Gratitude Challenge: Day 2

I am grateful...

1. ...that my family gathers annually for the Franklin Reunion. Today was the 52nd annual gathering. 

2. ...that I do not have to set an alarm tomorrow. 

3. ...for coffee. 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 1

There are several trends circulating on Facebook, as always, but the Gratitude Challenge is a good way to remind ourselves of all the things in our lives for which we are thankful. I can say, with complete certainty, that it is easy to forget these things when life's chaos escalates (back to school, ugh!).

So, I give to you my first three things for which I am grateful:

1. Inclusive Opportunities for Alex: As many parents of children with special needs do, we struggle in securing inclusive experiences for Alex. School, sports, and extracurricular activities all present many opportunities for Alex, but not everything is adapted as easily as it could be. When Alex came home last week and expressed excitement over the 4th Grade Strings Program, I was both happy and apprehensive. I thought it would just be one more battle. I am relieved to report that it's been surprisingly easy so far! Not only is the teacher excited to have him, he should also have an aide for the after-school program (I didn't even have to ask!), and the staff at a local strings store was lovely and didn't bat an eye because Alex isn't the typical student. It's been awesome. Alex is still quite excited!
2. Confidence-Building Opportunities for Addie: Ad gets her shyness from me, I will admit. She is quiet and reserved, until you really get to know her. I have seen how my introverted ways have held me back in certain situations, and I'm eager to help her learn how to not be so quiet. Addie has an opportunity to serve as a class assistant for her dance studio, so she will get to help teach 5-6 year olds in addition to taking her own classes. She is over the moon with excitement, and I am hopeful this will build her confidence so her inner light can shine through a bit brighter.
3. Snuggles from Andrew: Last week, I took Andrew to a friend's birthday party. Before we left the house, he informed me that I shouldn't talk to him at the party, because I might embarrass him. KINDERGARTEN!! He is in Kindergarten. This is way too early to start being ashamed of his old mom, and apparently, my expression reflected this sentiment because he quickly retracted it. He still needs snuggles throughout the day, and I do appreciate each one, because I know that all too soon he won't take back his instructions to not embarrass him in front of friends.

Stay tuned for the next three items in tomorrow's blog...

Uno

Alex loves playing Uno. He is the proud owner of Uno Attack; this is what he wanted his Nana and Papa to give him on his 10th birthday in July, and they stepped up. He finds such joy in playing this game! It's a great incentive; I've used it several times to get him through homework assignments in the last couple of weeks.

Tonight, we played the longest game of Uno, ever. This game lasted at least 30 minutes, which is unusual. But, the kids had fun, and it was a great way to kick off the long holiday weekend. I'm sure it won't be our last game!

Wishing you all a lovely and safe Labor Day weekend!

Exhaustion

I am so very tired. So completely drained, in fact, that I am blogging this from my bed. I am still wearing work clothes and contemplating just going to sleep, contacts and all. 

But, tomorrow is Friday. TGIF, indeed. 

Funny Guy

On Wednesdays, Alex has speech therapy after school and I have to pick him up so we arrive to his appointment on time (if he rode the bus home, we'd never make it!). It has become our tradition to stop at Starbucks on our way to the session; this not only soothes the sting of not getting to ride the bus home, but also provides my afternoon dose of caffeine.

The baristas are familiar with Alex by now, and even remember his name and his order (although they always wait patiently while he finds the words to place his own order!). He always asks for the same things: a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of water. His smile after he orders shows us all how proud he is of this aspect of independence.

Today, after he devoured his cookie in the car, he asked me if I could "clean him up" when we got to speech. Of course, I agreed, to which he replied "Good. I'm a hot mess."

This kid. Love him.

Nerd

Tonight, I was folding laundry while Andrew practiced writing letter As. We were chatting about this and that, and I will admit that I was just half listening and trying to push through until all three kids were tucked in and I could have a moment's peace.

"What do you think I am, Mommy, a nerd?"

I instantly perked up, glancing up from the laundry to size up this question.

"Where did you hear that word, Andrew? What do you mean by 'nerd'"? I was reluctant to just leave that one alone. With the kids back in school, I am always looking out to make sure they aren't being pushed around, or being the one to give another a hard time.

"You know, Mommy. Nerds. They build really cool stuff, like robots. Nerds are awesome," he explained as he finished his page of As.

Big sigh of relief. While I still am not entirely thrilled about the labeling of others (even though in this case, 'nerd' is being used in a complimentary fashion), I was happy to hear that he wasn't being a big meanie.

Pass

No blog tonight. I still have to finish paperwork, it's been a long day, and I can't figure out the online communication tool that my kids are using at school. More importantly, the Emmys are on.

Until tomorrow!

More Transitions

This week will bring the third installment of our summer to fall transition. Andrew will begin a kindergarten program on his "off" days in our school district, Addie has a week-long dance seminar after school, and I have a handful of meetings in the evenings. 

I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Wish us luck!

Blah Blah Blah

Although we had a rough start to our day (Alex was not a happy camper at Andrew's soccer game today, and the awful humidity magnified our drama), it has taken a slightly happier turn. Both boys are playing restaurant in the kitchen, and I'm taking a "Mommy Break" to write this and hopefully sit in front of the tv for some mindless entertainment.

Before clocking out, I was loading the dishwasher, and overheard the boys' game. Alex approached the table, in his undies and a construction hat, saying "Hello, I'm Alex. I'll be your server. What do you want to drink?"

Andrew asked for a cup of ice cold, refreshing milk. Alex started to write that on his pad, then stopped and began scribbling. Taking every opportunity to practice whatever skills present themselves throughout our day, I told him to start over and I would help him spell "milk".

"No, Mom, I got it. I just wrote 'blah blah blah'", came his response, and he showed me his notebook, full of scribbles. "See? That says 'blah blah blah'," he gleefully exclaimed.

He knew he won that round. We'll practice writing it later. I'm on break.

Two Weeks!

The 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk is less than one month away! The deadline to register and receive a Team Alex t-shirt is only two weeks away! If you plan to walk with Team Alex and want a shirt, please register here by 9/5!

We're so excited for this year's walk! We hope that you will join us! Please register, donate, and invite your family and friends ASAP!

Time's Up

So, I've been sitting here for more than an hour, trying to come up with something to write for today's post.

Nothing is coming to mind, and too much is coming to mind. Does that make sense? So much has happened this week, around the world to within my community, that I don't even know where to start. I just do not have the energy right now to delve into any of it. I mean, people are being rude and hateful every place I see (ok, mostly every page/post I choose to read), but at the same time, there are some beautiful things happening. It's too difficult to reconcile all that into one post that makes any sense.

And so, this is what you get for today. Maybe if we all channel some positive energy into our surroundings, pray for each other, and just close our mouths and listen, we'll see some progress.

I'm not naive enough to think that it's that simple, but it's nice to think about, isn't it?

Transition

I was more than ready for the kids to return to school. Now, I'm paying the price.

Transitions are difficult at our house. Alex just doesn't handle them well (chalk it up to his Down syndrome, I'm told), and then when he acts out, the other two follow suit. Not that they shouldn't also be tired; they're back in school, too, sitting for long periods of time, following new rules and learning new routines. They need to blow off some steam when they get home; I get that. But boy, they are all little nightmares by 8pm.

I'm hoping that Ad and Andrew will find their groove in the next few days, and Alex will hopefully only need a bit longer to do the same. Of course, as soon as things start to improve, they will have a three day weekend.

We'll make it through this transition; we always do. I can't promise you that I won't deal with it by eating obscene amounts of junk food and banging my head on my desk. We do what we gotta do.

Hot

Our a/c is busted. It is 84 degrees on the first floor of the house, and even warmer and stuffier upstairs. Great sleeping conditions, ugh. 

I am thankful that on a typical day, we have a/c, and I am anxious for the new unit to be installed on Thursday. 

Happy

Since March 21st, I've been working to reach a fundraising goal for Team Alex and the Columbus Buddy Walk, to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio. I have posted incessantly on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, sharing the link to our fundraising page countless times. I have asked you to buy Tupperware, eat out on a particular day, and for the second time in the last six weeks I am telling you about our amazing #InclusionMatters campaign (seriously, do not delay...order your shirt now, because this time, once they're gone, they're really gone!).

It's been a never ending parade of requests, all centered around this fundraiser that is near and dear to my heart.

And the amazing thing is, people are listening. Acting. Reacting. It's incredible.

You are registering to walk with us, or giving a donation if you can't be here on 9/21 for our walk. You are ordering the Tupperware and eating out. You are buying a fabulous shirt with an even more fantastic message, and you're telling your friends to do the same. You are hitting yourselves in the face with pies. You have resisted blocking me and all my posts on Facebook. All in the name of Team Alex.

This makes me very, very happy. I see how Alex has touched so many lives, and how people want to help. We are fortunate and thankful to have such amazing family and friends. So, thank you, sincerely, for all that you're doing to help us reach a goal.

Only a little over a month to go, then you won't have to hear (too much) about the Buddy Walk until March 21st rolls around again. Of course, Girl Scout Cookie season will be upon us in that interim...  ;)

Team Alex Pie Challenge

So, with less than $2000 to go to reach our Team Alex fundraising goal, I am determined to keep up our momentum. We still have lots of people who want to register, and some funds coming in from a couple of other fundraising initiatives, but we needed an extra little push.

Borrowing from another successful fundraising endeavor, we give you the Team Alex Pie Challenge! If you accept the challenge, we need a $5+ donation, or you can make a $25 donation to decline, at the Team Alex fundraising page. I hereby nominate anyone who wants to join in the fun! Let's see those videos!  If you head on over to the Team Alex Facebook page, you can find my video (and be sure to "like" the page once you're over there!). 

Thanks, again, for your continued support of Team Alex and the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk!

Weirdness

Today was full of strange surprises.

I was trying to get caught up on housework, laundry, and anything non-school related; I didn't complete my list, but I got a lot accomplished. As I was working in the kitchen, I heard a smoke alarm sound; it wasn't a full blown alarm, but it was a longer tone than a low-battery chirp, so I was curious. So were the kids! A couple minutes after the alarm sounded, the boys were yelling about smoke in the backyard. "Yeah, right," I thought, and went on about my business. But, as I turned the corner to calm them down a few minutes later, I realized they were right: there was smoke coming from the backyard. I opened the door and realized that it was the a/c unit, so I quickly headed to the thermostat and turned it off  (we really didn't need it today, but it was still on) and began brainstorming reasons that this could have happened.

Not long after I started pondering (panicking about?) this, we realized that the wifi in the house had gone down. What was going on?!? Our connection is pretty reliable, and for it to stop working is rare. In an attempt to stop my runaway imagination (as Andrew had been ghost hunting earlier this afternoon, ha!), I gathered up the kids and headed to the grocery store.

After returning from our errand, I went upstairs to try and restart the router and restore the wifi. I then discovered that nothing would turn on in my bedroom, causing me to think that a fuse was blown. I was right. Craziness! But, I was happy to restore the wifi so the kids could watch a little Netflix before bed.

As I was trying to get the bedtime routines going, Al looked out the window and yelled "Maisey is eating a RAT!!", and of course, we all went running outside to see what she had found. Fortunately, it was just one of her bones, and as we all stood around watching her, she paused and looked up at us with such a look of disgust that it was truly funny.

Hopefully, these quirky little adventures have ended for today. I hope whatever ghostie Andrew disturbed earlier has relaxed a bit; this mama is tired and wants a good sleep tonight. ;)

Planning

With the Columbus Buddy Walk coming up in just over a month, I've started thinking about fun ideas to incorporate into our Team Alex tailgate. I've spent the last couple of hours pouring over different websites, considering custom nail wraps, personalized temporary tattoos, and DIY slap bracelets.

Wow. There is a ton of stuff out there. I need a break. I want to create an amazing tailgate for our supporters, but I don't want to break the bank, nor do I want to pile on more than necessary to my already huge To Do List. This is our 11th year at the walk, so I'm also trying to come up with something new.

Any thoughts? What would you like to see at a team tailgate before participating in a fundraising walk?

Want to learn more about Team Alex, join our team, or make a donation? Please visit http://www.columbusbuddywalk.org/profile/387/team. Thanks!!

Fried

The first week of school is a lot of things: exciting, fun, challenging. Most of all, though, I find it exhausting.

Shopping for supplies, organizing paper work, meeting teachers, shopping for even more supplies...draining. I am so stinking tired that I can barely remember what day of the week it is.

But, the kids are happy. They are ready to learn and thrilled to be reunited with friends. I will not complain, especially since the year will go by in a flash and we'll be facing another endless summer before we know it.

For now, though, I'm going to go fall over somewhere. G'night.

First Day of School, Part I

We made it. We survived the first day back at school. Al & Ad were happy and had many things to share with us about their new classrooms and first day adventures.

Tomorrow, however, will be a challenge.

My mission, as I have already accepted it, will be to get three kids ready for school and on the bus by 8:10am. I, too, will have to be ready to go so I can meet Andrew's bus at school and take the traditional First Day of Kindergarten photos. This could be interesting.

I tear up a bit just at the thought of that bus pulling away with all three of my babies on it tomorrow morning. Andrew is super excited for Kindergarten, though, so I know that we'll both be OK.

Of course, I'll have Part II of this story tomorrow...

Ready or not...

...here they come, 3rd & 4th grades!

Tomorrow, Addie and Alex return to school for another fun-filled year of learning. Both are quite excited to get back into the swing of our "normal" schedule, and I am beyond delighted to send them back. Ha! Not that we haven't enjoyed our summer, but routines are a wonderful thing.

They are both excited about their new teachers, happy to already have friends in their classes, and they are looking forward to making new friends too. Did I mention that I'm excited and happy that they're going back? ;)

I don't even mind the endless paperwork that comes with the new school year, or really even the ridiculous cost of getting your child ready to go back to school. I'm determined to enjoy the years that they still like going to school, because who knows when that may change. I'm fortunate to have at least one kiddo that thinks homework is fun; Addie can't wait to break in those new #2 pencils. Alex has more fun being with his friends, I think, but that's ok too; he learns a ton from peer interaction, which makes me happy.

Andrew's first day of Kindergarten (what?!?) isn't until Thursday, so I don't have to experience the joy of getting three kids out the door until then. That, my friends, should be interesting. Wish us luck!

Tragic

Tonight, around 7pm, Facebook blew up with news that Robin Williams had passed. Suicide. Sad and unthinkable. 

I read many posts and links; so many people are sharing their grief and disbelief. It became clear that this person who was surrounded by many who love and adore him, either personally or from afar as fans, must have felt such despair and loneliness. It seems impossible. 

This serves as a good reminder that things aren't always as they seem. Someone who laughs and appears happy can be struggling. Sometimes, it might be easier to force a smile than admit you need help. 

If you suspect that a friend or loved one is struggling with depression, reach out to them. If you are the one struggling, please find help. The world isn't ready to lose another one. 

Summerfest 2014

Mark and I headed out to Summerfest today, our summer tradition now for the last several years. We get a day together, spent outside, listening to four or five great bands. It's a much-needed break from our reality. 

Much-needed, yet exhausting. Several hours in the heat, surrounded by sweaty people, can really take it out of you. 

I'm off to bed; wishing all a great week!

Back to School Prep

I've made it no secret that I'm anxious for the kids to get back to school. However, as any parent of a child with an IEP will tell you, a new school year brings mixed emotions. Yes, I am more than ready for my kids to be on a consistent schedule, but I am not ready for all the extra work it takes to stay on top of everything. I feel like I just got everything situated for the last school year, then it ended. Now, I start all over. Summer is a nice break from that; not that I'm saying that advocacy takes a break, but it's just not as intense outside of the school schedule.

I've been in a frenzy the last few days, making sure all three kids have supplies (even though I pre-ordered supplies for the kids' classes, there are two other classrooms requesting supplies), backpacks, shoes, socks, lunch boxes...all the fun details that need attention. I think I'm about set. I'm sure I've forgotten something, though.

Cheers to all the kids (and their parents) heading back to school in the next few days! I wish everyone an easy transition and a successful year.

Zombies

Last night, Mark participated in a team building event for work; something about bring trapped in a room with a zombie (terrifying, by the way). 

Tonight, he thought it would be fun to share the experience with the kids, and even find YouTube footage of such an event. 

Now the kids are afraid to be in their rooms by themselves. Super. Fun. Times. 

Let's hope we get some sleep tonight. Zombies, stay away. 

Goodbye, Tree

 Our front yard looks naked.

We lost our little tree to the emerald ash borers; it started looking rather bare last year, and a friend pointed out that it was probably under attack by those curious little beetles. We finally had it cut down today.

I hated to lose that tree. It was our First Day of School Tree. You know, the tree where your mom makes you stand every day on the first day of school, to have your picture taken before the bus pulls up. Addie realized that we wouldn't get our pictures this year because we had to take the tree down, and she was disappointed. Ever the optimist, though, she pointed out that we can just use the tree near the street until we can get a new tree planted.

Here are just a few of our many First Day of School Tree Photos:

 Andrew, on his sister's first day of Kindergarten

Addie, on what must have been her first day of Kindergarten

Alex just isn't a fan of first day of school photos...

Goodbye, little tree. Thanks for providing a great backdrop for all those first days of school.

One. More. Week.

Ah, the most glorious day of the year will soon be upon us: the first day of school.

Now, before all my teacher friends start throwing things at their computer (or whichever device of choice you might use to read my ramblings), I ask you to consider the current state of my household:

• Three kids, yelling at each other when one looks at another sideways, for no apparent reason except to see how quickly my head will explode
• Laundry out the wazoo because these kids find it necessary to change their clothes four times a day
• Library books collecting dust, chores not finished, toys on every surface of this house...until I lose my face at them for not listening when I tell them to read a book or clean up after themselves
• A mom on the edge of her seat (and sanity), counting down the days until school starts and also counting to ten more times than she cares to admit

Just because the kids return to school does not mean that any of this will stop. The kids will still yell at each other before and after school, there will always be a ridiculous amount of laundry, and I will still have to flip out and/or count to ten when dealing with all their shenanigans. However, every school day there will be a lovely six hour break from the nonsense. And that, my friends, is the key to keeping my last shreds of sanity intact. I need that break. It is the only thing that will help me build up my patience reservoir, and unless Costco starts selling huge vats of patience (wouldn't that be great?), it will take me until next May (why does school let out so early?!?) to completely restore it. 

As my boys are gleefully yelling "BUTT CHEEKS" upstairs, while they should be brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed, I can just sit here and remind myself over and over: One. More. Week.

I just might make it.

Kings Island

Amusement park. Ten hours. Three kids.

Exhausted. Write more about it tomorrozzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Stumped

This writing-every-day gig can be difficult. Today is one of those days when I just feel like I have nothing interesting to share. It was a busy day, of course, and I'm quite certain I could force myself to post something that has some value (especially with the new school year just around the corner!), but I just don't feel like it.

And so, I'm giving myself a pass. Ok, another pass. The world will still be here tomorrow, and maybe then I'll have something more lively to contribute.

Digital Pack Rat

Ugh. I just deleted texts from my phone that were over two years old, then I went through one of my email accounts (yes, I have more than one) and deleted over 1100 messages. I may have a problem with hanging on to things.

I will be the first to admit that I am a packrat; I have tons of drawings from the kids, silly little mementos (think movie/show tickets), clothes that I might decide fit better in a couple of months. It's crazy out of control, and I've hit the wall.

So, I've started cleaning things out. The texts, the emails, my bedroom, the kids' closets; if they haven't been cleaned out yet, I'm hoping to get to it soon.

I already feel lighter after cleaning out just the digital clutter, so I can't wait to see how it feels once the house is cleaned out! Wish me luck; packrats have a terrible time parting with things. ;)

Cleaning

I'm still on my quest of cleaning everything up and out; it's a long process!

Today, I began cleaning out my half of the bedroom. Turns out, my dresser does have a top to it; it's really not an endless pile of junk.

It should be interesting to see if I can say the same about my desk. ;)

Friday Night

It's rare for us to have a quiet evening at home. Tonight, we are taking full advantage of the peaceful agenda. It's not even 7pm, and I am already changed into my pajamas: flannel penguin jammies and gray slipper socks. It's cold here for August!

Alex appropriately selected How the Grinch Stole Christmas for our viewing pleasure, and he is now pretending to be a waiter and keeps calling me "Sweetheart". Funny guy!  

I can't think of a cozier way to spend a Friday night.