In case you missed it, I had an emotional breakdown this week when my oldest turned 16 and my youngest started preschool. I am completely shocked by my strong reaction, but it is what it is. All of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I was on the verge of tears if not already bawling. Friday means NO PRESCHOOL! so I felt much happier and more myself with a 5 year old in the house all day.
Or out of the house all day.
Be prepared, though, for next week. At least this week I had appointments during his school time every day and never was home without him. Next week will bring 9 whole hours of time I need to fill. There will most likely be a relapse.
Despite my tears, there were plenty of things for which to be grateful.
1. Cuckoo has had a great time in preschool. He's surrounded by teachers who have known him since he was a baby. Plus, he is in his element. So many people to talk to! (If I were to add up all the words my oldest five spoke to adults before they turned 5, it still wouldn't come close to the number Cuckoo has spoken. Finally, FINALLY I have a social kid like me!)
2. Well, I just deleted four paragraphs of a story that I really need to make into its own post. I'll just give you the punchline thankful for now. My phone is fine. I'll write the post another day. (Along with the other 10 that are in my head because I have not yet written them.)
3. Physical therapy is over. Finally. After 10 weeks (including pre- and post-surgery) of three days a week, I am beyond ready to be done. I will still be doing exercises at home, though, as I'm not back to full range of motion. I was told by the doctor that if I don't get my leg back to perfectly straight by the next appointment in 6 weeks, I will be getting put into a machine of torture to force it. Yes, I will be doing my exercises. And icing. I've also been told that if the swelling doesn't go down, a needle will be used to suction the gunk out of my knee. So yes, I will be applying ice to my knee several times a day.
4. Despite the scary consequences I was threatened with, my knee is healing nicely on the inside. X-rays showed the tunnels they made during surgery have healed, and the metal buttons (The WHAT? I didn't know I had metal in my leg until Wednesday.) holding my ACL in place haven't budged.
5. On Monday (Labor Day) we had a great visit with my brother and his family and our mom. We ate, we laughed, we played kickball (Well, they. I was only allowed to coach my niece who had no clue how to run bases.), we fought over brownie sundaes. I really wish we lived closer together, but I'm glad it's not so far that we never get to see them.
6. Star is on a new soccer team, and when we asked if it bothers him to see Instagram photos of his old team winning tournaments, he said, "No. I'm having more fun that I did when I was on that team." We're all having more fun. Plus, he can now once again (He had to skip last year because of the other team's rules.) be on the cross country team at school.
7. Star and Giant had their first cross country meet and ran very well. Cross country is my favorite sport to watch, so I'm glad they both get to (and want to) run.
8. Turken is a timid little boy in a 1st grade class full of wild and crazy boys. It's not exactly what we'd call a perfect fit. I am so glad he has the one little boy he clicked with last year in his class again this year. He's having a good school year.
9. Phoenix has been struggling in school. Last year was rough, and this year, despite some major changes in how we handle things and some real effort on his part, hasn't gone any better. We are now working with his counselor and our pediatrician to figure out what is going on. Thankfully, our high school is an unusual Catholic school in that it has a wonderful special needs staff and in-house services. He will be able to use their services regardless of whether he has an official diagnosis or not.
10. I saved the biggest thankful for last. After a scary weekend in which Buttercup slept almost constantly and ate next to nothing, she woke up Tuesday feeling much better. She has been symptom-free since Tuesday. She got the all-clear from the doctor on Thursday to begin the 5 step process to get back to full, normal activity. She's gotten through the first 2 steps without any relapse of symptoms, so we're quite hopeful that she has fully recovered. She is crossing her fingers that she can play in her game on Wednesday.
So, did you break down when your youngest went to school? When your oldest hit a milestone birthday? When both IN A MERE TWO DAYS?
For what should you send up a great, big THANK YOU this week?
Pretty sure you know how this works by now.
Have a lovely day!
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Christine, hugs.....prayers coming your way. All will fit into the new routine soon enough! Glad the knee's getting better, though!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will take any and all prayers. I'm sure by the end of the year I'll be used to this quiet time. I may even think it isn't enough to get everything done. :)
DeleteFRIST!! Ha!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear Cuckoo is having a great time in pre-school, I hope he enjoys it as much as I did all those years ago.
Can't wait to read the post about the phone, this sounds really intriguing.
Hope you manage to get your leg staright before the next doctor's appointment - I'm sure you will.
Glad Star is enjoying being on his new soccer team and that he can also be on the cross country team, especially if he gets to run with Giant.
Hope Turken's school year continues to be good even if his classmates - bar one - may not be the best. And that Phoenix can somehow overcome his struggles with the help of the in-school services.
Glad too that Buttercup is now feeling much better and has the all clear from the doctor.
My thankful this week? A big 'thank you' to my son who will be coming in every day for nine days from tomorrow to feed the cats, allowing me and the dogs to go on a much-needed camping holiday after a very busy few weeks pet sitting. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be going anywhere.
Oh b***er! That's twice I've been caught while typing! :)
DeleteHahaha!! I appreciate the typing, even if it means you get trumped by someone else. (And the expletives make me laugh.)
DeleteI never went to preschool, but I've taught it enough to know most kids love it. I saw some parents over the weekend who said their daughter has been talking about her new friend all week. It's Cuckoo. He had no idea he was her new best friend. :)
I'm working hard to get this leg straight.
Having him on this new team takes a gigantic weight off of both his and my shoulders. We were tense all year!
I'm thinking Turken will be OK, as they switch classes and he gets a break from some of the wilder boys. I pray we find an answer for Phoenix.
Buttercup is back to her old self, thank God.
Yay to a camping holiday!! I hope you get plenty of great weather and capture all sorts of wonderful photos. Have fun!
Your family is wonderful. #6 is big. How astute of Star to actually want to have FUN instead of competitive stress. His love of sports and activity will last longer. Take care of YOU in those 9 free hours.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you. I couldn't be more happy about his attitude with the soccer. He has learned an important life lesson, and it's a good one.
DeleteI'm planning on it. I'm thinking a stop at the gym to sign up for a membership is first on the list of things to do.
Cross country is my favorite sport to watch,
ReplyDeletelol! (you really want to know about 'being fluent in the Wakefield Doctrine'?) before I finished that sentence I have getting images of wolves and lions and dogs, ears up as they hear a sound in the woods that draws closer and closer until the first (runner) breaks free of the wooded section (of the cross country course)… ears go up, and that funny forepaws crouch that predators do as they wait for just the right…. runner
glad to hear that B is out of the scary thing
ice that knee!
ACK! It's because cross country is such a positive, healthy sport. There is no drama. There are very few crazy parents. The kids can see progress each and every time they run when their times improve. It has nothing to do with me being a scott!
DeleteMe, too. Thanks.
Crap...going to get some ice...
no! of course it doesn't! (the next time the pack of runners break out of the woods for the final stretch), try not to think, '"like gazelles! so graceful the young people are....hey is Number 15 limping...falling behind?' mmmm"
Deletelol
The very best of all this post is Buttercup. Yes indeed.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous weekend. :)
Yes indeedily do.
DeleteWow so much going on. Physical therapy is very time consuming. I am glad its over and you plan on keeping up the exercises.
ReplyDeleteMy one and only is in school and I go between loving it and missing her...daily.
It is so time consuming, but it does force me to actually do the exercises, so I guess it's necessary. I'll do my best to keep them up on my own.
DeleteUgh. I'm afraid how I'm going to be for a very long time...like until he goes to college or my older kids give me grandkids. ;)
yay for being thankful. (hugs) It is understandable with so many adjustments that you had a couple of rough days..... sometimes change is difficult.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy, that's for sure. Well, it's easy for them. They're excited to go. Ungrateful buggers. ;)
DeleteI think it is Okay to spend some time grieving (and also celebrating) each milestone. It is a sign that you are tuned into life and not just keeping yourself so busy it flies by before you know it. ~May
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to look at it. Thank you, May!
Deleteoh my goodness that photo is worth a million dollars! What an expression! Congrats on the leg.... just get that bend back!
ReplyDeleteHe played in that sprinkler for hours. The expressions were great, but the squeals of delight were even better.
DeleteI'm trying!
So, so many things going on in your world, Christine! I have breakdowns all the time when it comes to my kids. My son has two little girls in his class that have a crush on him (5th grade!) and I cried. He's mine! It's weird and I'm not sure I like it. You have such a wonderful family and it's been so fun over the last year watching them grow. I know it's hard. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really glad that Buttercup is doing better! I've been down that road and it is super scary. Hope she continues to improve and I'll cross my fingers for Wednesday too!
So many things. It's true.
DeleteHa! Having 5 boys, I've been dreading the girlfriend thing, too. I'll cry, too, when girls come around.
Aw, thank you, Sandy. It is fun to see other people's kids grow, just not my own so much. :)
Thank you. She is back to her old self, thank God. All is on track for her to play.
In 9 days, Lily will have her first day of elementary school. I don't know if I'm still in denial or somehow take it very easy. Well, she's our big, independent girl, so I'm actually very excited for her to start this new stage of her life. Or at least I'm telling myself that I am :-) Our baby, in contrast, won't stop growing and will be 1 month old next week. I can't believe that it's been a month already.. Hope you have a great weekend, Christine! Oh, and I'm really, really glad that your knee is healing well and I hope that you don't need any of the nasty stuff!!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe you had that precious boy a month ago! Wow.
DeleteI hope all goes well on her first day. for both of you. :)
Lots of good stuff here with the healing. But I tell you what, I understand that sadness. It's just so hard to see our babies grow up. I hope you can continue to feel busy for awhile.
ReplyDeleteThe healing has been good. That growing up thing...not so much. I am happy and excited for them to grow and experience all of the new things. And yet...I'll try to stay really, really busy.
DeleteMy oldest baby turns 21 tomorrow. Where did that time go? You will adjust to having the baby in school -- it will become a new norm. Time marches on darn it. So glad that your knee is healing. You've got a lot to keep up with.
ReplyDeleteI think I would rather have time crawl than march. It would seem a bit gentler. :)
Delete21!? Ugh.
I know I'll get used to it. I won't have a choice.
All around a great list. Still hugs and prayers to you as you move through this period of transition.
ReplyDeletePlease tell the story about the phone? That's all.
Thank you! I'll take them.
DeleteI will do my best. Soccer season is kicking my butt!
I think the hardest time for me was when I dropped oldest son off to college, 600 miles away.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of you this week.
Oh, I would have cried (and will if any of them have the nerve to go that far away!) the whole 600 miles home.
DeleteThank you. It's nice to be thought of. ;)
Sounds like a time of adjustment for all of you, but more good than bad endings so far. I pray it stays that way for your family!
ReplyDeleteIt is a big adjustment for many of us. I'm looking forward to a nice, boring, nothing going on period. Think it will ever get here?
DeleteSorry to hear about the breakdowns...believe me when I say that I feel your pain...after 4 years of being a mom I now have a moody 13 year old (grrrr)and the girl is not far behind (they were so little 4 years ago - it went so fast :( ) Hope Buttercup is feeling better - good to hear your feeling better and the boys are dong well too. Happy Birthday to your son!
ReplyDeleteThirteen is a hard year. The principal of our school (and mother of 5) always said she would get rid of year 13 if she could. They are rough for everyone! Hang in there!
DeleteIt's amazing how much kids change in 4 short years.
Thanks!
#20!
ReplyDelete1. Social is the perfect word for Cuckoo. You two are so much alike!
2. This should be good.
3. When I read the words "And icing", I thought you were talking about frosting. Am I the only one? Anyone? Anyone?
6. What a relief!
7. You're the first person I have ever known who enjoys watching cross country. My son did it one year. It was always either very hot, very cold or rainy. You trudged out to a vantage point and they all ran past in about 30 seconds. End of spectating.
8. Glad he has a buddy. The teacher will really appreciate his quietness in all that wild and crazy boyness.
9. I so hope a solution is found! There's got to be something that isn't working right for him to struggle so.Hopefully, it will be found quickly and he can get back on track.
10. SO HAPPY she's better. That was really worrisome!
Hahahaha!! Every time I've read "and icing" I think the same thing, and I know what is coming next! I thought of changing it, but...I didn't.
DeleteYou must not know the right people. Your first mistake is to stand at one vantage point. I get as much exercise as the kids, going from one spot to another cheering everyone on. Everyone, including kids from other schools. And it's pretty in the woods. And there are no deranged soccer parents. And any kid can do it, regardless of ability. I have a great time at a cross country meet.
Independently, both Phoenix and Buttercup came to me and said presentations were done in class about ADD. They both were convinced that Phoenix has it. I don't know if that's it, but something is going on.
I can join you in crying if necessary I am a good cryer! Also when #3 went to KDG I cried so hard that a (new to me) friend asked "is this your first" I am still sad when I think of our changes at home. I too love watching CC but so sad that because of coaching issues O will not be running again this year, I miss the meets.
ReplyDeleteI know you can. I'll be right with you, again, when Phoenix heads to college. Thankfully, at this point, he's planning on going in-state.
DeleteIt is so sad that O can't run again. Poor girl.
Me, too. I will be on pins and needles, though, until this season is over. In October.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'll do my best to get it written. It's really funny in my head. :)
I'm so happy you are finished with your therapy for your knee! Yay! Cuckoo in that photo is so cute. Wow that he gets to be in a class with teachers that have known him for that long. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's perfectly understandable you are emotional about your high schooler and your preschooler. Our kids grow up before we notice it! I assure you, the sadness will pass and pretty soon you'll be grateful they are growing up. We parents really do work ourselves out of our jobs. Good to read that your knee is doing well. I've been diagnosed with RA and am hobbling around like my mother. There's always something, isn't there?!
ReplyDelete