Cooling Vest

This is Ryan's instant air conditioner.
ISOP came up with these cooling vests for kids who wear a cast or brace. It is made from mesh and has 3 pockets for cold packs.
These are made by volunteers so ISOP is not out too much money. BTW if you know anyone who wants to volunteer their time and can sew........ISOP is looking for more volunteers to make the vests. The demand is greater than what they anticipated.
Hopefully this will give Ryan a little relief when he is outside. Can you imagine having on a skin tight shirt with a plastic brace over that in 90+ weather?!

You can read more about ISOP and the cooling vest at www.infantilescoliosis.org

Food talk

I am SO happy that our boys will eat just about anything.......including boiled eggs and broccoli!
How many 3 year olds do you know that will sit at the table for a snack and that snack be a boiled egg? Or broccoli with Ranch dressing? These boys can snack!
OK yes they are picky about some stuff. And often are your typical 3 year old.....that will eat good at one meal and eat nothing for the next.
BUT all in all they are good eaters.
Last night for supper we had meatball subs. The boys did not have a sandwich, but they did have meatballs w/bread. And LOVED them! Along with tater-tots!
Another few favorites are sausage, brisket and hamburgers!
I know it sounds silly, but seeing them "really" eat a variety of foods makes me feel like I have done something good for them. I want them to try everything and for the most part they do.
Oh I forgot to say that last night after supper they had dessert........Oreo Delight.
Vanilla ice cream, Cool Whip and crumbled Oreo cookies all mixed together and put back in the freezer.
And no I did not bribe them with dessert in order for them to eat supper.

LAST PottyTraining Update

This is officially the last potty training update. I am so sick of talking about pee and poop I can't see! And you may be too.
They are doing beautifully and I am so proud of them.
Both are aware that they need to tell me when they need to pee. Now the other.....poop...Matthew is so close. Ryan on the other hand is going to be hard. Remember he has that constipation problem. And is on meds for that. All I can do is pray he sees how easy it is for Matthew and follows that.
I will have to watch him closely because once he has that feeling, well....it just comes.
I have now thrown away 4-6 underwear and 1 towel. It just was not worth "trying" to clean.
OK I'm done. NO more posts about pee or poop...........well unless they are worth sharing.
Thanks for taking part in our journey.

Short Potty Training Update

Day 5
I got out today with the boys. We went to my Chiropractor......boy did I need that adjustment.
Anyway, Ryan is officially a BIG boy .........he had to go SO bad while we were there and used the BIG potty! I was so excited for him I almost cried as I held him on that big potty!
We are getting somewhere!!!!!!!
Better run.................

Potty training update

Day 4
Well so far so good. Both boys got up this morning with a dry pull up! This is the 2nd day for Matthew. And naps they have been dry too!
We are out of M&Ms and they both have gone this morning and did not ask about them. Our goal of course is for it to just be natural. They are real good about coming and telling me when they need to go. Ryan went all day yesterday with the same underwear, oh wait, I did have to throw away some after he pooped. Other than that he had the same ones on all day.
Matthew made it all day with just 1 change.
All and all they are doing pretty darn good!
Now we tackle the poop issue. I don't want to scare them or punish so I keep telling them "big boys" do not poop in their underwear.
Regardless it will come and we still have a few more days to come.
And more......and more......and more...............

Potty training update

Day 2
It is happening!!! Both boys seem to be "getting it". Thank you God!
Tee-tee in the potty for M&Ms.......who wouldn't get it.
Chocolate can do wonders.
5 more days to go..........I'll keep you posted.

Will it ever happen?!

And I thought taking away the pacifier and bottle was hard! Potty training started AGAIN today! This is rough.........on them AND me! I don't understand why they don't get it and must remember they just don't get it! They seem to hold it much longer than last try, but no teetee in the potty YET.
We can do this-we can do this.....I keep telling myself that. And yet it is so frustrating at the same time. Easier this time around because I knew what to expect.
I'll give it a whole week though before we throw in the towel. If you are reading this, this week, please say a prayer for all involved. I'll keep you posted.
Gotta go.........its time for a potty break!