Whoop... There It Is

I've been sick. It started a few weeks ago with a sore throat and just not feeling great. I had headaches for several days in a row. It seemed I was getting better and then Ben got sick with a cold. Of course, he blamed me for infecting him like I always do, but his symptoms were different than mine. He had the common cold, but I wasn't exhibiting the nasal congestion and sneezing.

As Ben's cold subsided I started with a cough. It hit me on Saturday evening while I sat on the couch. I took in a breath and the hacking started. It's miserable. I am sure everyone around me is miserable. Tuesday morning as I was getting ready for work I had a coughing attack that nearly caused me to blackout. As I stood doubled over in the bathroom, I thought to myself, "I am going to fall over and hit my head on this cast iron tub and Emeline and Owen are going to be alone... I have to get to somewhere softer!". Since then I've had about a half dozen or so of these attacks.

I've gotten coughs like this before. In fact, I used to get a dry, hacking cough once a year. It would last a few weeks or a month then fade away. I've been fortunate the past few years and escaped the misery, but this year is back with a vengeance.

"Doctor" Reed (Jacki at work) has diagnosed me with whooping cough. After listening to me cough for about five minutes in the bathroom at work she told me about a news story she just saw on about the resurgence of whooping cough. Then she pulled up a website about whooping cough. I must say the symptoms and progression of my illness are exactly as described. If you'd like to hear what my poor family, friends, and workmates have been suffering through, listen to this. That's what a paroxysm (attack of coughing) sounds like. There really isn't anything to do for it once you have it. It just runs it's course.

To prevent future occurances, I could get a booster shot. Holden would just love that! Doctors recommend getting boosters every ten years for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. I am already on the fence about vaccines for my kids and since this would be optional for me, we'll have to see. Until then... whoopie!

An Arm and A What?

Today was a long day. We got home from the "day" at 8pm. That was just the beginning of a long night for me. Straight away Owen had a dirty diaper to change. Emeline was hungry (when isn't she?). To tell the truth I was starving as well. There were ads to finish for work. And to top it all off, I've been sick and have gotten quite the ab workout today from coughing so much. I was not in a good mood.

Emeline is oblivious to all of these factors. She's almost five so this is quite appropriate. But as I knelt next to Owen's crib changing the aforementioned dirty diaper and Emeline kicked me in the face as she scaled the crib wall, my rope ran out. Instead of yelling at her, I calmly explained that she need to be calm and quiet because I didn't feel well and I had lots to do. She needed to eat her snack and be good. And unlike I usually do, tonight I couldn't wait on her hand and foot.

Emeline is not easily deterred. She quickly fired back, "You don't have to wait on me hand and foot, Mom. What about elbow and arm? Leg and toe? Neck and bellybutton?"

Come on! How am I supposed to pull of the stern mom act with this kind of heckling?

Spring Fever

This weekend was so warm that the kids are now in the throws of spring fever. Sunday's high was about 70 degrees... sunny, breezy and beautiful!

Owen is such an outside kinda kid that he doesn't need warm weather and sunshine to make him want to head out. But since we had decided to bring the outside in by opening some doors and windows, the outdoors were calling Owen even more than usual. He spent Saturday and Sunday repeatedly fetching his shoes and bringing them to anyone willing to put them on and take him outside. He succeeded in getting Ben to take him for a walk on Saturday in the big wagon with brother and sister. After the kids and Dad returned home, Holden and Emeline went down the hill behind our house to the creek. Warm winter days like these are the best time to explore the woods behind our house. No bugs to swarm you. The underbrush is thin. Since the trees are bare you can see a pretty good distance. From the porch you could hear Holden and Emeline excitedly making their way down, Holden helping Emeline along.

They returned with one of the first signs of spring... daffodils. They always sprout in the woods behind our house before we see them anywhere else and they are a signal to us that longer days and warmer weather are just around the corner. Even though they are calling for freezing temps and a "wintry mix" later in the week we can hold onto the warmth of the weekend until spring gets here to stay!

Daylight Savings Time is just 2 weeks away! We "spring forward" on March 9th!

Peanuts?

Owen still shows interest in the potty... almost on a daily basis. We are pleased, but not prodding. This weekend he experienced more success by actually using it rather than just acting it out.

Emeline is the best big sister! It's a role she was meant to fill in her life. When Owen came into our lives, she just shifted right into sister mode and has never looked back. She has learned that when Owen sits on the potty he must point his business down or else the bathroom will get an unexpected shower. So while Owen was sitting on the potty one afternoon, she gently reminded him to "point your penis down, Bubba". Owen looked at her and then he looked down to point down what he called "peanuts".

We don't use nicknames for body parts in our house, but that one is too funny not to share, write down in a baby book, and remember as great story material for the first girl Owen brings home to meet Mom and Dad.

El P.A.S.S.o

The title is a pharse borrowed from Mr. Bill (my boss at The Peddler)...

The P.A.S.S. evaluation results have come in and Holden did not get accepted. I had to meet with the P.A.S.S. coordinator and the school psychologist to discuss the results last week. It was somewhat intimidating to me and I had an uneasy feeling the entire time. It was as though they were telling me Holden had a terminal illness.

The meeting entailed them explaining the P.A.S.S. program to me, detailing the various tests they administered, and the results. I was mistakenly under the impression that P.A.S.S. was an advanced placement program that offered classwork at a higher level than the rest of the grade was doing. The program is actually for students that are gifted. Looking back on when I received the information a few months ago, I thought the use of the term "gifted" was rather strong for the students in the program. But it seems they were actually searching not for children who are smarter than your average bear, but are on a much higher level. Genius?

In light of this, I've done some research on giftedness. There are many websites out there and most of them define giftedness as something very near Holden. I am not the only one who thinks so. His teacher and the P.A.S.S. coordinator were sure he'd qualify and both were very disappointed that he didn't make it. When it comes down to it though what matters are the numbers on the paper. Holden did not score well on the IQ tests... only slightly above average. An IQ of 130 or greater gets you automatic entry into the program. A score of 112 to 129 along with high scores in two other areas can qualify you for the program, but if your IQ is below 112 you're out. After hearing about the IQ test (I've never taken a real one myself) I can see why he didn't do well in some of the areas. Some elements were confusing and he didn't even complete some of the test because he ran out of time. Guess that would be my fault for drilling into his head that it doesn't matter how quickly you finish, but if you did your best work and took time to double check yourself.

Holden was not disappointed that he didn't make it. He didn't even want to try out for it. I had to convince him to let me submit the parent survey on the condition that he could leave the program at any time if he was unhappy. I am disappointed only because I think Holden does so well in small groups and thrives with personal attention. The program sounds wonderfully interesting; something that all students would benefit from regardless of level of intelligence. Regular classroom teachers don't have the time for so many "extras" given the laundry list of standards they are required to teach for fear their student's will be exposed as "left behind".

I am very proud of Holden's graceful acceptance of not getting into P.A.S.S. I know that I would have reacted differently even now as a "mature" adult. He continues to excel in school and even better... he is well-adjusted (except for his astraphobia).

Update on the 4H Poster Contest: Holden again won first place in his class and the poster will go on to the county competition. He came up with a great slogan and a terrific concept. I will post a photo of it when we get it back! The next project in 4H is a demonstration of how to do something... anything! He wants to show how to use a computer. More on that as details become clearer.

Science Fair is next Monday!