Barefoot Beach

We decided to try a new beach today.  We drove north to Bonita Springs to Barefoot Beach Reserve.  We were not disappointed.  Before we even parked we started seeing gopher tortoises.

Of course, my animal lover Hannah was thrilled.

Rachel catching some rays.

Aaron spent hours snorkeling and looking for shells in the water.  He loves to swim with this mask.  It leaves a tan line that makes him look like he has a five o'clock shadow.  He thinks that is cool.

Hannah is working on her sand snake.

All three Sweet Baby Rays working on the sandcastle.  Notice Rachel is holding herself up with her arm because she did not want to sit in the sand.

Hannah's sand snake.

The Island Vet

On Sunday morning, we were getting ready to go to the beach and I sent Rachel out to the car to find Hannah's water bottle.  A few minutes later, Rachel came rushing into the house saying, "Mom!  Holly's hurt!"  I didn't even know she had Holly outside with her.  Holly was in the front seat of the car.  When Rachel picked her up, she jumped out of Rachel's arms. 

It totally wasn't Rachel's fault.  It isn't the first time she has jumped like that.  However, this time she landed wrong.  When Rachel brought her in, Holly wouldn't put any weight on her left hind leg.  I was afraid it was broken.  We grabbed Holly's crate and she went right in.  I got on the computer and looked up vets in the area.  The local vet was closed since it was Sunday.  Their recording directed me to the emergency vet hospital in Naples.  I called P.K. in tears.  I had no idea how much it would cost to fix Holly's leg or if she would have to have surgery.  I called ahead to the emergency vet to make sure they were open and to make sure I had the correct address.  They told me it would be $95 just to see her.  I told P.K. what happened and he said, "I can't understand what you are saying."  I am usually pretty calm in a pinch, but I think the combination of the girls crying, being in a strange place and not knowing for sure what was wrong was a lot to take in.  I got myself under control and told him again.  Being the calm person that my sweet hubby is he said, "Just fix the dog."  I told him again that I had no idea how much it would cost and he calmly repeated, "Just fix the dog."

Here she is in her crate on Rachel's lap on the way to the vet.

The nurse took us to an exam room and took Holly's vitals.  She left us there to wait for the doctor to come in.  The girls sat on the floor with Holly to keep her company.  Once the doc came in and examined Holly she found that Holly had dislocated her knee.  So sad :(  The doc took Holly out of the room to get someone else to hold her while she fixed her knee.  She came back and said she wanted to give Holly an injection of pain medicine and do some x-rays to make sure there weren't any fractures.  I ran Hannah back to the house and Rachel and I grabbed lunch.

When we arrived back at the hospital, we were told that thankfully there were no other injuries.  Holly was feeling "really good" from the pain medication.  She was given pain pills and an anti-inflammatory to take at home.

When we got home we opened her crate to take her out of the car and this is how she looked.  She was drooling down the left side of her mouth.  It was soooo pitiful.  We just shut the crate and let her sleep it off.

We've (Rachel would want me to say...I've) had a very stressful week with Holly.  The vet ordered two weeks of inactivity.  That means Holly has been in her crate except for short potty walks.  A couple of times when I have gone to pick her up, she screams like she is in pain.  That kills me.  It is hard to not be able to explain why she has to stay in her crate all. the. time.  Rachel has been very helpful.  She is more relaxed with Holly and the injury than I am.  All the kids have been great with her.  They will do activities in my room where they can sit next to her while she is in her crate.  Aaron even read to her.  They have all taken turns just sitting next to her crate and rubbing her head.

We took her to a regular vet on Marco Island this morning to have the leg rechecked.  I was so nervous that he suggested I might have to be sent to the waiting room.  Huh!  It is funny because I have never been like that with my kids.  Even when Rachel broke her leg, I wasn't as nervous.  I think because we could communicate about when it hurt or the best way to move her. 

When my kids were little, there were many occasions where I had to force medicine in them or hold them down to suction their noses.  I would staddle them and hold their arms with my knees and hold their heads with my hands.  The difference is they didn't try to bite me.  We have to crush Holly's pain pill into a fine powder and roll it in a piece of turkey.  Crazy.

The vet this morning took her to another room to examine her leg.  He said Holly didn't limp at all and she even let him trim her nails.  He explained to us a bit more about how the knee needs to heal.  He said she needs another week of inactivity and probably 4-6 weeks of taking it easy to totally heal.  He said because we can't explain to her that she needs to let it heal, when it starts to feel better she is going to try to go staight to normal activity and it will hurt.  Bummer, but sounds just like people.

She finished her pain meds yesterday and the vet said she should be fine at this point with just the anti-inflammatory and we can use it until it is gone.  My plan is took keep her restricted in her crate for another week (or two weeks from this past Sunday) and then set her up in the kithchen where she can get out and walk a bit, but there is nowhere for her to climb.

Pelicans

I love to watch the pelicans flying overhead or resting on the waves.  There is just something majestic about them.

Hannah was really excited when they landed on the rocks behind her while she was shelling.

Life's A Beach

The kids and I have been with friends in Marco Island, Florida for almost a week.  We have spent a lot of time in the pool and at the beach.  I haven't taken too many pictures, but I want to post what I have.

About five miles before crossing onto Marco Island, we started seeing signs like these.  They read, "Panther Traffic."  A bit concerning.  However, I would love to see one in the wild as long as I was in my car.


The following beach pictures were all taken at South Marco Beach.

The beaches around here are good for shelling.  This picture was taken in front of my feet at the high tide line.  It is all shells.

Aaron watching Hannah boogie board.

One day at the beach, some kids were bringing these shells out of the water.  We collected a few to bring home.

We picked up a magazine advertising the local area.  There is a shell identification page in it.  After Aaron saw that, he went online to research more about shells.  He read that a good time to go shelling was after a big storm.  We had a strong one that night, so the next morning we set out shelling.  This is Rachel.

Aaron shelling.

Hannah shelling.

Usually when the kids and I take off on our adventures it is because P.K. is out-of-town.  Well, this time he happens to be home and I miss him.  Lucky for us he is coming down on Sunday!

The Walk of Shame

The kids at the elementary school line the hallways to say good-bye to the fifth graders and any staff who are retiring or moving on. 

It is called the Walk of Fame, but the kids call it the Walk of Shame.  I'm not quite sure why because they really enjoy it.

I went in and stood in the hallway to grab some pictures of my soon-to-be sixth grader. 

I stood with Ms. Shuman's class. 

Ms. Shuman was Aaron's second grade teacher and his first teacher at this school.  She's probably my favorite teacher of Aaron's and she is also a friend.  When she had her baby, I babysat for him when she first returned to work.

The fifth graders were given notecards to write notes to previous teachers.  They passed them out as they processed through the hallway. 

He gave Ms. Shuman a hug.  I told Bekki (Ms. Shuman) that I know Aaron loves her and not to take the lack of a note as a lack of love.  He doesn't like to write.  I saw her after the walk and she told me he did indeed give her a note.  Sweet boy.  He told me he also gave one to Mr. Gentillelo who is a regular substitue and also attends our church. 

This is Mrs. Gentillelo who is the school secretary and married to Mr. Gentillelo.  She sat down to give Aaron a hug.  I think one of my favorite things about this school is that so many of the staff truly love my kids.

This Walk of Fame wasn't as emotional as when Rachel walked.  I think because she is the first and she was more sad to leave.  Aaron is ready to move on.  When Hannah walks, I'm sure tears will be shed.  Not just because she is the baby, but it will be another new season.

I Earned a Medal

Aaron had his Fifth Grade Awards Ceremony this morning.  Like many schools across the country, his school participates in the Accelerated Reader Program.  Each book in the program is awarded a point value based on the difficulty.  After reading a book, a student takes a short test to evaluate comprehension.  Points are then awarded based on the score.

Until Aaron was in third grade, we really struggled with getting him to read.  He knew how to read, he just didn't enjoy it.  I had suggested book after book in an effort to help him find something he might like.  Finally, his Scout leader suggested a series that his boys had read and that is all it took.  Since then, Aaron reads every night.

A few months ago, I challenged Aaron to read the Harry Potter series.  I promised to read them along with him.  I thought it would motivate him a bit and since so many parents have been anti-Harry Potter, I thought I would read along as "Parental Guidance."  He LOVED the series.  He couldn't put them down and scored 100% on EVERY. SINGLE. AR. TEST!  The books are worth a lot of AR points.  After reading the first book, he doubled the points he had already earned.

During the awards ceremony, the Media Specialist awards certificates to the top ten AR points earners.  Once the first five were called and their points announced, I thought Aaron was out of the running.  Names continued to be called.  The top three point earners received a certificate and a medal.  The Media Specialist said, "The third place points earner for fifth grade is Aaron Ray."  YES!!!  That was such a huge accomplishment for him.

Each week Aaron brings home a progress report for the week.  He has to write one thing he thought he did well for the week and one thing he will work on for the next week.  For his thing he did well this week he wrote, "I am proud I earned a medal."

Here he is showing us his medal!

Ms. Jody

I finished up my first year "back to work."  I loved working with those little preschoolers.  They made me laugh.  It was hard adjusting to not being home all the time.  When I was home, I wasn't home.  I was running errands and volunteering at the kids school....A LOT.  I really enjoy being at their school and think it is important to be there.  It allows me to have a closer relationship with the staff at the school and it is always fun to see the kids faces light up when they see me. 

I was the room parent for Aaron's class this year.  Hannah was disappointed that I wasn't her room parent, but I still helped with her class as needed and volunteered in the Media Center.  Shelving books is VERY THERAPEUTIC!!  Parents sign up to be a room parent at the beginning of the year.  Hannah's class already had a volunteer and Aaron's class needed one.  I really didn't want to lead both, so I went with Aaron's.  I know since this is his last year of elementary school, he won't be as excited to have Mom hanging out at his school next year.

Anyway, I guess I did an o.k. job at the preschool as I have officially accepted a new position next year.  The preschool is starting a Transitional Kindergarten class and I will be the lead teacher.