Month: October 2012

I attempted kidCare at the gym this week with the boys. The first time was Monday and Teague walked right in with Alex. I spent the first twenty minutes waiting for someone to come get me and they didn’t. Today we tried it again. Teague cried as I left, but stopped after a few minutes (according to the girls when I went to pick up the boys). Then we went to Swiss Turner Gym for the boys.

After lunch and naps we got ready for Trick or Treating! We repeated last year’s tradition of jack o’lantern pizza at Amber’s before heading out for treats. Teague was content to ride in the wagon with mittens and a blanket. Alex had a lot of fun going door to door but did have a little trouble walking. Next year we are definitely going to have a costume that allows for easy movement – of all kinds! After about five houses, Alex was ready to go home. I thought he was cold, but he really just wanted to check out his goodies. Overall we managed about an hour of trick or treating.

Teague definitely understands most things we say. He will follow simple commands and point to an object/person we name. He has also added a few English words to his vocabulary. His first word was “bubble” and he said it on 10/15 at his hearing test (the lady used bubbles to distract him). Then came “woof woof”. The third word is actually a phrase and it took me a while to realize what Teague was saying. He knows Madison by name but I also say “good girl” a lot to her and Teague will immediately attempt the phrase. He definitely has both the “g” sounds down and the rest you have to imagine. He makes the “ma ma” sound but I’m not sure I’m ready to give him credit for actually referring to me.

Alex has never watched much TV, for various reasons. One of the reasons is that he wants to talk about what he watches for hours and hours afterwards. He has questions about every minute detail and also wants to tell you everything that happened second by second. I don’t actually recommend you watch the video below (except maybe his grandparents), but it illustrates the point. This was taken as we were having a snack supper in the kitchen. Alex had already been telling us about it for 20 minutes when we thought to record it.

I find the way our neighborhood handles Halloween very strange. We essentially have two trick or treating times – for different people. The Sunday afternoon before Halloween is for Milwaukee County – the kids are driven to our neighborhood by their parents. Then on the evening of Halloween we have trick or treating for the neighborhood kids. The upside is Alex gets to help pass out candy for the first one and actually trick or treat for the second one.
After the boys woke up from their naps, they joined all the neighbors on the front lawn to hand out candy.

It was quite chilly and as we were packing up I mentioned building a fire. Amber mentioned ordering Chinese food. Pretty soon we had a plan for everyone to end up back at our house for Chinese that Nick would pick up. Perfect evening! After everyone left, Alex and Teague enjoyed some books in front of the fire before bed.

We hosted our 8th annual pumpkin carving party today and had a record number 29 people (not all pictured)! The older kids (meaning the 3’s and 4’s) were just old enough to run wild upstairs. Alex’s bed was a huge hit! The little kids stayed downstairs with the adults (and the food). It was great fun and I must admit it’s nice that the party is over by 8 pm so that everything can be cleaned up and I can wind down on the couch with Wade before bed.
(A note on the food – Pinterest was a huge inspiration for Halloween themed goodies and drinks. Witches’ brew punch was a big hit.)

Wade worked hard to get Alex’s costume ready for today (the costume wasn’t as challenging as last year, but we have been crazy busy). We got out of the house for an early morning haircut and then met Riley for Trick or Treating at Yo Mama.

We rushed home for an early lunch and nap so we could get to the Halloween Party at Wade’s work. Alex is so excited about the entire process of Trick or Treating and loved putting candy into his pumpkin. Teague was quick to catch on and liked adding to his stash too.

My Mom and Wade made one last pass through my grandparents’ barn before the property was sold when we visited Paducah in July (see here). Among the items they salvaged, I was saved this basket. My Mom thinks it was made by my great grandfather (I think). I didn’t take a before picture, but the bottom was unattached and it was old and dry. Wade repaired the bottom and oiled it for me. Now I almost hate to use it in my house for fear of what two boys might do to it. I love the pieces I have accumulated from my family (and I have a lot)!

We had a random warm day and decided a trip to the zoo was the perfect activity. Teague was content in his stroller (with snacks) while Abby and Alex ran wild.

Today we met with Teague’s (and Alex’s) pediatrician. I love our doctor! He immediately reviewed the medical file we brought from Korea and then asked what I wanted to do about vaccinations. I told him I would follow his suggestions, but I wasn’t a big fan of unnecessary medicine. He said that was his philosophy too. He pointed out that the Adoption Clinic recommended revaccination and then he suggested we take the Korean records as fact and do a few “booster” shots at the 2 year appointment as a little back up. Sadly this didn’t mean Teague got out of shots today. He had to have a TB test, his second Hep A shot, and two more vaccinations that are not done in Korea. (See the aftermath below)

Other than that the visit went smoothly. I asked about the HUGE amounts of food Teague eats and the doctor said to keep feeding him. He is a big boy and a healthy eater. He pointed out that as long as his height percentile (98%) is greater than his weight percentile (around 80%) then there is no cause for concern. I also asked about Teague’s refusal to drink milk from a cup. The doctor suggested giving him 2-3 bottles a day of whole milk with a tiny amount of formula. Over the next few weeks remove all formula. Then after another week or two exchange the bottles for sippy cups. If he won’t drink the milk then don’t force the issue. He also recommended only giving milk at meals and water in between meals. I’m curious to see how this goes, but Teague loved the two bottles he got today.

Teague has learned the rules with our stairs and now doesn’t venture near them (which is good since we never quite got around to baby gates). While everyone is getting ready in the morning he is most often found playing with a pull toy (which Alex never touched – at any age).

I decided to make marinara sauce with my remaining tomatoes and needed a few ingredients from the grocery. It was Teague’s first time in a “car cart”. When Alex joins me at the grocery he makes one of two requests (if not both). He likes to stop to see the fish in the fountain in the flower area or he likes to look at the birthday cakes. Today he wanted to check out the cakes. (Last time he picked out a cross cake (from the christening section) for his birthday cake. Today he liked the Thomas cake.)

We rushed to get our groceries home and in the refrigerator before driving to Yo Mama for story time! We’ve missed this activity over the summer and are glad they are starting up again. Even better that Abram and some of his friends joined us! Teague didn’t participate in story time, but he did eat yogurt (a lot of yogurt).

Then it was home for naps and lazy playing around the house. I cooked marinara sauce (for hours and hours and hours) and creamy chicken noodle soup for dinner. Perfect for a rainy day!

After watching Alex for the last few weeks, Teague decided baths weren’t so bad. What amazed me is that after he got in, Teague immediately started dumping cups of water over his head (just like Alex).

This morning we had Teague’s first eye appointment at the Eye Clinic at Children’s Hospital. The doctor immediately told us he thought we might have another issue besides ptosis (drooping eyelids). He did an initial exam and then dilated Teague’s eyes. The exam after the dilation was hard on Teague. He definitely didn’t like it and had to be held down while the doctor opened his eye.
The doctor told us Teague couldn’t move his eyes up. The clinical name is “congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles”. Although this can’t be completely corrected, surgery can be done to improve eye alignment and help Teague not always have to raise his chin. We are to continue patching for two months and then return for a second visit. The doctor recommended doing the surgery fairly soon after the second visit. Ptosis surgery would still be needed when he is 4 or 5 years old, but they will most likely not raise his eyelids as much as if it was just ptosis.
On an different note, they gave us tons of eye patches and I learned they come in fun prints for kids.

We have finally conquered Alex’s nail biting (see original post here). His nails are nice and long. The problem now is convincing him to let me cut them….

Alex was so excited for a rainy day and the excuse to use his umbrella. It wasn’t actually raining, but we went to play anyway!

Today’s tour club activity took us to the Brookfield Fire Station. Alex wasn’t quite up for the hour tour, but enjoyed most of it. Teague didn’t care a thing about the tour until we got to the garage. Then he wasn’t interested in the firetrucks, but in the shiny police cars (the boys LOVES cars).

At some point I will give up trying to include Teague in group photos. It just hasn’t gone well.

Madison is a little hesitant around Teague and his “love”. Most of the time she moves or leaves the room when he tries to lay on her. The exception seems to be when she is on her pillow in our bedroom and the couch. The minute she joined us on the couch, Teague shifted from laying in my lap to laying on her. Madison didn’t even blink.

Granny patched Alex’s jeans – with a monster face and Woody from Toy Story. How awesome!