A Todd Update :)

So here is Todd, not on most days but on a photo shoot day. I couldn't find a good up to date photo so I went with this one. He has photos taken here and there for his press packets and stuff. 

Todd has been very busy this semester. Teaching, performing, applying for jobs, and taking care of the boys. He is coming up on tenure next year. It has been a long journey and we aren't sure exactly how we are feeling about it. There is no doubt we want for him to get tenure. However, it does mark a milestone of sorts and causes reflection. Since I was applying for jobs and the possibility of change and a move was an option, Todd decided to explore his options as well. In the end, God made it clear that we would be staying here. No major changes for this family and we are both content with this outcome. 

Todd was granted sabbatical this summer and will be working on a book. It is not a Barnes and Noble cuddle up with a cup of coffee type of book but rather a book written for a target audience that has the need for more cow bell... heehee. It is a new endeavor for him and I hope to be as supportive as possible. I am looking forward to posting his final product. 

Right now Todd is judging the state percussion ensemble contest. He does it every year. When he gets back he will be on major Daddy duty. I have a bit of work to finish up before next week and I am totally dependent on him to watch the boys. He has been doing A LOT of Daddy duty lately and I am extremely appreciative of all that he does. (i.e. cooking, cleaning, getting up with children in the a.m., packing their lunches, picking them up) He is quite the SuperDad these days. :) I think it is safe to say that he is looking forward to me being done with school too.  

A Jessica Update :)

This is me on most days. 

Sometimes I work from home (like today). Other days I work from school. When I work from school I wear headphones. At first it was because I was transcribing interviews but then it became a way for me to tune out the distractions outside the door. I am still chopping away at the dissertation. I am getting closer everyday. My defense date is set for June 26th. I am going to keep working and try to keep that defense date. Am hopeful. Some days I am super productive and other days not so much. Below is a little bit of what I feel like I have experienced the last couple of weeks. I think I am just past the panic and despair stages and am well into drudgery now. Ha!

So what is up next for me/us? The truth is I am not sure. I have prayed and prayed for direction. I am simply going to wait. In the fall I applied to about 15 job postings at various universities. I had three phone interviews, one skype interview, and two on campus interviews. I was offered the job at one university and turned it down. I have not heard from the other school yet but if offered I will turn that down as well. While on these campus interviews it became painfully apparent that these locations were not well suited for all members of our family and I feel God guiding me to simply wait. I am not exactly sure what He is calling me to do nor do I know if I will ever actually teach at a university but I am grateful for the experiences and am hopeful that God is preparing me for something in the future. It has not been an easy process and has been rather emotional at times but for now I am trusting that these are not missed opportunities but rather good judgement and Godly discernment. For now, I wait, I write, and I anticipate enjoying the normalcy of non-grad school life that awaits me. 

Jack at 6 1/2 and some...

Jack is in his first year on the elementary side of his school this year. It was a big transition. He is in the 1st grade and in class with 2nd and 3rd graders. He lost a big group of friends over the summer to public school. We attempted to enroll him in the same school where his friends are attending but did not get the pick in the lottery system the school district implements. Jack loves his school and never wanted to leave it in the first place so he is content. If only our wallet felt the same way! 

Jack's update:

1. He has a great memory. 

2. He enjoys reading and being read to... Most recent reads have been Charlie and the Chocolate  Factory and Little Men. His all time favorite is still Harry Potter. 

3. He enjoys playing with Legos, playing games on his nook, building things, arts and crafts, and basically anything science related. 

4. He likes collecting rocks and exploring nature. 

5. He likes watching movies but does not like going to the movies. 

6. He is taking French at school and loves it. 

8. He tends to get car sick when traveling. 

9. He sleep walks. 

10. He can be a little on the um lazy side. :/ Taking a shower, brushing his teeth, and changing his clothes are all tasks that are just too much for him at times. Ha!

11. He continues to be sweet and sensitive. 

12. And this evening he asked Jesus to live in his heart. :) His request was so simple and sincere. I am a lucky Mommy to have had the honor to share prayer time with him today. 

**Above Jack is visiting NASA in Houston, where he indeed got motion sickness from watching a film on space in a movie theatre. 

Luca at 3 1/2

Luca is 3 1/2 now and is something else. He loves pretend play. He is constantly in pretend world. He is either making up crazy stories and acting them out or randomly handing us pretend candied pecans or freshly baked cookies. He has imaginary dragon friends named Ginger and Toothless. Toothless was previously named Hooks but got a name change after watching How to Train a Dragon. His closest friend at school is John. John is in Kinder and is very sweet to Luca. He apparently looks out for our little Luca while out on the playground. We recently saw an endocrinologist to check on Luca's growth. He has always been on the lowest percentiles of the growth chart and we wanted to be sure that there wasn't anything preventing him from growing other than the fact that his parents are short. He had a hand x-ray and blood work done. He did a great job. He was calm and relaxed throughout the whole process and I was surprised that he didn't cry during the blood ordeal. All appears to be fine. For now we are to give him whole milk, a multivitamin, and plenty of sunlight to get his Vitamin D up. I feel like I am writing about a plant or something. Ha! We will go back in 6 mths to make sure he is indeed growing. Here is the Luca lowdown:

1. Still a picky eater
2. Favorite things to eat are quesadillas, fruit, carrots, pancakes and bacon, and loves cinnamon rolls in the morning
3. Loves building with Legos, playing with his geotrax, and playing with Jack
4. No longer takes naps at school
5. Sleeps with a monkey and giraffe
6. Thinks saying blah blah is a bad word or an act of rebellion
7. Enjoys being read to and snuggling
8. Is doing fantastic with reading and can read short vowel, three letter words
9. Can count to 20 but is still working on the relationship between the number represented in print and the actual quantity
10. He is funny but doesn't like people to laugh at him
11. Dislikes going to church :/ (Not the regular/typical resistance to going to church that lots of kids experience but rather an absolute refusal to go into childcare. So he just sits with us in the big church.) We are not sure what to do with this but are working on it.
12. Has recently shown interest in music via a play guitar he received for Christmas 

2013

This year has gone by quicker than any other. We ended 2012 by closing out a busy fall semester,  saying goodbye to Todd's grandfather (Pa), celebrating Christmas in Houston, and bringing in the New Year at home. I will make an individual post for each one of us. We all have lots going on. For now here is our Christmas picture taken at our annual Brennan's Brunch.

Jack on Allergies

Jack is a pretty OCD kid. He is a worrier like his Mommy. He grinds his teeth at night and sleep walks a lot. (Yes, it freaks me out.) OCDness and allergies are a rough combo for a 6 year old. I love Jack and how his brain works. I just wish he wasn't so stressed out. Just wanted to document/share our latest conversation over a suspected allergic reaction he had recently.

I got a call from Jack's school on Tuesday. (Of course it was minutes before I needed to walk into my class and teach.) Nonetheless, Jack's teacher said his eyes were bothering him. They were red and he was holding a wet paper towel or kleenex over them to sooth himself. She added that he seemed to be pretty uncomfortable. Todd went to go pick him up. (Thank God Todd was available.) Todd said he looked fine and could not see anything visibly wrong with him. Allergy reactions can be that way.. when near the problem inflamed skin, itchy eyes, or sneezing. When away from the allergen it all goes away. So that night Jack and I began the process of trying to determine what exactly set his reaction off at school. 

Mom: Where were you when it happened?

Jack: It was during silent reading time. (translation-inside, in the classroom) 

Mom: Had you been outside?

Jack: Yes. We were at recess.

Mom: Did you touch anything new out there? 

Jack: No.

Mom: Had you been playing with Beezus? (guinea pig.. class pet) 

Jack: No. 

Jack: Mom! There is a 100% chance that the book I was reading had something on it! The book came from the classroom next door and they are allowed to have different snacks over there! And Mom, the book is here, in the house!

Mom: Didn't you just read that book with Daddy? 

Jack: Yes. 

Mom: And did you have the same reaction?

Jack: No. 

Mom: Well, then it is not the book Jack. 

****It is now Friday and Jack will not go near the book. Sigh. My child walks around in fear of things. I have to remind myself not to instill more fear in him and to not interrupt those moments when he does allow himself to be free and to not worry about things. 

Busy Season of Life

The Meehan family smashing it all in...

We are definitely entering into a busy season of life. We have our schedules. The boys have their schedules. We try and smash them together and make it all work. :)