Andy & Jessica

Jude never imagined he’d get to watch a volcano erupt in his own backyard. But, it happened last night. Jude’s favorite subject is Science and he loves watching videos online about Science. He found a set of instructions about how to build your own volcano. He showed it to me and suggested we do it. I printed the instructions and immediately found an obstacle. We needed clay to press around the outside of the toilet paper roll filled with baking soda and we didn’t have any clay. Jude was quick to suggest we use Play Doh instead, which worked just great. We colored almost a gallon of vinegar red and poured it into the toilet paper roll and watch a series of explosions. I love Jude the Science Kid.

Tonight my mom came in to babysit and Andy and I went to an illusion show.   It was entertaining.  I did, however, forget my glasses in the car and had to run get them during intermission time.  I preferred the 2nd half of the show to the 1st half, because it was less blurry.

Tomorrow I have to take a client out for lunch so I needed to get my car washed tonight.  I wanted some company on the trip, so I asked Jude to come.  I had a heck of a time finding an open car wash so I had to drive around a bit without a Garmin in the car apparently, which is always dangerous.  Jude expressed concern that he would never get home.  Finally we found a car wash and he really enjoyed the experience, especially when we got sprayed a bit after realizing the sun roof was open.  Oops!

I feel like I’m starting to get to know Levi better, now that he’s starting to communicate with words.  Levi has even started spelling.  Well, he spells one word, that is.  I likes to say, “I “G” “O” downstairs” or “I “G” “O” “library.” 

 

After work tonight, I decided to be brave and bring all 3 boys by myself to the play, Duck for President, at the Stages Theater.  The boys couldn’t have been better for the first 40 minutes, but the last 20 minutes were difficult.  Asher decided he wanted the spotlight.  We were sitting in almost the back row, but he would squirm out of my lap and make a happy run for the stage.  Then he would scream when I would hold him so I’d set him down and he’d make another run for the stage.  I was relieved when the production ended.  I don’t think I’ll attempt that type of outing again for awhile.

My typical night consists of a game of what I call “musical beds.” I typically start out laying down with Asher and Jude in Jude’s bed and after Asher falls asleep, I transfer him into the crib. After Jude and I have prayed and I have told him a funny story, he falls asleep and I sneak out of his room. (Jude still is convinced I sleep all night with him so if he ever wakes up in the middle of the night, he comes to find me.) After getting Jude to sleep, I then lay down with Andy, who has Levi (who is either awake or asleep by this time). If Levi is still awake, I snuggle with him until he falls asleep and then transfer him to his bed. Typically Asher wakes up at least 2 times per night and needs to be fed to go back to bed. I like to feed him laying down in our bed and then sometimes am able to successfully transfer him back into the crib. The other day, I woke up after a really bad night and all 5 of us Olsons were in the king bed in our room. That was a first. It happened because I was not able to successfully transfer Asher to the crib after his last feeding and Levi had woken up in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with Mommy and Daddy and Jude had also woken up and come to find me. Of course Andy, the sleeping beauty who wears ear plugs to sleep, is always blissfully unaware of all the night-time activity.

Given that we have a fenced in backyard, I’m always surprised to hear that Andy doesn’t just open the back door and let the boys wander outside for some fun during the days (maybe it’s because he’d have to get them dressed).  They seem pretty eager for a change of scenery.  Tonight Jude must have heard my bus come by and came running down the driveway to meet me after work.  Then when I went to open the screen door to come inside the house, Levi literally fell out the front door and onto the ground.  I didn’t realize his little body must have been pressed up against the door trying to get out to greet me.  And, when I got inside the house, Asher was screaming with frustration behind a baby gate trying to make his way to his Mama.  I love having such an eager greeting committee!

Jude’s anti-seizure medicine commonly causes irritability as its main side effect.  It seems to be highly effective in that regard.  Jude seems to cry and throw tantrums more than his 2 little brothers combined.  We can’t wait to get him weaned off this medicine, although he’s likely to be on it for another 9 months or so.  Urgh!

After I asked him to write his name one more time for his school assignment: “Does anybody let a little boy take a rest?”

Jude’s been through a lot (as you can see from a picture of him with his Monday through Friday radiation mask on), but today was a chance to celebrate that treatment is over and he’s hopefully cured of cancer.  We had an amazing time.  The party started at 11 a.m. and the last wave of guests left at 7 p.m.  The Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine was a huge hit with the kids.