Happy Earth Day!

Hi Everyone!

             We celebrated Earth Day all week! We started last Monday by going to the Nature Realm. The nature center was closed, but the scenery was beautiful. On Tuesday, Nicholas learned about Earth Day in School and I taught my students about Earth Day. The boys and I love to explore and be outside, I really make a big deal about Nature. Yesterday, the boys and I went to the Zoo ( of course). They had outstanding Earth Day activities. It wasn't too busy, because Cleveland Zoo was free. You would not have caught me at the Cleveland Zoo yesterday, that would have been insane. We went to the Cleveland Zoo last week, and it's too big for us. It just the boys and I most of the time, and the Cleveland Zoo is a little hard for me to handle them by myself. They were OK, we are just not there yet with a big Zoo.

The boys are doing fine. Year six with Nicholas has been very challenging. Nicholas is doing well in School. He is above average in Math. He is at a first grade level for Reading. His graduation is June 3rd. You better believe I requested off for his graduation. Jacob will probably not have an IEP for Speech and won't qualify for Special Ed. Preschool. He is doing an outstanding job. I have a Lollipop meeting tomorrow. Cannot believe my baby is starting Preschool in the Fall. Potty training is coming along. He does OK with no clothes on, but when I put on the Pull Ups on, we have problems. He is also in a toddler bed - kind of. Because of his disorder, he is very picky about how and where he sleeps. He wants to sleep on the floor by the door. I have moved his mattress by the door. So far, it has been OK. It will only last a few days, and then we will need to do something else. It has been fun :) Last week,   he woke up twice at 1am, but it happened on my days off. If we ever thought about having a third, his waking up kind of squashed that idea.

We are very happy Spring is here. I am taking the boys to the playground today. Jacob was very excited.  I am very happy that May will be here soon. April flew by. I hope Summer doesn't go as fast. I will be working my second job a lot. Which is fine with me. Extra cash means summer clothes for the boys :) Chris is working overtime and taking some shifts other people. He still doesn't have a position.

Well, Jacob is getting antsy. That's why blogs do not get done. I can't do them during the day, and I am so tired at night. I am very sorry that I am not good about updating anymore.
Have a great Sunday!! Mandy

Thanks for 87 Years and more!!

                                          CST - 2014

                                          My great grandpa in the middle, Grandpa on the far right

Hi Everyone,

    While my computer was on a break, we had our own issues. On February 14th, Chris was given notice that my family's business was closing. We were given two weeks for Chris to find another job, They said don't worry though, the company that bought my family's company will rehire. Well, this little line in the letter did not hold out true in Chris' future. It was a crazy two weeks. I posted on FB a wonderful tribute, then was told to take it down (family / relatives drama). Then Chris was waiting and waiting for the new boss to interview him. We only had a week left by then. Finally, he interviewed Chris and said sorry, but we have nothing for you. But wait there's a little light at the end of this frantic tunnel. The boss' brother owns Lakefront Lines, and they may have  a position for him. They really don't have a position for him, but they hired Chris anyway. Chris is a fill in dispatcher. I am so happy because he has a job. Hours are a little crazy, but we are managing. I was so nervous for him! Between the not knowing and the weather in February - I am glad that month is over!!

Chris seems to be settling into his new job very well. He got some encouraging news from the boss man. He said Chris was doing a good job. He never heard that at his old job. Chris was very scared he was doing something wrong, or they started him too soon with dispatching, but he needed to hear that from the boss. We visited Chris yesterday at his new place. It was nice. We didn't stay long, but I am glad I got a chance to see it.

February 28th was a very bittersweet day. The bus company is where my parents met, and Chris and I met. I am still a little sad, but it was time to move on.

Sorry it is so short. I  promise I will do another blog this week!!! Mandy

Surprise!

Hi Everyone,

      We are back! I am very sorry that there has not been an update. My computer decided not to allow me on the blogger. I took my laptop up to Best Buy and they made it all better. I had 21 viruses. I did an upgrade and update. Paid a pretty penny for it, but now it feels like mine.

We had a terrible Winter. Nothing much to report, so my computer broke down at a good time :) It was so cold and snowy. I had 9 snow days! Nicholas had 6. I am not a fan of snow days. Our house is not fun. We treat it as a real snow day and do not go anywhere. Too much togetherness for me. Now Spring is here, and hopefully it is smooth sailing from here.

Chris lost his job on Feb. 28th. My family business closed. Luckily, Chris got hired at another place. He really likes it. He comes home a lot happier. I am so glad. His hours are insane, but we are managing. As long as he is happy and has a job - there are no complaints.

Jacob has gone down to having Speech every other week. OT is once a month, but soon that will be once every three months. Jacob is in sensory disorder mode, which as usual is tons of fun. He gets tested for his IEP in the middle of the month. He goes to Preschool in the Fall.

Nicholas is doing very well. He lost his first tooth a couple of weeks ago. That was a BIG moment in our house. School is going very well. We were thinking about sending him to another School (Catholic), but that kind of fell through. His reading is outstanding!! I am not going to lie, being 6 is rough.

We all are doing pretty good. One stomach bug back in January. A few stuffy noses. We are very happy Spring is here!! Have a good rest of the week!! Mandy

Hellooooo Winter!

   Hello Everyone,

           I think it is safe to say that Winter has arrived in Northfield Center. We have the snow now, and really cold temps next week. I think Niko and I will be missing School on Tuesday for sure, maybe even Monday. I don't remember the last time it was this cold. We are talking about negative highs - eek! I think Nicholas just turned one when we had a cold snap. I don't mind the cold, but I have to be careful with Jacob. He has been requesting a blanket, so I have to make sure I take one in the car and keep one downstairs. I took him outside yesterday to get the mail, and he freaked. I held him in a blanket for an hour. I think he likes that, and I am OK with that. I want him to feel safe and comfortable, especially when it gets very cold.

We hope you had a great New Years. We did! Chris and I went and saw two movies. We have never done that before. The boys have been pretty good. Since it has been cold and snowy, we have stayed home. We do two errands then come back home.  I am ready to go back to the normal routine, but I will miss my time with the boys.

We had a great break. I am not sure when the next blog will be. I still owe you a blog on Niko's Birthday. Maybe this weekend :) Have a good day! Mandy

2013 - Growth

                                          Niko - 6 years old

                                         Jacob - 2 1/2 years old





2013 was very good for my boys. We did not have major health issues with them, and I was glad about that!


Nicholas - Turned 6 years old on December 19th. He had a good year. It was the year he started Kindergarten. Mentally - Nicholas is very bright. He was VERY ready for Kindergarten. He is in the highest level of Reading in School. That blew me away. He still needs to practice fine motor though. He does not know how to tie his shoes (but I have a 2nd grader who does not know how to do that either), but he can zip his coat and totally take care of himself in the bathroom. He still has issues with writing his name (which drives us nuts), but he knows Math and numbers really well. I believe the little things will come with time. He is very hyper, and I plan on having a talk with his doctor (again) about ADHD. The teacher doesn't see it, because he sits still on the carpet. However, everything he does it has to be rushed. Physically, he loves Soccer. We also got the Wii for Christmas. I am hoping that helps the energy level too. Medically, we are having issues with his thyroid level. He just got retested, so we will see how that goes. He takes pills and shots now. Sigh.... Nicholas has done well this year. Still mouthy and full of attitude - but I still love him.


Jacob - Turned 2 years old on May 23rd. He has come a long way in a year. Mentally, delayed, but he is doing very well. OT will probably stop in April of 2014. Speech is going OK. I think he does a lot of his accomplishments on his own with time. He likes to repeat, but if we ask him a question, "What did you have for lunch?" He can't tell us or he will say no. He has just started putting two words together. I love when he does that. He will say "Ahmi's.....(pause)...... house". He says Niko, but very rarely will he say his name. He has done very well this year, and I am very proud of him. Physically - doing good. No more PT. He tip toe walks. Still falls down quite a bit. Medically, He had an MRI done in the Summer. Everything came back normal. The brain did show some abnormal stuff, but we will continue to see the specialist. His growth is still normal. No shots!

We have had a few colds, but I would say this year was pretty good for illnesses. We started 2013 with the FLU. Chris ended up in the hospital in November.

This wasn't a crazy year, so I am glad for that. We  had some ups and downs, but overall, this was a pretty good year!! Mandy

Merry Christmas!

 

.

Hi Everyone,

Whoa! Talk about Photo overload. I now have a camera.

. I figured out how to upload pictures on my laptop.

I am feeling better about the camera and laptop.

I did find my old camera though, but now I am used to my new camera.

 

We wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful week.

Niko got his Wii. Jacob was good at opening three gifts then he was done.

My car was of course my Christmas gift, but everything after

that magical night has been great!

Chris and I went away for a few days.

He treated me like a Queen, which was awesome.

He paid for a massage, and we went to a wonderful Italian Dinner.

 

I will not be doing picture posts, like I do every year. 

Most of my pictures are on the other computer.

I think we will have this one for awhile, so I will do one next

year. I will do my Stat post about growth and learning.

I will also do our favorite memories.

 

Well, Niko and Daddy are playing Wii Golf. I need to

do laundry and have some Mommy time :)

 

Have a wonderful day!!! 

It's been awhile

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone!
      
I know it has been awhile. My old computer crashed. I am very lucky, that we were able to get a new laptop. Sadly, all the pictures are on my old computer. I don't have many pictures to post. I also lost my camera. We have no idea the camera went. That could be a blessing in disguise though. I needed a new camera anyway. Hopefully, when the new year starts, I will be able to get a new camera. I have to do Christmas shopping first before I think about myself.

Anyway, after the old computer was unfixable, I waited a little while to get the laptop activated. I think everything is OK now. I have a love / hate relationship with this laptop. I am not used to it yet. If my finger hits the mouse, the cursor goes to another place on the paragraph. I am also not used to all the bells and whistles. I will feel better once I get used to everything. I am a very BIG creature of habit. I do not like changes...... To me this was a big one :)

Speaking of changes, Mommy got herself a new car. I LOVE it. We needed something bigger. I loved my HHR. Never had major problems with it. That was the first car I bought, and drove it the longest. There were certain things that were going wrong. My locks never locked. My speaker wire was going out, and my turn signals never went off when I made the turn. I think I turned it in at a good time. I am making the same payments on this car that I did with the HHR Of course, there are pros and cons when buying a new car. Lucky for me there were more pros with this deal. Next time it won't be so easy.  My creature of habit personality is going crazy right now :)

Everyone is doing well. We have been pretty healthy. Jacob had something going on with his nose. No one else got it though. I am thinking allergies. Niko and I start our Christmas break on the 20th. Nicholas turns 6 on the 19th. No party this year. My mom and brother are taking him to Build a Bear.

I have been insanely busy. I really hope it calms down soon. I barely got to see the boys this past  week. I worked Woodside two days this week.

Well  I need to put laundry in the dryer. Have a great Weekend! Mandy