Family Pictures

Today we went and got our family pictures taken. They turned out great. I have been really impressed with Sears and their quality. We got a great family shot, a couple of just the boys, one of Brett with the boys and then I with them, individual shots of the boys and then one of Brett and I (which we haven't had taken since our wedding). The boys did fantastic and in some pictures were to into saying "cheese" that their little cheeks went up into the eyes.

We are getting a good winter storm tonight. Hopefully it will subside for tomorrow so I can go to a baby shower in Syracuse. If not, it looks like I'll be spending my day outside with the boys shoveling!

Here is a sneak peak at our pictures!!!!

A DOOZIE of a night

That would be a Kidoozie's kind of night! Kidoozie's is a hair salon for kids. The waiting area is filled with video games, coloring station, train station, funny mirrors and chalkboard. When it comes time to get your hair cut, you have a choice to sit at the airport, the race track, or the pink jeep. All the while watching your favorite movie on DVD.

So we went tonight for haircuts. Brett has done them since the boys were born. However, our schedules didn't allow that this time. So I treated them to a fun hair cut experience. Dylan and Cody went first. They loved it. Dylan sat in the race car and Cody in the airplane. Then it was Tyler's turn....well that didn't go as planned. He sat in the plane for a minute but after she put the cape on he wanted out. So we tried it again and this time he about flew out of the plane when she turned the clippers on. So.......I got to hold him, while he kicked and screamed and she cut his hair. It surprisingly turned out good. While one cut, another one got out a thing of bubbles and kept them entertained. He did finally cooperate during that. I felt bad but they were quick to reassure me that he wasn't the first kid to cry getting his hair cut. They all turned out great. Good thing because we are going tomorrow to get family pictures taken. Wish me luck!

Cody's Speech

As the school year is coming to a close in a few months, so is our certification with CPSE. So Tish and I have been gearing up for this. Cody has made huge improvements in his speech - mastering the /f/ and /v/ sound. Tish tested him the other day and he only had 16 errors, testing age appropriate at a 4 year 1 month level. Exactly his age. Yeah. We feel based on this test score - he won't qualify for speech. That is why I am taking him to Syracuse on Monday for a speech evaluation with the team ST. Dr. Tatum told us once that if we can make Eileen happy then Cody is doing great. So we'll see what she says. She knows her stuff - so I am sure she will give us good advice. If she agrees with no more services at this time - I am OK with that. Cody after all has been seen by a speech therapist since he was 8 weeks old.

Tish asked my opinion of intelligibility with understanding Cody. I gave it a 95% of the time but I'm his Mom and that's my job to understand my kids when nobody else can. My sister said 90%. So I called Mrs. Testani (the pre-school teacher) and had a really nice talk with her. She said Cody is doing great and that she never has a hard time understanding him. She said he has mastered not only speech but is really excelling at everything he does. (good to hear). I told her my concerns with speech and she did give me the option of having Cody go to the school ST once a week for a speech class with other children. While that is a good thing to know about - my goal all along for Cody is not to have to be pulled out of school for special services. I had to when I was younger and really remember hating it. She asked if he would need more surgery (very common question as everyone thinks he won't ever have more) and I explained yes but I just don't know when. She said the cleft or his scars have never been mentioned by anyone is school. (also good to hear). I told her Cody and I had our first chat about it very recently. She just told me that if there was anything she could do - to let her know. I appreciated that!

So after talked with the teacher at school today - I had a moment to myself at work and just closed my eyes. It's been 4 years of so many wild emotions with Cody. A year ago even I wasn't ready to give up speech. I would be OK with it today. He is one tough little boy and has gone through a lot. Tish comes twice a week and he never puts up a battle - just goes with her to "practice his words".............. Thank you Tish - you have no idea what you have done for me and for Cody. And Dylan and Tyler for that matter as she never turned her cheek to Dylan when they were young - she just included Dylan. Now she is helping Tyler over come his speech hurtles. I will update Monday after seeing Eileen.

Update

The concert went great. Brett said that Snoop sang lots of his old songs and the place was packed. Better yet, he met up with some friends who just so happen were friends of the bartender and the beer was coming free. He's happy he went.

Tanya's surgery went well. She was home around 1 and wasn't in any pain. She was tired and felt loopy so she treated herself to an afternoon nap.

The boys went back to school today after a long week off. This morning wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Dylan only told me once he didn't want to go! Once there they were excited to see their friends. I on the other hand needed an extra push out of bed this morning as I had to get up earlier.

Cody was tested for speech today by Tish. I'm anxious to hear how it went. She said she thought he would do well. We go to Syracuse on the 3rd for an evaluation from Eileen on the cleft team. Good chance he won't need speech anymore! Yeah!

Concert

Tonight, Brett is at a Snoop Dogg concert. He was excited to go. Anxious to hear him in person, see what he's like, if the music has changed. When I first heard that Snoop Dogg was coming to Binghamton I immediately flashed back to our high school days when listening to Snoop Dogg in Brett's car was nothing out of the ordinary. Obviously, our music taste have changed over the years but I'm glad he went and I can't wait to hear how it went.

Tanya is having surgery tomorrow to remove a polyp on her ovaries. While I'm sure things will go well and hopefully she won't be in to much pain - I will be thinking about her lots tomorrow. I would be lost without my sister. She's the only person in the world that I can talk to on the phone for an hour about nothing. We ALWAYS have something to say.

Sleep Over

Tonight we have a visitor - Karly Jane came to stay the night with us all. She loves it and so do the boys. She first stayed the night with us when Connor was born. I think that was her first night ever sleeping somewhere without her parents. Since then she has really wanted to stay again. Just before New Years I promised her she could stay again but with school schedules and family schedules it's hard. The other night she asked if she could and reminded me I did "promise", so tonight is the night! We were at Tanya & Shaun's earlier today so Brett could change the brakes on the Explorer. I surprised her and told her she was coming home with us and to pack her bag. After a little re-packing by her mother we were ready to go. They had a blast once getting home, watching Scooby and eating me out of house and home. The best part - they are all sleeping, snug as a bug in bed! Hopefully having the best Sleep Stories!!

TGIF

Weekend pictures from Cuba!




I am SO happy it's Friday. It has been a long week at work. Especially with the weather the way it has been and my poor travelors stuck all over country and trying to get them home requires me to spend a lot of time on the phone with the airlines. UGH! With any luck - tomorrow is the day and they can all land safely.

Earlier this week the boys and I went to Target as I was shopping for a new bedroom set. I had found one I liked at Walmart but then it went on clearance and they didn't have a King. So I found another but the comforter alone was $80 and I didn't really want to spend that. So at Target I found a pretty set, a whole bed-in-the-bag for $45. That's the ticket. Then of course we walk out with a couple new DVD's and Tyler's new best friend, Spiderman! The thing is as big as he is. And it goes everywhere with us! Spidy even got his toenails cut the other night :)

New Bed Set:

Tyler's New Best Friend!
I'm so ready for a mommy break. Brett has worked all week and so that has left me to a whole week's worth of nights by myself. It wouldn't be bad but the boys have taken late naps this week meaning they aren't tired until almost 11. Maybe tomorrow I can sneak out and do something myself.

A baby to come...

No, not me! Oh my goodness I couldn't even imagine the thought of that. Kevin and Kristie called me Friday night and said they were expecting again! YEAH! We are all hoping and praying that things go well this time and we will have a Flower baby in October.

We went home to Cuba this weekend. Didn't really do anything much. The boys love to go and have Grandma and Grandpa all to themselves for the weekend. We played out in the snow as there is just a little bit more back home than we have here. Tyler went for a 4-wheeler ride with Grandpa. I got to use my new camera and I love it! Now I just have to figure out how to download the pictures. I met up with my Aunt Cathy and we went to the Family Dollar to look around. I love to go there and look and see what they have. I usually can find some neat stuff for the boys. Like a Land Before Time floor puzzle and travel game. Never find that stuff at Walmart! The floor puzzle is easy - 46 pieces only - but the minute we got it together they wanted to "do it over" again.

Once we got home, we had to go pick up the Explorer Car (as the boys call it) as it was in the shop. Appears it needed new struts and shocks to the tune of $600! UGH - I hate, hate, hate spending money on cars. It needed fix though but still doesn't lessen the blow.

The boys have a week of no school! Probably going to be a LONG week for us all.

Happy Valentine's Day

We normally only do something little but this year my husband decided to surprise me. This morning on the table I found a gift bag (with tissue paper) and inside was an IPod. I was shocked at it all - IPod and gift bag with tissue paper because he NEVER does that. We then met for lunch and while it was just at Wegman's we had a great lunch - just the two of us so we could catch up. With our work schedules and kids in general - chit chatting isn't something we do often.

I will confess though - while I loved the IPod, I knew it really wasn't something practical that we needed. I was hesitant to tell him but am glad I did. My digital camera has been giving me a ton of problems and I love to take pictures of the kids - so I really need one that works. So he told me we could return the ipod for a camera. He took it back and got me a fantastic camera - I LOVE IT!!!

The boys had a party at school today. I had gotten them new shirts to wear today and am glad I took pictures this morning because all 3 were in their underwear when I got home from work tonight. After Cody got dressed he asked "I wonder if Alana will have a red shirt on today" - she did! They got a bunch of cute little valentines. Then they got goody bags when I got home tonight. I have come to realize though that I only really need to buy chocolate. Everything else gets pushed aside. I'll have to remember that for Easter!

Hope everyone had a great day! We are off to Cuba for the weekend.

We finally have snow!

Ready, Set, Go.... Cody's snow angel
My 3 Snowmen!
Tyler busy at work...
We are off for our first sled ride!

Well it appears the weather man was right - we got our snow. And it's still snowing. I guess we are expecting around 7" by the time it stops tomorrow. That's enough! After dinner tonight, I got all 3 boys dressed (not an easy task) and we went out for some snow time fun! They had a blast! Dylan got down the sled (that they got for Xmas but haven't been able to use), Cody was super excited to get to make his angel and Tyler was busy shoveling snow from my piles back onto the sidewalk and driveway! :)

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Brrrrrr....it's COLD outside!

We may live in New York and should be totally used to the winter weather - but - OMG it is so frigid out. It started yesterday as I was out shopping. I had parked the van and headed into Wal-Mart when a huge snow squal came through. I had to literally stop and catch my breath 3 times as it was that cold out. It hasn't warmed up! Driving home tonight the van read 17 degrees!

Finally expecting snow tomorrow! 4-8 inches of the white stuff. My boys might actually get to use their new winter boots and sled tomorrow. Dylan will be SUPER excited!

Ahh, Peace

With 3 little boys running our house, peace and quite isn't something we hear often. Listening to that right now and it feels so good. Just hear the clicking of the keyboard, the furnance as it kicks on and off, slight snoring from my sleeping children and the wind howling outside.

I found out why Cody and Alana got seperated at school? Nobody was eating breakfast - most all the kids got seperated. So it wasn't as Dylan said and they "got in trouble". When I talked to the teacher she did say "is that why Cody wouldn't talk to us the rest of the day". It appears my boy was super ticked off at his teachers for that.

Friday, Brett and I found out that we are going to a cleft lip/palate seminar in March at NYU Medical Center. I am super excited to go and listen to the professionals speak and to meet more families from New York. We are going down to the city Saturday night for the night thanks to cleftAdvocate. My dear ole sister is up for the challenge to watch the boys overnight as my Mom will be in Florida on vacation.

Happy Birthday Grandma Jane!

Today, my Grandma Jane would of turned 87!

I miss her terribly. She is never far from my mind on any one given day. Growing up we did so much with her. I really don't remember an event that she wasn't at. She made mac & cheese to die for and a lot of times I would get that as a present. Fine by me - although she made me share it! I remember one time for my birthday she sent me a card with like $5 in it and told me to take Brett out for Ice cream. There are just a ton of memories with her. She has only been gone for 5 years but it seems so much longer than that. The one thing I wish she could of see/been there for was the birth of my boys. She always wanted twins! Well I think she had a lot to do from heaven to give us those 2 little boys. One thing I know, she watches over us all and is with us in everything that we do. Happy Birthday Grandma!

I love you and Miss you very, very much! XXXOOO

Cody's aches

Cody woke up this morning saying his head hurt. Some days I find it hard to determine if the complains are real or if they are trying to get out of going to school. So I showed compasion but we still got ready for school. Because on the other hand, Dylan is telling me he isn't going to school. After he got home today he told my Mom his head hurt and he had a fever. So I called the doctor and without seeing him they called in a script for Amoxicillin. We just saw them last week for the boys 4 year check up and Cody's nose was green then.

Come to find out - Cody had a rough day at school today too. It appears that Alana and him had to be seperated. I don't know all the details but will find them out tomorrow when I ask the teacher. I couldn't get out of either of them if it was because they were being bad or if the teacher thinks that maybe they are to "attached". I personally think it's super cute - they are only in pre-school. Not like they are getting married tomorrow and we should be worried about other things. Not sure if the girls mother said something (I would be a little surprised seeing as though she just came to their birthday party). Maybe the two of them aren't playing with others - but I find that hard to believe because I know Dylan plays with them and when I have seen them there are other kids at their table. So really not sure but I can tell you one thing - Cody was TICKED off about it. He says "I had to sit next to Ashley" and "ugh, Alana had to sit next to Rylie Jones" Poor kid is all heart broken over a girl and it's only pre-school! Oh boy!

Couldn't pass this up

Just had to share a cute story that Dylan said last night. The more I thought of it tonight the harder I laugh. The boys didn't take a nap yesterday. They don't always take one but on the days they don't, bed time is very early. Which is great for me. So last night, as I was rounding them up to go upstairs - Dylan is on the stairs, Tyler went to find his "B" (blanket) and Cody is getting a cup. Dylan just looked sad so I asked what was wrong. To which he replied "I just want to stand here and cry a minute". OK, Dylan - that's fine. Poor kid was soooo tired he just wanted to cry. He hit his pillow and was out.

Tyler on the other hand is in full search of the Bunny! You know, the Easter Bunny. Who else do you threaten kids with after Christmas. Tanya got him started on it. The bunny is every where!

A few thoughts

Tonight I came to bed and started checking my emails. I get through a few and see a subject line "rude comment made by sports website"....hmm, I'm curious as I'm checking my cleft emails and when I see the word sports it just seems like it's super close to home. So I read and it's by Dr. C - not really sure who that is (I'm going to have to ask Brett) on a sports site called Epic Carnival. Well the guy makes an opening comment about how the BCS picks made him want to "punch his cousins kid in his cleft lip". Are you kidding? Would an adult even write something like that - to punch a kid. Just very rude. Then I think of all the rude people in the world. Do you think any of these kids asked to be born this way? Do you think Cody did? I can tell you Brett and I didn't ask for this life. It just makes me incrediably sad to think that Cody has to grow up in a world where these type of cruel people live.

As a side note - another Mom wrote the guy (who has since been kicked off the website but has a blog of his own) and she told him off. The guy of course wrote back more harsh words but I can tell you his email is filling up with people wanting to educate him on his stupidness.

However, in a way I feel incrediably blessed to be walking the journey we are with Cody. I have met so many wonderful people. Anyway, today I received a call from Debbie Oliver. She's an amazing women and somebody I look up to very much. I had posted about Cody's boo-boo comment and she called today to give me some insight. You have no idea what that meant to me.

So tonight, as I put my three little boys to sleep - and then listen to Tyler coughing and eventually throwing up (kind of had to hang up on Brett in a hurry), I am going to go to sleep with the words that jerk wrote on his blog and hope I never have to experience a something like that again.

Mom, I've got a boo-boo

So today after bath, Cody is standing in front of the mirror and says "Mom, I got a boo-boo". I yelled from the other room "you do, where?" By this point I am looking at him down the hall. And he says and points "on my lip"...............Oh gosh - million of things flood to my mind. So I go to him, kneel down and agreed that yes you do. He is actually pointing to a red spot on his lip that I have been noticing that is changing. Rather his face is growing and it's moving down more on his lip instead of up under his nostril - not sure. I'll have to chat it over with the doctor. So I said "Cody that boo-boo is your cleft lip that you were born with and the doctor had to put it back together" - he says "ya, I know".............then was off to find his brothers! (Glad he stopped thinking about it because I am still thinking about it and it's several hours later)

Super Bowl

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!! Being a football family - this is a "big" game. Although, Brett was sure to remind us that this game isn't as big of a game like when Florida State plays. So Super Bowl does come in a close 2nd. Ha,ha.

So the boys all got decked out in a football shirt and then humored their mother for a Super Bowl picture! We went to Tanya and Shaun's for dinner and to watch the game till half time. Seeing as though we are Bill's fans - we really don't care who wins but if you have to root for one team - we pick the Giants.

Cody did put the game into perspective from a 4 year old. As they were standing in line during the National Anthem, hands over their hearts, I said "this is the super bowl". Cody replied "well I don't see anyone bowling"......................... He's got a point!

Sister Time

Tonight Tanya and I got some much needed "sister time" with NO KIDS! It was wonderful! We shop a lot and almost always one of us has a child or two with us. (heck we normally have all 5) Today though, our lovely husbands kept them and we got to take our time and actually look around the entire store. Without a potty break, fighting, changing carts, buying extras that we really don't need!

I bought a new lamp. I hate shopping for lamps. I am excited to say I found a great one and it was only $20. I love a bargain.

Family Night

This morning we woke up to lots of Ice. I checked the TV and there was no school so I quietly slipped back into bed for another hour. The boys were excited when they woke up and found out there was no school. We had a very laid back day. Brett took the Explorer to get the oil changed and tired rotated. The boys and I stayed in and did house work and watched many of our Land Before Time DVD's.

Tonight after dinner and baths, we had family TV night. We all piled on the floor and put in a Land Before Time video and all sat together and watched it. By the end, Brett was sleeping, Dylan and Tyler were busy playing with whatever was close, Cody had gone to the bathroom a few times but was the only one beside me that still was watching.

Enjoy our family blog!