Audrey's sick, Conner's smart

Let me just say first that today is the last day of school (woo-hoo!). I'm actually sitting in my 7th period exam right now... all I have left to do is grade these exams (thank goodness for the scantron machine!) and run stuff around the building to the right people. A couple of years ago I was finished in 33 minutes (after the final bell). I'm going to go for a new record today. :)

I ended up taking Audrey to the doctor last night. She's been coughing and wheezing and sniffling (and not eating well, which is very unlike her) for several days now. A couple of months ago, she was diagnosed with bronchiolitis and an ear infection. The doctor last night said she has another ear infection and basically bronchiolitis-induced-asthma. Joy. They did a breathing treatment at the office, which Audrey did not like in the least, and gave me a prescription for an inhaler (just like for asthma). She said to use the inhaler every 4 hours while Aud still sounds bad (which could be for a week or so) and then just to use whenever we need it. Audrey will probably get like this whenever she gets sick, but it's something she should grow out of someday. Then we also got some amoxycilin for the ear infection (which Audrey sucks down... I guess it tastes like bubble gum).

This diagnosis really isn't the worst thing possible - Eric and I were afraid that it was some sort of allergy (like to the dogs or the grass or something like that). At least it's something that's somewhat treatable and we don't have to get rid of the dogs (unless someone wants them!).

Speaking of allergies, Audrey is now capable of drinking straight Vitamin D milk. Yay! I've got one more bottle of soy milk that I'll mix in, but then I'm not buying any more!

Ok, so on to Conner. His preschool screening at New Richmond Elementary was yesterday. He seemed to have a good time, and the teachers there all thought he was really cute. The speech pathologist that did some of the testing told me that he was one of the smartest kids they've seen all day. We'll see if than pans out! They're supposed to be sending letters home either Saturday or Monday.

While Conner went into a different room for the screening, I sat and filled out a survey-type thing. There were 3 options for answers: Most of the time/Sometimes with help/Never. Some of the questions were, "Can button large buttons", "Can brush teeth by themself", "Can get themself dressed"... There was also stuff about how he plays with other kids, attitude, stuff like that. Last year when we did this, I had to answer "Sometimes" for most of the questions. This year it was cool to be able to answer "Most of the time" for most of the questions. Looking back, it's amazing to think about how much he's learned in the past year.

One year down, fourteen to go!

Conner finished up his first year of school yesterday! I really think he enjoyed it and learned a lot, but I also think he was ready for a break. Although he only went on Tuesday and Thursday, it was a 5-day-a-week program, and they offer day care, too. I think only 5 or 6 of the kids are doing the preschool program, so for the majority of the kids it's been a regular week. It was just kind of sad that yesterday was a normal day... no one seemed to realize that Conner was done. I told him to give hugs to his teachers, and off we went.

They did do a cute project this week - at our conference on the 14th, Miss Jackie (Conner's teacher) told us to make a poster with pictures of Conner for him to share at show-and-tell yesterday. Of course, we meant to do it over the weekend but forgot/ran out of time, so Wednesday after school we ran up to Kroger's to buy some posterboard (Conner chose a bright orange). Then we went home and picked out some pictures to put on it. Everything he saw he wanted to include, but I narrowed it down to a few from birth to Gatlinburg last month. Then I had him write his name in the middle of the poster and arranged the pictures around it. I have to say that I think it turned out pretty cute. When I went to pick him up yesterday, they'd posted them outside Conner's room. They were all cute (with stickers and such), but Conner's was the only one with his writing on it.

I'm still not sure what he'll be doing next year school-wise. The screening for the New Richmond Elementary program is next Wednesday - it's for 3-4 year olds, but I think they mainly take the 4-year olds. They also have different quotas to fill because of state funding. Hopefully Conner can get in as a "normal" kid... our financial situation doesn't help him fit in any other category. The cool thing is that they actually have bus service, so he could ride the bus (which I'm sure would be the best part of the day!). We'll see if it works out. If it doesn't, I'll probably take him back to Family Connections 3 days a week, and take Audrey along for 2 of them so I don't have to drive back and forth to Shannan's as often as I did this year. It would take me almost an hour to get home on the days when I had to pick both of them up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he gets in!

(Another) Crazy Day

When I went to get Aud out of her crib yesterday morning, I turned on the light to find some big pink eyes looking back at me. It seriously looked like she'd been in a fight (and the other person won!)... both eyes were really red and her right eyelid was really pink and puffy. A clear case of pink eye!

I obviously couldn't take her to Shannan's, so I called school to ask for a sub (no one answered, and I didn't want to leave it on voice mail). Then I reconsidered and called Papa Doug and Weyla Marge - thank goodness for them! They readily agreed to take the poor little thing for the day. It actually turned out pretty well - I took Conner to school, then drove up to Milford and dropped off Audrey. My school was on a different schedule because of a test all the kids had to take, so my first class didn't actually start until 10:05 - that gave me some extra time.

Audrey didn't get much of an afternoon nap and fell asleep in the van on the way to pick up Conner... she actually slept through picking him up and a quick trip through the McDonald's drive thru. Conner was super good and stayed quiet (well, quieter than normal!) in the car so she could sleep.

He was good then, but a bear when it was time for bed. I don't know how many times I was "called" to come upstairs because there was something he just couldn't wait to tell me! At one point, I went up, and he said:
"Mom, do you know what I was doing while they were singing downstairs?" (I was down there watching American Idol.)
"I was dancing!"

Whose boy is this, anyway?

Only 5 more days of school!

A new tooth?

I just spotted a white peak in Audrey's mouth as I was getting her ready for bed... the funny thing, it wasn't one that I thought would be coming soon (like the bottom front one that she still doesn't have).
I can't tell which one it is on top - it's all alone in the back of her mouth! Crazy. This teeth thing really shouldn't surprise me anymore.

Cows

"Do cows get hair cuts?"

It's been a big two weeks!

Conner's funny question of the day: "Is Audrey from China?" Two little girls at the babysitters were adopted from China, so I guess that got him wondering if Audrey was from there, too.

Audrey's had an eventful two weeks.

1. Three teeth (and I think another will be erupting soon)2. I've been able to add some milk into her diet. Her cups are now about half soy/half milk, she's eaten mozarella cheese on pizza (and string cheese), and she's also been able to eat Conner's yogurt. Yay! Hopefully the end is in sight.

3. She's starting to walk! Eric told me on Friday she'd taken a step towards him, and now she's up to 4 or 5. She's also doing great standing, and seems to be gaining a lot of confidence.

Random things. . .

Another comment from Conner last week. We were coming home from school; Eric had just gotten a (large) load of mulch and dumped it on the driveway. Conner said, "I can't believe my eyes!" Too funny.

These are some pictures that Mom had taken while she was down at our place a couple of weeks ago and I just got copies of.

Today is Eric's birthday - he's home with the kids, and I told Conner to be extra good because it's Daddy's birthday. We'll see how that goes! I think we're going to go to dinner tonight and then I'm meeting some friends for a Stampin' Up party (I just go for the fun; I never buy).

Tomorrow's going to be a busy day: I've got book club (we read A Thousand Splendid Suns, which is awesome) and a baby shower for Katie Stephens at 1:00. I'm planning on taking Audrey with me so Eric can get some work done and not have to wait around for her to take naps. Then Sunday we're meeting Doug & Marge for lunch after church. I was kind of hoping to get to the zoo because Curious George (or as Conner calls him, "Gregory George") is going to be there, but it sounds like it's supposed to rain. Yuck.

Teeth galore!

Three teeth now! Wowee. No wonder the poor little thing was so grumpy (and feverish) Thursday and Friday. A new one popped through on Saturday and another (finally that bottom one that's been threatening for months) on Sunday. Aud looks so different now when she's laughing! (I've been trying to get a picture but haven't been successful yet)