Tuesday, February 02, 2010
school's back. the six weeks were OK in the end. I surrendered to not getting any work done, and ended up having my first proper mental break since the cancer diagnosis.
we had a week at the beach, then his grandparents took him for a few nights. his other grandparents were in town too (the inlaws) and we went to their 24th floor apartment, where I was horrified at the balconies and have banned dh from letting him be there until it's understood 17 times over that those doors are to stay CLOSED.
had a few days here and there at the country place, where his new reading skills made him a fine quiet-morning companion.
and it is definitely getting easier, this parenting thing, at least in terms of demands on me. but I am also missing my little person, and thinking that maybe I'd like another; I will be frustrated and worn out again, but they are so damn nice, children. there is no feeling like looking at my own child, listening to him talk. it's gold, and I don't care if it's some biological trick. we - humans - are just a parcel of biological tricks after all.
he's back at school now. Grade One. five months of treatment to go. have an appointment with the IVF dr in April, and am about to start the STUPID police check process that the state now requires before I can use my own bloody embies. stupid.
we had a week at the beach, then his grandparents took him for a few nights. his other grandparents were in town too (the inlaws) and we went to their 24th floor apartment, where I was horrified at the balconies and have banned dh from letting him be there until it's understood 17 times over that those doors are to stay CLOSED.
had a few days here and there at the country place, where his new reading skills made him a fine quiet-morning companion.
and it is definitely getting easier, this parenting thing, at least in terms of demands on me. but I am also missing my little person, and thinking that maybe I'd like another; I will be frustrated and worn out again, but they are so damn nice, children. there is no feeling like looking at my own child, listening to him talk. it's gold, and I don't care if it's some biological trick. we - humans - are just a parcel of biological tricks after all.
he's back at school now. Grade One. five months of treatment to go. have an appointment with the IVF dr in April, and am about to start the STUPID police check process that the state now requires before I can use my own bloody embies. stupid.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
see, I was going to post a boast about his first end of year report, and the contents, which featured words like "advanced", "excellent", "potential as a writer", blah blah blah.
but instead, I wish to quote a whingey-voiced six year old, after being admonished for creating a water fountain in the powder room while filling a spray bottle (it's 40 degrees outside so water play is the go).
"I forgot which way I was going (he means the tap), so I exploded."
and it was my repetition of those words, oh, about 10 times, that led to the exchange below.
but instead, I wish to quote a whingey-voiced six year old, after being admonished for creating a water fountain in the powder room while filling a spray bottle (it's 40 degrees outside so water play is the go).
"I forgot which way I was going (he means the tap), so I exploded."
and it was my repetition of those words, oh, about 10 times, that led to the exchange below.
"stop teasing me"
"I can't help it if you're funny."
"it's your fault. because you made me."
"I can't help it if you're funny."
"it's your fault. because you made me."
Friday, November 20, 2009
the definition of good timing: to wake up early and drive to the beach on a super-hot day, only to receive a phone call from the husband saying the kid is sick and staying home from school.
why good timing? because it meant I a) got my swim anyway and b) did it on a day that would have been shot for work by said sick child. was home by lunchtime and able to take over childcare without a jot of resentment. and husband gets brownie points for staying home for morning.
anyway there was nothing much wrong with him. he's back at school today. only four weeks left until the six-week school holidays. now there's a motivation to do some work. in fact we are both (kid and me: have no idea what dh thinks) looking forward to our little trips, house cleanup, cooking, week at the beach and of course: CHRISTMAS. the highlight of any six-year-old's birthday (after the actual act of turning six)
why good timing? because it meant I a) got my swim anyway and b) did it on a day that would have been shot for work by said sick child. was home by lunchtime and able to take over childcare without a jot of resentment. and husband gets brownie points for staying home for morning.
anyway there was nothing much wrong with him. he's back at school today. only four weeks left until the six-week school holidays. now there's a motivation to do some work. in fact we are both (kid and me: have no idea what dh thinks) looking forward to our little trips, house cleanup, cooking, week at the beach and of course: CHRISTMAS. the highlight of any six-year-old's birthday (after the actual act of turning six)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
we're sitting on the floor. he gets a cushion and leans it against me and snuggles in.
"you're a tree," he says.
"and you're a pea," I say, pea being my latest affectionate name for him.
"no," he says. "I'm a birdie. and I made my nest in you."
sometimes I love him so much it makes my heart break.
sixth birthday report: a day of insane fruit-salad making, dealing (not well) with a kid who threw a tantrum, and occasionally stopping to thank the nonexistent God that after five years exactly, I was still Not Dead.
it's very hot for November. I suppose he thinks it's normal. the benefit of being brand new.
"you're a tree," he says.
"and you're a pea," I say, pea being my latest affectionate name for him.
"no," he says. "I'm a birdie. and I made my nest in you."
sometimes I love him so much it makes my heart break.
sixth birthday report: a day of insane fruit-salad making, dealing (not well) with a kid who threw a tantrum, and occasionally stopping to thank the nonexistent God that after five years exactly, I was still Not Dead.
it's very hot for November. I suppose he thinks it's normal. the benefit of being brand new.
Friday, October 30, 2009
so A. turns six next week, which of course is five years post-diagnosis. exactly. surgeon OK'd me last week. maybe a CAT scan before the five years post-treatment mark.
might I have made it? afraid to take my fingers away from my eyes, really.
A. is all about Halloween this weekend; has a scary skeleton outfit sent to him by MIL, who for all her usual impeccable taste seems to go in for ghoulish kid outfits. so I am going doorknocking with him and some neighbourhood kids/mums tomorrow.
he is also all about star charts (or tick charts) for being good - getting dressed, doing his handwriting practice - and if he keeps that up, he gets another chart for giving the dog water. and if he gets that right, well, I have to buy him a guinea pig.
btw, don't go looking for guinea pigs on Google images. (pause) told you not to look, didn't I? gross, huh?
my current wish is for someone to make a decent mastectomy swimsuit. maybe a two-piece even? in a colour other than black?
might I have made it? afraid to take my fingers away from my eyes, really.
A. is all about Halloween this weekend; has a scary skeleton outfit sent to him by MIL, who for all her usual impeccable taste seems to go in for ghoulish kid outfits. so I am going doorknocking with him and some neighbourhood kids/mums tomorrow.
he is also all about star charts (or tick charts) for being good - getting dressed, doing his handwriting practice - and if he keeps that up, he gets another chart for giving the dog water. and if he gets that right, well, I have to buy him a guinea pig.
btw, don't go looking for guinea pigs on Google images. (pause) told you not to look, didn't I? gross, huh?
my current wish is for someone to make a decent mastectomy swimsuit. maybe a two-piece even? in a colour other than black?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
nearly up to 5 years post-diagnosis. nearly up to 6 month more of treatment. A assures me that if I have a baby he will get up to it when it cries. I tell him it's not his job to do that, but he can help feed it if he likes, and play with it. I don't know where this is heading.
two friends doing IVF right now: one has been trying for years and is now on egg donation from her sister, and got a negative. the other had a failed first round and is about to try with frozen embies; in the way of these things, her husband's father has just died and he will have to go overseas when her transfer is due. I am campaigning to be allowed to take her to the hospital and home again. these are people who are always going our of their way to help their friends, but never take help themselves. she's the person who came with me to the specialist when the lump was being tested.
so, a little vicarious IVF tension for me.
off on a four-day bike riding holiday with the kid, dh and some motel bookings (not entirely roughing it!) School holidays are good b/c we get to see more of each other, not so good for my work..
two friends doing IVF right now: one has been trying for years and is now on egg donation from her sister, and got a negative. the other had a failed first round and is about to try with frozen embies; in the way of these things, her husband's father has just died and he will have to go overseas when her transfer is due. I am campaigning to be allowed to take her to the hospital and home again. these are people who are always going our of their way to help their friends, but never take help themselves. she's the person who came with me to the specialist when the lump was being tested.
so, a little vicarious IVF tension for me.
off on a four-day bike riding holiday with the kid, dh and some motel bookings (not entirely roughing it!) School holidays are good b/c we get to see more of each other, not so good for my work..
Friday, September 04, 2009
have updated my book list. seem to be actually reading at the moment. have developed a habit of a little read in the afternoon - it's important to keep going on books, I think. if they sit too long they get stale.
A. is reading too...I sometimes wonder what he's doing and find him sitting with his nose in a book. he's mine all right.
looking forward to school holidays and the Big Bike Ride in the hills, with motels and nice restaurants every night.
A. is reading too...I sometimes wonder what he's doing and find him sitting with his nose in a book. he's mine all right.
looking forward to school holidays and the Big Bike Ride in the hills, with motels and nice restaurants every night.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]