Seney!!!

We didn't make it up north to the "Shack" last year but we did this year over the July 4th weekend.  We took my parents with us.  We left Wednesday night late... made it to the Shack at about 1:30am.  We made good time.  Saw a what we think was a Coyote, it was small and looked like a dog.  Didn't get back on any two tracks like I like doing because in order for all six of us to ride together we had to be in my parents van and it wouldn't make it.

The 4th we did some scenic traveling.  Nothing fancy.  Watched fireworks at Grand Marias.  My camera does not take good firework pictures.

We went to Sault St. Marie on the 5th.  Saw a couple HUGE ships and a few small ones go through the locks.  My Dad always enjoys the boats but after one or two they get boring.

We  had to stop and do some rock throwing.  The boys could stand on the Lk. Superior lake shore for HOURS throwing rocks into the water. I mean HOURS, and never get bored.

On the 6th we somewhat did what I call the Lake Superior tour.  We stopped at the Log slide.  One of my favorite stops.  Isn't it beautiful?!

Lighthouse to the left.

And to the right... I 'Think' it's 12mile beach.

We went to Christmas MI and stopped at Bay Furnace.  Got my Dad to take his shoes off and get his feet wet.  The water here was cold but it was hot in the sun so it was refreshing.

Goofy #1 David on the left, Goofy #2 Matthew on the right.

Then over to Miners Castle after that.

My Mommy and Daddy <3 br="">

Then you always take a picture on the porch before you leave.  Paul and I sat out this one and just took one of my parents and the boys this year.

This is what the Bride looked like from the St. Ignace side.  Quite foggy but still beautiful.

Being up there is so relaxing.  The shack has electricity and enough room to sleep 8 comfortably.  There is no running water so you have to make do with pouring warm water over you to shower.  After three nights there you are ready to come home and take a hot shower.  If I could get a regular hot shower I would be able to stay there much longer.

David's Echo

David had his routine echo today.  It remains unchanged from the one six months ago.  This is good news.  The 1mm leak is still there and there is still and issue with his mitral valve but it hasn't changed from the last echo.  He wanted me to take a picture of him today when he was getting his EKG.  His least favorite part... because of the stickies on him.  David weighted in at 41lbs and is 3ft 11 1/2 inches tall.  That makes him one ruler length shorter then his Grandma Anne.

We had a little camping trip two weekends ago.  It was cold so it wasn't much fun.  The first weekend in June is to early to tent camp so we rented a cabin.  It was nice.

This last weekend my niece Paige had her dance recital.  She was the best in her class and the only one I thought knew the moves.

The season has warmed up and we have been to the ball park.  The boys love the Lansing Lugnuts and as you can see were happy to be here.  This is my new favorite pic of them.

Here are a couple sleeping pictures.  A few weeks ago I went to check on the boys and this is how I found them... Awwwww

And then my fur baby... He is passed out.

The only other news I have is though the boys have three more weeks of school left we do know that both boys will be going to 2nd grade.  There was some doubt as to weather David would make it or now.  We had planned on holding him back but when they did the testing a few weeks ago he tested at a low 2nd grade level.  This means he is learning and retaining what is being taught to him but his ADD is not letting him focus in class to do the work.  David sure is one difficult child.  They had a meeting at the school last Friday, the asst principal that oversees K-2nd grade, the special ed coordinator, his teacher and a 2nd grade teacher.  They discussed David in depth to make a decision on weather to hold him back or not.  We let them make the call since we were completely on the fence about it.  They decided to promote him to 2nd next year and add some stuff to his IEP to help with his attention disorder in hopes of finding the trick to spark his attention.  So here is to hoping it is the right decision.

Difficult

You think parenting is hard… try raising twin boys.

You think parenting is hard… try raising a boy with a CHD who has had FOUR open heart surgeries.

You think parenting is hard… try raising this same child with developmental delays.

You think parenting is hard… try telling this same child he has to repeat 1st grade while his twin get’s to go onto 2nd.

You think parenting is hard… try raising this same child with ADD. You don’t like medicating him because he FIGHTS TOOTH AND NAIL to NOT take it, because it’s not good for his heart and because it takes away his appetite, he’s small and skinny as it is and needs to add fat to his body. NOT eating isn’t a good option. But you HAVE to medicate him or he can’t pay attention in school and learn. So you don’t give this child his ‘listening meds’ on the weekend because it’s not worth the fight and you want him to eat. But then he’s so out of control, can’t focus, can’t listen that you can’t stand being around him most of the day.

It’s not his fault, he cannot help it. He has no control over it. It’s so frustrating!

How do we handle David? It sure the hell isn’t easy. We have to tell David to do something five or six times to do something, then maybe he’ll do it. He’s usually willing to do it, willing to help, likes to help out but getting his attention to do it, and keeping his attention while he’s doing it is a huge struggle. I HATE being mad at him. I HATE Paul being mad at him. I have way more patience then Paul does. He gets mad at him way faster than I do but when I’ve lost my patience it’s not pretty. I feel so bad for David because most of the time he has no clue what he’s done wrong. I feel bad for Paul, he gets mad so quickly, then I get mad at him for being mad at David, then Paul’s mad at me. It’s a vicious ugly cycle that I want to stop…

But I don’t know how.

I love my husband… I love my children… both of them.

Matthew isn’t perfect either. He has is issues but he’s a child… a boy… at times… most of the time a Paul Jr. Matthew get’s goofy which is normal for a boy but then get’s David going and because David can’t control himself… it’ get’s out of hand QUICKLY. Then we are mad at Matthew. I feel bad for Matthew because he can’t be a normal boy because David’s not normal.

I’m Mom… it’s not in my nature to be the ‘bad guy’ so Paul tends to be the bad guy most of the time. I hate that the boys think he’s the bad guy, he’s not really. Paul can be a lot of fun… gross… but fun! I’ve tried being the ‘bad guy’ a little more. I’ve even said to the boys “See Daddy isn’t the only bad guy now is he?”

What do we do?

I do love that David is a fighter… he’s made it through four open heart surgeries, struggling with ADD and developmental delays and he’s still so happy go lucky weather he is in his own world or in ours.

We are struggling with him. I finally realize how bad we are struggling. I don’t know where to go to get help. Can we afford help?

Is this a cry for help? I guess so.

Raising David is difficult… very difficult but I love him all the same and wouldn’t trade him for anything.

Well...

This is the usual... no news is good news post.  Nothing exciting has happened... Well I take that back.  How could I forget...

We went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

This was the night MSU was playing in Indianapolis.  We didn't go for the game.  Paul's parents were, we surprised Grandma Anne because she didn't know we were going to be there.  They went to the game, the boys and I went to the pool why Daddy watched basketball in the room.  Then when it was bedtime Matthew read to David.  I am AMAZED at how well Matthew reads. 

Then the next morning we were off to the museum.  Grandma Anne and Grandpa Denny went with us.  We were able to get into this museum for free because of David's make a wish trip.  Free or not we will defiantly be going back.

Then we met the dino.

Then we headed to the 'real' dinosaur exhibit.  David was in HEAVEN.  Once he was sure they were not going to move and were not going to scare him, this kid did NOT want to leave the dinosaur area.  We kept telling him there was way more to see and that we would come back at the end.

This is my I was right moment... why??? Because I was right, see the look of shock on my face?  That was because Paul admitted I was right.  So... he took a picture of my moment.

This was why I was right.... This water clock was what Paul and his Dad wanted to see.  So we get there at noon.  They were thinking the water in the big globes on the left was going to empty.  I kept telling them no it won't empty until 1:00.  The top glove is 12 the bottom is 1.  They didn't believe me.

Well... I WAS RIGHT!!!

So then we explored more...

And then us old people were getting tired... so...

We explored some more...

Then David was ready to go back to the dinosaurs... HE WAS DYING to go back.  Here is is practicing to be a paleontologist.  There was a real paleontologist there, they had a real t-rex thigh bone that David got to touch.  I didn't get a pic of that.

Then after hitting the gift shop and getting a couple really cool things we heard them say the museum was closing... SHOCK.... what the heck????  We had been there from the time it opened until it closed!!!

WOW

We saved a little energy to walk to the corner and get a picture with his Mommy dinosaur and her twins.

That was Saturday... We drove.... er... Paul drove home that night because the next morning was Easter...

I think the boys made out pretty good.

February

Not much going on these days.  Just finishing up CHD awareness week.  I posted a lot of things on facebook.  I feel strongly about it but I wish I could do more.  I'm not a stay at home mom so I just don't have the time.  I'd LOVE to be at home but we can't afford that and we want to get out of this small ass house into something bigger.

Anyways... Here are a few of my favorites!

We are in soon to be in talks with David's teacher.  Possibly holding him back this year.  We almost did last year but will probably do it this year.  He will however have a different teacher.  Neither Paul nor I really care much for the teacher he has this year.  She's been with the school for 12 years and that is a good thing but we just don't like her.  Don't think she's a good fit for David.  Seems more worried about medicating him then helping him.  Speaking of his ADD.  I bought a book "super parenting ADD" or something like that.  I actually gave it to Paul to read and we are learning some great stuff to help us help him.  I love my baby so much, I'm just so sad he has to go through all this.