getting it back

I have now lost 30 lbs and I am starting to feel pretty good.
Bobby and I had a romantic night out so we got all dressed up .
When we got home at 10pm Avery was ready to party!
So we had picture time!
It was nice to feel pretty again w/ makeup on and no baby puke on my shoulder.

Go Bucs!

Even though they lost today,
the important thing is that I got a good picture of all 3 kids before the game!

Nemo's fin

Today has been a crazy day!
Went out last night and just had 3 drinks..well that's all it takes for me.
Went to bed about 3am got up at 11:00am..
Yes, I freakin slept till 11 for the first time since I have been a mother!
Had a daycare interview at 12:30,people were great so we talked till 4!!!
Had the 2 little boys that I am watching tonight dropped off at 4:30,
then Krista at 4:45 and Drew got home around 5pm.
Made dinner, had a picnic outside,gave them all(7) baths,got the crew in their pj's and now everyone is watching Peter Pan.

Anyway Bruno has been rotten today!
He kept talking back and then laughing so
I told him if he did it again I was spanking him.
Being Bobby's son he of course did it again and I swatted him on his hand.
He started crying and screaming that he can neber swim again....
Apparently I spanked Nemo and ruined his little fin!!

The Laurie Cut

Got my hair chopped last night! According to my husband it's a Laurie cut!

a must watch

I am not a big u-tuber but you have to watch this..it is amazing-

http://www.youtube. com/v/QZFkZiwMLZ 4

Bruno is 4

On Saturday we had a nice little birthday party here at our house to celebrate Bruno turning 4!!
We had a pirate ship cake and a moon bounce!
It was good times!

pumpkin patch (not so much) fun

Why? Why do I get these great ideas in my head ?

My idea of the evening:
Get the kids in their costumes,go take amazing/stress free pictures at the pumpkin patch,let the boys run and play,pick our pumpkins,Bobby and I reflect on how wonderful our family is and maybe go out for a nice relaxing family dinner.

How the night really played out:
Got the kids in their costumes but of course the boys costumes came with swords..so they beat the crap out of each other before we were even loaded in the van...crying.Avery being the spoiled princess that she is decided to chime in and scream all the way there. Bobby and I were at each others throats cause he suggest we go another night.How dare he! This was going to be a wonderful family fun night,right?
So we get to the patch,pose the kids and for some reason I forgot that I have a 7 year old with ADHD, a 3 year old smart ass and a cranky 3 month old. I did get a few "cute" pics but not the amazing,"Wow, Grace is an amazing photographer pictures". Out of about 20, 2 pictures have all 3 kids looking in the same direction. To top our memrable pumpkin patch visit, the boys rolled down a hill there and got their costumes covered in hay and we lost Avery's "taggy" blanket!
And for dinner you ask?? We stopped in and got a $5.00 pizza from Little Ceasars.





Avery hadn't calmed down yet for this one

This is one with the boys making pirate faces!

Avery looks like she is thinking,"Why is my mom doing this to me"???

Avery's Boo Boo Face

Look what Avery picked up from Chase.She has never made this face than ever since we have been back from NC she makes it all the time. I guess she noticed all the attention Chase got when he makes it. I too like Laurie can only laugh!

kids will eat veggies!

My friend Nina sent me this link from the Oprah show website. Its recipes with veggies hidden in kids favorites foods...I am so making some of these!

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200710/tows_past_20071008.jhtml?promocode=HP31

What the????

So I have been starving myself for the past 4 weekson this flippin diet.Completely changing everything about my eating habits...
not cheating even once ,taking meds to control my appetite and
paying $70.00 a week!

Then I go to visit Betty freakin Crocker in North Carolina who made this sinful pumpkin dip that she just happened to keep out on
the counter next to a box of vanilla wafers...
I could only be strong for so long!
And the bag of tortillas and guacamole didnt help either
So yes, I admit it..
I chhheeeaaattted!
Every taste was a wee bit of heaven
Needless to say I was scared shitless to hop on that scale yesterday morning.
I warned the nurse, said a little prayer and
slowly stepped up with my eyes closed.
When I opened them and looked down at those little digital numbers
all I could say was," OH MY GOD"
I lost 5.6 lbs!

L-I think you should start your own diet plan,cause it works!

a light at the end of the tunnel

So Drew and I came to an agreement.
We now have "Drew was caught being good" cards.
Every time we notice him doing something worthy we will put a
"Drew was caught being good" card in a ziplock bag...
which by the way is labeled, "Drew was caught being good".
Once he gets 10 cards he will then be able to choose whichever toy he wants to get back that he lost do to poor behavior.
Drew is such a visual learner ,
I hope that he can see that his actions
good or bad have consequences.

So of course he asks, if he gets more than 10 cards
can he just get a brand new toy???

And they say he is a slow learner!!

Any Mommy Advice?

OK, here I am admitting what all mothers want to keep quiet. I need help!!! Drew,my 7 year old has ADHD, in impulsive behavior disorder and a developmental delay. Since Drew was 18 months old we have been to more Dr's,had more evaluations than I can count,we have attended speech therapy,occupational therapy,behavioral therapy and the list goes on and on.

Drew has always been just a little slower than others in academics...who cares when he is making millions in the NFL one day? Everyone who has come into contact with Drew in the past have all described him as such a sweet boy but in his own little world. Well, now things are spiraling out of control. He has become so mean! At 7 he has no problem talking back to me and throws HUGE out of control fits when things don't go his way.Mind you this does not happen at school at all just with his family.

A typical day with Drew consist of him coming home from school,not getting his way and him flipping out! I mean all out screaming,sobbing,tensing up, jaw dropping Nanny 911 style fits! And once they start there is no bringing him back until he gets it all out. Drew is on Focalin daily for his ADHD which really help him at school but I wonder how these narcotics are affecting my baby's emotions.

I have so far tried the following..

-taking him off meds
- constant positive reinforcement
-spanking him
- putting him on a dairy free diet
-time out,no video game privileges
-just plain ol' bribing him with anything I can think of
- star/reward charts
-calling my amazing pediatrician crying

WHAT ELSE DO I DO???

Well I got some parenting advice from an an old schooler...
What do you think?
I am going to get a rubber maid bin and every time Drew is sassy,mean or throws a fit,I will select a toy/video game/book/movie
that he then has to put in the bin for 1 week.
(I have a feeling I should just rent a P.O.D. before we make progress!)
Then as his behavior improves, allow him to slowly get his belongings back.

Like any mother I hate to see my son sad but I have to stop this now!
I refuse to be that mom that looses control at an early
age than has a wild teenager.

Any advice????

***So far today Drew has lost his playstation,4 video games,a sword,3 books,3 wrestling figurines and his gameboy!***

-

2007 Buddy Walk

We went to NC this past weekend to walk with our good friends in this years Buddy Walk.

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

We had an amazing weekend and I believe I have been changed forever.

My friend Laurie(Chase's Mommy) shows more strength,courage and honesty than any woman I have ever met. Chase has been so very blessed with such a wonderful mommy. I just wish I could look into the future and tell her that everything will be OK. Motherhood is difficult enough as it is and no one prepares us for all the challenges we will face while raising our kids,all the worries,the what if's,the tearful joys and all the bumps and bruises along the way. I know that God wont give us more than we can handle and Chase just proves how strong his Mommy really is. When I saw Chase for the first time in person I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace and understanding, I felt such a draw towards him and the only way I can explain it is that he is surrounded by the presence of God...now how can you say that all children aren't a blessing?