Yesterday we headed out to the nearest big city for our oldest son J's eye specialist appointment. Our appointment was a 10:45 and we got there at 10:35 (early for once). We sat in the waiting room until 12:30 when we got to see his doctor. His doctor is a wonderful person and we like her very much. We only wish they could get it together a bit better:) This not being our 1st time we knew that we'd have to wait. So we come prepared with a novel for me and a bunch of "Graze" mags for Papa. They have toys and books and chairs for the kids so they are entertained. When we finally got in the room Dr. V greeted J and then turned to Papa and I, I was nursing Baby R and Papa held both E and L on his lap, with a stream of praise for the behavior of our children in the waiting room. She told us that every one of her patients that had come in (there was at least 6) while we were there had very good things to say about our kids. Some of them even told her that they wished their children/grandchildren were as well behaved as our 4. I think she realized that she was embarrassing us when neither of us said anything and Papa's face got all red. I'm sure mine did as well. I did manage to smile and say thank you before she thought us daft. J did really well with the eye testing and we learned some great news. His eyes are, with his glasses, now 20/20 vision. His lazy eye is responding very well to the glasses and she said she could get it to turn out but it took a bit of confusing it. With his vision she said that there is a very good chance, now that we've found the right prescription, of him not having to wear glasses once his eyes mature. Usually just before teenagedom. We like our eye doctor as she always checks all the kids while we are there. So while her nurse was checking L and E's eyes with this neat little card with some kind of pic on it (neither Papa or I could see the pic but both L and E could), Dr. V was busy talking to J. I overheard some of it but not all of it. I told Papa about it later and we both smiled about it. Dr.V always asks J what he wants to be when he grows up. J never really has an answer (sometimes he'll say he wants to be a Papa) and this time he must not have either. So Dr. V was putting the idea in his head to become a eye doctor. Tricky lady!! :) :) I know they are few and far between here and I know that people who grow up in the area are more likely to stay in the area and if they will get a needed profession all the better.
We always take the kids out for a special meal after J's appointments. To thank them for being good and because we are all hungry and thirsty after waiting so long. So we go to our favorite "swordfish" place. And we always make the appointments for Tuesday because it's all you can eat fish and chips on Tuesday. So Papa and I have fish and chips and the kids get to pick from the really cool kids menu. Their kids menu is pictures on a place mat in rows of main dishes, sides, drinks and dessert. They boys always get 'worms and dirt' for dessert which sounds nasty but really is great. It's chocolate pudding with Oreo crumbs and whipped cream on top, but the best part is the candy worms that stick out here and there. The 1st time we got it L refused to eat it. YUCK. Was all he'd say. Papa had to convince him that it was good and take the worms out so he could see that they were candy. Now he inhales it like a beast. The best thing about the 'swordfish place' as the kids call it, is that we only go a few times a year which keeps it special and a huge treat.
We had a few hours to spare so we went shopping. Mostly looking for Christmas gifts and seeing what caught the kids eyes. We've done a bit of Christmas shopping but we are not nearly done. Yesterday I did find Christmas shirts for the boys, on sale 30% off, and a CARS ornament for L for his stocking. Papa and I have decided that we are going to get a babysitter in a week or 2 and leave J, L, and E at home while we go Christmas shopping. Baby R is still nursing so we will take her with us. We want to go all day and hopefully get done!! We are also going to go out to our favorite fancy place to eat. Yum. We normally go for our anniversary dinner but we were out of town this year so we missed it.
Our surprise kittens are getting tamer everyday. They moved from the shop to the chicken barn to the milking area/trailer area where they seem to be staying. They come out every morning and evening for the 1st squirts of milk and are getting a bit rolly. The other day one came and sat right behind Bindy's front feet as I was milking. It sat there and stared at me. We've decided to let them make the 1st move, so I just kept on milking. They are really cute and we often see them playing on the porch or in the milking area. I've tried taking pic's but they move so fast that they are all blurry.
E is now two years old and the day after her birthday I told her no more diapers. So far she is doing very well. I did this same thing with J and L and they both did very well. That is not their 1st learning experience with the toilet. In fact they all start sitting when they are about a year old or whenever I can start to catch them going regularly. We also do "dry training" which is simply teaching them that dry is good... wet is not. I put underwear on them and then praise them and give them a chocolate chip or treat if I find them dry. It takes no time at all and I have a small child running up to me yelling "DRY DRY" while checking their bums for dampness. I always recheck as they are still learning and then they get their treat. This took E all of 2 days about a month ago, as the boys learned really fast that they will get a treat if they are dry as well. In those two days I heard "E are you dry??" Then "SHE'S DRY MOMMA" about 200 times a day. LOL. Then everyone gets a treat. Even momma 'cause I'm dry too don't you know!! LOL. She's on day 6 and the last two days she's only gone thru 2 pairs of underwear. (she wears one pair most of the day then the other pair the rest of the day.) Yesterday in the city she wore pull ups or 'travel underwear' as we call them and she stayed dry until after their nap on the way home. If you ask her if she has to go she will tell you 'yeahas' or 'no tanks' in her little girly girl voice.
