Out for dinner

Grabbed some Little Caesars pizza, a cooler of sodas, life jackets, swimsuits, graham crackers, chocolate chips and marshmallows and headed down to the.river.  About 80 degrees on the river is perfect.  Kids swam, ate pizza and roasted marshmallows for s'mores.

Moms of Special Needs Children

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-lin/special-needs-parenting_b_1314348.html

This is such a great article. I realize that a lot of my kids' needs (the ones that have them) are probably not to the degree of this mom, but I have so felt all the things she listed.....almost weekly at least. You do feel alone. You feel like most don't understand or wouldn't. You feel happy and sad all in the same day. You feel overwhelmed and content all at the same time. You can feel truly blessed and jealous within minutes of each other. It's really, really exhausting and really, really difficult.

Ultimately, I know I am so blessed by the things my kids have accomplished and though they're not the top at anything they are the top for themselves. A lot of special needs are invisible to others. You don't know why that kid can't play football because you can't see the scar under their shirt. You don't know why that 5 year old is small and doesn't talk like other 5 year olds.....you just think they're not bright. They are special!

This specifically really resonated with me as a mom to my kids. I love the things Jaemin does that are so typical for a 3 year old and he is almost 6. Because it's progress and it's great! I love watching Cole wrestle because we never thought he could....but he did. He's not the best, but as long as he tries and he's proving that kids with determination can do it.

"Raising a child with any disorder, condition or special need, is both a blessing and a challenge. A challenge for the obvious reasons, and a blessing because you don't know the depths of victory and joy until you see your child overcoming some of those challenges (sometimes while smiling like a goofy bear)."

More Grant's Farm and Magic House

I think they had a good time.  They fed llamas, birds and goats.  The girls road the camels.  The boys went into a cage thing to hold parakeets and feed them.  They saw the Clydesdales.  I think Jaemin was a little surprised at how large they were.  Jaemin got to see his favorite turtles, but was mesmerized by the elephants for some reason.

We thought about the zoo, but thought Grant's Farm may be less crowded, plus it's cheaper.  At least it was cool outside.  Cole's too 'big' for family outings, so he stayed home.  The Magic House is always fun.  Us adults were getting tired.  Otherwise, I think they could have stayed for awhile.  

 I took this of Chase, so he swiped my camera and took one of me.

 The goats ate everything including trying to eat our shorts, shirts and Chelsi's shirt ties.

 I was too slow, but Jaemin and Chelsi touched the snake too.  It was pretty big!

 Chelsi didn't want to do it by herself and Kaelin was supposed to.  Our theory is Kaelin just didn't get on so that Chelsi would have to do it by herself.  She liked it though.

 The boys didn't want to ride the camels, but did want to go into the bird cage.  Jaemin did hold one and did feed a few, but didn't love it.  They loved Chase.  One crawled from his finger, up his arm, around his neck and onto his hat.

 And there he decided that hat was junk just like we keep telling Chase.

 Magic House!

 The girls get static.  They were told to shake it out first....that's what they're doing.

 Jaemin's hair did not go up, but I'm shocked Chase's did.  The boys shaking.

 Results.

 Jaemin liked the 3 story slide.

 I told Chelsi she looked like a natural in scrubs with a stethoscope.  Her and Jaemin would make great medical partners.

 She's laughing because too little girls next to Chase cracked the safe, but Chase couldn't.

Grants Farm

Some guy was nice enough to take a picture after he saw us trying the group selfie.

School's OUT! Next year, K, 3, 6, 9 and 12! How's that for a fun year!

They're all done.  We left school a little after 10 or right at, went for some ice cream and took the youngest 4 to the movies to see Blended (their choice).  Next year's probably going to be tough with all 5 in school and Jaemin's adjustment, so I'm just going to enjoy this while I can.

Cole had gotten an award this year, Chase got an award this year and Chelsi got 3 awards this year.  5th & 6th grades do not give awards, so no awards for Kaelin, but I'm sure she would have.  Cole had no Cs this quarter!!  He did so much better and considering  the quarter started with his heart surgery he did awesome!  He may even keep his 3.0 for the semester since he brought this quarter's grades up so much (just 1 more final to be graded).  3rd quarter was really rough for him while he was getting more tired and stressed about the surgery, so it was a welcomed change.  Chase finished on the B honor roll for quarter and semester.  This quarter seemed a little more rough for him.  Hopefully freshman year will be great!  Kaelin finished this quarter on the B honor roll, but kept A honor roll for the semester.  Chelsi doesn't get grades yet, but had all pluses and 90%+ on things that did somewhat grade.  I'm looking forward and hopeful for a successful year next year for all and Cole will graduate!!

Big brother is fishing with friends since school is out, but we're having pizza outside tonight and hopefully the zoo tomorrow.  Came home to a get well card from Jaemin's nurse at the hospital and more Ninja Turtle stickers enclosed.  So sweet to think of him like that since it's his favorite ever.  You should have seen his face when they showed a preview for their movie before Blended today.  He yelled "It's a movie!".  

Jaemin took this.

Recuperation

This is what adenoid recuperation looks like.  He only took pain meds once yesterday.  My men are tough!

Jaemin's adenoids are out!

My baby did SO well. They were running 1 1/2 hours late on his surgery, so they didn't start until about 1:20. They was out and we were back with him about 25 minutes later. I was worried, about his reaction to our separation because of his issues so I had spoken with the hospital a couple of weeks ago. They were so great. They prepped all of the staff and brought us back to the point that we said goodbye in the room they would start putting him out before going to the OR. They said he said he was happy as he was going out. That's my boy! They came and got us before he had woken up even. They said usually they wait until they're awake, but they wanted to go with our wishes and make sure he awoke to us. He had his eyes closed when we walked in, but as soon as we started talking to each other he opened them like flipping a switch. His pretty little eyes just glanced at us and closed again. He didn't talk because the trach tube made his throat a bit sore, but as soon as he could whisper something he asked me where we were going to take him after we left the doctor (aka what can I eat?). Imagine that? Our kid worrying about food. We left shortly after since he was drinking juice just fine. We promised ice cream, so we left for Wendy's to get him a vanilla frosty and right as we were pulling in he started to cry and then got sick. It was all snot, so I think the anesthesia and the junk that cleared out with surgery had made him sick. He wanted a bath after that and asked for his Frosty in the tub. Yep....we gave in. He took a bath and then I fed him his Frosty in the tub. Jaemin requested macaroni and cheese for supper and said that no one else could eat it. It took awhile to convince him there was plenty for him and someone else. He didn't share much, but he did share. He's pretty much back to normal, running around and playing already tonight. He is now saying he is going to be a doctor and if you ask why he says "why not?". The hospital staff had put a mask and cap and his puppy, so he LOVED seeing Dr. Puppy when he woke up. But, now he is the one wearing the mask. EVERYWHERE HE GOES! Now, we're just hoping the snoring subsides when the swelling does.

Waiting.

Waiting some more and amazed the tv sound comes out of that remote.

Still waiting and getting hungry.  He did stay up until 11pm, but that's 12+ hours without eating.

Just waking up and trying to stick his tongue out for me.  He didn't have a smile for me yet.