Updates

Quite a bit has happened between last Friday and this Friday. Last weekend, MFS was away on an Encounter With Christ retreat for college students. (Side note: It was the same retreat we met on 13 years ago and ironically, MFS is now the Diocesan Director of Campus & Young Adult Ministry. I wonder what his 19 year old self would say.) Because MFS couldn't watch the kids, my parents volunteered to take them for the weekend which meant a house all to myself. It was blissful, but that's not the best part of the story. I love finding old treasures at Lola & Lolo's house. When we arrived in WV Friday, before heading out to the International Fish Fry at St. Joesph School, my mom told me she found my old communion dress. I jumped off the couch and had her stop what she was doing to show me. Then I proceeded to make Julia undress and put on the frock. With a little TLC it will be good as new. I immediately fought back tears AND mentally started making plans for the celebration. Mind you, we still have 2 more years to go. I later had fun sharing my old school with the kids at the fish fry. It reaffirmed our decision to give our kids a Catholic education. Not being able to stay at home is very sad for me, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make for the many blessings we have and will experience.

My First Communion, St. Joseph Church, May 1986

Updates, continued. I took Cazin in for developmental testing with Dr. Miriam Halpern. She is amazing. AMAZING. And our pediatrician, Rob Michel is even more amazing for recommending her. I tell you, it was one "ah-ha" moment after another. Our fear: some type of autism. Our findings: a highly highly intelligent boy with an receptive language disorder. He is number & pattern oriented. He understands and can apply math concepts like subtraction. He has the aptitude of a 6 year old, or higher. And he over-focuses. Which is part of the issue. It is like his frontal lobe only uses the spotlight instead of illuminating the whole stage. Not only does Dr. Halpern remind me of Miss Frizzle, but she is funny, brilliant, creative and reassuring. It felt like therapy. The feel good kind. Yes, he will be a late bloomer. Yes, he will have some social issues because his peers won't know how to cue him. But we now know how help him to learn to communicate and compensate. And he will be physicist. Or an engineer. Her words, not mine.

I have a new job (my old job) at the UVA Outpatient Surgery Center! MFS is rejoicing that the madwoman that night shift has created will soon be gone. Only 1 more weekend to work. Pause. I just realized the beauty of that sentence. There are many reasons why I am making the change, but hands down the huge motivator was to spend more time with my family and to prepare for...

Baby #4. That's right, we just made the 2 year schedule. The baby is due on October 11th, but our OB has penciled in the c-section for October 6th. I have always wanted an autumn baby, but I'm sure I will be cursing myself come July and August. And September. We are all excited, especially mother hen Jujube who is ready to take another chick under her wing.

And that in a nutshell is where the School family is. At this moment. Blessings to you all!