All Saints Day preview

White Cane Photos

The Pope upon introduction to his first white cane.

Walking the boards at the lake, summer 2012.

At a Christmas party 2011

Another Christmas party 2011... so handsome!

Early Spring 2012... a new and improved cane that folds!

Summer 2012 at the State Fair. He's very sensitive to bright light now.

Summer 2011... he hadn't had his cataract surgery yet. No glasses. But we still began working with the cane.

I like this one... confidently navigating the stairs of the train station.

Running down Station Avenue on a crisp fall day 2011.

Another Fall Game Day!

Ack! I hate to admit it, but I love the Pope's "Challenger League Soccer" more that the Princess's regular cheer schedule. Sorry Princess... I'm over it. You're boys (the football players, mind you) are so, well, average. It's little kids playing regular "Midgit Football". Great. And you, Princess... you're a star in my book! THAT will never change. But two dozen of you, screaming the same cheers... It gets old. Sorry, girl. I love you, I respect you... you are always a winner! But these days, Challenger Soccer is where it's at! I'm captivated! Moved to root on the "Big Green!" Moved to shout! Moved to tears! Moved to participate! 

Honestly, in comparison, life is going to be much easier for the Princess... She's going to excel in school... She'll get into a good University, whether she's a cheerleader or not... She'll get a good job... meet people, go far. For the Pope, things are not so clear. He's got his work cut out. There is discrimination against people with disabilities, at ALL levels... he'll have to work a lot harder and everything he does. So for now, I hope he just enjoys being a kid.

Our week in review...

Be gone, black cloud...

It all started last Tuesday. I had to be out of the house extra early for a meeting at the office. I normally see the Princess and the Pope before I leave, but last Tuesday, I did not. When I came home from work, the Pope was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a snack...everything seemed normal sans one thing, he didn't have his prosthetic eye in! $#^%! So began the search. We looked in his room, in his bed, under furniture... we called the teacher, called the bus company. His teacher was pretty sure he did not have it in when he arrived at school on Tuesday, so the window of when and where he lost it was limited to the house and the bus. We searched the bus... nothing. We looked for days... I looked everywhere, even checking the vacuum bag, in case the vacuum swallowed it, and the Pope's, um... excrements, in case he swallowed it. Equally as fun as it sounds! And of course, we prayed to St. Anthony, who is likely on a first-name basis with me by now. I can imagine him sitting in heaven, rolling his eye saying, "What it is this time, Faye?"  By Sunday, they eye was located, neatly place on a folded quilt in the Pope's closet. I have no idea how it got there, or how we missed it initially. I can only thank God and St. Anthony!

But while finding the eye on Sunday was a blessing, the hits kept coming. The drivers side door handle broke free from my car. Not a show stopper, but certainly a major inconvenience now that I have to open the back door and reach as far as I can to open the driver's side door from the inside! We called the dealership. The part should be in, painted and ready to install some time next week. Lucky me.

So yesterday morning, I woke late and needed to take an early conference call from home. I jumped in the shower to discover we had NO hot water! Apparently the valve on our whole house humidifier leaked on to the hot water heater, dripping all night long, and making the entire gas heating mechanism wet. Mike called the gas company. The service agent showed up while I was on the conference call, at the same time as our contractor who was coming out to fix our stockade fence which had been blown down in a recent storm. Oh, and if that wasn't enough activity (while I'm still trying to take my conference call) our landscaper arrived to cut the grass and discuss a fall "clean-up". So much for the conference call. 

When it rains, it pours. I have since come down with a nasty cold. My energy level is very low and I have a birthday party to throw for the Princess tomorrow. Sunday the Pope has soccer and I am scheduled to work the concession stand at the Princess's home football game. These are all activities I enjoy... when I'm well, at least.

We are down, but we are certainly not out. I just keep telling myself, "keep going... tomorrow will be better..." What else can you do? 

Sickness

Haven't posted all week because the sickness found the Pope... again. He came home from preschool last week with 104.5^ F fever, and it lasted for the next 4 days. He quit eating, was having trouble drinking and just overall feeling puny. He would just ask to go to bed and stay there.  He's now on the mend, but it was a worrisome time. He missed soccer yesterday as I simply wanted him to rest so he would be fresh to go back to school today.

I plan to have more to post later this week, and get back to the Friday Favorites post. I just haven't had the energy...

Blind Kids CAN!

Today was the first day of Challenger Soccer. I'm proud of how well the Pope did... It's his first attempt ever at organized sports. He put out a great effort for his team... The Big Green! Good luck kids! Have a wonderful season!

The Pope works hard. It's not an easy game.

Getting the hang of it!

Uniform #1... certainly #1 in our book!

Challenger Soccer has lots of volunteer buddies and coaches... Here's the Pope practicing with 2 of his buddies!

The teams are mixed... So this year, the Pope is the smallest kid on the "Big Green" team.

Can you feel the concentration?

Sometimes, the ball makes a good seat for a rest... even in the middle of the field!

He just loved it!

And just so you didn't think we forgot the Princess, her first game was today too! Go Garnets!

Friday Favorites

I love a good museum, and fortunately, where we live, the area is chok-full of them! Just before school started this week, we took a last minute, rainy day get-away to the NJ Discovery Museum. It's close, obviously kid-friendly and a lot of fun.

The Princess and our friend's daughter try to make a giant bubble.

The Pope give Flyers floor hockey a try!

The Pope and our friend's son check out the science room!

Playing pretend in the castle.

There are lots of really great museums and kid-friendly attractions in the Philadelphia area. For more information you can click here : Kid Friendly Philly... Remember to have fun!

First day of third and pre-k