Snipets

Birthday Fun

I had a great time on my birthday date with Tod. We saw Corpse Bride and then shopped the resale and thrift stores. Then we had an early dinner downtown at a great Mexican restaurant. Tod also gave me a coffin purse that I really hoped to have when we saw the movie. It will still be great fun for Halloween. The boys gave me remote locks for the van and Tod installed them on Sunday. It was something I've wanted since we bought the van. I got flowers and a check from Mom and Lou and an iPod from Tim and Maggie. It was really a great birthday weekend!

The Bus, The Bus

Ethan has been doing well taking the bus to and from school. His bus is so full, it takes about 45 minutes for him to get home. Dylan starts on Monday so we'll see how that goes. We still don't know what his pick up and drop off times are.

Tod

Tod has a new boss at work and he is very pleased about that. In fact his boss's boss lives in Chicago and was born and raised in Rockford until he was drafted. Tod still doesn't remember his last name so I don't know if any of you would know him. He has a very poor opinion of Rockford, though.

Halloween

I'm getting geared up for my favorite holiday! Looking at all the decorations at the stores (and picking up a couple). I still don't know what the boys are going to dress up as. Ethan was looking at a clown costume but I don't know if that's definite. The neighbors go all out for halloween decorations, so that will be fun, too.

Pleasanton - North Hollywood???

I was reading in the paper today that many westerns were filmed in Pleasanton from 1917 to the early 30's. Lillian Gish in Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm was one of them. Also The Lemon Drop Kid. Hollywood loved Pleasanton's Main Street as well as the surrounding hills and rivers. Plus, since rodeos and horse racing were a big thing, many of the stars liked coming here. (Seabiscuit raced here, too). Hollywood stopped coming when Pleasanton paved Main St. No dust!

In Memory of Pish

Pish is dead. When I sprinkle food on top of the water only one fish came up to eat. I looked and looked for Pish and finally found her finless body buried half in the rocks at the bottom of Fish's side of the tank. Nancy says that beta's fight to the death, so I guess Fish drug her over the divider again and finished her off. I'm not sure if we will get another fish or not, but if we do we'll put them in separate tanks.


til later....

Reflections on a Birthday

Today is my birthday and, as usual, I have mixed feelings about it. I love birthday cake for breakfast. And Tod never fails to make sure I get it. Even when he used to go to work when I was still asleep, there was always a birthday cake for me when I got up. My favorite time was when he drew flames on little pieces of paper and taped them to the wicks of the candles. What a guy. I love getting e-cards - Thank you Mom and Lou, Tim and Maggie, Gerrie. And e- cards from people I haven't heard from in a while, but never fail to send a card - thank you Rich. I love getting to pick the movie and restaurant if we get to go out. I love getting cards signed by the boys and packages in the mail. I love hearing "Happy Birthday Mommy" like I did this morning. Unfortunately, it was just Ethan, Dylan was sick in bed. I love letting my kids dig into my cake with their hands. Ethan ate all the words off. I love that it is the beginning of fall, the end of 90 degree weather and allergy season (although I don't know if it's the end of snake season). I love remembering all the "libra babe" parties we had in Rockford, although that is where the mixed feelings start. I miss those times more that I can say. I remember my 40th birthday. "The Usual Suspects" got together and I was pregnant with the boys. I was not depressed at all about turning 40. How could I be with this whole new life ahead of me. My friends were all around. Things have changed so much since then. Now, when I tell people how old I am they don't say, "I never would have guessed you to be that old. I thought you were in your 30's". They don't say anything. There's no parties and we're just lucky we got a sitter for tomorrow afternoon to have lunch and see a matinee (I still get to pick, though).
There's another "birthday" this weekend. Last year at this time we were looking for houses in Pleasanton because of Tod's new job. It was a bittersweet time.... filled with the excitement of a new life. A new job for Tod, better schools and more services for the boys, a bigger, nicer house. The thought of leaving friends and family was a something I couldn't think about. It was a decision Tod and I made together. He told me he wouldn't take the job if I just said the word. But when would this opportunity come again for him or the boys? Most of my friends couldn't even understand why I would hesitate. So now it's been a year. And Tod still has a good job making more money and the boys are getting incredible services from both the school and the state. Pleasanton is a wonderful, beautiful town in it's own right. Plus it's close to everything. We've seen and done so much in the Bay Area already. I am so happy about all those things. So here it is my 47th birthday and a year later and I'm feeling melancholy. Can all these things replace the boys seeing their grandparents several times a week, or my Wednesday date with mom...my sister coming to Rockford for frequent visits...Uncle Tim taking the boys to the park....unbirthday parties for the boys in our backyard or our parties with "The Usual Suspects"? Was it the right decision? ....we're still here.

til later......

The Bus Trials

Ethan took the bus to and from school today. We have been having a rough time with the SD and the bus co. getting the boys home within a reasonable timeframe. 90 minutes to and 90 minutes from school is way too long. Anyway, we started a trial bus ride today with Ethan. The bus got here about the same time Tod usually leaves the house with Ethan, so that was cool. I made Tod follow the bus so he could make sure Ethan was ok when he got off the bus at school, too. He seemed fine, Tod said.

I picked Dylan up on time today because I didn't have to get Ethan first. Dylan seemed very pleased about that. We got home and waited and waited for the bus to bring Ethan. I waited, Dylan had snack and played. At exactly 1 hour from when school let out, the bus pulled up. I ran out to get Ethan and you know what he was saying when he got off the bus? "Mommy, you found me!" He seemed to be fine with it. Still haven't heard about Dylan's trial on the bus. We'll see what happens.

til later...

I Am Shirley's Kidney

Yes, my kidneys have been a real pain! Last night was so bad, I took a percacet at bedtime. This morning I was in so much pain and so hung over, Tod would not let me drive the boys to school. I hate this. It sucks so big!

Another Visit by the Tooth Fairy

This time Ethan lost his first tooth. A bottom tooth he had been telling us was loose came out during lunchtime at school. I was hoping it would be that top front tooth that was damaged when he fell a couple years ago. It's getting so dark, now, that I have to touch up his pictures on PhotoShop.

I Have My (Snake) Eyes On You

There was a snake on our driveway yesterday. I walked around the back of the van and stopped at the door. Is that what I think it is??? I turned around and it hissed at me - in my own driveway. I walked closer to get a better look and it hissed again. What nerve! It was gone by the time we got home from school, but I checked the mailbox really well before I reached my hand in there to get the mail. (If you want to hear how frantic I really was, you'll have to ask Tod or Tim.)

til later...

The Geologist

I saw the geologist yesterday for my post surgery check up. He said... drink more water, keep straining my urine and sleep on my right side and come back in a month. The stones would pass. He was a little worried about the big one on the left because it was right by the exit of the kidney and he is afraid the "gravel" has pooled there. I guess sleeping on my right side will make it pour out. He took no responsibility for reanimating my uterus...said the 2 weren't connected. I find that difficult to believe.

til later...

Got Milk?

Yesterday I had just started dinner and sat down on the sofa to read the mail. The boys came in from outside and sat on either side of me.
"Ice cream?" Ethan asked. "No, I just started dinner." "WWWWAAAA" He runs screaming through the house and then sits down next to me.
"Cake?" Dylan asked. "No, I don't think..." "WWWWAAAAA" He runs screaming through the kitchen and then sits back down next to me.
"Goldfish?" Ethan asked. "Well, maybe with di...." "WWWWAAAA" He runs screaming through the house and then sits back down next to me.
"Milk?" Dylan asks. "Yes, you can have milk. It's on the table." "Yeah, Milk!" they both scream and run to the table.
Good thing I had milk.

til later.....

HOORAY ETHAN!
Ethan's teacher has informed me that after less than 2 weeks into the school year, Ethan has a friend! An NT friend from one of the typical first grades! I know that the aide facilitated the friendship, but Ethan reciprocated and that is the coolest! And now they look for each other on the play ground during recess! Every time I say (or write) about this, I get more than choked up, tears just pour down my face. This is something that I so want for my boys, but have always been afraid to hope for. A friend.


DYLAN
Dylan hasn't been having any seizure activity lately that we've seen. He is still enjoying school. Smiling when he gets out of the van. He will even allow the aide to get him out of the van instead of me. His language is getting better, although we have some really tough moments when he is trying to tell us something and we can't understand it. He becomes so frustrated and goes into a total rage sometimes. We are working on this with the behaviorist.

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU'RE REALLY SQUEAMISH ABOUT "FEMALE" MEDICAL ISSUES
Or why I haven't written in so long
The lithotrypsy turned out to be worse than I had expected.... lots of pain, blood in my urine, not many stones passing. And then something odd happened. You may or may not remember back in May when I had a "uterine ablation". It was supposed to cauterize the inside of my uterus and relieve all my menstrual problems by relieving me of having a period. Well, 5 days after my kidney stone procedure, I started my period again! So, I don't know exactly what part of my insides are hurting and I can't tell if I'm passing stones, cuz there is blood everywhere (sorry!). It seems the radio waves from the lithotrypsy "reanimated" my uterus. Tod calls it "Frankenwomb". Anyway, I feel awful still, I'm in pain still and I'm still waiting to see both the urologist and the gynecologist... and wondering when the villagers will be arriving with torches.

FISH FIGHTS
I went to feed the boys' fish the other day - two Betas, Pish and Fish - and found both fish on the same side of the tank. If you know anything about Betas, they are Oriental Fighting Fish and you never put them in the same tank because they will beat the crap out of each other. So Aunt Nancy bought our Betas a tank with a see through divider, so they can make faces at each other but not do mortal combat. I don't know if one of the boys moved the Pish into Fish's side or if Pish jumped or if Fish grabbed her and pulled her over. Anyway, Pish got the crap beat out of her. She is pale (she was the red one), not eating well and her fins have been pretty shredded. Fish, on the other hand, looks gorgeous with dark iridescent fins that make him look like he's strutting around the tank. It will be interesting to see if there is a rematch.

WEATHER
Really cool here lately. I was getting so tired of 95+. It's 75 during the day and low 50's at night. No air conditioning. Jeans and sweaters in the mornings. Beautiful blue skies, nice breezes, no bugs. I love this.

til later.....

The Stones Have Been Blasted

They went ahead and did the lithotripsy procedure yesterday. And everything went well. Tod picked the boys up from school before he came to get me. It was so nice to have them there. The car ride home was pretty rough, but fortunately since it was 3:30 in the afternoon and holiday traffic wasn't too bad, yet. I've been drinking lots of water and taking lots of drugs. But I'm feeling better and better as each hour goes by. Glad it's a 3 day holiday. I'm sure I'll be up and running by Tuesday, especially since I don't have a choice ;-) Tod, in the mean time has been a great nurse and also wonderful at intercepting little boys who want to jump on their mom's bruised kidneys.

til later...

The Latest

For those of you who got a little misty eyed reading about Dylan's traumatic first day, you'll be happy to know that the last two days he has been singing on the way to school and even smiling(yes, smiling!) when he gets out of the car. Of course everyone in the classroom is just getting used to each other and the school day for this first week so we'll see how he is when the real work starts!
Tod and I are driving the boys to and from school. The bus co. told me that their contract with the school district said the kids can be on the buses up to 90 minutes one way. When Tod asked the director of sped about that, he would "neither confirm or deny" that statement and wanted to know who I talked to. See how sd's can be so secretive? They act like it's a matter of national security! Anyway, Tod takes Ethan in the morning and I take Dylan. Except on Wed. when school starts later, then I take them both and Dylan is early and Ethan is late. I pick them both up in the after noon. Ethan gets out of school 10 minutes before Dylan. It can be stressful some days.
Ethan is doing ok, starting to get the hang of the routine. But Dylan's teacher stopped me yesterday and said she would advocate for Ethan to be in the same school as Dylan if that's what we wanted. So it looks like IEP time again. I think they might as well book us in advance for an IEP meeting every 6 months.

We got orders from the neurologist at Stanford to have Dylan's depakote levels checked. Then the neurologist wants to see Dylan in person (awfully nice of him). He might do a 24 or 48 hour EEG after that. We don't know if he could do that at home or if there would be a hospital stay involved. We haven't seen any seizures or aftermaths of seizure in a while. But that was one reason I really didn't want him on the bus for 1-1/2 hours. Who would notice, if he did have a seizure? I have to tell you, on Monday when I got him off the bus after riding for 1-1/2 hours, the look on his face before he noticed me just broke my heart! He looked so forlorned an abandoned. Anyway, I'll let you know of any more news.

As far as my kidney stones, well there's a whole other story. I went to the hospital for pre-op tests yesterday and there was a problem with my EKG. So it looks like my procedure tomorrow most likely will be postponed. This happened to me one other time and I had a bunch of cardiology tests and it turned out to be nothing. Anyway, the cardiology and anesthesiologist here are comparing my last EKG with this one from yesterday. What they find will determine if I go in tomorrow. I was so looking forward to getting this over with so the kidney pain would stop. Pain is so inconvenient! And it messes up everyone else's day if your doubled over and can't get snack quickly or help with the dishes. Tod's back, by the way, is doing much better. He still has pain when he moves certain ways, but it's much better than it was. The boys are so happy to have him out back playing with them again!

til later...