Speech and Secrets

We had Ali's first official Speech therapy appointment tonight. It was pretty interesting to see what kinds of exercises she gets to do for the next week.

She was instructed on how to do them while holding a mirror in front of her face so that she can see what it looks like. One of the Exercises consists of her holding a very small rubber band to the roof of her mouth, and swallowing with her lips open. The other is clenching her jaw while saying the letter T over and over again.. Very interesting. She has to do this and a few other things 3 times a day until we meet again next week. I can already see a difference in her jaw when she's doing these exercises. They kind of force her jaw back in where it isn't as pointy. I'm excited to see end results!

.

I had an appointment with my Dr today. I've been given permission to stop wearing my CPAP. Its a good thing too, because I didn't plan on using it anyway! I'm so non-compliant!! I think I only wore the thing a total of one Whole night! I feel terribly for anyone who has to wear those things on a permanent basis!

The bad news is, is that they weighed me...... Ugh!

I weigh 25 pounds more than the 124 pounds I was when Taylor and I met. I'm the biggest I've ever been and its very uncomfortable. My Size 10's (yes 10's!) are getting snug! Its embarrassing to me, having my gut flop over my jeans. I don't get dressed anymore unless I have to go out in public. I just stay in my jammies all day because they aren't so binding. When I do have to dress up I fret and fuss over every visible bulge and leave defeated and insecure.

So...................

I'm going back on the weight watchers. I did it after I had Mattie and it worked really well. I got down to about 140 and felt great. I can do it again but this time I need to be more consistent and I need to incorporate exercise into the mix.. An over all Healthy body is what I'm going for here.

I have also dusted off my treadmill (and even used it!!!) I will be getting this 30 year old body back in shape . I want to have energy again, I want to feel good about myself and wear cute clothes (like all the cute size 6's I have tucked away in a box in my basement).

I'm going to track my progress here because you know, I'm an open book and y'all know how much I weigh now, so nothings secret anymore!!

Anatomy Lessons

GUCK!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mattie LOVES trucks! Every outside noise is a dropped jaw excited "GUCK!" which is followed by running to the front window, and lifting his arms up so that who ever is closest to him can pick him up to look.

Today we found this!

align="center">

We've watched it many times...

5 Random facts about me……

Megan Tagged me....
here it is

1-I was Terrified of Lunch period growing up. I was afraid that I wouldn’t have anyone to eat with and was physically ill during any class I had before lunch. I was also convinced that I was fat and thought people would think that I shouldn’t be eating. (I was totally average size. not even remotely on the chunky side). In 6th grade my best friend moved in the middle of the school year.. I spent the remaining half of the year eating lunch in the “sick room”. Jr high albeit nerve wracking was okay, but then my best friend moved after 9th grade, so in High school I told my school counselor that If I had a class after lunch I wouldn’t be there. So I went to school until noon everyday and went home. (Actually I went to work) Insecurities RULED my life!

2-I once peed my pants because I was afraid to use my boyfriend’s bathroom that had no lock. I was terrified that his roommates would bust in! I was only a block away from my house driving home when I couldn’t hold it any longer. When I walked in to my house my Mom was standing in the kitchen.. I walked in all bull rider style laughing my head off!

3-I am allergic to most fruits. Sad but true.. Can’t eat em unless they’re cooked. Something to do with the proteins…. Don’t know what its like to bite into an apple.

4-I had a stroke in my Eye last January and I lost permanent partial vision in my right eye. It is especially noticeable, very distracting, irritating, and somewhat nauseating in fluorescent-lit stores. Namely Target.. So alas for the past year, I’ve had to distance myself from my favorite shopping scene. All thanks to a little Blood clotting mutation call Factor 5 Leiden Mutation. (I also get to take Aspirin for the rest of my life)

5-I brush my teeth in the shower. I also blow my nose.. Ewwwww.. I know, I know, but it feels so fabulous and then when I’m all done, I’m fresh and clean and free of snot! Ahhhh.. I’ve got very angry Sinuses that are only happy when they are clear and free of mucus.

so Now I'm tagging LIZ, CRAIG, KENZ, HEATHER

Speech Therapy, and Good Hair

Ali went to the Orthodontist a few months ago. He did a thorough examination, took x-rays, and talked at length about his assessment. The First thing he instructed us to do was to make an appointment with a Speech therapist. Huh? I thought we were looking at her teeth? He explained that the way her teeth and tongue were sitting he suspected that Ali is a tongue thruster. Even with braces you can’t fix teeth unless you fix the tongue thrust or the tongue just messes up all the work the braces did. The molars in the back of her mouth don’t even touch when she bites down! The Orthodontist was baffled at how she actually chews her food. I felt bad that I’d never noticed.
Last night We met the speech therapist.. A 40-ish woman who works from her home. ( A HUGE 5,500 square foot GORGEOUS home I might add) only a few miles from our house.
She led Ali through a series of exercises that included eating graham crackers, and swallowing water. She confirmed the Orthondist’s theory telling us that Ali has a “moderately severe” tongue thrust. We will spend the next 7 weeks seeing this Therapist once a week for Oral exercise and treatments, which Ali will be assigned to do as homework on the remaining days of the week. For one Grand 400 dollar fee (which insurance does not pay for thank you very much) she will follow Ali’s therapy for the 7 weeks, (and more if needed included in that 400) and will also follow her progress through the entire span of her braces. I think Ali will be a good little pupil, and it will be interesting to see the results. I wonder if it will change the structure of her jaw at all? ( I doubt it, but I still wonder).
I do have to mention too that Megan was there at the appointment with us (as she was with EX) and she sat quietly on my lap the entire time listening and watching Ali through the entire testing process. She was also starving and didn’t complain once that Ali was munching on crackers and drinking water not three feet away from her famished little body. What a good girl! I was quite proud of both my girls last night.
So Fast-forward to this morning.
I awakened to voices at the crack of Dawn this morning. I looked at the clock and it was only 5 am. I thought for a moment that maybe one of the girls was talking in their sleep or having a nightmare.. (or perhaps it was Craig on his phone)? I got out of bed, and both the girls bedroom and Mattie’s room lights were on.. Ali was sound asleep in her bed, but Megan was missing. I knew exactly where she was.
I pressed Mattie’s door open a little wider and there sat Megan on the bed next to his crib, dressing her bear in Mattie’s clothes and telling Mattie stories to keep him occupied. She’s done this a couple of times but it’s been at our regular waking hour. She goes into his room and entertains him by putting whatever he points to into his crib for him. By the time I arrive his crib is full of various items from his room. Toys, socks, blankets……
I told Megan it was still nighttime, and sent her back to bed. I cleaned out Mattie’s crib, snuggled him for a nano- second and laid him down. (I am pretty sure he thanked me with his sleepy eyes). Meg fell back asleep within minutes, Mattie was out.. But there I was. Wide-awake, and only 35 minutes till my alarm was to go off anyway.
So up I was.
And my Hair got special treatment today.. I actually CURLED it! That’s a pretty big feat for someone who LIVES in ponytails!
Here I am at work. A wee bit tired, but with great hair!

8:30 and still snowing

Itis 8:30 now and it is still snowing hard. there is now 14 inches on the driveway and it was clear last night when we went to bed.

Snow day

This is what Craig found when he was leaving to work at 5am this morning! I asked if I could steal his pictures. This is our driveway,and the other pictures are the street we live on. Can we say SNOW! Its a good thing the kids are already off for the day.. I think it would qualify as a snow day!

Its 8:30 now, and still snowing!

Missed again

The girls are with Ex this weekend.
I knew that he was planning on taking them skiing this weekend, and This was to be Megan's first time. As I waved goodbye to them Friday evening, I begged Ex to take pictures and send them to me when they got back. I had hoped that it would make me feel a little better about missing another first in her life. When they called today, he apologized and said that he had forgotten his camera. I was so disappointed.
. I still haven't seen Ali ski, and this is her third year going. I feel guilty about it, especially when she jumped on the phone today and proudly announced that she's 'earned' her poles. She was so excited and proud of herself and so was I.
I would Love to see them up there on the slopes.
I would love to see their personalities shining through as they learn.. It's something that I envy about Ex..
he has the money, and the time to do those kinds of things. .
For us, it would be an expense we couldn't justify.
To take a day off work
,rent all the equipment (including our own because we both only own snowboards),
Then find and pay a babysitter for the baby boy. .
Its just something that we can't do. Someday hopefully, but right now. No.
.
... I shouldn't be so dramatic about it.. I'm glad that they get to go and do fun things every other weekend.
They're lucky they have that to share with him.
He's 'Disneyland Dad', and although I resent it sometimes,(especially when I think about the kind of 'Dad' he was when we were married!) at least he's a part of their lives and enjoys doing things with them.
someday the kids will Remember the 'other' things that We have done for them right?
the nightly snuggles....
the reading, the homework...
the Birthday parties...
Halloween costumes......
the fancy bedrooms...............................
It WILL matter to them someday right?
I hope so..


Ali three years ago on a ski day with Ex.. This is one of the only pictures I've seen of her skiing....

Mattie

This boy of mine.. how fast he's growing up.. I can sit and watch him for hours and not get bored. This age of exploration. New words everyday. New talents, and milestones.

Dawn reminded me that I started this blog for a very specific reason, and that was to document and remember all those little things about the kids and our lives. I should be writing the little things down more often, and taking more pictures..

Mathew
My little baby boy.
He is my little chub. he spends 80% of his time running around in feety jammies, 10% naked, and the other 10% in actual clothes.. we like it that way.
He says a new word everyday.
here's a list of the ones he says regularly
Up
moy=More emphasis on 'oy'
dink=drink
peez=please
dain-do=thank you
nigh-nigh=night night
hooooooot(emphasis on t) =hot.. always said in a hushed whisper and drawn out
hat= much like hot but with a perfect a sound
binty=binky
baynty=blanket
doggy
guck!=truck Always said excitedly with any loud noise outside
out
HI!
bye bye
yuh you= love you
a-duh (with arms up in the air) = all done
a-goh(with arms up in the air= all gone
nishe=nice (said when torturing the dog, which he does often)
nose
eyes
brrrrrr -cold
cucu=something gross, or unappealing
okay more randomness....
he loves to play with his hot wheel trucks, loves chasing the dog and playing with the bicycle pump.
He is still a blanky boy.. when he's tired he will pick up his blanket and say "nigh-nigh".
Loves his binky , still takes two naps a day. goes to sleep around 7:30-8 and will sleep until 7-7:30 next morning.. ( I LOVE to sneak in before I go to bed and snuggle and rock him for a few minutes at night while he's sleeping.. I won't get to do that much longer)
He drinks mostly water, not much of a milk drinker. Loves eating but is a picky eater. doesn't like crackers, and other regular toddler favorites. Does like tomatoes, oranges, noodles, bowls of cereal (eaten all by himself with a spoon), and misc things depending on his mood. usually if I'm eating it, he'll want it... (THAT is typical toddler).
Has his 1 year old molars top and bottom. His top front teeth came in discolored (just the tips). We took him to the dentist and the dentist said it has to do with the enamel.. unfortunately that makes him more susceptible for decay so we get to be really careful with his teeth.. poor guy The dentist said it won't effect his adult teeth..
still chases the dirty pile when you try to sweep, and climbs in the dishwasher when I'm doing dishes.
Loves his hair.. is constantly rubbing things into it and rubbing it back and forth... brings me the mousse and says "uh" wich means "can I please have a handful of it to giggle and smoosh in my hair?"
loves wearing his boots and other shoes.. esp megan and Ali's
Loves wrestling, and has started incorporating some Karate like maneuvers into the mix. (mainly leaning back against something and pushing his leg out at whatever he's trying to conquer)
LOOOVES the kitchen sink... aka jacuzzi if he's upset, fussy, tired, cranky (you get the drift) all I have to do is put him in the sink add a little warm water and he's happy as a clam. (AND I can get the kitchen cleaned!)
can point out his body parts -eyes, hair, tummy, mouth, nose, feet, knees especially loves poking peoples eyes out while he pronounces "EYESH" very distinctly
There's sooo much more.. I suppose I'll have to add it when it comes up..
It makes me a little sad. He will be the last baby I have. Love this boy..it goes too fast I tell you.

Catching up.

I haven’t felt much like blogging lately.. Not for a lack of topics.. We’ve been quite busy around here.. Its more a Laziness issue… When I do get a minute to sit down, I have been catching up on my Magazine reading, or just sitting alone enjoying the small windows of silence.
So lets catch up shall we?
Craig is still here. And yes, we are still enjoying his company.
Last week we watched Michie, Emmie, and Olivia while Ang had Orientation. It was pretty crazy at first, but by mid week, we’d gotten everyone into a routine. Things went quite smoothly from there. I have to give Taylor credit for most of that.. He was seriously super dad, keeping the house clean, and taking care of 6 kids! His laid back personality can really be a blessing sometimes.
.
Angie Home schools her two older girls, so I picked that up for her the days I was home.. Ali was a fantastic little tutor; I think Michie felt quite privileged to be her little pupil.
.
Thursday I took them ALL to the dentist for Ali and Megan’s 6 month check up.. I was quite amazed at how smoothly it went. The girls behaved beautifully, and hooray, No cavities.
.
Week in review via picture........................................…. CHAOS!!!!!!!

Friday evening, The North’s (sans Michael) came to town for a visit and for MJ’s 5-month pictures. Coryne and Ali tore the place up and were literally jumping off the furniture until we had to separate them for bed. Megan and Shane weren’t far behind.
Saturday we had a great photo shoot, then ran errands with them before they left for home. Let me just say…. 6 kids running errands… Not so fun. But we made it.
.

Sunday........ Ahhhhhhhh quite! LOVED it!

.
Monday we started over again with the Cason girls
More ‘home schooling’ and lots of play-doh..

Taylor started his NEW JOB at UPS (YEAH!!!) His last day at Primary Children’s is the 27th. He’s sad to leave After 5 years, but it’s a really good move for our family. I’m really proud of him, and super excited for great benefits. You’d think we had great benefits working for IHC, but they really suck.

Tuesday I had a really nice visit from my visiting teacher (her partner had sick kids). It was really nice to sit and chat and get to know her. Even though I have been in the ward for 5 years, I’m still socially hopeless and don’t know people very well.
.

TodayI worked again.. a VERY busy day and finally an early bedtime for the kids which means blogging time for me!
.
.
.
.
.


And just a little something to end with

Matties boots finally fit..........................

MJ

12 pounds of 5 month old cuteness!

More here

A little Hairy

Toady's wrap up
6 kids
2 dogs (one still potty training puppy)
4 haircuts
3 poopie diapers
.5 naps

1 family dinner involving Papa, Grandma, Craig, Merry,and All 6 kids (AND the picnic table brought into the kitchen for more places to sit)
.
.
.
1 yogurt dumped on the floor (thank you destructo)
1 bag of cheeto's dumped 30 seconds later (thank you destructo)
1/2 the dirt in my plant thrown across the room (thank you destructo)
1 broken pot (thank you destructo)
.
.
.
.

6 books read (or at least one book read 6 times) To Oli and Mattie
3 Pacifiers lost
.
.

2 batches of rice krispie treats (Megan licking the pan)
1 homemade loaf of banana bread
.
.
.
and a partridge in a pear tree!
PHEW!
So we made it through the first of 5 days.. Tomorrow is Taylor's turn as I will be spending 12 gloriously quiet hours at work!
.
.
Thank you Again Merry for spoiling us with your Mad hair cutting skills!!

And Ali for her Mad photo taking skills! gotta love this angle!

Fabulous? Yes!
oh and this is what happens when you put Gel in your babies hair.. He thinks everything needs to be rubbed into it... even the dogs water...

Manic Monday

Craig and Merry are back in town..We love getting to know Merry. The girls were so excited to get home and meet her. So excited in fact that after all the jumping, giggling, and talking, they didn't fall asleep until after ten o'clock last night!

this morning they were equally excited and Its been really fun having them both here.
We've had a great Morning chatting and playing with the kids.
Ang Jumped back into the workforce and has Orientation all week. Taylor and I agreed to watch the girls for her. Including this one..

Ms Distructo (aka Olivia) has already broken one of my planters.... but all she has to do is look at me with those brown eyes and I have to forgive her...
The house is a mess, but we aren't cleaning it till Saturday ..

so the other great thing is Merry does hair! Yeah for me because we are ALL in desperate need of some help in that area!
She so Generously gave Mattie and Me haircuts this morning and is going to hit the girls up tonight...
just look how grown up my baby boy looks!

Mine looks and feels great but its a little harder to get a picture of........

Had a lull between admits today......

I think I can do better than this.. ....

65 words

Learn Touchtyping

How we met..........

It was 5 years ago that I saw him for the first time walking in for a Job interview. My first impression of him was that he looked so young! He couldn’t have been more than 18. Then I remembered that I had read through his application earlier in the week he’d been on a mission, so he had to be older. The thought quickly passed for nothing and in he went.
I’d been interviewing all week but was scheduled on the floor on the day of his interview, so our Nurse Manager interviewed him. The only one out of the bunch we hired then, that I myself didn’t interview. We know now that happened for a reason…
It was April, and my divorce had just been finalized. I was raising my two young daughters, going to school and working two jobs. I was still hurting from my broken marriage and had taken a vow from relationships forever. I was fine on my own. Too busy anyway to think about it.
He was hired of course, and soon he was frequenting my desk making small talk.
By the end of May he was taking his breaks in the office I shared with the other educators telling me stories about his life and his mission. I enjoyed listening to him and was inspired by his faith. He made me laugh. I hadn't laughed in a Looooong time. I wondered what his intentions were but enjoyed the opportunity to talk to someone. We had plenty to talk about. We talked about the pain of relationships, and agreed to be friends with an open ear.
June came and Taylor had arranged for a ‘group’ hike with some of our co-workers. I was struggling pretty hard with the time away from my children (when Ex took them for his brief visits) so I willingly accepted the invitation with hopes of a distraction.
No one was able to make it that day, and I still wonder if Taylor designed it that way. The Hike went well, and we talked even more being outside of work.
By July we were spending progressively more time together when my kids were away. I liked the distraction, and I enjoyed his company. He was so dang sweet!
By august we had kissed. We kept it hush hush at work. No one even knew we were hanging out.
September came and He left to Alaska for a side job. He called me everyday twice a day. We talked for so long I am sure he spent his entire earnings paying his Verizon bill when he got home.
I think it was that time apart we both realized we were in love. We’d only been together a few months but I was comfortable. I trusted him.
He hadn’t met the girls, so I decided that it was time he did. After all it was important that he accept the three of us if things were going to work.
Our first visit he took us all to the Circus. The girls had a great time, and it melted my heart when he picked up Megan (only 17 months) and put her on his shoulders. I realized quickly that he really loved children like he had said (it wasn’t just a line) and that he really did want a family. It was beautiful. I had never known that kind of relationship, where the Man is actually there to support and raise the children with you. The way he was with the kids alone made me love him.
We hung out often.
November he proposed. I had been expecting it even though our relationship was still fairly new.. But for the first time in my life I had no reservations. It felt good, it felt right. The kids loved him, and as scared as I was of Men, he convinced me that he was there to stay. He wanted what I did. A Family. A partnership….Love.
It was on the side of a mountain mid rest while snowboarding that he presented me with a ring.
A month and a half later we were married.
4 years later, he still melts my heart. We have Mattie now, but he is no different to him than our girls. He loves us all , and he is still there for us when we need him. He is the best Daddy I could have imagined. He can even do a wicked braid in Megans hair!!
I’m so thankful that we met, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t let my past experience prevent me from allowing myself to fall in love .
We Will be together for Eternity, and I am looking forward to every moment.
Happy Anniversary Honey Taylor!

Happy New year!

I’ve totally dropped the ball on this whole blogging thing. I blame Craig Entirely for hording my computer and causing me to forget that I actually have a blog!
It has been pretty chaotic around our house the last few days.
Monday Morning we dragged the poor kids out of bed to take Craig to the Airport at 6:30 am. The kids were sad to see him go, but felt better knowing that he’d be back in less than a week.

When we got home

First we shoveled the grass....That's very important you know..then we ate snow........But not the yellow kind

Ewwwwwwww

.

.
Ang came over with her girls and their New edition.
Meet Ruthie..

The cutest little puppy I’ve seen since Weston!
Mattie was in love with her (as were all the children)

He’d pet her repeating “nishe” over, and over again.

She still has baby sharp puppy teeth, and Mattie got a little overwhelmed when she tried to use his chubby little limbs as a teether.

But just look how cute his chub is! I want to nibble it too!

They stayed for most of the day which is usually how it goes.
Over 8 hours of kids running around screaming, playing, giggling and demanding food, watching movies like this one (without the Children of course), and at least half a dozen games of Zilch for Ang and I. It was Fabulous!
Taylor was going to take the girls with him to his Aunts house for their Annual New Years eve party, but got home too late after taking Trax home.

I’ve never been one to celebrate New Years, so I was happily asleep by 10:30. Ahhhh sleep!

Yesterday Taylor got called off from work so we spent the day running around with the kids. First, a little 75% off ‘After Christmas’ shopping at Target.

Its very unusual for Taylor and I to have a day off together. It only happens once or twice a month on a good month.. So it was really nice to run around with an extra set of hands.

(well until I had to DRAG him kicking and screaming out of the toy isle........ Yes, I'm serious)

Ali wanted to go Ice-skating so I dropped Taylor and the girls off at the Rec center while Mattie and I went grocery shopping. I came back an hour later to find them sitting in the doorway of the rec center eating a pile of treats from the vending machine. They had gone in and rented their skates only to find that Megan had not worn socks under her snow boots. Ali was thoughtful enough not to leave Meg on the sidelines and opted to go another time. (Occasionally they look after one another… In between the hours, days, and months of constant bickering), I felt bad that they didn’t get to go, but grateful that they seemed to have a good time munching on their junk food and bonding with Taylor for awhile.

In other news............
Mattie has taken over my MP3 Shuffle.

Every time I try to put it on, he comes running. He actually listens to it too. I stick the earplugs in his tiny little ears, and clip it to his jammies and off he runs. When an earplug falls out he hands it to me and leans his empty ear towards me. He's done this 3 times in the last two days! I think he’s going to be a rock star like his big sister.
(PS, don't mind the messy jammies.. I really do bathe him)

Today, I’m at work. The start of my Five in a row 12 hour shifts. Ugh… Craig will be here again this weekend, so I’ll try and blog a few more times while I’m here at work (shhh, don’t tell) because I am sure he’ll be hording my laptop.