The Avengers

We have super heroes on the brain these days.  

Gone are the days of princess dress up.

Iron Man, The Hulk, and Spider Man have replaced them.

The Referee took us all to the movies to see The Avengers.  Since it is rated PG-13, we were not so sure the younger kids should see it.  After reading the reviews, we decided that since it wasn't gory, they should be OK.  

Our entire family had a blast at that movie.

Granted, the kids get excited about the idea of theater popcorn and a Coke.

But, the movie was awesome.  It kept everyone's attention.  Even Jersey #5 laughed at the funny parts.  He got it.  He took a nap during the middle of the movie, but enjoyed all the action scenes.

I didn't grow up with too much super hero stuff, and I am not usually very big into action adventure movies, but I really enjoyed The Avengers.  (I actually enjoyed the Iron Man movies too, and Green Lantern, so maybe I am into super hero movies and just didn't realize it.) 

The kids have been quoting lines out of the movie ever since.  

Jersey #5 was most amazed by The Hulk.  He likes to imitate him.  I managed to capture a video of him re-enacting one of Hulk's scenes in the movie....

AWANA Cubbies

We completed another year of AWANA Cubbies!

This year I stretched myself and tried something new:  I volunteered to be an official leader in the Cubbies program.  (Cubbies is the AWANA program for preschoolers).  In all the past years of my kids participating in AWANA, I had never signed up as a leader.  I would still attend club each week, and assist in the various classrooms.  But, this year, I made that official commitment.  It was a good experience.   

I had 2 kids in Cubbies this year.  Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 are 18 months apart in age, and 1 year apart in school.  The Cubbies program runs for 2 years, so they spent a year in the club together.  This was exactly the same thing that happened when Jersey #1 was 4 years old, and Jersey #2 was 3 years old.

At the end-of-year Cubbies Awards Potluck, we celebrated our year of accomplishments.  Even though he has been avoiding crowds, and finds large gatherings overwhelming, The Referee made a point to attend.  He has always attended their awards programs in the past, and he knew it was important to the children.  I was glad to see him too.  I remember how important it was for me that my own parents attended my awards programs when I was a kid, so I was glad he was making that effort for the kids.  I was also thankful to have the help.  One thing I did not consider when signing up for Cubbies Leader is that it would be hard to be a leader and supervise my own kids at the same time, during the awards night dinner!  With The Referee there to sit with the kids, I was free to roam as a leader.  Plus, knowing how much I cherish pictures, The Referee offered to take some photos for me too.  What a blessing!

This was our 6th year in a row of attending a Cubbies Awards Program.  Our family started AWANA when Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were both in Cubbies together.  Jersey #1 only completed one year of Cubbies (since she started at age 4), and then moved on to Sparks.  Jersey #2 completed her 2nd year, followed by 2 years for Jersey #3.  Jersey #4 completed one year alone as well, then had her little brother with her for her 2nd year.  Next year, when we graduate our final Cubbie, that will mark 7 years in a row of being part of the AWANA Cubbie program! 

It was so much easier this year, with our two youngest children in Cubbies.  In years past, we had toddlers and babies to hold, carry, stroll, and entertain.  Two preschoolers are much easier to manage.  (As one friend described it, "life is just more challenging with a baby and a toddler, regardless of how many children you have").   

The Awards Dinner went great.  Jersey #4 is very excited to move up to the Sparks program in the Fall.  Most of her peers were excited about the new red vests they would wear in Sparks.  Jersey #4 tells me that the reason she wants to go to Sparks is because she can't wait to get to use the bigger playground area outside the Sparks classroom!

Funny 3-year old

Jersey #5 is every bit of 3-years old these days.

He is full of curiosity about the world, full of his own conclusions about how things should work, and full of thoughts and comments that often catch me off guard and make me laugh.

At the start of a school day last week, I was explaining the lesson plans for the day to each of the older kids.  Jersey #3 interrupted me and clarified that 3-year old do not have homework right?  I agreed.  We do not make our 3-year olds work on preschool workbooks and activities unless they want to.  Jersey #3 was happy with that answer, and resumed his playing.

Later that same afternoon, I was organizing the chore list and getting the kids started on their chore tasks.  Jersey #3 interrupted me and suggested that 3-year olds do not have homework......pause......and 3 year olds do not have to do chores, right?  

Nice try.

One of the meals delivered by friends recently was Frito Pie.  It comes with a nice chilli, meat and bean mixture, to eat with chips, or specifically with Fritos.  I had reheated some left-overs for lunch.  Jersey #5 ate his serving and asked for seconds.

As I was spooning more chili on his plate, I praised him for eating so well.  I told him that eating his meat and beans would help him grow big and strong.  

Jersey #5 corrected me by explaining,

"I eat more beans so I can fart."

Ah, boys!  I almost forgot how important farting was to them.

Balloon Release

We took balloons to the cemetery, to let the children release them as part of the burial ceremony.

Pink hearts for Mackenzie.

Blue stars for Titus.

Each of our 5 living children held a balloon of each color.  There were 2 balloons left over (because I bought extra in case one collapsed before the burial).  The Referee and I each took an extra balloon.

It was a bitter cold, windy day.  The shining sun was deceiving, as the temperature was winter cold.  

The wind whipped those balloon away in an instant.

As we watched them fly off, Jersey #5 asked,

"Can we go chase them now?"

Oh the laughter from the adults that were around.  Can you just imagine if we had turned our thundering herd loose to run across a cemetery, in pursuit of helium balloons?  Oh what a sight that would be.

We politely declined his request, and distracted him instead.

But, it was nice to end the burial with a spontaneous laugh!

A First

We experienced a "first" at our house, courtesy of Jersey #5.

I have heard numerous stories from other parents about such experiences with their children.

It is apparently, quiet common.

For some reason, it took our 5th child to be the first to achieve this memory.

Jersey #5 cut his own hair.

I walked into the living room and caught him with a pair of scissors in hand, snipping at one side of his head.  From the looks of it, he missed a couple times and also scratched his neck.  

There is never a dull moment in parenting...

3

The baby of the family is 3 years old today!

He has enjoyed this weekend of celebrating his birthday.  He is our birthday caboose, so it has been a long year of celebrating everyone else's birthday, until it was finally his turn.  He is absolutely thrilled by the attention.  Today, he told me is was ready to turn 4 next.

His birthday party and birthday cake were a hit...

It was a Veggie Tales theme, which made for some pretty colorful frosting.

It is hard to believe that this child is already 3 years old.  Does the baby of the family grow up faster somehow?  It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital...

True to his easy-going personality, Jersey #5 had an easy-going entry into the world.  He was a delivery after a previous cesarean, so we had the big decision of whether to VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or have a repeat cesarean.  The surgeon did not give us a specific recommendation, saying that due to my various circumstances, I was at equal risk for either choice.  The surgeon told me to trust my gut feeling, and he would respect that decision.  We landed on the decision to schedule a repeat cesarean in the final week, and then allow labor and delivery to progress naturally if I went into labor naturally.  It seemed like the best of both worlds.  Unfortunately, things did not go either way.  My water broke in the wee hours of the morning that I was scheduled for the cesarean, but there were no contractions.  Premature rupture of membranes.  We waited 7 hours and still not a single contraction.  Not even a twinge.  Actually, upon investigation, not only was my cervix not dilated or effaced, but it was not even pointed in the down position.  Hmmm.....that made us wonder if Jersey #5 had any intention of leaving the womb that day.  

He was forced out by repeat cesarean, which went as smooth as could be.  He was calm tempered, and didn't seem to mind the transition to the world at all.

It turns out, Jersey #5 is our mellowest child.  He was a very content baby...

He was a happy-go-lucky toddler...

He does look for mischief from time to time...

And, he is always dirty....

Jersey #5 is a hard-working fellow...

And he LOVES to ride horses...

Happy Birthday Jersey #5...

Where's Waldo?

As we were cleaning out the kids' bedrooms recently, we piled their stuffed animals on my bedroom floor. That evening, Jersey #5 fell asleep in the midst of the pile. He was suppose to be going to my bedroom to pick out pajamas. He must have gotten distracted.

Ouch!

This kid is a mess of bumps, bruises, and scrapes lately.

He and gravity are just not getting along very well, it seems.


I am not sure if it is because he appears to be going through a very fast growth spurt in height recently. I think that could be throwing off his balance and coordination.

Or, maybe, it is because he keeps trying to keep up with his older siblings and thinks he should be able to do a lot more than he really can.

Or, maybe he could just be a klutz. (If this were the case, he certainly gained that attribute from his Mama).

Whatever the source of the problem, the reality is that I am spending a lot of time cleaning (and kissing)"boo-boos" and applying band-aids. That is just for the big things.

Jersey #5 tends to brush off the little injuries.

I realize there is a whole school of thought that tells parents to not react to a child's injury....that if we don't gasp or make it into a big deal, then they won't register the level of pain and over-react. I have heard the stories of parents who cheer and clap when their child takes a hard tumble, so that the child does not get upset. They are so proud to share the story that their child learns to react with a smile instead of a cry.

I actually find that little psychology experiment to be rather disturbing.

I prefer to teach my children to listen to their bodies, and address problems according to their body's needs. Kids are pretty resilient. They know when an injury requires more than a kiss. They know when it is time to get back on the playground, or sit in Mommy's lap and regroup. I watch their cues in order to know how to tend to their needs.

Some kids are more dramatic than others. So, I also remind them that trips and tumbles are part of being a kid, and learning new skills.

Jersey #5 and I have a nice little "tumble routine" now.

He trips, falls, or otherwise hurts himself.

I ask "Are you Ok?"

He answers....1) "Yes, I Ok." Then, he gets up brushes his hands across his shirt, then runs off to play......or 2) "No. I hurt." Then, he cries and comes to me with open arms for some assistance.

We've got the communication part down.

Now, we just need to figure out the coordination to keep him on his feet a bit more.

Sick Days

We have been having a lot of sick days around here, for the past month.

I am growing suspicious that the children's museum we visit frequently is the germ culprit. There is such a pattern with visiting there on Monday, and Jersey #5 coughing through the night by Wednesday. We took a week off, then it will be Spring Break. So, I am hoping to get everyone healed again in that time. Part of me wonders if we should return for science classes there for the rest of the semester, or if I should just cut my losses and not return for a while.

I am not normally a germ-a-phobic individual. Actually, I am a big fan of natural immunity, letting kids get dirty, and childhood fun. I teach the kids to wash their hands, as the best means for staying healthy. Even with a daughter who is a heart patient, I consider myself realistic in the precautions we take.....more precautions when she is weakest, and less precautions when she is healthy.

I find myself in unfamiliar territory now. Jersey #5 seems to catch a cold, cough, or some sort of upper respiratory infection every other week. He takes longer to get over them. He gets so congested. To make matters worse, he is already allergic to 2 classes of antibiotics, so his treatment options are not as open as my other children. We try to let more illnesses run their course with him, before rushing to the doctor, and hope that his respiratory tract grows stronger as he grows. A little Tylenol and/or Benedryl at bedtime goes a long way for helping him sleep and breathe, pain free.

Lately, staying home in our PJs, resting more seems to be the best medicine for him. He sleeps a lot more when he is sick, which is a trait he must get from his Momma and his PawPaw. We both do the same thing. Resting at home has become such a frequent thing in the past month, it is really helping me see where my real priorities are.

It is hard to see the little ones sick like this. I had really been hoping that the warm weather would bring a healthier winter all around. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

Can it be summer time yet?

B.I.G.

Jersey #5 appears to be the largest 2-year old in America.

When I took him for his well-child check-up, we learned that his height and weight measurements do not even fit on the growth chart. The nurse declared that she was just going to write "greater than 95th percentile" on his chart, and leave it at that.

So, when we tell him he is a "Big Boy," we are speaking the truth.

There is an emphasis on BIG.

3 feet, 2 inches tall

40 pounds


Our pediatrician joked that we may not be feeding him enough.

The good news is that his height and weight are proportional to each other, even if they are not proportional to his peers. He is healthy.

He is simply hearty as well.

I find it funny that the baby of the family looks like he is going to be the tallest of them all. There are tall genes in our families, so it will not surprise anyone if Jersey #5 grows over 6 feet tall by adulthood.

Lil' Puppy Brother

Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 are often found together. I am tempted to suggest that they are friends. The reality is that Jersey #4 likes to boss Jersey #5 around and treat him like her puppy.

After helping me bake cookies, they started playing with the kitchen stool and climbing on the washing machine. I was casually listening to their conversation while I cleaned up.

Jersey #4: "Climb up here, stupid."

Me: "Don't call people 'stupid' Jersey #4. That is not nice."

Jersey #4: I didn't say STUPID. I said SCOOBY!!!!"

Jersey #5: "I a dog, Mommy." (sticks out tongue and imitates panting).

"See" (pant)(pant)(pant).

"I STOOBY DOO!"

Piggy-Back

This is how Jersey #5 likes to sit at church....riding on The Referee's back.

First Dental Visit

Jersey #5 had his first dental visit this week. He has accompanied his older siblings before, but this was his first visit where his teeth were cleaned and examined too.

Big brother, Jersey #3, showed him how it works. Jersey #5 was more interested in assisting the hygienist with his brother, than participating in his own care.

He gladly accepted a new toothbrush, and decided to take that Big Chair for a spin...

The chair was better used as a jungle gym...

When the time came for his cleaning, he preferred Mommy's lap over the chair...

Much to my surprise, he actually participated in a full cleaning and fluoride treatment...

He is very possessive of that new toothbrush. He shows it off to everyone in the family and says, "MINE."

Car Seat Limits

Hand-me-downs are usually quite common in families with multiple children.

But, when it comes to child-restraint car seats, Jersey #5 has been giving us new experiences.

When Jersey #5 was born, he came home from the hospital in a brand new infant car seat...

When we took our former infant car seat out of its place of storage, and prepared to install it in the van, we learned that car seats expire. 5 or 6 years is all ours was meant to last.

I knew that we are suppose to replace the children's car seats, if they are ever involved in a vehicle collision. At the time, I did not realize there is an expiration date as well. It was printed clearly on the manufacturer's label. So, I made a trip to the baby-supply store, and purchased a new infant car seat, for my Jersey #5.

Two years later, Jersey #5 is once again enjoying a brand new car seat. We gave it to him as one of his birthday presents...

This time, the expiration date was not the issue. This time, I learned that car seats also have a weight limit.

Oh my!

The car seat that we were using had a weight limit of 40 pounds.

Jersey #5 weighed 37 pounds on his 2nd birthday. He will not be developmentally ready for a booster seat (that uses the vehicle seat belts to restrain the child) for at least another year or so. I am pretty sure it is safe to assume that he may gain those 3 pounds (or more) in the next year, and bust the weight limit of the car seat.

Thankfully, I am not the only parent with this problem, and the car seat manufacturers have a product to meet my needs...

There are car seats for children who need the 5-point harness restraint, that hold up to 65 pounds.

I had no idea such a product existed, but I am certainly glad it does. None of my other children pushed the weight limit of their car seat. For the most part, my children tend to grow on height/weight curves that run above the average. Usually, my biggest challenge is fitting their seat belts to their great height requirements. This is the first time weight has been an issue too.

Jersey #5 has been larger than each of his siblings at any time point (except birth). He is currently taller and heavier than every single 2-year old we meet. He is actually bigger than most 3-year olds we know too (including being heavier than Jersey #4). Thankfully, he maintains healthy growth proportions. He simply represents the 95th percentile of those childhood growth curves, for all categories...height, weight, and head circumference.

As a result, he gets to enjoy brand new car seats to help keep him safe...

TWO

The baby of the family is 2 years old today!

When he first saw the decorations, balloons, and presents, he started singing, "Happy Birthday to YOU...."

We explained that it was HIS birthday by singing the song, and including his name. It didn't take him long to realize he was the guest of honor today.

He really enjoyed the attention....

He really enjoyed the presents...

And, he REALLY enjoyed the cake...

Continuing with our "family birthdays" this year (something we started to budget more for medical expenses and less for entertainment), we celebrated with a family outing to Chuck E Cheese's. Skeeball is a family favorite there. Jersey #5 has his own method of getting those balls up the ramp...

It was a fun, full day of celebration. Birthdays are huge events at our house. I am so grateful for the blessing of children. I love to celebrate their lives....and to celebrate that they are alive. Each year is a milestone of such growth and development. We like to commemorate that with fun birthdays.

Childhood passes so quickly. This season of motherhood is so short. This Little Guy is growing up way to fast...