2010 "Christmas Card"

WD holds the ornament he picked out for our 2010 Christmas tree - a silver bird.

Well - as most of you may have noticed I did NOT write a Christmas letter this year. I barely managed to get any cards out. Some of you got Thanksgiving cards, some of you got Christmas cards, and those of you who didn't get any cards...I'm sorry. I promise you it doesn't mean that I weren't thought of. Here's an update and a blog-version of 2010 in the Forsythe-Kluver household.

The Dogs -

I haven't mentioned the pups in some time, so I'll start with them. Poor Raspberry and Buddy Too have taken such a back seat to everything else. Raspberry has battled ear infections all year off and on, and is now 6 years old - but my math must be off. She has to be older than that. hmm... And Buddy Too - he is aging gracefully as well. He's estimated to be roughly the same age as Berry but he's graying a bit more in the face, and this year has some growths that we are concerned about. We drag our feet getting them removed and checked for fear we don't want to know what they are. Raspberry is still all mine, and Buddy Too is all Dave's. You should see them try to weasel in when WD is on our laps, they are gentle, but certainly not shy about where they want to be.

Raspberry & Buddy Too keep WD company when he's not feeling well.

William -

WD turns 3 in February and is all attitude. He has been growing like a weed and we no longer have concerns about his language skills (see the Williamism posts). I'd like to get him into 3 year old preschool but transportation to and from the sitter, plus the cost of it in addition to the sitter, just aren't feasible. I think he will do just fine waiting until he's 4 anyway.

WD got to know some cousins he's never met on vacation, and do so many fun things. Here he is with his cousin Daimon (who lives in CA), as Daimon shows off his very first catch!

WD and his cousin Caeden enjoy a boat ride at the Lake of the Ozarks.

WD in his new Christmas apron. He likes to help Mama cook in the kitchen and now he has his very own apron. Right after I took this he ran around saying "You can't catch me - I the gingerbread boy!"

Dave -

Dave is well. He occasionally looks for other jobs but rarely finds anything he's very interested in, and places he is interested in aren't hiring. He did get some new toys to play with, a compound bow for Christmas last year, and a new Benelli shotgun for his birthday. Now if he could just get out and use them. My school schedule and William don't really allow much of that. Most recently he purchased a contractor-grade table saw, then got attachments for Christmas. If he had much time to play in his wood shop he'd find that his toys have outgrown his space and I'd lose my laundry area. Maybe keeping him busy is a good thing so we can continue to have clean clothes. ???

Dave and WD reading a library book together.


Amy -

I've had a busy year. I was officially admitted into the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Iowa last spring. I had been taking classes but as a non-admitted student until this past September. I started taking more classes per semester, and they started charging me tuition (that's the biggest bummer). I also changed jobs with this admission. My previous job as a gambling counselor (at MECCA) couldn't/wouldn't accommodate my class schedule needs, so I resigned. My company said they didn't see that coming [really?] and scrambled to work with me. The arrangement that worked out was a residential substance (and gambling) counselor position (still at MECCA). I work a block from where I used to with a slightly different clientele. I really like it. Not sure if it's the job I like so much as the change (I had been doing gambling counseling for almost 5 years by that point). On break for winter I'm full of anxious energy - not sure what to do with myself. I'm sure I'll just learn to relax as the spring semester will start. Only 3.5 more years left, I'm sure it will fly by.

Not my best pic - but pretty natural huh? Lots of laughs on vacation this summer.

Other things that came up for our family involved my health. While WD had his share of minor illnesses, I had a few bigger issues. In April I had 5 moles removed, 4 from my face and mostly for cosmetic/OCD purposes. Turns out one of them was skin cancer! Talk about a shocker! But all went well and I started to be a bit more of a sun-screen Nazi to family and friends - complete with several hats that are big enough for flight! Then over the summer I started having increasing spells of light-headedness. The final straw came when I nearly blacked out driving. I ended up getting a referral to a the Iowa Heart Center, and after a barrage of tests I was diagnosed with Dysautonomia. It's not a heart condition at all (but some with it do have heart problems), it's a malfunction of my central nervous system. When your blood pressure would rise, mine can fall. Or when your heart rate would increase, mine may not. It's believed that I have had it all my life, as it can essentially go in a "remission". This explains my syncope spells in high school, and I believe that my pregnancy with WD triggered it into activity as the symptoms had been increasing since then, including inability to tolerate heat (even from a hot shower) and "poor exercise tolerance (yeah - you read right). I was happy to have some answers as to why I was feeling the way I was, including why I went from running 5ks and putting in hours in the yard in the summer to feeling so sick at just the thought of it. My system was sabotaging me. I now manage it with medication, and trying to get decent sleep and limit my caffeine (but grad school and parenthood don't help me with those). I have good days and not so good days, but I do overall feel better. Then just last week I went to my dermatologist to have a standard mole-check, and to check my skin cancer site as it had been changing. Turns out they believe my cancer is back and I am scheduled for a surgical procedure and repair in early February. While it is cancer - it's slow growing so no need for immediate alarm. But I will put a plug in to all my family and friends who are sun-worshipers... WATCH OUT!!!

So as well all are into 2011 now that I'm finally going to post this (I started it way back in 2010), let's all be safe, count our blessings and remember to have a little fun while we're here! (This is WD Christmas Eve sledding in our yard. He came to an abrupt stop at the end when he crashed into me blocking him from going into the timber. Hardest hit I've taken since rugby!)

Take care & God bless!
The Kluvers

Playing Catch-up

So I'm perpetually playing catch-up these days. For example - I'm suppose to be studying right now - but instead I'm updating you all on our lives. So that's totally my choice - I know this. I'm really digging into the psychology behind my procrastination lately - not that it's helping me but I'm getting to know it really well.

Anyway - onto our lives. Not much really new. I'm working more hours at work than I have since CIGTP, the job I had about 4 years ago. Even thought I'm working long hours I'm loving my job. Big change of pace (residential substance & gambling treatment when I used to be at out-patient where about 20% of the clients didn't show). And school is challenging but with help and support from my family I was able to get 100% on my midterm exam in Social Work Policy & Practice! That was a big boost that I needed as I just don't think I do well in that class. A lot of governmental & legislative stuff - and that's just tough for me to grasp - but apparently I'm getting some of it.

William is doing well. Here he is in his bibs from Grandma Karyn - and I'll be darned if I could get him to stand with his back to the cupboards - he had to stand like this - as if he were modeling. It was hilarious and adorable!

Next poster child for Calvin Klein.

So WD is pretty-much potty trained! I say this as we had an accident today - but they are getting fewer and farther between. He still wears a diaper to nap and sleep in, but other than that - he likes being "a big boy" and using "the big boy potty". His language skills are flourishing as well. He tells us all sorts of stuff that shocks us almost daily. Most are good (he has his own knock-knock joke but it's not really a joke) and some make me cringe (Mama you shut upa you mouth). Guess parenthood is taking the good with the bad.

Dave is doing well too. He is still working from home, and does SO MUCH to help with WD so that I can work and go to class. He's a total blessing in our lives! He recently had a birthday as you can hopefully see in the video below. (If no video to watch - I didn't have luck uploading it - sorry.)

Recently, while on a play date at Bass Pro Shop with WD (so that I could study), Dave treated himself to a new toy with his birthday money. I knew they weren't just going there so WD could "see the fish" and that Dave wouldn't be coming home empty handed. He purchased a new shotgun. He said his old one was in bad shape. So now I'm trying to get him out of the house on occasion to play with this new toy. Anyone interested in getting out with him, just call him!

PS - he also has a compound bow and target he doesn't get to play with much if you'd prefer to get together for that.

WD's speech update.

WD has been seeing the AEA specialists for speech since he was just older than 18 months. Well - we have all decided it's really pointless. Anyone who has interacted with him lately can tell you there is absolutely nothing wrong with his verbal ability. We asked the AEA to close out their file on him, and they agreed. While the program was free - why waste it on a child who doesn't need services? While they were here this week to close things out, he told them that "My mama had owies on her body." This was in reference to when I had to wear the heart monitor - I told him the electrode patches were owies, so he wouldn't try to rip them off by the cords. They got a kick out of that. Then tonight on the way to the grocery store he begged and begged "I want to go to the toy store Mama & Daddy!" as we passed by Toys-R-Us. I accused Dave of taking him there without me - as I just couldn't believe he would know what that store was any other way! Guess mom is right when she says "He's no dummy!"

Ozarks - Kluver Vacation 2010

The last week of July we packed up the car and headed south to the Lake of the Ozarks, staying in Linn Creek, just a few minutes from Osage Beach, MO. (Buddy & Raspberry spent the week with Grandma Karyn & Grandpa Ray.) It was a long car ride (longer coming home) but it was so worth it.
The house we stayed in, with 8 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a game room, a hot tub (which we never used) all on 3 levels (4 if you count walking down to the water.

Our room. WD checks out the view.

The view from our room. Not too shabby, but being out there was actually way better.

"The Kluver Kids" - Tricia, Cindy, Dave and Kathy.

SMORES TIME!!! Believe it or not - this is a smile! He was trying to say "CHEESE".

Monkey See and Monkey Do as I began calling them. William Duaine and his cousin who's just
weeks younger, Caeden Jennings Neumann, whom we don't see as much as we'd like since he lives in Arizona.

Warren, Caeden, Dave and William tubing.

Each night a different family made dinner. Wednesday night was Mexican Night with Amy & Dave. And I must say... We Rocked it!!! Fajitas (shrimp, chicken, and steak), black beans, refried beans, chips, quaso, tons of salsa options, lime, and cilantro! Oh - and with assistance from Bob & Cindy - MARGARITAS!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it now!


Don & Caroline and all the grandkids (and 2 great grandkids).

May 2010 (Part 1) - AKA: Glad we bought him a bed & Time with Uncle Mike

This first part is the "SURE GLAD WE GOT HIM A BED". As you will see - I spend a chunk of time just putting him back into his toddler bed - as he seems to prefer the floor. It all started at the beginning of May, shortly after we switched to a toddler bed (as he had been climbing out of his crib and we worried about safety). I went in one night to check on him to find him MISSING! And he wasn't under the crib sheet this time, he was in the corner of the room asleep behind the glider (see the first picture below). Scared the begeebers out of me at first! Now it's all too common.

By the vent once.

By the vent a 2nd time.

I've also found him right behind his door many times - makes it interesting trying to get inside his room. "Inside his room?" you might be asking, "Let sleeping toddlers lie." Well - that might be good but I'm an OCD-MOMMY - I have to go in, make sure he's covered, possibly remove the night-light (so it stays darker and he might sleep until at least 7am), and to make sure he's still breathing. Remember - this is the blog of first-timers! ;-)

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Then there was the time Uncle Mike visited from North Carolina. While William doesn't see Uncle Mike often, he sure LOVES when he does get to see him.

HUG!!!

Such a cheese-ball! But Uncle Mike is eating it up.

Play time!

Uncle Mike - it's almost bedtime - you're not suppose to be getting him wound up!!

WD's look is one of concentration. He's trying to get a group-hug going with Uncle Mike and Uncle Rob, squeezing them into the picture.

Lots of Big New lately

Sorry not much posted lately - but there's been a lot going on for us that's for sure.

I had a final recently and ended another class for graduate school (my 2nd class as a non-admitted student). Things went well - I think I should end with another A.

Next was getting some moles removed. 5 total, 4 on my face, all of which were either cosmetic or necessary as my OCD didn't allow me to leave them alone. That was interesting, as I went to a plastic surgeon to hopefully avoid scarring and I totally didn't realize what I was in for (my only previous mole removal was a "scraping" ending in a band-aid). I got shots in every location (including the rim of my eye-lid) this mixed with my nerves, making me very hot and nauseated. I thought I might get sick on the surgeon! When it was all said and done I ended up with 12 stitches in my face, and 5 in my leg. A LOT more than I thought I was going to end up with (he never mentioned stitches at all and I never realized it would result in any).

When I got home that day I had news in the mail that I had officially been accepted into the University of Iowa's Masters in Social Work Graduate Program (after a long application and writing process). I should have been really excited but I think I was just drained from the procedure and also a little let down that the back-up plan I'd created wasn't going to come to fruition. I'm more excited and optimistic now.

While WD has been in his toddler bed for a while now and doesn't get out as much at night, he has mastered the ability to play for hours in it without going to sleep. He didn't go to be last night until about 10:05! Then he was up at 6:45am (when usually we like him to be asleep by 8:15pm). This has created a temperamental toddler (and not just from his age but from lack of sleep). At least he cute...

Then last Friday (4/16) I had my follow-up appointment at the plastic surgeon's office where I was to get my stitches out (YEA!). Well - he stopped in the room long enough to tell me that it was a good thing I came in as one of the moles (the one over my right eye) wasn't a cyst but was skin cancer.

He said he's send the nurse in to remove my stitches and then he left. HUH?!?!? Yeah - that was it. Talk about him not SENSING OTHER'S NEEDS!!! Wow - thank goodness for the nurse as she told me more about it. It was Basal Cell Carcinoma, that they had clean margins so they were confident it was all contained in the tissue they removed (from my eyebrow). She told me that this would make me more apt to develop further skin cancer in the future as compared to someone who has never had skin cancer before.

In shock I went right to Walgreen's and got Mederma for my scars and high SPF sunblock for all over. I called Dave and he was just as shocked as I was, but it apparently has made him take a look at his behaviors as well as we are now in the market for big-brimmed hats for the entire family.

God Bless my cousin Kristan, she found out and told me under no circumstances am I allowed to use her tanning bed ever again. :-) Thanks Kristan - but even more so - I hope this gets you (and Cass and Brenna) to take a look at your behaviors! I haven't used a tanning bed regularly for at least 6 years, and I have been more diligent with sunscreen in the last 2-3 years. I even wear makeup with SPF 15-25 and use a moisturizer with SPF 15-25 in it. This cancerous spot I have had for less than 6 months! I just thought it was an ingrown hair from having my eyebrows waxed, but it wouldn't go away and I couldn't leave it alone. That's the only reason I wanted to have it removed - so that I didn't keep picking at it. Neither my GP or the Plastic surgeon thought anything of it, even saying that it could be a cyst.

Clearly if it can happen to me - it can happen to anyone - ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WHO TANS REGULARLY!!! So please be careful and cover up!!!

So yeah - we've been a little busy - or at least preoccupied. Hopefully things will be calmer this summer... yeah right.

Pasty. It's the new black... at least for us.

the Cosgrove Christmas

We were at my parent's this weekend again for the "Cosgrove Christmas" which isn't much about Christmas anymore as it is about getting together with all our cousins for something once a year that's not a funeral or a wedding. It's potluck so you can always count on good food and lots of laughter. This year I apparently didn't use my camera much as these 2 pics are the only ones I got (plus video posted below - which I'm not sure anyone can view).
Here, Grandma Karyn helps WD with his "date" - a WD-sized doll that he fell in love with, kissing and dancing with.

WD also enjoyed the big semi-truck Grandpa Ray saved for him. WD enjoyed stuffing beanie babies in it, and when he was done with that he found that he could also ride around on it. He gets this but you put him on something made for him to scoot around on and he doesn't get that?!?

Thanks to Sut and Row there was a rousing Spoons Tournament going. They played with Rob, Brenna, Cassie, Grandma Karyn, Aunt Amy and even Aunt Gene. And let me tell you - watching (or even hearing) Aunt Gene play made everyone's day!!! Competitive - yes. A hoot - yes. Loud - YES!!! OMGosh - I think the neighbors heard her! But it was a great time (sorry no pics of that).

WD's First Crush

The video speaks for itself! Don't you love it?

Mama who?

Well - Mama is SO last year and Dada is SO 2010. WD can't seem to get enough of Dada. And I may be exaggerating a little with him not wanting Mama, but he sure prefers Dad when given the choice. He stands at the top of our stairs and hollers for Dada over and over until he gets Dada to come out of the office (remember - Dave works from home). It was cute at first, but now it's annoying to Dave when he's trying to work and I'm trying to get WD to eat breakfast, get dressed, or get out the door in the morning. Oh well. I think overall Dave is eating it up!

I got a water softener for Christmas so Dave was hooking up the filtration unit to the kitchen sink (it's not good to drink soft water). WD decided he needed to see what Dada was looking at.

Here he is going right along with whatever Dada does.

It's just too cute though - isn't it???