2 + 2 + 2 = huh?

"The pet store had 9 corn snakes.  7 of the snakes laid 8 eggs each.  5 of the eggs didn't hatch.  How many snakes does the pet store have now?"

a.k.a = 7 x 8 - 5 + 9

It's order of operations, and it's taking the word problems to a new level of mom intolerance.  Why word problems?  Why, why, why? (insert insufferable 2-yr old voice).  It's not that I don't think word problems are important - but when you are just learning a concept there are too many balls up in the air to get said concept through to kid with focus issues.

Read problem once.  Allison looks away from the page - then back - then back to the problem - and "oh wait, what was the number that I needed.... oh, there it is,"  look up to think about what to do with the number, forget the number, look back to the problem "wait, there is a 7 and 8 - am I adding them..... I need to read again," Add subtract, multiply, divide?  I'm multiplying, look up at the fireplace - hey -my reflection! - wait, math, what?  Oh yeah, I was multiplying - multiplying what?  The 8 and the 5 - no wait, that's not right.  Read again, problem 3 - no which problem?  Ten minutes later - frustration level (mine) near ceiling.

Mom: Allison, 7 snakes lay 8 eggs - what's 7 x 8?  "56"

Mom: Five did not hatch - what's 56-5? "51"

Mom: You started with 9 - so how many do you have now? "60!"

I get that she has a weakness in this area and therefore practice can only help.  But really?!  You're killing me Everyday Math Book!

Ski-Doo

 

 Pics from the weekend skiing at Granite Peak.

 Things we learned - ski lessons should come FIRST - taking direction from Mom and Dad is never as much fun as taking direction from strangers.

The lift is no so scary - but Allison still prefer the magic carpet.

The results - part 2

We finally got all of Allison's blood work back.  I think it's fine.  I say I think, because we got a letter full of combinations of letters and numbers with virtually no explanation of what they mean.  We were capable of reading a few that said "normal" and then a few more that gave a number with a "reference range"  (although sometimes those reference ranges seemed exceptionally large - like you scored a 1000 and most people are between .0001 and 1000000).

There was one value that was notably low and that was IGF-1.  However, IGF-BP5 was normal.  And no, I'm not going to tell you what that means - google it - just like I had to.

I get that when you run a series of blood tests and they mostly come out fine; there is no need for a detailed explanation.  Something like "The following values fell within normal ranges:" then list values with ranges.  But if there is something that's off - it would be beneficial to have more than a "this was low."  So..... low means what?  Low concerned?  Low "keep an eye on it"?  Low, but that could totally have been a fluke?

And, yes, in the age of the internet it did not take me too long to figure out what it was or what it meant.  But I also am a rational, educated person, who can sift through wikipedia and make some sense of it. (Or at least - I am more-or-less one of those things).  I imagine a fair number of people don't know and either stew about the results or call the office back; when their fears could have been assuaged with a short "we're comfotable waiting and testing again in 4 months" or "we'll discuss further steps at your next appointment in ____."

Anyway, Allison LOVES banana-flavored Ensure ($8.99 for 4 - if anyone sees Ensure coupons, please send my way).  Her snack of Ensure plus jiffy chocolate peanut butter and pretzels netted her about 600 calories yesterday afternoon. 

As for Jacob - he has his very own, special canister of Ovaltine.  LOL.

Aging

Things I used to think:

"I will celebrate every birthday, because birthdays are fun!"

"I will embrace grey hair, it's a sign of wisdom and experience.  Besides, who wants to pay for a hair appointment every 4-6 weeks?"

"Women shouldn't have to hide their wrinkles.  What's wrong with a few laugh lines - it means you enjoyed life, right?"


Things I think now:

"Birthday.... oh crap; how old am I again?"

"Ok, yeah, too much grey - time to commit to hair color."

"Where the hell did this chin hair come from?  How did it suddenly appear and already be half an inch long?  Also, what is this quasi-mustache s**t?"

The things they learn at school

Jacob: I know who killed Martin Luther King.... it was Michael Jackson's doctor! 
 

Get a boy to read

The kids' school has a program with the local minor league baseball team.  The kids read 150 minutes every two weeks, and at the end of 8 weeks they get tickets to a baseball game with a coupon for a free hot dog and soda.  To say that this has been motivational for Jacob would be a mild understatement.  They started last Friday - he's read over 360 minutes since then.  6 hours!

He came into our room at 5:30am on Monday with a stack of books asking how long he could read before school.  (I made him go to sleep until at least 6am).  He has a "reading" station set up downstairs and asks to stay up later to read in bed.

Hum..... I think this theory can be continued.  I have no problem shelling out money for baseball (or hockey or whatever) games if it means 10 hours of reading books for it.