Christopher was born at 11:12 am on Wednesday, December 21, 2005
at Hendricks County Regional Hospital in Danville, Indiana;
weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces; and measuring 19 inches.
Check out the newest pictures read the latest articles about detailing what we've been up to, besides as always, getting sucked into the "Black Hole of Cuteness!"
Christopher had an assignment for today. It was to create a shirt and cover it with 100 things for their 100th Day of school. Who knew this was a thing we celebrated? I had no idea. Then again, I went to kindergarten in a day care center run by a hospital. I guess it's a big deal if you've recently discovered how to count to 100.
We procrastinated, and though I had an idea, we didn't get around to shopping for supplies until last night. And we let Chris lead.
I thought we'd get safety pins and pin 100 things to a size small yellow shirt, I had leftover from making Disney shirts. So Eric took him shopping last night (to Wal-mart, brave soul), and let Chris pick what he wanted to pin. He was led to ribbons, so he picked out a few colors of ribbons. We used gold, red, blue, purple and pink. But he also fell in love with some alphabet beads. Eric decided to do both.
So when they got home, roughly 8 o'clock, hello procrastinators anonymous, we put Chris to work Counting 100 beads.
Then he helped me cut 100 pieces of ribbon.
Daddy counted out 100 safety pins, and then came the "Fun" of having Chris write 1-100 on each ribbon. We probably didn't have to write the numbers on them, but we did it, because I thought he should be able to demonstrate his mad skillz with writing the numbers 1-100 as well as count. He did great!
He did wonderfully, but by the 80s he started getting punchy, understandable, it had been a long day. And he was getting tired. Us too.
But Chris Wouldn't go to bed until the homework was done. That's honorable, albeit a little crazy. So we worked together as a 'Team'. While Chris and I wrote out ribbons, Eric started putting the pins together. Then when Chris and I were done, I started putting the pins in the shirt. We didn't opt to let Chris deal with the safety pins directly, I thought that was just asking for trouble. We worked out ok.
But then he was so tired. And he Wouldn't go to bed. It was almost 10 by the time we finished. He was blithering, but he Wouldn't go to bed. Doesn't he look like a drunken sailor? But he Wouldn't go to bed.
This morning, he was so excited to wear his special shirt. He was thrilled. He told me, "My shirt is Made of Awesomeness!"
He may have been right. ;) However, Mommy and Daddy need to work on their Procrastinating. This will not do in a higher grade when the project takes more than 2 hours. But Chris loved his shirt, and came home with a reward of a 100 fruity o's for a snack today. He'd had to remove his shirt in the middle of the day, apparently 100 pieces of ribbon can only take the beatings of a kindergartner for so long. But he Loved it.
Just remind me folks, to shop more than a day in advance, even if I'm still sickly and not wanting to go shop. And to let Chris start it before 8 o'clock at night, the night before. Just because Mommy started her homework late, does not mean that's a trend I want to perpetuate in my son.
Last week we went to Riley for a couple appointments. First we headed to the Orthopaedist. It was the first ortho we'd seen in 3 years, as it turns out, I knew it had been a while, but not That long. Anyway, first they wanted an x-ray. At first, Chris was nervous, but he did great. And our new doctor took a look at him, said he's doing great, his scoliosis isn't showing any changes, in spite of the hemivertebrae. We just need to keep watching in case there is a change. So he'll see us in a year. I love that.
Then we went to Therapy with Mr. Doug. We were coming off our DisneyWorld high, and didn't really have much bad to say about anything. Chris says he doesn't like us complaining, luckily, there wasn't much to complain about. Chris has been doing well in school. Any meltdowns are usually resulting from exhaustion. And Chris is implementing his deep breathing exercises on his own. He's doing really great. Mr. Doug doesn't want to see him back until March! We're backing down on Therapy!
Woohoo!
Then yesterday, we had an appointment with Dr. M in Urology. We didn't chose the time, I had to pull Chris out of school at noon to get him there by 1. He was having a Urine Flow study. We had been slacking and not given him his Flomax in weeks. Then they did an ultrasound to see if he had enough pee. He didn't. And he was flipping out a little.
He had brought Duffy bear to school, and wanted to bring him to the procedure. It was actually pretty comforting to have Duffy, and the great nurse helping him out hous. Turns out the ultrasound goo makes him uncomfortable, but he did better if they put it on the wand first, instead of on his belly, I'll have to remember that trick. He didn't have enough liquid, so they gave us a cup of water, told us to drink and walk. We did. We walked over to McD's, where I got him a juice and had him drink that, by the time we got back, 1/2 hour later, he had to pee. Then he did the Test like a champ.
AND they liked what they saw. He had a little residual pee left behind, but nothing to worry about. Here's the Best PArt. First, we could officially discontinue the Flomax. Second, they don't want to see us back for 6 months!!!!
For Christmas, my sister and Mom bought Christopher a semesters worth of Dance class. It's a combo class of tap and ballet. Tonight was his first lesson. Initially he was worried he'd be the only boy in the class. He wasn't. Since I was sick, Eric took Chris, and made sure to get me plenty of pictures and video, so I thought I'd share them.
He's simply enchanting. I'm very impressed that he seems to have picked it up so quickly. It's really only his first dance lesson.
Then he got to switch to his Ballet shoes.
He's so precious. Reminds me of my old dance class days.
Eric said that he had to hide behind a window, so there was only minimal peeping allowed, and if you're wondering why the video sound is weird, it's because there's noise of other kids and parents. Apparently for this ballet video, they were dancing to YMCA, although I think Chris was more OI hula hula. I love it!
For his first night, I'm very impressed. And I don't think I'm entirely biased, I think he has Enthusiasm as well as natural gifts, which are both very important. He's Simply Fabulous.
I hate that I get the feeling something might not be quite right with my son. It's like I can see it, but now one else can. So a couple months back, I asked for a PT assessment from the school. I was able to get a doctor's note to order it. But initially the Therapist only observed it, she was disinclined to conduct the Assessment. This made me a bit angry. So I bawlked, and she did it. A month later, we got the results. On and on she went in her email about how Christopher was able to keep up with the kids. She even went so far to say that he lagged behind in lines because he wanted to, not because he couldn't keep up. In October we took a couple field trips. First we walked to the Fire Station, and Chris was crying by the time we got home because he wanted me to carry him, and I can't. He wanted to stop and rest, and we couldn't. That's not him, he's not whiney, particularly in front of his friends. His teacher suggested putting him in a wagon for the trip to the library, but when it came time, there was no wagon. He did fine again, until we were halfway back to the school. One of his little friends stopped to give him a hug. He really has enchanted those girls. Anyway, the therapist, didn't think he qualified. But she made a typo on her sheet, saying he did. I went into the meeting thinking (well hoping) she'd seen reason. Nope. They said that his delays are minor enough that they don't interfere with his schooling. I said, you watch, right now it's minor, but leave it neglected and we'll end up here again next year. Just like when they graduated him from developmental preschool too early. But they don't listen to me. I was mad, sad, etc.
We had Chris in gymnastics class last year, and it did wonders for him, so we discussed at great length doing something like that similar for this coming semester, but our finances are settling down somewhat, still uncertain, and it is so expensive. And we hadn't been able to do anything. Well, my sister came through. She had a great idea. For Christmas she is giving Christopher a Dance Class. She and my Mom bought Chris his shoes for his ballet/tap class. I'm so excited, I used to do ballet, and it's quite obvious from anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes with Chris, he's got feet for dancing, he can't stay still.
So when he opened these shoes for Christmas, classy black ballet slippers and tap shoes, I was so excited.
I can't believe my little boy has become So Big! He's 6 now. Still can't believe it.
The birthday pig brought Christopher a video game: Lego Batman. Chris was thrilled, he played it right away, though it seems it will take a lot of practice for the dexterity to kick in.
This is the first year that Sam has been remotely interested in the presents that his big brother has received. I think Chris got a little bit more joy out of being able to share joy with his brother. Chris is a great brother, they even played sweetly together....for a bit.
Christopher was quite thrilled that Sam gave him a Perry shirt. Just like his. Though he doesn't realize "Sam" got us some too, so we can wear them in Disney World.
Chris sure knows how to relax. For his birthday he wanted to just chill out, watch tv all morning, play video games. Then we went for lunch to his favorite place: Chick Fil-A.
The boys had a great time going to Chick Fil-A. And before.
Now this child may actually be my child. When we were talking about what to do for a cake, he told me he wanted Cupcakes. He and I had gone on a mission for cupcakes earlier in the month when we made his teacher and Daddy their Christmas presents. So I mentioned we might try to find some after lunch. We went to the Vanilla Bean Bakery up by the Chick Fil-A in Indy.
Oh the Wickedness! Sam picked a little chocolate truffle. But Chris just wanted a boatload of icing. He might be ours. ;)
After we came home and Sam napped, we went to Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday party. All Chris asked for his birthday was a "Really Big Chuck E. Cheese Party". So we used a gift fund, scholarship check that had been given to him to invite our friends and family to come out to Chuck E. Cheese. He wanted his whole kindergarten class, but that was too hard to get. I invited 8 of them, only one showed. But it didn't matter much because Christopher was having such a great time with his friends and family member that did show.
Chris and his friend Zachary played all kinds of games.
He got to play with his cousins, until everyone was extremely exhausted.
Then Chuck E. Cheese came out. There was a dance party, then pizza eating.
And it was time for cake.
Chuck E. Cheese now offers something called the Ticket Blaster, where they put the birthday boy (or girl) into a capsule and airblast tickets at him. Chris loved it.
It was his favorite part of the party.
Although he did get pretty spoiled with presents from his loved ones. I guess that's a good thing. He's a very hard kid not to spoil. He's so good natured, he doesn't ask for things he really doesn't want. And he's had such a rough go of it, I have the darndest time not getting him most everything he asks for, if he has the wherewithall to ask nicely for it. It seems his other loved ones feel the same way.
And it's nearly Christmas, which makes it even harder to refrain from attempting to spoil him.
This was the last thing he was doing, starring in his own video when I started to cash out his tickets. He's such a Rock Star!
However, at the ticket counter, he started to complain his tummy hurt, he was crying and whining. I thought maybe he had not eaten enough dinner, just a bit of pizza and a pizza of cake. But he started to get really emphatic about the pain. So I turned ot Eric, who was playing with Sam, and said, It's time to go NOW. Eric came over, and I said, he's either eaten something bad, or he's going to puke. At the word Puke, Chris let loose. Luckily the last of our guests had just left.
Yes, No, it's the stomach flu. He puked a trail at Chuck E. Cheese. (God Bless those employees who had to clean up after our 'party'.) And then we had to pull over on the way home so he could yak a couple rounds. I don't think it was bad pizza and cake. Sam had it last weekend, so I'm not surprised, then Eric got it just now too. Good times.
Chris was most upset because he puked at Chuck E. Cheese on his Birthday. I'm not sure if it's going to scar him for life, but it was certainly an evening to remember.
Friday was a great day for Christopher. It was his last day before Christmas break. And I got to be the room parent, sponser and planner for the Winter Party. (It's not a Christmas party.)
We had three stations: a craft, making a snowman ornament using pictures of the kids.
We had a snack station of milk and cookies. Yum!
It was quite a lot of fun to see the kids enjoy their foamy stickers. And I love how kind his school friends are, they are so excited to play with Christopher, and they love it when I visit too. Christopher has a good few of the girls wrapped around his finger. He has that gift of having such a caring heart, that one hug will enchant any girl. I speak from experience, because his magical hugs get me every time.
And we had a game station, where the kids played snowman musical chairs. The music was holiday songs. Super cute.
Christopher didn't win, but he certainly was an enthusiastic player.
At the end of the day, Christopher got to wear a crown, because his birthday happens while school is out. They sang a special song to him, and it was so precious, Chris and a couple of his girlfriends were dancing, just before the bell rang for the end of school.
Did I mention he's a little excited about his imminent 6th Birthday?
Christopher likes to know what he will be doing the next day. It's part of our routine, discussing what we'll do tomorrow. Last week, we had Therapy with Mr. Doug. Christopher was at first very excited to go tell him about the fire drills. Daddy had been cooking and set offf the fire alarm at 7 in the morning on a snowy day. Chris came tearing down the stairs in his jammies, yelling EVERYONE GET UP! FIRE DRILL! Well, never mind we were already up. But we were so impressed with his enthusiasm and didn't want to shoot him down just because Daddy tried to burn the house down, we all ran outside. Even Fina. Frankly we were Proud of Christopher for learning what to do during a fire drill and applying to our home. It gave us a great platform to teach the boys what to do, where to meet on the sidewalk and all that. We were very impressed, and we told him so. I suppose that was why it was the first thing to pop into his mind when he was to go see Mr. Doug. But as he was telling me before his appointment about how he wanted to tell Doug about fire drills, he asked me to not tell him any bad stories about him (him being Christopher). It made me feel bad, like I tell tales, negative ones. I told Chris, as it just so happened, I couldn't think of anything that Chris had done that was bad. Could he? No. Well, then, nothing bad to report. Actually, Christopher has really been maturing lately. We don't fight as much, he's responding well to TimeOuts. When he can listen, before he loses it in tantrums, he can be reasonable. Maybe it's that he's approaching 6. He's very excited about his birthday. But he's also becoming quite a wonderful boy, he's my cuddle bug with the biggest heart. This weekend, Sam got a bad case of the pukies, in the car. And when he'd puked all into his carseat and over his clothes for the second time, we decided it was best to just continue on. Sam didn't feel well, and Chris told us, "Mommy, I need to talk to Jesus." Like Pray? "Yes, I need to pray that Jesus will make my brother feel better." And so we did. And when Chris was done leading the prayer, he asked Sam if he felt better, and Sam piped up, a teeny tiny yes. It brought tears to my eyes. But it illustrates how wonderful a big brother Christopher is becoming. Sam wants to be just like him. The only flaw I've seen, is that on occasion Christopher will flop down in tantrum or harrumph back just like Sam does. But all we have to do is ask him, Are you 2? And he stops. Usually. We talked about how Christopher has been helping Sam get dressed, and helping Sam get ready to go in the mornings, even trying to get his shoes on. We'll have to watch for when Sam is ready to do it himself. But that is another day. For right now, I have a Sweetie sweetboy, who loves going to therapy, and listens on most occasions, at least this week. I am so Proud of him.
