Dodging a Bullet and Saving a Memory

So I caught up with Spiff’s teacher today and she told me that he was a little off of his groove, but not outside the normal range for behavior of most boys his age.

(Did you hear that? That was me and the hubby sharing a collective PHEW!!!)

The whole medication thing was a huge deal that we discussed ad nauseum before we decided to go ahead with it. (If you knew me, you’d quickly realize that this is normal for me, I tend to discuss and analyze stuff to death. It’s a gift, I tell you.) I didn’t want to be one of those parents that medicated their kids because it was easier on the staff of his school, I wanted it to be because he needed help, and it would allow him to function in a regular classroom setting; thereby allowing him a better shot at a regular diploma once he graduates. (That’s actually very important. Schools don’t really tell you the ins and outs of that unless you ask them, and you should ask. It sucks to get blindsided when they get to High School and you find out they don’t qualify for a regular diploma because of all the ESE classes they are enrolled in.)

Spiff has been on some cocktail of medicines since second grade. It’s composed of an ADD medication (right now it’s Concerta), an anti-anxiety medication (he’s having success with Wellbutrin), and Magnesium sulfate tablet. This mixture seems to be working rather well, but I’m not averse to giving his body a rest from time to time; a break to get back to a natural balance, so to speak. A clearing out of the cobwebs. We usually do this in the summertime, the stress is lower, and relaxing is at a premium. Ironically, Spiff usually asks for his medication to restart before I want it to during these times. It’s as if he knows what he should feel like, and the medication keeps him in balance. I can definitely appreciate that, and it makes me feel good that he at least recognizes when things are slipping out of control for him. That lesson was a long time coming.

So I’m glad that yesterday worked out okay for him and his teacher. I know he hates to upset or disappoint her in any way, so I’m glad that he didn’t.

He did remember to take his medication THIS morning though, that I can tell you.

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Today Scamp rode the bus home from school with a classmate of his that is his best friend. This was a big deal; the only time he has ridden the bus is when the class has gone on field trips. I’ll admit, I was a little worried about it, and I made sure to make myself scarce so that he didn’t see me before he got on the bus so I wouldn’t confuse him.

I needn’t worried.

His exact words to his friend’s mom as he got off the bus:

“That was coooooooool”.

I think I might have to sign him up for the bus a few days a week next year.

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A blogger that I really enjoy reading, Beth, is now a contributor over at ClubMom. Check out her new blog, Diary of a Playgroup Dropout. What she doesn’t realize is that this very blog came extremely close to being called that, seeing as I am an alumni.

It only goes to show that great minds think alike. So, go on, check her out!

See you Thursday, when I tell you the 13 things I love to watch on the TiVo. It’s scintillating. Don’t miss it!

I Think I’m a Marked Woman….

I sent Spiff to school without his medication.

His teacher might kill me.

To my credit, I did warn her. I warned Spiff that the next time he forgot to do something he needed to do in his morning routine, I wasn’t going to turn the car around or bail him out. I went back on that yesterday, when I went and got something that he needed to complete a project in school and brought it back to the school. Today he dallied so long through his morning routine that he forgot to feed Shady, our cat; brush his hair, and take his medicine.

So he went as is.

Hopefully tomorrow he’ll remember. I’m guessing this will have to happen a few more times before it sinks in.

I should bring her a peace offering or something, huh?

On Mother’s Day Memories, Past and Present…

Typically for Mother’s Day. I like to spend most of the day in bed. Not because I’m a lazy slob or anything, because that couldn’t be further from the truth.

(My father-in-law and I joked this weekend that my mother-in-law and I would be the only two people he knows that would be in our coffins, swishing a hand around still cleaning.)

I like to stay in bed because Mother’s Day is really hard for me. It’s one of many days a year the reminds me in an assault-like way, that I no longer have my mother with me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the fact that I am a mom now, and I appreciate and love what my kids surprise me with, but deep down inside all day while I’m calling all the other moms in my family, there’s one call I can’t make, and it kills me.

My mom died when I was 19 years old, so she has missed out on a lot. I’m reminded of that on this day, and the fact that I can’t thank her for all that she did to help make me into who I am today. I would like so much for her to enjoy her grandsons, and the husband that I’m certain she would have adored. (The first one? Not so much.)

Sunday was a beautiful day. It was the culmination of a hectic weekend of helping out my mother-in-law and her ballet school’s Spring Performance. Friday was Dress Rehearsal night, and Saturday was the Matinee Performance. It was beautiful, as usual. I am in awe of my mother-in law when I see her teaching and in “performance mode”. She could coax a cactus to put their needles away so she could give it a hug. She’s that good.

Sadly, she hasn’t been feeling very well, and has been pushing herself so she wouldn’t let her kids down by having to cancel the performance. The entire family has been very worried, so while we were there to help with the performance; we were also there to make sure she could take it as easy as she could so she didn’t collapse. Thankfully, she didn’t, and the show went on. Even with all of that going on “behind the scenes”, it was so great to spend time with her and my father-in-law. Not to mention, because my brother watched the kids so Hubby and I could go do this, we got to have a romantic outdoor lunch of Tijuana Flats’ tacos at the picnic tables outside the Performance Hall. It was Nirvana, with a capital N.

Sunday, Mother’s Day, Mom-in-law and I had plans to go see the Orlando Ballet‘s Dance It Up!. We ended up going, even though she wasn’t feeling 100%. She wanted to do it for her, and once we got there and the show started, I could understand why. It was spectacular, and made me very excited for the new season. It also made me very sad, because these are exactly the types of things that had things gone differently in my parent’s marriage; my mom and I would have done outings like this. It was a bittersweet moment. A beautiful, bittersweet moment.

After the performance, we went backstage to meet the Artistic Director who has known my mother-in-law for many years. I felt honored to be in their presence, not because of their accomplishments in the ballet world, but that two people have remained such close friends for as long as they have, and genuinely enjoy their bond. It made me appreciate the bonds of family and friendship I have in my life, and it made me miss my mother.

So on the way home, I decided to treat my mother-in-law to a Starbucks Frappuccino. On the way, I took her by the house I lived in with my mother so she could see it. I had never done that before, and I wanted to share that moment with her, and I wanted to remember, and honor my mother who should have been there with us; who should have been here all along enjoying the return on her hard work and sacrifice.

My mother-in-law appreciated the invitation into my moment.

She also appreciated the Frappuccino. So did I.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. We miss you so much. We love you even more.

Look, Mom! My Very Own Trading Card!!!

Helene, over at adventures in parenthood, has come up with a fabulous idea: Mommy Trading Cards!

So of course, I made one…

I think that just about covers it. D’ya think I’m as valuable as a vintage Mickey Mantle???

(I hope my kids think so)

So, go on…go make one and add it to the slideshow of other great cards already showcased. It’ll be fun, I promise!

Have a great weekend, and to all the moms out there, have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Things I Love Thursday: 13 Princess Pamperings

Since I have been sick, and am now feeling better and better as each day arrives, I thought I’d share with you some of my “beauty arsenal”; or things I purchase to slather on me to make me feel good and smell yummy. They are in no particular order, and I can’t guarantee I use a few of them every day, but when the need arises, I have them at the ready to make me feel good.

1. Dove Deodorant – Unscented – I actually believed the commercials when they said smoother underarms in a week or something like that. Good thing, because it’s totally true! I prefer unscented for my deodorant so it doesn’t clash with any perfumes I may wear.

2. Oil of Olay – Dual Action Cleanser & Toner – Whoever came up with this gem of a product has my undying gratitude. I will admit, there have been many times I have forgotten to use the toner in my facial beauty regimen, and it’s nice to have it already included so it’s one less thing I have to worry about.

3. Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating™ 2-in-1 Foaming Pads – Living in Florida, my skin gets really oily. These really clean things up nicely and keep all the oil to a minimum. They feel kind of tingly when you use them, but a great product nonetheless.

4. Jonathan Product – Serious Volume Volumizing Shampoo – Okay, ya got me, I got sucked into Blow Out on Bravo. Not to mention, I’m a sucker for new hair care products. At any given time, I have 3 or 4 open bottles of shampoo in my shower. To me, hair care products are what cereal was in my youth; good for a few times and then on to the next one. This one I use sparingly, because its $22 price tag even made me choke.

5. Jonathan Product – Condition Serious Volume– Apparently, I wasn’t scared off by the high price of the shampoo, because I bought the conditioner too. That was $24. I think these Jonathan purchases had more to do with the fact I had over $100 in Sephora Gift Certificates between my Birthday and Hanukkah. So I bought these items and a few more you will see later on in the list. I subscribe to the theory that “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya” so I don’t go through this stuff as quickly as I’m sure Jonathan would like. That, and I have short hair.

6. Olay Ribbons Body Wash plus Creme Ribbons – I was skeptical about this product when I bought it, but I have noticed as I get older that my skin dries out faster than ever before. (This phenomenon is strange, to say the least. I have oily skin…seriously!) This product keeps my hydrated and silky smooth. It’s also a fabulous shave cream.

7. Jonathan Product – Dirt Texturizing Paste – If you ever do buy one of Jonathan’s products, this is the one. This product can turn bed head into a red carpet coiffure in seconds. Plus, it smells so amazing and almondy. Delicious!

8. Tweezerman Tweezers – Point® Tweezer Assorted Colors - The Gold Standard of tweezing. I have used many brands of tweezers over the years, and this brand stands the test of time. These are great for getting out splinters and ingrown or hard to get at hairs. Highly recommended.

9. Bare Escentuals – Natural Cosmetics – A makeup artist friend of mine got me started on this product and I have been hooked on it ever since! I’m not a big makeup kind of gal, but when I like to look polished, or have a glow that isn’t sweaty looking, this is my product of choice. With the high humidity here in the FLA, most makeup tends to slide off one’s face in short order. This stays on all day, and looks great.

10. Decleor – Matte Finish Skin Fluid – This is my moisturizer that I use on my face. I love this stuff. This is the first time ever that a moisturizer doesn’t leave my face either too oily or too dry after I apply it. Like Goldilocks would day, “It’s just right!”.

11. Pilar and Lucy – The Exact Friction of Stars - This perfume reminds my husband of home and vanilla cookies. Use sparingly, it can be kind of strong. I use this during the winter months. Brandy – I use this one in the Fall months. Kai – This one reminds me of growing up here in Florida and gardenias. This is usually my spring and summer fragrance.

12. Dr. Scholl’s® For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream – Since I wear sandals quite a bit, I really like this product. I slather this on my feet, get my socks out and put them on, and in the morning I have fabulous, moisturized feet. Perfect!

13. Aquafina Flavor Splash Water – Citrus Blend – What’s a “beauty regimen” without water? I like my water with a little flavor in it, for some strange reason. I think it’s because I subscribe to the “I’m thirsty, not dirty” school of thought when it comes to drinking water. Thank goodness for those folks at Aquafina that knew how I felt and made this water just for me. (It’s what I’d like to believe, anyway) Crisp, delicious, and fruity. What more could one want in a bottled water?

So there you have it. It’s not everything, but it’ll get you started. Leave a comment, and let me know what some of your favorite products are. I love trying out new stuff!!!

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be…

So today, I awoke early, grabbed a soda, got dressed (I showered last night), and headed back to school.

For me. Not my kids.

Today was the day of my Para-Pro Test. I’ve decided that based on my husband’s erratic work/travel schedule, and the fact I need to be available to my kids, and the fact I’d like to be earning some coin for my family finances, I was going to look into becoming a Teaching Assistant for our county’s public schools. I quickly learned that in order to do so I had to either be accredited, in school, have an AA degree, or have taken the Para-Pro test.

I chose the test to kind of speed things up, so to speak. Nice of me, no?

On that pathway of life when you can decide to continue your college education or have children, I chose to have children. Some, like myself, could argue that making that choice and living it is like a daily education that a degree in a college could never achieve. Unfortunately, companies like to see a piece of paper that isn’t your child’s birth certificate. So off I went in search of this test and the ability to pass it.

The test is 90 minutes long, 90 questions long. 30 in math knowledge/ability to instruct; 30 in reading knowledge/ability to instruct; and 30 in writing knowledge/ability to instruct.

I was dropped from the server no less than 5 times, and still finished in an hour. (That included double checking my work.) There were some questions I didn’t feel confident about, and others I knew like the back of my hand. Math is not my strong suit, so I knew going in I was going to have some problems there. I also knew that since I couldn’t procure a study guide prior to the testing (long story) that I was basically “flying blind”. So, I was understandably nervous after I had finished, checked and double checked it and was ready to push the button to see my score.

I Passed!!! With super flying colors and then some!!!!

Florida has one of the highest benchmarks you have to make in order to pass this test. I did it!!!!

I’m so psyched! Now I can officially become a Teaching Assistant, and later on go back to school and finish my teaching degree.

My mom up in heaven is so proud of me today, I just know it. So here’s to you, mom, a Mother’s Day present a little early, and an IOU on the rest, just like you wanted.

As I walked from the back of the room (some habits die hard, what can I say?) to the front to collect the printout of my score (it was taken on the computer), the proctor met me halfway across the front of the room and handed me my paper. No lie, it felt like a graduation ceremony. When she said great job and good luck, the illusion seemed real.

It was an amazing moment.

Ironically, according to my results, I can teach math better than I know it (huh???); I’m a freakin’ GENIUS at Reading and Writing, and I can totally do this.

Wow. I amaze myself every now and again.

Consider me over the moon. And proud of me.

Thank You and Happy Birthday!

Dear Spiff’s Teacher,

First off, allow me to wish you a happy birthday. I know you are really only turning 25, and are trying to make me feel better by saying you are actually turning older than that. I can’t thank you enough for that, because when I stop and think about how much older I am compared to many people I have met and worked with these days, it makes me want to crawl back under the sheets and never come out again. Add to that the gray hairs I keep seeing, and well, a prescription for Prozac might be in order. So thank you for the honest fibs. You are a true friend, and a real pretty one too.

Now, on to the big, huge thank you. I can not adequately express my sincere thanks for all the hard work you have done this year in regards to Spiff and his IEP. Without your help, support, and concern for his well being, this last year in Elementary School would have been incredibly horrific. It is because of your influence on him, and me, that we are both looking forward to Middle School and all of the ups and downs that await us. It has made me so sad and so frustrated that we two seemed to be the only ones at school who “got” Spiff, and know what needs to be done to help him. It would have been nice to have had everyone on our “team” lend a helping hand this year. Alas, that was not to be. If we had any other teacher besides you this year, things would have gone unchecked, forgotten, and missed. I’m so grateful they were not, and that you were his teacher.

I also thank you for being patient with me this year. I know I can be (a little) overbearing at times, and probably more “hands on” in my son’s education than most teachers are accustomed to. Thank you for gently reminding me of some ground rules about how precious teachers’ time can be, and that sometimes I just have to sit back and watch Spiff and marvel at his abilities. In my relentless pursuit of making sure Spiff gets a quality education, I can sometimes forget that I am truly not the one in the drivers seat anymore. I’ve become the navigator. Your words of help and hope and reassurance have buoyed me this year in so many ways. Thank you for that.

Thank you for working with me and for bringing out the best in my son. We will miss you next year, but you will always have a special place in our hearts and in our memories.

You embody the qualities of what an exceptional teacher is. Please continue to reach and inspire and educate our children. You are wonderful.

Still Recovering, Thank You For Asking…

Sorry for not being here the past few days, I have been recovering from that lovely “gift” Scamp brought me home from school. We rested, we watched cheesy movies, we stocked up on food at the grocery store like the end of the world was nigh.

It was lovely.

But, alas, duty calls yet again, and I have just returned from Spiff’s school, where I was SUPPOSED to have an 8:30am meeting to go over his IEP and the eggregious lack of accommodations on the new! and improved! one that was just written by the ESE Coordinator (a.k.a freakin’ idiot!) She didn’t even look at the old one, or consult with his teacher. I’m so up in arms about this, I can’t even begin to describe it.

But I promise I will, later this week. Right now I just have to get myself feeling better.

I’ll be back soon, and better than ever!

Things I Love Thursday: 13 Things That Will Make Me Feel Better

Since my entire house, save for my husband, is home nursing some sort of avian flu/flu bug/sore throat-runny nose thing; I’m not in a good mood. So, I give you 13 things that will/would make me feel better soon:

1. Luden’s Cough Drops (Cherry Flavor) or a vat of Chloraseptic Throat Spray, I’m not picky.

2. Oh My Chai! Tea from Tastefully Simple.
3. Hot, Steamy Showers until the water turns cold.
4. Heating Pad, set to medium low.
5. Sleep, and lots of it.
6. Ny-Quil.
7. Day-Quil.
8. Chicken Noodle Soup, the Campbell’s Condensed version, with a spoon and a straw (bendy).
9. Trashy Magazines. (Light reading, less stress on headache)
10. Advil (3).
11. Being tucked in to bed. With a kiss on my forehead.
12. My husband waiting on me, hand and foot.
13. Hugs from my kids.

Now, I’m off to see if I can get any of this to happen. Wish me luck!

I’m Marking My Calendar!

I saw this on Blogging Baby, and I’m already counting the days until:

PLEASE Take My Children To Work Day — June 26, 2006

Jen Singer, the owner of MommaSaid.net, is organizing and petitioning for a new holiday — Please Take My Children To Work Day. In her words:

The average American works 1,978 hours a year, or 38 hours a week — the highest rate in the industrialized world.
Slackers.
Stay-at-home moms work upwards of 14 hours a day, seven days a week. Plus, they’re on call 24/7. That’s nearly 100 hours a week with no vacation days, no sick days and no holidays — until now.

On Monday, June 26th, MommaSaid.net will sponsor the fourth annual ” Please Take My Children to Work Day,” a holiday for part- and full-time stay-at-home mothers.
Moms around the world are encouraged to take the day off, or at least part of it, by finding a relative, neighbor, friend or babysitter to take care of the kids.

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Hmmmm… I wonder if my hubby will be working in Albany that week? I also wonder if he’d like some company…like, say, our boys….

honey?….

…where’d he go?

(thanks to Karen for some of the verbiage.)