Great News!! And not so good news.

I just got Jenna's newsletter home. Mrs. K is STAYING!! As Jenna's TEACHER!!!!! I am sooo friggin' happy right now!!!

I am still going to write that letter to the principal, because I really feel that Mrs. K deserves the recognition, but it will certainly have a different tone to it :) YAY!!

And now for the not so great news. I can't remember if I have mentioned it on here or not, but there is a very disturbed boy(N) at our babysitters house. He goes on the same days as Aidan. And he has become a very bad influence for my son. I have spoken to L(the babysitter) about this boy, and what I am hearing from Aidan, on numerous occasions. I have even hinted at removing my children from her care if it continues. Well, today I lost it. When I arrived this afternoon the first thing L showed me was a large bruised lump under a little girls chin. At first I thought Aidan had done it, but no. It was N. While L. went upstairs to get Mason from his nap, N had choked M. CHOKED HER!! Put his 5 year old hands around her neck and choked that sweet girl. What if it had been my Baby?? What if he hadn't stopped?? What am I going to do???

I have spoken to a pre-school teacher, and she is supposed to be bringing me an application form for Aidan. But that doesn't start until January. And Mason will still be in that environment.

L has been our sitter since Jenna was One. I told her today that if anything like that happens again, I will be calling N's mother and telling her what I think, and that my children will not be going back there if he is there. I looked her in the face and said "there's zero tolerance at school for this kind of behaviour, why are you putting up with it here?" She just kind of danced around with an answer.

I guess I really should be looking for a new sitter. I just hate to do that to L. She's good with my kids, I trust her. Granted, she could probably do More, but really, I am getting what I pay for.

ugh. My heart is just racing over this. I'm not sure what to do.

~Lisa~

Parent-Teacher Conference

We met with Jenna's teacher (the one I am secretly a little bit in love with) last night. It went SO well!!

I love her teacher style, I love how she's realized that she needs to lay off in some areas, and crack the whip in others. I love that she's laying a lot of groundwork that will prepare these children for later grades. Even though 'they' say she doesn't have to yet. But like she said last night...if someone doesn't teach them the steps now, when it's time for the testing, they are going to be like little fish out of water.

But the best part of last night was when she described Jenna. Mrs. K went on and on about Jenna's ability to Learn! She said some kids are very teachable, once you find the right way to go about it. Some kids take some work, and some kids just have a natural talent for learning. They are able to look at the beginning and the end, and figure out what the middle would be. That's how she described my Jenna :D She said that Jenna is able to get her wheels turning to figure out what the solution Can't be, and she discards all the wrong answers until she is Sure of the right answer. She's become quite the leader in her class. And the other children have come to know that they can go to Jenna for help with the answers. I swear, my head swelled about 3x it's normal size :)

She said that Jenna is still missing her old classroom. But that's pretty understandable. There was a lot of playing last year. There are a lot of cool toys in the other kindergarten classroom. And her best friend is in that class. Mrs. K pointed out that there is Still a lot of play in the other classroom, and that the kids in her class can hear this through the folding wall(It opens to create a bigger classroom). I can understand why Jenna would want to go back...who wants to do work when you can hear your neighbours having lots of fun?

I made sure that Mrs.K knew that we were Thrilled with her teaching style, and the way that she focuses on Education. I told her that She knows what the kids in her class need, and if it was more play time, that's what she would be giving them, but it's not, all the kids in her class are striving and it shows. I told her that Jenna is there to learn, and to grow a love of learning, and I felt she didn't get that last year. I told her that we had seen a Huge improvement in Jenna this year, and that we wouldn't want to change that for anything. Her response was a very knowing look, and a thank-you.

I'll be writing a letter to our principal today. I really feel the need to tell her how thrilled we are with this teacher.

~Lisa~

Update on the sickies!

But first a clarification! Al was at the ER with Aidan when I wrote my last post. I didn't realize until reading the comments that I forgot to put that part in!! I guess I was too upset :) Sorry! there's no way I would let my kids be that sick on not get it checked out :)

The ER doctor put Aidan on antibiotics, a high dose, he gets 9mL 3x/day! We'll get a call tonight or tomorrow if he does NOT have Scarlet fever and they want us to discontinue the meds. If he does have it, which I am pretty convinced of, we'll continue the meds for 7 more days. He also has a slight double ear infection. But I'm pretty sure that'll be knocked out of him pretty quickly with that much medicine going into him :)

He's back to himself for the most part. Finally running around and telling silly stories again.

Jenna has pink-eye. Poor kid was SO mad at me this morning when I told her she coudn't go to school today. I went and picked up her report card though. What an awesome improvement from last year! All the checks were "At Expected level" except Math concepts and Beginning writing skills. So, I'll find out what Math they are vworking on, an get her writing in her notbook some more, and hopefully she'll be set :) I am SO proud of her this year! I just hope that her love of school continues.

Mason is still fighing a cold. It seems to come and go, but I think it's getting better.

I finally got a full night's sleep last night...well, mostly, Al had me awake until 11:00...hopefully I can get to bed earlier tonight :)

Thank you all for your wonderfully supportive comments. I treasure each and every one of them.

~Lisa~

Worried about Aidan...

When we were getting our stuff together to leave Julie's last night, I noticed that Aidan really wasn't acting himself. And was looking a little flushed. We did the trusty hand to the head check and sure enough, he felt pretty warm. So Al gave him a dose of Motrin, and away we went.

I went to bed a few minutes after we got home and about an hour later, heard him crying. Al said he was having bad dreams. So I went back to bed and let Al deal with it. At 1:30, Aidan was crying again. I went in, rubbed his back and he fell back asleep. But at 2:00 he was crying yet again, so I brought him into bed with he. He couldn't get comfortable, wouldn't settle, wouldn't fall asleep. I got him a drink, and that seemed to help a bit. I probably should have given him more Motrin :( Not sure why I didn't :( At 4:00 he was throwing up the water :( He finally settled down to sleep after that when we put him back into his bed. But didn't sleep long :(

I went to my Grandma's today. She had surgery on her knees a couple weeks ago, so my Mom, Jenna and I went to set up her Christmas tree, and some other decorations...man, that woman has enough stuff for 5 trees and houses! But, more on that another time. We went to Wal-Mart after that to do some Christmas shopping and get something to eat. Jenna and I were gone all day :( I feel pretty awful about not being here for him, but I honestly didn't think he was that sick.

Al called me at Lunchtime to say that Aidan had thrown up a couple more times, and still had a fever. I offered to come home, but Al said no.

So, fast forward a bit, I get home, and Aidan is soooo flushed. His fever was hovering around 103*, and when Al gave him a popsicle, he wouldn't eat it. He said his tongue hurt. So, we looked at that, and it's coated with white stuff...looks a little like thrush to me, but I don't really know.

I just want my boy to get better. And I hope he and Al forgive me for not getting home to them sooner.

If you're a praying/thought giving kind, I think we could use them today. Thanks.

~Lisa and Aidan~

weirded out...

I went to Value Village today. I wanted to see if they had anything that might be suitable for Al's company Christmas Party. They didn't. Unless I find a time machine and warp back 20 or 30 years :) But then, I would only be 6(well, 7, since it will be 4 days after my birthday :)) or, well, not even born yet...doesn't work so well. The search continues.

So then we moseyed on over to the kids section. There was a few cute things, but nothing really jumped out at me. So I went to gather the kids from the toy section. I suddenly had an urge to look at the little bags of smaller toys...for a Toy Story Woody doll. And Oh My GOD! I found one!!!!! He's the perfect size too!! We got Aidan a Buzz a couple months ago, and he's about 8" tall, and so is this new Woody doll!! So, I see him, in a bag with a Little Foot toy that we already have, and a couple other fairly useless toys that will disappear in a few weeks. and I SWEAR...he SMILED at me!!! I am NOT kidding. I know, you are all totally thinking one of 3 things; either A) Lisa has been drinking during the day again, B) Lisa is WAY over-tired, or C) Lisa needs to hide the Toy Story movies from Herself. Well, it's none of the above. Well, maybe a little of B and C. But really, it boils down to the fact that I just apparently have finally lost my damn mind! Good Grief. It's like this damn doll is speaking to me.

Maybe I Should take up drinking during the day.

~Lisa~

still around!

Mason and Jenna are both fighting colds. I'm just really too tired to think of anything worth blogging about :)

Hoping we're all better by Saturday for the BZ Shin-Dig at Julie's house!!!

~Lisa~

Stuck.

I feel like I'm in such a rut lately. At home, at work, at everything. I can't seem to keep up around here. I try, I do the basics, but I can't seem to get farther. Al came home last night and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. And with each new thing he tackled, I felt smaller and smaller and smaller.

Work is really stressing me out too. I feel like I have taken Henry as far as I can. He's getting bored with me. I'm getting bored with him. I'm certainly not throwing myself into the job like I was a year ago. And Jenny notices. She sent me an email yesterday asking if I thought we should shorten the sessions. ACK! NO! I can't afford to. I love Henry, and his family. I don't want to lose them right now. But I also don't want to waste their time and money if there is someone better out there. Although. good news is that Jenny is paying for me to take a one day course about high-functoning Autistic children. yay!! It's on my birthday too, which is cool, because, yay, no 'work'! lol

I'm not sure this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, but I also can't put my finger on what it is that I DO want.

When I mentioned a career change the other day, I was thinking about becoming a teacher. But then, when I emailed my best friend who IS a teacher, she emailed me back about all the things my happy, shiny mind forgot to figure in. Like how thankless teaching can be, how much personal time it takes up. How I won't always get a lovely little class full of perfect wee children who adore me. But then the happy shiny me, thinks of the hours, and the time off for summer/holidays. It thinks of parents like I know who are invovled, and giving, and awesome for their kids' teachers. It thinks of the 20 smiling faces every morning, and the achievements, and the break throughs. But then, there's the struggling kids, the fighters, the name callers, the ones whose parents Don't care, and Don't help.

This is 4 years of University. This is a huge commitment. And I don't have a clue which way to go on it.

Anyone have a crystal ball they can take a peek at for me? Maybe I should get a magic 8 ball. give it a swirl and hold my breath while that purple goo clears and the 'triangle of truth appears :)

If only.

~Lisa~

Nit-picker.

No no no!! not here again!! Dear lord, not here!!

Today was the school wide lice check at Jenna's school. You bet your butt I called to volunteer my services for that!! unfortunately, I am working today, so could only stay for an hour and a half. But in that time, we got through about 5 classes. one was clear. One class that is! I couldn't believe it!! One after another we checked off names. There were sisters that Jenna LOVES...both were LOADED wth nits :( At least I have a good idea where it was coming from now. And where Jenna will not be playing for awhile :(

I'm really glad I went. It makes me feel better knowing that I helped...even though I feel awful about ruining so many parent's days.

I have to work until 2, but I'll be going back then. I figure, if they still need help, great, and if they're done, I'll get to spend and hour in Jenna's class with her :) Win-win :)

~Lisa~

and now...Mason!

I realized this morning that I've done a whole lot of whining about Mason...but not much updating.



So, here it is! He's sleeping through the night!!!!! I can't even begin to tell you how awesome this is for us! I had one night of awfulness where I just gave up and let him cry. For about 3 hours he cried that night. The next night was about 1 hour, and since then, it's been pretty quiet! It's sooo nice!



He's also finally off of baby food, although I am wishing he wasn't. His diet is awful now. He refuses to try new things, and feeding him 3 times a day is a nightmare. Seriously, the boy eats Pancakes(which we have started making from scratch so we know are healthier), waffles, toast with Kraft Strawberry jam, yogurt, the occasional grilled cheese sandwich, rice cakes, and any kind of junk food imaginable :( Oh! He also eats Oatmeal...I manage to sneak in some fruit there.

Notice anything missing there? Like maybe Fruit? and Vegetables??? I don't understand it!! He Loved fruit and veggie baby food. He will occasionally eat one of those apple fruit stick things. And he once ate a banana...because I left the peel on and gave it to him like the other kids were having theirs. one time he had some peas and corn too...they got mixed in with the mashed potatoes...which he also won't eat anymore.



I try to feed my family fairly healthy. So it's so hard for me to see Mason eating this way. I just keep hoping that it will eventually click for him, and he'll be the toddler eating machine that his siblings were/are. He does uzzle milk like crazy, so I know he's getting lots from that...but still...



He's getting a funny little personality. For the most art he's pretty laid back. But man...when he doesn't like something...look out! he will let you know in a big way! He loves to play peek about, and dance until the sun goes down. And he laughs now. It's taken so long, and I was so sad about him not laughing before. but he finally is giving us the occasional belly laugh, and it always brings grateful tears to my eyes :)

He's my little super-baby, through and through :)



~Lisa~

the 8 things thing...

1. I am considering a career change. But it scares me, so I am not saying anything out loud yet. There are going to be a lot of costs incurred in doing this (University is a must)...but I think I want to do it. I just might have to wait until the kids are a little older.

2. When I was about 8, I had recurring nightmares about wolves. They were always at my uncle's farm, and I was always trying to save my class from them. But the weird thing was, they were Never violent towards anyone. I guess I was just scared of their presence.

3. Giraffes are my favourite animals. I just love how unique they are, and how graceful they are despite their size.

4. I take everything personally. If it happens to you, I'll take it personally. If it happens to me, I'll take it personally. And I usually take it pretty hard.

5. I am constantly talking to myself, in my head. I even answer myself. Working things out, trying to decide what people are thinking, beating myself up over stupid things.

6. I hate being late. If I find myself running behind(And with three kids, it happens a lot!) I feel completely out of control. Drives me batty.

7. I don't think I am a good dancer. But I do it anyway :) Especially with the kids. They never judge :)

8. I take my coffee with 2 sugars and cream. I take my tea with two Splenda's and milk. I take my water not too cold. And I never take fruit punch. yuck.

If anyone that is reading this that hasn't done it yet, Tag! you're it! And let me know in the comments!!! I need more blogs to read!(Like a hole in the head I'm sure...but I love 'em!)

~Lisa~

LOL at Jenna

So, wanna know my secret? I am hopelessly addicted to a soap opera. *Gasp!* I know. I know. It shocks me too.

I Hate missing any episodes of All my Children. I try to explain what's going on to my husband. I let my Daughter watch with me! She's 5 people. She calls it "All my Kids" How cute is that!?

So anyway, a quick recap...

JR is married to Babe.

Babe slept with Josh.

Josh told JR.

JR(a recovering alcoholic...of course)gets drunk and goes to Josh's hotel room to wait for him.

Josh's half-sister Bianca and Mother Erica(you know...Erica Caine...Susan Lucci...) found him there, and wouldn't let him out the door.

So JR jumps out the freakin' window! From 4 floors up!!

Josh found him in the alley below, and, being a doctor, goes to work on saving him. of course.

Anyway, Jenna was at school when all of this happened, and missed it. Today, I turn it on, and there's Josh, in a blood covered t-shirt, telling his other half-sister Kendall that JR might be dead.

Jenna turns to me with a look of total Shock on her face and says, "I can't believe he would do that! What was he thinking?"

LMAO!!! She was totally serious.

~Lisa~

I've been warned...

and yet I am still going to drag my ass to work.

I woke up feeling awful. Runny, nasty nose. Body aches. Headache.

I spilled coffee on my favourite jammie pants.

I went to the dryer to get out my FAVOURITE white shirt, that fits me like perfection. My cream coloured cardigan was also in there. Along with my second and third favourite jammie pants. Know what else was in there? Apparently a jumbo sized GREEN Crayon. and the fucker had melted all over my clothes!!!!!!

and to top it all off we're out of bread and I can't even make it all better by having some peanut butter toast.

Wish me luck today.

~Lisa~

Incase anyone thinks I have forgotten about my other children...

Here's a post dedicated to Jenna!!

She's had a very busy year. Well, more appropriately, a very busy couple of months!

She lost her first tooth on October 21st. It just came right out one morning when I gave it a little wiggle :)



She lost her Second tooth about 20 minutes before Aidan's party on Saturday!


But the even bigger news is all about school this year!! On October 31st she brought home not one, but TWO awards!!! One was an Award Of Merit! Presented to her in "recognition of contributions to the life of the school and personal efforts made in all areas of her school participation. Jenna displays excellent work habits, makes good choices and is a pleasure to teach! Congratulations Jenna! (the part in italics is what her teacher wrote! How awesome is that!?!? Makes me well up still :) This was an award that, had she been at school the previous Friday, she would have gotten at the Celebration of Learning assembly in front of the entire school :)

The next award was a "Gotcha". this is a little award that teachers can give to any student they see showing exemplary behaviour, responsibility, or character. Jenna got it for helping a new girl to the school. She saw her alone at recess, and played with her the whole time, showed her araound, and then helped her back to her classroom...without being asked!

Last week she came home with ANOTHER award!! This time it was a "Good Thinking" award, for finding all her vowels. I'm not really sure about this one...when I asked her, she said it was because she answered that "all the books in the library have vowels." I'm not sure...but really, who cares? My kid got an AWARD! WOOHOO!

Yesterday she came home with yet another Gotcha! For "Being a great Helper". She brought Mrs. K. all her supplies apparently, and helped her do some writing.

I swear, every time I pick her up from school my head swells a little more, and my chest puffs out bigger and bigger. Her teacher is constantly going on about what a great kid she is, and how incredible she's doing. What a great leader she is for the class, and how polite she is too :)

I loooooove this teacher :) LOVE HER!! unfortunately, and I am not sure how to prepare Jenna for this, Mrs.K is leaving Jenna's class in December. She's only covering a Mat. leave. From what I have heard, the teacher she is covering for, is nowhere near as awesome as Mrs.K. I wanted to cry when I heard she was leaving. I wonder is writing a letter to the principal will do any good? D'ya think? I told Mrs.K to throw some punches for teaching grade one next year :) Yeah, I love her :)

So, there's my over-whelming, 'my kid is a genius' post of the day :) I'm so proud :D

~Lisa~

Aidan Pictures as Promised :)

Here's my brand new boy. All round and smooth and perfect. He was 8lbs 11oz, and 22 1/2" long :)


See what I mean about being perfect :) Man, the picture quality is terrible though :(


I used to think his cheeks must hurt from trying to smile with all that chub :) This is one of my favourite pictures...he's about 5 months old here.


I can never get over how grown up he looks in this picture...he was barely ONE! (Tell me he looks like Matt Damon...no???)


He's about 18-20 months old here. I was pg with Mason :) See my belly? LOL


Just about two in this picture I believe. It's my mom's favourite of him.


So, there you go. My wee boy...he's looking soo much like a BOY now :(

From Wee to Three!!

My little boy is three today. I find it rather hard to believe. It seems more like he should be turning 4 this year :) He's so smart, and so sweet, and sooo stubborn :)

I love his expressions...Particularily this one lately...


We call it his Scowly face. usually all I have to do is give him "the Look" and his scowly face turns into this...



I love this boy to bits you know. There's some kind of special bond between him and I. I just, understand him. I often wonder if it's my subconscious way of making up for his first year. I am pretty sure that I was suffering from PPD. I don't remember much of Aidan's first year. It hurts my heart so bad. But, I got past it. And we're all so much happier now :)

My birth experience for Aidan was so much different than Jenna's. I tried so hard for a VBAC. I got the hospital 9 days after his due date. they broke my water at 8, and then we began walking. And walking. And then we did some more walking. It was awful. I walked straight for about 8 hours. And then said to hell with what the nurses think/say(They kept kicking me out of my room to make me walk more). I walked and rested intermittantly for another 3 hours, but by 8:00pm was in too much pain, and too exhausted to take another step. And besides, Survivor was on :) So, more labour, more contractions, not much progress. I made it to 6cm. That was it. By 10:45 the doctor was offering a c-section, or Pitocin and 2 more hours of labour, plus pushing. I wisely choose the section, and pretty much slept through the whole thing. Aidan Alvin Joseph was born at 11:59(and 30 seconds!)PM One of the nurses asked if we wanted his birthday to be recorded as the 6th or 7th!

I couldn't get over how smooth, and round and Perfect he looked!!


And made everyone in recovery laugh SO hard when I was overwhelmed that we had a SON! I said to Al, "Wanna hear something WEIRD? This is our SON! Isn't that strange sounding?" Yeah, I was pretty tired :)

We had a 'Diego' party for him on Saturday. That was so much fun :) I hung green streamers from the ceiling like vines, and made a Baby Jaguar cake! (for any cake makers, I used the Wilton Animal Crackers cake pan, and just built up the ears with icing to make them pointy. It was by far the easiest cake I've done. And I was thrilled with it :) (so was Aidan :))

So, that's pretty much that. Aidan is three...unless you ask him, and then he will have a complete and total meltdown, demanding that is NOT three. He is TWO AND A HALF! :) Should be an interesting year.

Happy Birthday Aidan!!

~Lisa~
(I have more pictures to add, but blogger isn't putting them in ???)

How cool is this picture!?

And I took it all by myself :)

It's my hand, Aidan's hand and the last Monarch butterfly we had. I looove this picture!!!!

~Lisa~

Am I in trouble?

When Jenna was wee, I would sing to her. She loved "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and "You are my Sunshine" the best.

When Aidan was wee I would sing to him. He loved "Old McDonald had a Farm" the best.

Now that Mason is wee, I sing to him. He loves "Baa Baa Black Sheep" the best.

Jenna really is a star. She's an artist, She's intelligent, and kind.

Aidan LOVES animal. Farm animals, Jungle animals, and animals he makes up.

Hmmm...Do you think Mason is going to be the 'Black Sheep' of our family??

Something to think about :)

~Lisa~

Here's the costume reveal Julie!!

Hmm..what could this be??

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

"It says BUZZ LIGHTGEAR!!"

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Nuff said :)

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Oops! Damn Blogger

I didn't realize when I started a post, and then saved it to finish later, that it would post it on the day I started it! Ugh...go down to October 24th for my latest blog...it's a cool one!!

~Lisa~

A warning.

Never, ever, ever, wash a pull-up.

ever.

~Lisa~