Last Week of May

Well, I've gone from feeling blech to throwing up morning, noon, and night. Lovely. I was sick like this with my oldest, but I don't remember the middle two being so bad. I had to tell the speech therapist no more 9 am sessions. I would love to take a month off, but I would feel to guilty if I did that to Goldie. Then again, she seems burnt out herself some days.

On Wednesday the big girls had dentist appointments. (No cavities!) While we were there I mentioned that the DS Center suggested Goldie start being seen by a dentist. They suggested letting her take a ride in the chair and not upsetting her by trying to actually clean her teeth. So she had a good time sitting in the chair and playing with all the tools they use. The hygenist was great and really talked to Goldie just like she would any 2 year old. She has an appointment to go back in 6+ months with her sisters. Since I wasn't expecting them to actually look at Goldie's teeth, I didn't bring my camera.

On the sleeping front, things continue to improve. In the last week, Goldie has slept through the night, 4 times. I still wake up now and then and I've seen Goldie sitting up in her sleep a couple times. So, I think she is still waking up, but is having an easier time falling back to sleep. I scheduled her sleep study this week. I asked to wait until July, hoping I will feel better. I can't imagine taking her if I am still throwing up this much.

I'm off to sew Girl Scout patches, tomorrow's the big picnic!

One got glasses and one had a birthday!

Swatcho got glasses last week.








This baby turned 10!



She wanted to celebrate by going to see the horse exhibit at the museum and having stuffed grape leaves for dinner.





We rolled out 70 of those sought after, sour creations. Well, the Birthday girl didn't start rolling until the end was in sight and there's no pic of the finished meal because we ate them. Quickly. Goldie has eaten them before, but wasn't in the mood this time.

Goldie has a Birthday and an eye Dr. appt this week. This is with a new doc and I'm hoping he can answer some questions we've had about Goldie's vision and nystagmus.


This is her after the museum. Yes, she is still rear facing. Her sisters are way more entertaining than the back of my head. Plus, I'm clinging to every last morsel of her babyhood.

Good Things

~ The Steelers won the Super Bowl! What teamwork and determination, definitely worth letting the kids stay up late for. I love how you can never count them out, no matter how few seconds are left on the clock.

~ Goldie is moving from the highchair to the table. See, everyday when Hank gets home from work, after Goldie gives him his hugs and kisses, she goes to the kid's cupboard, gets out a plate and sets it at the table. Sometimes this is followed by a bowl or cup. Then she pulls out the chair and stares at me.
I brought my yellow seamstress' tape measure to Target and found a booster seat with a belt that would fit under the table without smooshing her chubby thighs. The other 3 booster seats we already own, were too high and she kept sliding off the phone book. Now, time to learn this girl some table manners.

~ Hank's job. This is a big one for us. As the economy is tanking, we are rising from the abyss. My part time job was eliminated when Goldie was born and Hank was laid off when she was 8 weeks old. We applied for both SSI and unemployment. But, here's the sweet part, SSI only counts half of your wages, but ALL of the unemployment. So, they decided we should pay back 3 months worth of Goldie's SSI money. Nothing like kicking somebody when their down. Hank tried to hang on to his job at his old employer for way too long. They were letting us keep our health insurance, which is no small thing, because the state was paying for a portion of it and they were only 3 miles from our house.

Fast forward to this fall, I get tired of Hank drinking beer and playing with tractors strike oil by finding him a new J O B. He is now driving for a stable company that treats him almost as good as I do. A peace comes over me when I look at his pay stub and see money going toward health insurance, retirement, and even an account to help cover medical expenses. Plus, his new company has decided not to keep the money the state gives them to pay for Goldie's portion of our health insurance. They are having the state send the check directly to us. Can you believe that? Their belief is that will pay for our family what they would pay for any employee's family and give us the money to help for our portion. That's integrity. And the best part, Hank likes his new job, he has his pride back and is generally much nicer to be around.

~ I have a legitimate reason for not cleaning my kitchen floor and letting my kids run barefoot. It seems dirt really is good for the immune system. But, I'm going to have to draw the line at becoming infested with WORMS. Maybe Swatcho really does have a tapeworm? She's got a bullet proof immune system and despite how much food she packs away has wrists the size of a two year old. Hmmm.

Well, I Never

thought I would turn around and see this:




Yup, she climbed up there all by herself. She is sooo ready to turn 2 in a couple months. (Edit: This is a supervised re-enactment of the actual first time she climbed on the table. Swatcho took this photo and I cropped myself out. All small chairs have since been removed and placed in a secure area. I do not enjoy trips to the E.R.)

I would love to say this pic was taken in the playroom, but I can't. Its our living room. I took the Christmas tree down this week and brought out the play kitchen. We have a playroom in the basement, but between the gas heater and the cement floors, I don't feel safe letting her play down there. Anyway, it gives the big girls a baby-free zone to play in. My house has been taken over by everything from Little Tikes to Littlest Pet Shop.

Goldie's favorite way to cook food? Just nuke it! I didn't realize I used the microwave so much.



She can barely reach it, but the Wii board gives her just the boost she needs.

Weekly Wrap-up

Well, we ended the week on a high note. Everyone is currently healthy. Goldie was a little anemic when her last bloodwork was done, but that seems to be improving.Her cheeks have more color, so I'm hopeful that the next round of bloodwork will show an improvement. Our little carnivore must have consumed at least 1/2 a cup of taco meat at dinner tonight. Along with some O.J. for optimal iron absorption.

I upgraded our DSL and installed the new router, with a little help from NetGear. Hank replaced our good 'ol rabbit ears with a new HDTV antenna and Goldie was able to watch Sesame Street for the first time.

Goldie spent time with all 4 of her therapists this week, after a 2 week break for the holidays. Our service co-ordinator brought the paperwork yesterday to increase OT to every week and decrease PT to every other. Goldie sorted blue and yellow blocks into containers with the Vision therapist today. This is something the VT thought she was ready for and I have to say I've been surprised, again, by what Goldie can do.

I even remembered to run the dishwasher after dinner 3 days in a row! The kids love it when they don't have to wash spoons before they eat their morning oatmeal.

I thought I'd post this pic just 'cause I like it.