Warm days and cool nights as summer comes to an end

This week, while my parents were visiting, we stayed pretty busy.  Wednesday was the only day that we didn't have any appointments or already made plans.  This is the day we cleaned the office.  This is my most hated job.  Papers and mail gather in this office to the point of ridiculous, and the kids spread things all over the place.  This is also where we keep all of Finley's Braille supplies and books and resources.  Although the table got a little shambled throughout the summer.

 It felt good to clean it out and reorganize.  All the piles made smaller.  All of Finley's table rearranged.  We set aside things that will be returning to school with the kids next week and packed some school supplies in Arlington's bookbag.  (sniff)

 Thursday was a really busy day.  It started with Finley's horseback riding lesson.  I had to change it because of Cainan's appointment at the cleft clinic on Tuesday.  My parents had a chance to watch her ride and see what she has been learning all summer.  I got to be stung by a monsterous horse fly that was unhappy that I walked in its direction.  I never felt pain like that before.  Stinking fly.

 After the lesson, my mom, Finley and I went to my school for a few hours so I could do a little work.  I was hoping to have all the missing physicals of incoming Kindergarten waiting for me in my mailbox.  But what did I get?  NONE.  I am missing 15 physicals and not one came in this last week.  Anyway - Finley watched a movie and my mom started hanging my posters back up on my walls while I worked.  Then we left from there for Finley's eye appointment.

 This eye appointment was one that was set up by BESB.  They allow you to see one of their eye specialist for free, so we decided that you can never have too many opinions in Finley's case.  The appointment took forever, and in the end, the doctor (who was very nice) wanted to set up a few more appointments and do more exams.  I don't know if we will or not.  While they are all covered, I just don't think he knew enough about LCA to warrant continuing with him.  He hasn't had an LCA patient in 8 years, and after he said to us "if she stays like she is now, she could probably drive", I knew we were in trouble.  Of course we WANT her to drive - but we have seen several specialist who tell us with her "holey" vision and 10% functional vision - even if she doesn't lose any more, she will never drive.  Oh well.  At least he was nice.

What I do have coming up - thanks to the Connecticut Lions Club - is an appointment at the new Yale Eye Center in New Haven, and then a contact from there at Columbia for a retinal specialist.  Thanks to the Lions Club - who knows about Finley - they offered to get us an appointment at their eye center and made the initial contact to make sure it would be beneficial.  So we will be going there in the near future.  As most of you know - we have not been very happy with Dr. Fulton at Boston.  She is not very nice to parents, and doesn't like to be asked questions, so we are looking to change specialist.

 Thursday night, my mom and I and Finley went to dinner together at the Olive Garden.  This is Finley's favorite restaurant.  The waitress was very sweet to her and brought her many extra olives for her salad.  I think Finley ate her weight in olives!  Going out to dinner with just Finley I realize where 90% of my energy goes when we go out.  Her.  She is all over the place, and she isn't always "Joe Safety", so I am always afraid she is going to hurt herself.

 Friday we went to Six Flags.  Mat couldn't go because he had too many meetings, but my parents and I took the kids.  We all wore our Finley's Fighters shirts and bracelets.  People would come up and talk to us and tell us a story.  It was pretty neat.

 We had a good time there.  It wasn't overly hot or muggy, but it was really crowded.  This is the first time I have seen it so crowded.  Even the kiddie land parts had lines.  We spent the whole day there and the kids had a chance to ride all of their favorite rides.

 Today we are just relaxing.  Mat is hard at work on our new foundation website.  We had a chance to get many details squared away with the other RDH12 families this week, and so we are VERY close to being completely incorporated.  (for lack of a better word).  We are happy with the way things are coming together and can't wait to start the first of our fundraising efforts for RDH12 exclusively.  I promise to share all the details once we are fully up and running.  All I can tell you is that we are giddy with excitement about our new foundation and all we are going to be able to do for Finley because of it.

 If you haven't had a chance to look - we have finished Finley's Fighters Website.  I still need to fix a typo or two, and tweak a few things.  Plus we will be adding more content as time goes on, and of course fundraisers as they come about.  So I encourage you to check it out HERE (click on the word "here" and it will take you to the website).

 We also encourage you to help in any way you can.  Whether it be to donate to our new foundation (all tax deductible), or buy a Finley's Fighters Shirt or wristband.  Or set up your own fundraiser on Finley's behalf (such as hosting a yard sale and all proceeds will go to the RDH12 Foundation).  Or walking with us in October.  Or even leaving us a kind word.  No amount of encouragement is too small.  We appreciate everything that everyone has done for us over this last year, and we want you to continue that support.

 You can contact me at any time by email at finleyfighters@finleyfighters.com if you have a question, a comment, or just want to say hi.  You can also leave us comments on this blog.  I know some people have trouble, but if you don't have a google account, just post a comment as "annonymous".  We love to know that you are out there - rooting us on, or reading about our family.  So say hi every once in awhile and let us know you are there!  Whether we know you or not - we are glad you come by to see us.

 Before I go - a funny Finley and funny Cainan story.  First Cainan.  We were doing art today on the porch and Cainan comes over with a picture he drew of a person.  He said "I drew Grammy.  I gave her a big head because she has a monster big head!"  So true Cainan, so true.

 Finley - on Thursday was getting ready for bed.  Her sweet Aunt Tricia had given her a St. Lucy necklace (who is the protector of the blind) and we needed to take if off before getting her pajamas on.  Finley wanted to take it with her to her room, but, since I don't trust her, I told her I would keep it in the bathroom until the morning.  I left the room, and went to help the others get ready for bed.  I went back to check on her and she was standing at the counter with her hands clasped tightly together.  I said "Finley - you can't have the necklace in your room"  She said "I don't have anything in my hands".  Yet - she refused to let me look.  This went on for another minute, when she finally gave up and opened her hands.  I took the necklace and put it higher on the counter.  She said "how did you know I had the necklace".  I told her it was because I am mommy and I know everything.  She thought about it awhile - looked at the counter, then looked at me and said "I can climb, you know".

 Little stinker.

This coming week is our last week of summer vacation.  I am going to miss the lazy days, the do nothing days, the trips, the sun, the warmth.  But the kids are ready to go back to school.  They are done playing with each other and getting tired of not having much of a routine.

If summer is coming to a close for you as well, have a great last week!  Soon the leaves will be changing, and sweaters will be emerging from the closets.   And I promise - Making Meals Monday will return.

See you Tuesday.