Meeting with the Teacher and a Flashback

Monday, Jimmy and I attended our first parent/teacher conference. I'm happy to report that my former preemies are doing great in school! They are right where they are supposed to be. The teacher said they are a blast to have in class. Kolton is a jokester, which we knew, and Karter though quiet at times can already skip and snap his fingers.

She reported that they like to play with different kids, but always keep tabs on each other. They sit at separate tables in class and are encouraged to be their own person.Pre-school as been so good for them.

I went to their fall party last Friday and got to see them interact with their peers. They seemed to be well liked and unafraid to join in with the class.

These little guys who started out so tiny are running and jumping and making jokes and sticking wood chips in their pockets at school and bringing them home.

I've not shared these videos before. I don't even believe that our family has seen them. This was July 17 2006 , the day they were born. The video's where taken by Jimmy approximately 2 1/2 hours after their birth. I'd yet to see them and wouldn't for about 10 more hours.

The first video is of Karter and the second of Kolton both video's were taken with a cell phone.

They went from that to this.

 Kolton

 Karter

Words cannot express how proud I am of them. For that matter I'm proud of Jimmy and I for making it through it all with our sanity and marriage still in tact. We make a pretty good team if I do say so myself!

First Day Of School

 Taken with my iphone

August 17 was the boys first day of Pre-K. They did ok. Both cried when we dropped them off and had to be held by the teachers and both cried when be picked them up. I had to send daddy to the car during drop off because he was getting very sad about his boys having to go to school. I somehow managed to not cry. I'd been preparing for this day for a year or more.

Kolton has cried every morning not wanting to go, starting about 10:00. They are in the afternoon class and have to be there by 1:00p.

The first days were very hectic and included a lot of hugging and holding, explaining that they had to go and that they would have fun if they would just try and no I would not be staying with them, and no I can't pick them up in an hour it has to be two hours. Because of all of that, this is the only picture we have taken of them. I hate that, but at least we have this one.

Today, Kolton cried on his way to school, but when we got there he took his backpack to his cubbie and sat down to do a puzzle. He didn't even get his kiss he begged for in the car. Karter kind of look at him like what the heck and gave me two kisses and went to hang his backpack up. When I picked them up. Karter actually told me he had fun. Which was a change because last week Kolton said he had fun when I picked them up and Karter always said he did not. Today the roles were reversed. Kolton said it's not fun and does not want to go back. Karter said it was fun.

Hopefully, very soon they will both enjoy it. It's not easy when your kids are actually begging you to "please don't make me go."

So, that and trying to stay cool with the 104 degree weather we are having, is what we have been doing.

What have you been doing?

Happy 4th Birthday My Baby Boys

These will be the last pictures of my boys as three year olds. They are not real good pictures, but are the best I could get as they went out to play in the sweltering heat.

Today there will be a Toy Story birthday party, to celebrate their new age. In exactly a month there will be a new milestone. School. How did that happen so fast? I remember on many sleepless nights, while I was so tired, thinking that this stage would be over soon. At the time I was begging it to hurry up. I was dying from no sleep and worrying about having two preemie boys at home with me along with all the medical equipment and issues that accompanied that. Now I would like, just for a few hours, to snuggle those tiny little boys again.

Now days they are much too busy for cuddling, but every once in awhile one or the other will makes his way over to me, give me a kiss and say I love you momma.

I may have begged for the days to pass quicker when they were so tiny, but now would be a good time for it to slow down a bit. Four is a good age to stop time for awhile, don't you think?

Happy Birthday Kolton and Karter! You makes our days, happy and hectic and on the rare occasion down right awful, but your dad and I wouldn't change it at all.

My Ears are So Tired.

For several weeks now, Kolton has talked non-stop, all day every day, from sun up until sun down.
Non-Stop.

Of course I love him dearly, but I find myself at times tiring of answering the same questions over and over or talking about the same thing for an hour or more. I don't want to discourage asking questions and learning things so I usually just answer them the best I can over and over. There are times when I try to distract him with something else. It usually dosen't work.

In all that talking they usually say something funny every now and then. The other evening while cleaning Kolton's room I asked him why he had all that trash in his room. He said because I'm slobby. I asked him why he was so slobby he said I'm just made that way. He has an answer for every single thing.

I on the other hand I love their vigor for life and learning even though it wears me out at times.

The Doctor is In

Paging Dr. Kolton.

 

While Kolton likes his bunny, Karter LOVES his bunny. His name is, you guessed it, Bunny! He takes Bunny everywhere and daily tells me that he loves his Bunny and Bunny is his best friend. He also adds that Bunny is so cute.

I think Bunny's owner is cuter, how about you?

The Blame Game

Yesterday I found Jimmy's toothbrush and the Vicks Vapor Rub on the bathroom counter. The toothbrush was covered in Vicks and some shaving cream bubbles. I asked Karter if he did it and he said no, Kolton was hiding in his room and I didn't even get the sentence out when he said Karter did it.

We then had the little talk about lying and how it's best to tell the truth.

Today while taking my shower, evidently Kolton got the step stool out, got my gum off the counter and helped him self to a piece, however he brought he brother into it by sharing it with him. When asked who did it Karter said Kolton and Kolton remembering our talk about how it's best to tell the truth immediately took the blame but said I shared with Karter. Both had swallowed the gum by this time.

Tonight it's too quiet I don't see Kolton so I go look for him. I find him in my bathroom. He has gotten the child proof lock open and gotten into my make-up. There is blush and eye shadow on his hands, face and the floor.

When asked why he has done these things his response it always 'cause I wanted too."

Maybe this is paybacks for laughing at the boys when we were in the mirror house at the Science Museum the other day. Of course if they had gotten hurt it wouldn't have been so funny, but watching them bump into the mirrors was quite humorous.

Harmonica Debuts

The boys got harmonicas for Christmas from my dad. They've been having a blast with them and wanted to play a little ditty for you all.

Introducing Kolton and Karter the harmonica twins.

Kolton the Little Chinese Boy.

Our nice Chinese neighbor who is very fond of the boys, and telling us we forgot to put out the trash, gave the boys a Christmas gift. You never know what you're going to get from from the nice Chinese lady.

These are the boxes that the gift came in.

I thought the printing on the side was interesting.

Kolton was the only one who would try it on. Karter was not having it.

 

I love that she is giving them a glimpse of a different culture.

Just Kolton

Busy I tell ya! That's where I've been lately. Sorry for the lack of updates, just been BUSY!

He was just sitting in the floor watching cartoons in these goggles. He put them on himself.

Took them to their first bullriding. He was so cute decked out in his cowboy boots and hat.

Kolton the Cowboy

Kolton loves his boots. His Papa had gotten both he and Karter boots for their birthday last year, Kolton wore them a lot, but outgrew them quickly. Karter never showed as much interest in them as Kolton but did wear his some.

When Kolton outgrew his boots he was sad. He tried to cram his foot in the too small ones and would cry when it didn't work.

Finally, I got the poor boy some more boots and he's worn them every day since.

When Kolton found out we were going to look at boots he was so excited. Karter not so much. Karter does have a sore on his foot and he kept saying he didn't want to try them on because they hurt his owie. I asked him a billion times if he wanted a pair and each time he said no. I asked him the day after and he said he would just wear his tennis shoes. So he's happy with not having any and Kolton's ecstatic to have some.

He was riding some suitcases he dug out of the closet. He said it was a motorcycle.

Karter being cute in his cowboy hat.

Kolton was done taking pictures. He didn't want to look at the camera, but didn't want me to put it up either.

Heard at the Dinner Table Tonight.

Karter pooted at the table and I told him to say excuse me.

Kolton then chimed in "yeah say excuse me to your butt."

Giggles ensued all around the table.

Lately there has not been a dull moment around here!

Three is awesome, but what they say is true, it's worse than two.

Good Thing We Bought A Warranty

About three months ago we got a new table and chairs. We thought it a good idea to also buy the warranty that would cover the table and I hope the chairs(can't remember for sure, I'll have to look it up). You know since we do have two small children, who happen to be boys, who also happen to be quite rough with some things.

It's a good thing too, cause look what happened.

This happens to be the little boy who broke the chair. He's not too happy about it right now. He kept saying "fix it, fix it!"

It happened while the boys were eating lunch. I looked up to see Kolton leaning his chair back, just as I was saying "Kolton sit the chair down", he fell and I heard a crack. Thankfully it was not his head or other body part cracking on the tile floor.

Am I going to have a house full of broken stuff soon?

Silly Kolton

Karter was too busy to put on these silly glasses, but Kolton was
happy to oblige.

What's on Your Face?

The answer would be dirt. Jimmy was going to power wash the green junk off the side of the house and Kolton grabbed the hose and squirted the ground and got both he and Karter a face full of mud/dirt.

Kolton's Tooth

Kolton's had this little dark spot on his front tooth for a year or more now. As a matter of fact I don't really every remember it not being there. I had heard and read that some antibiotics can affect a babies teeth in utero when the mother takes them. I don't remember if I took antibiotics other than when I went into preterm labor, I think I had a bladder infection very early on. Anyway, I assumed that this is what that spot was. It doesn't hurt him and his tooth seems strong. We even showed it to the dental assistant a few months back when I had my teeth cleaned. She agreed with us.

To make a long story shorter. At some point we went to the pediatrician for something a month or so back. He told me that the tooth was rotting and I needed to get it looked at. I was surprised by that since it has been there since, well forever, and he has seen it before. I made the appointment to have it looked at. That was last Thursday. Kolton did such a great job! He said he didn't want to go, but once we got in there he wanted me to hold his hand and once he decided it was all ok he let go of my hand. Karter sat in the corner in a chair and watched.

We had taken them with us once a few months back so they would know what the dentist was and what happened there. I think had I not done that it would have been way scarier for them. So the dentist looked at it and said that it was more than likely caused by what I thought it was and that it was fine, although it was discolored and the enamel was a bit weaker it was still a strong tooth and we will just keep and eye on it.

I'm glad that's all it is. His permanent tooth should not be affected the dentist said. Besides the little dark mark on his tooth he still has a perfect little smile.

Bike Riders

Edit: My Papa's surgery went fine. He will be staying overnight in the hospital.

Someone learned to ride their bike yesterday(4-7-09). Kolton actually learned to pedel and steer his bike. He did take a few tumbles today, a couple on his own and one when his brother backed his fourwheeler into his bike knocking it over. He got a small scratch on his nose and forhead, cried a few tears and got right back on his bike.

I was so proud of him.

Karter is getting there, he's a tiny bit shorter than Kolton so it's a little harder for him to push the pedles all the way down. It won't be long and he will be pedeling his on his own as well.

My little boys are growing up.

So Thankful

In spite of what I'm going through right now with this pregnancy I'm so thankful.

Thankful that Karter made it through his procedure just fine. We arrived at 9:00 that morning and got all checked in and sat down in the waiting room. We were surprised when one of our pastors showed up. He stayed with us awhile prayed and then he had to leave. After checking to make sure the PDA was present this time with and echocardiogram, the took him back at about 11:30. Unfortunately I was not allowed to actually go in with him while they sedated him as I had intended because I'm pregnant and Jimmy just couldn't do it. I had to stand at the door and he did cry and didn't want the mask put on his face, but I knew the more he cried the faster the anesthesia would work, he was out in about 30 seconds.

We moved to the waiting room were my dad was. My dad and I went to the cafeteria while Jimmy waited for us to return with his food.

Somewhere in there the nurse called to tell us things were going fine and they would be done soon. At 1:30 or so the Doctor came out to tell us things had gone fine. The reason his PDA was there sometime and not at others was because there was a bend in the vessel sometimes making it closed and others open. It was a pretty good sized PDA and they placed an occluder.

We were then sent to recovery to be with Karter as he woke. I forgot to mention that my Pediatrician was there as well because his child had to have a surgical procedure that day as well as was in the recovery bed across from Karter. So Dr. C was able to see Karter as he woke.

After an hour in recovery and after me having to climb in his bed so he wouldn't climb out, we were moved to the step down area. There we had to stay for 4 hours. It was uncertain if he would have to stay overnight at that time, but he was such a good boy and stayed still for the whole time that he had no problems and we were able to leave at 7:00p that night.

He was such a good boy.

They were both good boys. Kolton did great here with my mom, asking to call daddy from time to time. He was happy to see Karter when he came home and asked Karter if he could sit next to him on the couch.

Kolton is a little worried now and wants to make sure if he's going somewhere that Karter and Daddy get to go too.

I'm so thankful that's behind us, it was a huge stressor looming over our heads. Thankful that it went well and Karter is back to his normal if not more busy self.

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On to something else. I've been reading this blog for awhile. They are having a really rough time with their baby Stellen, who is having some heart issues. I'm sure your thoughts and prayer would be appreciated.

7 weeks 1 day

Today I'm 7 weeks 1 day pregnant. So far I've not had many symptoms. No morning sickness, not really any nausea, mild tiredness, some things are sore and I can feel my insides stretching.

I have an ultrasound scheduled for Thursday at 2:00p, to find out if there is one or two. I'm praying for one. Not that I wouldn't love two, but uh, I just want one.

I'm pretty nervous about that part.


The boys are doing great. We've been spending a lot of time outside. They have been riding their four wheelers everywhere. Kolton has out of now where began to ask for a baby sister. He asks just about everyday. I tell him we are working on it, that it has to grow in mommies tummy. He seems satisfied with that.

The Many Faces of Kolton

We've been busy around here. The boys have kind of been sick, with runny noses and coughing. We have also been having our old house painted all this is taking up my energy I usually use for blogging. Hopefully soon I'll have more things to say and more pictures to post.

Things heard and done at my house this week.

We've had our first, and probably only snow/ice storm. This is the front yard.

Several night ago the boys were in the bathtub. I had given them their toothbrushes to brush their teeth, I always follow up with a brush from mommy, anyway Karter got out of the tub and I stepped out of the room to get his clothes. When I came back Kolton said. "I brushing my ding ding", to which I replied "no, no buddy we don't brush our ding ding with our toothbrush!"

Kolton and Karter have been wanting and eating lots of cheese. Jimmy and I tell them eating too much cheese will clog your butthole up. I know, I know we should probably have used a better word. Anyway, while eating raisins the other day Kolton told Jimmy that "raisins clog me butthole up." Oh Brother!

Jimmy ate his ice cream out of the dog food bowl last night. He had no idea until I pointed it out to him. He has used the smaller dogs food bowl, which is just a plastic tupperware bowl, to fill up our Great Danes bowl to which he added scraps. He sat it on the counter so I could add more food to it later. When I told him he said "oh man, I thought it was a clean bowl."

The boys have been craaaazy lately. I can't wait until it's warmer outside. These boys need to get out and burn off some energy. They have been talking like crazy and using their imaginations like crazy. I've run out of ideas. We've played with playdough, we've painted, colored, played in the water, played with phones and electronics, I don't know what else to do to entertain them. Anyone got any ideas. I try to read to them but they lose interest quickly. They don't really seem interested in learning sounds and letters yet and I'm not sure how to really do this with them. Anyone got ideas on this?

I've worried about the horses these past could of days. While their owners have been feeding them, I can see the wetness and probably ice on their fur. Makes me want to buy them coats, or build them a barn or something. They seem to be doing fine though. This is the backyard.