Memory

Have you ever noticed how we tend to forget moments. My kids are still very little yet, I seem to have already forgotten a lot of things. Thankfully I try to write a lot down and keep track of some milestones. But mostly the things that I have kept close track of are all the firsts. And not that those aren't important. But for example when was the last day that I had to push Emma on the swing because she didn't know how to do it herself? When was the last time I was able to rock any of my babies to sleep. Now they are too big and squirmy and require doing that on their own without the comfort of mommy. The last time I nursed them or gave them a bottle? And right now Emma has pretty much mastered tying her own shoes. Yes, on occasion she needs me to double knot or help a little but someday I am going to look back and say "hey, when did she stop needing me for that?"
So a few days ago when Emma asked me to carry her I did and the entire time I tried burning that moment into my mind because in all honesty the girl is almost as tall as me (haha funny, yes, its not that tall I KNOW!!) But... that's probably the last time it will happen. She is just getting to big. And last night since Brennon failed to take a nap again, and was completely exhausted he let me snuggle next to him my cheek next to his, my arms wrapped around him as I watched his big brown eyes slowly drift closed. And every night as I tuck my little Addy Joy into bed all snuggled up on my shoulder holding her blanky close, sucking her thumb intently I try hard to not forget what that feels like. Because all to soon she won't be needing that goodnight snuggle with mommy.

Something to Disgust you with

I am constantly amazed at what my kids will and will not eat. No seriously you don't understand, the things that they put in their mouth is absolutely horrifying most of the time. (Let me say that Emma is pretty much grown out of that phase but I think Brennon will be in it forever) But what is truly a miracle is they don't seem to get sick from it. Let me give you a couple of examples, you know, to make you sick.

Emma-Jean: (baby and toddler age)
-paper
-cat food
-boogers
-dirt
Not to bad of a list really, not that abnormal for a small child

Brennon: (this list is definitely not over)
-cat food
-cat litter
-boogers
-dirt
-grass(recently fertilized)
-toys
-coins
-De con (yup, the stuff used to kill mice)
-Ajax
-crayons
-Chalk
-play dough
-Dirty, dirty snow
-Rocks
-House plants
-cigarette butts found at the local park
-toilet paper (from the roll and relatively clean)
-food found on the floor, any floor and anywhere, houses, stores, restaurants...etc
Yes, we have had to call poison control on this kid a couple of times

Addelyn: (taking after her brother in so many ways)
-Dirt
-Cat litter
-Cat food
-The Cat itself (she likes to lick her as if giving her a bath)
-Crayons
-Chalk (in our house we like to suck on this as if it were some kind of dissolving sugary treat)
-Markers (yes, she bites the tips off and eats them)
-pony tail holders
-A JUNE BUG (thank goodness daddy was there to fish it out of her chomping mouth)
-Toilet paper (used and from the toilet)
So take caution if ever going to give this girl a kiss but I will say we have cleaned her mouth thoroughly after each scrumptious snack.

So yes, The cat is a common theme among my little taste testers. And yes, I have the number for poison control on my fridge assuming the day will come when I will need it once again.

washing

I seem to find fairly Odd things in my washer. Which makes me wonder, am I checking through my clothes well enough? Or are my children sneaking in and throwing things in there when I am not looking? Hmmmm....


Bouncy Balls
Wooden train whistle
Dryer Sheets
Doll Shoes
Strawberry Shortcakes head
Strawberry Shortcakes body
Cardboard puzzle pieces
Fake Food
Rocks
Wood Chips
Frog (not real thank goodness!)
Smiley Face stickers
Thomas Trains


And I know this is not the end of the list!

Every Princess Needs A Throne

Even if it is small and made for dolls.

Conversations

Brennon likes to whine. which, when he is whining makes it hard to understand what it is that he is wanting or needs. So when he does whine I ignore him and remind him to use his words so I can understand. This doesn't always work, actually it never does seem to work that way he just usually starts whining louder and more insistently. So today he had a ball in the car and the conversation went as follows:

my baaaawwwwwwww MMMMMMMYY BWWWWWWWW
What Brennon? I cant understand you use your words so I can help you
MY BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

Emma -he is saying BA BA
yes, Emma I hear him but he needs to use his words
MYBAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Emma -mommy, he wants his ball he can't reach it
yes, Emma I know but he needs to tell me not you okay
Emma - I just know everything

Speed

So of course we are running late for preschool then fortunately we get stuck by a train with lots of big construction trucks in front of us. So after the train is gone I decide to speed down a back road and cut my way on another side road to get to the highway(trying to get ahead of all the slow trucks). because were running late. Brennon in the back seat is cheering me on "your fast mommy, like lighting Mcqueen". And Emma replies "just remember mommy, the police might pull you over and give you a ticket!"

EDS Appointment

So today was a very long day for everyone in the Nelson household. I would like to say especially for the 3 children but unfortunately when you have children who have reached their end, well, you have mommies and daddies who have also reached their end.

Today Addy and Brennon were seen by a genetic specialist to determine if like Emma they also had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). The appointment was over 2 hours long in a small un-cozy room with nothing "child friendly" about it. Just a reminder the Ehlers-Danlos type that Emma has is hypermobility. She can in many ways mimic the movements of Gumby. But this also means that with it comes joint problems and early arthritis. There were a few good things to come out of today's visit. We received some more helpful ideas and suggestions that will help Emma avoid a lot of pain later on life. So it looks like she will be starting some physical therapy and we were highly encouraged to get her going and keep her in swimming to strengthen her muscles which will help support her joints to keep them from wearing out so fast. Which is nice to get all this info on Emma today even though we weren't there to talk about her. Unfortunately I think the doctor was too "Impressed" with Emma (the doctors words, not mine). And she then used Emma to compare the other two kids too. Even though we had just been told that different people will have different responses etc to EDS. After looking Emma over she then moved on to Brennon who doesn't do well in these situations anyway. She briefly looked over the squirming and screaming 3 year old who was fighting her at every touch. Every time she tried moving his legs or hands he would use his mighty 3 year old strength to keep her from bending him. Which later she says she doesn't believe him to have EDS (well lets think about this here...your trying to see just how flexible he is which you cant because he won't let you bend him because your being really loud and in his face hmmmm...)
Then on to Addy, Now if you haven't seen Addy in motion this girl is also another Gumby sitting at the table strapped into her chair, legs under the table she'll just slide them out from under the table and scratch her ear. Okay she hasn't actually scratched her ear but her legs are up next to them. And in so many ways she is just as flexible as Emma and until today I even thought she was more so. But apparently Addy is also diagnosed as not having EDS, at least for now. She does however have a heart murmur and is going to be scheduled to have an echo cardiogram to see if there is a hole in her heart and to also just get a good look around and see how the muscles around her heart look. (because those muscles etc could show signs of EDS if they do then she will be re-diagnosed). Now I am just frustrated, not that my two youngest have been diagnosed as not having it but because I do question Brennon and I firmly believe that Addy does have it. But that because of it all they will not get the right support and treatment.

So needless to say after two hours of questions and a 10 minute exam for the kids by the actual doctor the Nelson household is exhausted and tired. But now those children are collapsed and sleeping soundly and its time for mommies and daddies to as well!

Boys at play

I would say probably 2-3 minutes after giving birth to my son I realized that there was a great difference between boys and girls..and yes to all you smarties out there, more then just the physical traits. But as my son has gotten older it has been made more apparent to me just exactly how exasperating those differences can be. ( 6 years from now I might be saying all that about girls and being teenagers!) But for now my son is a wearing little tyrant of a 3 year old. But how much fun has he been!! As he has gotten older and is playing more on his own I notice even more the differences between a boy and a girl. And since Brennon has been fortunate to have an older sister he does get in on the doll and princess action but in a complete and opposite different way. (note the princess in the dogs mouth) this scene was much more enjoyable since I could over hear him saying in a high pitched princess tone of voice "ouch ouch ouch".

And had I been keeping a closer eye on my son instead of cleaning up after lunch I might have been able to overhear what Thomas and Percy were saying as they were getting a bath in the bathroom sink, behind a locked door of course.