Aaron – Page 6 – A Bit of This A Bit of That

April 2, 2013

Just breath…

About a year ago, Aaron was diagnosed with asthma. I knew he had asthma from when he was less than a year old but the peadiatric pulminologist (our day to day pead, who we no longer use) told me that, no, they can only diagnose asthma from 3 years old.

Anyway! Once Aaron was on the right medication (two times a day every day) his asthma was under control. We havent had a single attack in over a year. Until Sunday.

Well Saturday night. Aaron started coughing in the middle of the night, we nebbed him and gave him cough mixture and he eventually fell asleep again. On Sunday morning though he woke up coughing and didnt stop. Paul took him to our GP who consults on Sundays and he gave us Pulmicort and antibiotics. We nebbed him with the new beds and after an hour or so it hadnt helped so I called our (new) pead, also a pulminologist and Aarons asthma dr, and spoke to his partner who was on call. He suggested a double dose of Combivent and 10ml of cortisone. Half an hour after giving him those meds there was still no change.

Poor Aaron, he literally could not take one single breath without coughing.

I put him in the car and took him to the hospital where our pead has rooms and called the on call pead again to tell him we were coming.

The nurses in the pead ward were amazing. Friendly and helpful and kind. The dr arrived and admitted us. He put in a drip (not sure who was more traumatised, Aaron or me!) and gave him an adrenaline nebuliser and put him on oxygen.

Within 10 minutes he had stopped coughing!

Turns out he had a croup attack which caused an asthma attack. Poor child couldn’t breathe in or out!

We settled ourselves into our room, a private room as there were only 4 or 5 kids in the whole ward. Aaron was a little hyped up due to the adrenalin and the cortisone they gave him but he was so good. He charmed all the nurses and the dr and was an absolute angel.

3 adrenalin nebulisers, 4 doses of cortisone and 1 night of broken sleep and by yesterday morning we were allowed to come home.

This was the first time either of the kids has been hospitalised and was pretty traumatic. Im so very grateful for the dr and nurses that made the whole event so easy and comfortable to deal with.

Heres hoping we never have to do that again!

January 31, 2013January 31, 2013

Proof that the villain is cooler than the hero!

So you may or may not know that my kids are {Star Wars} fans.

Aaron watches Star Wars {Clone Wars} and has three light sabers and a multitude of figurines.

Faith loves play fighting her brother, each with their own light saber.

Aaron even plays the theme music (usually the {Imperial March}) while they ‘fight’.

Aarons favourite {Angry Birds} game is the {Star Wars version}!

If you ask Aaron who his favourite character is, or even just to tell you about Star Wars, he immediately tells you all about {Darth Maul} and {General Grievous}, funnily enough he seldom mentions {Darth Vader} and he will occasionally mention {Master Yoda}.

He very seldom if ever mentions {Luke} or {Obi-Wan}.

The thing is, he only vaguely understands the dynamics of who the good guys are and who the bad guys are in Star Wars. At least he didn’t in the beginning. Now he knows that Darth Maul is a bad guy but he still loves him. Why? Because he is cool!

He wanted a Darth Maul birthday cake! I figured the other moms might be a bit freaked out, so I searched for cartoon versions of all the characters and made Darth Maul slightly more prominent to satisfy Aaron.

For his present he wanted a Darth Maul light saber, “it is a double light saber mom!” He also would like a blue light saber to add to his collection (He has red, green and white).

Needless to say the villains are definitely cooler than the good guys in my house 🙂

January 25, 2013January 25, 2013

How smart is my kid?

Yesterday afternoon I took the kids to visit my mom.

The adults, and Faith, were sitting outside on the patio and Aaron was sitting inside playing on the computer. He especially likes playing games on Cartoon Network.

So, he found a new game and since he cant read properly yet, he wasn’t sure what to click on. He kept coming to ask us what the game was saying, eventually after 3 trips inside I told him I was not getting up again.

About 5 minutes later he came outside and asked my mom if he could use her phone (she has some games on there), she said yes and he disappeared inside. A short while later he came back out and showed my mom a picture he took.

He had taken a picture of the computer screen so that he could bring it to us instead of us going inside.

I think its pure genius! I certainly wouldn’t have thought to do that…

January 4, 2013January 5, 2013

2012 – It was good!

This has fast become my year end meme 🙂 Thank you Wenchy for starting me off on it.

Running a smidgen late for 2012 but here it is!

You can take a look at {2009}, {2010} and {2011} if you like.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Petted baby {lions}!

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I have stopped making resolutions, that way I cant disappoint myself when I break them 🙂

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope, although a lot of Twitter friends had babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Uncle and my moms best friend and 1st cousin.

5. What countries did you visit?

I didnt leave South Africa.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More me time.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?

December 21st, the day I survived the Apocalypse 😉

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Taking the time and making the effort to be closer to Paul!

9. What was your biggest failure?

I cant really think of any ‘failures’.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Besides having THE WORST winter of colds and flues in the history of, ever? Nope, no major illness or injury.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Flowers for my garden.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My kids. They have been stars this last year. They are maturing, are polite, play together so nicely. Im very very proud of them.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

No one I can think of.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Petrol. 2012 was a killer!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My brother Matt finally got engaged!

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2012?

{Goodluck}. A fantastic local band. I have their album on repeat in my car.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? Fatter
Richer or poorer? About the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Cooking. I did a lot of baking but not that much cooking.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Wasted time. I want to be more efficient.

20. How will you be spending Christmas

We spent the day with family having a braai.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Paul and my mom.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?

No. Im still in love with my husband and my children though.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None.

24. What was your favourite TV program?

Grimm, Supernatural, Hawaii Five-0, Arrow

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

I read so much that I honestly cant tell you what was my best.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

{Mumford and Sons}.

28. What did you want and get?

A new Kindle Touch.

29. What did you want and not get?

Nothing I can think of.

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

Sjoe! I cannot actually remember any of the films we saw last year o_O

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Good grief! I have absolutely no idea. That is either a very very bad or a very very good thing!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not having any family grief.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Casual.

34. What kept you sane?

Cipralex! And my amazing husband. Always!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Prince Harry.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

None, I am so not into politics.

37. Who did you miss?

My brother Cliffy.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Gosh, so many wonderful people have come into my life.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Kids will make a mess, leave it until they go to sleep, then, clean up. You will drive yourself crazy trying to clean up while they are ~~still making a mess~~ playing.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

{ If you’re happy and you know it…} – I have sung this song till my face turned blue and every time, no matter what, I was so much happier after singing it 🙂

January 4, 2013

2012 – It was good!

This has fast become my year end meme 🙂 Thank you Wenchy for starting me off on it.

Running a smidgen late for 2012 but here it is!

You can take a look at {2009}, {2010} and {2011} if you like.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Petted baby {lions}!

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I have stopped making resolutions, that way I cant disappoint myself when I break them 🙂

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope, although a lot of Twitter friends had babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Uncle and my moms best friend and 1st cousin.

5. What countries did you visit?

I didnt leave South Africa.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More me time.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?

December 21st, the day I survived the Apocalypse 😉

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Taking the time and making the effort to be closer to Paul!

9. What was your biggest failure?

I cant really think of any ‘failures’.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Besides having THE WORST winter of colds and flues in the history of, ever? Nope, no major illness or injury.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Flowers for my garden.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My kids. They have been stars this last year. They are maturing, are polite, play together so nicely. Im very very proud of them.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

No one I can think of.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Petrol. 2012 was a killer!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My brother Matt finally got engaged!

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2012?

{Goodluck}. A fantastic local band. I have their album on repeat in my car.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? Fatter
Richer or poorer? About the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Cooking. I did a lot of baking but not that much cooking.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Wasted time. I want to be more efficient.

20. How will you be spending Christmas

We spent the day with family having a braai.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Paul and my mom.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?

No. Im still in love with my husband and my children though.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None.

24. What was your favourite TV program?

Grimm, Supernatural, Hawaii Five-0, Arrow

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

I read so much that I honestly cant tell you what was my best.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

{Mumford and Sons}.

28. What did you want and get?

A new Kindle Touch.

29. What did you want and not get?

Nothing I can think of.

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

Sjoe! I cannot actually remember any of the films we saw last year o_O

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Good grief! I have absolutely no idea. That is either a very very bad or a very very good thing!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not having any family grief.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Casual.

34. What kept you sane?

Cipralex! And my amazing husband. Always!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Prince Harry.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

None, I am so not into politics.

37. Who did you miss?

My brother Cliffy.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Gosh, so many wonderful people have come into my life.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Kids will make a mess, leave it until they go to sleep, then, clean up. You will drive yourself crazy trying to clean up while they are ~~still making a mess~~ playing.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

{ If you’re happy and you know it…} – I have sung this song till my face turned blue and every time, no matter what, I was so much happier after singing it 🙂

November 22, 2012

I forgot to mention…

… in this post…

Last week, I fetched Faith from school, put her in the car, drove to Aaron’s school, took Faith out the car, went into the school to fetch Aaron and realised that he had Playball and I was only supposed to fetch him in an hours time.

Thank heavens I managed to get us out of there without Aaron seeing us. HE would have wanted to stop Playball and come home!

Cannot wait for my two weeks leave!

November 16, 2012

Can I have a holiday please?

My mind has already taken its holiday, its hung a ‘Do not Disturb’ sign up, and posted an ‘Out of Office Reply’.

Last week, I rushed out of work, I was late to pick up the kids. I pulled into Faiths school, rushed inside and the teacher says to me: ‘What are you doing here’? ‘What do you mean what am I doing here’? I asked. ‘Um, you called us this morning to tell us Faith was sick and you were keeping her at home!’ DOH!

On Wednesday I left work, got all the way to my car only to realise that I had left my keys on my desk.

Also on Wednesday, I tool Faith to Kindermusik, brought her home, Aaron came home from swimming, I sat down with my book and my mom called. I had totally forgotten I was supposed to take the kids over to her so they could play with their cousins who were visiting.

I really really need a break. Can it be holidays now???

October 28, 2012

Peter Peter pumpkin eater!

My mom bought Aaron a Halloween pumpkin and a pumpkin carving set from Woolies yesterday and today Aaron and I set about making our very own Jack-o-Lantern.

Pumpkin guts are slimy and gross! Also, its easier to grab them in your hand than to use the scoop 🙂

Design taped to the pumpkin and ‘traced’ on

Careful, the saw is sharp, ask an adult to help you!

Aaron could not wait for night to fall so we could light the candle

Oh, take a look over here to see what we did with the seeds 🙂

October 17, 2012

All about lying and owning up.

On Monday I took Aaron to meet my mom for a cup of coffee.

She bought each of the kids a small present. Aaron’s was a foam air gun. One of those contraptions where you put the rocket, dart or ball in the front of the gun then squeeze the handle and the air forces the projectile forward.

Both Paul and I had spoken to Aaron about not shooting the gun towards people, to make sure that everyone was behind him or to shoot towards the floor. We told him that even though the balls, darts and rockets are soft foam that they can still hurt someone.

The next morning I was in the kitchen when I heard Faith scream. I ran to the room and saw Faith clutching her face and Aaron holding the gun looking a bit pale.

I bent in front of Faith to see what was wrong and asked Aaron what had happened.

We have always told Aaron that we would not be cross with him if he had hurt himself or Faith and that we would rather know the truth about what happened in case we have to go to the doctor and we needed to tell him what happened. Aaron knows this. We have never shouted at him if there was an accident.

So when I asked him what happened he told me that Faith poked her finger in her eye.

I asked him a few times as did Paul and he insisted that Faith poked herself in the eye. We didnt push it. I told Aaron to go get dressed for school and he went.

Meanwhile Faith had calmed down and was able to open her eye and there didnt seem to be any damage.

About 15 minutes later Aaron came to me and told me that he lied, and that he had shot one of the foam balls into Faith’s eye. He told me that he was very sorry. Sorry that he hurt her and sorry that he lied.

I sat him down and we discussed that I would always rather he told me the truth no matter what and that if it really was an accident I would never be cross with him. I also reiterated that he must shoot the gun at people and that he should rather shoot at the floor.

I decided not to punish him. I think the guilt he felt was enough. He came to me. He apologised for both the accident and for lying. He went and said sorry to Faith and kissed her better.

Im very proud of him in fact. For an almost 5 year old, he was very brave in coming to tell me what happened and for taking ownership of his actions.

I think we are definitely doing something right in raising both him and his sister.

September 21, 2012

Late to class, and I am fine with that

This morning we were running late, Paul had to iron a shirt and he was parked in front of me so we had to wait.

I rushed to drop Faith at school first and thankfully she didnt fuss.

I then hopped back in the car and rushed to Aarons school. We jumped out the car and Aaron was dragging his feet a bit so I told him we were running late and he must hurry which he did.

We got to the gate and he pushed it open and I went through, a few steps later I realised he wasnt with me so I stopped and looked back, he was holding the door. I told him to come on, we were late and this is where my heart just melts and bursts with pride all in one go.

He looked at me, then past me at two moms who were on their way towards the gate and he says to me “Mom, Im waiting for the other moms to go out first!”

My little boy, my almost 5 year old is a gentleman, a mensch.

Today I didnt mind being late at all!