Sonny

Sonny is doing so awesome with is speech therapy! He is talking so much more now. Even though most of the time we don't understand what he is saying, he is trying so hard. That's what is important. He has the confidence to try. Over the past few weeks we've noticed him saying several new "words" and putting two words together. I am so pleased that we decided to go this route. I just know that by the time he's three he'll be at about the same level as other kids. Today at preschool readiness he was actually trying to sing with everyone! It was so cute we all sang "Sonny's here today, Sonny's here today, let's all clap together 'cause Sonny's here today!" He sang "mama day, mama day" it was very cute! On Sonny's last update I wrote that hey might have some sort of sensory disorder. It turns out that he does. We took a little questionnaire and he scored high on sensory seeking and low registration. Which was no surprise. We aren't going to do any occupational therapy because it's not enough to really disrupt his life. Plus, I think that's too much therapy. The types of things that Sonny does are like, sucking on his hands, playing with tags, mouthing everything, eating non-food items, running everywhere, grinding teeth, needing strong flavors in food, over stuffing mouth. he's more of like a super toddler. Needing constant supervision. everything that toddlers do, turn that up a few notches and you'll have Sonny. Lately we've been dealing with issues with our new kitten Tina. I'm not sure that Sonny knows that she's real. He has sat on her a few times, picks her up by the neck to cuddle, tell him to put her down and he gives her a toss. He has shoved her into a tiny shape barn toy, tried to step on her. He just doesn't get it. Because of this low registration I don't think he knows how rough he is. He can't learn to be gentle. As a test I sat beside him while he was watching TV and pinched his back a few times and flicked him. He had absolutely no response. Not sure how we're going to handle this, but it is definitely going to have to be addressed soon. We'll figure it out. But, I tell you what, he is amazing. He may have the name Sonny, but I think "Sunny" might fit him better. He is truly the light of my life...oh yeah, the other kids are great too. ;)

The Tooth Fairy Visits Kennedy

Kennedy came over very excited! Her tooth was wiggling, a lot! So I gave it a little nudge, but we needed Daddy's help for this! So he got out his black gloves and pliers.....kidding! He pushed on it a bit while Kennedy screamed bloody murder, then voila! The tooth was out and her hysterical sobbing turned into hysterical laughter. We cheered and laughed as we rinsed out her bloody mouth! We of course were assuring her the entire time that blood was perfectly normal. I freaked out a little because I thought Tom had broke the tooth of and left a piece in her gums. lol...that's her new tooth coming in. Anyway, she was thrilled and so were we. I feel like I've been anticipating this moment more than Kennedy! I mean, my goodness. I never thought I would have to wait 7 1/2 years to play tooth fairy! So, while all this excitement is happening Tom laid the tooth on the stove top. He looks over moments later and the tooth is gone! "Where is the tooth?" Tom asks. I instinctively know where the darn tooth is and shoot a look over at Sonny. Low and behold Sonny's jaw is going wild trying to break down his new find. Luckily, we acted fast enough to save the tooth! All is well in fairy land. I made a little pouch with a "K" and glitter on the front. Perfect for the big trade. Tom and I laid down that night and .....oops, almost forgot our part in this little exchange! Not to worry though, everything went off without a hitch and Kennedy woke up to 3 crisp dollar bills.

Kennedy's Bad Day

When I picked Kennedy up from school this past Wednesday her music teacher accompanied her to the car. That's never a good sign. The music teacher informed me that Kennedy had wet her pants in the classroom. Oh no! I was mortified for her. The teacher was apologetic, she had told someone else no bathroom breaks and thinks Kennedy was afraid to speak up. Not only had she peed in her pants, but it happened in front of the whole class. Try not crying when your seven year old tells you that story. As we were getting in the car Kennedy said that a 5th grader had threatened to beat her up! I quickly called the teacher back to let her know what had happened before class. I'm guessing she was already scared when she went to music class, so that didn't help the speaking up issue. I asked her what she did when the girl said that, she said that she ran away and hid behind a tree until the bell rang. :( Poor girl. I wish I could be there with her all the time. That's the short version of the day, but here it is from Kennedy's point of view. She wrote about the experience when she arrived home.

October 14th, 2009

Today I was talking to Isabelle I told her that her BFF yelled in Abby's face. Then the girl taped me on the shoulder and said anyone talks about me and I beat them up! So I ran away and hid behind a tree and she went away with Isabelle when Isabelle was playing with me and I was scared. Today I also was picked in music class to choose a bird when I went up there I said I need to go to the bathroom really bad but I peed in my pants. So when I got back I wrapped my coat around me and so now I just got home and everything is ok. So I am happy now.

I contemplated writing this, but I wanted to remember. Also because I loved the ending. If only I could home school and shelter them the rest of their lives. I know that's not reality though.

Sonny's Speech

Since Sonny (Thomson) was just a baby I've had a feeling that he would need a little extra help in the speech department. I think I started feeling that way from the time he was a newborn because he couldn't latch on correctly when breastfeeding. He always made a clicking sound due to a short frenulum. Of course it took me months of pain to finally get over my pride as an experienced nurser and ask the doctor about it. It wasn't short enough to be clipped and he grew out of it. It was always there in the back of my mind though. Wondering if it would effect his language skills. As it turns out this wouldn't effect his speech, but it didn't stop me from thinking about it. Then through the first year he wasn't babbling much or saying his first words. So the speech questions started in my head again. I kept telling myself, and everyone else, that I thought he was just more physical. I started teaching him a few simple signs around six months though, just in case. We thought "maybe he's just quiet and doesn't want to speak until he has it just right". I would meet my friends in the park and you would barely notice I had a one year old with me. He would just sit in his stroller quiet and content. By this point Sonny was saying dada, but that's it. Skip to his two year check up and he's saying around 8 words. By 12-18 months a child should have an average of 50-100 expressive words in his vocabulary. So that's when we decided it was time to talk to the pediatrician about it. It's so hard, because I knew he needed it, but I felt silly because he's only two! Plus all we would hear from everyone we expressed concern to is "boys talk later, Einstein didn't talk 'til he was five, I know someone who didn't say a word until three then one day spoke in full sentences". Even after his speech assesments I'm still second guessing myself. He'll say something new and I think "am I crazy and paranoid". Well, I might be crazy, but speech therapy can only help, right? Sonny is now going to MRDD every other Tuesday for therapy and every Tuesday to a pre readiness preschool group. As of this week he will also be having speech therapy through the hospital every Friday. I'm so happy we decided to do this rather than wait. We've been at this for almost two month's now and I think it's clicked. He now knows what we are wanting from him and he's giving it his all! It's such a great feeling every time he says something new! I think I took it for granted when Kennedy and Jonathan talked because it came so easily to them. Along with the speech his therapist talked to me about Sonny possibly having a sensory processing disorder (SPD). That maybe he's a sensory seeker or has a type of hyposensitivity. After she said that it was like an epiphany. "So that's why he does these things." Plays with his food squishing it before eating it. Always has to have a tag in hands. He's started biting and hitting, but not out of anger. Being a dare devil, and too many other signs to list. I think this might be why he developed PICA. Lots of kids have low iron, but it doesn't turn into PICA. The therapist isn't positive he has this sensory disorder, but she thought he sounded like a classic case of it. Obviously after reading more about it I think so too. So we're going to start working with him on the sensory issue as well. Maybe part of me wants this to be true so I don't feel like I've failed him as a mother. I know that sounds extreme, but I can't help but feel that way sometimes. I stay at home with him and until now I've been his only teacher, so I feel like his behavior reflects on me. When we're in public and my kids the one eating dirt and rabbit poo....well you see my point.

All in a week

We'll start with my 12 week old Anderson. He's had the most typical week. Pretty much sleeping eating and pooping. Oh, and lots and lots of crying, lol! No, he really doesn't cry all that much. He's usually pretty content as long as he's fed and not sleepy. Right now he's trying to laugh. I do mean trying! It's the cutest thing. He just kind of thrusts his arms and grunts. I've never had a baby where laughing didn't come natural too. I've been workin' it too! Tickling, peek a boo with the feet, funny voices, singing! One day soon we're going to have a breakthrough and I'm sure it will be the best cutest laugh ever! I can't wait.
So I guess next we'll go to Sonny, might as well go youngest to oldest! He's had a rough couple of days. Yesterday he had to have his ears tested because he has a slight speech delay, so they want to rule hearing issues out first. About an hour before the appointment I realized, "oh crap! Sonny hates his ears being touched"! I was not about to drag an infant along to that! So I pumped a bottle and shoot out the door to drop Anderson off with Tom at work. I of course was unannounced which he didn't appreciate much. No regrets here though, best decision ever. We arrive at the appointment right on time! As I'm filling out the paper work Sonny looks up and says "poo poo". Great. Guess what I left with Tom? That's right, the baby bag! Right then they call our name. Ugh!
*sigh*
So we go back to this room with tons of gadgets, he's doing just fine. Then the audiologist says "let's put this on your ear" holding a little instrument. He freaks! "Oh, OK" she says,"let's wait for the other audiologist before we begin." Meanwhile, I'm apologizing for his reaction and the smell, frantically explaining why I don't have any fresh diapers. In my head I'm screaming "I am a good mom! I am! I am!" The other lady arrives and we begin. We're moved to a room that's probably about 4' X 4' and hot as heck! I'm holding him on my lap about a foot away from the audiologist. Then the smell kicks in, and he's been taking iron...not pleasant at all! They make him listen to different tones at different frequencies while I'm restraining him to keep him still, sweating like crazy. This takes forever (in my mind), then we move to a chair where they put "ear pillows" in his ears to measure the echo in is ear drum. This was the big finale! He's the sweetest little thing, but my sweet angel was taken over by the beast within for the test. After some screaming, kicking, lots of poop, sweat and tears, alas, his ears are fine. But hey, at least we know now and won't have to go through that again. Hopefully that comforts me during the flashbacks!
Now to Jonathan. Our sensitive child. Who'd a thought! It's his first week of full day kindergarten. He seems to love it, but everyday ends with cranky tears. I think he'll get used to it eventually. He really likes his teacher and being in the big kid school. His teacher says he's been doing great. The first few days he was a little hyped up, but she said he's passed that now and doing great. Until.... of all days library day. Hahaha! So, I guess the librarian was reading a story called A Bad Case of Stripes about a little girl who gets stripes and changes into all sorts of things until she eats lima beans and is cured. She was half way through the book before Jonathan started freaking out. He was terrified! So they shut it quickly and calmed him down, then had to begin reading The Little Red Hen instead. I've seen him that scared a few times, but never over a book! He is scared of face paint and tattoos, so it kind of made sense. That kind of reaction was a surprise though. Then I looked up the book, it's pretty darn scary! I could see how he would freak over that. Pretty funny though. She probably thinks we're some crazy parents who lock him in the basement! Anyway, he's fine. He still won't look at the book though. I tried to explain that's it's pretend, but he's not having any of that! Other than this fiasco, he's enjoying school and hopefully he'll come to enjoy the library there too!
Kennedy has had a pretty good week. She's doing well in school and just started her first season of soccer! Saturday she had her soccer pictures taken and loved it so much she exclaimed that she's going to do soccer forever! Then we brought her back down to Earth and told her she should probably decide this after her first practice or better yet a game. Hahaha! So her first practice came and it was adorable. She was super happy and really enjoyed herself. The coach said she was giggling all the way down the field. We could sort of tell that from the sidelines! The girl inherited my skills in the sports department, which would be nil! It's so funny to watch! Her hands and feet flailing every where, lucky if she hits the ball even luckier if she doesn't trip. It's so cute, gosh I love her! Who knows? She may keep up with it and be a champion soccer player! Between the soccer and the ballet, coordination is sure to come at some point. Maybe one of these days she'll even stop falling out of her chair at dinner!.

Party time!

We had to go to a party tonight, which in theory sounds great! Hanging out with family outside on a nice summer's day with lots of yummy food! Who wouldn't want to do that? Me! That's who! So... we get there and it's like 95º out! So of course we're all sweating. Kennedy is covered, I mean COVERED in bug bites! So naturally everyone wants to know what's wrong with her (yeah, it's that bad). So of course I have to explain how it happens every year and bugs love her. Slightly embarrassing because I know some of the bites are from the fleas our cat carried in. The whole time we're out there she's basically getting eaten alive (great mommy forgot the bug spray). Meanwhile Kennedy is playing with our 2 year old nephew and helping him to swing on a bar. This did not end well at all! He fell and his sunglasses cut into his face and blood came gushing out. :( I felt horrible. Hopefully he's okay. They went to the hospital after the party, because when they got home it started bleeding again. Now, on to Sonny. At this party they had a bunny cage with cute little bunnies in it. Awww... so cute, but oh wait that's right. Sonny has PICA! Not only was he eating bunny food and bunny poop he was digging a stick in a bunny grave and licking the dirt off of it! Yuck! So we're basically constantly looking to make sure he stays out of the dirt and poop. SOOO much more happened dealing with a pool and family fights, but these aren't things I feel like I should discuss. So we'll leave it at that! Ohhh yes! Also, my lovely well mannered son Jonathan refused to give his seat up for Tom's Aunt, who's like 70 and walks with a cane!

Home, bath's, bed!

Perfect Mommy Envy

I think from the previous posts I've done most would think "Oh, you're one of those Mom's!" You know the one's that are nice no matter what, speaking in the almost robotic high pitched voice. Contantly playing at the playgrounds, snuggling in bed every night to read a bunch of bedtime stories. Endless amounts of patience, "and practically perfect in every way". No, that's not me. I would love very much to be that mom. I try every once in a while, but it usually only lasts a few days. Most likely my perfect Mommy mood will end with thuds and screaming from upstairs. I'm usually nice until something really irks me (this happens about every 20 minutes), I don't speak in the sweet high pitched voice, more matter of fact like "stop now or you'll be in trouble later" accompanied with an angry mom face. I used to play on the playground and then we gave Kennedy a sibling. I do enjoy snuggling in bed reading books, but I don't do it as often as I'd like. I do have patience, a lot actually, but not enough. I guess as much as I'm not "the perfect mom" I still feel like I'm the perfect mom for my kids and God matched these children to me for a perfect reason.

How does your garden grow

This is ridiculous! I am the worst gardener on the world, or maybe the laziest. I planted a bunch of vegetables (like I do every year) and of course NO VEGGIES! This year I have made progress. I have little blossoms and actual green stuff coming out of the ground. It looks awful though! I have no idea what are vegetable plants and what are weeds. Hopefully something comes of this. If not I might just give up. :( Oh well, maybe I'll just have to buy my vegetables at the store like everyone else! I tried, kind of. I think I will rip it out all together and build a play house there! Brilliant!

Four Kids

Now that Anderson is 8 weeks old I can reflect on life so far with 4 kids. I can honestly say it's been great. Pretty much life as usual. We have had a few moments where it's been a little more hectic, but not many. The hardest thing has been juggling a toddler and a newborn. Sonny is not the best listener and quite the runner! Not a good combo! I've definitely found it hard to be running after him while nursing! lol! Hey, maybe they could make that into some sort of Olympic event. If they do I would certainly win! The older kids have been fine. They love our new addition and seem to be a little more helpful. It feels like yesterday Kennedy was 2 and Jonathan was our newborn. I was wondering one day if I am a better mother now to 4 than I was to 2. I think in a lot of ways I'm better. I'm more relaxed and seem to be laughing at things I used to not be able to. Grocery store trips aren't as stressful, because we're used to it. Library visits are hectic, but enjoyable. I let the kids get dirtier, but not too dirty. I'm just happier! The more you have, the more you realize it's okay if things don't go as planned. Maybe it's just your expectations are lowered! Hahaha! Maybe that's not a good thing! I guess if it means I'm not as stressed out I'll take it! It's so hard for me to express how much I love this life. Even when things get crazy I just love them all so much. I would rather go everywhere with my kids than not have them by my side. I miss them when they're away for even a few hours. At the park the other day I felt like something was missing. Sonny was at home with Tom and I missed him. They are my life and I couldn't imagine not having any one of them, even Tom! There have been a few bumps, mostly my postpartum hormonal breakdowns (sorry Tom), other than that four kids has been awesome and I'm sure it will only get better!