Spring is full *achoo* bloom here in Virginia. Everything looks so pretty, but it's bringing such misery to my youngest. We have a little family of robins living in our porch and it's been kind of sweet to listen to the babies. Mama works hard to protect our yard and porch from any threats (that would be us)! It's been kind of funny to hear her yelling at Shawn from her perch in our front tree as he tries to mow quickly and disturb her as little as possible! We are doing our best to respect her and her family's living space, but I think we've all finally reached an understanding now that she realizes we don't mean any harm to her babies. I tried to have a heart to heart with her, as moms, because I do crazy things like that, and I think we reached an unspoken agreement. I guess that means we can finally use our front door again! With the nicer weather, and enticing sounds of the baby robins, Jethro has begun trying to escape again. I put his harness and name tag back on him, should he escape and become lost. Avery, of course, is thrilled with the kitty's new carry handle. Jethro, not so much! Shawn and I have settled back into our routines, and I'm realizing just how good my week away from them was for all of us. Coming home and finding me clinging to the end of my rope was one thing, but living at the end of my rope was an entirely other thing for him. Over Noah's Spring Break, it was Shawn's realization that I would need a break from the boys, so he suggested he work from home twice during that week so I could "work" at the center. It was wonderful to have some time away, and it's been wonderful for me to have Shawn fully understand what goes on in our home (not that he's an oblivious or absent parent, but until you are the one taking care of things full time and on your own, you can't really appreciate it). We had a nice, quiet Easter and Noah just got back from a Scout Camporee this weekend. Oh, and Wilbur had a great time helping the Easter Bunny fill the eggs for the kids to find. 
Noah seems to be doing well on the Zoloft/Focalin combo. Last Sunday was Family Sunday at church, and we noticed a 180-degree change in him from past Family Sundays. Noah was quiet, still, semi-focused and completely in control of himself. We beamed with pride over his behavior change and made sure to complement him plenty. Our Children's Ministry leader always comes up with some sort of "keep busy baggie" to hand to each child on Family Sundays; her hard work and dedication to our children never cease to amaze me. This past Sunday's project was a BINGO game; the children were to listen to Pastor Nick's message for the words on their BINGO sheet, but were not to call out BINGO during the message. I had to suppress laughter when she made sure she had Noah's attention while giving the instructions, then asked him to repeat them back to her. She knows my child so well! We're having some issues at home with attitude, lying, nocturnal wandering, theft of sorts and other less specific topics. I knew there would be sibling issues when we had Avery, but there are times I just don't understand how they get to the lengths they do (the other morning Noah was kicking Avery in the face because he thought it was funny. I had to get out of the shower to put a stop to it when I heard Avery screaming. Things like this happen rather frequently). I don't want them to have the type (lack) of relationship that I have with my sister or Shawn has with his brothers. I want better for my children, but I don't know how to foster that in them. Noah was doing well at school, or so I thought, until I got an email from his teacher this week. I mentioned to Noah Wednesday night that I hadn't signed his agenda so far that week, and Thursday morning I learned why: Several notes were in there from his teacher about his behavior. He'd hidden the agenda under his bed, telling me that he'd forgotten it at school, telling his teacher he'd forgotten it at home. The lying is getting out of hand and I'm just so discouraged. I don't know how to reach him about this. It is heartbreaking to not be able to believe a single thing that comes out of my child's mouth. He admits that when he tells his classmates and fellow Scouts these lies (isn't a Scout supposed to be trustworthy?) that they ignore him now. So what's the draw? I just don't know what else to do anymore. Noah has yet to really grasp any sense of responsibility for himself or his actions, and that in itself is a major hurdle in being able to teach him anything, I think. Until he wants to learn these things, it's just not going to stick. And right now, he seems to think he not only knows better than us, but he knows everything. He's made a good friend in our neighborhood, on the next street over, which has been both a blessing and a little bit of a not so good thing! His new friend is a good kid, and they do have quite a bit in common. They seem like two peas in a pod and make quite a pair! Noah will not only be starting middle school in the fall, but the youth group at church as well. Shawn and I had some concerns about Noah starting with the youth group, as he is just not mature enough for some of these things. I have to say, God has taken care of our concerns in the form of new leadership and some other changes. It's always such a lesson to me to let go and let God when He takes care of things like that!
Avery has really been struggling with his asthma and allergies, so we took him to a specialist last week. We were really pleased with the doctor, her course of action and the office in general. She ran 25 scratch tests on Avery, and he reacted to everything but milk, wheat, guinea pigs and dust (does that mean me and my housekeeping, um, skills are doing a good job of raising his immunity?!). Unfortunately, one of his highest reactions was to dog hair. For now, we're hanging on to our dog, but we'll have to see what else happens, especially if Avery doesn't get better even with the new medications. The doctor also ordered x-rays of his sinuses and adenoids/tonsils, out of concern for the number of sinus infections he's had. Fortunately, those came back clear, so we're wondering if maybe he just wasn't on the right medicines and things will begin to clear up now that he is? She increased the dosages of a few of his meds, changed one and added another. We go back in a month for more scratch tests and to see how he's doing on the new medicines. As Avery's mom, it's been horrible to have to watch him go through this. The look of "Mom! What are you letting them do to me?" as I had to help hold him still for the scratch tests nearly killed me. Even though I know we have to go through this for the answers and solutions we need for his health, I don't ever want my children to look at me like that again. Having to listen to him cry and not be able to comfort him was awful. I couldn't even scoop him up to comfort him when they were were finished because it could've smeared the antigens and given skewed results. Knowing that we'll have to go through again in 3 weeks just isn't good! Once he had a juice box, bunny snacks and Daddy's "piepad," he was doing better and most was forgiven, but I was still seeing that look in my mind.
Other than that, Avery is doing well. I find myself saying the strangest things to him ("Avery Owen! Your penis is not a gun!" tops the list, I think) as he grows more capable of forming sentences and thoughts. I'm still having trouble with the fact that he'll begin preschool in just a few short months. He can pedal his tricycle and refuses help now, lives to hassle the kitties and is adjusting well to his medication schedule. In all, he's a perfectly normal almost 3 year old (ugh, really?? Almost 3???)!
Not much else going on here. I've been able to take on a few more responsibilities at the center, and as always, I'm really loving my time there. I know I will always receive more than I could ever give there. I'm going to brag for a minute here, so just bear with me--after 35 years of having straight-as-stick hair, perming it in the hopes of having something close to pretty, and just plain arguing with my hair, I finally have natural curl! My aunt gifted me with a much needed haircut, so now I have a head full of healthy, curly hair. No clue where it came from, but the speculation is either hormone changes and/or a "gift" from chemo. Another "anniversary" of sorts is coming up, so I'm not doing too well with that. It's so hard to believe it's been a year already. I cry at the drop of a hat, panic when I hear sirens. What makes it more difficult for me is watching what has happened to my good friend's family after this tragic accident. I can only love her and pray, I can't make it stop or make her wake up to what's going on. I've learned so much in the past year, and even just in the past few months. A lot of it would sound morbid to any "normal" person, but to me, it's stuff we've all had to learn to consider. I am grateful for the grace and mercy I am granted anew each day, the same grace and mercy our Savior grants my good friend, for which I am also grateful. I know He won't let her go.
Anyway, I suppose that's all for now, here in left field....
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