snippet of motherhood: technology and parenting

Today was a nutty day. I was just about to pick my oldest up from school early for an appointment when the school nurse for the youngest called saying he seemed fine but had come back for a second time today saying it hurt to swallow. No fever, good mood, just a red throat. So I scooped him up and made an appointment with the pediatrician just to rule out strep, which has been making the rounds amongst our friends. I called the middle son's school to send a message to him not to wait for his little brother and to come on home.

So now my youngest is with me to get his oldest brother at school and take him to the eye doctor. Diagnosis: quite nearsighted! He's a boy who knows what he likes and he didn't like the glasses the eye doctor had to offer. I've learned my lesson about strong-arming him into accepting things he doesn't really like/want...So we squeezed in a quick trip to a cooler glasses place and found a perfect pair (ca-ching!)...then we dropped him (oldest) at dentist and raced to the pediatrician who was not able to rule out strep because, in spite of him seeming well and not even looking like strep, he actually has a very bad case. Sigh...pick up oldest at dentist, head to pharmacy to drop Rx, head to market to buy groceries while waiting for prescription (since we will be home bound tomorrow - which reminds me, must call school and report strep & absence tomorrow...). Then picked up medicine and a few little treats and soup.

So what does this have to do with technology? Well, to keep him occupied at the eye doctor and again while waiting for the pediatrician, I allowed my youngest to play a game (Fruit Ninja? I guess my oldest loaded it because I sure didn't) on my iPad and now he's obsessed with wanting to play with it again. Here was his attempt:

him: "Mom - I was just talking with your old laptop...he's lonely. He really misses you. Maybe you should spend some time with him instead of your iPad tonight!"


me: "I don't think my laptop is a boy".

Crafty boy...I may just let him play with it as a reward for his creativity!

Welcome Olivia Jane!

You took you time and your momma and daddy hung in there...working so hard for you and here you are...welcome beautiful girl!

swap a doula story for a chance to win natural hand cream

Check out the blog post at Birth A Miracle Services...
the instructions are there...the cream sounds nice:

be entered in a drawing for my homemade, natural hand cream made from herbs I’ve grown. It works great for all sorts of maladies. Dry, cracked hands or feet? Diaper rash? Other skin rashes? Stretch marks? This cream takes care of it all. I use it for my family, and I want to pass on a jar of it to the lucky winner!

Guerrila Midwife

There will be a special showing of this film this coming Sunday in NJ...though not open to the public, it's certainly open to wise women whom I have served or will serve as doula...please be in touch if you want more information! Also, there will be in attendance one or more fantastic home birth midwifes from the area.
Our hope is that we can get it shown at a local film festival this year...

Create community, craft stories and share the vision of gentle birth healing mother earth.Wine & cheese & film screening of 90 minute movie, "Guerilla Midwife" of beautiful midwife, Robin Lim.Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, 4 pm- 7 pmin Montlcair

Bumi Sehat Foundation International

www.bumisehatbali.org

Gentle Birth Heals Mother Earth! Founded in 1995, Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) is a non-profit, village-based organization of dedicated families, midwives, doctors, nurses, teachers and volunteers from Indonesia and other countries around the world.

snippet of motherhood part 2...you have got to be kidding me!

I just caught my oldest, 13, about to snowboard down a ramp he created in the backyard...made from my teak outdoor FURNITURE!

It should also be noted that he was wearing shorts (boxer shorts maybe?) and a tshirt and snowboarding boots...no pants, no jacket, no helmet...sigh

me: "are you insane? stop immediately and put everything back right now!"

him: "it's fine - stop freaking out"

me: "it's so NOT fine...never do this again"

him: "well, I guess I can never have ANY fun around here!"

me: "I guess not"

him: "will you finally take me to Home Depot so I can get PVC pipe and build a rail then??"

me: ...silence and deep breaths...

(the above photo is, thankfully, not in my yard or that of anyone I know!)

snippet of motherhood: thank goodness!

Tonight at dinner...

my 6yo: "on my next birthday, I want a machete..."

me: "um..."

my 6yo: "...but not the knife kind. I want the little pieces of paper-cut up-that explode-at a party kind of machete"

me: "could you mean confetti??"

my 6yo: " oh - yeah...confetti! That's what I want - confetti."

whew!

babies!

Oops - I missed posting about two recent babies...two boys, both with warriors for mommas! Marathon births both...congrats to all!

Welcome baby

Georgia Teresa...we thought you would be born on New Year's Eve, but that's So last decade! We thought you would be born on New Year's Day but maybe prime numbers are not your thing...so yesterday, 1/2/11, was your day. You were worth the wait...all 6lbs 11inches of you is beautiful. Many blessings to your momma, who worked so hard and was a warrior and to your daddy, who wept with joy when he saw you. I know you will be so loved by your big sisters and Gordy the dog too! (not to mention the camera...not many babies look right into the lens for their close-up!)
Welcome to the world, little Georgia Teresa...

(out with the old) In with the new!

Happy 2011!

(shout out to baby Gabe, above, born 2010!...let's hope his image here gives a certain baby girl we are waiting on some ideas...I hope to have a baby announcement sometime today or tonight!)