Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
I Can Do It Myself! (No Really, I Can!)
Last weekend I suddenly realized that Will was old enough and capable enough to make his own breakfast. I talked him through the steps on Saturday, and on Sunday I supervised from the dining room.
I bet you can guess where all this independence means for our family... This weekend, for the first time in nearly five years, Tom and I are BOTH sleeping in while the the kids fend for themselves. Will knows how to watch On Demand cartoons and make breakfast - what more could they need?
Selecting his cereal.
Gathering his bowl, cup, and utensils.
Transporting everything, via rocket ship chair, back to the counter.
Pouring his cereal.
Getting out the soy milk and orange juice.
Pouring the milk (while I held my breath).
Recapping the orange juice.
Breakfast is served!
I bet you can guess where all this independence means for our family... This weekend, for the first time in nearly five years, Tom and I are BOTH sleeping in while the the kids fend for themselves. Will knows how to watch On Demand cartoons and make breakfast - what more could they need?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I Wish...Things Kids Say and We Wish They Could Take Back
I've hemmed and hawed for the last two hours over whether or not to write about what happened to me tonight, and while I probably shouldn't do it, I'm going to anyway. Because I know writing it down will make me feel better. And because (I hope) my mom and mother-in-law and friends with kids will comment and tell me that their kids have done the same thing to them and that they got over it.
Tom had to work late tonight - so goes the beginning (and the middle and the end) of the university semester. As a treat for the kids, who were missing their dad, we...
1. Went to Blockbuster to rent a movie.
2. Played on the indoor play structure at the McDonald's next door.
3. Purchased Happy Meals for dinner.
4. Had a picnic with said Happy Meals on the floor of the living room while watching the movie we rented.
5. Took a bath in Mom and Dad's "swimming pool" bathtub WITH the jets on.
6. Finished the movie curled up in beanbag chairs.
Not a bad evening, right? At least until that point it wasn't.
I asked Will to pick out a book to read before bed. He said no.
I told Will that his two choices were picking out a book to read before bed or going straight to bed. He said no.
I told Will that if he didn't make a choice I would make a choice for him. He said no and ran away.
I made the choice for him and put him straight to bed, at which point he told me he didn't like me anymore. Will tells me he doesn't like me whenever he doesn't like what I've asked him to do or not do, and while I tell him it hurts my feelings, I try not to overreact.
It was after I'd sent Will to bed and was tucking Hallie in that he went for it - he told me he wished I was dead.
I have no idea where he heard the phrase - we certainly don't use it in our house, and I'm pretty sure the four Disney Channel cartoons the kids watch On Demand don't either - and as it turns out, he doesn't really know what it means. He knew it was hurtful though, and he chose to direct it at me. (We did eventually discuss what Will said meant, how it made me feel, and better ways for him to express his anger. Not sure that conversation was all that productive.)
So I'm kind of sad, I'm pretty pissed off at Will, and I'm wishing there was a way write this outburst off as just another thing almost-five-year-olds do and eventually outgrow. Is it? That's what I'm wishing for tonight.
Tom had to work late tonight - so goes the beginning (and the middle and the end) of the university semester. As a treat for the kids, who were missing their dad, we...
1. Went to Blockbuster to rent a movie.
2. Played on the indoor play structure at the McDonald's next door.
3. Purchased Happy Meals for dinner.
4. Had a picnic with said Happy Meals on the floor of the living room while watching the movie we rented.
5. Took a bath in Mom and Dad's "swimming pool" bathtub WITH the jets on.
6. Finished the movie curled up in beanbag chairs.
Not a bad evening, right? At least until that point it wasn't.
I asked Will to pick out a book to read before bed. He said no.
I told Will that his two choices were picking out a book to read before bed or going straight to bed. He said no.
I told Will that if he didn't make a choice I would make a choice for him. He said no and ran away.
I made the choice for him and put him straight to bed, at which point he told me he didn't like me anymore. Will tells me he doesn't like me whenever he doesn't like what I've asked him to do or not do, and while I tell him it hurts my feelings, I try not to overreact.
It was after I'd sent Will to bed and was tucking Hallie in that he went for it - he told me he wished I was dead.
I have no idea where he heard the phrase - we certainly don't use it in our house, and I'm pretty sure the four Disney Channel cartoons the kids watch On Demand don't either - and as it turns out, he doesn't really know what it means. He knew it was hurtful though, and he chose to direct it at me. (We did eventually discuss what Will said meant, how it made me feel, and better ways for him to express his anger. Not sure that conversation was all that productive.)
So I'm kind of sad, I'm pretty pissed off at Will, and I'm wishing there was a way write this outburst off as just another thing almost-five-year-olds do and eventually outgrow. Is it? That's what I'm wishing for tonight.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hallie's First Haircut
With the exception of a trim of three “rooster tail” hairs at four months old, Hallie has never had a haircut. She has very fine hair that has, since she was born, been growing out in crops. As one crop reaches about an inch and a half, the next crop shoots out of her head both around her forehead and at the top of her neck. Though I hated the idea of cutting off even a millimeter of Hallie’s gorgeous curls…
No curling iron needed - those ringlets are all natural.
…I decided it was finally time to start evening up her crops of hair with little trims.
Here's Hallie before:
And here's Hallie after. She doesn't look any different, but there are considerably fewer snarls at the ends of her curls.
Another “first” we can file in the College Station folder!
No curling iron needed - those ringlets are all natural.
…I decided it was finally time to start evening up her crops of hair with little trims.
Here's Hallie before:
And here's Hallie after. She doesn't look any different, but there are considerably fewer snarls at the ends of her curls.
Another “first” we can file in the College Station folder!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Allergy Update #4
(Read Allergy Updates #1, #2, and #3.)
This morning Will and I returned to the allergist for Will's fresh milk challenge. (In case anyone is keeping track, I've spent more than 10 hours at the allergist this month alone. They're going to set a cot up for me in one of the smaller exam rooms so I can save on travel time and gas money.) His first skin test was negative, but his second skin test was positive (negative = good/no reaction, positive = bad/documentable reaction); these results, when combined with all of Will's test results collected throughout the last few months, make absolutely no sense. Even the allergist is baffled. So while Will played Star Wars math games on his Leapster, the allergist and I discussed all of the options in front of us as well as all of the possible outcomes associated with these options. Long story short, I chose to go ahead with the fresh milk challenge.
We've spent the last four and a half years monitoring absolutely everything Will put in his mouth, making sure he didn't eat or drink something that could quite literally kill him. I knew - both logically and instinctively - that going ahead with the challenge was the right thing to do, but that didn't make it any easier for me to watch Will consume what we had previously considered poison to his small body. I was sick to my stomach from the moment the challenge began until we finally called it quits two hours later.
There's good news and bad news.
The bad news... is that Will is still allergic to dairy.
The good news... is that Will's allergy has dramatically improved/decreased. He was able to drink a teaspoon, and then 30 minutes later, a tablespoon, of chocolate milk for the first time in his entire life. He didn't throw up. He didn't break out in a full body rash. His throat didn't swell. After the teaspoon and tablespoon we moved on to an ounce, which unfortunately led to watery and itchy eyes (which are considered an allergic reaction and therefore ended the challenge) but fortunately didn't cause any dangerous reactions. Will will continue the cooked milk muffin trial for the next six months (heaven help us, and thank you Grandma for offering to send Will a package each week he eats all of his muffins), at which point he'll try the fresh milk challenge again. The allergist is 99% certain that when we test again in February Will's dairy allergy will be a thing of the past.
For some reason I'm feeling particularly sad for my little boy tonight. To be honest, I wasn't expecting Will to completely pass today's challenge - an allergy as severe as Will's clearing up in just five months simply doesn't happen. But deep down I had hoped that today would be the beginning of a new way of living for Will. The beginning of a less-stressful, less-restrictive, more-enjoyable relationship with food and mealtimes and restaurants and birthday parties and friends' houses. He never complains (except about the damn muffins), and he never asks "why me?"; instead, he takes responsibility - in a way that no four-year-old should have to and most adults wouldn't/couldn't take responsibility - for what he puts in his mouth and his own safety.
So tonight I'm complaining for him, and asking why for him. But tomorrow I'll follow his lead and take responsibility for helping him play the hand he was dealt. I'll also say a quick prayer that come February, when the trial is over, this too will have passed.
This morning Will and I returned to the allergist for Will's fresh milk challenge. (In case anyone is keeping track, I've spent more than 10 hours at the allergist this month alone. They're going to set a cot up for me in one of the smaller exam rooms so I can save on travel time and gas money.) His first skin test was negative, but his second skin test was positive (negative = good/no reaction, positive = bad/documentable reaction); these results, when combined with all of Will's test results collected throughout the last few months, make absolutely no sense. Even the allergist is baffled. So while Will played Star Wars math games on his Leapster, the allergist and I discussed all of the options in front of us as well as all of the possible outcomes associated with these options. Long story short, I chose to go ahead with the fresh milk challenge.
We've spent the last four and a half years monitoring absolutely everything Will put in his mouth, making sure he didn't eat or drink something that could quite literally kill him. I knew - both logically and instinctively - that going ahead with the challenge was the right thing to do, but that didn't make it any easier for me to watch Will consume what we had previously considered poison to his small body. I was sick to my stomach from the moment the challenge began until we finally called it quits two hours later.
There's good news and bad news.
The bad news... is that Will is still allergic to dairy.
The good news... is that Will's allergy has dramatically improved/decreased. He was able to drink a teaspoon, and then 30 minutes later, a tablespoon, of chocolate milk for the first time in his entire life. He didn't throw up. He didn't break out in a full body rash. His throat didn't swell. After the teaspoon and tablespoon we moved on to an ounce, which unfortunately led to watery and itchy eyes (which are considered an allergic reaction and therefore ended the challenge) but fortunately didn't cause any dangerous reactions. Will will continue the cooked milk muffin trial for the next six months (heaven help us, and thank you Grandma for offering to send Will a package each week he eats all of his muffins), at which point he'll try the fresh milk challenge again. The allergist is 99% certain that when we test again in February Will's dairy allergy will be a thing of the past.
For some reason I'm feeling particularly sad for my little boy tonight. To be honest, I wasn't expecting Will to completely pass today's challenge - an allergy as severe as Will's clearing up in just five months simply doesn't happen. But deep down I had hoped that today would be the beginning of a new way of living for Will. The beginning of a less-stressful, less-restrictive, more-enjoyable relationship with food and mealtimes and restaurants and birthday parties and friends' houses. He never complains (except about the damn muffins), and he never asks "why me?"; instead, he takes responsibility - in a way that no four-year-old should have to and most adults wouldn't/couldn't take responsibility - for what he puts in his mouth and his own safety.
So tonight I'm complaining for him, and asking why for him. But tomorrow I'll follow his lead and take responsibility for helping him play the hand he was dealt. I'll also say a quick prayer that come February, when the trial is over, this too will have passed.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
#4
Will has now "marked his territory" in four College Station parks.
I appreciate the convenience of trees (for boys) when a bathroom isn't nearby, or when the bathroom nearby is disgusting, but what are us girls supposed to do? I figure I only have another month or two before Hallie also wants to "go pee pee on the potty tree yike Will"...
I appreciate the convenience of trees (for boys) when a bathroom isn't nearby, or when the bathroom nearby is disgusting, but what are us girls supposed to do? I figure I only have another month or two before Hallie also wants to "go pee pee on the potty tree yike Will"...
Monday, August 22, 2011
Cupcake Extravaganza
Lately Hallie and Will have really started to enjoy the Pinkalicious books. Though we currently only own Pinkalicious, Purplicious, and Goldilicious, we’ll be picking up a few more books about Pinkalicious and her friends from the library next week so that I don’t have to continue reading the same three stories over and over again every single day.
Pinkalicious loves all things pink (gee, you think?), especially pink cupcakes. So Will, Hallie, and I decided to use the red KitchenAid Stand Mixer to whip up some Pinkalicious cupcakes, and to go with them, some Go Blue cupcakes as well.
Hallie does most of her baking without clothes on. Come to think of it, both kids do a lot of things without clothes on these days, seeing as it's a bazillion degrees here.
Blue cupcakes, blue frosting, and blue sprinkles. Go Blue!
Pink cupcakes, pink frosting, and pink sprinkles. Pretty, pretty pinkalicious!
Pinkalicious loves all things pink (gee, you think?), especially pink cupcakes. So Will, Hallie, and I decided to use the red KitchenAid Stand Mixer to whip up some Pinkalicious cupcakes, and to go with them, some Go Blue cupcakes as well.
Hallie does most of her baking without clothes on. Come to think of it, both kids do a lot of things without clothes on these days, seeing as it's a bazillion degrees here.
Blue cupcakes, blue frosting, and blue sprinkles. Go Blue!
Pink cupcakes, pink frosting, and pink sprinkles. Pretty, pretty pinkalicious!
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