Containing multitudes

Noah improved quite a bit at the “7 day virus/48 hr antibiotic” mark so…who knows. His tummy also greatly improved upon word it was Saturday. Hmmmmmmmm. I think it was genuine anxiety? But. Problem.

That said his fever is gone and his skin colour more normal, although dark circles remain. So… I’m going to assume Monday will go well.

We are spending our weekend, besides the usual, creating a beautiful poster for the 100th day of school. The teacher’s letter outlining the assignment made it very clear that this is a group project. I am not pretending it is kid work. (well…astral kid.)

“The poster can focus on one particular theme… group 10s -marshmallows, macaroni, candies…to create an abstract design, a scene (a cityscape, winter scene, portrait, etc.) or perhaps an original “I Spy” poster…This project has always proven to be successful as it entails both curriculum standards and creative effort. The originality of the displays…[makes] for a very rewarding experience for all. The students enjoy creating this open-ended project and welcomed [sic] the challenge to their creativity and number sense….This venture has officially become a tradition in my class.”

Translation, after the last project: I want really pretty posters.

We are doing 2×50 animals on Noah’s Ark. I bought stickers, even. Lyr was holding out for a bean mosaic, but lose one en route…

I love Leonard Cohen’s new album, despite all the archaic instrumentation, etc. It’s funny how I would never tolerate that from anyone else – Lynn’s love of The Eagles is a bone of contention around here even if I do acknowledge they are masterful for their time and all.

Anyways, I found it kind of funny this one does sum a few things up about My Internet Divorce.

May I be releasing creative works at his age. Buy this if you like his work! In case you didn’t know, his old manager swindled him out of millions of dollars and he doesn’t own the rights to say, Hallelujah.

I tried and tried to get an interview, but obviously did not or would have squee’d. It would have been on the phone. I admit that I would have worried about what Lynn might try in person. :-)

Noah is definitely Sick. We are awaiting culture results but right now suspect strep and that the onset slowed down his bowels. I will admit that I am skeptical and feel a bit like some horrid train like…bowel surgery…is coming down the track. But that is the past speaking. Right now his fever is about the same, 101, and we are waiting to see if the pink stuff works.

The good thing about having flipped him to our pediatrician though is that she works at Sick Kids. So I know if she sends us home, likely the hospital would too. She is not shy about tests.

Liam had his 1 year checkup and vaccinations – I add the last because I am pretty pro-vax and want to be clear; there are a few quibbles we could have but overall I totally believe in MMR, pertussis, etc. Here is the great news: he grew in length, which I pretty much knew from his clothing but still. He is at the 25th percentile for everything, so wee, but no concerns.

My pediatrician speaks some ASL so when she took him and he signed “all done” and then “more mummy” she caught it. Apparently he is ahead of himself there too. Between that and the clear kidney scan (which was unexpected) she said he gets the gold star. We are still following up but seizure-free for two months, clear kidneys, language…yay.

So I am worried and happy at once.

Fitting the pieces together – work, nanny, sick kids, etc. – is already driving me to distraction. One thing I will say about two: there is no room for fair. By that I mean both Carl and I have had to leave work, cover appointments, move meetings…my editor in chief waited 45 min for me today (with notice), oops. At night we have to both pitch in and then work to catch up. There’s not any room right now for “but I left Monday…”

And…it’s fine. We both know, truly know from experience, it gets better. And worse. And better. And if he can get a workout in or me a swim, good.

This is not a criticism…we each used to need that sense of “you got Thurs so I get Fri.” But right now… We had to let it go in favour of whatever works.

I do wish we were not on quite so tight a budget, although V. Is worth every penny for her care with the boys, which I will go into another time but comes down to: She cares, and pays attention, and communicates.

Still, this week I wish I had a cleaning budget. And a teleporter. :)

Noah’s school called today: he is in pain (tummy). And is he ever; the child is cheerful but gray. We juggled cars and nannies and hospitals and are home to try a laxative. This is one time I wish for the American propensity to run more tests. It is almost exactly two years since the appendix, but that is in part why we are home: it can’t be that.

I am having trust issues. Major.

And it will probably just come down to prune juice.

As soon as I discovered Emotional Bag Check, the owner closed it up due to spam.

I tend to discover TV series as they jump the shark too. Like I think I started watching Roseanne around when they got a new Becky. I’m not always the earliest of adopters…which makes my job a liiiiittle ironic. But not too much. My long view can be quite robust.

~~~

Today Noah stayed home from school with a tummy ache. Diagnosis: Grade One constipation. (It’s hard to use the bathrooms at big school.) We all had shades of appendicitis and I am typing on my laptop while lying with Noah, who had a nightmare. Poor guy. I will never discuss it with him, at least not until he’s a grown man, but that rupture…was way too close. I am at risk for nightmares myself.

Hug your babies!

I’m pretty sure Liam walked today, but V. just said he was “almost walking.” I gave her a look and she just smiled. I suspect I am getting taken care of too a little…but there is no need to pick at it, just see what happens. He didn’t walk before bed, but then, he was a barnacle, so the opportunities were slim.