Can You Hear Me Now?

So, Bug had an appointment this morning at the Audiologist. There appears to be some speculation as to whether her lack of speech is due to a hearing problem. So we got up and got cute and to the doctor we went. And guess what?! She can hear. (was there any doubt?) Actually, it was pretty cool. The Audiologist mentioned that if any of the results were questionable, there were different tests he could do. Is it wrong of me that I was a little let down when she passed? I kind of wanted to see what else they would do. But alas, her hearing is fine. (probably better than Buttercup's, who actually has a little bit of a hearing problem. At a decibel that my voice doesn't reach which is under what I would consider a "whisper" so it doesn't really come into play.) The test that the guy performed on Buglet was as follows.

1- I sat in a chair in a little booth that advertised different ear plugs, which happened to be the same sort of ear plugs that Buttercup had. But these looked much cooler and I kind of wish we had picked ones like the ones in the poster for her instead of the all-one-color-ones she had. Bug sat in my lap. The Audiologist sat outside the booth, directly in front of us, so we could see him through the little window. There were speakers on either side of us with little black boxes on top of them, and there was a little black box right under the window in front of us. The little black box in front of us lit up. The guy said (through the speakers) "Look at Big Bird!" Bug, I'm sure looked at the box and thought "what the crap is a Big Bird?" because I'm absolutely certain that she has no clue what a Big Bird is. But she looked, so Bug got a check.

2- A static-y sound came out of the speaker to our right. A LOUD static-y sound. Bug looked at the floor under the speaker. (I thought, "uh-oh" followed by "oh goody! we'll get to see the next test!" So it could be said that I slipped temporarily into 'bad momma' thoughts, but I recovered quickly.) The sound continued. The black box on top of the speaker lit up. Ta-da! Minnie Mouse. (who, Bug may actually know, so that was a plus.) Bug pointed and said something in Bug-speak that isn't readily translatable into English and looked at me. Then the sound stopped and Minnie Mouse turned off. Big Bird turned on. Bug was much more interested in Minnie's box, so it took a minute for her to look at Big Bird, who, by this point, had begun to flash. Apparently, Big Bird doesn't like be shown up by some Disney character.

3- Loud static-y sound number 2 came out of the speaker on our left. Bug looked at the floor under that speaker. (again, tiny slip on my part, but I kept a hold on myself.) Sound continued, box on top lit up and there sat Donald Duck. Bug points, speaks in gooble-de-gook and seems genuinely happy to see Donald. (can you tell we live in a house where Disney rules?) Sound stops, Donald goes away. Big Bird immediately starts to flash. (Temper temper, Bird-boy.)

4- continue with static-y sounds and occasional hummy sounds thrown in for good measure. Boxes on tops of the speakers light up as a reward when Bug looks at the speaker and not the floor. And sometimes they pop on to say Hello when Bug looks at them before the sound actually ... sounds. (? was there a different way to say that?! Points if you thought of one.) With the ill tempered bird flashing away in between sounds so Bug would stop looking at the boxes where the Disney heroes waited. Bug seems unfazed.

5- sounds get quieter. Sometimes I can't hear them. But Bug looks, either because she heard it or because she was missing Minnie or Donald and they light up. Big Bad Bird Boy continues to flash with more and more intensity. I think he senses that he's losing, and this does not sit well with him.

6- all sounds and characters stop. Bug, by this time is sooooo over this whole deal that she tries to turn around in my lap and settle in for a nap. (Nap? Now? I can't convince you to nap at home, but we get out in a new place and you decide this would be an ideal time to take a snooze?) Small scuffle, I win, Bug is again facing grumpy pants. I mean Big Bird.

7- the Audiologist covers his mouth with a piece of paper. I'm not sure why, but whatever. Then his voice comes through the speaker on the right saying "Look at Minnie! Where's Minnie?" Bug looks at the floor. (honestly...) She spies Minnie and immediately Minnie turns off. Bug decides this is not cool with her, and she devises a plan.

8- Again, the Audiologist's voice comes through the speaker on our left. At this point I'm really hoping Bug doesn't begin to think this is the voice of God. I want her to know that God would talk about things besides Minnie and Donald. I'm pretty sure now that when I get to Heaven the first thing God will say to me will be about a Disney character.. : ) So, the voice from the great beyond asks Bug to find Donald. Donald, Bug knows, is sitting on top of the mystical blackish thing that the great voice issues from. So she looks at the floor. but I'm watching her and I see her cut her eyes up at Donald. She's crafty enough to not move her head. This gets her approximately 2 more seconds of Donald time. She seems content with that.

9- Big Bird is really steamed at this point. He's practically strobe-like. Bug grants him a courtesy glance which seems to pacify him.

And that concludes the test. We're told she passed and that we can go. I mask my slight disappointment that I can't see what the other tests were, tell Bug to say "Thank you" (she doesn't) and "Bye-bye"(she doesn't do that either) and we head to the car. Where Bug promptly falls asleep. *sigh* My question is, yes, we've established that she can hear. I could have told you that. But how can you tell if she hears clearly? Is there a way to determine that she doesn't hear everything muffled? Does that particular test involve Big Bird in any way? Because I'm feeling that Big Bird is a jealous bird and may need the extra attention.

On the plus side, now I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that one of my B's can hear. That's 33%. Which takes care of that excuse when she gets older.

Bug is currently in melt-down mode. I'm sensing that the 10 minute nap in the car didn't do the trick (yay!) so off I fly to try and convince her that another nap is a wonderful idea. You know, I think I may win this time...

Stolen from Annie's blog

You're supposed to copy and paste into your own blog, then boldface what you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (if my Guitar Hero band counts...)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
7. Been to Disneyland/world(both!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (twice! I'd do it again in a second!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (ok, I was driving over a bridge over the harbor. it counts.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A TRAIN!)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke(but not in a bar. at someone's house.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (ok, it was only 1/2 way, but I would've gone all the way if we had time. but we didn't. so I didn't.)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (finally)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (never! I will not jump out of a perfectly good plane. Or out of a doomed one, now that you mention it.)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (springy!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (roe, caviar. fish eggs are fish eggs in my book. and no sir, I don't like it)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (I was a Surgical Tech. I may have helped, but not on my own)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Some of these things I DEFINITELY want to do. As long as I don't have to jump out of a plane.

Is it just me, or is it stuffy in here?

Ta-da! Look, a 2nd post! I may just be on my way, ladies and gentlemen. (if there are any gentlemen reading this..)

...unfortunately, I've just realized that I don't have much to say. so....

My older B's are home from school. One assuring me that he doesn't have homework because they had a math test today. (groan. I am not good at math.) But, the homework would've been math, so I'm wondering if I should be happy about the lack of math homework, or if I should secretly cringe over the test because, to be honest, math isn't Boudreaux's favorite subject either. Buttercup and Bug are building a... something with the blocks that Bug got for Christmas. And that Buttercup decided to dump half a container of baby powder into. Buttercup is fascinated with baby powder, though I myself find it lacking. But hey, to each their own right? I'm actually glad they are doing some block building. (whoops, might should switch that from building together to Bug opening Bug Bashing One Bug Demolition Crew.) Where was I? Oh yes. I'm glad of the block building because, apparently, Bug is a wee bit behind. I got a letter in the mail today about a "meeting" (which sounds VERY formal, doesn't it?) that's taking place at my house (which kicks the "formal" right out) that I was graciously invited to (I mentioned it was at my house, right?) between myself, a case worker for Early Childhood Intervention and a Speech Therapist. Oh, and Bug has a hearing test tomorrow in town. The nurse referenced the need for the hearing test because Bug had failed hers. To which I nicely cocked my head to the side a la Labrador (as I was on the phone, though my doctors office is used to me by now) and thought to myself "Oh, she did? and where exactly was I when Bug had a hearing test?" but back to the story, apparently Bug failed said hearing test that I somehow missed, so we're going to check her hearing tomorrow. Which I'm sure she'll pass. Watch this... yep. I say "hey Bug" and she looks at me. I think it's to see if she hearing properly which I think they should specify, don't you?

Good Heavens, I hope the neighbors enjoy the Wonder Pets, because it's playing at mach volume.

ok, wait, I'm back. I was gone. I'm sure you all noticed, but I'm here now, so it's ok. Someone had knocked at the door. After my initial panic over the state of the house, and wondering why they were knocking at the laundry room door instead of the front door (which I wouldn't have heard anyway...) I discovered that it was the mail lady. With a birthday package for Buttercup. Her Nana, my husbands mom, had sent and the other B's goodies. (translation: books) And added to Buttercup's Precious Moments collection, which Nana started for her when she was born. Buttercup loves it so she looks forward to seeing what she got. I was then promptly reminded that we promised to take Buttercup to get her ears pierced tomorrow after school. I was sure she had forgotten about it (I sure had) but I guess not. My husband will be so happy. (that sarcasm came through alright, didn't it?)

Has anyone ever wondering why kids ask for things for Christmas and then don't seem to want them anymore? (ok, that's a little off subject, but I'm still talking about books) Boudreaux was begging for a book series, which he got. Which are still unread. (which I don't get. sorry, I had to throw in another "which")

I was going to go on but I just looked over at the girls and noticed that Bug had decided to dump out a bowl of pretzels. (a bowl of pretzels? I don't remember getting the kids a bowl of pretzels...) So now there is salt and pretzel dust all over the little tiny table between our couch recliners. So I'm off to clean that up. Yay me. (again, did the sarcasm come through?)

If you didn't cheer that this post was over you get double points. But everyone gets points just for showing up. and now I'm buzzing off. (HA!)

Oooh! What exactly is a "Mini Boden"? I have a tiny, yet inviting catalouge that came in the mail... I keep thinking I was supposed to be doing something else...

Buzz Buzz

Dear those of you who have bravely chosen to read my blog. Or my attempt at a blog. Or whatever...:
I am a blog newbie. Therefore, this may suck. It's actual probable, but if you stick with me, I will award you points. These points are redeemable for... well, for nothing of real value. But if you get the most, you win. And you are the Winner. So there's a goal, I guess, and goals are important.

I suppose I should start off by introducing myself. I'm Paige. I'm married and I have 3 kids. Boudreaux, who will be 8 in February and is the lone boy among his siblings, Buttercup, who just turned 6, and Bug, aka Buglet or BugNut or whatever else I may come up with on the fly, who is 18 months. I am a stay at home mom, hence the title of my blog. (see? clever aren't I? and if you agreed, you get a point. This point system could prove lucrative.) I'm also not the greatest speller. That's just a warning.

I had a job. I actually went to school and got a degree in something that I loved. All that school for a piece of paper that I rarely look at and don't use. Sigh. But it was fun, and I am still interested in it. I just don't DO it. Instead, I stay home and ferry the oldest two B's to and from school and chase the littlest one around the house, desperately trying to convince her it's naptime. That rarely works, in case you're wondering. Yet, I continue to attempt it on the off chance it works.

Eventually I'll get pictures up. I had big plans to have a profile picture. I even hit "browse" on the little 'post a picture' thing. Then I remembered that this is a new computer. And I'm not sure where the pictures are. I know they are here. (ok, I HOPE they are here...) but I don't know how to find them. So I'm pictureless for now. (I'm also a word-maker-upper and not overly computer savvy. Obviously!) But if you hang with me until I get pictures up, you'll get more points. Until then, just imagine that I'm a svelte brunette. Then try not to be disappointed when the pictures are actually posted. But I do have cute kids. One of which is currently crawling across the dining room table, so excuse me for a moment....

I'll get around to introducing each of my B's in their very own post, which I'm sure they will love, if I ever tell them about it. So hang with me, group. I'll get the hang of this blog thing. but until then you can thank my friend for introducing me to this new and exciting virtual world. (is that what this is? A virtual world? Because that's what I'm calling it from now on..) She has an awesome blog, right over there. (did you look? Points for those of you who actually looked to the side of your screen.) While I try to figure out the ins and outs of blogging, you can check hers out.. But I don't know how to send you there. So good luck with that. (but if you find it... that's right... more points.) and.... go!

oh. and thanks for giving me a shot. Stay tuned, I'm actually quite engaging. Insert smiley face here. I'd do the : ) thing, but I don't know if that's blog/virtual world acceptable.