We had fun trick or treating tonight. Wren was a little red dragon and Frost was a cowboy with a fake beard and mustache. Both were very motivated to "tick or teat?" [said in a high voice like a little bird] as Wren puts it.
Frost wearied of carrying his candy bag after a while, it was extremely full.
None of us is ill (touch wood) - Frost's morning of sniffles resolved - and although I have moments of panic when I hear someone cough or have a sun-sneeze, we seem to be doing OK for now.
I have yet to start packing anything.
I think I am in a kind of denial and taking it step by step. This step is to get over the weekend without illness. At that point I will start to throw things into bags.
I have managed to buy a replacement cellphone (if you find a white Virgin phone lying around you can recycle it!) with the same number. I have also been arranging basics like carpool for Frost (thanks Reiko) and building up a pile of toys to distract Wren in adversity. We still need more.
Mum and I had a quick trip to Value Village this morning and I found a pair of suede Birkenstocks in my size. They are brand new and feel fabulous so I had some luck! We also bought some Playmobil Union and Confederate soldiers for Frost which pleased him mightily.
I know that the reality of going away is creeping up on me. Last night I had a nightmare that it was Wren's surgery this morning and I had forgotten to stop him nursing in the night. I am also anxious and sad about leaving Frost for a week. I have never been away from him for that long before - the longest has been 2 nights for meditation retreat some years ago! He does not seem worried about it but I know I will miss him.
Tomorrow I have to do some errands but Mum and I hope to have time to take the kids for a walk in Discovery Park and perhaps have some fish on the wharf. Wren likes to watch the boats and seagulls. They both like the hunt for mushrooms in the forest.
The whole heart surgery thing seems surreal in this context.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A Murder of Crows & no RMH
While Wren was napping this afternoon the house was besieged by crows. There were about 100 of them. They perched on the wires facing our house, filled the cedars to either side of us and watched us from the tall trees across the road. I cannot recall the correct word for a crow noise but it was not just cawing. It was shrieking and rasping and kwarking.
Their complaint?
Our fake crow Halloween decoration had fallen to the ground overnight and looked injured or dead. Some feathers had come off and a pinkish foam was revealed.
I went out (into the hubub) and brought it inside. They investigated then slowly dispersed. We now have a regular number of crows hanging about.
I also received a call from Ronald McDonald House to say that the big Mac did not have space for us during our stay. They have referred us to another neighborhood Inn at a discounted rate. We shall see and compare.
Their complaint?
Our fake crow Halloween decoration had fallen to the ground overnight and looked injured or dead. Some feathers had come off and a pinkish foam was revealed.
I went out (into the hubub) and brought it inside. They investigated then slowly dispersed. We now have a regular number of crows hanging about.
I also received a call from Ronald McDonald House to say that the big Mac did not have space for us during our stay. They have referred us to another neighborhood Inn at a discounted rate. We shall see and compare.
Frost has a sniffle
Frost has been blowing his nose this morning. He is super-vigilant about washing his hands and talks about germs. In the morning paper there was an article about rhinovirus surviving 48 hours on household surfaces. In a study of people with early cold symptoms they found the virus on fridge handles, remote controls, bathroom faucets, light switches and other commonly touched surfaces a few days later.
At this point I guess we just wait and see who gets what and what happens. There is nothing more I can do about it.
Meanwhile, Mum arrives from Australia this afternoon. She is coming via San Francisco and should be landing there soon. That will keep us happy and busy for the next few days and allow me to get things packed and ready if we do manage to keep well enough to go.
Here is the Frostism of the morning:
FROST: Daddy gets to do lots of special things in his secret times.
ME: When are his secret times?
FROST: Its between 10.30pm and 2am when we are not here.
ME: What do you think he does?
FROST: He gets to eat snack, do stuff on his computer and play video games.
At this point I guess we just wait and see who gets what and what happens. There is nothing more I can do about it.
Meanwhile, Mum arrives from Australia this afternoon. She is coming via San Francisco and should be landing there soon. That will keep us happy and busy for the next few days and allow me to get things packed and ready if we do manage to keep well enough to go.
Here is the Frostism of the morning:
FROST: Daddy gets to do lots of special things in his secret times.
ME: When are his secret times?
FROST: Its between 10.30pm and 2am when we are not here.
ME: What do you think he does?
FROST: He gets to eat snack, do stuff on his computer and play video games.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Unschooling
*******NOTE: I HAVE MISLAID MY CELL PHONE FOR 4 DAYS. I WILL NOT ANSWER OR RECEIVE MESSAGES ON IT UNTIL IT IS FOUND.*********
We have decided to take keep Frost out of school until we leave to reduce the chance of contracting one of the fall infections going around. Of course, this is not guaranteed to work and Frost had a clear sniffle this afternoon. I guess we are doing our best and if he gets a cold and then Wren gets a cold it is just the way things will be.
We leave in 9 days - the day after election day - so he may have the chance to overcome a mild virus but not one of the seasonal coughs and colds that linger.
We had a good day of no-school. We took a bicycle ride around Magnuson park and watched diggers and rollers and compactors making playing fields. We discovered mushrooms hidden under leaves and threw stones into Lake Washington. For snack, we harvested some apples overgrown with brambles. Frost found a long stick and poked some down from a tree and Wren gnawed on one. They were deliciously crisp, sweet and cold.
Frost was interested in mushrooms and wondered whether gills versus pores was an identifying feature. I have promised to show him the mushroom identification guide this evening when the noisy-throwing-one goes to sleep.
Later this afternoon we opened our bale of straw and started to spread it around the yard. Frost lost a bouncing ball over the fence (ever time we play outside he loses a toy over the fence!)
Its time for bathtime and the bedtime roller-coaster.
We have decided to take keep Frost out of school until we leave to reduce the chance of contracting one of the fall infections going around. Of course, this is not guaranteed to work and Frost had a clear sniffle this afternoon. I guess we are doing our best and if he gets a cold and then Wren gets a cold it is just the way things will be.
We leave in 9 days - the day after election day - so he may have the chance to overcome a mild virus but not one of the seasonal coughs and colds that linger.
We had a good day of no-school. We took a bicycle ride around Magnuson park and watched diggers and rollers and compactors making playing fields. We discovered mushrooms hidden under leaves and threw stones into Lake Washington. For snack, we harvested some apples overgrown with brambles. Frost found a long stick and poked some down from a tree and Wren gnawed on one. They were deliciously crisp, sweet and cold.
Frost was interested in mushrooms and wondered whether gills versus pores was an identifying feature. I have promised to show him the mushroom identification guide this evening when the noisy-throwing-one goes to sleep.
Later this afternoon we opened our bale of straw and started to spread it around the yard. Frost lost a bouncing ball over the fence (ever time we play outside he loses a toy over the fence!)
Its time for bathtime and the bedtime roller-coaster.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Spiderwalk and a little illness
The kids are obsessed with Halloween and it seems to have been going on forever. Wren throws tantrums on car trips when we drive past "'alloweens" too fast for him to gaze upon. This evening Frost went to the Zoo Pumpkin Prowl with Zephyr and came back with his first stash of (mostly healthy) treats.
Wren is so compelled by Halloween that he insisted on taking "big spider" to the park with us. These are the pictures at the park on Monday.
Wren brings the spider to the park. It is hard to carry and one leg keeps falling off.
The spider discovers puddles of water and gets "bit wet".
Spider tries hanging on a bar. Wren can do it too.
Spider goes for a swing. Other children gather to look at spider and I scan them for signs of imminent sneeze and respiratory distress. One little girl is covered in mucus and keeps wanting to take spider. I suggest we take spider for a walk up the hill and Wren chases and throws him down again.
Last night Wren had a very interrupted sleep - waking about 5 times for varying lengths and seeming to settle with Tylenol. This morning he told me he had sore ear, sore throat and sore head. I don't think that was all true but his lymph nodes are swollen and he may have had a sore tummy. Its possible he is a bit allergic to Kiwi fruits which he had for the first time yesterday but since Frost woke with a painful upset stomach (and was off school) it may be a virus. He seems fine at bedtime but is a little stuffy in the nose and snores lightly.
Wren is so compelled by Halloween that he insisted on taking "big spider" to the park with us. These are the pictures at the park on Monday.
Wren brings the spider to the park. It is hard to carry and one leg keeps falling off.
The spider discovers puddles of water and gets "bit wet".
Spider tries hanging on a bar. Wren can do it too.
Spider goes for a swing. Other children gather to look at spider and I scan them for signs of imminent sneeze and respiratory distress. One little girl is covered in mucus and keeps wanting to take spider. I suggest we take spider for a walk up the hill and Wren chases and throws him down again.
Last night Wren had a very interrupted sleep - waking about 5 times for varying lengths and seeming to settle with Tylenol. This morning he told me he had sore ear, sore throat and sore head. I don't think that was all true but his lymph nodes are swollen and he may have had a sore tummy. Its possible he is a bit allergic to Kiwi fruits which he had for the first time yesterday but since Frost woke with a painful upset stomach (and was off school) it may be a virus. He seems fine at bedtime but is a little stuffy in the nose and snores lightly.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Stanford Surgery package arrived
We now have lots of homework and information to complete. Some points and issues:
1) Wren will need 4 units of blood during surgery. Do we want to offer our blood for him? We may not be able to be designated donors because They require blood 48 hours prior to surgery to allow time for processing and testing. We can either provide "designated donors" or use the general blood supply. Josh would like to donate if he can. I am investigating.
2) We need to know Wren's blood type. This is not in the notes I have. It may be in his chart records I requested but I have mislaid them in the reorganization of the office. If I can't find them and we can't get them from Children's he will need a blood draw for blood typing at our pediatricians.
3) We check in for pre-op at 7.30am on the 6th November. We need to give Wren a good bath the night before surgery. The actual surgery time will be posted on the pre-op day and we will be advised at that time.
4) If Wren gets sick between now and surgery we need to see our pediatrician to evaluate whether he can have surgery. In general, he cannot have respiratory infection or fever or exposure to chickenpox. Diarrhea and other conditions may delay surgery too.
5) Child Life only consults with children age 3+. I am going to investigate this. We really liked Child Life's involvement up here.
6) There is no sleeping in the CICU rooms - you are supposed to stay and sleep in the Parent Waiting Room nearby. The ward rooms usually provide a sleeping facility.
7) We will be approached to consent for Wren to participate in 2 clinical trials. One deals with post-operative wound infection through the application of silver dressings to the sternal wound. The other involves the use of heparin post-operative. The latter is endorsed by Dr Hanley, our surgeon.
Got to run. Hoping the floor installation shows significant progress and Wren is still napping a short while more.
EDIT: We have found the medical records. Wren has A+ blood type. I am B+. Joshua does not know his. The kitchen floor is done!!
1) Wren will need 4 units of blood during surgery. Do we want to offer our blood for him? We may not be able to be designated donors because They require blood 48 hours prior to surgery to allow time for processing and testing. We can either provide "designated donors" or use the general blood supply. Josh would like to donate if he can. I am investigating.
2) We need to know Wren's blood type. This is not in the notes I have. It may be in his chart records I requested but I have mislaid them in the reorganization of the office. If I can't find them and we can't get them from Children's he will need a blood draw for blood typing at our pediatricians.
3) We check in for pre-op at 7.30am on the 6th November. We need to give Wren a good bath the night before surgery. The actual surgery time will be posted on the pre-op day and we will be advised at that time.
4) If Wren gets sick between now and surgery we need to see our pediatrician to evaluate whether he can have surgery. In general, he cannot have respiratory infection or fever or exposure to chickenpox. Diarrhea and other conditions may delay surgery too.
5) Child Life only consults with children age 3+. I am going to investigate this. We really liked Child Life's involvement up here.
6) There is no sleeping in the CICU rooms - you are supposed to stay and sleep in the Parent Waiting Room nearby. The ward rooms usually provide a sleeping facility.
7) We will be approached to consent for Wren to participate in 2 clinical trials. One deals with post-operative wound infection through the application of silver dressings to the sternal wound. The other involves the use of heparin post-operative. The latter is endorsed by Dr Hanley, our surgeon.
Got to run. Hoping the floor installation shows significant progress and Wren is still napping a short while more.
EDIT: We have found the medical records. Wren has A+ blood type. I am B+. Joshua does not know his. The kitchen floor is done!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
If an asteroid struck earth would Wren's surgery be delayed?
I didn't get a good sleep last night. Wren woke at 2.30pm and his desire for 'milk' borders on pugnacious. I have been trying to wean him from his multiple night nursing so I let him cry a while. Eventually, he became hysterical and cried "Mummy come back! Mummy gone out," so I rushed in to console him. He was live wired and hiccoughing and it took half an hour to get him back to sleep (without nursing) then he woke when I tried to creep out. I caved after an hour and a quarter and nursed him to sleep.
For the final hour of sleep I had vivid dreams.
We were in Stanford and Dr Hanley and his team of cardiologists was trying to speak with us about Wren's case the following day. The problem was that I was like one of those old people in a recliner with a tartan blanket over my legs and I kept falling asleep while he was talking. Finally, I decided that it would be okay to fall asleep and let them handle everything.
But I was woken from my sleep, still in the hospital, by a giant explosion in the sky.
I looked up and a huge black cloud was barreling outwards expelling pieces of things from space. There was an ironing board, pieces of a plane, ropes, buildings - all exploding outwards at 30 000 feet. In retrospect it was an image from a show called Time Warp in which we watched men blending up cellphones in slow motion.
After the first explosion there was a period in which it became like a firework display with triangles of blue lights moving in slow arcs. I thought "ah, its an alien invasion."
Everyone started running to hide from the debris that fell from space. It was raining huge raindrops of molten stone and the sky was cut up by lines of billowing black clouds and chunks of cars thudded down.
Eventually, things quieted down and nobody nearby was injured. Crowds of people gathered in the hospital room and discussed what it was. Someone asked whether it was Aliens (which is what I thought) but a doctor said he had received word from NASA that earth had been hit by a huge asteroid and "they are sending a fleet of jumbo jets into the cloud to see what's in there."
I just thought "F*ck. Will Wren get his surgery tomorrow?"
For the final hour of sleep I had vivid dreams.
We were in Stanford and Dr Hanley and his team of cardiologists was trying to speak with us about Wren's case the following day. The problem was that I was like one of those old people in a recliner with a tartan blanket over my legs and I kept falling asleep while he was talking. Finally, I decided that it would be okay to fall asleep and let them handle everything.
But I was woken from my sleep, still in the hospital, by a giant explosion in the sky.
I looked up and a huge black cloud was barreling outwards expelling pieces of things from space. There was an ironing board, pieces of a plane, ropes, buildings - all exploding outwards at 30 000 feet. In retrospect it was an image from a show called Time Warp in which we watched men blending up cellphones in slow motion.
After the first explosion there was a period in which it became like a firework display with triangles of blue lights moving in slow arcs. I thought "ah, its an alien invasion."
Everyone started running to hide from the debris that fell from space. It was raining huge raindrops of molten stone and the sky was cut up by lines of billowing black clouds and chunks of cars thudded down.
Eventually, things quieted down and nobody nearby was injured. Crowds of people gathered in the hospital room and discussed what it was. Someone asked whether it was Aliens (which is what I thought) but a doctor said he had received word from NASA that earth had been hit by a huge asteroid and "they are sending a fleet of jumbo jets into the cloud to see what's in there."
I just thought "F*ck. Will Wren get his surgery tomorrow?"
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Keeping Healthy for Heart Surgery
This morning I consulted a naturopath about enhancing our health this month to try and avoid the plagues of flu season before heart surgery. She gave me many suggestions.
Avoidance
We need to limit our sugar. "One of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease."
Keep hydrated. We naturally inhale many viruses and bacteria during normal life. If we have a healthy nasal mucosa, mucus and macrophages attack and immobilize infectious agents. However, if you are dehydrated they are able to attach and penetrate more easily. Keep hydrated, especially on the plane trip down.
Wash hands Wash hands frequently, especially before eating and while in public places. Most infections on airplanes are due to the germs on the surfaces rather than just airborne infections. If we wash hands and are careful to avoid touching mouths and noses we reduce our risk.
Sleep: It is important to get adequate sleep to remain healthy.
Supplements
Daily vitamin: Just in case our diet doesn't contain enough of all the trace elements and vitamins, adults and kids should take a daily vitamin.
Wellness Supplement: For the next 3 weeks we should take a daily supplement of extra vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc.
Mushrooms: We can take a daily dose of extract of Reishi Mushroom. This is an immune system booster. We are only taking this in relatively low dose and will discontinue Wren's a few days prior to surgery.
Cod liver oil: We should continue taking cod-liver oil daily. This encourages a less-inflammatory response from the immune system. It can be taken long term - 1T for adults and 1t for kids. Apparently the kids-dose capsules are too low and the 4 caps on the label is insufficient. They can have up to 12 caps.
Avoidance
We need to limit our sugar. "One of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease."
Keep hydrated. We naturally inhale many viruses and bacteria during normal life. If we have a healthy nasal mucosa, mucus and macrophages attack and immobilize infectious agents. However, if you are dehydrated they are able to attach and penetrate more easily. Keep hydrated, especially on the plane trip down.
Wash hands Wash hands frequently, especially before eating and while in public places. Most infections on airplanes are due to the germs on the surfaces rather than just airborne infections. If we wash hands and are careful to avoid touching mouths and noses we reduce our risk.
Sleep: It is important to get adequate sleep to remain healthy.
Supplements
Daily vitamin: Just in case our diet doesn't contain enough of all the trace elements and vitamins, adults and kids should take a daily vitamin.
Wellness Supplement: For the next 3 weeks we should take a daily supplement of extra vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc.
Mushrooms: We can take a daily dose of extract of Reishi Mushroom. This is an immune system booster. We are only taking this in relatively low dose and will discontinue Wren's a few days prior to surgery.
Cod liver oil: We should continue taking cod-liver oil daily. This encourages a less-inflammatory response from the immune system. It can be taken long term - 1T for adults and 1t for kids. Apparently the kids-dose capsules are too low and the 4 caps on the label is insufficient. They can have up to 12 caps.
TV for Toddlers. More BOB less Mummy
This is my 600th blog post and I feel some pressure to make it special. Unfortunately, my nose is still stuffy and I'm tired so I shall simply continue with the flow of events which are our life.
No TV for Toddlers
Yesterday Joshua woke a bit early and was sitting on the couch. I was home also. Wren turned to me and said "Mummy, go out CAR. Watch BOB TV!"
Joshua is so busted.
Apparently, Joshua is not averse to Wren having a little Bob the Builder on TV when I leave him and Wren to bridge the gap between carpool (8.30am) and Heather arriving (9.30a). It is also apparent that Wren would prefer me to leave so he can watch TV. The blight starts young.
Joshua swears that it is never more than 10 minutes.
Tantrum Time
I am not surprised that Wren is bossing me around. He has become very strong willed recently and if he is tired and feels misunderstood or denied he is able to sustain a very loud tantrum: lying down, rolling about, crying and wailing for a long time.
The last tantrum was when I refused to serve him Eggo's for dinner. Eggos is a sweet corn breakfast cereal shaped like little wheels. Wren likes to be served a plate of it while he stands on his ladder at the kitchen island. I had made vegetables and cottage pie.
"No 'ottage" he yelled "EGGGOOOES"
Another tantrum was when I refused to let the large diggers come in from the sandbox, covered in mud and fresh rain.
Yet another was when I put away the dinosaur after he threw it across the kitchen. "No throw biganimal. No throw IT" he cried. I gave it back in that case and all was settled.
Car Repairs *****JOSHUA DO NOT READ!!!********
Yesterday, Wren and I spent our morning running around arranging car repairs. Initially, I contacted the dealer to buy a spare part and planned to have them install it. They gave me such a run around - could only be done next week, needed painting that would take days, would cost as much to paint it as the part, I would have to leave the car with them overnight etc etc. that I started to call around.
Online parts are not much cheaper and take a long while to arrive so that wasn't an option. I seriously considered having a tan plastic (unpainted) mirror OR installing a non-standard part that was not motorized OR sticking a bit of tape on the end and leaving it as a reminder of my folly.
However, due to the kind words of many friends (who shared their own mishaps and follies and a less judgmental response) I decided that I should have it fixed properly.
That's when I remembered JIM's BODY SHOP. There is all this talk about eating locally and I have often noticed this noisy and smelly little autoshop opposite the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. I called and it took forever for Jerry to answer but he was so sweet and friendly that I immediately wanted him to work on the car.
No TV for Toddlers
Yesterday Joshua woke a bit early and was sitting on the couch. I was home also. Wren turned to me and said "Mummy, go out CAR. Watch BOB TV!"
Joshua is so busted.
Apparently, Joshua is not averse to Wren having a little Bob the Builder on TV when I leave him and Wren to bridge the gap between carpool (8.30am) and Heather arriving (9.30a). It is also apparent that Wren would prefer me to leave so he can watch TV. The blight starts young.
Joshua swears that it is never more than 10 minutes.
Tantrum Time
I am not surprised that Wren is bossing me around. He has become very strong willed recently and if he is tired and feels misunderstood or denied he is able to sustain a very loud tantrum: lying down, rolling about, crying and wailing for a long time.
The last tantrum was when I refused to serve him Eggo's for dinner. Eggos is a sweet corn breakfast cereal shaped like little wheels. Wren likes to be served a plate of it while he stands on his ladder at the kitchen island. I had made vegetables and cottage pie.
"No 'ottage" he yelled "EGGGOOOES"
Another tantrum was when I refused to let the large diggers come in from the sandbox, covered in mud and fresh rain.
Yet another was when I put away the dinosaur after he threw it across the kitchen. "No throw biganimal. No throw IT" he cried. I gave it back in that case and all was settled.
Car Repairs *****JOSHUA DO NOT READ!!!********
Yesterday, Wren and I spent our morning running around arranging car repairs. Initially, I contacted the dealer to buy a spare part and planned to have them install it. They gave me such a run around - could only be done next week, needed painting that would take days, would cost as much to paint it as the part, I would have to leave the car with them overnight etc etc. that I started to call around.
Online parts are not much cheaper and take a long while to arrive so that wasn't an option. I seriously considered having a tan plastic (unpainted) mirror OR installing a non-standard part that was not motorized OR sticking a bit of tape on the end and leaving it as a reminder of my folly.
However, due to the kind words of many friends (who shared their own mishaps and follies and a less judgmental response) I decided that I should have it fixed properly.
That's when I remembered JIM's BODY SHOP. There is all this talk about eating locally and I have often noticed this noisy and smelly little autoshop opposite the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. I called and it took forever for Jerry to answer but he was so sweet and friendly that I immediately wanted him to work on the car.
[RING RING RING RING RING - THIS NUMBER IS BUSY YOU CAN HANG UP AND TRY AGAIN LATER OR FOR A FEE OF 75C WE WILL... - RING RING RING]
Hello.
Hi, Is that Jim's body shop?
Yes, can I help you?
Well, I had an accident and broke off the passenger side door mirror - its a mechanical mirror - and I need it replaced.
Oh, that's not an accident. That's just life.
Oh. Um. Well, it FELT like an accident.
No, no. So do you have the new part or..
Yes, I have the part. Well, I will have the part. I ordered it from the dealer and they have it but they are asking $150 to paint it and that sounds a lot so I was wondering whether...
Hrmmm.. mmmm. Well, the thing is that they probably send it out to a body shop anyway. You have to match the paint, see. And paint comes in 1 pint minimum so that's $80 already.
So, its reasonable?
Well, I am trying to think of some way to make it sweet but.. mmmm...I could send you over to WestCo to get the paint. Look, if you want to... I would need to see the damage. Why don't you drop around the corner and I will have a look at it.
We dropped by later and Jerry was lovely. He's an older man who likes people and liked Wren. He let Wren pick his sungold tomatoes. It turns out that his son has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and was treated in the cath lab at Seattle Children's. He knows where all the Doctors, surgeons and even the CEO from Children's live in our neighborhood and loves the hospital for the help they gave his son. He even played College Football with his heart issue (is a conduction problem) and eventually needed the intervention.
It felt completely different to have our car worked on by Jerry rather than the blokes at Kia. He sent me to get the paint myself (with no markup) and I don't have to leave the car at all. He's going to put the part on for $20 instead of $90 and so even if he charges more for the painting itself I feel happy.
I will also know how to get the Subaru fixed (yes, I banged the Subaru years ago and the mark remains) if we decide to. He gave me a quote for the repair caused by another driver in the parking lot at Remlinger Farm (she left a note on the windscreen). If she decides to honor that note and pay for the damage I will be able to use the same paint to have it done).
Not a bad outcome, considering.
Wren likes Jerry's tomatoes and liked the community center where we went afterwards.
More 'awoweens?
Wren loves Halloween decorations. He calls them "awoweens" - spiders, skulls, skeletons - are all "'awoweens." He finds the automated ones scary but compelling and likes us to pick him up and then go and look through the curtains at the spiderweb and scary skeleton guy who are set up on our porch.
In the morning when he woke today he said "'awoween SEE it. Little scary."
His attachment to things makes it difficult to move him about. If I want to go out he may be wanting to see the 'awoweens. If I am trying to leave the store he might be interested in the scarecrow or pumpkins. Everything is very slow (unless you want to risk a tantrum and scoop him up and make a run for it.)
Another cause for inertia is the VERY big pumpkin at PCC. It is about the size of a dishwasher and Wren climbs up beside it and pushes it with both hands. It has formed a nice flat bottom, settled down onto the earth with its weight, and does not move. While it remains he does not want to move either.
Soulumination
Last weekend we had a mini-photo shoot of the kids and family with a Soulumination photographer. This is a charity that offers free portraits of children facing serious health issues. At first, I felt wary of contacting them. Some of the children on their website are so sick that I felt that Wren was too healthy and happy to be photographed. Plus, I don't want him in that category.
After speaking with Sarah at Soulumination I felt reassured that they are very happy to photograph children with conditions like Wrens. I asked to mainly focus on Frost and Wren so we have a nice quality picture of them together.
We went to the local P-patch.
We haven't seen the pictures yet but I am looking forward to it.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Frost invents co-housing and a new brother
On the car-ride home from school today, Frost confided that he and Alex suspect they are really brothers and "we would like to have a DNA test. Could we do that?" I said that they could but it would be expensive and may need to wait until they are older.
After a discrete pause I asked how they thought they could be brothers. Frost explained that they were good friends and lived nearby each other and perhaps they were brothers in the same way that Eve and Oliver discovered they were cousins. I should give a little background here and explain that Eve and Oliver are two kids in our school carpool. They have been told that they are related - although the link is somewhat tenuous, something like a grandmother's second marriage to a great uncle of the other side.
This has given Frost the idea that he may have a secret brotherhood with Alex.
When I asked Frost what he thought a brother actually was, he said that it was another boy who was not born at exactly the same time as you. Hang on, what? I tried to explain that brothers had the same parents. He then suggested that they were step-brothers. Uh oh. Another definition required.
Eventually he had it figured out that (in his words) "So brothers are two boys who live together who were born by the same Mom?" I shall just leave it there for now.
Alex and Frost were particularly excited about being brothers because they felt that if their DNA confirmed it, they should live together. By the way, according to Frost he has heard about DNA "all over" and "DNA tells you if someone is in the same family or not."
Frost explained that if we sold our house and built another house on top of Alex's house we would be a rich family and have 4 cars and we could sell one of our TV's and just join them together and have a double-super-size flatscreen TV and an attic with a trapdoor and many things and it would be cool.
After a discrete pause I asked how they thought they could be brothers. Frost explained that they were good friends and lived nearby each other and perhaps they were brothers in the same way that Eve and Oliver discovered they were cousins. I should give a little background here and explain that Eve and Oliver are two kids in our school carpool. They have been told that they are related - although the link is somewhat tenuous, something like a grandmother's second marriage to a great uncle of the other side.
This has given Frost the idea that he may have a secret brotherhood with Alex.
When I asked Frost what he thought a brother actually was, he said that it was another boy who was not born at exactly the same time as you. Hang on, what? I tried to explain that brothers had the same parents. He then suggested that they were step-brothers. Uh oh. Another definition required.
Eventually he had it figured out that (in his words) "So brothers are two boys who live together who were born by the same Mom?" I shall just leave it there for now.
Alex and Frost were particularly excited about being brothers because they felt that if their DNA confirmed it, they should live together. By the way, according to Frost he has heard about DNA "all over" and "DNA tells you if someone is in the same family or not."
Frost explained that if we sold our house and built another house on top of Alex's house we would be a rich family and have 4 cars and we could sell one of our TV's and just join them together and have a double-super-size flatscreen TV and an attic with a trapdoor and many things and it would be cool.
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