Chuckle

I took the kids to the grocery store with me today and Josie picked up a brochure of some kind and she opened it and started to follow the words with her finger while jabbering. Then all of sudden I heard her say, "Dear Hebenly Pader, tank u por dis day" (Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day..) and then she just started jabbering again. I said to her, "Is that what it says on that paper, Josie?" and she just shook her head yes and kept on repeating it.

Boy or Girl?

Well, well, well.......we went for the ultrasound today and the nurse took forever to get down to the parts we really wanted to see. Then when we got down to the real thing, the babies legs were crossed. So she went back up and showed us the heart, spine, fingers, brain, etc., and then she went down again. This time she saw what she wanted to see and announced, "I think you're having a girl!". Of course, I stop thinking when she said, "I think...". But the more she pointed things out the more she was determined that it was a girl. So, I guess it's official...we will be adding another girl to our family. I was actually relieved. I just think girls are so much easier for me to deal with, but I am basing that decision after only having one boy. I don't want people to think that I don't love Jaed as much or that he was a hard child, I just seem to relate better to girls and I understand them more, I think. I remember being a teenager and saying several times to others and myself, that I wanted to have all girls. I think it will be mostly true :). I am still kind of nervous that I"ll have the baby and the Dr. will say "It's a boy!", so I don't think I"ll go crazy on the clothes shopping.

When we told Jaed, he didn't seem to care a whole lot. He kept saying that he thought the baby was going to be a boy but when we told him it was a girl he said, "Oh" and that was it. I asked him if he was sad that it wasn't a boy but he said "No" so I think he's just excited that it's a baby! Josie gets bugged that we go to the Dr. and don't come home with a baby, she doesn't care what sex it is. And Indi can't even comprehend that I have a baby in my tummy, so the day that this baby is born will be an adventure of each one of them (and us, of course)! Thayne said that he's glad that we have Jaed and if we have only girls from now on he's fine with it. So it's going to be GIRL POWER in our house!

No more poopies!!

I was laughing at Indi today and thought I'd share the chuckle. Indi hates poopy diapers and even more, hates throwing them away. You either have to hand her a little tiny corner of the diaper for her to grab hold of and take to the trash or shove the diaper under her arm like a football and say, "Hurry, run, Indi" and she takes off running towards the trash. This morning after I changed ANOTHER (she has 3-4 a day) dirty diaper, I showed her the diaper and she started to whine. I told her that it's her diaper and she has to throw it away, so she came over to me and lifted up her arm waiting for me to shove it under it. I did as she wanted and said "Hurry, Indi, run!" and she took off, threw it in the trash and looked back at me. I clapped my hands and said, "Yay, you did it." and she smiled and bowed. She's never done that before. I laughed and laughed. She's our little star!

A whole new kid..

Jaed's teachers have caught on to the idea of rewards for good behavior and have implemented a reward system in class. They have all of the children's names on a chart and at the end of the day, if they have been good then they get a penny and a sticker by their name. They, then, use the penny to buy three skittles from the teacher. If they get 5 stickers at the end of the week then they get a toy (cheap one). Last week was the first week using this reward system and Jaed got 5 stickers! They use stop light colors to determine how the kids are doing. They all start on green and if they get a warning they get moved to yellow and if they still aren't behaving they move to red which means they don't receive a penny or sticker. Jaed got one yellow last week but still got his penny and sticker. I was so proud of him. He could still be kinda bad and settle for yellow everyday but he strives to get green! The teacher told me, today, that Jaed is like a whole new child. He listens, behaves and is a huge help. WHAT??? My little Jaed??? It's a MIRACLE!!! No, I'm just kidding. We have always known that he loves rewards (especially candy) and can really behave if he chooses to. The difference here is that his teachers are constantly reminding the kids to stay in "green" and so it's constantly on his mind. We tried rewarding him at the end of the day if he was good but I think he would forget about it and be naughty sometimes. I love his preschool. They really try to find out what works for the kids and what they can do to have an environment where they can teach and the kids can learn the best. It's a true relief to not dread picking him up because I didn't want to here that he was naughty. Now, when I go to pick him up, I just wondering if he just got a warning or not. Life is bliss (at the moment)!

From the Past to the Present

I was looking through some old pictures of the kids and I thought I would share them. It's amazing how fast they grow!

Here's Jaed, before and now:





































































Here's Josie, before and now:













































































Here's Indi, before and now:





























































Here the are together:

Jaed and Josie





















Josie and Indi

My recent conversation with Jaed:

"Mom, what does sugar go in?"
"Sugar is in candy, cookies, and other treat like stuff. But we shouldn't eat to much because it makes our tummies get big."
"Well, Mom, if you just burp really big then your tummy will get small again!"

(If only it was that easy...)

Sunday Best

Here's some pictures we took of the kids today before church. Jaed is showing off his new suit that Grandpa and Grandma sent. He looks so handsome and he felt like a star! Our babies are growing up, even little Indi.

New house

Well, I've been waiting to put anything in my blog about the new house we're moving into because I didn't know if it was really going to happen or not, but we got the official notice today.

Several months ago, Thayne's parents came to visit and the day after they left we got a phone call from his mom. She told Thayne that she was concerned that we would be too cramped in our 3 bedroom apartment when the new baby came and her and Thayne's dad were thinking about buying a place for us to live in. That was the end of the conversation for about a month and then they brought it up again. I really didn't know how serious they were until the brought it up the second time. Thayne's mom explained that they felt like if we lived in a bigger place our little family would be happier and Thayne would do better in school because he knew his family was comfortable and happy (and the baby wouldn't be in our room :) ). She asked us to keep our eyes open for some four bedroom houses or condos in the area, so that's how it all got started.

We found the BEST realtors you could find and the search began. We looked at a lot of different places and liked some and hated others. The ones that we liked weren't "the one" but they would work for us. I didn't know, for sure, what I was looking for so we just kept looking. The last day we went out our realtor showed us this four bedroom house that was in a nice neighborhood and had a lot of space. It had a living room, family room, three bathrooms, and even a storage room. I immediately loved it. It was a perfect house for our family and had tons of space for the kids to run around and for me to not feel like I'm contected to them by the hip. I remember turning to Thayne and said, "This is it. I love it!". I should say that it was filthy, dirty and smelled, but we looked past that and saw the real potential of the house.

When we got home, Thayne called his parents and they made an offer on the house that night. I was trying not to be excited because I didn't know if it would really work out but I found myself smiling and acting like a child who just peeked at their christmas gift that their parents hid in the closest (my parents hid our christmas presents there EVERY year). After two weeks of playing the bidding war with the owners, my in laws accepted the final counter offer. Yesterday was the final inspection and it passed! My in laws are going to fix the house up (new carpet, paint, repair things, etc) before we move in. It will be like moving into a brand new house! It's really going to happen!!!

How can you ever really say enough "Thank you's" for something like this? I don't even know where to begin. His parents have done so much for us since we decided to come to law school, that I feel like we will be indebt to them for the rest of our lives. I know that they're so proud of Thayne for taking a huge leep into law school with a wife and three children. I know that they want him to succeed, and by helping us in all the ways they have does makes this "adventure" a little easier.

I know that we are blessed with such wonderful families and the support they give us in different ways. We try to remember that daily.

Pheww

Today was my last day to teach Joy School and it was a little rough. Lots of hitting and crying going on today. I think I said "Keep your hands to yourself" about 100 times. I even gave several 'time-outs' but nothing seemed to help. I just tried to keep them busy with projects, stories and songs and we had very little free item, because that always resulted in hitting and crying. It's just A LOT of boys :).

I found a book that they ALL loved, though. I read it to them at least 5 times and everytime they would just sit and watch. The book is "Go Away, Big Green Monster" by Edward R Emberley. It talks the face of a big green monster, so I thought it was somewhat appropriate for the lesson since we're learning about our bodies. Ok, it was a huge stretch but they loved it and kept asking me to read it over and over. I collect felt board stories, and those are a huge success too. When I just think they need to calm down and just relax I pull out my felt board and they all sit down to see what story or song I'm going to do next. It's a good thing I will only teach every 5 weeks because I think they would get tired of hearing the same stories.

Josie loved to have her "school friends" over. I do have to say, though, that the boys don't play with her at all. They pretty much ignore her. I watched her try to play shooting games with them but they just played around her. Thank goodness, she doesn't seem hurt or sad when it happens. She just keeps playing and trying to interact.

Thayne has three job interviews tomorrow. I know how stressed he is about finding a summer clerkship, so I hope one of these works out for him. It would be such a relief to me as well as him.

Joy School

Today was my first day to teach Josie's Joy School. I'm exhausted!! It was pretty uneventful (thank goodness) but there are a LOT of boys. Josie is the only girl with 5 boys and she seems so quiet and to herself in a loud group of boys. I constantly had to tell them to use their 'inside voices' but I don't think boys really know how to do that. Josie and Indi played by themselves most of the time with dolls, dress-up, or books during free time and the boys played shooting games non-stop with bad guys and good guys. I had a huge list of things I wanted to do but I think I got about half of them done. Time seemed to go by way to fast. I teach one more time this week and then I'm off for 5 weeks. I hope the next time I teach is just as uneventful as this time!

Sacrifices

I don't think sacrifices ever end when you're a parent or spouse. It seems so unfair sometimes...ok...a lot of the time. I can remember when I decided that I needed to stay home to take care of my kids. It was one of the hardest decisions I think I've ever had to make. I was a Director and worked very closely with important people (Attorney General, Govenor, etc.) and I knew that if I gave that up I would never have those experiences again, or be in that situation again. I felt so important everyday I went to work. Why would I give that up? Because I had two little children at home that needed me. I remember feeling like I gave up my life for them. I know that probably sounds dramatic but it's truly how I felt. I miss those days, but I know that I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do even if I hate it sometimes.

Thayne is at a point in his life where he has to make sacrifices for his family. He has to give up some things that are so important to him and it's so hard for me to watch him go through it. It brings back the same feelings I had when I made the decision to quit and stay home. It's seems so unfair and almost as if you're giving up your life for someone else. Thayne loves to play computer games. It's a like a sport to him. He's been doing it everynight (almost) for as long as I've known him. Well, school work is piling up and now he has to give up those games so he has more time to study. This may seem trivial to many of you, but it's big deal for him....and me. I know that the games relax him and he truly enjoys playing them, but there's just not enough time to do it all. He told me tonight that he's doing this for his family. I could see such pain and hurt in his eyes. I just wanted to hold him and cry with him. It's not fair. Right now it seems like nothing is fair, but that's how things go sometimes. I'm not sure what to do for him other than be supportive and try to be positive that his sacrifices will pay off in the end.

A mother's concern

Thayne took Jaed to school this morning and upon their arrival Jaed's teacher handed Thayne a newspaper. On the front page of that section there was a big picture of Jaed with is FULL NAME printed below it. They were doing a story on the new preschool that Jaed is attending and decided to take pictures of some of the children. I was shocked that they would not only put his picture in the newspaper but then follow it up with his full name. I had a little war in my head about what I should do and if I was just being paranoid but finally decided that this was not okay with me. I have worked with victims of perpatrators (before I was mom) so it scares me to even think that my child was put in a situation that he could be a possible victim. A perpatrator could be reading the paper, see him and know his name instantly. This gives perpatrators such an advantage when it comes to taking their victim. It scared me so bad and it also angered me. I had decided along time ago that I would never give permission for my child's picture or name to be printed in a public document or newspaper. And now it was being done and their was nothing I could do about it, except make sure it didn't happen again.

I called the Director of the preschool who had every excuse in the book and when I wouldn't accept any of them she finally agreed that my son's name should not have been printed. I didn't feel like I got enough accomplished by talking to her so I made a phone call to the Superintendent. He was not in, of course, but his administrative assistant took my call. She seemed to be as concerned as I was and was even shocked that anyone within the school system would give permission for this to happen without a parent's signature. She told me that she would make some phone calls to find out how this would happen and I asked her to call me and let me know what will be done about it. When I got off the phone, I felt like I had talked to a parent who was as concerned as I was. Within about three hours she had called me back and said that it truly was a mistake on their part and that the newspaper should not have gotten permission to print his name. She did tell me that on the enrollment form there was a "small" paragraph saying that if you sign the enrollment form you are giving permission for a picture of your child to be used in advertisement or publications for the school, but it did not give permission for names. She apologized and said that a letter would go out to all the parents apologizing and a new form would be sent out asking for permission for a child's picture AND name to be used in any publication about the school. I was satisfied with what had been done but still upset that my son was put in this dangerous situation.

When I picked Jaed up for school this morning, I grabbed the papers out of his box, and there it was. The letter apologizing that names were used in the article, and a new form to be filled out by every parent giving (or not giving) permission to use a picture and name of their child in publications about the school. I filled it out right there and put a HUGE 'X' where it said "NO". Now I know that I will have to make sure that I ask, everytime I sign one of my children up for school, if there is a form like this and make sure it's marked "No".

I did think the picture was pretty darling! I'll make sure that his grandparents are sent a copy. Jaed thinks it's pretty neat that he was in the newspaper. We will be sitting down with him tonight and talking to him about strangers that know his name and what he should do. I'm sure that we will be coming up with a password so that if someone tries to persuade him to come with them, they better know the password or he'll scream and run the other way. This concept will be hard for Jaed because he thinks everyone in the world is his friend, young or old. To give you an example: We went to the children's museum (in town) this summer and there are volunteers that walk around and show the kids how to do work certain things. Well, Jaed attached himself to this old lady (probably about 70 yrs old) and brought her over to me and said, "Mom, this is my new best friend. She's playing all the fun toys with me.". The lady just smiled and patted Jaed on the head. We had even had the talk about "strangers" and "strangers" are not friends, before this happened. These are talks we will constantly be having with Jaed, I think.

My little princess, Josie!

Where do I start? I have had so much love in my heart for Josie, lately. I just want to protect her and save her all the time. But when I don't have complete control of certains things, I feel lost as a mom.

Today we went to a small playgroup where there were two older girls (5) and a younger girl (3, almost 4). Josie was so excited when she saw them. She ran up to me and said "Mom, there's my friends. " I encouraged her to go say and "Hi" and play with them. I watched her run right up to them and say "Hi, friends" with a HUGE smile on her face. The three girls stopped talking, looked at her, and then walked away. Tears automatically stung my eyes. My little girl's face showed her true feelings: hurt and sad. She just watched them walk away and then she turned and sat down by a tree and plucked at the grass. I just wanted to run over to her and put my arms around her and hug her so tight so no one else could hurt her. It's not fair that a child that age should have to feel those kind of bad feelings. I know that it's not the fault of the other girls. I'm sure they see her younger than she really is because she can't communicate with them as well as others her age. Josie did finally get up and start playing with some toys and her little sister. I caught her glancing at the girls quite often and every time she did, my heart hurt a little more for her.

Most of you know that Josie has a speech delay so she can't communicate or talk as well as girls her age. She makes progress all the time but she's still about 6 to 9 months behind Still, that doesn't seem to hinder her wanting to play with girls her age or older. Unfortunately, they don't seem to want to play with her and she doesn't understand why and wouldn't even if I tried to explain it to her. So instead I just try to protect her and love her.

I just don't want these experiences to hurt her self-esteem at such a young age. I want her to keep calling herself a princess twenty times a day like she does now, I want her to keep dancing and smiling in front of the mirror, I want her to keep calling herself a "good girl" even until she's old, and I especially want her to keep trying to make friends even if she might get rejected.

You know, if this situation happened to Jaed he would have chased right after those boys and kept trying to play with them until they gave in. It wouldn't have even phased him that they didn't want to play with him. I think being oblivious can be a good thing sometimes :).

After the playgroup, I took the kids to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Josie was watching everyone in the store very carefully. If someone had a frown she would point at them and say "He's sad, mom, he's sad". If someone looked mad she would point and say "She's mad, mom, she's mad." Sometimes the person would hear her and then smile and she would respond, "Oh no, she's happy now". It was so funny to hear her decided how each person, that passed, was feeling at that moment. And it was evene funnier to see their expression if they heard her. She would also point out the older ladies and say "Look, Mom, there's a Grandma". Some of the ladies were not that old but she said it anyways. The ones that heard her and didn't feel like a grandma didn't quite know how to respond. They would almost grin and then get a concerned look on their face. The older ladies, who were grandmas and proud of it, always smiled and even chuckled a little. I'm sure Joise and her comments will be the conversation piece at many dinner tables tonight.

Uneventful!

Well, this week has been quite uneventful....HOORRAAYYY! I've been able to keep my dishes done, my floor swept, and my living room picked up and vaccumed everyday. It's a miracle! It makes such a difference when I only have one child in the morning. I can't believe how much faster I am at cleaning and accomplishing other tasks. I'm even gettting some things done that, normally, I just don't have time for. I've been itching to get my stamps out and start making cards again. I miss the feeling of pride and excitement when I finish a card.

Thayne is loving school! He is enjoying every class and loves to look around the room and know a lot of the students. It makes such a difference when you're not the new kid on the block anymore. It's nice to see him come home with a smile on his face instead of a look of pain and fear. Yesterday he came home to some hot homemade rolls and I thought he was going to yell with excitement. He hugged me really hard and said, "You really know how to take care of me!". It's amazing that homemade rolls can do that to a man. How simple is that? I almost felt guilty that I haven't baked them more often. Jaed said the prayer for dinner that night and even thanked Heavenly Father for me and what I cook. When the prayer was over, Thayne had tears in his eyes. At first, I thought it was because of my great dinner, but then I realized he was just proud of his son for thinking to say those things all on his own.

Jaed was doing so well in school this week, until yesterday. His teacher said he was throwing little fits about everything. I guess you can't ask for a perfect day, everyday. If he does good today, then that's 4 out of 5 days he was good. That's pretty darn good for Jaed. I'll be happy with that.

Josie got to go to my 4 month check-up with Thayne and I, while the other two kids went to a friends house. She was so excited and couldn't sit still at all. I thought it was a little odd for her to be so excited, but I just laughed and smiled at her. Well, the Dr. found the babies heart beat, said everything was fine, and said good-bye. When he left the room, Josie got all upset and said, "Where's the baby?". I realized that she thought the Dr. was going to take the baby out. On our way out, we tried to tell her that the baby wasn't ready to come out and that it still need to grow somemore, but she wasn't accepting that. She just kept saying, "Take it out Mom, PWEEZE!". I was so sad for her. It didn't even occur to me that she thought it was time for the baby to come. Thank goodness there was a couple with a brand new baby there and the man said, "You can come see our baby". So Josie got herself together and went right over there to see their baby. They let her rub his head and hold his hand which just thrilled Josie. She soon forgot that we were leaving the Dr.'s office without our own baby.

Indi is becoming quite the horder. She has a bag full of the Little People guys in it and won't share any of them. If Jaed or Josie even attempt to play with them, she just starts screaming and crying. Even if I tell her she has to share, she won't stop screaming and crying until they're done playing with them and she can have them in her bag again. I can tell that she doesn't understand the concept of sharing very well....so I'm confused on how to handle it. I can say to Jaed, "Jaed, do think you can give those guys back to Indi so she's not so upset?", and he'll give them back to her. BUT not Josie. She just runs to another spot and yells, "No, these are mine!". I feel like I lose with whatever I do. If I make Indi share she's out of control and won't stop screaming and crying even to the point she's gagging (it happened yesterday) and if I make the other two give the guys back to Indi, they're thinking that sharing isn't important. It's not like we only have a few of these guys. We have over 20 of them, so there are plenty to go around but not in Indi's mind. Hmmm.......hopefully this is a phase and I hope it ends soon.