relationships Archives - Page 7 of 9

Glue Ear Can Be A Sticky Situation

Jun 10 2011

We’ve been down the ear tube road (or should I say canal?) before. I wrote about it here. It was a success and Avery’s hearing and speech improved immediately and dramatically. Now two years later, the initial tubes long since gone, Avery’s speech has taken a nose dive. We had her hearing re-tested and she failed, but not by much. We decided to put the tubes in again and the ENT doctor suggested her adenoids be removed as well. Adenoids may obstruct the Eustachian tubes, so removing them may prevent “Glue Ear” from reoccurring. Under normal circumstances the patient is sent home the day of the procedure, but I asked if we could CHOOSE to stay the night? Sleep apnea, seizures and potential heart issues made coming home immediately afterward a scary prospect. The doctor thankfully agreed that having her monitored for the night would be wise. So last week we checked into Sick Kids hospital. Some of us were more excited than others. Clearly Avery has NO fear of hospitals. Perhaps her brother has played a part in her feeling safe and secure around the medical profession? Avery was taken to the[…]

Mar 16 2011

It’s March Break and my kids are ready for adventure, childlike wonder and some degree of glee. Apparently I’m in charge of providing this. Currently “Curious George” is keeping my curious children entertained while I write. This means I have approximately 22 minutes before they turn their eyes expectantly to me and ask, “What are we doing today mummy?” We’re going grocery shopping!! That’s fun. No? But we’ll be picking up baking supplies, not to mention our quest to find a gigantic fort making cardboard box. That ups the entertainment value right? Do I want to bake or build a fort? Not exactly. What I’d LIKE to do is sit on my butt, drink coffee and watch funny Youtube videos. So why the baking and the fort making? Because I want my kids to look back at our time together fondly. I want them to know they were my priority and that I enjoyed being with them. I remember how I treasured the time spent with my two mothers. Not two mothers, like the mommies on “The L-Word.” I mean, I have two women in my life who love me and raised me in different ways. […]

Jan 04 2011

I’m busy. So very busy. I can’t believe how busy I am. And he’s so busy. And she’s too busy. And don’t even bother with them, they’re really quite busy. And things aren’t going to suddenly get less busy. Unless you become incarcerated. Or you slip into a coma. Work, kids, activities, social engagements, chores, errands, the pursuit of happiness–these things take time and we get busy and yes, there’s gettin’ busy, which also requires time. A little anyway. Hi honey. I often ask incredulously, “How is it possible that I’m SO busy? I work from home, part-time.” The fact is, life is as busy as it we allow it to become. That’s deep. I need to italicize that. Having a full and active life isn’t a bad thing. But, when it causes you to shirk certain responsibilities like calling your ninety year old grandpa on a regular basis or to let important relationships slide, busy becomes a four letter word. We can always find time to surf the net, watch a movie, get our hair done. We’re not too busy for those things. So when we tell someone we’re too busy to see them, to call them, to check[…]

Oct 20 2010

I write about Avery often. I can’t help it. She generates a lot of unique questions along this uncharted parenting path. I feel guilty about that, as though the things her big brother does aren’t as special or important. This isn’t the case at all. He, is perfect. In every way. He’s smart and thoughtful and kind. He’s funny and creative and he makes me ridiculously proud and grateful to be a mother. Sometimes, I can’t believe he’s mine. I feel so lucky I could cry. And sometimes, I do (who am I kidding, lots of times…I’m a sappy, sucky cry baby. I admit it).

There Will Be Tears

Sep 19 2010

Avery starts school tomorrow. Full day Junior Kindergarten, three days a week. I….am a wreck. Many kind people have reached out to tell me, “It’s ok. It gets easier. She’ll love it. You’ll be fine.” All thoughtful and well-meaning comments. And it’s true, she will love it. And she will be fine. But will I? And will it really get easier? I felt the usual pangs and sentimental sorrow on my son’s first day of Kindergarten four years ago. But it got easier, fast. But he didn’t stand out from his peers in a blatant and painfully awkward way. I didn’t have to meet with the school to discuss emergency procedures and ambulance protocol. He didn’t have to wear a helmet at recess to protect his curly haired head from frequent falls on the unforgiving blacktop. He didn’t have his own personal Educational Assistant shadowing his every move to ensure his safety. He didn’t wear a diaper. He didn’t receive quizzical looks from his peers or other parents. He was happy. He fit in. I didn’t worry. But this is different. Now I worry. All the time. A lot. We never thought we would see this day. Avery was never[…]

Category - relationships

Glue Ear Can Be A Sticky Situation

The Kind Of Mom I’d Like To Be

BUSY is The New Four Letter Word?

Big Brother

There Will Be Tears