Filed under: Anna, Emily, family, girls | Tags: Anna, Christmas presents, Emily, Rubix Cube, Slinky
Christmas time is always a bit tricky with the kids. Anna is now 9 and Emily 7. Neither one is questioning the existence of Santa Clause yet … to my face … making it still quite a bit of fun for us. So, off their wish-lists go. Emily actually wrote one in school and Anna scribbled one down at home. Emily got a long letter back and at the end she was promised a surprise! Anna forgot to put her letter in an envelope, so it never left the mailbox.
So, I had free rein over what Santa might bring our girls this year and I got a bit more innovative, or more to say, I went back in time. Continue reading
It is 11:45PM and I am finally sitting down, at home, just typing and happy the rest of the family is upstairs asleep!
Earlier this evening, Emily went to a friends house for 30 minutes and came home for dinner. I had made one of her favorites – baked chicken a la Heike. She had actually helped me with the preparations and had gone off to play. There were also sweet potato puffs and herbed spaghetti. Anna had made Powdered Sugar Puff Pastries for dessert, which were absolutely divine. So there was not a peep from either girl, munching on dinner … actually a bit of fighting over extra leftover crunchy chicken skin and then mouths filled with powdered sugar puff heaven. So then showers followed and the bedtime story. I snuggle with Emily, Michael snuggled with Anna.
When it is my turn for my final goodnight with Emily she mentions that the back of her head hurts. Hm, I think, maybe some heparin cream is in order I get from Germany. It helps with bruises and pain! As I part the hair, I see blood, I see the start of the wound and it keeps on going, making it a 1-inch cut on the left back of her head. Yeah, that would HURT!!! That girl is one tough cookie
I clean it a bit … tears … I see the whole glory or more the whole gory of it, Michael, too, and we decide that it is time for the ER. She took some cuddlies and off we went. She was scared, but she is a “get it done and over with” kind off girl.
We got there, they did a gazillion neurological tests to see she is not more kooky than before and said that the numbing gel would start working in 30 to 40 minutes. I asked about the alternative, which comes in a needle. Emily decided on that so that she could “get it done and over with” like SHE phrased it! It pinched and hurt a little, the 3 staples definitely hurt, but I am very proud of her! Then, we waited and waited …
Hey, people, we got done and now? Well, the hold-up was, because of a Tylenol prescription from the pharmacy. It took 30 minutes for us NOT to get it in the end.
Needless to say, Emily is not going to school tomorrow – by doctor’s orders! Mommy’s orders are to sleep as long as she can … maybe even long enough for me to go back to bed?!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bright side, Emily, friends, pediatrician
So, it is no secret that the past few weeks in the Sellers’ household have been a bit rocky … but it has not gotten us down. I am always amazed how things looking meek can turn around quickly, who I can count on in my life and how well we can handle things, because we are US! Continue reading
Filed under: Uncategorized
Anna took the test this morning. It is done, whatever happens, happens… more about that when the results are in!!!
Now, the girls are running through the sprinkler with a friend, giggling, screaming, washing away and getting out the stress of the past weeks of sitting down and working in mommy’s morning school. I had help – thankfully – Michael and Oma pitched in, helped where they could. Now, it is hitting me, too.
Oh god, this was not supposed to be a downer post, but the anticipation of the test, the stress of the past months, coming to grips with medicating our daughter is kind of taking it out of me. I know there are many understanding souls out there …
I am determined to come out on top, for Anna to come out on top, so for right now, we will have summer time fun. We all deserve it and Anna the most.
I better get going and cut up this sweet, red-fleshed, refreshing watermelon to bring out to the kids, jumping through the sprinkler. Refreshment for the soul!
Today’s meeting for Anna this afternoon was good. The doctor talked to her directly, what she is hoping to get from medication and her answer was – “to be able to pay more attention, to be more focussed”. So, we are trying Daytran, for a month to see how she does on it. What I like about the patch is that it can be taken off earlier. When a pill is taken, it lasts for a longer time, but the patch can be removed. We will be trying it out while we are in Germany and will have more of an idea if it is working, we have to up the dose or have to try something different. Anna actually asked tonight when she will be able to use it. I think she is ready to show when she can actually do. She can do so much in the classroom, but it is reall tough during tests. As written before, I think many of her issues have to do with being able to focus and pay attention. It is certainly NOT a smart pill!
Today, I have been trying to understand our health insurance plan. Unfortunately, even the insurance cannot tell me how something will be covered – copay or deductible, or both. Well, I am not going to leave it up to chance and will keep bugging them. This is the fun part of staying at home, right? With everything else I am doing – work, house, kids, packing for vacation – it is NOT recommendable.
Good night, sleep tight …
Filed under: Uncategorized
The last few days have been a bit much in this house.
My mother just found out that she has to have knee surgery, which is actually a good thing. Her knee has had problems for the last years. Now, it will be taken care off while she is still young! Continue reading
Filed under: Uncategorized
Nope, no chipper entry today. My heart is quite heavy as I write this, but I want to share it and see if I just have a twisted sense of what it should be about. Continue reading
Filed under: Uncategorized
Yes, I understand that every now and then we all loose stuff. Unfortunately, this problem has become a constant partner for our two girls for a few months now. They have lost way too many jackets and even shoes. They are nowhere to be found in the lost and found in school, and don’t show up at friends houses.
Does anyone have a remedy to this? Continue reading
Emily told me that, when we go meet our friends tomorrow in the park it will be quite warm. She will want to wear short pants and a shirt with “noodle strips”. I about died laughing. She certainly meant “spaghetti straps”.
I read this article this morning and it really hit home with me.
U.S. school children need less work, more play: study
I grew up with 5 minute breaks between 2 school hours (45 minutes = 1 school hour) and 15 minute breaks after every two hours with a longer lunch break, if you had more than 6 hours of school. Here, they are struggling to give the kids one, just one measly 15 minute break during the whole school day from 7:50AM to 2:30PM. Continue reading
Bilingual life and more 