Before I get into the meat of this entry ... yes, Gwen did pass her karate test. She is now the proud owner of a yellow belt. Yay for Gwen! We are very proud of her.
And Xavier is still writing his name reliably on any surface he can find. We are very proud of him, but we found a certain irony in a "report card" he got from his daycare center/preschool last week. It said, "Xavier seems to be having a hard time learning his letters." MY COWORKER TAUGHT HIM TO WRITE HIS NAME SIMPLY BY WRITING IT ON THE BOARD AND SUGGESTING HE PRACTICE! Hmmm.
Okay, the meat of the entry ... today, when we got home, I needed to go to the bathroom. I usually endeavor to do this without company by going upstairs to do it when the kids are distracted. Today, I distracted them by turning on the radio and saying, "I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute, but if you could listen for the weather forecast, I would appreciate it." I thought this would have been a good ploy, because the kids have been dying for a good snow because they want to try out their new sled.
Well, I knew this attempt was doomed to failure when the silence was broken by a scream of, "Mom!" from downstairs.
This was followed by:
Bump, bump, bump, bump, bump, bump ....
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Bump, bump, bump, BANG! Bump, bump, bump, bump ...
And then Xavier bounced through the door. "Mom! Mom!" he panted, jumping up and down on the tips of his toes. "It's going to snow! I just heard it on the radio! It's going to snow!"
"Wow, that's great, Xavier," I replied.
Still bouncing, "Yeah! It's going to snow -- in West Virginia!"
In case you didn't know -- we don't live in West Virginia. Oh, well, at least his listening skills seem to be better than his evaluation from preschool/daycare would imply.
In other global warming news, I got a little hot around the collar this weekend (this probably isn't sufficiently funny for you, so you can stop reading, Joel). I have been trying to set up a playdate for Gwen with a friend of hers for about a month. This is a girl she has been friends with since before she started preschool, and although we don't get together often, when we do, she always has a great time. She still has pictures of this little girl on her dresser.
I guessed maybe the handwriting was on the wall when this girl -- I'll call her "Morgan" -- did not come to our Halloween party; I understand that friendships change when kids start kindergarten, and Gwen and Morgan are not in the same class, but shortly after Christmas, Gwen said, "You know, Mom, it has been a long time since I have seen my good friend Morgan. I really miss her." And I promised I would set up a date.
When I contacted Morgan's mom, she at first seemed very receptive to having a playdate, but every week since, she has asked to postpone. All of the reasons sounded good -- death in the family, weather problems, delayed surgery -- until this weekend, when I got notice the day before (though, admittedly, it was sent two days before) that there was some event Morgan really wanted to go to, could we try for another time, or maybe the girls could just see each other at an upcoming birthday party for a mutual friend? There was no attempt to invite Gwen with them to the "event", or even a definite reschedule date (as there had been the previous weeks), and, of course my phone calls went unreturned and suggested reschedule times ignored.
Now, I may be a bit of a geek, and a tad socially inept (or even severely so), but even I can see what is going on here. The problem is, I have a sweet little girl who doesn't understand why Morgan won't come and play. You can explain illness, weather, and even death; if Morgan's mom had said, "Morgan just doesn't want to see Gwen, sorry," then it would have been sad, but sometimes these lessons have to be learned. To tell your daughter, however, "You can't see Morgan because her mom does not want to have to spend time with me," is a little complicated for an almost-six-year-old.
The last correspondence I received from Morgan's mom said, "I hope we can see you soon -- it has been too long!" I had to laugh. If she does try to reschedule, I'll probably go along with it -- I can overlook a lot for the sake of two little girls -- but I won't let Gwen know in advance this time.
And I won't let this rift in our relationship prevent me from giving Morgan's mom free Kempo Karate coupons.
PS The kids LOVE www.becomeanmm.com Thanks, Jilian!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Test
Gwen will be taking her test for her yellow belt in Kempo Karate on Saturday. Xavier would be taking his test on Saturday as well, except that he has a cold and asthma, and we don't think he is up to the physical portion. So he'll be testing next month, which is probably just as well, because this will give Gwen the impression that her hard work (and she does work hard) gives her the edge over Xavier (who, admittedly, would probably win in a fight, but doesn't pay as much attention.)
Xavier had his four-year visit to the Pediatrician's office on Friday. Despite my best efforts, he had to put his hands on every horizontal surface at the doctor's office, so it is a complete mystery how he got sick. Anyway, the day before his visit, I reminded Adam that Xavier had this appointment and asked him if he was going to be able to make it.
"Well, if you're too busy, I guess I could take him," Adam said reluctantly.
"I was planning to attend anyway. After all, we have a lot of questions about his asthma. But if you're too busy, I guess I can take him by myself."
"Well, if you could do that, it would be better for me," Adam said.
I thought for a moment, then said, "Wait a minute -- aren't you coming over to play cards with Naveed at lunchtime?" Naveed works with me, and he and Adam have a standing date to play Magic the Gathering on Fridays over lunch.
"Yes ..." Adam admitted.
"Well, if you could pick Xavier up at school and bring him with you, then that would save me some time." I suggested.
Adam looked a little crestfallen. "That will make me late for cards."
"That's okay," I said. "I'll let Naveed know."
So, that's what we did. Xavier and Adam arrived at 12:15 or so, but Xavier's appointment wasn't until 2:15. For awhile, he played cards with Adam and Naveed, but after Adam left he was more interested in hanging out with my coworkers than with me (male bonding stuff.) He really liked a white board behind Christian's desk, and Christian was amenable to him playing there, so he drew on the white board for awhile. Christian wrote his name on the board (Xavier's, not Christian's) and encouraged him to practice writing it (or "drawing it," as Xavier put it.) It was strange, because just that morning I was bemoaning the fact that Xavier could not write his name yet, and he is four years old.
2:15 rolled around, and Xavier and I made a mad dash for the pediatrician's. After the hearing test (probably normal), and the vision test (normal), the pediatrician tested his mental development. Handing him a pen, she said, "Draw a circle for me."
He did.
She said, "Draw a box for me."
He did.
She said, "Write your name for me."
"I don't think --" I started, but Xavier wrote out X-A-V-A-I-E-R. Pretty close, given that the day before he was signing things with an "X" (it's a cowboy thing.)
The moral of this story is: clearly I need to hire Christian to handle all of my preschool needs.
Xavier had his four-year visit to the Pediatrician's office on Friday. Despite my best efforts, he had to put his hands on every horizontal surface at the doctor's office, so it is a complete mystery how he got sick. Anyway, the day before his visit, I reminded Adam that Xavier had this appointment and asked him if he was going to be able to make it.
"Well, if you're too busy, I guess I could take him," Adam said reluctantly.
"I was planning to attend anyway. After all, we have a lot of questions about his asthma. But if you're too busy, I guess I can take him by myself."
"Well, if you could do that, it would be better for me," Adam said.
I thought for a moment, then said, "Wait a minute -- aren't you coming over to play cards with Naveed at lunchtime?" Naveed works with me, and he and Adam have a standing date to play Magic the Gathering on Fridays over lunch.
"Yes ..." Adam admitted.
"Well, if you could pick Xavier up at school and bring him with you, then that would save me some time." I suggested.
Adam looked a little crestfallen. "That will make me late for cards."
"That's okay," I said. "I'll let Naveed know."
So, that's what we did. Xavier and Adam arrived at 12:15 or so, but Xavier's appointment wasn't until 2:15. For awhile, he played cards with Adam and Naveed, but after Adam left he was more interested in hanging out with my coworkers than with me (male bonding stuff.) He really liked a white board behind Christian's desk, and Christian was amenable to him playing there, so he drew on the white board for awhile. Christian wrote his name on the board (Xavier's, not Christian's) and encouraged him to practice writing it (or "drawing it," as Xavier put it.) It was strange, because just that morning I was bemoaning the fact that Xavier could not write his name yet, and he is four years old.
2:15 rolled around, and Xavier and I made a mad dash for the pediatrician's. After the hearing test (probably normal), and the vision test (normal), the pediatrician tested his mental development. Handing him a pen, she said, "Draw a circle for me."
He did.
She said, "Draw a box for me."
He did.
She said, "Write your name for me."
"I don't think --" I started, but Xavier wrote out X-A-V-A-I-E-R. Pretty close, given that the day before he was signing things with an "X" (it's a cowboy thing.)
The moral of this story is: clearly I need to hire Christian to handle all of my preschool needs.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
But, wheat! There's more!
We got the results back on Gwen allergy panel. As I believe I mentioned earlier (or maybe I have told enough people by now that I just think I included it in the BLOG), this allergy panel is different and less accurate than the "fifty pricks with a needle" test that most of you are familiar with. In this case, they expose a sample of blood to the supposed allergin, and if you get a positive response, you are probably allergic; if you don't, then you may not be. Still, this is the preferred approach for kids Gwen's age because it is less traumatic. The reason she had this test at all is that the doctor suspected her frequent vomiting is related to reflux, but it is easier to reliably diagnose allergies than reflux at her age, so if she had come back allergy-free, the doctor would have started treating her for reflux.
Have I lost you yet? It boggles my mind, too.
Anyway, the only thing she came back positive on was wheat. I had kind of suspected this; she doesn't become violently ill upon eating wheat, but wheaty foods to tend to make her cough, vomiting usually followed a macaroni supper, and when her skin comes in contact with wheaty foods, she breaks out. She only registered a two on a scale of zero to six, so although she is not profoundly allergic, she is allergic all the same.
Anyway, to see if it helps, we are trying a trial period of eliminating wheat from her diet (welcome to day 2.) At first, Gwen was very concerned about this ("But I love wheat!" "What foods have wheat in them, honey?" "I don't know, but I LOVE it!") but she is starting to become enamored with some of the rice-based substitutes. So is Xavier, though we have to watch it with him, because a lot of the rice-based substitutes are made with white rice flour. Still, I am glad she does not have a serious allergy; if she eats some wheat, it may make her cough (or throw up), but it isn't life threatening. Thank god she isn't allergic to peanuts!
Well, on a lighter note ...
Xav and Gwen were watching a movie Gwen's Nana gave her for Christmas (about a girl who ends up becoming a "mother" to a bunch of Canada Geese -- if I was really ambitious, I would go downstairs and read the title, but ... I'm too tired, so I'm not.) I had to work, so I was not watching it with them, but when Gwen came to get me for supper, she told me it was about a girl raising swans. Then, when I joined them for the end of the movie, I saw for myself that they were Canada geese, so I set them straight. Then one of the geese gets injured, and loses a few pin feathers, so it can't fly.
"So, now I guess it is a duck," Xavier piped up.
We reassured him that it was still a goose, but he was pretty persistent. By the end of the movie, even Adam was calling them "ducks."
Have I lost you yet? It boggles my mind, too.
Anyway, the only thing she came back positive on was wheat. I had kind of suspected this; she doesn't become violently ill upon eating wheat, but wheaty foods to tend to make her cough, vomiting usually followed a macaroni supper, and when her skin comes in contact with wheaty foods, she breaks out. She only registered a two on a scale of zero to six, so although she is not profoundly allergic, she is allergic all the same.
Anyway, to see if it helps, we are trying a trial period of eliminating wheat from her diet (welcome to day 2.) At first, Gwen was very concerned about this ("But I love wheat!" "What foods have wheat in them, honey?" "I don't know, but I LOVE it!") but she is starting to become enamored with some of the rice-based substitutes. So is Xavier, though we have to watch it with him, because a lot of the rice-based substitutes are made with white rice flour. Still, I am glad she does not have a serious allergy; if she eats some wheat, it may make her cough (or throw up), but it isn't life threatening. Thank god she isn't allergic to peanuts!
Well, on a lighter note ...
Xav and Gwen were watching a movie Gwen's Nana gave her for Christmas (about a girl who ends up becoming a "mother" to a bunch of Canada Geese -- if I was really ambitious, I would go downstairs and read the title, but ... I'm too tired, so I'm not.) I had to work, so I was not watching it with them, but when Gwen came to get me for supper, she told me it was about a girl raising swans. Then, when I joined them for the end of the movie, I saw for myself that they were Canada geese, so I set them straight. Then one of the geese gets injured, and loses a few pin feathers, so it can't fly.
"So, now I guess it is a duck," Xavier piped up.
We reassured him that it was still a goose, but he was pretty persistent. By the end of the movie, even Adam was calling them "ducks."
Monday, January 08, 2007
Birthday! starring ... Xavier!
My birthday is coming up. Xavier asked me the other day, "Mom, how old will you be on your birthday?"
Teasing him, I replied, "I'll be old, Xavier."
"Oh," he said thoughtfully. "I guess you'll die soon, then."
"Not that old, Xav," I said quickly.
"Will you be waiting for me in heaven?"
"Not that old, Xav."
We got a visit from my friend Tania the other night and her husband Mike. Aunt Tania brought over some belated Christmas and Birthday gifts for the kids. One of the gifts was a Lite Brite cube (for both kids), but Gwen had already received one for Christmas. Xavier asked Aunt Tania, "What will you do with this now?"
"Well," she answered, "I'll exchange it for a new present and bring it to you next time I see you."
"When is the next time you are coming?" he asked. "How about tomorrow?"
On New Year's Day, Xavier got up a little later than usual (6:45.) Anyone who knows Xavier knows that he gets up at 6:00 (or, if he can swing it, earlier) every morning, even on the weekends. My light-sleeping husband -- who is a saint -- almost always gets up with him.
On New Year's, Xavier climbed into bed next to me while Adam was getting dressed to take him downstairs. When he reached for Xavier and tried to pull him out of bed, Xavier whimpered and tried to cling to me.
"Xavier, Mommy needs to sleep in," Adam told him.
"But I tell you what," I said to Xavier, "From now on, in 2007, I will get up with you on Sundays, and we'll let Daddy sleep in."
Every day since then, the first thing Xavier asks me in the morning is, "Is it Sunday?" And the last thing he asks me when I put him to bed at night is, "Is tomorrow Sunday?" Of course, when Sunday actually arrived, he slept in until 6:30, then climbed into bed with me and fell asleep until 8:00. We might have slept in later if his snoring hadn't roused everyone else in the room ...
Gwen went to the hospital on Friday to have some allergy testing done. She was very brave, dancing around the Outpatient check-in area (which took, of course, 40 minutes), and she only whimpered a little when they ran the test in Outpatient Laboratories (Total time: 5 minutes.) We'll find out next week what her results were.
As we hurried to the van to pick up Xav afterwards, Gwen made the observation, "I've never been here before!"
"Yes, you have," I replied.
"When?"
"You were born here." She thought that was pretty funny.
Teasing him, I replied, "I'll be old, Xavier."
"Oh," he said thoughtfully. "I guess you'll die soon, then."
"Not that old, Xav," I said quickly.
"Will you be waiting for me in heaven?"
"Not that old, Xav."
We got a visit from my friend Tania the other night and her husband Mike. Aunt Tania brought over some belated Christmas and Birthday gifts for the kids. One of the gifts was a Lite Brite cube (for both kids), but Gwen had already received one for Christmas. Xavier asked Aunt Tania, "What will you do with this now?"
"Well," she answered, "I'll exchange it for a new present and bring it to you next time I see you."
"When is the next time you are coming?" he asked. "How about tomorrow?"
On New Year's Day, Xavier got up a little later than usual (6:45.) Anyone who knows Xavier knows that he gets up at 6:00 (or, if he can swing it, earlier) every morning, even on the weekends. My light-sleeping husband -- who is a saint -- almost always gets up with him.
On New Year's, Xavier climbed into bed next to me while Adam was getting dressed to take him downstairs. When he reached for Xavier and tried to pull him out of bed, Xavier whimpered and tried to cling to me.
"Xavier, Mommy needs to sleep in," Adam told him.
"But I tell you what," I said to Xavier, "From now on, in 2007, I will get up with you on Sundays, and we'll let Daddy sleep in."
Every day since then, the first thing Xavier asks me in the morning is, "Is it Sunday?" And the last thing he asks me when I put him to bed at night is, "Is tomorrow Sunday?" Of course, when Sunday actually arrived, he slept in until 6:30, then climbed into bed with me and fell asleep until 8:00. We might have slept in later if his snoring hadn't roused everyone else in the room ...
Gwen went to the hospital on Friday to have some allergy testing done. She was very brave, dancing around the Outpatient check-in area (which took, of course, 40 minutes), and she only whimpered a little when they ran the test in Outpatient Laboratories (Total time: 5 minutes.) We'll find out next week what her results were.
As we hurried to the van to pick up Xav afterwards, Gwen made the observation, "I've never been here before!"
"Yes, you have," I replied.
"When?"
"You were born here." She thought that was pretty funny.
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