Yesterday was our first Parent Teacher Conference! Yet another thing to make me feel old (or at least like I'm supposed to act like a responsible adult...). Caleb and Logan both got a good report, and there were no major shockers. Thanks to the homework I do with them on the days they don't go to school, I had a pretty good idea of how they were doing in certain areas academically. But, it was nice to hear their teacher's perspective especially on behavior/social areas.
She said Caleb is just a delight. :) Good attitude, friendly, respectful. We've got just a couple "language" things to practice a little more - rhyming and blends especially, and his sight words need some work. But, he's doing well with knowing his letters and sounds, and composition (which at this point is drawing a picture and being able to tell the story behind what it means). He's doing very well with his math, which he certainly doesn't get from me. :)
Her description of Logan is that he is kind. :) Always helping others. No surprise that he is doing well in the language area, and his math skills are good, too. At home recently I've especially noticed his "composition" - in the nicer weather the other day he drew a huge, complicated picture out on the driveway with sidewalk chalk, and had a whole plan/story to explain.
We are so proud of both Caleb and Logan and how they are doing in school. And, maybe not even so much academically, but to hear that they are respectful and kind is what really warms my heart!
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
home stretch
One week to go! Hard to believe we're this close to meeting our newest addition. On the one hand I feel like this week is going to take forever, but on the other hand it feels as if it will be here before I know it. This past week I've had a handful of times that I really don't feel well, but thankfully it's not constant, so I'm still able to function. :) Baby was cracking me up at last week's non-stress test - you're supposed to push a button every time you feel the baby move, and Baby was so active I could have practically just sat and held the button down the whole time. The doctor doesn't think we'll get up to 11 lbs this time, we'll see! I don't feel quite as large and uncomfortable as I did with Levi, and my weight gain is lower - maybe we'll have a petite, little 9 pounder. :)
Last week Caleb, Logan, and I had dentist appointments. Mike came along to help manage the chaos (since I had to be in one room at the same time as one of the boys getting checked in another.). We all checked out great - phew! Caleb has a couple loose teeth and the dentist is predicting he'll lose one around Christmas, and one around Valentine's. Will be interesting to see if he's right or not. The dentist did take a quick look at Levi's mouth when I mentioned his thumb sucking, and said he can see just a little bit of 'cupping', so of course it would be good if he stopped... We talk about it with him, but haven't tried terribly hard.
Mike started last week already with Friday's off for the winter, and it was wonderful! So nice to have him around. In the morning he took the boys with him to get an oil change in his truck, which they think is great fun because they get donuts and get to play Wii and watch tv. I went out to run a few errands - was hoping to enjoy the time out alone, but ended up not feeling well so I just did what I had to do and got back home. In the evening we had a friend's birthday party to attend, and we dropped the boys off early at Harold and Kara's so that we could go out to dinner first. I was able to enjoy most of that, but ended up not feeling so hot by the end of the night.
Last night I was talking with Levi at bedtime about how he and I had stuff to do while Caleb and Logan were at school, and he said something like, "Yeah, while they're getting learned and teached." :) This morning was my weekly doctor appointment, and actually it worked out for him to tag along with Mike at work, so that was pretty special. It worked out that I was done and ready to come back for him at coffee break time, so I brought donuts for everyone. After that it was off to get groceries, a short stop at home to unload and eat lunch, then off to my hair appointment (very important to fit that in one last time before baby comes!). Busy day! And, we're paying for it now - we've got an overtired Levi on our hands. :) A little while ago some sort of disagreement arose between all three of the boys, and Levi threw a pretty good punch at Logan. Watch out!
We have a conference with Caleb and Logan's teacher later this week, it will be interesting to hear how she says they are doing! On our end they certainly seem to still be enjoying school, so I hope we'll get a good report. I think Caleb is going to be "Star of the Week" next week, which he's pretty excited about.
Last week Caleb, Logan, and I had dentist appointments. Mike came along to help manage the chaos (since I had to be in one room at the same time as one of the boys getting checked in another.). We all checked out great - phew! Caleb has a couple loose teeth and the dentist is predicting he'll lose one around Christmas, and one around Valentine's. Will be interesting to see if he's right or not. The dentist did take a quick look at Levi's mouth when I mentioned his thumb sucking, and said he can see just a little bit of 'cupping', so of course it would be good if he stopped... We talk about it with him, but haven't tried terribly hard.
Mike started last week already with Friday's off for the winter, and it was wonderful! So nice to have him around. In the morning he took the boys with him to get an oil change in his truck, which they think is great fun because they get donuts and get to play Wii and watch tv. I went out to run a few errands - was hoping to enjoy the time out alone, but ended up not feeling well so I just did what I had to do and got back home. In the evening we had a friend's birthday party to attend, and we dropped the boys off early at Harold and Kara's so that we could go out to dinner first. I was able to enjoy most of that, but ended up not feeling so hot by the end of the night.
Last night I was talking with Levi at bedtime about how he and I had stuff to do while Caleb and Logan were at school, and he said something like, "Yeah, while they're getting learned and teached." :) This morning was my weekly doctor appointment, and actually it worked out for him to tag along with Mike at work, so that was pretty special. It worked out that I was done and ready to come back for him at coffee break time, so I brought donuts for everyone. After that it was off to get groceries, a short stop at home to unload and eat lunch, then off to my hair appointment (very important to fit that in one last time before baby comes!). Busy day! And, we're paying for it now - we've got an overtired Levi on our hands. :) A little while ago some sort of disagreement arose between all three of the boys, and Levi threw a pretty good punch at Logan. Watch out!
We have a conference with Caleb and Logan's teacher later this week, it will be interesting to hear how she says they are doing! On our end they certainly seem to still be enjoying school, so I hope we'll get a good report. I think Caleb is going to be "Star of the Week" next week, which he's pretty excited about.
Friday, October 16, 2015
harvest 2015
Good-bye celery harvest 2015!!! (Almost.) Harvest should finish up midday today. Feels like the end of a marathon. Well, I've never ran a marathon, but Mike said he feels like he did when he finished a 25k a few years back. Close enough. It has been a GREAT season for the farm, and it all went really well with the new packing shed, but it's just been so intense and Mike has put in so many hours for so many months now, we're ready to have him at home some! :)
A couple Saturday's ago we were supposed to have our annual skeet shoot, but the weather ended up being really yucky. Still had fun hanging out with Joe, Harold & Kara and kids, but it was a bummer to not be able to do their shooting. There were able to get just a few minutes in before the rain got too bad - enough that the boys were out in the field collecting shot gun shells the other day and brought them in the house to play with. Who needs toys?? That same day, before everyone came over, we quick ran over to school for a fall party they were having. Would have been nice to have more time there (except for the crappy weather) - Mike and the boys spent some time in the "fun tunnel" (for a while I wondered if Mike was going to make it out), and they got to check out some little goats, and go for a ride in a really old car. Then it was time for us to scoot out of there.
That same day Mike's co-worker and his wife gave birth to their twin boys. She was actually due four weeks after me, and we'd been praying that those babies would stay in as long as possible and keep growing, but due to complications, the doctor's needed to deliver them. They are teeny-tiny, but doing well! They've got a long road ahead of them as they continue to grow while in NICU before they can come home. We visited them a couple days after they were born - pretty incredible to see God's handiwork in micro-sized versions (one was about 1.5 lbs, the other about 3.5).
I spend a couple days last week finally buckling down and figuring out what we needed to get for Baby. One of the days Caleb and Logan were at school and Levi got to have a special day with Grandma VanBeek, so I was able to go out and do a bunch of shopping. The other day I did my shopping online (thank you, Amazon!). So, I'm definitely feeling more prepared now. :)
Last Saturday we went to a birthday party for the grandson of one of Mike's workers. (So glad the weather was better!) Sounds a little distant, I know, but it's part of the family that we have known and worked with for years - I've known them for 15 years, and Mike knew them for several years before that. This was a much more enjoyable party than the one we went to last winter for one of his worker's sons... People I know, mostly English spoken...that helps a lot! The boys got oodles of candy, just what they need. :) Not only did they each get a good sized favor bucket full, the pinata was chock full of good candy and they got a pretty good haul.
Sunday was a pretty busy day with church, and I went to an extra meeting that was part of our missions conference. My tail bone was complaining for sure from all the sitting - it's just been starting to bother me more, a sure sign I'm carrying a lot of extra weight around... This week I've had a number of appointments to go to (doctor, vet, preadmission at the hospital, non stress test), and Levi has come along to every one handling it like a champ. My little errand buddy! Wednesday was the fullest - after getting Caleb and Logan to school we had to get Roxy to the vet for a check-up (with a stop at the farm to drop off Mike's uniforms because he forgot). Then after her appt we headed over to the hospital for my preadmission appt, which is fairly lengthy. We really needed some groceries, so we went out to do that after we were done at the hospital, and it ran into lunchtime so I figured we'd stop somewhere between our stops at Aldi and Meijer. I explained that to Levi that I wanted to take him to a restaurant because he'd been doing so good, but he chose a Lunchable from the grocery store over eating out! Oh well, I still ate out and just brought his Lunchable in. Silly guy. (I found out later after his day with Grandma that she offered to take him out for lunch and he said he'd rather have a peanut butter sandwich, so that's what they did!)
Yesterday was a non stress test for the baby, and he/she did great. At the beginning of this week I went off of my daily blood thinner injections, so now we'll do weekly NST's just to make sure the baby's handling it okay. Less than three weeks to go! I can definitely feel that I'm big and heavy, but overall I really can't complain too much. I'm not sleeping great, but it could be worse. Heartburn is under control with meds, so that's really nice. Baby moves a lot, and that's my absolute fav, wish I would never forget what that feels like! Big brothers are super excited, that's so much fun to see. Hope they're still excited when they see that baby is taking lots of Mom's attention for a while... :)
A couple Saturday's ago we were supposed to have our annual skeet shoot, but the weather ended up being really yucky. Still had fun hanging out with Joe, Harold & Kara and kids, but it was a bummer to not be able to do their shooting. There were able to get just a few minutes in before the rain got too bad - enough that the boys were out in the field collecting shot gun shells the other day and brought them in the house to play with. Who needs toys?? That same day, before everyone came over, we quick ran over to school for a fall party they were having. Would have been nice to have more time there (except for the crappy weather) - Mike and the boys spent some time in the "fun tunnel" (for a while I wondered if Mike was going to make it out), and they got to check out some little goats, and go for a ride in a really old car. Then it was time for us to scoot out of there.
That same day Mike's co-worker and his wife gave birth to their twin boys. She was actually due four weeks after me, and we'd been praying that those babies would stay in as long as possible and keep growing, but due to complications, the doctor's needed to deliver them. They are teeny-tiny, but doing well! They've got a long road ahead of them as they continue to grow while in NICU before they can come home. We visited them a couple days after they were born - pretty incredible to see God's handiwork in micro-sized versions (one was about 1.5 lbs, the other about 3.5).
I spend a couple days last week finally buckling down and figuring out what we needed to get for Baby. One of the days Caleb and Logan were at school and Levi got to have a special day with Grandma VanBeek, so I was able to go out and do a bunch of shopping. The other day I did my shopping online (thank you, Amazon!). So, I'm definitely feeling more prepared now. :)
Last Saturday we went to a birthday party for the grandson of one of Mike's workers. (So glad the weather was better!) Sounds a little distant, I know, but it's part of the family that we have known and worked with for years - I've known them for 15 years, and Mike knew them for several years before that. This was a much more enjoyable party than the one we went to last winter for one of his worker's sons... People I know, mostly English spoken...that helps a lot! The boys got oodles of candy, just what they need. :) Not only did they each get a good sized favor bucket full, the pinata was chock full of good candy and they got a pretty good haul.
Sunday was a pretty busy day with church, and I went to an extra meeting that was part of our missions conference. My tail bone was complaining for sure from all the sitting - it's just been starting to bother me more, a sure sign I'm carrying a lot of extra weight around... This week I've had a number of appointments to go to (doctor, vet, preadmission at the hospital, non stress test), and Levi has come along to every one handling it like a champ. My little errand buddy! Wednesday was the fullest - after getting Caleb and Logan to school we had to get Roxy to the vet for a check-up (with a stop at the farm to drop off Mike's uniforms because he forgot). Then after her appt we headed over to the hospital for my preadmission appt, which is fairly lengthy. We really needed some groceries, so we went out to do that after we were done at the hospital, and it ran into lunchtime so I figured we'd stop somewhere between our stops at Aldi and Meijer. I explained that to Levi that I wanted to take him to a restaurant because he'd been doing so good, but he chose a Lunchable from the grocery store over eating out! Oh well, I still ate out and just brought his Lunchable in. Silly guy. (I found out later after his day with Grandma that she offered to take him out for lunch and he said he'd rather have a peanut butter sandwich, so that's what they did!)
Yesterday was a non stress test for the baby, and he/she did great. At the beginning of this week I went off of my daily blood thinner injections, so now we'll do weekly NST's just to make sure the baby's handling it okay. Less than three weeks to go! I can definitely feel that I'm big and heavy, but overall I really can't complain too much. I'm not sleeping great, but it could be worse. Heartburn is under control with meds, so that's really nice. Baby moves a lot, and that's my absolute fav, wish I would never forget what that feels like! Big brothers are super excited, that's so much fun to see. Hope they're still excited when they see that baby is taking lots of Mom's attention for a while... :)
Friday, October 2, 2015
no fear
I suppose I'm just a typical proud parent, but my boys totally rocked it this morning getting flu shots. Since the only shots they've had before were routine vaccinations, I really wasn't sure how this was going to go. We haven't done the flu shot for them previously since they weren't in school, but now with two Kindergartner's and new baby coming right as we head into flu season, we figured we'd better git 'er done.
So, this morning when they got up I told them what the plan was. I explained that I really needed them to do this for the baby (that they'd be around more germs now that they're in school, and the baby won't be strong enough to get sick like that, etc.); and then, of course, promised donuts as a treat afterwards. First phase, just telling them, went well. Nobody lost it. Caleb actually kept saying that he was excited (crazy kid). When we got back to where they were going to do the shot and the nurses were getting it ready, then he said, "Maybe I'm not as excited..." :) I SO wish I had a recording of each of them getting their shot - the nurse would tell them to look at me (and, of course, the other two brothers were crowded around as well), and I could see that look on their face as soon as the shot started to hurt. But, each of them was very brave and didn't cry - it was close, but they kept their cool. Levi was the closest to crying, and needed a little hug after, but with three nurses and a mom cheering them on it all went well and they happily chose out stickers and suckers from the nurses, and then we were off for donuts.
So, this morning when they got up I told them what the plan was. I explained that I really needed them to do this for the baby (that they'd be around more germs now that they're in school, and the baby won't be strong enough to get sick like that, etc.); and then, of course, promised donuts as a treat afterwards. First phase, just telling them, went well. Nobody lost it. Caleb actually kept saying that he was excited (crazy kid). When we got back to where they were going to do the shot and the nurses were getting it ready, then he said, "Maybe I'm not as excited..." :) I SO wish I had a recording of each of them getting their shot - the nurse would tell them to look at me (and, of course, the other two brothers were crowded around as well), and I could see that look on their face as soon as the shot started to hurt. But, each of them was very brave and didn't cry - it was close, but they kept their cool. Levi was the closest to crying, and needed a little hug after, but with three nurses and a mom cheering them on it all went well and they happily chose out stickers and suckers from the nurses, and then we were off for donuts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)