Back to Boston

Our trip to Boston was pretty close to perfect, and that is saying something given perfection is not even our aim.  Save the elevator being down at the CTA station when we returned, meaning we had to carry all our luggage, the kids, and the double stroller down an obscene number of stairs in shifts, it went off without a hitch and everyone had a blast.

The flight out was in the morning, and though they don't typically nap then, Alistair took advantage of the flight for a snooze.  Marielle got squirrely, as is her nature, but thankfully there was an empty seat next to DH (we sat behind each other in window seats), so she could have her own space.  Flying with a nearly three foot tall (nearly 30 lb.) toddler on your lap is no joke.  They will be sitting in their own seats for the India trip.  They both slept, in their jammies, on the early evening flight home.

It took until the third day for them to nap well in the afternoon, as they do at home, so even with a 2pm late checkout (thanks to the hotel's rewards program), they were still asleep.  I passed on spending $200 to stay until 4, and was going to wake them, but instead figured since we were in a quiet corner of the floor, to just wheel them out into the hall in case someone needed the room.  Of course, no one even came and cleaned the room before we left our little camp about an hour later.

Since we got an amazing deal on our airfare (thanks to AA weekend fares), we decided to splurge on a really nice hotel downtown, since we didn't want to rent a car/take car seats.  He got the Intercontinental on Hotwire (our fav way to save on hotels), which in on the revitalized waterfront and new RFK (the mother) greenway, over the big dig.  Lovely place, and new since I last lived there, and a very short trip from the airport on the new Silver line and a few minutes walk to everything.

We managed to fit in a lot in just over two days.  We had dinner in the North End.  Walked a good part of the city (from the waterfront to the Back Bay) and Cambridge too.  Hung out with my sister and her boyfriend who drove up from NYC.  Had lunch with friends Steph and Vid after a three year drought.

Waiting for the train to the airport (where we can park for free at DH's office)

 

Attempting to ride the dumbwaiter at the airport

Watching the planes as we wait to board

The city view from our room, overlooking the Greenway and the Boston Harbor Hotel/Rowes Wharf (ironically where I went for my 20th b-day)

Ah, the Faneuil Hall AT (where I used to work back in the olden days)

Perfect fall day on the Common

Visiting the "Make Way for Ducklings" sculptures (they were all adorned with little outfits for Ovarian Cancer awareness)

 

 

 

Our crazy girl doing one of her favorite things, running with hands in the air

Smelling the flowers in the Public Garden

Playing peek a boo with his sister at Granary Tavern (highly reco BTW)

Napping in the hallway...

Time to go home... :(

Happy Weekend!  I think we are finally headed out to the boonies to pick some apples and pumpkins!

Early Intervention

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

As part of our long journey waiting for Alistair to start walking, since our peds ortho didn't reco therapy, I decided to reach out to our county's EI program for an evaluation to determine if he'd be eligible for services.  We live in Cook county, but near the border, and our town lies mostly in DuPage, so we were referred from the former, which I'd contacted first, to the latter.  The whole process has thankfully only taken a few weeks.

First, a case manager reached out and we also later met at our home to discuss his development.  While our concerns were primarily with his lack of independent walking (gross motor), they do a series of in home assessments with different specialists/therapists (physical, speech, developmental) as part of the intake process and then we all meet together to discuss the outcomes and any treatment plan(s).  Our final meeting was this morning.

While I knew neither of the kids were setting any records with their language development, I was not overly concerned because they are both very verbal, though it is primarily pre-language jibberish and animal noises.  I was a very late talker (which caused no long term ill effect, save not starting kindergarten early, even though I tested off the charts), and so are/were my sister's (the speech pathologist) four kids (her 20 mo. old mostly grunts and her 3yo talks very little) and since they are twins (and he a boy), raised bilingually (English and Marahti), at home (where their needs are anticipated), etc. etc., I wasn't losing sleep over the fact they "knew" words (could point to/retrieve items), but weren't saying them.  So I figured they'd qualify for some therapy, though honestly I don't know if he'd starting walking sooner, if I would have reached out right now for their speech alone, since they clearly have strong cognitive skills, which the therapist confirmed.

Of course our little stinker started walking the week of his physical eval and also for the therapist, which since she didn't find any other issues of concern, he would have just missed the cut off for qualifying, which for each area requires a minimum 30% delay, based on age, though in the end she qualified him for therapy and recommended twice a month sessions until he is a confident walker (which is our primary goal).

 

We met with the speech language therapist and she also qualified Alistair for therapy, as she also did for Marielle, though a separate formal assessment for her, as she is just slightly more advanced.  Both of them displayed age appropriate skills, except for expressive language, as we knew.  She also recommended two sessions/month, though they will in essence be receiving four as they will be treated separately and together. They understand many words, but their regular active vocabulary includes just a handful of basic words (mama, dada, car, cat, dog, ball, block, me, go, wow, uh oh, and the like).  And though they are always surprising me with new ones, they have yet to string words together, which apparently they should be by now.

Lastly, we met with a developmental therapist, who evaluates global development.  She confirmed that both would qualify for speech therapy, and he for physical therapy. She also said that while it is good that he has finally started walking (though he didn't during her visit), since I told her it is still not his preferred means of getting around, which it should be, that she pushed for him to qualify for physical therapy to "get him over the hump."  We agreed that we thought he would benefit from this as well.

While I'm sure this varies from place to place, we were given the option of using our private health insurance for the therapy (though many do not cover developmental therapies) or whether to pay on their sliding scale ($0-$200/month, depending on family income/size).  We plan to opt for the latter.  I was pleasantly surprised we were given a choice, since we have private insurance, though I have no idea if our insurance covers the therapy (I later found that it is covered, though we've still opted for the monthly plan).  I guess sessions are expensive ($200/ea.) and the state pays the difference.  This is why I don't mind paying taxes, though you can add this to the many many additional costs of multiples.  Can you imagine not having the means to get your child the help they need?  I'm surprised how often I hear this, but I was also shocked that over half of the babies born at Prentice are paid for by Medicaid (no wonder we got such a sweet room).  Their services can continue until age three based on reassessments, and EI participants have priority access to public preschool services.

I'll be sure to give updates on how they do once we get going with the therapy sessions.  Anyone have experience with EI?  How did it go for you?

Have a great weekend! We are off to Boston tomorrow, which will include the kids' first train, plane, bus, and maybe duck boat ride! :)

21 months old

We're in the last Q to TWO!  Our big news this month, of course, is Alistair finally started walking.  He is becoming more sure on his feet, but still prefers to crawl, which he does at a record pace. He likes to walk for longer distances holding onto one of our hands though.  Baby steps, literally.

I'm puting together a separate post on our series of assessments through early intervention, which have been happening the last few weeks and will wrap up next.  Once everything is finalized, I will share our findings and plan.

 

I finally booked our trip to Boston, for next weekend, and not only is it a dry run for India, it is parents' weekend at the ole alma maters.  I'm super psyched to show the kids around one of my favorite cities, where I spent five crazy years (college plus another), but haven't been back to in over three (a new record dry spell for me).

I've started working on our India trip, and honestly just getting the three of us visas is a huge PITA, oh and $700.  Yikes!  Hopefully we'll get approved for ten year entries.  There really should be an easier process for those related to Indians, don't you think?

We started a new music class, which they seemed to like, though it was a bit like cat herding, and we're starting another new class next week, which should be interesting.  The township library is on break from toddler activities, so we've started going to toddler time at the smaller one in our town.  It is a great group, leader, music and activities.  It really is no comparison.  These are both libraries my sister interned at when she was finishing her masters and lived with us five yrs ago.  We are lucky to have so many great services available for them.

I know I endlessly vacillate on this, but I'm still deciding whether to send the kids to preschool in the new year, when they'll be two.  They will definitely be going next fall when they will be nearly three, but since there are no public options nearby for before 2 1/2, I'm mulling starting them at private ones without the intention of staying or just waiting.  Who knows what we'll be doing in a year?

Seven Year Itch?

From our wedding program...

(ML, a priest, was also married to a Katie, a nun)

DH and I are celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary today. Thankfully, they say the "itch" is a myth, though it could be a three, four, 12, or as in my parents' case, a 14 year itch. I know that's not really a long time, though like looking down at 37 and coming big reunions as I am, I guess it's a turn closer to the next big milestone. We've been together nearly nine, so seven may have been when things got crazy two years ago (a test of wills, if not just a marriage, if there ever was one). We have the kind of relationship where it seems like we've known each other forever (in a good way, of course). 

It has been quite a ride, much of the highs and lows of the last few years chronicled here. We fell quickly, but softly. We bought a house. We got married twice. We've travelled far and wide. We've navigated the immigration system. We started (and are still running) a business. We've changed jobs five times between us. We planned and waited for our family to be whole. We unexpectedly lost a baby and a parent. We've had siblings battle illness, get married, and make us an aunt and uncle (five times over). We've been through the fire to have our twins. We've watched each other become the parents that we knew we could be.

If there is anything that I've learned about marriage, and I'm obviously no expert, is that its success is a lot like other success. Failure can't be an option, for either of you. You have to show up, and give your all, and then some more, but it can't be a chore.

We know we are lucky.  We like and love each other still, and even more.  There isn't a piece of my family (grandparents, parents, aunt/uncles, sisters, cousins) and increasingly our friends who are unscarred by divorce. We found each other, the right other, at the right time (after much time), looking for just the right things. And when things get tough, especially when they do, we want the other right there by our side. I hope that we get to celebrate many many more together.  Love you babe.
 

And, in case you haven't heard the new wedding song of the year/decade, which I love...  The acoustic version .  DH and I are also a fan of this one too... Happy Monday! :)

My favorite time of the year

via

As much as I adore summer, it's really all about fall for me.  September especially, which I know falls mostly in summer officially.  Back to school (the last time).  Our anniversary.  My birthday.  The leaves start changing. Leaf peeping is upon us.  There is crispness in the air.  Apple and then later pumpkin picking.  Getting the sweaters, vests, long pants, and, if you are really lucky, boots out of the closet. 

Though a few years ago, I was about to banish this as my time of year.  Two years ago last week, we almost lost our twins (last year's PSA).  Three years ago, my sister was dx w/cancer and we lost my FIL.  Yesterday was the anniversary of his passing and seeing as it is grandparent's week (as it is every year this week), the story time at the library was all books about grandparents, well mostly grandpas.  The twins are lucky and still have two of those (from my side), but we still feel Ratan's absence, though he lived very far away.  DH's is a tight knit small immediate (though huge extended) family, though we've doubled in size since his dad passed.

And of course, there is always 9.11.

The quote above from FS(K)F is a really great one (which isn't a big surprise, he is one of my all time favorites, and I think soul mate since we share a birthday, be they 80 years apart).  It reminds me that instead of it being a time of year where things are just starting to die and go into hibernation (which is certainly the case), it is really a time of renewal, when you get a chance to start all over again...

One of my favorite songs... (ah, the clothes of the 70's...)  Happy Friday the 13th and weekend!

Change of plans

As I mentioned last week, our first foray into full time outside childcare was not a huge success, even with all the thought, research and preparation that went into it. Yes, the kids seemed to have a good time (though they were exhausted) and their teachers reported that they did very well (even with food and nap times, which is what I was most concerned about logistically). But... We got very sick, though I don't know if that was entirely their fault, though it was a wake up call/reminder that this will be our new reality, and Mari got some sort of rash, that we have now cleared up. Oh, and the client delayed the project start. A series of omens, I figured.

Now that I am just starting to feel human again, though the decision was made several days ago, we are delaying our venture into our new life until I find a full time job I really want, and I find a nanny that I really like for the kids (both of which hopefully occurring in a symbiotic timeframe), as committing to full time school (where they can't go if they are sick, which they will be more often), while committing to consulting work (where I have less flexibility and don't get paid if I'm not working), probably doesn't make a lot of sense unless my primarily goal was to be away from my kids (by having a back up sitter), in the most complicated fashion possible. I have no desire/need to hire help with them if I'm not working, that money is already going to beef up their college funds. And honestly with the likely therapy that Alistair will need, and the other things we have going on (planning/going to India, etc.), we have some time sensitive things that take priority.

So we are going to continue/start up some new activities for fall and see where things go. They love going to play at the gym (my most regular adult activity), music, art, and play class, and the library activities. I just discovered that there are private offerings of (non-competitive) soccer for kids this age. Crazy, right? That should be good for them too.

Hamptons Designer Showhouse 2013

Since it is closing today, I figured it was time to finally post about the Hamptons Designer Show house.  I had wanted to go the last time we were in the Hamptons, but we didn't have a lot of extra time and I felt like a heel leaving DH to fend for himself.  This time, since everyone could/needed to nap and I could run up there and no one would really miss me, I went for it. 

It was a very nice house, as they always are, spec houses that always sell for big money.  But unlike most parade/tour homes, where it is really about the house (and the builder), or like the recent green home tour I went on in Chicago (which was all about the ways to build/live green), this was really all about the designers.

They chose designers for each individual space, some 30 in all, and they all seemingly work in a vacuum, so nothing really goes together, which makes for an odd compilation in general.  The point of these homes is to get the designers publicity and new clients, and to benefit Southampton Hospital, which I understand and support.  But that is my main complaint that it isn't really about the entire presentation, just each room to themselves.  I wondered if they pulled each and every thing out when they sell it, and I guess they have a charity auction at the end of the summer to get rid of the furnishings.

Anywho, I brought my big camera along but left it in the car, so these are all just iPhone pics.

I have to say that I thought the outdoor spaces were the real stars of the house.  That and the master suite (and maybe the butler's pantry) are all that were really notable in my opinion.  The house was a traditional Hamptons shingle style house on a deep interior lot, just outside of Sag Harbor.

Some shots from around the side porch...  So colonial, love it!

The backyard had a large pool and terraced tennis court beyond it and that hedge row...  (rough living, right?)

From the tennis court, looking back at the house

A bit overdone, but I loved this one too... (the curtained one off to the right, from above)

And the porches off the back...

And then inside... the butler's pantry, which is really all about that Scalamandre zebra wallpaper

I liked that they had double machines in the 2nd floor laundry room (the only one), but the room was so small.  But I guess that's either the maid's problem or you just send out the stuff when you live in a 7BD/7+BA in the Hamptons, eh?

Loved the master, though I didn't take that many good pics.  It was designed by society designer Celerie Kemble, and she did a very nice job.  Loved the custom bed linens...

Can we agree that every master bathroom should have his and hers WCs?  Brilliant.

The master bath was amazing, if a bit overdone.  Does it really need to be the size of a ballroom?  The suite also had an office and two sitting rooms, in addition to a double sided fireplace.

Loved the mosaic floor work

The kitchen was meh.  I'm not sure how they get away with making it so small in a house this big.

Informal eating room off of the keeping room/kitchen

Most of the other bedrooms (7 total, all en suite, 5 up, 1 main, 1 down) and living/dining rooms were not very interesting, but I liked that they had two story entry and living room.  Since we have these too, I'm partial...  Au revoir!