School Year Comes to A Close

 Sully's first day of 3 yr old preschool

 Finn's first day of 4 yr old preschool

 Norah's first day of 1st grade

 Last day!

 Finn's teacher -  Mrs. Folkerts

 Preschool head teacher - Mrs. Perez

Ready for her last day!

When the kids started school this year, I remember thinking that life was going to slow down a bit and I would have more time to myself. Boy was I wrong! Sully started school this year, and in typical Sully fashion, seamlessly entered his new routine. He went to school Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:30-11:00. He loved school, and knew all of his classmates by name within the first month. His teachers were Mrs. Perez and Mrs. Folkerts, and they loved his silly personality, but were also quick to point out how bright he was. By Spring conferences, he had mastered the skill sets that were being taught in the 4 yr old classroom. Dennis and I were pretty surprised. We had Sully pegged as having a frat boy mentality of parties, fun, and shenanigans. Turns out he is a smart frat boy. The teachers said that if he doesn't get challenged in school, he could turn to mischief to keep himself occupied. We have a feeling wherever shenanigans can be found, Sully will be close by. 

Finn had a bit of a hard time with the adjustment to 3 yr old preschool last year, so it was good that he had familiar faces to return to in school. In addition to the teachers, both boys were in love with one associate - Rhandi. They talked about her nonstop at home and flirted with her constantly. Finn went to school Monday through Thursdays 12:20-3:20.  As I mentioned before, Finn's teachers were absolutely amazing with him, and recognized the areas that caused him anxiety and helped him be the best Finn he could be.  I had a hard day with his last day of preschool. Truth be told, after I dropped him off, I got back in the car and cried. He has to try so hard to overcome situations and scenarios that come naturally to other kids that sometimes my heart just hurts for him. He's getting older and it's going to be harder to protect him from the world when he will be gone all day everyday. But, I have to tell myself that boy is also strong and has good character. I might need to be the one who fights his battles for me more than Finn actually needs me to do it.  (Tough lesson!) Mama bear might just have to watch him go out and show the world what a great little boy he is and carve his own path. I was so lucky that he had teachers that saw Finn beneath the worrying and then the sickness and the meds he was on. He came so far this year, and I am so proud of him!

Then there is Norah. Norah had Mrs. Kopriva.  Norah started off the year just like she does every year - by testing the teacher and pushing the boundaries. Her first impression of first grade was that it was too hard and there weren't enough hugs given, but she soon settled into her routine. Norah wasn't so much interested in school work as she was socializing with her classmates. She is a bright girl, but spent portions of the year remembering how to take her time and do her best work rather than just rushing through it to get it done. She still doesn't get too concerned with working to her fullest potential, but we are told she is caring and respectful and tells the most amazing stories.  Her teacher thinks she will be an actress. I am looking into the next 10 years and I see lots of drama in our future...

I can't believe I have KIDS.  As in, three small people.  It was only a few years ago where I would say that I had a preschooler, a toddler, and an infant. Now they have their own personalities that are distinctly different from one another and are so unique and challenging, and exhausting, and wonderful.  I guess this is what being a mom is all about? Getting them to this stage and then gradually watch them get more and more independent.  This kinda sucks for us moms. Because the days can get so LONG with life and craziness that sometimes you don't get to appreciate them. But the years?  Man, they go by fast. 

Happy Birthday, Finn Willie!

 Such a happy boy!!!!

Finn's 5th birthday was great. He helped me bake and frost his blue cake with blue frosting, and was so excited to have people over for his special day that he picked out his favorite outfit - his orange shorts and orange shirt. He got so many great things, but his Dad surprised him with the BEST GIFT EVER...an actual drum set.  He had been talking about one for a month, and if you asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he would say, "Drum set, drum sticks and cymbals".  He was in heaven! It was a great moment for us.  Especially, since about week later, Finn got really sick and it was awhile before we saw the happy boy in the pictures above. Since he was diagnosed with Minimal Change, loud noises really bother him, so the drums haven't gotten used all that much since then. But before that, he sure pounded the crap out of them. He was so happy with his drums that we didn't even mind the racket. Well, much. I do hope he feels better to start going at it again. It will be a great sound to hear - maybe because to me that means he will be feeling better?

Go Big Blue!!!

Cheerleaders are one of the greatest things in the world to Norah. So, when Dike High School puts on a cheer clinic, everything in our house stops so Norah can eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading. This winter's cheer clinic was no exception.  I think it took months before we had the cheer "show 'em how to wrestle, twist 'em like a pretzel" out of our heads.  And anything cool was punctuated by spirit fingers. My fancy girl doesn't really like sports right now, but cheerleading? That's where it's at. Go Big Blue!!

Silly Sully

 Sully stripped his bed before taking a nap. 

 "Look! I'm licking the sugar off all these elephant ears!! I'm crazy!"

 Everyone wears their shirt on their head when they eat popsicles

 He fell asleep like this. Rubber gloves and a flashlight.

 Having a mud party!

 Decided shirts were optional for breakfast, and loved it

Sully dressed himself for bed. And put his shorts on like a shirt.

Finn's bed - made it himself

Sully's bed after he "made" it.  Seriously.

I'm sure every parent thinks their children are different, special, and all that. But there is just something about my youngest that makes me smile.  He is so totally goofy, so good natured with such a kooky sense of humor. I've started calling him Silly Sully, after a book that Norah had as a baby called Silly Sally. The book goes "Silly Sally went to town, walking backwards upside down." I'm pretty sure if Sully could figure out how, he'd do the same thing, smiling the whole way. Every child has a special quality that sets them apart from their siblings, and Sully's is that he makes me laugh. He is so darn happy, that I'm sure he will get away with stuff just because he goes about it in such a silly way.  He is just a carefree little boy, and after the winter that we had, he was a welcome distraction. He is a great reminder not to sweat the small stuff, and just be happy, because there is always something out there worth smiling about, if you look at life the way he does.  I love my goofy Sullyman.

Our Journey With Minimal Change Disease AKA Sodium is EVERYWHERE!!!

Well...this has been another little thing that has occupied our winter. Now that the dust is settling a little bit, I can actually write something about it. Here is a synopsis: On Feb 5, I took Finn to our family doctor because he had been complaining of a headache and having this weird facial swelling for the past couple of days. He had also been acting really tired. Our doctor ran tests, and found that he had elevated protein and blood in his urine, and consulted with a Pediatric Nephrologist in Iowa City, who advised us to get in the car and take him there pronto.  After testing in the ER, it was determined he was stable and the next day, we met with Dr. Nester, and her nurse, Monica.  There, we were told that Finn has Minimal Change Disease, an autoimmune disorder that is rare, but it is the most common kidney disease among children. While he is in nephrotic syndrome, he needs to be on steroids and a low sodium diet. It sounds fairly innocent, but we found that there is sodium in every freaking thing, and when Finn is on the high dose of steroids, he is a little roid rager, and pretty much hates life.  It was a long couple of months, and very emotional for me, but Dr. Nester's team is amazing, and really helped us through it, as well as Finn's fantastic teachers who had to join me in counting every milligram of sodium (because they didn't have enough going on in the classroom) as well as reading Finn's moods and helping me navigate the side effects and monitor his blood pressure. Thankfully, Finn responded to the steroids, and his protein levels are back within the normal range. So, now we continue to wean him off of them gradually, and if all goes well, he could be off steroids in June! Then, we live life as normal as possible and try not to think about the fact that around half of the kids with Minimal Change will relapse several times before finally growing out of it. Finn is such a trooper.  He and the other kids try to help monitor his "Minnesodium" intake, and he really likes Dr. Nester and the "magic cream" they put on his arms to numb them before drawing blood at the U. All things considered, this is a very manageable disease...especially now that I have my little boy back and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  If you would have told me that in March, I would have punched you in the face. Maybe Finn wasn't the only one who was roid raging???!!??

 Finn at our dr's office in Feb.  He is normally bouncing off the walls here.

 Mike, our PA, looked at him and said, "This is a very sick boy."

 This is how Finn's face swells when he is in nephrotic syndrome.

 The swelling is concentrated on his eyes and forehead.

 Besides the lovely mood swings, the steroids gave Finn moonface.

He's still a cutie, but he really doesn't look anything like my Finn!

Norah's Music Concert

There is one thing that most people know about Norah.  Okay, two things.  1-she loves to dress up and be "fancy", and 2 - she loves an audience. So, it came as no surprise that Norah was VERY excited about her Spring music concert. She came flying home from school that day and was all smiles, humming her songs and dancing around.  When I asked her why she was so happy, she said, "Mom, because! I get to PERFORM!" We have a diva on her hands. And true to form, she loved every minute of it, and we loved watching her be in her element.

 Norah got to play the marimba for a song.

 She had very nice form and knew her part very well

 Rest position!! Must get her percussion skills from Daddy

Very serious performer

Preschool Graduation! My boy is Growing up!!!

I can't believe that Finn is done with preschool already! He has come so far since he started 3 year old preschool.  His teachers and associates are absolutely amazing, and they truly love Finn.  They describe him as very intelligent, respectful, observant, and kind, with a GREAT imagination. The head teacher will call me with funny things that Finn has said, which is a testament to what an outstanding teacher she is.  Finn is excited to go to kindergarten, but mommy isn't ready to think about that yet.  Maybe a summer together will change my mind, but for now, I'm content to snuggle my little guy and hope the days go slowly by.

 He was happy to pick us out of the crowd

 He had a part in "The Wheels On the Bus"

 Loved making the wipers go swish, swish, swish!!!

 Getting his diploma from Ms. Perez.  LOVE her!

 Posing!

 The class favorite: "A Tootie Ta"

 Look at that face! So happy!

My world!