Boy Scouts

Last Sunday, Andrew's Boy Scout group had their "Blue and Gold Banquet" and Pinewood Derby. It was fun, and the icing on the cake is that Andrew's car won FIRST place in the derby! Here are some pics of the day! Before they could race, they each received their own driver's license! And here is the WINNER!

One of Andrew's friends recently became a big brother. Here is Abbigail holding little Abigail! Bethany didn't want to be left out!

ANDREW IS THE MAN!!!

We just got home from Andrew's first wrestling tournament this year. He had to wrestle 3 other boys, and he won against ALL of them!! He pinned his first opponent, and won by points with the other two!!! OH, YEA, THAT's MY BOY!! He worked so hard! I told him I am so proud of him for working SO hard!!

Sorry I haven't been around much...I'm a bit under the weather. There is so much "yuck" going around, and I think a preschooler or two(hundred) coughed on me this week...and gave me a yucky cough, sinus headache, etc. Feeling icky, but keeping on keeping on. Too much to do to slow down for long!

And, now we are off! Gotta pick both girls up from birthday parties and then we need to run to "little big city" to do a little shopping and go to a concert. One of our church college kids and her college choir have traveled all the way to Kansas from South Dakota...so we are going to go listen to the beautiful music!

Asthma....

I have asthma. Andrew has asthma. Bethany has asthma. Andrew's asthma seems to get very worked up every time we go visit my parents. Different allergens that his lungs simply aren't used to and can't handle at this point. He seems to get sick almost every time we go there. I remember when I was a child, always getting sick when we went to visit my grandparents on the farm. The hay, dust, etc were/are my triggers. Andrew did have something else bugging him this weekend because he ran a fever off and on Saturday and Sunday. But no fever since Sunday. There was no school on Monday, so that is the day we traveled back home. Tuesday morning and he was still coughing to beat the band so I did keep him home from school that day, though he played most of the day and didn't act all that sick. Wednesday morning I sent him to school. I talked to the school nurse and she was going to give him his cough meds at lunch time. I also wrote a note to his teacher that asked that they encourage him to NOT RUN during gym and recess. I dropped him off at 7:45. All the students meet in the gym and stay there for their "Morning meeting" with the principal (at 8:00), she basically announces if there is anything special going on that day, they say the Pledge of Allegiance, etc... Then the Kindergarten classes go across the playground and yard to their building. Apparently Andrew was walking slower than his class and ran to catch up...guess what...ASTHMA and coughing. Lots of coughing. So much coughing in fact that his teacher said she couldn't teach over him. He had been in class for all of 15 minutes, coughing to beat the band, so they called and I had to go get him.
Yes, he is coughing. Yes, it gets REALLY bad when he runs around (that is why I warned them and asked that they remind him not to run...he ran, that was his mistake). But my question is...are asthmatics not allowed to come to school? If I keep him home every time he is having difficulties with his asthma he will be home for weeks at a time. Asthma is not contagious. No one is going to catch a cough from him. As long as we keep on top of him and don't let him get rowdy or run, he'll be fine. Yes, he will cough, but it will be under control. I even asked the nurse today when I took him in if she could suggest any stronger cough medication, she said only if we went to the doctor and they would prescribe a cough syrup with codeine...but that is for people with pneumonia, not asthma. So what am I supposed to do? I can't be there every second of the day to make sure he doesn't run. He'll learn as he gets older that his lungs just can't handle it. Any advice out there? Bethany's asthma doesn't seem to affect her nearly as much as Andrew's affects him. I'm just hoping and praying that they let him stay at school today!
Thanks for letting me rant...I just don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Weekend in review...Saturday Sports

Saturday was a big day for two of my kiddos. It was Abbigail's last basketball game for this season, and it was Andrew's last wrestling tournament for the year. Andrew and daddy got up SUPER early on Saturday so they could be at the wrestling tournament (1 1/2 hours away) by 6:30AM(!!!!)...weigh in time. Oh.my.goodness...let's just say I was very thankful Abbie had a basketball game at 10:00 and we had to stay home. ;O)

Abbigail's basket ball abilities have grown throughout the season. She has enjoyed it very much. Abbie played hard at her basketball game. (She's the little one in the middle without her arms up) So did Bethany! One of Abbie's best friends, H1, has a little sister, H2...and Bethany and H2 are also best buddies. H1 was on Abbie's basketball team, so H2 & Bethany had ample opportunity to play and be silly.
After the basketball game, we headed off to catch the last half of the wrestling tournament. We missed the first match...Andrew was pinned in this match. His second match, he pinned the other guy in no time at all! The third match was the most difficult. Andrew kept fighting just as hard as he could! Every time the other little boy tried to roll Andrew onto his back, he would spread his legs WIDE so that he couldn't be turned! He was amazing! The other boy was a bit stronger, an had wrestled for a few years....but he never did get Andrew pinned. Andrew lost by points. However...among his bracket, Andrew got 2nd! The boy who pinned him in the first match won 1st, and the boy who beat him in the last round got 3rd! I am just so thrilled and proud of him that he never gave up! He kept fighting with all he had! He was upset that he lost the last match, very disappointed, but we kept telling him how great he did and how proud we were of him. Now he can't wait till next year! In this picture he's watching the boys wrestling before him...Abbie didn't catch any "action" shots this time. One of these days I'm going to figure out how to post videos...then you'll really get to see him in action!

Pictures as promised!

I promised that I would post pictures of Andrew's first wrestling tournament...so here they are! This is the picture Abbie and I took right before his second match. Abbie thought she was taking pictures during the first match, but she wasn't holding the button down long enough, so there are no pics of it, here I was explaining how long you have to hold the button down.

These pictures are all from the Andrew's second match, the one he won! Abbigail was manning this camera and I had the video camera. So...thanks Abbigail! Andrew is in the blue...he's the one on top! Here is Andrew just before he pinned the other little boy.

Here are some cute pictures of my little Bethany. She helped me make the "biscuits and gravy" AKA...chicken pot pie the other night. She helped roll out and cut the biscuits. After the pie was in the oven, she played in the flour while I washed some dishes. She looked so cute I went to get the camera...of course in the 30 seconds it took me to grab the camera and come back, she fell off her step stool. Posing for pictures was not on her list of favorite things at this moment, but the pictures were so precious I couldn't keep them to myself.

Who knew??

Who knew the Vicks 44 stuff on the bottom of the feet thing would work?? But, it seems to be helping!!! I have kept up with the cough syrup and the breathing treatments, but the vicks on the feet seems to be helping him cough less and less today, much less than yesterday!!! Yippee!! Thank You, God, for great advice from friends!! Funniest thing is that he keeps grabbing his feet and sniffing them! What a BOY!

We're heading back home tomorrow, after worshiping with my parents at their church...they like to "show off" the grandkids to all their friends...they wouldn't even miss me if I didn't come along! :o)

HE IS A READER!!!!

Abbie is an awesome reader. She recently finished a seventh grade level book, and she's only 7 years old, in the second grade! She's always loved school and loved learning. Andrew is not his sister...

I know he's a smart kid, but he's not nearly as social, studious, or school loving as Abbigail...I know you aren't supposed to compare children, and I really try not to! He is his own person with his own gifts and abilities. He has a different teacher than Abbigail had when she was in Kindergarten, so he doesn't do the same things as she did. When she was in K, she brought these little "decodable" books home at least once or twice a week and she was supposed to read them to us. His homework consists of copying words and matching them to their picture ("mitten" to a picture of a mitten..etc). No reading, like a book. I wasn't sure how much he was learning. I never picked up a book and just said "Read this to me." I don't know why, I just didn't. Well, last night he brought home from the school library a board book. He pulled it out of his backpack, but didn't want me to read it to him because it was a "baby book" (his words!). I said, "Ok, I won't read it to you, but can you read it to me?" HE DID!!!! He only needed help with 2 or 3 words in the whole book!! I am SO PROUD!

ANDREW IS A READER!!!

This momma/teacher is just so happy. He IS learning. He is growing. He is succeeding! My little boy can read!!! Sniff, sniff, smile, giggle, tear...

He IS his father's son!

My son, I love him. My husband, I love him. My son, drives me nuts. My husband, drives me nuts! Do you see a pattern here? They both love to tease and play tricks on everyone, especially me! I have a certain phobia...FROGS! EWWWW! Just thinking about frogs makes my heart beat faster. Why would I be afraid of a silly little animal? I know it is an irrational fear...but I'm afraid none the less...I blame childhood bullies.

Anyway...Andrew has this little rubber frog (it's squishy and slimy, just plain gross!). He has taken to hiding it near me lately. Well, last night I told him to get it out of my sight or it was going into the trash. He took it away. I assumed he went to put it away in his room. WRONG! When I went to bed several hours later I checked to see if my alarm was set for the proper time, and this is what I found:

I am so glad that I found it last night instead of when my alarm went off at 5:30...I would have SCREAMED so loud! That little turkey! This is EXACTLY something his father would do! In fact, Warren was so proud of him when I showed him what HIS son had done! :-) Warren is even threatening to make the theme on my PDA a frog theme and the ringer on my cell phone a frog's croak....EWWWW! What am I going to do with two of them in the house??? Guess I just have to keep loving them.

Andrew's FIRST Bithrday gift

Since we have decided to make a quick jaunt up to North Dakota this weekend to see Warren's little brother, Nick, (who will be deployed to the Middle East at the beginning of December)...we decided to give Andrew one of his birthday gifts a bit early. We were going to put this together while he was at school on Thursday and surprise him...but since we are leaving town we thought he might be a bit upset..."Here's your new bed, but we're leaving town and you can't sleep on it till we return!"...so we did it early, on Monday.

The 'new' bed is a bunk bed with a futon on the bottom. We are planning on getting another set of the bedding to go on the bottom for when we have company, and just so it matches a bit better even when it's a couch...I will lay the bedspread on it when it is folded up to hide the current cover that doesn't match too well!

Andrew actually picked out the bedding a few weeks ago, but didn't' know where it went since he never saw it once we walked out of the store. I think he did an awesome job of picking out the bedding...I don't' even have to redo the walls! YIPPEE! While he was at school we took down his old bed and put up his new one. He was so excited! there will be more gifts to come on his actual bday, but we wanted him to enjoy this one a bit longer. We are also planning a little get together for 3 of his friends at Pizza Hut tomorrow night, so that will be fun...plus cupcakes for his class on Thursday...I'm usually lucky if I get taken out to dinner, or don't have to do the dishes! NO FAIR! ;o) Yes, those are Christmas lights on his wall...I never took them down last year, and now it's time to put them back up! Besides, he loves the "Mood" lighting! :-)

Is it June, or January???

Ok, two days ago we had the a/c going, it was 95! Last night at Abbigail's game, it was 50, with 30 mph winds....BRRRRRR!!!! Poor kids were bundled up with dirt blowing in their eyes. Today's high is 72, so I guess swimming is out for today! :o)

These are our dear friends, Stephanie and Shannon. They (and their parents, Roger & Jacque) braved the cold and wind to come cheer Abbie on! Thanks guys...we love you! This is the only picture that even remotely came out...it was TOO dark to take pictures. We got home about 10:30!
Here is a close-up of Andrew's chin. It's doing ok, thanks for the prayers!

More Thankfuls...

I'm thankful for caring, concerned friends, and coaches.
I'm thankful for a kind county health department that gives out advice for free.
I'm thankful Andrew's chin gashes can be cared for with butterfly bandages and not stitches.
I'm thankful that his t-ball t-shirt is red.
I'm thankful that if there are scars, they will be under his chin, hardly even noticeable.
I'm thankful that God helped me to not FREAK out!
I'm thankful that he has calmed down.
I'm thankful that he is ok.

Who would have thought that the most dangerous part of t-ball would be walking through the dug out? He tripped over a glove and landed on his chin. As long as we quit asking him to look up so we can see, I think it will hold together and will heal without stitches. Thank you GOD!

I love my children, I love my children

On days like today, this is a mantra I keep repeating to myself. Today's mantra is a bit more specific..."I love my son, I love my son." I may not like how he is acting at all, but I do love him. No matter how many times he says he hates me, or that he wants to call the police for a new mommy, I LOVE MY SON! (repeat, I love my son, I love my son).
Here's the story. He got a little scratch on his knee, no big deal. It wasn't even bleeding, so I wouldn't give him a band aid. He totally forgot about it for at least an hour or so. We went to the library for story time. He went into the classroom with his little sister (it's only her second week to go!) and came back out about 3 minutes later. "I need a band aid" I told him to go back in there, that he was fine. He started getting angry and yelling at me. I told him he either needed to calm down and go back to story time or we would go sit in the van and wait for his sister to finish story time. Now he got really angry! I was holding Houston in the sling, and had to DRAG Andrew out of the library, literally kicking and screaming. We got outside and he was doing the fists shaking, growling, so angry he couldn't talk thing. I told him he needed to settle down, or we were going to the van. Again, more yelling and screaming, kicking me! and trying o hit me. I grabbed his arm and told him I would not allow him to act like this, we were going to the van. I drug him to the van, kicking me and scratching/hitting me the whole way. I put him on the floor of the van and put Houston in his car seat. I told him that he needed to get in his car seat...NOW! At this point I was so angry, and embarrassed that I knew if I spanked him, it would not be a good spanking. (Now, I do believe in spanking, at the right time, NOT when I am angry!) More yelling and screaming. He thought about punching me. I saw the fist form and come towards me, but he did think better about it and stopped himself. As he got into his car seat, he yelled "I HATE YOU! I want to call the police to have them put you in jail!"
Of course at this point I want to dissolve on the sidewalk into a puddle of tears. My son hates me. He hates me. I know he doesn't really hate me, I know he's angry. I told him I was sorry he felt this way, that I love him, but I do NOT like the way he is acting. I told him that when he calms down I will talk to him.
Poor little Houston was just shocked by all that was going on around him! I got a book out of our bag (I didn't even get to return my books!) and read it to him. The entire time I was reading with Houston, Andrew was screaming "No!" and kicking the seat in front of him. I finally called my husband and asked him to come pick Bethany up. I didn't know how I was going to go into the library to get her. I certainly wasn't taking Andrew back in there, and I was afraid if I left him alone in the car for a minute, he'd run away. Thank God, Warren was able to leave and pick up Bethany. The ENTIRE way home, Andrew was screaming "NO NO NO NO" When we got home, I told him to go to his room, and put his nose on his wall. (If he just goes to his room, he plays...this is his time-out place...nothing painful!) Again, yelling, screaming, "I hate you", etc. But, he finally did it. I went to his room and told him that when he calmed down, I would come back and talk to him. It took him about 10-15 minutes to calm down enough to listen. I asked him if he remembered what he said to me. He had no clue. I told him...he just looked at me. I asked him how he thought t made me feel. At least he knew enough to say he was sorry. I told him that when he is angry, he needs to be especially careful about what he says and does. Just because he is angry, he does not get to do whatever he wants. I told him that I forgive him, but that does not mean that he is not going to be punished. I told him that his punishment is that he must stay in his room until it is time to pick up his big sister from school (about 3 1/2 hours...he would be napping for about 1 1/2 anyway!) I told him he can read some of the books he has in there, or he can clean it up, but he can not play. I told him I would bring him lunch in his room. That was about ten minutes ago...I just checked on him (he's too quiet!) and the turkey is asleep! I'm exhausted, too...can I take a nap?
I think after we pick up his sister from school, we will be going to the library so he can apologize to the women there for his behavior. I forgive him, but he needs to know there are consequences for his actions. Bethany had to be left at the library alone. Daddy had to leave work to pick her up. Mommy's feelings (not to mention my leg and my arm from the hitting and kicking) are a bit sore. There are consequences for his actions. He is forgiven and we love him, but that does not mean we act like it never happened.
When we sin, there are consequences. We can apologize, we can ask for forgiveness, but consequences happen. Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the consequence is death. Our death, and Jesus' death. Jesus died to pay for our sins, but that doesn't mean that we can pretend they don't happen. When we say something hurtful, someone is hurt, not matter how many times you say you are sorry...those words do not go away. When we lie, trust is broken. No matter how many times we say we are sorry, or promise not to do it again...we have to earn that trust back, and even then...can you ever COMPLETELY trust someone who has lied to you in the past? God forgives us, but Jesus still had to pay the price for our sins. He died on the cross to forgive us of our sins, so we can go to heaven. Jesus died to save me from my anger and frustration. He died to save Andrew from his hurtful words and actions.
I love Andrew (not just a mantra now!) I do...I love him. I want to be the best mother I can for him. I want to help him learn to control his temper and his tongue when he is angry. Anger is a part of life, but he needs to learn how to deal with it and acceptable ways to express his anger. I have told him before that it is OK to say "I'm angry at you mommy." But it is not OK to say he doesn't like me.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for my son. Please be with him, show him Your love. Show him Your forgiveness. Please help me to be the best mother I can. Please help me to help him learn to control his anger. Please help me to control my anger and be a Godly example to him. Thank you Jesus, for dying to forgive us for those times we don't follow you, when we aren't imitators of your love and forgiveness. Please help me to deal with Andrew and his temper, show me what to do. Thank you for loving me and promising to always be with me, even when I feel so alone.

(If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please leave me a comment! Thanks)

Andrew is sick

My son, Andrew, is 5 1/2. He has had asthma since he was about 12 months old. Of course, back then they just called it "reactive airway disease." Every time he gets a cold, it goes strait to his lungs. Poor kid can't just have a runny nose! He was even in the hospital for 4 days when he was about 18 months old. He has had a cold for the past few days, and I just kept waiting for the coughing to start...and start it has! He was up half the night coughing. I haven't given him a nebulizer treatment because so far his asthma hasn't acted up...we'll see if it gets in on the party of if it stays out! Prayers for his returned health are greatly appreciated.

While we're on the topic of prayer...my dad could use some. He was in the hospital the entire month of January with a really nasty bacterial infection in his left leg. He ended up having surgery and they were able to save the leg...most of it! They had to take all the tissue off his leg down to the muscle from his knee to his ankle. He has been recovering slowly (skin grafts this large take a long time to heal). But last week his leg became infected again. His knee and his foot (above and below the current surgery site) are red, swollen, and hot. Not good. He's on some very strong antibiotics, and they are running tests to find out if it's the same infection or something new. Please keep him and my mom in your prayers.

Blessings-Andie