End of year wrap up...

I think it's time for reflection, to look back on this last year and see the good things and times this year brought. Some changes were for the better and some weren't. I guess it's part of life and well as we get older we get wiser and things always somehow, just seem to work themselves out.

January was well a hard time. William turned 3 and that was hard to see. Where did the time go from being born to three??? Nathan moved back and ended up more involved with William. I had some changes at work, more responsibility and all that. Felt like things were going well.

February was a blur. It went by so fast. I had jury duty and William continued to get bigger. However he did have a double ear infection.. GRRR!

March, ahhh, I love March!!! I turned 24 and things seemed to be going well. Just had some challenges with William and getting him potty trained. William also scared the heck out of us when he got sick at the beginning of the month. He ended up with bronchitis, double ear infection and possible strep all at the same time. Little did we know that he was allergic to Augmentin at the time that he got the antibiotic. 4 days after starting it he broke out in a rash. We now know that we can't use that antibiotic and we are continuing to watch him for problems with his ears. Later that month grandma ended up in the hospital and it was scary, but we are glad she is healthy now.

April went by quickly too. William had a couple big appointments. His first dentist appointment was in April and I was very proud to see that he had no cavities and was doing well. He also had a check up with the doctor where we were given the diagnoses of Asthma and Allergies. We knew about the allergies, but to have the asthma diagnosis was kinda sad. We started with just an inhaler as he needed it. He also ended up with a few shots, but other than that was doing well and seemed to be growing like a weed.

May was great. We enjoyed the weather and started thinking of Preschool. Good thing too, as we found one close to home and were able to check it out. We seemed to have more luck starting to get William to potty train more, but he was still resistant from time to time. As for work, well it was still going well and life seemed to be going along at a steady pace.

June held a lot of good times, birthdays, and a new cousin. Both my dad and sister had a birthday in June so we celebrated that. A new cousin was welcomed by William and the family. We also got him all signed up for preschool. The school district that he will go to for kindergarten also does preschool and we were thrilled to see something affordable and close to home for him. Also it was exciting to see the atmosphere and know that he would be going 4 days a week.

July brought fireworks and more birthdays and some big changes. William finally gave in and finished potty training. That marked one of the milestones that marked the change from him being my baby to my big boy. The fourth of July was a big thing for him this year too. We had lots of fireworks and had a BBQ with his dad's family. It was great, however, the next day we had a problem with the car and it later broke down...

August brought changes. The beginning of getting ready for school, the end of a relationship, the changing in the amount of time William spent with his dad and just a change in everything. Work was changing and relationships with numerous people were becoming different. William was still excited for school. We also went to the Clackamas County Fair for the first time since moving out here and William had a blast. I just wish that the weather had been slightly cooler. It was just too hot.

September brought school days and a change at work... School officially started for William. He started making lots of friends and learning a whole bunch. He was able to check out books at the library and do everything that the other kids get to do. However, he was the first one to miss school after getting sick... One of our pharmacists at work was transfered to another store after getting a promotion and we miss him dearly. It marked a change that would send up reeling for a while.

October had Halloween and more big changes for me at work... William had his first conference and I was informed that he was doing very well and how much they enjoyed having him there. The transformation from the first few days of school to then was amazing. He also ended up sick twice in October. The beginning of the month brought Herpangina that caused really sore blister like things in his throat with high fever and a few vomiting episodes. No fun. He had to miss school for a week. Halloween was very fun and he was my little pirate. However, he was sick again for the second time that month. Little did we know that he would scare us a few days later. Work had a few more changes. A new pharmacist came in in September and by the end of October he was now our new Pharmacist in Charge. Our other pharmacist, we have since learned, just walked away and didn't have a thing to say. We've had to clean up the aftermath of that decision.

November marked the beginning of the holiday season, busy times, a baby shower, and more stressed out moments. I made the decision during this time to start a medication again that I hadn't been on in years. William had croup and we had a trip to the emergency room. Scary at 2 am when he had trouble breathing. Thanksgiving was a welcome break, but the increase at work before and after the holiday weren't so welcome. Melinda also had a baby shower. I am very happy for her and her husband and look forward to meeting Allie, whenever she makes her arrival.

December has been a month of changes again. William still is doing well in school and loving every moment of it. We enjoyed a very quiet and very white Christmas this year. William enjoyed singing Christmas songs and watching all the holiday shows. I geared up for a big change at work. With Melinda going on maternity leave, it leaves me to keep the pharmacy in check. Heck sometimes I feel like I run the place. December also brought us a lot of snow. After being shut in from time to time due to the weather and lack of chains for a while, it was nice to be out of it all..

I am hoping that this next is much better and brings more luck, prosperity, and happy, joyous, love filled moments in my life and everyone else's.

Pictures...

What can I say I jut can't get enough of these pictures!  Enjoy!!

Just some more pictures from the snow!

Just when it looked like it was safe to go outside...

The snow hit and the car completely froze over! lol. No joke. When we left yesterday for our last bit of Christmas shopping it was a chilly 30 degrees outside with wet, slushy roads and some snow falling. Once we got back from our little trip to Vancouver it was downright cold at 24 degrees, snow falling and sticking, wind, and icy roads. What a change in less than 2 hours. We made it to several stores and luckily with dad's driving we never had to chain up. However we had to detour to get home, since all the truck stops at our exit were completely blocked due to jack-knifed and stuck semi-trucks. So I thought to illustrate the state of the weather here last night I'd share some pictures. I opted not to get any pictures of the frozen over car, since just looking at it made me shiver... brrrr!

Snow Day!

What did we see first thing this morning when we woke up???? SNOW! It's snowed all day and William just had to go out in it. We spent most of the day going outside to play and then inside to warm up. Since the roads where we live aren't plowed, sanded, or deiced I decided to play it safe and not drive in the weather.

Please enjoy the pictures from today.

Santa can bring anything... He's Magic!

Yup, that's right, magic. If you ask my almost 4 year old about Santa he will tell you that Santa is Magic, that he can see you when you are sleeping and awake and that he's making sure you are being good. Santa can do anything!




So imagine the shock my little guy had when I told him I was going to take him to Santa's house for a visit. He just couldn't wait. We got all dressed and down to Santa's House we went. Of course, Santa wasn't there yet. So we walked around and looked at a few stores near there and then sat on the bench waiting patiently like a few other parents and children for it to open. All of a sudden there was Santa walking by and he stopped and talked to William. He shook his hand and asked him a few questions and after he walked away all William could say was Santa's magic.




Our trip was very nice and he got his picture taken and told Santa he wants "Stompy" for anyone who doesn't know William speak that is the Imaginext Ultra Dinosaur named Spike that he has dubbed Stompy. He got a candy cane and was happy to have just talked to Santa and tell him that he was being a good boy and what he wanted. Of course he forgot to mention the Jack the pops out of the box (Jack n' the box) and Hulk Smash hands, but at least he got the most important one in there.



Oh and he just loved the added touch of the reindeer statue in the bushes. We had to get that in a picture as well.

Halloween Pics...

Yes I know it's been a month since Halloween and I am just now getting pictures up. lol.. Our Halloween was short as he was sick, little did we know it was Croup and not just a cold, and he was tired. My little Pirate was just not going to stay out all night and was more interested in handing out candy.

Here are just a few pictures from our short lived Halloween Trick or Treating trip. Enjoy!

School days update #1.... September to November 2008

So William has been in school for almost 3 full months now and I guess it's time for a little update. So here goes, lets start from the begining.

At the end of August they had a Open House for the kids and Parents. William went and had a great time, of course he was most excited to try out the new rock wall in the playground, and try it out he did. He made a coconut with his picture in it and a few other things that were later sent home. It was very sweet and he was so excited to tell me about the fact that his coconut was on the tree with the monkeys.

September came too fast and soon it was time for the first day of school. He was so excited and when we got there he got in line. They line the kids up for their class before heading off and he got to hold the sign that had his teacher's picture. Then after a few directions off they went and he didn't even cry once. He even rode the school bus home. That was the highlight of the first day. Throughout September they worked on just getting acquainted and getting know each other. It was shortly there after that friends were named and it sounded like a few of them were now his best friends. Once they were finally settled into a routine they were allowed to check out books at the library, learned a new song/poem, made a few crafts, and got to play in gym class. They took turns having jobs every day and I've been notified more than once of him being line leader or door holder. They also have the chance to report the weather and what they think recess will be, indoor or outdoor, as that is the most important question for them as 3 and 4 year olds.

October kicked off with big events. First was picture day and lucky for us it was the same day as his dentist appointment and he had nice shiny teeth for pictures! We were thrilled to see some of the daily stuff come home and he was able to write his name without tracing letters. His teacher said he just doesn't want to do it consistantly all the time. They are working with him on that and we are just trying to get him to realize that he has two l's in his name not one. And for the second time since school started he missed school, however this time it was for a full week and he had some pretty yucky sores in his throat. Poor kid. He was, however, back to healthy in time for the school field trip to the pumpkin patch and their harvest party that he took snacks to. Later in October he ended up with a nasty cold that turned into Croup and although he didn't miss school he was pretty miserable.

November was well in and out of school. Lots of teacher in service days lots of holidays and lots and lots of fun. He's working on lots of new things and is proud to go to school every day. Although we had to have his conference later his skills are improving day by day and everything that gets sent home is very good. We love to see his name writing papers and his art projects. Even his pictures that were taken during picture day turned out perfect and I am proud to say that I have a happy, healthy, curious, school loving little one. Lets just hope this continues through the rest of the year.

The one thing I can say is that his teacher is very proud to have him in her class. She says that he is enthusiastic and a great helper. He sings the loudest and gets the other kids into it. He brings her leaves everyday (that will change when they are all gone) and that he hates missing school. He loves it and she is so excited to see him when he learns something. He has very fine motor skills and is always great to the other kids. I always hear about Zachary or Issac or Keenan or Baylie. Yes, Baylie is a girl and I might be over doing it here, but I think he has a little crush on her. She's very sweet and from what I've heard she's helped him a couple of times when he got upset or hurt and was crying. What a sweet girl.

I'll keep posting updates. December is going to be a crazy month. They are out of school from 12-22-08 to 01-02-09 and then it's time for birthday party planning! Ugh where does the time go???

Teacher Conference

William's already had his first teacher conference. One more milestone I thought we wouldn't have to do until he was in at least Kindergarten. According to his teacher he is doing great! She went over how his assessment was and that they will do one at the end of the year when they do conferences again. He is super smart, doing very well, needs to grow the vocabulary. He knows what he wants to say, but doesn't always know the right word to use. So that's nothing to be too concerned about. He is very helpful in class and is very well behaved. She mentioned that he is very enthusiastic and sings very loud. In turn that gets all the other kids into it.

He can draw very well, holds his pencil/crayons very well, colors great and with just a little help to get the scissors held right he can cut well too. He's made lots of friends and loves going. I am very proud of his achievements so far and can't wait to see how much more he soaks in before the next conference. The only thing that she wants to do is have the speech therapist come in and see if he needs help with his pronunciation. The dr seems to think he may need some help, but his teacher doesn't think there is a problem. We'll see what comes of this, but it's nice to know that she's got the same opinion I do. That there really isn't anything wrong, it's just normal stuff that will work it's way out.

just a few new pictures before school starts next week

I love these!

And the countdown begins...

William will officially start preschool on 09/09/08! Oh my goodness that seems just like a heartbeat away right now. We've started a countdown for William at home and he is till oober excited to go! Just 18 days away and we will be starting a new journey. I know he can't wait, but I'm still not ready for him to go.

His dad and I will drop him off on his first day and I'm sure that we will have lots of pictures before and after. Especially of him getting off the bus for the very first time. That is such a big milestone. I can't believe it's just around the corner.

just a few pictures...