Busy week

Whew, what a week it was! Some days I feel like I'm barely staying afloat. I'm just thankful I'm not drowning yet!

Isaac had a week of tests.....math test, science test, spelling test, music test. I am happy to say that he did great on all of them. We studied hard for the science test, even cramping it in on the way to school. It really paid off. He came home Friday and showed me his test....100%!!!!! Hooray! Isaac also has been working on his handwriting. It is awful. His teacher and I are brainstorming ways to get him to write neater. Handwriting has always been Isaac's downfall. BUT....his teacher did pull me aside on Friday and say his spelling test had great improvement in it after he took his time to write the words so there may be hope.

Eli did not have a week of tests, but his teacher did talk to me about speech for him. I have noticed Eli does pronounce some things wrong and can't say certain sounds (r, th). His teacher said it is affecting his writing because they sound things out phonetically. I had noticed this too after he brought home some writing work. It's somewhat cute, but I know that cuteness can't last forever. So he's being referred to a speech pathologist for an evaluation.

Logan is doing absolutely wonderful with the potty training. Although I may not be constantly changing diapers anymore, I do feel like now I am constantly running into the bathroom with him. :)

Wednesday was the Walk-A-Thon at school for Isaac and Eli. The maximum number of laps was 20. They both completed 20 laps and then went on for more! Just for fun though. Isaac said he did 33 laps and Eli said he lost count. Eli was disappointed when his teacher told the students not to run but only walking. She said they would tire themselves out then. Eli looked at me like his teacher had lost her mind when he told me this. "Why would I get tired out, Mom?" I had to remind him that not everyone likes to run as much as he does. He still didn't get it. :)

Camden is still having a hard time. After another week of inconsolable crying, I finally called the doctor....AGAIN! I am very thankful that this doctor has been our doctor for all four kids and knows us. She knows that I don't call the doctor or bring my kids in to the doctor for little things. She also knows that when I call to say my baby is crying and in pain, I mean it! She is referring us to a gastro doctor at Children's Hospital. She feels we have tried everything and gotten no results. She hopes to get us a better answer at Children's. She will be calling Children's tomorrow for us in the hope that she can get us in faster versus us calling ourselves for an appointment.

Walk-A-Thon

Isaac and Eli have their Walk-A-Thon at school today. It's a fundraiser (the primary one) that their school does (thanks to everyone who supported them). They're walking laps in a certain time frame with a maximum of 20 laps.

We were talking at breakfast this morning about their Walk-A-Thon and the amount of laps they can do. Eli thinks 20 laps is too easy. He's also not planning on walking it. He's planning on running it. This did not come as a surprise to me. This is a boy who will run around the house 10 times just for fun or who isn't able to go to sleep at night if he hasn't gotten all his energy out.

If I could only bottle up some of his energy.....

Welcome to our world, Matthew Steven

Just had to say:

Welcome to the world, Matthew Steven.
We're so happy you're here. You were born on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008, 8 lbs, 21 inches.
You missed sharing a birthday with your Auntie Stephie by a couple hours. Bummer. (Maybe we can share a party together someday.)

Your cousins are so excited to meet you. You are loved by many!
Congratulations to Tana and Steve. He's beautiful!

(it's here that I should post pictures but I dropped the ball and didn't take any while visiting Matthew in the hospital. sorry. I was too excited just to hold him. I promise to take some once he's home (and maybe even awake) and then post them.)

Smile nice

Today was picture day at school for Eli. Isaac had his picture day on Tuesday.

Riding in the car on the way to school, I say to Eli, "Smile nice for your pictures, Eli."

Eli replies, "Mom, I always smile nice. Isaac is the one who doesn't. He always closes his eyes, has a goofy face or does this (smiles with no teeth showing)."

Mom thinks, Okay, enough said.

Potty training

This week I took on the task of potty training Logan. I was so sick of changing diapers all the time! It went very well. Logan is now officially potty-trained. He actually picked it up very fast. I'm always nervous after potty training at home and then having to go somewhere. Are they going to make it? Are we going to have an accident? I usually put a Pull-Up on just to be safe. When we went to the hospital yesterday to see Logan's new cousin, I put a Pull-Up on him. I figured it was a good idea. The big toilet may scare him considering he's only been going on his horsey potty at home. We were gone for approximately 3 1/2 hours. When we came home, I immediately said, "Let's go potty." He pulled down his pants and his Pull-Up was dry! He sat right down and went potty--and a lot of it! I couldn't believe he held "it" that whole time! He was even dry this morning.
I'm not looking forward to the potty screams in the middle of the grocery store, but I am looking forward to only buying diapers for one now. :)

Congratulations, Logan.

Happy Birthday to Mom

Yesterday was my birthday. I didn't really do a whole lot of anything most of the day. My morning was gone before I knew it. I did go visit my new NEPHEW in the afternoon. Josh, Logan and Camden came with. He is so cute! I can't believe we have another boy added to our extended family. After our visit at the hospital we went to get some quick lunch (at Culver's...could I have picked a worse place to eat while I'm avoiding dairy???). Then we went to get the boys from school. The evening was what I was looking forward to the most--dinner with just my husband, no kids. I love my kids, but I was desperately in need of a night out without them. This is the first time I have also left Camden. My mom came over to babysit (thank you, Mom!).
We went to Fleming's Steakhouse. It was very nice, very expensive but so worth it. I was able to talk to Josh without any interruptions--well, that's if you don't count the waitress. :) I loved how everyone at the restaurant was out to please us. Hehehe--can you tell I don't get out much??? They were very accomodating to making my meal dairy-free. I didn't get any cake or dessert because it all had dairy in it. That's a tough one. We went to Starbucks afterwards and I got a chai with soy milk.
And that's really all I wanted to do on my birthday....have a night out with Josh. And that's what I got. Thanks!
Happy Birthday to me.....31 years old!!!

Camden and Logan...so big

Yesterday was Camden's two-month check up and Logan's two-year check up. Logan is still a lil' guy for his age weighing only 25 pounds. Following after his stick skinny brother Eli in that department. He is way ahead however in his skill department. I blame that on his older brothers showing him the ropes of life. He received three shots and just cried for so long--all the way home!!! A sucker didn't even help him to stop! Poor guy.
Camden weighed 14 lbs, 2 oz. He is in the 90th percentile for weight and height. No surprise with our babies though. They all were in that category the first year of life. Isaac weighed in at over 15 lbs at two months; Eli, 14 lbs, 9 oz.; and Logan 13 lbs, 4 oz. Camden isn't our biggest baby. I think Isaac will always hold that title. And he's proud of it too!
The doctor confirmed that Camden most likely has a dairy allergy/sensitivity. She said the green, mucousy poops were a telltale sign. Something I did not know. I just went on his behaviour. He will stay on medicine for reflux/stomach spasms until we notice it's not working anymore. Not looking forward to that. He still sleeps in his car seat as it's where he sleeps the best. Still next to my bed at night as he still chokes, gags, coughs a lot and I'm not comfortable with him being in a different room.
Oh, and our thrush is back. Lovely. So we're both on medicine for that again. I hate thrush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And boy, Camden sure has "chunked" out. It's only at this age that it's cute to be chunky. :)