Activity Fail, My Gout and Little Sisters

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I’m not sure if I’ve gone into it here…but I’ve probably mentioned in the past that my kids have of yet to be enrolled in any kind of activity like soccer or ballet or even Gymboree when they were babies (though we did attempt “blast ball” with Oliver last year and decided he wasn’t ready).

Initially, the fact that I worked full time made the weekday activities for babies and toddlers impossible. And of course, there has always been the issue of expense.

While my days are now devoted to the care and feeding of my kids, the concern for money flying out the window never goes away. And to be honest – the idea that we should be spending hundreds of dollars each month (or week!) so that our preschoolers could twirl in tutus or practice their off balance somersaults with a professional instructor seemed a bit ridiculous. They can do that here! We have a carpeted basement and a dress up box. AND there are three of them – which is kind of like a class…

But now that they’re getting older and watching their friends arriving home in leotards and white pjs, it’s started to seem a bit cruel.

So as you know we’re trying out Tae Kwon Do for the boys (and Eleanor by default) and dance for Eleanor.

We’ve been lucky with the ballet class – no reasons to skip it. But Tae Kwon Do… The last class they attended was last Monday. We were told that the Friday and Saturday classes would be cancelled due to tournaments (or whatever they’re called in martial arts).

So instead of Saturday, I planned to take them to the following Wednesday class. But then Wednesday was SO HOT. Like high 90s, sweltering, jumping into cold water without wincing hot. And I couldn’t imagine forcing them all into those synthetic white pjs, marching them into an oven-like car and then making them actually exercise. We went to the pool instead.

I thought, okay – well miss a week. Not a big deal. But then the following Monday, Oliver had a fever and I took Eleanor to the doctor today… Now we’re shooting for Friday or Saturday. I think I’m experiencing the frustrating “activity fail” experience that I’ve been hearing about for the past year at our bus stop. Now I get it.

And that may be the most boring 5+ paragraphs I’ve ever written… DON’T say anything – let me have this one…

Moving on, I also got a call today about my gouty knee. It is in fact NOT gout. Blood work was clean and the x-ray didn’t indicate any issues with my bones. But here’s the thing: it still hurts. And it looks a little bit puffier than the other one. I’ve been popping ibuprofen like tic tacs – which I’m pretty sure isn’t good for you long term – so I kind of need another assessment.

So next week, I will have an MRI. My second MRI in the past six months. The first one was for something completely unrelated. Can we say domino effect. Once my hip breaks, it’s all over right?

I’ll keep you posted on my health developments. It’s all so glamorous and exciting – I just have to share.

But I did have something kind of amazing happen this week – yesterday to be exact. I heard from two little girls (now young women) I used to babysit when I was a teenager. And what makes it relevant to this blog is that I once wrote about them! About they were like little sisters to me. [Never Underestimate the Power of a Girl if you’re interested.]

We haven’t been in touch since I was in college, but they both just friended me on FaceBook. All of my FaceBook friends know that I’m kind of a lame FaceBook friend…I’ve never gotten that into it. But this is one of the reasons that I keep my profile. Best thing that happened to me all week (which as you know – isn’t saying much…but still!).

I know I was supposed to post about the big boy/girl bedroom overhaul we did over the weekend. And I will – but I have to download some pictures I took first. Add that to the list of many things I didn’t do today.

So I will fall back on something else that thrills me/bores others to no end. I will charm you with my photography! The new camera is my new boyfriend. When was the last time Chris gave some thought to his auto settings, I ask you? It was inevitable…

No – he’s not ours [pouty face].

Neither is she [ditto].

Tomorrow – pictures of bedrooms. Which have now been talked up far too much. I apologize in advance for the anticlimactic viewing.

P.S. You’re welcome for all the back-links. I’m nothing if I’m not thorough.

Monday Links (On Tuesday) (Again)

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I should start calling this “Monday or Tuesday Links” since I’m a day late 50% of the time. It’s a bit wordy though – so I guess we’ll just leave it.

My excuse for being late is that Oliver was home sick yesterday and I was caught up in doctor visits and also gazing at my children’s new bedrooms which will look like nothing special to anyone else, but make me happier than you would believe.

And we did some of this outside.

It was a beautiful day. Keep ’em coming DC weather patterns!

And now, some recent good reads:

A very brave post about body image – even more so coming from a design blogger.

And also? Some DIY/design bloggers are really funny.

Mothers of boys everywhere unite! And wince.

Then? I think we should all make a list.

The real and true tears.

Do gardens like this actual exist outside of fairy tales?

I can’t believe this story – or that I actually know her – OR that I knew about the blood clot at the time and was naive enough to think that it was just magically fixed. It’s a long read – but so interesting/terrifying.

I feel like this reflects my own life much of the time…

I love this:

For more of the above genius – visit Natalie Dee

Have any great links to suggest?

I finally have a child who likes to sit and color!

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Or sit and do anything really.

I was a quiet little girl. I’d sit and read books. I’d entertain myself. I’m not saying that I was perfect – but I don’t think I was all that demanding of attention.

Oliver is probably the most like me, and that may be an oldest child thing. But he won’t sit and color or read books. He doesn’t require as much attention as the twins, but he will get into trouble (usually involving dirt) if I don’t keep my eye on him.

But just recently, the most amazing thing happened: Eleanor learned how to color in the lines. Why this would suddenly make her a marathon colorer (ist?)…no idea. But I guess the pride she takes in her new found skill offers some kind of incentive.

I addition to coloring, she is also now drawing people, and gives most of them really mod color blocked outfits. Here are some of my favorites:

This is a perfect representation of Eleanor’s “girls.”
She’s in a signature color blocked tunic and is smiling from eyebrow to eyebrow.
She also looks mildly deranged.

That’s not a hat. It’s a ponytail. And yes – I’m aware that it’s green.
But she’s HAPPY!

Awww…this one is sad.
Because she doesn’t have a green ponytail.
Or arms and legs.

She on the other hand, is REALLY happy.
Because she has arms and legs AND hands and feet.
And apparently really good drugs.

This one is a pig.
In a color blocked tunic.

I love this one because our names are in a circle around her. Eleanor likes it because Plum Pudding is making a guest appearance in the lower left corner.

But she doesn’t always draw girls. Every once in a while she draws a boy. How do I know this?

Yes – that is exactly what you’re seeing down there. The first anatomically correct drawing in the Hood family! I’m so proud… But I did ask how this view was possible when he was so obviously wearing a color blocked tunic.

She didn’t have any answers and didn’t seem to think it made a difference. Then she pointed out that she also gave him a belly button (directly above). I guess it’s her cubist period.

Bonus information!

Eleanor just had her very first dance class.

George wanted me to take his picture too.

I think that’s supposed to be The Robot.

Have a great weekend!

When in Doubt…Gout?

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Last week, I had one of those increasingly frequent inexplicable physical ailments that make me think my body is literally falling apart. It’s age right? I’m just getting old. As if wrinkles weren’t enough of a reminder…

This time it was my knee. Not my favorite body part on the best of days, it decided to become even less attractive by swelling up and turning bright red. And it really hurt, which made me worry about injuries to my knee cap. Chris once had a torn meniscus and it took months to heal. There were even crutches involved.

And I’ll tell you right now that I CANNOT be injured like that at the moment. It’s the beginning of summer!

I have to entertain two four year olds and a six year old all day every day, and had planned to do that with trips to the pool, walks in the woods and general avoid the TV at all costs so Oliver won’t pick up any other bizarre cartoon mannerisms that make him look like a mini-mime activities. I was actually mentally preparing myself for this, as I’m not a naturally energetic and playful person.

I’m also not one to make a big deal out of aches and pains (or even swelling), so everyone knew I was serious when I pulled out the ibuprofen and ice packs. I even harassed Chris by demanding an examination and prognosis every ten minutes and detailed descriptions of what a torn meniscus felt like.

I considered going to the ER.

I know – it sounds like a huge overreaction, but I wanted to know exactly what was wrong and what I should be (and shouldn’t be) doing so I could fix it as quickly as possible.

Chris told me that it would probably look better in the morning, and if it didn’t I could see my doctor.

It didn’t. And I did.

Luckily I could get a morning appointment since their Friday hours are shorter. And expecting the actual consultation to be fast, I didn’t bother looking for a last minute sitter for the twins. It wouldn’t scare them to see a doctor poke at my knee, and I wouldn’t have to worry about the TMI aspect of say, an annual internal exam with my gynecologist. So I figured I could just bring them in with me.

We arrived and waited a bit, then FINALLY, a medical professional took a look at my giant, puffy knee cap and said, “huh…”

Apparently, the fact that I was able to walk and stand without excruciating pain ruled out tears or other serious problems with muscle and bone. But the lack of an obvious point of entry (like from a bug bite) or bruise didn’t provide any other answers.

I told her about how I thought I may have banged my knee on the car door a couple of days before, but that it was hard to remember since I do something like that roughly a thousand times a week. That didn’t help to shed any further light on the subject.

I also pointed to what looked like a slightly bluish area next to my knee that could possibly be a bruise. But then she pointed to a soon-to-be varicose vein and said the discoloration was probably connected to that. Talk about insult to injury! Bringing my unsightly old lady leg veins into this…

But wait! It gets better. She started to give me a long technical explanation about what they look for in cases like mine that sounded something like, “blah blah blah swelling blah blah blah point of entry blah blah blah bruise blah blah blah pain blah blah blah blah blah blah gout blah blah blah…”

WAIT a minute! Stop right there. Did she just say GOUT? As in “I may have gout?” Seriously?

Seriously??

Okay – so there may have been a couple of other unintelligible and unmemorable possibilities that were mentioned…but I guess I only have ears for “gout.”

Remember – I just had a hernia repair surgery a few months ago. You can’t give me gout now. What am I? An eighty year old man?!

It’s just wrong…

So after she revived me with smelling salts (just kidding), she handed me two orders for tests. First, blood work upstairs and then an x-ray downstairs. All of which took an additional two hours to complete.

I have to throw in there that my four year old twins were major troopers about the whole thing. On top of their concern that mom might “get dead” (because needles and machines make things seem pretty serious), we spent a lot of time in waiting rooms where they had to sit still and be quiet (epilogue: they did neither).

A few days later (featuring elephant-size doses of ibuprofen every eight hours), the swelling has gone down considerably. And while still sore, it feels more like I have a bad bruise than a leg threatening disease. So I’m no longer concerned about my forced march of an active summer being put at risk.

Still no word on the test results though. I was told it would probably be another day or two before I got a call – and I really don’t think I have gout…but I’ll let you know either way.

The important thing is that I’m feeling better. And that I’ve been humiliated with ANOTHER potential ailment associated with men who are on their third wife and their fourth red Ferrari. Can’t wait to see what comes my way next! Check back in a few months to hear all about how my sciatica has been acting up.

See ya’ around the Senior Center!

Just [Tae Kwon] Do It

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I’m skipping Monday Links this week since I really need to write something other than a list of great stuff other people posted.

I had a few of my own stories to tell last week and never got around to them. This has been happening far too often lately because I feel like I need more than 15 minutes to write (which is generally all I have – and yes, that includes the evening since my children don’t believe in bedtime anymore). So I may be going back to a summer “vacation” of short daily posts. What do you think?

Okay – on to the stuff from last week that I actually remember.

First there was this.

I never really pictured putting my children in a martial arts class before (Tae Kwon Do), but then I also never imagined myself relating to various characters in the 80s television show, Thirtysomething. So I guess these things happen.

Basically, I won a month of free lessons for George at the twins’ preschool silent auction. And then when I brought him in for a skill assessment and uniform fitting, the free month was also offered to my other two children. One of whom (Oliver) spent most of the half hour under a desk asking when we could go get ice cream. Obviously, I assumed that he would LOVE Tae Kwon Do!

Actually, it had been recommended for him by his audio processing therapist last summer, and I was thinking that it was time for him to have an activity outside of our usual two hours of free childcare in the kids’ gym at the YMCA and then a trip to Target summer program. Seriously though – I do take them to the pool and try to keep them busy outside…but we’ve never done anything very organized before. And the teachers in Oliver’s IEP meeting in May strongly suggested he be enrolled in activities with other kids over the vacation months.

We’re trying Tae Kwon Do.

And the first class was a smashing success!

For George and Eleanor.

Oliver wasn’t that into it and was very distracted by the mirrors. Why do studios always have to have mirrors anyway? From what I understand, it has something to do with being able to see yourself so you can correct your form… Whatever, narcissists.

Either way, it’s very inconvenient since Oliver has difficulty maintaining an appropriate level of attention for the instructor. Who was not only loud – but also had an accent that was hard to understand. Neither work well for kids with audio processing disorder. Or autism. Or lots of things that cause them to wander around a studio oblivious to everything around them except the awesome mirror which is PERFECT for practicing bizarre facial expressions and gestures that I’m pretty sure came directly out of a Pink Panther cartoon.

Thank god the dress I was wearing exempted me from participating in the “let’s get all of the new parents out on the mat for some kicks and leg lifts” segment of the class. I had visions of being required to spar with five year olds alongside Oliver to help him stay with the group. But before I blacked out from Blast Ball practice flash backs, I realized that I could just plead “too fancy” and escape back to the chairs.

It was a 45 minute class – and it was hard to watch. But ultimately, I was really proud of Oliver for not storming off the mat or crying. I mean, that’s what I would have felt like doing. He, on the other hand was pretty zen about the whole thing. And the unintelligible instructor was actually really great with Oliver and 100% responsible for the few times he was somewhat engaged. He also entertained my kids a little after the class while I talked to the director and we all left with smiles and a promise to be back on Saturday.

Don’t get me wrong – my feelings of anxiety didn’t evaporate, but they did take on a faint glimmer of hope for Saturday. I even tried to make Tae Kwon Do seem EXTRA fun by walking everyone over the the pizza place and putting in a to-go order. AND THEN skipping over to the grocery store to pick up a few items (wine) while we waited.

Of course we ran into people we know… Because when I’m wheeling around Safeway with a cart full of children eating doughnuts it’s a given that I’ll run into someone I know. (Side note: I always run into someone I know).

But I was too harried to care about the chocolate stains on the uniforms or the sticky fingers or the fact that I parked a mile away on the other side of the parking lot and had to carry heavy grocery bags and two pizza boxes while trying to keep my demented children from running into traffic or diving into the lake.

Don’t be jealous. My life really isn’t always this glamorous.

So fast forward to Saturday’s class.

The twins had a fantastic time and I could hear their screams of HIYA! above all the others. And while he was still a weird little ninja (more mime than martial artist), Oliver actually semi-participated. He more or less stayed with the group and needed far less cajoling to step away from the mirror. He didn’t sit while everyone was standing – or even worse, lie down. If you had never seen the first class, you may have thought he was all over the place – but having been there for both, I was astounded at how much better the second one went.

This evening we had our third class and he did EVEN BETTER. Still very goofy – and very confused about which foot/fist he was supposed to be using. But if it was appropriate, I would have been jumping up and down and clapping. If I really let myself go, there might have been tears.

So as of today…

The twins LOVE TAE KWON DO!

And Oliver doesn’t hate it!

This makes me very, very happy. And also gives me confidence in my ability to be a good parent. At least in some areas – remember I’m the mother who stuffs a six year old and two four year olds in a shopping cart at the grocery store and shuts them up with doughnuts… But here is something I’ve learned about my own children – especially Oliver: you have to just MAKE them do things.

It’s obvious when they’re not ready for an activity (HELLO – Blast Ball) – but more often than not, they just need a firm push and an encouraging smile. When they say NOIDON’TWANTTO-IWANTTOSTATHOME I just kindly hustle them along with a no-nonsense, “okay – we’ll see – let’s just go and give it a try.”

As much as I would rather just bag the whole thing and take them to Dairy Queen, I know that I’m not doing them any favors in the long run. They need me to be kind, but they also need me to be firm. To teach them that sometimes you have to just suck it up and do something, regardless of whether or not you feel like it.

Sometimes you can say “this isn’t for me“…but first you have to give it a chance. You have to just DO IT.

It’s a hard lesson that I’ve had to learn later in life. I’m still not very good at it, and fall short far too often. For myself and for them. But I want to change that. And I am. One Tae Kwon Do class at a time.

Tune in on Wednesday for the second story from last week – in which my knee swells up and my doctor actually uses the word “gout.” I tell ya’ – it just doesn’t get any sexier than that…

Autism Camp for Eric

Trying to figure out…

Monday Links (on Tuesday)

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Sorry – holiday weekends always throw me off…

Here are some recent favorites:

While I have very little experience with cruel commenters, I do admire those who so effectively give them the finger.

And then a 31 year old made me remember why I shouldn’t be worrying about my almost 40-year old wrinkles.

Ever need some color inspiration?

Soooo relating to this right now AND THIS (a never-ending battle…)

Have a box of colorful buttons lying around? Display them!

Some interesting thoughts on a retailer’s progressive product marketing. Is it enough?

I loved this on so many levels.

And yes – I totally took that picture. My neighbor’s hydrangea bush is about to bloom. I almost think I like it best like this.

[Pre]School is Out for the Summer!

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Friday was the last day of preschool for the twins. Well – until September. They still have another year before they start Kindergarten. But this was their first year of real school and I have to thank them for making the entire process SO EASY.

Oliver wasn’t nearly as keen on the idea of school since he started (special needs preschool) when he was two. He didn’t have older siblings to envy. He didn’t appreciate the glamor and privilege of owning his very own backpack.

So the excitement and anticipation, and PRIDE that George and Eleanor felt about going to school was a completely different experience.

They never cried at drop off or begged to stay home with me. And on the weeks that I worked at the school (it’s a co-op), they were just happy to have me there. No clinging or acting out. Okay – maybe a little acting out – but that had less to do with me being present than their four-year-old-ness.

They’ve gone on field trips – both with and without me, had play dates with new friends, claimed and fought over “best” friends… They’ve been independent.

September 2010

May 2011

And now I’m the own who is proud. I also shed a tear or two thinking about my babies growing up so fast. But that’s all part of the package. It’s in the fine print you don’t read while signing on the dotted line. I guess, there’s always a price….