Number Help

At Book Club last night we got off the subject and started talking about, what else, our kids! One mom mentioned that her son is making numbers, but some are backwards. (Kids will make numbers and letters backwards through first grade sometimes, but it doesn't mean they are dyslexic.) I have some sayings that go along with making the numbers...which makes it fun for some kids. Cole's favorite is the number 2 .

Here are the sayings...demonstration is below. (Most kids can make the number 1 which is just a "down stroke" so I don't think I have a saying for making the number 1.)

1----down stroke

2----around the bend, and down the track... two, two, two

3----around the tree, around the tree, that's how you make a three

4----down and over, and down some more, look at me I made a 4!

5----down with a belly fat, Mr. 5 he wears a hat.

6----down, around, and in.

7----across the sky and down from heaven, look at me I made a 7!

8----make an S and don't you wait, go up straight, it's an 8.

9----circle and a line, that's how you make a nine.

Some children (boys!) don't seem to like to practice printing...so you could always make numbers out of clay or play doh.

One last thing...I made this chart to document how far Cole can count. (He can count further than what is shown, but he forgets to say 13 and 15, so that is why I only highlighted until 12.)

Valentine's Party

I didn't think we were going to make it to this...Cole was up a lot the night before b/c his throat hurt. We ended up sleeping in 'till 10!

We got ready in a flash and headed off b/c Cole REALLY wanted to see his friends. He was in tears at the thought of not going. (During his recovery his friends have played an important part. Some visited, some sent cards and surprises and some let us come over. I was surprised at how much Cole wanted to do. I guess he just wanted things to be normal again.)

Anyhoo, we went to the Smoothie Cafe for a smoothie (duh) and to exchange valentines.

I didn't think Cole would be up for this so we didn't make a valentine box or homemade valentines like we always do. Luckily I bought Hot Wheels valentines just in case!

Cole couldn't wait to see Sophie!
Cole's Valentine "box"
Cole passing out his Valentines.
Cole and all his stuff.

Homemade Tinker Toys

A friend of mine did this with her kids and I thought it was a great idea.

Take marshmallows and pretzel sticks, connect them, and viola! you have homemade tinker toys! (and a snack!)

Of course the cars had to make an appearance...we made parking spaces for them.

Wordless Wednesday

A friend of mine does something called "Wordless Wednesday" where she just posts an interesting photo.

So, here is my first WW...

Let's Do Lunch

One day we met friends at the park and then went out to lunch after...

He knows!!!!!!!!!!

After Cole was in bed and sleeping, Dan told me I had to go see him...Cole was snuggling with his animals...arms around them and all... and it was so cute I had to get a picture.

The next morning Cole said he was mad at dad. I asked why. He said that Dad came in last night while he was sleeping and took a picture of him.

THAT BOY KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON! Even in his sleep!

Children's Museum

Last month we went to the Children's Museum twice. Here are some pictures:



Driving the firetruck with friends.


Little Buddies


Flying an airplane

Recovery

Cole had a great day today. It started out rocky, but ended good.

He woke up and his throat hurt. I gave him his meds and fluids. And more fluids. And more fluids... (Tip: I use an oral syringe to squirt water, Gatorade, koolaid, etc in his mouth every 15 minutes. The one I have is 2tsp. It works great.)

When he got home yesterday he wanted his friends to come over. He was in tears when I told him that no one could come today. So I set up a play date for the next day.

Later in the morning two of his little buddies came over to play and eat lunch. When they got here, Cole got right up and was running around and playing. He even ATE some food! (mac and cheese)

He took a big nap today and then was ready to go again! He got a card in the mail with money in it and wanted to go to the store right away to buy a car. So we went!

The next few days might not be as good. The doctor said that days 3 and 4 are usually rough.

FYI...Cole has had ONE bite of ice cream. And I had to bug him for minutes to eat it!

Good-bye Tonsils

One of the books we are reading to prepare for surgery is Good-bye Tonsils by Juliana Hatkoff. In the story the little girl is having her tonsils out on her baby sister's first birthday. The family figured the little girl would not want to eat cake and celebrate, so they have the birthday cake (and a special good-bye tonsils cake too)the night before.

So, we made a good-bye tonsils cake today.

He's ready

Cole gets tubes put in and tonsils and adenoids taken out on Thursday.

I have read books to him that goes over the hospital visit...and told him why he needs to get this done. (He has had fluid in his ears a lot lately so he can't hear well and his nose is so stopped up he has to mouth breathe all the time.)

This morning as he is trying to breathe through his nose he says to me "When am I going to get my tonsils out already?" He also told his teacher he is ready for the procedure so he can breathe better.

He is not nervous at all. We have been talking about what is going on since the ENT told us what needs to be done. So it's no big deal. I have been talking to friends, family and teachers at Cole's school about it, so he hears it all and is comfortable with it. We all feel good about this.

Please keep Cole in your prayers.

I will write about how he did and how he is doing as soon as I can.