The Angel Forever

Favorite Halloween treats

Posted on October 29, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last year, Halloween was quite the bust. NHL was home sick that week with H1N1. Then, just the day before, JSL had another febrile seizure. By Halloween day, NHL was feeling much better. He braved the rainy weather and went out to a few houses in his Luigi costume. Poor JSL was still not doing too well. He stayed inside with me handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

This year, the boys are both hoping to go out. The little guy is very excited since he does not remember much from two years ago.

So with Halloween in mind I have two question for you:

What are you giving out to Trick-or-Treaters this Halloween? What was your favorite candy to receive as a child?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #123

Categories:
fun holidays looking back nhl photos sick kid TechyDad

Trying to forget and live in the moment

Posted on October 28, 2010 12:14 pm by TheAngelForever

Stress. It is something that has been invading my life a lot in recent weeks. Rather than talk about it today, I am off to enjoy a day playing Candy Land and running in the sun with my little guy.

For a few minutes, I will try to forget about:

Hysterics from the 3 year old at nursery school drop off
Negative e-mails/calls from many sources
Failure of our education system to assist gifted students
Inability to control schedules of all kinds

I know that is very vague, but a snap shot of several big items that have constantly been on my mind. Once again, I fully admit that being an adult is very, very, very overrated.

*sigh*

As I head off, I must remind myself of one very important item. I am not failing as a parent. The system is failing most children. I am the best advocate for my children and will never give up in my fight for their rights.

Categories:
decisions Educational jsl losing my mind me moments photos sahm vent

Autumn fun in the sun

Posted on October 27, 2010 7:26 am by TheAngelForever

Categories:
jsl sahm weather Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tales – Books of the Hebrew School Kind

Posted on October 26, 2010 1:19 pm by TheAngelForever

My memories of Hebrew School as a child are cloudy at best since I try to forget it. I will be the first to admit that I did not like going. When I was a child, I went Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Now, Hebrew School typically begins in kindergarten once a week for children. Then, when they are in second grade, it goes to twice a week. We have been very lucky. NHL loved Hebrew School the last two years as a kindergartener and first grader. This year, the addition of Wednesday had been a big change. Still, he looks forward to going and learning. Just the other day, he mentioned out of the blue that he wanted to be a Mench. I nearly choked on my dinner. This was not a word I expected to come from my seven-year old son.

So, why am I bringing this up for Tuesday Tales?

Good question. I guess this has to do with how far books for Hebrew School have come. The new books are more realistic, interweave Judaic customs and views of every day life. The books are child friendly, packed with great information, and do not intimidate children while learning about our religion and how to read/write/speak Hebrew.

Check out NHL’s books that are being used. I have to admit, I am jealous and would love to get my hands on a few of them to really read.

Now, I can completely understand where the Mench term was coming from. I was also excited to see the amazing collection of Jewish Holiday/Heritage books that NHL’s teacher has. Many of the books we have and others I have never seen. I am sure he will be especially intrigued by The Cat in the Hat and a few other familiar books all written in Hebrew.

To all of the text-book companies out there, thank you! As a teacher and parent, I applaud you for stepping up to the plate. By making books to use in the classroom that are more engaging, you are not only helping teacher, but also reaching more students.

So what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books looking back milestone nhl photos school Tuesday Tales

Another febrile seizure anniversary coming

Posted on October 25, 2010 12:11 pm by TheAngelForever

The other day, it hit me. It has been almost a year since JSL’s last febrile seizure on October 29, 2009. I should be optimistic about this milestone, but we have been there and done that before. JSL’s febrile seizure nearly twelve months ago was his fourth. I had three as a child, TechyDad at least two, and NHL only one, so we know all too much about them. Still, I look at my bubbly child and wonder, will there be another?

Will we need to go on another ambulance ride to figure out why he has a raging fever and seized? I do not obsess over this, yet it is on my mind a lot right now. It is hard not to when you have seen your child stop breathing four times in less than three years’ time.

The first febrile seizure was when JSL was nine months old in February 2008. That was quite possibly the darkest night of my life. The night that my baby’s lifeless gray body had to have breaths of life blown into him by my mother.

A four day hospital stay resulted. I wrote about it at the time, and, then a year later, in my post called Memories of THAT night in February. At the time, I celebrated the fact that JSL had gone a year since his one and only febrile seizure. Typically, that is a huge accomplished and means that a child is less likely to have another. Something I have learned, JSL is not a typical little guy. Less than two months later, I would be writing about JSL having his second and third febrile seisures in less than 30 hours.

Seven months later, while home alone with the boys my worst nightmare happened. While recovering from H1N1, NHL had to help me let paramedics into our house. While changing his diaper, just moments after running around and playing with his brother, JSL had his fourth febrile seizure. To this day we are still not sure what caused that one.

Now, I just hope and pray that we can continue to add additional time onto our watch since JSL’s last febrile seizure. I promise not to jump each time the phone rings and it is nursery school, but I think you can probably understand why the underlying fear will remain for years to come.

Now, I am off to give my little guy a great big hug.