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No school and some Halloween Photo Fun

Posted on November 3, 2009 2:21 pm by TheAngelForever

As you probably know, today is Election Day. The schools in our district are used as polling places, so there are no classes today. Instead, we signed up for parent-teacher conferences and were able to get NHL’s report card. So we packed up the boys, our pumpkin chocolate chip cake to donate to the bake sale and things to keep the boys busy.

At 8:00, we met with NHL’s teacher. He is doing at or above grade level in all academic areas. The areas that he needs to work on are all in the behavior/social realm and developmentally appropriate. One of the items mentioned is that he likes to tell the teachers what other classmates are doing. So we have to reinforce what being a tattle tale is and to mind your own business.

At the end of the 15 minutes, NHL’s computer teacher came to chat with TechyDad. He also happens to be the head of the Chess Club that NHL is a part of. They talked for a few moments about what we need to do to channel NHL’s clear mindset/strategy for Chess. After this, we went to drop off the cake to the cafeteria and went on our way.

We went to vote and saw Papa at work while there. Then we were off to try to get a few things for lunch at home and a chess game for NHL to practice at home.

When we came home, the boys played for awhile. Then, while showing NHL the photos from Halloween, I decided to go into Picnik within Flickr. He wanted to play around with one of the photos of him in the Luigi costume. Check out what NHL made (with a little assistance from me):

He decided that he wanted orange eyes, vampire skin, a ghost with a witch hat on and spider on the web. Then he helped to pick out the colors for the frame on the picture. He thought it was really fun. I think the only complaint he had was I did not have a Premium membership for some of the other fun Halloween features.

When NHL was done, I had some fun with a photos of TechyDad with NHL. Here they are as Zombies:

I will post some of the real Halloween photos soon. Before I go, I was wondering, do you use Picnik? If you do, do you have the Premium membership? Just curious because I have been toying with it for a while now, but not really sure what the paid version includes that I am missing now.

Categories:
fun holidays jl nhl photos school

Halloween after being sick

Posted on October 31, 2009 2:56 pm by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL,

To say that you are going stir crazy would be an understatement. You have been home sick since after school Monday afternoon. It all started with a headache and fever. Then you added the cough, thanks to your asthma. You were so miserable and had a tough time keeping medicine down with all of the gagging from the cough.

Thursday you were starting to feel better. You were a huge helper when I asked you to get the door for the emergency crew coming to the house for your little brother. Here you are this morning with a mischievous twinkle in your eyes (much nicer than the feverish look).

I know it had to be a tough week for you. You were upset about missing first grade, especially your calendar job this week and the Pumpkin Picking trip. Thank goodness you are feeling better. Tonight you will probably put your costume on and go to see Nana and Papa and visit a few neighbors on our block. Hopefully next year will be a bit more fun, we just need to stay healthy.

Love,

Mommy

__________________________________________________________

Dear JSL,

Tonight is going to be hard for you. You remember going trick-or-treating last year and you can not go tonight. Thursday you gave me another big scare in my life. I held you in my arms when you were turning blue and barely breathing. You had your fourth febrile seizure while we were home alone with your big brother. The time after that as we made our way to the ER are all a blur.

Today you have gone without fever medicine since early this morning and so far so good. Thanks to this we left you go outside in front of the house for some fresh air this afternoon.

We still have no real answers about why you had such a high fever. My sweet little monkey, it just seems like we are going to have to be on top of fevers a little more since your poor little body does not know how to deal with extremes.

Love,

Mommy

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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday holidays jsl looking back nhl photos sick kid weekend

Apples up on top

Posted on October 28, 2009 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There was apparently a joke with the boys about apples on their heads. Here was a group shot from our apple picking trip. More photos of everyone picking the 35 pounds of apples coming soon.

Categories:
fun jl jsl laughs my boys nhl weekend

Listerine’s October Oral Care Challenge

Posted on October 27, 2009 12:56 pm by TheAngelForever

Growing up, I learned the importance of good dental care. My parents both had a lot of dental work and made sure that my brother and I took care of our teeth. We went to the dentist every six months, used fluoride pills, had fluoride treatments done each visit, and brushed and flossed every day. To say that I was afraid of getting cavities would be an understatement. Just before my 30th birthday, I went to the dentist. The hygienist told me that if I had never had a cavity before this, it was unlikely I ever would.

I should have made her take those words back!

Care to guess what happened next? Yes, I was told I had my first cavity and needed a filling. It was very small, but I was a 29 year old baby who was nervous and crying over this.

TechyDad and I have only had two cavities between us. The boys have been brushing their gums since they were infants with no teeth. Oral hygiene is important in our house and the boys know it.

October is a tough month on teeth. Thanks to Halloween, most of us eat a little (or lot) of extra sugary foods. Thanks to this fact, Listerine and Reach created the "October Oral Care Challenge" for kids 6 and older. NHL (6) and I signed up for the challenge when asked by Mom Central. To complete it, we had to brush, floss, and rinse every day, twice a day for two weeks.

Even before the challenge, we were brushing twice daily and are getting much better at making sure everyone flosses in the evening before bed (our one area of weakness when in a rush). This challenge was not something difficult for us since we often do this and were already using some of the products that were sent to try.

Unfortunately, I have to confess something. The October Oral Care Challenge has been tough for us for an unrelated reason. When the items arrived in the mail, I was just getting sick. I had the flu for a week. The next week, my little guy had the flu. We started the two week challenge just after that point and are finishing it now. Sad to say that now one of the other participants, NHL has the flu. We still make sure to brush our teeth when sick, since the bacteria and germs love the warmer temperatures from the fever. What goes out the window are the extra steps like using the Listerine Agent Cool Blue. On these days, we do the brushing to get it done right and quickly. We will definitely continue with this challenge once NHL is feeling better.

NHL was a big fan of the Listerine Agent Cool Blue. He liked swishing it around in his mouth and then looking in the mirror to see what was on his teeth. The blue tint left on his teeth allowed NHL to gain more independence and brush on his own. We could then look in and see how he did and help to finish the job if needed. We also learned through this challenge that it is time for NHL to do this on his own. Thanks to the advice from not only our dentists, but Dr. Kaneta Lott we know what items he should be doing at certain ages. You can read more about Oral Care Smarts here. We also loved the Reach Flosser’s. They helped us to get into the back teeth easier and even allowed NHL to work on flossing solo.

Teaching oral care with our children is important to us and will always be. Our boys have learned this thanks to lots of modeling (they often go with us to the dentist too). We will continue to head to the dentist every six months, as well as brush twice daily, floss and rinse. Be sure to get your Listerine Total Care Coupon & the Listerine Smart Rinse Coupon.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign for Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Categories:
Blog Tour health awareness me moments nhl photos

Finally a flu shot and illness galore

Posted on October 26, 2009 8:43 pm by TheAngelForever

Last Wednesday, I finally received a phone call from our doctor’s office telling me that they had the pediatric preservative free seasonal flu shots in for JSL. The rest of us had our at the end of August and September. We opted to wait to have the shot today since the nurse that is the best at doing vaccines was in today. So bright and early this morning JSL and I went to the doctor’s office. The office was pretty quiet, although the phones were ringing off the hook.

When my father heard that I was heading there, he asked me to inquire about him getting a flu shot. So, I was the good daughter and asked. The receptionist nearly laughed at me. She told me that they have not had any in quite some time and have a list of about 700 people waiting for them! Was she exaggerating? Who knows. All I can say is, I really hope my father can secure one at another location and thank goodness the four of us are now immunized.

After JSL had his flu shot, I asked the nurse about the H1N1 vaccines. Our office still has not received any (family practice, not pediatricians office). Then she asked if I was on the list. I told her that I assumed we were since I have asked several times about them. WRONG! The words that I often use came and bit me in the butt! "Never assume anything!" Oy! We are now at the bottom of page four on the H1N1 vaccine list. When I asked if there was going to be a system as to how they would vaccinate people on the list, I was told they were not sure yet.

I’m not trying to push my kids to the front here, but a 30-60 year old person should not be getting this vaccine over children and pregnant women (I am NOT in that category). I know in August the doctor told me that they would be giving only pregnant woman and children the shot and she told me I would not qualify until a major surplus was around, even with my asthma.

Fast forward to this afternoon.

I went into NHL’s school to drop off some juice for the school Halloween party on Friday. While in the office, I stopped to collect the Box Tops For Education. The secretary stopped the principal from talking to tell her something. There were 66 children home sick today. Something to note, my son’s elementary school is pretty small. There are 271 children in grades PreK-6. Our area is really getting slammed with cases of H1N1 in the last week, especially kids. I cringed and went outside to wait for NHL.

NHL came out of school and something caught my eye. He looked horrible. His eyes had big rings around them and they were glassy looking. He immediately told me that he had a headache. As we walked to the car, he was coughing some. This was not a good sign since it was pretty much the same symptoms I had in what they are 99% sure was H1N1. I immediately sent a message to TechyDad that I was heading to the pharmacy to pick up Tamiflu for NHL. A prescription had been called in for him 2 weeks ago when JSL got the bug.

We went to the pharmacy to pick up the Tamiflu, new thermometer and some other items to give to a sick kiddo. On the way there, NHL almost fell asleep in the car. He was barely responsive and his head was really warm. When we were done getting everything, I put the boys into the car and opened up the thermometer to check NHL’s temperature. Sure enough, it was high for him. When we got home, I cooled him down and tried it again – even higher. I gave him Motrin and it got his temperature down. Tonight, TechyDad and I have noticed that he is coughing a little more. We are waiting to start the Tamiflu at this point, but have it in case we need it in the middle of the night.

NHL will definitely be home from school Tuesday, adding to the number of kids absent at school. It will be interesting to see how the school reacts to all of the sick kids. Now, we must just sit back and watch to see how NHL’s symptoms go. My biggest fear is his asthma and the fact that he did have a febrile seizure when he was almost one.