Andrew came home with a drawing last week that said, "My Family" but was only a drawing of himself.
Me: "I like your picture, you did a good job drawing yourself. Did you
mean to only draw you, or did you run out of time to draw mommy and
daddy?"
A: "I ran out of time."
M: "Would you like to finish it then? I can get your crayons"
A: "no, I like it with just me."
but he did tell my sister he deliberately only drew 4 fingers on one
hand because he's four years old. So that is him holding up 4 fingers.
We decided to buy Andrew an inflatable punching bag. Its the same height as him. We want him to have a safe outlet for getting out anxiety and anger and frustration. He LOVES it.
Tuesday evening daddy and I had an appointment out and didn't get back until after bedtime. He had asked Annelise to leave the door open so we could say goodnight to him. We snuck in even though it was quiet, but he suddenly sat up and said, "Arg! Shiver me timbers! I can't see ye without the light!" We all three started laughing as we also climbed into the bed with him to shower him with kisses. He asked me if I was feeling better and I said "yes, are you?" He said no. So I kissed his nose. His answer was still no, so daddy blew on his cheek. Still no. "Well what would make you feel better?" I asked. He said, "If you massage me when I get up." So I massaged his head and said goodnight.
Wednesday Andrew got up at 2am. Turned on the lights in the living room and kitchen. Found slippers we bought for him that he hadn't seen yet and tried them on. Took them off and played with some toys. Went potty. Then came knocking on our door. "Can you guys keep an eye on me in case I see another mouse?" ... "Andrew! It's 2 in the morning! Go back to bed!!" .. "why?" ... "Because - 2am is the time when everyone in the world should be sleeping. Go to sleep!" .. "okay." (he saw a mouse the other morning)
Wednesday evening he was playing on his electric keyboard. "Mom, since we have mice in here, I think we should play 'Three Blind Mice.'
Saturday we had a congregation get together. He started off playing football with Bruce Wright and daddy - loved it. Then we moved to the playground for a while. After dinner he liked throwing hedge apples in the ravine with other kids, then back to the playground we went. Then he got invited to play kick ball. That was pretty funny to watch. He liked kicking the dirt and watching the dust cloud billow at his feet. He did kick it and make it to first base without getting out, but someone else did. The next round they let him start at first and with the audience helping him know when to run - he made it all the way back home and scored a point for his team. They seemed to all have a blast.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
"Good call!"
Someone gave him some pajamas that are spaced themed and has tiny stars on it that glow in the dark. The first time he wore them, just a few minutes after putting him to bed, he called to us telling
us he didn't want to wear them. Why? "Because these stars do not turn off." (the glowing ones)
Last week we let him pick out a mask, and he chose Ironman. We went out to dinner and he was wearing a blanket tied around his neck as a cape, and his Ironman mask. He wore them very confidently.
We were invited to a kids Princess and Imagination party (that ended up getting postponed til Spring) so I ordered him Ironman and Spiderman costumes that came with masks and gloves. I hung them both out on the clothes line and then just waited for Andrew to see them hanging outside. I knew he'd be excited. I waited.. and waited. Finally, we dropped some hints and suggested he look outside. His face lit up, he gasped with his jaw dropped ... and then said, "Look at that moth!!" He instead became fascinated with a moth on the door. lol It wasn't until we suggested he GO outside to see the moth that he finally looked out just 10 feet past the door, straight in front of him, and said, "hey!! there's Ironman!" and he went out asking to wear them. We went out to dinner at Cracker Barrel with him dressed up as Spiderman, and put in our 'reservation.' So "Spiderman, table for 4" got called over the intercom.
Daddy has been trying to fix Andrew's "bed head" each morning before school. Tuesday when they were riding home, Ted said he had bed head again. "No daddy, I have school-head"
Wednesday was a difficult day for all of us for various reasons. Andrew had a complete meltdown in the car on the way home just because he had to wait his turn to talk. When we said it was his turn, he fell apart (overtired). Once home, he kept crying. Daddy talked with him and Andrew continued to cry. I got in bed next to him and sang to him and rubbed his head and arm. Once he calmed down we started talking.
He said, "Mom, things are not going well for me."
I told him, "I know. Things didn't go well for me today either. I'm very sad because one of my teachers wont be at school anymore."
"why not? Did she walk over to another school?"
"No, she doesn't have a job right now."
"I'll give her a job!"
"Yeah? What job would you give her?"
"Well, I'd give her your flashcards and she could build something. ... Or massage. She could massage."
"You'd pay her to come give you a massage? How much would you pay her?"
"Fifty dollars. .... Do I have fifty dollars? Is that all my money?"
Then he told me he had been crying because he was hungry. I told him that I knew he'd told me he was hungry, but because of how he was acting and crying, I couldn't give him a snack now. Because if I did, he'd learn that crying and fussing was a way to get what he wants, and it's not. That if he had handled himself differently, then I could have given him a snack when we got home. Amazingly, he accepted that.
Wednesday night Ted related an experience the teacher told him. During naptime, there was a little girl who would not obey the teacher or be quiet. Finally the teacher took her out of the room so everyone else could fall asleep. When she returned, Andrew said, "Good call! She was keeping everyone up?"
Daddy bought him two new books "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light in the Attic" He likes the silly pictures in them. I'm hoping they'll read them together.
Friday at dinner, he asked for a drink. Ted started to get him a cup of water but Andrew started to flip out and whine and run from the table. I immediately halted him and reminded him of the experience Wednesday night where he didn't get what he wanted because of whining and crying. I asked him, "can you think of a better way to handle this situation?" He calmly used his words and said, "daddy, may I please have some juice instead of water?" Ted piped up "Because you asked so nicely, I will get you some juice."
Saturday afternoon the boys were chasing each other around the yard and playing ball. Andrew kept holding onto his britches while he ran and pulling them up higher a lot. A few minutes later, he was chasing daddy and all of a sudden his pants ended up around his ankles and he fell flat on the ground. The button had come out of the elastic hold that allows you to adjust the waist line. Good thing he had a long sweater on!
Saturday we went out to dinner at Frankie's Pizza and Grill. Andrew drummed up plenty of conversation with two of the waiters, and impressed them when he asked for jalapenos on his cheese pizza. Later our waiter, Danny, said, "you have a really bright little boy." I said, "you have no idea!" He said, 'yes I do, I have a 24 month old and an 8 month old'. Ted picked up the little dessert menu and handed it to Andrew and said, "Here, read this." Andrew thought he was getting to choose a dessert saying, "Hmmm, I'll have......" Then the waiter asked, "Can you read me the first one?" Andrew read it smoothly and perfectly - even 'liqueur' and the waiter was dumbfounded.
us he didn't want to wear them. Why? "Because these stars do not turn off." (the glowing ones)
Last week we let him pick out a mask, and he chose Ironman. We went out to dinner and he was wearing a blanket tied around his neck as a cape, and his Ironman mask. He wore them very confidently.
We were invited to a kids Princess and Imagination party (that ended up getting postponed til Spring) so I ordered him Ironman and Spiderman costumes that came with masks and gloves. I hung them both out on the clothes line and then just waited for Andrew to see them hanging outside. I knew he'd be excited. I waited.. and waited. Finally, we dropped some hints and suggested he look outside. His face lit up, he gasped with his jaw dropped ... and then said, "Look at that moth!!" He instead became fascinated with a moth on the door. lol It wasn't until we suggested he GO outside to see the moth that he finally looked out just 10 feet past the door, straight in front of him, and said, "hey!! there's Ironman!" and he went out asking to wear them. We went out to dinner at Cracker Barrel with him dressed up as Spiderman, and put in our 'reservation.' So "Spiderman, table for 4" got called over the intercom.
Daddy has been trying to fix Andrew's "bed head" each morning before school. Tuesday when they were riding home, Ted said he had bed head again. "No daddy, I have school-head"
Wednesday was a difficult day for all of us for various reasons. Andrew had a complete meltdown in the car on the way home just because he had to wait his turn to talk. When we said it was his turn, he fell apart (overtired). Once home, he kept crying. Daddy talked with him and Andrew continued to cry. I got in bed next to him and sang to him and rubbed his head and arm. Once he calmed down we started talking.
He said, "Mom, things are not going well for me."
I told him, "I know. Things didn't go well for me today either. I'm very sad because one of my teachers wont be at school anymore."
"why not? Did she walk over to another school?"
"No, she doesn't have a job right now."
"I'll give her a job!"
"Yeah? What job would you give her?"
"Well, I'd give her your flashcards and she could build something. ... Or massage. She could massage."
"You'd pay her to come give you a massage? How much would you pay her?"
"Fifty dollars. .... Do I have fifty dollars? Is that all my money?"
Then he told me he had been crying because he was hungry. I told him that I knew he'd told me he was hungry, but because of how he was acting and crying, I couldn't give him a snack now. Because if I did, he'd learn that crying and fussing was a way to get what he wants, and it's not. That if he had handled himself differently, then I could have given him a snack when we got home. Amazingly, he accepted that.
Wednesday night Ted related an experience the teacher told him. During naptime, there was a little girl who would not obey the teacher or be quiet. Finally the teacher took her out of the room so everyone else could fall asleep. When she returned, Andrew said, "Good call! She was keeping everyone up?"
Daddy bought him two new books "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light in the Attic" He likes the silly pictures in them. I'm hoping they'll read them together.
Friday at dinner, he asked for a drink. Ted started to get him a cup of water but Andrew started to flip out and whine and run from the table. I immediately halted him and reminded him of the experience Wednesday night where he didn't get what he wanted because of whining and crying. I asked him, "can you think of a better way to handle this situation?" He calmly used his words and said, "daddy, may I please have some juice instead of water?" Ted piped up "Because you asked so nicely, I will get you some juice."
Saturday afternoon the boys were chasing each other around the yard and playing ball. Andrew kept holding onto his britches while he ran and pulling them up higher a lot. A few minutes later, he was chasing daddy and all of a sudden his pants ended up around his ankles and he fell flat on the ground. The button had come out of the elastic hold that allows you to adjust the waist line. Good thing he had a long sweater on!
Saturday we went out to dinner at Frankie's Pizza and Grill. Andrew drummed up plenty of conversation with two of the waiters, and impressed them when he asked for jalapenos on his cheese pizza. Later our waiter, Danny, said, "you have a really bright little boy." I said, "you have no idea!" He said, 'yes I do, I have a 24 month old and an 8 month old'. Ted picked up the little dessert menu and handed it to Andrew and said, "Here, read this." Andrew thought he was getting to choose a dessert saying, "Hmmm, I'll have......" Then the waiter asked, "Can you read me the first one?" Andrew read it smoothly and perfectly - even 'liqueur' and the waiter was dumbfounded.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Andrew IS strong
I forgot to mention that on Saturday I learned that our friend Jennifer Pingle had wrecked her truck and it caught on fire. She managed to get out before it blew up, and she had no scratches or breaks - but does have a concussion. After I told Ted about it, Andrew was asking questions. I said something about how the 'truck went up in flames' and he asked,"did it come back down?" lol
He also had asked me last week about chimneys and fire. He thought fire went up the chimney and I told him the fire stayed in the fireplace, but the smoke went up and out the chimney. He asked if it'd make the fire alarm go off and I said that the alarm is supposed to sound if the inside of the house fills up with smoke. It took a few times of me trying to explain it all before he totally got it.
Sunday October 6th, we were invited to attend a recorded viewing of the annual meeting of the Governing Body. Ours was for 3pm in Mt. Pleasant. We heard it was almost 4 hours long, so we let Andrew stay home with Annelise (attended Saturdays). He was very upset that we were going to the meeting without him. I'm sure he'd have done fine, it's just a long time to ask a little person to sit quietly. We all got the new release of the revised New World Translation Bible so I was a little bummed that he wasn't there to get his own at the same time. Soon though we can take him to the literature counter and he can get one there himself. We got home around 9pm and Annelise said that he requested she leave the bedroom door cracked open so that we can come in and kiss him goodnight.
Monday for family worship we wanted to talk to Andrew about Halloween. He already knew we didn't celebrate, but we were hoping to expound on why, and talk about the different aspects of it. He blew us away with how much he already knew. He told us that it was when people dressed up as witches and ghosts. We explained to him that ghosts aren't real, they're demons tricking people into thinking the dead are up walking around. He knew about the demons already so we questioned him about whether or not dead people can act or seem alive. So we asked him what happens when you die and he demonstrated for us that you make a gagging sound and fall to the ground. lol So we asked more questions and he told us the 'heart turns off' and he plugged his nose to stop breathing, you can't think or move, etc. He reminded us that Jehovah will bring us back to life - so we reminded him, that yes, that happens later after Jehovah restores Paradise. In the meantime, we have to make sure we are Jehovah's friend and not doing the things that makes Satan happy. He said something else that I can't remember. I told him that we don't have to worry about Satan and the demons though because Jehovah is stronger and more powerful, and He can protect us and take care of us and help us. But then we told him that if one of us dies, we know, that as long as we're doing good things Jehovah likes, then we will be together again in Paradise. I asked him if it was hard for him to not celebrate Halloween and he said yes. I told him I understood but that each time he doesn't dress up and go door to door for candy, and (he brought up christmas earlier as another trick Satan uses) not celebrate christmas and get together to give each other presents then, and each time he has a birthday with no party and cake - that we "make Satan mad" were his words but mine were "make Jehovah happy, and mommy, and daddy, and Annelise, and Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa, and Joy and Barry - and all our friends at the hall - HAPPY" We also reminded him that not everyone knows all of that - like the people at school and those who will ask him what he's going to be for halloween, but all the friends at the hall do know. We told him we were so proud of him and that he's a good boy.
Later he and I were playing dinosaurs and mine asked his, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" His dinosaur replied, "No! I don't do halloween!!" I had another dinosaur tell his, "I'm so proud of you" and give him kisses. Then our dinosaurs ran the warrior dash together. The second dash around, his dinosaur kicked mine. I started to pretend crying. He came running back to help my dinosaur up, ran and got a pretend bandaid for his leg, got a tissue to blow his nose, showed him where the sink was to wash his hands, and then they started to race back together. Then his dinosaur tripped and got hurt so mine had to get the bandaid, tissue, and help him wash hands. Then they finished the race side by side together. He's such a sweetie when he decides to be.
Sunday morning I let him help me juice. The machine got jammed on the carrots so I had to take it apart and clean it. I was having trouble getting it off. He said, "Do you want me to do that for you?" I told him it was nice of him to offer, but that I am stronger than him so he wouldnt be able to do it. He got very upset. He told me he was stronger than me and I assured him that someday he will be, when he is grown up, but now, because I am bigger, I am also stronger. Then he decided I was telling him that he isn't strong at all. ayeayeaye I felt like I was talking in circles explaining that I know he is strong - and just to let it go. For the next five minutes, though, he was picking up random things like celery stalks, cups, and toys, "see, I'm strong"
He also had asked me last week about chimneys and fire. He thought fire went up the chimney and I told him the fire stayed in the fireplace, but the smoke went up and out the chimney. He asked if it'd make the fire alarm go off and I said that the alarm is supposed to sound if the inside of the house fills up with smoke. It took a few times of me trying to explain it all before he totally got it.
Sunday October 6th, we were invited to attend a recorded viewing of the annual meeting of the Governing Body. Ours was for 3pm in Mt. Pleasant. We heard it was almost 4 hours long, so we let Andrew stay home with Annelise (attended Saturdays). He was very upset that we were going to the meeting without him. I'm sure he'd have done fine, it's just a long time to ask a little person to sit quietly. We all got the new release of the revised New World Translation Bible so I was a little bummed that he wasn't there to get his own at the same time. Soon though we can take him to the literature counter and he can get one there himself. We got home around 9pm and Annelise said that he requested she leave the bedroom door cracked open so that we can come in and kiss him goodnight.
Monday for family worship we wanted to talk to Andrew about Halloween. He already knew we didn't celebrate, but we were hoping to expound on why, and talk about the different aspects of it. He blew us away with how much he already knew. He told us that it was when people dressed up as witches and ghosts. We explained to him that ghosts aren't real, they're demons tricking people into thinking the dead are up walking around. He knew about the demons already so we questioned him about whether or not dead people can act or seem alive. So we asked him what happens when you die and he demonstrated for us that you make a gagging sound and fall to the ground. lol So we asked more questions and he told us the 'heart turns off' and he plugged his nose to stop breathing, you can't think or move, etc. He reminded us that Jehovah will bring us back to life - so we reminded him, that yes, that happens later after Jehovah restores Paradise. In the meantime, we have to make sure we are Jehovah's friend and not doing the things that makes Satan happy. He said something else that I can't remember. I told him that we don't have to worry about Satan and the demons though because Jehovah is stronger and more powerful, and He can protect us and take care of us and help us. But then we told him that if one of us dies, we know, that as long as we're doing good things Jehovah likes, then we will be together again in Paradise. I asked him if it was hard for him to not celebrate Halloween and he said yes. I told him I understood but that each time he doesn't dress up and go door to door for candy, and (he brought up christmas earlier as another trick Satan uses) not celebrate christmas and get together to give each other presents then, and each time he has a birthday with no party and cake - that we "make Satan mad" were his words but mine were "make Jehovah happy, and mommy, and daddy, and Annelise, and Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa, and Joy and Barry - and all our friends at the hall - HAPPY" We also reminded him that not everyone knows all of that - like the people at school and those who will ask him what he's going to be for halloween, but all the friends at the hall do know. We told him we were so proud of him and that he's a good boy.
Later he and I were playing dinosaurs and mine asked his, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" His dinosaur replied, "No! I don't do halloween!!" I had another dinosaur tell his, "I'm so proud of you" and give him kisses. Then our dinosaurs ran the warrior dash together. The second dash around, his dinosaur kicked mine. I started to pretend crying. He came running back to help my dinosaur up, ran and got a pretend bandaid for his leg, got a tissue to blow his nose, showed him where the sink was to wash his hands, and then they started to race back together. Then his dinosaur tripped and got hurt so mine had to get the bandaid, tissue, and help him wash hands. Then they finished the race side by side together. He's such a sweetie when he decides to be.
Sunday morning I let him help me juice. The machine got jammed on the carrots so I had to take it apart and clean it. I was having trouble getting it off. He said, "Do you want me to do that for you?" I told him it was nice of him to offer, but that I am stronger than him so he wouldnt be able to do it. He got very upset. He told me he was stronger than me and I assured him that someday he will be, when he is grown up, but now, because I am bigger, I am also stronger. Then he decided I was telling him that he isn't strong at all. ayeayeaye I felt like I was talking in circles explaining that I know he is strong - and just to let it go. For the next five minutes, though, he was picking up random things like celery stalks, cups, and toys, "see, I'm strong"
Monday, October 7, 2013
Painting and Massages
Showing daddy what was under his bandaid after a skinned knee: "I see my blood stream! But it stopped now."
Saturday I had to return an unused item to Sherwin Williams. Probably six months ago Andrew told me he wanted to paint his room Red. So I suggested maybe he'd like to come in the store and look at colors to choose one for his room, and told him he could even pick bright orange if he wanted to (since orange has been a favorite color his entire life). He immediately went over and picked a bright orange. I realized that he probably picked it because of me, so I had to ask him in several different ways what color HE would pick given the choice. Finally he was consistently picking red - and the same red when given options. But then Ted and I thought that all 4 walls being "Positive Red" might be overwhelming and dark. So, somehow we all worked together and came up with one red wall, one primary blue wall, an almost lime green wall, and a buttery yellow wall. So the two main walls in his room are red and blue, then the wall with the window will be yellow, and the wall with the door and closet will be green. He is SO excited!
Saturday I got the first coat of red done. I was putting him to bed and I laid down next to him to say his prayer and chat. He said he needed to touch the red wall and he quickly did and came back and smashed his head into mine. It felt like my skull shifted. I got up, had Annelise go say prayers with him, and used a massager to work on my neck before the pain would get too intense. But then I thought - if his head could knock mine that hard, what did his do?! So I went back in and got him to turn sideways in the bed so I could work on his neck and shoulders. He loves getting a massage. About the time I got his neck adjusted, he said, "I love you mom!" I asked, "Yeah? Why do you love me?" He said, "Because you're so nice."
First thing Sunday he asked me if I was going to paint his green wall. So I did. He can't wait for me to get all the colors on the walls!
Sunday he cuddled with me at the meeting. He'd cough (sounded fake) every single time he heard someone else cough. I patted his back a few times and all of a sudden he coughed and it sounded real and rattly. So I knew he was fighting something. We went to lunch with friends anyway and when we got home, rubbed oil of oregano all over him and spritzed his room with it too. I gave him some homeopathics before bed. He coughed a little bit during the night, but not too much. I gave him more at 3am when he got up to use the bathroom. So I'm keeping him home Monday so I can keep pumping him up with herbs and homeopathics. I don't have time for us all to get sick!
Monday I got him down for his nap, but less than ten minutes later he came back out smiling saying he was done. I put him back in bed but then started to rub his feet for him. "Can you massage my head?" So I started rubbing all over his head and face - he immediately relaxed and his eyelids got heavier and heavier.
Daddy stayed home with him Tuesday and Wednesday so we could keep giving him herbs and medicine, and not expose him to more germs. Tuesday afternoon I set up my massage table and told him to put his face in the cradle. "is it going to be scary?" he asked as he hesitantly put his face down. I put a blanket over his back and used the vibrating massager over his back, hoping it'd break up any congestion in his lungs. He asked me to use it on his feet also, so I did.
Wednesday I had a rough day. I was on the floor studying and he asked if he could give me a massage. (which by the way, he rubbed my feet earlier in the week and he has great pressure! He's going to be good at it!) I said sure and he climbed onto the sofa behind me and rubbed my shoulder. Then he lifted sections of my hair, "let's see..." (trying to find my neck) I partitioned my hair and he said, "Oh okay..." and massaged my neck. Then he said, "Just stay still" as he tried to rub my forehead. Then he used his forearm and gently squeezed my head against his chest twice. I'm not really sure what he was imitating with that one, but I found it humorous.
Thursday Nana came to stay with him so he could have one more day home mending.They had a good day together and had good naps also. In the late afternoon, he brought me a newspaper that headlined "Country Ham Festival This Weekend" and asked, "Are we going to the country ham festival this weekend?" There was a picture of the Predator Monster Truck and he is very interested. I told him I'd have to see how Saturday goes because Daddy was running the Warrior Dash too.
Friday he was glad to get to go back to school and play. They are, however, getting all the kids excited for halloween and Andrew is also excited at the prospect of wearing costumes. (I need to get him some just for fun) So it was quite a bummer for him when he was told we don't do halloween either. (just got over the birthday disappointment) Saturday morning, I squared his shoulders and had him look me in the eyes and I said, "you be PROUD that you don't celebrate birthdays and halloween. You are making Jehovah VERY happy!" He wasn't entirely convinced but seemed to feel a little better too. A little later he was eating an apple and peanut butter at the table. He told me something about 'if your brain breaks.' I asked him how the brain breaks and he said 'you know, if it stops, it breaks, and a doctor has to cut off your head and put in a new brain." I told him that if the doctor cuts off the head, then you're dead. You can't live with no head. He said, "Well, Jehovah can bring you back to life in Paradise." I agreed, and added that we have to be sure we stay Jehovah's friend and do what is right so that we can be brought back to life. Then he started talking about how Satan was bad and that bad things make him happy. He told me "like Cain. Cain was Satan's friend because he killed Abel." But then he told me that daddy was Satan's friend. I asked why he'd say that and he said, "Because he spanked me." [for throwing a spatula in irritation that it was time to get ready for bed] So I then had to explain, that although that incident made Satan happy, it didn't make daddy Satan's friend. Spanking is a part of discipline and training, a consequence to behavior and actions that he was already warned against doing. I assured him we do not like spanking or being unhappy, or seeing him unhappy - but it does teach him what is okay and not okay. Then I told him that mommy and daddy can get in trouble too! He was definitely interested in that. I expounded that we have to answer to Jehovah. If we don't do a good job teaching and training Andrew - we can get in trouble with Jehovah and not get to live in Paradise either. And somewhere in that conversation we talked about how Satan used to be an angel in heaven and he chose to disobey and got in trouble - and was given the name Satan the Devil. And he had some other angel friends who decided to act with him and they became Demons, and they will all be destroyed later. But there were still plenty of good angels. He wanted to know what they were called .... "just Angels." We are all striving to be Jehovah's friend and make each other happy and make Jehovah happy so we can all be together in Paradise when the time comes.
After Saturday nap, we took him to the Country Ham Festival. We have had such a mild summer and Fall weather arrived on time. But this day - it felt like summer again. We let him bounce in the inflatables but we didn't want another heat stroke so we had to limit his time there. We got drinks and walked around. He got to see a helicoptor land, got to tour a fire truck and ambulance. He was concerned when he saw the ambulance, thinking they were there because someone was hurt. So when they opened it up to show him the inside - he refused to go in, but asked a lot of questions still. He got to see the Predator monster truck, though we missed getting to see it crush some cars, and didn't wait in line to get a ride in it. We hung out with Joy for a bit before letting him go on an inflatable obstacle course one last time before leaving. We took daddy home and hung out at Joys house the rest of the evening. He enjoyed playing with Brice and Nevin, and later Lauren and Sydney. He told us some silly stories at dinner using things he saw around the room to enhance his story.
Later he found a bunch of word magnets on the fridge and brought me one saying, "uh oh! Look what this says!" It said 'birthday' which he now equated to be a bad word. I told him the word was fine - that we all have birthdays. He said, "no we don't!" So we reminded him it's the day we're born - we just don't celebrate and have a party for it. Then he and Joy made a silly sentence with some magnets before we headed home. (i'm thinking I should get some of those, he'd love those!)
Saturday I had to return an unused item to Sherwin Williams. Probably six months ago Andrew told me he wanted to paint his room Red. So I suggested maybe he'd like to come in the store and look at colors to choose one for his room, and told him he could even pick bright orange if he wanted to (since orange has been a favorite color his entire life). He immediately went over and picked a bright orange. I realized that he probably picked it because of me, so I had to ask him in several different ways what color HE would pick given the choice. Finally he was consistently picking red - and the same red when given options. But then Ted and I thought that all 4 walls being "Positive Red" might be overwhelming and dark. So, somehow we all worked together and came up with one red wall, one primary blue wall, an almost lime green wall, and a buttery yellow wall. So the two main walls in his room are red and blue, then the wall with the window will be yellow, and the wall with the door and closet will be green. He is SO excited!
Saturday I got the first coat of red done. I was putting him to bed and I laid down next to him to say his prayer and chat. He said he needed to touch the red wall and he quickly did and came back and smashed his head into mine. It felt like my skull shifted. I got up, had Annelise go say prayers with him, and used a massager to work on my neck before the pain would get too intense. But then I thought - if his head could knock mine that hard, what did his do?! So I went back in and got him to turn sideways in the bed so I could work on his neck and shoulders. He loves getting a massage. About the time I got his neck adjusted, he said, "I love you mom!" I asked, "Yeah? Why do you love me?" He said, "Because you're so nice."
First thing Sunday he asked me if I was going to paint his green wall. So I did. He can't wait for me to get all the colors on the walls!
Sunday he cuddled with me at the meeting. He'd cough (sounded fake) every single time he heard someone else cough. I patted his back a few times and all of a sudden he coughed and it sounded real and rattly. So I knew he was fighting something. We went to lunch with friends anyway and when we got home, rubbed oil of oregano all over him and spritzed his room with it too. I gave him some homeopathics before bed. He coughed a little bit during the night, but not too much. I gave him more at 3am when he got up to use the bathroom. So I'm keeping him home Monday so I can keep pumping him up with herbs and homeopathics. I don't have time for us all to get sick!
Monday I got him down for his nap, but less than ten minutes later he came back out smiling saying he was done. I put him back in bed but then started to rub his feet for him. "Can you massage my head?" So I started rubbing all over his head and face - he immediately relaxed and his eyelids got heavier and heavier.
Daddy stayed home with him Tuesday and Wednesday so we could keep giving him herbs and medicine, and not expose him to more germs. Tuesday afternoon I set up my massage table and told him to put his face in the cradle. "is it going to be scary?" he asked as he hesitantly put his face down. I put a blanket over his back and used the vibrating massager over his back, hoping it'd break up any congestion in his lungs. He asked me to use it on his feet also, so I did.
Wednesday I had a rough day. I was on the floor studying and he asked if he could give me a massage. (which by the way, he rubbed my feet earlier in the week and he has great pressure! He's going to be good at it!) I said sure and he climbed onto the sofa behind me and rubbed my shoulder. Then he lifted sections of my hair, "let's see..." (trying to find my neck) I partitioned my hair and he said, "Oh okay..." and massaged my neck. Then he said, "Just stay still" as he tried to rub my forehead. Then he used his forearm and gently squeezed my head against his chest twice. I'm not really sure what he was imitating with that one, but I found it humorous.
Thursday Nana came to stay with him so he could have one more day home mending.They had a good day together and had good naps also. In the late afternoon, he brought me a newspaper that headlined "Country Ham Festival This Weekend" and asked, "Are we going to the country ham festival this weekend?" There was a picture of the Predator Monster Truck and he is very interested. I told him I'd have to see how Saturday goes because Daddy was running the Warrior Dash too.
Friday he was glad to get to go back to school and play. They are, however, getting all the kids excited for halloween and Andrew is also excited at the prospect of wearing costumes. (I need to get him some just for fun) So it was quite a bummer for him when he was told we don't do halloween either. (just got over the birthday disappointment) Saturday morning, I squared his shoulders and had him look me in the eyes and I said, "you be PROUD that you don't celebrate birthdays and halloween. You are making Jehovah VERY happy!" He wasn't entirely convinced but seemed to feel a little better too. A little later he was eating an apple and peanut butter at the table. He told me something about 'if your brain breaks.' I asked him how the brain breaks and he said 'you know, if it stops, it breaks, and a doctor has to cut off your head and put in a new brain." I told him that if the doctor cuts off the head, then you're dead. You can't live with no head. He said, "Well, Jehovah can bring you back to life in Paradise." I agreed, and added that we have to be sure we stay Jehovah's friend and do what is right so that we can be brought back to life. Then he started talking about how Satan was bad and that bad things make him happy. He told me "like Cain. Cain was Satan's friend because he killed Abel." But then he told me that daddy was Satan's friend. I asked why he'd say that and he said, "Because he spanked me." [for throwing a spatula in irritation that it was time to get ready for bed] So I then had to explain, that although that incident made Satan happy, it didn't make daddy Satan's friend. Spanking is a part of discipline and training, a consequence to behavior and actions that he was already warned against doing. I assured him we do not like spanking or being unhappy, or seeing him unhappy - but it does teach him what is okay and not okay. Then I told him that mommy and daddy can get in trouble too! He was definitely interested in that. I expounded that we have to answer to Jehovah. If we don't do a good job teaching and training Andrew - we can get in trouble with Jehovah and not get to live in Paradise either. And somewhere in that conversation we talked about how Satan used to be an angel in heaven and he chose to disobey and got in trouble - and was given the name Satan the Devil. And he had some other angel friends who decided to act with him and they became Demons, and they will all be destroyed later. But there were still plenty of good angels. He wanted to know what they were called .... "just Angels." We are all striving to be Jehovah's friend and make each other happy and make Jehovah happy so we can all be together in Paradise when the time comes.
After Saturday nap, we took him to the Country Ham Festival. We have had such a mild summer and Fall weather arrived on time. But this day - it felt like summer again. We let him bounce in the inflatables but we didn't want another heat stroke so we had to limit his time there. We got drinks and walked around. He got to see a helicoptor land, got to tour a fire truck and ambulance. He was concerned when he saw the ambulance, thinking they were there because someone was hurt. So when they opened it up to show him the inside - he refused to go in, but asked a lot of questions still. He got to see the Predator monster truck, though we missed getting to see it crush some cars, and didn't wait in line to get a ride in it. We hung out with Joy for a bit before letting him go on an inflatable obstacle course one last time before leaving. We took daddy home and hung out at Joys house the rest of the evening. He enjoyed playing with Brice and Nevin, and later Lauren and Sydney. He told us some silly stories at dinner using things he saw around the room to enhance his story.
Later he found a bunch of word magnets on the fridge and brought me one saying, "uh oh! Look what this says!" It said 'birthday' which he now equated to be a bad word. I told him the word was fine - that we all have birthdays. He said, "no we don't!" So we reminded him it's the day we're born - we just don't celebrate and have a party for it. Then he and Joy made a silly sentence with some magnets before we headed home. (i'm thinking I should get some of those, he'd love those!)
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