Christmas 2006

Well, it's the day after Christmas and we have all survived. We all had to take a nap yesterday about 3 p.m., but hey...I am not complaining. I was a walking zombie!

We opened up gifts at my parents on Sunday afternoon after our traditional Subway dinner. Andrew had known for days which gifts were his and he was anxiously waiting to open them. All season long he has been asking for a T-Rex dinosaur and a Castle, not to mention T-Rex mountain. He got to open his gift first and much to his surprise...

Aunt Michelle & Uncle Luke had gotten him his castle! His reaction was HILARIOUS! He was so excited.

Matt was next and he got to open his gift from Michelle and Luke and it was a farm that you could feel the different fuzzy parts of the animals such as their manes, tails and back.

Uncle Tim and Cara surprised Andrew by bringing Toy Story to him with his Mr. Potato Head. He was so excited!

I had made homemade vegetable beef soup for Christmas Eve and so after we had soup (which included spilling it down the front of both of the boys' shirts) we opened up gifts at our house. Next to the John Deere bike that Grandma and Papa Shoe gave the boys...Andrew technically the crowning glory was....

Jason and Tim spent much of the month restoring Jason's John Deere pedal tractor that his Grandpa and Grandma Koehlmoos had given him. It looked brand new and the boys went crazy for it. I think Matt was a little more excited than Andrew and now he just has to learn how to pedal. The arguments have already begun over who gets to drive it. Luckily Matt fits in the wagon!

And if that wasn't good enough Santa delivered the T-Rex on Christmas morning and I do have to admit that it is one of the coolest toys that I have ever seen!

OH...what am I gonna do with him?

Last night I came home from my parents after Andrew had spent much of the day with Grandma and his aunt. I was in Matt's room putting him to bed when I CLEARLY hear..."Oh sh**!"

I spun around in turbo speed and said..."Andrew, what did you say?"

He came into Matt's room and said..."Oh sh**, this broke!"

I initially had to turn around and laugh because he was using it in the appropriate text and everything. Then I had to lecture him on why we don't say that.

So he got sent to bed, which he ended up falling right to sleep anyway, with a big lesson on what not to say in front of your mom.

After he was in bed I called my parents to tell them to PLEASE watch their language as Andrew is picking up new vocabulary words.

If that wasn't bad enough, he woke up today with the phrase..."Oh, G**!"

I replied with a similar prayer..."Oh, Lord HELP ME!"

Santa Let Down

Andrew has his heart set on a T-Rex dinosaur from Santa this year, which I am pretty sure Santa will deliver, but it still makes an opportune threat right now when he is being his 3 1/2 year old boy self.

Last night he did something and I threatened to call Santa to tell him no T-Rex dinosaur...it backfired.

Andrew demanded to talk to Santa to tell him that he WILL be getting a T-Rex dinosaur for Christmas. The bad thing was is that I didn't have anyone to call and have them pretend to be Santa because Andrew could recognize anyone's (I would have thought to call) voice.

On a different Santa note, Andrew was talking to my mom on the phone tonight and all she said was..."Santa is watching." I wish I would have thought of it sooner because it sent him into a body convulsing crying spell in which 10 minutes later he is still doing.

4 more days!

Broken Hearted

Most of you reading this will not understand where I am coming from and probably think that I am coming out of left field and being totally rediculous, but it is bothering me so guess what...you get to read it...or you can stop now.

My Grandma was moved to the nursing home I work at on Matt's first birthday (Aug. 30). Since then she has gone down hill rapidly...it seems anyway. She is often confused and upset about her unfamiliar surroundings, but in the next breath she is saying something that you have to laugh at.

Today, after work, my brother's girlfriend (she works at the nursing home too) informed me that Grandma was ticked at me. I asked her why she was ticked at me and she said that Grandma was upset because I didn't got pick up Grandma's sister. SIDENOTE: Grandma had a sister, but she passed away either at birth or shortly after birth.

Anyway, I kind of brushed it to the side, but at the same time it kind of kept eating at me. I didn't care that she was ticked at me. Let her be ticked, at least I am a safe person to be ticked at, on the other hand...it broke my heart. I think it was tonight that I realized that I don't really have my Grandma anymore. The Grandma that I confided so many things into and everything. I miss just sitting and talking to her and have her not say anything, but listen to every word. I could still do that, but I am afraid of what she would say! :) I just feel like I lost her even though she's technically still with us.

It made me understand how my aunt felt this weekend when she was talking about Gram. At the time I was looking at her wondering how she could get so choked up, but it didn't make sense to me because she was my GREAT-grandma. Today made me understand though. I miss my old Grandma. The one who always had gentle words of wisdom and unconditional love.

Then tonight my phone rings and my Grandma's number came up and I thought...she is in no state of mind to call anyone, let alone remember MY number. So after I answered I hear..."No, that's Jeanie." My aunt got on the phone and then I hear..."No mom that is the right person." So then she preceded to ask me if I would come to the Tree of Love party at the nursing home tomorrow with her. Of course I said yes and she said..."We'll discuss it in the morning." Little does she know I won't be there until 3:45!

My other aunt asked to relay the message to me that I need to have broad shoulders. I know what she's getting at...but my shoulders are broad enough. It's hard to find clothes as it is! :)

Jesus Rode in on a John Deere

Andrew and I set up the nativity scene the other night after I decided that I should probably set it up since we received it for our wedding 3 years ago!

It is a beautiful Fontanini that Jason's "Aunt & Uncle" Butch and Karen gave us for our wedding.

Anywho, we set it up piece by piece and I shared with him the story of Jesus and Gabriel and the Angel and the Three Kings. (Yes, I am very aware that they don't come until January, but in our house if they don't arrive now, they never will!) There was also a random Aaron in there and I wasn't sure what his whole story was, so I just made something up and looked it up later!

We placed the sheep and the ox and the donkey, along with the Bethlehem birds (they resemble Nebraska birds just in case you're curious). Then we took a step back and marveled at the beautiful scene.

The next day I saw Andrew up at the Nativity scene and asked him what he was doing and he said..."Looking at baby Jesus!"

I didn't think much of it until later in the day I noticed the John Deere tractor next to him. I guess our baby Jesus rode into the stable on a John Deere tractor.

But with all things considered does that surprise anyone?

Yet More Good News!

Friday, we traveled to Omaha to see Dr. K, and if I haven't mentioned it before, he's the best pediatrician in the state of Nebraska as far as I'm concerned. ANYWHO! He said that Matt's lungs sounded good, his ears were clear (of wax even - usually he removes a small chunk) and his skin looked good and he was over all pleased with the way Matt presented himself.

It was weird however, because this was the first doctor's appointment I think we have been to since he was born that I didn't come home with new instructions or some new thing to treat him with. I told my nursing instructor that I didn't really know what to do with myself! It was a good feeling though.

He does have haemaphilus influenzae growing in his nose (the common bacteria that causes ear infections) and so we are on an antibiotic until Christmas...but that's okay. We are getting closer and Closer to AT (allergy testing) Day! I am hoping it brings answers! I am sure it will.

Proud Moment

For a couple of weeks now Matt has been standing in front of the toilet pulling at his pants, trying to stand up and go potty like big brother and daddy do. It usally backfires on him because he usually has a onesie on!

However, lately, when he has been pulling at his pants I have just sat him on the toilet and see what he'll do. Usually it's nothing, but I don't get to bent out of shape. I mean he is on 15 months old!

So, tonight, in order to keep him from diving into the tub head first while it was filling I stripped him down and set him on the potty ring on the toilet. I went about getting the bath ready and he just sat there.

When I had pulled him off, much to my surprise, there was poop in the toilet! YEAH! I cheered and clapped and whooped and hollared and he sat there and stared at me with that look of..."What the heck are you yelping at mom, put me in the darn tub!"

It was exciting for a mom, especially a mom whose first son took 16 months to potty train! I called my mom and was like..."Matt went poopy in the potty!"

My mom replied with..."Really...was he sitting on the potty ring?" and I believed I smarted off by saying..."No I made him hover above the toilet!" (If I didn't say it, I know I thought it!)

It was very exciting to say the least...but I think my mom may I have been right...it was coincidence most likely...but this mom isn't going to let it go and we are going to stay on top of the whole poop in the potty thing! Eventually I won't get the "You're a complete idiot mom!" look!

Good News FINALLY!

Well, today was the day we went to the ENT and I was almost 100% sure he would say TUBES! But he didn't!

He looked over Matt, which he looks the worst he has in a long time. His skin is cracked and bleeding and sore and I can't do anything about it other than cream him up more (that's the part that sucks). ANYWAY, looked him over and said that he thinks the ear infections are stemming from the nose problem. His nose and sinuses aren't draining properly and that is causing it to back up into the ears and cause the infections! They did a nose swab, which I have decided is the cruelest thing you could ever do to a kid by the way, and I get those results next week some time. They also did x-rays on him to see what his sinuses looked like and they had air in them (That's a good thing!) and his adnoids weren't blocking his nasal passage as he thought they might be. He said that the x-ray looked a lot better than he expected it to.

SO! This means we are on another antibiotic until Monday or Tuesday and then depending on the culture of the nose, where we go from there depends on that. It could mean antibiotics until allergy testing on Dec. 28! This means no tubes or removal of adnoids until after the allergy doctor IF we need to do it at all! (This makes me very happy!)

It basically just all sounds like it is all stemming back to the allergies. This gives me hope though that it is treatable once it is narrowed down and we get this all figured out. Now, my hope is for a SIMPLE allergy and not some complex thing!

So we see Dr. K in a few days and Dr. Murphy at the end of the month. Then I think I just might sleep for a couple weeks straight!

I've heard it all!

Andrew has fought us to go to bed for forever now. We end up putting him in bed 10 times before he finally goes to sleep!

Last night was no different. At one point he came out and asked if he could sleep on the couch. When we asked as to why his reply was...

"I don't know how to sleep!"

We reminded him and he was off to bed...again!

Stay tuned for the boys' first trip to Cabela's.

Cookie Monster

Andrew has been on this kick lately about getting different food items so his dad can take them with him to work. They range from cookies, to pizza, to processed cheese, to one little package of pop tarts.

So after thinking that they sounded good and getting the supplies ready we spent Monday night making chocolate chip cookies for dad...who got to come home on Monday! The boys helped me and fingers were in stuff constantly. I guess that is why they turned out so good! Needless to say dad got fresh cookies when he got home!

Andrewisms

I know that Andrew-isms is not a real word, but I just thought that it fit for everything that he comes up with.

On Monday the boys went to Norfolk with me and we were up at school and as we were pulling into the parking lot Andrew goes..."Mom, I can't go to school...I forgot my books!"

As I was logging on to my e-mail Andrew was doing something and he was trying to get my attention and do to exhaustion and trying to do the e-mail he goes..."Mom! Pay attention!"

Then if that wasn't good enough, tonight I was flipping through pictures of things and Tim and his deer came up. Andrew asked, "Mom, why did that deer get shot?" I said..."Because Tim shot it." His reply..."That's stupid!"

I can't forget to mention that he crawls up next to me tonight and asks..."Mom, what is Santa Claus bringing for me?" And when I answered with..."I don't know." He replied with a great big sigh...I guess that means I am a disappointment!

And as good as all those are, we were driving back from Mariclaire and Bob's tonight and he asked if Great Grandma stilled lived at her house (the assisted living). I told him no and that she now lived where mommy worked. HE asked if she would move back when she go better and I said..."No probably not." His reply..."Don't worry mommy...she'll get better!"

A 3-year-old doesn't miss much that's for sure.

Too funny not to share!

Last night I was working on a couple of nursing school projects when I hear Andrew come down the stairs, asking me if he can chew gum. Saying..."Mom, this is my favorite gum, can I have it, please mom it is my favorite gum." I kept typing until the "gum" was in my nose.

I look at the "gum" and it was a colorfully wrapped Trojan, back from when Matt was born and we didn't want to have child number three right away!

I about fell off my chair laughing and asked him where he found it and sure enough...right where I thought they weren't anymore. I thought that we had donated the rest of them to Luke and Michelle's cause.

So I walked him upstairs...still laughing hysterically and had him ask his father...who was also on the floor practically laughing. They had already discussed this topic.

I explained it was for mommy and daddy's and it wasn't gum and asked him if he was a mommy or daddy. He said..."No, but I like gum!"

Part of this story is almost too embarrassing to admit, but my good word it was worth a chuckle.

Wrap sheet...

I had to type up a summary of Matt's doctor's appointments and treatments since school started. No big deal right? I mean I kept pretty good track of them so I could regurgitate it from one doctor to the next...I have gotten very good at just asking for copies of records to take back and forth with me.

Anyway, 2 pages later, in 10 pt print, single spaced... I am done. I can't believe what this kid has been through the last THREE months! No wonder we never have extra money!

I guess that is what you have to do though to get him healthy!

"Deer" Siting

For the last couple of weeks, Andrew has been talking about going deer hunting because he got to go scouting with Uncle Tim and Papa Shoe one day. He pulled out his camo shorts and was already for deer season.

This morning he was upset to learn that Uncle Tim was out hunting without him. So instead he went deer hunting inside. He put the extensions of my vacuum together and walked around the house looking and waiting for his deer...gun in hand!

About 5 p.m. Tim showed up at my house with a gutted buck. Andrew went out side to check it out and I think was a little surprised to see all the blood and that the deer technically...wasn't petable! I tried to get him to take a picture with Uncle Tim and his deer. This is what I got instead...

Mean tatooed men!

Andrew has been telling us the last few days that he wants a tatoo just like dads...except he wants a DINOSAUR! So last night I went against all my mother's and most likely Jason's mother's teaching and was a "cool" mom for a couple of minutes.

We giggled through the whole thing and then went in and surprised Dad! You can't really see it, but it is supposed to look like dads! Now he wants two more to match the other two dad has.

He keeps telling us that he can have one when he turns 4. I correct him and tell him 18. Hopefully he will forget about it by then!

The other picture is of the artist and her victim...I don't think you can really call me an artist.

At their expense!

For some reason...which I am sure there is a logical one, the box elder bugs have been thicker than snot around here lately. Every once in awhile a couple get in the house.

Andrew was the first to discover them and went screaming like a little girl away from them...Matthew on the other hand took after them full boar and was grabbing at them and I believe might have eaten one as well. Matt picks them up and lets them crawl all over him and then throws them, it's kind of funny.

Last night Matt was being entertained by one. He was sitting on the floor minding his own business driving the bug up a wall when Andrew comes after the bug with a SHOE! Crazy kid...Andrew was freaking out trying to kill the bug and Matt was looking at him like..."What the heck are you doing!"

Another day...another dr. visit!

Once again I had to take Matthew to the doctor. It seems like we should just have a standing appointment by this time. He ran a fever all day yesterday and at its highest it was 103.4. So we just kept rotating the Tylenol and Motrin, which in all honesty, you shouldn't give your kids either! Not unless you want it to slowly eat away at your child's GI tract! That is what I learned in Pharm anyway! But with everything I have learned...I still use it!

Anyway...Dr. Pete confirmed what I knew was the cause...ear infection...4th since July! I looked at him and said... "this is getting a little excessive ya know!" As if I really had to tell him that! He agreed and I asked him about putting tubes in Matt's ears. Jason had to do it and so did my sister. Not that this is a must but a person has to start considering all the other side effects from too many ear infections.

So the date is Nov. 30 and luckily, Dr. Nabity comes to O'Neill! I am hoping this helps with his speech as well.

On that note...Matthew had my cell phone this morning and walks up to me, hands it to me and says..."Dad!" So I did as he asked and called Jason for him. He jabbered to his dad for 5 minutes before my cell phone started dying...damn thing! We are still trying to decipher what he was talking about!

Quick Learner

After a day of clinicals I came home real quick to take the boys trick or treating as Jason was in Minnesota working.

After each house Andrew would get back in the car and say..."Mom, I need more candy!" He was find with the candy he received, but thought he needed more.

Matt quickly learned that people were putting good stuff into his pumpkin and took a nose dive the floor of the car to retrieve the pumpkin with goodies. The picture is of him discovering that there was some good stuff in that pumpkin.

By the way...did you know kids get money these days? Well...thanks to Grandma Janice anyway!

Attack of Spiderman

Andrew was running a fever much of yesterday so when he crawled in bed with us in the middle of the night I wasn't too surprised. He was a little comforted last night when he got to put on his new Spiderman pajamas.

However, I was surprised when I woke up this morning and after washing hair and getting ready, went in to get up Andrew noticed red all over my bed. Spiderman had attacked my CREAM sheets! Oh well, I will take red over puke and pee any day!

More Answers

I decided to bring Matt down to Omaha over Fall break because after consulting with Dr. K (The best pediatrician in Omaha in my book!) he decided that a look before his 15 month check up.

I was concerned with the fact that since July he had been on THREE antibiotics and nothing was making him better. So we went down on a last minute notice. We spent two hours in the doctor's office and had breathing treatments to see if that would help.

Well, it did. It made a HUGE difference. We always knew that one day asthma may come, but it looks like it may be sooner than we thought. He is now on nebulizer treatments as needed and zyrtec everyday on top of his 50 creams. We go back to Dr. K next t month and then allergy test the end of december. According to Dr. K, depending on how that turns out, that may lead to an infectious disease doctor, which I still have yet to figure out!

He said that what he has is genetic so it bade me feel better that it was not my house that made him sick. It probably just enhanced it a little.

Tonight we are going a thousand miles a minute, chatting on the phone to everyone and trying to rock in the rocking chair with his big brown eyes twinkling at me and a grin ear to ear! Earlier in the evening he kept a close eye on my lasagne that was in the oven. He began blowing on it early, standing at the oven door trying to blow in it through the window. Then when dad caught him he pretended to be macho man and look at the oven like it was doing something stupid.

Pretty soon I won't have enough time to keep up writing about what these two are up to!