Friday Already?

Riiight. Seriously. It's Friday?

I haven't been a very good blogger this week. But I have been more efficient around the house BECAUSE...:

I bought a whiteboard to hang on my fridge and make lists on. And I have EVEN checked things off of said list. Many items. This week I have:

*Added the van to the insurance
*Turned in the old license plate to the DMV (with 3 kids in tow, may I add!)
*Toted the same 3 kids to the aquatic center to sign Ian up for the next swim lessons.
*Loaded the children back into the van to return to the DMV where Ian left his sunglasses on the bench he was playing on.
*Grocery shopped with 3 children.
*Walmart with 3 kids.
*Organized the playroom with little rubbermaid bins.
*All the laundry (and put it away! Hell-o!)
*Target with all 3 monsters.
*Rearranged my bedroom (well, just switched nightstand stuff. Bryan wanted to switch sides of the bed. You know, to spice things up.)
*Scrapped 6 poster frames with Denver Bronco memorabilia for Bryan.
*Organized my desk and paid all the bills.
*Pressure washed the highchair.
*Mopped, vacuumed...etc.
*Answered most of my important emails.
*AND I managed to keep the children fed, clean, and relatively happy most of the time!

I'm feeling better. And I had time to play with my kids. Possibly because I wasn't blogging all day long. Hmm. Must investigate this further.

New things from them:
*Chase signs "sleepy or tired or night-night" (it's all the same). He puts his fat little hand up onto his face when we ask him if he wants to go night-night. Sometimes he does it with both hands. I guess that means he's really tired.
*I found an art project that Ian likes- watercolors. Awesome. Cheap, easy, colorful. He's just not one for sitting down to do crafty things, so this is exciting. I'm thinking about framing them and hanging them on the empty wall behind my couch. Is that weird? Will that give him too much self esteem?
*Chase has 4- yes, count them- FOUR teeth cutting right now. The two middle bottom ones, and his upper fangs. Poor guy. He's miserable, and still won't be able to really chew anything when they are in.
*Ian is filling a "rice bowl" for a feeding the hungry campaign at church. So every chance he gets, he's putting change in it. I heard him counting coins with Leah the other day:
Ian, "...six...seven...eight...nine...ten a LOT!"
Leah, "Wow, Ian! You have a THOUSAND!"
LOL. They make me laugh.

Next week: bathrooms! Woot.

Reminder

I've been throwing the idea of going back to teaching around in my head for a little bit. Not this year, but maybe next. Then I talked with Angelle about it, and discovered that although I think I like the idea of the rewards of the classroom, I'm not ready to put up with any of the nonsense yet. I'm definitely romanticizing the idea of teaching, but in reality, it's not good enough to give up my time with the boys yet.

I came across this Calvin and Hobbes strip that made me think about my decision:

Quickie

This was taken at the Roots & Shoots Family picnic yesterday. That's the birth-3 group that I co-lead for the Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte. It was a total blast, with lots of wonderful families and lots of amazing kids. I'll post more pics soon. Just wanted to put this one out there, because it reminds me of why I need to slow down sometimes and enjoy moments like these. Sleepy, cuddly babies rock.

Macho

What is more macho than a Dora tattoo on your arm?

Lessons Learned

1- Do not get sunblock on your one-year-old's hands if he is prone to rubbing his eyes because then he will get tired at the waterpark and shmear it into his eyeballs and then he won't be able to open his eyes and they will be red and puffy and he will be miserable and you will have to pack up all your sh*t that you just dragged into the waterpark along with the two children that you just wrangled into swimsuits all for 45 minutes of *fun* and take everyone home.

2- Do not let your 3 year old jump on the couch because as harmless as it may seem and even though it is a good activity to get the ants out of his pants he will still clock the back of his head on the sharp-cornered table next to the arm and while you are comforting him you will realize that he is bleeding out the back of his head all over your cheek and you will freak out because through his blonde hair it looks like a LOT of blood and you will call your neighbor who is a pediatric nurse to come and look at him and make sure he doesn't need stitches or have a concussion and even though everything is fine you will still need to feed your kid 2 suckers just to stop the tears.

Don't Worry

Hi Mom. I'm ok. I know you'll be worried about me after reading that last post.

I feel better now that I've had a shower and played play-doh with Ian.

I also got the dishes done :)

Stretched.

Blech. I've just been feeling tired. used up. stretched too thin. I know I have a million things to do, but really, I just don't feel like doing them. Between all the have to's and need to's, I feel like there isn't enough time for the want to's. And if I do the stuff I want to do (play with the kids), all the other shit just piles up behind me like some crappy monster following me around.

My Have To-Do List:
Laundry (Ian is on his last pair of underwear today)
General picking the crap up around the house
Kitchen (You know when the dishwasher is clean, so plates/pans get all piled up everywhere because there is nowhere to put them?)
Bills (sitting on the counter. Wonder which ones are late?)
Thank you cards from Chase's birthday (yes, it was in April.)
Father's Day card for Bryan's Dad...still sitting here on the counter...
Call Geico and get the new van on the insurance
Go to the Aquatic Center and sign Ian up for the next swim lessons
Therapies all over the place (+ Chase's PT eval on Monday)
Dr appts (ENT today at 2 for Chase's follow up, eye dr on Monday for Chase-- notice a pattern?)
Watching Logan today for 12 hours...(he was here at 6am- ack. early.)
Grocery shopping (out of all juice right now, getting close to being out of milk)

My Should Do's:
Dr appts for me. I've been putting things off for a long time. I need to see the optomitrist (tired of wearing my glasses and I've been out of contacts for like 3 months). I also was due for my annual at the OB/GYN last September (oops. and sorry, TMI. but this is my blog and you can stop reading if you want.) And it's been like 4 years since I went to the dermatologist, who I'm supposed to see every 6 months because of my fair and cancer-prone complexion, so I probably have some sort of cancer now. And speaking of every 6 months, I still haven't been to the dentist since I fired the last one.

My Want To's:
Actually, these are not so much want to do things, since it's all about playing with my kids. Well, and exercising for me. But what the hell? If I stay at home, I should be able to play with my kids all day long, right? I feel like I'm always trading something, promising something, if I do this, then we can do that. If you eat breakfast, then we'll play puzzles. If I get the toilets scrubbed, then we'll go outside. Well, f*ck! If I keep waiting til everything else happens, then we'll never do anything fun!

I don't know what I'm going to do about this. If I was a good person, I would write everything down on something with a dry erase marker, or make a chart or a big long list to stick on my front door. Maybe I would stop freaking blogging about it and actually get up and accomplish something. But I won't. I'll sit here with my coffee and wait for the PT to knock on my door. Then after therapy maybe I'll get in a shower. Then I'll get all the kids fed/cleaned/changed/napped. Then I'll futz around the house with Ian while the little guys sleep. Then we'll go to the ENT. Maybe the store because I don't want to hear the whining about juice again tomorrow morning. Then we'll come home and not do anything until dinner time. Then I will have a glass of wine and feel crappy about all the stuff I haven't done and go to bed.

This turned into a really uplifting post, didn't it? Damn.

How does everyone else do it?

Water Babies

The water park is open for the summer. Both boys LOVE it. Ian is so confidant by himself this year, going on the toddler slides without hesitation, even going on the big slides with a life jacket on! Chase loves everything about it- even getting his head wet. Except for the one time that I dunked him really good. I think he was a little surprised. Oops.

Tubes

Rewind a little, a week and a half ago Chase had tubes put in his ears. I guess I should have written about this sooner, too. But it all went really smoothly. No problems whatsoever, the procedure was really really fast, he woke up from the anesthesia without any fuss at all (compared to teh kid next to us who was apparently possessed or something).

Here are pics of him in his little dress. These were taken while we waited for the happy meds to kick in, so he looks a little loopy. Afterwards he acted pretty drunk for a while, randomly falling over and stuff. Amusing :)

Swim Lessons

Ian's in big boy swimming lessons this summer! I had flashbacks of my lessons and my brothers...something about my mom chasing Scott (or was it me?!) down the sidewalk after someone made a run for it. So, needless to say, I was a little apprehensive about this.

BUT. He's done so well! He loves going! He floats and jumps in and kicks and does his 'monkey arms' and dunks his head under. Half the time he gets a mouthful of water when he goes under because he can't stop smiling long enough to close his mouth.

I hope that we can continue to do the lessons throughout the year so that maybe next summer he'll actually be swimming :)

Ohio Photo Essay

I apologize for taking so long to get these posted. I have no excuses.

We had such a good time in Cincinnati. Wish we lived closer to Barb, Bill, Frank and Grant...!

Here are some highlights in no particular order, because I don't feel like uploading them and rearranging anything.

Frank began to make breakfast for Ian in the morning. Ian wanted to do everything just like the big boys.
This was taken after we got back home, but I wanted to show Ian in the skates that Barb sent home with us. He won't take them off. He LOVES them. Notice he is wearing his pajamas in this shot...
After a big rainstorm, there was a "river" running through the backyard. It didn't take the boys very long to completely soak themselves in it.
Chase and Jazzie...he wasn't scared of her at all. I'm pretty sure that he tried to taste her a few times, though.
The shirts came off, and the boys added to the already wet yard with the hose.
We had a picnic in the driveway while everyone dried off a little. Chase, too :)
And a bike ride...
Gaga got lots of Chase-time. Here they are playing with a box and a spoon... Who needs toys??
Aunt Barb and Uncle Bill have a fire pit in the backyard, and we made smores our second night there. I'm on a mission to build my own now. I think that is the most relaxing thing...watching a fire, eating a marshmallow, and drinking a glass of wine :) BTW, what wine pairs well with smores?
Ian, by his own little self, picked a flower and gave it to Bill. How sweet is he??
Mmmm. Smores. Ian did NOT like the first one I gave him- I guess I didn't consider the integrity of the marshmallow before smooshing it in the graham cracker. But after he saw everyone else enjoy them, he gave in and decided that he liked it.
Barb and Chasey.
Ian follows Grant into the woods. Poor Frank and Grant. Ian was so taken with them that he NEVER EVER left them alone. He'd call all through the house, "Booooooys? Come play with me!" They were very very patient with him, but understandably took occasional breaks.
DUDE! They had a drumset in the basement!!
Look at that 4 point stance! Still working on the actual forward momentum, but he's definitely getting there!
Sooooo hungry...
More waterplay. Can't you just feel the love?

Ianisms

*This morning, Ian was laying on the floor, swishing his arms and legs snow-angel style. He said, "Look! I'm making a snowflake!"

*Ian came down for breakfast yesterday and saw me making coffee. I put the first scoop in the filter and he yelled-whined-cried, "Why did you DO that?!? I want to help you make it!" Way too much drama at 7am.

*He's had a scrape on his knee and it's started to heal, but while he and Chase were playing on the floor a teeny pinprick of blood showed up. Ian: "Oh, nooooo! Chasey made a hole in me! All my blood is going to come ouuuuuut! I need a band-aiiiiid!"

*Immediately after I swept and mopped the kitchen, he spilled a full cup of milk on the floor. He broke down, pointing to various places and saying, "Look. I spilled it on the stove. I spilled it on the cabinet. I spilled it on the chair...." We cleaned it up after I reassured him that 'sometimes milk spills, but we can always clean it up.' Afterwards, he unloaded a gift bag full of red shredded paper all over the floor and I had to threaten him with time-out if he didn't clean it up. Grr.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Bryan.
Daddy to our boys.
A role model.
Strong in character.
Strong in heart.

Clarification

Due to some odd stares and one incredibly rude comment, I feel inclined to clarify my thoughts about this post.

I am not maliciously wishing health problems on anyone. I do not wish harm on Brangelina, nor their twins.

My thoughts are, that if Down syndrome is so prevelent, and because of the glaringly ridiculous deficits in funding for research to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome, that if anyone were to have a child with Down syndrome, the Brangelina household would be one that would welcome and embrace such diversity, as well as become spokespeople for families and friends affected by it.

And there are several people who read my blog that aren't as deeply in love with my child as I am. Mostly because you haven't had the opportunity. Some of you have not realized that the stereotype for a person with Down syndrome is old, outdated, and doesn't reflect the true abilities of those who are genetically enhanced.

Some people have a hard time dealing with the fact that diversity is what creates the richness of life, that perhaps, in fact, we need individuals with differences to make us realize hope, determination, acceptance, compassion, and joy in the little things in life.

Comments like the one I recieved today just illustrate the need for a family who has a world audience that would help spread that message of understanding.

Mindless

COUNTRY WESTERN SINGER NAME: (mother & father’s middle names)
Ann Thomas

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad)
Arthur Henry

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Madla

DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Red Giraffe

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Jeanne Rochester

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Laex

GANGSTA NAME: ( fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Cake Batter Oatmeal Raisin (Whoa...wouldn't you be scared of me??)

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name)
Frodo Lexington

STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Pink Reeses

PORN NAME: (1st pet, 1st Car)
Cuddles Beetle (NOT SEXY!)

AMERICAN GLADIATOR NAME (model name of your current car)
Entourage (LOL!)

Secret

Kacey from Ella Grace directed me to this post from Where There's a Will... And I have to agree. Completely.

Not that I would wish complications or heart defects or Hirschsprung's disease or surgeries or delays or any of that scary stuff on anyone. But still...if the Jolie-Pitt family had a baby with a little something extra...wouldn't that be cool?

And just coming off of a meeting put on by my local Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte that highlighted just how little money our governement puts toward research on Trisomy 21 that is NOT completely directed at "early detection and prevention"...it makes one wonder how our kids would benefit from gads and gads of money spent on research to improve the quality of life from the Brangelina Bank.

I wish I had the energy to dig out the handout that has all the figures on it, but suffice it to say, the money put toward DS is completely disproportionate according to the number of people DS affects. Also, on that note, a point was made that one out of every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome. Born. Live births. Now, take into account that 90% of pregnancies with early detection of Trisomy 21 are terminated. So, with my meager math skills (and the help of a member of the DSAC board) that means that in reality, approximately 1 out of every 73 pregnancies is genetically enhanced. Right? So DS really affects a LOT more people than we even think about.

Anyway. Just my thoughts.

Home Again

We made it home yesterday. After 12 hours in the car.

Ian was a lunatic about 2 hours in. Chase got REAL tired of the car about halfway through.

Thank God for Gaga and her diregard for seatbelt safety.

More later.