Positivity, revisited

After reading my last post, I realized that I was being overtly negative. Sorry, Dr. So and So. I am sure (and hope) that you usually do a much better job.

Aidan had his fourth birthday last week. We had a little party, with a water theme, that was easy on me and lots of fun for his friends that came. It can be done! I was out to prove that it could be: a birthday party that is low on waste, reasonable on cost, and tons of fun for the attendees.

I reused paper that I had stashed away from previous years, and used glass and plastic (reusable) for the rest, I didn't buy anything paper themed, and we used recycled scraps for the place cards. We had a very free flowing schedule, knowing that it is stressful to keep 4 year olds on task. The kids played in the sprinkler and pool, dug in the dirt and sand, and swung their little hearts out. Then we came in and had a terrible for you but delicious lunch and homemade cupcakes with from scratch butter cream icing. Yum! The best part of all of it was that the small and tasteful gifts people brought were thoughtful and useful. And my one friend who brings nothing on request was the most praised. There was no after party fallout, which is what we wished for in our wildest dreams. No letdowns, no sugar lows, no big mess to clean up. Did you think that was possible? It is.

Today's weather is quite lovely and makes me long to wear jeans, a long sleeve T and a scarf. That is the best weather. No jacket, maybe a hoodie--oh--and real shoes. I am longing for rainy cool days after this drought-stricken summer. It was a good summer for events, you never had to worry that you'd get rained on. I was just looking at pics from last year's party and everything was so lush and green, it appears we live Seattle. And even when you water religiously, it's not the same as rainfall.

Coleman has his first PT appt. today to address his lack of gross motor skills. He is still doing the crab crawl and pulling up to his knees. They will come to the house, assess, and we'll see where we stand. I think it will warrant a few trips to see a PT doc, but not many more. He's a bit behind, but not too far with the break factored in.

Aidan is gearing up for going back to school on September 5th. We have a warmup again this year where parents go on the first day and meet and greet while the kids reacquaint themselves with the room, toys, and teachers. And Cole and I are signed up for an ECFE class together on Wednesdays while Aidan is in school, and it is in the same building, actually the same hallway, and is built specifically so that Moms of preschoolers can take younger sibs to the class. They seem to have thought of everything. I am looking forward to the separation time during the class where the kids stay behind, play and go to the gym, and the Moms talk it out. I have taken this Wednesday class before and this time is SO IMPORTANT for me and my friend, my brain. Coleman has always separated very well, we haven't really had a memorable incident yet. Which is great to see in print! It is almost as though it may not be a problem. WOW! Aidan had a very hard time, and it was one of the sorest points for me (and Joel) in his first three years. Through ECFE separation, both at St Anthony and when Joel was taking Daddy & Me on Saturday mornings, we had successful separation.

They both separate well with their grandparents. I am really not sure why we expect our children to separate well with strangers. Note to self and parents everywhere: this does not go well for at least six weeks And it shouldn't! We tell them that strangers and bad and scary. Ah, yes, the conundrums of parenting.

Down One Splint, Plus One Mobile Boy

We took Coleman's cast off and off he went. He looks a bit like a side-winding crab, but we'll take what we can get. When we went for the follow up, there was no bone overgrowth, which makes it a very minor fracture. Yay! Good news! The pediatrician we saw for our follow up was no Dr. Waller, however.

He was disputing the fact, after three weeks with a twelve month old in a KNEE TO TOE SPLINT that it was even necessary to have it on him. Hi, can we move into the future please? There is nothing I can do now to reverse the sleepless nights, the metric ton of Infant Motrin, the blister-over-blister that developed from the back of his heel rubbing the cast, the stress of having nary a Super Saucer nor a Johnny Jump Up to use to assist me in my mothering, need I go on? This guy might as well have been turned the other way in the chair, talking to his flat screen, trying to get it to connect with what he is saying. Regret! Misdiagnoses? STFU. I do not like you and I never will. No...no need to try.

Which brings me to a new realization: I intensely dislike when the obvious is stated and overstated, when information that needs not be is shared, and general I know this so I must say it-ism. Please stop this passive negativity from spreading. Your work to do so will not go unnoticed.

Can I just get this off my chest and be done with it?

1. Food poisoning
2. Shingles
3. One year old breaks leg
4. Degenerative disease in beloved dog
5. Four year old revisits biting


If you answered "What are five inconvenient things that happen in life but happened to happen to that lovely Hillesheim clan in the last 30 days?" you'd be right. DING DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!

If I used the Lord's name in print, I'd do it right now. I mean, fer lan sakes, cheese and rice, and for gunny saks. That's enough OK?!!!! Are you getting my message, loud and clear? Ok, thanks, great, no, sorry, no offense.

I am ending the streak. Right here and now.

Whew. That feels better. Now I am going back to bed.



Isn't today going to rock, Kate?
--the Universe

Hillesheim Family: Two kids over 1, none on the way

Coleman had his 1st birthday on Sunday the 1st. I see now that I write it out that it was his golden birthday. And just two days before, as a present to himself (a masochist like his father?), he fractured his right tibia. Poor little dude. You wouldn't know, however, except for the giant splint that reaches from his knee to his toes. His demeanor as the sweetest child on the planet has stuck, even through an injury that would make most adults turn into whining babies.

So, here is the story, since I know you are on the edge of your seat. He was standing up next to a chair and went face first into the floor, and his nose was all gnarly, Rocky-style. That was traumatic enough for me; I was covered in my darling son's blood from clavicle to elbow and beyond. It wasn't until later that I discovered that when I moved him, he winced and cried. I had noticed earlier that his legs were caught under a foot stool when I went to save him.

So, like any good mother, I started poking him to find out where it hurt. What do you expect? He does use sign language, but we haven't mastered "broken tibia". I came to his lower leg and he screamed out. Then I got him to calm down and did it again. This will begin a list in my brain of things that are not even remotely pleasant that we must do as mothers. Great, like there's room in there for that.

Anyhow, Coleman is doing much better and he responds very well to Infant Motrin for pain. It is pitiful and humorous all at the same time to see him try to get around. Or when you go in his room in the morning and he has managed to get the splint, tape, and bandages off. We'll be back in on Friday for Aidan's appointment and they'll do a little check on him then. And to add insult to injury, he is due for 5 shots on the same day. Sorry, little one, what I must do to not be hounded by the school district for the next 17 years.

We went to a 4th of July parade today in Forest Lake, where Joel grew up. It is a big to do. We got lots of candy (so much there was lots left on the ground afterwards), some packets of sunscreen (my favorite), a spinning daisy ring, pinwheels, political stickers, popsicles, and perhaps the best parade schwag I have ever received: string cheese. YUM! Coleman ate his right up. Tootsie rolls, Double Bubble, oh how Aidan loves thee.

We are halfway into what may be the best summer yet. We have been doing nothing but going for walks, getting together with friends and family for casual meals, spending time at the local pools and water parks. It is very relaxing, especially since I got smart and loaded up the back of the car with all the supplies for the latter. I find that more than anything, my intense love of organization and preparedness comes in handy with kids than ever before in my life. Before it merely meant irritating roommates and driving my mother mad. One of the sweetest things Joel ever said was that although sometimes it was a bit overboard, he knew my organizing made his life better. And for me, that is worth it all.