Battling with illness

Just a quick update, J is very feverish. She had a temperature of 104 (the thermometer didn't even beep yet) but daddy says, give her some Aspirin and ice pack. It has come down since then. But her cough is getting worse and she coughs constantly. I just can't bear to listen to it. But she likes me to stay with her.

Luckily, Prime seem to be doing Ok. Despite a fever of 102 earlier, after a little Aspirin, he doesn't act very sick and that's great sign. He was able to take a nap in the afternoon.

Prime has been a really good boy, always asking me if he could help me with something. And there are lots of things he helps me with. He runs downstairs to fill up juice bottle for J and bring an ice pack wrapped paper towel for J, etc. He is so good little helper. I'm grateful he is not as sick as J.

A little organizing

Inspired by the very organized LBD, I did a little organizing myself myself today. I am hoping if I learn to be more organized, maybe the kids will pick that up as they are not could also some help like their mama. It is so true kids learn more from what they see us do.

A little side note: when I'm frustrated, I tend to make a face and growl. Now I often catch my little Prime doing the same thing. One time daddy and I was talking about that, and daddy said, I was wondering where he picked that up. LOL! From his mama. :) Or a lot of time, J will spit back exactly what I tell her to Prime. And I'm like oh, better watch my tone especially when I'm upset.

Okay, anyway, I did a little tiding up of my workspace and LBD suggested to post some picture if I want to. Before, on the right of my desk, stuff were piled up randomly in a pile. Sorry, no before pictures. But now, it is little better. I think the magazine basket helps. This is off my nook. Hopefully, it will stay this way for a little while.

This is my workspace and is where I'm typing this post from.

This is where J usually does her work by herself. This is a corner in my home office which currently hubby has taken over.

Funny Prime

Last night, Prime was complaining of a sore throat and this morning I found a bandage on one side of his neck around the throat area. I purposely ask him, why is there a bandage on your neck? He replies, I have a boo-boo on my neck. It hurts. (secretly LOL) Probably should have ask, does your bandage help? :0)

Last night, there was also a little sibling jealousy. Daddy was holding J as she was tired and sleepy in bed. Daddy says, Prime must have been jealous and tried to push J off and climb on daddy for himself. :) I think in some aspects, Prime is almost "happy" he got sick like J. After we discovered he is also running a temperature, Prime says, do I need to go to see the doctor too? And I say, probably, and she might poke your finger just like she did with J and swab your throat. He say, "oh, man" but with a big grin.

Today, the kids seem better energy wise. Both are still running a fever and J is still coughing quite a bit, but you couldn't tell by the way they are playing with each other. Okay, I spoke too soon. Now J is lying down, and Prime still wants to play. I tell him, let your sister rest, she is sick. Prime replies, "I'm sick too." Is there a competition going on?

Daddy is exhausted and I am pretty tired myself too. I slept til 9am this morning when the kids are calling us (esp. me) to get up!! I finally got up, had some coffee and gave them breakfast.

Double Jeporady

Another update: Doctor A (J's Pediatrician) says J got a viral infection and there is nothing she can give to J to help her heal fast. Just lots of rest and plain Tylenol if necessary and ride it out. As for the nose, she couldn't offer much explanation, just that her nose is irritated. And if it continues, cauterization might be necessary. I had to have it done for my nose; suffice to say, its not fun! Read below about Nasal Cauterization on Wikipedia:

"If a person has been having frequent nose bleeds, it is most likely caused by an exposed blood vessel in their nose. Even if the nose is not bleeding at the time, it is cauterized to prevent future bleeding. The different methods of cauterization include burning the affected area with acid, hot metal, lasers, or silver nitrate. Such a procedure is naturally quite painful. Sometimes liquid nitrogen is used as a less painful alternative, though it is less effective. In the few countries that permit the use of cocaine for medicinal purposes, it is occasionally used topically to make this procedure less uncomfortable, cocaine being the only local anesthetic which also produces vasoconstriction, making it ideal for controlling nosebleeds."

Unfortunately, Prime has also caught the viral infection, probably from J. He is also coughing and running a temperature. He also been having very minor nose bleeds all day, 5-6 times already. Another one is here as I type.

I was hoping to attend an important open house on CC tomorrow. I have been looking forward to go. I guess we won't be able to go. I take that as a sign as we are not meant to join CC for some reason I don't know about.

Perhaps God will open another door for us? I sure hope so. Hopefully, we will be able to connect with more homeschoolers and J/Prime will actually be able to play with other homeschoolers regularly, and not just take classes with other homeschoolers. Ever since J has been home schooled, her friends has pretty much stayed the same.

Trip to Urgent care

Just an update here: J had another massive and very serious nose bleed this morning. We basically couldn't stop it no matter what and we ended up going to urgent care. They were able to stop it, finally. Of course, that was after over an hour of bleeding at home. Doctor says we need to put pressure on the front of her nose, with no tissue or anything else. The docotr was not sure why the nose bleed is so serious as there is no obvious answer but thinks the fever does aggravate the condition. She recommends taking J to her pediatrician where they can run more test and go see a specialist.

Anyway, we have made another appointment with J's pediatrician. She is running a fever and coughing and after losing a lot of blood, is weak, yet once again.

So if you pray, please keep her in your prayers. And if not, then please just keep her in your thoughts.

God Bless.

Dare I say... on the mend???

I hope I'm not being overly optimistic but J seem to be on the mend.

After a horrifying episode of nose bleed last night, J seems to be acting like herself now. Here is what daddy says about last night's bleed, "If I apply the pressure point a little off, the blood would go down her throat or come out of her eyes (depending on her position)." The bleed lasted two hours and daddy was ready to take her to ER while saying one last desperate prayer, and it stopped. Thank you, God.

Anyway, we had more pretty serious nose bleeds today, but none as bad as the one last night. After being in bed most of the day, J seems more energetic now probably at least in big part to some fever reducing/cough medicine I gave her. She is not out of the woods yet as she is still coughing but she is more energetic and not so sick-looking. Hopefully, she will continue to be more like herself...knock on wood. I read to her "The wheel on the School" by Meindert DeJong while she rested today and that was a wonderful book. J really enjoyed listening but I couldn't read-aloud for too long.

Lisa, thank you so much for your comments and well wishes. We really appreciate it. :)

Prime had a good day, despite having a nose bleed from this morning. I am not sure why my kids seem to get nose bleed so frequently. Fortunately, most of the time is pretty minor. I cleaned their nose today with hydrogen peroxide and put Vaseline in their nose (recommendation from few different people).

Prime is such a good little brother. He left J alone and let her rest and occupied himself really well. Now he is playing brother to "a sick lamb" all wrapped in a little blanket. He is giving his lamb some "medicine."

Anyway, here is hoping tomorrow will be a much better day and we will be able to start our week healthy. I know what I need is good night rest. Sweet dreams, everyone. :)

Thoughts on Marva Collins

Previously, I had another blog documenting the more theoretical side of education and my thoughts on them. But its too cumbersome, so I have decided to combine it here.

Because J is sick, we will be staying home today. She had a major nose bleed in the middle of night, daddy says. It took a long time for daddy to stop the bleeding so daddy is tired out today and is still in bed sleeping.

Right now, J is listening to "Charlotte's Web" on audio tape and seems to be really enjoying it. She had previously read this book. I was almost thinking we will not have time to listen to this and I will have to return this to the library, but her illness has given us an unexpected blessing.

This morning, Prime also came down stair asking for help because his nose was also bleeding. He was upset since it got on the sheets. It was not a pretty sight. Needless to say, a hectic morning.

Anyway, I sneaked in some reading this morning while J was listening to the audio tape and wanted to write down my thoughts here before I forgot. I'm reading Marva Collins' Way by Marva Collins and Civia Tamarkin. I first heard Marva Collins on LadybugandDandelion's blog.

Here is a line in the book I found humorous. Marva says, " If a student tried to score points by tallying on a classmate, I immediately say, "If God had meant for you to see for me, he would have stuck our heads together." LOL, I could definitely use this line on Prime and J.

What struck me most about Marva is how much she genuinely cared and loved each of her students. She believed in each of them and was very sensitive to each child's individual needs. She made individualized homework for them, based on areas where each child needed to work on. She had children of different ages and different abilities and they all came to her because previously they failed in other school, public and private.

Another point that really struck me is her enthusiasm to teaching and I believe because of her enthusiasm, her students were enthusiastic. It seemed like her students found joy even in the mundane, repetitive stuff.

She always had an abundance of quotes for her students, and they caught on fast. She also persuaded them to see learning as fun and everywhere.

" On the last day of the school year I couldn't get the children out the door. "what's this? *laugh* Don't you know that children are suppose to be excited about vacation? You're supposed to be happy about being out of school. Don't you know that?"
"No!" they sang out.
"... you deserve a rest, too. But remember, a rest from school is not a rest from what?"
"From learning,", they chorused.
"And what are you going to do over the summer?"
"Read 10 books."
"And I'm going to read all 20 books on the list, because I won't know which 10 you would choose. At this school you can never what?"
"You can never fool Mrs. Collins,"they roared.

Don't you just love that? I sure wish I knew and met a teacher like Mrs. Collins.

Okay, gotta stop. J's nose is bleeding again. :(