My poor neglected blog

The computer has been acting up and not wanting to open any pdf's and it won't let me remove or download any software. It also does not want me to download any pictures. Can't wait for the new operating system to be introduced so I can get a new computer.
The last few weeks we have continued with more Basketball, thumb sucking and therapy.
The boys are really coming along and learning a ton in basketball. Randy is always trying to think up new plays, and the ones he has them running this year are working great. Here is a picture of the team that we took this weekend in Weeping Water. They won both games this weekend; Saturday against Murray and Sunday against Weeping Water. The game on Sunday was scheduled for 5:00. Some of the dad's were bummed that they missed the beginning of the Super Bowl, but at least they caught the end.


Noah is still trying hard not to suck his thumb but just does not have the will power while watching TV or when it is getting close to bedtime. We had not been using the zip ties at night, but then I found out that he was taking the gloves off and then putting them back on when John's alarm was going off. The last couple of nights we have been using the zip ties to hook gloves on both hands and he has been going to sleep fine. He did look a bit rough the first two mornings, but I think he is finally getting used to it. I showed him some pictures on the web of kids who have messed up their teeth from thumb sucking, but it did not seem to have any impact. It is just such a hard habit to break.

Ben did really good at his afternoon therapy session last week. Much better than when we tried in the morning. He is side sitting well and can move back to center fine, with no assistance, but just has not quite gotten how to get in and out of sitting yet. When he get on his knees he will rock a little, but he really does not like being on his knees.

On the craft front, I have a couple of orders left from Christmas yet to fill. One is to make another strand for a name bracelet. Since I did not make the original, I am having a hard time finding beads to match. I also have a couple more name doilies left to crochet. They are taking a bit longer as I find myself too tired once I get Ben to sleep to work on them, and it is pretty hard to work with fine thread when he is awake.

It's time for Basket Ball and more

It was a pretty busy week for the Willey family. John had his first basket ball game last weekend in Murray during and ice storm. Just getting there and back was exciting. They won 46 to 4. I think they scored more points during that game than they did all last season.


Noah saying, put me in Dad... I want to play!


John inbounding the ball.


Coaches Rick and Randy inspiring the boys.


John passing the ball instead of shooting, like he was instructed to do. (We were up by 25 points at this point)

Baby Ben had an appointment at Hand Prints and Foot Steps, a pediatric therapy clinic in Lincoln. He was evaluated for positional plagiocephaly - aka a stiff neck. They thought maybe he could not turn his head to the right very well due to tight muscles. They found that while he can turn his neck farther to the left than he can the right, it was not really a big problem. He is also to the age where he is not about to let anyone stretch him out, so we will just keep trying to make him look to the right more by putting his toys on his right, laying him on his right, etc.


Here is a picture of Ben enjoying his bath.

Noah also had a pretty good week. While he is still struggling with the thumb sucking, he is at least trying. He went to sleep 3 night in a row with out sucking his thumb. He still woke up in the night and took his glove off, but at least we know now that he can do it. We are very proud of his efforts.

Here is Noah snuggling with his baby brother.

John also played in Syracuse yesterday. They played two back to back games against Syracuse's A and B squads at 8:30 in the morning, ugh! They won the first game by 4 points, but lost the second game by 4 points. Overall they did really good. When they listened and executed their plays well, they got an open shot every time. They did not always make the shot, but hey, they are only 4th graders. The point is just to learn and have fun.

We are off to another game in Louisville now. They are always very tough competitors, so hopefully we can stick with them.

Day 3. No more thumb sucking

On Monday the older 2 boys went in for their dental checkup. I am still amazed at how fast their Dentist is. We got there at 8:25 am and were walking out the door by 8:45. X-rays, cleaning, fluoride and consultation all done.

Since Noah still enjoys sucking his thumb, and does not want to give it up, the Dentist and I discussed putting a plate in his mouth to get him to stop. The plate they would put in would have holes in it, so that when he tried to suck his thumb, he would not get any suction, and it would take all the fun out of it.

He sat there and told the Dentist he wanted quit on his own, so we have 2 weeks to give it one last try. Of course in the waiting room as we were leaving he asked me "Mom, the two weeks does not start today, does it?" Sorry Buddy, but I am afraid it does.

Night number one was bad, as I fell asleep in the recliner with Ben, and when Randy took Noah up, he could not find the glove that we had used in the past. Last night we got him a set of gloves, that he put on by himself and said he would wear, but he took the left glove off after he went to bed and sucked his thumb anyway. This morning he said that he did not know how his glove got off last night. It must have slipped. Nice try Noah!

Tonight we are going to have to find the glove where I crocheted an edging to hold a zip tie that will keep the glove on. He does not like this glove, as the ties have to be tight enough to keep him from pulling off the glove, and then they are uncomfortable. If we leave the tail of the zip tie on, he can pull it tighter, to the point of cutting off his circulation, so we have no choice but to cut it off and waste a zip tie. So I usually cut the tail of the zip tie off, but there is no real way to make it smooth, so it scratches him. Of course there is always the problem of finding where he hid the glove, then catching him, and holding him down so we can get the glove on in the first place. Hopefully he will be cooperative tonight.