Music That Qualifies as a Tax Write Off
Clash: Combat Rock
Educational Niche: Iz/Spanish (Should I Stay or Should I Go)
Offspring: Americana
Educational Niche: Iz/Spanish (Pretty Fly [For a White Guy])
Ramones:
Educational Niche: Iz/History (Explaining why her uncles used to sing Beat on the Brat to me)
Educational Niche: NLP w/Leo (Getting him to sing Momma's Boy)
Any other ideas?
9.14.2004
Leelo at Preschool
Check out Supervisor M's notes on what a faboo first school day our boy had.
My favorite part was when he walked up and gave his name tag back to the teacher at the end of class with minimal and almost exclusively verbal prompting. He was not able to complete any part of this Iron Gate Preschool routine at the end of the year last year--he wouldn't even hold on to the name tag. What a different boy he's become.
Check out Supervisor M's notes on what a faboo first school day our boy had.
My favorite part was when he walked up and gave his name tag back to the teacher at the end of class with minimal and almost exclusively verbal prompting. He was not able to complete any part of this Iron Gate Preschool routine at the end of the year last year--he wouldn't even hold on to the name tag. What a different boy he's become.
9.13.2004
An Anemic Excuse
My OB just left a message letting me know that pregnancy has made me anemic. Well, at least that explains the weakness, super-tiredness, and nausea I've been experiencing lately.
But damn, have you ever taken iron pills? They are nasty, and leave you with an I've-just-sucked-on-a-rusty-tailpipe taste in your mouth--for hours.
Off to get Iz and, I guess, pick up some iron pills.
Leelo had a faboo first day at school. More on that later.
My OB just left a message letting me know that pregnancy has made me anemic. Well, at least that explains the weakness, super-tiredness, and nausea I've been experiencing lately.
But damn, have you ever taken iron pills? They are nasty, and leave you with an I've-just-sucked-on-a-rusty-tailpipe taste in your mouth--for hours.
Off to get Iz and, I guess, pick up some iron pills.
Leelo had a faboo first day at school. More on that later.
The Issues
Dropped Leelo off at school. He was a little bit clingy but seemed fine. We'll see how he is in two hours when I pick him back up.
Can I just say that this is the first morning in which I've had the house to myself since August 2003? There are visble waves of relief emanating from my roof, I am certain.
----
Ep, our highly-informed source for all things political, told us of a fabulous Clinton quote while we were away: "Democrats win when people think." He also said that Republicans win when people let emotions get in the way of the issues.
Make sure you're thinking clearly. Please follow the two very different links below for summaries of where Bush and Kerry stand. Then go and discuss them with any friends or family who may not have had the, erm, time to research this themselves.
Bush vs. Kerry at a Glance: MSNBC Summary
George W. Bush vs John Kerry: Independents for Kerry
Also: Though we often ridicule the French, they've got our candidates pegged. If our election was to take place in France today, Kerry would trounce Bush by a 13:1 margin. Merveilleux.
Dropped Leelo off at school. He was a little bit clingy but seemed fine. We'll see how he is in two hours when I pick him back up.
Can I just say that this is the first morning in which I've had the house to myself since August 2003? There are visble waves of relief emanating from my roof, I am certain.
----
Ep, our highly-informed source for all things political, told us of a fabulous Clinton quote while we were away: "Democrats win when people think." He also said that Republicans win when people let emotions get in the way of the issues.
Make sure you're thinking clearly. Please follow the two very different links below for summaries of where Bush and Kerry stand. Then go and discuss them with any friends or family who may not have had the, erm, time to research this themselves.
Bush vs. Kerry at a Glance: MSNBC Summary
George W. Bush vs John Kerry: Independents for Kerry
Also: Though we often ridicule the French, they've got our candidates pegged. If our election was to take place in France today, Kerry would trounce Bush by a 13:1 margin. Merveilleux.
9.12.2004
After a Weekend Away
I am sunburnt and exhausted but happy and more in love with my friends than ever. And Ms. Jane! She can sing show tunes, even lesser-known ditties from Guys and Dolls. She's got the timing down, too. I am smitten.
Two things that made me pogo-stick in the back seat: Stumbling upon the UCSC Agroecology plant sale that I've meant to go to for years but haven't actually attended since 1996, and finally getting to go to Ricardo Donnelly chocolates. Mr. Donnelly's confections kick those of Mr. J. Schmidt right out of the park, something the instantly ensorcelled Ep will back up. I got me some of his brownie mix.
Much else happened but I am wonked and so will write only that I enjoyed the hanging out at lovely beaches and chatting away, the constant laughter, having the mellow time to pay attention to and think warm thoughts about the feisty little being in my belly, and the fantastically gorgeous hike to Frank1in Point--even though the path was overgrown and poison-oak infested.
Tomorrow is Leelo's first day of school. Aick! How interesting it will be to see how he is with other kids his age. The very thought makes me nauseated yet I am thrilled to my toes.
I am sunburnt and exhausted but happy and more in love with my friends than ever. And Ms. Jane! She can sing show tunes, even lesser-known ditties from Guys and Dolls. She's got the timing down, too. I am smitten.
Two things that made me pogo-stick in the back seat: Stumbling upon the UCSC Agroecology plant sale that I've meant to go to for years but haven't actually attended since 1996, and finally getting to go to Ricardo Donnelly chocolates. Mr. Donnelly's confections kick those of Mr. J. Schmidt right out of the park, something the instantly ensorcelled Ep will back up. I got me some of his brownie mix.
Much else happened but I am wonked and so will write only that I enjoyed the hanging out at lovely beaches and chatting away, the constant laughter, having the mellow time to pay attention to and think warm thoughts about the feisty little being in my belly, and the fantastically gorgeous hike to Frank1in Point--even though the path was overgrown and poison-oak infested.
Tomorrow is Leelo's first day of school. Aick! How interesting it will be to see how he is with other kids his age. The very thought makes me nauseated yet I am thrilled to my toes.
9.10.2004
That's My Girl!
Iz's class had a mock election yesterday, "Se elige el presidente." She brought home a handout with all sorts of pictures and information about both candidates. For instance, "George tiene un perro llamado Barney, y una gata llamada India. Él es de Texas."
By the way, has anyone noted how much first daughter Barbara Bush looks like Posh Spice? Anyhow.
Apparently Iz was incensed that several of her classmates voted for Mr. Bush. She told them that they shouldn't vote for him because he isn't a very good president; he lies and he cuts down trees. Yeah! Go Iz!
The discussion got her needing clarification on several issues. I hope we did good.
She first asked me why I think Bush isn't a very good president. I told her that he isn't doing the job he was elected to do. I told her that the American people elect their president and that s/he is supposed to work for us, for our best interests. Mr. Bush, on the other hand, is only working for the interests of his friends. That is neither fair nor right.
"Yeah," said Seymour and Jo later on, "It's as if the parents of the two richest students in your class paid your teacher to only teach those two students and ignore the rest of you."
Iz's eyes got wide and she seemed to really get it.
Then she asked my why both my and Seymour's parents are voting for Bush. I told her that her grandparents worked very hard all their lives to make enough money so that they and their families would feel safe, and that they think the Democrats are going to pass laws that will take away an unfair amount of their money. She seemed okay with that.
By the way, Therapist F's car is now sporting a Bush/Cheney sticker. WTF? She can't even vote! I am guessing and hoping that her partner the investment banker put it there.
Iz's class had a mock election yesterday, "Se elige el presidente." She brought home a handout with all sorts of pictures and information about both candidates. For instance, "George tiene un perro llamado Barney, y una gata llamada India. Él es de Texas."
By the way, has anyone noted how much first daughter Barbara Bush looks like Posh Spice? Anyhow.
Apparently Iz was incensed that several of her classmates voted for Mr. Bush. She told them that they shouldn't vote for him because he isn't a very good president; he lies and he cuts down trees. Yeah! Go Iz!
The discussion got her needing clarification on several issues. I hope we did good.
She first asked me why I think Bush isn't a very good president. I told her that he isn't doing the job he was elected to do. I told her that the American people elect their president and that s/he is supposed to work for us, for our best interests. Mr. Bush, on the other hand, is only working for the interests of his friends. That is neither fair nor right.
"Yeah," said Seymour and Jo later on, "It's as if the parents of the two richest students in your class paid your teacher to only teach those two students and ignore the rest of you."
Iz's eyes got wide and she seemed to really get it.
Then she asked my why both my and Seymour's parents are voting for Bush. I told her that her grandparents worked very hard all their lives to make enough money so that they and their families would feel safe, and that they think the Democrats are going to pass laws that will take away an unfair amount of their money. She seemed okay with that.
By the way, Therapist F's car is now sporting a Bush/Cheney sticker. WTF? She can't even vote! I am guessing and hoping that her partner the investment banker put it there.
Medical Conditions and Investigations
Forgot to mention that, directly after Leelo's EEG, I took him to his pediatrician to get his stinky gooey ear looked at. I figured we might as well go while the boy was already pissed off; no use busting up any potential later good moods (as an ear infection veteran, Leelo is terrfied of otoscopes).
And he did have an ear infection, in the ear that still has a tube in it. The other ear was just fine--so at this point the tube is letting infection in, probably from submerging his head while swimming/bathing. That tube is scheduled to be removed next month.
Good Dr. G, whom I adore, said that because we're trying to avoid antibiotics with Leelo, he'd prescribe ear drops instead. Bless him. That makes 15 antibiotic-free months for our boy.
I then made a last ditch effort to see if we'd be able to salvage our patient/doctor relationship by asking him if we needed to give our newborn a Hepatitis B vaccine at birth since I tested negative for Hep. B in June. (I am heavily researching vaccines at the moment, more on that later.) I told him that I'd thought the vaccine was being administered to newborns because mothers weren't always screened before delivery.
He said, no, actually, if a mother tests positive for Hep. B, then we'd give the infant the vaccine plus a dose of gamma globulin.
I nodded and said "okay," but hung my head to hide my teary eyes. That may very well be our last visit to his office, unless one of the kids gets sick in the next two months. Damn it all. He is such a good doctor, and his office has worked so hard to get us the five thousand referalls Leelo and Iz have needed.
Today I made it to the chiropractor, who saw my vaccine information book and was very excited to talk about it. He is very anti-vaccinations; he told me that he himself has never been vaccinated for anything, and neither has his two-year-old son. Hmm. I'm not totally against vaccinations, but am always interested in hearing peoples' experiences and decisions regarding them.
He was also happy to recommend his son's pediatrician. I'd heard about the pediatrician before, from my friend MB's research. Perhaps I'll interview her after all.
Then I went to my OB. She was entertaining as always, and gave me more information about the tubal ligation. I will be given a general, and will be out for one to three hours. I will see if Seymour can guard the baby from the vaccination squad during that time. The procedure will probably happen the day after the delivery, so no quick escape from the hospital for me. Rats.
My doctor also said that she'd try to sneak in another ultrasound during my next visit (her group has their own machine) to see if we can get this modest baby to give up the goods about his or her genitalia. I know it's silly, and doesn't give any solace to people like MB, Kevin, or Catherine Maurice, but I'd feel somewhat less worried about the autism likelihood if this baby is a girl.
That next visit will be in two weeks, BTW. I really do have preganancy amnesia--I thought I was only supposed to see her monthly until the last few weeks, and then it would be weekly.
Off to the beach tomorrow! Which reminds me, the wax was not so bad. Especially for someone who spent her formative years being ambushed by three brothers yelling "Odd or Even!"
Forgot to mention that, directly after Leelo's EEG, I took him to his pediatrician to get his stinky gooey ear looked at. I figured we might as well go while the boy was already pissed off; no use busting up any potential later good moods (as an ear infection veteran, Leelo is terrfied of otoscopes).
And he did have an ear infection, in the ear that still has a tube in it. The other ear was just fine--so at this point the tube is letting infection in, probably from submerging his head while swimming/bathing. That tube is scheduled to be removed next month.
Good Dr. G, whom I adore, said that because we're trying to avoid antibiotics with Leelo, he'd prescribe ear drops instead. Bless him. That makes 15 antibiotic-free months for our boy.
I then made a last ditch effort to see if we'd be able to salvage our patient/doctor relationship by asking him if we needed to give our newborn a Hepatitis B vaccine at birth since I tested negative for Hep. B in June. (I am heavily researching vaccines at the moment, more on that later.) I told him that I'd thought the vaccine was being administered to newborns because mothers weren't always screened before delivery.
He said, no, actually, if a mother tests positive for Hep. B, then we'd give the infant the vaccine plus a dose of gamma globulin.
I nodded and said "okay," but hung my head to hide my teary eyes. That may very well be our last visit to his office, unless one of the kids gets sick in the next two months. Damn it all. He is such a good doctor, and his office has worked so hard to get us the five thousand referalls Leelo and Iz have needed.
Today I made it to the chiropractor, who saw my vaccine information book and was very excited to talk about it. He is very anti-vaccinations; he told me that he himself has never been vaccinated for anything, and neither has his two-year-old son. Hmm. I'm not totally against vaccinations, but am always interested in hearing peoples' experiences and decisions regarding them.
He was also happy to recommend his son's pediatrician. I'd heard about the pediatrician before, from my friend MB's research. Perhaps I'll interview her after all.
Then I went to my OB. She was entertaining as always, and gave me more information about the tubal ligation. I will be given a general, and will be out for one to three hours. I will see if Seymour can guard the baby from the vaccination squad during that time. The procedure will probably happen the day after the delivery, so no quick escape from the hospital for me. Rats.
My doctor also said that she'd try to sneak in another ultrasound during my next visit (her group has their own machine) to see if we can get this modest baby to give up the goods about his or her genitalia. I know it's silly, and doesn't give any solace to people like MB, Kevin, or Catherine Maurice, but I'd feel somewhat less worried about the autism likelihood if this baby is a girl.
That next visit will be in two weeks, BTW. I really do have preganancy amnesia--I thought I was only supposed to see her monthly until the last few weeks, and then it would be weekly.
Off to the beach tomorrow! Which reminds me, the wax was not so bad. Especially for someone who spent her formative years being ambushed by three brothers yelling "Odd or Even!"
9.09.2004
Potty Thoughts
Leelo's potty training is still not going anywhere fast. He can and will do it, but it's still hit-and-miss--if he's brought to the potty at the right time, he'll go. But he doesn't show any awareness of or interest in doing his business in the potty on his own.
Also, he still drops a load or two per week in his diapers while he's sleeping. That doesn't seem like particularly mature bowel behavior to me.
I fucking HATE potty training.
Leelo's potty training is still not going anywhere fast. He can and will do it, but it's still hit-and-miss--if he's brought to the potty at the right time, he'll go. But he doesn't show any awareness of or interest in doing his business in the potty on his own.
Also, he still drops a load or two per week in his diapers while he's sleeping. That doesn't seem like particularly mature bowel behavior to me.
I fucking HATE potty training.
9.08.2004
Pants! Now!
Because I have neither hips nor ass, wearing below-the-belly pants isn't the best idea in the last trimester. It's like trying to put trousers on an ice cream cone.
Alas, my two favorite pairs of knocked-up wear sit low. The constant hitching is tolerable as long as I remember to pull on my pants instead of my drawers--self-inflicted wedgies are almost worse than the aided kind. Especially since I prefer what erudite folks term "ass floss."
Speaking of things below-the-belt, my bikini wax is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Aiiieee!
Because I have neither hips nor ass, wearing below-the-belly pants isn't the best idea in the last trimester. It's like trying to put trousers on an ice cream cone.
Alas, my two favorite pairs of knocked-up wear sit low. The constant hitching is tolerable as long as I remember to pull on my pants instead of my drawers--self-inflicted wedgies are almost worse than the aided kind. Especially since I prefer what erudite folks term "ass floss."
Speaking of things below-the-belt, my bikini wax is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Aiiieee!
Return to Our Version of Sanity
Therapist F is back from vacation, and Leelo is having his first morning session in almost three weeks. Big sigh of relief. BIG.
Below is Leelo's weekly schedule as of Monday 9/13. He will have ~20 hours per week of ABA, 1.5 hours of other therapies, and 7.5 hours at school. Busy boy!
Although Therapist L will be on vacation Sept. 16 - 21. Sigh, again.
MONDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist F: 12:30 - 3:30
OT/Therapist M (offsite): 4:10 - 5:00
TUESDAY
ABA/Therapist F: 8:30 - 12:00
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:30
Session includes faciliated playgroup 3:00 - 3:30
WEDNESDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:30
THURSDAY
ABA/Therapist F: 8:30 - 12:00
Speech Therapy/Teacher A (offsite): 2:30 - 3:00
FRIDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:15
For contrast, here is Iz's schedule for the next few months:
MONDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
TUESDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Leelo Playgroup: 3:00 - 3:30
Karate 5:00 - 5:45
WEDNESDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Spanish Tutor: 3:00 - 4:00
THURSDAY
School 8:10 - 12:45
FRIDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Ballet 3:30 - 4:15
My Schedule:
See above, plus:
TUESDAYS
Frantically clean house: All day
Pick up and return Elise/Danielle for facilitated playgroup 2:45 - 3:45
Find somewhere to go during house cleaning: 4:00 - 6:00
(twice monthly) School Meeting 7 - 10 P.M.
WEDNESDAYS
Work at Leelo's Preschool 9:00 - 11:30
Babysitting 6 - 9 P.M. (This is how our sanity is maintained)
THURSDAYS
Coffee 10 - 11:30 (This is how my sanity is maintained)
I am also trying to fit in weekly chiropractic and prenatal yoga sessions. Hmmm.
Therapist F is back from vacation, and Leelo is having his first morning session in almost three weeks. Big sigh of relief. BIG.
Below is Leelo's weekly schedule as of Monday 9/13. He will have ~20 hours per week of ABA, 1.5 hours of other therapies, and 7.5 hours at school. Busy boy!
Although Therapist L will be on vacation Sept. 16 - 21. Sigh, again.
MONDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist F: 12:30 - 3:30
OT/Therapist M (offsite): 4:10 - 5:00
TUESDAY
ABA/Therapist F: 8:30 - 12:00
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:30
Session includes faciliated playgroup 3:00 - 3:30
WEDNESDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:30
THURSDAY
ABA/Therapist F: 8:30 - 12:00
Speech Therapy/Teacher A (offsite): 2:30 - 3:00
FRIDAY
School/Therapist F: 9:00 - 11:30
ABA/Therapist L: 12:30 - 3:15
For contrast, here is Iz's schedule for the next few months:
MONDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
TUESDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Leelo Playgroup: 3:00 - 3:30
Karate 5:00 - 5:45
WEDNESDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Spanish Tutor: 3:00 - 4:00
THURSDAY
School 8:10 - 12:45
FRIDAY
School 8:10 - 2:30
Ballet 3:30 - 4:15
My Schedule:
See above, plus:
TUESDAYS
Frantically clean house: All day
Pick up and return Elise/Danielle for facilitated playgroup 2:45 - 3:45
Find somewhere to go during house cleaning: 4:00 - 6:00
(twice monthly) School Meeting 7 - 10 P.M.
WEDNESDAYS
Work at Leelo's Preschool 9:00 - 11:30
Babysitting 6 - 9 P.M. (This is how our sanity is maintained)
THURSDAYS
Coffee 10 - 11:30 (This is how my sanity is maintained)
I am also trying to fit in weekly chiropractic and prenatal yoga sessions. Hmmm.
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