Illness, Garbage Disposals and Baby Ivy

We've been getting our place a little more organized, we bought a new table that Papa picked up for us from Nampa on Sunday (thanks Pa!), and a new cube shelf a few weeks ago that holds fabric cubes that has become our dresser. They are also the perfect size to hold a three-drawer organizer from Fred Meyer. Here you can see Nico showing Evelyn all his coloring books and stickers and paper that we are storing in that three-drawer organizer.

Guy caught a cold, I think the same one Nico has had coming upon him for the last few weeks. He went to work Friday night even though he didn't feel great, and spent a few days of his weekend feeling kind of crummy. 

On Monday Nico didn't eat much of his lunch and asked me to hold him as we got out of the car to walk into his preschool. Red flag! I asked him if he was feeling okay and he asked me to hold him. I asked him if he had a tummy ache and he said "Yes". To which I explained that we probably shouldn't take him into preschool. I explained that if he needed to throw up it would be better to do it at home, but he insisted that he no longer had a tummy ache and that he was ready to go to preschool. I decided to believe him with my actions by taking him to preschool. I told the teacher that he may or may not have a tummy ache. He did not throw up that day, but I did turn around to pick him up from school as soon as I got home. The teacher called me saying that Nico was crying and holding his tummy and wanted me to come get him :( I felt so bad. I raced back to the car praying that he wouldn't throw up at school to save him the embarrassment, I could have just been projecting my own fears onto him, though. I brought "the bucket" with me. He was outside waiting for me with his teacher when I pulled up. He was fine a few hours later after I rubbed his feet with oils several times and we snuggled on the couch. It's funny how quickly his demeanor changes when his tummy ache is gone. He perks up and asks for food and then eats like he's starving. I wrote to the teacher telling her he was fine, and Teacher Melissa wrote back and said "I was a little alarmed at how much pain he seemed to be in for a few minutes, there, but am very glad he's alright."

He went to school on Tuesday, and as he was getting off the bus, the bus driver told Guy that Nico was coughing a lot and asking the bus attendant to hold him :( He had a full blown cold at this point, and his fever spiked that night with an intense ear ache. Oils to the rescue. Then the next morning his fever was down to 99.6. He stayed home from school, and had to miss his snack day... that's the day that he brings snack and also gets to bring something to show the class. He was going to bring his bubbles in and tell them that Grandma Salisbury got them for him from Shopko.

Not all is lost! He had a great day today. He woke up with no fever and had a fun time at school and got to eat ASTRONAUT ICE CREAM. As soon as he walked in the door he told me about it and he told me it tasted sweet. And I am thankful that it didn't give him a tummy ache! Then tonight while we were reading bedtime stories, Jeff came in to fix our garbage disposal (accidental teaspoon clog, whoops), and Nico had a chance to hold baby Ivy. He talked to me about her tiny feet and her tiny legs and asked about the socks on her hands. He was very sweet with her.

I got a turn too, of course.

I think that's it for this week. I wish I had taken more pictures!

G.G., Grandma's Birthday Party, Park

On Friday we went to see G.G. and helped her baste the firetruck quilt, I wish I would have thought to get a picture! I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Saturday was my mom's birthday (Grandma Salisbury!) And we went out to Smoky Mountain Pizza with family to celebrate. I forgot the camera, and then forgot to take pictures with my phone, so we are picture-less. But, it was a nice setting, a large private room with a door right next to the arcade game room which is where the kids played when we weren't eating. We ate some food and then cake.

My mom has been working on writing a book of stories for quite a many months. She wanted it ready for her 60th birthday, and it was! She had some copies printed and gave each of the families one of the books. The book is stories from her life, you can really see the completeness of how God has brought her through from beginning to 60. I love it. You can even purchase them on Amazon!! I cherish the fact that all of these stories of hers are written down now, and I am so proud of her for doing it! Way to go Mom!

Sunday Nico was in the big kids room again at church. He didn't like the loud music and was found in the back, lying on the floor and crying. So sad! He told them that he didn't like the music so they put him in the nursery while they sang music, and then brought him back out when the music was over. Then on Sunday nights, we are going to be transferring him to big kids Bible Study. We'll be dropping him off at a different house before Guy and I go to our Bible Study.

Monday was sunny and warm,
Tuesday Nico woke up sick. I was pretty sure it was the virus his teacher had emailed all the parents about last Friday, but after a few hours it became apparent that his tummy issues were not related to illness, but related to whatever it is he inherited from me :) This means that he was fine a few hours later. I had already cancelled school for him that day so we just hung out at home.

Wednesday evening I took Nico and Evelyn (she insisted on being called Evelyn from now on instead of Evie) to the park. Check out the video at the end of the post.

Evie was taking "naps" at the park, Nico would come up to her and say "Evie get up! We don't have time for this!"

We found a fun place for Nico to sit while he eats his snack. Yay for spring days!

I am thinking and thinking and can't think of anything else we did this past week. He is still reading the words "it" and "was" in all the books I read him. He is spelling out words and trying to figure out spelling. He is still wanting to play with cars during You and Me Time, except now we are starting to use the cars to do other things. Like, playing with cars that want to color, or play with cars that want to put legos together.

I make him a red pancake every morning because I have a bunch of leftover red beet root powder from something else. I also put chocolate chips on his pancake in the shape of something. Sometimes he tells me what to make the shape, sometimes I decide. Yesterday it was "Carwash. Make a carwash on my pancake." Okie dokie, carwash it is. 

He tried chocolate yogurt on Wednesday and loved it. That might be a regular. Only a few ingredients, from Trader Joe's. He was so excited sitting in the car eating it with a plastic spoon, saying in a loud voice every so often: "This won't make me sick!" Or "What's in yogurt, mommy?", I tell him and he says, "Oh, I can eat it, it won't make me sick!" awww. We all need more food in our lives that won't make us sick :)

Kindergarten, Discovery Center, VIDEO Dinosaur Poem

On Saturday, since Guy didn't work, he took Nico to the Discovery Center in the afternoon. They have their rocket display going on. They spent two hours there, then they went and got coffee, and maybe went to a few other places.

On Monday was our meeting at Adams Elementary so we could meet his new teacher and SLP and the Resource Teacher. All very nice! They asked me if I would be willing to switch Nico to the afternoon class because there is another kid in the afternoons that needs speech therapy, and it would make it easier if they could be pulled out together to do speech at the same time. They usually do speech in groups, but if there is not anyone from a matching grade then Nico would be matched with an older kid, and they like to avoid that if at all possible.

I had actually been thinking about the afternoon class, because Nico's friend from Beautiful Savior Preschool, Michael, is going to be in the afternoon class. So when they brought it up, I said, Yes! I am open to it! So he's officially going to be in afternoon preschool. 12:30-3:15 PM every day.

We also decided to sign him up for the BSU Literacy Academy this summer. (Here's a link to the .pdf brochure) I think he will enjoy it. It goes through the month of June, 4 weeks total I think.

Tonight at the park, a 6 year old boy became quick friends with Nico. The 6 year old ran up to his dad and said "Dad! Dad! Want to know something awesome?? I made a new friend!" "Great! What's his name?" "I don't know, he didn't tell me." 

Then when Nico ran up to him the 6 year old said "Dad! Dad! That's my friend, that's my new friend!!"

Nico makes friends, and says Hi to everyone. I really like that!

The one time we went to the park this month and there were NO kids to play with, we stayed for a measly 5 minutes before Nico asked to go home. In the past he wouldn't have cared, but now it's pretty imperative that there are other kids at the park. On our way to the park tonight he had told me "Mommy, I'm going to go play with my friends at the park!" not knowing yet who his friends were going to be. 

This week Nico also got to put some legos together with Evie for the first time. He helped her learn how to do it. Guy was telling me that Evie approached legos in a different way than Nico did. Nico: rules. Evie: general idea. She knew the roof of the car went on the top of the wheels somehow, so she just did that. Then after the legos were put together they played with them.

Video at the very end!

At the Train Depot checking out the huge steam engine

Evie asked if she could paint Nico's toenails red. Nico got her a red marker and let her do it.

Heave ho!

Watching construction out the front window

Easter, IEP Meeting

Nico got to do 2 Easter egg hunts on Easter! The first one was at church. Every egg he picked up he had to open first. I think he was remembering preschool egg hunt where all the eggs were empty! (Empty tomb, you see).

The second one was at the cabin that afternoon. We ate a yummy dinner and then Grandma brought the kids upstairs while all the parents hid the eggs. Grandma had Bruce read a story to the kids. When I went up to listen, Nico was sitting in the same armchair as Bruce, squished in next to him.

Then the kids were released! We told Nico that all the eggs had something in them so that he didn't have to open any of them first. When all the eggs were found, we counted them and then traded until each kid had 46 eggs. There were just 4 kids, a smaller gathering than usual. Bruce, Rory, Lexie, and Nico.

There were toys and candies in the eggs. The candies that Nico couldn't eat, he tried to give away. There were also notes in the eggs that you could redeem for $5 cash. Each time you redeemed a note you had to do whatever the banker asked you to do. We all took turns being the banker. Nico got 4 such notes so he made $20. He was asked once to jump on the trampoline as high as he could go in order to receive his $5. He really enjoyed that one.

Snuggled up outside while the grown ups finished eating

Guy talking to my brother David

Trying to find the last few eggs

Then we said our goodbyes, loaded with leftovers (Thanks Pa & Ma!).

On Monday we went to the bank and opened Nico a ShareBear savings account. We want to start giving him a small allowance so that he can save up for all the toys that he asks for. He was able to buy a lego he's been eyeing with his $20 from Easter. We had fun tonight because we finally finished putting it together. The age range for this one started at 7 years old, I think because it was one of those technics legos that requires a bit more strength and spatial orientation than a 4 year old would have. So I helped him with it, and it took us a few days of 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, before it was finished. It's a RACE CAR WITH A TOWING HOOK!

Monday was also our IEP meeting. We went over how Nico is doing and we went over the IEP goals for next year. There is one goal in relation to him being defiant, saying "No!" and sitting down in the middle of class during transition periods when they're moving from one activity to the next. Could be just exerting his independence, we've certainly been seeing that at home, too. Anyway, the goal for next year is to help him transition better between activities. A lot of times the goals just state common sense type stuff but it's good to have it in writing. To help him meet this goal, there will be someone who comes into his Kindergarten class every day for 15 minutes to help him however he needs it. If there is a certain time of day that he has the most trouble, she will come in during that time. Since the class will have more kids than he's used to, they thought this would be good, to get his some one on one time.

No goals next year for academics, he is right on target. Miss Erica says that Nico is very precise, and she points to the wall where there is art hanging and says "I could probably pick out which one is Nico's, it's the one where everything is right in its place."

The only other goals are speech related. His biggest issue right now is articulation. He will get there. He has come so far in every other area!

I talked to the SLP about the Calico Learning Center possibility this summer, and she said she wasn't too sure about the place. When someone else joined us a few minutes later, she said the same thing. Something about how most of the kids enrolled there are not native English speakers, and Nico would benefit more from being around typical peers. Miss Erica mentioned that BSU has a summer language program that enrolls Nico's age, and that might be something better to look into. So, we're looking into.

Next Monday I have the transition meeting at Adam's Elementary school so I can meet his teacher and SLP for next year.

Nico has had tummy aches two nights in a row. There was a time about a month ago that he was telling me every night that he had a tummy ache, but I was pretty sure it was just a ploy to get out of bed. This is different. He LOOKS sick. He goes to bed, asks for water, then a few minutes later will get out of bed and say "Mommy, there's something wrong with me." I ask him what's wrong and he eventually will tell me it's his tummy. I rub oils on his feet and often times that just puts him to sleep. I asked him if the foot massage felt good and he sleepily nods yes, and then ZONK, he's out. Then he sleeps the whole night and wakes up happy in the morning. I feel so bad for him. I know what those tummy aches feel like. I have a guess as to the food culprit, so I'm hoping that tomorrow is better.

Last night he felt so terrible, he was rolling around on my bed saying he had a tummy ache, then he'd whimper, and then he'd roll some more, and then "Mommy, mommy, there's something wrong with me." Then he'd whimper and roll over again :(

Also this past week, we received a package from the Grandparents Russell! Nico just happened to be with me when we went to the PO Box to check the mail, and he was so psyched to find a package in there with his name on it. Waiting until we came home to open it was hard, because we had a few more stops before home: The library, and the zoo. In the package he got some books, including his favorite Pigeon book that we have checked out twice from the library, and now we won't have to do that any more! Also a game and a deck of cards, from Grandma Dee's stash, plus some stickers. All good things. Thank you Gma and Gpa! 

Saturday Market!!! Last Saturday was the first one of the season. Nico got a dragon balloon and a cucumber. Then we headed over to the movie theater for a sensory-friendly movie (lights stay on, volume is down, doors stay open, and you can bring your own food). Paddington Bear. Nico sat through the whole thing and it was a lot of fun. They do these movies every month. I'm looking forward to the next one!

One night this past week, Nico and Evie and I went to the park before bed, and they didn't even play on the equipment, they spent the whole time riding in circles on their bikes on the basketball court. It was pretty cute. 

G.G., Easter Party, Jesus

On Friday we went to see G.G. in Nampa. She showed me these adorable stuffed dogs that she made, I just can't believe how cute these things are!! She sent me home with the purple one for baby Ivy, who loves it!! 

Nico had fun playing with the blocks, building some of the things displayed on the side of the bin. He also had fun "hiding" Scamper's dog treat under the table for him to find. Scamper had to be coaxed over to where it was lying on the floor because he didn't see it.

Then G.G. showed me the firetruck quilt. Wow!! I am so impressed by this. I love that cute little dog in the corner.

Guy had last weekend off and he took Nico out on Saturday. Nico and Guy have started going to McDonalds when they go out, so that Nico can play on the toys. Guy just buys some french fries for himself. Nico calls it "Old McDonalds". "Can we go to Old McDonalds?"

On Tuesday Guy and I put together our new 3x4 cube storage that is replacing our dresser. It takes up much less space than our dresser did so it feels like we added a whole new room to our house. That is what I'm talking about! We are trying to organize this space a bit better and we're on our way.

Wednesday was Nico's Easter Party at his new preschool (that is how we differentiate between the two preschools - old preschool and new preschool). I teared up while they were singing their song about Jesus. I'm such a sap. I just like that he's learning about Jesus taking our sins away. He often tells me out of the blue: "You can trust God", quoting one of his favorite songs. He repeats it "you can trust God, you can trust God, you can trust God." Then he'll say "Jesus lives in my heart." He'll tilt his head, look at the floor, and tap his heart with his right hand. Tonight I encouraged him to pray before bed after I prayed and his usual thing is "no you do it". But I asked him to come up with one thing to thank God for. "I don't know", so I asked him what is one thing that he loves. And he said "Mommy" So he repeated after me "Thank you for Mommy"...

Me: Is there anything else you want to thank Jesus for?

Nico: Daddy?

Me: Yep

Nico: Thank you for Daddy. Evie?

Me: Yeah

Nico: Thank you for Evie. And Allicia. And Lexie. Amen

Nico eating his Easter Party Snack and looking at a picture of himself on Teacher Melissa's phone

All of Nico's friends at his new preschool

The latest in nighttime reading traditions is letting Nico read the words "it" and "was". These are the first two words in the book "Curious George Cleans Up", so that's how he chose them. But he reads these words in every book, not just that one. When I come to one of those words, I stop and point to it, and then he reads it. I think he is excited about being able to read. 

Putting together a lego with Daddy. A beautiful day to have both doors open to get a breeze! Can you perceive the extra light coming in from the open back door?

Until next time! (I'll have news next week of Nico's first Kindergarten transition meeting)