She's Still Sleeping

(AJ's job since we put up the Christmas tree is to push to button to turn on the lights and start the angel moving on the top. AJ calls it "waking up the angel." )

Overheard yesterday evening...

Daddy: "AJ, you wanna wake up the angel?"
AJ: "She sleeping."
Daddy: "I know. Do you want to wake her up? She's been sleeping all day."
AJ: (pointing to the window) "See the window, Daddy?"
Daddy: "Yes."
AJ: "It dark outside. She sleeping."

Given how early it gets dark these days, our angel is going to be very well rested...

Futbol game

On the way to church yesterday, we passed the fields at Cullen Park. As always, there were teams already playing.

AJ: "Look Mommy, they playing football!"
Me: "Actually sweetie, they're playing soccer."
(Pause)
AJ: "No Mommy. Not playing soccer. They playing football."

Once again, I can't really argue with the kid...(See my last post as to why my explanations are just not working...)

Joseph Who?

If you are familiar with us, you will remember that AJ has a fascination with God and Jesus. We like to think that he remembers Him being with him in the hospital when we could not be. Since it is Christmas-time, AJ is surrounded by lots of nativity scenes and pictures of baby Jesus. He always makes sure to point them out to me.

The problem seems to be with Joseph. AJ will look at a nativity scene and name everyone except Joseph. I have been trying to lead him into it by pointing to each person.

"Who's that?"
"Baby Jesus."
"And who is that?"
"Jesus mommy. Mary."
"Who is Jesus daddy?"



"God."


Well, I can't argue with him on that.

Updating the baby book

I got to enter another date in AJ's baby book last night. He undressed and put on his pajamas ALL BY HIMSELF. We made a HUGE deal out of it with high fives, hugs and kisses. He was grinning ear to ear and was very proud of himself. Over the weekend he started having me just turn the bathroom light on for him, and he did everything else on his own while I was in another room.

His big thing right now is getting to push the button to turn on the Christmas tree lights all by himself. He likes "waking up the angel" on the top.

My little baby is turning into Mr. Independence....

American Soldier Needs Our Help

A friend's nephew, who has been deployed in Iraq with the U.S. Army has recently suffered a tragedy.

On December 4th Alex Shew and his wife Cassie were expecting their first child. Nevertheless, MaKenzie Michelle Shew was born on November 8th. She weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and everything about her seemed healthy. MaKenzie was released from the hospital earlier than expected. Because MaKenzie was born early Dad (Alex) was unable to get back from Iraq in time for her birth.

This past Sunday Alex and Cassie awoke to discover that McKenzie had passed away. Although the autopsy results are not complete the death is being ruled a case of SIDS.

As an active duty soldier in the Army, money is very tight for Alex and Cassie. They simply do not have the money for MaKenzie's funeral expenses. Alex has received an interest free loan from the government so that he and Cassie can have their daughter's funeral. Alex has not asked anyone for help; nevertheless, his Aunt (our friend) has set up a memorial fund to help pay for the loan.

I know that all of you will keep Alex and Cassie and this entire family in your prayers as they go through this troublesome time. I hope that you may find it in your heart to send a few dollars to help Alex and Cassie pay for their beautiful little girl's burial. I have included the information below if you can help.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers. Remember to give your little ones an extra hug and kiss this evening and thank God for His blessing on their lives.

Donations can be made by mailing a check or money order made out to MaKenzie Shew Memorial Fund to:

MemberSource Credit Union
10100 Richmond Ave
Houston, Texas 77042
Account Number: 659850-4

Alternately, you may drop off your donation at any of MemberSource Credit Union's branch offices or a Shared Service Credit Union location. To find a branch or Shared Service Credit Union location near you go to the following web address: http://membersourcecu.locatorsearch.com/index.aspx

Thank you...

Hi-ho the dairy-o

We went up to East Texas for the long Thanksgiving holiday. Much fun and food was had by all. On Friday, we all went to Jefferson, TX to ride the Santa Train along the river to see the Christmas lights. Of course, AJ had a blast riding another choo choo train. Unfortunately, he wasn't so enamored of the Santa that was there. We had to put people in between AJ and Santa to run interference, because AJ would completely flip out whenever he saw Santa. It's just like he does with the Santa at the mall. Doesn't want to go NEAR him.

Funny side note -- AJ was playing with some toys in the living room on Saturday afternoon. One of the toys was a small stuffed cow. He turned the cow over, pointed to the underside of the cow, and told me "the cow have milk." He then proceeded to lift the cow up to his mouth like he was drinking the milk straight from the cow! Umm...okay....this is new knowledge...

On Sunday, we all went to lunch after church and ate pizza with the Mayor. He and his ladyfriend are very nice people. He has been Mayor there for 28 years...we all felt very important...lunching with the big wigs...

Prematurity Awareness Month

For anyone who didn't already know - November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Here are some startling statistics:

• Babies born at 23 weeks gestation have a 17% chance of survival.
• Babies born at 24 weeks gestation have a 39% chance of survival.
• Babies born at 25 weeks gestation have a 50% chance of survival.
• 1 in 10 premature babies will develop permanent disabilities, such as lung disease, cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness.
• 50% of babies born before the 26th week are disabled; 25% of those severely so.
• There is a greater risk of severe disability and lower cognitive function results for boys compared to girls. This supports the theory that male sex is an important risk factor in extremely premature infants.
• In 2004, 12.5% of US babies were premature (less than 37 weeks). That is an 18% increase over the rate in 1990.
• In Texas, that rate is 13.7%.
• That accounts for 1 in 7 babies.

Through my blogging this past year, I have discovered many other women who are living with children who were very premature. Reading their experiences has made me feel a lot less guilty and a lot MORE blessed. Although he was born at 26 weeks, AJ was growth restricted, and at only 18 ounces, was measuring the size of a 23-weeker.

My world has been blessed with this tiny baby whose life could have turned out so differently. The following ladies have been a true inspiration to me:

• Christy at Following Elias.
• Nicole at Who Cries Over Spilled Milk.
• Kyla at The Journey.
• Katie at Ramblings of an Interrupted Mom.

There are numerous more stories out there available through the March of Dimes. So if you see a small child who maybe seems a little "different" or "small for his age", remember what a survivor he/she may be. Give that little miracle a special smile and a special prayer.

BUSTED

I so TOTALLY got busted by a three-year-old last night.

I was experimenting with some baked spaghetti for dinner. We sat down to eat dinner. AJ took one bite of his food and said, "I want a meatball."

Me: "Sweetie, there's a meatball in there. Mommy just cut it up for you."

AJ: (digs around in the bowl for a bit) "Mommy that's not a meatball -- that's PEPPERONI!"

Hubby smirks in my generally direction and mutters "busted!" under his breath at me.

I had never heard AJ use the word "pepperoni" before...I guess the days of him believing everything I tell him are gone...and he's not even a teenager yet...

And you know...it wasn't even really about him catching me in a lie. It was the snarky tone of his voice when he did it!

It's like...

New fad for the month seems to be similes. AJ is constantly telling us how something "is like" something else.

A packet of mayonnaise or ketchup at a fast food joint "is squooshy -- like Mommy."

A box truck driving down the road "is like a garbage truck."

A bird sitting on a power line "is like Zazu, from Lion King."

Last night in the bathtub he was playing with his shampoo visor that has a crab on it. "Mommy - a crab...like a lobster....she pinch. No! No! Lobster! No pinching you friends. Not nice."

A Night at the Museum

On Thursday night, the three of us attended a function at the Museum of Natural Science. It was an after-closing affair. That was nice, because there were no crowds. AJ absolutely LOVED the dinosaurs. We were not allowed to leave for the night without going to each one personally to say goodnight. We also found AJ quite interested in a short film about water vapor molecules. He even asked me yesterday where the "paper mall-cools went". While walking through the gem and mineral section, Hubby commented to me about a huge geode on display. AJ walked by us and declared, "that's a geode." Mr. Smarty-Pants Myna bird!

Note to self for our next visit: Do NOT take the three year old into the dark 3-D Imax to watch "Sea Monsters of the Deep" thinking he would enjoy the fish. I apparently wasn't paying attention to the title Sea MONSTERS....a sea monster with a very long neck and very very sharp pointy teeth came at him in 3-D. Not. Fun. At. All. He was still scared even after I took the 3-D glasses off of him. We had to leave after about 5 minutes of the movie.

Where Are Your Parents?

Other people's kids irritate the crap out of me. This was extremely evident at the Fall Festival we took AJ to last night. Turns out it was just an arena filled with about 8-10 giant inflatable moonwalks. The place was overrun with kids (and unfortunately adults) who have no consideration for the fact that they weren't the only ones there to enjoy themselves. Kids were allowed to run completely wild with no parent in sight. More than once, AJ was frightened to even go into a moonwalk because there were older kids in there fighting, wrestling and generally trying the tear the place up. And NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE! Where are these kids parents? What are they being taught other than to push everyone out of their way to get what they want? More often than not, we ended up carrying AJ around to keep him from being trampled by packs of kids on a sugar high.

And did I mention that this was a church-sponsored festival?! So. Not. Going. Back. AARRRGGGHHH!!

Halloween Memories

Halloween, 2004 - still in the NICU.

Costume was a bib that was more of a blanket.

Halloween, 2005 - Big hit as a cute scarecrow.

Halloween, 2006 - Wouldn't keep the clown nose on.

Of course NOW he wears it all the time.

Halloween, 2007 - A firefighter cute enough for his own calendar!

AJ's Big Adventure, Part Deux

After a HUGE day out with Thomas on Friday, we headed up to see Granny and PawPaw. They had some work that they needed some help with. Everyone pitched in to help - I was on the small tractor mowing, Hubby was weed-eating the pond-side of the dam, and AJ was helping Granny and PawPaw pick up the sticks and branches that had been knocked down by winds. AJ was often spotted dragging a branch much larger than himself and placing it in the front bucket of the tractor to be hauled away. His next chore was to help PawPaw drive the tractor around to dump the branches. (And yes, Hubby had to go up in the bucket of the tractor again with the chainsaw to trim branches back. He's starting to get the hang of it!)

AJ's Big Adventure, Part One

On Friday we took AJ to the Texas State Railroad to ride Thomas the Tank Engine at the Day Out With Thomas All Aboard Tour. We didn't tell him where we were going; he thought we were just going to spend the weekend with Granny and PawPaw. When we drove into the TSRR park, he saw a Thomas banner and got realy excited. When Thomas pulled into the depot, his little face just lit up! He was actually face to face with Thomas! Very cool. There were tents set up with different activities and entertainment to keep him busy until his time to board the train. The look on that child's face when he got on the train was absolutely PRICELESS!

When he went to bed last night, I turned to blow him a kiss as I closed the door.
He whispered, "Thank you, mommy."
Me: "What, sweetie?"
AJ: "Thank you for taking me on 'venture..."

Lack of Concentration

Daddy and AJ were (trying to) play a game of Memory/Concentration. Daddy explained the rules and the game began.

Daddy: " Okay, AJ, turn a card over...what's that?...oohh, a turtle. Turn over another one....oh, a crab....sorry no match."

(Daddy takes a turn with no match.)

Daddy: "Your turn...pick a card....Oh, look - it's a turtle. Where did you see a turtle before?"


AJ: (proudly) "In the water..."



Umm...yeah...but I don't think that was the answer Daddy was looking for...

HIJACKED - again!

I regret to inform the regular readers of the blog that the rightful blogger has suffered a Kafkaesque metamorphosis into a big ol' slimy germ. As a result she has been banished to the "Sickie room" until which time the germ decides to morph back into my lovely wife. I hope this happens soon, AJ and I are hungry.

Since germs are not allowed to write blogs (this would make them feel welcomed and we don't want to make the germ feel welcomed so it will go away soon) I have hijacked the blog again.

I want to tell everyone what great week AJ has had this week. It started Tuesday when both Mommy and AJ had dental appointments. AJ and I dropped Mommy off at her dentist and then drove over to AJ's dentist. If any of you are in the Katy or far west Houston area and need a Pediatric Dentist I highly reccomend Dr. Randy Hollenberg. Everyone over at his office is just fantastic. So this is AJ's first time in the "big chair." I'm seeing disaster written all over this. AJ, however, surprises me and is very interested in everything and extremely cooperative. He opens his mouth and allows the hygenist to clean his teeth and when the doctor comes he opens as wide as he can so the doctor can examine his teeth. In the end, I told AJ how proud I was of him and his little face just beamed. I know he was proud of himself.

After the dentist, since we were near AJ's pediatrician I decided we should go get AJ's flu shot. So AJ and I went over to pick up Mommy from the dentist and then drove over to Cinco Ranch Pediatrics (another great choice for parents in far west Houston or Katy). Before we go in, I tell AJ that he is going to get a shot and I need him to keep being a brave little boy. He says, "Ok".

Mommy gets a flu shot too (this is not what made caused the previously mentioned metamorphosis!!). Mommy goes first to show AJ that it isn't bad. AJ watches and then when it is his turn he bravely puts his arm out and receives his injection. A little flinch but no crying or whining. I beam proudly at my big boy.

Tuesday evening his Tae Kwon Do class. I tell AJ that he needs to listen to his instructor closely and do what is asked of him. AJ says, "Ok". During his Tae Kwon Do class AJ his marvelous and does everything that his asked of him. The instructor hands out tokens at the end of the class to the kids when they do well. The tokens can be saved to earn little prizes. AJ gets his first token!! He walks out of the class holding his token and just beaming. He knows that he has just accomplished something big and is once again very proud of himself.

On Wednesday AJ tells me that he was brave and he got his teeth cleaned. I never knew the dentist could be such a life changing event.

Thursday morning, Mommy's metamorphosis is complete. I am now a single parent. I have to 1) get myself out of bed (not an easy task), 2) get AJ out of bed (a little easier than me but not much), 3) get us both ready to leave, and 4) throw an antibiotic tablet at the germ in the "Sickie room". On this daunting morning my little boy is an absolute jewel. He wakes up, hops out of bed and is fully cooperative while I get him ready. He does, however, want to play with the germ because he thinks it looks like his Mommy. I try to explain that the germ is not his Mommy but I don't think he believes me.

Thursday night takes us back to Tae Kwon Do. Once again AJ "hits the ball out of the park." He listens to what all the instructors tell him and performs admirably. I beam proudly at my little boy. He is very excited and happy.

I like this little boy. Now how do I keep this one around instead of that stubborn, uncoopertive one that comes around every now and then?

Continental Dinner

My (barely) three year old child spent dinner last night explaining to me that penguins live in Antarctica. Then he told me the names of the other continents.

This kid scares me sometimes...

Not nice

Conversation in my house on Saturday~~~

(Me snuggling with AJ and watching TV)
AJ reaches over and pokes me in the abdomen,
AJ: "Mommy, you squooshy.."
Me: "Umm...thank you sweetie."
(AJ crawls across my lap).
AJ: "Mommy, you got wrinkles."
Me: "I think I hear Daddy calling you."

Birthday Party

Thursday the 27th was AJ's birthday. His day started off with a doughnut for breakfast at school. Then in the afternoon, Daddy and I took cupcakes and punch for a little party with his class. The kids all sang "Happy Birthday" to AJ before he blew out the candle.

Dinner was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza and games with Mommy and Daddy. We had a great time. It was a VERY full day for him.

Saturday was his big party. We ordered a moonwalk, slushie machine, and catered fajitas. Some of his friends came and had a big Thomas-themed day. All of the kids were given conductor hats, train whistles, and noise-makers. AJ played in the moonwalk until way after dark. It wasn't picked up on time, so AJ and Daddy were even able to play in it on Sunday.

Little Ninja

AJ had his second Tae Kwan Do class last night. He is the smallest in the class (everyone else is 5), but he is doing his best to keep up. He alternates between a huge grin and an intense look of concentration. He did much better last night than last week. We still need to work on his listening skills...

But isn't he just the cutest thing!!

I'm still sorting through the pictures from last week's birthday festivities. Be on the lookout for a picture-laden post for that...