Laundry

I do our wash once a week.  Every Friday, like clockwork, the clothes get washed.  I've gotten used to Ian only having 3 pairs of underwear go through the washing machine and dryer.  No matter how many times I tell him he should be putting on a fresh pair daily, I've come to expect seeing only 3 or 4 pairs (one time it was only 2 pairs!!  Oh my!!).

Sam changes her clothes throughout the day.  She will start with one outfit and usually change her clothes after school once or twice.  Again, another thing I've come to expect with the kids.

This past Friday I go to put Sam's dirty clothes in the washing machine and think to myself, "Wow!  This is a lot of clothing for one week."   Since it didn't look like a lot of clothing was missing from Sam's closet, (a true testament to how much clothing Sam actually has), I didn't fully realize how much clothing was going into the machine. 

As I was folding Sam's clean clothes to put away in her closet, I got an accurate picture of just how much she went through in one week.  Remember, this is one week!! 

32 hangers of items (each hanger contains a complete outfit of a matching top/bottom or dress)
6 pairs of leggings (granted some of the leggings may have been worn with some of the dresses)
2 pairs of jeans
4 t-shirts
2 sweaters
3 pairs of shorts
1 bathing suit (At no point was she near a pool)
7 pairs of pajamas
Underwear/socks

I find the above list RIDICULOUS!!!!!!  This is pure craziness!!  Is it because she is a girl and this is a 'girl thing'?  YOWZER!

Either Sam is bipolar (a bathing suit, really?!?!) or she is practicing to be an award show host.  I just wonder if she will be changing her clothes this much when it comes time for her to do her own wash.

Breaking News!

I'd like to interrupt the regularly scheduled post for today and announce my really cool, fabulous news.  I AM GOING TO ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I got picked.  Me!  Woo-hoo!!!  11 days in Israel, here I come!!  From June 28th to July 9th, I will be one with my people.  I will be absorbing the culture, eating the food, seeing the sights, and getting in touch with my identity.  I am so flippin excited!!!  I am going ride a camel!  Kayak on the Jordan River, swim in the Dead Sea, take a tunnel tour of the Wester Wall and so much more.

It still feels like a dream that I haven't woken up from yet.  I can't believe this is happening.  There are 14 others that got picked from the Washington, D.C. area.  Together with the other JWRP (Jewish Women's Renaissance Program) groups from around the world, we will make up 150-200 women all traveling to Israel. 

It is strange to think that while Ian is away at sleepaway camp, I'll be halfway around the world.  I am certainly not going to be able to obsess over his absence like I did last Summer.  I am not going to be able to scour the camp website for daily pictures posted of him. And I won't be able to send him emails to receive each morning.  I will have my own thing going on and probably not even know what time or day of the week it is back home.  Ok, let's get real people!  Who am I kidding?  I will have an email each morning on a time-delayed release to go to Ian.  And of course, I will have the dual-timezone clock app on my phone alerting me to exact minute it is in Virginia and Massachusetts.  Just because I am halfway around the world, doesn't mean I stop being a mom.  :)

Our Summer is starting off with a bang! 

Heart scary

I am not ready to lose my mom.  I don't think I'll ever be ready (maybe when she is 120?!?!), but I know for sure right now would not be a good time.  Not even close. 

The Wednesday before Jeff and Ian went to Orlando, my mom landed in the hospital.  She was having heart pain, but wasn't sure where it was coming from...reflux or her heart?  By the time we all knew what was going on, the biggest part of the scare was over.  My mom apparently had a heart attack (the day before?  No one is entirely sure) and her triple bypass done in June 2012 had completely failed.  The doctor successfully opened up two of the three openings during a catherization to see what was going on.  The third blockage is still a problem, but at the moment no decision has been made to correct this. 

As the events started to unfold, everyone (EVERYONE!!!) asked when I was headed down to Orlando.  I guess I set myself up for that one as I've been known to go down to Florida to be with the family for much less than this.  But here's the thing, as much as I wanted to go (BELIEVE ME!!! I was thisclose to getting on a plane), it wasn't practical.  Jeff and Ian were headed down there just hours after mom was admitted to the hospital.  If I got on a plane to be with her, I'd have to bring Sam with me too.  Sam wasn't going to be able to spend hours on end in the hospital with me.  It wouldn't be fair to Jeff and Ian to give Samantha to them either.  They had tickets to baseball games and plans that couldn't easily include Sam at the last minute.  I had offers from friends to watch Sam in NoVa for the weekend, but Sam would've been pissed (rightfully so) if we were all in Florida without her.  The last option was for other family members in Orlando to watch her, but again, it wasn't practical.

I decided that I would fly down to be with my mom when Jeff and Ian got back on Monday evening.  This way the kids would have school during the day and Jeff could continue working and look after them.  While Jeff and Ian were in Orlando they were able to visit my mom in the hospital multiple times.  I felt so good about this.  Jeff reported that my mom looked great and she was happy.  I got to skype with my mom and see for myself too.

In the end I decided to not go down.  Mom was out of the woods and it took until Tuesday (3/18), but she got released to go home.  Mom is going to take it easy for at least a month...do absolutely nothing (other than go for walks) and let her heart heal. 

Thank G-d my mom felt pain and her body had a way of telling her something was wrong.  Too many times you hear of the situation ending a completely different way, and not in a good way.   What a scary, scary time.

Sleepaway camp...it's happening!

We all thought Ian didn't want do sleepaway camp again...at least not this coming Summer.  While he had a great experience at his Yotair session (3 nights, 4 days for first-timers) at Capital Camps last year, he said going for anything longer than a week was way too long to be away.  Despite Ian breaking into funny stories throughout the year of his time at camp, he held his ground on not wanting to go back every time I'd say, "You SURE you don't want to go?!!?!"   By January we stopped talking about it.  I didn't want Ian to feel persuaded to do something he wasn't ready for.  He did ask if he could take this Summer off and maybe go again the following year (Summer 2015). 

About 2 weeks ago, the Rabbi at our synagogue came to us with a special opportunity.  Camp Ramah had added on a few mini sessions (12 days in length) to the beginning of the Summer.  Someone (don't know who) had made a very big donation for a few kids to go at a reduced rate.  It would cost us 1/2 the usual amount to send Ian.  Sleepaway camp is already a crazy-amount of money.  At 1/2 off, it is now only 1/2 crazy.  But somehow we could make it happen for Ian, if that is what he wanted.  We told the Rabbi how Ian didn't want to be gone for that long, but we would present the opportunity to him (yet again!) and see what his reaction was.

Later that night, Jeff and I sat Ian down and told him what the Rabbi talked to us about.  Right away Ian said no, 12 days was too long.  If it was a week, it would be ok, but not 12 days.  I wrote an email back to the Rabbi and said, thanks but no thanks. Ian is still not interested.

Two days later Ian gets in the car and says his friend asked him if he was going to Camp Ramah.  Ian told him, "I might be."  WHAT!?!?!?!  I stopped driving, turned around and said,  "Huh?  You might be?"  I guess Ian was thinking about it for the past two days and he decided he would go for it.  Even if he didn't know anyone else going.  WOW!!!  

I figured out that Ian was scared.  Scared to be gone that long.  I told him he can't live his life in fear.  He will cut himself off from so many wonderful experiences if he lets fear get the better of him.  I told him I will track down a kid or two and get them a play date before camp starts.  I also told him he can meet the Rabbi's wife who spends all summer at the Camp.  She has offered to be a point of contact for Ian if he needs anything.

As we continued driving home I made a comment that we will now be kicking off our summer by driving to the New England area (where Camp Ramah is located) and dropping Ian off at camp.  He quickly replied with, "No mom, I will fly there with the other kids."   I was shocked that he was okay with that.  The camp sends an adult to accompany the minors, but Ian is going on his own.  Drop off happens at BWI.  Yowzer!!

Ian is officially registered for camp. From June 24th to July 6th he will get to experience Camp Ramah.  Summer has just gotten real!

Hanging with Samantha

 

Since the day I became a mom (almost 9 years ago!), I have never spent this much time one-on-one with either of my kids before.  Let me correct myself -- I have spent tons of time (years and years!) with the kids, just not alone with no other adult consistently interacting helping to parent (like Jeff, my family, or mommy friends who help parent when we are together with our kids). 

It was just Sam and me for 4 straight days.  Not only 4 days, but 4 nights of putting Sam down to bed on my own.  I know there are single moms everywhere who do this every day, but that's not me.  I've had it really good with Jeff always helping co-parent.  And he was still being a parent as Ian was with him down in Orlando.  But we both know, he took the "easy one" with him on that plane.  I got to hang with the spirited, challenging one.

It should also be noted that before the boy's weekend for Spring Training started, Jeff went to PA the first part of the week for work. So he basically had a pretty sweet week and stopped in Burke long enough to repack a suitcase and give Sam and me a kiss hello and then goodbye.

I am pleased to report Sam and I had a great 4 days together.  We had lunch and saw a play with our friends.  Met up with Elaine and Matthew for dinner.  Had a playdate at another friend's house after school on Friday.  Did the grocery shopping for the week.  Exercised together to a DVD consisting of family yoga.  And we even found time to do one of Sam's most favorite activities....get a frappacunio (don't worry, no coffee involved).  We survived!  That is until Fairfax County Public Schools announced there wouldn't be school on Monday due to snow. Ugh!  I was really counting on school happening for a break from my non-stop parental duties since the boys left on Thursday. Sam and I were doing so well together.  I guess one more day wasn't going to send me running for the hills just yet.

We woke up on Monday to 7 inches of snow had fallen.  It was time to get to work and dig us out.  Usually Sam is a big helper and loves to be outside shovelling right next to me.  I think us being around each other 24/7 was getting to her too.  Her whiny voice found itself again in her body and it was non-stop complaining about everything under the sun.  Oh, school would've been a very good thing right about now.  We were doing so well too.  No longer.  I was not a happy camper.  Jeff and Ian were still enjoying 80 degree weather in Florida, while I am shoveling our driveway and cleaning both cars of the snow and listening to Sam whine.  Lovely!  I was ready for Jeff to come back.  I needed to be rescued.

Sam and I walked across the street for lunch at Chipotle. A change of scenery (and food!) was what we needed.  Sam did an excellent job eating lunch.  We walked back and kept warm inside the house until it was time to head to the airport.  She was back to being sweet.  Maybe Sam realized it was easier to agree with me than argue with me.

Fortunately Jeff and Ian's flight was late enough in the day on Monday that it took off on time.  Whew!! It was a beautiful thing to read Jeff's text that they were on the plane and he was shutting down his phone. 

I missed my boys and was very happy to have everyone together again.  Single parenting...it's not for the faint of heart.

Spring Training

This is a first.  Jeff in Orlando. Without me.  In the 10+ years we've been together, Jeff has never gone down to Florida without me.  It feels so weird to have him down there and me in Burke. 

Jeff and Ian came up with the idea to head South and catch some of the Spring Training baseball games.  They've been planning the trip since before the Spring Training schedule was even available.  From Thursday evening to Monday evening, Jeff and Ian had a fantastic boys weekend planned.  Not only did they see three baseball games in three days, but they got to spend a wonderful amount of time with my dad, Rita, mom, Jim, Lori, Ben and Rachel. 

My mom ended up in the hospital shortly before their visit started.  I was so grateful that Jeff and Ian could visit mom and see her multiple times throughout their time in Orlando.

The boys had an amazing trip!  I am sure now that my secret is out (visiting my family is the best thing ever) I will no longer be going as much as I had on my own.  There will be some stiff competition for long weekend trips to Orlando.  Especially when you are experiencing 80 degree weather and come back to 7+ inches of snow freshly falling.

We got lucky with the scheduling as Ian was originally going to miss 2 days of school (Friday and Monday) but because of the snow, school was cancelled (yet again!) on Monday, March 17th.  Ian ended up only missing 1 school day and didn't even miss gymnastics.  Monday was St. Patrick's day.  It was the luck of the Irish!

As Jeff was unpacking he said these were 3 of the best days of his life. He loved getting to have this time with Ian and create these memories. I know it was pretty special for Ian too. 

Ian getting tackled by Orbit, the Astro's mascot

Heard and Observed #45

I found out from a mutual friend that one of Ian's classmates' mom had a serious illness unexpectedly occur.  It sent a bit of a shock through all of us among the moms who know her.  I told Ian that his friend "John" may not be in school due to the serious condition his mom was in.  If John was in school, he should be extra sensitive to him.  Don't say anything to John unless he says something first.  And try to keep your response positive.  Ian said he would tell John, "I hope your mom feels better." 

I didn't go into too many details telling Ian what was going on; only saying that John's mom was sick.  If John did feel the need to talk about it, I didn't want Ian to start asking a bunch of questions and make John feel bad about what was going on. 

At the end of the day, Ian gets in the car and I asked him if John was in school.  Ian said yes.  Here was their conversation:

John asked Ian if he thought his mom was home or not.

Ian:  Yes, she's home.

John:  No, my mom is in the hospital.

Ian:  I hope she feels better.

John:  Thanks.

Ian:  I wasn't supposed to say anything until you said something first.

Oh my!!!  Next time I give Ian instructions, I am going to have tell him not to say what the instructions were!  It's very sweet how innocent kids are.  Ian meant well and didn't realize what he was doing.  Gosh, I love that kid.