Does this picture look like I am in for some trouble or what? This was taken a little while ago .. but still is pretty representative.We finally made it to the one year check-up. A little delayed due to ear infections, breathing issues, colds, etc. You see they like them to be as healthy as possible when they do all that they do at the 1 year check. 2 shots, 1 rectal temperature (he really didn't like that), a blood draw, weigh-in and measurements, and some tears we are pleased to report ... he's growing!The Stats -Height: 32 inches (90%)Weight: 30 lbs (more than 90% --- ok off the chart but only barely)Head: 19 1/4 inches (90%)They like all of these things to track proportionately over time. They do. Yay Max. I was worried because he doesn't consistently respond to his name when called. Ok, I was freaked, as this is a marker for autism. There are a lot of markers and nothing else applied, but again, this is me and my Max so mama's mind goes crazy. So Dr. G says, "Max" and he turns on a dime and looks at him directly in the eye. I roll my eyes. Dr. G says, "Now you say it" so I say "Max" and after the 2nd time he turns and looks at me as if to say "What?" Dr. G says it seems like its a matter of compliance not nonrecognition of his name, in other words, when I usually say it if he's engrossed in something he's probably just ignoring me. SHOCKING, I know! My mind is temporarily at ease. Its one of those things where it could be one of two situations: 1) I am totally paranoid or 2) my intuition is telling me something is off. Each scenerio is equally likely, which makes it particularly challenging.Max is laughing, babbling, telling Butter "ah ah" when she barks, repeating us when we say "mama" or "dada" and trying like hell to say "ella", he also calls most everything "Ga"! I think he's a genius. Oh, and he is totally WALKING! He's not 100% steady and he still chickens out from time to time but he can take 5-6 steps at a time.
Sorry its been a while. We've been busy busy busy.In no particular order here are the goings on:1 - We are having the hardwood in our house refinished. We had decided to let it stay wrecked until Butter (the dog) died, but we realized she's still acting like she's about 2 and is unlikely to die anytime soon and that the floor finish in the first place wasn't the best and perhaps with a better, i.e. thicker, finish it might withstand the kids and dog at least for a little while. All in all I was tired of the floor looking like crap!2 - We've been back and forth with Max to the doctor. I am not sure what's going on with him. He is on singulair and there are lots of reports of not so great side effects with it. Today we go back for his 1 year check-up (yes we are about a month late). 3 - Ella finished her swim class! Yay, Ella!4 - The nephew comes home from College for "Spring" break this weekend. It will be nice to have him around. I need to stock the fridge.5 - We head to disney 2 weeks from Saturday.6 - We owed the Feds almost $1900 in taxes. Me thinks this has something to do with the w-2 from hubby's brother that had NO federal withholding! Thankfully we are getting over $1200 back from VA so a loss of around $600 and I could pay with Amex so...I get miles!7 - Speaking of, Hung has changed jobs. He is now back working for his bro's company full-time, consulting for the gov't again. So far so good. He's back on the contact that he left about 18 months ago - apparently they've been asking for him to come back for about 6 months.That's all folks!
Over 300 faculty met yesterday to demand that BOV President, Michael Powell come and address the faculty and give more detail about the reasons for the firing (nonrenewal of contract) of College President, Nichols. Nezlek, the Psych professor quoted, was the best professor I ever had and my senior thesis advisor. He was always a no BS kind of guy.
Me: "What do you think is an example of love?"Ella: "When Daddy gets lots of extra gas to put in your car."Me: "How do you know that Mommy and Daddy love you?"Ella: "Because you tell me to eat healfy (healthy) and to eat lots of protein and because you want me to have meat on my bones. "pause....Ella: "Mama, what's meat on my bones?"
I thought this was an appropriate post for today! A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' My personal favorite is Karl's.
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'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4?
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5?
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8?
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8?
'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'
Clare - age 6?
'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4
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Happy Valentine's Day all! My ever so sweet husband had flowers waiting for me YESTERDAY when I got home. He got a headstart, or he could have been confused and thought yesterday was Valentines Day :) He also had gone out and picked up the makings for dinner tonight: Steaks, lobster bisque, salad. We are going to have a sweet, romantical (yes, I made that word up) dinner after the kiddos are in bed, luckily they are both asleep by 8. Reminds me of the Valentine's day dinner we had in my dorm room in 1992, except the kiddos in bed part. To me, Love is knowing, really knowing, because we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, that this man is not going anywhere. He is a rock. His love may be quiet and simple, but it is strong and unyielding. As hard and steadfast as his head! (I also happen to think Love is having a sense of humor!) Honestly, when he's around I feel like Cindy explained above except the part about him being my daddy.Love is knowing you are the person who least annoys me in the world, and wearing that like a badge of honor. I am not easy. I am a good person, a great mom, I like to think a loving and good wife, but I have my moments. He turns the other cheek without being a wimp and letting me walk all over him. He knows when my gripes are legitimate and owns up to it. He also has this look that puts me in line when I need to be put in line. Thank you honey, for annoying me least of all!
A sad day for William and Mary. Anyone who knows my husband and I know of our love of our alma mater. It is where we met, it is where we were taught to think and not just regurgitate, it is where our beliefs and values where challenged and where we went from children to adults. It was on that campus that we decided to marry. It is where someone like me from a tiny backward town and a boy who had come from a war torn foreign country at 2 both felt included, valued and wholly engaged in the community.
Yesterday the President, embroiled in controversy for the last year or so, resigned after being told his contract would not be renewed. In other words, he was fired. "He attributed the controversy surrounding his tenure to four presidential decisions — his decision to remove the Wren cross (more below), his refusal to ban the Sex Workers’ Art Show (a student council & women's studies sponsored event), his support of the College’s Gateway Program and his commitment to the College’s faculty diversity."He has made some controversial decisions, not the least of which was the decision to remove the cross from the Wren Chapel, except upon the request of those using it. The logic was, ALL students attend events in the Chapel that are required by the college - the signing of the code of honor, for example - and that the space must be as inclusive as possible. Of course, religious groups and events using the Chapel could request the placement of the cross if they so desired. As a result of this decision, big money was pulled from endowments. Basically, he's a bit too liberal for the old guarde.What disturbs me is that a small, handpicked board of visitors has the power and inclination to effectively fire the President of the institution for pissing off some well-healed donors. Yes, perhaps President Nichols should have treaded more lightly or been more open in the process of making and implementing the decision. Regardless, it troubles me greatly that the BOV has essentially fired him for pissing off big donors. Maybe I am niave, but I think the students and faculty (who by and large are outraged) and alumni should have some voice in the process.Change is controversial and he was certainly trying to be an agent of change. I, personally, am going to have to think long and hard about my own financial commitments to William and Mary and weigh my support of the students and faculty against my desire to make a statement with my own meager dollars. I think this faculty member said it best, "A prestigious university is supposed to be a bastion of inclusion and debate. How else do we learn other than by being challenged with different views? The BOV, under political and economic pressure, has decided to demote the academic and societal priorities of the College and voted to end the tenure of a College President who championed a diversity of views. A College President who welcomed the minority voice, even when they conflicted with his own personal views. This is a sad day, not only for William and Mary, but for the whole Commonwealth, as Virginia has shown it is a place of intolerance where centuries-old political will wins out over the education and betterment of our young citizens. William and Mary is a weaker institution than it was yesterday and I am shamed by the BOV’s decision."
The saga continues. First, the good news: Ella is P-neumonia free! Yay, Ella. She really turned the corner and is feeling so much better. I didn't realize how run down she was (it was so gradual) until she started feeling better. 10000 mamas later, she's better.Now, for the not so good news: Max officially has "baby asthma" BOO! This is not the same as real asthma. Dr. G says most babies outgrow it by the time they are 3-4. That is a good thing, but still in the short term it means when he gets a cold it often becomes a breathing issue. Wheezing, difficulty breathing. Nebulizer treatments began today and run through Thursday. On Thursday, Dr. G will take another listen and we will most likely be putting him on a "maintenance" medicine through the rest of the winter. We'll know more then.For now, he's still a trooper. He can handle one thing at a time ... Tired, no problem. Sick, ok. Bored, alright. But in a combination he's over his edge. Which to me seems perfectly acceptable. I mean I know adults who melt down when they are tired. Much less TIRED & SICK! He is such a sweet boy.Did I ever mention that I HATE winter? This is just one more reason.
So it turns out my little lovebug (Ella) has pneumonia. She's been complaining on and off for probably a good month that either 1) her head hurt, 2) her tummy hurt, 3) she's tooo tired. Usually these complaints come in conjunction with getting up and ready for school. SO I thought, she like me has an aversion to winter and just wants to hibernate. Actually, she said to me one day she thought that we should just hibernate like bears or move to St. John where it is always warm. I can't argue with her on either point! Anyway, first she had a bug - threw up and basically feverish (about a month ago). Then she just seemed to have a cold. Runny nose this week, cough the next. The same thing that everyone around here seems to be fighting! Well, we get two steps toward the bus stop yesterday and she says "Mama, my tummy hurts." Mama said Uncle! I was able to get in with Dr. G at 10:30 and upon looking at her he declared she's got a touch of pneumonia. BAD MAMA!To look at her you would not have much of a clue and even he said she is a trooper. I just feel bad about the tummy ache she's had for a while now. She's home from school yesterday and today just to rest up. Rest really is the best medicine. Hopefully, she'll be back in the swing of things next week.
Does this picture look like I am in for some trouble or what? This was taken a little while ago .. but still is pretty representative.
