Hangovers

My children have cake-hangovers. While everyone laughed and laughed at Ryker shoving handfuls of icing into his mouth - his stomach was trying to deal with this new substance. And it DID NOT LIKE IT. He awoke at 5:30am screaming and writhing in pain. He came out of it eventually and seemed fine the rest of the day. But, as the old saying goes, just when you think you're out of the woods - your preschooler spews all over his room. If that's not a saying, it should be, and it WILL be in our house now.

Here's how it would be staged if it were a play:
Both kids are safely down for a nap and Chuck has left for the mall (?). Lights come up as Jamie is feeding Ryker in the living room.
Noise in the hallway.
Jamie: "What's up Jack?"
Hall door opens. Jack enters living room.
Jack: "Umm, my bed is not clean anymore."
Cuddles with Jamie while she tries to figure out what that means. Jamie looks down at his shirt and notices a speck of something that looks and smells like vomit. It IS vomit.
Cue Flight of the Bumblebees music while the following transpires.
Grandmommy hustles to the bedroom to clean it up. It smells really badly so she tries to open the window, which is still covered in plastic from the winter. The curtain rod falls onto the floor. Jamie grabs a thermometer and starts to take Jack's temp. Ryker pulls the thermometer out from Jack's armpit and throws it into the dog's water dish. Jamie runs to help Grandmommy - Grandmommy tells Jamie to leave before SHE throws up. Jamie decides that's a good idea. Jamie goes back to the boys. Jamie calls Chuck's cell to make him come home.
Cue Chuck's phone ringing on the kitchen counter right next to Jamie.
Jamie tries to console Jack on the couch and then notices that Ryker has Tugboat's rawhide in his mouth.
Jamie: to the audience "I wonder what heinous illness Jack has contracted. And if he throws up again, I'm going to throw up too."
Jack: "Can we go to the water park now?"

End Scene.

Party Time, Excellent

We had a great birthday party today, complete with Miss Kay, lots of friends from Chrysalis, Grandmommy, Grandpa, Uncle Ry Ry, Uncle Bob, Body Niece and other friends and family. Ryker seemed confused by all the fuss, but LOVED his cake. There was no hesitation - he just dove right in.

Here are some pics - more on Flickr.

Happy Birthday Ryker

(Long Blog Post Alert - read at your own risk.)

One year ago tonight we had dinner at Fridays - Gaga, Grandmommy, Chuck, Jack and me. Chuck and Jack sat outside watching machines of some sort while the rest of us waited for our food to arrive. Then we sat around at the house. It would have been a normal night, except for the phone message we got.

"BEEP - Hi, this is Fairview Southdale Hospital calling for Jamie. Jamie, we are calling to remind you of your scheduled cesarean section tomorrow at 9am. Please arrive at the hospital at 7am, and don't eat after midnight. Thank you."

It was a good thing they called because I totally would have eaten dinner at 2am, slept late into the morning and gone for a manicure the next day, missing the birth of my child. Phew. A message well spent.

For weeks leading up to the scheduled delivery, I was worried that I would be panicky the night before or that morning. I actually had orders from my OB to take a Xanax or drink some beer the night before. I didn't need them though - I felt very peaceful. We awoke the morning of June 24, made sure Jack was settled with Grandmommy, and headed off to the hospital knowing that in 3 hours we'd meet our new baby.

We walked into the maternity ward. "May we help you?" "Umm, yes, I am here to have my child." So weird. They had renovated the hospital since we had Jack, and it was MUCH nicer! We had our own pre-op room with a flat-screen TV. We watched the Today Show. The nurses fluttered in and out getting paperwork ready. At one point they asked if I was allergic to latex and I said no, to which they replied with a series of other questions - was I allergic to chestnuts, avocados or kiwis? No, and were we going to have to list every substance known to man before I was allowed to have this baby already? I think she caught us snickering so she explained that it's common for people to be allergic to those things AND latex. Who knew?

While we marvelled at that fun fact, they brought in the scrubs that Chuck would have to wear in the Operating Room. She told him to go down the hall, take a left, take another left, click his heels three times and say the secret password to get into a small bathroom - change there - then come back. We both thought that was a bit strange, considering he could have just changed in the room if she had stepped out. Once he left, however, she started in with The Questions - the ones they can't ask with the partner/spouse around. Did I worry about going home? Were there any safety concerns? I laughed at first and said no, and then I got sad thinking about the women who have to say yes to those, or even worse, the women who need to say yes but can't. I felt grateful for my relationship with Chuck.

Around 9am they told me that I could go to the OR. I sat back on the bed preparing to be wheeled in, but no, they meant I would walk. I found that hysterical. I waddled my way over there and climbed up on the table. I felt so secure watching Dr. Pettit, my doctor, walk in. (She had been my OB/GYN for years but didn't get to deliver Jack.)

By the time Chuck came into the OR, I was prepped and ready to go. I was laughing about things and chatting away with my doc and the nurses. I think Chuck was more nervous than I was. Throughout the surgery the docs and nurses were talking about all sorts of things not related to the surgery. "Jamie - if we're talking about tee-ball, that means things are going well." After no time at all, I was holding my new baby boy.

Ryker Kelly Van Nostrand joined us on June 24th at 9:30am. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long.

When I was putting Ryker to bed tonight I rocked with him for a long time, thinking about what the first year has meant. What came to mind was a saying that is used in one of my meditations. They tell you to find your "heart center" - where you experience emotions like love. I think that Chuck showed me how to trust in love and that Jack opened my heart to love in a new and overwhelming way. Ryker pulled it all together and helped define my heart center. As I rocked with him I could physically feel my love for my family.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Good thing we started a new school - it's going to be a constant source of blog posts.

Update #1:
Jack has a new friend named Sean, who he calls John because it's easier to say. He told me that John is his best friend. (Contented sigh.)

Update #2:
According to Jack, there is a rule that the kids can't wear coats on the playground. He claims that it's written on the rules outside and the teachers pointed at it. I started to tell my mom this and she said "well of course - it's June, and kids leave them outside and so it's easier to leave them inside." Well that all makes sense, but Jack says that they are NEVER allowed to wear coats. Wanna know why? I don't think you do, but I'm going to tell you anyway because you are my captive audience and because it's so weird. The teacher told him that it's because a boy was wearing a coat and got it caught on "that spinny fing and he DIED!" (Horrified gasp.)

Okay, maybe he got his facts mixed up. I asked Chuck to inquire this morning about any deaths on the playground. Stupid me - I forgot that in my list of 108 questions I asked them before we picked their school.

We Did It!

We made it through Day One of the new daycare! I didn't even cry. And I didn't call to check on them! And I only had to talk about it once an hour, on the hour to anyone who would listen to me.

Oh wait, you probably want to know how the kids did. Silly me.

Ryker was blissfully unaware - he did fine. I would have more to report but I didn't quite catch anything that his new teacher told me. I normally am okay at accents, but hers might take me a second. I think I heard that he napped twice and something happened with "poopy" I think. But she's very nice and he smiled at her as we left.

Jack also did great. I understood more about his day. Despite him telling me last night that he was a little bit nervous, he didn't cry and was fine throughout the day. When I picked him up he was on the playground with the other kids. We went inside and he showed me the following things: the bell they ring when it's time to change activities, his bucket, the posters with the "insides of people," his name on his spot at a desk, his chairs, the trashcan, and the plastic barn toy.

He is insisting that we call it "Richfield Monnessori" (not it's correct pronunciation or "daycare" or "school"). I thought that was promising - like he was really claiming it and excited about it. But then in the car he told me that he wanted to "go to that first school." I asked if he knew that the decision was made and that THIS was his new school and he said no. Not sure how that got lost in the thousands of conversations we've had about this. He likes to keep us on our toes.

Visions From My Childhood

You know how sometimes you remember something SO VIVIDLY that it's etched in your brain forever?

Well, one of mine was hiding in my coat cubby at preschool. I'd run up the stairs after my mom dropped me off, rush to the window overlooking the parking lot and wave at my mom as she drove off. She'd have her arm out the window, waving back at me, rain or shine or lighting or snow. I would cry. Then I would run to my cubby and sit there sucking my thumb.

I'm fairly certain all of that happened but here is where it gets fuzzy. In MY version, I did that every single day for the entire year, which I'm fairly certain did NOT happen. Also, I remember thinking that my mom went home and watched soaps and ate bon-bons, which DEFINITELY did not happen.

So fast forward to the present. Grandmommy was talking to Jack this weekend about starting the new school on Monday. And what did he tell her? That he would sit in the corner all day sucking his thumb.

Maybe he doesn't think there are cubbies.

Jack's New Name

First Name:
I asked Jack if he wanted me to tell his new teachers to call him Jack Pants or Mr. Pants (as they do at Chrysalis). He said no. I asked what he wanted me to tell them to call him. He said "Woody."

Middle Name:
Awhile back he told his Chrysalis teachers that his middle name was Bud (and that Ryker's was Teacher).

Last Name:
He still has trouble pronouncing Van Nostrand - so Banjostrand has stuck.

That makes him Woody Bud Banjostrand.

Handling Stress

It's been a stressful few days in the Banjostrand household. And what it's taught us is that everyone handles stress differently.

Ryker is oblivious.
I have panic attacks - or get really hyper.
Chuck gets quiet and tired.

Jack?

Jack goes to his room and spreads diaper cream on his couch.

Whatever works.

Miracle Drug

Say your preschooler wakes up all weepy and has a fever. And say then you give him some Tylenol and wait an hour or so. And then say you give him some Gatorade because you don't have Pedialyte.

What happens? Your child goes into a drug and sugar induced frenzy.

And this is what it looks like...

Things that are HIGH-larious

According to Jack (a.k.a. Humor at 3 Years and 8 Months):

• When you kiss him and you both make the puckery sound at the same time
• Saying "WWWHHHHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT?!"
• Being chased
• Ryker grabbing his hair
• Powder in his underwear (don't ask - we do what we gotta do to have peaceful mornings, alright?)
• The part of the NKOTB song "Step by Step" where they say "Step ONE! We can have lots of fun!"

According to Ryker (a.k.a. Humor at 11 Months):

• Blowing kisses (he can't do it yet, but it's VERY amusing when YOU do it to him)
• Unloading the dishwasher
• Walking funny
• Jack
• Being wiped during diaper changes
• The suggestion of food

Daycare Hilarity

Well, we've made our decision. The kids will be going to Richfield Montessori. We're excited about it, but sad to leave Chrysalis.

One unexpected benefit to doing this search was that it provided us with many laughs. "Hilarity" was probably too strong of a term, but I needed a title for the post and "Daycare Sort of Funnies" didn't have the same ring.

I won't name names here, for fear one of our readers sends their kids to the daycare I'm about to rip on. Here is the Top Six (I tried for ten but didn't quite make it) List of Things We Heard/Saw and/or Were Told in Our Daycare Tours:

6) (After being asked what their curriculum is for toddlers) "Curriculum?! For TODDLERS?!"
5) "Oh, and if you pick OUR school, we'd work right away to get him to stop sucking his thumb." (This was after only 20 minutes with our family and zero questions about why or when Jack does it.)
4) (Told to our friend, referring to traceable sandpaper letters) "I forget what that does, but it helps them."
3) (At a Montessori school, when asked if they do strict Montessori or a hybrid version) "Oh no, Montessori doesn't really work anymore."
2) "We have to lock up the swings and other playground stuff every night because people come and vandalize them."

And my personal favorite:

1)"We teach our kids to read by 11 months." (This from a place that has a misspelling in their daycare's name.)