Daycare Lunch

I work an usual schedule so I am off around noon on Fridays. I went to pick up Christian at daycare early.  Everyone else was already done with lunch and laying down with the lights off for nap time.  But my son was sitting at the table, in the "dark" still eating his lunch and had quite a bit left to eat. I asked what was going on and they said he was just taking him time.  Really?!?!  He eats so fast at home but he piddles at daycare.  The lady told him when he was done it was time to go home. He stood up, spit out the food in his mouth all over the floor and ran for his coat.  So the part where he was excited to go home was heartwarming, but the spitting food all over the floor was not cool.  So while he was getting his coat, I cleaned up the mess while trying not to disrupt the other kids who were trying to nap.  The lady told me what time to come so I wouldn't arrive in the middle of things, but I think I need to arrive 5-10 minutes before when I did.

I was a little nervous because the chicken chunks on his plate were a little big, especially for him, who doesn't really chew all the well yet.  He ate everything else but not the meat and I think it might have been because it took too long to eat.  I think I'm going to ask her to cut his food into a little smaller pieces.  He didn't get to finish his lunch and when we got home he was really hungry.

Otherwise, he seems to be doing well at daycare and following the rules.  He runs to me when I pick him up so that is a good sign of bonding and leading to attachment!
This is a full week coming up, so hopefully it goes well.
~Amy

Daycare - Day #2

Well Christian went to daycare for the first time on Monday and then we were home Tues. and Wed. because he was sick. So today was his second day and he did great when I dropped him off.  He ran to me when I came to pick him up at the end of the day.....the best feeling in the world!

I didn't get the chance to ask the daycare ladies how he did on Monday so I asked today. They said when he was eating and wanted something, he would raise his hand.  Aaaawwww :) They said they have never seen a 2 yr old do that and wished the other kids would raise their hands. I did not teach him that and he hasn't been around anywhere with me to see that raising your hand gets you an answer. So the only thing I can figure is that they taught him at the orphanage. They also said he was eating good and taking a nap when the time comes.  I am glad he is understanding what they want, I was worried due to the language delay.  But I think he understands more English than I realize :)

It's supposed to be rainy and possible snow this weekend. I am definitely keeping Christian inside to not aggravate his cold.  I'm going to see if he wants to make paint handprints.....we'll see how that goes :)
~Amy

Inchworms

I need to work with Christian on his large motor skills: climbing, jumping, somersaults, etc. because he is behind in those areas. I have a small house with nothing but the furniture to climb on. My backyard is small but I was still looking into getting one of those small Lil' Tikes kind of climbing units, but they are not cheap. So I am waiting for garage sale season to begin and hopefully I can find one.

I looked into any types of classes at the YMCA by my house and found one for 18-36 month old kids.  It's called "Inchworms" and tonight was our first night out of 7 sessions. They have things to crawl on/over/under, a small trampoline, mats to somersault on, colored circles to jump on, and an overhead bar thing to hang and swing from. Remember Christian has been sick so tonight did not go well.  He didn't want to be there but he didn't want to leave, he didn't want to play on the units but he'd butt in front of other kids, the list goes on. At least he wasn't the only kid not having a good day.  They had some music they turned on and wanted the kids to "march" in a line, hop, clap, stretch, etc.  The minute the music started he ran for me and wanted to be held. I was SO shocked! He LOVES music but for some reason he was scared. The only thing I could figure was he was afraid of the actual "boom box" because it had a large glowing red ring around the whole front and he kept staring at it. The music was kids singing kid kinds of songs, the same ones we have at home that he likes.  I guess when you don't feel good, nothing makes sense and irrationality is ok.....at least it is for me.  I feel so bad that Christian does not feel well but I can tell he is making progress. So hopefully he will like next week's class :)

~Amy

Sick, Sick, Sick

My poor angel is so sick! He caught it at the daycare test runs last week, darn it. He had one full day of official daycare and we stayed home sick today.  We got into the doctor to find: 103.5 temp, ear infection, runny nose and chest congestion. He is miserable!  He just lounged around all day, cat napping on and off, which is definitely not him. This was all between coughing bouts, sneezing and blowing nose. I feel so bad for him.

The doctor gave me medicine for his ear infection but not the "cold symptoms". So I found some all natural cough syrup expectorant at Walgreens and have given him that and it seems to be lessening his coughing bouts. I also have to give him Tylenol for his fever, which lowers it for a few hours and then the fever shoots back up again.  I hope the fever stays in check and he starts to feel better tomorrow.

Great, my first day back to work yesterday and now I'm gone again.  I hope they don't start thinking I'm going to be one of those problem employees.  I know kids catch all kinds of things at daycare and until they build up their immunity, they have to go through the sickness.  I just hope for Christian's sake, he builds up his immunity fast, I hate to see him so miserable.
~Amy

First Official Day at Daycare

Christian did great today!!!  He didn't cry when I left, just looked anxious and before he could "break down" I left. I however, broke down, and called around 10:00 a.m. to see how he was doing. They said he was doing great, playing with Legos just then.  When I picked him up, he hesitated because he was playing with a new toy we don't have.  But after a second, he came and gave me a big hug and said, "bye, bye?"  I think I missed him more than he missed me :)

Well it is official, he DID catch cooties last week during our test runs from the kids that were sick. My little angel sounds like a frog....no voice.  His nose is running as well as stuffed up and he has a deep cough.  I go to Walgreens to find something to give him, can't find anything, so I talk to the pharmacist.  She tells me that they do not recommend anything over the counter for a child under 4 yrs old. So I got some vapor rub and spread it all over his chest and neck.  I'm on the way to the attic to find my cool humidifier to put in his room also. He did have a 100.5 temperature when I picked him up, gave him Tylenol and hope he feels a little better tomorrow. Poor little guy......
~Amy

Daycare and Cooties

We did test runs at daycare last week and several kids were sick. We then played outside almost every day last week at the park. I did have Christian bundled up, but with the two combinations, he caught a cold.  He only coughs a little but is sneezing and has a very runny nose. We've already caught the daycare cooties......and so it begins.

I return to work tomorrow which means it's Christian's first full day of daycare tomorrow. I hope he does ok! I know every mother goes through this anxiety when they first put their child in daycare and I am no different.  My biggest concern is that he still doesn't chew his food like he should and when he gets in a hurry he just swallows immediately. Plus after my "choking scare" with him a few weeks ago, I really hope they watch him when he is eating.  I told them about this but they also have the other kids to watch too. I'm sure he will be fine, but being a mother now, it is now my job to worry :)

Getting up early tomorrow is going to be tough! I am not a morning person anyway. I have been getting us up early all week to prepare for our normal schedule starting tomorrow.  I was dragging EVERY day, it was pathetic and I had to take a nap every day. I am totally screwed because I can't take a nap at work. So much for cutting back on soda, I was trying to reduce but will need the caffeine as I don't drink coffee. It will be interesting to see how fast I can get back into the swing of things at work.  I used to be pretty fast and efficient at my job, hope I didn't lose that these last two months!
~Amy

Park Continued

So happy it has been incredible weather this week so Christian and I could get to the park so much this week!  We go in the mid-morning and then again after he gets up from his nap.  I must say the afternoon park visits are much more crowded and prove for interesting people watching.

I cannot believe how many parents do not pay attention and do not have a visual of their little kids.  I mean I saw 4-5 parents that were letting their 2-3yr olds run free and had no idea where they were. I had three kids ask me to help them on the jungle gym and/or be put on a swing....no parents in sight.  Not to be paranoid or over protective but I had Christian in my sights at all times which sure gave me some much needed exercise. 

We did have a minor incident that I did feel bad for but honestly was kind of funny.  We were on the swings and a 2 yr old boy wanted to swing too. He walked behind our swing and just missed getting hit by a second. I told him to look out and couldn't get behind our swing fast enough, but it was like one of those pendulum games where you try to dodge the arm, and he did!  He wanted me to put him in the swing next to us and I told him he had to ask his Mom or Dad first.  I didn't want to put him in a swing if his parents didn't want him to or have a parent get upset with me because I touched their kid, which I can understand.  Keep in mind that with all the snow melting this week, the areas under the swings were nothing but mud.  Everyone else was telling their kids they couldn't swing because of the mud. Well being the innovative and awesome parent that I am, I scooped up leaves and made a little pad of them over the mud so I could lift Christian in and out of the swing. So back to the little boy who wanted my help into the swing.  I told him  to ask his parents so he took off like a flash....right in front of our swing. I reached down to get him before Christian swung back and hit him but I was too late.  Down he went, ~splat~ full body, face plant in the mud. He looked up at me with accusing eyes and started to cry. He wasn't hurt and ran off to his Dad and I managed to hold my laughter until he walked away.  He had mud across his forehead, down his nose and across his chin, both arms had mud the entire length along with his chest and fronts of his legs. I am sorry, but it was such a funny sight! Then Christian says, "oh boo, boo" with this sympathetic look that made me laugh again. What kind of example am I that my 2 yr old son is sympathetic and I'm laughing.  Hey at least I didn't laugh so the kid could see or hear me, right???  So this wouldn't have happened had the parents been watching him and been in close proximity is my standpoint :)

If people would keep their dogs off the jungle gyms and not freak Christian out, who is terrified of dogs, then the days at the park would be perfect. It was fairly windy today and he enjoyed the simple act of throwing leaves up and watching them blow across the yard.  Such innocence and a joy to watch.
~Amy