Middle School Already?!

Dear Mali ~

Oh boy...this month is a doozy! The beginning of middle school (yikes)!

Before we took that on, however...we had some fun at the Ohio State Fair and since Daddy's leg is still basically immobile, he rented a Rascal. Then we just had to get some spray-painted hats and shirt to complete our stereotypical summer fair look. Ha ha! When we do the fair, we do it right!

test driving a Rascal at Kroger before the fair

look at all of the gloriously spray-painted, wearable fair art!

fun family photo on the midway

you surprised me by going down the Giant Slide...
I could barely believe it!

taking Lao Lao on the slide now

given Daddy's injury, we thought this was an aptly-named ride
QUADZILLA!

Of course, it wasn't all fun and games before school started. We also had Daddy's surgery as well as Grizz's spay...back to back. Oof! Both surgeries went great but unfortunately it was too much to have to care for two patients at once post-surgery so I ended up taking Grizz back to the vet to board her for a week to complete her recuperation time and insure that her stitches stayed in and her incision healed well. She only spent one night at home with her "cone of shame" and I took her back the next morning (which broke my heart) but it turned out to be the best thing for everyone because we ended up taking Daddy back to the hospital until 4am that very night due to some random complications. Fortunately, it was a benign situation, but scary nonetheless. 

the one night Grizz was home before being boarded for her recovery

Daddy's post-surgery bandaging

he couldn't take a full shower for a while so I
washed his hair in the kitchen sink #SpaDay

some of the animals are a little jealous of all the
attention I've been giving Daddy

at one of Daddy's pre-op appointments, we found this awesome
wall nearby and you left your own contribution...

"before I die I want to go to space and see China"

another day we took Daddy to Inniswoods and pushed him around
in one of their wheelchairs...it's been hard for him being so immobile
(he wouldn't let me take a picture of him so I took a picture of you)

With all of the difficult, scary medical situations in the family lately, it was refreshing to have a fun one too. You lost a tooth that gave you a run for your money and refused to come out and was hanging by a literal thread for several days. You finally lost it and when you went back to school all excited for the Tooth Fairy, one of your friends told you that the Tooth Fairy was really your parents. As you relayed this to me, you added your response which was..."Well, my parents never have cash, so...the Tooth Fairy has to be real!" Best. Response. Ever. Hahaha.

 Ok...and now for the biggie this month...are you ready?! The beginning of middle school!

The day was finally upon us and we were all a mixture of excitement and nervousness and wonder. I can barely describe all of the thoughts and feelings running through me all that week. 

The emotions began about a week prior to that first day as we met with school staff to get to know them and build connections for you. I'm happy to report that this meeting went amazingly well. See for yourself...

I am so proud of you...and before the bus even got here on that first day, I had a favorite quote from you by 6:30am (thanks to Memaw for relaying this gem to us). See below... 

A few days later, we were heading to your therapy appointment and making (what has become) our usual stop at Panera for some treats. As we sat there chatting and eating, you made me cry. In a good way! See, we've both been so worried about middle school beginning and fearful of the changes about to take place. The first several days of school consisted of many ups and downs, mostly ups at school which helped ease my worries. Then, you experienced a slight difficulty with one of the school nurses when you tried to use the clinic restroom, which made me worry again, But then...you shared how a few kids gifted you with some random kindness (about which you added that you wished a teacher could have seen this RAK so they could have been recognized with a program at school to honor and encourage kindness). You then also added how you had gone out of your way to be kind to another kid at school as well. As I stared at you across the table at Panera, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the person you are...no matter what mountains and valleys lie ahead, I am immensely grateful for them all because each of them are a part of your (and our) journey. I couldn't have dreamed up a better child than you. Truly. And in true Mali fashion, as you saw the tears well up in my proud eyes, you distracted me with a random fact about the stoplight outside. Ha ha. You are adorably funny. I'm so blessed.

And...more chuckles and gratitude is shown below. Here's the little ditty that I shared after learning about how you handled your first gym classes (the class that you were most worried about before school began). I am in awe of you. In. Awe. 

Rock Star!

All kinds of new things are happening this year...here's yet another one. You are taking band and chose the French horn, which you were so excited to pick up. However, not necessarily as excited to learn how big and heavy it is! Yikes! On the plus side...your arms are going to be jacked by the end of sixth grade! Right? Ha.

Remember how I mentioned that we had to board Grizz after her surgery? Well...as you can see below...there were two very grateful beings to be reunited when she came home. Healed and ready to go...but more ready for snuggles with one of her favorite people.

So, along with knocking out all of these new challenges and responsibilities of middle school...you nailed one more and cooked us dinner too. Taco Pie a la Mali! It was ah-mazingly delicious!

We also tried something a little bit different as well...goat yoga! Yes...that's what I said. GOAT yoga. Ha. It was very fun, even if there was more goat than yoga happening. Plus, chickens, cats, llamas, sheep, etc. Such a fun experience.

evidently the chickens love blue yoga mats...who knew?

this one cracks me up!

silly goat kisses!

After goat yoga, we headed to the Obetz Zucchini Festival for some lunch. Local festivals are always a good time. One of my summer favorites.

And finally...I'm closing on this screenshot of texts between Lao Lao and me. See...I used to ask my mom to come and talk to me while I was in the shower at around your same age. When this happened the other night, it took me back. As you enter a whole new era in your development, as the challenges change and the stakes are raised in all kinds of ways, I hope you always know that I'm here to listen and talk and anything else you need. Always. 

Love you, babe.

Mama