Harrison's been sick with a fever, ear infection, and respiratory illness. I brought him into our Hot Pediatrician last week and she immediately rushed into the room when we got there because he was wheezing like he had swallowed a miniature bellows.
"How long has he been like this?"
"Uh. Two and a half days or so?"
Disapproving look.
"You're going to be here a while." Which we were, as Harrison was given three 15-minute treatments of nebulized Albuterol, an oral steroid to open up his lungs, and some Tylenol to get his fever down.
"If he ever sounds like this again, you have my permission to come straight here without an appointment."
Sometimes I feel like such an incompetent novice at parenting.
Anyway, after seven days of three different drugs, one allergic reaction, and five days of no eating and being Mr. Clingy, Hot Pediatrician officially gave him a clean bill of health yesterday.
I guess that explains how he was able to eat five waffles at daycare. Five.
I said, "Were they the small kid-sized waffles?" and held up my fingers in a 2"x2" square. "No. The adult-sized waffles."
Five!
I'm glad things are back to normal, but after a similar gorge-fest at dinner last night, I fear that kid's going to eat us out of house and home. He must be making up for being too sick to eat much on Turkey Day.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Image: Cuckoo
Doug should know better than to make a silly face at the camera.
What's a loving spouse to do besides post it on the Internet for public viewing?
Friday, November 18, 2005
Satanic Toy Gets Revenge
Oh my god. This particular Satanic toy apparently is not only Satanic, but also sentient, internet savy enough to read my previous blog, and evil enough plot its revenge, because last night it woke up at 2:20 AM and pulled some kind of Maximum Overdrive shit and woke everyone up with its Boohbah farting noises and dancing. Then it did it again two minutes later, and Doug ran out into the dark dining room to go to Harrison's bedroom and kill it and stepped in a pile of cat puke and then Harrison screamed and screamed for the next forty minutes.
I'm tired and scared. Who knows what it's going to do tonight?
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Weekend Bliss
I went away this weekend with my good friends Ashley and Suzanne. We stayed in this lovely little house in Letchworth State Park--home of the "Grand Canyon of the East"! It was a great weekend. The weather was perfect--in the 60's and blue and sunny, as you can see.
We hiked and drank warm cider with rum, ate yummy food, sat by the fire, and talked. And talked and talked and talked. And didn't have to work. And didn't have to do housework. And didn't have to mother. And didn't have to do anything that we didn't want to do for about 25 hours.
It was a much needed break and present to ourselves and "thank you" to each other for love, friendship, and support and advice in motherhood.
Thank you again, ladies--it was wonderful!
And thank you Doug for solely parenting The Beast!
Update: Ashley just wrote to inform me that she was "deeply saddened" that I made no note of the fact that Letchworth was absolutely "gorges." Well, Letchworth was just GORGES. Happy now, Ash? (I just knew that you secretly loved that I kept making that joke over and over. And over.)
More Evidence that Parenthood is the Toughest Job
Exhibit A:
Coworker Mike and wife Donna discover that a human hair has wrapped itself around 3 month-old son Jayce's toe. Toe is bloodless and cut but survives.
Exhibit B:
Coworker Tom's 4-year old son Thomas Jr. insists on wearing Halloween cat suit unless it is being washed. Wears cat suit to store, school, bed, etc. Sleeps on comforter on floor and refuses to have nails cut because he is a cat.
Coworker Mike and wife Donna discover that a human hair has wrapped itself around 3 month-old son Jayce's toe. Toe is bloodless and cut but survives.
Exhibit B:
Coworker Tom's 4-year old son Thomas Jr. insists on wearing Halloween cat suit unless it is being washed. Wears cat suit to store, school, bed, etc. Sleeps on comforter on floor and refuses to have nails cut because he is a cat.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Toys Obviously Made in Satan's Workshop
If one were to, say, give a child a toy that doesn't do anything except make blaring distorted sounds when you either throw it or push a button, one should not be surprised if such child's parents throw said toy through the windshield of one's car.
Not that that we'd ever do such a thing.
We love all the toys that Harrison's been given.
Really.
Thank you all so much, you wonderful people!
Not that that we'd ever do such a thing.
We love all the toys that Harrison's been given.
Really.
Thank you all so much, you wonderful people!
Monday, November 14, 2005
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
City Living
Anyone that talks to me for a bit doesn't have to wait long for me to start raving about my public education. Magnet schools are such a great resource in Buffalo--they are the option my parents took for both me and Val. Admission was not based strictly on test rank. Affirmative action was also a factor. (Though I'm not sure if this still the case because there were several lawsuits contesting racial admissions "bias" in the nineties.) The result was a very diverse population of above-average performing students with parents who were enough invested in their education to enroll them in the test. I can't imagine how different I would be had I not gone to Olmsted and City Honors.
Still, my fellow City Honors alums have long debated the fairness of testing into Buffalo's magnet schools. It was fantastic for those few students that made it in, but what did it do to the remaining population of Buffalo Public school students whose honors populations were reduced? CHS and the other magnets are championed as some of the best schools in the state and even the country, but where does this leave the other Buffalo Public Schools and their students and communities?
There are magnet and Montessouri schools in Rochester, but unlike Buffalo the city uses a lottery system. I'm torn about this. On the one hand, it's great that all kids have the kind of opportunity I had. On the other hand, I question whether these schools spend more time with lower-performing kids or behavior problems. Does it dilute the advanced curriculum to have these schools open to all students regardless of ability? Does that even matter as long as previously tracked underperformers end up doing much better because they are in a more challenging and academic environment?
Harrison and I went to the neighborhood elementary school #42 yesterday to vote. It's a nice looking school. It's older, made of brick, and doesn't have that factory look of most modern schools. It's like the schools I went to. It's well maintained and the inside is cheery and decorated with projects, artwork, and plants. We went around 3:15 when school was getting out. The student population is racially diverse. Lots of parents were there picking their children up and the other kids were being led out by teachers to their cheese buses. Everything seemed normal and encouraging. On its face, it's certainly no public hazard that requires investigation by Jonathon Kozol.
Doug and I talked about 42 school when he got home and are entertaining the idea of sending Harrison there. That may be the backup plan if we cannot get him into one of the Rochester magnets or the city's montessouri. The regular city schools also use a lottery system. Seventy percent of seats in neighborhood schools are set aside for the attendance of neighborhood kids. Once the lottery has filled those vacancies, the remaining 30% of seats is opened to other children in your school zone. There are three zones. The magnet and montessouri programs are completely based on lottery and open to all children regardless of zone. What this means is that the high-performing schools tend to have many applicants and that many children end up at lower performing schools because of space issues at their first, second, or third choice schools.
Montessouri starts at age 3, which would mean that Harrison could start in September 2007. It may sound a little crazy to start thinking about this so far ahead, but the plan for Harrison's schooling has to be factored in when we start thinking about baby #2. It's going to be really tight (read: impossible) financially if we have two kids in daycare or private school.
Here are the stats I found for 42 school:
Has a passing rate of 50.8% on the grade 4 English language arts exam (2005) and 54.7% on the grade 4 math exam (2003).
Now, I am the daughter of a public elementary teacher and I want to stress that I do not put that much stock in standardized testing. Still, without much else to go on, I have to say this is TERRIBLE.
The stats for the public magnet/Montessouri are absolutely encouraging
Has a passing rate of 100% on the grade 4 English language arts exam and 75.0% on the grade 4 math exam (2003).
But will we make the cut? What if we don't make the cut at any of the magnets and end up at one of the schools with a 20% passing rate? What if my kids end up at two different schools?
I am furious that this is an issue—that there even is a decision that we will someday soon have to make about this. It makes me want to sue someone. That's already been done here in New York State (http://www.cfequity.org/) but so far nothing has changed. The bottom line is that kids that live on one side of an imaginary line get tracked into the Ivy League, while kids on the wrong side of that line are lucky if they make it through highschool. If that sounds like a dramatic exaggeration, it's not: 70% of kids that start in the Rochester City School District end up dropping out.
I am not worried that Harrison will be a dropout. I understand that dropout rates are directly tied to poverty and parental education and involvement. I am worried that Harrison will not have the access to the quality of free public education that he deserves--just like every other child. I am upset about what this means for my family and for society in general.
One of the reasons Doug and I chose to live in the city is to take a stand against sprawl and white flight. One of the ways we can support this city and hopefully turn things around here is to send our kids to public school. That is our goal for now, and I hope that we can make it work.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What are your plans for your kids? What are your experiences with public education where you live? I'm turning comments back on for now, but if I get deluged with comment spam again, they'll be turned off.
Update: Sorry. Had to turn comments off again. Damn you comment spam!
Still, my fellow City Honors alums have long debated the fairness of testing into Buffalo's magnet schools. It was fantastic for those few students that made it in, but what did it do to the remaining population of Buffalo Public school students whose honors populations were reduced? CHS and the other magnets are championed as some of the best schools in the state and even the country, but where does this leave the other Buffalo Public Schools and their students and communities?
There are magnet and Montessouri schools in Rochester, but unlike Buffalo the city uses a lottery system. I'm torn about this. On the one hand, it's great that all kids have the kind of opportunity I had. On the other hand, I question whether these schools spend more time with lower-performing kids or behavior problems. Does it dilute the advanced curriculum to have these schools open to all students regardless of ability? Does that even matter as long as previously tracked underperformers end up doing much better because they are in a more challenging and academic environment?
Harrison and I went to the neighborhood elementary school #42 yesterday to vote. It's a nice looking school. It's older, made of brick, and doesn't have that factory look of most modern schools. It's like the schools I went to. It's well maintained and the inside is cheery and decorated with projects, artwork, and plants. We went around 3:15 when school was getting out. The student population is racially diverse. Lots of parents were there picking their children up and the other kids were being led out by teachers to their cheese buses. Everything seemed normal and encouraging. On its face, it's certainly no public hazard that requires investigation by Jonathon Kozol.
Doug and I talked about 42 school when he got home and are entertaining the idea of sending Harrison there. That may be the backup plan if we cannot get him into one of the Rochester magnets or the city's montessouri. The regular city schools also use a lottery system. Seventy percent of seats in neighborhood schools are set aside for the attendance of neighborhood kids. Once the lottery has filled those vacancies, the remaining 30% of seats is opened to other children in your school zone. There are three zones. The magnet and montessouri programs are completely based on lottery and open to all children regardless of zone. What this means is that the high-performing schools tend to have many applicants and that many children end up at lower performing schools because of space issues at their first, second, or third choice schools.
Montessouri starts at age 3, which would mean that Harrison could start in September 2007. It may sound a little crazy to start thinking about this so far ahead, but the plan for Harrison's schooling has to be factored in when we start thinking about baby #2. It's going to be really tight (read: impossible) financially if we have two kids in daycare or private school.
Here are the stats I found for 42 school:
Has a passing rate of 50.8% on the grade 4 English language arts exam (2005) and 54.7% on the grade 4 math exam (2003).
Now, I am the daughter of a public elementary teacher and I want to stress that I do not put that much stock in standardized testing. Still, without much else to go on, I have to say this is TERRIBLE.
The stats for the public magnet/Montessouri are absolutely encouraging
Has a passing rate of 100% on the grade 4 English language arts exam and 75.0% on the grade 4 math exam (2003).
But will we make the cut? What if we don't make the cut at any of the magnets and end up at one of the schools with a 20% passing rate? What if my kids end up at two different schools?
I am furious that this is an issue—that there even is a decision that we will someday soon have to make about this. It makes me want to sue someone. That's already been done here in New York State (http://www.cfequity.org/) but so far nothing has changed. The bottom line is that kids that live on one side of an imaginary line get tracked into the Ivy League, while kids on the wrong side of that line are lucky if they make it through highschool. If that sounds like a dramatic exaggeration, it's not: 70% of kids that start in the Rochester City School District end up dropping out.
I am not worried that Harrison will be a dropout. I understand that dropout rates are directly tied to poverty and parental education and involvement. I am worried that Harrison will not have the access to the quality of free public education that he deserves--just like every other child. I am upset about what this means for my family and for society in general.
One of the reasons Doug and I chose to live in the city is to take a stand against sprawl and white flight. One of the ways we can support this city and hopefully turn things around here is to send our kids to public school. That is our goal for now, and I hope that we can make it work.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What are your plans for your kids? What are your experiences with public education where you live? I'm turning comments back on for now, but if I get deluged with comment spam again, they'll be turned off.
Update: Sorry. Had to turn comments off again. Damn you comment spam!
Monday, November 07, 2005
55 hectic hours in the life, plus an early thanksgiving
Friday we left work at noon to get ourselves to Olean to visit Doug's best friend Dom and his wife Morrelle and finally meet their four-month old Ava. They were up from Fort Lauderdale visiting Dom's mom. We hadn't seen them since their wedding party in August 2003.
How fascinating to see how parenthood has changed them. It makes me think of course about how much I have changed and how much Doug and I have changed since Harrison was born. I feel so conflicted whenever I'm around little babies. I simultaneously get the worst baby pangs and want to get to baby-#2-making as soon as possible while also feeling so thankful to be past that age, or at least past that stage of first time parenting. It's interesting to see newer parents with first infants and observe how unsure and nervous and protective they are. I know I was like that too.
Anyway, Ava was beautiful and we had a great, if short, visit with Dom and Morrelle. Morrelle and I of course swapped the necessary notes on breastfeeding, loneliness, identity, ecstasy, work, and money as related to parenting and motherhood.
We made breakfast plans and they were quite shocked when they asked, "So what time do you guys get up?" and we said "Six thirty." Ah, to be a stay at home mom with a child that sleeps in. Harrison's schedule is great for the work week, but he doesn't yet understand the concept of sleeping in on the weekend.
Saturday morning, Harrison's hunger couldn't be staved off by cheerios and raisins after 8 am, so we finally called over the Dom's to get their asses up and out the door.
We were charmed by Ava's napping through the meal and then by her fresh smiles and gurgles and babbles. They were charmed by the way that Harrison pounded back 2.5 pancakes, fresh farm sausage, and a cup of applesauce. What a difference a year in age makes.
We stayed Friday night and Saturday morning with Doug's parents. Even though Harrison sees them less frequently than my parents, he's at the point now where he remembers them from visit to visit. He knows their house and runs to find grandpa as soon as we get there so that he can honk his nose and pull on his ears. He knows that grandpa is the keeper of electronic handheld games and many remotes.
After a quick driveway visit Saturday afternoon with Lori and nieces Lili and Zoe, we were off to Buffalo. As always once we entered my parent's house, my mom took over, which we are so grateful for. We got to take an hour nap before walking the two blocks over to Mike and Inga's house, where they were having a pre- Kaiva's Christening bash for family and closest friends--a great evening with food and drink and music singalongs. Harrison was whisked away at seven by my parents, but not before he and his girlfriend Ella had an intimate roll in Inga and Mike's bed.
Harrison woke up around 6:20 on Sunday morning. He's still not back to his old 7 am wakeup time. Thankfully, my mom got up with him. I got up at 8:30 to find them in the driveway. Harrison had a nice assortment of leaves and branches clutched in his hands. My mom gushed about his morning and digestive accomplishments.
We had a nice, relaxed fall Sunday morning. It was almost 70 out and sunny. Harrison, Doug, and I took our first, non-stroller/carrier walk. We kept our goal modest: right around the corner and up to Hertel Avenue to the café for Doug's coffee and back--a five-minute round trip for an adult. Harrison did wonderfully. We only carried him once we got close to Hertel and then held him in the coffee shop. He didn't mind, since he got to carry his branch in there, and then we headed back down the street kicking up the leaves piled on the sidewalk.
Harrison napped and we had lunch with my parents, then went on to the church and Kaiva's christening. The highlight was when Kaiva started vocalizing/roaring/shrieking during the minister's blessing. The other highlight was a realization that I love that I know Inga's family and other friends, especially Angela and Ella, and that they know my family. I love that because of weddings, showers, and now Kaiva's milestones, I know Mike's family as well. And they know mine.
After the service , a reception, and a quick gathering up of our stuff from my parent's house we headed home in a crazy windstorm. Harrison and I snoozed together in the back seat.
Got back at 7:15 last night.
*************************************
I'm beginning to realize just how grown up and thankful I feel. I feel so grateful for my wonderful husband and son. I love spending time with them and being around all of the families of which we are a part, either through blood or friendship. I love feeling part of a larger community and continuum of family and friends and parents and especially mothers.
It was a hectic weekend and I am exhausted, but it was lovely.
How fascinating to see how parenthood has changed them. It makes me think of course about how much I have changed and how much Doug and I have changed since Harrison was born. I feel so conflicted whenever I'm around little babies. I simultaneously get the worst baby pangs and want to get to baby-#2-making as soon as possible while also feeling so thankful to be past that age, or at least past that stage of first time parenting. It's interesting to see newer parents with first infants and observe how unsure and nervous and protective they are. I know I was like that too.
Anyway, Ava was beautiful and we had a great, if short, visit with Dom and Morrelle. Morrelle and I of course swapped the necessary notes on breastfeeding, loneliness, identity, ecstasy, work, and money as related to parenting and motherhood.
We made breakfast plans and they were quite shocked when they asked, "So what time do you guys get up?" and we said "Six thirty." Ah, to be a stay at home mom with a child that sleeps in. Harrison's schedule is great for the work week, but he doesn't yet understand the concept of sleeping in on the weekend.
Saturday morning, Harrison's hunger couldn't be staved off by cheerios and raisins after 8 am, so we finally called over the Dom's to get their asses up and out the door.
We were charmed by Ava's napping through the meal and then by her fresh smiles and gurgles and babbles. They were charmed by the way that Harrison pounded back 2.5 pancakes, fresh farm sausage, and a cup of applesauce. What a difference a year in age makes.
We stayed Friday night and Saturday morning with Doug's parents. Even though Harrison sees them less frequently than my parents, he's at the point now where he remembers them from visit to visit. He knows their house and runs to find grandpa as soon as we get there so that he can honk his nose and pull on his ears. He knows that grandpa is the keeper of electronic handheld games and many remotes.
After a quick driveway visit Saturday afternoon with Lori and nieces Lili and Zoe, we were off to Buffalo. As always once we entered my parent's house, my mom took over, which we are so grateful for. We got to take an hour nap before walking the two blocks over to Mike and Inga's house, where they were having a pre- Kaiva's Christening bash for family and closest friends--a great evening with food and drink and music singalongs. Harrison was whisked away at seven by my parents, but not before he and his girlfriend Ella had an intimate roll in Inga and Mike's bed.
Harrison woke up around 6:20 on Sunday morning. He's still not back to his old 7 am wakeup time. Thankfully, my mom got up with him. I got up at 8:30 to find them in the driveway. Harrison had a nice assortment of leaves and branches clutched in his hands. My mom gushed about his morning and digestive accomplishments.
We had a nice, relaxed fall Sunday morning. It was almost 70 out and sunny. Harrison, Doug, and I took our first, non-stroller/carrier walk. We kept our goal modest: right around the corner and up to Hertel Avenue to the café for Doug's coffee and back--a five-minute round trip for an adult. Harrison did wonderfully. We only carried him once we got close to Hertel and then held him in the coffee shop. He didn't mind, since he got to carry his branch in there, and then we headed back down the street kicking up the leaves piled on the sidewalk.
Harrison napped and we had lunch with my parents, then went on to the church and Kaiva's christening. The highlight was when Kaiva started vocalizing/roaring/shrieking during the minister's blessing. The other highlight was a realization that I love that I know Inga's family and other friends, especially Angela and Ella, and that they know my family. I love that because of weddings, showers, and now Kaiva's milestones, I know Mike's family as well. And they know mine.
After the service , a reception, and a quick gathering up of our stuff from my parent's house we headed home in a crazy windstorm. Harrison and I snoozed together in the back seat.
Got back at 7:15 last night.
*************************************
I'm beginning to realize just how grown up and thankful I feel. I feel so grateful for my wonderful husband and son. I love spending time with them and being around all of the families of which we are a part, either through blood or friendship. I love feeling part of a larger community and continuum of family and friends and parents and especially mothers.
It was a hectic weekend and I am exhausted, but it was lovely.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
That bastard Benjamin Franklin Part II
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)