Having an autoimmune disease, I try to be very cautious in cold and flu season. However, there are times when precautions just don't work.
Alexandra is always the first one in the house to get sick. Probably because she chews her fingernails and her fingers are always in her mouth, or the fact that she doesn't wear all of the clothes I send her to school with at recess. But I am just her mother and like all mothers, I know nothing.
Curran usually catches whatever his sister has come down with. This child is so much of a germ-a-phobe he hates wiping his runny nose for fear of getting his hands snotty and wants a clean shirt every time he coughs or sneezes into his elbow. I think he is going to end up being a kid with a fanny pack full of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.
It never fails, when both of these two kids are sick. They want to be near me; okay not just near, but touching me at all times. If I want them to have a sleep, I need to lay down with them. If I want to watch TV or read a book, they are fighting over who gets to sit on which knee. I have yet to figure out how to avoid catching whatever they have. No amount of lysol, air filters, or antibacterial soap seems to work; I even tried face masks once. Unfortunately, being on immuno-suppressants is like a guarantee that I will catch what everyone else has.
On days like today, I look forward to the time when my children want nothing to do with me. Maybe then they won't make me sick.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
I'm Bored
In my house I have tried to install the Make Your Own Fun motto. There are toys, movies, colouring books, games, books, music and of course, each other to keep them entertained. I do not find it necessary to be constantly going somewhere or having play dates to keep the kids happy. Unfortunately, today was not Curran's day. He was bored.
There was a rodeo on the floor of his bedroom, a tent over the couch, a movie theatre in my bedroom, a farm in front of the television, crayons and colouring books all over the kitchen table, a marshmallow monster on the counter, a pirate ship in the bathtub, a ball game outside, and a race car track on the stairs. It is only just noon.
I have not yet figured out what "fun" I can create with him this afternoon. However, I do know I will not have fun convincing him to clean up his boredom.
There was a rodeo on the floor of his bedroom, a tent over the couch, a movie theatre in my bedroom, a farm in front of the television, crayons and colouring books all over the kitchen table, a marshmallow monster on the counter, a pirate ship in the bathtub, a ball game outside, and a race car track on the stairs. It is only just noon.
I have not yet figured out what "fun" I can create with him this afternoon. However, I do know I will not have fun convincing him to clean up his boredom.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Little Helpers
In my parents' house there was this saying; you have food to eat, a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in and clothes to wear, get off your butt and help out. This applies in my house as well, although sometimes I would rather do things myself.
Both of my little ones like to help out in the kitchen; adding ingredients to a recipe, making bubble mountains in the sink and licking off the beaters. Today Curran tried using the can opener. He couldn't get the can opener to latch onto the can properly, it kept spinning around on him. He figured out that he needed two hands to work the can opener but that he also needed a hand to hold the can itself. I was not to help, apparently he is a big boy and big boys don't need help. This big boy is a smart one. He ended up sitting on the counter, holding the can opener with one hand, spinning the tumbler with the other, and keeping the can steady between his two feet.
Next time I will be in charge of the can opener, because as Alex kindly reminded us. Counters are made for glasses not ... and definitely not stinky feet.
Both of my little ones like to help out in the kitchen; adding ingredients to a recipe, making bubble mountains in the sink and licking off the beaters. Today Curran tried using the can opener. He couldn't get the can opener to latch onto the can properly, it kept spinning around on him. He figured out that he needed two hands to work the can opener but that he also needed a hand to hold the can itself. I was not to help, apparently he is a big boy and big boys don't need help. This big boy is a smart one. He ended up sitting on the counter, holding the can opener with one hand, spinning the tumbler with the other, and keeping the can steady between his two feet.
Next time I will be in charge of the can opener, because as Alex kindly reminded us. Counters are made for glasses not ... and definitely not stinky feet.
Friday, September 10, 2010
When It Rains It Pours
There are days where it seems like nothing is going in my favor. I know we all have them, but because I am awake at 4AM, I am claiming the last 24 hours as mine.
I woke up to rain, no big deal, just deck the kids out in rain gear and go on with the day. Or so I thought. After sending the kids and Sean off this morning, I put in a load of laundry, took my morning meds, cleaned up breakfast dishes, and had a shower. It all went downhill after that.
Our dryer is on the blink, has been since June. Luckily there was a spare available from back in my single lady days; unfortunately, that one too decided to go on the fritz. Three hours to dry one load of laundry. The clothes in the middle just wouldn't dry; I couldn't take the dry ones out because not a single item was thoroughly dry; no matter what I did to mix up the load, it seemed that only the outside edges of it would dry; and the dryer was only half full in the first place. What really made me mad though, was that the next load only took half the usual time to dry.
With Curran still getting used to the routine and Alexandra's tendency to come home wetter than it is outside, I picked the kids up from school. They were fighting before I got back into the vehicle. The school kept them inside at recess today and they were obviously burning off all their excess energy by beating on each other. I do mean beating; fists flailing, hair pulling, legs kicking, and teeth biting beating. There was crying, screaming, toy throwing, and doors slamming. I briefly thought about sending them outside to cool off; until I remembered that I would need to use the dryer when they came back in. They both probably accrued over an hour in time outs before Sean got home from work.
Rain and I are not the best of friends, we never have been. I don't know if it is the change in barometric pressure or the humidity, but my arthritis is worse on rainy days. In order to try to alleviate some of my extra aches and pains, I take some more medication. More medication means more side effects. It is hard to say which is worse; the pain and fatigue of the disease, or the medications that I take for it.
I am exhausted, the laundry is caught up, the children are sleeping like angels, and I am optimistic that this downpour will be over by morning.
I woke up to rain, no big deal, just deck the kids out in rain gear and go on with the day. Or so I thought. After sending the kids and Sean off this morning, I put in a load of laundry, took my morning meds, cleaned up breakfast dishes, and had a shower. It all went downhill after that.
Our dryer is on the blink, has been since June. Luckily there was a spare available from back in my single lady days; unfortunately, that one too decided to go on the fritz. Three hours to dry one load of laundry. The clothes in the middle just wouldn't dry; I couldn't take the dry ones out because not a single item was thoroughly dry; no matter what I did to mix up the load, it seemed that only the outside edges of it would dry; and the dryer was only half full in the first place. What really made me mad though, was that the next load only took half the usual time to dry.
With Curran still getting used to the routine and Alexandra's tendency to come home wetter than it is outside, I picked the kids up from school. They were fighting before I got back into the vehicle. The school kept them inside at recess today and they were obviously burning off all their excess energy by beating on each other. I do mean beating; fists flailing, hair pulling, legs kicking, and teeth biting beating. There was crying, screaming, toy throwing, and doors slamming. I briefly thought about sending them outside to cool off; until I remembered that I would need to use the dryer when they came back in. They both probably accrued over an hour in time outs before Sean got home from work.
Rain and I are not the best of friends, we never have been. I don't know if it is the change in barometric pressure or the humidity, but my arthritis is worse on rainy days. In order to try to alleviate some of my extra aches and pains, I take some more medication. More medication means more side effects. It is hard to say which is worse; the pain and fatigue of the disease, or the medications that I take for it.
I am exhausted, the laundry is caught up, the children are sleeping like angels, and I am optimistic that this downpour will be over by morning.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Always Check the Pockets
My mother taught me to always check pockets while doing laundry; however, I don't think she would have expected to find what I have.
Alexandra and Curran, like most children, love the outdoors and all that it encompasses. They like to dig in the sandbox, putter in the garden, and climb the trees. Alex has caught garter snakes and frogs, as well as, numerous grasshoppers and beetles. Unlike Curran, who is definitely a kid who likes to look but not touch, he is quite OCD when it comes to getting his hands dirty.
This morning he goes outside to play in the sandbox and discovers a frog. He wanted to go get Alex from school so she could catch it and remove it from the sandbox so he could play. Mr. Frog decided to leave the sandbox willingly, but as soon as he disappeared Curran decided that we should have kept him for a pet.
Curran's want of keeping the frog reminded me of Alexandra's multiple rescue attempts this spring and summer. She wasn't rescuing frogs though, she was rescuing worms. You know how after it rains and the worms come out onto the streets and pavement; my daughter would gather as many worms as she could on the walk home from school and smuggle them inside. I have found them in shoe boxes, jewelry boxes, ziplock bags, and even her pockets.
I have decided to start preparing for winter, and as I gather the summer jackets for washing, I am more than a little cautious about what treasures I will find when I check the pockets.
Alexandra and Curran, like most children, love the outdoors and all that it encompasses. They like to dig in the sandbox, putter in the garden, and climb the trees. Alex has caught garter snakes and frogs, as well as, numerous grasshoppers and beetles. Unlike Curran, who is definitely a kid who likes to look but not touch, he is quite OCD when it comes to getting his hands dirty.
This morning he goes outside to play in the sandbox and discovers a frog. He wanted to go get Alex from school so she could catch it and remove it from the sandbox so he could play. Mr. Frog decided to leave the sandbox willingly, but as soon as he disappeared Curran decided that we should have kept him for a pet.
Curran's want of keeping the frog reminded me of Alexandra's multiple rescue attempts this spring and summer. She wasn't rescuing frogs though, she was rescuing worms. You know how after it rains and the worms come out onto the streets and pavement; my daughter would gather as many worms as she could on the walk home from school and smuggle them inside. I have found them in shoe boxes, jewelry boxes, ziplock bags, and even her pockets.
I have decided to start preparing for winter, and as I gather the summer jackets for washing, I am more than a little cautious about what treasures I will find when I check the pockets.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
My Crazy Life
After numerous suggestions about starting a blog or writing a book about the daily adventures that occur in my household, I have decided to take the plunge. With Curran's crazy antics, Alexandra's quick comebacks, and my never ending struggle with arthritis, there is never a dull moment in my crazy life.
This morning is a prime example. Shortly after crawling into the shower this morning I hear the death screech, you know the one that sounds like two tom cats fighting it out for territorial rights. I dash out of the shower, dripping water all over the floor and discover Curran chasing Alexandra with a table knife. "Why?" you ask. Well I presented that same question to my son. His reply was, "It was only a joke." After a lengthy time out and a discussion on the potential consequences of chasing someone with a knife, I was still no farther ahead in determining what in fact provoked the knife incident. The wronged child in all of this is remaining suspiciously quiet on the subject; probably to avoid punishment herself.
I did get to finish my shower, only a half hour later; the floor got partially mopped; and my son now knows not to chase someone with a knife. My life can be a little crazy, but at least it's not dull.
This morning is a prime example. Shortly after crawling into the shower this morning I hear the death screech, you know the one that sounds like two tom cats fighting it out for territorial rights. I dash out of the shower, dripping water all over the floor and discover Curran chasing Alexandra with a table knife. "Why?" you ask. Well I presented that same question to my son. His reply was, "It was only a joke." After a lengthy time out and a discussion on the potential consequences of chasing someone with a knife, I was still no farther ahead in determining what in fact provoked the knife incident. The wronged child in all of this is remaining suspiciously quiet on the subject; probably to avoid punishment herself.
I did get to finish my shower, only a half hour later; the floor got partially mopped; and my son now knows not to chase someone with a knife. My life can be a little crazy, but at least it's not dull.
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