We're going this time. Really.

Or should that be a question--Really? We certainly don't want to ascribe to the old adage "the third time is a charm", so please, Lord, this time let it be the SECOND time! We deserve a little charm and magic!!!

Grayson has faithfully been taking his medicine the last few days and this morning got the 'green light' from his pediatrician to go forth and delight in all things Disney. Yahoo! Though I might have to add another bag to the already embarrassing amount of luggage just to haul all of the preventative meds that have been prescribed! But I tell you what, he will have an immune system of steel this next week!

So friends and family, it is my sincere hope that I don't have to talk to all of you for the next 9 days. Again, catch you on the flip flop!

Neither off nor away.

Ever have those moments when you think to yourself, "Is this really happening?" Well for us, the last 24-48 hours have been filled with those moments.

By now, we were supposed to be enjoying the 80 degree temperatures of sunny California. The car was loaded, and we were ready for our adventure to begin.

Then, somewhere between Sherwood and Tualatin we started hearing this strange whistling sound coming from the back seat. Come to find out it was Grayson wheezing. At the time it didn't seem like too big of a deal. After all, he has been suffering from allergies all week. Ha! Who knew what we were in for last night?!

From the picture you can probably tell that's a hospital room. A hospital room at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, to be specific. And not just a room in the ER but one in the pediatric ward, where Grayson was admitted around 3 a.m. after several hours first spent in the emergency room. And that's when we knew that we would not be making our 7:15 a.m. flight this morning.

At first they diagnosed him with pneumonia but then decided that the x-rays did not show an infection after all. So now they're saying that he suffered a fluke severe asthma attack.

Are you kidding me? His first asthma attack ever on the eve of our LONG awaited anniversary trip?!? God really does have a sense of humor, doesn't he? Thankfully enough hours have passed that we are now starting to see the humor in it. Makes a good story, eh? Oh and I will add that after a bazillion phone calls we have managed to salvage our trip with not too much financial damage. Assuming everyone stays healthy (knock on wood!) we'll leave for Disneyland this Saturday. Phew!

The boys--after hearing news from me that our trip is still a go! (albeit a few days later)

Off, Off, and Away!

Bags are packed (an embarrassing number of bags, btw), house is cleaned, 10-day forecast is in our favor...so we are outta here! Grayson will most definitely tell Mickey "hi" for all you; Molly, on the other hand, perhaps not. "Too scary, Mama, too scary."

I won't have the technology to give you updates while we're there, so I know that you'll all wait with baited breath for a trip report upon our return! Catch you on the flip flop!

Clarification

This past week several people have asked me, "Where are you going? Why isn't Sarri watching your kids anymore?!" The reality is that it has been 5 years. And while someday, when these kiddos are graduating, the past 5 years will seem to have gone by faster than the blink of an eye, today, here and now, 5 years is kind of a long time. And while I'd have Sarri watch my kids all thru their teenage-hood (made up word, I think), I know that she is ready for other things. And who can fault her? Nowhere in writing did it say that she even had to watch our kids these past 2 years when she chose to be a full-time "stay at home" mom rather than teach half-time. (For those of you who don't know, for 3 years Sarri and I taught together but opposite one another--her in the morning, me in the afternoon. That allowed us to watch each other's kids when we weren't at school.) But she did, not only to help us out in a HUGE way, but also, I believe, because she really does love my kids like family. All children deserve to have an "auntie" who adores them and treats them just as if they were her own. After all, Auntie Sarri has seen my kids thru all of the important "firsts" that come with the early years. Probably she saw and heard some of them before me and just didn't tell me, because that's what moms do for one another.

Of course, because of the situation, Grayson and Molly since birth have had the opportunity to grow friendships with the Gibson kids that are tighter than most. And those, no doubt, will continue. But to Dave and I, the even greater gift is the one that Sarri gave to US--one that we will probably never be able to repay. Her gift of friendship is one thing, but caring for our kids, who of course mean more to us than anything, is the gift we treasure above all in our hearts. For 5 years not once did we EVER doubt that our kids were in the right place...that they were loved and respected and cared for...that they were happy. Not one day did they ever have to go to "daycare", and not one day did my kids ever complain about going to Sarri's. And that's the truth.

So it is with a little bit heavy hearts that we prepare for the next chapter--the one that is still being written for next year--but how can we complain knowing what we have been given? To Auntie Sarri we say, "Thank you." Those 2 words are just the tip of the iceberg, but we trust that she knows exactly what thoughts, feelings, and overwhelming gratitude are embodied in that iceberg.

Great Expectations

"...So it's with happy memories
I send them out the door,
With great hope and expectations
For what next year holds in store."

(quoted from Teacher Stephanie's end-of-year poem)

Well, on the great checklist of life, we can now cross preschool off Grayson's list! And even though there were lots of tears and groans along the way, he did it! (And truth be told, in the end I think he actually kind of liked it!) So it was very fun to get to celebrate with him this past Wednesday at TLC's "Graduation".

While waiting for the festivities to begin (the kids were "backstage"), it all of a sudden occurred to me that Grayson had never been part of any sort of stage performance. Up to this point, you know those darling little church Christmas programs? Well, yeah, those have been a 'no go' for the Ryan children who absolutely refuse to participate in Sunday school without us glued to their sides! *sigh* So I was a little bit paralyzed with fear thinking that there was no way that Grayson was going to stay up on stage and follow thru with the performance once he saw Dave and I. After all, if you know our Grayson, you know what a shy little guy he can be. But, much to my surprise, can you be more cool than this?:

They walked in singing Here Comes the Sun, followed up by You Are My Sunshine.


He was 2nd up on stage. Probably a good thing--no time to get nervous!


Teacher Stephanie's tradition is to break an "egg" over each child's head while the audience chimes in with, "Good luck!" (Granted, a little strange but pretty cute all the same!)


Mom and Dad with their proud "graduate"!


Bring it on. This boy is ready! (oh, except for those dreaded shots! *gulp*)

Tissues, please.

At some point I will come back to this--once I can wrap my head around it and find just the right words to express how I feel. For now though, all I can do is look at this post over on Sarri's blog and cry and laugh...and cry some more...and remember 5 years ago when that chapter of our lives began...and that makes me laugh and cry some more!

32. Really?

So it's my birthday. There will be no theme (though my son, for the life of him, cannot understand why one wouldn't choose a "kind" of birthday to have), no balloons, no party games, generally no 'hoopla'. Just a simple night at home spent with a couple of friends and some take-out. And for this exhausted mom, wife, and teacher who is just trying to survive the end of this crazy school-year, that will be just fine. Perfect, actually.

Normally when it's someone else's special day, I write about them or to them--special words meant just for that person on his/her special day. But on this, MY special day, all I can think about is someone else--my husband. I've been married to him for 10 birthdays now. We've been thru braces together (which, ironically, we'll be going thru those again together...grrr!...but that's for another post), a wedding, new jobs, a few houses, and the births of our 2 beautiful children, among other things. And thru all of that--the good times, the bad times, and the downright crazy times--he has done nothing but treat me like gold. I truly am a lucky gal. How thankful I am that he lets me work far more than a half-time paid employee should, just so that I can feel like an adequate teacher. And at night time, it's Daddy who tends to Molly when she cries or Grayson when he's restless, just because he knows how much I like my sleep (and it makes me a more adequate mommy the next day). How lucky am I? And when tough times hit earlier this year and Dave's hours got cut back at work, there was no hesitation on his part as he immediately sought a second job, just to take care of his family in the best possible way. And he does take care of us--me, the kids, anyone he knows and cares about. And although 2 little words fall lightyears short of expressing everything that my soul truly feels, I just have to say..."thank you."

Thank you, Dave, for a wonderfully perfect birthday and for being the wonderfully perfect man that you are. I am blessed.

Now let's go eat cake!

This is what I happened upon in the kitchen last night. I tell ya, I really am a lucky gal!

Partners In Crime

Actually, today's offense was just an attempted crime. But these 2 little pint-sized toddlers--they're good.

And I mean, seriously, when you can turn on the charm as much as those 2 can, chances are that you'll be able to get away with far more than you should! But as Sheriff Judy I stick to my guns! So this, Miss Molly, is the result of your failed get away attempt:

Needless to say, before the baby proofing gadget went on the doorknob, this is what I found:

But alas, I am fast! The first escape attempt--foiled. So they decided to try the front door, which thankfully I knew would be too hard and heavy for them to open. But I let them work at it for awhile. And boy did they ever! Funny how they get along smashingly well when doing something "illegal". When I did decide to round the corner and "catch" them, I actually heard my 2-year-old shout, "Quick, Carter!" as he tugged with all his might on the door handle. Sorry you 2, not this time.

By the way, before these attempted crimes took place, these 2 babes were shoeless and coatless. When I found them, they both had a pair of Grayson's shoes on and hoods up. Vegas or bust, I tell ya--these 2 had serious plans! Maybe the Elmo slippers were intended to be a good luck charm...

Check out what the 2 partners in crime were up to earlier this week at Sarri's house. Naughty, naughty.