Something I never thought I would have to do.

Dig a pair of key out of the toilet, when there is poop in it.

This resulted in one boy screaming bloody murder because his keys are not in the toilet and the other boy looking very, very guilty and concerned.

Confession Time

I have phobia's. To be more precise I have a phobia of driving places that I don't know how to get to even if I follow someone or if I would get to go to some place really cool. If it involves driving in a busy city where there is lots of room for error I won't go, unless someone else drives.

When my brother called and asked me earlier this week if I would like to go to the Omniplex with him and his wife and Collin, as soon as the words left his mouth I thought how would I get there? His car does not have enough room for all of us and neither does mine. My mother has the same phobia, which I believe it where I learned it from. Anyway, I wanted to go but knew that because of my fears unless someone else drove then I would not be going along. Yesterday, his wife called to see if I would be going. I had thought all week about it and thought to myself that I should beat this fear and just follow them, but I couldn't. I'm not sure what I'm exactly afraid of, but now that I have kids I certainly don't want to take chances. I think mostly I'm afraid of getting lost or not knowing where to go and being so indecisive that I might cause an accident. Now most people, my family included, would say well you just pull over and regroup, figure out where you are and then move on. I say to this the thought of even having to do this is anxiety inducing.

Now with all that said I have faced my fears many times before, I have driven hundreds of miles, with my brother, who also has this phobia to some existent, to visit our mom in Indiana when she lived there. I have also driven to the east end of the our state to visit my mom when she lived there as well. I made it safely I didn't get lost, no one got hurt and I didn't have to be admitted to any hospitals for panic attacks, thankfully.

I believe this is a learned behavior from my mother who got it from her mother. Our family can have anxious tendencies sometimes. With that said I hope to break this cycle with my kids. I don't want them to be afraid to do something so simple as drive someplace and someplace cool at that.

I have gotten better, lots better especially since our move recently. I'm driving places that once were anxiety inducing to me. I hope to one day be able to go anywhere I want by driving there myself. Until then I'll stay a little more close to home.

Potty Training (Part 1)

It's been very busy around here lately. Not because we have been going places and doing fun things, not because anyone has visited, because they haven't, it's been busy because I have two year old twin boys and they are VERY busy, which in turn makes me VERY busy.

Kolton is ready to potty train. As a matter of fact we have been working on it all week. For a month or more he as been going pee on the potty off and on, but this week we have really been working at it. I've tried several approaches and I think I finally found one that is working for him. Before I move further with this I need to say Karter on the other hand is not ready to potty train, has no interest whatsoever. Doesn't care what his brother gets for using the potty, he just doesn't want to do it. That's OK with me, when he's ready is when I'm ready and maybe it will be easier doing just one at a time.

Anyway, so back to Kolton. First I tried the potty chair in the bathroom, that didn't work well because all he really wanted to do was climb on the toilet and play in the sink. I actually had to start locking the bathroom that I call theirs because of this. Next I moved on to putting the potty in the room that he was in, I would just carry it around asking every so often if he needed to go. This didn't work all that well either, while he would go this way it was getting pee on the carpet, simply because we have the worst potty ever. It's really not a good potty at all although it was cheap it's made cheap, you defiantly get what you pay for. I forgot to mention that first I was just keeping his diaper on him, then I moved to pull-ups, but he seemed to just pee in them as he did his diaper, then I decided that I was going to go all out and just put underwear on him. This lasted two days. He has several accidents, mostly just pee and one poop. So, now I have switched back to pull-ups, but now he seems to get that he need to try not to pee in them and I have done away with the potty chair and have put the plastic seat part of the potty on the toilet. I moved it to the half bathroom where he can't reach the sink from the toilet. He is able to climb on the toilet by himself and the plastic seat has handles, this might be the best thing about that cheap potty. I've started setting a timer for every 20 mins and I would take him to pee. Just yesterday he started going into the bathroom himself pulling down his pants, climbing on the pot and going pee, then telling me about it. After lunch today he said "I go potty", ran to the bathroom and actually pooped in the pot. I was so proud of him and he seemed really proud too.

Karter witnessed it all, including the praise for pooping. I asked him if he would like to go and he said yes, but only sat on there for a second then said "done" and "hands" meaning he wants to wash his hands. I think that's the only reason that he even sat on there because he knew Kolton gets to wash his hands after he's done.

So, hopefully we are on our way to having one child out of diapers. We are going to keep on and see what happens. Really I have no clue what I'm doing but so far it seems to be working. Now I'm on the search for one to carry in the car with us. Anyone have a favorite they can suggest?

Yearbook Yourself

I found this link off of another site. I've had so much fun with this. Just wait you will too. These are only a few of my favorites.

1950

1960

1964

1966

1986

1984

1996

The year I actually graduated

Doctor update and ice cream

Things have been busy. I have several post brewing in my head but have yet found the time to write them down.

Everyone is fine. Kolton has a cardiologist appointment on Friday, just to check and make sure everything is good with him. His Allergy test came back negative, so I supposed that's good, but he sure did have some sort of reaction. The doctor was sure to inform me that he didn't need to eat nuts anyway because he could choke, which I'm well aware of. It's not like we gave him a nut and said there you go, run around and play, but be careful not to choke. I know he was just informing me and we will not be letting him have anymore nuts for awhile anyway.

The boys are napping, who knows for how long, I have ice cream calling my name so I need to get to that.

Doctor Appointments

Yesterday both the boys went to the doctor. Karter to the dermatologist because his eczema on his feet has gotten pretty bad and his current meds don't seem to be helping much. He ended up getting a new ointment for his feet to use for a couple of weeks.

Kolton went to the Pediatrician for two reasons, first to have his heart listened to, to see if he needed to be seen by the cardiologist. Dr. C listened to him for quite a while and decided that he should be seen just to be safe. He did hear a murmur, but Kolton's murmur is unlike Karter's. Dr. C said it is more like the "normal" murmurs that you hear, but since Karter has an issue just to be on the safe side he will have him looked at. He is referring us to someone besides the doctor that saw Karter. So we will be taking Kolton to have and echo cardiogram and EKG too. If I go off what I feel, I don't feel that Kolton has an issue that will have to be dealt with. Hopefully my feelings are right. Secondly, Kolton went to get tested for a nut allergy. Last week Jimmy was eating cashews and gave both Kolton and Karter one, they have both had cashews before, actually several times before. About five mins after Kolton ate the nuts he began to cough and wheeze, I watched for a minuet more and he began to cough more. I immediately thought that he was having a reaction to the cashew. I gave him Benadryl and an Albuterol Nebulizer Treatment and watched him for four hours. After 30 mins his breathing became normal and he showed no other respiratory signs, however he did have diarrhea the next day. Jimmy searched online and we found out that some kids after the age of two can have reactions to things that they previously didn't, Dr. C confirmed this. We also found out that had I taken him to the emergency room they would have done the exact same thing I did. They would have given Benadryl and a nebulizer treatment. Of course I would have immediately gone to the E.R. had his breathing not improved quickly, thankfully it did. I suggest everyone have Benadryl and know the correct dosage to give your child as this medication comes in handy for many reactions, just follow your doctors orders on when and how to give it. Anyway, he had blood drawn and we should have those results in about a week. I don't think he is allergic to peanuts, just cashews, which thankfully are easier to avoid. Dr. C did give me a script for an Epi-Pen just in case we were to need it. I hope we never, ever need it.

With all that said I have to tell you, I really do have the best kids in the whole wide world. Kolton's appointment was at 9am, they were wonderful in the waiting room and the exam room. I no longer use strollers when taking them to the doctor, they don't like to sit in it for long and it is so hard to get them in and out of the doors, how brave am i? They allowed the doctor and I to talk without much fuss. After Kolton's appointment we had to go to the lab to get his blood drawn. Now Kolton is a bit more dramatic with that kind of stuff than Karter so I knew there would be some tears. They poked my poor little guy 3, yes 3 times and still didn't get blood. Kolton was so brave, he cried but didn't freak out. Karter just watched. We decided that we would try again after Karter's appointment because someone else who was a better stick with kids would be there. Once again the boys were wonderful in the waiting room and the exam room and in the waiting room of the lab for the second, well actually fourth attempt. Thankfully they got blood and Kolton was once again brave. After they were all done he said "Karter's turn" and believe it or not Karter actually wanted a turn. I just asked if they could give Karter a band-aid, which pleased both boys.

I actually wanted to buy them the world. They are normally good, but with all the waiting we did I was just so proud of them.

Someday they will hate me for this.

Last Sunday we visited a new church, afterwards I kicked my shoes off in the living room, since then Kolton and Karter have been playing with them. They love to put on either mine or Jimmy's shoes. They usually prefer mine though since they are a little easier to walk in than Jimmy's big ole shoes. Anyway, today they had a fight over the shoes so I told Kolton to go get some more out of my closet. He chose black ones and after telling me to check for spiders, which I did and thankfully there was none, he put them on and they stomped around in them for an hour or so. After dinner and while they were watching daddy out the kitchen window mow, they put them on again and I pulled out my camera.

My Little Olympians

This morning while sorting laundry in my closet the boys began hanging from one of the hanger bars. They had a grand ole time and are well on their way to the uneven bars, or whatever they are called, for the Summer Olympics in about 15 years or so.

Also, you may have noticed I have started putting a copyright on my pictures. I have started doing this because although it may not totally protect me from someone stealing my pictures or our story, it might help. Two blogs I read have recently been victim to this and these are not the first ones I have heard about. So from now on my pictures will have these copyrights on them.

Love Thy Neighbor.

I'm kind of shy, that is until I get to know you. If I'm in a room full of people I will hang back until I see someone I know, if I don't know anyone I usually sit quietly. I have to say over the years this has somewhat resided, but it's still there and sometimes people assume I'm snobby or standoffish because of this. My husband, Jimmy is the exact opposite. The reason I'm telling you this is because when we moved to our new house, one of our new neighbors came over right away. She was defiantly not shy and offered right off to watch the boys sometime for us when they get to know her better. While I appreciated the offer I could never see myself letting her watch my children while I am no where in site. I also secretly hoped she would not become one of THOSE neighbors, you know the ones who are always up in your business.


I happy to report, while she is a bit opinionated she is a very lovely lady. She has been nothing but nice to us giving us things from her garden. Cooking then bringing over things we have never had before, she and her husband are Chinese they moved to the states 40 so years ago, coming over to chat while we are out in the yard in the evenings.


A couple of days ago while we were outside chatting, she asked the boys if they wanted some ice cream, both said yes, and Kolton took off to her house. Karter was a little more hesitant, but as long as he could see us he went along. They ate a little ice cream and then did their favorite thing, play in the water. She lets them help water her garden and plants, telling them what each one is, sometimes giving the Chinese name, she is very patient with them and they seem to really be warming up to her. Now, I doubt I will every let her watch them, only because I'm overprotective like that, but I love having her around and the culture she brings to them and our family is an added bonus.

While the boys were next door eating ice cream and watering the garden I was on the back porch shaving one of our dogs. He had just emerged from our creek area covered in what we call stick tides, little tiny sticker things that get stuck in their hair and are almost impossible to comb out. So he got a shave, I have to say he did look funny and still does be he doesn't have stick tides. Anyway, after Kolton got back from the neighbors he noticed Sparky and began pointing and yelling "sparky broke, sprarky broke". I explained that no sparky was not broke, just shaved almost bald. This seemed to be an ok answer for Kolton and he began playing again.

Procedure Date Set & Then and Now Pics

We got the call yesterday that October 16 will be the date that they do Karter's procedure. I'm OK with the date, it's after our March of Dimes Walk, after Daddy's birthday and after his eye appointment on Oct. 3rd and my birthday on the 8th. We have to be at the hospital at 6:30am they will talk with us, answer all our questions, I'm assuming do some blood work and then the procedure. We may be able to go home the same day but we may end up staying overnight, it all depends on Karter and how he reacts and how quickly he wakes up. I'm sure as the date gets closer I will have more things to say about how I feel about it. For now I feel peaceful about it. I wish it didn't have to happen but I don't really feel all that worried at the moment.

Than and Now August Edition

August 17, 2006

August 9, 2007

August 13, 2008

PDA Part II (Patent Ductus Arterious)

We have heard from the doctor who examined Karter, via e-mail. She has informed us that she has consulted with the doctor that will be doing the procedure. The doctor that it would be the same risk weather we do it now or next summer and he prefers to do it this summer, so his office will be calling us to set up the first round of appointments.

Jimmy has found a website that explains what the procedure involves and all the risks.

To find our more information click here.

Nightly Routine

The boys go to bed nightly anywhere from 7:30 to 8:00pm. We do the whole bath, brush teeth, put on pj's, fill water cups, get B's(binkies) and lovies and then the boys sit on daddy for about 15 mins and chill and watch T.V. We then take the boys to their separate bedrooms while daddy is in one room I'm in the other. I hug each boy, tell them I love them and I'm so proud of them, give them a kiss and sing them a song. Kolton has taken to telling me to sing before I leave. On the rare occasion he wakes up at night, if it requires me to go into his room he tells me to sing, with his eyes still closed. I sing a short verse and he's out.

Karter likes me to hold him as I sing and then will say night, night and kiss. I tell him I love him, I'm proud of him and give him a kiss. We close the boys doors while we are still up and moving around the house. We have been doing this since as long as I can remember and as long as I can remember I have been going into their rooms several times and lightly touching their chest or back, making sure they are still breathing. If I wake in the middle of the night I go and check on them doing my little routine. I suspect I will be doing this their whole lives.

What is your nightly routine and do you check to see if your kids are still breathing? Or am I just a freak?

Just Stuff

Every one has been fine here, just busy. On Wed. I took the kids to a local pool/park with a friend and her kids. They had a kiddie section that was totally separate from the big pool, it was really nice and the boys had a blast. Karter warmed up to the idea first and began to play with his bucket I brought him and to play with Alexa my friends daughter. Kolton clung to me for about 30 mins and then he warmed up and began to play with Alexa and Karter. They were so cute playing like big boys. I thought about bringing my camera, but I decided not to because I had never been there before and I didn't know if I could handle my big DSLR and two kids in a pool area. I wish I had now because it was a very controlled environment and I could have gotten some good pictures. I do need to get a good point and shoot for times like this.

Thursday was had a cool front come through and the weather was so nice. It was in the 80's verses the 100+ is has been in the last week or so, so we went outside and played in the backyard and on the swing set. Nana this is were we where when you called yesterday, sorry we missed your call!

Today I had to attend a funeral of one of my dear friends mother. I don't like funerals, and I don't like viewing the bodies. I would rather remember the person in happier times, but I went for my friend. She and her mother loved and love my boys and would come to visit. I regret that they didn't get to come as often as they would have liked because we had to limit visitors due to RSV and such, but none the less the love was there. She will be missed.

We are having another nice day here and after nap time will probably go outside to play and then maybe to dinner tonight.

Also I decided to take the boys two year shots myself. I am never really happy with the generic shots you get from Sears or places like them. However I have not done them yet, I wanted to do a family photo on the same day, first I was waiting to get the boys haircuts and now I'm waiting on getting mine and Jimmy's done. I did however get some good ones of them yesterday.

Despite the food on his shirt and the yellow line behind his head, I really like this. I know I can photoshop out that stuff, but I was not having any luck doing that tonight.

PDA

Karter's appointment with the cardiologist was this morning. They did an EKG and a echocardiogram. They found that Karter has a PDA or Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This is very common in preemies and is usually diagnosed while still in the NICU, however for some reason ours wasn't. I remember the doctors speaking to us about PDA's and I can only assume we were lead to believe all was well or we just didn't remember to ask about it again. The cardiologist says that sometimes they just leave them alone until the child is older and stronger to treat the problem. You know here's were the instinct things comes into play again. Two weeks ago when we visited his Pediatrician I began racking my brain to try to figure out what it could be, the only thing I could come up with, and I'm not doctor mind you, it that it was an undiagnosed PDA. I said this several times to Jimmy and even researched it. I just knew this is what he had. As the doctor began to tell us what she thought it was, I asked, are we dealing with a PDA and she said yes she believed so. She thought that it has always been there, while I think it has always been there I wonder if it has always been so easily detected by stethoscope. He has had his heart listened to at every doctor visit by every doctor and no one up until recently has said anything about it. The cardiologist said that sometimes murmurs go undetected for awhile due to it just being plane ole loud in the exam room.

While we were not to fond of the doctors bedside manner, I am confident in her skills. Thankfully she will not be doing his procedure. Speaking of procedure he will be having a heart catheterization either before the Summer's end or next Summer. It will all depend on the doctor whom will be doing the procedure. We have yet to speak to him as the Cardiologist need to speak with him first and give him all details and test results, but we should know something shortly.

While I don't really want Karter or us for that matter to have to deal with any of this, I'm thankful that it's not something worse. We don't need to limit his activity and we don't have to worry about it messing with any electrical parts of his heart, at this point anyway. If it were to be undiagnosed for a very long time then those things might come into play.

Thank you for all your prayers and well thoughts. God is good.