When it Rains, it Pours!

I don't like to complain very often, but this week has just plain sucked. Like big time. I don't think it's healthy to recount all the horrible things that happened, but I will be so glad when I have some time off. There have been so many changes, pressures, worries, lack of sleep, more stress, work stress... ugh. We're all worn out. Pretty much tonight we're headed straight to bed when Ben goes down for the night. He had a "trial" day today at the new daycare. I've called about 3-4 times to check on him and she seems to think he's doing alright. No crying, he went to sleep right away at nap time, he was playing outside last time I called, but he has been very observant today and not his usual playful self. Which worries me a little, but hopefully some mommy/daddy time this weekend will help him. Plus he's the type of kid that likes to check out his surroundings first before he feels 100% comfortable. I love that little booger and I hope this isn't messing with his ch'i. :)
Anyway, TGIF. Tomorrow it's sewing than off to Knoxville, then back home first thing Sunday morning then off to church to see if they really are splitting our ward. OH and then off to take pictures of Ryan's sister's kids. Will it ever end?

1 Week and Counting!

As of Tuesday of last week, we started a "Binky Intervention" if you will. The doc has encouraged us to do this since Ben was 18 months and since he's not taking it during the day we figured this might be a good time to try. On a normal day, he wakes up asking for it. We go in his dark room in the morning where he pops up off the bed with his blanky in tow and first thing he says is "Na-na! Na-na!" sometimes he'll even say "pweese?" when he asks for it. He expects it in the car too along with his car blanky. We had one clipped to the seat belt strap of his car seat and have since removed it. The first few nights were difficult for him, technically we started Monday night- or tried to and he freaked out. Ryan cut a slit in the tip of the binky and after that he couldn't keep it in his mouth with out holding it or biting down on it. He'd get mad and throw it on the ground and we kept telling him it was broken and didn't work anymore. But he'd pick it back up and put it in. Tuesday morning I gave it to him in the car because my nerves were on edge already that morning and I gave in... that night when I picked him up and then at bedtime he asked for it. He cried on and off halfheartedly for about a 1/2 hour in his bed. I went in and told him I loved him and rubbed his back and he fell asleep shortly after a short stint of crying. Same thing the next night, only this time Ryan went it and told him he loved him, rubbed his head and Ben stopped crying shortly after that, if not immediately, only after he'd cried for about 15 mins. Each night got better, but every morning he'd pop up off that mattress asking for it! After he'd say "Na-na!?" I'd say "No-no!" and he'd get the picture. So since this has happened, we've realized EVEN MORE what a chatter box he is. He now sings himself to sleep or talks, which is cute- but we have to occasionally remind him of the goal insight, SLEEP! So, since this is our family journal and it's possible that our other kids might be in to binkies like Ben was, I need to remind myself of some tips that seemed to work.

• cut the tip and act as if it was broken to the kid.
• hide them, keep them out of sight!
• DON'T GIVE IN!
• pretend you don't know what one is if they ask (ha, ha! My favorite...)
• when they do ask, find ways to distract them with someone else that is appealing
• cold turkey... that's the only way to do it.
• DON'T GIVE IN!
• tell them they're doing so good, such a big kid with out it and lots of love.
• remove any pictures of the said child with it in their mouth out of sight for a little while so they don't remember. Out of sight, out of mind.
  It's kind of weird that it's in the past. But it kind of feels like it has been for a long time! We are proud of our little fella and with us for sticking through it, especially when there were times we ALMOST gave in. One thing down...This last weekend I started a sewing class with Ashley, Martha and Brittany being taught by Ashley's mother in-law Darlene. I am pretty excited, call me Martha Stewart, whatever... I don't care! We're making PJ's and the ones I'm doing are going to be for the little mister. I got a pattern for me too, but I'll wait. The BIG problem is, I don't have my own sewing machine! Luckily Darlene is letting me use hers while at the class. I am glad to have something to help improve myself, and to learn something new.
  We also had a play date with Ben's old pals from the Kindercare. It was a pretty day and they had fun running around the playground and eating snacks together. They are cute little kids I'll tell ya.Speaking of childcare, unfortunately the home sitting didn't work out. I wont go in to detail, but we believe that it's for the better. There is a daycare near us- literally 5 mins out of our neighborhood, that Ben and I checked out today. I had to take work off to go find somewhere new to take him. It was kind of sprung on us and we weren't prepared with a back up place. I really liked it there, it's open and bright and cheery and there seems to be a lot of good learning with art and music and even potty training and I feel like it's a really good place to be. Even better than the Kindercare we had him at and cheaper too! Not as cheap as we were paying the sitter, but his happiness and health are the most important things to us. I hate to have to introduce him to a new setting, and I hope it doesn't mess with him any- but I am SO grateful the Lord sent us such a easy going and adaptable little dude.I have my first Scentsy party this weekend with my cousin Laura in Knoxville, TN. I am a little nervous and feel a little unprepared- but it will be a good learning experience. She has experience in this sort of thing too so she can give me some good tips. I really hope this grows in to a big thing for me, because even more so after this whole childcare drama this week- I just want to be the one taking care of him. Anyway, same story different day so I'll refrain.
  OH and in other news, we're heading to Chicago to see Delinda and Jen for Thanksgiving. Despite the unhappiness of my in-laws, which I'm really sorry for, I am SO excited! We've never been there and it will be all tight and crammed in the car for a LONG drive and tight and crammed in the apt where they live, but all will be well. I am excited to see her and the sites of the Chi-town and where she has moved her life to. I love my sis, she's one of my best friends! And yes, we are driving! 11-12 hours... ugh, I'm not looking forward to it but we can make it. We've done it before. AND we'll be doing most of our driving at night so hopefully (crossing my fingers) Ben will sleep the majority of the time. And OH MY GOSH! Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away! Which means my friends that Christmas is a month and a half away! ACK! Where does the dang time go?