Tuesday, September 6, 2022

First Day of First Grade - Noah

09.06.2022

My Dearest Noah,

Here we are - 1st grade!!! You are growing up too fast and it makes my heart churn. I love watching you grow but it makes me sad how fast time flies. I want to hold onto every moment - every day a little longer. You are growing up. Your face is losing the baby like features and you are starting to resemble a young man. I am not ready! Stop the clock!

You have come a long way this past summer. We weaned you off of a dozen medications, you started to eat (even more than Ollie) and you are growing my love. You are getting stronger EVERY DAY. You have lost 3 teeth as well. It's like everything in your body is catching up and getting so strong!

I love you with all my heart. I know you know that. I know you feel that. Have the time of your life every day. Enjoy learning but most of all sweetheart - HAVE FUN! MAKE FRIENDS! Nothing else matters at this stage of your life. Do NOT worry. Relax and enjoy the ride. Keep smiling! Be kind to others - including yourself. Don't be hard on yourself - you got this. Remember, perfection is in the imperfections. Life is beautiful because it isn't perfect. People are special because they aren't perfect. Give yourself a break sometimes - and just enjoy the little things. you will soar to amazing heights and everything that happens will take you exactly where you need to be. Don't try to control where life takes you - it has a plan just for you and it has a place just for you. 

Enjoy 1st Grade - can't wait to hear about everything every day:)

Love, 

- Mommy

First Day of Kindergarten - Ollie

09.06.2022

My Dearest Ollie,

Here we are - the long awaited day: THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. 

It feels like a big chapter has closed, almost an era. We said good bye to Mansfield Children's Center (MCC) last Friday and I am not going to lie - it was emotional. We LOVE that place. It has become a part of our home and family and it is bittersweet to move on. It's exciting to embark on the new journey and watch you guys grown but it is sad to leave the "baby" chapter behind. 

In any case, you are ready! You are excited. So much so, that when they sent us home today because it was too early to go in - you cried and refused to buckle in the car. I don't know if you are just excited to meet new people, or excited to go where Noah is going, or both, but you are so happy. 

It is a yucky day - pouring cats and dogs since yesterday but nothing can fade your emotions:) 

I hope you have a blast. I hope you fall in love with learning. I hope you make many friends - or even just one. I hope you lie your teacher. I hope school is everything you expect and more. I hope you will come home as happy as you go in. 

You are an amazing human being. You are loved. You are funny, kind hearted and adventurous (sometimes too much). You are determined, witty, clever and most of all you got the secret ingredient: gumption! Never cease to smile my little one - you bring light to this world and everyone around you. 

Shine like a bright star along the way - and enjoy every second. 

Love

-Mommy

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

We did it!

My Dearest Noah, 

I was waiting for this for so long! Ever since we found out about your adrenal insufficiency 2 days before Christmas I have been leaving in fear. We have been living in fear. My mind was going crazy wondering if we should have noticed things sooner, if we have missed something. etc and mostly, I have been so worried about anything happening to you. I breathe for you my dear Noah. I cannot stand the thought of ANYTHING happening to you. 

It's been 4 months and the doctor has been telling us that even though they suspect secondary (central) adrenal insufficiency caused by your asthma inhalers, the likelihood of reversing it is questioned and takes between 6 months to 3 years. Nothing but time can tell if it's secondary which makes me sick to my stomach, what if it's not, what it's something worse, what if time works against us. 

I have been determined and persistent for years now trying to find  out why are you not feeling well all the time. You haven't grown for 3 years in heights and you are now at 4% on the growth curve. You don't eat. You have constant stomach pain (my heart breaks for you - it's been so many I think you are terrified of any pain). And now you are at high risk for severe outcomes for anything. What is going on - I asked myself countless times. 

Long story short, I never gave up. I went doctor to doctor, I learned everything I could learn about all your diagnoses and symptoms, I kept a daily diary on all of you symptoms and in my gut I knew I can't give up. 

In a way finding out this scary disease put my mind at ease - because it took two years to even find an answer. Now it's dealing with the answer that is hard. But my darling Noah - we were adamant with Daddy to run your blood test for a morning cortisol even though the doctor said no way it's reversed yet. We wanted to know if we are even going in the right direction by reducing your asthma medicine. And a miracle happened! You passed! You needed a minimum of 10 and you had 13.4! I couldn't believe my eyes! It's a miracle. I very well deserved and much needed miracle my love. 

I am still worried - I think I will need a long time before I am not but I am so relieved and so happy for you. We did it! You have been a trooper. You have gone through so many doctors poking you and you were so brave! You were so scared so many times but you trusted us and you did what we asked. You are so aware of your body and mind - it is truly amazing. I wish you didn't have to be brave. I wish you never had any issues so we didn't have to get so numb to the poking but nevertheless we did it. And I fell like we did it as a team! I am so so proud of you! And I love you to the moon back a thousand times. 

-Mommy



Thursday, December 9, 2021

A reflection on 2021

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from us to you!

While the pandemic cruelly continued to keep us far and away from most of our loved ones, 2021 was filled with both “firsts” and “lasts” and many special moments and milestones in between.  

Big birthdays (40), new hobbies (piano for Noah), sports (tennis, soccer), taste of triumphs (deep-end swim tests, soccer goals, tennis trophies), last days of old school, first day of new school (Kindergarten for Noah), demolitions, renovations, Netflix and Redbox, family escapes to mountains, lakes and waterfalls (North Woodstock and Dartmouth NH); first visit by the Tooth Fairy, early visit with Santa (Santa’s Village twice), awesome friends and lots of laughter. Vaccines and boosters, worries and relieves. A busy year in an unusual way – and I cannot help but being grateful for staying safe and healthy and for all the time we get to spend together. While some days we drive each other crazy – we will remember this year as the year of being TOGETHER.

Friday, December 3, 2021

The Truth About Santa Claus

ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS WHO NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA ðŸŽ…

Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."
Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"
Brief pause...
Son: "Yes, I want to know"
Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus"
Son: "Really?"
Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea. Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact it gave me great pleasure. You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.
When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that."
Son: "Oh."
Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"
Help each other this Christmas🎄🎅 and...be kind ❤💕

Friday, November 26, 2021

Tooth Fairy for Noah

 Finally!

We have been waiting for months and months - Watching everyone else around you losing theirs. Your bottom tooth has been wiggling since the summer it feels like, then the one next to it too, then your new teeth behind them started showing and yet your baby teeth hang on tight. Then the night before Thanksgiving you were eating your favorite - liver pate sandwich - and suddenly you looked up and said: "Oh I lost a tooth, I lost a tooth!' and you put it right in front of me, so tiny:)

An hour later you ran in my bedroom "I lost another one" hahahaha. Two in an hour. You had no mercy on the tooth fairy the night before Thanksgiving. Poor thing had to travel in all that traffic to get to you. And that she did!

Next morning, you found your little jar with two GOLD dollar coins - one of which had Martin van Buren on it - we all thought it said Martin van Ruben hahahaha. You were so happy and you had so many questions: "How does her hand fit in that jar? How did she put it under your bed and why, when you put the jar on the nightstand? How did she come inside? Why two coins? Why gold coins?" - you were so excited and so adorable:)

I'm so happy for you buddy - you were waiting and waiting patiently (sometimes not so patiently) and it finally came! you didn't cry, you didn't freak out, you explained that it was bleeding a little but it's okay to eat your own blood a little hahah. As long as it's your own:) (Woo else's would it be - you are not a vampire). 

You were so thrilled - and you speak so funny now with the two missing. The new teeth came behind them, I hope they will move into the old space and straighten out.


Anyway, so happy for you Kicsi Lego:) I love you!


- Mommy



Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Noah’s first soccer game

 9/11/2021

First soccer game on the fields behind the Ahern middle school in foxboro! Thursday would have been the first practice but it was cancelled due to rain so there we were at your first game, with no practice. We have never met the coach or the other kids but you were so ready! You were so excited, you didn’t complain about anything in the morning. You woke up, changed into your gear, ate your breakfast, took your medicine, brushed your teeth and you were ready. 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous! Couldn’t have been any better. Sunny Saturday morning about 65 degrees and warming up.

We got to the field and found the coach, introduced you , got your uniform and off we were to the sidelines. 

And that’s when it happened. I mean wow! You started to play like you have played your whole life. You dribbled the ball, passed to teammates, listened to instructions, ran up and down and scored the first goal and then seven more! Amazing. 

We tried to catch it on video but I think we were so amazed that we only caught a little bit on camera. It was priceless. You loved every second! I was so proud. Daddy was so proud. 

And most of all you kept your head down, you were humble and kind. I was so impressed! That’s my boy. 

You were so cute. We told you not tog ER cocky if you do things well or better than others and you took it to heart so much , you didn’t show an ounce of arrogance. I almost felt bad that you seemed almost nervous to celebrate even though you were so awesome! When we got in the car, all you said to me was “mommy, I thought I did really well, but I kept it inside, I didn’t say anything to anyone, only in my own brain I said I was good”. You are the best. You take everything to heart and follow through. Not an easy task especially at this age. Kudos to you Kicsi Lego! I love you so so much! And just know- I’d love you just as much even if you didn’t do well! To me you are awesome in every way- nothing could ever change that. 

-Mommy