Post #2: Our Elf of the Shelf T-Rex

I'm glad T-Rex (Elf on the Shelf) joined our family this year. Not only did Harrison enjoy his company (Miles is obviously too young), I think us as parents enjoyed his company just as equally. It's going to be fun to see where T-Rex takes our boys in the coming years... This is such fun memory maker that I hope our boys grow up remembering... It's sad to think that we could be considered "bad parents" for doing these little shenanigans at night. Bum hum bug to whoever wrote this article: An open letter to Elf on the Shelf Parents. A first year pass?!? If creativity labels us as bad parents...We are horrible parents. And shame on us for condoning creativity.

This evening while we were in our pajamas, driving around eating popcorn admiring the Christmas lights T-Rex filled the boys stockings along with Violet Puppy's and kitties. With this I am so excited to see their expressions in the morning... Harrison couldn't stop saying, "This is cool." "This is just what I always wanted." "Close your eyes Momma, its a surprise." "Oh wow!."

We are off to bed! Santa's coming... TONIGHT!

Miles @ 14 months

Yikes! I better post a 14 month update before I post a 15 month update. No real excuse I waited so long other than I haven't busted the camera out much this month! I tried a posed Christmas session with him a couple of weeks ago...First I tried him alone, then I thought sitting with Harrison would help...nope and nope, total failure. It's so so so hard photographing your own children.

Anyways I think the traumatic photo session has worn off me enough to grab a few real life images during bath time tonight. This real stuff is what I'm all about. And honestly real life is what I frame. I have one posed photo of Miles and one posed photo of Harrison hanging up in our house and that is it.  Real life rocks.

14 months/12-13-13 (from Miles perspective):

• It's my way or no way.
• Naps are overrated, I sleep when I want, if I want to and however long I want (ha ha Mom, try to schedule around that)
• I'm crabby these days a lot. If you could just pick me up and walk around the house the entire day I would be happy always, promise.
• I can't complain about your cooking, I eat anything your put in front of me...but the service is never fast enough.
• Sometimes when I am having a melt down (one of many) I like when you put me in my crib with some toys (I like that jingling apple the best) for some quiet time. After 15-20 minutes I either fall asleep or let you know I'm ready to get out.
• I love walking, but again only when I feel like it. And for goodness sake, I need a helmet for all of these hard floors... Have you looked at my forehead lately? GEESH.
• I love your phone...It makes me so happy. Actually anything I can make into a phone makes me happy. (check out the photos below)
• Blankets---You keep asking me do I really need to drag two of them with me when I am walking, yes...I do, it's essential no mater how many times I trip over them.
• Oh I love the "I'm going to get you game." It's so funny watching you chase after me.
• I refuse to wear a bib that doesn't tie...those velcro and button ones are not my style.
• I'm not sure I dig this sign language stuff... So for now I'll just sign, "all done."
• As much as I love playing with mom and dad, my older brother is WAY cooler.
• I take every opportunity I can to get through those child safety locks in the kitchen.... it's so much fun taking every. single. thing. out.
• The dog and cat water is irresistible... No matter how many times you tell me to stop, I won't. :)
• And---these teeth...Aren't I supposed to get more than just 4?

Now...for some tremendously cute photos of ME!

 



 

 

I promise to be super cute (& less crabby) so my mom HAS to lug out that camera out and snap more pictures of me.
 

Our Elf on the Shelf, T-Rex

We have a new house guest, T-Rex. He is our Elf on the Shelf.

I always wondered what the big hype was about this $30 book that came with a little stuffed elf. Whenever I asked everyone would tell me, "Read the book."

I read the book. I understand. We now own the movie and watch it almost every night too. We are also considering in adding a "girl" elf next year. So if you still don't understand my words to you are, "Read the book and watch the movie."

Here is what T-Rex has been busy doing for the past 12 days. (I'll post the following 12 days Christmas Eve).

All I can say is T-Rex is awfully busy for such a little elf and he sure hasn't learned to pick up after himself.

 

Happy 4th birthday Harrison!

Happy birthday to my biggest, little buddy.


This year Thanksgiving Day we even had more to be thankful for, Harrison's fourth birthday!

Besides having turkey we are dug into a Spiderman birthday cake.

I can't get over how much he has changed in the last 4 years. Just as I did last year,  I took "traditional" birthday eve photos this year. This is the very last look at what the age of 3 looks like.

Ok... Harrison you can stop growing up anytime soon. The other day in the car I was talking to him about when he was little and how much I don't want him to grow up and that he should stay as little as he can for as long as he can. He assured me, "Momma, I'll just eat little bites of food and that will keep me little." And then the next thing he talked about was growing big to become a Fireman...

Here is a look at the past 3 years...

He went from so cute to oh so handsome.

 



Oh wow... What I could give to be 4 again, living in a world where basically you can do anything and be whoever you want to be. The world doesn't judge you, it's kind to you and asking for pancakes for every meal acceptable.

Some days he is Spiderman, other days he is Captain America, a Ninja Turtle, but most often he is puppy dog named Whitney. Today I scratched his belly and fed him treats. He doesn't have an imaginary friend, but Violet Puppy "talks" to him.

He is the best big brother. Miles is his "buddy." "Hey buddy, come chase me." Just yesterday they were playing together and he was so proud of Miles walking he gave him a great big hug (which made Miles fall down) and said, "Good job buddy, your walking by yourself." Not that he wasn't an awesome big brother from the start, but now he's a really awesome big brother. I'm convinced if we have another 4 years in between would be a perfect age to space them apart. That was our plan for Miles but things happen faster the second time we now know :).

I would say Harrison is pretty typical 4 year old. He would watch tv all day if you let him, he loves to play with anything fire truck or police officer and tries to fix everything in the house by hammering it. I would say his absolute favorite thing to do it help. He helps me bake a lot. He is actually the best egg cracker I've seen for barely 4 years old... I independently let him crack all of the eggs. Perhaps he has career in culinary if his other love for construction (fixing things) doesn't take off.  Or better yet... here is food, requiring construction! (A peek at our ginger bread house construction).

 



And here are some baking shots because they are too cute and "real life" not to share.

 



He could be worse. We had a first real bout of, "What the heck to we do?" with behavior last month. He tested us to our max.  I was online reading everything I could do to "help" us survive. I ended up finding a button reward system on Pinterest. Since starting the jar almost a month ago, his behavior has turned around nearly 100%. I can't say the jar did all the work, he was the one that needed to make the change.

He is right on Target (and no, I'm not talking about the department store for once) for preschool skills such as writing, coloring, knowing colors, shapes, abcs, etc. We have decided to wait for the spring to do the early childhood screening, since he was just evaluated by 3 specialists at his 4 year NICU follow up and he won't be heading to kindergarten until he is nearly 6 based on how his birthday falls.

Hugs. He love hugs. I'm so glad he does. As a baby he was never a cuddly guy, well he definitely making up for it these days. I relish in the moments when he says, "I want up please Momma, I want to snuggle." When he no longer asks me to pick him up and cuddle will be a very sad day.

"I did it all by myself." He is at the stage where it's so awesome to see how proud he is for getting dressed himself or eating his food all gone or completing a task without any help.

Music is pretty awesome. The song I hear him sing everyday is, "Jesus is the son of God, son of God, son of God, Jesus is the son of God and he loves me." I guess what song would not be better to hear 10 times a day? Today he sang me a fireman song, it went something like, "Fireman, Fireman, Fireman, I am a Fireman, Fireman, Fireman." "Momma, did you like that song?" I probably shouldn't proclaim that the first Christmas song I taught him is Jingle Bells, Batman smells... and you know the rest. Whoops. probably not a shining parent moment.

It's like a party, everyday for this kid. He loves life, loves everything about it. As parents I know we spend our whole lives trying to give our children what we never had, but it's not the "things" they need. The "thing" they need is you to be is their mommy or daddy and if you are being the best mommy or daddy under whatever circumstances life has thrown out at you, that's all they need. (Toys are so much better when Mommy or daddy plays with them with you). You are the best thing in their lives. I read an article that made me rethink all this present giving and also rethink all of the everyday stuff. But before you read the article... I want you know how much I disagree with this "author" (mom) who wrote this column. We are all entitled to our own opinions...and my opinion is this is a horrible way to teach a concept to your child. "Why I am buying my kids lots of presents?"




With that I leave you with this.

 

It gets harder before it gets better.

She's was not just a dog...she was my best friend.

I sit and write when I am consumed with emotions. I've been on the verge of breaking all week. I really need to carve out a little "me" time once in a while to just have a good cry. That happened tonight.

Why is this so hard? Why? Why? WHY?

I don't know if I have been living in denial she's been gone for 2.5 months? If losing my job clouded my grief, if it's the holidays or a combination of all 3 that has brought me to where I am at right now.

I'm trying to find words to even describe how hard it is to look photos of her, yet I force myself too, because I never want to forget her and the 9 years of memories we made with her.

All of her Christmas ornaments line the top of the Christmas tree (she got a new ornament every year). Her collar with tags hangs on the rearview mirror of my car. Sometimes when fan is blowing her tags catch wind and jingle and there for a split second she's with me.

There isn't a morning that I don't miss the pitter patter of her feet on our bedroom floor as she excitedly waited for someone to get out of bed.

I miss her thinking I was her world. I swear she used to look at me as if I hung the moon and stars. She would do anything for me.

Since she has been gone---I've spent everyday wanting her back, not forever, but just a little longer. Maybe this is where I am going wrong...because I could spend the next 100 days doing the same and not moving forward.

Maybe I don't want to move forward because I want to miss her, because missing her means I am not forgetting her.

I am here to say grief sucks... it pulls you in so many different directions that you end up feeling like you are on a Tilt-A-Whirl and not just that 2 minute carnival version.

I hope doggy heaven is a wonderful place.

Missing you my Whitney Dog.




 

Miles @ 13 Months

I'm staying true to my word that I will continue do monthly updates with Miles as I did with Harrison. First off... How is he 13 months old already? It was like yesterday he was that tiny baby on my chest. I'm sure he will be walking by next month. He cruises like no kid I've ever seen. This past week he's braved a step or two and I find him standing when he doesn't realize he is.

I'm really love the bond between brother's these days (I REALLY need to get more photos of them together). Harrison is taking a HUGE interest in being a big brother these days. He's been really caring when Miles cries, "Don't worry Miles, I'm right here, it's ok." Yesterday Harrison took me by surprise and said, "Momma, I want to hold Miles." Yep, first time he's ever asked that...pretty much melted me heart. I love when Harrison checks in on Miles in the mornings... he mimics me on my routine, "Hey buddy, how are you?" "Miles likes me." "It's ok, he is just a baby." Don't get me wrong...there is still plenty of, "that's mine." "I don't want Miles to get it." But honestly it's more of the awesome big brother showing through right now. I'm soaking up every moment of it.

 

Dreams do come true.

I'm pretty excited for some changes coming in 2014!

Bad things happen to good people for a reason...so we can chase our dreams instead of spending our lives wishing we would have.

This is the future home of Tiny Miracles Studio located in Winona, MN. Construction has already begun. The electric outlets have been placed and the rest of the framing is up for the walls. The projected finish time could be as early as January 2014. My lease officially begins February 2014.

I'm excited beyond words.

Doug had a bored meeting at the building where I'll be renting, so he stopped by and snapped a few photos on he way by. It's nice to see it empty!

Behavior.

Behavior.... UGH. I think as parents we hope that we never have to live the horror stories that our parents told us of the trauma we put them through.

Well I guess I can keep hoping...since my mom still often reminds me of my temper tantrums I had when I would undress myself in a store if I didn't get my way. I'm sure she will remind me of this soon again... I secretly think she holds on to a little PSTD from me.

Anyways---there isn't any of the undressing in public happening here. But rather I'm going to have a melt down 100 times today, for no reason at all and I am going to have those melt downs not matter what you say or do and I promise you I will be the most uncooperative, unruly child when you take me somewhere that I am expected to behave.

3 weeks ago...Harrison hit me for the first time. Just out of the blue came swinging at me with both arms. Some of you maybe thinking...first time he's hit you and he is almost 4 years old? Well yes...Trust me, I have been thankful this was his first time... However I was rather displeased when it happened again yesterday at his NICU follow up appointment. Nothing says you have control over your kids like two swinging arms coming after you...right? Talk about embarrassing, especially for a kid, who up until now has been a pretty good kid.

In the last month he has started to throw himself on the ground and whine...kick things and hit Violet Puppy for no apparent reason but just because he wants to. I guess all of this is age appropriate, but it seems like we are being bombed with this new behavior.

On top of this he screaming, shrieking all. the time. We tell him to stop and his response is, "I can't." And more recently he will scream and whine and refuses to talk to us to tell him what is bothering him. Sometimes it seems like there is someone else inside of this sweet child of ours.

I'm not blaming myself for his actions or anyone else. Doug and I feel strongly that he maybe picking up a lot of these behaviors from his preschool, but again not blaming, we are just looking for a resolution to his behavior or something to make daily life around here, less of war zone.

Doug and I attended a really awesome parenting education night our childcare center put on. The speaker was Katy Smith an family educator from the area. She did a fantastic job talking about discipline and talking about parenting as a married couple. She said a lot of great things, but one of perspectives I like that she used, was it should be like us (husband & wife) against them (children). Basically we need to tag team to tame these little monsters we have created. Another funny thing she said which I am guilty using as a threat, "and yes, who are you kidding, Santa is coming." I guess that is my cue that my everyday (Santa is watching you threats) probably aren't really working. We look forward to her next several sessions of parenting education...because yes, we really need it.

The next step for us is creating some behavioral, reward system for Harrison and backing each other up 100%. After all...it's us, against them.

I know there will be good and bad days and days we don't want to EVER remember. Really, it's all about life and how else would we ever get grey hairs?

Love you boys!

 

4 Year NICU Follow Up

This guy turns 4 years old in 8 short days.

Wow...I remember being warned not to blink my eyes. Every since Harrison left the NICU he has been followed by a team that has included OT, PT, Neurology along with a general physician and nurse. Yesterday he had his last follow visit from that team.

Despite the overwhelming people he saw yesterday morning, they were still able to evaluate his abilities when he was in a not so cooperative mood to candy coat that in every way.

Just so I don't end up writing a novel... The good of the appointment:

• Cognitively right on track. There is no concern of a learning disability from his prematurity which is something they generally worry about with Harrison being born at just 29 weeks.
• He grew...a lot. He now measures 39.5 inches tall (33 percentile) and weights 33lbs (25%). Most amazing is height jump from less than 15% to 33 %! This is all of this despite his vomiting 1-2 times a week. Harrison had GERD as a preemie that went on to infancy, which then resolved itself, but has made an appearance again in the last year. The doctor said that preemies with GERD then to have another reoccurrence around pre-school age. This should be something he out grows. At this time it's not affecting his growth, so we should do what we can do to avoid triggers (sugary, greasy foods), but those aren't always triggers, sometimes it just happens. Right now, this a observation period. If he begins to lose weight or vomiting because more frequent we will certainly follow up with it.
• Speech has improved with leaps and bounds. This time last year he could barely make a sentence...Today he is excelling. The amount of language gain he has made in a year brings me to tears. All the worry we had for so long is dwindling away. There are still times we find it hard to understand him or he won't use words, but those incidences are becoming less frequent. The neurologist we saw said she notices when he gets crabby he will start to "baby talk" or "regress" and won't use words. For the longest time we have been just telling him... "Use your words." Well come to find out since he has only been talking for the last year he lacks, the confidence, ability to find the words he needs to use in stressful situations. So instead of just telling him that phrase, "use your words" we need to actually give him a few words to cling on to so he has a starting place. This all made a lot of sense. There is also the drooling he still does (still at almost 4). Again, not a concern as they have told us before. He does a lot of playing with his tongue and concentration which is a result of this. It's more of wait this phase out. Which some days he does fine, others he's like a teething baby. All in all, pretty positive news.

Some things we found out at the appointment:

• Harrison is flat footed. It's not related to his prematurity, it's genetic (in case your wondering... this is where we blame dad's genetics :) There is nothing medically we have to do. We just need to make sure he wears very supportive tennis shoes.
• He has low muscle tone in his upper and lower body. The good in this, it's better to be more flexible, than less flexible. It would be a cause of concern if his muscles were too tight, like cerebral palsy. In time he should out grow this.
• He scored low in crossing the midline. Crossing the midline is important for skills such as writing. Things that can help improve this is catch and throw games, Simon says, asking his to alternate things between his hands. Harrison also is following up with the eye doctor that treated him in the NICU next month to rule out any vision related problems that could be affecting this.  

All in all despite Harrison very uncooperative mood yesterday... The outcome of this follow up was pretty awesome. This kid has came a long way.

 

Miles 1 Year Check Up

One year? Goodness...


Pinch me...  


OUCH!

How is this guy a year old already? I know I have done an official one year post and a birthday party post below...But I still can't seem to shake myself enough to convince me that he's already a 1 year old.

The day before his birthday party was his 1 year well check appointment. He passed the traditional screening for 1 year skills and abilities. He isn't really babbling much and doesn't say "ma, ma" or "da da" regularly but this isn't a concern we have...Harrison didn't talk until he was nearly 3... We are more relaxed having gone through it with Harrison and even though Miles weighed over 6 lbs at birth he is still considered premature at 35 weeks...so really we have an 11 month old.

Here are the stats:

Weight: 22 lbs 3 ounces--50 percentile (3 lbs more than Harrison was at his 1 year well check).

Height: 29.5 inches long--15th percentile (yeah he is on the growth chart). (2.5 inches taller than Harrison was at his 1 year well check).

I don't really keep track of head size---but it measured in the 50th percentile.

Other than getting his stats, listening to his heart, lungs and looking at his ears and overall...His appointment was pretty uneventful minus getting 5 immunizations and getting his blood drawn (which they missed the vein the first time)---he was poked 7 times. It was definitely a rough morning for the guy. I rewarded him with football themed plug (pacifier)---in which they encouraged us to start weaning... I still think 1 is too early, but I guess that's just me.

All in all the transition to one has been typical. It's so different raising a less preterm baby. In two weeks Harrison will be evaluated by the follow me NICU program for the last time. By the age of 4 it is expected he should be at the level of his peers. I have no doubt he will blow the evaluation out of the park.

I'll leave you with another peek at sweetness for the night.

I LOVE his hair. :)