Happy Spring!

You know I'm a cold weather gal, but kids are changing my tune.  Between all the sickness this winter and the NOISE OH MY GOSH THE NOISE GET OUT OF MY HOUSE I'm excited for the season change.

Jack earned this Spider-Man bubbler by sticker chart, with the final sticker this morning. 


I got flowers at the store to celebrate.  Also, I told Jack we should make a Spring Cake.  A Spring Cake is just a regular cake, made on the first day of Spring.  This might have to become a tradition, like my first-snow-waffle making.  Seasonal baking FTW!



We made the cake from scratch but I drew the line at homemade frosting.  Sam was not in a patient mood today. 





One of the few moments he wasn't in tears today.


Fork?  Ain't nobody got time for that!

Trim

Jack's first haircut at a salon. It went as expected. But faster and cleaner than me doing it at home again. With celebratory lunch out.

Musical Pictures

I have neglected posting pictures from the show!  I took my camera the last night and got pictures from the back row.  These are some of the better shots, but they are all on my flickr.

Famagram

Friday fun

Happy Half-Birthday!

Today my Sammy is six months old.


Everything goes in his mouth.  EVERYTHING.  If I really want to make him happy, I left him tangle his fingers in my hair and pull my nose into his mouth.  But I rarely make it all the way because OW!




He's a serious kid.  Strangers can easily coax a smile out when we pass in stores.  But most of the time he is quietly looking about, absorbing everything. 


He still has that tuft of dark hair in the back.  I'm surprised he still has as much hair as he does.  Maybe it won't all rub off like his brother's did.




He's so curious about food.  He likes everything I've given so far except one - sweet potatoes.  But bananas, apples, oatmeal, rice cereal, celery, carrots, those were all happily eaten.  I got the go ahead today from his doc to give him mashed up anything (except honey). 


Oh my gosh, his goober grin kills me.


That old man jowl!


Obviously he's sitting like a champ.  Well, he falls often enough that a pillow or person needs to be close by.  But he loves sitting and playing.  Tummy time still sucks.  Maybe he will skip crawling and just scoot around from sitting position. 


His growth measurements are still absurd.  He wears size 9 - 18 month depending on the brand.  He weighed 19 pounds 8 ounces on their scale (20.2 pounds on mine last week).  He is 29 inches long.  According to their charts that makes him 85% weight and way off the chart for height. 


For fun I exported my growth charts on my iphone. 

All that does is confirm that yes, yes I have big boys, and Sam has a slight edge so far.  Hoo boy, no wonder my back is broke.

But that's more boy for me to love!

Adjustment was the solution

I've had a history of back problems.  No one has ever recommended chiropractic care.  Usually my problems resolve in a week or less.  This injury was the worst.  I felt like I was in labor.  I had to deep breathe to get up out of bed, shuffle to Sam's room, and groan into the rocking chair.  I used heating pads continuously, a TENS unit, Motrin and Tylenol, then Aleve and Tylenol as needed. 

After two weeks I was still in crazy pain.  For the last five days I didn't see any improvement.  I lived with 4/10 pain constantly, going up to 8/10 with effort (lifting car seat, sitting down while holding Sam, bending to pick up toys, sitting on hard chairs, basically what I do all day every day).  A mom at playgroup saw my TENS unit and mentioned her husband was a chiropractor.  Huh.  I didn't even think to try that.  After some online research I found a guy in Denver with great reviews and transparent prices.  (I felt weird going to see a guy in my bishopric for health concerns, but maybe I will switch now that I know what it's like). 

I couldn't wait for an appointment that would work with a babysitter/Ben, so I schlepped the kids along Monday afternoon.  The doctor interviewed me about the pain, assessed my posture and flexibility, and then suggested a basic treatment plan.  He thinks it could be disc related, but doesn't recommend imaging until this happens again.  I did a 10 minute heat and electrical therapy set, then massage with a giant jack hammer tool.  I kid you not, it was enormous.  But it worked because I could feel my muscles loosen up.  Then he did the classic adjustments, cracking up my spine, twisty on both sides, then again lying on my back.  I was a little sore but no big change. 

But the next morning I noticed I was MUCH better.  I even skipped my pain meds because I was sick of taking them.  All day I paid attention to my pain.  It was about a 2/10 all day, bumping up to a 4 with aggravation. 

Today?  Even better.  There are times I don't even notice my back.  I can pick up Sam in his car seat with almost the normal amount of strain.  My muscles are a little sore, like after a bad sleep position or a long workout.  But hardly any actual "pain" today.  I'm thrilled! 

I have another appointment on Friday and I'm very much looking forward to it.  I was so wary of chiropractors in the past.  I'm totally converted.  There are scammy ones out there.  I read some ways to be sure you are seeing a decent practitioner.  But I think it's another tool you can use, like massage, to take care of your body.  Maybe one of my readers is saying, "Duh.  I've been seeing a guy for years."  In that case, shame on you for not telling me to go sooner!  I wish I had gotten treatment immediately.  When this inevitably happens again, I know I'll be seeking help right away. 

Hopeless

We need Grandpa Rick out here to teach Jack some sports skills.  Ben and I are obviously failing in this regard.






To be fair, he hits the ball with a bat >50% of the time.  So hope is not all lost. 

Also we quizzed him on up/downstage, stage left/right, echappe, passe, coupe, and saute, and he remembered all of his ballet.  He excels at what we give him, and that ain't sports.

Sunday selfie

Come on! Again!

The boys are STILL sick. Remember how last time I mentioned it, Jack was recovering from a cold in January?  But then he got a runny nose and the lingering cough worsened?  So I declared it a second cold at the end of February.

That was a couple weeks ago.  His cough died down enough to where I took the humidifier out of his room (I was tired of maintaining it).  He protested and claimed to still be sick.  I pooh poohed him and thrust him out the door to our play date at the park this morning.  When he fell asleep on the 10 minute drive home, snacks uneaten in his lap, I finally believed him.  He barely woke up enough to walk to the couch.  His temp was elevated at 99.4.  So that makes THREE overlapping colds?  For real?? (In Gob voice) Come on!!

Sam, meanwhile, has a worsening cough and stuffy nose.  Unfortunately I have had to wake him up from a few naps this week to get to outings relatively on time.  Poor guy seems tired all the time now.  Last night he had a terrible coughing fit at midnight and wouldn't settle until I nursed him.  Then coughing and soothing again at 3, feeding at 5:30, then blessedly slept until 8.

Is it bad that I'm thrilled both of the sick boys are asleep right now - granting me time to eat a hot lunch and catch up on some work?  Do moms ever NOT feel guilty?

Toes are yummy.

Sometimes I get déjà vu. Can you tell them apart?

Jack 2010

 Sam 2014

Jack's imagination

First, Jack has been on a serious superhero kick.  Heavy emphasis on Spiderman.

He already liked the Avengers in toys and TV.  Then he got really into the Lego Marvel video game.  Then it became everything Spiderman.  Soap, undies, shirts, toys, he can't get enough.

But what I love most is that he has started to make up his own superheroes.  Here's his current team:

Ringer Leader

Star Swiper

Pants Whipper (pictured)

Ninja Bubs

Dragon Ball (a bad guy)

He has described costumes, attack style, and upgrades for each.






Second, Jack had his last drama class today.  Family and friends got to attend to see what they have been up to.  It was cute, exactly what I expected for their age.  He had so much fun in this class.

Blowing up their acting-space balloons:



After they caught and swallowed their big-acting-voices, they each got to introduce themselves on the mic (you talk into it, but you cannot kiss it, Jack informed me).



Reviewing the story they will be acting out:


Getting into costumes:



Enjoying the show:




Bows: