It is a time of transitions here in the Lewitt household. Much to Lexi's disdain she has had to remain in a high back booster seat with a five point harness even at the age of 7 due to her weight being so low. She would moan and groan and say that such seats are for babies and I would tell her that she had to weigh 45 pounds before she could sit in anything else. Yes, I am aware that booster base seats are made for children from 30+ pounds depending on the manufacturer, but I wanted her to be consistently above 40 pounds (since her weight fluctuates by 4 pounds depending on eating and potty matters) before I would consider upgrading her. Finally, her weight has been consistently above 40 pounds, so she and I went and got her a new seat today. She is thrilled and says that it feels funny to only use the seat belt like Mommy and Daddy use.
Abby, on the other hand, is transitioning in different ways. For the last week and a half she has been open to the idea of doing her potty business on the potty in lieu of her pull ups. To date, she still will only go if it is upon someone else's suggestion or if her pull up is so over-saturated that she feels it is time for a change. We've had minimal success with #2s because she prefers to sneak off to a corner or hide under a table to do her business in her pull up. Today, she started to sneak off and Stefan rushed her to the potty where she did do her business where it belongs...in the potty. We were excited and so was she.
So hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the diaper phase for Abby and no more of this...
Keeping our fingers crossed.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Abby is a Diva
State's Evidence: Exhibit 1
Saturday was my nephew's birthday party. Stefan was already at my sister and bro-in-law's house helping to lay hardwood floor, so my duty was to get myself and the girls ready and meet them all at the Stevi B's in Cartersville by 3. All was going as planned until Abby decided to be a diva. With the weather being incredibly nice, I had picked out an outfit with pink capris and a short-sleeved shirt with a butterfly on it. She did not want to wear the outfit and insisted on heavy jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I told her it was too warm for such clothing, but she did not want to hear it. At this point a simple debate became a battle of wills.
I tried to put the shirt on and, as soon as I could get one arm in the sleeve and move on to the next, she'd have the first arm pulled back out! I was frustrated with her. She was frustrated with me and this whole routine continued until 2:20 when I finally won. Now we were going to be pressed for time to get to the party. I got the girls loaded in the car and pulled out of the driveway with a now pacified Abby quietly watching Harold and the Purple Crayon in the backseat when I looked down at the dashboard and saw the gas light was on.
We eventually got to the party...a little late, Abby in her outfit that I picked out, and me with barely a voice to mention because I was having to yell over her screams throughout the tantrum. Fun times!
State's Evidence: Exhibit 2
Since being sick with the flu, Abby is obsessed with wearing pajamas. Every day she will get dressed and change into her pajamas a minimum of 3 times. The majority of the time at home is now spent in her "jammas" only wearing clothes if she knows we're going outside or somewhere. It's gotten to the point that I just keep her pajamas in a heap in the corner of the living room for the better part of a week before I consider them dirty because each time she changes into her "jammas" she puts on a different pair.
Anyway, last night Stefan gave the girls a bath while I folded laundry. I retrieved a pair of warm weather pajamas for Abby since a) her repertoire of "jammas" were all being washed in the same load (lesson learned here, and b) all of said "jammas" were heavy, winter flannel pajamas and the thermostat in our house is set at 77 balmy degrees during the warmer weather so I thought she'd be more comfortable. She did not like these "jammas" and wanted one of her favorites. Problem was that all her favorites were in the same load of laundry tumbling in the Whirlpool. She did not accept this as an answer and her tantrum began.
Stefan put her in time out and the screaming continued for quite sometime. She'd been there for awhile and would have been able to liberate herself if she'd just put on the perfectly fine pajamas that Mama had picked out. But instead, she screamed and cried wearing nothing but her diaper and her tears. Finally, after listening to the screaming long enough I told her she could wear the pajamas I picked out or go to bed naked in her diaper.
She chose naked in her diaper.
Saturday was my nephew's birthday party. Stefan was already at my sister and bro-in-law's house helping to lay hardwood floor, so my duty was to get myself and the girls ready and meet them all at the Stevi B's in Cartersville by 3. All was going as planned until Abby decided to be a diva. With the weather being incredibly nice, I had picked out an outfit with pink capris and a short-sleeved shirt with a butterfly on it. She did not want to wear the outfit and insisted on heavy jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I told her it was too warm for such clothing, but she did not want to hear it. At this point a simple debate became a battle of wills.
I tried to put the shirt on and, as soon as I could get one arm in the sleeve and move on to the next, she'd have the first arm pulled back out! I was frustrated with her. She was frustrated with me and this whole routine continued until 2:20 when I finally won. Now we were going to be pressed for time to get to the party. I got the girls loaded in the car and pulled out of the driveway with a now pacified Abby quietly watching Harold and the Purple Crayon in the backseat when I looked down at the dashboard and saw the gas light was on.
We eventually got to the party...a little late, Abby in her outfit that I picked out, and me with barely a voice to mention because I was having to yell over her screams throughout the tantrum. Fun times!
State's Evidence: Exhibit 2
Since being sick with the flu, Abby is obsessed with wearing pajamas. Every day she will get dressed and change into her pajamas a minimum of 3 times. The majority of the time at home is now spent in her "jammas" only wearing clothes if she knows we're going outside or somewhere. It's gotten to the point that I just keep her pajamas in a heap in the corner of the living room for the better part of a week before I consider them dirty because each time she changes into her "jammas" she puts on a different pair.
Anyway, last night Stefan gave the girls a bath while I folded laundry. I retrieved a pair of warm weather pajamas for Abby since a) her repertoire of "jammas" were all being washed in the same load (lesson learned here, and b) all of said "jammas" were heavy, winter flannel pajamas and the thermostat in our house is set at 77 balmy degrees during the warmer weather so I thought she'd be more comfortable. She did not like these "jammas" and wanted one of her favorites. Problem was that all her favorites were in the same load of laundry tumbling in the Whirlpool. She did not accept this as an answer and her tantrum began.
Stefan put her in time out and the screaming continued for quite sometime. She'd been there for awhile and would have been able to liberate herself if she'd just put on the perfectly fine pajamas that Mama had picked out. But instead, she screamed and cried wearing nothing but her diaper and her tears. Finally, after listening to the screaming long enough I told her she could wear the pajamas I picked out or go to bed naked in her diaper.
She chose naked in her diaper.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Abbyism
I had to go finish the application process to become a substitute teacher with the county this morning. When I returned, I was checking email and facebook while sitting on the couch. The dogs were outside and Abby was sitting next to me on the couch. Lou started barking and I asked Abby to let him in. She looked at me with a deadpan expression on her face and said, "No, it's your turn." I chuckled, set the laptop on the other side of me and began to get up when Abby decided it was her turn after all. Figures.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Everybody Wants Their Fifteen Minutes
As stated in my last post, there was a situation on campus at KSU on Tuesday. Whenever I see a situation like this that has gained so much media attention, I wonder when the copycats will come out of the woodwork. And by copycats, I mean the teenagers that just want their fifteen minutes in the spotlight regardless of the consequences. This time around it only took two days.
I was on my way to drop Abby off at my in-law's house before going to school on Thursday morning, when I was passed by an unmarked black Chevy Tahoe with sirens and police lights. When the vehicle seemingly disappeared, I thought it was just some detective trying to get through traffic. Later I found out that two students at a local high school had been arrested for having a gun with the intent to do harm (probably where the officer was headed). Further searches of the students' homes revealed rifles and ammunition but no tangible plan that the students planned to carry out. Perhaps with the escape of the inmate at KSU, these students just wanted to step out into the media spotlight before they had anything finalized. Who knows?
What I do know is that Thursday morning was a terrifying day for students at the high school in question, the neighboring middle school, and the high school down the street. They were all put on lockdown and, as with typical adolescents, the rumors began to swirl. To be clear, no one was harmed, the guns were not used, and the students in question were apprehended off of their bus before school started thanks to a tip to a local law enforcement agency. Thank God!
I could sit here and talk about all the hypothetical scenarios that could have happened that day were it not that the students were intercepted. Instead, I am thankful for the quick actions of law enforcement, the responsible citizen that called in the tip, and the teachers and faculty of the schools for their patience in managing the school populations during the lockdown while they were probably inwardly just as terrified as the students they were trying to manage. This incident happened about 10 miles from home in the district I plan to teach. Two of my friends from school are student teaching at one of the schools that was locked down. I am just so thankful that no one was hurt.
As for the students allegedly involved in this incident, I hope that they will be dealt with accordingly and offered the help and counsel they need. As for their parents, I hope that they also receive some form of help. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I found out that one of my girls was involved in something like this. It's got to be a terrible time for them.
I was on my way to drop Abby off at my in-law's house before going to school on Thursday morning, when I was passed by an unmarked black Chevy Tahoe with sirens and police lights. When the vehicle seemingly disappeared, I thought it was just some detective trying to get through traffic. Later I found out that two students at a local high school had been arrested for having a gun with the intent to do harm (probably where the officer was headed). Further searches of the students' homes revealed rifles and ammunition but no tangible plan that the students planned to carry out. Perhaps with the escape of the inmate at KSU, these students just wanted to step out into the media spotlight before they had anything finalized. Who knows?
What I do know is that Thursday morning was a terrifying day for students at the high school in question, the neighboring middle school, and the high school down the street. They were all put on lockdown and, as with typical adolescents, the rumors began to swirl. To be clear, no one was harmed, the guns were not used, and the students in question were apprehended off of their bus before school started thanks to a tip to a local law enforcement agency. Thank God!
I could sit here and talk about all the hypothetical scenarios that could have happened that day were it not that the students were intercepted. Instead, I am thankful for the quick actions of law enforcement, the responsible citizen that called in the tip, and the teachers and faculty of the schools for their patience in managing the school populations during the lockdown while they were probably inwardly just as terrified as the students they were trying to manage. This incident happened about 10 miles from home in the district I plan to teach. Two of my friends from school are student teaching at one of the schools that was locked down. I am just so thankful that no one was hurt.
As for the students allegedly involved in this incident, I hope that they will be dealt with accordingly and offered the help and counsel they need. As for their parents, I hope that they also receive some form of help. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I found out that one of my girls was involved in something like this. It's got to be a terrible time for them.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
A Bit Too Close to Home
Yesterday, my home phone and my cell phone were ringing off the hook due to calls, voice mails, and text messages from Kennesaw State's automated alert system that there was an escaped prisoner that was tracked to our campus. Fortunately, I was already home from my morning classes; however, I am a bit concerned. News reporters on campus were doing there stories with students milling about in the background as the campus was on supposed lock down. I've read many comments on news stories online of some students not being notified at all to the point that they were allowed to go to the parking deck that the inmate had been tracked through because they were not aware of any "situation" going on at the time. Seriously?
Anyway, three hours after the initial warning was sent out, the University lifted the lock down but had canceled classes for the rest of the evening saying that they had conducted a "thorough search". Thorough my behind! A thorough search of the University would have taken all night and probably most of today. Do you know how many classrooms and offices there are at KSU? A lot!
How can they be sure that this guy isn't lurking somewhere until we're lulled into a false sense of security to assume that he has left the campus? I mean really, a college campus is an easy place for a thirtysomething male to "blend in". It is my understanding that, since he was a prisoner that was being transported across state lines, that he would not have a weapon, but that is not to say that he hasn't obtained one since! I pray for the safety of all at KSU. I pray that no one became a victim of his selfish urge to escape. And I pray that they catch this bastard so we can get the thoughts out of our minds that he could still be somewhere on campus.
Anyway, three hours after the initial warning was sent out, the University lifted the lock down but had canceled classes for the rest of the evening saying that they had conducted a "thorough search". Thorough my behind! A thorough search of the University would have taken all night and probably most of today. Do you know how many classrooms and offices there are at KSU? A lot!
How can they be sure that this guy isn't lurking somewhere until we're lulled into a false sense of security to assume that he has left the campus? I mean really, a college campus is an easy place for a thirtysomething male to "blend in". It is my understanding that, since he was a prisoner that was being transported across state lines, that he would not have a weapon, but that is not to say that he hasn't obtained one since! I pray for the safety of all at KSU. I pray that no one became a victim of his selfish urge to escape. And I pray that they catch this bastard so we can get the thoughts out of our minds that he could still be somewhere on campus.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
A Week of Quarantine
For the past week, at least one person in the house has been stricken by the flu. Not the kind that has you sick to your stomach racing to the bathroom for one reason or another, just the cold-type flu that gets a grip on you and doesn't let go. It started with Abby on Wednesday night with a very low-grade fever. I took her to the pediatrician and they said it's the flu after which he gave me a lecture about not getting her a flu shot this year. Now, before you admonish me in the same way...every single time I've tried to get the girls flu shots there, they've been of the age that you have to have a two-shot series. The pediatrician would always have the shot available for the first round but never had it in stock for the second which rendered the first one completely useless. Anyway, the lecture ensued and finally, after making me feel like I'd just one the blue ribbon for Worst Mom of the Year, he said that this year it wouldn't have made much of a difference because he has seen a lot of cases of the flu in kids that had the shot. Mission complete, sir, you made me feel like a pile of dog doo for nothing. Thanks!
Anyway, Abby's illness progressed to high fevers, clingy attitude (which, if you know Abby, is pretty atypical), a cough, and something going on with her throat that made her sound like a goose when she spoke. She went an entire week without wearing clothes, she would just change from her pajamas into new ones. But, and I know this may sound bad, but given her independent nature, it was kind of nice to see her vulnerable.
I came down with it the day after Abby, but had pretty much recovered after 3-4 days. Maybe my quick recovery had something to do with the fact that I never spiked a fever. I'm not complaining, though. Just as I was getting better, Stefan started spiking fevers and her is just now starting to feel better after a week-long stint like Abby.
What about Lexi, you ask? She remains unaffected to this day. She's probably the carrier monkey that brought it home from school. Figures!
Anyway, Abby's illness progressed to high fevers, clingy attitude (which, if you know Abby, is pretty atypical), a cough, and something going on with her throat that made her sound like a goose when she spoke. She went an entire week without wearing clothes, she would just change from her pajamas into new ones. But, and I know this may sound bad, but given her independent nature, it was kind of nice to see her vulnerable.
I came down with it the day after Abby, but had pretty much recovered after 3-4 days. Maybe my quick recovery had something to do with the fact that I never spiked a fever. I'm not complaining, though. Just as I was getting better, Stefan started spiking fevers and her is just now starting to feel better after a week-long stint like Abby.
What about Lexi, you ask? She remains unaffected to this day. She's probably the carrier monkey that brought it home from school. Figures!
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