We are currently fishsitting for our dear friends, who are enjoying some end-of-summer beachfront r&r. This particular little swimmer is a reddish Beta--the kind you can buy at Linens And Things in a big planter-slash-bowl to accent your dining room table. Not that I get that; animal as centerpiece seems pretty self-absorbed even to my non-PETA member mentality.
Anyhow, this guy is named Potty Fish. Dear friend J. bought him out of desperation as she was trying to entice her toddler to spend a little more time putting the peepee in the appropriate room instead of his drawers. I think she read about the idea online: FISH + BATHROOM= POTTY TRAINED CHILD. I suppose this isn't that far from the idea of using a fish as a decoration, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. I really don't remember how effective the idea was, but I know for a fact that the child in question is 3.5 now and hasn't worn diapers in quite a while. Maybe it was the fish. Maybe it wasn't. At any rate, the fish is now known to one and all as Potty Fish.
Potty Fish is currently reigning over our combo living room/dining room/kitchen area from his perch on a high counter. The kids have gotten a huge kick out of him, despite the fact that our home boasts one 120 lb. German Shepherd and not one, but two mini rex rabbits. If you ask me, any one of those animals are waaay more entertaining than Potty Fish. I mean, all Potty Fish does is hang out in his little plastic bowl and ... well, tread water. How much fun is that?
A lot, apparently.
This morning, I called my mother to offer her belated birthday wishes. (I tried to call her twice yesterday, but she was out.) The kids gathered round and did their best rendition of both "Happy Birthday" and our preferred family favorite, "Birthday" by the Beatles. Afterward, Logan asked to talk to Oma. I walked away--never a good thing--and came back a few minutes later to this exchange:
"Potty Fish. Yeah, Potty Fish. ... He swims in ... something. ...I don't know. .... It's ... pee maybe? Maybe that's why he's Potty Fish?"
Yes, I explained the moniker to my mother. And yes, she knew that the fish wasn't sloshing around in a bowl of urine. Whether or not Logan actually thought that or not I guess should be sorted out before he applies to a college biology program.
So be careful what you name your pets, folks. Stick to Nemo and Peanut and Prince. Don't venture off into uncharted territory. Let Potty Fish be a lesson to us all.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
An anniversary (of sorts)
The official two years ttc mark hit today. Two years. Happy birthday, ovulatory anxiety!
Makes me want to go back in time and clock myself for all those "All he has to do is look at me ..." funnies I threw out back when I had just had my third baby in just over four years.
Live and learn.
Makes me want to go back in time and clock myself for all those "All he has to do is look at me ..." funnies I threw out back when I had just had my third baby in just over four years.
Live and learn.
Back to School
... not that we ever take an extended break, mind you. Not that we haven't spent the past two weeks easing into our full schedule. And not that the children seem capable of not turning even mundane things into learning opportunities, but still ...
Today has been the Official Now We Are Doing School On the Record Day.
We've had an auspicious start, which is normally the case with our fall schedule. I am playing the part of human ping-pong again this year, bouncing from child to child, from topic to topic for those things that need to be covered individually. I have elected to stack those subjects in the morning hours. Jo, especially, tends to work faster and more efficiently before lunch, so I'm taking advantage of that fact. We've already covered math (courtesy of Math-U-See), LA (a mish-mosh of customized items), Spanish (Rosetta Stone), Bible, Art (a little free painting to fill in the time) and cursive handwriting for the boys. Then Jo made us some delicious quesadillas and we enjoyed them over some light reading before heading off for "rest time."
And it's only noon!
I know that it can't possibly stay this perfect but, wow ... I am enjoying this!
Today has been the Official Now We Are Doing School On the Record Day.
We've had an auspicious start, which is normally the case with our fall schedule. I am playing the part of human ping-pong again this year, bouncing from child to child, from topic to topic for those things that need to be covered individually. I have elected to stack those subjects in the morning hours. Jo, especially, tends to work faster and more efficiently before lunch, so I'm taking advantage of that fact. We've already covered math (courtesy of Math-U-See), LA (a mish-mosh of customized items), Spanish (Rosetta Stone), Bible, Art (a little free painting to fill in the time) and cursive handwriting for the boys. Then Jo made us some delicious quesadillas and we enjoyed them over some light reading before heading off for "rest time."
And it's only noon!
I know that it can't possibly stay this perfect but, wow ... I am enjoying this!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
I give up
Logan has strep. Again.
His last bout was a mere four weeks ago.
This marks his eighth infection with strep in 18 months--his fourth round that has been accompanied by scarlet fever as well. Our medical provider has had him run the gauntlet of medical wünderdrugs, from amoxicillian to cefadroxil to Keflex to some particularly nasty thing starting with an "o." He has gargled, chewed gum with Xylitol and dealt with my constant monitoring of the condition of his tonsils with flashlights. We have been waging a war in this household ... and strep is the enemy.
Just for jollies, at his 5 year check up today, I asked the family practice nurse we see to do a test and see if it was back. He'd complained of his throat hurting and had had a sandpapery red rash on his stomach since yesterday afternoon. Knowing his history (and being an excellent health care provider in general), she obliged.
When confronted with yet another positive result, I admit it: I officially gave up. Logan is going to an ENT in two weeks, and I've been dreading it. Been thinking up all the things I can think of to justify why this kid needs to keep his tonsils. I mean, God put them there, right? They are a functioning part of his immune system. They shouldn't just be altered for convenience or our lack of patience or ....
Nevermind. I give up.
Nothing I can say is worth putting my son through this every six weeks. If taking his tonsils out is wrong, then let me be the guilty party. If he wants to be angry down the road that we rushed to have part of his body hacked out, so be it. Right now, I just can't take looking at the bags under his eyes anymore and wondering if it's strep again, or picking up on behavioral cues and trying to discern whether it's attitude or sickness. I can't see him walking around thinking it's normal for your throat to hurt all the time.
So I give up. Time for the surgeons to do their thing, because clearly, it's not something a mommy can cure.
His last bout was a mere four weeks ago.
This marks his eighth infection with strep in 18 months--his fourth round that has been accompanied by scarlet fever as well. Our medical provider has had him run the gauntlet of medical wünderdrugs, from amoxicillian to cefadroxil to Keflex to some particularly nasty thing starting with an "o." He has gargled, chewed gum with Xylitol and dealt with my constant monitoring of the condition of his tonsils with flashlights. We have been waging a war in this household ... and strep is the enemy.
Just for jollies, at his 5 year check up today, I asked the family practice nurse we see to do a test and see if it was back. He'd complained of his throat hurting and had had a sandpapery red rash on his stomach since yesterday afternoon. Knowing his history (and being an excellent health care provider in general), she obliged.
When confronted with yet another positive result, I admit it: I officially gave up. Logan is going to an ENT in two weeks, and I've been dreading it. Been thinking up all the things I can think of to justify why this kid needs to keep his tonsils. I mean, God put them there, right? They are a functioning part of his immune system. They shouldn't just be altered for convenience or our lack of patience or ....
Nevermind. I give up.
Nothing I can say is worth putting my son through this every six weeks. If taking his tonsils out is wrong, then let me be the guilty party. If he wants to be angry down the road that we rushed to have part of his body hacked out, so be it. Right now, I just can't take looking at the bags under his eyes anymore and wondering if it's strep again, or picking up on behavioral cues and trying to discern whether it's attitude or sickness. I can't see him walking around thinking it's normal for your throat to hurt all the time.
So I give up. Time for the surgeons to do their thing, because clearly, it's not something a mommy can cure.
Monday, September 3, 2007
In honor of public school opening day ...
A quiz answering the burning questions you truly want to know about my high school years!
1. Who was your best friend? Before we moved to NC, it was Cheryl. Then, when we moved, I had a little clique of friends that were my constant companions: "Big Dave", Trent, Jess, "Buddha" (real name: Carsten), Davie P., Dylan, "Lizard" (real name Elizabeth), and the Heathers. We really liked nicknaming people. I was "Cheddar."
2. Did you play any sports? Not in high school.
3. What kind of car did you drive? I totaled a Cavalier and was rewarded with a Beretta. I'm not sure about the logic there, but ...
4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? In the basement at Trent's house with "everyone," playing pool. Or at work.
5. Were you a party animal? Not by the common definition.
6. Were you considered a flirt? No, I was the edgy one. Apparently that was somewhat attractive to certain guys.
7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? Band until we moved to NC.
8. Were you a nerd? I was one of the punk rock kids. The super-popular folks didn't look at us with envy or anything, but we were a few rungs higher on the social ladder than your average nerd.
9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? No comment.
10. Can you sing the fight song? I put a lot more effort into learning all the lyrics of "Tommy the Cat."
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Schnackenburg, who thought my writing was worth something.
12. What was your school mascot? We were the Sabres.
13. Did you go to the Prom? Several.
14. If you could go back, would you? Uh, no.
15. What do you remember most about graduation? No one from my family came. Four years later, when I graduated from college, I opted not to walk in the ceremony and no one understood why.
16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? Much to my shame, many a day was Senior Skip Day. Back in the day, I knew all the record stores and museums of downtown Charlotte by heart.
17. Did you have a job your senior year? Two--I worked the counter in a dry cleaners and was a nurse's aid in a retirement home. Trying to save for college, you know.
18. Where did you go most often for lunch? There was this place by the school, I can't remember what it was called. They had awesome French Dip sandwiches. When I became a vegetarian, I started going to this Vietnamese place for noodles.
19. Have you gained weight since then? Oh, yes.
20. What did you do after graduation? I went to lunch with my then-boyfriend's family.
21. What year did you graduate? 1992
22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? "Big Dave" (the aforementioned boyfriend)
23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? No, I let that one pass me by. I did submit a profile for this program-type booklet they put out. It had little blurbs of the "Where are they now?" variety. I was the only one with three children, one of a handful living out of state and one of only a few dozen who were married. Strange.
1. Who was your best friend? Before we moved to NC, it was Cheryl. Then, when we moved, I had a little clique of friends that were my constant companions: "Big Dave", Trent, Jess, "Buddha" (real name: Carsten), Davie P., Dylan, "Lizard" (real name Elizabeth), and the Heathers. We really liked nicknaming people. I was "Cheddar."
2. Did you play any sports? Not in high school.
3. What kind of car did you drive? I totaled a Cavalier and was rewarded with a Beretta. I'm not sure about the logic there, but ...
4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? In the basement at Trent's house with "everyone," playing pool. Or at work.
5. Were you a party animal? Not by the common definition.
6. Were you considered a flirt? No, I was the edgy one. Apparently that was somewhat attractive to certain guys.
7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? Band until we moved to NC.
8. Were you a nerd? I was one of the punk rock kids. The super-popular folks didn't look at us with envy or anything, but we were a few rungs higher on the social ladder than your average nerd.
9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? No comment.
10. Can you sing the fight song? I put a lot more effort into learning all the lyrics of "Tommy the Cat."
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Schnackenburg, who thought my writing was worth something.
12. What was your school mascot? We were the Sabres.
13. Did you go to the Prom? Several.
14. If you could go back, would you? Uh, no.
15. What do you remember most about graduation? No one from my family came. Four years later, when I graduated from college, I opted not to walk in the ceremony and no one understood why.
16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? Much to my shame, many a day was Senior Skip Day. Back in the day, I knew all the record stores and museums of downtown Charlotte by heart.
17. Did you have a job your senior year? Two--I worked the counter in a dry cleaners and was a nurse's aid in a retirement home. Trying to save for college, you know.
18. Where did you go most often for lunch? There was this place by the school, I can't remember what it was called. They had awesome French Dip sandwiches. When I became a vegetarian, I started going to this Vietnamese place for noodles.
19. Have you gained weight since then? Oh, yes.
20. What did you do after graduation? I went to lunch with my then-boyfriend's family.
21. What year did you graduate? 1992
22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? "Big Dave" (the aforementioned boyfriend)
23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? No, I let that one pass me by. I did submit a profile for this program-type booklet they put out. It had little blurbs of the "Where are they now?" variety. I was the only one with three children, one of a handful living out of state and one of only a few dozen who were married. Strange.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The New and Improved Schedule
Keeper of a tight ship I am not. Sure, I tend to have things running along at a fairly good clip. But my natural default mode is decidedly sedentary (ie, reading--alone or to my kiddos) and that really doesn't translate into a whole lot of laundry getting folded or dishes getting washed--let alone the other stuff my children will need to know someday, like how to calculate the area of a triangle. (Oh, wait--I'm not totally convinced that they will ever need to calculate the area of a triangle. And, if they do, I know that they are smart enough to google it to get thorough instructions.)
We do well enough, really. We put in more than our states' required number of school hours (not to mention school subjects). My children love learning and have no problem digging into some pretty deep topics on their own. And really, you can learn a lot from just reading good books. Look at Beatrix Potter, for goodness sake! :-)
But this year, with the responsibility of educating three brilliant little blessings dangling over my head, I thought that my former dabbling in scheduling should start to look a bit more like actual, real scheduling. After a few stabs at trying to juggle the fact that there are three students in this one room schoolhouse and only one teacher, I think I came up with a fairly workable outline. Here's a peek at the plan ... which will of course be modified as we go along.
6:30 a.m.--MG up, make coffee, Bible time
7 a.m.--Jo & Atticus private Bible time, Logan breakfast helper
7:30 a.m.--eat breakfast, devotion time with entire family (yes, we do devotions over omelettes)
8:30 a.m.--All, morning chores
9 a.m.--MG shower, Jo finish chores/Spanish, Atticus read to Logan
9:30 a.m.--MG reading lesson with Logan, Jo LA, Atticus Spanish/cursive
10 a.m.--MG Math-U-See with Jo and Atticus, Logan painting or drawing
10:30 a.m.--MG Math-U-See with Logan, Others finish lesson and/or AWANA
11 a.m.--MG Language Arts with Atticus & Logan, Jo make lunch
11:30 a.m.--lunch (history read aloud over lunch)
12 p.m.--MG computer, dc reading in rooms
12:30 p.m.-MG phone calls, quiet time (drawing, writing, etc.) in rooms
1 p.m.--All family read aloud
1:30 p.m.--All Science/Art (alternate)
2 p.m.--All English from the Roots Up
2:30 p.m. --Jo & Atticus Greek, Logan Spanish or computer game
3 p.m.-- MG one-on-one time with Atticus, Jo & Logan play board game
3:30 p.m.--MG one-on-one time with Jo, Atticus & Logan play game
4 p.m.--All chess/music (alternate)
4:30 p.m.--All Journal/Drawing/free writing
5 p.m.--MG make dinner, Atticus dinner helper, Jo free, Logan Lincoln Logs
5:30 p.m.--Dinner
7 p.m.--MG read to boys, Jo French w/ Dad
7:30 p.m.--MG free, Jo reading with Dad, Atticus reading in bed, Logan bedtime
8 p.m.--Jo reading in bed, Atticus bedtime
8:30 p.m.--Jo bedtime
We do well enough, really. We put in more than our states' required number of school hours (not to mention school subjects). My children love learning and have no problem digging into some pretty deep topics on their own. And really, you can learn a lot from just reading good books. Look at Beatrix Potter, for goodness sake! :-)
But this year, with the responsibility of educating three brilliant little blessings dangling over my head, I thought that my former dabbling in scheduling should start to look a bit more like actual, real scheduling. After a few stabs at trying to juggle the fact that there are three students in this one room schoolhouse and only one teacher, I think I came up with a fairly workable outline. Here's a peek at the plan ... which will of course be modified as we go along.
6:30 a.m.--MG up, make coffee, Bible time
7 a.m.--Jo & Atticus private Bible time, Logan breakfast helper
7:30 a.m.--eat breakfast, devotion time with entire family (yes, we do devotions over omelettes)
8:30 a.m.--All, morning chores
9 a.m.--MG shower, Jo finish chores/Spanish, Atticus read to Logan
9:30 a.m.--MG reading lesson with Logan, Jo LA, Atticus Spanish/cursive
10 a.m.--MG Math-U-See with Jo and Atticus, Logan painting or drawing
10:30 a.m.--MG Math-U-See with Logan, Others finish lesson and/or AWANA
11 a.m.--MG Language Arts with Atticus & Logan, Jo make lunch
11:30 a.m.--lunch (history read aloud over lunch)
12 p.m.--MG computer, dc reading in rooms
12:30 p.m.-MG phone calls, quiet time (drawing, writing, etc.) in rooms
1 p.m.--All family read aloud
1:30 p.m.--All Science/Art (alternate)
2 p.m.--All English from the Roots Up
2:30 p.m. --Jo & Atticus Greek, Logan Spanish or computer game
3 p.m.-- MG one-on-one time with Atticus, Jo & Logan play board game
3:30 p.m.--MG one-on-one time with Jo, Atticus & Logan play game
4 p.m.--All chess/music (alternate)
4:30 p.m.--All Journal/Drawing/free writing
5 p.m.--MG make dinner, Atticus dinner helper, Jo free, Logan Lincoln Logs
5:30 p.m.--Dinner
7 p.m.--MG read to boys, Jo French w/ Dad
7:30 p.m.--MG free, Jo reading with Dad, Atticus reading in bed, Logan bedtime
8 p.m.--Jo reading in bed, Atticus bedtime
8:30 p.m.--Jo bedtime
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Happy Song
I really haven't liked the direction this blog has taken. I feel like it's becoming my own personal whine-fest. I try very hard not to live my life focused on the negative, and yet here I am, over and over again pointing out the crumminess of the things that are going on around me, or saying how frustrated I am with this or that.
So tonight, here's a list of things I am happy about or thankful for, in no particular order:
1. My daughter is turning ten and, unlike I once feared would be the case, she is not cheeky, mouthy or rude. Quite the opposite actually.
2. My husband is willingly (joyfully, even) working a temporary part-time job to bring in extra $$.
3. An anonymous Christ-follower who obviously knew of our need left $500 on our front porch. Talk about blessed!
4. My boys think that "The Lone Ranger" is edgy entertainment.
5. I weeded my front walkway without getting stung by bees, hornets, wasps or anything else that can potentially kill me.
6. Jo asked if we could "please" do school today, even though it's Saturday.
7. My mom acknowledged for the first time today that "The DaVinci Code" is indeed a work of fiction.
8. My husband and all three of my kids have accepted Christ. Family heaven party!!! :-)
9. Logan draws me an entire pack of pictures almost every single day, just for being his momma.
10. Atticus is seven and still thinks it's cool to sit in my lap every morning and cuddle.
11. I remembered to buy coffee at the grocery store even though I had forgotten to put it on the list.
12. Orange peel texture for newly installed drywall does indeed come in individual aerosol cans.
13. I spent virtually all day alone with Logan yesterday, and he talked my ear off. I loved it.
14. I've had a bunch of evenings alone lately, which is a prime way I recharge.
15. I am enjoying a totally useless novel with absolutely no redeeming value right now. Guilty pleasure.
16. Unlike my grandmother, I do not do laundry in a crick. I have a lovely Kenmore that does the deed for me.
17. Jo's birthday list? A 4-H sweatshirt, a rock tumbler, a purple light saber and ... play food. C'mon. Is this girl great or what? :-)
18. Two of my grandparents are still very much alive.
19. My dh has been extra-sweet to me lately, knowing that I'm down.
20. I found that darn folder of fingerprinting documents I thought I'd lost.
21. I've got a good friend that's only a phone call away.
22. My cousin loaned me a load of wonderful books for school, in addition to going halfsies on Core 4 with us.
23. I have someone I trust who I can leave my kids with in a pinch.
24. Fall's almost here.
25. I am slowly building a relationship with my father.
26. My Mamaw and Papaw still call me "Baby."
O.k., I'll stop. Hopefully that long list of good outweighs the bummer vibe I've been perpetuating here and will make me want to post more.
(P.S.--Spellcheck isn't working right now, so *that's* who you should blame if you read this before I get to fully edit it!)
So tonight, here's a list of things I am happy about or thankful for, in no particular order:
1. My daughter is turning ten and, unlike I once feared would be the case, she is not cheeky, mouthy or rude. Quite the opposite actually.
2. My husband is willingly (joyfully, even) working a temporary part-time job to bring in extra $$.
3. An anonymous Christ-follower who obviously knew of our need left $500 on our front porch. Talk about blessed!
4. My boys think that "The Lone Ranger" is edgy entertainment.
5. I weeded my front walkway without getting stung by bees, hornets, wasps or anything else that can potentially kill me.
6. Jo asked if we could "please" do school today, even though it's Saturday.
7. My mom acknowledged for the first time today that "The DaVinci Code" is indeed a work of fiction.
8. My husband and all three of my kids have accepted Christ. Family heaven party!!! :-)
9. Logan draws me an entire pack of pictures almost every single day, just for being his momma.
10. Atticus is seven and still thinks it's cool to sit in my lap every morning and cuddle.
11. I remembered to buy coffee at the grocery store even though I had forgotten to put it on the list.
12. Orange peel texture for newly installed drywall does indeed come in individual aerosol cans.
13. I spent virtually all day alone with Logan yesterday, and he talked my ear off. I loved it.
14. I've had a bunch of evenings alone lately, which is a prime way I recharge.
15. I am enjoying a totally useless novel with absolutely no redeeming value right now. Guilty pleasure.
16. Unlike my grandmother, I do not do laundry in a crick. I have a lovely Kenmore that does the deed for me.
17. Jo's birthday list? A 4-H sweatshirt, a rock tumbler, a purple light saber and ... play food. C'mon. Is this girl great or what? :-)
18. Two of my grandparents are still very much alive.
19. My dh has been extra-sweet to me lately, knowing that I'm down.
20. I found that darn folder of fingerprinting documents I thought I'd lost.
21. I've got a good friend that's only a phone call away.
22. My cousin loaned me a load of wonderful books for school, in addition to going halfsies on Core 4 with us.
23. I have someone I trust who I can leave my kids with in a pinch.
24. Fall's almost here.
25. I am slowly building a relationship with my father.
26. My Mamaw and Papaw still call me "Baby."
O.k., I'll stop. Hopefully that long list of good outweighs the bummer vibe I've been perpetuating here and will make me want to post more.
(P.S.--Spellcheck isn't working right now, so *that's* who you should blame if you read this before I get to fully edit it!)
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