Treasure

Today a nurse practitioner could not see Ian's left ear tube because it is so impacted with wax. If you know anything about tubes in a child's ear, you know they can get zero liquid into their ears. If you know much about impacted ear wax, you understand it's hard to unclog without a) pouring something in the ear or b) digging that could possibly dislodge the tube.

Waiting for a call from the ENT's office on how to proceed. I don't know what they will do, but I do know it will be painful for him.

Little Ian. Such a big heart. So brave. Old Faithful. Mr. Dependable. Prince of Patience. King of Kindness. If you've never met him, you might think this mama exaggerates. If you have met him, you know I do not. It seems there is always some big obstacle he must overcome, some pain or challenge he has to face. I wish it could be me instead.

He and I had some (precious!) time together before his appointment while Lilly was at preschool--a rare treat since kindergarten started. We went to Hobby Lobby and picked out a new and bigger wooden treasure box for him. He chose brown paint for the outside and gold paint for the inside.

He worked SO HARD for SO LONG.

He had a plan and executed it well--leave bare patches "so it looks old like a real treasure box."

Try as she may, even this teeny monkey couldn't distract him from his task.



Ian now has a new home for his Halloween fangs, assortment of plastic cupcake picks, bits of pirate "gold", and school pictures of friends.

As for this mama, my treasure doesn't fit in a box.

Does yours?

Can't See the Forest for the--Robot?

While waiting for Ian's parent teacher conference to begin yesterday evening, Nathan and I were admiring the artwork posted outside Ian's kindergarten classroom.

The assignment was simple:
1. Draw and color an autumn tree and its background.
2. Decorate tree with torn bits of colorful construction paper.

Imagine 24 beautiful trees, each one growing almost to the top of its sheet of 18 inch tall construction paper.

Only one student's project was completely unique. His tree was barely visible--a mere 3 inches tall and placed in the bottom corner. Oh, he'd followed the assignment instructions, but with a wonderfully creative twist: in the background, a HUGE four-legged robot was rising behind the tree, taking up the remaining 15 inches of paper. People were peeking out of the windows, black clouds of smoke were rising overhead, and maniacal villains were lurking beside the tree.

Nathan and I were delighted by Ian's lone robot in a forest of kindergarten trees.

Ian's right brained, crazy creative, fun, quirky-ness has followed him into kindergarten. And when I think of the emotions we endured at the start of this year! OH my soul. Kindergarten Open House, first quarter, and parent teacher conference are now behind us. He has excelled. Thank you, Jesus.

Open House photos (sorry I don't have any photos of the robot. YET.) . . .

He was so proud.

Grandma, Grandpa, Mum, Papa, Hoo-Hoo (great grandma), mom, dad and Lilly all attended.

Here you see Ian's hand on the right and his great-grandmother's hand on the left. Beautiful.

Lately, I feel I am just starting to learn who Ian really is. It's taken almost six years to really get him. But, I suppose even grown-ups still surprise their parents now and then. Think so, John and Ruth?

My Many Colored Days

First up: Ban on Bands (or Bandz). These multicolored offenders have been banished from kindergarten at Ian's school. It's a good thing Lilly isn't there yet. She's pretty attached, most specifically, to these Strawberry Shortcake scented pretties.

Are Silly Bands all the rage where you live, or is this just a local craze? Do tell.

Speaking of multicolors . . . ever feel like your life is summed up in Dr. Seuss's book, My Many Colored Days? :
"You'd be surprised how many ways I change on different colored days."

The beginning of kindergarten for Ian has transformed our lives in so many ways. In EVERY way, it seems. I've (we've--okay, mostly I) had red days, blue days, black, orange, yellow and pink days.

Today is one of the first days Lilly and I have just hung out at home. We painted and read, played with toys and watched videos. We rode bikes and sang songs. We put ribbons and feathers in our hair. Life as it was pre-August 24 (except with one instead of two).

This Mega Block Cloud City was constructed Saturday morning by Nathan and the kids. Oh yeah. It's still sitting right there where you see it. We now especially TREASURE those quiet Saturday mornings together, and those silly weekend nights . . .

And as long as Ian still searches for that Lovey each evening, I still feel like he is little. MY little fella. Maybe kindergarten hasn't changed everything after all.

Speaking of changes, I have my first job interview in YEARS tomorrow afternoon. I am returning to teaching--well, just substitute teaching. I can't complain: I've been able to be home with my children for five years.

Life is changing, but in the words of Dr. Seuss,
"But it all turns out all right, you see. And I go back to being . . . me."

Here's to feeling like ME again soon! How is your life changing right now?

Pants

Ian's kindergarten report so far--"awesome."

On day 1 he told me:
"Mom, if you have a bus sticker on your shirt, you ride home on the bus. If you have a smiley face sticker, you ride home with your pants."

On day 2 he chose a wife and crowned himself captain of the "good" boys.

Heaven knows what day 3 will bring.

How is your school year shaping up?

First Day of Kindergarten

Doing the first day of school breakfast at our house was a lifesaver. Ian sat up in bed at 6:30 a.m. and said, "Are my friends here yet?" The breakfast made him excited about the first day of school and made for a lightning fast getting ready process!


He did great at kindergarten. We did alright.




I was fine until he stopped coloring, looked up at me, and put his hand to his cheek for a few moments. If you've read The Kissing Hand to your child then you know what that means and what Ian was communicating to me. (and you know why I almost fell apart right then and there)

ONE.

TWO.

THREE.

Already making friends. Already finishing his first kindergarten drawing. My hero, once again. Daddy and I made it out the door before we cried. Nathan said he planned on being in a low-grade weep all day.

I am proud and thankful, but--is it 2:45 yet?

A Thousand Ian W.'s

Ian's new kindergarten teacher has but one test to pass when we meet her tomorrow:

This is the note Ian made for her, and if her answer is yes, it is going to be a good year.

Yep. Tomorrow is Meet Your Teacher, in preparation for the first day of school on Tuesday. I spent the afternoon labeling school supplies. Lilly's preschool requires her name on every single marker and crayon (Meet Your Teacher is Thursday for her).

Seriously.

It wasn't all the Lilly W.'s I wrote today that sunk my ship--it was all those Ian. W.'s I wrote on kindergarten school supplies. Preschool is cake. But, kindergarten. Whew. The note to teacher from Ian is written and packed. The first day of school teacher gift is purchased. The cutest little rest mat and lunch box are labeled with his name, as are 16 Crayola crayons, a watercolor set, glue, pencils and scissors. New school clothes are neatly tucked away waiting to be worn for the first time.

Everything is ready.

Everything except Nathan and me. We are blubbering messes--true Kindergarten Babies. We're going to make it through Tuesday, right friends? RIGHT?

Encourage me, please.

Chik-fil-A at Springfield Cards

Chik-fil-A night at the Springfield Cardinals stadium meant Ian's baseball team got to stand with the players, have their names announced, and their pictures on the jumbo-trons at Hammons Field.




Ian is number 8.


There he is on the screen

and in center field.



Lilly and I are beyond glistening at this point.

What a great night. Soon I will post pictures of a fabulous weekend to St. Louis several weeks ago with some of my favorite ladies.

I love summer, don't you?

Home

While preparing to administer anesthesia . . .

Nurse Wanda: Ian, would you like to lie down in the bed or would you like me to hold you while you get the giggly gas and go to sleep?

Ian: Hold me.

Nurse Wanda told us she rocked Ian in her arms, back and forth, Lovey in his lap, until he drifted to sleep. From my seat in the waiting room, I prayed for Ian and thanked God for Nurse Wanda and other medical personnel who are so loving to my children.

Now we are home and I have a little boy who can hear well again.

Nurse Wanda said how she loved him--that he was "awesome". The doctor and anesthesiologist commented on how wonderful he was.

Therefore, I am also thankful for a little boy who, even in his time of need, can be a blessing to others.

Thanks for your well wishes, everyone! I'm off to enjoy a Purple Cow with Ian . . .

Recipe for a Purple Cow (a Fureigh family [Nathan's side] tradition):
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/4-1/2 c. grape juice
1/4-1/2 c. Sprite
Silly straw is a MUST!

Goodbye, Carpenter's Kids

Ian's last day of preschool was this week.

Goodbye, Carpenter's Kids. Your preschool program and entire staff have been a tremendous blessing to our family.

We are thankful for you and so grateful for the time Ian spent in your care these three years. Thank you for loving not just him, but all four of us!

Next stop? Kindergarten.

Hearing Re-check

**Update to this post: Ian's hearing test went well--he has improved since his last test. Hearing was perfect in his right ear, but still not up to par in his left. So, we are going ahead with tubes/adenoids surgery on June 2.**

Look at that face.

I just want the best for him.

Health. Happiness. And Hearing.

I want my baby to hear. WELL. No fluid. No earwax issues. Just pure sound.

(By the way, Ian's permanent hearing is perfect--all his hearing issues are b/c of wax or fluid--temporary and fixable.)

Tomorrow, he has a hearing re-check. Consider it a do-over before his tubes surgery in a couple weeks. If he passes with flying colors, we may postpone tubes.

Pray for us to have wisdom, okay?

Because I just want what every mama wants . . .
for my son to be as absolutely joyful as he was the morning this photo was taken; the morning of his birthday when he discovered the mega-Star Wars battle scene daddy had created at Ian's breakfast spot.

Having ears that work again might just do the trick.

Dream Date

Top 10 Reasons Ian is a Dream Date
(a photo essay--pictures by Ian and me, taken with his camera)

1. He documents the journey. Life is in the journey.

2. He proves McD's and Bass Pro (his places of choice for our night out) beat any other date locale. Period.

3. He's health conscious, ditching fries for a yogurt parfait.

4. When the conversation lulls, he livens things up with an eye-crossing duel. In case you wondered: they don't get stuck that way.

5. During dinner he says, "Wanna see how fast I can run?" And since it's 4:30 in the afternoon, McD's is empty, so I say, "Sure!"

6. If you know my Ian, you know he is a total rocker (since birth!!), in the literal sense. Here he sits in one of his favorite spots in town: the little rocker just his size at Bass Pro, in front of a giGANtic fire.


7. He stares down the local wildlife, making clear, "I've got my eyes on you."

8. Give him some gummy worms. It's all about the gummies.

9. He never misses a photo op: "Mama--take my picture."

10. He is comfortable and finds contentment in the simple things of life. He inspires me to do the same.

Ever had a date who did all that? What a dreamboat.

What or WHO would YOUR dream date include?

Donuts and hot dogs, anyone?

What creative ideas do you use to get your children to practice writing?
(or, if you don't like that question...)
What guilty item do you always pick up at the grocery store, hmm?

First Tie

The answer to "Um, daddy? When am I gonna get one of, uh, those things?," was waiting Christmas morning under the tree.

Since then, Ian has worn his tie often around the house. He calls to me from the other room, "HONEY? HON-EEEEY!" He "goes to work" too. He wears it with his Indiana Jones hat on adventures, saving Lilly, ahem, I mean, Marion. Today, the tie went public. Ian proudly wore it to church.

Moms of little boys:
JC Penney's zipper ties are fantastic. Little guys grab the tie and cinch it up to put it on, then do the opposite to take it off. The styles aren't the greatest, but it makes for a perfect first tie. Happy shopping!

No Girls Allowed

Annual breakfast for dads and granddads at Ian's preschool.
Nathan looks forward to it all year.