Thomas

Isn't this little guy so cute! He is all boy. We had a time getting him to sit still enough for my camera to take a picture, but it was sure fun. He was all about playing instead~especially in the stream! I guess this is what I have to look forward to in a few years. So, so fun!

Disgruntled Nurse

It's 1:30 am and I have nothing better to do, but blog about why I'm still awake waiting for the next unfortunate soul to come out of the OR.

I am a little disgruntled about being here tonight. When I originally came in, oh, SEVEN hours ago it was for a quick 30 minute procedure. I thought I was home free for the night. I really should have known better when my husband said, "Where are all the ortho cases?"

That statement is why I'm still here people. Although I do wonder why sooo many children have managed to mangle themselves on a rainy blustery day. For heavens sakes, what happened to making cookies on a rainy Saturday afternoon? Instead we have two year olds climbing 15 ft ladders, jumping on a wet trampoline and falling of a slide. Who knows how the next two victims managed to hurt themselves on a "cookie baking day!"

Really, I am starting wonder if anyone has any common sense at all when it comes to being a parent. I mean a 15 ft ladder and two year old should NEVER mix!

Oh, and don't even get me started on the father who thought it was amusing that his 13 year old son had punched a few nurses for not doing things "his" way. And, his favorite word to use when speaking to the staff begins with the letter F--and its not the word fun!

Happy Birthday Katie

Happy Birthday to our sweet Katie!

It's so hard to believe that four years have gone by. We love her more than I ever imagined. She has been my little sidekick since the day she was born. I know she was sent to help me survive this whole doctor process. Our life is certainly more full with her in it! We love her excitement for life and her love for her family. She especially loves her little brother Joey. She is an awesome big sister and a wonderful helper. It really is hard to believe how much she has changed in the last four years. There are days where we really wish we could just stop her from growing and yet we are so excited for all the expriences life has to offer her.

We love you Katie!

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

1st Day of Preschool---Round 2

Two first day's of preschool in one year?? Wow~only in the Clevenger family. As my mom often says, " A total comedy of errors." She means it in love, of course, but there has never been a more true statement about my life.

Katie loves her new preschool and so does her mother! She gets in the car and is so excited to tell me about what she learned! Normal bathrooms, structure and an awesome dropoff/pickup setup. All in all a much better experience.

Kate and Greta

I was lucky enough to take these cute kids' pictures. They were so great. It was one of my first experiences with newborn natural light photography. Kinda tricky, but fun. Thanks for letting me play guys!

Preschool Panic!

So, Katie has been in preschool a whopping week and a day, and I had a panic attack yesterday! Well, truth be told it started last Friday and then Monday night I actually made myself sick, and yesterday I hit the fan!

I'm sure you're wondering what the heck (I feel very Utah after I say that word) could have gone so wrong in a preschool! Well, read on my friends.

Truth be told I have had mixed feelings about this preschool we have put Katie in since I found out she "got in." That's right, around these parts you have to put your kid on a waiting list at most of the preschools when you find out your pregnant. No way you say, I wish I were kidding. So, we did our best last winter to find a few good preschools in our area to add our name to the generally 4+ page waiting list. And, we found ourselves at the bottom of page four for most.

Feeling as though all was lost for next year, we got a letter of acceptance to the most expensive one. Bittersweet, of course, and I held out hope for the one I really wanted. Months passed and here we were at the first day of school. Todd had told me many times to stop worrying, it was just preschool, and yet I wasn't satisfied. I decided to let it go and just go with flow until last Friday. As I sat in University of Utah AM traffic I decided this might not work for us.

Monday night I wasn't feeling quite myself and chalked it up to a long day at work. I knew I was a little worried about helping out at Katie's preschool, but it was mostly related to what I should do with Joey--take him with or not? Monday morning I woke up still feeling funny, but just set it aside.

We arrived Tuesday morning at Katie's preschool. I was actually excited to be there and to find out how they run things. About an hour into it, the knots in my stomach began twisting. Here are a few of the things that really bothered me:

1. Bathroom--in the middle of the classroom. No door. No girls and no boys side. Two small child sized potties with no curtain, no nothing. Right in front of the potties, 2 sinks. The space between the potties is a main walkway to and from both sides of the room. Interesting, how does that work. Well, I then see this: little girl going potty, boys and girls washing hands, walking through to other room, and then little boy going potty next to little girl going potty! WHATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! Has anyone heard of PRIVACY!! As if I already don't have enough trouble teaching my daughter about privacy and private parts with the media and general public anyway. Now, you are going to expose my daughter and let my daughter be exposed at preschool. You have got to be kidding me.

2. One teacher, four or maybe five University students. Teacher teaches about ants and shapes for about 20 minutes. Children are interrupting other children and no hands are being raised. Aren't you supposed to learn how to wait your turn, raise your hand and listen to other people. She's already expected to behave that way at church. Why is preschool any different? Not a thing was done about this behavior, not even a reminder to wait our turn or listen to so and so.

Then they break into groups to make a picture of ants with the students and I hear things like this: "That's too much glue. It needs to be a circle. Cut it yourself." What happened to teaching a child who asks for help how to cut a circle. Also, they pass out upper and lower case A's but make to mention of the letter or that ant has anything to do with the letter A.

3. Outside Playtime. No consequences for children who throw sand or hit.

4. More attention was spent on kids who are out of control than those who are actually asking for help and trying to be good.


So, those knots in my stomach were creeping into my throat as I called my mom. Then I called my cute neighbor who was a kindergarten teacher and also helped out at this preschool several years ago. That knot, it my stomach was getter bigger and tighter. Finally, I was in tears.


Ultimately, what bothers me the most is the bathroom thing. I am also concerned about the learning and discipline. Then I thought of something my mom had said to me, "If you don't protect your children, who will?" With that thought I was on the phone to all those other preschools we were on waiting lists for. I begged and pleaded with the lady on the phone at the one I knew several other children in our neighborhood go to. After a minute or two on hold I had Katie in the afternoon class that starts today.

Talk about a blessing! I am grateful I signed up to help in Katie's class so soon. She will be able to start somewhere else on the first day and hopefully it will be a more positive experience for everyone.

I've definitely learned a few things from this whole experience. Trust your gut as a parent, don't always believe everything you hear and check things out for yourself. We only get one shot to raise our kids the way we want. We'll let your know how preschool round 2 goes today!

PS. Anyone else have an issue with the whole bathroom thing, or am I an overly private parent???

Katie's First Day of Preschool

Katie has been dying to start preschool for the last year and we finally did it last week.

I was so proud of her! No tears and no clinging. She was a little shy when she first arrived which I was a little surprised with. (For those of you who know Katie--this is not typical.) She stood on the side of the room for a minute with her cute little head tilted in shy mode as she contemplated how this whole preschool thing should work. A couple minutes later she was stringing beads and waving goodbye. After a kiss, I was out the door.

I felt instant freedom as walked out the door despite the infant attached to my hip. I wondered if I would have one of those "I can't believe my baby is in preschool sobbing moments," but no, I was great. I think it is because I've had a whole year to gear up for this. She was ready and I was ready. Last year, I am quite certain, there would have been tears from both parties.

So, Joey and I were off to the grocery store. I couldn't believe how quick I was able to gather the things from my list. Instead of and hour trip it was a half hour. Whooooo~! I think it also had to do with the fact that I was not driving one of those crazy SUV shopping carts with the little bus on the front. You know, the one that arrives a whole isle before you and you're constantly apologizing for running into Granny Mae every minute.

And, then I cleaned my whole house and did laundry while Joey napped. This preschool thing is a dream. Don't get me wrong, I adore my child, but it is really hard to get things DONE when she is here and wanting to help! Hooray for Preschool!