[Preston's Aunt] Stephanie's dog, Gunnar, was at Easter this weekend since they went and snipped his manhood that Friday, and he needed supervision. To say the least, Preston was excited, and the whole "I want a dog" conversation has been happening ever since. (I am proud though; when Steph told him to ask for a little sister, he adamantly disagreed that he'd rather have a dog. High five, kiddo!) Anyway, we had to - carefully - explain to him that Gunnar had to go to the doctor, and he had stitches to make him better and to be careful if you pick him up or something, because it might hurt him.
Anyway, he was running around outside while all of us, including Preston (not going there right now) were in the backyard, not unlike a bunch of rednecks, with a BB gun trying to shoot a plastic pipe in half. Of course we were concerned about shooting the dog - I learned after trying to shoot [Preston's Uncle] Brandon in the butt with the gun, that you don't point the gun at living things. Apparently, you may (or may not) accidentally pull the trigger. Unlikely, I know...but a strict gun safety rule anyway. The dog, however, wouldn't move when you yelled at him, because the cat poop he was trying to eat was more important. So, every time he ran in the way, one of us got up to chase him. (By "one of us," I mean someone other than myself.)
It was Preston's turn to get him. He was slowly following him around, waiting for his opportunity, when he looked back, disgusted, and said,
"Mom, I don't want to get stitches on me..." subconsciously rubbing his arms.
While hysterically laughing, I tried to explain that stitches weren't contagious. "It's like when you had a hole in your shirt, and mommy sewed it up so the whole was closed. Gunnar had a hole, and the doctor sewed the hole so it would be closed...it's just called stitches!"
He didn't look convinced, so I continued, "I promise baby, you can't get stitches."
"But, they're on his stummy, right?" He wasn't buying it at ALL. "Yes," I replied "but they CAN'T get on you."
P spent the next 5 minutes trying to pick up Gunnar without getting stitches on him.
*Note: I still don't think he believes us... (YOU try explaining it to a 3-year old!) he keeps making comments about stitches and being able to "get" them. I think he's testing to see if my answer stays the same. He also checks his arms every time they come up...
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monster Trucks and Cheaters
I lied. I posted nothing funny over the weekend, but that's only because P has been a little slow on the funny factor. Until Sunday...
My stepdaughter came over Sunday to visit, and Preston absolutely adores her. They were outside playing with Albert, when someone got the idea to race monster trucks down the driveway. I'm not sure whose idea it was, it could just as easily have been Albert's as Prestons, but it was a good idea and P has PLENTY of monster trucks to go around.
So they are outside, lining up their trucks at the top of the hill, and letting them roll down in a race. (It was actually quite entertaining, and reminded me of racing hermit crabs from a vacation to Jamaica when I was younger.) I get the bright idea to grab the checkered flag, and play referee/announcer. We're having a good ole time, when Albert disappears inside and comes out with this giant monster truck. Obviously, it's going to win every time...the kids are playing with Hot Wheels sized trucks.
They run a few races, and at first it's funny that the big one keeps winning. Then, the kids start getting frustrated that no one can beat Albert's truck, and begin complaining that the cheater truck keeps winning. As the referee/announcer, I disqualify the big one from racing and push it to the side.
They run a couple more races with the little ones, when Preston heads down the hill to retrieve his trucks, and I see it. That lustful side glance at the big one; a sure fire win, while his truck has been turning every direction but DOWN the hill the last couple races.
He grabs the big truck and looks dead at his sister and dad and says, "I'm going to be the cheater."
He spent the next morning ride telling me about how he was the cheater, and he had the "cheatist" truck. I suppose we should have a conversation about cheating BEFORE he starts team sports...
My stepdaughter came over Sunday to visit, and Preston absolutely adores her. They were outside playing with Albert, when someone got the idea to race monster trucks down the driveway. I'm not sure whose idea it was, it could just as easily have been Albert's as Prestons, but it was a good idea and P has PLENTY of monster trucks to go around.
So they are outside, lining up their trucks at the top of the hill, and letting them roll down in a race. (It was actually quite entertaining, and reminded me of racing hermit crabs from a vacation to Jamaica when I was younger.) I get the bright idea to grab the checkered flag, and play referee/announcer. We're having a good ole time, when Albert disappears inside and comes out with this giant monster truck. Obviously, it's going to win every time...the kids are playing with Hot Wheels sized trucks.
They run a few races, and at first it's funny that the big one keeps winning. Then, the kids start getting frustrated that no one can beat Albert's truck, and begin complaining that the cheater truck keeps winning. As the referee/announcer, I disqualify the big one from racing and push it to the side.
They run a couple more races with the little ones, when Preston heads down the hill to retrieve his trucks, and I see it. That lustful side glance at the big one; a sure fire win, while his truck has been turning every direction but DOWN the hill the last couple races.
He grabs the big truck and looks dead at his sister and dad and says, "I'm going to be the cheater."
He spent the next morning ride telling me about how he was the cheater, and he had the "cheatist" truck. I suppose we should have a conversation about cheating BEFORE he starts team sports...
Friday, April 3, 2009
Not a funny story about P.Mike...
Below is an article I'm linking for some friends of mine that wouldn't otherwise have access to the information. It's a brief article run in the Fort Worth Start Telegram back in 2007, when the cancer treatment that could have potentially saved my aunt's life was beginning to gain notoriety. The project has since been placed back in "research" phase pending government grants (hopefully!), because private funding was harder to get than everyone thought.
It's not funny, and for that I apologize; but it's definitely a worthy cause, and worth taking a break for. And I promise, I'll try to post some funny stories this weekend to make up for it! :) The program is interesting and has showed great promise. Donations are still being accepted, and when the website is brought back up (when the $$'s get us closer to trials), I'll make sure I post again. Anyone interested in donating can send it to:
Sanjay Awasthi Cancer Research Fund
UNT Health Science Center Foundation
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, EAD 802
Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2699
UTA research is a potential lifesaver for cancer patients
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) - Thursday, August 2, 2007
Author/Byline: O.K. CARTER, Star-Telegram Staff WriterEdition: TarrantSection: MetroPage: B2
Speak with University of Texas at Arlington cancer researcher and biochemistry professor Sharad Singhal and it's easy to come away with a conviction that you've just met one of the smartest guys on the planet.
Then turn around in the same lab and darned if there isn't another one, Sanjay Awasthi, full-time M.D./oncologist and somehow part-time biochemistry professor. Call it an intellectual tie.
Fortunately, all that brain power collaborates on research , a beneficial partnership for mankind. Their laboratory experiments with mice have stopped several types of cancer cold and in a hurry. Without harming the mice. They'll soon be ready to move on to higher-level exercises, including trials with people.
Their results have not gone without notice. The Arlington-based Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas has been providing annual five-figure grants for some time, so it would be interesting if the work of Singhal and Awasthi — they also collaborate with five other UT-Arlington and UT Medical Branch-Galveston scientists — turns out to be a significant breakthrough. If so, credit will have to be given to the ongoing support of the relatively small Cancer Research Foundation.
It's a simplification, but the Awasthi/Singhal research boils down to this: A protein called RLIP76 is a multidrug transporter that shows up in cancerous cells — a sort of molecular cell train. Its presence, Singhal says, kicks off " a toxic network of biochemical signals that promotes inflammation and cancer cell growth." Inhibit or deplete RLIP76, and the network of biochemical signals that result in cancer stops. The cancer dies. The patient lives.
"The cancer cells can't survive without RLIP76," Awasthi says. "Normal cells don't need RLIP76. I think it's potentially a breakthrough of major significance."
It hasn't come easy. Physician/professor Awasthi first became interested in a do-no-harm body chemistry approach to treating cancer as an undergraduate more than two decades ago.
Likewise it has been a long haul for Singhal, who began research with this particular murderous protein 19 years ago. His laboratory computer is filled with photographs of mice with implants of lung and colon cancers .
There are unlucky mice who receive no treatment, mice with conventional chemotherapy treatments, mice that receive the RLIP76 inhibitor and mice that receive the inhibitor plus conventional chemotherapy treatments.
Singhal radiates the enthusiasm of discovery as he clicks through computer photo files of mice receiving the most successful treatment strategy — a combination RLIP76 inhibitor and chemotherapy.
"Look!" he commands. Sure enough, the tumors disappear in days to a few weeks — in medical parlance a complete regression. For colon, lung or melanoma cancers it's a near miraculous outcome, though there are other types — breast cancer for example — that don't respond. But research is still being refined.
Mice, obviously, are not people. What's needed is for more animal research to be conducted, followed by human trials. And quickly.
Singhal and Awasthi are not unknowns. Their findings have been noted extensively in medical publications of LeadDiscovery, the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, the National Institutes of Health, the New England Journal of Medicine, the American Association for Cancer Research and Cancer Research Jo urnal. Other researchers now emulate their strategies. Their work and results are not secrets, but there's still a significant snag.
It's the usual one. Money. Their research has to be funded at a level that is far beyond the financial capability of the Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas.
Somebody needs to find them the needed buckets of research cash. And soon. It's a life-and-death deal. And maybe a future Nobel Prize deal.
O.K. Carter appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. 817-548-5428 okc@star-telegram.com
Caption: SHARAD SINGHAL
Index Terms: arl ; okcarter ; MAIN STREETRecord Number: 180093Copyright (c) 2007 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
*Always in memory of a wonderful aunt, mother, wife, and friend, Pamela Deese-11/14/2008
It's not funny, and for that I apologize; but it's definitely a worthy cause, and worth taking a break for. And I promise, I'll try to post some funny stories this weekend to make up for it! :) The program is interesting and has showed great promise. Donations are still being accepted, and when the website is brought back up (when the $$'s get us closer to trials), I'll make sure I post again. Anyone interested in donating can send it to:
Sanjay Awasthi Cancer Research Fund
UNT Health Science Center Foundation
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, EAD 802
Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2699
UTA research is a potential lifesaver for cancer patients
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) - Thursday, August 2, 2007
Author/Byline: O.K. CARTER, Star-Telegram Staff WriterEdition: TarrantSection: MetroPage: B2
Speak with University of Texas at Arlington cancer researcher and biochemistry professor Sharad Singhal and it's easy to come away with a conviction that you've just met one of the smartest guys on the planet.
Then turn around in the same lab and darned if there isn't another one, Sanjay Awasthi, full-time M.D./oncologist and somehow part-time biochemistry professor. Call it an intellectual tie.
Fortunately, all that brain power collaborates on research , a beneficial partnership for mankind. Their laboratory experiments with mice have stopped several types of cancer cold and in a hurry. Without harming the mice. They'll soon be ready to move on to higher-level exercises, including trials with people.
Their results have not gone without notice. The Arlington-based Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas has been providing annual five-figure grants for some time, so it would be interesting if the work of Singhal and Awasthi — they also collaborate with five other UT-Arlington and UT Medical Branch-Galveston scientists — turns out to be a significant breakthrough. If so, credit will have to be given to the ongoing support of the relatively small Cancer Research Foundation.
It's a simplification, but the Awasthi/Singhal research boils down to this: A protein called RLIP76 is a multidrug transporter that shows up in cancerous cells — a sort of molecular cell train. Its presence, Singhal says, kicks off " a toxic network of biochemical signals that promotes inflammation and cancer cell growth." Inhibit or deplete RLIP76, and the network of biochemical signals that result in cancer stops. The cancer dies. The patient lives.
"The cancer cells can't survive without RLIP76," Awasthi says. "Normal cells don't need RLIP76. I think it's potentially a breakthrough of major significance."
It hasn't come easy. Physician/professor Awasthi first became interested in a do-no-harm body chemistry approach to treating cancer as an undergraduate more than two decades ago.
Likewise it has been a long haul for Singhal, who began research with this particular murderous protein 19 years ago. His laboratory computer is filled with photographs of mice with implants of lung and colon cancers .
There are unlucky mice who receive no treatment, mice with conventional chemotherapy treatments, mice that receive the RLIP76 inhibitor and mice that receive the inhibitor plus conventional chemotherapy treatments.
Singhal radiates the enthusiasm of discovery as he clicks through computer photo files of mice receiving the most successful treatment strategy — a combination RLIP76 inhibitor and chemotherapy.
"Look!" he commands. Sure enough, the tumors disappear in days to a few weeks — in medical parlance a complete regression. For colon, lung or melanoma cancers it's a near miraculous outcome, though there are other types — breast cancer for example — that don't respond. But research is still being refined.
Mice, obviously, are not people. What's needed is for more animal research to be conducted, followed by human trials. And quickly.
Singhal and Awasthi are not unknowns. Their findings have been noted extensively in medical publications of LeadDiscovery, the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, the National Institutes of Health, the New England Journal of Medicine, the American Association for Cancer Research and Cancer Research Jo urnal. Other researchers now emulate their strategies. Their work and results are not secrets, but there's still a significant snag.
It's the usual one. Money. Their research has to be funded at a level that is far beyond the financial capability of the Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas.
Somebody needs to find them the needed buckets of research cash. And soon. It's a life-and-death deal. And maybe a future Nobel Prize deal.
O.K. Carter appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. 817-548-5428 okc@star-telegram.com
Caption: SHARAD SINGHAL
Index Terms: arl ; okcarter ; MAIN STREETRecord Number: 180093Copyright (c) 2007 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
*Always in memory of a wonderful aunt, mother, wife, and friend, Pamela Deese-11/14/2008
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Fish?!
Preston has been spending a lot of nights in our bed. Albert and I are both kind of torn...we definitely enjoy the snuggles, but the knees to the ribs and kicks in the throat are uncomfortable, to say the least. Not to mention, there really isn't much room for 3 in a queen size bed. So, without upgrading (which we've definitely considered), it's probably time for us to start getting him into his own bed at least MOST nights. On many occasions, I get up my resolve before drifting off to sleep, only to be weakened by "but mommy, who will give me snuggles in my room?" and tears of "I just want to snuggle you and daddy" comments. Last night was no different. I've been hinting to Albert, reasoning that he's definitely the one that usually stands his ground against these kinds of things, to no avail; and when Daddy is saying it's okay - we're pretty much screwed.
This morning, I decided P and I would have a little chat about staying in his room. It's worked (for a few days) before...should work again...right?
Me: Preston, you REALLY need to start staying in your bed at night.
P: No, mommy.
Me: But you REALLY should sleep in there, at least most of the time.
P: No. I don't want to.
Me: Well, I'm probably going to take you back to your room some, because you REALLY need to sleep in your bed.
P: Well. If you don't let me come in, I'm going to put a fish in your bed.
Me: A what?!
P: If you don't let me in your bed, I'm going to put a fish in it.
Me: A fish.
P: mmmmm hmmmmm (very ghetto-like; as in "mm hmm, chew on that applesauce why don't ya...")
Me: So, if I don't let you sleep in my bed, you're going to put a FISH in it.
P: (again with the smart remark) mmmmm hmmmmmm.
Me: I see. And just where are you planning to get a fish from?
P: Walmart.
Me: Oh. Well, I'm probably going to put you in your bed tonight, so you might work on getting that fish.
P: Okay, but you're not going to like it.
This morning, I decided P and I would have a little chat about staying in his room. It's worked (for a few days) before...should work again...right?
Me: Preston, you REALLY need to start staying in your bed at night.
P: No, mommy.
Me: But you REALLY should sleep in there, at least most of the time.
P: No. I don't want to.
Me: Well, I'm probably going to take you back to your room some, because you REALLY need to sleep in your bed.
P: Well. If you don't let me come in, I'm going to put a fish in your bed.
Me: A what?!
P: If you don't let me in your bed, I'm going to put a fish in it.
Me: A fish.
P: mmmmm hmmmmm (very ghetto-like; as in "mm hmm, chew on that applesauce why don't ya...")
Me: So, if I don't let you sleep in my bed, you're going to put a FISH in it.
P: (again with the smart remark) mmmmm hmmmmmm.
Me: I see. And just where are you planning to get a fish from?
P: Walmart.
Me: Oh. Well, I'm probably going to put you in your bed tonight, so you might work on getting that fish.
P: Okay, but you're not going to like it.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spikey like a Porcupine - Part 2
So Duckie cut Preston's hair yesterday, and he tells her, "I want my hair spikey!" Being the good grandma that she is, she spikes his hair.
If I said he was excited, that would be an understatement. He spent every spare minute looking at himself in the mirror. We went to the store to get him some jeans, and he stood looking in the mirror. When there wasn't a mirror, he was touching them to make sure they were still there. He mentioned, like, eleventy billion times that he had spikes (all of which, I already know, since I was THERE and all).
He was disappointed there weren't spikes ALL over his head, but I think since I added more on top this morning, he'll be okay. I just feel sorry for his teacher, there is no way my son's not-really-spike-friendly hair is going to make it through naptime.
Here he is yesterday, cheesing for a picture of his spikes...
If I said he was excited, that would be an understatement. He spent every spare minute looking at himself in the mirror. We went to the store to get him some jeans, and he stood looking in the mirror. When there wasn't a mirror, he was touching them to make sure they were still there. He mentioned, like, eleventy billion times that he had spikes (all of which, I already know, since I was THERE and all).
He was disappointed there weren't spikes ALL over his head, but I think since I added more on top this morning, he'll be okay. I just feel sorry for his teacher, there is no way my son's not-really-spike-friendly hair is going to make it through naptime.
Here he is yesterday, cheesing for a picture of his spikes...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spikey like a Porcupine
Preston got sudden obsession with wearing his hair spikey last weekend. Obsessed, like, he wouldn't go to sleep because he was spiking his wet hair up and it kept falling back down. Preston doesn't exactly have spike-friendly hair. His hair grows sideways across his head, so much so, that we spent a good deal of time retraining his hair as a baby so that it didn't look like a comb over. Anyway, to move bedtime along, I told him we would get his hair cut and we would use some gel and make it spikey.
My approval of spikes made him very happy...for about 2 seconds. His face fell, and he looked at me with big, fearful eyes. "Mom, does gel hurt?" I assured him it didn't. Daddy uses gel, when mommy's hair is curly, it's because there is gel, gel is just sticky stuff that helps your hair stay where you want it...no pain. He seemed to believe me, and he went to bed.
So, we off to get his hair cut this afternoon, and the first thing he says is, "I want my hair spikey." Okay, you just have to tell Duckie that. He sits quietly in the back seat for a minute, "Mom, does gel hurt?"
"No baby, I told you. We all use gel, it doesn't hurt, you just rub it on your hair. It feels just like shampoo does, without the bubbles."
"Oh," he says, reluctantly, " but mom 'jail' is where all the bad people go and get locked up!"
My approval of spikes made him very happy...for about 2 seconds. His face fell, and he looked at me with big, fearful eyes. "Mom, does gel hurt?" I assured him it didn't. Daddy uses gel, when mommy's hair is curly, it's because there is gel, gel is just sticky stuff that helps your hair stay where you want it...no pain. He seemed to believe me, and he went to bed.
So, we off to get his hair cut this afternoon, and the first thing he says is, "I want my hair spikey." Okay, you just have to tell Duckie that. He sits quietly in the back seat for a minute, "Mom, does gel hurt?"
"No baby, I told you. We all use gel, it doesn't hurt, you just rub it on your hair. It feels just like shampoo does, without the bubbles."
"Oh," he says, reluctantly, " but mom 'jail' is where all the bad people go and get locked up!"
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Listening Skills
A little background, Albert and I have recently been having some SERIOUS issues with P wanting to listen to and/or do anything we say. I realize it's an age thing - he wants to do what he wants on HIS schedule; which is exactly why the other night, 15 minutes after I told him dinner was ready and he told me he wasn't eating, he came to the table to eat. It wasn't that he wasn't hungry, he just wanted to eat when HE decided it was time.
As a positive to this whole situation, he's still very concerned about whether or not we're sad at him. (I always say we're sad, never mad - I feel like that's a better representation of most situations.) Anyway, he usually doesn't misbehave for too long, and once he finally complies - on his own time, but complies - it's not usually very long before he's making sure you aren't still sad at him.
Moving on, I've come to the decision that I'm going to stop doing so many extra things for P, reminding him that for me to do things he wants, he is going to have to start helping me do things I want. Good plan, right?
Well, it went into effect when the book fair came to his preschool. He ALWAYS suckers me into a book; more because I love books and think every kid should have a ton, than because I'm a sucker. But I told him Monday, if you can listen and help and act nice, then on Friday I'll come buy you a book. We didn't even make it to the parking lot.
So this morning, we're actually running on time because he was VERY good this morning, and he asks to look at the books. I say sure, but remind him we're NOT buying one. He points out all the books he wants to get - next time; and then figures out I will not waiver and decides he's done looking.
As we walk off to go to his class, I tell him that if he can use his listening skills and start doing what we ask him to do, maybe next time the book fair comes he can get a book.
And he exclaims, "Mom, I found them! In my room!"
"Found what...your listening skills?" I ask. And he looks back at me, so proud and smiling, "Yes!"
As a positive to this whole situation, he's still very concerned about whether or not we're sad at him. (I always say we're sad, never mad - I feel like that's a better representation of most situations.) Anyway, he usually doesn't misbehave for too long, and once he finally complies - on his own time, but complies - it's not usually very long before he's making sure you aren't still sad at him.
Moving on, I've come to the decision that I'm going to stop doing so many extra things for P, reminding him that for me to do things he wants, he is going to have to start helping me do things I want. Good plan, right?
Well, it went into effect when the book fair came to his preschool. He ALWAYS suckers me into a book; more because I love books and think every kid should have a ton, than because I'm a sucker. But I told him Monday, if you can listen and help and act nice, then on Friday I'll come buy you a book. We didn't even make it to the parking lot.
So this morning, we're actually running on time because he was VERY good this morning, and he asks to look at the books. I say sure, but remind him we're NOT buying one. He points out all the books he wants to get - next time; and then figures out I will not waiver and decides he's done looking.
As we walk off to go to his class, I tell him that if he can use his listening skills and start doing what we ask him to do, maybe next time the book fair comes he can get a book.
And he exclaims, "Mom, I found them! In my room!"
"Found what...your listening skills?" I ask. And he looks back at me, so proud and smiling, "Yes!"
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