Feeling Nostalgic

I have been feeling very nostalgic lately.  Most likely, because the boys are having birthdays next week.  Over the weekend, I went through all of John David's 18 month clothes and put them away.  I took all of Austin's clothes from last year and went through them and put them with John David's summer wardrobe.  He is set!  Austin has some hand me downs and a few shirts that I bought, but with their birthday coming up, I will wait until I go shopping.   I also went through my picture albums and baby books because I wanted to update that Austin went pee pee on the potty!!!!, and because I wanted to see what pictures I wanted to have printed, since I have 50 free prints to use by the end of the month.  So , I guess sorting through clothes and seeing all sorts of baby pictures and "firsts" has made me feel extra sentimental!

I just can't believe that 3 years ago, I was in the mindset that it could be "any day."  I remember that time like it was yesterday and really all I feel is like it went by so fast like a blink of the eye.  And now, I have an independent, funny, extra loving, crazy 3 year old who loves to gives kisses and drive me crazy!

And nearly 2 years ago, I was also in the mindset that it could be "any day" even though I was only 35 weeks, since the prior week, I was in hospital for preterm labor.  I remember that time so vividly.  And now, my sweet John David is more like a boy than a baby.  He wants to do everything his big brother does and he knows exactly what he wants and lets you know if he is unhappy.  He sure knows how to make us smile and his laugh is contagious.

A quick update on the boys.....

Austin went pee pee on the potty a handful of times over the weekend!  And even once at school yesterday!  He is sporting some cute underwear, including, Thomas the Train, Nemo, Super Heros, Cars, and Woody from Toy Story.  He sometimes runs to the potty but sometimes, I have to tell him that I'll put a diaper on him and he gets really mad and says, "I WEAR UNDAWEAR!

I created a behavior chart yesterday, since we have been having some behavior issues, typical of all children, I'm sure, so we thought we should create a reward system.  It will be going into effect tonight.  Going on the potty is included.  So, every time, he does something on the chart, going potty, washing hands, playing nice with his brother, sharing, listening to mommy and daddy, he will get a sticker to put on the chart, once he gets a certain amount of stickers (amount to be determined), he will get to pick a prize out of the prize box.  Hoping it works.

John David is turning into a little daredevil!  At the park, he is climbing up a storm!  It's good, because, he's been very timid about those things.  He is talking up a storm!  This morning, when I went in their room to get them dressed, they both were sleeping.  John David turned when I turned the light on and I went to pick him up and he said, "No, Aw tin's turn"  He definitely was not happy when I picked him up anyway.  He still has quite the arm, and loves to throw EVERYTHING!  We are trying to get him to throw only balls.  We shall see.  We will be using the behavior chart for him as well.  He may not totally get it, but I think over time, it'll sink in.

May 3, 2012

Things are moving along with the Artinghelli's.  We are hopefully on the mend of these sickies we have been having.  I feel like it's been one thing after another with them being sick.  They better get better, after all, they are having birthdays in just one month!  I truly can't believe that Austin will be 3 and John David will be 2.  They are such the little boys now.  Austin cracks me up, as usual, he now associates birthday with cake.  So today, grandma said, "happy birthday mom", and he turns and looks and me and goes CAAAKE!  Grandma is going to make him a dinosaur cake for his birthday since he is totally into dinosaurs, I mean, every morning, he wants to wear a dinosaur shirt.  I can count 4 or 5 dinosaur shirts that he has, it's crazy.  The kids at daycare are going to start to wonder.  I guess it's better that he has 5 shirts and not just one, that could be a problem.  So, back to the cake, every time you ask him, what kind of cake he is going to have, he is always so excited about his dinosaur cake.

John David, my sweet John David, is starting to go through the terrible 2's.  He knows what he wants and if he doesn't get it, he whales.  Sometimes, when I say "No" he gets this look on his face and comes at me.  We are nipping that one in the butt asap.  He wants to be independent and do things as Austin does, but in some aspects, he's just not ready, although we are trying.  He wants to dress himself, but he just can't seem to get his arms through the shirt holes, only the head hole, but he gets mad if I help him.  We are working on it.

We are also working on potty training.  I'm totally going with the flow.  I've been asking Austin if he needs to go and sometimes he says yes and runs to the potty.  He knows how to undress and take his diaper off, so we are golden.  This past weekend, I was changing John David and asked Austin if he needed to use the potty.  He ran to the bathroom, undressed and by the time I was finished with John David and in the bathroom, he was on the big potty, proud as can be.  So I sat there with him and talked to him, and then John David wanted to use the little potty.  So we got him all situated and all were sitting there.  Kevin came home from work and must have thought we were all crazy for sitting in the potty.  I'm interested to see who will go first on the potty since every time Austin went on the potty, John David did too.  Nobody actually went, but we are close.  One of the best parts, was Austin showing/telling John David how to push the poop out, with the "ERRRR" "Push it"  haha, he had me laughing for hours!

I have 2 more classes before my big exam!  I have about 80 pages left of reading and then I'll be studying like a mad woman.  I'm so nervous about not passing!  I will pass, I just need to remind myself, I can do it!

I'm finally over turning 30.  I went to bed last night 29 and woke up 30.  Not much that I can do but embrace it.  I'm not old, I'm still the same person as I was yesterday, so why was it a big deal?  I don't know, just a number I guess.  But as I sit here, I truly feel very blessed with my life.  I have an amazing husband, the 2 best boys ever, wonderful family and friends, a great career and so much more that I can't even put into words.  I love my life and love everyone in it!

HFM and Update

I can't even begin to describe how horrible Hand Foot Mouth Disease can be.....

And it's even worse when two kiddies have it.  The blisters are painful and the boys are cranky, I mean wouldn't you be, if you had blisters all over your body, not just on your hands, feets or mouth.  And for some reason, the worst time of day is the middle of the night.  They were up every 2 hours or so.  I went back and forth between the boys for the first couple of nights, thankfully, the past 2 nights, John David has slept through, but it's been pretty hard for Austin.  I'm hoping tonight is the night that they both sleep though, I gotta tell you, I'm exhausted.   

I think one of the worst parts is I feel so helpless.  There isn't much you can do but give Tylenol or Ibuprofen and extra hugs and cuddles.  I know that they are in pain and I just want to take it away from them, but I can't. 

Yesterday, I kept thinking it was the weekend, but it was only Thursday.  Thankfully today has been a good day, even though it's cold and rainy, we've been keeping busy.  We had a painting day and a fun bath, this afternoon, I think we are going to bake cookies.  Hoping the weekend is nice, probably not, but if it is, we can walk and play with chalk.

In other news, the boys love their new school.  I'm getting great reports about them.  John David has mastered sleeping in a cot and Austin is loving all of the new things he is doing.  I drop them off together in the same room and then the teachers separate them when it's time to go to their classrooms.  They see each other in the afternoon outside for a bit and then I come and get them.  One day last week, I got there a little later than usual, John David was already inside and Austin was outside.  I decided to get Austin first and the first thing he said to me was '"John Babid.  I guess he was upset that John David had to go back inside.  So cute.

Well that's it for now, I'm hoping for a much better weekend!

Post Surgery

  It was like he never even had surgery.  By the time we got home on Thursday, he was his typical self.  He ate 4 eggs and some oranges.  I made the eggs for us to share but mommy had to find something else to eat.  That's okay, I was just happy he was acting himself.  He played with his new toy that daddy got him for doing a great job in surgery, a train that pops balls out.  He was having a blast driving the train and watching the balls fly out.  He loves balls.  He had a cheese stick and some applesauce for lunch since eating the eggs were so close to lunch time and then took a 3 hour nap!  3 hours!  I can't remember the last time he took a nap for that long.  He woke up saying "mommy, where are you"  How cute is that?!?!  We cuddled for a bit and then it was time to play some more.  Picked up A-Man from daycare and proceeded on with our night.  The next morning JD went to daycare and I had a "me" day!  Ahhh, that was nice. I dropped the boys off and went to McDonald's for a nice cup of hot coffee and read my SHRM book while I waited for the DMV to open.  I went to the DMV, renewed my license and I must give props to the Schaumburg DMV, I was out within 30 minutes. I got my license renewed, address changed and got my new license plate sticker.  I thought it would take much longer since there was a line out the door when I got there.  Afterwards, I went to a few stores to get Easter basket goodies.  And then went home, ate lunch with Kevin and took a nap!  It was great.

I must brag about my boys!  They just amaze me everyday and they do some of the cutest things.  So, I'm trying to teach Austin manners.  So I'm always reminding him to say please, thank you, you're welcome, etc. After dinner, I started to have him say 'thank you for dinner" and now he does it all the time.  "Tank you for dinner, mommy"  "Tank you for dinner, daddy" "Tank you for dinner, grandmom"   So so so cute!

John David is learning so many words.  I just love his little sweet voice.  Daddy taught him how to say "Austin" and I really need to get it on video so I can remember that precious voice!

We went to the mall to visit the Easter Bunny on Sunday.  They were both great in line.  Pointing out the cute bunny, talking about how we were going to see the bunny.  There were about 3 people ahead of us, when the Easter Bunny got up and started waiving at the kids and giving hugs and high fives.  I think they were waiting for the camera to upload the pictures so he was just stalling a bit.  He came up to Austin and Austin gave him a huge hug!  OMG, cuteness!!!  John David wasn't too keen on him. Then when it was almost our turn,  we needed to wait for the pictures to come through so the Easter Bunny went and did his thing.  Austin was pointing at him say "sit down and pointing to his chair"  He was ready to have his turn!  So the Easter Bunny sits down, Kevin puts Austin on his lap and now I go to put John David on his lap and that's when John David freaked out!  He was screaming, I pulled away to see if he would get him to calm down and get a picture and that's when we got this one.  I quickly grabbed him and asked them to take one of just Austin.  Austin wasn't having that.  I guess he was okay seeing the bunny with his trusty sidekick, but definitely not alone.  So we are done, and I tell Austin to give the Easter Bunny a high five and he was excited to do that.  I ask John David to give him a high five and he happily did as well, guess he's fine when mom is right there holding him!

So it's the last week at this daycare for the boys.  The conversation went well, I guess.  Glad, it's over but I'm still having anxiety over it.  Hoping we made the right decision and really hoping that they adjust well.  I know they will.  I know the new daycare will be awesome and great for them, I just hope it goes smoothly.

Surgery

Whew.....it's over!  And my JD did AWESOME!  He is currently napping and has been napping for 2 hours so I'm sure he'll be up any minute!!

So we had a very early call this morning, we had to be at the hospital at 6:15, so we were up at 5 to get ready.  I quietly scooped up John David without waking up Austin.  Success!!!!  We got there at 6:15 and they took us in right away.  I was a bit nervous they wouldn't do the surgery since he developed a cough this morning and a runny nose.  For me, they seemed cautious, but Kevin didn't think so. They must have listened to his heart 10 times!  But lungs were clear so they went ahead with surgery.  We put his gown on, he hated it, and by the end of our hour wait, it was removed.  So he went to surgery in a diaper!!!  Ha!  So most of the time this morning was spent keeping him occupied.  We brought toys, they had a tv and a wonderful nurse, who played peek a boo and this little piggy, thank you!  About 20 minutes before they started, they gave him some medicine to help relax him.  Within minutes of that, he was super cuddly and tired.  He was laughing and smiling at me.  Thank you, medicine, you made leaving him so much more easier!  We walked with him part of the way, and he smiled at me as I left.  I thought he was going to scream!  I prepared myself for screaming/crying and was pleasantly surprised that he was fine!  I went downstairs, grabbed a cup of coffee and a bagel for Kevin and I, as Kevin waited in the waiting room, came up stairs, ate my bagel and then they were finished!  Wow, that was fast!

Playing with the blood pressure cuff after surgery.

They did the ear tubes, but did not remove the adenoids.  Dr. Ho. was going to look at them and if they were extremely enlarged, he was going to take them.  Since the surgery was so quick, we knew that they didn't take them.  Dr. Ho came and said, he did great.  Gave us post operative instructions and then took us to John David who was waking up.  He did warn us that he was screaming/crying and that it was completely normal but to expect to hear him when he opened the doors.  I gotta tell you as soon as I heard him, I ran to him, hearing that cry, was awful!  This was the worst part, but thankfully, I got to hold him right away and within 10 minutes or so was able to calm him down.  Coming out of that anesthesia was hard.  They had a glider there and it was so nice to rock him.  It made me think of midnight feedings!  The nurse turned on Curious George (he's not a big fan of tv so I was surprised he watched it).  We had to wait an hour and within 20 minutes he was back to himself.  Gave him some water, then some gold fish.  Got him dressed and then off we were.  He was his wild man self when we got home!  Although, his coughing and runny nose was worse and he was super congested.  Good thing we got the surgery done today, because tomorrow they probably would have said no.  Good thing the surgery is finished because I'm sure this cold would lead to another ear infection.  So I think we got it done, just in time!

I'm so thankful that is over with.  He did great and I'm so proud of my baby!  I will be off work tomorrow and look forward to hanging with him one on one.  We have some shopping to do.

My little climber

Well John David has done it!  The boys were in their room, they were supposed to be napping, but all I heard was giggles and laughter.  I went upstairs to get the pack in play to set it up in the play room.   I have done this several times, since they don't nap well together. When I come down, all I heard, was "Mommy, babid in bed"  Huh?  I went in to their room and sure enough, John David was sitting in Austin's bed.  That little stinker!  So, this is what I think happened, he hoisted himself over the crib after stepping on his music toy.  He wasn't crying, so I'm sure he wasn't hurt.  Before bed time, I moved the music toy as I'm hoping I can get a few more months out of the crib, but if he does it again, I'll have to suck it up and realize that my baby is no longer a baby but a big boy in a toddler bed.

I am a ball of nerves this week.  We've decided to change daycare and I'm telling them today.  It's mostly for financial reasons, but it's still hard.  I can't help but look at my boys knowing that what they know, their schedule, their life, their friends are all about to change.  It's eating at me.  I know they will be fine, they will adapt, make new friends, learn the new ropes and I'm excited for them, because I feel that this new place is going to be wonderful for them.  It's a preschool and they will have a curriculum that is designed for their age.  This will be the first time that they will be separated all day, but I'm sure they will get use to it and maybe it will allow for John David to be John David and not Austin's sidekick. Nonetheless, change is hard and I'm nervous about having a conversation with them.

I'm also a ball of nerves because John David has his ear tube and possible adenoid surgery this week.  I can't wait for Friday to be here, so it'll be behind me.  I know he will do great, it's an easy and quick procedure, but I'm still anxious about it.

Austin has the cutest new phrase:  "that's not nice"  I was playing with his hair and he looks up at me and says 'that's not nice"  What?!?  Of course, that's nice, Austin, I'm showing you affection by rubbing your head.  "Oh okay'  Later on, something else was done, and there Austin goes with "that's not nice"  It's the cutest the way he says it.  I'll have to get it on video.  I did get a cute video of Austin yesterday morning.  You can't see anything, but he is trying to tickle and is being tickled.  The way he says tickle tickle is so stinkin cute!

Well, I be sure to update on how the conversation with daycare goes and how the ear tube surgery goes.

Weekend Fun

We were very busy enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having, by going to the park after work and on the weekend or having outside time in the backyard.   The park by the house is awesome in that it has a trail behind it.  Austin is very interested in going on the trails, John David, on the other hand, is not.  What do you do when they both want different things?  I guess this is what they mean by they will be running in the opposite directions.  We have been trying to take turns and I got out the wagon so when John David or Austin get tired when we are walking the trails that I don't have to pick them up when I hear "uppy uppy", I can just put them in the wagon.  I think Austin likes the trails so much because he loves picking up the sticks.  We had quite the collection over the weekend as the wagon housed the sticks when the boys weren't in it.  John David is quite the cautious little fella, at first, he wouldn't even go through the tunnels, but by the end of the weekend, he mastered it.  Still won't go down the big slide, he will the little ones and won't even come near the swings, unless it is to push Austin.  Not sure what it is about the swing.

This weekend we went to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee.  What an adventure we had.  Grandma surprised this trip for Morgan for her 6th birthday.  I still can't believe my niece is 6!  So we all got in Grandma's car and headed towards Gurnee.  Kevin had to work, so he was going to be meeting us after work.  Key Lime Cove has an indoor water park as well as many shops and activities for the kids.  The water park was pretty big and it was very crowded.  Austin loved it!  He loved going down the water slides and splashing around. John David hated the water slides and he just liked pitter pattering and walking around.  He kept telling me "ets o" "come on" as he always wanted to be on the move.

Kevin had a system with the big water slides since you couldn't ride together, all was solo.  Morgan would go down first, then Austin and then Kevin.  So Morgan would catch Austin and then Kevin would be down in a minute.  Mind you the water was on 1 ft deep in this area.

There was another area, that had this wide slide were multiple people could go at the same time, but you were dropped in 2ft water.  It was fun, Austin would slide down and I'd catch him, he'd go under sometimes but someone was always there nearby.  I think he loved this one best.  The smiles on his face were priceless.

I will call you Cookie Monster and you will be mine!

When we were going to dinner we passed by a place that is like "build a bear"  So each child got to choose one, Austin chose a hideous monster, John David, the cutest doggy and Morgan chose this cute doggie that had pink in it.  Here are some pictures of the boys helping the lady "stuff" the dog.  After the stuffing they got out the certificates and the lady asked Austin, "what do you want to name it"  He said, "Cookie Monster"  How fitting!  So now he calls him Cookie Monster.  I named John David's doggie for him, floppy! :-)  And Morgan named her doggie, Pinkie, too cute!

Grandma offered to keep Austin over night.  She got a room that had 2 queen beds.  So Austin stayed in bed with Grandma and Morgan slept with Daddy.  Kevin and i took John David home and came back the next morning.  It was so nice sleeping til just after 7!  I now know, Austin is the one who is getting up at the crack of dawn and waking his brother.  Poor grandma didn't get a lot of sleep.

Day 2 was fun as well!  Austin went down one of the big slides by himself but he really enjoyed those little water slides.  Tantrums were had when we left since he wanted to stay.  He was physically and mentally exhausted.  When we left it literally took him minutes to fall asleep.  He was all snuggled with his new cookie monster.  John David didn't last but a few minutes as well.  The are by far the two cutest sleeping toddlers I have ever seen.  Biased, yes, I know.

Thanks Grandma for a wonderful weekend!!!