From the Mouths of Babes in February

Linus:  Mama, what's oh sauna?
Me:  What?
Linus:  You know.  Oh sauna.  (sings) Oh sauna oh sauna oh sauna in the highest.
Me:  (stifles laughter)  It's Hosanna.
Linus:  What's that mean?
Me:  It's another word for Jesus.
Linus:  Oh. (walks off singing)  Oh Jesus.  Oh Jesus...

Eileen:  I need a break from Star Wars.

Dave:  You look like a young vivacious school marm.

The kids have been busy.  Linus has been working on an epic mural.  It now extends the entire length of the table. 

Robin's favorite place in the house right now is the toy kitchen.  He loves to open and close doors, hide behind it, and push it across the room. 

Unpaid Enthusiastic Endorsement

As a mom of three kids, I've done a lot of the activities available for the 5 and under set.  Some of them I have enjoyed more than others.  There is one that stands out above them all, one that is worth the cost--Nurturing Pathways.

I first learned about Nurturing Pathways when I was leading a PEPs group a few years ago. Impressed by the presentation at a meeting, I enrolled Eileen.  It ended up being a wonderful experience for the both of us.  It is not just another mommy and me class.  Every activity is intentional, the rational explained, and works to not only improve a child's gross motor and cognitive development, but increase the bond between child and caregiver.  It also helps that the music is significantly better.  The way class is set up, you are never just standing back and chatting with the other parents.  There is never an opportunity to check your phone.  I like that Christine, teacher and founder, gently shows you how to be a better, more engaged parent instead of just telling you.  Christine also offers parent seminars on a variety of topics throughout the year.  I attended one and it definitely gave me some new insights on a certain stubborn, sometimes infuriating, oldest child.

I don't normally write such glowing reviews, but I was prompted today by a transformative morning with baby bird.  It's no secret at this point that Robin is delayed.  I had been nervous to enroll him in Nurturing Pathways with his age group because he was so far behind.  I finally did for winter quarter.  I'm glad I'm not a first time parent and that I had been through the class before with Eileen.  Robin was overwhelmed, he cried, he couldn't do anything that all the other babies could do.  I could easily see myself feeling self-conscious and withdrawing Robin.  Knowing what the end goals were and being confident in myself as Robin's mom, we persevered.

In a few short weeks Robin has come so far.  Even his occupational therapist was stunned this week by the progress he has made.  Robin is slowly catching up to his peers.  I give a lot of the credit to Nurturing Pathways (and his therapist too).  It has dramatically improved his gross motor abilities.  More surprising is how it seems to have also increased his communication skills. 

Class today was magical, simply magical.  Robin smiled the whole way through.  His favorite part of class is when we use nursery rhymes to do actions that promote different connections in the brain.  He was able to follow directions to a degree and anticipate the next move.  It was the first time he had fully participated.  As the class progressed, he continued to follow directions as well as challenge himself.  He even crawled through a tunnel for the first time ever.  There were no tears.  I was so proud of him and I could tell that Robin was proud of himself. 

Today I saw a glimmer of the potential that Robin holds despite all the set backs.  It's been hard to see him struggle and not be able to enjoy play like other little boys his age.  Through Nurturing Pathways,  all sorts of doors have been unlocked.  Robin, a baby of very few words, actually said "bye" and waved as it was time to leave.  As we drove away, I actually cried tears of joy.  Watching Robin participate in class and seeing the pure happiness exude that little body was almost too much for me to process. 

I am so grateful that a class like this exists and that I have the opportunity to attend it with Robin.  Eileen gets jealous that she is now too old for the class.  Nurturing Pathways may not be for everyone,  but it has made a huge impact on our family.

Wetland Winter Walk

Way back in the days before kids, marriage, or thinking about long term employment goals, I majored in Environmental Education.  Silly me.  Who cares about financial stability when you can work a series of low paying seasonal jobs with no health insurance?  Oh the things I would tell that college age girl.....  The upside is that I learned a lot of environmental science knowledge that I enjoy sharing with others.

Today was a non school day.  I didn't make plans for a playdate since it seems everyone and their mom has been wracked by illness and Robin's bronchiolitis turned into pneumonia.  But the morning was beautiful, the sun was shining, and Robin seemed to be doing alright.  Adventure beckoned.  I loaded up the the kiddos and we went to check out North Creek Park.  As soon as the kids heard the mention of nature walk, they grabbed their nature backpacks, checked their supplies, and practically ran out the door.

North Creek Park is located right on the Bothell/Mill Creek line.  It is a beautiful, quiet peat bog with a boardwalk complete with interpretive signs running through the wetland.  I was immediately thrust back to my days at Huxley College.

"We are sedges.   We live at the water's edges.  We help hold eroding ledges."

We saw lots of wood ducks.  Our greatest find was some frog jelly.  I had hoped we might spy the beavers who reside there.  Robin chirped away on my back as we walked along.  We did not end up completing the loop, but as we finished our walk we saw a red tailed hawk soaring right above us.

I nerded out on the walk a little, explaining the processes of a wetland.  I pointed out the different types of plants one finds in a wetland and taught them this neat little gem:

"Sedges have edges and rushes are round and grasses have segments that go all the way to the ground."

North Creek also boasts a really great playground.  Despite claims of being tired from walking, Eileen and Linus immediately found the energy to climb.  I had to drag them away.

Robin found the morning exhausting.

As soon as we got home the kids begged to go outside and play some more.  They dug up a treasure in the backyard they buried yesterday.  Linus then put on a puppet show for Eileen.  I love love love the days when Linus decides Eileen is better as a playmate then nemesis.

Eileen was focused on giving Robin lots of love.

I'm sure the afternoon will be less idyllic, but this morning fed my soul. 

Baby's First....

Is there anything so sweet as a baby's first?  A first smile, laugh, roll, or step.  Or chest x-ray.  Ah so sweet.  Robin is a sick baby once again.  As you may recall, Robin got sick just before MLK Day with an upper respiratory infection.  His rattly breathing never really went away and he caught a different cold two weeks later.

During his second cold, Robin saw an audiologist at Children's.  There we learned he had some hearing loss.  Robin has congestion in both ears that don't allow him to him to hear lower tones, even if they are loud like a fog horn.  I'm sure his cold wasn't helping things.  Robin has several more audiology tests in his future.  Rattly breathing continued.

Over the weekend, Robin started coughing and ran a low fever.  Today Robin was supposed to see the ENT.  They called this morning to cancel and reschedule.  This was probably a good thing because Robin woke up much sicker.  He coughed up breakfast.  Dave and I thought it best to take him in to the doctor.  The doctor was concerned as well and ordered a chest x-ray.  Robin did not like getting x-rays one bit.  He was pretty upset with me.  Considering Eileen had x-rays last Monday, I am worried a trend may be starting.

The good news is that Robin does not have pneumonia.  The bad news is he has bronchiolitis (he had this last winter as well).  The doctor didn't think we needed to take him to Children's just yet, but wants to see him again in two days.  Robin thanked me by throwing up on me.

sick and stoic

Just before Robin and I took off for the doctor, the phone rang.  Normally, I avoid all phone solicitations, but this one had a Seattle number and a person name.  Tricked!  It turns out it was WA CAN (Washington Citizen Action Network) and they were calling to ask for money to fund lobbying efforts for a single payer health care system.  They caught me on a good day.  Given how often we find ourselves at the doctor and how many services Robin needs, I am grateful that we have health insurance.  Of course we pay an arm and a leg for it every month.   At this rate we should meet our yearly deductible by the end of the month, if not sooner.  I can't help but think about all those people who don't have access to what we do.  I fully support a single payer system.  Everyone has a right to medical care.  Of course making this a reality isn't going to happen on the backs of a few noble volunteers.  I did not have to think twice about giving the man on the phone money.  It's a small way I can be an agent of the change I want to see in the world. 

Stepping off soapbox.....

In addition to health insurance, I am grateful that I do not hold down a full time job.  I do not know how I could possibly work regular hours given how often the kids get sick, all of Robin's appointments at Children's, and his weekly in-home therapy.  While I still question the wisdom of all the student loan debt, I am glad my degree allows me to be a substitute teacher and implement a very flexible work schedule. 

Stepping back on soapbox.....while we're at it.  Let's hear it for affordable childcare!  Off soapbox.

Robin visits the ENT next week.  Hopefully, he will be recovered from his most recent illness and not have acquired a new one.  Maybe then we can try for more positive baby firsts.  Baby's first trip to an exotic location has a nice ring to it.

Superbowl Drama

I admit I'm not much of a football fan.  When I was little I thought the announcers were talking about the "cutie," not the QB.  I don't feel either way about the Seahawks, although if pressed I would say that I like them.  This is better than my feelings towards the Mariners and all their fair weather fans.  Despite my ambivalence, I do own a Seahawks shirt (if only so I can participate in Blue Friday).

My dear friend, Heather, and her daughters, are in town visiting from Nebraska.  It's so nice to have her back.  We started our Superbowl Seahawk weekend with a trip to the nail salon.  I think I found my new nail salon.  A mani-pedi combo that includes hot stones and parafin treatment for $35? Yes, thank you.  Eileen got her nails done to show her Seahawk pride.  The ladies were so sweet and put football and 12 decals on each little tiny nail.

Our friends, Megan and Rocky, came over to watch the game with us.  I was more than willing to help out by holding their one week old infant (my god daughter), Melanie Ann.

So much perfection in one little face.

Heather's daughter, Brooklyn, and Eileen are good friends.  Brooklyn's daddy does not like the Seahawks at all, so she lacked proper Seahawk attire.  Instead I opted to put the girls in matching outfits, which they loved.
                  
Twinsies!

The kids ran around like crazy.  Linus delighted in chasing the girls and roaring at them.  During half time show Dave, Rocky, and Linus played some football in the backyard.

 You're going to have to run faster than that Rocky.

No weekend is complete without a little drama.  While the kids were running around the house, Linus ducked into the bathroom to escape the girls.  Eileen followed close behind.  Unfortunately, her little finger on her right hand got caught in the joint of the door as it closed.  Eileen screamed, we screamed for Linus to open the door,  Seahawks fans screamed on the tv.  It was chaos.  When the door opened and Eileen's hand was free, her finger was grossly mis-shapen and bleeding.  Eileen kept alternating between crying "Wah" and "I want it to blow back up."  Luckily, our friend Rocky is a nurse.  He quickly jumped into action and used frozen peas to ice her hand.  Eileen eventually calmed down and we got to watch the Seahawks blow the game at the one yard line.  Oh the humanity!

The girls randomly had the same jammies so it was twinsies once more for bed.

In the morning Eileen woke up with a raging case of pink eye.  While at the doctor, I figured I might as well have him look at the finger.  She was shaking with fear as they took off the bandaid.  Eileen got her wish and her finger did blow back up and then some.  It was huge!  The doctor was very worried it was broken and more so by the open wound and how angry the finger looked as a whole.  We were sent off to another location for xrays.  The good news is it isn't broken.  The bad news is she has three different antibiotic prescriptions and I get to contend with pink eye.