An Honest Lie

Wait, what did I say?  Yes, I am calling it an honest lie.

Picture this:

Laughter from two happily playing children. A moment of silence.  A 6-year-old girl screams at her little brother.  You hear a small collision of a 26-page book to the arm of a skinny 6-year-old. Seconds later, a screaming and crying 2-year-old emerges from the room.  And following him, is the 6-year-old saying, "I did not pinch him on the arm!"

Analyze this:

The 2-year-old does not have enough words in his vocabulary to even tell us anything happened to him.  Who is telling on who?

Ronan has a brand new toy...

Okay, not really.  It's mommy's toy.  My Cricut Expression.  

Ronan has been really into helping me out with everything I do.  When I say this, I mean everything from prepping his toaster waffle for breakfast, handing me toilet paper when I pee, and now, pushing the buttons when I use the Cricut.

I was making signs for the PTA and he was happy to push the letters I needed.  I had to point some letters out for him, but he knew some of them on his own!  His favorite thing to do is to push "cut" which gets the machine started.  


He's been watching the Letter Factory, which teaches letters and their sounds, and it has helped him so much.  Not just for the speaking aspect, but for the letter recognition, too.  He knows several of the letters and now, we can use the Cricut to practice.  My scrappin'/card-makin' friends should appreciate this post!

Update: Ronan Chase

Ronan has been a nightmare with his picky eating.  A true, absolute, pain-in-my-bum nightmare. Blog followers know that I celebrate mealtime accomplishments, if they involve anything other than french fries or chicken nuggets.  His two-year doctor's appointment was a wake-up call for me and one that I wish I had more control over...but I don't.

He's on target for his weight, head circumference and height.  This, was to much surprise to his pediatrician.  Why?  Well, after I told her what his diet consisted of (mainly carbs), she was shocked to see that he was actually growing.  When I told her that he barely eats meat and refuses his disgusting smelling pediatric vitamin, she suggested a test to check his iron.  Sure enough, a toe prick later, little man is anemic.  

I freaked out in my head.  I didn't know what to do.  Ronan is headstrong and stubborn and knows exactly what he wants...or doesn't want...and it has been something extremely frustrating for both Ryan and I.  Many tears have been shed in the kitchen, wondering what in the world we could offer him of nutritious value that he might possibly try.  Nothing.

So, the pediatrician suggested I take him to a speech therapist -- to evaluate his speech, which I was worried about -- and to evaluate his feeding issues.  We went.

His speech is fine.  He might have started out slow and behind, but has caught up and isn't anything they have any concern over.  Not the same could be said about his eating.  They had me bring in a few items he loves to eat (so I picked Original Goldfish -- he's allergic to the cheesy ones -- and his water) and a few items he refuses to eat (I brought a Nutrigrain bar and a banana).  

He was so well-behaved in the office...very considerate in wanting me to feed the therapist some of his goldfish, as well.  She said his chewing is perfect, swallowing is exactly what it's supposed to look like  but that he has "texture issues."  He is hypersensitive when it comes to various textures.  He would not touch the banana (even though he did in the past.)

So now, we are just waiting to hear back from Tricare, as to whether or not they will cover his visits to them so they can "work on Ronan" and get him to touch, try, whatever...different things.

I know whatever is done is going to be more than I could ask for.  At this point, it's like I need a miracle.  To those of you concerned about him, thank you.  Thank you for caring.  He's fine and will eventually move on...but not without help, so let's hope we can get that help from someone. I will keep everyone posted on little dude's progress...

A New Year, A New Me...

I'm not going to sit here and complain about how much I weigh or what I look like under my clothes, but I will sit here and say that this year, I'm going to be a better me than I ever have been.  I am done feeling sorry for myself, wondering what my life would be like if I could wear a triangle top two-piece bikini.  This year, baby, I'm going to make it happen.  Alright, so maybe not the triangle top, because let's face it, a triangle top is just another name for nipple warmer...but I vow to expose my mid-section to the world and allow it to be penetrated by the sun, so that it too, may match the rest of my exposed body parts.  I do NOT want it to match my white bum.

I'm working out.  And not just any sort of working out, but I'm working out with Ryan, at a gym and guess what, it feels good.  

When Ryan and I first started dating, that's what we did.  We went to the gym.  And a couple that sweats together, stays together.  We were really good about it, too.  Then, pregnancy happened to both of us and well, let's just say the last place I wanted to be was in a gym filled with bacteria that I could potentially bring home to my newborn child.  So, we made our own gym, in our garage and worked out there.

Then, Ronan happened.  Pregnancy was my best excuse to not workout and to eat everything in sight.  My double chin doubled.  But, I nursed and nursed and nursed and the weight came off. What is funny, though, is that even though the weight came off, it didn't make me feel any better.  I still wasn't exercising.  That is, until December 27th, 2008.

I'm no newbie to the gym scene.  I've been a member of various gyms since my freshman year of college (where I gained the freshman-30).  And as expensive as some gyms can be, there is something to be said about paying $20-40 a month for a membership, with childcare...and being around a fair amount of people who are working towards the same goal you are.  It's motivating and it's entertaining.

I say entertaining because let's be realistic, some people are down-right funny.  The gym is the only place that knows no fashion boundaries -- where thongs on top of your shorts is accepted and where noone tells you that the 80's wants their tie-dyed MC Hammer pants back.  It's where many male upper bodies are twice the size of their legs and a place where girls give you dirty looks if your boobs happen to look really good in that tank top.  

It's also a place where you can stare at yourself in the mirror, flex your muscles and nobody laughs at you.  (At least not to your face.)  It's a place where grunting is normal and somewhere I often say to Ryan, "I don't want to do that because it makes my legs burn."  Does he take that for an answer, absolutely not.  But I'll still say it.

We've been on lots of "gym dates" lately.  We drop the kids off at the Kids Klub and exercise. We catch up on life, what work was like, what the kids did that day and what we're going to eat. No, it's not a dinner date at our favorite restaurant...but it's allowed us to reconnect and we are starting to become the people we want to be:  Healthy and Active.

I will have a six pack this year.  It might be underneath some fat and skin, but it'll be there.  It might not make it's debut until the next year, but you can't fault me for having a goal.  I plan to continue working out with Ryan at the gym every chance we get, not only for the physical benefits, but mentally, it's done wonders.  Exercise truly does decrease stress and I'll take that as long as it will work for me.

Look for me this year, a new me...more positive, more focused and more energetic.  I'm going to be able to balance everything on my plate and more...and maybe I'll be wearing a bikini while I'm doing it.

Happy New Year

We've been so fortunate to be stationed in warm weather states  for the past few years.  How many people can say that they were at the beach on New Years Day?  Well, if you are from where Ryan and I were, Pittsburgh, you know that it's not something you'd do there...hang out along the Three Rivers...

We took advantage of the nice weather we were given and headed out to the local beach about 10 minutes away from where we live.  I don't know that I would ever swim there, but to walk along the sand and let the kids play...well, I'd do that anytime.  The kids had a blast...

A Very Merry Egal Christmas

We didn't plan to spend a lot of money on gifts this year...a sentiment I'm sure I shared with many other parents.  The amazing thing, though, is that we actually stuck to it.  Many of the presents the kids received were from Pa and Grandma...and seeing as how they decided to spoil both kids, we figured, "why spend the money when they bought what we were going to buy!"

Ronan has been obsessed with trains and cars, so of course, he had an abundance of those under the tree.  He was definitely more into the present concept, being that we had talked about it more...but he wasn't quite as excited to open all his gifts, like Riley was!  The difference between the two kids was that while Riley was more about the QUANTITY of gifts, Ronan was about the QUALITY.  He actually wanted to play with each thing before moving onto the next present...something that I'm sure will change as he gets older...

Ah, onto my precious Riley.  She still believes in Santa, which is great.  She asked him for this cupcake maker (which I really didn't want to fulfill, but since Pa has to get anything Riley asks for, he took care of that for me...)  It was under the tree, unwrapped (because Santa's 401K was drained and he had no extra funds to wrap presents for every boy and girl) and it was the highlight of Riley's Christmas.  

She could not wait to use it.  I, on the other hand, put it off as long as I could.  A few days went by, me, still procrastinating the opening of this bright pink box...when I couldn't take the "can we do the cupcake machine?" question any longer...I had it all set-up one evening so in the morning we could just play.

I read the directions and carefully placed all the necessary supplies on placemats at the dining room table.  Riley was in her glory.  She stirred and stirred and mixed and touched all the ingredients she could get her hands on.  I walked all the way to the microwave and cooked that cupcake for an entire 30 seconds.  

It was done.

We prepared the icing, as noted in the directions, placed it in the machine and away Riley went, pressing the button to ice her cupcake.  That's when the screaming started.  No, not from Ronan.  No, not from Riley...but from ME, as the icing literally went everywhere.  Picture pulling a mixer out of the batter, while it's still on.  That's what it did.  The icing started to fly all over the place and I about freaked.  We stopped and with a sad face, I looked at Riley and said, "Honey, this was poorly made.  It was made in China."

We cleaned it up and I let Riley lick what icing she could get her hands on.  Guess where the machine is now?  It's in several pieces scattered throughout Riley's room.  I think the next time she bakes, it's going to be with REAL batter and icing and we'll do it in the kitchen.

Thanks, Santa...thanks for nothing.

Christmas Eve

I know, I'm what, 20 days late with this post?  Better late than never, I always say.  Well, I don't think I ALWAYS say that.  I think I just say it when it suits my situation...anyway...

We went to Sea World on Christmas Eve with our neighbors and had such a great time.  It was so different than last year, mostly because Ronan really understands what's going on around us now and so he was able to react to everything happening.  

The kids loved the pet show and the Shamu show.  I, on the other hand, loved the holiday decorations.  The very same tree we took a picture in front of last year, was here again...and I still loved it as much as I did last year!

The kids and I:  
Riley and Ronan being silly in front of the tree...look at how huge those ornaments are.  They are truly bigger than Riley's head.
And a picture of Riley and I...she seems to still love her momma.  

Oh, Riley...

a)  The other day, Riley came home from school and said to me, "Momma, Robbie was dancing so funny today.  I couldn't stop laughing at him."  I said, "Really?  What was he doing?"  She said, "Oh, he was dancing soooo 90's!!!"  

The best part of that conversation was that she was born in 2002, so the 90's for her is like the 20's for me...I know it happened, but I don't know what...

b)  She got into the car last week and before I could ask her how her day was, she blurted out, "I got a note in my agenda."  She was so sad and in asking her how it happened, she dramatically emphasized that she "haaaaad to tell Ada something during storytime and Ms. Graves warned me but I just had to tell her. I couldn't wait."  

When I probed more to find out what it was that she just haaaaad to tell Ada, she blankly responded, "hmm, I forget now."

c)  Riley's new catch phrase is "by the way."  She enjoys tagging it on most sentences, and not in the beginning of them, as to let us know it's something 'new,' she adds it to the end:

"I got my jeans wet, and by the way, I had no umbrella."

"I wanted to get a snack today at school, and by the way, I was hungry."

She is so funny sometimes!

He shrugs his shoulders...

Yep, that's Ronan's new thing.  When I ask him what he wants, he looks at me with his puppy dog brown eyes and shrugs his shoulders...it's adorable and frustrating at the same time...

He's only two and I know two-year-olds can be trying on parental patience.  I know they throw tantrums.  I know that are extremely active.  I know that they are picky eaters.  But none, none I have ever known are like my Ronan.

Anyone who has read my blog, knows that the boy is a picky eater.  To only have a handful of foods in one's repertoire might be normal for a toddler, but for Ronan, it's become a medical issue.

He's anemic.  It's not life threatening...but it's still something I'm concerned about.  Why is he this way?  Well, if you only eat carbs and chicken nuggets from Wendy's, how could you not? He gags at the smell of the vitamin drops.  He won't touch the chewable vitamins.  He doesn't like anything soft or wet. He doesn't really like anything that isn't from the 5 ONLY things he eats. You might say this has caused lots of heartache and stress in the Egal house.

So tomorrow, I have an appointment to take Ronan to a speech therapist -- who is going to help him with his "expressive disorder" he has and also, for the "feeding issues"  we are facing.  I have received positive feedback about what the therapist will do for us, so I'm hoping we are one of the success cases they can brag about.  I don't want Ronan to be sick, ever.  

Why can't the boy just eat a freakin' apple or banana?