Birthday buddies!

May is 2 BIG birthdays around these neck of the woods!  John turn 6 on the 5th and for 13 days, I've had 2 six-year-olds!  ;)  But, alas, Elizabeth is 7 today!  I seem to have neglected to do John's birthday post 

(have no idea why!  Sorry, John!) so here they are together!

Elizabeth

John, shortly after coming home from the NICU

Elizabeth, just shy of 2 and John, just shy of 1, at the zoo

Brownie-making helpers!  (PLEASE do ignore the messy kitchen!)

Just after Uncle Fred and Aunt Marcy's wedding, 2008

2009

2010, just after eating Lydia's birthday cake with pink icing (and with big brother, Caleb, too!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 

JOHN AND ELIZABETH!!!!

January homeschooling

January was a "princess" theme:

 Making a princess wand

 My 2 princesses (and the completed wand)

Princess Elizabeth and her crown

She also made a castle out of cardboard and toilet paper rolls, made a "princess pillow case", read about real and fairy tale princesses, and watched "Cinderella" & "Beauty And The Beast" on DVD.  On January 22nd, Elizabeth & I took in "Disney Princesses On Ice".  It was called something different but I'm pretty sure it's the exact same show we saw in 2008 which was kinda disappointing.  But, at least with a better camera, I got some pretty good shots.  

 Elizabeth & her $12 icee

 Mickey & Minnie

 Aladdin & the Genie

Sleeping Beauty 

 Prince Eric and Ursula from "The Little Mermaid"

 Mulan & MooShoo (sp?)

Cinderella in her carriage

Six

There's no way I could have imagined how our life was going to change on this day 6 years ago. We were so happy to have a baby girl after having 2 boys. But, boy, oh boy, has she been a handful! Still, we wouldn't trade her for anything! And today, we're especially happy to be celebrating her 6th birthday!Going home from the hospital in one of my dresses from 1977!July 4, 2004/ 2 months oldMay 2005/1 yearSpring 2006/2 yearsEaster 2007/3 years old4 years oldEaster 2009/5 years
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!

Kindergarten pictures are in!

ElizabethCalebDon't you think he looks just like this kid from the movie Jerry Maguire? Hee Hee!Their class picture....loved this picture 'cause it's got everyone's names printed on the bottom. I remember having to try and tell my Mom who was who in all my school pictures as a kid.

Doctors, doctors everywhere!

For the past 3 nights, we've been at doctor's offices but mostly for check-ups, not sickness, thank goodness! And actually the first 2 nights weren't doctor-doctor's at all but dentists. Nathan & Caleb were up first for their cleanings.... Mostly good reports of no cavities but they both definitely need a little work in brushing and flossing. Nathan still has 11 more baby teeth to loose and when most, if not all, of those are gone, we can talk about what we want to do -- if anything -- for the crookedness and gaps. Caleb has officially lost his 2nd baby tooth and other than needing more thorough brushing and flossing, is in good shape. Elizabeth and John were up on Tuesday night (FYI -- our dental clinic will only allow 3 at a time from the same family -- weird, I know -- so I chose to do 2 and 2 until we can do 3 and 3 but you have to be 3 years old to go to the regular clinic that has evening hours). Elizabeth, we found out, has loose teeth and the potential for 1 cavity but they think with more care while brushing and flossing, we might be able to fix that. John got the worst report of all....he has a pretty bad underbite. He's still quite young so they just said we'd watch it. I wonder what treatment for that involves?!?! And then there was this afternoon. It was only supposed to be Caleb's 5 and 6 year check-up (I was a little busy birthing Timothy when Caleb turned 5 and it just kept getting put off with all his health problems...then there came Lydia...). However, this morning when we got up, I noticed Lydia was wheezing so I called and added her to the mix. The on-call doctor on Saturday had said she thought Lydia just had a virus and while our actual pediatrician agreed, she was definitely wheezing. However, it was worse on the right side than the left so that seems to indicate that she's got a clump of mucous somewhere on that right side and when her air flows over that build-up, we hear the wheezing (gross!). The good news is that her cough is very "wet" meaning the junk is still moving while her lungs are not meaning no bronchitis or start of pneumonia. Her ears were also clear so we're stuck with "it's just a virus" again but we are giving her albuterol to help the wheezing. Caleb's check-up went very well! Caleb, Elizabeth, & John are all within 5 inches and 5 pounds of each other, LOL! Caleb's completely average while Elizabeth and John are above average for their ages, making them all basically the same size. Caleb did VERY well getting his (overdue) shots!!! Very proud of him!

Now, a kinda funny story if you know Caleb and his attitude well.... Since Caleb missed his 5 year check-up which would have done his vision screening, they did it today. I could hear them in the next room and I heard Caleb calling out letters...then I heard the nurse tell him to uncover that eye and cover the other one. Caleb said he didn't want to. The nurse encouraged him but then he said he didn't want to 'cause he couldn't see out of that other eye. The nurse was like "No, remember you just read these letters? Let's read them again with your other eye," to which Caleb responded "I TOLD YOU I CAN'T SEE OUT OF THAT EYE!". The nurse then gave up. Later when we were in the room alone, I asked Caleb if he had trouble with one of his eyes. He said yes, that he couldn't see out of one eye. I asked him how long that had been going on and he said "Oh, forever". (Insert giggle here) Then I asked him why he hadn't told me and his reply was "I just didn't want you to know"! (Yep, another giggle here) Caleb can really come up with some doozies sometimes! [And yes, we're getting that checked out....both he & Elizabeth have eye dr appts on 8/21.]

Quiet Thursday other than hounding people calling people to see if they're coming to a church function, Friday will be grocery day, and then a cHaOtIc weekend! Saturday, I have errands to run getting ready for a baby shower, then we have TWO birthday parties which means we'll miss potluck at church with our potential-new-associate pastor and his family. Then Sunday we have lunch after church for the 2nd week in a row so I'll have to make 2 pounds of pasta salad sometime on Saturday. Good thing I'm a SuperMom. I don't know how it'll all get done....

Strong words

This morning was crazy! Let me try to be brief but give you the back story (unless you'd like to go back through the blog posts to Timothy's birth?....Didn't think so). So Timothy failed his hearing tests in the hospital. Once that happened, I began receiving phone calls from *someone* claiming that they followed infants with hearing loss in Franklin County. This person (who's name I did not write down) called me periodically throughout Timothy's first 9 months as we were still wading through different tests & procedures trying to get to the bottom of things and reach a diganosis. Once Timothy was officially diagnosed with hearing loss in the fall, this person said she'd turn me over to *someone* who would start the process to set Timothy up with help such as speech therapy. This new person (who's name I didn't write down) called me in February which was not a good time with Lydia coming. I asked her to call me in April, which never happened, so I started contacting people on my own last week. I don't think I've found the right *someones* but.... This nurse I talked to last week said she was with the BCMH (Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps) which, she explained, was basically a supplemental insurance program that would help direct us to the appropriate drs and therapists and pick up where our insurance left off, financially speaking. Said that she and another woman, a rep for "Help Me Grow" (an "early intervention" program offered to all children in Franklin County who have "handicaps") would need to come out to see Timothy and fill out the paperwork. That was today. And I was left reeling. My mother's heart was broken. Their words were very strong.... Words like "handicapped" and "developmentally delayed" and "MRDD" (Mental Retardation & Development Delays) and "special school" and "sign language". They kept talking about how far behind Timothy was. It was almost more than I could bear. There is NOTHING wrong with this child! Sure, he has MILD hearing loss in his left ear but -- and anyone who's ever spent time with Timothy will tell you -- he does JUST FINE even without his hearing aid in! He doesn't yet use words nor does he walk but he's only 17 months old! He's still got time, right? As far as Timothy goes (and there's more not having to do with Timothy), he will be evaluated very soon by a group of therapists (speech & language, phsycial, occupational, etc) who will evaluate him in EVERY area (neurological, social, emotional, vision, hearing, speech, motor skills, etc) and will recommend a course of action. The nurse was just killing me with suggesting that Timothy need all these different types of therapy. "Okay, lady," I though to myself, "I just called you to get him speech therapy not for you to come into my home and tell me all the things that are wrong with my child!" *sigh*

But, wait -- there's more! While the nurse was finishing up and the rep from Help Me Grow was taking over (she was not a nurse, by the way), I noticed that the nurse was talking to John. In a few minutes, she asks me if John was in speech therapy. I told her no and she said "Well, I can tell he's behind in his speech". WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! No one, and I mean no one -- not 1 Sunday School teacher, not 1 nursery worker, not 1 relative, not 1 anyone has ever said to me that John is difficult to understand the way this lady was making it sound (all 4 year olds are difficult to understand at times by those not close to them, right?)! She said I was unlikely to "see" it because I was his mother. While I was trying to let that go AND deal with the whole Timothy stuff, she then turns to Elizabeth to say good-bye. Then she stops and asks Elizabeth to look at her. "When was the last time Elizabeth saw an eye dr?" she asks. "She's never seen an eye dr," I reply. "Come look, Mom," she says. Elizabeth's left eye drifts in toward her nose when she focuses on your face.... I've never noticed it before but I did, indeed, see it happen. Fantastic! She then said she was leaving without looking at any other children and I actually replied outloud "Yes, please!". "I'm sure I'll hear from you soon," she said....

I guess I should be glad it's time for their birthday check-ups?

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth Jeanann Stevens

May 18, 2004
4-something a.m.
6 pounds, 13 ounces
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
Happy Birthday, silly girl!

Party Day!

We'll celebrating John's 4th and Elizabeth's 5th birthdays tonight. Enjoy!

Picture post #8

Last from park day....Elizabeth

Such a silly girl who loves to pose for the camera!

Just call her Chef Elizabeth

Cute story that I just had to share! Elizabeth and John were at Candace's house for preschool today and we had just returned home from picking them up. It was time to start lunch but I noticed I had a few emails. I said my usual "what should we have for lunch today" and Elizabeth said she'd just check the freezer. She said she'd like to have chicken nuggets and I said fine. She then said she'd get the pan. I turned around mid-way through my very few emails and saw her with the broiler pan. Told her that was the wrong pan and to put it back. I then turned around to hear her getting out a cookie sheet. Then, while concentrating, I neglected to notice her actually pouring out the nuggets onto the sheet. Next thing I know, I hear the oven door open (thank goodness it wasn't on yet!). She had gotten the chicken nuggets out of the freezer, found a cookie sheet, put the nuggets on the cookie sheet and placed them on the cookie sheet into the oven, all in the time it took me to read 7 emails! After a lesson in not going near the oven when it's hot (something I've said a millions times), I turned the oven on to bake the nuggets. It's so weird to realize how closely she's watched me do that in the past and that she knew exactly where to go and what to do. At least she's imitating something I'd actually want her to imitate!

Elizabeth update and other stuff

I'm sure you're all just holding your breath (ha ha) but here's an update on Elizabeth: I feel like I'm living in the Twilight Zone. A child who had never, ever gone to the potty -- not once -- as of last week is now nearly potty-trained. She's in what she calls "underwearS" during the day and a diaper at nap and bed. Yes, she still naps (sort of) and no, I'm not that brave yet. For the most part, she takes herself something Caleb didn't do until just last summer right before he turned 5 so that's a nice switch. We still remind her about every half hour. Lots of accidents but -- hey -- she's going and that's enough for me! I do hope we're done with her by our trip in September (provided gas prices don't get so high we can't go!). John isn't interested right now, even with all the stickers and uh, "other rewards" we're giving Elizabeth.



I'm home from church today with 3 kids somewhere in the spectrum of a cold. Timothy is getting over the runny nose part but still hanging on to the cough. John is in the midst of the bad runny nose and the bad cough. And Elizabeth sounds a little stuffy although I kept her home mostly because of the potty thing. I hate to burden other people and I'm sure Sunday School/Children's Church teachers/workers have better things to do than take my daughter to the potty every 30 minutes or so. As soon as everyone is well, we'll go back to church and see how it goes. Anyway, I know this may sound just awful but I'm not that sad about being home. Last week was VBS, as I've already said, and then Friday night was the closing program. Can I just say that I hate slow computers? Messed up my presentation more than once and I'm sure it seemed like an ameteur put it together. But, no, it truly wasn't my fault -- the laptop just couldn't handle my presentation and the pictures for the slide show at the end. And then, after all that, I had a day-retreat yesterday to go to in Union City, right at the Indiana border. It was a follow-up from the one I attended in May. We're still not through all the material! Too much talking! :) Seriously, it was great but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and a little tired. My kids might be grateful for the clean clothes, too, now that I've had a morning at home to get somewhat caught up on the laundry. It's always a joy to have just 1 or 2 kids at home by themselves. You really get to see their unique personalities come out of them.

Here's 2 pictures to share.

Doesn't Timothy look happy?

John's black eye (sort of). Rumor has it, Caleb hit him with a stick. Someone hit him with a stick and I've heard that it was Caleb and then I've heard that he did it to himself. Anyway, trip to the Urgent Care revealed no scratches to his eye which we were concerned about.

We might be on to something....

Yesterday (we're hip deep in Vacation Bible School, btw), one of Elizabeth's VBS teachers brought her to me in the sanctuary/music room and told me that her and John both went to the potty during potty time. I can believe it about John -- he goes "on command" basically but has never told me he had to go or told me when he's wet/dirty. Anyway, when they told me Elizabeth had gone, I said "Are you sure?" and she said she was pretty sure. Today, the other teacher told me that Elizabeth had definitely gone. "Okay," I thought, "that's certainly interesting seeing as how she's NEVER gone for me.". This afternoon, my sister-in-law had agreed to take Nathan and Caleb for a few hours so they could play with my nephew. When she got to church after VBS to pick them up, she decided to take Elizabeth, too. (I'm telling you -- this woman is Superwoman! She worked all weekend -- graveyard shift, nonetheless -- went with me and her mom and grandmother to a bridal shower on Sunday and then to church which meant no sleep to recover from the weekend and then worked Monday and yesterday -- today was her only day off this week and she takes 3 of my 5 kids for 4 hours....amazing. If I were her, the only thing I would have done today is napped!) She overheard the teacher telling me today that Elizabeth had definitely gone potty today and decided to put Elizabeth in some "big girl pants" (we have a niece just about a year older than Elizabeth) to see what might happen. She wet through 2 pairs and a pull-up so my SIL calls me on my way to pick everyone up and tells me to bring a diaper. When I got there, Elizabeth was in big girl pants still and was dry so I told her to try and go potty before I put her diaper on and we came home. Much to my surprise, ELIZABETH WENT POTTY before we left and I'm not talking about a little drip, either, if you catch my drift! I'm still in shock and awe, dazed and confused. We've called all 4 grandparents and Daddy on his way home from work to spread the good news. I can't really work with her until next week as we finish up VBS and I have a ladies day retreat on Saturday but, Lord willing, I beginning to think I might just get this silly little girl potty trained before the summer's out! Yes, I'll try John at the same time 'cause I think if we could get him to learn what it feels like to have to go, he might just be easy to train (hear me knocking on wood?). Maybe I'll get a break before Timothy turns 2 'cause I feel like I've been potty training for 2 straight years after what we went through with Caleb. Being pregnant with Elizabeth and then John and now this potty-training time have been the only times where I kinda wished they weren't born so close together. But, I choose to believe God has something special in store for these little ones. Don't stop praying, though! 'Cause after potty training for Timothy, you know what's next? Puberty. Nathan will be turning 10 after Timothy turns 2....I think that's enough said. :)

Poor Elizabeth

That's what everyone always says when they hear she has 4 brothers....Well, I keep saying "don't pity her!" and now I have pictures to back me up! :) She can hold her own -- just look how dirty she is from playing in the backyard the other day!

Posing like a girl, dirty like a boy!

Peek-a-boo!

look at those dirty fingers!

Catching up, part 2

Sunday School lunch....Elizabeth was trying to be polite and not eat with her fingers!!! :)What a face!And here's some new pictures of Timothy....tummy time!