PTO

I've been blessed to be able to volunteer at G's school.  Last year, I kinda sorta helped with PTO. I was hesitant to commit to the meetings but would help one of the other parent volunteers from afar.  This year I am part of the PTO and like the volunteering/tutoring, I get blessings from it too.  The teachers and other staff members are so appreciative of everything we try to do.  Teachers get little recognition and work so hard.  Their job extends way beyond the classroom day so it's nice to be able to do little fun things for them.  It's such a small thing we can do for those that play such an important part of our children's education.

So if you get the opportunity to join the PTO or volunteer at the school, do it. You will be glad!

A Sigh of Relief

For 3 years we have lived a peanut free life. From infancy, B had eczema all over his body which lead to an allergy referral.  After testing  positive for peanuts, we left that day with an  Epipen  in hand and clueless of the changes that were about to happen.

I came home and researched, joined online groups and chats that really helped.  I never knew how scary it could be until that day.  True he had never had any to have a reaction but there were so many types of reactions that were possible and one was anaphylaxis. So we were careful, very careful. G was taught to wash her hands and mouth after eating anything and as she was older learned to read labels with me.  She would always ask when getting a snack, even when she was at her school away from B.  We introduced our allergy action plan and signed in the  Epipen for his childcare center and were  on our way.

After a couple months a blood test was recommended as well. That was an nightmare itself because they didn't get enough blood the first 2 times and on the 3rd time, they had to stick 3 places in order to get it done.  G had to go with us and she was so mad because they were hurting him. She even said that was all, to stop hurting him.  Results came back negative.  Awesome right?  Nope.  It was explained that both  test could've given a false positive or false negative so I should try giving him (barely a year old)  some peanut butter and have the Epipen in hand.   Um right, I'm gong to give my baby, who cannot yet say I'm itching or I can't breathe, something that could make him stop breathing.  I asked our regular pediatrician  what she would do and she said if it were her child she would have retested at 3 which is what we did.
While waiting for him to turn 3 we watched him very closely at church functions, birthday parties, other houses, etc. I have almost all of the bakeries numbers in my phone to be safe. I would contact the hosts of the birthday parties prior to the party and always had safe food for him with me.

  Was I overreacting? Maybe. Did it take time? Yes. Did others question me? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely, B's safety was more important than others making fun or questioning why I went through the trouble.
Yesterday was a very special day. Although it took me and his daddy to hold him and I had as many tears as he did, we had him retested.  Peanuts were negative and the doctor said we could try giving him  a Reese's cup and monitor him for 48 hours but he should be okay. And if he had no reactions, they gave me a note to remove his allergy action plan and Epipen from school.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching  K give B his first Reese's cup.  He grinned from ear to ear and said "mmmmmmm good mommy." I cried tears of joy.

The past 3 years have made me understand what it's like to have a food allergy child.  It's not fun because others, even adults and family members just dismiss it as if it's no big deal. But it absolutely is a big deal when it is life or death for some children.

It Doesn't Get Any Slower

I've been saying everyday that I've got to get back to blogging if I want it to get out there......for FIVE months now.  I tell ya time flies.  They don't lie when they say it goes faster the older you get either.

We only have a few months of first grade left  for G and in another blink B will be in NCPReK.   Internet is back up and running (for the moment) and I am working on several "catch up" posts. We've  started another year of dance. This year is Tap.  We have celebrated Thanksgiving, a family reunion  and Christmas as well as moving my sister, brother in law and niece back closer to home.
I also have a new venture I'm into and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Now it's 2015 already and it's full of decluttering and reorganizing.  I have such good intentions so we will see how that goes.

First Grade, really?

We are well into first grade now and   I cannot believe it either. B moved up to his next big boy class at day care too.  Where have my babies gone?

So enter in revised routine charts, updated reward jar and after school question jar.  The kids do not get an allowance for chores.  They have learned that some things are just part of everyday living and being part of a family. If clothes aren't taken to the laundry room then you end up with no clean underwear. If dishes are  not taken to sink, then you don't have anything to eat off of etc. and so forth.   The new lesson that's soon to be learned is that if toys do not get put away they get taken away and may be  given to a child that CAN take care of them.

I do pick my own battles some.  I mean I've only put a few things on their chore lists and even put brushing teeth on there too.  I do want them to see SOME  check marks on the chart.LOL

I know we just started school and some schools have not even started yet but it will soon be time for Christmas shopping and DIY gifts.  I can't wait to see the new ideas for this year.  I'd love to know your ideas and suggestions.

Happy Summer Day!

What The What?

Good granny it's time to get school supplies! Of course I love year round school, but summer sure is going by fast.  VBS is here and Sheila and I are getting craft things together, which is always a hoot.

As Independence Day approaches, our area has our first hurricane heading close to us so no one knows exactly how to plan. My sister and her family were coming to visit but now are trying to decide with the weather.  All this makes everything that more busy, busy.

Anyhow today, G and I are making a trip to town for supplies and VBS stuff so gotta go. I will certainly post our crafts and if I ever get pics from the bday party I will post those decorations for the DIY 'ers out there.

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed and safe 4th of July!

I'm Back!....

Well maybe.  My laptop is in the same spot as it was my last post. I can't believe it's been almost 2months since I posted last.  I like pictures and have lots to post but they aren't on K's iPad and I don't know how to get them here. Lol.  I just gotta get on fixing that laptop so I can get back on track.

We survived the birthday party I have planned for a solid year for the both  of them and can't wait to post pictures.  I'd say it was a success!

G has graduated from kindergarten  and just today B moved up to his next classroom at his daycare. I really  didn't think it would bother me like it did when G moved up but I have to say these milestones are coming way too soon AND he is my last one too.

Since we are year round school , we have about 5 weeks out for summer.   Don't have big plans but we try to keep a schedule going so it's not difficult when school is back in.

I also can say now that I have a new niece and my sister and brother in law made it safely home from Taiwan with her.  She's almost 21 months and is just a cutie pie.  Wouldn't you know I was sick with a stomach bug the night they came home so I just met her yesterday. Can't wait for G and B to meet her now.

This is about all I can say without pictures ...so until next time.

Update...

I'm using K's iPad , something that I am so not used to , but had to post a little something while laptop is on the fritz .   I don't yet know how to post pics from a flash drive or anywhere else for that matter.  I'm really lost without a simple USB port.

So Easter has passed and hope all had a blessed one.  We had several egg hunts, painted lots of eggs and went to church and celebrated the true meaning of Easter, Christ' resurrection .

Now we are on to getting prepared for dance recitals, kindergarten cap and gown pictures, a shared birthday party to finish planning for, oh and Mother and Father's Day and the list goes on.  And it's planting time which the kids are so excited about but we are having to let the rain dry up.  I think K and Papa got one place planted before all the rain came.

So blessed and so thankful.
Happy spring!