Catch Up

I feel like it has been a really long time since I sat down to write!  

Sakes alive is just about all I have to say! 

I started this post a few days ago and I here I sit with only a few sentences down thus far.  Where to begin is the key though... as to not bore you all and still get all the details of the last few weeks...  Ummmm.

Baby Zach is doing great.  He is growing big and chubby, of which I love.  We have run into some troubles with his insurance so until April first we are without.  I weighed him last weekend and he was nine pounds and four ounces.  I am sure that he has grown since then but since he is sleeping I come from the school of... do not wake a sleeping baby.  So for now we will go with the fact that he has nearly doubled his weight in the little over two months he was been around.  Sundays are bath days here for him which means that I take off his oxygen and honestly yesterday he was doing so well without it that I left him off for almost five hours.  When I had to put it back on due to a little gray around the lips he was pissed.  I think he really enjoyed being with out his tube.  He is eating really well.  One frustration of mine is that he prefers the bottle over breast... which leads into my next topic.

Since Zach came home from the hospital I have been struggling with bonding with him.  I think part of this struggle was due to the fact that he was in the hospital and then came home with a tank and tubes and he wasn't allowed to breast feed for a while.  My baby blues set in really hard at one point and I really struggled with life in general.  After talking my feelings out with Michael, my mom and a very understanding cousin I began on the road of feeling better.  At a recent doctor's appointment I explained my struggles and she further encouraged me.  Now on the road to recovery and not feeling like such a cloud is over my head I am feeling better.  

Among the many doctor appointments that I have had since having Zach it was discovered that I have some abnormal cells on my cervix.  I will be going in on Wednesday to have those removed and hopefully will be free and clear of any troubles as far as that goes.  

During my bout with baby blues I realized that I do very little things for myself.  I have for the last three years specifically classified myself as wife and mom, and not that either of those titles are wrong or negative, however I realized that there is more to me than just those titles.  So one late night feed with Zach I spent some time cruising the internet and found myself on a website called Etsy.  The website is full of cute crafts and homemade items.  I found myself intrigued by it all and then there was a part of me that kept saying, "I could do that".  I ignored those voices for a little while and then I could silence them no longer.  Last week I purchased a few craft items and I found myself feeling a new spark of life.  I could create.  I could cultivate that craft person inside myself and do it just for me!  I then thought about the fact that I could try and sell some of my creations and that brought me back to the before mentioned website.  So here I sit at my desk which has been transformed into a craft central.  I have a bunch of headbands, hair clips, and scarves that I have made laying around me and my heart is content.  Yesterday I had my first sale which only sparked that part of me a little more (the sale was to my neighbor but still - a sale none the less).

I can't remember if I mentioned the following so I will put it in for the sake of it any way... back in February Ezekiel's OT mentioned that she was talking with the Speech Evaluator that he saw almost a year ago and was mentioning that Zeke's speech had not really improved.  The Speech Evaluator then called me and asked to see Zeke again.  So the end of February Zeke and I went in for another evaluation and at that time the SLP said that Zeke now qualifies for insurance to pay for therapy.  So the last month has been spent trying to get all the paperwork in for that and now we are just waiting for the SLP to get back from vacation to schedule his first appointment.

Ki on the other hand has been receiving speech therapy for almost six months now and the first week of April is his re-evaluation time.    We have seen some huge strides in the language development area for him and it is really exciting.  Although one thing that we have seen in his ability to talk is his ability to talk back... grrrr!  I guess I will have to take the bad with the good!

In regards to family news... a few of my friends have recently purchased their first homes and I was feeling a little pity party one day and so I asked my friend flat out some personal financial questions followed with, "How can you afford a house... are you selling drugs?"  Joking of course she explained some home buying information with me.  I later that night sat down with Michael and together we decided that we are willing to make some compromises... We both hate moving and have always said that the next move we make will be into the house that we can raise our boys in.  Well after that night we decided that might be an impossible thought and if we are able to get into a house that would be less than our rent and allow us to pay off our small amount of debt faster than that might be a better option.  So two weeks ago we made a list of things that we would compromise on and things we would not, we listed out the bare minimum requirements that we had and then started looking at the MLS listings.  Last week we went to our bank and brought in all our information and we are supposed to be hearing back this week about what we can get pre-qualified for - fingers crossed!

Well I think that just about covers it all from this end!  I better get going so I can get a little cat nap before the afternoon craziness begins.

BOYS

"You're Right"

Being a mom of boys is a challenge in itself.  Being a mom of three Kulow boys is a calling from God up above, and only the mentally insane can handle this calling. 
With that said this morning I was in my closet getting dressed and I heard some noise on the opposite wall, which is the wall leading to the downstairs.  I walk out of my room to see Zeke helmet adorned and he is laying in his cylindrical laundry basket.  I ask him what he is doing and he simply says to me, "Don't worry about it mom, I have my helmet on."  I go on to explain that even with a helmet I don't want him rolling down the stairs in the laundry basket. 
Silly me thinking that the issue was resolved I walk back into my room only to hear a big crash.  I bolt out of my room to see Zeke crawling out of the laundry basket at the bottom of the stairs.  The first thing out of his mouth is, "Mom you were right.  That kind of hurt."  No stinking DUH!  Trying hard not to laugh I checked to make sure he was fine and then proceeded to tell him that was not a smart idea.  Zeke looks at me and says, "Yeah, I won't do that again."  I guess that is the difference between boys and girls - boys have to try it for themselves!  UGH!

Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father

OF the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room. Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink.
But if you are sick, and are lying down and watching something, then may you eat in the living room.

 And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke. Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away. When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck; for you will be sent away.
When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same to you. Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is. And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that, that is why. And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why. Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.

 For we judge between the plate that is unclean and the plate that is clean, saying first, if the plate is clean, then you shall have dessert. But of the unclean plate, the laws are these: If you have eaten most of your meat, and two bites of your peas with each bite consisting of not less than three peas each, or in total six peas, eaten where I can see, and you have also eaten enough of your potatoes to fill two forks, both forkfuls eaten where I can see, then you shall have dessert. But if you eat a lesser number of peas, and yet you eat the potatoes, still you shall not have dessert; and if you eat the peas, yet leave the potatoes uneaten, you shall not have dessert, no, not even a small portion thereof. And if you try to deceive by moving the potatoes or peas around with a fork, that it may appear you have eaten what you have not, you will fall into iniquity. And I will know, and you shall have no dessert.

Do not scream; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you are given a plate on which two foods you do not wish to touch each other are touching each other, your voice rises up even to the ceiling, while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand; but I say to you, scream not, only remonstrate gently with the server, that the server may correct the fault. Likewise if you receive a portion of fish from which every piece of herbal seasoning has not been scraped off, and the herbal seasoning is loathsome to you, and steeped in vileness, again I say, refrain from screaming. Though the vileness overwhelm you, and cause you a faint unto death, make not that sound from within your throat, neither cover your face, nor press your fingers to your nose. For even now I have made the fish as it should be; behold, I eat of it myself, yet do not die.

 Cast your countenance upward to the light, and lift your eyes to the hills, that I may more easily wash you off. For the stains are upon you; even to the very back of your head, there is rice thereon. And in the breast pocket of your garment, and upon the tie of your shoe, rice and other fragments are distributed in a manner wonderful to see. Only hold yourself still; hold still, I say. Give each finger in its turn for my examination thereof, and also each thumb. Lo, how iniquitous they appear. What I do is as it must be; and you shall not go hence until I have done.

Bite not, lest you be cast into quiet time. Neither drink of your own bath water, nor of bath water of any kind; nor rub your feet on bread, even if it be in the package; nor rub yourself against cars, nor against any building; nor eat sand.
Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not that humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book. Indeed, you will drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape.

O my children, you are disobedient. For when I tell you what you must do, you argue and dispute hotly even to the littlest detail; and when I do not accede, you cry out, and hit and kick. Yes, and even sometimes do you spit, and shout "stupid-head" and other blasphemies, and hit and kick the wall and the molding thereof when you are sent to the corner. And though the law teaches that no one shall be sent to the corner for more minutes than he has years of age, yet I would leave you there all day, so mighty am I in anger. But upon being sent to the corner you ask straightaway, "Can I come out?" and I reply, "No, you may not come out." And again you ask, and again I give the same reply. But when you ask again a third time, then you may come out.
Hear me, O my children, for the bills they kill me. I pay and pay again, even to the twelfth time in a year, and yet again they mount higher than before. For our health, that we may be covered, I give six hundred and twenty talents twelve times in a year; but even this covers not the fifteen hundred deductible for each member of the family within a calendar year. And yet for ordinary visits we still are not covered, nor for many medicines, nor for the teeth within our mouths. Guess not at what rage is in my mind, for surely you cannot know.
For I will come to you at the first of the month and at the fifteenth of the month with the bills and a great whining and moan. And when the month of taxes comes, I will decry the wrong and unfairness of it, and mourn with wine and ashtrays, and rend my receipts. And you shall remember that I am that I am: before, after, and until you are twenty-one. Hear me then, and avoid me in my wrath, O children of me.

By Ian Frazier

Great Post

Yesterday I read a great cloth diapering post by someone and because I liked how informative it was I thought I would pass it along to you all!  A Day in Cloth Diapering

Great Day

Today is what great days are made of...
Slept in this morning until 8:30am... Michael woke up earlier and took care of the two older boys.  After a quick breakfast Michael took Zeke and Ki to the bank and Home Depot.  Little did we know that today was craft day at Home Depot so the boys got to make a wooden race car.  While they were gone Zach and I hung out.  I changed the sheets on the beds and then just snuggled with Zach.  Michael brought the boys home and then he and Zeke left for a special day.  Michael took Zeke to the RV show in town while Ki and I spent some time together.  Ki and I ate lunch together and then we laid down for a two hour nap.  We woke up from our nap and fed Zach and played with Zach until he fell back to sleep.  Once Zach was back to sleep Ki and I spent some time wrestling and racing cars.  Michael came home with Zeke and brought us all dinner.  After dinner the boys showered.  Right now I am sitting here at the dinner table sipping a cup of chai tea and everyone is snuggled on the couch watching television. 
A great day indeed!

There is only one you!

I know that I had mentioned my new ventures a few weeks back and I thought I would post the websites for each of them for you to scope out for yourself!

Uppercase Living

Initials, inc.

Let me know if you want to host a party or are interested in some of the products!

I did it!

Today was my first day of going out with all three boys all by myself... And I survived. The plan was not to be on my own with all three boys but Michael's work load changed today. The plan was that Michael would stay home with Zach while I took Zeke to preschool and Ki and I would go to MOPS then after Zeke was done with school I would take him to his OT appointment and Ki would come too. This morning as I woke up and heard Michael in the closet getting dressed you can imagine my surprise. Michael informs me that he was leaving for work, when questioned he said that he thought he told me about the change. When he left I was bummed and thought... Well there goes the day! I called Michael and asked him if I could go about my day as planned and just add Zach into the maddness. So at eight it was set, I had to leave the house with all three boys and we had to be out the door in thirty five minutes! I did it! I packed lunches for the boys, got everything together for Zach, repacked the diaper bag for all three boys and we were out the door at 8:45am. I got Zeke in his class for preschool, Ki in his MOPS class and Zach and I made it to MOPS. I did it all by myself. We got home from all our stuff today at 2:45pm... A long day but we did it, Zeke was a huge helper, Ki was a trooper like always and Zach did awesome for his first time out and about!