Well, sad to say but it is almost the end of summer. It's getting darker earlier and the leaves are starting to change color. Keira started preschool at the end of August. The kids start Sunday School Sept. 11th. The kids start their Fall/Winter sports in the next couple weeks, so we are staying busy. I figured it was probably the last time we would use the pool. So, I snapped a couple pictures of the kiddos playing in the water.

The 3 kids playing together!

Keira spraying the other kids with the hose.

Aden's turn!

Aden

Taygen

Keira

Taygen

Keira jumping in!

Aden jumping in!

Aden and Keira just loungin'

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These pictures were taken by Amber Weyer on Aug. 31, 2011.

Today was Keira's first day of preschool (her second year). She was super excited, in fact she did kind of a little "Keira" dance to celebrate.

Taygen with her back pack on...

Pictures by Amber Weyer, Aug. 29, 2011

We have been going to the same church for over a year now. I really like it. It has a lot of young parents with kids the same age as ours. Which is good, because I want our kids to grow up in a church and make friends with other church kids. Keira was in the Sunday School program last year (her first year) and is going to be in it again this year. Aden is not quit old enough, you have to be in preschool to be in the program.

The Sunday school teacher they have had for about 13 years (I think that's what she said) has decided not to do it anymore because they want to take some time off and travel. She used to have all the kids, about 10-15 depending on the Sunday. Dan and another guy, Andy were in charge of the "Youth" which were 5th grade through 8th grade (I think). So, this year they decided to break it up and have multiple age groups. I decided to be a full time P, K, &1st grade Sunday school teacher, which is about 15 kids BY MYSELF! I didn't realize I would get that many kids or be by myself since they were going to break the age groups up. They have another teacher for 2nd -4th grade but their are only maybe 2-4 kids in that age group, so they are thinking about just combining into the 5th grade group. We start September 11th, so we'll see how that goes.

Content by Amber Weyer Aug. 18, 2011. The Church in the article is Southern Heights Presbyterian Church.

Keira and Aden had their 6 month dentist check up August 12th. I am very proud of both them, Keira did not have any cavities and is losing 2 of her baby teeth. She is getting a 6 year molar and her teeth are in excellent condition. Aden has no cavities and his teeth are sparkling white :). Their pediatric dentist was very proud of Aden's teeth because most boys at 2 1/2 (3 in a month) will just let their teeth go and so will the parents because the child will not let the parent brush their teeth or the parent will just give up and not even worry about it. Aden is very excited when it comes to brushing his teeth, parents have to put excitement into brushing teeth.

Taygen has her first dentist appointment next week. I am anxious and nervous to see how she is going to do. She has 4 front teeth on the top, 2 back top teeth, 2 back bottom teeth, and 2 front bottom teeth. I am worried that she only has 2 bottom front teeth. But, we will see what the dentist says. At the kids' ped. dentist they go back by themselves, which is great because it makes them feel independent and know that mom doesn't always have to be there to watch over everything. They probably act better when mom is not around :).

There was one negative thing they said about Keira's teeth. Keira's teeth are very weak. There is a film around her teeth, can't remember what it is called. It's not something she did wrong or we did wrong with brushing or anything, it is something she was born with. The film makes it easier to get cavities, gingivitis, etc.. But, I am very proud of the fact that she does not have any of that and that those things can be prevented if you use good brushing and flossing habits with kids.

We have been trying to instill good eating habits into our kids. So, with this said I would like to complain a little bit, I know, nothing new :).  The kids get "something special" through out the day if they are good, polite, or just have a good attitude through out the day. Since we are trying to eat healthier and watch what we eat I decided that the kids' something special would be "fat free" or "low fat" candy or treats. Such as, suckers, tootsie rolls (chocolate and/or flavored), licorice, raisins, jelly beans, etc.. Well, the dentist doesn't want the kids eating that kind of stuff because it could get stuck inside the tooth and cause cavities and other stuff, which I understand because most of that stuff is "sticky."  So, the dentist recommended chocolate, of all things to give the kids. Really?  She even suggested Little Debbie snack cakes.

Chocolate is probably the worst thing you could give to a kid if you are trying to eat healthy. So, I am doing another form of reward system for them. I am doing a sticker reward system. If they listen, clean their room, get dressed, etc... then they get a sticker. It is a 5x6 reward sheet. If they get 5 filled up horizontally then they get their something special, now it is m & m's or candy bar, or 5 pennies to put into their piggy bank. If they get the whole card filled up (30) stickers they get to put 4 quarters into their piggy bank. They like it and they get really excited when they know they get to put a sticker on the card. Another idea the kids like to do is chew gum after they had a snack, sugar free, and ADA approved, of course. Keira also likes to drink flavored water instead of juice and only have milk in the morning for breakfast.

Article provided by Amber Weyer, Aug. 15th, 2011. The Dentist location is Lincoln Pediatric Dentistry

It has been a long 3 nights for Dan and I. Keira started having night terrors, not to be confused with nightmares. Night terrors are more severe and can result in seizures. She wakes up at the same time every night (12:10 a.m), screaming and crying (the first time Dan & I heard it we thought she fell out of bed or something serious, it was that bad of a cry/scream), sits up in her bed.

I went in the room to make sure she was okay and it was a scary thing to see your child go through. She is sitting up in the bed still crying screaming her eyes are wide open & she is looking around shaking like something is about to get her. I put my hands on her shoulders & talk to her to let her know that it is me. She looks right into my eyes and keeps crying (like she is looking right through me). It is the spookiest thing ever. She doesn't talk. I tried to ask her questions, like do you need a drink of water, or have to go potty and she doesn't answer, just looks dazed and off into space. I finally get her calmed down and laid back down and cover her up and then she is fine.

The first night it happened, I asked her in the morning why she was crying last night? What scared you? She said, "Mom, I wasn't crying last night." That really got me worrying.

People go through night terrors differently. Some night terrors can be as severe as the child kicking and screaming, punching things, sleep walking, or being dangerous to self or others. I am glad Keira's hasn't gotten that severe.

Article provided by Amber Weyer Aug. 3rd, 2011. With inserts from Keira Weyer

All three kids were sick (and all with different symptoms) within one week/weekend. It started on Monday, June 6th. The first day of vacation bible school for Keira and Aden.

Keira & I were the only ones awake that morning (Monday) about 8:00 a.m. She wanted to cuddle on the couch with a blanky, which I thought was okay, because I love when the kids want to cuddle :). We laid there for a while & she didn't say a word. I could hear Taygen starting to wake up so I told Keira that I was going to get Taygen that she could lay on the couch or sit there until I got back. I went upstairs to get Taygen, came back down and Keira was laying on the couch with her blanky on from her head to her feet. I got Taygen's breakfast ready and sat her down in her seat, went over to check on Keira and ask her if she wanted to go back to bed (I just thought she was super tired), I pulled the cover down from her head and she started crying because the light hurt her eyes. I then felt her head and she had a fever. I checked her temp. and it was 103. at the time. She was also complaining about a really bad head ache. So, I gave her some tylenol and she just laid around all day until Taygen's 15 month check up then she went with me so she could get checked out as well. That was the first night of VBS for Keira and Aden. I went ahead and took Keira, Aden & Taygen thinking that I (or Dan) was going to be staying there the full 2 1/2 hours anyway and if she wasn't doing very well I could just stay down stairs with her while she laid down. She did really good and the next morning she was fine. Her symptoms were fever & headache. Hers lasted about 24 hours.

The rest of the week went by smoothly. Friday, Aden got sick also. Dan said (he let me sleep in) that Aden was playing fine, ate breakfast good and was being Aden until about 10:00 a.m when Dan found Aden just laying on the floor asleep (which is not like Aden). Dan felt his head and he also had a fever. Aden laid around most of the day and about 4 or 5 p.m Dan was holding him cuddling with him and Aden had to throw up so we rushed him over to the sink and luckily he made it to the sink. They had VBS that day also (lasted June 6-12 Mon.-Fri.) I took Keira and Taygen and decided to leave Aden with Dan so he could sleep and hopefully get better. When I got home at 9 p.m he was sitting up watching his shows and walking around talking. Aden's symptoms were a fever, throwing up & some diarrhea. His lasted 10 hours.

Taygen got sick on Saturday night. Earlier that day we had went for a walk, so the kids could ride their bikes then we were going to go shopping then to Fazoli's and eat. We went shopping, Taygen was fine, a little quiet but still herself. We get to Fazoli's and she didn't want to eat her breadstick (which is unusual for her). I look over at her and she is just freezing (it is 80 something degrees outside). Her eyes are just glazed over. So, I picked her up and just held her while I ate, she fell asleep on me. I can feel her just shaking because she is so cold, she also has a fever. She fell asleep in the car, when we get home I laid her down in her bed because she is still sleeping and still has a fever. She woke up about 7:30 p.m or so, she is a little groggy and fussy but she doesn't have her fever anymore. Once she wakes up she is fine, walking around, talking, & laughing at the kids. She was awake most of the night because her fever came back in the middle of the night and she was really restless. Sunday morning I let Dan and Taygen sleep in while I took Aden & Keira to church because they had a program that day. I came home from church and she was fine, no more fever. Taygen's symptoms were fussiness, fever & chills. Hers lasted about 7 hours (including the night time wakes).

Even though they all had different symptoms and they all didn't last the same time, they were all fine the next day.

Taygen turned 15 months on June 5th. She had her 15 month well child check up on June 6th. She is 21 pounds 4 ounces, 50th percentile. Her height is 30 inches, 31 percentile. Her head is 17 7/8 inches, 25-50th percentile. She had to have 2 shots, they don't seem to be bothering her like her 12 month shots did (fingers crossed).

Words/Sentences : Daddy, see birdie, here you go, mamma, kiki, flowers, see flowers, eyes, tickle tickle.

Favorite things to do: Taygen loves to climb on the couch and sit and read, even if no one is sitting by her. She also loves to sit on the couch by any of us, she will sit there for about 5 minutes just cuddling next to one of us, whether it be the kids or mommy & daddy. She also loves to go to the front door ( I usually have it open during the day) and look outside and point and say "see" if there are birds in the yard she points and says "see birdie" or "see flowers." She kind of does what Keira did when she was little, she pokes me in the eye and says "eyes." She loves when I say, "Where's Taygen?" then she puts her hands over her eyes (like she's playing peek a boo). She loves to tickle. Yesterday she was walking around the house tickling her self saying, "tickle tickle." She loves playing with brother and sister. Her favorite thing to do with them is play hide N seek or tag. She also loves to put stuff inside something, like a bucket or basket and carry it around or just sit there and keep taking it out and putting it back in.

Favorite food: her favorite food is peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, macaroni & cheese, cheesy popcorn, peas, cheese, waffles.

15 month pics

Keira had a fever and a really bad headache the same day (Monday) as Taygen's Dr. appointment, so I just waited and let her Dr. see her at the same time as Taygen. At 11 that morning her fever was 103. The Dr. said her throat was rough and did a strep test but it came back negative and said she had something called Adenovirus. No medication or anything, she just said it will last 72 hours and it would work itself out. She is doing a lot better today. No fever and she is running around like her old self. I personally don't think it was any kind of virus, I think it was a migraine. She was laying around that day all day with a blanket over her head because the light hurt her eyes/head. She even laid on the Dr. table with the blanket over her head (yes, she had to have her blanky with us on a 100 degree day). Any movement and she started screaming because it would hurt her head.

Keira pics...

Aden is growing up fast! He is such a big brother. Anything Taygen needs and Aden is right there. He was taking swimming lessons, it was a parent/child class, I have to swim with him for the first 3 weeks then he swims by himself. I broke my thumb 2 weeks ago playing volleyball, his first week of swimming was the week I went to the Dr. for my thumb. Two days later I tried swimming with him with my splint off and I couldn't do it, so I called and told them what happened and had to cancel his swimming lessons, they let me just credit it to another swimming lesson. He really doesn't need this class but he can't take any other swimming class until he is 3. He was also in a wiggles & giggles class at the Y, a music class for 2-4 year olds. It gives him an opportunity to be with other kids and lets him sit still and listen to his teacher (gets him ready for preschool).

Aden Pics...

Keira got her cast off today, Wednesday, June 1st. She still has to wear her sling for a week or two. She has to go back in 3 weeks to make sure her arm is still healing without the cast.

Her arm is really weak and seems so skinny. She has a little bump on her arm but the doctor said that would go away as she gets older. She is saying it hurts but I think she just remembers that without a cast it hurts. She is doing really good. She is very emotional about it though. Her hand and arm is a little chapped and her hand is peeling, I tried to look at her hand but she didn't want me to see it. I think she was embarrassed about the peeling and it bothered her so she thought it would bother me. I put some lotion on her arm and hand and everything was better. She is really excited to show people. One of her old swimming teachers asked where she was today at Aden's swimming lesson and I told her what happened. She said she wants to see Keira next week, so I think Keira will be glad to see her and be able to tell her story.