The McMahon Family

When I picked Mac up from school Monday, he was one tooth lighter!  I was so excited for him and asked where the tooth was.  He informed me that he lost it at recess and just couldn’t find it.  So, I guess we’re not doing the tooth fairy.  We’ve never talked about it and he hasn’t mentioned hearing about it from school…So, cheaper for Mom and Dad…:)  I don’t care either way.  I remember doing it some when I was a kid, but not religiously.  I’ve decided that if he mentions it for the rest of the teeth, we can just explain it and offer him a dollar for each tooth he loses…I hear that’s the average for the tooth fairy these days.

You can see, we were a little tight on space.

Before

Almost done!

After

We still need a step and grass seed to fix the yard, but we’ve already enjoyed several fire pit evenings on the wonderful, new patio!  I did put all the project pics into a photo album if you’re interested. 🙂  Although Shannon did this himself, we had great help from Nate (the beginning hard labor and ruined his shoes for us) and Dad (finding us affordable sand!).

Taking Mac to the allergist appointment, I was so filled with dread and apprehension.  I know that sounds dramatic, but when my boys are suffering, it just tears me up.  I lapse into my old  days of anxiety and worry.  I know.  That doesn’t sound like me (read with sarcastic tone 🙂 )  I had been informed that the skin allergy test was one that involved needle pricks (although, small,  I knew Mac would freak out so I chose not to tell him).

We arrived and waited.  And waited.  Okay, it wasn’t that long, but when you’re five and locked in a 8×8 room, it seems like forever.

Can you find Mac?

Finally, the nurse came in and informed Mac that it wouldn’t be needles, but a caterpillar on his back.  I was so relieved!! Until I saw that they were, indeed, tiny needles.  Mac never saw them though and was a trooper! He never once complained of pain or of the intense itching that followed while we waited.  The nurse said that he’s one of the best with how he handled it.  Even adults tend to react and pull back once pricked.  Once they did four sets of pricks on his back, we had to wait 15 minutes for the reactions.  I’ll spare you the up close pics of his back, but know that when the doctor came into ‘read’ them, he said, “Wow.  I can’t classify them as ‘wow’, but know that they are definite and almost off the charts (whatever that meant).”

Explaining the procedure to Mac.

Marking the areas. He loved it when she wrote or wiped his back. 🙂

He loved the suckers, stickers, and coloring he got showered upon him during the wait.

Turns out he’s highly allergic to trees, grass, all mold and cats.  We really knew these, but some of  the surprises were he’s also allergic to feathers, cockroaches (always good to avoid, even if you’re not allergic I would think), and mildly allergic to peanut butter and walnuts!  The days he eats peanut butter could be the days he has ‘worse’ allergy days and we just haven’t put it together.  So I’m going to watch and see.  They said he’s only a 1 on these and if it’s not bothering him, no need to cut it from his diet as his body is handling it just fine.  He was very happy to hear he’s not allergic to dogs at all.  He’s now encouraging Daddy to get tested to see if a dog is in his future…keep dreaming there, boy. 🙂  The reason we went was to find some relief for his completely stopped up nose.  They prescribed him Flonase.  If that doesn’t work, injections would be our next step.  I am very hesitant to do these, as is the doctor.  He said there are very few five year olds that do injections and it would only be suggested if there is no relief with the nasal spray and his condition is just so unbearable and interfering with his everyday life and activities.  So we’ll wait and see.

As we were leaving, the nurses kept saying over and over how well he did and they were amazed at how he handled it perfectly.  The nurse’s last words to me as we left, “Go and brag on him.  He did great!”  So, here I am, bragging. 🙂

Once a week, Mac has to write in his Sound Book.  He has to write five words that start with the letter of the week.  I cannot tell him how to spell it.  He has to listen to the sounds of the word and write them on his own.  When I saw this, I was ecstatic! I totally get the idea that spelling doesn’t matter, it’s that they’re learning the letter sounds.  But I had no idea how hard it would be to watch and not interfere!!  I literally have to bite my tongue not to teach him the language rules.  It’s not allowed.  The teacher said they’ll learn those as they get older, but not now.   It’s hard!  But he’s doing so well.  Here is his first list.  Can you guess his words?

Mac’s memory verses for the school year begin with each letter of the alphabet.  Each week that he successfully recites his verse in class, he receives a letter trading card.  So, far he’s 5 for 5!

Nicki says my fridge will look hideous by the end of the school year.  I’m vowing to leave it up…as long as I can stand it. 🙂  So proud of my little man.