Perfect Moment Monday/Monday Snapshot

Have this post in my head, going out on a Monday that coincides with two of my favorite blog hops…

Perfect Moment Mondays and the Monday Snapshot...

All these first day of school pictures make me a bit anxious to have those first pictures out too...although frankly, I want one last gasp of summer before the daunting schedules begin...

Here are pre-first day of school pictures...both kids got t-shirts at the end June this year, celebrating the new chapter to begin on September 5th.

Willow after Kindergarten Orientation.

Michael a week after school ended I found out he got this shirt.  (A smile from him!)

Perfect Moment #1:

It is a long car ride and he is sitting next to me.  Lately he doesn't want to be touched (except when he wants to be).  I take out the iPod and tell him to pick the music.  I expect Weird Al and I am pleasantly surprised when Jesus Christ Superstar starts to softly (and then loudly) play.  I try not to sing along (he hates that), but I do smile and the drive is pleasant and the little bit of ice that is between us melts and he is MY son again, not this alien teenager who is distancing himself from me.  I take occasional glances over at him and think of how young/old he is.  When we arrive at our destination, I warn him that I am going to touch him...as I give him a noogie.

Perfect Moment #2:

This morning I am rushing around upstairs (late as usual).  Her laughing and giggling drifts up the stairs and I stop to listen.  Her laugh is infectious and starts my day off so much better.  What could be making her laugh--some old Three Stooges! I smile even broader to know that people so long gone can still have magic in this world.

Two Weeks from Today

Two weeks from today, my children embark on new adventures.  Our family starts a new schedule that will take some time to get used to and will become our routine for several years.

Michael is going to tour his high school with his counselor on Monday.  We already have an issue with his class schedule, so we will have to navigate the ins and outs of changing the schedule.  Hopefully we will have some ideas from his counselor.  With her recommendation, I have written the special education department this summer asking them to give him an evaluation regarding aspergers (his 504 does not address aspergers issues).  The diagnosis of high functioning aspergers is a recent one, so we had not really changed his 504 the last couple years (it seemed to be working for him pretty well).  But, with the transition to high school, we want to make sure that any accommodations that be made to help him can be made.

Because he has had a growth spurt (he now is officially taller than me), he pretty much needs a whole new wardrobe.  I have all his clothes purchased now, most of the supplies (I don't have supply list, so I will have to wait until he starts school to get any specifics).

He needs to get up earlier than we have ever had to and needs to arrive at school before anyone else has to get to work.  For the first time ever, we will split duties on drop off in the morning.  I will be dropping him off at school on my way into work.

Willow is excited about kindergarten.  She calls it "new school" versus "old school" that she goes to now.  We counted off the days until kindergarten.  She is not happy it will take so long.  She is NOT happy about missing her best friends at her "old school".  We are trying to have play dates with her friends from the "old school" so she can keep in touch.  I know she will meet new friends, but that is hard to explain to her right now...she will just have to discover this on her own.

She is going to have the same kindergarten teacher that Michael had. She has the latest drop off time--Daddy will be taking her.

She has all her supplies--has a Minnie Mouse backpack.  I still have to go through her clothes to see what she needs.

Two weeks.  And so long ago and far away from where we started.

PAIL Bloggers - Monthly Theme - Feeding Your Child

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug 1-7) and National Breastfeeding Awareness Month (in the United States), we thought we would use the idea of "Feeding Your Child" for the August Monthly Theme.

I find it interesting that we as a society seem to pick fights over the most common sense things.  Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, whether you feed your child exclusively human milk or manufactured formula--it comes down to feeding your child in whatever way works to get your child happy and healthy.

I was always pretty pragmatic when it came to breastfeeding.  If it worked, I was going to do it.  If it didn't, I wouldn't.

I know that when I was pregnant with my first child I was totally unaware of the Lactation societies and when I had classes at the hospital I made sure to take a breastfeeding class. I did feel pressured to do breastfeeding exclusively.  I spent a LOT of time worrying about the mechanics of it.

Then my son was born.  After almost 3 weeks of bed rest and an emergency c-section--I was proud to take him to breast within 1/2 hour of delivery.  BUT, I was really still sick.  That first night--he was formula fed. He had no problems transitioning from one kind of feeding to another.  I tried to feed him mostly from breast, but once I went back to work--there was no where for me to pump.  After 6 months, he was mostly formula fed with breastfeeding in the morning and evening.  He had no real issues and eventually transitioned to whole milk and solid foods.

For my daughter, I was able to be more exclusive on the breastfeeding, and like my son, I did that for about 6 months and then supplemented.  I found that there was no real issues I had with either child when it came to them breastfeeding...but...

There was something that the classes did not really emphasize.  Something I wish they would have talked about.  Because, to be brutally honest--breastfeeding was boring and annoying and exhausting and hard.  I did not always get that "bonding" feeling.  Mostly I felt like a cow, especially at the beginning.  I knew I was doing a good thing for my children--but I felt limited.  I wish the classes would have spent some time on how your child may want to lazily suck and suck and then go to sleep, as you put them down--an hour or two later--they want more!  How your breasts will hurt and how you may try very hard to pump and pump and not get enough.  Or how to pump while you are working.  I just know that the "fun" of breastfeeding was often lost on me.

I just was happy to give my children a good start--but as with everything, Breastfeeding is really just a start. The hard part, I think, is getting past that stage and moving on to finding nutritious and interesting things for your child to eat. (Heck, right now I am just trying to limit the amount of soda that my now 14 yr. old son wants to drink!)

Tom is visiting! Canoeing!

One of our oldest friends is visiting for a little over a week and we have been having some adventures!

Last Friday I took the day off and Tom and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts...and saw a very interesting time warp of clothing...(and since we are science fiction fans, we thought it very Dr. Who...)

Right?!!

Tom is really great with the kids and they just love him....

Getting ready to go out for some Dim Sum.

One of the reasons he is so fun is he is game for almost anything...including canoeing!

Funny story about canoeing...Willow wanted to go too, so when Tom came back with Michael, our friend Colt went out with Tom...Willow in the middle in a life jacket...

The canoeing with Michael had been about 15 mins.  They went around the bend in the river and then came back.

So, I sat back and enjoyed the river and took some pictures...

Thirty minutes had passed.  And then forty.  And now even I was a little bit worried....turns out, they went a bit further than before and saw ducks and swans and herons.  Then started heading back.  There was a branch involved.  That smacked Tom back...which made the canoe capsize.  In three feet of water.  Dirty water.  Willow was a trooper and merely screamed once out of surprise...but she stayed with the boat and she was wearing her life jacket...and could basically stand in the water.  Even so, Tom grabbed her and carried her to shore.  (Without shoes--he hadn't wanted to get them wet).  His legs were all scratched up from branches that were in the water.  Both Colt and Tom flipped the canoe over and got them re-situated.

They came back after an hour.  With Tom having to sit backwards on the canoe...and they were no worse for wear (Willow was singing).  But they certainly had an adventure!

Wet girl!

Weekend Accomplishments

Accomplished.

This weekend we felt accomplished. Michael practiced his clarinet and went to karate. Willow practiced her writing and got all her school supplies. I cleaned the refrigerator and did some grocery shopping. Chewy took Willow to a birthday party, promised a friend to fix her old computer and finished part of a project at work (remotely, at home).

Willow holding two folders (kitties and puppies!) and her big purchase--a Minnie Mouse Backpack!  (Inside are the markers and crayons that she also needed)

AND we still had time to go to Boston Comic Con!  

We saw many many people in costume...we saw a gaggle of Dr. Whos celebrating the announcement of the new Dr. with a procession around the trade center...we bought a few trinkets...

And Michael got to get Billy West (Futurama) to not only sign a Futurama comic, but to also have a video of that with Mr. West saying a Fry quote!   (video is a bit out of sync at the moment...will fix...)

Going to the Beach with Cousins!

Today we did something that I hope happens more often--enjoying some fun with my nieces!  We went to the beach and afterwards had some great fried seafood...

My nieces are growing into wonderful little toddlers and my daughter had fun hanging out with her cousins!

It was nice to spend some time with my brother and his family.

Observations - Random

Me (to husband):  "I think maybe we should go out for  I.C.E. C.R.E.A.M?"

Willow: "Hey, yes, let’s go out for ice cream!  I know what you spelled!"

Michael Buffy Observation #1: The relationship between Buffy and Angel could be thought of as a parable about AIDS.

Willow (as I lay next to her at bedtime): I will always be there for you.  I will always be there for Michael and daddy.  I will always be there for everyone [long pause] even if I am a ghost!

Michael Buffy Observation #2: Xander was not only the Zeppo, he was the Ringo.

The Batman obsession has now moved on to the 1960s television show.

The bigger kiddie pool has not been deployed yet due to various circumstances.

Willow is always trying to write words and asking us to tell us what she has written.  Sometimes she actually writes a "real word"

 

Willow Today - Getting Better!

She woke up and was her bright, smiling self!

Later, she was out swinging!

We even decided to go out for mini-golf and ice cream later on in the day.  She is definitely feeling better--no temp, and will be going to school tomorrow.  (And still having to have the YUCKY antibiotics for the rest of this month!)

Willow Sick

Wednesday was like any other busy day here...until Willow started feeling a bit under the weather.  Thinking that she would feel better with a good nights sleep was hopeful...but not true.

Yesterday, I went to work in the morning while Chewy watched her for a bit.  She had a fever, she was listless and no other symptoms except headache.  Taking Michael to summer camp, she threw up in the car.  On the way to the doctor appointment, she threw up.  I took it from there--Chewy went to work and I took her to the doctor.

And our journey began.

At the doctors office.

The doctor took blood and urine.  She thought we had it pegged as an UTI.  She was worried that she was dehydrated and needed IV antibiotics, etc.  SO...

Off to the hospital we went.  Where they decided it was better to try the oral method first rather than do an IV.

When we first arrived...

Five hours later, we had a prescription for an antibiotic and a discharge...after one more drink.

Of course, the antibiotic was not available at any pharmacy...and I had to wait 45 mins. for a substitute prescription....which Willow promptly showed absolute and complete distaste for.  

Today, we went for a follow up with the doctor.  She still has an occasional fever, and the culture for the UTI came back negative.  So...we don't know what she has, we assume it is bacterial.  The doctor gave us a different antibiotic (she did not like the side effects of the substituted one) -- which Willow still DOESN"T like.  

So...lets hope the antibiotics work their hardest to kick this infections butt!

"I'm Batman!"

Michael had decided his two weeks anticipating summer camp could be spent wisely by delving into Batman.  I think it started out with an old Mad Magazine of mine that he found and he read the parody of the Michael Keaton/Tim Burton/Jack Nicholson "Batman".  

And, of course, he wanted to see it.  So, we all sat down and watched it.  And the sequel.  Then he was on his own for the last two in that dismal series--he was smart to at least Riff-Trax "Batman & Robin". 

Then it was on to video games with Batman.  And comics/graphic novels.

Now we have finished the re-watching the most recent trilogy from Chris Nolan.  (That was fun!)

He also looks up trivia about it on the internet.

Luckily for him--Cartoon Network is re-running the excellent animated Batman series.

Every so often Michael growls "I'm Batman!"

Summer Haze

So now we are in the thick of summer.  Cape Cod is a memory and Michael has been home by himself most weekdays (camp starts next week).  Willow has been enjoying "water play" at school and has gotten the requisite scraps on her knees and bug bites.  This weekend I am thinking about setting up the big kiddie pool.

He's got short hair for the summer!

All Fourthy.

July 4th weekend was busy like everyone elses -- there was our traditional amusement park fun, and there were BBQs.  (My only issue was I had to work on Friday -- would have liked a long weekend!)

Oh, and someone (Chewy) had a birthday!

It is hard to believe that 6 months ago it was winter.  And even harder to believe that more than half the year is gone.

At the Amusement Park:

Michael on the Zero Gravity Ride

 

Canoeing at a BBQ