Father's Day Crafts & Cards Recap

We did a really simple craft for the kids' gifts to Mike. Duct tape frames, which are exactly what they sound like. They gave the kids simple wooden frames and a pile of decorative duct tape to choose from.

Those were the crafts and these are the cards:

Click the images to enlarge. The front says: "First Class Dad" and he drew a plane. My favorite it the one that says: "Dad doesn't like" to which Isaac wrote "Being yelled at by Mom." Nice! It's no Sci-Fi haiku, but he definitely spent some time on it.

Here's Riley's card it had a few pages. The front matched my father's day banner. There was a photo page and a foot print/poem page and then some original artwork.

Good Work, Kiddos!

Science Camp Week One Wrap Up

Isaac has successfully completed Beginning Lego Robotics. Pretty Cool. He actually owns the Lego Robotics set, but since Santa dropped it of it was mostly collecting dust. He learned to build and program a robot from scratch. He even learned about audio and light sensors. They had sumo tournaments where their creations went head to head. He said taking his creation apart on Friday was sad, but deleting the code he had written was sadder! Possible future career? I think so.(CORRECTION) He'll be learning C.S.I. Forensics and tackling Intermediate Lego Robotics next week.

He calls this one Katrina.

Fabulous Friday!

With all the Pre-school, camp, library events, doctor's appointments and general running around I hadn't spent much one-on-one time with Miss Roo. Today was our day! We got up at our old wake up time and had a nice long cuddle. We picked up donuts for breakfast. We had to bring Mulan and she HAD TO buckle up! God Bless whoever invented the drive thru! We ate at home and shared with the boys before we dropped Isaac off for his last day of Beginning Lego Robotics. They had a tournament today! Robot Sumo, anyone else wish they were 10?

We headed over to the kids club at the crafts store to make a clothes pin moose and tissue paper flowers. They even gave Riley a tote bag. After crafts it was home for chicken nuggets and The Magic School Bus. Riley's favorite is the bat episode. Then it was time for a quick nap and off to Monster's University 3D!

I don't want to bore everyone with too much coupon talk, but it is safe to assume if I'm taking the kids anywhere this summer it's free or very cheap. Our movie date is courtesy of Disney Movie Rewards and Kellogg's Family Rewards who gave me a ticket each. Woohoo! Since I only scored two and Riley had a buddy planning to go see the movie too, "girls only" worked out great. Don't worry about Isaac he had a grandma date while we were out. It actually cost me one whole dollar for Roo and I to see a 3D movie on opening weekend! I win!

The movie was adorable! Baby monsters are just the cutest darn things. I thought the girls were phenomenal. I forgot Riley's water cup, like a dope, so I did have to buy her a bottle of water. It was still a very cheap and fun date. I was slightly bummed that Disney didn't send special brightly colored 3D glasses like they did for the re-release of the original. Even with a storm that caused the theater to have "system trouble" it worked to our advantage because we were all seated and ready long before they had the movie playing. Rushing in the dark on crutches never ends well. Also, because they where so behind we didn't have to sit through any previews! Score.

After the movie (having thought ahead enough to both be wearing them) we grabbed our free smoothies in honor of National Flip Flop Day! I had to get creative to get them to the car. I handed Riley both straws and one crutch. I hobbled slowly out the door with the drinks in the other hand. They were delicious! It was a good day for freebies: Medium hot coffee, Tote bag, Movie tickets, Smoothies. It was an great day for mother daughter bonding too! I love that girl so much. Happy Weekend, Everybody!!

Foot Fail Update!

I've been really suffering with the pronation issue as my shoes are now completely shot. I've been having crazy foot and ankle pain as well as spasms up my legs. It super sucks because I'm so busy right now and I can't afford to be in pain. This week inspiration hit: I would call a pediatric hospital and see where they send kids for this kind of thing! Duh, right? Honestly, I'm sure it occurred to me before but I didn't follow up because I had no idea what an impossible quest the whole thing was.

The pediatric hospital here is big and it took twenty minutes of menus, transfers and new phone numbers to get my question answered (which after a year of on again off again searching is pretty damn good). Next I hit up Google for their contact information and a general sense of who I dealing with. "This could work..." was my cautiously optimistic assessment based solely on the hospital's referral and their web presence. The receptionist assured me they work with children and order small shoes all the time and then let me talk to an orthotist. He also assured me small sizes were no problem and was sure a few inserts would have me all fixed up. Silly man, my orthopedic problems don't do simple. I set up an appointment.

I had to swing by my orthopedic's office for a new prescription because he wrote the old one LAST July (impossible quest). With the newer and shockingly more legible script in hand off I went. I was honestly beside myself with anxiety that they may not be able to help. As it turns out I am complicated, but not entirely hopeless. She even has a daughter with CP! So she was familiar on some level with my brand of complicated.

As you can see from the photo she made molds of my feet. I've been through this process quite literally thousands of times. I think I've worn every kind of brace ever invented at this point. So, when she began the cast saw spiel I interrupted and said "It's ok, I'm good. Go ahead. They run it along their hand to show it doesn't cut you, etc. They do overheat if handled improperly, but that's a whole other story.

She's going to consider the copious amounts of information I gave her and my feet for a while. The hope is that we can come to a solution that will help me without breaking the bank. The insurance clowns will pay for inserts, but not shoes. Even if they're medically necessary adults are on their own with shoes. Chronic orthopedic conditions and insurance companies don't play well together. So, here's hoping in the near future this whole issue will be behind me.

My feet are in your hands now.

A Miracle for Mya

This isn't just a post pandering for your donation money, but I would like to start with a link to my cousin's page: Mya's Story. I'm putting the link here for context and so that anyone who wants to spread the word or add to the surgery fund can.

Long story short, Mya's epileptic. In fact I was giving birth to Riley while Mya was being admitted to the same hospital at ten months old for her first seizure. It's been an uphill battle for her. In some small way I know what it is to have no idea whether you can trust your body to do as it's told. In my case falling down or not being able to move would be the result as opposed to lack of oxygen. Every time her circuits overload, the whole system becomes less reliable and the cycle continues.

To have a body or brain that is fully capable of functioning properly and refuses to is endlessly frustrating. While my brain is unable to communicate appropriate information to my nervous system about my muscles her becomes unable to communicate at all. Counting on your brain/body to be unpredictable is a hard way to be. Sometimes she has a day, a week or even a few months of being functional before the rug is suddenly pulled out from under her. Sometimes she barely knows what has happened before she's back on her feet, but there are longer, darker times. She's tougher than you can imagine. The world needs that kind of strength. Pray with me that she finds her answer. Share her story if you want to and give if you feel inclined.

A Good Fit

I feel like Jane Goodall, but I'm observing baby nerds. Ten year old boys in their natural habitat, building with Legos and discussing computer games. Old enough to care about impressing each other, but not cool enough to succeed.

These are my son's peers in every way. This is the first time I am on hand to witness him "fitting in". Their social aggressiveness is painting him as the quiet one (HA!!).

Build and socialize and savor this moment of being perfectly matched. Their conflicts arise and dissipate so naturally. Like tiny waves of testosrone breaking, most often, on a shore of laughter. Delightfully discovering commonalities among a group of uncommons.

It makes me wonder when the first time I felt socially matched was. My first impulse is to say the drama office backstage in high school. Honestly, I probably did "fit" better there than anywhere else at that time, but I think the place where I felt the euphoric sense of being with people who understood me (and part of me hates to admit it!) was the teen lounge in the orthopedic hospital where I "grew up."

Don't get me wrong I'm not opting for the segregation of the disabled (although I could probably make a compelling case for teenagers!). I've always been quite at ease around the non-gimpy population. There's just so much pressure in adolescence. It was nice to find myself around people who "get it." That old elephant got to take some time off. We just existed in our microcosm without stares, tiresome explanations or being told how "brave" we were. There was a peace. We had drama over boys, broke rules and stayed up late.

When the slumber party ended I went back to being the "one" who walks funny and that was ok. I remember feeling at home with my nerdy video store "family" later and much later with my mommy group, but nothing touches the lounge. Perhaps it resonates louder in these days when the changes in my kids make my path a place full of opportunities again. What kindred spirits will line the road on the next leg of my adventure?

First Day of Preschool!!

She was too excited to sleep last night, but she sprang out of bed happily. I got to wake her up for a change. We'd laid out her clothes last night and her backpack was already packed by the door. While she ate breakfast I packed her lunch and two healthy snacks. I would have loved to do it last night, but our fridge is broken so I had no way to keep a whole lunchbox cold. She did ask at least 3 times if she could go back to bed, but other than that was very chipper.

We were out the door on time and early enough to school to wonder around confused for a bit. Signed in and off to play she barely waved to me before she was gone. Sigh, bless her independent little soul. As further confirmation that she'd be alright I bumped into her little friend going out the door. It's always nice to have an old friend your first day at a new place.

I came home teary-eyed to deal with fridge repairs, errands and the other kid. It's just that kind of surreal morning where my world has changed forever and everyone else is just going about the same old same old. I felt the same way the day I got my acceptance letter to college. Everything is different forever, but only for me. Strange.

I can't wait to hear about her cubbie, her cot, her new friends and her teachers! I still remember some happy pre-school times. Hazy images of my pink lunchbox, monkey bars and a Halloween party.

Fourth Grade Complete

I stole the brilliant idea to start taking a last day of school photo from one of my mommy friends. Isaac loves traditions and tangible proof that he's growing up. He was all for it. Here is the first and last day of fourth grade. He came home with a science award, reading award and straight A's all year!! Way to go, buddy!

I can't believe there's only one more year of elementary school! It has flown by. I missed the beginning of Isaac's life, but I have been present for every single first day of school. He always seems so static to me just completely unchanged and then I look at a picture and I'm stunned. To be fair I'm also comparing him to a much younger child who is growing by leaps and bounds still. From the beginning of this school year to the end wasn't a huge change, but when I looked at the first day of third grade I was amazed. Going back to kindergarten it's hard to believe it's the same kid.

I have high hopes for the summer and for his final year in elementary school. I hope he's stays excited about learning, expands his social circle and tries lots of new things.

Conversations With Cute

Riley and I ran inside from the pool and jumped in a bath tub full of warm water with our bathing suits on. Since we were in our suits and in a hurry to get warm we left the door open. The dog thought this was fascinating. She wondered in and out checking on us and drinking the bath water. After one of her visits Riley said:
Mommy Leeloo thinks we're swimming in her water dish!

Sometimes my kids really surprise me. This coveration Riley and I had while I pushed her on the swing was more strange than funny.

Roo:Can we get a guinea pig?
Mom: No, we already have a hamster.
Roo: Oh.
Mom: You like Gertie.
Roo: Yeah. When we don't have Gertie anymore can we get a guinea pig?
Mom: I don't think so.
(Riley thinks this over)
Roo: Will it chase monsters away?
Mom: What? A guinea pig?
Roo: Yeah! Will the guinea pig chase monsters away?
Mom: Gertie will chase monsters away for you...or Leeloo!
Roo:(I heard) Does the wind chase clothes away?
Mom: What?!?
(She gives me a funny look)
Mom: Did you ask if the wind blows your clothes?
Roo: No. Listen To Me. The wind chases crows away.
Mom: Oh, crows!
Roo: So do farmers.
Mom: Yes, because they eat things out of the garden. That's why Daddy doesn't like them.
Roo: Are crows scary?
Mom: Maybe, but I don't think so. Some people might be scared of them.
Roo: Because they eat the mulberries!

A conversation between Riley and Isaac in the pool
Are you a princess?
No, I'm human actually!

Riley picked up a stuffed dalmatian at her friend's house:
Can I borrow this dimension?

Riley finds a bug and sweetly asks:
Um, do we have to eliminate it?

The night before our zoo trip I was having trouble getting her into bed
Me: Where are we going tomorrow Riley?
(No answer)
Me: You don't remember where we're going tomorrow?
Roo: I do, but I don't want to tell you because I don't want to go to bed.

Riley asked me when dinner would be ready. When I told her we were working on it she said:
I know that the corn has to be cobbed, Mom!

As I pulled into a regular parking space the other day Isaac exclaims:
Are you allowed to park here?!?

Me to Mike:
What's wrong with my neck?
Mike to Me:
Pirate curse.