Playing Dominoes

When I was little, I used to build these long trails of dominoes standing on end. If I did it right, I wouldn't knock over any until the last one was in place and then, at the very end, I would tip the las one into the next-to-last one and they would all go tipping down. You probably did this too. I had no idea this was simply my training for adulthood.

I have been wanting to get my studio looking professional. It's functional now, but the pell-mell nature of it makes me feel unsettled. I'll admit it, I love the matchy-matchy and I hate to bring clients into my current space. So I decided that I want to put in some custom cabinetry and move my dad out (love you dad!). Dad was agreeable and Richard needs a space too, so after much mental gymnastics we decided that the playroom would be the best space to convert for an office/man cave. Except, now we had to find another place for all of Hayes's toys, which naturally flowed into his room and closest and where will all the stuff currently in his closet go? Are you following this? The long and the short of it is that if I want to have a studio update, I have to get these other two spaces arranged first: Dominoes.

In the course of two days, and with the help of my only too eager mom, we have Hayes's closet cleaned out, the laundry room reorganized (because we had to put some of that stuff somewhere, didn't we?), Hayes's room and closet reoganized and the playroom emptied of its toys. Whew! The last painter is coming to give an estimate for the stairwell, playroom/man room, and hallway tomorrow. Once we have decided who to go with, the couch -- the beast -- will be the next thing to go. Like I said: Dominoes.

Dinner and a Movie

Richard and I actually managed to have a date tonight. For those without children, it must seem so silly to be so excited about staying in. But for us, it was lovely. We got Hayes to bed on time and Richard fixed us a fabulous dinner. We watched a new Woody Allen movie: Match Point, which I have to say was beautifully done. What could be better than a modern day opera? Suffice it to say we had a lovely evening and I couldn't be happier, or luckier.

Coming Up for Air

So day four of the sickness and we are finally without a fever! Isn't it just like a gifted kid to get sick first and best? I have to say, it is fabulous not to have to monitor which drug we have to administer when, and to be rid of the constant taking of the temperature. A return to normalcy, halleluia!

We went to the Dr. yesterday. I have to say yet again how much I love Dr. Gary. I always feel more reassured and sane after a visit with him. He was not concerned about the high fever so much. He said there had been lots of it going around this year. No signs of Strep; just a virus; drink fluids; possible school on Wednesday. And it looks like he was right: Hayes will be back in school tomorrow. Big sigh of relief here.

The Time To Panic

It's hard to know when to panic, at least in my world. I will say that Hayes is certainly fighting a virus of some sort. He's been a bit lethargic today, which is really unusual. When he finally decided to take a nap this afternoon, I did too. I think I mentioned that we didn't sleep real well last night.

When I woke up, I found that Hayes had moved from his sleeping bag on the couch to his bed. He wasn't really asleep, he was cold. Upon taking his temperature, I decided it was time to panic. It initially read 107 -- I've never had that happen before. I decided to panic. I gave him more motrin and took it again. It registered 105.3. This seemed less upsetting and more managable. However, this is still unacceptable. I called our friend Earlene; she's an OB nurse. We got Hayes into a bath (much to his dismay) and onto a regimen of Tylenol and Motrin (I didn't know you could do this). This got his temp down to 103. I called the Dr. on call, whose pager message said to go to the Urgent Care or call 911. Nice. I did take the time to figure out where our Urgent Care facility is, just in case.

Hayes is doing much better; at last check he was at 100.5. We haven't seen that number in at least a day. And oddly, armed with the idea that I can go to Urgent Care, not the ER, is comforting. So, I suppose I am still keeping my fingers crossed, although this time, I am not even worried about the behavior. We just have to get this little body all better.

Keeping My Fingers Crossed

Friday was somewhat better in the land of Hayes and Saturday was even better than that; although I realize I curse myself by even mentioning that things are going relatively smoothly. And Saturday, when I got back from Penrod, I got a full body hug from Hayes -- who was extremely hot. I took his temp and it was a ripe 103.7. Could this be another piece to the crappy week puzzle? Probably. We are taking it easy today and hopefully, going to nap this afternoon.

The crazy thing about parenting (and possibly about parenting a kid like Hayes) is that you never quite know what sets him off and if you have found a solution to the maddness. It is often like walking on egg-shells, and then, suddenly, you realize that the egg-shells are gone and you hope they don't come back for a while.

Suffice it to say, we both need some cuddle time together and perhaps today will provide this opportunity. He is still very feverish (all night waking up cold and thirsty); I am dubious about school tomorrow.

Or Is It A War?

The saga never ends...I have been battling with Hayes for two full days now. Last night there was a spanking - the tell-tale sign of last resort. And today I got a note from the teacher. Apparently Hayes had a "difficult" day, which translated means he spit on and shoved some of the other children. Nice. This morning was better, but not stellar. I feel that we may be in this for a while yet. Can you hear the clinking of my armor?

The Battle

As a parent, I know there will be those days when Hayes and I go head to head. He picked today. I wish there was a magic formula for the morning. I know my mom thinks there is: no TV, up on time, to the breakfast table, up to do the clothes, teeth and hair and out the door. If only it were so simple.

Hayes just doesn't want to wake up. I don't mean to say he's groggy or moody in the morning. No; I mean to say that Hayes can sleep through just about anything. Just ask Caroline and Grace Brenner. I can get him fully dressed and he is not yet awake. It takes a full 10 minutes to get him to groggy in the morning. And you can forget all that good advice about eating a healthy breakfast. Nine times out of ten we are bolting down a Clif Bar and a juice box in the van on the way to school.

I keep thinking to myself that if we just get him to bed on time he will be some much better in the mornings. The thing is, I can get him into the bed, fully washed and pajamaed at 7:30 and he is still rooting around in his bed, wide awake at 10 when I go to check on him. Sometimes the music helps, sometimes not. Sometimes sleeping in our bed helps, sometimes not. Sometimes we rough-house before bedtime, sometimes not. Sometimes a story works, sometimes not. We even invented a golf game to play at bedtime to get to sleep. Sometimes it helps...

So this morning, after doing my utmost to get him out of bed and to the bathroom, (which was, in all, a failure), and after watching him mosey through his breakfast (I should have insisted on a Clif Bar), Hayes decided to pick a fight. He was not, hear me, NOT, going to brush his teeth. Come to think of it, he didn't really want to go to school today either, so he would just sit on the couch and refuse. Cajoling, which had worked to get his shoes on, was no longer an option, and making it a race did nothing to sway him. He simply wouldn't do it. Experience has proven to me that taking the toothbrush into my own hands (literally) is not a good solution, and that not brushing the teeth just perpetuates his idea that he doesn't really have to do it (not to mention how crazy it makes his dad). So I waited him out. I finally, as much as I hate to, threatened to spank him, and this was motivation enough.

A full hour and a half of battling and we were FINALLY on our way to school. He was 20 minutes late and missed all of show and tell, for which he was not presenting today, but damn it, we got to school. Good luck to Miss George today. As fate will have it, I am sure he'll be quite an angel for her.