All of my children possess ESP, extra sensory perception. They know what I'm thinking, AND they can hear across miles, and through buildings. This is how I know.
Not long ago, when B was a baby. He had issues sleeping and we'd do the whole cry it out thing. Once he got into a good grove sleeping, I would find myself well rested and relaxed and darn it, if the thought "Wow, B has been sleeping great lately.", would pop into my head. And as much as I would try and squelch the thought, knowing that my babes can read minds, it would sorta linger there. And sure enough, that very night, guess who would be up?
This happens on so many occasions, you think, "Wow, my disciplining efforts are paying off beautifully. I haven't had to do time out or anything else in at least a day or even a week, and Q's attitude has been great!" If that's not enough to make Q's radar go off to spur on a wicked disobedience bender or attitude to make you want to string him from the ceiling fan that VERY DAY.
They must sit up and plan at night; "I heard mom think she's got this mothering thing under control...lets color on the window sill, or tantrum violently at walmart, or I've got it, lets BOTH color with sharpie on the living room wall. She shouldn't leave a sharpie out anyway."
Its really uncanny.
J is a great example of this. He never fails to wake up 10 minutes after I think he's finally gotten into a good nap pattern. Or after I think that I know what I'm doing with sleep and have done all the right things, like putting him down awake to bed, not nursed him to sleep or rocked him and he's done like 3 months straight of awesome sleep, the second I say to myself, "I really have a great sleeper here, I have no idea why people have such an issue with sleep" he's up 4 times a night, not napping and I'm completely miserable. And humbled. True story.
ESP and the super sonic hearing comes into play when they're sick, cause how many times have I called the doctor listing the symptoms of my poor babies health, only to get to the doctor and the poor baby is smiling and fever free and laughing at me (and so is the doctor) for hauling everyone out of the house to get the baby checked.
One day when Q was at school and I was across town, a friend of mine ask me "What do you do when Q does something to B and you don't see it, but Q won't admit to it, but you KNOW Q is guilty of the crime?" I said: "Q usually admits to wrong doing, he doesn't get lying yet." Don't you know that SAME day, I'm at home, nursing J in the other room. Q comes running in with the biggest grin on his face. "What did you do Q? Why is B screaming?" Q: "Nothing. I didn't do anything."
Well, upon investigation, I found that Q had convinced B to get into a drawer and then closed him in the drawer. Didn't do anything? What was I saying, he usually confesses? I texted my friend later that day to ask her what to do. True Story.
Another thing too that has happened recently is thinking, "Wow, we've had a realitively healthy winter. I haven't seen my pals at the pediatrician for a while." Seriously, next day, they're all puking or high fevered or hacking a lung. That was the week of my birthday. We had everything from vomitting to fever, cough, and pink eye in one week.
The evidence of their ESP goes on and on. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Eat Your Words, KateO
So, a list of how I have eaten my words since I have entered this phase of Mommyhood.
-I have this friend of 5 kids, she had only 2 at the time I said this. Anyway, she had pictures of a mess her 2 year old had made. This was a horrific, horrible mess in which the little girl emptied EVERY bottle of EVERYTHING in the fridge onto the floor under her dining room table and then proceeded to 'mix it'. I remember distinctly saying to Scott, "What on earth was the mom doing? I mean, doesn't she EVER watch her kids." I have written several posts about the messes my kids make when I'm say, in the bathroom, or just in the same room. Like this post, or the time Q injected himself with my Epi Pen when I went to change a diaper, or when B drank fabric softener when I was disciplining Q....the list goes on. Who knew you can't possible watch your kids every second of every day.
-I worked as a behavior therapist for many years, and every client I had only ate a few things. Not healthy things at that. Chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese seemed to be a recurring theme for young kids. And me in my pre-kid wisdom proudly declared to many people, on many occasions, "I do NOT get why people only feed their kids garbage or let their kids eat only junk. MY kids will eat whatever I give them." Fast forward to when Q was 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years old. Q would not eat. He gagged on everything and could not tolerate texture. So it was major work getting him off baby food, major work. And then guess what I got him to eat? Yes, that's right, chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese. I spend at least a year making these things for him every night. My sisters and sister-in-law all told me to just give him what we were eating, but I could not. After all, I tried that approach and it did not work, he wouldn't eat it, and I could not put him to bed hungry. I eventually got Q to eat other stuff, and now every meal is such a battle for him to eat, so I get why parents often cater to their kids. Sometimes, you just don't want the food to be a battle. Sometimes, you're too tired to care, sometimes you don't know what else to do.
-Previous statement: "Eww, that kid's nose is all crusty and dripping green snot. Who lets their kids out of the house like that?"
My reality: My kids noses look like this half the year, and I'd rather not spend my entire day chasing after a toddler with a tissue...(well, except for B cause he runs TO you to get his nose wiped.)
-Previous statement: "Dude, why is it that most boys looked like they just rolled out of bed and their hair never looks brushed? My kids will never look like that, they will be nicely dressed and hair brushed."
My reality: Have you seen my boys? They have so many cowlicks their hair demands to stick out all over their heads, they prefer sweat pants and t-shirts, and I'm only willing to battle dressing a couple of days a week. I'm not a morning person and I don't want everyday to be a battle so if you're going to church you wear "church clothes" and if there's no clean basketball shorts or warm up pants, suck it up and put on a pair of jeans. People will have to overlook their "look".
-Previous Statement: "I will never drive an SUV. People who drive SUV's are ridiculous."
My reality: Bought one in '05 after driving around with a baby in the back of my Jetta and zero leg room, couldn't get the stroller in and of the tr and a road trips were interesting...
-Previous Statement: "I will never EVER drive a mini-van. That's why we bought this beast of an SUV with a 3rd row."
My reality: Hello? Mini-van, how I love thee...
-Previous Statement: "My kids are great sleepers. Other people must not know what they are doing!"
My reality: This one makes me laugh. I know I'm being punished right now for saying this..well, I never really said it to anyone, but I only thought it. Which leads me to another thought...kids can read your mind.
-Previous Statement: "I will not let my kids watch t.v.."
My reality: I don't know what I'd do without cable.
I'm sure there are many more things that I passed judgement on and now I'm eating crow about. But, I just think this post is long enough !
-I have this friend of 5 kids, she had only 2 at the time I said this. Anyway, she had pictures of a mess her 2 year old had made. This was a horrific, horrible mess in which the little girl emptied EVERY bottle of EVERYTHING in the fridge onto the floor under her dining room table and then proceeded to 'mix it'. I remember distinctly saying to Scott, "What on earth was the mom doing? I mean, doesn't she EVER watch her kids." I have written several posts about the messes my kids make when I'm say, in the bathroom, or just in the same room. Like this post, or the time Q injected himself with my Epi Pen when I went to change a diaper, or when B drank fabric softener when I was disciplining Q....the list goes on. Who knew you can't possible watch your kids every second of every day.
-I worked as a behavior therapist for many years, and every client I had only ate a few things. Not healthy things at that. Chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese seemed to be a recurring theme for young kids. And me in my pre-kid wisdom proudly declared to many people, on many occasions, "I do NOT get why people only feed their kids garbage or let their kids eat only junk. MY kids will eat whatever I give them." Fast forward to when Q was 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years old. Q would not eat. He gagged on everything and could not tolerate texture. So it was major work getting him off baby food, major work. And then guess what I got him to eat? Yes, that's right, chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese. I spend at least a year making these things for him every night. My sisters and sister-in-law all told me to just give him what we were eating, but I could not. After all, I tried that approach and it did not work, he wouldn't eat it, and I could not put him to bed hungry. I eventually got Q to eat other stuff, and now every meal is such a battle for him to eat, so I get why parents often cater to their kids. Sometimes, you just don't want the food to be a battle. Sometimes, you're too tired to care, sometimes you don't know what else to do.
-Previous statement: "Eww, that kid's nose is all crusty and dripping green snot. Who lets their kids out of the house like that?"
My reality: My kids noses look like this half the year, and I'd rather not spend my entire day chasing after a toddler with a tissue...(well, except for B cause he runs TO you to get his nose wiped.)
-Previous statement: "Dude, why is it that most boys looked like they just rolled out of bed and their hair never looks brushed? My kids will never look like that, they will be nicely dressed and hair brushed."
My reality: Have you seen my boys? They have so many cowlicks their hair demands to stick out all over their heads, they prefer sweat pants and t-shirts, and I'm only willing to battle dressing a couple of days a week. I'm not a morning person and I don't want everyday to be a battle so if you're going to church you wear "church clothes" and if there's no clean basketball shorts or warm up pants, suck it up and put on a pair of jeans. People will have to overlook their "look".
-Previous Statement: "I will never drive an SUV. People who drive SUV's are ridiculous."
My reality: Bought one in '05 after driving around with a baby in the back of my Jetta and zero leg room, couldn't get the stroller in and of the tr and a road trips were interesting...
-Previous Statement: "I will never EVER drive a mini-van. That's why we bought this beast of an SUV with a 3rd row."
My reality: Hello? Mini-van, how I love thee...
-Previous Statement: "My kids are great sleepers. Other people must not know what they are doing!"
My reality: This one makes me laugh. I know I'm being punished right now for saying this..well, I never really said it to anyone, but I only thought it. Which leads me to another thought...kids can read your mind.
-Previous Statement: "I will not let my kids watch t.v.."
My reality: I don't know what I'd do without cable.
I'm sure there are many more things that I passed judgement on and now I'm eating crow about. But, I just think this post is long enough !
Monday, March 14, 2011
GUESS WHAT?
Scott says he has finally surpassed his youth and moved on to adulthood. Know why?
Two things happened this weekend...he attended a Tee Ball coach seminar and traded our truck for a sweet new to us mini van! Yes, that's right, we gave up the ghost and purchased an '07 Toyota Sienna, something we BOTH said we'd never do when we bought the Pilot. When we bought the Pilot we both loved it and said we'd never need to own a minivan because it had a third row and we HATE mini-vans. Which is funny cause before we bought the Pilot, I stood in serious judgement of SUV owners, questioning why people with one or two kids needed a gianormous gas guzzler. Oh, the judgement we pass on people before we are in their shoes...I am currently eating my words on several of these judgements(more to come later about that.)
Funny too that we bought a Toyota and not our beloved Honda. (Scott has never owned anything but a Honda). Maybe this post should be titled "Eating Our Words."
Two things happened this weekend...he attended a Tee Ball coach seminar and traded our truck for a sweet new to us mini van! Yes, that's right, we gave up the ghost and purchased an '07 Toyota Sienna, something we BOTH said we'd never do when we bought the Pilot. When we bought the Pilot we both loved it and said we'd never need to own a minivan because it had a third row and we HATE mini-vans. Which is funny cause before we bought the Pilot, I stood in serious judgement of SUV owners, questioning why people with one or two kids needed a gianormous gas guzzler. Oh, the judgement we pass on people before we are in their shoes...I am currently eating my words on several of these judgements(more to come later about that.)
Funny too that we bought a Toyota and not our beloved Honda. (Scott has never owned anything but a Honda). Maybe this post should be titled "Eating Our Words."
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Stuff
To clarify my last post, I did not get the stomach bug yet, but my middle child did. Now the bookend children, Q and J are battling high fevers and stomach ailments (though neither has thrown up yet). Its been a loooong week of crabbiness and lots of t.v. watching. Just when I was doing so good at cutting back on the ol' boob tube. (I guess you can't call a t.v. that anymore since there is no actual tube in it anymore).
My sister is pregnant! Yippee! I'm sad she lives on an entirely different continent and am praying she finds a way to come back to the states to have this baby, preferably to PA. I'm exctited that J will have a cousin his age to play with when we all get together. I'm still in awe of her going for a 4th kid, cause dude, 3 kids ain't no picnic, or catwalk or fun for that matter. She assures me that it gets better, but I'm not one to believe that.
Having all of my kids sick at generally the same time is probably my second biggest fear. I get a little crazy when my babies get sick, especially since they are as young as J is. I start out fine, chanting to myself that he's fine, I've done this before, tomorrow will be better, he'll be fine. Well, yesterday when he was on day 3 of fever and it rose to 102, I lost my composure. Sorta panicked and called the ped's even though I was there the day before (but he wasn't as sick and was in for a 'well check'.). They wanted to see him last night at 8pm. I took him, told he has pink eye and a 'cold.' It was a little embarrassing to take him, but peace of mind. If I didn't take him, I would have been up all night in uber worry mode.
I made Q go to school yesterday even though he told me he didn't feel well. Because he pulled that "I'm sick" thing last week and then told me he lied, this time I was cautious. He was acting fine one second, then complaining the next, then fine. I took his temperature and it was normal, so I sent him. I felt terrible when he got off the bus and burst into tears. The bus driver said he said his belly hurt. Oh, my, I have just tortured my child. Oh the guilt. Scott told me to do it. He said that everyone has to puke at school, its a rite of passage. (although Q did not puke his temp was 104 when I took it when he got home from school).
J has decided sleep is no longer needed. Despite him being sick, before his fever and other stuff started, he's been up a ton at night again. Like more than when he was first born. What is up with that? Someone told me it was '4month sleep regression'. That is a foreign concept to me. Both Q and B were coming into more recognizable sleep patterns at this age. Napping consistently and such...Not so much with this baby. Which brings me to my next point.
I have determined that the third child is meant to make you crazy. Just when you think it you have this parenting thing down and are the expert on things, the third child comes along and ruins it. Yeah, sometimes I have a little more confidence in this mothering thing, but J definitely is not like the others. I can't figure somethings about him out (mainly the sleep thing). I guess its a way of God keeping you humble.
That is all I have time for today.
My sister is pregnant! Yippee! I'm sad she lives on an entirely different continent and am praying she finds a way to come back to the states to have this baby, preferably to PA. I'm exctited that J will have a cousin his age to play with when we all get together. I'm still in awe of her going for a 4th kid, cause dude, 3 kids ain't no picnic, or catwalk or fun for that matter. She assures me that it gets better, but I'm not one to believe that.
Having all of my kids sick at generally the same time is probably my second biggest fear. I get a little crazy when my babies get sick, especially since they are as young as J is. I start out fine, chanting to myself that he's fine, I've done this before, tomorrow will be better, he'll be fine. Well, yesterday when he was on day 3 of fever and it rose to 102, I lost my composure. Sorta panicked and called the ped's even though I was there the day before (but he wasn't as sick and was in for a 'well check'.). They wanted to see him last night at 8pm. I took him, told he has pink eye and a 'cold.' It was a little embarrassing to take him, but peace of mind. If I didn't take him, I would have been up all night in uber worry mode.
I made Q go to school yesterday even though he told me he didn't feel well. Because he pulled that "I'm sick" thing last week and then told me he lied, this time I was cautious. He was acting fine one second, then complaining the next, then fine. I took his temperature and it was normal, so I sent him. I felt terrible when he got off the bus and burst into tears. The bus driver said he said his belly hurt. Oh, my, I have just tortured my child. Oh the guilt. Scott told me to do it. He said that everyone has to puke at school, its a rite of passage. (although Q did not puke his temp was 104 when I took it when he got home from school).
J has decided sleep is no longer needed. Despite him being sick, before his fever and other stuff started, he's been up a ton at night again. Like more than when he was first born. What is up with that? Someone told me it was '4month sleep regression'. That is a foreign concept to me. Both Q and B were coming into more recognizable sleep patterns at this age. Napping consistently and such...Not so much with this baby. Which brings me to my next point.
I have determined that the third child is meant to make you crazy. Just when you think it you have this parenting thing down and are the expert on things, the third child comes along and ruins it. Yeah, sometimes I have a little more confidence in this mothering thing, but J definitely is not like the others. I can't figure somethings about him out (mainly the sleep thing). I guess its a way of God keeping you humble.
That is all I have time for today.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Birthday Presents
So, guess what? My birthday was yesterday and guess what I got for a present?
A stomach virus and an unknown illness that makes one 4 month old quite cranky!
Hmm, I notice a tradition forming.
March is always good for a nice round of stomach bugs and at least one big snow storm. Mark my words.
A stomach virus and an unknown illness that makes one 4 month old quite cranky!
Hmm, I notice a tradition forming.
March is always good for a nice round of stomach bugs and at least one big snow storm. Mark my words.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Where to Serve?
For a while now, I've been praying for God to shed some light on what He wants me to do. Where he wants me to serve. What gifts He wants me to use to serve Him. I came from a church where all I did was serve. Sunday's felt like another work day. I taught Sunday School, helped with youth group, sang in the choir, served on the Christian school board, the missions board, the advisory committee and other committees. Scott also was as involved. We often were at church more than we were at home. When we left our old church and came to our current one, we decided to not serve for a while and 'get fed'. Well, I feel like I've used up my 'rest' time and need to get back into serving, but where? I've prayed about it and not felt led one way or another where to put my time and energy, not just for church but any area or mission.
Well, God has been whispering in my ear for a good month about this issues. For about a month, everywhere I go, I'm getting the message that my service IS my kids. I'm serving God by serving my family and loving my family. Teaching my kids about my savior is a huge deal. In February, I sat in Bible study and listened to a mother with grown kids speak about the same exact feeling I am having and she too realized that God's call for her was her kids. A church service the pastor talked about raising kids as a calling. A MOPS speaker spoke about how important mothering is and yeah, its hard. God has been saying to me over and over again that my purpose and call is my kids and that I need to focus on them. Seems a little obvious. But I wasn't getting it. I thought that I have to be outside of my home serving God to serve Him. But God knows me well. I'm not great at focusing on more than one big thing at a time. I'm not organized, so when I get stretched in two different directions, everything suffers. I found that out when I worked part-time after Q was born. I was a mess, work was a mess and Q well, he was OK, but he hated time away from me and it was so stressful. I'm sure I won't always be like this, but I'm overwhelmed easily and for now, I know my place is at home. I need to focus, focus, focus on what I have been given. Some people are much better at multiple tasks and can do it all. I can't. I'm not above admitting that. So for now, I will serve Him by serving them. My boys. Praying I'll get it right.
Well, God has been whispering in my ear for a good month about this issues. For about a month, everywhere I go, I'm getting the message that my service IS my kids. I'm serving God by serving my family and loving my family. Teaching my kids about my savior is a huge deal. In February, I sat in Bible study and listened to a mother with grown kids speak about the same exact feeling I am having and she too realized that God's call for her was her kids. A church service the pastor talked about raising kids as a calling. A MOPS speaker spoke about how important mothering is and yeah, its hard. God has been saying to me over and over again that my purpose and call is my kids and that I need to focus on them. Seems a little obvious. But I wasn't getting it. I thought that I have to be outside of my home serving God to serve Him. But God knows me well. I'm not great at focusing on more than one big thing at a time. I'm not organized, so when I get stretched in two different directions, everything suffers. I found that out when I worked part-time after Q was born. I was a mess, work was a mess and Q well, he was OK, but he hated time away from me and it was so stressful. I'm sure I won't always be like this, but I'm overwhelmed easily and for now, I know my place is at home. I need to focus, focus, focus on what I have been given. Some people are much better at multiple tasks and can do it all. I can't. I'm not above admitting that. So for now, I will serve Him by serving them. My boys. Praying I'll get it right.
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