Potty Training update

OK, time for a potty training update since all the lovely craziness of the holidays is winding down.  Will did fantastic!!  I couldn't be more shocked, surprised, and elated at how well the old boy has done.  We started the use of the potty in early December (if i am remembering correctly).  There were about 2 weeks where we had some accidents but then after that I don't even remember the last time he had an accident.  Not even the 6 hour car ride with only 1 stop did he have an accident.  I mean the boy is good.  It makes me realize I started Caroline way too late but hind sight is always 20/20.  Or so they say!  Will even has the pooping thing going right!  It was forever with Caroline to get that, just ask aunt Susan, she was brave enough to change poop-y panties courtesy of Caroline.  It just makes that Aunt bond that much stronger right Suz!!

But Will being a typical boy doesn't always have the aiming thing down pat and the floor and little potty often get a pee wash!  Then yesterday he finally realized that there is a hole in his boxer briefs.  He has been wearing undies with the "hole" in them since the beginning but just now found it.  I explained that the hole was for his penis although his isn't quite big enough to use the hole yet.  So instead the conversation went like this:

Will - hole mommy

me- yes i see that, it is for your penis not for a few more years.

Will- where'd hand go?

me- I don't know ( I was cooking and not looking)

so I turn around and his hand is in the hole all the way to his wrist!

Will- here hand!

So he realized he can play peek -a -boo with the hole in his undies!  Always fun stuff with a boy around.  Gosh I sure do love you Will!!

Holiday sing

On December 18th all the 3 year olds in the preschool program got together and performed some holiday songs for parents and grandparents.  Since the grandparents couldn't be there I took some video of some of the songs but haven't been able to get them to load yet so I will keep trying.

Caroline so proud after her sing.
The whole group.  Caroline is on the back row next to  the Christmas tree.
Caroline leading the whole group in.  Justin and I can't decide if they put her on the back row to help lead the singers back there or to hide her since they weren't sure what she was going to wear!

I will try the video again tomorrow.

The first round of Christmas

The long table that almost everyone ate at for a delicious dinner.
The tree over flowing with gifts!
There were lots of laughs all around.
Marie with her new prized possession for the White Elephant gift exchange.

 
Last Friday I packed the car and kids up and we went and picked Justin up from work and then headed on down to NC for a long weekend of early Christmas celebrating.  We had a blast!  Saturday was spent with my dad and all my uncles, aunts, and cousins.  We watched Wake beat Navy and then I think there were about 40 people there for dinner.  It was so nice to see family and visit with everyone.  Thanks Dad and Marie for hosting and letting us stay with you guys!

Silver tooth and coughing

Well for all those keeping up with the previous postings about the trouble with Caroline's teeth there is a resolution finally.  Last Friday she went to the dentist for the first of four visits to take care of all the cavities.  This was to be the big one since they were probably going to have to put a cap on the broken tooth.  Well I am so glad that I didn't take Will with me since it ended up taking 2 1/2 hours.  Wonderful Ellie watched Will for me!  I got to read a lot in a really good book so I didn't even notice how long it was taking.  Caroline went to the back and I stayed in the waiting room.  Apparently it took so long because they had trouble getting the tooth to go to sleep.  Which doesn't sound fun to me.  The dentist said she did great and she didn't even cry.  They did have to put a cap on that tooth and basically had to do a root canal.  My brave girl!  She was completely distracted by Aladdin playing on a TV mounted to the ceiling.  They kept her or a while after so that some of the numbness would wear off.  It wasn't completely gone when we left and she was hungry so it was only a milkshake for her.  The numbness finally started to wear off right before nap time and it was a little hard for her to all asleep but she did. and the numbness was all gone when she woke up 2 hours later.

Then another health issue that happened recently is Caroline got a head cold a few weeks ago.  I know you are thinking, what's the big deal, just a cold.  Well I know but when ever she gets a cold she gets this horrible cough that has a hard time leaving.  I had not taken her to the doctor until the cough started keeping her awake during naps and waking her up at night.  So last Thursday I took her to the doctor.  All the previous times I had taken her I get the usual doc talk saying  the cough will eventually go away in about 6 weeks.  Which is an answer that always frustrates me.  This time was finally different.  The doctor say her and then consulted with her boss and they cam to the conclusion that she has a type of Asthma.  It is only brought on by a cold.  So I got an inhaler and learned how to use it and we do that every morning and night until the cough goes away.  At the end of the second day the cough was significantly less and she was able to sleep through the night!!  So we had a followup yesterday and the doctor said that since the inhaler worked so well she definitely has asthma and that it will probably get worse.  Which is not what I wanted to hear.  But I have another inhaler for when she gets a cold again and the coughing starts again.  Finally I felt like the doctors we listening.  And as a side note I have to say every time I talked to my dad about Caroline's coughing he would say Julie you really need to consider asthma.  And now I finally saw enough doctors for them to recognize a pattern and try something different!!  Glad you were right dad, and thanks for all your medical advice that I ask you for all the time!

Hopefully Caroline is on the road to recovery now.

Also last Saturday

Last Saturday was a busy day as you saw from the previous posts.  Well after all the party festivities at Walter Reed we thought why not have just one more!  We meet Susan and Graham between their house and ours for an early birthday dinner for Susan.  It was great to be able to meet them and give her her present.  Caroline took this picture of herself.  Not looking much like a toddler anymore is she?

Susan was just a little bit happy in this picture!  We brought and ice cream cake with us to the restaurant and then sent it home with her.  Hopefully she will have another piece tomorrow on her real birthday.  
We love you Susan!!!  Thank you so much for all you have done for me and my kids.  There are times when I couldn't have done it with out you being there!!!

The best part of Saturday

Will and I holding the massive amount of balloons.  Notice how full his little hand is.

The biggest surprise of the afternoon was Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider showing up.  The USO brought them and the place went crazy.  He spoke a little bit but was there to sign autographs and take pictures mostly.   

Justin is a huge fan to say the least.  We have most of his movies on VHS even.  I have to admit we don't have or haven't seen all of his latest movie Since having Caroline but He is still Justin's favorite movie star (male at least!) Justin got a signed picture of Adam and Rob and got his picture taken with Adam.  He was so excited it was hard for him to contain himself!

There aren't many places that the Army will send you were you get a holiday party like this!!  Justin and I always feel guilty for getting so many things at these events.  So this year we decided to give our gift cards to our preacher who keeps gift cards in his pocket at all times in case he meets someone who might need a little help.  We are so blessed and we hope you and your family are blessed as well this holiday season!

Now I know this seems like a lot for one Saturday but it isn't all we did.  Stay tuned for what happened later that day!!!

Saturday part 2

After the great party Justin had clean up duty and we all stayed to help.  Caroline and I went around and collected balloons in the hopes of making her fly.  You can see how many strings she has in her hand.  It was a lot of balloons.

Even though we got tons of balloons Caroline was disappointed that she never flew!  It was lost of fun trying.  We ended up with a few more than this total, people just kept bringing us balloons and thought it was the cutest thing, which of course it was.  I mean how often do you get to hold that many balloons!
Will as you could tell was not too thrilled to be sitting with Mrs. Claus.  All the kids that saw Santa got a Target gift bag with a book, stuffed Spot dog, and a $50 gift card.  Barnes and Noble was also there and gave each kid a book.  All the kids also got a stocking with a stuffed bear, and several other little toys.  Caroline and Will got a barbie type doll, a matchbox car, a book, headbands, and a little stamp set.
This is a very of part of the hall that we were in.  I am standing up near the stage looking back over the tables.  there are 2 more rows of tables that are out of sight to the left.  The catered food was delicious and included food from various regions like German, Mexican, and American.  All the desserts were homemade and outstanding.
Caroline and Aidan dancing while watching some of the performers.