Seasons and Parenting

It has been getting a bit colder in our corner of the world.  Right now the sun is shining through my window and it's the first I've seen in weeks.  The warmth feels comforting coming from a natural source.  It seems every time I run the heaters one of us gets sniffly.  I'm just trying to keep us all healthy for the upcoming holidays.

Why do holidays have to be so stressful? Well for us they usually always involve some sort of travel.  Whether it's packing up and taking the plane to Missouri, or driving 3.5 hour drive over the mountains to get home to Yakima, there's always some sort of travel involved.  You know that old saying, it's about the journey, not the destination.  Yeah, not so much with traveling.  I'm not a fan of gas prices, plane prices, food on the road, rude, rude, rude people and someone always gets miserably sick. 

Second, there's the cost involved of all this.  Not just traveling but you're buying gifts for everyone which depletes the bank account, tape, cards, wrapping paper, baked goods, the list goes on and on.

 I tend to go internal a lot during the stress of the holidays which helps me cope.  I listen to a lot of calming music in the car.  As corny as it sounds being crafty actually takes away some of my stress too. 

Things at our homefront have been relatively quiet the last few months.  I'm down four pounds because I'm just busy.  My schedule has changed quite a bit and for the most part I'm enjoying it.  I love the kids I get to watch during the week.  It's great to have the kids in school now and I'm happy they both enjoy it. 

Miles recently saw a new doctor who wants to get a closer look at his diagnosis since it was made very quickly back in June.  This doctor was wonderful.  He had so much more compassion for everything that's happened to us and will work with a team to make sure Miles is correctly diagnosed.  Miles seems to be taking it all in stride.  He is now working with the regular class for an additional 30 minutes (with his aide) and I'm really proud of all his hard work.  We expect so much of our little ones and when they rise to the occasion, the heart swells with pride.  Still a bumpy path, but at least we have clearer direction. 

And Lainie, my little Lainie.  She just lost her eighth tooth and she's as sassy and sweet as ever.  I love being her mama.  I love that we share our love of reading and that we're both overly sensitive. 

Parenting these two children has ups and downs but isn't that the best part of it?  I love being challenged to be better, and that's because of them. 

Happy Thanksgiving and may your tryptophan coma be peaceful :)

Christmas music

It's on in the house and I love it!  I made my first batch of cinnamon rolls and it definitely feels like late fall around here :)

Just for fun, my top 5 favorite Christmas albums
1. Sara Groves O Holy Night
2. Sarah Mclachlan Wintersong
3. Martina McBride White Christmas
4. Bebo Norman Christmas from the Realms of Glory
5. The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack

Say Cheese!

Ahhh, school picture day.  I have officially paid $28 to see what kind of goofy expressions my kids will surprise me with.

The funniest part is when I asked Miles to show me his picture day smile, he did it exactly as he did in the photo and so I knew what was coming.  We were walking home from the bus giggling about his expression and he exclaimed with beaming pride, "I look like Grandma Cakes!" 

A photo of Grandma Cakes in comparison

Love my kiddos to the moon and back!
 

Chief transition in full and final swing

Ahron is just 11 days from finishing his transition to Chief Petty Officer.  It's been a whirlwind of activity for him.  From fundraisers, to training, to obstacle courses and more training, he's really been through the ringer.  But, I can tell he's grown and learned a lot of things in this process. 

He spent a week on the USS Turner Joy, a historic Navy ship moored here in Bremerton.  He was part of the first Legacy Academy there, which they will now implement yearly for new Chief Petty Officers.  In the past, a select group used to be invited to learn Navy heritage aboard the USS Constitution in Boston.  Now, there are a few historic ships around the United States participating in this, including the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the USS Midway in San Diego, California. 

Elaine, Miles and I spent about 11 days in Yakima and had a great time.  It was nice to be out of Ahron's hair (so to speak) and with my parents and family.  We got to swim at Aunt Fran's, Aunt Heidi's and Aunt Chip's house.  We had a day/night at the arcade, a sleepover with cousins and did some school shopping  I was able to get away from the kids for two nights in a row and went out with my sister and two cousins.  The second night I attended Yakima's Case of the Blues festival which was really, really fun.  I wasn't planning on drinking but ended up sampling three different wines.

In the next two months we have so much to look forward to!  Elaine starts school on Wednesday and Miles starts the following Monday.  We decided to enroll him in school with her to get him on a more structured routine.  This was a decision we really considered carefully because he missed a whole academic year at the Madrona preschool by being in the 3's class.   

Ahron's Chief Pinning ceremony will be on September 14th.  The following weekend I have the Jason Mraz concert, and on Sunday we're having a party for Ahron at my mom and dad's house.   We are also planning a weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge for all of us.  Then, October 5th will be our tenth anniversary, and we are planning a later trip to Hawaii for just the two of us.  So, so much to think about and prepare for.  I also got what I like to call a mini-job.  I'll be taking care of little ones while their mama's do Zumba.  Even though things will be a little bit crazy for the next few months, I feel at peace with our current decisions and I hope that peace carries me through to the next year

One final thought.  Labor Day weekend marks five years since Mark passed away.  I know that he would be really proud of Ahron and the way that he takes care of us.           

Sharing With You: Navy Chief's Induction

Someone already wrote an article about this, which saves me time from having to do it.
I thought this was a good perspective about what they go through.  I know Ahron is already hurting! 

Article About Chief Induction

The results are in and...

HE MADE IT! AHRON WAS SELECTED FOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER!

Can I just say it, HALLELUJAH the wait is finally over.  Honestly, I am so relieved that he'll never have to take that stinking exam and go through the torturous eight-month process again. 

I am beyond thrilled and proud of my husband.  Yesterday was a surreal day for both of us.  Turns out we were both refreshing on his BUPERS page (his personal record) at the same time when the results posted at 10am. 

At that moment when I saw the "S" which stands for Select, I dropped the iPad and started jumping up and down and screaming with excitement.  Miles also started screaming, although I'm not sure he quite understood why this was such a great and glorious thing.  He was more thinking along the lines of, "Hey a reason to be loud and wild, fun mommy!" 

With shaking hands I dialed Ahron's work phone only to get a busy signal.  Little did I know he was calling me and got a busy signal too because we were trying to call each other at the same time. 

I hung up and his call came through.  It was an amazing feeling. 

This morning we were talking about how his seven week induction will fall in line with his twelve-year anniversary in the Navy.  Just around this time twelve years ago he entered boot camp, a fresh-faced kid from the suburbs of Saint Louis.  His life would never be the same.  Now twelve years later he gets to step up and become a senior enlisted military member. 

This whole selection made me think about my own Navy career.  I only served five years, but I am very proud of the time I did serve.  It makes me wonder where I would be now had I stayed in.  But, I'm grateful for getting out when I did.  As a mother, I would have been devastated if I couldn't watch my children grow up.  Becoming a mother was always my big life goal, not the Navy.  I'm glad I can stay connected to it through Ahron.   

Now the next seven weeks we aren't going to see him much as he begins his training.  That's all right though.  We'll manage.  Anything is better than deployment!  I hope his dad and his grandfather were smiling and proud.

One Million Things to Say

And yet I've held off on writing this post because I somehow couldn't find the words.  Or bring myself to write about this even though it's now become part of who we are as a family, and despite the final outcome, will forever change our family in ways we don't even know yet. 

I was really nervous to attend the developmental pediatrician appointment for Miles last month.  But I decided to go forward with it, in hopes that she could really take a good look at everything we've been through with his speech and encourage me that he had improved and was on the track to "normalcy." 

Instead, after one doctor's visit with someone we've never met, we left with a tentative autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.  There was no confirmation of "Yes, your child is autistic."  I guess those were the words I would have expected to hear?  Instead she handed me the "Washington State Guide Book to Autism" and went over some different therapies with me, and said, "See you in six months." 

I left the office with Miles, crying my eyes out, confused at what had just went down.  I thought we were just going in for the initial developmental pediatrician meeting.  My thoughts and feelings were all over the place for the next few days. 

Now, one month later, I am still unsure of our diagnosis.  But for now, we've enrolled in the Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program and we'll soon be seeking a referral for a second opinion. 

I don't want to be the mom in denial.  We are treating this as if we had received an accurate diagnosis.  It's so much better to have access to services and end up not needing them, than to need them and not have them. 

I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but if you do, please say a prayer for Miles and for all of us as we embark down this road.

Counting down

20-ish days until Chief's results!  Praying to God that this would be our year.  That might be a selfish prayer, but we need this so very bad!
Moving onward....

Chief Quotas

Things are happening quickly now.  They will promote 24 out of 130 or so.  Much better numbers than the past few years.  I am hopeful.  This would be a great blessing considering what we've gone through lately. 

Funny how God knows what is going to happen and we do not!  I wish I had a crystal ball to see what was going to happen. 

Now we wait.  Hopefully results will be out by August 1st. 

Father's Day Coupon printable

Here's a quick little printable I'm working on for Father's Day for Ahron.  He never checks my blog so I don't have to worry that he'll see but I wanted to share it with others in case anyone else wants to use it.  You or your children can fill in the coupons.  Enjoy!