How to get Ty to take medicine

The other day I was getting ready to take Nick to the doctor for his four month check.  Ty had fallen asleep on the couch (which he hardly ever does), so I woke him up. He seemed a little warm, had flushed cheeks and was a little shaky. It was odd, because he'd seemed fine all day.

So, we went to the doctor for Nick's wellcheck and found out that Ty had a double ear infection. It was convenient, since I didn't have to pay anything extra for another doctor visit. :)

But, ear infections = medicine. This three year old does not like to take medicine.

There's no way he'll just drink medicine straight. I've tried squirting into his mouth, but that just makes a mess and a lot of tears. I've tried to hide it in his favorite drink, hot chocolate. Sometimes he wouldn't finish drinking it and I'd have no idea how much medicine he actually drank.

I needed to think of a new medicine hiding idea...

While we were at the grocery store getting the prescription I remembered that I had some root beer at home. I got some free root beer since I bought ice cream. Nice! I love free things!

When we got home I gave Ty his medicine in a little cup of root beer. He slurped it up and then asked if he had anymore medicine to take. So, I gave him some tylenol to help with his fever. And he slurped that up.

I know it's not the heathiest idea to let your three year old drink root beer twice a day. But, hey, I'm picking my battles. And it's getting the medicine down happily. Hopefully some day he'll just drink the medicine like his older siblings. But until then we'll be washing it down with a sugary drink.

Jack's Award

Jack got a principal award at school.  We were surprised when we saw it in his backpack, since we didn't get to see him receive it at school. 

Baseball Opening Ceremonies

Jack's first season of AA baseball has started.  They had their opening ceremonies the other day.  All the teams run out on the field and then sit there for a really long time while people talk. 

Jack is pretty excited about baseball, since he's playing with older kids now.  No more t-ball! 

Nick at 4 Months

Nick is 4 months old! 



Time is flying by!  He's such a sweet baby!

 

He weighs 13.1 lbs and is 25" long. 

 

He loves making eye contact with people and then rewards you with a big smile.  I still haven't captured one of his huge smiles in a picture. 

He loves to try and sit up.  If I lay him in his bouncy chair, he tries to sit up.  He loves the bumbo chair too. 

He loves to suck on his fingers.  He hasn't picked a particular favorite, so I'm not too worried about it.  Fingers are about the only thing he can get in his mouth himself...besides his bib and his binkie. 

He is a great sleeper!  He regularly goes to bed at 9:00 pm and then wakes up anytime between 4:30 and 6:30, then goes back to sleep after eating.

He is pretty patient and puts up with a lot of love from his siblings.  He rewards them with smiles and an occasional giggle.  We're all pretty smitten with him.

Spring Break 2013 Part 2

The rest of Spring Break we spent in Mapleton doing lots of things.  I didn't take many pictures...maybe because my hands were a bit more full than they used to be since we have a baby.

On Weds. April 10th we went on a tour of the Springville Fish Hatchery.  The kids liked seeing the little fish.  Everytime we'd pass the hatchery when driving Provo the kids would point it out.  We went to a fun park in Mapleton and hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Judi.

Thursday, April 11th, we went to the BYU dinosaur museum.  Ty has been having nightmares about dinosaurs lately, but I think the museum helped him realize that they are dead when he saw their bones. 

After the dinosaur museum we went on BYU campus to eat at the Wilkenson center.  Kate bought a BYU shirt with her birthday money at the bookstore.

Then we headed to Melinda's house.  We left all the boys at her house with Dave and Grandpa and the girls all went to IKEA.  Then we had dinner together celebrating Ben, Kate and Anders' birthdays.  Then we went to Ethan's school and watched him in his choir in the play Peter Pan.

The kids spent the night at Melinda's house and the rest of us (including Nick) went back to Grandpa and Grandma's house.  The kids loved being with their cousins.  Ty wanted to spend the night and sleep with his favorite toys there.  We've never left him overnight before, but he did fine. 

Almost every morning in Mapleton Dave and I went running.  It was nice and flat and so much easier than running in Los Alamos.

The morning of April 12th Melinda brought the kids to Mapleton.  Then we all went bowling at BYU, then we ate BYU creamery ice cream. 

On Saturday, April 13th, we met Mike and his family in Provo and we hiked up the "Y" on the mountain.  It was pretty cold, but we warmed up quickly as we hiked the steep path.  We didn't take the camera because I was carrying Nick in the Bjorn and the camera was in the way.  Melinda snapped this picture at the bottom of the hill.

Jack and Kate hiked up the trail with their cousins and waited for the rest of us at the top.  Luckily no one fell down the Y...it was pretty steep. 

After the hike we all went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house and had pizza. 

Then the next day we headed home. 

Kate's 9th Birthday

Kate had a fun 9th birthday!

She started it out in Fairview.  Jack made her a really sweet birthday sign and we hung up a few balloons to surprise her when she woke up.

She had blueberry muffins with candles in them for breakfast.

 

Then she got to open half of her presents. 

Jack & Ty gave her some "girl" legos.  She also got some soccer socks and a new dress (which she wore that day).  Grandma Cox took Kate to a gift shop in Fairview where she got to pick out her present:  new earrings and a multi-colored pen.

Before lunch we packed up and headed to Mapleton to Grandma and Grandpa Judi's new house.  Kate opened the rest of her presents...

Another dress and new colored pencils.  And birthday money from and Grandma and pa Judi...

Grandma Judi made Kate a birthday cake...

Then we headed to Melinda's house in Draper.  She gave Kate a really sweet present -- a box that looked like a book full of surprises.  We all went to dinner at Chuckarama - Kate's choice. 

Then we all went to the Jazz game.  Too bad they lost. 

 The kids liked seeing the sports guys be on TV. 

A little about Kate at age 9...

• She is pretty responsible. She is a great helper with Nick.  She's pretty good at getting him dressed and even changes his diaper! 
• Kate loves to read!  She usually checks 15+ books out from the library at a time and breezes through them quickly.  I find books in every room that she's been reading throughout the day.
• Kate likes to be with her friends.  Her favorite friends are Sophi, Annika and Nina. 
• She loves to wear high heels and wishes that she could wear them to school.
• Is a good student.  Her teacher, Ms. Carr, has wonderful things to say about her. 
• She is currently playing soccer and just finished playing basketball. 
• She enjoys going on walks and hikes with dad in the evenings.
• She loves to mix and match her earrings. 
• She's a great sister and a wonderful daughter!

Spring Break 2013 Part 1

We decided to go to Utah for Spring Break.  We drove all day on Saturday, April 7th.  We ended up spending night in Mapleton and Grandma and Grandpa Judi's new house.  Then the next morning we headed to Fairview for a few days.

We listened to General Conference with Grandma and Grandpa Cox and helped Grandpa feed his animals in the fields.

The next day Dave and I went on a nice run and got back a little before it started storming.  There was a break in the weather in the afternoon and the kids got to ride horses with Grandpa.  It was cold and we'd left our coats at home, so the kids only had their hoodie sweatshirts on. 

 

Kate and Jack rode horses too, but I didn't take many pictures during Spring Break.  We thought it was funny that a bear was riding a horse.

 

We went on a walk down the road.  The kids took turns holding Skippy's leash.  Ty loved walking him, but it seemed more like Skippy was "walking" Ty.

Monday after horse riding, we headed to Ephraim and went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant.  Then we stopped at Shave & Cream and had some yummy BYU creamery ice cream.  Kate couldn't finish her single (three scoops was only $1.50!) and Jack said that next time he's going to get a triple (9 scoops of ice cream!).

The kids played plenty of Wii and loved being around Grandpa's animals. 

Pajama Day

Today was the last day of Spirit Week at the kids' school.  It is pajama day.

They really do have pajamas on underneath their jackets and animal hats.  Our friends gave us those hats that their kids didn't want anymore and Kate and Jack love them!

Mix and Match Day

Thursday was Mix and Match Day at school.

Crazy Hair Day

Happy Crazy Hair Day today!  The kids both had plans of what they wanted their hair to look like.  Fun!