Nighttime changes

Luke had his first ever dental cleaning and exam on Aug. 27th. He was absolutely awesome, which came as a total shock to me. Until recently he would hardly let someone see inside his mouth, let alone actually do some work! What did not come as a surprise was the concern the hygienist and dentist had about his teeth and the roof of his mouth - both of which have been considerably altered by his nighttime thumb sucking. We've tried various methods over the last few months to break the habit, all to no avail. The dentist said that when Luke's a little older we could try a couple of different dental devices in an effort to force him to quit, but we decided not to wait that long. Enter... the ThumbGuards! Far more expensive than the cayenne pepper nail polish (which Luke thought was delicious), but we are having great success with this new device (and we suspect it's far less expensive than anything the dentist -- and later the orthodontist -- would try). Around our house the ThumbGuards are referred to affectionately as "thumbs" or "Super Spidey Web Shooters". Whatever works, right?

Luke loves them!

Another change -- and a MUST -- sleeping through the night! Both boys have been waking up for months around 3am. They're either having nightmares, can't sleep, or just wanting to snuggle. We tried sticker charts and warnings of spankings, but they were still waking up almost every night. Finally an idea hit me three nights ago - the age old incentive of bribery. Stay in your own bed all night and don't get up till after the sun and you get a coin. Get up in the night and you'll owe me a coin - and one for each time you get up! After the first night, Luke owed me two coins (I selected pennies) and Zachary earned one coin (the genius selected a quarter). Luke cried even though he has no idea what a penny can buy (or a million dollars for that matter!). The following two nights both boys have earned coins! Zach even had to get up this morning before the sun to blow his nose, and he took care of it himself without waking me. Evidently Zach is either not greedy or not a genius because he has since chosen one other quarter and a dime. Luke picked two dimes. Even if I paid them both a quarter a day for sleeping all night, it's a worthwhile investment. Little do my sweet boys know, this incentive is for a limited time only. Just long enough to show them that they can survive through the night without Mommy snuggles.

But when I look at these bedtime faces I wonder why... why would I want to go through the night without their snuggles? Oh yes... SLEEP.

The heart of yesterday's post

As I was driving home from carloop yesterday afternoon, I felt like I'd left the heart out of my last post... I didn't mean for it to be about soccer as much as I'd intended to write about the growth we've seen in Zachary. For a year and a half in preschool, Zach was uncomfortable "performing" in front of others. He could easily and comfortably participate in classroom discussion, but he had absolutely no desire to be IN FRONT of a group. When his pre-K graduation rolled around 3 1/2 months ago, we fully expected for him to just sit on the stage and not participate. That's why it was such a big deal for us when he sang and danced his heart out in front of all the kids' families.

In preschool, Zach played the games that he knew during gross motor time, but he was too bashful to try anything at school that he hadn't already mastered in private. Even at home he was "too shy" to try new things in front of us. And there were several mini-meltdowns at his first session of soccer camp this summer when they were learning to juggle or playing various other games that he didn't know.

But through this last six months of playing soccer, his confidence has grown. He's no longer afraid to try new things - on the soccer field, at home, in the classroom, on the playground, in the St. Louis Arch, or on a roller rink. He has just matured so very much and we are absolutely thrilled to see this new found confidence and all the fun he is having with it.

First time on roller skates - last Thursday.
So clumsy on those things, but he had a great time!

Soccer's in full swing

I am amazed at the amount of growth we have seen in Zach through soccer. This time last year, we'd just signed Zach up for his third basketball clinic. He always asked to play basketball, but never really thrived on the court. When the fall clinic started last year, Zach was -- NO JOKE -- rolling around on the court floor with his tongue out. He wasn't paying attention at all and we just did not understand why he'd ask to play and then roll around instead of participate! After struggling through two weeks at basketball, I asked the director of his school if she suspected any attention deficit concerns. She sat down with me and expressed that she had absolutely no concerns about his ability to focus, and that her experience was that he didn't care for the repetition of practice or the need to rely on a team to do anything. Her assessment was that he may very well never desire to play a team sport. I knew that the news was not catastrophic, but it kinda felt that way at first. Being a college baseball player who'd once had his sights set on playing in the Majors, Bryan had looked forward to playing ball with the kids since the moment we first heard "it's a boy". How would he take the news that Zach might never really want to play team sports? After talking for a couple of days (and talking with Zach), we decided to pull him out of basketball and follow Zach's lead. Perhaps a more individualized sport like swimming or track would be his thing, but we'd let him decide. Maybe he wouldn't like sports at all.

In early March '09, the boys and I had lunch with Bryan's cousin's daughter. She's in her early 20s, newly married, and was a high school soccer player. She and I talked about her love of soccer, not realizing that Zach was hanging on our every word. After Amanda left, Zach asked if he could play soccer. Although we'd missed registration by six weeks, the soccer club managed to find a spot for him. HE. LOVES. IT.

Zach did not have an aggressive or competitive bone in his body until he started playing soccer. One spring season, two summer camps and two weeks into this season... and LOOK WHAT HE'S DOING on the field! (Number 16 in green)

Quick pep talk with Coach before the game

Zach's got the ball

He scores his first goal of the season

And grins ear-to-ear as the other coach gets "his" ball back out of the goal

For such a tall guy, he's pretty fast

GO ROCKETS!

Coach in training?

Did I mention that Bryan is coaching Zach's team this season? Bryan is awesome. He takes time each week to plan a game strategy that will grow every player's abilities, confidence and enjoyment. And Bryan loves coaching soccer. His old baseball buddies wouldn't recognize him!

Promises, promises

Many of Luke's statements end in "I promise".

"The dog is outside, I promise." (and he is)
"I just want some ice cream, I promise." (this is a request)
"I do NOT need a nap, I promise." (followed by a 3 hour nap)
"I already went to the bathroom, I promise." (he did NOT, and 15 minutes later needs to urgently)
"We DO have strawberries, I promise." (willing us to have strawberries)

I wish I could say I'm not sure where he got it from, but I think it might actually be me. When I say it, it normally follows a statement delaying something the boys have asked for (and only after I've said it WITHOUT the promise, but for some reason they don't believe me).

"I will get you a snack as soon as I finish these dishes, I promise."
"We will do a puzzle after your nap, I promise."
"We will pick Zach up as soon as school is over, I promise."

Funny how Luke is attempting to use my own words against me, but can't quite get the concept correct 100% of the time. He's a funny little fella, I promise.

St. Louis fun

We spent Labor Day weekend in St. Louis, MO. It rained off and on all weekend, but we still had a great time. We arrived late on Friday night due to heavy traffic and rain. We'd promised the boys a swim, so we hit the pool at 11pm. Yep, you read that right... Thankfully it was an indoor pool, so the rain was not an issue.

It was pouring on Saturday, so we went to Magic House. We spent about five hours there - lots of fun for the entire family. (I think it was $8.50/person)

Hair-raising fun with the electrically charged ball

It takes three to blow a bubble this big!

Ever wondered what the world looks like from inside a bubble?

After leaving Magic House, we grabbed a late lunch and headed back downtown to see the Gateway Arch. It was dark by the time we arrived at our destination - 630 feet up in the air! (Free museum, Arch admission: $10 for adults $5 for children.)

View of the old courthouse and surrounding buildings

Seeing much of the city through tiny windows

The kids really loved it (my, how brave Zach has gotten over the last year!)

The Millennium Hotel and the new Busch Stadium

About 9pm, just came back down... The boys had fun doing superhero moves against the massive structure. You can take the boys out of Gotham City, but you can't take Gotham City out of the boys!

The Arch by day

The rain let up on Sunday, so we headed out to the St. Louis Zoo. We were finishing up after about five hours -- just as the rain was beginning to fall again! What great timing. (Free admission, $11 parking.)

This is the amazing hippo enclosure. The hippos are in the water (see their heads at the surface?). Their enormous bodies can be made out under water if you look closely, and there are TONS of fish swimming among the hippos (although I don't think this picture shows many fish). It was cool - we'd never seen anything like it before.

We loved the outdoor classroom where the kids got put their hands on bones, skulls, horns, and a cheetah skin (is it called a skin???)

The Insectarium made me itch all over; however, the Butterfly Wing was awesome.

Luke used the viewing thing backwards...

...and the cowboy in the midriff thought it was hilarious
(and we thought his sense of style was hilarious!)

Licking his chops?

Looking at me while looking at you

A quick family pic

"Brothers gotta hug" (Tommy Boy)

Monday was check-out day...

"What should we have for breakfast, guys? Banana Cream Pie or Chocolate Silk Pie?"

Bryan and the boys lug our stuff to the van.

We made a stop at the St. Louis Science Center on our way out of town. It was really neat; well worth the stop. (Free admission, $8 parking.)

The guys watching a "tornado"

Zach, hand-in-hand with a beloved astronaut, Buzz Aldrin

We booked our hotels using the "name your own price" feature at priceline.com. Initially we were going to stay Sat & Sun only, but decided on Friday morning to head out a day early. Friday night we snagged an awesome 3 1/2 star hotel in St. Louis West/Chesterfield. It ended up being this Marriott, which was gorgeous, and our room came with a great lakefront view! We paid (brace yourself) $40 for Friday night. Saturday and Sunday we'd booked a couple of weeks in advance. We stayed at the Downtown Hilton for $82/night, plus parking (ouch). It is a four star; however, we actually preferred the Marriott. Our room at the Hilton did have a view of the Mississippi River and the Gateway Arch, and the kids thought that was the best! Being downtown was fun (being able to walk around); however the rain interfered with most of our walking plans! For a family trip to St. Louis, we'd recommend the Chesterfield area. But, either way, we had a great time exploring St. Louis and are really happy with our little trip "on the cheap"! We're already dreaming up ideas for our next one.

Presidential address to students

A lot has been said during the last week about President Obama addressing our nation's students today. It's been all over the news, Facebook, and chatter among our school district's staff and families. I just now read his speech...

I could hear the many people saying that he's trying to "indoctrinate" kids. I can be pretty naive when it comes seeing manipulation for what it is, but I certainly hope that is not the intent of this address. Politics aside, I heard a message encouraging kids to work hard in school as nothing in life will just fall into their laps. While Bryan and I frequently have these discussions with our children, not all children hear this message at home. There were times that it seemed obvious that President Obama was talking directly to high risk children (educationally, socially or emotionally)... He used examples of children whose parents are divorced, struggling financially, or children who do not speak English. Perhaps the President's words of encouragement will serve to lift those children above their circumstances and into a routine of hard work and determination, for the betterment of their lives. And I would have to agree with the sentiment of "Who better?" If he's trying to reach children from poor, broken, or racially diverse backgrounds, it would seem that Barack Obama is a good candidate to deliver that message.

I absolutely understand some of the concerns regarding this address; however, perhaps my being a child who fell into the "high risk" category tugs at my heart strings and causes me to appreciate the President's effort to reach kids (again, for their betterment and not his political gain). I hope and pray that my kids will never have to seek such encouragement from outside sources, but I don't think it's a waste of the kids' time to watch the address, nor do I think it will do anything to change the political views of my family.

Wouldn't it be great...

As we were driving down the interstate last week, Zach says to Bryan and me: "Wouldn't it be great if we were driving down the road and God was in front of us..." (Bryan and I are grinning ear to ear at how thoughtful this was sounding) ..."and we hit him with our car" (mortified now) ..."but he never fell down and he was still standing there after we drove through him?"

Isn't it awesome that Zach understands that God is ever-present and powerful? Nothing we can ever do will bring down God or cause Him to leave us - even running him over with our van while going 75 miles per hour. (But the way he said it just cracks me up!)

"Honey, you have got to get out."

That is what I told Zach as he was dilly-dallying his way out of the car at school this afternoon. There was a kiss and a "Have fun!", but my spirit was one of "Please, just get out of my car". He was just being rotten this morning. Well, some crazy mix of delightful and rotten. How is that even possible? He and Luke were playing together wonderfully well, and then all of the sudden Zach's telling Luke not to swipe his toy. The problem is that WHILE Zach was using words, he'd also gotten to his feet, reached across the table and put his hands around Luke's neck! This happened in a full waiting room at the doctor's office. I had Zach come sit with me in time out. He immediately burst into tears and I quietly (in my best mean-mom voice and facial expressions) explained to him that he needed to stop crying, whining and arguing with me immediately. Once we were back in the exam room and the doctor had come in, he cozies up next to me on the exam table and proceeds to lightly kick his brother in the face! (It was very lightly, just enough to annoy his brother into tears.) He was sent into a corner chair for time out and (can you believe THIS?) was given only one piece of candy by the doc after the visit. Luke had two since he was so well-behaved. (Why did I let Zach eat that candy?) So, on the way out of the doc's office, Zach bumps Luke full-on, knocking him to the ground. What is wrong with this child??? We are consistent with discipline and he is angelic when in someone else's care. He just seems to come out of his cranky shell when in the comfort of his family.

Since starting school, this is kinda par for the course. He seems tired after school... But why is he acting like this first thing in the morning? My friend (also a first time kindergarten mom) thinks that maybe the kids are just stressed about school and acting out. (She's going through a lot of the same stuff with her son.) She is hopeful that they adjust and snap out of it within a month. I'm hoping that I will still be sane after a month!

Moms who've gone here before me... Did you experience this same sort of thing when your kids started kindergarten? If this is the norm, I can totally see why moms would perfer all day kindergarten to dealing with behavior that makes Mom say, "You have got to get out!".

The big red barn

There is this old barn just a few miles from where we live. I've wanted to go "explore" and take pictures around it for months. We finally made it over on Sunday... It wasn't something we'd planned in advance, so our outfits were picked from the limited amount of clean laundry we had (Luke insisted on having a button-up shirt over his tee like Daddy - never mind that it's too small!), and Zach wasn't in the best of moods. For a little while, he was whining things like "The sun's in my eyes." "I'm tired of looking." "Can I go to the van?" Still, we managed to get some pictures that I just love. I can hardly believe how many I'm in! That very rarely happens. Thanks, Bryan and thanks to our tripod and the self-timer...

Support groups

Kids are back in school and churches everywhere are gearing up for fall Bible studies, Small Groups, etc. Many people have asked me how things are coming for my fall sexual abuse support group, so I thought I'd share what's been going on in that department...

There were some mandatory training classes that I needed to attend in the spring to get up to speed with some changes our church is making regarding group format. With Bryan working the night shift, 6-7 days per week, I wasn't able to attend the meetings. There was a second round of classes this summer, and deadlines for leader sign-up, and that happened to be in the middle of Luke's cancer scare. There was just no time for me to prepare for a fall group, so it seems obvious that leading a support group right now is not God's plan for me.

If this were any previous semester I would be devastated by this, but I truly feel at peace with this "wait and see approach". What does God have in store for me? I am meeting with some survivors one-on-one right now, and that's really not possible when I'm leading a group each week, mothering and being a wife! I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to meet with these women individually as they process through their specific circumstances.

When Bryan was gone so much, I wasn't able to keep up with my online group either. I am really looking forward to getting back to that in the next couple of weeks. When I was blogging there daily, countless men and women from around the world were being ministered to. That blog takes me at least an hour a day though, so I've got to find the time slot that works best for my family now that Zach's in school M-F, Bryan's working till 6pm (three hours later than his previous "normal" schedule), and Luke is no longer napping.

Once I figure out what my volunteerism looks like at Zach's school, I would like to see if there is time for me to work with one of the agencies that benefited from the bike-a-thon. I would really love that -- and my heart is certainly with their work -- but our lives are really changing with this new season in the boys' lives. I want so deeply to help abused and neglected children, but I also want to be sure I'm not doing that instead of being a part of my children's lives.

I am so very elated with how God has used my life. He has brought some serious beauty from ashes. I give him all the praise and glory for who and where I am at today, and I am so appreciative of every chance I have to help someone else get through what they are going through.

One of my very favorite Bible verses...

"Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle." Psalm 103:4-5

God is good. All the time.

Last of the lumps

Luke had his 3 year old well-visit today. (Yes, I'm well aware that his birthday was almost a month ago.) We saw our regular pediatrician, who had just begun reading about Luke's cancer scare (in his chart) as he walked into the exam room... He gave him a thorough exam and agreed with the four previous doctors (and all the labs & images) that Luke had nothing more than an infection. His swelling is way down, and everything else about him is great! He recommended that we cancel next week's surgical follow-up, and we are more than happy to do just that!

Thanks so much to each of you who prayed and inquired about Luke. We are so grateful for your support.

If you're interested in stats... He's off the charts in height (and 1 1/2" taller than Zach was at this age) and 95th percentile in weight. Zach's first pediatrician projected that he would grow to be 6'5". We are curious to see if he was right; and are equally curious to see if Luke will surpass his brother one day. There is no doubt that our boys are tall.

Neither of the boys is due for shots at well-exams this year - praise the Lord. Luke didn't cry today, but he was scared and tried hiding under my shirt. Dr. N was amazing and took things at Luke's pace. Luke warmed up quickly and didn't protest to the flu mist he and Zach both received at the end of the visit. I would have to say that this was the BEST trip we've made to our pediatrician's office all summer! And boy did we need that.

Jack

Nearly two years ago my friend's nephew was diagnosed with cancer. I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to see Jack and his family not only survive this terrible circumstance, but thrive. Jack was a young man of only 26 years when he was diagnosed. Jack lived an incredibly full life and had hope and optimism beyond comprehension. He passed away this morning at 3:20am. It seemed as if there was an entire community surrounding Jack, and I know that each and every member of that community is grieving this loss deeply right now. Jack was well loved.

As I have watched this story unfold through their family blog, Facebook and my friendship with Jack's aunt, I have marveled at the fact that never once did I see Jack, his parents or his sister give up on one minute of any given day. They lived life to the full - every one of them! There were parties - the Jig, Christmas open house, fundraiser efforts, Relay for Life... And when the Polsons weren't having parties, Jack was attending them. He was surrounded by family and friends! Jack and his family and friends made sure that how they felt about each other was well known.

And, my goodness, the guy traveled! Among other things, there were weekend lake trips with family, float trips with friends, a DC trip with his mom, a cross-country road trip with friends, a trip to Europe last month with his mother, and a trip to Arizona with his dad just ten days ago (although I don't think this last one was very enjoyable). Many of these trips were taken while he was going through treatment, so I know he wasn't always feeling great. I remember hearing that he even threw up in D.C. trash cans and then just went on with the sight seeing! He was a trooper. A fighter. A guy with a serious zest for life!

One other thing that always touched me about the Polson family was that every time they received bad news, they would share the news and end with an encouragement for the rest of us to spend time loving our loved ones deeply. While Jack never considered the possibility that he would not beat cancer, he had a firm grasp on how life can change in the blink of an eye. He believed that he had many more tomorrows before him, but he lived as if he didn't want to waste a single second. I am inspired by Jack's positive attitude, optimism, wisdom, love of life, and expression of love and gratitude. Jack was an amazing young man.

I will end this post with the words of Jack's mother: "Help us celebrate Jack's life today by loving the people around you!"

Your prayers are deeply appreciated as the Polsons transition into a life that they prayed they would never experience. Life without their beloved Jack.

Different versions of perfection

When Zach was three years old, he noticed that a salesperson had "brown skin" and that Mommy's friend has "skin that looks like chocolate".

It would be another 2 1/2 years before he would comment again on the differences he noticed from one person to the next. And those comments didn't come in the form of an innocent, pure, out loud observation. Rather, he was fearful; clinging to me and whispering. We have two little friends who have Down Syndrome. Aside from our initial conversation (years ago) about their brains working differently but the children being otherwise just like him -- everyone created special by God -- he has always acted like these friends are no different from anyone else. Seeing teenagers (this summer) with Down Syndrome was a different matter. Zachary was fearful because the teenagers were as big as Mommy and they are as old as our babysitter. He was confused. I explained that these boys' brains are exactly like our young friends' and their childlike behavior is a part of that. We talked about how these teenagers are just as cool and special as anyone else (in fact, they're so much fun that they don't think they're too cool to do handstands underwater or cannonballs!). As I chatted with the teenage boys, Zach began to see that they are perfectly nice and fun, and he began to play with them.

There were other discussions over the summer about people who were different in one way or another... We had one such discussion yesterday. He said, "I don't really like to play with so-and-so. He..." And he trailed off. I told him that it's perfectly normal to "click" with some people and not others, as not everyone has the same interests. And then I encouraged him to talk to me about what it is that bothers him about this other child. "Well, it's all the holes on his face." Freckles. My immediate response was, "Oh, Buddy, just wait till we park the van and you see what Mommy's got!" We parked and I asked him to come take a close look at my face. I asked what he sees and he said, "Freckles? But you don't have them everywhere!" Then I showed him my arms and pointed out the fact that my nose is practically one giant freckle! He had never even noticed.

I asked him how many kids in his class have red hair. "Three." That's not very many, is it? "No... But L has red hair and I've known her my whole life. That's not weird!" And how many have glasses? "One." Is that weird? "NO!!!" And how many with freckles? "Only one, I think." Is that weird? "I guess not... I just never saw them before. I have never known anyone with freckles." So, we spent a few minutes talking about how God took special time to put those freckles on Mommy, and the kid in his class... And how God took the time to make Zachary and Daddy with eyes that would need glasses. And how some kids are really tall, and others really small, etc... God made us all, and he made us special. Different. And it's not what we look like that matters; it's who we are in our hearts.

What some might see as a flaw, God sees as perfection.

1 Samuel 16:7 - "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Kindergarten kid

Yesterday was the big day... The first day of kindergarten! Just before we left the house Zach received a call from NaNa, wishing him great luck in school.


Bryan took the afternoon off and went with us. We got there about ten minutes before school started and the lot was already packed and parents & kids were waiting at the doors. I just can't help but chuckle at the serious masses of people at elementary school! (You've gotta remember, preschool had one classroom and only 11 kids.) Zach walked right past all the people waiting and let himself into the school building. Being first-timers, Bryan and I passed right by the desk where we were supposed to get "visitor" tags. Oops.


Zach has had a very "big boy" approach to school. He knows exactly where he's going, asks all of his own questions, and takes initiative. I am so relieved by that... So, when Zach said, "Hey, Mom, it's okay if we hold hands" I was a little surprised. But did not pass up the chance!


He was the first one in his classroom, and eagerly settled into his seat.


As we were saying "goodbye", Bryan went to give Zach a high five... Zach wanted a kiss. He wanted kisses from both Mom and Dad. According to pretty much everyone who has ever gone before us, Zach will grow of out this affectionate stage. So, we're enjoying every minute of it while we can!


As we walked out of the classroom, Bryan snapped one last shot of Zach and his "new best buddies". They are all smiles. Kindergarten suits them.


Perhaps too much... As Zach climbed into the car, his response to "How was school?" was exactly as I'd expected... "Good." But as the evening unfolded, so did stories of his day.

"My buddy A and I talk a lot. Too much. Too loud too. In fact, Mrs. H. moved me across the room. I switched desks with a girl." Huh? I searched his backpack for a note. Nothing. Surly having to move a child because they talk too much is worth a note home to Mom and Dad... Apparently not. At first I was discouraged, but then I figured that this is nothing Mrs. H. hasn't encountered before. His school day is now between him and his teacher. They will notify Mom and Dad if it becomes necessary... (I should scan in one of my many grade school report cards that says, "Tonya has trouble keeping quiet in class.")

Highlights of the day included passing his cousin M and future wife E (first graders) in the hall twice. They said hello, which Zach loved. He also exchanged hellos with his cousin D in the hall at some point. Zach's class went on a scavenger hunt through the school to see all the "specials" rooms (art, music, PE, library and computers) and ended up back in their room eating gingerbread men cookies. Not a bad first day! (Did they not read my blog post about my overfeeding him?) Recess, of course, is his favorite time of the day. He said he didn't really play with anyone in particular, but he did talk to his friend W about playing Batman at his house later. Hmmm... Wonder why they were making a playdate for later rather than PLAYING at recess. The mysteries of childhood.

And then the school day came to a close... And Mom, Dad and Luke were waiting in carloop. As we pulled around to the back lot, we were surprised to find Zach already outside. We were at least 30 cars back in line, so he'd obviously come out there accidentally. One of his cousins told Bryan that "there are a LOT of Zach's at school". But I didn't think they called them by first name??? I will discuss the routine with Zach again today, and hopefully he'll come out at the right time this afternoon!


Oh.. I almost forgot! Many of you precious friends have asked how I did. I suppose you all still have visions of me sobbing at MOPS 2004 when I dropped him off in MOPPETS for the first time. What a wreck. Yesterday was not a repeat. Not a tear friends, not a tear. Zach was having too much fun and I know he is so very ready for this. He had a great day!!

Kindergarten kilos

We've all heard of the freshman fifteen... Have you ever heard of anyone gaining kindergarten kilos? (I just made that up!) Zach begins his first day of kindergarten this afternoon. He does not have snack at school (just found that out yesterday) and he's used to an afternoon snack... So, now I'm worried that he'll get hungry at school. So, I've fed him. A lot. If I keep this up, I will no doubt be overfeeding him. Gotta cut back, Mom. He will be fine!!