It's Official (and Tritan's birth story)

We have a bona fide teenager in the house!

Tritan turned 13 on Aug. 19. I think he might have grown 2 inches that day, too.

January 1996 I decided it was time to have a kid. We'd been married for a couple of years and I was graduating in a year. I parked next to the old BSU gym for one of my night classes, and I could see toddlers jumping and balancing on gymnastic equipment in the big picture windows, and suddenly I wanted a tumbling toddler of my own so badly I couldn't breathe. So I went off the pill, and Brian and I got busy trying to make a baby.

We were pretty busy but 6 months went by without breaking open a pregnancy test. Brian trotted off to Brazil for a student exchange in June, and I went with him for two weeks. It was an awesome two weeks--we toured every inch of Curitiba, one of Brazil's most fascinating cities--the zoo, the botanical gardens, the shops; we rode a train through the mountains; we took a side trip to Iguassu Falls on the Brazil/Argentina border and explored Argentina as well. We dined on Nescafe and sweet breads for breakfast; we had little buns stuffed with meat for lunch; and we ate incredible barbecued meats at churrascarias. But I had a hard time not being distracted with the possibility that there wouldn't be more than just Brian and I in our family. Wasn't 6 months a long time? Should we see a fertility doctor yet? Each month the disappointment was more bitter and the desire for a baby more passionate.

It didn't help matters that Brian stayed in Brazil for 6 more weeks after I flew back to the states and started working. By October, I had made an appointment with a fertility doctor for the following month. I was graduating in Dec. and Brian had already been accepted to grad school in Phoenix. I could hardly be excited about either prospect: I was pretty obsessive over wanting a baby. I cringed every time someone in our student ward asked when we were going to start trying, and there seemed to be newborns everywhere I looked. Friends complained about swollen ankles and morning sickness and I longed to be sick and fat. I made a promise to never complain about being pregnant if I was ever blessed enough to be with child.

Of course, that month, probably around Halloween, I got pregnant. Just before Thanksgiving I was eating a turkey sandwich at work and suddenly couldn't stomach the thought of poultry. I thought it was just lunch meat gone wrong. But by the first of December I was brave enough to take a pregnancy test (I'd had several months of being late and still not pregnant, so I was afraid of another disappointment) and this time it was positive.

We told our parents on Christmas day. Throwing up Christmas dinner might have given it away, too. The sad part was, we were leaving for Arizona by the first of the year and suddenly I was terrified of going through pregnancy so far away from my mom and my friends. In fact it took a couple of weeks of living off credit cards before I pulled myself together and got a job through a temp agency.

I have to admit pregnancy was not all I dreamed it would be. I felt sick most of the time. I felt fat. I waddled. I was exhausted all the time. I broke my promise and complained plenty. But I was ecstatic that our baby boy was doing so well.

After starting off with an OK doctor, I switched to a dr. I loved and he suggested inducing me when my due date rolled around. I was a little hesitant since in my perfect birth plan (yes, I read all the books) I was going to go all natural. And also, as uncomfortable as it was to be pregnant, giving birth scared me to death--I wanted to put it off as long as possible.

My mom came in a couple of days before my scheduled inducement. She cleaned, and cooked, and got everything ready. Which was good, because I never "nested" with any of my kids.

They induced me early in the morning. My contractions started soon after. I walked and walked the halls of the maternity ward because it seemed to help the pain and it was supposed to hurry the process along. Brian and my mom took turns walking with me, rubbing my back, holding my hand. To be honest, I remember my mom more than Brian (sorry, honey). She walked with me the most, and when I lay in the bed trying to breathe through the pain, she would pretend to be doing needle work, but really she was trying not to show how much she wished she could take away my pain.

When the contractions got really painful, and the doctor said I was only dilated to a 5, I had to scale back my expectations, and gave in to an epidural. It worked great. Of course, as soon as the pain went away, I was sure I could have hung in there a little longer. But after I got it, I dilated quickly and before I knew it, Brian was cutting the cord, and I had my first squealing child in my arms.

We named him Tritan because it was the only name we could agree on. I wanted something traditional and Brian wanted something unique. We changed the spelling from Triton to Tritan so it would be more like Brian--plus we had no idea we had a line of gods and goddess waiting to come down. I didn't have any number of kids in mind; all I knew was that I had one perfect child, and for that moment, I had all that my heart desired.

Busy summer days

Well, I put as many miles on my car this week as if I had driven to Miami but we didn't go anywhere. Paris was in Cub-Scout camp all week, and I had to drive him back and forth because Apollo was still in summer school. (Normally, I walk with the cub scouts because our week long day camp is AWESOME here, but couldn't this time because of Apollo's school.) He had a great time, as usual, and made some great friends.
And Tritan was in computer camp all week at Princeton. Here is a video CNN did at his camp this week. Tritan's not in it, but it gives you an idea of what a cool camp it is. Tritan took 3-D design and learned how to use MAYA which is the same program that film-makers use to make CGI effects and 3-D animation. Mostly it's awesome because Tritan fits in seamlessly there. He loves learning new techniques and programs and everyone speaks his language there. The instructors think he is crazy creative and a hard worker. Which is good for him, since I don't really understand what it takes to create a truck in 3-D, and maybe don't appreciate it as much as I should.
Athena has been taking dance camp for the last 6 weeks as well. So now I feel like the lazy days of summer will officially begin this week--no camps, no school. We are sleeping in and swimming in the pool. Drop by if you have time...

Dorney Park

We promised the kids a trip to an amusement park this summer and realized suddenly that this weekend was the last free weekend we had until school started. So somewhat spontaneously we packed up and headed 2 hours north to Allentown, PA to Dorney Park.
These pictures are mostly of Apollo because his rides moved slow enough to take pictures. It's hard to get a picture of roller coasters going 75mph or hanging upside down. Apparently middle age is already settling in on me: my inner ear was having a tough time--after going on Hydra, a roller coaster that goes 360* and Monster, one of those up and down, round and round rides, I was as white as a sheet and broke out in a cold sweat. Hopefully, that was just this trip for some reason. Anyway, I volunteered to take Apollo on his rides while Brian braved the older rides. We all had a great time.

Don't the older kids look thrilled to get their picture taken with Linus? Ah, at least we have Apollo, who thought it was great.

Summer school and soccer

So all I know is I am getting up way too early for summer.

Apollo has summer school this year and his bus comes at 7:15. Which means I set the alarm for 6:30 so I can haul my butt out of bed by 6:45 so I can slowly wake Apollo (rubbing his arms, stretching his legs) so I can dress him while he pretends to be asleep by 7 so he can eat the cereal I've poured for him by 7:12.

I always feel a little bad when I put him on the bus and wave good-bye. He only goes for half a day, but c'mon--summer is for swimming, sleeping in late, watching re-runs of shows your parents used to watch in the middle of the afternoon, peanut butter jars on the counter all day--not SCHOOL! I've tried to be upbeat about it--Lucky you! You get to play with your friends all day! And I hear today is Pizza day!--but of course, Apollo knows this isn't Normal Summer Behavior. When he gets home he plays with an intensity only a kid who is trying to make up for lost time plays with.

And then it kills me when I have to call him in from jumping on the neighbors tramp for homework. Or call him in to go to bed in the darkening twilight just as the neighbors are starting to play Bloody Wolf (which is really flashlight tag, but they call Bloody Wolf for reasons that are beyond me--I blame Stephanie Myer). On good days I say to myself, "Someday he'll thank me for getting him caught up in school." On bad days I say to myself, " Someday he'll hate me for taking away his summer." I suppose only time will tell.

So then after Apollo is off, I have time for breakfast and then wake up Paris for soccer camp. We are a soccer family and Paris is the king. Not only does he play like a little tornado but somehow wins the World Cup family pool every time.

The neighbor kid who is a freshman this year went to the same camp this year and so we carpooled. The first day I took them, the neighbor kid went on in the bravado of youth about trying out for high school teams, and how much better high school will be than middle school, etc. Paris, quiet for once, took it all in, and I'm sure was daydreaming about trying out for high school teams, too. When I dropped them off, I asked Paris if he wanted me to walk him up to the field. "No, I'm good," he said as he scrambled out of the car, hauling out his huge soccer bag, trying to keep up with the neighbor kid who ran up to his high school friends. So Paris was left to walk up to the field by himself, his bag heavy with water and Gatorade bouncing on his hip, looking tiny and lonely. (Of course, he was probably fine. I was feeling tiny and lonely watching my kids become themselves, walking away from me.)

The next morning I was smarter. I asked Paris if he wanted me to walk up with him before we picked up the neighbor kid. "Sure, if you want," he shrugged. And I smiled to myself.

And it's a good thing I did walk up with him. Because when we reached the field, he turned to me, and said timidly, "I forgot my ball." He said this timidly because my normal reaction is to sigh an exasperated sigh and start in with the This Is Why I Ask You To Get Ready the Night Before speech and end with If You Would Put Your Things Away Where They Belong You Would Have Them When You Need Them speech. But this time I surprised him with a Where Do You Think It Is? sincerely asked question and raced off to find it. Because after all, that's what summers are for, right, making sure your kids have a good time.

When I came back 15 min. later he ran up to meet me. "Thanks, Mom," and he cocked his head back like he was going to give me a kiss before he realized where he was and instead ducked his head while I rifled his hair before he ran off to play.

Reunions

We are just now recovering from our 2-week stay in Idaho, involving 2 family reunions. Tritan got home from scout camp on Saturday (where he had a great time, by the way--he came back talking a million miles an hour--so unlike him--and continued to play practical jokes for the next couple of weeks) and we packed up and left early on Sunday.
The first week was Brian's family reunion in Mountain Home where the kids rode motorbikes, went boating, played games, made crafts, raced pinewood cars.
The second week was my family reunion in McCall where we went hiking, boating, made crafts, had treasure hunts.
Of course, the real fun was in seeing cousins and sisters and brothers and parents.
Two weeks seems like forever, but we still wish we could have spent more time with all of them, and seen some friends, too! But we are glad to be home.

My birthday--this year I get a cake!

We found a hollow tree, still standing that Apollo could stand up in.

There are still more pics on Brian's computer so I'll post those later.

Tritan Comes Home Today!

When Brian travels, I feel like everything is harder--like I've lost an arm, and am still trying to do all the things I normally do, plus what he does--it's manageable but challenging.
This week with Tritan gone to Scout Camp, I feel like I've lost my sense of taste. We had the Fourth of July. We had a great time with a friend and her kids (tried BBQ'ing ribs!) and watched fireworks at the local high school. Did you notice the layer of white fireworks down low, then the red in the middle and blue on top? my husband noted. I hadn't. I felt like it was too hard to concentrate.
Brian's birthday was this week, but it was pathetic. How can we celebrate anything without the whole family?
I put the kabash on everything fun except for shopping at IKEA, some barbeque, and a trip to the ice cream store because how can we go to the amusement park or the zoo without T-man?
We missed him babysitting, and mowing the lawn (Brian had to do it for the first time in years!), and playing with Apollo, and playing Roblox with Paris, and his computer acumen, and his appetite (too many leftovers this week!). Apollo has been counting down the days til he gets back and Paris announced last night that the first thing he was going to do when Tritan got home was give him a big hug.
I'm sure he had a great time. And hopefully next time it'll be easier. But with only hours left til he gets home, I get wait til life is full of Tritan's flavor again!

Summertime

So school's been out for a week. My husband calls and asks "What're you up to today?"

"I don't know," I answer. And isn't that the whole point? Still, planned, unplanned, every day has its own adventure.

Paris had birthday money to spend so he went shopping with me one day. And I mean shopping shopping. We go to Mt. Laurel to go shopping at Wegmens, Target and Costco, and I even brought a cooler. Everything went fine til we went to Costco. I told Paris to grab the milk on the other side of the aisle while I got some stir-fried veggies. I rounded the corner and he was gone. I calmly looked down all the frozen/refrigerated aisles before frantically walking up and down all the aisles, with visions of someone grabbing him and dragging him out the back door. (Was there a back door?) Maybe they used the doors of the between the frozen section, where they keep the catering trays and stock the milk. I could picture them watching me pace the aisles, duct tape over Paris' mouth, as he struggled to be heard, but I pass on oblivious. I couldn't believe I'd gotten him safely to the age of 10, just to lose him now. I was just about to confront a Costco worker and have them shut down the store, when he came flying by me with the cart. "Oh, I thought you meant the other side of the store, not aisle" he said when I demanded in a gruff, yet relieved voice where he'd been.

On another day I took Tritan to the Scout store to buy regulation pants and socks and all that for Scout camp. Then we went to lunch and talked about Scout camp. I am excited for him to go, but he's my first one after all, and I think I am going to be more nervous about him going, sleeping away from home for a WHOLE week, without any communication from him at all. I suppose it's good training for when they go on missions. For me.

Anyway, I peppered him with all sorts of do's and dont's. Like if they initiate you, don't get mad, just say "ha, ha, you got me." But if they try to play more than 3 tricks on you, tell a leader--cause that's just excessive. And be sure and pray every night. Promise me you'll pray. Every night. And try to make new friends. What a great opportunity to make new friends. Like sit down and comment about the weather, or the food, or ask them where they're from. And listen to your leaders. And you'll have so much fun. And what do you think they'll serve in the cafeteria. I'm sure he was trying not to roll his eyes at his Mom. Believe me, if I could wrap him in some sort of bubble wrap, like a hamster ball or something, to let all the good things in and keep all the bad things out, I would. I know it's just a week....oh, I'm going to be a mess when he goes on his mission or away to school.

Another day we went to a park which has a mile running trail that circles it. There is a playground in the middle, so the kids played while I ran. Paris ran one mile with me--he ran the whole way!

We got the kid's hair cut. Tritan stuck to the tried and true. Paris is growing his out, Athena got bangs and layered hers, and Apollo insisted on a mohawk--or faux-hawk like the soccer players wear.

I wonder what we'll do today.