The Next Sport

Baseball season has officially begun!  This year, all three boys have decided to play.  Max, just being 3 1/2, gets to play t-ball for the first time and is so excited.  His first practice was tonight and he was so cute.  His team is the Mustangs and his friend Will H. is also on his team. 

Noah and Jackson are both on the same team (name pending) and are playing kid pitch.  Next year, if all goes well, we hope to get them on the City Little League team where it is more competitive. 

Daddy telling Max where 2nd base is.

Max's team (he's in yellow) listening to Coach Pete.

Practicing throwing by playing "Hit the Coach." 

Spring 2013 Piano Recital

Today I hosted my Spring Piano Recital with my students.  For most of my students, this was their first ever "real" performance other than for their own families.  After much work, a few jitters and a few wrong notes, they each performed their pieces and did great!  Even my own 3 older kids performed and surprised me. 

Alora perfromed a medley of little songs like "Hot Cross Buns" and "By The Light of the Silvery Moon."

Jackson performed "Brother John."



Noah performed "Horse Sense."



My group of students.  (L to R: Chloee M., Alli H., Jenna F., Sareny F., Echo G., Alora Fuls, Megan M., Noah Fuls, Jackson Fuls, Zach H. and Shea B.)



The Mystery of the Missing Melanocytes

One month ago today Noah awoke with a strange mark on his forehead.  It was splotchy and pink and oddly shaped.  We didn't quite know what to make of it.  It looked almost like a sunburn that had peeled, but we knew that wasn't a real possibility since this kid wears his ball cap non-stop.  Where did it come from?  Why had it suddenly appeared?  I took a picture to document it just in case it was something. 

A week later, while sitting in church, I noticed his eyelashes on his left eye were white.  Not completely white, but several lashes were completely white.  That added to my suspicions even more.  The splotch itself hadn't really changed but this new addition was odd.  I took a picture.

During the next week, I researched what I could on the internet about skin pigmentations.  The term I kept coming back to was "vitiligo."  Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanoctyes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function.  I had a friend who had this disease growing up, but her's covered her entire body, except her face.  Apparently there are several different types and differnt severities.  I made a call to the pediatrician.

 

Yesterday Noah was finally able to see the doctor.  Actually, he saw the doctor's P.A.  I wasn't too impressed by her and thought I seemed to be more educated on the topic.  She even went and pulled out a "clinical pediatric dermatologist" book so she could compare pictures to Noah's forehead.  She suspected the same thing and wrote me a referral to a pediatric dermatologist.  That was all I wanted in the first place! 

Now I have to wait for the doctor's office to call me with the specialist appointment.  The splotch hasn't seemed to really change, other than becoming a little pinker since he's developed a bit of a tan everywhere.  Oddly enough, last night one small edge started peeling a little.  Kids, and even one adult at church, have started asking Noah what's "on his head."  Make-up hasn't seemed to work and he's starting to become a little sensitive about it.  Hopefully the doctor's office will call quickly so we can get this figured out!

The Wisdom of Max

1) Seeing that the "Happy Birthday" banner was still up from last night Max told me this morning that it needed to come down.  I told him I would get to it later.  He proceeded to climb on a chair saying, "I'll get it mom.  I have big muscles, you don't."

2) He later asked me what the mark was on Noah's forehead.  I made up something about it being a superhero mark.  He then told me that I hadn't "sprayed his head at the water" (meaning put sunscreen on him at the pool). 

Happy 11th Noah!

Happy 11th Birthday Noah!

Swimming In March

Here it is the middle of March and the temperature here in Phoenix has already hit the low 90s.  Normal temps for this time of year are the upper 70s, so this is definitely not the norm.  Since it's Spring Break and the kids are home, they were dying to go swimming.  Fortunately, our community pool was open (except the water slides) so the kids got their wish. 

Despite NO ONE ELSE being there, having random ducks swimming around, and the water being slightly cold, they kids all played and swam for almost an hour.  They loved it!

Ladybug Breakfast

 During the kids' Spring Break, our Residents Club provided a couple of activities for the kids.  One of which was the Ladybug Breakfast and Release.  Our kids love ladybugs (see previous posts for proof!).  Each of the kids got their own bag of ladybugs and were allowed to release them all over the grounds of the club.  We had so many we even brought some home and put them in our own garden and flowers!

The kids even got to make pinwheels to take home. 

Basketball Ends

The boys' basketball season officially ended this morning.  Jackson's team placed 3rd out of 8 teams and Noah's team placed 5th out of 6 teams.  Both teams had a lot of 1st-year players, inlcuding Jack and Noah, but they still did pretty well, even despite some tough competition. 

(Jackson is in the middle)

Jack always dribbles with his left hand.

Jackson's fancy free throw.  Too bad it didn't make a basket.

Noah going after the ball.

Team huddle (Noah is number 5)

Noah with the ball.  He would get it, dribble it once or twice, and then quickly pass it.

Noah guarding giant girl.

Noah's team after the final game.