Monday, November 9, 2009
Cute pictures of the kids
The kids looked so cute at church yesterday that I decided to take some pictures when we got home.
Meagan's new haircut
I finally did it. I cut Meagan's hair. Aside from a bang trim, I'd never cut her hair before. I'd resisted doing it, because she had these cute little curls at the ends of her hair, and I'd heard of so many kids who'd lost their curl after their hair was cut. That, and I was afraid of really butchering her hair, since I've never done anything like it before. But her hair was getting really straggly, so I finally did it. It turned out much better than I was expecting. She wiggled and squirmed a lot, which made it a little hard, and it's a bit shorter than I first meant to cut it, but that's okay. I had to trim a few stray pieces the next day, but on the whole, I'm pretty proud of my first attempt. I was happy enough that I even dared trim the hair above Sean's ears, too.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween pics
I hate coming up with Halloween costumes for the kids. They're no help at all. Bethany hates dressing up, so there's never anything that she voluntarily wants, and she outright rejects anything else I may suggest. Meagan's easier, but is still too young to really tell me what she wants. After a couple years of spending a lot of time making costumes that they hated, I decided that this year I would just buy something. So we all headed to the store to look at costumes. Once again, Meagan was pretty easy to please. After looking at a couple of costumes, she picked out a green M&M. It turned out to be slightly too small for her, but not so small that it didn't work. There's one down. Then I found an easy one for Sean, too--a little doggie/sleeper deal. It's really cute, and really easy. Bethany, on the other hand, refused anything we found. For days, anytime we went to a store with costumes, I'd have her look and tell me if there was anything she liked. She'd barely even glance at them before she'd say no. I kept telling her that she had to wear something if she wanted to go Trick or Treating, but she didn't really seem to care. Finally, only a few days before our ward Trunk or Treat, I was at Joann, and saw some tulle. She's never minded wearing her leotard to gymnastics, so I decided to just sew a little tulle skirt and add it to the leotard. I thought that it would be minimal enough that she wouldn't object. I put it on her when we got to the church, and I was right, she didn't seem to mind too much. They had a great time at the Trunk or Treat (even if it doesn't look like it in the pictures).
The Trunk or Treat was on a Tuesday, and Halloween this year was on Saturday. After we'd gotten home from the ward party, Bethany said she didn't want to wear her costume anymore. All week long I told her she didn't have to wear it if she didn't want to, but if she wanted to go Trick or Treating, she had to wear something. She told me she didn't want to go Trick or Treating. Over and over she said that. She really meant it. On Saturday night, she was still saying it. Then Meagan said she'd rather have a bath than go Trick or Treating, so I put them in the tub, and thought that was that. About 7:00 they got out, and then of course Meagan started crying that she wanted to go Trick or Treating. Sigh. I wasn't going to give in, because it was already so late, but I could tell that Nate really wanted to take them out. So I blow dryed Meagan's hair and got her in her costume. So then Bethany finally wants to go, too. Turns out it was a moot point about her costume, since I went to get it and found that Meagan had had a potty accident on top of it. At the last minute we cobbled together a costume for Bethany out of Nate's work boots and my old uniform. It was kinda cute, but Bethany had a really hard time clomping around in the boots. I stayed home with Sean, and Nate's mom sat out in the driveway handing out candy. Nate and the girls weren't gone for very long, but at least they got to go. And who was the one who didn't want to stop? Bethany of course.
The Trunk or Treat was on a Tuesday, and Halloween this year was on Saturday. After we'd gotten home from the ward party, Bethany said she didn't want to wear her costume anymore. All week long I told her she didn't have to wear it if she didn't want to, but if she wanted to go Trick or Treating, she had to wear something. She told me she didn't want to go Trick or Treating. Over and over she said that. She really meant it. On Saturday night, she was still saying it. Then Meagan said she'd rather have a bath than go Trick or Treating, so I put them in the tub, and thought that was that. About 7:00 they got out, and then of course Meagan started crying that she wanted to go Trick or Treating. Sigh. I wasn't going to give in, because it was already so late, but I could tell that Nate really wanted to take them out. So I blow dryed Meagan's hair and got her in her costume. So then Bethany finally wants to go, too. Turns out it was a moot point about her costume, since I went to get it and found that Meagan had had a potty accident on top of it. At the last minute we cobbled together a costume for Bethany out of Nate's work boots and my old uniform. It was kinda cute, but Bethany had a really hard time clomping around in the boots. I stayed home with Sean, and Nate's mom sat out in the driveway handing out candy. Nate and the girls weren't gone for very long, but at least they got to go. And who was the one who didn't want to stop? Bethany of course.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
More kiddisms
Last Sunday we had some nice weather, so we decided to go out for a walk. Bethany insisted on bringing her bike and followed behind us. It was a little longer that I think she was ready for, though, and partway through she stopped and said, "This bike needs gas."
Then a couple of days ago, Meagan came up to me begging to make some cupcakes. They would be "for my Bethany, and not for Sean, and for me, and for my dear friend Dad." Haha, that last one won me over, and we went and made some brownies together.
Bethany went in for a checkup since she just turned five, and I knew she was due to have some vaccines. She really didn't like her shots, and cried and cried all the way out to the car. Sean got some at the same time, and she sympathy cried for him, because we were hurting her brother. Meagan managed to fall off the chair she was sitting in while this was all going on, and started crying too. It was all crazy. As we were going out, Bethany said, "I don't not want to be broken. I want to be fixed." Apparently she thought the shots "broke" her.
Then a couple of days ago, Meagan came up to me begging to make some cupcakes. They would be "for my Bethany, and not for Sean, and for me, and for my dear friend Dad." Haha, that last one won me over, and we went and made some brownies together.
Bethany went in for a checkup since she just turned five, and I knew she was due to have some vaccines. She really didn't like her shots, and cried and cried all the way out to the car. Sean got some at the same time, and she sympathy cried for him, because we were hurting her brother. Meagan managed to fall off the chair she was sitting in while this was all going on, and started crying too. It was all crazy. As we were going out, Bethany said, "I don't not want to be broken. I want to be fixed." Apparently she thought the shots "broke" her.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Trouble with Teeth
All the kids have had an adventure with their teeth in the past several days, none of which has made anyone very happy.
It started with a trip to the dentist last Wednesday. I'd been sort of building the kids up to it. I figured that Bethany was over her fear of doctors enough to at least try it out. It was well past time for them to go. Bethany's teeth are rather yellow, and I'd noticed a couple of suspicious spots on a couple of Meagan's teeth. I made an appointment for them both together, at a place where I could go back with them. I can't say I like the place very much, though. When we got there, we waited over an hour past our appointment time. The wait wasn't too bad, though, because the kids got to watch Backyardigans, Little Bill and Max & Ruby. They love those shows, so they stayed pretty entertained. The checkups didn't go so well, though. I expected that we'd all go to the same room, and the girls would take turns in the chair. What they had, though, was a long room full of a row of chairs, and put the girls side-by-side, to do them at the same time. That made it kind of hard to help calm them down, because I was on a roller chair in between, holding Sean, and going back and forth. I eventually had to just tune one of them out, and focus on the other. Meagan was making more progress, so I worked with her, and the technician with Bethany just gave up. After Meagan was done with her very brief cleaning, I went over to Bethany, who refused to let them do anything. The technician had cleaned about four teeth before Bethany clammed up and refused to do let them do any more. She got so upset, she puked on me. Joy.
Then the dentist came in and checked Meagan's teeth. She had four cavities. Yikes! Apparently, the enamel on her molars was too thin or something. The dentist said that sometimes happens with clefts. We won't know if the problem will persist with her adult teeth until they come in. We're supposed to make sure we floss the kids' teeth, because that disrupts the acidic environment, and goes a long way to keeping their teeth healthy. Ugh, not looking forward to that one.
Bethany cooperated even less with the dentist that she had with the technician. She got all upset watching Meagan, and kept telling them not to "hurt her Meagan." I kind of got her to open her mouth by pretending to brush her teeth, and so the dentist got a glimpse, but that was all. I think I annoyed her, though. She wanted to hold Bethany down and just force her mouth open. She said that there comes a point where you just have to get it done. I wouldn't let her. I mean, it was Bethany's first appointment ever, and I didn't want to freak her out so badly that she'd never want to come back. I think what she saw was good enough, for a first visit anyway. The dentist did ask if Bethany'd been on a lot of antibiotics, because that can make teeth yellow. That could be the problem, because she does tend to get ear infections.
The one good thing about the visit was that the hygenists kept passing Sean around. He had been getting really fussy, and I had to put him down to help Meagan, and he slid right out of his carrier. They all thought he was really cute and had fun playing with him, so at least I didn't have to worry about him for a bit.
So all that happened on Wednesday the 7th . Sean's teeth trouble came during the weekend. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, he got one new tooth each day. Talk about a fussy child. Not that I can blame him, but he was really crabby, and didn't sleep well at all. Even now (Thursday the 15th), he's been a bit fussy. Last night Nate slept in the recliner with him, because he kept waking up every time I'd put him down. After I'd rocked him to sleep for the third or fourth time, I just gave up and Nate took him for the night. Those three teeth have mostly broken completely through now, though, so I have hopes that he'll sleep tonight.
Meagan had a return appointment to get her cavities filled on Tuesday (the 13th). I tried to find a babysitter to watch Bethany and Sean, but couldn't get one, so Nate met us at the dentist and sat out in the waiting room with them while I went back with Meagan. It was awful. First off, we waited about 35-40 minutes again, and then when we got back there, they said they'd only do two of the cavities. I can see why, but it really irritated me that no one told me that in advance. I came expecting to just get it all done and not have to worry about it anymore. The put a mask over Meagan's nose of nitrous oxide, and at first it did calm her a bit and she was giggling, right up until they shot her up to numb her mouth. Then it was all over. She got progressively worse and worse, to the point that they gave up on the mask because she was crying so much it wasn't working anymore. The first cavity got filled okay, but the bottom tooth cracked during the drilling, and ended up requiring a baby root canal and cap. Poor Meagan was totally freaked out, and must've been in pain, too, because she was screaming and screaming and sweating like crazy. It took me and two other assistants just to hold her, plus the dentist and another hygenist working in her mouth and one other assistant passing supplies to the dentist. It was so crazy. I wish they'd just knocked her out completely. She's going to be so freaked to go back, and she still has two more cavities to fix. I don't really want to go back to the same place, but I'm not sure how it would work insurance-wise to go somewhere else. She'd probably have to do another office visit, which I'd probably have to pay for out of pocket, and I don't know if another dentist would just do a filling without a visit, so it might take two more times instead of just one. So which is better? I can't decide.
On the flip side, though, Bethany seems to be very cooperative with her brushing now. She doesn't want any holes in her teeth. She's amazingly cooperative with the flossing, too. Nate bought these flossing sticks, that have a little bit of floss on the end of what looks like a toothbrush handle. We can floss their teeth without sticking our whole hands in their mouths, which really makes it easier. Meagan doesn't like it at all (go figure!), but I think she'll slowly come around. Hopefully we'll build the habit now, so they'll keep it their whole lives.
It started with a trip to the dentist last Wednesday. I'd been sort of building the kids up to it. I figured that Bethany was over her fear of doctors enough to at least try it out. It was well past time for them to go. Bethany's teeth are rather yellow, and I'd noticed a couple of suspicious spots on a couple of Meagan's teeth. I made an appointment for them both together, at a place where I could go back with them. I can't say I like the place very much, though. When we got there, we waited over an hour past our appointment time. The wait wasn't too bad, though, because the kids got to watch Backyardigans, Little Bill and Max & Ruby. They love those shows, so they stayed pretty entertained. The checkups didn't go so well, though. I expected that we'd all go to the same room, and the girls would take turns in the chair. What they had, though, was a long room full of a row of chairs, and put the girls side-by-side, to do them at the same time. That made it kind of hard to help calm them down, because I was on a roller chair in between, holding Sean, and going back and forth. I eventually had to just tune one of them out, and focus on the other. Meagan was making more progress, so I worked with her, and the technician with Bethany just gave up. After Meagan was done with her very brief cleaning, I went over to Bethany, who refused to let them do anything. The technician had cleaned about four teeth before Bethany clammed up and refused to do let them do any more. She got so upset, she puked on me. Joy.
Then the dentist came in and checked Meagan's teeth. She had four cavities. Yikes! Apparently, the enamel on her molars was too thin or something. The dentist said that sometimes happens with clefts. We won't know if the problem will persist with her adult teeth until they come in. We're supposed to make sure we floss the kids' teeth, because that disrupts the acidic environment, and goes a long way to keeping their teeth healthy. Ugh, not looking forward to that one.
Bethany cooperated even less with the dentist that she had with the technician. She got all upset watching Meagan, and kept telling them not to "hurt her Meagan." I kind of got her to open her mouth by pretending to brush her teeth, and so the dentist got a glimpse, but that was all. I think I annoyed her, though. She wanted to hold Bethany down and just force her mouth open. She said that there comes a point where you just have to get it done. I wouldn't let her. I mean, it was Bethany's first appointment ever, and I didn't want to freak her out so badly that she'd never want to come back. I think what she saw was good enough, for a first visit anyway. The dentist did ask if Bethany'd been on a lot of antibiotics, because that can make teeth yellow. That could be the problem, because she does tend to get ear infections.
The one good thing about the visit was that the hygenists kept passing Sean around. He had been getting really fussy, and I had to put him down to help Meagan, and he slid right out of his carrier. They all thought he was really cute and had fun playing with him, so at least I didn't have to worry about him for a bit.
So all that happened on Wednesday the 7th . Sean's teeth trouble came during the weekend. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, he got one new tooth each day. Talk about a fussy child. Not that I can blame him, but he was really crabby, and didn't sleep well at all. Even now (Thursday the 15th), he's been a bit fussy. Last night Nate slept in the recliner with him, because he kept waking up every time I'd put him down. After I'd rocked him to sleep for the third or fourth time, I just gave up and Nate took him for the night. Those three teeth have mostly broken completely through now, though, so I have hopes that he'll sleep tonight.
Meagan had a return appointment to get her cavities filled on Tuesday (the 13th). I tried to find a babysitter to watch Bethany and Sean, but couldn't get one, so Nate met us at the dentist and sat out in the waiting room with them while I went back with Meagan. It was awful. First off, we waited about 35-40 minutes again, and then when we got back there, they said they'd only do two of the cavities. I can see why, but it really irritated me that no one told me that in advance. I came expecting to just get it all done and not have to worry about it anymore. The put a mask over Meagan's nose of nitrous oxide, and at first it did calm her a bit and she was giggling, right up until they shot her up to numb her mouth. Then it was all over. She got progressively worse and worse, to the point that they gave up on the mask because she was crying so much it wasn't working anymore. The first cavity got filled okay, but the bottom tooth cracked during the drilling, and ended up requiring a baby root canal and cap. Poor Meagan was totally freaked out, and must've been in pain, too, because she was screaming and screaming and sweating like crazy. It took me and two other assistants just to hold her, plus the dentist and another hygenist working in her mouth and one other assistant passing supplies to the dentist. It was so crazy. I wish they'd just knocked her out completely. She's going to be so freaked to go back, and she still has two more cavities to fix. I don't really want to go back to the same place, but I'm not sure how it would work insurance-wise to go somewhere else. She'd probably have to do another office visit, which I'd probably have to pay for out of pocket, and I don't know if another dentist would just do a filling without a visit, so it might take two more times instead of just one. So which is better? I can't decide.
On the flip side, though, Bethany seems to be very cooperative with her brushing now. She doesn't want any holes in her teeth. She's amazingly cooperative with the flossing, too. Nate bought these flossing sticks, that have a little bit of floss on the end of what looks like a toothbrush handle. We can floss their teeth without sticking our whole hands in their mouths, which really makes it easier. Meagan doesn't like it at all (go figure!), but I think she'll slowly come around. Hopefully we'll build the habit now, so they'll keep it their whole lives.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Sweet success
Meagan's been waking up with dry diapers a lot in the morning, so when she protested wearing one last night, I thought we'd give it a go without. This morning when she woke up, she was still dry. Yeah! No more diapers for Meagan!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Bethany's Birthday
Bethany's birthday was a really good day. It didn't start out so good, though. She started complaining the day before that her ear was hurting, so I took her to the doctor that morning. She's doing much better with doctors, but it's still not her favorite thing, and barely cooperated with him looking in her ear. She does have another ear infection, so we got some antibiotics and went home. All in all, it was a decent doctor's appointment--very quick and relatively painless.
We'd been home for about twenty minutes when I thought we were going to have to go back, though, this time for Meagan. When we got home, I went into the kitchen to start making Bethany's cake. The girls decided to dance in the living room, so I turned on some music for them. I was just finished cleaning up and getting ready to start the cake, when Meagan started screaming. I went in the living room, and she was huddled on the floor, clutching her foot. I never figured out what happened, but Bethany was apologizing to her, so I'm guessing Bethany stepped on it or something. Anyway, I had Meagan sit on the couch for a few minutes, and she stopped crying, but when she got up, she collapsed as soon as she put her weight back on her foot. I was afraid she'd broken something. By that point, I was in the middle of making the cake, too. I was having visions of having to take her to the ER and getting a cast and giving her baths with a cast on, etc, etc. I gave her some ice in a baggie, and had her sit back down and hold it on her foot while I finished the cake. I was just about done and was going to go check on her again, when she came sauntering in the kitchen like nothing had ever happened, and asked to help, too. I watched her for awhile, and she seemed just fine, thank goodness.
I didn't really go all out with Bethany's birthday this year. I've gotten a little crazy with them in the past, but I didn't feel like it this year. Instead, I tried to just spend some good time with her and have some fun activities. Instead of a fancy cake, I let the girls help me decorate it. They had a blast, especially when they got to eat the leftover sprinkles in their bowls.
Meagan and Bethany, holding the cake stand steady for me.
Bethany adding frosting to the first layer. As I added the second layer, she said it was a peanut butter and jelly cake, because it looked like a big sandwich to her.
Meagan frosting the top layer.
Yummy sprinkles!
The finished product. Bethany especially liked the balloon candles. Notice the swipe in the front of the cake, though? Meagan kept asking for a taste, and snitched one as soon as she could.
We'd been home for about twenty minutes when I thought we were going to have to go back, though, this time for Meagan. When we got home, I went into the kitchen to start making Bethany's cake. The girls decided to dance in the living room, so I turned on some music for them. I was just finished cleaning up and getting ready to start the cake, when Meagan started screaming. I went in the living room, and she was huddled on the floor, clutching her foot. I never figured out what happened, but Bethany was apologizing to her, so I'm guessing Bethany stepped on it or something. Anyway, I had Meagan sit on the couch for a few minutes, and she stopped crying, but when she got up, she collapsed as soon as she put her weight back on her foot. I was afraid she'd broken something. By that point, I was in the middle of making the cake, too. I was having visions of having to take her to the ER and getting a cast and giving her baths with a cast on, etc, etc. I gave her some ice in a baggie, and had her sit back down and hold it on her foot while I finished the cake. I was just about done and was going to go check on her again, when she came sauntering in the kitchen like nothing had ever happened, and asked to help, too. I watched her for awhile, and she seemed just fine, thank goodness.
I didn't really go all out with Bethany's birthday this year. I've gotten a little crazy with them in the past, but I didn't feel like it this year. Instead, I tried to just spend some good time with her and have some fun activities. Instead of a fancy cake, I let the girls help me decorate it. They had a blast, especially when they got to eat the leftover sprinkles in their bowls.
Meagan and Bethany, holding the cake stand steady for me.
Bethany adding frosting to the first layer. As I added the second layer, she said it was a peanut butter and jelly cake, because it looked like a big sandwich to her.
Meagan frosting the top layer.
Yummy sprinkles!
The finished product. Bethany especially liked the balloon candles. Notice the swipe in the front of the cake, though? Meagan kept asking for a taste, and snitched one as soon as she could.After we finished the cake, I got out some streamers and balloons and a big sign that said "Happy Birthday" and we all decorated the kitchen together. Okay, I mostly did it, but they got to choose colors of streamers, and they each picked out five balloons for me to blow up and where they should be hung. 
Bethany's were all in a cluster at the top of the hutch, and Meagan's were all on the blades of the fan, where I'd already put some streamers. When Nate got home, Bethany insisted that he blow up five balloons and put them up around the room. I think this was one of Bethany's favorite parts of her birthday. It's five days later now, and the decorations are mostly up still. She doesn't want me to take them down.
Bethany and her cake. She was so excited to get to blow out the candles.
Thar she blows!
This was one of her favorite gifts, a bowling set from her Aunt Brenda. She and Meagan played with that for a long time. Her other favorite toy is a dinosaur that walks and growls when you push a button on it's back. I didn't get a picture of it for some reason, just some video clips of the girls playing with it. Fortunately, Bethany opened that one first, and Meagan played with it the rest of the time Bethany was opening presents, and so she didn't feel bad that she didn't get any.
She also got the binoculars which Meagan is holding (but hasn't really played with them) and the 'birthday bear' she's holding. She loves her birthday bear, and has to sleep with it.
The outfit Bethany is wearing is a gift from my mom. It made me laugh, because I'd gotten the exact same one for Meagan just a week or so before. We'd been out running errands, and Meagan had an accident and I didn't have anything clean for her to wear, so I popped in to Walmart and grabbed something new. Now they match, and love it.
Bethany's were all in a cluster at the top of the hutch, and Meagan's were all on the blades of the fan, where I'd already put some streamers. When Nate got home, Bethany insisted that he blow up five balloons and put them up around the room. I think this was one of Bethany's favorite parts of her birthday. It's five days later now, and the decorations are mostly up still. She doesn't want me to take them down.
Bethany and her cake. She was so excited to get to blow out the candles.
Thar she blows!
This was one of her favorite gifts, a bowling set from her Aunt Brenda. She and Meagan played with that for a long time. Her other favorite toy is a dinosaur that walks and growls when you push a button on it's back. I didn't get a picture of it for some reason, just some video clips of the girls playing with it. Fortunately, Bethany opened that one first, and Meagan played with it the rest of the time Bethany was opening presents, and so she didn't feel bad that she didn't get any.
She also got the binoculars which Meagan is holding (but hasn't really played with them) and the 'birthday bear' she's holding. She loves her birthday bear, and has to sleep with it.
The outfit Bethany is wearing is a gift from my mom. It made me laugh, because I'd gotten the exact same one for Meagan just a week or so before. We'd been out running errands, and Meagan had an accident and I didn't have anything clean for her to wear, so I popped in to Walmart and grabbed something new. Now they match, and love it.
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