Walter’s Pumpkin Patch

Today, we went to Walter’s Pumpkin Patch. Other than a short storm and the mud that followed. . .we had a great time!

We started the afternoon off with the duck races.

Almost to 3 feet!

Olivia was a girl on a mission. . .to have as much fun as possible!

We had to stop for some family photos!

Grandpa and his youngest girl.

Notice that she carried her duck around for quite awhile.

Now, this was just funny. . .

Alex and Olivia. . .err. . .I mean, horse and pig.

Hello goat!

Olivia was having such a good time. . .and here is where it started raining, so we hung out around the concession stand area until it stopped.

When it rains, Olivia’s hair goes curly-q!!! Finally, the storm passed and we were able to venture out again.

Grandpa and Grandma Glunt with the grandkids minus Julia and Rebekah.

Choo choo!! Alex and Olivia are off on the train! Alex is so good with Olivia and she just adores him.

Kaleb, Katie, Aidan, Alex, Olivia

Olivia riding Mount Boo with Alex. . .

and mama. . .

and daddy. . .

and even grandma! By this time, we were a muddy mess. But, a little mud never hurt anyone. . .

Then, it was time to jump on the giant pillow!

And if you know Olivia, you know that she loves to jump!

Katie and Alex

My cutie pie!

Nobody said mama couldn’t have any fun.

Our Own Preschool

I have decided to start Olivia in my own little preschool at home. (In addition, hopefully, to the preschool she is now attending. We’re going to try to keep her in preschool once a week unless we decide she really isn’t ready for it.) I don’t have any official preschool curriculum, other than what I kind of make up. But, I bought some good workbooks and there is a plethora of printables and ideas online. We are starting next week and will do it just 30 minutes to 1 hour on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. I even want to get her this adorable Dora desk. She is a Dora nut!

I’ve noticed we’ve really fallen behind on our letters (remember when she used to know her letters and letter sounds? She has since forgotten.) So, we’ll have a letter of the week and do activities based on that with a strong emphasis on fine motor skills. Her OT that she sees at Wesley Medical Center always gives me an abundance of ideas to work with her on each week. I’m really excited and I already have lesson plans ready to go for the next 3 weeks. We’ll be covering A (apples) B (birds) C (cats) as well as tracing, beading, lacing, cutting, coloring, stacking blocks, puzzles, etc. Can you tell I have a teaching degree just begging to be used?

Never mind about the Dora desk. . .maybe for Christmas? I dug out my old desk from storage and discovered that it was adjustable. So, Ryan made it into the perfect size for Olivia! We’re ready to start school!

Friday, September 24, 2010 - Update

Here are some finger painting pictures from the other day. We’re working on finger painting without asking to wash our hands every few minutes. . .

. . .and not eating the paint. Although she was just pretending in this picture. Goofy girl.

Everything is going well here (well, except school which I am just torn up about.) There was a meeting about Olivia yesterday which I’m waiting to hear about. I’ve really just started praying about the situation. . .I don’t know what else to do. Let’s see. . . I’m getting used to the braces and blood sugar testing. Tobey is making himself at home. . .although he reminds me that kittens are very ornery. We can’t keep him from jumping in the refrigerator every time it’s opened and from biting our toes. He is definitely not as “perfect” as Autumn, bless his heart.

What a Difference a Year Makes

Sept 2009

Sept 2010

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 – Update

We picked up Olivia’s new lenses today and I’ve seen an amazing difference in just a few short hours. She’s actually wearing her glasses! Lately, it’s been a struggle and I have never wanted to force her to wear them in case the prescription isn’t right. Well, we got rid of the bifocals and tried a new prescription and so far, so good. I’m hoping this really helps her vision. She seems really happy with her new glasses! Isn’t she gorgeous?

Had I known we were going to have such a good photo session, I would have combed her hair and washed her face. Isn’t that the way it always happens? LOL.

Olivia’s School

Well, I emailed Olivia’s teacher last night. Hopefully, I’ll hear back from her and we can set up an in person meeting. I have quite a few suggestions. For one, I’m not completely ruling out the fact that she may not be emotionally ready for school. She has 3 years until kindergarten. . .so, plenty of time to get ready. I think she can receive OT and PT without the classroom setting and we may look into that. That being said, I’m going to try to keep her in the classroom if at all possible. I know it is good for her. If Olivia was able to bring Gogum, Lily or have chocolate milk at school, I think she would feel more comfortable as those are her “comforts” at home. Expecting her to not bring anything isn’t taking into account the fact that developmentally she is only 2 1/2. I’m also hoping that I can observe one day so that I can learn her routine and we can talk about it at home. They expect me to drop her off outside, which makes her cry and sets the mood for the entire day. Why can’t I walk her into her room and stay for a few minutes? Then, gradually ease her into being dropped off? I really think they are willing to do something to help Olivia feel more comfortable, so hopefully we can find a solution. Thanks for all of your suggestions. . .it really gives me a lot to talk with them about.

School

I got a note home from Olivia’s school today telling me that she cries all day and they were wondering if I had any suggestions for them. She has trouble transitioning and doing tasks on her own. For one, new places and experiences are scary for her. . .I mean, how long did it take us to finally have a good eye doctor experience? Over 2 years. Secondly, she is only 3 (developmentally younger than that.) She hasn’t had school experiences until now. I thought preschool was supposed to help her with that. . .it’s not like she’s coming in an expert at these things. She hasn’t gone to daycare, but she has no trouble pushing mama out the door to stay at grandma and grandpa’s house. She is very good at independent play at home. I hate that people think my child is one that cries all of the time. . .she is a very happy-go-lucky child most of the time. I feel like I’ve failed because school is not going successfully. My one suggestion for them is music. . .sing, sing and sing some more. We have to sing songs in order to get her teeth brushed, hair brushed, etc. I’m still trying to think of other ideas to help them, but it’s hard when I don’t know what the day is like. Maybe they would let me come and observe? Any other suggestions???

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - Update

I’m having one of those not so good days. For one, I feel awful. I have a horrible sore throat and am just miserable. Then, I had to send Olivia to school this morning as she was clinging to me, crying, “I don’t want to go to school Mommy!” She has cried all week at the mere mention of school. She was originally so excited. . .I’m not sure what happened. This is the part of motherhood I’m not so fond of. How do I continue to send her when it makes her so upset?

Yesterday, we had Aunt Kimmy paint her name on her back pack. It turned out cuter than I even envisioned it! Thanks Kim! If only her excitement about school matched the cuteness of her bag. :)

So, after I dropped her off. . .I crawled back into bed. Too bad I couldn’t sleep because my throat hurts so bad. At least I had good company.

Now, I’m off to Walgreens for something to help my throat and then I get to pick up my favorite girl from school. Praying the day went better today. . .

Happy Birthday Grandpa Glunt

We wanted to wish Grandpa Glunt a Happy Birthday! Earlier, Olivia sang Happy Birthday to him and it was too cute. I am unable to get into my pictures at the moment, so I had to steal a pic from Kim’s blog. I liked this one because Ryan is sitting on his lap. :) We hope you have had a great day!

This is the pic I was looking for :)

Olivia had an eye appt/dilation today and she did AMAZING! Last time, she did really well, but her eyes didn’t have to be dilated. So, I didn’t know how she’d do today. Wow! She sat still and let him look into her eyes like such a big girl. For the first time ever, her eye doctor felt like he got a good measurement. I was sooo proud of her. This means that her prescription is a lot different than it was (no wonder she hasn’t wanted to wear her glasses lately.) He is removing the bifocals and we are going to try her with a different prescription. Hopefully, we’ll see a lot of improvement with these changes. Oh, and Grandma Glunt? You’re invited to come with us every time from now on. :)

Sunday, September 19, 2010 - Update

I’m quickly becoming accustomed to checking my blood sugar. After only a few days, it has become second nature. At this point, it’s kind of like a science experiment. It helps me figure out what I can and cannot eat. Barbecued beef sandwich. . .bad. Ham sandwich on Ezekiel bread and almonds. . .good. Ham with green bean casserole and a cinnamon supplement afterwards. . .awesome! I don’t know how much the cinnamon helped the fairly low carb meal, but my numbers have never been so low 2 hours post-meal. Yay! Now, I can finally determine how food is affecting me and what changes I need to make. My fasting blood sugar is normal, but it spikes too high after meals (especially those with carbs and sugar.) It’s called postprandial hyperglycemia. . .an exaggerated rise in blood sugar following a meal. So, I really have to watch what I eat if I want to avoid having blood sugars that are all over the place. This weekend, I learned about three amazing options for diabetics: Ezekiel bread, Stevia and cinnamon and I’m hoping to learn more about them. In the meantime, wish me luck on my diet. It’s tough, but I’m determined to manage this. . . .without insulin.

Rebekah’s Birthday Party

Today we celebrated my niece’s 8th birthday with a book party!  Everyone brought their favorite book.

Rebekah, the birthday girl!

Katie 

The two youngest Wildcats

 

Julia

With all of these books around. . .Olivia wanted to read one.

And, yes, there was hula hooping.  Here is my husband strutting his stuff.

And I wouldn’t embarrass my husband without embarrassing myself.  At least you can’t see my braces.  By the way, I was the adult who could hula hoop the longest. . .  however, I want to know who picked up our camera and took these pictures in the first place.

It was a great party and we hope Rebekah had a great birthday!

Happy Birthday, Rebekah!

Happy 8th Birthday to my niece, Rebekah!!  Olivia adores you (as do I) and we hope all your dreams come true!!

Thursday, September 16, 2010 - Update

As if I don’t feel bad enough about my appearance since having braces, my endocrinologist told me that I was much cuter without braces.  For one, how inappropriate and two. . .thanks a lot.  That made me feel tons better. . .I don’t even want to smile anymore.  Then, I left the endocrinologist with a blood glucose meter and I have to start testing daily which I’m not looking forward to.  What a week. . .and this is after we had golf ball to baseball sized hail last night.  This week was supposed to go better than last week. :( 

At least the rest of my family is doing well. . .Olivia, Ryan and the kitties.  Autumn has even started grooming Tobey.   Tobey is a sweet little thing, but is quite the handful.  He wakes us up every morning.  He licks Ryan’s face until he finally gets out of bed and then follows him around all morning.  Usually, at 6 am. . .Autumn leaves the room, sits on a chair and watches the sunrise or something. . .she never bothers us.  Tobey is constantly trying to steal our food (which Autumn did too) and he chews on stuff.  Autumn has never chewed on anything.  We’re enjoying our two kitties, though.  Snuggling up with a kitty sure helps at the end of a bad day.  :)

Can’t leave without a picture of Olivia. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 - Update

Today, I dropped Olivia off at school, went to Jazzercise, came home, showered and picked her up.  My day was going well until I heard that Olivia shed many tears today.  I don’t really know what that means. . .did she cry the entire time?  How many is “many?”  That really breaks my heart and makes this whole school thing harder.  She was so excited to go this morning too. . .

Autumn has decided that Tobey is okay and there is no more hissing in this house.  It only took 3 days. . .that wasn’t so bad.  I even caught them walking by each other and they rubbed heads.  Awwww.   They don’t yet love each other, but I feel comfortable leaving them unsupervised.  I worry, however, because Tobey demands attention from everyone he sees and that makes Autumn kinda shy away.  I still want to make sure she gets her fair share of attention.  Oh me and my cats. . . .kinda nice that there are no concussions or emergencies  to talk about this week. 

Monday, September 13, 2010 - Update

I think Tobey is actually a 3 year old trapped in a kitty’s body. . .he likes all the things Olivia likes. . .even playing trains!

Things have been a bit better between Autumn and Tobey today.  They can actually be in the same room together without Autumn hissing at him.  So, that’s a start.

Olivia goes back to preschool tomorrow.  Last Tuesday, they didn’t have school due to inservice, so she hasn’t been since that first day.  Hopefully, we’ll have another successful day.  Wish us luck!