12/14/11 The Knee

Ouch! Gabriel apparently tripped over a basketball today at lunch, running full speed. He landed on his knee and wasn't able to bend it or walk on it. Dave picked him up, and pushed him in a wheelchair to his car to take him to the doctor.

It's probably OK, she didn't feel anything broken and didn't think his symptoms merited an x-ray -- but she said if it doesn't get better quickly, to call an orthopedist.

Gabriel's been hopping around all day, but tonight when he was more focused on ice cream, I noticed him walking almost normally. I believe that it hurts him, but I think he'll get over it quickly.

Good thing, because I was JUST about to try to book us for a snow/ski day!

12/14/11

12/13/2011 TMJ

Jaw is still pretty bad.

I went for an x-ray today, and physical therapy Monday and upcoming Friday. I'm in less pain, but chewing is now a lost art. I had no idea the mouth was so complicated -- even drinking thick soup involves jaw motions I never knew about, and have to re-learn. Eating has become a dreadful chore, something I brace myself for and put off for as long as possible.

I'm trying to do some holiday cookie baking, and it's taking all the fun out of licking the batter bowl. Now that's serious!

12/13/2011

12/12/11 Office-free

Yay! Julian made it through Monday without being sent to the principal's office, or home. That's three whole days in a ROW! OH GOODY.

Tonight Julian's counselor wanted to see the kids interacting, so asked that we bring Gabriel and Katrina too. Then Dave and the counselor and I watched them play through the counseling room's one-way mirror. But she barely saw anything about how the boys interact, since there was a "Battleship" game there, and the boys had a great time playing together.

At home, I'm under a constant strain keeping them apart, like sprinting to put my body between theirs if they so much as pass each other in the hall, or giving them strict orders not to talk to or about each other, to get within 5 feet of each other and even not to look at each other, just so I can have a few minutes to change my clothes when we get home without a major fight breaking out.

The only inkling the counselor had of our real lives was when the boys ignored me when I instructed them to put away the Battleship game. I allowed them each one more turn (that's a nod to the "giving choices" thing), but then they carried on as though I was inaudible telling them "TIME to put the game away, NOW!"

A 2-week break is coming up -- anyone taking bets that Julian can keep out of trouble another 4 days?

12/12/11