I took Sam to his four-year checkup last week. This is the first time in quite awhile that I don't have kids due for any shots other than the flu shot, so I was really relaxed about this visit. Anna had her well-check a few days prior, and while she didn't like being examined too well, she did great.
At the end of Sam's appointment, the doctor started talking about the mumps outbreak in Iowa earlier this year. He said because some of these supposedly-non-existent diseases are making a comeback (probably because so many people aren't vaccinating anymore), doctors are giving the 5-year shots at age 4. Sam was going to need 3 shots this time around!
Sam was really easy-going about it -- I told him was going to get some shots and he just said, "Okay."
I don't think he understood what that meant.
The nurse only came in with two syringes. I thought perhaps the orders got changed, so I didn't mention anything. Sam was really calm until the first one started stinging -- by that time she already had the second one in. I just melted watching his face change from total calm to tears. It took him a few minutes to settle down.
Then they came back and said he was supposed to get one more. Plus the flu shots hadn't arrived yet. We agreed that he could get those two together another time -- I just couldn't drag this out into three different sessions.
(I of course believe it's totally worth a few minutes of tears to avoid the days and days of serious illness. These diseases are bad, even causing death or permanent damage/disability, depending on where they settle in the body. Having sat at the bedside of deathly ill child before, I do everything in my power to prevent the preventable.)
So moms of children under aged 4, be prepared. This year they may start doing the dreaded 5-year shots a year early.
P.S. Tomorrow is the big flu-shot day. I'm hoping to get all three kids done in one fell swoop. Will bribing with chocolate work, I wonder?
Oct 31, 2006
Good Friends Think Alike
Sam and I went to a fall festival at nearby assisted living facility Sunday afternoon. (He was the only one of the three kids up to it!) One of the ladies in our church lives there and we've tried to make a point of visiting the residents around the holidays (if we can get everyone healthy enough at the same time!).
We ran into one of Sam's good friends from church. Aren't they cute?
We ran into one of Sam's good friends from church. Aren't they cute?
Good News, Bad News
Yesterday my throat swelled up and started aching. I looked in the mirror and to my very great dismay, I discovered white spots on my right tonsil.
Strep.
I got strep for the first time as an adult three years ago. I didn't know what it was for days, so it got really bad before I finally went to the doctor. It was utter misery.
I don't have time for this.
I went to the doctor this morning -- it was the earliest I could get in.
The good news is that my strep culture came back negative. So it isn't strep, or I'm one of the 3% of the population who never tests positive.
The bad news is that I have tonsilitis. One more ingredient in the germ stew we've been concocting here for the past 2 1/2 weeks.
The doctor sent me home with amoxicillin that I can take now or wait and see if the infection clears on its own.
I'm waiting for now, but the aching has gotten steadily worse today, and is inching up the side of my face into my cheek. I think I might not wait much longer.
Strep.
I got strep for the first time as an adult three years ago. I didn't know what it was for days, so it got really bad before I finally went to the doctor. It was utter misery.
I don't have time for this.
I went to the doctor this morning -- it was the earliest I could get in.
The good news is that my strep culture came back negative. So it isn't strep, or I'm one of the 3% of the population who never tests positive.
The bad news is that I have tonsilitis. One more ingredient in the germ stew we've been concocting here for the past 2 1/2 weeks.
The doctor sent me home with amoxicillin that I can take now or wait and see if the infection clears on its own.
I'm waiting for now, but the aching has gotten steadily worse today, and is inching up the side of my face into my cheek. I think I might not wait much longer.
Oct 28, 2006
An Extra Hour!
Daylight Savings Time couldn't have come on a better weekend. Despite getting only about 5 hours of sleep last night, Scott and I both got a lot done today, and we're thrilled that we get an extra hour to rest tonight.
Elli had a really rough night, and her morning wasn't much better. She threw up fever meds at 6am, giving my sleep-deprived imagination much fodder. I started thinking, "If she can't keep antibiotics down, her pneumonia won't get better. If she fails to keep down food and water, she'll be dehydrated. She's gonna be admitted for IV fluids and medications today for sure..."
She almost lost the morning and evening doses of medicine, but they did stay down. Her coughing fits spread out more and more as the day progressed, and she has been eating and drinking fairly well. She never took a nap, though. And neither did we.
But this evening, after a warm bath and an extra late bedtime, she is actually sleeping. For now.
So tonight's extra hour marks the first time I've been genuinely thankful for daylight savings time. I still think the whole idea is stupid, but tonight... well, I'll tolerate a little stupidity to get some extra rest.
(Now if only the kids will wake up at the real 7am, not the DST 7am!)
Elli had a really rough night, and her morning wasn't much better. She threw up fever meds at 6am, giving my sleep-deprived imagination much fodder. I started thinking, "If she can't keep antibiotics down, her pneumonia won't get better. If she fails to keep down food and water, she'll be dehydrated. She's gonna be admitted for IV fluids and medications today for sure..."
She almost lost the morning and evening doses of medicine, but they did stay down. Her coughing fits spread out more and more as the day progressed, and she has been eating and drinking fairly well. She never took a nap, though. And neither did we.
But this evening, after a warm bath and an extra late bedtime, she is actually sleeping. For now.
So tonight's extra hour marks the first time I've been genuinely thankful for daylight savings time. I still think the whole idea is stupid, but tonight... well, I'll tolerate a little stupidity to get some extra rest.
(Now if only the kids will wake up at the real 7am, not the DST 7am!)
Geyser
Silently I creep
Merciful drugs in hand
Child coughing in her sleep
Racking
Hacking
Fitful body twisting
Arching
Stretching towards the air
Plastic interlocks plastic
I connect tube to belly
No gagging on articial flavors
Thick pink fever-reducer
Sticky purple cough restraint
With sleep-inducers
Chase with water
Suddenly
Flailing
Arching
Strong arms pulling tube
Don't pull it out!
Geyser bursts forth
Stomach projectiles air in fountain of mystery fluid
Panic
Relief
The tube is still in
She is still asleep
though slightly damp
Tiptoe
Softly
Back to bed
Child coughing in her sleep
Racking
Hacking
Nothing more to do
But wait
Merciful drugs in hand
Child coughing in her sleep
Racking
Hacking
Fitful body twisting
Arching
Stretching towards the air
Plastic interlocks plastic
I connect tube to belly
No gagging on articial flavors
Thick pink fever-reducer
Sticky purple cough restraint
With sleep-inducers
Chase with water
Suddenly
Flailing
Arching
Strong arms pulling tube
Don't pull it out!
Geyser bursts forth
Stomach projectiles air in fountain of mystery fluid
Panic
Relief
The tube is still in
She is still asleep
though slightly damp
Tiptoe
Softly
Back to bed
Child coughing in her sleep
Racking
Hacking
Nothing more to do
But wait
Oct 27, 2006
Tantrums, Toothbrushes, and Tons of Saliva
Anna and Elli have been indulging in tantrums more and more lately. On Tuesday, in the check-out lane at the grocery, Anna lost it when she had to put the Dora yogurt on the conveyor belt to be scanned. She refused to stand up or be held -- she just screamed and threw her body about with abandon, utterly ignoring my attempts to calm her down. I finally plopped her back in the seat of the cart and ignored her while I bagged my groceries and paid. And I did NOT give her the yogurt back. I haven't figured out the best way to deal with these tantrums yet (especially the ones in public), other than not to give her whatever it is that she's screaming about.
Elli fell apart when I showed up in her classroom today. I never did figure out if she was upset because I brought Sam and Anna into her territory, or because I didn't immediately go sit with her (but it didn't help when I did go to her), or because she wanted to talk to me and her Dynavox was off (so she could listen to the rest of the class share, and see them -- it blocks her view of whoever is in front of her), or because it just totally threw her whole equilibrium off to have us appear there in the middle of her morning. She made quite a scene and totally shocked the entire class -- they said they'd never seen her cry like that. She finally settled down when we took her to an empty room, set up her Dynavox, and the other two found something quiet to play with (tossing balls out of a big ball pit -- we had about a hundred rolling all over the room within minutes). And we never did figure out what she was so upset about.
A different fascination (and a much healthier one) Anna has acquired is an interest in toothbrushes and toothpaste. She is amazingly skilled at reaching all of our toothbrushes, no matter how far back on the sink I place them, and I'll find her wandering the house with Sam's Tigger brush, her Dora brush, and/or the toothpaste tube (with lid open sometimes) three or four times a day.
Last night we discovered that she had found an excellent hiding place for her toothbrush and the toothpaste. We never found her toothbrush, though I did find the toothbrush when we went to bed (it was hidden in our bedding). And that must be the end of her toothbrush adventures - I'm going to try to keep them in the medicine cabinet from now on.
I seem to recall Sam going through this phase too. My ultimate solution was similar -- put the toothbrushes up high.
I believe Anna's fascination with toothbrushes may the reason why I'm up typing this entry at 4:15am. She caught a cold over the weekend, and has most likely passed it along to her brother and sister via the toothbrushes. I've been up with Elli for an hour and a half, trying to get her coughing under control enough so she can go back to sleep.
I feel very inadequate to make decisions for her because I don't know what's really bothering her. I can't tell if she's at the beginning of a cold and is coughing because of all the drainage and the sore throat, has some sort of congestion related to her enlarged heart (her cardiologist told me the pressure of a large heart on the lungs could cause coughing if she only has trouble when laying flat), has the flu (because she's really gaggy), or has some new pulmonary issue. I hate standing at her bedside wondering about things like this.
Whatever is going on, the tremendous increase in the amount of saliva she's producing has exacerbated it. In the last 3 weeks, her mouth has started generating 3-4 times what she was making. The medication we give her isn't helping anymore and the constant wetness is making her mouth and chin very chapped. She soaks a shirt within an hour. Bad as I hate to do it, I am beginning to seriously consider a procedure requiring general anesthesia, in which they use Botox to temporarily (for 3-4 months) stop her saliva glands. If she can't keep up with the secretions to the point where they are gagging her and causing skin problems, it's gone beyond social and appearance issues. We don't have many options in this area -- it's something no-one has really researched.
All is quiet in the girls' room. I should try to catch another hour and a half of sleep before I have to get up and decide if Elli is well enough to go to school. If she can go, I have get everyone going fast because I'm working in her room as a volunteer for their harvest party tomorrow morning. Will this be the scene of another tantrum? Her aide assured me that she will take Elli out of the room if it happens again and really encouraged me not to let this keep me from coming to school. We'll see.
Elli fell apart when I showed up in her classroom today. I never did figure out if she was upset because I brought Sam and Anna into her territory, or because I didn't immediately go sit with her (but it didn't help when I did go to her), or because she wanted to talk to me and her Dynavox was off (so she could listen to the rest of the class share, and see them -- it blocks her view of whoever is in front of her), or because it just totally threw her whole equilibrium off to have us appear there in the middle of her morning. She made quite a scene and totally shocked the entire class -- they said they'd never seen her cry like that. She finally settled down when we took her to an empty room, set up her Dynavox, and the other two found something quiet to play with (tossing balls out of a big ball pit -- we had about a hundred rolling all over the room within minutes). And we never did figure out what she was so upset about.
A different fascination (and a much healthier one) Anna has acquired is an interest in toothbrushes and toothpaste. She is amazingly skilled at reaching all of our toothbrushes, no matter how far back on the sink I place them, and I'll find her wandering the house with Sam's Tigger brush, her Dora brush, and/or the toothpaste tube (with lid open sometimes) three or four times a day.
Last night we discovered that she had found an excellent hiding place for her toothbrush and the toothpaste. We never found her toothbrush, though I did find the toothbrush when we went to bed (it was hidden in our bedding). And that must be the end of her toothbrush adventures - I'm going to try to keep them in the medicine cabinet from now on.
I seem to recall Sam going through this phase too. My ultimate solution was similar -- put the toothbrushes up high.
I believe Anna's fascination with toothbrushes may the reason why I'm up typing this entry at 4:15am. She caught a cold over the weekend, and has most likely passed it along to her brother and sister via the toothbrushes. I've been up with Elli for an hour and a half, trying to get her coughing under control enough so she can go back to sleep.
I feel very inadequate to make decisions for her because I don't know what's really bothering her. I can't tell if she's at the beginning of a cold and is coughing because of all the drainage and the sore throat, has some sort of congestion related to her enlarged heart (her cardiologist told me the pressure of a large heart on the lungs could cause coughing if she only has trouble when laying flat), has the flu (because she's really gaggy), or has some new pulmonary issue. I hate standing at her bedside wondering about things like this.
Whatever is going on, the tremendous increase in the amount of saliva she's producing has exacerbated it. In the last 3 weeks, her mouth has started generating 3-4 times what she was making. The medication we give her isn't helping anymore and the constant wetness is making her mouth and chin very chapped. She soaks a shirt within an hour. Bad as I hate to do it, I am beginning to seriously consider a procedure requiring general anesthesia, in which they use Botox to temporarily (for 3-4 months) stop her saliva glands. If she can't keep up with the secretions to the point where they are gagging her and causing skin problems, it's gone beyond social and appearance issues. We don't have many options in this area -- it's something no-one has really researched.
All is quiet in the girls' room. I should try to catch another hour and a half of sleep before I have to get up and decide if Elli is well enough to go to school. If she can go, I have get everyone going fast because I'm working in her room as a volunteer for their harvest party tomorrow morning. Will this be the scene of another tantrum? Her aide assured me that she will take Elli out of the room if it happens again and really encouraged me not to let this keep me from coming to school. We'll see.
Oct 25, 2006
Sneakin' in the Boy's Room
Elli practiced driving a power wheelchair Monday afternoon. For the first time, she tried using a "head array" to direct the chair. A pad behind her head controls start and stop. A pad to the left of her head turns the chair left, a pad on the right turns the chair right. I'm not sure how reverse works yet!
For the first time, Elli was very successful! She has been practicing with another boy who is learning as well, so they chased each other around the halls, and she discovered the joys of crashing into walls. Around one corner, she found a door that opened when she bumped it.
Missy, the physical therapist working with her stopped her and said, "Oh! Elli! You can't go in there! That's the boys' bathroom!"
Elli immediately grinned and resumed opening the door. Missy stopped her, pulled her back, and straightened her out to continue down the hall. Elli made an immediate left and giggling like every other six-year-old-girl, headed back to the bathrooom.
For the first time, Elli was very successful! She has been practicing with another boy who is learning as well, so they chased each other around the halls, and she discovered the joys of crashing into walls. Around one corner, she found a door that opened when she bumped it.
Missy, the physical therapist working with her stopped her and said, "Oh! Elli! You can't go in there! That's the boys' bathroom!"
Elli immediately grinned and resumed opening the door. Missy stopped her, pulled her back, and straightened her out to continue down the hall. Elli made an immediate left and giggling like every other six-year-old-girl, headed back to the bathrooom.
Oct 20, 2006
Buddies
Our cat, Jazz, and Anna are becoming playmates. It's so cute to watch them explore the yard together. I never would have guessed that Jazz would enjoy one of the kids so much, but I think Anna figured out really quickly the way the cat likes to be petted. So Jazz thinks she's pretty cool!
Jazz had better not teach Anna to climb trees any time soon!
Glow in the Dark
Aren't these the most amazing colors? I grew up in the desert and I never believed such colors could occur in nature. Every fall the colors of the leaves just blow me away. These trees are just across the street.
I love how this one is four different colors all at once, with the green in the center, fading to yellow, then orange, then pink.
Is It Flu or Is It Strep Now?
Elli's school called me yesterday at 11am to report that she was feverish and that her afternoon aid was headed to the doctor with a sore throat. Elli was literally surrounded by strep germs.
Yesterday we just watched and tried to keep her comfortable. She has been eating ok -- not stellar but not fasting. But the fever has persisted through the night and with my uneducated eye, a flashlight, and a spoon for a tongue depressor it seems like her throat might be red and swollen. Rather than wait any longer, I'm headed to the pediatrician's office as soon as I drop Sam off at preschool. Sam and Scott were only sick with the flu for 24 hours at the most, so since she isn't any better today I'm not going to let it progress any further.
I'm still waiting for the Mack truck to knock me flat on my back. It's kind of like hearing the rumble of the train on the tracks -- I know it's coming, I'm just not sure when or from which direction.
----
Added at 11:20am: It is strep. Elli is on antibiotics now, and the doctor said strep is rare in kids under 3 years old. So hopefully Anna won't get that. At least Elli won't be contagious tomorrow so she can hopefully go to her cousin's 1-year birthday party!
Yesterday we just watched and tried to keep her comfortable. She has been eating ok -- not stellar but not fasting. But the fever has persisted through the night and with my uneducated eye, a flashlight, and a spoon for a tongue depressor it seems like her throat might be red and swollen. Rather than wait any longer, I'm headed to the pediatrician's office as soon as I drop Sam off at preschool. Sam and Scott were only sick with the flu for 24 hours at the most, so since she isn't any better today I'm not going to let it progress any further.
I'm still waiting for the Mack truck to knock me flat on my back. It's kind of like hearing the rumble of the train on the tracks -- I know it's coming, I'm just not sure when or from which direction.
----
Added at 11:20am: It is strep. Elli is on antibiotics now, and the doctor said strep is rare in kids under 3 years old. So hopefully Anna won't get that. At least Elli won't be contagious tomorrow so she can hopefully go to her cousin's 1-year birthday party!
Oct 18, 2006
Last Call for Outdoor Play!
Anna loves mommy's "wow-wuhz" (her way of saying flowers).
I don't need to dead-head anymore -- she pulls them all off for me!
Sam alternated between racing the dumptruck up and down the yard and searching for pinecones.
Jazz and Anna are becoming good buddies.
(Aren't the pigtails the cutest?)
I Complain Too Much
At least online. For awhile I've been thinking that I only write on here when I have something to grump about.
So today, despite not sleeping well last night (I took a long nap yesterday, but it was too long so I couldn't sleep last night!) and dealing with a really cranky Anna all morning (Elli has been coughing a lot at night, which means Anna doesn't sleep that well), I'm going to talk about things that make me smile.
I got my November Martha Stewart Living magazine yesterday! I'm so excited because it's chock full of yummy-looking recipes for Thanksgiving, and I'm having Thanksgiving at my house this year! I'm pored over every recipe last night and am having great fun thinking about the menu for dinner. I want to try a bunch of new things and I'm so excited to cook for a crowd.
I let the kids play on the playground outside Sam's preschool today, even though the mulch was still quite soggy. They had a lot of fun playing with friends, and Anna's mood made a U-turn when we headed over there (she had been screaming all the way to the school, just minutes before). I got to talk to a couple moms for awhile. I haven't really met many moms at his school yet, so it was really good to chat. I learned that the pre-K teacher at the school doesn't have the same bubbly warm personality that the preschool teachers there do. I've been thinking about doing pre-K with Sam next year instead of pushing him into kindergarten, but it sounds like maybe I should start looking for other pre-K programs. They said she's a fine teacher, but just seems a bit cold for that age children.
I vacuumed most of the house. Now vacuuming itself doesn't make me smile, but the way the carpet looks does. This is the first place in 7 years that I've had real carpet, the kind that shows the vacuum tracks. It just looks so pretty and clean when it's freshly swept!
My laundry is actually caught up. I did a load this morning, so Sam could wear his new racecar sweater for his school picture, so the only dirty clothes in the house are the girls' pajamas! I LOVE that caught-up feeling.
And now I'm going to take a nap. With my alarm set so I don't sleep too long!
So today, despite not sleeping well last night (I took a long nap yesterday, but it was too long so I couldn't sleep last night!) and dealing with a really cranky Anna all morning (Elli has been coughing a lot at night, which means Anna doesn't sleep that well), I'm going to talk about things that make me smile.
I got my November Martha Stewart Living magazine yesterday! I'm so excited because it's chock full of yummy-looking recipes for Thanksgiving, and I'm having Thanksgiving at my house this year! I'm pored over every recipe last night and am having great fun thinking about the menu for dinner. I want to try a bunch of new things and I'm so excited to cook for a crowd.
I let the kids play on the playground outside Sam's preschool today, even though the mulch was still quite soggy. They had a lot of fun playing with friends, and Anna's mood made a U-turn when we headed over there (she had been screaming all the way to the school, just minutes before). I got to talk to a couple moms for awhile. I haven't really met many moms at his school yet, so it was really good to chat. I learned that the pre-K teacher at the school doesn't have the same bubbly warm personality that the preschool teachers there do. I've been thinking about doing pre-K with Sam next year instead of pushing him into kindergarten, but it sounds like maybe I should start looking for other pre-K programs. They said she's a fine teacher, but just seems a bit cold for that age children.
I vacuumed most of the house. Now vacuuming itself doesn't make me smile, but the way the carpet looks does. This is the first place in 7 years that I've had real carpet, the kind that shows the vacuum tracks. It just looks so pretty and clean when it's freshly swept!
My laundry is actually caught up. I did a load this morning, so Sam could wear his new racecar sweater for his school picture, so the only dirty clothes in the house are the girls' pajamas! I LOVE that caught-up feeling.
And now I'm going to take a nap. With my alarm set so I don't sleep too long!
Oct 17, 2006
Pitiful Knitting Update
I pulled my knitting out this week. The first project I worked on was the sweater I am making for a 6-month-old girl. (The one that was supposed to be for my sister's baby, who is turning 1 year in just a few days.) It took me a good 15-30 minutes to figure out where I was in the sweater's sleeves, since I supposedly simplified the pattern so it would knit up faster. I got a grand total of two rows knit on each sleeve.
Last night I pulled out my Jaywalker sock. I knit one row. S l o w l y. Then I knit a row of the pattern. S l o w l y. As soon as I finished the row I could tell that I had messed up (I ended on the wrong kind of stitch). I ripped back and then spent 45 minutes putting the stitches back on the needle. I knit the row again. Just 5 stitches past the first mistake, I made the same mistake a second time. Which I discovered at the end of the row. After another half hour ripping slowly and trying to get the stitches back on the other needle, I gave up and went to bed.
Sigh.
Last night I pulled out my Jaywalker sock. I knit one row. S l o w l y. Then I knit a row of the pattern. S l o w l y. As soon as I finished the row I could tell that I had messed up (I ended on the wrong kind of stitch). I ripped back and then spent 45 minutes putting the stitches back on the needle. I knit the row again. Just 5 stitches past the first mistake, I made the same mistake a second time. Which I discovered at the end of the row. After another half hour ripping slowly and trying to get the stitches back on the other needle, I gave up and went to bed.
Sigh.
The Plot Thickens
I got an email today from one of Elli's teachers. She has been exposed to strep. Her morning aid is, in fact, on antibiotics. I immediately called the school nurse and asked her to look at Elli's throat, recalling how Elli was a bit gaggy at breakfast. She checked out fine today and had a good day at school. For now.
Scott woke up this morning feeling like he'd been hit by a truck. He couldn't stand up. In fact, the only times he has stood up has been to call in sick from work, to try to eat something around lunch, and to get his laptop (for a reason I'm not sure I completely understand!).
So now we have three different germs circulating through our home. Stomach flu. Common cold. Strep.
In other news, the kids have picked up a great new trick -- stalling at bedtime. I made the mistake of buying Anna the bedtime Blue bear. I have to turn off the singing for her to actually sleep, but now she cries her eyes out because Blue is "sleeping" and I won't wake him up.
Elli has taken to crying too. I guess it bugs me a bit more now because she shares a room with Anna. I'm working with her on going to bed quietly, whether or not she wants to sleep. It has been a grueling few nights, and I really don't feel like we're making any progress.
Sam comes up with any and every excuse to get out of bed: thirsty, needs his puppy, needs to brush his teeth, needs to go potty, needs mommy, needs daddy... and on and on and on. He got very disrespectful tonight when I refused to get him more water tonight, so we had to deal with that.
It's tough because I really count on a couple hours after the kids go to bed to clean up the house, finish up housework, and catch my breath after the craziness of the day. But this week, I've spent one to 1 1/2 hours of that time working with the kids on going to bed without complaining or arguing and on considering others' needs as more important than their own.
So, who will be sick tomorrow? I bet I will either get sick Thursday (because I have a Family Advisory Council meeting that night) or Saturday (because we're supposed to go to my sister's for her daughter's first birthday party). And because I always have impeccable timing.
Scott woke up this morning feeling like he'd been hit by a truck. He couldn't stand up. In fact, the only times he has stood up has been to call in sick from work, to try to eat something around lunch, and to get his laptop (for a reason I'm not sure I completely understand!).
So now we have three different germs circulating through our home. Stomach flu. Common cold. Strep.
In other news, the kids have picked up a great new trick -- stalling at bedtime. I made the mistake of buying Anna the bedtime Blue bear. I have to turn off the singing for her to actually sleep, but now she cries her eyes out because Blue is "sleeping" and I won't wake him up.
Elli has taken to crying too. I guess it bugs me a bit more now because she shares a room with Anna. I'm working with her on going to bed quietly, whether or not she wants to sleep. It has been a grueling few nights, and I really don't feel like we're making any progress.
Sam comes up with any and every excuse to get out of bed: thirsty, needs his puppy, needs to brush his teeth, needs to go potty, needs mommy, needs daddy... and on and on and on. He got very disrespectful tonight when I refused to get him more water tonight, so we had to deal with that.
It's tough because I really count on a couple hours after the kids go to bed to clean up the house, finish up housework, and catch my breath after the craziness of the day. But this week, I've spent one to 1 1/2 hours of that time working with the kids on going to bed without complaining or arguing and on considering others' needs as more important than their own.
So, who will be sick tomorrow? I bet I will either get sick Thursday (because I have a Family Advisory Council meeting that night) or Saturday (because we're supposed to go to my sister's for her daughter's first birthday party). And because I always have impeccable timing.
Oct 16, 2006
Mickey Mouse
Do you remember a story from Mickey Mouse about swatting 7 flies at one time?
I feel that way about this weekend. We managed to catch two very different germs at one time. Sam is getting over the stomach flu -- I think. He never actually threw up, but he spiked a fever Saturday night and amidst the tears, we think he was telling us that his tummy ached. He didn't quite seem himself all day Saturday, in retrospect. Then he woke up Sunday a bit sniffly. I stayed home with him in the morning, and he seemed perfectly fine. Until the evening, when we decided to take everyone to Bible study. Then he started looking pale, even though he ate pretty well and ran around with the boys like normal.
Elli woke up Sunday with a more persistent cough than usual. But once she was upright and had some breakfast, she was fine. But last night she got mad when we put her to bed and then at 3:30am, she started coughing in her sleep. When I went in to check on her, I could tell by her breathing that she had a cold.
Anna's breathing seems thicker too -- I suspect she has the same cold. And my throat is ever-so-slightly sore. I just downed two echinacea with a glass of warm water and emailed work that I won't be able to participate in a group interview Monday morning. And now I have to decide -- do I keep my alarm set for 6am and go to the gym despite the cold? Or do I turn it off since I've been up with kids twice already tonight and cut my losses? Would exercise or sleep give me more energy, at this point?
I'm leaning towards sleep. I could do an exercise video (even though the odds are slim that I will actually put one in). I have no guarantees of a nap. Getting three kids quiet at the same time when they are all sick? Impossible.
I feel that way about this weekend. We managed to catch two very different germs at one time. Sam is getting over the stomach flu -- I think. He never actually threw up, but he spiked a fever Saturday night and amidst the tears, we think he was telling us that his tummy ached. He didn't quite seem himself all day Saturday, in retrospect. Then he woke up Sunday a bit sniffly. I stayed home with him in the morning, and he seemed perfectly fine. Until the evening, when we decided to take everyone to Bible study. Then he started looking pale, even though he ate pretty well and ran around with the boys like normal.
Elli woke up Sunday with a more persistent cough than usual. But once she was upright and had some breakfast, she was fine. But last night she got mad when we put her to bed and then at 3:30am, she started coughing in her sleep. When I went in to check on her, I could tell by her breathing that she had a cold.
Anna's breathing seems thicker too -- I suspect she has the same cold. And my throat is ever-so-slightly sore. I just downed two echinacea with a glass of warm water and emailed work that I won't be able to participate in a group interview Monday morning. And now I have to decide -- do I keep my alarm set for 6am and go to the gym despite the cold? Or do I turn it off since I've been up with kids twice already tonight and cut my losses? Would exercise or sleep give me more energy, at this point?
I'm leaning towards sleep. I could do an exercise video (even though the odds are slim that I will actually put one in). I have no guarantees of a nap. Getting three kids quiet at the same time when they are all sick? Impossible.
Oct 12, 2006
Weight Gain
Elli had a feeding time height and weight check this morning. She had been weighed at her cardiology appointment on Tuesday, coming it at 14.4 kilos. We didn't actually do the math, but I guestimated this equalled 29 pounds.... again.
So I was expecting bad news this morning.
You may have already done the math. If you multiply kilos by 2.2, you get pounds. 14.4 times 2.2 equals 31.7 pounds!
This is great news. Elli has weighed 29 pounds consistently for the past 2 years, and her doctors and we were getting a bit concerned. A weight gain of more than 2 pounds in 4 months is outstanding!
So I was expecting bad news this morning.
You may have already done the math. If you multiply kilos by 2.2, you get pounds. 14.4 times 2.2 equals 31.7 pounds!
This is great news. Elli has weighed 29 pounds consistently for the past 2 years, and her doctors and we were getting a bit concerned. A weight gain of more than 2 pounds in 4 months is outstanding!
Oct 11, 2006
Perfect First Grade Day
Yesterday at breakfast, I told Elli that I'd pick her up from school right after lunch. I also put this on her Dynavox.
Around noon, I raced over to school to pick her up. She was as excited as Elli ever gets when I walked into the school office! Her aide, Maria, said that she was really hyper all morning because she was leaving school early!
I told her we had to drop Sam and Anna off at the house where some friends were watching them for the afternoon. Elli wasn't happy when she didn't get to get out of the van. I told her we got to spend the whole afternoon together without the younger two to fight and cry. That really didn't seem to help.
Then I said, "Let's go to mcDonalds and get a yogurt parfait after the doctor's appointment!"
Instant smile.
We were assigned to a really nice exam room when we arrived at the hospital, where Elli got to watch Go Diego, Go, Blue's Clues, Oobi, and Dora the Explorer with only occasional minor interruptions by EKG techs, nurses, and doctors. What could be better, if you're 6 years old? Nothing hurt and mom didn't make her turn off the TV after one program, like she usually does!
On the way out, I had to stop by my office to drop off a Pampered Chef catalog. My boss asked us what we were doing next. Elli went straight to her McDonalds page and began to laugh outloud as she said, "I want ice cream. I want hamburger. I want Happy Meal. Hamburger. Hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger." She pretty much requested the entire menu, cracking up the whole time!
Around noon, I raced over to school to pick her up. She was as excited as Elli ever gets when I walked into the school office! Her aide, Maria, said that she was really hyper all morning because she was leaving school early!
I told her we had to drop Sam and Anna off at the house where some friends were watching them for the afternoon. Elli wasn't happy when she didn't get to get out of the van. I told her we got to spend the whole afternoon together without the younger two to fight and cry. That really didn't seem to help.
Then I said, "Let's go to mcDonalds and get a yogurt parfait after the doctor's appointment!"
Instant smile.
We were assigned to a really nice exam room when we arrived at the hospital, where Elli got to watch Go Diego, Go, Blue's Clues, Oobi, and Dora the Explorer with only occasional minor interruptions by EKG techs, nurses, and doctors. What could be better, if you're 6 years old? Nothing hurt and mom didn't make her turn off the TV after one program, like she usually does!
On the way out, I had to stop by my office to drop off a Pampered Chef catalog. My boss asked us what we were doing next. Elli went straight to her McDonalds page and began to laugh outloud as she said, "I want ice cream. I want hamburger. I want Happy Meal. Hamburger. Hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger hamburger." She pretty much requested the entire menu, cracking up the whole time!
Little Songbird
While driving in the car today, Sam asked if we could go to McDonalds. While I explained to him that we just went to McDonalds last week, it's a special treat, and no we aren't going today, I heard Anna.
I stopped to listen.
"E I E I O..." she warbled.
I started to sing, "Old MacDonald had a farm..."
She replied, "Moo moo moo."
Sam and I sang, "And on that farm he had a cow..."
Once we sang through all the farm animals and the song ended, she piped up demandingly: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
It took me a second.
She demanded again: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
Ah yes. The B.I.B.L.E.
Sam and I sang "The B I B L E... yes that's the book for me..." and she yelled "BIBLE!" at the end, right on cue.
She then demanded: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
I stopped to listen.
"E I E I O..." she warbled.
I started to sing, "Old MacDonald had a farm..."
She replied, "Moo moo moo."
Sam and I sang, "And on that farm he had a cow..."
Once we sang through all the farm animals and the song ended, she piped up demandingly: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
It took me a second.
She demanded again: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
Ah yes. The B.I.B.L.E.
Sam and I sang "The B I B L E... yes that's the book for me..." and she yelled "BIBLE!" at the end, right on cue.
She then demanded: "Bee eye bee eye bee!"
What Horses Eat
Today we were shopping at Costco after picking Sam up from preschool. Their class is taking a field trip to a local farm at the end of this month, and they started talking about farms today.
Sam: "Miss Julie said we're going to a Farm, Mommy!"
Me: "That sounds like fun!"
Sam: "Yes, and I'm going to feed the horses."
Me (doubtful that this farm has horses and not wanting to promise anything): "Oh really?"
Sam: "Yes. I'm going to feed them sandwiches. Cuz that's what horses eat."
Me (choking back laughter): "I did not know that."
Sam: "And Anna can feed the cows. And Elli can feed the chickens."
(No mention of cows or chickens eating sandwiches. Those details were pretty vague.)
Sam: "Miss Julie said we're going to a Farm, Mommy!"
Me: "That sounds like fun!"
Sam: "Yes, and I'm going to feed the horses."
Me (doubtful that this farm has horses and not wanting to promise anything): "Oh really?"
Sam: "Yes. I'm going to feed them sandwiches. Cuz that's what horses eat."
Me (choking back laughter): "I did not know that."
Sam: "And Anna can feed the cows. And Elli can feed the chickens."
(No mention of cows or chickens eating sandwiches. Those details were pretty vague.)
Oct 10, 2006
Hospital Week
I drive down to the main campus of our local children's hospital five times this week. It's about a 50-mile round trip, taking anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the time of the day and the traffic conditions.
Apparently we're on the same 6-month cycle with all her physicians! Every years it happen this way -- we'll go months without a single appointment at the main campus (we have two outpatient centers much closer where we schedule all therapies and blood tests, and I can sometimes see specialists there too). But every six months or so, within the space of 4-6 weeks, we'll have see every sub-specialty with offices only at the main campus, and get tests that can only be done there. This all happens, of course, on different days.
This week our itinerary is as follows:
Fortunately, it's the off-week for aquatic therapy and occupational therapy!
In the next several weeks, we'll see all her other doctors: neurology, opthamology, cerebral palsy clinic (multi-displinary team)... I hate for her to miss so much school more than I hate to drive all that way.
Probably the toughest appointments are those when I can't find someone to watch the other kids. It's nearly impossible to talk and listen to the doctors when I have a 1 1/2 year old climbing me like a tree and a 4-year-old driving cars along the walls complete with (loud) sound effects and a 6-year-old playing the classroom song at full blast on her Dynavox. However, I've finally gotten over being apologetic about it -- these people are used to kids and have learned to tune it out. Now if I can just tune it out without looking a negligent parent...
P.S. Today's cardiology appointment went really well. Elli looks good again (3 years since our last open-heart surgery!), so we'll go back for an echo in 6 months.
Apparently we're on the same 6-month cycle with all her physicians! Every years it happen this way -- we'll go months without a single appointment at the main campus (we have two outpatient centers much closer where we schedule all therapies and blood tests, and I can sometimes see specialists there too). But every six months or so, within the space of 4-6 weeks, we'll have see every sub-specialty with offices only at the main campus, and get tests that can only be done there. This all happens, of course, on different days.
This week our itinerary is as follows:
- Monday: 4pm, power-wheelchair practice
- Tuesday: 12:45pm, cardiology checkup (no echo this time, just EKG)
- Thursday: 8:30am, feeding team height and weight check (hopefully fast!)
- Thursday: 1:00pm, I work in the office for the afternoon (back-to-back meetings)
- Friday: 12:45pm, urology testing (two tests, one round of labs)
Fortunately, it's the off-week for aquatic therapy and occupational therapy!
In the next several weeks, we'll see all her other doctors: neurology, opthamology, cerebral palsy clinic (multi-displinary team)... I hate for her to miss so much school more than I hate to drive all that way.
Probably the toughest appointments are those when I can't find someone to watch the other kids. It's nearly impossible to talk and listen to the doctors when I have a 1 1/2 year old climbing me like a tree and a 4-year-old driving cars along the walls complete with (loud) sound effects and a 6-year-old playing the classroom song at full blast on her Dynavox. However, I've finally gotten over being apologetic about it -- these people are used to kids and have learned to tune it out. Now if I can just tune it out without looking a negligent parent...
P.S. Today's cardiology appointment went really well. Elli looks good again (3 years since our last open-heart surgery!), so we'll go back for an echo in 6 months.
Oct 9, 2006
5 Boxes!
I actually unpacked 5 boxes today. The weekend was quiet enough that I finally unwound from last week's stress and really feel caught up today. I kept up with the laundry (though I still have a lot to put away), baked cookies with Sam, and worked on the kids' rooms!
In fact, the kids' rooms are almost completely unpacked. It's amazing how much larger the girls' room looks without all the boxes stacked up everywhere. I don't know yet how I want to organize everything -- I want to put up some shelves but I hate to poke holes in the wallpaper until I'm sure where I want everything.
While Sam was at preschool today I spent an hour and a half putting all his train tracks together in his room. I dug through his huge toy box and all the boxes and drawers of toys to find all the pieces. It covers his bedroom floor. It was a lot of fun, and Anna enjoyed playing along with me while we sorted through it all. He was duly impressed when he got home and spent the rest of the afternoon playing with his trains in there.
Anna is now saying "Heh-woh? Hi! OK! Buh-bye!" whenever she finds anything that could possibly serve as a telephone. She also says, "all 'board! Ch..ch..ch..ch.. woo woo! Choo choo!" It's so cute.
One thing I'm a little puzzled by is her constant use of the word "no" when she means "yes." I'm not sure if I should worry about it or let it resolve on its own. I keep telling her, "you mean 'yes'" and tonight she actually said yes once, after much prompting.
Elli's school got a visit from the fire department today. The kids all got to see the fire truck, sit in the firemen's seats, and go inside the ambulance. If I had know that was happening today, I would have put a message on her Dynavox to tell her classmates, "I rode in an ambulance once, but I was too sick to remember it." I hope that we never repeat that experience, but at the same time, the pessimistic side of me is resigned to the idea. I've always known that some day I'd be calling the squad to our house, but I don't think that one time was my last. Not something I choose to dwell on though.
Now I just have to get the rest of the house in order -- I'm having a Pampered Chef party Thursday as sort of a housewarming/come see the new place kind of thing. One of Scott's coworkers has been badgering him (in a nice way) for months to get me to have one. Now they have these awesome new knives that I'm really hoping to get for free. I love a good knife. Say, if anyone wants to come, drop me a line or give me a call! It'll be a great party!
In fact, the kids' rooms are almost completely unpacked. It's amazing how much larger the girls' room looks without all the boxes stacked up everywhere. I don't know yet how I want to organize everything -- I want to put up some shelves but I hate to poke holes in the wallpaper until I'm sure where I want everything.
While Sam was at preschool today I spent an hour and a half putting all his train tracks together in his room. I dug through his huge toy box and all the boxes and drawers of toys to find all the pieces. It covers his bedroom floor. It was a lot of fun, and Anna enjoyed playing along with me while we sorted through it all. He was duly impressed when he got home and spent the rest of the afternoon playing with his trains in there.
Anna is now saying "Heh-woh? Hi! OK! Buh-bye!" whenever she finds anything that could possibly serve as a telephone. She also says, "all 'board! Ch..ch..ch..ch.. woo woo! Choo choo!" It's so cute.
One thing I'm a little puzzled by is her constant use of the word "no" when she means "yes." I'm not sure if I should worry about it or let it resolve on its own. I keep telling her, "you mean 'yes'" and tonight she actually said yes once, after much prompting.
Elli's school got a visit from the fire department today. The kids all got to see the fire truck, sit in the firemen's seats, and go inside the ambulance. If I had know that was happening today, I would have put a message on her Dynavox to tell her classmates, "I rode in an ambulance once, but I was too sick to remember it." I hope that we never repeat that experience, but at the same time, the pessimistic side of me is resigned to the idea. I've always known that some day I'd be calling the squad to our house, but I don't think that one time was my last. Not something I choose to dwell on though.
Now I just have to get the rest of the house in order -- I'm having a Pampered Chef party Thursday as sort of a housewarming/come see the new place kind of thing. One of Scott's coworkers has been badgering him (in a nice way) for months to get me to have one. Now they have these awesome new knives that I'm really hoping to get for free. I love a good knife. Say, if anyone wants to come, drop me a line or give me a call! It'll be a great party!
Oct 6, 2006
By George
(I received this in an email from Scott.)
Hilarious Sam moment:
[Comes up to me while I'm working, and there's a photo of a coworker named George Carpenter on my screen. Please note, Sam has just watched Curious George on TV earlier this morning...]
Sam: [pointing at the photo] "Who's that, Dad?"
Me: "His name is George."
Sam: "Oh... is he Curious?"
[five minutes later...this time I have a photo of a horse on my computer screen (long story short, I'm doing a website for a horse farm and got some photos from the client to post on the website).]
Sam: "That's a nice horse, dad. Is HIS name George?"
Hilarious Sam moment:
[Comes up to me while I'm working, and there's a photo of a coworker named George Carpenter on my screen. Please note, Sam has just watched Curious George on TV earlier this morning...]
Sam: [pointing at the photo] "Who's that, Dad?"
Me: "His name is George."
Sam: "Oh... is he Curious?"
[five minutes later...this time I have a photo of a horse on my computer screen (long story short, I'm doing a website for a horse farm and got some photos from the client to post on the website).]
Sam: "That's a nice horse, dad. Is HIS name George?"
Fried
I grossly under-estimated the complexity and intensity of this week.
I could not anticipate the difficulty Elli would have in sleeping, and thusly the difficulty I would have in sleeping.
The faulty data combined with the unexpected sleep deprivation resulted in me vastly over-committing myself.
Many months ago, my boss informed my fellow co-chair and I that we'd been invited to present to a sub-committee of the hospital's Board of Directors. I marked the meeting on my planner: 7am on Friday, October 6.
Every year Scott's employer holds their annual shareholder meeting on the second Tuesday of October. For the week (and sometimes the weekend) before that meeting, he is pretty much on call 24/7 as all the executives prepare their presentations and the marketing people get print and poster materials ready.
Neither of us realized that these two events would dovetail until, oh, Monday of this week.
I had planned on Scott being home Friday morning to do breakfast with the kids and get Elli on the school bus. I also planned on him being available on Thursday afternoon, as usual, to watch the kids while I went in for my usual work shift.
Every day this week, the plan for Thursday and Friday changed. I have been scrambling to accommodate these rapid changes all week. I switched my hours on Thursday, going in during the morning instead of in the afternoon. I tried to find backup childcare for the kids if Scott couldn't be home at all. I did find someone to watch the kids Friday morning, but this morning, half an hour before she was to arrive, I called to change the time she came and to ask her to take Sam to preschool for me.
Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights Elli woke up between 2 and 3am and never went back to sleep. Thus, I didn't get much sleep, even though I tried. Yes, this morning I presented to the CEO, Chairman of the Board, and top executives and administrators of our hospital on approximately 2 hours of sleep.
Then there's the little project I volunteered for a few weeks ago. And the other project I insisted on doing this Sunday afternoon, despite everyone else's protests that I had too much on my plate already. I should have listened, as usual.
Our church is hosting a quarterly ladies' brunch this Saturday. I am in charge of decorations. I had planned to decorate the tables Thursday evening after work. When Scott had to work late, I decided to just take the kids. But then the second project I took on, plus the crazy work schedule, plus the kids overall crankiness and Elli's inability to tolerate anything out of the norm in the evening, all convinced me to bail. So the other women on the planning committee did my work for me.
That other project? A simple little booklet of tips, holiday traditions, recipes. I pictured something about 5 pages long.
The booklet is 25 pages long. I worked on it into the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and Thursday (yes, Thursday -- I went to bed at 12:30am and Elli woke me at 2:45am) and every spare moment of every day this week.
When I was in college, I could have totally pulled this off by myself. The relentless, unforgiving nature of motherhood has significantly changed that. I am forever in Scott's debt for bailing me out as much as he was able this week, despite his crazy work week. And the women from church who have helped me manage the stuff I volunteered for -- you guys are awesome!
I'm going to bed now. Hopefully a 2-hour nap will fuel me up enough to finish the decorations and booklets, bake a coffee cake for tomorrow, and get the kids dinner and to bed since Scott will probably be working late again tonight.
zzzzzzzz....
I could not anticipate the difficulty Elli would have in sleeping, and thusly the difficulty I would have in sleeping.
The faulty data combined with the unexpected sleep deprivation resulted in me vastly over-committing myself.
Many months ago, my boss informed my fellow co-chair and I that we'd been invited to present to a sub-committee of the hospital's Board of Directors. I marked the meeting on my planner: 7am on Friday, October 6.
Every year Scott's employer holds their annual shareholder meeting on the second Tuesday of October. For the week (and sometimes the weekend) before that meeting, he is pretty much on call 24/7 as all the executives prepare their presentations and the marketing people get print and poster materials ready.
Neither of us realized that these two events would dovetail until, oh, Monday of this week.
I had planned on Scott being home Friday morning to do breakfast with the kids and get Elli on the school bus. I also planned on him being available on Thursday afternoon, as usual, to watch the kids while I went in for my usual work shift.
Every day this week, the plan for Thursday and Friday changed. I have been scrambling to accommodate these rapid changes all week. I switched my hours on Thursday, going in during the morning instead of in the afternoon. I tried to find backup childcare for the kids if Scott couldn't be home at all. I did find someone to watch the kids Friday morning, but this morning, half an hour before she was to arrive, I called to change the time she came and to ask her to take Sam to preschool for me.
Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights Elli woke up between 2 and 3am and never went back to sleep. Thus, I didn't get much sleep, even though I tried. Yes, this morning I presented to the CEO, Chairman of the Board, and top executives and administrators of our hospital on approximately 2 hours of sleep.
Then there's the little project I volunteered for a few weeks ago. And the other project I insisted on doing this Sunday afternoon, despite everyone else's protests that I had too much on my plate already. I should have listened, as usual.
Our church is hosting a quarterly ladies' brunch this Saturday. I am in charge of decorations. I had planned to decorate the tables Thursday evening after work. When Scott had to work late, I decided to just take the kids. But then the second project I took on, plus the crazy work schedule, plus the kids overall crankiness and Elli's inability to tolerate anything out of the norm in the evening, all convinced me to bail. So the other women on the planning committee did my work for me.
That other project? A simple little booklet of tips, holiday traditions, recipes. I pictured something about 5 pages long.
The booklet is 25 pages long. I worked on it into the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and Thursday (yes, Thursday -- I went to bed at 12:30am and Elli woke me at 2:45am) and every spare moment of every day this week.
When I was in college, I could have totally pulled this off by myself. The relentless, unforgiving nature of motherhood has significantly changed that. I am forever in Scott's debt for bailing me out as much as he was able this week, despite his crazy work week. And the women from church who have helped me manage the stuff I volunteered for -- you guys are awesome!
I'm going to bed now. Hopefully a 2-hour nap will fuel me up enough to finish the decorations and booklets, bake a coffee cake for tomorrow, and get the kids dinner and to bed since Scott will probably be working late again tonight.
zzzzzzzz....
Oct 1, 2006
Happy Birthdays
Party Number One.
Sam got to be the birthday boy at preschool on his actual birthday. Since they outlawed cupcakes at the school (must be too messy), we brought cookies with M&Ms. 
Party Number Two.
We invited a few friends over this last Saturday afternoon (I knew I needed two weeks to get unpacked before having a big party in the new house). Since Sam wanted a "Cars" (Disney movie -- highly recommend it) party, we got some little wooden cars, trucks, and motorcycles for the kids to paint. We had beautiful weather so I was able to do all of this outside for easy cleanup.
I was amazed at how many kids ate only the frosting off their cupcakes. I found them at Kroger -- they had rings in the center with either Lightning McQueen or Mater on them!
Party Number Three.
We had all the relatives and close friends come over Saturday evening for dinner. Mamaw made Sam's birthday cake, and as usual, it was a roaring success. Mater has this "rip key" that makes him go.
Even though the quilt isn't done, I still showed it to Sam at the party. He wasn't that thrilled with it at the moment (too many other exciting things to play with), but when we put him to bed, he had fun looking at all the blocks.
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