Is this thing on?

Is it just his gender or is there a problem here? Little Man had tubes put in his ears in October 2006. The tubes fell out in November 2007. Since falling out, he has suffered at least six ear infections. To be honest, we, and I mean the pediatrician and ENT included, are not even sure if it isn't just one long infection. He is on antibiotics for two weeks and then off for two weeks, then we cycle again. Other than some whining at times, he speaks like a five year old so I am not worried about speech development. A hearing test shows he is within normal range but why does he like the music so loud and seems to hear me best at a whisper? I cannot have a tone deaf child; I must live vicariously through him when he becomes a rock star! At our one year check last week with the ENT he commented that the ears looked good and removed the tubes that had wiggled out of position. I asked about tubing again due to the infections and he suggested to wait a couple of months and see how it goes. He said if we tube again we will take the tonsils and adenoids. Fast forward one week; ear infection number seven.

There is a difference between listening and hearing. Daddy is not hearing me. What is worse; Little Man constantly on meds or the operation to remove the body parts rendered useless in the last century thanks to modern medicine? My tonsils were removed due to regular bouts of strep throat, which Little Man, at the age of three has had about four times. I am fine, or so I think so, and tend to error on the side of healthy.

So not only does Little Man fight ear infections and strep throat routinely, I am starting to wonder if the reason he gets up two or three times a night is not that he needs us, but that he doesn't feel good or has other medical issues like trouble breathing. Maybe I am just searching for more reasons to rationalize the operation.

My dilemma; how do get Daddy to hear me and make it his idea to proceed with what seems to be best for our Little Man?

Is this thing on?

Is it just his gender or is there a problem here? Little Man had tubes put in his ears in October 2006. The tubes fell out in November 2007. Since falling out, he has suffered at least six ear infections. To be honest, we, and I mean the pediatrician and ENT included, are not even sure if it isn't just one long infection. He is on antibiotics for two weeks and then off for two weeks, then we cycle again. Other than some whining at times, he speaks like a five year old so I am not worried about speech development. A hearing test shows he is within normal range but why does he like the music so loud and seems to hear me best at a whisper? I cannot have a tone deaf child; I must live vicariously through him when he becomes a rock star! At our one year check last week with the ENT he commented that the ears looked good and removed the tubes that had wiggled out of position. I asked about tubing again due to the infections and he suggested to wait a couple of months and see how it goes. He said if we tube again we will take the tonsils and adenoids. Fast forward one week; ear infection number seven.

There is a difference between listening and hearing. Daddy is not hearing me. What is worse; Little Man constantly on meds or the operation to remove the body parts rendered useless in the last century thanks to modern medicine? My tonsils were removed due to regular bouts of strep throat, which Little Man, at the age of three has had about four times. I am fine, or so I think so, and tend to error on the side of healthy.

So not only does Little Man fight ear infections and strep throat routinely, I am starting to wonder if the reason he gets up two or three times a night is not that he needs us, but that he doesn't feel good or has other medical issues like trouble breathing. Maybe I am just searching for more reasons to rationalize the operation.

My dilemma; how do get Daddy to hear me and make it his idea to proceed with what seems to be best for our Little Man?

Riding in Cars with Boys

Little Man: Mama I see a big bird over there!
Mama: That is a big bird.
Little Man: I want to scare the bird.
Mama: Why do you want to do that?
Little Man: I want to scare birds, squirrels, and trucks.
Mama: What happens when you scare them?
Little Man: They will run away on the tracks and a train will run over them.
Mama: Little Man that is not nice, where did you learn to talk like that?
Little Man: Bobby

Little Man has been out of preschool almost two weeks and the class bully is still controlling him. My decision to pull him was validated once again.

Riding in Cars with Boys

Little Man: Mama I see a big bird over there!
Mama: That is a big bird.
Little Man: I want to scare the bird.
Mama: Why do you want to do that?
Little Man: I want to scare birds, squirrels, and trucks.
Mama: What happens when you scare them?
Little Man: They will run away on the tracks and a train will run over them.
Mama: Little Man that is not nice, where did you learn to talk like that?
Little Man: Bobby

Little Man has been out of preschool almost two weeks and the class bully is still controlling him. My decision to pull him was validated once again.

Backstage Pass to the Treehouse

With both boys sick and snow on the ground we stayed inside this morning. What will the afternoon bring?


No, Little Man does not have organ failure. His light green belly is due to a painting project. It is so much more fun to paint skin than paper.

We had to bury the penguin at the sensory station.

Cause of Death: over exposure to the sun while dreaming of tropical vacation.

We learned about spatial relationships. Does this bowl fit on brother's head?

We observed bugs in their habitat on an indoor nature walk.

We studied archaeology while creating a dinosaur park.

We had a picnic lunch in our fort.

Backstage Pass to the Treehouse

With both boys sick and snow on the ground we stayed inside this morning. What will the afternoon bring?


No, Little Man does not have organ failure. His light green belly is due to a painting project. It is so much more fun to paint skin than paper.

We had to bury the penguin at the sensory station.

Cause of Death: over exposure to the sun while dreaming of tropical vacation.

We learned about spatial relationships. Does this bowl fit on brother's head?

We observed bugs in their habitat on an indoor nature walk.

We studied archaeology while creating a dinosaur park.

We had a picnic lunch in our fort.

Ye of little faith

Inspired by my friend Piper over at Bliss in Bloom I took a leap of faith this week in honor of leap year. As the week is coming to a close I sit down to evaluate my leap and write about it. After lots of stewing and doubting, Daddy and I decided to take Little Man out of preschool. The Babe had been staying home with me or going to Nana's or Aunt Laura's lately while brother went to school. The arrangement allowed me and Daddy to work from the office or home. Since selling our business in October, I was beginning to feel like I was either neglecting the boys, or work so I wasn’t really getting anything done. When Little Man's school said there wasn’t room for Babe until August we decided to switch to a new school so both could attend together. More stewing. It just didn’t feel right. Why are earth are we spending so much money for someone else to take care of my kids? Right now it seems that I was just working to cover daycare costs. Since we were going to try a new school anyway, we decided to try the School of Mom. I was petrified. What if they get bored, what if I can't find enough stuff to occupy them, what if I am not challenging them enough, what if I go crazy? My neurosis took me on a spiral of doubt and fear. I ask myself as this first week ends, "why didn’t you do this before"? This is what you were meant to do! If you had asked me five years ago if this is where I would be today I would have said no way. I did not think I was the stay at home type. However, I found myself at a City Business Luncheon with my brother in law last week and realized, as I watched the women in the room, that I am not that woman anymore. I am somewhere in between the women at lunch and the woman that I envisioned a stay at home would be. This week has been so fulfilling. I feel productive, successful and valuable. I haven’t felt like that at many jobs I have held outside the home. I encourage everyone to take a leap of faith. Even if you doubt yourself, others believe in you and their faith in you will make you stronger! Not only did I take a leap, but so did Daddy and the boys, and we are all better for it!

Have a Little Faith in Me
John Haitt

When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try
And have a little faith in me

Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
When your secret heart

Cannot speak so easily
Come here darlin
From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me

And when your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you will see
I will catch, I will catch your fall baby
Just have a little faith in me

Well, I’ve been loving you for such a long time
Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me

You see time, time is our friend cause for us there is no end
And all you gotta do is have a little faith in me
I said I will hold you up, I will hold you up
Your love gives me strength enough
So have a little faith in me