Bathroom Adventures

If children's bathroom mishaps are not something that you can handle, then stop reading now. Just warning you. I have to write this down, and since this blog has been sort of a journal over the years, this story is getting included too. Again, you have been warned.

I have a strong stomach. I don't know how that happened, but it has been a life saver when it comes to my kids mishaps and sicknesses along the way. Don't get me wrong, I still think things are nasty sometimes, but those things don't make me physically ill.

Well, then my children have come along and inherited a weak stomach from someone. It is ridiculous!! Here is a story for you, but to keep any weak stomached people from tossing their cookies, I am going to change certain bathroom words, for more reader friendly terms.

Reese came in the kitchen last night and told me that he had just gotten sick in the potty. I asked him if he was sick, and he said no. I asked him if he had been coughing and threw up, (which happens often) but he said no to that too. We went in the bathroom to inspect the damage, which was all contained to the potty. I kept questioning him and was getting nowhere. I asked him to just tell me what happened. He said he went to use the bathroom and when he was done he saw the...... (we will call it flowers) in the potty and it made him sick.
Really? You're own "flowers" make you sick?

Fast forward to bath time. He was taking his clothes off and told me that their might be some "flowers" in his underwear. He handed them to me, and there was just a little "flowers." I began to wash the "flowers" out of his clothes, and he began heaving! He finally ran over to the toilet and became ill again. At this point I realize it is all from the thought of "flowers." I started saying things like, "REESE, STOP THINKING ABOUT IT AND THINK ABOUT LOLLY POPS AND SMURFS."

Whose kids are these anyways? Ridiculous!

100th Day of School

Reese was supposed to dress up for the 100th day of school, like a 100 year old man.

I didn't have many options on what to do, that were Reese approved. His teacher said they decided he looked like 100 year old Elton John. I agree!!!

UGH!

Careless mistakes on tests and homework are about to drive me insane. Notice I said careless mistakes. Example: You ask your child what it means to give off heat and he answers "radiate."

He knew it before the test, and after the test, but not during the test.

The one bright spot in all this frustration is that mom showed me some of my papers she had come across from when I was in elementary school. Boy, did I turn out just fine inspite of that work. I couldn't write well, nor could I do the math.

Sigh

It gives me hope.

We are still here.

We let the boys watch Xmen this weekend. I kept asking Brent, “You do remember this movie well enough to remember if I need to cover their eyes for any reason, don’t you?” He assured me that he had seen the movie many times. Anyway, as each new character is introduced into the movie, the boys are getting more and more excited to see what their powers are etc. There is a guy in the movie (Scott/Cyclopes) who has to wear sun glasses all the time so that he doesn’t shoot laser beams out of his eyes when not necessary. (I know, I know.) Reese runs out of the room, and then comes running back in with his glasses on. He says, “I am Cyclopes!” It just cracks me up that kids think to do things like that. Brooks said he was Wolverine and kept pretending to make his claw things shoot out of his hands. I haven’t made up my mind yet as to who I want to be. :)

In other news... We had been having issues with Reese’s behavior at school. Nothing major, but it was constant. He could not be still nor could he keep his mouth closed. None of what he was doing would be considered being “bad”, just disruptive. Here is an example. When he would come in to class in the morning, he would find out what they were supposed to be working on, or see something new and different in the class room, and then he would have to announce it loudly to each new kid that comes in the room. He also had problems staying in his seat and being still. His P.E. teacher even said he was trying to teach the class!
We took Reese to Dr. T. in December, and after a long visit with him, we have decided to try medication for awhile. One factor that led to this was Dr. T. learning that Brent struggled with many of these same issues when he was little. This is a sign of it being hereditary. We also went over a list of things that can cause over stimulation in children and we don’t do any of those things anyway. This led to us knowing there was nothing we could change to help him.
I love Dr. T. He started by saying, if this was 200 years ago, Reese would be working on a farm and none of this would be an issue, but since society has changed, we must try to work into society. He discourages the “diagnosing” of a child with ADHD because he feels like by doing that we would be labeling him as if something is wrong with him, when there is really nothing wrong. He said, “This is just Reese.”
Reese has been taking medicine for a little over a week now and I have noticed only subtle changes, which is what we were going for. Mom pointed out before church Sunday morning that while Reese was talking to his best friend Cooper, he was just sitting there, where as used to, Reese would have been bouncing while talking to Cooper. The best way I can describe it is that on a scale of one to ten of hyperactivity, Brooks is always at about a 4, (pretty laid back), Reese was always at a 9 or 10, and now he is at about a 7. I do not want him to be a 4 or 5, because then that just wouldn’t be Reese.
His daily conduct grade has improved as well. There is a little tweaking that we need to do with his medication, but all in all, I am very pleased.

I began my New Years Day by going to Primed with a possible staph infection that would not clear up. After having it cut open and “fixed up” (to keep this PG) I am still on the mend.

Brooks is doing fairly well this year. I love his teacher’s organization and I hope it is rubbing off on him. I also finally realized that if I bribe him with a small surprise, he will read. What ever it takes! He will begin baseball season soon and he is super excited because Brent will be coaching him this year. Brent finally took the step and committed to coaching this year. He has an awesome friend that is going to help him, so we are looking forward to a fun season, no matter what the outcome. Reese will also play this year for the first time too. He is EXCITED! I bought him some cleats the other day and when I got him to try them on, he didn’t want to take them off.

Looking forward to an eventful next couple of months. Let's pray I can keep my sanity!

Great Big Christmas Post!

The Hatcher household had a wonderful Christmas season. We got to visit with Elaine, Aunt Marsha, and the loveable little Nolan!Couldn't you just eat him up?
He was enjoying his time with his grandmother!

We had School Christmas parties that were loads of fun!

Reese was so proud of his craft!

He was also elated that they played Christmas bingo and he won two of the four times. He had to shout out, "Ho, Ho, Ho." So cute!We got to spend time with our extended family! So many cousins! This is Aiden opening his new laser gun from us. (Sorry Julie and Phil =) )Lillie was already eyeing the smocked dress that came with the new doll she got from my mom.Christmas eve came quickly this year. Since we had asked Santa to come a night early, we were all ready and snug in our beds on Friday evening.

The boys were raring to go on Saturday morning. I always make them come in my room first. It is probably a form of torture.....but they sure are excied.

Peeking at their gifts!
As they were opening gifts, Reese went over behind the tree because he didn't want us to see what Santa had brought him.
Here is Reese playing with his "new to him" DS. Not to forget Brent decked out in his Georgia attire.

Super hero Reese putting his Legos together.

I wish this picture was clearer, but this is Brooks opening his Skylanders set that he really wanted. The picture is priceless!

Sunday we got together with my family. It is still a lot of fun to open presents in the den that I grew up in. I opened presents in that room from Santa for 21 years!



This picture has a story. Brent and Christina share a trait that they create static in their daily lives. Christina gave Brent a can of Static Guard and some money. So clever!
We got together with Brent's family Monday night and I am just now realizing that I didn't take any pictures. We had good food, and good fellowship with everyone. We don't get to spend much time with Brent's brother's family so it always seems to come and go to quickly.

As I am sure all of you are, I feel exhausted, and I haven't even taken any of my Christmas gear down yet....ugh!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Visit with Santa

A couple of weeks ago we got to visit with jolly old Saint Nicholas himself! Reese had his list ready!Reese had seen Santa at church that morning and it gave me the chance to talk about how important it is to worship God. It is so important that even Santa does it! =) Reese asked Santa how he got to church and where was the sleigh because Reese hadn't seen it. Santa always has his answer ready!

Both boys got to share with Santa the things that they wanted. The list seems to be a lot alike from year to year. I guess that is because they are boys!

Brooks was racking his brain trying to remember what was on his list because he forgot to bring it. Brooks also asked Santa if it would be too much trouble if he brought their presents on Christmas Eve Eve so that they can open them on Saturday morning this year. Santa said he thought he could get some of the elves to bring their gifts down here! (I love Santa's expression here!)

Tour of the City

The week of Thanksgiving I took off and we decided to do some fun activities. Mom, Brooks and I decided to go see some of the sights that tourists often visit when coming to Montgomery. We began at the train station downtown.
We decided to take a bus tour of the city. It was a nice narrated tour. One complaint I had was this: If your job is to narrate a city tour, it might be nice if you can pronounce all of the landmarks and buildings correctly. I was almost embarrassed on behalf of the city thinking about the other people on the tour. I wanted to say, "What she is trying to say is Judicial Building!"After the tour we went to the Biscuit Basket (the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team gift shop,) and looked around. Then we met Brent for lunch at Cuco's (yum!) After lunch, we walked around the outside of the Capital. They have planted many trees over the years on Arbor day and we happend upon this one....

Brooks had fun seeing all the sights. I am sure we will get to visit them all again next year when he studies Alabama History in 4th grade.