The Phamily Blog

Birthday Weekend!

Not only was it Nguyen's birthday this past week, but it was also a BUNCH of his closest friends'. They all share their birthday within just a couple of weeks of eachother so we decided to have a bash in honor of all of them :)

Through it all, I have learned that I cannot hang like I used to. By midnight I was feeling sleepy already and the fun was only getting started. Even Cam-man was able to stay up past his bedtime without being a total punk...amazing! Ask me how I made it to 2:30am...I have no clue.

The birthday boys...

(they were trying to recreate the pose as seen in the photo on the birthday cake taken 10+ years ago)

The cake, for

comparison...

We had lots'o'fun...

playing trains with uncle Paul and uncle Jamie (my favorite part of the evening...haven't laughed that hard in QUITE a while!

We all had a blast and I think "the crew" decided that from here on out, we will do a joint bday bash. Can't wait for next years...Nguyen will be 30!!!!

three months ago...

12:00 AM 7 Comments »

three months ago I was scared.

three months ago I cried every day.

three months ago I wondered if I would ever be happy again.

three months ago I wondered if I would ever be able to laugh without faking it.

three months ago I thought my life was over.

TODAY I am no longer scared.

TODAY I can admit I hardly ever cry.

TODAY I am happier than I have ever been.

TODAY I laughed at how silly my kids are.

TODAY is a new beginning to a very fulfilled life.

I've been slacking...

8:49 PM 7 Comments »

I wish I updated this more. I really don't have an excuse other than I don't have a whole lot of interesting things to say at the moment, haha.

We have had a pretty interesting and exciting few days with Cameron. Last week he had orientation for preschool which consisted of he and I going and hanging out at school with other kids for about an hour and going through a typical school day. He loved it and even mana

ged to pick up his first illness (just a minor cold, but still!) He also managed to pass that minor cold over to his baby sis. JOY! But don't worry, she's fine. Nothing a booger sucker thingy can't handle. :)

Also, I got an AWESOME new camera and am in the process of learning how to use the beast. It's amazing and perhaps next week I will have some quality photos to share with you all!

So today was Cameron's REAL first full day (by full I mean 3 1/2 hours) of preschool. All was going well as we were getting ready. He even seemed excited that I was going to drop him off. We had been rehearsing the scenario of the "drop off" for three days prior and it had become one of his favorite things to talk about. So we get to school and head out to the playground where everyone else is and he starts to get a

case of the nerves. He held on to my leg as I talked to his teacher for a minute or two. Then, it was time for me to go so I crouched down and told him it was time for mommy to leave. "But don't worry, I'll be back very soon!" and the tears started flowing...his AND mine. Finally the teachers intervened so I could do my fastest speedwalk outta there. I bawled like a baby in the parking lot. Speaking of speedwalking, did you know this is recognized in the olympic games? Interesting.

So I went home and tried to keep myself busy. I had NOTHING to do. The only real productive thing I did was unload the dishwasher. Gabby slept in peace and quiet for a good two hours. Nguyen went to the gym and I twiddled my thumbs.

FINALLY it was time to go get my boy. When I got to the school the kids were, once again, outside playing. I peeked outside and saw Cameron listening and following direction as they all attempted their best single file line. We made eye contact and once again, he cried. It was like a stab in the heart...the kind of cry that says "WHY did you leave me mom?! NEVER do that again." I giggled at his dramatics. We grabbed his diego backpack out of his newly assigned cubby and went home.

He sniffled the whole way home but proceeded to tell me about his fun first day. Apparently they went out to the garden and he saw a "HUGE melon, tomatoes, and squash!" He also got to cook in the kitchen today which they do every tuesday. Today's cooking project was two graham cracker squares smothered with frosting. Yummy.

I asked him if he was excited to go back to school and he said "yes." We'll see what happens thursday morning, haha. I have a feeling it will be a battle getting him in the car but we'll see.

So that's what we've been up to. This weekend is Nguyen's 29th birthday.

His last year in his twenties (he get's so mad when I say that!) We are probably going to BBQ and have his good friends over. Hopefully I can get some fun pics and have something interesting to write about in a few days :)

listen up!

12:24 AM 4 Comments »

I have been trying to compose this post for a couple of months now but everytime I sit down to type it up, I end up deleting everything. I feel I am coming off too harsh, when in reality, it's not really something that she be tolerated anyhow so why do I care? Well, because we're all human...sometimes disrespectul, selfish, and ignorant.

So here's the deal... stop saying the "R" word. It's not needed. It's hurtful and should be banned from all of our vacabulary. Find a new word for "dumb" and "stupid."

That's all. :)

She's IN!

3:49 PM 10 Comments »

Today we had our first meeting with our Early Intervention Coordinator. It was basically just an informative meeting about what is going to happen for the next three years, etc. An early intervention nurse also attended the meeting and played with her while she assessed her mad skillz. The only

thing we came up with is that she has a slight head lag (poor head control) but really, that's not a huge deal. That will come with age and lots of tummy time :)

But anyway..the exciting news is that Gabby was accepted through our local county of education to begin services! More often than not, kids get put on a waiting list so we are very happy that we didn't have to wait any longer. Plus, our coordinator says that the county offers AWESOME therapies...much better than what we would have been offered on the "Plan B" route had we not been accepted. She also said that the school district where we live is one of the best when it comes to special needs children. So the combination of the county and our school district is just about as awesome as it gets! I'm pumped.

Next week Cameron and I will be going to orientation for preschool. We will go two separate days for an hour each day. Hopefully Cameron will see that "SCHOOL IS COOL" and won't flip out too hard the next week when "real" school starts.

So anyway, that's the scoop with us! Hope everyone is doing well. :)

just some cool pics by Tiff!

1:45 AM 5 Comments »

;) you know I love you!

Thanks for capturing some beautiful moments.

You ROCK!

xoxo

three and a half already?

12:00 AM 4 Comments »

where has the time gone? My baby boy is no longer a baby. He is three and a half now and SO big. As I filled out his admission papers for PRESCHOOL I realized just how fast time really flies. I can't believe in just a few weeks he'll be going to school. Most of you know how daycare turned out, so please send us good thoughts for preschool. What's cool is that they (the teachers) told me I could hang out for an hour or so the first couple of days. Can't I stay the whole day with him?! I am praying he will love it so much that he'll just turn to me and tell (no, make that DEMAND me) to go home. I know it's wishful thinking but a mommy can dream, right? He will only be going two days a week for just a few hours a day to start ou

t with. I think I will keep it that way for a while and if he really starts loving it, we will increase it to three days a week. We already started the school shopping process. He got a sup

er cool Diego backpack and some new underwear, socks, undershirts, and play clothes. OH, and how could I forget his new shoes that he is "saving for school." He loves his shoes and knows he can't wear them until the first day. Check him out:

Gabby news: She's doing very well. She has rolled over three times but I think she forgot how to do it, haha. It's been almost two weeks since she learned that trick, so maybe she forgot? N

ext week she meets with her "recruiter" and an early intervention nurse. This will get the ball rolling for her therapies which I am anxious to get her started on. By the looks of things, Gabby will accomplish all of her physical milestones with very little help :) but having these therapies will definitely aid her in reaching them quicker. Can't wait.