Growing up too fast!

Look what Doodlebug can do...

I came downstairs the other day and found him with a BIG cup in hand, full of ice water.  Drinking!

And NOT spilling!

So...I figured, why not?!?

He's doing very well!

Velcro Boy's Speech Progress

Hi everyone,

I realized it's been some time since I've posted about VB's progress. He's adjusting well to his class. He likes his teacher and she says he's interacting well with the other kids (all 6 of them) and talking quite a bit more than before.

She works on a sound for a few days, then moves onto a new one while still stressing the other sounds previously covered. This way they cycle through the sounds over and over again, eventually building to mastery. So far they've worked on /w/, /t/, /s/, /c/k/, /d/, /h/ and a few others that I'm forgetting. They're also stressing "closing your words", where the ending sound is stressed in pronunciation. When saying single words, he's quite a bit more understandable than before. But when telling a story or saying a sentence, he reverts to the old way of running the sounds and words together. This is normal. His teacher says they work first on individual words, the work up from there.

Several exercises have been sent home. Including a few matching cards. One day we sat down to play (I combined the ones that she sent home into one big set) and VB wanted to lay out the first set of cards. Little smartie sets them up like the game Memory! I let him go first. He flips two cards. Then I go, also flipping 2 cards. His turn again. Well, he figured out that he could see the picture through the card (it was printed on plain paper)! So he cleans up all the matches! Stinker.

So, progress is being made. It's slow, very slow. The goal is to get him to "normal" by the end of the school year ~June 3rd. He was evaluated at about half of that. This program is his best chance of meeting that goal. I spoke with his teacher about what would happen if therapy needed to be continued into the next school year. She wasn't too clear on the Kindergarten aspect of it, but she did say that the therapist would work with him (and others at the same time) for about 90 minutes each week. That's probably not 90 consecutive minutes. More like 30 minutes 3 times per week. In a group. Not one on one. Which means progress could/would slow considerably. In the meantime it also means public school Kindergarten attendance. This may not be what we want for him. I mentioned summer school. She said that's about 30 minutes per week and it's usually reserved for the most needy kids, those with autism and other handicaps. So I don't think it's an option for him. Please pray that he makes the necessary strides quickly.

Speech Therapy update

I just realized that I hadn't updated with the latest about Velcro Boy's speech therapy. I finally got in touch with the case worker (this was a while back), and there is a 6-8 week delay in scheduling the appointment for an evaluation. Then the wait on the schedule, the eval and the follow-up on that. Then 2-3 weeks to start therapy. So...this could be quite a wait to get a hopefully simple problem to resolve.

I see the light

The light at the end of the tunnel, and it isn't an oncoming train!!!!  It's the light at the end of diapers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doodlebug did pee in the toilet tonight!!!!!!!

AND...he requested to go potty !!!!!

We went upstairs to do bedtime, and once in the bathroom Doodlebug lifts the toilet lid and says "me go potty, me go potty".  Now this isn't the first time he's done this (with no results), so lazy me has taken to telling him that he doesn't go potty.  Tonight he insisted.  So I gave in, figuring I needed to change his diaper for bed anyway.  So he's sitting there, and The Professor finished brushing and tells me it's my turn (to brush).  So I tell Doodlebug that he needs to go pee or poo or I have to get him off the toilet.  He wiggles around (some more) for a few seconds and then.....well, you know.

I was sooo excited that I almost dropped him!  Yup, again a child of mine has surprised me by going potty without the seat insert so I have to hold him.  All 3 kids, in the same toilet for their first times.  What are the odds of that?!?  Anyway, he actually has good balance and can hold himself on the toilet quite well by himself, skinny tush and all.  We (I) did the happy dance and sang the time-honored, made-up potty song.  Professor and Velcro Boy thought it was funny and Doodlebug was just sooo incredibly proud of himself.

Speech Therapy update

The book interrogation  information packet is done!   It took several hours.   There was also a packet of the statutes applicable to this type of educational screening.   It is fairly age-appropriate, though not all the questions really pertained to him.   It's a social and developmental history form.   They ask the normal questions (age, name, address, who does the child live with, marital status, etc.), reason for screening, others in the household.   Medical history (prenatal, delivery details,complications), current medical information (illnesses, pediatrition).   Developmental history (motor-sit, crawl, walking, potty), language (babble, 1st words, putting them together, sentences, questions), social development (changes in lifestyle-divorce, births, etc, getting along with others, behavior problems), daycare.   Then financial info (Medicaid eligible, insurance, etc).   Then Parental observations, development as compared to other kids the same age, 3 or 4 things about your child that you consider to be strengths (things your child does well, personality traits, etc).   Any other information that you feel is important in order for us to better understand your child. I tell you, I REALLY have earned the worst parent award!   I was looking back through Velcro Boy's journal (no baby book for child #2) to answer some of the questions.   I noticed some gaps between what I noted for Velcro Boy vs. The Professor.   I knew there was a lot of things I didn't keep track of for him that I noted for The Professor.   Well, I really dropped the ball for Doodlebug.   There were a ton of things that I noted for Velcro Boy that I *know* Doodlebug has already done and I didn't note, journal or post about.  Thank God he's a boy, they don't usually look back at baby books and journals etc :)   I can't imagine a 4th or 5th child.   They would be lucky to have records of their births! :) Now to wait to hear from the case worker.

Kids update

We went trick-or-treating around the parking lots here and adjacent to us.  The boys each filled their buckets about half full.  They have candy to last them until Christmas :)

I have now earned the  “worst mom of the year” award.  There are a bunch of things I’ve been forgetting to mention. 
Doodlebug:
1. Doodlebug can do puzzzles!  And has been able to do them for about 2 months now.  I just noticed it one day, so I have NO idea when he started being able to do them. 
2. He gives kisses on demand now. 
3. He picks up toy phones and actually talks like there’s a person on the other end.  “hello”, “how are you”, “good-bye”.  It’s really cute and funny.
4. His verbal skills are really taking off.  The other day he comes over to me and says “my daddy go work” (hubs was at work).  Yesterday hubby left for work while he was napping.  After Doodlebug gets get up from his nap, he goes to the front door, bangs on it and says “I love you Daddy” clear as a bell.  Then he says the same to me (except using Mommy :) ).  He also responds “I love you too (goo)”. 

More currently, Tuesday we moved him to the table.  He had discovered how to remove his tray, complete with plate of food, from his highchair.  So his booster is now at the table.  We got another floor mat and put wheels on the chair.  He can climb up into the chair (surprising since it’s quite a bit higher now), buckle up, and he has learned how to pull himself in to the table.  Unfortunately, he has also learned how to push his chair out from the table :(  He likes to do this, especially during meals.  So, now he’s learning that he looses his food when he does that.

And, he speaks Latin!!!  Yes, that’s right, Latin.  When we start prayers, someone (the boys) usually say “oremous” (let us pray).  The other day he chimed right in with them!  I couldn’t believe it.

The Professor is taking showers by himself now.  He still needs a bit of reminding not to take all day in there, but he does a thorough job.  Fortunately, he turns off the water while he’s lathering, washing and shampooing (his idea!), so the water bill isn’t through the roof.  It was getting hard to bathe the three of them together since they’re getting so big.

Velcro Boy: The pediatrician’s office put us in touch with Child Find (the agency that does free speech therapy).  I’ve contacted them and they are sending out an information packet and forms to fill out.  After that we’ll set up an appointment.

Our week off

We recently took one of our weeks off, and I took the opportunity to get a few things done.
1.  I decided on the colors for Mary for our Nativity set.

Now, I just need to get her started. :)

2.  I deep cleaned and organized The Professor and Velcro Boy's room.  Not there was much to do mind you.  There wasn't really anything I could get rid of.
3.  Planned our activities in Year With God up to Advent.  That's going to be a whole other ball of wax, so to speak :)
4.  Planned our October/Halloween crafts.
5.  Picked up my new glasses.
6.  Bought hubby a "new" car and got it insured and registered.
7.  Updated the kid's photo albums.
8.  Send the portraits and regular prints to out-of-town relatives.
9.  Found Halloween costumes for the kids!

Doodlebug's going to be a teddy bear (used costume from Velcro Boy)
Velcro Boy is going to be a UPS driver (I found brown pants, shirt and a hat, I just need to dye the hat        and make a "nametag")
The Professor's going to be a FedEx driver!  We have pants and a hat already, so I just had to find a shirt.  And I also need to make him a nametag.  The pants and shirts are things that the kids can wear again, so I didn't mind spending the money.

I also got them canvas bags (inspired by my SIL) that I'm going to decorate for Halloween loot bags.  I'm tired of trying to find storage space for those big plastic pumpkin buckets :)

10.  Of course I spent some time in the kitchen :)  I made banana bread, graham crackers, salad dressing and several other things.
11.  I found room darkening curtains for the boys' rooms.  I got them hung Saturday night and they really do block a lot of light.  (It's hard to tell if they help, we've all been sick and no one sleeps well when they're sick).  I did this in anticipation of the time change November 1.  My kids already get up before 7 (I know it's not the crack of dawn, but still...).  I hate to think of that becoming waking before 6.  I try to get up before them to shower, dress and have some prayer time BEFORE they wake up.  I'm rarely successful, but I can't imagine having to get up at 5 to get all that done.
12.  I also did our regular cleaning and gave the van a good vacuuming out.  It needed it.  It's been ~8 months since it's been done.

Out of the mouth's of babes

Last Sunday as we're entering the pew for Mass, Doodlebug starts throwing a fit.  He's saying something and we're just not sure what it is.  Finally get him settled down and forget about it until after receiving Communion and returning to the pew.  As I'm in the process of getting back down on the kneeler (holding Doodlebug), he starts throwing another fit.  The whole 9 yards, crying, arching away from me, etc.  So, I finally get him to settle down and get him to tell me what's wrong.  And he says "cracker".  This doesn't make sense to me since he doesn't eat crackers during Mass (Goldfish, yes, crackers, no).  He continues trying to get away from me and is stretching over the pew (we're in the third row), repeating "cracker, cracker".  FINALLY I get it, he wants the Blessed Sacrament!!!  So, I explain to him that it is a very special cracker.  Jesus is in that cracker and he has to wait until he's older to get one of those special crackers.  This settles him down a bit.  Thinking about it later it dawns on me that every week (pretty much), for his entire life we've approached for Communion holding him in our arms.  We "get a cracker" and he doesn't get anything!  Poor kid.  Looking at it from his point of view, we're fairly selfish :)

One less tush

To wipe that is!  Velcro boy can wipe his own tush!  I started teaching him a couple months ago and he caught on quickly.  He does such a good job that I don't need to follow up with him.  It's soooo nice not to be called everytime they go to the bathroom.  2 down, 1 to go :) (Though I think it'll be a while for the last one).

Our week off, updates, etc

We took last week off, actually the week before - I guess I'm running a bit behind :), and I got a few things done around here. I've been falling a bit behind lately. Velcro boy's toddler bed was busting at it's seems, literally, so we decided to separate the bunk beds and set him up in his own "big boy" bed. We got the mattress, comforter, etc (I already had sheets) and got to work. We redid the room, came out quite nice I must say. After a couple days of making it myself, Velcro Boy has learned how to make his bed all by himself!!!! (Less work for me :) !)

I also did some decluttering and deep cleaning in the master bedroom. We didn't get rid of much, I try to keep up with it as we go, but we did clear out some space in hubby's closet and dresser.

Last Advent we purchased a new Nativity set. Hubby had the idea of getting one with lots of pieces that I could paint. Of course, he knows that I love to paint figurines, so I was all for the idea. To give him credit, he has offered to paint an inconspicuous piece, but I flatly turned him down. It's something I enjoy doing and I don't get to spend much time on hobbies anymore. This covers it for quite a long time to come :) So, while we were on break, I painted the baby Jesus figure. I think it came out fairly well.

Before...

After...

Not too bad. One down, 18 more to go... I'm going to try to get the Holy Family done by Advent. Wish me luck :)

I also got a much needed haircut! I had her go shorter this time. It's up to about my shoulders now.

Of course, knowing me, some time was spent in the kitchen. I made another batch of colby cheese crackers. They're almost gone now, so I need to make more soon. I also took a crack at making graham crackers. Given the rapidity with which they disappeared I would say they were quite good. They really were, and the kids LOVED them! I need to make another batch soon too. The boys have been bugging me about making bagels lately. I've been putting it off since it's a fair amount of work, and I already have enough to do. And I don't need the caloric temptation hanging around.

School is going well. The professor was giving me such a hard time about his spelling (turns out he was bored), so we went through the rest of the 2nd grade book and he knew all the material! We only needed to review one set of sounds. He nailed those, so we've moved on to the 3rd grade book. The work is harder and much more on par with were he is. He's also in the 3rd grade grammar book. We're onto a quick subtraction review in math. We took a while on the addition review because he managed not to learn his math facts last year. We drilled on those for a while and did some review work and I think he's on top of the problem. He still doesn't have them all down cold, but he's getting better and now knows when to count (fingers). We covered Reptiles, herbivores, carnivores and herbivores so far in science, now we're on to the skeletal and muscular systems. We'll spend quite some time on these areas. We're wrapping up our study of North America this week and then we move on to South America.

Velcro Boy (and Doodlebug) are working on the unit for letter "I". Velcro boy surprised me the other day. We were reading and he recognized several letters we haven't covered yet! I was amazed. He's also getting better in his number recognition lately.

And...someone can open doors now! Bet you can't guess who! He can turn the knobs and push the door open into a room, but can't turn and pull the door open (yet). I'm sure it won't be long.