It's nap time, so I'm taking a quick chance to hop on the 'puter, and put something useful up here. Stefan seems to have refined his pincher grasp and with that, getting foods into his mouth has also come along. I'm still shocked that he's actually consuming these solids, since it looks like nothing is going in, but rest assured, It's coming out. He's still consistently fickle, at 10 months, and really only eats tomato based sauces and curries without fail...oh and Squash with bacon soup was a total success. His tongue moves the solids (non-purees) around his mouth, and usually pushes most out. The cool thing with BLW is that merely doing that is enough to consider a meal a success. He has practice taking in different textures and flavors of different temperature, manipulating them in his mouth, and works on what I consider desensitizing his gag reflex (which once rejected even the smallest bit of food), and maybe swallows something!
Rapley Weaning, Or Baby Led Weaning information at this link.
So my Saturday was a total bust. What should have been a fall day of outside yard fun and a hay ride turned into back tracking my whole morning in Thomaston and Torrington in hopes of finding my credit card, which fell out of my pocket. Anyway, all I succeeded in was wearing myself out and making my cold worse and not getting anything really productive done. So I'll cut this short, as I want to catch up on some important, top secret stuff, and some rest to get rid of the illness that plagues my body.
"Children are a handful sometimes, A heartfull all the time..."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Other Wee Minds
"Instead of categorizing into able and disabled, I see us all as interconnected. And I believe that every person has something to teach me, just as I have something to offer in return."
~Amy Julia Becker, "Is it Harder to Have a Child With Down Syndrome?"
Thank you Melissa for the link to this article on your blog!
Last night I taught a demonstration class (a one-time, free class offered to those interested in Kindermusik), to a group of children with differing abilities. Actually, that is a term I hesitate to use as a label, as we all have differing abilities, which is often evident in music classes. "Special Needs" would be an alternative, but technically, we all have those as well. That is why I'm liking "interconnected" today.
I was so fortunate to be reminded of how much I love working with children, and even more, those who have challenges in life that I will never know. Some people believe in auras and I believe classes have auras. A bit of a simplistic way to talk about class dynamics- which DO exist. You know, you enter a room and you can feel the energy the people in it bring (calm, excited, etc), or don't. Some classes have some great energy and this was one of them. I find that classes with children who have special needs often have a very strong energy...often, one of pride and accomplishment, mixed in with extreme love and trust, but also with a hint of frustration and apprehension. The last two energies, seemingly negative, make the positives ones all that more tremendous.These energies wax and wane through class, every minute is different, and where I end up is usually not where I intended to be when I started, but often it's much better than I would have imagined. So exhilarating!!
I have felt the stress these past few weeks to learn so many lessons, songs, dances, poems, and activities; to "run" the music studio as if I was the owner, as I'm the only teacher Tuesday nights; and function as the cleaning close-up crew, not to mention, being a mom in the down time. However, I was reminded by these wonderful children how much I love what I do. I loved, loved loved the joy in the face of a little girl who threw the ball back to me, better and better every time. Then the excitement of a little boy who discovered the instrument containers sprung precociously, and though he wandered, he was quick to "return" to class to help us clean, spring containers, and take out instruments for the next activity. My favorite part...for the first time, though I can't pretend to fully understand what these specific families go through, I was able to experience their accomplishments through "Mother eyes", and I feel how much more intense the emotions are because of this.
It was an experience to go in my memory banks. One that refreshed my enthusiasm and wiped away the troubles of the past weeks. A class filled with children many people wouldn't expect to dance or sing or play instruments well, but did, and with great success. I thank them, as I think they offered me more than I taught them.
~Amy Julia Becker, "Is it Harder to Have a Child With Down Syndrome?"
Thank you Melissa for the link to this article on your blog!
Last night I taught a demonstration class (a one-time, free class offered to those interested in Kindermusik), to a group of children with differing abilities. Actually, that is a term I hesitate to use as a label, as we all have differing abilities, which is often evident in music classes. "Special Needs" would be an alternative, but technically, we all have those as well. That is why I'm liking "interconnected" today.
I was so fortunate to be reminded of how much I love working with children, and even more, those who have challenges in life that I will never know. Some people believe in auras and I believe classes have auras. A bit of a simplistic way to talk about class dynamics- which DO exist. You know, you enter a room and you can feel the energy the people in it bring (calm, excited, etc), or don't. Some classes have some great energy and this was one of them. I find that classes with children who have special needs often have a very strong energy...often, one of pride and accomplishment, mixed in with extreme love and trust, but also with a hint of frustration and apprehension. The last two energies, seemingly negative, make the positives ones all that more tremendous.These energies wax and wane through class, every minute is different, and where I end up is usually not where I intended to be when I started, but often it's much better than I would have imagined. So exhilarating!!
I have felt the stress these past few weeks to learn so many lessons, songs, dances, poems, and activities; to "run" the music studio as if I was the owner, as I'm the only teacher Tuesday nights; and function as the cleaning close-up crew, not to mention, being a mom in the down time. However, I was reminded by these wonderful children how much I love what I do. I loved, loved loved the joy in the face of a little girl who threw the ball back to me, better and better every time. Then the excitement of a little boy who discovered the instrument containers sprung precociously, and though he wandered, he was quick to "return" to class to help us clean, spring containers, and take out instruments for the next activity. My favorite part...for the first time, though I can't pretend to fully understand what these specific families go through, I was able to experience their accomplishments through "Mother eyes", and I feel how much more intense the emotions are because of this.
It was an experience to go in my memory banks. One that refreshed my enthusiasm and wiped away the troubles of the past weeks. A class filled with children many people wouldn't expect to dance or sing or play instruments well, but did, and with great success. I thank them, as I think they offered me more than I taught them.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Back on the Wagon
So like everything in baby land, things happen then they unhappen and rehappen again. Though he's been OK with nursing while I eat milk, he's gotten rather cranky over the past week or 3. I'm going to cut it out again to clear up the cranky, but not totally exclude it, after my system is more free of the casein. We went a little bonkers catching up on lost dairy time.
I wanted posts in here to be beneficial to others who may have babies with milk allergies. There is a wealth of information on the interwebs about it though. I'm sure this blog won't come up in anyone's search. But if you're reading and know someone else who is going through anything like this, then maybe per chance it will help. So at 10 months, Stefan is sensitized to the casein in my milk such that it only causes a little itchiness on his cheeks, solved effectively by medicated cream (prescription from the Pedi.). I think his demeanor is effected, he's so clingy and cranky. But he is a rather clingy child at this point anyway. (A child's behavior isn't who he is, it's "where" they are, developmentally.) In rare cases, like Stef's, in addition to rashes and intestinal stuff, there is Anaphylaxis. The culprit was a little piece of cheese I gave him, since I thought he was over the allergy at that point. I think the cheese was about the size of a finger nail, I couldn't really discern how much was missing from the little piece I put in front of him. Poor kid REALLY liked the good stuff, too! He was sucking it a bit. Then he kinda sat still, like something was up. He rarely projectile vomits, but that was next and I knew it was coming. Then some swelling and hives and his breathing was labored and he was wheezing. This went on probably for a minute and subsided. If it hadn't, I would have been on my way to the Dr's or hospital with him. As the reaction calmed, he only had the rash and I could hear that his air way was a still a bit effected, as he was kind of wheezing still, and his voice was horse. By the end of the day, you wouldn't have known anything happened. So we're back to hardcore label reading, since it's tricky knowing if there is milk in certain things. Whey is also on the no-no list. fortunately, recently companies spell out if there is milk in their products at the end of the ingredient list, along with notification of gluten and soy. However some do not. So I read everything from all of them all the time. Dear Pizza, until we meet again, I bid you adieu...
Now the personal Lisa and Stefan update:
The past week has been a blur...and so too will this one be. A lot of work not done because Stefan was rather cranky (I got to make that up last night and today...nothing like living on the edge...I never know how a class is going to go when I don't get to prepare on my own timeline). Then came Abbstock '10. aka Abbypalooza. Saturday we were her buddies and traveled all around the state, ending up in Madison at Hammonasset beach for the annual Buddy Walk to raise money and awareness for children with Down Syndrome. I wish I had remembered my parasail as I haven't been out in such wind in....who knows. Stefan was in his baby bunker buggy, I'm not sure how much of the ocean view he actually enjoyed from there. We had a fun time with Abby and family, and extended family, and friends of family and friends!
On Sunday we returned to Abbyville, and arrived very late to her christening. I heard it was wonderful. However we did get to hang out in the secret cozy room with Emily and Penny, Abby's aunt/godmother and 3 week old cousin. I've never seen a newborn smile until Penelope!! She just has this smile about her all the time, it's beautiful:) Then we had some good times at our own private christening, Abby style, on Aunt France's floor. In fact the floor was christened as well...If Melissa would just dress her in clothes she liked the first time, Abby may not feel the need to spit up all over everything! Just sayin'.
Today, back to the work week and demonstration Monday was a bust, but for the two wonderful Mom's and babies I met in class. Luckily, only a couple more scheduled demo days before that whole thing is dropped and I can get back to actually making money for a day's work. Tomorrow will be a marathon, day care teaching in the morning, classes at night, and Wednesday, free demos and classes at night again. Then flute-repairs until 5:00 pm Friday, lessons, more repairs, and hopefully a break sometime next week(?). Here's to hoping Stefan isn't a cranky pants this week because I can't fit that into the schedule!
Time to bust out the Shipyard imperial 4-pack I picked up today...Sean gets the XXXX IPA (racy!), and I'm saving the Smashed Pumpkin for Halloween (OMG best pumpkin beer EVER!). Stout for later(in the week...I do have to go to work tomorrow!) and Barley Wine style for...well right now!
I wanted posts in here to be beneficial to others who may have babies with milk allergies. There is a wealth of information on the interwebs about it though. I'm sure this blog won't come up in anyone's search. But if you're reading and know someone else who is going through anything like this, then maybe per chance it will help. So at 10 months, Stefan is sensitized to the casein in my milk such that it only causes a little itchiness on his cheeks, solved effectively by medicated cream (prescription from the Pedi.). I think his demeanor is effected, he's so clingy and cranky. But he is a rather clingy child at this point anyway. (A child's behavior isn't who he is, it's "where" they are, developmentally.) In rare cases, like Stef's, in addition to rashes and intestinal stuff, there is Anaphylaxis. The culprit was a little piece of cheese I gave him, since I thought he was over the allergy at that point. I think the cheese was about the size of a finger nail, I couldn't really discern how much was missing from the little piece I put in front of him. Poor kid REALLY liked the good stuff, too! He was sucking it a bit. Then he kinda sat still, like something was up. He rarely projectile vomits, but that was next and I knew it was coming. Then some swelling and hives and his breathing was labored and he was wheezing. This went on probably for a minute and subsided. If it hadn't, I would have been on my way to the Dr's or hospital with him. As the reaction calmed, he only had the rash and I could hear that his air way was a still a bit effected, as he was kind of wheezing still, and his voice was horse. By the end of the day, you wouldn't have known anything happened. So we're back to hardcore label reading, since it's tricky knowing if there is milk in certain things. Whey is also on the no-no list. fortunately, recently companies spell out if there is milk in their products at the end of the ingredient list, along with notification of gluten and soy. However some do not. So I read everything from all of them all the time. Dear Pizza, until we meet again, I bid you adieu...
Now the personal Lisa and Stefan update:
The past week has been a blur...and so too will this one be. A lot of work not done because Stefan was rather cranky (I got to make that up last night and today...nothing like living on the edge...I never know how a class is going to go when I don't get to prepare on my own timeline). Then came Abbstock '10. aka Abbypalooza. Saturday we were her buddies and traveled all around the state, ending up in Madison at Hammonasset beach for the annual Buddy Walk to raise money and awareness for children with Down Syndrome. I wish I had remembered my parasail as I haven't been out in such wind in....who knows. Stefan was in his baby bunker buggy, I'm not sure how much of the ocean view he actually enjoyed from there. We had a fun time with Abby and family, and extended family, and friends of family and friends!
On Sunday we returned to Abbyville, and arrived very late to her christening. I heard it was wonderful. However we did get to hang out in the secret cozy room with Emily and Penny, Abby's aunt/godmother and 3 week old cousin. I've never seen a newborn smile until Penelope!! She just has this smile about her all the time, it's beautiful:) Then we had some good times at our own private christening, Abby style, on Aunt France's floor. In fact the floor was christened as well...If Melissa would just dress her in clothes she liked the first time, Abby may not feel the need to spit up all over everything! Just sayin'.
Today, back to the work week and demonstration Monday was a bust, but for the two wonderful Mom's and babies I met in class. Luckily, only a couple more scheduled demo days before that whole thing is dropped and I can get back to actually making money for a day's work. Tomorrow will be a marathon, day care teaching in the morning, classes at night, and Wednesday, free demos and classes at night again. Then flute-repairs until 5:00 pm Friday, lessons, more repairs, and hopefully a break sometime next week(?). Here's to hoping Stefan isn't a cranky pants this week because I can't fit that into the schedule!
Time to bust out the Shipyard imperial 4-pack I picked up today...Sean gets the XXXX IPA (racy!), and I'm saving the Smashed Pumpkin for Halloween (OMG best pumpkin beer EVER!). Stout for later(in the week...I do have to go to work tomorrow!) and Barley Wine style for...well right now!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
On your mark, get set....
"...doesn't really matter who win this race because the just do it again anyway."
~From a child's drawing of a rocket ship race for "Ruler of the Universe Forever and Ever"
I love this sentiment!! I hate that we're too scared to declare winners and losers in children's sports, classroom games, or where ever else people have taken away "winning" from children to shield the losers. You lost...so what? Know what happens when I lose? I practice harder and make sure my next game (or concert) is up to snuff, and I win. Even if the numbers don't say I win, I ultimately do because I've improved my game or playing. The more I lose, the harder I try, the better I become...jees, ya know what? Seems like I haven't really lost at all. Would the person who is for no winners/losers accept their child bringing home a report card with with no grades because a teacher was afraid to hurt their feelings with a low average? Will that child, when he or she becomes an adult, be able to handle a job where their performance is judged and their pay is effected by their skills? Is it beneficial to set children up to fail as adults by taking away the experience of what to do when you lose; or fair to take away the gratification of winning because you worked really hard to be better than everyone else?
I used to feel bad declaring winners and losers. I totally bought into not hurting people's feelings. So, for example, Freeze Dance...we all dance and freeze, no one is "out". The children hate it! They beg for me to call winners and losers. They try hard not to move...not even to breath or blink when the music stops. They love practicing their inhibitory control! After a while, when no one is called "out", they start to really hate this game that they normally begged to play all class, every class. They want the recognition (children love to be noticed!!). It seems obvious to me, it's not the children who care if they win or lose, it's their adults (what ever adult around them that has chosen to "spare" their feelings).
In my honest opinion, this practice makes a bunch of C students, who don't know how to take losing, and don't improve themselves (and in time our world). But hey, C is good enough to be president, right? And now, before I even go there, I bid you adieu!
PS it turns out Stefan's milk allergy is still there. I think he's less sensitive, so while I can take in some occasional dairy with out noticeable effect, he cannot eat it himself without a very sudden, dangerously violent reaction. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to lessen, and he'll be able to enjoy pizza and ice cream with his friends one day, when he actually cares about diary.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Twillight Zone
Life is a little crazy around here these days. The first few months of Stefan, there seemed to be a new thing happening every week. Then we hit a plateau after the 7 month Teeth. Nothing major going on, more importantly, nothing new to acclimate to. Then all of a sudden, cool stuff again."There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone."—Rod Serling
We started last week with some walking. It is so exciting to not physically move his legs! Also easier on mom when we practice walking. He's gotten so much better as the week has gone on and now we're working on speed a little bit. I'm so happy his socks have traction, so we don't need to get into shoes and whenever possible, he is barefoot. Baby (and adult) feet take in information about their surroundings (texture, temperature, if the ground is level, etc), AND Stefan uses his feet to kick and manipulate objects, so I figured I wouldn't glove them up in shoes unless it gets too cold. Most of the time he is very enraptured by his feet, and he forgets to look up, and bumps into things. He LOVES to watch my feet kick leaves, though the ground hasn't been exceptionally dry out here, so he doesn't walking in them so much yet.
Next cool thing is food. I feel so redundant (new movements, food/eating, sleeping, poo...what else is there, right?). We spent a night up in VT with our good friends, Lisa and Jamie. Lovely Lisa is a chef at a place that focuses on feeding women with special dietary needs....sooooooooo we were spoiled with some great non-dairy meals. Stefan was all over most of the food she cooked...eating smaller pieces than he has ever tried to hold, digging the curry (however, the gag reflex was working against him, spitting all his rice out), and though he loved the mashed potato, it still gives him a bit of a rash. He was all up in my food, seeming to really want to get into some solids. HERE is the super way wicked cool part: In preparation to go to Lisa's, I had eaten some bleu cheese earlier in the week, to test Stefan's allergy. No reaction, but I only had a very little. Well, we dove into more dairy in VT (not everything was diary free!), and still no major reaction. So last night, as we stumbled in just before Monday Night Football, Sean and I ordered some pizza, my first since April. So Good (!) and no reactions thus far! I'm so psyched. It seems like some dietary development just finally clicked.
Finally, another very way wicked super cool thing: Stranger Anxiety...or lets say his lack thereof. Now it could have just been the air (one of the cautious kitties were acting differently than anticipated, as well), but Stefan was totally into Lisa, and his new buddy, Jamie. He didn't do his famous "recoil", shared his gooey fingers with Lisa, chilled without me occasionally, and loved playing all his little games with them too. So I'm crossing my fingers, as many babies enter into their "stranger anxieties" around 9 months, that maybe we'll have already gotten over it. One can hope!
On a personal note...my week was total stupidity- like forgetting, missing, losing, lots of extra driving, dead dish washer, etc. Just one of those weeks that makes you want to get out of dodge and head to VT for a vacation. It was punctuated quite nicely with Sean's final Jetta dying in the parking lot of the Auto Zone...which one would argue was quite an advantageous place for it to die. It happened in the same parking lot, with the same problem with a previous Jetta only a couple of years ago. Among many other problems (windows that don't go down, exhaust leaks, electrical problems that made blinkers etc not work, no air cond., some cord snapping in relation to the starter...that was the same thing that went wrong on the last one) his car was so rusted that it couldn't be safely put onto jack stands in our driveway. Repairs were just too much and so the car passed on to it's final resting place in the dump. It's the end of an era (almost) as we only have one Jetta left...the original one, in pieces in the garage, as it has been pillaged to provide the subsequent Jettas with parts. Soon I'll be picking up my new Focus ST (new to me); a sporty 4-door with some very pleasant features.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Harwinton Fair
Sunday was one of our first really blustery, yet sunny days; I think fall has officially fell. Stefan went to the Harwinton fair and hung out with Grandma Janice while I played with the band. Though I missed most of the fair, I had a chance to take him over to some very cute ponies and we ate some french fries together...OK I ate french fries, Stefan threw them on the ground. It's healthier that way.
I had a great time sitting amongst a bunch of silly semi-pro band-os, sight reading all sorts of crazy music, and watching people (children and adults) dance while we played. My favorite part of the day was playing some tunes for the flying trapeeze artists next to us. They had a few full band "ta-da's" and some Blue Danube while they bicycled across the high wire (in some tricky wind! Pretty impressive). Though they brought their own music, they seemed to be having a better time getting us to play for them. How often does stuff like that happen? It was very cool.
I think fair season might be over...at least for the big ones out here that we'd be able to make it to, but I'm psyched about bringing him to some next year. Goshen and the Big E (during the week, no weekends!) have our names on them. Maybe we'll catch a hayride or something cool this Halloween!
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