Feb '08 - is it really Feb '09 already? - Page 3

[lovetobemama]

Is this Bear's surgery day???! It snuck up fast (though not to you, I'm sure!!!)

I will be thinking good, successful, healthy vibes all day and week for him!!!! Update when you can again!!


Teeny: Hope she is better today!

ThisLove: Hi! Nice to see you!

[flapjack]

: for Bear.

NOS, River isn't really walking either. He can do a couple of steps forwards or sideways, but you can see that he plainly sees no reason to, because he's just so darned fast on his knees. Drives me crazy :

Hi, Thislove!

[nolonger]

Terran is my latest walker (Jeanita walked at 9 months, Christopher about the same, and I don't have a clue about Phoenix because nobody ever told me) but he seems to have a much better developed sense of self-preservation than the other kids. Quite frankly, he is perfectly safe in a minimally babyproofed house that would have killed them within a week. He waited to cross-crawl until he knew exactly what he was doing and has had absolutely no accidents or injuries. He rarely has any bruises.

I don't really think he is stupid, but I might have if his strengths had not been pointed out to me.

I don't really want him to finish high school by his fifteenth birthday either, because the student loan money won't be there, it will be hard for him to find a job, and it just didn't work out all that well for Jeanita, who is still in community college four years later for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with intelligence.

Yep, this is the big day for Bear and I have no experiences that would give me the slightest clue how scary this must be so just

: :::::goodv ibes:: :

[eilonwy]

Things went very well for the littlest man. : He had fluid behind both eardrums, and lots of it, but they cleared all that out when they put the tubes in. The GE took pictures with the scope and I got to see the insides of Bear's guts, which look healthy and beautiful. He took biopsies, but everything looked good, visually, which was nice. Bear did well with the anesthesia, and seems all right now-- a little warm and a little bit "off" but not hugely so. His hearing has already improved dramtically, though, and it was very obvious. When I first got him I asked if he wanted to get his thumb and he looked at me and said, "Thumb?" just as clearly as you please. I have a feeling that a lot of the babyishness of his speech will vanish over the next week as he hears things clearly, perhaps for the first time, and that his vocabulary will improve over the same period. I remember this happening with ChibiChibi when she got her tubes, but she was two.

And now for something completely different. Anyone outraged?

[salt_phoenix]

Originally Posted by noordinaryspider

Homeschooling: i never in a million years would have thought it would end the way it did for me.

I hear that. With DD#1 anyway. I remember being pg with her 21 yrs. ago watching The Phil Donahue Show (hahaha now there is dating things) and The Colfax Family. I thought to myself, "You can do that? Oh, that's it, I'm homeschooling my kids." Well, in and out of home school and everything in between; she's not one of the Colfax kids.

[nolonger]

Originally Posted by salt_phoenix

I hear that. With DD#1 anyway. I remember being pg with her 21 yrs. ago watching The Phil Donahue Show (hahaha now there is dating things) and The Colfax Family. I thought to myself, "You can do that? Oh, that's it, I'm homeschooling my kids." Well, in and out of home school and everything in between; she's not one of the Colfax kids.

I went to the sister school of where Miquon Math was developed and read John Holt and the Colfaxes in their library so I guess I was thirteenish and it was ten years before Jeanita was even born.

I'm supposed to be writing my frickin' memoirs by now! What happened to all the people who are supposed to say "I don't know how you do it!" and why are they saying "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

:

Rynna, I'm anti-charter for a lot of reasons that are political, not personal. I'm glad things are going well for Bean and I'm not ashamed of tutoring Stephen, who used a charter, because it was the best educational option for him and the best employment option for me.

Chris ran away from home shortly before his fifteenth birthday because he wants to go to a large public high school and become a police brutality. I miscarried Terran's full-brother the following day.

::

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by noordinaryspider

I'm supposed to be writing my frickin' memoirs by now! What happened to all the people who are supposed to say "I don't know how you do it!" and why are they saying "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

I get a lot of "I don't know how you do it!" from people. That said, I have a feeling that I'd get that even if my kids were all in school. This morning the nurses were so concerned that I'd need "help" because I had Bear and BeanBean with me. I was like... "This is only half of my kids. This is not complicated."

Rynna, I'm anti-charter for a lot of reasons that are political, not personal. I'm glad things are going well for Bean and I'm not ashamed of tutoring Stephen, who used a charter, because it was the best educational option for him and the best employment option for me.

I think it's a good thing, actually. It'll demonstrate that parents can be *gasp* accountable. Besides, I am still angry that I didn't get my own free and appropriate education... I'm going to suck it out of the system or die trying. I don't feel the least bit guilty about it, either. I think those people should kiss my big old booty.

Chris ran away from home shortly before his fifteenth birthday because he wants to go to a large public high school and become a police brutality. I miscarried Terran's full-brother the following day.

::

s: I've got issues with school, but mine are... well, different.

[Jezzy]

Rynna, I am glad that things went so well with Bear!!:

[Teenytoona]

Rynna, so glad to hear all went well with Bear! :

Hey Mommas, can we talk the big W word? Well, partially anyways. I know sometimes weaning talk can bring up a little more than itter-jitters around here, but this DDC is pretty understanding, so hope you don't mind.

Senara seems to be less and less interested in bottles lately. Mr Toona says she only likes her milk from the tap. More so in the past few days as she's been sick, but in general she's not doing the bottles so much any more. The bottles are just piling up in the fridge and it's only Wednesday. She seems to be fine with eating big people food and drinking water (or herbal tea) when I'm at work. : Mr Toona and I have been talking about when she turns one to transitioning bottles into half whole milk, half momma's milk, and phasing out the frozen stash (maybe 50 oz?) that way. It's possible she may not even like that much, I don't know. We will see how she does with it, but I suppose I may face the possibility of needing to donate some of it.

This means I'm going to be weaning from the pump. I started today cutting back my sessions to only two a day (from 3 or 4 depending on how the milk output was going). Man, I'm telling you, just delaying that first pumping session made me uncomfy, almost to the point where I felt like my breasts were numb. I suppose that feeling won't last too long. (I hope?) A week or so. I'm not sure how long to stay at two sessions, then down to one, then altogether stop. Anyone done that? Suggestions would be welcomed.

My other questions are, nursing her on nights and weekends only will be ok at this point, right? She nurses as soon as she can when I get home, the first thign she does when she sees me is to squeal and then sign milk and say her little staccato "ah-ah!". Sometimes she nurses once between then and bedtime, and then as she goes to sleep. She nurses anywhere from 2-4 (or more sometimes) overnight, and if she wakes up before I leave and I have time, right before I leave for work. I'm planning on nursing her on the weekends whenever she asks for ah-ahs. Will my supply be ok? Will the weekend daytime nursing produce any milk? Cutting out the weekday days should/could be ok at this point, right?

At first I kind of felt bummed because I wanted to go the CLW route, but then I thought well I'm just following her "not to fond of bottles anymore" lead, right? So in a way it's child led.

Oh, ps, yesterday in a desperate attempt to get us to understand, she signed "more" and "food." We thought she was done eating since she was playing, but I guess she was still hungry. Man does that girl loooove her peas! We're definitely growing some this year.

[Gena 22]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

And now for something completely different. Anyone outraged? [/color]

Wow. I love Philly, and my best friends are raising their DD there. In DC, we live next to a charter school. DH and I were open minded before the Charter moved in, but over the last two years have seen what a corrupt system it is. These folks have no business educating children. What a story! DC's charters are very bit as corrupt, but the public is ignored. A SLAPP suit? Wow. Thanks for sharing this!

[Gena 22]

Originally Posted by Jezzy

Rynna, I am glad that things went so well with Bear!!:

: Great news!

Teeny, keep us posted on how weaning goes. We're not close to it here, but one day it'll happen, right? I'm very interested.

[slgt]

I'm going to try personals here...
Rynna, big hugs to your little Bear. Glad he did so well, and i hope he experiences great relief over the coming weeks.

Teeny, I have no advice on weaning input - but good luck. It sounds like you're paying darn close attention to 'Nara's cues; just keep doing that, and you'll all figure it out. FWIW, when I go into the office once or twice a week, I pump once and get about 6-8 ounces. DD usually takes about that same amount during the day, sometimes less. I suspect your body will adjust pretty quickly, and if you find it's not working for 'Nara, sounds like you haven't had supply probs and you'll be able to adjust if needed. Hey - how about some recent pix of 'Nara?

Heather/NOS, I have to say, almost every post of yours shares some aspect of what has clearly been an interesting life. I hope I run into you if I'm ever up your way.

And beautiful pictures of Terran - thanks for posting! What a cutie! What kind of cake did you make?

Helen, Rosemary is also not in a hurry to walk - she'll push her little cart along at a flat-out sprint, and is a champion crawler. "Why walk?" she says. "It will only slow me down."

As fast & as graceful & coordinated as she is, she's still covered in bruises. Her brain works faster than her body.

how are things with Isaac?

Julie, hugs to you, thinking about you trying to figure out your DD#1. And wow, how far Ember has come from her wee little newborn days! Love seeing the pictures of her...still in her teething necklace, right?

Carrie, wow. Intense. It's good that you were there for your little neighbor girl, but the little girl's situation sounds just awful. Hope that the universe looks out for her in the long run...

Gena, your girls sound just adorable. Would love to see pix sometime! They must keep you on your toes, boy howdy. (Ok, just for the record, I've never said, "Boy howdy" before in my life. It just came out. Hm.)

Justmama, good to see you and hear about Grace! Our first DDC baby, running around like a kid. Yipe!

Emily, good luck with your night away from Molly. It will probably go better than you expect - hopefully, for your husband! I have yet to spend a night away from Rosemary, but DH did put her down once when I went out to a holiday party. When I came home, he said, "Does she always go down that easily? Can we trade naptime for bedtime?" (When she's not teething, she usually falls asleep for bed about 2 minutes after latching on. Naptime takes about 1/2 hour!)

Heather/BabyBump, sorry to hear about your OB - I hope you can find one that you like, and soon. It sucks to have to change mid-way through, when you were happy with the one you had.

ThisLove, good to see you again, and cute pics of your smiley little man!

Jezzy, waving a quick howdy...hope you're enjoying newlywed bliss.

The exciting news here is that I'm pregnant! NO - just kidding. Ha. Did I get you?

The real exciting news is that tooth #9 is finally poking through - which means that the first round of molar torture is going to be over soon! I can see that the other 3 are very close behind...I'm guessing at least one more will poke through before her birthday.

Ok, it's sad that I'm excited about this, but they've been bothering her for over 2 months. It will be a relief to have (maybe) a short break before the canines come through. Ugh. Teeth.

Gotta get back to work. I love working from home, but sometimes it's a bit distracting.

[PlayaMama]

hey mamas!

today is MY birthday but i'm 32 so it's not quite as exciting thjough i am very happy to be here! and i hope to be here for another 70 years too!

i'm sure glad bear is fine.

i read a huge article in harper's several years ago about how charter schools are ripping off the public but ya know, out here there are barely 60 kids k-12 so i;ve never actually seen a charter school.

and a happy birthday to all these wonderful babes that share my bday

~Kalopsia~ (Jamie), due 2/6/08
Amelia Helen born Monday, 2/4/08 1:03 PM

~BinahYeteirah~
Baby Boy born Monday, 2/4/08 3:00 AM

~NikkiChristina~ (Nikki)
Mia Love born Monday, 2/4/08 7:42 AM EST

~Eilonwy~ (Rynna), due 2/9/08
"Bear" born Monday, 2/4/08 11:58 AM

nos, i'm sorry about the mc, i had no idea.

teeny- linnaea nurses only a few times a day, nap time, ouchies or chill out time, and bedtime and she'd probably nurse less if i didn't try to occupy her with it while i'm on the computer.

lazlo went kind of the same way except he was older. it was those last few feedings he didn't want to drop. i finally killed nap time and bedtime at 2 because i was done. so, i guess i'm saying i think it's a natural transition, i'm not sure about the whole milk, but i hate the taste of milk and i never bought it. laz loves rice milk or almond or brazil nut milk that i make (so yummy!) so we're not really missing it. i am going to buy some raw milk because i've heard such good things about it and we do raw cheeses.

we also are more into goat milk than cow milk here anyway, goat yogurt and such.

oh! and thanks for all the reassurances about the u/s it's just one of those things because i could tell she hated them.

also, no news on neighbor lady, apparently the ambulance folks weren't in a hurry so i've got no idea. the dad is home from work, so he's with the kiddos. even though she's not the nicest emotionally to her kids, i hope she's okay.

[slgt]

ps--has anyone heard from our mama that Helen mentioned in her haircut thread?

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by Gena 22

Wow. I love Philly, and my best friends are raising their DD there. In DC, we live next to a charter school. DH and I were open minded before the Charter moved in, but over the last two years have seen what a corrupt system it is. These folks have no business educating children. What a story! DC's charters are very bit as corrupt, but the public is ignored. A SLAPP suit? Wow. Thanks for sharing this!

I'd be willing to bet money that it's another of June Brown's schools. She's really a nasty piece of work, and has been quoted as saying, for example, that when children fail (by which she means "do poorly on the PSSA") it's ENTIRELY the fault of the parents. Children in her schools wear uniforms, are *in class* eight hours a day, and march from class to class in perfect silence. We're talking about K-8 schools here. Here's another fun tidbit: There are no special education students in her schools (despite the fact that the law states that they must accomodate special education students). There are, however, many children who are a year or two behind their age-appropriate grades. : I could go on and on about what's wrong with this woman. She needs to back the heck off and let K12 do their job with Agora, and I'm hoping this lawsuit will force that to happen.

Teeny, I'm sorry I have absolutely no weaning advice for you... but perhaps if you asked other working moms, they might know? Bear's weaning (if it can be called that) was ridiculously abrupt, and the other three self-weaned from the nursie. BeanBean still talks about nursing, actually. He'll tell anyone who sits still long enough about it.

Originally Posted by slgt

The exciting news here is that I'm pregnant! NO - just kidding. Ha. Did I get you?

Thank you for reaffirming for me the sensation that I'm finished having children. I once again felt the overwhelming "Better you than me!" : Speaking of which, we are *parents,* and as these things go getting excited about new teeth is not at all sad or out of the ordinary. I mean Mike and I practically threw a party when BeanBean made his first solid poop. :

We have two bits of news here. The first would be that Bear is running a low-grade fever and that he has spent much of last night and this morning screaming in pain. : I've given him motrin twice and I'll be calling both doctors' offices after lunch. I think it's a bit normal-- pretty sure his ears hurt (they were infected yesterday) and he's got diarrhea and a HORRIBLE rash on his bits, but I'll call just in case and let them know that he's not the happiest of campers just now.

The other news is that a year ago today, Mr. Bear made his debut Earthside appearance!


: : Happy Birthday, Bear! : :

[Gena 22]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

The other news is that a year ago today, Mr. Bear made his debut Earthside appearance!


: : Happy Birthday, Bear! : :

: Happy, happy! Hope you and Mike get to celebrate a good year after the babes go to bed. You deserve it!

June Brown, huh? I wonder if she knows the founder of the school next to me, a real piece of work.

PS - Figured out how to post pics, here are my girls:
http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/u...hdayBabies.jpg
(Izzy on the right, Belle on the left)

[nolonger]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAR!!!!!!!

Carrie, it was just a chemical pg; he doesn't even have a name and i don't mourn him the way I do my "girls"(we don't know that my 10 week termination was female or that my chemical was male,I just think of them this way).

slgt I'd love to meet you irl too , assuming we are 100% scabies free at the time, of course. PM me! I do like to meet in public places at first, but i'm not shy about hooking up offline at all.

I'm a Philly girl too, of course. I haven't been there since Christopher was six months old, but my "virtual high school reunion" is bringing back a ton of good memories.

My "real"computer with all my bookmarks is currently nonfunctional, but here are some of the ones I habitually posted when people asked me why i was digging curriculum out of dumpsters instead of signing up for a charter and getting "free money":

We Stand For Homeschooling

charterschool seduction

free lunch revisited

It's a HUGELY divisive issue in the homeschooling world and i so don't want to start a flame war over something that has nothing to do with our ddc.

PA is also a very difficult state for an independant to live in or I would have at least considered "coming home" during my adventures in downward mobility and furthermore, i used a private umbrella school (Laurel Springs) when Jeanita was Bean's age and feel okay about what would be a ridiculous waste of money to me today because it was a necessary stepping stone on my homeschooling journey.

I am not attacking any individual for the choices they make for their particular child, just trying to explain why i feel the way i do.

I made a lot of mistakes with my older kids and i'm not about to shy away from that fact.

i hope to unschool Terran. i do not believe that education is something that can or should be bought and sold. As fond as my memories are of Miquon and the community colleges i attended, most of my own education came from public libraries and the internet and nobody spoon fed me--i had to make the effort to find that education myself.

/soapbox

[Jezzy]

Happy Birthday BEAR!!:

[nolonger]

Teeny,weaning was SLOW; of course i didn't have to WOH back then, but Jeanita only nursed for five minutes every few months towards the end. Whenever i said she was weaned, she'd ask again "one more time".

As much as i hate bottles,i simply can't conceptualize abruptly shoving a tiny kid like Terran away from my breast and giving him nothing for comfort, but this is not Nara's reality. it sounds to me as if she is done with bottles but will continue to nurse when she can and that is okay.

take good care of yourself so you don't get any plugged ducts, mastitis, etc., oh goddess of the pump, and know that whatever liquid gold you can donate will save lives.

i wish i could donate. Ember looks so sturdy now that i just want to squeeze her with all my might until she squeals and giggles, but we could have lost her. you have the power to save another Ember somewhere in the world.

there is a yahoo group for milkshare but i still don't have access to my bookmarks.

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by slgt

ps--has anyone heard from our mama that Helen mentioned in her haircut thread?

Funny you should ask, I heard from her today. She is really happy with her haircut. It is still sinking in to have made such a huge change and I am trying to understand whether she should be worried about the chickenpox her LO was exposed to at the hairdressers... any thoughts?

Happy birthday Bear and : for having the surgery behind him.