6th Grade Graduation

Last Thursday, Darrius' school had their Promotion Ceremony. The kids in teh 6th grade are leaving behind elementary school and headed to the big league - Middle School. I don't know where the time has gone. It feels like just yesterday I was registering D for kindergarten. My baby is no longer a baby.

The graduates seats

Of course, with the last name starting with W, you're destined to sit in the back

Darrius' "graduation" certificate

D got the Presidential Fitness certificate

The grandparents came out to celebrate the occassion

After the ceremony, there was cake and punch at the school. Afterwards, we went to Darrius' favorite restaurant, Bertucci's, for some brick-oven pizza. Once lunch was over, the grandparents headed home and I became a taxi for 4 ex-sixth graders. They had their graduation party at a bowling alley.

Now it's summer and Darrius will be attending summer camp. He also has homework that will count as his first English test grade. I still can't believe he's going to middle school. Time truly goes by too fast.

Braces!

I'm about 3 weeks late posting this but you know the saying, Better late than never. We finally did the deed - Darrius got his braces! After a year and half of pre-orthodontia treatment, the orthodontist finally said that Darrius was ready for braces. He has all of his permanent teeth, including his 12 yr old molars. I couldn't believe it since he's only 11!  But first, he had to have 4 teeth pulled.

Here they are. All 4 of them. Root and all. Aren't they huge?

Once the teradyctal teeth were pulled and he had a week to heal, it was time to get the braces on. The entire process took 2 1/2 hours. Darrius was a trooper the entire time.  He also got his braces "decorated" with colored plastics that they put on the braces. He got them black and gold - the colors of the Baltimore Ravens.

Cheese!

Once we got home and the Tylenol wore off, he was in a lot of pain. And no longer excited about having the braces. He had difficulty eating for about a week but now that we're almost a month in, he's finally getting used to them. He had a band concert tonight and I didn't think about how the braces would affect his clarinet playing. Whenever he had a break, I'd catch him massaging his jaws. But he soldiered through.

He has to wear the braces for 2 - 2 1/2 years. Darrius already has a great smile; it's going to be a showstopper once we finishes the treatment. Watch out!

Easter 2010

We had a great Easter at my parents house. The weather was perfect - mid 80s and plenty of sun. It's been a long time since we've had nice Easter weather. The kids had fun looking for eggs. Darrius' main focus was trying to find the most eggs so that he could remain "the champion". That boy is competitive with everything!

Darrius and Julianna ready to get started.

Ricky and Adrian

A boy on a mission

Raymond, Julie and Adrian relaxing with ice cream

Why so serious?

We had a great day with family. And Darrius is still the Easter Egg Hunt Champion (unofficial title)

Back in the saddle

Great news! My knee is doing MUCH better. I had my follow-up appointment last Monday. The discomfort in my knee had lessened and I didn't need to take the anti-inflammatory medicine daily. I finally got my knee brace which is great. It only took 3 weeks! Sheesh! So my doctor told me that as long as I'm not experiencing more discomfort and that my knee is getting better instead of worse, there's no reason for me to come back. If I start having more pain, then to give him a call. Woo hoo!

With that great bit of news, I started back with the Chubby Jones 5k podcast on Saturday. Today was my second day working out to it and my knee still feels fine. I'm back to square one with the 5k training but that's okay. I least I can train again!

Update - My Knee

I went to see an orthopedic doctor last week. He took x-rays of my left knee, pressed all around my kneecap, asking if this hurt, did this hurt. Well, you keep pressing long and hard enough, yeah, it's going to start to hurt. His diagnosis was this: Patellofemoral Syndrome. In laymen's terms, normal wear and tear and inflammation around the kneecap. The solution: a cortisone shot to ease the discomfort, a pamphlet that demonstrated exercises that I should do, a Rx for an anti-imflammatory meds, a knee brace and an appointment to see him in 3 weeks. I can't do any running but I can walk on the treadmill and workout on the elliptical. So there goes my 5k training until my knee starts getting better.

So I'm going to continue walking on the treadmill and doing my exercises. Hopefully my knee will be in better shape at my next appointment.

These are the ugly hospital shorts I had to wear when I was having my knee x-rayed. Not cute.

Side note: I will never get another cortisone shot ever again. That was the most painful experience in my life! I've had an epidural and wasn't in that much pain! My knee didn't feel better until the next day.

Conversations with Darrius #179

Today Darrius had a dentist appointment. Nothing serious; just a cleaning. He has a cavity (of course) and has to go back next week to get it filled. Darrius is excited because he's getting nitrous oxide. He looks forward to the laughing gas whenever he goes.

We leave the dentist, hop in the car and head home. We're listening to the radio, talking about Lady Gaga and homework. I know; it was a weird conversation. So, we're cruising on Fairfax County Parkway, on our way back home when Darrius asks me this:

"Why do guys lean back in their seats when they're driving?"

Me: Most guys do it to try to look cool, I guess.

Darrius: To look cool? Why do they want to look cool while they're driving?

Me: In case they see a cute girl in the car next to them.

Darrius: Oh my gosh. That is so stupid.

Me: Well, girls do it too. Maybe not lean back but probably make sure they're looking cute when they're at a traffic light. You'll be doing the same thing when you're older and driving.

Darrius: No I won't. I'm not going to be leaning back, trying to look cool so that I can get girls.

Me: You say that now, but just wait. Once you're a teenager with a driver's license, that's all gonna change.

Darrius: No. I already know I look good so I don't need to do that to get girls.

This is where I bust out laughing. I laughed until my stomach was hurting. Thank goodness the traffic light was still red.

Me: No you didn't!

Darrius: Yes I did. (laughing) Some people would say that's cocky but I'm just confident.

He gets that from his uncle (my brother).

Mr. Confident getting a fluoride treatment.

Taking a break

Ha! That's funny. I've been on an "unofficial" break since early February. This is to announce my official break. I will not be training until I get my knee checked out. My knee is consistently getting worse and I don't want to add to the problem. This morning I walked on the treadmill and even that was a little painful. I am hoping that it's nothing serious and that I'll be back on path to my 1st 5k in no time!