Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Day 3 of Potty Training

7am-  Put 3 yr old on the potty, explaining cheerfully how mommy needs him to "make a poops". Everyone is smiling.

7:15 am- 3 yr old wants to get up, but Mommy knows, the minute she lets him put on underwear, he     is going to poops in them

7:30am-  Mommy feels guilty about 3 yr old still sitting on potty, but Mommy remembers how on Days 1  AND 2, 3yr old pooped in his undies. Mommy toughens up. 3 yr old stays put.

7:45am- 3 yr old (alright, his name is Nick) proudly produces a poop the size of a pea and wants to get up.
Mommy senses progress, lets him flush the microscopic offering, and sits him back down.

7:50am-  Second pea sized poop. Nick wants to flush again. Mommy is starting to feel suspicious.

7:55am- Third pea sized poop. Nick wants to flush. Hmmmm....

8:00am- Mommy sees day going downhill in a fast car and poopy underwear.

8:15am- Nick actually produces People Sized Poops. Really. Mommies eyes tear up. She lets him flush, again. Everyone gets a treat, Nick gets underwear. Mommy feels hope.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Instant Gratification and End of a Long Road...

To get my daycare license, we need grass under our swings. I've been working toward this license for months, taking Licensing,CPR and Food Handlers classes. I've had the Health Dept, the Fire Dept, and the City Licensing Dept at my house making sure I'm clean and safe. Finally, the day came for the actual State Licensor to come out to my house. Everything passes. EXCEPT. (I'm getting used to hearing this...see previous post) Except the fact that the grass has worn off under my swings. The entire yard is grass, including under the slide. The only worn spot, is, in fact only a spot about 1x2 ft . But it matters, it counts, and it prevents me from getting the coveted license. So. Thursday night we dug up about 200 sq ft of dirt and weedy grass (TGH likes to go crazy with our tiller) We ordered sod and picked it up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, then laid the darn stuff. WOW! That grass is so rewarding! Instant grass-ification! Amazing! Now, we just water like crazy, call the State and get that license!



This is Alex, picking up rocks and crap out of the dirt. Then me laying sod, and finally, the finished product. We bought some seed, (thanks for the tip Melody) and sprinkled all around the perimeter so it should fill in. And we live in an area that stays pretty warm until late, so we should be good.








Here's our youngest, keeping an eye on the whole project♥




Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tying Shoes

I am feeling very ineffective these days. I feel like I'm like my 3 year old trying to tie his shoes. I know that people tie their shoes everyday. I see the shoes. I know how the laces are supposed ot work and I understand how the process goes, but somehow, I cannot get those shoes tied! I try, and try. They LOOK tied, but the minute I start walking, they fall apart and I'm tripping over my laces again. Sit down, try again.

I am having trouble getting Timothy's (disabled 6 year old) leg braces. We have insurance. We have Medicaid. You'd think, like all the parts of the shoe being there, that this is a guarantee of tied shoes. But no. Medicaid won't approve the braces until the insurance company denies the claim, which they have. So, like the shoes, I have everything, the shoes are essentially tied. So I stand up. The insurance company has denied the claim. But Medicaid won't approve the claim because they are saying it's the wrong insurance company. Hmmm. So, I call Medicaid, spend 20 minutes on hold, explain the problem, and am reassured that everything will work out. The orthotics company calls two days later and say that Medicaid is still denying the claim. I call Medicaid again and am emailed a form, which I fill out and send in. Timothy's orthotic appointment was tuesday. My daughter took a call Monday, presumably to remind me of Tuesday's appointment. On Tuesday, I load up 3 daycare kids and Timothy and go. Shoes Tied! When I get there, I am informed that Medicaid has yet again denied the claim, based on the previous reason of wrong insurance denial. They haven't even ORDERED the braces. I go home and lie down. I'm tired of trying to tie shoes. I want velcro. On Wednesday, the orthotics office calls me again to inform me AGAIN that Medicaid has denied the claim (same reason) AGAIN. I ask, "Are you going to call me everyday to tell me Timothy can't have braces?" Needless to say, I was bugged. The woman calling says, "I thought if you could see their letter, it would be helpful to you." I ask, "In what way?" She says, "So you could understand why they are denying your claim." I said, probably not in the nicest way possible, "That is actually the LEAST helpful thing I've been told. Thank you." I explained how many times I've called Medicaid, and, by the way, my insurance company, trying to explain (and prove) that Timothy is NOT preexisting, that's the way he came. She says, "Oh, Ok, we just want to be helpful." I'm thinking helpful would be them giving me the braces. They are not thinking that.

I'm not sure how the h** to tie shoes anymore. I want some flip-flops.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Marching Band

Last night we were able to see our daughter in her marching band show and we were so impressed! Their band is doing so well. And good thing too, because as I was watching the other bands perform, I was feeling very upset about my $350 for marching band. (It's not mine, actually, in terms of cash money, but we sure have worked hard at the fund raisers.) Anyway, I had said to TGH, "Our band had better be better than this or I want my money back!" He agreed. So, on the the field they marched...and WOW! What a great job they did! We took some
pictures. In the close up, she's the one with the flute.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

First Grade

Well, the first day of first grade came and went. Today when I dropped little Blossom off she was already in her groove and could hardly be bothered to say goodbye. Do I curse or bless her independence?
The first day was a madhouse when I dropped her off at the school. I naively didn't show up early enough and we had to park our van in a field across the street from the school. I was carrying little Gem and everyone else was holding hands as we made our way through the straw/grass, trying not to get our feet scratched. Of course Bubbles lost a shoe which we had to go back for because I didn't immediately realize why she was crying. Thank goodness for the good samaritan who helped me get my little herd across the street (NO CROSSWALK!!) The playground was a mass of kids and I could barely recognize the teacher I just met on Friday. But of course, we managed to find the right line and we even got to accompany Blossom into her class which really thrilled Buttercup.
All in all, Blossom said she loved first grade and came home very happy. I guess I am the only one who is going to have a hard adjustment to having her gone all day!