Well, after that pathetic little post, Lily and I went to see a pediatric orthopedic doctor. He was very kind and explained a lot about the growth plate that Lily broke, and how it heals, and basically just reassured me and gave me lots of information. He gave her a cast for 4 weeks, which she happily and proudly wears now. It is not that heavy, and she can easily crawl around. The doctor gave her permission to walk on it (in special shoe for her cast) as soon as she didn't have pain, and after days of desperately wanting to walk but it still hurting too much, on Monday she started walking quite well. So all is well on the healing front. Thank heavens for 2nd opinions!
Now! On to Christmas!
Lily was so gung ho about Christmas this season. As soon as we put out our decorations, little notes started popping up around the house. By the cookie plate, there was a note that read, "Dear Santa, I hope are cooke's are as sweet as you. from: Dad, Mom, Andrew, Lily, Michal. Ather: Lily" On the fireplace there is a sign taped up that reads: "Santa is the best!" in alternating green and red letters. Under the tree is a tiny note that read: "I love Santa."
Santa didn't disappoint.
At 4:11am, Andrew burst into our room and announced that Santa had arrived. I groaned and told him that was great, but there was no way we were getting up. GO BACK TO BED. He sheepishly said, "Oh. Sorry. I thought the clock said 4:50". As if that would have made it any better!
At 4:45 am, I heard the other two get up (Michael and Lily were sharing a room). Lily is trying desperately to strap on her special shoe so that she can walk, and Michael is just leaving her behind. She thumps down on her butt instead, and after checking out the presents, they come clambering into our room. I tell them it is TOO GODDAMN EARLY (minus the curse word, of course), and that they can come in and cuddle with us at 5:30.
At 5:30:01, all three kids come in and "cuddle". I got kneed in the breasts several times, Jeff kicked in the kidneys at least twice, and we talked about which child(ren) we should sell into slavery and use the money to buy a yacht. Pleasant Christmas morning conversation.
At 6:00:02, they all clamored into Lily's room, where Memere and Pepere were "sleeping". There's no way they were actually still sleeping with as quiet as these children were.
We came downstairs and tortured the children by wandering around getting coffee and garbage bags and extra chairs while they salivated over their presents. They were especially curious about the large Santa gift that was labeled for all three together. They all tore into it together and found another wrapped gift inside. And then another inside that. And another inside that. They were all laughing, and Lily was shrieking, "This is the craziest Christmas EVER!". Finally, they got to the prize in the middle...a 2DS for the 3 kids to share.
As usual, the kids were super happy and excited about every gift...even clothes and books. One of the reasons they have so much crap is because they are so much fun to buy for! At one point, Lily opened a 3DS game (to go with the new DS), and she yelled, "OH MY GOSH! IT'S...A...IT'S...I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK IT IS, BUT I LOVE IT!!!!" Which pretty much sums up the whole mood.
As usual, the kids were super excited to give each other gifts and give Jeff and I our gifts. They are just so magical to spend the holidays with. I feel so blessed to get to enjoy them each.
And now we will pack up and head to Ohio to share some of this Christmas magic with others!
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
A whole new meaning for the phrase "Christmas Break"
So we've added something to our Christmas to do list over here.
Original list:
Buy presents
Wrap presents
Plan meals
Shop for food to prepare for Christmas guests
Plan which cookies to make
Get supplies for cookies
Bake cookies
Send Christmas cards
Clutter up the house with crappy Christmas decorations
Answer lots of questions about Jesus' birth
Answer lots of questions about Santa
Get teachers' gifts
As of last Sunday, I had of course crossed off a few of these items. But by Monday morning, I had added a few things...
New, Revised List:
Buy presents
Wrap presents
Plan meals
Shop for food to prepare for Christmas guests
Plan which cookies to make
Get supplies for cookies
Bake cookies
Send Christmas cards
Clutter up the house with crappy Christmas decorations
Answer lots of questions about Jesus' birth
Answer lots of questions about Santa
Call school to let them know that Lily will be missing the entire last week before Christmas break because she has had her OWN Christmas break and cannot put any weight on her leg and cannot be trusted to maneuver crutches and there doesn't seem to be any need to get a wheelchair for just a few days of school
Call several orthopedic surgeon's offices and make appointments as soon as possible, which is difficult since many many people go on vacations this time of year and there aren't many openings
Go to 2 different doctors since the first doctor gives Lily a giant boot which is heavy and hurts her foot more than the original injury does
Take van to the shop to investigate crunching sound in the brakes
Carry Lily around everywhere.
Try to figure out how to stop the boys from wrestling so that they don't add to the break issues of this wonderful Christmas break.
Poor Lily. She was at a birthday party Sunday night at a Bounce party place. Jeff just dropped her off so he could do some last minute errands/Christmas shopping. About 20 minutes after he dropped her off, he was called. 30 minutes after that, he was sitting in an ER with the party girl's uncle (sent along to help) and answering questions he didn't know the answer to (who is her primary doctor? how much does she weigh? why is she wearing a shirt 2 sizes too small? why is the Indian man that you don't even know the name of answering questions about your daughter's initial injury? do we need to call social services?) I was stuck at home with 2 sleeping boys until 11:00pm, desperately wanting to be there, but not willing to call a neighbor to come sit with them, because I could hear Lily laughing and talking in the background, so I knew I wasn't really needed.
The ER put a really nice half cast on the back of her foot and ankle and wrapped in from knee to toe in ACE bandage. We treated it like a cast (no water!) and Lily felt great. All day Monday, she just crawled from place to place and was really careful to not put weight on it. I managed to make an appointment at a pediatric place 45 minutes away for Thursday morning. The mother of the birthday girl just happens to be a doctor and called me Monday afternoon and had gotten me another appointment for Tuesday. Since I was starting to be convinced this wasn't actually broken, I took the appointment (but kept the Thursday one just in case)
The doctor's appointment Tuesday was not all I had hoped for. It was not a pediatric office, and that was obvious. After answering questions on the new patient sheet about whether Lily was pregnant or smoked or had GIRT (and no space for a guardian signature...a good sign children are not usually signed in). The doctor was running 90 minutes late, but when we got in an exam room, he breezed in, unwrapped Lily's foot, announced that it was indeed broken by pressing on the ankle a bit, pronounced that she should have a boot because it will be easier for me to bathe her, then called for nurse to get a boot and left. I didn't see him again, couldn't ask any questions, and...well...that is not how you treat a nervous parent of a 7 year old. The nurse brought in this giant boot and strapped Lily in really tight.
Lily almost immediately began complaining of pain. She was up several times during the night, and I loosened it more and more. The next morning, she was whimpering a lot. This is the girl who was acting FINE with it. I took it off to let her take a bath, and a whole new bruise/sore spot has shown up on the top of her arch. I think it is from the boot. It is too heavy and uncomfortable for her to crawl with. She was in pain almost all of yesterday.
I am sick to my stomach. If I had just waited until Thursday. If I had just INSISTED on a cast. If I had blocked the door and made him answer my questions. If I had just thought of those questions fast enough. If. If. If.
I am grumpy from not sleeping. Even though she only wakes up a few times a night, I am listening for her all night. I hear every sigh and snore and rustle. I am moved almost to tears when people express concern for her and am irrationally enraged when people ignore the issue. My baby. My heart aches when she smiles and says, "I'm fine!" just before she winces and moans. I want to make it all better.
It could be much much worse. She is going to be just fine...she says she is just fine now. But the Mama Bear in me can't stand it.
As far as my list goes? I am too tired and distraught to plan the meals and shop...but I'll go anyway and we'll just have tacos instead of some nicer, fancier dish. I'm waiting for my mom to come and bake cookies with us...I hate baking, but it will be fun with her. And the car ended being totally rusted out underneath (it is only 6 years old???), so that's $800 more dollars to bleed out on top of all these co-pays... Oh! And our computer died, so Jeff had just bought a new computer last week. Ha ha! Funny how all of this rains down at once! And in December! Traditionally the month we splurge and go crazy anyway! Oh!!! And since we had money in our flexible spending account for health care that was going to be taken away if we didn't use it, Jeff got some fancy dan new prescription sunglasses to use up the money. He waited until December 13th, just in case something happened. And Lily did this on December 15th. Ha! Joke's on us!
Anyway, it is almost Christmas break. We have new BRAKES and one little BREAK in the ankle and we are hoping that is quite enough breaking for this family :) We will have a glorious Christmas despite it all...I know this from all the little notes that have been pasted everywhere. I'll write a happier post about those next time. This time was just for whining.
Original list:
Buy presents
Wrap presents
Plan meals
Shop for food to prepare for Christmas guests
Plan which cookies to make
Get supplies for cookies
Bake cookies
Send Christmas cards
Clutter up the house with crappy Christmas decorations
Answer lots of questions about Jesus' birth
Answer lots of questions about Santa
Get teachers' gifts
As of last Sunday, I had of course crossed off a few of these items. But by Monday morning, I had added a few things...
New, Revised List:
Wrap presents
Plan meals
Shop for food to prepare for Christmas guests
Bake cookies
Answer lots of questions about Santa
Call school to let them know that Lily will be missing the entire last week before Christmas break because she has had her OWN Christmas break and cannot put any weight on her leg and cannot be trusted to maneuver crutches and there doesn't seem to be any need to get a wheelchair for just a few days of school
Call several orthopedic surgeon's offices and make appointments as soon as possible, which is difficult since many many people go on vacations this time of year and there aren't many openings
Go to 2 different doctors since the first doctor gives Lily a giant boot which is heavy and hurts her foot more than the original injury does
Take van to the shop to investigate crunching sound in the brakes
Carry Lily around everywhere.
Try to figure out how to stop the boys from wrestling so that they don't add to the break issues of this wonderful Christmas break.
Poor Lily. She was at a birthday party Sunday night at a Bounce party place. Jeff just dropped her off so he could do some last minute errands/Christmas shopping. About 20 minutes after he dropped her off, he was called. 30 minutes after that, he was sitting in an ER with the party girl's uncle (sent along to help) and answering questions he didn't know the answer to (who is her primary doctor? how much does she weigh? why is she wearing a shirt 2 sizes too small? why is the Indian man that you don't even know the name of answering questions about your daughter's initial injury? do we need to call social services?) I was stuck at home with 2 sleeping boys until 11:00pm, desperately wanting to be there, but not willing to call a neighbor to come sit with them, because I could hear Lily laughing and talking in the background, so I knew I wasn't really needed.
The ER put a really nice half cast on the back of her foot and ankle and wrapped in from knee to toe in ACE bandage. We treated it like a cast (no water!) and Lily felt great. All day Monday, she just crawled from place to place and was really careful to not put weight on it. I managed to make an appointment at a pediatric place 45 minutes away for Thursday morning. The mother of the birthday girl just happens to be a doctor and called me Monday afternoon and had gotten me another appointment for Tuesday. Since I was starting to be convinced this wasn't actually broken, I took the appointment (but kept the Thursday one just in case)
The doctor's appointment Tuesday was not all I had hoped for. It was not a pediatric office, and that was obvious. After answering questions on the new patient sheet about whether Lily was pregnant or smoked or had GIRT (and no space for a guardian signature...a good sign children are not usually signed in). The doctor was running 90 minutes late, but when we got in an exam room, he breezed in, unwrapped Lily's foot, announced that it was indeed broken by pressing on the ankle a bit, pronounced that she should have a boot because it will be easier for me to bathe her, then called for nurse to get a boot and left. I didn't see him again, couldn't ask any questions, and...well...that is not how you treat a nervous parent of a 7 year old. The nurse brought in this giant boot and strapped Lily in really tight.
Lily almost immediately began complaining of pain. She was up several times during the night, and I loosened it more and more. The next morning, she was whimpering a lot. This is the girl who was acting FINE with it. I took it off to let her take a bath, and a whole new bruise/sore spot has shown up on the top of her arch. I think it is from the boot. It is too heavy and uncomfortable for her to crawl with. She was in pain almost all of yesterday.
I am sick to my stomach. If I had just waited until Thursday. If I had just INSISTED on a cast. If I had blocked the door and made him answer my questions. If I had just thought of those questions fast enough. If. If. If.
I am grumpy from not sleeping. Even though she only wakes up a few times a night, I am listening for her all night. I hear every sigh and snore and rustle. I am moved almost to tears when people express concern for her and am irrationally enraged when people ignore the issue. My baby. My heart aches when she smiles and says, "I'm fine!" just before she winces and moans. I want to make it all better.
It could be much much worse. She is going to be just fine...she says she is just fine now. But the Mama Bear in me can't stand it.
As far as my list goes? I am too tired and distraught to plan the meals and shop...but I'll go anyway and we'll just have tacos instead of some nicer, fancier dish. I'm waiting for my mom to come and bake cookies with us...I hate baking, but it will be fun with her. And the car ended being totally rusted out underneath (it is only 6 years old???), so that's $800 more dollars to bleed out on top of all these co-pays... Oh! And our computer died, so Jeff had just bought a new computer last week. Ha ha! Funny how all of this rains down at once! And in December! Traditionally the month we splurge and go crazy anyway! Oh!!! And since we had money in our flexible spending account for health care that was going to be taken away if we didn't use it, Jeff got some fancy dan new prescription sunglasses to use up the money. He waited until December 13th, just in case something happened. And Lily did this on December 15th. Ha! Joke's on us!
Anyway, it is almost Christmas break. We have new BRAKES and one little BREAK in the ankle and we are hoping that is quite enough breaking for this family :) We will have a glorious Christmas despite it all...I know this from all the little notes that have been pasted everywhere. I'll write a happier post about those next time. This time was just for whining.
Sunday, December 08, 2013
The most miserable parade ever
Our town had a holiday parade. Yup. A parade in December. And Lily's Daisy troop was all signed up to ride in the back of a truck through the streets of town.
I bundled her up. Long underwear. Winter coat. Winter boots. Hat. Hood. Fleece blanket to drape around herself.
I dropped her off at the starting area at 12:45 and then had to run to get Michael from a birthday party. It was cold, but there were just some light flurries that made it seem almost a festive day to have a winter parade.
Fast forward 2 hours. The parade is FINALLY passing through town...after the salt trucks have passed through. The snow is falling fast and heavy and WET. The boys have exhausted themselves playing in the snow on the side of the street. The marching band passes by...looking completely and utterly miserable.
And then come the trucks with all the Daisy's and Brownies.
Girls are huddled together like groups of refugees in the backs of these flatbed trucks. They are sitting in about an inch of snow that must have filled the trucks before they were allowed in. Some are sobbing quietly, most are just looking very very pitiful.
Lily spotted me and started crying. I got her troop leader's attention and got permission to just pull her out of the back of the truck. I wasn't the only one. Who could stand to watch their 7 year old cry her way through a stupid December parade? I carry Lily away and she is crying so hard, "My hands hurt. I am so cold. My hands hurt."
We get her in the car and she continues to cry. On the short drive home, we lose control of the car and slide off the road. We were going less than 5 miles per hour, so no damage to the car. Jeff patiently slides and skids the rest of the way home.
Lily announces that she is never going to do a parade again.
Mission accomplished?
That is the hardest earned parade badge in the history of the Girl Scouts!
I bundled her up. Long underwear. Winter coat. Winter boots. Hat. Hood. Fleece blanket to drape around herself.
I dropped her off at the starting area at 12:45 and then had to run to get Michael from a birthday party. It was cold, but there were just some light flurries that made it seem almost a festive day to have a winter parade.
Fast forward 2 hours. The parade is FINALLY passing through town...after the salt trucks have passed through. The snow is falling fast and heavy and WET. The boys have exhausted themselves playing in the snow on the side of the street. The marching band passes by...looking completely and utterly miserable.
And then come the trucks with all the Daisy's and Brownies.
Girls are huddled together like groups of refugees in the backs of these flatbed trucks. They are sitting in about an inch of snow that must have filled the trucks before they were allowed in. Some are sobbing quietly, most are just looking very very pitiful.
Lily spotted me and started crying. I got her troop leader's attention and got permission to just pull her out of the back of the truck. I wasn't the only one. Who could stand to watch their 7 year old cry her way through a stupid December parade? I carry Lily away and she is crying so hard, "My hands hurt. I am so cold. My hands hurt."
We get her in the car and she continues to cry. On the short drive home, we lose control of the car and slide off the road. We were going less than 5 miles per hour, so no damage to the car. Jeff patiently slides and skids the rest of the way home.
Lily announces that she is never going to do a parade again.
Mission accomplished?
That is the hardest earned parade badge in the history of the Girl Scouts!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Andrew. Just Andrew. Occasionally Mik...Andrew!
It's so hard to encapsulate Andrew in one blog post. Kids get so complex and fantastic as they age.
Andrew is 4 foot 11 1/2 inches tall. He is 76 pounds. He still wants to cuddle like a lap dog. I am not a hugger or a cuddler by nature...but it is really easy when kids are little and fit in your lap. I have to make a conscious thought to remember to cuddle with this large bony kid. But it is so worth the effort...he just craves touch and melts right into your arms. He adores back rubs or getting enveloped in a hug, he curls up close to read a book or watch tv. I enjoy it, because I know soon he will not want to hug his mom anymore. But then, I've been saying that for the last 5 years, and it still hasn't come true.
He turns 10 next week. TEN. I am so incredibly proud of the person he has become, and yet I am so emotional about him growing up. TEN. Why can't I keep him around forever? I so enjoy this kid.
Andrew has a sarcastic witty personality. He is always coming up with jokes on his own. He thinks of a pun or some word play and then tries to work it into a joke. Sometimes they don't work...but usually they do. He is fun to tease and will give it right back to you. He is almost never disrespectful though...he has an innate ability to not cross that line when joking around. He is clever and quick about his humor...and he cracks me up on a daily basis.
He can create a happy morning of play with his siblings or he can create chaos and fighting. How our days together go depends almost entirely on Andrew's mood. Luckily for us, he is usually an easy-going and kind big brother. When playing on his own, he is almost always making lists or brackets or writing plays about computer game characters. He really enjoys a good board or card game, but he still hates timed games. They make him really nervous for some reason. He is a good loser and just enjoys the playing of the game.
Andrew still loves sports. He watches football with his dad, but still mostly enjoys the wrap up shows. He knows crazy facts about players and stats. He never complains about going to practice for whatever sport he's involved in and he adores getting in his uniform and playing the games. He does NOT like to shower afterwards. A struggle for sure.
He is messy. He throws his socks around and I find them in corners all over the place. His room is frighteningly cramped and disorganized. He is in charge of putting his clothes away and will wait and wait and wait until I threaten to go on laundry strike to put it away. He balks at any chore and you would think I'd asked him to donate a kidney the way he protests.
Andrew is still a kind kind kind boy. It is the one thing that makes me the most proud of him. He has empathy for others around him and hurts to see the world hurt. He asks all sorts of insightful questions when we are alone together. He is curious how the world works and the past. He loves history, geography, writing, math...well...just about every subject in school. I can't think of one he doesn't enjoy.
He has lots of friends, but NEVER asks for anyone to come over. He had zero desire for a birthday party this year, although he enjoys going to other people's.
It's gotten to where Andrew teaches me things now. Or brings up questions I don't have the answer to. I always thought it would be a hard transition to not being the all knowing parent, but I like learning from him. He's learning all about Pennsylvania this year, and of course I know nothing about it. He gets such delight from teaching me, and he's a pretty good teacher. He's going to end up WAY smarter than me, so I guess it's good that my ego is not too bent out of shape by this one.
He is not materialistic. He does not ask for much and does not really question why we don't have things his friends have or go places his friends go. He seems very contented with his life.
In a nutshell, Andrew is just one cool kid. He makes me so very proud to be his mother and send him out into the world. I'd hang out with him any day of the week!
Andrew is 4 foot 11 1/2 inches tall. He is 76 pounds. He still wants to cuddle like a lap dog. I am not a hugger or a cuddler by nature...but it is really easy when kids are little and fit in your lap. I have to make a conscious thought to remember to cuddle with this large bony kid. But it is so worth the effort...he just craves touch and melts right into your arms. He adores back rubs or getting enveloped in a hug, he curls up close to read a book or watch tv. I enjoy it, because I know soon he will not want to hug his mom anymore. But then, I've been saying that for the last 5 years, and it still hasn't come true.
He turns 10 next week. TEN. I am so incredibly proud of the person he has become, and yet I am so emotional about him growing up. TEN. Why can't I keep him around forever? I so enjoy this kid.
Andrew has a sarcastic witty personality. He is always coming up with jokes on his own. He thinks of a pun or some word play and then tries to work it into a joke. Sometimes they don't work...but usually they do. He is fun to tease and will give it right back to you. He is almost never disrespectful though...he has an innate ability to not cross that line when joking around. He is clever and quick about his humor...and he cracks me up on a daily basis.
He can create a happy morning of play with his siblings or he can create chaos and fighting. How our days together go depends almost entirely on Andrew's mood. Luckily for us, he is usually an easy-going and kind big brother. When playing on his own, he is almost always making lists or brackets or writing plays about computer game characters. He really enjoys a good board or card game, but he still hates timed games. They make him really nervous for some reason. He is a good loser and just enjoys the playing of the game.
Andrew still loves sports. He watches football with his dad, but still mostly enjoys the wrap up shows. He knows crazy facts about players and stats. He never complains about going to practice for whatever sport he's involved in and he adores getting in his uniform and playing the games. He does NOT like to shower afterwards. A struggle for sure.
He is messy. He throws his socks around and I find them in corners all over the place. His room is frighteningly cramped and disorganized. He is in charge of putting his clothes away and will wait and wait and wait until I threaten to go on laundry strike to put it away. He balks at any chore and you would think I'd asked him to donate a kidney the way he protests.
Andrew is still a kind kind kind boy. It is the one thing that makes me the most proud of him. He has empathy for others around him and hurts to see the world hurt. He asks all sorts of insightful questions when we are alone together. He is curious how the world works and the past. He loves history, geography, writing, math...well...just about every subject in school. I can't think of one he doesn't enjoy.
He has lots of friends, but NEVER asks for anyone to come over. He had zero desire for a birthday party this year, although he enjoys going to other people's.
It's gotten to where Andrew teaches me things now. Or brings up questions I don't have the answer to. I always thought it would be a hard transition to not being the all knowing parent, but I like learning from him. He's learning all about Pennsylvania this year, and of course I know nothing about it. He gets such delight from teaching me, and he's a pretty good teacher. He's going to end up WAY smarter than me, so I guess it's good that my ego is not too bent out of shape by this one.
He is not materialistic. He does not ask for much and does not really question why we don't have things his friends have or go places his friends go. He seems very contented with his life.
In a nutshell, Andrew is just one cool kid. He makes me so very proud to be his mother and send him out into the world. I'd hang out with him any day of the week!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Michael, or Mike, or Mikey, or often Andr...Michael!
I literally cannot WAIT for Michael's parent teacher conference in a few weeks. This child confounds me. Not in a bad way. But in that I just have NO IDEA what he is up to. I'll ask him to add two things together and he'll tell me the answer is "one hundred million five billion". But then just yesterday he announced, "Mom? 25 plus 25 is 50 because 20 and 20 make 40 and 5 and 5 make 10, so 40 an 10 make 50." He will refuse to rhyme words...instead telling me zombie or fart rhyme with cat. But then he reads a BOB book for the first time, sounding out words and figuring it out like a champ. He just is not a show off like his big brother was and not sweet and compliant about answering questions like his sister. Confounds me.
He is a comedian. He loves loves loves to make people laugh and will do or say anything to get that from you. He often gets you to laugh without even meaning to. He has the most expressive eyebrows, and they raise and lower seemingly with their own will. It is especially endearing when he is being very sincere or very manipulative. He also appreciates humor greatly...especially potty humor or physical gaffs. He has the loudest most contagious belly laugh. I dare you to not laugh when Michael gets the giggles. It is impossible.
Michael is unpredictable with games. He begs his dad and Andrew to play chess with him, and then patiently accepts their advice and loses every time gracefully and asking for more. But then you'll play Candyland with him, and if he gets the gingerbread man card, he will kick the pieces and flip the board and storm off in anger and frustration. As far as I can tell, if Michael asks to play a game (rarely), then you are good to go. If you convince him to play a game with you...all bets are off.
He is quite perceptive to emotions. And he will try to bend them back to his favor if need be. One time when he was asking me to wipe him, a task I find very irritating because he is WAY older than my other kids were when I didn't have to wipe them anymore. As I burst into the bathroom in response to his hollars for help, he looks sweetly up at me, bats those big old eyelashes, and says, and I quote, "Mom? Did you know that it is VERY IMPORTANT for kids to have grownups? Kids need grownups to protect them and feed them and take care of them. Wouldn't it be sad if a kid didn't have a grownup to be with them?"
Schmoozer. Manipulator. Crafty. Clever. Quick as a whip. Endearing. Loveable. Future politician?
He loves to build with blocks, legos, anything that can be built with. He makes bizarre shapes and buildings and creations and then creates a huge back story to go along with it. As I type this, he has a bunch of wooden blocks laid out. He is explaining to me that one side is electric and blocks people from the new watery house. There are cymbals on each side of the building that are used to call their friends and/or zombies to come and party and/or eat their brains. He has a crazy imagination and can talk on and on about imagined computer game boards or inventions or whatever.
Michael's favorite subject at school is math. He will race off the bus to tell me that he got to do math with Mrs. M today! He is just now learning the names of the kids in his class. Jeff and I went in to be mystery reader last week, and Michael was so so so excited. I helped with his class's Halloween party, and Michael was so well behaved, such a good listener, so funny and good. He makes me proud. When we are at school functions, there are always kids yelling out, "Hi, Michael!" He sometimes responds to them, but is mostly aloof. It worries me a bit, but clearly they like him, so who knows what is going on in his head. He call the kids in his class "My so and so", as in, "Mom, there's my Ian and my Will. I'm going to go play with them!"
Michael will eat just about anything...but never consistently. He'll wolf down scrambled eggs one morning and then when you make it for him the next day, he'll act as if you've offered him monkey brains or something. There is no such thing as making the foods that he likes, because it changes so much day to day. Except for pizza. That boy can put away pizza like it's his job. He is wiggly at meal times, and when Andrew is sitting next to him at dinner, (who thought of that seating arrangement?), Michael is constantly reaching over to touch him or get in his face. We have many many conversations a day about personal space and keeping out of others'. In gymnastics, he is constantly hanging on the teacher or another student, always giving kisses and hugs...even to random kids on the other soccer team that he doesn't know. Personal space. Michael does not understand it.
Michael is sensitive and resilient. He is adorable and annoying. He plays great by himself and desperately needs someone to play with. He loves talking but not answering questions. He is a man of contradiction...and we love him so!
He is a comedian. He loves loves loves to make people laugh and will do or say anything to get that from you. He often gets you to laugh without even meaning to. He has the most expressive eyebrows, and they raise and lower seemingly with their own will. It is especially endearing when he is being very sincere or very manipulative. He also appreciates humor greatly...especially potty humor or physical gaffs. He has the loudest most contagious belly laugh. I dare you to not laugh when Michael gets the giggles. It is impossible.
Michael is unpredictable with games. He begs his dad and Andrew to play chess with him, and then patiently accepts their advice and loses every time gracefully and asking for more. But then you'll play Candyland with him, and if he gets the gingerbread man card, he will kick the pieces and flip the board and storm off in anger and frustration. As far as I can tell, if Michael asks to play a game (rarely), then you are good to go. If you convince him to play a game with you...all bets are off.
He is quite perceptive to emotions. And he will try to bend them back to his favor if need be. One time when he was asking me to wipe him, a task I find very irritating because he is WAY older than my other kids were when I didn't have to wipe them anymore. As I burst into the bathroom in response to his hollars for help, he looks sweetly up at me, bats those big old eyelashes, and says, and I quote, "Mom? Did you know that it is VERY IMPORTANT for kids to have grownups? Kids need grownups to protect them and feed them and take care of them. Wouldn't it be sad if a kid didn't have a grownup to be with them?"
Schmoozer. Manipulator. Crafty. Clever. Quick as a whip. Endearing. Loveable. Future politician?
He loves to build with blocks, legos, anything that can be built with. He makes bizarre shapes and buildings and creations and then creates a huge back story to go along with it. As I type this, he has a bunch of wooden blocks laid out. He is explaining to me that one side is electric and blocks people from the new watery house. There are cymbals on each side of the building that are used to call their friends and/or zombies to come and party and/or eat their brains. He has a crazy imagination and can talk on and on about imagined computer game boards or inventions or whatever.
Michael's favorite subject at school is math. He will race off the bus to tell me that he got to do math with Mrs. M today! He is just now learning the names of the kids in his class. Jeff and I went in to be mystery reader last week, and Michael was so so so excited. I helped with his class's Halloween party, and Michael was so well behaved, such a good listener, so funny and good. He makes me proud. When we are at school functions, there are always kids yelling out, "Hi, Michael!" He sometimes responds to them, but is mostly aloof. It worries me a bit, but clearly they like him, so who knows what is going on in his head. He call the kids in his class "My so and so", as in, "Mom, there's my Ian and my Will. I'm going to go play with them!"
Michael will eat just about anything...but never consistently. He'll wolf down scrambled eggs one morning and then when you make it for him the next day, he'll act as if you've offered him monkey brains or something. There is no such thing as making the foods that he likes, because it changes so much day to day. Except for pizza. That boy can put away pizza like it's his job. He is wiggly at meal times, and when Andrew is sitting next to him at dinner, (who thought of that seating arrangement?), Michael is constantly reaching over to touch him or get in his face. We have many many conversations a day about personal space and keeping out of others'. In gymnastics, he is constantly hanging on the teacher or another student, always giving kisses and hugs...even to random kids on the other soccer team that he doesn't know. Personal space. Michael does not understand it.
Michael is sensitive and resilient. He is adorable and annoying. He plays great by himself and desperately needs someone to play with. He loves talking but not answering questions. He is a man of contradiction...and we love him so!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Lily or Lillian or both
Lily's full name is Lillian, of course. Most people just call her Lily, although I have always called her Lillian quite a bit. Not always in anger...I just love the name. Even at a young age, Lily wanted people to know she had another name. It drove me crazy in pre-school when she would tell people, "My name is Lily. But it's really Lily-Ann". Once we finally taught her how to properly pronounce her name, she's been using them both to introduce herself. And once she learned how to write Lillian, she will alternate what she writes on papers.
In Kindergarten, her teacher put Lily on everything. But Lily would sign 1/3 of her papers Lily, 1/3 her papers Lillian, and 1/3 her papers LilyLillian. I explained that while I loved BOTH of her names, she would eventually have to decide which one she wanted to be primarily called, or else it would confuse people. In true Lily fashion, she disregarded me completely and continued to be Lily AND Lillian at the same time.
In first grade, her teacher put Lillian on everything...desk name plates, hooks, etc. I asked Lily what she was called in class, and she said Lily and Lillian. She continues to alternate which she writes on her papers. Teachers call her different things. She responds to both. Somehow this is working for her. As a girl who grew up telling teachers on the first day of school that "I like to be called Gigi, not Giselle", I am fascinated by her fluidity with her name. And surprised her teachers are being this flexible too. I just wonder which one she will choose to be her primary name eventually.
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This week, Lily is taking the standardized test to get into our gifted program. I kind of forgot until 2 of the 3 days of testing had passed, so she didn't even get the normal "test day big breakfast" that I have always tried to give Andrew. She doesn't know what this test is for...in first grade they are constantly being evaluated so the teachers can place them in reading groups, math groups, etc etc. So it's no big deal to her. It WOULD be if she knew what it was for. Because she desperately wants to follow in her big brother's footsteps and desperately wants to be in Humanities (our district's gifted program).
I don't think she is going to get in. I think she is very very smart, and I maintain that I think she will end up being my most successful child professionally because of her attitude towards hard work and stubborn unwillingness to give up. HOWEVER, I don't think she is gifted. Which to me means an ability to think outside the box and above and beyond the "normal" way of thinking.
Jeff adamantly thinks she will get in. He thinks she is very very smart and that her mother is comparing her to the one child who got the highest entry scores in 5 years at our school.
We'll find out in a few months who is correct. But I have a feeling that if she doesn't get in, I'm going to have to console Jeff as well as her.
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I am kind of terrified of Lily growing up and losing her confidence in herself. I know it is coming...self-doubt is too much a part of girl growing up. We were watching a modeling show (I know, great job, right?), and the contestants had to participate in a physical challenge. These wafer thin models could hardly walk DOWN a flight of stairs without needing a break to catch their breath. I paused the show and pointed that out. And told her that being STRONG is way more important than being skinny. That she should not worry about her weight but about how strong her heart and muscles are (something I tell myself everytime I go to the gym). After harping on for a few minutes, Lily stands up in front of me, skinny as a bean (19th%tile weight), and flexes her muscles and then stretches down and touches her toes. She says, "You've seen me run, Mom. You know I am strong." Just keep up that attitude, girlfriend.
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One thing I always try to do is infuse math and science knowledge into the kids' everyday lives. Almost anything can be made into a math problem ;) So when we are watching the Voice, I pause and ask Lily, "There are twelve contestants. Two are going to be eliminated. How many will compete next week?" Stuff like that.
Yesterday morning, it was snowing a little bit, but our outdoor thermometer read 40 degrees. So I pointed a question at Andrew, "What temperature does water freeze?" Imagine my delight when Lily immediately pipes in, "32 degrees!". I give her a high five and then ask (again kind of directing it at Andrew) how it can be snowing if it is 40 degrees...much higher than 32. AGAIN, Lily beat Andrew to the punch, declaring, "It is colder high up in the clouds where the snow starts. And then it melts when it hits the ground because it isn't cold enough."
Yowza! Good thing Andrew was eating breakfast so I could discover just how brilliant Lily is.
She, in true girl fashion (grrrr), immediately said, "Mrs. V just taught us that in school, that's how I know." As if that detracted in any way from her remembering it. I quickly told her that is why she is so smart...she listens to her teacher and then remembers it forever!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Kindergarten, her teacher put Lily on everything. But Lily would sign 1/3 of her papers Lily, 1/3 her papers Lillian, and 1/3 her papers LilyLillian. I explained that while I loved BOTH of her names, she would eventually have to decide which one she wanted to be primarily called, or else it would confuse people. In true Lily fashion, she disregarded me completely and continued to be Lily AND Lillian at the same time.
In first grade, her teacher put Lillian on everything...desk name plates, hooks, etc. I asked Lily what she was called in class, and she said Lily and Lillian. She continues to alternate which she writes on her papers. Teachers call her different things. She responds to both. Somehow this is working for her. As a girl who grew up telling teachers on the first day of school that "I like to be called Gigi, not Giselle", I am fascinated by her fluidity with her name. And surprised her teachers are being this flexible too. I just wonder which one she will choose to be her primary name eventually.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week, Lily is taking the standardized test to get into our gifted program. I kind of forgot until 2 of the 3 days of testing had passed, so she didn't even get the normal "test day big breakfast" that I have always tried to give Andrew. She doesn't know what this test is for...in first grade they are constantly being evaluated so the teachers can place them in reading groups, math groups, etc etc. So it's no big deal to her. It WOULD be if she knew what it was for. Because she desperately wants to follow in her big brother's footsteps and desperately wants to be in Humanities (our district's gifted program).
I don't think she is going to get in. I think she is very very smart, and I maintain that I think she will end up being my most successful child professionally because of her attitude towards hard work and stubborn unwillingness to give up. HOWEVER, I don't think she is gifted. Which to me means an ability to think outside the box and above and beyond the "normal" way of thinking.
Jeff adamantly thinks she will get in. He thinks she is very very smart and that her mother is comparing her to the one child who got the highest entry scores in 5 years at our school.
We'll find out in a few months who is correct. But I have a feeling that if she doesn't get in, I'm going to have to console Jeff as well as her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am kind of terrified of Lily growing up and losing her confidence in herself. I know it is coming...self-doubt is too much a part of girl growing up. We were watching a modeling show (I know, great job, right?), and the contestants had to participate in a physical challenge. These wafer thin models could hardly walk DOWN a flight of stairs without needing a break to catch their breath. I paused the show and pointed that out. And told her that being STRONG is way more important than being skinny. That she should not worry about her weight but about how strong her heart and muscles are (something I tell myself everytime I go to the gym). After harping on for a few minutes, Lily stands up in front of me, skinny as a bean (19th%tile weight), and flexes her muscles and then stretches down and touches her toes. She says, "You've seen me run, Mom. You know I am strong." Just keep up that attitude, girlfriend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One thing I always try to do is infuse math and science knowledge into the kids' everyday lives. Almost anything can be made into a math problem ;) So when we are watching the Voice, I pause and ask Lily, "There are twelve contestants. Two are going to be eliminated. How many will compete next week?" Stuff like that.
Yesterday morning, it was snowing a little bit, but our outdoor thermometer read 40 degrees. So I pointed a question at Andrew, "What temperature does water freeze?" Imagine my delight when Lily immediately pipes in, "32 degrees!". I give her a high five and then ask (again kind of directing it at Andrew) how it can be snowing if it is 40 degrees...much higher than 32. AGAIN, Lily beat Andrew to the punch, declaring, "It is colder high up in the clouds where the snow starts. And then it melts when it hits the ground because it isn't cold enough."
Yowza! Good thing Andrew was eating breakfast so I could discover just how brilliant Lily is.
She, in true girl fashion (grrrr), immediately said, "Mrs. V just taught us that in school, that's how I know." As if that detracted in any way from her remembering it. I quickly told her that is why she is so smart...she listens to her teacher and then remembers it forever!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, November 04, 2013
Photo dump!
Somebody turned 7...a month ago. Doesn't she look so OLD? For her birthday, Lily, Memere, and I went shopping at the 2nd largest mall in the US. She was feeling a bit under the weather, but I think she still had a good time. Back at home, she opened gifts from her brothers and ate a delicious cake her daddy made. He went a little baking crazy and also made 2 pumpkin pies while we were out shopping. Once he starts baking...he just doesn't stop!
Here's Lily working on one of her birthday presents...window sun catchers from her Aunt Andrea.
A few weekends after Lily's birthday, the weather was perfect to go up to the Pocono Mountains and watch the raptor migration. Hawk Mountain was AWESOME. We saw lots of raptors...half a dozen hawks, a few falcons, and even one bald eagle, soaring way way overhead on a thermal. Pretty awesome. And I kept commenting to Jeff how the path seemed shorter this year...the kids are getting so good at hiking it's crazy! No whining! Yay!
Lily and Michael quickly got bored of searching the horizen for soaring birds, so they found a little spot in the boulders to make a "nest" and pretended to be hawks nesting. Cute!
Andrew was all in...of course. He loved every second of our hiking/bird watching adventure.
Attempts at family photos should be taken at the beginning of the hike...not the end. Lesson learned.
After our hike, we went to the park's ampitheater and listened to a naturalist talk for an hour about raptors. She was really really a wonderful speaker, and she brought along a few live animals which kepts our kids captivated. Jeff and I even learned a few new things.
This is a random photo of the kids with their "go-gos". They play with these tiny plastic figurines for HOURS. HOURS, people. I had to document it.
Pumpkin carving! And we had power to do it in this year!
Lily has to write a journal entry each week. Last week she chose to write about her Aunt Sara's exciting news. She's just a teeny bit excited. She's even picked out names (Lucy or Benjamin), just in case Sara and Colum have a hard time picking one. She has no idea that this new cousin is going to live 1700 miles away. Le-sigh. Moving to far flung locations seems all romantic and exciting until you really want family close by.
Jack-o-lantern final results!
Mario hated his mustache, but we made him keep it on for the photos...because it was sooooo cute!
Luigi wore his mustache the whole night. To be fair...it was smaller.
Doing Mario and Luigi poses.
Attacking Bowzer
Posing with the fearsome "Head-tilt" witch.
Posing with Cuddles the cat. Also...HEADTILT
This one is my favorite!
Once Mario shed his mustache, some other people wanted a turn with it.
Another Halloween finished! Now time to prepare for Andrew's birthday and then...gulp...Christmas!
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