Product Review Friday - Tadoodles Scribble and Sing Art Station

So, I have decided to review items we have bought or that were gifts. I am only going to review items we love, have concerns about, or I think other parents are going to consider buying.

Item 1: Tadoodles Scribble and Sing Art Station

AJU5 got this for Christmas from one of my aunts. It is a Crayola Beginnings product, designed for 18+ months. The concept is great - big markers that fit in the hand well that don't need caps and won't dry out. The station stores five of the markers (that come with it) and talks/plays music based on which marker is in the center location. The center also works with the Tadoodles paints, but it doesn't work with the crayons.

Problems: When the markers are upside down for any length of time and then pressure is applied to the tip, the flow is fairly quick. I ended up with a huge puddle on the paper after only a second. It was a big enough puddle that it soaked through the paper and was still puddling! Luckily they are washable, but it was a big mess! I have a feeling the same result will occur with the paints, as they work on the same principle as the markers.

I also wish the crayons worked with the station. The shape is the same, but the bottoms do not have the ridges in them to activate the machine (there are sensors on the bottom that tell it what color is being used). I think this may be because the crayons can be replaced (Crayon Beginnings triangular crayons fit if broken in half) so the color doesn't have to always be the same. But, the crayons aren't as messy!

I did report these issues to Crayola, and they are supposedly sending me a coupon. I plan on buying the Tadoodles crayons (we currently have the bath tub ones) and some of the replacement crayons (depending on the value of the coupon of course).

Grades:
Concept - B+
Design - D
Overall - C-

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In other news, AJU5 is doing better. We forced the saline and nose blowing a few times last night (she hates both more than whipping her nose). She eventually went to bed around 9:30. She woke quite a bit between then an 3 am (I think 3 times?). But, we forced her to cry it out around 3 because she had bitten me for the second time that night (and fourth time overall). So I was done nursing for at least 2 hours! Well, after she was done crying, she didn't wake until 7! So, there is hope for the CIO!

MIssion: Aborted

Well, actually more like postponed. AJU5 is sick. When I got back from church last night (she stayed home with Daddy because she was napping), she was definitely running a fever. After some food, Tylenol, and playing, she slept okay. She did some 2 hour stretches, one 1.5 hour stretch (stretch #2 - when Tylenol dose 1 had worn off and she was stuffed up), and I think a 3 hour stretch. Tylenol seems to be keeping the fever under control. So, the only thing we have to really deal with is the runny nose. It is a fountain during the day, and she hates me wiping it! At night she got a little stuffed up for a while (probably because she was laying down). Hopefully it will go away soon. I think it is a combination of allergies (we have had quite a bit of wind here) and a virus. I am a little stuffed up, but I don't seem to be having any other issues.

So, as a result, we aren't pushing the sleep thing until she is better. AJU1 is out of town some next week, so if she is better by then, we will start. Otherwise we will wait for the weekend. Hopefully we can get her to sleep at least 6 hours at a time before too long (i.e. meaning I only have to get up once a night)!

Who Needs Sleep?

Well, hopefully the song is not correct. I do hope I will get some good sleep someday soon!

AJU5 is on sleep refusal mode. She napped for a total of about one hour yesterday - at 3pm. By that time most days, she has had two naps, each at least one hour long. Then, she didn't go to sleep until a little after 9 (normal bed time is about 7pm). On top of that, she woke up every 1-2 hours (there may have been one 2+ hour sleep period, but I don't remember).
So...

Let the sleep training begin! I can't handle this lack of sleep. I was loosing it this morning with her (at 5am when she didn't want to sleep or eat or play). She was a little warm yesterday, but she doesn't feel warm now. So, I don't know for sure what is going on. But, the plan is to make her go at least 2 hours at a time tonight, 2.5 hours tomorrow night, and then 3 hours for the next week. Then each week we will add another hour. Hopefully by 15 months I can get some good sleep!

Annoying!

Here is a list of things that annoy me!

• Sidewalks that aren't passable with a stroller
• Sidewalks that don't have ramps at the ends
• Sidewalks that just end without any warning
• Drivers that get mad at you for following the law (not going on a yellow light)
• Drivers that are just rude
• People who talk on their cell phone everywhere (restaurants, doctor offices, etc)
• People who talk while someone else is talking - especially at meetings
• Students who are taking an online class but are fairly completer illiterate
• Students who think you need to know ever detail of their life and email you about it regularly!
• Costco changing where they put things so you spend extra time trying to find things
• People who complain about how something is done but won't help fix the issue

Okay, so those are the ones I can think of right now. What annoys you?

Lunch with Friends

Yesterday we went to lunch with friends from church. We had a missionary in town, and a group of us took him out to lunch before he headed back home (his mission field is about 4 hours away on an Indian* Reservation). This was the first time AJU5 had eaten at a real restaurant since Thanksgiving weekend. She did great! First, we found she likes raspberry lemonade out of a straw (I fill the straw, put it in her mouth, and she drinks away). She drank quite a bit of lemonade! All of the others with us were old enough to be grandparents (only one couple wasn't, and their daughter is our age), and they had fun watching her eat. If it came from our plates, she at least tried it. Unfortunately, we hadn't planned on going out to eat, so we didn't bring her place mat or utensils. The forks at Red Lobster are a little big for her mouth - but she managed to get the food off the fork. She had bread, lettuce, and chicken tenders along with a snack of fruity cheerios and raisins while we waited for the salads.

All in all, it was a great lunch. We were there for about an hour and a half. She only cried at the VERY end when we were getting ready to leave/finishing up conversations. She fell asleep in the car on the way home. Unfortunately, my husband was unable to get her from the car seat into bed without waking her... She napped for at most an hour yesterday. I got over an hour of nap though because AJU1 got her when she refused to sleep for the second time.

* I know Native American is the politically correct term. I actually normally refer to where this missionary (and two others we support) by the actual tribe. But, because I didn't want to give away where we live, I refrained from using the tribe name. And Native American Reservation just doesn't sound right!

HAIR!!!

This is a post about hair - AJU5's, AJU1's, and mine!

First - AJU5
She has just enough hair to try to put it in a pony tail. I am using little clips because she won't sit still long enough for me to put in a pony tail holder (and she pulls it out even faster than the clips). Below are the first attempt - one pony tail. Last Sunday, I gave her pigtails. Unfortunately, her hair is so fine and short that it is hard to keep them in!

Second, AJU1
He has growna beard. This is a fairly annual event, but he seems to be keeping it longer this time. I am not a huge fan of it! I understood why he started to grow it this time (had to buy new blades for his electric razor - plus he was taking care of both AJU5 and I at the time so he didn't get to go to the store for a while), but I am ready for it to go. Unfortunately, the more I talk about it, the more he wants to keep it. So I just have to stay quiet...

Finally - ME!
I need to do SOMETHING with my hair. It is about time to get it cut. I have had the same style for years - since we have been married at least. Normally I just get it cut/trimmed. The length has varied from chin to mid-back (this past summer). But it has always just been a straight cut. I want to be able to pull it up into a pony tail when I want, but I also want to have it look good down. My hair is naturally - well - funky. It has some waves in it, and both sides aren't the same waviness. Any suggestions on what to do with my hair? Below are two pictures of what it has looked like the past 2 years!

How many children?

I was reading the Stanfield Journey, a blog written by a fellow Christian mom, this morning. Her post wasn't directly about this question, but it was part of the story she was sharing. She lost one son (middle child) shortly after birth due to Trisomy 18. When asked how many children she has, she says three.

This made me think how I would answer the question. Right now I just say that AJU5 is our first. It is the easy way out. One of my friends says how many pregnancies she has had and how many children she has on earth. I know I have one here on earth and one in heaven. But, I don't want to have to explain the one in heaven. When picking out AJU5's outfit for the day, I saw her big sister shirt. She has yet to get to wear it - and won't until I am at least 12 weeks pregnant with our next child. But she is a big sister. She has a baby brother or sister in heaven waiting for us. But, she isn't a big sister here on earth. She doesn't have a little brother or sister to look after and help take care of.

So, how will I handle this question when AJU5 gets older? I don't know. I hope time will help me decide the answer to this question...

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A little AJU5 news: she is standing a lot longer these days. She still doesn't want to walk on her own, but hopefully in the next few weeks we will be there!

What is up?

So, first AJU5 is still waking quite a bit. Tylenol helps a little - giving me about 3 hour periods of sleep. But, I am ready for her to get these teeth! She is willing to take her cup some at night though. But, it is a pain to do it all night. I don't want to have to go down stairs, get her cup from the fridge, go back upstairs and give it to her, go back down and put it away, etc. This might be a good idea when she is waking up once or twice a night so I can completely wean her, but for now it is only being done on the first (and sometimes second) wakings because I am still awake.

She has been waking up around 5:30 in the morning. I bring her downstairs to have a little breakfast with AJU1, and then she goes back to sleep - for about an hour. Then we get up and have "second" breakfast - which for her is mainly eggs (well, carton eggs because they have less cholesterol). I do give her fruity cheerios and fruit, but they get left most of the time on the tray.

It isn't until 8ish that I am actually awake. I have been VERY cranky lately. I don't know if it is hormones or the lack of sleep. But either way, I am ready to be past this. I don't like snapping at AJU1 and AJU5.

Oh - and AJU5 did find the stereo power button and the computer cd and dvd buttons. She has had a lot of fun with these! Luckily I don't mind it for now...

Now to go see what has made AJU5 a little upset (I am guessing a pinched finger)...

Bad Day?

1. AJU5 woke up every 1.5 to 2 hours last night. We hope it is either because she napped horribly yesterday (and today) or teething (maybe tooth 9 is on the way???). She had been doing fairly well before this!
2. She found the power button on my computer. She turned in on and off repeatedly. Hitting her hand and telling her no did nothing to stop her. Now there is tape over the buttons.
3. While I dried my hair and AJU1 took a shower, AJU5 was in our bath tub. She found the faucet and got herself soaking wet! Luckily there was enough time to dry the clothes int he dryer before church.
4. AJU5 choked on pizza crust. She forgot to finish eating.swallowing it before drinking. So, she coughed up a nice milking bread mixture.
5. AJU5 has also gotten in trouble for trying to empty the trash can, pinching, biting and scratching.
   

It has been a long 24 hours... Luckily I got a little nap while she napped after church.

Plans

I know I have had a few posts rattle through my head, but I can't remember them right now. So, I thought I would share some plans with you.

1. Work on getting AJU5 down to one wake-up a night in February. AJU1 will be out of town twice during the month with work, and those end up being good times to train her.
2. Wait until at least May before TTC. This is for two reason: To let my body get on to a regular cycle which it has yet to do since AJU5 was born and to ensure that we will be able to travel at Christmas (i.e. I don't want to be hugely pregnant at Christmas!).
3. Finish inside of house by mid-March. We got the family room re-drywalled yesterday. We had torn off most of the old stuff because it was in bad shape. So, AJU1 and our friend D got all of the walls covered back up. This is actually the first time in AJU5's life that one wall has had drywall on it! Now we just have to finish that room and do some trim/finish work. Our closet may or may not be done by then, but that is more of a money issue (should only take a few hours to install).
4. Spend at least one day in March scrapbooking. I have yet to start AJU5's scrapbook. Luckily she sent out monthly emails and I have this blog for reference! We also have a lot of pictures that I need to weed through and determine which ones to get printed. the main reason for waiting until March is to find some of my supplies which are in a box in the closet (and probably at the bottom of the stack since I can't locate the box yet).
5. Finish a box for Junior #2. I made a CD with picture related to that pregnancy, but I forgot some of them. So, I need to make another one. I also need to find some ribbin to wrap around the box and keep it closed. Otherwise it is done. I do have to figure out where I am going to keep it - currently I am thinking it will go on a shelf in our closet, but I am not sure.

Well, the pizza is cooking, AJU5 is playing, and AJU1 is upstairs on his computer (I am using my laptop downstairs). I guess I should go check on the pizza because I am getting hungry!

A Few Things I Have Forgotten...

First, I now weigh less than I did in September! I had gained a little weight with the pregnancy (I only had very mild morning sickness), but now I weigh 148 pounds (I was 150 in September). My goal is to maintain between 140 and 145 pounds.

Second, AJU5 definitely knows the difference between her cup and me. In the middle of the night, she will sip out of the cup, and then throw it. It will take playing, etc to get her to go back to bed. So, nursing is a lot less painful for me.

Third, I m getting good at getting her into bed while asleep (from a walk). The hardest thing is getting her jacket and shoes off! But I am two for two after story time!

Finally, thank you to everyone that prayed for me and encouraged me through the miscarriage. Although it was a sad time, I think it was also a growing time for me. Thank you!

Thirteen Months Old!

AJU5 is thirteen months old today! It is hard to believe it. A year ago today I went back to work (with her in tow). Then we came to this house and saw the progress AJU1 and two other men from church had made on kitchen and dining room floor tiling. I am pretty sure we went home after that (to the old house), ate and napped as usual. She was so tiny then and didn't do much of anything. Now she is getting into everything! She explores everything she can. She loves to take things in and out of containers (my wallet has been emptied a few too many times the past two weeks!).

She still hasn't mastered the walking yet, but she is able to take 4 or 5 steps in a row when she wants to. Sometimes she will even walk away from us. But crawling is still easier and faster!

We are down to just middle of the night nursing sessions. I got rid of the before bed on last night and it didn't seem to affect her in the least. So, now I just have to wait until she is sleeping through the night to be done completely. I really hope that isn't too far off! If you would have asked me year ago (which my doctor did at my 6 week post baby appointment) how long I would breastfeed, I would say until she bit me. Well, that day has long come and gone. Her refusal to take a bottle after about a month was the kicker. I have enjoyed the time of bonding, but I am ready to be done I think. She doesn't seem to miss it during the day either. She is just not willing to go back to sleep well without it yet. She would probably do okay if we fully woke her up and fed her solids, but that is too much work (and probably not a good idea). So, waiting it is!

I wonder what the next 13 months will hold for us?

AJU5 and Doctor's Appointment Update

First, for an AJU5 update:

She is figuring out how to use a fork! She knows how to use it once the food is stuck to the tongs. She isn't always great at getting the food stuck though (due to lack of force only). We figured this out last night when she was refusing to eat her chicken. She kept reaching for something on our plates (or so we thought). But, her meal was identical minus cream of mushroom soup on the chicken. So, when he was done, AJU1 gave her some from his fork (from her tray). She ate it! So we gave her the fork and let her do it. We still have to help her get the food on, but most of the time she is just as happy eating with her free hand (one hand is holding the fork of course).

She also slept from 1ish to 6ish this morning (after two wake ups before that). She did cry twice in the night, but it wasn't loud enough or long enough to warrant me getting out of bed. So, hopefully she will keep up the decent sleeping (and improve!).

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Now on to the doctor's appointment (warning - if you don't want to hear about women things, stop reading):

My doctor thinks the leading possibility for the miscarriage was that my body just wasn't ready to be pregnant again. I had only had three periods since AJU5 was born (and not the same length). So, she thinks the baby may have been on the downward spiral even back in December when she saw me (all hindsight on her part - we had no idea when we had conceived, so anything was possible as to gestational age). But, it isn't something that is like to rear its head again.

She told us to wait at least two cycles before considering trying again (i.e. prevent it until then). I also have to have lab work done one more time, as my HCG level was a 56 on Friday (it was over 7000 on 12/31). So, now my goal is to wean AJU5 before we are ready to try again. That will make being pregnant even easier on my body...

So now the wait...

A Hard, Yet Good Conversation

There is someone at our church (small church - about 60 at Sunday morning service) with my same name. She is pregnant and due one week before my due date. I had defriended her in Facebook last Tuesday because it was just too hard to see her pictures of the baby and related "stuff." But, I decided to talk to her yesterday after service. We aren't close. Her and her husband are about 7 years younger than we are. They lead the worship team, and we are not always fans of the way they do that. So, we don't spend much time around them. Plus, they only attend morning service, so we don't have much chance to interact with them at church (AJU5 is normally starving after service, so we leave fairly quickly).

But, I had to make sure she understood why I had defriended her (I did send an email, but they aren't always the best way to communicate). It turns out she had found out about the miscarriage last Sunday. My husband had told one person that I had miscarried by saying "Name had miscarried." Well, since I hadn't shared the news with this person, they assumed the wrong person had miscarried (and went up to her and said she as sorry for the loss).

It was hard to talk to her, but it was also good. It turns out she is using amidwife in the same group as my doctor (she even thought about using my doctor before deciding to go with the midwife). This pregnancy wasn't planned for them either, so we could talk about that (I have yet to try to conceive!). Then our husbands ended up talking about work (they work for the same company) and we ended up playing with AJU5 in the nursery while they finished talking. I was able to share advice on baby products, etc.

The first few minutes were hard, but as we talked, it got a lot easier. I wish we would get to know them more. Maybe when the house is done we can have them over...

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Doctor's appointment tomorrow...

Baby Meltdown...

We were having breakfast - the second of the day for AJU5 who gets one when she wakes up as well (which was at 5:45 this morning). I made breakfast burritos for AJU1 and I and gave her a good portion of egg (about 1 egg). She finished hers and then asked for some of ours. Tortilla wasn't going to work this time (some times it does), so I pulled out a piece for her. I repeated this until I was out. AJU1 was also almost out. She had a melt down. It was so sad to not have anymore egg!

I think half of it was that she was sleepy. When she wakes before 7, she ends up taking an early morning nap - which she is working on now. In the past I would have just let her nurse and put her back down at 5:45, but because I am trying to wean her, we have gotten rid of the early morning session. Actually, we are down to the bedtime and middle of the night feedings. Now if she would just sleep through the night!

A Week Later...

I don't know if this week has flown by or gone by really slowly. All I know is that it doesn't feel like it has been a week.

About this time last week I was happy that I had been able to sit up for 10 minutes without feeling terrible. I was preparing myself for my ultrasound at noonish to confirm what I already knew. I was watching AJU5 demolish our bedroom while AJU1 helped a friend load all of the rubble from our family room into his truck to take to the dump (he did check on us regularly to make sure we were still doing okay).

Between 11:40 and 12:20, I sat in a chair at the doctor' office waiting for our turn. I felt terrible, but I survived. Then we went back and I was HAPPY to lay down. It felt so much better to not be upright. The sonographer was very meticulous, and finally went to see if my doctor wanted to see the images. When she left the room, AJU1 asked if what we were seeing was normal (he didn't go to the ultrasounds for AJU5). I told him no - if the baby was there we would have seen it. My doctor came in and looked at everything and then told us the baby was gone. She said she was sorry. And I shed a few tears. I could really tell she was sorry for us. She was actually very comforting while not saying much at all. That is why I love my doctor - I feel so comfortable with her.

Later today I have to go get another blood draw. I hate needles. But, I will survive.

BLOOD DRAW UPDATE:
Okay, that was a HUGE pain! First, they faxed the paperwork over to the lab place (not in the same building), but the lab's fax is not working. So, they call the doctor's office and complain that they hadn't gotten it yet. The doctor's office faxes it again. I wait 30 minutes and then the lab lady recommends I just go and get the paperwork (the doctor's office is just a couple of small blocks away). So, I go and get it (have to wait a tiny bit, but not too long for them to make a copy, fax it again, and then give me the hard copy). When I get back to the lab, I deal witha different intake person. I ask if the fax number is right, and she says it is but they have been having problems with it. The other intake person I had dealt with agrees! Why didn't she tell me this earlier? I could have just gone and gotten it to begin with! Then, I go back to have the blood draw and the first person misses. Luckily the second person doesn't. So, after 1 hour and two sticks, I was finally done! Now I am home. I picked up a Whipped Chocolate Mousse yogurt on the way home as a sympathy gift to myself. It is gone now...

Randomness

First some AJU5 updates:
She LOVES music. She "dances" to the music from any of her toys. If she is crying, all we have to do is start the music. Unfortunately this means I have to listen tot he same songs over and over again!
Sleep has been hit and miss. Last Friday she slept for 8 hours with little to no peeps at all. This was a huge relief because both AJU1 and I were exhausted (and I wasn't up to doing much of course). Then she went back to her 4/2-3/2-3 mode until last night. She did her usual early wake up and then didn't need me until 5:30. She did stir once, but I am 99% sure I didn't get up. Hopefully she will do the 8 hour thing more and more so I can get better sleep!
She is very close to walking. She is standing a lot on her own. She even steps occasionally when not provoked. But, she still prefers to have something to hold on to or lean against (walls work just fine for her).

Now, on to me.
Tuesday night was hard. I couldn't sleep and ended up getting out of bed and writing a letter to Junior #2. Since AJU5 woke up quite a bit that night, I was cranky yesterday. On top of the that, the 7 vitamin pills I take a day are making my stomach do flips. Normally it calms down within an hour or so, but it is still a pain.
I go back to my doctor on Tuesday. If you can think of things I should ask her, please comment. I love my doctor, but like others have said, I tend to forget the questions I have. So, I have started a list of questions that hopefully I will remember to take with me to the appointment.

Now to go get AJU5 out of bed. She seemed sleepy, but she hasn't slept!

Dear Clothing Manufacturers...

Why do you insist on making small head holes on so many of your cute outfits? And why do you insist on not using buttons or snaps to allow the neck area to expand? It means outfits that are otherwise a little large are just able to be worn. It is very annoying!

Pictures from Christmas

Opening the "Grandkids" gift (AJU5 and all of her cousins)

Sitting on her present - a box of cool bathtoys!

Still on the bath toys - with her steering wheel.

Opening her birthday presents (notice that Cousin G is as interested in her presents as she is).



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Things are going okay today. I had a headache in the night and had to sleep in this mroning until it calmed down. AJU1 stayed home until I was up. Physically, I would say I am about 75% these days. Emotionally I am about 90% (didn't cry much at all yesterday). So, hopefully things will continue to improve. I don't see my doctor again until the 13th (she is on call at the hospital today and then on vacation for the rest of the week), so hopefully by then I will be almost 100%.

Looking at the bright side...

Today was the day we were going to share our pregnancy with those at church. I also planned on announcing it on here today or tomorrow (whenever I had time). But, that is in the past...

Here are the positives I can think of so far for this miscarriage. I know some of them are petty, but it helps for me to still count them.

1. This baby will never have to experience the pain and tortures of this world. Instead, he/she is already in heaven with God waiting for us. This is the biggest positive!
2. We are no longer responsible for this child spiritually. This child is already with God and no longer requires that we raise him/her in the nurture and ammunition of the Lord.
3. AJU5 doesn't have to grow up any faster than she is ready to. She will be our baby AT LEAST until November.
   
4. My body will have a longer time to heal after the c-section - making a vbac more possible.
5. We aren't as rushed on the house (I wanted the inside done before Junior #2 arrived).
6. Financially, it will be easier. We can hold off on buying a new(er) car for me for a little while longer. And there will be one less set of diapers, etc for a while.
7. I will be able to go to my brother-in-laws high school graduation without any concerns (it is 2 months before my due date).
8. I will get to go on a mission trip (VBS) this summer. It will most likely be the week of the due date, so I think being away from home and with church friends will be good!

This pregnancy wasn't planned. It was always in God's hands. Remember this has made it easier to handle the loss. I still cry, but I think I am ahead of the game on the grieving side of things at the moment. Now if only my physical recovery would speed up. I am tired of the headaches! I am tired of being worn out all of the time. I am tired of not being able to care for AJU5 like I had been (luckily AJU1 has been a big help). But, I know my body should recover in the next week or two (or so everyone says)...