A Caleb Update

On Monday Caleb had a follow up appointment with our regular ENT to have his tubes checked again.  As our luck would have it, his right tube was clogged...again.

Travis was the one that took him to his appointment so before they left I prepped Travis with questions I had regarding the allergy test results.  The nurse that did the allergy test had mentioned that perhaps we could mix a vial with all the airborne allergens that correspond to all the food allergies he has and we could do immunotherapy that way.  I was curious what Dr. Blotter thought about this idea.

Dr. Blotter said that any of the allergens he reacted to with a 5 mm size welt or larger he considers to be a good allergic reaction.  What he suggested we try is a ONE MONTH period of NO DAIRY.  During this month he also wants us to avoid almond, bakers yeast, malt and lettuce.  When you consider what Caleb eats regularly, this means that his diet will now consist of chicken nuggets and nothing else.

Caleb is a picky eater to begin with.  In fact, the food that he willingly eats includes: a select variety of dry cereal, cheese quesadillas, waffles, pancakes, go-gurt, yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches, ramen, macaroni & cheese (if he's in the mood), chicken nuggets, french fries, strawberries, occasionally fish sticks, anything chocolate, and his all time favorite: pink milk.  I have no idea what I am going to feed this child if I have to take dairy, yeast and malt out of his diet.  We told him that the dr. wants him to try and not have milk, cheese or go-gurts.  He's not happy.  Honestly, neither am I.  It's not that I cater to his finickiness either.  I make one dinner and I dish up a little bit of everything for everyone.  I put the plate in front of them and if they choose not to eat it then they are choosing not to eat until breakfast.  It's simple...I'm not a fast food restaurant.

I was telling my mom about the recent development and asked what she suggested.  She suggested I call the Food Science dept. up on campus and talk to a dietitian   I haven't had time to do this yet, but it is on my list to get done asap.  I told my mom I figure one of two things is going to happen: 1-he's going to get so hungry that he's going to cave and try new/different foods or 2-he's going to starve to death.  Considering he inherited his mother's stubbornness, I'm thinking we're heading for option 2.  It could be a really, really long month for both him & me.  On the bright side, Halloween is less than a week away so I might have the promise of candy (minus the malt infested chocolate!) to bribe him with! :)

Completely random photos in no particular order...

We have been quite busy here the last week or two.  I've taken quite a few pictures but haven't taken the time to upload them because my external hard drive has been acting up.  It still isn't working right but I wanted to update.

Last Saturday night I let the kids have a movie night out on the couch.  They were all out cold by 11 pm (which is unusual for them).  I assume it had something to do with being up at 6 am to go do Making Strides!  I still giggle when they sleep on the couch because of the positions they all end up in.  I cannot fathom how on Earth Caleb was comfortable.

My kids love to have picnics.  I thought it was kind of funny last Sunday when they decided they were going to have one out back.  It wasn't too warm but by heck, they were having a picnic!

B has turned into a phone hog.  She loves talking to her dad when he calls while he's gone.  She gets rather fiesty about handing the phone back over too.  I put it on speaker so I can hear what he's saying to her and know whether or not she's hung up on him.  She has a fascination with the buttons and constantly pushes them so that his picture shows up so she can see & hear him.

This baby girl is turning out more like her older siblings every day.  She sleeps with many stuffed animals like Caleb and she now has quite the grip on her book(s) after she falls asleep like all three of her older siblings!

She has started back in with this old trick again.  Not happy.

This past Thursday we went out to my in law's house.  We had a hot dog roast, a birthday party for me & my nephew & then went to the Pumpkin Walk.  We managed to get a photo of all 10 grandkids and not one of them is crying!  A miracle I tell you!

B sure liked Jaxton.

It was pretty chilly at the Pumpkin Walk.  I was glad I had packed a blanket, hats, and gloves!  I was really happy that the hat my mom made B last Christmas still fits too! 

Since I had my Aunt Nikki's younger three kids with me I had to keep track of 7 kids!  Holy cow!  Good thing for me they paired up and stayed together well!

The display that Relay for Life did.  I picked up the pumpkins but wasn't able to help decorate & set up since I had extra kids.

On Friday Caleb had his turn at allergy testing.  I figured he'd be at least as bad as Sam was but probably more like Nash.  Nope.  He had a slight reaction to Birch & a slight reaction to Box Elder.  The only other things he reacted to were foods.  We ended up doing the extended food panel & he reacted to more foods.  Turns out he has allergies to lots of foods.  Not sure what we're going to do to treat since they don't usually do allergy shots for food allergies.

 After we had his allergy test done, we went over to the ENT's office to talk with him about the results and have his post op (from his ears).  We didn't see the ENT we usually do because he was out of town.  I wasn't impressed and was reminded why we see the ENT that we do.  Turns out Caleb's right tube was clogged and we had to have it unclogged.  Why am I not surprised?  Oh yea, that's what happened the first time the kid had tubes!  So, we have different drops & another appointment for Monday afternoon.  Good times.

And here's a little proof to show that I'm still on strike.  My bathroom looked like this when I went to bed & when I woke up this morning.  I told the kids that the cleaning fairy hadn't showed up during the night & that if they wanted to be able to get into their bathroom they would have to clean it up.  It's been picked up some, but it's still making me twitch. :)

Travis was able to come home on Saturday ( a day early).  Halliburton is going back to Tuesday starts so he doesn't have to leave to go back to work until Monday night.  Glad he gets two extra days at home but sad that he won't be coming home until late Monday night after this time off.  Oh well, we've done it before and we'll apparently do it again.  It sounds like Sam or I will be going to see Dracula (by the Civic Ballet) at the Ellen Eccles Theater with Travis while he's home - homework assignment to see a play.  That should be fun. I think we'll let the kids carve pumpkins too.  It's too hard for me to man four kids, knives & pumpkins as the only adult!

Sam dances at a corn maze this next Saturday.  She gets to dance in her Halloween costume.  Should be fun.  I still need to find some white tights for her Alice in Wonderland costume though!  Speaking of costumes, Nash's is about half way done.  I should be able to mostly finish it tonight and start mine tomorrow (hopefully).

My parents came home from their cruise late last night.  They brought the kids some salt water taffy from Maine and I got some more tooth pick holders for my collection.  I also got some fuzzy warm "pig socks" with moose on them.  It sounds like they had a good time.  I wish I could have gone (at least to Boston to see all the historical sites that coincide with the book series I'm reading).  Maybe someday!

We've been trying to refinance our house for the last three years and we've finally been able to do it!  We were able to lock in an interest rate of 3.6% (down from 6.125%).  We were able to combine our mortgage & our home equity loan into one loan and the new rate/loan will lower our payment by about $230/month.  That will be a nice change!

The weather is getting colder and the leaves are falling faster.  I mowed the lawn the other day to get all the leaves picked up and the next day the wind blew so my yard was covered in them again!  I think it's time to start the fall baking again...yep, in all my spare time!

On Strike!

I have finally had enough of my children's attitude of entitlement.  I've tried not to spoil my kids.  They have chores and expectations, just like I did as a kid.  They get time outs and spankings when needed too.  It has gotten to a boiling point though.

As I mentioned to them on Saturday, I spend every moment of my life doing EVERYTHING for all four of them.  There is one of me.  I haul them to practices, recitals, games, competitions, etc.  I plan activities for them I think they'll find enjoyable.  I plan trips/vacations for them that I think they will want to do.  In short, my life revolves around my kids.

I'm not complaining.  I knew that it would before they ever arrived her.  And, honestly, I'm happy that it does.  I'd give my kids everything if it was possible.  However, attitudes of any kind (especially one of entitlement) and disrespect just aren't going to fly around here.

Today I reached my last straw.  It came after helping at the book fair at the kids' school.  Nash had had a melt down in the book fair because, heaven forbid, I was holding his wallet which had a whopping 30 cents in it while he took his AR tests (we all know how much there is to buy at a book fair for 30 cents, right?).  After he finally quit that and we got out of the book fair, I asked him to haul a nearly empty box to the truck that I had hauled in (full) for work.  He carried it from the library to the first grade doors (not far from where the truck was parked).  He was about to drop the box and asked if someone else would take it.  My hands were full of my other work items, I was holding keys & needed to open the door quickly since it was raining outside.  I asked Sam to carry the box.  She actually put her hands behind her back, looked at Nash & I, and said, "No."  Yea, not my proudest mother moment.  My response was, "Fine.  Don't ask me for anything."  I grabbed the box from Nash (with my arms still full) and in her second of realization of what she had done, she also reached for the box to carry it.  I told her, "Nope.  Too late." took the box and walked out the door.  She sat in the school reveling in her moment of realization until she came to the conclusion that I was not walking back through the doors.  I made it to the truck, soaking wet, opened the door & threw my items in.  Nash hopped in and didn't close the door behind him because Samantha had finally showed up.  She proceeded to stand there, in the rain, with the truck door wide open, not moving.  I finally told her, "Either get in the truck or stand there and get hit with the door because I'm moving the truck."  She finally climbed in and slammed the door.  She went to the back of the truck, sat on her knees and faced backwards.  I repeatedly told her to put on her seat belt, which fell on deaf ears.  Once I reached the intersection a block from the school I refused to go any further until her seat belt was on - and I had to point out that a car was coming up behind us.  She finally did it.

After picking up the two little kids from daycare, I was tempted not to take Samantha to dance class.  The thing that got me was that I had paid this month's tuition and I hate to waste it.  They didn't get off scott free though.  All three of the kids (Caleb included because his behavior has been just as bad lately) had a chewing out of their life from Hyrum to the Maverick in Providence.  There was a lot of head hanging, nodding and avoiding eye contact.

I have declared myself to be on strike.  I told them they can do their own laundry, make their own meals, and get their own rides to places until they decide to start treating me with a bit of respect.  I'm tired of being treated like the live in maid.  It's high time these three spoiled kids learn that things in life aren't free and it feels good to earn something and treat others with respect.  Tonight when we got home from dance the two older ones disappeared downstairs for a bit.  When they came upstairs they made their own dinner (cereal), unloaded the dishwasher (together and without arguing who's job it was), and when they asked if they could have home lunch tomorrow I said, "If you make it." and arrangements were made between the two to make their lunches.  It will be interesting to see how long it keeps up and to see how long it takes for them to realize just how good they really do have it.  I don't recall it ever being ok to treat my mother the way I've been treated as of late.  I don't claim to be an angel, but I'm pretty sure my dad would have used a belt to clarify this topic if I had acted the way my kids have.  Here's to hoping.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2012

Yesterday was the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K at Liberty Park.  I had registered this summer.  I've asked around multiple times to see if I could get anyone to go with me to no avail.  So, yesterday at 6:15 am I pulled out of my driveway with just the four kids & myself.  I figured they'd all go back to sleep because they didn't go to bed until around 10 pm.  Nope.  They were ALL wide eyed & bushy tailed the ENTIRE TIME!  We only had to make one potty stop so we made good time.  I found Liberty Park (no thanks to the crappy mapquest directions).  And, I even got a really good (close) parking spot.  I had brought the kids in their PJs so once I was parked we had a changing & hair combing.  The boys & B had this year's Relay shirts on & Sam had on her pink hope shirt I found at the mall last December.  It was fairly chilly though so we all put our jackets on.

Caleb looks onery in this picture but I think it was because he just wanted a picture of just him.

We checked in at the registration tent & we each got a sticker that said "I am walking in memory of".  I wrote Grandma Lea on one for Nash, Sam & me.  I didn't put them on the two little ones because I was trying to put them on our backs (so people could see them as we walked) and since they were both sitting in the stroller, no one could have seen theirs anyway (and Brooke would have eaten hers if she was able to get ahold of it!).

Even though our Relay shirts had orange writing on them, I still put pink bows in B's hair.

Caleb got his own picture so he was happier.

They welcomed everyone & we heard a brief statement from each of the sponsors.  They mentioned that over $80,000 had been raised online with a total of over $160,000.  And not all the money is in yet.  It always amazes me how much money a united and passionate group of people can raise.

The walk was 5 miles.  I wondered how well the big kids would do because that is a long walk for them.  We had to stop at about every other corner to wipe the noses of the little ones and usually to wait for someone to catch up (usually me with the double stroller).  Otherwise, we didn't do too bad.  There was complaining from Nash but, he had good reason.  When I picked out his clothes to bring with I apparently only grabbed one sock, thus the poor kid went without socks (not that he doesn't do it all the time, but he usually isn't walking five miles when he does that!).

The hoard of people walking down 700 E.  There were people as far as you could see in front of us and as far as you could see behind us.  People were all decked out in pink from head to toe.  It was really cool to see.

One of the emails I got said you could bring your dog as long as it was on a leash.  Lots of people brought their dogs.  There were big dogs and little dogs (like smaller than Charlotte).  I had thought about bringing Charlotte but decided that five miles was a long way for that little pampered pooch to walk and I figured she'd end up in the stroller with the kids by the time we were done.  Towards the end I saw people carrying their little dogs and I was glad I hadn't brought Charlotte.

We had to stop and take a break one time.  It was a good thing I made Rice Krispie Treats to take with us.  We ate them on the way there for breakfast and we ate them again when we took a break.

It only took us about an hour and a half to walk the entire five miles.  Not too bad considering we had a double stroller and two kids walking with me.  Sam wanted her picture taken by the pond.  I think the boys would have preferred to jump in it, even though it was still pretty cold.

After we finished the walk we headed back to the truck.  The kids wanted to play at the playground, but the toys were still wet from the rain storm the night before.  Caleb was out cold before we even got out of Liberty Park!

I figured little sister would zonk out quick too but she stayed awake until half way through Sardine Canyon & then she woke up when we got home and wouldn't take another nap until nearly 5 pm!

Good thing she's cute!

Our ACS rep, Erin, brought my red Grand Club shirt from Relay for me.  Yay!  I've been waiting to get this since Relay in July.  It means I raised at least $1,000.

A few other random photos:

Sister likes to color lately.  I got a coloring contest for each of the kids from the Hyrum grocery store.  She had a blast coloring it.  Notice her purple hand?

See the purple smiley face on her guts?  That was given to her by her big sister!  Geez!  Talk about setting an example for your siblings!

The last week-week and a half Brookelyn has woken up several times during the night.  I'm fairly certain it's from her booger nose and two molars that have ruptured.  Not only that, but I've shared my bed with this:

Sam across the bottom & Caleb underneath the pink/purple blanket.  By morning my spot (on the left) is considerably smaller!

The boys are back!

Nash & Travis left Friday night but it seems like they've been gone much longer.  Maybe because I only talked to Travis twice while they were gone?  I don't know.  We had a good time here while they were gone.  The weekend was spent cleaning & getting ready for the appraiser (who came at 10 am today).  Monday was a short day at school & after school was out I got my carpets cleaned (they look so much better but they were so, so, so gross).  Today there was no school (thank you furlough days) and we just stayed at home.

I spent the day working on B's Halloween costume seeing as how there's only 22 days until Halloween and I still have to do Nash's & mine!  While I was sewing I realized it was too quiet.  Then I realized B was missing.  I went looking for her and found her like this:

 Reminds me of Sam!  She's sitting on Sam's bed and the book she's reading is a children's almanac from 1999!  Must like that non fiction!  It was really cute.  When she realized I was there she grinned at me and said, "Cheese!"  I think I've got her trained!

A little later I was trying to get her to finish her last chicken nugget so that I could put her down for a nap.  She was being so stinking cute we busted out the camera again.  This look of hers has mischievous written all over it!

If you look really, really close in this picture you can see a little bit of while on the top left of her mouth.  When I noticed it earlier today I thought it was her molar peeking through.  Turns out it's not.  It's just the white skin of her gums from her ruptured molar!  Poor kid.  She's got both the top molars completely ruptured now.  I think that's why she's been up at least four times during the night for the last five nights!

Sister's really good at ignoring me when she doesn't want to do something.  In fact, if you get out her bottle and she doesn't want to go down for a nap or to bed she starts shaking her head no quite rapidly & then she'll start saying "No, no!"  I think she's a bit opinionated!

I've been thinking that caramel apples sounded good.  Since I've had about four bags of apples at my house & I'm starting to get sick of putting them in the dehydrator, I thought I'd finally make some caramel apples.  Yes, they are as good tasting as they look!

My boys finally walked through the door at 7 pm (only 24 hours after they were suppose to be home!).  Last night Grandpa Scott, cousin Preston & cousin Boston shot the same elk.  Yes, I said that correctly.  Therefore, they didn't get back to their campsite until 10 pm.  Travis told me they'd get up at 6 am and head out.  I got a call at 10 am telling me they were just getting off the mountain.  Why does this not surprise me?  He still had to go to the farm & help skin the elk and visit with Grandma.  He called me at 2 pm to tell me he was finally on his way home.

They have had quite an adventure filled several days.  Not only did Nash get to go, but two of his younger cousins got to go this time as well.  This is Nash's third year to go on the hunt so he was excited to have some cousins along for the fun.  Apparently, Grandpa Scott was driving the four wheeler with Nash & one of his other cousins on it & didn't see a tree stump (thanks to Nash's head being in the way).  Well, the four wheeler flipped and threw all three of them off (this is why I make them take their bike helmets when we go four wheeling - next year it will go on the hunt as well).  Fortunately, no one was hurt too badly.  Nash took the brunt of the fall.  I guess Grandpa & Clayton landed on top of him.  He scrapped up under his chin pretty good too.  The day after the four wheeler incident there was a pocket knife mishap.  I guess in trying to close his pocket knife Nash's thumb got in the way.  Travis said as he was cleaning it up and about to band aid it Nash said, "I feel funny." and started to drop.  Lucky for Nash Travis caught him!  If that wasn't bad enough, earlier the same day he cut his thumb he fell out of bed too!  I told Travis if he's going to beat up my babies I just might not let them go anymore!  Guess I have a year to remind myself that they'll be fine (and to prepare for both Caleb & Nash to go along).

Nash was so excited to be home.  I told him how much his little brother and little sister missed him (B just goes around looking for him and calling his name).  He was excited to show us the elk horns they brought home.  These horns (a spike he informs me) are the ones from the elk that the three of them shot on Monday afternoon.  I love this picture because his eyes are about to pop out of his head, his hair needs a haircut, he's had a shower and his hair dried funny & his little brother and sister won't let him out of their sight!  I think the two little ones are going to just follow him around for a few days to make up for lost time!

A few days ago I finally finished Caleb's Halloween costume.  This is just the head piece.  The body has yellow spikes on it too.  I don't like the velcro on it so I think I'm going to end up redoing it.  He's pretty stoked about the costume and wants to wear it all day every day already!  Every time my mom comes over lately all he has on is his underwear.  Nash has been reading Captain Underpants and has told my mom about what he's read.  Now mom's calling Caleb Captain Underpants!  I think we may have next year's costume already picked out!

In between all the excitement today I was able to finish the top half and the pants for B's costume.  She's going to be a strawberry this year.  All I have left on hers is the hat & booties.  It's going to be adorable on her!  I can't wait to put it on her!

All we have left to make for Halloween costumes once B's is finished are some bright orange scrubs for Nash's prisoner outfit (he's going as a zombie prisoner) and my Queen of Hearts dress.  I'll be cutting it close and I don't know if my dress will get done or not.  I saved mine for last on purpose because it will not break my heart if I have to wait a year to have it done.  Although then it won't be as awesome next year because Sam's Alice in Wonderland dress will be too small for her.  Oh well, motivation to finish quickly!