The kids woke me up at 6 a.m. this morning . . . to tell me to stay in bed! ROFL It turned out that they had decided today we would celebrate "Ooma's Day" (my 1/2 of Mothers Day) and plans were afoot. However as my wife, who would orchestrate the plans was not yet awake, they played and chattered on my bed for another 45 minutes while I slept. (I use that term very loosely folks!)
Then K got up and in short order, tea, flowers, OJ and gifts appeared. Cards made with care and love. Items chosen with thought and knowledge of what matters most to me. And eventually, muffins, fresh from the oven to savor in bed while I read on K's Kindle. I feel very loved!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
KC at 8
It seems silly to write that as a title. He has only been 8 for just over a month. But there has been a huge developmental leap for him that came with turning 8. In his mind he is really a "big" kid now and is trying to be more adventurous. He is my least adventurous child. One who likes the same foods, the same clothes, the same stories. . . you get the drift.
Suddenly he has started trying new foods. And doing more than swallowing the required "tasting portion" whole and chasing it down quickly with beverage. He has discovered that some new foods he actually (gasp) LIKES and this has enboldened him to try even more. I am thrilled. It seemed for a bit there like he was going to live on plain pasta and veggie burgers forever. LOL
He has been more receptive to staying in his own bed most nights. I am thrilled about that too. I am a huge cosleeping proponent but he needs to be able to self soothe a bit. One of the downsides of co-sleeping is he got so used to the sounds, scents and tactile feeling of someone else in bed that he truly misses it, even when many stuffed animal friends are there to keep him company. But again, big progress has been made.
8 is also kind of the time that all my kids start to be more probing about their adoption stories and KC is no different. Last night he was lying across my lap and i was rubbing his back for him while we read bedtime stories. He seemed a bit troubled and I wasn't sure about what. Finally he said,
"It is very sad to have no family."
I asked what he meant.
"Well, I had no family until you came. I was in the hospital all alone. I think I was scared."
My heart broke. I reminded him that his first mother was in the hospital too and he was not ever, for one minute alone. I told him again about the NICU and how the nurses took extra special care because he was such a teeny tiny baby, and how they spent a long time teaching Mom and I how to care for him before we brought him home. I waited a bit and then told him he should remember he can always always talk about any questions he has about his adoption and his first mom.
He cuddled closer and sighed, and said he just wished he could hear her voice. And that he worried that she was dead. I said it was not likely that she was dead as we knew how old she was when she had him and that put her in her mid 30's now. I told him about how Y wrote that she loved poetry and art and that I thought those were gifts that he has from his mother and that he will always share with her. I reminded him that we have her picture in his very first scrapbook and that she is wearing the team shirt of the Yankees who he and I cheer on every summer.
It is all I really have that I can give him now of his story. I don't know where Y is now or how she is doing. I hope with all my heart that she is doing well and finished the schooling she wanted to do. I hope someday she reads the letters I leave at the agency for her every year, telling about KC's year and filled with pictures taken all during the year. I would love to get a call some day that she wants to meet him. And I wish my son didn't feel this pain.
Suddenly he has started trying new foods. And doing more than swallowing the required "tasting portion" whole and chasing it down quickly with beverage. He has discovered that some new foods he actually (gasp) LIKES and this has enboldened him to try even more. I am thrilled. It seemed for a bit there like he was going to live on plain pasta and veggie burgers forever. LOL
He has been more receptive to staying in his own bed most nights. I am thrilled about that too. I am a huge cosleeping proponent but he needs to be able to self soothe a bit. One of the downsides of co-sleeping is he got so used to the sounds, scents and tactile feeling of someone else in bed that he truly misses it, even when many stuffed animal friends are there to keep him company. But again, big progress has been made.
8 is also kind of the time that all my kids start to be more probing about their adoption stories and KC is no different. Last night he was lying across my lap and i was rubbing his back for him while we read bedtime stories. He seemed a bit troubled and I wasn't sure about what. Finally he said,
"It is very sad to have no family."
I asked what he meant.
"Well, I had no family until you came. I was in the hospital all alone. I think I was scared."
My heart broke. I reminded him that his first mother was in the hospital too and he was not ever, for one minute alone. I told him again about the NICU and how the nurses took extra special care because he was such a teeny tiny baby, and how they spent a long time teaching Mom and I how to care for him before we brought him home. I waited a bit and then told him he should remember he can always always talk about any questions he has about his adoption and his first mom.
He cuddled closer and sighed, and said he just wished he could hear her voice. And that he worried that she was dead. I said it was not likely that she was dead as we knew how old she was when she had him and that put her in her mid 30's now. I told him about how Y wrote that she loved poetry and art and that I thought those were gifts that he has from his mother and that he will always share with her. I reminded him that we have her picture in his very first scrapbook and that she is wearing the team shirt of the Yankees who he and I cheer on every summer.
It is all I really have that I can give him now of his story. I don't know where Y is now or how she is doing. I hope with all my heart that she is doing well and finished the schooling she wanted to do. I hope someday she reads the letters I leave at the agency for her every year, telling about KC's year and filled with pictures taken all during the year. I would love to get a call some day that she wants to meet him. And I wish my son didn't feel this pain.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Fiona's arts night
The kids and I talked with Fiona last night. Amazing Jane was away but staff still made sure we could have our phone call. Yay! They seem to be getting better about this recently and I am pretty excited about it. :-) Fiona was in good spirits. Next Tuesday we will all be together at an event for her school. The kids are all working on songs to sing and will be backed up by a real band. There is also other entertainment and some other stuff happening.
I reminded her that we were excited about coming to be with her and told her I would be bringing my camera. She let out this long "moo-ooom" and kind of giggled. I said she had to put up with it, it is just what moms do and she outright laughed.
Then KC got on the phone and asked her about what she was going to wear. She must have told him and then I heard him say "how are you going to do your hair?" (pause) "Oh a bun?" And what are you going to put in it?" (another pause) "Well you know you need a flower, or a decoration or a hair net or something in your hair to be truly fashionable!" OMG my kids crack me up!
I reminded her that we were excited about coming to be with her and told her I would be bringing my camera. She let out this long "moo-ooom" and kind of giggled. I said she had to put up with it, it is just what moms do and she outright laughed.
Then KC got on the phone and asked her about what she was going to wear. She must have told him and then I heard him say "how are you going to do your hair?" (pause) "Oh a bun?" And what are you going to put in it?" (another pause) "Well you know you need a flower, or a decoration or a hair net or something in your hair to be truly fashionable!" OMG my kids crack me up!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Summer Plans
I am not good at sitting around. This bugs my wife who is able to just "be". For me, "being" is synonymous with "doing." I suspect I am both hardwired that way and also nurtured that way, as I was raised in a "doing" sort of family.
K dreams of summers where we laze around. They don't happen, which is why she has regularly scheduled runaway days. She leaves us every 4 to 6 weeks and has a day to herself to quietly and silently do whatever it is that recharges her spirit at that moment.
The kids and I recharge with jumping into experiences. And with that in mind, I am surprised at how much the summer is filling up all ready. We have thus far--a July camping trip for the kids and I, Rob has a July campout with his godfather, the kids and I want to hit a folk festival in a not far off town the last Saturday in July, there is a birthday party at a childrens play area to attend. In August we have another birthday, another camping trip and KC and Lissa's annual summer party.
The summer party is starting to take shape. A friend of a friend is doing a free magic show where she will do magic tricks but then TEACH 3 tricks to the kids so that they can do their own magic shows. There will also be some games that KC has planned during the year and a bounce house. KC and Lissa made a list of the friends they want to invite. There are 21 names on the list. None of them are related to us. Clearly the folks that think home-schooled children are bereft of socialization have not met my tribe. LOL
Adding in beach trips, and gardening at our community garden plot, picnics and after supper hikes,visits with Fiona, and meals on the deck, summer is looking pretty good!
K dreams of summers where we laze around. They don't happen, which is why she has regularly scheduled runaway days. She leaves us every 4 to 6 weeks and has a day to herself to quietly and silently do whatever it is that recharges her spirit at that moment.
The kids and I recharge with jumping into experiences. And with that in mind, I am surprised at how much the summer is filling up all ready. We have thus far--a July camping trip for the kids and I, Rob has a July campout with his godfather, the kids and I want to hit a folk festival in a not far off town the last Saturday in July, there is a birthday party at a childrens play area to attend. In August we have another birthday, another camping trip and KC and Lissa's annual summer party.
The summer party is starting to take shape. A friend of a friend is doing a free magic show where she will do magic tricks but then TEACH 3 tricks to the kids so that they can do their own magic shows. There will also be some games that KC has planned during the year and a bounce house. KC and Lissa made a list of the friends they want to invite. There are 21 names on the list. None of them are related to us. Clearly the folks that think home-schooled children are bereft of socialization have not met my tribe. LOL
Adding in beach trips, and gardening at our community garden plot, picnics and after supper hikes,visits with Fiona, and meals on the deck, summer is looking pretty good!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Recital Re-cap
This is the best picture I have of Lissa at the dance recital. Anytime she saw a camera she had such a serious expression you would think she hated the whole deal. Since she told me last night on the way home that she wants to take classes again, I doubt that is the case! LOL But for whatever reason, she could not crack a smile. This was my little squirrel back stage, making a craft. We parents who keep the kids busy till they go on, work in the cafeteria plying them with snacks and crafts!
He is a trooper too as yesterday, on day 2 of recital, the tap on one of his shoes came 3/4 off. He came over to me and I had to yank the whole tap off. It didn't bother him though and he went right out and performed as if nothing unusual had occured.
His jazz performance was my favorite, probably because it was HIS favorite and you could see how much he loved it. Boy was I tired though by weekends end. Yesterday, 2 of my friends who had worked backstage the day before had tickets to watch the show and needed someone to help their children change. So I had 3 extra kids to help change into multiple costumes. By 9 p.m. last night I was ready for bed, though I did not get there till 10 as we have a large and difficult paper job to complete as well.
Friday, May 18, 2012
I am shamelessly borrowing Rob's photo of the sunrise from our lanai when we were in Florida. There were the most amazing sunrises there that week. . . Sunrises are about new chances and opportunities to grow and last night I watched KC make a milestone of growth at his dress rehearsal.
Unlike years past, he had NO anxiety issues. The back stage crew all remember him and introduced themselves to him and he was cheery and happy. Not serious and shaking. I did not have to be in the wings on stage for him as I have in previous years. I walked him to the stage and quietly stepped back. Last year he would have broken line and clutched my hand like a drowning person. This year, he just kept walking.
So I got to sit in the audience and watch the rehearsal. The numbers are so cute and I enjoyed it so much. I didn't enjoy as much the fact that we were there from 3:30 to 9 p.m. LOL But ironically, KC did. (thankfully K could come pick up Lissa when her part was done as it was too long for her to hang around). KC said that last year when Miss Heidi grouped the younger kids together for practice he felt more scared because he didn't really know where he was in the program. So he would rather stay later and have the feel of the whole show. Which makes sense.
So my crazy life is filled with recital stuff this weekend. Plus we have 15 yards of mulch to spread and yesterday was the first decent weather day since we returned home from vacation. Which means very little of Mulch Mountain has begun to cover the front beds. K and I have a gigantic piece work order and we have never done this particular job before. It is due next Friday and while the pay will be good, figuring out the time slots to work on it with all the other stuff going on is making me a wee bit um, crazy!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Rehearsal Day
Today is the dress rehearsal for this weekends dance recital. I'll try and post pictures of KC and Lissa in costume. KC is a zebra in one number and a star in another. Lissa is a squirrel. KC adores dancing. He dances everywhere he goes, singing or making up poetry as he moves. He brought his recital music to Florida and practiced there, and practiced again in our kitchen last night.
However, he is also a child who has massive stage fright--at least till he gets out on stage. Then he is fine, but the time leading up to it sees an increase in his fear and his anxiety. I am hoping it is better for him this year. And kicking myself because this would have been the ideal thing to try tapping over, but as I need to head out to work imminently it is not likely I'll be able to do that. Sigh. I've been reading so much about how helpful this is, but thinking that I could not think of at this point a clear focus for a tapping session.
However, he is also a child who has massive stage fright--at least till he gets out on stage. Then he is fine, but the time leading up to it sees an increase in his fear and his anxiety. I am hoping it is better for him this year. And kicking myself because this would have been the ideal thing to try tapping over, but as I need to head out to work imminently it is not likely I'll be able to do that. Sigh. I've been reading so much about how helpful this is, but thinking that I could not think of at this point a clear focus for a tapping session.
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