The results are in!

I received Matt's test results in the mail today from Dr. Murphy along with the lab. His egg yolk allergy is completely gone...however...his egg white still exists. However, it has decreased by almost half since last January. It wasn't the result I was hoping for, but I still did the happy dance. His peanut allergy is on the rise however so we have to get a script for an epi-pen to carry with us at all times. I kind of fail at the "at all times" part of it. One time my aunt suggested to tape it to his back and I'm thinking that it was a good idea now. So on Dec. 14 we go in for what the call an open egg challenge. They will give him eggs in little increments to see if he breaks out or not. It will be interesting!

On another note, Andrew comes up to me tonight asking me if he can eat a green onion and I was like...What? He pulled his hand around showed me a green pepper. The kid ate them raw like they were candy. He is so not my child!

A Month Later

Oh my goodness, I can't believe that it has been a month since I lost wrote anything. SOOO much has happened since then, but I will keep to the simple thing since it is 11:30 and I have to be up in like 7 hours to drive to Norfolk for class.

Well, Matt went to see Dr. Murphy for his flu shot testing on the 16th. Much to both of our amazment, after 5 pokes he was able to get the entire flu shot! This gave us hope that he has grown out of the egg allergy and the following Monday we did blood work to see if he is or not. I don't have the results back yet, but I can share with you for sure that I am not volunteering to draw blood out of a baby any time soon! Dr. Murphy was elated though and prescribed him singulair for his "asthma" like symptoms. He's hoping that after this winter we can d/c the singulair and let him be a healthy and happy 2 1/2 year old.

One draw back however is that he woke up this a.m. in a horrible, terrible break out and I have no idea why. I am hoping for his sake that he is just getting a cold or something simple which now that i think about it, it won't be simple for him. Dr. K had told us that when he has an unnanounced break out like that, more than likely ther is an infection in his system. However, more than likely it is Matthew curled up in the corner eating something he shouldn't be!

Andrew is doing good too by the way. He's been kind of a little bully lately, but I have not be around much between school, work and family happenings with the parents and my little bro. He's good though. I was laughing on our way home from Iowa tonight because more than once I said..."Andrew, seriously! Be quiet for 5 min!" Then I had to laugh because I remember my dad saying when I was little..."Jennifer Marie, we don't need to be singing all the time!" Andrew has picked up on singing lots of different songs. The other day it was "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and he just sang it over and over and I finally had to get him to "And a happy New Year" after hearing the first part like 5,000 times!

OH Lord, please help me find my sanity!

Long Road Ahead

When we started all of this allergy stuff the doctors had told us that eczema, allergies and asthma go hand in hand. We have had the eczema covered for almost 2 years now...allergies will be 1 year in December (diagnosis) and now...I'm afraid the third part might be here.

Last night Matt woke up from his nap crying and Jason went into the room and got him. He came out and sat on the couch with him and he was just listless and you could hear him wheeze from across the room. I took a quick listen to his lung sounds then called the doctor immediately. So at 5 p.m. we ran to the doctor where he agreed his lungs sounded HORRIBLE. They gave him a breathing treatment and he perked up. However, his lung sounds still weren't the greatest.

We came home with 3 new meds, but our albuterol neb treatments. We go see Dr. Murphy on Nov. 16 in Omaha, he's the allergy/asthma guy so we will see what he says.

I don't think it has set in what this could all mean for him. I just keep thinking...what if...what if...what if...it breaks my heart. I know we'll get through it though and all will be good!

Scary noises

Last week there was this creepy man that had escaped from the Neligh jail. Whoop whoop, yes I know, but to a mother of 2 this can be a very scary ordeal.

Anyway I was in the living room studying when all of a sudden I heard a weird noise and I was too chicken to go investigate it. It didn't happen again so I didn't worry about it!

However, this is what I found in my room when I turned the light on when I attempted to go to bed 3 hours later!

Andrew had crawled into my bed at some point and had then fallen off, taking the whole top blanket with him. I got a good chuckle out of it!

Secret Covert Operation

As if I have to explain this picture yet again, but here is Matthew in another one of his funny moods. He looks like he's attempting to work for a secret group overseas.

Please excuse the picture quality...it's off my phone.

What a Matt-nificant day!

The 15th of this month we ventured down to Omaha to take Matt Robert to see Dr. K, the world's best pediatrician, for his 2 year check up. We came out fine minus the fact that he pulled this rice krsipie size ball of wax out of one of Matt's ears.

Since then, we have been talking up a storm. Saying words and repeating phrases. Each day I get more and more excited about new words he is coming out with. He talks up a storm. Some words continue to be hard to understand, but you know what he is attempting to say.

Today was awesome though. He was playing with this toy and it was counting and it goes "1 - 2" and Matthew goes "3!" I did my little happy dance and praised him. Then we went out side and as I was hanging out clothes he screams...MOM! I look over and he's climbed up the fort all by himself! What a kid! Scary for me...but what a kid! I am feeling SOOO much better as to the direction he is going. OH, and he can tell you how old he is!

Never a dull moment

Does this need much explanation?

Escape of the Baby Monster!

I had just laid down in bed last night and Jason was cleaning up after using his new toy we bought at an auction yesterday. Anyway, Matt was in his crib in his room and Andrew had just gone back into his room after going potty. All of a sudden I heard someone crying and laid there for a minute because I wasn't sure if it was Matthew or Andrew, upset that he had to go to bed. After about 30 secs I headed to Matt's room to find him on the floor! Of course I had to laugh, but I quickly picked him up and we snuggled for awhile why he healed. I couldn't see any bodily injury last night, however, things appeared this morning. He has what looks like a rug burn mark above his left eye and a bruise that I know is coming. Crazy kid. It might be time for bunkbeds.

Lord...PLEASE help me!

So I thought that Matthew was going to be my quiet one. Remember that actions speak louder than words? Yeah, well then Matt has been yelling the last two days! Last night I was in the basement when the doorbell rang and I thought...why did my doorbell ring, everyone walks in. I run upstairs and there stands the neighborboy with Matthew. He was ACROSS THE STREET in their yard, playing with their dog. I was horrified as a mother! Then this morning I was laying on my bed with a wet wash cloth on my face (My grandma and grandpa's remedy for horrible allergies) when Andrew comes and lifts the washcloth and says: "Mom, Matt has your stuff!" This is what I found:

He had gotten into my mascara et painted himself. I had to throw him into the shower and scrub to get it off!

Then tonight he got into the cake...don't worry. He can eat this one. I made it so he could eat it. He tried to serve himself. This is of course after getting into the loaf of bread. Nothing is safe anymore! The bread he couldn't have.

Below is Matt's ideal meal. He's my junk food eater. Crazy kid. I am pretty sure I have my hands full for the next 16+ years!

Oh how a year can change.

I was looking at pictures of Matthew's first birthday as we are getting ready to celebrate birthday #2 next week. I have pictures of him with his birthday cake and i'm thinking now...he doesn't get to have a real birthday cake this year. He can have an ice cream cake, but no birthday cake. He won't care, he'll eat it no matter what anyway! :)

First Day of Pre-School

Well, today was the big day! Andrew started pre-school today, and much to my amazement-I held it all together! :) I had to fight to hold back tears as I was walking throught the gymnasium, but I didn't shed a tear. Now that I am thinking about it, I start to cry too. He's not supposed to be this big! He has a class of 8. He is the tallest by I would say 6 inches, but knowing my judgement, minus a couple. One of the boys that was on his baseball team this summer is also in his class. He got to be the prayer leader, from what I overheard and the teacher said he taught everyone how to pray too. I was SOOO proud of him! He did so good. Here are a couple of pictures. One is at home before we left and the other is by where he hangs his backpack.

I should add that his Pre-school room was my 2nd grade classroom! That was sooo long ago.

Following the leader!

I just thought I would FINALLY write again and tell everyone about our 2 new additions to our family. Their names are Monkey See and Monkey Do.

Monkey See is 4 and resembles our oldest son Andrew. He is very outgoing and THINKS he knows everything. He starts preschool tomorrow and is excited about it, at times. He loves John Deere tractors, horses, and basically the color green.

Monkey Do is almost 2 and resembles our youngest son Matthew. He has this HUGE beautiful brown eyes that melts your heart in a matter of minutes. He has some allergy problems, but is doing well with them. He hasn't shown any direct attractions to any one thing yet, but basically likes everything that his brother does or likes.

I can't wait for you to meet them next time you are here to visit!

Andrew left to his own devices!

Earlier in the day, a couple of days ago, Andrew was in his room...he was SUPPOSED to be taking a nap. Pretty soon he comes out and wants to paint. I told him no...he needs to be resting for swim lessons. So he goes back to his room and I don't hear from him again for awhile. So I go into his room and find him sitting on the floor "painting." No water, no brush, just fingers, walls and carpet...not to mention the paint book he was trying to hit. Needless to say, mom was unhappy.

Later that night I go to put him to bed and much to my astonishment I find this:

Supposedly it is a map to Grandma K's! At first I was upset because he KNOWS better than this and like any other parent I question as to what I am doing wrong and why he is OBVIOUSLY screaming for attention lately. I put him to bed, on top of his road map, because I wasn't washing sheets at 9:30 at night. So I pulled them off the next morning.

Now, after I walk out of the room with my big eyes, I look at Jason and say: You won't believe what I just found on Andrew's bed! I preceded to tell him the story and after I am all done, he's laughing and I had to admit I was quite impressed by the artistry of the whole picture! I swore I could have picked out a cow and a couple other things.

I also put in what it looked like after I soaked it with stain remover, which did get it out by the way...it's miracle stuff, let me tell you!

Reality TV

I know...horrible, HORRIBLE mother for not sharing all my fantastic moments about my amazing boys, but they keep me going in circles, that it's hard to keep up!

Matthew is a busy body and has found his voice, although he still doesn't say much, he's hilarious. Tonight we had a choir performance of us going back and forth yelling for dad! He was giggling by the time it was done!

I have decided that he is the world's CUTEST kid. Pardon my unfair judgement, but this has been a process by looking at other people's kids too ya know. I think it's the big brown eyes. I have decided to propose to a television station about strapping a camera to the back of him and just video taping him all the time. He's so funny and loveable, but yet he doesn't like kisses...only when he has to. I just know he's going to reach amazing things in his life. He's so quiet, but man, if you tick him off...WATCH OUT! He's so much like his dad!

Catch up!

I know it has almost been a month since I last blogged so I thought I would catch everyone up with pictures! A LOT has happened.

My ABSOLUTE favorite picture of Matthew Robert...taken by fluke!

Andrew started playing baseball and this is him trying to work with his dad and Jason about ready to kick his butt for lack of concentration! I had a lot of fun laughing at him anyway! :)

Rose and Sophia came to celebrate Andrew's birthday with us! Isn't she the cutest EVER! Next to my kids anyway! :)

Luke helping us put together the garage sale. I don't care how much he pays me...I will ALWAYS know where this picture is! :)

Matthew Robert got his first haircut. He was working on the Roy comb-over, so we had to take action.

Papa and his boys spending the afternoon fishing...unfortunately they got rained out. Andrew did catch a fish though...Matt however, got shut in the car with me! :)

Great-Grandma and her boys...Andrew, Matthew, Nathan and Connor. An EXTREMELY cute bunch don't ya think?

Ryan and Matt became fast buddies while Ryan was visiting from Idaho.

Locked Up

Last night I was in the kitchen painting I believe when Andrew walks in the house and shuts the back door like he has finished his work for the day. I quickly asked him where Matt was and he quickly responded with..."In the shed." and kept on going.

I look out the back window and much to my amazement the shed doors were shut and I could faintly hear a kid SCREAMING from outside. So I run out the back door while threatening Andrew's life...not really, but I was yelling at him...and run to the shed where Matt is in full blown break down...which I would be too.

MEANWHILE, people are walking the track behind our house and hearing this screaming kid and looking at me like..."what kind of mother are you? Is that your child abuse chamber?" I wanted to tell them it wasn't me...it was Andrew, but who would they believe...Me or the cute 4 year old! Needless to say Andrew was in bed around 7 p.m. last night.

Mom is always right!

Jason's mom tells about when Jason was little he would come in from outside and he would get a bath and she would scrub and scrub and scrub to get him clean until she realized that he had tanned. I always thought it was a cute, funny story, but other than that I didn't think much of it, until tonight...

I brought Matt in tonight to give him a bath and his face looked filthy dirty so I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed before I realized that the kid needed his forehead for protection! Like father like son I guess.

Deceit!

Is it bad to admit that Andrew is smarter than his mother? Today I got home from work and I was exhausted because of course I couldn't fall asleep last night until 1 a.m. and had to be up for work at 445 this a.m. So I crawl into bed to take a quick nap and Andrew lays down next to me and closes his eyes so I drift off to sleep! Come to find out...HE DIDN'T SLEEP! This little deceitful kid...just kicked his mom's butt in the intelligience department! :)

Easy Access

This is what I found this morning when I opened up my front window curtains...

After searching out...turning around...who did this, Andrew fessed up to it! I just about blew my top! I asked him why he did this and his response was..."I wanted to stick my hand outside." Like a kid who hasn't spent every day for the last WEEK outside!! I could have shipped him to CHINA! I was upset to understate it quite a bit. Needless to say, Andrew spent much of the morning in his room.

So, I was going to patch it up with duct tape...I know...CLASSY! However, I couldn't find any. So then I called my dad and ask him to come help me over his lunch hour, but I canceled that because a nap sounded better. So finally at 9 p.m. this evening, I decided to fix the screen because it had been annoying me ALL DAY! I just switched out the broken storm windows...I know SO white trash...but WHATEVER! I need new windows HORRIBLY bad!

Magical moment.

A couple of years ago when we were cleaning out my grandma and grandpa's house I spared my grandpa's shoes from the garbage. Each spring I plant flowers in them and by July...they're dead...but that's besides the point. Tonight it was kind of surreal because Matthew Robert helped plant flowers in Great-grandpa Robert's shoes. I know that he'll never quite understand but to me it was a moment.

Runaway

Okay...so I think by sharing this story I am sharing my fabulous parenting skills with everyone, but what can I say...it was kind of funny.

This evening, Jason was mowing the backyard and I was cleaning out my flower beds so I could plant lots of flowers tomorrow. I thought Matthew was with Jason in the backyard when I look down the street and Matthew is walking down the street pushing his lawn mower. The only thing that was stalling him was that the neighbor boy...who is 5...was asking him where he was going. I took off on a dead sprint...for me anyway...and went after him. I couldn't believe that he would do something like that. It was one of the worst moments in my parenting life! I can't believe that it happened.

Neglect

Oh my goodness! I knew I hadn't blogged in SO LONG, but I didn't realize it had been almost a month! What kind of person am I? It's not that I don't have any stories, cuz I do, but time is the issue in this situation!

Andrew is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds and spent much of last night and tonight helping Grandma paint her bedroom! He got $2 for it so he thinks he's a rich man now. Last Tuesday he woke up and said:

"Mom, I need a haircut today!"
I told him I would try and see what I could do.
His reply: "Mom, I need a haircut, TODAY!"

He was pretty shaggy, but looks very handsome now as I was able to get him a haircut! Thank goodness! He will be doing preschool two days a week next year and it is hard to believe that we are getting ready to celebrate his 4th birthday in a few weeks! His "birthday list" is a mile long already! He's way to smart for his age! He continually refers to Matt as "Buddy" or "Little Matt."

Matthew continues to be my mute. At the rate he is going, our third child...which is FAR FAR AWAY from now...is going to be talking before he is. He will randomly pull a word out of his head every once in awhile, but it's nothing too spectacular. He says hi and bye and that's about it. People tell me it will come, but I worry. Although Andrew doesn't stop talking long enough to let him say anything! The other day their great-aunt and her class stopped by our back yard (there is a walking trail behind out house) and yelled...HI ANDREW! Matt got up to the window and yelled...MATT!!!!! I don't question that he doesn't know things...I just don't think he has to...make sense?

Classes are over for me and finals are on Monday and Tuesday. We are pinned next Friday. My mom is pinning me this year. I figured that my dad handed me my high school diploma so my mom could pin me for the first time. Jason and the boys will pin me next year most likely. I'm looking forward to a break. I am taking a history class this summer, though. It's my prereqs for my BSN, but it's online, so that won't be too bad.

I promise, I will keep this more updated as the summer goes on. I will have more time to write things....okay I SHOULD have more time to write things. I would hate to jinx myself! :)

Supper Time Wisdom

This weekend we were sitting at the dinner table eating at Jason's parents when out of no where Andrew goes...

"Dad, let me tell you something!"
(This being in the same context we have all heard it from our parents!)

I can't remember what he decided to tell Jason, because I was laughing too hard...but man was it hilarious!

Never safe

We spent this Easter with Jason's parents. I thought I was being sneaky by getting Easter gifts down to their house without Andrew getting a peak at them. On Saturday though, I sent him out to the car to get his Quiet Book that his Great-grandma had made for him and in he comes with a Wal-Mart sack.

"Mom, what's this?!"

I just about had to change my drawers. Luckily, he got ahold of Matt's gift and I made up some story about how the Easter bunny must have dropped it off early and that since Andrew was in the house he was going to drop Andrew's off that night while he was sleeping. Talk about quick thinking. Whoo! He was satisfied until Matt got up from his nap and he wanted to show Matt his presents...Thankfully dad had hid them!

Busy Bee

Matt woke up bright and early this morning and when I finally rolled out of bed around 8:15 to tell Jason good-bye, he was in his crib grinning ear to ear at us. After downing TWO bowls of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, he has been busy going from one thing to the next getting things done, putting things together and tearing things apart since he had the run of the house, because Andrew slept in until 10 a.m. (They really need to coincide their wake up times!)

Anyway, I am sitting here at the computer getting things ready for our Sienna Francis trip this weekend and Matt comes to me with a Mason jar and a pair of socks in it. I look down at his feet and just as I suspected...the socks were the ones I put on him this morning. When I told him that the socks were supposed to be on his feet, he just cocked his head to the side and gave me that little mischevious grin!

Needless to say we are 150 times better than we were last weekend when we landed in the hospital with dehydration.

Big

The other night Andrew and I were popping popcorn in the microwave and out of no where he goes.

"Mom, can I have a TV in my room?"
I said: "No, bud, maybe when you're older."
He replied: "But mom, I'm big for my age!"

Andrew on the ball!

The other day I was standing in the kitchen and Andrew was at the window doing something and I said something to him...I heard him sigh, followed by...mom, you're a nut!

Then tonight we were in the basement and Andrew goes...Mom, what's in your wallet? He never ceases to amaze me, including the fact he slept to 11 a.m. this morning. That's a world record for him.

Yet another one for him is to say...Mom, we're not fighting!...as soon as Matt starts screaming!

What am I going to do with him? He's always five steps ahead of me!

Another day...another milestone!

Today was absolutely GORGEOUS! After the boys had their naps we all went outside in our shorts! Andrew received a bike for Christmas so he has been practicing pedaling and has gotten very good. So tonight mom offers to take him around the trail behind our house. It was about halfway around the trail when I realized that my oldest sone is not supposed to be old enough to ride a bike, OR be starting pre-school in the fall! He's such a little man! I don't know where the time has gone.

THE KING!

Andrew has figured out how to take the tray off of Matt's high chair and he crawls up in it and says..."I'm the king." The other night I gave him things to set the table with and he looked at me and said..."Mom, I'm the king, I don't do that!" Needless to say...he eventually set the table!

Fun in the SNOW!

The boys were able to get out on Saturday and Sunday and have some fun in the sun and snow. The top picture is Matt trying to hide from Mom and Dad so he could play in the snow. The bottom one I was just trying to compare the snow drift to the size of Matt!

Magical Moments

On our way home from Omaha on Friday, Andrew was meditating in the back seat. I have NO idea where he picked this up from!

We were feeding the boys snacks until we could get home. This is Matt going after either a piece of chocolate or a cheeto!

This is Curly Sue after waking up from his nap! Jason tried so HARD to get that to lay down. I don't think he ever was successful.

The Snowman's back and he's causing lots of trouble!

I just thought I would update everyone on our uneventful, but busy week. Last Wednesday we were going to sneak down to Omaha to take Matt to the doctor for a check-up when I woke up the next morning in the hotel room to scream..."You are freaking kidding me!" Omaha had a bunch of snow dropped on it overnight much to my surprise. Needless to say the doctor's appointment got canceled and we were stuck in a hotel room with two little kids, no food and only one change of clothes (refer to the sneak comment previously!). Se we ventured out (yes, very stupid) to target to get more clothes, food and other necesscities (this included a new toy for each boy to entertain himself with....Andrew was happy!). We were just too far away to make it to Jason's parents, safely...we felt anyway.

So Thursday was spent in a 15x10 ft. room with two small boys who I would once in awhile let out of the room to run screaming down the hall. It was well worth the 2 minutes it lasted for all of our sanities. We quickly learned why kids that age should have space to run. We were able to get to the doctor of Friday though and Matt checked out perfectly fine. He's stinkin' 33 inches tall! Dr. K was very pleased with all his progress eventhough he still remains just a smidge behind, but he wasn't worried about it at all!

Then as soon as we were done with the doctor we filled up the boys' bellies and headed home. Up until about West Point, I think, is when I finally stopped saying...we should turn around. I just kept thinking...okay, if we can just get to this town...i know someone there we can call! Needless to say 6 hours after leaving Omaha...normally a 3 hour trip...we landed safely at home. I will not sign up to do that anytime soon. Below are a few of the pictures from what we ended up with at our house on Saturday morning.

This is our house heading east!

This is our house heading west! All the ones below are from our backyard. Our fence is about 5 ft. tall I believe. Not as impressive as last year...but close!

Big brother knows best

This afternoon after Matt got up from his nap the boys were running back and forth from couch to couch laying on one another's blankets and pillows. At one point they get the big idea to lay on the loveseat together, one at each end. After about 3 minutes of that, big brother gets up and gets Matt a pacifier, his juice, make sure he has his blanket and pillow and "puts him to bed." The hilarious part was that Andrew knew to get the pacifier (out of the drawer mind you) and that Matthew was going along with every minute of it! I was laughing so hard! This is Matthew after Andrew put him to bed!

Much to my surprise!

This evening I was at the computer in the basement finishing a paper that is...of course...due tomorrow for one of my nursing classes. I had told Andrew that I was going to be back upstairs in 30 minutes to put him to bed. I heard him get out of the bed a few times so I knew he was still up. Then I got busy and wasn't paying much attention anymore. When I got upstairs this is what I found.

Needless to say he is sleeping in my bed tonight because I am not carrying 62 pounds of dead weight 5 feet across to hall to have my back killing me tomorrow!

When Mom's not watching

Yesterday, Andrew presented to me with a finger bleeding perfusely. When I asked him where this happened this is what I found...They took the lid off its hinges, the pins still in the hinges, the glass was laying on the bed and as far as I know...most of the medals are still present. The key to this whole story is I didn't hear them do ANY OF IT! This is just a forcast as to what lies ahead!

Just some new moments.

I just took this picture this afternoon and I absolutely love it! I can almost see the halo above his head...however, I know the truth!

This is Jason's little HUSKER boy. Anytime Jason has the boys because I am at work or school, I come home and Matthew has this outfit on!

This is Andrew's self portrait. I know it is out of focus...but I LOVE IT!

Another Doctor's Appointment!

Andrew came out of his room tonight with the line..."Mom, I forgot how to sleep. Will you rock me?"

So he climbed up on my lap and we "nuggled" in together. (I need a bigger rocking chair by the way to fit the two of us!) Anyway, as we were rocking Andrew goes...

"Mom, when you get out of school tomorrow, will you take T-Rex (his new prized possesssion...next to his castle) to the doctor. His eyes are red."

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Fisher-Price Mega T-Rex...his eyes light up...RED!

A weekend from...WELL...guess it wasn't that bad!

I know I have be negligient in keeping up with my blogging so if you would rather read my blogs PLEASE feel free to e-mail me and I will send you my homework to do instead! :)

We were supposed to be in Scottsbluff this weekend for State Student Nurse convention...however...Jason's mom got sick and was in Methodist last week. We switched our plans quick and could I have skipped clinicals we would have been down there earlier! I would like to say she is doing better...which she is...but it's slow.

So Friday morning I took a Patho test in 15 minutes :) packed up the kids again and headed to Omaha. We spent the afternoon hanging out with Grandma K and by the time Jason got there Grandma K and I were ready for naps! :) That night Uncle Mike and "his friend" (Jason's sister) came out and played with the boys.

We ended up taking Andrew to Urgent Care on Saturday to have them tell me that he had an ear infection after waiting for an HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES! We then had to stop by Cabela's so he could look at which shotgun he would like to buy! Yes...my 3 1/2 year old wants to buy a SHOTGUN!!! (I would like to take this minute to thank Jason, Papa Shoe and TIM!) The weird thing is he knows exactly what he's going to do with it...go deer hunting!

We got home this afternoon about 2:30 and early enough the boys could run around like mad men outside for awhile and Jason could try to snowblow!

Now, it's Sunday night again and I have two tests tomorrow...which I have just BEGUN to study for...and a week of clinicals and class! YIKES!

Andrew at his best!

Tonight we were sitting at the dinner table and I was asking Jason to do something, but he was too busy eating so I jokingly said...

"OH, I forgot you can't do two things at once!"

Without hesitation Andrew piped right up and said..."MOM CAN!"

We both got a good chuckle out of it. Five minutes later Andrew was pounding on the table yelling at his dad to pay attention to him.

That one about sent us to the floor laughing.

Church Goers!

Last night after we had finished supper I asked Jason what time he would like to go to church in the morning. Andrew just flat out goes..."WHY?"

It was all we could do not to laugh. His grandfather and great-grandfather would probably have a cow if they heard him!

Learning to Count

For weeks I have been trying to teach Andrew the "Buckle My Shoe" rhyme. For the most part he does okay...but last night we had a regression it went as follows:

ME: 1, 2

Andrew: Buckle my shoe

ME: 3, 4

Andrew: Get off my horse!

Needless to say...we didn't get past three and four...my was on the floor laughing.

Conscience of a Guilty Mother

I haven't seen the boys since Monday morning at 8 a.m.! I am homesick and cry just thinking about it. I have been in class and then clinicals since Monday in Norfolk and I just stay there rather than drive 50 times back and forth...plus 4 a.m. is just not feasible...especially me driving!

Anyway...every night I am gone I call and talk to Andrew and every night he asks when I am coming home. It gets to me and so I end up getting them a little "something" to make me look like the world's COOLEST mom when I return! LIke they know any different anyway...right?

The Neglected Child

I write about Matt on here so much that I thought I should probably give an update on Andrew too!

He's doing awesome. We just got over a big battle of the upchucky's and he ended up losing 10 pounds...which was a good thing for him...but he's slowly...and I mean SLOWLY...getting back to normal.

Last week he surprised me by showing me that he can sing his ABC's! The K and the T get lost...but that means that he has 24 down! I was so proud of him and so utterly SCHOCKED! I think we called 15 people that night so we could sing our ABC's. I LOVE IT!

He's still 3 1/2 going on 10 though!

Skin update #472

So I'm not sure what number it is, but it was the first number to pop into my head.

Anywho...Matt's skin is BEAUTIFUL! We are post allergy testing 1 month and he is beautiful. We have setbacks every once and again...but they are becoming fewer and fewer. He's even to the point where he likes to help us put on the lotion...last night he was trying to suck it out of the bottle...but that's a whole different issue I must deal with!

It's going good though...a lot of potatoes, hamburger and vegetables. I will take any suggestions! Last night we even had birthday cake thanks to Great-Aung MC. She made a Matt friendly birthday cake that tasted delicious!

For the most part we are steroid free and I can't wait to show Dr. K on March 1. I can hear him already! Now, if he would just stop climbing and tracking down ever sharp object and in a mile radius...even if it is 5 feet off the ground!

Happy Birthday Song

Yesterday was my mom's birthday so last night I was trying to teach Andrew an alternate birthday song. Many of our songs are sung by me singing all but the last word or phrase. I taught him about the smelly monkey living in a zoo. However, this was his rendition...

Happy birthday to....you

You live in a...zoo

You look like...a monkey

And you smell like....a COW!

I am pretty sure that in the one I learned it was...one too...but I guess...this rendition is good...it was good enough for Jason and I to die laughing anyway!

The "Macs" Back!

I stopped by our organic food store here in town today...yes, yes, I know..a town of 4,000 and we have an organic food store?

ANYWAY! I went in looking for pasta that is egg free and JACKPOT! I got some elbow macaroni to make mac 'n cheese from scratch. So that's what we had for lunch today and you would have sworn I was feeding Matt candy he was so excited. Andrew on the other hand did go for it. It didn't look like the normal food he's used to eating.

I am so excited because now I can go back and get spaghetti too!

Very simple...yes...but TOTALLY made my day! You would swear I won the lottery!

The "Macs" Back!

I stopped by our organic food store here in town today...yes, yes, I know..a town of 4,000 and we have an organic food store?

ANYWAY! I went in looking for pasta that is egg free and JACKPOT! I got some elbow macaroni to make mac 'n cheese from scratch. So that's what we had for lunch today and you would have sworn I was feeding Matt candy he was so excited. Andrew on the other hand did go for it. It didn't look like the normal food he's used to eating.

I am so excited because now I can go back and get spaghetti too!

Very simple...yes...but TOTALLY made my day! You would swear I won the lottery!

The best Christmas gift EVER!

This is the headboard that my dad made Jason and I for Christmas. It is made out of oak and stained to match some of the other things he has made for me. It is absolutely gorgeous in person! The quilt was made by my mom for my 25th birthday last summer. It is made out of scraps from material that my mom has used for different things over the years. This includes dresses when I was little, maternity clothes, blankets for my kids, clothes for my sister and my mom, a blanket she made for my grandma and a whole bunch of other things.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Matt's BIG brown eyes
Andrew & Matt's kisses
Watching Andrew use his imagination
Watching Matthew TRYING to keep up with his brother
Matthew's inquisitiveness
Andrew's stubornness
Jason...especially when he's home :)
Matt's determination
Andrew's puppy dog eyes
Watching the boys wrestle with Jason
Hearing the boy's laughter
Homework that is done
A house that is clean
Andrew's big heart
Matt's SOFT SKIN! (FINALLY - YEAH!)
Jason's hard work
Matt's goofy grin
Snuggled in my bed with all three of my boys!

Watching the boys cry and KNOWING I can dry their tears and make them smile!

Oh my ANDREW!

A person can tell that Andrew is my son. It could be first and foremost because he looks like me, or it could be because he acts like me or because we argue quite easily.

Anyway, I can't remember how we got on it today, but under my breath I said..."I'm going to kick Michelle's a**!"

Andrew looked at me blankly and then asked..."Mom, why are you going to kick Chelle's a**?" He stuck up for her of course and then told me I shouldn't do it.

Later he and I had a 25 minute conversation about why he has Andrew parts and a penis and why mommy has "mommy parts." It finally got down to "we just do!"

This all came back to me later when my mother was here and he informed her that I am going to kick Chelle's a**, that mommy has mommy parts and that dad has the poops...aka stomach flu!

I guess I need to watch my mouth like a HAWK or just duct tape it shut!

Ohhh...the power of....MCDONALD'S!!

The boys haven't been feeling well the last few days. Yesterday was Andrew's bad day and today was Matt's. The poor little guy stopped eating yesterday at noon and had barely drank anything all day. He had barely peed 3 diapers all day long so I was worried, especially when his temp hit. 102.6.

After a call to Dr. Pete I ran to the grocery store (my mom came over and watched the boys) to get some Pedialyte and apple juice (we go through it more than water). Then I swung through the McDonald's drive thru because I promised Andrew chicken nuggets and I stopped buying them since Matthew can't eat them. I also grabbed something for me to eat and thought...well if Matt wants something he can eat some of my fries...thinking he wouldn't eat anything.

I got home and got them up to the table when Matt started DEVOURING french fries like a mad man. He still had that puppy dog look to him and I said....Are you feeling better? He shook his head yes and I said...You just needed some Grandma time didn't you? And through a mouth full of french fries he goes....yes!

McDonald's and Grandma...I need to remember that combination!

HORRIBLE MOTHER!

I think the boys have a case of the flu bug so they have both been moping around and whining I am sure because of body aches. In trying to be the best mom of TWO sick boys. I opened up a root beer and seperated it into two sipee cups in an attempt to keep them hydrated (Andrew keeps throwing everything up...I know...don't give them sugar...but I would give them just about anything at this point).

It was about 10 minutes later when it hit me...ROOT BEER IS ON THE NO LIST! I ran over to him and ripped the sipee cup out of his and poored the root beer down the drain like it was some serious poison.

So now, on top of not feeling well he is breaking out really bad. I feel like such a horrible mother!

Baby Skin!

I worked last night and am always worried that Matt doesn't get his skin care regimen when it's just the boys and dad. Not that he doesn't do it, they just usually get busy playing and wrestling that they hit the bed and then dad remembers.

Anyway, when I finally woke up this afternoon I nestled on the couch with a 16 1/2 month old who has the most beautiful and softest skin. This is the best his skin has been in a YEAR! I kept rubbing his hand on my cheek in disbelief! He's perfect!

Balanced Diet

One good thing about this no egg thing is I really have to think about what I am going to make for a meal (okay, maybe that isn't that great). I have followed my mom's instructions and try to do a meat, potato and vegetable or fruit. If there isn't a potato they get both fruit and vegetable. So needless to say they are starting to eat well rounded meals. We haven't had pasta for almost 2 weeks now!

Our first real "test" will be when we have to go to Omaha on Thursday back to the allergy doc. We can't just go through the drive thru any more and get chicken nuggets because eggs could be in the breading on the chicken. With two days to go I am already thinking of places where we can stop and eat. It will just mean alloting more time for meals.

Hopefully this will start to trim everyone down because we aren't eating sweets anymore because almost all sweets have eggs in them. I do have to admit though, that once in awhile I sneak a bowl of chocolate ice cream after Matt goes to bed!

The hardest thing to wrap my brain around is a birthday cake. He can't eat birthday cake OR ice cream cake. Depending on what the blood test brings back it might be one of those things like diabetics...on special occasions we may have to cheat...knowing full well the consequences. We will see though...I have 5 months to figure it out.

Pizza Pizza!

I did it. I thought really hard about how I could do it and I did it!

WE ATE PIZZA FOR LUNCH!

It broke my heart to not be able to feed Matt pizza and to say no to Andrew because it is one of their favorite foods. So at lunch time today I started brainstorming...What could I use as dough that doesn't have eggs...BISCUITS!

After about 50 calls to my mom the mini pizzas were put together. They were so good too!

Not for little boys!

Before my friend Rose got married we had this huge Mardi Gras themed bachelorette party for her in Omaha. We all had gift bags of anything you could imagine that came in penis form. I thought I had it hid away when all of a sudden tonight a strawberry penis sucker landed in my face.

Andrew: "Mom, what's this for?"
Mom: "It's not for little boys."
Andrew: "No, it is for little boys."
Mom: "No, it's not!"
Andrew: "Who is it for?"
Mom: "For mommies."
Andrew: "No, it not for mommies. Who it for?"
Mom: "Ladies"
Andrew: "What ladies?"
Mom: "Big ladies"
Andrew: "Oh, big ladies."

Yet another awkward situation diverted! What am I going to do when I can do that any longer?!

Minor...Ok...MAJOR set back!

We have been egg free for almost 2 weeks now. We have had a set back here and there, but that is just mom getting used to what has eggs and what doesn't. I have my list strapped to the refrigerator though and reference about every 15 minutes.

HOWEVER, Matt woke up yesterday morning fire engine red from head to toe. He kind of started to clear up after he got to Grandma and Grandpa's, but then later went back to full blown red. Grandma got to looking and the only thing we can find in common is RED #40. So I am anxious to find out what Dr. Murphy has to say on Thursday.

So needless to say he is still fire engine red and pulling at his skin to itch it and make it feel better. I broke down (didn't take much) and gave him medicine to make the poor child feel better. I just feel so helpless!

The food thing is starting to slowly come around but I feel sorry for Andrew. He keeps wanting to eat pizza, but I have to tell him that we can't because it has eggs in it and Matt can't eat eggs.

In response to this tonight Andrew said..."Mom, we can eat pizza bites...they don't have eggs."

When I explain that it isn't fair to Matt then to eat pizza in front of him Andrew fires back..."Mom, I can eat eggs!"

Barf!

I fell asleep last night after I had finally put my book down. Around 3:30 this morning I could hear Matt whining, but it was intermittent and I figured he was just having a bad dream. So, I closed my eyes again to only hear him choke and gag.

I went running into his room to find that he had thrown up from one end of the crib to the next. Anytime that Andrew has thrown up I have been able to stomach it, but Matt's was like HORRIBLE! I about had to make a run the bathroom myself.

Anyway, I start tearing his bed apart and much to my surprise he had hit EVERY blanket that was in his crib, but two, so that is like 6 blankets (yes I am aware that pediatricians don't recommend lots of blankets, but both of my kids sleep that way). So After I disrobed him and got everything cleaned up and into the washer we settled down in the rocker!

Poor little guy. He seems better this morning!

BRING IT ON!

The other night while we were at Jason's parents, Andrew was rough housing with his father.

They went going at it back and forth, the minute Jason would lie down, Andrew would pounce.

At one point Andrew looked at his dad straight in the eye and said...You want a piece of me?

Everyone busted up laughing and Andrew repeated it after the shocking look on his dad's face!

The Verdict is IN!

Well, last week Matt was allergy tested and much to my surprise he is only allergic to eggs and peanuts. He is also slightly allergic to a mold, ragweed and chicken.

I know that sounds like something major, but it is a lot less than what I thought it was going to be. I really thought that he was going to be allergic to the WORLD! Then I would have my very own bubble boy!

We had to have blood drawn to see if he was slightly allergic or VERY allergic. We will find that out on the 11th when we have to go back.

So minus the getting used to cooking a whole different way, I am happy to know it is something that I can work around...in a way anyway!