When I left you last, Lily had just begun methotrexate and was having a rough time. Luckily for us, she was one of the fortunate ones who was able to somewhat adapt to the meds.

If you are like me, then you genuinely like spending summertime with your kids. Most of the time. Just not all of the time. But there’s still a lot of daylight between now and that first school bell, moms. So here are some tips to keep your cool during the stresses of summer:

My son, like most young kids, is focused on a very specific interest. For some kids, it’s dinosaurs, dolls, or sports, but for my oldest, it is construction. Trucks – everything trucks. It is an obsession.

So even though my 5-year-old can’t read on his own yet, he is ready for lengthier picture books and beginning chapter books.  I’ll start with some picture book suggestions and then break up chapter books into a couple of categories.

So I challenge you this summer to set some goals.  And to make it more fun, I’m framing them into something I’m calling the 1000 – 100 – 10 challenge! 

Let's start having fun by adventuring this year! Taking adventures can pull us out of our comfort zones and stretch our learning.

We all know that toddlers would much prefer some baked nuggets, roasted veggies, and tater tots.  To mix it up for your family this summer and avoid using the oven, try these recipes instead!

I can take Rosemond’s advice to heart, keep my maternal ego in check, and give my husband an extra big hug tonight – because I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that the best gift you can give your child is a solid, happy marriage to your spouse.

It’s the final countdown to summer! You can smell the campfires in the air, the laughter of neighbor kids playing until darkness sets in, and relaxation right around the corner! So what are you doing to celebrate the start of summer vacation? I’m throwing my kids a party!

Long story short—the process was the same—IVs, screaming, tears—but this time 3 injection sites instead of 1. It was an outpatient procedure, and we were home the same day. The whole process went a little smoother (on mom and dad’s end anyway) because we knew what to expect.