Ian's school had a dentist come and give a presentation about good dental health. Yowzer, this had a BIG impact on Ian.
A day or two later the following conversation transpired between Sam and Ian:
Sam (picking out a lollipop from the cookie jar for herself): Ian, do you want a lollipop?
Ian: No, they are too full of um,...um,...um,..(trying very hard to think of the word)
Sam: Flavor?
Ian: No, sugar.
***************************************************************************
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Inspired.
After reading "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" and it's sequel "Darth Paper Strikes Back", Ian and I fell in love with reading together each evening and decided to keep it going with a new series of books.
We did it! We've read all 6 books of "The Diary of Wimpy Kid" series. It's quite impressive when you think about it. We started the books (they are each 217 pages long) at the beginning of January and by mid-March, they were all read. Now, this is in addition to the nightly reading his school requires, the homework Ian has each week, and of course the reading Jeff does (think: Scooby-do books) each night before bed.
Once we started nearing the end of the last book, Ian asked if I would get him "The Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book". You don't have to ask me twice to get Ian something that he wants to practice his writing. He actually brings this book to school with him and will write in it (with his friends) during snack time. How cute is that!?!?
Once we started nearing the end of the last book, Ian asked if I would get him "The Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book". You don't have to ask me twice to get Ian something that he wants to practice his writing. He actually brings this book to school with him and will write in it (with his friends) during snack time. How cute is that!?!?
Oh, how I would love to give you all a glimpse of what Ian is writing about, but I will respect his privacy and not publish it. Please know, that it is super cute and it is about a girl!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Reason to smile
The other day, I had picked Sam up from school and we were headed home. During the drive, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Sam smiling. She was happy, just sitting there in her seat, listening to the radio, with a smile on her face. It was a beautiful thing and took my breath away. Not to be so dramatic over this simple gesture, but I can't remember this ever happening.
For so long I've been walking around on egg shells and doing my best to not piss her off. It seemed like Sam was in a continually bad mood and every little thing set her off...some times it would be over absolutely nothing. She was quick to anger, get intensely angry and lose all sense of reason. Her temper tantrums and meltdowns would go on for a crazy amount of time and there was very little you could do to get her to calm down. This was multiple times a day, every day. Fortunately, it was just with Jeff and me, but that meant this negative energy would have time to build up and explode when she was with us.
You don't realize what hell you've been accustomed to living in until you see the sun shining brightly and can breathe normal again. I've found that when stressed, I'll unconsciously hold my breath in. This has been going on for so long (we are approaching one year), that is was difficult to see the trees through the forrest. I knew there was a big problem with Sam and it took everything I had to get these appointments made with all these doctors and wait our turn to be seen. If anyone is thinking of changing careers, become a pediatric speciality in anything and you will have a line out your door a mile long waiting to get in.
For the past several weeks, Sam has been spending a large amount of time at various doctors and therapy trying to get to the bottom of it all. It turns out that not pooping (she recently made it a full 18 day stretch without fully going) can really wreak havoc with your temperament. We are not sure why Sam has this psychological need to hold in her poop (that's for the therapist to figure out and work on), but the pediatric GI doctor has us on a regimen to get her cleaned-out and going regularly. In fact, we are intentionally inducing diarrhea (think oatmeal consistency) to happen every day for the next several months. The goal is to get her so far removed from having to push out a bowel movement that she forgets about holding it in. Of course Sam is back to wearing pull-ups and will be for quite some time, but this is for the best. I am sure Target is missing the weekly sale of 20 pairs of girls underwear each week that I was purchasing, because of all the overflow soiling previously going on.
We are not out of the woods yet. We are in the middle of a series of appointments with a pediatric developmental pediatrician who will look at both the medical and behavioral issues and give us the full picture. I have to admit it is a big relief to be moving in the right direction. It will be up to a year (according to the GI doctor) before the pooping can get to normal, but I am so excited to be seeing a little progress. Seriously, it is a night and day difference with her temperament and disposition.
I am enjoying being around Sam. She is delightful. We are having fun together. The diarrhea daily (some times up to 3 times a day) I will gladly embrace and clean-up if it means I am around someone who is human. And not around someone who is constantly cranky, irritable, quick to anger, and fly off the handle. I guess you would be too if you only went poop every 12 to 18 days.
For so long I've been walking around on egg shells and doing my best to not piss her off. It seemed like Sam was in a continually bad mood and every little thing set her off...some times it would be over absolutely nothing. She was quick to anger, get intensely angry and lose all sense of reason. Her temper tantrums and meltdowns would go on for a crazy amount of time and there was very little you could do to get her to calm down. This was multiple times a day, every day. Fortunately, it was just with Jeff and me, but that meant this negative energy would have time to build up and explode when she was with us.
You don't realize what hell you've been accustomed to living in until you see the sun shining brightly and can breathe normal again. I've found that when stressed, I'll unconsciously hold my breath in. This has been going on for so long (we are approaching one year), that is was difficult to see the trees through the forrest. I knew there was a big problem with Sam and it took everything I had to get these appointments made with all these doctors and wait our turn to be seen. If anyone is thinking of changing careers, become a pediatric speciality in anything and you will have a line out your door a mile long waiting to get in.
For the past several weeks, Sam has been spending a large amount of time at various doctors and therapy trying to get to the bottom of it all. It turns out that not pooping (she recently made it a full 18 day stretch without fully going) can really wreak havoc with your temperament. We are not sure why Sam has this psychological need to hold in her poop (that's for the therapist to figure out and work on), but the pediatric GI doctor has us on a regimen to get her cleaned-out and going regularly. In fact, we are intentionally inducing diarrhea (think oatmeal consistency) to happen every day for the next several months. The goal is to get her so far removed from having to push out a bowel movement that she forgets about holding it in. Of course Sam is back to wearing pull-ups and will be for quite some time, but this is for the best. I am sure Target is missing the weekly sale of 20 pairs of girls underwear each week that I was purchasing, because of all the overflow soiling previously going on.
We are not out of the woods yet. We are in the middle of a series of appointments with a pediatric developmental pediatrician who will look at both the medical and behavioral issues and give us the full picture. I have to admit it is a big relief to be moving in the right direction. It will be up to a year (according to the GI doctor) before the pooping can get to normal, but I am so excited to be seeing a little progress. Seriously, it is a night and day difference with her temperament and disposition.
I am enjoying being around Sam. She is delightful. We are having fun together. The diarrhea daily (some times up to 3 times a day) I will gladly embrace and clean-up if it means I am around someone who is human. And not around someone who is constantly cranky, irritable, quick to anger, and fly off the handle. I guess you would be too if you only went poop every 12 to 18 days.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Really, it's Chinese.
Kudos to Jeff for successfully pulling the wool over Sam's eyes. She has been dying to eat Chinese and Jeff told her the next time we go to a restaurant, she can pick it. The opportunity came up a few Fridays ago when our dinner plans at a friend's house fell thru and we used the opportunity to go out to eat.
When we were dating, I introduced Jeff to Cafe Asia in Arlington. Jeff wasn't familiar with Japanese food and I enjoyed showing him some of my favorite rolls and edamame. He instantly fell in love with the place, and we've been back many times. Although, we've had yet to eat there since having two kids. It just isn't convenient to where we live and the food generally has to be more kid-friendly in order to justify going to a restaurant.
But, what the hell, we decided to go for it. Jeff's office he works at on Fridays is located a few blocks up the street from Cafe Asia. We decided the kids and I would drive in and meet him at 5:15pm. Jeff told Sam she is getting her pick of restaurants and we will be doing Chinese. However, Ho's Dynasty (our fave place) is closed (boo-hoo! They've shut down for good), and we will need to go a little further for Chinese food.
During the drive to Arlington:
Sam: "Ian, we are going to CHINESE!!!!! It's my choice. I picked it! It's CHINESE!!!!!"
Ian: "I know, I can't wait to get sweet and sour chicken."
Me: "Ian, um, this place isn't going to have sweet and sour chicken.'
Ian: "WHAT!?!? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have sweet and sour chicken?"
Can't blame the kid...he's right you know.
Sam: "Ian, its CHINESE!!!!!!!!"
Ian: "Then what will I get?"
Sam: "CHINESE FOOD!!!!!"
Oy, poor girl is going to grow-up so confused after this restaurant experience.
Me: "You'll be able to get spring rolls, noodles, and other chicken dishes."
Sam: "I want noodles!!"
Ian: "I want Mexican. The next time we go out, I get to pick. I want Mexican."
Sam: "Can I get noodles at Mexican?"
Me: "Yes, you can."
Ian: "No, you can't get noodles at Mexican!"
Sam: "Can we go to a Mexican restaurant that you can get noodles?"
Me: "Can we just make it through this restaurant first before we begin arguing on where we will go next?"
It was an easy drive into town -- how sad that Arlington is considered "in town" to me now, and parking was a breeze. We decided to eat outside. Friday, March 23rd was a gorgeous day and it was nice to have fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
Even though we knowingly went to restaurant with no kids menu (hard to believe, right?), the food was a big hit with Ian and Sam. They ate incredibly well and Ian even tried a cucumber roll and asparagus roll for the first time and really liked it. He didn't even spit it out when I told him it was wrapped in seaweed. He said next time he'd like to try a salmon roll.
Hold on to your socks, we even stayed longer than 45 minutes! We actually ate the food in the right order, appetizers and then the entrees. Whoa, baby!
When we were dating, I introduced Jeff to Cafe Asia in Arlington. Jeff wasn't familiar with Japanese food and I enjoyed showing him some of my favorite rolls and edamame. He instantly fell in love with the place, and we've been back many times. Although, we've had yet to eat there since having two kids. It just isn't convenient to where we live and the food generally has to be more kid-friendly in order to justify going to a restaurant.
But, what the hell, we decided to go for it. Jeff's office he works at on Fridays is located a few blocks up the street from Cafe Asia. We decided the kids and I would drive in and meet him at 5:15pm. Jeff told Sam she is getting her pick of restaurants and we will be doing Chinese. However, Ho's Dynasty (our fave place) is closed (boo-hoo! They've shut down for good), and we will need to go a little further for Chinese food.
During the drive to Arlington:
Sam: "Ian, we are going to CHINESE!!!!! It's my choice. I picked it! It's CHINESE!!!!!"
Ian: "I know, I can't wait to get sweet and sour chicken."
Me: "Ian, um, this place isn't going to have sweet and sour chicken.'
Ian: "WHAT!?!? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have sweet and sour chicken?"
Can't blame the kid...he's right you know.
Sam: "Ian, its CHINESE!!!!!!!!"
Ian: "Then what will I get?"
Sam: "CHINESE FOOD!!!!!"
Oy, poor girl is going to grow-up so confused after this restaurant experience.
Me: "You'll be able to get spring rolls, noodles, and other chicken dishes."
Sam: "I want noodles!!"
Ian: "I want Mexican. The next time we go out, I get to pick. I want Mexican."
Sam: "Can I get noodles at Mexican?"
Me: "Yes, you can."
Ian: "No, you can't get noodles at Mexican!"
Sam: "Can we go to a Mexican restaurant that you can get noodles?"
Me: "Can we just make it through this restaurant first before we begin arguing on where we will go next?"
It was an easy drive into town -- how sad that Arlington is considered "in town" to me now, and parking was a breeze. We decided to eat outside. Friday, March 23rd was a gorgeous day and it was nice to have fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
Even though we knowingly went to restaurant with no kids menu (hard to believe, right?), the food was a big hit with Ian and Sam. They ate incredibly well and Ian even tried a cucumber roll and asparagus roll for the first time and really liked it. He didn't even spit it out when I told him it was wrapped in seaweed. He said next time he'd like to try a salmon roll.
Hold on to your socks, we even stayed longer than 45 minutes! We actually ate the food in the right order, appetizers and then the entrees. Whoa, baby!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Finding my voice
My dad showed me at a young age what it means to believe in something. He has got to be the most patriotic person I know, and I am pretty sure he bleeds red, white and blue. You don't come between my dad and the U.S. Having fought in the Vietnam war (front lines baby, carrying the radio with its ridiculously long and very noticeable antenna), he had little tolerance for Jane Fonda and her act of betrayal for our men fighting for our country. I remember like it was yesterday, when my dad took my friend and I to the mall in the early 80's. He and other individuals protested outside the store Jane Fonda was at promoting some exercise video or something. My friend and I were inside the store killing time, watching Jane do her thing and outside my dad was circling the mall parking lot holding up "Hanoi Jane" signs.
It doesn't come easy for me to speak up. Oh sure, I talk a good game and am quick to point out a situation being handled unfairly or injustice being done. But telling the people in charge and making my views known for the record, doesn't come second nature. Confrontation, not matter how politely packaged, is still confrontation.
With age has come the ability (and chutzpah!) to find my voice. I am proud of myself. These past few months, I not only spoke-up once, but twice on different matters.
The first being the kids' swim teacher. The mom whose daughter got stuck with this gem, I see each Saturday. You can actually see her blood boiling during the lesson and getting peeved over exactly the same issues I had. I encouraged her to speak up and say something to the swim director. But she didn't and got stuck with this 'teacher' week after week. There is no way they will know there is a problem or do things differently, unless you say something.
The most current situation, where I've spoken up, is with our synagogue. My daughter goes to preschool and has one year left before entering kindergarten. For many reasons, it has turned out not to be the place we once thought. It would be so easy to continue sending Sam there next year and not ruffle any feathers, but no, a stand needed to be taken. My family and I are making a big switch and starting July, we will have a new synagogue to call home. Ian and Sam don't know yet the changes that are taking place, but as soon as religious school (Ian goes on Sundays) and preschool is done (at the end of May), we will sit down and tell them. I want them to know that Daddy and I didn't take the easy way out. That we are standing up for what we believe in and how important it is to us. Fortunately a lot of Sam's friends are changing with us, so it will be relatively seamless for her. But this is a big deal to us and a decision that didn't come lightly. We've been experiencing some backlash, but until the year is over, I continue going there almost daily, holding my head up high.
In both situations I knew it was the right thing to do almost instantly. Albeit, I was nervous, like first day of school jitters, but a weight came off my shoulders and I felt this immense sense of relief. It was out there. I had issues. I wanted them known. I was planning on taking action no matter how my comments were received and I felt good about it. A smile came on my face and I knew deep down I did the right thing. There was no second guessing myself. It was the right decision to speak up on behalf of my family and it was in the best interest of my kids.
I will use this newfound power wisely. More than anything I want to set an example for my kids and show them not to cower on the sidelines and let others do the dirty work for you, if they decide to do it at all. I want them to see that even though it is more difficult to step-up, it is also the most honorable.
I thank my parents for giving me these values and hope I make them proud, like they did me.
It doesn't come easy for me to speak up. Oh sure, I talk a good game and am quick to point out a situation being handled unfairly or injustice being done. But telling the people in charge and making my views known for the record, doesn't come second nature. Confrontation, not matter how politely packaged, is still confrontation.
With age has come the ability (and chutzpah!) to find my voice. I am proud of myself. These past few months, I not only spoke-up once, but twice on different matters.
The first being the kids' swim teacher. The mom whose daughter got stuck with this gem, I see each Saturday. You can actually see her blood boiling during the lesson and getting peeved over exactly the same issues I had. I encouraged her to speak up and say something to the swim director. But she didn't and got stuck with this 'teacher' week after week. There is no way they will know there is a problem or do things differently, unless you say something.
The most current situation, where I've spoken up, is with our synagogue. My daughter goes to preschool and has one year left before entering kindergarten. For many reasons, it has turned out not to be the place we once thought. It would be so easy to continue sending Sam there next year and not ruffle any feathers, but no, a stand needed to be taken. My family and I are making a big switch and starting July, we will have a new synagogue to call home. Ian and Sam don't know yet the changes that are taking place, but as soon as religious school (Ian goes on Sundays) and preschool is done (at the end of May), we will sit down and tell them. I want them to know that Daddy and I didn't take the easy way out. That we are standing up for what we believe in and how important it is to us. Fortunately a lot of Sam's friends are changing with us, so it will be relatively seamless for her. But this is a big deal to us and a decision that didn't come lightly. We've been experiencing some backlash, but until the year is over, I continue going there almost daily, holding my head up high.
In both situations I knew it was the right thing to do almost instantly. Albeit, I was nervous, like first day of school jitters, but a weight came off my shoulders and I felt this immense sense of relief. It was out there. I had issues. I wanted them known. I was planning on taking action no matter how my comments were received and I felt good about it. A smile came on my face and I knew deep down I did the right thing. There was no second guessing myself. It was the right decision to speak up on behalf of my family and it was in the best interest of my kids.
I will use this newfound power wisely. More than anything I want to set an example for my kids and show them not to cower on the sidelines and let others do the dirty work for you, if they decide to do it at all. I want them to see that even though it is more difficult to step-up, it is also the most honorable.
I thank my parents for giving me these values and hope I make them proud, like they did me.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Riding around in the car
Sam and I were driving in the car. The following conversation took place as we were approaching an intersection.
Sam: Mommy, are you going to go right or left here?
Me: I am making a right.
Sam: I thought so.
Me: Huh? You know your right from your left?!!?!?!
Sam: Yes!
Me: Ok, Sam, hold up your left hand. (and she did it correctly). Sam, hold up your right hand. (and she did that correctly). WOW!! That's great Sam. Who taught you how to do that?
Sam: Daddy.
Simply awesome. :)
Sam: Mommy, are you going to go right or left here?
Me: I am making a right.
Sam: I thought so.
Me: Huh? You know your right from your left?!!?!?!
Sam: Yes!
Me: Ok, Sam, hold up your left hand. (and she did it correctly). Sam, hold up your right hand. (and she did that correctly). WOW!! That's great Sam. Who taught you how to do that?
Sam: Daddy.
Simply awesome. :)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The magic of peanut butter
We pull up to the same traffic light every single morning, patiently waiting for it to turn green and get Ian to school. This is the ONLY traffic light we encounter on our journey to his school. Sometimes we see the light is already green from quite a distance away, and I've been known to 'gun it' trying to make the light. When we do get there in time and can keep going through the intersection, there are cheers all around from me and the kids.
Other times, we sit and sit (having just missed the light) and wait for what seems like forever, for all the sides to get their chance to go before we get a crack at it again.
One day last week, we are sitting at the light and Sam says, "Ian, say peanut butter."
Ian and me, in unison: "What?"
Sam: "Say peanut butter and the light will change!"
Ian and me, again in unison: "WHAT!?!?"
Sam: "Just say peanut butter!"
Ian: "Ok, peanut butter"
And lo and behold, the light turned green at that exact moment.
Three days later, Ian and I are in the car, once again sitting at a light. I guess Ian was getting a little antsy waiting for it to turn green. And, without any fanfare or with Sam prompting him to say it, Ian says, "Peanut Butter."
Guess what? The light turned green that very instant.
Other times, we sit and sit (having just missed the light) and wait for what seems like forever, for all the sides to get their chance to go before we get a crack at it again.
One day last week, we are sitting at the light and Sam says, "Ian, say peanut butter."
Ian and me, in unison: "What?"
Sam: "Say peanut butter and the light will change!"
Ian and me, again in unison: "WHAT!?!?"
Sam: "Just say peanut butter!"
Ian: "Ok, peanut butter"
And lo and behold, the light turned green at that exact moment.
Three days later, Ian and I are in the car, once again sitting at a light. I guess Ian was getting a little antsy waiting for it to turn green. And, without any fanfare or with Sam prompting him to say it, Ian says, "Peanut Butter."
Guess what? The light turned green that very instant.
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