New Day

Last week, our son was diagnosed with apraxia.
Kind of a bittersweet moment for me.


As his mom, I had a gut instinct that there was something more.
His extreme effort in sounding out words that weren't coming out.
His word sounds changing every once and awhile.
His frustration.  Our frustration.
There had to be something.


And I suppose it was the several professionals that reassured me,
That he really didn't need extra help.
That all he needed was a preschool setting.
That maybe he was tongue tied (which he is NOT).


Then it happened.
It only took one professional last week, 45 minutes.
One setting.
One boy with his mom, dad, and sister.
To tell us this.
Something we'd been waiting for a LONG time.


So I should be happy right.
We're on the right track.
I'm hopeful.
We're hopeful.
Given instructions.
A weekly session.
And I was last week.


But after today,
I'm sad.  It's hard.
His constant screams. Tantrums. Unrecognizable words.
Trying so desperately to tell me something...
And I just can't understand him.
It's changing him.
It's changing ME.


And today,
I ignored.  Yelled.  Got frustrated.  Did things I'm not proud of.
And now that he's sleeping in bed,
My heart hurts a little.


I'm thankful for a new day tomorrow.
For our bright boy to wake up with his giant smile upon his face.
I will not let this consume us.
And I will continue to let him be the boy he needs to be.


Top 10 for the Week:
April 28th, 2014


10.  Good Hair Day.  Of course I had a good hair day on Thursday last week.  It was the day that I never left the house.  Maybe that's why.


9.  Playground Dates.  Had a few dates at the playground this past week.  It is SO nice to be outside.  You don't realize how much you miss your outdoor playground until you are on it!  However, my summer is going to be crazy chasing after Sir Clayton.


8.  Easy, Crazy Weekend.  Our weekend was a bit easy but crazy at the same time.  NO real plans but the kids were sure acting up here and there.  Not exactly sure why.  But Jay and I were ready for a date night...which we didn't get.


7.  Friday Coffee.  So, I'm not suppose to have coffee anymore.  BUT I've decided to give myself ONE cup every Friday.  BOY do I look forward to this!  And it went SO well with garage sales this past Friday:o) 


6.  Bunnies.  Mal and Jay mowed the lawn this past week and found a bunny nest.  They were the cutest thing ever!  6-7 of them!  I was just as much into them as the kids!


5.  Craft ON.  My SIL came over this week and we crafted for HOURS.  Like 5 hours!  It was BLISS.  And we did it with kids around.  It also motivated me to do some more on my own.  I find such pleasure in doing this.  Who would have guessed that?!?!


4.  SPEECH.  We have a new private speech therapist that we will be going to.  We LOVE her.  I knew this would be a good fit for Clayton.  I'm excited for what's in store for US.


3.  Clayisms.  Oh Clay has been picking the worst possible places to poop.  Don't worry, it IS in his diapers.   But it's at bad moments.  This week it was in the NEW car we were test driving.  Yeah, when I was dropping it off.  They weren't opened yet.  Good one Clay.  (This week it was the chiropractor (no changing station, the dealership AGAIN, and a greenhouse).  He even told me once this week at the playground that he had to poop "I poop" and wouldn't go on the potty.  Clay had his 3 year check-up.  87% for height and 80% for weight.  He looks so small compared to Mal that I think he's not as big for his size (Mal was always in the 90's).  But he is.  His sleep patterns have been really off lately.  In fact, one morning he took a morning nap due to his not going to bed at night and then getting up several times.  His parents are ready for a full night of sleep.  We will see.  This week Daddy has become DeeDee for no apparent reason (although our new speech told us this was totally normal for apraxia).


2.  Malloryisms.  She gets me.  Truly gets me.  And it scares me at times.  We think and say the same things multiple times a day.  And I make sure to tell her this every time it happens.  She's also very motivated to do things when she wants to do them.  This week, I told her how we could go on a nature hike--she was ALL about this.  Before I could even get ready to go, she was ready! Boots, hat, vest on with her Amercian Girl Doll (Target really.).  She also had brought up my hat, boot, and vest as well as all of Clay's.  It was the sweetest thing.  She was ready.  For that nature hike!  The morning Clay took a nap, I had my SIL pick up Mal.  I had also had my MIL drop her off due to Clay's 3 year checkup.  AND in the morning when I left, she was still sleeping.  Which meant I had gone half of the day without seeing her.  I can't tell you how bad I missed her!  To be reunited with her at the park was so great!  I have NO clue what I'm going to do next year when she's in kindergarten all day.  BOO.  A cute phrase this week that shows her vocabulary "Sometimes I recognize the cars as students from my school."  Seriously.  She's 5.


1.  Garage Sales.  Love them.  Addicted to them.  I never would have pictured myself going to them.  But late last summer, I started.  And let's just say that I might stop at one at least EVERY Friday.  I found some great deals this week including some GeoTracks for the kids.  Unbelievable.


Blogging is so therapeutic for me.  It's like, once it's down, I feel better. Not completely better.  But better.  Like someone out there understands and gets it. Gets me.  And it's reassuring.  For the most part:o)  Thank-you.


Here's to a better rest of the week!
Until next week,


Mrs. Newell
(I've contemplated changing my name here.  But it's like the ONLY thing I have left from teaching (besides the boxes in our basement).  I find it rather fitting I should comment on this this week, since it IS teacher appreciation week.  I love you my teacher friends!  And support you.  Thanks for ALL you do.)