Kid Updates

The end of October is upon us!  Ghouls and goblins are getting ready to fill the neighborhood and our leaves are just starting to change here in the capitol area of North Carolina.  The backyard is full of pine needles and the trees are turning yellow and red and orange.  It's still not the same as Cortland, but since Cortland has snow right now and we do not, I am fine with this version of autumn.

Grant is happy go lucky as always.  He's quick with a smile and a twinkle in the eye.  He has quickly learned what a camera is and immediately knows what to do when it is pointed at him. 

Sam had a tough day on Thursday.  What started out as cramps turned into abdominal pain and possible appendicitis requiring a trip to Urgent Care and then the ER.  Five hours and one ultrasound later the doctors ruled out a burst appendix and leaned heavily towards an ovarian cyst which is painful but otherwise benign in nature.  Of course the look on her face tells a completely different story.  She is better and off to compete in her last Crew Regatta of the season. 



TJ is ready for Halloween.  Inspired by "How to Tame Your Dragon" TJ is a version of Hiccup, sporting a shield, axe, Viking helmet and a bath mat turned into a animal skin vest. Creativity hit us at the last minute and thanks to some crafty work and visit to the Dollar Store we had success!

Next issue: The Halloween Story

Boy's Night In

Lisa is out for the night which means I get "Daddy Duty."  That consists of diapers, dinner, playtime, TV time, and bedtime.  I can't complain about any of it because Lisa gets the lion's share in parenting when I am away for the Reserves.  

When people ask what I'm going to do with the boys I always say the same thing, "We're gonna strip down to our underwear, set a bonfire in the living room, and sacrifice a small, stuffed animal," to which I am usually met with  look of horror or humor.  

I enjoy the daddy time and the ability to play with the two of them.  Of course, it's hard right now because their age differences don't allow for a lot of group play.  TJ is okay playing with cars or spaceships or planes and Grant is into everything that TJ just put down.  The boys have never appeared selfish of their parents attention when they are focused on the other and so far the "That's Mine" mentality has not kicked in and we know enough to keep Grant away from his big brother's favorite toys.  

However, this afternoon was about naps; TJ took a 2 1/2 hour nap and Grant went down for 30 minutes.  Grant and I watched "Planet Earth" while I multitasked with the dishwasher and let TJ get some good rest.

To my credit, I don't take the easy route and go out to dinner - well, maybe once in a while.  I cook dinner while the boys are occupied on the floor with toys.  Thank goodness they are so easy going in general and with one another because it allows me the ability to get dinner on the table with the least amount of frustration possible. This evening was left over chicken breast with sauce added and mozzarella cheese.  That and some penne and vegetables made for a nice dinner.

After dinner I thought we'd go to the computer and have some fun with the Photo Booth and almost peed myself laughing with some of these pictures.  Big Brain Baby is my favorite. 

Now the boys are in bed and I can straighten up before Lisa gets home.  I like for her to come home to a clean and neat house because I want her to think I can handle both boys and the chores and make it look easy.  There are dozen things I could do; although drinking Maker's Mark and writing in the journal seem to be at the top of the list right now.  

I better go put the fire in the living room out.

 

Not My Kids!

In recent news research is being brought to light that football and other high impact/severe contact sports are dangerous for kids, teens, and adults. Not dangerous as in, torn-ACL-no-more-football-for-the-season-dangerous, but dangerous as in, drooling-uncontrollably-for-the-rest-of-your-life-dangerous.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence out there as well. A counter placed inside a junior league footballers helmet recorded over 900 hits in a single season. A college player suffered headaches so severe that he committed suicide and it was discovered at his autopsy that he had brain damage most likely suffered from his sport. Another piece of evidence of why my kids won't play football appeared in the news over the weekend. It happened on the football field one town over from where we used to live in Central New York. While most full contact sporting events do not end in tragedy there is enough evidence to convince me that there are enough other sporting events out there that will not possibly cause permanent brain damage.

A few years ago I learned a new acronym; MTBI, which stands for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. MTBI was something that Soldiers were suffering from when hit in Iraq or Afghanistan with IEDs. MTBIs were in addition to any external or other internal injuries suffered and, in a generic sense, were concussions. MTBI is not matter being taken lightly by the medical community in the military as it is being recorded in Soldiers long term medical files.

And when I first heard those same letters used in reference to kids sports and I turned up the radio.

My kids won't play football or any other sports prone to concussive injuries. This shocks some other parents who see 10 month old Grant, a hulking ninety-seventh percentile, 25plus pound baby who is already wearing 18 month old clothes and comment on him being a great defensive back some day. I am not denying my children the ability to play sports so much as I am protecting their future. Honestly. Some coach, scouting talent, or recruiter could tell me how great my son would be "Scholarship!" "ACC football!" "The pros!" and I'd send the man packing because to me it just isn't worth it.

What makes me ill is that there are now companies that are producing helmets and other protective gear to "concussion proof" your kid. It's like hawking gold in economically depressed times or medical alert buttons to the elderly ("I've fallen and I can't get up!"); play on people fears and they will open their wallets.

Samantha rows on crew which is a physically demanding sport that leaves her aching after practices. I have no problem with any of that. Could she get creamed by an oar? I suppose but the chances are slim. The boys will need to stick with running, basketball, or maybe even wrestling if Grant turns out to be as big as the doctor predicts.

And while I use the first person singular "I" throughout this entry I know that Lisa feels the same way as I do. Thank goodness.

Tennis anyone?

Hello, October

October is already half over with?! Where have we been!

The unbearably hot summer has given way to the cooler weather of the fall, which in North Carolina still means that you can wear shorts most of the day. The tiny tree in the front of our house is actually turning it's leaves to a nice shade of crimson. Autumn is not the same down here where we live as it is back in New York. Back in Cortland they are probably at the peak of fall foliage. Our recent trip to the pumpkin patch was a lot of fun but it lacked the bushels of apples and the smell of the crisp fall air that would be present in New York. Insert heavy sigh here.

The boys are certainly bigger. Wow, and how so. Grant now pulls himself up to a standing position on everything he can and the first steps can only be a month or so away. Unlike his older brother, this guy is into everything that you don't want him near; electric sockets, plants, cupboards. We never had to baby proof the house with TJ (although we did any way). With this one, however, everything will need to be secured. We did introduce a new word to Grant. The word is "No" spoken firmly, clearly, and loudly. When he hears it and sees that you are not playing with him he immediately juts out his bottom lip and his eyes well up with tears. At least he is learning. Grant is beautiful. He is full of smiles for family, friends, and strangers. Like his brother, he is one of those babies who people just have to come to and interact with. And we couldn't be happier about it.

TJ continues to be a wonderful and bright, caring boy. He is his mother's child, imprinted with many of Lisa's "isms"; food can't touch on the plate, lumpy foods are yucky, and the other quirks that make Lisa - Lisa. He and I still find out time to play sword fights, watch Star Wars Clone Wars, or practice soccer in the back yard. With kindergarten only a year way it is amazing to see how much he has grown since arriving in North Carolina. TJ is a great big brother who hasn't developed and jealousy or territoriality over things. Yet. He likes to make Grant laugh and takes time to play with him in a physical kind of way; a lighter version of the rough housing we do.

Of course the family isn't always complete. Sam is a freshman in high school, although from the sounds of it she has fit right in right away. Crew is still her focus when not in school. As long as she loves it and her grades stay solid I hope she sticks with it. She is fourteen and fickle. This time next week it might be drama club. No matter, I still look forward to seeing and meeting the person she turns in to.

Time marches on and life is still good.