Well the end of school is near! 9 more days!

Since I last posted, Austin has been asked to be on another select baseball team that 2 players from his Tigers team from little league now play on. He is really enjoying playing on 2 teams now, The Heroes and The Dallas Braves. The Braves will be going to a tournament in Colorado the last week in July so we will be heading that way. He is also taking lessons from a man that tells me that Austin has some great talent and he will go far in baseball. He played in college and his son is on the Berkner high school team, which is where I teach and also where Austin will go. I have introduced Austin to the high school varsity baseball coach, who recieved the 9-5A coach of the year award this year and the team went to the state semi finals. This coach gave me the name of this guy for lessons and he is a keeper. Austin has a tournament this weekend so we(he) will be playing baseball all weekend. Austin will be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society next week. He was nominated and had to fill out a form and was accepted!

Cameron is doing better in school and t-ball. In his last game he hit the ball 2x with coach pitching. They get three tries from the coach pitching and then they put the tee up for them to hit off for each at bat. He also played first base and got a batter out! He is still very talkative and questions everything. At times, he does say some pretty cool stuff. He told me the other day that when God was picking out his mom he picked out the best best best mom ever. Smile :) He has Kindergarten graduation next week. I can't believe he will be moving into 1st grade already!

Needless to say, I'm pretty proud of my 2 boys. Healthwise, they are doing fine. Austin has a fungus or something on his arms that looks like he is broken out. He's been on 2 antibiotics and 2 different creams so maybe it will go away soon. If he would quit scratching or picking on them they might heal faster. Yeah, that was pretty gross to mention, but it's reality. Cameron just has allergies, but takes meds for it. I'm waiting to take the breath test next week to see if the bacteria has gone away. I have headaches every day now and it may be a side effect of meds. So I have to stop a medication and see if the headache goes away.

That's all I have for now.

Update

Happy Friday. 29 days and counting til the end of this school year. Couldn't be happier.

Austin's team The Heroes had a tournament April 10-11 and ended up in 3rd place out of 10 teams. He did good and was happy that by placing in this tournament, his team qualified for regionals later on this summer. His team has a photo website if you want to see some pics go here: http://www.heores13.shutterfly.com Now he is busy trying to keep his grades up (which he can do but gets lazy and just doesn't turn in homework sometimes)and texting on his phone. And yes, he has a girlfriend now. This is all new territory. He realized that his phone can be taken away for 2 weeks at a time and has somehow found the motivation to do his work. Funny how that works.
He has contacted his biological father on facebook and he responded back. Out of respect for me, he wanted to speak to me to make sure that Austin wasn't going behind my back trying to contact him. So I spoke to him on the phone and we are going to try and meet sometime so that Austin can get to meet him. Never thought this would happen, but Austin was really struggling with it and I encouraged him to contact him. Believe it or not he now lives in Batesville. Weird.

Cameron on the other hand is still challenging his teachers (and me)with his behavior. Even in his specials classes like art and music he is not doing very well or making very good choices. It's not that he doesn't understand the rules, he just chooses to do his own thing. He definitely has the "gift" of gab. He tells me he just like to talk. His academics are right on so I know he's learning, but it's depressing when your 5 year old comes home every day with either a note or his color changed because of making wrong choices. His main thing is talking and then keeping hands/feet to himself and not following directions. I think the main reason is that he is very immature and needs to get out of "play" mode which he seems to be in almost all the time. I know he likes to be silly and try to make others laugh. I guess he will be voted class clown, who knows! One good thing is that his piano is coming along very well. He really has an ear for it and impresses me each time he plays. Getting him to practice is not always easy, but he eventually does it.

I think I have finally come to the point where I can get rid of this H pylori bacteria that I've had for a while now. After having been tested for penicillin, which I used to be allergic to, it appears I am no longer allergic to it. So, that opened up a whole world of antibiotics that can help get rid of it. I was very anxious about taking the initial dose, but so far I've had no adverse reaction. I took my first round (1000mg of amoxicillin) this morning and do that 2x a day for 5 days along with a medication similar to previcid called protonix, then I'll take another antibiotic 2x/day for another 5 days, then a 3rd one for 5 days and then I wait for 2 weeks, go back in and have a breath test (don't recommend that as I've already had it, but it wasn't that bad, just a horrible taste that makes you want to vomit) to see if the bacteria is gone. Hopefully this will get rid of it and it won't bother me anymore. I have lost about 12 lbs. because of this as it makes me nautious. But hey, I needed to lose the weight, and it wouldn't hurt me to lose a little more.

That's about all I have for now. Later.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I've added a few pics from today and from a baseball tournament last weekend. Not much to report just getting into full swing with baseball for Austin and Cameron has his first practice on Wed. Austin has 2 games this week and a tournament this coming weekend. Bring it.

Illnesses, illnesses, go away!

Ok, Enough is enough! We're sick and tired of being sick and tired! Well, at least I am anyway.

For the past few days, Cameron has had a stomach bug, both ends, and has missed 2 days of school. He is hardly ever sick, but when he is, he really gets it! He's back to school today and hopefully will be symptom free! I love doing laundry, every few hours.....

For those of you not on facebook, Austin had another concussion last week and is no longer a member of athletics at his school. Apparently the track coaches thought that Austin looked like a good high jumper and just put him in a track meet without any practice or instruction or training, or whatever. Austin told me that a "friend" showed him how to do the high jump a few minutes before the event. Well, being Austin, he gave it his all and went for it full force, but apparently wasn't supposed to take out the pole stand with him as he jumped backwards. Then, instead of landing on the padding, his back hits the side of the pad and his head hits the ground. This was his 4th trial and it was down to Austin and 2 other guys for the win. His response, "but mom, I cleared it!" The height was 4'8". I took him to the ER and they did CT scan and x-rays and everything was fine, just mild concussion without loss of consciousness. He of course had to miss baseball practice and his first scrimmage game for this season. Needless to say, the coaches and principal got a wonderful email from me explaining my concerns and why Austin would no longer be involved in middle school athletics. So now Austin realizes that if he is going to play select baseball and pay $$ for it, he will have to not participate in any other sport to avoid all injuries. His baseball coach was not too happy his starting catcher got hurt again (but also understood that he is a good athlete and wants to participate in other sports) but has been reassured by Austin that he is committed to the team. Games begin next week. So far, he has 16 games scheduled and 6 tournaments. He's doing much better now and will be going to practice tonight!

Spring break is in 1 week and it couldn't come any sooner! I'm ready for a break! I will be meeting Cameron's grandmother in Texarkana in March 13 and then again on March 20. He will be visiting in Searcy for the whole week! I'll really miss him but he needs to spend time with his family.

I will be working my second job during spring break so no "trips" planned for us. I work for a private practice in Plano. I started this in December and really like/need the extra income. I work M-Th after school. I'm sure it will continue in the summer as well. Therefore, I virtually have no time to do anything anymore, but ya gotta do whatcha gotta do, right?

Hope all reader(s) are well and staying healthy! Later peeps,

Yes, I'm posting!

Wow, it's been so long since I posted, I about forgot my password to even get into my own blog! Most of my blog readers did see us over Christmas, so it's not actually been that long ago since I informed. Anyway,
I'll try to see what I can tell you that has been going on lately in our lives.

Austin has started full swing into his second term in all pre-AP classes. He recently had to register for 8th grade classes and will again do all pre-AP, only next year he will get high school credit for math class! And he will get credit for taking a business/management class. That only means that during his senior year, he will probably only go to school for half a day, which I'm sure won't bother him at all! He began playing basketball halfway through his school's season because he asked the coach if he could be on the team. He went the first day for tryouts back in November but decided he "sucked" and didn't want to continue with tryouts. So, the coach graciously accepted him on the team and I think was happy that he got a defensive player. Austin is the tallest kid on the team and towers over all the others. He wasn't much of a scoring contributor to the team, (he averaged 2-4 pts per game) but he sure could block and play defense! He would play 2 quarters per game. His team wasn't star quality, but I think he had a good time learning about a different sport, after all, it's all about having fun, right? He is now focusing on his select baseball team as they have started practicing. Games will begin in March and we have at least 6 tournaments already on the schedule. He will be the starting catcher.

Cameron on the other hand, seems to be liking the drama part of life. He did take TaeKwonDo for about 2 months, but I don't think he was quite ready to listen and get serious about it just yet. So, we have started piano lessons. He really has an ear for music (Hmmm, don't know where he gets that?) and seems to enjoy piano. Also, apparently he is learning much more at school than I thought. Last week I received an email from his teacher explaining that Cameron had to turn his card to RED (green, yellow, orange, blue, then red) but he went from green to red, no in-between for his 'act'. Apparently he learned how to show someone he thought they were number one, using his middle finger. THEN, to top it off, he lied to his teacher and told her that "my mom said that it wasn't a bad word!" But after calling his bluff by threatening to call me and ask me if that is what I said, the teacher got him to admit that his mom didn't really say that to him, hence the turning of the card. Well, after totally being mortified and apologizing to his teacher, I was able to talk to him after school and ask him where he learned that signal. He said Lucas (another student in his class and the one who told on him) said "don't stick your middle finger up because it's a bad word" So I asked him why he did it and Cameron said "because Lucas said he wasn't going to be my friend anymore and play with me" He then asked me what bad word it was. Believe me, he now knows that it is a bad thing to do! (but he still doesn't know what word it is). So, it's been a little "dramatic" around our house!

I recently joined my high school's theater production of the Sound of Music and got to be a nun. It was so fun! There were about 15 "adult" nuns along with the other cast of high school student nuns. We had performances last Thur Fri and Sat nights. No speaking parts, just singing and being on stage for 4 different numbers. I had a blast!

Well, that about wraps up the excitement we've had these past few weeks. We are all just trying to stay well. I have some intestinal bacteria that won't go away called H-pylori and on my second round of antiobiotics (first round didn't kill it) I had an allergic reaction and had to go to the ER one night. Benedryl is my FRIEND! Now I have to see a GI doc to see if there is any other treatment regimen available since I'm allergic to the main antibiotic used to treat and apparently another string of them now too. So, hopefully there will be something available since this bacteria can lead to things such as stenosis of the esophagus or even stomach cancer if I don't get rid of it.

That is all for now, tired of typing, I'll try to post pictures when I can find my usb cord to my phone!

Make a Smilebox photobook

New addition

Just trying to post a smilebox to my blog, hoping it works. Just random picsof Cameron throughout the year.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Post!

Well, time to blog. Getting back into the swing of things of normal life.

Austin is really enjoying football and so far his team is 2-0. Since one of the main dudes on the team referred to as Tito failed this 6 weeks, Austin has now taken over fullback position and said he scored a TD in practice yesterday. He likes to run the ball! He did well this 6 weeks in school too. He made 2 89's and the rest were A's. Not bad for all pre AP classes. He is also playing baseball and playing catcher the entire games. Still growing taller every day.

Cameron is learning to read and seems to enjoy it. He is still having his motor tics that sometimes involve only eye blinking, but sometimes he adds a downward head nod with the eye blinks. These occur every day about every 5 minutes. I would call it severe, but we just keep hoping it will go away soon. His teacher says it's not interfering with school work so I guess we'll just let it ride! He is also taking a drama class once a week and appears to really get in the Drama mode!

Not much going on with me. Trying not to get the flu! Austin & I have had our shots, but Cameron's doc ran out of them and having a hard time finding supply! One of my students at my school in special ed died this past weekend from complications of the flu. Very sad, she was in a wheel chair and had other underlying medical issues, but she was a sweet 16 year old girl who was always smiling (although nonverbal). We had many news crews here this week. Homecoming is tonight and you should see the mums these girls wear! They are almost full-body! Huge (fake)flowers that totally cover the girls' chest and stomachs and then all these ribbons, cow bells, dangling things all the way to the floor! I've never seen such a sight! They sound like hearding cattle walking down the halls! One girl told me she paid $100 for hers which was about average! WOW!

That's all I got for now, will most more later, TTFN!

Good News!

After all the appts last Friday, Cameron is NOT having seizures. Yeah! The neurologist thinks he has motor and verbal tics that really have no one particular cause but can be as a result of a strep of some sort or heredity (don't think that's on my side) and will usually subside within 6 months. If not, we will go back and they might suggest medication. When I asked what kind of med, the doc replied 'medication similar to what we give pts with tourettes syndrome'. She didn't think it was tourettes because he didn't have enough obsessive-compulsive behaviors, echolalia, aggression, or other characteristics. So, we'll be watching for any of those for sure! I think he does have a little aggression towards me or Austin, esp when he doesn't want to do something! Hopefully that's more normal than not. He will be getting glasses, he is far-sighted, while Austin is near-sighted. Of course, they had to be different! His glasses should be ready tomorrow for us to pick up. I'll post pics when he gets them. That's about all for now, I'll post more later when I have some news-worthy news!

I'm here!

OK OK, I know it's been forever since I've blogged, I apologize. However, most of the peeps that read this blog already know most of what has been going on this summer except the most recent happenings. So, get ready for a long read. Austin had a great time at Kanakuk Kamp in July and wants to go for 2 weeks next year and we will definitely make that happen, thanks PawPaw! Austin came back from Arkansas and decided he wanted to try out for select baseball teams. He tried out for 3 different teams and was asked to play for the N. Dallas Knights and signed on with them. If you're not familiar with select teams, they have tryouts and then you pay $ (more than just rec or little league $) to play for them, if they ask you to be on the team, thanks Grammy! His first tournament is Labor Day weekend in Mansfield, TX. The field is like the major leagues - air conditioned enclosed bleachers and everything, my kind of baseball watching! School started this past Monday the 24th. Austin LOVES junior high! He says so far his (all pre-AP) classes are easy and he's already practicing football. He thinks he will be running/receiving the ball, I'll have to make sure which position/s he will play. He's the tallest guy but not the biggest by far! He has his first scrimmage on Sept 15 and then games every Tuesday after that for about 7 weeks. He has had to get new glasses since his others broke and his prescription needed to be stronger. So, I think he's set now. He's just a bunch of $ down now since Allie had to have surgery. A nightmare, I tell ya! It seems Austin left a roll of atheletic tape laying around and Allie decided to chew/eat it. Well I found this "stuff" hanging out her rear one day and decided to "help" her out by pulling on it and it kept coming out and then she started yelping and I thought "Oh my, I've pulled out her intestines!" (you can imaging the color of it but I won't get too graphic here) So we rushed her to the emergency animal hospital where they took x-rays and said she needed surgery. Not wanting to put her down, Austin said he would pay for it because I definitely couldn't and wasn't going to; yeah, $1900. So, to teach him a lesson he was required to sell something of value to him. And he did. He sold his Playstation3, all the games with it, his PSP and some games that he could find, and all of his XBOX 360 games except for 2. Although he didn't get near as much for them as they were worth, he managed to raise about $450. So, when I asked him if he had learned anything, he told me he definitely had. The love between a boy and his dog, priceless I guess!

Well, on to Cameron. He's loving Kindergarten! When he came home the 1st day, I asked him how it was and he smiled and said "It was AWESOME!" I asked him what was the best part and he replied: "Everything!" When Austin was getting his eyes tested, Cameron was partially tested as well because he has been doing some strange things with his nose/eyes lately. He started this nose twitching thing back in July and it progressively got worse and then he started another kind of twitch/tic where he would lower his eyebrows and his eyes would roll. Lately it has been eye blinking, like non-stop. I took him to see the doc and he referred us to a pediatric neurologist to see if he might be having petit-mal seizures. I had taken video into him and showed him those weird things he was doing and that is what he suggested. So, he has an appt tomorrow morning for an EEG and then a neurologist appt that afternoon. In the meantime, when his eyes were partially checked, he couldn't see very clearly out of his right eye. Dr. Calaway (mom's cousin) couldn't complete the exam but she said he definitely needs correction for the R eye. We are going Sat morning to finish the exam and try on frames for glasses. Maybe it's all in the vision, but I want to rule out seizures since I already had the appt. I'll update the blog when I know more.

As for me, all is well, with the exception of a minor female problem, but I haven't decided what to do about it yet. I've started a new school this year - high school. I've never done therapy at the secondary level, but so far, I think it is going to work out just fine. It's amazing how much you're not treated like an elementary student when you're not working at an elementary school! There are only 3,000 students here grades 9-12! This school is the biggest in the district. It's not my high school, but it's within the same district and we were rivals with this school, but I'm pretty much over the rivalry thing! My sister has moved back to Dallas and is living with us again. She is working part time and going to her meetings, counseling, and living 1 day at a time. She is doing well; plus she helps me out with the boys tremendously. She can take over when I'm about to lose it!

Oh yeah, as a last 'hoorah' for the summer I took the boys to New Braunfels TX and we went to Schlitterbaun, the biggest water park I've ever been to in my life! 2 separate parks that they shuttle you back and forth with buses, but only have to pay 1 admission - too fun, it had an uphill water coaster, tons of slides and lots of fun things! Right next to a river that was so clear you could see 6ft+ to the bottom, spring fed so it felt very cool! We stayed from open to close, still didn't get to do every ride there. But we all had a great time, I would definitely recommend going and doing the Schlitterbaun park! Also enjoyed a trip to Children's museum the day before school started. They have an exhibit all about spys and it was neat - then there was the regular children's museum stuff and Cameron had a ball - got to dig for dinosaur bones - I personally felt like we were in the movie A Night at the Museum - pretty neat, fun and educational all at the same time!

That's about all in a nutshell for now, I'll do better about posting, I promise! Pictures will come soon as I don't have them uploaded yet, but be looking!

Go All-Stars!

Austin's team has advanced to the championship! They play tomorrow night for the district title! The team has run-ruled every team so far. They are 4-0 in this tournament. So far, Austin has hit 2 home runs, 1 of those was over the fence! He's having a blast playing with this team. So hopefully they can pull the win tomorrow night. If so, then it's off to Abilene TX for sectionals July 15-20, then after that it's Waco for state and then Williamsport PN. Wow, wouldn't that be fun! I'll keep posting on the progress!

Well, it's my last day as a thirtysomething. I used to think that those actors on that show thirtysomething were OLD! Now, not so much! But, I'm looking forward to my fabulous fourties! (sort of) I hear only good things from my friends who have already jumped over into the forty decade. So we'll see!

New look

Well, the project for out front is almost complete! I couldn't find my pre picture, but it's on this blog somewhere in the pictures of the wall out front. It is now gone and new additions have been made! Check out the photos.

Austin is recovering from a bad sunburn that took an ER visit to tell us that aspirin, benadryl, aloe, and keeping it covered is the best cure. Can't wait for that bill! Seems that a pool party after ball practice turned into an expensive event. He didn't listen to his mother to apply sunscreen often and therefore had a bad reaction 2 days later which caused him tons of itching, pain and discomfort with huge tears, groaning/yelling and jerking movements that looked similar to convulsions! I thought something else was wrong with him!

Cameron on the other hand, is doing great with swimming! He can now swim by himself without any life preservers! He goes under, kicks, and swims about 6 feet unassisted, but close to the wall so that he can grab it if needed. He now loves the water! Initially, tears and fears were all around even getting near the water, now tears are there for not wanting to get out! We decided to take another 2 weeks of lessons since he is doing so good! He's also getting into photography, likes to take random pics with my phone. Check out the self portraits. That's all for now, gotta go to another swim lesson!

Williamsport anyone?

Yes, Austin made the Williamsport All-Star team! That means if his team keeps advancing, we may be going to Pennsylvania for a championship! You can watch us on ESPN! Well, we can always dream big anyway! He was very excited to make the team this year. Also Austin got an award for "best attitude" from the coaches. Each teams' coaches in the league picks 1 player to receive the award/medal. Austin got it for the Tigers. Pretty cool. He also got MVP and best slug average award from his coach. His slug average was the best in the whole LEAGUE. We had our closing ceremonies last Saturday so regular baseball season is over. His team got 2nd place for his division. I don't think I've mentioned 6th grade graduation and his awards he received. He got all A average for the year award, best boy writer of 6th grade, and awards for getting "commended" (which means getting an A on the test) on both reading and math TAKS test, which is the state assessment taken each year. He made a 100 on the math and only missed 1 on the reading. So he's getting to be a pretty fart smeller, I mean smart feller! His schedule now is going to pre AP math prep class every morning from 8-11:45 and then all-star practice every night from 8-10.

Cameron is still playing t-ball and doing pretty well. He is in his 2nd week of swim lessons. At first I thought I had spent $ for nothing because the 1st 2 days, he wouldn't even get near the water. Finally an instructor took him and made him get in and asked me to leave the area so he can gain confidence that he will be OK and can build trust, which was fine with me. So day 3 and I go into the gym to work out. I come out and he's in the water with a noodle wrapped around him swimming around and kicking like crazy. I'm not sure how they convinced him, but it worked! He is not afraid to get in as long as he has someone to hold on to or is wearing his noodle. Way to go YMCA! My friend Sean from college came to town and he does voice recordings for the cartoon Dragon Ball-Z. His friend owns a studio and I got to take the boys to let them see what a recording studio looks like. Cameron hopped right up in the chair and took off! He wore headphones so he could hear himself. They morphed his voice to sound like a munchkin and it made him laugh so hard. It was pretty funny hearing him laugh in the morphed voice! Then they morphed his voice very low and he imitated the guy saying "I'm a scary monster" It was really cool. Cameron was a real ham and started doing his own things like singing songs, playing air guitar and singing tunes, saying funny phrases, etc. They recorded it all and will send me a copy soon, I hope. I told them if they ever needed a kid to record, give me a call!

I'm staying busy trying to find cheap labor to help me re-design my front yard area. We've cut trees down, took out bushes and knocked down the huge brick wall that was blocking my dining room windows. I can see outside now! Next comes making a little patio/sitting area and planting new plants. Jose is going to help me. He's good, pretty cheap, but does not know much "Engleis" and my "Espaniol" is not that great. But we should be OK, hopefully. I'll take pics and post later of my updates. We have also switched rooms with Austin and the spare. We've painted and moved all the stuff. His former room was at least 10 degrees hotter than the rest of the house. Maybe because he has a 37" flat screen TV and XBox 360 running almost non-stop???? I have a window a/c unit in the garage that we can use, but his old windows slide left to right and the windows in the new room are normal, which will allow the window unit if needed. So, he's busy making it "teen" like.

Here's the latest weight update Cameron: 55lbs. Austin: 130 lbs 5'9" Josie: never mind!

It's getting hot down here! Leave me comments sometime, let me know what you're up to!!!

Summer's here!

We're finally out of school! Austin is officially a junior high student! UGH! He's very happy about having nothing to do for 2 1/2 months. Oh is he in for a surprise! I have many summer projects that he gets to help with! Right now we are working on strengthening his R shoulder. It seems he has a muscle tear and can't pitch for 6 weeks. He had a game last Thursday and played 1st base, since he doesn't need to throw hard and therefore catching was out. This was about the best game I have ever seen. We were ahead almost the whole game and then the other team got ahead, so the score was 9-8. We were up to bat - last inning of the game, of course. First 2 batters struck out. Austin was up to bat. No pressure. The count became full so it was so intense. On the last pitch Austin took a huge swing and............................................................................................................................................................................HIT IT OVER THE FENCE to tie the game. The crowd went wild. It was like one of those "best of game" clips that they show on ESPN or something! I think I climbed half way up the fence! Then the next 2 batters hit and we ended up winning 10-9. Hearts were definitely pumping that night. Austin told me after the game that he couldn't feel anything or hear anything as he was rounded the bases. When he got to home plate, he looked up to the sky and pushed his helmet upwards, thanking Him for the ability to make that play. Now he has to rest his shoulder. I'm not sure if that will affect his all-star nomination or not. We'll see. They had another game this past Sat and won 27-12. So their record is now 15-1. Go Tigers!

I was able to get away this weekend to Austin with my friend Norma. We stayed with my sister 1 night and then a hotel the next. We had a good time and ate some good food. A much needed break for me!

Cameron starts swim lessons today and I need to get ready to take him. So, that's all for now!

Update on goings-on

School days are getting closer to the end!!! Austin can't wait until school's out. I feel about the same myself. Cameron is just glad to be going back to school for a while. He's been sick with walking pheumonia. He has had oral steroids and antibiotics, along with breathing treatments. Now he has continued breathing treatments along with steroids through the nebulizer once a day for about a month. We then go back to see if it's all cleared up and if we need to continue with the asthma meds or not. We have to clear up the pheumonia before knowing if it's true asthma. He's feeling much better now. We went to Dave and Busters this weekend and won a huge Spiderman for his room - he hasn't stopped playing with it yet. We did hang it up so it looks like he is suspended in the corner of his room - pretty cool - it's twice the size of Cameron - note the picture.

Austin is ready to play baseball on Thursday, the next game, as he found out that sitting out a game is no fun. You see, during the game on May 18, our team was down 2-0. The opposing team had a really good pitcher and no one could hit off him. So, in the bottom of the 5th inning, they had to put in a new pitcher. We started hitting. Austin was 2nd up to bat. He had a huge hit to the fence, rounded the bases, thought he saw his coach twirling his finger to go home and went. Seems the catcher didn't want Austin to score so he stood just in front of the plate, some say he was standing on the plate, but as he bobbled the ball, it fell to the ground, Austin was more than half way home, then as catcher was picking up the ball, the collision occurred. Austin didn't slide under, but tried to jump over to avoid the head to head collision, but ended up knocking the catcher to the ground, hitting his head as he had already taken his helmet off. The umpire called Austin out (but he did get a runner in) and the catcher laid on the ground for a few minutes. After about 5 min of taking care of a busted lip and sore head, the field umpire told our coach that Austin was ejected from the rest of the game plus the next game. It appeared that Austin was "trying to cause malicious harm to another player" because he didn't slide. Although not true, Austin learned to always slide no matter what in this league. Our coach did protest the ejection from the next game sighting it wasn't malicious intent, but to no avail. According to the board, this was not protestable and was denied. We did end up winning 6-4 that night. We had our next game the very next night. We just so happened to play the 1 team who is even with us in standings except we had beaten them once (or the #2 team I gues I could have said). We are no longer undefeated. Our record is now 10-1. Austin was a good cheerleader though!

He last adventure was a competition this past weekend for lego robotics. He wasn't sure if he was even going to enter since he had missed a few afternoon sessions. He had 3 days to build his robot and ended up coming in 15th out of 31 in the competition. The only other team from his school came in 29th, and he was pretty proud since that team had 3 weeks to work on their robots. There were 4 different things his robot had to do: put darts on a board, put ping pongs in a cone, push a hockey puck into a goal, and pick up a bone and drop it off at another location. The picture shows his creation and the accessories. He programmed it to do the moving things from a computer. Now the only thing left is a band concert, a 6th grade party and 6th grade "graduation" from elementary school. Then, I paid for him to go to summer school to help him prepare for pre-AP math next year. He is taking all pre-AP classes (which are essentially 8th grade classes) and this course is designed to cover all the 7th grade math he will miss in about 3 1/2 weeks for 3 hrs a day. I KNOW he is SO looking forward to that, especially the part about starting at 8am!

Cameron will again take swimming lessons for 2 weeks in June. I don't know what has happened between last summer and now, but he is DEATHLY afraid to get in the water, even with someone holding him. He has a new bathing suit (body suit) that has built-in floatation things, but he won't get out far enough for him to see that he will float. So, lessons without mom in the water will be fun!

Mother's Day

I am so lucky to be a mother. Although it's challenging, and the older I get the less patience I have, I wouldn't change it for the world. I also am very fortunate to still have my mother. I know so many who have lost their mothers and had them in my thoughts yesterday. When you lose a mother, or even a mother figure, Mother's day can be difficult. I miss my 'other' mother dearly and wish I could tell her just once more how much she meant to me. I wish she could see all her grandchildren and how proud I am of all of them and how smart they are. I think she might agree!

My boys gave me a gift certificate to get a 1 hour massage and a gift certificate to Bath and Body Works. Austin told me I needed the massage! He was soooo right! We went out for a Mother's day brunch at Nana's Grill at the top of the Anatole Hotel. It was VERY nice. The view was spectacular. Cameron didn't quite know how to act and was just himself, the whole time, burping outloud and everything. At least he did say excuse me. He learned how to burp with his mouth closed that day. Jessica came in from Austin and we had a great 2 hour long meal with great food, but very expensive! Glad I wasn't paying! The hotel was very nice in the lobby and the pictures show just a little snapshot of the glamour. Cameron didn't mind posing, but Austin just "chilled" since he was a bit tired from playing video games with his buddies on Xbox live into the wee hours of the morning!

Cameron "graduated" from preschool last Friday night. It was a cute ceremony complete with dinner! He is ready for Kindergarten, if he could only keep his mouth shut! I think I might have to work on his social skills this summer. Last week at Austin's baseball game, another parent told Cameron he could ride this scooter and a few minutes later when the scooter's owner told Cameron to get off (unaware that his parents had told Cameron he could ride it) and was trying to lift the scooter so Cameron would get off, Cameron reared back, made a fist and punched the kid right in the face by his left cheek bone/eye area! I couldn't believe it. My 4 year old punching a 7 year old and making him cry. I was so embarrassed and upset that he would do such a thing! I have never seen him act like that. Most of the time he justs cries and screams. I may need to watch a few of these shows he is watching on cartoon network and see what kind of violence is going on before I let him watch that channel again!

Well, that's about it for now - so far we haven't contacted the Swine flu. I know I won't be kissin' on any pigs anytime soon!

Can't think of a good title so this is it!

Well, we already have 1 elementary school within our district close down Monday afternoon due to Swine flu. 1 student tested positive and 2 other possible. Just so happens that a co-worker of mine has a child that attends that school, plus his little brother goes to Cameron's preschool! They have been quarantined to their house. UGH! Wash those hands!

We have had state testing this week and since I'm a certified 'teacher' I get to watch small groups of students. I can't do anything while I give the test. No computer, no phone, no book, no NOTHING! Some groups get accommodations that allow reading of questions and answers so at least I get to do that! Otherwise, it's like watching paint dry! I didn't realize how exhausting it is to sit there and do absolutely nothing!

Austin's soccer team came in 2nd place this past weekend during a tournament. He has another soccer tournament AND a baseball tournament this coming weekend.

Cameron decided he needed another hair cut so he cut his bangs again. I had to really try hard not to lose it or laugh at him! Needeless to say, the scissors in this house have been hidden! So, both boys got haircuts last night by me! Cameron had his first t-ball game last Sat and did pretty good, once he realized what the pitcher was supposed to do! I forgot how funny it is to watch beginning t-ball! He has 11 more games to go! His team is the Indians. I will post some of those pics when I get them loaded off my phone.

These latest pictures are from Easter that I didn't load yet. Only 5 more weeks of school!!!!

I might go broke this season!

I made Austin a deal at the beginning of this baseball season that if he could hit the ball over the fence, I'd pay him $20. Well, today I am $20 lighter! Austin had a GRAND SLAM over the fence home run today! Yes, bases loaded! WooHoo! His teammates came out onto the field and picked him up and carried him to the dugout! He was smiling from ear to ear! He even got to keep the ball that he hit over the fence. He also got his free nachos for hitting a home run, which I think he liked just as well. Then later when he was up to bat again, he hit another homerun - line drive down first base line to the fence, just not over the fence! He scored another runner in when he came in! He played catcher the whole game and they had a 21-0 shut-out! I think the on-field photographer got a shot of the players carrying him off the field. Go to http://allen42.smugmug.com/ then under NGLL and look for Tigers vs. Indians 4-11-09. It should be in there somewhere. When I figure out how to load pictures from my phone onto my computer, I'll post some pics I've taken.

Cameron has been sick the past 2 days. He has been running fever and has had no appetite - that's when I really know he doesn't feel well, he even refused donuts this morning! I hope it's just a 24 hour virus thing, but we'll see. Tonight we dyed some eggs and he began eating a little so I think he may be on the road to feeling better. He's ready for the Easter Bunny!

Play ball!

Austin had his first baseball game of the season tonight. His first time up to bat......a home run! An official home run too, not the kind where he 'stole' home. 2nd time up to bat......another home run! Third time up to bat - hit a line drive that hit the pitcher's hand (who I think tried to catch it bare handed - we thought he broke his hand or fingers or something, but he ended up being fine after a short time-out and a substituted pitcher). Austin made it to 1st base on that hit, then stole home on the next batter. Then 4th time up to bat.... bases loaded, Austin hits again to the outfield! All 3 runners made it home, Austin stayed at 2nd - so, 2 home runs, a single (that probably would have been at least a double) and a double - what a night! All that and only 1 strike the whole game! He played short stop and did well there the whole night. The game lasted FOREVER! 5th inning and we had been playing for 2 1/2 hrs! UGH! Did I mention the game didn't even start until 8pm???? And now I'm here typing on this blog - I just couldn't wait to tell about his game! The final score: 17-7. Game ball??? Yep, Austin. Except now they give out certificates for free Nachos instead of a game ball. And the concession stand had already turned off the cheese since the game was sooo long! So on Friday, his next game, he'll get a "snack".

I'm listening to the rain outside and the little hail hit the roof. The weather on TV is showing hail that has landed around here from quarter to baseball sized, glad I have a garage! And it's super clean! OK, I'm rambling now and need to get some shut-eye. Later.............