Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Not much to say....

....but feel the need to say SOMETHING!

We are currently going thru an update on our house. We have lived here for 9 years but haven't really done any updating because we've always spent extra money on doctor and hospital bills.
We replace the carpet in living room and vinyl in kitchen and hallway with laminate flooring. During that process we found some dry rot and had to replace a wall. Or two. We are painting and replacing worn out doors and trim as we go. We have been working on it for about 3 wks. now and I am very thankful that we have this opportunity but also frustrated because it has meant me packing up 4 kids and being gone somewhere all day while work gets done. It has meant the kitchen table being in the living room (fun!). And getting behind on my everyday chores--laundry and dusting, etc.
But enough of that whining.

Summer is almost here!! Jayce had his first baseball practice of the season tonight and it went well. Alot of the same kids as last year.

Josie is done with preschool and all registered for kindergarten. She is very excited and it's going to be hard for her to wait all summer before she "gets to ride the bus with Jayce". Jayce is not as thrilled.

Jeven turned 2 last week. He is the same weight as Jarrett, his older brother. Just a tad shorter. I had to fill out a questionnaire that is an "Autism" screening. For some stupid reason he failed it!! Meaning that more testing is recommended. Now, I have been around autism and Jeven is not autistic!! The whole thing was based on I said "no, he doesn't always look where I'm pointing." What 2 yr. old does? My husband doesn't always pay enough attention to know where I'm pointing!!
Luckily, our ped. knows me and although it is his job to offer more testing, he was very o.k. with me refusing the test.
It left me feeling very frustrated with the whole system. It seems more and more kids are getting diagnosed with Autism and yes, it is real and families are suffering from it but maybe, perhaps some of these "Autistic kids" could benefit from more attention (positive) from Mom and Dad.

I will get off my soap box now!!

I will put some pics of our "remodel" on soon! Befores and afters. Just hoping I get to take the afters soon...

Friday, May 9, 2008

I date my son.

Actually, I date all of my children.

Any good Pastor or marriage counselor will tell you how important it is to keep dating your spouse, even after you've been married for years. And even if you don't have children. That is a principle that Judd and I follow as much as possible. It is hard with 4 children and a job that doesn't give him regular days/hours off. But we do ok. More on that in a different post.

But, because I do have 4 children and they are still so young, most of my day is spent cleaning and "tending" to the little ones. And I admit, grudgingly, that I don't always listen when Jayce or Josie are telling me something. It is something that I swore I would never do, and to be honest, I have kept that promise up until the last year or so. But I find myself doing the "uh-huh" or "wow" but not really knowing what was said. I find EXTREMELY important to take my children, one at a time, with me, somewhere. Be it the grocery store, or just for a simple walk. Or alone in their rooms. I am always amazed at how different they are when their siblings aren't around. Josie is much better behaved, Jarrett talks very clearly and specifically, and Jeven seems like such a big boy.
That brings me to Jayce. With Jayce, I actually go to the trouble of planning a "date". I arrange for the others kids to be watched and we go somewhere somewhat special. The toy store, where we look at ONLY his likes. The video game store, where we can take our time and look at all the cool games. Or even to McD's where we sit INSIDE the restaurant (not in the van, driving down the road!) and we talk. Or I should say, he talks. And talks. About everything. His friends, GIRLS (yikes!) and what he wants to be when he grows up (ever changing). Again, I am amazed at what an awesome kid he is. Being the oldest, and also the typical oldest child, he does get put last sometimes. He doesn't always need the constant supervison, or constant nagging.
But I want to make sure these lines of communication stay open. It is my hope that even when he is 16 or 17 that he will still date his mom.