A look back on our 'Stolen Summer'

Oh lordy, this post is a long time coming!  I have wanted to sit down and blog so many times, but during the day we have been trying our hardest to squeeze out all the last bits of summer we can and at night, welp once the kids are in bed I have a few minutes with my hubby and then BAM, this momma done passes out!

This summer has been a season of HUGE change for our family.  With change, sometimes comes both the good and the bad.  

The good is a HUGE praise report on Blake!  Just 2 short months ago we started Blake's therapy routines...weekly sessions with our Occupational Therapist and his Visual Therapist (still haven't blogged about his visual therapy BUT one day soon I will because there is SO much to explain and share).  His OT has seen such great progress that she feels we will soon be lessening our intensity in the near future!  Even Brian and I have seen huge progress and words can't explain our joy.  I feel like after a three year struggle of knowing something wasn't right, we FINALLY have answers and we are on the perfect path and getting all that help that we needed!  I am SO grateful and SO proud of where Blake is now!  I feel like we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were just 8 weeks ago.  I finally feel like he is ready for Kindergarten!  Before when I thought of Kindergarten, there was a paralyzing fear that gripped me.  My all time favorite blogger Kelle Hampton put it best; "There's that place inside where we hold any apprehension, fear and sadness for the extra challenges our kids will face, and sending our kids to school creates vulnerability--opens the door a little wider to that place inside."  I knew Blake was behind and he hadn't even started yet and that is a terrifying feeling as a mother.  A mother who wants nothing but the best for her kids and a mom who knows how amazing he is and is nothing but afraid that his awesomeness won't be known.  We push our kids so that they learn how to survive because when they survive, we survive. Kindergarten isn't an option, but working diligently to get him as ready as possible...that was our ONLY option.  This summer, we DID it!  

Then there's the bad.  So, two therapy appointments a week...not terrible.  BUT, getting Piper off to grandmas before hand, driving there, doing it, driving back - it takes far more than the hour he is in therapy.  Consider the afternoon full.  Then, add 2 hours of daily eye patching, Visual therapy homework, Occupational therapy tasks to practice...then, you add in the prep for Kindergarten fun things I am trying to squeeze in at every possible moment and still balance having a 2 year old, keeping a house, working, having a marriage, and trying to still be an active part of my little friend community and my family...it's a LOT.  Along with new therapies and schedules that are out of my control, we also started Blake in a few fun summer camps.  He is at a good age and I wanted him to have fun with friends doing things like Rock Climbing and swimming.  Plus, the added bonus that each activity I picked was intentional to help reiterate the things he is practicing in therapy.  Looking back, I wish I would have skipped the camps...it added to our schedule and basically blocked out other free days we had.

This is NOT a poor me post.  Just explaining why our Summer feels stolen.

When I think back to last summer, we had very little routine.  I mean we did nap time, snack time but when we woke up there were several days a week of "what should we do today?" and more often than not, I would listen to my little loves and let them pick!  Carpe Diem, that is how I like it.  

This summer we have tried to fit in as much Carpe in our Diems as possible but it just felt flat.  We planned as many family trips as we could because if we blocked out vacation time...we were guaranteed together time.  Legoland was a top favorite!  Camping, backyard firepits, long weekends...lots of memories in the bank.  If I focus on the time we did make, it helps.  

5 days is it.  Its all we have left of our Stolen Summer.  I am already looking forward to next summer and I will do everything in my power to gain back that precious Carpe Diem lifestyle that I never knew I loved until it was taken away.

Until then, school it is.  Kindergarten in fact!  Last night was Blake's "meet the teacher night".  I was prepared to meet the teacher, but within minutes of walking in the door, Blake was in line to go to the library with his 'friends' and I watched him walk down the hall without us...ok, like a band-aid.  I get it.  Ouch.  It still hurt.

Brian and I sat in his classroom (which is so cute!) and listened to all of the exciting things there will be to do, their schedule, the philosophy, the rules, etc.  Over the next few months, our vocabulary will change to "homework, field trips, book buddy days, journal time, recess".  I. CAN'T.  WAIT.

The four of us left, SO excited for this year.  I was giddy with excitement and, after we got Blake in bed, I was serenaded in his monitor with a "song" about "2nd grade, good job, 3rd grade, 8 grade, 9 grade, thanks for trying"...I am not sure what the exact theme was for his song, but one thing was certain...his love for school was sparked just by last night! 

It was precious.

So, here we go...5 days and counting.  More blog posts to come as we enter this new stage, THAT is for sure but for today....

Carpe Diem!  No plans today until VT so we are just gonna see where the wind blows us.