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!