It's been a fun ride, but can I get off now?

Good news with Mike's shoulder - no surgery needed - at least not yet.  He is still trying to talk me into letting him play soccer?!?! He doesn't consider it a contact sport and cannot understand why he can't play while going through physical therapy.  he's almost 17, and you know, they know everything at that age. He is struggling with Spanish (poor kid is like me and couldn't pick up a second language if it would save his life), but the rest of his classes and grades are doing really well!  Finally!

Kaitlynn has "prominent" adenoids and although we haven't gotten the monitoring results back, her Dr already referred us to the ENT (ears nose and throat) Specialist to look at options.  That appt is on the 27th.  Her bangs are growing back at a snail's pace and I am highly doubting that they will be normal by Xmas pictures LOL! But she is developing some amazing critical thinking skills that have blown us all away these days... she can look at the situation and come up with what's going on in an incredible way!  It is so fun!

Max's aide has figured out that I might just know how to be a good parent and I might actually know more about Max than she does. She was also reprimanded for her breaking policy by restraining Max to begin with.  She also figured out the hard way, that when it comes to my kids, BACK OFF.  We went to the ER almost 2 weeks ago for a spider bite on Max's foot that swelled up his whole foot, stayed hot to the touch, and was bright red for an entire afternoon into the evening.  Antibiotics and Benedryl and he was all better in just a day. He is talking SO much better.  It has been a lot of pressure and tension dealing with him when he is frustrated by not being able to communicate, but lately it has been 200% better!

I have straight A's in school right now, but this is the easy part - Anatomy and Medical Terminology are where the hard stuff will come in.  If keyboarding doesn't kill me first.  I have an A, but I have to type 55 words per minute to graduate with my certificate.  UGH

Matt has kept himself busy with a few remodel jobs going at the same time.  He is still called to help John and Mae with their apartments now and then as well.  Thanks to that, we haven't sunk financially.  Times are definitely tough, but we are surviving. As soon as I finish school, we'll be in like Flynn!

We are looking forward to the family trip to the Pumpkin Patch next week.  Then we will have a Pumpkin Carving Party and also celebrate Uncle Kelly's big 4-0.  Then Halloween will be too much fun as well!  Max will be a cowboy and Kaitlynn will be Snow White, wig and all.  I can't wait to take a million more pictures of them!

Here is a link to the pictures from our Boat Trip weekend before last.  We had a wonderful time and the kids love the boat just like their Daddy does.  Me, I love being ON the water anywhere, not in it, but on it.  A Mango Mimosa in hand while on the boat = Heaven!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063075&id=1105426864&l=41086b7252