Trip to CA: Day 5

The trip home.  It was pure hell interesting.  Baby Bear was sick and it was a full flight.  You put together how the rest of the day went….

Avis Parking Lot

Jr Waiting

A Moment of Calm

Back Off

Okay, okay

Austin Storm

We were SOOOOOOO happy to be home.

Trip to CA: Day 4

The Beach!  We spent the day with Jamie and Kevin and their two cuties, Allie and Erin.  It was so nice to spend a quiet day with them.  It was a Monday so the beach was relatively uncrowded, the weather was warm with a cool breeze and the sound of the surf was something I always remember, once I’m there, how much I miss.  One of God’s greatest creations:  The Ocean.

Early Morning

Losing It

Just a Couple Blocks

First Trip to the Beach

Handsome Boys

Sheehan’s Over Yonder

Boogie Boarding Lesson

Erin

My time at the beach

Hanging out with Jamie

Busy Erin

Beach Towel Chat

Loving every minute of it

Getting Buried

2 peas in a pod

Second Grade

Jr started Second Grade on Monday.  Althought I was a nervous wreck because our past school experiences, Jr was just filled with excitment.  He is too much of an extrovert to sit at home with Mom and not be around other kids. 

So far it has been an awesome experience.  He’s coming home in a great, happy mood.  His teacher seems to be very genuine and thoughful.  She has two kids of her own one of them a boy – which is VERY good thing.  His kindergarten teacher only has girls and his 1st grade teacher didn’t have kids at all.  Boys bring a unique energy to things and it will be nice to have a teacher who understands when a kid is being “bad” and when he’s just being a boy.  

We talked to the school counselor and had him placed in a room where the teacher is experienced and knowledgeable in ADHD issues.  This makes me feel better about things all around… especially because she stated that there are a lot of kids that fit into ADHD characteristics.  I’m not sure that was the case at the last school since it was pretty small… at least compaired to this school!  They seem to have their head wrapped around what is needed in helping these kinds of kids.  So that’s very exciting.

Jr of course doesn’t know we’ve talked to anybody, or care.  He’s just enjoying playing at recess and making new friends.  He’s also commented on how his new teacher talks nicer to him.  I think because he’s not sterotyped at this new school… which is another reason why he is coming home from school happy and positive.  I will be VERY happy if things continue moving in this direction for this school year!

Here are some pictures of Jr at his new school!

Open House

Elevator Ride

Apple Computers

Jr’s Desk

Lockers

First Day of School!

On the Way

Feeling Pretty Cool

Getting to Work

Big Day

Yesterday was a big day for Baby Bear.  First when he woke up at 5:00 for a bottle, I went to get him and brought him back to our room.  Daddy was making a bottle and said, “Hi Baby Bear…!” and he waved!  By himself!  Without any prompting!  It’s like he woke up and thought, “Tee Hee… I’m going to blow them away today…”  He waved a few other times, too.  I think one time waving “Bye bye” to Daddy when wanted to stay with me.

Then we took him to his DOC Band appointment and found out our next visit will be his Exit Visit!  And it is only 2 weeks away!  They will do another round of pictures and measurements so we can see the official beginning and end result.  Then it’s so long helmet! How exciting!  Cranial Technologies makes it a nice place to have appointments, but it will be nice not to have another thing to do.  And the helmet isn’t that big of a deal, but it’s one more thing to think about.  If we happened to skip a bath one night because of time you regret it in the morning with a stinky head.  hehe. 

As if those weren’t enough for an exciting day, later that afternoon I was giving him a little food and I saw something on his bottom gums.  Lo and Behold!  It is his first tooth coming in!  I jinxed myself and said, “He’s so good, I never would have known!  He’s not even complaining!”  ‘Cause this morning…?  The poor little guy is a whining machine.  I can’t wait for it to come in a little more – he’s going to look so cute!

i am: dt

i am: starting to feel older
i think: therefore i am
i know: how to “harmonize on the fly”
i want: to be more active
i have: the best family in the world
i wish: evil didn’t exist
i hate: the way i voted in the last election. seriously.
i miss: sleeping in
i fear: failure
i feel: tired too often
i hear: ringing in my ears
i smell: the scent of my woman
i crave: something sweet
i search: for everything
i wonder: what heaven is like
i regret: hurting others
i love: to make my kids laugh
i ache: for innocence lost
i care: about others
i always: try to do the right thing
i am not: perfect
i believe: in One true God
i dance: like a white boy
i sing: sing a new song….
i cry: when i feel joy
i don’t always: pay attention to my own feelings
i fight: for all the wrong reasons
i write: less often than i want to
i win: when i lose
i lose: when i play video games
i never: think fast enough
i confuse: principles with stubborness
i listen: not enough
i can usually be found: online
i am scared: that i’ll mess up
i need: to be loved
i am happy about: love and life right now

i am: Jo

i am: what I am
i think: I need to get more sleep at night
i know: more about Star Wars and LOTR then womanly necessary
i want: no debt
i have: debt
i wish: I managed my time better
i hate:  being afraid
i miss: my friends and family
i fear: being stagnant
i feel: good about where my life is heading
i hear:  baby music all day long
i smell:  a stinky dog
i crave:  time with God and chocolate
i search: the internet with Google
i wonder:  how this year in school will go with Jr.  So far, so good!
i regret:  not giving more
i love:  my sweet and wonderful husband
i ache: when I exercise
i care: I really do. 
i always:  have coffee in the morning
i am not: used to the humidity here quite yet
i believe: that God cares about me
i dance: “The Josie”
i sing: and Baby Bear listens
i cry:  when I hear of abandoned children
i don’t always:  think what you’d think I’d think.  I think.
i fight: mostly with myself
i write: to my friends far away
i win: every morning I wake up - I’m just glad to be here.
i lose: to dt at Star Wars Trivia Pursuit, but am totally okay with that.
i never: ever want to hear Rush again.  Blech.
i confuse: my son that I don’t want to play like a 7 year old.
i listen: to my son giggle about a joke with his dad.
i can usually be found:  in the kitchen or with the kids
i am scared: of creepy guys
i need: to type and hold Baby Bear
i am happy about: mommy cuddles

Trip to CA: Day 3

I’ve posted a lot for this day!  Hope you enjoy!

 

Like Grandpa, Like Grandson

Pretty

Uncle Travis is Amazing

Photo Opp with the Groom

Dude, I’m just relaxing

Helmet-Free Day

Isn’t she lovely?

Family Pic

Mr. Rust

Jo and Lisa and Matt

Mom and Little Erin

Chattin’ it up

Travis with his Sisters

Baby Bear Zzzz

Eli, AJ and Brennan

Jordan and Eli

Mom and Dad

Mr and Mrs Rust

Reception Bound

Favorite Picture

At the Reception

Evan Time

Big Bite

Pretty Cake

Two Favorites

Good Times, Good Times

Dance Floor

Signature Move

Weird Day

Today was so weird. Ever since we got Baby Bear’s DOC band, we’ve treated it like no big deal. Maybe it’s just my personality, but I think mostly because it is no big deal. So he wears a helmet for a couple months – who cares?! After that time we’ll look at it as a distant memory. And as we’ve taken Baby Bear out it’s been no big deal – to us or to anyone in the stores. But today was just WEIRD.

dt took Jr to The Clone Wars while I walked around the mall with Baby Bear. It was a super busy day at the mall – probably because it’s Back to School time here in Austin. (ya think?!) As I’m pushing the stroller I pass a family and hear, “There’s something wrong with him.” Not in the normal curious way… like, “Ohh… I wonder what’s wrong with that little baby.” It was a harsh tone. Like, “Eww.”

Lame. But whatever – just keep walking and be glad I’m not them.

Then I walk past a couple of teenage girls. One of them literally stops in her tracks in the busy hallway, points at Baby Bear as we’re walking by and says, “What is THAT?!” I hear from behind me her embarrassed friend say, “Um, a baby.” Always one to take too long in processing things, I continued walking and thinking, “Did that really just happen?? Yeah. Yeah, that really just happened.” If I thought a little quicker on my feet I would have just turned around and bitch slapped her. It would have been worth the assault charges.

So obviously at this point I’m kind of starting to feel The Mommy Claws come out. Who do these people think they are? He’s a sweet little baby! And the helmet isn’t even a big deal! He’s barely even going to wear it, but even if he wore it the rest of his life – what the hell do they care?? I certainly don’t! He’s adorable with it and without it, beotches!

The whole rest of the time at the mall, I swear, I get more looks than I have ever gotten the entire time he’s worn the DOC band. People turning in their chairs to see him, stretching their necks; poking the person next to them, glancing over and whispering to their spouse. But I tell myself that I’m just being sensitive because those other two “freak” occurances happened. I just try to ignore everybody and have a good time with my amazing little Baby Bear… but all the while I can’t shake the feeling that wherever I go I’m the elephant in the room (or rather, Baby Bear is). As my time there goes on I kind of get a sense of defensiveness. I hold my head higher and I squeeze Baby Bear a little tighter. I try to smile and look at him in a way that he knows his mom thinks he’s adorable and 100% perfect – in case he’s sensing anyone’s bad vibes. Silly, I know.

As I’m walking I see a family in front of me. The mom is pushing a specially designed stroller and they have a little girl with Cerebral Palsy. I wonder what looks they must get.

The movie ends and we meet back up with dt and Jr in one of the department stores. I didn’t say a word about anything… I was just listening to Jr tell me about the movie when I hear dt say, “That’s weird.”

“What?”

“That lady just looked over with a weird look.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“She looked over, looked at Baby Bear and scrunched her nose like she was disgusted!”

No way. I couldn’t believe it. I said, “This has been the weirdest day! People have been acting SO weird about him here!” and I told him the rest of my afternoon. I don’t know if it’s because there were just more people out and about so it was more likely to run into total a-holes or what.

I get doing a double-take. I get asking (politely) why he wears it. I get giving a look of pity – since I figure those people think he’s had brain surgery or something much more serious than a flat spot on his head. But I do not get treating him or any child with any sort of obvious or not-so-obvious issue like he’s damaged or broken or less-than or gross. I’m so glad that I’ve surrounded myself with friends and family who would be just as shocked as I was about today.  Because, people, there are apparently a lot more freaks out there than you realize.

Gross or Cutie-Pie: You decide

I pray I can remember the feelings I had today and extend love and acceptance to the parents who may not have a short stint of curious looks and uncaring words. The defensiveness they must feel stepping out of the house… never knowing if people will be rude or not. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“Be kind to each other. You don’t know what battles each have faced that day.”

I’m guessing tomorrow everything and everybody will go back to normal. But today…. today was just weird.

Trip to CA: Day 2

This was a nice day with lots of down time.  I went to get my nails done with my mom.  dt, Jr and Baby Bear were hanging out by the pool this day. 

Lil’ Phyl Phyl

Kelli and Mom

 

More Pics Coming Soon!

Rehersal Dinner Boogie

Baby Bear had enough formalities with everyone… suddenly he had to BOOGIE!