1. We attended Family Fun Night at Summit Speech School on Friday. To say I love that place in an understatement. ( I am writing a post just about the evening)
2. Yesterday was my first official day of work in over 6 years. It was fun and I enjoyed it.
3. WE GOT APPROVED FOR NEPTUNES!!! (Way more to blog about later)
4. March Madness begins this weekend. And I don't mean basketball... I mean the start of the St Patrick's Day parades and celebrations!
5. Saturday at the Nutley Parade will be the 15 year anniversary of when I met Frank for the first time.
6. WE GOT APPROVED FOR NEPTUNES!!!
7. Calleigh is a chatterbox lately and her speech is coming along.
8. WE GOT APPROVED FOR NEPTUNES!!!
9. I hurt my ankle last week after my beach run and couln't run for a week. Not so good since I am supposed to be training for my first 1/2 marathon. I ran yesterday for the first time and it was OK.
10. Oh, did I mention WE GOT APPROVED FOR NEPTUNES!!
Just in case you cant tell I am pretty excited.
I have so much to blog about on a few topics and just not much time. I will work on them tonight (hopefully)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Lent
The season on Lent is here and began on Ash Wednesday. I have been thinking of things to "give up" for forty days and really couldn't think of anything. (Well, I guess, Facebook! ) On Tuesday I went to a meeting at the boys' school about staying connected with your children in an overly connected world. The woman speaking talked about some great points. She also suggested instead of giving something up to add something to your day. I think this will be a concept the kids can better understand. Since they really have no concept of how long 40 days is it would be difficult for them to give something up.
Here is what we I have decided.
We will start saying Grace before all our dinners. Not just our holiday dinners but our nightly dinners. We did this for the first time last night. The boys all know their prayers so it was nice. I also think it sort of calmed everyone down a little before dinner.
We normally read every day. But we are going to add another 20 minutes a day to reading together. I went to the library today and got some new books to start.
We are going to spend one day a week "unconnected" as a family. There will be no TV in the evening. There will be no phone calls for me or Frank. No computer for me while the kids are awake. We will spend our time playing games or reading or talking with no distractions. Most night we don't have the TV on until the very end of the day but I am guilty of being on the computer or phone. This is more of a change for me and Frank than for the kids.
So, that is our plan and we are sticking to it!
Here is what we I have decided.
We will start saying Grace before all our dinners. Not just our holiday dinners but our nightly dinners. We did this for the first time last night. The boys all know their prayers so it was nice. I also think it sort of calmed everyone down a little before dinner.
We normally read every day. But we are going to add another 20 minutes a day to reading together. I went to the library today and got some new books to start.
We are going to spend one day a week "unconnected" as a family. There will be no TV in the evening. There will be no phone calls for me or Frank. No computer for me while the kids are awake. We will spend our time playing games or reading or talking with no distractions. Most night we don't have the TV on until the very end of the day but I am guilty of being on the computer or phone. This is more of a change for me and Frank than for the kids.
So, that is our plan and we are sticking to it!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Amazing and Miraculous!
I have been thinking about this the last few days and I am hoping everyone can chime in with their experiences or opinions.
This summer Cormac will be implanted 5 years. I cannot believe it has been 5 years. In those past five years a day has not gone by when I haven't had a moment when I think to myself "Wow" or "I can't believe he heard/said that". I say all the time it is truly a miracle my son can hear and speak. How thankful we are for living in a time when cochlear implants were able to change our lives. Each day I am STILL amazed at what he has accomplished.
At what point do you think children realize what a miracle their cochlear implants are? Do you think as they get older they will fully understand? I know many adults who lost their hearing as adults and they know how it gave them their life back. Cormac doesn't remember NOT hearing. He doesn't remember the surgery. He is only 5 and can't possibly comprehend how different his life could have been. He knows he is deaf and hears because of his implants. But to him, he is just Cormac.
What do you all think? Those of you with older kids do they "get it"? Or is it just their life and it's "no big deal"?
This summer Cormac will be implanted 5 years. I cannot believe it has been 5 years. In those past five years a day has not gone by when I haven't had a moment when I think to myself "Wow" or "I can't believe he heard/said that". I say all the time it is truly a miracle my son can hear and speak. How thankful we are for living in a time when cochlear implants were able to change our lives. Each day I am STILL amazed at what he has accomplished.
At what point do you think children realize what a miracle their cochlear implants are? Do you think as they get older they will fully understand? I know many adults who lost their hearing as adults and they know how it gave them their life back. Cormac doesn't remember NOT hearing. He doesn't remember the surgery. He is only 5 and can't possibly comprehend how different his life could have been. He knows he is deaf and hears because of his implants. But to him, he is just Cormac.
What do you all think? Those of you with older kids do they "get it"? Or is it just their life and it's "no big deal"?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Counting....
Counting the days until this is our daily routine again....It will be here before you know it!
Monday, February 13, 2012
100th Day Of Kindergarten
This morning was the boys 100th day of Kindergarten celebration. They each did a project and had to go in front of the class to tell about it
Cormac did "Hello" in 100 languages. He wrote all the words on the poster board. He also said "Hello" in five languages in front of the class.
also s
Cormac did "Hello" in 100 languages. He wrote all the words on the poster board. He also said "Hello" in five languages in front of the class.
also s
Ciaran made snowflakes out of 100 lolliops in groups of 10.
Colin assembled two 50 piece lego cars..
I couldn't be prouder of the three of them if I tried. I know I say it all the time but I still get overcome with emotion when I see the three of them together in school just doing their things. Oh, and there is also that little thing that the one talking in FIVE languages is my deaf son. Yep, my deaf son talking in front of his entire Kindergarten class!!!!
Here is what the projects looked like up close
Saturday, February 11, 2012
House of Horrors
Last night we went to bed thinking everything was normal. Just another Friday night. Well, were we WRONG! The stomach flu has hit this house HARD. Calleigh was sick on Thursday and was vomiting but she wasn't to bad. She seemed to be fine yesterday.
My night went something like this:
11:30 pm Ciaran runs downs stairs yelling Colin is throwing up in his bed. Run upstairs get him to the bathroom too late. Strip his bed and make it again in clean sheets. Colin says he wants to lay with us. OK. Give him bucket and he tries to sleep. He eventually says he wants to go in his own bed.
12:30am We hear someone running from their room. Cormac pukes in the hallway. Get him cleaned up and he wants to sleep with us. He did fall asleep but went on to puke 8 more times.
2:00am In between Colin and Cormac alternating puking Ciaran wakes up and it is now his turn. The really strange thing?? None of the were ever up at the same time. It was like as soon as I got one settled back down a different got sick again. It was a losing battle.
So between 11:30pm and 5am I think it was 23 incidents of puking...yes you read that correctly. 23...
Oh, and then just when it couldn't get any worse....Frank starting throwing up this morning.
I don't believe there is enough Lysol on the planet at this point. I have washed EVERYTHING from their room. Not just the sheets and pillow cases but the special blankets and cuddly friends they sleep with. I have sanitized every door knob and light switch and handle at least 50 times today. I have practically given myself a Purell bath. I have a terrible head cold for two days now and I really really can't get the stomach flu. I sort of feel like it's inevitable but I girl can hope, right??? But you all know when I will get it, don't you? It will be on Monday when Frank is back to work and I am left by myself and will have no choice but to do what I do everyday and not be able to be sick. That is just how it goes.
I think this explains why Cormac passed out on the car ride home from the city yesterday. He usually doesn't get so tired from a mapping. I know lots of people who do get very tired after a map so I thought maybe but I now know he was getting sick.
We were supposed to go to a dinner at the school tonight. That is not happening. We also have our 100 day celebration projects to make and we have to get our Valentine's signed. It's not looking good since the boys don't want to leave the couch! Cormac did some of his project when he had a burst of energy. Ciaran do a lot of his too. Colin is putting 100 legos together so his is easy at least.
Did I mention now they all have fevers??? When I tell you we are never sick. Last winter they were never sick. This year we are getting slammed. It hate when they are sick. They hate being sick. Right about now they are on Scooby Doo overload...
Here is the face of sickness...
Cormac sleeping with his Ipod. Not even Angry Birds could keep him awake.
Colin said he felt better and had a drink...it was back in the toilet in under 5 minutes.
My night went something like this:
11:30 pm Ciaran runs downs stairs yelling Colin is throwing up in his bed. Run upstairs get him to the bathroom too late. Strip his bed and make it again in clean sheets. Colin says he wants to lay with us. OK. Give him bucket and he tries to sleep. He eventually says he wants to go in his own bed.
12:30am We hear someone running from their room. Cormac pukes in the hallway. Get him cleaned up and he wants to sleep with us. He did fall asleep but went on to puke 8 more times.
2:00am In between Colin and Cormac alternating puking Ciaran wakes up and it is now his turn. The really strange thing?? None of the were ever up at the same time. It was like as soon as I got one settled back down a different got sick again. It was a losing battle.
So between 11:30pm and 5am I think it was 23 incidents of puking...yes you read that correctly. 23...
Oh, and then just when it couldn't get any worse....Frank starting throwing up this morning.
I don't believe there is enough Lysol on the planet at this point. I have washed EVERYTHING from their room. Not just the sheets and pillow cases but the special blankets and cuddly friends they sleep with. I have sanitized every door knob and light switch and handle at least 50 times today. I have practically given myself a Purell bath. I have a terrible head cold for two days now and I really really can't get the stomach flu. I sort of feel like it's inevitable but I girl can hope, right??? But you all know when I will get it, don't you? It will be on Monday when Frank is back to work and I am left by myself and will have no choice but to do what I do everyday and not be able to be sick. That is just how it goes.
I think this explains why Cormac passed out on the car ride home from the city yesterday. He usually doesn't get so tired from a mapping. I know lots of people who do get very tired after a map so I thought maybe but I now know he was getting sick.
We were supposed to go to a dinner at the school tonight. That is not happening. We also have our 100 day celebration projects to make and we have to get our Valentine's signed. It's not looking good since the boys don't want to leave the couch! Cormac did some of his project when he had a burst of energy. Ciaran do a lot of his too. Colin is putting 100 legos together so his is easy at least.
Did I mention now they all have fevers??? When I tell you we are never sick. Last winter they were never sick. This year we are getting slammed. It hate when they are sick. They hate being sick. Right about now they are on Scooby Doo overload...
Here is the face of sickness...
Cormac sleeping with his Ipod. Not even Angry Birds could keep him awake.
Colin said he felt better and had a drink...it was back in the toilet in under 5 minutes.
Ciaran trying to smile.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thank you
I just wanted to say Thank you to all of you who responded to my last post. Your support, commiseration, understanding, compliments are so greatly appreciated. We all have our days when somethings just don't seem fair but I know I am very blessed with my children. Many families have it way harder than our family.
I am friends with many of you on Facebook so I apologize for the duplicate in this post but I have a new favorite I had to write down.
Here is the conversation I overheard two days ago:
Cormac to Frank " Dad, I have decided me and Colin are optimists and you and Ciaran are pessimists. " Franks says "really, why?" Cormac replies "me and Colin see the good in everything and you and Ciaran focus on the bad..."
Frank thought I told him to say this to him. I explained Cormac came up with it all on his own.
Colin has also revealed that "Reese is in love with me and he is sure she wants to marry him"
I am friends with many of you on Facebook so I apologize for the duplicate in this post but I have a new favorite I had to write down.
Here is the conversation I overheard two days ago:
Cormac to Frank " Dad, I have decided me and Colin are optimists and you and Ciaran are pessimists. " Franks says "really, why?" Cormac replies "me and Colin see the good in everything and you and Ciaran focus on the bad..."
Frank thought I told him to say this to him. I explained Cormac came up with it all on his own.
Colin has also revealed that "Reese is in love with me and he is sure she wants to marry him"
We have a big week coming up. We are celebrating the 100th day of Kindergarten on Monday. We have yet to start our projects and are open to ANY ideas. So, please, leave a comment if you have an idea. Keep in mind, I need three... We will be having a Valentine's celebration at school on Tuesday. I love being able to go to all their events. I am so grateful to be able to be home and participate so much at their school.
We just signed the boys up for T-ball for the first time. In our old town they couldn't play until they were in Kindergarten. In our new town the kids start at four years old. The group is 4-6 year olds. So, it will be our first time playing but they will be the older kids in the group. We will see how it goes. I am hoping we can keep a batting helmet on Cormac without knocking off his implants. He wears a bicycle helmet with no problem so I don't anticipate any issues.
Yesterday, we had a very small dusting of snow. The first snow of the season and it's mid February! The boys noticed it and were looking out the window. I caught this shot of them. By the way, Cormac is actually the tallest...not sure why he looks the shortest. Maybe Ciaran and Colin were on their tippy toes.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Discouraged, pissed and I don't know what else...
I had my first meeting with our school district to start transitioning Calleigh from Early Intervention to Preschool. Yep, PRESCHOOL?? This time is going way too fast. Currently, Calleigh receives Physical Therapy once a week, Developmental Intervention once a week and Speech Therapy once a week. She gets an hour per week of each therapy. She will qualify for district preschool because she is still testing 40% delayed in Gross Motor skills and over 30% in Speech.
The next step is to see what our district has to offer for Calleigh. It is such a different experience from when Cormac aged out of Early Intervention. I NEVER wanted him in a district preschool. He was doing so well and was above his age level in speech. I thought it was a waste for him to receive PT, OT and things he didnt. He NEEDED to be around positive speech models in a mainstream school setting. Plus our old district didn't have an integrated program. They only had a self contained program.
Our new district offers a self contained class and an integrated class. The self contpained class also mixes with the integrated class daily. She would have access to one on one Physical Therapy and also one on on Speech Therapy.
I absolutely HATE the idea of her starting school at three years old 5 days a week for 5 hours a day. (This is the program) I feel like a total failure as a parent. I feel I should have been able to do something to catch her up. I am not one for a pity party but today really just did me in. Today I wish I wouldn't have three children with IEP's in school. Today I wish Calleigh would be attending a typical preschool PK3 program for two days a week for a few hours. I feel she is being robbed of such a special time in her life. She is just at the age where we are starting storytime at the library, enrolling in gymboree classes, going to morning play group. But what does Calleigh have to look forward to ? Nothing. Her Mom dropping he off at school for 5 hours when we could be doing things together. It's seems unfair and today, just for today, I am going to let myself be really pissed off about it.
The next step is to see what our district has to offer for Calleigh. It is such a different experience from when Cormac aged out of Early Intervention. I NEVER wanted him in a district preschool. He was doing so well and was above his age level in speech. I thought it was a waste for him to receive PT, OT and things he didnt. He NEEDED to be around positive speech models in a mainstream school setting. Plus our old district didn't have an integrated program. They only had a self contained program.
Our new district offers a self contained class and an integrated class. The self contpained class also mixes with the integrated class daily. She would have access to one on one Physical Therapy and also one on on Speech Therapy.
I absolutely HATE the idea of her starting school at three years old 5 days a week for 5 hours a day. (This is the program) I feel like a total failure as a parent. I feel I should have been able to do something to catch her up. I am not one for a pity party but today really just did me in. Today I wish I wouldn't have three children with IEP's in school. Today I wish Calleigh would be attending a typical preschool PK3 program for two days a week for a few hours. I feel she is being robbed of such a special time in her life. She is just at the age where we are starting storytime at the library, enrolling in gymboree classes, going to morning play group. But what does Calleigh have to look forward to ? Nothing. Her Mom dropping he off at school for 5 hours when we could be doing things together. It's seems unfair and today, just for today, I am going to let myself be really pissed off about it.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
My Heart
My heart SWELLS with pride when I listen to Cormac read...
My heart SKIPS a beat when I see Calleigh run across the room...
My heart nearly BURSTS when I see how much my kids love each other....
My heart feels like it's BREAKING if any of my kids are in pain....
My heart BEATS a little faster when Ciaran tells me he just wants to cuddle with his Mommy.
My heart gets ALL A FLUTTER when Colin tells me how beautiful I am...even if it's 30 times a day.
My heart still gets CAUGHT in my throat when I think about how blessed I am to have been chosen to be the Mom to these four amazing children.
But most of all because of them....
My heart if FILLED with LOVE every day.
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