Ruby Pox

My sister drew this... my life in pictures

Determination

While on a trip to Moscow to visit the sister and nephews, Ava lost her tooth.    It was barely loose when we left town and three days later she had wiggled it tirelessly to it's eventual liberation.  I didn't want it getting lost on the trip so I put it in a GIANT ziplock in my purse.  She was fascinated by her newly separated body part though and would not leave the tooth alone.  I told her that the tooth fairy couldn't come when we got home if she didn't leave the tooth alone.  We had less than 24 hours left at my sister's and I didn't want to deal with the ritual at her house with 7 handsy children in the house.   At one point my nephew was suspiciously nosing around my purse.  Ava had recently gotten a speaking to about trying to sneak her tooth again so I asked him what he might be up to.  "getting Ava's tooth" he said.  You have to love a boy with clear motives.  I asked him why he was getting the tooth...  "Ava wants it" was his answer.  Again I talked to her about what would happen if she lost the tooth.  She complained off and on the whole 7 hour drive and repeatedly asked why she couldn't have the tooth in the car.  "mamma... I just need to look at it!!"  I let her look, but she wouldn't leave it in the bag and within several hours of being home she had lost the tooth somewhere in the house never to be seen again.

This is where I feel like a bad mom. I feel strongly that consequences must come from both the parents and external sources.  I truly believe that in order for a child to learn responsibility for themselves and their actions that motivation to do what is right must be gained from the outside world.  In other words...  I don't steal because bad things will happen to me in the world.  When they see that consequences are universal, both good and bad then they also begin to form a basis of morality.  I don't do bad because bad things happen eventually becomes I don't do bad because I am a good person.  If a child is to learn self control then motivation to be good must be in place via natural consequence.  I am not the bad guy... the universe hands out punishments and rewards and I am here to teach you how to get the most out of life because I love you.

SO... the tooth fairy didn't come for Ava.  A week later she pulled her own tooth.  This time the tooth fairy came... I am floored at the tenacity of this small child.

Things that happen at my house

Ruby has had hives now for a week.  I was sure they came from my mom's house while playing with the dogs.   When the school nurse called, insisting that they looked like chicken pox, I denied this I am a pediatric nurse after all, I would KNOW if my child had chicken pox.  A few days later I examined the hives... they had crusted over and were mainly on her trunk.

They looked exactly like chicken pox.  Ahem... sorry other parents.

One cold winter day, Ava and Ruby were coughing.  I was worried about Ruby because she had thrown up several times.  This had led to a hospital admission in the past because she will keep throwing up sometimes and not stop until she gets fluids.  I drove into the pediatricians with both kids laughing, coughing, playing and talking.  I discussed my worries about Ruby's vomiting episodes.  The ped listened to her lungs, then heard Ava cough and listened to hers too.  Both had pneumonia and needed steroids, antibiotics, and neb treatments.    She was so concerned she actually made us sit while they did a neb treatment in the office.

And to think I once carried Kayla into the ER for a pulled muscle.

Conclusion... sometimes it sucks to be the youngest.

Not nice

I made the kids clean their room with me until 1130pm tonight.  They shot me daggers with their eyes, however I believe sometimes life is too posh in these quarters.  Now they can ride bikes in their room...  see, I'm not such a mean mommy after all.

Overheard in the car

Olivia:  We all have germs.  I have germs, you have germs and mom has germs.  Ava has the most germs cause of always itching her butt.

Ruby:  EWWWWWW!!

Ava:  well, my butt always bees itchy!!

Today

Today I ran all the way to the social security office to change my name and was told that they can't help me because the stamp on my document is the wrong color.

Today I had a nice clean and good smelling house so I decided to clean the oven.  It must have been awhile because now the entire house is smokey and smells like toasted ass hair.

Today I was proud to be home in time to have lunch ready for my preschooler and she said NO LIKE IT NUGGET when she walked in the door.  Then she ate 9 of them.

Today I have seen RIO twice.

Today I planned on running on my treadmill but will probably settle for Rio a third time.

Today I laughed 100 times.
Today I smiled all day.
Today I had coffee with my favorite 5 year old in the world.

I can't wait for tomorrow

Cupcake wins

I tried to tell myself "self, if you had something better to do then you wouldn't be eating that cupcake" It didn't work because I am capable of doing most things while eating a cupcake.