Running Down a Dream

I have another post on Dare to Dream this month. I just love that site!
This entry is about Mermaid's medical mayhem and how running a marathon made it easier.

Reefing the Sail

This is a parenting technique I learned from sailing.


"Reefing is a sailing manoeuvre intended to reduce the area of a sail on a sailboat or sailing ship, which can improve the ship's stability and reduce the risk of capsizing, broaching, or damaging sails or boat hardware in a strong wind." -Wikipedia

For example, if four of your children simultaneous declare they need to use the one and only bathroom in your apartment, but the seven year old is the only one who says, "I need to go. I'm after Mom!" and your nearly-teenager starts having a stomp-shout fit about it because she was technically the first to say, "I need to go!," then you can reef the sail. In this, hypothetical case, you may smack said pre-teen with a long wooden kitchen spoon imported from Tunisia. Or you may take her precious face in your hands and fiercely whisper, "Don't do this." Or you may smile smugly to yourself at the cliche response of those under the influence of what we here like to call The Pubonic Plague and move on to helping another child find their socks, grateful you've already had your turn in the loo. This last would be an example of reefing the sail.

Fair Winds!

More of my favorite sailing eye-candy

Happily After

Last year Mermaid experienced hypsarrhythmia A.K.A. infantile spasms or seizures. In this season of gratitude, and as her second birthday approaches, I'm reflecting on that time in our lives. I am so grateful to be outside of that experience, looking back and knowing the conclusion. The uncertainty was crushing. Now doubt is merely the antagonist inevitably defeated by our happy ending.

We have so many "Befores," "Durings," and "Afters" in our days. "Durings" always seem so long, even when they're not. And "Befores" can be discouraging because we can never really go back to them. Even though we can never be sure what the "Afters" will bring, today I'm especially thankful for "After."


BEFORE: Happy Mermaid! So adorable. We didn't even know she had DS, let alone the shadow of seizures in her future.

DURING: The electrical brain chaos caused developmental pause and the steroid-like meds caused weight gain slowing her down even further; no smiles, no laughs, no interest and lots of sleeping.

AFTER: Mermaid began to wake up last December and here she is preparing for take-off in a helicopter aboard the U.S.S. New York. She is all toddler learning to walk, talk, sign and make-believe. She's curious and into everything. She pulls all books off the shelves and has started getting into the refrigerator. I don't even mind cleaning up. I am so thrilled that she is curious and happy.

Mi Casa es Su Casa

People are always curious about how we live in the city. This is a brief tour of our two bedroom, one bathroom 4th floor* home which comfortably sleeps seven. It begins with the view out eight of our ten windows. Next is the master bedroom with a custom built queen size loft bed in beautiful Poplar wood. Following that is the Living/Dining/Entry, Kid's room (2 bunks, 1 crib), and the Kitchen.

*elevator building

Dress Design for Shabby Apple dresses II

Dress Design for Shabby Apple Dresses




Star is also taking on the Dare to design challenge for Shabby Apple's Spring collection:

I was thinking about the competiton and what to draw beacause I'm in cold weather mode and this is supposed to be a SPRING design. Then I remebered a shirt I saw a few days a go at Target, a tunic shirt I have, and a dress that I have, then kind of combined them. the main color/fabric is blue cotton, not really solid blue but somewhat infused with white and then at the same time, not blotchy (this is the kind of fabric used in my tunic shirt only in this case it would be a slightly darker shade). Near the bottom of the skirt there is an embroidered vine of green. I've always liked birds. They like to sing, just like me. I thought it would look so sweet. Besides, the dress was designed for the bird. The bird is a cutout in the same material as the dress except in red with a few stiches of black the for the eye. Around the collar I added a vintage-ized area (yes I just made that up) that has dark blue lace and red plastic buttons about an inch apart.

I would probably pair it with my green ballet flats and on chillier days a white long sleeve shirt underneath or a light sweater in the same shade of red as the bird and the buttons.

STAR

Dress Design for Shabby Apple dresses

Dress design for Shabby Apple Dresses



Angelfish has taken up the "Dare to design" challenge for Shabby Apple's Spring collection. I'll let her speak for herself:

This dress was inspired by an orange shirtdress my Mother wears with jeans or leggings.
It's a Jersey knit dress in gray and yellow, but the belt and headband are white. The sleeves are 3/4 length.
It should be paired with yellow heels or sandals.
The longer black necklace was inspired by one my sister, Sparkle, made recently.

Even if I don't win, I hope I get to make this dress because I'm proud of it.

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

Things I have actually done for a Klondike bar:

1. I'd ride the subway four stops with a child who needs stitches in her head and a Klondike bar to keep her spirits up.
2. I'd walk three blocks to the grocery store and pay money.
3. I'd unwrap it and eat it if someone handed it to me.
4. Nothing of consequence
5. ...Ummm, I'm out.

What would I do for my kids? Now, we're talking motivation!! My children are a constant source of inspiration to do more; to be more. I wrote about it here.

Things I have actually done for my children:

1. KEEP TRYING.
At age five, Star stayed up for several hours mastering the snap. The next morning she snapped and said, "I'm the kind that sticks to it." She made a poster for me during my marathon training last year. When I would get weary on long runs, thinking about that poster and the girl who made it was better than jelly beans. Domestic functionality decreased when I was sweating over my first published essay, but Star encouraged me, "If it makes you happy then you should keep working on it."


2. CARE
Angelfish is sensitive to others. A tug at her heartstrings puts her hands to work. At age nine she planned and prepared chicken enchiladas, a vegetable side and dessert for an injured neighbor. She learns our neighbor's names and even asks for their phone numbers or business cards. Angelfish's example has inspired me to stop the stroller for a sidewalk chat with neighbors when it would be more convenient to pass on by.


3. BE BRAVE
Sparkle climbs light posts and street signs. She thinks dead birds are "interesting." She studies insects outdoors but kills them when they come inside. She tells teenage boys, "Pull up your pants. I can see your underwear!" She tackles math, science and art the same way. She's not afraid to experiment or get messy. On Sparkle's behalf, I once steadied my nerves and replaced her tooth in the socket from whence it was knocked. Impressed with the thrill of independence she feels at walking rails or scaling fences, I started working on my handstand. It may not be a marketable skill, but it sure would give my confidence a boost if I could hold a handstand. I've gotten up to two seconds.


4. TEST LIMITS
Torpedo was born like a rocket and has been pushing the envelope ever since. If there is a fence he wants to be on the other side. If there is a gate he must exit. If we're inside he throws things out the window (phone, remote, wireless mouse, bottles from the shower, books, toys, keys, etc.). While I'm teaching him to recognize and respect limits, he's teaching me to test my limits and try new things. In fact, his smooth speedy delivery partially inspired me finally to step out of the mainstream and fulfill my dream of a home birth.


5. ACCEPTANCE
Mermaid meets the world on her terms and she's usually happy. Today she clapped and smiled while a child six weeks her junior ran rings around her. She didn't roll onto her face and cry because she is nearly two and still not walking alone. She isn't on a schedule, timeline or trying to fill a mold. Mermaid invites me to meet all my children where they are with pleasure and confidence that they will progress. For example, as a home school mom teaching a literature based curriculum, I was teetering on panic over a reluctant reader. Mermaid reminded me that patience, confidence and consistently meeting my child on her terms would heal the relationship and solve the problem. Furthermore, she reminds me to move forward happily, though incrementally, from where I am rather than from where I think I should be by now.


Nah! I wouldn't paint my face bright blue for a Klondike bar. That was for the kids too!