Summer Vacation = Blog Vacation

Hi there. It has been a while, but since I am stuck in Honda getting the oil changed and whatever else it is that they do for a Schedule B service check, I have access to either this computer or ESPN on the TV. Since the World's Cup is over, I have no interest in ESPN on this scorching hot morning, so I thought I would finally update my blog.

So much has changed since I was here last:
1. My little guy is in a theraputic camp for kids with Asperger's and ADHD and loves, loves, loves it. Though the meltdowns are fewer and further between, the exhaustion this week has brought on a few.

2. Minding my own business, an adjunct position at a local college found me and I will be working for real for the first time in 7 years starting in September. And what a cushy schedule I found! Monday, Wednesday, and Friday one class from 10-11 and one class from 1-2 with 2-3 office hours in between. I have plenty of time to lesson plan between the two classes and do any correcting in that same period of time. I am very excited.

3. We are spending this summer home and what a difference in my stress levels from last year.

4. Operation Health has been a slow success. I have lost about 30 pounds since January, with a bulk of it since May 19th. My clothes are swimming on me, which is a great feeling, but I need to finally go shopping because everything is soooo big! :)


So, that is all the exciting news. I wish that my little guy could go to camp longer this summer. They are really helping him and if you are in a similiar situation, I suggest you suss out a therapeutic camp if you can. This camp is super expensive, but when I tell you how happy he is and how much he has grown in one week, I can't say enough!

I will check in more frequently as the summer goes on. For now, I am signing off and hoping you enjoy the heat and remember that it will be snowing before we know it.

Part III, Day 8: Not beating self up

Well, it has been 4 days since I posted. I have no real reason, other than I have been overwhelmed with my son's end of the year. This child's routine has just been blown up. He is being kicked out of his school due to that nasty thing called Pre-K Graduation and he is being sent in September with most of his buddies to, gasp, the big school (which is technically the same school). On top of that, he was finished with school one week and one day before his sisters. Plus, Papa is on his first business trip in months.

This is now not a happy post, I am seeing only clouds to be honest. I am trying to be bubbly and happy. Instead, I am feeling retrospective and a bit blah.

Yesterday, was truly the icing on the cake. Upon arrival at a "play doctor" visit, Gregory decided he did not wish to enter the building. I admit it, I bribed him with McDonald's. Then it was a struggle and fight from the car all the way up three flights. Half way up I was wondering why I was doing this to myself. And to him. Though being thrashed, my own self was first. Horrid parent that I am. We finally made it all the way up, and he was like a limp octopus on the floor out side the door and coincidentally at the top of the staircase.

After much coaxing, we got him inside. Then he proceeded to hit me, bite me, pull my shirt, etc. It was horrible. And not foreign to me. As I looked at the doctor, I saw sympathy in her eyes. We left the appointment with him not wanting to leave. So I had the same issues in reverse. I am wondering if he is being let go though because she would not make the next appointment...though it was impossible with his behaviour at that point.

Grammie invited him to sleep over last night. I dropped him off with glee. I hope that he had a wonderful night. I know that I did. Exhaustion kind of does that.

For some reason in the midst of this altercation, this song was in my head...

Part III, Day 3: Blogger Lock Out

I have no idea what was going on yesterday, but once again, I could not edit my blog...

Part 3, Day 4: Getting ready

Today my little man graduated from Pre-School. Part of me is relieved. Part of me is happy. Part of me is sad. Soon gone will be the innocence of being a small boy, to be replaced, perhaps, by the cynicism of the day. Part of me wants to stop time and despite the constant meltdown, hold him in my arms and really enjoy this special bond we have. Yet, I know that let him grow I must for he is really eons ahead academically, he is just behind in the social relm. Funny, for parts of the year, I have been wishing for Kindergarten. Wishing to have some real time on my hands. Now, I want to turn back time and wish for more understanding and patience.

See, Gregory was not diagnosised until November, so I was having a wretched time trying to figure out what was going on. No one believed me that there was something a little bit off. He seems fine at first glance. It's the behind the scenes meltdowns and fits. It was the emotional baggage. It was the private beatings he was giving me. I felt so alone. No one, not even my husband, seemed to fully understand the stress and the emotions. It was a dark time. A long, and dark two years.

However, since diagnosis, we, as a family, have drawn together and are figuring out ways to help our little man become a big man. Our days are far from perfect, but there is sun shining on days when in the past there was nothing but darkness. Now I really want to absorb each moment. Gone are the feelings of just trying to survive.

So, as I look at the long summer ahead of us, I am looking at the fun we will have. The new adventures. The new friends. The new us.

Part III, Day 2: Down 10 pounds!

So, after less than one month with the nutrition doctor, I am down 10 pounds. It actually feels like more than it is because all of my clothes are hanging on me. Literally. It was pretty embarrassing the other day when my son pulled on my pants and they fell down! Thank God I caught them before mooning the entire mall!

I kind of feel like I should treat myself to something. But I have no idea what that would be! I will just have to sit and think about it.

Today was kind of exciting. I was a chaperon for my twins' homeroom on their field trip. We went to a battle ship in Quincy, MA. The USS Salem was huge! They loved seeing the brig, the hospital, and the ice cream area. It was a 6 year old's dream come true.

For some reason the movie Top Gun has been in my head ever since... so...

Part III, Day 1: A Week of Tragedy

I've been MIA for the past week, because with so many crazy things going on around me I could not bring myself to write about happiness while friends and family are crying in pain. Now that that horrible week is over, I shall continue this journey.

First, I would like to remember Blanca Gomez, a good friend's mother who was killed in Mexico in a horrible tragedy. Please keep her and the entire family in prayers, especially her husband, who was with her at the time. It's funny at times like these, the important minutea in your life suddenly seems minuscule and the important appears from the background to let you re-examine.

I have had so much to talk about this past week, but decided to keep quiet for the week out of respect for the family above and others we know going through very difficult times. It seems wrong to be sunny, when they are all so down. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, time does march on and new adventures and experiences pepper our lives.

My baby had Kindergarten orientation on Friday. How is it possible that he will be in Kindergarten next year? It seemed like these baby/toddler/preschool days would never end. Seven wonderful years are under our belts, yet in some part of my mind, I was convinced that the children would stay little just a smidge longer. Before we know it they will not want to spend time with us. I am trying not to think about it.

Saturday was a walk down memory lane. My eighth grade class had a 25th reunion! It was strange to see people I have not seen since I was 13. Furthermore, part of me returned to that awkward 13 year old when remeeting everyone. I left with a little sadness and as people are friending one another on FB a little more sadness. It is really nothing in the big scheme. I am having a wonderful life and do not need the approval of these people, but to see them treating me the same way is just stunning. There was one woman who turned her back to me three times! I was stunned to be honest. I remembered her at shy, not as bitchy. I guess life treats everyone not so nicely now and then.

Anyway, enough dwelling about that. The next day, Sunday, my husband and I met friends from our time in LA for lunch. It was great to just hang with people who never judged you with tween angst. They had their little one in tow and our three loved playing with her.

So though last week started sourly, it ended with excitement and joy. Hope the winds from the tornadoes last week took the strange air with it and that we can settle into a nice, fun, uneventful summer.

Part II, Day 35: Unofficial Beginning of Summer!

At long last Spring has found its way to New England! Yesterday and today have been gorgeous and we have been taking in outdoors. This morning hubby and I took our first hike of the season. It was so nice to be back on trails (though swatting away a million mosquitoes was not so fun).

After we picked up the children from my parents, we headed over to a friends' house to kick off the unofficial summer. (For Americans, Memorial Day Weekend is the start of the summer season...though the calendar disagrees.)

We had a relaxing time watching the kids. Wait, let me say that again, we had a relaxing time watching the kids. They had a ball swimming, catching slimy frogs, and hanging with their friends. This was the first party that we could relax and enjoy ourselves. Gregory was a dream child and was not the loudest by any stretch of the imagination.

The best part of the whole thing was really talking to our friends that we usually see in quick hello/goodbye fashion in the pick up and drop off lines.

Hope your summer is starting out well.