Poop is Funny!

As parents you deal with poop, some days none, some days a little, and some days an elephant load. As a parent poop seems to be noteworthy, even conversation worthy at times. During potty training Layton, a friend told a story about their grown son holding a sign up at the airport to greet his grandfather "poop is funny"

"Poop is funny" has gotten me through many, many, many, many trying bathroom accidents with Layton. If I was frustrated with the mess, accidents, or him not pooping in the toliet I would recite, "poop is funny, poop is funny, poop is funny", guess what IT IS!

 Fast forward to Julia. My dear sweet stripperella! She has recently learned to remove her pants, next the diaper and run around and giggle! A phase every child goes through. Today, I was loading the dishwasher after lunch, Layton was quietly playing cars, and Julia starts crying. Oddly enough, Julia doesn't cry unless something is REALLY wrong or Layton has taken her toy....my mind was thinking, Layton was "borrowing" her toy. She kept crying, nope it wasn't Layton, she hadn't fallen, upon further investigation....wait for it........


Yes, she had pooped. Not only pooped but tried to remove her jeans and diaper, poop started to streak down her leg and she was over it..done..started crying..wouldn't move...we had to put down a towel to lay her on then proceed to clean her..I learned four valuable lessons.

1. Julia doesn't like messes.
2. Julia stopped to prevent spreading the mess.
3. Julia will be ready to potty train soon.
4. Poop is still funny. Or as Evan pointed out, "until you have sewer problems"

Kids vs weather follow-up

No conclusive evidence kids vs weather however, Layton can now spell his name! We mastered 6 letters!! Onward and upward!

Kids vs Weather

Fact or Fiction: Weather Fronts affects Kids?

A question pondered at our house each time a weather front or significant change is approaching. Our pair seem to be more tuned up, wild, full of cabin fever, vim and vineagar as fronts approach, more so in winter  than summer. So, is the front affecting their behavior or are we just more in tune with the behavior changes blaming it on the weather?

The recent out of ordinary Julia......she has been an awesome sleeper since the beginning! Bless her and bless us ( we never had to walk the floor with sleepless nights)...two nights in a row (at home, no routine changes, vacations, diet changes, etc...we are big on routine at our house!), she woke in the middle of the night crying...not just crying but large, sobs, tears, almost hyper-ventalating and clung to me like a spider monkey. She was not letting go of me for ANYTHING, her little arms and legs wrapped around me as tightly as possible...yes, I caved and held her the remainder of those two nights (we have vowed to not let our kids sleep with us for many reasons but there are exceptions.....)daybreak came and she was happy go lucky again, never missing a beat...Weather, teeth, seperation anixety, night terrors, we will never know what threw her sleep into a two night spiral.

Layton...well Layton....he is our talkative, active, guy anyway...Today he has been talking lots extra and been extremely difficult to "get through to"...we are working on learning the letters in his name, 6 letters.....today was epic fail with mother and son both in tears. We will get there, eventually...he has learned colors, shapes, numerous farm machinery pieces, can count to 10 but letters are getting the best of us today...

Time will tell! Tomorrow is supposed to be super windy as a cold front sweeps the plains. Will my sweet, loving, precious children be back to "normal" or will we still have "weather"challenges.

Moments of Clarity

As parents you have moments of clarity, realization, the old "hind sight is 20/20", yes I vowed in my "younger days" to not use the phrase but alias it fits! My latest series concerns Layton and his new glasses!

Back story: Our Family Dr. recommends getting a baseline eye exam at 1 year, our Eye Dr. does free eye exams until kids are 4....well, Julia needed her 1 year, as did Layton (and his 2 year, and 3 year, get the picture, bad parent we never did his first one, oh and his 4th birthday is looming!) sooooooooooo. I made an appoiment for both kiddos, called and 4 days later we are on the way.

Ok, mind you......Layton can identify a John Deere, Case, Gleaner, any farm equipment 2-5 miles away with wonderful clarity so we thought, he's good, Julia is good, we will breeze through the exams and be on our way to Ice Cream...hold the music....

The kids loved the Eye Dr. The Eye Dr. was wonderful with the kids playing games, giggling, letting them try the various tools and patches out...good experience, I'm still thinking we are home safe......then I notice Layton is back in the chair for round 2 and the Dr is asking about his behavior (doesn't like to sit still, doesn't like to color, doesn't like to work up close....affirmative to all of those, he's three though, toddlers are active)....The lightbulb is slowwwwwly coming on...he is far sighted and doesn't like to work up close because his eyes hurt..Ah Ha #1.

Fast forward one week (through Christmas) and we are back. Layton is a trooper, gets his glasses and is excited. Until we get to the car, we go through 30 minutes of denial and dislike, discuss who all has glasses, make a pact to gradually increase wearing them to a full day. Tears disappear. Next day, he put them on and wore them the full day, he loves them and is uber responsible!

Ah Ha Moments we feel silly for not catching earlier (poor guy, who knows how long his eyes have hurt and he didn't know)
#2. We have always helped hook his equipment up to his tractors (no longer needs our help)
#3. On the IPAD, was always off one side or the other of the target slightly (dead center now)
#4. Plays for hours with his car now (used to be 10 minutes max)
#5. Likes to draw, color, and put stickers on stuff...he asked to write thank you notes for Christmas gift.
#6. Will sit and look at a book, magazine, puzzle for 15+ minutes (used to be 5 max and never would finish a puzzle)
#7. He is much quieter, calmer, more mature almost 4 year old, who continues to melt my heart.

Purpose

Ok, inner therapist is coming out, be warned and feel free to end reading now.

As loved ones old or young pass away, refuge is found in the assurance "God has a plan, a higher purpose, another job..." At the time we don't always know or understand, but have you ever pondered the ripple effect or the thoughts, conversations, sparked by the passing?

Two recent events come to mind causing me to ponder the effects on me and my family, rather selfish yes but follow me......the school shooting in newton ct and a young mother in ks losing her three year old in a car accident, both accidents, both terrible tragedies, a mother, father, aunt, uncle, grand parent, all laying children to rest ahead of them; an event a parent can never be prepared for, only looking to God for comfort. Those events caused me many tears for those involved, prayers for their guidance, comfort, healing, all while also challenging me. The challenge to me was to look at my kids, my life, my parenting, how can I be a better parent, better for my kids...those parents had no way of knowing the last round of hugs, kisses, snuggles, would be the last....is improving my parenting, my patience one of the jobs God had in store for those little lives. (Yes, I know sounds selfish) but think of the number of people who did hug their children tighter, had more patience, answered more curious questions, took extra time to teach a new skill, made their family more of a priority, pulled a community closer together, made neighbors more tolerant of others, brought discussions of peace, healing, random acts of selflessness.....will we ever truly know the jobs God has in store for those precious babies but know one day we will learn as we meet again.

Love, patience, peace, tolerance, prayer, until next time.

Live More

Welcome 2013! A new year, a fresh start. New year resolutions are made and broke, re made and broke again, same song new verse, same tired cycle. A trap I'm avoiding this year. 2013 my mantra is "live more".

Live more rolls so many things into one; eating better, exercising more, spending less money, making more money, spending quality time with my kids (we have two now!), not arguing with my husband or family as much, more patience, less technology, living in the moment, less tv, more reading, cooking better, taking better care of the garden, keeping in touch with my closest friends better, being a better wife, blogging more (it is my mental thearpist), talking more with family, exploring the bible more, having fun times with the family, you get the picture! Improving daily life for me, my husband and my kids. 2013 needs to be a happier more fulfilling year and it starts by "Live More"! Each day little by little.

Laundry List

Since 3 months has past since the last post......highlights...

1. Spent a fun filled weekend in Beloit visiting Darin and Megan and Wade Gronewoller. For our 6th anniversary we got to have dinner with Darin/Megan, Jennifer (soon to be) and Michael Schroeder, Jeff and Brandi Zimmer (and George), and Kelsy Krier. Afterwards a fun evening of chatting and card playing.....

2. Evan was dignosed with low platlets (IPT), spent 4 days in Hays at the hospital and it has been determined his spleen is the most likely culprit...had an outpatient surgery of a groin biopsy...May 14 we will determine if the spleen has to come out. The last 4-6 weeks have been nerve wracking....he is a trooper!

3. Helped my Dad burn CRP and attend the Pheasants Forever Banquet in S-town. Our close friends Eric and Andrea (soon to be) Lobmeyer!

4. Eric and Andrea got engaged and set a date of December 4, 2010!!

5. Spent a weekend in Pratt, KS with my family (parents, sister's family, brother's family), plus several cousins, aunts, and uncles re-siding my grandpa's house. All in all a better weekend than anticipated, we came home through Greensburg to explore the rebuilding plus drove by the new casino in Dodge City (exiciting beyond belief :) :) )

6. Layton has had 3, yes THREE, ear infections...needless to say the poor little guy is a bit moody, not feeling well, and has been left several times with Grandma and Aunt Christy for hospital stays and Drs appointments. He did manage to charm several nurses while Evan was in the hospital (he arrived with Evan, Grandma and Aunt Christy while I made my way back from Philly, enroute to a business trip...Thank you American Airlines for being so friendly and helpful turning me around mid-trip!!) On a more positive note (yes positive), Layton has an appointment with the Ear Nose and Throat specialist to set a date for tubes. Those polled say tubes make a world of differnce and help so quickly.

7. This coming weekend is Jenny and Michael's wedding. We are so excited for them and to enjoy the festivities as their life together begins a new chapter.

7 Lucky updates...thank you for all your prayers and support recently. Our friends and family are so very wonderful.