My poor boy was running a fever this morning. After some uncharacteristic vomiting, he took a nap at 10:30. When I took his temp through the morning, it continued to climb towards 102. When it hit 101.7, I gave him the bad news that he would need to take the cherry medicine (acetaminophen). When he responded pretty badly, I researched ibuprofen's effect on fever reduction. Turns out that some researchers concluded it to be even better at reducing fever in children. I had some good news for him. He could have the grape medicine.
After about an hour, he felt so much better that he could help me with the garden, where we had discovered that a squirrel had helped itself to the seeds inside the bigger pumpkin. Alex was intrigued by the idea that pumpkin seeds were edible. Then there was a connection to marshmallows (from a discussion of our upcoming Christmas Eve brunch). I told Alex that after we were done, we could go to the store and get pumpkin seeds and marshmallows. I really wasn't concerned about his diet today. He needed to eat something. It might as well be those two.
The pumpkin seeds bombed, but the marshmallows were a hit.
I commented that he seemed to really be feeling better and that I was grateful that I'd found out that the grape medicine could help him. Alex had another theory:
"I think it was the marshmallows that did it. Yeah, definitely the marshmallows made me feel better."
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Our Christmas Adventure - Part II
Since we were all done with Hunter by about 12:30, I decided to see if I could fit as much of our typical Christmas Adventure in on that day as I could. We wound up doing it all!
We left Hunter at around 1:30 and walked to Fifth, taking a downtown bus. We got off at 56th and walked back to 57th to see Tiffany's windows. Since I had to pick Alex up to see them, I didn't get any photos of his enjoyment of them, but he did enjoy them a lot. They have a carousel theme this year and their windows show carousel animals getting free and roaming Central Park. Here's a link to photos that are of a much better quality than my camera (or skill) can take.
http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/the-holiday-windows-at-tiffany-company-2011
From there, we walked down Fifth to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Alex fondly remembered our visit to Saint Bart's last year, so once we were in front of St. Pat's, he agreed to go in. He was thrilled to be around so much majesty. Because Dan still identifies as a Catholic, I took Alex to some saints' shrines and lit candles there with him, telling him to keep Daddy and his family in mind while we did. I also took him to see the large creche there and I realized that he didn't understand what it was because he'd never heard the Nativity Story. (Hicksite Quakers don't place a lot of emphasis on literal interpretation of the Bible, viewing the stories as illustrative moral lessons instead of history. The Hicksite view of the nativity is that the story contained in Luke is a mixture of fact and fiction and that it did not take place in December anyway.) I told him that I would explain the scene in front of him with Daddy.
This is Alex at the main altar of the Cathedral.
Our next stop was Rockefeller Center. At night, during this time of year, this area is too crowded to take a child into, but during the day, it has a lighter crowd. Here's Alex at the Angel Promenade
And at the tree:
At Rockefeller Center, there's a new store - the answer to every Lego junkie's dreams. A Lego Store at which shoppers can fill up a cup with Lego pieces from a whole wall of buckets of pieces. Alex was in his glory!!! That's the wall behind him in this photo. I helped him fill his cup with a bunch of unusual pieces, such as axels, hinges, wheels, etc. He's been able to build so many things from it. Not bad for $7.99 I think.
At this point, given that we'd been mobile since about 8 AM, Alex was tired and, at the same time, was excited to play with his new Legos. I suggested that we get some hot cocoa and treats which would give him lots of time to play with his Legos right now. I asked him where we should get this hot cocoa and he immediately said "F.A.O. Schwarz!!!!". We took a bus back up to 58th, but the Schwarz cafe was a little crowded and I knew he was anxious to play with his Legos. So, I suggested another "cool" place: Bloomingdale's! (I was flubbing. I didn't think he would think it was all that cool and it doesn't even have a toy department. But it does have Santa and it's right across the street from Dan's office. I was aiming for a Santa visit with Daddy in attendance.)
We walked up 58th to Lexington Avenue. If I'd been hoping to make Dan's part in it a surprise, this sharp little guy caught on quickly. He immediately recognized Dan's office building. Oh well. He surprised me again when we walked into Bloomingdale's. He announced that it was a really cool place indeed. We went to the 6th floor to get some hot cocoa and fancy cupcakes at Cafe B. Alex didn't ever care if we left. He had his hot chocolate and his new Legos and he was in little boy heaven.
I had to ask him several times if he wanted to go see Santa in person. Since he'd received the personalized videos Santa had sent (from Portable North Pole), he figured he didn't need to see Santa again. "I talk to Santa all the time now.". I urged him that it was very different in person.
Once he SAW Santa - he was excited again. Once Dan arrived there, I snuck over to a register to buy a small pack of Matchbox cars so that Santa could hand them to Alex in his visit. (They'll do it only if there's no crowd where other kids will see it.) This is Alex receiving the cars. NOW he's all about Santa again.
On the walk south from Bloomingdales to Saint Bart's, he told me that he and Santa were now best friends.
We took Park Avenue south and took in lots of the lights.
I didn't get photos of our visit to Saint Bart's. It was very dim inside and Alex distracted me with his deep conversation. We lit a candle there too and stayed a little inside a side chapel that had a (Byzantine like) mosaic of Mary and baby Jesus. In another chapel, we came across someone fervently praying and in crisis, so we ducked out quietly. Alex - who doesn't usually like dark places - wanted to sit down and talk. He told me that Jesus loves everyone. He also said that it's sad to be alone and that he doesn't want to come between me and Dan. (????) I tried to get him to talk more on it, but he wanted to talk more about the sadness of loneliness and how he feels sorry for anyone who is alone. It touched me.
From Saint Bart's, we walked through the Met Life building to Grand Central and then back out to 42nd so we could get to Bryant Park. It's one of our traditions to ride the carousel there next to the rink and in sight of the large tree in the park.
And for our last stop before dinner; but not the least for Alex - a visit to the train display at the New York Transit Museum store in Grand Central. Again, my crappy camera doesn't do it justice (and my video of it was taken sideways), but it's amazing.
By the time we wrapped up here, I was absolutely famished and so was Alex, so we stopped at a Mexican restuarant in the Dining Concourse of Grand Central. We caught at 8:10 train home.
Alex went RIGHT to sleep - needless to say.
We left Hunter at around 1:30 and walked to Fifth, taking a downtown bus. We got off at 56th and walked back to 57th to see Tiffany's windows. Since I had to pick Alex up to see them, I didn't get any photos of his enjoyment of them, but he did enjoy them a lot. They have a carousel theme this year and their windows show carousel animals getting free and roaming Central Park. Here's a link to photos that are of a much better quality than my camera (or skill) can take.
http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/the-holiday-windows-at-tiffany-company-2011
From there, we walked down Fifth to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Alex fondly remembered our visit to Saint Bart's last year, so once we were in front of St. Pat's, he agreed to go in. He was thrilled to be around so much majesty. Because Dan still identifies as a Catholic, I took Alex to some saints' shrines and lit candles there with him, telling him to keep Daddy and his family in mind while we did. I also took him to see the large creche there and I realized that he didn't understand what it was because he'd never heard the Nativity Story. (Hicksite Quakers don't place a lot of emphasis on literal interpretation of the Bible, viewing the stories as illustrative moral lessons instead of history. The Hicksite view of the nativity is that the story contained in Luke is a mixture of fact and fiction and that it did not take place in December anyway.) I told him that I would explain the scene in front of him with Daddy.
This is Alex at the main altar of the Cathedral.
Our next stop was Rockefeller Center. At night, during this time of year, this area is too crowded to take a child into, but during the day, it has a lighter crowd. Here's Alex at the Angel Promenade
And at the tree:
At Rockefeller Center, there's a new store - the answer to every Lego junkie's dreams. A Lego Store at which shoppers can fill up a cup with Lego pieces from a whole wall of buckets of pieces. Alex was in his glory!!! That's the wall behind him in this photo. I helped him fill his cup with a bunch of unusual pieces, such as axels, hinges, wheels, etc. He's been able to build so many things from it. Not bad for $7.99 I think.
At this point, given that we'd been mobile since about 8 AM, Alex was tired and, at the same time, was excited to play with his new Legos. I suggested that we get some hot cocoa and treats which would give him lots of time to play with his Legos right now. I asked him where we should get this hot cocoa and he immediately said "F.A.O. Schwarz!!!!". We took a bus back up to 58th, but the Schwarz cafe was a little crowded and I knew he was anxious to play with his Legos. So, I suggested another "cool" place: Bloomingdale's! (I was flubbing. I didn't think he would think it was all that cool and it doesn't even have a toy department. But it does have Santa and it's right across the street from Dan's office. I was aiming for a Santa visit with Daddy in attendance.)
We walked up 58th to Lexington Avenue. If I'd been hoping to make Dan's part in it a surprise, this sharp little guy caught on quickly. He immediately recognized Dan's office building. Oh well. He surprised me again when we walked into Bloomingdale's. He announced that it was a really cool place indeed. We went to the 6th floor to get some hot cocoa and fancy cupcakes at Cafe B. Alex didn't ever care if we left. He had his hot chocolate and his new Legos and he was in little boy heaven.
I had to ask him several times if he wanted to go see Santa in person. Since he'd received the personalized videos Santa had sent (from Portable North Pole), he figured he didn't need to see Santa again. "I talk to Santa all the time now.". I urged him that it was very different in person.
Once he SAW Santa - he was excited again. Once Dan arrived there, I snuck over to a register to buy a small pack of Matchbox cars so that Santa could hand them to Alex in his visit. (They'll do it only if there's no crowd where other kids will see it.) This is Alex receiving the cars. NOW he's all about Santa again.
On the walk south from Bloomingdales to Saint Bart's, he told me that he and Santa were now best friends.
We took Park Avenue south and took in lots of the lights.
I didn't get photos of our visit to Saint Bart's. It was very dim inside and Alex distracted me with his deep conversation. We lit a candle there too and stayed a little inside a side chapel that had a (Byzantine like) mosaic of Mary and baby Jesus. In another chapel, we came across someone fervently praying and in crisis, so we ducked out quietly. Alex - who doesn't usually like dark places - wanted to sit down and talk. He told me that Jesus loves everyone. He also said that it's sad to be alone and that he doesn't want to come between me and Dan. (????) I tried to get him to talk more on it, but he wanted to talk more about the sadness of loneliness and how he feels sorry for anyone who is alone. It touched me.
From Saint Bart's, we walked through the Met Life building to Grand Central and then back out to 42nd so we could get to Bryant Park. It's one of our traditions to ride the carousel there next to the rink and in sight of the large tree in the park.
And for our last stop before dinner; but not the least for Alex - a visit to the train display at the New York Transit Museum store in Grand Central. Again, my crappy camera doesn't do it justice (and my video of it was taken sideways), but it's amazing.
By the time we wrapped up here, I was absolutely famished and so was Alex, so we stopped at a Mexican restuarant in the Dining Concourse of Grand Central. We caught at 8:10 train home.
Alex went RIGHT to sleep - needless to say.
A Day of Christmas Surprises, Part I
As further incentive for potty training, I had promised Alex that we would be visiting Hunter College's Children's Learning Center again. (The idea being that he would love it there and want to make sure he was potty-trained so that he could go there on a regular basis.) I made my appointment to meet the director of the center at 11 AM, but we rode the train in with Daddy. This left us arriving at Hunter about 90 minutes or so before our appointment. I had planned for this, hoping to use this time to get some preparation of my own out of the way. I'd spent the night before printing out things like my unofficial transcript from Westchester Community - so that I could qualify for advanced classes at Hunter and my immunization/titre records, so that I could hand those in and be cleared for registration. I considered it to be a good day if I got one of the four tasks I'd planned accomplished.
First, Alex agreed to come with me to the Welcome Center where I learned about transferring in as a second degree student, getting an ID card, getting prerequisites approved for advanced classes and registering for said classes. Then, he agreed to come with me to the health center to hand in my immunization evidence. But we arrived before they were open, so we went back to the cafeteria to have a mid-morning snack. After which, we went to the Economics Department to find out who I was to speak to for approval of my prerequisites. At this point, Alex was telling everyone he ran into that he was a secret agent and that he couldn't tell anyone his name. (He was dressed all in black.) This is what he said to the Administrative Assistant, Paulette too.
Now, mind you, all of this back-and-forth business involved traveling between the North and West buildings through the glass skywalk. We did this multiple times before our appointment time came up. Alex didn't complain once. In fact, he said "Hello" to everyone he passed, telling me "I'm making so many new friends here!!"
Once we got the info from the Economics Department, we still had some time before our appointment would come, so we went to the bookstore to get Alex a Hunter sweatshirt. Now, he felt like a real college student. He was no longer Alex Delgado, Secret Agent. He was now, Alex Delgado, Hunter College BMOC, flirting with all of the girls.
At the Children's Learning Center, we met Miss Rita, the Director of the Center and Miss Evelyn, one of the teachers there. They told me a big ol' secret...Alex has pretty much met their definition of "potty trained" already. If the teacher is told that he needs reminders to go, then they're OK with that. They also both assured me that after a few weeks of being around other children who go on their own that he won't need reminders. They were far more concerned with the fact that he'd never spent many hours separated from me and encouraged me to make sure that my class time isn't really long. Ssssshhhh! Don't tell Alex. I've got Santa on my side, encouraging Alex to tell us when he has to go.
Speaking of Santa...he comes in later in this story. We still had stuff to do at Hunter. Wrapping it up at the Children's Learning Center was easy once Miss Evelyn explained to Alex that she had to close up the classroom. At that point, we went back to the Economics Department to speak to the advisor there. (Prof. Sevak). She was with a student at the time we arrived, so we had to wait a while in the hallway. Alex was still patient! Sure, I had to remind him to not block the pathway, but he was amazingly good!! Surely, I had to bring Santa in on this day of surprises.
Professor Sevak approved me for the class I wanted and suggested to me how I could go about saving both time and money getting to the MA program. She also suggested that I speak to the Department's Graduate Advisor about it. I was quite hungry at this point and I was sure my little guy was too. We headed back downstairs to the cafeteria for lunch where Alex had pizza. By that time, I was wondering about him. I asked him if it was OK if we made one more stop. He said it was.
So, we went back to the North building to go to the Health Center so that I could hand in my immunization records, but not until we'd stopped at Office Services where they made a copy of my lab report for me. Handing in the paperwork took longer than expected and yet, Alex still had patience! This kid is just amazing sometimes, I'll tell you. Santa must hear of this.
In the meantime of all of this going on - from 9:20 to just short of 1:30 - Alex used the public potty twice, both times urging me that he had to go once we were in the stall. OK, those count towards prizes at this time.
This was a big day of surprises. I'd gone in with the expectation of getting only one of my four tasks done. Instead, I got three done. I'd gone in with the expectation of having to tell Alex when to go potty. Instead, after I had to go to the bathroom, he piped in with his own requests. I'd gone in with the expectation that Alex couldn't possibly have the patience to come along with me from one department to another. Instead, he was just proud to do so - once I got him his new Hunter College sweatshirt.
Oh yes, Santa will have to hear of this.
First, Alex agreed to come with me to the Welcome Center where I learned about transferring in as a second degree student, getting an ID card, getting prerequisites approved for advanced classes and registering for said classes. Then, he agreed to come with me to the health center to hand in my immunization evidence. But we arrived before they were open, so we went back to the cafeteria to have a mid-morning snack. After which, we went to the Economics Department to find out who I was to speak to for approval of my prerequisites. At this point, Alex was telling everyone he ran into that he was a secret agent and that he couldn't tell anyone his name. (He was dressed all in black.) This is what he said to the Administrative Assistant, Paulette too.
Now, mind you, all of this back-and-forth business involved traveling between the North and West buildings through the glass skywalk. We did this multiple times before our appointment time came up. Alex didn't complain once. In fact, he said "Hello" to everyone he passed, telling me "I'm making so many new friends here!!"
Once we got the info from the Economics Department, we still had some time before our appointment would come, so we went to the bookstore to get Alex a Hunter sweatshirt. Now, he felt like a real college student. He was no longer Alex Delgado, Secret Agent. He was now, Alex Delgado, Hunter College BMOC, flirting with all of the girls.
At the Children's Learning Center, we met Miss Rita, the Director of the Center and Miss Evelyn, one of the teachers there. They told me a big ol' secret...Alex has pretty much met their definition of "potty trained" already. If the teacher is told that he needs reminders to go, then they're OK with that. They also both assured me that after a few weeks of being around other children who go on their own that he won't need reminders. They were far more concerned with the fact that he'd never spent many hours separated from me and encouraged me to make sure that my class time isn't really long. Ssssshhhh! Don't tell Alex. I've got Santa on my side, encouraging Alex to tell us when he has to go.
Speaking of Santa...he comes in later in this story. We still had stuff to do at Hunter. Wrapping it up at the Children's Learning Center was easy once Miss Evelyn explained to Alex that she had to close up the classroom. At that point, we went back to the Economics Department to speak to the advisor there. (Prof. Sevak). She was with a student at the time we arrived, so we had to wait a while in the hallway. Alex was still patient! Sure, I had to remind him to not block the pathway, but he was amazingly good!! Surely, I had to bring Santa in on this day of surprises.
Professor Sevak approved me for the class I wanted and suggested to me how I could go about saving both time and money getting to the MA program. She also suggested that I speak to the Department's Graduate Advisor about it. I was quite hungry at this point and I was sure my little guy was too. We headed back downstairs to the cafeteria for lunch where Alex had pizza. By that time, I was wondering about him. I asked him if it was OK if we made one more stop. He said it was.
So, we went back to the North building to go to the Health Center so that I could hand in my immunization records, but not until we'd stopped at Office Services where they made a copy of my lab report for me. Handing in the paperwork took longer than expected and yet, Alex still had patience! This kid is just amazing sometimes, I'll tell you. Santa must hear of this.
In the meantime of all of this going on - from 9:20 to just short of 1:30 - Alex used the public potty twice, both times urging me that he had to go once we were in the stall. OK, those count towards prizes at this time.
This was a big day of surprises. I'd gone in with the expectation of getting only one of my four tasks done. Instead, I got three done. I'd gone in with the expectation of having to tell Alex when to go potty. Instead, after I had to go to the bathroom, he piped in with his own requests. I'd gone in with the expectation that Alex couldn't possibly have the patience to come along with me from one department to another. Instead, he was just proud to do so - once I got him his new Hunter College sweatshirt.
Oh yes, Santa will have to hear of this.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A Special Message for Alex
Alex received a video in the email today. It was from a very special person indeed.
Alex was both amused and astounded by it. He seemed dumbstruck at the fact that Santa knew where he lived. He was positively riveted to find out what list he wound up on. Then, he was cheering for being on the "green list" and continued to talk about it for a while afterwards.
At other times, he seemed to take it all in stride, as if he knew...
Aw, whatever. I'm just grateful that I get to live this magic time again.
Alex was both amused and astounded by it. He seemed dumbstruck at the fact that Santa knew where he lived. He was positively riveted to find out what list he wound up on. Then, he was cheering for being on the "green list" and continued to talk about it for a while afterwards.
At other times, he seemed to take it all in stride, as if he knew...
Aw, whatever. I'm just grateful that I get to live this magic time again.
Astrophysics = Cool
Today, Alex asked me how "they" set up the whole world. Who made the clouds? Who made the sky? How did the world get built? How? How? How??
I decided to go with the scientific explanation as I understand it and hoped it stuck.
"No one is actually certain how it was all made," I said "But most physicists today believe that it happened spontaneously - that means "all at once and in an instant". A bunch of particles in space grew together and the whole of it grew so tight and compacted and dense that it blew up."
"What blew up?" he asked - surprising me with his willingness to listen to more.
"The universe blew up into existence," I said, "And that included the earth and the things in the earth that would wind up making the sky and the clouds."
"And this is what physi- physhi..."
"Physicists" I offered.
"Physicists!" he declared "That's what most physicists believe happened?"
"Yes, I think so."
He didn't even pause a beat.
"That's so cool." he declared.
Wow! I never expected the Big Bang theory to be an easy one to cover.
I decided to go with the scientific explanation as I understand it and hoped it stuck.
"No one is actually certain how it was all made," I said "But most physicists today believe that it happened spontaneously - that means "all at once and in an instant". A bunch of particles in space grew together and the whole of it grew so tight and compacted and dense that it blew up."
"What blew up?" he asked - surprising me with his willingness to listen to more.
"The universe blew up into existence," I said, "And that included the earth and the things in the earth that would wind up making the sky and the clouds."
"And this is what physi- physhi..."
"Physicists" I offered.
"Physicists!" he declared "That's what most physicists believe happened?"
"Yes, I think so."
He didn't even pause a beat.
"That's so cool." he declared.
Wow! I never expected the Big Bang theory to be an easy one to cover.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
'Tis the Season Y'all
Since we couldn't get our tree yesterday, we had to bring Daddy along to get it today. Good thing too. I would have had to get a smaller tree had I had to bring it home myself. Daddy carried the 6+ foot tree we wound up getting. He said it wasn't too bad if he kept changing positions. Oh dear.
Alex was really excited for this. This is the first tree he can remember getting. When we selected it, he declared it to be the biggest tree we ever had! (Our artificial tree, not used since his first Christmas, is actually bigger.) He didn't want any mini-tree this year. He's a big boy now!
When we got it home and tried to get it into the tiny stand we had, I remembered why I'd bought my first artificial tree some 24 years ago and never looked back. There was no getting this trunk into this tiny stand. We erected the tree in a planter loaded with soil, soaked the soil and then Daddy took Alex to White Plains for some shopping. He would include a new tree stand when he returned.
Even then, it took some doing.
Alex wanted to decorate it so badly. He was quite upset when we explained that it would have to wait until tomorrow.
This is so exciting. He actually gets it now. He really gets it.
Alex was really excited for this. This is the first tree he can remember getting. When we selected it, he declared it to be the biggest tree we ever had! (Our artificial tree, not used since his first Christmas, is actually bigger.) He didn't want any mini-tree this year. He's a big boy now!
 |
| Alex at Mangone's among the mini trees |
Even then, it took some doing.
Alex wanted to decorate it so badly. He was quite upset when we explained that it would have to wait until tomorrow.
This is so exciting. He actually gets it now. He really gets it.
Friday, November 25, 2011
A Do Over Day
Today was a rough day for potty training and every thing else. I decided to take a break from it all and go get our tree. Ooops! Mangone's tree guy hadn't yet unloaded all of the inventory. In fact, he hadn't set out most of it. We had to come back the next day.
We had hot chocolate when we got back.
Do over!!
We had hot chocolate when we got back.
Do over!!
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