Attack of the Germs.

It's been a rough weekend.

Spawn brought home pinkeye on Thursday.  Then Sweet Nut got sick at field day.  Then Chunk got a nasty cough and fever all weekend.  Oh and Sweet Nut got pink eye on Saturday.

The big ones are doing better.  Chunk is still pretty rough.  The dr upped his albuterol to every 4 hours, and he's also on prednisone and antibiotics.  We go back in the morning.

I'm hoping this combo of meds work.  Momma hasn't gotten a good night sleep in 3 nights now.  Chef traded missing his soccer game so I could go to a meeting tonight for on call duty tonight.  I know I'll still be up though.

We go back to the dr to get rechecked in the morning.  Fun times in the goober house.

Tot School too!

So Chunk turned one this month.  I'm still not sure where the time goes, but I've finally had to accept that he's one.  He's not walking yet, but he's getting brave enough to let go when he's standing up, so I guess it's coming soon.

He started last month going to the daycare that Cute Boy goes to, but he's only going one day a week.  He wasn't too sure about it at first, but now he has a bit of a cry right when I leave-but that's quickly solved because he gets dropped off at breakfast.

Spawn's math books came a couple of weeks ago and he's been begging me to start them, so we did.  We're not full force in them, because he still has a week of "school" left...if you can count field day today and 3 half days next week.  Usually, Chef will take the middle goobers out to play while Spawn works and it's just me and Baby Chunk inside with him.

I've been toying with the idea of Tot School for Chunk for a few weeks.  The plan is to have some safe "educational" things he can do while Spawn works as well.  I didn't plan on starting for a few months yet-you know, I'm still in denial that my baby boy is 1.  But we decided last night to go for it.  Accidentally.

I had stopped off after getting Cute Boy from school at the grocery store.  And of course, he asked for candy.  But he asked for his brothers too, so I couldn't really say no...that and they were on sale.  He picked Mini M&Ms for them.  Spawn inhaled them and left the tube on the table...so I started playing with Chunk, putting his puffs in there and he'd pour them out.  Then I decided to see if he would put them in and he did!

So I went digging in our "homeschool box" (which is a box of stuff we bought to do Cute Boy's homeshcool Prek before we started at this daycare he's at) and pulled out some pom poms.  Tossed a bunch on his tray and a few more into a cup...and it kept him occupied for about 15 minutes-putting them into the tube, taking them out, putting them into the cup...

Of course there were a few times that he tried to taste test them, so please don't do this with your tot if you can't be watching them.

And here's a shot of Spawn working on some math while the Tot School was having fun.

So, we're adding Tot School to the mix.  I've got a few other ideas that he can do with things we have around the house...I encourage you, if you have a tot, think about it.  It's really nothing that you aren't doing already.  We teach them new things all day long.  

If you are interested in learning more about Tot School or seeing what other Tots are up to, check out 1+1+1=1.  Carisa's son is the one who coined the phrase Tot School for his little brother and she ahs a weekly link up where other Tot Schooler's post what there tot is up too.  I've been reading her blog for awhile for things with the older boys and I'm excited about starting Tot School with Chunk.  The nice thing about her link up, is that the Tot's age is listed right in the links, so you don't have to sift through all of them to find what other tots the same age as your tot are up too, although I have been to get ideas for when he's older.  We'll also be doing her Summer Challenge with the Big Goobers once school gets out, so look for a post coming on that as well!

And so it begins...

The beginning of the end.  Of Spawn's public school experience for now anyways.

It's officially official.  Spawn will become a homeschooler as of July 1st 2012.  The decision has been a long one coming, and we think, that at least for now, this is our best option.

Spawn was diagnosed with ADHD Mixed Type at the end of the school year last year. It had been coming (and I knew it) but to get the official diagnosis was a bit scary.

This year was even more of a struggle.  The psychologist had warned us of this though-that the harder things got in school, the harder we would have to work.  And just as we decided to maybe start looking into medications to help, we were thrown another curve ball.

See, poor Spawn has quite the beginning of summer last year.  June we got the ADHD diagnosis, and then in July he got an asthma diagnosis.  Which led to inhalers and monthly doctor visits to do lung function tests.  The dr switched his inhaler, upped the inhaler all to no avail.  He was still scoring high 70s on his lung function test most of the time.  So he sent us to a specialist.  In the last month, Spawn has had allergy testing, had his adenoids checked by an ENT and done a course of prednisone, nasonex and antibiotics all trying to piece together the puzzle that makes it hard to be him.

The current thought is that he has asthma, but there was so much swelling that wasn't treated originally that the daily inhaler is just like putting a band aid on it.  He's been a bit better since the round of prednisone-which was meant to knock out the swelling so the inhaler can work.  And that there's something going on in his sinuses that is making him have constant post nasal drip, as well as issues sleeping.

Right now, he's on a round of antibiotics to see if it helps with the postnasal drip, and we go back in 2 weeks for a check up.  But they don't want to do anything medically with his ADHD until everything else is figured out, because it's causing sleeping problems, and that could be making his ADHD worse.

That and based on his last teacher conference we had-he's reading at a level that he should have been at in September.  He's a full grade level behind in math.  But the school only pulls him for remedial reading.  He was in an extended day program for a few months, but that ended once they had their state tests.  But there are "kids that are farther behind than he is and they are all fine to go on to 4th grade".  Seriously?  My kid is working where he should have been a year ago, and it's ok to push him another year ahead?

So, Chef and I talked it over.  And we decided it was worth trying.  If all else fails we send him back.  It took awhile to convince my ex, but he is on board with it now as well.

So, I'm in the planning process.  The plan is right now that Spawn will do 4th grade at home.  Sweet Nut will go into 2nd grade at the public school at his request-he's ahead of where he should be, so I'm not worried about him.  Cute Boy will start Kindergarten at school in the fall, but based on talking to one teacher at his screening, we might be pulling him too.  I knew he has issues with his letters.  But she comes out saying they are recommending my bilingual, but primarily English speaking son for ESL because he tested borderline on whatever their test is for that.  I can guarantee though that is he didn't look Hispanic and have a Hispanic last name they would have never tested him for ESL.  I know based on some of her comments that they ASSumed things based on his color and last name.  Never mind that the kid is terribly shy and doesn't do well in new situations.  I've talked to the K teacher the big goobers had and she said that she's going to try and get him in her class and recommend him for the extended day program-which her her and my opinions (and his prek teachers) is what he needs-NOT ESL.

Anyways, where was I?  Oh, our plan for next year.  Baby Goober will take Cute Boy's slot 2 days a week at daycare/prek.  He already goes once a week and does pretty good, so I'm looking forward to him going more.  And we love it there, so that's a plus.

I'll post more about our curriculum choices soon.  We're going the classical route, so I'm just nailing down a few more decisions and then it's on to purchasing.

Hang on folks...it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Oh Yum.

So a friend of mine turned me on to Aden + Anais before Baby Goober was born.  They have the coolest swaddle blankets.  They are nice and big and made out of muslin and were perfect for wrapping a brand new Baby Goober during the heat of the summer last year.  We swaddled with them, used them to cover the couch or floor when we put him down, used them as a cover in the stroller... We still use them, even though he outgrew being swaddled months ago.  Then I saw on Facebook they were coming out with a new line of skincare mum + bub.  They had a webcast and the first 50 to RSVP got to try them out.  And we were one of the first 50! 

Anyways, I was so excited when I opened a random box on my porch (I had totally forgotten that they were coming!) and found this: 

Squee!  We got a lotion, a hair and body wash and a soothing ointment.

I immediately opened up the ointment and put some on my chapped lips...bliss!

It smells yummy and it works!  I've also used it on Cute Boy's lips...he's a bottom lip sucker...and he loves it too.  A little bit goes a long way.  I haven't used it on Baby Goober yet-but *knockonwood* he hasn't had diaper rash in a long time.  It says on the jar that it "works wonders on diaper rash, cuts, windburned, cracked or chafed skin, insect bites, chapped lips and more"  Ohhhh...I'll have to try it on Sweet Boy's skeeter big bites when he comes home from his dad's.  I'll let you know how he likes it.

Then there's the lotion and the hair and body wash.

These we have used on all the goobers.  We haven't had any issues with "THERE'S SOAP IN MY EYES" from Cute Boy...which would happen even when we used Johnson and Johnson.  The big boys and Baby Goober haven't noticed any difference.  Again, soap wise, a little goes a long way.  It takes less than quarter sized dollop to do Baby Goober whole body and hair.  It's nice and sudsy which Sweet Nut and Cute Boy like.  Their only complaint is that Lightning McQueen isn't on the bottle.  But they'll live.  I actually haven't tried the hair and body wash on myself yet...I have issues with leaving my shampoo behind-it's one of the few that doesn't make my curly hair a rats nest-but I'll get up the guts to try it.

The lotion, all of us have used.  Even the Chef.  And we all love it.  And Cute Boy hasn't had any issues breaking out with it-we have to be careful with him sometimes.

Anyways, here's the DL on mum + bub.  It has pawpaw fruit in it.  And it smells like Australian Sandalwood. The pawpaw fruit apparently is known for its soothing and hydrating qualities.  I'm taking their word for it because mum + bub works for our family.  

They have also recently come out with crib sheets.  We're definitely getting some of those for Baby Goober.  And stocking up on blankets.  Since his brothers steal blankets if you're not physically holding them :D

Disclaimer:  All opinions in this post are my own.  I did receive a set of mum + bub as part of the webcast promotion.  And I really do love them.  I was not asked to write this blog post, but I wanted to share the awesomeness with you.  And I really think you should get some mum + bub even if you don't have a baby.

The Baby Goober gets a car...

So my last post, I told you all how Baby Goober has been sick the last few weeks. Right in the midst of him being sick, he got a car in the mail.

I love it!  We've had some wooden teethers for him and he seems to like them...banging is a popular pasttime.

But seeing as how he spent most of the day like this:

or like this

(I was mean and sat him in his high chair while I made the big goobers their lunch...)

there wasn't much time for playing.  But the other day he started perking up and so I busted out the car.

He had to check it out first.

and the other side, just to make sure it passed his taste test...

I'm thinking it did.

I've been getting him more wooden toys and such because of the questionable things found in plastics.  A friend of mine has done lots of research on the topic (you can read what she's found out on the topic and how she's dealing with it at One Little Word She Knew) and while I haven't totally banned all plastics from my house, I do try to be more aware of what the goobers use everyday, and what Baby Goober sticks in his mouth.  Baby Goober doesn't seem to mind since wood makes a very LOUD noise when banged on his highchair tray and is a good weapon when his big brothers insist on bugging him when he's eating or steal his puffs. 

Go germs go!

So I know the last time I posted, I told y'all about our plans for Lent...

We've done some of them, but haven't gotten very far...Baby Goober has been pretty sick.

He started out with a fever that we assumed was from his 9 month shots. That quickly turned into a stuffy nose, a nasty cough and a fever of 103+. We upped his nebulizer to include albuterol every 6 hours and called the dr.

He had some nasty lung congestion. They added an antibiotic into our medicine lineup and upped his albuterol to every 4 hours around the clock.

2 weeks later he still has a little cough and a bit of a runny nose hanging on. But for the most part, he's over it. But, he was nice enough to share with Mommy, Daddy and his brothers. Sweet Nut went down first. Then we found out quickly that winter was over. I mean, yeah, sure, days and days of 70* weather could have clued us in, but Sweet Nut has broken out in hives, found poison ivy-which he's very allergic to and has numerous mosquito bites already. He can look at poison ivy and get it, so we're trying to find out where in our yard or the sitter's yard it is that he got it already...he knows to stay away from it, but we need to know where it is so he can avoid it.

That and I've had to pick up some extra shifts at the diner to cover some people who are out on spring break...so we haven't gotten as much done as we'd like but we're getting there.

Hope you all are healthier than we are!

Learning about Lent

So, since we're returning to the Catholic Church, the boys have been having a ball learning about the faith.  I've been scouring looking for resources to help them learn more...and of course, it's Lent, so there's TONS of things to learn.

The first thing we're doing is the Lenten Adventure from Holy Heroes.  Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we get an email with the link the the next lesson.  Included is a video of KIDS teaching the lesson-they
re not very long and the boys love them.  Then there's different printables for each day.  Spawn can do almost most of them, with some help.  Sweet Nut and Cute Boy and I work together on the puzzles and they do the coloring pages alone.

The second is the Jesus Loves Me this I know E Book from Royal Baloo.  This is awesome because it's geared more towards Sweet Nut and Cute Boy's age, where as Cute Boy can do some of the Holy Heroes activities, but some are too hard for him.  I like that they tackle a different part of the Easter Story each week and there's a craft.  I just found out about this and we'll be starting it tomorrow.

The other helpful tool the big 2 goobers are using are the Mass Response Books from Holy Heroes.  We won them, and they used them for the first time today and they were a lot easier for them to follow along.  I like that the book covers the Mass in one half and in the other half covers the prayers they need to know.  We have started praying the Angelus daily as well, and even Cute Boy is picking up on the prayers.

I'll be back with some pictures of our activities this week!  The goobers are so excited!