October Highlights

It was a great month. Let's review from youngest to oldest. The oldest would be Ben who turns 32 this month!

Kai learned many new words, notably "whoah" and "uh-oh" which he says in the cutest ways at the most appropriate times. He is suddenly happy! It must be the medicine kicking in but he is suddenly so happy, sleeping well, and just not irritable all the time like he used to be. His first follow-up blood test revealed he is now in the thyroid range they want him to be. He passed his hearing evaluation with flying colors. Speakers in opposite corners of a soundproof both played crackling noises at a variety of levels along with stuffed animals on top that would light up and play the drums or cymbals to reward him. He just kept looking from left to right "whoah!" "whoah!" It was hilarious. He loves to entertain us, especially by getting that devious smile on his face when he runs away or does anything the opposite of what we are requesting.

Kavan is our second kindergartener. I always knew he was smart (although it's hard to see when he's throwing fits or refusing to wipe himself), but in September he did his early childhood evaluation and scored higher at 3.5 than Kaylin did at 4.5. And now he's keeping his learning level up to hers - learning whatever she does in kindergarten it seems. Like how to count to 100 "1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100!" They sing that over and over. They learned it from a new babysitter - another neighbor girl I was thrilled to find who is the daughter of a pastor of a local community church. She's great and I really needed a second neighbor girl as my first is getting older and busier. Kavan is so much fun when he's not getting angry. It's hard to be the middle child and I see this in him already.

Kaylin is doing simple math and reading a few basic words! Our first teacher's conference helped me to feel better that she's not SO far behind having not attended preschool, but there were definitely concerns - her not following directions right away and needing too much individual attention and instruction, and resorting to baby-like behaviors like asking to be carried. At home she is still a major drama queen and can compete with Kavan in her fits. And other days she just seems so grown up. Kaylin just completed another ballet class (at the Y) although she refused to participate in the recital and prefers freestyle.

I am really enjoying my serving job and especially my break from the kids! The money is a much needed answer to prayer but I still can't quite put Kav in preschool, which is a definite goal. Or pay off the medical bills, but that's what the granola is for :). The checks are high at Tria and the number of tables isn't as high as past restaurants since they stay there so long, but the tips are between 15-40 a table. And Friday night, while the kids stayed home in costume handing out organic fruit leather with the "fruit of the spirit" verse on top, I got to wait on the friendliest people ever who left me a $50 tip on a $90 tab.

I am still so excited about granola and am kicking off that business this week. Ben made me wait until I was done with my boot camp class :). Half of my original inventory purchase is already gone between our family and a friend who bought some. Now I just need to tell the rest of the world! I will have samples at a business expo this week for my local MOMS club.

www.premierphysique.com/TheVeryBestBars.html

The biggest highlight for me this month was that just last week I found child care two mornings a week in addition to the one I had - This will significantly lower my stress level having three 2.5 hour chunks away from the kids to catch up on things. This has been a long frustrating search with several leads that kept turning up empty. For a second time I put an ad on the "needs board" at my church and the first response was from a woman who wanted to help but wanted more money than I said I could pay in my ad. I was so mad she even responded and then we ended up going back and forth on email - her explaining why she needed more money! The most recent response was from a mom who lives in Centerville, a couple blocks from Kaylin's school! I met her last week and get this - she drinks raw milk, uses homeopathic and naturopathic treatments, and doesn't vaccinate her kids! God has a sense of humor - it took so long to find her but it paid off.

Ben is doing a great job holding up the house and dealing with the kids while I'm working more. I'm very thankful to him for providing me this opportunity and having a good attitude about it -especially after his own long, busy days - those teenagers just won't let up! Especially given my new work situation I'm very thankful for his M-F daytime hours though, and can definitely see the positives to him having not gotten the sgt. position. Thanks for working so hard for us Ben!

And now the time change - I embrace this wholeheartedly. This year I used my extra hour simply to adjust my schedule. I have been desperately needing more sleep. The kids are going to bed earlier now so I should be able to still get some stuff done at night, but they are waking up early so I need to be disciplined. So it's in bed by 930, lights out by 10 for the Johnson parents now! (Ben has been trying to get me to do this for years...)