Quarantine

   
     So that second week in November as we were just getting started with our new school initiatives, I got sick. I take care of myself and eat well so I figured that this would be over and done in a few days. I had horrible chills and high fevers initially and then the sore throat hit. Wednesday night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday...no end in sight. I went to the doctor and was put on an antibiotic for strep throat and was also being treated for what we believed was a kidney infection. Broke out in itching from the top of my head to my feet (including the palms of my hands), my eyes were puffy and itchy, too. My doctor told me to stop the antibiotic and was waiting to put me on a new one until she could see me again. I ended up in urgent care because my throat was swollen shut and I could hardly breath. I received a new antibiotic and went back home to bed. The most fun was the huge canker sore under my tongue and the split in the tip of my tongue from breathing through my mouth while sleeping. I couldn't eat, couldn't talk, and continued to have fevers (low grade at this point). I was back at the doctor for my test results and it turned out it wasn't my kidneys, but actually my liver that was affected. My liver enzymes were extremely elevated. I went back in for more blood tests and found out that I had infectious mono. In the first 14 days, I lost 12 lbs. For a month, I could not hug, kiss, read to, play with, or tend to my daughter. Once a day, right before she laid down to sleep, I would change my shirt and we would go through this elaborate routine so that I could give her one hug before bed. There was no way that I was going to infect my child and have her experience even a moment of the hell that I was living in. The seminar didn't address what to do when you can't read to your child, or anything else for that matter. My husband either made her a plate for lunch, before he left for work that morning, that she could get out of the refrigerator herself, or would come home at lunch time and fix her something. He came home once a day to take her outside to ride her bike around the block or take a quick walk. Otherwise, she spent the day playing, listening to books on CD, and watching TV. Yep, nothing like an illness like this to make the TV come on. Yeah, mono was definitely not addressed during the seminar. The mouth sores eventually cleared up, the fevers stopped, the liver pain has all but gone away, and we are slowly getting ourselves back on track. I started out with a lot of outings because I owed her big time for hanging in there with me (without me is more like it). Her first outing she wanted was the library. That made me smile! I'm so glad that out of everything she could have chosen the library was what she desired the most. We got a stack of books and 5 or 6 audio CD's. I brought a stroller since I knew I wouldn't be able to lift so she could load up. We started taking walks again. I have been able to read to her again which is a huge gift to me. Whether you homeschool or not, an illness in the family makes you have to rethink your priorities. I learned in this past month that it's ok to let go of  some things in order to take care of other things. My husband and I did the very best we could. Molly still had Thanksgiving with my family, she got to go to a fun Christmas festival, got outside every day, got her bedtime stories, filled her day with art and playdoh, and had a month with lots of movies. When I dragged myself to the bathroom in the early days of the illness and saw paint all over the towels, I just smiled and thought, "Thank God it's washable." I put out piles of markers, crayons, paint, brushes of every size and style, paper, etc. and went back to bed. She had a prolific month and I got my rest. I'd say we did a pretty good job!

By the way, she took those leaves she painted and taped them all over the room I was living in during the days. She said that she wanted to, "make it feel like you are in an art museum." She also sounded out (with very little help) "Mom I hope you feel better" on her giant dry erase board in "my" room. What a sweet, little girl. I am very blessed:)

Matisse

    The other thing that I wanted to implement after attending the seminar was daily outside time. Molly and I go out most days, but I found that going to and from the car is often the only actual outside time. I had purchased a pair of rain boots for myself this past summer so I was looking forward to putting them to use. On that Wednesday, we put our rain gear on and went outside. We were just strolling along the sidewalk when I looked down and saw the leaves plastered onto the wet sidewalk. She and I read a lot about artists so I said, "Which artist would have liked to paint this?" She looked at me blankly so I said, "Cezanne probably would have because he painted still-life." Then I said, "What do you think Matisse would have thought of this? Maybe he would have used the leaves as inspiration for his stained glass or his paintings? What would he have thought of the colors?" Molly passionately said, "He would not have liked these colors. He liked bright colors!" So as we walked along she would run to grab certain leaves and would shout, "Matisse would have loved this one!" She then collected about 6 huge maple leaves and brought them home. We decided to paint them. We called it, "If Matisse had his way." It was Molly's interpretation of what Autumn would look like if Matisse had his way. She painted each of the leaves a bright, beautiful color and we set them aside to dry. As I was sitting there, she said, "I have a poem." Now when Molly says those words I have to jump to find a video camera because it could be gone as quickly as it comes and I can't write fast enough to keep up. I grabbed my phone and turned on the video camera and she made up a poem right there on the spot. Here it is...

Our New Love

     The Tuesday after the seminar, Molly and I went to the library and checked out a lot of books...including audio books. It was so exciting to add audio books to our repertoire! I found it especially useful when she was tired after a long day and wanted to watch tv. I could put on a CD and she would lay in her bed or on the couch and listen to a story. TV zones kids out...the audio books allowed her to keep her brain engaged and active while she relaxed. Her favorites have been Beverly Cleary books (she has checked out 4 different ones), Judy Blume's "Superfudge," and "Charlotte's Web." We own most of these books already, but for her to be able to listen whenever she wants and not have to wait for someone to read to her has been so nice for her. She will sometimes listen for two hours of her day. She has a CD player in her room and we have one in the living room that I showed her how to use. It is so nice for her to have this bit of independence and not have to ask for permission or help. I often find her sitting on her bed looking at piles of picture books as she is listening to a book being read.

Computer Crash

    Back in the first weekend of November I went to a day-long seminar to hear a woman named Carol Joy Seid speak about using literature in homeschooling. I came out of that seminar with renewed focus and renewed passion. I couldn't wait to jump in on that Monday morning and implement the changes I had resolved to make. First I would drastically reduce her television watching. She never watched that much, but I was going to try to get it to an hour or two a week total. The second thing was to get her off the computer. Reducing the computer time goes against almost everything I was taught to believe and actually almost every parent and teacher believe...that computers help kids learn. What I learned in the seminar is that computer use actually damages childrens eyes, and it also takes them away from the way they learn best...by exploring their environment, listening to books, life experience. It turned out that Molly had an appointment on that Monday with a pediactric opthamologist. I had made the appointment back in September after her pediatrician recommended she see a specialist. The timing could not have been more perfect, it turns out! I was able to talk to the specialist about what I had heard at the conference. The specialist agreed 100% with Ms. Seid. The doctor said that they now see so many young children whose eyes have been damaged and who need glasses at 4, 5, and 6 years old. All of the parents said that the child played hand-held video games, and spent time on the computer. She recommends drastically reducing computer and video game time for all children because it affects the growth of the eyes and causes permanent damage. The doctor also said that she rarely saw it before...it is becoming more common as more games and websites are being marketed to young children. I was so grateful to have heard this message at the seminar, but then to be able to speak to an expert and have the message confirmed really made me rethink the path we were on. Just because other parents are doing it, and just because marketing people are telling you that it will make your child smarter doesn't mean it is healthy for your child. Do the research yourself and make a decision that is best for your family.