Preschool

I really wanted to get Colton into a preschool program, for several reasons really.  One so that he can interact with kids his own age and learn to "play" with them.  I think it would be good to have other kids to parallel.  Granted he will probably bring home every illness, but hopefully he has a good immune system and can stay healthy.  Also I think it might help for his speech to develop.  Being around other kids, hopefully he can pick up on them talking and can learn from them.  This being a small town, only two places really offered preschool for two year olds.  One was definitely out of the question so that only left one.  I didn't want a daycare type place, which there was plenty of those.  I wanted something with an education type atmosphere.  I put Colton on the waiting list several months ago and I called the other day and she said she had his spot ready. We went and met with the teacher yesterday and it looks like a nice place.  He will go Monday, Tuesday and Friday.  The way it is set-up, it is actually an all day type of thing, but he is only going half-days.  We will take him after breakfast (I like to know and monitor what he eats for breakfast and he is a little picky) and the we will go pick him up right before they eat lunch.  Again for the same reason, but he maybe could stay for lunch depending on what they are serving.  I saw a menu for the week and noticed beenie-weenies, which I know he won't eat.  Also he can go back to Grammy's and take his nap.  I am a little concerned with how his potty training will go, but Ms Tanya said that she takes them about 45 minutes.  Hopefully he will continue with the progress he has made so far.  Eventually he might stay longer, but at two, I think this schedule will work best for him.  He starts on Monday so I will be sure to take his picture of his first day of school!!!

Merry Christmas!!

 Just waking up on Christmas morning

 Bed head!!

 His new "ride"

 Proud of his wheels!!

 I actually got Steve in a picture!!

 Stocking stuff

 Puzzles

 Aquadoodle

 Trucks

 Play tent

 Fire truck

 Loved the tent

Trying it out.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.  I know we did.  It was exhausting though.  My aunt and her family come over and Colton was so overstimulated!!!  He was like a crazy child--more so than usual.  I found him at 6:45 laying on the floor in his room with his binky.  I said "Are you tired?  Do you want to go to bed?"  To which he said "yep" and he was in bed by 7:00 and I had to wake him up at 8:00 to get ready for church yesterday.

Good grief!!

About 10 minutes after I posted on Friday, I get a call from the Primary Care Center saying that Steve shows all the signs of an appendicitis.  SO I go pick him up and off to the ER we go.  We got there about 10 and they took us right back and then we waited, and waited and WAITED.  Finally after bloodwork and a CAT scan, they decided that he did indeed have an appendicitis and he would be going over to surgery to have it taken out.  At 5:00, we went in and by 5:45 the surgeon came out to tell me everything went well and he was in recovery.  I stayed with him until about 8:00 and then I left to come home to relive Mom who had taken Colton home and put him to bed.  We went and picked him up on Saturday morning and he is doing fine.  They were able to get the appendix laproscopically so he only has three small incisions.  With Christmas being this week, hopefully it will be a calm and slow week!!

Crazy busy week--with a side of sickness thrown in

  My normally quiet week at work has not been so this past week.  We had about 300 milk samples left over from Friday to do on Monday.  On top of that, our Christmas breakfast was Monday morning, so it was spent cooking and getting the food ready.  Also on Monday, our new guy started here at work.  In addition, two people are off this week.  I am in charge of "training" the new guy, so he is my shadow for now.  Tuesday did not start out well.  I woke up about 4:30 AM feeling very nauseous.  At 5:30 I had to go throw up (TMI!!).  I came back to bed and tossed and turned until the alarm went off at 6:30 and proceeded to be sick yet again.  I got dressed and went in to get Colton up and dressed and ready to go to Grammy's.  He was fine (THANK GOD) and after his morning potty time, I got sick again.  I loaded him up in the car and off to Grammy's we went.  Once there, I tried to eat some crackers and ginger ale, but it didn't stay down either.  I went to work because I knew we had ALOT to do with two people out already and the new guy here.  I battled through all day making numerous trips to the bathroom throughout the day.  Steve called me about 1:30 and said he was sick as well.  When I finally got off, I went and got Colton and took him home and Steve was in bed--where he stayed and didn't move at all (in other words, he offered no help to me in watching, feeding, bathing and getting Colton in bed).  I had never felt so sick in my entire life.  I went to sleep about 9:00 and woke up feeling like my old self, so it must have just been some 24 hour virus.  Colton still didn't get sick, nor did anyone here at work.  Wednesday, Thursday and today have been the same--super busy and no time to stop and relax.  I will be glad when this week is over!!!!

Happy Birthday Colton!!

Colton is officially two years old today.  I took him in for his check up and he weighed 29 pounds and was 36 inches tall.  I went ahead and got his MMR shot, by itself.  They asked about the varicella, but I declined for now.  He only cried for about 30 seconds and then he was fine.  Mom gave him some Tylenol so hopefully he will not have too bad of a reaction.

Party time!!

The spread, minus the cake. The flowers were from church. They were the altar flowers in honor of Colton's birthday.
The cake
Colton jumping in his bounce house. It really is a great investment. He LOVES that thing.
Showing Miss Maudine his driving skills.
Colton and his three girlfriends, Sophie, Emma, and Annabelle (she is his favorite).
Sophie pulling Colton and Landen, my nephew.
Colton and Annabelle driving the Mini. Notice she is driving and he is navigating. I forsee this in the future with these two. LOL
Gift time.

Spongebob umbrella was a hit.
He was more interested in drinking than looking at his new book.
The three girls waiting for cake.
All lit and ready to go.
Colton savoring his cake.

All in all it went very well, considering there were 5 two-year-olds. They all got along and few tears were shed. The weather was ok. It was sunny, but a little breezy. Since I was having it outside, I wanted it to be warm enough that everyone could enjoy themselves. Tomorrow is his official birthday and he has a doctor's appointment as well. I can't believe my little man will be TWO-YEARS-OLD ALREADY!!!

Birthday Party!!!!

Colton's Spongebob extravaganza is Sunday!!! I think I bought out Wal-Mart, as well as some other stores here, of all of their Spongebob items. We have Spongebob plates, cups, hats, tablecover, party game, a pinata, balloons, blow-up Spongebob and party favors. I also wrapped Colton's gifts in Spongebob paper. He will be wearing his personalized Spongebob shirt. He will have a Spongebob cake. We will be in Spongebob OVERLOAD!!!! I will be sure to take pictures so everyone can get their fill of Spongebob.

Better--

Well I finally got some sleep last night. I usually take one Melatonin at night. Well last night, I took two and that seemed to help me somewhat. I remember waking up several times, but I was able to at least fall back asleep.

I know that lately this blog has been all "puppies and rainbows", but more serious and somewhat of a downer. I read other people's blog and it all happy and cheerful. That is just their writing style. Mine is more of a raw style to let other people in my situation remember that they are not ALONE. Alone is a very scary word. The idea that I am the only mom that struggles with being happy as she deals with her child is isolating. It is scary to wonder if I’m the only mom who tries to be gentle with her words, but most of the time fails miserably and raises her voice. Am I the only mom that has more “God, I really messed that up” followed by “Colton, Mommy was mean/rude/impatient will you please forgive me” moments than “Ha! Nailed that one. Good job” moments? I do admit I am not a patient person. If I am doing something, I want it done NOW. Sometimes I question if I should have even had a baby. Kids are not quick to do anything (except make a mess) and I have to keep reminding myself of that. It is a process--talking, potty training, they all take time and me getting EXTREMELY frustrated isn't going to make him do it any faster. In some ways, it will probably slow the whole process down. I appreciate the comments and those who offer advice because they have "been there and done that" and from those who are right there with me--going through the same process and having the same struggles. I have to remember that just because someone is writing about all the great accomplishments that their kids are having, there are probably 2 times the same amount of failures that they are just not "reporting".

This time will pass and I just ask everyone to bear with me while I get through it---

I give up---

Maybe it is the lack of sleep. I woke up at 2:00AM and didn't go back to sleep. But I just give up!!!

Obsessed

This is our Christmas card this year. I had done the Shutterfly promotion and received my cards today in the mail. I was so excited!! I thought it was cute!! I had taken several in a Santa hat trying to pose him and then randomly, he made this face and I snapped the picture. Mom says she thinks it is an awful picture of Colton--he is pulling down his eye, has a funny mouth thing going on, and he doesn't have any pants on. I thought it was reminiscent of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.

Now to the obsessed part. I have been called obsessed recently in regards to Colton. Yes, I am obsessed with his speech and I am obsessed with his progress in potty training. These are two things that very important to me. In any way do I think that he is not a very intelligent child. He is extremely smart, but he may have an issue with speech and I want to get it looked into. I know I seem to be harping on this subject lately, but I am truly worried about him. I don't know if it is only this, but I have not slept for almost a week now. I just lay in bed and toss and turn, my mind racing a hundred miles an hour. There are certainly families in far worse situations that I am in and don't want to take anything away from them. Children fighting cancer and other life-threatening conditions; all I am "fighting" is my inner voice and an almost two-year-old that won't repeat what I say.

His potty training is going well. He had an accident this morning on the way to Mom's. He woke up dry and went pee in the potty and I put his Spongebob undies on, as he insisted in his grunting manner, and when we got there (10 minutes from our house) he had wet his pants. I tried not to scold and just asked him "did you pee pee in your pants" and he said "yep". I know accidents happen when potty training and it is called "training" for a reason. I am determined not to regress though. We will preserve and continue to keep working on it. I have never done this before. I just take him to the potty every 30-45 minutes and most of the time, he will go. If you ask him, his response is usually "no", but I take him anyway. I think I need to try and work on going longer between trying, but then I am afraid he will wet his pants and we go back to square one.

Kids--what a ride!!