Tuesday, November 30, 2010

November

Today is Tuesday and I have a sitter come to watch Joel so I can go out and run errands. I have a lot of things to do but I realized that I could go eat lunch with Jono at school unhindered by the youngest Warren. I decided to head that direction. 

When I got to school, Jono was the line leader and did not seem surprised to see me. As he was leading his class to the lunchroom, one of his teachers, Mrs. Kendall, said he told her I was coming to lunch. I never told him this.:) I suppose he does have that sixth sense because of the Down syndrome...:).

He got in line and ordered his pizza, pears, corn, and other foods. His head teacher, Mrs. Connie, said they normally don't let him have chips but she did today. She had him open his own straw and helped him open his milk. She had him practice wiping his hands and face. She made him try all of his food. He seemed to thrive on doing all this on his own. He just turned five and all that sounds great for a typical five-year-old, but sometimes it is simply easier to do it for him. Sitting there, watching this transpire made me realize that I still do too much for him.

It was good just to be with Jonathan. So many times Joel tries to dominate whatever Jonathan wants to do and Jonathan just lets him. Jonathan cannot do anything without Joel wanting to be in there with him. Many times, this is a great problem, but often, I miss time alone with Jono.

To back up and catch up, I went to Raleigh for a shower for my sister, Betsy, on Halloween weekend. I was torn because I didn't want to miss out on the dress up extravaganza. All three boys were going to dress up like Star Wars characters. I only have a few pix, but Jamie said it was wild.

Jonathan celebrated his fifth birthday on the 14th of this month. He knew exactly what was going on and did not have to be told. He knew it meant presents for him ("Yeah, presents! Cake! Eat!") and he was very intent on opening his gifts. It was neat to see how he has grown.

Many people have commented on how Jonathan is winking so much. I took him to the eye doctor and he prescribed some glasses for Jono. The prescription calls for bifocals because the doctor thinks as Jono begins to squint, he crosses one eye. Apparently, bifocals help with that. He does not enjoy wearing them and I fear pushing glasses that are not the right fit.

My sister got married to her finace, Bryan, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Between one of our babysitters, Kayla, Jamie, and his mom, I was able to leave early. We had a stomach bug scare right before but that is all it was. Jackson was sick to his stomach and had to be retrieved from school the day before I left. But, either God heard my cry and spared him, or it was just him being overtired. I drove to SC with my Aunt Nancy. She and I along with my cousin, Jane, my other aunt, Gail, and family friend, Elizabeth, hosted a bridesmaid shower for Betsy and her bridesmaids on the 20th. It was wonderful being able to participate without having to stop and start with the boys. 

Betsy and Bryan tied the knot on Sunday the 21st. It was a great ceremony and a wonderful reception. Everything looked great - purple and gold everywhere. Everyone danced and I jumped in there, realizing I was as many as 20 years older than some of the kids dancing!!! Again, thanks to Jamie, Jim, and Betty for watching the boys so I could enjoy the wedding and be a part.

Jamie and his parents left Monday morning after the wedding. I stayed an additional day with the boys so they could see my family. We left Tuesday, found Em on the interstate, and followed her to Birmingham. We stopped at one point, and she let Jack ride with her and the kids the rest of the way to Birmingham.

Uncle Ryan arrived Wednesday. We went back and forth for the remainder of the week between our house and Jamie's parents. It proved to be a lot of fun and quite exhausting. Both Joel and Jono are congested but seem to be on the right meds to be on the mend.

Jackson continues to be a great big brother. He helps play with his brothers and then entertains himself when I have to cook or clean. He loves his dad and likes to stay close to home. We are working with him on his behavior at school, which has improved. He also has a tough time following directions but seems to be talking out of turn less. I think it is tough being a boy in public school.

Jono has glasses. His behavior has drastically improved. He is still doing crazy things (eating metal, painting himself with watercolors, digging for treasure in his dirty diapers, etc.) but is much more compliant and repentant. He also has begun to say many more words and knows it so he names everything he can. It is so neat and such an answer to prayer. Now we need to work on potty training (going on his own) and possibly finding an assistive speech device.

Joel cracks us up. He continues to speak his own language. He is starting to swat at us so we are learning about gentle hands. He is not laid back but lots of fun. He, like his brothers, does not require a lot of sleep so he is up early. He still does not sleep consistently through the night but we sure sleep like logs when he does!

We currently are getting back into the routine of school. We hope to get our Christmas tree this week. I am listening to Christmas music all the time, trying to maximize the season! Our lives continue to be crazy but full.

Julie:)


    Jono at the Pumpkin Patch with Lily. He loves Lily!!


                                                           Jono's class at the Pumpkin Patch.


                                                                                      Joel and Grandpa the weekend of Granpals' 
                                                                                      Day for Jackson. A great time was had by all.


Jono at the Buddy Walk. He disappeared shortly after this pic and gave me a scare!

          Joel loves to serve himself.

Me and the boys at the Buddy Walk. Jamie was doing PR. It was quite warm.

Jackson working out at our gym, Iron Tribe Fitness, doing Crossfit.

The Hansen kids and our kids the weekend of their commissioning to Africa. They were in our Small Group and will be dearly missed. They left today!

Joel does not seem to like the Ewok outfit.

Brotherly love.

                                                                                         Having a picnic lunch outside with Daddy.




                      Token pumpkin picture.

Joel and Jack jumping on Jono's tramp.

Jackson and Gracie playing with Jono's track.   

Likes this cabinet.

Headed home after the wedding and seeing Grammie and Grandpa.

Jono put this on. Nice.

This is the position Jono was in when we noticed the squinting at first.


Sweet brothers.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Rest of October and beginning of November 2010

I did not know second grade would be so difficult for me. Each year the teachers ratchet it up another notch and I don't seem to be able to keep up with all the rules! This makes me laugh because, when I taught, I ran a very tight ship. But, in my defense, I was teaching seventh graders, right? 

Jackson has had difficulty remembering assignments, bringing home books, the rules on taking reading tests, when his spelling tests are, and not talking at inappropriate times. Each time he tells me about these things, we use them as opportunities to teach him to show respect, be honest, follow directions, etc. 

Jackson and the whole second grade are learning about communities this year. Jackson and his classmates are assigned jobs each week where they get paid. They lose money if they receive a ticket. Their tickets are recorded in their take-home folders so we can see the area in which our children erred. Jackson averages about two or three tickets each week and loses cash each time. This does not bother him in the least because he only gets to use his cash once each nine weeks at Market Day. So, we have had to institute some Double Whammy procedures at home to make it hurt a little more. 

Market Day is a day where each child devises a product and produces enough to sell. Each child makes their own sign and sets up a table, trying to sell their wares to make a profit. Jackson's first products were little creations he made out of his overflow of Legos at home. He sold out in the first few minutes!

Jackson and Jamie went to Mobile to sleep aboard the USS Alabama with the other Cub Scouts in Jackson's pack. They had a great time and took lots of pictures. Enjoy!

Jonathan has been doing well at school. He continues to receive "good" reports rather than "great." I think he would have to be perfect to get a "great" rating. I have calmed down considerably since the beginning of the year. Initially, I was so concerned about his rating each day but I realized the anxiety I was experiencing was mostly self-inflicted and not of import. 

Jonathan has continued to do his crazy stuff. One day an older couple was inquiring about our house. I was talking to them in our driveway, and Jonathan comes tearing out, holding something, winking, and completely naked. I scooped him up, excused myself, and took him in to get a bath.:) I heard the fireplace screen crash down yesterday morning and found him in the fireplace with soot all over his clothes for church, face, hands, and feet. He did the same thing last night and Jamie cleaned him up. Never a dull moment!

I took Jono to the eye doctor a few weeks ago because he has been winking/squinting a lot lately. It started at times that seemed normal but now he does it frequently. The eye doctor said he needs glasses so we are going to get those soon, when I can just take Jono. Any doctor's visit usually means he fills his pants out of nervousness and it would be nice to be alone to deal with that instead of with the entourage of the Warren boys.:) He also spends most of the visit signing "finished" because he is so afraid of being stuck or hurt (he is used to be lying and saying "It's okay" followed by a shot). 

Joel continues to teeth. Either he or Jonathan usually wake at night with coughing or breathing problems. Joel, since four months old, has been waking each night with drainage. I am hoping this will end once his teeth are all in. We shall see. 

Joel entertains us with his unintelligible verbage and signs adapted from Jonathan. He continues to walk/run around on his toes. He and Jonathan get along quite well and Jackson loves to play with him (unless Joel is intent on destroying Jackson's Legos). 

We will soon be marrying off my sister, Betsy. She and Bryan get married the Sunday before Thanksgiving so that is the next big event we are anticipating!

Julie:)









This is a picture Jackson drew. All the kids drew them in his class, saying in what areas they wanted to improve. He says he wants to be "a better person in math."

This is Market Day at Edgewood. Jackson constructed different creations out of Legos and sold out in the first few minutes!

Jackson is showing all his Community Cash.:)

Jackson closed down his table after  just a few minutes of selling out!

Jackson on his Cub Scout trip with Dad.

Jackson and Dad on the  deck of the USS Alabama.

These were their sleeping quarters. Jamie said they slept well and that the boys did not act out.


Jackson and his buddy, William.
Jackson ticked off.

Taking a tour of the ship.            

                          Dad.

Going to bed. Sounds like the boys all did well.

Dad and Jack on their first Cub Scout trip.:)

Sunset at the USS Alabama.      
  

Jacko with a dummy in a flight suit behind him.

Jackson and his buddy, William, again.

Jackson on the way home from Mobile. Wiped out.:)

        Jackson and Jonathan camping out in the backyard with Dad.

The Warren boys (minus Joel, still asleep in the house:)).