Home, after a lovely week

It was a really fun week. Quick overview: Tuesday with Grandma Doris, stopped at a fish place on the way back for dinner. Wednesday, stayed near the apartment. David went to a coffee shop for a few hours to do some work, while the kids and I wandered the plaza. Then pool-side most of the day, and yummy Italian food in the evening. Thursday, river boat cruise in the morning, and Gulf Stream for horse race watching in the afternoon. In the evening, we had leftovers, then put Sofia to bed and let the boys watch a movie while David and I went back to Gulf Stream to walk around without kids for a little while.

Friday was back up to Grandma in the morning - David took the kids to the pool while I took Grandma on an errand. It was so nice to just be with her alone for a bit. We had to come back to the apartment in the afternoon, because David had a conference call. Our friend Kevin (husband of my friend-since-7th-grade Brenda) brought their middle son over to play - E and Micah are dear friends. I want out to pick up kosher lunch, thinking I'd be gone 15 minutes. Hadn't counted on the TRAFFIC. Took nearly an hour! We went out to dinner with Brenda and Kevin and the kids, and then walked around the Hollywood Boardwalk (which I had not known existed!) for a while. The kids had ice cream and then played on the beach. It was lovely.

The ride home was long but fine. We left the apartment around 10, stopped at the plaza for a few last minute errands, and drove. And drove. And drove. Stopped in CT to have brunch with Laura this morning, and got home by about 1:30. Yeah!

So here are the photos...

Sofia and Rachel on the playground on Sunday:






David and Mike, looking like official Dads...


Lunch - notice we put the big kids at their own table!





Saying goodbye to the Keirnan Klan:




Swimming at Grandma's pool:
(getting ready to go swimming...)












Hanging with Grandma:






Wednesday hanging out at the apartment:


Theodore and Simon - purchased Wednesday morning, came to dinner with us, and never made it home to the apartment...



On the boat ride Thursday morning:


And waiting for the horse race to start:


Friday dinner - all the kids waited patiently for their food by playing on various iPhones and iPods:


Me and Bren:


Micah and E on the board walk:


Sofia insisted on sitting on the ground for her ice cream snack:

Florida!

Whew, what a long - but very fun - weekend.

It started Friday morning. I dropped the kids at school, finished packing, and went to catch the train into Boston, where I was supposed to pick up the rental car. And at the train station, I realized that my driver's license had expired. A month ago.

Ok. Take the train to Boston, and first walk to the Boston DMV. And wait, an hour and a half. Which was fine, since I got a blinding migraine, so that was enough time for the aura to dissipate so I could see.

Chatted with nice people, made quick calls to have friends pick up kids from school, and finally got my license renewed. Then walked back across town to pick up the car. Got back home before 4pm. Whew.

David didn't get home until after 6:30, and we didn't leave until 9:15. I had planned to take the first shift, but by that late I was starting to fall asleep, so he drove. Most of the night. He takes a 5-hour energy drink and just goes.

So I slept, and at 5:30, in Virginia, he woke me up to switch places. I drove a couple of hours, then we stopped for bathroom and breakfast, then more driving, until we got to South of the Border, which is literally just south of the border from NC to SC.

We spent about an hour there, walking around, eating ice cream and trying on funny hats:




(We almost bought that one, but it was expensive and not great quality.).

However, we DID buy the fez ("Fezzes are Cool" according to Dr. Who), and the pink thing. Not the spiky neon wig:





We got to Melbourne FL before 7pm, which was way earlier than I'd expected. Other than the hour at SOB, we realy only did pit-stops. I drove about 6 hours, David did all the rest.

Showered, and then went over to see Mike & Tracy and their kids. Mike has been a friend since junior high, and I went to their wedding, but our families really knitted together when Sofia and their youngest daughter were both born with Down syndrome!

Saturday night, the older kids (daughters are 13 and 10, perfect to hang out with my boys) kind of circled each other, not really knowing what to do. But by Sunday, they melded into a Pack, collecting other neighborhood kids and roaming the area all day. It was wonderful.



Sunday, first we went to the beach for a while:



After swimming and surfing in the icy cold water, they started digging.



Then we went back to the house, since it started to rain. Like most Florida homes, they have a screened in back porch with a pool - which was also icy cold. Sofia insisted on swimming, but was shaking like a leaf and turning quite an alarming shade of purple...



It was fun to watch the "David Relaxes" progress...
Upon arrival Sunday Morning:


Not fully relaxed yet, but getting there:


Aha, now he's relaxed:



The two little girls spent most of their time indoors, fighting over dolls and movies.



We were at the house until nearly 11pm.


Monday, we had thought to do some activities, but forgot it was a holiday and everyone else would be trying to do the same activities. So mostly more hanging out. We took the kids to a large park - David and Mike took the older kids for a hike while Tracy and I watched the little girls on the playground.

It was sad to say goodby, but so much fun to see them - we can't wait for the next chance!


We got down to Hallendale, where David's grandparents' apartment is, by 7pm again. Had great Israeli food - shwarma, felafel, etc. Today, we drove up to see my grandma, and we are sitting poolside. Water is MUCH warmer!

Jessie's Boot

We may not have a Dashboard Jesus, but we do have Jessie's Boot.

What a long way she's come

I had an interesting conversation with my mother the other day.

Back when we first got our amnio diagnosis for Sofia, my mother pulled David and I into a room for 2 hours to lecture us. Among other things, the phrase "How can you do this to the boys?" was oft-repeated.

Fortunately, that stage only lasted about a week. Then she stopped freaking out and started learning about DS. And her tune changed almost immediately.

Well, one sure sign was what she said last week:

"I know it's great for Sofia to have such wonderful big brothers, but it's been SO GOOD for the boys to have her as their sister!"

Put a HUGE smile on my face!

-----

In other news, Sofia is still sick. Boo hoo. Thursday afternoon was tummy bug, then her sinuses went wild. By Saturday morning, one eye was red and puffy from conjunctivitis. She was much better yesterday. But today, the other eye is puffed out, the nose is worse, and she's clearly not feeling great.

Except that she's loving watching "Alvin and the Chipmunks - the Squeakwell" again. And again. And again.

UGH!

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

Nothing really new, honestly. My birthday continued to be wonderful, with a lovely dinner at our favorite restaurant down in Providence, Potenza. Always delicious.

Sofia came down with another case of conjunctivitis, which meant I could not take her to public school on Wednesday. Which meant she joined us at the day school for All School Tefillah, which I was running (and were I was so proud of my fourth grader students, reading Torah for the first time!).

Which of course meant that, as soon as I turned my back, Sofia was right up there, standing with her buddy SB while he led the service:



Comcast got the Internet fixed. Whew. Boys stopped bugging me (yeah, all three of them!).

Dear friends came over for Shabbos dinner, always wonderful to see them. Relaxing weekend, including taking Sofia to "movie night" at her classmate's house (from the day school), and David taking care of the kids while I learned how to make beaded yarmulkes.

Which I am now addicted to making. Beaded yarmulkes.






I made the red and black one first, and had intended to keep it, but my mother had other plans. Last weekend, I took the kids down to CT, since Mr. Samuel was invited to two b'nai mitzvah. The first was at my parents' shul, so we all went to services - and mom insisted on wearing the red and black kippah. Which she now owns. I have to say, it looked nice on her!

Anyway...

Last week, we also had Sofia's IEP meeting. Actually, it was just Part 1 - we only had 1.5 hours, and the speech teacher was sick. So we are reconvening March 1 to finish up.

Nothing major. We started with a discussion (including the school nurse) about the potty situation. They still take her to the nurses' office for potty. She has had less accidents since I spoke to the nurses and told them how she was playing them. It still all boils down to behavior. So they will continue to take her to the nurses' office, but work very specifically on behavior. She's not big on cooperation.

(Sorry this is so disjointed. It's been a busy few weeks, even though nothing much really happened.)

Let's see...

Sam had fun at the two parties. I picked him up at 5 in Hartford from the very ritzy party, and drove down to Norwalk for the other party (which was more low key). I went out to the most delicious Indian restaurant with my friend N and her daughter while Sam and N's son went to the party. The boys looked so handsome!



Came back to MA on Sunday afternoon, after being fed and spoiled by my parents all weekend. Stopped at Rein's Deli, too.

Let the kids stay up to watch the SuperBowl. David left for Copenhagen on the 4th - looking forward to him coming home this weekend. Boys were very excited that the Giants won - I have Contrary Children. I'm sure if we lived in NY, they would root for the Patriots.

The past two Tuesdays, I have had the pleasure of teaching a whole 45 minute class with the 5th graders. We are talking about The Amidah, the central set of blessings in each prayer service. It's been so much fun! They are very deep thinkers, and I really enjoy working with them.

Sam's been sick all week. He did go to school Monday, because we all thought it was just exhaustion from the b'nai mitzvah and the Superbowl. However, by Monday night, the floor was carpeted with kleenex, and it was clear he wasn't going anywhere. I did take him to the pediatrician Wednesday, but basically it's viral. He's been home three days. Hopefully he's going back tomorrow.

But now Sofia's sick. Tummy bug. It's gonna be a long night!

Lovin' Life

It's my birthday, and a great day to reflect.

I love my life.

I love my husband.

I love my children. More than anything I could EVER have imagined.

I love my family (really, I do).

I love my friends. Near and far.

I love what I am doing for "work" these days (although it probably would be even nicer if I was earning money for it!). I love my students. Every one of them.

It was 56 degrees F today. January. In Massachusetts.

Got to see three dear friends during the course of the day. First went to N's house to fix some computer problems (easy to fix, fortunately). Then, coffee with H - she "forced" me to add Kahlua to my peppermint mocha latte, and then we had a tailgate party in the back of her SUV, seeing how many people we could get to smile in the Starbucks parking lot. Wonderful. Then a yummy Indian buffet with D, my foodie friend. So much love.

David is whisking me out tonight for dinner, and he even remembered to arrange a sitter for our darling children!

And Comcast just admitted that there is a problem with our line (duh, I've been trying to troubleshoot with them for two weeks now), so tech is coming Thursday morning.

What's not to love?!

Thank you thank you thank you. To G-d and to everyone.

Ramblings and Musings

Yes, Facebook has really taken over on the small thought postings. It's so much easier - I can punch out a short note on my phone whenever a thought "needs" to be shared. But I do still love my blog. I'm just sorry I don't get to it more frequently these days. I often have thoughts to share; unfortunately, they usually come to me as I am driving the mini van around Metrowest. And I'm not a "tape recorder" kind of writer - I need the physical contact with they keyboard, and I need the visual input of the letters.

So here we are. It was a busy but ok week. David was in Copenhagen (he's on the plane home now). Kids had school (well, Sofia had no school Friday, but I took her to MWJDS for the afternoon). And it's college vacation week, so I had access to babysitters!

Monday after school we took Sofia to Children's Hospital Waltham for her endocrinology checkup. As soon as she saw the building, she insisted "No Sofia. Boy sick. Micah sick. No Sofia." So the boys had to be weighed and measured before she would allow herself to be weighed and measured. There was NO chance of getting the blood pressure cuff to stay on long enough. And the blood draw was typical for Sofia: took three adults to hold her (she sits on my lap in the "blood" chair with the bar across us and my legs across her knees while I hold her non-draw arm. Another tech holds the "victim" arm - I had to push back on her shoulder to keep her from moving. Then the third person does the needle stick.) After the blood draw, she sat on the floor screeching at us in anger, and then there was the typical 24 hour period of keeping her "victim" arm pinned tightly behind her back.

But otherwise, endocrin was good. She's doing great, and even though the numbers are slightly elevated, they are still not high enough to need treatment. She did not stop talking when we went in to see the doctor, who is a kindly young father himself. She was full of stories about "Chipmunk Princess Towel Dance" - I have no idea what she's talking about!

Anyway, I left the kids home with a sitter at night and I had to go lead a shiva minyan for my friend whose brother died. Very sad. And to add a note of ridiculousness, I had to hold a flashlight during the whole service, because their living room is very dark and I could not see the pages of the prayer book!

Wednesday, I had to take Sam to his snowboard lesson, so I had a sitter for the other two, a dear family friend who is like an older brother to my guys. Thursday, I actually went out for fun with a friend!

OH! I promised I'd do this: last Friday, we had our house vents cleaned. GREAT experience. I'd gotten a Groupon for a household vent cleaning. Of course, the groupon was only for a part of the system, and of course they recommended way more work than just what I'd already paid a very small amount for.

But they were terrific. East Coast Vent. I HIGHLY recommend them. It was two brothers, one very chatty and sweet. First, they reviewed the system, then came back to me with the recommendations and pricing. I called in to check with David, who of course threw a hissy fit over the phone. They guys first suggested they come back another time so we could discuss. Then they reviewed the recommendations, and we found some ways to save money, with one recommendation for a Do It Yourself item instead. That brought the price way down, and then the office allowed them one final discount.

And then they did a complete and thorough job of cleaning all the dust and dirt and grime and socks and rodents from our ventilation system! I can feel the difference. House is warmer, not having to fight through the dust. And less sneezing already!

Whew - forgot to do that last week...

Sofia is now choking me, trying to pull me away to help her clean her toys so she can watch a movie. She's very strong. And she is saying so much these days! Last night, she insisted "Fire. Stick. Eat. Now. Ten Minutes. Come on. Please Mommy. Eat. Outside. Fire.Stick." The wind, the temperature, and my general unwillingness to let her cook her food over a bonfire nixed the idea.

Heading down to CT tonight to take Sam to a camp friend's bat mitzvah. David coming home tonight, but we won't get to see him until tomorrow.