Health Problems

2015 has not started well in the department of health for the kids and me.  Fortunately, Ryan has pretty much been able to stay away from all of the issues!

It all began mid-January when Rylan was diagnosed with a double ear infection and pink eye.  Our pediatrician wasn't concerned with the pink eye because the antibiotics for the ear infection would take care of the pink eye (and the pink eye was in the early stage - we caught it early).

During Rylan's birthday weekend, I got terrible headaches for 5 straight days.  It turns out I had a sinus infection.  First one ever and I seriously hope to never get one again.  It was painful!

Then Reagan got pink eye right after everyone left.  It only took a few days to get rid of, but still annoying. 

And of course, Kyleigh got pink eye also. 

Why not have Rylan get pink eye again?  Because that's exactly what happened.

And to top it all off, I was diagnosed with shingles!  I couldn't believe it because I thought that only happened to old people, but it happened.  Praise the Lord, the pain was minimal and only last about 10 days. 

After the shingles pain started to wear off, I seemed to come down with a nagging cold.  Nothing that prohibited me from doing normal activities during the day, but I felt tired and had a really sore throat, especially at night.  All 3 kids seem to be holding onto something as well.  Again, nothing that stops our normal stuff, but a constant runny nose and a bad cough for Rylan.

I'm hoping we are all feeling better by the time we enter March.

Reagan and Kyleigh - January 2015

My notes (very few) from January:

Reagan:

• Often says, "No, Mom, I have an idea..." and then tells me whatever is on his mind
• Uses "cross" in various situations
• VERY competitive (has to beat everyone or always be the winner)
• Growing out of toddlerhood and becoming a little boy - it's becoming more apparent these days (his mannerisms, ability to think through situations prior to acting, etc)

Kyleigh:

• Being naughty again, flat out disobedience several times a day
• Often uses the need to use the potty as an excuse while she's in timeout
• Says the words "freaking" or "poop" or "butt" all the time (NOT OK!!!!!)
• Wants Rylan to play with toys or crawl somewhere when I'm holding her and Kyleigh wants to be held ("Rylan, go play with your toys" and then Kyleigh crawls into my lap as soon as Rylan vacates it!)
• Likes to carry Rylan around, especially if Rylan in a place Kyleigh wants to be (ie, my lap) or if Rylan is trying to climb the stairs
• Becoming very aware of her surroundings (like where we are and places we're passing along the road)
• Copies everything Reagan says
• Recites the Lord's Prayer very well
• Having separation anxiety from Mom (full blown screaming/tears when I leave her at the Y or at MOMS)
• Constantly changing her mind (I don't want water...ok, no  water...I want water.  I don't want a story before bedtime...ok, no story...I want a story, etc)
• After reciting her ABCs, she says "Now I know my ABCDs, next...."
• Can recognize all the letters in her name (and several other letters in the alphabet)
• Says "Stop, pee pee, Stop.  Don't go in your underwear" as she runs to the bathroom to use the potty (hilarious to listen to her as her little feet run through the house!)

Nursing Accomplishment

This will be a short post because I don't have a lot to say.  I am so excited though that I was able to nurse Rylan for a year.  I had high hopes of nursing Reagan for a year, but when I got pregnant with Kyleigh when he was only 5 months old, I didn't make it.  Then, I thought for sure I'd nurse Kyleigh a year, but with some mild weigh gaining problems and her first tooth coming in around 9 months, I gave up by the time she was 9 months old.  So for this round, I really wanted to make it a full year.  Despite Rylan getting teeth early (before 6 months), I pushed through with nursing.  There was a slight chance I was going to need to supplement around 10 months because she had some weight problems.  However, formula supplements weren't needed as I worked really hard to avoid it. 

I began weaning Rylan earlier this month.  She's down to one feeding - right before bed every night.  I am ready to be done nursing, but I will miss it.  I am just really happy that I was finally able to reach my goal of nursing for a year!

A Season of Change

We're going through some sleeping routine changes around here and I can honestly say I'm not ready for it.  We've been on a fairly consistent routine for about a year now and I've been able to adjust my life accordingly.  Now it appears sleep habits are changing - mostly for Rylan - and I'm just not ready (or willing is probably more accurate) to change my schedule around.

You see, everyone eats lunch between 12-12:30p everyday and then Reagan has quiet time for 45 minutes while Kyleigh and Rylan take 2 hour naps.  That's what is supposed to happen everyday.  Rylan has transitioned off 2 naps and is now taking one nap.  I'm fine with that; except that she's ready for her nap around 11:30 and if I'm out, she'll fall asleep in the car and then the hope of a nap at all the rest of the day is out of the question.  And being home everyday around 11:30 is often an issue because of various things happening throughout the week.  So I'm in a bit of a predicament at the moment.

Kyleigh also seems to be going through a change.  She regularly slept from 1-3p and I would need to wake her at 3p.  As of the last few weeks, she's been waking on her own about 2:30p.

I know change is good and the kids are growing up, but it's hard when routines change, especially with little ones.  We had a good system going; I guess I need to find a new one.

Reagan and Kyleigh - December 2014

My notes from last month:

Reagan:

• Waking up in the middle of the night
• Love to play "find the letter" while I'm nursing Rylan
• Talks about daddy staying home all day on Saturdays and Sundays
• Using the word disaster, but not usually in the right context (picked this word up from Misty Island Rescue movie)
• Reciting Misty Island Rescue to anyone who will listen
• Doing great at letter and number identification (has almost all letters correct)
• First comment on Christmas morning was "I looked outside and it's not snowing"
• Can't get enough of his "big boy" (ie normal size) Legos

Kyleigh:

• Beyond obsessed with eggs; to the point that she'll open other people's refrigerator and look for eggs
• Identifying some letters by sight
• Obsessed with Christmas lights
• Calls a "W" a "double me"
• Still like to run away when she sees something she wants
• Very good at putting toys away
• New fascination with floor drains, especially in public places
• Doing great with potty training, especially pooping
• Repeating everything Reagan says
• When asked to show 2 fingers, she holds up her middle and ring finger and says "two"
• Loves to sing "Away in a Manger"
• Wants to do everything Reagan does (putting shoes on, letter identification, etc)
• While listening to Nancy during the Christmas Eve service, she yelled "Hi Mommy" and waved several times, walked around the stage and took ornaments off the Christmas tree.  Then she walked up to the pulpit and announced, " Mommy, I have to go potty."
• Enjoys feeding Rylan her Cheerios
• Loves to be the first person the pray at the dinner table "Thanks you God for my mommy and daddy and this food, Amen" with her eyes squeezed shut and her hands folded
• Calls everything silly "Those silly Christmas lights"
• Has a musical note at the end of some of her words

Why I'm Giving Up Starbucks for a YEAR

Kind of....

So I've been thinking about this for the last two months and I'm really going to push forward.  I am NOT calling this a New Year's Resolution because it's not.  It's more like a lesson in discipline.

A friend often refers to herself as the "least disciplined person I know."  I've contemplated her statement several times and wondered how disciplined I am.  And the answer was not a positive as I'd hoped.  I am disciplined in certain areas of my life, but when it comes to coffee, especially Starbucks coffee, I am so undisciplined it is not even funny. 

Over the past year, I have often used a "bad day" as an excuse to get a coffee.  My definition of a bad day varied widely.  So what it really came down to is that I wanted a coffee and I found any excuse to get one.  My bank account can't afford my "bad days" anymore.

Now the reason I am saying "kind of" is that I am allowing for a few exceptions.  For example, when we go out of town, we often get a coffee on the way out.  This is allowable.  Or if Ryan and I go on a date and end up talking over coffee, that is allowed also.  But by and large, I will not be stopping by Starbucks as part of my weekly routine (I used to stop every Thursday before Moms group).

I am committed to becoming a more disciplined person and the only way to start is to give up the hardest habit I have. 

See ya later, Starbucks.

Reagan and Kyleigh - November 2014

Notes from last month:

Reagan:

• Bringing learning concepts from preschool (recognizing letters, counting everything, etc)
• Requests to play Duck, Duck, Goose daily
• Has moments where he seems uncontrollable, like a force of destruction!
• Still has competition moments with Kyleigh

Kyleigh:

• Does an almost perfect forward somersault
• Loves jumping, especially on a trampoline
• Says "Is me?" instead of "Am I" for all questions
• My earliest riser :(  Climbs in my bed every morning (usually around 6/615) and says "I need to be covered" as she lays next to me
• Decided on 11/18 she wanted to use the potty, so we've been working on it the last half the month
• Trying (and doing fairly well) to dress herself
• Miss independent - knows what she wants and when she wants it
• Doing better with obeying, but still likes to run off