I am A WINNER!!!

This morning, I had a WONDERFUL SURPRISE waiting for me in my email INBOX!

I had an email from Big Picture Classes founder (and one of my favorite, inspiring blogger's) Stacy Julian that announced:

You're A WINNER!

Then, I read her blog post declaring THE WINNERS in one of her recent giveaways.

I won a FREE spot in the upcoming Becky Higgins online class called PROJECT REAL LIFE. I am SO EXCITED!!! (I had wanted to participate, but we really DON'T have the money for it right now... with all of the recent - and forthcoming - vet bills, the monthly cost of my medicine, my doctor's appointment in July and another one coming in November, our dental appointments, etc.)

This was TERRIFIC NEWS!

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

Big Day for Sydney... DENTIST and 3 year well child

Sydney is chilling at the dentist's office
where he had a tv to watch during his appointment.

Dr. Lindsey May cleans Sydney's teeth with his new
Pooh toothbrush (before switching over to her real dental tools.)

 Sydney went to the dentist for the first time ever! They started his appointment by asking him which toothbrush he wanted... Tigger or Pooh. He explained "I normally like Tigger a lot because Tigger is rather bouncy, but Pooh Bear likes honey... and I like honey, too... so, I pick.... POOH!"

The dentist had to remind Sydney that the toothbrush is ONLY for cleaning his teeth... not the wall, the sink, the toilet lid or his shoe. (He kept trying to put it onto his shoe while she talked to him and she would quickly remind him "Just for teeth, remember?"

He was thrilled to pick out his toothpaste flavor... mint or grape. (He picked grape.)

He got to meet Mrs. Sucker and the special squirt gun.

The dentist polished his fingernails with the spinning dental cleaner to show him how she was going to clean his teeth. "Those aren't my teeth, silly... those are my fingernails!" he reminded her.

They had him put his hands together (as if he were praying) and they demonstrated how they were going to use the floss between his teeth "like this". Again, he giggled and announced "Those aren't my teeth! Those are just my fingers!"

The dentist and the hygienist both did a FANTASTIC JOB with Sydney!

The dentist (Dr. May) showed Mom that Sydney has a "sugar bug" in his upper left molar. She asked us about our juice consumption and reminded us that we need to HELP Sydney brush his teeth until he is EIGHT. He has to come back in for the cavity to be fixed. (He was quite sad to hear that a sugar bug ate a hole in his tooth and that he has a "CAB-ity".)

After lunch, we went to his 3 year well child appointment. He passed with flying colors.

He announced to the entire waiting room that he has a CABity and a sugar bug ate a hole in his tooth and that he can't drink juice anymore. (A lot of people smiled at us.)

"Does he string 3 or 4 words together to make a sentence?" the nurse asked during his checkup. "Ha!" she laughed. "I'll just put YES!" (We clarified that he would likely talk for 3 or 4 minutes nonstop.)

He is average height (53%) and 27% for weight. We think he is PERFECT!

Sydney clutches his DINOSAUR TRAIN stickers
from his doctor's appointment. He has a "happy green"
bandaid on his finger where they took a sample
of blood. He was NOT HAPPY about that AT ALL!

Our new normal is for Sydney (the nap protester) to fall asleep
in the car each time we go out in the afternoon.

Sydney decided to wear all of his new stickers
on his feet and legs.

Poor Otto

Took the cats in for their yearly check-up and shots yesterday. Last August, we were scolded for leaving their food bowls filled at all times and were instructed to cut their rations down significantly, serving at specified times.

Otto lost A LOT of weight. Eddy lost a tiny amount.

Otto lost over 50% of his weight! His belly used to drag on the ground. Now, he has no belly... in fact, he feels downright boney now. The vet said that he has lost a lot of muscle mass and is WAY TOO THIN!

She also detected a heart murmur and wanted to run a bunch of labwork.

Our "routine appointment" ended up costing $325!

We were told that we would get the lab results back today.

We never heard from them so, I called to ask. The vet called us back to tell us that she had to call the lab to confirm some of the results because Otto's levels were OFF THE CHARTS! One on of them, NORMAL is around 100; Otto was almost 700! She confirmed "he is a very stressed, sick kitty!"

She believes that his thyroid is out of whack and suggested we put him on thyroid medicine. She wonders if his liver isn't acting up as well. For now, we're going to HOPE that the thyroid meds will make him better and that we don't need to do a liver biopsy.

BIG SIGH... Poor Otto!

My very first pet EVER!
Love him!

Saturday Summer Fun 081812 pics

SILAS: (thinking) Some jerk woke me up really, really early today.
MOMMY: (thinking) I know... HE woke me up early, too!
SYDNEY: (not getting his way, declared) "I'm going back to bed!"

With Mike working all weekend, we were looking for a change of scenery and an opportunity to run around outside. It was an INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL DAY! We got to ride bikes, go for a walk, watch airplanes fly overhead, sweep, pretend to ride the lawn tractor, play ball, play keep-away, pick up sticks (and acorns), play in a tent, pick apples, read books, play with toys, play the piano, play with Bishop and a handful of neighborhood dogs, build a campfire and roast marshmallows. (Silas missed out on reading books... since he was a good baby enjoying his nap.)

Insert screeching sounds here as the boys fight over the ball.

Hey, wait up! Grandpa shows the boys a
couple of squirrel nests in the trees.

Silas picks his own red delicious apple, straight from the tree.

Sydney picks his own red delicious apple, straight from the tree.

Silas needs one for each hand and has no qualms about eating
the rotten ones off of the ground. **shiver**

Learning how to roast marshmallows; Sydney did NOT eat one.

Silas will eat ANYTHING! He liked roasted marshmallows!

Silas, looking like a chipmunk, has an entire marshmallow
crammed into his mouth (straight from the bag). Eventually,
he spit half of it into the grass.

Mommy and her boys.
(love, Love, LOVE!)

FPoD_2012AUG16

What's the Favorite Part of your Day?

AUGUST 16, 2012

DADDY: Enjoying dinner made by Mommy.

MOMMY: My morning cup of hot, chai tea.

SYDNEY: Sitting in the cab of the cement mixer (that was pouring neighbor, Audry's new sidewalk) AND watching from up-close... even getting to TOUCH the cement!

SILAS: Play with the baby dolls at the Care for Kids class.

FPoD_2012AUG15

What's the Favorite Part of your Day?

AUGUST 15, 2012

DADDY: Going to the pool as a family.

MOMMY: Our family lunch date at Olive Garden.

SYDNEY: Going down the slide at the pool, splashing into the water ... AND... playing in the dirt (at the Parents as Teachers Messy Palooza Family Event).

SILAS: BUBBLES! (Playing in the tub of bubbles at the Parents as Teachers Messy Palooza Family Event.)

FPoD_2012AUG14

What's the Favorite Part of your Day? 

AUGUST 14, 2012

DADDY: Watching the boys playing so nicely together and taking turns pushing each other across the living/dining room(s) on the Sesame Street car and the little Big Wheel.

MOMMY: I thought it was pretty special when Sydney announced that he "saw a cloud that looked like a cowboy wearing a fireman's hat" AND when 15-month old Silas went potty on the toilet (at bedtime) like a BIG BOY!

SYDNEY: Trying out his bicycle helmet while riding his balance bike down our street.
SILAS: Eating our super sweet yellow cherry tomatoes (in bulk).

Trying out the helmet for the first time; he likes it!

Here, baby... let me help you!

Ready?

Here we go... Wheee!

Our entire household AND a few of our neighbors
ABSOLUTELY LOVE our super sweet yellow cherry tomatoes.
Our kids can't get enough of them!!! (Silas has seeds all
over his shirt... and normally chin, too.)
I love, Love, LOVE THIS goofy grin!!!!

SILAS went potty on the toilet!

The boys were playing (naked) in the kiddy pool after supper. Then, when we came inside, I announced that it was time to brush teeth.

After that, I asked Silas "Do you want to go potty on the toilet like a big boy?" He nodded YES.

So, we set him on. Four seconds later, a dribble came out and we all celebrated. A few more seconds later, he started peeing full stream right across the front of the toilet seat. (Mike continued to brush his teeth as I announced frantically "Point it down, point it down!")

We cheered and praised our big boy!

Silas seemed very proud! (I'm guessing that it was just LUCK, but IF he suggests that he wants to try again, I guess WHO ARE WE TO DECIDE he's not ready yet?)

FPoD_2012AUG13

FPOD_2012AUG13

What's the Favorite Part of your Day?

AUGUST 13, 2012

DADDY: Reading bedtime stories to Sydney AND Silas.

MOMMY: Going out to make greeting cards and enjoy adult interaction.

SYDNEY: Having that babysitter (Kassidy) come to play with us.

SILAS: Bath.

Proud mom (and dad) witness Brotherly Love

CAPTION: Sarah... was a proud MOM earlier tonight: I heard the tape coming off of a diaper and quickly glanced over to see Sydney taking the diaper off of his little brother. Then, Sydney leaned over and carefully picked up one foot at a time to pull the socks off of Silas. (Mike and I proudly watched.) Then, Sydney announced "There you go, baby!" (The bath water was ready and Silas wanted in the tub; Sydney was just helping him out. NOW THAT is what you call Brotherly Love!)