I realize looking at my last blog entry that two days after that post was another ER visit for Will, with the added bonus of an overnight stay at Children's Mercy. More breathing treatments and a night on oxygen. He's officially diagnosed with Mild Intermittent Asthma. I couldn't describe it better. Anyway, its back to chaos around here. What in the world are his triggers? A little of everything it seems. We continue with the NAET treatments, and keep our albuterol, and flovent inhalers handy.
Its like I have two different Wills. I spend too much time knocking my head against the wall trying to figure out if its my bad parenting, some food or environmental allergy, boredom, or what. Of course, Will could say its like he has two different mothers - Good Mommy and Evil Mommy. I can't take his craziness sometimes and I don't handle it well. No gentle discipline awards being given out in this house anytime soon.
Goodness in my life:
I got to attend my friend's blessingway this weekend and it was such a touching experience. We pampered her by brushing her hair, massaging her feet and arms, singing songs, giving blessings and henna tatto-ing her belly. Lots of fun as I thought about my two recent favorite reads: The Red Tent, and The Queenmaker.
I got to hold a really, really fat baby and smell that baby smell and touch that baby skin. But no babies for me right now.
My house if fairly clean.
I'm going to put some seeds in the ground tomorrow.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Where are we?
Will earned his first dollar for doing his chores. The excitement of that waned a bit after the first week or so, but he does a good job of taking care of the house these days.
Jack in his regular attire. Either this, or a pirate outfit. Argh! Or mommy's pretty white slip. : )
Growing. Living. Happy. So happy these days. Love all around.
Jack in his regular attire. Either this, or a pirate outfit. Argh! Or mommy's pretty white slip. : )
Growing. Living. Happy. So happy these days. Love all around.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Thursday, September 20, 2007
And on that NOTE!
We quit violin lessons! I was feeling okay about this until I just saw my last post.... a bit of a pang in the heart seeing that.
But music lives on. There are so many opportunities for Will and I want him to enjoy the exploration of it all. The violins are still out, he has actually picked it up more this week than usual. We both have a sense of relief I believe. All I can say is that a week goes by really fast with a 5 year old and 3 year old and we were never practicing enough. Now its at our pace. Or maybe not at all. I'm glad I don't have to drive to lessons anymore.
I've been working very hard at keeping a routine around here. We stay home almost every morning now (except Wednesday they are at Grandma's but that is homey too!), adventure time is in the afternoon. Our schedule has lightened a bit since the pottery class Will wanted to take was cancelled on Wednesdays, and now with quitting violin we have no Friday morning lesson. So our week goes:
Mondays:
I watch my sister's little almost 3 year old boy on Mondays. Usually this is a good thing if everyone is in a cooperative mood.
We take a short morning walk.
I declare Mondays my cleaning day. The three boys usually follow me around the house most the morning.
We have a craft time mid morning (play doh, coloring, easy stuff).
Lunch and then rest time.
Afternoons we go to a gymnastics class - all three boys participate and really enjoy it. Its cute to watch.
Will goes to his NAET appointment after class.
Tuesdays:
Home all morning.
Walk or bike ride.
This is wet-on-wet painting day. I will post some of the creations soon.
Lunch, and rest time.
In the late afternoon I take the boys to grandma's and they spend the night there so Mark and I can attend the Discipline Without Damage parenting class. We have 4 more weeks of this arrangement and everyone is loving it!
Wednesday morning:
I pick boys up at grandma's around 10:30 am. So this means I get the morning to get the house cleaned up a bit, and plan out lunch and dinner for the day. Peacefully. Shower. Peacefully.
Next week the boys will be going to tour a Fire Station with the South KC homeschooling group and I will meet them there and then bring them home in time for lunch/naps.
Thursday.
Home in the morning.
This is baking day once I get a stove again. We need to have quick snacks for the weekend prepared.
I'm trying to plan most play dates or "adventures" on this day (Paradise Park, Library, etc) for afternoon. Today we went to The Children's Peace Pavillion in Independence.
Friday.
Home now in the morning!
I do have use of my sister on this day for babysitting as needed. Its a swap since I watch her ds on Mondays.
Tomorrow she is walking over and will take Jack for a walk in the stroller so Will and I can spend some time at home.
There is a homeschooling "recess" day in Lee's Summit I would like to take Will to but the timing is bad. I don't think we'll be doing it. My rest time, I mean, the boys rest time is too important to mess with. If I just stay committed to being home at rest time, life is so much better. Why don't I get that?
I think I will use Fridays for our more complex craft time. For example, we are making Kites for Michelmas so we would do that on this day. Will is also currently really interested in space and is working on a Space Mobile. He is painting the planets now, but we have run into a problem because he is insistent on giving Jupiter to Grandma. I really want Jupiter in our solar system.
Will has requested this week, however, we go to this little stream we found in the "woods" at a park a few miles away so we'll do that in the afternoon.
Saturday:
Every other week is Lake Farm School. We also have festivals thru the seasons to enjoy. Our weekends stay busy.
Sundays:
Either we go to Unity or we go watch Mark play hockey in the morning.
Other things the boys get to enjoy:
Fishing with grandpa.
Going down the street to see Amy (my 17 year old sister).
Making projects with Papa Scot. A treasure chest has been requested to I need to get Papa Scot on that. After he finishes all the work he is doing for us around this house. lol.
So this sounds pretty good to me except for a few problems:
I have GOT to get a routine down for meal purchasing and preparation. Of course, a stove would help.
But I also want a recipe list. I was thinking of making a calendar of meals just like a school does so all I have to do is look at the calendar and know what to make. And just make the same stuff on the same day each week. Or rotate out a schedule every few weeks. I'm sure there is something on the Internet I could use. Must get this organized.
I also have GOT to figure out how to get more exercise. Walking and bike riding doesn't cut it.
Now its time to go to bed.
But music lives on. There are so many opportunities for Will and I want him to enjoy the exploration of it all. The violins are still out, he has actually picked it up more this week than usual. We both have a sense of relief I believe. All I can say is that a week goes by really fast with a 5 year old and 3 year old and we were never practicing enough. Now its at our pace. Or maybe not at all. I'm glad I don't have to drive to lessons anymore.
I've been working very hard at keeping a routine around here. We stay home almost every morning now (except Wednesday they are at Grandma's but that is homey too!), adventure time is in the afternoon. Our schedule has lightened a bit since the pottery class Will wanted to take was cancelled on Wednesdays, and now with quitting violin we have no Friday morning lesson. So our week goes:
Mondays:
I watch my sister's little almost 3 year old boy on Mondays. Usually this is a good thing if everyone is in a cooperative mood.
We take a short morning walk.
I declare Mondays my cleaning day. The three boys usually follow me around the house most the morning.
We have a craft time mid morning (play doh, coloring, easy stuff).
Lunch and then rest time.
Afternoons we go to a gymnastics class - all three boys participate and really enjoy it. Its cute to watch.
Will goes to his NAET appointment after class.
Tuesdays:
Home all morning.
Walk or bike ride.
This is wet-on-wet painting day. I will post some of the creations soon.
Lunch, and rest time.
In the late afternoon I take the boys to grandma's and they spend the night there so Mark and I can attend the Discipline Without Damage parenting class. We have 4 more weeks of this arrangement and everyone is loving it!
Wednesday morning:
I pick boys up at grandma's around 10:30 am. So this means I get the morning to get the house cleaned up a bit, and plan out lunch and dinner for the day. Peacefully. Shower. Peacefully.
Next week the boys will be going to tour a Fire Station with the South KC homeschooling group and I will meet them there and then bring them home in time for lunch/naps.
Thursday.
Home in the morning.
This is baking day once I get a stove again. We need to have quick snacks for the weekend prepared.
I'm trying to plan most play dates or "adventures" on this day (Paradise Park, Library, etc) for afternoon. Today we went to The Children's Peace Pavillion in Independence.
Friday.
Home now in the morning!
I do have use of my sister on this day for babysitting as needed. Its a swap since I watch her ds on Mondays.
Tomorrow she is walking over and will take Jack for a walk in the stroller so Will and I can spend some time at home.
There is a homeschooling "recess" day in Lee's Summit I would like to take Will to but the timing is bad. I don't think we'll be doing it. My rest time, I mean, the boys rest time is too important to mess with. If I just stay committed to being home at rest time, life is so much better. Why don't I get that?
I think I will use Fridays for our more complex craft time. For example, we are making Kites for Michelmas so we would do that on this day. Will is also currently really interested in space and is working on a Space Mobile. He is painting the planets now, but we have run into a problem because he is insistent on giving Jupiter to Grandma. I really want Jupiter in our solar system.
Will has requested this week, however, we go to this little stream we found in the "woods" at a park a few miles away so we'll do that in the afternoon.
Saturday:
Every other week is Lake Farm School. We also have festivals thru the seasons to enjoy. Our weekends stay busy.
Sundays:
Either we go to Unity or we go watch Mark play hockey in the morning.
Other things the boys get to enjoy:
Fishing with grandpa.
Going down the street to see Amy (my 17 year old sister).
Making projects with Papa Scot. A treasure chest has been requested to I need to get Papa Scot on that. After he finishes all the work he is doing for us around this house. lol.
So this sounds pretty good to me except for a few problems:
I have GOT to get a routine down for meal purchasing and preparation. Of course, a stove would help.
But I also want a recipe list. I was thinking of making a calendar of meals just like a school does so all I have to do is look at the calendar and know what to make. And just make the same stuff on the same day each week. Or rotate out a schedule every few weeks. I'm sure there is something on the Internet I could use. Must get this organized.
I also have GOT to figure out how to get more exercise. Walking and bike riding doesn't cut it.
Now its time to go to bed.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Oh what fun...
This week was great. I wish I had it in pictures, it would be so much more interesting.
Monday was all day play with their cousin Reed here at home, and the Will's NAET appt.
Tuesday we spent up at a lake in Lawson, MO with other homeschoolers celebrating the summer. Will thought it was so cool to have all those homeschoolers in one place. He is now even answering on his own when the "Oh, will you start Kindergaren this year?" question comes his way. "Actually, I'm homeschooling." Mama is thrilled. Though the other day he did ask why can't he homeschool AND go to school. I told him next year - when he goes to Lake Farm School two days a week (hoping that works out the way I envision).
Wednesday we hung out in the morning and played and visited Grandpa and Na-na's house in the afternoon (a short walk down the street).
Thursday morning we got to see a friend of mine from high school - went swimming at the Harrisonville community center for her dd's birthday. Josie is the same age as Will. I also realized Harrisonville's community center is almost as close to me as Lee's Summits! Shows how freaking far south we are. The afternoon was spent making and playing with the cardboard swords and shields my True Knights in Shining Armor begged to make. Jackie is so much trying to say "SHHHHield" instead of "FFField." He's working on it.
Friday was violin lessons. We take lessons with another 5 year old girl and her father. They are fabulous violinists (he was a Suzuki kid himself growing up). I am working very hard to stay inspired and not intimidated. Will is really enjoying playing with them. He took to heart the father's suggestion that he "practices ONLY on the days he sleeps. Or eats." : ) Of course, all of Will's practice time is um, free flowing you could say. He has no interest in formal instruction from me.
After we hung out at Grandma's for awhile and then came home. Ate dinner out at La Fuentes.
Saturday - another hanging out kind of day! Oh, and picking ticks off of everyone from being at grandma's the day before... I think the ticks came from good old dog Bluey, who had to hang out in the backyard all day
.
Tomorrow we go to Liberty Memorial and meet friends of Mark's from work ---- taking all the dogs to the dog park. Should be.... interesting. First thing in the morning Will goes fishing with Grandpa down at our lake.
I'm currently downloading a bunch of pics on the other computer and plan to compile a "summer of pics" for here.
The entire week Will was just amazing. I mean there were still 5 year old moments and all but it was all more manageable -- his frustrations, his disapointments. Yes, he got mad over things, talked back about things but didn't completely fall apart over and over and over again. Its so much easier to handle the rough times when they don't come at you every 15 seconds.
This week he:
Created many great art pieces. He rarely sits and colors. This week he drew about 5 pictures. He made a picture for his friend's birthday and asked me how to spell her name. Actually he asked me to spell it in the air --- and then he copied down what I wrote in the air.
Created his own "albums" with paper and tape. He made the album cover, and then the album to slip inside it.
Created -I don't even know what but its a huge mess of strings and boxes and papers and clips in my living room.
Made paper airplanes with Daddy
Played a board game - Auntie Ruth's Apples.
Played his violin! Mississipi Hot Dog, and Cabbage, Cabbage.... (boil that cabbage down!).
And here's a biggie - he helped clean up tonight. He went nuts cleaning and organizing. Mark and I looked at each other like, "who IS this kid?" : )
And Jack?
He was right there with Will. Making messes, being a knight, or a pirate, or a cowboy or a doctor. Saving us all week long. Giving us his big sweet smile.
Yes, this week deserved pictures.
Monday was all day play with their cousin Reed here at home, and the Will's NAET appt.
Tuesday we spent up at a lake in Lawson, MO with other homeschoolers celebrating the summer. Will thought it was so cool to have all those homeschoolers in one place. He is now even answering on his own when the "Oh, will you start Kindergaren this year?" question comes his way. "Actually, I'm homeschooling." Mama is thrilled. Though the other day he did ask why can't he homeschool AND go to school. I told him next year - when he goes to Lake Farm School two days a week (hoping that works out the way I envision).
Wednesday we hung out in the morning and played and visited Grandpa and Na-na's house in the afternoon (a short walk down the street).
Thursday morning we got to see a friend of mine from high school - went swimming at the Harrisonville community center for her dd's birthday. Josie is the same age as Will. I also realized Harrisonville's community center is almost as close to me as Lee's Summits! Shows how freaking far south we are. The afternoon was spent making and playing with the cardboard swords and shields my True Knights in Shining Armor begged to make. Jackie is so much trying to say "SHHHHield" instead of "FFField." He's working on it.
Friday was violin lessons. We take lessons with another 5 year old girl and her father. They are fabulous violinists (he was a Suzuki kid himself growing up). I am working very hard to stay inspired and not intimidated. Will is really enjoying playing with them. He took to heart the father's suggestion that he "practices ONLY on the days he sleeps. Or eats." : ) Of course, all of Will's practice time is um, free flowing you could say. He has no interest in formal instruction from me.
After we hung out at Grandma's for awhile and then came home. Ate dinner out at La Fuentes.
Saturday - another hanging out kind of day! Oh, and picking ticks off of everyone from being at grandma's the day before... I think the ticks came from good old dog Bluey, who had to hang out in the backyard all day
.
Tomorrow we go to Liberty Memorial and meet friends of Mark's from work ---- taking all the dogs to the dog park. Should be.... interesting. First thing in the morning Will goes fishing with Grandpa down at our lake.
I'm currently downloading a bunch of pics on the other computer and plan to compile a "summer of pics" for here.
The entire week Will was just amazing. I mean there were still 5 year old moments and all but it was all more manageable -- his frustrations, his disapointments. Yes, he got mad over things, talked back about things but didn't completely fall apart over and over and over again. Its so much easier to handle the rough times when they don't come at you every 15 seconds.
This week he:
Created many great art pieces. He rarely sits and colors. This week he drew about 5 pictures. He made a picture for his friend's birthday and asked me how to spell her name. Actually he asked me to spell it in the air --- and then he copied down what I wrote in the air.
Created his own "albums" with paper and tape. He made the album cover, and then the album to slip inside it.
Created -I don't even know what but its a huge mess of strings and boxes and papers and clips in my living room.
Made paper airplanes with Daddy
Played a board game - Auntie Ruth's Apples.
Played his violin! Mississipi Hot Dog, and Cabbage, Cabbage.... (boil that cabbage down!).
And here's a biggie - he helped clean up tonight. He went nuts cleaning and organizing. Mark and I looked at each other like, "who IS this kid?" : )
And Jack?
He was right there with Will. Making messes, being a knight, or a pirate, or a cowboy or a doctor. Saving us all week long. Giving us his big sweet smile.
Yes, this week deserved pictures.
Monday, August 13, 2007
NAET updates.
Will has now been to 3 NAET appointments. He has been treated for Body Balance, Egg Mix, and Vitamin C. The past couple of weeks have been hell - screaming fits, rage, attitude. Exemplified. Today he was treated for Vitamin C. Tonight for the first time (he's 5) ever we played a board game. Other than quick games of Animal Lotto (a year ago) I've never been able to have him sit thru a game and play. But he also had a really grand day playing with his cousin all day. Very few outbursts. They had a blast (here at home) playing dress up and tons of imaginative play. Maybe he was just at ease for a change because of that. ???
At his appointment he was also treated for emotions - panic and irritation. Last week he was treated for fear. I think I could be treated for all the same things!
I'm going to start documenting all of this. I've given up on Feingold for now just because ELIMINATION DIETS SUCK! I'm tired living with so many questions. Or maybe there is nothing to question.
A few months ago during the Weird Breathing Thing, x-rays from the pulmonologist showed he had "mild asthma" (i.e. mild fluid in the lungs). The pulmonologist basically said The Weird Breathing Thing was not related to that, but hey, come back in Septmember for more x-rays and we'll talk meds. Okay he wasn't SO blatant about the meds but he did look me solemnly in the eye and asked me, "do I have your commitment that you will return in the Fall for more testing?" It just freaked me out. I squirmed - I felt like it would be Noted In A File if I said no. I just said I would see. Nope, no meds thank you. Not yet. I need to fing out the issue not just cover it up.
At his appointment he was also treated for emotions - panic and irritation. Last week he was treated for fear. I think I could be treated for all the same things!
I'm going to start documenting all of this. I've given up on Feingold for now just because ELIMINATION DIETS SUCK! I'm tired living with so many questions. Or maybe there is nothing to question.
A few months ago during the Weird Breathing Thing, x-rays from the pulmonologist showed he had "mild asthma" (i.e. mild fluid in the lungs). The pulmonologist basically said The Weird Breathing Thing was not related to that, but hey, come back in Septmember for more x-rays and we'll talk meds. Okay he wasn't SO blatant about the meds but he did look me solemnly in the eye and asked me, "do I have your commitment that you will return in the Fall for more testing?" It just freaked me out. I squirmed - I felt like it would be Noted In A File if I said no. I just said I would see. Nope, no meds thank you. Not yet. I need to fing out the issue not just cover it up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
