Case, you are FOUR!

Dear Case,

Life got a little hectic and we abandoned your blog for a little while. Make that a LONG while, but guess what. You just turned 4! You have grown up so much since your little brother was born. In the last 21 months you have become more independent and you have a LOT to say. You say the funniest things and we are just in awe of your take on life. You "crack [us] off."

You went to Preschool this past year two days a week. Your teachers were Mrs. Guerrero and Mrs. Leanne. You were much braver than we could have ever imagined. You never cried. Not even the first day. I was so happy because you were so happy.

You have had a few rough patches between turning 3 and turning 4. At Christmas you got sick with a cough and we never could get it to go away. It was a terrible cough that kept us all up at night. It turns out you have asthma and allergies. So far you've been in the hospital twice, on a lot of different meds and in the ER and doctor's office more times than we can count. You started getting allergy shots in May and you've even reacted to some of those. You have been through a lot for such a little boy but you have been so brave. We are so proud of you! Hopefully we have found a med combination that will finally help keep you well.

At four years old, you are 40 inches tall and 36 pounds. You love to read Green Eggs and Ham and Little Blue Truck. You like to watch Blue's Clues and Bob the Builder. You like riding your Ford pedal tractor, playing with trains and construction equipment. Your favorite food is peanut butter and nutella sandwiches.

You are a great big brother. Trent loves you and you are fairly patient with him. Your daddy and I enjoy listening to yall play on the monitor. Sometimes he doesn't do what you want him to do and you get a little frustrated.

Sometimes you are a little emotion and throw fits. Especially when you are tired or don't feel well. It's ok though. I get emotional and throw fits when I'm tired and don't feel well too. Just ask your dad. :)

Your friends right now are Emmerson, Noah, Luke and Dane. You also really enjoyed playing with Mr. Brian and Mrs. Katie's kids, Molly, Mason and Jenna. Especially Molly though.

You like playing with other kids but sometimes you get a little bossy and a little too excited.

You like picking out your own clothes and can dress yourself except for your shirts. You still get a little tangled up. Your favorite shoes are you crocodile polliwalks but you think they are hippos. You like your blue, soft shorts and your Brahma football shirt. Also your Bucee shirt.

You love Grandma Josie's seagull picture, Grammy's lawnmower and Poppy's blue tractor.

This year for your birthday you got some cool stuff:
a monster truck set
bubble blower
sidewalk chalk
college money
Case tractor
Spiderman Lego car
a pink doll car
a big boy bike and helmet
clothes
money you spent on a Fisher Price Car Wash you really wanted.

You don't like us to sing but you tolerate music much more this year. At the end of your first year of preschool we finally heard you singing a little bit to yourself. It was so sweet. I know you will be happy to go back to school with your music and chapel teacher, Ms. Barb. We didn't sing Happy Birthday to you this year because you just don't like it. To be honest, I hate sitting still while people sing to me too!

We love you so much Case! Happy 4th Birthday. This is going to be a big year for you. We're trying to sell our house and move you to an area with a better elementary school because Kindergarten is just around the corner. This year you are going to go to Preschool 3 days a week. I am going to miss you so much. I love being home with you boys. Yall are so funny together. :)

Mommy, Daddy and Trent love you!

A Busy Month for Case

Case has had a BUSY month! He's been...

Taking care of his new brother.

Playing in the sprinkler with Papaw.

Playing in the sandbox.

Playing in the pool with Uncle Beeper.

Driving the tractor with Poppy.

Reading with Grandma Josie.

Making and sampling a birthday cake for Dad.

Blowing bubbles.

Climbing on his clubhouse.

Holding his brother. He's feeling Trent's hair not knocking him in the head.

Napping.

Reading and cooking. They read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and then made "mouse cookies."

Eating "mouse cookies."

Playing in the rain.

To see what Trent has been up to click on Trent.

Pictures

1 Week Old

1 week old

6 lb 4 oz

19 inches

Breakfast Pals

Proud Big Brother in Action

So proud of BOTH of our boys!

Case becomes a Big Brother!

Case is now officially a big brother. Thanks to everyone who has helped us out over the last few months getting ready. Please welcome Trent Daniel Freeman into the world.

Whoa!

Wow Wow Wow

When it's quiet...

you should be worried. This is how Case emerged from behind a chair.

Then he said, "Uh oh," like he didn't know how it happened. Funny thing is he was laughing right before he appeared. Sometimes you can't help but laugh with him. Not sure how he keeps finding these markers! And despite being washable, it does not come off easily!

Case finally figured out how much fun his slide is. It was a lot easier once I cut the 3 foot tall grass in our back yard. Houston in the summer means cutting the grass once a week or it gets out of hand. On the plus side my wife believes we have the nicest back yard on the street. Nice to know all the hard work we put into it is worth it.

Case is going to have a little BROTHER.

Dear Case,
You are such a funny and observant little boy. You have had us laughing this week!

Earlier this week he said, "Moma, here." and handedme some toilet paper. He has gradually been saying "mom, moma, mmmommommom" more this week. Yesterday I heard a ton and it made me smile every time. We got a new monitor for his room and this one can stay on all the time. I called his name last night and I could hear him answer on the monitor, "Mom." Too funny.

His other favorite sayings this week are "uh oh," "oh no," "Coal," and "like that." Everything he sees in a book or on tv is followed by him finding something in the house and saying, "like that." He's a sharp little cookie. I was reading Noah's Ark to him the other day and we were pointing out of the animals. I showed him a giraffe and he looked up and pointed to 4 other giraffes his room.

We are amazed at what all he understands. I told him "Let's open the door so the cat can get some water." He went in the bathroom, got the water, and then poured it on Coal. Luckily most of it sloshed out before he got to Coal.

Yesterday he started spitting out the back door. I asked Keith if he taught him that. He said he didn't so I was wondering where he picked up this newest thing. We found out later that it was me. Keith and I were standing in the bathroom talking and Case went to the toilet, grabbed both sides, leaned over and started spitting just like he were puking. It's been about a month since I was puking in the toilet with this new baby, but I guess it was memorable to him.

He still loves Wubbzy. I think he'd watch him around the clock if we'd let him. I don't know what is so funny about that yellow creature but he gets Case laughing, dancing and wound up. Sometimes he'll be running aound my bed yelling, "go, go, go" to Wubbzy and his friends. At appropriate times I might add- when they are racing, in a fire truck, etc.

He's a riot. Speaking of, he just woke up. Guess it's time to go!

Moms

If you think I am a "stay at home mom" because I am lazy you are wrong. If you think it's because I don't want to work you are wrong again. If you think being a "stay at home mom" means I can do whatever I want whenever I want you are VERY wrong. If you think all I do is play on the computer and watch soap operas all day you are also wrong. If you think it's easy I'm willing to bet you've never done it.

I'm not saying that I'm not grateful for the opportunity to be home with Case. I am very thankful that Keith works hard so I can be here with him. I'm not saying that moms who work outside the home aren't working just as hard. I know that they are. They get up, get ready for work, get their child ready for a sitter or daycare, work all day, come home tired, have to tend to dinner and laundry, and try to spend a little time with their kid before they all crash in bed. I am just saying, don't ever assume that being a mom of any type is fun and easy, and don't assume that because I stay at home I've got it made in the shade.

If you think I am lazy and don't want to work, here's a glimpse of our day. I got up and went to the bathroom by myself for once because Case was still asleep. I went and made myself a cup of coffee while I picked up toys in the kitchen and living room. I loaded the dishwasher, threw away trash, wiped down the counters, went upstairs to get Case because he woke up and was crying. I changed his pee soaked clothes and pull-up because an unnamed person gave him an adult sized fruit punch from Long John Silvers at 7PM last night. Fixed him some milk, a banana and some yogurt mixed with a probiotic. I opened the windows, went upstairs to get Lightning and his potty, put stuff in the garage, piled dirty laundry up by the stairs to take up on my next trip. I chased Steiny and closed the back gate that was open for unknown reasons. I cleaned Case up from breakfast and opened his markers. I got out the ground beef to thaw f,or dinner, washed dishes in the sink, stopped to clean marker off the floor and cabinet.

Went upstairs to get dirty dishes to wash while the sink had hot water in it, put a movie in for Case, took more stuff to the pile to go upstairs. I moved the dining room chairs and swept the kitchen and dining room even though I swept and mopped on Tuesday, swept again on Wednesday and it's now Thursday.

I talked to myself, cleaned the junk off the table, got out more paper towels, stopped to give Case a mini-lesson on open/close, please/thank you and not screaming when you don't get what you want. I made sugar water for Case's hummingbird feeder,stopped to console Case when he pinched his fingers in the fence, took markers away from Case, cleaned marker off fence and chair, stopped to talk to Case about shapes and remove him from standing in plastic chair on the tile, went through last week's mail (still haven't gotten this weeks), went through the coupons, more discussion about open and close. Had to go remove Case from plastic chair again, cleaned stuff off what I thought was the last counter, wiped it down, poured the sugar water in the hummingbird feeder finally, stopped to look at the Garden Center ad with Case, gave him goldfish because he was hanging on me wheile I tried to put away the dishes I washed, started the dishwasher, cleaned up the junk by the fish tank, killed a spider, emptied the fish tank, took it to the garage, picked up the shoes Case brought in while I took out the fish tank. Then I stopped everything because Case fell and busted his lip on the tile while chasing Steiny, cleaned up blood and wet clothes, fixed him some milk, stopped to hold him and talk about the stuff on the frig, went to bathroom with my shadow, cleaned the counter where the fish tank was, punished Case for screaming about not getting his way, warmed up his lunch. Then I had to stop and punish him for throwing his toys on the floor because his food wasn't ready fast enough, put his food on the plate to cool, fixed him some more milk, put him in his chair, find crayon all over the floor.Finally sit down with my lunch (not sure when I warmed it up)to watch the news. Only sat long enough to get my food down because he was throwing beans on the floor and climbing out of his chair. Clean him up and then talk to him about the crayon all over the floor. had to spank him (pop his butt) for kicking the dog, sit in the floor with Magic Eraser and scrub up the crayon, pop him again for throwing his Tag reader at the door, make him go pick it up, disinfect the sink after pouring fish water in it, took Tag reader away because he threw it again, washed more dishes, turned off the fuzzy stereo he turned on and scared him self to death, became hysterical and tried to climb me. Then Steiny went barreling out the dog door. Went to see what was going on. The back gate was open again, trash everywhere and Steiny is up the street going after a moma pit pull who was unattended. Managed to get him back home while Case was screaming in the backyard, left the trash, put the dog in and locked dog door since the gate keeps opening itself, took Case out fron to look for mauled cats, he started calling for his dad and threw a fit when we came back in and put the garage down. I sat down because I was exhausted, we looked at book. Then he threw a fit because he couldn't get his sock off. I got up and moved some stuff on the counter and picked up the crayons that were somehow back on the floor. Decided it was time to go upstairs for awhile. I picked up the laundry, sorted it, started it, sprayed all of Case's clothes with stain remover while he played. Took all of his toys out of our room and moved them back to his, cleaned off the entertainment center, stripped our bed he peed on, turned on Wubbzy for him, gathered more trash, stopped to rest (write this while he went to sleep), started a grocery list, switched the laundry, and then came downstairs, let the dogs out, took some tylenol and ate some pudding all before 3:30.

If you think I can do whatever I want whenever I want let me tell you a little about that. Yes, technically if I need to go to the grocery store we can just get up and go, but in reality by the time I get Case dressed and ready (I usually go with a pony tail, no make-up, a t-shirt and stretchy pants because I'm too tired to do anymore) and get him loaded in the car with some snacks and a drink, I am worn out. Then we get to the store, I unhook all those darn hooks on the carseat, put him in the shopping cart, he rides about 5 minutes before he starts screaming and trying to climb out. I try to distract him with something, 5 minutes later he's trying to get out again, I consider popping him on the leg because he needs to straighten up but look around at the 10 people staring at me and my out of control child and think "Which of the 10 think I should bust his bottom and how many of the 10 are just waiting to pull out their phone to call CPS because I 'spanked' him?" So instead of popping his leg and making him sit down like my good sense tells me to, I take him out of the cart and attempt to let him walk holding on to the cart. Not 5 or 10 minutes later he's bored with that and contemplating another tantrum. So this just goes on and on about every 10 minutes, meanwhile I am trying to read my list, collect the things we need while still looking for the best prices. When we've both just about had all we can take of that we get to the check-out where every lane has at least a 10 minute wait. He's wailing and people are looking at me either sympathetically or glaringly. I'm exhausted and ready to sit in the floor with him but we still have to pay (still have to get up to the cashier first), load our stuff in the car, load him in that carseat with the five zillion buckles while he screams bloody murder because he wants to drive rather than ride, make the 5 minute trip home to unhook those freaking buckles, and corral him while I unload. Or I could leave him buckled in screaming like a banshee for all the neighbors to hear while I unload. Generally the better option because at least I know he's contained somewhere safe. After that ordeal all I want to do is collapse (remember I am 4 months pregnant) and not fix our lunch.

What if you were thinking that a shopping trip is never fun and that surely I can do other fun things and it not be a problem? Well, let's see. I tried to go to MOPS which I dearly loved but he screamed like a maniac and got kicked out of his first class. He moved to another class and did better, but then we had some unavoidable circumstances where he had to miss a few weeks. I took him to church to the nursery in preparation for his next visit to MOPS and he cried and screamed. They didn't page me to come get him but I know the teacher wanted to. Then he started screaming before we even got in the building when we'd go to church. Finally I gave up. It's stressful when your child is the one that screams and all the teachers dread. I don't know how to make him quit. I've tried to the best of my ability. He freaks out at home when one of us walks out the door. He'll even freak out when someone he doesn't even want walks out the door. I know. I know. It's just a phase. We've been in this phase for a LONG time and it's just getting worse. We even sent him with his Grandma for several days. I thought he'd come back a little less attached. I think he's more attached. Are you thinking maybe he's crazy? See later paragraph.

Maybe you thought I could do something relaxing with him...well we get tired of being cooped up in the house so we like going outside. Right now our backyard is a mud pit so we have been working on that. I gave in to playing in the mud pit yesterday since we got our broken windows fixed but an airplane flew over and he freaked. I'm talking mass hysteria. Climbing up up my body. The more I try to pry him off the more he freaks out. Finally just sat down with him and and his mud drenched clothes until he chilled out. Airplane flew over again and he did the same thing. Are you thinking he has a problem? Don't worry- it's crossed my mind. I could take him to the pediatrician, but for $25 Ialready know what's she's going to say. "It's just a phase." Or another of my favorites- "It's behavioral and you are enabling that behavior."

We could play in the front but then you have to watch out for weirdos and keep him out of the street and you still have the problem of airplanes. We could go walk around Home Depot or The Garden Center and get some things we need to finish the backyard so that the next time he climbs me at least he isn't muddy but that's basically like the "going to Wal-Mart" experience.

Maybe I could just leave him with Keith and hang out with my friends. No, that doesn't really work either. Since I'm not working anymore, I haven't kept up with my work friends. They're all busy with their own families or they don't have kids and can do non-kid activities. I could go do non-kid activities if I had Keith baby-sit but in reality I don't have much in common with my non-kid friends because I spend 12 hours (sometimes more) a day talking to an almost 2 year old who doesn't respond much. My day is consumed with bodily functions, eating and putting out figurative fires. My best friend is in Dallas. My mom is 6 hours away. My mother-in-law is about 5 hours away. I tried to make friends at MOPS/church with other mom's but obviously Case was not a big fan of that. Hmmm... I'm at a loss. Occasionally someone comes to visit that I can go out with or it's someone we can leave Case with without him freaking out and I can go out with Keith. By occasionally, I mean a few times a year. Granted we do live 5 or 6 hours away from our family and don't have easy access to baby-sitters. If you are close to family or have reliable baby-sitters you are fortunate.

If you think that I watch soap operas and play on the computer all day you are mostly wrong. I often have soap operas on in the background if Case isn't watching Nick Jr., because I need to hear some adult conversation. Granted it's generally ignorant conversation but at least it's some conversation. Am I frequently checking my email and Facebook? Yes I am. Am I addicted? No. Again, I spend most of my waking hours with an almost 2 year old. We have no contact with the outside world. See the above paragraphs on MOPS and hanging out with friends. So I go on Facebook to connect with the outside world. Sometimes I read what other parents are going through and it makes me laugh. Sometimes I offer advice. Sometimes I go on just to chat with my mom because we're both too tired to talk on the phone or we can't talk over Case's squealing and screaming. Sometimes I go on and vent. One piece of advice though...if you don't want people in your business don't put it out there. People like to be in people's business.

I'm sure after people read this they'll be in my business. Am I complaining about my life as a stay at home mom? No. Am I thankful every day that I can be at home with Case? Yes. Does he make me crazy some days? Yes. Is he bad all the time? No he really isn't. For the most part, aside from the recent crazy airplane and fly phobia, I think he's a pretty typical 21 month old. Does that make it any easier to get through the day? No, not really. Along with his craziness, he's very smart and he's VERY busy. Although, we're about as baby proofed as you can be, he always has bruises. He's always into something I haven't thought of. He is always climbing something, emptying something, filling something, taking apart something... he goes non-stop and I have to be on my toes non-stop. If I put things where I think he can't get them, he will. If I think it's something he wouldn't mess with, he does. If I don't think of it, he will.

So all I am really saying is don't think I've got an easy job. I don't. No mom does. It's 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Even when he's asleep, I'm working either physically or mentally. He's been pulling his ears for 6 weeks. Do I need to take him back to the ENT? Well the ENT isn't going to give him meds and he doesn't have fever. Should I put him in Mother's Day Out to force him to get over this attachment issue? What if he has a brain tumor and that's why he acts crazy? He hit his head. Does he have a concussion? What if he turns out to be a brat because I don't make him stay in the nursery? Do I pop him on the leg too often because Keith won't. How do I make him quit throwing tantrums without popping him on the leg or bottom? Should I let him just throw fits when he doesn't get his way or will that prolong the tantrum throwing? What if everyone thinks I am a terrible parent because I am not doing it like they think I should or because he acts like a banshee? Afterall, being his mom is my job so if he acts like a heathen, isn't that a reflection of how I'm doing my job? Those are just a few of the things that go through my head on a regular basis. Stressful? A little.

Parenting- Not to be taken lightly. All of this and he's not even two. I know there are worse days ahead. Talking back. Being a teenager. Doing things that will break my heart and disappoint me. I know they are coming. I did my fair share of all of those things. All I can do now is my best and pray that he turns out ok. Sometimes, despite how you raise them, they don't turn out the way you want and you love them through it even though it hurts. That's what being a parent is about. It's wonderful but it also hurts. It's probably the hardest job you will ever do. Think about it before you consider it or before you judge someone because of their kid's behavior.

P.S. You don't get paid to be a parent. You don't get a raise. Sometimes you don't even get Mother's Day gift. And sometimes your child doesn't like you. And if you think you want a baby so someone will love you unconditionally, don't count on it.

21 Months

Case recognizes the letters in his name.
He recognizes 8 shapes.
He recognizes several colors.
He can point to his head, ears, eyes, hair, teeth, tongue, mouth, nose, hands, fingers, belly button, privates and feet.
He also recognizes the cats' and dogs' body parts including tail and paws.

Potty Training Part 2

Case went to his potty and peed three times yesterday without prompting! Yay for our big boy.


So far this has been a much less stressful experience than I anticipated. Quite honestly I did NOT want to potty train. The good thing about Case is that he is very observant. He watches and absorbs so much. And he is at a stage where he wants to help and he is thriving on verbal praise and clapping. He does things, claps for himself and then looks to see if you're clapping too. I guess this is really helping with our casual potty training attempt.

Today he used his potty once without prompting, twice with a prompt and had an accident while eating his lunch. At nap time I put a pull-up on him. He was restless and would not lay down. Finally he pointed to his pull-up and said "that." I asked if he needed to go potty. Of course he didnt respond but I took him down the hall to his bathroom where there is an Elmo potty seat on the big toilet. His little potty chair was downstairs. He peed on the big potty. Then he was asleep within about 5 minutes.

Case's Announcement

Do I look like a BIG brother?

I had other precious pictures of Case that I took today but the camera ate them.

I am not a happy camper.

Potty Training Part 1

We weren't planning to start potty training yet but he seemed very interested today. So far he doesn't want to tee tee in his potty, but we did accomplish a few things. He will go sit on the potty, scoot his booty back and tuck his little business in. It seems like he knows what to do but nervous about not peeing in his diaper. He started to tee tee in the kitchen and when he realized it he stopped. So he can control it. We'll see how it progresses.

ENT Update

First of all, Case has been tugging on those ears again for the past 2-3 weeks. He hasn't run a fever and we generally don't take him to his pediatrician for these symptoms because she ALWAYS diagnoses him with an ear infection and sends us home with antibiotics. We have taken him to the ENT in the past to get him checked when he does this and our ENT ALWAYS says his ears are fine. Once again, I took him in to double check and the ENT assured me that his ears are clear and he's cutting his 2 year molars causing the ear pain. He said this could go on for awhile. That's fine. We suspected as much. Reassuring to know though. He also said, if it were an ear infection he would not treat it with antibiotics unless he began running a high fever anyway. We appreciate his anti-antibiotic approach after our 3 month battle with antibiotic induced diarrhea.

I also wanted to have Case checked for a sinus infection because of the amount of drainage he has in his throat and his obsessive clawing at his itchy eyes and nose. He also has strong sinus breath. This is not a new problem either. More like a chronic problem. We have talked to his pediatrician about it at nearly every well and sick baby appointment and we have been told the same thing...He doesn't have allergies. Just use saline drops, nose sucker, Vicks, humidifier, prop him upright when he sleeps, warm showers, Johnson and Johnson Vapor bath, Afrin. We have tried it all-REPEATEDLY. The nurse once told us we could try Children's Claritin or Zyrtec. The pediatrician told us he didn't need that because he doesn't have allergies. Well, she was wrong. Our ENT said today that he DEFINITELY has allergies and he can tell by just looking at him. His eyes are dark and puffy. He's congested and guess what. Allergies are hereditary. If you knew his mother as a child you would know that allergies were definitely a major problem. The doctor said chronic allergy infections can lead to sinus infections but antibiotics for the sinus infection is only a temporary solution. We need to start by treating the allergies. This is what we suspected. Case will be starting an allergy nasal spray which we hope we make a significant difference in this problem.

We are grateful for the outcome of this visit. We were reassured that his ears are fine and the doctor actually listened to our concern about this chronic allergy problem, agreed with us and is going to attempt to treat it. Case is home, happy and hoping for a good night's sleep.

Check back Monday for more news.

Dear Case

Dear Case,

This stretch of getting up at 5am has been driving me crazy. We are exhausted. Why aren't you?You spilling red soda in my bed is not high on the list of things I appreciate today either. Neither is the fact that I had to reach my hand in the toilet and grab out a little tupperware of cat urine as you were flushing it. Why you even had access to cat pee is another story for another day. But, when you dance around the living room to the Weather Channel music with your milk in one hand and your Bible in the other, I can overlook all the little things that you're doing to make me nuts today. I love you.

Mom