OurStoneHaven

Michael April 9th, 2011

Wow!  Time is going by so quickly and it appears that I have not kept my word about writing every week.  I can’t believe it has been 3 weeks since I last posted.

Things in Stoneland are going great.  The boys are growing and having fun.  We are all glad that the weather has turned nice and we are making great use out of the backyard, parks, and museums.

Jax is still trying to pee on the potty but more times than not he just wants to flush the toilet and discuss how the water goes down the hole and out.

Cam has gotten his cast off and is doing great.  His arm is crooked but the doc says he thinks it will start to correct itself over the next couple of years.  Next appt is in August.

Last weekend was gorgeous and mom and I took the time to explore downtown Huntsville while Mike took the boys to see the Big Trucks at Sci-Quest.  Apparently the boys had a blast until their balloons flew out of the car and went up up and away.  Then on Sunday we all went and worked in the yard at mom’s.  Got alot done and had a great sense of accomplishment.

This weekend so far, we took the boys to downtown Huntsville and fed the ducks and looked at the fish and watch a beautiful bride getting photographed.  Then we went to Krispy Kreme and ate!!!!!  Bad for diet, but soooo good for mouth.  This evening the boys and I sat on the front porch and played games and watched Mike cut the front yard.  FUN!!!  Our front yard is about at a 60 degree angle so it was definitely entertaining.  I volunteered to mow the back but made him mow the front.  Tee Hee.

I know I probably have some great insightful quotes from my kids but I can’t think of them right now.  Oh, but mom did tell me how when she was getting ready last weekend and Jax was standing beside her that she let out a little feminine poot.  She didn’t think anyone heard, but Jax looked at her and said, “you farted” and then snickered.  I think potty humor is hardwired into little boys from birth.

Have a great weekend and a great week!!!  I’ll be back soon – promise. 

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Amy March 20th, 2011

My boys are getting too big!!!  I keep asking them to stop growing but they won’t.  And the oldest is acting more and more like a kid instead of a preschooler.

Conversation today…

Me:  Cam, be sweet in Sunday School today, ok?

Cam:  MOMMMM.  I KNOW I’m supposed to be good.  You DON’T have to tell me. (all said with exasperation)

Positive note - he knows he is suppposed to be good.

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Amy March 17th, 2011

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have recently ventured out to Colorado for a mini vacation.  Mom and I drove the boys (4 days each way) and Michael flew out.  We were visiting with my aunt who lives in western Colorado and had a great time.  We snow shoed and sledded and just enjoyed the majestic beauty of the mountains.

I have quite a few pics to share, so I am only going to post my favorites here.  If you want to see the rest, log in to the photos section by clicking here.

Enjoy!  (we sure did)

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Amy March 17th, 2011

With my utter frustration in trying to potty train my eldest before he turned 3, I have fully ignored potty training with Jackson.  But he has occasionally in the recent past peed in the potty.  Today he actually asked to and peed in the potty.  I’m so proud.  I guess I will actually shell out the extra $$ and buy him pull-ups the next go-around.  Hope this is a sign of good things to come!

Jackson peed on potty, Jackson peed on potty, Jackson peed on potty, YEA! (clap clap clap)

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Amy March 6th, 2011

While on vacation, Mike had a coworker come over to check on our cats.  Through, I guess mixed signals, he let them out as well.  That would have been fine, except that Izzy was let out as well.  Izzy is 15 years old, has suffered from probably a stroke so his balance is not always great, and also probably has cancer as he has trouble eating and is rather gaunt and dirty, and has not has his rabies shot so doesn’t have a tag on which is a no-no at our new home.

So now Izzy is missing….  Mike and the boys are out right now going door to door to see if anyone has seen him, but unfortunately I don’t hold out much hope.  He was living on borrowed time and after a week out by himself, I don’t know if he could have survived.  I still hope he shows up, though.

So anyway, here is my tribute to my grumpy, irritable, unusual cat….

I got you when you were teeny tiny and we thought you were a girl.  You were named Isabella, but your nickname stuck especially when it turned out you were a boy.  I remember when you were only a few weeks and you took a running leap and landed in the middle of the pizza that we had ordered.  I also remember you jumping into the refigerator on more than one occassion.  There was also the time that you fell from our second story balcony and the girls across the hall found you and returned you.  You lived without fear.  You have moved with me on SO MANY occassions, always making the new place your home.  You were a great hunter when you were younger and brought many prizes to our door.  You were grouchy and growly, but that was generally just an act although Mom still remembers when you confiscated her suitcase and wouldn’t get off growling every time she came close.  But you were my cat and I love you.  I hope you have found someplace warm and safe and I hope you come home soon.  If not, I hope you have found peace.

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Amy March 6th, 2011

On our trip out west, as well as increasingly at home, I hear a lot of “Mine”, “Give it back”, “you can’t play with that”, etc.  I know that it will get more common as they grow older and I will hear more of my broken refrain of “share with your brother!”

But in the midst of all this, I have a story of great unselfishness from my eldest.

Prior to leaving on our trip, Paw Paw gave the boys $5 each.  As we headed to the house, Cam told me that he was going to use his money to buy Jax a grabber (kid’s version of the tool advertised on late nite tv to help you reach things up high).  Cam got one as a prize for using the bathroom and lately they had been fighting over who could play with it.  I thought this was really sweet of him, but also figured he would forget this idea once he saw something that he wanted.

A week or so later into the trip, I went into a store to see if they had any items that would be of interest to the boys and their $5.  When I came out, Cam asked me if they had any grabbers.  I told him no and he said ok.  I was again impressed that he remembered that this was what he wanted to buy.

On the way home, we stopped at a Stuckeys/DQ for a break and some ice cream.  They had some nice souvenirs so I was helping the boys pick something out.  I saw a wooden train whistle and asked Cam if he wanted to buy it with his money.  He got excited and said yes and then said, “I’ll give Jackson my grabber since I am buying the whistle.”  Awwwww…

And as soon as we got home, he found his grabber and I overheard him tell Jackson that it was his grabber now.  This whole story was initiated and followed through by Cam.  This is his spirit shining through.   I love him so much!

P.S.  I gave him some money to buy another grabber since he was so nice about giving his up, but we haven’t found another one yet.

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Amy February 22nd, 2011

So, into my 3rd day of cross country road trip with me, mom, and boys…. We are surviving.

Day 1: Cam has meltdown over Jax eating last cat animal cracker.

Day 2: Cam sticks goldfish up his nose and when I exit to extricate I realize I exited into a truck weigh station.
Jax slips and crashes in his own pee on bathroom floor.

Day 3: I am tired of hearing myself say, “If I have to tell you one more time…”

Jax has enthusiastically pointed out all water towers and trains across 7 states.

But in reality the boys are being great for riding in the car for so long. One more day and we’ll be there and we’ll get to have fun in the snow!

One more day…

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Amy February 18th, 2011

Mom has a flyer of our house we are trying to sell on her refigerator.  Cam asked if she was going to buy it.  She said she wished she could, but she didn’t have enough money.  He immediately asked her if she had enough coins in her coin box to buy it with.  We all wish…. 

He is so concerned and trying to help out.  He even told her that maybe she could go to the bank and they could give her some money.

I love that kid!

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Amy February 18th, 2011

Okay, Michael has given you the short version.  I’ll give you the long one….

We were in Ft Payne having the oil changed in the car and visiting with Gigi.  It was a gorgeous day and I decided to treat the boys to some time at the park.  The boys were playing and Mom was walking.  Cam called me over to help him on the overhead ladder.  When I got there he decided that he was a big boy and going to do it himself.  He jumped, he grabbed, he slipped, he fell, he broke.  

I grabbed him and Jax and headed to the parking lot.  Got to the car (Mom’s) and it’s locked.  Call Mom to come open the door and I sit there and comfort Cam as he is screaming.  Then we load up and head to the ER.  Both Mom and Mike have given me grief because I strapped Cam in his car seat instead of holding him, but truthfully the thought never crossed my mind.   I knew Mom could reach back and love on him.  On the way there he says, “Mommy, I’m not going to be good at the hospital.  I’m going to cry.”  I assured him that he could cry all he wanted.  Get to ER, they immediately take us back and give him a shot for pain.  They don’t have someone to set his arm though, so we are transferred, but not before Cam amazes all the nurses with how wonderful he is and charms them all.

Next step, ambulance ride to Huntsville.  At least there was a “fun” element to the trauma.  He talks all the way there and all of the medical personnel think it is because of the meds.  I know better.  Cam is always this way although he was a bit loopier, but not more talkative.  He tells his story to all who ask finishing with that he bent his arm (see pics in previous post).   Once we get to H’ville, while waiting for Mike to arrive, Cam looks at me and says that he wishes Daddy was here and that when he gets there that he is going to tell him that Daddy can’t fix his arm.  He knows that Daddy can fix almost anything but not a broken bone.

After 7 hours total, about 5 at Huntsville they finally sedate him and set his arm.  After he wakes up he insists that the medicine did not make him sleep (still insisting…) and immediatelly tells the nurse that he is going to be OK.  Both hospitals took good care of him and the nurses were all impressed by him.  He rarely complained, talked to everyone, and impressed all by his vocabulary and maturity. Even in the middle of talking to one of the nurses, he burped and kept talking and then looked at me and said “I’m sorry Mommy.  I didn’t say excuse me.”  Really?  In pain and still remembering his manners?  I knew I had a great kid and it’s nice to see that others think so too.

He has since been going around telling everyone that he is going to see a specialist.  Well, we went today and he got his ORANGE cast.  He is so excited.  And we are off to Colorado in 2 days.  Follow-up appt. in 2 weeks.

I hope to never go through this again, but being in the ER it is very obvious that it could be worse.  We are very lucky and I love my kids!

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Michael February 18th, 2011

Ouchy!

I’ve been witness to or involved in a lot of things that would make most people sick. The latest was, as my wife mentioned in an earlier post, I was unable to pull a man from a wreck before his car caught on fire. It wasn’t pretty, and I thought it would haunt me for weeks or months. I was able to maintain a calm and collected demeaner during and after the incident and it hasn’t bothered me.  But, when this happened to my son, It bothered me.

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