Family pictures

This morning we had family pictures scheduled.  As I mentioned before by some miracle we all had outfits picked out that I was pretty pleased with.  I was actually looking forward to this morning's session.  We met our fantastic photographer in approximately 100% humidity.  Seriously.  It was supposed to rain today and the air was sticky, thick and gross.  Despite sweating our asses off I think we got some good shots.  I think the best picture came at the very end.  We worked so so SO hard to get Logan to smile.  In the very last shot we finally got him to smile and we all collapsed.  We were literally jumping through hoops!  Isabel was her usual model self.  Girl cracks me up.  Brian and I had sweat pouring off of us, so hopefully our pitted out clothes and sweaty faces can be somehow photoshopped out!

After the photo session we came back home and did nothing.  We got rid of DirecTV and our new uVerse service hasn't been installed yet, so we are without TV.  Big mistake during football season!

It finally decoded to start raining a little while ago.  Logan and I sat outside listening to the thunder for a while.

Hopefully we can listen to the Aggie game in a little bit.  Wish we could watch!  It's breakfast for dinner, so need to start the pancakes, eggs and bacon!

9 year old and a tough lesson in tights

Isabel saw the pediatric cardiologist today.  Dr. Finnegan did another ECHO and EKG and cleared her.  He said she should come back in 5 YEARS!  That's when she'll be NINE!  Crazy.  Dr. Finnegan said we won't be seeing him.  Boo.  I guess he plans to be long retired by then.

It's too bad because he's amazing. I know I've said it before, but he's the best medical professional I've ever come into contact with.  He has a photographic memory, doesn't take any bullshit, has a great bedside manner and expects greatness from everyone who works with him.  This extends to the front desk.  While we were there in the waiting room he popped in to see what he could do to expedite patients getting in the exam rooms.  I guess they were down a nurse and he was taking patients back himself.  I know he can be tough for the nurses to work with because he will call your ass out in a second (as I overheard in the PICU while we were there), but for patients, he is seriously the best.  I really wanted to put this on the blog because too often I can complain and whine, but I really want to recognize this great doctor.  I need to write him a letter before he retires.

Back to the exam.  So the doctor said if Izzy faints again and recovers quickly (as she did before) that we do t need to head to the ER.  He said to call the office and he will refer us to a cardiac rhythm doctor  to get to the bottom of it.  It can be totally harmless, but with our family history we need to make sure.  He said it was likely due to her being in one position (a canoe) and then moving around before her body had time to catch up.

We went to the mall after the long appointment.  Why?  Why do I do this to myself?  It's really not worth the free underwear coupon I was going to redeem.

Izzy had dance class today.  I took her and her friend (who was over this afternoon to play) to class.  Her friend had a little hole in her tights. After class the hole was pretty big.  Isabel was wearing a brand new pair of tights.  Somehow between picking her up from class and getting home she had a huge hole in them.  I knew she purposely either made the hole or ripped it so that it became bigger.   Soooooo I told her that she would have to buy new tights with her own saved money.  She cried and ran up to her room.  I heard a loud noise and went upstairs to investigate.  This is what I saw:

And she begged me not to take all of her money.  I told her that I would take however much we needed to buy the tights and that she could still keep the rest.  She asked how much tights cost.  I told her $4 so we counted out $4 in coins and with dollar bills.  I asked her how we should pay and this is what she came up with:

$3 in bills and $1 in quarters.

I have a feeling she won't rip a hole in her tights again.

Room Parent....M&Ms

We're in the 2nd week of school (for us).  Isabel continues to do really well.  She's making new friends and is slowly asking about her BFF from last year less and less.  Today when I dropped her off out of the blue she yells across the room 'MOMMY!' (at this point my 'INSIDE VOICE' yell is about to happen) YOU LOOK REALLY BEAUTIFUL TODAY!!!'  Oh my heart.  She must have known that I'm sick, feel like shit, have been eating like shit, haven't worked out, etc, etc.  What a way to make Mom feel good, right?!  Especially in my shorts with two tiny holes in the back pockets (I forgot and wore a thong for the first time in, oh, 5 years, today...hello butt cheeks) and pitted out shirt.  High five little miss!

I'm somehow room parent, but that's ok with me.  If we hadn't been gone the first couple of week of classes I would have volunteered anyway.  It's just so much easier with Izzy's allergies.  It seems like it should be a pretty easy job this year.  The teacher is amazing and said she prefers to plan most of the parties herself.  Score!  I think I'll just be in charge of teacher bdays and appreciation gifts.  We will go see the cardiologist tomorrow for her exam post-fainting spell.  Her regular pediatrician wanted her to see the cardiologist to be cautious.

Logan is still adjusting to his new class.  Actually, I think his teacher is adjusting to him.  She seems geniunly surprised by him.  This is the same lady who taught Isabel all last year.  She saw Logan all the time.  I'm not sure what she expected.  She has made a couple of concerning comments that lead me to believe that maybe he is not in the right environment.  I gave her Logan's OT's phone number today and I hope she calls her.  I told his OT what his teacher said about him and she was really surprised.  She told me that if I hear anything like that again to have her call.  So that's exactly what I did today.  Logan's evaluation with the school district is on Thursday.  I am really hoping that he gets into the program.  I would be very surprised and upset if he didn't.

Logan has been doing well.  He still is pretty rigid and tantrums frequently, but full meltdowns are becoming fewer and fewer.  His repeating has gotten SO much better, except with books, and where he holds consonants for a long time (can't remember what the clinical term is) has gotten much much better.

We have had a lot of stressors in the household recently and I remembered that we have tons of M&M bags leftover from the flights.  Bad bad thing to have in the house.  Sure, I could save them and give them away with Halloween candy (Isabel can't eat them because they are a 'may contain' food), but no, we just eat them.  So good.

We have family pictures this Saturday.  I bought a voucher last Christmas when my favorite photographer was having a promotion for a mini session that donated half of the amount to charity.  A cheap session and a charity donation?  Yes please!  I have the perfect outfits for everyone.  That never happens.  Usually I'm running around trying to find things that semi don't clash and I forget about myself and then end up wearing a black shirt.  Not this year!  I am ready.  I just had to get a tiny bit of pink nail polish out of the dress that a certain little princess will be wearing.

I think Brian and I both would kill for a date night.  It's been a really really really long time since we've gone out just the two of us.  I actually can't remember when it was.  My goal is for this to happen in the next 4 months.  It probably won't, but I can wish.

And I'm now very excited that New Girl is new tonight.

First Day of School

Today we had our first day of Pre K for Isabel and first day of preschool in the 3s class for Logan.  Drop off went better than expected.  Isabel did great.  Logan was a little confused and wanted to go back to his old room.  Since we missed almost 3 weeks of school I was a little worried about how they would fit in with new friends, etc.  Isabel's BFF isn't in her class, but I think she is already finding new friends and catching up with the other ones from her old class. 

Isabel wants to be 'a princess (Cinderella)' when she grows up.

Logan wants to 'play. Buzz lightyear' when he grows up.  Last year Logan wanted to be a dinosaur and I'll have to check to see what Izzy said. 

Logan's teacher made an odd comment.  She said his day was 'interesting' and then said something about the way he plays with toys or something.  She looks like she was about to pass out/cry/take a nap, so I didn't ask her what she meant.  His teacher is Izzy's old teacher so I know her.  I was a little confused about what she said.  At the end of our conversation she said 'overall I think it was a great first day.'  So strange.

I took Isabel in for a follow up after our ER stint after her fainting spell while on vacation.  The doctor wants us to see the cardiologist just to make sure everything is ok.  So we have that appointment next week.  We also have Logan's school evaluation for the PPCD program next week too.

I'm hoping to blog about our vacation at some point, but it might not happen.  Right now I'm tired.