Freaking Out :)

I'm not a big fan (actually I'm a HUGE scaredy cat) of horror movies, so I don't get too freaked out about the whole Friday the 13th bit because I've never seen the movies, but felt it was worth mentioning today's date because most people find it to be noteworthy.  I am superstitious, though.  In high school, I ate the same thing before my first event at every track meet I ran in (Reece's PB cups and an apple).  I remember walking in downtown Chicago and having to cross the street about 40 times to avoid scaffolding as I perceive them to be too much like walking under a ladder.  Thankfully, I've never been attached to any lucky underwear or broken a mirror and Friday the 13th just hasn't got me.  Yet :)

I won't continue to dwell  I will try to not continue to dwell on my interactions with the lady at the pool who has yet again shared her thoughts about Emily with me.  But yesterday after another kid tripped and fell, she turned to me and told me she saw Emily bump into something the day before and she "just assumed maybe she was prone to that kind of thing."  (See the quotation marks?  That's another direct quote from her!!!)  I didn't even speak to her; I just turned my back.  Emily was sitting right there - how dare she assume Emily didn't understand what she was saying!  I can't believe I am letting this lady get under my skin.  The two friends I've shared Monday's entire conversation with have given me a little pep talk and think it's time for some tough love, but I'm still wavering on social politeness and, for now, am just avoiding her.  But I've got some words on the tip of my tongue for her if there is a next time.  Okay, trying not to dwell....

Emily and I have had some pretty grueling games of Memory this week. 

My pairs are in the foreground of the picture.  Her pairs are in front of her.  Guess who got her butt kicked?  And if you're wondering if I let her win, let's just say Casey gets her competitiveness honestly from her mother and special chromosomes or not, you don't just get a free pass to beat mom.

For now, some Casey-isms:

Casey asked me this morning if I could promise never to send her off to the military mid-way between the Gatorade aisle and the deli counter at Kroger.  I told her it was something daddy and I would have to discuss, because nothing's off the table if she was going to continue to ask me for everything we see in the grocery.  But I did ask why she didn't want to be shipped off to the military, and she told me it is because they make you wear ugly green clothes that have grey in them and you have to sleep on white beds, not colorful ones.  Duly noted Casey, but we're keeping our options open :)

The other day a lady came over to me snickering and said she had to tell me what she heard Casey say to some other kids.  I instantly became a little nervous and held my breath as she told me that Casey was telling another kid she better behave because her mommy might get strict.  The younger child asked Casey what strict meant and she told her "it's when your mommy freaks out on you."  Later, Casey and I had a talk about what strict actually means and I suggested maybe she didn't tell other people that mommy actually freaks out on her even though I've been known to tell my girls that I am going to freak out on them if they don't stop fighting and whining.  She looked at me and asked if she should lie then.  Umm.  Yes.  Glad we had this talk, Casey.

What a turkey

Casey has this Oodles of Doodles book and I caught it lying open the other day to this page. 

I thought it was pretty cute.  She noticed my appraisal and pointed out the baby conga line she drew.  I get such a kick out of this girl.

The other evening she was jumping rope while running slowly in the driveway.  She shouted as loud as she could for me to watch The World Champion Jump Roper.  And after 3 strides, she completely wiped out.  Okay, typing this doesn't seem as funny as when it happened, but for a second I promise it would have made a great America's Funniest Home Video clip - right before she realized she had scraped her knees and elbow up.  After she stopped crying and we tended to her wounds, she managed to tell me maybe she was just going to have to be a famous pop star instead.  Good save, Case.

Casey has found the love of a good book now.  I do a little happy dance every time she finishes one.  And she is blowing through them this week!  I loved reading as a kid and still do now - getting lost in the story of a good book is my idea of relaxing!  She was introduced to the Rainbow Fairies series of books on Tuesday and she and her imagination have loved curling up on the couch to read for an hour at a time, a couple times a day.  I have kept all my old Nancy Drew books I read when I was a kid and look forward to sharing them with her one day.  (I am blindlessly convinced she will love them as much as I did but if she doesn't, I vow to be okay with it.  Okay, maybe a little crushed  :)

Casey reading on the porch one morning

Yesterday we met with Emily's urologist at Children's to follow up on her kidney and bladder function 8 months post surgery.  He was pleased with how well her kidneys look and is hopeful her bladder will remain stable.  I was greedily hoping that he would tell us she is out of the woods for future potential problems, but I can live with being closely monitored for a while.  After taking antibiotics to prevent infection every day for over 4 years, he said now is the time to stop and see how she does without the antibiotics.  So we're crossing our fingers that she doesn't get a kidney infection and continues to cooperate with potty training.  Wish us luck.

First time ever she sat still while getting her blood pressure taken.  She's getting to be such a big girl

Passing time coloring on the table paper waiting for the doctor

Last night I randomly informed/hinted to Tom that the Zac Brown Band will be in concert in Columbus 2 days before our anniversary.  He walked away, pretty much ignoring me and then came back and handed me an envelope and said Happy Anniversary.  I was a bit confused mostly because our anniversary isn't until Sept. 30, but he told me to go ahead and open it.  I did as instructed and was surprised to see he had given me 2 tickets to the Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw concert in Indianapolis in addition to 2 nights there without kids!!  I am beyond excited and can't think of a better anniversary gift than a couple of days/nights to ourselves!!!  Great concert bonus!!   Seriously?  I'm ridiculously excited for this!!  With no family in town here it isn't often we go out to dinner or even Home Depot by ourselves.  As Emily is currently lying on the floor throwing a fit because I told her she can't eat the brownie mix from the box in the pantry, I am getting even more excited about our little trip to Indy.  Maybe even freaking out a little bit.  Out of excitement.  Not, you know, because I'm all strict.

I wish I could have gotten this picture to rotate like I wanted it to.  Sister kickin' some butt - action shot style

Hot and Fired Up

Don't say it.  I'm a slacker.  I got it.  I've been busy burying my nose in a book when I can, avoiding the  1000  100+  degree temps and trying to feel a little more up than down.  But nothing makes me pull out my keyboard faster than someone at the pool telling ME that my daughter has issues.  Not just issues but "obviously a lot of issues."  Lady at the pool got my attention back to the soapbox that sits in my head waiting to be jumped on...

Here's how the past week went:  My back still hurts, we had a big hailstorm, Casey had swimming lessons every day through which Emily and I melted while we sat and watched, we went swimming most days after lessons, it was the 4th of July, we visited friends in Columbus and lady at the pool has me all stirred up.

We were all set to eat dinner outside on the patio last Sunday, but Mother Nature said, 'Oh Hail No' and we were forced to run inside to take cover from the storm.  The girls had a lot of fun collecting the hail and Emily observed it was cold.  They both giggled as they picked up the ice and we were amazed that it took over an hour or so to melt despite the heat.  There was probably some great science lesson we could have discussed with the girls, but we chose to sit back with our beers and watch them just enjoy themselves.













Our neighborhood has a kiddie bike parade every July 4th, so we decorated the girls' bikes and wilted walked behind them and the fire trucks to the end of a cul-de-sac where water and snacks and the fire hoses waited for everyone to enjoy.  I will admit openly and honestly that we tried to talk the girls out of this tradition this year.  It was just too hot.  We even bribed them.  But they really wanted to participate and so we will now hold this parental sacrifice over their heads for the next 15 years.  I would have taken a picture of my shirt as testament to just how drenched with sweat we were, but that would have been plain gross.  I would have happily danced in a hail storm that day for relief from the heat.

After the parade, we went to the pool.  Stat.  Tom left early to make a Kroger run and then stopped back to pick up Emily for a nap.  Casey and I hung out for a couple of hours longer with several hundred of our neighbors.  It was a packed pool for sure - nothing else to do on such a hot day!  Remember the scene from the movie Caddyshack when the caddies are in the pool and someone shouts, 'doodie!!' and the pool clears?  Well there was a similar incident that afternoon and the pool cleared real fast.  Yuck.  Happy 4th of July, folks.  We didn't go watch live fireworks because my kids are scared of them, so we curled up in the family room and watched them on TV.  Katy Perry performed on one of the live shows so it was actually better to watch them on TV according to Casey.

Friday we packed up to go see our friends Ted and Melissa who live in Columbus.  We don't get to see them enough for sure and when we do we always have such a good time.  They are the ultimate hosts to us and Tom and Ted are hilarious together.  We (finally) got to meet their new baby (who was born in February) and see little Teddy.  The kids all played so nice together which allowed for the adults to catch up and enjoy some adult beverages.  Emily struggled a bit in the sleeping department, but it will only take her a few days to catch up.  We've been to San Francisco/Pebble Beach and Hilton Head with these friends and are looking forward to more vacations with them in the future!!

3 kids in a cupboard

Emily helping feed baby Aubrey

Today Casey started her second session of swim lessons today and friends met us at the pool afterwards.  But as Emily and I were hanging out during lessons, I began to chat with another mom.  We started to innocently talk about kids and we discovered our youngest kids go to the same pre-school.  The conversation turned to how the school district is struggling with some budget cuts and how the school and services provided might be affected.  She then quickly noted that even though all 4 of her kids have been on IEP's, how I must be concerned because of how my daughter "had issues.  And not just, ya' know, issues.  She has obviously a lot of issues."  I will not dictate the entire conversation but she so keenly noted that it didn't look like my daughter had "Downs" (and I swear to you she whispered the word).  She then asked me if Emily could talk and when I said Yes! She said she hadn't heard her talk at the pool and then said something to the effect that maybe it's one of those things where only I can understand her.   I don't think she was trying to be abrasive, I just don't think she could articulate her curiosity. At all. With a dictionary, thesaurus and speech therapist to help. 

I will interject here to let the world know that Emily very clearly told Tom to stay out of her room and to not shut the door tonight.   Then for good measure she pointed to the imaginary line at the threshold of her room and told him "don't cross that line daddy."

I kept this conversation lighthearted and told her how blessed we were to have Emily in our lives and how well she is doing; trying to deflect this lady's observations. But I tell you inside I was starting to boil. Maybe I have been spoiled by people I know giving such encouraging words so graciously and noting Emily's progress so generously to us. I like our circle of people that tell us we're doing okay and that Emily is doing so well. I need these people in our lives but today was a reminder that we don't live in the bubble our friends and family surround us in. I walked away from the conversation (literally walked away) feeling all mixed up. I never have a problem with someone asking me what Emily' diagnosis is and how that will affect her life. I am as happy to discuss what Emily is doing these days as I am about what Casey is up to.  But I am learning to tiptoe round others' rudeness towards my special daughter. I don't want to go all defensive mama bear on people when no harm is intended. Yet I also don't want to listen to someone tell ME they are so glad their kids can learn normally when we are discussing my daughter's disadvantages to learn.   Trust me, I know better than anyone how lucky parents of typical kids should feel!!  I've got a typical kid, too.  And as much as it makes me thankful God made Casey a typical kid, it makes my heart hurt more that He didn't the same for Emily.  I can't control how anyone acts towards me or my family.  I can only control how I react.  But you know, if you can't say anything nice....   It's kind of like when I didn't tell her how glad I was that I wasn't the one wearing the ugly sunglasses she had on.   (It's my blog - I can be spiteful if I want to :) 

Emily, 2010