The Trouble with Kids...

So it's going to be a banner week here.  Sammie turns 6 on Thursday and the much anticipated ENT appointment in Ann Arbor is scheduled for Thursday as well.  And we can't forget that the Fancy Nancy-themed birthday party is on Saturday.  I can't decide who's most excited... me or Sammie.  I think, honestly, it's me.  Probably because I have so many surprises up my sleeve... she's going to blow a gasket.

She knows all about the Fancy Nancy party and the dress up part... but she has no idea about the activities I've planned.  The party is themed, and planned, like a wedding... I'm so anal.  [With good reason... a) I hate kids birthday parties where only general mayhem and house trashing is planned and b) my birthday is in July and we were usually moving or traveling for my birthday-- not a lot of awesome parties!]. In addition to the fantabulous cake being made by Dodi Wheeler of CrazeBake... I've got 2 crafts, 1 game, a "shopping trip" and a story reading planned.  I'd say more but some of my followers are coming and though I'm just dying to tell EVERYONE... I don't want to ruin the fun for them.

Some of the things Sammie doesn't know yet... I e-mailed the radio station and asked them to wish her a Happy Birthday and play one of her favorite songs... Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.  We'll see if she gets the song too but they are pretty good with birthday announcements.  Listen on Thursday around 7:30 am to K 105.3 to see what happens (yes, you can listen live online AND that's EDT zone).

After our Dr appointments, we are planning to meet Aunt Alison and  Steve at Chuck E. Cheese for lunch.  Okay, confession time... I've NEVER EVER been to a Chuck E Cheese.  So this will probably be either really exciting and fun for me or the last time I ever spoil my kids with Chuck E Cheese.  I figure Aunt Alison and Daddy showing up will just make Sammie's day.  (FYI, Sammie and Aunt Alison have a special bond... it's always been that way... so it will be a big treat for Sammie.)

I'm really, really praying something comes of this appointment on Thursday for Sean.  Not so much because I want him to need surgery or medicine... in fact, I'd really like to avoid both of those.  However, right now... my little boy is miserable!  He's stuffed up and since we just switched to flonase (or the generic, rather), he's had a sore throat and upset stomach for 3 days now.  Sean's teacher pointed out they could be side effects  and they are listed as issues.  Quick prayer that BCBSM will accept the prescription for Veramyst now and consider that he's failed on both nasicort and flonase.  Otherwise, I may just bite the bullet and pay out of pocket.  It's not like I have a choice. 

I stopped in for a quick chat with his teacher this morning to give her a heads up on Sean's sad face, bags under his eyes and slow reaction time.  I didn't want her to think we beat him over spring break.  He forgot to tell me that she had to send Sean to lie down for a while because he didn't feel well yesterday (apparently he was doubled over with a stomach ache).  Have I mentioned yet that I love my kids school.  I LOVE that I can check in with the teachers and give them a heads up... especially since Sean's been off and on different allergy/asthma medications all year.  I love that Mrs. Munie keeps an eye on him and lets me know if he's behaving differently (especially since he forgets to tell me).  And she doesn't think I'm crazy when I say... he's miserable and didn't eat dinner or breakfast... she knows I didn't forget to feed him.  It makes me feel better leaving them at school for 8 hours knowing she isn't going to yell at him for staring into space and not being focused today.  [If I'd kept him home every day he was feeling crummy because of his allergies, he'd have missed all of Sept and October and part of March and all of April... not really an option if I'm not home schooling... which in theory sounds wonderful... but I don't think I've got it in me to work from home, keep the kids home, manage the house, etc and not go insane.  I don't know how people manage to home school but I tip my hat to all of you who manage to do it all!].

And honestly, I was worried yesterday that I was being an over-protective Mom, but when other parents in the parking lot at pick up time are asking your kid, "What's wrong buddy, are you not feeling well?";  and your friends are looking at you during your weekly coffee/homework time and shaking their heads saying "he's just not himself"; followed up by his teacher saying, "I'm so glad you came in this morning... here's what happened with him yesterday... what's going on?"  Then I realize... I'm not crazy, I'm not over-protective and most of all I'm not ALONE.  I'm observant and tuned in to my kid... and if keeping him home and holding him and snuggling him all day would REALLY make him better, it's absolutely what I'd do... right now, though, we're 2 days away from another Dr appt and all I can do is pray that we figure out how to make him feel normal again. 

So you're probably wondering what the "trouble with kids" is... the trouble is they steal your hearts and hold them soo tight it feels like you can't breath from loving them so much.  So this week, while it seems I'm completely heartbroken and frustrated over Sean being miserable... I'm also completely elated and joyful that my little girl is going to be 6 and I get to throw her the best birthday party ever.   So for different reasons, I want to snuggle both my kids this week and the laundry and floors be damned... but the trouble is, I have a life to lead, a home to manage, and responsiblities.  So onward I go.