Mostly Wordless Wednesday - Presentations

The boys finally got to share their pencil projects from last month. They were quite proud of themselves!

Jason is sharing his pencil airplane.

Shawn is sharing his pencil  hand drum.

The teacher shared these pictures on Class Dojo. It is fun to get the chance to see what is going on in school. :)

All Boy

Doesn't matter where we go, this kid will always find himself some dirt to play in. He is definitely all boy, this one!

Illustration

This weekend, Jason was trying to describe where his throat was tickling, which in turn was making him cough.

He's pleased with his effort; you can tell. :)

He produced this illustration. On the left, is his mouth and throat. He drew an arrow to the clog. On the right is a picture of his lungs.

Notice the cough swirl all the way to the left. Plus, he made sure to show where his teeth are inside his mouth.

There is SO much that I love about this picture, especially the lungs, I think. LOL! Thankfully, Jay is feeling a lot better today.

Life By the Numbers

9 - days (including weekends) the boys had off of school

5 - days (including the weekend) I had off of school

2 - days it rained this week. The boys had fun playing outside in the rain.

4 - days of hanging out in our PJs all day

0 - days left from our mini holiday vacation (boo!)

5 - people who were sick to some degree as the vacation started

1 - kid with a lingering cough

15 - school days until we all get off for winter break. It's not like anyone is counting or anything.

5 - people wildly excited by this information

28 - days until Christmas!

1034 - times a day Jack asks if it is Christmas time yet. And while we are at it...

1436 - times a day Jack asks to watch the movie Zootopia. He is persistent. I'll give him that.

4 - days until I am told that Elfie makes his appearance (Wonder what he'll be up to this year?!)

1 - kid who regularly reminds me that we have yet to go to Universal Studies for the big boys' birthday...we need to get on that soon!

Conversations With 5 Year Olds

After accidentally kneeing his father in the crotch, Jack told him, "Sorry dad. I didn't mean to hit you in the jiglets."

He was trying for "giblets" I think, but it made me laugh anyway. LOL

Little Cuties

Every now and then these three show that they actually like each other. lol. Thankfully, I was there to capture the moment today. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday - Paper Towel Roll Challenge

The big boys worked on their second STEM Home Challenge today. This time they had to do something with a cardboard paper towel roll. 

Directions:

To participate in this home challenge, you will need to create something (anything) using an empty cardboard paper towel roll. You can use any additional materials in your creation. The only rule is to be creative.

Jason knew exactly what he wanted to create: another vehicle - this time a car! 

To create his car, he used paper towel roll, apple juice bottle lids (4), wooden skewer (2), straws (2), paint, hot glue, yellow card stock, brown card stock, and foil (to create his hood emblem).

He learned how to create axles this time, so his car is actually a pretty smooth drive.

He says he's not quite finished with it. I think he may add a bit more embellishment to the design, but overall, I think he did an awesome job!

Shawn created another musical instrument - this time, he made a rain stick!

To create his rain stick, he used paper towel rolls (2), toothpicks, hot glue, paint, beans, tape, and plastic bags.

I drilled a bunch of holes into the sides of the paper towel roll for him. Shawn put toothpicks into all of the holes. (He thinks the inside looks like a spider web. lol) We hot glued the toothpicks into place and then cut off the excess toothpick from the outside. A second paper towel roll slit up the middle was put over the first roll to make the outside smooth.

We added some tape, paint, beans, and plastic to cover the ends. (We used plastic for the ends so the kids could see what was going on inside when they used it.)

Voila! Rain stick!

I'm not sure if Shawn will go back and do anything else to his rain stick or not. He does like the way it sounds, though, so he has been playing with it off and on this evening.

It looks pretty neat. I think Shawn did an awesome job on his project, too!

Tree Trimming

See? He was very convincing yesterday. :) Needless to say, the boys were quite happy with the whole Christmas decorating thing. lol

How About It?

He's trying to convince me to put out Christmas decorations. "How about it?" he kept saying.

He did a very good job. How could I say no to that face? lol

Pool Time

Jason and I are playing Lego Pool...

I was talking to him with a Lego character voice, trash talking to him after I would make each shot. "Woohoo! I'm the best pool player in the world!"

He asked, "Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because it's true. I'm the best pool player in the world! Woohoo!"

He finally said, "But why do you keep saying that you are the best poop layer in the world then?"

LOL! (Seems like middle child is mastering his own trash talking!) 

Cute Big Boy Saturday

He says he was trying to help...

but something makes me feel otherwise. LOL

(Not that Jack was upset about what they were doing!)

Conversations With 9 Year Olds

So tonight, the big boys wanted to play Truth or Dare...

Me: Truth or Dare, Jay?

J: Truth

Me: Do you pass gas on mom on purpose?

J: Uh...maybe 1 time I did...

Me: Jay...?

J: Okay, maybe a few times...

Me: Jason...

J: Fine. Yes! I do sometimes.

Me: And you, Shawn? Do you pass gas on mommy on purpose?

S: (laughing) Uh huh. Only sometimes.

Then he proceeds to lean over and pass gas on me. Sigh. The life with all boys is FAR from glamorous, I have to tell you. LOL

World Prematurity Day

This post was first published November 17, 2011...

~~~

Today we are purple.

Purple to honor all of the millions of babies worldwide who were born too soon.

Purple to honor the fight of those babies and their families for survival.

Purple to honor those babies who can fight no more.

Today we are purple to honor those we love who have been touched by prematurity.

Today I was purple to honor our super boys, Shawn and Jason.

I will forever be amazed by the strength and determination our two boys showed in the early days of their lives (and continue to show today). They endured more in those months than many people ever experience in their entire lives. It seemed like every complication possible was thrown their way, but together they conquered the NICU.

They captured the hearts of everyone who worked with them. (I think they still do. :) )

Our guys survived and thrive.

We are the lucky ones.

---

Born at 28 weeks and 3 days, our guys were not even 3 pounds and about as long as a Barbie doll. (As tiny as they were, they were huge for their gestation.)

Shortly after the boys were born. This is Isaac's ring.
It would have easily slid all the way up to their armpits.

Isaac's ring on a foot.



A little hand barely able to hold daddy's thumb.

A small round band aid to protect a delicate knee
(their knees were so delicate that the skin would
get raw when they'd lay on their bellies)

Our guys were tiny but mighty.

Shawn, Baby A:

The first time I was able to see Shawn.
I didn't even get to see him in the delivery room.

Shawn - not even a week old.

Holding Shawn for the first time. I am so grateful to
our respiratory therapist who made this happen.

Shawn in his first clothes.
They were preemie size and still swam on him for weeks.

Mommy and daddy with Shawn.

Shawn in December 2007

Jason, Baby B:

Meeting Jason for the first time. I was given a brief glimpse
of Jason in the operating room, but they held him up for me for literally a second.

Mommy and daddy with Jason

Jason under the Billi lights for jaundice.

 

Holding Jason for the first time.
He was on a ventilator to help him breathe.

Daddy with Jason

Jason in December 2007

Our first picture as a family of 4 (and the first time I'd held both boys together).
December 2007

 ---

They had a rough start, but our super boys are strong, smart, determined, and funny.

We are the lucky ones -- I hold that knowledge in my heart -- because our boys are here with us.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

He's rejoined the living!