Looking back, June started off to what could have been a very scary month. Nate was experiencing strange symptoms that was causing his teachers and us, alarm. After back and forth conversations between his neurosurgeon and his oncologist, it was initially decided to do a scan, 5 months early. However, as his symptoms eased up a bit, we started to feel a little more comfortable with waiting. We decided to cancel the scan in the hopes it was all just a freak thing. Well, we've made it to August and haven't had to call a doctor one time. What an amazing feeling! That's not to say he still doesn't do some weird and quirky things, but the feeling is more like it's not the tumor or any related pressure causing the issues. It's just that he's a quirky kid. ;) I'll take that any day!
We finished off the busy month of June with both boys finishing school and completing Ben's baseball season and Nate's soccer season. July was right around the corner since school ended so late this year, due to all of the snow days. Before we hit July though, the boys were able to play some mini-golf, we had my family up from CT, I went to Baltimore for a bowling tournament, we had friends over to swim & play, and Ben participated in a golf camp.
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| tie-dying shirts |
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| the finished product! |
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| Ben's golf camp |
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| Nate's first flower from his garden |
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| ready, set, go! |
July, as always, was an incredibly busy month. The boys had a list of things they wanted to do, and because I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home with them, we try to get them done! Not everyone has the ability to create a "go with the flow" schedule and I always try to show them not to take any of it for granted. To kick off the month, we threw a party for Nate's teachers and classmates at the house. It was a nice way to bring everyone together during the summer, and it was especially nice to be able to thank everyone for taking part in "Nate the Great" day at the school. As a Boys & Girls' club community, we raised over $1500 for Team Nate the Great! What an amazing feat!
We continued on by throwing the annual 4th of July party as well. The weather was perfect and the food was even better! Everyone seemed to have a great time. The boys were also excited to be able to go back to Tanglewood (If you don't know what Tanglewood is!) to enjoy the grounds and listen to James Taylor. It's something they both look forward to doing and we try making it several times a summer. We're lucky enough to have such a beautiful place right down the road.
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| hanging out in the trees at Tanglewood |
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| 7 years later and they both got t-shirts |
As July continued on, ours days were filled with baseball games, tennis, day camp, Jiminy Peak (in case you haven't been here either!), a science show, swimming, boat rides, kayaking, and hockey for Ben. I also took a bowling trip to Baltimore. Nate did a week-long camp learning the Ukulele, which may have been the cutest thing ever! :)
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| Nate's growing strawberries |
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| Ukulele camp! |
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| enjoying a water slide at a birthday party |
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| Ben's summer hockey |
The boys and I finished off July with a trip with some of my close friends to Ocean City, Maryland. The boys were super pumped to go and spend time at the beach. It was nice for me to be able to experience a place where I used to go as a kid with my boys, especially with some of my best friends. We certainly made some memories in July!
Not only did we make memories, but some strides with Nate's food choices and willingness to try new foods. He knew that on June 1 (after the tonsil & dental surgeries were completed) that he would be starting to try new foods, hopefully on a daily basis. With lots of pre-teaching and lots of praise, he started to attempt to try new foods. I started to make a list of the foods he put in his mouth and swallowed. In your head, you're probably thinking, "Really? That's it?" But, this has been a long 4 years. He had not attempted a new food in four years. Yes, FOUR years. In the beginning of this trial period, he would put a piece of new food (the size of a fingertip) in his mouth, sometimes gag, sometimes chew, and finally swallow it. At times, it took him up to 30 minutes to finish. He also found it easier to watch himself using the mirror in the bathroom. (I told you he was quirky, right?) There weren't many limitations to what he could do or choose to eat; whatever works, right? By the end of July, here is the list of foods he tried:
oatmeal raisin cookie
1 pea
shredded cheese
1 grain of rice
cherry
asparagus
1 piece of plain penne pasta
1 piece of plain spaghetti
fried shrimp breading
1 piece of corn
banana
hot dog
salmon
chicken
pepperoni
By the middle of July, he had eaten an entire bowl of penne pasta. He was so excited! Ben was so proud of him. I cried. These days, it doesn't take much for me to do that when it comes to the boys and their accomplishments.
The sleeping situation continues to be a hit or miss thing. Between June and July, Nate slept through the night less than half of the time. He continues to sleep-walk and attempts to be stealth when it comes to trying to get in my bed. Based on the amount of sleep he gets, it's amazing that his personality is the way it is!
If you thought July was busy, August was just about the same....more next time! :)
"Treat a child as though he is already the person he's capable of becoming." (Haim Ginott)
