Happy Fall!

Hi Everyone,

         I am very sorry I haven't been blogging. We have been very busy. I lost my camera, found it for a few minutes, then lost it again. I am camera - less right now. The pictures will be coming from my phone. That's when my phone is working. I am a hot mess!!  I had to return my first phone to Verizon because it kept shutting off. The one they sent my is doing the same thing. I will try to get better about updating the blog.

 I love this time of the year! There is so much to do with the boys and I love it! We sometimes can get Daddy to come along. He works for 6am - 2pm now, so we have some family time now on the weekends. Chris and I are starting on a bowling league next Saturday. It is every other Saturday. I am very excited. Chris and I get to spend some time together. Anyway, back to my favorite time of the year :) I am hoping to go to many more pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hopefully feed the ducks one more time. 


Nicholas is doing very well. Seems to like School very much. The teacher is pretty nice. I have some concerns. but I am going to get to it right away, so I don't feel the same way I did last year. I have a hard time to get him to do his homework, but he does it. I hate Math homework and Spelling :) He is getting most words right, but the teacher is taking off points because he is using capital letters.

Jacob is doing pretty well. We had a little worry with him and preschool. He kept having accidents. I told Mrs. Pearl one more time, we were going to pull him out. Well, he hasn't had an accident for three classes. We will give it another month. He seems to like it and doing OK. He has a very hard time explaining what he did in School, which concerns me. I ask him what letter they are learning or what they had for snack. He tells me. "I don't know." I don't think he knows either.


Everything else is going OK. Chris is in the cleaning mood, which I love! We are getting a new dryer and washer. We are looking to redo the kitchen. We have no idea where to start and how to budget for it, but we are looking at some ideas.

Alright, I am tired. Have a wonderful Fall weekend!! Mandy

Strong

Hi Everyone!

           Meet Toni Denise. She is Chris' sister. She is my sister in law and also my hero. We got to spend some time with her and Uncle Mike a few weeks ago. Grandpa Tony was also in town to visit. I was glad Chris got a chance to catch up with his Dad. Anyway, back to my hero. Toni Denise was diagnosed with Stage 3B Breast Cancer last November. She is in remission and just completed radiation (yay!) She was very upfront with her cancer and I was so glad. I wish her more healing vibes and hope this journey of chemo and radiation is over for her.

Jacob and Toni got to meet each other for the first time on this trip. Grandpa Tony usually comes to visit us, and we decided this year, we wanted to see everyone. We made a promise that we will come back every year for a visit. Toni and I email each other every week. Even when I was having my own issues this Summer, she was there for me - with her pain and tiredness. I appreciate her love SO much. It's nice that I have someone to fall back on :)

School has started! Nicholas was not thrilled about going back, which made me kind of sad. He says he is enjoying first grade. I have eased up on the reading for a little while, until we get out reading log. I might have burned him out on Reading. My Class is OK. I had a little drama this weekend, and my class will be VERY challenging, but I have to keep positive and do what I can in the six hours that I have them. It has also been hot and will continue to be hot. I say when it hits August 5th, Fall weather can start. Seriously, I have been coming home totally drained and not feeling good. Next week, upper 80's. Jacob went to a meet and greet at his preschool. My Mom said he did well. He has his appointment this Thursday. I am little nervous about that.

The boys have their moments. Jacob has hit the 3's in full force! He actually has been worse than Nicholas. Nicholas was doing good for awhile, but the mouth is back. He doesn't like getting into trouble. They may send me to an early grave, but at least they will be good kids when I finish with them.

Well, we need to get ready for a picnic. Have a wonderful week!! Love, Mandy

Memphis Kiddie Park

                                           Getting ready

                                        

                                           The Reaction

                                          Jacob going on his 1st Roller Coaster

                                          This picture makes me smile

                                          After the ride - he loved it!

                                          Nicholas wasn't sure about this ride - b/c it went up

                                          He loved it

                                           My boys!

                                          All three of them

                                          Our new family photo





Hi Everyone,

       I apologize for being a week behind. We got very busy, very fast. I really wanted to do this blog entry too. I was so excited to blog about our trip to Memphis Kiddie Park.

We decided to surprise the boys with a trip to Memphis Kiddie Park. I think we waited a year a too late, but none the less, the boys loved it. It is a little Amusement Park with kiddie rides. We had such a good time. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. The boys were so excited, and that made me so happy. It was a great family day. We will go back - for sure!

Last weekend, we went to a reunion. I wasn't sure if we were going to make it, because Nicholas was acting a little off. He said he felt weak, and had a cold. We didn't go to swim lessons that morning, but I thought he was OK enough to travel to the reunion. It was only an hour away. He did very well at the reunion. Both boys played on the playground, all afternoon. We were five minutes away from home, and Nicholas threw up in the car! What a mess. Nicholas just wanted to go to bed. I gave him a quick bath and he went to bed at 6:45 that night. That same night, I got it! I have broken my record of not throwing up. It was a 12 year record - no joke - I keep track of that stuff :) Last Sunday, was a very quiet day. I felt awful. I had a terrible headache. Nicholas did get sick one more time during the night, and didn't tell me :( He was OK by noon that Sunday though. We don't know what it was. Chris got it too, but not Jacob - thank goodness. Jacob got the cold part. I got the cold and stomach thing. I am still not feeling the greatest. Just very tired, stuffy and have a cough.

Anyway, Chris came home last Monday and said he felt better and asked how everyone else was doing. My stomach was still churning, but I was better. Jacob was still OK. We were supposed to go visit Toni Denise, Mike, and Grandpa Tony in Indiana. We did end up going, but I am saving that trip for another blog.

I went into work last Thursday, and then I had a two day garage sale, No wonder I'm tired! Tonight, I have Bingo, so I have to make sure the house is cleaned, because our new babysitter is coming over. The boys really enjoy her. I am so glad.

There will be a blog next week. I'm not sure about blogging after that. There will be blogs, but not as frequent. Have a great week! Love, Mandy

Jacob did it!

Hi Everyone,

         We have awesome news! Mr. Jacob graduated from Speech Therapy. After two years of therapy and many miles on our cars, Jacob achieved his goals. I am so proud of Jacob. He just started talking last Summer. He really has come a long way. He did pretty good on his evaluation, and the therapist said if we need to re-evaluate in three months, we can. I just don't want them to forget about us. I kind of feel like they did that with physical therapy and I did tell the Speech therapist that too - so I don't care if it got back to the physical therapist.

Jacob is also 95 % potty trained. We still have accidents, but we are working so hard on the potty training. He can go about 4 hours before he has an accident. He kind of gives up with telling me he has to go to the bathroom. There is only 2 1/2 hours at preschool, so we are good :) Lollipop here we come!  I haven't changed a dirty ( poopie) pull up in 6 days!!

Jacob has been pretty busy. Nicholas is doing pretty good. We had a stern Saturday morning. His mouth and behavior got him into trouble. There was no Ipad or TV that morning. He spent the whole morning in his room. Something must have clicked, because he has been better. Not all the way, but I do see some improvement.

I had some skin tags / moles/ bumps taken off my eye today. It was not pleasant. I wasn't the best patient. It hurt! The numbing part was the worst! I am glad they are gone. Adults and kids made comments about the one on my eye. I felt so ugly with it. I feel better that it is gone. It is swollen and sore right now, but it should be better within a few days. It was a very simple procedure - for the doctor :)

Well, I have toilet that is running, I need to go catch it :) I mean turn it off. Have a wonderful week!!
Mandy

                                          Love this smile!

                                          Watering the pizza garden

                                          Summer  Greek Salad

                                          Brothers.......

                                           who love each other......

 

 

                                           most of the time .........

   Hi Everyone,

        We had a normal week! This was the second week in the Summer that was normal. Yay! Chris went back to work today (Friday). I was getting a little worried. We weren't getting a call. When the boss did call, he gave Chris a full time position. We are very lucky. He was supposed to be a filler. I am grateful that Chris has a great boss. I have met him a couple of times, and seems very nice and caring.

      I got my carpets cleaned this week. That is big in our household. Nicholas had an eye appointment. He is doing well, but the doctor told me that he will be wearing glasses for a long time. When he is 11, we can discuss contacts. I had an eye appointment to get a skin tag removed, but they wouldn't do it that day. I was not happy. We have to wait for the insurance to give it the OK. I bet they won't cover it. It is not a medical issue, even though I am very self conscience about it. We might just have to pay for it. Jacob seemed to get a cold last week. No one else has gotten it. I have never seen such a kid with so much snot!

The pictures are from 4th of July. We had a nice time at my Mom's. That following Sunday, we went to feed the ducks. Both boys love doing that.

I need to get dinner ready. then I get to have a Mommy night - book club. I am also working tomorrow night at a Wedding. That is why the blog is a day early :) Have a great weekend!! Mandy

Lake Farm Park!

                                            Excited to go to Lake Farm Park

                                          Olaff

                                            Yoda

                                           Yoski

                                           It was a fun day!


  Hi Everyone!

           On July 3rd, we went to Lake Farm Park. We love this place. Jacob was very excited to go. Nicholas threw his normal fit, because he didn't want to go, but I think he enjoyed it. We did have a good time. I hope to squeeze in another trip before I go back to School. We also renewed our Zoo pass. I love when we do that!

Jacob had a rough week. Last Sunday, the boys and I had pizza from Pizza Hut. The next day, Jacob broke out in a rash and hives. We took him to Urgent Care. He had to take some steroids orally - which was awful for the kid. It was still spreading on Tuesday ( even his ears) but them it completely went away on Wednesday. We are going to meet with an allergist. For now, no pizza or tomatoes.

Then on Thursday, Jacob's genetic test came back. The doctor said he wouldn't call if it came back normal. Well, he called. Jacob seems to be missing chromosome 16. I took the plunge and googled it. It was pretty much on target with Jacob. Next, we meet with the genetic specialist. Chris wonders if one of us passed it down to him. To me it doesn't really matter. He has it now, solving our mysteries with him, and now we see how it will affect him in the future. Of course, I was crushed - had my moment, but I am ready to be strong again.


Well I am going to take the boys swimming. Have a good Weekend!! Mandy