Bad Sleeping habits

For the last several months (Since Michael returned home) I have had the HARDEST time falling asleep! Finally I settled into a pattern of reading until about 3 and then trying to sleep (though there were a couple of times I pulled an all-nighter.) Even though it became a routine I never got used to the lack of sleep. As a result I was a grouch, I was more irritated with the kids and I was so frustrated with myself. Finally after another sleepless night I woke Michael up (Hey misery loves company) by angrily jumping out of bed, muttering about how frustrated i was and then closing the door in a much more forceful way then I should have at 4 in the morning. Michael told me then that he thought it was time I saw a doctor :) At that point I couldn't have agreed more.

A month later (Apparently sleep doctors are WAY over booked) I entered my doctors office and after filling out a survey and complaining of my problems I was informed that I had developed bad sleeping habits. I was told to get up every morning at the same time (And about 3 hours earlier then I was) work non-stop to completely exhaust myself and that if that didn't make a difference to come back in. He also gave me a bunch of do nots right before bed and prescribed me a pill that would help me fall asleep and help me to not sleep walk (Yes i sleep walk-he said I was sleep walking do to poor sleeping) Unfortunately the pill he prescribed was actually for people who have seizures and did not help me get tired NOR did it prevent me from sleep walking (On the contrary I hit a record number the first night I took it- 3 trips!) So after I ditched the medicine I have been doing GREAT! I am falling asleep every night around the same time, waking up WAY before I used to and have not had an episode of sleep walking since. Michael is not completely happy with our doctor (Who besides prescribing something that could have been semi harmful and not helpful at all, also told me I needed further testing and might also need to get my tonsils removed, which I agree with but was not sure where the connection was) But besides all of that I am so grateful to somewhat have my life back. My husband and kids are grateful too because one of the ways I stay busy is to cook treats...I had forgotten how much more time I have if I have more then 8 hours of the day to deal with.

Some nice finds

Both outfits together were 7 bucks :)

Fred round 2

OK MD is cracking me up with his new pal. This afternoon while sitting on the couch MD comes in concerned saying he can't find his dog. So after checking his bed I hand him his friend whom MD hugs then sticks him in my face and has the dog give me a kiss.

Carrying him out afterwards he comes and sits next to me. After awhile he places the dog on my shoulder then informs me that "Doggy wants mommy" then moves him into my arms and had me hug him.

Lastly he once again decided his dog needed to sit "on da toy-let" after placing him there he runs into the living room with my camera informing me that "take picture-doggy on toy-let!" This kid takes more pictures then me lately.
For your viewing pleasure:

Stay tuned for more MD and Fred adventures!

New member of the family

MD has decided that one of his toys is his new sibling (See post below). Fred the dog is never far from MD and gets to go through many of life's lessons right along with MD. Some of our latest experiences have gone as follows:

MD asks his daddy for cheerios. Michael gets up and gets him a bowl but upon placing it in front of MD he realizes that MD is giving him a dirty look-"Chee-ros for doggy!" he says pointing. Michael then notices Fred the dog sitting in the chair next to him.

MD, though still wanting nothing to do with potty training, has no problem coming and sitting on his kiddo toilet. The other day as I was walking past the bathroom I see MD shaking a finger at his pal Fred (Who was sitting on his toilet) and saying very crossly "Doggy-You go PEE PEE! Pee Pee potty!"


And last after MD got in trouble and was sent to do a time out he dragged Fred with him, sat him next to him and folded his arms. Then in the same tone he heard me use he tells Fred "Trouble! you in Time out! No hit! One....Two....mumble mumble.... eight....nine "

I have a feeling that Fred is about to become the Hobbes (From Calvin and Hobbes) in this relationship.

Trip to the doctors

For some reason I had my camera when we went for MD's check-up. Funny how I can't seem to find it when things really worth documenting are going on but I have it when my kids are going to be miserable :)
You'd think he knew what was coming :)

Hyrum looked like this most of the timeMe: Hey Michael smile for the camera! MD: Nooooo-ooooo-ooo (Each break represents a pause for dramatic effect. Then he proceeded to close his eyes and ignore me)

Picture speaks for itself

Ok-I'll smile with you mommy
I'd rather smile without you mommy :) (Yes that really is Hyrums attitude towards me...)
Md smiling after we offered to let him play with the camera
and here are a couple of pics from our budding photographer:

His new favorite toy who we nicknamed Fred in the hospital-he likes to garden and play with bazookas (Michael Lamar decided my story of Freds adventures of gardening and singing needed some revisions so he took over the story telling)

He also does self portraits so if any of you kids out there want your picture taken call MD! He will do it in exchange for fruit and juice (And unlimited access to your camera)

Cookies and Milk

Thank goodness for a mother who early on in life introduced having cookies and milk for dinner. (every once in awhile) It's a tradition I hope to pass on :)

I love the idea of relaxing and letting my kids enjoy this treat to the full extent-no limitations just full choclaty goodness! I didn't take any pictures but I will say the kids thought it was a wonderful dinner-probably the best yet!

This kid is so good to snuggle :)

To Remember

I have realized that to love a child is to leave yourself vulnerable. Growing up I had a couple of close friends but mostly I had buddies who were wonderful but who I never kept in contact with after high school. My true best friend was my mother who loved me when I was 10 and writing her hate mail, Held me when my feelings were hurt and rallied to my defence, reminded me of the person I could be and never belittled who I actually was, and became one of the few people who have left an impression so deep that many of my decisions I make I do with my mothers example on my mind. I couldn't have left her confidences for anyone but my husband and as much as I love her I now realize how much more she must love me.

MD has been sick since we came back from our Labor day weekend. I attributed it to him catching the flu-he had all the symptoms: 102 fever, aches and chills, no appetite and exhaustion. I wasn't worried to much about him because we were keeping him hydrated and I knew that there wasn't too much we could do for him anyway. We let MD watch all the TV and drink all the juice that he wanted and just waited. He was miserable. He wanted me to hold him whenever he was awake and started sleeping in our bed with us but he kept getting more irritable and inconsolable. On Thursday I notice every once in awhile he would complain about his head hurting but then he would fall back to sleep almost immediately. That night he received a blessing and it him that we would know if we needed to take him to the Hospital and that if we did his doctors would be inspired.

The next day we had family stop by and about an hour into their visit MD comes crying into the room clutching the back of his head and crying for us to help him and that his head hurt. Michael and I decided to take him to the hospital then.

In the hospital they admitted us and sent us to a room. A couple of minutes after a nurse came in to learn more about MD's symptoms we were sent to another room because they were afraid MD had meningitis and his current nurse had health conditions where she couldn't treat him. After the doctor came in he checked MD out, narrowed his problems down to three possible causes and sent us to get a cat scan, and then after the scan he was going to send MD in for a spinal tap.

After the cat scan the doctor came in and told us they found cellulitis underneath MD's tonsils that appeared to be in the early stages which meant we could take antibiotics for it instead of having surgery to drain the abscess. The doctor ordered another cat scan to be sure. The cat scan came back positive and we were sent home with Antibiotics to fight the abscess with a follow up with an ENT doctor.

I had had a melt down right before we took MD to the hospital, which surprised me but I felt so helpless watching my little boy roll around crying and not being able to relieve his pain. It hurt to watch him hurt and I have realized that I am much more cued in on my children's emotions then I have ever been with anyone else.

While we were at the Emergency room MD and Hyrum had SO many fights (Once MD was on medicine) it drove us CRAZY! Here is the gist of one of them

Hyrum holding onto MD's toy ball
H:Bahh!
MD:NO ball!
H:BAHH!!
MD:NO BALL!
H:BAHHHHHH!!!!!
(Both are screaming at this point)
MD:NO BALLLLLLL!

H: BAHH!!! BAHH!!! BAHH!! BAHH!! BAHH!!! BAHH!!!
Me: STOP it both of you!

They fought the rest of the night and the whole way home-until MD's medicine wore off then he just mumbled at Hyrum while Hyrum goaded him on.

Yesterday during a good moment for MD when his meds kicked in
Its funny because Hyrum LOVES his big brother but lately he has become MD's biggest antagonist-and he loves that role :)

AAAHHHH! I always forget to take pictures these days. This last weekend we went to Michaels parents house to let the boys soak up some country livin for the weekend. However I am not going to talk about the weekend so much as one experiance

When we got home both boys were cranky and a bit belligerent. There is always some adjustment time when we get home and the boys realize that the vacation is over and Mommy and Daddy are still in charge. Hyrum was having a rough time and combined with his natural disobedient personality I had decided that I had had enough. When I caught him playing with the outlet AGAIN I decided that he was not NEAR as scared of that outlet as he needed to be and if he wasn't going to fear that he was going to fear me. After being punished and sent to his room Hyrum howled with rage as he he sat and cried by the door waiting for someone to take pity on him. MD looked at me after a couple of seconds and asked "Hy-ya trouble?" "Yes Hyrum is in trouble" I told him. MD listened for a minute more then left the room. I wasn't paying attention and was surprised when I heard the boys room open and saw Hyrum being led by the hand to me. MD looked at me then told Hyrum "Tell Mommy you sorry" Hyrum looked at MD then came to me and signed he was sorry. MD looked at him and told him again "Hy-ya you be sorry" Hyrum again signed he was sorry. Then MD looked at me and told me "Hy-ya's sorry"

Thank you my little middle man-Thank goodness Hyrum will at least listen to you.

Any advise on how to raise a toddler who doesn't want to listen and doesn't care about punishments?