My own internal clock did not realize that today is a sleep in day. The kids internal clocks surely registered the vacation schedule. I took advantage of the quiet house by enjoying a cup of coffee while watching TV without being disturbed. NICE! Then Lucas was up. He wanted a banana. Okay that is easy right? Well, a few bites into his banana it broke in half. Lucas is picky about his banana's. First you have to have the peel taken all the way off and second it has to stay whole. I tried talking to him about eating the banana anyway. Nope, he wouldn't have it he needed a whole new banana. I get him situated and head up for my shower. Five minutes later he walks in and opens the curtain to "talk" to me. Lucas thinks I need company while I shower. This is why I usually take my showers after he is at school.
Gabe is doing was pre-teens do in the summer. He is laying in his bed, watching TV and planning on staying in his pajama's all day. When I went upstairs to lay down on him and bug him I told him he has to at least read 2 chapters for me today. I have no problem with using the first day of summer vacation as a lazy day. However it is 9am and the boy has not come down for breakfast yet. I am debating telling him to get his butt downstairs or just letting him come down when he gets hungry.
Today's plan is simple. I am going to clean my kitchen and get the kids outside to play while the sun is shining. Gabe can read his two chapters while laying down in the hammock after that he can play video games. Lucas can have fun playing in the pool, in the dirt, and whatever else will make him happy. Tomorrow, will be slightly different. I am going to let the boys have a lazy morning but then we will start implementing their chores. Next week starts the Extended School Year (ESY) program and that is when the fun really begins.
I have joined the Pinterest movement. There are so many fun and educational craft idea's on the site! I have "pinned" the ones I think the boys will enjoy. I plan on blogging about the ones we do, complete with pictures and maybe video. Homemade playdough, baking soda and vinegar experiments, and painting crafts are all fun ideas for Lucas. A fun science experiment for Gabe will be creating our own ecosystem in soda bottles and growing our own crystal tree. I just need to buy some supplies for these experiments then we will be ready to go!
School is out and Summer Vacation has started. I think we have ours planned out perfectly. Keep checking back to see what crafts and experiments we have tried. Enjoy your summer!!!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Summer Fun
First day of Summer! The boys are still in school thanks to Hurricane Sandy but they will be done by early next week. I had hoped to spend this week organizing the playroom, their bedrooms, and the activity cabinets but I am on day 2 of a flair so my priorities have shifted. I need my leg well enough to spend all day Saturday having a fun time as we have two seperate birthday parties to attend. The first is for a special little girls first birthday and the second is my sweet little neices' 3rd birthday. I am going to have a great time on Saturday, lay low on Sunday, and then get organized next week.
I love Summer time with my boys. I have expectations of them but mostly it is a relaxed fun time together. My goals for each boy this summer is simple. Gabe needs to read and type 2 book reports. Lucas will be working on the T and W sound. The boys will have to do their chores each day. Lucas is not big enough to make his bed or put his clothes away but he can help me. Last summer Gabe had learned how easy and rewarding it was to tidy his room up each day. He also realized that if he did it every day then it doesn't take an hour to clean his room, it should only take 15 minutes tops! I plan on having some fun crafts, playing out in the sun all day, and late nights by the fire roasting marshmellows. I just need to organize each area to give everyone a good start to this fun packed summer.
I need to go through our book shelves and get them organized. The playroom needs to be thinned out and cleaned up in an organized way. Our craft cabinets need to be dumped and restocked. The boys rooms need a good cleaning and reorganizing. I have till Tuesday to get my list completed.
Each week of Summer I have to be flexible with the schedule in case my leg starts a flair. If I am feeling good then we will be taking walks, playing at the park, going on adventures, and anything else that I can think of. If I am not feeling good then I have to keep the boys home but still pack some fun into those days, even if it is a movie or a stationary activity. I just need to figure out some creative ways to exhaust Lucas (the energizer bunny) when I am unable to move around. One fun thought is setting up the sprinklers, kiddie pool, and water guns! Sun and water always wear out the kids while I can just sit with my leg up soaking up the sun.
My plans might already have been sidetracked but my motivation is the same. My boys will have a great summer! Now I just pray my RSD behaves and allows me to have more awesome days than flairs.
I love Summer time with my boys. I have expectations of them but mostly it is a relaxed fun time together. My goals for each boy this summer is simple. Gabe needs to read and type 2 book reports. Lucas will be working on the T and W sound. The boys will have to do their chores each day. Lucas is not big enough to make his bed or put his clothes away but he can help me. Last summer Gabe had learned how easy and rewarding it was to tidy his room up each day. He also realized that if he did it every day then it doesn't take an hour to clean his room, it should only take 15 minutes tops! I plan on having some fun crafts, playing out in the sun all day, and late nights by the fire roasting marshmellows. I just need to organize each area to give everyone a good start to this fun packed summer.
I need to go through our book shelves and get them organized. The playroom needs to be thinned out and cleaned up in an organized way. Our craft cabinets need to be dumped and restocked. The boys rooms need a good cleaning and reorganizing. I have till Tuesday to get my list completed.
Each week of Summer I have to be flexible with the schedule in case my leg starts a flair. If I am feeling good then we will be taking walks, playing at the park, going on adventures, and anything else that I can think of. If I am not feeling good then I have to keep the boys home but still pack some fun into those days, even if it is a movie or a stationary activity. I just need to figure out some creative ways to exhaust Lucas (the energizer bunny) when I am unable to move around. One fun thought is setting up the sprinklers, kiddie pool, and water guns! Sun and water always wear out the kids while I can just sit with my leg up soaking up the sun.
My plans might already have been sidetracked but my motivation is the same. My boys will have a great summer! Now I just pray my RSD behaves and allows me to have more awesome days than flairs.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Why I blog...
If you know me then you know I am not a whiner nor do I sit and complain about how hard life is with RSD. So then why do I blog about it? Why do I spend so much time writing about it and promoting awareness about something I don't complain about? I think there is a delicate line between advocating awareness and complaining about living life with pain. I have lived so much of my life trying to hide my pain from everyone but I realized that I was doing more harm than good. My purpose of hiding my pain was to live my own life without the pain defining me but my logic was faulty. No matter what, RSD does define my life. I have learned how to balance my life with RSD. I have worked through the grief and self education on what it means to have RSD for the rest of my life. I have this knowledge so I must share it with the hopes that if I could help just one person then my pain has purpose. You know that cliche' 'Turn lemons into lemonaid' wll, when you have debilitating pain you can advocate for a better understanding of life. Sitting on the couch or laying in bed gives you a lot of time to become introspective about life. You also learn what is worth fighting for and what should just be ignored till it fades into the background.
I have mastered how to live my life with pain. So imagine my surprise when I had to field the curve ball of Lucas having a speech disorder. Then just as I am recovering from my 7th SCS surgery I learn that Gabriel has a Learning Disability, maybe multiple learning disabilities of Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia. I have had to learn how to apply what I have learned about my own life towards learning about Lucas' speech problem and Gabriel's learning disabilities. Keeping the complications of life in the shadow's is no longer a smart option. It is time to step out and start sharing my life and all the complications that come with it. Not to look for pity but to educate and promote awareness. I do not believe that I live my life in an extraordinary way. I refuse to be steamrolled by anything that is thrown at me. I am not a survivor, I am a fighter. I believe in taking control of the situation and fighting for a favorable outcome. I will not simply survive but fight for the win. My children deserve the best I can give them and I will not let my pain get in the way.
I don't believe I do anything extraordinary. Sharing my life, imparting my view, and recording the process of figuring out how to best help my children. That is why I blog.
* Note: I wouldn't be able to do any of this if I didn't have Leo to lean on. He is my rock.
I have mastered how to live my life with pain. So imagine my surprise when I had to field the curve ball of Lucas having a speech disorder. Then just as I am recovering from my 7th SCS surgery I learn that Gabriel has a Learning Disability, maybe multiple learning disabilities of Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia. I have had to learn how to apply what I have learned about my own life towards learning about Lucas' speech problem and Gabriel's learning disabilities. Keeping the complications of life in the shadow's is no longer a smart option. It is time to step out and start sharing my life and all the complications that come with it. Not to look for pity but to educate and promote awareness. I do not believe that I live my life in an extraordinary way. I refuse to be steamrolled by anything that is thrown at me. I am not a survivor, I am a fighter. I believe in taking control of the situation and fighting for a favorable outcome. I will not simply survive but fight for the win. My children deserve the best I can give them and I will not let my pain get in the way.
I don't believe I do anything extraordinary. Sharing my life, imparting my view, and recording the process of figuring out how to best help my children. That is why I blog.
* Note: I wouldn't be able to do any of this if I didn't have Leo to lean on. He is my rock.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Feeling good but drained.
Yesterday was my birthday and I have been flair free for the last 3 weeks. I am one of those women who loves dressing up. I felt good so I put on my jeans that hug my butt just right and a black top that shows off my curves. I blew my hair out and wore date night makeup. I even wore my red pointed toed high heels, I love those shoes!
That is why it was so funny that my Mom asked me "So how long has your leg been hurting?" She didn't pay attention to the shoes, I cannot wear those shoes when my leg is hurting. Her worries that my leg was hurting were put to rest when she had to watch me chase after Lucas, in those heels. Lucas thought it would be fun to run wild in the restaurant, around the indoor water fountain. Actually, a lot of people thought this was a funny sight including the wait staff and other people enjoying their dinner. One little girl who was tossing her pennies in to the fountain tried to high five Lucas as he was running past her! Finally Leo got up and we trapped Lucas.
When I sat back down my Mom said "If your leg wasn't hurting before it will now!" UGH! I don't like to think like that. I don't like to think that a few moments of fun, a great family memory, could mean that I will have to deal with pain that takes away my ability to walk. It is a fact but one that I choose not to dwell on. I rather enjoy the memory of chasing after Lucas who was laughing like only a small child can laugh.
Today I am being proactive. I am resting, sitting on the couch, keeping my leg warm and doing my alphabet rolls. Currently I am planning on keeping a restful morning I may turn my Spinal Cord Stimulator on a low setting while doing some little household chores this afternoon.
While I am being honest my energy is drained today. I am not as energetic today as I have been during these past few weeks. Maybe the weather is playing a part in the energy drain. Hot one day then a cold rain for a few days, my body has a hard time keeping up with the dramatic changes. I am going to take an extra vitamin B12.
I had a great birthday yesterday. I had my family next to me. I felt good and made some new great memories. I am 35 years old. I have had RSD for over 17 years.
Please don't feel sorry for me. My RSD makes me cherish the silly memories of chasing after Lucas. Many parents can take for granted running after their child. For me, it is an awesome feeling to chase after him. I focus on the good. I have a good life!
That is why it was so funny that my Mom asked me "So how long has your leg been hurting?" She didn't pay attention to the shoes, I cannot wear those shoes when my leg is hurting. Her worries that my leg was hurting were put to rest when she had to watch me chase after Lucas, in those heels. Lucas thought it would be fun to run wild in the restaurant, around the indoor water fountain. Actually, a lot of people thought this was a funny sight including the wait staff and other people enjoying their dinner. One little girl who was tossing her pennies in to the fountain tried to high five Lucas as he was running past her! Finally Leo got up and we trapped Lucas.
When I sat back down my Mom said "If your leg wasn't hurting before it will now!" UGH! I don't like to think like that. I don't like to think that a few moments of fun, a great family memory, could mean that I will have to deal with pain that takes away my ability to walk. It is a fact but one that I choose not to dwell on. I rather enjoy the memory of chasing after Lucas who was laughing like only a small child can laugh.
Today I am being proactive. I am resting, sitting on the couch, keeping my leg warm and doing my alphabet rolls. Currently I am planning on keeping a restful morning I may turn my Spinal Cord Stimulator on a low setting while doing some little household chores this afternoon.
While I am being honest my energy is drained today. I am not as energetic today as I have been during these past few weeks. Maybe the weather is playing a part in the energy drain. Hot one day then a cold rain for a few days, my body has a hard time keeping up with the dramatic changes. I am going to take an extra vitamin B12.
I had a great birthday yesterday. I had my family next to me. I felt good and made some new great memories. I am 35 years old. I have had RSD for over 17 years.
Please don't feel sorry for me. My RSD makes me cherish the silly memories of chasing after Lucas. Many parents can take for granted running after their child. For me, it is an awesome feeling to chase after him. I focus on the good. I have a good life!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Winding down and gearing up
Less than two weeks our home will officially be on Summer Break! YAY! Uhoh! I can tell Gabriel is getting the senioritis. Senioritis is simply when they are DONE, he is done with this year. Gabe is ready for the break and ready to move on to Fifth Grade. As ready as Gabe is for Summer break he is also slightly upset with me for signing him up for the Extended School Year (ESY) program. Lucas is going too so that takes some of the sting out for him but still, he feels like I am robbing him of his summer. Too bad kid!
As Gabe is winding down from his school year I am gearing up on Summer plans. I always tell Gabe he is lucky having a Mommy that doesn't work because I get to spend the whole summer with him. I enjoy having my boys home with me for the short 10 weeks. I do my best to fill our time with structure, responsibilities, relaxation and activities. Some of my plans have to be loose and flexible considering my health. Summer is the time of year when my RSD doesn't bother me as much but the constantly active aspects exhaust my chronic back pain.
I strongly believe children should have a combination of relaxation and responsibility over the summer. No couch potatoes or vampire video gaming in my house! During the school year the focus is on the importance of academics. During the summer the focus is placed on being responsible for a clean room, getting some natural vitamin D and then he gets gaming time. This year I am also throwing into the mix that he reads and writes 2 book reports for me. All of this may sound extreme but if you break it down it is quite an easy accomplishment. If Gabriel reads between 1-3 chapters a day he could easily accomplish both reading his books and writing two reports before we go on our summer vacation. As with any major accomplishment there is always a reward at the end.
Here is how I will be breaking down our summer schedule.
7:30am Rise and Shine - Breakfast and get dressed for the day.
8:30 - 11:30am Summer School
11:30 - 1pm Lunch and Fun outside
1 - 1:30pm Clean room
1:30 - 2pm Read (however long it taks to read the chapters designated for that day)
2 - 6pm FREE TIME (as long as he did everything he was supposed to do!)
6pm - 8pm Dinner and Family time
8-9pm Shower, family and relaxation time
9-10pm bedtime(flexible because he is getting older)
Sounds easy right? Summer school is only for the month of July so when August starts we will switch up the schedule. The reading and cleaning will change into those earlier hours and leave the rest of the day open to more fun.
I am looking into activites to include into our weekly schedules. Lemonaid stands, constructing a birdhouse and taking nature walks are amoung some of our favorite standby's. This summer we are also going to borrow my parents tent and camp out in the backyard. I may also plan an end of the year sleepover party for Gabe and his friends. These are some of the simply and cheap summer plans that make a big impact for kids. If you want to see your 10year old get serious about cleaning his room tell him he can have a few of his friends come over for a sleepover! He will run and do anything you ask with a smile on his face. That is called positive reinforcement!
Lucas has an easier schedule obviously. I cannot ask a 3 year old to read for 30minutes and then write a book report. I can try and fail to get him to pick up his toys every day. I am trying to gather idea's of what I can do with him to instill the sense of Vacation Fun! I want to center Lucas' activities on his speech accomplishments and goals. I welcome suggestions from other Apraxic/Dyspraxic Mommies!
I am considering other fun activities that we never did before as a family. I have read in 'New Jersey Family' magazine about an Open-air Theater for kids that sounds like a fun new experience! We have never been to the State Fair Meadowlands. Maybe if we have a rainy day we can try one of those Dine-In MovieTheaters? Sure these are the options that you throw money at but having a new experience as a family is priceless.
As always (well except last year) we end our Summer on a BANG! with our family favorite vacation to Ocean City Maryland. For us this is the best way to end the Summer and start a new School Year fresh. During that week we live it up. We eat out 5 nights out of 6. We spend our day at the beach finish it off with a swim in the pool then clean up for fun either in the game room, at the board walk or playing mini golf before heading out to dinner. We fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. Gabe and I love walking the beach in the early morning to look for the perfect seashells while watching the sun rise above the ocean. Leo and I have dreams of retiring in Ocean City MD.
The kids may be winding down from the school year (only 2 more weeks) but I am gearing up for my 10 precious weeks with my boys. Obviously life doesn't ever go as planned for me but that is why I make back up plans and keep both plan A and plan B very flexible. These last 3 weeks my pain levels have been managable so I am praying that the rest of summer keeps the record going! If not then the kids will enjoy down time with Mommy until she is better enough to do the active and outgoing activities she has planned. Either way, life goes on and I will do my best to give them a great summer! Only time will tell which plan gets put into action. :)
As Gabe is winding down from his school year I am gearing up on Summer plans. I always tell Gabe he is lucky having a Mommy that doesn't work because I get to spend the whole summer with him. I enjoy having my boys home with me for the short 10 weeks. I do my best to fill our time with structure, responsibilities, relaxation and activities. Some of my plans have to be loose and flexible considering my health. Summer is the time of year when my RSD doesn't bother me as much but the constantly active aspects exhaust my chronic back pain.
I strongly believe children should have a combination of relaxation and responsibility over the summer. No couch potatoes or vampire video gaming in my house! During the school year the focus is on the importance of academics. During the summer the focus is placed on being responsible for a clean room, getting some natural vitamin D and then he gets gaming time. This year I am also throwing into the mix that he reads and writes 2 book reports for me. All of this may sound extreme but if you break it down it is quite an easy accomplishment. If Gabriel reads between 1-3 chapters a day he could easily accomplish both reading his books and writing two reports before we go on our summer vacation. As with any major accomplishment there is always a reward at the end.
Here is how I will be breaking down our summer schedule.
7:30am Rise and Shine - Breakfast and get dressed for the day.
8:30 - 11:30am Summer School
11:30 - 1pm Lunch and Fun outside
1 - 1:30pm Clean room
1:30 - 2pm Read (however long it taks to read the chapters designated for that day)
2 - 6pm FREE TIME (as long as he did everything he was supposed to do!)
6pm - 8pm Dinner and Family time
8-9pm Shower, family and relaxation time
9-10pm bedtime(flexible because he is getting older)
Sounds easy right? Summer school is only for the month of July so when August starts we will switch up the schedule. The reading and cleaning will change into those earlier hours and leave the rest of the day open to more fun.
I am looking into activites to include into our weekly schedules. Lemonaid stands, constructing a birdhouse and taking nature walks are amoung some of our favorite standby's. This summer we are also going to borrow my parents tent and camp out in the backyard. I may also plan an end of the year sleepover party for Gabe and his friends. These are some of the simply and cheap summer plans that make a big impact for kids. If you want to see your 10year old get serious about cleaning his room tell him he can have a few of his friends come over for a sleepover! He will run and do anything you ask with a smile on his face. That is called positive reinforcement!
Lucas has an easier schedule obviously. I cannot ask a 3 year old to read for 30minutes and then write a book report. I can try and fail to get him to pick up his toys every day. I am trying to gather idea's of what I can do with him to instill the sense of Vacation Fun! I want to center Lucas' activities on his speech accomplishments and goals. I welcome suggestions from other Apraxic/Dyspraxic Mommies!
I am considering other fun activities that we never did before as a family. I have read in 'New Jersey Family' magazine about an Open-air Theater for kids that sounds like a fun new experience! We have never been to the State Fair Meadowlands. Maybe if we have a rainy day we can try one of those Dine-In MovieTheaters? Sure these are the options that you throw money at but having a new experience as a family is priceless.
As always (well except last year) we end our Summer on a BANG! with our family favorite vacation to Ocean City Maryland. For us this is the best way to end the Summer and start a new School Year fresh. During that week we live it up. We eat out 5 nights out of 6. We spend our day at the beach finish it off with a swim in the pool then clean up for fun either in the game room, at the board walk or playing mini golf before heading out to dinner. We fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. Gabe and I love walking the beach in the early morning to look for the perfect seashells while watching the sun rise above the ocean. Leo and I have dreams of retiring in Ocean City MD.
The kids may be winding down from the school year (only 2 more weeks) but I am gearing up for my 10 precious weeks with my boys. Obviously life doesn't ever go as planned for me but that is why I make back up plans and keep both plan A and plan B very flexible. These last 3 weeks my pain levels have been managable so I am praying that the rest of summer keeps the record going! If not then the kids will enjoy down time with Mommy until she is better enough to do the active and outgoing activities she has planned. Either way, life goes on and I will do my best to give them a great summer! Only time will tell which plan gets put into action. :)
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Chatting it up
It is no secret that I have been busy lately. I had a flair that began on Mothers Day and lasted over a week and then for several days afterwards I was in recovery mode. This past week I have been feeling good and trying to get my house back in order. Gabe's grades are coming back up. Last week we worked on his final book report for the year. Lucas has become so much more vocal lately and has become a little mimic, repeating what we say. He is not always clear but I have become fluent on Lucas Speak! His vocabulary is growing and he surprises us with his new words constantly. Leo and I are always filled with pride when someone besides us is able to understand what Lucas is saying. A few days ago we had one of those moments when one of Lucas' previous teachers had the chance to hear Lucas and understand him. It was a very touching moment, one we will always remember.
I never want life to pass by in a total blur. That is why I love taking random pictures of the kids and the occasional video of Lucas talking to us. It is not always easy capturing his verbal moments because he doesn't like to sit still to talk while I record him. As you can tell when you watch the YouTube video's I post!
This is a video from April 24th http://youtu.be/fdmmLm_iGcs
This is a video from May 7th http://youtu.be/yXFsr2exr18
This is a video from May 21st http://youtu.be/iNm0-4vk9mA
This is a video from today, June 5th http://youtu.be/J0gPV28wIWo
I never want life to pass by in a total blur. That is why I love taking random pictures of the kids and the occasional video of Lucas talking to us. It is not always easy capturing his verbal moments because he doesn't like to sit still to talk while I record him. As you can tell when you watch the YouTube video's I post!
This is a video from April 24th http://youtu.be/fdmmLm_iGcs
This is a video from May 7th http://youtu.be/yXFsr2exr18
This is a video from May 21st http://youtu.be/iNm0-4vk9mA
This is a video from today, June 5th http://youtu.be/J0gPV28wIWo
And here are some pictures of my boys! Thank you God for my blessings in life.
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