Holpineville

I Should be Swimming at the Pool

But I am tired today (from a long Fourth of July/birthday party yesterday, from starting to give up caffeine, from my pharmacy being out of my thyroid meds, from just being me…) and the kids suddenly seemed just too everything this afternoon: too loud, too bouncy, too smelly, too whiny, too needy.  Plus, I had things I would like to do around here without constant noisy interruption. Rod must have been in better shape than me, because he volunteered to take them swimming alone, and I was not foolish enough to make more than a token protest.

Dear Reader, I feel no small amount of guilt over not updating this here page sooner, but the things that have happened this week have all been rather minor, as you will see when I detail them for you now:  The kids got their hair cut, finally!  I threw up one morning and felt violently ill for about two hours and then I was fine.  Weird, huh?  I broke my favorite coffee mug.  I did a bunch of knitting on a baby sweater for a friend who is due to deliver any minute now.  (However, the weather is such that the baby won't be needing a sweater right away.)  Ruby and I spent a couple of hours cleaning her room today. It’s not the showplace I thought it would be without the clutter, but it’s better.  She wants to redecorate in a Parisian theme, and I am putting her off as much as I possibly can.

Rod was off work all week, and I wish we could say we did all kinds of really exciting family bonding things, but we didn’t.  Rod spent a bunch of time fixing things.  He also built the garden we promised Ruby as a birthday present.  She has a 4x4 raised plot now, with an irrigation system and real live plants: an eggplant, a couple of tomato plants, and a couple of things I don’t remember.  I am sure the 100 degree heat and partly-shady placement of it will make growing things harder than Ruby expects, and yet it is nice to see her so excited about it.  She wants to add flowers to the vegetables, once things settle in a bit.

The kids had space camp on two days, at the actual Johnson Space Center.  There’s got to be more to it, but all I have figured out from what they tell me, is that space camp involves eating junky food for lunch and doing some crafts.  Carl did learn something, because he and I watched the fireworks on TV last night and there was a taped message from some dude on the space station and a shot of mission control and Carl started telling me all about them.  Also last week, Ruby had a piano lesson, and an online Webkinz party with her cousins who live far away.  We went swimming a couple of times. Carl had a playdate with a friend, and took a nice long impromptu car nap one day. We had people over for dinner one night, and trekked out to Chinatown for dinner and grocery shopping another.  Rod and I managed a lunch and museum date one camp day, too.

In the Sudden Signs of Maturity Department: Ruby wanted to play the Monopoly game she got for her birthday yesterday, and to my surprise, it was fun!  She understood and followed the rules, she could do enough math to get by, and she didn’t have a crying freak out when things weren’t going her way.  She’s also been begging to play Uno a couple of times a day, and working on her knitting here and there. I wish I could get her to read more for fun, but there’s been a bit of that, too.  She and Carl have also been playing elaborate games together; role playing or using the stuffed animals, dolls and Legos.  They also put on shows for us often.  And then, just when you think we’ve achieved a certain level of household peace, harmony and ability to self-entertain, they go back to fighting and yelling and begging me to turn on a video for them.  

 

What Did I Tell You?

The kids' school is suddenly closed for the next two weeks because someone has a nice confirmed case of the H1N1. 

I am busy rearranging my life accordingly. And mourning my lost Mommy-cation: Rod says I can still go and he will take time off, but I am almost certain my friend's husband is not going to be equally accommodating.

Of course, Ruby and Carl are fine.  (Thus far.  Knock on wood, etc.) We don't know the name of the sicko yet, but surprisingly, it's not either of the little friends who generally catch every virus that comes to town. 

Between this and the hurricane, Ruby's missing almost a month of first grade. 

Sometimes I think about home schooling.  I guess I'm getting my big chance, but I'm just not prepared for it to be NOW.  Ack, ack, ack.

Going to Buy Canned Goods, Water, and Soap

Apparently, that really stupid movieI went to see last month is wrong.  The world doesn’t end this October—it’s next week, or maybe the week after. 

Evidence: The economy’s crashing and taking my bank account with it, it does nothing but rain and flood here, Carl routinely forgets to flush, and oh, yeah: we’re suddenly in swine flu annex!  Two neighborhood schools are closed already with suspected cases.  My kids' school can’t be far behind. My friends who work in essential-function jobs (healthcare) are calling to set up back-up childcare plans.  Unfortunately, the two-day meeting I don’t want to attend this weekend is still on, but I'm guessing the whole city will be in lock-down mode by next week.

What really irks me is that I have been making big plans, people, and I want them to work out.  First, we just shelled out to join a new pool for the summer, and I am guessing it’s the sort of recreation that’ll get ixnayed once people start getting sick.  Second, I have my sort-of-annual Mommy is Going Away Trip in two weeks.  I’m going to San Antonio with a friend or two for a spa day, and the art museum, and the sleeping late and the book reading and margarita drinking, with a stop at the outlet mall on the way home.  Third, I’m going to see my sisters and my favorite uncle in June, plus (fourth) we’re taking a tiny family weekend at some waterpark later that month (bet that’s a good virus-transmission environment!).  Fifth, in July, there’s a big, hugely exciting family reunion for which I just bought plane tickets.  Sixth, I have an idea for a little vaycay in August, too.

Tantrum over.  Here is a status update by family member:

Rod: Goes to work in his fireproof coveralls most days, so there must be some serious engineering going on.  Got some more prizes for filing patents (new foodprocessor, yay!) He’s also working on some household fixing-up and cranking hard on his Daddy role.  Lately, he’s earned bonus points for letting me sleep a little late and getting the kids ready for school most mornings—I got some muscle relaxants to experiment with for the back/hip pain and they make me really woozy in the mornings.  I think I won't be refilling that prescription.

Me:  Some days, it seems like my whole life revolves around shopping, laundry, cooking, and child-chauffeuring.  But then I also go to many meetings for a couple of school-related committees, and I go to the doctor: I’m going to get weight loss surgery in the fall, and although I don’t think my insurance will ultimately pay, I’m doing my best to persuade them, and my, there’s a long list of stupid things they requre before they will even entertain the petition, plus I try to schedule all my non-urgent medical care during the school year (dentist, endodontist, dermatologist, scoliosis guy, routine physical etc.).  Feeling cash-poor, I sold some of my kids’ excess stuff on eBay, which involves trips to the post office.

Ruby:  Seems to be in a better mood lately.  She finishes a month of swimming lessons tonight.  Next week will be rough; she has her “gifted and talented” project due, and her dance class has rehearsals every night and a big-deal sold-out performance at a real theater on Thursday.   (Assuming no swine-flu shelter-in-place order, mind you.)  Her G&T project is supposed to be about wild and domestic cats and what would happen if you take a domestic cat and put it in the wild or vice versa.  Somehow, it has morphed into a really funny poster Ruby drew of a cat giving birth, plus a “gym class” she wants to lead consisting of cat-like motions, and maybe a video of our cats doing something.  Rod and I try to help or advise and she gets mad.  I know there are no grades, but I really don’t know what realistic expectations are for this sort of thing. 

Carl: He has been saving his $3-a-week allowance, along with any gift money, any change he finds, and any incentive bribes (I gave him a bonus one week for behaving for the babysitter).  He has about $35 saved, I think.  What he is saving for changes from one Lego set to another several times a week.  Last weekend, he did buy one small set for about $7, which surprised me because he didn’t waiver at all on the Lego aisle about what he was getting and how much money he had. Carl is making huge progress in swimming lessons, too.  He’s such a cute, smart kid, and lots of fun.  Except lately he’s been getting disproportionately upset over minor things, like me telling him “no,” or having an accidental collision with someone at school and crying because he thinks he’s in trouble for it.  I can’t wait for this phase to pass, because it takes sooooo loooong to calm him down and get him to express himself in words, not shrieking and tears and pounding fists.

So, there you have it.  Normal life.  Plus a hint of impending doom.  How are things with you?

 

You Can't Buy Tickets to This

You all missed the performance of the year last night, in the living room.  Ruby wore pink underwear and a black fabric scrap tied on as a sarong skirt.   Carl wore a Batman costume.  Together, they did interpretive dances bringing a fresh perspective to stale ol’ topics in science. 

Ruby narrated and performed, Carl improvised based on her directions and added bits of scientific fact from memory.  There was the Creation of the Earth (highlight: the clouds of gasses), the Death of the Dinosaurs (with resurrection into new life forms), and Hurricane Ike (the musical).  I think there was also a partnerless tango.  I wish I were one of those video camera moms, just to be able to keep it. Sure it would embarrass them to watch once they turn 10, but not me, I’m in love with the little goofballs.  They were so earnest!  So creative!  So eager to please!  So cute!  Wow, they know so much about all that stuff!  And they're not bad dancers, either.

At bedtime, Ruby finally lost one of the teeth that have been dangling by threads in her mouth for weeks.  She asked me to “feel it, Mommy!  It’s okay, you can wiggle it!” for the ten thousandth time and so I might have applied my considerable experience in these matters to gently twist the tooth in the breaking free direction.  Or not.  But a few seconds later, I said “It’s really loose sweetie, maybe you should check it,” and voila!  It was out.  

Then both kids delivered their “We know you’re really the tooth fairy, Mommy” speeches.  I neither confirmed nor denied anything, as it was clear they wanted to play the game.

 Still, I nearly forgot to sneak up there later with the $1 that I was lucky to find (there is never a dollar bill in your wallet when you need one).  Bumbling doofus that I am, I accidentally let the lid on the Mexican silver designated tooth fairy box drop shut as I extricated the itty bitty tooth and the necklace of plastic beads Ruby had left as a gift for T.F.: “clang!”  Ruby rolls over and grunts, and I tried to look innocent.  Don’t mind me, I’m just adjusting the covers, checking on you before I go to bed myself…but I don’t think she truly woke up.

I was back in my room a minute later, congratulating myself for remembering to make the switch and not waking the child, when it dawned on me that I have no idea where I put the first tooth Ruby lost.   (This is number 3; number 2 was swallowed, you may recall).  I remember carefully storing No. 1…somewhere.  So I had to find a new place for No. 3, and to help my future self out when I forget what I did with it, I’ll just tell you all right now it’s in a little Indian-looking pillbox thing inside one of the “hidden” drawers in my desk. 

Rod has left us for the week, for his very important experiment at a really boring small town location just far enough away that he can't commute.  I was all cranky about it yesterday, but now I’m trying to look at the bright side, or at least muddle through without too much suffering.  Bright side one:  I can hog the bed.  Bright side two: when the child climbs into bed at 2:30 a.m. after her nightmare, there’s plenty of room for her. See, I'm on a roll.

The costume sewing is going very slowly.  It’s just that I’d rather knit.

The Upside of Progress

Today, we pause to acknowledge and kiss the feet of the geniuses who have brought the following Good Things to my little life.  In no particular order:

The swimming shirt or rashguard.  I was slow to see the genius of, and deep need we had for these garments, but this summer, it clicked.  They are lightweight and comfortable and not too hot to wear.  The kids see it as a fashion option.  For the adults, it's sunburn and cancer avoidance, and when you cover the kids from neck to knees in fabric, it cuts down on the number of square inches of child skin you have to slather with sunblock.  Plus, it helps one get down the waterslide faster, and it can cover many unsightly sights on the grownup swimmers, too.

Spray on sunscreen:  No, it's probably not as effective as the lotion kind. It's more expensive.  However, it does't feel slimy on your skin, it goes on fast, and comes with 786% less complaining from your kid.

Goggles that work:  Sometime between the late 1970's and the present day, the people who make swim goggles had a major breakthrough.  They stay on!  They don't leak!  They're sort of even comfortable!

Sippy cups: Oh sure, the kids have to be weaned from them eventually, but think of the number of spills I personally have avoided cleaning up since 2002.

Car seats:Safety, duh.  Fewer children become projectiles, yippee! But also a comfy place for the kid to sleep, and it makes the stroller useable even if you can't sit up in it yet.

Baby monitors: Those of us who are half deaf and prone to paranoia (is that baby really still breathing?) love them the most.  I used to use the video monitor to decide if Ruby really needed me or not:  Ruby lying or sitting in crib wailing=leave her alone.  Ruby standing in crib and wailing=suck it up and go in there and calm her down. Now, I just use it to spy on the kids.

Baby carrots:The one vegetable you can put in front of any kid, no one seriously objects to them, and once in a while the carrots will get eaten. Plus the labor involved in preparing them consists of ripping open a plastic bag.  A close second in this category: edamame.

iPod with video:No, your kid shouldn't get much screen time.  But just a few kiddie shows on the video iPod have saved us many times in airplanes, cars, and waiting rooms over the past two years.  Children's audiobooks on iPod make long car trips bearable, too

Portable DVD Player: Okay, this one is optional, but again, a little entertainment goes a long way towards making everyone's life better sometimes.

Modern Child Medication: Despite the withdrawal from the market of a bunch of kiddie cold meds (say what you will, I miss them), this is a much better time to be a sick child than any other in the past.  The electrolyte drinks come in popsicle form!  The pharmacy can flavor your medicine any way you want!  You can pry your child's jaws apart, drop in a tiny little strip that dissolves on contact, and there's no way he can spit out the goods!

Indoor play areas:  Pump it Up, Monkeybizness, the rock climbing gym, the mall play area, even the fast food restaurant play areas... Sure, sometimes they're expensive, they're petri dishes, and the little kid/big kid balance is always a problem.  But consider today, when the kids are unscheduled, the mom is coming down with some fresh virus, and it's raining buckets: well worth the $16.09, it was. I even went down the giant slide a few times myself.

Digital camera: If we were still in the age of film, there would be about ten rolls for each of my kids, and half of them would be undeveloped in a drawer in the kitchen.  But now, I can publish zillions of shots on the Internet!  There's Ceiva!  There's e-mail, and cheap prints.  There's a massive external drive to store them all.  And I haven't even signed up for Flickr yet. Alas, I dropped our camera in a lake this weekend. It was really Ruby's fault-- she was screaming about her feet touching actual sand! and shells!  on the bottom and begging me to pick her up and put her on the dock.  Finally, I caved in and lifted her, and the camera fell out of my pocket at the same time.  I think I'll charge the replacement to her allowance; she'll have me paid back in 4-5 years.  Here's my last photo before the fatal splashdown:

Only five and a half more days until school starts.  The kids are well again, but now I'm not.