PT {or more appropriately titled "people are a$$ holes"}

I need to get this off my chest....

Sam has been going to PT for about 5 months for some issues (that are not serious).  Running, jumping, general balance and core strength skills are delayed due to the many ear infections he had as a baby.  So we go to PT to get him caught up.  He's really doing great.  While at PT (and at home) we put Kinesiotape on his legs to improve muscle tone.  It's blue.  And looks like he has a stripe running up his leg.  We call it his super hero tape, or most recently, his Olympian tape (b/c most of the Olympic athletes wore it this summer).

My problem - people are a$$ holes!  Here's a tip: just because you think it, doesn't mean you should say it.  

You have no idea how many times a day someone says "what's wrong with his legs?' - in front of Sam!  I'm not talking about children saying this - no it's ADULTS!  There's nothing wrong with curiosity, but don't act like there's something wrong with Sam.  And certainly don't say something like that in front of my kid - he already thinks he's different, he doesn't need a rude comment like that to make him feel like there's something wrong with him.  B/c eventually, he will - that's how often we hear that question.  My favorite is when they look at him like he's deformed.  

When we first started wearing the tape, I would politely smile and say "oh he's fine".  Currently, I'm going into overly complicated details about how the kinesiotape works just to make rude people uncomfortable.  Now, I think the conversation will go like this:
Rude person - "What's wrong with his legs?"
Me: "Nothing.  What's wrong with your brain?"
The End.

Maybe a bit much?  I don't care - I'll be the crazy mom who can't handle comments made about her kid over having my son feel like crap.  Any day.  Questions like "What's that on his legs?" and "Is that paint on his legs?' are questions we hear too, but not as often.  And those are fine with me.  I'm happy to tell you what it is.  But I will NOT explain to you that there's nothing wrong with a child.  Especially mine.   Perhaps this post is a little bit hostile, but I've had it.

I feel MUCH better now. 

Love him.  And his tape! 

September

Think it slows down around here after school starts up?  Not at all.  In fact, we've been doing quite a bit of traveling.  Because what's a couple more days off, right?  I feel a little bad - Caroline has missed 3 of the first 9 days of school because of travel.  Personally, I feel that travel experiences are educational - fortunately the school agrees.  As long as she makes up her work and it's not excessive, we're ok.

Our first trip this month was to Albuquerque, NM.  Nick's good friend, Hank and his family live there and have been wanting us to come out for a while.  Labor Day weekend seemed perfect.  If you've never been to the ABQ - I highly recommend it.  The weather is FABULOUS!  And how can you argue with this view

We woke up to this view every day.  It was a realxing trip.  Hank and Deb are long past having little ones in the house...bet they think twice before asking us back!  Kiddos were very excited - not quite sure if it was the fresh air or the fact that we were a mile above sea level, but the kids were bouncing off the walls.

Our next adventure was to New Orleans last weekend.  Nick's college buddy/frat brother was getting married, so we packed up and drove down to NOLA.  Luckily, Nick and I had some peace and quiet thanks to my inlaws.  They picked up the kids and took them back to Alabama all weekend!  I went to the spa on Friday, Nick went to a couple bars and hung out with his friends.  It was a good time.  And the food!  How could I forget the food?  Delish!!! 

Arriving at Pat O's on the River after second lining through Jackson Square.  So fun!

This weekend I'm throwing my BFF, Victoria, a baby shower.  Dinner with my parents for their birthdays.  Birthday party for a friend.  Caroline is having a sleepover.

The following weekend, we're going to the beach with my family.  Sadly, we're also attending a going away party for one of my besties - I'm not ready to talk about that one yet.  I'm still in denial.

The weekend after that we're going to the Texans game.

I'm worn out just typing all this.  Don't get me started on October...I think I need an assistant.  

OMG - I have a second grader!

How did this happen?  When did Caroline grow up?  She went off to 2nd grade and didn't even look back!  To prepare for this special day, she started sorting her new clothes into categories of "what I will not wear to school on the first day"; "what I will wear on the first week"; and "what I will probably wear on the first day"  It was hilarious.  Then we had multiple fashion shows to make sure she had the perfect outfit - because that's really what the first day is all about - FASHION.  The entire school was a Justice for Girls advertisement.  

She hopped out of bed at 6, got herself dressed and ready before I even opened my eyes.  Knew it wouldn't last long though, b/c the second day of school was a different story - I practically had to drag her out of bed.  But at least she had a cute outfit to wear!

We are happy with the teacher arrangement this year.  Not thrilled she's out in a portable building, but we'll see how it goes.  Caroline thinks it's the coolest thing ever.  As long as she's happy, we're happy.  Hope she has a wonderful year this year!

update

i've already broken my "I'll blog once a week" deal.  oops.  

here's an update on my little medical situation that occurred 2 weeks ago:  doing fantastic!  saw the endocrinologist and all my labs were fine.  saw the neurologist and he gave me a shot and some headache medication in case this ever happens again (we are really, really, really hoping it does not) and sent me on my way.  

in the mail today, i got a survey to take on my experience at memorial hermann northeast.  this is going to be fun!  my ultimate goal in filling this thing out is the CEO of hermann to call me and apologize for the enormous group of morons he has working for him.  i realize that is most likely not going to happen - but a girl can dream... 

the end is near....

...the end of summer!!!  Woo to the hoo!!!!!  words cannot express my happiness.  next monday marks the start of freedom, my friends.  freedom to do whatever the hell i want to do, and when i want to do it.  well, until 3PM when i pick up kids from school.  no more taking them to the pool, entertaining them or feeding them non stop throughout the day.  and trust me, feeding them is a huge part of our day because these kids eat. all. the. time.  my grocery bill has almost tripled since summer started - its ridiculous.  

before we get caught up in the excitement of next week, lets talk about this week.  because it's in a whole different category of excitement!  PTO is kicking into high gear and there are events almost daily at the school this week.  our neighborhood social events committee is starting to plan our annual fall festival.  i'm planning not one, but 3 baby showers.  my house is so unorganized, i belong on an episode of hoarders.  i really wanted to do some little projects around here this week, to get it together. so it's fitting that the week i've made all these plans and volunteered to help at pto functions i wind up in the hospital for a possible stroke.  (it wasn't a stroke, it's actually aura migraines, and you can read about that here)  
monday morning, i drop sam off at school (on time!!!) and head to the gym for my favorite workout class, soul grooves.  i'm about 45 minutes into the class and i notice that i can't see out of my left eye.  about 1/2 a second later i start to get really confused and disoriented and must have looked that way, b/c our amazing instructor, Tracie, grabbed me and had me sit down.  i immediately start freaking out b/ i'm not quite sure what's happening.  i go to this class regularly, so it's not as if i've never broken a sweat before.  i start getting numbness on the left side of my body (mostly hand and face), my BP is extremely high and that's when the most horrific headache i've ever had in my life starts.  the EMT (yeah, you read that right - i left the GYM on a stretcher - effing humiliating) suggests i *could* possibly be having a tiny stroke called a TIA.  and that's how i ended up at the most awful hospital ever.  i don't care if anyone reading this works at Northeast - that hospital sucks and crappy service like that starts at the top in administration.  no one communicates - with each other OR the patient.  i won't go into details (b/c there are MANY) but i will say that anything that could have gone wrong, did.  if you're ever in an ambulance on the NE side of town and they ask you which hospital, tell them Kingwood - no really, insist on it.    

anyhoo - everything is fine.  i'm home and resting.  my family and friends are so awesome.  my sister (who is 7 months pregnant and has a toddler) took my kids all day and over night.  my parents brought them back home and MADE caroline and sam pick up their toys upstairs.  we have so many friends who brought flowers or offered to bring dinner or take the kids or come visit, i really appreciate it.  we live in a great neighborhood.  and of course, mr. stander who sat by my bed at the hospital and slept in the most uncomfortable chair. ever.  even when i was tired and cranky (i'm sugar coating it a little) and not very pleasant - he didn't leave me in the worst hospital in the world.  he stayed through the abuse.  love you!!!   i've still got this raging headache.  apparently migraines can last for more than a week - fun.  so i'm going to continue hanging out in dark rooms and make my family and friends talk very, very quietly around me.  chico barked this morning (which he never does - which also proves that he hates me) and i threw a magazine at him.  

below is a picture i took while i was getting ready for my EEG test.  it's kind of "creepy" as caroline called it - but it sums up the ridiculousness that was the last 2 days.  and if you can't laugh at yourself, there's something wrong with you.  :)  enjoy! 

change

i hate change have a problem with change.  today was one of those days that was supposed to be perfect.  where everyone gets out of bed without a fight (that does happen, right?) and gets dressed and ready for the day by 7:45 (someone PLEASE tell me this will happen someday in my house).  yep - today was sam's first day of school at a new school, and it was a total cluster.  i'm yelling at caroline to get the lead out - we are seriously going to have a problem when her school starts back in 2 weeks.  sam ate 2 waffles - and then wanted more.  and in the process, got syrup all over himself.  and if sam's hands are sticky or dirty in ANY way - it s meltdown.  then it was outfit #2 for him and realized i needed to get an official first day of school photo.  so out comes the fancy camera, had to change lenses, get the lighting right...ugh.  so it's 7:50 and i'm still running around like a lunatic (shocking to most of you, i'm sure).  oh, and his new school, it starts at 8.  sharp.  they made it perfectly clear when we registered that this was NOT mother's day out.  this was school.  real school.  must not be late.  ever.

i promise this post is about change - i'll find it somewhere.   ahh - yes.  so rolling into school at 8:07, running through the parking lot and i'm half yelling, half telling sam how great i hope his first day is.  and to be a good boy.  and to listen, etc... i feel like i robbed him of a great start on his first day at a new school.  i then get the kind, yet slightly irritated "class starts at 8" look from his teacher.  i throw him into class, head to the gym and that's where it hit me: he's not with his friends.  he's not with the teachers that have been with him since he was 18 months old.  i felt really sad for him.  and for me.  i met some really great people at his old school and i really missed them today.  i don't know these people - they don't know sam yet.  they don't know he's allergic to milk yet.  they don't know what sets him off into a fit suitable for a new jersey housewife (i actually had a lot more irrational thoughts about how it would have just been easier to keep him at his old school - but i won't bore you with those!) yes, it was time for a change for sam and it was a difficult one to make.  nick and i feel this place will get sam caught up so he can start (gulp) kindergarten next fall.  not that his old school wasn't doing that for him - he loved it there.  we loved it there, but a fresh start is going to be what's best for sam. so while i'm not 100% settled with the change and the way this morning went, i'm happy that sam is in good hands.  that he'll eventually make new friends and that the staff of this new school will get to know him and love him like his old one did.  

this is literally 1 of 2 pictures i took this morning.

this is the other one.  not sure if he was caught in the act of picking his nose or just finished...i didn't even bother editing this one.

hopefully wednesday will be better.  i'll get some better pictures and we'll have a do-over from this chaotic morning.  

Girl Scout Camping in Hell

Want to know what I did?  I took Caroline's Girl Scout troop camping!  And yes, I knew what I was getting myself into.  And yes, I have actually been camping before (shocking, I know.  There's a hilarious story of my first camping trip in December - we'll save that for another post).  And no, I could not bring alcohol.  While it was like camping in the bowels of Hell, we had a great time. 

Did I mention I have the best co-leader ever?  Sara is awesome.  She puts all scout leaders to shame.  Prepared.  Not afraid to get dirty.  Fun.  Funny....and that's the kind of person you want to be stuck out in the sticks with.  I have found an unassuming friend in Sara.  She's good people. 

Getting ready for the campfire.  B/c I guess it wasn't hot enough?  Anyhoo - the girls enjoyed S'mores and singing around the fire.

Sleepy heads!  Would not wake up.  Of course we can thank our rude and disrespectful cabin mates for keeping all of us up - don't get me started.  Oh, and those bunk beds - could not have been more uncomfortable.

Such a great group of girls.  We had so much fun!!!