Tim and I both had appointments with the dentist this week.
Eli went with me today to watch as my teeth were cleaned. He had a blast. They brought out the alligator with huge teeth and a big tooth brush and Eli sat on my lap brushing the alligators teeth while watching my teeth being cleaned.
He was sooo very good- talking animatedly with the staff and asking questions. They were great, showing him the tooth tickler (polisher), and he named all the pieces he remembered from his visit at the beginning of the year to fix his back tooth.
He has a cleaning in a few weeks- so I was glad he got to see first hand how simple and easy it is to sit back in the chair and watch as your pearly whites become sooo very shiny :0)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Pure economics- or not so pure....
Disclaimer:
The words pee, poo, potty, potty training and toilet are used in this post. If you will be offended at reading about these words and what they represent, please skip this post and come back later :0D
So, when we first met Elisha- now almost a year ago, it was love at first sight- actually even before we met him, we felt we knew him.
Imagine our excitement when we went back a few months later to bring him home and the very first night at the hotel, mere hours after picking him up, he poops on the potty!! We were overjoyed that we wouldn't have to work so hard on the potty training, since he seemed to have it down.
Then, after several months of diapers and pull ups, we realized he was potty-timed at the baby home, not potty trained. And there is a huge difference.
Potty trained children understand their body talking to them- that discomfort in the belly that they have to pee or poo- and they go to the toilet and relieve that pain.
Potty timed children are put on the potty several times a day at strategic times- like a puppy-upon awakening, before and after meals and snacks and then again before bed.
A potty timed child is perfectly potty trained- as long as his/her parents are able to get them on the potty at just the right time.
Unfortunately, this has seemed to make our potty training time last FOREVER.
I am so thankful that he has no problems going to the bathroom on the potty----- but, he doesn't seem to be bothered by wet underpants either.
Thus my economics dilemma. I decided 2 days ago that we were not going to do pull ups anymore. All cloth underpants. This in hopes that he would learn to wake up if he had to pee, as well as save the world by not putting more diapers in the landfills than absolutely necessary.
Maybe I should give it more time. But doing a small load of laundry after nap and bedtime, seeing that the "pee-proof" plastic of the mattress pad isn't so much, spraying down the mattress hoping it doesn't start smelling........
I'm thinking purely economically that I am much more green with 2 little diapers a day than I am with 2 incomplete loads of laundry, (washing and drying) the time lost- Oh yeah, mostly the fact that he soaked through everything last night and still was completely sound asleep!!!!
I think I will continue with the advice from my sister-in-law. We have been going up just before going to bed and putting him on the toilet several hours after he's gone to sleep. I think I'll try going green again when he wakes up because he is wet, instead of continuing to sleep so peacefully.
For those who have been there, done that, have the tee shirt and wrote a book- if you have any advice that worked for you- please feel free to share. Denise- the cheerios work to help make sure everything is out- but he was having fun hitting the big hole in the bottom of the toilet before, anyways.
He continues to be a blessing to us and so many around us!!
The words pee, poo, potty, potty training and toilet are used in this post. If you will be offended at reading about these words and what they represent, please skip this post and come back later :0D
So, when we first met Elisha- now almost a year ago, it was love at first sight- actually even before we met him, we felt we knew him.
Imagine our excitement when we went back a few months later to bring him home and the very first night at the hotel, mere hours after picking him up, he poops on the potty!! We were overjoyed that we wouldn't have to work so hard on the potty training, since he seemed to have it down.
Then, after several months of diapers and pull ups, we realized he was potty-timed at the baby home, not potty trained. And there is a huge difference.
Potty trained children understand their body talking to them- that discomfort in the belly that they have to pee or poo- and they go to the toilet and relieve that pain.
Potty timed children are put on the potty several times a day at strategic times- like a puppy-upon awakening, before and after meals and snacks and then again before bed.
A potty timed child is perfectly potty trained- as long as his/her parents are able to get them on the potty at just the right time.
Unfortunately, this has seemed to make our potty training time last FOREVER.
I am so thankful that he has no problems going to the bathroom on the potty----- but, he doesn't seem to be bothered by wet underpants either.
Thus my economics dilemma. I decided 2 days ago that we were not going to do pull ups anymore. All cloth underpants. This in hopes that he would learn to wake up if he had to pee, as well as save the world by not putting more diapers in the landfills than absolutely necessary.
Maybe I should give it more time. But doing a small load of laundry after nap and bedtime, seeing that the "pee-proof" plastic of the mattress pad isn't so much, spraying down the mattress hoping it doesn't start smelling........
I'm thinking purely economically that I am much more green with 2 little diapers a day than I am with 2 incomplete loads of laundry, (washing and drying) the time lost- Oh yeah, mostly the fact that he soaked through everything last night and still was completely sound asleep!!!!
I think I will continue with the advice from my sister-in-law. We have been going up just before going to bed and putting him on the toilet several hours after he's gone to sleep. I think I'll try going green again when he wakes up because he is wet, instead of continuing to sleep so peacefully.
For those who have been there, done that, have the tee shirt and wrote a book- if you have any advice that worked for you- please feel free to share. Denise- the cheerios work to help make sure everything is out- but he was having fun hitting the big hole in the bottom of the toilet before, anyways.
He continues to be a blessing to us and so many around us!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Through the years with Gordo...
Gordo is such a wonderful young man in our Kidstuf ministry. Just thought we'd give a little background.
He always was an enterprising young man. Even as a child, he was very involved in the world around him. Here, he is measuring the new playset.
And such a pleasant personality.
His only problem being the vision difficulties he experienced at an early age....
He grew into such a fine young man- and looked so nice for his first day of school.
Doesn't he look happy?
With such a quest to quantify the world around him....
And here he is today- having many adventures in the clubhouse with his friends at Kidstuf.
What a fine young man he is!! Congratulations, Mrs. F. on raising such a beautiful young man!
He always was an enterprising young man. Even as a child, he was very involved in the world around him. Here, he is measuring the new playset.
And such a pleasant personality.
His only problem being the vision difficulties he experienced at an early age....
He grew into such a fine young man- and looked so nice for his first day of school.
Doesn't he look happy?
With such a quest to quantify the world around him....
And here he is today- having many adventures in the clubhouse with his friends at Kidstuf.
What a fine young man he is!! Congratulations, Mrs. F. on raising such a beautiful young man!
Great Book
We were at the library again this last week and I found just an amazing book.
Go Found Us You
What an amazing book. I laughed. I cried.
I remembered our long wait and the longing in my heart.
Nice job!! I think I'll have to go and buy a copy for myself that I can keep.
Go Found Us You
What an amazing book. I laughed. I cried.
I remembered our long wait and the longing in my heart.
Nice job!! I think I'll have to go and buy a copy for myself that I can keep.
The things kids say...
Yesterday was a rather difficult day for Eli and me.
It started off on a rather whiny note, and soon became a full ensemble of whines. It did not mesh with the headache and lackluster feel I had on my own part.
So, last night, as we were rocking before bed, I was holding him close and said, "Do you think Mommy doesn't love you when I get upset with you? " I had been doing my mental review and felt bad that I was a bit shorter with him all day than I usually am, and wanted to make sure he felt secure in my love- and not that a bad day could change my deep down feelings for him.
He said, probably from past discussions about this topic, "No Mommy. I know you luvs me."
"That's right!" I said. We had checked out a book from the library several weeks ago called I Love You All Day Long. It has become kind of a catch phrase with us.
So I said, "I love you all day long- even when I do feel like I want to rip your head off..." We chuckled a little and he told me I was being silly- I wouldn't rip his head off.
Then he looked at me and said, "Let me tell you something. Let me explain this to you. When I am mad at you, I don't lufs you anymore. You understand? Let me tell you. When I get mad at you, I don't luvs you anymore. "
I am so thankful that God let me see his child's heart and the ability to love that we have as a youngster. A while back hearing that from his lips would have crushed me. Now, I think it is really funny.
"Oh really," I said, through my smile.
I then reaffirmed him.. "Well, let me tell you something. I love you no matter how I feel about what you are doing. I love you when you are good. I love you when you are bad. I love you all day long and all night, too!!"
I find myself thinking that must be how we sometimes react to God. We love Him when He does what we ask. But when we don't see Him doing it the way we think it should be done, we don't really show Him love anymore.
I look forward to watching his love ability grow. I know mine has become so much greater, deeper, higher and broader than I ever thought possible. What an opportunity to watch the sweet spirit in my child grow. When he can admit that even though he is mad at me, he still loves me.
To be continued over the next several years.........
It started off on a rather whiny note, and soon became a full ensemble of whines. It did not mesh with the headache and lackluster feel I had on my own part.
So, last night, as we were rocking before bed, I was holding him close and said, "Do you think Mommy doesn't love you when I get upset with you? " I had been doing my mental review and felt bad that I was a bit shorter with him all day than I usually am, and wanted to make sure he felt secure in my love- and not that a bad day could change my deep down feelings for him.
He said, probably from past discussions about this topic, "No Mommy. I know you luvs me."
"That's right!" I said. We had checked out a book from the library several weeks ago called I Love You All Day Long. It has become kind of a catch phrase with us.
So I said, "I love you all day long- even when I do feel like I want to rip your head off..." We chuckled a little and he told me I was being silly- I wouldn't rip his head off.
Then he looked at me and said, "Let me tell you something. Let me explain this to you. When I am mad at you, I don't lufs you anymore. You understand? Let me tell you. When I get mad at you, I don't luvs you anymore. "
I am so thankful that God let me see his child's heart and the ability to love that we have as a youngster. A while back hearing that from his lips would have crushed me. Now, I think it is really funny.
"Oh really," I said, through my smile.
I then reaffirmed him.. "Well, let me tell you something. I love you no matter how I feel about what you are doing. I love you when you are good. I love you when you are bad. I love you all day long and all night, too!!"
I find myself thinking that must be how we sometimes react to God. We love Him when He does what we ask. But when we don't see Him doing it the way we think it should be done, we don't really show Him love anymore.
I look forward to watching his love ability grow. I know mine has become so much greater, deeper, higher and broader than I ever thought possible. What an opportunity to watch the sweet spirit in my child grow. When he can admit that even though he is mad at me, he still loves me.
To be continued over the next several years.........
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Visit with Fan Fan
We had the great privilege of hosting Fan Fan and his 2 children, as they are visiting from Haiti, today for lunch after church. It was soo good to see Fan Fan, who acts as our interpreter and all around kinda whatever is needed guy.
He has been asking for prayer support for his ministry in Haiti- he has, in cooperation with CSI, built a school for many of the underprivileged children in his area. What a remarkable man!
His children were delightful, and they had a blast with Eli. Amazing how children can play and have fun, even with the language barrier.
Here are a few pics:
Eli said he was driving them to Laka Abella (We have a pass to a private lake in the area- Lake Isabella). They played sooooo well with him, and seemed to enjoy every minute.
Saying cheese for the camera :0)
Fan Fan had several delays in his flight here- and still managed to look pretty refreshed. In think he'd only had about 3 or 4 hours of sleep in the last 36-40 hours.
But we sure were glad we got to spend a little time with him. :0)
The kids really enjoyed playing all over the yard- Dave keeping close tabs on his sister and Eli and Nyanka enjoying the exhiliration of the swing :0)
I got out some sidewalk chalk- the kids did a great job with their art :0)
Looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow at the church picnic- but know that many will be there to talk to Fan Fan about all that is happening in Haiti.
He has been asking for prayer support for his ministry in Haiti- he has, in cooperation with CSI, built a school for many of the underprivileged children in his area. What a remarkable man!
His children were delightful, and they had a blast with Eli. Amazing how children can play and have fun, even with the language barrier.
Here are a few pics:
Eli said he was driving them to Laka Abella (We have a pass to a private lake in the area- Lake Isabella). They played sooooo well with him, and seemed to enjoy every minute.
Saying cheese for the camera :0)
Fan Fan had several delays in his flight here- and still managed to look pretty refreshed. In think he'd only had about 3 or 4 hours of sleep in the last 36-40 hours. 
But we sure were glad we got to spend a little time with him. :0)
The kids really enjoyed playing all over the yard- Dave keeping close tabs on his sister and Eli and Nyanka enjoying the exhiliration of the swing :0)
I got out some sidewalk chalk- the kids did a great job with their art :0)
Looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow at the church picnic- but know that many will be there to talk to Fan Fan about all that is happening in Haiti.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Quick funnies...
Eli and I had some noodles today for lunch.
As I was twirling my noodles around my fork, he got a little miffed that I had cut his noodles and he couldn't also twirl.
After a few min, he looked at me and said, "Mama, is your fork dizzy?"
As I was twirling my noodles around my fork, he got a little miffed that I had cut his noodles and he couldn't also twirl.
After a few min, he looked at me and said, "Mama, is your fork dizzy?"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)