Abby seems to be feeling ok.  Glad we had her looked at.  Adam has a bad chest cold.  I gave them their medication yesterday afternoon and only Adam's this afternoon.
Abby's school said she was ok to return back to school after 2 doses of meds and no fever.  So, she went back on Thursday as did Linnea.
I am trying to work on their attitudes more and more.  They seem to have, especially Abby, a defiant nature about them and at times they are sassy towards adults.  They say, "No", when they should be more cooperative and positive.  Abby can be fresh and moody.  I am trying to keep their diets consistent and healthy, while also making sure they have outlets for their personalities but in a constructive way.  Abby didn't want to read while at the library yesterday afternoon.  She was excited about checking out  books but she was actively pulling a lot of books that weren't at her beginning reading level.  She wants to listen to stories but I'm trying to get her to read herself.  We are labeling tape with words and having the kids place the tape on the matching items around the house.  I want to see Abby comprehend and think more so I'm narrowing things down to choices so she can decide for herself and feel as though she's in control.  Same for Adam.  Really trying to explain and talk to him, which he likes.

2-22-11

Yesterday, the kids were at Maryanna's from 10 to 3:30.  They all came home and rested with a movie.  Abby still is working through her cough.  It is a dry cough and she doesn't have any nasal congestion.  I am putting Vicks on her chest and this morning she drank hot chocolate.  I have not given her anything more b/c she doesn't have a fever and I don't want to give her cough medicine b/c it's a dry cough and I don't want to dry it out or slow the process down.  She had a red rash around her bottom area Sunday afternoon and I believe it was from her underware/tights that she wore and didn't want to take off all day.  When I went to give her a shower, her underwear were wet so under her tights and pants she had been wet which irritated the area.  That and I believe she's had a virus this weekend causing her body to react more senstitively.  The rash is going away b/c I'm trying to keep her clean and have her not wear underwear at night.  She was up several times last night.  Adam had very loose stool yesterday early evening.  He had an accident in his pants which was a huge mess.  He has congestion in his nose but no signs of cough.  He slept all night, accept for one time waking up in his sleep, crying.  He never got out of his bed.  Linnea is staying home today b/c she came down with something yesterday afternoon, laid on the couch and had a fever.  She complained her ears hurt her and she vomited in the middle of the night.  She is going to the doctor today.  Something is going around and affected each kid differently, it seems.  I am just trying to keep them rested, hydrated.

2-20-11

Today is Sunday.  Abby and Adam came back to the house around 1 on Saturday from my parents.  They all went to the library with Sarah to get dvds and books after she picked them up from my mom after dance class.  Abby didn’t go to dance so that she could rest and take it easy.  She just seems to have a virus/cold that is minor.  99 temp and tired.  No sign of bad congestion.  Abby went to be at 7.  She did also take a late short nap.  Foster tipped a plate of cookies off the table w/ his paw and it landed on Abby’s toe.  The dogs were outside but Abby wanted them inside so she opened the back door while the kids were eating at the table.  The plate landed on her big toe and it hurt her bad.  She cried and then started to gag, which led to throwing up.  She got cleaned up and went to lay down.  She woke up at 2 am and wanted to sleep in bed with me.  I instead took her to her bed and fell asleep with her there until 4.  The kids are no longer sleeping in bed with me unless they sneak in and I’m unaware if they are there.  Adam has been sleeping all night in his bed.  Since we moved, he no longer comes into bed with me.  He rarely wakes up and comes into the room.  He is now wearing a pull up to bed and I’m talking to him about getting up in the night to use the potty.  He still is stuggling with independence but I am just guiding him through doing tasks on his own.  He seems very proud when it’s all said and done, though he fights it in the beginning. 

Also, since we moved, he’s had no bed wetting accidents.  We don’t give them drinks past 7 and that helps too.  They’re eating well, sleeping well….life is good.  This morning we went to 9:30 mass then to brunch.  Now we are all outside playing. It’s cold but the sun is shining.  I’m taking Linnea and Abby to the library in a few to work on their reading.  We’ve been working on fun games and exercises to try and get them to practice.  

Sat 2-19-11

Abby and Adam enjoyed having a day at home yesterday.  Abby slept 3 hrs b/c she is feeling sick with a cough.  When she woke up from her nap, she felt much more energized but today she'll take it easy.  She took some tylenol and still using vicks rub.  Adam is doing well and love playing with Nane.  He seems to be ok but has a runny nose.  They stayed over with Nane last night b/c Odie was traveling and Nane enjoyed their company and new they'd have a quiet, peaacful and restful evening.  Abby most likely won't go to dance class but will go to the studio to meet Sarah and the girls and head back to the house with them after Linnea finishes with class.  If Abby rests most of today and feels a lot better, we may go over to the roller rink tonight for an hour to practice roller skating, have some dinner and play the archade games.  Not sure...we'll have to see.  Tomorrow we'll go to church and lunch and Monday they'll all go to Maryanna's from 10 to 3 since they are out of school for President's day.

1-18-11

Today is Friday.  The kids have been doing very well.  Eating and sleeping ok.  Abby woke up at 4:45 yesterday so she was tired and said she dozed off on the bus ride home.  when she got off the bus, she wa playing outside and had a bad pee accident and wet her pants fully.  I asked her why she doesn't know to stop what she's doing to use the potty.  She went to bed early last night, however, started with a cough last night and it kept her awake most of the night.  I rubbed vicks on her and gave her some cough syrup.  She is home today, off of school so she will rest.  If she is feeling well tomorrow, she'll go to dance class, hopefully.  Adam is doing well....still wants help with the simple tasks each day so I'm trying to get him to be indep more and more.  He wants help b/c he wants the attention.  I'm trying to give him the attention in the right ways.  I am still working on giving them choices, basically narrowing it down to two choices when they are being "stuck" or stubborn.  This gives them back the control without me saying "do it b/c I say so".  Adam wants help and attention so I'm trying to give him the constructive attention in the best ways I can.  The kids are going to go outside today like they did yesterday...ride bikes and get muddy.

2-18-11

Abby and Adam are doing well. They both got their own new bed in their own room now so they are very happy, especially Abby who doesn’t have to sleep up on a top bunk anymore, going up and down a ladder. They have been sleeping well, especially Adam. We will be working with the kids on words, speech, reading and writing. We take them periodically to the library and work with them in a quiet study room. Abby’s progress report came back stating she needs improvement in phonics and writing. So, we will work with her and Adam to catch them up. Abby needs to be ready for 1st grade and I’ll use this time as wisely as I can.

2-7-11

The kids had a good weekend.  They seem to be feeling well w/ just a little bit of thick conjestion in the nose.  Mom picked up more vitamins for them on Friday.  Friday afternoon they went to my parents and stayed over.  Saturday, the freezing rain canceled dance class so they ran errands w/ my parents and came back to the house in the early afternoon.  Work was busy friday and saturday.  Saturday we had dinner at the house and played.  Sunday we stayed home from church to see Heather and the family.  Abby was happy to have visitors....and so was Adam.  It was nice of them to stop by before they went up north to Albany.  Afterwards, we got together w/ family and friends for the superbowl.  The kids were asleep by 8:15.  I am filling out the valentines day candygram for Abby.  She will recieve one from me, one from melissa and one from Sarah and the girls.  I'll put $3 in the folder for that.  I'll also fill out that we'll send $2 for the party, a fruit plate and paper products to bring to bring to the party on that monday.

2-2-11

This is day two with no school which is difficult to be inside and not go anywhere but i stayed home from work to help Sarah.   Abby and Adam are doing great.  We all stayed home yesterday then went out for dinner at Coco's.  the kids did good in the restaurant.  Abby and Adam ate two cups of turkey soup, salad and some more stuff.  They went to bed at 8:15.  Today they are going to Maryanna's.  Maryanna wasn't going to be open but I have to go to work and Sarah has to go to Marist so we convinced her to open for the 4 kids and maybe she'll she'll take in a few more to make sense of being open.  Maryanna is very flexible and helpful most times and it's rare when she closes.  I am leaving for work now.