News & Updates
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**NEW** News Update 7/29/08 - by Nikki
Hello again! I hope this update finds you all enjoying the summer. Have you done anything fun and exciting? It has been an exhausting but amazing two months so far with Sammy. He is truly a joy and pleasure to have around. I think it must be a combination of Sammy not having colic and the fact that Adam and I are infinitely more comfortable with a baby than we were with Benjamin. I know I feel so much better, both physically and emotionally than I did when Benjamin was Sammy’s age. I am so thankful for that! Sammy is thriving. At his 2-month check up last week he was 23” and 11.5 pounds! He seems so tall, even though he is an inch shorter than Benjamin was comparatively. He is a great nurser. The doctor commented on how strong he is and how well he holds up his head. Today, Sammy rolled from his stomach onto his back and Aunt Jodi was the only one who saw it! I guess it makes up for Benjamin taking his first steps while Jodi and Dan were on their honeymoon.
Everyone is adjusting quite well. The dogs act like there is nothing different. They like Samuel but aren’t overly affectionate or protective. I think Essy is tired of people in her house! Baby is so deaf and out of it he doesn’t care. And Max is medicated now so he isn’t as high strung! Benjamin has been AMAZING with his little brother. He loves his Baby Sam so much. It is so beautiful to watch them together. Benjamin is a great helper. He is so cooperative and generous. He loves to show off Sammy to his friends at camp. The sweetest part is that when Sammy sees Benjamin his face lights up…he smiles and is so happy. Benjamin has already made lots of plans for them to play, go to the movies, go swimming, and hang out when Sammy is a bit older.
Benjamin has had an exciting summer. He is in camp at Temple Torah and loves it. He has also started Kung Fu at Red Dragon in Lake Worth. He really seems to be getting the hang of it! And, I am happy to say, that after two years of lessons, Benjamin is FINALLY starting to swim on his own. By no means would I say he is a “swimmer” but he is making significant progress.
Hard to believe, but he is starting Kindergarten on August 18th! He will attend Hagen Road Elementary (Go Roadrunners!) and be in their Dual Language Program. He got waitlisted at the magnet schools we applied to, so we are going try his neighborhood school. Frankly, after the phenomenal experience we have had at Temple Torah, being in any public school will be shocking and disconcerting to Benjamin! He asked me the other day if they will have Shabbat on Fridays. He doesn’t quite get it, so I have been trying to explain to him what you can and can’t do in a public school. It should be quite an experience! I find myself thinking like one of those parents who I dreaded when I was working in a school setting. My child is special. My child needs some extra attention. I need to know what is going on at all times...can the teacher email me?? I have a feeling I will have more empathy for parents if I am ever in a school as a counselor again!
Adam and I are as busy as ever. Adam’s job is still great…they love him and keep him busy. I am on maternity leave for at least the fall semester (longer G-d willing). I am trying to organize the house and get it running smoothly before I go back to work. It got pretty out of control when I was pregnant and on bedrest. I feel like my to-do list never ends! We have been doing more things at the Temple and trying to meet more people. It will be a nice place for Benjamin and Samuel to grow up and make friends. And, sad but true, Adam and I have discovered the joys and addiction of Facebook! We felt like sellouts when we first started it, but now we see why everyone does it. The other day I reconnected with a friend from Kindergarten! It is nice to see how everyone has grown up and had kids.
In some ways, I feel like these past two months have flown by. But then there are days when I feel like he was born a year ago. But it true what they say: your heart automatically has room to love another child just as much as the first one. That was hard to conceptualize when I was pregnant, but now it seems as if Sammy has always been a part of our family. He belongs with us. It has been so long since we have had a baby that when we do something or need something baby-related, Adam and I end up reminiscing about that same experience with Benjamin. We are definitely having more fun this time!
What is not fun, however, is trying to find room in this house for all of Sammy’s stuff. Not only does he have so much stuff, but we have an office full of computers, printers, paper, books, et al that has to miraculously find a spot somewhere else where we can still get to it! That has been more stressful than anything else! I hate feeling crowded and these days I feel downright claustrophobic! I have been making some hard choices and getting rid of a lot…and you know for me that is not easy! If anyone has a four bedroom house they would like to get rid of for a very low price we’ll take it!!
Well, enjoy the pictures and sign the guestbook. We’ll be in touch again soon! And thank you to everyone for your generous gifts for Samuel, support, and kind words. They have meant so much to us!
News Update 5/28/08 - by Nikki
This is a website update that I have been waiting to write for a long time! Not just for the past nine months, but since December of 2005. That is when Adam and I decided to try to get pregnant again to add another member to our family. And now, after nine long and emotionally taxing months, I am thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Samuel Noah Cohen. He is healthy and a perfect addition to our family. I was induced on Monday the 19th of May. The doctor broke my water at 9:00 a.m. and after only 25 minutes of pushing, he was born at 1:48 p.m. Everything happened so quickly that I kind of feel like I missed out on something. But, it was MUCH more memorable than Benjamin’s birth when I was sedated for the entire thing. I barely remember his birth or the hours afterwards. Amazingly enough, I feel great…some pain of course, but I am up and out of bed, doing laundry, and enjoying my first days alone with Samuel. Adam got to stay home with us for a week and spend quality time with Samuel, so that was very nice. His week off culminated with Samuel’s bris on Monday.
Now, of course, the best part of Samuel’s arrival is Benjamin’s new role of BIG BROTHER!!! He has been so excited throughout the whole pregnancy, and even though he really wanted a sister he was overjoyed when his teacher told him that he had a new brother. According to Adam, he was running around dancing! Benjamin truly loves his role as big brother and loves “Baby Sam-Sam”. He looks forward to seeing him every morning and every night. I know that Samuel is only nine days old, but so far Benjamin has not exhibited any of the negative behaviors sometimes associated with bringing a new baby into the house of an only child. I hope it stays that way! Adam and I are determined to integrate Samuel into the family while still making Benjamin feel special and valued.
In addition to Samuel’s arrival, June is going to be a very busy month. Benjamin is turning 5 on the 3rd. It is hard to believe that he is 5. It is even harder to believe that he is graduating from Pre-Kindergarten on the 11th! My little boy is going to Kindergarten in the fall. Holy cow! He seems to be excited, although he is having a hard time understanding what public school is. He keeps asking me if his class will celebrate Shabbat on Fridays and learn about the Jewish holidays. He is going to be shocked when his class does the pledge but does not sing the Hatikvah. I am sure he will adjust….at least I hope he does. It breaks my heart that we cannot send him to Solomon Schechter, but $11,000 a year is a bit much on one salary! It will be too much even on two salaries, and then way too much when it is for both kids. Yep…seems like public school is the way to go! At least Benjamin will be able to spend one last summer at Torah Tots in camp with his friends. That will be a good way to wind things down.
We have made an album of Samuel’s first pictures. I left out the birth pictures (you can thank me later)! As he grows and changes over the next few weeks and months we will be sure to add more pictures. Samuel is a joy and a blessing. In fact, his Hebrew name is Baruch, which means “blessed”—we are blessed to have him in our family and we hope that he has a blessed life of health and happiness.
News Update 4/6/08 - by Nikki
Well, I wanted to give you all a quick update. No baby yet…that update will come soon enough! March was an interesting month….full of good things and not-so-good things. On March 16th, Michael married Erin Doyle. Erin is not only my former student from NMB, but she and Michael have known each other since kindergarten! So, she was already like one of the family. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. There are a few pictures for you to see. I was just so happy that the doctor let me go. I did not get that permission until Thursday afternoon! It was a long day, but I made it through by sitting and drinking a lot of water! Michael and Erin went to London on their honeymoon and now they are back home in Ocala.
Things after the wedding got a bit hairy. Within a week, I got a cold and Benjamin got the flu. Then I got the flu as well. But unlike Benjamin, mine did not get better in a few days. By Sunday the 30th, I was begging Adam to take me to the ER, which he did. He was actually quite worried, as I have never requested to go to the hospital before. So, my mom left her brunch with Aunt Lynn and Uncle Ricky and drove up to Boynton to watch Benjamin. We went to West Boca and they ended up admitting me for the flu and severe dehydration. I was sick as a dog, but the baby was fine, thank G-d. Other than giving birth to Benjamin, this was the first time I was admitted to the hospital. I am not sure how they expect anyone to get better in that place. They tell you to rest, but then they wake you up constantly. I swear, I was disturbed by someone almost every hour-and-a-half to two hours. Blood pressure, temperature, fetal monitoring, blood sugar, etc, etc. By Monday night I couldn’t take it anymore and I managed to get released at around 10:00 to come home so I could finally get some sleep!
So, I have been home and recovering this past week. Conveniently, this whole thing happened during my mom’s Spring Break, so her “vacation” ended up being spent taking care of me and picking up Benjamin from school. What fun!
Most exciting, however, is the announcement of the 2008 BABY NAME SURVEY!!! The survey will be open to the first 100 people who sign in to Zoomerang to complete it. It is only active for 10 days so PLEASE do not wait. We loved reading your responses to our last baby name survey, and we are really looking forward to hearing your opinions about our new batch of name choices. So, the link will be on the website, and sent to you in a separate email. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey. It means so much to us!
We hope that you have a great Pesach. Our next update will probably not be until we return home with a new little brother or sister for Benjamin! Pray for us!
News Update 2/26/08 - by Adam
It's almost impossible to believe it. After what seems like an eternity (which, quite frankly it was) the website is back online. It is actually impossible to detail everything that has happened since the last update (September 20th, 2006), so I'll try and give you the highlights.
Nikki turned 30 on October 24th, 2006 with a spectacular dessert extravaganza. An unconventional birthday party that consisted of only desserts, including a chocolate fountain. Much better than her birthday in 2005 that we spent in a closet while Hurricane Wilma battered everyone around. She also accepted a job with the Department of Multicultural Education as an ESOL Guidance Counselor and Graduation Coach. It's an excellent position for her, and affords her better hours and much less stress. She misses Lake Worth High, but is really enjoying her new job...it was time for a change of scenery. My job has stayed steady. I'm still with AOM Healthcare Solutions (formerly Access Medical Supply) as their Senior Designer.
Jodi and Dan (and the rest of us) welcomed Maxwell Corey Burkholz into the world on November 9th, 2006. Our first nephew, and an extremely cute and smiley boy. Benjamin loves his cousin, and Max always has a huge smile when he sees Benjamin. Max is a pleasure to have....he is so sweet and calm. You could squeeze his cheeks and polkies all day long! Jodi and Dan also welcomed several new cats to the mix also. Thomas and AJ fit in like they were tailor-made for the Burkholz household. Jodi named AJ after her late cat Alex. Benjamin named Thomas after his favorite television tank engine.
Benjamin's world has been full of new beginnings and a world of learning. He started pre-school in 2006 at Temple Torah in West Boynton. He loved his first year, and is now in his Pre-K4 year. Next year, kindergarten!! I know, I can't believe it either. He's like a sponge. His must get his memory from his mother, because he'll remember the smallest details of conversations he's had, or songs he's heard only one time. He counts to 10 in Hebrew and Spanish, and has been starting to read. He learned his letters and letter sounds very quickly. He's been in a special phonics program in school where they are learning letter blends and beginning reading skills. It's very exciting for all of us. He also began swimming lessons in 2006. They didn't go so well. His idea of swimming is floating around the pool in an inflatable ring. He learned a little though, including the safety rules and to never go near a pool by himself. After a hiatus, he is going to start his lessons again in a few weeks. He is NOT excited.
There is the issue of his imagination. It has no bounds, and you never...and I mean never, know what he's going to come up with. He's created stories, whole songs, parties, and a whole lot more that I can't even remember. He has an astounding command of concepts, and his ability to use not only vocabulary on his level, but on a level I'd assume was beyond his age is amazing. Like the time he told us that the person who runs a store is the proprietor and the people shopping are the customers. Or before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it turns into a chrysalis. He also told his teacher that something was not appropriate for him! A few weeks ago, he told us this unreal story. When we asked him if he was fibbing, he said, “No, it’s fiction!”
He's also expressed an interest in playing sports. He started a soccer program last year where he and I worked together on early skills. It went well, and he's eager to start again when the program opens up. He also played tennis every Wednesday in school last semester. Now he is in playball. I haven't seen what they're doing, but he says he's having a good time. He wants to do golf, which will hopefully lead to some father-son Sunday mornings at the driving range. He's also growing like a weed. He's grown 2 inches in the past 6 months. Hasn't gained much weight, but growing taller.
My sister Kelli got married on September 16, 2007 to Jason Aldridge. The wedding was a very beautiful affair at Benvenuto's in Boynton. Nikki was a bridesmaid, I was a groomsman, and Benjamin was the glass bearer (he handed me the glass to put under Jason's foot to break). We all had a great time and it was really nice to have everyone in from all around the country. The Pennsylvania Cohens (Uncle Roy, Aunt Fran, Melissa, and Crystal) and the California Cohens (Dad and his girlfriend Claudia, and Uncle Peter and Aunt Lisa) all came in for it. And all of the New York cousins joined us (minus Lee and Mia...Mia was not able to travel). Sadly, Uncle Roy passed away in January. So, the time we spent with him is considered even more precious.
Another family milestone was reached in October when Michael proposed to his girlfriend, Erin Doyle. She said yes, and the wedding is set for March 16th. Erin is not only from North Miami Beach, and has not only known Michael since kindergarten, but was Nikki's student at NMB in 1998! Isn't that cool? She doesn't have to call Nikki “Ms. Arnold” anymore, though!
And now, for a quick update on Nikki's cousins: Joshua graduated FAU with a BA in Political Science and is now studying Torah in New York. Steven is in DO school at Nova Southeastern University. He is in his second year and doing very well. Aaron graduated from UF Law School and has accepted a job with a firm in Washington DC. Jessie, Jared, and the kids are in Israel, where Jared is studying Torah at a yeshiva. Avigail and Kyle welcomed Eyton Barak in October 2007. He is very cute and we can't wait to meet him. Alison and Jamey got engaged (finally) and are planning a January 2009 wedding.
And, the BIG news is that Nikki is pregnant! Some of you already know and some of you don’t. And we apologize profusely for not announcing it sooner. It has nothing to do with the website and everything to do with the nature of the pregnancy. Every time we thought that it was a good time to announce it, something would happen to make us wait. It has been another trying pregnancy, to say the least. And, now, Nikki is on bed rest. She was put on bed rest at 24 weeks, which is 5 weeks earlier than last time. Same complications, but 5 extra weeks of torture. She is due on May 28th (Jodi’s 30th birthday), but we are hopeful that she will get to 37 weeks, which is May 7th. Benjamin is VERY excited about his new sibling. He always makes sure that Nikki is feeling OK and is always interested in her blood sugar numbers. One day, when it was a bit high, he said, “Sorry Mommy, but you cannot have dessert!” It is amazing what he picks up on.
So, that’s the past year and a half in a nutshell. I'll have more pictures, at least more recent pictures, and more videos. And we promise, promise, promise to keep it updated as often as possible. Look for our 2008 Baby Name Survey soon. We had such a good time reading the comments last time! We’re looking forward to seeing the results this time!
Have a nice day!
News Update 9/20/06 - by Nikki
Well, it is not for lack of news that I have not updated the website in such a dreadfully long time. I know it sounds hard to believe, but this YEAR has been so busy. I have not updated the website since January and by now I really cannot recall all of the wonderful and not so wonderful things that have transpired in the past 9 months. But I can tell you the time has flown by! I know that the tone of my last news update was a bit somber. Some of you expressed concern, and I thank you for that. The beginning of 2006 was a hard time for Adam and me. Our expectations of what life should be like have not exactly parlayed into reality (but do they ever?) and that is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. But I continue to persevere and to ask the same questions that I studied in high school…man’s will vs. G-d’s fate….what is the right course? Should we settle with what we are given because it is G-d’s plan? Or should we will our own destiny? If Maimonides couldn’t answer these, I am pretty sure I haven’t either.
The Spring semester was really hectic…school was crazy until Eunice came back from maternity leave, and even then we had our hands full with the master schedule, FCAT, registration, and graduation stuff. Then summer came along and as much as I thought I was going to have a “vacation,” I ended up working (a lot) at school on the master schedule with Eunice. We also prepared for our new principal and administration to come in when our former principal was promoted to the District. Now another school year is in full swing but I cannot wait any longer. I must tell you all of the exciting things that have been happening to our family in recent months. So, without further procrastination…..I give you……THE NEWS!!!
JODI IS PREGNANT!!!!! Yes, most of you already know that but it is so great to put it in print. Jodi and Dan are going to have a baby in November. Overall, she has had a great pregnancy. At first she was very nauseous and it was hard to work at times (given the nature of the gross stuff she sees every day) but then she started to feel better. She had one little scare a few months ago that necessitated a trip to the perinatalogist, Dr. Stoessel, who was my peri as well when I was pregnant. But after a week of observation, she was cleared and she is doing fantastically well. She looks great, feels great, and can still crouch down with Benjamin, which is an absolute miracle. When Jodi told Benjamin she was going to have a baby, his reaction was hilarious. First he made a sound like a donkey (hee haw, hee haw), and then he said, “No baby. You’re MY Auntie!” I’m sure that Benjamin will be a fantastic cousin and a great helper with the new baby. He seems more excited now, and even asks if he can buy presents for the baby in each store we are in. We keep telling him he has to wait until the baby is born. He is very excited! November 18th is quickly approaching and I will be sure to keep you posted. For the record, they are registered at Babies R Us and Pottery Barn Kids, and NO—they don’t know the sex of the baby.
The past few months have also seen a slew of employment changes for many members of our family. In March, Adam joined Access Diabetic Supply as their Graphic Design Team Leader. It is kind of misleading since he is the only member of the team, but it s a great position in a company with a lot of growth potential. He really likes his department and is learning about the “corporate world” and all of the nonsense that goes along with it. But this corporate job gives him incredible benefits, insurance, and a matched 401K. In this day and age, who could ask for anything more (besides a raise of course)? In April, Michael moved to Ocala to work as a planner for the Withlacootchee Regional Planning Council (www.wrpc.cc). He really loves his job and likes Ocala. We see him every few weekends and he is still a big part of Benjamin’s life. You should check out the website to see what Michael does…he is actually using his bachelor’s and master’s degrees every day…novel concept, huh? In July, Kelli started a new job as a graphic designer for Kimley-Horn in West Palm Beach. They are a huge engineering company with wonderful benefits and Kelli really seems to enjoy it. Kelli and Jason also celebrated their one-year anniversary this summer and the parents met last week…we’ll see what happens! On July 31st, Steven started medical school at Nova Southeastern University. He is really enjoying it so far, and is prepared for the long haul of no sleep and never ending studying. He finished his master’s degree in physiology from Georgetown University in May and we are REALLY happy to have him back South Florida. I also have a new job title! When school started Eunice was “kind enough” to make me the co-coordinator of the Guidance Department. So, now we get to officially share the madness every day. I was so flattered that she has so much faith in me. It is a great department and I am thankful for the leadership opportunity. I just hope I don’t screw something up!
There have been some exciting things that have happened over the last few months. My parents finally took the Alaskan cruise that they have been dreaming about for years. They went with Aunt Lynn & Uncle Ricky and Iris & Bill Sanders. My dad actually had not been on an airplane since 1975! He survived and had the most incredible time. My parents even took the helicopter to the top of the glacier to walk on it! They are getting pretty adventurous in their older age. Two more precious babies came into our lives as well. Steven Gross’s wife gave birth to a daughter, Emily, in March. She is so beautiful! And in May Geil Bilu’s wife gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Sophia. I saw Sophia last weekend…what a sweetie…you just want to eat her up! In May I was honored to be a bridesmaid for one of my dearest friends, Mara, as she got married to one of the best guys in the world! Wayne and Mara’s wedding was absolutely spectacular from beginning to end. Mara looked so beautiful and her dress was amazing! Best of all, having a weekend of wedding festivities gave me a chance to hang out with Mara and Liz. We had a lot of catching up to do! This week our dear friends Randi and Josh Kotok welcomed their first daughter, Samantha. I have no details yet, but she is healthy! All of these girls…is this a sign of things to come???
In July, Adam, Benjamin, and I took our first real family vacation. We went up to Vero Beach to stay at the Disney Resort. It was a short weekend, but it was so incredible. I would highly encourage anyone to go who has small kids. It is a safe, family friendly way to take your kids to the pool and beach and still have some “Disney-esque” stuff without it being crammed down your throat. Benjamin had a wonderful time and experienced so many new things in one weekend. He had never been to any Disney themed place before and he was enthralled since he is suddenly into Disney stuff. He had only been to the beach once before and that was when he was 11 months old. So, this was his first real trip to the beach. He also loved the pirate theme of the kiddie pool area…he is obsessed with pirates and treasure! And, in typical Jodi fashion, refused to eat until he could feed Donald Duck some waffles and orange juice during our breakfast with the characters. Just seeing how much fun Benjamin had made the exorbitant cost of the weekend tolerable.
And somewhere along the way (I think in March) an incredible thing happened that I know my closest childhood friends will not believe: I learned how to swallow pills!!!! Yes, after trying for only 17 years, I can finally do it. And now I am good at it too! I still cannot swallow more than one pill at a time, but I am so proud of myself! Getting rid of a headache is so much easier now!
On a sad note, we have lost some treasured members of our family in the past few months. Adam’s mom’s dog, Sophie, had to be put to sleep. She was the sweetest dog and we all miss her. The king of my parents’ house, Sam, got very sick toward the end of his looooong life and we had to put him to sleep as well. Sam was the smartest dog to ever walk the face of this earth, as many of you know. I had known Sam for as long as I have known Adam and Kelli. My parents are now dogless (we just commemorated the one-year yahrtzeit of Belle’s passing in August) and it is sad. No one comes up with them on Saturday anymore. But, they still have LOTS of cats to keep them company! And this summer, Jodi and Dan had to put Alex to sleep. Alex was Jodi’s rescued cat from Gainesville whom she had had since he was smaller than a beanie baby. He slept ON Jodi every night and she was devastated. But, alas, Alex had a VERY nice life being rescued by an Arnold. That is like striking the pet lottery, as we all know!
And now on to the best part of the update…..BENJAMIN!!!!! Our little Bunny is now 3 years and 3 months old. He is the most amazing child. So flexible, so sweet, so resilient, so curious. Let me begin by saying that we are officially retiring the “Benji-lingual” section of the website because there are too many new words and phrases that come out of his mouth on a daily basis. He is unbelievable verbal and his vocabulary in incredible. His comprehension, as well, is very good. His teacher is impressed with how much he understands and picks up on. I attribute that to how much Adam and I have real conversations with him and how often he is in the presence of adults communicating on a higher level than Noggin. So, sorry folks…no more Benji-lingual. Instead we are replacing it with “What did Benjamin learn this week?” You will be able to keep tabs on what he is learning in school.
So, let’s talk about Benjamin. So much has happened to him in the past nine months. In July, Benjamin left the safety and comfort of his beloved babysitter, Karin, and because a camper at Temple Torah! Let’s backtrack for a minute….in March of 2005 I met with the principal of Torah Tot preschool to learn about the program. The principal, Shari Young, spent 2 HOURS with me showing me around the school, explaining the curriculum (both Jewish and secular with an emphasis on dual language), and discussing Benjamin’s learning needs due to his motor nystagmus (she assured me that they have the resources and training to work with a child with special needs). I was absolutely floored by this amazing program and put Benjamin on the waiting list for this August. It was not a sure thing that he would be accepted because of the limited spots available, but I was hopeful that 16 months prior was adequate time to be on the waiting list. Well, on February 1st, I received that magic phone call that Benjamin was accepted!! Now I know what getting your kid into Harvard must feel like!! Adam and I were thrilled. We also found out that Benjamin was accepted for camp during the summer…another thrill! Sending him to camp first was a great plan.
So, back to leaving Karin’s house. After 23 months, Benjamin was ready to move on to a new challenge. We decided that we wanted to send Benjamin to camp first so that he could get used to the building, people, and structure of a schedule (which he had never really had before). So, he spent the first week at camp crying and asking for us, but then he got used to it and even liked it. His counselor, Miss Ximena, was so wonderful and patient with him. When school started on August 21st, he hit the ground running with his teacher, Miss Harriet. We are so proud of the wonderful transition that he made. He really seems to love school and his teachers are very pleased with him academically and behaviorally. He enjoys the activities and the “center” themed teaching style. Best of all, he LOVES Shabbat and sings songs for us in Hebrew. He can also say the Hamotzi and Kiddush. And today he was telling us about different kinds of apples and sang the “apples dipped in honey” song. This Rosh Hashannah is going to be very special. In the midst of all of this transitioning to camp and school, Benjamin also started to wear underpants and is now almost fully potty-trained! We are very excited to stop spending money on diapers! I see now why it is so great to never give your kids candy. We use MnM’s as “chocolate treats” and that has worked very well. My mom did the same thing with me!
In June, Benjamin celebrated his 3rd birthday. We had a party at Gymboree, which was a lot of fun. Benjamin has been at Gymboree since he was 4 ½ months old and I credit that place with giving him so many wonderful skills. But as the summer went on I felt like he was outgrowing the classes there (and many are offered at times when I can’t take him). So, we are not doing any Gymboree classes this fall. We are, however, taking swimming lessons at the YMCA (the pool at the JCC is not indoors…I know some of you are asking that obvious question). When Michael unexpectedly moved away I needed a back up plan for lessons. The first set of lessons that we had during the summer were parent-child…Adam went in the pool with him for each lesson. The lessons we have now are child only with a teacher. Benjamin is doing so well in them. He really likes Mr. Mark, his teacher. We will continue to do lessons until I feel comfortable that Benjamin would be OK in the water if he had to get to the side. I’ll keep you posted on his progress.
Benjamin has had quite a time with medical issues this summer as well. We went to Dr. Friedman, his pediatric ophthalmologist in May for a check up. The good news is that Benjamin does not need glasses yet. The bad news is that he may need to have more surgery next summer or the summer before kindergarten. This year in school is a crucial time to observe Benjamin and see how he is accommodating for the nystagmus. If he begins to turn his head again to steady his eyes, it will mean more surgery. In June Benjamin had his three-year-old check up with a crazy doctor who we are no longer going to. She told me that Benjamin needed to go to a pediatric urologist because his testicles had not fully descended. So, I made the appointment and Jodi went with me only to find out that they were in the right spot…I even got to feel the little berries myself! Poor Benjamin was so good while he lay on that table and got felt up by a stranger!
In July, I finally got fed up with the constant projectile vomiting and decided to investigate its cause with a pediatric gastroenterologist. This was major stuff. During the initial visit the doctor was alarmed at how hyper he was and told us that the cause could be neurological as well as physical. We needed a complete work up. On July 3rd we took our precious child to have blood drawn by a moronic woman who had to stick him in both arms to get it right! Benjamin was so good and so brave. He actually was more upset that Adam was holding his legs in a leg lock. But then when the woman pulled the rubber band off of one arm to go to the other, he flipped out. Do you blame him? But he was outstanding and we took him out for a pancake breakfast afterwards. Then on the 5th we went to Bethesda Hospital for an upper GI. My mom went with us, and got to witness “an academy award winning performance” (as she likes to say) by Adam and me. We won for “Best Cajoling of a Toddler” for getting him to drink that nasty barium. Unbelievably, he gagged, but didn’t throw up from it. The results of the GI show mild reflux but nothing that would explain the vomiting. Here is the kicker…between June 3rd and today, he has only thrown up three times (and two of them were due to illness). A far cry from the weekly multiple projectile vomits that used to happen.
Unfortunately, we still need to do the endoscopy. Supposedly it only takes about 20 minutes and he won’t remember a thing, but he needs an IV. We will keep you posted.
I am sure that I am forgetting some stuff that has transpired over the last 9 months, but I think I have written quite enough! I won’t bore you updates on my medical appointments or how our homeowners insurance doubled in March. Thank you to everyone who has written letters (or is planning to) to send to Benjamin at school. It means so much to us. As we approach the High Holy Days I often think about my family and friends and thank G-d for all of the support and love that we have from all of you. L’shana Tova