Hello!

It was a busy week. Took the boys with me down to Hayward, CA for a few days while I did some prep work for a photo workshop I'll be giving down there in September. We stopped off along the South Fork Eel River on the way back home for a long swim and jumping off rocks!

This week will be spent getting things ready for the college students' return...classes start next week.

I have taken on a photo project that will keep all too busy all this Fall and Winter. This is on top of the workshops I have scheduled to give. I will not be bored this winter! Odd thing -- I do not think I would have taken the project on if I was not getting divorced. I just have more time now to concentrate of photography.

No questions...just check in and let us know how things are going!


Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

Hi, Vaughn et al.

The days seem to just fill up so quickly as the beginning of school nears. We start on September 1 so there's still some time. It's mostly being filled with appointments for the boys!

Have been busy with my MIL all summer. Multiple doctor appointments and physical therapy appointments have pretty much filled my summer. Not exciting over here.

We did spend some time at my friend's house on Saturday for her 25th wedding anniversary. The boys got a kick seeing me in my bridesmaid dress (fuchsia with matching shoes). Blast from the past.

My oldest son had his senior portraits done today. Although we don't get the proofs for 2 weeks, I saw the pics on the photographer's camera. Just beautiful! How can he be 17 already?

Off to cook some dinner!

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 13 year old son

I know, I know...I look over to Bryce and there he is standing at 5 foot 7.5 inches.

How can they grow so tall so quickly!

Alex's report from the orthodrotist yesterday was not promising. He is lacking three permanent teeth below his "baby" teeth (will need implants), will need to wear braces for at least 30 months, and his incisors are impacted and may need surgery to get them to come in correctly.

He doc wants to x-ray the other two boys as the lack of permanent teeth is appearently a genetic thing.

$$$$$$

Bryce will undergo a sleep study this Friday night/morning. Possible sleep apnea due to over-size tonsils. He sleeps for 9+ hours and still wakes up tired.

Calder is doing fine. Alex is impatiently waiting for classes to start -- his goal is to be the valictorian (sp?) of the 8th grade. He'll also be taking a geometry class at the high school every morning.

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

Hey, Vaughn. We're living parallel lives. I've had the same thing with my boys - dental/ortho issues and sleep issues.

My boys have sprouted up over the summer. They are 5'9.5", 5'10.5" and 5'11. I'm definitely the short one in my family.

The ortho is correct. Missing permanent teeth can be genetic. My "A" is missing his front lateral incisors. Actually, one is a peg and the other is missing completely. My dh's aunt has the same condition. "A" is in braces and has a pontic tooth (veneer) put on the braces to hold the space for a permanent implant. The other side has an undersized peg with a good root. So we will do cosmetic work on that when the braces are removed. We'll probably have to do a flipper (retainer with false tooth) until he's old enough for an implant.

The impacted incisors is known around here too. My oldest got his adult teeth so early that they pushed his incisors crooked. We pulled the baby incisors hoping to make more room for the adult incisors. Didn't work (it did for my other two boys). We did have to have oral surgery and have the gums cut and hooks put on the eye teeth to bring them down. Sounds terrible but it was a quickie surgery and no real pain.

We are the sleep study kings over here. I've gone to 4 studies for 2 of my boys. I would urge you to consider the tonsils (and adenoids) for surgery. If they are large, they can definitely affect the sleeping. I had the surgery for 2 of my boys.

Congrats to Calder for being a math whiz!

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

I also have the missing teeth issue and passed it onto one of my girls...Instead of implants, I have a long-term bridge; thus my front top 8 teeth are all fake. They last about 30 years, I was told...I show kids at school and tell them this is what happens if they dont brush.

Deb
Son, 12
GGB, 10

For me summer school ended the end of July. Glad for that. I am really tired of the summer programs. I also found out that the program I have been working for the last 3-4 years will not be available next year due to budget cuts. Hmm, where will I work next summer? I think 11 years of summer school may be enough!

My kids are all doing good. My oldest in FL is doing what he wants to be doing and family is well.

My newest Floridian son is attempting to get used to the hot, hot temps down there. He is just not a 95 degree person. He likes it 55-60 degrees. SO he is waiting for the cool down come Oct.

My son who is in MS in school, started back today. He has been forecasting weather on TV and the Internet this past summer. He is a happy camper. This will maybe be his last year of school. He will have his Masters in Meteorology when he is done in May. But now he is talking that he may go further. The PhD route. Oh good grief. He may be interested in teaching!!!

My other son is still here in good old MN. He is working and doing his own thing. He has been wonderful helping out with my Mom. They only live about 1 block away from each other. She has really grown to depend on him and his girlfriend for many things.

I went in and worked a day last week mailing out 3000 student schedules. I can't believe how much I enjoyed being back there. I really miss the place when I am off. How pathetic is that????? I know that once I get back to work, I will be checking the calendar to see when my first day off will be. LOL


I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your summer.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

Totally looking forward to Sept 1st in this household. My kids NEED to go back to school. My sanity NEEDS for them to be back in school.

This summer has been "interesting". Hectic and many, many, many stressors that has my hair falling out, literally. Not to mention I've dropped about 4lbs in the last 2 weeks. Not a fun way to lose weight. I look like h@ll.

I start my term next wednesday and looking forward to that. Finally, some "me" time! I can lock myself in my room without feeling guilty because I have the "I have to study" excuse,lol.

Sorry for the b*tching, but sometimes it feels good to just type it out and vent. Especially to people that are not directly involved in my life because those close to me are equally as stressed,kwim?

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

Go ahead and vent, Gina. We've had so many stressors this summer that I can't even stay sane half the time. Taking care of my mother-in-law, while the right thing to do on every level, has taken a toll. I've missed spending time with my boys. I feel like I missed their entire summer.

We need an "internet" margarita!

Sharon

Thanks Sharon! You've hit the nail on the head. I too feel as if I've missed the whole summer with the kids.

My dfil has had some health issues too and we have been helping him out as much as we can. We actually spent a portion of our vacation (at his summer home) straitening out some of his financial stuff.

I'm gonna mix up that margarita in a few minutes! Yum! And here's to NEXT summer!!!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

We are leaving for the California Redwoods! The kids are super excited and at this point I'm just stressed! We've spent most of the Summer at our cabin and watching HGTV. My Dh says he's cutting the cable because I've called an architect and painter already

It is absolutely time for school to start. My Summer athletes are winding down from golf and swimming, and time to get geared up for soccer, cross country and the ever-present gymnastics! Not to mention college football. We are going to Tennessee early in Sept. for a game so the kids will miss their first few days of school.

My oldest DD just got her driver's permit and that is interesting. I can't imagine learning to drive in a suburban but she takes it in stride. We are on the go so much that she'll get a lot of practice, if I can cope.

It is great to hear how everyone is doing!

Theresa
DD-15
DD-13.5
GBG- 9

Sierra redwoods (Sequoia National Park) or the coastal redwoods(Redwood National Park -- were we live)?

Have a great trip!

Vaughn

Sorry! Double post

Coastal....Jedediah Smith

Theresa
DD-15
DD-13.5
GBG- 9

Ahhh...just a little further up the coast from me! Beautiful place! I do not get up there often -- I have a hard time getting past Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park (110 mile round trip for me -- I do most of my photographing there).

Enjoy your time away!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

Getting close to school here too - Aug 31 we all go back (me included.) My ADD son needs to go back and get on a schedule, but other than that, I am not ready yet!!

I had great plans to organize my whole house this month, and although I made it through many closets and drawers, it is not going to get finished. Oh well.

Because our boat sat in our garage with engine problems for the month of July, I feel like I got jipped of lake time, so we are packing in one more camping trip to Itasca State Park and then the lake this weekend/Monday. And from there on out, it is all prep for school.

Seems like the closer we get to school, the more the neighbors are home, and the more children are hanging out in my yard again. It is fun to see the kids all tanned and grown...summer does something great for kids.

Deb
Son, 12
GGB, 10