Don't Say Cheese say Geez

I am so ticked off right now I could scream. Hubby took the day off of work so we could do some errands and then we had an appointment for when the kids got out of school to get a family portrait done and a picture for this years Christmas card. Everyone got all gussied up in the pretty/handsome clothes and we headed over that that great retail store with the bulls eye. First off I forgot my coupon. The sales clerk was extremely rude and was of no help. In fact he flat out told me that he didn't have coupons and couldn't use on for me because he didn't have the code. Give me a break!!! It was the coupon that comes in the Sunday coupon circular almost every week. I literally have 4 of them sitting here at home that have been relocated to the trashcan because they have lost my business in their portrait studio. That wasn't the only thing that happened. When we got into the room Gracie starting crying hysterically. You have to know Gracie to know she hardly ever cries. She is such a good baby. I tried everything and she wouldn't stop. The photographer was getting mad because he couldn't take our pictures and he said he had to take these quickly because he had other people coming. I told him thank god we got there early to accommodate this and I was going to try and calm her down. He was shocked that it actually wasn't even our appointment time yet. She wouldn't calm down and I had him just start taking pictures of the kiddos individually. We tried again for the family portrait with no luck and when she finally did calm down he informs us that he took the 12 pictures and couldn't take anymore. NOT once did this gentleman(wrong choice of words)try to assist us by playing with the baby or trying the many tricks of the trade to get her attention. He had no personality and was downright rude. They will be receiving a letter from me at their corporate office. The thing that upsets me the most is that the other three children were on their best behavior and would have smiled beautifully. I know it isn't any ones fault that the baby was crying but he just made matters worst and didn't even try. What a waste of time. Plus we had driven 1/2 hour away during traffic to the place by our old house because studios are so booked up.
We shall try again.

A Dominic Funny

Dominic informed me today that he needs to get the Wii for Christmas because it is good for him. When I asked him why he said it is educational and he will be able to get exercise!!!! I had to control myself from laughing. I have heard it all.

Gracie and Me

Honor Roll

I am so proud of my boys. They did so well on their report cards. Dominic even made Honor Roll. Rey had a huge improvement from last year. I was looking over their Terra Nova testing scores and was shocked. Since we have moved here and entered this school system Rey's score went up 33% and Dominic's went up 3%. I know that the schools could be so much better but that is a huge difference especially for Reynaldo. That has a lot to say about our old school district. All I want from them is their best. Dominic loves his teacher and loves school. Reynaldo has a teacher that I wish would push him a little more because I feel he could even do better. He does have a special education teacher in the classroom to that works with him one on one a lot. She is really good with him but her hands seem to be tied a lot on how much she can do. Rey is the type of child that needs a little flexibility in his learning style. She is very sensitive to that and tries to cater to him. The head teacher is more rigid. Rey is also seeing on OT therapist on a once a week basis that has been working with him on many issues.
All in all I am pleased with the progress they are making.

Gracie Girl is 4 Months

Peanut is now 4 months old. She is at such a fun stage. She is really starting to smile and coo. She is very alert and loves to talk to you. She is also beginning to move. She has a bouncy seat that she loves to scrunch down in to the point of almost falling out. It is a game for her.

We are still trying to get her to gain weight. She is now 10 lbs 4 oz and no where on the chart. We started our 8th formula and today she is starting a new medicine called Regalin for the reflux. This is supposed to help the food digest quicker so she can absorb more calories. The formula she is on is called Neo Sure and it is a high calorie formula. The Dr. is concerned that if she doesn't start gaining weight that it will stunt her growth in other areas. She loves to eat and will suck it down, it just doesn't stay down. We have tried so many different things. We are now taking her into the Dr. on weekly basis so we can monitor the weight gain. We have decided to hold off on starting baby food because it has less calories then the formula and we don't want her to fill up on the food instead of the formula.

The kids go to a new pair of Dr.'s and we love them. They are two wonderful Polish men. In fact one of the Dr.s reminds me so much of my dad who isn't even Polish. They both have a great sense of humor and seem to love their jobs and the kids. We will miss our old Pediatricians but the commute was getting to be so much with 4 kiddos.

Here are some new pictures of baby girl. The one is a picture of her and her little "boy" friend. I love that little boy. Gracie used to kick at him when she was in my tummy and I would hold him. He is a few months older than her.

Princess Butterfly

I can't believe that my Princess Butterfly has turned 5! She is such an amazing Child. I admire her exuberance for life. She is always one to let her hair down and go with the wind. There are many dangers to that but at the same time I envy her lack of fear and her freedom. One day she is going to be such an amazing woman of God. Nothing will stand in her way. We celebrated by going to Pizza Hut. ( her choice and favorite place) We didn't really do anything for the kids this year in the way of birthday parties. I feel really bad about it but they didn't seem to mind.

Gracie

Gracie and I flew out to Indiana for a week this month. It was sooo relaxing and I had a really great time. The silence was golden but I did start to miss my little ones back here in Jersey. They missed me too except for Dominic. He actually was the most excited when I returned though. Reynaldo seemed to be punishing me for being gone. Kiarrah talked my ear off the whole way home. Daddy did a really good job taking care of them.

All of my relatives got to see Gracie and dote on her. It was really hard to say goodbye. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Belly Laugh

You are my sunshine

Update on the Butterfly

We finally got Kiarrah into the neurologist. After going through her whole history, the Dr. feels that she has FASD. That would explain the extreme impulsivity and the lack of fear. We are going to try a new medicine to help her with this. Kari if you are reading this coudl you please email me at mademombygod@comcast.net. I could really use some help on this regarding schooling and just general advice. I lost the link to your page.
The one great thing Kiarrah has going for her is that she is extremely bright. She loves to learn.

Smiles

Gracie's personality is really starting to emerge. Her are some cute shots of her that I got. Bad hair day for sure!!!

Dominic is 8

I can't believe that my oldest is now 8. I am so proud of Dominic and how he has turned into such an awesome big boy. He was quite disappointed yesterday to get clothes yesterday for his birthday but he needed them. He got jammies, a winter coat, pants, sweatshirts and under shirts. We gave him money to buy a game for his PlayStation and to buy this hot wheels toy that he wants. He just wouldn't tell me what he wanted.

Last night I was making chocolate chip cookies for him to take for his class today and Gracie was crying. I took her into his room to lay with him so I could finish and they both fell asleep. I have to share these pictures.

If You're Happy and You Know It....

This might not seem like something to be happy about to most people but if you know my son you will understand. He got in trouble today at school for being too "chatty". I was thrilled. He is usually so quiet. He is becoming a little social butterfly.

Bright Eyes

Happy Birthday!

Baby girl turned 3 months yesterday. Where has the time gone? She is doing alittle better on the reflux issue. The prevacid is working. She is going to be going for an upper GI in a week. Hopefully we will get some answers. She is starting to be much more vocal. I love to listen to her. The kids love it too and get very excited and they talk back to her. She is smiling a lot too.

More Pics

October Update

I am so sorry that I have not been on here in forever to update everyone on our family. Thank you for all the emails and the love :)

We are doing really well. I am starting to get some sleep and jealousy issues are finally diminishing. The gears are greased and we have finally fallen into a pattern for school, homework and chores. It was a bumpy ride there for awhile.

Dominic is enjoying school but not as much as last year. I am not quite sure why. It might be because of the heavier work load. He has made quite a few friends in his class ad I love to see him interact with them. This child has come so far from the way he used to be. To think that when he was three we could only picture him having to go to a group home. Now the Aspergers is so easy to overlook unless you have a trained eye for it. Dominic is also enjoying his Art classes over at The Hope Centers Art Academy. They are working on drawing still life though and he doesn't care for that. He would rather create something in his mind. He doesn't like to have rules put on what he draws. That is something that he is going to have to get used too. That is life. Little man will be turning 8 this month.

Reynaldo is actually liking school this year. For him it is a social function. He does have his days where he doesn't want any help and wants to goof off. Can you say Class Clown with me?? I think he takes after his father. He is finally starting to get the hang of reading. We just completed some testing for Auditory Processing at the Children's hospital and he definitely has it. I am waiting for the report to come back from the Audiologist and then I need to approach the child study team and ask for some more services. At school all the little girls seem to like him and of course he eats the attention up. Boy am I in trouble with him. He is also enjoying his hip hop classes at the Academy.

Kiarrah still loves her school. She is learning so much. She has been coming home reciting the Bible memory verses. I could learn a thing or two from her. She loves to learn. She is adjusting to rules and boundaries and I have seen such an improvement at home. I kept her home last Friday so that we could spend sometime together and she was such a little helper with Gracie and we had a lot of fun. She loves her Dance Class. She is in her element when it comes to tap dancing. There is no need for her to be graceful and she is able to be herself and let her personality shine. Look out Ethel Merman!!! She also sings all of the time. She turns everything into a song.

Gracie is doing really well. It has been a little bumpy lately though because she suffers from severe reflux. After 5 different formulas and two meds, I think we are finally on the right path. She will be going for more testing in the next week. She is starting to sleep better. I think it is because she is starting to keep down more food. She weighs 9lbs 5 oz now. She is starting to smile and coo a little. She wants to talk so bad LOL. She has her own little personality already. She is such a doll baby.

Jim and I have been very busy and active in church. Jim is on the Worship team and also leading a boys life group. He also has the honor of being our Pastor's Armor bearer. I am working with the Sunday school department as the Crafts coordinator. I am loving it. I am also part of the writing ministry. I love my church!!!

I am getting ready for a trip home to see my family. Gracie and I will be flying out for a week. My family is so anxious to meet her. I wish we could all go as a family but we are planning that for the spring.

Anyways, that is our update. I need to work on my blog when I get a chance. Somehow I managed to lose all of my links and stuff. I can't even find all of the blogs that I normally read.

Christmas Toy Rage

Christmas 2006

How many of you get into the Holiday toy rage? Are you always scoping out the must have toy?These are some of the toys that are hot commodities this Christmas. Every year it is something, isn't it? I think we are gonna just buy the kids one big toy they want and then they will get clothing and other stuff they need. We also always try to buy a new family Christmas movie to add to our collection. I just don't want my kids wrapped totally in the commercialism. In fact everything Kiarrah sees on Tv she wants. Doesn't even matter what it is. How do you all handle Christmas?