Almost the end...

I am in denial Summer is coming to an end.  School starts next week.  The boys go on Tuesday (for an hour or so) and then they go on Wednesday all day.  Calleigh will start on Thursday.  I know I should be so excited to have some time to myself for the first time in six years.  I am excited on some levels but for the most part I am sad to see them go (especially Calleigh). 

Trust me I have had days this Summer when I wished they were back in school but all in all it has been a wonderful Summer.  Lots of memories created.  It was our first Summer living at the beach every day.  We enjoyed every minute of it.  I am raising three surfer dudes and a beach bunny for sure.  Their love of the ocean and beach reminds me if my childhood.

The boys learned to ride bikes with no training wheels this Summer.  The boys became full swimmers this Summer not to mention awesome boogie boarders, skim boarders and just starting to surf.

We ate nearly every meal outside on the porch.  I love eating outside for many reasons.  I was surprised when we went out yesterday morning and you could feel a little chill in the air.  You know it's the end of Summer when you feel it.

Dont get me wrong... I LOVE the Fall.  Apple picking, pumpkin picking and all things like it but I hate what comes AFTER fall....Winter and I are not friends....

So, as we head into the last "unofficial" weekend of Summer we plan to really enjoy ourselves.  We started last night by going to a concert on the beach and staying to watch the fireworks.  The kids really enjoyed it along with Frank and me.  We let them stay up way late...but it was worth it.

One year ago....

 A year ago today....they sure are growing up too fast.

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Frank and I went on a bar crawl Sunday.  It was "Jersey Shore" themed and was hilarious.  We went with some new friends and neighbors.  I was a fun way to get to know everyone.  We plan on returning for next years for sure.

2.  Frank is off for the rest of the week!  Woo Hoo!

3.  I am taking Calleigh into NYC tomorrow for her follow up with her ENT for post surgery. She will also have her hearing retested.  Keep your fingers crossed.  We will also be getting the referral to the neurologist who specialized in balance disorders.

I'll finish up the ten with some of my favorite pics from the last few days.

4.  Yep, she ate it all...

 5.  Fireworks on the beach.  What could be better??

6.  He has now lost his other front tooth. Honestly, the space could NOT be any bigger.  He looks so darn cute I can't take it.



 7.  Frank and the boys enjoying the ocean.  The water was pretty rough this day but I caught a quick shot of them. 

8.  This girl could not love the ocean or water any more.   She lives for it.  She puts her head under.  It's amazing.

 9.  A little lunch on the beach.  Colin and Ciaran were sitting there and Calleigh walked over and sat herself between them.

10.  Cormac outside New York University before we talked to a graduate class of future SLP's.  It was a fun evening and he really enjoyed himself.

 
Su

A perfect beach day...

Today might have been one of the most beautiful beach days of the year.  I thought it would be really hot but up by the water it was perfect.  The water was gorgeous.  We literally spent hours in the water.  Body surfing, belly boarding, swimming, searching for fish, digging for crabs on the jetty. 

My Aunt Lee and Uncle Bill were on the beach today with us and it makes it so much fun.   Frank and I really got to play with the kids in the water because we had extra hands for Calleigh.  Calleigh really just wants to be in the ocean with us so one of us usually holds her and she rides the waves with us. 

I practiced some swimming for my triathlon.  I am most nervous about the swim.  I am a good swimmer.  I have been swimming in the ocean since I was a toddler.  The thought of all those people in the water together and swimming and bumping into each other is what scares me.

Here are some pictures from today....

 The three of them acting like statues.  For some reason they think this is hysterical. 

We also went swimming at a friend's house on Friday afternoon.  Cormac was taking a turn taking pictures.

He took this of me. I thought it was pretty good.

This is his self portrait.

This is the boys friend Josh.

Colin

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Vertigo

Calleigh finished her last day of the extended school year today.  She finished with a bang...literally.  She fell down the front stairs and used her head to stop herself on the cement.  She was hysterical and now has a big purple egg on her head.  It's nearly impossible to stay on top of her at all times.  With her balance being really off the last few days it's been even harder.  She rallied and was still able to go to her last day.

They held their own Olypmics and her teacher said she absolutely loved it.  She came home with her own gold medal and wore it all day long.  She was so cute.  I get so frustrated with Calleigh's medical issues.  Not that she has them but the not really knowing why or what.  If you don't know why how do you help her?  I honestly feel we are treating symptoms but not the actual problem. 

Her gross motor skills have always been an issue.  She was a late walker but she was making great progress.  She went from falling all the time to just looking wobbly.  She was like a weeble wobble.  She didn't fall down.  Then she has days once in a while where she seems to lose all the balance again.  On those days her appetite seems to decrease and she is very irritable.  I am thinking she might suffer from Vertigo.  She has every symptom listed for pediatric vertigo.

I hate to think she has Vertigo because I know it is a miserable thing to have.  I suffer from mild vertigo and it is horrible.  To have a baby not know what it going on makes me so upset for her.  Not to mention she falls and hurts herself. 

I am seeing our ENT next week (at Columbia in NYC) and asking for a referral to their neurologist who specializes in Vertigo and balance disorders. I feel like I am on a never ending quest to figure it all out.  Maybe I never will.  Maybe the doctors never will.  I feel like I am somehow failing her by not being able to figure it all out. 

Calleigh is so smart.  It is amazing to me how much she knows.  Her talking is coming.along.really well.  She is starting to talk in 3 and 4 word sentences.  It's not totally clear but you know what she is saying or at least we understand her.  She still forgets to use her words first and gets frustrated but once you remind her she uses her words.

We have a few weeks off until she will go back to school in September.  She seems to really enjoy it once she is there.  She does get upset at drop off but her teacher says she quickly recovers.  If she ever gets upset they said all she needs is to be given a book and she is a happy girl.  My girlie loves to read.  She "reads" to her stuffed animals and Penbos every night.  

So, I will continue to keep trying to figure it all out.  But for now I will leave you with some of her cuteness....