Birthday Blues, Part Deux

My Kaden

Once again, mine and Jennifer’s minds are scarily in line with one another. This is not a new thing, mind you. It happens quite often, actually. But this time, it’s within good reason that we’d be thinking alike…our babies both turned 7. Jennifer’s Cedar, yesterday (as mentioned in her post below) and my Kaden, today.

And wow.

Here’s the thing: I’m an emotional person by nature. I’m a Cancer, and Cancers are internalizers and extremely domestic people (right Gayla?!?) So it’s no surprise that every time one of Kaden’s (or Carter’s) birthdays come around, I turn into a blubbering mess. Tears everywhere, mascara everywhere, laser red eyes and a quivering chin. But this year is killing me even more so than usual. Kaden is SEVEN. That’s HUGE! Five was shaky, six was no sweat, but 7? Oy. It just seems so old - mostly because I remember when I was seven. Detailed details of when I was seven. Will Kaden remember all this too?

As I was writing out his birthday card last night, taking the time to capture all the things that are important to him right now (like his b-day party theme, his teacher’s name, his best friends, his favorite TV show, etc), I found myself crying so hard I could barely see the words I’d just written. Why was I crying? Because in a blink my baby went from 7lbs 5oz to a 7-year-old first-grader with two grown-up teeth, a million friends and the charm of a Romeo. That fast. It’s mind boggling, isn’t it?

Aw, man. Here come the tears again…

We had his party last weekend, so today was a chill day. And it was fab. We spent way too much time in Webkinz World, setting up shop for the boys’ first virtual animals. It was such a treat to do that together (and to use the computer for something other than work!) It was the perfect way to spend a low-key birthday. And now as I sit here in the quiet, both boys in bed and hubby at work, I want to replay this day over and over, just as I’ve replayed the day of Kaden’s birth over and over in my head. I feel sad. I feel proud. I feel relieved. I feel blessed. I feel hopeful. I feel cherished. I feel needed. I feel un-needed. I feel it all.

But I guess that’s what it feels like to be a Mama…

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

Written by...Babe Liberty -- @ Family & Friends, Parenting | Comments (7)

In the words of Homer Simpson - A Lil’ Help?

All these years I’ve thought I was an exceptional mother - taking care of kids when they were sick, nurturing them back to health quickly and suddenly all former beliefs are being put to the test.

I’ve had sick kids for TWO friggin weeks and I’m OVER it!

What does it take, shy of a nuclear bomb, to rid my house of these germs?

Any tips?

Seriously, this “Man Flu” is about to kill me here! I’m just about to show them all that they don’t just feel like they’re dying, they actually ARE! Bleh.

 

Tags: Homer Simpson, sick, man flu, sick kids, home remedies

Written by...Babe Gayla -- @ Household, Parenting | Comments (8)

A the academy award for best supporting actor as “Boy with Flu” goes to…

 

My son(s)

Over the last couple of days, I’ve lost all desire to ever see a Broadway play. There’s been enough drama in my house to fuel The Lifetime Movie Channel for an entire month.

We’ve had two with the flu!

Ladies, I can tell you honestly, based on my own non-scientific study that acting like the worlds biggest, most needy baby does NOT come from being raised with an over-protective, over-nurturing mother - It comes from wha’cha got tucked between your legs.

It’s totally gender related!

Continue reading »

Written by...Babe Gayla -- @ Family & Friends, Parenting | Comments (6)

Should I be worried?

In December, my husband took a job working dispatch at our local police department.

While he was getting ready for work, there seemed to be a constant stream of emergency vehicles going by our house. First the police, then fire trucks in all shapes and sizes from surrounding counties, an ambulance or two and well, you get the picture.

Just about the time we thought they’d finished going by, we walked away from the front window and figured he’d find out scoop once he got to work.

Then we heard a lone siren go by.

We looked around the corner, but whatever it was had already disappeared off in the distance.

Here comes the troubling part…

Husband: What just went by?

Son: I’m not sure, I think it was the police, a fire truck or an ambulance.

Me: You think?

Is this where the “he said, she heard” type of conversations begin?

God help the women who marry my boys!

 

Tags: kids, parenting, parenting teens, out of the mouths, he said, she heard, things that make you go hmm

Written by...Babe Gayla -- @ Parenting | Comment (0)

I’m raising the future King of all manly men

I think I’m raising the man who shall someday be called King among men.

Here’s why!

This would be the one with the broken clavicle…I tuck him in last night - yes, because he can’t use both arms to straighten the covers properly.

Shut out the lights and head back to my computer that is two rooms away.

It’s not like I live in Buckingham Palace for cripes sake, I’m a full 36 or so FEET away from him.

My cell phone begins to ring, I answer, it’s HIM groaning… “mom, I hurt my shoulder, come help me.”

I rush down to his room to find he’d tried to move ONE of his pillows from behind his head, shifted his shoulder wrong and was thrust into excruciating pain that borders the brink of death.

I told him the next time he uses his cell phone to call me from TWO friggin rooms away, I was not only going to give him a personal escort to the big light in the sky - I was gonna kick him into it.

Written by...Babe Gayla -- @ Family & Friends, Parenting | Comments (6)

Five Year Old Loss of Use of Limbs Syndrome

Someone call an ambulance, we need to get to the emergency room STAT! My child has lost all use of his limbs.

I’m not quite sure when he starting losing the ability to move his arms and legs but I’m guessing on or soon after his 5^th birthday last summer. Before that his appendages all worked fine. We went for long walks together and his legs worked fine. We cooked and cleaned together and his arms were of the fully functioning variety. We colored and pasted and the fingers moved with little effort.

The Boy loved to walk. We walked to all friends houses within a mile radius and even the half mile to school on the day I locked the keys in my car. In the younger days I took the wagon along for backup but usually its only occupant was a teddy bear. I started noticing the loss of the use of his legs when I suggested an evening stroll last summer. I thought we could walk to a nearby farm to look at the cows, one of his favorite destinations. “Too far,” he said. “Let’s drive instead.” He didn’t quite get that evening walks aren’t about driving.

The Boy loved to help with the cooking and baking, especially the baking. We baked cookies and breads and cakes and pies. At first I suspected he only liked to help because bowls and beaters needed licking, but then it began to appear as if he generally enjoyed doing this sort of thing. Imagine my surprise last week after I suggested we make some cookies he declined. “Too much work,” he said. “I just want to play.” Except all he did that afternoon was lay on the family room floor seeing how many items he can balance on his feet.

The Boy loved to make things with his hands. My walls are filled with drawings and there are more in boxes in the pantry. Both Grandmas have houses adorned with homemade ornaments, jewelry boxes and vases. Which is why I was alarmed to learn the fingers don’t work when it comes to doing homework.

From what I understand, Five Year Old Loss of Use of Limbs Syndrome afflicts many children this age. Symptoms include the inability to clean one’s room, hang up one’s jacket and backpack, and failure to remove dirty dishes from the kitchen table. Some severely afflicted children even develop the ability to talk back and throw intense tantrums. Many children suffering from FYOLOUOLS also develop picky eating habits, particularly a distaste for anything that constitutes dinner.

There’s no cure for FYOLOUOLS, I’m sorry to say. There are no magic pills or special vitamins. The good news is that it can be controlled with patience and love mixed with some time outs and loss of privileges. Be forewarned though. FYOLOUOLS can last for several years and is usually replaced with Teenage Moodiness Syndrome, or TMS. I have a feeling I’ll be talking to you about that one in about 7 or 8 years.

Written by...Babe Deborah -- @ Family & Friends, Humorous, Parenting | Comments (8)

Rasslin’ Season Begins

I’ve always encouraged my kids to try just about everything they want as far as extra curricular activities at school. The twins were active in little league baseball and youth league football until they started in middle school. Suddenly it didn’t seem so fun when it wasn’t required that each team member play at least one inning or one quarter.

It was at that time, I began encouraging them to look into sports that were not team sports. This year they’ve decided to try wrestling. At first I was a little apprehensive because of the horror stories I’ve heard associated with the sport, but two days in to practice, I’m ready to petition for year-round wrestling.

The kids come home from practice, they do their homework, take care of their animals, take a shower, eat supper and call it a night.

They are sleeping better, they don’t fight - heck, they don’t even have the energy to pick up the remote, let alone fight over who gets to watch what!

It’s yet to be seen how mama’s going to handle watching the actual matches, but for now, I’m so likin’ rasslin’.

Written by...Babe Gayla -- @ Family & Friends, Parenting | Comments (2)