Just in Time for Christmas...
Emi started school on November 10th and has been sick almost constantly since November 14th. Lovely.
I had really thought she was beginning to feel better, but last night, her cough changed dramatically. She sounded like a seal barking, and each breath was so laborious, I thought a trip to the ER was imminent. Cue lengthy consultation with the American Academy of Pediatrics handbook (Yes, I'm that big of a dork - I have a book for every parenting crisis invented. It's what you do when you lose the ability to just ring your mom up and ask her...). After reassuring myself it was NOT, after all, a case of pneumonia that would result in her immediate death (gotta LOVE the thoughts going through my mind at 3am!), I had a notion of what was going on, and the pediatrician confirmed it this morning. Croup.
Ehhhh.
So we're all running on a couple hours' worth of sleep, and the pediatrician assures me tonight will be just as bad. I really, really hope she feels better by Christmas. She's at that age where it's finally starting to make sense to her, and for the first time, she's REALLY been looking forward to a visit from Santa. (She's three.)
Here she is in her little school uniform.
She's attending an international school; it's language immersion, with 60% French, 20% English and 20% Spanish. The teachers are all ex-pats from the requisite countries (even the English teachers are from England rather than America), and they only speak to the children in their native language. As you can guess, there is some VERY creative gesturing going on in these early years! But they follow the French Ministry curriculum which not only has a strong cultural focus but is also more heavily geared towards science and technology in the later years. Emi's school currently goes through 5th grade, but they have the funding (just not the facilities yet) to expand it through 8th grade. And there's a plan for expanding through high school within 10 years. So we were VERY lucky to get her enrolled now (especially given the size of the waiting list and the fact they don't accept new students past kindergarten unless they're already bilingual... Through a spectacular combination of luck, timing, and coincidence, we happened to snag a spot that had just opened when another family was forced to relocate to Seattle. As current enrollees, we'll have priority over new enrollees for next year. Which is a good thing; you wouldn't believe how many people attended the Open House - with BABIES - and the craziness over simply being added to the waiting list. (Parents are scary.) Seriously, it was weird the way we happened to get that spot; there was a woman at the Open House who reminded me SO much of my mom. She asked if I had any other questions, and after chatting with her for a few minutes, she just seemed to make it her mission to help us get Emi enrolled. Within minutes, we were meeting personally with the Director, scheduling a trial week, etc. (Much to the chagrin of the other parents present!) Anyway, my POINT is I'd really hate to withdraw her from this school; it's such an amazing opportunity, given the quality of public education in Texas. She seems to be enjoying herself, and it's one of only two secular private schools in Austin. (It's not easy being an atheist in the southern US!) But I just don't know if I can handle a year of constant sickness. I suppose this is what I get for never having had her attend a single session of daycare.
Oh, and here she is learning how to make the BEST FREAKING Indian food I've ever tasted in my life, thanks to the amazing talents of lady_karelia 's charming husband.
I have a bunch more pics I need to post from Austin Squeefest 2008, but I'd better stop now. Must begin cleaning (ehhh), as my house has been chosen to host both Wigilia and Christmas Day brunch. For ten people. Wish me luck!
And since I doubt I'll be posting again prior to Christmas, I'd like to wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday. I hope the New Year is full of promise, good health, and happiness for all.
Lots of love,
Danielle and Emilia
I had really thought she was beginning to feel better, but last night, her cough changed dramatically. She sounded like a seal barking, and each breath was so laborious, I thought a trip to the ER was imminent. Cue lengthy consultation with the American Academy of Pediatrics handbook (Yes, I'm that big of a dork - I have a book for every parenting crisis invented. It's what you do when you lose the ability to just ring your mom up and ask her...). After reassuring myself it was NOT, after all, a case of pneumonia that would result in her immediate death (gotta LOVE the thoughts going through my mind at 3am!), I had a notion of what was going on, and the pediatrician confirmed it this morning. Croup.
Ehhhh.
So we're all running on a couple hours' worth of sleep, and the pediatrician assures me tonight will be just as bad. I really, really hope she feels better by Christmas. She's at that age where it's finally starting to make sense to her, and for the first time, she's REALLY been looking forward to a visit from Santa. (She's three.)
Here she is in her little school uniform.
She's attending an international school; it's language immersion, with 60% French, 20% English and 20% Spanish. The teachers are all ex-pats from the requisite countries (even the English teachers are from England rather than America), and they only speak to the children in their native language. As you can guess, there is some VERY creative gesturing going on in these early years! But they follow the French Ministry curriculum which not only has a strong cultural focus but is also more heavily geared towards science and technology in the later years. Emi's school currently goes through 5th grade, but they have the funding (just not the facilities yet) to expand it through 8th grade. And there's a plan for expanding through high school within 10 years. So we were VERY lucky to get her enrolled now (especially given the size of the waiting list and the fact they don't accept new students past kindergarten unless they're already bilingual... Through a spectacular combination of luck, timing, and coincidence, we happened to snag a spot that had just opened when another family was forced to relocate to Seattle. As current enrollees, we'll have priority over new enrollees for next year. Which is a good thing; you wouldn't believe how many people attended the Open House - with BABIES - and the craziness over simply being added to the waiting list. (Parents are scary.) Seriously, it was weird the way we happened to get that spot; there was a woman at the Open House who reminded me SO much of my mom. She asked if I had any other questions, and after chatting with her for a few minutes, she just seemed to make it her mission to help us get Emi enrolled. Within minutes, we were meeting personally with the Director, scheduling a trial week, etc. (Much to the chagrin of the other parents present!) Anyway, my POINT is I'd really hate to withdraw her from this school; it's such an amazing opportunity, given the quality of public education in Texas. She seems to be enjoying herself, and it's one of only two secular private schools in Austin. (It's not easy being an atheist in the southern US!) But I just don't know if I can handle a year of constant sickness. I suppose this is what I get for never having had her attend a single session of daycare.
Oh, and here she is learning how to make the BEST FREAKING Indian food I've ever tasted in my life, thanks to the amazing talents of lady_karelia 's charming husband.
I have a bunch more pics I need to post from Austin Squeefest 2008, but I'd better stop now. Must begin cleaning (ehhh), as my house has been chosen to host both Wigilia and Christmas Day brunch. For ten people. Wish me luck!
And since I doubt I'll be posting again prior to Christmas, I'd like to wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday. I hope the New Year is full of promise, good health, and happiness for all.
Lots of love,
Danielle and Emilia