I really wonder how small minds work.
Why would a five year old think that urinating in a garbage is okay? Why does my seven year old rip her toys to shreds when she is sent to her room? What is it about one's brother that provokes a fist fight first thing in the morning? Why is getting a hair cut harder than a trip to the dentist? If you don't like your brother in your room, why should he let you in his? Why is the aftermath of a time out worse than the original offense? Did you really think I would not notice the empty sugar canister in your room? You aren't the cause of all the Barbie's being decapitated? I know you wrote your name on the wall, I can read it! You did touch the Christmas tree because it is no longer in the upright position.
AARGH!!!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Chicken #@%*
The last few days my kids have spent outside playing in the snow.
Today Curran was out twice. He was attempting to best Alex in building a bigger snow fort. Curran determined that he stood a better chance if he was to work on his fort while Alex was at school.
He was having a grand old time, right up until the moment the neighbors' dogs noticed him and started to bark and cause a ruckus. He came screeching back into the house all freaked out that the dogs were going to get him.
So much for him completing his snow fort. Maybe tomorrow he will remember that there is a six foot fence between him and the dogs.
Today Curran was out twice. He was attempting to best Alex in building a bigger snow fort. Curran determined that he stood a better chance if he was to work on his fort while Alex was at school.
He was having a grand old time, right up until the moment the neighbors' dogs noticed him and started to bark and cause a ruckus. He came screeching back into the house all freaked out that the dogs were going to get him.
So much for him completing his snow fort. Maybe tomorrow he will remember that there is a six foot fence between him and the dogs.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Don't Tell Dad
Most of us Saskatchewanians woke up to snow yesterday morning. My son looked out his window and hollered, "It's Christmas and we forgot to buy presents!" I am still chuckling. Note to self; next year, don't relate snow to Christmas, way too confusing for small children.
I was able to keep him from adventuring into the backyard until just after lunch today. He is always given detailed instructions to remain in the backyard, stay out of the wood pile, return my shovel to where he got it from, no throwing snow at the back door and stay in the backyard; repeat stay in the backyard. Needless to say, he does not follow directions well.
He was out there for almost an hour. He made a race track, a snow monster, snow angels, cleaned off the deck, raided the wood pile, buried my snow shovel and was caught red handed out of the backyard.
I check on him at 5 minute intervals, but I need to install one of those electric shock fences for dogs to keep him in the back yard. He was caught in the back of his dad's "special" truck that sits in our driveway. Instead of getting out of it over the tailgate, he thought he should get out the same way he got in. Over the cab, across the sunroof, down the windshield, across the hood and climb down the pallet leaning against the front grill.
A few lessons were learned today. You cannot hide the evidence of your miss doings when there is fresh snow. Going back the same way you came is not always the smart way out of a sticky situation. Curran needs his own shovel to lose in the snow and a Curran proof latch needs installed on the back gate.
I was able to keep him from adventuring into the backyard until just after lunch today. He is always given detailed instructions to remain in the backyard, stay out of the wood pile, return my shovel to where he got it from, no throwing snow at the back door and stay in the backyard; repeat stay in the backyard. Needless to say, he does not follow directions well.
He was out there for almost an hour. He made a race track, a snow monster, snow angels, cleaned off the deck, raided the wood pile, buried my snow shovel and was caught red handed out of the backyard.
I check on him at 5 minute intervals, but I need to install one of those electric shock fences for dogs to keep him in the back yard. He was caught in the back of his dad's "special" truck that sits in our driveway. Instead of getting out of it over the tailgate, he thought he should get out the same way he got in. Over the cab, across the sunroof, down the windshield, across the hood and climb down the pallet leaning against the front grill.
A few lessons were learned today. You cannot hide the evidence of your miss doings when there is fresh snow. Going back the same way you came is not always the smart way out of a sticky situation. Curran needs his own shovel to lose in the snow and a Curran proof latch needs installed on the back gate.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sugar Bugs
Brushing our teeth does not rate as a favorite past time with my kids and since it was Halloween yesterday, last night was even more of a struggle than usual.
Alexandra is usually really good about brushing her teeth. She is quite content to use whichever toothpaste happens to be available and brushes for her two minutes. Spitting the tooth paste out, now that is a bit of a problem. Not because she swallows it, but because she can't spit. She sort of hisses like a cat and sticks her tongue out. She also lost all her top and bottom front teeth within a couple weeks of each other when she was in Kindergarten, and according to Grandpa Farm, who has dentures, teeth make spitting toothpaste much easier. Now, that her teeth have grown in, one would think that spitting would come naturally; but no.
Curran on the other hand, he figured out how to spit toothpaste right away. He spits it out as soon as that toothpaste hits his mouth; he despises any and all toothpastes, even the ones he can swallow. Let's hope that there is enough residual toothpaste on his toothbrush to be effective.
Last night I made them brush their teeth really, really good and you could tell by my sink. There were pools of toothpaste dribble on the vanity and down the side of the sink from Alex; and there were large gobs of toothpaste stuck to the bottom of the sink from Curran spitting the toothpaste out too soon. Next on my agenda is teaching the kids to remember to rinse the sink after they are done.
Alexandra is usually really good about brushing her teeth. She is quite content to use whichever toothpaste happens to be available and brushes for her two minutes. Spitting the tooth paste out, now that is a bit of a problem. Not because she swallows it, but because she can't spit. She sort of hisses like a cat and sticks her tongue out. She also lost all her top and bottom front teeth within a couple weeks of each other when she was in Kindergarten, and according to Grandpa Farm, who has dentures, teeth make spitting toothpaste much easier. Now, that her teeth have grown in, one would think that spitting would come naturally; but no.
Curran on the other hand, he figured out how to spit toothpaste right away. He spits it out as soon as that toothpaste hits his mouth; he despises any and all toothpastes, even the ones he can swallow. Let's hope that there is enough residual toothpaste on his toothbrush to be effective.
Last night I made them brush their teeth really, really good and you could tell by my sink. There were pools of toothpaste dribble on the vanity and down the side of the sink from Alex; and there were large gobs of toothpaste stuck to the bottom of the sink from Curran spitting the toothpaste out too soon. Next on my agenda is teaching the kids to remember to rinse the sink after they are done.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Autumnal Equinox
Since before I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have always had severe joint flareups when the seasons change.
It is sort of like a light switch goes on in my body and most of my joints decide to become inflamed and hurt like the blazes; literally they feel like they are on fire. I have stiffness in mainly my hands, elbows, knees, and feet which make most day to day activities difficult to perform. Luckily, I have been able to make adjustments on how I do most things so that they still get done, just a little slower.
The change in temperature and humidity seem to bother me the most. I would like the weather to either be always warm, or always cold. Cold and rainy one day, hot and humid the next or 30 above during the day dropping to 10 above at night; it is like playing craps at a casino, I never know what to expect with my body. For example, the other day I baked cookies, went up and down the basement stairs a half dozen times, scrubbed the bathroom top to bottom and felt pretty good. Today, I can hardly bend one knee, the joints in my fingers are locking up, and I am so fatigued I am heading for a nap as soon as I am finished this blog.
Even with the temperamental weather, this has been a really good year for me. I haven't felt this "good" for 14 years. Sure I have progressive degenerative joint damage and I still have nasty flareups, but a new doctor and a new medication regime seems to have made a huge improvement to the progression and the intensity of this disease. Overall, my daily pain and discomfort has diminished and I can do so much more and be more active with my kids.
Fall is now upon us and as I dread the snow banks, the icy roads, and the blizzards that are inevitably coming; my joints are looking forward to the bitter cold and the relief that comes with it.
It is sort of like a light switch goes on in my body and most of my joints decide to become inflamed and hurt like the blazes; literally they feel like they are on fire. I have stiffness in mainly my hands, elbows, knees, and feet which make most day to day activities difficult to perform. Luckily, I have been able to make adjustments on how I do most things so that they still get done, just a little slower.
The change in temperature and humidity seem to bother me the most. I would like the weather to either be always warm, or always cold. Cold and rainy one day, hot and humid the next or 30 above during the day dropping to 10 above at night; it is like playing craps at a casino, I never know what to expect with my body. For example, the other day I baked cookies, went up and down the basement stairs a half dozen times, scrubbed the bathroom top to bottom and felt pretty good. Today, I can hardly bend one knee, the joints in my fingers are locking up, and I am so fatigued I am heading for a nap as soon as I am finished this blog.
Even with the temperamental weather, this has been a really good year for me. I haven't felt this "good" for 14 years. Sure I have progressive degenerative joint damage and I still have nasty flareups, but a new doctor and a new medication regime seems to have made a huge improvement to the progression and the intensity of this disease. Overall, my daily pain and discomfort has diminished and I can do so much more and be more active with my kids.
Fall is now upon us and as I dread the snow banks, the icy roads, and the blizzards that are inevitably coming; my joints are looking forward to the bitter cold and the relief that comes with it.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
'Tis the Season
After spending this past week in bed with pneumonia, I figured that Curran and I needed to get out of the house; even if only to stock up on cold meds and do some window shopping.
Curran found his most favorite store in the "biggest whole planet", The John Deere Store. We walked around every display multiple times; we decided on which "farm" hat would be best for Grandpa; we checked out all of the clothes that he needed to buy to wear to school; and we spent 20 minutes staring at the wall of tractors to see which tractors we already had. I am certain that we were the highlight of the sales lady's day; we were in there for well over a half hour and I bought NOTHING!
I needed to go to his second favorite store in the "biggest whole planet", Peavy Mart. I went in to find a part and we were in there for 45 minutes. Guess what they have at Peavy Mart? Toys! Three isles of tractors, farm machinery,and farm animals. Curran's eyes glazed over and he got this quirky grin on his face. I am pretty sure he suffered a minor bout of tractor overload, it was when he was in this happy state that we left the store.
Christmas shopping this year should be pretty easy, he has started on his list already. It will be really easy for Grandpa to remember what is on it; one of everything farm related.
Curran found his most favorite store in the "biggest whole planet", The John Deere Store. We walked around every display multiple times; we decided on which "farm" hat would be best for Grandpa; we checked out all of the clothes that he needed to buy to wear to school; and we spent 20 minutes staring at the wall of tractors to see which tractors we already had. I am certain that we were the highlight of the sales lady's day; we were in there for well over a half hour and I bought NOTHING!
I needed to go to his second favorite store in the "biggest whole planet", Peavy Mart. I went in to find a part and we were in there for 45 minutes. Guess what they have at Peavy Mart? Toys! Three isles of tractors, farm machinery,and farm animals. Curran's eyes glazed over and he got this quirky grin on his face. I am pretty sure he suffered a minor bout of tractor overload, it was when he was in this happy state that we left the store.
Christmas shopping this year should be pretty easy, he has started on his list already. It will be really easy for Grandpa to remember what is on it; one of everything farm related.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Gift of Children
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.
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.
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