Guess Who Came to Our House?

Yep, the Toof Fairy!

I was so ill prepared for it. Didn't even think about it when we were at the dentist a couple of weeks ago and she said "Oh he has 4 loose teeth, they are just a little wiggly" - It'll be a while right, I mean he's only 4 1/2 yrs old.

So a couple nights ago while getting him ready for bed, brushing the teeth and all I noticed he kept sticking his tongue out and then all of a sudden there was blood.

First though was, crap his bit his cheek (he's got chubby fat cheeks on the inside!)
But upon further search I realized that the tongue pushing out he was moving his bottom tooth back and forth. The tooth was just hanging there. Granted he was probably a little freaked out about it (and it probably didn't help that I did a little yelp). I was afraid he was going to swallow it. See he doesn't have the ability to reach in there and pull it out.

So I call Victoria in to show her Daniel's loose tooth to try to get him use to it. She holds him on her lap and says "ooooh let me see your loose tooth" then she reaches in there and just YANKS it out! That was it. No tears, no nothing....his tooth was out. I just looked at Tori like, I can't believe you just yoinked his tooth out! She just shrugged her shoulders like...there we go!
I secretly think she got a little pleasure out of it...ya know like any sibling she likes to inflict pain on her little brother! :)

I briefly explained the procedure to Daniel. We now get to take his tooth and put it under his pillow and then the Tooth Fairy comes while hes sleeping and leaves him something in exchange for his tooth. Needless to say he was up until 2:30 a.m. playing in bed. I think he was waiting for her! He was very excited to find an envelope with some coin in it!

Now I'm in search of a good book for him to explain the fairy! Got any suggestions?

Child Size Recliner - LOVE IT!!!

Last week (Yes I know I'm behind in posting!) we got the chair I told you about here.

Talk about fast shipping- we had this within 3 days!

Here is Daniel zoned out watching cartoons!
Not giving me the time of day.
He is certainly a typical guy - get him in front of the tv and there is no talkin' to him!

I absolutely LOVE THIS CHAIR! So does Daniel!
Its nice because its deep so he doesn't flip out of his seat if he leans over. Its just the right size for him and it will work for a few years to come too!
I love the fabric, its called the "bomber" look. Its great for easy cleaning up too!
I like it a lot. Its nice to have something that isn't a piece of equipment. Its just a typical seat and its super comfy! Everyone that comes to the house wants to try it out...even the adults!

Seriously - I am telling you guys, go get one of these chairs. They rock!!!
Here's the link to where we got ours from.

Wordful Wednesday- BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTORIA

Just to give you the idea of life with Tori for the past 17 years...
I'll give you just a few from the past couple years....

I Am The Child

I've posted this before, maybe a year or so ago.
It's worth the couple of minutes out of your day to read it..

I AM THE CHILD

I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well. I am aware of much -- whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.

You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

- Author Unknown -

Outside

"Daniel, it's time to go inside"

see I don't need him to have a voice....
I can tell he's basically saying,

"try and make me"

"Daniel, are you giving me the evil eye??I get the smirk...

"You better not be sassin' me!"

See no words were needed on his part,
I knew exactly what he was saying
the whole time!

Wordless Wednesday - The Old Days

Guess Whose Legal?

My third daughter is 21 today....HOLY CROW

I said it....
TWENTY - ONE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY!!

School Days ......Again

Guess who started back to school last week?

Yep....Daniel.
We got the clearance from his doctors that it was ok to go back.
He was out during flu season, his immune system is just not the strongest.
He is loving it, got right back into the swing of things. Me....not so much! I was so use to him being at home with me all the time. I love parts of him going to school, but I also love parts of the homeschooling time too.
We are blessed right now because we have a teacher who is awesome and we love her. She is what actually sold me on sending him to preschool in the first place. Two years ago if we hadn't met her I don't think I would have been sending him right now!

Here is the sucky part (you didn't think you'd get through this post without a sucky part did you?). Next school year Daniel will be in kindergarten. OMG - my little one in kindergarten, WOW where has the time gone?

Here is the super suck-ish part.Part One: Ms. Mills will NOT be there next year
Part Two: Kindergarten is full day.
REPEAT ...full days 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I am sure my face during the IEP was priceless. I just about fell outta my seat, and I heard a few giggles. I had NO CLUE that it was a full day, and then to hear the actual hours 9 -4.
I'm having a hard time wrapping my arms around that. I keep trying to come up with a list of why this will be good for him, but I'm having a hard time. I have a few reasons why its good, but to justify it I have to come up with more.

1. He loves being social

See everyone sees Daniel as a big boy....
I still see him as this...

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Child Size Recliner

As I'm sure you can tell from pics that I have shown you lately, Daniel is getting big!
Getting bigger means we have to move out of the toddler bed into a kids bed.
So many selections, but I think what sold me on this site was the free shipping and no sales tax!
Nothing is worse then picking out a bunch of stuff I would love to get to find out the shipping is horribly high. Especially when they are larger items.

Isn't this one nifty? I like how it is a two step bed. We can still use the crib sized mattress but he'll get the feel of being in a big boy bed and we can then swap out mattresses and voila - Instant Big Bed!!


So doing what I do best (searching the Internet) I found that this store All Children's Furniture also has something else I've been itching to get.

Daniel wants to be more independent. Doesn't want to sit on my lap as much.
He also doesn't like to lay on the floor all the time either. He tried to sit up on his own, but hasn't gotten strong enough to do that just yet.

This got me to thinking, he probably is sick of being stuck to me all the time, or being in a piece of therapy equipment. We've tried the beanbag chair route but it really doesn't work the way I wanted it to.

I wanted to get something that he will be comfortable in and something that is just like everyone else has. Something that doesn't make his different.

Check out this cute little chair...just his size, and just like dads!I placed the order yesterday and can't wait to get it!
I know he is going to be so excited to be able to sit in the chair that fits him!

Feeding Tubes - The Decision

A couple weeks ago we met a new doctor.
The one that I didn't want to meet.
The one that I wanted to cancel the appointment with all day.
The one that I already hated in my head
The dreaded gastro doctor - Dr. G

Turns out he's kinda cool. :)
Ok maybe cool doesn't describe him well, but I walked out of there finding myself "comfortable" with the information he gave me. Not that I'm saying I am thrilled to get Daniel a feeding tube, but more comfortable with the decision that WHEN it comes time, I'm not confused. I'm not as scared.

But saying that.....the decision is still, we are NOT getting the feeding tube until it is absolutely necessary for Daniel. If he becomes stressed with the eating, or he isn't enjoying the pleasure of eating, or it becomes too much for him in any way. Such as losing weight, continual sickness, hospitalization- Then we will get a feeding tube.

Currently he is 44 inches tall, 43 lbs at 4 1/2 yrs old. Pretty good stats.
Falls in the 50 percentile for weight. Dr. G said he "applauds us" for how well we are doing with the weight, that he walked in thinking we must already have a feeding tube because his weight is so good.

He never said we NEED to have one now, he didn't push us into scheduling it like some doctors tend to do. He simply explained how it was done, the options, and then he said what stuck with me.

Basically in a nutshell he said something like
It's not natural to have a feeding tube, and it sucks to have to get it, and you don't have to use it all the time. Its like an insurance policy...you hate to have the monthly payments, but when it comes in handy, when you really need it, you're thankful you have it.

He spent a lot of time with us, he talked to Daniel too. Answered my endless list of questions and didn't rush us. To me those are good signs of a good doctor.

Wordless Wednesday

Better Than Normal on iPad

My daughter felt the need to taunt me.
She knows how badly I want the iPad for Daniel.
So she sent me a text letting me know she "touched" one first............. before me.
She also let me see via text how well our site looks on the iPad.
so Brittany, Daniel and I send this message to you:
(remember Daniel is working on rhyming words)

Dear Brittany:

1)I have a word I'm thinking of calling you and it starts with an "S" and rhymes with hot.
2)I am working on the letter "U"
3)I have another word that rhymes with PINK that starts with "s"
Put it all together and it says??

Love your favorite brother who does NOT have an iPad,

Daniel

iPad...The next best thing to sliced bread?

OK so whose getting the new iPad when it becomes available in a few days?
I would love to get it for Daniel.

We currently have the iTouch with the app called Proloquo2Go. The screen is a little small for him and I think the iPad would be awesome. Its suppose to be lightweight, and the stuff I read about all sounds great.

I'd like to hear other peoples thoughts on it. Let me know...