Pick me, pick me, pick me!

Have you seen all the beautiful new products & contest for pro photographers on http://www.DesignAglow.com?

I never enter these bloggy giveaways, but I adore these bags, and I just know I would never convince Jason to buy me one.  I would love a purse/camera bag in one, so I could take my camera with me EVERYWHERE.  Also, they have cute little pockets for lenses, and Jason would just have to buy me a lens otherwise the pocket would be all sad and lonely :)  Wish me luck!

Postponed...

I had a meeting with WECS (Windward Early Childhood Services, the same group that helped with Clark's speech therapy, and getting him into school) yesterday... for Harry.  At the last minute I canceled.  I am telling myself it was becasue I HAD to keep Clark home from school, he really did have bad cough and was up a lot the night before.  

BUT, I think, I know, it was for another reason as well.  I am scared to take Harry in to get evaluated.  I don't want them to tell me how behind he is, and all the things that are wrong with him.  I don't want them to tell me he is... Autistc.  

I just want him to wake up tomorrow morning laughing, because something REAL is funny, not because he is off in some imaginary world.  I want him to play WITH me, or Clark, or anyone.  I want him to LOOK at me when I say, good morning baby.  I want him to be HERE, not off in that secret place that he goes.  I want to get to know the real Harry, not this imposter baby that seems to have moved into our house.

I totally believe in early intervention, I have seen it help other children, even my own little Clark.  I know it will help us out, I KNOW Harry will prosper with their care and advice.  I just want one more week of hoping that my little Harry will come back, one more week of pretending nothing is wrong and he is just a little behind.  

One more week of ignorance.  

My Favorite Picture of the Week.

That face.

Those curls.

That attitude.

I love it all!!

He is growing up so fast.

Clark's First Week of School

We did it!  We survived Clark's first week of school.

Only a few tantrums, and tears...

(and not just from Clark, on Mommy's part as well).

Walking Clark to his class.

We were all so nervous...okay, I was so nervous.

Clark was excited, and kept saying, "play skool".

I am so glad Jason took of the day to be with me.  I am sure if I had been alone I would have been a wreck.  We had visited the school once before, so he knew where his class was, and that it had TOYS.

We didn't say a lot of goodbyes, and we decided it would be better to sneak out.

When I was leaving, I heard him say "oh-no" with a little bit of panic rising in his voice...

and instead of turning around to reassure him, I kept walking, faster...away.

It was the hardest thing I had to do.

(Well, until the next day when I had to put him on the bus, crying!!!)

Clark after school.

He was so relieved when we came to pick him up, beyond relieved.

He hugged me for 5 straight minutes, so tightly, and then wouldn't let go of my hand.

You can tell in this picture how sullen and stressed he was.

I bet it was such a hard day for him, it was the longest he has ever been away from home without me or Jason.

The teacher SAID he was fine, and didn't cry (I am not sure I believe her).

She said that he had a really hard time going down for his nap/rest time, and waking up,

and she did a lot of chasing him down all day.  

(Yep, welcome to my life.)

Clark in front of his school, Kahalu'u Elementary.

I was trying to get Clark to smile for a picture, 

but he wanted nothing more than to get in the car to go home.

We survived the first day. 

Now, the REALLY hard part, the BUS.

I was having so much anxiety over Clark riding the bus alone.

 I almost bought a double jogging stroller so I could walk him to and from school,

 4 miles round trip, twice a day.  

There are no pictures of Clark getting on the bus for the first time, because we had to force him.

Jason was literally pushing him, while the bus attendant was pulling him.

Clark was crying, I was crying...it was horrible.

I still don't know how I let the bus pull away...

I will never forget that horrible feeling, 

the pit in my stomach,

knowing how scared and alone he felt, how confused he was.

I was sick to my stomach all day.

I had to call his teacher to make sure he was ok.  (Yep, I am THAT Mom...)

And she SAID he was. 

I think she is a good liar.

Clark was crying again when he got off the bus.  He ran up the hill, and straight to our front door.

Once again, he was just so relieved to see us, and be home.

His eyes were red and puffy, and he just looked so heart broken.

His teacher called me and said he had a rough afternoon, after he woke up grumpy from his nap,

and he did cry a little getting on the bus again.

She told us not to give up, keep trying...

I think she could hear in my voice that I was ready to throw in the towel.

We stuck with it, and I am glad we did.  

Wednesday was so-so, he was nervous...but not too scared, and no crying.

Come Thursday morning he was HAPPILY waiting for the bus.

He hopped right on the bus,

 and got in his seat...without even a second glance back at me!!

I am so glad he is enjoying it now. Relived really!  I don't know how much longer I could've taken the heartache of sending him off in tears everyday.  He wakes up every morning HAPPY to get up and get ready for school.  He comes home in a good mood, and is HAPPY to be home. 

It is amazing to me how much we all grew and changed in this one week.

Clark looks and acts so much older now, but also so do we.  

I have a child going to school!  Sure, it is only preschool, but it is all day, and it is on a bus.

It was hard, it hurt, and it was scary, for all of us...

It was one of the hardest things we had to do, so far parents, but

WE DID IT!

P.S  I am just going to add. I miss Clark so much during the day, so much it hurts sometimes.  But... it is SO nice to have a little break!!!  Harry is so much easier to stay home with, than Clark ever was.

The Time Machine

The Time Machine  by H.G. Wells

★★★★

Finally, something I can sink my teeth into...or eyes :)
I loved this book.  I finished it in just two days.  After weeks of reading nothing really appealing, it felt nice to dive right into a story, and let it take over.
I love reading old books, especially when I like and understand them...it makes me feel so smart.  This book wasn't too surprising, since I have heard a lot about it, and seen the movie (which was loosely, very very loosely based on the book).
I love the theme of exploration, and wonder of time travel.  I admired the concept of time travel, to someone who was writing the book over 100 years ago.  I loved the creepiness, of the future people and new world he discovered.  I also even liked the mysterious ending (which I normally hate, since I like my endings to be nice an tidy...no loose strings).  Overall, great read, and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the author's books.

At the park, again.

My kids love going to the park.  I know, what kid doesn't, but they really really LOVE it.  

They are like crazy little monkeys running around everywhere, even Harry.  

We probably go about 3 or 4 times a week.  Here are just a few pictures from this week.

Harry could swing for hours.

If my arms didn't get so tired from pushing him, I just might let him.

Clark likes to run and jump everywhere and on everything.

Testing out the bouncy bridge.

Harry pushing his way through the people.

He may be short, but he knows how to get around.

Clark sliding.

Harry likes to run across the bouncy bridge,

back and forth, back and forth.

Moving on.

For the past couple weeks I have agonized over these books.  I have been in a reading rut.  I can't find my groove, or my enjoyment.  So, I decided to admit defeat and just move on... I hardly ever do that, I always try to finish a book that I have started, but not this time.


American God by Neil Gaiman
★

Crap.  I was sorely disappointed.  I normally love his books, but this one was too crude, and a bit of a mess.  I made it about 3/4 of the way through, and I still had no clue what was really going on.  While some parts were good, I just didn't understand where they fit in with the rest of the book.  The characters, although intriguing, were not very like-able.  I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up anymore.






Gulliver's Travels  by Jonathan Swift
★★

I did like this book.  It was interesting enough, and fun to read.  But I just felt such drudgery going to it every day, like a chore.  I do hope to finish the book...someday.

Flashback Friday

My little Harry.

This picture was taken 7-20-2009.

It is kinda blurry and crappy, because it was taken with my cell phone.

Remember when you couldn't take pictures on your cell phone?

Remember when no one had cell phones...

I did a little editing :)

I love his little serious face.

I Love You...

Clark told me he loved me today!

"I wub yoo"

Of-course he only said it after I sat on him, and tickled him for an hour...

but it still counts right?

I am counting it :)

I sure am one happy Mommy tonight.

I love you too, baby boy.

Family Video Game Night

The boys, watching and waiting,

Last night we decided to get out our OLD Nintendo Gamecube,

 and have a family video game night.

Clark was so very excited,

Harry...well Harry was just patiently waiting for his turn to eat the controller.

We played the Simpsons Hit and Run game, and a SpongeBob game.

Harry,

 was only slightly entertained before he toddled away to chew on some cords,

and look for pretzels.

Clark had the most fun!

I thought it was so funny that he held the controller upside down.

He played for hours, and giggled so much, never getting bored.

Long after Daddy fell asleep,

Clark was still up making Homer run in circles and jump up and down.

Ahem...Mommy did not even get a turn.

(I think next week we are just going to call it Daddy and Clark's video game night.)

Helping Daddy

I am LOVING the tongue action on this picture, total concentration!

We decided to set up our coffee table again,

(we can never decided whether to keep it up, or not)

Clark was SO excited when Daddy got out his tools, and his POWER DRILL.

Jason really let him use it, and Clark screwed in the bolt, all by himself.

He was so proud of himself.

Harry 's Dream Come True

Harry LOVES pretzels,

totally,

 whole-heartedly,

100%

Somedays all I can get him to eat is pretzels and milk.

He is such a funny little guy.

You should see him try to carry this big tub of pretzels around, begging me for them, 

ALL DAY LONG.

It is so cute.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

★★★ (out of 5 stars)

I just recently figured out how to download FREE books onto my phone. FREE BOOKS!! So, in addition to my normal reading list, I added as few classics onto my phone to read whenever I have some down 
time, when it is just not convenient to bring a book (like to church, haha).

Having grown up watching different adaptations of this book, cartoon and otherwise, I was a bit disappointed by the book. I always thought the movies were a little weird, so I was hoping the book would explain more, and add more depth to the story and characters. Nope, nadda...still weird.  I am not even sure why this book is a classic.  I am sure there were some hidden layers and meanings in the story that I was just to dense to get, and sure it was interesting and very creative.  I just didn't get IT.  Glad I decided to read it, but it was just okay.

Flashback Friday

I miss little Clark!
He was so much easier to contain, when he was just a little nugget :)
He has changed so much, this was taken 2 years ago, yet he is still the curious, active, little monster he always has been.  It makes me so sad to think that I will never see this little Clark again.  It is so hard to watch him grow-up and change.  Watching wonderful, HAPPY moments pass by, knowing that they will never be exactly like that again.  There will be different joys, different memories, and  I will love them just as much...but then he will grow, and change a little more, and they will be gone too.  This is all sounding  more sad than I intended it too...
 Mommy is getting the "first baby going to school blues".
The time just goes by way too fast!
I just don't want to forget any moment of his little life.
The laughing and crying, the kissing and cuddling, the TALKING and playing.
And the same goes for Harry!  My precious little Harry.
They are my heart.
Clark is starting school on Monday.  I only have two more days left of my little boy, before he goes off to the big bad world of PRE-SCHOOL.
I can do this, I can do this, I can do this....
I will just miss my little Clark.

Happy 34th Birthday Jay!

Happy Birthday Jay, 34 years...

you are getting old!

I met you (Jason) when you were 22, 

which means we have spent the last 12 years together, 

8 of them being married.  

It honestly doesn't seem that long.

In that time I have seen you learn and grow so much.

You have become a better husband and friend.

A wonderful father, and the best Dad...

the boys adore you.

You have excelled in your job, and schooling.

You are always looking for new ways to better yourself,

and trying so hard.

I am really so proud of all the hard work you do for our family.

You make us laugh, and bring us joy,

(sometimes in the form of presents...you are the best present giver).

I don't know what we would do without you, 

you complete us :)

I hope all your birthday wishes cames true.

Love,

 April, Clark and Harry

For Jason's birthday we had a week full of celebrations, which included;

Panda Express one too many times (one of Jason's favorite fast foods),

me not complaining over the dumb movie/tv shows he wanted to watch (that was really hard),

a day off of work,

lunch at Dave and Buster's with games to follow,

dinner at Ruby Tusedays,

(you can see that the way to Jay's heart and happiness is food, and a lot of if), 

and a new cell phone (which just happened to be buy one get one free...so I got one too)!

My Favorite Picture of the Week (well, last week).

A little bit of heaven.

Peek-a-Boo??

Where is Harry?

The other night, I found Harry hiding behind the curtain.

I thought he was trying to play peek-a-boo with me...

So, I kept pulling the curtain back, 

and saying PEEK-A-BOO!

But, I was just making him mad.

Really mad, he started growling at me :)

I guess he just wanted to hide??

So, I waited and waited...

and waited some more.

Then finally he came out.

It turns out he was just trying to poop, 

and I was really bothering him.

(Geez Mom, get a clue.)

Playing TOGETHER!

The other night we caught the boys playing, TOGETHER!

A RARE occurence in our house.

Harry was laughing and giggling, and Clark was being so gentle and nice.

Here they are dancing and running around to the music, together :)

TACKLE!

No crying yet.

Clark spinning Harry around, and Harry enjoying it!

Now, if I could get a few more days and nights of this...we would all be alot happier.

What I learned today...and what I pass along to you. Please, take it to heart.

Why does the Lord ask you to love your enemies and to return good for evil? 

That YOU might have the benefit of it. It does not injure him (your enemy) so much when you hate a person, especially if he is far removed and does not come in contact with you, but the hate and the bitterness will canker your unforgiving heart... 

We pray for our enemies. This will soften our hearts, and perhaps theirs, and we may better seek good in them. And this prayer should not be confined to national enemies but should extend to neighbors, members of the family, and all with whom we have differences. 

The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball

I have a testimony of this!

Amen.

Finally.

He is eating!

Harry is getting better!

He finally starting eating this weekend, and a lot :)

He is almost done with his antibiotics, and no more fevers!

Clark started to get a little sick this weekend, off and on high fevers... I was scared.

But all of the sudden yesterday, he was back to normal.

Both boys are finally on the mend, I can't wait to get our lives back.

No more up all night, no more constant laundry, and diaper changes.

Just happy babies, and a happy Mommy.

We are a good lookin' bunch.

Just a few of my favorite pics taken by LeeYen, with lobleephotography.

Bosko Family 2010

Look! We are all looking the same direction, and even smiling (well except for Harry), at the SAME time!

Kaneohe Bay and the Ko'olau Mountains in the background, one of my favorite views...

I am going to miss it so much.

April and Jason

Can you believe we have been married for almost 9 years?

Kissy, kissy!

Clark is such a sweet heart!

Jason and Harry

One of the few moments Harry was happy.

(This was the day before he started getting really sick.)

April and Harry

He is so cute, even when he is scowling.

Blowing bubbles with Daddy,

Clark adores bubbles!

Harry, and his gorgeous eyes.

He was having such a hard day, but was a good sport with all the picture taking.

High five, job well done.

Thanks LeeYen, we had such a fun time. I am going to love looking back on these pictures and remembering our time in Hawaii, with our little munchkins.

You can check out others from our day here.

Flashback Friday

I have been looking forward to this weeks flash back, all week!

Remember this picture?!

My not-so-little Harry, at Ko Olina Beach.

I forgot how deliciously chunky and plumpy he was.

This was taken in May 2009, so he was around 7 months.

I found this picture on my computer the other day, and Jason and I literally laughed for 10 straight minutes. Someday when I get a house with a fireplace, I want to blow up this picture and hang it above the mantel. Probably one of my favorite pictures of Harry, of all time.

Talking In His Sleep

Clark likes to talk in his sleep,

just like his Daddy :)

I have heard him say the cutest things...

oh-no Wall-e,

Buzz, er are you,

Mahi, Mahi, you nee a hug...that made my heart melt, and

no, no baaaloooons (keeping with the Pixar theme I am guessing he was dreaming of UP),

mostly there is just a lot of saying no, and mumbling.

However, last night I woke up to the best yet,

FULL OUT OF CONTROL GIGGLING,

like someone was tickling him to death,

it was SO delightful!!

This next coming week, we are going to make him start sleeping in his own bed

(about time, I know).

I am going to miss him saying crazy things.

ps.

This has nothing to do with this post,but I just want to say,

I LOVE how Clark likes to act out movies.

We are watching UP right now, and he is stumbling around like an old man, pretending to drag a house. And last night we watched Ice Age 3, and he pretended to be a dinosaur for the rest of the night.

It is one of my most FAVORITE things about Clark!!

The Perfect Storm

Poor Little Sick Harry,

it broke my heart to see him so miserable.

Last week our family got hit by the perfect storm of sicknesses, a stomach virus and chest colds all around. For a full eight days we each took turns with fevers, body aches, and all sorts of gross things spewing from our bodies.

Just when I was starting to think we were all better,

Sunday night Harry spiked a 105.5 temperature. Jason rushed him to the ER, where they admitted him for dehydration. They gave him an IV, which Harry loathed with all of his tiny little being, and took all sorts of blood, urine and stool samples for tests, to try and figure out what exactly was wrong.

After much discussion, and for some reason secrecy...they seriously wouldn't tell us for sure... they started treating Harry for Pneumonia, due to a spot they found on his lungs during an x-ray, and Gastroenteritis (which is just a fancy word for lots of vomiting and diarrhea).

Two LONG nights and days later, and many many of the worst looking/smelling diapers I have ever changed, the doctors decided that Harry would fare better at home. He was so uncomfortable and stressed at the hospital with the constant poking and prodding, he was having so much anxiety. It was so hard to see him so sick and upset, and there was nothing I could do to help him, he just couldn't relax.

His mood and spirit started to improve as soon as we got him home. He was in absolute heaven when we turned on Wall-E and gave him a bowl of pretzels! He played a little and was so happy to have a real bath. Even his diarrhea started to get a little better, without all the nasty antibiotics and fluids they were pumping through his body.

This morning we got a call from the doctor, with the results from some of his labs. It turns out that he has Salmonella poisoning. Probably from eating a rouge chicken nugget he found lying around the house. Poor little guy!! I am not sure if this is the same thing the whole family got sick with last week, or if this came after the initial storm when Harry was already vulnerable. I am just not sure what to think, but it is good to finally know what was/is going on. We have a doctors appointment for Harry tomorrow, but I am, and they are confident that the worst is over. He has stopped vomiting, and there have been no more fevers, and he has even started to eat a little. As long as I can keep him hydrated, the bacteria will work its way out of his body and he will be just fine.

I just feel so bad for him. He is so tired and sad all day. I am sure he is having a lot of stomach pain. He has lost so much weight that he is actually starting to look a little different, we can finally see his neck.

What a rough couple of weeks. I feel like I am never going to be caught up on laundry and cleaning. All I want to do is scrub my house from top to bottom with bleach. I am so glad the end is near...and we finally can be back to normal.

I am beyond thankful for the sweet family, friends and ward members we have, for their support, and for volunteering to help out :)

We are truly blessed.