Four weeks worth of Foto Friday - The Long Lost Flock

Returning after yet another extended break in blogging. Super busy - - as usual - - but more tired and foggy brained. We have a lot of "stuff" on our minds and hearts (on top of the usual - - and too much to delve into here) and it has been making the days seem even longer and, thus, the fatigue that is routine somehow feels much heavier.

I should probably start where I left off - - and that was when everyone was sick. It turned around quickly for Preston. For Gracie, it took some weird twists and turns, leaving me to wonder if she had her own "ick" vs. the virus that the rest of us shared. And, to add some "excitement" to our days, she has been having (about every two weeks) a fever that lasts a handful of hours and then is just gone... poof. Each time, the fever goes up a bit and this past Saturday she had one that was as high as 104.4 (her baseline is just under 100) and made her very itchy - - not surprising, due to the fact that she was burning up. Then, around 2:30 in the morning, it broke completely and she was back to normal. We aren't certain of the cause, but my gut is telling me that it's a neurological thing, rather than an infection. Needless to say we are taking note of everything to share with the doctors. Anyway, she's back to "normal" with the exception of the fever thing and has had some really good days this week.

I finally went to the doctor for my persistent cough and was given an inhaler and told to take allergy meds again. So far, not much help. The cough is an annoying tickle that makes me grunt and groan if I try to stifle it... very attractive. Otherwise, I feel fine. As for John, he was the luckiest of all of us and was spared the horrible ick, only having gotten a very mild version. At least someone was spared!

Gracie's summer school ended on Wednesday - - she doesn't "get" it yet that she won't be going back to school for a month. I am in panic mode trying to think of ways to spice up my "Mommy School" routine, as she had grown quite bored with me by the time she finally started school here in April! Thankfully, her wonderful aid sent home some of her materials so that I can keep up with some of the things she's been working on. And, even though I am completely bummed that summer school is over (mostly because it's so hard to help Gracie understand why she's not going when she's begging to go in the mornings!), I am so grateful that during this insane economy and horrible budget crisis, there was a five-week summer program for her to attend four days a week for just under 4 hours. Very grateful.

The bus situation eventually worked out, thanks to the dedication of her aid and the RN at the school. But we aren't sure what will happen in the fall. Both individuals, sadly... very sadly... might not be working in the same capacity next year due to budget cuts. If this is the case, especially with her aid, then the bus will not be an option until I am comfortable (and Gracie's comfortable) with her new aid. In the meantime, I am trying not to think about it... as losing her health aid (who also serves as her instructional aid and who has dedicated herself to taking more ASL classes aside from what the school provides her...) would be tragic at this juncture. She has earned Gracie's trust and they have built a really good rapport. Her aid understands her, can read her, respects her health issues and her chronic discomfort, yet pushes her whenever possible. And, she's not afraid to ask me questions to make sure she's picking up on Gracie's cues correctly. Losing her would be tragic... a huge adjustment... like taking steps backward and starting the transition to school all over again.

We have had some fun amidst the "heavy fog" I mentioned before, and that is what I'll share now as I ease back into bloggerland and catch up on four weeks of missed "Foto Fridays!"

Nana and Papa's Visit
Nana and Papa visited us the second week of July.
Papa is finally home from his year-long service in Afghanistan.
(It's hard to see in the dark picture, but the kids colored on the banner we hung for Papa!)
It was wonderful seeing them even though we were all still feeling a bit funky.
We just hung out - - had breakfast at the beach and let Preston play while Gracie was at school, they went to Gracie's therapy to watch the "walking wonder" in person, they went to TOTnastics with Preston to watch the "climbing, somersaulting, head standing, jumping, balancing wonder," they went on walks with us in the evenings. It was so nice to just "be" with them.
(As a side note, Preston actually runs the entire "walk" most nights... the longest was 1 1/4 miles!!! I clocked it the next day! I don't have that kind of stamina!)

One day after Gracie got home from school, Papa took us on the Joint Forces Training Base so the kids could look at the old helicopters. Preston LOVED every minute of that!

Preston doin' his thing at TOTnastics

Gracie showing off her triceps! Ha!
She's actually "sneaking" her way back down from sitting up!

Chop Those Locks
The kids got haircuts again... Preston twice. John took him to a butcher barber, who was supposed to give him a trim in the front and shorten the back a bit. Instead, he chopped-off his hair - - DRY! It was so uneven and horrible... and I will admit, without shame, that I did shed a little mama-tear over it. Granted, I know it's just hair, but I also knew that if Preston had gotten ahold of the scissors himself, he'd have done a better job! Anyway, I let it grow out for two weeks, and then Nicole (Gracie's nurse on Fridays) helped me take both kids in for proper cuts.
And, just like I shared back in the spring, my girl is such a girl! She loved every minute of being pampered! Nicole and I were cracking up at her!

Sigh... I just adore her expression as she checks herself out in the mirror!

Little Boy of Summer


Snail Mail - A parcel of fun from dear friends
My long-time, dear friend, Becky, and her two adorable daughters, Abby and Emma, sent Gracie and Preston a package of fun. They loved opening it... and they really loved what they found inside! :-)
For Gracie, Glitter Lava... slimy, squishy and oh-so-much fun!
For Preston, a Curious George coloring book and Caillou computer game!
And, special, sweet notes from Auntie Becky! :-) Thank you!!!

Gracie did share with Preston, although he didn't dive right in the way she did!
It's hard to believe that just last year we had an entire goal written for this kiddo to tolerate five novel sensory tasks!

He loves coloring - - for about five minutes!
He's all about sharpening the crayons or organizing them in the box!
He can't decide if he's a lefty or righty! I don't care either way, but I wish he'd figure out his preference soon! He bats, throws and eats better lefty... we'll see!