Capture, savor, and celebrate right now.
After a few weeks of having all three of us here together Chris is back to meetings (the new legislative session begins next week) and Simon has one more day off school today (it's a "professional development/planning day"). I am ready for a bit of "alone" time around here to get some more work done before the baby actually arrives.
I finished cleaning up, clearing out, and reorganizing Simon's room yesterday. One of the things that was most fun was having him rediscover toys he has not played with for awhile that still bring him entertainment and joy. I am glad to have that entire project completed and can move on to my list for the baby room (thanks for all those kind words on the sneak peek).
One of my favorite things over the past couple of weeks is that Simon has really gotten into reading. REAL reading on his own.
Our normal routine is to read a book to him each evening before going to sleep of his choice (we intervene or make suggestions depending on how late or early it is). One night last week he picked Green Eggs & Ham, climbed up on his bed, sat criss-cross, and told Chris he wanted to read it that night.
It took over an hour for Simon to read Green Eggs & Ham the first evening.
After the excitement (and a bit of fatigue all around) Chris had the brilliant idea to come up with a simple way to track the books he reads all by himself: each time he finishes a book he can add it to a list we are keeping on a bulletin board in his bedroom. That in and of itself was enough of a motivator for him to get down to business and it has been working like a charm for the last week.
The next night he read Robert the Rose Horse.
Tonight he fell asleep while Chris was reading to him. He had spent part of his afternoon reading Green Eggs & Ham (on his own on the couch) and starting on Horton Hears A Who.
I so hope this is just the beginning of a lifetime love of reading.
In addition, I would like to ask for your prayers and positive thoughts. Many of you know that I have had a bunch of moles removed over the last year and a half (actually more than 20 since August 2007). This past week I received some results indicating that the most recent one I had removed from my upper chest area is stage one melanoma (this is more serious on the spectrum than the melanoma I had removed in the past which was only on the surface of the skin). I should be getting more information this week as to what the next steps are in this situation.
Consider this your friendly reminder to have your own skin checked by a dermatologist if you have any suspicions or conerns.
you absolutely have my prayers, for you and your growing family. take care:)
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prayers, hugs and well wishes -
Hillary
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My son's favorite first reading books were the Star Wars 'Jedi Readers'. I'm not sure if they are still in print, but Simon might like them. Yoda is in the top corner, saying, "Read, you will!"
All best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy 2009.
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You and your family are in our prayers Ali
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Hi Ali,
Thoughts and prayers are with you. Thanks to your post I had my skin checked a few months ago (I continued to put it off) and ended up having 3 removed that biopsied as "abnormal." I'm now back to regular scheduled visits. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Keeping you in positive thoughts.
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I am sending you my prayers. Thankfully, you caught it early when it is completely treatable.
I am amazed at the incredible progress that Simon has made. Hip hip hooray!
Happy New Year and all the best to you always!
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Ali, I had a Stage One removed a year ago in September off of my upper back...superficial spreading melanoma...0.25mm...I'm diligent about that Neutrogena SPF 85 and my 6 mos check ups. I have three small children (9, 6 and 3) and I know I'll grow to be a 93 yo grandma one day. We will both get there. Vigilence, prayer and hope.
That's why I picked the word "Miracle" this year. And last year it was "Blessed" because I was blessed to find it so early as were you.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Only positive outcomes.
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Ali,
First, let me say that I am praying for you and your health, as well as for the safe and healthy arrival of little "A"!
We also cleaned out and reorganized a bit over the weekend; it's such a fantastic feeling! I finally purged many of the Christmas decorations that have been left in the bins year after year. Very freeing and goes along with my word for 2009... simplify!
Enjoy your first day to yourself tomorrow!
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Keeping positive thoughts and prayers for you. After going through breast cancer treatments last year I know how the "force" of those thoughts and prayers coming from others really helps. Stay positive, and don't be afraid to move forward with treatments even in blind faith...
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My thoughts are with you Ali.
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Nurturing and healing thoughts for you Ali!
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Praying for you, Ali! Hugs!
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You're in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.
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With melanoma, they either catch it early enough or they don't. I had stage one melanoma removed last December from my hip. They sent me to the University of Michigan hospital to have larger margins removed. The surgery was outpatient and took about an hour. (I think 1-3 cm margins all around?? can't remember) I'll pray that they still caught it early enough and did not go below the veins and travel elsewhere. Hope there are no complications in having this surgery done soon with your pregnancy.
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Ali, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Good for Simon! I've always loved reading. It has been such a gift in my life.
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thoughts and prayers coming your way. i so glad simon is reading...that's wonderful!
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I'm so happy that Simon is reading. That is truly wonderful news. He is such a sweet boy, growing more handsome with each passing day.
I'm sorry to hear about the skin cancer.
I'm so glad you shared it with us. I'm also glad to hear that it's "early" so proactive steps can be taken for healing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Peace to you.
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It's so hard at night when they want to read themselves because it does take so long - sometimes too long when it's bedtime. So we started after dinner reading which my daughter does and then when it's bedtime, mama or daddy does the reading. I love the idea of keeping track of the books they are reading. I'm going to start that with my daughter right away. And definitely saying a prayer for you and also saying thanks to you for getting me to call a dermatologist and make an appointment to get checked.
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Sending hugs and prayers your way, Ali.
I'm off to make a "Read Myself" chart for my 6 yr old...and reschedule a derm. appointment! Thank you.
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Prayers and positivity heading your way, Ali. Hugs:)
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Prayers and positivity heading your way, Ali. Hugs:)
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Ali, first of all my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. In regards to reading, this past summer before entering 1st grade we had our daughter record every book she read on a large blank piece of paper that we taped on her bedroom door and labeled "Emily's Summer Reading Club". We also agreed to give her a quarter for each book she read so she could go to Chuck E. Cheese. We were amazed that she read over 30 books and she was so excited to see her list getting longer and longer. It is so much fun and rewarding to see them learn and grow. Have fun with your list and by the way i have the same issue with my daughter picking out the longest book at the end of the night and asking to read it herself. Karen
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I will pray for you!!!
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Ali, I will be sending positive thoughts your way. I hope knowing that so many people have you in their thoughts and prayers can provide you some comfort. You give so much to everyone around you. Heidi
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