Queen of the Juggle

These little boys are just too funny. When I see them do something new almost every day and how they are little sponges, I think to myself “I’ve got to write that down”. Now that I’m committed to blogging, I’ll be importing old stuff that I have in various different places and will now update here. The boys now have a summer swimming pool that they just love. It’s so fun to watch them splash around. It’s really cool. All the boys still love walks in the wagon and can’t get enough of being outside. However, now the boys get bored with just the back yard.

Gary – This little guy just can’t get enough! He wants to say and try everything. Gary has really come a long way this month. He’s trying really hard to talk and now can say: ball, tree, green, car (car has been in the last 2 months), hey, bye, hi and me. Gary can also point out things on his head. He knows nose and eyes, as well as hair, ear and mouth. He can’t say them all very well but he sure tries! He especially loves to point them out on other people. Gary loves books, puzzles, the stacking blocks and calls Ben “B”. Gary also has really sensitive skin. Eczema is all over him. He’s also still daredevil and wants to try everything. Gary still absolutely loves hot dogs, pirates booty, yogurt, pasta, veggie corn dogs and banana muffins I make. He also fights over the blue cloud blanket with Ryan. Luckily Gary is laid back enough to let it go and get another. He also tends to get motion sick. We have found that out on 3 occasions. Oh yeah, Gary is deathly afraid of Blues Clues. Puts his hands on his ears and cries when he sees it come on tv.

Ben – This boy still loves to play alone with cars. He’s so tall and skinny still! Finally in the last couple of months he’s getting more hair. Ben is all about laying on the floor with his blanket and bottle. He doesn’t even care if the bottle is empty. He’s really a content kid. He also gets picked on more than Gary by Ryan. He’s getting more vocal about that and most things in general. There is so much more babble coming from Ben. Ben seems to be the most adaptable of all the boys. He’s a great eater. Loves really carby stuff like Pirate’s Booty, pasta, Cheetos, Cheerios, Chex and fishies. He also really likes veggies like green beans and corn (LOVES IT). Like his brothers, Ben likes fruit too. Grapes and mandarin organges are the biggest hits. Ben is the best of the 3 at using a fork. He can spear a lot and usually even makes it to his mouth. 🙂 In the last week or so Ben has also really taken an interest in books. That makes Chip and I really happy! Ben can say hi and dadda. He loves to be outside and plant with his daddy. Like his brothers, Ben also loves to play in the water. Ryan and Ben fight over the water hose. Ben will be out in the pool and soaking himself until he shivers and still can’t get enough.

Ryan – Still the bubba! He totally understands that he can intimidate his brothers, push them down and take things away. They are fighting back better, but Ryan still usually gets his way. Ryan is just his own little person. He loves the cloud blanket. He’ll be the one to take it from Gary in the mornings. Ryan is an emotional little guy. He’s sad when he gets in trouble or is told no. He fights us the most when getting dressed and diapers changed. Then in a few minutes he’s totally happy again! His laugh is infectious and when Ryan smiles his whole face lights up. Lately he’s really attached to this red “lego” car. The front and back come off of it and he takes them off and can’t quite put them back on, so he “asks” for help by alerting us via grunts and pushing the car at us. He says yah yah and hi. Ryan loves his routine. He’s also the shyest I think. In the last few months we’ve seen that Ryan will cry some at new places and new people and then in a couple of hours he’s great. This little guy LOVES the phone. Once you give it to him, god help you if you take it away! Even when we’re just talking on the phone, Ryan wants to have it. Very recently Ryan has also gotten into books. He’ll bring one and plop right in the lap and wait for you to let him turn the pages. It’s so cute!

All of these little guys are growing so fast. They really do play well together, are on a good schedule and are really happy. Every day when I see something new or funny or whatever I think “I won’t forget that”. Now it’s hard to remember the details of the day to day. I need to keep better records. One of these days I’ll get to their baby books and be able to fill those out. I’m a little disappointed in myself for not taking the time to write more. Both to keep the memories as well has my sense of well being.

Other notes of things they enjoy: being outside, wagon rides, being chased around the family room, toddling in the house freely, their baths, jumping up and down in their cribs when they wake up and watching tv (Little Einsteins, Backyardigans, Mickey Mouse Club, Handy Manny and “Puzzle Time” on Noggin). Although they watch Baby Einstein videos a lot less this last 3 months or so, Shapes and The Farm are still ones they like.

The boys have all taken turns having splinters in their hands. The fence, gate and play area are bordered with rough wood. We had to do “surgery” on Gary’s hand with a huge splinter about 3 weeks ago. Definitely NOT fun. Hopefully we won’t have to do that again!

Until the next update…
S

4/10 – Ben poops in the tub….ewwwww! Whole family goes to Red Robin. The first time for all of us. Went well but was a lot of work. We celebrated Gillian’s 10th birthday. Had a little party with a couple of neighbor kids. It was hard because Gilli invited 7 and only 2 came. However, it’s spring break and kids are off and running. The break in Vegas is almost over. In any case, our trip was exhausting, but both Chip and I felt a good sense of success. It’s so cool to stand outside of Red Robin and hug a hug of success! No one really understands it, but it’s a strong bond between us and helps solidify our family values. Ryan was really scared at first and I held him and walked around the restaurant and talked to him. He definitely was afraid, but it only took a bit of time for him to at least try it out. It was so funny. They were all a bit scared in the car. Ryan’s eyes were like saucers…just didn’t know what to think. Gary was actually shaking. It’s odd to see, but we know it’s so good to get out. Especially with all of the kids…all 5 of them.

Kaitlyn came last Saturday for her break. Gillian had already been here for 2 weeks because of her track break. We’ve had a great time. Kaitlyn coming has been a bit more challenging, but we had a frank conversation about whether she wanted to be here and what the deal was. It was an interesting conversation because a lot of what was said in the conversation were things that were said by John in court. It was really good for us and the back half of the week has been much better than the first. Kaitlyn seems to be more open. It’s a very good thing! Progress, not perfection, right?

Speaking of progress…sometimes when you feel like you’re making a step or two forward you really aren’t? The next day after the confrontation with Kaitlyn, we found ourselves talking (Chip, mom and I) about the situation with John, Kaitlyn, the girls in general, etc. A point in the conversation it turned pretty tense. Mom had a lot to say and just was not saying it. Most things I felt were not what I thought and some of them we just have a strong difference of opinion. I still won’t give up on the girls….nope, won’t do it. Sometimes I think they’re easily dismissed. They are as relevant as anyone else. It’s just not easy. I wish I/we could do more for mom and I try so hard to give to everyone credit, my thankfulness and consideration. I’m in no way perfect, but felt that I was hopefully doing the right thing…some days I think so, others I don’t. Right now I feel like I’m hanging on by a fingernail….literally. Wine seems to help, but isn’t a great answer, but I really feel so stressed. Work is not great but it is what it is and we need it. Financially we’re barely making it, but are surviving. Being in Reno is hard. These choices are painful. I wonder if I made the right ones. That continues to follow me for sure. It’s the hardest thing to work through.

I took Wed. through Friday off due to the discussion with mom and Kaitlyn’s behavior. It was such a cluster! But today was pretty good…did laundry, made Gillian’s cake. prepared for her birthday, and took care of the boys. Long and busy day. Well worth every moment. Of course, the boys also needed a bath. They were just grubby! So I gave each one a bath. Gary first, he loved it since it had been awhile since he had bathed without his brothers. Anyway, Ben was last. He had gotten up late and was almost ready to nap. I had also changed the sheets in the boys room since they seem to wet through night diapers. What a busy day…anyway, I was going to the bathroom in our toilet room and I can see Ben. He’s standing now and from the toilet I tell him to sit down. The next thing I know he’s chucking something small out of the tub. I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. So I finish my business and then try to figure out what he’s chucking out of the tub. Little did I know, but quickly figured out that he was tossing his own turds from the tub! I was mortified to see floaties in the tub. His hair and body had been washed. OMG. I took him out immediately and tried to sponge bath him in the sink. I hope it’s good enough. Then I used the boat tub toy to scoop out the rest of the turds. It was pretty gross to see floaties in with the tub toys. YUCK. Anyway, I cleaned him up and then the tub and toys were thrown into the tub with cleaner. Tub totally scrubbed down. It was just funny for sure to see him react. There seemed to be NOT EVEN a clue that he had crapped in the tub. It was funny and frustrating at the same time. Go Ben! He’ll be the kid to do it for sure. So there were a lot of things that happened today, but it’s all good. I’m sad the girls are leaving…they won’t be back until memorial Day. My mom wants us to bring the boys, but not sure. We’ll see if we can hang at Kristys. Maybe just visit for the day. We’ll see. More to come later….