September 16, 2018

Levi: (7 years old)
Doesn't look forward to school. Says it's hard. He gets headaches frequently at the end of the day due to mentally working hard. Finally outgrew bedwetting at night around his birthday. He told me later he would wake up at night and need to go, but wouldn't want to get out of bed and would go back to sleep. He would wet his bed later in the night. Got diagnosis from genetic testing. He was positive for the NF1 mutation. We're working on a 504 plan in school to help with his lack of fine motor skills. He doesn't qualify of OT through school. He's a good eater. Loves fruit. Will eat almost anything. Sleeps about 10 hours at night. Makes his bed every morning without being asked. Into Superheroes. Favorite shoe is My Little Pony. He's a good reader. Enjoys Dragon Master books. These are the only books he has ever looked forward to reading. Sharks are his favorite. Has shark teeth. He has a "collection" of toys under his bed. Wants to be an animal researcher when he grows up. Started swimming lessons. As I put him to bed he chit chat the most with me. Will open up and talk about his day. Doesn't like to talk in public. Gets scared in Primary if has to talk in front of others. Pesters Malachi, but always wants him to play. Favorite subject in school is Gym. Rides his bike to school. Makes messes just to disorganize things. He goes on and on with stories he tells. He has a creative imagination. Loves to play with babies. Likes to have the attention on him. Loves to wrestle with Adrian. He reasons and thinks through things.

Malachi (5.5 years old):
Outgrew bedwetting as well. "Loves" school. Is very shy in school and doesn't dare talk to anyone or his teacher. He is so helpful. Makes sure everyone is happy and included. Even his teacher noticed this. When he gets excited he jumps continuously. "Frets" when there is a suspenseful moment in a show. "Hates" church. Says he doesn't like to sit the whole time. Very picky eater. Eats applesauce, V8 juice and pancakes. Very organized. Will put toys and things back in package to store. Very independent. Doesn't want help. Very obedient. Doesn't want to do wrong. Cute smile. Loves to snuggle and sing songs at night before bed. Uses his imagination to make up stories. Likes to ride his bike. Finished his reading lessons. Reads well. Likes "Biscuit" books. Likes to talk about his day. Into superheroes. Superman his favorite. Wants to save up money fo a Golden Retriever. Likes to wrestle with Adrian. Never gives up, goes all out. Started swimming lessons, excited about them. Sleeps 10 hours at night. Still a little slurred speech.

Maya (2.5 years old ):
Talks well. Can communicate all needs. Says "potty" words like the boys. Very expressive. Will say "go away". Independent. She'll tell me "you stay here" so she can do things herself. When we take the boys to school she'll say "school, again?" Loves to try on clothes and shoes. I can't tell her what to wear. She hates her hair combed. She'll frequently turn and give me hug when combing her hair. Has her crib full of stuffed animals. Loves her teddy bear the most. Has an imaginary bumblebee. Holds it in her hands. Puts it in her pocket. Swings it on the swing. Gets mad if we eat or squish  her bumblebee. Plays "take your nose game". She always throws my nose down the crack. Gets mad if I throw her nose. She always has to stick our noses back on. Wearing size 2 clothes and size 7 shoes. Rides her bike. Plays with boys. Misses the boys when they are at school. Won't nap if I don't tire her out. Enjoys nursery. Loves to dance and shake booty. Still sucks right thumb and puts left hand down pants. Can climb out of crib, but only if I tell her to. Only gotten out once on own. Sleeps about 11 hours at night and a 2 hour nap during day. Loves babies. Prefers me over Adrian. Likes to read books. Likes to wrestle with boys and Adrian. Eats little breakfast, big dinner. Picky, but will eat most things. Has to do what the boys are doing. She is goofy and spunky. Loves to sing. Favorite song "twinkle twinkle little star". I have to sing that before bed, along with "You are my sunshine". Says "big poop coming" and runs to the toilet when she needs to go. Says "hate my room" and wants to sleep in Levi's bed.

Adrian:
Has the most back pain he's ever had. Started seeing a chiropractor. Helps a bit. Still doesn't sleep well due to back pain. Moonlighting. Makes $1,ooo a day when moonlighting. Travels 3-4 hours in the car most days. Commute is wearing on him. Signed a contract to work in Colorado Springs next July. Dislikes residency. Trying to lose weight. Worst shape of his life. EQP and in charge of teaching Sunday School. Watches tv to decompress. Still drives Mini Cooper, hopes it will last.

Tammy:
At home most of the time. Had a kidney stone in the summer. Adrian was out of town of course. Calling in church is the Primary Secretary. I'm busy with the kids. Summer was hard. Trying to lose weight. Lost some. Drive a big F250. Pain to drive in the city. Hard to Park. My anxiety going places is where will I park? Got my ears pierced in April. Let Adrian do it. He numbed my ears and I didn't feel a thing. Been getting laser hair removal on my face. Done at Dr. Rosenberg's office, the Derm program director.

September 2018 - Lake George

We took a 3 day vacation and went to the Adirondacks to Lake George. We stayed in an Airbnb cabin and we joked it was nicer than our home. We did the hike Shelving Rock Falls. It was a perfect hike for the kids. Not too long and a river with pools to explore and play in. It was so nice to get out of the city and into the mountains. The water in the river was cold, but the kids still got in to play. They also caught a frog.
We were able to have a fire at night. The next day we a hike out to a lookout over the lake. It was beautiful. We all really enjoyed it. We also went on a 2 hour Ferry ride around the lake. They served us lunch and had music and dancing. We were probably the only people there under 60 years old. We also sat on the lake shore and let the kids play in the water. It was the off season so there was no one else there on the beach.

September 5, 2018

Levi: (7 years old) Really struggled to finishing 1st grade. He had many school assessments and many Dr appointments. Had genetic testing done for Neurofibromatosis. Awaiting results. He's not looking forward to school starting again. Has Ms. Manzi for 2nd grade. She's younger and doesn't seem to care for him as much as Mrs. Bergersen. He loved swimming all summer long.

Maya: (2.5 years old):  Increase in words. Very chatty. Likes to purposely be silly. Says "yucky" when doesn't like things. Can climb in and out of crib, though she doesn't unless told to. Loves to try on clothes and shoes. Ready to potty train.

Malachi: (5.5 years old): Has a big heart. Got upset easy during the summer. Yells, storms off. Excited for school. Has a full day of Kindergarten with Mrs. Minogue, same teacher Levi had. He is reading and writing well. Loves to swim, ride bikes and play at the beach.

Adrian: In his last year of residency. Signed a contract to work in Colorado Springs when done with training. I picked the place and he cold called a bunch of practices in the area. The only practice that has D.O.s hired him. I'm excited about a move closer to family and the mountains. Started moonlighting on Saturdays. Has increased our income and we can enjoy a few luxuries like putting the kids in swim lessons. It's hard for both of us for him to work 6 days a week. We hardly see each other and when we do it's at the end of the day when we are both burned out. He has back pain from sitting in the car driving constantly. Going to try a Purple mattress and see if that helps. Still EQP. Gets inspiration and sees the Lord helping him.

Tammy: Summer was mentally hard. Same old stuff to always do. Can't afford the "city" things to do. Jana had a stroke and I'm a world away. Wish I was close to help.