Saturday, April 19, 2014

Playing Catch-up

It's odd; when you're used to blogging and then there's a big bit of time when you don't blog, for whatever reason, creating a new post seems totally overwhelming. I mean, how can you possibly cover everything that has happened? It's impossible. So I'm just going to pick up where we are now.  Seems so much less stressful.  One event I definitely DO want to blog about is my San Francisco trip. But that's for a later time.

As predicted, after spring break, we were all sent hurtling at warp speed toward the end of the year.  The "end of the year" for teachers means the end of the school year. Among teachers, there IS no other "end of the year". Anyway, I always look forward to spring break but also dread it a little, just because the "end of the year" is insane. The kids get spring fever, there's extra paperwork, there are NO extra days off, and of course capping off all the fun--state testing. It's a fast but difficult time.  I think teachers get "summer fever" during this last push--we are all dreaming of sleeping in and hanging out lazily with our kids all day. This summer, I'm even MORE excited than usual because we joined the YMCA as a family.  The kids will start swim lessons at the beginning of May, which will take us through June into prime swimming time. There are two outdoor pools that are part of our membership, and I absolutely want to take advantage!

We are a little sad around here, though. With the end of the year comes the end of our kids' time at Lexington Hearing and Speech Center. When we realized Anderson was having some speech delays around 18 months, we decided that the kids would start in daycare the following year, just to give them experience around other same-age peers.  Amelia was delayed because Anderson was delayed--it was a vicious cycle.  The kids started in the "Ladybug" room with beloved Ms. Allie, and that started off what can only be described as the best possible childcare/preschool experience.  I tell people all the time that I've NEVER had one single issue there, which I know is a rarity because I hear other parents' stories. Maybe my experience as a teacher has made me more laid back, but really I think it's just because they're so wonderful.  All of the teachers seriously make me feel like my kids are the most loved kids in the school. At first I was all, 'hey, my kids are so awesome because everyone loves them so much!', but then I overheard a teacher talking to another parent and I realized that they do this with EVERYONE!  They make every parent feel like their kid is important and special.  All of the teachers know their names and speak to them in the halls. It's just a happy place.  I wish I could bottle up the love that Ms. Lindy, Ms. Stacey, Ms. Anna, and Ms. Jennifer have given to Anderson during his preschool experience and just keep it forever, for those times when school is hard for him--and there will definitely be those times. We love you, LHSC.

In other news, we are most definitely feeling the changes in health insurance in this house.  Last year, when Marty had his hospitalization, our out-of-pocket wasn't cheap, but it wasn't horrific, either.  This time around--oh my gosh--it is INSANE.  We get bills every single day. One day, we got literally SIX bills from the same medical group in one day. SIX. SEPARATE. ENVELOPES.  It's gotten to the point where, if one of us opens a bill, the other just says, "How many digits--three or four?"  We definitely do not have the money to pay them off immediately, so we'll be setting up payment plans and paying on this situation until...well...it's going to take awhile. It is what it is, though, and life has to go on.

Amelia has become such a little comic. She loves to laugh, and she apparently has inherited her mom and dad's unfortunate habit of laughing when someone gets hurt (when it's funny, of course).  Last Sunday, I turned on America's Funniest Home Videos and that was the end of it. She was hooked.  They have an app that you can download for free and play video clips from the show and we've been having a great time with that. Anderson watches, too--but then he recreates the scenes which isn't the best.  He falls off the couch in an exaggerated, crazy way and demands that Marty and I both laugh at him.  The first few times, it was cute.  Now? Not so much. Tonight his attempted fake fall became a real fall, though, complete with tears, so I'm hoping maybe that little game has been laid to rest.

Well, friends...that's a decent catch-up on what's new around here. Better and more frequent posts soon--I promise. Enjoy the Easter weekend!!