Jonathan had his five-year well visit yesterday. He's 41 pounds and 42-3/4 inches... hanging out in the 40-something percentile, right between his two brothers, as always. (6 pounds more than Ben at the same age, 5 pounds less than Simon....3-1/4 inches taller than Ben(!!!!), 3/4" shorter than Simon)
Sidenote: SHEESH Ben was tiny!!!!!
The doctor said he looks great and is growing perfectly!
He asked if I had any questions or concerns and honesty, I couldn't think of any. He laughed and said, "That's the third one for you! You could probably do my job!" I jokingly said if he ever needed help, I'd be happy to come in. LOL. He said they've actually considered doing that before... having parents come in for other parents to talk to and ask questions of because sometimes it's actually more helpful than talking to a pediatrician. Too funny!
J got his flu shot and freaked out. (the nurse was SO SLOW... Just DO it already!!) He recovered quickly though when I told him we could stop at the deli downstairs and get a ginger ale. ;)
He wasn't pleased about going back to school either, but his class was headed to lunch when we got back and I just added him on to the back of their line and all was well. PHEW!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
First Day of Middle School....
Tuesday, Ben FINALLY started school. First day of sixth grade... first day of middle school.
He was nervous. Even though he is in the same school as last year, the middle school is different. They have different classrooms and teachers and there are lots of expectations and LOTS to keep track of.
Check out this schedule!
Every single day is different... and then it changes every other week. It's a lot to remember. I hope he can get in a good routine with it all or he will never have what he needs! This is where I am thankful he is in such a small school and where I feared he would really get lost in the shuffle in the bigger school most of his JES friends went to.
The first day, he came home overwhelmed and not so happy. He said middle school was super serious and he was afraid he was going to forget things. The second day was better. He LOVES math and English, so far. I also think he's going to end up loving Tech and Life Science. And, while he thinks Ancient Civilizations is going to be boring, I have been getting emails from his teacher that suggest otherwise. He is the only teacher to send emails out so far and they are SO funny. Seems like he is really going to make an effort to make it fun and engaging for the kids.
He's still thinking about whether he wants to join the Math Club (which is run by the teacher mentioned above!). I hope he does it. Most of his friends were also invited, and I think he'll really enjoy it.
Anyway, so far, so good. He has forgotten his lunch box once, and a history homework... and there is a snafu with his gym uniform and he left his tennis shoes at school on Thursday... LOL... but all in all, I'm optimistic for a good year. ;)
Check out this schedule!
Every single day is different... and then it changes every other week. It's a lot to remember. I hope he can get in a good routine with it all or he will never have what he needs! This is where I am thankful he is in such a small school and where I feared he would really get lost in the shuffle in the bigger school most of his JES friends went to.
The first day, he came home overwhelmed and not so happy. He said middle school was super serious and he was afraid he was going to forget things. The second day was better. He LOVES math and English, so far. I also think he's going to end up loving Tech and Life Science. And, while he thinks Ancient Civilizations is going to be boring, I have been getting emails from his teacher that suggest otherwise. He is the only teacher to send emails out so far and they are SO funny. Seems like he is really going to make an effort to make it fun and engaging for the kids.
He's still thinking about whether he wants to join the Math Club (which is run by the teacher mentioned above!). I hope he does it. Most of his friends were also invited, and I think he'll really enjoy it.
Anyway, so far, so good. He has forgotten his lunch box once, and a history homework... and there is a snafu with his gym uniform and he left his tennis shoes at school on Thursday... LOL... but all in all, I'm optimistic for a good year. ;)
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
One of my Nightmares Came True...
Y'all, now that I'm pretty sure we're in the clear, I have to tell you...
...head lice descended upon our house last week.
Last Tuesday morning, right after I dropped off the other two boys, Ben was scratching his head. Whenever I notice any of the kids doing this, I usually jokingly say, "Let me check for lice!" and do a cursory head check.
This time it was for real. OMG. Ben and I panicked briefly. Then, when I had regained my composure, I told him not to move and ran immediately down the street to Rite Aid for the "the kit".
Oh man. It was not fun. I set about washing everything in his bedroom and vacuuming the sofas, floors, etc.
Somewhere in there it hit me, Simon had been scratching his head the day before...
At school pickup, I held my breath and hoped I wasn't right. But as soon as he came out and got close to me, I could see he had fallen victim too. I took him right home and did the whole routine on HIS head and started washing everything in HIS room.
Then I did my own head because... I snuggle with them in their beds EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OMG.... (I think I was fine, it was precautionary... because... just ew...)
Jonathan somehow escaped even though he and Simon share a hairbrush. (gag. gag. gag)
I emailed the school nurse who was hugely helpful and reassuring. She told me to bring Simon and Jonathan into her office on the way into school the next day so she could check. She gave both the all clear and said I had done a great job with the combing. (go me!)
I have had to comb through their hair every day since then... found a couple of nits here and there for another couple days and I've washed pillowcases and towels every single night. I've also checked and rechecked Jonathan. We are supposed to retreat everyone with the shampoo tomorrow just in case anything got by me, but I *think* the vigilance has paid off and we've won the battle.
Where did they get it? Your guess is as good as mine. I had initially assumed Simon picked it up at school and passed it on to Ben... but the nurse told me it's a 14-21-day incubation period? Which puts the timeline more in Disneyworld.... gahhh...I don't really want to think about that!!
I really and truly do not ever want to repeat this but I will say, it's not as horrible as I had always imagined. Still... not anxious to do it ever again! UGH!
...head lice descended upon our house last week.
Last Tuesday morning, right after I dropped off the other two boys, Ben was scratching his head. Whenever I notice any of the kids doing this, I usually jokingly say, "Let me check for lice!" and do a cursory head check.
This time it was for real. OMG. Ben and I panicked briefly. Then, when I had regained my composure, I told him not to move and ran immediately down the street to Rite Aid for the "the kit".
Oh man. It was not fun. I set about washing everything in his bedroom and vacuuming the sofas, floors, etc.
Somewhere in there it hit me, Simon had been scratching his head the day before...
At school pickup, I held my breath and hoped I wasn't right. But as soon as he came out and got close to me, I could see he had fallen victim too. I took him right home and did the whole routine on HIS head and started washing everything in HIS room.
Then I did my own head because... I snuggle with them in their beds EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OMG.... (I think I was fine, it was precautionary... because... just ew...)
Jonathan somehow escaped even though he and Simon share a hairbrush. (gag. gag. gag)
I emailed the school nurse who was hugely helpful and reassuring. She told me to bring Simon and Jonathan into her office on the way into school the next day so she could check. She gave both the all clear and said I had done a great job with the combing. (go me!)
I have had to comb through their hair every day since then... found a couple of nits here and there for another couple days and I've washed pillowcases and towels every single night. I've also checked and rechecked Jonathan. We are supposed to retreat everyone with the shampoo tomorrow just in case anything got by me, but I *think* the vigilance has paid off and we've won the battle.
Where did they get it? Your guess is as good as mine. I had initially assumed Simon picked it up at school and passed it on to Ben... but the nurse told me it's a 14-21-day incubation period? Which puts the timeline more in Disneyworld.... gahhh...I don't really want to think about that!!
I really and truly do not ever want to repeat this but I will say, it's not as horrible as I had always imagined. Still... not anxious to do it ever again! UGH!
Friday, September 04, 2015
First Week of Kindergarten... Second Week of Third Grade...Middle School orientation....
Well, it's Friday.
It took Jonathan until Thursday to try to escape kindergarten. Thankfully, it was a half-hearted attempt, he turned around on the way through the doors and tried to run for me. I blocked though and a kindergarten assistant who was standing there ran interference and he walked with her to class. The rest of the day went well, I guess, because I never heard otherwise.
He has had all of his specials at this point, since Monday is just his extra Phys. Ed day. He has liked them all so far. (I'll hear about music when he gets home) ;)
Here he is with his first ever library checkout! Mrs. Terry said he was good in library on Wednesday, a little silly here and there because he is really comfortable with her, but good. He even helped a non-English speaking classmate walk to the bathroom!
He says the day is long (and it is), but it must be filled with enough to keep him occupied because his complaints aren't constant.
I got roped into room mom duty for the first time ever in my entire kids-in-school history. A preschool mom friend asked if I would do it with her. I told her I would if no one else stepped up.... apparently no one did. So, this will be new and interesting! LOL.
It took Jonathan until Thursday to try to escape kindergarten. Thankfully, it was a half-hearted attempt, he turned around on the way through the doors and tried to run for me. I blocked though and a kindergarten assistant who was standing there ran interference and he walked with her to class. The rest of the day went well, I guess, because I never heard otherwise.
He has had all of his specials at this point, since Monday is just his extra Phys. Ed day. He has liked them all so far. (I'll hear about music when he gets home) ;)
Here he is with his first ever library checkout! Mrs. Terry said he was good in library on Wednesday, a little silly here and there because he is really comfortable with her, but good. He even helped a non-English speaking classmate walk to the bathroom!
He says the day is long (and it is), but it must be filled with enough to keep him occupied because his complaints aren't constant.
I got roped into room mom duty for the first time ever in my entire kids-in-school history. A preschool mom friend asked if I would do it with her. I told her I would if no one else stepped up.... apparently no one did. So, this will be new and interesting! LOL.
Simon had a good second week. They launched headlong into multiplication in math and he seems to be doing ok with that. Handwriting has regressed a ton and all of his work is a mess again/still... so I guess we'll be working on that at home a lot. School in general, is still not his favorite (especially since they are not currently doing a science unit and he loves science), but he goes without complaint for the most part and seems to enjoy having so many friends in his class this year.
I really like the whole third grade team, even the teacher I wasn't thrilled he got seems ok for now.
I guess we'll see how things progress and how conferences go... but for now, all is well in school land.
Ben had his middle school orientation yesterday and is already overwhelmed by all the class changing and things to remember. THIS will for sure be an interesting transition. He got his schedule and he is taking pre-algebra... which means I am officially out of the math homework helping game with him. Gah. Pre-algebra, which I'm pretty sure I did not take until 7th grade, was when things really went south for me, math-wise. He must have a better math head on his shoulders than I did though because I got an email that his standardized test scores from spring were high enough to qualify him for the math competition club. He is considering it... I hope he does it! :)
Anyway... so things seem to be off to a good start! I hope it's a great year for all three!