On Wm's Last Nerve

Wm just said to Steve:
"Watch out, the last little bit of my very last nerve is almost gone."

Rough Day

Wm woke up in a great mood and we had a great morning, but as soon as it was time to put his shoes on and head down to the bus stop, he said, "I don't want to go!"  Then he kept asking how many more days until the weekend.  We walked up to the bus stop, and he seemed very upset (lip a'quiver), but he went.  While we waited, he continued to be very wary of the whole business.  He climbed up onto the bus and sat down.  But then I watched as his little face crumbled and he started crying.  My last view was of Wm crying and crying as he blew me kisses and waved as the bus pulled away.  All the other moms at the bus stop felt horrible and I got lots of hugs and sympathy (one of the other moms was crying just watching Wm), but it was HARD.  I cried the whole way home, then called and cried into Steve's ear for 15 minutes.  I barely focused on anything today and just sat around worrying about Wm.  

His bus was LATE (apparently some other kindergartener had gotten on the wrong bus and held up the whole process).  It finally rolled in nearly a half hour late.  And Wm got off all smiles.  He says he had a good day - and still loves Mrs. Couch.  Apparently he was today's "lucky duck," which means he got to do some primo stuff (not clear what) and gets a special letter to bring home from Mrs. Couch.  And today was gym day, so Wm got to run all around and skip and jump.  So it sounds like Wm had a much better day than I did.  I asked him why he was sad this morning and he said, "I missed you and didn't want to leave you."  Which is weird because it's not like he wasn't in preschool!  So I think it's just the novelty of the whole thing.

He seemed great yesterday evening too, so we'll see how tomorrow morning goes.  Fingers crossed that the good mood lasts!  But, if nothing else, Steve is on duty to take him to the bus stop tomorrow morning, so I will miss any horror that ensues. I don't think I could take it again!

First Day

Today was Wm's first day of kindergarten.  And I am EXHAUSTED.  Meanwhile, he is outside running around like a madman and razor scootering all over the place.

Steve and I walked him to the bus stop and loaded him onto his bus.  Steve then became convinced that Wm was freaked out and wept the whole way home.  We drove to the school for the meeting with the principal and PTA.  We covertly watched Wm get off the bus - he seemed fine, so Steve was happy.  Then, I had to pee, and upon emerging from the bathroom, I discovered Wm standing outside his classroom, crying.  I went over to him and he launched himself at me and clung with all his might, crying, "I was lost!  I didn't know where to go!  I was so scared!"  So I showed him he was standing right in front of his classroom and the woman standing in front of the door was Mrs. Couch.  I got him settled down and into the classroom.  But he did not look happy.  This threw Steve, and now me, into all sorts of panic.

Around noon, I get a call from Mrs. Couch.  I about wet myself.  But she was just calling to confirm that we did not want latchkey and there would be someone at the bus stop to greet Wm at the end of the day (which I thought was nice).  I asked her how his day was going and she said he was doing very well, was a great listener (really?), and was calmed down...though occasionally she said he seemed "stressed." But she promised all the kids were.  Steve and I felt much better.

Then I went to pick Wm up at the bus stop...only the bus didn't come and didn't come.  I was the only parent there...I started to get nervous.  When it was 10 minutes late, I started to get much more nervous.  I started to think maybe I was in the wrong place.  Or something.  After 15 minutes, I flew into a full scale freak out and called the school (I was afraid to go home to get his bus schedule in case it came, but felt trapped in the wrong location).  While I was having a psychotic breakdown in the ear of the school secretary, the bus pulled up.  But Wm didn't get off.  I leapt onto the and screamed, "WHERE IS MY SON!?!?!?!"  Then his little head popped up (thank god he's too young to be totally embarrassed by his mom).  He was just chillaxin' in the back, no idea they'd reached his stop.  I didn't stop shaking the whole way home.

Wm however, told me he had a great day, loves kindergarten, was SO brave, and even made a cool paper hat to wear (which he modeled for me).  So, he is happy as a clam, full of energy, and rarin' to go. And I am barely conscious.

At the bus stop

Cool stylin'

Yes.  He is that cute.

Walking off into the sunrise.

The Face of Fear

Lookin' happy!

Cinnamon Rolls Pancakes, Mr. Falcon!

I went upstairs to put laundry away and when I came back down, this greeted me:

I decided to combine Wm's 2 favorite breakfasts, cinnamon rolls and pancakes, into one decadent Breakfast Experience.  Behold, the cinnamon roll pancake:

They were really good, but so rich that even one was too much.  So...while it was a fun experiment, I think it's one that will not be repeated, despite the deliciousness of the first few bites.  Here is Wm on Bite 2 (after about 5 more, he said, "this is good...but it's making my belly hurt"):

Sarcastic Rabbit Ears

Wm is done with preschool!  They gave him very sweet books about his time in preschool, and a disk filled with pictures.  Wm is super excited for Monday!  And, he has weirdly decided he wants to read before he gets to kindergarten, so he is trying to read everything.  He is actually getting really good!  He's surprised me with a few words he has gotten without any problem (tomorrow, shampoo, optional).  He sat and read me his entire preschool book!  We were also sitting in the car and he was all, "if 2+4=4, then does 20+20=40?"  Super genius.

Wm also uses his super genius powers for evil.  He totally gave me sarcastic rabbit ears tonight at dinner!  I laughed so hard that I insisted he do it again on video.  The back story is that I got some new lip balm that I think I had an allergic reaction to - Steve is skeptical and has made his skepticism no secret.  I was saying at dinner that I think I am just going to throw the lip balm away.  And Wm did this:


Wm found this GIANT carrot in our garden yesterday and the whole family feasted upon it's orangey goodness:

While at Costco today we found a carton of the best strawberries ever that weigh as much as I do.  So, thinking of ways we could use all those strawberries, Wm and I made pound cake for strawberry shortcake.  The recipe I used called for a "tube pan" and I though, "tube pan, loaf pan...same dif."  Not so much.  The pound cake looks like it has been through some horrible war.  But tastes amazing!  So no pictures.  But, Wm helped more with this than he ever has!  He is becoming quite the chef!  He cracked all 5 eggs, measured and poured in all the dry ingredients, and mixed it all up.  Only one egg was lost in the whole process!

The Wonderful World of Kindergarten Orientation

Wm has had a whirlwind day!  He has said about a million times, "this is the best day EVER!"

First, Wm went to the dentist and was SO GOOD.  He was a big boy!!  He even got xrays, and he was amazing!!!  He was totally intrigued with getting tooth xrays and loved checking out the insides of his teeth.  His teeth are in perfect condition!  My obsessive care of Wm's teeth is paying off!

THEN, my friends, Wm went to kindergarten orientation!  We saw his classroom, met his teacher, Wm was "assessed," and we got to play on the playground.  Mrs. Couch seems super nice - her two sons (one exactly Wm's age) went to OSU Child Care too!  Wm really liked her.  His classroom is very nice and cute -- and even has some computers right in there!  There will be a lot more when the renovations are done on the new school.  Wm got to see his chair, see his hanger, use the potty, and get familiar with everything.  Mrs. Couch took Wm over to a table and did some exercises with him and she said he is "definitely ready" for kindergarten!  When she found out he went to OSU, she goes, "Ah ha!  That's why he's so far ahead!" She was most amazed by Wm's awesome math skills - she told me, "he was adding and subtracting IN HIS HEAD!"  I was all, "he totally gets that from his dad."  The teacher's aide then helped Wm make a cool little bead thing to hang from his backpack while we talked with Mrs. Couch.  Afterwards, we took Wm outside to play on the their playground.  But, shortly after that he discovered that we were actually done and leaving.  He screamed, "I WANT TO BACK TO MY CLASSROOM!!!!" and then tried to break into the locked school to get back to kindergarten.  We lured him away with the promise of chicken fingers.  He spent all of lunch repeating how much he wants to go to kindergarten NOW and does not want to go back for his last day of preschool tomorrow.  He has already memorized his "food number" (that he will punch into a keypad to get his breakfast and lunch, if he's buying).  He was screaming, "I AM 396!" to everyone at the restaurant.  I told him it only works at school.  Wm is a big kid now....

Here Wm is showing off his lunchbox and beaded zipper thingie he made at orientation today. He is PUMPED about packing - and being able to pick out what I put in his lunchbox.  The menu for Day 1 is "make your own pizza" with a pita, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, carrot sticks, an apple, and a juice box (and, perhaps, I'll throw a surprise cookie there too!) You'll notice the giant sticker on his shirt for being such a good boy at the dentist!

Wm and are are off to make a couple loaves of chocolate chip banana bread to take in to Ben and Chelsea tomorrow for his last day of preschool!

When Daddy Grows Up...

Steve was walking around the house without his shirt on the other day and Wm asks, "when Daddy finishes growing up, will he grow hair on his chest?"  After laughing my butt off, I told Wm that Daddy was done growing up and would probably remain hairless.  Wm seemed a bit disappointed.

Wm was a party animal this weekend.  We went to a bacon party at Mel and Eric's house.  There were a ton of kids there - all in 2nd grade.  Big kids!  Wm was shy at first, but ended up having a blast.  He said as we were leaving, "that was good practice for kindergarten - when we came, I didn't know anyone at all - and now I know all their names and played with them!" Meanwhile, I stuffed my face with "candy bacon" - which I did not know existed....but was AMAZING (basically, bacon coated in sugar and baked).  Steve found some guy there that seemed to know nearly as much about soccer as he did, so, of course, he had a good time.  He spent a long time helping the kids build a ramp for a remote controlled car - and Mel said her daughter told her before going to sleep that night, "William's dad is awesome."  Steve is the pied piper of children...they follow him wherever he goes.

We go to Wm's kindergarten orientation on Thursday.  I'm looking forward to meeting his teacher!  This is Wm's last week of preschool!!!

Keeping a eye on Daddy

Wm was off school today due a teacher in-service day.  Steve took the day off and they had a Boys Day of Fun.  Wm let the cat out of the bag and told me that Daddy took him to Tim Horton's and they had donuts for breakfast.  Then the built legos all morning.  After that they came and rode Wm's bike around the path next to my office and took me out to lunch at Wm's favorite pizza place.  Apparently, Steve then took Wm to DQ for a mint dilly bar and to the lego store...where he bought him a new set...again.  So, basically, Wm had the time of life.

But Wm told me at dinner that he really has to keep his eye on his Dad.  He said that he has to watch his Daddy to make sure that he:

1. doesn't drink Coke
2. wears his seatbelt all the time
3. isn't a mean-o
4. doesn't get coffee in the morning so he's "not hyper all day"

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Wm has been lukewarm about bike riding since we live on a fairly intense incline - it was too hard for him to ride uphill for long and going downhill scared him.  So yesterday we took him to the bike path at the end of our street with his bike and he LOVED it.  LOOOOOOOVED it.  So much in fact, that he insisted we do it again today.  And he says we're going for a bike ride every day.  We went to Target to get his school supplies and decided to upgrade to a bigger helmet since he has grown out of the last one we bought him when we started carting him around in the bike trailer. It's awesome.  You can't see it well in the pictures, but it is a shark head - and even has a fin on the top.  It got lots of comments on the bike path.  Wm is a bike ridin' demon!  Hell on wheels!

I also discovered a wonderful, wonderful treat tonight: homemade no-churn butter pecan ice cream.  Stop reading this RIGHT NOW and go make some.  It was...amazing.  AMAZING.  First, this will lure you in:

Now that I have your attention, here is how to do it (SO easy!)

Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a skillet

Add 1/2 c. sugar

Throw a cup of chopped pecans in there

Stir constantly until sugar is browned and melted (it will take a 7-10 minutes)

Pour out onto greased cookie sheet and let cool

While the buttered candy pecans are cooling, make the ice cream:

Add 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp powdered sugar to a mixing bowl

Pour in 2.5 cups heavy whipping cream

Add 1 tsp vanilla

Whip on high with hand or kitchenaid mixer until soft peaks form

Pour into freezer safe container.  Now the pecan goodness should be cool.  Break into bits with your hands and sprinkle into container with ice cream.  Put in the freezer for 2 hours.  Then, pull it out and mix it up to make sure pecans are evenly distributed.  Put back into the freezer for at least another 2 hours.  DONE!  The possibilities are endless if you don't like pecans - strawberries, chocolate chips...whatever you like!  But, if you don't like pecans...I don't even want to know you, man.

Kindergarten Time!

We got all Wm's kindergarten info in the mail today.  His teacher's name is Mrs. Couch, which Wm finds funny.  He goes in on Aug 25 for his orientation and to meet Mrs. Couch.  Then, his first day of school is Aug 29 - Steve and I apparently have a "brief parent meeting" with the principal right after school gets started.  We've got our school supply list, our list of school rules (including, strangely, "no hair paint"), our PTA info, etc etc etc.  And, frankly, all this stuff is starting to freak me out.  I knew I should have unschooled him!  No hair paint?!  What if Wm wants hair paint - what's the big deal?  And what IS hair paint?  Wm is on the MFing grid!  He will soon be under the thumb of "the man."  I'm not liking this.  Not liking it one bit!  He just seems too young, too funny, too awesome...too his own self to be shackled into the chains of pubic education.  Steve thinks I'm insane.  Hmph.

In other, brighter, news, Wm is home!  We missed him like crazy and have been snuggling the crap out of him.  He and I made "hand pies" today, which he had a blast with.  We rolled out pie crust, cut it into strips, stuffed it with jam or nutella, folded it, sealed it, and baked it.  YUM!

Wm had no interest in going school shopping with Mimi and I this morning, so he stayed home and we went and picked out some really cute new school clothes for him - thank you, Mimi!  His favorite: Star Wars underpants.  I ordered him some school shoes from zappos this afternoon.  And he is in business.

Eyeball update: My eyes continue to improve every day and the panicking is past.  All is well!

And the garden is still going strong!  I sent Wm out to pull up some carrots to have with lunch, and I went out and cut off some broccoli to have with dinner.  The peas are done and are currently waiting to be tilled back into the soil (they were awesome and we got tons o' peas!)  The zucchini, sadly are also likely done - we planted them too close together and they got too big, so we only got about 5 zucchini before the started dying.  But we have enough tomatoes to make vats of spaghetti sauce!  We had some weird plant growing on our hill, and it overtook our steps.  Then Steve discovered a giant pumpkin that is already the size of a basketball!  It will be a prizewinner by Halloween!  There are a few other green ones that aren't orange yet in our "pumpkin patch" as well.  This is what we get for throwing last year's pumpkin seeds on the hill!

I Work Hard For the $$$$$$

This is a William-less Willie the WonderKid post.  Wm is currently at Grandma and Papa's...and Steve and I are missing him like crazy! But he returns home tonight...just when we started getting used to the quiet.

But, even without Wm, I had to update everyone on the Strange and Ongoing Happenings of Cory's Employment.

As you know, I have been trying to get flex time to work in my current job.  For a while.  A long while.  This has taken a long time because it has been a NIGHTMARE.  I won't bore you with all the details of the trials and tribulations of working through the red tape at OSU...but, basically, it FINALLY got all worked out this week.  And, ironically, they are doing EXACTLY what I asked for weeks ago and they told me would never fly.  So, weeks of horrible meetings, finagling, arguing with the College Office, and all sorts of things...and we're right back to what I wanted from the get-go.  So, starting on Aug 29, when Wm goes to kindergarten, my appointment will be reduced from 100% to 80%.  OSU still considers 80% full time, so none of my benefits will change (though I will have a slight reduction in pay which we will not even notice with the cessation of day care costs). I will work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 7:30-2:30 and Wednesdays from 10-2.  Thus, I will be home every day by 3PM to collect Willie from the bus stop!  No latchkey for Wm!!!!!!

Making things seem even more real, we got Wm's bus schedule in the mail yesterday.  He gets picked up at 8:19AM on the corner of our street and dropped off at 3:49PM.  What the what?  School goes from 9-3.  Poor dude is going to have to spend all kinds of time on the bus.  I will be so glad when school is done and Wm can just walk down the street for first grade.  And the building will be sweeeeeeet.  Sometime next week we should get a letter telling us who Wm's teacher is and when his kindergarten orientation is.  I can't believe my little guy is going to school for reals!

Ohio State Fair!

Operation Wm Dump was successful and Steve and I are officially kidless for the week!  Since the fair was ending, we woke up and hit the place up right at opening time on Saturday before we left.  Wm had the time of his life.  He must have said a million times how much fun he was having and how much he loved their fair.  The highlight was probably the deep fried buckeyes we got.  Seriously....GOOD.  Wm had a BLAST riding rides and playing games!

Wm LOVED the Big Slide.  He rode it 3 times!!!  That is $12 worth of slide riding.  Yeahhhhhh.

He can't see the pure joy on his face...but it was worth $12.

Mommy's turn to do the Big Slide with Wm!

The jig is up, the noose is out, they finally found him - the renegade, he had it made...

Caterpillar ride

Helicopter ride

Wm won this weird blue dog made in China by beating Daddy at the water gun game.  So, basically, Wm wins inhaling strange lead fibers.

Wm "won" his first pet!  He actually lost, but was so cute doing it, the carnie dude running the booth gave Wm a goldfish anyway!  Wm wanted to name him "Goldie," but I said that was boring, so I suggested naming him "Larry Goldstein, Attourney-at-Law."  Wm liked that, but said he can't remember it all, so he calls him Larry.  Surprisingly, after buying Larry a little home and food, he is still alive 24 hours later.

Wm very initially VERY wary of the skyride - but when there were fried buckeyes to be had at the end, he was willing to get on.  Once we got up there, he goes, "THIS IS GREAT!!!! Not scary at all!"  I think Mommy was a bit more freaked out by it than Wm was!

Willie the Hippie

Wm did an AMAZING job tie dying!  He also loved it. I think his shirt turned out super cute!!  Of course, he is a tie dying genius.

We leave Saturday to take Wm up to Grandma and Papa's for his Wm Vacation.  I'm not sure who is looking forward to it more...us or Wm.  I am creating a long list of things Steve and I must do in our awesome kidless frenzy of adultness.

I'm pretty sure almost everyone who reads this has already been subjected to a long story about my Eyeball Adventures.  So I will give you a brief (see: long) rundown...

1. I showed up and was given Valium.  I was VERY relaxed in the waiting room.  So relaxed, in fact, things happened.  Steve, sitting next me on the couch, whispered furiously, "Jesus F-ing Christ, did you just fart in a waiting room filled with people?"  My response: insane giggling.  Then they called my name and things took a turn.

2. I went back and laid down on the table.  The process went as follows:

     - they pried my eyeball open with some contraption and filled in with a gallon of drops

     - I watched as sharp implements did something to my eyeball, but could feel nothing

     - everything went black and I was blind temporarily.  The Valium was useless at this point.

     - they lasered me for about 30 seconds (while I smelled burning flesh and tried not to wet myself)

     - they "closed my eye flap" and a 2 minute psychedelic light show ensued

   Repeat on other eye.

3. I could see so-so immediately.  My eyes were very scratchy, sore, and irritated.  This lasted for about 3 hours.

4. I came home and laid in bed, not napping as instructed, but instead thinking that this was all a big mistake.

5. My eyes felt better and I decided maybe it wasn't a mistake.

6. I took off my shields and discovered things were still foggy and once again decided it was a big mistake.  

7. I panicked.

8. I could not do extensive internet research on my symptoms, as I usually would.

9. I panicked some more.

10. I went back to the eye doctor the next day for my follow-up and was told this was normal inflammation and should heal up and go away.

11. I felt better.  

12. My eyes are VERY dry.  And I have to sleep with weird shields over them.  And constantly put drops in them.

13. Day 3: things are still foggy and I decide the eye doctor is lying to me and this is not normal.  I panic again.

14. I harass Steve into doing my online research, he assures me this is normal from what he read online and I feel better.

15. Day 5: things are still foggy and I decide Steve is lying to me and this is not normal.  I panic again.

16. Today:  I go for my latest eye checkup.  I can now read the 20/20 line with both eyes working together (though it's not crisp or clear - sort of hazy).  The eye doctor tells me there has been a 75% improvement in my inflammation and I am healing very nicely.  I am skeptical and can't decide if I want to panic or not.  He says I can stop most of the drops and gives me a new ointment that will help the cells smooth out, thus eliminating the haze and making things crisp and clear.  I make an appointment to see him in 4 weeks, at which time he assures me that I will be healed and seeing perfectly.  I decide to believe him and feel better about the whole business - maybe this was a good idea after all.