2 weeks 1 day

I'm in denial. In 2 weeks and 1 day Little Man turns 3. 3!! Where is the time going?

As sad as I am that my baby, turned toddler, is on his way to be a little boy, I am ecstatic that God has placed this precious child in our care. Words can't discribe how happy he makes us (and sometimes frustrates us). Watching him grow, he can walk around the bed and see over it vs us only being able to see the top of his head. Watching him learn many different things. He loves to watch car shows on TV with Daddy and asked me yesterday if the show I was watching were building cars. Sorry, nope, they were making a cake.

He is now in the 'I do it!' phase. Pulling down his underwear, putting it on. Brusing his teeth, hair, picking out his clothes and putting his stuffed animals on his bed.

Speaking of his stuffed animals this is where I the mom come in. He's turning into me. How can I put this lightly. He's getting...picky. For example, I HAVE to make my and Jeff's bed. The sheets have to be even on each side, no bumps or anything sticking up. The blankets have to be put on one by one and again even on each side. When I go to bed everything has to be...'perfect'. The sheets, the blankets and my pillow. I don't know how but that is rubbing off on Little Man. I tucked him in bed, gave him a kiss and hug (and he in turn) and walked out. A few seconds later he was screaming. I run in and he cries 'The blanket is messy. Fix it!' Oh, oh. I've created a monster. This hasn't happened once but a few times.

I also love when I start singing he chimes in. It's fun listening him try to sing what I'm singing. I love it when he makes up his own songs.

The itsy bitsy spider...is scary...down come the rain...

I about lost it with that song. Yes spiders are scary.

Now...I better hurry up and figure out what I'm going to do for his birthday cake.

It's been awhile

Wow, I really haven't been writing much, have I? Honestly the past few weeks I haven't felt like writing. Just a lot going on. Frustrations with Daddy and the job market and the lovely economy were in.

I do have some news to share.

First, it's looking like Daddy may be going back to school. He may do this program through this school here in the Cities our friend is going through. I will definitely keep you all posted on that.

Second, next week I will be mailing out the formal application for our 2nd adoption. Eeeee!!! I'm so excited and scared. We are going to do what we did the first time and take our time with our homestudy. We should be approved by the end of the year. Daddy also been getting lots of hours from Cabela's which is helping in saving up for the homestudy. It's nice we can pay cash for that and not have to figure that into our loan. I'm eager to start the homestudy because then we can apply for grants. And by the time we're done with the homestudy Daddy should be done with the program and maybe have a full time job. Who knows.

Keep us in your prayers.

BTW, Daddy was a daughter and Little Man wants a brother. Sigh...I just want another child to love.

Pondering a thought

I was in a meeting today at work. It was held in the auditorium which is by the dining area. The dining area was full of residents there to listen to a gal and guy play music. They both come once a week and do a set for about an hour or so.

Well during the meeting they started playing and singing. I should have listened to my meeting but a thought struck me...what kind of people will come and sing at a nursing home when our generation is there?

Will they be pumping out songs by The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dog, and Alicia Keys instead of polka and yodeling? Instead of swing dancing will they make room for break dancing? (Can you see the ambulances lining up at the front for all those broken hips?) Instead of having movies ranging from Guys and Dolls to Casablanca, would they have American Pie, Ocean's Eleven, or even Hangover?

Instead of writing letters to your friends would each room have a computer so the residents could get on Facebook? Would some be blogging about nursing home life? To help residents stay be more enjoyable and comfortable, instead of magazines would they suggest they surf the web or IM their former college roommate who happens to be down the hall but can't get out of bed? Would a new activity involve a Wii and a few controllers?

Would half the men still have their pants down by their knees and it's not because they are old?

Instead of having to charge $2 a day to use the phone will everyone bring their new and updated cell phone and call family that way? Would their cell phone work as a call button and they'll be able to press a button and it'll go straight to the nurses desk? Would they be too busy text messaging their best friend at the assisted living to pay attention to what's going on in their care conference? Would they Tweet how much the care conference sucked and they just want to go home?

Time will tell but I find it very interesting how our generation will be in another 30 - 40 years.

Converstations with Little Man

Mommy: Who's S?

Little Man: S?

Mommy: Yes, who is S?

Little Man: She's my birthday mom.

Mommy: She's what?

Little Man: She's my birthday mom.

Mommy: *smiles* Yes, yes, she is.

Well...

We had a department meeting today about all the things going down at my work. Due to the economy and Washington cutting back nursing homes aren't making much money. Even if they are not for profit. Most people can't afford to pay to stay at a nursing home when their Medicare days are up. Even if they don't have a qualifying hospital stay they can't afford to stay at a nursing home as private pay for long. The charges quickly add up.

There have been layoffs and tightening of the belt. Luckily the business office won't be affected. Although during our department meeting todya we found out a few new things. I had to miss the first half has I had to go to a Medicare meeting but I got the run down on a few things.

My work is going into a forlough and instead of cutting people or doing a wage freeze (or were we going on one? I can't remember) each employee is giving up 3 hours of work. I don't know if this is weekly, by pay period or just once a month. Our COO did say something about it being every 3 weeks so I'm thinking it may just be once a month. Honestly I'm not worried. It'd be nice to have a little more time off. :)

The one thing I'm not happy about is they changing benefits. Their health insurance (in my opinion) is crap. I do NOT like deductibles. They are the first company I've been at where I didn't have the option to pay a higher rate to have no deductibles. My last job I was paying $300 a month to have no deductible, $20 office copay and resonable dental insurance and prescription coverage. At my current employer I pay $300 a month to barely cover anything. I only get 3 office visits a year covered at 100%, I have a $500 deductibe. So does my son and my husband which is $1500 a year. YUCK!! Once my 3 office visits are used up other visits are only covered at 80%. I do NOT like that! I want insurance that will cover me. I may start looking at individual plans. Let me rephrase that. I AM going to be looking at individual plans for my family and see if I can find a decent one and we may be going that route.

Also, this has helped me get in gear and write a book. I have always loved writing. I'm a bit rusty and am thankful for my friend who is going to help. I'm very excited and am eagerly getting some words down on paper. I was thinking of writing a little bit everyday and maybe be finished by winter. But with what is happening and with Daddy only having 3 months left of unemployment I'm going to kick it into gear and try to be done by Fall. Maybe middle Fall.

I will keep you all updated on how it's going and would appreciate any prayers.

I also ask you take a moment and pray for some of my coworkers who are working their last week this week. They are great people and will be missed.

We've been infested...

With monsters under the bed. I've always thought this was something TV and movies made up and kids really aren't afraid of monsters under the bed. Well Little Man is. He woke up last night crying about the monster under his bed. So I looked under the bed and as sternly as I could told that monster to 'Go Away'. Little Man seemed relieved and went back to bed.

Now...I hope the monster didn't crawl under my bed...

No more pull ups

Little Man is wearing these under these from now on. No I didn't buy these on line. You can get them cheaper at Target in the baby section. When he is wearing these he will actually tell us when he has to go pee. It may be after he's peed in them but now he can feel the wetness.

Everytime he sits on the potty he goes. He even went into the bathroom this morning pulled down his pants and pull up and went potty. (After I made the comment to him if he was so good at being able to open a container of yogurt why couldn't he go potty by himself.)

He is getting to be very independant and such a big helper. He loves to set the table, help with laundry, comb his own hair and brush his teeth, although he has put his toothbrush somewhere and we can't find it. Good thing I keep an extra one on hand.

A few days ago he fell and landed on this plastic bridge. The top of the bridge hit him under the eye and he now has a lovely shiner. It's slowly healing and I'm hoping it's gone by June 22nd. We are getting our pictures taken. I realized it's been over a year since we've had his picture professionally taken. (I wasn't in a hurry last year as money was a bit tight.) So I emailed a fellow blogger. I'm sure you've all heard of her. Mckmama will be doing our photoshoot. I'm sure you've heard about her sweet boy, Stellan. If not go check out her blog and read about it. As a fellow heart patient Stellan has a special place in my heart. Plus Mckmama is a wonderful photographer and lives only a short distance from us. I'm so very excited and now I need to go shopping to coordinate our outfits. :D Yes she will be doing a family portrait along with ones of just Little Man.

I will let you know when our proofs are ready and if your interested send me an email or post a comment and I will send you the link. I won't be posting it on here for privacy reasons.

Now I'm off to have lunch and enjoy a quiet afternoon while Little Man naps.