He sees Dr. Gutt at St. Francis (sorry, that's in answer to Michelle's question I think).
He was really clingy and just didn't act his normal self today. Fever broke through off and on all day. A lot of times he vomits with a fever so I try to keep it down with Motrin even though I know fevers can help the body fight the bug. He also gets gaggy/vomity when he's coughing. We've got Loratidine (sp? it's for seasonal allergies) to try to see if this cough/post nasal drip thing is allergy related. He's doing the ear drops too (which he HATES). Hopefully tomorrow is much better! If not, we'll be headed to the pediatrician. I'd like to avoid a trip to Riley if possible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Ear infection with tubes?
Anyone know if an ear infections with tubes can still hurt? I know Grady's ears are bothering him. The ENT said we'd see drainage (which I do) but that there won't be a fever. He's got a fever so something else must be up. We've started the drops for his ears.
Grady definitely doesn't feel well. Guess it's good that we had no plans for Spring Break!
Grady definitely doesn't feel well. Guess it's good that we had no plans for Spring Break!
Whatever
I recently saw someone who has a very nice body (even after children) and I made a comment about wishing I was thinner and toned. The comment made back to me was, "You can be if you put your mind to it." Um, okay. Yes, I COULD eat less and try to exercise more but "just putting my mind to it" isn't going to work. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive but I feel like a comment like that makes it sound like I don't WANT to be thinner and that I put my mind to being fat. WHATEVER!
I guess I'll go "put my mind to it" and see if I can drop 20 lbs!
I guess I'll go "put my mind to it" and see if I can drop 20 lbs!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Pictures
I took some pics of the kids today. It was in an attempt to see if I wanted to take them to a studio. After all of Taylor's cheesiness and fake smiles and Grady totally not wanting in the pics, I've decided "at home" pics are good enough for now! :)
Here's the same favorites for the most part, just a different arrangement.
Here's one collage of my favorites.
Here's the same favorites for the most part, just a different arrangement.
Here was our evening (this is most evenings around here). Taylor wanting to jump and spin and throw things, Grady watching, and then Grady wrestling Taylor.
Please, be sure to pray for STELLAN. See his button over on the right to visit his page.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Before you have kids
I shamelessly stole this from my friend Amy. But, I wanted all of my friends to be able to enjoy it! Yes yes, it does neglect to mention the good parts of raising a family...but there some true gems of knowledge in these humorous words my friends. Those of you who haven't had kids yet, well, I'm sorry, you may never do it now...
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior. Enjoy it, because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
To discover how the nights will feel...
1. Walk around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10PM, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years.
10. Look cheerful.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed. Then rub them on the clean walls.
4. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
3. Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Craft Test:
1. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.
2. Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.
3. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Lesson 7
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van.
And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the cassette player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
5. There. Perfect.
Lesson 8
1. Get ready to go out.
2. Wait outside the bathroom for half an hour.
3. Go out the front door.
4. Come in again. Then go out.
5. Come back in.
6. Go out again.
7. Walk down the front path.
8. Walk back up it.
9. Walk down it again.
10. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.
11. Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette butt, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.
12. Retrace your steps.
13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbors come out and stare at you.
14. Give up and go back into the house.
You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.
Lesson 9
Repeat everything you say at least (if not more than) five times.
Lesson 10
Go to the local grocery store.
1. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full- grown goat is excellent).
2. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.
3. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Just hand over your paycheck.
4. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 11
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.You are now ready to feed a nine- month old baby.
Lesson 12
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, PBS, Noggin, Nickelodeon and Pokemon.Watch nothing else on TV for at least five years.
Lesson 13
Find or make a compost pile. Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it.Do this 3-5 times a day for at least two years.
Lesson 14
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying "mommy" repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each "mommy"; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required).Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 15
Start talking to an adult of your choice.Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the "mommy" tape made from Lesson 14 above.You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Lesson 16
1. Go into the living room; sit on your favorite chair.
2. Pee & poop on the chair, get up and run around the room continuing to pee.
3. Change yourself, clean up your mess.
4. Do this for 16 to seventeen times each day for a week.
5. Then, stop having accidents for one or two weeks.
6. Then on the third week begin peeing around the house again, cleaning up after each accident.
7. Do this for about six months.
8. You are now ready for potty training your two/three year old.If you want to know what its like to potty train and have a newborn, add in a 10-15 pound bag of potatoes. Carry it around as you pick up all the pee & poop.
GOOD LUCK!!!(Author Unknown, but they must have had kids...)
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior. Enjoy it, because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
To discover how the nights will feel...
1. Walk around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10PM, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years.
10. Look cheerful.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed. Then rub them on the clean walls.
4. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
3. Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Craft Test:
1. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.
2. Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.
3. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Lesson 7
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van.
And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the cassette player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
5. There. Perfect.
Lesson 8
1. Get ready to go out.
2. Wait outside the bathroom for half an hour.
3. Go out the front door.
4. Come in again. Then go out.
5. Come back in.
6. Go out again.
7. Walk down the front path.
8. Walk back up it.
9. Walk down it again.
10. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.
11. Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette butt, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.
12. Retrace your steps.
13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbors come out and stare at you.
14. Give up and go back into the house.
You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.
Lesson 9
Repeat everything you say at least (if not more than) five times.
Lesson 10
Go to the local grocery store.
1. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full- grown goat is excellent).
2. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.
3. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Just hand over your paycheck.
4. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 11
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.You are now ready to feed a nine- month old baby.
Lesson 12
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, PBS, Noggin, Nickelodeon and Pokemon.Watch nothing else on TV for at least five years.
Lesson 13
Find or make a compost pile. Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it.Do this 3-5 times a day for at least two years.
Lesson 14
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying "mommy" repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each "mommy"; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required).Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 15
Start talking to an adult of your choice.Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the "mommy" tape made from Lesson 14 above.You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Lesson 16
1. Go into the living room; sit on your favorite chair.
2. Pee & poop on the chair, get up and run around the room continuing to pee.
3. Change yourself, clean up your mess.
4. Do this for 16 to seventeen times each day for a week.
5. Then, stop having accidents for one or two weeks.
6. Then on the third week begin peeing around the house again, cleaning up after each accident.
7. Do this for about six months.
8. You are now ready for potty training your two/three year old.If you want to know what its like to potty train and have a newborn, add in a 10-15 pound bag of potatoes. Carry it around as you pick up all the pee & poop.
GOOD LUCK!!!(Author Unknown, but they must have had kids...)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Please pray for sweet Stellan
I was reading http://thedraystoday.blogspot.com/ and a post she posted made me realize just why I'm so attached to Stellan's story. When I see this picture of Stellan in the hospital (and the pics on The Drays Today blog of Baby J) I can't help but think of the pictures my mind will always hold of Grady in the hospital.
Grady in January 2008
Grady in March 2008
Grady in January 2008
Grady in March 2008
Monday, March 23, 2009
Please pray for Stellan
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/
Stellan is back in the hospital. He's in SVT rhythm with his heart. If some of you remember, Grady went into that same rhythm when he had his central line placed last March. Please pray that they can get his heart back to a good rhythm.
Stellan is back in the hospital. He's in SVT rhythm with his heart. If some of you remember, Grady went into that same rhythm when he had his central line placed last March. Please pray that they can get his heart back to a good rhythm.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Some more randomness
First, if you read my thoughts below about "answered prayers", here's a good link about that same topic. Thanks Brent Riggs !
Second, can someone tell me why clothing companies will make pants/jeans size 2T and up with an adjustable waist but the exact same jean/pant in a 12month or 18month size has no adjustable waist? When Taylor was little bity she was super short (she's still on the shorter side but has grown a lot) and she needed short pants but bigger waists. Grady on the other hand is in need of longer pants but a smaller waist. I've been looking for 18 month pants/jeans with adjustable waistbands and all I can find with adjustable waists are 2T and up. Why is this?
Third, it annoys me when I get a magazine in the mail (you know the kind geared towards parents and parenting and children, etc) and they have these articles about "Fabulous Snacks Your Kids Will LOVE" and "How to get your child to eat her veggies" and "How to sneak healthy food into your child's favorites". I've yet to read one of those articles that uses foods my kid will actually eat. I've yet to read one that has a tip that I haven't already tried. I've yet to read one where they are sneaking healthy food into a food my kid likes. Oh, and I once saw a Rachel Ray show where she was making "kid friendly" foods and she guaranteed that putting different types of gravy or sauces on foods will make a kid eat almost anything. Um, sure. My kid would run from here to Indy and back before she'd eat a gravy or a sauce.
Fourth, I love my husband dearly. However, (and I know I should just be thankful and stop complaining), when he "helps" and does the laundry why do I not feel helped? He leaves the load in the dryer (and usually forgets to tell me about it) and just leaves the kids clean clothes in piles for me to fold and put away. Um, thanks? I know, I know, just be thankful for the effort made. Shame on me.
Fifth, what did I do without kids? They've been gone all weekend and I miss them like crazy! Yeah, I went shopping and we ate out but what did we do when we didn't have kids? Must have been pretty boring!
Here are some pics from St. Patrick's Day. Obviously the kids were very cooperative. Not.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Not much going on
Here's a random list of random things happening around here:
* Grady and Taylor fussing at each other constantly (mostly her at him) for "touching my things". Get used to it sweetie!
* LONGING for Spring Break!
* So very tired of school and political crap in said school.
* So tired of test prepping my kids!
* Grady's picking up more and more words/sounds. YAY!
* We're healthy right now. We'll take it! Last year we were still in the hospital. What a difference a year can make.
* Taylor's going to be 4 in May. Can't believe it!!!
* So irritated with State Superintendent's idea to make the school year longer. Irritated with no contract (still! Been 2 almost 3 years now) Irritated with more and more to do and less and less money and support to do it with.
* Excited that the kids get to spend the night with their grandparents this weekend and then their other grandparents next weekend.
* Excited that my mom and I might go to San Francisco this summer. Been there once and loved it.
* Excited that next Spring Break my parents are taking the four of us with them to FL for Disney, the beach, and maybe SeaWorld.
* Feeling so very very blessed with the fact that we have jobs, a home, cars, food, insurance, health, family, friends, love.
*Been wondering about this:
I was asking for prayers for Grady not long ago. He did very well with the "clearance appt" and then got his tubes and all went well. The prayers worked. Or did they? Would that have happened even without the prayers? What if we had all prayed yet things didn't go well. Did we not pray right? enough? Did God not want things to go well? Just some ponderings I've had and would like your take on.
* Thinking about and praying for dear Maddy who is in the hospital and her parents as they take in the news and learn about her new daily life.
* Praying for all the sick kids I read about.
* I'm jealous that Ryan gets to stay home and spend the day with the kids tomorrow and I have to go to school.
* Drinking a sweet tea from McDs. Love it.
* Angry with myself for emotional eating. Like, name an emotion, I can think of a reason to eat!
That's about it. Off to read the blogs I follow!
* Grady and Taylor fussing at each other constantly (mostly her at him) for "touching my things". Get used to it sweetie!
* LONGING for Spring Break!
* So very tired of school and political crap in said school.
* So tired of test prepping my kids!
* Grady's picking up more and more words/sounds. YAY!
* We're healthy right now. We'll take it! Last year we were still in the hospital. What a difference a year can make.
* Taylor's going to be 4 in May. Can't believe it!!!
* So irritated with State Superintendent's idea to make the school year longer. Irritated with no contract (still! Been 2 almost 3 years now) Irritated with more and more to do and less and less money and support to do it with.
* Excited that the kids get to spend the night with their grandparents this weekend and then their other grandparents next weekend.
* Excited that my mom and I might go to San Francisco this summer. Been there once and loved it.
* Excited that next Spring Break my parents are taking the four of us with them to FL for Disney, the beach, and maybe SeaWorld.
* Feeling so very very blessed with the fact that we have jobs, a home, cars, food, insurance, health, family, friends, love.
*Been wondering about this:
I was asking for prayers for Grady not long ago. He did very well with the "clearance appt" and then got his tubes and all went well. The prayers worked. Or did they? Would that have happened even without the prayers? What if we had all prayed yet things didn't go well. Did we not pray right? enough? Did God not want things to go well? Just some ponderings I've had and would like your take on.
* Thinking about and praying for dear Maddy who is in the hospital and her parents as they take in the news and learn about her new daily life.
* Praying for all the sick kids I read about.
* I'm jealous that Ryan gets to stay home and spend the day with the kids tomorrow and I have to go to school.
* Drinking a sweet tea from McDs. Love it.
* Angry with myself for emotional eating. Like, name an emotion, I can think of a reason to eat!
That's about it. Off to read the blogs I follow!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Please Pray
Please pray for this baby
http://rachaelsupdateblog.blogspot.com/
Please pray for Abby
http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/
Please check out my buttons on the side bar and pray for Jonah.
Also, please add Lillian and Addison to your prayers. Pray for the family of Cody. Pray for the family that just lost all six of their babies. Pray for Ava.
There's so many more, just lift up the sick children and ask God to heal their pain and sickness.
http://rachaelsupdateblog.blogspot.com/
Please pray for Abby
http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/
Please check out my buttons on the side bar and pray for Jonah.
Also, please add Lillian and Addison to your prayers. Pray for the family of Cody. Pray for the family that just lost all six of their babies. Pray for Ava.
There's so many more, just lift up the sick children and ask God to heal their pain and sickness.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Grady puts his masculine side to the test.....
Taylor dressed up today as a princess to do a "ballet show" for me. Well, Grady felt that he needed to participate too. He wanted her pink tutu on and refused to take it off for the longest time. It was too cute!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Grady made it big!
This magazine is great. It's author/publisher is Brent Riggs Check out his blog and please pray for their daughter Abby. Serious.Life magazine is a free online magazine with tons of good stories, blogs, information, etc. I submitted my blog hoping it would be included in the lists of blogs and I was surprised to see that Grady and my blog were on page 119! Talk about neat to be flipping through a magazine and see your kids' picture! :) Anyway, check out the magazine and see page 119 for Grady! :)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
T-Dawg and G-Dawg
Just a fun little pic collage of the kids in hats. Taylor and Grady are about the same age in these. Taylor barely EVER took a paci but had found one that day and chewed on it all day long. Of course, my big girl Taylor had to get in on the fun today too!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
How to say this without sounding horrible
First, I thought back to the question below about "default baby names". Before Ryan, when I was in middle school, I planned on naming my kids Cory David and Megan Michelle. Then in highschool I planned to name my kids Brianna Desiree and Nathan Lee. Ryan never liked those names and once I was pregnant I didn't like them either so we made new lists and I'm glad we did.
Now, this has been bugging me today and I'm not sure how to write it out without sounding horrible. However, I've got to try. Ryan got a call from daycare today that Grady was running a 102 fever and needed to be picked up. He then called me to let me know. I wasn't surprised by this since a little girl went home sick from daycare yesterday but I was still sad, frustrated, and a little worried like I always am when Grady gets sick. Luckily, since I have only a couple days of sick time left, Ryan was able to go get him (Taylor got to stay although I'm sure she'll get it next) and will also be home with him tomorrow if need be (since I'm low on days and really need to be at school to give the ISTEP test)
Ok, that's a lot of background....bear with me.
So, when I hang up, the people in the meeting with me can tell I'm upset and most of them know Grady's background since I worked there last year and most of them were so very supportive of the time I had to be out with Grady being sick and all. Anyway, they may not recall specifics the way I do but they know he was critically ill and in the hospital a lot.
Well, when I tell them Grady's got a fever they were all concerned/supportive, etc. This one lady (who, granted, did not know me last year and probably only knows of Grady's history by word of mouth) is ALWAYS comparing her daughter to mine and her daughter's health to Grady's. If I'm telling someone what Taylor will/won't eat then this lady pops in with all that her daughter will/won't eat. Today when I said Grady has a fever she says, "Well, that's nothing. Mine had pneumonia last week." This other lady (who DOES know all about Grady's history) is always trying to compare/one up me with her kid's issues. "We have a pulmonologist now too!", "We're doing ____ medication now too", "Oh, you don't do this med? My kid must be worse than yours!", "At least your kid isn't sick, we've been fighting this for a week." These two ladies say/do this to me about two times a week or so.
Here's what runs through my head:
*I'm so sorry your child has pneumonia. I'm so glad for you that it's being treated at home with antibiotics. I'm so glad you haven't had to go to the hospital (like mine does when he gets pneumonia)
*It sucks to have a sick kid, period. Please understand though that when my kid gets sick it's not run of the mill sick (at least in the past, hopefully we'll outgrow it) That's why I get so worried.
*Why are you trying to prove that your kid is sicker than mine? I'll trade you anytime.
*Once you've spent 40 days or more in the hospital and seen all that I've seen or more and watched your kid be poked and prodded and tested and transfused and intubated and having cardiac issues, etc. then we can compare whose kid is sicker.
*I don't WANT the "sickest kid at my work" award. You can have it.
I'm not sure this even makes sense. Maybe I'm being too hard on these people. Maybe since they haven't been through it they just don't get it. But other friends at work will always preface or mention (when talking about their kids being sick) that they are just glad it's nothing like what Grady's been through. Any time that I complain about Grady being sick I always point out that I'm blessed that his past is ALL he's had to deal with when there's so many kids/parents who deal with so much more. I just wish people would understand that I KNOW what it's like to have a sick kid (like when Taylor's sick) and a SICK kid (like with Grady's past stuff) Why do some want to prove to me that they've been through more when they haven't? It's like these two know what I've been through (but don't understand it really) but still think they are dealing with worse? Sick kids are bad no matter what but.......ok, I just don't know......maybe this is going to make me sound so shallow and like I'm so proud of having a sick kid. I'm blessed with what having a sick kid has taught us and all but I'd choose to keep him healthy any day.
Alright, I'll stop now. Please don't be offended by this. It's these two ladies in particular, not other people that I'm talking about.
Now, this has been bugging me today and I'm not sure how to write it out without sounding horrible. However, I've got to try. Ryan got a call from daycare today that Grady was running a 102 fever and needed to be picked up. He then called me to let me know. I wasn't surprised by this since a little girl went home sick from daycare yesterday but I was still sad, frustrated, and a little worried like I always am when Grady gets sick. Luckily, since I have only a couple days of sick time left, Ryan was able to go get him (Taylor got to stay although I'm sure she'll get it next) and will also be home with him tomorrow if need be (since I'm low on days and really need to be at school to give the ISTEP test)
Ok, that's a lot of background....bear with me.
So, when I hang up, the people in the meeting with me can tell I'm upset and most of them know Grady's background since I worked there last year and most of them were so very supportive of the time I had to be out with Grady being sick and all. Anyway, they may not recall specifics the way I do but they know he was critically ill and in the hospital a lot.
Well, when I tell them Grady's got a fever they were all concerned/supportive, etc. This one lady (who, granted, did not know me last year and probably only knows of Grady's history by word of mouth) is ALWAYS comparing her daughter to mine and her daughter's health to Grady's. If I'm telling someone what Taylor will/won't eat then this lady pops in with all that her daughter will/won't eat. Today when I said Grady has a fever she says, "Well, that's nothing. Mine had pneumonia last week." This other lady (who DOES know all about Grady's history) is always trying to compare/one up me with her kid's issues. "We have a pulmonologist now too!", "We're doing ____ medication now too", "Oh, you don't do this med? My kid must be worse than yours!", "At least your kid isn't sick, we've been fighting this for a week." These two ladies say/do this to me about two times a week or so.
Here's what runs through my head:
*I'm so sorry your child has pneumonia. I'm so glad for you that it's being treated at home with antibiotics. I'm so glad you haven't had to go to the hospital (like mine does when he gets pneumonia)
*It sucks to have a sick kid, period. Please understand though that when my kid gets sick it's not run of the mill sick (at least in the past, hopefully we'll outgrow it) That's why I get so worried.
*Why are you trying to prove that your kid is sicker than mine? I'll trade you anytime.
*Once you've spent 40 days or more in the hospital and seen all that I've seen or more and watched your kid be poked and prodded and tested and transfused and intubated and having cardiac issues, etc. then we can compare whose kid is sicker.
*I don't WANT the "sickest kid at my work" award. You can have it.
I'm not sure this even makes sense. Maybe I'm being too hard on these people. Maybe since they haven't been through it they just don't get it. But other friends at work will always preface or mention (when talking about their kids being sick) that they are just glad it's nothing like what Grady's been through. Any time that I complain about Grady being sick I always point out that I'm blessed that his past is ALL he's had to deal with when there's so many kids/parents who deal with so much more. I just wish people would understand that I KNOW what it's like to have a sick kid (like when Taylor's sick) and a SICK kid (like with Grady's past stuff) Why do some want to prove to me that they've been through more when they haven't? It's like these two know what I've been through (but don't understand it really) but still think they are dealing with worse? Sick kids are bad no matter what but.......ok, I just don't know......maybe this is going to make me sound so shallow and like I'm so proud of having a sick kid. I'm blessed with what having a sick kid has taught us and all but I'd choose to keep him healthy any day.
Alright, I'll stop now. Please don't be offended by this. It's these two ladies in particular, not other people that I'm talking about.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Some more questions
What college did you go to? I went to Indiana State University 1995-1999 and got my masters from Indiana Wesleyan in 2003.
What's the hardest part of teaching in the inner city? The lack of experience in the kids. Their horrible home lives (drugs, parents in jail, fights, no food, dirty, etc) Their families' perspective of teachers/schools/education. The vicious cycle of poverty. The parents' lack of support. The lack of money in the district. Being in a huge district is hard in itself. The public's opinion of teachers and more specifically inner city schools/teachers.
Do you have any pets? Would you like a dog? Used to have two cats (husband allergic so we got rid of them) and used to a have a Chihuahua named Daisy but when Taylor was born she was getting no attention and spending all day shut up while we worked so we gave her to our groomer.
What's the hardest part of teaching in the inner city? The lack of experience in the kids. Their horrible home lives (drugs, parents in jail, fights, no food, dirty, etc) Their families' perspective of teachers/schools/education. The vicious cycle of poverty. The parents' lack of support. The lack of money in the district. Being in a huge district is hard in itself. The public's opinion of teachers and more specifically inner city schools/teachers.
Do you have any pets? Would you like a dog? Used to have two cats (husband allergic so we got rid of them) and used to a have a Chihuahua named Daisy but when Taylor was born she was getting no attention and spending all day shut up while we worked so we gave her to our groomer.
Answers to your questions
So a few of you offered some questions and I'm finally getting to answer them!
So here's some questions, how old are you? I am 31 and will be 32 in April.
Are you from IN? I was born and raised in a small town in southern Indiana (Carlisle)
Okay, how did you become a Christian? I was raised in a Christian home, accepted the Lord at around age 10, strayed a bit in highschool and college, and came back to Him in my mid 20's and now I don't know how I'd survive without my God
How did Ryan propose? Well, we met online while in college and found out we lived in the same bldg. So we later went on a blind date. We dated from 1996 until 1999. On Valentine's Day 1999 we went out to eat and returned to Ryan's dorm room. He got down on one knee (I was sitting in his recliner, how romantic!) and said, "Will you marry me?" and I replied, "Are you serious?" He said yes and gave me a ring. I said, "Well, if you're serious then I guess I will." Yeah, great acceptance, huh!? :)
What were your default baby names? Not sure I understand this one. We had lists and we'd visit them every so often and discuss names. But we hadn't settled on either kids' name until we were well into the pregnancies.
If you could pick any job, what would it be? Oh my! Hmmmm.... Well right now it wouldn't be teaching! I really think I would like to be a nurse. After being in the hospital so much with Grady I think I could be really good at it. My mom's a nurse though so I know it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I think being in education is my calling, I'm just ready to be out of the classroom I think.
What is your favorite thing to do away from your children? I love to read. I can finish a good book in a day. I love to shop but never have the money for it. I LIVE FOR naps! :) Sometimes I get lucky and get my parents to watch the kids and I get a massage (I have neck/shoulder problems) I like to go out and eat (well, I plain ol' just like to eat!)
How did you decide on your children's names? I wanted Taylor to be Rylie Elizabeth but Ryan didn't love it. So Taylor Layne was another on the top of our list. That was Ryan's pick and I finally agreed. I'm so glad we went with Taylor, she's just not a Rylie.
Grady was on the first list I made (William was a given, it's Ryan's middle name along with his dad's and my dad's middle name) From the first time I shared the list with Ryan, the name Grady just sort of popped at us and stuck with us. There really wasn't a ton of discussion about it from that point on.
Ok, that was fun!
So here's some questions, how old are you? I am 31 and will be 32 in April.
Are you from IN? I was born and raised in a small town in southern Indiana (Carlisle)
Okay, how did you become a Christian? I was raised in a Christian home, accepted the Lord at around age 10, strayed a bit in highschool and college, and came back to Him in my mid 20's and now I don't know how I'd survive without my God
How did Ryan propose? Well, we met online while in college and found out we lived in the same bldg. So we later went on a blind date. We dated from 1996 until 1999. On Valentine's Day 1999 we went out to eat and returned to Ryan's dorm room. He got down on one knee (I was sitting in his recliner, how romantic!) and said, "Will you marry me?" and I replied, "Are you serious?" He said yes and gave me a ring. I said, "Well, if you're serious then I guess I will." Yeah, great acceptance, huh!? :)
What were your default baby names? Not sure I understand this one. We had lists and we'd visit them every so often and discuss names. But we hadn't settled on either kids' name until we were well into the pregnancies.
If you could pick any job, what would it be? Oh my! Hmmmm.... Well right now it wouldn't be teaching! I really think I would like to be a nurse. After being in the hospital so much with Grady I think I could be really good at it. My mom's a nurse though so I know it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I think being in education is my calling, I'm just ready to be out of the classroom I think.
What is your favorite thing to do away from your children? I love to read. I can finish a good book in a day. I love to shop but never have the money for it. I LIVE FOR naps! :) Sometimes I get lucky and get my parents to watch the kids and I get a massage (I have neck/shoulder problems) I like to go out and eat (well, I plain ol' just like to eat!)
How did you decide on your children's names? I wanted Taylor to be Rylie Elizabeth but Ryan didn't love it. So Taylor Layne was another on the top of our list. That was Ryan's pick and I finally agreed. I'm so glad we went with Taylor, she's just not a Rylie.
Grady was on the first list I made (William was a given, it's Ryan's middle name along with his dad's and my dad's middle name) From the first time I shared the list with Ryan, the name Grady just sort of popped at us and stuck with us. There really wasn't a ton of discussion about it from that point on.
Ok, that was fun!
Share with me......
I read maybe 15 or so blogs. Please share with me some of your favorites that you read (and why you like them) Thanks!
QUESTIONS!
Ooohhhh! I have questions to answer! I promise to work on this evening after getting the kids in bed! Tune in later! :)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sharing
I have a whacked out aunt by marriage who was leaving nasty comments on my kids' website so I changed the password so she couldn't get to it. I want others to be able to see the kids' site so I'm going to share it now and hope that the wacked out aunt doesn't visit my blogspot and see it. If I start getting bad comments on the kids' site, I'll just change the password again. I know none of you would leave rude comments.
So, if you want to check it out, here it is.
You type in your name.
Login is rouse
Password is babyboy
I've been reading others' blogs where they invite people to ask questions. I think that's fun. I was going to do it here but I don't think I'd get many questions since I have few followers. BUT, if you DO have a question, feel free to post it and I'll do my best to answer it.
Here are a couple pics from tonight. I think I've created a monster with using the clippers on Grady's hair! It grew out so fast that I decided to clipper it again tonight! I don't think I want to cut it every two weeks but that's about what it will take to keep it nice and short and that's the way I like it.
He's starting this strange little blink and smile thing when the camera is around. It's funny on some of these pics. Taylor has also started to "fake smile".
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