Eye-ronic

Last month was an exciting month for our little kindergartner!  Allie lost a front tooth, and picked out a new pair of pink glasses.  I was really excited about her new glasses.  Our optometrist doesn't carry many durable options for kids frames.  We tried metal frames and plastic frames this past year, and the plastic held up the longest, but they didn't even make it 9 months.

I called around town to see if any place carried any brands that were more durable, and ironically, the place I said I'd never ever go back to was the only places in town that had something worth buying.  If you're wondering what happened that was so bad, I'll tell you.... they use to be our family eye doctor.  At the time, we didn't have good eye insurance.  They covered like $15 on frames or $30 on contacts yearly.  That year I purchased glasses instead of contacts.  It was also the year Kevin got new glasses.  By the time it was said and done, we ended up spending close to $500 on eye exams and new glasses for the both of us.  Several months after that eye appointment, I ran our of contacts and instead of ordering through the vision place, I ordered from 1800Contacts.  They have to confirm my prescription with the the optometrist, which is all really seamless and easy on my end.  They always have great deals, quick and sometimes free shipping, and at the time, I liked they'd be delivered to my door.

Fast forward a year or so, and I was due for an eye exam and I was completely out of contacts.  I called and they couldn't get me in for an appointment for a week, but I needed contacts that day.  The bad thing about disposable lenses is they break down over the a couple weeks you wear them, and when you don't switch them as often as you should, (*ahem* that's me) you can get bad headaches.  So, I called the vision place, pleading with them to let me buy one pair of contacts so I could get by until my appointment, but they were snippy and told me since I hadn't purchased contacts from them, they wouldn't be selling me any to get me by.  I was furious.  It wasn't like they didn't make any money off of us!  They took us to the cleaner on glasses.... so that's why I swore I'd never go back.  Terrible customer service, in my opinion.

But don't you hate when you have to eat your words?  Getting Allie a good, durable pair of glasses was my priority, so I sucked up all my bad feelings, and went in and ordered her darling pink frames.  The staff was still the same people, and I'm sure they didn't remember me, but boy I remembered them!  And to be totally honest, they were very nice and helpful this time.  The optometrist fitted Allie's glasses when they came in and she was so super sweet to Allie.  I wanted to tell her to ditch her office staff and hire nicer people, but I kept my thoughts to myself.  :) 

Her pink glasses came in on Valentine's Day :)

One front too out, one very wiggly one left to fall out!

Austins Injury

***What would an injury post be without graphic pictures?! Be warned, they are below!

Monday was the start of life as usual.  Kevin went back to work and I had plans of working on laundry and getting the house in order.  The day went well until dinner time.  We ate outside and when everyone was done, the kids got up to run/play and Kevin and I were trying to talk.  I had a spider crawl up my leg and another bug fly in my face and we decided to just go inside and let the kids keep playing.  No sooner did the back door shut then we heard Austin shriek.  We knew it wasn't good.  Kevin quickly opened the back door and Austin and Allie were running towards us.  Allie told us Austin had stepped in the fire.  (On Father's Day Kevin started burning limbs we had piled up in our yard.  We had kept the fire going about 24 hours, but Monday afternoon we let it die down.  There was no open flame but the embers were still smoking.)

(A picture from Father's Day. You can see the smoke from the fire in the background.)

I heard what happened and raced to the bathroom to get the cold water running. (My niece had a bad burn to her hand just over a year ago and I remember learning a tad bit about burns then, and knew you were supposed to immediately put them in cold water.) Austin was in a lot of pain.  We held his foot under the cold water and he got immediate relief.  He stopped crying about 30 seconds after his foot was in the water and declared, "I all better!"  We hadn't assessed the burn yet so we took the opportunity to do that after he said it wasn't hurting.  We thought maybe it was small, and maybe it really was all better?  After turning his foot over he began screaming (basically as soon as the cold water stopped) and we realized the burn covered a big section of his foot.  It took about two hours to get him calmed down.  He'd bite his blanket, start shaking his other limbs as a result of the pain, and just scream.  I've never seen him in so much pain and it hurt me.  We did a cold compress and Kevin ran to CVS to get hydrogel burn pads.  That's finally what settled him down.   

{I have to add that I love how all the other kids rally in and help when one is down.  We praised Allie for being so alert and being able to immediately tell us what happened.  Hayden and Krissy were constantly finding his favorite things and bringing them to him to try and comfort him.  Hayden was bringing snacks and drinks over trying to help calm him down.  It just warmed my heart to see them caring for Austin.}

Surprisingly, Austin slept all night that night.  We gave him ibuprofen immediately after it happened and Tylenol before bed.  We had plans to be gone all day Tuesday that I ended up not changing.  We spent most of Tuesday at Christmas Lake and the kids played inside and watched tv.  It worked out perfect for him to have a lazy day there (I knew if we were home it would be harder for him to rest because he wants to be outside all day, everyday.).  I carried him everywhere and he didn't mind one bit.

We scheduled a doctors appointment for Tuesday evening and the doctor confirmed 2nd degree burns and prescribed him some antibiotic cream.  

(Picture from Friday morning) 

The blister popped Thursday night and he's been able to walk unassisted for short periods of time.  He also started running a low grade fever Thursday evening that got us worried.  After a quick Google search we read that was common.  There seems to be no sign of infection, so we are thankful.  We are also thankful that the injury was on the bottom of his foot where we don't have to be too concerned about scarring.  

We are changing bandages twice a day.  The doctor told us to expect to do this for 2-4 weeks.  He always says it tickles when I change them, and again, I'm thankful for that!

This was our first major burn we've had to deal with.  Between me and you, Austin is probably the toughest 2 year old ever.  And he's the happiest kid.  I hate this happened to him but I'm sure he's learned a lesson about fires and so did all the other kids! 

Let's Go Fly A Kite

 We've had a bit of unseasonably cool weather lately, and spent a lot of time at home.  About two weeks ago I spent $5 at Walmart on 4 cheap kites.  Who knew they'd provide hours of entertainment?! Sidenote:  The girls have been dressing themselves (on our days we stay home) so overlook their oddly put together outfits ;)

U

New Glasses For....

Last week I made Hayden and Allie eye appointments.  It's the first time since we've been married that we have good vision insurance (normally they cover an exam, but this year we get credit for contacts or glasses as well)!

Our eye doctor recommended seeing the kids when they were 4-5.  Even though Allie didn't seem to be having any problems, I decided to go ahead and get her eyes checked before she starts kindergarten this fall. 

I predicted before this appointment we'd be getting a pair of glasses for Hayden.  He doesn't complain of not being able to see, but at his last checkup a couple years ago, they had said he would probably need glasses in the future.  I watched him read the letters.  He was missing C by saying O and E and saying B.  After the doctor looked at his eyes, he said he is just starting to need a little help seeing but wouldn't recommend glasses at this point.  He said if he complains of not being able to see, then we could take action, but since he's not having problems and he's doing well in school then we should just wait.

Next up was Allie.  They had her look at pictures (car/horse/duck/hand/cake/phone) instead of letters.  First she covered her left eye and breezed through the pictures.  Next she covered her right eye and I could tell she was struggling to name the pictures.  I couldn't tell if she was getting confused by the pictures (the car didn't really look like a car and the cake was a little wonky too).  The lady switched the screen to where it was just one picture at a time and when she was still missing them I began to think maybe she's having problems seeing!

The doctor came back in to check her eyes.  She struggled through the same set of pictures with him.  He said her right eye was 20/20 and the left was 20/40.  He said she's using her right eye more than her left and for that reason he recommended glasses.  She was SO excited and Hayden was SO bummed (like he was crying in the van saying it's not fair).

We tried on lots of glasses.  She wanted bright pink but I convinced her 10 years from now she's be mad I let her have her way.  I suggested several cute, neutral pairs.  The plastic brown tortoiseshell were my favorite but they weren't as comfortable as the metal ones with nose pieces.  And the metal ones have bright colored hearts on the side and I think she was sold on them!  

Her glasses will be in by the end of next week and she asks me hourly how many more days until her glasses are here.  I'm so glad we had her eyes checked and I'm thrilled she is excited about her new glasses!  

Austin 2yr Checkup

Austin had his two year checkup this past week.  He helped me push buttons on the elevator, he greeted the fish in the new aquarium, and he got weighed and measured!  He's 32.2 lbs which is 88% and 36 5/8 inches tall , which is 95%.

The doctor brought him in a new book about opposites and he was really excited to get it!  We were thrilled he didn't need any shots this time!  She said everything looked great except for a left ear infection.  I didn't even know he had one!

Austin is definitely experiencing some terrible twos (Ex: Squeezing tubes of toothpaste everywhere, emptying my purse any chance he gets, sticking his head in the toilet, dunking my phone in the bath tub...), but I'm trying to daily refresh myself so we have some terrific two moments as well!  And once you finish reading this just say a little prayer for my sanity ;)

 

Hayden & School

At the beginning of the month Kevin and I were considering putting Hayden back in first grade.  His grades were pretty average (B's/C's) but we could tell he was struggling to keep up.  Pairing that with the fact he's one of the youngest kids in his grade, it seemed like if we stayed the course, it was going to be a loooong year.  He loved his teacher but there happened to be a first grade teacher, Mrs. Boris, he had for one day that he loved equally as much.  (Remember him getting moved after the first day of first grade to a new teacher?!)  We had talked to Hayden about maybe going back to first grade and he didn't seem to have an opinion either way.  We talked to the 2nd grade teacher and also the principle and got their opinions.  They fully supported our idea to move him back.  And it turns out Mrs. Boris was the next to get a new student, so he'd be exactly where we wanted him (isn't God good?).

He switched on a Monday that was the start of a new grading period. That previous Thursday we had told him we met with his teacher and the principle and decided to put him back in first grade.   We told him that we prayed about the choice and felt like it was the right thing to do. He just shrugged his shoulders and said ok.  I gave him some news that I knew would make him happy - he was moving to Mrs. Boris's class!  He was thrilled!  We gave him the chance to ask us questions and the hardest for me to answer was if he didn't like being in first grade could he go back to second.  And I had to tell him no, and that mommy and daddy had talked about that but we felt like God wanted him in Mrs. Boris's class and we knew he'd be so happy in the class he wouldn't even want to move.

The Friday before the move, the school counselor walked him to his new room and he met his new class.  His 2nd grade teacher had sent me a couple email during the day that just reassured me this was the right move.

The school counselor called me Friday after school to tell me about her time with Hayden.  She was saying most kids don't do very well with moving back, especially during th school year, but Hayden was quite the exception.  When she talked to him about how we made the decision, he told her his mom and dad had prayed about it, and talked about how excited he was to go back to this teachers class.  She was trying to find out if there were any nerves or negative feelings about it, and there were none.  She said it was amazing to see a child so confident with their parents decision, a child that truly seemed to believe in God and him so at peace about the switch.  Just more confirmation this was the right move!

He's finishing up his third week in his new class and he's absolutely thriving.  He's so confident with his work, he's writing more during writing prompts, his handwriting is getting better by the day.  He feels smart in his class, instead of feeling like he's behind. When I ask what the best part of school is, he always replies "everything" and when I ask if there were any bad parts to his day, he can't think of any.  Oh and one more positive, he has lunch and recesss with his old class, so he still gets to see all of his friends he's made while making new ones!  I'll say it again, God is Good!

When I hear stories of struggles that turned out to be blessings in disguise, this is one for us.  I was so upset he switched teachers last year (we didn't have a choice in the matter), we struggled all year to get him caught up, we struggled this year to keep up, and going back to first grade, which can sometimes be hard on kids, was the best gift we could have given Hayden.  

So remember, if you're struggling with something, God is going to use it for His glory and you'll be blessed by these struggles.  

The face of a happy boy at his fall party!

Happy 3rd Birthday Krissy!

As I had mentioned a couple posts ago, I stole Krissy away for a little photo shoot on the property we stayed at in Florida.  I loved doing Allie's 5th Birthday photo shoot and I loved the idea of doing Krissy's on the beach!  Krissy loves our one on one time together but she doesn't love me taking her picture all the time.  About 5 pictures in, she started telling me "dass enuff pictures", and I kept convincing her it wasn't enough :)

At 3, Krissy is the epitome of sweet and rotten but becoming more obedient the older she gets.  Her normal talking voice is usually yelling.  Her favorite color is pink.  She is becoming BFFs with Allie and they love to play Barbies and baby dolls together.  She likes when I call her my little baby girl, or little birdie (and she will say "Tweet tweet" and giggle).  She likes to pretend she is the baby and loves all the attention.  If she takes a nap during the day, she is awake till I go to bed.  She constantly asks me to hold her or rock her, and I normally take her up on her request.  She stays very close to me and proudly announces she's a "mommy and daddy's girl" (but she prefers her momma most of the time!)  When I get ready, she loves to watch me and help me pick out clothes.  She loves trying on my jewelry.  She's been known this past year for falling asleep in strange places (like the hallway, or the floor, or the rocking ottoman to the rocking chair).  When she gets a bath she tells me e.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e. "Make sure you block my eyes!" because she has tried to shampoo her own hair several times and she knows it stings to get that soap in your eyes!  She is the most content child when she has an iPad or iPhone in her hands.  She still loves her vanilla almond milk, but will drink strawberry milk too.  Her food preferences are pretty hit or miss, but cheese quesadillas are always a hit.  And so is "clocklet" (chocolate).  She is 100% potty trained during the day but still wears a diaper to bed.  She scales the kitchen cabinets with ease, and keeps us on our toes - but like I said in my first sentence, shes becoming more obedient and the mischievousness is lessening.

Here are some pictures I captured of my dainty little brownie a couple weeks ago...

Happy Birthday Allie

Happy Birthday Allie!!!

My sweet Allie turns 5 years old today.  I feel so privileged to be her momma.  She's beautiful, funny, and honest.  She loves any animal with fur.  She loves to shop.  She loves anything "princess".  She calls her hair "blondies".  She plays baby dolls and barbie dolls daily.  She prefers to wear dresses.

I'm so thrilled I was able to do a little photoshoot with Allie on Monday.  It was fun having some time to ourselves, to dress up, and to act goofy {to get her natural smile to come out}.  I hope you enjoy the pics (and there's a lot!) just as much as I do!

 

When Allie was just a baby I had seen on Pinterest a picture of a little girl photographed in her mom's wedding dress.  The idea stole my heart and I couldn't wait to take pictures of my girl (and Krissy too when she's 5) in my dress.  I didn't want to do these pictures when she was a baby because I wanted her little personality to come out + be little enough to look like a little girl + be old enough to not trash the dress.  5 seemed like the perfect age... and some of these pictures I captured are my all time favorites of her :)

And we went back to her white dress to finish taking pictures!

(This is Allie's verse that I picked out for her when she was little)

(she was twirling - hints the blurry arm)

 

And we had just gone to a new part of the garden when she said she had to go potty - so the photo shoot ended promptly :)

Check back for a birthday interview + pictures from her birthday!