I wanted to put text in it but apparently you have to pay beloved bear which you see in the show too.
I'll do one for Lani soon.
Monday, 9 June 2008
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Holidays in May, late....
Oh gosh! i've just realised that i haven't posted anything about our holidays. We had a great time in the New Forest With Grandma and Grandad. Kayne wasn't interested in the ponies, but Lani kept signing that they were dogs. We finally managed to go in the amazing toy shop. It was great! and we spent monies.
Butlins was just as good but more tireing, but we had fun.
I've made my first video montage. I think i may have to make on for both Kayne and Lani...
Butlins was just as good but more tireing, but we had fun.
I've made my first video montage. I think i may have to make on for both Kayne and Lani...
A bit of everything
This is gonna be a tired ranty kind of post. I have the knotted feeling in my stomache and i have no idea why.
i think Lani is teething again. She's grumpy at best. The only taking one brand/flavour of medicene is annoying as i can't keep her pain free. She is waking early, then is overtied at nap time. Today she had 45mins instead of the normal 2-3 hours. I'm so worried she is going to drop her nap. There will be no hope for me when she does. I haven't figured her out yet. She gets so frustrated sometimes and i'm not used to it. Or aleast not like she does it. Kayne got frustrated but he had more verbal ability (at the same age) than she does, i could talk to him about it but with her she just screams, stamps her feet and cries.
It's strange that they are so different, some how i seem too think that he had better language than Lani at the same age but i'm not so sure. Maybe the difference is that she NEEDS that thing right now! she MUST look at that particular blade of grass even though we have seen a gazillion in the past 3 steps....maybe this is the intensity i read about in other children that i feel Kayne is lacking in the assigned title of 'giftedness'.
Maybe i am looking at her too closely in comparison to Kayne. So lets see what does she do that is different to Kayne, that is unqiuely Iolani....
~ Pretend play... She loves her bears! She has been feeding them, puts them in push chairs etc, since she was about 13 months. She makes tea for everyone at Grandma's with their tea-set.
~ Mimicary... she repeats words, sounds, and sentance sounds instantly. Diego: can you say larga, lani: lar -ga . Her signing is good too, she understands the concept of signs and so when i show her one she repeats it quickly (the latest one is 'again').
~ Birds... I have just this second realised that she is obsessed with birds. She gets so excited when she sees one. she stamps her feet and shakes herself, shouting birdy! and signing at the same time. Nature i suppose is her big joy.
~ Climb...She is very physically gregarious, she climbs everything, up slides, onto our bed, moves toy boxes so she can get things.
Kayne is his uniform on his first day.
Anyway on with a new day...
i think Lani is teething again. She's grumpy at best. The only taking one brand/flavour of medicene is annoying as i can't keep her pain free. She is waking early, then is overtied at nap time. Today she had 45mins instead of the normal 2-3 hours. I'm so worried she is going to drop her nap. There will be no hope for me when she does. I haven't figured her out yet. She gets so frustrated sometimes and i'm not used to it. Or aleast not like she does it. Kayne got frustrated but he had more verbal ability (at the same age) than she does, i could talk to him about it but with her she just screams, stamps her feet and cries.
It's strange that they are so different, some how i seem too think that he had better language than Lani at the same age but i'm not so sure. Maybe the difference is that she NEEDS that thing right now! she MUST look at that particular blade of grass even though we have seen a gazillion in the past 3 steps....maybe this is the intensity i read about in other children that i feel Kayne is lacking in the assigned title of 'giftedness'.
Maybe i am looking at her too closely in comparison to Kayne. So lets see what does she do that is different to Kayne, that is unqiuely Iolani....
~ Pretend play... She loves her bears! She has been feeding them, puts them in push chairs etc, since she was about 13 months. She makes tea for everyone at Grandma's with their tea-set.
~ Mimicary... she repeats words, sounds, and sentance sounds instantly. Diego: can you say larga, lani: lar -ga . Her signing is good too, she understands the concept of signs and so when i show her one she repeats it quickly (the latest one is 'again').
~ Birds... I have just this second realised that she is obsessed with birds. She gets so excited when she sees one. she stamps her feet and shakes herself, shouting birdy! and signing at the same time. Nature i suppose is her big joy.
~ Climb...She is very physically gregarious, she climbs everything, up slides, onto our bed, moves toy boxes so she can get things.
Kayne is his uniform on his first day.
I was really pleased to get kayne's reading age, i thought it would help. But it seems weird, the books at his reading level he won't touch. The school ones he gets are good so far, i've noticed that they are slowly getting more lines on a page. Hopefully then he will be more inclined to pick books that aren't 'learn your ABC's' or something similar.
We've had a wobbly school week, 'i don't like it', 'it's got too much playing' 'i don't like it when they call me a star', comments which threw me a bit until i found out that the boy he likes is away at the moment - so i'm hoping that it's all to do with that.
I think i need to reconnect with my children. It sounds weird but i think that when you get comfortable with how things swing you forget that they grow, change and become new people right infront of you and in such a small space of time. I think that i have been trying hard to look at whether i am parenting the way i want to. I have needed this time to adjust myself and my goals - now though i need to be involved and relax (not that i've been letting them run riot, just been very introspective).
Adorable
Anyway on with a new day...
Monday, 2 June 2008
The English School System
Private Nurseries:
These take children from around 3 months old. The children can continue to attend until (and including) the term preceding their 5th birthday. e.g. children have to be in full-time education by the start of the term following their fifth birthday. These are open all year round and you have to pay monthly fees, cost depending on how long your children are in their care. You are often able to use the government pre-school place money against the cost of a session from the term after your child turns 3.
Pre-schools:
Most start from 3years until 5years, although sometimes there are places for 2 year olds. Mainly open during term time, they generally offer morning or afternoon sessions. Some may have all day session. They are often run in village/church halls and are sometimes called play-groups. you may have to pay a small fee for each session until the term after your child turns 3, after which the governments pre-school place money should usually cover the cost.
School Nurseries:
These usually take children the term after they turn 3. It is usually free e.g. governments pre-school place money should cover the cost. The first year is usually foundation (F)1 and the second is F2 or Reception (although some schools do use other names to tie-in with the rest of the school). Having a place in F1 does not guarantee a place in the school(ie: starting in F2), you still have to apply for a school place through your local council. Some school nurseries have a waiting list which accepts names from when they are 2.
I believe all of these settings follow the Early years birth to five 'curriculum'. Everything is based on learning through play.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Catch up...
Everything is normal now. Mark is back at work and Kayne started nursery (again) yesterday. So far it's good, but then it's only day 2 and everything is fun. I've asked for a meeting after they have done thier assesments of the kids. I just wanna be on top of everything, i do not want a repeat of Winchcombe. It stresses me to think that they have no idea what he can do and he could so easily slip under thier radar.
I have booked his pre-school booster - i'm not looking forward to that! Also an eye-test for him as he almost always refuses to sit on the sofa to watch t.v; prefering to stand right in front of it or sit on the floor closer to it.
We go on a short break on friday til monday and then on the 12th to the 16th. Then it's Kayne's birthday on the Monday! OMG he's gonna be 4.
Mark's foot is de-bandaged and he is allowed to walk on it in a fashion.
I have booked his pre-school booster - i'm not looking forward to that! Also an eye-test for him as he almost always refuses to sit on the sofa to watch t.v; prefering to stand right in front of it or sit on the floor closer to it.
We go on a short break on friday til monday and then on the 12th to the 16th. Then it's Kayne's birthday on the Monday! OMG he's gonna be 4.
Mark's foot is de-bandaged and he is allowed to walk on it in a fashion.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
All about Friday
What a fiasco! These past few days have been the most stressful i've had ...ever? Mark got a lift to the hospital at 6:10 am, Lani and Kayne got up at 6:30. I waited around, cleaned, sorted washing, fed children in a complete daze all morning. Marks parents arrived at 11:30. The seemed to be trying to convince me that we should go up straight away. Mark text at about 12:30 saying he should be going down to theatre soon. We left here at 2 got there around 3 - he wasn't back yet. So we waited an hour and went back up...he'd just got back.
He looked tired, very pale, with that wide-eyed/doped up look. I wanted to get on the bed and lay with him - can't do that incase of infection. So then we casually say to the nurse about taking him home - as thats teh reason we were there. She said 'oh no, you aren't going home tonight' and we were thinking hang-on he came in for 'day-surgery'!! There was never any mention of staying overnight, he had nothing with him, no change of clothes, underwear, toothbrush! I was so angry. We'd made his parents come off of holiday to pick him up and he wasn't even going to come home. Mark was really angry and then was crying because he felt they lied to him. Which in essence they did because they never mentioned once anything about an over-night stay. Not even in the infomation booklet,that they give you about what to bring etc, did it say anything like 'if your operation is in the afternoon, you may have to stay overnight' or anything along those lines.
Just shows how fucked up our health service is. Not even the surgeon doing it said anything about him staying, and then after was all like 'of course you wouldn't be going home', they treat you like a bunch of fucking idiots.
Anyway, i get to phone the hospital at 10 and then go to mums, then i'm going over to the hospital at about 2 ish i hope. Lani got me up at 6:30 this morning. We got in at 10:30 i was asleep by 11:15, Kayne is still asleep and its 9 (just woke up - its 9:15), the lastest he has EVER laid in.
Went to Leo's 21st party last night which i didn't think we'd be able to (the only good thing about Mark staying in). Was good fun, spoke to Sarah-Lee and Jilly about babies. Spoke to Scott a bit, he gave me a kiss, don't think he's does that since we were little. But he's been really worried about this lump (although it will be fine), A few hugs and i told him he'll be ok. Lani kept saying 'Hiya dada!, there you are!' to Jack (who has short hair like Marks), she'd walk over to him and then say 'oh' and sign finished and run away. You'd assume that they would forget over that period of time (24 hours) although he is her dad and she adores him. It was so sweet and i had to not cry as mum was fussing me! - As if she didn't have enough to do. I spent alot of time talking to Jamie. We talked about Bleach and computer games. I'm glad we have this common interest because it means that we can talk, also that Jamie has someone to talk to because there wasn't anyone for him at the party really - though he did play with Kayne (maybe because Kayne has no expectations of how Jamie should act).
He looked tired, very pale, with that wide-eyed/doped up look. I wanted to get on the bed and lay with him - can't do that incase of infection. So then we casually say to the nurse about taking him home - as thats teh reason we were there. She said 'oh no, you aren't going home tonight' and we were thinking hang-on he came in for 'day-surgery'!! There was never any mention of staying overnight, he had nothing with him, no change of clothes, underwear, toothbrush! I was so angry. We'd made his parents come off of holiday to pick him up and he wasn't even going to come home. Mark was really angry and then was crying because he felt they lied to him. Which in essence they did because they never mentioned once anything about an over-night stay. Not even in the infomation booklet,that they give you about what to bring etc, did it say anything like 'if your operation is in the afternoon, you may have to stay overnight' or anything along those lines.
Just shows how fucked up our health service is. Not even the surgeon doing it said anything about him staying, and then after was all like 'of course you wouldn't be going home', they treat you like a bunch of fucking idiots.
Anyway, i get to phone the hospital at 10 and then go to mums, then i'm going over to the hospital at about 2 ish i hope. Lani got me up at 6:30 this morning. We got in at 10:30 i was asleep by 11:15, Kayne is still asleep and its 9 (just woke up - its 9:15), the lastest he has EVER laid in.
Went to Leo's 21st party last night which i didn't think we'd be able to (the only good thing about Mark staying in). Was good fun, spoke to Sarah-Lee and Jilly about babies. Spoke to Scott a bit, he gave me a kiss, don't think he's does that since we were little. But he's been really worried about this lump (although it will be fine), A few hugs and i told him he'll be ok. Lani kept saying 'Hiya dada!, there you are!' to Jack (who has short hair like Marks), she'd walk over to him and then say 'oh' and sign finished and run away. You'd assume that they would forget over that period of time (24 hours) although he is her dad and she adores him. It was so sweet and i had to not cry as mum was fussing me! - As if she didn't have enough to do. I spent alot of time talking to Jamie. We talked about Bleach and computer games. I'm glad we have this common interest because it means that we can talk, also that Jamie has someone to talk to because there wasn't anyone for him at the party really - though he did play with Kayne (maybe because Kayne has no expectations of how Jamie should act).
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Up to April already...
Been up and down since my last post. We've all been ill. Lani is teething badly, i think it's 2 molars and atleast 2 front teeth, she has 11 now i think. Only 8 days till Mark's operation. Only 7 days till baby Amelie is 1.
I've been looking at some courses on OU. I need to exercise my brain and i need to find some things to do with Lani when Kayne is at nursery. I'm hoping to find a music type class we can go to. I'm leaving the group i've been going to for nearly 4 years. I feel i've just moved on from it. They can't help me any more. I've learnt to deal with my depression as and when it comes. I think i am able to minimise the 'down-time' it causes me. I think accepting that I may never get rid of it means that it only wades in when it is a big thing. Sorting out school issues has help clear my mind. I know i need to find things outside of my children.
I've been reading a lot about giftedness for nearly a year now. I was shocked to read that things that i do are consider traits of giftedness. But on the other hand not really, i know that things i can see and the connections i make, other people don't or can't. I always thought that that was just the differences between people. Mark can do 20 simple sums (+, - /, x) in 16 seconds (Brain Training). The one that really got me is that i can manipulate 3D objects in my minds eye - i thought everyone could do this, i guess it explains why i was good at product design in school.
Anyway on to a few pictures as i haven't put any on for ages;
The world looks better this way
I've been looking at some courses on OU. I need to exercise my brain and i need to find some things to do with Lani when Kayne is at nursery. I'm hoping to find a music type class we can go to. I'm leaving the group i've been going to for nearly 4 years. I feel i've just moved on from it. They can't help me any more. I've learnt to deal with my depression as and when it comes. I think i am able to minimise the 'down-time' it causes me. I think accepting that I may never get rid of it means that it only wades in when it is a big thing. Sorting out school issues has help clear my mind. I know i need to find things outside of my children.
I've been reading a lot about giftedness for nearly a year now. I was shocked to read that things that i do are consider traits of giftedness. But on the other hand not really, i know that things i can see and the connections i make, other people don't or can't. I always thought that that was just the differences between people. Mark can do 20 simple sums (+, - /, x) in 16 seconds (Brain Training). The one that really got me is that i can manipulate 3D objects in my minds eye - i thought everyone could do this, i guess it explains why i was good at product design in school.
Anyway on to a few pictures as i haven't put any on for ages;
The world looks better this way
I love you big brother
Whenever Kayne is laying on the floor Lani will come and lay on him. She snuggles him, and they lay together, It's so beautiful. You can just about see on Kayne's face that he's isn't 100% happy about this arrangement. He isn't always completely happy with being held and never really has been - it has to be on his terms. But the expression is more likely that they are nearly the same weight and she is squashing him!
Proper Lego! 
Not completely got the finger skill to fiddle with it properly but it's more fun than Duplo which he barely touches anymore. Only bad thing about this stuff is Lani likes to put it in her mouth so Kayne has to go out in the hallway to play with it.
Lani at 16 months!
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