When They Drive You Crazy - Mom Confessions

My one and only son, Jake, will be graduating from High School on June 3, 2017.

We had a rough week.

He has a few things to get done for graduation, like ordering his cap and gown, which he has known for months, along with getting all the necessary documents submitted for college applications, and applying for scholarships.  Trust me.  I bug him daily.  I ask him questions.  I send him messages.  I am certain I am his worse nightmare right now.  And he is cranky! And I am cranky!

And, there are deadlines. Fast approaching deadlines.

Jake is not good at deadlines.  He procrastinates,and doesn't prepare ahead of time. For some reason, I think he believes 'what ever happens happens', yet, that isn't the way of the world. He is learning that he has to make things happen. 

So, we/he had a battle getting one of the scholarship applications submitted by April 1st, yesterday.  He almost gave up.  He thought all he needed was his essay - which was done on Thursday, and then he told me Friday night that he needed two letters of recommendation, which were in his locker. the school has been closed all week due to Spring Break.  He had thrown in the towel.

There was no way I was going to let him give up. Especially for what was so close and still within reach.  He had one day to get it all together. A scholarship that would help pay his tuition! 

I made him problem solve and find a solution to what he needed, during spring break, when all the teachers/etc. where also on vacation, and on a Friday night.  He had to make some calls, make an appointment to meet the superintendent on Saturday, ask for a favor, and get his documents loaded up and make that deadline.

He did it.  It was hard and painful and frustrating.  And, I think he was out of his element.

 But he did it.  And it will be easier next time, because he has to do this again, and again, and again. 

2017 Family Vacation to Oahu - Thoughts

March 19, Sunday Adventure: Jake (almost 18),  Andi (almost 55), Sami (19) - Kualoa Ranch

March 17, Friday Adventure - How We Spent St. Patrick's Day:  Luau, and Breath of Life Fire Show

I am still recovering from Jake's and my big adventure to Oahu to visit Sami.  This was definitely one of those 'once in a lifetime' adventures (I hope I am proved wrong) for all three of us.  The trip was planned last November, and we had lots of time to think, research, etc. Well one of us took that opportunity.  It was also helpful having our own tour guide, Sami, who knew all the hot places to go.

Since I shared lots of photos on Facebook so I am only sharing the two above.

Jake is a senior this year, so this was his grad present.  And, I haven't seen Sami's campus, or her dorm, or any of those 'move in opportunities' that other parents get when their kid goes off to college.  This was that trip and it was so wonderful to see 'my baby girl' in her 'first time living away from home' life.  Wow.  She just loves being on the island and she is thriving. 

 Our trip was full of all sorts of adventures.  Not just our daily 'outings' but mishaps as well.  Driving a rental car, in a city whose street names you can't pronounce had some major challenges.  It was very frustrating driving around Honolulu.  I was frustrated, Jake was frustrated, Sami was frustrated.  Sami drove when ever possible. 

And some days were a little harder to get motivated than others.  I was actually sick the entire time - I took my cold with me to Hawaii. I was perfectly happy just being in the sun, in the heat, doing absolutely nothing.  It felt great.  The humidity actually helped me breath better than in the hotel air conditioning, where I would have coughing fits. 

We did good.  My favorite part was just being a fly on the wall and listening to Sami and Jake together.  They were amazing.  They interact so well.  My heart was happy just being near the two of them, capturing some of their conversations, and just having those moments.

You probably are guessing that my 'empty nest' emotions are peaking and I am having some difficulty realizing how close we each are to living our own lives.  It is hard.  But I also am proud and relieved that they 'can do it'. 

I hope we get to do this again.  It would be great to experience adventures together at different stages of their lives - college years (which we are now entering), married years, with their babies, etc.  All of those milestones.

I sure hope I have that chance.

Testing My Mommy Skills - When The Flu Hits

Emergency Room Visit One Fine Snowy Night in Late February

It's been a rough few days around our little casa.

Today, driving home from picking up Jake's meds, I got very emotional and cried.  I know I am tired from the last few days.  And I just want to Thank God, literally, for getting me through another one of those 'parenting on your own' trials.  I did pray my friends.  I was on my knees yesterday morning and I prayed last night when I finally crawled into bed.   Just so no one is freaking out right now, all is good.  All is good.


Here's the long story: 
I started getting sick last Thursday, with a nasty headache and stomach ickies.  The nasty part lasted four days. It still comes and goes, to be honest, but on an 'I can live with this' level.

Then Jake started getting sick Saturday morning.  High fever, body aches.  Stayed in bed all day, and took about 4 showers a day to be comfortable.  We did cold towels to the head, some ibuprofen, and hung out. But it kept going, and going, and going.  On the first day, you tell yourself, 'this will pass'.  On the second day, you start to wonder what the heck is going on, and on the third, fear strikes.

On Sunday we talked about going to the doc.  He wanted to wait another day.  Ug. He fears the doctor's office.  Such a man.  So.. we agreed. One more day.

So, bright and early Monday morning, we pow-wowed.  I would go to work for a 1/2 day, then take him to the Doc. I worried all morning while I was gone. When I got home, he said he was fine.  And, he truly seemed fine.  However, that evening?  He got worse. High fever again, and body shaking worse.  Even in that state, he wanted to negotiate for another day before seeing the doc.  I had enough. I told him we would both sleep better if we just went in to find out what was going on.

At 7pm we went to the ER.  Best decision ever.  We drove through a snow event (not quite a storm, just enough to make driving a pain in the ass in the dark) and got to our friendly ER in Baker, Oregon.  We got right in.  Temp reading was 102... and after all the symptom checking, a culture was taken (tube up his nose) and the lab test for flu was positive.  Thermaflu was administered on sight, and then off we went home with our doctor's orders. We were both in bed at 10.  It was the first night Jake got some rest.  I peeked in on him this am - touched his forehead, and he felt good. Phew.

However, also this fine Tuesday morning, I had to deal with the pharmacy, back in Baker.  It didn't open until 9am - which is an eternity when your kid is sick.  And, when I arrived, right on the dot at 9am, they said they wouldn't have it ready for an hour.  Which is ten times eternity.

I hate the flu.  I feel this all could have been prevented if Jake had a flu shot.  At least his symptoms would have been to a lesser degree.

However, the  father of my children has our two teens convinced that a flu shot is a bad choice, in addition to ibuprofen and any doctor's remedy.

As their mother, I feel I failed by not pushing harder. 

I realize they are now old enough to make their own health decisions. Yet, I promise I will work harder to advocate for yearly flu vaccines.

I think Jake will be an easy sell.  Too bad it had to be through his own experience.