Archive - August 2011

1
Linked In Shame
2
Seizure Salad
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Get ’em While They’re Hot
4
Big Brother

Linked In Shame

  We’re all subjected to the sting of embarrassment. We may flounder amid an awkward silence or flush in the face of a social slip up. It happens. It seems to happen to me a lot.   I have a knack for saying the wrong thing—a joke falls flat or I call someone by the incorrect name (turns out I’ve been calling my neighbour Leanne for over a year. Her name is not Leanne).   I’m quite skilled at plunging feet first into graceless situations; falling off curbs, walking into sign posts, exposing body parts or food wedged between teeth.     I bring these blunderments upon myself. I often half pay attention in social situations and it bites me in the butt. From forgetting names to joining in and laughing at an inappropriate part of a conversation. It’s not that I’m disinterested. I’m just easily distracted. I’m a poor multi-tasker. I end up doing too many things at once and my focus becomes fuzzy, resulting in a multitude of clumsy missteps.   Updating my Linked-In account tonight (while talking on the phone, cropping photos and chatting on Twitter) I inadvertently sent out an invitation to EVERY SINGLE PERSON on[…]

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Seizure Salad

Our daughter has Epilepsy. The onset was sudden (at the age of three) and the year it took to bring her life threatening seizures under control was brutal. Now secure in the knowledge the medication is doing its job to keep the big seizures at bay, we’re able to breathe. I can even leave Avery for the night without suffering a panic attack at the theatre, spending the second act with my head between my knees. Today, we got the latest results of her recent EEG.They were abnormal and showed moderate seizure activity in her beautiful brain. *Our neurologist says lots of children out grow seizure disorders. I had myself convinced this would apply to Avery. I imagined the doctor shaking his head in amazement saying, “Wow. How wonderful. Generally Epilepsy doesn’t resolve this quickly.” He didn’t say any such thing. Despite this disheartening news, there’s still a good chance she will grow out of this. God, I hope she does. I also hope the medication will continue to provide a barrier between us and those frightening seizures. They were seriously alarming. We will just have to wait and see what happens. I hate that. Isn’t there a cosmic cheat[…]

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Get ’em While They’re Hot

While many families spent today’s sticky 33 degree day in the cool of a pool, I took my kids shopping for Halloween costumes; stifling, zip up to the chin, plush get-ups. In my defense, we DID go swimming first. But on the way home, we passed a Once Upon A Child gently used clothing store. We popped in to look for a rain coat to match Avery’s new back-to-school rain boots. I didn’t find a rain coat, but instead discovered a treasure trove of Halloween costumes.  Admittedly, I’m a closet snob when it comes to my…closet. The same holds true for my children’s clothes. GAP and Gymboree have me by the Coach Wristlet. Second hand stores have proven to be my saving grace during recent budget constraints. People sell their stuff; GOOD stuff and for a fraction of the cost. I have yet to purchase school supplies, but I can happily tick “costumes” off my fall to-do list.  Visit a consignment store near you and grab your costumes now! The selection is unbeatable and the price is right. I got two full costumes today for under $20 (and laughed my ass off during the air conditioned fashion show)!                    My[…]

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Big Brother

We are so lucky that our son, is our son. He’s an old soul, compassionate and wise beyond his eight years. Many children might resent the attention and time required to parent a sibling with Special Needs. Fortunately, our son chooses to participate and nurture. His little sister looks up to him and mimics his every move (dance moves included).  Last night after playing in the sprinkler, we took Avery inside to get her dried off and jammied up in preparation for family movie night. DS stepped up and said, “Don’t worry. I’ve got it.” They returned a few minutes later changed and ready for the movie. Yes, he neglected to put her in a Pull-up. And sure, she was wearing winter PJs on a 30 degree night, but it didn’t matter. He had chosen matching stuffies for each to cuddle on the couch. A pink pig for Avery to match her pajamas and a blue bear for himself. As I said, we’re lucky our son, is our son.

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