Weekend Leftovers

The boys are still sick. I guess, the more correct way to state that is that they are sick again with a new second illness. Sigh. At least now everyone is sleeping through the night again.

That is something to celebrate.

~~~

My boy has now been on ADHD meds for just over a month, and I have to say that the change in him is nothing less that mind blowing. He went from having 10-15+ severe issues with his impulse control throughout his day to an average of 3 mild issues. I was afraid that this would somehow change his personality, but he is still the same, sweet, funny boy I know and love...only more in control of himself.

Seriously. I am in awe of how effective this one thing has been in helping him.

~~~

Stop by Danifred's for more Leftovers.

Microblog Monday

It's Prematurity Awareness Month, so the posts about the topic are starting to pop up all over my feed. Many of them are about how thankful they are about the doctors and nurses who helped their children when they were so tiny and fragile.

I guess I am thankful to them, too, but in all honesty, I rarely think of them much anymore. I can't for the life of me remember the names of the nurses--none of them come to mind, not even the ones I truly loved. I remember the two neos; one name remembered without issue, the other more doom and gloom predicting neo, takes much more effort.

That's horrible, right?

Other posts talk about how their children have overcome prematurity and are now healthy and strong.

While my boys are now healthy and strong right now, the nagging fear of prematurity is still (may always be) there. Will this illness be the one to tax their lungs to their limits? Is this episode of vomiting a "simple" illness, or will it mean a trip to the ER and surgery? Besides that, the idea of overcoming prematurity is kind of lost on me.

How do you overcome prematurity when it is the reason for your children's challenges today?

I don't know.

I need people to understand prematurity and know that prematurity is more than tiny babies born too soon.

I desperately want to make sure no other family endures the heartache of watching their loved one struggle for survival.

My heart aches at the knowledge that prematurity will steal other families' babies and rob others of their dreams.

And I hate prematurity with a passion...

... and yet ...

I am stuck on how to deal with Prematurity Awareness Month this year.

How do I articulate my thankfulness that because of the strides of prematurity research I now have two amazing boys along with my intense, overwhelming detest for something that took so much from us?

Sigh.

I just don't know.

Stop by Stirrup Queens for more MicroBlog Monday posts.

Friday Night Leftovers

One day this week I went to work without putting on deodorant. That in itself wouldn't have been that big of a deal except it was in the upper 80's that day and my classroom has no air-conditioning. Yeah, it was already not pleasant for me (though hopefully no one else!) by lunch. Thanks to my PE peeps, I was able to get a sample stick from them and the crisis was avoided. lol

Please tell me I am not the only one who does crazy crap like this.

~~~

My 92 year old grandmother is coming from Arizona for Thanksgiving. It was sort of spur of the moment and very not expected. I decided that I needed to take this opportunity to get some good photos of her and my mom and the four generations together. So, for the second time in a month! my family will be taking pictures. LOL. I've decided for someone who had not taken professional pictures ever, I have sure become a picture whore. Go figure.

But really, how could I not be with pictures like this?



Right?

~~~

I have a 4 day weekend. Today at 3:30, I was almost as excited about the prospect of a long weekend as a kid at Christmas. By 5:30, that excitement had turned. Jack has a 101* temperature. So much for rest and relaxation. Well played, universe. Well played.

~~~

I've been doing Christmas shopping. Early! I have even made a decent dent in my list. Go me!

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In one of the FB groups I'm in someone posted a tip about putting Shoe Goo on your kids' shoes to prevent them from getting holes in their shoes. Both boys are horrible about dragging their toes. When I get them new shoes, they look nice for a day before the go through a steady decline in attractiveness/wearability. I was getting a new pair of shoes for Ja.son every other month. It's been ridiculous.

So, with this last pair of shoes I got him, I slathered those puppies up with Shoe Goo and they are doing great! We have gone a full two weeks and they still look good--no scuffs or rub marks. Shoot, if I keep putting this stuff on his shoes, maybe he'll even get to outgrow a pair of shoes before they need to be replaced due to holes in them.

It's the little things that make me happy. Unholy shoes are one such little thing. lol

~~~

You know, it's amazing what a new month will do for you. Welcome November. You came just in time.

Stop By Danifred's for more Leftovers.

The Boys Are 7!

The big boys turned 7 on Monday. It truly blows my mind. 

Ja.son

Sh.awn

They are so big and smart and funny and amazing--everything I was afraid to wish they'd be when they were tiny premature newborns. I am beyond proud of how far they've come. I know they'll accomplish great things in their future, too!

I am always taken aback by how much the drama behind their birth still affects me. The stab of emotion isn't as strong as it used to be, nor does it last long, but I'd be lying to say that it isn't still there. Even with all of the good that we have in our lives, there is still that small twinge of sadness about what might have been.