A Farewell to Summer

I always think of September as the end of summer, it doesn't matter if it's 30 degrees and humid and we are running around in shorts and tank tops. September means we are looking for that first red leaf, that fresh smell in the air and that nice refreshing breeze. I love wearing jeans all the time, and taking out my favorite sweaters and driving with the window down...

 I love the beginning of every season, but I think I especially love the beginning of fall. Fall is usually marked by the beginning of school - and for only the 3rd time in the last 28 years I am NOT starting classes. And that torch will be passed to the kids in the next couple of years (ouch). But for now, the beginning of fall can be marked by a special farewell to summer!

So we went to the beach! The last week of August my parents, the kids and I packed ourselves into the van and headed to Coburg beach, about 45 min away. This beach has beautiful sandy shores and nice warm Lake Ontario water at the end of the season and we had a beautiful hot, humid and sunny day.

Katheryn needed some coaxing to get into the water...

Nickolas needed to be dunked after he got overheated. Papa was happy to oblige...

A family picture didn't come out as planned. But who can get 2 kids to look at the camera at the same time, in a candid shot?! 

So thank you summer for some wonderful sunny and warm days, for encouraging me to get out of the house, when it would have been easier (and lazier) to stay inside. For warm water, beaches and cottaging fun, pool sides and outdoor parties, picnics and vacation time (so family can enjoy summer with us).

But I'm ready for some cooler, faller weather, where I don't have to worry about screaming and overheating children, or sunburns and of course the wonder of fall foliage.

More the same than different.

There is a SB group I go to the beginning of the month.

I really enjoy going. I missed it during the 3 month summer vacation. I enjoyed seeing how the other children are growing - when else is new with them, and with their parents. Our stories are mostly very similar.

What I like the best is realizing and watching how the kids remind me so much of Katheryn and Madison and other children I know. This is what Nickolas will grow into.

Everyone says how a child with spina bifida is more the same than different. And I do believe that. It just hit me that I could see it.
Sitting with other parents and their children, I didn't see braces or that they couldn't move their legs. I saw a child that was really interested in a specific toy, loved throwing balls, was exploring everywhere and who wanted to stare at the new baby.
I heard giggles and squeals and laughter.

I left the group uplifted. Sometimes getting caught up with milestones and developmental charts, worries and concerns it is easy to forget that at the end of the day, life is more the same than different.

Not wanting to leave maternity leave...

August has come and gone. That means that ... gulp ... fall is right around the corner. Fall means thinking about going back to work. I have never been so glad and thankful for the one year maternity leave. I’m not back until November 11 – it just seems to be creeping up that much faster. I said I wouldn't think about what I wanted to do until summer was over. September (to me) means summer is over - you wouldn't know it from our heatwave though.

While it will be nice to have some more adult human contact, I’m not that excited to go back to work. Then we’ll have to juggle the physio, doctor appointments, tests and my work schedule. And then there is the question of part time or full time? Going back to the hospital only, or apply to a college/university?

I just don’t know.

So far all the extra appointments hasn’t affected our lives that much. I just have to talk to Jenn (Katheryn’s daycare) about changing dates or times. No big deal (Jenn is an absolute Godsend!!!). But when I’m back to work I can’t just say yes I’ll take that first date. And I can’t get a consistent day off every week.

And we are doing physio once a week, OT might be in the future soon, hearing screening and whatever therapy might come from that, paediatrician appointments, urology tests, SB clinics and the SB group (something I am NOT giving up when I go back to work). Then we need to add Katheryn’s speech therapy as well. That seems like a lot, and it is not all the time, but these are just the appointments I keep thinking of when I imagine going back to work full time – and jamming all of those into my free time. Not to mention working on physio, speech and playtime at home.

No wonder I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed when I think about work!!!

I guess that is just the story of going back to work with 2 kids.

Talking about 2 kids....

Boys Clothes

I never realized how clothes-lucky I was having a girl first. Even for the first 6 months I didn't really know what other mom's were talking about when they said that the selection for boy clothes sucked.
Then I started looking for something that would fit Nickolas now, that was cute, not striped, not plaid, didn't have any weird characters or faces on the front and would go with a blue and red dress that I had for Katheryn. Simple right? Not so much.

The boy selection, which takes up the little tiny corner of the girls section that isn't being used has either stripes, plaid, faces, characters or is white. Seriously.

I've gone to multiple stores but just can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I guess that's why moms like shopping, I just wish I could find something! Not that I don't bring clothes home... The closet has lots of stripe shirts, some tigger things and a couple of plaids. I'm trying to stay away from onesies for the next little while because Nick gets too hot without the ability to pull up his shirt (Katheryn did too - but the ditropan just makes it worse).

Not only was I lucky with Katheryn with the selection of girl clothes, but my teeny, tiny little girl hardly grows out any clothes before I get bored with them. She can still fit in 6-12 month shorts!! Only now she's sprouting up and getting too big for some of her dresses - out come those shorts and we have another outfit!

I am currently refusing to buy Katheryn anything smaller than a 2. Sure it's a bit big, but now it's length we are looking at.

We don't usually grow out of anything without wearing it a LOT of times!

This is showing Katheryn's 'sad face' when we find something that doesn't fit her anymore.




Talking about sizes , I decided to pull out the big guns today when I was shopping. No little 12-18 month clothes for my 9 month old. I don't think so. We are heading straight to the 18-24 months, even a peak at 2 year old sizes.

This is how I've been trying to get away with some 12 month clothes:

OK I love the belly, I really, really do - but it might be time to put this one away.

And while I'm at it, I guess this one needs to go too

So what does 18-24 months get us? Well, first we get to skip the fight over the head and protecting the shunt. And of course all they have is more cute stripes, but here we go:

Wow a shirt that actually fits...

Lets see how long that lasts!

Photo Time!

I was looking over some of my favorite blogs - I have a bunch - and saw some naked pics taken of a 3 month old cutie - and I was inspired!
Out come the sheets, the towels, the camera and the smiles! (Not that the smiles ever go away!)

Here are some of my favorites:

Having Fun! - and look at that tooth!

Happy to be 'free'

ALL SMILES!!!

I wanted pictures that do not hide away from his scar. It is part of who he is - not that I want to showcase it. Wait a minute. I DO want to showcase it. His scar is just one testimonial of the surgeries and struggles that he has overcome in a short 9 months.

A website I've been on, I can't remember but I think it sells SB related jewelry, has a picture of her child sitting on a beach. It is a bum picture and at first you are shocked by the large scar, and then you think, wait a minute. This isn't something to hide.

So here is my baby boy! In all his glory!!!