Gifted and Talented

Today I picked up Ethan from after school care and he had great news. His teacher recommended him for all honors classes next year when he starts going to middle school. YAY Ethan! While the teacher has recommended him for that, he has to get a certain score on his SOLs and he has to receive either an A or a B in that particular class to be enrolled in honors next year. He is such a smart kid....if only he could get his behavior in check. But he has been really good in school so that is a good thing. We are so proud of him!!

He is also Mr. helpful around the house. On Saturday, he helped me cook dinner. Tonight, he emptied the dishwasher (it took him about an hour because when I told him to make sure the dishs were dry, he took his time and wiped off every last drop! :) I know I have said it before, but he is so awesome with Brody too. Brody absolutely loves having his big brother around....his whole face lights up when he seems him. Case in point.....

So, as I posted in my last post, Brody had a double ear infection on Friday. All weekend long, he was acting fine and didn't have a fever. I took him to daycare yesterday and I got a call around 10:00. They said he had been crying on an off for an hour and he was tugging on his ears. They knew something wasn't right because he never cries! Never! So, when I got there, his teacher said she tried everything: laying him down, holding him, distracting him, trying to play with him and nothing worked. So, I had to complete some paperwork and they were getting ready to eat when I got there so he ate lunch while I finished the paperwork. Halfway through, his teacher came out, showed me his plate and she said he only ate the fruit. I'm sorry....what was that? You mean my kid didn't continually stuff his face and act like he hadn't eaten in days? Okay...something is wrong. So, I finished the paperwork, got him home, and laid him down for his nap. He slept for almost three hours and woke up fine. I am not sure what his deal was, but I think he just wanted to spend the day with me. No problemo! I didn't mind that at all.

Anyway, I am getting to my point with Ethan...just wanted to give some background first.

So, today, I dropped him off again but this time I gave him some tylenol before I went, hoping that would help with his ears. I called there around 10:30 and they said he was doing really well and they were getting ready to go down for a nap. Once I picked up Ethan, we headed to pick up Brody and when I got there, the Assistant Director said he had a good day, but he started getting a little fussy towards the afternoon. She told me that he was in the baby room. (Sometimes, when not all of the kids in his class are they, the split the class up. Since Brody is the youngest, but not the smallest, by the way, he goes into the room with the younger babies). When I walked over, I didn't see him and when I walked in the room, the teacher pointed to the corner. There was my baby, sprawled out on the floor......SOUND ASLEEP! I couldn't believe it....and I wished I had my phone with me so I could have taken a picture! I asked her how long he had been sleeping and she said for about an hour. When I walked over, I noticed he didn't have his pacifier. Apparently, my little guy was so tired, he walked over the blanket on the floor, laid down, and the teacher rubbed his back until he feel asleep. No mind you...there were other kids in the room, making all sorts of noise and he didn't budge. So Ethan and I walked over and I gently rubbed his back....Nothing. It took him a few minutes to wake up (he was sleeping hard) and of course, like everytime I wake him up, he started crying. The minute he looked at Ethan, he immediately stopped crying and gave his signature, scrunched up nose look. And then he laughed! He was happy to see his big brother. The whole way home, he was smiling and giggling just because Ethan was next to him.

And, just to make you laugh, when we got to Brody's daycare, Ethan came in with me. I told him he didn't need to and he said "No....I need to scope the place out and I want people to know who I am!" I said "Why?" He said "So they know not to mess with Brody!" I said "You are such a big brother!"

So now, I am watching Brody on the monitor, rolling around in his crib. I am sure it wil take him a little longer than usual to get to sleep tonight.

Say What?

So, this last week has been pretty rough. I am tired as all get out and my parents left for Chicago last Tuesday, which meant I could not leave work a minute past 5:00 so I could make sure I got Brody from daycare by 6:00 pm. I knew I could do it but it definitely was added pressure of not having them as an option to pick him up if I got stuck. I did start to panic on Thursday because I did get stuck in traffic, but I made it before closing time. I hate it because when I pick him up, he is always that last one there. But his afternoon teacher loves him and he always has a good time with her so I know he is in good hands.

Well, on Friday afternoon, I got a call from daycare around 3:15. His teacher said he was running a temperature (102) and that he had been tugging at his ears all day. I told her that I would be there as soon as I could. I figured that if he had an ear infection, I didn't want to wait all weekend to have him seen or have to run to the ER by myself in the middle of the night with a baby in pain. So I immediately called the doctor's office and asked to be seen. Mind you...their office closes at 5:00 pm and it was now 3:40 and it would take me about 30 minutes (with no traffic) to get to Brody and then another 20 to get the doctor's office. They talked to my pediatrician (who I absolutely love!) and she said no problem....just get there when I could. So, I left work and definitely exceeded the speed limit (shocker for me, right?) to get to Brody. When I walked in the room, I almost lost it. He looked pitiful! There were 2 other kids left there and they were playing around, but he was laying on his teacher's chest....all red eyed and ragged looking. When I picked him up he was burning up. At that moment, I was so glad I got him in the doctor's.

So, off we went. By that point, it was about 4:20 and I still had to drive about 20 minutes to get to the doctor's. Again, I hauled ass down the interstate and got there by 4:45. Whew! Thank goodness. They took him right back and when they took his temperature, they used the thermometer that you wave across the forehead. The reading said 99.4. I told the nurse that couldn't be right because he was burning up. She decided to use the rectal thermometer (which he has never experienced) and it said 102.4. Even though I hated that, that reading was more like it. I can't believe how much more accurate the rectal is. We have the ear one at home and that seems to give accurate readings, but the difference between the two at the doctor's office was astounding. The nurse gave him some tylenol and then we waited for his doctor.

So, his doctor came in and I gave her the rundown. She took a look at his ears and sure enough...double ear infection. So she gave him an antibiotic and numbing ear drops in case he seemed uncomfortable. He seemed a little better by the time we left and I think it was because his fever was down, so I ran to target to get his prescriptions filled and we headed home. I was worried that his ears would bother him and he would be up all night, but my little guy is a trooper. He had no problems sleeping! And when he woke up Saturday morning, he seemed much better. Actually, he doesn't even act like he is sick. I am going to see how he is in the morning, but I am pretty sure he is going to daycare.

So, Ethan's mom is out of town this week so I have him through Thursday. He came over on Saturday and he is so good with Brody......it really melts my heart. To see his reaction to Brody saying stuff or doing stuff is great! Ethan is lucky to have him!

Here are some pictures from this weekend. This next week will be tougher than last since my parents are out of town and I have Ethan and Brody to pick up after work. But...hey....it is nothing I can't handle! This is what life is all about! :)

Mother's Day

I had a very nice mother's day. I stayed at Tab's house Saturday night so I could help them bring the presents up and my parents kept Brody. I left early that morning and went to my parents house and had a late lunch with my Mom and Grandma. It was nice. Then after dinner, Brody and I spent the afternoon outside with my neighbor and her two kids. Since we were both husband-less, we decided to spend it together. It was such a nice day....we played in the yard and then went to the park.

All in all, it was a good day. I do wish my husband was here though (even though his present would consist of getting my goat all day!) I do miss him though! I hope all the mothers out there had a great day!! It is the toughest, most rewarding job ever..........I am super lucky and thank God everyday for this precious gift he has given me.

Tab's Shower

So, Tab's shower was this weekend and it was a success, if I do say so myself. We had a great turn out and those that love her most were there celebrating this wonderful occasion with her! She got so much stuff that we had to take 3 cars to get it back to her house. I am so excited for her that I can hardly stand it. Little Mallory will not want for anything and she is extremely blessed. I can't wait to meet her! It is only 6 more weeks until her due date, although I don't think she will make it that long.

Here are some pics from the party. My girlfriend Lisa made her cake and it was fabulous and delicious. I didn't get a pic from all sides of the cake but each side had a different type of show. There was a ballet slipper, a high heel, a cowboy boot and a flip flop. It was perfect!!! She made Brody's cake for his 1st birthday and her talent never ceases to amaze me!

Rocky!

So, this is our latest boo-boo. He was on our stairs and had a golf ball in his hand and he took a face plant and I am assuming he landed on the golf ball. I felt horrible. This actually looks better than it did. It was much worse.