Filed under: Kid Behavior
Okay, here’s my dilema: Scoober has an alarm clock, which we set for 7am. It goes off and he’s awake yet he stays in his bed until I come in. No big deal. After I come in, he STILL won’t get up. He has a morning checklist:
- Get dressed
- Make bed
- Feed fish
Then he is to come out for breakfast. For the past few weeks, probably longer it’s just getting to be the norm so I forget, he waits till almost 7:30am to come out of his room. He’s not gotten dressed, his bed is not made and his fish is not fed. Now, I can sympathize a little because I’m not a morning person, but come on.
So, when he comes out late like that, I tell him he has until 7:45 or 7:50 to finish his breakfast. He goes up until the last second on that one. Then he plays around and it ends up in him crying because I have to scold him (not spank, just raising my voice). Then, we apologize and he gets ready and we are finally on our way about 8:10 or 8:15. We live less than a mile from his school and it just bugs me that he does this.
I’m the type of person that HATES to be late for anything, but I think we are going to have to show up to school late one time for him to appreciate the feeling. He always seems to get it together at the end and we hug and kiss and say have a good day, but it’s all that time before that is really bothering me.
Also, he doesn’t seem to care about losing his ability to earn a sticker for his morning either. Any ideas?
Filed under: Kid Behavior
I started something different with Winks. Husband said that she might be having tummy issues because I was feeding her the baby food (peas) at dinner time. So, last night, I decided to just give her cereal. She had 3 tablespoons of rice cereal and then she didn’t really want her bottle. She was cranky around 7pm, so I gave her some Mylecon drops. She went to sleep around 7:30pm and woke up around 11pm, and then again at 3:30am. She didn’t wake up in between last night.
SO, I did the same thing tonight. She didn’t want but 1 oz of her bottle about 1 hour after her rice cereal. I finally just put her down at 7:30pm, after the Mylecon because she was so cranky. She’s fast asleep.
I’m very fortunate that I can put her down and she will go to sleep while she’s still awake. Scoober wouldn’t do that. She might fuss a couple times, and I go in to check on her, but other than that, she’ll go right to sleep.
Scoober loves to be read to. Tonight he read us 2 books. I read him his Bedtime Bible stories that his Uncle & Aunt #1 have him a few years ago. Then we sang our songs, hugs and kisses and decided what was for breakfast tomorrow. We seem to have a pretty good routine, something he can count on at night time.
Filed under: How was my day today?
Today has been pretty good! We were going to walk to school today; we live just 0.9 miles from Scoober’s school, which is just close enough there is NO school bus; but Scoober was dragging this morning. It all worked out for the best because I had to run a couple errands today anyway.
Got some great news. Husband passed both his tests for his National Contracting Management Assocition certification. Most people don’t pass the first time around. He thought he had not passed the first exam he took on Thursday, but it was graded incorrectly, so he DID pass. You have to pay to take these exams, so we were both relieved that he passed them.
Last night was rough on me and Winks. She’s not really been sleeping well. That old tale of give them some cereal before they go to bed, well that doesn’t work for her. She takes a bottle at 7 or 7:30pm and I try to keep her up but she’s so cranky. Then, she wakes up a few times after that, but I just put her pacifier back in and she goes back to sleep. She’s up usually about 11 or 12, then again at 3 or 4. It’s in between those times she’s up crying, whinning, etc. Can’t figure it out. So, last night we only got about 2 to 4 hours of sleep, I don’t remember. Luckily I got an hour nap with her this afternoon.
We haven’t gotten our stimulus check yet. We are in the first round of direct deposits, so we should hopefully see it soon. Just in time too as we need tires for our van and our car. Plus, it’s going to help me pay for a trip back East this summer to see family.
Scoober’s birthday is coming up in May. He’s decided that instead of a birthday party with friends, he wants to have ice cream cone cupcakes at school with ALL his classmates. That way everyone gets to celebrate his birthday with him. So, we’ll be doing that I guess. I’ll still make him a cake at home, which he’s requested a Lego birthday cake. I decorate cakes, so this will be a good one to add to my portfolio. I guess I’ll have to post some pictures of my cakes on here. Ah, another page is in the works!
Well, that’s all for today. We are going to have some nice weather tomorrow, too, so I’ll probably walk to pick Scoober up from school like we did today. We’re supposed to get more snow, or a chance of it Wednesday night and Thursday. Geez!
Filed under: Weight Loss Journal
Every night before I go to bed while I’m waiting for my tea to cool, I plan out my meals for the next day. I have my food list so that I can calculate my points as I plan the meals I’m going to eat.
If something changes, then no big deal, I just cross out what I planned and put down what I DID eat.
I do not cook with a lot of oil or salt. I also didn’t want to limit myself to what I could eat, so that’s why I chose the point system. It’s all about portion control, and raw veggies and most cooked veggies are 0 points, so I can eat as many as I want.
Filed under: Weight Loss Journal
Monday
- Breakfast – toast with 1/2 tbsp peanut butter, slimfast shake
- Lunch – Egg salad tortilla, celery and pretzels
- Dessert – Apple pie with 1/2 cup ice cream
- Dinner – Chicken, green beans, 1/2 cup rice, potatoes, bread
- Dessert – 1/2 cup sherbert
Tuesday
- Breakfast – 1 sausage patty, toast with 1/2 tbsp peanut butter
- Lunch – Chicken sandwich from McDonald’s and a diet coke, oh and fries
- Snack – poptart
- Dinner – 1 cup pinto beans with cornbread
- Dessert – pie with ice cream
Wednesday
- Breakfast – shake (3/4 pineapple juice, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt – lowfat, 1/2 cup strawberries) 1/2 cup apple juice
- Snack – bowl of Special K cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk
- Lunch – Turkey, lettuce wrap with small apple
- Snack – peanuts and celery
- Dinner – BBQ sandwich x 2 with salad
Thursday
- Breakfast – shake (same as Wednesday), 1 sausage patty
- Lunch – Turkey dog on bun, carrots w/ hummus
- Snack – granola bar
- Dinner – Chicken enchilada x 2, salad
- Dessert – ice cream
Friday
- Breakfast – English muffin, 1 scrambled egg, strawberries
- Snack – slimfast shake
- Lunch – Chicken enchilada, carrots
- Snack – granola bar
- Dinner – 1 cup spaghetti with 1/2 cup sauce, salad, bread
Saturday
- Breakfast – 2 Waffles with 1/4 cup light syrup, 1/2 grapefruit
- Lunch – Turkey lettuce sandwich, carrots & celery w/ hummus
- Snack – peanuts
- Dinner – 1 cup chili, 1 cup white rice, 7 saltine crackers
- Dessert – 1 cup sherbert
Sunday
- Breakfast – slimfast shake, toast w/ 1/2 tbsp peanut butter, strawberries
- Lunch – 1/2 cup chicken noodle soup, 1/2 PB sandwich, carrots & celery
- Snack – peanuts and granola bar
- Dinner – grilled chicken, rice, broccoli, corn on cob (Chili’s restaurant – Guiltless Chicken platter)
- Snack – grapes
Filed under: Weight Loss Journal
Monday
- Breakfast – 8 oz Slimfast Shake and Cofee
- Snack – Yogurt (Lowfat)
- Lunch – Salad w/ Red Wine Vinegar, 1 cup chicken fettucine, 1 small apple
- Snack – Poptart (Scoober made it, so I couldn’t say no) and pretzels
- Dinner – 1 1/2 cup fettucine, salad w/ slivered almonds
Tuesday
- Breakfast – Egg mcmuffin from McDonald’s and coffee
- Lunch – 1 cup soup, celery & carrots w/hummus, strawberries
- Snack – Slimfast Shake
- Dinner – Turkey mushroom burger, 1 cup of rice, 1 cup of green peas
- Dessert – 1/2 cup ice cream
Wednesday
- Breakfast – 1 small apple, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1/2 cup yogurt
- Lunch – Grilled Classic Chicken sandwich at McDonald’s, fries, diet coke
- Dessert – Blizzard from Dairy Queen
- Dinner – 2 chicken tenderloins, salad w/red wine vinegar dressing, 1/2 cup macaroni
Thursday
- Breakfast – 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 slice bread, 1/2 tbsp peanut butter, 3/4 cup strawberries
- Snack – 1 small apple
- Lunch – 1/2 cup soup, turkey dog on bun, celery & carrots w/ hummus
- Snack – 3 cups popped light butter popcorn
- Dinner – 1 cup spaghetti with 1/2 cup sauce, salad w/dressing, dinner roll
- Dessert – Lemon freeze
Friday
- Breakfast – Bacon, 1 egg, 1 waffle, 3/4 cup strawberries
- Lunch – Turkey mushroom burger, veggies w/ hummus, 1/2 tbsp peanut butter on tortilla
- Dinner – 1/2 cup macaroni, 1/2 cup sauce, 6 saltine crackers
- Dessert – 1/2 cup ice cream with 1 slice of banana bread
Saturday
- Breakfast – 1/2 tbsp peanut butter on tortilla, slimfast shake
- Lunch – 1/2 cup egg salad on tortilla with 1 small apple
- Snack – slice of banana bread
- Dinner – 2 slice of pizza and a salad
- Dessert – 1/2 cup orange fat free sherbert
Sunday
- Breakfast – toast, 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup yogurt
- Lunch – 2 slice of pizza and celery
- Dinner – pork roast, 1/2 cup potatoes, 1 cup green beans, bread
- Dessert – slice of apple pie with 1/2 cup ice cream
Filed under: Weight Loss Journal
Let me start by giving some background as to why I am on a weight loss journey.
- 2001 – I found out I was pregnant while in the military. I weighed 150 lbs (I was on vacation before signing into my new duty station so I had not exercised, usually at 145lb). Got out of military.
- 2002 – Had Scoober, gained 50 lbs, lost 30 lb when he was born.
- 2002 – 2007 – Never lost the remaining 20 lbs. Psyched myself out because I figured since I was going to have another child I didn’t want to shrink down just to balloon up again.
- 2007 – Found out I was pregnant with Winks. Was on bedrest, light duty and a lot of walking restriction, so I didn’t get any exercise. Had Winks, then right after had a umbilical surgery and tubes tied. Moved and now after 6 months postpardum and post-surgery, I am starting my weightloss journey.
Now, I’ve tried pills, not eating, Slimfast and just eating when I’m hungry. None of this has worked for me. I tried to keep a food journal, but it just wasnt’ working like I thought. I’ve read books, some worked, some were a waste of money. So, this time, I am getting REAL about losing weight. I want to be around a long time, and I need to get myself physically and mentally healthy so I can play with my kids and be able to enjoy my time with them.
I decided I would try the Weight Watcher’s points program. I belong to an online site for Second Wives, and there is a weightloss support group on there. I asked if I could join. Most of the ladies go to meetings or have signed up online with WW, but I just don’t have the time for meetings or the money for the online fee. So, I’m just doing it with the ladies support and the food point list they gave me.
Week One
I started at 197 lbs. I’m allowed so many points a week, plus some bonus points to use how I want to. I exercised 2 days that first week. I lost 4.2 lbs.
Week Two
Just ended yesterday. I started the week out at 192.8 lbs. I exercised 1 day. Kept within my points. I lost 2.2 lbs more!
Week Three
Just started today. I’m starting the week at 190.6 lbs. I hope to lose 2 lbs or more this week. Scoober and I will eat out on Friday, as it’s the first Friday of the month and it’s a special thing he and I do. So, I will do good all week, so I can enjoy that day out with him without feeling guilty.
Filed under: How was my day today?
Today is finally over. I cannot believe I’m still up!
Scoober had a good day. His class had a pretend “garage sale” at school today. They are learning about money and the teacher asked them to bring in small toys that they didn’t play with anymore. Well, of course we forgot, but we managed to get one toy in the sale. Each kid was given $0.20 to buy things. They were only allowed to buy 3 things. Scoober bought a TY monkey, a car, and a suction cup play set. All for $0.12. They didn’t get to keep the money they had left, but I was very pleased that he maximized his purchases and had money leftover. 
Winks had a good day. She never naps when I want her to, but we managed to rest together for about 45 minutes. She is really enjoying her rice cereal and sweet peas. She goes to the doctor on the 5th and we’ll get to see how big she has gotten.
Husband passed both tests he had today and then went into the office to clean up his e-mail. Next week is going to be busy for him since he was out all week in a training class.
My day was okay. I’m applying for jobs online. Two of the ones I applied for were given to other people, but I’ve got 6 other applications out there pending. We’ll see how it goes.
Today President Bush announced that the stimulus payments are going out early. Husband’s SSN is in the first group to go out, so we are hoping it hits the account on Monday so we can get our much needed tires for our vehicles. Then, I can also go ahead and purchase our tickets to fly back East to visit
Filed under: How was my day today?
4/24/2008 – Today was pretty good. Scoober got up at 6:30am when Winks woke up. He lounged on the couch while I got ready and made breakfast. He then got up and got dressed and made his bed the 1st time I asked! This is amazing because he usually gives me a hard time about it. Eating breakfast took a little while, but we managed to get through the morning without incident.
Winks fell asleep in the van on the way to drop Scoober off at school. She has luckily been taking a nap when we get home. I say luckily because I have to carry her without the car seat due to my surgery I had when she was born, but that’s another post. She took 3 naps today! She ate an entire jar of baby food this evening and went to bed around 7:30pm. Hopefully she’ll sleep until 1 or 2am.
So, Scoober earned 2 reward stickers today. He’s only 3 stickers away from picking a reward out of his reward jar. Yahoo!
Today I also signed up on guru.com. I’ve decided to try my hand at working from home. We’ll see how that goes. I posted my first bid on a job tonight. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that I get it. If not, there are thousands more to choose from. HA!
Husband is studying for a test he has tomorrow. He’s been in a class all week.
Well, I’m off to bed. Until next time, good night!
Filed under: Kid Behavior
As mothers, it’s hard sometimes to know which is the right way and the wrong way to discipline, reward and address behavior with our children. I know for me, it’s been a struggle here the last couple years.
When I was growing up, my parents were always pretty fair with us. I had 2 younger brothers, so pretty much I was the first one they tested everything on. 
My brothers would sometimes get to do things that I never got to do, but that could be because I was a girl, too. Anyway, my parents, when it came time for punishment, were pretty good on making sure they punished us all the same way, and rewarded us all the same way. HOWEVER, today, those same tactics don’t seem to work with my children, and I’m really starting to wonder why.
When my son was 3, we had a major move away from his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Everything that he knew was going to change. He acted out, as most children would, but he managed to figure out his own way of dealing with things. Fast forward to age 5. Everything before this age we were able to deal with okay. Now that Scoober is talking and voicing his opinion on everything, it’s become a little more challenging.
First we tried a smiley face chart. At his school (Kindergarten), they used a 5 stick system. They started with 5 sticks and if they had to be told more than twice to do something, they lost a stick. If there was bad behavior, they lost a stick. So, we thought we’d do the same thing at home. It worked for about a week. We had a system that if he earned so many smiley faces he got to choose from a couple of rewards like staying up later, watching a TV program, etc. Well, soon, he decided he didn’t care if he earned enough rewards or not. So, we stopped the smiley face adventure.
After we moved to our new home, we were still having a lot of problems. Most days I would end up on the verge of tears. Daddy talking with him didn’t have any effect, except for that very moment. Spanking didn’t work, so I stopped that. The only thing that seemed to work was sending him to his room, but even then I had to physically put him in his room. The yelling got louder, and I’m still on the verge of tears, it’s just maybe twice a week now.
While my parents were visiting, we started another type of reward system. Instead of taking away, he has to earn. So, we bought one of those office calendars at OfficeMax and we are using his stickers that he’s collected. Everyday he can earn 3 stickers, and at anytime he can be rewarded bonus stickers only given by mommy or daddy. We bought a plastic container with a lid that he decorated with stickers and that is his reward jar. Then we sat down and he decided on different types of things he’d like to receive as a reward for earning his stickers. We also created a “rule list” for him to follow so that he didnt’ forget the simple things like making his bed, etc.
So far this is working. He still has his moments, and it’s mostly talking back or him voicing his “but mom I want to”. All in all, he’s earned about 4 rewards. He actually has added a couple rules to the list himself, another reward to the reward jar to choose from, AND he decided to increase the number of stickers he must earn from 7 to 8.
He’s such an intelligent boy, and I really try to compromise with him, and I’m getting better at just relaxing and not expecting so much of him. But it’s hard.
I’d welcome any other ideas that others have on this subject, if you would like to share.
