Educational Websites

For all the moms out there that have kids toddler to preschool age, I am going to list some of the sites I have found or been referred over the past couple weeks. I am currently teaching the kids how to use a computer-basically using a mouse and using a keyboard. I searched high and low, and the best thing I have found is http://www.boowakwala.com/kids/boowakwala-homefirstclicks.html. They are on Lesson 2 now and its pretty comprehensive, starting with roll-over mouse games.

I like http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/index/load.htm?f for ABCs. I have started to let them click through it, but I'm trying to concentrate on 4 letters right now, not all of the alphabet. Another website is pretty good, and it has numerous links to other sites for various learning games: http://www.uptoten.com/kids/uptoten-home.html. This site is how I found the Boowa and Kwala site.

A few others:

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2602&e=gamesLanding&mcat=game_infant,game_toddler,game_preschool&site=us

http://www.noggin.com/

http://home.disney.go.com/foryou/preschool/

MRI

Liam had an MRI last Thursday. Unfortunately, the neurologist did not properly educate me about the sedation and it was a bit of nightmare. I took Sophie along, and that was a mistake. If your child has to have a procedure involving sedation, do not bring any other children with you. Second mistake- going alone. Liam fought the sedative and had to be given more. In the end, a nurse was holding his legs down and I held down his upper body and tried to soothe him as he fought until he gave out and fell asleep. Not all children fight sedation, but it is also not uncommon.

The MRI itself went just fine. He came out of it and the nurse immediately started trying to wake him up. I had been given paperwork that indicated it could take up to 4 hours for him to wake up, so I anticipated that they would let him emerge from the sedation naturally, but apparently not. The same paperwork indicated that he could be "irritable". That was an understatement.

On the journey home, Liam fell asleep in the car. Immediately, of course, he woke up when I carried him inside at home. Keep in mind, the sedation has made him totally "drunk" and he can't walk for his life! So, Sophie was being difficult and not helpful and ended up locked outside our deck while I carried Liam inside and arranged him "safely" on the couch. I went out to fetch a crying sophie and was gone for about 2 minutes, but Liam still managed to fall on the floor (missing the pillows I had arranged for this situation) and hit his head. Fantastic! It only got better from here.

As I tried to get Liam to stay on the couch, as he would invariable injure himself otherwise, he fought me harder and harder. It started with scratching me, then biting and smacking me. Then he started hitting me. He was then counting, "one two three" and throwing himself on me. I was fully under attack, and he had adrenaline running through him giving him strength. Eventually I got Pete home and we were able to get things under control.

My advice: if you have to take your child in for a procedure involving sedation, anticipate the worst. DO NOT bring your other young children and have your spouse take the day off. You will most definitely need the help.

Finally, I got the results today and Liam's MRI came back normal. That's excellent news!