Uncategorized Archives - Page 7 of 12

Brain Waving

Jul 28 2011

Our beautiful daughter has Epilepsy. I refused to believe it at first, but couldn’t dispute that the squiggly lines on the electroencephalography monitor were indicative of a life threatening seizure disorder. After a year of tweaking her meds, we were thankfully able to control her seizures and Avery has been footloose and (nearly) seizure free for over a year now. Though she still has the occasional absence seizure, the BIG ONES seems to be a distant memory. So as pediatric neurology dictates, Avery goes into hospital as an outpatient for an EEG to get a look at what’s going on in her little blonde head. Patients must remain still and be completely relaxed for this test. Um, this patient is five and a little monkey; hence the fact that she will need to be sedated. Can they sedate me too ’cause every time she goes under I want to barf. If you ask me, there’s nothing “general” about general anesthesia. There are risks and the possibility of very real complications…especially with a medically complicated child like ours. Alas, in order to get a proper reading she needs to be asleep. She also needs to be sleep deprived[…]

Jun 30 2011

When Avery was diagnosed near the end of my maternity leave, I gave up teaching in order to stay home with her. It was the right choice, but some days when I walk down the school corridor, as a parent, no longer a teacher, I feel a twinge of regret. I miss my grade two classroom with its brightly coloured bulletin boards and pet Hermit Crabs. Wait, scratch that. I don’t miss the crabs. They were smelly. But I do miss my students and the funny things they’d say. Like the girl who went home after the first day of school and excitedly announced to her parents, “Mrs. Thornbury is nice and she has crabs.” In retrospect, fish probably would have made a better class pet. When my son entered grade two last fall, I felt oddly possessive. This was MY grade. What if I didn’t like the teacher? What if she wasn’t doing it right?? I feared I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from making comparisons. I imagined myself going all “Incredible Hulk”, turning green and shredding my pants out of anger and frustration, until I morphed into “that parent.” The know-it-all-in-your-face-pain-in-the-ass-parent. For the first few weeks of[…]

Jun 24 2011

My son and his best friend both have June birthdays. This year they gave each other passes for Canada’s Wonderland, an aptly named theme park just north of Toronto. Life is too short for long line-ups, hence springing the boys from school yesterday to avoid the crowds. I’m all truant like that. As a teacher, I happen to know the last days of school are fluff. Besides, I made the boys answer math questions in the car ride on the way up. We arrived at the park at 10am and stayed until closing. We definitely got our money’s worth. The kids’ energy was endless. My energy had an end, but as corny as it sounds, the joy on their faces kept me going. I welled up twice watching their excitement. I’m getting sappier in my old age or possibly, I had heat stroke. Ten Tips For Making Your Trip to Wonderland Extra Wonderful. 1. Do NOT buy your tickets at the park. If you plan on going more than once, get a season’s pass when they are offered in the spring at the lowest rate. Otherwise, buy tickets online and print or purchase at Shopper’s Drugmart for a reduced rate.[…]

Jun 08 2011

“I don’t bake, I bakery.” This is a line I use often and for good reason. My cookies crumble, my loaves are listless, my cakes are lopsided and my pies…well, I gave up on them ages ago. I “bakery” them. Thank you Costco for your behemoth pies that serve 24 people, if you indeed decide to share. *coughs and wipes pie crumbs from chin* It’s also more expensive to buy ready-made. Plus who knows what preservatives and lardy bits are hidden in store bought goodies? So, in an attempt to be more budget conscious and increasingly healthful-ish I’ve been baking. Are you laughing? You’re totally laughing. And you SHOULD be because watching me work a sifter or rolling pin is laughable. Picture flour everywhere, sink piled high with greased up cookie sheets, dough on the floor and on the dog, swearing, lots of swearing and sometimes, smoke. However, I’m proud to say I have mastered the art of oatmeal cookies. In fact, my last batch was not merely edible, it was downright tasty. How amusing that my son was beyond excited to offer a cookie to his friend. “My mom made these,” he announced with pride. And then there’s my[…]

Jun 01 2011

Yesterday it was a sweltering 40 °C, so after school the kids were excited to come home and cool off. I made them virgin strawberry daiquiris with swizzle sticks and paper umbrellas and we clinked our glasses and toasted to the summer ahead. Then my sweaty children put on their swim suits, lubed up with SPF and took their slippery selves for a dip in our brand new pool!!! Exciting, I know. You were probably super jealous just reading that. You may also have been thinking, “Wow, how can they even afford this aquatic luxury on their stupidly tight budget??” Ok fine, this isn’t our pool. I don’t know these people. But I want to… THIS is our new swimming pool. You are welcome to come take a dip with us any time, Hilly Billy style! But here’s thing, kids don’t CARE about luxury or keeping up with the Jones’. Give them a bucket, some water and a hose and they’re coolio. So move over kids, mama’s comin’ in! Cannon ball!

Category - Uncategorized

Brain Waving

Two Teachers

Words About Wonderland

C is For Cookie and Also Catastrophe

Take A Dip In Our (Cess) Pool