Way to Go, You!

I guess I've spent too much time at school looking to reward good behavior.  I've noticed lately that when I'm out in public and see someone do something that would be outside of our normal behavior, I want to reward them with something.  At school we use tokens.  I'm not sure what would be appropriate to give to the guy who picked up trash that wasn't his.  Or the 10 year old who stood up to his friend who was being mean to another kid. 

Maybe Dairy Queen should pass out "Good Citizenship" tokens for residents to give to other residents.  Or McDonald's.  SOMEONE!  Until then, I guess, "Way to Go, You!" will have to do. 

Maxwell. Yep. Again

I swear...this child!  He is giving me grey hairs already.

Last weekend, my inlaws had the boys for the weekend and went to "Cottage Cleanup", a Kobylak Family event where everyone gathers to prep the family cottage for the summer activities.  While there, the boys went for a ride on the golf cart with their cousin, Spencer.  Somehow, while the cart was stopped, Maxwell slipped and fell off onto his right side.  Apparently he didn't cry much and in fact fell asleep quickly.

My inlaws called me after a bit and told me they were taking Max to the ER.  He had woken from his little nap and was having trouble moving his arm.  It wasn't long before I was on the road too...dreading what I would find when I arrived at the ER in Ohio.

After some xrays, the doctors determined he had a broken clavicle on his right side.  Other than that and a few bumps and scrapes, he seemed fine.  We went back to my inlaws for the night where he rested and we iced this newest wound.  He even slept fairly well that night.  Sunday was pretty low key around here as I made accommodations and plans for Maxwell for the week. Monday we went to the specialist who determined this was a "boyhood injury" and didn't warrant any further action.  Yep.  I was shocked.  And so are most people, including other doctors, who see the xray.

Tuesday was weird though.  Maxwell seemed to be "off".  He'd fall asleep at a moments notice.  He had a headache most of the day.  He even vomited once.  I took him to the pediatrician and she said it was the flu.  But by Thursday, it didn't seem to be the flu.  It was more than that.  I ended up taking him to another ER on Thursday evening and the specialist there determined that he probably had a concussion or a very very minor brain bleed from the fall.  Whether he hit his head or just rattled his brain during the fall, we'll never know. 

He had some weird changes in behavior for a few days there, but today, Sunday, he seems to be pretty much back to "normal" Maxwell behaviors.  I'm still keeping a close eye on him, but he escapes me more often than not.  He is lifting his arm above his head now and I have to remind him that it still hurts sometimes.  He carries it in a sling position when it's really bothering him, but he never says anything or even slows down. 

I can only *imagine* what the next 14 years have in store for me with this little man as my son. 

Crayola Color Bubbles

I love Crayola products...normally. As any mom with a child under the age of five knows, their Color Wonder line is AMAZING! Nothing to stain my carpets or my carseats yet they get the color they want. It's amazing.

But this time, Crayola needs to rethink their product. The boys got some of the Crayola Color Bubbles from a well meaning friend or relative for their birthday back in March. I'm sure they thought the same thing I did when I saw them on the shelf; "Those look cool!" I mean who wouldn't want colored bubbles, right?

But after reading several reviews online about people having stains are their carpet, clothes and children, I decided to play it safe and toss the bubbles. I knew we had two bottles...but I could only find one. That is until this afternoon. Maxwell found it in his room (thankfully sealed still) and brought it out to me. Of course, he wanted to play with them.

I made sure I wasn't overly concerned about the clothes he was wearing, made him promise to stay outside with them and then sent him on his way. Within 30 seconds he was calling me outside. When he removed the wand from the "spill resistant" thingy that covers the bottle opening, it flung the bubble solution all over his face and into his eye. Yep. Awesome. Way to go Crayola.

We did a quick rinse and he was fine and wanted to continue playing. I sat outside with him and within a minute my feet were speckled with green bubble splatter. I stole the bubble wand away and started blowing them myself thinking maybe it was just his technique. Nope. It wasn't. Those things are MESSY! Max likes to play "clap the bubble" too...so that didn't help.

In the end, we got about five minutes of play in before I was sick of seeing green dye all over. All over my son, his clothes, my hands, the flowers the bubble landed in...even Max's hair! My sidewalk looks like I smashed a bunch of tiny Kermits! I tossed the bubbles with promises of buying "normal" bubbles soon.

I will say that the dye did come off our hands easily with just some soap and water. I just hope that the clothes...and sidewalk...and aluminum siding fair as well.

*sigh*

October seems so far away.

I want to cuddle Matt.

I want to sleep next to a (larger than the dog) warm body.

I want to talk to him face-to-face...not through a phone.

I want to feel his hands.

I want to kiss his lips.

I miss him so much.