (pulling into the Optician's parking lot)
The drive wasn't more than 10 minutes long, and that's only a snippet of what I can even remember!
Mr. Alfonso was waiting for DJ to fit his new glasses when we walked in. He measured how they were fitting on his face and ears, and took them back for adjustment 3 times. Each time Mr. Alfonso put the glasses on DJ, DJ would look in the mirror and make a face...fingers pulling his cheeks out, mouth wide open, etc., ... hilarious! But he also didn't try to take them off immediately after putting them on. I was starting to get my hopes up that he might actually leave them on! Papou asked DJ if he could see better with his glasses on, and he did say yes!
Meanwhile, between each adjustment, DJ and Elektra were full blown running up and down the aisle with all the exuberance of toddlers, amusing all adults in the room at the same time.
Once his glasses were adjusted, he put them on, and left them on! In fact, he didn't take them off until it was time for bed. Way to go, DJ! He's even learned how to shove them up the bridge of his nose then they start to slip while he's playing.
Steve and I each took a picture with our iPhones, and I sent my copy to Eleanor, hoping she would open it before Grace left for the day (so that Grace could see it, too). Although Grace was getting in the car when my picture arrived, Eleanor did manage to catch Grace before she left. In fact, Grace was so excited to see DJ in his new glasses, that she ran from the car to go see the picture. Eleanor printed the picture I had sent, and Grace asked to take it home with her. How sweet!
Also, as we were leaving "the glasses store", DJ asked where Papou was going. I told him that Papou was going to a meeting and he said, "I want to go to the meeting with Papou!" I'm sure Papou would have loved to have taken him, but he would have had his hands full because DJ was full of very excited energy!
This morning, he put on his glasses like a trooper, and still says he sees better with them on. YAY!
Monday, October 18, 2010
DJ's New Big Boy Bed
Almost one year ago, we transitioned DJ out of his crib into what we called a Big Boy Bed but was really only a toddler bed. On Saturday, Daddy built DJ his new big boy bed, a twin platform bed with a headboard.
DJ was VERY excited about this. In fact, he was so excited that he was willing to follow our one rule: DJ had to sit in his car bed if he wanted to watch Daddy build his bed. He was perfect; he didn't move a muscle out of the car bed. He even tickled and played with Elektra when she got in the car bed with him to watch the festivities.
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| DJ in his car bed. |
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| The bed frame. |
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| Pre-head board but you can see the drawers underneath. |
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| Post-head board |
The next night (Sunday night), DJ asked for his car bed which definitely surprised both of us. We declined his request because we no longer had a crib mattress! Just before Elektra was born, we borrowed a crib from Damian since DJ wasn't in the car bed yet. Damian was still using the mattress, so we bought a new crib mattress at the time as well. On Sunday morning, we took the crib back to Damian and gave him the mattress because the whole set is going to someone who is having twins. Therefore, even if we were to put the car bed back together, we no longer have a mattress for it!
I think DJ is still pretty jazzed about his new bed. Add to that standard toddler stall tactics, and he's not getting to sleep very quickly. Hopefully he'll settle down soon!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
DJ's Ophthalmology visit - part 2
One thing I failed to mention is that during DJ's initial evaluation of his left eye, he would tell us that he couldn't see, or we thought he was just mentally worn out from the ordeal. At the time, I didn't think anything of his comment about his not being able to see, attributing it to the fact that I was covering his right eye with my hand since he wouldn't leave the glasses or the patch on. And with one eye covered, "I can't see" isn't that far fetched a comment.
About 40 minutes after he started dilating (and about 400 "I want to go bye-byes"... he was being very insistent and I think it's because he didn't want to go through again what he'd already gone through), Dr. Collins took him back in "to play peekaboo" with him (i.e. officially refract him). This was a far less painful process than when we were covering his eyes. In fact, DJ was an angel.
Finally, she tells me that DJ has a very wide margin of refraction between his two eyes, with his right eye being normal (i.e. a little far sighted) for his age, and his left being very far sighted. Because of this, DJ is over-compensating with his right eye rendering his left eye weaker...and therefore, lazy.
This diagnosis explains a ton of things.
1. It explains his violent reaction when we were trying to make him read with his left eye only today. It effectively hurts him to do it for all intents and purposes.
2. It explains why he seems to be just a touch more clumsy when it comes to avoiding things on his left side. This is an observation we have realized in retrospect.
Lazy eye, when caught this early, is very treatable. We'll start with glasses and see how it goes from there. The prescription is actually weaker than his actual refraction, but Dr. Collins wants to reduce the chance of his wholly rejecting the glasses by hammering him with the full refraction at first. Then Dr. Collins wants to see him again in 2 months to see if he's made any progress.
Honestly, the reason we found this is because DJ had a clogged tear duct as a baby, and saw Dr. Collins to treat it. She noticed, at the time, that he was very far sighted as compared to the average child his age. She suggested seeing her again 6 months after the tear duct surgery, as both a post-op and to check his refraction. At that appointment, everything eas normal, and said to come back in 2 years. Here we are 2 years later. Thank you, Dr. Collins because honestly, he wasn't showing any obvious signs due to his ability to over-compensate with his right eye.
I am really surprised that DJ is still dilated after 8 hours, but now he's going to sleep for the night and dilated pupils should be no issue. Hopefully they will be normal when he wakes up tomorrow!
If I said that this doesn't bother me, I'd be lying. I'm concerned he won't keep the glasses on, slowing down the treatment or forcing us to change treatment methods (e.g. eye patch, chemically, etc.). We are already struggling with potty training, and I have no illusions that this will trigger him to regress. Plus, we don't want to hold off on giving him his NEW big boy bed because it'll be too many changes in his world at once.
So that ends my update, I guess. I suspect I'll be wearing my glasses around him faaaaaar more often to help be a good example.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
About 40 minutes after he started dilating (and about 400 "I want to go bye-byes"... he was being very insistent and I think it's because he didn't want to go through again what he'd already gone through), Dr. Collins took him back in "to play peekaboo" with him (i.e. officially refract him). This was a far less painful process than when we were covering his eyes. In fact, DJ was an angel.
Finally, she tells me that DJ has a very wide margin of refraction between his two eyes, with his right eye being normal (i.e. a little far sighted) for his age, and his left being very far sighted. Because of this, DJ is over-compensating with his right eye rendering his left eye weaker...and therefore, lazy.
This diagnosis explains a ton of things.
1. It explains his violent reaction when we were trying to make him read with his left eye only today. It effectively hurts him to do it for all intents and purposes.
2. It explains why he seems to be just a touch more clumsy when it comes to avoiding things on his left side. This is an observation we have realized in retrospect.
Lazy eye, when caught this early, is very treatable. We'll start with glasses and see how it goes from there. The prescription is actually weaker than his actual refraction, but Dr. Collins wants to reduce the chance of his wholly rejecting the glasses by hammering him with the full refraction at first. Then Dr. Collins wants to see him again in 2 months to see if he's made any progress.
Honestly, the reason we found this is because DJ had a clogged tear duct as a baby, and saw Dr. Collins to treat it. She noticed, at the time, that he was very far sighted as compared to the average child his age. She suggested seeing her again 6 months after the tear duct surgery, as both a post-op and to check his refraction. At that appointment, everything eas normal, and said to come back in 2 years. Here we are 2 years later. Thank you, Dr. Collins because honestly, he wasn't showing any obvious signs due to his ability to over-compensate with his right eye.
I am really surprised that DJ is still dilated after 8 hours, but now he's going to sleep for the night and dilated pupils should be no issue. Hopefully they will be normal when he wakes up tomorrow!
If I said that this doesn't bother me, I'd be lying. I'm concerned he won't keep the glasses on, slowing down the treatment or forcing us to change treatment methods (e.g. eye patch, chemically, etc.). We are already struggling with potty training, and I have no illusions that this will trigger him to regress. Plus, we don't want to hold off on giving him his NEW big boy bed because it'll be too many changes in his world at once.
So that ends my update, I guess. I suspect I'll be wearing my glasses around him faaaaaar more often to help be a good example.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
DJ's visit to the ophthalmologist
Currently, DJ and I are in the waiting room of the ophthalmology clinic, waiting for DJ's eyes to dilate. Frankly, this half hour is a welcome break from what we just went through, at no fault of the doctor's!!!
Dr. Collins did the red/green test, depth perception, and a crossing test. She also had DJ match letters on a page. Then she covered his left eye, and started showing him letters on an LCD screen at different sizes to try and figure out if he is near or far sighted.
He was perfect with his right eye, but struggled with his left, resulting in an initial read of 20/40. But he fought us REALLY hard throughout this process. He was screaming NO and and squirming out of my arms... Took way longer than it should have.
And if he was fighting that, imagine how much he fought us when we put he dilation drops in.... Oy.
And now we wait to see what will happen next.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Dr. Collins did the red/green test, depth perception, and a crossing test. She also had DJ match letters on a page. Then she covered his left eye, and started showing him letters on an LCD screen at different sizes to try and figure out if he is near or far sighted.
He was perfect with his right eye, but struggled with his left, resulting in an initial read of 20/40. But he fought us REALLY hard throughout this process. He was screaming NO and and squirming out of my arms... Took way longer than it should have.
And if he was fighting that, imagine how much he fought us when we put he dilation drops in.... Oy.
And now we wait to see what will happen next.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Elektra's 2nd Birthday Party
Today, we celebrated Elektra's 2nd Birthday at the house with lots of food and great company.
But to have such a party, there are preparations that must be done! Yesterday, Carole and her puppy, Coco, came over to help me with a few things (thank you very much!), but primarily helped watch the kids while I was in the kitchen. During one of those moments, Elektra needed to have her diaper changed, so Carole took her to her room to change her. She locked Coco behind the gate from which one can see the vacuum cleaner, else Coco would follow her into Elektra's room. Coco started to cry. Meanwhile, DJ, who was in the living room with Coco, walked over to Coco and said, "Coco, are you scared of the vacuum, too?" Smart boy to put that together (even if it's not accurate!).
Today was just as busy of a day, but not nearly as stressful as previous parties. I'm not sure why; maybe it was because 90% of the food was prepared yesterday instead of today...?
Anyway, I'd told DJ as he was going to sleep last night about the party and who to expect to see. By the time breakfast was over, he was a live wire... running circles around the house with Elektra following him because he was sooooooo excited. When my parents and Don arrived, both kids squeeeeealed with delight, and started running even MORE. When Grace, Evan and their caregivers (Jeff and Nadia) arrived, oh my goodness did the happiness quadruple. All 4 kids were running circles around the house!
I'm going to digress a moment and take a quick stroll down Memory Lane. The first time Jeff and Nadia came to the house with Grace for DJ's first birthday party, Grace and DJ just... looked at each other. No greeting... totally confused because they were seeing each other out of context (i.e. at Eleanor and Sonny's house) for the first time. This time, though, immediately upon seeing each other, it was instant recognition, Grace kicked off her shoes, and off they went running together. It's the cutest thing ever!
Meanwhile, we had food and oreo-cookie stuffed cupcakes for dessert (thanks to my sister!). Some had pink cream cheese icing in honor of our little sweetheart. :-) As we started to sing happy birthday, at first she joined in, then she realized it was for her, so she stopped singing and when we finished, she clapped for us! Cutest thing ever!
Afterwards, we opened gifts. Yiayia and Papou gave her some clothes, and she immediately hung on to a pair of floral tights. When she went to get her diaper changed, she came back with a pants change... even if it didn't exactly match the hearts....
Grandmom Carole gave her a bracelet which she showed to EVERYONE in the room once I put it on her.
She'd been showing high sign for awhile, so shortly after that, she went to take a nap. DJ wasn't too far behind her after Sonny, Eleanor, and the Cheevers left.
And some parting pictures:
Elektra received some really nice gifts, and she really did have a great day! Thanks to everyone who could come!
But to have such a party, there are preparations that must be done! Yesterday, Carole and her puppy, Coco, came over to help me with a few things (thank you very much!), but primarily helped watch the kids while I was in the kitchen. During one of those moments, Elektra needed to have her diaper changed, so Carole took her to her room to change her. She locked Coco behind the gate from which one can see the vacuum cleaner, else Coco would follow her into Elektra's room. Coco started to cry. Meanwhile, DJ, who was in the living room with Coco, walked over to Coco and said, "Coco, are you scared of the vacuum, too?" Smart boy to put that together (even if it's not accurate!).
Today was just as busy of a day, but not nearly as stressful as previous parties. I'm not sure why; maybe it was because 90% of the food was prepared yesterday instead of today...?
Anyway, I'd told DJ as he was going to sleep last night about the party and who to expect to see. By the time breakfast was over, he was a live wire... running circles around the house with Elektra following him because he was sooooooo excited. When my parents and Don arrived, both kids squeeeeealed with delight, and started running even MORE. When Grace, Evan and their caregivers (Jeff and Nadia) arrived, oh my goodness did the happiness quadruple. All 4 kids were running circles around the house!
I'm going to digress a moment and take a quick stroll down Memory Lane. The first time Jeff and Nadia came to the house with Grace for DJ's first birthday party, Grace and DJ just... looked at each other. No greeting... totally confused because they were seeing each other out of context (i.e. at Eleanor and Sonny's house) for the first time. This time, though, immediately upon seeing each other, it was instant recognition, Grace kicked off her shoes, and off they went running together. It's the cutest thing ever!
Meanwhile, we had food and oreo-cookie stuffed cupcakes for dessert (thanks to my sister!). Some had pink cream cheese icing in honor of our little sweetheart. :-) As we started to sing happy birthday, at first she joined in, then she realized it was for her, so she stopped singing and when we finished, she clapped for us! Cutest thing ever!
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| Elektra clapping because we finished singing happy birthday. |
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| Elektra trying to blow out the candles. |
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| Attempt #2 to blow out the candles. |
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| Posing with her birthday cupcake. |
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| Happy girl with her cupcake. |
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| Enjoying a chocolate chip cookie while DJ eats his cupcake. |
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| Mmmmm icing. |
Afterwards, we opened gifts. Yiayia and Papou gave her some clothes, and she immediately hung on to a pair of floral tights. When she went to get her diaper changed, she came back with a pants change... even if it didn't exactly match the hearts....
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| One view of "the tights" and her pony tail (pony tail holders were a present from Jill!). |
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| Another view of "the tights", sitting next to Evan |
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| Showing her bracelet to Sophia (who is showing Elektra her bracelet in return). |
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| Showing Yiayia her bracelet. |
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| Showing Sonny her bracelet. |
And some parting pictures:
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| Elektra and her grandparents from both sides: Yiayia, Papou, Carole and Don. |
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| DJ, Steve, Evanthe, and Elektra |
Elektra received some really nice gifts, and she really did have a great day! Thanks to everyone who could come!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Pictures of the birthday girl (and her brother)
On Thursday, our little girl celebrated her 2nd birthday. This post is purely to post some pictures of her and DJ.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday Morning Antics
This morning, the kids played on our bed. Some amusing moments were captured on video, including DJ singing his version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....
As always, to view the video, click here: http://faststeak.blogspot.com/2010/09/Saturday-Morning-Antics.html, and then click on the video to watch it. Alternatively, you can go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVVPG5K_XM
For those of you who want to know the text of DJ's lyrics:
As always, to view the video, click here: http://faststeak.blogspot.com/2010/09/Saturday-Morning-Antics.html, and then click on the video to watch it. Alternatively, you can go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVVPG5K_XM
For those of you who want to know the text of DJ's lyrics:
Twinkle twinkle little star
How wonder what you are
Up a little star so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How wonder what you are.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
DJ update
DJ, like Elektra, has his own potty chart, and he's starting to fill it nicely with star stickers. After 7 or 8 (usually gray - "I love gray!") star stickers, DJ gets a sparkly flower sticker. He likes being able to put the star on the chart by himself, too!
He's been going pee nicely at home, though usually I have to give him the 5 minute warning (I get "No!" for an answer), and then also tell him that he'll be able to come back and do whatever it was I'm interrupting.
I've also noticed that he's not fully emptying his bladder at one time, except maybe in the mornings after he wakes up (if I catch him before he goes in his diaper). Last night, for example, he peed 4 times in 2 hours. I think he likes the idea of getting more star stickers faster! I'm not really complaining if it's teaching and motivating him! Though I do feel like I'm spending half of my evening in the bathroom with him!
Unfortunately, he's not at the point where he will tell you reliably before he needs to go. Yesterday, he didn't have one potty success at Eleanor's. So I've decided that we really do have to just keep putting him on the potty whether he thinks he needs to or not.
In other news, we've been finding DJ sleeping in the hallway in the mornings. When I ask him why, he says it's because his bed is too small. Eleanor asked him what we should do with the car bed, and he said to give it to Elektra. Well no kidding! I guess he is ready to give up his car bed for a true big boy bed! Now the question is, do we just get a bed and frame or do we buy a whole set since we already have a dresser? Decisions!!
He's been going pee nicely at home, though usually I have to give him the 5 minute warning (I get "No!" for an answer), and then also tell him that he'll be able to come back and do whatever it was I'm interrupting.
I've also noticed that he's not fully emptying his bladder at one time, except maybe in the mornings after he wakes up (if I catch him before he goes in his diaper). Last night, for example, he peed 4 times in 2 hours. I think he likes the idea of getting more star stickers faster! I'm not really complaining if it's teaching and motivating him! Though I do feel like I'm spending half of my evening in the bathroom with him!
Unfortunately, he's not at the point where he will tell you reliably before he needs to go. Yesterday, he didn't have one potty success at Eleanor's. So I've decided that we really do have to just keep putting him on the potty whether he thinks he needs to or not.
In other news, we've been finding DJ sleeping in the hallway in the mornings. When I ask him why, he says it's because his bed is too small. Eleanor asked him what we should do with the car bed, and he said to give it to Elektra. Well no kidding! I guess he is ready to give up his car bed for a true big boy bed! Now the question is, do we just get a bed and frame or do we buy a whole set since we already have a dresser? Decisions!!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Elektra's 1st potty!!!!
So Elektra just came into the kitchen where Steve and I were talking and said, "Potty?"
"You want to go potty?" Steve asks.
"Yes!" Elektra replied emphatically.
As Steve starts to take her to the bathroom, she tosses Bunny to the side rather unceremoniously and says, "Munny, wait there!"
I hear Steve take her into the bathroom and as he's stripping off her diaper says, "One of these days, you're going to surprise yourself and actually do something while sitting on the potty."
I hear Steve talking to her while she's sitting on the potty, and then I hear Steve say to her that the water comes out from right.....there. He said that he gently touched her.
Three seconds later, I hear water coming out... And I paused and thought, that doesn't sound like the sink...
"She's doing it!!" Steve yells. I go running in to see a little girl going pee pee on the potty!!! I jumped up and down, clapped excitedly, said "YAY!!" very loudly, and she got so excited that she clapped and squealed in delight.
Steve wiped her, and then picked her up and held her high in the air (sqeeeeee! of delight).
I asked her what color star sticker she wanted, and to my surprise she didn't say red (because every time I ask her what color something is, it's red!), but yellow!
Elektra got to put her first yellow star sticker on her potty chart!
Steve and I are so surprised!! Way to go Elektra!!!
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"You want to go potty?" Steve asks.
"Yes!" Elektra replied emphatically.
As Steve starts to take her to the bathroom, she tosses Bunny to the side rather unceremoniously and says, "Munny, wait there!"
I hear Steve take her into the bathroom and as he's stripping off her diaper says, "One of these days, you're going to surprise yourself and actually do something while sitting on the potty."
I hear Steve talking to her while she's sitting on the potty, and then I hear Steve say to her that the water comes out from right.....there. He said that he gently touched her.
Three seconds later, I hear water coming out... And I paused and thought, that doesn't sound like the sink...
"She's doing it!!" Steve yells. I go running in to see a little girl going pee pee on the potty!!! I jumped up and down, clapped excitedly, said "YAY!!" very loudly, and she got so excited that she clapped and squealed in delight.
Steve wiped her, and then picked her up and held her high in the air (sqeeeeee! of delight).
I asked her what color star sticker she wanted, and to my surprise she didn't say red (because every time I ask her what color something is, it's red!), but yellow!
Elektra got to put her first yellow star sticker on her potty chart!
Steve and I are so surprised!! Way to go Elektra!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Kids update
Yesterday, after asking for an early nap, DJ slept for 2.5 hours. He still skipped lunch but had a half decent dinner of some roasted chicken breast and half a banana (part of the Hiney Binder Special diet).
Not to be outdone by how much this bug is affecting her, Elektra had 3 explosive bowel movements in 3 minutes - I'd change her, she take off to the living room, immediately turn around and run back to me, and we'd go to change her again. This must have worn her out because she fell asleep in a chair watching tv at 12:30, and didn't even fuss to get out of bed at 5, though she was wide awake and feeling a little better when I went in to check on her. She also had a half decent dinner.
Both kids went to bed relatively early, as did Steve, who slept from about 4pm until 3:30 AM (with one wake up between 6-7PM) because he felt rotten. He at least is functional today.
Meanwhile, DJ seems to be feeling better today, having eaten eggs with cheese for breakfast and some pancakes for lunch. He actually said he was hungry while we were at the playground with Leo and his caregivers (Damian and Jenn). DJ climbed all sorts of playground equipment today, trying things he'd never tried before! DJ also said on the way home that his tummy feels good. Let's hope that's really the case!
Elektra is still a mess. She is in a good mood, though, and despite the fact that she explicitly asked for pancakes this morning when she woke up, she didn't eat more than half of one and a bit of a peach. She basically had no lunch...she refused everything! She's had 3 massive diapers already, too...poor girl. But she had a good time at the playground going down slides (with Daddy - tandem slide and all by herself)!
Both kids are napping now, and hopefully they'll take good naps!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Not to be outdone by how much this bug is affecting her, Elektra had 3 explosive bowel movements in 3 minutes - I'd change her, she take off to the living room, immediately turn around and run back to me, and we'd go to change her again. This must have worn her out because she fell asleep in a chair watching tv at 12:30, and didn't even fuss to get out of bed at 5, though she was wide awake and feeling a little better when I went in to check on her. She also had a half decent dinner.
Both kids went to bed relatively early, as did Steve, who slept from about 4pm until 3:30 AM (with one wake up between 6-7PM) because he felt rotten. He at least is functional today.
Meanwhile, DJ seems to be feeling better today, having eaten eggs with cheese for breakfast and some pancakes for lunch. He actually said he was hungry while we were at the playground with Leo and his caregivers (Damian and Jenn). DJ climbed all sorts of playground equipment today, trying things he'd never tried before! DJ also said on the way home that his tummy feels good. Let's hope that's really the case!
Elektra is still a mess. She is in a good mood, though, and despite the fact that she explicitly asked for pancakes this morning when she woke up, she didn't eat more than half of one and a bit of a peach. She basically had no lunch...she refused everything! She's had 3 massive diapers already, too...poor girl. But she had a good time at the playground going down slides (with Daddy - tandem slide and all by herself)!
Both kids are napping now, and hopefully they'll take good naps!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
School has started...
...and my kids are sick. Coincidence? I think not!! Both kids have some kind of intestinal bug. Elektra has had it since Tuesday and DJ started showing signs of it yesterday.
Today, we were supposed to drive to Lancaster to see the Schramms and celebrate Papou's birthday. Those plans fell through when:
1. DJ refused breakfast (very unusual).
2. Elektra refused breakfast (also unusual).
3. DJ had diarrhea and after I changed his diaper, he vomited all over the rug in the hall. Outfit change #1.
4. Elektra has her own less severe case of diarrhea.
5. DJ blew out his diaper to the point where Steve had to drop him in the tub. Outfit change #2.
DJ has consistently said all morning (whenever we asked) that his tummy hurts. Poor guy. And we don't think he's just saying that. But neither he nor Elektra are running fevers. There is a positive! Oh and another positive, the weather is so awesome that we have all the windows and doors open such that we can air out the house from the vomit/diarrhea smell we have infesting the house!!
Elektra had 2 blowouts yesterday (and 1 on Thursday) like the one DJ had today, but I managed to escape with no tub time for those. She hasn't had a diaper like that today, yet. Update: see the end of this post... I'm hoping that means she's on the tail end of this thing now, and that it might be indicative of what's in store for DJ.
The kids ate goldfish crackers for sustenance this morning and have been drinking water/milk.
Then, a few minutes ago (11:00 AM), DJ came to me and said he wanted to go to bed. I said ok, followed him to his room, he laid down with Tiger and I covered him with his blanket. I asked him if he wanted me to lie down in his car bed with him. He said no, to sit in the chair (in his room). Within 10 minutes, he was asleep. So he's skipping lunch today for an early nap!
While I was writing this, Elektra punished a diaper. I changed her and although it's still diarrhea, it wasn't just straight water. That's a good sign... I'll just keep telling myself that, anyway!!
Steve and I are, so far, unaffected, but we'll see if that lasts!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Today, we were supposed to drive to Lancaster to see the Schramms and celebrate Papou's birthday. Those plans fell through when:
1. DJ refused breakfast (very unusual).
2. Elektra refused breakfast (also unusual).
3. DJ had diarrhea and after I changed his diaper, he vomited all over the rug in the hall. Outfit change #1.
4. Elektra has her own less severe case of diarrhea.
5. DJ blew out his diaper to the point where Steve had to drop him in the tub. Outfit change #2.
DJ has consistently said all morning (whenever we asked) that his tummy hurts. Poor guy. And we don't think he's just saying that. But neither he nor Elektra are running fevers. There is a positive! Oh and another positive, the weather is so awesome that we have all the windows and doors open such that we can air out the house from the vomit/diarrhea smell we have infesting the house!!
Elektra had 2 blowouts yesterday (and 1 on Thursday) like the one DJ had today, but I managed to escape with no tub time for those. She hasn't had a diaper like that today, yet. Update: see the end of this post... I'm hoping that means she's on the tail end of this thing now, and that it might be indicative of what's in store for DJ.
The kids ate goldfish crackers for sustenance this morning and have been drinking water/milk.
Then, a few minutes ago (11:00 AM), DJ came to me and said he wanted to go to bed. I said ok, followed him to his room, he laid down with Tiger and I covered him with his blanket. I asked him if he wanted me to lie down in his car bed with him. He said no, to sit in the chair (in his room). Within 10 minutes, he was asleep. So he's skipping lunch today for an early nap!
While I was writing this, Elektra punished a diaper. I changed her and although it's still diarrhea, it wasn't just straight water. That's a good sign... I'll just keep telling myself that, anyway!!
Steve and I are, so far, unaffected, but we'll see if that lasts!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Elektra's Sand Bath
I went to pick up the kids from daycare yesterday. While DJ, Grace, and Elektra played happily in the sandbox, Eleanor took me inside to show me the damage DJ had done the day before with the Desitin. As we were walking back outside, Eleanor and I see Grace standing up and pouring an entire cup of sand over Elektra's head.
"Well, DJ poured sand on Grace's head a few weeks ago... I guess it's payback," I thought. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. I mean, really, it was hilarious.
Elektra didn't even react. I don't think she knew how to.
Meanwhile, Grace was saying that she was giving Elektra a bath. And I'm 100% positive that in her mind, that's exactly what she was doing. It just so happened to be that she was pretending that sand was water.
While Grace got a timeout, I did my best to get the sand out of Elektra's hair, clothes, body, etc. And because Elektra was wearing a sleeveless top, I knew she had it down her shorts, diaper, onesie, etc. I knew it was no use to think I was going to get away with no sand in my car (and her carseat).
I called Steve to give him the forewarning that we'd be giving baths before dinner.
When I got home, we dropped Elektra directly into the tub. As Steve stripped her down, this is how much sand fell out of her clothes and diaper:
Needless to say, I had to rinse Elektra from head to toe multiple times before I could get 90% of the sand off of her. Then I had to rinse the tub before I could let a very anxious DJ into it. Then I spent the next 20 minutes working on getting it out of her hair with shampoo, conditioner, and a fine toothed comb!
I noticed today just how much sand her carseat has in it, and I will have to take it out of the car to shake it out, too!!
"Well, DJ poured sand on Grace's head a few weeks ago... I guess it's payback," I thought. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. I mean, really, it was hilarious.
Elektra didn't even react. I don't think she knew how to.
Meanwhile, Grace was saying that she was giving Elektra a bath. And I'm 100% positive that in her mind, that's exactly what she was doing. It just so happened to be that she was pretending that sand was water.
While Grace got a timeout, I did my best to get the sand out of Elektra's hair, clothes, body, etc. And because Elektra was wearing a sleeveless top, I knew she had it down her shorts, diaper, onesie, etc. I knew it was no use to think I was going to get away with no sand in my car (and her carseat).
I called Steve to give him the forewarning that we'd be giving baths before dinner.
When I got home, we dropped Elektra directly into the tub. As Steve stripped her down, this is how much sand fell out of her clothes and diaper:
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| This is what sand baths can look like! |
I noticed today just how much sand her carseat has in it, and I will have to take it out of the car to shake it out, too!!
DJ's (mis)adventures
We don't know what's going other than the fact that it's clear that DJ is acting out... big time. Why is he acting out? No idea. We've totally stopped any attempt at potty training so it can't be that. Other than being on vacation last week, nothing else has changed. ::clueless::
So what has he done?
At Eleanor's on Thursday, he climbed out of his crib during nap, and proceeded to get into things. He reached onto the computer desk, grabbed the digital camera, the stamps (which he started to peel off... they're stickers, of course!), a rubber stamp (really good thing he didn't get that open...), and apparently, the scotch tape because he taped the rails of his crib.
When he was done with what was on the computer desk, he went into the bathroom. He found the tube of Desitin, and proceeded to squirt it into the sink, and then wipe it around like finger painting. Then he took it into the playroom and squirted it onto the glass doors (and finger painted with it there, too). And the kicker... he squirted into holes in the rug.
Both Steve and I were speechless. We don't even know where to start. It turns out that we should have heeded the warning...
This morning I left early for my annual required service to the field hockey officials organization. I left the door to our room open so Steve could hear the kids when they wake up. He heard DJ when DJ started banging a pepper grinder onto a tuna can.
Wait, what?
I received a text from Steve that said DJ had gotten into the pantry, and had poured sugar and breadcrumbs all over the rug.
It looks like DJ actually dumped the powdered creamer we had in case of the no-half-n-half-for-coffee-emergency as opposed to the full 5 pound bag of sugar (and matching flour) we have a few shelves up. The reason Steve thought it was the sugar is because DJ said "the sugar tasted sweet" and the breadcrumbs "smelled good". At least we know our boy has good taste; picked the Italian Breadcrumbs to dump onto our rug.
DJ also chose to pour the creamer into corners on the rug inside his room, next to his door hinges.
He also sprinkled some powdered creamer next to the corners where the gate latches and by the hinges in the rug, of course, and not, conveniently, on the tile.
Because this just couldn't get any better, DJ took some of the breadcrumbs and sprinkled some of those in front of the hall bathroom on the rug, of course, and not, conveniently, on the tile.
The glass bottle was empty, so thankfully, he didn't pour any liquid out, else we'd probably be tearing up the rug today.
As you can see, DJ played with his pile of breadcrumbs and creamer like a sandbox, having put the breadcrumb can in the middle of it. Also evidenced here are the tools DJ used to wake up Steve, the pepper grinder (which was also empty), and the tuna cans which now have nice dents in them.
You can also see an empty Jello chocolate pudding box. The actual bag of pudding mix is buried under the breadcrumb pile near the back (towards the empty breadcrumb can), and we found that it was unopened, thankfully. That would have been one step closer to disaster.
But we were REALLY thankful that DJ did not open the bottle of the Light Corn Syrup. I normally wouldn't worry about that because the bottle is made from pretty solid plastic and if unopened, has a foil safety topper stuck on the inside. But because this bottle is partly used, all he would have had to do was flip open the top or twist off the top, and we most definitely would have been ripping up the carpet today.
Needless to say, Steve went to Walmart and bought more door knob covers!!!! One for the pantry, one for the hall bathroom (he's been going in and turning on the sink), one for the basement (even though it has a lock, one for the outside of Elektra's room, and one for the utility closet.
So what has he done?
At Eleanor's on Thursday, he climbed out of his crib during nap, and proceeded to get into things. He reached onto the computer desk, grabbed the digital camera, the stamps (which he started to peel off... they're stickers, of course!), a rubber stamp (really good thing he didn't get that open...), and apparently, the scotch tape because he taped the rails of his crib.
When he was done with what was on the computer desk, he went into the bathroom. He found the tube of Desitin, and proceeded to squirt it into the sink, and then wipe it around like finger painting. Then he took it into the playroom and squirted it onto the glass doors (and finger painted with it there, too). And the kicker... he squirted into holes in the rug.
Both Steve and I were speechless. We don't even know where to start. It turns out that we should have heeded the warning...
This morning I left early for my annual required service to the field hockey officials organization. I left the door to our room open so Steve could hear the kids when they wake up. He heard DJ when DJ started banging a pepper grinder onto a tuna can.
Wait, what?
I received a text from Steve that said DJ had gotten into the pantry, and had poured sugar and breadcrumbs all over the rug.
 |
| DJ's pantry raid |
DJ also chose to pour the creamer into corners on the rug inside his room, next to his door hinges.
 |
| The creamer was sprinkled next to the door hinges on the floor in DJ's room. |
 |
| More creamer in the corners |
The glass bottle was empty, so thankfully, he didn't pour any liquid out, else we'd probably be tearing up the rug today.
 |
| A close-up view of the most damage. |
You can also see an empty Jello chocolate pudding box. The actual bag of pudding mix is buried under the breadcrumb pile near the back (towards the empty breadcrumb can), and we found that it was unopened, thankfully. That would have been one step closer to disaster.
But we were REALLY thankful that DJ did not open the bottle of the Light Corn Syrup. I normally wouldn't worry about that because the bottle is made from pretty solid plastic and if unopened, has a foil safety topper stuck on the inside. But because this bottle is partly used, all he would have had to do was flip open the top or twist off the top, and we most definitely would have been ripping up the carpet today.
Needless to say, Steve went to Walmart and bought more door knob covers!!!! One for the pantry, one for the hall bathroom (he's been going in and turning on the sink), one for the basement (even though it has a lock, one for the outside of Elektra's room, and one for the utility closet.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Some more pictures from the beach
More pictures from the beach...
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| Papou, the Tickle Monster. Elektra would then ask, "Again?" |
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| Pure, unadulterated happiness! |
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| DJ at the beach. |
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| DJ playing in the "really, really big sandbox (and bucket)". |
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| Elektra coming over to play with the bucket. |
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| Elektra, the sun-kissed baby with Yiayia Elektra and Nouna Sophia. |
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| Elektra and Sophia playing with an iPad. |
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| DJ during dinner at the Oceanic Restaurant. |
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Elektra vs. The Greek Yogurt
A picture is a thousand words... taken while at Wrightsville Beach, August 10, 2010.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Beach Day 2
Today's beach adventure ended early for Elektra. She just wanted no parts of the beach. She dug in the sand for a few minutes, then wanted to sit on Daddy's lap on his beach chair. I tried taking her out to the very shallow part of the ocean, and she freaked out. She ran back up to Steve, and asked to watch Word World and Thomas. Of course she could watch neither as we didn't have our iPads with us. Then she asked to go home. Yiouch. So Steve took her home to the pool. It turns out she not only had an early lunch but she was also down for a nap by 12:30. She's having a rough day, I guess.
DJ, meanwhile, immediately started digging in the "really really big sandbox!" He had a good time digging, and he'd take his watering can to the water and fill it without asking us for us to help him. He'd just go down to the ocean, fill it, and come back. Sometimes, he'd let the ocean "chase" him back towards the beach, laughing the whole way. After a few rounds of that, he looked up looking for us, and realized he was farther away than he wanted to be. He came over to us, and then went back down to the water.
After Steve took Elektra back to the house, DJ and I walked down to the water, and then sat in it where the waves had to wash up to us. He sat in between my legs, and the waves washed over us, and DJ was putting sand on my legs, in the bucket, picking up shells... he had a grand old time. He sat there with me for over 45 minutes, and he didn't want to go home. Though then when he realized he was hungry, he said he wanted to go get some "Yunch."
Home we went, showered off the sand and salt, and had a good lunch. As a reward, DJ go to eat a Krispy Kreme for dessert. He fell asleep for his nap in under 20 minutes... he was cooked.
DJ, meanwhile, immediately started digging in the "really really big sandbox!" He had a good time digging, and he'd take his watering can to the water and fill it without asking us for us to help him. He'd just go down to the ocean, fill it, and come back. Sometimes, he'd let the ocean "chase" him back towards the beach, laughing the whole way. After a few rounds of that, he looked up looking for us, and realized he was farther away than he wanted to be. He came over to us, and then went back down to the water.
After Steve took Elektra back to the house, DJ and I walked down to the water, and then sat in it where the waves had to wash up to us. He sat in between my legs, and the waves washed over us, and DJ was putting sand on my legs, in the bucket, picking up shells... he had a grand old time. He sat there with me for over 45 minutes, and he didn't want to go home. Though then when he realized he was hungry, he said he wanted to go get some "Yunch."
Home we went, showered off the sand and salt, and had a good lunch. As a reward, DJ go to eat a Krispy Kreme for dessert. He fell asleep for his nap in under 20 minutes... he was cooked.
Wrightsville Beach 2010
It's already past mid-week here at Wrightsville Beach. Vacation is going to be over so fast!!
This year, we are staying in a new house, and it is spectacular. We actually have an appropriate number of rooms for people! We are staying in a room with 2 queens. DJ is sleeping in one, and we are sleeping in the other. He's been sleeping pretty well, though we aren't sure if it's because he's just that tuckered out, we're in the room with him, or if it's because he's in a big bed. Whatever the case, he's doing a great job sleeping. Elektra has her own room with the pack-n-play, and after the first day, has been a dream child... hanging out in her crib after she wakes up, and sleeping for many hours.
The house also has a really nice outdoor pool which we have been using extensively. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, we took the kids to the pool in the morning because the tide has been high in the mornings and because the pool is completely in the shade (yay for no sunblock application!). Elektra wants no parts of being carried out into the pool, though she was willing to sit on a raft with me on Tuesday. She sits on the edge, fills her watering can, pours it out, and refills it. She'll also kick her feet in the water ("kick kick kick!"). DJ didn't want to go out into the middle of the pool either until Tuesday, when after a raft ride with me, he asked to be carried out. He kicked his feet like a big swimmer, and did a great job. Otherwise, he's been thoroughly enjoying the $5 water cannon from Walmart and filling/refilling his watering can.
On Wednesday, we decided to take the kids to the beach in the morning. It's quite the ordeal to get them (and us!) ready, but out we went. DJ was excited to play in the really big sandbox, and he did take right to it. Once he decided he wanted some water for his watering can, he went down to the ocean without really fussing, and filled his can! Thio Steve and Spiro found lots of sand crabs to put in a bucket, and DJ played with those, too! By the end of the day, I picked him up and carried him out into the waves. He I explained what the waves were doing (breaking) when he asked what all the white bubbles were. He would laugh every time a wave would break on us, and he genuinely had a great time... even said himself that it was fun!
Elektra took to the really big sandbox, too. She took off running for the water and when the first wave splashed over her ankles, she WAILED. We figured out that the lack of footing was really freaking her out, so we made sure that she was in some solid footing each time we took her to the water. At the end of the day, Steve carried her out to where DJ and I were, but she had mixed feelings about it. She would laugh because DJ was laughing, but she really wasn't thrilled about being in the middle of the water. Refilling the watering can was always a good trick to get her to come in the water, though.
The kids were exhausted by lunchtime, and were in bed for naps by 1pm. They got up shortly before 5PM. During nap, DJ was plastered up against me, and I saw him wake up a few times, look at me, and go back to sleep. At one point, Steve and I switched spots and when DJ opened his eyes and realized I was not next to him, he quickly looked to see with whom he was cuddled. As soon as he realized it was Daddy, he shut his eyes again and went back to sleep for another half an hour.
We went out for dinner that night, and the kids had enormous appetites. DJ put away a metric ton of corn bread, popcorn shrimp, broccoli, sweet potato and homemade potato chips. Elektra also put away a lot of corn bread and chicken strips. Then they both helped us put away Rita's frozen custard treats. :-)
Otherwise, the kids are having a ball playing with their cousins. DJ really enjoys eating his meals with his cousins, and we think he's been eating better because of them. One of his favorite vegetables this past week has been shredded carrots. Elektra is still mostly boycotting vegetables, par usual.
Both Steve and I have gotten some naps in (when the kids are napping), and it has been a fairly relaxing week overall. I'll post pictures when I get them off of other people's cameras.
This year, we are staying in a new house, and it is spectacular. We actually have an appropriate number of rooms for people! We are staying in a room with 2 queens. DJ is sleeping in one, and we are sleeping in the other. He's been sleeping pretty well, though we aren't sure if it's because he's just that tuckered out, we're in the room with him, or if it's because he's in a big bed. Whatever the case, he's doing a great job sleeping. Elektra has her own room with the pack-n-play, and after the first day, has been a dream child... hanging out in her crib after she wakes up, and sleeping for many hours.
The house also has a really nice outdoor pool which we have been using extensively. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, we took the kids to the pool in the morning because the tide has been high in the mornings and because the pool is completely in the shade (yay for no sunblock application!). Elektra wants no parts of being carried out into the pool, though she was willing to sit on a raft with me on Tuesday. She sits on the edge, fills her watering can, pours it out, and refills it. She'll also kick her feet in the water ("kick kick kick!"). DJ didn't want to go out into the middle of the pool either until Tuesday, when after a raft ride with me, he asked to be carried out. He kicked his feet like a big swimmer, and did a great job. Otherwise, he's been thoroughly enjoying the $5 water cannon from Walmart and filling/refilling his watering can.
On Wednesday, we decided to take the kids to the beach in the morning. It's quite the ordeal to get them (and us!) ready, but out we went. DJ was excited to play in the really big sandbox, and he did take right to it. Once he decided he wanted some water for his watering can, he went down to the ocean without really fussing, and filled his can! Thio Steve and Spiro found lots of sand crabs to put in a bucket, and DJ played with those, too! By the end of the day, I picked him up and carried him out into the waves. He I explained what the waves were doing (breaking) when he asked what all the white bubbles were. He would laugh every time a wave would break on us, and he genuinely had a great time... even said himself that it was fun!
Elektra took to the really big sandbox, too. She took off running for the water and when the first wave splashed over her ankles, she WAILED. We figured out that the lack of footing was really freaking her out, so we made sure that she was in some solid footing each time we took her to the water. At the end of the day, Steve carried her out to where DJ and I were, but she had mixed feelings about it. She would laugh because DJ was laughing, but she really wasn't thrilled about being in the middle of the water. Refilling the watering can was always a good trick to get her to come in the water, though.
The kids were exhausted by lunchtime, and were in bed for naps by 1pm. They got up shortly before 5PM. During nap, DJ was plastered up against me, and I saw him wake up a few times, look at me, and go back to sleep. At one point, Steve and I switched spots and when DJ opened his eyes and realized I was not next to him, he quickly looked to see with whom he was cuddled. As soon as he realized it was Daddy, he shut his eyes again and went back to sleep for another half an hour.
We went out for dinner that night, and the kids had enormous appetites. DJ put away a metric ton of corn bread, popcorn shrimp, broccoli, sweet potato and homemade potato chips. Elektra also put away a lot of corn bread and chicken strips. Then they both helped us put away Rita's frozen custard treats. :-)
Otherwise, the kids are having a ball playing with their cousins. DJ really enjoys eating his meals with his cousins, and we think he's been eating better because of them. One of his favorite vegetables this past week has been shredded carrots. Elektra is still mostly boycotting vegetables, par usual.
Both Steve and I have gotten some naps in (when the kids are napping), and it has been a fairly relaxing week overall. I'll post pictures when I get them off of other people's cameras.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
A Poopy Voicemail
Yesterday, I received a voicemail from DJ (with prompting from Eleanor and Sonny):
Begin voicemail.
"Go now. Say, hi."
"Hiiii!"
"Tell her what you did."
"I poopied!"
"In the potty. (pause...) Tell her!"
"I poopied in the potty! It was a big poop and a little poop."
"Alright, tell her you'll talk to her later. (pause...) Say, I'll to you later, Mommy!"
"I talk to you later, Mommy!"
"Bye."
"BYEEEE!"
End of voicemail.
Hilarious!!!
Begin voicemail.
"Go now. Say, hi."
"Hiiii!"
"Tell her what you did."
"I poopied!"
"In the potty. (pause...) Tell her!"
"I poopied in the potty! It was a big poop and a little poop."
"Alright, tell her you'll talk to her later. (pause...) Say, I'll to you later, Mommy!"
"I talk to you later, Mommy!"
"Bye."
"BYEEEE!"
End of voicemail.
Hilarious!!!
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Strange Bedfellows ... Again
Thursday night, as I was saying goodnight to DJ, I asked him if he was going to come sleep with us. He said yes. At least he's honest!
At 12:30, I heard DJ open his door, but I was too tired to get out of bed and then I didn't hear anything until my alarm at 6:15. I crawled over a sleeping Steve and sure enough, there was DJ, sleeping on the floor next to Steve. He had brought his pillow, Tiger, and his blanket. It was so cute!
Friday night, Steve went to bed early, and closed our bedroom door (not latched) so he could have some quiet. When I came to bed around 12:30, I went to confirm the basement door was closed, and nearly tripped over DJ who was sleeping in the hall outside of Elektra's door. I guess he didn't want to come into our room since the door was closed.
It was so cute.....
He was solidly asleep, so I picked him up and put him back in his bed. He whined, and that woke up Steve, so then both of us were up consoling him. He went back to sleep, but woke up again around 5:30. At that point, I just let him come to bed with us.
::sigh::
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
At 12:30, I heard DJ open his door, but I was too tired to get out of bed and then I didn't hear anything until my alarm at 6:15. I crawled over a sleeping Steve and sure enough, there was DJ, sleeping on the floor next to Steve. He had brought his pillow, Tiger, and his blanket. It was so cute!
Friday night, Steve went to bed early, and closed our bedroom door (not latched) so he could have some quiet. When I came to bed around 12:30, I went to confirm the basement door was closed, and nearly tripped over DJ who was sleeping in the hall outside of Elektra's door. I guess he didn't want to come into our room since the door was closed.
It was so cute.....
He was solidly asleep, so I picked him up and put him back in his bed. He whined, and that woke up Steve, so then both of us were up consoling him. He went back to sleep, but woke up again around 5:30. At that point, I just let him come to bed with us.
::sigh::
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A Parenting Milestone
No one said potty training a boy would be easy. In fact, everyone says that potty training a boy is hard. DJ is no exception...he's the epitome!
He's doing great, though, especially if you can stay ahead of him. He has not had a pee accident in over a week, which we think is fantastic. He has even asked to go pee first thing in the morning, having held it all night and not going in his diaper!
Poo accidents, on the other hand, we've not been so lucky. His first true poo accident came on Sunday. The "damage" was minimal, and his underwear was washable. No problem! We were hoping that would be his be big moment where he figured it all out, but not so much, On Monday, he had a cleanable accident at Eleanor's during the morning. When I went to pick him up, we noticed he was squirming a little. So we asked if he needed to go potty, he said no, so we didn't argue it. He got into his car seat, I strapped in Elektra, and then I smelled it.
"DJ, did you got poopy in your underwear?"
"Yes."
Aw, $#!+.
Well...at least he was honest.
I take him back into Eleanor's to change him. It was every bit a grand mess. I thought about trying to salvage the underwear. Then I thought better of it.
With that decision, I officially reached a Parenting Milestone: I threw out the first (of likely many) pair of toddler underwear.
After cleaning him, I asked DJ what it felt like to have poopy in his underwear (and frankly, sit on it, but I didn't actually ask that).
"It felt like mud."
"This is good..." I think to myself.
"Did you like the way that felt?"
"No."
"Excellent! NOW maybe the lesson will sink in," I think.
Yeah, well, who am I kidding? This is a toddler we're talking about here.
Sure enough, DJ had another poopy accident in his underwear. This pair required soaking, so we will see if they are worth keeping.
It also sounds like I will need to buy stock in Oxyclean before this is all over!!
He's doing great, though, especially if you can stay ahead of him. He has not had a pee accident in over a week, which we think is fantastic. He has even asked to go pee first thing in the morning, having held it all night and not going in his diaper!
Poo accidents, on the other hand, we've not been so lucky. His first true poo accident came on Sunday. The "damage" was minimal, and his underwear was washable. No problem! We were hoping that would be his be big moment where he figured it all out, but not so much, On Monday, he had a cleanable accident at Eleanor's during the morning. When I went to pick him up, we noticed he was squirming a little. So we asked if he needed to go potty, he said no, so we didn't argue it. He got into his car seat, I strapped in Elektra, and then I smelled it.
"DJ, did you got poopy in your underwear?"
"Yes."
Aw, $#!+.
Well...at least he was honest.
I take him back into Eleanor's to change him. It was every bit a grand mess. I thought about trying to salvage the underwear. Then I thought better of it.
With that decision, I officially reached a Parenting Milestone: I threw out the first (of likely many) pair of toddler underwear.
After cleaning him, I asked DJ what it felt like to have poopy in his underwear (and frankly, sit on it, but I didn't actually ask that).
"It felt like mud."
"This is good..." I think to myself.
"Did you like the way that felt?"
"No."
"Excellent! NOW maybe the lesson will sink in," I think.
Yeah, well, who am I kidding? This is a toddler we're talking about here.
Sure enough, DJ had another poopy accident in his underwear. This pair required soaking, so we will see if they are worth keeping.
It also sounds like I will need to buy stock in Oxyclean before this is all over!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wall Writing
I do not mean "the writing on the wall". I mean "wall writing", as in what human males do when they don't manage to urinate IN a toilet, on purpose or not.
DJ has officially joined the not-so-elite club of wall writers. I'm pretty sure it was an accident. But then I think about the circumstances, and I'm not so sure.
I had kids by myself last (Friday) night. I was in the process of cooking dinner when DJ came to me and said he needed to go potty. Naturally, this was right when I needed to take the food off of the stove. I dumped the pasta unceremoniously into the colander, and went to help DJ.
Meanwhile, Elektra had started to get mad a few minutes earlier because I told her Daddy wasn't home. So when she found herself on the other side of the gate from DJ, her full blown meltdown began. I quickly pulled down DJ's shorts and underwear, sat him on the potty, and went to address Elektra's meltdown figuring DJ can pee without my hovering over him because he's been doing such a good job with it this whole week.
Then the phone rang; caller ID said it was Eleanor. Elektra was still wailing, but I decided she was just having a tantrum and would ignore it. I went to answer the phone, and came right back to the bathroom while still exchanging greetings, expecting to find DJ still not having gone pee. Instead, when I arrived, DJ said, "I did it, Mommy!" That's when Eleanor heard, "Ohhhhhh.... Yes... you did do it."
DJ had not held his penis down when he started peeing. Ok, that usually results in a little mess on the floor just in front of the toilet; no big deal. But on top of that, he had to have pushed as hard as he could because the stream not only hit the rug in front of the toilet and part of the shower curtain beyond the rug, but he also hit the far wall of the bathroom, clearing the entire width of the bathtub. We are talking a good 4 - 5 feet!
Wall Writing. There it was, just as Steve had predicted shortly after DJ was born. I don't think the wall writing started intentionally but when he saw some pretty fun results, I have to think that he just kept on going!
I was still on the phone with Eleanor planning what would be today's (Saturday) activity when I told DJ to sit there one more minute. I ran to put Elektra in her high chair and give her milk hoping that it would calm her down (it didn't...she didn't calm down until she got her dinner to inhale). That's when I turned back around to go back to DJ, and saw, instead, DJ trying to run around in his room with both his underwear and shorts still around his ankles.
Two thoughts went through my head:
1. He didn't wait for me to come back. But being that I didn't say that explicitly, I couldn't be mad. Plus, was it more than a minute? To a toddler, the answer is "absolutely"!
2. Why didn't he pull up his underwear/shorts??? He knows how!! Needless to say, the sight was hysterical.
Shortly thereafter, dinner was served, and the world settled back to a normal pace.
Only then did I clean up Aisle 1.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
DJ has officially joined the not-so-elite club of wall writers. I'm pretty sure it was an accident. But then I think about the circumstances, and I'm not so sure.
I had kids by myself last (Friday) night. I was in the process of cooking dinner when DJ came to me and said he needed to go potty. Naturally, this was right when I needed to take the food off of the stove. I dumped the pasta unceremoniously into the colander, and went to help DJ.
Meanwhile, Elektra had started to get mad a few minutes earlier because I told her Daddy wasn't home. So when she found herself on the other side of the gate from DJ, her full blown meltdown began. I quickly pulled down DJ's shorts and underwear, sat him on the potty, and went to address Elektra's meltdown figuring DJ can pee without my hovering over him because he's been doing such a good job with it this whole week.
Then the phone rang; caller ID said it was Eleanor. Elektra was still wailing, but I decided she was just having a tantrum and would ignore it. I went to answer the phone, and came right back to the bathroom while still exchanging greetings, expecting to find DJ still not having gone pee. Instead, when I arrived, DJ said, "I did it, Mommy!" That's when Eleanor heard, "Ohhhhhh.... Yes... you did do it."
DJ had not held his penis down when he started peeing. Ok, that usually results in a little mess on the floor just in front of the toilet; no big deal. But on top of that, he had to have pushed as hard as he could because the stream not only hit the rug in front of the toilet and part of the shower curtain beyond the rug, but he also hit the far wall of the bathroom, clearing the entire width of the bathtub. We are talking a good 4 - 5 feet!
Wall Writing. There it was, just as Steve had predicted shortly after DJ was born. I don't think the wall writing started intentionally but when he saw some pretty fun results, I have to think that he just kept on going!
I was still on the phone with Eleanor planning what would be today's (Saturday) activity when I told DJ to sit there one more minute. I ran to put Elektra in her high chair and give her milk hoping that it would calm her down (it didn't...she didn't calm down until she got her dinner to inhale). That's when I turned back around to go back to DJ, and saw, instead, DJ trying to run around in his room with both his underwear and shorts still around his ankles.
Two thoughts went through my head:
1. He didn't wait for me to come back. But being that I didn't say that explicitly, I couldn't be mad. Plus, was it more than a minute? To a toddler, the answer is "absolutely"!
2. Why didn't he pull up his underwear/shorts??? He knows how!! Needless to say, the sight was hysterical.
Shortly thereafter, dinner was served, and the world settled back to a normal pace.
Only then did I clean up Aisle 1.
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Accidents Happen
At home on Monday night and on Tuesday at daycare, DJ had an accident. He was just so engrossed in playing that he completely forgot that he needed to go potty.
In the case of Monday night, he'd just gone potty not half an hour before, so this surprised all of us. No rugs were harmed in the making of that potty training session.
On Tuesday at Eleanor's, he was having such a good time playing in the sandbox (and consequently, drizzling sand onto Grace's head/hair) that he didn't notice that he needed to go. It was completely immaterial that DJ (and Grace, for that matter) needed a bath because of his accident ... because was completely covered in sand!!!
But on the positive side, he has been coming to our room in the mornings and asking to go potty when he wakes up. And he goes successfully! He has been wearing diapers only for naps and bedtime. In fact, last night, he wanted no parts of underwear OR his diaper!!! So he ran around nekkid. :-)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad.
In the case of Monday night, he'd just gone potty not half an hour before, so this surprised all of us. No rugs were harmed in the making of that potty training session.
On Tuesday at Eleanor's, he was having such a good time playing in the sandbox (and consequently, drizzling sand onto Grace's head/hair) that he didn't notice that he needed to go. It was completely immaterial that DJ (and Grace, for that matter) needed a bath because of his accident ... because was completely covered in sand!!!
But on the positive side, he has been coming to our room in the mornings and asking to go potty when he wakes up. And he goes successfully! He has been wearing diapers only for naps and bedtime. In fact, last night, he wanted no parts of underwear OR his diaper!!! So he ran around nekkid. :-)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Potty Training
We have spent the last couple of weekends working on trying to potty train DJ via the no-diaper method. Most people's reaction to this method is, "Wow, that could get messy!" And while this is true, it's not like we don't already have not-so-house-trained-dogs that have marked the house when not watched like hawks....so what's a little human marking in the grand scheme of things?
Back in May, I got DJ some Cars underwear, and we tried on a pair one night after I thought DJ had successfully urinated in the toilet. To be fair, he had gone, but he just didn't go all the way, apparently. Ten minutes later, there was a nice puddle on the living room rug, and we had a very upset toddler on our hands. Steve cleaned up DJ, and I cleaned up the rug.
We gave potty training a rest for awhile, but still would talk about it with DJ and would still ask him if he needed to go. 99% of the time, DJ would say no, and every once in a blue moon, he'd say yes. His saying yes, however, was no guarantee of actual success.
Two weekends ago, however, I decided to try no diaper at all until he went on the potty, and then he'd get to wear underwear as a reward (along with getting to use toilet tissue, flushing the toilet, and getting star stickers). Every once in awhile, we would ask DJ if he needed to go on the potty (as a way to remind him to think about it), and he'd vehemently say "NO!" Then if he thought he needed to go, he'd then ask us to sit on the potty. But if he didn't have a bodily function immediately, he'd want off the toilet immediately. This resulted in going to sit on the potty 5-6 times in a 10 - 15 minute period before he'd actually accomplish going on the potty. But eventually he'd get it! Amazingly, we had only one very small accident, and a near bowel movement accident that Steve prevented. For having a bowel movement on the potty, he got a big Cars wall sticker! He was very excited about that!
What this exercise proved was that DJ could very much control his bodily functions, but either was trying to use potty training as a power play or he was just too busy to think about it.
This past weekend, we tried this technique again. DJ had no accidents during his waking hours, but the naptime and overnight diapers were full. Frankly, just that is a win that he did it two weekends in a row.
Because of our success and because his daycare girlfriend, Grace, is recently fully trained, Eleanor suggested we tell DJ that he's going to her house on Monday (today) with underwear on, and that he is to go potty on her potty all day, both #1 and #2. I also sent a number of changes of clothes in case of accidents, and apparently, DJ did great. Unfortunately, he had a full diaper after nap, but otherwise, he was clean all day! Plus, while he was in the bathtub tonight, he stopped playing and told me he needed to go, and he did!
We have lots more to do, but we're on our way! Cross your fingers for no setbacks!
Back in May, I got DJ some Cars underwear, and we tried on a pair one night after I thought DJ had successfully urinated in the toilet. To be fair, he had gone, but he just didn't go all the way, apparently. Ten minutes later, there was a nice puddle on the living room rug, and we had a very upset toddler on our hands. Steve cleaned up DJ, and I cleaned up the rug.
We gave potty training a rest for awhile, but still would talk about it with DJ and would still ask him if he needed to go. 99% of the time, DJ would say no, and every once in a blue moon, he'd say yes. His saying yes, however, was no guarantee of actual success.
Two weekends ago, however, I decided to try no diaper at all until he went on the potty, and then he'd get to wear underwear as a reward (along with getting to use toilet tissue, flushing the toilet, and getting star stickers). Every once in awhile, we would ask DJ if he needed to go on the potty (as a way to remind him to think about it), and he'd vehemently say "NO!" Then if he thought he needed to go, he'd then ask us to sit on the potty. But if he didn't have a bodily function immediately, he'd want off the toilet immediately. This resulted in going to sit on the potty 5-6 times in a 10 - 15 minute period before he'd actually accomplish going on the potty. But eventually he'd get it! Amazingly, we had only one very small accident, and a near bowel movement accident that Steve prevented. For having a bowel movement on the potty, he got a big Cars wall sticker! He was very excited about that!
What this exercise proved was that DJ could very much control his bodily functions, but either was trying to use potty training as a power play or he was just too busy to think about it.
This past weekend, we tried this technique again. DJ had no accidents during his waking hours, but the naptime and overnight diapers were full. Frankly, just that is a win that he did it two weekends in a row.
Because of our success and because his daycare girlfriend, Grace, is recently fully trained, Eleanor suggested we tell DJ that he's going to her house on Monday (today) with underwear on, and that he is to go potty on her potty all day, both #1 and #2. I also sent a number of changes of clothes in case of accidents, and apparently, DJ did great. Unfortunately, he had a full diaper after nap, but otherwise, he was clean all day! Plus, while he was in the bathtub tonight, he stopped playing and told me he needed to go, and he did!
We have lots more to do, but we're on our way! Cross your fingers for no setbacks!
So that's what sleeping through the night feels like!
Last night, I told DJ that although I know how much he likes sleeping in our bed, he should stay in his car bed until the sun wakes up.
Much to my enormous surprise, he did!! He must have heard me preparing my lunch in the kitchen this morning because that is when he opened his door and said, "I didn't get out my car bed until the sun woke up!"
Good boy, DJ!
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Much to my enormous surprise, he did!! He must have heard me preparing my lunch in the kitchen this morning because that is when he opened his door and said, "I didn't get out my car bed until the sun woke up!"
Good boy, DJ!
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The strangest bedfellows... Continued
As expected, Friday night, DJ came to our room at around 2:30AM, pillow and Tiger in hand. In fact, he was so determined to sleep with us that although I got out of bed immediately upon hearing his door open to try and get to him to put him back in his own bed, he had apparently run to our room - in pitch black darkness - because I nearly ran him over before I even got to our bedroom threshold.
I decided not to fight it, and let him curl up in between us. He slept until about 7AM, and then played and whispered until about 8:00. He and I talked and interacted until 8:30 when we heard from the Other Country (Elektra).
At least we got to "sleep in", if you consider a little boy in bed with you truly restful (not).
Last night, at about 3AM, DJ woke up crying. This time, he was waiting at his door for me, and of course, asked for Daddy. When I told him Daddy was sleeping, he wailed even louder. But finally I got him calmed down, and he did go back to sleep. An hour and a half later, he was out his door, and down to our room in the blink of an eye, pillow and Tiger in hand.
It took him awhile to get settled this time, so he probably only slept another true hour. And like Saturday morning, he played and whispered to himself (and read a new Bearenstein Bear book about manners) until about 8:00.
When will I get to sleep through the night again??
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I decided not to fight it, and let him curl up in between us. He slept until about 7AM, and then played and whispered until about 8:00. He and I talked and interacted until 8:30 when we heard from the Other Country (Elektra).
At least we got to "sleep in", if you consider a little boy in bed with you truly restful (not).
Last night, at about 3AM, DJ woke up crying. This time, he was waiting at his door for me, and of course, asked for Daddy. When I told him Daddy was sleeping, he wailed even louder. But finally I got him calmed down, and he did go back to sleep. An hour and a half later, he was out his door, and down to our room in the blink of an eye, pillow and Tiger in hand.
It took him awhile to get settled this time, so he probably only slept another true hour. And like Saturday morning, he played and whispered to himself (and read a new Bearenstein Bear book about manners) until about 8:00.
When will I get to sleep through the night again??
- Posted using BlogPress from my newest toy.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
No storms make for not-so strange bedfellows, too
Last night, DJ was a little more hesistant than normal to go to bed by himself. It wasn't storming outside at all; DJ just didn't want to go to sleep by himself. In fact, as DJ was saying good night to Steve, he asked Steve if he was going to go to his bed, too. We thought that was an odd question, but didn't really think anything of it.
I put DJ to bed, said goodnight, and left his room. Two minutes later, we heard his door open. I immediately went to put him back into bed, and I saw him walking down the hall towards our room with Tiger, his blanket, and his pillow in hand. I took him back to bed, said goodnight, and left the room again.
About 10 minutes later, we heard DJ's door open again. I was on the phone with my sister, but I went in there anyway. He was pretty upset, as he really wanted Daddy. My sister could hear him, and told me to suggest that Sophia and Spiro were already in bed, too. DJ replied (of course), "Why?" But it did serve to calm him down a little. At that point, Steve came in, and spent 15 minutes in his room with DJ to help him fall asleep.
We went to bed around 11pm. At 6:15 this morning, my alarm went off. During the snooze cycle, Steve's phone, which was in the living room, beeped with a text notification. I heard a text come in because we now leave our bedroom door open to listen for DJ and to let him come to our room when he wakes up in the mornings. I nudged Steve to wake up and go get the text. As he got out of bed, he swung his legs off of the bed, and paused. Then he stepped onto the floor carefully, looked at me, and then amusingly pointed to the floor next to the bed.
Sure enough, there was DJ, asleep on the floor, curled up next to the bed with Tiger and his pillow.
We asked him later if he jad come into our room while the sun was still asleep, and he said yes. We have no idea when he came in because truly, neither of us heard him. He even shut his door which prevented me from hearing the drone of his humidifier which usually wakes me up.
Steve picked him up and put him on the bed with us. Although he fussed at first, he settled down again when Steve lay down again. I guess we'll have a nightly visitor for whom we'll have to listen!
I put DJ to bed, said goodnight, and left his room. Two minutes later, we heard his door open. I immediately went to put him back into bed, and I saw him walking down the hall towards our room with Tiger, his blanket, and his pillow in hand. I took him back to bed, said goodnight, and left the room again.
About 10 minutes later, we heard DJ's door open again. I was on the phone with my sister, but I went in there anyway. He was pretty upset, as he really wanted Daddy. My sister could hear him, and told me to suggest that Sophia and Spiro were already in bed, too. DJ replied (of course), "Why?" But it did serve to calm him down a little. At that point, Steve came in, and spent 15 minutes in his room with DJ to help him fall asleep.
We went to bed around 11pm. At 6:15 this morning, my alarm went off. During the snooze cycle, Steve's phone, which was in the living room, beeped with a text notification. I heard a text come in because we now leave our bedroom door open to listen for DJ and to let him come to our room when he wakes up in the mornings. I nudged Steve to wake up and go get the text. As he got out of bed, he swung his legs off of the bed, and paused. Then he stepped onto the floor carefully, looked at me, and then amusingly pointed to the floor next to the bed.
Sure enough, there was DJ, asleep on the floor, curled up next to the bed with Tiger and his pillow.
We asked him later if he jad come into our room while the sun was still asleep, and he said yes. We have no idea when he came in because truly, neither of us heard him. He even shut his door which prevented me from hearing the drone of his humidifier which usually wakes me up.
Steve picked him up and put him on the bed with us. Although he fussed at first, he settled down again when Steve lay down again. I guess we'll have a nightly visitor for whom we'll have to listen!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Thunderstorms make for not-so strange bedfellows
A sure fire way to go have a little boy materialize in your bed is to have God send thunderstorms when said little boy isn't sleeping well.
First, Steve spent over an hour in the car bed with DJ last night to try to get him to sleep. DJ doesn't really like to go to sleep by himself to begin with but when you throw in a good old fashioned thunderstorm, or even just a lightening (no thunder) storm, DJ really wants company then.
Around 1:30AM, the storm came back, and DJ woke up crying. Steve went to get him, and that's when DJ came in to our room with his pillow and Tiger. We put his pillow between ours, DJ crawled into bed, let us cover him with the blankets, and he settled right down. He only wimpered a few more times when a couple of lightening flashes came through the windows, but otherwise, he slept great. He really didn't move much at all, so I did get some sleep with him there. And I think he would have kept sleeping if my alarm hadn't gone off! Boo hoo for it not being a weekend so that we all could have slept in!
First, Steve spent over an hour in the car bed with DJ last night to try to get him to sleep. DJ doesn't really like to go to sleep by himself to begin with but when you throw in a good old fashioned thunderstorm, or even just a lightening (no thunder) storm, DJ really wants company then.
Around 1:30AM, the storm came back, and DJ woke up crying. Steve went to get him, and that's when DJ came in to our room with his pillow and Tiger. We put his pillow between ours, DJ crawled into bed, let us cover him with the blankets, and he settled right down. He only wimpered a few more times when a couple of lightening flashes came through the windows, but otherwise, he slept great. He really didn't move much at all, so I did get some sleep with him there. And I think he would have kept sleeping if my alarm hadn't gone off! Boo hoo for it not being a weekend so that we all could have slept in!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Croup update
DJ slept through the night pretty well last night, only waking up once at midnight. His cough sounds wet and rough, but he's generally in a pretty good mood. He also didn't have a fever all day yesterday, and doesn't have one today either. I haven't seen him sneeze today, so maybe he's starting to beat this thing.
Elektra woke up only once at 11PM last night after her initial "vomit" incident. Otherwise, she slept well, and hung out in her crib until after 8:30 this morning. I haven't heard her cough yet, but I could hear her breathing was a little congested when I was changing her diaper. She has a very mild fever (99.3) as compared to yesterday's 100 fever. I didn't give her any Tylenol, so she seems to be beating that on her own. She's also sneezing today which is what DJ was doing yesterday.
All in all, despite going to bed at 10PM and getting woken up at 11 and midnight, I had a pretty good night's sleep until 6AM when DJ got out of bed... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Elektra woke up only once at 11PM last night after her initial "vomit" incident. Otherwise, she slept well, and hung out in her crib until after 8:30 this morning. I haven't heard her cough yet, but I could hear her breathing was a little congested when I was changing her diaper. She has a very mild fever (99.3) as compared to yesterday's 100 fever. I didn't give her any Tylenol, so she seems to be beating that on her own. She's also sneezing today which is what DJ was doing yesterday.
All in all, despite going to bed at 10PM and getting woken up at 11 and midnight, I had a pretty good night's sleep until 6AM when DJ got out of bed... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Elektra has the Croup
It's official. Elektra now sounds like a barking seal.
We put her to bed about an hour and a half ago, and then I heard her hacking up a lung to the point where she'd vomited (saliva, but I had to change her sheets nonetheless).
I've got the humidifier cranked in her room, and hoping she sleeps well tonight...
Man the kids have had a rough summer! First strep, now this!
We put her to bed about an hour and a half ago, and then I heard her hacking up a lung to the point where she'd vomited (saliva, but I had to change her sheets nonetheless).
I've got the humidifier cranked in her room, and hoping she sleeps well tonight...
Man the kids have had a rough summer! First strep, now this!
Co-Sleeping
DJ asked to go to bed before 8pm last night. We were shocked. So I got him ready for bed, read him a book, and wondered if he had a fever, which he did (~100). Despite the early bedtime, he laid down in his car bed and went to sleep almost immediately, or so it seemed.
An hour later, we heard his door open. It felt like his fever had worsened, so I gave him some Tylenol and his cup of water, and he seemed to be satiated enough to go back to sleep.
An hour later, we heard his door open again. This time, Steve went in and lay down with him. 20 minutes later, I heard the door open, I heard a small fuss, some rustling, and then Steve says to me, "DJ is sleeping in our bed tonight. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
Oh. Ok.
Sure enough, when I went to bed, DJ was plastered up against Steve, sound asleep. He actually slept pretty well, only waking up 2-3 times to cough. And similar to when dogs used to sleep in our bed with us, Steve and I both ended up on the edges of our king sized bed....
DJ slept in until 7:30 this morning, which is a whole lot better than the 6AM of late. I think it helped that it's been overcast/raining today. DJ even asked if the sun was awake he was so confused by the overcast.
We haven't had a kid sleep in our bed with since before Elektra was booted to her crib at 8 weeks old. To be honest... it was kind of nice. I'd better not get used to it. :-)
An hour later, we heard his door open. It felt like his fever had worsened, so I gave him some Tylenol and his cup of water, and he seemed to be satiated enough to go back to sleep.
An hour later, we heard his door open again. This time, Steve went in and lay down with him. 20 minutes later, I heard the door open, I heard a small fuss, some rustling, and then Steve says to me, "DJ is sleeping in our bed tonight. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
Oh. Ok.
Sure enough, when I went to bed, DJ was plastered up against Steve, sound asleep. He actually slept pretty well, only waking up 2-3 times to cough. And similar to when dogs used to sleep in our bed with us, Steve and I both ended up on the edges of our king sized bed....
DJ slept in until 7:30 this morning, which is a whole lot better than the 6AM of late. I think it helped that it's been overcast/raining today. DJ even asked if the sun was awake he was so confused by the overcast.
We haven't had a kid sleep in our bed with since before Elektra was booted to her crib at 8 weeks old. To be honest... it was kind of nice. I'd better not get used to it. :-)
Friday, July 09, 2010
Wrongfully Accused
Author's note: This post isn't directly about the kids, but it's about their (missing) socks.
I'm missing a sock! Where did it go??
The answer is the same every time because I have no other reasonable explanation: "The dryer ate it."
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm here to declare that we, as a society, have wrongfully accused The Dryer for losing our socks, rendering pairs as singles and therefore, worthless. I got so frustrated with the number of unmatched socks that I even went as far as putting the kids' socks in a lingerie bag to keep the dryer from eating them.
Despite my actions, I always had my doubts The Dryer was eating socks. So for years, I kept the single socks, figuring I'd find them sometime.
That time was last night.
For some reason, when I put Elektra's laundry into the washer, I felt the need to clean the rubber door seal inside the washer drum (which keeps the water from coming out of the washer's door). When I pushed down on the rubber seal, I discovered that it's not actually attached to the washer drum, just the outside of wall of the washer. This makes sense, if you think about it, because the drum needs to spin as it washes, and so the rubber can't be attached else it would rip. But I never thought about this before, so I never looked. When I looked last night, oh my, was I surprised.
Lo and behold, there were 10+ kid socks between the washer drum and washer's outside wall, underneath the rubber door seal. I found socks from when DJ was a newborn that I thought were lost. At the time, I'd do a load of laundry, come up with an unmatched sock, and think that I was going out of my mind due to the lack of sleep.
No... no...The Washer was eating them.
I just stood there, stunned at my discovery. I found myself thinking that all this time, I've been wondering why our washer smelled a little moldy, and so I'd run a light load of whites with bleach to help with the stench. Now I know why!!!
Meanwhile, I ran the socks through the laundry with a whole lot of soap and on a high cleaning cycle. Unfortunately, some are permanently stained, but the more recent losses (now finds!) are just fine!
So all you dryer-haters out there, it's NOT The Dryer's fault. The Washer is the real culprit. I'm going to go put The Washer in Timeout for letting The Dryer take the blame all this time and not fessing up instead!
I'm missing a sock! Where did it go??
The answer is the same every time because I have no other reasonable explanation: "The dryer ate it."
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm here to declare that we, as a society, have wrongfully accused The Dryer for losing our socks, rendering pairs as singles and therefore, worthless. I got so frustrated with the number of unmatched socks that I even went as far as putting the kids' socks in a lingerie bag to keep the dryer from eating them.
Despite my actions, I always had my doubts The Dryer was eating socks. So for years, I kept the single socks, figuring I'd find them sometime.
That time was last night.
For some reason, when I put Elektra's laundry into the washer, I felt the need to clean the rubber door seal inside the washer drum (which keeps the water from coming out of the washer's door). When I pushed down on the rubber seal, I discovered that it's not actually attached to the washer drum, just the outside of wall of the washer. This makes sense, if you think about it, because the drum needs to spin as it washes, and so the rubber can't be attached else it would rip. But I never thought about this before, so I never looked. When I looked last night, oh my, was I surprised.
Lo and behold, there were 10+ kid socks between the washer drum and washer's outside wall, underneath the rubber door seal. I found socks from when DJ was a newborn that I thought were lost. At the time, I'd do a load of laundry, come up with an unmatched sock, and think that I was going out of my mind due to the lack of sleep.
No... no...The Washer was eating them.
I just stood there, stunned at my discovery. I found myself thinking that all this time, I've been wondering why our washer smelled a little moldy, and so I'd run a light load of whites with bleach to help with the stench. Now I know why!!!
Meanwhile, I ran the socks through the laundry with a whole lot of soap and on a high cleaning cycle. Unfortunately, some are permanently stained, but the more recent losses (now finds!) are just fine!
So all you dryer-haters out there, it's NOT The Dryer's fault. The Washer is the real culprit. I'm going to go put The Washer in Timeout for letting The Dryer take the blame all this time and not fessing up instead!
Thursday, July 08, 2010
The Croup - Update
Just a quick update -
Last night, DJ slept fairly well, though he woke up twice. Each time, it was pretty easy to get him to go back to bed, and he wasn't upset or coughing or wheezing... just awake. The second time, I told him to go back to bed because the sun wasn't awake yet.
At 6:30 this morning, I heard his door open. I went to go get him, and he says to me, "Mommy, I can come out now. The sun is awake."
Why yes... yes, it is. I can't argue with that!
Steve says that Elektra now has a high 99 fever as of just before naptime, so we'll see if she comes down with it, too.
Last night, DJ slept fairly well, though he woke up twice. Each time, it was pretty easy to get him to go back to bed, and he wasn't upset or coughing or wheezing... just awake. The second time, I told him to go back to bed because the sun wasn't awake yet.
At 6:30 this morning, I heard his door open. I went to go get him, and he says to me, "Mommy, I can come out now. The sun is awake."
Why yes... yes, it is. I can't argue with that!
Steve says that Elektra now has a high 99 fever as of just before naptime, so we'll see if she comes down with it, too.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
The Croup
It plagues our son.
Awesome.
He sounds like a goose when he coughs.
We had heard a cough coming late Monday night, and Steve heard it getting worse on Tuesday. By Tuesday night, DJ was working really hard to cough.
He went to bed normal time and slept about 2 hours. Then he woke up, coughed, scared himself, cried (which made it worse), scared himself, cried some more (scared himself some more...) and woke up Elektra.
Awesome.
We'd calm DJ down, then calm Elektra down, then one would start wailing. Rinse. Repeat.
Awesome.
This went on for a few hours last night. Eventually, we had to ignore Elektra because she would cry to get us to come into her room. Once we ignored her, she went to sleep on her own. DJ truly settled down around 2 AM and got in about 4 hours of sleep which, clearly, is all we got, too.
Steve took DJ to the pediatrician today while Yiayia stayed with a sleeping Elektra (thanks for the last minute pinch-babysitting, Yiayia!), who took a 3.5 hour nap! Making up for last night, I guess. The pediatrician gave DJ an oral steroid (only one dose is administered), I think his cough has already calmed down.
In fact, we know the steroid has kicked in because he ate 3 whole stalks of broccoli, at least half of Steve's large cherry snowball and then he came home and asked for pancakes... of which he ate 7!! He pounded them down.
Hopefully, the steroid doesn't keep him up most of the night, though, because he didn't sleep well last night, at all, and he only got an hour and a half nap today before he had to go to the pediatrician.
Everyone, except for Elektra, is going to bed early tonight!!!!!
Awesome.
He sounds like a goose when he coughs.
We had heard a cough coming late Monday night, and Steve heard it getting worse on Tuesday. By Tuesday night, DJ was working really hard to cough.
He went to bed normal time and slept about 2 hours. Then he woke up, coughed, scared himself, cried (which made it worse), scared himself, cried some more (scared himself some more...) and woke up Elektra.
Awesome.
We'd calm DJ down, then calm Elektra down, then one would start wailing. Rinse. Repeat.
Awesome.
This went on for a few hours last night. Eventually, we had to ignore Elektra because she would cry to get us to come into her room. Once we ignored her, she went to sleep on her own. DJ truly settled down around 2 AM and got in about 4 hours of sleep which, clearly, is all we got, too.
Steve took DJ to the pediatrician today while Yiayia stayed with a sleeping Elektra (thanks for the last minute pinch-babysitting, Yiayia!), who took a 3.5 hour nap! Making up for last night, I guess. The pediatrician gave DJ an oral steroid (only one dose is administered), I think his cough has already calmed down.
In fact, we know the steroid has kicked in because he ate 3 whole stalks of broccoli, at least half of Steve's large cherry snowball and then he came home and asked for pancakes... of which he ate 7!! He pounded them down.
Hopefully, the steroid doesn't keep him up most of the night, though, because he didn't sleep well last night, at all, and he only got an hour and a half nap today before he had to go to the pediatrician.
Everyone, except for Elektra, is going to bed early tonight!!!!!
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