3 kids to school
1 IEP meeting
1 30 min drive (each way)
1 GI appointment
1 hungry little boy
1 tired mom
The Cornish Family... Chasing God's calling...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Yep, We're Fine!
Just thought I'd follow up... My foot is fine, my knee is fine... my thigh/hip... well, they are SORE :) But otherwise good! And baby seems to be just fine. I go back next Monday but if I have any concerns before that I'll call. I don't see the doctor this week, but I really don't think there are any concerns as baby is active as ever and I haven't had any indications that anything is wrong. Except that I ache! LOL
Sunday, August 23, 2009
More video of the kids-- Emma and Brianna...
This one is also from the other night. It's the girls rough-housing before bed. Those two both get rough, but they ease up too... Their play like this generally isn't allowed to last too long because Emma is a LOT stronger than Brianna! But... Emma plays with pushing and laying on people, and Brianna defends by smacking her... Ugh. LOL! Anyway, they definitely have that sisterly love, and Micah is a little love too :) Can you tell who the little "Momma" is in this house?
Oh, and Kristopher was throwing things "launching" them off the table, so please ignore the reprimands to him! LOL. His video will be next! His is long and is taking a looooooong time to upload. Maybe I should have clipped it FIRST? :)
Enjoy!
Oh, and Kristopher was throwing things "launching" them off the table, so please ignore the reprimands to him! LOL. His video will be next! His is long and is taking a looooooong time to upload. Maybe I should have clipped it FIRST? :)
Enjoy!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
OW.
It started as a nice morning in the pool. Mike and I, the 4 kids, HAPPY kids that have been on antibiotics for 24+ hours :), a HOT day, and an 80+ degree pool. We have the 'baby guard' fence around the pool so we have a barrier for some of the kids to be IN the pool right with us and some to play in a small pool on a big foam-pad mat on the deck right outside the fence.
It turned bad when Micah started pushing his face and hands against the fence mesh and screen door and licking. First off, ew. Second off, he is just getting over strep. Third, it'll stretch out the mesh and isn't good for it. And Fourth, he has a tendency to BITE on things like that and we don't need holes in the fence mesh.
So we said 'no' (he kept doing it). Mike splashed him when he did it (which he LOVED). Finally when he was licking the screen door with his back to me and I didn't have any kids in my hands, I quickly got out of the pool, went through the gate, and took 2 steps toward him to be able to swat his little hand and have him understand that NO is NO and what he's doing is not ok. I only got 2 steps in because then my feet slid right out from under me on the foam mats. One hit the concrete deck, bent and my knee hit the ground. The other went straight out in front of me and kicked the corner of the aluminum square framing around the screen door. I caught myself with my hands as well, and thankfully the kids weren't right underfoot.
Yes, he still got a swat on his hand and a firm 'no'. Yes, he pretty much stopped licking it after that. Yes, I was HURTING!
At first I thought the bigget pain was my left thigh where it pulled abnormally far. Then I realized my right foot had hit the bone right on the corner of the aluminum and was already swelling. When Mike got to me he pointed out that my knee was already swelling a bit too and was scraped (just surface scraped thankfully).
So... I sat a while. Mike got me ice. And I sat for a while more :)
Baby is moving, nothing unusual around there, no contractions aside from what I've been having for weeks, and I really landed mostly on my legs and hand so we didn't head off to the ER. But man my foot hurts. And my knee. Thankfully my thigh muscles feel ok now and hopefully it will continue to!
Nothing like a little excitement to end a Saturday morning in the pool.
It turned bad when Micah started pushing his face and hands against the fence mesh and screen door and licking. First off, ew. Second off, he is just getting over strep. Third, it'll stretch out the mesh and isn't good for it. And Fourth, he has a tendency to BITE on things like that and we don't need holes in the fence mesh.
So we said 'no' (he kept doing it). Mike splashed him when he did it (which he LOVED). Finally when he was licking the screen door with his back to me and I didn't have any kids in my hands, I quickly got out of the pool, went through the gate, and took 2 steps toward him to be able to swat his little hand and have him understand that NO is NO and what he's doing is not ok. I only got 2 steps in because then my feet slid right out from under me on the foam mats. One hit the concrete deck, bent and my knee hit the ground. The other went straight out in front of me and kicked the corner of the aluminum square framing around the screen door. I caught myself with my hands as well, and thankfully the kids weren't right underfoot.
Yes, he still got a swat on his hand and a firm 'no'. Yes, he pretty much stopped licking it after that. Yes, I was HURTING!
At first I thought the bigget pain was my left thigh where it pulled abnormally far. Then I realized my right foot had hit the bone right on the corner of the aluminum and was already swelling. When Mike got to me he pointed out that my knee was already swelling a bit too and was scraped (just surface scraped thankfully).
So... I sat a while. Mike got me ice. And I sat for a while more :)
Baby is moving, nothing unusual around there, no contractions aside from what I've been having for weeks, and I really landed mostly on my legs and hand so we didn't head off to the ER. But man my foot hurts. And my knee. Thankfully my thigh muscles feel ok now and hopefully it will continue to!
Nothing like a little excitement to end a Saturday morning in the pool.
Hey Locals! Help bring more kids w/ Ds home!
This is a note I just received from Mike's parents. I post on and off about the fund they formed when we were in the process of our own adoption. It's called the Benjamin Cornish Memorial Fund and was made to help raise funds in the form of grants for families adopting children with Down syndrome internationally as well as a few other purposes...
Their next fundraiser is being done for a family that is adopting 2 children- one with Down syndrome- internationally.
So... if you're local and want to get rid of some clutter in your house/garage, please e-mail Cecil and Peggy to drop off your goodies (tax deductible donations, they are a 501c3 non profit!) or for them to arrange to pick them up!
If you have the ability to hang fliers, here's a link to their printable flier:
http://mcornish.org/blog/BCMF%20garage%20sale.pdf
Here's their message:
Their next fundraiser is being done for a family that is adopting 2 children- one with Down syndrome- internationally.
So... if you're local and want to get rid of some clutter in your house/garage, please e-mail Cecil and Peggy to drop off your goodies (tax deductible donations, they are a 501c3 non profit!) or for them to arrange to pick them up!
If you have the ability to hang fliers, here's a link to their printable flier:
http://mcornish.org/blog/BCMF%20garage%20sale.pdf
Here's their message:
We are having another benefit garage sale on the 29th and 30th of this month for the Benjamin Cornish Memorial Fund. If you have any items that are collecting dust in the back of your cabinets, taking up space in your garage, we would love to have them to help our families out. If this is too short of notice, we are also having another one in the fall when it cools down. We are trying to squeeze this one in for one particular family that is adopting their special kids on September 5th.
Please call us if you have anything to be picked up and we can make arrangements.
Thank you!!!
Cecil and Peggy Cornish
pcornish (at) cfl (dot) rr (dot) com
battc3 (at) cfl (dot) rr (dot) com
Benjamin Cornish Memorial Fund
*** The garage sale will be at 603 Kel Street, off of Old Dixie, so come support this family by shopping too!!!***
Friday, August 21, 2009
Smells like Summer Breeze
My entire house, that is! And no, I didn't open all the windows to let in a breeze. Then it would be called Undeniably HOT MUGGY FLORIDA WEATHER and likely called MILDEW in a day or so because of the amount of moisture that would be coming in the house. No... this Summer Breeze would be the scent of the disinfectant spray that I just used to spray down the ENTIRE house. The two little ones are napping, Emma's in the playpen (to keep her out of the disinfecting regimen!) and I went to town! Every doorknob, baby gate, window (about 2 feet up LOL), toy, chair, highchair, cabinet knob, toilet seat, flushing knob, sink faucet, dresser drawer handle, light switch, telephone, toy bin, and everything else I could find has now been sprayed down and left to air dry.
I realize I need to make that same path with a rag and some Lysol because some of those areas needed more of a scrubbing than just a disinfecting... but that will have to wait. Right now I bumped the AC down, turned on all the fans, and I'm laying here with my feet up. Who knew walking around bent over through the entire house for a good 30 minutes would be so exhausting?? :) I guess it wouldn't be if I wasn't 8+ months pregnant LOL!
I realize I need to make that same path with a rag and some Lysol because some of those areas needed more of a scrubbing than just a disinfecting... but that will have to wait. Right now I bumped the AC down, turned on all the fans, and I'm laying here with my feet up. Who knew walking around bent over through the entire house for a good 30 minutes would be so exhausting?? :) I guess it wouldn't be if I wasn't 8+ months pregnant LOL!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
But...
I have to say... I'm SO THANKFUL to have family nearby! For instance Mike was able to come home during lunch to bring Brianna home from school so I could make it to her doctor's appointment. And my mom was able to come to stay with the other 2 kids for an hour so they didn't have to go back to the doctor with me. Laundry has been pushed through that I'd started last night. My kids were fed the last of their lunch that I didn't have time to do between appointments. And on my way home from appt #2 at the doctor... I realized that over the weekend Mike's mom had offered to bring us some dinner one night because she was making corned beef. She set up to bring it... THURSDAY! So there is a HOT dinner on my kitchen table on a night that there's probably a very low likelihood that I would have pulled myself together and cooked. What a blessing!!
So glad to have family nearby, and for them to be so willing and able to help! We are very thankful for them! And I for my wonderful husband as well :)
So glad to have family nearby, and for them to be so willing and able to help! We are very thankful for them! And I for my wonderful husband as well :)
To: the Cornish family, From: school
Dear Cornish family, it is the 2nd week of public school for 3 of your children. To initiate you all into this world, I've sent you a little something. I'll do it subtly the first time, but no worries, you'll get it in full force in the future. Today, however, I'll just start with a few dots on Emma's nose in the evening. Then the next morning when you get her out of bed and snuggle her, you'll notice another 9 or 10 of them spread out across her face. In fact, you'll consider just sending her to school because they look like little bites... but since I gave you that little hint last night on her nose, you'll second guess the bug bite idea. In fact, since you keep your house warm and the kids have been sleeping without shirts on, you'll be pretty sure it's not bug bites when there's nothing on her chest or back. Off to the doctor you will go.
And since Micah doesn't have school yet, you'll bring him with you to the flu-infested doctor's office. Then, you'll sit for an hour in the waiting room before being called back to the room. Then another 45 minutes in the room before you see the doctor. Your children will throw the 'clean' toys you brought with you, they'll throw fits, they'll wiggle to get down onto the floor, and eventually both will have breakdowns and just scream for a little while. It will make you thankful that you only have 2 with you today and make you wonder how you'll handle a third in the midst of this situation because the baby inevitably will be along for these fun visits soon.
Then when you finally do see the doctor 2+ hours after your appointment time, he'll say "probably just a virus" then swab Emma's throat for Strep. In 5 minutes he'll pop back in and say "let's do him too, she's positive." Of course in the midst of all that, Emma will have thrown a FULL BLOWN FIT and be impossible to comfort, so when the doctor comes back in she'll break back into hysterics. And when Emma was swabbed, Micah will feel the need to scream then too. And, of course, Micah and Emma both will begin screaming again when it's Micah's turn. If they didn't, the trip might seem a little too easy.
When the doctor comes back in a little while later and says Micah's is positive too, he'll then suggest you bring at least Brianna in to be checked. And Kristopher if you think he might have it too. So you'll call your husband to pick Brianna up from school even though she has no symptoms. He should be coming home for lunch anyway soon. And you'll call your mom to watch the two that are sick so they don't have to spend even more time at the doctor's office that day. After all... 3 hours is quite a while for any child.
Then you'll spend about 20 minutes out of the 45 that you have at home writing emails to the kids' 3 teachers to let them know that 2 of the (school) kids have strep and to figure out how pick-up for Kristopher will work... and Mike will have to pick him up after school. When everything's arranged for all the kids, you'll go spend another hour at the office and, yes, she'll come back positive with strep too.
When you finally get home after a long and exhausting day, you'll swallow hard a few times and begin to wonder if you, too, might have Strep. And what about Mike and K? Ah... this is the best subtle little gift you could have received the 2nd week of school, isn't it?
Look out, this is just the beginning! I have so many more surprises in store for you and your family! Ah... but don't think I'm ALL bad. After all... Emma might not really be having as many adjustment issues as it seems. It could be that she's just sick! And Micah might some day sleep past 5:30am when this is taken care of. And Brianna might sleep through the night again instead of waking every 3 hours. See? When you thought maybe your children were all going berzerk and that you were going to go nuts with them... I showed up to save the day. Really, you should thank me! And no worries, I'll be around again soon once I've sent my gift to a few other families.
Keep those antibiotics flowing!
And since Micah doesn't have school yet, you'll bring him with you to the flu-infested doctor's office. Then, you'll sit for an hour in the waiting room before being called back to the room. Then another 45 minutes in the room before you see the doctor. Your children will throw the 'clean' toys you brought with you, they'll throw fits, they'll wiggle to get down onto the floor, and eventually both will have breakdowns and just scream for a little while. It will make you thankful that you only have 2 with you today and make you wonder how you'll handle a third in the midst of this situation because the baby inevitably will be along for these fun visits soon.
Then when you finally do see the doctor 2+ hours after your appointment time, he'll say "probably just a virus" then swab Emma's throat for Strep. In 5 minutes he'll pop back in and say "let's do him too, she's positive." Of course in the midst of all that, Emma will have thrown a FULL BLOWN FIT and be impossible to comfort, so when the doctor comes back in she'll break back into hysterics. And when Emma was swabbed, Micah will feel the need to scream then too. And, of course, Micah and Emma both will begin screaming again when it's Micah's turn. If they didn't, the trip might seem a little too easy.
When the doctor comes back in a little while later and says Micah's is positive too, he'll then suggest you bring at least Brianna in to be checked. And Kristopher if you think he might have it too. So you'll call your husband to pick Brianna up from school even though she has no symptoms. He should be coming home for lunch anyway soon. And you'll call your mom to watch the two that are sick so they don't have to spend even more time at the doctor's office that day. After all... 3 hours is quite a while for any child.
Then you'll spend about 20 minutes out of the 45 that you have at home writing emails to the kids' 3 teachers to let them know that 2 of the (school) kids have strep and to figure out how pick-up for Kristopher will work... and Mike will have to pick him up after school. When everything's arranged for all the kids, you'll go spend another hour at the office and, yes, she'll come back positive with strep too.
When you finally get home after a long and exhausting day, you'll swallow hard a few times and begin to wonder if you, too, might have Strep. And what about Mike and K? Ah... this is the best subtle little gift you could have received the 2nd week of school, isn't it?
Look out, this is just the beginning! I have so many more surprises in store for you and your family! Ah... but don't think I'm ALL bad. After all... Emma might not really be having as many adjustment issues as it seems. It could be that she's just sick! And Micah might some day sleep past 5:30am when this is taken care of. And Brianna might sleep through the night again instead of waking every 3 hours. See? When you thought maybe your children were all going berzerk and that you were going to go nuts with them... I showed up to save the day. Really, you should thank me! And no worries, I'll be around again soon once I've sent my gift to a few other families.
Keep those antibiotics flowing!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A little visit
Thank you!!
I went in this morning, dropped off Micah to my mom before school (she lives a block away from the kids' school... that is NICE!) and went in to the classroom. I asked if I could stay and just 'be around' for a little bit and needed to pick up Micah at 9 from mom so I knew it would be a short visit. The teacher is a wonderful CHRISTIAN woman and I really like her. Emma's 1:1 is great too, as is the other aide in the classroom... so I really am comfortable with E being there (I don't think it's an issue of neglect or harsh treatment, etc..).
I read several comments that said observe without her seeing me... but I decided this morning to do it where I was there simply for her to know that I was there. I sat at a table a little away from where she was as she ate breakfast and I tried not to 'interrupt' their routine but did talk with the teachers as they initiated. Then at 8:30 (school started at 8 ) they went to art and I walked with the class down there. When they stopped outside the art room and the door opened, E took her glasses off and threw them. *bingo*. She doesn't know where they're going or what they're doing there. Transition.
I was standing just behind her but I picked up her glasses, put them back on her, took her hands and gave them a little squeeze like I do at home and said 'no, don't throw, you leave your glasses on' just like I do at home. She didn't take them off the rest of art.
When they went in she still was unsure about things. Started playing with the velcro on her shes and then fidgeting until her aide had her paper out and magazine clippings and had moved the chair away for her wheelchair to fit, etc. Then once they were engaged, tho she had to be pulled back in to it and 'made' to participate (she's not exactly using glue sticks and arranging papers quite yet ;) ) she did fine. I offered to the 2nd aide to help the child next to Emma since there are 5 kids and the other aide has 4 by herself while the teacher is on planning and I occasionally would put my hand on E's shoulder or rub her hair, etc. just to say "I'm here, and you're ok."
The other little girl is probably around 7 and I talked with her about finding two pictures and cutting 'between' the pic's and helped her hold the paper so she could cut. She signed and is nonverbal so was excited that I knew what she was saying :) . Anyway, toward the end of art I told Emma I'll see her in a little bit and I left because I needed to get Micah.
I think I'll ask the teacher this afternoon whether I can come the last 30-40 minutes of the day tomorrow and do the same. Just "be there" and let Emma know that there's not a magical wall between home and school and that she's 'safe'. I've not disappeared.
We'll see how the rest of today goes and play it by ear. If anyone else has ideas/suggestions I'm very open!!
For now I'll try to spend a bit of time there tomorrow afternoon and then go from there. I think I'll write a note today as well that just has a few observations about the morning (like the trigger of a new room and the glasses...) and maybe I'll suggest the transition tools as well. "We're going to art class" with a crayon in the hand. I know they have a picture schedule on the wall but I'm not sure how much they use it. They did prepare the kids verbally pretty well for the transition but I'm not sure that's enough for Emma.
*sigh* and the second week of school continues...
I went in this morning, dropped off Micah to my mom before school (she lives a block away from the kids' school... that is NICE!) and went in to the classroom. I asked if I could stay and just 'be around' for a little bit and needed to pick up Micah at 9 from mom so I knew it would be a short visit. The teacher is a wonderful CHRISTIAN woman and I really like her. Emma's 1:1 is great too, as is the other aide in the classroom... so I really am comfortable with E being there (I don't think it's an issue of neglect or harsh treatment, etc..).
I read several comments that said observe without her seeing me... but I decided this morning to do it where I was there simply for her to know that I was there. I sat at a table a little away from where she was as she ate breakfast and I tried not to 'interrupt' their routine but did talk with the teachers as they initiated. Then at 8:30 (school started at 8 ) they went to art and I walked with the class down there. When they stopped outside the art room and the door opened, E took her glasses off and threw them. *bingo*. She doesn't know where they're going or what they're doing there. Transition.
I was standing just behind her but I picked up her glasses, put them back on her, took her hands and gave them a little squeeze like I do at home and said 'no, don't throw, you leave your glasses on' just like I do at home. She didn't take them off the rest of art.
When they went in she still was unsure about things. Started playing with the velcro on her shes and then fidgeting until her aide had her paper out and magazine clippings and had moved the chair away for her wheelchair to fit, etc. Then once they were engaged, tho she had to be pulled back in to it and 'made' to participate (she's not exactly using glue sticks and arranging papers quite yet ;) ) she did fine. I offered to the 2nd aide to help the child next to Emma since there are 5 kids and the other aide has 4 by herself while the teacher is on planning and I occasionally would put my hand on E's shoulder or rub her hair, etc. just to say "I'm here, and you're ok."
The other little girl is probably around 7 and I talked with her about finding two pictures and cutting 'between' the pic's and helped her hold the paper so she could cut. She signed and is nonverbal so was excited that I knew what she was saying :) . Anyway, toward the end of art I told Emma I'll see her in a little bit and I left because I needed to get Micah.
I think I'll ask the teacher this afternoon whether I can come the last 30-40 minutes of the day tomorrow and do the same. Just "be there" and let Emma know that there's not a magical wall between home and school and that she's 'safe'. I've not disappeared.
We'll see how the rest of today goes and play it by ear. If anyone else has ideas/suggestions I'm very open!!
For now I'll try to spend a bit of time there tomorrow afternoon and then go from there. I think I'll write a note today as well that just has a few observations about the morning (like the trigger of a new room and the glasses...) and maybe I'll suggest the transition tools as well. "We're going to art class" with a crayon in the hand. I know they have a picture schedule on the wall but I'm not sure how much they use it. They did prepare the kids verbally pretty well for the transition but I'm not sure that's enough for Emma.
*sigh* and the second week of school continues...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sanity savers (aka routines)
For my RR Ukraine chat folks... here's how I stay sane :)
Every weekend prepares for the week ahead...
Sunday I defrost babyfood for the week for Micah.
I pull out clothes for the school week for all 4 kids and put them in hanging-baskets in the guest room closet.
And I use lots of reusable containers
To make big packages of food items
into smaller servings.
Then I put together lunches for the kids in gallon-size (reusable) zipper baggies and store them in the fridge drawer
On school nights I go to the closet and pull out the kids' clothes and put them on the table in front of the TV... which happens to be next to the changing table :) I also round up shoes to make sure we're not hunting in the morning (the shoe basket is right there too). (Micah has 'helped' tonight... he loves to empty this table and I usually do it AFTER he's in bed!)
I pull out the zip baggies of lunches and put them into the kids' lunch boxes and make whatever still needs to be done- mixing a pediasure/milk cup for Brianna, making a sandwich for Kristopher... little things that need to be fresh. I leave the lunch boxes unzipped in the fridge overnight.
Then in the mornings we get the kids up, dressed (with shoes on), and they go right to the table. If I had time the night before I'll get breakfast drinks/bottle together... if not it just takes a minute :). When the kids are done eating they get medicine and their teeth brushed and by then it's been almost an hour and it's time to start out to the car. We grab ice packs and slide them into the lunch boxes, put those in the backpacks and head out the door.
After school, backpacks are emptied and hung on their pegs (under the pegs right now are Micah's school supplies waiting for his 1st day of school ;) ).
When the folders are emptied, I look at the kids' class papers and make sure their name and date is on it and they go into this vertical file. Folders go right back to the backpacks.
This was $1 at Target and it has 5 slots... 1 for each of the school-age kids and one in the back for paperwork that's general to the school or all the kids. Then I don't have a pile of papers to go through later on :) Eventually I'll go through and trash stuff and keep stuff... but for now it's at least all in one place! (yes, that's only the last few days of paperwork--- see how it becomes a paper MESS quickly??) And Mike can look back at the kids' papers if he wants to since he's not home at the end of school. I also can find the newsletter, school handbook, or IEP notice without too much trouble :)
After the backpacks are emptied, lunch boxes come to the table and I put the kids in their seats for a little snack and drink. Anything left from lunch goes first, and if they don't have anything left then I'll get a snack from the pantry. Kristopher empties his lunchbox, dirty containers in the sink, ice packs away, etc... and I do the other kids'. Kristopher puts all the lunch boxes back in the cubbies.
I bring the vertical file in to the kitchen and use this as a chance to talk to Brianna and Emma about their papers and their day at school. (Usually K tells me about his as we unpack the bags.) I also take all the kids' shoes off... there's something about bare feet that make the kids happy to be home :)
So... for about an hour after we get home, the time is spent unpacking, cleaning up from school, snacking, and talking about the day. I think this time is one I want to keep "built in" for as long as we can... it not only keeps school stuff organized, but it gives the kids something to expect and transitions them from "structured" time at school to "play" time at home. When homework is introduced to the picture I'm sure this is where it will be added in too. It keeps things from being a "run into the house for a free-for-all" LOL :)
There's a little about how we function now that school is in :) I'm sure things will change when Micah starts school (can't make him a week of bottles in advance LOL) and again when the baby is born, but hopefully having some set routines will help the kids make that transition both into school and with the new baby too! And hey... it keeps me sane :)
The glasses are found.
The little boy that found them rewarded.
The little girl that lost them spent an hour on Mommy's lap and calmed and is sweet again.
The solution is still far from found!
Maybe tomorrow I will sign in at the office and just let her class know I'll be staying for a little while. Plan on an hour or so... and then come back in the afternoon to observe as I'm guessing things are more pronounced then.
Maybe.
The little girl that lost them spent an hour on Mommy's lap and calmed and is sweet again.
The solution is still far from found!
Maybe tomorrow I will sign in at the office and just let her class know I'll be staying for a little while. Plan on an hour or so... and then come back in the afternoon to observe as I'm guessing things are more pronounced then.
Maybe.
Hmm..
I think I have a lot of Hmm... posts. And yes, I've blogged a lot lately as things have been 1- busy and 2- I've been making more time to just SIT... which means I have thoughts running crazy in my mind and a computer nearby so why not :)
Anyway... Emma... school... Hmm...
We're now 7 days into school. Emma did great the first two days, and then last Wed she had a 'frustrated' day. She went to bed at 6:30 that night and Thurs/Fri she had better days.
Today her aide told me she threw her glasses so hard they popped the lens out. And she'd thrown them several times yesterday. She also was sitting at circle time and rocking back and forth while sitting. She's NEVER done this. Even when she first came home, she would rock-- but on her back since she couldn't hold up her head. She still does it at night occasionally but since getting the new bed we've not noticed it nearly as often (possibly because it doesn't make noise so WE don't notice... or possibly because it doesn't make noise so SHE doesn't DO it!).
She's got a weighted lap pad. She is throwing it. I can make her a weighted vest- she does good with firm pressure... I can buy her a glasses strap, they're about $4, but she's worn glasses for over a year and she rarely throws them if ever. She usually dangles them if she takes them off and then drops them. At the moment... I put her glasses back on when she came home and I cannot find them. She had them on less than 10 minutes.
This is what I call COMMUNICATION. Problem being... aside from her being 'whiney' and obviously showing frustration... I can "treat the symptoms", but WHY is she doing it??
Is it just adjusting to the long days? Is it because she's not in the routine yet and every day is a Monday? Is she needing more sleep? Is she just not ready for school?? Or for this school environment? (I really think she's in the BEST placement we could have her... but exploring all the options...). Any other thoughts??
I know she's talking to us. I just don't know what she's saying. I hope and pray that she's going to adjust in the next few weeks to the schedule/routine and these things that have 'appeared' will in the same way 'disappear'! But I don't want to miss something while we wait it out. And right now she's "droning" on the porch. Time to go snuggle my girl...
So, yes... Hmm....
Anyway... Emma... school... Hmm...
We're now 7 days into school. Emma did great the first two days, and then last Wed she had a 'frustrated' day. She went to bed at 6:30 that night and Thurs/Fri she had better days.
Today her aide told me she threw her glasses so hard they popped the lens out. And she'd thrown them several times yesterday. She also was sitting at circle time and rocking back and forth while sitting. She's NEVER done this. Even when she first came home, she would rock-- but on her back since she couldn't hold up her head. She still does it at night occasionally but since getting the new bed we've not noticed it nearly as often (possibly because it doesn't make noise so WE don't notice... or possibly because it doesn't make noise so SHE doesn't DO it!).
She's got a weighted lap pad. She is throwing it. I can make her a weighted vest- she does good with firm pressure... I can buy her a glasses strap, they're about $4, but she's worn glasses for over a year and she rarely throws them if ever. She usually dangles them if she takes them off and then drops them. At the moment... I put her glasses back on when she came home and I cannot find them. She had them on less than 10 minutes.
This is what I call COMMUNICATION. Problem being... aside from her being 'whiney' and obviously showing frustration... I can "treat the symptoms", but WHY is she doing it??
Is it just adjusting to the long days? Is it because she's not in the routine yet and every day is a Monday? Is she needing more sleep? Is she just not ready for school?? Or for this school environment? (I really think she's in the BEST placement we could have her... but exploring all the options...). Any other thoughts??
I know she's talking to us. I just don't know what she's saying. I hope and pray that she's going to adjust in the next few weeks to the schedule/routine and these things that have 'appeared' will in the same way 'disappear'! But I don't want to miss something while we wait it out. And right now she's "droning" on the porch. Time to go snuggle my girl...
So, yes... Hmm....
No sleep
Ever have those nights where you get started a bit later than intended on heading to bed... but then you get to bed and start to fall asleep and realize you just CAN'T SLEEP? Last night our A/C said it was about the same as all other nights... and yet I was soooo hot. I had been hot before while doing the Ukraine chat but went to bed and it was just unbearable. I turned the fan on HIGH. I turned the A/C down a few degrees... I tried going to the couch in the other room. Nothing. Finally I brought my pillow out to the porch, turned on the A/C (after readjusting the house one back up) and set it COLD. I laid down on those big foam mats and with my upper-body on a beanbag chair and I fell asleep. At 12:35. Mike got home (and scared the crud out of me!) a little later. He'd had his LAST CLASS for his Master's program that night and then went out with the class to celebrate at the Cheesecake Factory (professor's treat, wasn't that nice?).
By that time I'd cooled off some and went back to bed and was able to go back to our bed a short time later. But I still couldn't get comfortable and got about 3 1/2 hours of sleep. 6am came EARLY. Actually, 5:30 when Brianna woke up (Mike got up with her tho!).
By that time I'd cooled off some and went back to bed and was able to go back to our bed a short time later. But I still couldn't get comfortable and got about 3 1/2 hours of sleep. 6am came EARLY. Actually, 5:30 when Brianna woke up (Mike got up with her tho!).
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wondering... paternity leave?
I'm curious whether the dads out there have been offered and taken paid paternity leave. Was it considered sick leave? Vacation? How much time of different kids was used/offered? Did it differ if baby was born via c-section (longer recovery period for mom/ more help needed from dad)? Did dad get just the time off while mom and baby were in the hospital? Or a few days after she was home? A week/two weeks home?
In looking around online, it seems like 5-10 days off is 'average' for the work force... and it seems 2-4 (or sometimes 8 and 12!) weeks is more the theme for churches across several denominations.
So... will you share? Even if you aren't in a situation where you've needed/used it, what is offered for dads to spend time with their newborn, help out with baby and be at home?
In looking around online, it seems like 5-10 days off is 'average' for the work force... and it seems 2-4 (or sometimes 8 and 12!) weeks is more the theme for churches across several denominations.
So... will you share? Even if you aren't in a situation where you've needed/used it, what is offered for dads to spend time with their newborn, help out with baby and be at home?
Video #2!
Here's another video from last night. I know they're longish, but I love having it all in one place... so here goes!
This one starts with Bria and her groovy girl dancing, but then Emma catches the beat, and eventually Micah comes in with his form of dancing... and Emma gives the grand finale :) I love these guys!
This one starts with Bria and her groovy girl dancing, but then Emma catches the beat, and eventually Micah comes in with his form of dancing... and Emma gives the grand finale :) I love these guys!
Potty training at home?
Well, all I intended to do today was find out whether the Pull-ups we have fit Brianna or not. She still wears some 12/18 mos shorts, but mostly 24 mos. So would a size 2t/3t pull-up fit? I wasn't sure. But Brianna's teacher asked for pull-ups since she was doing well going to the bathroom... and I wanted to make sure they fit before sending them to school. I'd hate to send her in pull-ups and then have her leak all over the place at school.
I do know that they stay up. But I still don't know whether they leak.
Because she hasn't wet them all day.
She even told us when I was at the OB's office today that she needed to go to the bathroom... and she sure did!
So although I hadn't planned to do potty training this week (or really until after the baby was born and settled)... it looks like Brianna may be taking care of that for us! I almost feel badly that we didn't push a little earlier to get her trained, but hey, if she decides that now's the time to train AND she's going to tell us when she needs to go... I won't complain!!
I do know that they stay up. But I still don't know whether they leak.
Because she hasn't wet them all day.
She even told us when I was at the OB's office today that she needed to go to the bathroom... and she sure did!
So although I hadn't planned to do potty training this week (or really until after the baby was born and settled)... it looks like Brianna may be taking care of that for us! I almost feel badly that we didn't push a little earlier to get her trained, but hey, if she decides that now's the time to train AND she's going to tell us when she needs to go... I won't complain!!
Video :)
I took a few videos last night before bed just to get some of the interaction of the kids. Here's the first one I actually got uploaded! LOL It's mostly M and B playing with the beanbag chairs, and E starts copying them partway through as well. Then Micah was just plain giddy and tired :)
I gotta say, I think I have some of the MOST FUN kids!!
(more coming later...)
I gotta say, I think I have some of the MOST FUN kids!!
(more coming later...)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Home Language Survey...
I just finished filling out my 4th set of school registration paperwork in the last month or so, and each time I've come to the "home language survey" I've sat on it just a minute before proceeding...
At home we do both English and ASL, so when it says "Is a language other than English spoken in the home?" I put YES. Then I put English and ASL. I did this for all 3 little ones, but for K- since he doesn't require any ASL at school, I didn't put ASL. I think that if I'm requesting that the teachers/aides do ASL with the kids, I should write it on the home language survey as well.
And for the question "Was the child's first language one other than English?" Again, I put YES for Micah and Emma... and I put Russian. No, they didn't speak it, because they didn't speak. But they had to acquire the English language later in life, and I think that's important to note.
I do wonder what they even use that for??
Do YOU put ASL if you sign in the home? Hmm...
At home we do both English and ASL, so when it says "Is a language other than English spoken in the home?" I put YES. Then I put English and ASL. I did this for all 3 little ones, but for K- since he doesn't require any ASL at school, I didn't put ASL. I think that if I'm requesting that the teachers/aides do ASL with the kids, I should write it on the home language survey as well.
And for the question "Was the child's first language one other than English?" Again, I put YES for Micah and Emma... and I put Russian. No, they didn't speak it, because they didn't speak. But they had to acquire the English language later in life, and I think that's important to note.
I do wonder what they even use that for??
Do YOU put ASL if you sign in the home? Hmm...
Is it really that close?
Three weeks to go until our scheduled c-section. But of course baby is making a few waves and I know better (now) than to wait until the last minute to pack our bag. Brianna almost came 3 weeks early and we were nowhere near ready! (She was born 2 weeks early and in that time Mike painted her bedroom, assembled the bassinet, we bought her preemie clothes because we knew she'd be tiny at that point, and we wrote up our plans for Kristopher and rushed around like mad! :)
This time around is different from the first 2 births because we expected both of those to be vaginal deliveries. We packed for labor, birth, and a 2 day hospital stay. Brianna was going to be an induction but ended up being an emergency c-section instead. So I know what to expect with the c-section (mostly) but I've not packed for a c-section vs. a regular delivery. And surprisingly, there's not a lot of info out there!
I know the common-sense stuff, but for those of you that have had a c-section or work in that area of a hospital... what are some suggestions of what to pack for our planned c-section?
This time around is different from the first 2 births because we expected both of those to be vaginal deliveries. We packed for labor, birth, and a 2 day hospital stay. Brianna was going to be an induction but ended up being an emergency c-section instead. So I know what to expect with the c-section (mostly) but I've not packed for a c-section vs. a regular delivery. And surprisingly, there's not a lot of info out there!
I know the common-sense stuff, but for those of you that have had a c-section or work in that area of a hospital... what are some suggestions of what to pack for our planned c-section?
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