Birthdays

Tis the season... for lots of celebrations! Lil Rev turned 6 this month and we threw him a Magical birthday hosting our 1st "kid" party at our house. I didn't know what to expect as i invited his entire Kindergarten class, cousins and friends too, and i am happy to report it was a complete success! The kids loved the Magic Hat activity where they all decorated their top hats and the main event included a Magician who manifested a real bird and rabbit in our home. Popcorn, treats, cake and fun magical party favors left all the kids, and parents, happy party goers. Hosting the party was a lot of fun, and lots of work too... SO next year i think a party at a bounce house place or a pizza parlor will have to happen.

A few weeks before the Magical birthday - we started off the birthday celebrations with my birthday in which i threw myself a Sweet 16 ~ Twice As Nice party ;) Complete with a music play list of the top 100 hits from when i was 16 years old. Let me tell you, it was quite a blast from the past... Macarena, Come on Ride the Train, Keith Sweat, LL Cool J, Tu Pac. The play list was rockin!! My sis and soul sista even traveled over 600 miles to celebrate with me and made it that much more special! I also started a new business adventure as an Independent Distributor for a great jewelry company. My Premier jewelry show for my birthday, the great ladies in my life and a baby announcement made my birthday weekend complete.

Symptoms

OK, I may be the only woman in time to actually be excited about nausea. I have had this underlying feeling of ICKY for a few days now but I experienced full fledged nausea when I went to the grocery store. Upon entering, there was an overwhelming smell of plastic and raw meat... disgusting! After gagging a few times and trying to regain my composure i hurried through the store with my nose buried in my shirt, eyes watering almost to the point of not being able to navigate my way and TRYING to just get through the errand. ... let the pregnancy games begin!

PREGNANT

It's official!!! I've earned my pregnancy card and have been promoted to Saintly Status! We took the test today (ok 3 tests) and each turned + within 5 seconds. We told Lil Rev the exciting news and he was as precious as can be! one of those times i WISH i had recorded. He was so excited, gave me several hugs and then asked "Mommy, is it going to be hard to take care of 2 kids?" how thoughtful! haha! He randomly thinks of the sweetest things to prepare for the new baby... "i will have to keep my room clean and get rid of all the small toys so the baby doesn't choke on them. I will teach the baby Spanish, Sign Language and how to swim without floaties". Every morning he taps my belly and says "hi baby". We are all very excited! I called Kaiser to see a doctor ASAP but they denied me! they said i have to waaaaaaaaaaaaait a couple more weeks to see the OBGYN (unless there are problems of course). So i scheduled my appointment and have been in a foggy daydreaming state ever since... how can i concentrate on anything else besides nursery design and nesting needs?! thanks for joining our journey, RevilleVille is growing!!!

Appreciation

 After hubby took a swan dive off the roof, so many of our family and friends really rallied together and were such a support to us! Even the offer to help was greatly appreciated. Our neighbor blew the leaves in our front year. Our other neighbor took our trash out and in that week (something JR does, which i could have easily done but it was a great help). Mother in law watched Lil Rev, came to the emergency room the day of the accident and stayed with me at the hospital during hubby's surgery. Our friend took Lil Rev trick or treating on the glorious surgery day - aka Halloween. Friends came by to check out our hearing/air system, father in law drove the 2 hrs drive to visit hubby, and on and on and on. It was heart warming to have so much support  so i  was inspired to give everyone a little sweet token of appreciation. I searched and found this great recipe for pumpkin spice oatmeal cookies, and after a few personal touches i made dozens and dozens of cookies for everyone. I had seen a great idea on Pinterest (gasp, i know - rare!) for making personal goodie bags so i bought cellophane bags, personalized each thank you card,  and handed them out to our loved ones. They were all well received and this will not be the last time for these little goodie bags!

Thank Goodness for Health Insurance!

 

 

 

 

Well, RevilleVille can confidently report we have been accident free for over a year... until now. I received a call from hubby stating he had fallen off the roof and broken his arm, followed by a prompt hang up. While rushing to leave work, i called the neighbors whom did not answer. I then called 911 not knowing the extent of his injuries. Let me tell you, that was the longest 20min drive home with my mind wandering to dark places,  hoping it was JUST a broken arm. When i arrived home, a fire truck was here and the firemen were in our home tending to Hubby. Shortly there after, the ambulance arrived and wisped him away to the hospital. Hubby was grateful for the temporary Morphine relief from his excruciating pain. I picked up Lil Rev from school and we spent the evening in the hospital. After xrays and an examination it was concluded that he broke his arm and would need surgery.
Sidenote: while in the emergency room i had reminded Hubby, in kid code, about our experience while pregnant with Lil Rev. Hubby had developed Plantar Fasciitis and i have many memories throughout my pregnancy of ME rubbing HIS feet due to his condition. I told Hubby his swan dive off the roof may have sealed the deal with our conceiving attempts as i would have to care for him now and history does repeat itself... we may be back in the hospital in 9 months. Big Ears Lil Rev picked up on the return visit comment and continued to ask why we would be back at the hospital in 9 months. I answered "with a follow up appointment for the Dr. to see Daddy's arm" = explanation diverted! We shall see...
Surgery was scheduled in 7 days so Hubby had to bear the pain (even though he was prescribed major pain meds), iced and elevated his arm and was as bored and uncomfortable as ever waiting in anticipating for his very first surgery from breaking his very 1st bone. I quickly became Nurse Wifey tending to his every need, tracking his frequent medication administration while Super Mom cared for Lil Rev. Unfortunately Mama Maid disappeared to compensate for this ordeal, which i am still trying to catch up. Surgery went well and Hubby went back to work less than a week after surgery. The surgery cost us $20. I even requested the intake nurse to repeat that total upon administration... it just sounded so good! Thank goodness for health insurance!



F'CKN

The other night i heard Lil Rev say "where's my F'CKN shoes?"
I asked him what he said and he repeated his sentence... then the following conversation took place (oh these convos!):
Me: well actually that's a very bad word
LR: what? F'CKN?
Me: yes. it's a really bad word. we don't say that word.
LR: what does F'CKN mean?
Me: well it means something worse that "stupid, hate and shut up" (the only bad words he knows thus far).
LR: what happens if i say F'CKN at school?
Me: 1st, stop saying it! you don't say bad words at school, you can get in trouble.
LR: will i get sent to the office if i say F'CKN?
Me: maybe, and there will be consequences at home too. stop saying it. there are other words you can say instead.
LR: F'CKN sounds funny. F'CKN is a funny word. 

Grow One Out

A conversation with Lil Rev in the car:
"Mommy, i want a baby brother or sister"
Me: I'll talk to Daddy about it
LR: ok, if he says yes will you grow one out?
Me: we'll have to see
LR: how do babies come out anyways?
Me: well it's quite magical. (HOPING this convo ends soon!)
LR: how mommy?
Me: when the baby has grown enough and is ready to be born, mommies go to the hospital and the doctors help babies be born.
LR: how?
Me: well doctors cut mommies tummy with a scalpel to take the baby out. That's one way babies can be born.
LR: did that happen to you?
Me: yes (referring to my 1st pregnancy over 10yrs ago that resulted in an open adoption- which i have not told Lil Rev about before... Yet)
LR: is that how i was hatched?
Me: no
LR: are you someone else's Mommy?
Me: yes
LR: oh. How was i hatched?
Me: well, when you get older I'll tell you all about it. It's a little hard for a 5 year old to understand. (truth is it's hard for MOMMY to explain to a 5 year old)
LR: when I'm 6 will you tell me?
Me: we'll see
LR: ok
I bet this will be his 1st business of order on his 6th birthday!! I have a couple months to prepare for this...

 

Symptoms

I never would have imagined that i'd be looking forward to those 1st indicators of pregnancy; nausea, achy boobies, exhaustion BUT WHERE ARE YOU tell tale signs? I'm awaiting your arrival with open arms and look forward to all those symptoms and side effects of the miracle of creating a baby. Thus far, nada! ok well i DID pull a muscle in my back last week (unrelated to the baby making process) and have had pretty severe back pains but that of course is not any indicator whatsoever. AND i have had some cramping here and there which could be 3 things. 1) the egg is attaching to the uterine wall and my body is in beginning phases of preparing for this incredible journey. 2) my egg is passing through my Fallopian tube getting ready to be released. 3) my mind is playing tricks on me.
I'm embracing option #1 :)

Loophole

 

TOKEN SYSTEM

Earn tokens for good behavior at school and at home to cash in on the weekends for extra privileges, such as "electronic time" (a movie, time to play his favorite Wii games, computer games), living room camp out, a pick from the treasure chest & anything else we can think of to help motivate our Lil Spirited and Spunky boy.
 

1. Home = blue tokens: Can earn them by abiding by RevilleVille expectations... especially good behavior. Ex: morning chore with good manners, 1st time listening, being respectful, help set dinner table, good manners at dinner, pick up & put away toys,  shower/brush teeth while practicing those listening skills.
 

2. School = RED  tokens: Since Lil Rev is having a really difficult time conforming to school expectations (& slowing down to listen, be LESS impulsive, etc.) we partnered with his teacher to incorporate our token system as a reward for good behavior at school. BUT school tokens are RED & can only be used for electronic time & special adventures (biggest motivators right now).

So last week was another difficult week and although he probably didn't deserve ANY red tokens we wanted to keep him hopeful & motivated and s t r e t c h e d to have him "earn" red tokens. Upon using his red tokens to play Mario Galaxy Wii game (his favorite this month) he decided to look for a loophole. After BEGGING to earn more red tokens at home by doing extra chores and promising good behavior "forever", i took this opportunity to remind him about the natural consequences of his behavior and choices at school, reiterated how he can earn red tokens and gave him a pep talk about a "fresh new start on Monday filled with many opportunities to make good choices, listen to the teacher and follow directions".  He silently walked into his room and several minutes later came out with "red tokens" he made all by himself. Colored and cut with TLC.
 

 Sorry honey, nice try and what a great job you did coloring and cutting but loophole denied!!!
 

Lesson Learned!

I would like to share a great piece of advice that i learned the hard way the other day...

When starting a boot camp (or any rigorous/strenuous activity)- DON'T give it 100% the first day!