What a week!!

Sunday evening and I am pooped! This past week the kids had swimming lessons from 10-11 am and then Jase had British Soccer Camp from 7-9 pm every day.  And I think Tuesday was the only day we did not do anything in between the two activities.  Jase did great at swim lessons and improved so much.  We need to keep him in the water this summer to make sure he continues to practice swimming so it sticks with him.  As for Ally . . . not a fun experience at all.  I thought we were out of the blue when she did great on Tuesday, but that was basically the only day where I would label a success.  I think it is a combination of her being a little too young and not good with new people.  We talked about being brave and not scared all week, we prayed several times and took a lot of deep breaths.  I'm glad she finished the week out, even though she cried through most of it . . . we are not quitters!  Maybe next year.

As for soccer camp, I have mixed feelings about it.  The first night was great and was looking forward to it building each night and get better with each day.  Tuesday night ended up being cancelled due to the rain.  Then Wednesday night Jase missed due to an unplanned dental procedure (keep reading for details on that).  Also on Wednesday the guy who was coaching Jase's group got bit by a spider and actually had to go to the emergency room Thursday morning and he ended up being out of commission for the rest of the week.  So between Thursday and Friday night we had 3 new coaches work with the kids and while they did their best, the first coach really connected well with the kids.  All and all Jase had a great time and it was a good refresher for soccer in the fall.

The Wednesday before last, Shawn took Jase to the dentist to get two cavities filled and I took Ally with me to my doctor appointment.  Even with laughing gas, it was still very traumatic for Jase.  There was not a lot of space in the room, so Shawn could not be in there; he had to wait outside the room.  Well, his top tooth was still hurting him this week and he would not let me floss next to that tooth.  After 4-5 days I knew something wasn't right.  So this Wednesday morning I called the dentist and set up an appointment for him that afternoon.  They did x-rays on it and the dentist said it was fine and maybe it was his molar that was coming in that was applying pressure on it.  Before we left I had her floss in that same spot and she agreed that it was not right; it should not hurt still.  In the process of flossing it she chipped the filling and she said that she will need to fill it again and asked if we could do it today.  She explained to Jase that it would not be a big deal and showed him the white composite liquid she would use in the filling.  No problem.

We waited for our turn and then we walked back to get him all set up.  Of course since I am pregnant I could not be in the room or even right outside because it was not safe.  By this time my phone was completely out of battery and I do not have a car charger (on the list to get), so I could not text Shawn or anything.  The dental assistant who was setting him up with the gas told me that the dentist said if the filling doesn't take, then they would have to put a crown on . . . WHAT?!?!?  I guess he has already had this tooth filled twice (once last week and another time at a previous dentist).  I got so emotional with him not being comfortable laying on a stretcher and already crying and now the crown info, it was bad.  On our way to the waiting room I took Ally in the bathroom and just cried my eyes out like a big baby, I felt so helpless.  I pulled it together somewhat and we went to the car to get a snack and went back into the waiting room.

About 20 minutes later they called my name and Jase was standing there, still crying and really shook up.  I asked if he was finished and what he had done and she said they had to put a crown on.  I had no idea they were going to start or do the crown without letting me know.  I asked the dental assistant if he had been crying this whole time and she said yes.  I lost it again . . . this is my baby.  She asked me if I was ok and I said no.  And of course as soon as he saw me, he lost it even more.  ;-(  I asked if she needed anything from me because I needed to leave.  I was free to go, free of charge, and we headed home.  Both kids fell asleep on the way home and my mind was thinking about all sorts of things.  I know that this was just a crown, but I hate seeing my kids in pain or hurting.  I started thinking about what if this was a major operation or what if I lost him.  My emotions were everywhere.  Needless to say I was pretty shook up the rest of the evening.  So, that was an unexpected, not very fun, 2 hour dental visit.  Jase now tells everyone that he sees that he has a silver tooth.  ;-)

Saturday afternoon we took the kids to the Astros game.  This was our first family game this season (Jase went on opening night with Aunt Alisha and Uncle Joseph).  I spent the first half of the game explaining nearly every play to Jase and walking him through the scoreboard.  I enjoyed that!  He is a little sponge, soaking it all up.  From the moment we walked in to the stadium, Allyson was not having it.  In the last month or so she has not been doing all that great with new places with a lot of people.  I'm not sure if this stems from Disney World and being scared, but she did not relax until the game was nearly over.  Praying this "scared" phase ends soon, very soon.

This morning continued to be eventful.  We got the kids up this morning for church and little sister was not herself, she was pretty whiney and did not want to eat anything.  She downed 2 cups of milk and we thought that was better than nothing.  She is not a big breakfast eater anyhow.  We loaded them up in the truck and headed to Sunday School.  I dropped the kids off at their classes and went to mine.  I'm in our room for maybe 3-5 minutes and I get a message that Allyson threw up and it was quite a bit.  I rush over to her and my poor baby is sitting there wrapped up in a towel.  She had thrown up all that milk and it had curdled and all.  I felt bad for the teachers cleaning it up and very thankful at the same time.  Shawn was teaching Sunday School, so Alisha drove me home and I gave her a bath and settled her on the couch.  After Sunday School, Shawn and I tag-teamed and he came home and I went back to church.  I needed to teach the lesson to the preschoolers during our main service time.  I was a few minutes late, but it all worked out.  No more throwing up for Allyson, but she did have a loose bowel movement this evening.  We prayed for her tonight and hope the worst is behind us.

After church today, I drove out to Spring for a friend's baby shower.  Kristi is due a couple of days before me and is expecting her first child, a boy, Kasen James! :-)  Kristi and I met back in 2002 while working at Reliant Energy.  She was my best bud while I worked there for 6 years; we ate lunch together more times than not and always had great conversation.  I am so excited for her, her husband and the family on the arrival of her baby boy.  When a new baby comes into a family, it is such a special time; a true blessing from God!!

Tomorrow we have ZERO plans and boy are we excited, Jase included!  I might stay in my PJ's all day . . . Shawn, you have been forewarned! Haha!!

Let's Try This

Last night I was talking to a friend and she said that her daughter was doing great with going tee-tee in the potty, but would not poop in the potty.  She ended up doing a reward poster with her and after she pooped in the potty 5 times then she would get a prize.  I had actually bought a pink poster board on Saturday and had planned on doing a Potty Sticker Poster for her, since she LOVES stickers, but wasn't really going to do a reward, bust just allow her to randomly put a sticker on the poster if she tee-tees or poops in the potty.  Well after talking with my friend, I decided to do a reward after she is successful in the potty every 5 times.

I made a little chart and explained to Allyson about getting a prize every time she puts a sticker on number 5 or 10.  Today before her nap she pooped in the potty so she was able to pick out her own sticker (fairies, princesses and ballerinas) and put it on the chart.  I am still trying to explain that she only gets to add a sticker if she goes on the potty.  She thinks I should just give her a sticker just because, but I'm sticking to my guns!! I am hoping this will make her excited about going in the potty more often.  And it's not that she doesn't like to sit on the potty, she was probably on it today for over an hour . . . not kidding.  If she gets up and I ask her if she went in the potty and usually she tells me "I didn't" then I will take her back in there and sit her down.  She will stay there for 5 or so minutes and then repeat and repeat.  Tonight Shawn said "just put a pull-up on her already".  I told him we have been doing this all day and we have to keep at it.  This WILL pay off!!

As for swimming lessons . . . MUCH better today.  Allyson only cried for 5 minutes or so and then was great after that.  In all seriousness, I know God heard our prayers for little Ally.  And Jase did great too!  He was jumping into the deep end and swimming, then floating on his back and then doing the back stroke . . . all on his own!!  So big!!  Here are a couple of clips of them today (if you're interested); I mainly take them for Shawn, since he is at work and I know he wants to see how the kiddos are doing.

Swimming Lessons - Day 1

I signed Jase up for swimming lessons over a month ago and after talking with the swimming lesson man I decided to hold off on Ally because she still might be a little too young.  Well, after watching her in the pool a few times, she is really fearless (with her floaty on) in the pool and will even put her head underwater.  So, I called back and added her to the list.

I've been prepping the kids for swimming lessons and explaining to Allyson that I will not be in the pool and she will not be wearing her floaty.  She seemed to ok with it all.  We have been praying as a family the last few nights about lessons coming up and for God to calm their nerves.  Last year Jase had a rough start and cried at least 2 of the days.  He swam through the tears, but it was very emotional for him.  So, I was worried about him and Shawn was worried about Ally.

I get the kids up this morning and Jase is already crying.  :-(  He is scared and doesn't want to sink to the bottom of the pool.  Poor guy.  I explain to him that the teachers are there to keep him safe and Mommy will be by the pool too.  The crying goes on for probably 20 minutes.  We say a prayer and get in the car and head over there.  On the way he watches 2 videos of him from last year swimming, I am hoping this will pep him up for the lesson and it did.  I asked if he wanted to call and talk to Daddy and he said no.  As soon as we pull up to the house his anxiety sets in and the tears start flowing again.  I reassured him he would be fine and that was enough crying.  He stopped before we got out of the car.

We get to the backyard and he does fabulous! They sit by the edge of the pool and wait for instructions and listen to the rules.

The instructors work with the kids and group them according to their current swimming level.  Jase ended up in the most advanced group and was doing awesome.  Here is a clip of him swimming for the first time this morning.

Allyson on the other hand, she was not a fan.  You can actually hear her crying a little in this video.  She worked one-on-one with an instructor and also screamed and cried the entire hour!!  At one point I went over to the instructor and asked if this was a lost cause this year.  She said that she was a little young, but did not mind working with her.  I told Allyson to be nice . . . she can get a little feisty!! The instructor suggested maybe if I go to the driveway where she could not see me, it might be better.  The screaming continued.  I would peek around the corner every so often to check on her and she was putting her head in the water on her own and was holding onto the instructor's hands and gliding through the water.  She would do this for 2-3 seconds at a time.  Every time she would come up for a breath, she would cry for me, Jase, or Daddy.  :-(  I stood out in the driveway for probably 40 minutes of the lesson.  I came back in for the last few minutes to watch her.  Poor baby, her face was all puffy from crying.  As soon as she got out of the pool she was fine and told me "I put my face in the water and I was crying."

I felt bad for Jase too because I was unable to watch him the majority of the lesson, but from the 4 or so times he swam at the end, he was doing great jumping in and swimming on his own.  I asked Allyson if she was going back to swimming lessons tomorrow and she said yes.  We shall see.  I do know that I will be bringing a chair for the driveway and pray that my little girl does better tomorrow.