It's Beckham, Baby!

I didn't really have the money to do it, but I did it anyway. My birthday is in about 3 weeks. My dad made me promise I would buy myself something completely impractical that I really really want for my birthday (he deducted a hefty amount from the big chunk of cash I owe him). Today, I was checking my e-mail and saw that the Houston Dynamo MLS (Major League Soccer) team has a home game on Oct. 18. That's the Saturday before my birthday. Then I noticed they're playing the L.A. Galaxy, the team that Mr. Hunky-and-Oh-So-Adorable-and-a-Really-Good-Soccer-Player-to-Boot David Beckham is on. So I decided my birthday present to myself is taking Jamie to see an MLS soccer game in a big huge stadium. Jamie has been bugging me to take him to see the Houston Dynamo ever since they played in an exhibition tournament here in San Antonio, and he managed to meet several of the players and get their autographs. Just about every week, he'd ask if we'd be able to drive to Houston for a game. I had to keep telling him no.

So today, when I picked him up from school, I casually mentioned that I had a secret.... and said nothing else. The. Whole. Way. Home. By this time, Jamie was squirming in his seat, just dying to know what I knew that he didn't know. Then I just casually mentioned he was taking me to see the Houston Dynamo for my birthday.... He whooped and jumped up and down. Then I mentioned who they were playing and who is on that team. The child SCREAMED like someone had just killed him.

I think Mommy earned some major cool points today. What do you think?

TOO FUNNY!!!!!!

Must see TV, indeed!

No, That Isn't a Cat Screeching, It's Jamie Practicing Violin

I was able to find a reputable music shop that rents violins (and 100% of the rental price goes towards the purchase of a violin), so on Friday, Jamie and I went down and got him a violin. Despite the fact that he has not had a single lesson, he insisted on trying it out. Now, I kept trying to tell him he needs to wait until he actually has some lessons before he starts playing because he doesn't want to develop any bad habits or accidentally damage the violin or bow.... to no avail. He's so excited about this that he insisted on digging out the DVD and CD that came with his lesson book and dove right in. The dog ran from the room and hid in his crate; the neighbor's cat that is always in our yard started yowling; and Jamie sawed away with a huge grin on his face. I finally convinced him to put it away, his first lesson was only a few days away, he could wait that long without dying, etc. etc. etc.

I now feel sympathy for what my mother went through when I first started learning the flute at my older sister's knee. Please, let us all pray he improves with practice! LOL

An Improvement (of Sorts)

I called the special education specialist at Jamie's school today. Now, Jamie does not fully qualify for special ed services, however there is some crossover with special ed on what Jamie needs to be academically successful (this is where the whole "fish tank" thing comes in). Anyway, Mrs. G. told me she had already conferenced with Jamie's teacher, who had sought her out because of my insistence that Jamie is supposed to be allowed to go to the fish tank, even though his teacher couldn't find it. Apparently, the school was a wee bit lax this year in putting out the lists of students who are allowed (i.e., required) to go to the fish tank for tests. The stipulation that Jamie is allowed to go to the fish tank is in teeny, tiny little letters on his IEP, in an apparently out-of-the-way place on the forms, buried down deep where his regular teacher never saw it. Since she couldn't find it in his IEP, and didn't see his name on a list of students allowed to go, she assumed he was not supposed to go. For that, I will forgive her (a little. Although, if I had a student who was a good kid, didn't cause trouble, and was obviously ADHD, and both he and his mother repeatedly insisted the kid was supposed to have been allowed to go, I think I would have investigated it before now instead of insisting over and over again that he wasn't. Then again, I'm not a teacher who has to deal with 21 rowdy 5th graders all day everyday, so maybe I wouldn't).

Anyhoo, it seems the fish tank battle is over... Now, let's see what we can do to get the nurse's office situation cleared up!

On an unrelated note, anyone know where I can get Jamie a 3/4 sized violin in good repair at a not hugely expensive price? Jamie wants to join the orchestra at his school, but I don't have the $$ available to buy him a new violin. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm Angry! (Warning: Rant Enclosed)

I am very angry at Jamie's new teacher. Even though it is documented in his school file that he gets migraines and has a note from his neurologist stating that Jamie must be allowed to go to the nurse at the first sign of a headache so he can take his medicine and wait in a quiet, dark place for it to take effect, she wouldn't let him go when he told her he had a headache. This has happened more than once, which then resulted in me having to go pick him up early because he wound up with migraines so bad he was crying. Then she had the gall to send a note home that she felt Jamie was missing too much classroom time by going to the nurse's office. I fired one back stating that - considering his asthma, G.I. problems, migraines and allergies - he'll probably be spending a lot of time there, just like in previous years, and so long as his grades weren't affected (which they aren't), I didn't feel it was a problem to let him do what the doctors have stated he needs to do. She didn't like my reply at all.

Not only that, but it is also documented in Jamie's file about his ADHD, and that he must be allowed to take tests in what they call "The Fish Tank". Basically, it's just a quiet room where there are no distractions. The class had to take a test one day when there was a substitute (which of course means the class was more rowdy than usual). So Jamie asked if he could go to the Fish Tank to take the test, and the sub showed Jamie a note his teacher had left stating Jamie was not to be allowed to go to the Fish Tank.

Furthermore, Jamie has reported to me that she is often very derisive towards and dismissive of him in class, especially when he asks a question about classwork, can't get one particular student in his class to leave him alone, or needs to go to the nurse. Jamie has never had a major problem with any of his teachers in the past. Sure, there was one who didn't seem to "get" Jamie at first back in third grade, but by this point in the school year they were good buddies.

I've sent notes to school explaining about his migraines, reminding her to look at his Educational Plan on file in his records about his ADHD, telling her to look in his file at his notes from the G.I. doctor, the neurologist, the psychiatrist, etc., and to please follow their instructions, to no avail. I'm supposed to have a conference with her sometime soon, and I will definitely address these issues. If that doesn't help, my next step is to go to the principal. If need be, I'll demand that he switch classrooms. But, geez, Louise, this woman is pissing me off!

I LOVE IT!

see more famous faces look-a-likes



“ Palin scares the crap out of me because her platform requires no real thinking either, and plenty of blind obedience. Gays are deviant. Books are dangerous. Abortion is murder. Evolution is wrong. War is right. And all it takes to win with a platform like that is charisma." debauchette qtd. on Electronic Pastures

I also found this little gem there. Lurve it!

Hectic Day, Hectic Weekend

Today after work, I get to pick up Jamie, rush to Wal-Mart to pick up the itty bitty tubes of toothpaste and toiletries we have to take with us on the plane, then be home by 6 p.m. for FedEx to deliver Jamie's new bed, which will lie in its boxes (all five of them!) in the garage until such time when I am able to drag it into the house, put the damn thing together and stain it. Luckily, we have a large second living room that is all but empty now which will act as workshop and staining center. Also luckily, Jamie's room has a set of double doors on one side we can use to move the bed in in one piece.

But I digress. I also have to do a quick load of laundry, pack our bags, gather up all 500 (it seems) prescription medicines Jamie takes on a daily basis, give the dog a bath (so he doesn't stink Rachel out of the house while we're gone), fix dinner (it may just have to be pizza night!), put Jamie to bed really really early, do homework, then crash for a couple of hours until I have to get up at 2 a.m. to get ready for the taxi to come at 3:30 to take us to the airport by 4 a.m., the dictated 2 hours prior to our 6 a.m. flight to Chicago, where we get to wait for three hours until catching our connecting flight to Cincinnati. Whew! Did you like that run-0n sentence? I'm thinking it may be easier for me to do what I did before the New York/Kentucky Thanksgiving trip - just not go to sleep that night while I get everything else done, then sleep on the planes.

Anyway, I hope you all have a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend!

It's Been Too Long

Dearest Readers:

I apologize greatly for my absence from the blog. I’ve been “trolling the blog roll” every day to catch up on what everyone else is doing (beautiful boy, Lydia and Geron!), but I haven’t really felt compelled to write anything. I’m afraid I’m suffering from a severe case of pre-semester start-up laziness. Because I increased my school load back to full time hours and Jamie has moved into a higher level of competition in soccer (ergo, requiring more of a time commitment each week as opposed to last year – 1 ½ hr. practices 3x a week and games on Saturdays and Sundays this year, instead of 1 hr. practices 3x a week and a game only on Saturday or Sunday, not both, like last year), I have been reveling in my freedom and have spent my free time out and about with my boy rather than sitting in front of the computer to blog.

We do have some news for you, though. This weekend (Labor Day weekend, to be exact), Jamie and I are flying to Cincinnati, OH, for the (insert my last name here) Family Reunion. Jamie is quite excited as many of these people he has never met – well, at least not to his recollection. The last time I attended this particular family branch reunion, hewas still in diapers and barely able to walk around by holding on to the picnic tables and chairs! We’re flying out at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, and not getting back home until after 11 p.m. Monday night. I’m going to make Jamie sleep on the plane to catch some of the zzzz’s he’ll miss by us getting home so late. I would have booked an earlier flight, but I saved more than $200 by doing it this way. I figure one time getting to bed late won’t hurt him too much.

Nothing too exciting to report, other than the fact that Jamie is now wearing shoes that are only about 1 size smaller than mine. Seriously! I now steal his socks all the time because I like his better than mine. Maybe I’ll just start buying my socks in the boys’ department, too.

Love, hugs and safe travel this upcoming holiday to you all!

I Knew I Loved LOLcats for a reason!

Gotta love www.icanhascheezburger.com!

 

Another Layout and 300th Post

This is another layout I found that I like very much. In fact, the more I look at it, the more I like it. However, I'm continuing with my layout tweaking project and ultimate poll where you, dear readers, get to help me finally decide which layout to use.

In the midst of everything, I didn't realize that my last post (that update on Jamie) was my 300th post here on my blog. I cannot believe I've already reached 300. Geez, I talk waaaay too much! LOL

Things here continue much as usual. Jamie has soccer "boot camp" all this week. He'll have soccer practice each night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this week, regardless of 100+ degree temperatures and/or rain. The only thing that will cancel practice at this point is lightning. Looks like momma will have to be sure to bring the sunblock, LOTS of water, and the rescue inhaler!

I'm inhaling as many books as I can before my new semester starts August 25. I didn't get to read much during summer session, and I know I'll be super busy this fall. I just started reading David Eddings. I finished all of the Belgariad, and I've now started the Mallorean (sp?). I really really REALLY want to get my hands on the new Stephenie Meyer book "Breaking Dawn," but cash is in short supply. I'm ordering a copy the second I can afford to splurge on a new book, though. I'm dying to know what happens!

About a Boy

 

Got a call yesterday from the allergy/asthma doctor.  She had good news and bad news.  The good news was, Jamie has not developed any new food allergies.  But this good news also further perplexes me, as this means I now get to move on to the neurologist to see if his migraines have a connection to his stomach pains (which continue, unabated).  Joel’s girlfriend Leah had a suggestion that I might want to have him tested for an allergy to a substance found in wheat gluten; only problem is, I don’t remember the name of the substance (it starts with an “s”).  I’m sure it will come to me, and I can take him back to the allergist to have him tested for that one particular enzyme.  Now to the bad news – Jamie is even more fatally allergic to peanuts now than he was before.  True, it’s always been a fatal allergy, only now, it will apparently kill him even FASTER than ingesting peanuts or tree nuts would have before.  I guess it’s time to increase my diligence, as I’ll now have even less time to recognize any warning signs (if there are any) that he’s going into anaphylactic shock and administer his Epi-Pen.  So that’s the update on Jamie’s health.  I’ll post more when I know more.

Tweaked Again

What do you think of the further tweaks?

Tweaking

So I tweaked the font and link colors a bit, as well as made the text areas a little more opaque. Did this help the readability issues any, or do I need to do more work?

I figure I'll put up a new template once a week; I'm thinking a week is enough time for my "regulars" to peruse the new template. Then, after I've exhausted my supply of templates I like, I'll use the handy new "poll" feature here on blogger to get everyone's input on which background they liked best. Now, if you guys choose one I decide I don't like after all, I probably won't use it. But, hey, I still want to have an excuse to try out the poll feature, so please vote anyway!

Changing Things Up

Those of you whom have read my blog from the beginning have probably noticed my blog looked exactly the same as it had when I first set it up.  I was really getting tired of looking at polka-dots, so I decided to change things up a bit.  Jamie and I both love to look at the stars and are both fascinated with all things outer space, so I decided to change to a space theme.  I didn’t like the stark melancholy found in the moonscape blog layouts I found, but I did love the colors and image of this wormhole.  I’m not sure how many times I’ll change my layout over the next few weeks; I’m experimenting right now.  I also am playing with waterfalls, nature scenes and travelscapes.  Your input and opinions on the various layouts are welcome.  Once I pick a layout and stick with it, then I’ll put all my links and stuff back on the blog.  It’s just too much of a pain in the arse to try to keep re-adding the links, only to change the template again and to add them back on again.

 

Maybe my desire to change things on my blog has to do with the fact that things are so humdrum and normal back here in the real world.  I’m working the same job that I’ve worked for going on three years.  This is a record for me, let me tell you!  Normally, I get bored with a job before now.  My longest running job before this was when I worked for the newspaper back in _____town.  I don’t know if my being in my current position for so long has to do with the great people I work with (now), the crappy job market, more maturity on my part, a realization that I do NOT want to be jobless and back on government assistance, or a combination of all of that.  For whatever reason(s), I will have been in my current position for three years come October 3.  I expect to be here for at least a couple more years while I wrap up my undergrad degree and weigh job prospects in towns where colleges and universities offering an MA in Sociology, then apply to programs, etc. etc.  So it looks like Jamie may just get to go to middle school in Texas for a while, too.  I tell you what, though; I’m so tired of the heat down here, I’m even considering programs in Alaska just to get me back to cold and snow!

I didn't know Garfield was modeled after me!

 

More News

Even though I haven’t posted very recently, I’ve been keeping up with the comments on here.  Joel’s observation about bullies is one I had thought of, but have ruled out.  Quite a few months ago, the main ringleader at Jamie’s school transferred; there also were some rearrangements among the “power clique” at Jamie’s school.  This happened at about the same time Jamie wised up about showing his emotions too openly at school (i.e., giving the little snot noses in the school what they want – a reaction).  These events all combined with the result that Jamie is now popular.  Yep, and not only is he popular, but he now hangs with kids who back him up and treat any bullying offenders to withering looks and an instant decline in social status.  How on earth I have a kid who is popular I’ll never know – maybe it’s the jock thing.  At the end of the school year he was teaching several kids how to play keeper and striker at recess; maybe his “mad soccer skillz” stirred up respect and admiration.  Maybe the fact that he’s 10 years old and so fit he already has a “six pack” had something to do with it.  For whatever reason, my child is now well-liked and unbullied (thank you, Jesus!).  So I ruled that out as the cause of the migraines and the stomach pains.

 

Anyway, we went to see the Allergy/Asthma doc on Monday.  She confirmed he does have a coughing-variant, activity/athletically induced type of asthma.  He now takes Advair twice a day and uses his rescue inhaler 20 minutes before sports, recess or especially strenuous activities.  It seems to be helping.  Soccer practices start next week, so we’ll see how he does then.  If he starts having episodes during practices, I’m to take him back to the doc for a reevaluation and see if he needs a different type of rescue inhaler or an increase in dosage.

 

Jamie goes on Friday to get his blood work done to see if he’s developed any new food allergies.  I’m hoping something simple like that will explain the stomach pain and vomiting.  If not, then it’s back to the neurologist to see if he has developed what’s called a “stomach migraine.”

 

Love you all, and I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers!

Update

Got a call from the Gastroenterologist.  All tests came back normal.  While I am thankful that there is nothing drastic going on, I’m still frustrated and frazzled because I don’t know WHY Jamie is having stomach pain.  The next step is to take Jamie back to his allergy doctor (who is also an asthma doctor, so we can figure out how to control his newly-discovered asthma issues) for a complete work-up and testing over all foods and all other allergens to see if this is causing his stomach pain.  If that doesn’t shed any light on anything, it’s back to the neurologist to see if Jamie is experiencing some sort of “stomach migraine” (yes, they are real, just rare) in addition to his other migraine.  They are caused by the same triggers in the brain, but no real clue as to why.  As always, I’ll keep you informed.

Grrrrrrr!

Still no news. I was supposed to receive a call on Friday regarding Jamie's tests, but since everything was closed up for the holiday, no one called. I finally got impatient and called the doctor's office today, only to be transferred about 20 times until I landed in the nurse's voice mail, where the outgoing message sweetly informed me to "leave a message and I will get back to you within 24-48 hours." Grrrrr! As soon as I know something, you'll know something.

On another note, it finally rained here today! San Antonio is about 13" BELOW average for the year, so the rain was very welcome and appreciated!

No Answers Yet

Well, we went to Corpus Christi yesterday for Jamie's endoscopy and biopsy. The doctor said he saw nothing that immediately jumped out at him as explanation for Jamie's pain. He saw some irritation, some redness and swelling in the stomach, and what looked like "long scratches" up and down Jamie's esophagus, but nothing that would conclusively point to a cause. So, the doctor took three biopsies and two cultures for bacteria and hopefully they'll call me Friday or Monday with some results. If not, I'll press for more tests concentrating on the lower part of Jamie's intestinal tract, as his pain is lower than the stomach (in the belly-button area), as well as take him back to his allergist for testing to see if he's developed any new food allergies. There's also a possibility this could be related to the migraines he's been getting, so a trip back to the neurologist may be in order. I'll post more when I know more. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts as we try to determine just what's going on. Love, hugs and kisses.

One funny thing yesterday was getting to see my kid stoned off his gourd on valium before the procedure. They gave him some liquid valium to calm him before they administered the anesthesia, and it was quite funny to see him staring off into space, pointing at things that weren't there, and mumbling to himself about stuff nobody could understand. The triage area for surgery had individual TVs the children could watch while they waited their turn. Apparently, Scooby-Doo is even more hilarious when you're stoned off your rocker!

Breathing Room

I took Jamie to the doctor (again) on Saturday for a cough he's had for more than six weeks. He'll start coughing so hard he can't breathe. Diagnosis? On top of everything else, Jamie has now developed asthma. [sigh]