Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Growing Up
I haven't updated Justin in awhile so here goes:
Eating: He's basically force-fed. He's really finicky about food. Tonight he ate half a bowl of Ramen noodles (I will not be cooking this week; more on that later), but if I offered it to him tomorrow he probably wouldn't touch it. He eats virtually no veggies, unless I sneak them into something else. He still drinks soy milk and rice milk. We started him on cow's milk around a year old and the minimal progress he had made up to that point regarding his speech stopped. I can't explain it, I only know that he became so quiet I would be driving and panic for a second that I left him at home alone because he didn't make a sound. The little babbling he had started doing became an occasional 'Ma' or 'Ba'. I googled like crazy to see if there was a link between milk and speech delay. I came across this article ...you don't want to read it, it's long...that basically told the story of a boy who exhibited symptoms of autism (non-verbal, hyperactive, destructive, etc.) until they took him off dairy. Within 48 hours he was returning to "normal".
Justin was not hyperactive or destructive in any way but the speech delay caught my attention. I decided to try it...why not?
I'm not kidding, within 24 hours of taking him off the milk I was driving down the road, completely aware that I had a baby in the car with me. He was going on and on about 'dadadamamamamablablayayayadada' and has not stopped talking since. He now repeats almost anything we say to him and has become a normal tantrum-throwing, vocal child. No matter how loud and obnoxious he gets I will never wish for those quiet, ominous days to be back. I still worry (not constantly but very, very often) that we are not out of the woods yet because of other little things, but call me crazy (and I'm sure some people will) but the dairy thing was real. Coincidence? Maybe. But in my 33.5 years I have had heavy questions answered by 'coming across something' related to the issue so.many.times. I don't take it lightly. God has answered those little prayers in my heart all day long before I even get the chance to kneel properly at night before I go to bed.
Talk about a novel. Moving on.
Justin LOVES to be outside. He has been very fussy about the last couple of weeks but if we take him outside he is as happy as a clam. I am sooooo looking forward to some Fall weather. It's coming I can feel it. I'm taking advantage of the outside time to work on a project in the garage for Friday (more on that later). I think Justin's fussiness is related to the 4 molars he just got and the 3 more teeth trying to break through now. And he is entering a Mommas Boy faze again and won't let me out of his sight.
He is still sleeping all night despite the crankiness and that's all that matters, right?
He looks for the kids throughout the day and sometimes goes to the door and says, 'Dad?' just like that, in question form. Too cute.
His favorite word is 'Nah', which is his reply to every question we ask him, like 'Do you want a spanking?' (as if) 'Nah.' 'Do you want to go to Disney?' 'Nah.'
But of we ask him if he wants to 'go' or go 'outside' or 'bye-bye', he beelines it for the nearest door.
The other kids are plugging away at school, doing well. Jackson is on the Bobcat News Team this year so the whole school gets to see his handsome mug on the morning news. He is very smart. I probably should sometimes, but I haven't even checked his homework this year. (Brag. Brag. Brag.) Sadie rocks in her class too. She complains about homework this year though, which is a first, so I think she is being challenged. Sadie loves a challenge though and comes through with flying colors every time. (Brag. Brag. Isn't that what blogs are for?) Audrey is no longer full-blown crying every morning. She just tears up occasionally when she gets dropped off. Such a soft heart. She once asked me, while trying to hold steady her shaky voice, if I think Daddy gets sad and cries while he's at work away from us. :(
These are the things little kids worry about. Ahh, to be a child again.
And now, consider yourselves updated.
Eating: He's basically force-fed. He's really finicky about food. Tonight he ate half a bowl of Ramen noodles (I will not be cooking this week; more on that later), but if I offered it to him tomorrow he probably wouldn't touch it. He eats virtually no veggies, unless I sneak them into something else. He still drinks soy milk and rice milk. We started him on cow's milk around a year old and the minimal progress he had made up to that point regarding his speech stopped. I can't explain it, I only know that he became so quiet I would be driving and panic for a second that I left him at home alone because he didn't make a sound. The little babbling he had started doing became an occasional 'Ma' or 'Ba'. I googled like crazy to see if there was a link between milk and speech delay. I came across this article ...you don't want to read it, it's long...that basically told the story of a boy who exhibited symptoms of autism (non-verbal, hyperactive, destructive, etc.) until they took him off dairy. Within 48 hours he was returning to "normal".
Justin was not hyperactive or destructive in any way but the speech delay caught my attention. I decided to try it...why not?
I'm not kidding, within 24 hours of taking him off the milk I was driving down the road, completely aware that I had a baby in the car with me. He was going on and on about 'dadadamamamamablablayayayadada' and has not stopped talking since. He now repeats almost anything we say to him and has become a normal tantrum-throwing, vocal child. No matter how loud and obnoxious he gets I will never wish for those quiet, ominous days to be back. I still worry (not constantly but very, very often) that we are not out of the woods yet because of other little things, but call me crazy (and I'm sure some people will) but the dairy thing was real. Coincidence? Maybe. But in my 33.5 years I have had heavy questions answered by 'coming across something' related to the issue so.many.times. I don't take it lightly. God has answered those little prayers in my heart all day long before I even get the chance to kneel properly at night before I go to bed.
Talk about a novel. Moving on.
Justin LOVES to be outside. He has been very fussy about the last couple of weeks but if we take him outside he is as happy as a clam. I am sooooo looking forward to some Fall weather. It's coming I can feel it. I'm taking advantage of the outside time to work on a project in the garage for Friday (more on that later). I think Justin's fussiness is related to the 4 molars he just got and the 3 more teeth trying to break through now. And he is entering a Mommas Boy faze again and won't let me out of his sight.
He is still sleeping all night despite the crankiness and that's all that matters, right?
He looks for the kids throughout the day and sometimes goes to the door and says, 'Dad?' just like that, in question form. Too cute.
His favorite word is 'Nah', which is his reply to every question we ask him, like 'Do you want a spanking?' (as if) 'Nah.' 'Do you want to go to Disney?' 'Nah.'
But of we ask him if he wants to 'go' or go 'outside' or 'bye-bye', he beelines it for the nearest door.
The other kids are plugging away at school, doing well. Jackson is on the Bobcat News Team this year so the whole school gets to see his handsome mug on the morning news. He is very smart. I probably should sometimes, but I haven't even checked his homework this year. (Brag. Brag. Brag.) Sadie rocks in her class too. She complains about homework this year though, which is a first, so I think she is being challenged. Sadie loves a challenge though and comes through with flying colors every time. (Brag. Brag. Isn't that what blogs are for?) Audrey is no longer full-blown crying every morning. She just tears up occasionally when she gets dropped off. Such a soft heart. She once asked me, while trying to hold steady her shaky voice, if I think Daddy gets sad and cries while he's at work away from us. :(
These are the things little kids worry about. Ahh, to be a child again.
And now, consider yourselves updated.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Score!
I went to Tar-jay this morning to see if they had marked their school supplies 75% off yet. I walked in on them right as they were doing it! How often does that happen? I'm never there to get the pick of the litter. It was pretty cool. I like to stock up on markers, crayons, paint, glue, etc. for my artsy craftsy girls. And why not when you can get a pack of washable markers for 48¢, washable watercolor paints for 82¢ and index cards for 11¢?
I love a bargain!
I think that's why Steve married me....
That's okay, it's a well-known fact that I married him because of his flight privileges. :)
I love a bargain!
I think that's why Steve married me....
That's okay, it's a well-known fact that I married him because of his flight privileges. :)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Check It Out
If you have a minute, check out the new blog I started with some of the girls in my family. I'm still working on a few things like pictures and stuff but it's going to be fun.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Beauty Tips
That's right. Beauty tips from the girl who hates to shave her legs, wear makeup or perform any kind of nightly ritual to enhance her looks. I take a shower every day. That's about the extent of my beauty ritual, unless I'm going to church or somewhere special and then I spoil myself with some under eye concealer, mascara, a swipe of Vanilla Lip Smacker and my toes generally get a quick coat..over the old layer(s)...on the way.
But, I am not getting any younger and neither is my body, as is evident in my spider veins, some stray gray hairs (that no one sees but me because they're yanked as soon as they sprout) and my saggy boobs that basically disappear into my armpits when I lie down.
Anyway, I have recently discovered a few products that may help slow down the aging process.
Botox and a boob job. Ha!
Kidding.
Vaseline - It's been around for ages but my sister, Jill, recently told me she read somewhere that it is great to moisturize the skin around your eyes and reduce those fine lines. (Tyra Banks uses it on her elbows too.) I'm not a braggart but I don't really have any noticeable wrinkles around my eyes - YET - but I thought I would take some preventative measures. (The wrinkles are coming, I can tell.) When I used the Vaseline, I just rubbed in a tiny bit under my eyes and on the sides (crows feet area) before I went to bed. The skin seems to be brighter and softer when I do it, maybe because they're greasy, I don't know.
Ped Egg - As Seen On TV. Ever wonder if it works? It does.
Going off a tip from my sister, Marilyn, I tried it. It reminds me of a certain kitchen gadget (think zester) and if you don't think you'll gag dumping out your own pulverized feet flakes (sorry for the visual) or don't live in a foreign country where you can get cheap pedi's all the time, then give it a shot. Your feet will thank you.
Face Resurfacing - Sounds highly painful but it's not. I bought one of those little motorized face scrubbers with the cream and I really like it. It gets rid of any dull skin and my face is literally shiny after I do it. You might feel like you just got dragged across the ground at first but it's a nice feeling to have a squeaky clean face. I bought the Neutrogena one but I'm sure they all work the same.
There you have it. Nothing fancy. Just a few little pick-me-ups after a long day taking care of kids. I think I deserve it.
But, I am not getting any younger and neither is my body, as is evident in my spider veins, some stray gray hairs (that no one sees but me because they're yanked as soon as they sprout) and my saggy boobs that basically disappear into my armpits when I lie down.
Anyway, I have recently discovered a few products that may help slow down the aging process.
Botox and a boob job. Ha!
Kidding.
Vaseline - It's been around for ages but my sister, Jill, recently told me she read somewhere that it is great to moisturize the skin around your eyes and reduce those fine lines. (Tyra Banks uses it on her elbows too.) I'm not a braggart but I don't really have any noticeable wrinkles around my eyes - YET - but I thought I would take some preventative measures. (The wrinkles are coming, I can tell.) When I used the Vaseline, I just rubbed in a tiny bit under my eyes and on the sides (crows feet area) before I went to bed. The skin seems to be brighter and softer when I do it, maybe because they're greasy, I don't know.
Ped Egg - As Seen On TV. Ever wonder if it works? It does.
Going off a tip from my sister, Marilyn, I tried it. It reminds me of a certain kitchen gadget (think zester) and if you don't think you'll gag dumping out your own pulverized feet flakes (sorry for the visual) or don't live in a foreign country where you can get cheap pedi's all the time, then give it a shot. Your feet will thank you.
Face Resurfacing - Sounds highly painful but it's not. I bought one of those little motorized face scrubbers with the cream and I really like it. It gets rid of any dull skin and my face is literally shiny after I do it. You might feel like you just got dragged across the ground at first but it's a nice feeling to have a squeaky clean face. I bought the Neutrogena one but I'm sure they all work the same.
There you have it. Nothing fancy. Just a few little pick-me-ups after a long day taking care of kids. I think I deserve it.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)