Sooo sick of sickness

I wanna know something! How in the world can 3 kids stay sick for an entire winter when they are never even out? Seriously, it isn't like I get them out of the house & parade them around the town. For Heaven's sake, we are basically hermits. But this winter has sucked! I don't think they all have been healthy at the same time. Someone always has something. And then that someone usually passes it on to the other two & it becomes nothing but a big, nasty, vicious hell of a cycle.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, when will Spring get here?

Yoga

Grandma Wright taught us some Yoga poses while we were visiting this past weekend. Jasper calls it, "Oga".

A Special Message For Tim...

Roses Are Red

Violets Are Blue

Joanna & I

Are going to be skinnier than you

You better be watching your back because, yes, Jo Jo and I are gunning for you.

"Every breath you take

Every move you make

Every bond you break

Every step you take

I'll be watching you"

Snow Day

Ahhh...good ol' Winter! We got about 10 inches of snow last night. The school's are closed & even Nate took off work. He didn't have any patients scheduled & he works an hour away. So, here I sit in my PJ's at 1:35 pm. The kids are napping. Nate shoveled the driveway! Woohoo! Here are some pictures.

Should have known

Every time the kids get something new to play with, it isn't played with how it is supposed to be played with. Take Isabel's "Rose Petal Cottage" she got for Christmas. They hardly ever sit in that thing. But they do knock it down & climb on it and wiggle their way in between the fabric parts of the house. I've told them "no" time & time again, but it doesn't work. I give up. If they have fun playing with it like that, than have at it! At least it's getting used.

Similar?

Seriously

I wanna know how a person is supposed to lose weight with these delicious treats in front of their face? Tell me? We went to my in-laws this weekend & celebrated Nate & his sister's birthday's. Nate's mom fixed an awesome chocolate cake & gingerbread cake. Oh, the humanity! I did have a small piece of the gingerbread cake. Oh, and a bite of the chocolate cake. It was heaven.

Barber Shop

You know what is nice? Not having to pay for three kids to get their hair cut. I'm thankful I am (was) a hairstylist. Think about the money I will save. Unless of course, they hate the way I do their hair & decide to go pay someone else to do it. Friday night was hair cuttin' night at the Wright's. Jasper has the most coarse hair & I always think I will let it grow, but the back looks like the butt of a cat. He did so good getting it cut. I trimmed Jonah's hair since Nate hassles me about it. He knows I won't cut it off, so I cut about 1/2 inch or so to make him shut up :)

Jasper

You know what is hard?

When you feel like poop & you have to be responsible for 3-2 year olds. I woke up this morning about 4 am with a horrible stomach ache. It is 12:32 pm & I'm sitting at the table with the kids. They are finishing their lunch & then going to bed. So am I. I'm telling you, it's this darn Smith Family diet I'm on. I eat so much salad & so much fiber, my colon is paying for it...big time!

Maybe this weekend I will have something good to blog about.

A Trevor Funny

As you may know, Trevor, is my nephew...one of my sister's boys. She has Kayla & the twins...Nick & Will. From day one, I thought that Trevor was supposed to be mine. We had an instant connection & he is such a sweet, sensitive little soul (kinda like me:) He always cracks me up. Trev is definitely the kid you don't wanna mess with. Not because he's mean, but because his Aunt Shannon will hurt you...bad. I'm a peace lover, but when it comes to my kids, nieces & nephews, you better back it up.

Trevor loves how I always burp louder than any man & how I talk about "Capt. Jack Sparrow" to him. Okay, so maybe that stuff gets on his nerves. But we did have a "Who would you rather kiss?" questionnaire last week. And he seemed to ask me if I'd rather kiss Jack Sparrow or so & so. He's in to Star Wars (thanks Nate) & the Pirates Of The Caribbeans.

Yesterday, he wasn't having such a good day. He has a lock on his bedroom door so the twins can't get in there anymore. He thought he lost his key. Then the twins removed the register cover & apparently his foot slipped in it & he cut it. Ash took him to Urgent Care to make sure he didn't need a tetanus shot. He was upset because he was so sure he would have a shot. Turns out, he didn't have to get one because he was up to date on shots.

So Ash calls me this morning & said that Trevor said:

"You know mom, yesterday could have been a bad day. I thought I lost my key, but I didn't. And I thought I was going to have to get a shot, but I didn't." Then, he broke out into song & sang, "It's a great day to kick some ASS (he spelled out the word though)."

It was just so funny because Trevor is such a good kid & to hear him spell that, it was hilarious. Ash said she couldn't help but laugh. And all day, I've been singing that song...ALL DAY, I tell you.

New Approaches

Nate & I are trying some new approaches when it comes to disciplining the kids. We decided to stop beating them....I'm kidding.

Their speech therapist has really helped me when it comes to different approaches. I definitely know they can sense when I'm about to lose it. And I think that makes them act worse. Here are some of the things we are doing:

When Someone Throws A Toy:
Old Way ~ "Jasper! Get on the couch right now!"
New Way ~ Walk up to Jasper, tell him, "We don't throw toys, you can hurt someone" and take his hand, walk him over to the toy & make him pick it up.

When Someone Pesters The Other(s):
Old Way ~ "Isabel! Knock it off! Get on the couch right now!"
New Way ~ Walk over to Isabel & pick her up or get eye level & say, "We do not (hit, bite, push, steal toy) from people. Say you are sorry to Jasper."

When Someone Is Throwing A MAJOR Tantrum:
Old Way ~ "Jonah! Stop! Stop! Get over here! (Swat butt) Sit down!
New Way ~ Walk over to Jonah, sit down on the floor & put him in my lap. Pretzel my legs around his & look straight forward & let him get it out.

I really have felt more calm this past week. Now today, well that is a different story. But I've still managed to keep my cool. I've had a busting headache all day & Jasper has been a complete mess. He has cried over everything. He had the "Can't help-it's" today. But now they are in bed and I'm gearing up for another day.

Bath Time

Bath time is always exciting here at the Wrights. It wears me out, so lately I've been waiting until night time so Nate is home :-)

Jonah pointing to his elbow
I LOVE this picture of Jonah...I think he looks beautiful!

Nate hosing Jasper's hair down

That cute Jasper

Jas washing his nose

Isabel helping out Jasper by washing his back. She likes to wash his hair, too.

Sweetie pie Iz

Jonah doesn't look too comfortable

Speech Therapy

The kids are now in speech therapy twice a week. Their therapist, Janet, is amazing. If you have never heard of "First Steps" or "Early Intervention", I suggest you look them up. It's an awesome program that helps children up to the age of 3. It is funded by state & federal funds. And one of the best parts....they come to YOUR home. This is really nice for me because it isn't easy to get 3 two year olds ready, out the door & on time by myself.

Isabel had First Steps when she was a baby. She has high muscle tone & had difficulty rolling over, crawling & walking. You wouldn't know that, now. Jonah will now be getting Occupational Therapy. He was diagnosed as having Sensory Integration Disorder. I will post more about that. So needless to say, we have lots of therapy going on around here.

I took some pictures of Janet & the kids yesterday. They had bubble time & the kids loved it.

"Belly Bubbles" Janet would blow the bubbles & the kids were supposed to pop

them with their belly's.

Jonah & Jasper listening to story time
Jasper & Isabel catching the bubbles

Isabel

Izzy listening to the story

Catching bubbles

All three listening to the story

Jonah helping Miss Janet blow the bubbles

Jonah listening

Okay, so I caved

After 4 doorbell rings last night & one today, I decided to pay the money & let two guys shovel my driveway. I figured:

(1) It's -1 outside

(2) If I just get it done, I won't have to worry about my doorbell ringing anymore (at least not from the snow shovel people) & have them possibly waking up the kids during their nap & my "relaxing" time.

(3) Let's face it....Nate probably won't get to it...hee, hee

So, yes, I'm eating my words from yesterday. But I'm still not going to convert to a Mormon (not that there is anything wrong with that...just not my choice of Religion) and I'm not going to buy a stupid vacuum.

NO SOLICITING!!

Geezzzzz!! I swear to you, I live in the most solicitating (is that a word?) neighborhood. Forgive me if I have blogged about this before. I need to get a freakin sign & post it. Crap..that wouldn't stop the nuts that come to my door. If it isn't Mormon's trying to get me to convert or d*&n Kirby Vacuum sales people...it's people who want to shovel your driveway. Twice, twice today my doorbell has rang. "Ummm, hey I was just wondering if I could shovel your snow?" You know what I want to say? "Here, friend, why don't you bend over & let me show you where I can shove your shovel!" But noooooooooo...Shannon is too nice. She just says, "No thanks, my husband is going to do it."

Better get them boots on, Nate.

Edited to add: The total is now 3...3 doorbell rings for snow shoveling

Disaster!

This picture is from a few days ago...when I was having a bit of a breakdown.

Check out Jasper behind the couch. That is one of their new favorite things to do. The bulb in that lamp has been replaced twice in the last two days.
Their beautiful custom blinds (not really, I got them at Walmart for a couple bucks)

We love our hats!

We're too cool

I think she looks a lot like Jonah in this picture
Just look at her...day dreaming

And then I said her name

And then she reprimanded me