And Just Like That It's Over.....

The day after Christmas is such a downer for me. Nothing left to go do or see, just clean ups. At least the kids still have things to put together and play with, so I have yet to hear, "I'm bored" today. Lucky for me, Billy took the day off, so he took the big kids to an eye appointment and is now installing some whachamacallit somewhere for someone. :) Both Aaron and Olivia's eyes changed for the worse, total bummer....

My iphone is a disaster, that's what I get for letting all 5 kids play with it. It's "restoring" right now, says it will be done in 2 hours. Awesome.

I gained a lot of weight and it isn't even New Years, shame on me. I put on work out clothes this morning to get me in the mind set, needless to say, I have yet to sweat a drop. Bad me... I figure if I can be really good food wise for the week, then maybe I'll lose some and also get to enjoy New Years goodies without a ton of guilt.

Billy bought me an awesome new camera, way too much for my gift, but I am excited. Problem is that it's going to take me forever to learn it all. Good problem to have though, right?!

I better go feed the troops and get some laundry done. Just like I said, blink of an eye and it's over. Back to chores.... :)

Christmas Day At Our House.....

I was happily surprised to see 6:45 on the clock Christmas morning. We went right to work, Simon and Emi's first Christmas where they really understood what was going on....

And I'll even post one of me getting my new camera. God only knows how long it will take for me to learn. I hope your holiday was all that you hoped for.....

Our Family Christmas Eve In Pictures....

Not much to say, we had a lovely Christmas and Santa was very good to us... Probably better than we deserved.... :)

We managed a gingerbread house with few tears...

We went to our annual Christmas Eve dinner @ Magic Time Machine...

We ate too much....

We survived all of mom's picture moments... :)



Then we headed home to get into our coordinated pajamas and head for bed.....

Smiles Are My Favorite....

It couldn't be Christmastime at the Ryann's without watching "Elf" together... Last night we curled up with too much buttery popcorn and coke and spent great family time together... Well, 5 of us. I just don't think my 3 year olds would appreciate Buddy the elf just yet. :)

Today Billy plugged in a heater in the garage and I wrapped a bunch of presents. The only place to go really and quietly get it done. I actually missed my Connecticut basement at that moment. Why don't Texans put in basements?! What is wrong with us??? Then we hopped in the car, stopped for dinner and went to look at Christmas lights. I just looooovvvveeee Christmas.... Except for that "I need to pee" moment in the middle of a neighborhood away from public bathrooms. Sigh... It's always something. :)

Tomorrow we're trying something different, a late lunch out, then the 4pm children's mass. Billy wanted to change it up, and it may work out better for Santa if there is more time to build and wrap. Christmas morning is relaxed (as far as 5 kids on Christmas morning can be relaxed...) and then my dad is coming over for lunch. We'll probably head over to the nursing home soon after that to see my mom, then throw in the towel and call it a day.

I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas. I know that I am blessed to have this family and I plan on soaking it all up. In a blink of an eye, they'll be grown up and with a family of their own...

It's Time For the Christmas Parties....

Well, today is the big kids' last day of school. Basically, party all day for Olivia (still in elementary school) and home with a belly full of sugary goodness. The boys will come home slightly bitter since they had 9 week exams instead. :) I am thrilled that all my baking for teachers and helpers is done, and soon I will have 3 extra people home to entertain Simon and Emi who, quite honestly, are sick of me. :) I get it, I get sick of myself sometimes too...

Last Sunday, Olivia's school choir performed at the San Antonio Rampage game (hockey) and here she is on the Jumbotron... Needless to say, she was a very happy camper that her daddy caught this shot.

Olivia is far right.

The big kids went together to the game, complete with a glass pane shattering and all, while I had 2 baking assistants with me... And one of which is slightly OCD... I lost count with how many times we had to wash our hands because they were dirty... Sigh....

Tomorrow I plan on hauling all the kids around for gifts for their dad, grocery shopping for the week and then hopefully I am done with the crowds. Billy is taking a half day Thursday and then won't go back in until Tuesday. That will be so nice and we are really lucky that he is able to take that much time off. If I don't post until after Christmas, have a very merry one, enjoy your families, and eat lots... You can make that dreaded lose weight resolution next week!

We Saw Santa Today.....

I thought there might be tears, but Emi and Simon ran right up to him and rattled off what they wanted! :) Only trouble is, they aren't too good at looking into a camera and smiling. This is what I got....

While we were walking back to the car, Emi asked me where her baby doll she asked for was. I guess she thought he would hand it to her right then and there! :)

Tons to do this weekend, we have a birthday party tomorrow (a movie, so just me and the big kids) and then Billy wants to take the big kids shopping in the afternoon. Mass on Sunday and then baking a bunch for teachers, big kids are out Tuesday! Then the fun begins... And the fights... And the boredom... ;) Have a good Friday, I'm getting off for game night at our house!

"Kevin, that's not funny..."

We were sitting at the table for dinner and Kevin started telling a joke. It was cute, not gut-busting hilarious. Simon, my 3 year old, looks at him and calmly says, "that's not funny, Kevin." :) I think this kid might have quite a sense of humor... Yesterday I was tickling him and he turns to me and says, "Santa is watching YOU mommy!" :) Love this boy.....

I am just left with stocking stuffers and baking left for this Christmas. I do have to take the kids when they get out of school to buy their dad his presents, but beyond that we're just going to enjoy the break. The shorties have their last day tomorrow, the bid kids finish next Tuesday....

Sorry that this seems choppy, I am typing while one kid is doing physical therapy and the other one is finishing lunch, so I'm not entirely focused. :) Enjoy your Tuesday!

This Is Not The Time...

Kevin and I are fighting some kind of bug. My throat is killing me and when I bend down, the pressure in my face is awful... I can do a few days of this, but then we've got stuff to do! :)

I still have no concrete plan on what to do for teachers this year... I'll start snooping through Pinterest and find something good, I just need to get moving. I did get all the Christmas cards addressed, so those will get mailed tomorrow. You know, we have only gotten 3 cards this year, maybe no one is bothering? Bad economy, maybe cards are seen as an unnecessary expense. That's ok, but I do like hearing from people you don't always regularly hear from....

I better get trucking, the big kids have CCD at 3:30 and I need to double check homework, sign agendas, blah, blah....

I Really Needed This Week To End...

They just seem to squeeze so much into the weeks before Christmas break... Tuesday was Olivia's choir concert, we piled everyone into the car and headed out. Bad part was the PTA meeting we were forced to sit through, then the strings concert, then choir. Not usually that bad, but Simon and Emi were there, past bedtime by the time Olivia's concert started and tired of sitting down. But let me tell ya, they fell asleep fast once we got home! :)

Thursday was the boy's band concert, but the shorties and I stayed home and Billy recorded it. The whole family went to the Fall concert, so we thought it would be ok to just watch it at home. Billy said they did really well, I of course, as a bad mom, haven't watched it yet. Shhh....

While all that is going on, the boys had an English essay due this week and a book oral report to finish, so really, to be honest, the house was unpleasant. They get too much on their plate, get sick of hearing me going on about, this being due, that needing work... I get it. Good news is that it's Friday and as I type, Billy is getting the movie night set up. (Spy Kids 4 this week, Kevin's best friend was an extra in it, so the kids are excited to see him in it.)

I have been tying up loose end for gifts. Big kids and Emi are done, Simon not so much. Sigh... Don't ask why I am having trouble, I just need to buckle down and make a decision. Part of it is that their room isn't huge and everything I think he'd love I can't find room for. See what happens when you decide to have 5 kids? No room for toys! Boo! I will get it worked out soon. Matter of fact, I just bought him a guitar on Target.com earlier tonight. May drive me nuts, but he is always rushing to listen to the big kids practice their instruments and then pretends he has his own. :)

This week is all about stocking stuffers and teacher gifts. I always end up baking something and adding a Starbucks GC, I'm so uncreative... But this year I have middle schoolers, and they have 8 teachers... I may go broke with that... :)

Ok, movie has started and I'm being yelled at... Have a good Friday evening!

Choir And Band Performances And I Forgot About Christmas Cards...

This week is busy, they tend to get that way towards Christmas break. Billy has had to take the boys to school in the dark to band practice before school and Olivia has a choir concert tonight. It's definitely a hot dogs for dinner night with all of us in our seats for the performance at 6:30.

Tomorrow I am off to brave the mall and last minute shopping. I just realized I have neglected the all important stocking stuffers and have to get right on that along with some Thomas the Train purchases for my littlest one....

I am so happy that Walgreens does quick Christmas photo cards because I somehow forgot to do them. :) Billy writes the family letter, so I am off the hook there. I just can't believe the year has flown by so fast. Next week I'll be a grandparent telling my grand kids about the hardships I had as a child without cellphones and Internet....

Have a good one and stay warm....

Wet and Dreary Saturday...

Yuck... I know we should be grateful for whatever rain we can get in Texas, but it's hard to get moving when it's dark and damp outside. I can claim some success as last night we finally got it together and decorated the Christmas tree. All week it has been up with just lights, and I was getting frustrated. So tree is done, Little People Nativity is being dragged around the living room and I feel accomplished. :)

Today Billy needed to get some work done so I took the kids to Target for some shopping and it was so unpleasant. It's the 3rd of December, are we already cranky? I was bending down consoling Simon with a boo-boo and this charming lady practically shouted "EXCUSE ME". She can't have kids. I mean, really, if it is imperative that you get  to the lit up branches ASAP, let me move my giant basket so you can proceed.... By the way, can anyone explain the lit up branches to me? They're pretty at the store, but what do you do with them? I feel left out, as I do with most decorating ideas. :)

So now we are in limbo with Simon. They got home around 2pm yesterday, he was so loopy on the sedative he kept running into things. I couldn't wait for bedtime because you can't reason with a 3 year old about why he should stay on the couch. Of course they tell you nothing at the radiology place in the hospital, so I have to wait until our appointment next week. I don't believe the cp is in his brain. He is a bright kid with a quick wit. Not to mention just beautiful to look at.... Can you tell how smitten I am with this boy???

So the big boys are at a birthday party and so it will be a smaller version of us for dinner. I better clean this kitchen soon... Have a great Saturday, wet, cold, or just right....

Today is The Day....

Billy and Simon are waiting for Simon's brain MRI... Happy thoughts and prayers appreciated...

Yep, I'm Slacking....

I'm not sure there is a reason, so let's just pretend I've posted regularly... Things are chugging along, kids are thrilled to have three weeks before break, me not so much. I try to be done with all Christmas stuff by the time the kids get out from school. That way we just brave the crowds to get their presents for their dad and we spend the break baking and hanging out. I would like to say I'm almost done, but I have my dad and Billy and teacher gifts left to do.... Hopefully tomorrow I will drop off the shorties at school and get some amazing shopping done. :)

My sweet 3 year olds finally got to celebrate their birthday last Saturday. They had balloons and cake, what more did you need?? They were adorable and sang "Happy Birthday" along with us... I just cannot believe how quickly they have left babyhood. Keep positive thoughts for us, Simon has his MRI on Friday to see if the cerebral palsy has affected his brain. Billy is taking him, so I will be at home staring at the phone. I actually feel ok about it, he is with the family he is meant to be with, he is my baby and whatever hand we are dealt he will be ok. Better than ok, he will be great. Coming from detox at birth to his severe Torticollis, we'll be just fine. So here is my favorite birthday picture...

I'll try to be a better blogger. I will. I make no promises, especially during the holidays. :)

I Probably Made Too Many Desserts.....

Oh goodness, I think I'm still full from yesterday's feast! It was a great day, I always worry that the food won't work out, guests won't click, blah, blah... No fear, it was great. We were lucky to be able to have 2 soldiers join us from Fort Sam. They have a great program for the young kids that can't get home for the holiday, families can go and sign up to host them for dinner. We started doing it last year and I'm pretty sure we'll keep it going from here on. My dad and our good friends down the street also joined us for the afternoon.

But first, the annual Ryann Turkey Bowl had to be played... This year was slightly different in that Simon and Emi were old enough to "participate". By that I mean totally get in the way, run off with the trophy and have a tantrum in the middle of the field. Awesome....

Quick huddle

Injury on the field, ball to the nose...

You may see a tantrum, I see "planking"... :)

Sorry to report that the game ended in a tie, which means, that I keep the treasured turkey trophy on my dresser for the year. It really adds to my bedroom decor....

Then we ate, had a strange conversation about Twilight movies (my poor dad) and Olivia debated the differences between pie and cobbler... I think she may be in debate in high school, it went on forever...

Dan brought the fried turkey...SO yummy....

Olivia helped with setting the tables...

The kids' table, obviously the shorties didn't last long there....

Olivia got away from all the gross boys as fast as she could... :)

So today I have shopped online (my version of Black Friday), cleaned up whatever was left to do and now I need to get ready for Emi and Simon's birthday party tomorrow. Have a good one!

Thanksgiving Is Inching Closer And Closer....

It's probably not the best time for me to be sitting down at my computer to chat, but I'm tired of laundry and Billy took the shorties out front to "help" with the Christmas lights. (no worries, I make him promise they aren't turned on until Black Friday...) Anyway, lots to catch up on...

I did the Thanksgiving grocery run yesterday with Simon and Emi. I thought the store would be empty and I refuse to step foot in HEB next week. Nope, it was really crowded anyway. Guess other people had the same idea. But it got knocked off the list, shorties got a donut and we came home to a pretty uneventful Friday.

This morning I took Olivia and Emi to get their ears pierced. Olivia's were done years ago, but they got infected and closed. We thought they could do this together and I must say, Miss Emi cried briefly and then grabbed the chocolate I brought and all was well. (yes, I consoled her with food, shoot me...) Olivia was interesting, when we were walking to the car, she said she was dizzy and we had to stand next to the trashcan to wait for her to throw up. I think her excitement and nerves got the best of her, a 7UP seemed to settle her stomach. Olivia picked a pink stone for her earrings and chose purple for Emi. Super cute and Emi keeps telling me that "big sister and Emi have earrings, not Simon." :)

This is the picture that makes me feel like a bad mom....

Kevin and Olivia are going to a basketball camp for 2 days next week so their week won't be just at home all week. Then Wednesday we'll start baking, Miss Olivia has decided that she will head this department, so we shall see how that goes. I usually do it all myself (sides and desserts), so I welcome the help. Our good friends down the block fry the turkey, so I figure I have it pretty good. :) Have a good weekend, the calm before the holiday storm....

Well Checks For The Shorties... They're Still Really Big.... :)

This morning during quite the thunderstorm, I took Simon and Emi to their well check appointment. Three years old, 3 1/2 feet tall and 42 pounds (well, in full disclosure, Miss Emi is an inch taller than Simon). That would be over the 95th percentile. Big babies... Well, Billy says there are no more babies in this house. Please, I have 5 babies, thankyouverymuch.... Anyway, they are healthy and all is well. Flu shots done and of course we stopped at McDonald's for being brave. :)

Olivia and I have been drooling over different dessert recipes for Thanksgiving. My daughter has requested to be in charge of desserts this year. Fingers crossed that my favorite GF cheesecake turns out. We're also going to try Pioneer Woman's macaroni and cheese this year. I fully intend on gaining weight next week...

Not a lot going on right now. I am trying to figure out Christmas presents, and waiting for Simon and Emi's MRIs the week after Thanksgiving. Billy is totally swamped at work, he's been having to work on weekends. My dad got back from New York yesterday after visiting his family and seems fresh and the break did him a world of good. It cannot be easy to sit with my mom everyday for 4 hours. She is not the person she used to be, her memory is quickly fading and his devotion to her is unwavering.

My big kids are almost home, I better get moving. Have a good one!

Grab Some No-Doze, Our Family Pictures Came In....

I am SO excited! I rarely like myself in pictures, and I can say I quite like these! I'll try not to post a ton, but I can't help but show some of my beautiful family!!!

I Just Can't Believe Thanksgiving Is Two Short Weeks Away....

It just can't be. I'm going to have to get myself together and make a menu. Every year we do the same basics, but Olivia and I like to add a new pie and sometimes try a new veggie recipe. Our good friends are going to do the deep fried turkey, so I am just sides and dessert. Sounds like a great deal for me, especially so I can make it all gluten free. We're sponsoring 2 soldiers that can't make it home for the holiday, then my dad will join us, and the family with the fried turkey. :) Full table, but really it's a good group of good people that aren't looking to zing each other or look for flaws. No need to elaborate, just that I now spend my holidays with people I like and that like me. Isn't that the way it should be?

Everything else around here is moving along. Aaron is still struggling in school and some of his OCD tendencies are coming up. Poor kid is frustrated and down, but he is the only one that can dig him out of this hole. My heart aches for him... And at the same time, I am tired of going through 6th grade again....

Emi and Simon are inching closer to turning 3. Simon has actually started a wish list. It felt awfully early for that. Lucky for me, the "big truck" he has demanded was one of the first things I had already bought. :) I'm looking forward to their well-check appointment so I can talk to my pediatrician about their huge size (now wearing a 5T) and about Simon's diagnosis. So next week will be busy, not the best time for appointments right before the holidays.

My dad is headed back to New York tomorrow for a family wedding. He hasn't seen his family since I lived in Connecticut. He is the baby of the family at 78, and I thought it was really important for him to see everyone. He's worried about leaving my mom, but I really pushed for him to go. He will regret not seeing them before someone passes. His brother is quite ill with emphysema and his oldest sister had a stroke a few weeks ago. It's bittersweet to go, but I am looking forward to the pictures and stories when he gets back...

Ok, I better go talk to my hubby now that the kids are either asleep or in bed. We celebrated our 14 anniversary yesterday, I am blessed!

The Day Has Come... My Son Is Going To The Middle School Dance....

I could throw up. He is SO psyched. Sigh... How is it possible that the little 5 pound alien-looking bundle I brought home is headed to a school dance? The positives? The 6th graders are separated from the older kids and their dance is 5:30-7:00. LOVE that.... And I'm glad that he's acting exactly like he should be at this age. But I don't want him to grow up... Although he is quite funny at this age... :) His brother will not be going, his refusal to get on the ball with school work is keeping him home, trapped like a rat. His choice....

I got the proofs back from the photographer yesterday! LOVE them! The only problem is I can't decide which ones to print. :) It's a great position to be in, I know. I was even surprised to see pictures of me that I liked! I rarely like any picture I am in (this is why I always take the pics!), but I was pleasantly surprised to find a few that I really liked. So I am in love with this photographer! I will post some pics when I get the disc. There are some individual pics of the kids that are really gorgeous....

Ummm... What else? I've gained some weight from Halloween, boo... I swear I just can't have candy that I like in the house, self control is nil. I need to get moving, do a DVD or something soon. Too lazy for the scale to change in the right direction....

Have a great weekend, nothing going on here, except for Billy working....

Eeek, I'm So Behind, Let's Do A Quick Halloween Wrap Up!

So sorry for being MIA for a few days, I have no excuse except life was in the way... We did our family pictures on Saturday, I'm really hoping we got some good ones. Every time I looked at Simon he wasn't smiling. Brooding more like it.... Sigh....

We carved pumpkins on Sunday, well the big kids did, my shorties just, "decorate" them... :)

Monday was a little bittersweet, the boys, at 11, decided to hang at the house and pass out candy in gross masks. I made them promise not to scare anyone little. When we were heading back home I saw Kevin leaping out of one of the bushes. They said they had a lot of fun, but that they want to go trick or treating next year... And they got to eat Simon and Emi's candy... Olivia's homemade "Diva Angel" costume was interesting. At least now I know how to make a tutu skirt. (thank you, You Tube!) I don't think she was that enthusiastic about the end result and I feel bad. So let me get to the pics, Emi was Super Girl and Simon was Batman. They loved it, they totally got trick-or-treating after 3-4 houses and Emi would yell, "C'mon everybody!" as we headed to the next house. Sooo cute!!!

Finally my gang is all together...

Today, Kevin Gave Himself Whiplash... I Wish I Was Making That Up....

I got a phone call right as the physical therapist drives up to my house. Kevin is hysterical. Kevin is never hysterical, especially at school... In front of other kids... (unless needles are involved, then he screams like a girl...anyway...) He is begging me to come get him, his neck hurts like he can't explain, I asked him if he was injured or what. He just keeps telling me to come get him. I throw on my Super cape, toss the therapist (lovingly) out of my house and corral the little ones into the car while calling Billy. What does Mr. Level-headed say?

"What did the nurse say? Did she tell you what she thought it was?"

Me: "Ummm, I didn't talk to her, he.was.hysterical. What kind of heartless man are you?! I have an appt with the pediatrician at 3. You have to call the nurse, I'm driving. Tell her I'll be there in 5 minutes." (Emi yelling in the background "PARTY CITY!!!!" As we pass that darn store, she cannot help herself...) My phone rings again and Billy says that the nurse says whatever it is, it's his neck muscle just locked up. I don't even know what that means...

I get to school, maneuver around with curious 2 year olds and get to my 11 year old baby, still with tears streaming down his face.In.school.where.he.has.friends. His neck is crooked to the side and we leave.

By the time I got him to the doctor and they do all their examinations, she tells me that Kevin basically gave himself whiplash. Apparently that's possible?!?! A severe dose of prescription Tylenol and we went home to the rest of the crew that Daddy was patrolling expertly. Two kids were doing homework, 2 kids were out back chasing the dog... That's teamwork. I'm lucky that Billy works for himself and can just pick up and come home. I could have done it with all the kids in tow. But he makes it so I don't have to. :)

Tomorrow we are taking family pictures. Pray for me. I am totally psyched. I am the only one. :) There has to be one good shot, right????

She Wants To Make Her Own Halloween Costume?! Doesn't She Know That The Stores Have Them?!?

My lovely 10 year old daughter informed me yesterday after a fruitless trip for a costume that she will be making her own. I am nauseous. The last thing I am is creative and artsy. The good news is that she didn't want the trashy costumes that seem to be more and more prevalent these days for 10 year old girls. I think I was a clown when I was 10. I'm not that old. It depresses me when we go to Party City or the Spirit store and the costumes all involve fishnets and short skirts or corsets.

She came up with a Diva Angel, which I totally don't grasp, but it's kind of a hip angel. White tutu, sunglasses, wings. We should be able to get it done this week. I had originally ordered a Wonder Woman costume, but when it came in, the fit was so strange, I had to return it.

Everyone else is doing well, the older boys got haircuts and I am almost ready for the family pictures next weekend. My eyebrows are begging me for a wax and Emi needs tights, then I am set. Then I have to focus on the shorties birthday in November. I can't believe they are almost 3. It's tough because they are in such a small class (2 other kids) that a party would be kind of silly. We'll probably just have friends and family over for tamales and cake or something like we did last year. Next year they'll be in a larger class and we can do a "real" birthday party.

I should probably be doing something productive right now, but Sundays just feel like you should be moving in slow motion, don't they???

And Now We Have Time To Sit And Have Coffee....

Whew... What a week! It's the end of the grading period at school, so I have been after Aaron to get all late work turned in. I was hoping he would take the wheel by now, no such luck.... He ended up passing everything, but that's not good enough for me. The boys had to be at school this morning by 7:15, instruments ready to play, so Billy took them and the shorties and I had to take Olivia. We did it in full style, pjs and hoodies. :) They loved it, it was still dark out and they love going to Olivia's school...

We saw my mom this morning, I noticed that her wedding band was gone. I am so upset. The nursing home states EVERYWHERE on the contract not to wear jewelry. I mean, you're a sitting duck. But when she went in last year, she cried and cried to my dad about her ring not being on. I told him to buy her a plain gold band, but God bless him, he just wanted her happy, and he was already drowning in guilt about having her admitted to a nursing home. My mom wears 3 bands, (or used to) her engagement, the wedding band, and one of my grandmother's bands. I am very sentimental and I am still so upset that one is gone. How can someone take something from a helpless elderly, sick person??

We just finished up physical therapy with Simon and Emi, so now I can look forward to the weekend, Olivia has 2 birthday parties to go to, and we have to get her a different costume. I hope the weather stays beautiful....

It's Amazing What Covering The Gray Can Do...

I desperately needed to take care of my hair, I had at least an inch and a half of gray. But I've been putting it off because we're doing family pictures at the end of the month. I can't have THE family portrait include a gray mom, can I?? Same reason why all of my boys look like hippies at the moment. :) We rarely do family portrait style pics, so I have been planning this one for awhile. The shorties are old enough to sit and look (and hopefully smile), the older kids can help, and I should be able to make it through without tension... Right??? Even if I am racked with tension, my hair color will be fabulous... And it's how you look, right???

Things around here are a bit bumpy. Aaron is struggling in school... Still... We just don't know how to make him want to work harder. To do his job. It is beyond frustrating. The boy has no enjoyment in his life right now. No electronics, no tv, no Legos. I cannot comprehend how he doesn't want to put in the effort to get his life back...

The woman that lived in the suite with my mom at the nursing home (they have separate rooms, share the living room and bathroom) passed away Monday night. While I didn't know her beyond saying hello and asking how she was doing, it still brought us sadness. She was 95 yeards old and had the best attitude towards life. I wish my mom had the same attitude. Miss Tillie lived to the fullest, I hope I do the same....

Our physical therapist is stepping up Simon's therapy, now that he has this new diagnosis. She had him running outside so she can watch his gate, his left arm tends to curl up, kinda like Bob Dole. :) She's going to try a wrist weight this week. I'm trying to just go with the flow for now until the MRI in late November. We'll deal with any results then, but for now, we'll work in therapy and I'll do things at home. And my sweet boy will be ok. Isn't he beautiful? I couldn't love him more....

And Life Goes On, Carry On....

So I bought myself that t-shirt that says, "Keep Calm and Carry On". I felt I needed it as my mantra. :) After talking to Simon's physical therapist and really taking a deep breath and stepping back for a few days, I am at peace. We will get another opinion, the MRI is also scheduled. Through the last few days of working through my sweet boy's diagnosis, I can only say with certainty that he is exactly where he is supposed to be. He was meant to be my child, raised by Billy and I. His biological mother was a heroin addict that had already had 3 kids removed from her custody. I cannot even imagine where my baby would be, he's had to wear a helmet to correct the shape of his head, tons of physical therapy to correct his torticollis, speech therapy to get him to talk, and now this new path. God put him where he is supposed to be. :) So I hug and kiss him more now, if possible, and we "carry on".

We carry on to Aaron and his sinking ship that is 6th grade. I have dragged him through the first 9 weeks of school, sent him to morning tutoring to only find out today that he didn't do the missing assignments and will fail English. I cried. Over dramatic? Yes. Crushed, absolutely. I keep trying to get through to him, to will him to give a damn. I'm not giving up, but I am deflated. Billy cleared his room. There is nothing but furniture and books. This is where we are right now and what we have to do. Sigh... Kids are hard.... :(

This week, I have 3 kids getting school pictures, I need to get some clothes for that, Olivia has an orthodontist appointment and then the regular therapy/piano lesson schedule. Busy October, better get off of here and get on it. Have a great Fall weekend!

Not News I Was Expecting Or Wanted To Hear...

This morning I took the shorties to their neurologist, Emi for a recheck, Simon was going to get his first Botox shot for his torticollis. He gets the once over from the doctor and I mentioned that Simon's left foot seems to turn in sometimes. I was planning on telling the pediatrician on their next appointment, I figure we'd discuss a shoe or more PT or whatever. He does a bunch of physical tests on my sweet baby and then tells me he may have mild cerebral palsy. I'm sorry, WHAT?! Then he shows me that Simon's left hand is curled up while his right hand does everything, that the reflexes on the left are quite slower than the right. He wants an MRI done to see if it has affected his brain.... I'm sitting in the room trying to process and corral these two kiddos and all I want is to call Billy. I really like the neurologist, I can tell he loves the kids, loves his job, he has great bedside manner for the moms.

15 minutes later I'm in the car with Billy (he drops us off for appointments there, parking downtown sucks) and I am trying to be calm and I turn my head and tears are streaming down his face. WTF?! Hey, man of steel, I can't keep it together when you CRY IN FRONT OF ME!!!!!!!! Now is NOT the time to find emotions, do that in secret, thankyouverymuch....

So now it's been a few hours, I have scoured the Internet and am beginning to calm down. While I don't know what is going on in his brain, I know that we can handle difficulty in coordination, frustration when your body won't do what you want. There are  so many more terrible things that he could have, I'm feeling pretty lucky. Thanks for the vent time....

Frazzled, I Needed That Day Off....

So with the kids home for Columbus day, I floated the idea to Billy to take the day off. Really those ideas are hit or miss, I can claim victory 50% of the time. But when you work for yourself, it's hard to take off the entire day, no one else is in the office picking up the slack. So I was thankful that he could swing it. We kept it simple, he grilled lunch/dinner (made enough for both), we hung out together at home, and the boys and I worked on their book reports.... Basically that's me helping with the printer jams, asking them if they've checked everything over and if they followed the rubric. I am annoying. :) It was a slow moving day, I appreciated the extra hands and he even volunteered to shuttle Olivia to her piano lesson. I am a lucky woman, even if I don't always tell him. :)

This month is going to be so busy. I figure it's because I have scheduled a family picture. Therefore, everything else will pop up. Totally happened. I am knee deep in dr appointments, orthodontist appts, haircuts (for said family picture), physical therapy, office stuff for Billy, and somewhere I will start Christmas shopping and birthday shopping for Simon and Emi... No problem... No wonder I look old.

I have decided that I have really aged in the last few months. Billy won't listen, he's sweet that way, but I see it. I am due for a hair color, eyebrow waxing, and my skin... Lord... I need to find some kind of cosmetic dermatologist or something. (Do those exist??) I need something peeled off or scrubbed down or rubbed on, whatever... I think I have an.... are you ready? An AGE SPOT..... Sigh....There has to be some kind of treatment for all this without looking like a trout face...