appSmitten

I recently found out about appSmitten, a new way of finding apps that are tailored to you. Think of it as the Pinterest of apps! You get a newsletter e-mailed to you with apps tailored to you. (You can have it sent daily, weekly, or not at all.) Plus you can see what apps are trending. (Which I love!)

I don't know about you, but I get totally overwhelmed trying to find apps and navigate what is out there and what is good for my kids. I am really excited to try this out as a means of saving time and helping to wade through them all. My kids have ones they love, (cut the rope, where's my water?) but mostly I find out about them from other parents or word of mouth. Seems kind of ineffective.

My plan is to use it to find good educational apps for the kids, special needs apps, and apps for my music room. (For when I get ipads someday!!)

Check it out- appSmitten




Do you have any favorite apps? Particularly those for kids or for special needs? Please share them below!

To the mom at IKEA

I understand.

He ran over, pushing and screeching, wanting to play with the same thing as my boys. I mediated, trying to get them to move and let him share. When he got to touch the screen, he whacked it and didn't seem to get the point of it: it was a matching game. I saw you shoot a look at your husband and make a beeline for him. The first words out of your mouth?

"I'm sorry."

You didn't need to apologize! Do you know how many times I've done the same? Breathlessly apologizing when my kids took a toy away from someone else, bumped into another kid, freaked out over something so small?

I told you that it was fine and a look of relief spread across your face. You let him play with my boys. They didn't understand it completely, and after you left, Jack turned to me and asked why your son hit the screen and didn't share.

I knew.

I have been in your shoes a million times. Sometimes it is easier to just take your child and move on rather than face the questions. "How old is he?" You really know what their eyes are asking: Why is your child doing that when he is that age? Boy that is strange behavior!

Do you know how long, how many therapies, how much modeling, how many sleepless nights it took for us to get to the point where my children could share with him?

You didn't let him play long, but as you walked away I regretted not telling you: I understand.

My beautiful boy

I almost forgot!

Jack was 34 pounds even and 41.5"
Sumner was 37.5 pounds and 42"

5 Year check up

Today was also the 5 year appointment for Sumner and Jackson. I was dreading it because now that they are 5, they pretty much know that this appointment involved shots. Sumner spent most of the morning trying to rationalize why he didn't need shots, ("how about instead of 4, zero!") and flat throwing his brother under the bus. ("How about none for me, just Jackson!")

It wasn't pretty...the shot part. It took both of us to restrain them. Sumner went first, and we held him down, shaking and sobbing. Sumner once removed a syringe from his leg mid-shot and has a huge scar to show for it, so we pretty much have to hold him down for fear of him doing it again. After he went (they made Truman go first) Jack climbed up, seemingly subdued. Unfortunately he had more trouble than Sumner and even bit me while I was holding him. (Totally out of character and I believe unintentional.)

Thank God the next round isn't until age 11.

Jack was also diagnosed with dysfunctional voiding. He's been having increasing accidents over the last 6 months or so, mostly bladder, and mostly when he is napping. (He still naps 2 hours every day.) Because of this, we have to start him on daily Miralax, like his brother, and remind him to pee every hour. Heavens. That is a lot.

The pediatrician also diagnosed him with Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder. We're still actively pursing a psych eval for both kids, but in the meantime I feel like we might have a step toward understanding some of Jack's motor issues. His OT completed a BOT for him and the results were somewhat shocking in how poorly he did. The pediatrician would like him to go to a neurologist as well.

Sometimes I feel like I am swimming in alphabet soup. I keep telling myself to remember that the boys are healthy, happy kids. Well, except for when they are getting shots.

2 Month check up

Truman had his 2 month checkup today. He was 9 pounds 9 ounces, and 22 inches long. Everything is going well with him, but we have to take him in to the ENT. Some nights we can hear him snoring/he sounds like Darth Vader breathing. In the hospital they gave him saline nose drops, and we mentioned it at his newborn appointment and 1 month. The pediatrician said it could be something he grows out of, OR enlarged adenoids, so off to the ENT we go.

He was a total trooper for the shots and cried only a teensy bit and then stopped and went right to sleep. He actually slept through most of the appointment, which was amazing considering how loud his brothers were. (They all had an appointment together.)

Mario Birthday Party!!

Well, Mario Galaxy to be exact.

On Wednesday, we picked the boys up after special needs preschool and took them to the mall for a special lunch and to play. They were so excited!

At preschool on the morning of their birthday, they had special cupcakes. I frosted/sprinkled them to look like the 1-up mushrooms.

Then today we had a big birthday party for them at Magic Mountain. They have been playing Mario Galaxy with David on the Wii and are slowly working their way through, and so they knew immediately they wanted to have a Mario themed party. Pinterest has become my best and worst friend, as there were tons of great ideas on there I wanted to try. First I brainstormed a cake. I found inspiration here, but needed something a bit more manageable. I like to make cakes for the boys, but with Truman knew it would be hard this year. So I made a sketch and took it to my local Kroger. I hunted and found sprinkles, a Mario and Luma cake topper, and then I made the remaining characters from sculpey.

We made some mushroom favor bags, David made Mario mustache straws, and I made a boo balloon for the table. I wanted to make more and hang them from the ceiling, but we couldn't.

And we went from this:

To this:

They had an awesome time. I cannot believe that they are 5!

To Jackson, on your 5th birthday

Jack,

Last night when I was tucking you both in, we talked about how you were going to be 5 today. You knew right away what was going to happen, and you took my face in your hands and said "Mommy, don't cry." You giggled because you told me that I wanted to shrink you up and make you little again. If only you really knew how hard it is as a mother to want your children to grow, but how your heart hurts when it happens.

This year has been so good for you. You are so smart. You can remember something you've seen for an amazing amount of time. (We'll be in the car and you remember where all your classmates on the bus live.) You also have the amazing ability to read how someone is feeling immediately. You are so sensitive and caring, much more than any other boy I have met your age. You know how to diffuse a situation, (And sometimes make it a bit worse!) and you know how to make other people laugh when they are mad or sad. I was reprimanding you the other night and you made my mouth move and said "You are so fabulous, Jackson." I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Gone is that tiny 4 pound baby who couldn't breathe on his own and waved his arms about in the incubator. Instead a skinny, giggly boy with glasses who loves to be the boss and is always creating some kind of crazy invention. You have a connection with Truman that amazes me. Don't get me wrong, you were jealous when he was born, but I know that someday you will have him wrapped around your little finger. You also love to "mother" your stuffed animals. You current obsession? A stuffed hot potato.

You cannot wait for kindergarten and you have so many friends and family you love dearly. You could talk to a wall for hours and never tire (inherited that from me!) and you are friendly to everyone you meet. Sometimes school can be hard for you, and make you tired, but you have such a desire to please.

Happy birthday to my sweet, smart, funny and thoughtful little boy. You make my heart melt and you have made my life so full. I love you.

To Sumner, on your 5th birthday

Sumner,

Last night when I tucked you into bed, I told you it was my last time putting you to bed as a 5 year old. You sat and talked about how excited you were to go to kindergarten, and laughed about how grown up you were going to be. How is it possible that my tiny 4 pound baby is so grown up?

This year has been a great one for you. You are so smart. You love to talk and can really talk people's ear off. (I know you inherited this from me!) You started reading this year...a little bit right after you turned four and now you can read very well. You remember pretty much anything you have been told, which is amazing. Your mind is like a steel trap. You like going to preschool, and daycare, but you love "Mommy Daddy days." You look forward to wearing pajamas all day and playing with your brother. When we ask you who your best friend is, you always answer "Jackson."

You've started to make real friends. You know who you like to play with and you have so many people in your life that you love. Sometimes I wonder if you ever meet someone who is not a friend. You struggled when I was in the hospital having Truman, and when I first came home, but you are really enjoying being a big brother and it is amazing to see you interact with Truman. You like to show him how to do everything. (And remember you taught him how to smile?!?)

All of the sudden, you've become so much older...we signed you up for soccer this spring...but it's not that. It's the way you carry yourself, interact with others, the things you say. You want to know how everything works, and I love that about you. You can be gullible like me, but to hear your laugh makes everyone smile. It literally lights up a room.

Happy birthday to my beautiful, smart, sweet, and caring boy. I couldn't be prouder of you if I tried. You make every day brighter and you make my heart happy. I love you.