$30

Brace your selves for 2 posts in 2 days.  Can you believe it?

So Mr.Sammy turned 2 years old on the 25th and we had a little party.  During this party he got $30 in cash.  Now I like it when the kids get money for their Birthday because it means we get to go shopping.  Doesn't matter if we are shopping for me or not I like to do it. 

So we decided that today is the day we are going to go to Target and spend Sam's $30.  We get to the toy asile and Max is already asking if he is going to get something too.  I told him maybe something little becuase I feel like getting Sam a nice toy and Max nothing is kinda mean.  So the first thing we see is a Lightning McQueen truck, Mack I think is his name.  He has a little McQueen inside and Mack says like 50 things and the trailer opens up. 

They both want it.  I'm thinking this is so not worth $30 lets keep going.  So we wander around and we see ball bats and balls.  Sam wants a plastic baseball bat and ball, cool.  Max says they have pink, get a pink one.  Now Sam wants a pink bat.  Great, I really wouldn't care except that I HATE the color pink, hate it.  One of the things I was worried about before I had the boys was what I would dress my girl in should I have one cause I mean it ain't gonna be anything pink colored for sure.

So we put a pink bat and balls in the cart.  Then we find some non spill bubble container, looks like a good idea.  Then we find some sand shovels.  So we have about spend his wad when Max mentions the Lightning McQueen truck again.  I had to explain we can't get it all, its either the baseball and bubble stuff or the truck. 

They want the truck.  Fine lets get it and get the heck out of here boys.

Lets hope they play with it for more than 5 mins.

Strange adaptations

It has been brought to my attention that I have not posted here since like December.  Sorry bout that, I'll try and do better blah blah blah :)  The truth is I have thought of things to post, I think of posting them on Facebook, then I think they are too long for Facebook and I should post it to my blog.  Then it gets to be bed time and I don't care any more.

One thing I have been thinking about lately is Special needs adaptations we do at home on our own.  Either because of expense, or out of necessity.  So here is my top 5  list of home made special needs things made or done on our own

#5 Using a bungie cord to strap him into his brothers tricycle so he wont fall out because a real adaptive one would be like $1000

#4 Make sure he eats on plates that are a different color than his food is so he can see it better.  Example, corn and mac n cheese on a blue plate.

#3 Yelling step every time Sam gets anywhere near a curb  or stair or really anything he can fall down or trip over.  He has no depth perception at all and is fear less, its a tough combo.

#2 Taping socks to the sharp points of anything that has a sharp corner for him to fall on.  We don't want stitches again buddy.

#1 Making our own Xanthum gum.  When we found out he has an unsafe swallow we bought pre mixed xanthum gum from the store at $34 a container.  We went through it in a week.  We researched on line and found we could buy the powder on line and mix it our selves at home for $12 ever couple months.

What I want for Christmas

So a little while ago I came across a blog that talked about 4 catergories of gifts for their children.  The catergories were: something to wear, something to read, some thing they want and something they need.  I thought this was a great idea and something I wanted to try this year.  So I got the boys each a present from each catergorie.  

Then a little while later I was in Home depot and I started thinking about how it would be nice for the boys to start getting some tools so when they leave the house they have good set.  So I decided I would get them both a tool box this year and then each birthday/Christmas get them a tool for the box.  I was going to get them only the box this year but it turns out if you bought the box and an accessory you got it wrapped for free.  Bonus.

So at this point I have all the kids presents labeled and wrapped and ready for under the tree.   Then we go see Santa today.  Max sits on his lap and begins to clap his hands in excitement.  I want a big Thomas because I lost mine he said, and my brother wants Curious George.  2 thoughts cross my mind here, first is when did you ever lose a Thomas toy and second, crap now I'm not done Christmas shopping.  

I don't know what big Thomas he was talking about but I found him some cool Thomas the Train bed sheets and blanket set, don't worry he likes that stuff, and a cool Thomas flash light that talks.   If he mentions something about a big Thomas I'm going to have to tell him sorry Santa didn't have room in the bag.

Okay so I've fallen behind

10. I am thankful for our van.  I feel like I waited quite a while before deciding our Subaru was too small and we got our Mini Van and we love it.

11. I am thankful Max loves school.

12. I am thankful we have enough to eat.

13.  I am thankful for our church.

14.  I am thankful for our dog

15.  I am thankful for the Facebook/Pintrest because some days that's all the socializing I get.

16.  I am thankful that Sam has a good team of Doctors that if they don't know the answer will refer us to some one who does. 

17.  I am thankful for all my friends.  Sometimes my family doesn't know what to say or how to say it in reference too all that has gone on with Sam.  But my friends, my good old ones, seems to handle all this in stride and for that I am thankful. 

18.  I am thankful for Jeremy's parents

19.  I am thankful we live in America where we are free to worship who and how we choose, we can vote and do all sorts of other things you can't do in other countries.

Thankful 6-9

Second installment of things I am thankful for but first:

Every one has funny ways of saying things, or little expression they use every day.  We don't even know that we do it until we have kids.  I say  things like, the tv is acting funny, or the computer is acting funny as a way to say it isn't working I guess.  I didn't realize this until Max started saying it, only he says it differently.  He says "My socks are being funny"  I'm thinking so are they telling jokes now or what?  Turns out he just put them on upside down. 

6. I am thankful for Grandpa Bruce my dad.  He was always a good dad but he goes above and beyond for his grandchildren.  He loves them and sees them at least once a week, comes to soccer games, has been very supportive of our special Sammy, and is just a very important part of our lives.

7. I am thankful that even though Obama won the election I can take comfort in the fact the God is the one in control and even though I am honestly fearful of what Obama will do to our country I have to believe that this is God's plan. 

8. Sam's health:  Sam has a rare genetic disease, it kills 20% of the children that have his mutation.  When we learned what Sam had we saw all these very serious complications online that are very common with this, heart defects, stomach not attached to your esophagus, needing a trach to breath to name a few.  Some how by the grace of God Sam missed out on the major scary stuff and for that I am thankful.

9. I am thankful that the cop I blew by today on my way home was looking down when I drove by doing 45 in a 25.

Things I am thankful for

Several of my Facebook friends are posting one thing a day that they are thankful for in leui on Thanksgiving.  I think this is cool, kind of a open prayer also.  I also wish to participate but I feel like this is a more appropriate place for me to put the things I am thankful for.  Sometimes I am a bit un comfortable talking about things that are going on in our lives that are good if the same thing is not going well in your life.  My blog to me is somehow more private even though anyone can read it.  It's weird I know but I feel like if you are here than you want to be, with Facebook you read everyone's news feed weather you cared to or not.  So with out further delay in no particular order

1. The Jerf - Jerf gets up with the kids when I can't, loves on the kids, plays with the kids, does stuff around the house goes to work and is generally a good egg.  Yes he will probably read this :)

2. Mr.Max - Our first born son is a very cool little boy who enjoys preschool and driving his brother crazy. 

3.Sir Sam - My second child also very cool, also loves to drive his brother crazy.  I enjoy his goofy little personality and his nibble your ears off cuteness every day.

4.Our House - We have a nice house that fits us all well, in a nice neighborhood, warm in the winter cool in the summer.

5. Jerf's job - My husband has a good job, lets us stay in above mentioned house.

6. The right to vote - Women haven't always had this privilege, we should excersice it on election day!

Traditionally you post one a day but I started late.

What is that mother thinking?

I have been having some clothing issues with Max lately.  He wants to wear sandals and its November or he doesn't think pants are necessary.  In his defense it was warm here just recently but its not any more.  Any way Max puts up a huge fight about wearing sandals and I realize this kid has got to learn to trust me when I say its cold out, so I did what any tired parent would do.  Let him wear his sandals to school,lets see how he likes having cold feet.  So we get in the car to drive to preschool and I begin to think, what are his teachers going to think when he shows up with sandals on today?  Probably that his mother is a class A moron for letting her kid go to school with sandals on when we had a frost this morning.  So we pulled into the school parking lot and I happen to have an extra pair of shoes in the car, slip them on his feet and away to school he goes. 

This gets me to thinking though....I had no idea how much random kid stuff I am responsible for.  If its yellow day at school, I am responsible for 1. knowing that its yellow day and 2. finding Max a yellow something to take to school.  Its not his fault, he can't yet read a calender so I can't even blame him for not knowing that it's yellow day.  I'm responsible for knowing how warm/cold its going to be and making sure he has the right jacket/shoes/mittens/hat/winter coat.  Not that its a big deal I just didn't realize all that was involved in having a kid in preschool.