Snaggletooth

Emma's top teeth had been loose for a LONG time. They were barely hanging on and over the course of a few days, Brian was able to pull both of them without upsetting Emma. She loves to show us her smile now! She won't have much of a space for long. Both teeth were already coming in by the time the baby teeth came out!

Teeth minus one!

Teeth minus two!

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

I have a confession.

I don't really enjoy field trips. I go on them, but I don't look forward to them.

Because Emma doesn't seem to enjoy them, either.

She's a girl who likes her routine. She's also not particularly fond of crowds. So field trips with 3 other kindergarten classes are usually rather overwhelming.

But I think this one may have been the best yet. The weather was great. The schedule had enough free time that we weren't rushed, but not so much free time that we were bored. We've been here before and Emma is mostly interested in the tractor ride. But this year they had a small petting zoo and Emma enjoyed checking out the animals. She had a nice chat with the pig...she knelt down, looked it in the eye and said "Hi, Pig!" Then she waited. I think she was expecting an answer!



Carrying the pumpkin out of the patch.



Hi Pig!

Scary September

After the birthday party, I have very few pictures for the rest of the month of September. The month took a turn when I had some complications two weekends in a row and pretty much was told to spend most of my time in bed or on the couch.

Emma - reading Clifford, watching Baby Einstein, sitting in a box. :-)

James -  who went through a "who needs pants" phase!

Thankfully, since the scares of September, I've had no further complications and as I write these words the baby is kicking away to remind me to get caught up on the blog because he intends to have a significant presence on here in about four weeks!

James Starts Preschool

"Just one day a week . . . it's just one day."

This was my chant as I took James to his first day of Mom's Morning Out.

He needs it. I need it.

That doesn't mean I have to like it.

Thankfully, he loves it!

James Turns 2

Yes, if you note the date you'll see the awful truth...I'm 6 months behind.

What can I say?

It's been a busy 6 months!

So . . . .

We had a brunch for James' 2nd birthday with family and friends that are family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and godcousins (is that even a real word?). Anyway.

Sandra had broken her ankle and was in a wheelchair, but that didn't stop her from mopping my floors and fixing the tenderloin. Mom was on biscuit duty. Somehow it all got done. The weather was fabulous and after you eat a tenderloin breakfast, do you really need to eat the rest of the day?



Anna, Ashlyn, Ethan & James



Not sure if they planned to match or if Clemson was playing!



James loved all his presents and loved all the attention! Emma loved the party hats - she takes her party hats seriously!

This is what James thought of the First Day of School

Where is my Emma?

First Day of School

I realized the other day that this is our sixth first day of school. Emma started preschool the day after she turned 3 in February of 2006. Then we had K-3, K-4, K-5 and 1st grade.

This year is 1st grade again. We are repeating 1st grade and I am thrilled about it. I don't see any sense in rushing through elementary school! We'll stay as long as we can!

This is also our 4th new school. Hopefully, it will be the last for a while. Nothing would make me happier than for us to stay in one elementary school until they kick us out and send us to middle school! We have quite a few friends who have kids at Bethel and my hope is that they will get to know Emma, and she them, and begin to build some friendships.

My friend Jessica sent me a message today that they had seen Emma on their way in this morning and she had pointed her out to her daughter Caroline. When Caroline got home, she reported that she had seen Emma in the hall and had said Hi to her. I could have cried! I told Jessica to be sure to thank Caroline and to assure her that while Emma may not say Hi back, she does hear it and notice it and appreciate it. I'm hoping this is just the first of many new friends for Emma!

I was doing OK when I dropped her off until it was time for me to head out. Emma gave me this look that, to me, said "I'm trying to be brave . . . but I don't know about this, Mommy." I almost lost it. But, her teacher reported that she had a great first day, she seemed happy as a clam getting off the bus, and has had a good afternoon.

These are the days when having a child who can't - not just is reluctant to - not just that it's like pulling teeth to get the info - but that cannot tell me about her day could drive me insane. Or maybe to order a peppermint mocha (which I totally did a few hours after I dropped her off!).

I would give anything to know what she is thinking, feeling and wondering. Does she understand that school is back in for the year? Does she understand that she's going back tomorrow and the next day and the next? Does she wonder where her teachers from the last two years are and why the classroom is different? Did she enjoy her day? Was everyone nice to her? What was her favorite part of the day? Her least favorite?

These are the questions that I never get answers to. So I take them to One who knows the answers. And I beg Him to communicate with her little heart and ease any anxiety she may be feeling. And to give me wisdom to know things I couldn't otherwise know. To show me when to intervene and to give me the good sense to stay out of the way when she's got it under control (as she usually does!).

It helps me to remember that He loves her more than I do.

And that He is holding her safely in His arms.

Jordan Lake

Emma - she liked the view from
the front of the boat

But she really liked watching
the wake from the back!

We went to Mom and Dad's a few weeks ago and they've got the pontoon boat in working order. So we headed to Jordan Lake - it's about a 30 minutes drive from their house. We were fairly certain Emma would enjoy the boat, but not as sure about James. He was quite displeased about the lifejacket requirements, but he settled after a few minutes (not that he had a choice).

James was out cold!

Emma wanted to go faster - and faster - and faster. Brian commented that she could be on speed boat and it wouldn't be fast enough for her. She liked looking over the back of the boat at the wake.

Taking it easy!

Brian and Emma in the lake

Checking on the shoreline
with Papa.

Swimming with Nana!

James was worn out (we had been traveling for several days before we got to mom and dad's) and he fell sound asleep. He slept through most of our adventure. I don't have any pictures of Jennifer, but she was with us!

RTS Conference 2010

Me & Emma at the Aquarium -
She loved the penguins!

We've been home less than 48 hours. I may never get caught up on the laundry or my sleep.

And it is totally worth it!

We had a great time in Covington/Cincinnati, meeting other RTS families, hearing new ideas on how best to communicate with and advocate for Emma both now, and in the years to come.

Having never met another RTS family in person, this past weekend was a delightful experience. Imagine having never been around anyone who just knows - really knows - and to find yourself surrounded by, oh, a hundred or so families who get it.

Emma and Caden (Tena's little man)

Tena & Me

Typical conversations included questions about diagnosis, school settings, medical issues, speech, toilet training and social interactions. But not once did anyone have to explain a behavior or deal with the look you're used to getting when you tell someone your pint-sized peanut is, in fact, 7 years old. 

There was an instant camaraderie - a sense of family - from the first night. There was no childcare available Friday evening and entire families congregated to hear the opening remarks from the organizers and the address from Mrs. Michigan, Stephanie Hunt, who happens to be an RTS mom herself and a vocal advocate for all children with rare diseases.

Brian, me and Cindy

The room was so loud, it was hard to hear the speakers. Now, this might have been an annoyance to some, but Brian and I kept looking at each other and laughing, because underneath the noise there was an omnipresent hum - the exact same hum that Emma has. It's hard to describe, but if you've heard it, you know what I'm talking about. Imagine lots of RTS sweeties, all humming at the same time in a confined space. It was noisy, but it was fabulous! We didn't realize that Emma's hum was characteristic of RTS, but it must be, because we heard it frequently.

Emma and Natalie (Cindy's little one)

I had a great time putting faces to names. Meeting Tena, Cindy, Kristi, Terri and others who I've "known" for years through the RTS listserve but had never spoken to before this past weekend. Even more fun was meeting their children - Caden, Natalie, Noah, Addie, and others of all ages.

Brian and James on the Duck Boat

Of course, we also enjoyed the Cincinnati area, particularly Newport on the Levee. We went to the Aquarium and had some Graeter's ice cream on Friday - Brian is now officially addicted. On Saturday, we took a Duck Boat ride and Emma & I got completely soaked when the boat hit the water. It didn't bother Emma though - she kept telling us she wanted to go on the "special ride" again. Sandra & I went to lunch on Sunday and had some yummy pizza (and more Graeter's) and then we all took a snooze before heading to the pool.

Emma on the Duck Boat -

Before the Soaking!

Emma and James had a great time swimming while I got to talk to some other RTS moms and Brian got to talk to some RTS dads and the whole pool was overtaken by RTS munchkins! It was fabulous!

Brian and I went back to Newport on the Levee, drove around some of the historic and ritzy houses on the Kentucky side of the river, enjoyed the view and got more Graeter's (Brian did - I didn't!).

Emma and Me on the Duck Boat -
After the Soaking!

Monday morning we went on a tour of the new Dept. of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's. The therapy rooms were enough to make me drool, and I'm not even a therapist. They were huge, open and just cool! We visited the Rubinstein library and toy lending library and got to meet a few people who helped to make the conference a success.

When we left, we headed back to Graeter's (I am not making this up!) to purchase some ice cream which they packed in dry ice - guaranteed to stay frozen for 36 hours. The fine folks at Graeter's sent us to the Mt. Adams Bar & Grill - legal since 1941! - and we had a lovely lunch and headed home.

The kids traveled beautifully and Sandra was a HUGE help! I had expected the weekend to be beneficial and informative. I hadn't expected to have so much fun!

Brian and his new love!

Feeling lonely?

I usually try to keep the posts on this blog fairly lighthearted, but I thought some of my fellow RTS moms might be able to relate to this . . .

So, if you're having a tough day and feeling overwhelmed and under-appreciated, please join me on my other blog, Out of the Boat.

And, just for those of you who know and love Emma, please know that as I was putting the finishing touches on my blog post, Emma went downstairs. Which wouldn't have been a problem except for the fact that I had failed to lock the back door. I found her outside in a t-shirt and a diaper, bare foot and carrying her brother's Easter basket.

I try not to dwell on what my neighbors must think!

Modern Art

Sometimes people ask what my life is like.

Today would not be a good day to use as an example.

It isn't always like this. But sometimes it feels like it is!

We got home from therapy and I put James down for his nap. Therapy days are hard on the little man - he gets his afternoon nap so late that sometimes he doesn't take it at all.

But he was quiet, and Emma was watching a DVD downstairs.

I thought I'd take a few moments to finish up a blog post on my personal blog, Out of the Boat.

Here we have "E as Emma sees it" in eye liner.

BIG MISTAKE!

Actually, the big mistake was not double-checking to be sure all the doors were closed. Because while I was posting the blog and checking my email, Emma was doing this. In case you are wondering, Emma decided to use mascara, eye pencil and lipstick as her mediums today.

When you use makeup as a medium, some of the makeup is destroyed in the process. 

While I went to get the camera to document the art work, Emma decided to adorn my Bible. With lipstick. The sad irony - I've been looking for that lipstick - it's my favorite. It is now in the trashcan. These pages are permanently pink now.

Of course, all of Emma's screaming (she did not appreciate being sent to her room) woke up James. So he's in a foul mood now.

Fun times!

I don't know what's going on with Emma this week, but I have a theory. We tend to talk around Emma as if she doesn't understand what we are saying. Kind of the same way we talk around James. So she's heard us talking about me heading to Vandy for Jennifer's graduation. And she's heard us talking about me going off to a writer's conference on Sunday. I know Emma understands far more than she gets credit for, but sometimes it's easy to forget.

My theory? My little Picaso knows mommy will be traveling for the next week. She doesn't understand it all. But she knows. And she's not too happy about it.

Sigh.

In case you're worried, I happen to know from experience that Mr. Clean Magic Erasers will remove mascara from walls.

Gone Fishin'

Emma received a fishing pole for Christmas, and we took her for her first fishing excursion Friday night. We were at a little farm pond and Emma managed to catch a fish on her very first cast. She caught her 2nd brim just a few minutes later. And that was good, because she was done fishing and more interested in wandering around in the woods and exploring the logs and the nearby tree stand.

Mom, Dad, Sandra and I all fished for another twenty or thirty minutes. None of us caught anything.

I have some great video, which I will attempt to add later. For now, here are the pictures!

James "helping" Papa fish.

Emma called the bobber a "ball".

Reeling in the big one!

"Petting" the fish. Big one #1.

Nana helped her catch Big One #2!