Road Trip

We just returned yesterday from our vacation to Florida.  Goodness, I love Florida... the heat, the warm pool, the beach, the parks, the friends and family... it's great!

So on Thursday, we rented a car and got on the road around 1:45pm.  Destination, Miami.  All was going well.  We stopped at the library on the way out of town and got 5 DVD's to help keep Marco entertained.  It worked magical wonders.  I seriously do not know how people survived their kids on road trips prior to portable DVD players.  As soon as Marco started with his usual, "Mama? Mama? Maaaammmmaaaa", I would pop in a movie and we'd have silence for a good hour... well, not complete silence, as we still had to endure the movie music. (It's the Mickey Mouse club house... anyone?  Anyone?).

We stopped once for a stretch where I fed Jonas real quick, once for dinner at Zaksby's, where Marco got to run around a bit, and once to gas up while everyone was sleeping.  We arrived at Mauricio's parent's house by 1:15am.  We made it in 11.5 hours with 3 stops included!  That's record time!

On Friday, we headed over to my dad's house and enjoyed a day by the pool with lots of food and family!  We had a birthday cake for Marco and he got a bunch of clothes... much needed and appreciated.  He loved it when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" for him... his smile was ear to ear, and then he got to blow out the candle several times!  

It was a great day.  The next day we were up bright and early and on the road again for the next part of our trip... stay tuned for more pics and stories! 

Birthday Play-Date

Yesterday I invited a few friends to the pool to play and celebrate Marco's 2nd birthday.  We had a really fun time swimming, wading in the baby pool and having yummy pizza and cupcakes.

In preparation for this play-date, Marco and I baked the cupcakes.  My intention was to make them to look like basketballs (because that's the current obsession) but I overestimated my creative abilities.  I really don't know why I always think I can be crafty... when I'm so not.  But I attempted anyway and they came out semi-cute.  The best part was letting Marco help crack eggs, stir the batter and of course, lick the spoon!

And here he is enjoying the finished product.  It looks like he's about to slip into a sugar coma.  Ha!

We're not done celebrating yet... we have more in store for my boy's big 2nd birthday!  Afterall, he's "stwoooo" now!

Jonas and Hyde

Remember when I was constantly complaining about Jonas crying and wanting to be held?  Well, that was about 6 months ago and he was only 3 months old... that's completely forgivable.  What is NOT forgivable, is my almost NINE month old STILL constantly crying and wanting to be held!!!

Jonas is such a sweet and beautiful boy.  When he's in a good mood and happy, he fills the room with joy... we're all happy when Jonas is happy.  But, when he's in a bad mood, the exact opposite happens... when Jonas is unhappy, we're ALL unhappy.

Jonas has learned that the most effective way of getting what he wants is to scream at the top of his lungs... not cry... SCREAM!  We've tried ignoring, but he is a very persistant boy... he wont stop... no matter how long you wait it out.

His biggest complaints are that he wants to be held or that he wants more food.  He squeals the entire time he's being fed.  In the time it takes me to bring the spoon from his mouth, to the bowl and back to his mouth, he begins screaming.  Most time he hasn't even had a chance to swallow what is in his mouth, but he still wants more.  When I'm breastfeeding (no I haven't weaned) and pull him off to switch sides, he goes bonkers.

When I put him down on the floor to play, I have to move out of his line of sight.  If he can see me, he refuses to play.  He'll scream at me until I pick him up.  When we sit down for dinner, he joins us in his Bumbo chair, pulled right up to the table.  But instead of being content with this, he begins his screaming... so we either have dinner to the music of his tirade or eat with one hand. (Which is very tricky when eating pizza or burgers).

The most annoying part is that once he gets what he wants, the screaming stops immediately.  I mean, at the very same moment... no wind down cry, no sobbing or rapid breathing.  He is a light switch... from screaming to stillness in 2.2 seconds flat! Which leads me to believe that it's all a show... a big broadway show... He deserves a Tony!

This is my sweet angel baby when he's happy... 

But, it's only a matter of moments before he turns into this angry beast...

Jekyll and Hyde, anyone?

Professional Accomplishment!

Yesterday I had my first professional accomplishment in a long time.  And it felt great!

Before I became a mom, yes, I had a life.  I was a middle school chorus teacher, before that a K-8 music teacher and simultaneously taught private voice lessons at a music school.  I love to sing, and really discovered that I love teaching other's to sing too!

When I was in the K-8 school, I realized something very important... I don't like kids.  Let me correct myself, I like MY kids, but I don't like OTHER people's kids.  Actually, I do like other people's kids... but not in groups.  I learned that teaching K-3 was NOT for me.  Too many "I miss my mommy", "I hurt my finger", "I'm sleepy"... I couldn't deal.  Things started getting better with 4th graders, but my heart belonged to my middle schoolers.

The next year I went to work in a public middle school teaching only Chorus.  It was wonderful.  The music was great, the kids were inspiring, the work I was doing was valuable.  What I didn't love was the disciplining.  There were always those few that ruined it for everyone.  I was also at a very low income school, and the lack of funds were disappointing and depressing.  I stayed there for 3 years, for the kids, until I moved to Greenville to become a full time Mom.

I have been teaching private voice lessons since I was a Senior in college.  I have always worked at after school music facilities that take care of everything for you.  They have their rates set, they set your appointments and deal with your cancellations.  They also set up recitals and allow you to participate with your students.

Since I had taught in a public school, a private school and in an individual setting, I was able to realize that my favorite form of teaching was one-on-one, individual private voice lessons.  You get the best of everything here... a dedicated student with a real desire to learn and an appreciation for music.  Because there are no grades involved, there is no pressure and no discipline issues.  It really is all the fun of teaching with none of the annoying paperwork, politics or disciplining involved in a school setting.

So when I moved to Greenville, I decided to go solo... I had worked at 2 different music schools and saw the way they operated... I could do this.  I put a small blurb out on www.vocalist.org and before long I had my very first student.  At this time, we were living in a 2 bedroom apartment and Marco was just 2 months old.  I would put him in my carrier and he would sleep or watch as I taught my one lesson per week.  Pretty soon, one student became 2 and then 3 and so on!  We had to make arrangements to get into a bigger apartment and have Mauricio come home from work to take care of Marco so I could teach a few back to back.

As I got my space, and things became more consistant, I began feeling a lot more legit.  These students were sticking around because they were learning and having fun while doing so.  At the turn of the year, I had 10 solid and consistant students.  I decided my next major step was to have a recital to show off all the incredible work we'd been doing.  So we set the date, and got to work.

Yesterday was that date.  June 4, 2011 was the first time I put on my OWN studio voice recital.  I had 10 students performing 19 songs.  The recital was held in the theatre at Coffee Underground, and we had a small reception afterward.  My students ranged in age from 6-20, and we had a variety of songs... some Broadway, some pop, some country, some worship.  It was wonderful!

I felt so encouraged by our success yesterday and know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing.  Although I only work 3 hours every evening, I know that I'm making a big impact on the lives of these students and enriching their love for music.  God has done an amazing work in our lives by giving me the opportunity to do this... He has provided the students.  Currently I have 13 students, and He continues to open more doors for me all the time!

Here is a picture of the group of performers from the Spring 2011 Recital:

You can check out my website here.  It's a little bare right now, but we'll be working on sprucing it up, adding pictures and videos from the recital.
We'll be planning our next recital for December!

Tubes

Since about January or February, we've been having ear issues at our house.  Both boys had double ear infections that would not quit.  They each had snotty noses, Jonas had lots of eye boogies, and Mauricio could smell the infections in their ears.  Isn't that amazing... he can SMELL it!  It's like his super power... detecting infections with his super human sniffing abilities!  In fact, most of the times that's how we know they have infections to begin with.  Mauricio will tell me their ears stink, I make an appointment and sure enough... ear infection!

My kids have never shown symptoms of being in discomfort or sick.  I don't get ear pulling, crankiness, clinginess, fever... nothing.  Occastionally we have a runny nose, but that's it.  There is really NO way for me to know if they are infected or not.  The ONLY time Marco has ever acted sick was when he had the stomach bug.  I must admit, I liked the clinginess a little... because I never get that from him!

So, they were each on a round of antibiotics... we went back to the doctor to get checked, where we learned it still wasn't cleared, and given another round of antibiotics. This routine happened 3 times.  Jonas had 3 rounds in a row and Marco had 4.  I mean, I'm not surprised that they kept passing the infection back and forth... really, Marco and Jonas french kiss each other a million times a day!  It was quite gross when they both had boogies running down their noses... they were like slurping up each other's germs... ewwwww!  I could try to contain it, but it was so hard!

About 2 weeks ago, we went to the pediatrician yet again to have a look at the ears.  I swear, we should just rent a room permanently at the pediatricians office... it's always something or another... it's one kid or the other.  So, she has a look and Jonas is cleared!  Woohooooo!  Marco, however, was not.  Boooo.  Another round of antibiotics for Marco... this was his 4th.  And then the dreaded speech came... it may be time to consider putting in tubes for Marco.  Oh no!

Today we went to see the ENT who would be doing the procedure if we agree to have it done.  He basically said that it's a quick procedure, about 15 minutes.  They give anestesia through a mask, so they have no need to inject or even put in an IV.  They would then put little tubes in the ears, sitting on the ear drums, that in essence allows the ear infection to have an escape route.  The tubes would fall out on their own in 1-2 years.

The amazing thing is that by the very next day, he should be back to normal.  He can even go swimming!  He said that given Marco's age, there should be no worries about going in the pool, because he wont be dunking or diving... at most it'll just splash, which is no problem at all.

So, I have talked to a few moms who have had the procedure done on their kids and so far I've heard nothing but positive things.  One of my student's mom says that once her daughter had it done, she has never had to go on antibiotics again for an ear infection!  And my sister-in-law, Bea, said that it was easy like 1-2-3 and nothing to be worried about.

Since I've grown up my whole life on one medication after another due to my various illnesses, I'm over it.  I do not want my children to be on medication... if it's absolutely necessary, then fine, but one round after another after another is not ok with me.  If I can find a permanent or semi-permanent solution that does not involve pumping my child's body with chemicals everyday, then I'll do it.  I think the risk of being on medication is far greater than the risk of having a procedure.

As you can see, I'm convinced.  The doctor said we can have it done by next week if we wanted.  I just have to talk it over with Daddy-o before we make our final decision.

If you've had to put your child through this, I'd love to hear your feedback!  Was it a positive or negative experience?  Anything I need to watch out for or question?  I need the advice of moms who've been there!  Please leave me a comment or you can email me at Tablefor4.Nicole@gmail.com.  Thanks!