What's up?

I know, I haven't really updated my blog with anything interesting. Stupid egg post and April fools joke that didn't work aside, I've just been busy.  Busy doing what?  Hell if I know.  I just know that it seems as though I can't sit down for more than two minutes at a time.  That just happens to be enough time to update my Facebook status or write a tweet.  Not much time left over for a decent blog post (which explains why I'm writing about eggs)

Part of what's kept me busy are named Alex and Max.  Both of whom came down with a pretty nasty case of the boogers.  Sadly, Max ended up getting the flu and an ear infection, and according to the doctor on Tuesday, may have also had a UTI.  He's been on antibiotics all week and is feeling better now, but there was much crying, not a lot of sleeping and a lot, A LOT of vomiting.  Alex, who was not nearly as sick as his brother, was feeling neglected and spent most of the week getting into trouble, making messes, throwing tantrums, etc., etc., all in the name of getting more attention.

So other than illnesses, nothing much is going on around here.  Max is babbling constantly and can say "Baba", "Dada", "Mama" and "Hot".  Not that any of those words MEAN anything to him.  But he can SAY them, so they count!  He continues with his usual hissing and motorboat noises as well.  He's pulling up to stand if I hold his hands and spends most of his time running (yes RUNNING) around in his walker, often with his brother standing on the back for the ride.

Max is almost big enough to actually play with Alex now.  They play with toys together (well ok, more like steal toys from eachother) and spend a lot of time rolling around on the floor and wrestling together. Max is 9 months old and already wrestling with his big brother.  Kid's no wuss, I'll give him that.  I swear, if I blink, the two of them run off to Alex's room and shut the door and I have to chase them down to see what they're getting into.  As cute as it is, I'm still shocked and just a wee bit sad that my baby doesn't act like a baby so much as he acts like a short verbally challenged three year old.  At the same time, nothing makes me happier than to see the boys play together.  

Alex, when not causing trouble to get attention, is surprising me every day with his language development.  He tells stories, he sings and dances and loves nothing more than making a new friend and it's all I can do to go to the store without having him start up conversations with every kid he meets "hi little boy/girl!" "Hi big boy/girl!" depending on their size. He loves to do art projects and the last couple of weeks has perfected his self portrait:

 
He drew this picture for John to take with him to Nebraska

Family life in general is going real well.  We seem to have settled into a nice family dynamic.  John's starting to really settle in with his new position at work and I'm finally not so stressed out about having the kids out number me.  It helps that Max is only waking up once a night now (instead of three) and I'm getting more sleep.  John also seems much more comfortable with both the kids.  On the weekends he gets up with Max, letting me sleep all night long, and he also will take both boys into the mancave with him freeing me up to do my chores or take a nap, or do whatever.

We're still adjusting to being doggie parents again.  Fancy is the best dog ever, as long as you don't take her outside.  In the house she's gentle and sweet with the kids and she doesn't chew up the boys' toys.  She and the cat get along great and other than shedding a metric ton of dog hair all over my house, she's just plain delightful.  But, and there's always a but, she turns into Kujo the second someone knocks on the door.  She barks, she bounces around, she acts like she's going to charge and rip apart anything or anyone who dares enter her home.  Same is true if I want to take her for a walk.  Barking, jumping, pulling on the leash, trying to attack any dog, cat, person or leaf that crosses her path.  She doesn't actually bite though, or at least hasn't yet, it's just that she's huge and loud and that's scary to someone who doesn't know her.  When we invite people in, she jumps up on them happily and gets to know them, and then she's fine.  But obviously, the jumping up and the initial reaction is not good.

We're working on her though, I take her for walks a lot, and have recently switched from the choke chain, which did nothing to control her, but traumatized both of us, to a harness and it seems to have made a world of difference. I have much more control of her now when she tries to run off, but it doesn't seem to hurt her at all like the choker did.  I've considered taking her to obedience classes, but honestly, I'm terrified. Her PROBLEM is other dogs. I can't imagine what it would be like if I took her to a class with other dogs. I am thinking of calling a trainer for some one on one classes.  I've never had a pet that was stronger than me.  How Diane ever managed her is a mystery.

In other, less thrilling news, I went to the dentist to fix my front teeth that were chipped months ago. I finally found the time to get them fixed.  I couldn't be more thrilled with my new smile.  I feel much less hillbilly, and I can't stop smiling to show them off.  John claims he can't tell the difference.  I swear if the change doesn't happen in my bra, he'll never notice anything.  The dentist also did an exam and I am pleased to report I have no cavities!!!  I've had 5 cavities my entire life and I didn't get those until I was 29 years old.  The dentist also showed me that I have two wisdom teeth, which was news to me.  I'd been told by all of the dentists who've ever done x-rays on me that I didn't have wisdom teeth, but there they were in my panoramic x-ray this morning.  I was told they'll never come down, that they're stuck up there for good unless I decide to have them extracted.  I think I'll leave them where they are for now.  They're not bothering anybody.  I have to go back tomorrow to see the hygenist.  Apparently I have some gum issues around my back teeth (Nothing a good cleaning won't take care of the dentist assures me).  I'm a little nervous.  The hygenist threw around phrases like "Root planing" and "scaling" and I'm sure she said somthing to the effect of "I'll have to numb half her head". 

I also have an appointment with my doctor for a physical and I'll get blood tests to check my cholesterol.  I'm hoping for good news, something along the lines of "You're so healthy you'll never die!"  In reality, he'll proably tell me to loose weight and go see a dermatologist to get my moles checked.

Comments

[mom]

Please, get a Sonic toothbrush....I've had alot of gum problems that ended up down to the bone and needed bone(mouth surgery, with me out/asleep) graft.....nothing helps the gums and cleans the teeth better!! It alone has turned my problem gums to healthy pink/non bleeding delightful teeth holding things.

[Grandma Jen]

Ask Stephani if she can get you an electric toothbrush for a deal. She gave one 2 Joe last year for his b’day and he loves it and uses it everyday. I just started using (you can change the heads for each person) it and plan to write a hilarious (well, kinda funny) post about it if I get my act together.