Yoga

Though it isn't always at the forefront of my mind, several times a week, Matthew does something that sparks me to think "this is the kid that I didn't think would ____".  The blank being filled with (a) show joy (b) walk (c) talk or (d) survive.  In these cases, I love being awed-- and plainly being wrong. 

Today's moment was when Matthew did yoga. Not only did he ask for me to turn on yoga, he then proceeded to attempt the poses.  I am pretty sure in all of the hours upon hours spent in therapy that I never could have imagined Matthew doing either of those things.  Just awesome!



Matthew loved it so much, he did 2 videos (before and after pjs, hence the outfit and lighting change).

Happy 9th Birthday, Alyssa!

Happy 9th birthday to Alyssa.  I just can't believe it has been 9 years since this little girl entered our lives.  I can barely remember life before her! 

I am so lucky to be 'mommy' to this not-so-little girl!  Happy, happy birthday!

Hardy

Last week, Matthew caught the flu.  He was the first confirmed case of pediatric flu at our pediatrician's office this season.  He is a lucky kid! Thankfully, Darren jumped on it and took Matthew to the pediatrician as soon as he ran a fever.  With Tamiflu, Matthew was really only sick for a day and recovering the next.  He was full out Matthew in 3 days. 

On Monday, Matthew's teachers commented how rare it was for Matthew to be out sick.  In that moment, I remembered to be awed by Matthew's recovery.  This is the little boy that used to be called "medically fragile".  Now, quite to the contrary, I would call him medically hardy! 

Thursday:  Down for the Count

Saturday:  Ready to Play!

Hoy Happenings

We've been able to outsource the evening routine for a while now.

But achieving morning obsolescence is new!  (Beyond granola bars anyway)  This has been a dream of mine for over 8 years now!

Yum!

Life is full of surprises.  Rarely boring.

Turned the corner expecting to see Alyssa practicing piano.  She was...

Who doesn't love warm hugs?  (especially in the middle of Target?)

Lemon

I've had a lemon plant for most of my adult life.  Some years, it has been fruitful, others barren.  This year, my lemon plant netted one solitary lemon.  Much like other years, I picked the fruit right before the first freeze.  Since then?  It sits on our counter, untouched. 

Every year that the lemon plant produces, I am excited about the fruit-- until I pick it.  Now what do I do with it?  Nothing seems special enough for my home grown lemon, but if history repeats itself, it will sit on the counter and shrivel due to my inability to decide on its fate. 

I'm sure there is a moral, or metaphor, or something, in the lemon's story, but I don't really know what it is beyond the fact that I need to find something to do with one lemon.  Let me know if you have suggestions!

Scenery

In Austin, there are some very pretty views. So, I found it a bit odd that when we were looking at houses in Austin, I got advice to not buy a house with a view. Sounded odd at first, but now I'm realizing that the reasoning was sound.  Once you live every day, the everyday, in one spot, the view becomes just scenery or background.  It no longer evokes the awe it once did. 

That is how I mostly feel about living these past almost 5 years in Holland. Every day, in the everyday, I usually don't think about it.  Our life is as it is.  It feels 'normal'-- to us anyway.  Holland is just scenery or background. 

Well, until it isn't.  We are jolted when we are awoken in the middle of the night to the sound of a wheezing, little boy who struggles to breathe. (Croup again!) We remember when we see Matthew's classmates learning to read as he is just now learning to talk.  We can't forget when we are still potty training an almost 5 year old. In those moments, I whisper "I hate Holland".  Sometimes, I really do. 

Though, thankfully, those are just moments, as Holland soon fades back into the background and our everyday life continues onward. 

Incessant Chatter

I think I can finally put to rest my fear that Matthew won't talk.  Lately, he has done nothing but talk!  I think the issue has gone from being non-verbal (or low verbal) to very verbal with an articulation issue.  Darren and I can understand the majority of what he tries to say.  Teachers and friends likely struggle a little more.  Strangers probably wonder 'what?'. 

I want car in driveway.  I want car.  I want underwear.  I want to eat.  School. I want window down.  I want. I want. I want.  Home?  Look Mommy.  Look Aly.  Hi Jack.  Hi Daddy.  Potty.  Shhh...hide. Jump. Shoe. I want watch tv.  Please. No, Mickey.  Padme!  No!  Wake up. I want yogurt.  I want milk. I want water. Banana. Work? I dry.  Thank you.

Read the previous paragraph, aloud, fast, 3 times. That is Matthew-- all day long.  We love it and it is driving us a bit batty at the same time.