Ryan's 11th Birthday Party & Added Chores

Today is Ryan's 11th birthday!!!  Happy birthday to the one who one moment acts like a kid, does pranks, and is just goofy to the next moment acting like a grownup. You are my sunshine!  You were such a surprise to us being you came almost exactly 12 months after Chaz was born and you are still full of surprises every day.  I love you!!!!!

Ryan, friend Georgie, and Chaz

We took Ryan to a trampoline place for his birthday.  Although we had a Groupon for another place, we're gonna save that one for another time, we went to one that was closer.  On their birthdays we let them pick the location and who they want to bring.  OF COURSE he brought his best friend Georgie.  :D  

Kyle and Ryan playing dodgeball on trampolines

My mom took Juliet so I'd be able to follow the little ones around easier.  I loooved how they had a 7 year old and younger area so I didn't have to worry about the little ones getting run over.  

My dad, the kids, and Charles

Friend Georgie and Ryan

Caleb

Ivy

Caleb and Ashley in 7 and under area

Caleb and Ryan in the basketball area.

We had a lot of fun and I always love visiting with my parents.  This is the time of year where there are birthdays every two weeks so that's why you see a lot of partying.  Ha ha.  Four birthdays down and three to go.  Yes, I am counting Juliet's actual birth day because that was work too.

As kids are all turning another year older, they are each given a new chore added to their other one.  It's been a couple years since I've done that so it's about time.  Don't worry, I don't give them a chore on their birthday, that would be cruel.  I wait till the next day. Heh heh.... Seriously though, we have to step it up around here because mommy can't do it all and I think they have it pretty easy.  

Rocket Experiment and Boys with an Attitude

Today I took the kids to the science center to learn how to make rockets.  It was so neat!  

This is a class of all homeschool kids and the local science center offers experiments for them.  This time it was about making our own rockets.

We learned about Sir Isaac Newton and about action and reaction.  We only needed cardboard, cups, soda bottles, water and air from a bike pump. It was awesome.

This is Chaz's rocket.  Who knew we could shoot the rocket high in the air using only water and air?  How well you made your rocket determines how high it goes.  Obviously it's best to make everything symmetrical 

Ivy is getting ready to shoot her rocket

Ashley was pretty excited to put on her science glasses and do her first experiment.  So cute.

This guy has it set up to where you have your rocket (20 oz soda bottle) filled halfway with water.  He made a thing where you hook a tube up to it, turn it upside down, clamp it with an attached string, and pump air into it. When Ryan pulled the string, it made the clamp let go and the rocket shot really high into the air.  

Once we were finished we went back into the science center for awhile.  A nine year old built this ferris wheel and donated it. It was going round and the boys were amazed a little kid built it.

Caleb

Chaz and Ryan

Ashley weighing herself on the weight wall.

We didn't stay for very long because while the boys were on the bed of nails, they got in a punching match.  NOT JOKING.  I was so embarrassed and upset with them I calmly walked up to them and said we are leaving.  I cancelled the McDonalds trip, Game Stop trip, and put them to work with chores at home.  They were NOT happy but hopefully they learned their lesson.  They were all in tears.  I kept a notebook in hand and whoever complained about their chores got another one added to it.  They learned real quick to work in silence AND with a good attitude.

My Little Ballerinas and Pushing Past the Pain

Ivy is getting better every day with her burn and she has a check up this week at the burn unit.  I really have no idea what it's going to look like after the bandages are off. I do know it's gonna be tough for a bit.  She tends to favor the leg for a bit but once she gets playing, it doesn't hurt as bad.  The good news?  Ivy and Ashley started ballet and the doctor said that's a really good thing for Ivy!  She needs to stretch.  I was wondering if he would tell her she needs to sit out.  Much to Ivy's relief, she was able to not only participate, but it was good for her leg.  If she doesn't stretch her leg, the skin could heal like hard leather.

I wondered just how much they would learn in their first class and I was really surprised.  They do 15 minutes of ballet, 15 minutes tap, and 15 minutes gymnastics.  Ivy loooooved her teacher and they are both already counting down the days till the next class.  Kyle is really showing an interest in gymnastics but I don't really want to turn it into a competition thing.  I just want him to do a hobby that he loves and not make it about winning or losing.  Not that there is anything wrong with it of course, it's just not my focus right now.  

This year I am really pushing my kids to step it up in their academics.  Pray for me that I don't have to have my patience stretched beyond what I can handle.  :)  Although, being stretched, is a good thing.  Just like Ivy's wound.  You can cater to it or you can push past the pain so in the long run you'll be more flexible.  Gosh, that applies to so many areas in my life.  Some people think that a mom of seven or a mom of 10 only have that many kids because they were always patient.  Not true!  When I had my first kid I thought that was the hardest thing on the planet. I went from wanting four kids to wondering if I could even handle one.  Then I wondered what I would do when I found I was pregnant with my second child only three months later.  That was really, really stretching me and it was so hard for me.  I could either give up or I could just take one day at a time.  Each little trial might of seemed little to others but for me it was a stretch.  Stretching past my comfort zone and learning how to make it work for me each day.

Agh! Is It Really Declutter Time Again?

Yesterday I took Ivy to my mom's house because Ivy was just getting bumped too much by Caleb on her burn.  It is so painful.  My mom called me up and wanted her over so I figured it was perfect to keep Ivy's leg safe for a bit.  Not only that, Ivy loooooves her Nana!  My mom is a good cook too.  Bonus!

I've been feeling so burnt out from cleaning.  I'm serious.  I work so hard in training the kids to pick up after themselves but it doesn't seem to be working.  They don't give me a hard time about doing their chores.  We fought and won that battle years ago.  However, I need them to not make huge messes in between.  Mommy doesn't want to clean alllll day because there are so many other things I'd like to do also.  You know, like play with my baby, homeschool, bake some cookies, yada, yada.  I can't believe it's already time again to do another major declutter project but I need to.  Sigh.  I loved how my house looked after the last declutter.  I got rid of SO much stuff and cleaning was a breeze.  I do not do well with decluttering projects and often I'll just stand in the middle of it and give a blank stare.  Or maybe it's because I know once I start the huge process, I have to finish.  Agh.  Okay, I'll stop complaining now.

This weekend is Ryan's birthday part at Xtreme Jump!  It's a huge trampoline place.  I feel really bad for Ivy though and don't think she can participate.  :(  She is a huge swimming fan and I'm not even gonna be able to let her swim for awhile. She has been resting a lot her her dog Bella.  Bella goes for a cuddle anytime, anyplace.

Remember The Trendy Boutique review I did awhile back?  I have a fantastic watch from their site that I love and get lots of compliments on.  They sell so much more.   If you use the code VIRGINIAGIFT you get $5 toward anything at www.thetrendyboutique.com, including our Buy 1 Get 1 Free Geneva watches.  That's a GREAT deal so check it out!  I'm heading over myself to see what's new on their site.

Ivy's Burn Update and Restrictions

Yesterday I took Ivy back to the hospital to have her burn checked.  Chaz really wanted to come and Ivy's friend also.  I waited till evening so she could see the same doctors.  They unwrapped the outer parts so they can see the dressings.  Some of it had slipped off of her burn so they had to add more.  It was painful for Ivy to have it all messed with and she was crying.

Ivy has some restrictions now that she has the burn on her leg.  She can't go swimming till it's healed and the bandage falls off on it's own.  The inner bandage is like an artificial scab that falls off when the burn is better.  It'll take about a month to heal.  However, she can't get a sunburn on it or it'll be a permanent scar.  For the next year and a half she'll have to wear pants or long shorts.  When she swims it has to be covered.  We don't want to take any chances so we are going to buy her a surfers type suit for kids and we'll let her pick it out so she likes it. It just goes to her knees.  

They gave me extra bandages for changing. She absolutely cannot touch her burn or she could get an infection.  The staff kept talking about Ivy's eyes and how beautiful they were.  Then telling her how much they loved her hair.  They were the sweetest people.  I'm so lucky she was at this burn ward because it's the second best in the United States.  Wow!  It's so sad to see my little girl in such pain and have all these restrictions.  On a good note, I asked if ballet was still okay and they said it was actually perfect.  She needs to keep flexible so the wound heals well. If she doesn't stretch it, it can heal like hard leather.  I'm so happy she can still do ballet because she's been waiting so long to start.  We are gonna buy an extended baby gate for my kitchen area because we don't want to take anymore chances of something like this happening.  It was really, really scary.

Ivy's Night at the Burn Ward

Last night I was excited to take my oldest son and go workout at the gym.  While we were there he ran into his friend who also has Aspergers syndrome.  They went swimming together while I was upstairs in the gym working out.  The picture you see of my view while I'm on the elliptical.  The mom and I started talking after my workout and we were sharing ideas about school and helping our sons.  Chaz had turned my phone off to save the battery but I told him to turn it back on.  Well, we forgot to turn it on for about 15 minutes and that's exactly when Charles was trying to call me and let me know Ivy got hurt.

Ivy's left thigh

On my way home with Chaz I get a call on my cell and Charles was calling from inside an ambulance. My heart just dropped as I anxiously waited to hear who was hurt and if they are okay.  I could hear Ivy screaming in the background and I could hear she was in terrible pain.  Because he couldn't get a hold of me he had to get a neighbor to watch our kids so he can ride in the ambulance with her.  I felt so bad!  I only had my cell phone off for 15 minutes.  

Before the gym I had put food in a crockpot.  Since it was gonna take awhile I just pushed it back towards the wall in a corner and told the kids to stay away from it.  Ivy wasn't in the room and didn't hear me.    I never boiler water on the front burners and I always push anything that's hot toward the back wall on the counter. Well, she made herself a bowl while I was gone and before Charles could see her. She sat down to eat and baby Caleb crawled up on her lap and made it spill.  That's how the burn happened.  Charles pulled her pants off and saw the skin boiling and peeling away so he called 911. 

She was screaming for so long they finally had to put anti-anxiety meds in her I.V. and gave her lots of pain meds.  She relaxed but still felt pain, just not as bad.  She started getting a little goofy saying funny things.  In this picture she is showing her daddy her bracelets and telling him how expensive they were. She started being so cute once she was relaxed.  She doesn't remember any of it though.  

She was released last night but is to come back tonight to have it all looked at again.  Thankfully it only turned out to be a second degree burn but they still won't completely know the damage until it heals.  Burns keep damaging for awhile. They gave her a type of bandage over her leg that falls off once the wound heals and it'll take about 3 weeks.  Poor Ivy.  I'm going out to buy a baby gate so if anything is cooking I can keep any kids out of the kitchen.  It's just too scary with little ones.

Ivy happy once she got medicine through her I.V.

What Happened to Kindergarten?

Ashley at the science center

My daughter Ashley is about to turn five in September.  Although my kids are homeschooled they go to an enrichment school on Mondays.  Well, Ashley has looked forward to this for a looooong time. She always looked out the window when her siblings left and asked when she could go.  I always assured her that her time was coming and now that it's here, she can't go.  The reason why?  Her birthday is two weeks after the cutoff and even though all the other schools around them have a cutoff in December, this school's cuttoff is in August.  It's not even a regular school!  Awww, she is gonna be so sad.

I'm a strict James Dobson girl and believe that kids should be kids before the age of five and schools get a hold of them.  It seems like it's pushed earlier and earlier to learn.  I know some people like to start really young but I just don't.  They are to play and just not have those kinds of pressures.  However, because of daycare, what used to be first grade is now Kindergarten.  They even told me since kids learn all their letters, numbers, and shapes in daycare, they immediately start learning how to read once they start Kindergarten.  Whoa!  Whatever happened to the Kindergarten I knew?  We had playtime, naptime, fed the fish, reading time, snack time, and that's where we learned our letters and numbers.  No wonder why Ivy struggled when she went into Kindergarten.  She would just break down and have a hard time participating.  She was already behind.  What in the world?  This makes me sad because now I have to start PreK with them at home and break my strict rule on not starting them early.

I found this article about Arizona and their school standards.  This is exactly what I'm talking about... Arizona's new kindergarten standards tougher

Ivy and Juliet

Yes, I could start them all a year late but like I said, I'm a James Dobson girl.  He always said with boys it's good to either start them a year late or have them repeat either Kindergarten or first grade.  I've always opted to have them repeat first grade because I knew that was an important grade.  My mom had me repeat that grade knowing that it's important to grasp the basics.  Well, I guess I have to change that to Kindergarten since the expectations have changed.  Ivy still struggles because she was thrown into Kindergarten was expected to start reading. On top of that, she had poor eyesight the whole year.  I'm still playing catch up with Ivy and am desperately trying to help her.  She often wants to just throw in the towel and I try to tell her there are no pressures.  I wish I would've never put her in public school for her first year because they really made her feel bad about already being behind when she barely started.

I read this quote in the article.  "In our community, parents are working and most of them have their kids in day care. The kids are already used to structure. They want to do more, and they are ready."

Sorry, but I don't put my kid in daycare.  Not everyone has their kids in daycare.  Please don't base standards off of that. What happened to Kindergarten?  That is just so weird.

Picture Taking and Having Fun at the Science Center

A few days ago I got an email from the science center that they needed a few kids for picture taking at the science center. Could we come?  Hmmm....no problem!  We love the science center!  I spent all morning getting the kids ready, cutting the boys hair, and making them look good.  It was fun because when we got there they told the kids they just want them to stay in a certain area, play, have fun, and act natural.  In the meantime I snuck my own photos in.  :D

Ewwwww..... What's with the pile of manure?  See below.

Interesting.  

Kyle is holding Caleb's hand during a demonstration about storms and fires.  The heat comes on, the ground shakes, and they get mist sprayed at them while watching the videos.  It's pretty neat. :D

While Chaz is looking through this, it shows his eyeball on a big screen.  

Ivy thought getting pictures from the science center photographers was awfully boring.  

Caleb and Kyle talking to other kids while shooting hoops.  

Ryan on the Skycycle.  The photographers were gonna use him for pics on the Skycyle but couldn't because he was wearing a black shirt. Ryan was bummed so I just paid to put him on it.  :)  Pretty neat!

Ryan loved it!

Ivy working hard to pull herself up on the hardest one. Ha ha.  She did it though!

This was Caleb's favorite area and I hated tearing him away from it so quickly but we had to go wherever we were told.  Seeing him play in here made me realize I need to get some stuff like this for him in our house.  He is in his big brothers room but once we get them bunkbeds, there will be more space.  

I need to find this Lego table for Caleb.  We have the one for small Legos but seeing Caleb play at this one for so long makes me want to get one for his age too.

Ivy on the bed of nails

It was a fun day but we were SUPER tired at the end of it.  Who knew having fun and taking photos was so tiring!  We were in downtown so we had to walk somewhere to find a restaurant to eat at.  We were getting a lot of stares so I guess not that many big families walk through that area.  By the way, Subway can get expensive with so many people eating and you know me, I always use coupons!  Even with coupons it's really added up but it was the most affordable place to eat nearby.  

Parent of a Preteen

Soooo, I'm a parent to a preteen.  Should I be scared?  I am!  Aggggh!  Okay, when I can say I'm a parent to a teenager I will officially feel old.  I can see older people than me just rolling their eyes right now.  To them I say, don't you remember that feeling too?  I can't believe it because today Chaz turned 12.  12 years since I became a mom.  It was the scariest day of my life and I'm not exaggerating.  I had no idea what to do with a little one and had never really taken care of any babies.  I felt it was a crime for anyone to let me take this little guy home from the hospital.  I called the doctor every week with a new question, sometimes several times a week.  Now Chaz is twelve and I'm wondering how to navigate the teens years that are coming.  Oh well.  We'll have this conversation next year on this day. For now, he's still my baby.  Heh heh.  Don't tell him I said that.

My question is, what will it be like to parent an Aspergers teen?  That is one thing I don't want to be told about.  I thought it'd get easier as they get older but it doesn't.  If anything, it's gotten much harder.  I'm glad no one told me that back when Chaz was six and I was new to the word Aspergers.  I had to take just one day at a time back then.  Today, I just love my son with the good days and the bad days.  He's funny, challenging, and keeps me on my toes.  For real! Ha ha!  I love you, Chaz.

Bad Days with Kids and Cars

Yesterday was just one of those days where you are so grateful the sun eventually went down and a new day could begin.  I can be a schedule nerd and have certain things scheduled for a certain day of the week.  Tuesday is Kroc center day and I went with a friend.  Between both of our kids, they fought at least half the time.  Someone kept coming to one of us to constantly tattle.  I always teach that you never tattle unless someone is being a pervert or someone is in danger.  It was just one of those days where tattling went rampant, and was over the most dumb stuff,  so I felt more like a referee than a mom.  I think this week we are gonna focus on the subject of tattling and nip it in the bud.

After the KROC center we went to IKEA for the kids eat free and to get my favorite meatball plate. I had to keep reminding my kids to sit down, we are not in McDonalds playland.  No running around tables or sitting under your chair.  This is common sense stuff I've taught my kids for a loooong time so I was frustrated.  On a good note I found something fantastic for organization in the boys room.  It was hard to relax because I had left Juliet with Charles before going.  I was fine when I left because I had just nursed her.  By the time I finished eating at IKEA I needed to really nurse her.  BAD. I started to be in a lot of pain and by the time I purchased my items and checked, all I kept thinking about was that I needed to get home.  My husband said she was happy and sleeping but I needed to get home quick.



Finally, we make it to the van, loaded the kids and the purchases, but my van doesn't start.  Argh!!  IKEA was closing and there were not many people left.  My friend thankfully hadn't left so we just had to find someone with cables.  I found a family and we sat there for a half hour trying to get the van to start.  Ashley kept telling me she had to use the restroom but by then everything around us was closed.  NOTHING was open anywhere near... or far. Just before we finally got the van running Ashley starts screaming that she pooped and peed her pants.  Ashley had diarrhea and that's why she couldn't hold it.  My friend cleaned up Ashley (which was soooo nice) while I loaded the kids in the van.  By now I was in TONS of pain and just needed to nurse Juliet.  She was fine at home with a bottle but I wasn't.  It only took 3 minutes to load everyone but once my friend drove off my van died again.  I was supposed to immediately drive off so the van would make it home but I couldn't.  By then the kids and I were really alone and I had to call my husband to come rescue us.  As soon as my husband pulled up with Juliet in the car, I immediately nursed her.  I didn't care what anyone else was doing, I was just so relieved and Juliet was happy to eat.  He drove off in the van so I could just sit and nurse before heading home.  Sigh.  When I went to bed I was so happy there was a new day coming in the morning.  This one I just wanted to forget about.

As frustrating as the day was, I was so happy waking up today to just peace and the comfort of my own home.  :D  After bad days like that it makes me just want to curl up with a good book and sip some hot tea...