3/31 - Lots of playdates

On Friday, we went over to our friend Stephanie's house for a late afternoon playdate. The boys had tons of fun and so did I. I was pretty excited because Aiden has never really like Bounce Houses. He was a little nervous to go in but eventually did and had a great time. He's actually in mid-air in this first picture.

Eli wanted nothing to do with the bounce house but he loved to play with toys that aren't his and he's never played with before.

We made some homemade pizza (which Aiden wouldn't touch) and let the kids run around.

Aiden found a microphone and was having fun with it. This last picture of the gathering is of Aiden and Kyleigh. 

Eli had fun rolling around around with Bronco on Saturday morning before Gymboree. Bronco is getting better with Eli but I still have to watch them closely.

After naps, I decided to take the boys to the playground in Phase II of the community we live in. To do that, we had to drive which explains why they have never been there. We found out once we got there that it was a community day and there was tons of stuff going on. There was almost too much going on but we had fun at the playground.

Eli got to wear his new crocs and I thought they looked pretty spiffy.

I even asked someone to take a picture with me and the boys. I'm not so sure why Aiden is gripping on to my shirt so tightly. It's not like I've ever dropped him on purpose. Just kidding - I haven't dropped him.

On Sunday, we did our usual Sunday routine. In the evening, Aiden got a big treat. He's always been obsessed with school buses and has wanted to go on one. We left a few minutes early from church and there were no kids on the bus and Aiden was pointing at it when we came out of the building. When the woman heard him, she invited him to stand on the bus. He was very excited. He really wanted to sit down on a seat but the lady didn't invite him to do that. Maybe next time!

I told Eli I wanted to "take a picture for daddy - smile" and this is what he did. What a little ham!

On Monday, the boys had dr appointments. Eli didn't have an ear infection and he's growing okay for being 18 months. He isn't saying anything really so the dr put in a referral for a speech assessment but I'm not too worried. He's trying. Aiden had his pre-op and the doctor said he was wheezing some. She prescribed him oral steroids and Flovent (to prevent future asthma problems). Aiden wanted nothing to do with a nap. He was up playing for over an hour after I put him down. I finally got him and told him to come lay with mommy. He fell asleep within 10 minutes. 

I had to wake Aiden up so that we could go to a playdate. It was raining some so we went inside the gym at church and brought bikes with us. The kids played and ran around for a few hours. Eli was borrowing the little mermaid bike from a friend. I apparently need to get another big wheel type bike. Aiden is doing a great job of using the pedals. He just started doing that this week and it's so fun to watch him master a skill. 

After bath time, Eli wanted to sit on the potty for a bit. I'm very serious about Eli possibly learning to potty train before Aiden.

Bedtime came around on Monday night and my little man Aiden wanted NOTHING to do with sleep. I put him to bed and he was back out in the living room after about 20 minutes. He's never done that before. He put his winter hat on because it was raining outside and then colored for about an hour. I told him no trains and that he had to be very quite. He was quite as a mouse and just wanted to color pictures for daddy and put stickers on papers. I finally told him he had to lay down in bed with me because I was exhausted (it was 10:30pm). He fell asleep after a short bit and then I moved him to his bed around 12:30am. He has never done this before!

The boys went to the dentist on Wednesday. This was Aiden's 4th time and Eli's 2nd time. They did pretty well. Eli had fun playing with the controllers at the video center and Aiden loves coloring the pictures.

Aiden did great at his appointment and actually let them clean 4-6 teeth with their little round brush and special toothpaste. They finished brushing the rest of his teeth with a real toothbrush. Eli wasn't so excited about his appointment and since I was holding down to the seat while he was crying, I didn't get any pictures. Brad and I need to decide if we are going to do surgery now or later on Eli to fix a slight problem he has. You can see Aiden sporting the orange sunglasses they gave him to wear and holding the little mirror thing that he gave to the dentist.

 

After the dentist appointments, I dropped Eli off at daycare and took Aiden to the Museum of Science and History. We met up with some other friends from church and had a good time. You can see Aiden, Kyleigh, and Maddie posing for a picture.

Aiden likes playing with some of the exhibits. In one of them, you have to pump a lever up and down to tighten the coil which then releases its' pressure and the softball goes flying up. I made Aiden skip his nap and it worked out great be he went to bed at his normal bedtime (7:15pm).

The boys were at daycare today while I did work. It was bath night and they also got some new jammies and are sporting them in this last picture. They got haircuts last night too. I love being able to cut their hair! The boys are doing well and growing so fast. We are praying Aiden's cough and wheezing continue to get better. He's scheduled for surgery on Tuesday and we won't know until then (at 6am) if they will do it because they have to listen to his lungs first. Please keep him in your prayers.

3/24 - Back from my trip

So I got back from the Ladies' Retreat last Saturday. I had a great time and am so excited to continue to grow my relationship with God. The first picture is of me and Stephanie. Stephanie and I (and 2 others) roomed together and then Steph also drove home with me so I would stay awake. This woman is not afraid to talk about God and I love it! The second picture is a roommate picture (myself, Steph, Janice, and Di). What a room we had and oh, the memories I will keep.

I arrived home much later than originally anticipated but my parents were really good about not making me feel bad. I snapped some pictures of them with the boys. It was almost bedtime so the boys were being a handful. At first I thought only Aiden was going to get in the picture but then I forced Eli to get in the picture as well. Eli is crying and trying to escape from papa in the second picture of them. I feel so blessed that my parents could work together and take care of the boys while I was gone. 

I missed the boys and they were all over for the first day or two. Aiden was being adorable and walking around the house in red sunglasses and a diaper. 

Aiden tells me all the time that he is still "a little boy, not a big boy." I think he always wants me to do stuff for him like I do for Eli. I've been having to put my foot down and try some jedi mind tricks on him with the wording of stuff. My friend Sue helped me think of some wording. Rather than saying, "you need to do this because you are a big boy," I am now saying, "you get to do this because you are a big boy. Eli is a little boy and he can't do this yet." It seems to be helping some. He's starting to try and brush his teeth more by himself (and actually get them clean; he can obviously chew on the brush but that doesn't mean clean for me). We are still struggling with trying to put shoes on. He has no motivation to put shoes on and I don't have time to "make" him put them on. 

Eli is being his cute self. He's doing so much better now with his ears. Eli is loving life right now. He's had some sleep trouble the past couple days and I'm hoping that will pass soon. I think Eli might potty train before Aiden! He loves pushing the potty around and even sitting on it.

Aiden went to the ENT doctor on monday and he decided Aiden needs ear tubes as well. His surgery is set for April 5! The weather has been awesome out so we went to the playground the other day. We took Bronco with us and everyone had fun. Eli would stay in the swing all day if I let him. Aiden has found something new at the playground he likes. I'll get a picture of it soon but right now he needs me to spot him so I'm nervous to step away and get a picture.

Publish Post

The boys have been having a blast with Bronco. Aiden is so good with him. He helps me feed him and walk him and lets him in and out of the sliding glass door. Eli is still a little rough with him and Bronco isn't used to Eli either. Bronco left when Eli was only about 6 months old so he doesn't know him as well and Eli hasn't been around dogs much either. It's a work in progress but I have to keep my eye on them.

Yesterday was a very rough afternoon here. Aiden didn't nap at all. In fact, I fell asleep in his bed and found him playing with pillows and Bronco on my bed. Eli only slept for about an hour. Aiden hasn't taken a nap for me since the day I left for the retreat. His papers from daycare say he slept there but I'm starting to wonder. He needs to get back on his nap schedule. Yesterday he lined up a lot of his cars on the back of the couch and also on the leg rest of the couch.

He then thought it would be fun to try all my shoes on and walk down the hall with them. I wish he was that eager to put on his own shoes!

After having such horrible naps yesterday, I thought they would sleep awesome. They were both up coughing most of the night and I went in a gave Eli some ear drops at 9:30pm because he was so fussy. I don't know if they are both sick or have bad allergies at the moment. After a 6:00am wake-up from Eli and a 6:45 wake-up from Aiden, we were all ready pretty early today. Eli was having fun playing in Bronco's crate.

Both boys went to daycare today and I got a good workout in followed by a little walk with Bronco. I have a meeting now and then I need to grade some on-line assignments. Brad is doing well and finally getting in to a schedule. I can't wait to see him and Skype with him soon.

3/17 - Leaving the boys for a few days

I'll put more words to these later. I gotta get on the road.

 Eli has been so much better since his surgery. It's been amazing.

 Eli was not so happy in the bath last night. He was upset and folded over crying (while sitting) which means he got a face full of bubbles. He didn't like that. I couldn't help but laugh but he was miserable.

 The boys were loving the self-timer on the camera. We actually got a pretty good shot.

 The boys were having a blast wrestling and sliding down the couch cushions.

 Eli is wearing real undies. It's just because he has a yeast infection so bad but he looks so cute in them.

 The boys love the box our diapers came in. It's been a source of entertainment for a few days.

 Aiden hasn't been feeling well lately. His ears are pretty yucky. He goes to the ENT on Monday thankfully.

I'm off to a Ladies Retreat for church and my parents have come up to watch the boys. I am so lucky to have divorced parents that still get along and can put their differences aside at times. The boys are very excited nana, papa, and Bronco are here.

3/12 - Eli's surgery & a b-day party

It's been a busy week. We'll see how this blog turns out because blogger has re-done all their controls and it's taking some adjustment on my part. I tried coloring with Eli last Sunday but he thinks he has to put everything in his mouth (including markers). I didn't really have that problem with Aiden. I don't color with Eli much because it's no fun because he doesn't listen. I'm trying to do better though and not get so irritated with him.

Aiden decided to play on his big paper where Brad and I have drawn roads and gas stations for him.

We've been doing pretty well lately. Eli's ears have really been hurting him so I was so excited to get his surgery done. Aiden has also been having ear trouble and is feeling pretty yucky too.

We got a diaper shipment a few days ago and the boys are still playing with the boxes and the giant roll of paper in the box. I can truly see how a giant cardboard box would be the best present ever!

Little Eli is such a stinker. He knows he's not supposed to be on this table and I found him like this a few days ago. He loves to test me and push my buttons. I promptly corrected him .... after I took his picture.

Thursday morning was Eli's surgery. Our friend, Crystal, came over at 5:00am to be at the house for when Aiden woke up. Eli and I left at 5:20am. It was yucky and raining. I thought Eli would sleep in the car but he was giving me devilish smiles instead.

We got checked in okay and Eli was the first patient scheduled for the morning. We mainly did a lot of waiting. Everyone was really nice and they were very safe about making sure he was healthy enough for the surgery. He was pretty tired from getting woken up so early.

Once we got the pre-op, he was starting to wake up more and was trying to get in to the cabinet of stuff. Thankfully it was locked!

The actual surgery was really short. They let me walk him back to the OR area and right before we got to the room, I had to hand him off to one of the anesthesiologists. He got to take his blanket and paci with him. The dr came on got me about 25 min later. He said his ears were really bad and full of thick yucky stuff. He instructed me about the drops I needed to use and took me to the room. Eli did NOT like waking up. He cried for about 30 min straight. They had him on oxygen to try and get the gases out of his system but he was fighting being groggy and wanted to try and move around. After he finally calmed down some, they took us back upstairs to our room. The requirements were he had to eat and drink before we could leave. He drank some downstairs but wanted nothing to do with food.

It's amazing how right Eli can be about his body when he's still so small. The reason he didn't want food was because he tummy was upset. After he vomited all over himself and me twice, he felt much better and eventually ate and drank some more water. We were home by 10:30am. I picked up Aiden and Crystal and we all went to chik-fil-a for lunch. Eli was running around having a blast. I could already tell his ears were feeling better. He ate a ton of food too.

Eli is walking a ton better and I'm so glad we didn't do the MRI because I think it was his ears that were messing up his balance so much. He's been SO SO SO much happier. I love it.

This afternoon we got to go to Blaise's 1st birthday party (Blaise is son of my friend, Stephanie). He's so cute. The kids had fun playing in the tunnels and houses. 

Aiden even found it pretty funny to let Blaise pin him down. I wish he was this nice with Eli! :)

I got a picture tonight with Stephanie and myself too. I know Brad says I always post pictures of the kids and none of me .... here's to you Bradley. :) I've been so blessed to have Stephanie as a friend.

Eli ended the night by trying on Blaise's birthday present of a cowboy hat and boots. It was too funny to try and watch him walk in those. The boys had a great time tonight and so did I. 

This week is kinda of busy. Aiden has a doctor appt on Tues morning but he keeps asking to go earlier because he ears hurt so much. On Thursday, my mom and dad come in to town so I can go to the Ladies Retreat for church.