Cheap Parents

Published on July 7, 2010 in Gavin Year 6 and Genius is as genius does. 1 Comment

A super cute conversation between Gavin and his favorite Uncle Jake over Gmail chat this afternoon.

2:21 PM me: i <3 you
jake: I love you too Gavin
me: <3
jake: :P
2:23 PM me: hehe :)
2:24 PM jake: :8
:)
(A)
2:26 PM me: i tryed to video chat to you but i dont have a webcam and head phones and a microphone
jake: oh no
We need to tell your mom to get you some
2:28 PM me: :’(
jake: +o(
2:32 PM me: i think microphones cost too many money and my parents only buy stuff that are cheap
2:33 PM jake: No. They are cheep. Ask aunt Kara. Also I think I have a camera here I can bring to you when I come out next week
Talk about feeling like the worst parent ever. My kid thinks we are cheap assholes. Now I have to go out and get him a web cam and a microphone to ease my guilt.

An update on the Biscuit and why I am slacking on my blogging

Published on July 7, 2010 in Extra Biscuit and Pregnancy. 3 Comments

I seem to blog in spurts. Some times I am great at it, other times I go a month without saying much. I have about six different posts I am working on and I will have ready soon. So look forward to that. Its been a busy summer. My sister Kara and her two girls are staying with us since June 15th, and won’t be going home until July 22! Its been chaotic fun and we are going to miss them so much when they leave. I just haven’t had time to sit down and blog like I have wanted to. The kids have done so many fun and new things and I promise to have you all updated soon.

Anyway, with my excuse for slacking out of the way, I wanted to post a quick update on the Bonus Baby. As most of you know I had a really scary delivery with Gavin. When I got pregnant with Keaton I was supposed to be considered high risk and be treated as such. Well no one told me what a moron my OB was going to be before hand. So instead of having my worries constantly eased away, I was forgotten and told to “hang in there”. Thankfully I had an okay pregnancy and a wonderful delivery and recovery. I suppose I got a little Cocky. I thought since Keaton’s had gone so well, why can’t I have a third? And really so far this pregnancy has been great. I think its the best I’ve ever felt pregnant.

Well last week my OB scared me a little.  I went in for my big ultrasound where they check the baby and all that jazz. When I went in I was showing some protein in my urine and I had high blood pressure. At the last visit  I also had a high blood pressure. However, any time I took it at home it was perfectly normal. I haven’t had swollen ankles or felt sick like I did before I was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia last time. But my OB was/is worried so he referred me to a High risk OB and I had to collect my urine for 24 hours (good times!). I went from feeling scared like something was wrong, to mad because I thought he was over reacting, back to scared because I don’t know if I could handle 3 1/2 months of bed rest if things were bad. Then finally back to “My OB knew all the previous trouble I had with my OB with Keaton and I really thought he might just be trying to prove he was taking me seriously”.

After a week of worrying I finally had my appointment with the high risk OB today and all my worries were eased. I had a very extensive ultrasound and Biscuit is growing perfectly. He is measuring right on with his dates and he was all to happy to flash us his junk (which they printed a 5×7 glossy of his little pee-pee to keep) so we could again verify that he’s a he. I explained to the OB about how I thought we might just be jumping the gun because my blood pressure has/had been fine most of the time. She didn’t think we were and thought that with Keaton’s pregnancy, they didn’t do enough. She says I should have had constant monitoring with him and it was really lucky I had such a successful outcome. For now I am not going to be put on blood pressure meds. Instead she wants monthly ultrasounds to check Biscuits growth. I have to check my blood pressure weekly and report any high pressures. At 32 weeks I will start having weekly stress tests to make sure he is doing fine. If at any time they feel he isn’t growing well or that my blood pressure is continuously high they may put me on medication or bed rest.

I was also told to start taking one baby aspirin every day to help prevent pre-eclampsia. The OB asked me if I had done this with Keaton’s pregnancy. I told her that from 24 weeks on I took tons of aspirin because I was told I could use it for pain for the gallbladder issues I had with Keaton’s pregnancy. I was taking adult doses and several a day. After he was born I read how that can be dangerous and I was so mad at my OB. The high risk OB was mad that he told me to take so much, but she thinks it may have helped ward off pre-eclampsia with him. So I am mad at my OB with Keaton and at the same time a little grateful.

I feel great that they are taking things seriously and making sure that I have as healthy a baby as I can get. I am happy to have my mind put to rest. I am so thankful for modern medicine and doctors that actually give a crap. At the same time I just feel sick over what wasn’t done when I was pregnant with Keaton. I just keep thinking of the what-ifs of his pregnancy. I know I shouldn’t because he is 4 years old and bright and so so awesome. I just can’t help it though. I want to call up my last OB and just bitch him out. For now I will just continue to be thankful and hope for the best for littlest Biscuit.

Baby Update

Published on June 8, 2010 in Extra Biscuit, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Blah blah and The newest Grotegut. 3 Comments

I thought I would post a little update on the biscuit. I had another ultrasound last week just to clear up that 5% chance that it might not be a boy. He’s still a boy and I swear he doubled in size in just 2 weeks time. He is in the funniest position too. He is bum over head with his legs spread wayy out. Check out this hilarious picture of him relaxing in the womb. You can see that he is DEFINITELY a boy. No doubt about it.

If you look below where it says 19 weeks you’ll see his little package. A leg to the left and a leg to the right and his head all the way at the bottom. He looks really uncomfortable in this position.

I am now halfway through my pregnancy and feeling the baby move all the time. He is always active from 10pm on. He sleeps all day though. I am hoping this is not how he is when he gets here. I deserve an excellent sleeper this time around.  I haven’t gained any weight yet. So that is awesome. My blood pressure has been fine so far. I have had a few days of swelling in my ankles from too much time out in the 90 degree heat. I am hoping its just a fluke though. Not much else to report on. I am getting a little energy back. But mostly I just feel like sleeping all day. I have no energy to clean or cook. So my family has been pretty neglected and we are all getting fat on fast food. Only 20 more weeks to go though, we can make it right?

Oh! We have a name picked out for the Biscuit. We are keeping it a secret until he’s born though. Well except for close friends and family. Who knows though, I may change the name before the baby is born. It happened with both the other boys.

Here are a couple of other photos from my ultrasound last week. I have my big ultrasound to check all the parts of the baby to make sure he’s whole on the 28th. So I should have more photos then.

Profile picture with his mouth open. His mouth was open in the last ultrasound too. He must like to sleep like that.

The money shot! Definitely a boy :)

You’re the good kind

Published on June 4, 2010 in Gavin Year 6, Genius is as genius does and The "A" word. 3 Comments

For three years I’ve had a lot of explaining to do. I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t mention how Gavin is autistic to someone. Whether it be John and I discussing it, someone asking, or me making excuses for Gavin’s cheekie and or bad behavior. The “A” word is big around here. Its used freely and often. We never shy away from discussing it. Sometimes with friends, family members, even complete strangers. As Gavin has gotten older he’s heard the word Autism quite often. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that he finally asked the dreaded question…

“Mom, do I have Autism?”

And the even more dreaded…

“well what is Autism?”

I guess I never thought about how we’d discuss this subject with him. I guess I never thought he’d be able to even ask me such a question. But here he is just 5 1/2 years old looking curiously at me behind those glasses wanting to know what the deal is with this whole “autism” thing.

I didn’t really know what to say. I didn’t know how to put into words what Autism is. I wanted to just hold him and tell him how crappy it can be. How it steals so much. How I feel like I missed out on so much of his life because he couldn’t tell me about it. Of course I didn’t want to confuse or scare the crap out of him. So instead I put it as simply as I could.

“Yes Gavin you do have autism. Autism is a word we use to describe someone who’s words and thoughts are trapped inside and they just can’t get out”.

Gavin thought about it for a minute “Exactly how are they trapped”

“Well when you were littler you couldn’t talk. Your words were just stuck. It took you a really long time to speak the way you do now. You were probably four-years-old before you could speak full sentences. And because your words were stuck inside and you couldn’t tell us what you wanted you spent a lot of time crying and throwing fits”.

He smiled really big and laughed, “Was I funny when I would throw fits?”

“Not really. They sort of made mom a little crazy”.

He thought for a second still smiling “Well I can talk now”.

“Yep, you sure can. You are so lucky. Your autism hasn’t stopped you from being so smart.”

G: “Yeah, yeah, I am so smart. So my autism is good. It made me smart”

“It sure did. Even though you have autism you are still so smart, funny, awesome, and all the other million things we love about you”

G: “Oh, Oh, its cause I have the Good kind of Autism”.

“Its the best kind”.

He really does. He has the best kind around. The kind were we feel so blessed. The kind that if you have to have a kid with autism, it might as well be the kind Gavin has. Even with the challenges he faces and the constant ups and downs. He is still just the awesomest kid around. He may drive me crazy on a daily basis. But its mostly for regular kid reasons now. And for that I am glad he has the good kind of Autism.

Gavin is now very into telling people all about how he has Autism and couldn’t talk until he was four. But its okay because he has the good kind of Autism and its made him smart :) . He’s also promised me that he will teach our new baby how to talk so he doesn’t get Autism.  Man I love this kid!

Oh Boy!

Published on May 22, 2010 in Extra Biscuit. 10 Comments

Dear Extra Biscuit,

Firstly I’d like to say, girls suck anyway! We are thrilled you are joining our family, pee-pee and all! It might be rough being the youngest boy of three. Lots of hand me downs and bossy older brothers. I promise your brothers are mostly awesome and you are going to dig their shenanigans. They are going to teach you all about how to make messes and play make believe. I am so excited to meet you Baby Brother!  Stay comfy in the womb and we’ll see you in October.

Love,

Mom

PS…the cord was in the way so we got a “I’m 95% sure its a boy…” So I am going back next week for a quick double check.

Gavin Graduates Preschool

Published on May 21, 2010 in Gavin Year 6 and Videos. 1 Comment

Gav the Grad!

(excuse the quality. I didn’t have my external flash and the lighting sucked)

Its hard to believe that I am almost the mom of a Kindergartner! Gavin graduated preschool on Wednesday (and Thursday). After three years with the same teacher, bus driver, and teachers aides, it was so hard to say goodbye. Well not for Gavin. He says he has their email addresses and he will just email them. I was the one who was a wreck. I spent the entire time choking back tears. Especially when he was hugging his teachers good bye. They’ve been a part of our lives for so long and it was tough knowing this was the end.

Gavin & Ms. Nicole

I also think that Gavin really doesn’t understand that next year he’ll be in an all new school. We’ve been trying to prepare for it. He tells us all the time that he will make new friends at his new school. I know Gavin is ready for Kindergarten. He has come so far these passed three years. At the same time I worry he won’t get a great teacher like he has had. His teacher and teachers aides have been the best. I just hope and pray his Kindergarten teacher is as sweet and loves him as much as they did. I can’t see how she wouldn’t though. He is pretty cute and lovable :) .

There are a bunch of video clips here. We went to both days of his preschool graduation program. He has two days because most kids go either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs, and the days repeat. So Mon/Tues are the same thing. He goes all four days so he gets to do everything twice, which he never seemed to mind. Anyway, I filmed both days. The second day my video ran out because we had filmed Keaton’s right before. Again, these are long and probably only family will watch.


Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing


Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing


Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing


Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing

This one is my favorite because you can hear Gavin singing. The best part was when I uploaded it and Gavin watched it he said “The video camera doesn’t do my voice right”. HA! No one likes the way they sound on film :) .

Keaton’s Preschool Program

Published on May 21, 2010 in Keaton Year 5 and Videos. 0 Comments

Keaton and his teacher Mrs. Veater

Keaton finished his first year of preschool yesterday. He’s learned so much and made so many friends. He’s a wiz with numbers. He can count to 100 already and can read numbers so well! He recognizes all his letters, upper and lower case. He can spell and write his name. He is such a smart kid, and we’re so proud of how well he’s done. He can’t wait for next year!

His preschool put on a little program for us yesterday. They sang all their favorite songs. Keaton was so cute singing and doing all the hand motions. He loves all his preschool music. His teacher made all the kids a CD of the songs, and he’s already listened to it 10x’s since. Anyway, here is a little video of his performance. Its long so I suspect only grandparents and family will watch :) Also to warn you in the middle of the video the sound goes crappy and crackly for a few minutes, then goes back. My Flip video recorder apparently needs to be replaced. I am so sad it ruined this video! The first part is fine though.

Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing

Keaton and his best friend Colton

Waiting for the show to start


Haircuts

Published on May 7, 2010 in Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. 4 Comments

The boys Auntie Kristin gave them the cutest haircuts today. She is so awesome! No longer do I have to stress about how a haircut is going to go.

Staying Fit

Published on May 3, 2010 in Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. 2 Comments

Who says video games make kids fat?

Life Beats the hell out of him

Published on May 2, 2010 in Gavin Year 6. Closed

A couple of weeks ago Gavin had a little accident. Well actually two. The weather had warmed up enough to allow them to run around outside. Gavin as engrossed in some blocks he had in his hands, and was running full speed ahead. He hit some uneven cement and fell face first (because he couldn’t catch himself or he’d have to let go of his blocks) onto the ground skidding all the way. He managed to scrap his nose, eyebrow, forehead, shoulder, and fingers. Worst was that he scrapped his glasses that were only 4 months old! After I made sure he was okay and cleaned him up, I started dreading the cost of a new pair of glasses. We had just purchased those glasses in November for a whopping $465! Luckily they were still under warranty and for $25 we replaced the lenses (which I still need to pick up).

His second accident happened the week after Easter. We were having our annual egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Draper’s house. It was postponed due to the crappy snowy weather. Before the hunt Gavin and his cousins were jumping on the trampoline. All of a sudden I look over and see Gavin walking over with blood gushing from his nose and mouth. Apparently they were playing wrestling and Keaton ended up jumping on his face! Luckily he was okay. He got a bloody nose, a new scrap, reopened some scabs, and loosened a tooth (that is fine now). The worst was that he got a bad headache and didn’t want to participate in the egg hunt. Poor guy.