Other than a brief respite around Christmas (that lasted maybe a week) someone in this house has been sick with either a cold, the flu, an infection, or a stomach bug since August. Most of the time, when the kids are sick, they keep going with maybe a down day or two, but Gordon woke up last Thursday and I knew something was very wrong. I cancelled my driving lesson and took him to the doctor. He was diagnosed with tonsillitis and put on antibiotics. Within 3 days, I saw a huge change for the positive.
Yesterday, Walt woke from his nap and started screaming about his stomach through waves of pain that would ebb and flow. After an hour, I couldn't take it any more and took him to the urgent care. Based on his history and current behavior, they were reluctant to diagnose him with *simple* constipation so they referred us to the hospital. I went home, packed a few items, and sent Walt off with Jeff around 5pm. They didn't get home until 8pm, which was after the other two kids had gone to bed. Luckily, Walt was great and it was just bad (the worst he's ever suffered) constipation. Gordon and Adele were quite concerned to be eating, having a bath, and going to bed without Walter. Jeff says that Walter was amazingly well behaved at the doctor's office and turned into a new kid once he was able to pass the blockage (and a little tylenol helped.)
In the meantime, runny noses are still everywhere and I'm looking forward to a day when the kids and Jeff aren't constantly sick!
Mmm. Breakfast!
Adele, asking for some of Dad's breakfast.
Being silly after bath with my little girl
Someone is missing from this photo. :( Dinner, baths, and bedtime were accompanied by chants of "Where's Walter? Walter, where are you?"
Everyone is home and enjoying a snack in the 'big chairs.'
Playing with Play-doh. This lasted about 30 minutes, which is a LONG time for my kids. The big trick was getting them to play with the doh themselves. They want to bring it to me and have me 'do' stuff with it. It was neat to watch them get the hang of it. Though Walt said 'uh-oh' every time it tore!
Silly boy!
The kids have so much fun rolling the trucks to each other. Sometimes they'll do it spontaneously, but often they are afraid to share in case the other kid is going to steal their truck. It usually just takes a little encouragement to get them started.
I've been saying for weeks I was taking the kids to the nearby shoe shop to have their feet measured and buy them each a good pair of shoes. This morning as I dressed them for the creche I realized that Adele's shoes were too small. So this afternoon when the kids partied in their room instead of napping, I took them out, packed them in the car, and headed to the shoe store. I couldn't have asked for a better experience!
Walt's already wearing his new shoes and Gordon is waiting to have his size checked.
Adele waiting patiently for her shoe choices
The boys, checking out the store as I paid. Each kid had 2-3 shoe options and I let them pick their own pair. Funny enough, they all three chose the red pair!
We stopped at Zest, the cafe next door, for a quick snack. the kids were so well behaved and did a great job staying in their chairs. Gordon loved the lemon poppy seed loaf, Adele loved the chocolate cookie, and Walt loved the sweet bread roll (not pictured)
Adele's new shoes
Gordon's new shoes (his are the kind that light up when he runs)
I've mentioned in prior posts the kids are interacting more and their communication skills are growing. I captured a few videos over the past couple days that really showcase this!!
Here's Walt using one of the Tag Jr readers that Santa brought. I was so proud of how he was able to look at the things he wanted and work the reader. Gordon looks pretty proud of Walt, too
Okay, this isn't a communication or interaction video, but it is a short, but cute, one of Walt dance-jumping.
Please excuse my horrendous singing. I know that I'm never in key, but I sound particularly bad on this video. I'll blame it on the fact that Walt asked me to start over from a certain part because he didn't get to do whatever it is he wanted to do.
They've done this once before, but this morning I caught Adele and Walt holding hands on camera.
Immediately after the hand-holding, the kids decided on a new game. I have no idea what the point was, but it did look fun.
Adele's been climbing into this chair where Jeff normally sits and informing me that she's in Dada's chair. I tried to get her to say it for the camera, but of course she wouldn't. However, I did get some fun chatter instead.
Jeff has been gone a week today and doesn't get back until Thursday from his work trip to the U.S. Overall, the kids and I have been doing really well. They still keep asking for 'Dada,' but they are loving doing FaceTime with him on the phone.
Gordon and Adele both have had verbal 'leaps' in the last week. Their speech is suddenly tons clearer. I noticed it somewhat, but it was pointed out to me by a few people who watched videos of them and by Jeff on one of our FaceTime chats. Walter is also making small strides every day with his speech. I'm noticing the more we sing, the clearer his words, so I'm trying to sing with him as much as possible.
The kids have become very affectionate with me and with each other. They love to give hugs and kisses. Adele and Walt even walked around holding hands the other day. A few days ago, Adele walked into a table and really hurt herself. She and I were both crying because of how bad it was and Walt stood next to us the whole time, practically wringing his hands in concern. Often if one of the kids is in the other room, one or both will call out or go looking for the other child. And when I leave their room at night-time or nap-time, Gordon or Adele will often call out "Bye Bye, Mama."
The kids are also quick to throw a tantrum if they don't get their way, though luckily their tantrums are usually short and not too violent. They also whine a LOT. Adele's thing lately is to walk around saying, in a super whiny voice, "Are you okay, Adele? Why do you cry? What's the matter? Are you scared? Are you sad?" It is super cute, but after about the 10th time she says it, I'm gritting my teeth. Walt whines at everything. He also does not like the words, "Just a minute." When he knows a word and know how to ask for something, it often goes like this. "Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie." "Just a minute, Walt let me..." "Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie." "Okay, in a sec, buddy.' "Cookie. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie."
Adele eats a lot of stuff, but the boys are just awful eaters. They subsists on toast, cereal, pasta (Walt), blueberries (Gordon), and yogurt. Thankfully I can mix just about any veggie/fruit puree into the yogurt and they will eat it. I just keep offering new foods and hoping eventually they will stick.
The kids are just fantastic out. I've posted a lot of photos from various malls, restaurants, etc. Our favorite place to go is the local diner for breakfast. This week, I've gone twice by myself with the kids and they've been so well behaved. I just love it!
Breakfast at Simply Delciious
I tried letting the kids run around for 10 minutes or so when we got home, but Walt was too cold and insisted on going into the house. So I had to take the other two in as well, which led to a tantrum from Gordon.
I've opened the master bedroom and bathroom, which the kids love. We've even got 3 potties in there and I'm putting them on the potties a few times a day to teach them what it is all about. Unfortunately, they are NOT ready to potty train yet, but I know they will be soon enough.
I love this photo. I was on the computer typing a note to my friend and the kids were playing so nicely in the playroom. They really do love their Fisher Price Little People sets.
I love that I can make the kids laugh by just being a goofball!
A cold morning with fog hanging over the water and frost on the ground
I put the kids in sweaters. Brr! I originally had a different one picked out for Walt, but he went crazy when he saw Gordon's sweater and wasn't happy until I found the complementary one.
Fun photo in front of the sun shining into the window
We made it outside! The kids had fun chasing around the balls.
I captured this photo just after I threw a ball high up into the air.
One of their favorite games is to go up and down the walk. I love it, too, because it wears them out! LOL!
Today was a tough one (as my niece would've said when she was the age of my kids.) I was VERY tired and the kids were very needy. I managed to make it through the day with only one breakdown. And my evening ended on a lovely, laughing note.
