Today marks the last day the school year, the beginning of summer break. I loved this day growing up. I find I mark my years not on the January 1 point most everyone else uses, my years mirror the school year.
I sent my pretty, opinionated preteen to school this morning like it was any other day. It was last night that the reality of this day hit me. Almost halfway through 2013, I realized Gabbie is half way through her primary school career. Even more crazy, next fall when she is starting her junior high years and entering seventh grade, I will have an almost 4 year starting the slow transition into his first year in preschool in our local special ed program. Junior high and preschool, ha! And here I thought everything grade school thing I did with my daughter was the last time so I needed to absorb every second, which I am still glad I did. Little did I know, the universe had it in its plans to make sure I got to do it again! And all those accomplishments we parents so frequently take for granted (you know, developmental milestones like cooing and walking, singing nursery rhymes, taking walks, playing at the park)? They are truly so much sweeter this go round.
Today also marks the most recent rounds of annual/bi-annual updates with the many members of Will's medical team. Let's see, he has two physical therapists (1 school, 1 hospital based), two speech therapists (1 school, 1 hospital based), one occupational therapist, a general family doctor/pediatrician, two ENTs (different hospital systems, but one I prefer for surgeries. Yes, I know, I'm odd), one opthalmologist, one pediatric dentist, one physiatrist, two pulmonologists (1 heads his medical team but is based in an out of network hospital, the other is a peer of hers but at our in network hospital - they are the plug in of one hospital to the other), one gastroenterologist, one orthopedist, one neurologist, one geneticist. I think that is our current medical team. Today we do our follow up with gastro for his reflux (that I am fairly certain caused acid erosion of his cute little chiclet teeth as it went undiagnosed for two years and was really found very much by accident). I'm glad we are going as he is also running a low grade fever and having a hard time sleeping. He wakes up crying which, if you know our boy, is not like him at all. It almost feels strange seeing all these medical professionals so infrequently. There is a sense of comfort in knowing they are an email away but for a stretch there my whole life was hospitals, clinics, labs and appointments.
Prior to that we will do a lunch celebration and cleaning out of the locker at Gab's school. OK, it still stuns me she is going into SEVENTH GRADE. Good news is I got her half way there in one piece, pulling straight A's and I still have no idea where the straight A's came from :-)
In the back of my mind, as I contemplate all these great things happening, there is the inevitable dark spot in the back of my mind I am trying to ignore. The ugly custody battle with Will's dad. Still not at a point of agreement, I fear trial is imminent. I am much less nervous about facing the judge now then I was a year ago when his dad filed papers. But I can tell you the biggest waste of time, money, energy and biggest cause of anxiety and stress is a custody battle. If you can avoid, do it at all costs. This was not my idea nor did I think it a good idea back when it was smacked in my face I had no real say. Resolve outstanding issues outside the legal system, wherever possible, unless it is a dangerous situation and you absolutely can't. Else all you are doing is paying an attorney to continue meetings and bringing undue stress to everyone. Just my two cents. I don't want to go into too much detail on here of an active lawsuit, but any amount of prayers and positive thoughts you guys can muster would be greatly appreciated. That things go the way they should, the way that is most beneficial to my beautiful boy. I will share all the gory details after a judgment is delivered!
I am attaching some photos a friend took of the kids and I this past Sunday. I got to go play with my kids for two hours while she snapped some amazing pictures. I have about a half dozen previews, she is still editing the 300 and some shots she took - the previews are amazing and I can't WAIT to see the whole slew of them. What do you think of my tough guy's faux hawk?!?! Thanks to his titi for the cut!
Oh and THE POOL IS OPEN!!!! I keep getting notifications of my readership so, if you are out there, I thank you for "listening". If you don't want to comment, that is fine. If you see me and Will out and about, by all means, say hello!