Friday, November 09, 2007

Urban Myth or Genuine Danger

Has a child ever been injured when running with a lollipop in their mouth? Seriously, is this a real thing or an urban legend like poison Halloween candy?

We are SO paranoid about this, but I've never actually heard of anything happening to a kid who ran with a lollipop in their mouth.

It's my 6:10 PM conundrum.

Strictly Ballroom

Rich and I took a ballroom dancing lesson last night at the Fred Astaire Dance studio in Belmont. It was our second lesson from a free introductory package that Rich got for driving a crazy lady to her car.

OK, that probably requires more explanation. He was getting a donut on his way to work, and this woman jumped into his car and asked if he was going to Porter. He was too surprised to say no, and he ended up driving her to the impound lot to find her car. She thanked him by sending us a gift certificate for 2 free introductory lessons at the dance studio where she worked.

It NEVER would have occurred to us to take a dance lesson otherwise. We actually really liked it. It was a nice date night. We had a 1/2 hour lesson that was like dancing while hugging your best friend. The instructor asked if we'd ever watched "Dancing with the Stars." I said, "No, but I've seen the movie Strictly Ballroom about 7 times." This is true.

I'm not sure if we're ready to pay for dance lessons, but we're actually considering it. It's kind of expensive, but it was really time well spent. The instructors were really perky and supportive and not even remotely put off by the number of left feet in the room. It's good exercise, and other than hiking, it's one of the few things that he and I can do together.

Something to think about.

***

In other totally randomness, I saw REM on Sesame Street surrounded by Muppets singing Little Furry People Holding Hands.

Was it really cool, or was I a dork for loving it?

Don't answer that.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Another Day, Another Doctor

I took Eric down to MGH to see his pulmonologist today on the T. For some reason, I brainfarted and went down Somerville Ave instead of Beacon Street. This takes longer and I know this. But I didn't get much sleep last night and, well, I am not firing on all pistons. I'm a few pancakes short of a stack. I'm a couple of tacos short of a combination plate. Etc.

They moved the Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology office into a much smaller space in a new building. The wait was GAWDAWFUL. The old office had a huge carpeted waiting area, complete with toys, books and space to move around. This one was smaller than my living room and was almost completely filled with chairs. The only entertainment was a water cooler. And you can imagine how fun that was with an 18 month old and a 4 year old. Much water was strewn about during our hour long wait.

The doctor was very despondent about his new digs as well. But he seemed resigned to it. I had an interesting conversation with him about Eric's recent trip to the ER. It probably could have been prevented if the pulmonologist I spoke to had engaged with me and gone through the specific symptoms. I said he was probably afraid of getting sued.

His whole demeanor changed at that point. Eric's pulmonologist is old school. He looks like Mr. Rogers with little round glasses. He's a GREAT doctor, he's kind and knowledgeable and has given me all the tools we need to keep Eric from getting admitted to the hospital. "People who are risk averse should not go into medicine. I am NOT going to let some lawyer," he spat the word out like it was covered in excrement, "tell me how to run my practice."

He also confirmed what I suspected about the recent epidemic of anyphalictic milk and egg allergies. He thinks the whole thing is blown way out of proportion and those allergies are not nearly as dangerous as allergists convince parents they are. (He's an allergist/pulmonologist) The allergists are treating the kids in the manner that will least likely end in a lawsuit, as opposed to what's actually logical and best for the kids.

So, the wait at the doctor was rotten, but the doctor was totally worth it. The T was kind of fun. We rode the spiffy new elevators at Charles Street. That area is so much more convenient for pedestrians than it used to be. Two minutes from the T, you're right at the hospital.

But all in all, I'm glad I'm done with Eric's doctor's appointments until December. After that hopefully we'll be done until next September.

I give a tentative W00T! on that one.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Tuesday Morning: Revisited

5:20 AM "La la la... Brrrr. Thwwwppp...." coming through baby monitor. Rich goes up stairs and gives Kaylee binky. Brief quiet.

5:30 Rich dresses quietly and starts to leave. Thwump. Sound of door closing. "Hi there Boo!" he says as Eric appears in our room. Eric jumps into the bed.

5:45 all is quiet and through the baby monitor: La la BRrrrr.. Ma Ma Da Da Ba Bee... I go up and find the binky and lay the baby down again.

6:00 Eric is wiggling and talking send him to get dressed. Hear doors slam and toilet lid opening.

6:05 from bathroom "I'm DONE! I'm DONE" Go to bathroom and wipe tushie. (Never trust a 4 year old to wipe his own butt. Trust me on this one. Just give it another year)

6:10 Send boy to bedroom to get dressed. Return to bed and close eyes.

6:11 Boy streaks through bedroom. Say firmly "Eric GO GET DRESSED"

6:15 hear boy playing in room. Close eyes, breathe.

6:20 "Mommy can you help me get dressed?"

6:21 "NO."

6:22 "Mommy, can you help me make a lego tower?"

6:23 "No, get dressed"

6:40 Must have dozed off. Hear banging and clanging.

6:45 stomp stomp (sound of preschooler going downstairs) "Eric, are you dressed?"
"Yep!" rush out of bed and look downstairs. He is dressed!

"Oh, well I'd better get dressed too. Let's go wake up Kaylee. But DON'T climb in her bed!"

6:50 Boy rushes upstairs. Hear crib creaking as he climbs in

6:51 Kick boy out of sister's bed. Pull baby out of bed and she starts to cry. "What is it Kaylee, what do you want? Do you want your Blankie?

"NO! Kee Kee!"

Repeat conversation until mom realizes that Keekee is binky. Find Binky. Insert. Dress baby.

6:59 "OK, Kaylee it's time to say night night to binky."

"NO!"

"I'm going to count to three and then we have to say night night to binky. One... Two... Three..."

"No!"

Repeat. Next time it works. Kaylee tosses binky into the crib. "Bye Bye! Bye Bye Keekee!"

7:04 Get to kitchen. Start pouring coffee. Serve kids muffins.

7:05 Wash dishes and load dishwasher.

7:08 Start water boiling for Eric's lunch pasta

7:10 "Nanna! Nanna" Cries the baby. Peel banana and hand off. "I want a banana!" Says the boy. Try to hand him half of Kaylee's bananna. "NO. I want a whole banana." Kaylee reaches for the banana in my hand and starts shrieking for it. She likes symmetry in her food. One for each hand.

7:12 Realize water is boiling and add pasta and realize I don't have enough. That's OK, there's about 8 packages in the basement. Try to get downstairs. "I want a WHOLE banana." says the boy.

7:15 Start to peel banana. "NO, I want to peel it." fold up banana peel back on to fruit and head down to get pasta.

7:18 Add more pasta to pot on stove and add a few minutes to the timer. Hope it's OK.

7:20 Boy starts running around the kitchen. Daughter starts shrieking because she's strapped to her high chair. "Are you finished?" I ask her "Yep." So, I start to take her food away. "NO!!" She snatches her muffin away from me and smears it on her face.

7:21 "Eric sit down and eat your banana. You asked for a whole one, and you'd better eat it." I warn. "I want some milk." He says. "We're out of milk. We'll get some from the store this afternoon."

"We're out of a lot of things, aren't we?" Yes, darling, very astute. Boy returns to table.

7:25 Take slug of coffee and begin to look for socks. Realize that son fingernails are so long he is starting to resemble Nos Feratu.

7:26 Attempt to locate fingernail clippers.

7:29 Timer on pasta goes. Put in Thermos and insert into lunch box

7:30 locate fingernail clippers and cut the fingernails of a remarkably cooperative boy.

7:35 Take another slug of coffee and locate 2 pairs of socks. One small, one smaller. Just like the kids. Go to put K's socks on and realize that her toes have become talons the nails are so long.

7:40 cut the nails of a screaming, wiggling baby.

7:45 realize she is only screaming because while I was focusing on her nails, Eric was playing with her favorite toy.

7:50 get both kids into their socks and shoes. Win argument with son about taking bike to school. NOT in the rain and NO, I'm not driving four blocks.

7:55 start swearing under my breath as I attempt to locate son's coat that I am positive I hung up in the coat closet the night before.

7:58 Locate coat wedged between 2 adult coats. Open back door and kids flow out. Try to distract son from play structure in yard because it is wet.

8:03 Kids are in stroller and relatively dry. I do the happy dance. Start to walk to school.

8:06 It starts raining. So, I start rushing. Then I realize that it will be too early to drop them off if I rush. Take my time a bit and get wet. Son is a good sport about Mom forgetting the rain cover.

8:14 Realize I forgot my swipe card. Stand in the rain with stroller at preschool door and feel like an idiot. Ring bell again. Door opened by kind but somewhat annoyed teacher.

8:15 Sign in son (I think) chat with teacher.

8:20 Rush through the rain to K's daycare.

8:28 Leave stroller on the porch. Chat with lovely childcare provider.

8:40 Skip through the rain in anticipation of several kid free hours!

9-12 Clean the house, do laundry, general catch up.

12:23 Get kids grocery shop

Life is good.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Eric Sleeping to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow


This is an image I hope will repeat throughout my kids lives and beyond. Eric fell asleep looking at "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

We've progressed to chapter books. Rich started with Sleepy Hollow. I thought it was a daunting choice for a four year old, but Eric proved me wrong. He loved it and understood it. Most importantly, he was not afraid of it.

We just had to snap this picture before we peeled the book from his drooly face for the night.

Makes your heart sing, doesn't it?