Tuesday, January 31, 2012

He did it again, and other ramblings about Miller

Last Thursday Miller did it again.  He has split open his chin.  The one that had 16 stitches about 6 weeks ago.  He wasn’t doing anything wrong.  I have to make that clear from the beginning, because really it is easier to conclude that he was being naughty.  He slid down off a chair to look for something and as he spun around, he slipped and hit his chin on the edge of the chair and split it open.

For some reason I am very calm in an emergency.  This time I was just totally dumbfounded as to what to do.  ER, doctor’s office or plastic surgeon?  Only the ER was open because it was about 7 a.m. but I just didn’t want to go there again!

I called Allen and asked him to come home and as soon as he saw it, he was able to make the decision that we really needed to go back to the hospital. 

On the way there, the plastic surgeon’s office opened and we were able to speak with him and have him meet us at the ER.  Clever trick if you can pull it off. 

Miller saw “his” bed in the ER and said, “I been to that one before.”, so back he went to “his” bed in the ER.  That is so wrong, but it is what it is.

The plastic surgeon determined that it was just too messy down there to stitch it up.  He did his best to use Derma-Bond and butterfly strips to close it up, but he has an opening( about the size of 2 pieces of rice side by side) that it open and is going to have to heal up.

UGH!

He has done really well with not messing with it and we just have to watch him like a hawk! 

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That brings me to something that has been rolling around in my brain for a while.

Miller is hard to parent.  Part of it is that he is 3.  It’s not just that.  He is exceptionally busy.  He’s also really smart and athletic.  This gets him into situations he just shouldn’t be in.

Not too long ago he told me that he wanted a million dollars.  I told him that I was sure would have a million dollars one day {or a rap sheet}.  I feel like he will be a phenomenal success or not.  There won’t be much in between!

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Over and over I find myself in tears because I just don’t feel like I am doing it “right” with him.  What does he need to make him into a good boy?  I have prayed many times a day for as long as I can remember, asking God to help me be the kind of mother that he needs.  I just don’t know what that is.  What would I need to be a better mother for him?  Patience, energy, more patience…

Then today while we were at the plastic surgeon’s office he tells me that Miller really needs to stay home for the rest of the week.  It’s not that having him home is a hardship.  It’s just that when he can’t get dirty or wet and can’t ride a bike, scooter or even run, I am completely at a loss as to how to handle this. 

We have done hour after hour of playing Legos, watching TV and movies and watching videos on You Tube.  We did this about 6 weeks ago, remember?  When he doesn’t get enough exercise he starts having behavior problems.

Which brings me to the next thing the plastic surgeon said.  “is he unusually hyper?”  Um no.  Um yes.  Um yes and no.  He is very active and at the same time he can play independently with Legos for 30 minutes or more.  However if you leave him alone during those 30 minutes you may come back to find something like this DSC_0118DSC_0119DSC_0120DSC_0121or this.

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He said, “Maybe it is a good time to ask an expert.”  Um ok, but he is 3.  I know he means well, but I just don’t know.  I am the one with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  That degree has taught me that the age of 3 is too young to judge these things.  But still…

Then I came across this.  More for me to roll around in my brain.

Here’s to the moms whose children jump in fountains!  If you see one of us, be sure to give her a big smile and a pat on the back ( or bottle of wine).  She’s doing the best she can.

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

So Long 2011

To cap off a great year, we had a great boat ride and watched the sun go down on 2011.

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Good thing they are slow!!

 

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Yep! She did it. Nope, she didn’t stay in long.

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I’ve been meaning to take a picture of this for ages.  Here is what my GPS shows while we are in the car.

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Whew!  2011 was a fast year.  I bet 2012 will go even faster!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Christmas

This year I may have been more excited about Christmas than the boys.  They were really, really excited!  During my childhood, I remember being super excited about Christmas and know that over the years the magic diminishes a bit.  I wanted to squeeze every bit of that magic out while the boys still have it. 

I could tell you a lot more, but let’s just say this year the boys got Legos and Monster trucks. repeat, repeat, repeat.  And they would not have wanted it any other way!!

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Santa brought Rip-riders!

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Miller decided he was done…and left it in the street.

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Looks like a tough biker, that one!

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Pitstop!  It was hot out there.

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We had a wonderful time and I’m so glad that we were able to share it all with my sister Michele!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Christmas Program

Yes, I’m still just halfway through December, when it is halfway through January, but I’m going to keep on going!  Lucky you!

After Miller’s drama I spent lots of time trying to entertain him and keep him clean and dry.  I lost some of my mental health that week, but we survived. 

The boys’ school does a great job with twice yearly performances.  This year the theme was Island Christmas.  It did not disappoint.

However, my photography does disappoint. These pictures will give you a general idea of the show.  I wish I had videoed it, because it was precious.  However on that day, I just didn’t have it in me to get it together.  Before you judge, just remember that it was at the end of day 6 of being alone with Miller with no breaks. I’m just glad I didn’t pick up and really bad habits that week!

Miller’s class sang Mele Kalikimaka.  If  it the title doesn’t ring a bell, listen to the video and you might remember.  Let me tell you, that may have been the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!

Miller had a blast performing for everyone.  As far as he knows they were all clapping for him.

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See what I mean about the pictures?

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Miller still sings that song every. single. day.

Yes, my pictures don’t do it justice, but they were adorable!

Jackson’s class sang Island Christmas, and I’ve never heard it before, but they sure did a great job.  Jackson cracked us up.  He was trying to put on his sunglasses as he was getting on stage and ended up dropping them down his shirt.  He spent the whole song trying to get his hands to do a hula thing and keep his sunglasses from falling out of his shirt. His shirt sleeves were unbottoned, his Santa hat brim was tuned inside out and his shirt was half untucked by then.   Let’s just say he wasn’t quite in time with the other kids, but he was very entertaining!!!

Dropping his sunglasses down his shirt.

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See the other children singing.  Not our boy!

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At least he had fun

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Look at that, he found sunglasses!

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Somehow, he just couldn’t catch the rhythm for the rest of the song.

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Love that boy!

At the end the entire school comes on stage and sings a song.  It is adorable and I loved every second of it!

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I am so thankful for the sweet school the boys attend.  It is small and very much like a family.  We are so fortunate that the boys attend such a fantastic school!