Still here, still *alive* (sort of).

The visit was, well, what can I say that hasn't been said in response to prior visits?
The same, the usual, some folks just can't seem to find very many nice things to say, some folks will just never *get it*.

And I'm done trying to explain, to teach, to justify, to try to get them to understand (heck, after 5 years of that, if they were going to get it, they would by now). Interestingly enough, when I hear them talk about their other grandkids, there's plenty *stuff* going on. But they have decided to take the stance that this *stuff* is what ALL kids go through. They have accepted that all this *stuff* is the new *normal* (which is something I cannot and will not do.. but hey, to each their own, right?)

Wish I could put up a collage of pictures of how my guys look versus their cousins, so you could see what I mean. But as the cousins are not my kids, I can't. All I'm gonna say is "greyish white and puffy faces, swollen eyes, red eyes, purple/black circles, zoned out look, red noses, red cheeks, red ear lobes, very limp and very pale hair, noticeably underweight, noticeably overweight." [and actually, these observations extend to the cousins' parents too..]

But hey, as I am sure most kids that the cousins interact with look that way.. I can see that this would be considered the new *normal*.

Whatever..

Boys overall had a good time.. I think.. Salamander was *different* though.

Taking a day to get my head back where it belongs.. with my amazing boys and the amazing progress they have made and will continue to make.

Salamander did an INCREDIBLE job at his 5th grade musical last night. I cried (happy tears) the entire 45 minutes of the performance. I was inundated by school staff afterwards who all expressed their amazement and delight with how *into it* he got and what a great job he did (and no way, no how he could have done this even 1.5 years ago).

THIS is the stuff that matters.

The rest of it? Just noise.. Some people just like to hear themselves *talk* a bit too much....