Spring Break Part 2

Since I find that we all tend to "get in trouble" more when we are home for longer stretches, I was looking for inexpensive and simple things to do.  I remembered that the YMCA down the street from us had a covered pool so I looked up their family swim times and they happened to do a "family swim" each day of spring break.  We took the kids on Tuesday and then back again on Thursday and they LOVED it.  It was perfect because one section of the pool is only 2 feet and then leads into a 3 foot section so I was able to take them alone on Thursday and not have to get in with them.  

 

When we were there on Tuesday we were basically the only ones in the pool and on Thursday it was packed.  However, even though there were so many people there, there was so much pool it was still great.  It was such a nice thing to have available for the kids.

 

 

 

Later on Tuesday night after dinner, we took the kids for a "treat" to the ice cream store.  Typically, every time we go, Colin only gets a cup of vanilla but that night, he asked for vanilla AND chocolate.  Just tolerating chocolate used to be a big deal but he actually asked to EAT vanilla and chocolate together.  It's been so great watching Colin's personality evolving lately because so many cute things have been happening.  Chris didn't want any ice cream that night so he went and got a table.  After I paid and we all had our ice cream, Colin realized Chris didn't have any.  He got up from the table and tried to wait on line so that he could order Chris some of his own ice cream.  It was too cute! 

 



Cody has been learning already that Mom and Dad come wielding a camera at all times.  He gets the "smile for the camera" command and is fitting in well with his brother and his sister.  He knows how to ham it up already!

On Wednesday, the kids all went to the daycare for a little bit because Chris and I had an appointment in North Jersey.  Colin and Kailey were excited to go to school together and had a great time as they got to play together in the morning after arriving.  They were happily chatting about their day and smiling for a picture to send to Daddy when I picked them up. 

On Thursday, Cody and Kailey had their 4 year old and 6 month (late) checkups.  They were both supposed to get shots that day but after giving a rundown of what Cody has been up to lately, I also mentioned that he had been a tad bit fussy over the course of the last week. I attributed it to teething because he had been wanting much more attention, was drooling/spitting up/pooping more than normal, and just wasn't as easy going as normal.  It turns out, he had an ear infection! That was the first ear infection any of my kids ever had! It was crazy to me because he never had a fever and never acted like it was his ear.  The doctor was surprised as well because he said 50% of kids have an ear infection by 6 months and 90% have one by 2 years old and Colin and Kailey both managed to escape any (knock on wood). 

 

Since Cody had the infection, he didn't get his vaccines.  Kailey, on the other hand, received four and you would have thought the worst possible scenario at the way she screamed at the top of her lungs.  It was so bad, Colin became increasingly nervous, his lip quivered, and then he started crying because of it.  Kailey literally screamed for an entire HOUR after her vaccines.

 

However, later that night (and after the pool), we managed to regroup and become happy again.  

 

Spring Break Part 1

Spring break for us this year has been a "staycation" but filled with fun, adventures and even some rest too.  The kids are becomingly increasingly exhausted as the week goes on but that just means we are having fun.  There have also been lots of challenging moments but we are working through those as they come. 

 

Friday morning of break, I went for a run and when I got back, Colin was already getting his hat and coat on to go for one himself.  He kept telling us "I'll be right back, I'm going running!". He wanted to go so badly that I went back out with Colin and Kailey for a run around the block.  

 

Later that, we drove up to North Jersey to see my Grandparents.  My Grandma is 88 and my Poppy is 91 so it was pretty neat to have the oldest and youngest members of the family together. 

The next morning, while Kailey was taking care of her baby and the other two were lounging around, I tried to get a few things done before heading off on another "adventure".

Easter weekend at Jenkinson's Boardwalk is always the official opening where tickets for the season are sold at discounted prices.  The kids were so excited to meet up with their friend Becker for rides and fun!

Since Daddy was working later that night, and it was spring break, I was a little more lenient with bed time.  Colin and Kailey found their sleeping bags and wanted to have a "sleepover" on the floor in Kailey's room, so I gave them the iPad and let them watch a show.  They were so cute and so excited so it was well worth the "leniency" for some fun.

On Sunday was Easter, so we did the traditional Easter morning activities.  Kailey was hysterical with the egg hunt as she was very competitive; Colin was happily content to gather a few and watch Kailey buzz around the room. In the mix of everything, Cody started sitting independently for the first time!

Later that morning we went to church for the Easter service. 

It was also a special morning for me because Cody wore this blue sweater which was originally started by my Grammy who passed away this past June.  It's a very sweet story as my parents had donated her knitting supplies to the knitting group in the church I grew up in.  The group (which also included my Great Aunt and my other Grandmother) discovered the sweater in the bag that had been started and finished it for me after Cody was born.  It was one of the most touching gifts I have ever received and was incredibly special for Cody to wear it on Easter. 

Later that day, Chris' family was over to celebrate the day with us. 

On Monday, I met my mom at the Turtle Back Zoo on the most perfect day of the week so far.  It was beautiful and a fun day with the kids. 

After the zoo, we had lunch and a treat and the kids slept the whole way home. 

It's been a fun break so far and I can't believe how fast it's flying by!

Meeting Update

A week ago today, we had our mediation meeting that included our advocate, members from the district, and a mediator from the Department of Education.  The purpose of the meeting for this part of the process is to have a mediator try and facilitate an agreement between the two parties so that it would not have to go to court.  

 

 

Because the district views Colin's education in the least restrictive environment completely differently than we do (a self contained setting), an agreement could not be reached leaving us in a position we never expected to find ourselves.  The next step of this process is due process in which we are currently in a 30 day "cooling off" period and then we will end up at a due process hearing in front of a judge.  While the judge will not be making any decisions, he will also be trying to facilitate an agreement, just with a little bit more authority than the mediator had.  

 

 



Financially, we are finding ourselves in a situation we weren't quite prepared for because of the preparation involved on our end to show that a general education classroom IS appropriate for Colin as long as he has the right supports in order to be successful.  Part of me wants to cry and complain that it's "just not fair" that we need to do this when it is extremely challenging to figure it out based on our budget and because we are fighting for something we shouldn't have to fight for. However, when you are a parent, you do what you have to because it is what is best for your child.  And so, onward we move...

 

Ironically, the day of the meeting that left Chris and I emotionally drained, was the start of "Buddy Week" at Colin's Karate school.  Colin's "buddy" was Kailey and so she joined him during his class.  At the end of the class, all of the students that brought a "buddy" were presented with a medal that said "Together We Can" on it along with a star for his uniform.  Together we CAN...as long as we can find a way to work together for what's best. 

 



Busy Weekend

We had a very busy weekend but filled with lots of fun events (and Chris and I even got out for a little bit too!).  With the bit of warm weather we got after the snow on Saturday, we took a walk up on the boardwalk with my parents and even played some games in the arcade too.  

 

While I always feel it has been a long winter at this point, I can feel the warm weather just around the corner and am looking for many more days that will be spent outdoors.  Being at the ocean just has this way of calming any worries or anxieties just by looking at it, so I was happy we got to spend a little bit of time up there.  We have our mediation meeting tomorrow so that has been weighing heavy on my mind lately.  I'm trying to think positive thoughts, though, and hoping for a collaborative meeting.  

 

This morning, I took Colin and Kailey to a breakfast at Applebees where one of my students was having a fundraiser with her cheerleading group.  The special guest was Elsa and they were besides themselves when they walked in and saw her standing there. 

It was also exciting because although I packed cottage cheese, I never brought it in and Colin had some pancake and scrambled eggs! We are making such huge progress in the eating department and I can assure you, every bite he takes of something other than his standard foods is a cause to celebrate!

 

They were so sad to leave and begged me to see her again "tomorrow" but I had to tell a Mommy fib and said that Elsa was heading back to Arendelle.  Fortunately, they understood and it actually made the situation better because they said that she would be sad not to be with Anna or Krystoff any more. They launched into this whole scenario on the walk back to the car listing all of the people from Frozen that she needed to get back to.  It was quite cute listening to them BOTH talk about it. 

 

Both Colin and Kailey went to the birthday party of one of Colin's friends from school today and had a great time.  It was a fun, and exhausting, weekend!