Sometimes what is said is not what is really meant. My 5th grader (Kalynne) had a play. The entire 5th grade put on various Aesop's Fables. I planned to make the 9 a.m. show, but had the 1 p.m. one as a back up. It was a good thing since I missed the 9 a.m. one. I showed up a few minutes late but just in time to see Kalynne's parts. Kalynne told me that I didn't have to come if I was too busy. I am glad I did because after she left the stage I saw her scanning the crowd from the wings. I was at the back so she couldn't see me. I saw her shoulders droop a little.
About halfway through the plays when another 5th grade class was performing their chosen fables, Eric started fussing so I stood up with him. Kalynne heard him and turned to scan the crowd on the other side of the theater. She found me, and her smile said it all. It said, "I know I told you you didn't have to come, but I am really glad you since that is what I wanted. Thanks, Mom."
My kids like to perform. They love the theatrics and drama. They must since they practice it all the time at home. Joanna had her chance to shine too. On her last day of pre-school a Mother's Tea was put on by the class. The children greet their mother's at the door and show them to their seats. They then take their drink order and serve their mothers. It is quite cute. There are gifts the children made. They love to help open them. Next comes the performance of songs and rhymes. Joanna kept making sure I was watching. When I would wink at her, she would wink back. The Mother's Tea is then finished with the handing out of certificates for those moving up to kindergarten.
I was watching one little boy sitting forlornly waiting for his mother. She was running late, and the look of relief on his face when she arrived was similar to the one I saw on Kalynne's at her play. The little boy, Hunter, is also Joanna's shadow and playmate. The teacher said he was rather wild when the year began, but Joanna was a big help in mellowing him out. I think that is the polite way of saying she put him in his place.
Children are so trusting which makes their naivety really fun at times. Oren told me that he asked his dad why it is called the "Birds & Bees". Supposedly his dad told him it is because birds and bees don't get along just like males and females. Oren had to check that bit of information with me. Usually I am the story-teller and get away with it since I have the better poker face. After 14+ years of marriage though my hubby is getting better. It is just that darn dimple that gives him away if he is up to some mischief. I am usually the practical joker too. I figure a bit of fun makes my day go by faster. Besides I consider it payback for giving birth, nursing, changing diapers and potty-training the li'l hoppers. And that is just by age three and not taking in the teenage hormone years.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Mother's Day Memories
I wasn't home for Mother's Day. Most of the day was spent somewhere dealing with airplanes. Hubby and I flew out west to attend a wedding of our niece. We took Eric with us and found a good soul to care for the other six children. She hadn't done it before so that is why she agreed, I think.
After the hour delay in departure, hour and half wait for our luggage and three hour drive from Chicago's O'Hare to home, it was about midnight. It had been a long day. It wasn't so bad though that I didn't smile when I saw the goodies laid out on the kitchen counter. There were homemade cookies, homemade poems & cards, a flower and handmade gifts. My 4 yo even made me something with every return address label we owned. The house was clean. As long as I stayed out of the laundry room which one couldn't really walk through anyway, I was happy. Hubby had gotten me a card for Mother's Day. It told me to forget about the cooking, cleaning and laundry because ... it would be there tomorrow. LOL! So true!
I wanted Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, but the time we got out of the airport the ones we found were closed. Hubby issued a raincheck to me. We had some KFC last night instead so I didn't have to worry about dinner. I even got another gift last night since my 6 yo hid my gift but forgot where. It just made the day's celebration longer.
I did miss my breakfast in bed I usually get though. I didn't miss the soggy cereal portion. When my kiddos bring me breakfast in bed, they fix the cereal first and then get the rest of the items. That means the cereal is a bit soggy. Unfortunately, my gag reflex goes into overdrive on soggy cereal. For my kids, I eat it. That is what it is all about, I guess. There are more important things being being said just not in words per se.
My family loves me even if some one did snitch one of my cookies. It was louder than the jet engine I sat next to on the flight home when everyone woke Monday morning and saw me (& hubby) home. In our house surround sound is when everyone at the table is talking at once. It is good to be home and feel loved.
After the hour delay in departure, hour and half wait for our luggage and three hour drive from Chicago's O'Hare to home, it was about midnight. It had been a long day. It wasn't so bad though that I didn't smile when I saw the goodies laid out on the kitchen counter. There were homemade cookies, homemade poems & cards, a flower and handmade gifts. My 4 yo even made me something with every return address label we owned. The house was clean. As long as I stayed out of the laundry room which one couldn't really walk through anyway, I was happy. Hubby had gotten me a card for Mother's Day. It told me to forget about the cooking, cleaning and laundry because ... it would be there tomorrow. LOL! So true!
I wanted Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, but the time we got out of the airport the ones we found were closed. Hubby issued a raincheck to me. We had some KFC last night instead so I didn't have to worry about dinner. I even got another gift last night since my 6 yo hid my gift but forgot where. It just made the day's celebration longer.
I did miss my breakfast in bed I usually get though. I didn't miss the soggy cereal portion. When my kiddos bring me breakfast in bed, they fix the cereal first and then get the rest of the items. That means the cereal is a bit soggy. Unfortunately, my gag reflex goes into overdrive on soggy cereal. For my kids, I eat it. That is what it is all about, I guess. There are more important things being being said just not in words per se.
My family loves me even if some one did snitch one of my cookies. It was louder than the jet engine I sat next to on the flight home when everyone woke Monday morning and saw me (& hubby) home. In our house surround sound is when everyone at the table is talking at once. It is good to be home and feel loved.
If I only had a brain ...
My brain is small. I guess it is so small that one of my kiddos didn't see it and sat on it. You see, my brain is my pocket pc. I love that thing. It just hasn't been working right since someone sat on it and cracked the screen. I guess I wouldn't work right if something several times larger than me sat on me either.
I keep my grocery lists on my pocket pc as well as contacts' information, appointments, tasks and general information that I need to survive or at least remember. The one time I lost my pocket pc for a couple of days (my kids also like to play the games on it) I forgot more than one appointment. I forgot more of them when my dear hubby wiped it out too.
Right now my brain isn't working right (either one of them), and I can't access the several appointments that I have tomorrow. I would really hate to go to the chiropractor when I should have been at the dentist. I think the dentist is at 11 tomorrow though.
I guess I better dig out the ol' paper and pen planner I have still. Too bad I can't play solitaire on it though.
I keep my grocery lists on my pocket pc as well as contacts' information, appointments, tasks and general information that I need to survive or at least remember. The one time I lost my pocket pc for a couple of days (my kids also like to play the games on it) I forgot more than one appointment. I forgot more of them when my dear hubby wiped it out too.
Right now my brain isn't working right (either one of them), and I can't access the several appointments that I have tomorrow. I would really hate to go to the chiropractor when I should have been at the dentist. I think the dentist is at 11 tomorrow though.
I guess I better dig out the ol' paper and pen planner I have still. Too bad I can't play solitaire on it though.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Eric Update
Eric was wonderful. For a guy who hadn't eaten since 10 the night before, he was a real champ and not fussy at all. He smiled and flirted with the nurses who loved it. The doctor (an ENT) said that the clipping released quite a bit. The skin was to his gums as well as to the tip of his tongue. Eric is still getting used to it. I can tell the local anesthesia is wearing off because I was watch Eric getting used the new new freedom his tongue has.
I knew when they were bringing him to me as he was fussy. I heard him in the hall and met him at the door to our room. He practically leapt into my arms and promptly tried to nurse. Although I wasn't fast enough for his liking, he got his meal. He didn't have to try as hard to nurse or nurse as long. Poor kid wasn't used to it and snorted milk out his nose. That didn't make him happy.
Once his belly was full, he was happy and back to normal. That means grabbing everything trying to shove it in his mouth. Besides being a bit sleepy (napping now), he is just fine. I think I might just join him for a nap too. Sleeping next to him will help alleviate some mommy nerves that he is bouncing back just fine. It will also help that 3 a.m. wake-up this morning.
I knew when they were bringing him to me as he was fussy. I heard him in the hall and met him at the door to our room. He practically leapt into my arms and promptly tried to nurse. Although I wasn't fast enough for his liking, he got his meal. He didn't have to try as hard to nurse or nurse as long. Poor kid wasn't used to it and snorted milk out his nose. That didn't make him happy.
Once his belly was full, he was happy and back to normal. That means grabbing everything trying to shove it in his mouth. Besides being a bit sleepy (napping now), he is just fine. I think I might just join him for a nap too. Sleeping next to him will help alleviate some mommy nerves that he is bouncing back just fine. It will also help that 3 a.m. wake-up this morning.
Mommy Nerves (aka waiting for Eric's out-patient surgery)
I am up way too early. I have been tossing and turning for a couple of hours so decided to get up. It is a quarter to 5 a.m. now. My alarm isn't set to go off for almost an hour. I finally just got up so at least hubby can sleep. I figured to catch up on some housework. Then I decided to catch up on the blog. Maybe typing out things will help alleviate my nerves.
Eric goes in for out-patient surgery at 7 a.m. He is having a lingual frenalotomy. Besides being unable to pronounce the medical term this early in the morning, it sounds more serious. Eric is having the skin that attaches his tongue to the floor of his mouth cut. Ya know that piece of skin? Eric's is attached to the end of his tongue as well.
At first it wasn't a problem. Most of my other kids were born with it as well. Cara had it pretty bad too. I am not one to rush into medical intervention for (1) cost and (2) putting my children through perhaps unnecessary things. What mom likes to do that anyway? Like I said Cara has it, but she never had problems nursing. It was a dream with no pain, cracking, infections for a full year. Yet if you ask her to stick out her tongue, it will curl back into her mouth before getting much past her lips. It is kind of funny. She isn't talented like a friend's child who can pick her nose with her tongue. Ick! Maybe that is a good thing (the attached tongue not picking your nose with your tongue).
Anyway, I noticed Eric's attached-tongue-thingy problem pretty quickly. I decided to wait and see with him. Nursing was horrible for the first 6 weeks. I stuck it out because I figured I was out-of practice. It got better so I figured it wasn't bad enough to warrant clipping. Then he was nearing the 6 month mark. It started going downhill for me. Nursing hurt. I take 3 Ibuprofen so I can deal with the pain which is what I take following childbirth. I deal with pain fairly well, but was getting to the end of my endurance. I couldn't wean Eric either.
On one particularly bad day, I tried to offer Eric some formula. He refused (couldn't properly suck on the bottle's nipple or attach which was our problem too) the bottle so I nursed him. I just grimaced and bore it. It was a good thing though. As I was watching him eat, I noticed his face getting red, a bit swollen and developing whelps. I couldn't decide if it was the formula or baby food seeing he had gotten both all around his mouth. I put a drop of formula on a clear part of facial skin. It had the same reaction. It seems Eric is allergic to formula. I guess it was a good thing he refused to take the bottle.
I really don't want to pay more money for the expensive hypo-allergenic formula. I also figured since I produce a cost-free meal for my baby that it was the better route. Eric loves nursing. It is just me that is having issues. Since he was so tongue-tied I figured this was the next step. I just decided it too "late". Up until 2 months, the doctor can clip the tongue in the office. After that the babies get too strong. Eric is over 7 months now. So that is why he has out-patient surgery today.
I am told he will receive a bit of gas to make him sleep so the procedure can be done. The medical staff says it is easy and quick. I see nothing easy about it. Not only can I not nurse or even feed my baby for 6 hours before the procedure (not to either of our likings), but I have to sit in the room and fret what ifs. What if there is a reaction to the gas? What if things don't go as planned? What if ...? Then there is the after part. What if it really doesn't help? What if the problem was me and not Eric and putting him through was ...? I better stop now.
I guess that is what happens with being a mommy. I am not even a worrier by nature even, but I can't help myself. This is my baby. It is just what I do.
Eric goes in for out-patient surgery at 7 a.m. He is having a lingual frenalotomy. Besides being unable to pronounce the medical term this early in the morning, it sounds more serious. Eric is having the skin that attaches his tongue to the floor of his mouth cut. Ya know that piece of skin? Eric's is attached to the end of his tongue as well.
At first it wasn't a problem. Most of my other kids were born with it as well. Cara had it pretty bad too. I am not one to rush into medical intervention for (1) cost and (2) putting my children through perhaps unnecessary things. What mom likes to do that anyway? Like I said Cara has it, but she never had problems nursing. It was a dream with no pain, cracking, infections for a full year. Yet if you ask her to stick out her tongue, it will curl back into her mouth before getting much past her lips. It is kind of funny. She isn't talented like a friend's child who can pick her nose with her tongue. Ick! Maybe that is a good thing (the attached tongue not picking your nose with your tongue).
Anyway, I noticed Eric's attached-tongue-thingy problem pretty quickly. I decided to wait and see with him. Nursing was horrible for the first 6 weeks. I stuck it out because I figured I was out-of practice. It got better so I figured it wasn't bad enough to warrant clipping. Then he was nearing the 6 month mark. It started going downhill for me. Nursing hurt. I take 3 Ibuprofen so I can deal with the pain which is what I take following childbirth. I deal with pain fairly well, but was getting to the end of my endurance. I couldn't wean Eric either.
On one particularly bad day, I tried to offer Eric some formula. He refused (couldn't properly suck on the bottle's nipple or attach which was our problem too) the bottle so I nursed him. I just grimaced and bore it. It was a good thing though. As I was watching him eat, I noticed his face getting red, a bit swollen and developing whelps. I couldn't decide if it was the formula or baby food seeing he had gotten both all around his mouth. I put a drop of formula on a clear part of facial skin. It had the same reaction. It seems Eric is allergic to formula. I guess it was a good thing he refused to take the bottle.
I really don't want to pay more money for the expensive hypo-allergenic formula. I also figured since I produce a cost-free meal for my baby that it was the better route. Eric loves nursing. It is just me that is having issues. Since he was so tongue-tied I figured this was the next step. I just decided it too "late". Up until 2 months, the doctor can clip the tongue in the office. After that the babies get too strong. Eric is over 7 months now. So that is why he has out-patient surgery today.
I am told he will receive a bit of gas to make him sleep so the procedure can be done. The medical staff says it is easy and quick. I see nothing easy about it. Not only can I not nurse or even feed my baby for 6 hours before the procedure (not to either of our likings), but I have to sit in the room and fret what ifs. What if there is a reaction to the gas? What if things don't go as planned? What if ...? Then there is the after part. What if it really doesn't help? What if the problem was me and not Eric and putting him through was ...? I better stop now.
I guess that is what happens with being a mommy. I am not even a worrier by nature even, but I can't help myself. This is my baby. It is just what I do.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Babies and Bunnies
We raise rabbits and kids. Both species are rather cute. We have a litter of four that are about 4 weeks old (one pictured below). Another doe just had SEVEN babies a week ago. I will take mine one at a time, thank you very much. Eric loves all things furry. The poor creatures don't return the sentiment especially when Eric is poking an eye or pulling an ear. Please note that I do chores on occassion. I am drying my clean laundry on the line which means I do manage to keep on laundry most days. It is the folding that I hate. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Aren't babies and bunnies just so cute?
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