Wednesday, August 27, 2008

First day at "regular" school

Jimmy's first day of "regular" school was a tough one, not tough for him but it was for me. It was really hard for me to leave him there where he did not know anyone and no one knew about the extent of his disabilities. He hides his blindness very well and he is very independent, he won't ask for help. I know lots of people think I am crazy when I worry about him. But, after all, he is only seven and I am a mom. Here are a couple of things that happened his first day of school.

I drove by his school during recess and saw him in the corner of the playground alone sitting against the fence. All the other kids were running around the field and playing on the playground. I pulled the car over so I could walk over and talk to him when he suddenly got up and ran to the school building, seconds after he started for the building the bell rang and all the other kids ran to the school with him. When he got home that night I told him I saw him and asked him what he was doing. He told me he could not see any other kids on the playground and did not know what to do so he was saying a prayer. When he was done praying he said he knew he should go to the school building.

I asked Jimmy if he introduced himself to his class. He said the teacher asked each child to tell the class their name and something interesting or unusual about themselves. He said he told them his name was Jimmy and that he had a wii game system. I asked why he told about the game system. He replied that it was all he could think of. Hmmm... the kid has had a brain tumor, is blind, half bald & wears a hairpiece, has has 4 brain surgeries and the only thing he can think of that is unusual or interesting about himself is that he has a wii game system?

Good for him.

Monday, August 25, 2008

End of Summer, First Day of School

My little boys walking to school this morning

Well it is finally here, the first day of school, the day I have been dreading with some anticipation for months. I think I am the only mom that cries the day she sends her kids back to school. Sure, I will enjoy being able to get things done around the house and I will enjoy the quiet but, I will miss the kids and the noise and I'll miss the hugs whenever I need one. When I send them to school it just seems like they age an entire year in one day. I now have kids in 11th, 9th, 6th, and 2nd grades: where did all the precious summers with them go?

It was especially hard to send Jimmy this year, he is being mainstreamed and I can't help but worry about him. I worry about him getting lost, making friends, fitting in with the other kids. I worry about both my youngest boys, with their learning challenges, falling through the cracks.

I worry about my 6th grader, he does not seem to have any friends at school, I watched the other children run to their buddies on the playground, but my boy just stood there alone by the school door and watched the other kids. He really hated school last year I hope this year will be better.

I worry about my two teen age sons: are they making good friends and making good decisions? Is my oldest ever get his eagle so he can drive? Will they be able to understand the importance of getting good grades?

I look back at their summer, did my boys have good experiences? did we build good memories together as a family? did we have enough fun to last until next summer?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Dreaded "School shopping"


It is that time again, time to go school shopping. School starts next Monday and I can't put it off any longer. I hate school shopping, I really don't like spending money but that's not all, the money isn't the worst part, the worst part is shopping with my boys. Have you ever taken four boys to buy CLOTHES? It is like pulling teeth, only not as pleasant; when you go to the dentist at least you get Novocaine. Last year I tried to get it all done at once, all four boys in the store together trying to get them to try on clothes and not play games, fight or escape. It didn't work very well, I had boys shopping in the children's dept, men's dept, shoes, and electronics dept. (I had to keep chasing them out of the electronics dept.) I think my headache lasted for a month.


So this year I plan to take a day for each child. I can see us having an enjoyable day together, I'll stop and buy them lunch and spend quality time with each boy and they would enjoy shopping for clothes with me.


yeah, right.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Full of hot air


My husband wanted to go to the "Sandy Balloon Festival" Friday. We got there early so we could see the balloons inflate. We took your youngest boy, Jimmy, the only one who wanted to wake up that early. We got to the park to watch the balloons inflate. Where Marty quickly found a balloon pilot who needed help. He had fun helping, unfortunately the winds kicked up just as the balloons were getting inflated so they never got off the ground. However Marty had by this time volunteered to help with the balloons on Saturday morning as well. It was lots of fun.
So when we got there Saturday morning (this time with all 4 boys) and helped set up the balloon again. Only this time the pilot asked Marty to be a passenger in the balloon and me and the boys got recruited for the "chase team"
We also went and helped out Saturday night at the "glow" but unfortunately the weather was not co-operating again. Now Marty is saying he wants to buy a balloon . Friday when My husband asked it I wanted to go to to a balloon festival I never imagined that I would be part of a balloon chase team and discussing buying a balloon... I 'm still deciding if it was a good decision to go.
My boys did learn that good things can happen when you volunteer to help someone.
We are going to another balloon festival this weekend.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Etsy- anything you want



Bracelets I am selling on etsy
Let me tell you about one of my new favorite sites: Etsy.com: It is a website for buying and selling handmade items. There is some fabulous stuff made by very talented people for great prices. It is like the most fabulous boutique you have ever visited, only better, and online. I have begun to sell my jewlery for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and I have already sold 3 bracelets in the past week. My Etsy ID is ArtistMelody

One of my favorite parts of etsy is Alchemy where buyers can post requests for custom handmade items, and then sellers bid on the opportunity to make the goods. Have you ever wanted a handmade book, dress, art, or jewelry custom made just for you? here is your chance, if you can dream it someone there can make it. Just describe what you want with what price you are willing to pay and all kinds of artists and artisans send you bids. You can look at their work and decide to get what you want. This is just so cool!

Friday, August 1, 2008

the price of gas

"Marty '82" 8x10 oil
My dear husband has wanted a motorcycle for a looooong time. I just love him too much to want him to have one: I have seen and heard of too many accidents involving motorcycles. I don't want to risk it. I tell him to please wait until he older and we no longer have a family to raise before he gets a motorcycle. And he loves me enough to not get a motorcycle
Well with gas prices the way they are now my man has come up with a new argument: It will save money. He wanted to get a motor scooter to ride to work, he won't ride it on the interstate so it is safer than a motorbike and it'll get lots better gas mileage. I'm not convinced we will actually save very much money by spending $1,500 on a scooter but he really wanted one and he said he won't get one without my "blessing." I'm not that motivated by money I value my husband much more than MPG. I do feel bad asking him not to do something he really wants to do, actually he knows he can talk me into anything.
So we went out and got a shiny new motor scooter for his birthday. Along with 2 helmets so he can take a passenger.
Vroom...vroom......