Welcome October!

We're barely into the month, but it has been a long anticipated month in our household. We have so much going on. Here's why!

Halloween: Mac and Oli are obsessed with Halloween. Back in August, maybe even July, they started pouring over costume shop websites. Every Oriental Trading Company, PBK, or other random catalog gets snatched up leafed through over and over for decoration ideas. If it were up to Mac, we would be getting a fog machine (she dreams big), door hangings, and noise-activated decorations for outside.  I even ordered their costumes in late August, b/c they promised they wouldn't change their minds. Since I've been trying to organize and do things earlier lately, I figured why not this, too? I'm glad I did -- we have such a busy month, and it is nice to have this taken care of. Plus, Miles' costume was back-ordered, and I'm not sure we would have gotten it ontime.

last Halloween

last Halloween

Disney: Yes! We are going to Disney in just a few short weeks. I can't wait. I think I'm more excited than the kids right now. It is a  whole family trip, including aunts, cousins, and grandparents. We haven't been in a couple of years, and I am dying to go. To save money and the hassle of hauling all of our equipment on a plane, we are driving. Mac is way less than enthused, and I am...wary. I'm not sure it is refreshingly old school, or just plain stupid. Plus, b/c of a mix up at CHOP, Oli is out of casts for now. Bad for his feet, but good for swimming! We also have a lot of birthdays to celebrate this month, and I can't think of any better place to do it!

Miles turns 1: Yes! I I can't believe it, but my baby will be one soon. It is so bittersweet. He is so absolutely awesome, and I am looking forward to ever new stage, but at the same time, so sad to see him leave the baby stage. He can crawl, stand, and cruise. He can walk if he is pushing something (like his highchair) across the room. He eats everything, and even out-eats Oliver. He is funny, and I think he is really smart. While we won't be in Disney on his actual birthday, I plan on getting plenty of mileage out of it while we are there.

Last October

Now

Throw in some dinners with friends and karate belt promotions, and we can barely catch our breath! I love nothing more than a reason to celebrate, and October offers us plenty! I just hope it doesn't fly by, and that we get to celebrate everything to the max!

All About Oli

My Oli boy is in casts again. I didn't want to do it, but after a month with a pressure  sore, he couldn't get in his braces anymore. So every week, we go to King of Prussia and get his casts switched out. each time the doctor alters the angle of his foot just a but, so that by November, he should be able to fit in his braces again. In that time, he has to give up swim lessons and swimming in Florida. He was a little disappointed about swim, and hasn't realized yet about Florida. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it,  I guess

On the up side,he is rocking in school! He is so much more articulate in telling me what he does each day, and who his friends are. He has made plenty, which makes me feel better about him having to split from his friends from last year, who moved on to first grade. He is so interested in books now, and we try to count everything. Basically, he is so much more inquisitive now, and I think that is a big part of what was lacking last year. Fingers crossed for a successful school year, so that a) he enjoys himself, and b) he can promote to regular ed in first grade. However, whether he promotes to regular or special ed in first grade, I'm glad we gave him this extra year of foundation.

We got funding for a ramp, which is the process of being built now. I can't wait for it to be done, since he will be able to get into the house without being carried. We also had a wheelchair height seat built into our countertop when we had the kitchen redone, and are working on getting funding to redo the bathroom. I hope that within the year, we will have a house that is Oli-accessible, and lets him feel empowered (even if he wasn't feeling in-empowered, I want him to grow up feeling that the house is built as much for him as for anyone else).

Finally, his bowel program seems to be working, so we are going to look into self catheterization when we go to his clinic appointment in November. I'm not sure it will be time yet, but we are getting closer to underwear! Our goal was first grade (or, I guess, age 6), so we are right on track.

Whew. There is more, but these are the highlights. Oli is still cute, sweet, and very much my little boy. However, I can see a bit more "big kid" in him as he comes into his own.

Back to School and a Summer in Review

It's here -- the time of year that we nerds dream about -- Back to School! In my house, that means just about everybody -- me, Mac, and Oli. Mac and I get super excited; Oli, not so much. But I think even he had a good first day. 

This year, I was determined to get it right -- optimize for success. We did our back to school shopping very early, and got everything that we needed with minimum fuss or tantrum (of course, there was one tantrum, but sadly, Beth and I agreed that this was our most successful year by far.) We've picked out our clothes for the whole week by Sunday night. So far, that has been working. We also get up early enough to include enema (also working), and have a new, no TV in the morning rule (also working, although Tim seems disturbed by it). We are still negotiating lunch -- Mac wants nothing short of lunchables, and I say no way. Plus, Oli decided that he hates peanut butter (his go-to lunch from last year). I have signed up for a free week of mom-ables, bought the Trader Joe's Lunch cookbook, and taken the kids to Whole Foods for a "pack your own lunch" event, but to little avail. Oli wants "snack" and Mac wants Lunchables, which are a nutritional hang up of mine. We'll see how this all shakes out.

Of course, for all my successes this week, there were two epic fails. First: Mac didn't have a half day on Tuesday. Um...Oli did, so why not Mac. I had her all prepped for a half day, and didn't pack her a lunch. Tim showed up to pick her up at noon, along with 2 other parents (presumably parents of kindergartners, as well). Sigh. And then, b/c of my teaching schedule, along with temporarily losing my keys due to rushing b/c of my teaching schedule, I was late  picking up Mac on Wednesday. Poor girl. 

I'm going to focus on the successes and take it from there...

Speaking of successes and disappointments, I have a bit of a round up from the summer. This summer was universally declared "meh" (and by universally, I mean that Beth and I agree on it). Here's a brief rundown of our summer:

Successes:

1. Some good outings and family time. Lots of lunches together, and time spent at Dave and Busters, which the kids love.

2. Reading aloud a summer chapter book together --"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." Mac read aloud for us, and Oli even enjoyed it. Both kids got some reading exposure and enjoyment -- a win/win.

3. Being consistent with Bible reading -- for both me (alone in the morning) and the kids.

4. Weekly visits with Aunt Beth and Harry!! 

5. Got Oli's enema schedule back on track. Not fun, but very important.

6. Got new braces. Of course, we have a ginourmous bill that insurance should be covering, and the braces have subsequently given him pressure sores on both feet. However, the fact that we got the ball rolling is good.

7. Ordered a new walker. It's on backorder until mid-September, but since Oli can't wear his braces to use it anyway, no big deal.

8. Got an appointment for seating clinic for wheelchair modifications. A small but important victory that took way longer than it should have.

9. Miles got 4 teeth!!

10. Miles is standing, cruising, and climbing stairs.

11. Miles now eats everything and anything!

Wish we could have...

1. Gotten to the beach more!

2. Gone on more educational outings. The Betsy Ross House, Morris Arboretum and Crayola Factory were high on my list, but we never made it.

3. Gotten my work schedule on track earlier. It took a good month of a lot of stress for me to realize I had to get up and out as early as possible, thus forgoing many of the aforementioned trips. However, the work time was needed, and I think the kids still had a lot of fun.

4. Gotten outside more, period. I get a lot of resistance, especially from Oli. I would love to get them to the park more, but he actually cries not to go, and I don't have the energy to physically drag him.

5. Had less screen time. Not to sound too crunchy, but I know there were days where the kids just rotated among TV, Wii, Computer, and iPad. When they are fighting over whose turn it is for the 10th time, I realize that they have watched several hours of TV. Not that it will kill them (we watched a lot of TV as kids) but it always comes at the detriment of something else (like outside time. See above. I note a pattern).

All in all, not a bad summer, just lacking some of the pizzazz I usually associate with my favorite season. I think that I was spoiled by Tim not working last summer -- we were able to do so much more! Also, since we are saving our vacation for October, this was a first time in a long time that we didn't get away. Boy, am I spoiled. 

So, as back to school gets into full swing, I am happily celebrating the change in pace and routine. I love summer and am always sad to see it go. But I am looking forward to school, sweatshirts, new activities, the cooler fall weather, football and "fall food" (hot wings and pumpkin spice lattes, anyone?).

My cuties on their first day. They are so big!

Love her spirit!

Happy Birthday Sweet Oli!

I think I use that title every year. Because Oli is just so, well, sweet! He is funny, engaging, and, well, sweet! I don't know if it is because I consider him more vulnerable that the other kids, that I still consider him my baby. As my mom has taught me, all of my kids will always be my babies, but Oli is different somehow. And as I watch him grow, I am excited to see him change, but still want to hold him close.

This has been an exciting and challenging year for my Little O. He started kindergarten, and while he made friends and learned a lot, he didn't keep up with the class. After much debate, we decided to hold him back and let him repeat. Since he is a young 5, and only two weeks ahead of the age cutoff for the school district, it seemed like the right choice to make. I still think the first year was good for him, and from the spring through the summer, especially, he has really blossomed. He can count, recognize letters, and is starting to read just a little bit. If video/computer games were a measure of academic excellence, he would be at the head of the class! He is (sometimes) curious, and always showing me stuff. His favorite phrase is "Mom, c'mere."

He often talks nonstop, but can also be quiet and patient. He has a bit of troublemaker in him, especially where Mac is involved. He is still a good snuggler, and I hope he always will be. He is, quite simply, my little buddy. I love him so much.

Some stats:

Favorite computer game: club penguin
Favorite Superhero: changes daily. I think batman is at the top right now, but I suspect superman will always win in the end.
Favorite food: spaghetti and meatballs or tacos. And anything ice cream or dessert.
Favorite shows: Batman brave & the Bold
Still loves: playing with his guys!

Wishing my Little O a happy birthday, and many more!

helping me out with recent errands. i really don't shop at wal mart much, for the record. but look what a cutie i picked up there on sale!

at orange belt promotion. i'm so proud.

loving his cousin harry!

at an impromptu ice cream party we had on his birthday.

What I'm Wearing

I have been reading a lot of mommy blogs lately (possibly the key for my undoing), even as part of a paper I presented at a conference. I have noticed that many blogs have regular features, one of which seems to be "what I'm wearing." In these posts, bloggers share the details, of, well, what they are wearing on any given day. Although I doubt it is a random day, I"m sure they dress up for it :) At first I thought it was a bit inane -- who cares what you are wearing? But in the blogs that I really follow, as opposed to just followed for my conference paper, I find myself absolutely fascinated. So, although I am no fashionista, I thought I would give it a try...

This guy! Other than when I am working, I feel like he is always either attached or at arm's length. That is how I like it. He is my little squish!

This guy. In the a.m. it might as well be attached to me. And I've started a very bad afternoon habit, too. Mostly, it's just decaf, though. Is it possible to drink too much decaf? I think I'm going to find out.

And these guys. Apparently, you can take the girl out of Jersey, but, well, you know the rest.

And since I couldn't get a respectable selfie of the bags under my eyes, you'll just have to take my word for it :)