Surgery is Over With

Cousin Emerson got out of jaw surgery! The surgery went well. He was in surgery longer then expected because the doctors decided to fix his diaphragmatic hernia. It was just too big and was something they wanted to fix. They also removed his NG tub and put a g-button in.

Lots of stuff done to Emerson in one day.

Now it just another waiting game; we have to wait for him to come off the ventilator.

Waiting...

So today I'm waiting! The boy's cousin/my nephew Emerson is having jaw surgery today. It makes me shiver to think about the pain.

Before I forget to mention, I read a wonderful article written by a mom that has a baby with Trisomy 18.  Many people do not know what it is, so I'm just spreading the word. It's what little Emerson has. Rick Santorum's daughter Isabella has Trisomy 18 as well.

I stole this photo from my sister! Yep Emerson got his first tooth last week!

Emerson's jaw surgery makes me sad, anxious, worried, yet happy that it will help him. I'm all mixed up emotionally.

I felt mental pain when it came to my cousin Megan getting bone cut our of her skull because she needed more of a soft spot for her head to grow (she's now in high school doing just fine), my Mom getting her ankle fused because she had Post Polio problems (she isn't fine, but is better off with the surgery), my Aunt Becky, Uncle George, Father-in-law getting total knee replacements (they seem to be doing ok now). Every family has their things, and I'm no exception!

I know I'll be feeling the anxiety when my Dad gets Atrial Fibrillation Ablation surgery on his heart later this month!

Let's just say there is a lot going on and I don't like it.

I keep trying to think about the fact that Emerson wouldn't be getting this surgery if the doctor's didn't think this is the best thing for him. They are hoping in time with this surgery little Emerson will be able to breathe better, choke less, swallow and possibly eat. All those this are good! His lower jaw is just too small to do all those things effectively.

With my Dad, well his Atrial Fibrillation Ablation will help him to not take meds with nasty side effects! Hopefully it will help him to have less acid reflex problems and it will work, unlike the meds do now! Having a fibrillation problem in the heart is pretty normal. My Dad has suffered with it for years and it just seems to to of gotten worse.

So if I had a wine glass, cheers to healing, strength and future happiness! (Up goes my glass of water and drink).

I guess little Emerson smiled a lot yesterday for the nurses. Maybe I should be smiling to. :)

Instead of flowers and/or balloon I got him a little lamb that plays soothing sounds.

Image found here. Except I got Emerson's at Whole Foods for half the price: $14.99.

WW - Couch {Linky}

Sometimes they just won't look at the camera. When they do, they give me faces.

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Run Run As Fast As You Can!

Isaak now runs from me and shouts out, "Run run as fast as you can you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man."

He then runs and hides in the same spot as always, behind the chalkboard.

Usually he does this when I want him to do something that he doesn't want to do.

Shadow

Mica's hit a new stage in his childhood. It's the help stage. I'm not sure if all kids go through this or not? Mica is. He's my shadow all the time. Most of the time I love it.

I only find it hard when there is not too much for him to help with, or Isaak and him are fighting over who is going to help me. Isaak's generally liked to help in the kitchen and with laundry as soon as he could. Mica was pretty neutral to it until recently.

Along with this stage comes more responsibility.

What Mica does now:

• He's taken care of putting away his socks, underwear, pjs and pants for a long time. Now he has to hang his shirts up. He doesn't really like doing this, but I know he knows how. Therefore I make him do this task.
• He has to collect all the trash and takes it out, while we watch. The rule is, is that he can not go out without letting us know. Someone from my sister's high school went to take out the trash and never came back. I'm paranoid about our kids going in the front of the house alone. 
• Mica packs his own school lunch with me talking him through it. This is a pretty big step. Before Kindergarten he had trouble spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread. He doesn't have peanut butter sandwiches all the time. Sometimes he does.
• This is a task I'm still shaky on, he started peeling his own carrot. Daddy helped him the first time. I did the second. He tried telling me he knew how to do it. I watched and he was peeling towards himself. YIKES I stopped him right away. This is a task that has to be overseen. 
• He helps unload the dishwasher. Basically he stacks dishes, while I put them away.
• He also dumps ingredients in a bowl when I'm making things.
• He takes the plates to the table.

Were you ever weary to let your kids start certain tasks? If so, what were they?

Spinning

Isaak was spinning in circles like many kids do. He stopped and said, "Mommy why is the floor spinning? Do you see that?" I said, "Nope I don't see the floor spinning." Then I just laughed. Maybe I should of explained to him why the floor seemed like it was spinning. I just let him think that the floor was magically spinning.

It reminded me of the time when we were driving and Mica said, "Why are the trees moving backwards?" I don't remember what I said to that.

Packing to Go Nowhere Again

Isaak likes to pack! He started packing when he was really little. You can see him with all his hats and a couple bags stuffed full of toys here. I have empty boxes for Isaak to stuff full of whatever he wants.

The other evening when I went to go pick up Isaak from Grandma and Grandpa's; I found a box by his bag. Inside was a stuffed dog.

This morning I found this box in our living room:

The contents inside look like this:

Fake plastic chips, fake plastic babies, fake beads, a plastic Easter egg, "MikerDonalds" money, a fake credit card and a little set of penguins made by Schleich.

Breakfast With Mica

Yesterday I had breakfast at Mica's school. It was a Mother/Child Breakfast. Daddy served. I didn't say this, but kind of wished I ate before I went. A chocolate doughnut shortly after having the stomach flu doesn't rest easy on the belly!

Mica and Isaak were hyper, other then that it was fun. I know Mica loves having me come up to his school. Daddy most always drops him off and picks him up.

On the front bulletin board was this picture:

The day Mica got the principles award was pajama day.

Should You Have Kids?

I found this on Facebook. I have no clue who created it. I did want to share. If you know who created it, leave a comment and I will link it up to the original creator. It's too fun not to share.

Easy Peasy Valentine Coloring Book Pages

The company Frecklebox has free coloring book pages.  Since I have my newphew's Evan and Elijah coming to stay with me for a few days next week; I printed some out. I love how you can customize their names!

Also Little People by Fisher Price has printable cards you can print and color for free.

She Knows has all kinds of activities for kids. I like their Valentine coloring book pages again for free.

I Love This With My Whole Heart!

This story is from a few nights ago.

Daddy said something like, "I love this with my whole heart!" I'm not even sure what it was that he was referring to. I think it was in regard to his healthier Alfredo sauce he made.

Mica said after dinner, "Mommy you should tell Daddy not to talk about love and hearts until next month." I had no clue what he was talking about at first. Then he said, "Well Daddy said 'I love this with my whole heart.' That is supposed to be said in February. That's the month of Valentines day."

I said, "Mica I can see what you are saying, but you can say the word 'love' and 'heart' any time of the year." He kind of looked at me funny; it was probably the same look I gave him when he first started talking to me.

I wonder why Mica hasn't told Isaak to stop singing Christmas songs? I hear Jingle Bells and Up on the Housetop many times throughout the day. :)

Isaak, Isaak Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Isaak made a garden image in preschool this week. It was sitting on the table. He decided to water it with his glass of water. I thought it was funny being an outsider. Daddy didn't think it was so funny.

This little boy has been oh so curious lately! Last week it was cutting his hair, and now spilling water on his pretend garden.

Kisses

The little girl that has kissed Mica twice told him last week that she loved him and that he looks like Justin Bieber. I was thinking, "NO!"

Image found here.

The first time she kissed him, he bent her fingers back. I told him never to do that. He should always just tell the teacher when someone does something that makes him feel uncomfortable happens! The second time, he just told the teacher.

Mica's teacher does not approve of kissing! It was a problem she had towards the beginning of the year. She tells her Kindergartener's that they can't date until they are 20.

What is it that kids and teens like about Justin Bieber? I don't think he's all that, but I'm not their age. I see little girls wearing t-shirts with his picture on it. If I had a little girl I wouldn't encourage that. If they were a teen, that's a little different.

Who was your Hollywood crush when you were younger? I liked River Phoenix. It's too bad he died young - drug overdose. I thought Tom Cruise was hot in Top Gun. Now I think he's a little wacky.

WW - Pink Ballerina Jewelry Box {Linky}

I took my boys to Pottery Barn Kids this weekend. They enjoyed looking at all the toys! Mica wants a HUGE Star Wars Lego set they have, super hero puzzles, Isaak loved their beds and they both spent some time staring at a pink ballerina jewelry box.

Mica was transfixed on the ballerina. He called Isaak over to come take a look.

I just had to laugh. I shot a couple photos, which was probably against store policy. Oh well. I had to capture the moment!

If you have a moment enter my low entry giveaway for Tropical Traditions Glass Surface Cleaner 

- here.  It's my first Rafflecopter Giveaway.

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Sick

The animated boy seen in the post below has the tummy flu. It managed to skip him over Christmas and now he has it. His teacher said that 3 other kids were out of class. Mica looked white as a sheet when Daddy picked him up. I told Mica, "Honey if you don't feel well, you need to let your teacher know! Then Daddy or Mommy will come pick you up." I think he was ashamed, or something. Now he's probably passed it along to more kids there.

He came home, was sick right away and than acted just fine. Now he's sick again.

How do some kids turn it off and on again? I remember being sick like that and it was like I was tied to the couch. My kids bounce around like nothing was ever wrong in the first place. Then I never know if they are better or not. They totally fake me out.

Mica missed swim lessons tonight and we've already decided that he's not going to school tomorrow. I think when I was little the policy was, you get up, eat breakfast and see how you feel. Well if Mica bounces around in the middle of being sick, how do I know if he's really sick or not? He's staying home. At least in the morning.

I feel really bad because on Saturday Mica was walking all hunched over. I was freaking out thinking that he had appendix issues. I press on his lower left side and he said, "Ouch." Then he got up and started walking normal and said, "I'm fine now." He was fine the rest of the weekend. Maybe that was just the start of this.

For the record, I think I've dealt with and been around enough stomach flu this winter. Thanksgiving they were sick, Christmas Isaak was sick, then I got sick 1 day after and now this. I'm hoping no one else gets it!

Animated

I never asked Mica to pose like this, he just did.

Glass and Surface Cleaner Review and Giveaway {Rafflecopter}

Tropical Traditions sent me a bottle of Household Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner - 32 oz. to review.

I love cleaning knowing that I'm not spraying harmful chemicals all over.

No ammonia, alcohol or harsh volatile solvents
0% VOC (Volatile organic Compounds)
No rinsing required and Non-streaking
No fragrance or dye added

Please click on Read More on the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway!

I work at an art college. With all the chemicals in paint and other mediums, I really don't have too many issues. When it's time for the students to clean, I get a huge headache from the cleaning solution that they use. At home I'm trying to go all natural.

Tropical Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner contains only water and mild plant-based surfactants. It's a product which guards my families health from harmful irritants and inhalants. This cleaner contains no dyes or fragrances. It still does it's job!

I loved how you do not need to use water to wipe it away! It's fast drying, steak free and lint free. It can be used on ALL glass including mirrors, light fixtures, Plexiglass, windshields, treated glass, TV screens and computer screens! Other surfaces include: Chrome, appliances, vinyl, stainless steel, plastic, porcelain, countertops, walls, floors and much more.

I've been cleaning little and big areas all weekend. The first area I cleaned was our glass door. The wiped area is where I cleaned and it did a great job. If you look close, you can see where I didn't get yet. The little kid hand print is towards the bottom left of the picture. I also cleaned the mirror, shower doors and kitchen table. 

If you buy Tropical Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner by clicking on any link in this post, Tropical Traditions will send you a free recipe book to use Coconut Oil.

You can win a win a spray bottle of Glass and Surface Cleaner.
This giveaway ends in 2 weeks, February 6 and is open to the US. Click on Read more to enter.

Sunland Peanut Butter Review

We have peanut butter often at breakfast time. I have tried a few products made by Sunland before.

I've purchased Sunland Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter from Tropical Traditions previously. We love it. Mica said, "This is the bomb!"

I was given two peanut butters of my choice. I chose: Raspberry Peanut Butter Spread - Natural and Natural Valencia Crunchy Peanut Butter. Both of these "Are the bomb!" As Mica would say!

Both products are gluten free. I love that they are no stir.

The fruit infused varieties of peanut butter, allow us to skip the jelly on PBJ's. The kids don't even ask for it.

According to their website, "A peanut butter sandwich made with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, an 8-ounce glass of milk and an orange provides a growing child with 63% of his or her daily protein requirements."

I decided to try a new recipe I got from the open gym session at the YMCA. It is a healthier Banana Split. I modified the recipe to add more protein than what it called for. The directions are listed below the recipe card.

Directions:

• Pick out your favorite boxed pudding mix. Mica chose Banana this time. I think chocolate would be oh so good as well!
• Blend 1/2 a carton of soft tofu. Add in enough Almond milk to make 2 cups {including the already blended tofu}. I suppose you can use cows milk instead. We happen to love Almond!
• Blend the boxed pudding mix with the tofu/milk mix. 
• Blend in two heaping spoonfuls of peanut butter. We used Raspberry Peanut Butter Spread - Natural.
• Split a banana in a bowl. We used 1/2 a banana for each kid.
• Add in the pudding mixture.
• Squirt Whipped Cream on top.
• Sprinkle Chocolate Chips.
• Add a cherry on top. We only had frozen ones, so that is what we used.

Mica and Isaak were in major heaven. They loved their Banana Split and asked for another one the next day. Mica's not even crazy about banana's or tofu alone. I could taste the peanut butter in it and it was GOOD. I have to say that the boys have never had a loaded ice cream Banana Split, so they don't know what that tastes like.

Every Sunland Peanut Butter we've ever tried has been tasty!

Become friends with Sunland on Facebook.

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Sunland Peanut Butter provided me with a free sample of this product to review. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review.

Polar Bears

I'm not a big soda drinker. I drink a glass once in a blue moon when we go out to eat. Even then I drink lemonade most of the time.

One think I have always like is Coca-Cola's advertising! They have a really cool look!

Jolly Mom is giving away the above package of Polar Bear stuff by Arctic Home! I know my kids would love to win this package. Ok, I would love it to!

Disguised Cookies

I had left over Christmas cookies. They sit downstairs in the deep freezer. Mica gets 2 little ones or 1 medium sized one in his lunch. He's told to eat all his other things first.

Mica told me last night, "Mommy everyone at my table wants my cookies! I'm kind of sick of them wanting my cookies." Instead of him saying that he wanted me to stop putting cookies in his lunch he said, "Maybe you can disguise my cookies to look like one of my other foods. No one would want them then."

I thought this was pretty funny and creative for a 6 year old. That is until I told Daddy about Mica saying this. Daddy said, "Did he tell you to disguise them to look like his other foods?" I'm like, "Ya." He said, "That was my idea. I told him to tell you that."

I have two boys trying to play me.

New Years Resolution

Mica has been telling us all month that his New Year Resolution was/is to be stronger.

Is it bad that I use this resolution to my benefit? I don't use it to my benefit all the time.

I have caught myself saying things like:

Mica if you want to get stronger, you need to eat more veggies.
Mica if you want to get stronger, you should use your muscles to pick up your toys.
Mica in order to get stronger, you should do some push-ups and sit-ups.

So far it's working most of the time.

We Scooted Across the Gym Floor

The other day we had open gym class at the Y. We had to scoot on scooters across the gym floor. First it was on our butts, then it was on our tummies. I tell ya it was hard after I got to the middle of the gym floor.

Mica moves way faster than I do!

I sometimes have trouble with Isaak participating because some things are above his age level. This time he loved it! I was worried he'd catch his fingers, but as you can see the scooter has handles.

After awhile Isaak loved standing in font of Mica, while Mica was trying to scoot. Then Isaak also chased Mica on foot down the gym floor. BROTHERS!

Love

Me, "Guess what Isaak? I love you!"

Isaak, "Guess what Mommy? I need a drink!"

Haircut

Yesterday Isaak was sitting down for a snack or lunch. Daddy was in the living room. Daddy said that Isaak was really quiet. He asked Isaak, "How are things going?" Isaak was silent. Daddy walked into the kitchen and noticed Isaak was again being quiet.

In Isaak's glass of milk was a little bit of hair. He had decided to use my craft scissors on his hair. Daddy ran his fingers through Isaak's hair and a bigger tuff of hair fell off. The damage was done within his hair. It's not very noticeable. I'm thinking maybe we'll just leave his hair as is. It's pretty cold to buzz it short!

Mica's never cut his hair. He did take a brand new shirt and cut a big hole in it when he was in preschool one year.

WW - Birthdays {Linky}

We got together to celebrate Cousin Kailey, Ethan and Uncle Tyson's birthdays this last weekend.

I think it's funny that they always have a parade of kids watching them! :) Isaak's the middle one watching.

Last year I got comments from my niece and nephew saying, "How come you didn't use the comics to wrap our packages?" I went back to doing that. It's better for the environment to reuse paper.

Ethan got a bonsai tree kit from us.

Again a parade of kids watching Kailey open packages. :) Pay no attention to Isaak picking or scratching his nose!

Kailey got the Whatever Clock from Uncommon Goods. It has numbers all on the bottom and says, "Whatever" on it.

Mica thought Great Grandpa Kent's lap was a better idea than parading around the gift openers.

Cousin Emerson sat on my lap. He could care less about watching people open gifts. Little man is 6 1/2 months old, is a chunk (over 19 pounds!) and goes in on Feb. 2 for Mandibular distraction surgery. Send good thoughts his way. Pretty soon he doesn't have to wear those special shoes during the day time. Woo Hoo! That will make him easier to hold. He will have to wear them at night for a long time.

I can't leave out the other birthday boy. Here's Uncle Tyson with a big smile on his face:

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