It's Date Night

I'm going on a date tonight with my husband.

It's so COLD here with the wind blowing, and the snow on the ground (about 8-10 inches) - all schools cancelled again today! (2nd time this week) My husband and I are tempted to just stay in tonight, but we arranged for our babysitter to come two weeks ago, and she's just so sweet that I hate to cancel out on her. PLUS, the last time we went on an actual date, we both agreed that if not for anything else, it sure was nice to get away and not have to put the kids to bed and just do our own thing. Tonight's agenda includes dinner. That's about all we plan. After that it may include shopping at a bookstore (sometimes it's even grocery shopping!), or it may include going to the movies. But every time we say we're going to the movies, we end up being too exhausted. Then we just wait for said movie to come out on DVD or pay-per-view, and enjoy it in the comfort of our own home.

I hope you have a good Friday night :-)

My Baby

My son and I

Here we are during the allergy test 2 weeks ago - this was before the allergy test, actually ;-)

That hospital was so awesome that they gave him a DVD player to watch movies while we waited for nurses and doctors to talk to us and do their thing. But it's funny that it looks like he's on his own laptop!

A Peek at White Death

I enjoy blogging, even though I took a break and started a completely new blog last year. I enjoy the fact that I have a place to get my thoughts out here in the blogosphere (and that I learned a word like "blogosphere"!) and the fact that there is a little bit of fellowship going on here. It's just what I need, given the fact that I am a bit stifled in my world of changing diapers, making mac & cheese, filling a sippy cup . . . oh, and stopping the occasional fight between the boys. I didn't think that would start so early ;-)

I LOVE being a mom, but I gotta tell ya, I don't get to use my "words" for the day. And any other woman in this same situation knows exactly what I'm talking about. And guess what my husband does all day long at work? He TALKS to clients! So guess what he doesn't want to do when he comes home? ;-) He does his absolute best, though. Trust me. But I have to say, we have our bad moments. And I'm not blaming him, it's because of what he is able to do, that I get to stay home with the kids . . . . it's just that if we have BOTH had bad days, then WATCH OUT! (I love you, honey!)

OK, so back to the getting my words out for the day: that's where this blog comes in. My goal is to make it better. I want to give it a new format. I'll have to do my homework on that. I also hope to post more pictures. This has not been easy for me to do - it means I have to be more vulnerable.

So here is a peek at my world this morning: snow, snow, and more SNOW, and it's still coming down! The schools all around are cancelled for the day, and even some local businesses. I believe we have 6 inches of snow, which doesn't sound that bad; however, there is some ice underneath that white beauty! So that makes for some rather difficult travel. Here are a few pictures of what it looks like outside my windows:

Speech Issues

We have a meeting tomorrow for our preschooler at his preschool. It's a meeting to start the process of figuring out whether he needs future speech therapy when he enters Kindergarten. (At least that's what I think it is . . . sometimes I get an impression of what is going on, and then I find out that reality is different!) At any rate, I'm a little bit unnerved about it because of a comment that was made by the supervisor of the preschool about a month ago when the appointment was made. She said "it is very likely that he will not need continued services". Well, normally, that would be great news. I believe it would be awesome news - however, our son still has speech issues! He can't say his R's correctly, he can't say sh's, he can't say his L's with consistency. In a sentence: "I like ice cream." It will sound: "I wike ice cweam." I don't believe this will be corrected by the time he enters Kindergarten in the fall; therefore, I'm thinking, he WILL need continued speech therapy in school next year. (There are other language things he mixes up, but I don't really know how much speech therapy is supposed to cover, and I need to FIND OUT!) I guess my fear is that someone will say he doesn't need it, because someone will have in mind that there just aren't enough speech therapists to go around, so my son will somehow "pass" the tests they give him that qualify him to not need the continued speech therapy next year. Of course, they won't tell us it's because there aren't enough therapists to go around, LOL. Maybe I should make a few comments tomorrow at the meeting to indicate to the teachers, therapists, that I'm not against continued therapy. Perhaps they thought I wanted him to try to be done with therapy and that's why the comment was made. I know I need to make my concerns made. It's just hard for me to speak up sometimes - but it's my child we're talking about here! I'm sure this is just the beginning of that whole "get a backbone" thing!!

Worth the Effort

I have to do one tiny thing . . . . just a little boast because I'm kind of proud:

For the first time ever . . .

One of my high school piano students received a Superior Rating, the highest you can receive, on his piano solo, this past weekend at a Solo & Ensemble Festival.

I'm pretty proud of him.

I've only been teaching for 6 years and this is scary for me . . . but I don't tell him that! LOL Onward and upward!

Mac & Cheese

Do you ever clean up crusty mac and cheese off the kitchen floor and think "gee, I am sick of cleaning this up every other day . . . . "?

And then I think about the season of life that I will probably miss cleaning up crusty mac and cheese off the kitchen floor. That season where my kids won't want hugs anymore. That season where they just want dropped off 50 feet from the school so that their friends don't see their mom (gasp).

Boo Hoo. I don't want my kids to grow up.

I want more crusty mac and cheese on the kitchen floor!!!

(Now, really you're thinking, the only way SHE gets crusty mac and cheese on the kitchen floor is because SHE doesn't clean it up right away like "I" do. Well, you would be right . . . good job, Oh Queen of Clean Houses!!)

Cheers for Miss Julia

If you want a good, light-hearted, fiction series to start reading and you haven't yet set your eyes on the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross, well look no further! Get to your local library today and start it! Of course you could own the set, too. I'm sure Ms. Ross wouldn't mind if you helped her pocketbook! (I'm watching my dollars, and I'm not much of a re-reader, which is why I don't own too many fiction books.)

I'm currently reading Miss Julia's School of Beauty. My reading rate has been quite slow - not because they are boring, for goodness sake! But because taking care of the kiddos, and the rest of my duties in life have somehow taken away a little bit of let's just say QUIET reading time!

The main character in the series is Miss Julia . . . . and she is just hilarious! There is always a big crisis that needs attention. It's kind of like reading a story about Mayberry, only funnier. The first book in the series is Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. And I just found out on her website that there is a new one coming out in April! So I better just hurry up and get on with my reading so I can catch up and be ready, as I am only on book 6 of the 10 (coming in April) in the series.

Happy Reading!

God Bless America!

It's no secret among my friends and family that I did not vote for our new President of the United States of America. So I thought I wouldn't care about Inauguration Day. I was wrong. I will be watching the festivities on television today - I want to watch the swearing in of our President. I feel the patriotism in my bones. I do respect our country, and I'm proud to be an American (say it with a little twang, and a little song . . . ).

I won't usually agree with what President Obama says or does, but that's ok. I will respect him as a person and that's what he deserves. He was elected and that's how this freedom thing works! But I wish that the "other" side would give President Bush the same respect he is due. All I have to say is that no one is perfect and we can't blame one man for everything. Politics is cyclical. Things will go wrong in the next 4-8 years . . . and the other side will get the blame. Politics is also something that will bring about division . . . so that's why I don't like to talk about it too much . . . will I make friends or enemies? If you don't agree with me will you still like me? :-) But that's what also makes us grow in maturity, right? Respecting each other's opinion, even in our differences.

Blind

Tonight we were watching a tv program that had a person who was blind. We have never been around a person like this before so I took the opportunity to discuss this with our 5-year old son. I explained that some people cannot see anything. He said what came natural . . . . "why can't they just wear glasses?" Ah, cute. If only it were that easy. I love the simpleness. I did my best to explain that blind people do not see colors, they see darkness, black, that it is like walking around in the dark. Of course I'm not a scholar. I'm sure I didn't give the best explanation! It was an on-the-spot situation. We parents should get more practice. Where's our book?? Question #536: How do you explain blindness to your child?

At any rate. Right after we were done with the brief conversation, I said "What do you think about that?" so we could discuss any questions he might have about it. And he said "I want a drink, please."

WOW. Deep thinker.

Allergy is official

We made it through!

We have our answer. Our little boy is definitely allergic to peanuts. And peanuts only. It is without a doubt, 100% clear. The doctors and nurses we talked to were so knowledgable and took their time with us. I was worried for NOTHING, as always. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I am just so relieved to have the definitive answer. There will always be the question of how serious the allergy will be because the first reaction was not that severe. The doctors advised that we must be prepared and be watchful. That is why we have to be equipped with the Epi-pen. We left the office after being educated on how to use them. That felt a little scary to think about the possibilities of using that for REAL, but it is actually an amazing invention!

And, Melonie, I think you would like to know that one of the doctors actually suggested to us to get SunButter as a substitute for Peanut Butter. And I remembered you telling us about this a few months ago! So, I will call you Dr. Melonie from now on. :-)

I am sooooo glad to have this big day over. I am not really nervous about the future of Little L's peanut allergy. Maybe I don't have reality setting in yet, ha! But we've been fine so far since August, and we'll continue doing what we're doing. Obviously his social world will expand as he possibly goes to preschool in the coming years and to elementary school in a few years, and that puts a whole new mix into this thing . . . . but we'll be ok as long we stay educated.

Well, hubby and I are watching our American Idol on DVR (yeah, we don't watch hardly any LIVE tv anymore, hate those commercials.) And we're not huge American Idol fans . . . but we sorta love the silly people on the preliminary shows of Idol, teehee. I love the success stories, of course. But I'm afraid of falling in love with the people . . . and then they don't make it. I hate that!!!

White Out

I think bears have it right . . . hibernation sounds like a good idea to me. The snow is falling pretty hard in our little town right now. We already have about 5 inches on the ground and are due to get about 3-5 more by the time the day is over. It's beautiful! If I could find my camera I would take a picture for you! But imagine a snow globe and shake it up . . . that's pretty much what it looks like outside. I love it. So I guess when I mentioned hibernation, I just meant that I would like to sleep right now, but that I don't want to miss the beauty of winter. I enjoy it. I enjoy being cozy and warm while watching my snow globe ;-)

God's little blessings given to me today (above mentioned snow) . . . as well as enjoying time with Little L while the preschooler is at school. It's not that I don't enjoy time with both boys. But when I get one-on-one time with each of them, I especially like concentrating on their special individuality.

And speaking of special individuality . . . he just managed a stinky diaper that needs attention, so I must go for now. :-)

Give it up!

Some days I just want to stay in this cocoon of a house with my kids and husband and not go out into the world EVER. I don't want the big bad world to damage us any further. Let's just stay in here. All nestled inside. Why does the world have to hurt us?

I haven't been hurt personally.

I just have a couple of upcoming things on my plate that I am worried about for my kids. I don't want to face those things.

Allergy test this Friday for Little L. I've no idea what is involved here. Just don't want to go through it - wish he didn't have an allergy - or whatever that was - to peanuts that he had back in late August. There was something that he reacted to, and we are 90% sure it was the peanut butter. My stomach just does complete butterflies thinking about this whole process.

Then there is Big J. The preschooler. We got a call from his preschool that we need to do a "Transition Meeting". I guess this is code for the people from his preschool to meet with us, and the preschool teachers, and the upcoming Kindergarten school teachers for next year. This is to discuss placement of "services". Like does he need speech therapy for next year or not. My feeling is that YES, he does . . . but will I have to fight for him to get it or not. I know they have their standardized ways of testing him, but how do I know it's the right way to show that he measures up?

I'm a worrier. It's a problem. Give it to God. Give it to God!!!! So why don't I?

There is cute in there somewhere!!!!

I know there is a cute factor to the 18-month old . . .oh wait, he's 19 months

Really, there is.

But I need reminded of that on a daily basis . . .

Hourly . . .

As I say "no, no, no" and "get out of there little boy" constantly.

His curious little hands . . . and body, for that matter are making me crazy!

And then I feel guilty . . . he's just curious. I know it, but GRRRR!!

Every drawer isn't child-proofed . . . and so I run from room to room getting him out of whatever he's in.

AAAHHHH.

Sunday morning I found him on top of the kitchen table! He was just minding his own business. I left him alone for about 1 minute. And that's what happened. I even grabbed the camera and took a picture - but I can't find the blasted camera now! It's a crazy life, I tell ya!

Someone just remind me that I'll get through this . . . I'll live to see 3 years old . . . or whatever stage they stop investigating the drawers, cabinets, etc. tearing up everything in sight!!! At this point I'm wondering why we even bothered with Christmas toys . . .