ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has gained an enormous amount of awareness and support for ALS.

According to an article on alsa.org, the ALS Association has topped $100 million in donations from people all over the globe who were moved to action by this summer's Ice Bucket Challenge.  As of August 29, the Association has received $100.9 million in donations compared to $2.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 29).

Taken from the article, "At a support group this past week run by The ALS Association for people living with the disease in southwest Florida, an attendee asked how much the organization had received in donations. When Patricia Stanco, the Regional Care Manager for The ALS Association Florida Chapter told the group how much had been donated, she described what she witnessed in an email to colleagues on August 28: 'Jaws dropped. Tears formed. The group was overwhelmed and for a distinct moment, silent. I realized I was witnessing hope. It was so powerful—I will never forget it.'"

The Ice Bucket Challenge is simple.  Dump a bucket of ice water on your head within 24 hours of being nominated, or make a donation to ALS.  If you choose to dump the water, you also get to nominate others to complete the challenge.  

ALS is a disease that affects the nerves in your brain and spinal chord.  When ice water is poured on your head, it affects your nerves similar to those with ALS - hence the Ice Bucket Challenge.

One evening I was outside with the kids watering our flowers when they decided to do a little ice bucket challenging of their own… we'd been watching a lot of videos of others over the past couple days and the kids wanted in.

So it seemed like the perfect time to record our challenge:

I was so flustered by the ice cold water (I really really dislike cold water), that I forgot to mention I was completing the challenge in honor of my grandmother, Dolores Sames, who passed away from this terrible disease.

ALS is such a horrible disease.  I pray they find a cure so no one has to endure the pain of living with the disease or loving someone who is suffering through it… 

Pre-K

Rudy started pre-school this fall.  Is anyone else in disbelief?!  It still hasn't quite sunk in that Rudy is big enough for pre-k.

We've been prepping Rudy for preschool for some time now.  Before Ben was born we started going to church every Sunday, always mentioning "this is where you'll go to school…" We went to the open house in the spring.  We went to as many fish fries as we could at the school during Lent.  Any chance we had to attend something at the school, we did it - Isabela's program, Garden Party, etc.  All things to get him used to the place.  We had a "new families" meeting the week before school started to meet our mentors and complete the registration process.  Rudy went with, too.  The first week of preschool we took him to the open house class and stopped by Aunt Jennifer's office on the way in.  We thought it was good for him to see the familiar face and know right where she was - any kind of comfort is good right?

Here are some pictures of the open house class.  He was enthralled by all there was to do.  Books, tools, dress-up, play-doh, blocks… he bounced from one thing to another, wanting to try it all out! 

We were given a scavenger hunt to find things like the library, the trash can, and his cubbie.  On our way out, we were also given the "Preschool Handbook" and a folded note to read before bedtime the night before his first day… I was holding back tears at just the thought!

The night before we read our special note from Mrs. Stauffer and a book I had picked up for the occasion as well, Pout Pout Fish Goes to School.  

Here's our big guy before his first day!  

Some of the highlights:

Rudy's First Day of Pre-K

August 21, 2014

Blessed Sacrament School

37 inches; 33 pounds

Age 3

Teacher: Mrs. Stauffer

Favorite Color: Blue

I love: Baseball, outside, my family

Favorite food: Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets

I want to be a Fire Fighter when I grow up

Rudy was such a trooper with all the pictures,  but he was so proud.  When we got to school, Isabela was waiting for us so I couldn't resist another photo op!  He walked right in, got his book bag hung up in his spot, checked-in, and immediately got to playing.  He gave us some tight hugs, but overall, he wasn't sad to see us go!  Avery was the most upset.  She really wanted to stay and play, too.  

Taking and picking Rudy up from school is a chore, but it's mostly fun.  He is such a big boy!  He knows the drill - where to go, where to put his book bag, where his folder goes, where to check-in, hugs, and see-ya!  He tells Avery, "You not go to school, Avery.  Me go all by myself.  When you big boy, you go school, otay?"  If John's at work and I take her in with me, he tries not to let her touch anything in the classroom - which is really hard because there is so much to see and touch!  But he's so happy to see us when we pick him up.  He runs to Avery and Ben, "Me happy see you!"

Hearing what he has to say about the day is awesome.  He usually responds the same way each day: What'd you do today, Rudy?  "Play wif my friends.  Jack.  Nolan.  Read books.  Sing songs."  (I checked the roster, and yes, there is a boy named Jack in the class :)) Then the more I pry I get some variety.  He was really excited about "cupcakes for nack!" for "two boys birbay" (roster check again - yes, there are twin boys in the class).  One day they went outside and "Me run really fast!  Mrs. Stauffer 'ready set go!'" and "Pway with too much play-doh!"  He will randomly break out in song - it's been interesting trying to decipher what he is singing, but it is the sweetest thing hearing him recite what he's learning.  One morning he started singing a new song, "rockin in school shoes, rockin in school shoes…" I couldn't quite make out what he was saying.  I chimed in with "walking in my cool shoes…"  "No mom, like this, 'rockin in school shoes.'"  I had a few more guesses before I gave up.  (Avery, however, mimicked him and he said, "Yea Avery! Like that!")  The next week we got a newsletter from his teacher with all kinds of things they had been doing, along with a list of books they had read.  And there it was, "Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes" Ah-ha! :) 

Getting out the door with all three to be there by 7:45 is tough!  Makes me really appreciate the lazy mornings we get other days :)

Guest Bloggers

I'm asking for help…

If it isn't painfully obvious, I have a hard time getting to the blog lately.  Three kids, a husband, a dog, a house, 2 part-time jobs, and a blog are a lot to keep up with!  I'm not complaining and I wouldn't part with any… but just sayin :)

It makes me sad because I feel like memories are slipping away… it's hard to remember it all week to week, how will I ever remember things if I don't get them blogged about?!  Sometimes I don't remember if I even blogged about something or not and the kids are growing and changing so fast!

So I thought I'd open things up to some guest bloggers.  Anyone want to prepare a post?  Any stories to share?  Insights?  Things I'm forgetting?  Want to write about something I've already written about but have a different perspective to share?

I'd love to hear it!  

(I even started this over a week ago and just got to getting it posted…)

Baby Ben - 3 Months Old!

Look at that handsome bubsy.  

Ben has such a fun personality and we all love him so much!  We are so lucky to get such a happy, easy going guy.  I don't know how many times I've heard, "At least Ben is easy" or "Thank God the baby is easy!" <--- that's usually when the other two are taking turns throwing tantrums.  

And if you thought those expressions of his were funny, check out these…

Can you blame him??  I think I'd be a tad concerned if left in the arms of these two!

Avery is so proud of her little brother.  She smothers him.  She makes a baby voice and says, "Hiiiiiii Baby Ben. Ooooh" and then goes in for big hugs.  So big that I'm usually having to tell her to stop or pry her arms off of his neck.  "Ooooh Baby," she says.  She gathers paceys, brings me diapers, gets excited when she hears him wake up… Ben is in trouble - two ladies looking out for him for the rest of his life.

Rudy loves his brother as well but takes more of a playful approach with him.  If Ben is up for it, he will always have someone to play with!  Rudy wants to "play ball wif Baby Ben" just about every day - so we all sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth.  The kids get such a kick out of Ben grabbing on to the ball.  Rudy is so sweet to him in the morning - "Ben's up!  Morning Ben!" (ya know, because they are both sleeping in our room at night).  And when Avery gets too smothering, Rudy is quick to correct her "Avery, no!  Be nice Baby Ben!"  Rudy has a big job in being the older brother - and he's always handling it quite well! 

So what's Ben up to?

• Well, big thing for me, he sleeps alllllll night long consistently! 
• He's busting out of 6 month clothes - so we are pretty much forced into 9 or 12 month sizes.
• I'm trying my hardest to use up the last of my size 2 diapers, but Mr. Ben has been blowing through them on the regular.  So we'll see how long it takes before I get out the size 3's. 
• He eats just 5 times a day, give or take some days when nursing gets interrupted for whatever reason (needy brother and sister, mainly).  Usually about 7, 10, 1 or 2, 4 or 5, and 8…then off to slumber land.
• He has no real consistent nap schedule.  I am working on getting him to nap in the afternoon with the others, but it doesn't always work out.  Some days he seems to sleep all day and others he barely sleeps.  Poor guy is always on the go or at the mercy of the other two, he just sleeps when and where he can! 
• I still have him sleeping in our room.  He's ready, but I'm not ready to put my last baby in his own room quite yet.
• His clogged tear duct finally became unclogged.  Since he was born, he had had a clogged duct.  We did drops, washing it regularly while massaging, but nothing seemed to help.  At Ben's 2-month appointment the doc said if it didn't clear up on its own by 4 months, they'd have to do surgery.  Needless to say, I'm very happy it cleared up on its own!
• He is such a happy, social baby.  He is content to watch everything around him, but if someone talks to him he just lights up.  He coo's and ahh's, smiles real big, just melts hearts.
• I need to work on letting this guy play around on the floor.  We get so busy and on the go, or I have a hard time trusting him laying on the floor with the other two crazies, that he barely gets time to practice lifting up on his arms or attempting to roll over.
• He still bathes in his little plastic tub.  Its almost time for him to join the other two.  Should be interesting!
• I haven't even considered picking up a "What to Expect" book with this one… it's true what they say, I guess. 

The Great Outdoors

We've been working hard on finishing up our outdoor projects.  Max joined us again and the kids love having him around - not so sure Max loves having them around though!  The poor guy.  Here is an example of their conversation:

Rudy:  What are you doing, Max?

Max: Digging a spot for these stones.

Rudy: Why?

Max: So the grill can sit on them.

Rudy: Why?

Max: Because your dad told me to.

Avery: What are you doing, Max?

Max: Digging a spot for these stones.

Avery: Why?

Max: So the grill can sit on them.

Avery: Why?

Max: Because your dad told me to.

Rudy: What are you doing, Max?

and so on...

If they aren't standing by asking questions, they are there to "help" - even if it means dumping cup fulls of grass seed in the same spot so John and Max have to use a rake to spread it around...

We brought in some extra dirt and the kids just couldn't resist… And I couldn't stop them.  Climbing dirt piles is a favorite past-time of mine and Tony's - we'd love to find the tallest ones to trek through when Mom and Dad were building our house.

 Avery's dress is purposely tucked in to her bloomers.  Girl can't climb dirt with a dress in her way!

 Dirt slide!

 that's our girl...

Look at those beautiful new hydrangea plants (my favs)!  Can't wait to see them in full bloom next year!  They also planted peonies (another favorite of mine) and azaleas around the other side of the ledge.

And did some landscaping up front… pretty, pretty (not pictured)!

And with that, we are officially done planting!  Ahhh… nice to have a big "CHECK!" next to that on the list (the never ending list)…

And because we really needed another outdoor toy...

Papa Gary volunteered to unload a trailer for someone at a donation site… I was curious if there was any good furniture in it, so he stopped by on his way out.  No furniture, but this pretty car was front and center and the kids were not letting that trailer door close without getting it out.  At least they took turns...