As many of you know, I do not like blood, guts and gore. Therefore when Nathan fell off his bike and gashed open his chin, I think I handled it pretty well. I was only home from work about 15-20 minutes, and I was just getting stuff out to make dinner, when I hear a kid crying off in the distance. The sound keeps getting closer and I realize that it is Nathan. In walks Nathan with the neighbor lady kind of cupping his chin. I get a wet washcloth so he can wipe it off before I look at it. I just glance at it and realize that he will need stitches. It is about an inch long and probably gapping open about a 1/4". I didn't faint, pass out or feel queasy. I calmy asked Bruce if he was staying home with the kids or what when the neighbor lady voluntered to take the younger two back to her house.
Unfortunately when we get to the hospital all the ER beds are full so we had to wait in the waiting room for about an hour. The physician assistant who stitched Nathan up was great with him. He kept talking to him and making him laugh and just kept his mind off his cut and stitches. He did really well and left the hospital with seven stitches under his chin and several band-aids on his arms and legs for his minor scuffs and scrapes. He thought he looked pretty tough with all his scrapes and band-aids.
On the way to the hospital and in the waiting room he kept telling us that he did not think he should go to school tomorrow because he was hurt. We convinced him that it was his last day and he won't do anything but party today. He went to school today willingly to show off and he was already enjoying the attention he got at daycare this morning.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
School chaos
I have been feeling a little conflicted about our school lately. I know that Nathan has been getting in trouble and some of it is bullying and some of it is a kid being a kid. But because he has been in trouble, they are certainly watching him closer than any other kid.
The other day they were learning about Wilbur & Orville Wright. Apparently one of his friends said this was stupid, and why does he have to learn it. Nathan repeated it and he is the one who got caught. Of course he got in trouble and had to stand at recess.
Nathan is still having problems in school with reading and when I was venting to my friends several months ago one of them suggested getting his eyes checked to see if his (in simplest terms) eyes and brain were talking. He had a vision test at the end of March and he sees 20/20 but when I was telling Dr Fortman some if the issues we were having in school she suggested a DV (developmental visual?) test. We just had that test done on Monday and out of the 12 criteria they score, Nathan flunked eight of them. The other four sections he passed at or above his age/grade level. The results still have to be shown to Dr Fortman but I was told that Nathan will have to have vision therapy. I felt some relief knowing there is a reason he is struggling as I know he is smart. I was disappointed to hear that our insurance will not pay for it and the therapy costs are out of our pocket but it is worth it if it helps.
From day one in preschool Nathan has consistently confused his b’s and d’s. He also flips his 3’s and 9’s and makes mistakes similar to that. At every parent teach conference I have expressed concern over this. Both of his teachers have told me that it does not become a concern until second or third grade. Knowing the troubles that my brother had in school and the fact that my maternal cousin also struggled, I have been on the lookout for problems. My Mom was told that these issues are predominant in boys and often runs in families. She recalls her brother having the same problems when he was younger but he was never “diagnosed” with anything. I should have pushed the issue, but I figured that they see kids every day and they know what is normal.
On Tuesday I sent an e-mail to Nathan’s teacher and the principal re-telling them everything I learned the previous day. I was not trying to be a vindictive Mom, but I felt that some of their practices and standards should be questioned. Would this have ever been caught or would he always be labeled a troubled child? My management training tells me not to accept status quo or you will never grow or develop. Constructive criticism is a good thing. If anything, I just wanted them to look at their system to see if there are areas that could be strengthened.
Then I find out that my Mom took my Grandma to the eye doctor yesterday. While there Mom was asking Dr Ahrns which doctor is running the therapy department. Mom then told him what I found out with Nathan this week and he said that a first grader still confusing his b’s and d’s and flipping numbers is not acceptable. Especially not in this age when most kids attend preschool before kindergarten and they are expected to read by Christmas. I guess the moral of the story is to always trust your instincts.
The other day they were learning about Wilbur & Orville Wright. Apparently one of his friends said this was stupid, and why does he have to learn it. Nathan repeated it and he is the one who got caught. Of course he got in trouble and had to stand at recess.
Nathan is still having problems in school with reading and when I was venting to my friends several months ago one of them suggested getting his eyes checked to see if his (in simplest terms) eyes and brain were talking. He had a vision test at the end of March and he sees 20/20 but when I was telling Dr Fortman some if the issues we were having in school she suggested a DV (developmental visual?) test. We just had that test done on Monday and out of the 12 criteria they score, Nathan flunked eight of them. The other four sections he passed at or above his age/grade level. The results still have to be shown to Dr Fortman but I was told that Nathan will have to have vision therapy. I felt some relief knowing there is a reason he is struggling as I know he is smart. I was disappointed to hear that our insurance will not pay for it and the therapy costs are out of our pocket but it is worth it if it helps.
From day one in preschool Nathan has consistently confused his b’s and d’s. He also flips his 3’s and 9’s and makes mistakes similar to that. At every parent teach conference I have expressed concern over this. Both of his teachers have told me that it does not become a concern until second or third grade. Knowing the troubles that my brother had in school and the fact that my maternal cousin also struggled, I have been on the lookout for problems. My Mom was told that these issues are predominant in boys and often runs in families. She recalls her brother having the same problems when he was younger but he was never “diagnosed” with anything. I should have pushed the issue, but I figured that they see kids every day and they know what is normal.
On Tuesday I sent an e-mail to Nathan’s teacher and the principal re-telling them everything I learned the previous day. I was not trying to be a vindictive Mom, but I felt that some of their practices and standards should be questioned. Would this have ever been caught or would he always be labeled a troubled child? My management training tells me not to accept status quo or you will never grow or develop. Constructive criticism is a good thing. If anything, I just wanted them to look at their system to see if there are areas that could be strengthened.
Then I find out that my Mom took my Grandma to the eye doctor yesterday. While there Mom was asking Dr Ahrns which doctor is running the therapy department. Mom then told him what I found out with Nathan this week and he said that a first grader still confusing his b’s and d’s and flipping numbers is not acceptable. Especially not in this age when most kids attend preschool before kindergarten and they are expected to read by Christmas. I guess the moral of the story is to always trust your instincts.
Stuck in the Mud
My boys are without a doubt all boy. This past Sunday we were at Mom’s house for Mother’s Day. Luckily it was pretty decent out so all the kids played outside. Mom has a bike that is Nathan’s size and one that is smaller with training wheels. Since Nathan is the only grandchild that can ride a bike without training wheels he never has to share unlike the younger kids. On Darren’s turn he managed to find the only muddy spot on acres of ground around the house and barns. His training wheels were stuck and the back tire was free-spinning as it must have been higher than the training wheels.
My three boys come up to the house and they are filthy in mud. Darren has a streak up the back of his shirt where the free-spinning tire kicked up mud. His legs were caked. Nathan was all muddy and his legs were dirty. Ditto for Justin. When I asked how all three got dirty Nathan said that he had to give Darren a push to get out of the mud and Justin was not about to be left out of helping. So my kids are filthy and Carla’s kids do not have a speck of mud on them. Straight into the tub they went and I was thankful that I packed pj’s for all three boys. It must have been a mother’s intuition.
My three boys come up to the house and they are filthy in mud. Darren has a streak up the back of his shirt where the free-spinning tire kicked up mud. His legs were caked. Nathan was all muddy and his legs were dirty. Ditto for Justin. When I asked how all three got dirty Nathan said that he had to give Darren a push to get out of the mud and Justin was not about to be left out of helping. So my kids are filthy and Carla’s kids do not have a speck of mud on them. Straight into the tub they went and I was thankful that I packed pj’s for all three boys. It must have been a mother’s intuition.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wednesday random rumblings
Darren made me a book mark at daycare for Mother's Day. On the one side they made flowers with paint and on the other side they had to put a reason they loved their Mom. Darren's read, "I love Mom because I grew in her belly." I told Darren that was really nice but how about because I am funny, or I am a good cook or I am pretty or I like to have fun. Apparently he had a hard time thinking of a reason of why he loved me other than obligation!
Our whole family went to Nathan's ball game Monday night and while Nathan was playing, Darren and Justin were running around with a bunch of kids and playing. Bruce's Dad was there and looked over and saw a kid with no pants on and mentioned it. Bruce looked over and realized that it was Justin. Yep, that was my kid stolling around the yard with no pants on. He must have said that he has to poop and an older kid told him to take his pants off and poop right there in the yard. Fortunately a second kid told him not to and to go find his parents so that they could take him to the bathroom.
Last Friday Nathan was farting up a storm before he left with Bruce after dinner. I asked Nathan if he had to poop first and he said that he did not. Once Bruce got to the neighbor's empty lot where they are going to plant a garden, Nathan has to poop. He popped a squat right there in the field/lot (in the country) and took care of business.
A few days ago while Darren was getting ready for a bath, he realized that he left something on the porch. Stark naked he walks outside down the driveway to reclaim his toy that was left on the porch. Luckily he didn't get to far before I called him back into the house and no cars had gone past. My boys have no modesty!
Our whole family went to Nathan's ball game Monday night and while Nathan was playing, Darren and Justin were running around with a bunch of kids and playing. Bruce's Dad was there and looked over and saw a kid with no pants on and mentioned it. Bruce looked over and realized that it was Justin. Yep, that was my kid stolling around the yard with no pants on. He must have said that he has to poop and an older kid told him to take his pants off and poop right there in the yard. Fortunately a second kid told him not to and to go find his parents so that they could take him to the bathroom.
Last Friday Nathan was farting up a storm before he left with Bruce after dinner. I asked Nathan if he had to poop first and he said that he did not. Once Bruce got to the neighbor's empty lot where they are going to plant a garden, Nathan has to poop. He popped a squat right there in the field/lot (in the country) and took care of business.
A few days ago while Darren was getting ready for a bath, he realized that he left something on the porch. Stark naked he walks outside down the driveway to reclaim his toy that was left on the porch. Luckily he didn't get to far before I called him back into the house and no cars had gone past. My boys have no modesty!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Hearty appetite
I know that I have posted before about the amount of food that my boys eat, but I was astonished by the amount that Nathan ate last night. I am behind on the vaccinations for Justin so I told Bruce to meet me here in Sidney so that we can make it to the vaccination clinic at the health department. I took Justin in while Bruce went home with the other two boys. Before they left Bruce told Justin that if he is good that maybe Mom (me) will bring home McDonald's for dinner.
The shots went as well as expected so we took off to get some food to bring home. I did not want McDonalds so I picked up a 12 pack of soft tacos from Taco Bell knowing that Bruce will eat tacos with me. Nathan has been complaining that he is hungry after eating a happy meal so I ordered him a mighty kids meal. That meal contains a double cheeseburger and a small fry. He ate all that and then asked for a taco. He ate that and asked for another taco. Then he asked for dessert. I only had three tacos myself!
The shots went as well as expected so we took off to get some food to bring home. I did not want McDonalds so I picked up a 12 pack of soft tacos from Taco Bell knowing that Bruce will eat tacos with me. Nathan has been complaining that he is hungry after eating a happy meal so I ordered him a mighty kids meal. That meal contains a double cheeseburger and a small fry. He ate all that and then asked for a taco. He ate that and asked for another taco. Then he asked for dessert. I only had three tacos myself!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Trouble at school
I am unsure if I should post this, but if I am being honest and keeping this as a 'memory book" for my boys, I guess I have to.
Nathan has been having a spot of trouble at school lately. He has been called to the principal's office several times for touching or bullying kids. One day he tackled a boy in the bathroom. When we asked him about it he claim they were just horsing around. For that infraction he had to sit in the principal's office during both recesses. Another day he grabbed a girls arm and put it behind her back and twisted. When we asked him about that he was not sure why he did that. We reminded him that he is stronger than he thinks and he can't be doing that. Again I think he had to stay in at both recesses. Then last Friday he poked another boy in the butt. That promted a meeting with the principal. I meet with him on Tuesday morning and Bruce was unable to get off work.
Basically it boils down to the strict anti-bullying policy most schools have implemented. Something happens again this year he will face in school suspension. There is talk about sending him to an alternative school. They don't call it that, but that is waht it is. I guess I understand their view, but some of it is kids being kids. It was a very hard meeting for me to sit thru. It kind of makes me feel like I have failed as a parent.
Nathan has been having a spot of trouble at school lately. He has been called to the principal's office several times for touching or bullying kids. One day he tackled a boy in the bathroom. When we asked him about it he claim they were just horsing around. For that infraction he had to sit in the principal's office during both recesses. Another day he grabbed a girls arm and put it behind her back and twisted. When we asked him about that he was not sure why he did that. We reminded him that he is stronger than he thinks and he can't be doing that. Again I think he had to stay in at both recesses. Then last Friday he poked another boy in the butt. That promted a meeting with the principal. I meet with him on Tuesday morning and Bruce was unable to get off work.
Basically it boils down to the strict anti-bullying policy most schools have implemented. Something happens again this year he will face in school suspension. There is talk about sending him to an alternative school. They don't call it that, but that is waht it is. I guess I understand their view, but some of it is kids being kids. It was a very hard meeting for me to sit thru. It kind of makes me feel like I have failed as a parent.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Bedtime conversations
Darren must be a kid that does not need a nap anymore because bedtime has been a struggle lately. He is forced to lay down and at least rest at daycare and he must fall asleep most of the time. Darren will willing go to bed if I tell him that I am going to bed, but if I tell him to go to bed and stay up to read, he is in and out of that bed eight hundred times.
Last night about 9:15 I finally tell him that I am going to bed and so Darren said he will go to bed to if I tuck him in. As I am tucking him in we had the following conversation:
Darren: Are you going to bed now too?
Me: Yes.
Darren: Are you going to sleep?
Me: Yes.
Darren: Are you sure? Sometimes I know that you and Dad go to bed and ............(a very long pause) talk.
Whew! I think everyone is thinking that he was going to say something else because I know I was expecting something different out of his mouth too.
Last night about 9:15 I finally tell him that I am going to bed and so Darren said he will go to bed to if I tuck him in. As I am tucking him in we had the following conversation:
Darren: Are you going to bed now too?
Me: Yes.
Darren: Are you going to sleep?
Me: Yes.
Darren: Are you sure? Sometimes I know that you and Dad go to bed and ............(a very long pause) talk.
Whew! I think everyone is thinking that he was going to say something else because I know I was expecting something different out of his mouth too.
Infomercial
I usually try to keep my post about my kids and what is going on in their life but occasionally I will venture into something about me and what I am feeling. This is going to be one of those posts...
I have wanted a Dyson vacuum for a really long time, but the price tag has always kind of scared me off. I know that the Friday after Thanksgiving they run great sales on them, but I hate the frantic scrambling you have to do to get any deals. Recently I was in Target and they had the Dyson sweeper on clearance for $279. That is the Black Friday price! I am guessing that it was on clearance because they are trying to get more people to purchase the Dyson ball vacuum. Needless to say I picked one up.
I love it! It really is a superior vacuum to the one I had. I had a full canister of filth when I was done vacuuming the entire house. It would take my old vacuum several sweepings to accumulate that much dust and dirt. I will be glad to let you "test drive" it at your house before you make the big ticket purchase if you have been thinking about getting one but were hesitant because of the price. Overall, I feel it is money well spent.
I have wanted a Dyson vacuum for a really long time, but the price tag has always kind of scared me off. I know that the Friday after Thanksgiving they run great sales on them, but I hate the frantic scrambling you have to do to get any deals. Recently I was in Target and they had the Dyson sweeper on clearance for $279. That is the Black Friday price! I am guessing that it was on clearance because they are trying to get more people to purchase the Dyson ball vacuum. Needless to say I picked one up.
I love it! It really is a superior vacuum to the one I had. I had a full canister of filth when I was done vacuuming the entire house. It would take my old vacuum several sweepings to accumulate that much dust and dirt. I will be glad to let you "test drive" it at your house before you make the big ticket purchase if you have been thinking about getting one but were hesitant because of the price. Overall, I feel it is money well spent.
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