For three weeks I've had this adorable little piece of property in Oblivion. Lived there quite contentedly until this morning. Now the cat is out of the proverbial bag at Lauren's preschool regarding her diagnosis.
So I might as well sell that tiny parcel of private land because I won't be able to visit any time soon. It's like having a cottage in the Muskokas. If you can't spend all your time there, it's not worth the taxes to keep it.
Those that spend time in Oblivion are, by nature, oblivious. That was me. I lived a contented few weeks oblivious to Lauren's medical label with respect to her schooling. And I was enjoying it. I didn't know it at the time but I was really enjoying her being a normal little girl.
I realized how much I was enjoying it when I received the tax bill today.
It said, "We wondered if Lauren's hearing has been tested lately..."
Sigh. Time to move out of Oblivion and back into the real world. The world where my beautiful daughter has Noonan Syndrome, where she will always be smaller than her peers, where the shape of her ears affects her hearing, where she isn't 'normal just short'.
I have found some nice property in Reality. It's about this big and comes complete with doctor's appointments, specialist visits, lots of driving, all the worrying you can handle and plenty of tears and laughs.
And we got a great deal on it too. All I had to do was discuss Lauren's hearing deficiency with her teacher and outline how we've suspected but until now haven't been able to confirm it. Of course from there her teacher wondered if I'd like them to bring in a speech therapist and if we'd like to meet with a Development specialist.
I chuckled and said, "There's a lot I haven't told you about Lauren..."
So now it's out. Both AM and the development specialist, who I met with because she was on site today, completely understood why we chose not to say anything. It's been three weeks and to them, Lauren has established herself as Lauren, a bright little doll of a girl and not "Lauren with such'n'such syndrome".
The most difficult thing I'm facing with the move out of Oblivion and on to Reality is boxing up my hope that Lauren's future school days will be easy. I had hoped she would be just like every other child, just vertically challenged. That's how it was for these three weeks in Oblivion. It's clearer now that her hearing deficiency is going to play a role. She can't just walk into a class room and have a smaller desk and extra step stools. There are going to be hearing adjustments, auditory systems, specified placement and teacher training needed.
On the plus side, I won't have to unpack my battle gear for another year and a half when we register her for JK. That box we'll keep in the hall closet until we need it. Untaped but out of sight.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Is free speech really free?
Not many things offend me. Just a few things like ignorance, bad attitude and poorly designed websites.
Pretty much just those... oh... and being told that controversial topics are unwelcome.
This spring I joined a Noonan Syndrome list-serv (available here). It took me a while to sign up, for several reasons: a) I wasn't fond of the website it was linked from (the site was unattractive and out of date. As a web guru I found it unpalatable - see opening sentence.) b) I wasn't sure I wanted to be signed up to something and then, when I did, c) I went through a gazillion attempts to get signed on.
But signed on I became and the conversations have, for the most part, been interesting.
Some times they hold no interest to me and are promptly deleted. Many times they have no value to me specifically (things like tube feeding for example) but because people we care about deal with them, it interests me. Other topics interest me for their future value as someday Lauren may face similar issues.
I've also met some amazing people through private conversations generated by the group.
Late last week, someone mentioned how wonderful it has been to have a venue for open dialogue and support that didn't exist years ago. It's true and is an encouraging resource for many families.
The dialogue then side tracked as the topic of future generations arose and from that, a statement about IVF and choosing an embryo was implied.
The topic of genetic selection is a tricky one but it brought some really interesting things to light - things like, genetic screening as part of IVF. It currently happens for the most common chromosomal disorders. Only "genetically sound" embryos are implanted. Putting religious perspective aside, it makes practical sense. If you've been struggling for years to have a child and finally go through the invasive and difficult (not to mention expensive) step of IVF, it would be good to know that the embryo has a strong chance of survival. Please know that I'm not presenting anything pro or con selection or stating my own opinion on when life begins. I'm simply stating that I comprehend the practicalities behind the procedure.
Within the realm of Noonan Syndrome, if a family member's DNA mutation is known, embryos can also be tested before implantation to see if they carry that specific mutation. This I knew. What I didn't know was that the embryo is frozen while the testing is completed as it takes time to get through the system.
Of course the conversation became heated. People were offended that someone might decide to be selective in their offspring. They took the perspective that an affected embryo would be unwanted and that the potential parent was being selfish in denying that lifeform. It morphed into people therefore choosing to terminate pregnancies if NS was detected. For the record, abortion was never mentioned EXCEPT by the people who were offended by the topic.
What I interpreted (and would personally be grounded in) is that selecting stronger embryos, during the process of IVF specifically, means the child born won't go through what so many of our NS kids go through.
Theoretically, they won't have to deal with heart defects, muscle and skeletal issues, facial deformities, bleeding disorders, and so on, not to mention the social ramifications of being so dramatically different from their peers. They may not face the same complications of just trying to survive or at worst, reach their end before their family and their peers.
The parent is making a choice not in order to NOT have a specific child, but in order TO help their child avoid what our children, and in some cases ourselves, are going through now.
Having raised such a controversial topic, feathers were ruffled.
We were told to stop the conversation. We were told it was not necessary as what we were discussing was something for the future, not for right now. We were told, subtly that it was unChristian to consider such things. We were told this by another NS parent.
Next we were told to drop the thread as it was causing some people to consider leaving the list. This request came from a list founder so who's to argue. Of course by now, the two separate threads about genetic selection and procreation had both died of their own accord as list threads always do.
I've considered leaving the list also. Not because I'm offended by the conversation but because I'm being told I can't speak.
That I'm being told my thoughts are unChristian, disgusting, offensive. I'm being told the topic is irrelevant.
But what I'm discussing is the future of my child.
What I'm discussing is advances in science.
Ultimately, what I'm discussing is information. My child needs information. She can and will make her own decisions on everything when she's old enough but if the information isn't out there, her decision will be uninformed. Her decision will be based on emotion and religious zealotry without the balancing angles of science and practicality.
I find that I am angry. Very angry. I don't like being told what to do. I don't like being told that open, knowledge building conversation is offensive. I thought the point of the list-serv was to share knowledge not squash it.
I respect that people have different religious perspectives. It's part of free speech and part of what makes open dialogue so interesting. I believe there is a strong place for science alongside faith. If there wasn't most of our population would already have died from simple diseases, malnutrition, etc. If there wasn't a place for science, there wouldn't be computers, the internet, the support groups or the list-serv that started all the animosity in the first place.
I've already filed valuable information away. It's in its own email folder for Lauren's future. Things like dealing with the school board, special chairs to reduce fatigue when writing for long periods, specialize sports equipment, etc. Things that are irrelevant to Lauren right now, but relevant to Lauren in the future.
So is free speech really free?
Nothing in life is ever really free.
Pretty much just those... oh... and being told that controversial topics are unwelcome.
This spring I joined a Noonan Syndrome list-serv (available here). It took me a while to sign up, for several reasons: a) I wasn't fond of the website it was linked from (the site was unattractive and out of date. As a web guru I found it unpalatable - see opening sentence.) b) I wasn't sure I wanted to be signed up to something and then, when I did, c) I went through a gazillion attempts to get signed on.
But signed on I became and the conversations have, for the most part, been interesting.
Some times they hold no interest to me and are promptly deleted. Many times they have no value to me specifically (things like tube feeding for example) but because people we care about deal with them, it interests me. Other topics interest me for their future value as someday Lauren may face similar issues.
I've also met some amazing people through private conversations generated by the group.
Late last week, someone mentioned how wonderful it has been to have a venue for open dialogue and support that didn't exist years ago. It's true and is an encouraging resource for many families.
The dialogue then side tracked as the topic of future generations arose and from that, a statement about IVF and choosing an embryo was implied.
The topic of genetic selection is a tricky one but it brought some really interesting things to light - things like, genetic screening as part of IVF. It currently happens for the most common chromosomal disorders. Only "genetically sound" embryos are implanted. Putting religious perspective aside, it makes practical sense. If you've been struggling for years to have a child and finally go through the invasive and difficult (not to mention expensive) step of IVF, it would be good to know that the embryo has a strong chance of survival. Please know that I'm not presenting anything pro or con selection or stating my own opinion on when life begins. I'm simply stating that I comprehend the practicalities behind the procedure.
Within the realm of Noonan Syndrome, if a family member's DNA mutation is known, embryos can also be tested before implantation to see if they carry that specific mutation. This I knew. What I didn't know was that the embryo is frozen while the testing is completed as it takes time to get through the system.
Of course the conversation became heated. People were offended that someone might decide to be selective in their offspring. They took the perspective that an affected embryo would be unwanted and that the potential parent was being selfish in denying that lifeform. It morphed into people therefore choosing to terminate pregnancies if NS was detected. For the record, abortion was never mentioned EXCEPT by the people who were offended by the topic.
What I interpreted (and would personally be grounded in) is that selecting stronger embryos, during the process of IVF specifically, means the child born won't go through what so many of our NS kids go through.
Theoretically, they won't have to deal with heart defects, muscle and skeletal issues, facial deformities, bleeding disorders, and so on, not to mention the social ramifications of being so dramatically different from their peers. They may not face the same complications of just trying to survive or at worst, reach their end before their family and their peers.
The parent is making a choice not in order to NOT have a specific child, but in order TO help their child avoid what our children, and in some cases ourselves, are going through now.
Having raised such a controversial topic, feathers were ruffled.
We were told to stop the conversation. We were told it was not necessary as what we were discussing was something for the future, not for right now. We were told, subtly that it was unChristian to consider such things. We were told this by another NS parent.
Next we were told to drop the thread as it was causing some people to consider leaving the list. This request came from a list founder so who's to argue. Of course by now, the two separate threads about genetic selection and procreation had both died of their own accord as list threads always do.
I've considered leaving the list also. Not because I'm offended by the conversation but because I'm being told I can't speak.
That I'm being told my thoughts are unChristian, disgusting, offensive. I'm being told the topic is irrelevant.
But what I'm discussing is the future of my child.
What I'm discussing is advances in science.
Ultimately, what I'm discussing is information. My child needs information. She can and will make her own decisions on everything when she's old enough but if the information isn't out there, her decision will be uninformed. Her decision will be based on emotion and religious zealotry without the balancing angles of science and practicality.
I find that I am angry. Very angry. I don't like being told what to do. I don't like being told that open, knowledge building conversation is offensive. I thought the point of the list-serv was to share knowledge not squash it.
I respect that people have different religious perspectives. It's part of free speech and part of what makes open dialogue so interesting. I believe there is a strong place for science alongside faith. If there wasn't most of our population would already have died from simple diseases, malnutrition, etc. If there wasn't a place for science, there wouldn't be computers, the internet, the support groups or the list-serv that started all the animosity in the first place.
I've already filed valuable information away. It's in its own email folder for Lauren's future. Things like dealing with the school board, special chairs to reduce fatigue when writing for long periods, specialize sports equipment, etc. Things that are irrelevant to Lauren right now, but relevant to Lauren in the future.
So is free speech really free?
Nothing in life is ever really free.
Monday, September 20, 2010
New drama (aka) Did I make the right decision?
Preschool started differently today. Now that they've had a few mornings to get used to the teachers, school starts outside in the fenced of play area. There's a sandbox and a climbing gym complete with little slides.
Lauren was a bit cautious until she clued into the slide options then zip! she was gone. Sue tells me she spent the entire gross motor free play time going up the ladders (there are three different styles) and down the slides. Up the ladders, down the slides....
By midway through the rest of class, Lauren was exhausted. When she wasn't crying, she was yawning. Huge, elephant swallowing yawns. And tears big enough to drown in.
When she was curled in my arms and starting to settle down, I asked if she was mad because her socks were down and got a yes. So I fixed those but it wasn't enough. I then asked if she was tired and again got a tearful, hesitant yes. I asked if something hurt and got an emphatic yes, her legs hurt. Seems both calves/shins were hurting.
Was it the climbing climbing climbing that did it? Was it the carry over bruise from when she tripped yesterday? No matter the cause, she was exhausted.
Here's where I question my decision - not about preschool. That is a solid positive for Lauren - but the decision to withhold her diagnosis from her teachers. Would knowing she has low muscle tone and the potential to tire easily make a difference? Would having Noonan Syndrome on her medical needs description make them more sensitive to managing her activities differently?
I waffle.
I KNOW she's having excellent care. She's engaged and having fun while she's there. She's obsessed with school when she's not there.
Would telling the teachers change their perceptions of her? Would it give Lauren a better or worse experience? Should I tell them so I can bring OT/PT to find ways to support Lauren's love of climbing and sliding without exhaustion?
Would it even matter really? Should it be enough to ask the teachers to slow her down a bit?
On the other hand, if I leave it all be, it'll fit the definition of 'building endurance'. If she goes goes goes and then repeats again, by the time she's done school, perhaps she'll have the strength and endurance to continue for the full 30 minutes each class without tearful exhaustion.
For now, I'll let it go. We'll see what happens Wednesday, and, if we have a repeat of today (because Lauren had an amazing 12 hour uninterrupted sleep last night so it wasn't due to being tired) we'll have to implement a play plan. Maybe slide and climb for 10 minutes, rest or sandbox play for 5 then slide again...
On a really positive note, there's a boy in Lauren's class who has similar food issues to Lauren. The kids with food issues have snack with each other at the same table each day. Seems J talked about "Worwen" all weekend. When J saw Lauren in tears on my lap, he came to check and see if she was okay before he left.
How sweet it that from a 3 year old?
Lauren was a bit cautious until she clued into the slide options then zip! she was gone. Sue tells me she spent the entire gross motor free play time going up the ladders (there are three different styles) and down the slides. Up the ladders, down the slides....
By midway through the rest of class, Lauren was exhausted. When she wasn't crying, she was yawning. Huge, elephant swallowing yawns. And tears big enough to drown in.
When she was curled in my arms and starting to settle down, I asked if she was mad because her socks were down and got a yes. So I fixed those but it wasn't enough. I then asked if she was tired and again got a tearful, hesitant yes. I asked if something hurt and got an emphatic yes, her legs hurt. Seems both calves/shins were hurting.
Was it the climbing climbing climbing that did it? Was it the carry over bruise from when she tripped yesterday? No matter the cause, she was exhausted.
Here's where I question my decision - not about preschool. That is a solid positive for Lauren - but the decision to withhold her diagnosis from her teachers. Would knowing she has low muscle tone and the potential to tire easily make a difference? Would having Noonan Syndrome on her medical needs description make them more sensitive to managing her activities differently?
I waffle.
I KNOW she's having excellent care. She's engaged and having fun while she's there. She's obsessed with school when she's not there.
Would telling the teachers change their perceptions of her? Would it give Lauren a better or worse experience? Should I tell them so I can bring OT/PT to find ways to support Lauren's love of climbing and sliding without exhaustion?
Would it even matter really? Should it be enough to ask the teachers to slow her down a bit?
On the other hand, if I leave it all be, it'll fit the definition of 'building endurance'. If she goes goes goes and then repeats again, by the time she's done school, perhaps she'll have the strength and endurance to continue for the full 30 minutes each class without tearful exhaustion.
For now, I'll let it go. We'll see what happens Wednesday, and, if we have a repeat of today (because Lauren had an amazing 12 hour uninterrupted sleep last night so it wasn't due to being tired) we'll have to implement a play plan. Maybe slide and climb for 10 minutes, rest or sandbox play for 5 then slide again...
On a really positive note, there's a boy in Lauren's class who has similar food issues to Lauren. The kids with food issues have snack with each other at the same table each day. Seems J talked about "Worwen" all weekend. When J saw Lauren in tears on my lap, he came to check and see if she was okay before he left.
How sweet it that from a 3 year old?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hello? Have you seen my little girl?
It seems that when I took Lauren to school last week, they swapped her out for some other tiny girl with cute misshapen ears and a droopy right eye.
Yes. That must be what happened because since Wednesday, the little girl I thought was my own has been sleeping well, playing well, getting to sleep without anyone beside her and chatting chatting chatting.... in nearly full sentences.
She's picking cute clothes that include skirts (leopard print with little black belts - really cute I might add) and getting into them (mostly) by herself.
The little girl that is currently living in my home also stayed awake in the car all the way to Toronto AND BACK. Granted, I saw a glimpse of the girl I knew for a moment today - she tried to fall asleep going around the block to the market - but for the most part, I think someone else has my proper daughter.
Now, for the record, I'm pretty happy with this one and have no plans to print any "Missing" posters.
Today she was up in Grandma's arms, hands on either side of Grandma's neck, looking at her face, "Are you my little girl?" asked Grandma.
"No!" says Lauren, "me BIG girl!"
"Are you my big girl?" asks Grandma.
"YES!" delights Lauren with a huge grin and snuggle.
Perhaps the little-I-mean-BIG girl that's here is my Lauren after all. Perhaps, it's simply the independence of being big enough to go to school on her own and do all the things the other BIG girls do.
There's a part of me that laments the departure of my more dependent daughter. She's no longer a baby and not even a toddler. She's a preschooler and well on her way. She's outgoing and very clever. The part of me that misses the dependence is the part that used it to help justify not having another child. That part of me is now, just a bit, mourning the official end of that part of our lives.
The rest of me however, is celebrating. Hooray for a brave girl. Hooray for Lauren who learns quickly. Hooray for sleeping better and hooray for all of us enjoying our days because our nights are more restful.
Yes. That must be what happened because since Wednesday, the little girl I thought was my own has been sleeping well, playing well, getting to sleep without anyone beside her and chatting chatting chatting.... in nearly full sentences.
She's picking cute clothes that include skirts (leopard print with little black belts - really cute I might add) and getting into them (mostly) by herself.
The little girl that is currently living in my home also stayed awake in the car all the way to Toronto AND BACK. Granted, I saw a glimpse of the girl I knew for a moment today - she tried to fall asleep going around the block to the market - but for the most part, I think someone else has my proper daughter.
Now, for the record, I'm pretty happy with this one and have no plans to print any "Missing" posters.
Today she was up in Grandma's arms, hands on either side of Grandma's neck, looking at her face, "Are you my little girl?" asked Grandma.
"No!" says Lauren, "me BIG girl!"
"Are you my big girl?" asks Grandma.
"YES!" delights Lauren with a huge grin and snuggle.
Perhaps the little-I-mean-BIG girl that's here is my Lauren after all. Perhaps, it's simply the independence of being big enough to go to school on her own and do all the things the other BIG girls do.
There's a part of me that laments the departure of my more dependent daughter. She's no longer a baby and not even a toddler. She's a preschooler and well on her way. She's outgoing and very clever. The part of me that misses the dependence is the part that used it to help justify not having another child. That part of me is now, just a bit, mourning the official end of that part of our lives.
The rest of me however, is celebrating. Hooray for a brave girl. Hooray for Lauren who learns quickly. Hooray for sleeping better and hooray for all of us enjoying our days because our nights are more restful.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Rain + 401 + 10 minute appointment = exhausted mama
Today was Lauren's pre-op appointment with Dr. P in Toronto (see "Controversial...")
We had a coveted "first of the afternoon" appointments but it still didn't help schedule wise. Actually, I'm sure it helped but the weather, the traffic and ongoing construction everywhere did not.
We were about 5 minutes late and the total trip in took nearly 2 hours for what should've been an hour and 15. I've now seen parts of Toronto I really don't need to see ever again.
Thankfully we were still "on time" for the appointment enough that we were in fairly quickly. Once again it a was "wham bam thank you ma'am" style appointment. No small talk really though the doctor did ask Lauren about her trip and if she had any questions for him. As much as I felt rushed, I also appreciated that he simply started into what would happen for the surgery, how it was performed, what we should expect, etc. and didn't reopen the discussion of whether this was a valid / necessary surgery for Lauren.
Simplistically put, he'll tighten up the muscle in Lauren's right eye and do so in a way that mimics the natural curve we expect to see. He said he's never had to 'let down' a correction but has on occasion had to repeat the surgery as he's been to conservative. We'll keep our fingers crossed.
Answers to "Lauren's" questions are:
No, we won't need to do it again (assuming it's enough the first time).
Yes, the change will grow with her.
Yes, we'll see the change right away - there's no adjustment period.
Yes, she can go to school the next day, though no playing in sandboxes for a week.
There can be issues of 'non-closure' of the eye after the correction but most children adapt and he's never heard of anyone having sleep issues as a result which is my only real concern about this potential drawback. Lauren won't be able to see herself sleeping so there's no issue for me in terms of her self esteem.
No, it's not any more difficult because the adjustment is so slight. The process is the same regardless.
Malignant Hyperthermia, as a potential complication of anesthesia, is something we'll work out with the anesthesiologist the morning of the surgery.
The surgery is booked for 1 1/2 hours but he expects it to take only 45 minutes.
Yes, I can go into the operating room with her until she is sedated though sometimes they recommend having parents wait elsewhere, leaving their child in a play zone for transition. It seemed this was his preference but did say I could do whatever was best for us. He doesn't know me well enough to know how I handle such situations. I'm not entirely sure how I handle such situations but I do know that I will do whatever I can for my daughter to feel at ease including swallowing any unease I'm feeling at a given situation. It's as much for me as for her to see her into the operating room and comfortably asleep before I pace the hallways.
In a nutshell, we're all set to go. I have paperwork to complete and a doctor's visit to schedule but otherwise we simply arrive at Sick Kids at 6am that day and hope for the best. A friend has generously offered a place to stay the night before. The difference that makes is one of leaving his house at 5:30 or leaving my own at 4:30. AM Haven't decided which is the best option yet - Lauren sleeping in her own bed but getting up at some insane hour or sleeping somewhere unknown and getting up at an only slightly less insane hour but only riding the car for a tiny portion. I'm leaning towards staying in TO if only to avoid my fear of dozing off in the car at that ungodly hour...
Even Starbucks in the south end isn't open early enough for me that day.
The ride home from TO is was only slightly less drawn out travel wise but Lauren was hilarious.
All she could talk about was trucks, school buses, city buses and, when we got closer to home, going to school.
"Me go schoo Mama? My day? Me go schoo?"
"Not til Monday sweetheart."
"Foh moh seeps. Me go schoo."
"Yes sweetheart. Four more sleeps."
"Me go Wenday. Roman go Wenday."
"Yes Sweetheart. You go Wednesday. You also go Monday. So does Roman. So.. when do you go next?"
"Me go Munday. Roman too. Me go Wenday"
If she could, she'd go every day and I would happily let her.
We had a coveted "first of the afternoon" appointments but it still didn't help schedule wise. Actually, I'm sure it helped but the weather, the traffic and ongoing construction everywhere did not.
We were about 5 minutes late and the total trip in took nearly 2 hours for what should've been an hour and 15. I've now seen parts of Toronto I really don't need to see ever again.
Thankfully we were still "on time" for the appointment enough that we were in fairly quickly. Once again it a was "wham bam thank you ma'am" style appointment. No small talk really though the doctor did ask Lauren about her trip and if she had any questions for him. As much as I felt rushed, I also appreciated that he simply started into what would happen for the surgery, how it was performed, what we should expect, etc. and didn't reopen the discussion of whether this was a valid / necessary surgery for Lauren.
Simplistically put, he'll tighten up the muscle in Lauren's right eye and do so in a way that mimics the natural curve we expect to see. He said he's never had to 'let down' a correction but has on occasion had to repeat the surgery as he's been to conservative. We'll keep our fingers crossed.
Answers to "Lauren's" questions are:
No, we won't need to do it again (assuming it's enough the first time).
Yes, the change will grow with her.
Yes, we'll see the change right away - there's no adjustment period.
Yes, she can go to school the next day, though no playing in sandboxes for a week.
There can be issues of 'non-closure' of the eye after the correction but most children adapt and he's never heard of anyone having sleep issues as a result which is my only real concern about this potential drawback. Lauren won't be able to see herself sleeping so there's no issue for me in terms of her self esteem.
No, it's not any more difficult because the adjustment is so slight. The process is the same regardless.
Malignant Hyperthermia, as a potential complication of anesthesia, is something we'll work out with the anesthesiologist the morning of the surgery.
The surgery is booked for 1 1/2 hours but he expects it to take only 45 minutes.
Yes, I can go into the operating room with her until she is sedated though sometimes they recommend having parents wait elsewhere, leaving their child in a play zone for transition. It seemed this was his preference but did say I could do whatever was best for us. He doesn't know me well enough to know how I handle such situations. I'm not entirely sure how I handle such situations but I do know that I will do whatever I can for my daughter to feel at ease including swallowing any unease I'm feeling at a given situation. It's as much for me as for her to see her into the operating room and comfortably asleep before I pace the hallways.
In a nutshell, we're all set to go. I have paperwork to complete and a doctor's visit to schedule but otherwise we simply arrive at Sick Kids at 6am that day and hope for the best. A friend has generously offered a place to stay the night before. The difference that makes is one of leaving his house at 5:30 or leaving my own at 4:30. AM Haven't decided which is the best option yet - Lauren sleeping in her own bed but getting up at some insane hour or sleeping somewhere unknown and getting up at an only slightly less insane hour but only riding the car for a tiny portion. I'm leaning towards staying in TO if only to avoid my fear of dozing off in the car at that ungodly hour...
Even Starbucks in the south end isn't open early enough for me that day.
The ride home from TO is was only slightly less drawn out travel wise but Lauren was hilarious.
All she could talk about was trucks, school buses, city buses and, when we got closer to home, going to school.
"Me go schoo Mama? My day? Me go schoo?"
"Not til Monday sweetheart."
"Foh moh seeps. Me go schoo."
"Yes sweetheart. Four more sleeps."
"Me go Wenday. Roman go Wenday."
"Yes Sweetheart. You go Wednesday. You also go Monday. So does Roman. So.. when do you go next?"
"Me go Munday. Roman too. Me go Wenday"
If she could, she'd go every day and I would happily let her.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Day Two of School plus, a trip to the audiologist
Once again Lauren's day was a two parter but the whole story starts last night.
She's had a cold so I'd [GASP!] given her some decongestant before bed. As usual, it worked wonders. No sniffles AND she slept so soundly there were none of the usual 9:30 / 10:30 / 12:30 wake ups. I did however find myself awakened around 3:45 to thumping and, upon investigation, found her lying awake in her bed, playing with her light up rabbit, kicking the wall.
I decided to do nothing and simply see what happened, consciously deciding that it would be better for her to settle herself and sleep through even if she had an accident.
What happened was she stayed contentedly awake for nearly an hour before she started to cry for attention. Knowing she'd be up a while, I sent Kevin as he has much better luck settling her. Seems my thought of "if she has an accident, oh well..." was somewhat prophetic.
This was our first night time accident ever. Ironically, the Noonan Syndrome list-serv has had quite a bit of chatter lately about kids having frequent accidents but none at night... Always knew my little girl was different.
She settled back to sleep well enough and then even slept in. When I finally woke her up at 7:30, I said, "time to get up! it's a school day today". Lauren sat bolt upright, said, "ME GO!" and started to bounce up and down on her bum with a huge smile, "Me go! My day. Me go!"
She was a little nervous at drop off but settled in quickly enough when she saw the slides. With the slides she could climb it was as if all was right with the world.
As per usual with Lauren, when she has one accident, she then seems to have a couple more within the next day. I have to wonder if the one she had a school was because no one heard her say "Pee poo" or was she too shy to find help. When I ask Lauren if no one heard her or if she was too busy, she brightly said, "me have accidenn a schoo me too busy"
I'll take that as it is.
The staff were very encouraging that Lauren's been having fun. I was simply happy to not have the kid that was howling when I left. It's mean, I know, but I am thrilled it's not my kid screaming and won't let me leave. Here's my little girl - literally the smallest and very likely the youngest - happy to go and play without Mama while some other girl, closer to four years old stuck to Mom tighter than a barnacle.
How proud am I?!?
This afternoon we were back at the audiologist's for yet another inconclusive test of Lauren's hearing. She's now at an age where we play a game of conditioned response instead of looking in the direction of the sound for a visual reward. We set Lauren up at a little table with poker chips and a cup. Lynne plays a sound and Lauren puts a chip in the cup when she hears it. It takes a bit of teaching from me for Lauren to get the idea but she's a smart cookie and only 5 or 6 times for the first game are needed. We did something similar with bright coloured pegs into a board and stacking some blocks. For the block stage, I didn't even need to coach her on what to do. She grabbed a block, held it to her ear and waited.
Lauren was sitting at a little table with me across from her. As the games went on, she started to get tired or bored maybe... Eventually she was sitting with the peg in her right hand, up against her ear with her left elbow on the table and her face resting against her fist. She looked like Shroeder without his blanket. Science really needs to invent a way to pull pictures out of my retinas and into the computer.
You could see her really concentrating too. Her eyes would dart back and forth and a couple times, when the sound was really really quiet, she would hesitate. She even started to put chips in and would then stop with a puzzled look on her face trying to determine if she'd actually heard something or not.
I felt I was seeing flashes of her old soul. Far wiser than her years would suggest.
In the end, her hearing results are consistent. She's showing borderline hearing deficiency specifically in the lower frequencies - anything 25db or quieter for deep noises (like truck rumbles for instance or the Starship Enterprise in 5.1). Lynne says, and she's mentioned it before, that the curves we're seeing are indicative of structural malformation. It's not serious and there's nothing we can do fix it but it's good to be aware.
We'll test again in 6 months and hopefully we'll finally have Lauren's ears truly wax free by then. She was still partially blocked in her right ear today which skews the results slightly but we knew going into it that things weren't ideal.
As it stands, we continue to speak more loudly when we need to and make sure to get her attention in a busy room.
Meanwhile, her vocabulary is blooming. Today it was "Me have spring roll pease?" Spring roll. Seriously? She heard me say it once at the Asian grocery store when I asked for their amazing fresh (fried but freshly made not frozen) rolls to go. Then happily eating Vietnamese Chicken with Ginger and Caramel (cause what kid doesn't like chicken or caramel?) out pops the request for her spring roll.
Nice! She's my foodie through and through.
She's had a cold so I'd [GASP!] given her some decongestant before bed. As usual, it worked wonders. No sniffles AND she slept so soundly there were none of the usual 9:30 / 10:30 / 12:30 wake ups. I did however find myself awakened around 3:45 to thumping and, upon investigation, found her lying awake in her bed, playing with her light up rabbit, kicking the wall.
I decided to do nothing and simply see what happened, consciously deciding that it would be better for her to settle herself and sleep through even if she had an accident.
What happened was she stayed contentedly awake for nearly an hour before she started to cry for attention. Knowing she'd be up a while, I sent Kevin as he has much better luck settling her. Seems my thought of "if she has an accident, oh well..." was somewhat prophetic.
This was our first night time accident ever. Ironically, the Noonan Syndrome list-serv has had quite a bit of chatter lately about kids having frequent accidents but none at night... Always knew my little girl was different.
She settled back to sleep well enough and then even slept in. When I finally woke her up at 7:30, I said, "time to get up! it's a school day today". Lauren sat bolt upright, said, "ME GO!" and started to bounce up and down on her bum with a huge smile, "Me go! My day. Me go!"
She was a little nervous at drop off but settled in quickly enough when she saw the slides. With the slides she could climb it was as if all was right with the world.
As per usual with Lauren, when she has one accident, she then seems to have a couple more within the next day. I have to wonder if the one she had a school was because no one heard her say "Pee poo" or was she too shy to find help. When I ask Lauren if no one heard her or if she was too busy, she brightly said, "me have accidenn a schoo me too busy"
I'll take that as it is.
The staff were very encouraging that Lauren's been having fun. I was simply happy to not have the kid that was howling when I left. It's mean, I know, but I am thrilled it's not my kid screaming and won't let me leave. Here's my little girl - literally the smallest and very likely the youngest - happy to go and play without Mama while some other girl, closer to four years old stuck to Mom tighter than a barnacle.
How proud am I?!?
This afternoon we were back at the audiologist's for yet another inconclusive test of Lauren's hearing. She's now at an age where we play a game of conditioned response instead of looking in the direction of the sound for a visual reward. We set Lauren up at a little table with poker chips and a cup. Lynne plays a sound and Lauren puts a chip in the cup when she hears it. It takes a bit of teaching from me for Lauren to get the idea but she's a smart cookie and only 5 or 6 times for the first game are needed. We did something similar with bright coloured pegs into a board and stacking some blocks. For the block stage, I didn't even need to coach her on what to do. She grabbed a block, held it to her ear and waited.
Lauren was sitting at a little table with me across from her. As the games went on, she started to get tired or bored maybe... Eventually she was sitting with the peg in her right hand, up against her ear with her left elbow on the table and her face resting against her fist. She looked like Shroeder without his blanket. Science really needs to invent a way to pull pictures out of my retinas and into the computer.
You could see her really concentrating too. Her eyes would dart back and forth and a couple times, when the sound was really really quiet, she would hesitate. She even started to put chips in and would then stop with a puzzled look on her face trying to determine if she'd actually heard something or not.
I felt I was seeing flashes of her old soul. Far wiser than her years would suggest.
In the end, her hearing results are consistent. She's showing borderline hearing deficiency specifically in the lower frequencies - anything 25db or quieter for deep noises (like truck rumbles for instance or the Starship Enterprise in 5.1). Lynne says, and she's mentioned it before, that the curves we're seeing are indicative of structural malformation. It's not serious and there's nothing we can do fix it but it's good to be aware.
We'll test again in 6 months and hopefully we'll finally have Lauren's ears truly wax free by then. She was still partially blocked in her right ear today which skews the results slightly but we knew going into it that things weren't ideal.
As it stands, we continue to speak more loudly when we need to and make sure to get her attention in a busy room.
Meanwhile, her vocabulary is blooming. Today it was "Me have spring roll pease?" Spring roll. Seriously? She heard me say it once at the Asian grocery store when I asked for their amazing fresh (fried but freshly made not frozen) rolls to go. Then happily eating Vietnamese Chicken with Ginger and Caramel (cause what kid doesn't like chicken or caramel?) out pops the request for her spring roll.
Nice! She's my foodie through and through.
Monday, September 13, 2010
First day of school - part two
She did great!
The teachers were quick to tell me she did really well and had a great day - no tears, she went to the potty and seemed to have a great time.
When she came to me she nearly burst into tears - the whole thing just a bit too overwhelming I guess. We stopped for a potty break, she talked all about her special potty seat (it isn't really but the facility has neat little toilets with funky almost flower shaped seats, then we went back to see about her painting.
No cut-n-goo-n but lots of paintin'.
After that brief check-in with her teacher, she was her normal self and no indication whatsoever of the threat of tears.
How cool is that for likely the smallest and youngest kid in the class?
This afternoon we had a repeat visit to the ENT. Denny was able to clean out one ear but we're still working on a wax clump in the other. The only thing we can do is oil drops daily for a while to hope it breaks up on it's own. Hearing wise, the audiologist at the ENT clinic was able to get the best results ever. I suspect her requirements for Lauren's responses may not be as strict as our usual audiologist but Denny was encouraged.
So we continue on. We see our usual audiologist on Wednesday and hope for the best. Lauren's started with some sniffles so who knows what will happen between now and then.
The teachers were quick to tell me she did really well and had a great day - no tears, she went to the potty and seemed to have a great time.
When she came to me she nearly burst into tears - the whole thing just a bit too overwhelming I guess. We stopped for a potty break, she talked all about her special potty seat (it isn't really but the facility has neat little toilets with funky almost flower shaped seats, then we went back to see about her painting.
No cut-n-goo-n but lots of paintin'.
After that brief check-in with her teacher, she was her normal self and no indication whatsoever of the threat of tears.
How cool is that for likely the smallest and youngest kid in the class?
This afternoon we had a repeat visit to the ENT. Denny was able to clean out one ear but we're still working on a wax clump in the other. The only thing we can do is oil drops daily for a while to hope it breaks up on it's own. Hearing wise, the audiologist at the ENT clinic was able to get the best results ever. I suspect her requirements for Lauren's responses may not be as strict as our usual audiologist but Denny was encouraged.
So we continue on. We see our usual audiologist on Wednesday and hope for the best. Lauren's started with some sniffles so who knows what will happen between now and then.
First day of school
All weekend Lauren has been very excited about school. In preparation for her being without me, we would ask, "Who gets to go to school?"
"Me!!" she would shout, "not Roman!" (Ironically, Roman is off today.)
"Who else?" we ask.
"Not you Mama. And not Papa!"
Her lunch was packed as well as her backpack of extra clothes. The school also asked that they bring animals to school this week. She chose to take P'nut the Elephant. P'nut has never really been a favourite but somehow received the honours today. But then again Lauren has never shown a dramatic attachment to any of her animals...
I know. Most people take their first day of school photos outside the house. We keep having rain and defiant children on the first day so into a chair we go.
Taking her into the school, I was as upbeat and positive as I could be showing Lauren were the preschool outdoor playzone is, then inside to the bathroom.
They have the cutest tiny toilets in there! Of course the sinks were too high but a stool should fix that easily enough. As well, the hooks in the coat room are too high for her to reach and the space above the bench where the hooks are is too small for her to climb up and hang her coat herself. She'll adjust and we'll make do.
She definitely looked small compared to some of the kids so I was relieved to find out one of those was an older sibling along for the drop off. She actually looked familiar so it's quite possible she normally goes to Roman's school...
She was a little cautious entering the room but there were no tears, no freak-outs and no "up on you Mama" she normally does.
Our departure moment was set as soon as she saw the little climbing zone with a slide.
Now I've been watching the clock, anxious to leave at a suitable time to pick her up again...
"Me!!" she would shout, "not Roman!" (Ironically, Roman is off today.)
"Who else?" we ask.
"Not you Mama. And not Papa!"
Her lunch was packed as well as her backpack of extra clothes. The school also asked that they bring animals to school this week. She chose to take P'nut the Elephant. P'nut has never really been a favourite but somehow received the honours today. But then again Lauren has never shown a dramatic attachment to any of her animals...I know. Most people take their first day of school photos outside the house. We keep having rain and defiant children on the first day so into a chair we go.
Taking her into the school, I was as upbeat and positive as I could be showing Lauren were the preschool outdoor playzone is, then inside to the bathroom.
They have the cutest tiny toilets in there! Of course the sinks were too high but a stool should fix that easily enough. As well, the hooks in the coat room are too high for her to reach and the space above the bench where the hooks are is too small for her to climb up and hang her coat herself. She'll adjust and we'll make do.
She definitely looked small compared to some of the kids so I was relieved to find out one of those was an older sibling along for the drop off. She actually looked familiar so it's quite possible she normally goes to Roman's school...
She was a little cautious entering the room but there were no tears, no freak-outs and no "up on you Mama" she normally does.
Our departure moment was set as soon as she saw the little climbing zone with a slide.
Now I've been watching the clock, anxious to leave at a suitable time to pick her up again...
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Back to school
Roman has been a very happy and very tired boy this week.School started on Wednesday and includes riding the bus both to and FROM school. Taking the bus, complete with transfer, to school is old news but taking the bus home at the end of the day is something new.
And it's all gone well so far. Roman got off the bus Wednesday and said, "I was the last one!"
The day went well for him too. His kindergarten class is blended - half JK, half SK - but the JKs don't start til Monday. This meant there were only 8 of them to reacquaint with.
That night he also told us about a "special purple chair" they all got to sit in for a girl who can't walk very well. This makes me happy - the idea that there is someone in his class that requires special equipment, that he'll get to know someone who's physically different and see that it's no big deal.
He already sees someone unique in Lauren every day but as she's his sister, somehow it's different.
I look forward to finding out more... It also gives me encouragement that Roman's school can and does accommodate special needs. I'd really like Lauren to be able to attend the same school - both for the French and for the simplicity. The building is old but the staff is excellent and we have a great relationship with the principal.
Anyways, Friday morning, day number 2 of school, had Roman up and beaming. He's just soooo happy to back at school. Almost so much that I wish he was going every day.
But that makes me realize how easy it is to wish their childhood away.
If I wish him to school every day then all of the sudden a whole year has gone. Then Lauren is going to school too.
Then all of the sudden they're old enough I don't need to meet them at the bus any more and
poof.
They're teenagers and I've missed their entire childhood.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A trip to the market and, Ready for school
Lauren looks different today. Older somehow. (See What 30lbs looks like.)
We had a great trip to the St. Jacob's market getting produce and a stop at the 'petting zoo'. There isn't any actual petting going on but the animals are there and we could feed dandelion greens to the rabbits.
The afternoon included a trip to Walmart to get new juice containers for Roman and a lunch box for Lauren. She starts pre-school on Monday and given her lactose and fructose issues, the school staff has asked that we provide her own snacks.
No problem. I'm okay with the occasional slip up if she gets something she shouldn't but this it better for peace of mind.
And she's thrilled with her lunch bag. Disney Princesses of course. I'm sure if I'd offered her Lightning McQueen she'd have been all over that instead.
When we got home she played with the newly acquired lunch bag and after determining that her stuffed rhinoceros wouldn't fit, popped a Sandra Boynton book in then asked for Roman's old Lightning McQueen (see? She'd have loved it!) backpack. She promptly stuffed the lunch bag inside (with help) and asked to have it on her back.
All decked out she looked at me, stood at the top of the stairs and said, "Me ready for school now."
We had a great trip to the St. Jacob's market getting produce and a stop at the 'petting zoo'. There isn't any actual petting going on but the animals are there and we could feed dandelion greens to the rabbits.
The afternoon included a trip to Walmart to get new juice containers for Roman and a lunch box for Lauren. She starts pre-school on Monday and given her lactose and fructose issues, the school staff has asked that we provide her own snacks.
No problem. I'm okay with the occasional slip up if she gets something she shouldn't but this it better for peace of mind.
And she's thrilled with her lunch bag. Disney Princesses of course. I'm sure if I'd offered her Lightning McQueen she'd have been all over that instead.
When we got home she played with the newly acquired lunch bag and after determining that her stuffed rhinoceros wouldn't fit, popped a Sandra Boynton book in then asked for Roman's old Lightning McQueen (see? She'd have loved it!) backpack. She promptly stuffed the lunch bag inside (with help) and asked to have it on her back.
All decked out she looked at me, stood at the top of the stairs and said, "Me ready for school now."
What 30lbs looks like
And I don't mean Lauren - she's only 27.
After our adventure to St. Jacob's last week, I decided to repeat this week to pick up a bushel of red peppers for roasting and freezing. The aptly named "Pepper Hut" had bushels for $15.
This week they were $10 and the vendor offered me as sweet deal on a half bushel of poblano peppers as well taking only $5 instead of the full $10. Not sure what I'm going to do with that many poblano peppers but given how hard a time I've had finding them, they'll definitely make it into the freezer.
So, one bushel of red peppers (yes. Lauren is trying to lift the bag and yes. it is bigger than she is.) plus
one half bushel of poblanos, some apples and some peaches added up to 30lbs for me to carry.
Trying to get back to the car we created quite a cute picture or so I was told by another shopper. Lauren needed to hold someone's hand so she held Roman's. Roman needed to stay close to me so I suggested he hold my coat tail. Lauren meanwhile also had her crocodile backpack on (which holds her collapsible potty seat) and the three of us walked side by side through the market.
Well, walking is a bit of an overstatement. Roman kept telling me to slow down because Lauren couldn't keep up while I was trying to get there as fast as I could before my arms fell off.
The intention was to get a bushel of red peppers and nothing more. Who am I kidding? Instead, by the end of our sojourn I ended up carrying 30lbs of produce AND 27lbs of Lauren. Roman was happy to help carry the apples but it didn't last long. He's a trouper but not the strongest of troupers yet.
Next time I need to take a stroller ... and a trailer... or a pack mule.
I guess a hubby might fit the bill.
After our adventure to St. Jacob's last week, I decided to repeat this week to pick up a bushel of red peppers for roasting and freezing. The aptly named "Pepper Hut" had bushels for $15.
This week they were $10 and the vendor offered me as sweet deal on a half bushel of poblano peppers as well taking only $5 instead of the full $10. Not sure what I'm going to do with that many poblano peppers but given how hard a time I've had finding them, they'll definitely make it into the freezer.
So, one bushel of red peppers (yes. Lauren is trying to lift the bag and yes. it is bigger than she is.) plus
one half bushel of poblanos, some apples and some peaches added up to 30lbs for me to carry.
Trying to get back to the car we created quite a cute picture or so I was told by another shopper. Lauren needed to hold someone's hand so she held Roman's. Roman needed to stay close to me so I suggested he hold my coat tail. Lauren meanwhile also had her crocodile backpack on (which holds her collapsible potty seat) and the three of us walked side by side through the market.
Well, walking is a bit of an overstatement. Roman kept telling me to slow down because Lauren couldn't keep up while I was trying to get there as fast as I could before my arms fell off.
The intention was to get a bushel of red peppers and nothing more. Who am I kidding? Instead, by the end of our sojourn I ended up carrying 30lbs of produce AND 27lbs of Lauren. Roman was happy to help carry the apples but it didn't last long. He's a trouper but not the strongest of troupers yet.
Next time I need to take a stroller ... and a trailer... or a pack mule.
I guess a hubby might fit the bill.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Open wide!
One other August appointment I forgot to mention was our trip to the dentist.
Lauren started chewing her fingers after a fall on the stairs a few months ago. That change in behaviour, coupled with list-serv postings about enamel problems and early cavities, prompted me to ask Leslie, our hygienist if she or Dr. Dave could check Lauren's teeth as well.
From their perspective, it's a bit early at 2 1/2 years to start checking her teeth, preferring to wait until children are closer to 4 years old. I suspect most of this is due to the lack of attention span and the likelihood that most children would wiggle squiggle and freak out about things being looked at and poked.
Both Roman and Lauren were given the incentive (read: bribe) of a new hot wheels car if they did what Leslie asked. Roman specifically was to show Lauren how to lie still and open his mouth really wide so Leslie could look inside and count her teeth.
Leslie had both kids together on the chair and showed Lauren how wide Roman could open his mouth and how she checked his teeth.
Next it was Lauren's turn and she was amazing.
'course it didn't hurt that there was a TV with Treehouse she could watch - a huge treat since we don't usually watch TV during the day.
TV + hot wheels = total compliance
Roman actually responded every time Leslie asked Lauren to "Now open wide..."
I'm not sure which is the best part of this trip? Roman being such a great example or Lauren being so compliant or the fact that every thing looks great with her teeth. So far, no areas of concern and no issues with her enamel at all.
Hooray! One less thing to worry about for another year.
Lauren started chewing her fingers after a fall on the stairs a few months ago. That change in behaviour, coupled with list-serv postings about enamel problems and early cavities, prompted me to ask Leslie, our hygienist if she or Dr. Dave could check Lauren's teeth as well.
From their perspective, it's a bit early at 2 1/2 years to start checking her teeth, preferring to wait until children are closer to 4 years old. I suspect most of this is due to the lack of attention span and the likelihood that most children would wiggle squiggle and freak out about things being looked at and poked.
Both Roman and Lauren were given the incentive (read: bribe) of a new hot wheels car if they did what Leslie asked. Roman specifically was to show Lauren how to lie still and open his mouth really wide so Leslie could look inside and count her teeth.
Leslie had both kids together on the chair and showed Lauren how wide Roman could open his mouth and how she checked his teeth.
Next it was Lauren's turn and she was amazing.
'course it didn't hurt that there was a TV with Treehouse she could watch - a huge treat since we don't usually watch TV during the day.
TV + hot wheels = total compliance
Roman actually responded every time Leslie asked Lauren to "Now open wide..."
I'm not sure which is the best part of this trip? Roman being such a great example or Lauren being so compliant or the fact that every thing looks great with her teeth. So far, no areas of concern and no issues with her enamel at all.
Hooray! One less thing to worry about for another year.
Monday, September 6, 2010
We Can...
It's been a busy produce weekend for us. Last week I took a girlfriend and the kids to St. Jacob's Market to pick up all the remaining ingredients for salsa.
Essentially, everything but the tomatillos. So far, as a home gardener, the one thing I've been able to count on is an over abundance of tomatillos.
And this makes me very happy. We LOVE mexican food so a pantry full of roasted tomatillo salsa fills the winter months with enchilladas, quesadillas, fajitas and tacos.
For the record, the kids love all of these. Not so much the enchilladas for Roman but the rest are consumed in mass quantities.
Roman is an expert at finding and picking the tomatillos that are split and ready to go.
So 18 cups of roasted tomatillos and the requisite accoutrements have made it into 15 jars of salsa to warm our long winter months.
We also fixed the elderberry jelly that when awry a month ago. The people at Bernardin have always been very helpful. My one complaint is their move into a "push 1, push 2..." phone system. Up until last summer, when you dialed the support line number you automatically reached a support person. It was a bit unnerving (I asked to speak to someone in customer service and was stunned to find out the woman WAS customer service!) but I really appreciated it. It's not a big deal to work through the phone menu but the absence of immediate human voice is missed by me.
Regardless, the woman I spoke with gave me a fix for the jelly that didn't set. The jars sealed properly, the jam just didn't set inside.
Now we have 8 half pint jars of glorious rich purple elderberry jelly to brighten our dreary cold winter mornings.
oh.. and why the repetition on cold and dreary? Because it's cloudy and bordering on cold and dreary this morning. I had a fleeting moment of winter thoughts when I crawled out of bed this morning. Brrr. Sorry folks. It's coming.
But returning to the garden tales, we were able to salvage enough brussell sprouts for Kevin and I for dinner last night. Fried up some bacon (which Lauren was thrilled to polish off for me), red onion and garlic, tossed in the tiny sprouts and a bit of chicken stock and left it to braise while Kevin bbq'd steak and corn. Along with the fresh bread the kids helped me bake and a glass of red wine, it was a wonderful meal. Both Roman and Lauren are learning how to kneed the bread by hand and it's a beautiful thing to watch.
Produce wise, I expect we'll get one more eggplant, a few more zucchini, a few more pounds of tomatillos (salsa verde anyone?) and a small basket of carrots. It'll be hit or miss whether the few late squash that have come on will ripen before our first frost. And the late beans we've planted? Fingers crossed. They're doing really well though none of the beets or greens have come up.
This fall the garden needs some serious SERIOUS remediation....
Essentially, everything but the tomatillos. So far, as a home gardener, the one thing I've been able to count on is an over abundance of tomatillos.
And this makes me very happy. We LOVE mexican food so a pantry full of roasted tomatillo salsa fills the winter months with enchilladas, quesadillas, fajitas and tacos.
For the record, the kids love all of these. Not so much the enchilladas for Roman but the rest are consumed in mass quantities.
Roman is an expert at finding and picking the tomatillos that are split and ready to go.
So 18 cups of roasted tomatillos and the requisite accoutrements have made it into 15 jars of salsa to warm our long winter months.
We also fixed the elderberry jelly that when awry a month ago. The people at Bernardin have always been very helpful. My one complaint is their move into a "push 1, push 2..." phone system. Up until last summer, when you dialed the support line number you automatically reached a support person. It was a bit unnerving (I asked to speak to someone in customer service and was stunned to find out the woman WAS customer service!) but I really appreciated it. It's not a big deal to work through the phone menu but the absence of immediate human voice is missed by me.
Regardless, the woman I spoke with gave me a fix for the jelly that didn't set. The jars sealed properly, the jam just didn't set inside.
Now we have 8 half pint jars of glorious rich purple elderberry jelly to brighten our dreary cold winter mornings.
oh.. and why the repetition on cold and dreary? Because it's cloudy and bordering on cold and dreary this morning. I had a fleeting moment of winter thoughts when I crawled out of bed this morning. Brrr. Sorry folks. It's coming.
But returning to the garden tales, we were able to salvage enough brussell sprouts for Kevin and I for dinner last night. Fried up some bacon (which Lauren was thrilled to polish off for me), red onion and garlic, tossed in the tiny sprouts and a bit of chicken stock and left it to braise while Kevin bbq'd steak and corn. Along with the fresh bread the kids helped me bake and a glass of red wine, it was a wonderful meal. Both Roman and Lauren are learning how to kneed the bread by hand and it's a beautiful thing to watch.
Produce wise, I expect we'll get one more eggplant, a few more zucchini, a few more pounds of tomatillos (salsa verde anyone?) and a small basket of carrots. It'll be hit or miss whether the few late squash that have come on will ripen before our first frost. And the late beans we've planted? Fingers crossed. They're doing really well though none of the beets or greens have come up.
This fall the garden needs some serious SERIOUS remediation....
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