Ryan's Halloween

Here are some pics of Ryan from Halloween. Hope everyone had a safe and fun day.

Thankfully, Ryan was able to go out for an hour on Halloween and trick or treat. He still had a cough, but he had fun. When we came back to the house, Ryan had no interest in eating his candy, he just wanted to count it. He can be such a funny kid. Unfortunately, that was it for having fun for a while. I sent him to school on Monday and was called 20 minutes later to pick him up b/c he threw up. Mostly mucus b/c that damn cough is still lingering. We took him to the doctor again and they just keep telling us that there is nothing to be done and that this has to run its course. He perked up a fever again on Monday night and is finally starting to feel better. Another week has gone by with a sick child. I am now so scared of him relapsing that I think I might pull him from school for the rest of the month. He's not in public school yet, so I have the luxury ( or punishment, take your pick LOL) of pulling him if I choose. There is not a lot of days left with all the holidays. so I may just keep him home so that he can fully recover and then send him back in December. We shall see. I really don't know what to do.

Hope everyone is well. Onwards to Thanksgiving!

Updates on the Family

I know it has been a while since I posted last, but it's been an exhausting month, especially exhausting last week.





Two weeks ago, Ryan's teacher had pulled me to the side and told me that Ryan was not acting like himself. He was not participating or having fun. She described him as "weepy" and "tired". Usually, those 2 words do not describe my Ryan. I would take his temperature and he would be normal. I'd ask him if he hurt anywhere and he'd tell me no. Very frusterating. My instincts were telling me he was about to get sick, but nothing physically backed up my feelings. Then last Saturday night, Ryan felt warm to me before I put him to bed. Took his temperature and he was at 99.5. Nothing to bad, but I had a feeling that my instincts were about to be proven true and boy was I right. Ryan woke up at 4am and he was burning up with a 103 fever. But he had no other symptoms of being sick except for the fever. And Ryan only wakes up during the night if he is sick. The kid likes his sleep. Ryan's fever seesawed for a few days. It broke on Tuesday only to return on Wednesday, back up to 103. But it was on Wednesday when the other symptoms showed up and I took him to the doctor. His nose was suddenly a mess and he had the worst cough, which I knew to be the Croup from him having it once before. The doctor confirmed what I already knew, that he had a nasty virus which had to run its course and the Croup, which she prescribed oral steroids for to help Ryan's cough and help him breathe. Ryan seems to finally be turning a corner. His cough is still there, though not as bad and his fever broke for good on Friday. Needless to say, I am very sleep deprived since I have been the one getting up with Ryan and he only started sleeping through the night again on Thursday. From last Sunday early morning to Thursday, I think I had a total of 5/6 hours sleep. Bruce also seems to have caught something, so he is not feeling well also. I just want this virus out of my house!



Now here is some good news! Even though Ryan was not feeling well last Sunday, something clicked in his head with going to the potty. Suddenly he is doing pee in the potty and he finally did poop in the potty. We took a few steps backwards once the Croup came out and I couldn't blame the kid for not wanting to go potty. Funny thing is he does not want to give up his diapers. He goes to the potty and then requests a diaper on. He hates underwear and training pants. Last night Ryan had an accident. He told me he had to go potty and I knew his stomach was hurting. I got him into the bathroom and he tried to sit on the potty, but he was not happy about sitting there. He got up and squatted on the floor, right over my new bath rug and let loose, literally if you catch my drift. What a mess!!! I had to lay the bath rug to rest in the trash b/c there are some things that you just don't clean and say goodbye too.

So that is the update from here. Hope everyone is well!

Bruce's Grandmother's 90th Birthday Party

A few weeks ago, Bruce's family gathered at the Bonwit on Long Island to celebrate Bruce's grandmothers ( and Ryan's great grandmother) 90th Birthday. She looked great and it was really nice that the whole family could get together. His Uncle flew in from Florida and his cousin and her family flew in from North Carolina. The food was great as was the company.

Here's to another 90 Grandma!!!!

Ryan and his cousins enjoying the party

Ryan and "Doggie" having a good time!
Ryan and his cousin Lauren Bruce, his cousin Laurie, his sister Lauraine and Grandma Berenice

Random Ryan Pics

I know it is already the end of summer, but here are some pics from the summer. This is Ryan enjoying my sister and brother in laws pool. He can't swim and does not like to go all the way into the water, but he loves sitting on the steps. He started to get daring and actually started to climb down the steps by himself, but would always stop at the third step. Next year he will get swimming lessons.

Potty Progress

Wish there was more to report on this front, but Ryan does not want to cooperate. He much rather pish in a diaper and not be bothered. You can ask him where pee and poop goes and he will answer correctly with, "it goes in the potty." But he won't actually do it. Tomorrow I will be home as will Bruce and we are going to strip Ryan down and let him go naked and see if we can make any progress. I pray for good results because it will be me cleaning all the puddles and stains. :(

The Fall Television Season

It's that time of year when the networks unleash their new programming and we as viewers pray that whatever we choose to start watching continues on to the end of the season. It's been very irritating in the past few years to start watching something, getting into it, and then having it yanked before any resolution can come about (remember "Reunion" anyone?). There are some shows that you should know better than to start watching, like Cavemen, that is doomed to fail even before it previews. I am excited about a few and am hoping for the best. The two I am most excited about are "Reaper" and "Pushing Daisies". I am also hoping for the best with "Dirty Sexy Money" because I am a huge Peter Krause fan and am a sucker for a soap opera.

There are also those that are returning that I am looking forward too. Can't wait for "Greys Anatomy", though I am not excited about the spinoff. I am also super happy for Kathering Heigl for winning the Emmy. She deserved it. Also anticipating "Heros" return, but not really sure how I feel about some of the storylines that I have read about so far. And then there are those returning, but not airing until later on such as "Nip/Tuck" and "Lost". I'll write once I've seen all the premieres and hopefully will have a few new favorite shows.

This is why I love the Fall.

For Your Consideration

As I have mentioned before, I have been reading alot lately. Well, I have fallen in love with a book series which I didn't think was possible after Harry Potter. There are three books in the series, with the fourth installment to be released in the fall of next year. The first book is called, "Twilight," the second is called, "New Moon," and the third , which was just released this month is called, "Eclipse." The author is Stephenie Meyer, (www.stepheniemeyer.com) All are NY Times Bestsellers. They are found in the Young Adult section of the bookstore, but like Harry Potter, they are not just for the "young adults." It is about a teenage girl, Bella, who goes to live with her father in the small town of Forks, Washington and falls in love with a mysterious teenage boy, Edward, who happens to be a vampire. This is not your typical "vampire tale." It is ultimately a love story and a very passionate one at that. These books just take you in and do not let you go. I read the whole series in a week. Bruce is at a loss how I can enjoy a book so much when I read it so fast. I simply tell him that I read it so fast because it is so good. I was crying like a baby while reading the second book, not even a hundred pages in. Just like I couldn't wait for each installment of Harry Potter, I am waiting in anticipation for the next book in this series. Here is also something of interest. All the books are written from Bella's perspective. On the authors website, in her spare time, she is rewriting the first book from Edward's perspective. She posted the first chapter and it is wonderful. Mrs. Meyer is at work writing the next book, but hopes that she will get the chance to finish this rewrite and eventually publish it as well.

These are amazing books that will leave you breathless, and will also leave you craving more. I highly recommend them. And if you do get a chance to read them or have read them already, let me know. I am dying to discuss them with someone.