Kindergarten for James

Last Monday my tiny 5 year old started Kindergarten. He was excited and ready. Much readier than I was!
On Sunday night I told him. "I loved you so much when you were a baby and I will love you just as much when you are big". He said he loved me too and put his pajama's on. I can remember very clearly when Michael and Andrew were tiny boys...they grow up so quickly.
At school the next morning he seemed so happy. We were allowed to walk him to class every day and he didn't look nervous. He was named table captain on day two and was very proud and told us all about it. He bought his lunch on Friday and told Stephania what he ate when she picked him up. They were released at noon last week and he told us he wished he could stay all day.
Today I took him to school. We were rushing because I was running late. I forgot to tell him that from now on parents are not allowed into the cafeteria or to walk them to class.
At the door I said " Mommy has to stop here" He looked nervous. I bent down and kissed him.
He walked to his table and sat down. He looked out into the entry where I was still standing, I waved. When he stood up to walk to his room he looked again and I waved to him and managed a smile, he waved back. I was trying very hard not to burst into tears, though a couple slipped out.I waited until I walked in the door and saw his pj's on the floor to really cry:(

A boating we will go:)

It is a project boat and it is beautiful. 21' Pleasure craft. My husband has wanted one for years as he grew up deep sea fishing and this just was too good a deal to pass up. We are storing it at my Dad's as he has a huge horse barn and room for the "project".
We are excited about the time we will spend on our remodeling:) The boat is in great condition and just needs a little love and updating.

Update on James

Have I mentioned how well James is healing! His jawline is so defined now...I am continuelly amazed by this sweet little boy! There is no sign at all of the mass that stormed into my life at 28 weeks gestation.
We were in the car the other day and James was talking about going to Galveston with my soon the be nephew, Cade~:)~
James stopped and said: We had to go there because I had to have surgery.
Cade: You had surgery?
James: Yes
Cade: Why did you have to have surgery?
James: I had a Malformation.

Simple as that. "I had a Malformation."
Sweet boy...if only you knew how long a road this has been! You did so great! We are proud of all you went through and most of it was just second nature to you!

WE are so Thankful to have found Dr. Edmonds!

Addictions

James(and very recently Gavin) love to play computer games. James is really good at them and a single game can last way. too. long! If asked to remove himself from the game, crying and hysterics often insue.
I have discussed addiction with him. I have told him I am concerned that he has developed a computer game addiction and we may need to do an intervention(this is of course not serious~I know it's pretty normal child behavior).
I am very attached to my e-mail and to several boards on the computer. I check them frequently(okay...maybe he gets it from somewhere~hmmm...)
Yesterday I was on my e-mail.
James: How long are you going to be on your e-mail?
Mommy: A little bit longer
James: You know some people do have an addiction to e-mail. I think you might have an addiction.
Mommy: LMAO~James you are so funny!
James: It's true, Mommy. You are addicted to your e-mail.

Hmmm...I might need to try a different tactic:)

Remember When

Alan Jackson
 
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This song is making me cry lately. I keep thinking of it and I feel so sad. Michael, my first baby, is so big. He is an adult with a girlfriend. He works,he is a talented lyricist and for the most part is wholely self sufficient.
He will likely never live in my home again(I know I should be proud of this...and believe me I am proud of him for this), but it makes me cry...sometimes more than others.
Andrew is on his own this year. He is in some ways even more "on his own" than Michael. He has a girlfriend and a job as well and is such a stable, healthy young man.
James is starting kindergarten this year. Gavin starts next year. I think that really brought this on. I remember when Michael and Andrew were tiny. They grew up overnight once they started school. I think I will cry the whole year!
Off they go...

Bandaids

James scratched himself today. It was a small scratch but her really felt he needed a bandaid and since we have them right now(they are hard to come by in my home:(), he was adamant.
Often bandaids are used up within days of the box arriving so I am hesitant to start the bandaid brigade until there is a lot of blood. There wasn't, but I gave in.
James found them and opened one all by himself. He proudly announced "look, Mama. I put it on by myself."
Gavin: "I need a bandaid"
Mommy: "Gavin, we only use bandaids when we have an injury"
Gavin: "I do have an injury on my finger but you can't see it"
James: Gavin, you don't need a bandaid because that is not an injury!"
Gavin:"Yes, I do have an injury"
James : "No, Gavin"
Mommy: "James, just let him have one bandaid"
Gavin happily got the bandaid and had me hlep apply it.
James: "You only get one bandaid"
James is very focussed on rules, especially if they apply to Gavin.
About 2 minutes later, Gavin says: My finger doesn't feel hurted that much"
James: "It doesn't take that quick for the hurting to heal, Gavin!"


James neck looks great, btw! His swelling is completely gone. Just need to schedule the MRI to get the all clear{{fingers and toes are crossed}}

This Month

Wow. I am either really bad at blogging or really busy...maybe it's a combination.
June is incredibly busy for us. We headed to the beach at the end of May into June for James follow up appt.
Our Galveston mini beach trip was fun! WE started with a horrible case of misleading advertisement and subsequently dangerous and under construction condo followed by a safe but 1970 esque condo. WE sepnt most of the time at the beach and searching for sea creatures with the Broyles coustins(Madison, Austin, James and Gavin were so cute and had so much fun!). The water was amazingly clear and it was hot but very breazy~perfect weather.
We drove back to Houson on Monday for our appt w/ Dr. Edmonds. After the huge reaction James had to the procedure we wanted some good news and we got it. Dr. Edmonds felt that James was doing remarkably. The next procedure was scheduled for 6/23 at 7am. Nothing like Houston in the summer!
Gavin's birthday~my sweet little one~was 6/22. He is 4 now. Sweet Gavin. He was laying in bed with me on his birthday and he said: "I'm big now, I'm not a baby" No you probably aren't officially a baby, but you are my baby! His birthday party is Sunday 6/28. He was so tiny so little time ago!
We drove to Houston(again) at 3am on Tuesday mroning for our 7am visit to Texas Children's in Houston. There was just one tiny pocket left so rather than sedating James he had the option of having his neck numbed while the needle aspirated fluid from the pocket and then inject the OK-432. He was so sad that any needles were involved but chose to not have the IV. We couldn't be in the procedure room, but the nurse and child life specialist were very comforting and about 45 minutes later he was all done. He has had very minor swelling so far so we are hopeful that it was such a small pocket in the mass, that this will be an easier recovery. It was well over 100 on Tues in Hosuton so we decided not to try to do anything outside~James had hoped to go to the zoo.
Michael has a gig on 6/27. Funk Dirty is a band of really talented musicians. They play Jazz/ funk and Michael is the vocalist. Some of my family and my team from the store are coming to see him play. My Mom is coming up and will go with us to watch him as well. His birthday is 6/29...time just flies.
I'm so happy she is doing well enough to come "visit". She has chemo on Wed, but we'll have some time to do some fun things.