The Mac 5

Kindergarten Updates

2011-09-01T21:19:00.002-04:00

Kindergarten was a big step for Trey and for me. Probably more for me. Trey went to school all day last year, going to two preschools. However, these days, it seems like Kindergarten is the new 1st grade and there are a lot more expectations from this age group. Trey is handling the transition to "seatwork", etc a lot better than I had thought he would. I met with his teacher and resource teacher today for an hour to talk about Trey and the things that I was afraid were not happening in the classroom. Trey's teacher used to be a special education teacher and I thought she would be so good for him. I seriously started having my doubts after I had emailed her three times before getting back a response. Our school system is supposed to have a rule of 24 hours to return contact. That was not happening, so I had to cc the principal on the last two to get a response. I just felt like I wasn't in the "loop" as to what was going on with him in the classroom. He was having some behavior issues (most minor, some not so minor) and I was really concerned that he was not getting to be successful and that his modifications for the IEP were not being met. After meeting with the teacher and resource teacher, I feel a little better. At least I feel better that I am not thinking of pulling him from the school. I like our home school, but I know I also need to do what is best for Trey. I hope I didn't come across as "that mom" who all teachers dread see walking into the building....but I hope she knows I will become "her" if it means doing whatever I need to do for my son. For now, I am his voice.

5 Year Check up

2011-09-01T21:09:00.002-04:00

Trey had his 5 year check up on Tuesday...and yes, I am just now getting around to posting about it....it has been that kind of week! Trey weighed in at 43 pounds (only 2 lbs up from last year!) and was 46" tall! He is basically a skinny, muscular boy! He did great....luckily no shots, only the flu mist, which he handles really well!

The down side to this visit was his doctor. There are many in this practice and we like most of them. I will be scratching this one off my list, however. When discussing Trey's diagnosis from last year of ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, he responded with "that is a made up diagnosis" (in reference to SPD). I was taken aback. At first, I didn't know what to say. Then I responded with what I did for a living and how I see kids like Trey all the time in my classroom. I really wanted to tell him to come spend a few hours at my house and then tell me it doesn't exist. I was really shocked that he just flat out said what he thought...without disregard to my own personal opinion. I guess he thought since he was the doctor, that he knew it all. I have news for him!

At least I know my little guy is growing and, overall, is healthy and happy. That is what matters most. :)

The First Day of School

2011-08-11T17:37:00.003-04:00

Today was our first day of school. A new year, with all sorts of new and exciting things to come. I was a nervous wreck all day, waiting to hear how Trey liked it. He did great....after I left and he warmed up to his surroundings. He was not very happy this morning and told me he did not want to go to school. I think (HOPE!!) tomorrow will be easier!
This was the only shot I could get Trey to smile in....he was not excited about today.
My high schooler. Wow...I want to cry just reading those words. It was hard to drop her off today. Harder than I thought.
Here is my very unhappy Kindergartener. He had a great day, but he definitely did not want to go. He was very apprehensive about it and would have rather gone to my meeting!
My big 4th grader. Hard to believe that in two short years, she will be in middle school. I am so glad she is with her brother for two years. I know he likes that.

Trey is Five!!

2011-08-02T21:31:00.003-04:00

Trey turned 5 this past week. We had two birthday parties (family and friend) and he pretty much lived his birthday for over a week! He is very excited about being 5 and tells me he is bigger because his ears are bigger. Can't fight that logic! I am a little sad my BABY is going to school this year. I have no little ones anymore. Lily tells me I can always have another. I tell her that she thinks that sounds good, but only in theory. In reality, she would hate the crying, nap times, etc. I tell her to wait....Aunt Katie is next in line to have babies. :) Enjoy the slide show....

Another free photo slideshow by Smilebox

Busy, Busy, Busy.....

2011-08-02T21:26:00.002-04:00

We have been busy...even though summer is the time to relax. Meghan went from camp to a mission trip to band camp. She has finished two weeks of all day band camp and is now on to half days until school starts....which is next week!!! I can't believe our summer is just about over. I am sad to lose the ability to sleep in and do pretty much whatever we want, but I also know that we have desperately missed the routine...especially Trey. He alternates days of good with more days of bad (meltdowns over the littlest things). I think he is anxious to start school. While Meghan has been at band camp, we have gone to the pool andTrey and Lily have gone with me to help set up my classroom at my new school. I love it and things are coming together, slowly. I am anxious to be able to get it all complete. I am officially on the school clock as of next Tuesday. :( So long, summer!

Change is good....right?

2011-07-21T08:06:00.003-04:00

We had big decisions to make in our family recently. Daniel was presented with the opportunity (I say that with a smirk*) to go on an agricultural mission to Afghanistan. Daniel and I had to decide pretty quickly if this was something I was willing to do. Notice the "I" part. I had a hard time the last time he went overseas. The girls were young and I felt very much alone, especially given where we lived. It was the hardest 13 months I have ever experienced and I REALLY don't want to do it again. Having said that, I realize that I married a military guy. His heart is in the military and it is what makes him him. Knowing that, and knowing that I DID survive and that their are many more resources out there for military families now, I agreed. He wanted to go because this mission was deemed "safe" (how safe can you be in Afghanistan??) and he knew when his unit is slotted to go in 2012/2013, he might be split from his unit b/c they are support. So he wanted to be able to choose. He put his name in the next day. This was statewide, so he was up against anyone else in the entire state that put in for this. We left it in God's hands. About a month later, we got the news. He was not chosen. I can honestly say I wanted to weep with joy. I didn't have to face deployment (yet). He was, however, chosen by his unit to replace a guy who did get picked to go. So starting in July, Daniel is now active duty for a year and a half. This has caused some juggling in our school routine (i.e. him putting the kids on the bus), but I think it is all going to work out. He is happy to be active and I am so so so happy he gets to stay home. God is good.

Four Medal Day

2011-07-06T10:39:00.004-04:00

Lily just recently competed in her 3rd Feis a couple of weekends ago. (I know...I am behind on posting this). She had such a great day! She placed 2nd in her Reel, 3rd in her Light Jig, 3rd in her Hornpipe, and 4th in her Treble Jig! What does all this mean, you ask? Well, Lily started out as an advanced beginner (she skipped the whole beginner phase b/c her coaches said she was better than that). She then dances each dance with sometimes up to 20 some girls (and sometimes boys). They dance 2 at a time in front of a judge. In advanced beginner, you must place in the top 3 to advance to the next level. At Lily's first Feis, she placed 3rd in her Light Jig, moving her up to novice in that dance. This Feis was her 3rd one and she is now novice in Light Jig, Hornpipe, and the Reel. Once she is completely novice (2 more dances to go!), she will be able to dance in a solo dress....which is BIG $$$$$. We are having to save up, needless to say. They can run up to $2500...of course, Lily won't be getting one that expensive. Once she is in novice, she must place 1st in her dances to move up to prizewinner. We have a long road, but Lily is an awesome dancer and has the drive!

Lily and her friend, Alison

Happy 4th!

2011-07-06T10:12:00.003-04:00

We headed to a nearby small town for their annual 4th of July parade. We love this parade because it is small, fun, has lots of candy, and a fun lawnmower brigade!

Waiting for the parade to start with friends and family.

Attempting to hide from the kids in the parade with super soakers!~

Showing off some of the candy collected during the parade!

Afterwards, we headed back to our downtown for festivities there and walked around a bit. We got some kettle corn for the fireworks that night and even played in the fountain for a bit.

Trey just can't help but get wet!

Lily too!

Hope everyone had a Happy Independence Day!

A Little Insight

2011-06-28T14:18:00.004-04:00

I saw this on another blog that I read. I have to say when I read it, all I could think was, "This is me!". I really do see this on a regular basis...so much so that it makes it hard to go out sometimes. You just never know what will trigger the meltdown. Not sure if its more the ADHD or the Sensory Processing Disorder, but whatever it is, I wish it could be fixed with a snap of your fingers.

Good afternoon, and welcome to “ADHD Theater.” Today we will watch a familiar scene entitled, “The ADHD Train Wreck.” Moms of ADHD children everywhere have lived out this scenario countless times. Let’s begin…

SETTING: A playground

CHARACTERS: ADHD Mom, ADHD Kid, Playground Kids, Other Parents

TIME: All too often

ADHD Mom is sitting on a park bench with the Other Parents. The Other Parents are enjoying a beautiful day at the park, watching their children play kickball on the playground. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, healthy snacks are readily available and everyone is having a pretty good hair day. However, ADHD Mom is unable to relax and enjoy herself. This is because she is intensely watching the kickball game, while pretending to carry on a conversation with the Other Parents. She watches one of the Playground Kids roll the ball to her son, and he kicks the ball out of bounds. She begins to sweat and feel nervous as she watches the scene begin to unfold in front of her.

Playground Kids: Out of bounds! That ball was out of bounds!

ADHD Kid immediately gets upset, begins stomping and shouting on the playing field. The hair on the back of ADHD Mom’s neck stands up, and she finds herself sitting up in her chair. She is thinking, “Oh no. Please don’t do this. Don’t embarrass yourself. Don’t embarrass me. Not now. Not here… Oh crap, here it comes...”

ADHD Kid: NO, IT WASN’T!! IT WASN’T!! IT WASN’T OUT OF BOUNDS! I WANT A DO OVER!!

Playground Kids: The ball was out of bounds, dude! Get over it! Let’s get on with the game.

ADHD Kid: NO IT WASN’T! YOU GUYS ARE CHEATING! I WANT ANOTHER TURN! NOW!!! AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

ADHD Mom feels the white hot glare of the Other Parents. She thinks, “Should I pretend like I do not know who the yelling kid belongs to? ” She wonders if she should explain to the Other Parents that her son has ADHD and sometimes has trouble calming down. She worries that the Other Parents will just think she is making excuses for her poor parenting and her son’s bad behavior, so she freezes like a deer in the headlights.
After a few minutes of watching in horror, she begins to formulate an exit plan from this “minor social derailment.” She hopes the plan will involve vanishing into thin air or using one of those memory-removal things on the Other Parents (you know, the flashy thing from the movie “Men In Black” when they wanted people to forget the things they’d seen and heard). After a few minutes of watching her son go downhill fast and realizing the Playground Kids were angry and quite tired of listening to him complain, she decides to remove him from the situation to prevent further damage.
With a delicate, kind voice, ADHD Mom lets her son know that it is time to take a break.

ADHD Mom: Son, you seem really upset. I think it’s time to take a break. I will give you two choices, you can either take a break , relax beside me, or we can head home. It’s up to you.

ADHD Kid: NO! I DON’T WANT TO GO! THEY ARE CHEATING AT KICKBALL! I HATE THEM! AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Instead of deflating the situation, the “minor derailment” has escalated into an all-out ADHD Train Wreck, and wouldn’t you know it, the Other Parents and the Playground Kids have a front row seat to watch the action.
Surveying the wreckage in front of her, she feels stuck and confused. Does she grab his arm and drag him off the field? Does she do nothing and let him completely melt down? Which is worse, removing him, or letting him stay? Both choices will probably embarrass both of them even further. As the game of Operation states, “It takes a verrrrry steady hand.”
She decides to get him out of there, even if it involves dragging him out. She has realized that there is no way he can calm down anytime soon. Throwing a fit in the middle of the kickball field will not only be painful for both of them, it will give the Playground Kids and the Other Parents more evidence toward the opinion that they are both screwed-up people who should be avoided.
ADHD Mom and ADHD Kid return home feeling awful. The Playground Kids and the Other Parents resume their lovely afternoon, thankful that the Train Wreck is over.

THE END.

Kara Thompson is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Lenexa, Kansas. You can visit her website at www.karathompson.com, find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karatherapy, or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/karagthompson.

Katie and David's Wedding 6/18/11

2011-06-28T14:15:00.004-04:00

So here are some pictures that I took at the wedding. Uncle Bill has some better ones, but this gives you an idea of the overall wedding. It was a beautiful place and luckily the rain ended right before the nuptials. Enjoy!

Personalize a digital slideshow

Lily the Party Animal

2011-06-26T17:24:00.002-04:00

Lily had two birthday parties yesterday....needless to say it was a very busy day! She had a friend one at a local pool and then a family one at a nearby park. She had a great day!

Free picture slideshow made with Smilebox

My Lily Bug

2011-06-24T18:15:00.003-04:00

My Lily turned 9 on Wednesday. It is hard to believe she is almost in the double digits!!! She is quite the sweet girl. She is still very cuddly and loving, but also has a bit of a stubborn streak. Wonder who she got that from??? She loves to Irish dance and is really good at it for only having done it a little over a year. She loves school and LOVES to socialize....Lily gets calls all the time! It won't be long before its boys...YIKES! She wanted chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese for supper. We then met her cousins at Orange Leaf for YUMMY birthday dessert! Happy birthday to my Lily Bug!

(wedding pictures to be posted soon....lots to go through!)

What To Do?

2011-06-14T21:41:00.002-04:00

Have you ever had a problem that you just can't seem to figure out? That is me. Trey is having an issue that I just can't seem to figure out. I don't want to go into detail here just because I don't want to embarrass him, but I honestly don't know what to do about it. I have done some research online and it seems that this problem is something that is common in children with ADHD, especially in boys. I just can't seem to find any solution to the problem. It concerns me because he starts kindergarten in the Fall and I don't want him to deal with anything that might embarrass him. I guess if it gets worse, then I will talk with the pediatrician, but not sure what kind of help the doctor will be. I am so frustrated and I just hate that I do not know what to do or where to turn. I am not a fan of not being in control. :(

And the Stitches are OUT!

2011-06-10T22:19:00.003-04:00

Trey had his stitches taken out today and did such a great job! I (nor anyone else) had to hold him down. He laid down (after asking all kinds of questions) and let the nurse snip his "spiders" (that is what he called the black strings when he saw them in the mirror...said it looked like spider legs). She promised him nothing would hurt and she was right. I think it helps that he wasn't in any pain, unlike when he got the stitches. I am so proud of him! At least he won't be petrified to go to his 5 year check up in a couple of months!
Here is the brave boy with his RED crayon band-aid. He didn't cry at ALL!!!

Poor little guy had a tough day working up to his doctor's appointment. Captain Rex fell asleep on the way to supper tonight.

With his mask on....lol

We went for froyo to celebrate Trey's bravery in getting his stitches out. Some people might call it "bribery"....we call it reward! ;)

A Boy and his Dog

2011-06-09T19:00:00.006-04:00

I couldn't resist a shot of his boots...he is definitely a boot boy.

Chasing Molly in the front yard....LOTS OF GIGGLES!

Trey loves his Molly dog!

June 5

2011-06-08T10:04:00.003-04:00

We went to a friend's daughter's graduation party on Sunday. I was inside catching up with some old friends, when Meghan came inside and said Trey was bleeding. Daniel went out to get him and came in with his hand under Trey's chin....to catch the blood! Daniel had blood all over his arm, hands, etc. Trey's chin had a deep gash on it and would not stop bleeding. We knew he would need stitches....I really didn't want to deal with that because I KNEW Trey would not handle it well. He had been playing on a hammock swing and flipped out and fell on the concrete. He was screaming....he does not do well with any kind of boo-boo. So we got everyone loaded up into the car and headed to the ER. I took him back initially while Daniel waited in the waiting room with the girls. After they initially came in to just look, he was screaming again. I called Daniel to get him back there with me, just b/c I knew I couldn't do it alone. They had told me that he would need to be wrapped up like a mummy to keep his hands/arms/legs still. It took me, Daniel, two male nurses and a female nurse to hold him down while the doctor stitched him up. I had warned one of the nurses he was strong, but I don't think she really believed me until she was holding him down. She had to get one of the male nurses to trade places with her b/c he was wearing her out! He screamed the ENTIRE time. Nothing I could do/say/sing would console him. It was the most traumatic thing I (or him) have ever been through. I cried, he cried. It. Was. Awful. I hope to never experience that again. Unfortunately for me, he has to have the stitches out on Friday...and I am sure that will NOT be fun at all. In fact, I am dreading it. He is healing nicely, but his chin is quite sore. It is an ordeal to get him to let me change the band-aids. Ah, a day in the life of a kid with sensory issues....I just pray he never breaks a bone!

This is a picture of him right after it was over. The staff was so nice. They brought him stickers, a popsicle, and a toy car. All he really cared about was the popsicle....and getting the heck out of there!

Picture of the doctor's lovely handiwork. She was really good with Trey....even through all his screaming.

Last Day of School

2011-06-08T08:51:00.003-04:00

School is finally out for the summer! Our last day was June 3rd and ends a chapter in my work career. I will be moving to a new school being built closer to our house. It is 2 miles from my house vs 7.5 miles that I had been traveling. Plus, I will be closer to where Trey will be. I feel better about being closer to him as he starts Kindergarten. I am also now officially the mother of a high schooler. How the heck did that happen? I'm still 25, right? Wow....just the thought of her going to school with 17 and 18 year old boys is a little terrifying for me. I hope we are ready for this. Lily will be entering the 4th grade and is such a model student. She got straight A's and the super citizen award for her class for being so responsible and always doing the right thing. We are very proud! I have finished cleaning out my room, so today is my official first day of summer vacation. Looking forward to lots of pool time!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-08T08:48:00.004-04:00

We went to Memphis to visit with my dad over Memorial Day weekend. We also went to let Lily compete in the Memphis Feis. My dad was excited to get to see Lily dance. She didn't place in any of her dances, but she made a new friend and was very close in scoring to the ones that did place! We had a great time visiting with my dad....just wished we lived closer!

Trey's Field Trip

2011-05-22T09:10:00.004-04:00

Trey recently had a field trip with his private preschool. He had a blast! It was a place that was made for preschoolers with a giant sand pit, outdoor and indoor playground, trolley they could ride on a track, dress up stations, water play, etc etc. Very cute place.....and the price was excellent!

Trey's Field Trip - how to create a free slideshow

Meghan

2011-05-22T09:06:00.002-04:00

Meghan went to her appointment at a Children's Hospital for a 6 month check on her scoliosis. It has not changed much (which is great!) and she doesn't have to come back for a year! It was a quick checkup compared to last time (we got there at 8:45 and left at 11) and we are thankful for such a good visit with the doctor. Now we continue to pray that things stay as they are and she has no problems!

Dancing Day

2011-05-22T09:03:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday, Lily and Meghan both had dancing all day. Lily went to her first feis and danced three of her dances. She placed 2nd in the Light Jig (which means she moves up a level in this dance...you have to place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd to move up) and 4th in her Reel. She did so awesome....I think I was the nervous one..she was just excited! After driving an hour 1/2 home, we went straight to Meghan's recital, of which she did 3 that day! My mom and sister came over to attend. My sister went with me to Lily's feis and then my mom stayed home with Trey and ran Meghan back and forth to dress rehearsal and the performances. It was a great day for dancing!

Easter

2011-05-22T08:31:00.002-04:00

This Easter, Daniel had to be away on his two weeks, but my sister, Amy came and stayed to spend Easter with us. We had lots of fun and the kids got lots of Aunt Amy love! The egg hunt had to be inside due to rain, but still lots of fun....and lots of candy!

Easter - how to create a free slideshow

Katie's Bridal Shower

2011-05-22T07:52:00.007-04:00

In March, Alyssa and I had a bridal shower for Katie. It was so much fun, planning the menu and being creative. I made the cupcake tower from a blog that Alyssa found. It was very easy and turned out so cute! You can read here about the food and some of the decorations. Check out the slideshow (make sure you turn up your sound....I added music)!

Bridal Shower - how to create a free slideshow

Performance Day!

2011-04-07T16:26:00.004-04:00

Lily and her Irish dance group performed in March and it was quite a big deal. They had an Irish band perform, so they were dancing to live music for some of the show. It was really a great night! Poor Lily started feeling bad half way through the show, but carried on and danced her heart out (if you look at the pictures after dancing, you can see in her eyes she didn't feel well). Afterwards, she went home and crashed with a 101 degree fever. She missed church the next day, still running a fever, and then missed school on Monday....her first day all year! She was so sad. :(

Equine Day with the Girl Scouts

2011-04-07T16:09:00.004-04:00

Lily and some of the girls in her Brownie troop travelled out to a local university to check out their equine center for the morning. They got to learn about different things, including horse care and they even made treats for the horses! She got to ride and trot on a horse, which she loved! It was a busy day!

Day of the Dance

2011-04-07T15:36:00.003-04:00

Lily's Irish dance troupe does a Day of the Dance around the schools in our county on St. Patrick's day to celebrate the Irish culture. They did a great job and everyone at Lily's school loved her and her friends! Below are the ones that go to her school. Lily brought home LOTS of "fan" letters from kids at school, including some of the teachers and the principal! She felt like a rock star!

Alison, Mara, Colin, and Lily

St. Patrick's Day Parade and Irish Festival

2011-04-07T14:59:00.004-04:00

Finally....some time to sit and actually catch up on the blog! Here are a few photos from our St. Patrick's Day Parade and Irish Festival. We had a gorgeous day!

Some of the older girls, including Lily's coach in the orange dress

Lily and Will

Lily is the second from the left.

Lily and Katelyn

What a cute Irish lass!

We Are Still Here...I Promise

2011-03-19T15:13:00.002-04:00

Ok...I know it has been forever since I last posted. What can I say? Life just seems to go so quickly and we have been so busy, for a number of reasons. In the past month, we had Valentine's Day...of which my wonderful husband made me homemade lava cakes....and by homemade, I mean from scratch, including the whipped cream and chocolate. They were soooo good! Then March 9th was my 37th birthday. Seems hard to believe that I am 37. I still feel 25 most of the time...just a little wiser lol. The rest of the time has been spent driving to and from dance classes and OT and girl scouts and youth.....etc, etc. OH...and I started my grad classes! Whew...we have been busy! Lily is currently getting ready for a show tonight for her Irish dance. It is a pretty big deal with a live band! I will update hopefully sometime this week with pictures from St. Patrick's Day parade. Stay tuned!!!

SPD

2011-02-12T16:04:00.002-05:00

As we are learning about SPD, aka sensory processing disorder, with Trey, we are discovering that he does nothing "by the book". He has many of the "symptoms", but his need for so much sensory intake makes it a daily struggle with him on meeting it. He seems to be okay at school (more in the afternoon, than morning). He is then, as we put it, "off the hook" at home. I was telling his OT yesterday about how, especially at bedtime, he is completely out of control...he is constantly struggling to pay attention to what is said to him, constantly in motion, and VERY easily frustrated. Something as simple as taking off his socks to get ready for bed, can have him kicking, crying, and lashing out. I struggle with bath time, haircuts, nail trims, putting pjs on, going to the bathroom, brushing teeth... just to name a few. He has so many OCD type things and is very inflexible about changes, which I hate to say as mom makes me not enjoy evenings until after he goes to bed. I hope that didn't make me sound like I don't love him. I love him soooo much, but I like him better during the day than at night. He did great at OT again yesterday....I told her how much better he did the last time, so she incorporated what he loves (spinning) and, again, he had a great night. If I could have/do whatever I wanted, I would build Trey a sensory gym room, where he could get all he needed everyday. It know it would make our lives somewhat smoother and his. I got some suggestions from my OT at school, but I need more. I'm going to have to go online to try and find some alternatives for him that will feed his sensory need, but not break the bank. Wish me luck.

Mixed Emotions

2011-02-06T07:12:00.004-05:00

Last night, Alyssa and I had planned this "goodbye" dinner for our father-in-law, Dan/Poppy. It was fun, as always, but kind of sad. He is leaving Monday for Florida....for good. He is officially retired. He has been here for 2 1/2 years finishing up his retirement. It was only supposed to be for a year, but....well...things just don't always go as planned. My mother-in-law, Carol/Mimi, has been in Florida by herself (well, not totally as my other BIL and two SIL live there, in the same neighborhood) and I know she has hated the separation. I would have. I have lived 13 months without my husband and it was not something I would care to ever repeat! However, from a completely selfish point of view, we are really going to miss him. Lily has this bond with her Poppy....she loves to snuggle up to him and just be close. He doesn't have to say anything....she doesn't have to say anything...she just loves being next to him...or sitting in his lap! In Trey's mind, Florida isn't that far...but I know once Poppy leaves, he will be asking when he is coming back and why we can't go to Florida....right now. Meghan will miss all the teasing Poppy does. I think the biggest fear I have for our family is that now that he is moving back, we just won't see them that often anymore. Life can get busy...as we all know...and expensive...so visits will be few and far between. That is where the selfish part comes in. I am so excited for Carol, but really sad at the same time. Change is hard...and we will adjust....again...but it still sucks.

Trey and the OT

2011-01-29T17:19:00.005-05:00

Trey had the best session he has ever had thus far on Friday. He goes to the OT every other Friday for an hour. I honestly wish it were more often, but I don't want to have to pay that often. We have been working with Ms. Crystal to figure out Trey's sensory input threshold. This boy can seriously take in a lot of input. He gets in this "cage" and is hooked up to bungee cords and an strap that you might wear when repelling. He is able to bounce and get a lot of sensory input this way. He has to work really hard at jumping onto a "log" and getting balls off from the sides. He also does this cool metronome thing that is supposed to help with his attention span. He is up to 2 minutes, but struggles to focus the entire time. He is making progress. He loves when she sets up an obstacle course in their gym, but this time he got to get on the platform swing and spin. She would spin him on all planes (laying down on his side, back, and stomach, and sitting up). She was afraid he might have too much input doing that and told me to watch for complaints of head hurting or stomach hurting. He had none! He amazed me by getting off the swing and just walking over to do some coloring....with no falling down from dizziness or anything! I got dizzy just watching him spin on that swing! He did some other things in the gym that he loves, like the scooter and the hammock swing. He was so good after we got home....so calm. We finally hit the threshold! I wish I could have that everyday. Most days it is a struggle once we get home....he is loud, running into things, craving input that I just can't seem to get into him to meet that threshold. I am hopeful that my OT at school can give me some suggestions to create our own sensory gym here at home. It would make our evening so much more enjoyable...and his too!

Snow Days

2011-01-29T17:17:00.002-05:00

We are now up to 7 snow days....same as last year and we are currently due to get out June 3rd....same as last year. However, we haven't even gotten into February yet. I don't mind a snow day, or even two, but I absolutely hate having one every week! All this snow makes me unmotivated and so blah! It got up to 50 today was so sunny! I have missed the sun! I long for summer!!!

Happy Birthday to Daniel!

2011-01-29T17:11:00.002-05:00

January 19th we celebrated Daniel's birthday. Since it was a Wednesday night, we weren't able to go out to eat, so I made Italian for supper and Meghan made her daddy a cookie cake...his favorite dessert! He got some new dress shoes and a movie. Meg did a great job on his cookie (made from scratch!)! Trey picked out the plates and wanted Daddy to have a Happy birthday sign like his cousins Wilson and Luke had. It was a good birthday! Happy birthday, babe!

New Years Eve 2010

2011-01-12T13:44:00.002-05:00

We went to Andy and Alyssa's house for a little NYE party. The kids did a great job playing well together (I think they all missed each other!). Meghan spent the night with her BFF, Katie, so it was just Lily and Trey. We toasted in the new year around 9 or so....just b/c the kids needed to go to bed. Sparkling grape juice for them and champagne for us. Happy New Year!

Our last day

2011-01-12T13:38:00.003-05:00

We were originally going to go home on Sunday, but with all the bad weather, even in Georgia, we postponed our trip until Monday....early Monday :(

So Sunday was spent shopping a little bit...we hit some sales and then found a cute little toy store that Mimi got Luke and Wilson's upcoming birthday presents at. Very unique store. Wish I had seen it before Christmas! They had had some good sales....oh well.

Our trip home was really uneventful. Poppy came back with us and the kids were really good the whole trip. It is always hard to leave family behind. I really hated that Trey was sad to leave Finley. Trey and Finley had really hit it off at Thanksgiving and I was so excited to see Trey have a friend to play with. They played so well together. Trey made the comment he wanted to go back to Florida because he missed Mimi and "Fimbley" as he calls Finley. Then he said if he stayed in FL, he would miss Wilson and Luke. Catch 22. Hard to have family separated. :(

All in all, a wonderful trip and wonderful memories made. However, always good to come home.

Florida, Day 6 & 7

2011-01-12T13:33:00.002-05:00

Okay...so I know I am a little behind....but better late than never, right? Christmas Eve, we just shopped and hung out, then went to church at 4:30. Afterwards we hung out at Jamie and Erin's house, munching on appetizers and the kids played and watched a Veggie Tale movie. On Christmas morning, Trey was up early, but I don't think he really realized it was Christmas day yet. He played on Mimi's computer (figured out how to turn it on and get on the Lego website to play games...on his own!). When I told him Santa came last night, he ran back to his room and said "Let me check!". I told him his presents were under the tree...and when he saw his Lego set, he ran to me saying "He got me the city!!". He then ran and told Poppy. It was too cute! We opened presents (all day...b/c Trey likes to play with everything). Poppy, Daniel, and I took the kids swimming later that afternoon. It was sooo warm out...I think we all actually got some sun!Mimi had dinner that night and had invited Erin's mom and dad as well as David's family. It was a lot of fun!

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Florida, Day 5

2010-12-29T09:02:00.003-05:00

Day 5 did not start off so well. Daniel was feeling really bad, so I took him to an UTC. Turns out he had a sinus infection (which he had already known) and got an antibiodic and some steriods. We had to wait an hour at the pharmacy! That was crazy and the longest I have ever waited! Once we got back to Mimi's, the girls were there (they stayed with Aunt Katie) and we were ready to head to Lakeland to pick up Nanny. We got to see her new apartment, which was really cute! She was proud to show it off! We then went to a park to walk around and let the kids get their wiggles out before heading on to Orlando. Mindy was hosting her annual Christmas Eve Eve party. It was lots of fun with good wine, good food, and catching up on family! We got to meet Anthony and Darius' older brother, Dean and Anthony's girlfriend. I sadly did not remember to take any pictures!!! I was so mad at myself, but at least we have the memories!

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Florida Day 4

2010-12-29T08:58:00.003-05:00

Today we decided to take it easy. We went shopping while Daddy played golf with Uncle Jimmy. The mall wasn't too crowded, so that was nice and found some good things on sale...which was even better! After shopping, we came back and the cousins (minus Rori) all went swimming with Mimi! It was about 76 degrees and they have an outdoor heated pool in their neighborhood. The kids swam for an hour and didn't want to leave! My kids are fish! I didn't go, so no pictures...this time! We just hung out and had supper at Mimi's. A very low key day, but also fun!

Florida Day 3

2010-12-29T08:54:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, we went to Busch Gardens for free! They have a program called Salute to Heroes and allows military members and their families to get complimentary tickets to their park once a year. We have used it before to go to Sea World (3 times) and to Busch Gardens (in 2005). It was such a beautiful day. The temps got into the 70's and it wasn't too crowded. It was nice to not be sweating and waiting in long lines! A great day!

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Florida trip, day 1 & 2

2010-12-29T08:21:00.003-05:00

After leaving Navarre, we traveled along the coast to get to Tampa. It was a nice drive and lots of pretty scenery. We got to Mimi's house just in time to see the first annual caroling on her street. There were four sets of carolers walking around the block. Everyone had luminaries set up lining the sidewalk and chairs set out to listen to them sing. It was about 40 degrees and it was funny to see all our Florida family bundled up with hats/gloves and my kids running around with lightweight coats on. We went to the power plant on Monday morning to see the manatees, which was so much fun. I couldn't believe how many there were! That night, we went to Christmas Lane, which was a walk around light display. They had lots of cute things....some snow (which was acutally soap), and a train for little ones to ride on.

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Side Trip in Florida!

2010-12-29T08:16:00.002-05:00

We left on Friday the 17th for Florida. We left earlier than planned just because the roads were kind of iffy. We didn't have any issues, thankfully, weather-wise. Our first stop was in Navarre, Florida to surprise Meghan with a visit to her friend, Jordan who had moved down there in June. It was so much fun to see the family and their new house/church. They even grilled out for us for lunch....which was sooo yummy! We went to a party at a church members house that evening and had lots of fun.

Snow Days 2 & 3....and a Christmas Party

2010-12-29T08:03:00.004-05:00

So the last week of school was very short. We ended up with a "mini" ice storm over night into Thursday, so no school. It was not fun to play out in, but Trey helped me shovel the ice off the drive way. They canceled school that night for Friday by about 5pm. Good thing too. Our roads in our neighborhood were awful! I was sad that for Lily...she was very sad to be missing her Christmas party, especially since we made our cute reindeer cookies. Trey's private preschool was only on a 2 hour delay. I called his teacher to make sure they were still having the party and she said they were. I didn't take him until about 10 and stayed the whole time. It was kind of nice to be a "mom" at a Christmas party and not the teacher! Trey got to play while they set up the party in the art room. He had a great time showing his sister around the room. They had food, and then opened a present (they had drawn names), and then had a cupcake and cookie after singing happy birthday to Jesus and blowing out a candle. He had a great time!

First Snow Day of the School Year

2010-12-13T13:04:00.003-05:00

Today was our first snow day of this school year. I was really hoping not to have one right before our Christmas break, but since I can't control it, I will enjoy it. I am getting caught up on laundry (which was much needed!) and the kids and I played outside for a little while. It was very cold! It was only about 16 degrees and with the wind blowing, who knows what the windchill was! BRRRRRR!!! Trey could talk of nothing else since getting up about 7am this morning. He couldn't wait to go outside and throw snowballs. Luckily, we found out last night that there was no school today, so I didn't have to wake up at my usual 5am to check for closings on the TV. We had some hot chocolate and a yummy Christmas cookie to help warm us back up and have snuggled down to watch Shrek the Final Chapter (Daniel and Meghan went to Redbox after the youth party last night). Happy Snow Day!

Annual Christmas Cookies

2010-12-13T12:47:00.002-05:00

Every year, we head over to Heather and Jimmy's house for our annual cookie making. This is such a fun tradition that was started back when Lily and Camden were just babies! This year, the kids were popping out cookies so fast....it won't be long until Heather and I can sit and let the kids be in charge of the whole thing! :) After making cookies, we opened presents, ate together, then frosted the cookies. The kids changed into pjs and played a game before we headed out to our annual trek to a local drive-thru Nativity. It really feels like Christmas once we have made our cookies!

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Christmas Variety Show/Pageant

2010-12-05T21:48:00.003-05:00

This year's variety show was a lot of fun...with many different acts! Lily did her Irish dance and I was so proud of her! She does not typically like to perform, especially alone, so this was a very huge deal for her! She really wanted to do it and I think I was nervous enough for the both of us! Meghan organized a flash dance to Do Re Mi at the end that was a total surprise to the audience. I knew about it because I danced in it too. Daniel didn't get any pictures of it though, but it was fun! After the variety show, our church always has a Christmas pageant telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Trey was very excited about being a sheep again this year. I actually got to sit in the audience for once! He did so good...I was proud of him. I wasn't sure how he would handle it just because he had been sitting for so long during the variety show and he needed some movement, but he went out there and did his sheep thing! It was a fun night, but I am so tired. After a busy weekend, I need one more day to recuperate! Only two more weeks of school!

Parade Time!

2010-12-05T21:38:00.003-05:00

Lily danced in a parade on Saturday night (we have had a very busy weekend!!). It was very cold, but they were half way through the parade, so it was quick. Afterwards they had an award banquet and Lily got an award for "highest on her toes"! She was excited and got a ribbon! It was a busy Saturday, but lots of fun!

Military Christmas Dinner

2010-12-05T21:33:00.003-05:00

Daniel's unit had their annual Christmas dinner this past Saturday. The kids had a great time...they had a room set up just for them with crafts, games, and movies. Of course, after dinner, Santa came with presents! Trey did a great job sitting on Santa's lap...but refused to smile! He commented how he wasn't the real Santa because he didn't get the Nemo phone he has been wanting! Needless to say, Christmas can't get here soon enough for him!

Thanksgiving....better late than never!

2010-12-05T21:19:00.002-05:00

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Thanksgiving this year was held at Alyssa and Andy's house...which I loved better than being at the church. It just seemed more homey and comfortable. The kids all played so well together...which was huge! We had a great time!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-14T09:13:00.001-05:00

At least I got this posted before Thanksgiving!

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Trey's Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

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Updates

2010-11-14T08:40:00.002-05:00

Well since I have been having issues with the blog...I have a lot to catch up on!

Meghan: At her 13 year check-up, it was discovered that Meghan had some curvature to her spine. The doctor said we needed an x-ray and depending on what that said she could make a decision on where to go next. The x-ray measured her upper curve at 15 degrees and lower curve at 26 degrees, which anything over 20 is sent to an orthopedic doctor. Luckily we live where there is a great place for children needing orthopedic care. We went to that appointment not knowing what to expect, but hoping for the best. They took another x-ray and measured her lower back at 40 degrees. I was alarmed, but the dr didn't seem to be. He said she was almost finished with her big growth spurt (they took x-rays of her left hand to check growth plates), so that should be to her benefit. A brace is not an option as it won't correct the curve. We won't be able to correct it without surgery. Right now she is not bothered by it and is able to take dance and run track. If any of that changes, we are to take her back asap, but until then we go back in 6 months to see if there are any significant changes. Academically, Meghan is doing AWESOME! We are so proud of her...not only did she get straight A's, but she also got distinguished on all three areas tested in 7th grade spring testing....including the highest score you can get in math!!!! Way to go Meghan!!

Lily: My little Irish dancer is picking up on things sooo quickly that the coaches talk about how good she is at the monthly board meetings. She absolutely loves it and I guess we will need to build her a dance floor downstairs next :) Academically, Lily is doing AWESOME as well!!! At her parent teacher conference, we were told how much Mrs. H loves her and that Lily is reading on a 6th grade level and doing 4th grade work for math. We are so proud of our Lilybug!

Trey: Where to start. Academically Trey is off the charts...he counts to 40, recognizes numbers, knows all his letters/sounds, and is starting to read some words (Mommy is trying to work with him on this). He still exhibits some social issues as well as some sensory. The psychologist gave him the diagnosis of ADHD-combination type (meaning hyperactivity and inattention). We are not going the medication route b/c we don't think meds are good at this age and we felt he had some other issues as well. The dr also recommended he be evaluated by an OT for SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). I began reading a book titled "Sensational Kids" that talked about how SPD and ADHD overlap in so many areas. I felt Trey fell into this category...meaning we needed to treat both to get good results. The OT at school evaluated him as well as an outside agency. The school gave him the diagnosis of SPD and we are waiting on the report from the outside agency. I see more sensory in him all the time. It is a constant struggle at our house and is going to take some patience (mainly for me...lol). I just want to help him be as successful as he can in all the he does. More later.........

Fall break trip to Pittsburgh

2010-11-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

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Dancing for the World

2010-10-23T09:16:00.003-04:00

Lily, with her Irish dance group, were able to perform in front of hundreds of people at the WEG 2010. They did us proud with 2 performances and people literally from all over the world were watching! It was exciting and we were so proud of her! She is the one in the white shirt/plaid skirt with the blonde bouncy curls!

Where have we been?

2010-10-23T09:15:00.002-04:00

We have been M.I.A. for almost a month, but so much has gone on! It may take me most of the weekend to complete the posts, but just be patient!

Meghan

2010-09-23T18:06:00.005-04:00

Meghan and a few of her friends at her birthday sleepover a few weeks ago.

Consultation

2010-09-07T14:26:00.002-04:00

I had the consultation with a psychologist for Trey today. Overall, I feel it went really well. I liked the psychologist and she asked LOTS of questions.....very thorough. She seemed impressed by all that we had done up to this point with him at home and I told her some of the things that I was having the teacher try. They are doing an observation on him next week at school. On a side note, everyone that I have talked to professionally (pediatrician, therapist, psychologist) has asked me the same question: What do you think it is? I am beginning to assume that they are questioning me as to gauge my reaction to the word 'Autism'. I don't freak out at the word or what it could mean, but I can't say it wouldn't sadden me if that were the diagnosis. I am not saying that Trey is on the spectrum, but he has a few tendencies that fit that criteria. I honestly don't know what to think. That is why I am seeking help. Everything I know and have researched doesn't pigeonhole Trey into one clear cut category. He fits into quite a few, which is frustrating for me. I am hopeful after this observation, they will have a better idea and we can get him the help he needs to be successful at home and school. He will also be getting an OT evaluation for sensory, which I am happy about! I know he has sensory issues!!! I will update as I have information....which hopefully will be sometime in the next couple of weeks!

13 Candles

2010-09-07T14:19:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe that on Friday, September 3rd, my first born turned 13 years old. Her first official year as a teenager. She is growing up so fast.....I know one day I will wake up and she will be graduating from high school! She has become such a wonderful young woman...very caring and so smart. I love the fact that we can hang out now...watching movies or just talking. Reminds me of the many talks my mom and I had when I was growing up. I felt I could talk to her about ANYTHING and want to forge that same type of relationship with my own. I love listening to Meghan talk about school, her friends, anything really.

We went over to my mom's on Saturday to celebrate and then out to eat on Sunday after church to celebrate with Poppy and Andy/Alyssa/the boys. She is inviting friends over this Friday for a little party. It is amazing how hard it is to come up with ideas for a teen party! Happy birthday to my baby girl (at least in her mama's eyes)!

Where We Are.....

2010-08-31T21:37:00.002-04:00

At this point we are still in limbo. I am waiting on a call from the pediatrician's office for an appointment to the hospital up north. I went and had a consult with a wonderful therapist, who unfortunately doesn't think she is what Trey needs, but is going to have a play therapy session with him to assess him. She recommended someone else to try, so I called and got a consultation with them on Tuesday. I am confident things are moving in the right direction, just trying not to sweat the small stuff....which for a control freak like me, that's hard! I have also got the ball rolling with our school system to see what they can do. Lucky for me, being in the school system, I am getting to cut through a lot of red tape type stuff for "who I know". That I have someone on the inside working for me helps calm my stress levels which are through the roof! I have explained to my principal what has been going on, which caused emotional distress on my part (i.e. crying), but she is awesome and I know she is going to work with me on whatever I need and she even volunteered to help any way that she could, which just knowing I have someone else on my side makes me stronger! I will update as I have information. Please keep us and Trey in your prayers. He is still struggling at school, which is not helpful and his last day might be this Friday. We are going tomorrow to talk to the principal, so we shall see. I am keeping the faith that God will lead us where we need to be.

Trey's 4 year Checkup

2010-08-27T20:47:00.002-04:00

Trey had his 4 year checkup yesterday afternoon. He did so good for the doctor! He talked his ear off, actually! Trey weighed in at 41 lbs (83rd %tile) and was 43" (3'7" tall and in the 93rd %tile). Needless to say, our boy is tall and skinny! He had his first eye exam and had a hearing test, passing both. He couldn't hear the lowest tones in either ear, but the nurse said that wasn't an issue. I assume that is due to all his nasty ear infections and the tubes that followed. The rough part of the visit were the five....YES, I said 5!......shots. He did well when I told him about them. I don't think he remembered any before this. However, once the nurse started, all bets were off. He screamed...and do I mean screamed...when she gave them to him. It took me at least 10 minutes to calm him down afterwards....he just kept screaming. I wanted to cry! I hate to see my kids hurt, even when I know its for their own good. We were both exhausted by the time the visit was over. I decided he needed a treat for all his suffering, so we headed to McDonalds for a yummy ice cream cone. He ended up having a rough day at school today, in part, I think to the shots. Made for a cranky boy all day. He finally let me take the 5 band-aids off this evening because he said his boo-boos didn't hurt anymore. He is a survivor.... :)

Ups and Downs

2010-08-27T20:36:00.002-04:00

We have been having some struggles for awhile now and I just haven't really wanted to face it. Now it seems I don't really have a choice. I have been having some concerns about Trey and I just haven't been able to put my finger on it. That, in and of itself, is frustrating because as a teacher of young children and those with special needs, I can't figure out my own son. I chalked it up to him being "all boy" and then it was because he was young...he would grow out of it. He isn't. In fact, the situation has become worse. He has carried his behavior/quirks over from home into school, which could ultimately get him kicked out. Kicked out of preschool. It breaks my heart that my little boy....my precious, sweet, boy....is THAT student that teachers really hate dealing with. I can't even begin to list what issues he is having, but I just know that he is needing something and I just don't know what it is. I am doing everything I know how to do and it just isn't enough. I am so stressed and an emotional wreck that I dream about it. He had a doctor visit yesterday (which I will post seperately) and he listened to all I had to say. He gave me some ideas (none of which I really think Trey "has"), but he will be going to CCH for an overall evaluation. Unfortunately, where we live there is nothing, which is surprising considering the size of our city, but there it is. I am praying ALL the time for God to just help me figure it out...whatever IT is....so that I can help my baby. Please pray for a quick appointment (can take 3-6 months to get in). I also have another appointment on Monday that I hope will help shed some light. Lots of things promising on the horizon....just hoping the help comes soon!

Family Day

2010-08-21T16:01:00.002-04:00

Every year, Daniel's unit has a family day. Usually this is in June, but they were getting ready for AT in June, so it got pushed to August. It was HOT, but one of the best ones we have been to. They had a Blackhawk fly in for the kids. Trey was so excited! He had also brought his toy one to play with, so he had to take it down to see the real thing. We got to watch it land and climb around inside.

Our Anniversary

2010-08-21T15:58:00.002-04:00

Daniel and I celebrated our 14th year of marriage August 10th. It was a hectic day b/c school started the next day and I was soo busy at work. Daniel came to my school and took me out to lunch, which was nice considering we were already paying a babysitter for the kids. We didn't do much else b/c we are trying to save up for our 15th anniversary. We are hoping to go back to our honeymoon destination. It will be the first time I have ever slept away from Trey, so that will be an experience for me.....and whoever keeps him. :)

First Day of School 2010

2010-08-11T22:07:00.003-04:00

Trey had his first day of Preschool today. He did really well going, but had a bit of a rough day. It is hard to get back on routine after being so relaxed all summer! He can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Meghan started her last year of middle school (**sigh**). It is hard to believe I will have a High Schooler next year.....but I am getting ahead of myself. I need to sit back and enjoy this year while I can! She is on a great team and loves all her teachers....so far. However, she was not impressed when her advanced math teacher said "Since this is a HS class, I will treat you like high schoolers"....and that she did by giving them homework on the first day!

My Lily started 3rd grade this year. She was so excited to go to school this morning that I think she ate breakfast and got ready in the span of about 20 minutes! She had her backpack on and was ready to go to the bus stop about 15 minutes before the bus came. She had a great day and and was glad to be back with all her friends!

WV

2010-08-11T22:01:00.002-04:00

A few weekends ago, we took one last vacation to West Virginia to see Daniel's grandma, who will be 90 this September! It was a lot of fun to hang out and actually sleep with no air on and be cold....at the end of July! That is what the mountains will do for you. The kids had fun sleeping out in a tent in the backyard with Mimi. We also brought Luke and Wilson along for the trip. It was lots of fun...especially eating s'mores with giant marshmallows!

Trey's 4th Birthday Party

2010-07-28T23:00:00.000-04:00

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My Baby

2010-07-28T22:24:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, Trey turned 4 years old. I cannot believe that I don't have a baby anymore! By the time Lily turned 4, I was having Trey. It is kind of sad, but I am enjoying not having to change diapers and most importantly...enjoying my sleep! Trey has grown into such a funny little guy. He pops out with some of the funniest phrases and he is completely serious! He has a love/hate relationship with his sisters and I have a feeling he will terrorize them for many years to come. He is so sweet natured at times and other times, he is ALL boy. I continued to be amazed at how loud one little boy can be. We took him to a Legends game for his birthday and sat with friends. It was a lot of fun, but made for a very cranky boy by the 5th inning. All in all I think he had a fabulous day! His birthday party was tonight.....more pics to come on that!

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Trey-isms

2010-07-26T15:34:00.002-04:00

Trey is such a funny little guy. He really has us cracking up....A LOT! He talks all the time....and never in a soft voice! Here are a couple of things I have heard him say in the past two days:

At supper last night:
Trey to me after I gave him a glass of water (and with a serious face)-"Thanks, Mommy! I haven't had water in years!"

At the library today:
Me: "Trey, get out from under there!" (he was playing under one of the horse sculptures that specifically say no climbing or playing on horses)
Trey (very matter of fact): "Mommy, I was just rubbing her toes. She had dirt on them. That horse is a girl."

How could I argue with that?

Appreciating the Little Things

2010-07-25T13:08:00.002-04:00

This past week has been a tough one. Daniel has been gone for his two weeks and that is always difficult! Then to add to that, I also had my 4th mammogram in a year and a half. I started getting mamms done right before I turned 35, due to my mom and her breast cancer. I was told that I should expect to go twice in a year to establish a baseline. I was starting to get worried when every time I went, they would say come back in 6 months and check the box on my paper that said "probably benign". Probably is not definitive enough for me. I only worried, b/c that is pretty much what happened to my mom. They told her to come back in 6 months and then BAM, its cancer. So not having Daniel here to help calm my nerves was hard b/c it is not something you talk about with your children. Everything went really well and I don't have to go back for a year. I still have to be classified as diagnostic, but I think that is just so if something has changed from the previous, I am at the right center (only certain ones handle diagnostic). A typical mammogram is just considered a screening. While at the doctor, I got a call from my principal. Naturally I was curious....then worried (about my job) b/c my principal doesn't call me to chat. I call her back after I leave the doctor and she tells me that one of my students from last year was in a car wreck with his mom and brother. The mom did not survive. I was heartbroken for this family! J was such a sweet boy and his mom (and dad) were so nice. I met my principal and FRC coordinator at the visitation. It was honestly one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I was able to hold it together to talk to J and his dad. I have to say that it made me feel like I did the right thing by going just to see J smile when he saw me. He was all bruised and beat up, but gave me a hug. His dad said that was the most he had moved for anyone. I cried all the way back to pick up the kids at a friends house. I was so heartbroken for those two little boys whose mom will never see them grow up, get married, have kids. All I could do when I got home was hug and kiss mine and pray they never have to experience that kind of pain. Needless to say, I am looking forward to a much calmer (and happier) week ahead!

Alaska

2010-07-23T10:40:00.005-04:00

No...we did not go to Alaska (I wish!). My aunt went and sent gifts for us. She has been before when Meghan was about 5 and Lily was just a baby. Here are their Alaskan treasures:
Meghan got the suffed otter, which my aunt says swam near their boat a lot, minus the females who carried their young on their bellies, but kept a distance. She also got the two necklaces, which she absolutely loves! (I have this picture turned correctly in my files....not sure why it wouldn't cooperate on here)

Lily got her first Alaskan doll (that is what Meg got from Aunt Helen's first trip). She also got the stuffed Husky (which my aunt got to see the sled dogs....did you know they actually get in a giant hamster wheel to run?....and they get in it completely on their own...these dogs LOVE to run!). She also got a very pretty pink necklace.

Trey was very excited to get his gift. He got a Bald Eagle, a very cute train whistle, and a book about the Gray Wolf. He carries his train whistle around everywhere!

Aunt Helen also sent us some hats from Alaska. Thanks, Aunt Helen!! Hopefully, one of these days, we can make the journey to Alaska ourselves!

Cow Appreciation Day!

2010-07-09T13:47:00.005-04:00

It was cow appreciation day today at Chick-Fil-A and we took full advantage! All of us got combo meals or kids meals completely free since we dressed like the cows! Can't beat lunch on the cows! Yum!

July 4th (and before....)

2010-07-06T10:42:00.004-04:00

Last week seemed so busy, but looking back, I wonder what I did all week! I did get a girl's night out on Tuesday to play Bunco and then go from there with good friends to see the midnight showing of Eclipse! I thought I would need major caffeine to keep me awake, as I did not get a nap, but the movie was so good, I wasn't tired at all! It was awesome and I loved it and can't wait to go back...this time with Meghan!

Meghan was at camp all this past week (and on the Youth Mission Trip this week). I missed/miss her! Her camp was music, art, dance, and drama all while worshipping God all week. She loves this camp! Last year she did dance and drama and this year she chose to do creative writing, sign language, and paper making (which is harder than you think!). I was blown away by all they had learned in one week! They all sang 3 songs, one completely in Latin, and she signed the song Mighty to Save. She also read some of her creative writing pieces. I was really impressed by all they did!

The fourth of July we spent with family and our good friend, Holly. We had a cookout at our house, which was fun....and Alyssa made a new yummy dessert, which could become one of my new favorites! We then went to see some fireworks, which I wasn't as impressed with this year as in years past, but when you are with family and friends, it was just as fun!

All 18

2010-06-26T19:52:00.004-04:00

Here are all 18 of us on vacation. Next summer we will add one more to the family....Katie's fiance, David. Then in a few more years, who knows how many more there will be! I think we will have to order in, instead of eating out!

Lily's 2 Birthday Parties!

2010-06-26T09:15:00.002-04:00

Lily had 2 Birthday parties this year.....one while we were on vacation in Gatlinburg and one last night/this morning at home with her friends. She had so much fun! I can't believe my middle baby is 8! She has grown so much, both in height and personality! I love my Lilybug!!

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Meghan's Confirmation

2010-06-26T08:21:00.003-04:00

Before we left on vacation, Meghan and her BFF, Katie, were confirmed as official members of our church. Her sponser was Rebecca, her youth small group leader. She had been wanting to do this for a while. We are very proud of her!

Summer Vacation

2010-06-26T08:20:00.001-04:00

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Summer Time!

2010-06-13T22:52:00.004-04:00

Thank goodness it is officially summer! Meghan and Lily are so excited to be out of school! I can't believe Meghan will be an 8th grader and Lily a 3rd grader! Just think, next year all THREE will be in school! I am excited, but it is kind of sad that they grow so fast! I think Trey was the most excited to be done with school! He lives for his "stay at home days". Here is proof:

I made this chart for him because he was having such a hard time not understanding when his stay at home days were. He has cards that say school day on them and he LOVES to take those off!

I had PD a couple of days last week, so Shana came to babysit. The kids love her and she took them swimming and played all day with them! Mimi and Aunt Katie are in town and we have been visiting with them and the Florida cousins as well. Lots of family time! We are gearing up for VBS next week!

Lily also started her summer vacation off with a visit to church camp. She was old enough to do a mini camp (3 days, 2 nights) and went with a couple of friends. She had a wonderful time and took pictures, but we haven't gotten them developed yet, so they will be on here soon!

M.I.A.

2010-05-22T07:42:00.002-04:00

So....yes, I have been a little lax in getting on here to update. I guess nothing major has been going on worth posting about. School is keeping us ALL busy. Meghan just finished up track and has been doing a lot of band stuff, Lily is doing Brownies and Irish Dancing, and Trey is moving from the time he gets up until he goes to bed! I hope to post some pictures soon of Lily dancing, but for now we are just holding on for 8 more days of school and then the official first day of SUMMER VACATION!!!

Meghan's Locks of Love

2010-05-22T07:35:00.002-04:00

Meghan has been growing her hair out for 2 years now. She decided she wanted to grow it out so that she could cut it and donate it for wigs that go to kids with cancer. After a lot of looking, she decided to donate to Pantene because they give their wigs at no cost to the patient. She was excited to do it and loves her new 'do!

Easter

2010-04-11T16:29:00.002-04:00

We had such a warm Easter this year! The kids got up early this year to hunt for the Easter baskets from the clues the Easter bunny left them. Trey was so excited he came running in to say "Look what Santa brought me!". He clearly did not understand who the Easter bunny was.

Spring Break

2010-04-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

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Where has the time gone?

2010-03-17T16:56:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it is already the middle of March! In a little more than a week, spring break is finally here! These past few weeks have been hectic. Daniel just got back from his two weeks and trying to manage three kids was a definite issue at times. My mom came to help get everyone off to school, so that was one less worry and I had LOTS of help from some friends and family taking good care of us by making us supper! We are very blessed! I also had my birthday while Daniel was gone, but he did send me flowers....at school! I was so surprised and just knowing that he had to think ahead made me feel so special! They were very pretty! I also had some friends take me out for dessert at Chili's on my birthday, which was a lot of fun!! I felt so blessed on my birthday, even though my Daniel wasn't there to celebrate it with me!

This Past Week.....

2010-02-20T16:18:00.002-05:00

This past week we had more snow! Did I mention I am over all this snow? I think this is the most snow we have had in quite a few winters. We seem to get more ice than snow, so this year is definitely been a "winter wonderland". We missed two more days this week...I didn't want to! I don't want to get out in June, but looks like I am out of luck. For some reason, getting out even one or two days into June makes the summer feel shorter. Maybe it is just me. Trey enjoyed his snow days, asking if it was a "stay at home day" every morning. He absolutely hated going back to school on Thursday, but was fine once he was there. Here are some insights as to what we have been up to:
*Lily woke up on Tuesday night throwing up. I was actually somewhat glad of a snow day on Wednesday, just so she wouldn't have to mess with her so far perfect attendance. Lily loves school and would have hated to miss. It was the weirdest bug...she threw up, then was fine. No fever or anything. Completely emptied her poor tummy, but that was that. Strange, so not really sure what it was...just glad no one else ended up with it! Lily is still our social butterfly...she had three friends wanting her to sleepover last night! She loves everyone and is friends with all of them! I am not sure I will be ready for her to be in HS....lol!

*Trey continues to amaze me...sometimes I have to remind myself that he is only 3. He knows all his letters, both upper and lowercase and the sounds of all 26. He can spell out his name and Lily's. He is trying to write and doing pretty well for one who hasn't decided whether to be left handed or right handed. He is really big into puzzles. He does them all the time at school and I have brought some floor puzzles home from school for him to work on. He does them all by himself and is insistent on doing so! I also love how out of no where, he will come over and give me a big hug around the neck, saying "I love you so much, Mommy"....oh how it melts my heart!

*Meghan is the busiest one of all of us, I think. She has been practicing clarinet hard this week. She was working on her solo for this weekend, as well as a duet and clarinet ensemble. They played this weekend (that is 3 different songs she has been working on) in front of judges. Needless to say, she is now tired! It has taken most of our day today. She got back her ACT scores as well. Her overall composite score was a 21 (only 12 and no studying!!)...she exceeded the college benchmarks in English and Reading. I can't wait to see what she can do when she is a junior and studies for this! We are very proud of her!

Snow Days #3/#4

2010-02-11T15:38:00.003-05:00

Tuesday and Wednesday were snow days....day number 3 and 4 to be exact. I really wanted one on Tuesday just because I had so much school stuff to get done....that had to be done by Friday, in the computer, by midnight. I really hate the assessment I have to do on my kids. A lot of work, that could be compartmentalized to make it more efficient, but they didn't ask me. So I do what I have to do. The snow day helped. It was also nice b/c we got to go to Denny's for the free Grand Slam. We ate enough that it was breakfast and lunch. We met up with Andy and Alyssa, the boys, and Daniel S. It was fun and you can't beat free! Wednesday was another snow day, but thankfully I knew about it the night before, thanks to the text from FB. I have been feeling under the weather lately....nothing serious, just kind of comes and goes. I think it is just a cold, but since I am not really a "sickly" person, it is making me very tired. I am hoping these are the last of our snow days....I want summer vacation and I don't want to go into June! I did enjoy just getting to spend time with my kids and cuddle up with them these last two days. In our world, that doesn't happen often enough...they keep us busy! Now if we could just have more sunshine and less snow!!

Growing Up....

2010-02-08T15:53:00.002-05:00

Okay, it has been staring me right in the face. All this time, yet I just seem to ignore it. My Meghan is growing up. Sometimes I look at her and can't believe she isn't three anymore (although she does a good imitation at times). This past Saturday, she took the ACT at a local HS. THE ACT!! My 7th grader was selected based on test scores from 6th grade to take the ACT thru the Duke TIP (a 7th grade talent search). We really didn't study for this b/c we wanted to see what she really knew. She did take the practice test that comes with the booklet we got, but that was just so she would have some idea what to expect. It was so weird dropping her off at the HS, with all these juniors and seniors. She wasn't the only one there from her school or the other middle schools in town, but needless to say, regardless of her score, WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER!! Yes she is growing up....but she will always be my first baby.

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

2010-01-21T19:31:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my hubby, Daniel! His birthday was on Tuesday and we celebrated with family Monday evening at Chili's. Tuesday we made Daddy's favorite: burritos for supper and then the girls (yes, the girls....with no help at all from me) made Daddy a cookie cake for dessert (his favorite!). He got a new video game (football) and a new controller...and some gun stuff (big boy toys). He had a good birthday and even scored a day off (MLK day)!

Out and About

2010-01-17T14:09:00.002-05:00

There hasn't really been much to blog about these last few days. We ended up with 2 snow days and already have scheduled make up days. Those occur in February and March, so at this time, we still get out in May (fingers crossed!!). Both my nephews had birthdays and Daniel and Alyssa's birthdays are coming up too! We have had friends with birthdays, so it is/has been a very busy month! We are trying to get back into the swing of things, homework, extra activities, etc. I am thankful we have a three day weekend this weekend! I will have more pictures that I hope to post soon......

Snow Day #1

2010-01-07T12:04:00.002-05:00

I woke up at 5am...my usual time....looked outside. Nothing. I then turned on the TV to see if schools were closed. No. I waited half an hour. Still nothing. I had to get up or else run the risk of being late, so I got in the shower, dried/straightened my hair, make up on, walked out to get into "teacher clothes"...saw another neighboring county had just called off school. I thought, I wonder....and sure enough, we popped up on the screen as cancelled for today. Daggone it! I got up and ready for NOTHING!!!! Needless to say, I put my pjs back on and tried to go back to bed. It just wasn't the same! I will say that when the snow finally started falling, it looked so pretty and I was very thankful I was not out in it!!! Wonder if day #2 will be tomorrow??

Funny Things

2010-01-06T05:59:00.002-05:00

Daddy asked Trey last night "Where's Mommy?"

Trey's response "She's downstairs doing your laundry!"

Funny!!! I couldn't stop laughing!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T17:04:00.004-05:00

This Christmas was a lot of fun. Trey had his school party, which I was able to make it to, just in time! Luckily they hold it late in the day for us working parents, so I was able to leave school to see him and enjoy that time with him. Christmas Eve we went to church and then caroling at a nursing home our kids go to every month. It was fun, especially to see some of the residents joining us in singing. The kids were very excited to get home and prepare for Santa. Trey was especially into it! He was a little nervous about the thought of Santa coming into our house (just like Meghan was at age 4), but he couldn't wait to see what Santa would leave! The kids were up VERY early Christmas morning...I heard them at 4:30, but Daniel says it was earlier than that. They were checking out Santa's gifts, then I put in a movie just so I could get some sleep. After the movie, they couldn't stand it any longer and got us up. We had fun opening presents, with Nana there with us. After presents, naps were in order! We didn't want crankiness on Christmas Day! We had a relaxing evening with me making supper. Uncle Bill came over to eat with us too! The next evening, we headed over to Andy and Alyssa's house to eat and play games. I had made cupcakes (as is our tradition) for us to celebrate Jesus' birthday. The kids all got a candle to blow out after singing Happy Birthday! It was a fun night! I didn't take a ton of pictures on Christmas Day...it was too hard, but enjoy the ones I did manage to get!

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What is heard.....

2009-12-21T13:10:00.002-05:00

Trey: "Mommy, can I put on my snow soup and go outside?"

Lily: "Trey! Put that back on the tree!"
Trey: "No! I wanna see it!"
Lily: "Fine. I'm calling Santa!"
Trey: "NOO!"
Lily: "Then put it up!".....(Trey walks away with it in his hand)
"That's it! I'm calling Santa!"

Mommy: "Time for a nap, Trey."
Trey: "but it not time to sleep!"
Mommy: "Yes it is"
Trey: "Can I sleep like a solider?" (he means in his soldier outfit: camo pants and tank shirt)

Trey

2009-12-19T09:07:00.002-05:00

Trey has grown up so much since his 3 year old birthday. He will be 3 1/2 years old at the end of January and he already knows all his letters and letter sounds, he knows his colors, shapes, and is very aware of what is going on around him. His newest phrase is "that would be perfect"....still not sure where he got that from, but he uses it appropriately. He is also big into red lights and green lights. He is still learning which one our car follows and points out the red lights and screams stop at the top of his lungs. Daddy and Trey play this game going to daycare every morning. His face is so expressive...he really cracks us up sometimes! He is such a little sponge and asks questions ALL the time...he wants to know EVERYTHING! This Christmas is so exciting for him. He is obsessed with baby Jesus and shepards and of course, loves to play Santa. He gets the girls to sit in his lap, while he has his Santa hat and Santa shirt (red sweater) on, and asks them what they want for Christmas. His main desire right now is a tape measure. I love 3 year old simplicity!

A Cookie Tradition Continues......

2009-12-13T21:02:00.002-05:00

Our annual cookie making tradtion with Heather, Jimmy, and family. And Holly, too!

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Sundays Events

2009-12-10T18:57:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday, we had two big events to attend. Daniel had his military Christmas lunch so the kids got to see Santa and open presents, not to mention they catered from Cracker Barrel and it was yummy! Afterwards, we came home and rested, then headed to church for the annual variety show and Christmas play. Enjoy the photos...it was a very busy Sunday!

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Our Thanksgiving

2009-12-07T13:01:00.000-05:00

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Halloween Slideshow....Finally!

2009-11-07T16:18:00.001-05:00

Updates

2009-11-06T17:15:00.002-05:00

This past week has been busy! Here are the latest updates:

*Meghan auditioned for and got a part in a local play. She started rehearsal last week and her first performance in on Dec. 11th. She also auditioned for an honor band encompassing three states and made it! She was so excited to get it! They go to a nearby university for the concert. During testing last year, Meghan also got Distinguished in reading and math (what they tested on in 6th grade).....so way to go Meg! She was picked to do the Duke TiP, so she will be taking the ACT in February.

*Lily has been working hard at school. She had a great report card and is advanced levels in 2nd grade. She will be starting the gifted program soon. Lily also still has a busy social life....always talking on the phone to friends and wanting to have someone over. Is this what I can expect all the time in a few years?

*Trey has finally figured out potty training! YEA! It only took us 4 months, but he seems to have it down...fingers crossed! He has grown so much this year....and is so smart. He does things that kids in my classes can't do. Amazing how his brain soaks it all up!

This is the latest in our house. Will try to post pics from Halloween this weekend when I can sit and load a slideshow!

Trophy Time!

2009-10-24T12:42:00.003-04:00

Today was Trey's last day of soccer for the season. It ended on a rainy and chilly note, but he didn't care...he played in the misty rain anyway! He got a cool trophy and is super excited to do it again! He is definitely an athlete!

Look At Her Now!

2009-10-24T12:36:00.003-04:00

When getting older, comes THAT rite of passage. Yep, braces. Meghan got braces on Friday and has done really well with them. She has been a little sore, but not bad. Part of that, I believe, is the orthodontist telling us not to baby her with soft foods. She would have less discomfort if she tried to eat as normal as possible. She said she even feels better today than yesterday! Her biggest concern in getting them was what color to get on the bands. She went for orange since Halloween is right around the corner (hard to see in the picture). I am guessing she will pick something festive for Christmas!

12 Year Old Picture

2009-10-21T16:34:00.002-04:00

I just love this picture. Hard to believe my baby is growing up....*sigh*

Meghan's 12 yr old Checkup

2009-10-07T16:25:00.003-04:00

Today I took Meghan in for her 12 year checkup...she is doing great! She grew three and a half inches since last October! I can't believe my baby is almost 5'5"....she only lacks 1/4" of hitting it! She weighed in at 104 and had great BMI...and according to Dr. H...basically she is tall and skinny. She had asked Meg if her knees were hurting...lol....due to all her growing over this past year. I knew she had gotten taller, but I just didn't realize she grew that much! She got her flu mist and also got her first dose of the Gardasil vaccine. She gets dose #2 in two months and then #3 four months after that. She was not excited, but the anxiety of waiting was worse than the actual shot! So she is good for another year....and hopefully that will be the next time they see her!