Aidan's Creations

I love it when I almost step on junk from the recycling bin Aidan's creations which he has built using the treasures that he finds around the house.  Seriously, I do.  The imagination is a powerful tool, which I am very pleased to see is being used in my 11 year old son.  Now I understand why he kept asking me to buy the styrofoam egg cartons rather than the cardboard; they make better battleships when floating down the creek, of course!

An Aidan Update

In early December, Aidan was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, caused by Graves disease.  Graves is an autoimmune disease.  Basically, his body built up antibodies against his own thyroid, attacking it. The result was an increase in thyroid hormones.  And a big increase it was!  His T3 hormone, which should be under 3, was at 19.  His TSH hormone was 0, meaning his pituitary gland had basically shut down.  It is very rare to have Graves disease at the age of ten and even more rare for a boy.  Girls (women) get Graves at a rate of 4:1.  He is seeing a wonderful endocrinologist at Children's Hospital of Milwaukee...the same doctor who treated his uncle Andy years ago! So, while we were surprised at the diagnosis, we were also relieved that we had an answer to his symptoms.

A little history:  Aidan started looking very thin in the summer, but he was also having a big growth increase, and not loosing overall weight, so we just thought he was going through a growth spurt.  In early fall, he started looking even more thin (and he didn't have much body fat to begin with!) and we put him on a high calorie diet.  Even with a ton of calories (think two extra large Haagan Dazs milk shakes a day plus an extra meal!), he was not gaining.  Additionally, by November, we started noticing many other symptoms and his school work was suffering as well. Some symptoms were vague, others a bit scary. So, to make a long story short, we took him the doctor, and there began his journey with Graves disease, and a long treatment plan, most likely for life.  Our hopes are for him to eventually go into remission, which does happen, although rarely for a severe case. 

The good news?!  It's treatable.  The other good news?! On the way home from Children's Hospital of Milwaukee (Seamus and Grandma and Grandpa D were with us that day), we took the boys to Cabela's....a big treat for Aidan!

Photos aren't the greatest because they were from my ipod...

Blessed For a Decade!

That's right, we have another ten year old! Aidan turned 10 on August 21st, the day before we left to take Moira to Steubenville. We had a nice little party.

Erin is always game for a party.  I think this girl gets as much joy from giving as from recieving, even at the young age of 4!

And it wouldn't be a complete birthday party for Aidan if it didn't include chocolate....and lots of it!

We love you dearly, Aidan!  You bring us so much joy!  We sure are proud of you!  Happy 10th birthday!!!

Bulletin Board Memo

We just happened to see this posted in grand central bulletin board territory...

It looks likes someone has been a member of this family long enough to know that things work out best when you take the initiative to get things done.  This someone happens to have a birthday coming up....

The Cardinal

When we come down our stairs, we can see this cardinal through the little window on the door. He's perched on our wreath, hanging on the front door. He must not be able to see us, because we can get so close.

Aidan:  What do you want to name him?

Molly Grace:  How about Bob?

Aidan:  You can't name him Bob!  Anything but Bob!

Molly Grace:  Okay, my second choice is Luigi

Aidan:   I like Luigi, but I like Mario muuuuuuch better

Molly Grace:  Okay fine.  How about Bert from Accounting?  

Ha. Ha.  I guess Molly Grace has watched Horton Hears a Who just a few times.

Winter Storm Aidan

Yep, this last snow storm to hit the Midwest had a name - Aidan. Although I think it was spelled the other way - Aiden.

Our Aidan did a lot of shoveling to clean up the other Aiden!

Molly Grace and Margaret

Seamus peaking out of the window....

Our Little Flower

Molly Grace takes part in a lovely little girls group called Little Flowers.  It is a group, sort of like Brownies, but with a Catholic focus.  The group is named after St. Theresa of Liseieux because she is such a model of virtue.  Each month the girls focus on a different virtue, such as obedience, love, hope and faith, to name a few.  The girls earn little patches that form the petals of a flower.  By the time they are done, they have a complete flower which is sewn onto their special Little Flowers canvas bag.  It is just a sweet, sweet program.  When I remember to buy ink to put in my printer, I'll scan a picture of MG with her friends (yes, I know that no ink is required to scan but that's the way my printer rolls....no ink and it cannot do anything!).

Given all that....

The other day Aidan was mad at Molly Grace for something (don't remember what).  He said, "Molly Grace, you are not a Little Flower, you are a WEED."  Ouch.  Now, that was just not nice!  But I have to say, I thought it was rather funny. I promise I went into the other room to laugh so they couldn't see me :)  Now, does anyone know of a nice little virtue program for nine year old boys??!!

Today's Physics Lesson...

 As if they didn't have enough planned school lessons!  Here they go, devising their own physics lesson.

Teresa, Aidan and Molly Grace decided it was high time we had a swing in the front yard.  I suppose they tried tying the rope in the tree first, but when that didn't work, they devised this contraption...



It worked!  I'm not sure how much fun it was to stand in thetrash can but at least Aidan had fun.

And lil Seamus was watching with envy from the house....

Good Try!

Mike's brother, Andy, passed away almost 12 years ago (this November) from brain cancer.  Each year, on Sept. 27th, we like to enjoy a cake to celebrate his birthday.

This year, Andy's birthday happened to coincide with a recent spotting of a little mouse in the house.  Eeeeek!  The kids know how much I cannot stand mice.  So, Eileen and Aidan had a grand plan to rig up the cake a little bit...

Notice their creative droppings in the front right corner (chocolate jimmies)...

They did a good job, I have to admit....

So, just before we sat down to cake, I heard, "Oh, yuck!  Oh, MOM, come quick, look!!!"  Hmmm, their reaction was just a little too dramatic to convince me.  So, good try, but I was on to you right from the start, Eileen and Aidan!

The funny thing is, this little trick is sooo like something Andy would do!  He was a practical joker.  In fact, now that I think about it, I think he instigated the whole thing!  After all, Aidan Andrew is named after his uncle and he reminds us of him plenty of the time. Good one, Andy!  We love you and miss you!

Now, for my 31 for 21 post for Down syndrome awareness...

I don't know whose quote this is, but I have seen it many times since Erin's birth, always without an author.  But it's a good one...

"God doesn't give children with special needs to strong people; He gives children with special needs to ordinary, weak people and then gives them strength. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."

Brotherly Love

The Birthday Boys

We have two birthday celebrations in August.  Mike's is on the 18th and Aidan's is on the 21st.  That works out very nicely when Teresa spends a lot of time creating a birthday banner that we can recycle and use twice in the same week!

We wiped out a chocolate cake earlier in the week for Mike's b-day.  Aidan opted for the Spiderman cupcakes...

 

Seamus found a spider ring on the floor that still had a little frosting on it....lucky him :)

 

We had the cousin gang here...

 

Presents were opened (don't mind the girly wrapping paper, Aidan didn't even seem to notice.  It builds character, I say)...

Thanks for the card and birthday money, Grandma and Grandpa!

Seamus enjoyed the paper, as usual...

And one more, just for cuteness!

The other birthday boy!

Well, let's see, since more Legos entered our home, and another Favre jersey, I'd say both boys had a fabulous day!

Werewolf by Day

There is a new blockbuster homevideo thriller coming out this month called Werewolf by Day. It is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat; you won't want to miss this one!!! It is from Breresan Productions (ok, in others words, it is a movie by Bridget, Teresa, Theresa N.(a friend) and Aidan). Bridget loves to make movies; I have shared a few on our blog before, I think. And just to tease you.....here is the trailer (be sure to turn your speakers on):

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Father-Son Campout

Aidan and Mike joined Kelley, Owen, Emmett, Conal and Grandpa D for the annual Father-Son campout.  As usual, it was fun, hot, wet, sticky and loaded with mosquitos : )  Aidan reeeeeaaaallllly looks forward to this weekend every year.  They set up tents on Friday, then spend the weekend fishing, playing games, cooking-out and swimming. They attend Mass together at a country church in Door County.This year they came home a little early on Sunday because it was raining and I think the tent was leaking just a bit.  They all come home low on sleep and with lots of bug bites and sticky dirt on them.  Sounds like a grand weekend (for the boys) doesn't it?

The day before they left Aidan was so excited he decided to pack up his stuff early. He shouted down the stairs, "Mom, I have everything on my bed that I'm going to take!".  I went up to his bedroom to find this scene...

Well, let's see.....lightsabers - check.  Hat - check.  Gun and jack-knife - check.  Walky-talkys - check.  Football - check.  Pretty good.  He only forgot a few nonessential items like clothes, underwear and toothbrush.  Not bad for an eight year old boy.


Here are Aidan and Conal, gearing up...

Mike gearing up...

Emmett, Owen and Kelley

Owen and Grandpa

And the girls plan a ladys' weekend (oh, and lil Seamus too!)

Finally....A Day Without Rain!

Not that it stopped them from playing outside....

Spotted in the Woods...

You might think this heap of brush seen in the woods behind our house is just a pile of branches that needs to be burned or carried away. It does look that way at first glance...

But, if you observe it more closely, you might soon discover that it is actually a home.  But it is not just any home.  It is a home for an eight year old boy who lives in magical lands by day.

Here's a closer look...

Do you recognize it? It is obviously the home of Yoda.  It may be the case that you are not familiar with Yoda, so I will fill you in... 

Yoda, the ancient and revered Jedi Master, lived his final years hiding on the swamp planet of Dagobah. Nine hundred years old, Yoda had trained Jedi for eight centuries, and was very powerful in the Force. Among his last pupils were the most important (and reckless) Jedi in recent history, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. 

There you have it.  Now, don't be fooled by the past tense of that description of Yoda...as if he is now deceased.  I can assure you that, like Elvis, he lives!  We have proof, right here in our backyard.  If you happen to stop by during these summer days, I'm pretty sure you'd even get a chance to meet him in person.  Lucky you!  If you do stop by for a visit, just be sure to bring your lightsaber!  You never know which enemies may be lurking just around the corner!  Oh, and you all know that Big Foot does live in Wisconsin.  He may find Yoda's home very inviting too!  Just come prepared : )

May Crowing

Last Sunday, Aidan participated in the May Crowning event.  He was honored to do so and it gave him another opportunity to get all slickered up in his first communion suit!


Here he is, waiting before mass...

Standing in front of the life-sized statue of Mary (yes, the step stool in the background was needed)...

Father Harry and Aidan

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Our Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,

Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Star Wars Falcon

It came to my attention that Aidan has added a new Lego set to his "want" list.  It is quite some set!  You can see it by clicking here  Ahem....did you happen to see that price?  If not, just for shock value, I'll put it here:  $584.99. 

The conversation went something like this:

Aidan:  Dad, did you see the falcon set, it's really cool!

Mike:  Aidan, it's over $500

Aidan:  Well, it's on sale...(said very pitifully)

Mike:  For that price, it better fly to the moon and back (or something like that)

Aidan: I guess I could save my own money. (Long pause...) Oh never mind.  By the time I have  enough money to buy it I would be a grown man and I probably wouldn't play with Legos anymore.

Good Friday

The Agony in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crucifixion by Molly Grace

The Crucifixion by Aidan

The Crucifixion Scene by Aidan