November 10, 2011 – My Jr is 4

Dear Junior,

As per usual Mommy is running late with the birthday post, but maybe that is because we had such a crazy, whirlwind time.  I still can’t believe that you are already four years old.  My sweet baby son.  November 9 was your last day of Pre-K last week before the long weekend, and your teachers graciously granted permission for you to have a party in your classroom.  You requested a Francesco (from Cars 2) cake and I was worried whether or not I would be able to deliver.  I managed to pull off the cake and a pinata for you to share with your friends.  I hope you liked them.

Francesco cake? Check (and a McQueen pinata to boot)

It was so fun to watch you and your classmates celebrate.  I couldn’t believe how excited and enthusiastic the other kids were.  As I snapped pictures of you all (carefully) wielding the pinata stick I almost cried thinking ahead to the future.  I can just imagine seeing these pictures during the graduation video when you finish Grade 12.  I’m so silly, getting all weepy about you finishing high school when you aren’t even in kindergarten yet but that is me.

 

November 10 dawned and you were four.  You were so excited because not only was it your birthday but you were going to the city alone with mommy.  Unfortunately we were going to the ophthalmologist to check on your eye.  I got sad when he said you will have surgery in January, but you were having so much fun with my iPhone I hope you didn’t notice.

 

my brave hijo

 

 After a few quick stops we were on our way home for your second party with our family.  You seemed to have a great time, surrounded by the people who love you most.  When you went to bed that night you hugged me close and asked if I was your best friend.  I said what I always do when you ask me this…”always.”

Te amo mucho Junior.

 

 

Me? Speak Cree? (i wish)

I was watching APTN and they were speaking with interpreters for native languages at a conference way up north. I loved hearing the different native languages and am pleased the conference was being done in traditional languages; but I was left with a little shame in my heart.

Don’t misunderstand…I’m not ashamed to be First Nation, I’m very proud and thankful that the Creator made me Cree. I feel shame because I don’t speak Cree fluently. I was born and raised on the rez, and both my parents speak Cree fluently. I love hearing my dad speak Cree with his brothers and his friends. I just wish I could do the same. The little Cree I know is what I can remember from elementary school. So sad really.

(Once I asked my dad why he didn’t teach us Cree at home, which resulted in the following exchange.)

Dad- I had a lot of trouble in school because my English wasn’t very good. The grammar and rules for Cree and English aren’t the same. I wanted you guys to be smart and not be mixed up.

Me- I wouldn’t have been mixed up, and it is difficult to acquire a second language as an adult.

Dad- I still think in Cree and have to translate to English. I thought if you wanted to learn it you could when you grew up.

Me- But dad…children under 5’s brains are hard wired to learn language. During that time kids can learn multiple languages and speak them like a first/native language.

Dad- See! I did the right thing, look how smart you are.

******

He didn’t say so, but I honestly think it all goes back to residential schools. I know the heart of it was a desire for me to do well in school. My parents have always been proud of my scholastic achievements, but deep down I’m jealous of everyone my age and younger who speak Cree fluently.

I don’t blame my parents that I don’t speak Cree, they raised me well and I’m fortunate to have them. I know I’m an adult and I am responsible for my own learning. I need to either find a class or a little old lady who speaks little English. Because I’m a SLP I really dislike when I mispronounce Cree words. (Yes, I started a sentence with because.) Cree words tend to be as long as my arm.

Cat=minos
Little cat (kitten)=minosis
kittens=minosisak
My kittens=niminosisak

At least I have my by ever deadly rez accent.

So random of an entry i forgot to title it

This post is being written late because I thought it was still Monday. 

I laughed during a pap exam yesterday. 

There are people who now associate me with Ralph G. Macchio, but not with John C, Mayer, he’s a douche. 

The definitive John C. Mayering of Ralph G. Macchio

I’m geekily excited about a google document I’m sharing online with my twitter Speech Pathology friends (SLPeeps.)  It’s a bit embarrassing that I can’t wait to use it for goal writing this year. 

I will be starting a few school visits next month.  I hope Diego will be ok without me for a few hours on those days.  I’m lucky that I don’t have to work full time, but sometimes the travel gets old.    

Learning to bellydance would be sweet although I wish I had less belly to work with. 

Ugh i just ended a sentence with “with” and I’m too lazy to go back and fix it.  

This is an exceptionally craptacular entry because I am typing one handed.  Sorry.

Sucktastic

I had an OB appointment yesterday and I got the results of several tests back. The good news is I don’t have Gestational Diabetes. The bad news is I have Cholestasis of Pregnancy. (which explains the intolerable itching)

I’m quietly freaking out…my other 2 pregnancies were uneventful. The thought of 2X weekly nonstress tests, weekly OB visits, weekly blood tests to monitor my liver and bile not to mention a planned induction at or prior to 38 weeks is overwhelming. I’m thankful my doctor realized it was more than just pregnancy itchiness but I didn’t expect to be told that I’m “high risk”

I must admit tho I am feeling a bit smug. Last week when I took my daughter to the dr the doctor told me I had SCABIES! Then the prescription she gave me was for lice shampoo which I was supposed to put over my whole body…the thought of putting harsh chemicals on top of my itchy, sensitive skin was not appealing. She said she had seen a lot of it lately in “my” community(meaning the rez where I don’t live anymore). I asked her about the fact that scabies is contagious, so if it was scabies shouldn’t my husband and children have it as well…to which she said they “probably” will have it soon. Needless to say I ignored that advice and no, she is NOT our regular family dr.

Kinda wish I did have scabies tho.
Sent from my BlackBerry®

Hello Friday

I love it when the weekend is finally here!  Not that I have any exciting plans, but that is besides the point.  Weekends=awesome.  Fact.

This has been a great week but the next two weeks are shaping up to be really busy.  I will be traveling to many, many communities-both near and far.  My work..I LOVE.  Traveling for work on muddy roads…es no bueno.  (I bet my husband would be so proud of me for utilizing a bit of my limited Spanish.  Go me.) 

Last night I watched Precious and Monsters vs Aliens with my husband.  (Yes, we watched them in that order.)  Precious was a good movie as I knew it would be but I found it made me melancholy and stirred up old worries I have regarding the safety of my children.  I was surprised when after the movie my husband said the same thing, that he liked it but it made him scared somebody would someday hurt or abuse our children.  I’m not sure if it is just normal worry or something that came from our own life experiences.  (As an aside I barely recognized Mariah Carey in her role as a social worker.) 

Monsters vs Aliens was as expected; a cute, funny, feel good cartoon.  I loved that the girl got to be the hero that saved the world.  GO SUSAN!  I love cartoons which is fortunate since I get stuck watching them a lot.  *shakes fist* I’m looking at you Dora and Diego…I’ll get you, and your little Baby Jaguar too.

I ordered a pair of earrings from a friend on twitter…they are made of awesome and I can’t wait until they come in the mail.