Reid...and the constant getting into what he shouldn’t

Last year, while at Julie’s, Reid told Julie there was a bead in his poop, as he was sitting on the potty. I’m sure Julie was puzzled because first of all, why would a two year old think there was a bead in his poop (even if he swallowed one, why would he think there would be one in his poop??). But sure enough, there was something there. Julie, God love her, dug it out and kept it for me so I could see what it was. It wasn’t a bead. It was actually one of those decorative pebbles that people use to put in vases and such. So after some probing, I found out that he must have gotten into something at Dad & Beth’s that had those pebbles in it (which actually turned out to be a magnetic pebble). “Bead” out. Crisis averted.

Earlier this year Reid told me he had a hanger in his ear. I looked at him and said “Hanger, what do you mean by hanger?” He just stood there looking at me and said “Hanger in my ear”. I thought he was pretty full of it because obviously, he didn’t have a hanger in his ear. So I asked him which ear, he pointed to his left, I bent his head over sideways and there was a screw, perfectly placed sideways far enough down that there was no way I could pull it out with my fingers. I looked up at Rod, he ran and got the tweezers, and Reid just stood there calm as can be. Rod pulled the screw out, with no objections from Reid. After it was all over, I thought “Wow what a photo that would have made.” I mean it was placed perfectly sideways, just laying there waiting for the right moment to slip down in and be lost. “Hanger” out. Crisis averted.

So yesterday, as we were sitting in the dining room, Reid was playing with Gauge’s magnetix. One of those toys that a three year old shouldn't have (and an eleven year old brother should know to not leave laying around). Small pieces, small balls. So I heard something in Reid’s mouth (I have this weird sense of hearing that I can hear something even in the next room and know exactly what the kids have gotten into. I know...weird) and as I asked him what he had in his mouth, he said “I choke”. I freaked. I could tell there was something in his throat. He could breathe. He could talk, but it looked like he was trying to swallow a pill that was stuck in his throat. In just a few seconds, he swallowed it completely. Then I freaked more. He told me what he had swallowed, a small metal ball. I already pretty much knew that’s what it was by the sound it made in his mouth. I think this time, Rod freaked too (which isn’t good because I am the one who freaks out, he is the one who keeps us calm). He was about to grab him and run to the emergency room. Since Reid was no longer choking I asked Rod to wait and I called the nurse at our doctor’s office. After I talked to her, I was relieved. She said it would probably pass through him in the next three days, but I would need to make sure he had no abdominal pain or vomiting. And the ball would need to make it’s way out in the next three days or I would have to call the doctor. So, for the next three days I have poop duty. Yippee for me!

Snow, snow, and more snow...

Last week we were warned of the looming snow storm that was headed our direction.  We listened to the weather report, watched the radar, and prayed (well, Gauge prayed) for a snow day.  The meteorologists claimed we would be getting around a foot of snow.  Ya, right (as I rolled my eyes).  Every single bit of now we have gotten this season has been less that what they claimed we would receive.  So pretty much I have a “I’ll believe it when I see it” policy with the snow.  But I couldn’t help being excited about the thought of a foot of snow.  I can’t remember there being a foot of snow on the ground, and I guess the official date of the last time this county has seen a foot of snow was March of 1993. 
 
Friday came and up until about 2 p.m. there wasn’t much going on outside except a few flurries.  But, after that, the weather went crazy.  The ground was covered almost instantly with a blanket of snow.  When I left work at 4:30, it was snowing harder than I’ve seen in a long time.  The flakes were huge and heavy and by the time I walked the half block to my car, my hair was soaking wet.  The parking lot was covered, the cars were covered, and there was already a few inches on the ground. 
 
It’s funny to me the way people act when we do get some snow.  They act like they’ve never seen it before.  On Thursday, the grocery stores were packed like people were storing up for the end of time.  On Friday, before any snow had fallen, they sent home almost every school in our county.  After work it took me about 40 minutes to get home, which is double what it usually does, and not because the snow was that bad, it was because people think that it is necessary to drive 15mph through town on the main roads.  I mean, come on people, WE LIVE IN OHIO! It snows every year, usually several decent sized snow storms, and yet, it seems as if some of these people on the roads have never driven in the snow.
 
It continued to snow pretty much consistently through Friday evening and all night.  When I got up Saturday morning and looked outside, I couldn’t believe my eyes! We really did get a foot of snow. And it was still snowing.  I couldn’t wait to get the boys outside and take some photos of them in the snow.













So after lunch, we bundled up, and headed on outside.  Reid had never been out in the snow, so this was a really big deal to him.  He was so excited to play in it.  He kept picking up big pieces of snow/ice and carrying them around. We got his new sled he got for Christmas out and I pulled him up and down the alley and he kept giggling so loud.



















 Gauge invited one of his friends over and they wrestled around in the snow and threw snowballs at each other.  Both boys love playing in the snow.  And I love the snow.  But Rod hates the snow, and I mean HATES the snow.  He hates all of it, the cold, the shoveling, the snow…all of it.  But we are very lucky to have Joe as our next door neighbor, because while we were all out playing, Joe used his snowblower and did our sidewalks for us.  He (and his wife) are some of the best neighbors we could ask for. 





Gauge and his buddy stayed outside for quite a while, but I knew it was time to take Reid in.  His poor little face was bright red and his hands had to be frozen.  So when I picked him up to take him inside, the temper tantrum began.  He screamed like a fire siren.  And kept screaming while I got him undressed.  But the funny thing is that I took him upstairs for a nap right after that and I think it took him all of five minutes to fall asleep.  I think the snow got the best of him.









Overall, I would say we are a house that loves the snow (and even though Rod claims he hates it, he sure seemed to enjoy playing in it with the boys and the dogs).









It continued to snow all week. Gauge was so thrilled...three snow days on one week! The best part for him was going to Tanner’s house on Tuesday. My friend, Julie, is so nice to let Gauge come over on snow days to play with Tanner. They had a blast, digging in the snow and having snowball fights, and I have to say, Gauge sleeps better after he spends the day at Julie’s house than he does any other day.

Sunday Sum-up

This week was...
My new medicine making me extremely sick, spending lots of time with my head in the toilet...yuck!
First Wednesday...it was so meaningful because it was so helpful to my good friend Julie
Gauge going to First Wednesday since there was no XOO
Gauge got an A++ on his Science test and Spelling test. He just keeps getting better!!!
Date Night Thursday at the roadhouse.
Boys sleepover at Meme's on Thursday.
Huge snow storm rolls in Friday afternoon and although it's usually a huge hoax, the weathermen were right.
We woke up to a foot, yes, a foot, of snow Saturday.
Gauge had a snow playdate with Erik & went to his house to play after.
Reid's first time playing in the snow.
Seeing the kindness in our neighbors as Joe used his snowblower on our sidewalk, a job that would have taken hours without him.
Played Disney Wheel of Fortune with Gauge.
Valentine's Photo Shoot.
Ordered Reid's birthday cupcakes.
Reid saying "peas" (please), "Melmo" (Elmo), and "There he is" for the first time.
Khloe's 10th Birthday Party.
Dad's birthday dinner.
Rod with the guys for the Superbowl.
Gauge sleepover at Dad & Beth's today.

Christmas Catch-Up

I haven’t posted very much about Christmas. And believe me, I had good intentions, but the times just slips away so quickly and I guess good intentions don’t mean squat if you don’t follow through.

Thanksgiving weekend finished up most of my Christmas shopping. Another whirlwind Black Friday trip with Lindsey and I was pretty much set. Or so I thought. Of course there were the last minute things and two “Oh my goodness I forgot to buy so and so gifts.”

I volunteered at Gauge’s Christmas party (well, not really volunteered, I am the room mother) and the party went great. Although we didn’t have as much time to get everything ready, I have an awesome bunch of moms in the class this year that were so willing to help. I decided that instead of treat bags, I was going to get each of the kids their own hot chocolate mug with their names on them. We filled them with hot chocolate packages, mini Christmas marshmallows, and a candy cane. The mugs were such a hit! I think the best part of the party was when the kids who sat at Gauge’s table asked me if we really had an elf that lived in our house. I told them there was and the story of how he flies to the North Pole each night to report to Santa and how you can’t touch him or he will lose his magic. As I was talking, their eyes kept getting bigger and bigger. When I was finished, they look at Gauge and said , “You WERE telling the truth!” I seriously could have cried at that moment. For whatever reason, I had it in my head that the kids at this age just didn’t believe anymore. I was completely prepared for it and completely bummed every time I thought about it, but I was proved wrong over and over. Oh, and as a side note, I have to say that when I overheard one of the little girls at Gauge’s table say “Gauge, your mom is so pretty”, it made my day. How sweet kids can be.

My camera has died…at Christmastime. Yes, my canon rebel has died. It still once in a while will give me a photo or two, but for the most part, it’s a gonner. I am so upset to even think about it right now, it makes my stomach turn. I mean, sure, I would love a new fancy camera, but I LOVE that camera. I know just how to use it and what setting I love and well, I just love it. Maybe it wouldn’t bother me so much if it wasn’t now, Christmastime. I take usually over 1,000 photos in a normal December, and this year, is our year to spend the week after Christmas in Florida with Rod’s family and go to Disney World, so that adds about another 1,000 photos to the total. So I got out the old Olympus camera and Alyssa’s little pink point and shoot camera, juiced up the batteries (AA batteries, which I totally forgot belong in a camera), crossed my fingers, and went along my merry way. I did get several shots at Christmas on my Canon, and a few in Florida, but then that was about it. So thank goodness for Tim and his Olympus camera that he has. We took it to the zoo and got some really good shots and it has a great zoom and took his cameras along to Disney World, too. So I was quite pleased. What a great brother in law I have. This isn’t the first time he’s bailed me out in my photography endeavors. After all, it’s not the quality of the photo, it’s the memory, caught forever, on whatever camera happens to snap the photo. I keep telling myself that, and as I type it, it makes me think of all those photos I have from when I was little, taken on 35mm (and I’m not going back any farther than that in a film timeline because it will just make me look too old, ha ha) crappy film. Those are some of my favorite photos. So there, discussion with myself…OVER. I will worry about the camera when we get back to reality.

Gauge wrote, rewrote, and finalized his Christmas list. The rule in our house is 10 items on the list (this year, I think he snuck a few more on there than he should have). And these 10 items have to be reasonable Check out #1, and IPOD touch…a bit unreasonable for a nine year old, but hey, he can dream. Check out the earlier post about the trip to see Santa at the Roadhouse. So anyways, the reason for this rule is several reasons…1. A child’s Christmas list can go on forever, and let’s face it, there is no way for us to tell which are the ones they REALLY want if there’s a list the length of my arm. 2. Ten in an attainable number. Between Santa, us, my parents, Rod’s parents, and the several sets of aunts and uncles my children are blessed with, it’s pretty reasonable to assume that those 10 gifts will show up somewhere on Christmas day. 3. Anything over the amount of 10, I just personally consider greedy. Now don’t get me wrong, Gauge’s list has about 100 things on it to begin with, but he narrowed it down, and listed in order of importance which gifts were truly important to him. After all, part of Christmas is being thankful for what you have, what you are fortunate enough to receive, and being humble enough to know that there are so many others who just simply aren’t as fortunate as we are.

I waited until the last minute to pack…DUMB. I waited until the last minute to wrap….DUMB. And I waited until the last minute to cook and clean…really DUMB. I mean what was I thinking? I was working 7-6 for the two weeks prior to Christmas and I didn’t get it all done in one night??? Ok, once again, I do this to myself. Like I said…DUMB. It all worked out ok of course. It always does. I wrapped a little each night the week of Christmas, I cooked and cleaned the night before Christmas Eve (and Rod had cleaned that week also while he was laid off – gotta give the credit where credit is due), and I packed as I went. Yes, we had presents to unwrap; yes, we had food to eat at Christmas Eve dinner; and yes we had clothes to wear on vacation, so I guess no matter how you plan it, it always gets done.

Christmas Eve we spent the day at home getting the last minute preparations done for dinner. Gauge spent just about every minute on the site we found on the internet that tracked Santa’s stops all day long. We went to Christmas Eve service and had the added gift of the Cope family sitting with us. Gauge and Tanner got to sit together and although this was the first time Julie and I didn’t sit directly beside each other during a church service, it was so nice to have their family sitting with us during the service. They have become like extended family to us. Gauge and Tanner would be inseparable if we would let them, and Julie and I talk almost every day. We attend each other’s family birthday parties and spend lots of our free time together. And I absolutely love that we have become that close. After dinner we had our family Christmas Eve dinner at our house this year. It was our year for dinner and the sleepover. Our guest included my parents, Chad & family, Amanda, Cory, Aunt B, Bob, and Lindsey’s parents. We ate and socialized and Gauge dragged each guest, one by one, into the front room to show them the Santa tracking system on the internet. When Santa got to South America, Gauge thought it was time to get their pjs on and go to bed. So we put Gauge, Reid, & Jake into their matching sock monkey pjs, got Santa’s cookie plate (which consisted of some cookies and nine carrots for the reindeer) ready, sprinkled the reindeer dust on the front lawn, and took Reid & Gauge to bed. Gauge wanted them to sleep together, so we put them both on the bottom bunk and didn’t hear a peep out of Reid. I went up and looked in on them once. Gauge was out cold and Reid was wide awake, holding Gauge’s hand and rubbing Gauge’s fingernail. It wasn’t long after that Reid was asleep. I was shocked that Reid stayed in bed and went to sleep. That was the first time ever that he went to sleep without one of us (or Meme to get him to sleep).

Christmas morning was crazy in our house. It looked like Santa’s pack exploded in our entryway. Gauge was thrilled that he got almost everything on his list and it was mostly a Bakugan Christmas for him again. Reid opened gifts carefully, one tear at a time and of course took a liking to anything he opened that had wheels. Everything Jake opened, Reid immediately wanted to take from him. It’s so hard at that age for them to understand sharing because when they want it, they want it, and it doesn’t mater who has it. Mom, Aunt B, and us all exchanged our gifts after the madness with the kids was over.

We spent the afternoon at Dad & Beth’s house and again, the kids got so many nice presents. Gauge got this really cool marble track and spent most of the day putting it together. Reid just ran around and played mostly with Ashley. For dinner, we went to Aunt Jo’s. Rod went home to get some of the things prepared for our trip, like hooking up the boys’ new DVD system for the car and our new TomTom (score!!). Once again, it was an amazing Christmas with so many things to be thankful for.

This year was the most excited I had ever seen Gauge for Christmas. He talked about it constantly and for a while, I thought he was trying to convince me that he still believed. But after hearing him talk about it over and over, I realized that it really was just him being excited. He talked and talked and talked about Santa coming, and about Jesus’ birthday, and about his Christmas party at school, and about having our Christmas Eve party, and so on and so on. I love Christmas, but this year, there was just something extra added to the magic of it all seeing the excitement in Gauge’s eyes and hearing it in his voice. Oh I just don’t want it to ever end. I want him to stay this age, right here, right now, forever. I always said that his second Christmas was my favorite, but after this year, I changed my mind. Gauge’s ninth Christmas is my favorite Christmas so far.

This year, we also got to celebrate Christmas with Rod’s family in Florida. We left at about 3am on the 26th . We got there on Sunday and had a big Christmas dinner with Tim & Tiff and Rod’s mom & step-dad. We all exchanged gifts and the kids had a blast again. We try to go down about every other year about this time. It means so much to Rod to be able to spend time with his family, and it means so much to both of us that the kids spend time with their aunt and uncle and their grandparents. We always have a great time and this was no exception.

The Boys and Santa

Lindsey and Beth took the boys to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and Santa was there. Gauge, of course sat on his lap, and Reid, who I thought wouldn’t be afraid of him, screamed his head off. Jake didn’t like him either. When Gauge got to talk to Santa, he told him that he wanted an Ipod touch for Christmas this year, which is close to $300, and pretty much out of Santa’s price range for a nine year old. My friend Julie texted me and told me that she heard Gauge ask Santa for the Ipod (and that she wants one too J) and I texted her back and told her that if he gets that for Christmas, then I want a BMW. We laughed about that one. But, the best part of the story is that the next morning, I told Gauge that I heard about what he asked Santa for Christmas. I don’t think he really believed me so I told him about the Ipod touch. He whipped around so fast and his eyes were huge and he said “You DO talk to him!” in almost complete disbelief. It took everything I had not to crack a smile. Gauge thinking I talk to Santa wasn’t at all my intention, but it sure was a heartwarming moment. Oh how I love that little boy.

Friday Fill Ins

1. Sweet dreams …dreams, what’s that? I’m too exhausted most nights to dream!
2. Caffeine is a daily necessity for survival, especially for me.
3. Silliness is abundant in our household, especially where Reid & Guido are concerned.
4. We will have a farmer (Gauge) and his farm animals, a chicken (Reid), and a horse (Jake) in our crew this Halloween.
5. Outstanding or not I appreciate each and every message in the sermons at church.
6. Lots and lots of time to scrapbook is what I want right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to scrapping with Julie from 7pm-2am, tomorrow my plans include Paetyn’s Birthday Party and editing photos and Sunday, I want to go to church and enjoy taking the boys to Jaide’s birthday party!

What a busy, crazy, humbling, lesson learning and emotional week it was…

Monday…

Reminder #1 this week to never take anything for granted:
Monday was the two year anniversary of the death of my dear friend Jane’s husband, Brian. He died unexpectedly following a procedure on his pacemaker. My heart breaks for Jane every time I think of her being such a young widow. She was 29 when Brian passed, their daughter Ally was 7, and their son Jake was 3. Jake turned 4 the day after Brian died. Jane and I have been friends since we were both pregnant with Ally and Gauge at the same time. The day that Brian died I went down to their house and I will never, in a million years, forget the look on Jane’s face when she saw me and we made eye contact. It gets me choked up just thinking about it. Which one of us would ever imagine that we could be a widow at the age of 29? Jane is a complete inspiration to me. She is the mother all of us desire to be. She had done everything she can to help her children through this hard time. There just is no way that I can give her enough praise. Jane is very tech savy and is creating a website to keep Brian’s memory alive for herself and her children. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.brian-whitman.com/

Rest in Peace Brian

A Reid milestone…
As I am attempting to get Reid into an every night bedtime routine (Lord HELP ME!), I was getting him ready for bed tonight, I got his bink and looked down at him and said ready for night-night? And he looked back up at me and said “nigh-nigh” (notice the lack of the t). I was so dumbfounded that it stopped me right in my tracks. I asked him the same question again, and got the same response, again. So I had to post this super cute pic of Reid going “nigh-nigh”…with the bink, the lovey, the blankie, and IN OUR BED. Someday, someday, someday…I will sleep again.


Tuesday…

First off Happy Birthday to Jake Whitman! He is the cutest little guy you’ve ever seen and we are so lucky to have been there to see him grow from baby to boy.

We took Reid to the doctor today because I thought for sure he had an ear infection. He has been super fussy and aggressive and when we were at the pool on Saturday, he kept sticking his fingers in his ears and hasn’t stopped since. Well, no ear infection, so I think the very technical, medical diagnosis for his behavior is… the terrible twos. Ugh! And seven months early may I remind you. So does that mean he will be out of the terrible twos seven months earlier than normal? Only time will tell.

Reminder #2 this week to never take anything for granted:
For the past week or so, Gauge has been complaining that his knees have been bothering him and although I was pretty convinced that it was just growing pains, there was a looming concern in the back of my mind that it may be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. So while we had Reid at the doctor I expressed my concerns to Dr. Betkerur. Although he did tell me that RA is hereditary Gauge’s symptoms were not consistent with juvenile RA. What a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders!! I was feeling worried and kind of bummed that Reid was fussy & not sleeping well and Gauge was fussy about his knees. And isn’t it just when you are feeling sorry for yourself, something comes along and brings you back to reality? There was a story in the newspaper about a little boy in need of a heart transplant and possibly a double lung transplant. And I complained about a possible earache and sore knees. Boy do we have a lot to be grateful for. What a reality check! http://www.timesreporter.com/homepage/x1528800891/Lanes-courageous-fight

I did another senior shoot and had so much fun! I found several new interesting places to take photos around town and tried them out tonight. The pics I’ve edited so far I like, but it also helps that I had a cute, little (like size zero little) girl to take photos of.


Wednesday…

I got my long awaited (not really it’s only been a couple of days) package of digital scrapbook pages…100 pages to be exact. I was so thrilled to open them! Poor Reid is a year and a half old and has only a few months worth of pages in his book, so I figured it was about time to fill his book up. I tried a new company to print them… http://www.scrappinsimply.com/ and I absolutely love them!! I would recommend their company to anyone wanting to print their pages.


Thursday…

Mom took the boys right after Rod got off work, so when I got home we took off and went to the Roadhouse for dinner. I love that place! Unfortunately Lindsey wasn’t working and I didn’t see Aisha before we were seated, so we didn’t get to have either of them as our waitress. But the food was yummy. I could sit and eat rolls and cinnamon butter for my whole entire meal.


Friday and Saturday…

Pretty much lazy days for us (gotta love those!). But on Saturday, my cousin Carabeth delivered her baby…Hudson Samuel Kelly weighing in @ 8lbs 11oz and he sure is a cutie!!




Sunday…

Went to church and met Julie and the family there. The sermon was good. Not as good as last week, but still good. It was nice to see the Copes there again. And every Sunday it seems that I see at least one more person at church that I didn’t know attended there. Our church family keeps growing and growing. I love it!

And to end this weeks “novel”, lol…FOUR DAYS TILL WE LEAVE FOR HILTON HEAD!!

Here's to new beginnings...

My friend Julie and I made a deal that she and I would create family blogs as our goal for 2009. (Hint, hint Julie...get on it!) So it would only be fitting if my first post had to do with her...

Sunday was a day for new a beginning. Julie texted me earlier in the week and asked what church I attend and when I told her New Pointe, she said that she and her family were searching for a new church and wanted to attend on Sunday. Tanner (Julie's son) spent the night with Gauge on Saturday night and we met them out at the church. Watching that wonderful family walk into our church building on that morning made me so happy! Julie is already like family to me (and we always say Tanner and Gauge were separated at birth) so the thought of having her as part of our church family made me giddy with excitement! So, as I said, here’s to new beginnings...a new church for dear friends of mine and a new blog for our family!