Back to school...

Week one of school is now over. We all made it. Tues the boys started back to school, Wednesday Gracie went to "church" preschool at our church and this Friday was Day one of Homegrown Preschool. I think all in all the week went well. The boys love the bus! Bubs has the biggest smile the second he sees his driver turn the corner every morning. Although Samuel was a little hesitant the first morning he has taken to the ride quite quickly. I think it makes them both seem a little more independent. It's a little sad to see them growing up so fast but that's what's supposed to happen, right?? Gracie's doing well with our busy schedule. Thankfully all the activity has brought a few new naps into the schedule which has been nice for mommy. So here's some pictures of the first week.

Cat tricks, water balloons, and wings

It's the last week of summer break for the boys. It's been a truly great summer. This time of year is always bittersweet for me. I will so miss those boys when they are gone but the "quiet" of just one child for most of the day is at times a nice break. I am ready for my new adventure of a preschool and excited to start some new fall events!

Besides our three trips this summer we have spent our days at the pool, the library, bowling alley, playdates, outside, and lately we have been trying to teach Bailey some new tricks. I don't really think a cat that's 13 really wants to learn these new tricks but Samuel found a book at the library that he thinks will help us teach her. We do try everyday but she doesn't seem to be such a great student.

We also try to stay cool when we are outside with water balloons...well at least Samuel and Gracie...doesn't seem to be something Bubs is so sure of...actually he HATES balloons. Well...you know they are unpredictable and he hates anything unpredictable...

So here's a few pictures of our last few days...sure has been a fun time. I am gonna miss those stinkers...every now and then when I get sad I think that maybe I should homeschool to keep them with me a little longer...but no...they need to spread their wings...and mom needs to let them.

So it's life...

Life with a kid with special needs is indeed a special life. Bubs brings joy to most everyone who he is around. You cannot resist his smile, his laugh is contagious and his hugs are unbreakable. BUT...things aren't always easy. I have finally gotten that!

So every year we go to get his blood drawn for a yearly check for thyroid problems and leukemia. He HATES it! I cannot tell you how bad this kid HATES doctors. I would relate his fear to my fear of dying from cancer. NO JOKE. It paralyzes the kid. Fortunately the dentist, doctor, and eye doctor are used to working with my kid. If not...they would probably run when they see his name on their schedule. Well since we have lived here this whole blood thing has been a nightmare. It doesn't seem to matter how many times I tell them that he is going to hate the whole process they don't believe me. I mean it takes work to even get him in the room to draw his blood. I dread this every year because I know how badly it works him up.

So...I was hopeful this time things would be a little better for him. He is a year older. BUT...same scenario...the minute he sees the hospital he knows. We walk in and immediately have to find a bathroom for him to do both number one and two. I know that we will need to remember where the bathroom is so we can visit it a couple more times. He shivers, his heart beats fast, his hands are clammy. I just sit and hold him and try to whisper " I Love you!" He's such a quiet kid.. he doesn't scream, yell or draw too much attention to himself that way...but he does look pitiful. It's apparent to anyone around that something is "different" about this kid. Most kids his age don't have to carried to just get off the floor or the chair.


Thanks to my wonderful pediatrician I was hopeful that the actual blood draw would be better this time. He did so much research for me. He found one lady down at MCV hospital that has been drawing peds blood for 15 years! He told me how to find her and I was praying for a miracle.

We get to the lab and have to wait for this lady to come from another floor. Poor Bubs...we had to hit the bathroom in the lab again for the third time! He wouldn't sit down. He knew what was up now. He was a shriveled up mess on the floor of the lab. UGH...the germs that must be down on that floor!!! The anxiety was getting bad! Now...everyone is noticing that I am trying to just get him to move out of the doorway. He is shaking and saying something that sounds like "I scared." But most people would not understand his "code." Finally she gets there. She was a miracle worker. She stayed calm, relaxed, and quiet. She got her things ready. Told me to pin him down and in less than two minutes of screaming and yelling, she had his blood. She was even talented enough to shut the door while she held the needle in his arm. Probably a good idea that the rest of the patients not really hear what was happening.

She was wonderful to me. Bubs wasn't really as impressed with her skill but glad we were done and we could get out of this place. I made sure to tell her we would be back again next year.

So we headed for the door as fast we could after one last bathroom stop...and we were done.
Both mom and Bubs glad that we survived yet another trip to a doctor.

So this is life. Like I said...life with Bubs is special. Special but not always easy. I have gotten used to the looks and I understand them. I would probably watch too. It's a different life...but for now...I am just incredibly thankful for the lady at MCV. She doesn't know how much I appreciated her.

Our Gracie Girl

Today my baby turned three! Wow...cannot believe she's a preschooler now! Where does the time go! She's the perfect mix of all of us...and then some.

Here's some things Gracie really likes now...

anything PINK
Dance parties and pink Dora sunglasses
cupcakes and ice cream
birthdays
anything "tiny" (tiny houses...tiny food...tiny strollers...even tiny potties and sinks...)
singing
ponies and "digidas (that's what she calls princesses...don't ask...)"
polka dots
babies (pretend and real ones too)
play kitchens
coloring and playdough

Never in my life would I have thought I needed a girl but Gracie has proved me wrong...I need her! She's brought out every emotion I think I have or didn't know I had.


"Can I be a mommy one day??" Gracie asks me quite often.
"I love you so very much mommy!" While she said this she held my cheeks and kissed my head!


She's a really good dancer and singer...maybe she will be our little performer one day...I don't really know...but she's really won my heart! Can't wait to spend another three years with my baby girl.

Road trips...

Well... the Kaman house was gone again this past week on yet another road trip. It was time for our annual Savannah/Beach trip. I just don't know but think it might have been the best one yet.

Here's a few highlights...

FIRST...I got to visit with ALL of my family this time. My brother, his wife, and my niece were also visiting. I do miss that kid! Wish I could see her much more. She's grown up so much and it was great to see her playing with my kids. They love her as much as I do. Oh...and great to see my big brother and his wife too!!! Bubs was taken with Stella...very cute!

SECOND...We got to visit with Brian's sister Emily and her family. We haven't seen her in TWO years. I got to meet her newest little bundle of sweetness. He is beautiful...blond and blue eyes. Her oldest is a riot! So funny! But...poor little thing had strep throat along with his momma and was down a couple of days. He's about two years younger than Samuel and that automatically gave Samuel the opportunity to "show him the ropes."

Okay...so ALL kids slept in one room. It actually worked...AND they slept LATE! Yes...we have made it! :)

Oh...and my dad built this AWESOME play structure in the backyard and all the kids played on it. They had a blast and it meant a lot that they would build that for the grandkids!

Other highlights...

Making m&m cookies with nana, having a hermit crab for a day (it's a long story and very sad...we had to take the poor thing back after we found out we couldn't keep him...Samuel's last words about Hermie was tearfully..."That's not how I wanted him to go Mom!" Now...we have a new Hermie..who is meant for the cage we bought but I am terrified how long he will last...).

Our dolphin cruise with Aunt Patty...enjoyed so much having her...we needed her help and her company. Bubs LOVED it...the boat ride and everything. The others were entertained for about half and hour and then the heat, the boat rocking, and the hot life jackets just about did them in and I was worried we might need to hang someone overboard! :(

Seeing Grandmommy and Granddaddy again is always a blast. The kids loved seeing them and playing with them. Gracie really warmed up this time. She must have given Grandmommy a million hugs...

We found so much marine life...sand dollars, starfish, crabs, etc. Very, very fun!

There is so much to write about but I don't have the time right now...but here's some photos to enjoy...

Bubs swimming lessons

I believe in MORGAN SWIM SCHOOL!

For those of you not from Richmond you probably have no idea what I am talking about. It's the boot camp of swim lessons. They don't believe in using any type of flotation devices, kickboards, noodles, etc. We had heard of them through the Down Syndrome Society and we knew they were pretty successful! You cannot stay with your child so I have hesitated up until now for fear of the hysterics that might be involved with our decision.

BUT...the time came we felt Benjamin needed us to pull out the big guns! He's had two rounds of your average swim lessons but still had not learned to swim...or to be safe in the water. Now...the kid LOVES the water and always has...but I need to feel like I could trust him not to drown himself!

So...yesterday was his fourth lesson. I have nothing but good things to say! He can now float on his back (got a ribbon for that already!) and will put his head in the water for 5 seconds and can jump in and "swim" to the side of the pool. I am impressed. How did she teach him to hold his breath?? I have been trying to do that for four years now. I have no idea how they did it (you cannot stay for the lesson!) but I am a believer. He is so much more confident in the pool now. Sometimes I think we underestimate this kid!

The thing that is even better than him holding his breath and "swimming" is that he is so proud of himself. I think he likes having something he does that is "all his own." He talks about it all night long! He demonstrates even out of the water how he has "rocket" arms and can lay like a soldier! It's one of the cutest thing to watch! I think he has made his brother and sister jealous of him, and for once I think that is a good thing! He needs his time to SHINE!

We have four more lessons left and then we will see how far he's come...but I think it's been a success even if he doesn't have the best strokes or dives...it's been a lesson for the rest of us!

Milestones...

Our first summer trip this year was a momentous one. For those of you who do not know we just returned from a five day trip to Ft Lauderdale. It was quite a memorable time...not just for the fun we had but the major steps we took as a family transitioning from being a family with diapers, formula, nursing, and babies to a family with some really "big" kids! I have to admit I do sometimes miss the "idea" of another baby. But right now it is becoming really nice to be able to travel and do some things that although are possible with tiny ones just aren't as enjoyable.

Well...here are some milestones we accomplished with this trip.

1.Traveling 16 hours in a car without having to make frequent stops to "nurse" or feed the baby!
2.Traveling through the night!
3.Traveling with two kids old enough to play video games to occupy their time so they didn't ask a hundred times "are we there yet?" Now it will really be nice when Gracie can do that. For now...we just watch A LOT of Dora!
4.Being able to go down to the beach/pool without anyone in a swimmy diaper! Those things are gross!
5.Being able to go to the beach with three kids and have a enjoyable and somewhat relaxing time!
6.Being able to sleep in a hotel room together without someone waking the other one up! This is huge for us...most of you know what BAD sleepers my kids are. This brings me comfort that this summer in Hilton Head...Brian and I might have a room to ourselves! :)
7.Being able to go out to a relatively nice restaurant at a "normal" eating hour and not feel like the entire restaurant is staring at you...and hoping you are leaving really soon! AND also not nervous that your children will have an emotional meltdown if they are not fed the minute they complain they are hungry!
8.Being able to get home and think about the fun we had...and want to take another trip again! :)

So...all in all it was indeed a fun time. Now don't get me wrong...it was tiring and since Brian had to work a lot of the time we REALLY missed him! But all in all a really memorable time!

Here's some pictures!