Blogger's Block

Daddy and Boy

Whew.

Back from vacation for a few days, I have been meaning to write. And I just can't seem to gather my thoughts in any way that makes sense. So I guess I will just write a little update about our trip and try and come up with something cooler later.

Our trip to Arizona was... for the most part....lovely. The weather was freaky. When we arrived they had just had 3 days of rain, which apparently is freakish. After we arrived, it hailed. And was cold for Arizona.... 40's -50's. Then, it got nice, sunny, and in the upper 50's to low 60's. So that meant J-man could run run run. He was happy.

We saw the sun. He was happy.

He had his first ice cream cone. He was very happy.

Very very happy.

This was Daddy's cone for about 2 minutes.

All was well until the last day. Then the sinus infection... which had been brewing... hit him hard and fast. My once cheery, easygoing little man showed me the meaning of a complete meltdown. And lucky us, we were flying home.

Flying with a toddler with a sinus infection. Mommy was not happy.

So, overall, I give the vacation a "B". Illness and rainy weather aside, it was a good time.

What You're Doing Matters

For all mothers.

Into the Warm

We have not left you, dear readers.

We have flown the coop and are "snowbirding" (for a long weekend at least) in lovely Arizona. My parents, bless them, have fled the cold white winter north to warmer climes for the month, and we are completely using them for the weekend so we, too, can get warm. Too bad for us that we came down during a cold weekend in AZ! Ok, 55 F isn't bad, compaired to the great white north... but it isn't balmy either. Ah well, J-man loves to run outside at least! And we have hopes of 60's before we leave.

Sadly, both the J-man and I have wicked colds. Why oh why, always on vacation?!?! Of course, it isn't holding HIM back. He wants to go OU OU OU.

Stay tuned! Many delightful details of our adventures to come!!

Up High, Down Low

Hey there ladies

Tonight, the J-man and I attended a Family Fun Night for special needs kids at a local indoor park. Think McDonalds Playland without the french fries. J-man loves the place... and because all the families there were parents and children with special needs, it felt like a place we could be totally free. No one had any expectations, just complete open acceptance. How lovely for all these wonderful kids and their parents!

Anyhoo, at one point the J-man saw the candy machine and insistently signed "eat". I got him a few Skittles and we made our way to the seating area. He signed and said "candy" as he munched. One of the other parents seated next to us asked him his name. Of course, he didn't respond.

Then this man, in a friendly way, asked J-man to 'Give me five'.....

AND HE DID IT!

Jonathan high-fived a perfect stranger! And, to make it even better, he went on and did the "up high/down low" part. I didn't even know he KNEW that.

Isn't it just the little things ....?

When Mommy Gets Her Butt Kicked

Here he is, eating my phone

I love the J-man.

Love him.

But he is kicking my booty six ways to Sunday.

Limits: Pushed.

Patience: Tested

Now, I believe that the J-man is experiencing some serious brain growth. He has realized the communication is probably pretty darn important and that.. basically... he sucks at it. So he is frustrated. Impatient. And he is two..nearly three... and thus his favorite activity is doing whatever he wants whenever he wants, especially if mommy doesn't want it.

Ah, finally.... something normal.

Optimism & Hope

Some people might say daycare is a bad thing.

I say daycare has been Jonathan's lifesaver.

He loves it. LOVES it. He has evolved from this anxious, unsure child to this confident, excited, social boy. He walks in, goes to his locker and willingly takes off his coat and hat. Puts them away, by himself. Walks with me, hand in hand, to his room and knocks ever-so-gently on the door. We go in and he turns to me, gives me a hug and a kiss, and pushes me out while closing the door in my face. Yeah, mom... don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out.

He joins in classroom activities willingly and joyfully. The other children in the room apparently love him. I am told that there are a few children who are particularly interested in him, will pull him to activities and try and engage him. The amount of things he has learned is utterly amazing. I believe that... for the J-man... being with peers who engage him, whom he can model after, learn from, and enjoy has made a huge difference.

His mouth is moving. And moving and moving. He is starting to imitate sounds...sounds I and hubby make, others make, even things on the TV. He is trying words. Mostly, he gets the first sound in the word, but he is making so many more attempts. It is encouraging. He still doesn't always try to use sounds or words to communicate his wants, needs or thoughts, but the fact we are hearing more noise out of him... aaaahhhhh, heaven.

I am not sure, but we might have had the best IEP meeting ever last month. Definitely, the bar was set very high for every subsequent meeting we have. We made the decision to continue to get the special education services at Jack & Jill Child Care instead of moving him into the district classroom, and it is the best decision we have made so far. The center had TWO staff in attendance at the meeting and they were completely willing to work with Jonathan on his goals. The district folks were wonderful, and we came up with a plan that I think truly addresses what needs to be the focus for Jonathan right now. I am just thrilled with the way things are going...

To add to it all, we are starting new speech therapy next week. We decided to go back to Associated Speech with Janet Jacobs, and they were willing to take us on. She is advocating a different approach with the J-man, and while I am not sure what that will look like, I am optimistic about what we might gain.

Next week will be a tremendous week for the J-man. In addition to starting his new speech therapy, he is also moving into the preschool room at Jack & Jill. With the big kids! I am nervous but extremely optimistic. I think he will love it. And I think that we will start to see even bigger and better things down the road.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence. -- Helen Keller

Innocence

January is the month of resolutions. As a result, you can find every Tom, Dick, and Henretta at the gym running on treadmills and sweatin’ to the oldies. Alas, I am no different. These three years post J-man have not been good for my body, and while I would love to blame him, I have no one to blame but myself. The gym is possible because of daycare. Because of daycare, I can drop the J-man off at the gym Kids Play and he runs off without a care in the world. I get a guilt-free hour or more to partake in one of my least favorite activities knowing that he is happy as a clam.

Yesterday, after what can only be described as a bum-numbing spinning class, I went to Kids Play and peeked in the windows. J-man was running around with all the other kids, chasing balls, climbing on the indoor playsets, and generally having a grand time. As I secretly stalked my own child, this Man-child appears at my side. He was over six feet tall, gangly, pimply and awkward-looking as only the newly pubescent can look. He looks down at me through these off-kilter wire framed glasses and launches into this friendly banter about how much fun the playland is.

How much he would love to be able to still go in there.

How he really didn’t having anything to do because his mom was in yoga and he didn’t want to disturb her. Because that was embarrassing.

How he was with his younger sister in the Kids Fitness class, but they were jumping rope and he can’t really jump rope. Because that was embarrassing.

How he wishes he could go swimming but he didn’t have the proper swimsuit and he didn’t want to go ask his mom.

How it was all OK because he can just wander around and see if there is something going on.

His face, pimples and all, was so open. So innocent. His soul was right out there for all to see. His eyes never wavered, but met mine with that uncomfortable intensity. In fact, his whole being seemed to radiate this intensity. He would have told me… a stranger… anything.

And I wondered: when life was going to beat him up? Will his spirit be hurt by the cruel world… by his peers or by people unwilling to listen to this boy in a growing man-body? Or listen to him in the wrong way?

I wonder if my son will be like him, so open and fragile.

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year to all!

We have been blogging for a full year now! Who knew I could keep this up? But truly, it is cheaper than therapy (for me, at least!). For those of you so inclined, I would love to hear from you about what you like (or don't... but be gentle please) about my little blog. I aim to improve in 2010!

I had hoped to write this brillant piece on how far we have come and what we are hoping for in the new year. I wanted this insightful retrospective on this journey. Something thoughtful and inspirational.

But instead, you get our Christmas photo.

Enjoy!