Hearing test

We went for Miles' mid-year hearing test today. His hearing is generally stable but he has some fluid in his right ear which knocks that ear from mild-moderate to moderate-severe. The tubes we had put in last year in February are starting to come out, the right one may be completely out, so now we have to go through the whole process again; ENT then possibly another tube surgery.
We also had his first transition meeting for preschool yesterday. We are pushing for an oral/auditory program they have in Santa Clara but we'll have to see if there is room. I'm willing to consider other options but everyone involved has agreed that the district's special education preschool would be inappropriate for Miles.

Moments of Spontaneity

Some of the best moments in my life have been spontaneous; moments of little planning and big exploration or learning or discovery.

Jeff's 40th birthday was last Sunday. I had tried to press him into some kind of celebration. Dinner with friends? A party? But, while he wanted to mark the occasion, he didn't really want to make a big deal of it. So I was very pleased when he woke up Sunday and said, "I want to go to the beach. Miles, you want to go to the ocean?"
And, of course, Miles was game.

We packed up what we thought we would need and headed south to Santa Cruz. Equipped with stroller, sunscreen, a little food and drink, bathing suits and a credit card, we set off, not quite sure where we were headed except to the ocean.


It was a marvelous day, sunny, not too hot but definitely warm. When we got there, we followed the crowd to the Boardwalk and checked out the rides that would be appropriate for Miles. But when he saw the ocean, Miles knew what he wanted to do. We headed down to the beach, took off our shoes and headed into the ocean to get our feet wet. At first, Miles was unsure that he really wanted to get wet. After a few times of dipping in his toes as the waves rolled in, he was ready to change into his bathing suit and get in. He had a great time running in and out of the waves with Jeff and there was a lot of laughing and splashing. As we got wet in the ocean, we walked along the beach towards the pier. It was about lunch time so we made it onto the pier and looked for a place where we could grab a quick seafood lunch. We ate outside in the sun and then got Miles in the stroller for a little snooze.

We walked up the hill to where we could watch the surfers while Miles slept. When he woke, we continued up the coast to where there was a paddleboard competition. Then we headed back down the hill to the Boardwalk where Miles got a chance to pilot his own helicopter. I wasn't sure that he was going to be happy having to ride on his own but he was smiling ear to ear as he figured out how to make the helicopter go up into the air.

With all areas of fun covered, we headed home for dinner. Miles took a bath, we ate leftovers for dinner and then finalized Jeff's birthday with some cake and a candle. It was one of those days that I will hold dear for a long time.

Miles and the Firefighters

Last Saturday we were looking for something fun to do so we decided to have a picnic dinner in the park. We rode our bicycles down to a local park then Jeff went to pick up some food to eat while we were there. During our time at the park, a few firetrucks went by with lights flashing and Miles went running after them, so excited to see the trucks in action.

As time went on and the sun began to set, we decided it was getting cold and dark so we should head for home. We started getting back on our bicycles and Jeff and Miles were ready to go before I was. As I was putting on my helmet and rolling up my jeans, the trucks were heading back in the other direction, lights off now. Jeff asked if it was OK with me that they zoom off ahead to see if they could watch the trucks pulling into the station, only a few blocks away.

When I caught up to them at the station, the trucks were back and the guys were outside, talking with a firefighter who invited us in to see the station and get on the truck. To our surprise, Miles said that he didn't want to (I think he was a little overwhelmed by the idea). The firefighter suggested that we come back in the morning when it was warmer and Miles had gotten some sleep, promising that whoever was there would be happy to show us around and let us take some pictures.

We got a few blocks away and, of course, Miles changed his mind and wanted to go back so we talked him through what would happen the following day. We were surprised he went to sleep, he was so excited.

But the following day came, and after doing a bit of grocery shopping, we rode our bicycles back to the fire station where two of the nicest guys showed us the different trucks and engines, showed Miles the equipment that firefighters wear during a fire and talked with us for awhile about how they do their shifts. They gave him a new helmet, a few stickers and a coloring book. We are all huge fans of the fire department!
Here are some videos of the day: