My Baby Turns 8 Today!

It's that magical "in between" stage: 8 going on 30 one minute, still very much Mom's baby the next. I'm baking chocolate chip cookies to mark the occasion. He'll unwrap presents this evening and then we'll take him to dinner at the restaurant of his choice.

To read his birth story, click here.

His Magnetic Personality

He's seven and a half - well beyond the age of "knowing better." Yet Son #3 managed to swallow a magnetic rock several weeks ago. He was never the kid who put foreign objects in his mouth, even as a baby, but lo and behold, this time he did.

A couple of phone calls to our pediatrician and the local emergency room confirmed what we suspected. Since it was only one magnet and no other metal was involved, we just had to wait it out - pun intended. We were on high alert all week but no sign of the magnet. Not exactly something you can ask the school nurse to monitor, y'know?

After a week our doctor recommended an xray to be sure the magnet passed. That's not something you want to discover during an MRI years down the road. Xray showed all was clear.

I guess this means I can no longer threaten to stick him to the side of the refrigerator if he misbehaves.

Baseball Season Is Over

Baseball season is officially over, at least for our family. Son #3 (age 7, pictured above) played his final game tonight. His team, the Marlins, did well. They won the last nine games in a row and finished either first place or second. His age group doesn't have a tournament.

Son #2 (age 11) also had a great season. His team, the Astros, finished second for the season. They do have a single-elimination tournament but unfortunately he'll miss it. The tournament starts Saturday but Son #2 leaves for Boy Scout camp that very morning. Here's hoping the Astros will go all the way and win the championship.

I Hug a Little Longer & Squeeze a Little Harder

As I mentioned in my last post, Son #3, age 7, spent a glorious week at Cub Scout Day Camp. Each day, he took the 40 minute trip to the country to a property filled with woods, hiking trails, lakes. He enjoyed BB guns, archery, slingshots, nature centers, crafts, swimming on the beach at one of the lakes – all well supervised. I’d pick up Son #3 and he’d chatter all the way home about the wonderful time he had that day.

Across town another mother was preparing her 7 year old son for sports camp (a different camp, closer in town). She too expected her child to have a glorious week. Her afternoon ended up vastly different from mine. Rather than being regaled with stories of her child’s adventures during the car ride home, she was summoned to the emergency room of our local hospital. Her son had been involved in a swimming accident. During supervised swim time, he somehow slipped to the bottom of the pool unnoticed for who knows how long. To the counselors, it probably seemed only a moment. For the young boy, it proved too long. He was stabilized and transported to the Childrens’ Hospital in the city. A couple of days later, he was declared brain dead (kept on life support so that he can provide the gift of life to recipients of his organs – the ultimate gift).

This young boy, and especially his mother, have been on my mind all week. I cannot imagine the horror of what the family is going through. Although I don’t know them personally, our paths must have crossed many times. In the days since his death, I’ve learned that his family attends our church, the boy attended my son’s school (perhaps in the same grade). He played baseball in the same 7 year old league at our local recreation district park. Certainly if they never met at school, he and my son have faced each other across the baseball diamond.

Aside from the legacy of life this young boy leaves behind through organ donation, he leaves another legacy of sorts. Because of his family’s heartbreak, I hug a little longer and squeeze a little harder.

I wanted Son #3 to take a nap yesterday so I decided to lay down with him. Normally, I’d wait until he dozed off then I’d leave the room to tend to some chore or task that I thought I needed to be completed. Yesterday, though, I stayed the full two hours and simply watched him sleep – thankful for the time that I have with him. I’ll bet the other boy’s mother would give almost anything to have one more similar moment with her precious son.

I have no way to end this post other than to offer prayers to this other family and ask that you do the same. And to remind you that life is fleeting and precious. Take that extra moment to listen more carefully, hug a little longer, squeeze a little tighter, laugh a little louder.

Busy Week

Son #3, age 7, has been attending Cub Scout Day Camp all week. It means waking an hour plus earlier and driving into the country. I'm not a morning person, but he had a blast! Archery, BB guns, arts, crafts, swimming, hiking - he loved it all.

As for me, I planned to volunteer at camp this year but because I made two trips to the Washington, DC area in the past month to visit my mother, I didn't feel right taking off yet another week of work. Especially since the person I share my job with is leaving (see last post).

This week I managed to put in extra hours, which worked out well because it's a more direct route from my office to the location of the camp, rather than from my house. My problem is that although I managed to make Son #3 lunch and slather him in sunscreen each morning, I more or less forgot to make my own lunch. I completely raided my Boss/Friend's candy stash (I owe him a bag of Hershey's minis). Bite-sized chocolate bars and Diet Coke will only carry one so far. When I crash in the late afternoon, it isn't pretty.

Save the Tooth Fairy a Second Trip, Will Ya?

Son #3 had two front loose teeth (uppers). He bravely pulled one by himself. So proud until he looked in the mirror and saw....blood. He opted not to pull the second tooth which has since shifted leaving a sizable gap on each side.

The Tooth Fairy will be racking up frequent flier miles for sure!

Aliases Part IV

Those of you following my blog for a while now, know that Son #3 (age 6) has a penchant for wanting to change his name.

Over the years, he's requested that we call him:

1) Obi Wan Kenobi (kinda catchy, but doesn't go with our last name)
2) Chester (um, no)
3) Michael (okay, not bad once he dropped the "Jackson")
4) Ovento Burrito (what the heck????)
5) Christopher (not bad)
6) Nicholas (still not bad)
7) Logan. Nickname: Lo. He actually said that.
8) Pettiman (again, what the heck?)

and most recently,

9) Inigo Montoya (as in Mandy Patinkin's character in the movie, The Princess Bride)

Happy Birthday, Son #3!

February 18 was Son #3's birthday. The Baby is 7. I can hardly believe it. I posted his birth story a couple years ago on his birthday. If you're interested in reading it, click here.

He's quite the character. Every once in a while, out of the blue, he'll want to change his name. I've been keeping a running tally on my blog and it looks like this:

1) Obi Wan Kenobi (kinda catchy, but doesn't go with our last name)
2) Chester (um, no)
3) Michael (okay, not bad once he dropped the "Jackson")
4) Ovento Burrito (what the heck????)
5) Christopher (not bad)
6) Nicholas (still not bad)
7) Logan. Nickname: Lo. He actually said that.
8) Pettiman (again, what the heck?)

Have I mentioned that he's the most stubborn person I've ever met? That single-minded determination will serve him well as he grows up, but it's positively maddening at dinner time. Fortunately there's a fix for that:


(Kidding. That's a photo from our Disney trip two years ago.)

He sometimes wears my perfume to school. Of my three boys, he's my first to need surgery (outpatient adenoidectomy - still a big deal to a mom), and sutures (busted his chin open).

There's never a dull moment (and rarely a quiet one) with this one.

Happy Birthday, Love!

((( sigh )))

One son won't wear deodorant unless I stand outside the bathroom door and insist. Even then, I'm only assuming he's spraying it on his underarms and not into the air.

My other son has developed a liking for my perfume. Awww, how sweet, you're thinking. Um, but he's wearing it. That's right. My soon-to-be -seven year old has taken to wearing "Burberry Brit."

Finally, my middle son asked me to buy him a G-string. Fortunately, he was referring to his guitar.

.....and how was YOUR week?

Vacation Day 3

Sorry I didn't blog sooner. I'm having computer issues, but I'll save that for another post...

Day 3 of our vacation was fun. We woke early and took the hotel shuttle to the Metro station (that's D.C.'s subway system) and rode the Metro into the city. We disembarked at the "Mall" which isn't a shopping center, but rather the area in Washington, DC near the monuments, museum and Capitol Building. Here are the boys at the Metro station awaiting our ride.

Our first stop was the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We spent a lot of time in the dinosaur exhibit and the marine life exhibit.

This was all very nice, but my favorite part was the Gems & Minerals, home of the Hope Diamond, among other famous, fabulous jewels. Here are Son #1 and Son#2 next to my birthstone, amethyst.

Champions!

The Marlins baseball team got off to a rocky start. They play in the 7 - 8 yr old league at our local recreation district park. It's interesting how they determine the age bracket. It's based on the child's birthday as of April 30. The youngest must turn 7 by that date; the oldest cannot have reached their 9th birthday.

This results in a pretty wide age range (and presumably with it, a wide range of skill) in Son #3's league (that's him in the photo). For example, when the season started Son #3 was 6 yrs, 7 mos old (he turns 7 in February). Feasibly, there could be a boy on the team who would celebrate his 9th birthday on May 1 (because he just made the cut off). Most of the kids are 7 and 8.

It's been good for Son #3, I think. Although he's one of the youngest, there hasn't been any of the tears and drama among the kids when they strike out or are thrown out. His batting has improved. He's become the official cheer ringleader in the dugout. ("Let's go, Marlins, let's go!" will a little disco action - think Saturday Night Live movie poster.)

Most coaches rotate the kids throughout the various positions during the season, but this coach came up with team assignments early on. The downside: the younger boys do not gain experience in different positions. The upside: consistency.

Son #3 would usually be placed in the outfield (not a lot of action there), or he'd get to play catcher. "Play" catcher is a misnomer. Once he's suited up in what he calls his armor (oversized pads, helmet, etc.), he can barely move. Still, I think it made him feel more like he was in on the action.

His batting has improved. He's still hitting it right to first base - which means he's out - but he's been managing to bring at least one or two runners home. RBIs are a good thing.

Despite being the No. 5 seed (there are perhaps 10-12 teams in this age bracket), they made it through the championship tournaments and snagged top honors. Yay, Marlins!

Aliases - Part V

Those of you following my blog for a while now, know that Son #3 (age 14) has a long penchant for wanting to change his name.

Over the years, he's requested that we call him:

1) Obi Wan Kenobi (kinda catchy, but doesn't go with our last name)
2) Chester (um, no)
3) Michael (okay, not bad once he dropped the "Jackson")
4) Ovento Burrito (what the heck????)
5) Christopher (not bad)
6) Nicholas (still not bad)
7) Logan. Nickname: Lo. He actually said that.
8) Pettiman (again, what the heck?)

And now (2016)

9) Howie Landerman 

sigh....

Next Steps for Son #3

Son #3 will be finishing his kindergarten year in May. As is the custom at his school, I had a conference with his teacher to help decide the best placement for him next year. The options for any child are: 1) repeating kindergarten, 2) transitional 1st grade, 3) traditional first grade, or 4) multi-age.

The Traditional 1st grade (also called T-1) is a program that's not quite kindergarten and not quite first grade. It's often referred to as "the gift of time." It's for kids who socially and emotionally aren't quite ready for traditional first grade. At the end of the T-1 school year, the student will move into 1st grade.

The Multi-Age program is where ten first grade students (called "novices") are placed in a class with ten second grade students (called "experts"). There are a lot of centers and collaborative work. The following year, the "experts" move into tradition 3rd grade, while the "novices" (1st graders) become the "experts" (2nd graders) and a new group of 10 kids join them as novices. The advantages are the same teacher for two years in a row, plus half of the same kids.

Son #3's kindergarten teacher and I met this morning to discuss what would be the best option for my little guy. Academically he's 'very stong.' (I'm not surprised since I home schooled him for pre-K - at his request.) However, there are some areas where emotionally and socially, he's a bit "developmentally younger" than his 6 years.

How much of this is because I kept him home with me until kindergarten? How much of it is because of his general personality? Who knows?

According to the Gesell Developmental Observation, he ranked 'very strong' in math and in visual memory. Slight behind in auditory memory (duh, he rarely listens to me! Didn't need a test to tell me this.) His cognitive skills are above average. His symbolic/drawing skills are strong, as are his spelling skills.

He gets along well with his peers, does well in group settings. His challenges, however, are:

• ♦ fine motor skills. He's such a perfectionist at forming his letters that he sometimes does not finish his assignment. Is it a fine motor deficiency (developmental) or a personality train (perfectionism)? Who knows.
• ♦ while he works well in groups, he does not want to take the lead, doesn't want to go first. (heck, I'm 40+ and I don't like to take the lead). Again, is this developmental or personality?
• ♦ at school, he has difficulty expressing his feelings. NOT a problem at home.
• ♦ although he rarely needs help from the teacher, on the rare occasions where he does not understand the instructions, he doesn't seem to ask for help.

It boils down to this:

School Son #3 versus Home Son #3

• ♦ School Son #3 plays well with other kids
• ♦ Home Son #3 plays well with other kids EXCEPT his brothers
• ♦ School Son #3 shares shares
• ♦ Home Son #3 shares when he wants to, which isn't often
• ♦ School Son #3 has difficulty expressing feelings
• ♦ Home Son #3 won't hesitate to tell you exactly what he's feeling
• ♦ School Son #3 lacks confidence
• ♦ Home Son #3 is a complete bulldozer

Will the REAL Son #3 please stand up? I thought the teacher might recommend Transitional First Grade but I've read studies and while I think it might be a viable options for some kids, I'm not sure it's best for Son #3. Dear Hubby is very resistant to this idea (as is the National Association for the Education of Young People).

Fortunately, his teacher said that while T-1 is a viable option, she's not going so far as to recommend it for Son #3 (like she has for a couple of other students). She and I seem to agree that the multi-age program (which offers a bit more flexibility than traditional first grade) might be a good fit. Next step: she and I each write a letter to the principal stating our opinions and rationales. As a parent, I'm allowed to request a specific program (in this case, Multi-age), but I'm not supposed to request a particular teacher.

There is one multi-age teacher that I would love for Son #3 to have. She was Son #1's second grade teacher and we loved her! So while I cannot request her by name, in my letter, I can describe the type of teacher would help my son thrive and blossom. Let's hope the principal can read between the lines. Wish us luck!

Happy Earth Day!

That said, it's not easy being green in my part of town. I recycle my newspapers at the the big collection box at my son's school. However, I was disappointed to learn that there are no drop off locations for recycling cans, glass or plastic. (One the requirements for the Citizenship in the Community merit badge that my Boy Scout son is working is is to write a letter to a local official - I think we just found out topic.)

Today was Earth Day/Field Day at Son #3's elementary school. I worked the volunteer registration table and the newspaper recycling center (tying bundles with twine - the recycle folks don't want the newspapers in bags). Every time I saw Son #3 throughout the day, he had a new bandaid. Limbo contest? Fell and skinned his right knee. Jump rope? Skinned the left. You get the picture. (I'm just glad the teacher was there to witness it first hand. This kid is quite accident prone.)

All it all, though, it was a really nice day.

Aliases - Part II

On my Sept. 27, 2005 post, I wrote the following:

For some reason, Son #3 has never seemed satisfied with his name. I think it's a perfectly nice name (or I wouldn't have selected it) and it's one that has options (nicknames). Nevertheless, he'll periodically come up with alternatives.

At various times, he's requested that we call him....

1) Obi Wan Kenobi (kinda catchy, but doesn't go with our last name)
2) Chester (um, no)
3) Michael (okay, not bad once he dropped the "Jackson")
4) Now he wants to be called: Ovento Burrito

what the heck????

Since September, he's requested...
5) Christopher
6) Nicholas

I found this very interesting because I often thought if I ever had a Son #4 (i.e. if God has a really wicked sense of humor), I would name him Nicholas Christopher or Christopher Nicholas. However, I never mentioned it to anyone - not even Dear Hubby. Strange, huh?

But he's moved on. Now he wants to be called:

7) Logan. Nickname: Lo. He actually said that.

He's apparently mentioned it to other people because his Aunt Mimi told me that Son #3 told her that when he grows up, he's going to the courthouse to change his name and that he hopes the judge isn't too mean. Seriously. Who's feeding this kid legal advice?

And did I mention that he just turned six?

Expressing Himself Through Art...

Title: Big, Fat Meanie Dad

Artist: Son #3, age 6

He spelled it "mene" (with the final 'e' on a different line) but we got the point. I told Dear Hubby that I'm going to mat and frame it for his office.

The cause of the artist's wrath: Dad said he couldn't have brownies and cake for dinner. (Can't blame a guy for trying, though.)

FLU - The Sequel :-(

Those of you who read my blog at least semi-regularly are probably thinking, oh, she already blogged about Son #3's recent bout with the flu. But, sorry to say, this is a new flu post.

First, I have to say that for a family of five living in a house smaller than 1200 sf, it's pretty amazing that only Son #3 suffered from the flu. The rest of us managed to dodge it. (Click here if you need a refresher.) If there was a small blessing, it was that the kids were off of school for a week because of the Mardi Gras holiday and therefore, Son #3 only missed one day of school due to the flu.

That was then, this is now.

Fast foward three weeks. Yes, a mere three weeks. To the day. Son #3 (yes, him again) wakes me at 2:00 a.m. with a host of complaints. He's hot, he's cold, his tummy hurts, his legs hurt, his head hurts, he can't stop coughing, etc. This sounds familiar, I thought, but what are the odds?

I called the doctor's office as soon as they opened, and thankfully, they didn't try to encourage me to "just keep an eye on it for a couple of days" like last time. Bad advice for the flu. If you catch it within 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms, it can be treated with Tamiflu. Tamiflu doesn't 'cure' the flu, but it decreases the rate at which it multiplies in the body and therefore lessens the duration and the severity of the symptoms (5-7 days, rather than the usual 7-10 days).

Of course by this point, the receptionist probably thinks I'm a likely candidate for Munchausens by Proxy. The doctor, however, check Son #3 out, did a culture for strep and the flu. Guess which one came back positive?

Yep, it's going to be a loooonnnnnggggg week.

Six

Then....



Now....

His "now" picture isn't the best...he had been crying seconds earlier.

My baby - the baby - is six years old now. His mood can change at the drop of a hat. Hasn't mastered the art of not blurting out every little thought that crosses his mind (we're working on it, but truth be told, I'm challenged in that area too). He can be very, very silly. And very dramatic.

He announced to his aunt yesterday that when he wants to go to court and change his name to Nicholas, and be cupid when he grows up. (He's been wanting to choose a different name for years now. Click here to read some of his previous choices.)

There's never a dull moment with this little guy.

If you're interested in reading his birth story, which I posted last year: click here.

FLU :-(

The kids are out of school this coming week for the Mardi Gras holiday. It won't be a fun week, though. Son #3 has the flu. I knew his buddy at school was diagnosed with the flu and wasn't in school Tuesday and Wednesday so I figured it was only a matter of time.

Son #3 (who turns 6 in a couple of weeks) came home from school Thursday and complained of headache and nausea. I gave him a Children's Motrin, and he immediately gave it right back, if you catch my drift. He had a low fever most of the evening and couldn't keep anything down. Not even water. He and I spent the night in the living room with his new best friend, Mr. Wastepaper Basket.

On Friday, the nausea subsided. Or migrated south (if you catch my drift again). His fever was up to 101.3, but he was able to eat a couple of dry waffles. Later he complained that he felt like he "just got off a spinny ride" which I took to mean dizzy. I called the doctor's office and the nurse who screens the calls said it didn't sound like flu since his fever wasn't very high (later that evening it was 103.8). She advised that we monitor him "for a couple of days."

Persistence pays off, though, and she did fit us in. By this time Son #3 was quite lethargic and fell asleep on the exam table while we were waiting for the doctor. She walked in, took one look, and said 'flu.' She did a nasal swab to confirm (*that* woke Son #3 up). Since we brought him in within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, she prescribed Tamiflu, which doesn't kill the virus, but it is supposed to lessen the "down time" from 7 - 10 days (!) to 5 - 7 days.

A good thing I didn't monitor him for a couple of days, as the nurse suggested. At that point, it would've been useless to start the Tamiflu. We're knocking wood (and obsessively washing hands) that Son #3 seems to be the only one affected.

Son #3 is more alert today, a little ornery and argumentative, which tells me he's starting to feel better. Still, it's going to be a long week.

Not For the Faint of Heart

If you're the squeamish sort - especially about dental stuff - hit the "back" button NOW!

Still with me? Okay. Sunday morning in church, Son #3 (age 5 1/2) whispers to me, "Mommy, I have boo boo on my lip." He was pointed to his gum, however. I gently pull is lower lip to take a look. At the very bottom - where the lip meets the gum - was a hole. Yes, a hole.

But not just any hole. This one had - are you ready for this? - part of a tooth root (yes, ROOT) protruding. I almost fainted on the spot. Broken bones, stitches, blood? I can handle it. Tooth-related stuff? Nuh uh.

Son #3 has this pesky baby tooth that's been slightly loose for almost a year now. It's the bottom front, on the left. The permanent tooth is growing in right behind it. At his last check up in May, our dentist, Dr. C said if the tooth doesn't fall out by this upcoming visit - scheduled for Nov. 29, he would probably pull it.

I left a message on the answering machine at my dentist. They open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday so of course I was on the phone calling them again at 9:02. I know, I know. Give the receptionist a chance, sheesh. But hello? Hole? Tooth root? Come right in, she said. So we go. Son #3 meanwhile is handling it fine. It's tender, but not too bothersome to him. (Plenty bothersome to me.)

The dentist and the hygienist take a look and start saying stuff like, "Wow, would you look at that?" "Oh my, that really is a root." and my favorite: "I've never seen that before." Not what a mom wants to hear.

Dr. C used a cotton swap to push on the root to confirm that, thankfully, it's the root of the loose baby tooth and not the permanent tooth. Apparently since the permanent tooth grew in behind, and not beneath, the root of the baby tooth never dissolved as they usually do.

Dr. C is a family dentist but doesn't specialize specifically in pediatrics, nor is his office equipped to do sutures so he referred me to another dentist, Dr. Jill. Dr. C was concerned that if he pulled the baby tooth and the gum split, he wouldn't be able to stitch the gum.

Luckily, Dr. Jill's office was able to fit us in. She was able to extract the tooth without splitting the gum. Son #3 was thrilled that the tooth fairy visited him last night. As for me, I'm thrilled that the 4 1/2 hour ordeal is over.

Are you ready for a picture? It's not a great shot, but to the left of the tape measure is Son #3's baby tooth. It looks like an icicle. See the point of the root? OUCH! And it measure about 1/2 an inch. For comparison, on the right of the tape measure is Son #2's same baby tooth.