So Long March...Where is Spring?

Ok. Sorry I haven't updated much lately. It has been a busy March. I can't say it's been a fun busy, just busy. March seems like such a long month. I never thought it would end.

I have been hard at work getting my 3-5th graders through the state mastery tests. These are HUGE! I wish so much emphasis wouldn't be placed on these standardized tests but there is. Schools here are actually put on lists for not making the benchmarks or not making enough progress every year. Unfortunately, the city schools never do that great. But we survived.

Colby has been hard at work at preschool and daycare. He is loving school and learning so much. We often have conversations about who's name starts with what letter. One day he chimed in with, "I don't like C in my name Mommy. I want the other letter that sounds the same. Just like Keith." Too smart for me. He knows all but a few letters. His teacher taught all the kids the letter that starts their name and Colby seems to have learned them all. Too bad he doesn't have friends that start with F, H, N, Q, U, or V. He does know Y because it is in his name. He is also starting to write his name and I can tell what it is although the C is a little upside-down and his "b" looks more like a tire-swing. But I am impressed. He also loves to read. He is enjoying his TAG reader and is constantly reading books. Today he picked up the student copy of the social studies book I had in the car and was "reading" it on the way home. However, he has told me he likes for Mommy or Daddy to read to him because he can't "say" the words like we can. He already knows there are words on the page and he wants to read them. He gets a little frustrated at times because he can't. But we do have him spell words a lot.

Colby is also still loving music. He loves to sing as we drive home from school. I have been serenaded by anything from Itsy Bitsy Spider to Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland and even the Jeopardy theme sing. Yes, that's true! The other day we were listening to the radio when one of his favorite songs came on, "All Night Long". He knows it as sung by Rascall Flatts on the Cars soundtrack. Well that day before we heard two lines of it Colby chimed in with, "But that's not right. It's not the same." Huh? I had to listen more closely. Oh, someone else was singing it. But boy did it sound very similar. And today....Today I was serenaded all night with "Baby, baby, baby. Oh!" Yikes! Where did he hear that? I NEVER would listen to that silly boy Justin Beiber. Thanks a bunch Miss Jenn!

Well, I'm sure you'd like a few photos. So here's a couple. I don't ahve many from Feb and March. We didn't really get anywhere and my camera battery died and the new one just came in. But enojy these few. The last one...a rare moment. Colby has been exhausted lately. That afternoon he jsut crawled on the sofa while I was working on the computer, tucked himself in, and fell asleep. Not sure when the last nap was before that. He hasn't really napped since he turned 2.

Now so long March. Here comes....more Snow? What? Is this an April Fool's joke. We are under a winter storm watch for tomorrow. Ridiculous. I want warm weather.

Busy Few Weeks...and the Eye Doctor

Ok. We have been quite busy. Our little man is soon to turn 3, on Wed the 28th. I can't believe it. We have a small celebration tomorrow at the library where Colby and I go every Tuesday for story time. So cookies, a craft, and books for his friends tomorrow. Wed we will have his favorite dinner and a little cake just the three of us. On Saturday my family will be coming over to celebrate all the April and May birthdays. Colby, my brothers Chris and Keith, my brother-in-law Jeff, and mine. Last Saturday we brought Colby to Mystic Aquarium for part of his birthday present. We went there and then walked in downtown Mystic to see the boats on the river. He loved that! And yes, promise a post on that with photos!

Today however, Colby and I spent the morning at the eye doctor. When we adopted Colby we were told they thought he was nearsighted. Ok, we promised to check it out. I had noticed, and a few family memeber also noticed, that his left eye seemed slightly "lazy". When he looks at you sideways, it seemed to almost disappear. I wanted to wait a little while to check it out, at least get him a little older and a little more cooperative. So we went today. So...how did it go?

Mommy was a little nervous to go. I knew there was a slight problem but I didn't know what we could do to fix or help it. After 2 hours at the doctor....yes, there is a lazy eye.... his eye muscles didn't develop, part of being a preemie. He will need a patch to help strengthen his left eye. That won't be for a month though. First, eye glasses. Yup. His eyesight is really not good in his left eye so we need eye glasses to help correct that. However, the weak muscles and poor eye sight are most likely due to the scarring on his optic nerve. Not sure what that means but I think it is from being a preemie also. As a preemie, the eyes aren't fully developed and there may be a problem with the eyes. His scarring can't be fixed but hopefully with the eye glasses, a patch, and yes...surgery was mentioned somewhere down the road, my little man will be ok.

It is truly amazing though how he has adapted already though. He points out things far away in the car. He has used that right eye amazingly well. Now I just hope we can get that left one working well. So, nervous mommy is now a little sad mommy but hopeful that the doctor can help us. They were great with Colby and he was a real trooper. He sat so well for all the exams. My big boy! But he will definitely look like his Daddy now. I'll post some before and after and let you judge for yourself when we get the glasses. But does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep them on his face? He likes his sunglasses and playing with mine or Mike's but only wears them for a second or two. Ugh! Here come the battles. How do glasses stay on 3 year olds?????

We Are Still Here

Yes, we are still alive! We have had quite a busy few days. Colby has met many new people the past 4 days. I have met up with a couple high school friends and we had a party to go to on Saturday. I have lots of photos and yes, I promise to upload them soon. Colby also experienced a swimming pool for the first time! Wow! So many new things. I hope ot get time tomorrow to update more. We also have cousins to meet from Utah. I can't wait for Colby to see Eva and Jack. I think Jack and Colby will get along great. Jack is 5 and Eva is about 8 or 9. So, I promise more to come but it is 10:30 PM and this mommy is getting tired.

A Busy Week

I can't believe I haven't had the chance to update my blog in over a week. Then again, we have been quite busy around here. So, I warn you, this is a long update. After babysitting my nephew Keith, Mike and I took the time to do some Spring cleaning. We organized some paperwork and just about completed our taxes. Last year, we had our taxes done and our rebate back by now. Yikes! I am so far behind. We have also started planning Colby's 2nd birthday party. With such big families, I'm not sure what we will do. One party or two?

Last Saturday we took Colby to my parents' house. He hadn't been there yet and my dad hasn't seen Colby much so we stopped in to say hello. We ended up bringing my mom to visit her mother, Mamie. Mamie now lives with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Brian. Their daughter Heather also lives there with her son Corbin. Corbin is now 8 and a sweetheart. He always has a hug and kiss for me and a high five for Mike. He was so excited to see Colby. After we brought Mamie out to lunch at Friendly's Corbin wanted Colby to play with him outside on his swingset. It has 3 different slides and 2 towers to climb up. Everyone went outside and the boys had a blast. My mom and Mamie enjoyed the swings and Mike and I took turns sliding with Colby down the big slide. Corbin also took Colby down the slide. He and Colby played really well together. Mamie then surprised everyone by climbing up and going down the big slide! She looked so cute. I couldn't believe she did it. Luckily Aunt Linda loves to take photos, like I do, and she took some great ones. She promised to give me a CD of them so when I get them, I'll be sure to post some great pics! We had to leave then because it was way after naptime and Colby was getting tired. After a nap and some more outside time with Daddy at home, we were asked to go out to eat with Mike's parents. Mike's dad had built a rocking horse for Colby and he gave it to him today. It was going to be for his birthday or Easter but he couldn't wait to see Colby play with it. THe horse came out great and Colby loves it. What a busy day.

On Sunday Mike brought Colby to his grandparents' house. They live just down the street, night near Mike's parents. His grandfather, Poppy, loves seeing Colby. They played together in the morning and of course, Poppy gave him jellybeans. Poppy loves jellybeans. In the afternoon, Mike went to Lowe's to buy Colby's new swingset. His grandparents and a couple of his aunts wanted to buy it for Colby and so on Sunday we decided which one. Unfortunately it was raining so the swingset would have to wait to get put up.

The terrible part of the weekend is that I was REALLY sick. I have no idea what hit me but I fought off a 101 degree fever, really bad sore throat, cough, and even the upset stomach. Luckily I was ok while visiting with my family but by Sat night I felt terrible. Thankfully it was the weekend and Mike was home to look after Colby. I am still not 100% but I am on the mend. No more fever, YEAH!

Monday brought us to Yale Children's Hospital to the Adoption Clinic. Our pediatrician and Wide Horizons recommended having Colby be seen by someone in the medical field familiar with International Adoption. Colby did very well, even when they took the blood for his blood tests. What a big boy. I am so happy that Mike was able to take the morning off from work to go with me. I was still feeling crummy and we supported eachother through it. Thankfully everything looks great and it seems Colby grew about half an inch and gained about a pound. We are now at 33 inches tall and 24 pounds. No big issues. YEAH!

Tuesday brought the first really bright sunny, warm day and Colby and I went with Mike's Aunt Jo to a park nearby. Colby enjoyed going down all the slides and playing with the other kids. We brought lunch and walked down the hiking path to a waterfall to eat. Another late nap but Colby had a blast and when we woke freom his nap he was surprised by his own playset almost ready for him. It is up and working but not yet set in the ground. He LOVES it! It is a small set with one platform to a slide and 2 swings and a bar swing. My parents had an airplane shaped toddler swing that we put up and it is perfect for Colby. I'm not sure if he likes the swing or the slide better.

So, much happening here. Hopefully I will be completely better soon. This weekend we need to go shopping for Easter and a birthday party looms. So much to do! And we are enjoying every moment with our little man.