Darth Vader at the Otolaryngologist

Aleks had to go to the otolaryngologist (ENT) and audiologist today. He was scheduled to have surgery on Halloween to insert a fourth set of ear tubes, but when our pediatrician noticed that his ears looked pretty good, we canceled. A follow-up visit to the ENT showed no fluid or signs of infection, but immobile ear drums. So another follow-up plus another hearing test were scheduled for today.

Aleks dressed in full costume. Everyone in the building (this is a HUGE building) seemed to notice him. He ate it right up, telling all the receptionists and aids and residents all about his Lego and his pet, D-Rex the robotic tyrannosaurus.
They poked his ears a bit, but were generally gentle and he was generally very brave. He even drew a picture of D-Rex and Darth Vader for his doctor. The ears looked good. Just a little fluid on the left ear, but the drums were still not moving. Then off to the audiologist.The audiologist confirmed what Jon thinks he could have told me - Aleks can hear just fine. His ear drums are not moving very well at all though. So... we're not really sure what that means. What it means for the time being is that we have to have another follow-up in another two months for the ENT to look and see if things still look okay. I don't really have any answers, basically. He can hear, but maybe his Eustachian tubes still aren't fully functioning? I don't know. I like that we're still putting off doing anything about anything though. That always feels smart, if not entirely productive.

As we do on almost every visit to the clinic, we stopped at the in-house Au Bon Pain for lunch. Having your ears prodded is not very fun, so something special like this is a nice way to soften it.

On the way out, we got to pet the greeter dog for a bit. The last few times we were there, they had a Newfoundland (I love newfies) and a Dalmatian, but today it was a very nice Golden Retriever named Nike after the goddess. Everyone was quite impressed with Lord Vader upon our exit too. Lots of smiles on the faces of presumably not-entirely-healthy people.

After the ENT, we headed to our unschooling Lego Club, which is basically unschooling families hanging out. We had kept meaning to go, but I always forgot. Finally we made it and enjoyed the company immensely. Bastian stayed at home with his dad. They constructed a massive block tower with a monkey king (actually a chimpanzee) and lots of officers and an army guarding it. It was like the rubber animal version of Isengard.

The Lego Club filled so many needs simultaneously. Partially, my doubts about what I'm doing with myself as a homeschooling mother were quelled by the voicing of similar doubts and varying solid and practical explanations for the behavior that inspires them. Aleks got out of the house and had the opportunity to interact with children both older and younger, doing something he loves. I sat by a fire with friends both similar and different from me, knitting and talking uncertainty and hope, the snow heavy outside, the puppy warm and drooling underfoot. I discovered there that my discontent is not lonely, my answers are not absolute, and I have more time yet to make not a perfect life, but a good one.

And here it is, quiet this evening if not quaint...the boys play a video game, piled on their Papa's lap, I type at the laptop, the basketball game calls out from the radio its whistles and bells. Outside, up to twelve inches are coming. We have hot chocolate and enough flour for baking. Tomorrow: sledding...