For the PE Bully

Dear Bully's Mom,
If your child is pushing again next week, I will not keep Enzo's sensory issues in check so when your child goes to push him, he will most likely respond with "fight or flight" mode then maybe your 4 year old will remember not to push Enzo again.

Sincerely,
Enzo's mom

PS...it doesn't really matter to me that your child is only 4 especially since your 4 year old is about the same size all the other kids he's knocking over (on purpose).

4 Soccer Games + Family = Weekend Fun!

Soccer season has officially started! With 5 kids in the family playing soccer this year, we definitely have long Saturdays ahead. Opening day started with 9am games for 3 of the kids, but it was a great time to just hangout with the entire family!

Enzo's age group were the cutest and funniest ever. When one kid falls, it's like dominoes and they all come crashing...umm although Enzo usually started the domino effect. He was so excited when he scored a goal!

Our kids had their own groupie, we all watched all the kids games even though the last game didn't end until after noon. Even the kids had a great time just hanging with the cousins.

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

So it's pretty obvious that Enzo loves loves loves animals. Creepy crawly things??? Not so much. I don't think Enzo will be choosing to learn about spiders for science anytime soon.

Yesterday, as we're getting ready for Ethan's soccer practice, I hear Enzo scream like a girl. Around here, that's pretty normal. When I went to check out what the fuss was about, there was this big furry spider sitting in the hallway with Enzo standing at his bedroom door screaming. So I stand there yelling for Ethan to grab the bug spray and I'm telling Enzo to back up (This spider was not your ordinary sit in the corner of your house kind). I didn't want to take my eyes off the furry thing to make sure we don't lose him, when all of a sudden it starts running towards Enzo's room.

Enzo runs to his bed screaming mad "NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!"

Oh I was laughing so hard I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to see where that spider was! Long story short, we left for soccer practice without finding the nasty spider, but then Daddy came to the rescue and made the spider's head explode when he got home. =D

Sensational Enzo

I tried reading this over a year ago...actually I really should have read it, but somehow I got sidetracked and it didn't get done. So here I am reading it again from the beginning. Hopefully I get through it soon, it really is interesting. Definitely insightful in helping us understand our own 'sensational' kid, Enzo.

We need to regroup and reorganize (a lot) to better help Enzo (and our family). So pray with us as we continue this adventure with Enzo and pray for God to give us the wisdom to know how to raise Enzo the way He needs us to.

For more information about Sensory Processing Disorder, check out these websites:

• http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com
• http://www.sensationalkids.org
• http://www.out-of-sync-child.com
• http://www.spdfoundation.net

Save the Forest!

For science today Enzo picked the sloth to learn about. The sloth is one of his favorite animals because it's "his daddy's" favorite. We did our usual - sit on the couch, mom reads from a book that we picked out from the library while discussing interesting facts about the animal, and of course looking at pictures. Lizzie always seem to gravitate to the pictures of the animals with their babies while Enzo looks for the biggest (and fastest). So while flipping pages and discussing facts about the sloth, Enzo came across the giant ground sloth and was excitedly letting us know he wanted to draw it for our narration assignment. We continue through the book and get towards the end of the book where it talks about how some sloths are extinct and others are 'endangered species' and why it's important to save tropical forests (sloths live there you know!). which then brought us back to the 'giant ground sloth' and why they are extinct.

Why didn't I see what was coming next?! OH SAVE THE FOREST MELTDOWN!

Enzo was so upset that people are so mean to cut down the forest because the giant sloth lost his home and starved to death. Not to mention the mean momma sloth that doesn't go back to rescue a dropped baby. (Momma sloths carry their baby on their belly for months, if the baby loses grip and falls off, they don't go back to rescue their baby in fear of their predators. Did you know that??) So by this time Enzo is frantically pacing the house and trying to figure out how to save the baby and how long it would take him to get to South America since he was just a kid and I wouldn't take him right this minute. MELTDOWN. Lizzie was lost, she had no clue what Enzo was talking about because she was still glued to picture of the momma sloth carrying a baby sloth.

So we talked about how some people help by letting others know about the importance of saving the rainforest. Enzo's drama finale went down like this:

Enzo is pacing and crying in between, visibly upset (and frustrated, because he said so himself)
Enzo runs to the sliding door: "Wait we have a forest! We need to save that maybe the sloth lives there!" (We have a preservation behind our house, no sloth lives there)
But of course I had to point out they don't live there so he was still upset.
Enzo walks past Lizzie and me shouting: "SAVE THE FOREST! SAVE THE FOREST!"
Enzo: "See I only told 2 people, now I'm tired of yelling SAVE THE FOREST, how am I gonna tell EVERYBODY??? I just CAN'T!"

?!?!?!? I was soooo OVER saving the forest! We eventually calmed down after lots of talking and brainstorming ways to help save the rainforest, at least until someone else brings up that sloth again!

Educational? VERY, maybe more so for me than Lizzie and Enzo. Will I do it again??? OH PLEASE LORD HELP ME! Why didn't I think to stick with this giant ground sloth? Maybe he wouldn't have caused such a ruckus!

The Prey

Enzo said the predator got the squirrel so we needed to help it. Then he asked if the prey can eat the predator because he was mad at the neighborhood cat (the predator) for trying to eat the squirrel. Well, we didn't see the culprit, we're just assuming the mean neighborhood cat did it.

Enzo was so sad that we couldn't help the squirrel. So Ethan pointed out the squirrels are wild and might have rabies. We watched this little guy for almost 30 minutes. He looked like he was gasping for air and he really didn't move very much. We had to leave for an appointment and were hoping the squirrel would still be perched on the fence. When we got back, Enzo and Lizzie immediately ran to the kitchen window but he was gone. He wasn't laying dead in our yard, although we haven't peeked on the other side of the fence. Poor squirrel. Mean cats...

For science, we've been talking about different mammals - the predators and the prey. The kids love animals, so each week we head out to the library and before they can pick out their 'fun books', they have to pick out a couple of animal books that they want to learn about. Well at least I know Enzo is learning something in science, even if he is into the gruesome predators and mangled preys!

2nd Annual Back 2 School Bash

Remember last year when we decided to have a Back 2 School Bash for the kids?? Well it's that time of year again, and this Ormeo Family tradition is here to stay. Just like last year, we didn't tell the kids what we were up to or that it was even time for another Bash, we wanted to keep it a surprise.

So after a slow start (another post for another day), we were headed to the beach! Fun in the sun always turns that frown upside down right?? RIGHT except Mr. Sun wasn't making his appearance!

By the time we headed out to St. Augustine, it was time for another Florida afternoon storm. After driving around for while, we decided to park to figure out our next step. We didn't want to waste the not-so-short drive out there! But God is good and He knew exactly what we needed to cheer us up and put us back in the mood to party! We ended up at Ripley's Believe It or Not! where they had a 2 for 1 special for admission, plus a free Enzo, so we decided to drop in!

Our kids are at a really great age right now to do 'stuff' and we don't have to chase anyone down or have to haul a stroller (although once in a while Enzo still opts for it and I don't blame him, I would too if I could!). PLUS everyone is potty trained! The kids even got to commemorate our Back 2 School Bash with a waxed hand. Each one got a mold of their hand so we can all look back and remember how small and little everyone was!

First they lather lotion all over your hand and have you dip your hand in ice for 20 seconds. Then they repeatedly dip your hand in 140 degree wax until they get the thickness just right. Oh the kids loved it! I haven't taken a picture of the finished product but Enzo did a peace sign, Lizzie signed 'I love you', and Ethan did 'Rock on!'

By the time we were done, the rain had stopped. Outside the museum, they had a radio station with a few vendors with fun kid stuff. The kids were so excited to get goodies and balloons and they even got to play with djembes!

Mr. Sun eventually made his appearance so off to the beach we went! And the kids were so excited!

This day which started out so grumpy turned out way better than we planned! The kids had a blast, now we're ready for a new school year. Till next year...

PS. Click here for more pictures from our 2nd Annual Back 2 School Bash.

the Big 5

It's an Ormeo tradition to always wake up to this huge birthday cake blow up on your birthday (at least for the kids).

First item on the agenda was to pick out a cool birthday cake since the night before was a total meltdown because he couldn't decide on cupcakes or cake, and vanilla or chocolate. Who knew choosing a cake could be such a stressful event!

The second and probably the most important item on Enzo's agenda was the trip to the store to pick out his birthday present. After carefully examining each and every box in the Disney Cars section, he finally decided on 2 of his 'favorites'.

Enzo was so excited to have found the perfect birthday cake that didn't cause anymore stressful and indecisive outbursts! It was a Transformer minicake with cupcakes PLUS the minicake was chocolate and the cupcakes were vanilla! Thank you Lord for having exactly what Enzo needed to make his day!

Thank you family and friends for celebrating Enzo's 5th birthday with us and thank you for all the cool presents! You guys sure do know how to make a kid happy. ;)

PS. Click here to view more birthday pictures.

2 more sleeps and he's 5!

We posted this so long ago, he was 3 at the time.  Enzo's almost 5!  He's actually very anxious about his birthday.  Not so much excitement, more anxiety because he doesn't know what to expect. He doesn't like change and he doesn't like surprises. He always has to know what's next. so whenever we ask him what he wants to do on his birthday or what present he wants, he greets it with anxiety and "NO NO NO!" Go figure!

I thought every kid looks forward to their birthday! Actually, he was excited about his birthday up until a few days ago. We went from 10 sleeps down to 4 sleeps, then he just decided he's not so sure about this whole turning 5 and having a birthday thing....haha he's still cute as ever!  Hopefully he'll greet his birthday with more joy than what he's been stomping around here lately ;)

Enjoy!

Zoo Day

Last Friday was $2 Day at the Jax Zoo, so the Ormeo Zoo plus one took a trip in the heat and enjoyed a the day in the sun (which of course ended nicely with a torrential afternoon downpour).  Actually the heat wasn't too bad, maybe because there is a lot of shade and trees at the zoo.

Of course only my sensory overload child would be bothered by the sun and smell that the zoo had to offer! But he quickly got over it once we got moving and saw animals everywhere!

Every trip requires great tour guides, and these two were the best tour guides ever! Thankfully they weren't too cool to hang with me and the "little" kids.

The weather wasn't all bad for an August day in Florida. It was overcast most of the day, which I'm sure helped with the heat.  The mist was still a great way to cool off, esp for Lizzie who usually doesn't get to really 'play' in water.

After having lunch underneath a breezy spot, the kids wanted to cool off in the Water Park. Justin backed out because he didn't want his eczema to itch more, so he hung out with me under an umbrella. Poor guy was itching in the heat!

Lizzie was so excited to get to play in the Water Park. She doesn't get to do a lot with water because of her trach, but this water park had no standing water and no big splashing to worry about! Enzo was a little too excited that he had to sit in time out a couple of times for running. I couldn't let him run because a few kids had slipped and fallen on their backs just walking or standing in place.

Lizzie and Enzo wanted to climb this rope ladder to the top of the treehouse. I'll be honest, I really didn't think they could do it. They both proved me wrong! They were determined to climb up like the big kids and the 2 Kuyas (big brother in Tagalog/Filipino) were waiting up top encouraging and coaxing them till they made it.

We all had a great time! Lots of giggling and laughing, not much whining! (Can you believe that?!?!!?) We can't wait to visit again...

PS. Click here to view the rest of our zoo pictures.