Who Does This Kid Belong To Anyway?

Livi has been on her eating strike for 8 weeks now. I keep telling her that it's the diaper that makes her look fat, but apparently she is self-conscience about her figure.

Seriously though, we know that it is physiological, from pain she experienced eating while she was teething. We've been going to a special feeding class for two weeks now. A lot of people have been asking me what the class consists of. So here it is in a (long) nutshell:

It's a one-hour class and for the first thirty minutes, they play with toys and the playground to get them comfortable. Then we go into a room with a table and six high-chairs. The teacher gives them a plate with different items on it, like frosting, pudding, and baby food. Then we all use those food items to color a picture. The concept being that kids won't eat anything they won't touch, so we get them accustom to touching various textures. Then after we play with our food, we try to get them to put their fingers in their mouths. It's funny to watch a bunch of grown women acting like two-year olds. We put frosting on our noses and try to lick it off, we use pudding as lipstick...anything we can do to get the kids to put the food near or on their mouths.

The first week, we built towers with Fruit Loops and frosting and somehow tricked Livi into eating a Fruit Loop. She kept saying over and over, "Mow Hut, Mow Hut" which means "Mouth Hurt". Again, it's psychological- her mouth doesn't actually hurt anymore, but she associates food with pain. Man what I wouldn't give to have that disorder. Unfortuately, I associate food with absolute pleasure...mmm....food.

I digress.

The second week, we were making the green beans jump into mashed potatoes and she licked her fingers after touching the mashed potatos and then did the sign for 'more', so we gave her a spoon. She hesitently ate a few more bites of the potatoes, which was a really big step for her, so we were excited. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get her to try them again at home, but I keep trying, and keep wasting an awful lot of food.

Livi is also in speech class (with the same teacher) and she is making great progress. Since she is able to communicate a little better, even if it's just with sign language, she is getting less frustrated each day. We are able to have more enjoyable days with less of the "Terrible Two's".

I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel...finally!!!

My Ode to Susan Boyle

The Susan Boyle video from 'Britain's Got Talent'
has been all over the place this week.

I thought I'd have a little fun at her expense.

At least my kids think I'm funny....

April Showers...

We got a ton of rain in a short period last night and I woke up to wet carpet in the basement.


Good Times.


Wanna know something that makes me feel better?

This....

Easter

colored eggs


woke up
found eggs

found baskets

cuddled new bunny

went to breakfast


family bike ride
played at park

relaxed
played
read the funnies


hungry again

almost ate
this little ham

went home
played outside
snuggled in bed

had a great day

Spring Break

This is the first year we've stayed home for spring break in three years. Since the kids are off for an entire week, it's usually the only chance we have to take a vacation during the school year.

However, this year, my hubby's work was too busy, and quite frankly, I just wasn't up for taking a trip. I'm so glad we didn't go anywhere. It was nice to just hang out at home and chill. I feel so bad for Jeremy because he had to work while the kids and I basically did nothing for nine days- We slept in, went to the park, played outside, went to movies, rode bikes, watched movies in bed, ate like crap, went swimming, laughed, and just spent time together.

I get so excited for Spring so we can use our swing set again...

...and turn on our water fall
and smell the freshly cut grass...

...and start the soccer season...

This week was so refreshing!
It makes me look forward
to summer, where we do absolutely
nothing for three straight months!

Flashback Friday

Easter 2005

Easter 2009

I can't believe that Landon looks like such
a young man in the most recent picture.

They grow up too fast!

Wise Beyond His Years

Landon asked me if I wanted to read his poem; I expected something like 'The Cat in the Hat', but to my surprise, this is what he wrote:

Updates and Ramblings

This is really long and random, but I wanted to update (and complain) a little...

When I blogged about how healthy my kids have been, Jeremy insisted that I jinxed it. However, my kids were already starting to get sick when I wrote it- that's actually what prompted me to blog about it. So anyhoo, all three kids were sick for about two weeks and missed a week of school. It was pretty exhausting, but it was the first sickness this school year, so I felt pretty blessed for that. I've had the same sickness for about 4 days now, and I can't believe how brutal it is. Last Saturday I was in bed all day and Emma kept checking on me- she told me she would be the mommy and take care of me. Anything I needed, she was anxious to bring it to me. I asked Landon to get me water once and he told me he wanted credit on his chore chart for it. Boys.

Livi has been on an eating strike. One day she bit into something and screamed bloody murder. I thought she bit her tongue or cheek so I looked in her mouth for bleeding and saw that her gums were completely swolen. She's getting four molars at once! Since that day, she hasn't eaten a thing. It's been three weeks. Yup, no food for three weeks. Her speech therapist came over today and when we discussed her babyrexia, she suggested we join their feeding class. Seriously, a feeding class. Who knew. So, I guess in addition to speech therapy, she will now be attending a feeding class. Whatever.

One highlight of our week was watching cute little Whitney. The way the kids doted on her, you would think she was a new puppy. They loved it.




Landon and Emma have been in swimming lessons for the last few weeks. I've had them in lessons before, but with six kids in the class, they never really learned anything. These lessons are just the two of them and so now they are progressing very quickly! Landon is also in Scouts and both kids start soccer again this Saturday. It's busy, but we love it!

Enjoying The View

I was changing Livi's diaper when I saw some deer outside the window. I went to grab my camera, and when I returned, this is what I saw...

What a view!!

Livi's First Hair Cut

I just couldn't take the mullet anymore...

So, we took a little trip to Cookie Cutters...



She didn't cry but she wasn't exactly happy about it...



The end result...



Those curls have a mind of their own. Love it!

The Truth Hurts

Leave it to kids to tell you exactly how it is. As I was sitting on the ground changing Livi's diaper, my beautiful daughter, Emma had some wise words to impart:

"Mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but your legs kind of look chubby like Livi's."

Thanks sweetie. After a night of no sleep, taking two sick kids to the doctor, and spending a rare spring-like day indoors doing laundry...you sure know how to make a girl feel good.

Sunday Funday

I love Sundays.

Show n' Tell- Chore Chart

My kids have always been good about doing chores. Typically, it's something small, like picking up their toys or clearing the table. I've been wanting them to learn how to do more things around the house, not only to help me, but to teach them things they will need to know later in life (okay, mostly to help me out). Like all kids, they started to complain about how much I was asking them to do, or asking what they would get for it. I decided to give them a weekly allowance, but it still didn't really motivate them. After a while, they would say they didn't want to do the chores because they didn't really need the money for anything, and once I overheard Emma giving Landon a $10 bill because her wallet was too full. I realized that I needed a new reward system.

I found the perfect solution.

These chore charts are so cute as well as functional. They allow the kids to see all of their chores for the day and when they finish a chore, they put it in the pocket. At the end of the night, when all the chores are in the pocket, they move their marker up the ladder towards the reward. The reward is decided together at the beginning of each week. I can't believe how much more motivated they are to spend a day with Dad, or have a play-date, or a new toy.

They check the chart every morning after breakfast and make their beds before school. Then as soon as they get home they start working on the rest. It includes some things they should do anyway- like homework or baths, but it makes them more proactive in doing them. I've also introduced some new things like dishes, laundry and vacuuming. I've never had them as chores before, because I'm pretty anal particular about how I like things done. However, I knew I would need to get over it and let them do it their own way. It has saved me a lot of time doing some of the small things that they are perfectly capable of doing anyway. Plus, I feel like they are learning good life lessons about responsibility and the value of hard work.


Emma folded those towels and put them little piles. I thought she did a great job and she didn't even see me re-fold them before I put them away.

Anyway, I found these at etsy.com, but anyone that is even a little crafty (which I certainly am not) could probably figure out how to make them.

The Pen

I've been really good about not watching the news, but still need to do a better job at reading less of it. This morning, I was reading about Bernie Madoff and his new schedule in jail.

6:00- Lights on
6:30- Breakfast
7:45- TV & Ping Pong
11:00- Lunch
3:30- Recreation
5:00- Dinner
11:00- Lights Out

Is it just me, or does that schedule sound like heaven?

I might need to go steal a pack of gum today...

Good Bye Brian Williams

I've always been really interested in the news, current events, politics, and economics. I watch The Today Show, The 5:00 & 10:00 news, MSNBC, and Suzie Orman, among others.

Usually Jeremy and I love to discuss politics and current events, but while sharing my views over lunch yesterday, Jeremy informed my overall outlook is too depressing for him. I'm usually a pretty optimistic person, so being perceived as negative wasn't cool.

As we all know, the only thing discussed on the news anymore is the recession, unemployment, and house foreclosures. I didn't realize that hearing nothing but negativity has been worse for me than the problems themselves. I have a great life; my husband provides for our family, I have food and shelter, good health, and a happy marriage. Yet, I've been sucked into the world of doom and gloom.

I have a friend that recently told me she never watches the news. We were discussing the plane that landed in the Hudson River, and she didn't know about it. I thought it was so odd that she doesn't know what's going on in the world around her. But now I'm thinking she's on to something. How was her life any worse off by not knowing that event occurred? Isn't it most important to know what's going on with my husband, my family, my kids, and my friends? Anything else really shouldn't matter.

So, I'm taking Jeremy's advice and I'm no longer going to watch the news. I'm going to submerge myself into Reality TV and People Magazine. Heck, I might even go as far as read a fictional book...maybe even Twilight *Gasp*.

Since Jeremy suggested I do this, he promised he wouldn't make fun of me if the only discussions we have are about Jessica Simpson being fat, or who was kicked off of Survivor. So don't be surprised if a nuclear bomb goes off in Southern Utah and I'm completely unaware.

So long Brian Williams. Farewell Matt Lauer. Goodbye cruel world. I'm heading to the world of make believe where I can be happy.

Ignorance is Bliss.

W.U.W.M.E?

whats
up
with
my
eye?





a) spider bite
b) ran into chris brown on the street
c) ate non-organic chicken
d) didn't do the dishes to jeremy's satisfaction
e) trying too hard to master a sexy wink

Healthy Life, Happy Wife!

A few of you wanted more information about my last post as to how I kept my kids healthy this year. It's not really anything new, but I guess I didn't fully understand how important diet was to the immune system. I started reading this ebook and it helped me to understand a little more about keeping my kids (and myself) healthy.

The most significant changes I made were:

• Giving a multi-vitamin every day.

• Giving Airborne a few times a week.

• Eliminating food with MSG and HFCS.

• Eliminating sugar or substitute with Stevia.

• Use fewer anti-biotics, instead let infections run their course.

• Adding lots of fruits and vegetables (this was hard with picky eaters- see #2 below for help).

• Eating organic foods whenever possible and drink lots of water.

• Exchange regular salt with sea salt (Jeremy never noticed).

• Expose them to germs. Counter intuitive, I know, but if your immune system is never exposed to germs, it doesn't know how to fight them. The trick is to make your immune system super-powered so the exposed germs don't even have a chance.

• Pediasure. Lots of it.

• Flu Shot

• Yogurt with Probiotics. I found THE BEST Low Carb yogurt at Smiths. It's Kroger brand and only $.50 each. It tastes yummy and has 12g of protein, 4g of carbs and only 80 calories.
  

I'm happy to elaborate on any of those, but here two more resources that helped me:

1- All of the Dr. Oz "You" books
2- The Sneaky Chef recipes

Hope there is something in there you find helpful. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's worth it. We are all more healthy and fit, we visit the doctor less, and I am giving my kids the gift of good habits for life.

Knock Knock Knockin on Wood

Just like most parents out there, our kids have experienced an array of illnesses throughout their short lives. We are so grateful nothing has been too serious, but no matter how bad the illness is- having a sick kid sucks. Between the three kids we've experienced febrile seizures, fifth disease, ear infections, hand foot & mouth, ear tubes, strep throat, strep butt, ring worms, RSV, tonsillectomy, yeast infections, urinary infections, countless influenza, and several others that I can't think of right now. Emma was sick so often that we were beginning to test her for more serious diseases like leukemia and cystic fibrosis. Thankfully every test was negative, but we were told that we needed to keep her in isolation to help strengthen her immune system. That's the day I quit my job.

When Livi was born, I was doing everything I could to make sure she didn't get sick; I breastfed, I didn't take her anywhere, the kids washed their hands AND changed their clothes when they got home from school. Despite my efforts, two weeks later she was hospitalized for RSV. She was pretty much sick off and on the rest of that year. Then in May of last year, she was sick the entire month and that was the straw that broke the Mom's back.

From that point on, I was on a mission to break the cycle. My goal was to spend the summer building the kids' immune systems so by the time school started, they would have a fighting chance. I had been to a nutritionist in March and learned a lot about nutrition. It was helping me to lose weight but more than anything, I just felt better. I started to study everything I could get my hands on about nutrition, diet, exercise and the human body. I found it so fascinating and couldn't get enough. I started to incorporate my changes into my children's lifestyle.

I won't go into detail about all of the health stuff, not only because it's boring, but because I think I'm the only one (besides Amy, lol) that has had this issue with her kids. But, what I will share is that my kids have not been sick at all this winter. We've had a few colds, but nothing more. No flu, strep, ear infections- nada (I am currently banging my head on wood). When I went to my pediatrician for Liv's peanut allergy, he thought I had switched doctors since he hadn't seen me all year. I think he was bummed because our visits alone were paying his mortgage. Time to get a new meal-ticket doctor!

I'm sure that by writing this, Murpheys Law is going to come crashing down on me in the form of the bubonic plague. However, I'm pretty quick to complain when my kids are sick, so I also wanted to make note of how thankful we are to be healthy!

Dad's Birthday Party

My parents came into town and since it was the day after my Dad's birthday, we decided to have a little birthday party for him. It was nice to see the fam again and let the kids all hang out.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Valentines Day

Jeremy and I went out for Valentines Day. We tried a new Indian restaurant, Indian Fusion. Since we don't go out without the kids very often, I really wanted to try something different. This was definitely different. The ambiance was really nice- They had Indian decor, belly dancers, and nice music. The food was pretty average, but I've never had Indian food, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. Jeremy described it as "High Class Lean Cuisine."


Then we were off to Wise Guys Comedy Club to see the winner of "Last Comic Standing". It was so much fun! We ran into my friend from High School and we ended up sitting with them. It was fun to catch up with her until the show started. Then I didn't stop laughing until it ended.





Afterward, we went across the street to meet our friends Char and Robert.

It was a great Valentines Day!