June 30, 2013

reserved Sunday

Mommy dropped me off at Carmax where Andy and I helped Barbara sell her old car.  Then we drove home where we played in my kiddie pool in the backyard for a short time.  There was not much shade and it was already starting to get hot.  Today's high temperature was 102 in Tomball.

Picture of me laying on my old toddler bed with three of my friends.
I like having Barbara read iPad books to me.  When I got tired of quiet time, we played bucking bronco and chase.  A favorite game is Keep Away.  GGM and Barbara play with me almost every time I ask them to.  I have learned to keep my hands over my head and then often I can stop the ball from going over my head. 

I watched a 30 minute Christmas video that was in Russian.  I enjoyed the entire show even though I didn't understand a word they said. 

I took a three hour nap and when I woke up Mommy was here.   

I love drinking a big sippie cup of milk before going to sleep at night.  Last night I only had a sip of water before I went to bed.  The result was I slept for ten hours and I was dry all night.

Another potty story:   Early this morning I had to go... so I did and it was easy.  I told Barbara I didn't want Proud Candy right then because I was in the middle of eating breakfast.  I then pointed my finger at her and said I will want it later.

I went to the grocery store with Barbara and GGF.  I was very helpful finding the things on our list and enjoyed the entire process.  We only bought one thing not on our list... some ice cream sandwiches because I like them.

I played hard all day.  We played ship on Barbara's bed.  Bucking broncos.  Keep Away with GGM and Barbara.  Candy Land.  Read four iPad books.  A few stories and no nap.  I ate a big lunch and only a couple of times did we go downstairs to see the progress being made on the kitchen and bathroom. 

We have been talking about new "vocabulary words."  Today we added "pout" "arcade" and "noggin."  I love learning and ask what words mean all the time.  While practicing what pouting is, we noticed I could not push my bottom lip out very far.  I wonder if that is normal for kids?  (I do know that pouting is not a good thing.)

Daddy came to pick me up after he got off work.  He is going to care for me tonight Mommy and Grandma are off on a scrap booking weekend.

Mimz had planned to take me swimming after school but I said I didn't want to go.  So she took me home and we visited while I played.

I staged an accident and asked Mimz to take a photo of it.

I came to the accident with a fireman's mask on my face.  Remember when I would not let anything near my face or head.  Now I love wearing hats.

I fell asleep as soon as Mimz drove away from her home to take me to Barbara.  Mimz carried me in and laid me on GGM bed.  The workman were in the next room pounding and drilling etc, but I slept through it all. 

After eating waffles, bacon, and milk for dinner, I advised Barbara she gave me my milk in a sippie.  I laughed.  I knew she wasn't supposed to do that.  She said I was a "little wise guy."

I played fireman.  I used this straw hat as my helmet.  I pulled it over my face when I needed a mask.

I played with Luke even though it was pretty hot outside.   We were in the shade and that helped keep it tolerable.  I finally agreed to coming inside for a bath and bed.  I went to sleep around 9:30 while listening to one of Barbara's stories.  She comes up with interesting stories, some of them make me laugh out loud and some of them put me to sleep.  If I don't like the direction a story is going, I tell her how to change the story.  Or sometimes she asks me what happens next.

Mommy took me over to Mimz on her way to work.  Mimz is helping out by caring for me some extra time since there are workmen at Barbara's home. 

First thing I wanted to do was ride my new bike.  I wanted both Monk Monk's  to ride too.  Mimz fixed me cheese eggs and toast for breakfast.

Mimz and I went to HEB for a few groceries.  We played Buddy Bucks and I got 53 points towards a small prize.  I need at least 200 points for the smallest prize.

I was happy to hear that today I have another swim lesson.  While we waited for time to go, I watched Fireman Sam and started getting sleepy, but we didn't want me to fall asleep. 

I had my swim lesson.  Right after my lesson six-year-old twin boys were going to have their first lesson.  Miss Sherrie used me to show them what they would be learning.  I loved showing off my shills.  Miss Sherrie says I am progressing really well.  I swam a long way today using both my arms and legs.  Mimz says this is a very positive thing for me. 

Mimz had a headache so she laid on the sofa while I played.  I acted out Fireman Sam, speaking in a foreign language.  I would run between the fire truck (tricycle) and the fireman's pole (chair).  Mimz loved my different language and I made her laugh.  it was so hot outside I didn't even want to go outside after my swim lesson. 

Potty story:  I walked to the bathroom, got up on the big potty, and did my business before I even called Mimz for help. 

After riding my bike later in the evening, I asked for water.  I am starting to drink more water and less milk and juice. 

GGF and Barbara went to Neal's Restaurant for dinner.  That was the first time they have been out to eat except take home from a fast food place since they moved here from Arkansas.  GGM happily ate her dinner at home.

I was asleep by 8:30.  No nap today and a rather busy day.

 

You might want to skip this paragraph... it is a continuation of my potty progress:
I said I needed to poop, walked to the bathroom, sat down and 15 seconds later it was done.  About ten minutes later I said I needed to go again... and it happened just like the firs time.  See, nothing to it!  I did ask for Proud Candy both times. 

School was school, same as always.  I did enjoy being there and the water play.  GGF and Barbara came to pick me up.  I asked where GGM was.  She had to stay home with the workmen.  I a lot of question about what the workmen are doing.  I would like to be able to see more, but the two rooms are closed off and I don't get to go in much, so I don't hinder the progress.

I was tired this afternoon so Barbara laid down with me.  We read two books, then she started telling me stories.  I soon fell asleep and I didn't wake up until Daddy came to pick me up.  He took me to Mommy's house.

For the past few days I have been asking what things are.   I wold say "What is search?"  What is morning?"  What is red?" Both Mimz and Barbara have noticed my doing that about all kinds of things.  I keep them on their toes coming up with educational answers.  I listen to their answer, nod my head, and then I ask another question.  I am like a little sponge.

Daddy picked me up right after I woke up and took me to Mommy's home.

At 7:50 this morning Mimz heard me call out, "Good morning, Mimz."  I fell asleep last night at 8:30 so I must have been worn out from the busy fun weekend I had.

Mimz took me to my swimming lesson.  I am starting to use my arms more and I can float on my back for a longer period of time.  Watch out Mark Spitz and  Michael Phelps!

Bathroom remodel at the Tomball house starts today.  The kitchen remodel started last Friday.  The fun thing about it all is having a "mess hall" as GGF calls it upstairs.  We have a microwave, electric skillet, coffee pots, toaster, and water heater to cook with.  It is all pretty well organized and it is fun to see everything out and see what we can fix to eat.   

 Mr. Brad is adding flowerbeds and plants to his yard.  Luke and I are his helpers.

 What could be better than a big pile of dirt to play on.

Dirt, rocks, and construction trucks...oh boy.

 It was so very hot outside, but working under the shade of trees did help.

 "Hey, camera lady, you can't be in here.  This is a construction site."

Luke and I helped Mr. Brad with mowing.  Well, I can't be in the yard when the mower is on, but as soon as the mower is turned off, I run to help.

I woke up at Grandma's lake house and I threw up big time.  Everyone thinks it was because I got too much sun yesterday playing in the swimming pool.

Morgan was at Mimz home today and I had a great time playing with her.  Mimz and I took her home so I could get to see Jolly. 

I ate a good dinner and wanted to ride the new blue bike Mimz bought for me.  It was sort of a reward for mastering using the potty and is also an early birthday present.  It has training wheels.  I can balance it pretty well.  Mimz and I think the balance bike I have helped me get ready for a real bike.

Video of me on my new bike.

I wanted to share my bike with Monk Monk.  I showed him how to ride it.

I was so dirty tonight I needed an extra scrubbing while in the bathtub.  I insisted on wearing long sleeves and long pants p.j.'s tonight.  I explained to Mimz that if I kick off all my covers I would not get cold.   I often impress my family with some of the things I say.

Again I used the potty and I forgot to ask for Proud Candy.  I guess it is becoming routine for me and is not a special event.  I did not take a nap so I was asleep by 8:30pm.

Daddy brought me to PaPa's home to play in the pool and visit with Aunt Bridget.  A funny thing:  There were 11 people there and five of them were named "Chris" or a variation of "Chris"    PaPa, Grandma, Andy, Kristan, Bridget, Chris, Kristan's cousin and her husband Chris, Mommy (Christina), Daddy (Chris), and me.  So if your name was Chris, they called you by your last name.

I played in the water ALL day.  I just would not get out.   Everyone played water volleyball except Grandma and me.  But I still stayed in the water while they played.  I love swimming to people and would finally start using my arms when I was getting close to them and needed a little more push.  They did try to get me to swim to the wall but strong headed me had other ideas of where I was going.   Daddy was very impressed with my swimming. 

I spent all day and the night at the lake.    Sorry, no pictures were taken this day.

The remodeling of the Tomball house kitchen started today.  I was outside playing with Luke when the men arrived and I could not stop playing to watch them get started.  Luke and I worked hard. 

 Luke and I worked hard repairing his tractor.

 

We love riding all over our deadend street.  We are lucky to have that area to play in.

We did a lot of hauling using our wheelbarrows.  We hauled hay/pine needles which was hot dirty work.  And for a long time we played ambulance which involved broken legs, hospitals, and casts.  After three hours of outside play Barbara made me come inside because of the heat and to eat lunch.
I spent the rest of the day inside playing with Barbara and GGM.  We played all the regular things, Play Dough, reading, Keep Away, and "All Aboard" (Barbara's bed was our boat and we were surrounded by water).

We went downstairs several times to watch the kitchen progress.  But we couldn't see much because they build a plastic room to keep the dust inside the kitchen area.

Finally we got our hot water heater fixed late this afternoon.

I used the potty two times today.  I think I have this new skill almost mastered.  It was easy, I just had to be forced into it.

Mimz came over to Barbara's home to pick me up.  She got to see the "plastic kitchen room" and she came upstairs to visit with GGM, GGF, Barbara, and me.  She watched me instruct GGM and Barbara how we play Keep Away.  I do like to be in charge of our activities.

I fell asleep on the trip to Mimz' home. 

****New pictures and videos have just now been added going back to June 13th.***

This video was taken last week.   It refused to upload onto my blog until today.  Enjoy.  Oh, I am dancing to a Christmas stuffed music toy wearing my Christmas p.j.'s.  I love those pajamas and wear them even though it is not December.

When I woke up at 6:15am, Mimz convinced me it was too early to get up so I went back to sleep.
I woke up the second time with just enough time to eat and get ready for school.  Mimz can't find any of my sippie cups so she will have to figure out what I can take my drink in for school.  Daddy must have walked off with them all. 

After school Mimz and I went to her neighborhood swimming pool. 

I got my own pool ID. 

When it was time for the lifeguard to take a break we ate a snack.  A friend of Mimz was there with her two sons, one of them age four.  We had so much fun playing.  Mimz said I was swimming really well and I was diving deep to get the rings.  I love jumping off the side of the pool and swimming to Mimz. 

Mimz had Proud Candy for me after I took care of business on my new Lightening McQueen potty chair.  7 of the last 8 days I have used the potty chair sucessfully.  I think it will be a habit very soon.  Then I will quit writing about it on my blog.

This was a routine day for me.  I played inside all morning with either Barbara or GGM.  A lot has been going on but it didn't involve me:  Computer problem, TV problem, hot water heater not working (oven and dishwasher don't work either), lens fell out of GGM glasses.  I have been very good when different men have been here to repair things.   

My foot is less swollen and less red from an insect bite I got a couple of days ago.

I helped GGM make a cherry pie.  I helped eat it too.  Yummy.  (In case you are wondering how we can bake a pie when our oven is not working.... we have a small glass bowl convection oven in the garage.  It cooks meat very well, but not the best pie baker.  It doesn't cook the bottom crust completely.  But we keep on baking pies, because they are tasty)

The new skill I worked on at my swim lesson was turning over from my tummy to my back to float.  One of the main objectives Miss Sherrie has is to teach me to save myself by either swimming to the side of the pool or to float. 

I floated for a few seconds by myself.  When I first started taking lessons, I would come up with a mouthful of water and chocking a bit.  That doesn't happen much any more.  I have learned that after I take a big breath, I need to close my mouth before going under water. 

 I do enjoy my swim lessons.

I practiced diving again.

I used the potty again today but it was a little different.  My potty chair was downstairs and I couldn't wait, so I ended sitting on the real toilet to get the job done.  I did it!

Mimz got home this afternoon from her visit with the Ross' family.  She met Barbara at the school and took me home with her.  I enjoyed played in my little wading pool.

I get to drink from a sippie first thing when I wake up.  That sippie has Merilax in it.  The rest of the day I am drinking from a cup.  I prefer a sippie, but I guess I need to grow up in every way.  At bed time, I was given just a small drink of milk from a cup.  I am trying to keep dry all night. 

I didn't get to see Daddy this evening because he had to work late and I went to sleep early.

While walking into my school, I asked Barbara if I could tell Miss Elizabeth that I am pooping in the potty now.  She said Miss Elizabeth would be happy to know that.  I had a fun day at water play and ate all of my lunch.

I pooped in the potty!  And got five pieces of Proud Candy.

GGF, GGM, and Barbara all took care of their final wishes for cremation today.  I got another five pieces of Proud Candy for being quiet while they talked business with a lady.

For an hour Luke and I played "hauling hay" (actually pine needles) before it started to rain and I had to come inside.  Inside I played with Play Dough and trucks.  The most fun thing I did was play Keep
Away with Barbara and GGM.  I laugh so much I fall down often when I lose my balance being so excited.

Picture of my swollen foot caused my an insect bite.

I drank from a sippie first thing this morning, but after that I drank out of a glass.  I prefer drinking from sippies but I am trying to become a big boy.  One time I said, "Let me have a sippie and I will be happy."  Didn't work.

I pooped in the potty willingly.  I got five pieces of Proud Candy.  When the little box of candy is empty, I will not get any more Proud Candy for this feat.  I'll just be doing it because it will be a habit.

I put the last five pieces of puzzle pieces in the 1000 piece puzzle my family just finished.  Since they started working puzzles down here, they have worked 25 of them.  I never bother the puzzle.

 

I played outside nicely with Luke for 30 minutes before I had to leave for my swim lesson.

  We pretended we were going hunting using Luke's dad's backpack and his wagon.

 At my swim lesson, I practiced all the techniques plus I added a new one: diving!

I am improving every lesson.

I am able to float unassisted for a few seconds. 

The only problem I have is I want to tell Miss Sherrie what we will do next. She tells me I need to listen to her and she will tell me what to do. I

I don't know why she thinks she is the boss.

I did not take a nap.  I ate well.  I asked for stories all day and Barbara obliged until close to dinner time.  Then she rebelled and said no more stories today.

 I rode my scooter while I was waiting for Mommy to come pick me up.

This is one of my many fake crashes.    It was hot, but it doesn't bother me.  Barbara won't let me outside the fence by myself so she put up with the heat, just so I could have fun.

 Mimz is visiting her friends, the Rosses.  This little fawn is one of many that walk past their yard.  They want me to come visit with Mimz so I can feed the deer...

...and play in their backyard spa. A funny thing: Barbara told me Mimz was visiting Kay Woods. I asked who that was. She said, "Mimz' good friend." I said her good friend is named Kay Ross! I catch most of the mistakes people make.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy, and all the men in my life.
Mommy drove me to the lake to spend Father's Day with Daddy, Grandma and PaPa, GGF and GGM, Andy, and Barbara.  Aunt Krissie is in San Antonio with her parents.  Her dad is having knee surgery tomorrow.

 Mommy helped me make a mug for me to give Daddy for Father's Day. My fingerprint is the little blue body.

 That was the project we worked on a couple of days ago. 

 I was very happy to give Daddy my gift.  I was getting ready to go swimming when Daddy got here.  I had sunscreen on my nose.

Daddy doesn't drink coffee, but maybe he can use it on his desk as a pencil holder.

Before lunch Grandma took me swimming.  I practices some of my skills but mainly I wanted to play with the water squirters.

PaPa grilled hamburgers and sausages.  I ate baked beans and sausages and Ice Pops and a few bites of potatoes.

After lunch Andy got in the swimming pool with me.  I could stay in the pool all day.

I used the potty again today!

Mommy and I slept late at the lake.  Grandma and PaPa had already left to help get ready for the new kitchen remodel at Barbara's home (picking out granite, tile, and hardware).   Mommy and I went home and close to lunch time we went over to Barbara's.   There was a lot of activity going on.  They were installing new door handles on some of the doors.  Mostly I stayed upstairs playing with Play Dough, and trucks, and then listening to Barbara's stories.  I was acting sleepy so Mommy left me there while she went home.  Barbara was going to bring me home after my nap.  But I failed to go to sleep.  Barbara did take me home around dinner time. 

June 14th 2013 will be a day my family will long remember.  I successfully used the potty to have a BM.... two times!  You can stop reading now if you are not interested in this story:

At 11:34am GGF was still eating Honey Walnut Shrimp for lunch.  PaPa was putting up a new light fixture in the half bath.  GGM, Barbara, and I had just finished eating lunch and Barbara was talking to Grandma on the phone.  I went upstairs with GGM.  I told her I needed to poop.  I asked if she would put a diaper on me and not tell Barbara.  She said well go sit on the potty while she looked to see if she could even find a diaper.  (I suspect she was not going to find one.)  She thinks I relaxed because I thought a diaper was headed my way and I was able to "let go."  It just happened that fast.  Grandma shouted out to Barbara saying I wanted to show her something, who told Grandma she had to go upstairs to see something important.  She came up and lo and behold! ... an almost miracle!

I was sitting there holding a Popsicle with a big grin on my face.   

At 11:38 after I was dressed, I phoned Mommy.  She was at lunch so we left a message for her to call me.  Then we went downstairs to get the promised five pieces of Proud Candy (Skittles).   GGF and PaPa were both very proud of me. 

At 11:42 I called Mimz and told her the news.  She was tickled pink and said now she would get me the promised bike.  Out of the blue I also asked her for a robot.   I asked if I could call Daddy's work.  Mimz told Barbara to text my dad asking him to call me to hear some news.  At 11:48 Grandma, got the news but she already suspected since she was on the phone with Barbara when this all started. 

At 12:18 Mommy returned my call and I told her.  She wished she could be here to give me a kiss and great big hug.  Daddy returned my call at 12:25pm, he was so very proud me.  This story is not over yet...

At 1:01pm, Barbara heard me calling her, saying I needed her help.  She found me grinning and sitting on the potty, saying I did it again!  And it was true!  I called Mommy before I even got off the potty.   I think I have the hang of this.  I was all smiles all afternoon.  Everyone told me it would be easy and they were right.  GGM told Barbara to put a piece of toilet paper in my potty before I sit down and that will help with the clean up.  Ah, what a exciting day.  I napped from 2 to 5.

 
When Mommy got here we drove up to the lake to swim and spend the night.  We worked on a special project for Father's Day also.

The only potty I had at Mimz house was a seat that goes on the big potty.  I needed a small one on the ground, so Mimz got me a Lightening McQueen potty.  It has wheels, but they don't roll.  I have yet to do business in it, but expect to hear that I have soon.  They (my family) are serious about me mastering that skill.

Mimz took me to school and she came inside so I could show her my big new classroom.  I really do enjoy going to school.

I always want milk to drink so on our way home from school, Barbara and I stopped at Wal-Mart to get some milk, bread, and bananas.  Of course, we stopped at the bakery so I could ask if I could please have a cookie.  They always smile and give me one.  I always say "thank you" and some times I say "gracia" if the lady is Spanish speaking.  That really makes them smile.

I can count to ten in Spanish.  I learned to do that at school.

The entire trip home I kept asking Barbara to tell me a story.  She kept saying she would... after we got home.  Well, she was true to her word.  We got on her bed to watch You Tube videos and then to listen to stories.  I wanted a story about my old teacher, Miss Melody.  Then I wanted a story about my family going on vacation to go rock climbing. 

I watched an episode of Calliou that was about rock climbing yesterday.  That story put me to sleep at 2:45.

I travel a lot when I sleep.

I like having Monk Monk close by when I sleep.

This was a very good day for me.  Most days I am good 98 percent of the time but today I was happy and a joy to be around the entire day.

I did agree to let Barbara read me books instead just telling me stories.  She says it is so much easier to read books than it is to create a story, one that I will enjoy, off the top of her head.  One story we read, for the first time, was an old favorite of hers, The Gingerbread Man.  We talked about gingerbread, and I wanted some.  The best we could do were ginger snap cookies, which I don't think I had eaten before and I did like them.  I pretended the round cookies were the heads of gingerbread men. 

I took my medicine all day without complaint.

I sat on the potty to get used to being on it.  When the time came that I needed it, I was willing to sit there, but the need would go away and I would have to come back and try again and again.  It didn't work, but maybe tomorrow I will have sucess. 

I had a swimming lesson today.  I did well.

I even floated two times for a few seconds all by myself. 

Miss Sherrie said this is time I must be watched extra closely because I have a lot of confidence and no fear, but I really can't do all the things I think I can.

I was napping when Daddy came, so he just carried me to his car and I kept on sleeping. 

Tuesday is water play day at school. I went to school dressed in my swim trunks and crocks, with sunscreen on my body. We have a sprinkler, wading pool, and water table and have fun playing in the cool water. I have a new teacher and new classroom, but I walked in without looking back. It was a good day.

First thing I did when I got home from school was sit on the potty, even though I did not have to go. ( I never did go last night, but did the first thing this morning, but it was not on the potty.)

I took my medicine easily. I asked Barbara to tell me stories. She almost always does but she is getting a little tired of it. She would much rather read books to me, but I really want to hear stories instead. I guess we are going to have to come to a compromise soon.

I took a two hour nap. I woke up saying I needed to potty. Well, I sat on the potty, crying, but nothing happened. After five minutes I got up promising to tell Barbara when I had the urge, so we could run to the bathroom.

Daddy was coming over to my new house so he came to pick me up to take me home to Mommy.

Happy 65th Birthday, Mimz!  Thank you for taking care of your sick grandson on this special day.

I woke up at 7am wanting a sippie.  I drank it and went right back to sleep.  I ran a fever all night.  The highest was 102.  Daddy made me an appointment with Dr. Lacour at 10:10.

 Barbara met Mimz and me for my appointment. I weighed 36 pounds (50 percentile) and am 41 inches tall (75 percentile).

 I do not have strep or bronchitis.  I have an upper respiratory virus.  I am to take Mucinex four times a day and Cheratussin AC Syrup at bedtime.  I was super well behaved.  Oh, Dr. Lacour did say something that I did not like and I got red in the face and was pretty angry with him.... Mimz told him how I will not poop on the potty.  Dr. Lacour said to put me on a potty schedule.  I must sit on the potty six times a day: when I wake up, after breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner and before bedtime.  It doesn't matter if I cry, I must sit there.  I am a little kid and I can't have control of the situation.

******grrrrrrr.... I had more written on this post and it disappeared.... grrrrr... it is so hard to remember and rewrite but i will try.....*****

I wanted to go home with Mimz so she took me back to her home.  The first order of business was to get two medicines down me.  I put up a fight, so I ended up getting it in a sippie cup.   I took a two hour nap before we went to meet Barbara.

I must have decided it was not worth fighting my medicine because I took the Mucinex and my night time medicine easily for Barbara.

When Barbara told me we were starting my potty schedule, I put up a fight and was not going up the stairs willingly.  I ended up in Time Out.  When Time Out was over I went upstairs and willing sat on the potty for two minutes until I heared the motorcycle ring tone on the iPhone. 

I was willing but Barbara still had to do a lot of fast talking to keep me in the "willing" mood.  We talked about how this would work and why I HAD to start using the potty.

I had a good appetite and was happy playing motorcycle cop going after a litterer or listening to Barbara tell story after story.

Mimz sent a jar of honey home with Barbara for us to enjoy when we eat the cornbread that we all enjoy so very much.  Thank you, Mimz.   Oh, a funny thing:  Mimz sent over a piece of chocolate birthday cake .. probably for me, but GGM ate it.  She said it was great!  That was okay because I was full of dinner and later I had an ice cream cone with my favorite Butter Pecan ice cream.

It wasn't long before I really had to "go."  And I willing ran to the potty.  As often happens it takes a long time for me to "go."  I sat there for a few minutes and then would get up and play and then I would run back when I had the urge again.  I did this for the next three hours and when Mommy came to pick me up ( it was late, 9pm) I still had not gone but I was trying and only asked for a diaper one time.  I think this was a very successful training session.

I did not act like I was sick or felt bad, except maybe I did not have as much energy as I usually have.

 Mimz with Uncle Scott and Daddy.

Mimz with Morgan, and Aunt Jill.  They all went out to eat to celebrate Mimz birthday.