Capture, savor, and celebrate right now.
Tags:After a few weeks of having all three of us here together Chris is back to meetings (the new legislative session begins next week) and Simon has one more day off school today (it's a "professional development/planning day"). I am ready for a bit of "alone" time around here to get some more work done before the baby actually arrives.
I finished cleaning up, clearing out, and reorganizing Simon's room yesterday. One of the things that was most fun was having him rediscover toys he has not played with for awhile that still bring him entertainment and joy. I am glad to have that entire project completed and can move on to my list for the baby room (thanks for all those kind words on the sneak peek).
One of my favorite things over the past couple of weeks is that Simon has really gotten into reading. REAL reading on his own.
Our normal routine is to read a book to him each evening before going to sleep of his choice (we intervene or make suggestions depending on how late or early it is). One night last week he picked Green Eggs & Ham, climbed up on his bed, sat criss-cross, and told Chris he wanted to read it that night.
It took over an hour for Simon to read Green Eggs & Ham the first evening.
After the excitement (and a bit of fatigue all around) Chris had the brilliant idea to come up with a simple way to track the books he reads all by himself: each time he finishes a book he can add it to a list we are keeping on a bulletin board in his bedroom. That in and of itself was enough of a motivator for him to get down to business and it has been working like a charm for the last week.
The next night he read Robert the Rose Horse. It also took him over an hour. He is super tired by the end and we are working in the suggestion that you can break a book into two nights (or more) but that idea has not caught on just yet. In the meantime we are adding in some shorter books or changing it up by having one of us read to him.
Tonight he fell asleep while Chris was reading to him. He had spent part of his afternoon reading Green Eggs & Ham (on his own on the couch) and starting on Horton Hears A Who.
I so hope this is just the beginning of a lifetime love of reading.
In addition, I would like to ask for your prayers and positive thoughts. Many of you know that I have had a bunch of moles removed over the last year and a half (actually more than 20 since August 2007). This past week I received some results indicating that the most recent one I had removed from my upper chest area is stage one melanoma (this is more serious on the spectrum than the melanoma I had removed in the past which was only on the surface of the skin). I should be getting more information this week as to what the next steps are in this situation.
Consider this your friendly reminder to have your own skin checked by a dermatologist if you have any suspicions or conerns.


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375 comments
My family will keep you in our prayers Ali. Prayer is a powerful resource and you have quite alot coming your way! Hang in there!
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Prayers said. Wishing you well Ali.
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Positive thoughts coming your way.
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Thinking of you!
Love the pic of Simon!
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My prayers are with you. God IS able.
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You will definitely be in my thoughts Ali -- I had five moles removed last year as well. Everything was OK, but it is a stressful thing and having parts (even small ones) of your body removed is scary. I'm glad you have so many positive things to focus on right now, and I hope you enjoy your alone time when you get it!
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I wish the best outcome for you Ali....
My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you....
I'm a six year survivor of stage 3 malignant melanoma....
Since my initial major surgery I have had more moles removed then I can count....
Big Hugs to you and your family....
Dedra
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Prayer for you! I'm sorry you are having to go through this but try to focus on the positives right now.
Sounds like Simon and his reading is a huge positive. Way to go Simon!
Happy 'Alone' time tomorrow Ali!
Sue
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simon. reading. is super fun.
and i will pray for you. for healing. and for your family. and the doctors, too.
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Sending healing vibes your way. My girlfriend has been in the same situation, with a mole right in the center of her chest at the collar bone. She had it "dug out" (sorry, her words, not mine) two years ago and she's just fine!! keep up those regular visits!
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i'll be remembering you in my prayers....
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Hugs and healing prayers Ali! I hope everything turns out ok.
Congrats to Simon on all the reading. Sometimes my son (who is the same age) take turns reading a page. Or if it is a book like "Frog & Toad are Friends" one of us reads all the things Frog says and the other reads everything Toad says. Lots of fun! Reading is a lifelong love, so I'm glad to hear that Simon is getting into it! XX's
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Hugs n prayers with you!!!!
XOXO
sara
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Sending you huge hugs and wishes. My prayers go out to you and yours...
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I'll be thinking of you Ali and hoping all is well. Great to see Simon developing a love of reading :)
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i will add you to my prayers..it is so great that Simon is reading on his own..i remember when both of my children read their first books by themselves
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Thinking of you, Ali, during this nerve- wracking time :)
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Ahhh, those darn moles! I come from a very "moley" family, and feel like I have something removed monthly!
Good for you for being on top of it & spreading the word about dermatological health... best of luck to you!
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Oh gosh Ali - Definitely sending positive thoughts your way.
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Prayers for you, Ali. My husband has frequent mole removals...so far all just dysplastic nevi and melanomatic nevi...not cancerous. But I know the worry. He has a check every six months and they have a little photograph book of his moles (a mole-scrapbook?) that they use for comparison. His mother once asked the doctor, "Can't you just remove them all right now?" To which the doctor replied, "Uh, Mrs. F, we'd have to PEEL him to do that." I'll be thinking of you!
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