Barf, Sigh, Booty
I doubt my fastidious handwashing will keep me immune from this GI bug that has been plaguing my family for the past nine days, seeing as Mali barfed all over my face in the middle of the night. Sigh.
As least Leelo's going to school today. Yeah! First time in five days. The jubilation is not just getting him out of my hair for a couple of hours (have you ever had to watch an autistic kid? Leelo is sweet and fun, but having him home means unrelenting surveillance and nothing else getting done in a house with triple the usual amount of laundry) but because he really, truly loves his school and is thriving there.
Also, Veggie Booty is back on the shelves! Praise the gods of spinach and kale and vegetable matter that my son will never ingest any other way!
10.24.2007
10.23.2007
Zyax
Zyax
Our very own Badger wrote today's Can I Sit With You story, The Sex Change of Zyax II. Yet another fantastic read. Don't forget to comment!
Are any of you reading these stories to your kids, or letting your kids read them? Iz reads the site every day, and adores it.
She is at school today. So is Mali, although I'm not entirely sure she's 100% better. Still, she's been symptom-free for 24 hours (her school's yardstick), and she was insistent on going this morning: "My tummy does NOT hurt. I am not going to barf today. I barfed on the stairs already."
Leelo is home, still, because he barfed again last night. It's not clear to me if that was due to eating too quickly or to lingering ick, but I'm not risking putting him on a bus for thirty minutes until he's really, really better. Which will be tomorrow.
I am taking him to the doctor this morning to check for ear infections seeing as we have this rare free morning together. Although last night when he was pounding on his head and pointing at a very specific spot on his noggin, and I told him, "Don't worry, Leelo, I"ll take you to the doctor tomorrow," he said, "No see Dr. M_____!" Good language, worrisome lead up to this morning's appointment.
Seymour is still pretty much dead to the world. Or at least dead to the other people in this house, as his laptop is missing from the kitchen table, which means he is most likely and feebly attempting to work.
Our very own Badger wrote today's Can I Sit With You story, The Sex Change of Zyax II. Yet another fantastic read. Don't forget to comment!
Are any of you reading these stories to your kids, or letting your kids read them? Iz reads the site every day, and adores it.
She is at school today. So is Mali, although I'm not entirely sure she's 100% better. Still, she's been symptom-free for 24 hours (her school's yardstick), and she was insistent on going this morning: "My tummy does NOT hurt. I am not going to barf today. I barfed on the stairs already."
Leelo is home, still, because he barfed again last night. It's not clear to me if that was due to eating too quickly or to lingering ick, but I'm not risking putting him on a bus for thirty minutes until he's really, really better. Which will be tomorrow.
I am taking him to the doctor this morning to check for ear infections seeing as we have this rare free morning together. Although last night when he was pounding on his head and pointing at a very specific spot on his noggin, and I told him, "Don't worry, Leelo, I"ll take you to the doctor tomorrow," he said, "No see Dr. M_____!" Good language, worrisome lead up to this morning's appointment.
Seymour is still pretty much dead to the world. Or at least dead to the other people in this house, as his laptop is missing from the kitchen table, which means he is most likely and feebly attempting to work.
Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog
10.22.2007
10.21.2007
Another One Down
Another One Down
Now Mali is sick, too. Barfs and squirts. Google says it's viral gastroenteritis, which means that I apologize to any of the five thousand people I socialized with this weekend if they come down with said barfs and squirts, and that I may just have to keep the six dozen chocolate chip cookies that Iz and her friend Olive baked as snacks for the rest of the cast in their schools production of The Tempest (the girls are dancing, singing fairies).
Probably the best part of this entire barf/poo week happened this afternoon, when Leelo projectile vomited all over our kitten Shia. Poor thing, all she was doing was waiting expectantly next to Leelo's bar stool, hoping for some crumbs from his PB&J sandwich.
Please do go read today's Can I Sit With You story; it is particularly compelling.
Now Mali is sick, too. Barfs and squirts. Google says it's viral gastroenteritis, which means that I apologize to any of the five thousand people I socialized with this weekend if they come down with said barfs and squirts, and that I may just have to keep the six dozen chocolate chip cookies that Iz and her friend Olive baked as snacks for the rest of the cast in their schools production of The Tempest (the girls are dancing, singing fairies).
Probably the best part of this entire barf/poo week happened this afternoon, when Leelo projectile vomited all over our kitten Shia. Poor thing, all she was doing was waiting expectantly next to Leelo's bar stool, hoping for some crumbs from his PB&J sandwich.
Please do go read today's Can I Sit With You story; it is particularly compelling.
Okay, FINE.
Okay, FINE.
Jennyalice said I had to post a Can I Sit With You story. Yes, I am a total sucker for peer pressure.
Jennyalice said I had to post a Can I Sit With You story. Yes, I am a total sucker for peer pressure.
10.20.2007
Scat!
Scat!
Oh, man, we've had a pooful week.
Seymour's been away most of the week mountain biking and work-retreating, with my blessings. I don't really mind being at home with my trio, but had to admit that my brain blew a few circuits on the 17th, when Leelo had his first bedtime shitstorm in years (complete with Rothko-esque treatment of the textured walls I already thought were nasty), Mali stayed up until midnight, I worked until 1 AM, and then poor Iz had the involuntary squirts from 2 to 4 AM.
But still, when I woke up, I was able to laugh at it all. Especially after Seymour got home at 6:30 and Jennyalice took me out and got me so drunk that I had to leave my car downtown (Sage drove us home; DoubleTrouble and Licia kept us company but didn't drink nearly so much. Note to self: pitchers are bad if you need to track your alcohol consumption).
Then yesterday, Mali went into the living room, sat down on the newly-shampooed, still damp rug (Seymour's folks are coming to see our "new house" on Friday), put her hand down the back of her pants, and pulled out a wad to smear all over the ground. WTF?
Now Leelo's got a bug. He was up all night barfing and pooing (Seymour got that shift, poor guy) and may do so again tonight.
I am sick of poo! I declare a poo moratorium, and will be distributing corks shortly. Let me know if you need any.
Oh, man, we've had a pooful week.
Seymour's been away most of the week mountain biking and work-retreating, with my blessings. I don't really mind being at home with my trio, but had to admit that my brain blew a few circuits on the 17th, when Leelo had his first bedtime shitstorm in years (complete with Rothko-esque treatment of the textured walls I already thought were nasty), Mali stayed up until midnight, I worked until 1 AM, and then poor Iz had the involuntary squirts from 2 to 4 AM.
But still, when I woke up, I was able to laugh at it all. Especially after Seymour got home at 6:30 and Jennyalice took me out and got me so drunk that I had to leave my car downtown (Sage drove us home; DoubleTrouble and Licia kept us company but didn't drink nearly so much. Note to self: pitchers are bad if you need to track your alcohol consumption).
Then yesterday, Mali went into the living room, sat down on the newly-shampooed, still damp rug (Seymour's folks are coming to see our "new house" on Friday), put her hand down the back of her pants, and pulled out a wad to smear all over the ground. WTF?
Now Leelo's got a bug. He was up all night barfing and pooing (Seymour got that shift, poor guy) and may do so again tonight.
I am sick of poo! I declare a poo moratorium, and will be distributing corks shortly. Let me know if you need any.
10.19.2007
Acorns, Revisited
Acorns, Revisited
Remember how we made acorn pancakes on October 7th? So does Godfather M. Unlike me, he was thoughtful enough to include a recipe. He also accidentally used "leeching" for "leaching" several times, which means he's in serious trouble: I threatened to shoot him the next time he posted without letting me proof read first. Though it is possible that one needs to be wary around acorns, lest they come over and refuse to leave until they've drunk all your beer without offering to replace it.
Remember how we made acorn pancakes on October 7th? So does Godfather M. Unlike me, he was thoughtful enough to include a recipe. He also accidentally used "leeching" for "leaching" several times, which means he's in serious trouble: I threatened to shoot him the next time he posted without letting me proof read first. Though it is possible that one needs to be wary around acorns, lest they come over and refuse to leave until they've drunk all your beer without offering to replace it.
10.17.2007
Can I *Sniff* Sit With You?
Can I *Sniff* Sit With You?
Apparently there are people who find our Can I Sit With You? project distressing and full of unbearable pathos. Let me reassure you that our goal is not to rip off old scabs, or to start your day with a dose of despair. No no no.
We're providing real-world examples from the perplexing social world of the school yard, so that kids who are dealing with these issues can be inspired to try something new, horrified that someone else had it so much worse off, or comforted by solidarity. Those of you who have been keeping up know that the angst is peppered with humor and grace.
And it's only going to get better as some of our most powerful stories debut over the next two weeks. We'll cover racism, sexual orientation, religious prejudice, idiopathic dickheadedness, and pernicious cluelessness. Stop by weekdaily, and please do spread the word.
Apparently there are people who find our Can I Sit With You? project distressing and full of unbearable pathos. Let me reassure you that our goal is not to rip off old scabs, or to start your day with a dose of despair. No no no.
We're providing real-world examples from the perplexing social world of the school yard, so that kids who are dealing with these issues can be inspired to try something new, horrified that someone else had it so much worse off, or comforted by solidarity. Those of you who have been keeping up know that the angst is peppered with humor and grace.
And it's only going to get better as some of our most powerful stories debut over the next two weeks. We'll cover racism, sexual orientation, religious prejudice, idiopathic dickheadedness, and pernicious cluelessness. Stop by weekdaily, and please do spread the word.
I Love Raising a Unitarian Child in the Bay Area
I Love Raising a Unitarian Child in the Bay Area
We were hanging out in our church lobby, awaiting our turn to attempt a family portrait for the church's new directory.
Speaking of cross-dressing, Mali is garbed almost exclusively in Leelo's hand-me-downs these days, because as Iz is almost six years older, and Mali was unexpected, Leelo gear is what we've got. But after a visit from her cute little girly-girl cousins, I realize that I am frittering away my last opportunity to dress a baby girl in froth! To the store!
We were hanging out in our church lobby, awaiting our turn to attempt a family portrait for the church's new directory.
Iz: "Mommy, that lady's voice is really deep. Why do you think that is?"
Me: "That's Thomasina. He's exploring cross-dressing."
Iz, knowingly: "Ooooh. Okay."
Speaking of cross-dressing, Mali is garbed almost exclusively in Leelo's hand-me-downs these days, because as Iz is almost six years older, and Mali was unexpected, Leelo gear is what we've got. But after a visit from her cute little girly-girl cousins, I realize that I am frittering away my last opportunity to dress a baby girl in froth! To the store!
10.15.2007
Can I Just Say
Can I Just Say
That my in-laws came back, swept up Mali and Kylie, and took off for the afternoon. Who wouldn't want relatives like that? They even make their beds! They buy us beer! They cook and clean (including kids) without even being asked! (Can't remember the last time I made my bed.)
Poor Iz is still barfing ("Mommy, I wish I was still barfing up food. It tastes a lot better than barfing up bile.") but happy to be lying on the couch with a full afternoon's worth of the usually forbidden Disney Channel ahead of her. Leelo won't be home for another hour. I just got thirty minutes of work under my belt and feel ever so much better. It really doesn't take much for me to recharge.
Forgot to write that I got Leelo an oversized tricycle yesterday, so that he could race around the back deck just like his big sister does on her bike, and which he so obviously wanted to do, too. I honestly have never seen him smile and giggle with such honest delight as when he hopped on that tricycle and realized it was for him! I need to adjust the handle bars and seat to the perfect positions for him, but, wow. Can't wait to take him and Iz to the mile-long circle track at Holbr00k-Pa1mer park.
That my in-laws came back, swept up Mali and Kylie, and took off for the afternoon. Who wouldn't want relatives like that? They even make their beds! They buy us beer! They cook and clean (including kids) without even being asked! (Can't remember the last time I made my bed.)
Poor Iz is still barfing ("Mommy, I wish I was still barfing up food. It tastes a lot better than barfing up bile.") but happy to be lying on the couch with a full afternoon's worth of the usually forbidden Disney Channel ahead of her. Leelo won't be home for another hour. I just got thirty minutes of work under my belt and feel ever so much better. It really doesn't take much for me to recharge.
Forgot to write that I got Leelo an oversized tricycle yesterday, so that he could race around the back deck just like his big sister does on her bike, and which he so obviously wanted to do, too. I honestly have never seen him smile and giggle with such honest delight as when he hopped on that tricycle and realized it was for him! I need to adjust the handle bars and seat to the perfect positions for him, but, wow. Can't wait to take him and Iz to the mile-long circle track at Holbr00k-Pa1mer park.
Oh Happy Monday...
Oh Happy Monday...
...in which Leelo goes back to school. And the girls, too, sort of.
My in-laws, who are staying with us for the weekend, are off in The City at an appointment. Iz is sleeping off a early-school-morning barf on the couch, my niece Kylie is chirpily keeping her company. I am hiding in my office sneaking my first break since Friday's lovely birthday lunch with Jenijen, trying to process the 72 hours between now and that meal. What was the best part?
Was it the rain shutting down the car wash on my birthday, so that I couldn't get my nasty scummy car detailed as a present to myself, with the side benefit of being mortified when my fastidious in-laws arrived?
Was it the restaurant calling three hours before my birthday dinner to say that no, they couldn't increase the size of our party because it was raining and so their patio was not usable, and I would have to cancel my reservation? For ten?
Was it the babysitters arriving thirty minutes late to release me for said dinner, giving me--the first person of five to receive taxi service from our magnificent, SWAT-hat bedecked designated driver Sage--such an intense case of anxious stomach that I arrived at the dinner without an appetite?
Was it realizing that MB was waiting for us at the other restaurant because her email address was at odds with the Evite and so in my panic I forgot to mentally add her to the dinner relocation list?
Was it Seymour's not having enough time to make our destroyed kitchen birthday-present clean while I was that dinner (before he left on a three-day mountain biking trip), due to the babysitters' assuming that his coming home from work meant they could leave rather than asking him if he still needed them?
Was it waking up the next morning after getting to sleep in until 7:30 and seeing that the kitchen still wasn't clean, that Seymour needed to pack and leave, even though Seymour's brother's family were coming to stay with us later in the day?
Was it getting the house almost ready for our guests, and then finding at 9 PM that one of the cats had peed on the center of the aerobed Iz is still sleeping on, and which she was to share with her cousins? Effectively destroying said bed?
Was it Leelo deciding that this was the weekend he for seeing how quickly and frequently he can hit Mali and make her cry?
Was it my brother-in-law secretly and so kindly taking my car in for a detail job after hearing me moan about the closed car wash, and having the car wash people manually wrest open and so break the automatic, remote-controlled car doors that make my life that much easier when Leelo and Mali are screaming and Leelo is hitting and I just need to get them into the car now now now? (This one made me cry, BTW. The car doors are really difficult to open manually, and I'm worried that they'll be an expensive fix.)
Was it Leelo getting up at 6 AM while Mali still refuses to sleep until I do (1 AM Sat. night, midnight last night) and having no down time for even ten minutes to read or do anything that wasn't work and even then only 20 minutes, begged from my in-laws? (Whom I adore and who are more pleasant and helpful than you would believe, but still, guests mean work).
Was it Leelo being so overwhelmed by the chaos of the weekend that he had two poo accidents?
Was it forgetting that I said I'd take Kylie for the day today, meaning that I still wouldn't get any alone time at all? To get work done? Or perhaps watch ten minutes of stupid Smallville? I need down time, people! Some of you don't, but for me no breaks from people or responsibilities is as debilitating as not eating for two days or drinking continuously for that same period.
Was it getting a call while dropping Mali off at school this morning to come pick up Iz after she barfed all over her locker? Meaning that my coffee window of opportunity between dropping off Mali and getting Leelo home to meet his bus was slammed shut?
Was it having said girl step into the car and then barf yesterday's dim sum and seaweed salad all an interior that had been detailed only twelve hours before?
I don't know which part was the best. But I do know that I felt a huge and guilt-ridden surge of relief when I put Leelo on the bus this morning, and realized that, whatever else had happened this weekend, the biggest stressor was having to tend Leelo while he was being himself (i.e., mostly sweet but occasionally violent and certainly needing most of my attention), with all the extra crap listed above, but without Seymour and yet with house guests. I will be very grateful when Seymour is back tonight. Even though he'll be leaving for a retreat tomorrow morning.
Anyhow. I feel better now. Thanks, Blogosphere!
...in which Leelo goes back to school. And the girls, too, sort of.
My in-laws, who are staying with us for the weekend, are off in The City at an appointment. Iz is sleeping off a early-school-morning barf on the couch, my niece Kylie is chirpily keeping her company. I am hiding in my office sneaking my first break since Friday's lovely birthday lunch with Jenijen, trying to process the 72 hours between now and that meal. What was the best part?
Was it the rain shutting down the car wash on my birthday, so that I couldn't get my nasty scummy car detailed as a present to myself, with the side benefit of being mortified when my fastidious in-laws arrived?
Was it the restaurant calling three hours before my birthday dinner to say that no, they couldn't increase the size of our party because it was raining and so their patio was not usable, and I would have to cancel my reservation? For ten?
Was it the babysitters arriving thirty minutes late to release me for said dinner, giving me--the first person of five to receive taxi service from our magnificent, SWAT-hat bedecked designated driver Sage--such an intense case of anxious stomach that I arrived at the dinner without an appetite?
Was it realizing that MB was waiting for us at the other restaurant because her email address was at odds with the Evite and so in my panic I forgot to mentally add her to the dinner relocation list?
Was it Seymour's not having enough time to make our destroyed kitchen birthday-present clean while I was that dinner (before he left on a three-day mountain biking trip), due to the babysitters' assuming that his coming home from work meant they could leave rather than asking him if he still needed them?
Was it waking up the next morning after getting to sleep in until 7:30 and seeing that the kitchen still wasn't clean, that Seymour needed to pack and leave, even though Seymour's brother's family were coming to stay with us later in the day?
Was it getting the house almost ready for our guests, and then finding at 9 PM that one of the cats had peed on the center of the aerobed Iz is still sleeping on, and which she was to share with her cousins? Effectively destroying said bed?
Was it Leelo deciding that this was the weekend he for seeing how quickly and frequently he can hit Mali and make her cry?
Was it my brother-in-law secretly and so kindly taking my car in for a detail job after hearing me moan about the closed car wash, and having the car wash people manually wrest open and so break the automatic, remote-controlled car doors that make my life that much easier when Leelo and Mali are screaming and Leelo is hitting and I just need to get them into the car now now now? (This one made me cry, BTW. The car doors are really difficult to open manually, and I'm worried that they'll be an expensive fix.)
Was it Leelo getting up at 6 AM while Mali still refuses to sleep until I do (1 AM Sat. night, midnight last night) and having no down time for even ten minutes to read or do anything that wasn't work and even then only 20 minutes, begged from my in-laws? (Whom I adore and who are more pleasant and helpful than you would believe, but still, guests mean work).
Was it Leelo being so overwhelmed by the chaos of the weekend that he had two poo accidents?
Was it forgetting that I said I'd take Kylie for the day today, meaning that I still wouldn't get any alone time at all? To get work done? Or perhaps watch ten minutes of stupid Smallville? I need down time, people! Some of you don't, but for me no breaks from people or responsibilities is as debilitating as not eating for two days or drinking continuously for that same period.
Was it getting a call while dropping Mali off at school this morning to come pick up Iz after she barfed all over her locker? Meaning that my coffee window of opportunity between dropping off Mali and getting Leelo home to meet his bus was slammed shut?
Was it having said girl step into the car and then barf yesterday's dim sum and seaweed salad all an interior that had been detailed only twelve hours before?
I don't know which part was the best. But I do know that I felt a huge and guilt-ridden surge of relief when I put Leelo on the bus this morning, and realized that, whatever else had happened this weekend, the biggest stressor was having to tend Leelo while he was being himself (i.e., mostly sweet but occasionally violent and certainly needing most of my attention), with all the extra crap listed above, but without Seymour and yet with house guests. I will be very grateful when Seymour is back tonight. Even though he'll be leaving for a retreat tomorrow morning.
Anyhow. I feel better now. Thanks, Blogosphere!
Technorati Tags: moaning, special needs parenting
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