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Starting school
- Thread starter MDad
- Start date
It's not easy. My daughter with CF will start 2nd grade tomorrow. Being organized is key. Also, early bedtime and early wake up time. My son is going into the 7th grade so he is pretty independent in terms of getting himself ready.
I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
It's not easy. My daughter with CF will start 2nd grade tomorrow. Being organized is key. Also, early bedtime and early wake up time. My son is going into the 7th grade so he is pretty independent in terms of getting himself ready.
I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
It's not easy. My daughter with CF will start 2nd grade tomorrow. Being organized is key. Also, early bedtime and early wake up time. My son is going into the 7th grade so he is pretty independent in terms of getting himself ready.
<br />
<br />I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
<br />
<br />My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
<br />
<br />After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
<br />
<br />We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
<br />
<br />Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
<br />
<br />I like to get the lunches, lunch $, enzymes for school day ready the evening before school. Also backpacks ready the evening before. Homework just can't be done in the morning of school..The only thing that is ok is the required reading can be done in the morning.
<br />
<br />My daughter does 3 nebs and her vest before school. We get up between 6a and 6:30. We start immediately upon wakeup...Breakfast is pretty lame, it is usually a protein bar for my daughter with CF(she is not a big morning eater anyway) and cereal for my son which he gets himself. They have a snack time at school at 10am anyway; which is a more likely time she will be hungry. We don't usually take the bus cause we'ld have to get ready even earlier so I drop the kids off with a few minutes to spare. My son likes to hang out with his friends before school, so he walks to school in good weather. I guess alot of CF teaches your children independence..and some things the just need to do for themselves.
<br />
<br />After school is more another neb and VEst and then usually like a crazy woman off to some afterschool activity. Then dinner; then homework, bath , 2 more nebs and vest and bedtime.
<br />
<br />We are always feeling rushed especially with soccer, dance, music lessons, and afterschool stuff...Plus I work a few times a week while the kids are at school. The crockpot becomes my best friend in the winter.
<br />
<br />Then throw in an illness or cold and the schedule gets even tighter; sometimes we have to cut back on activities or Maggie does a half day at school if she is not well....HTH
It's all a matter of routine, habit. We've been doing the same thing since I went back to work when DS was 3 months old.
DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
It's all a matter of routine, habit. We've been doing the same thing since I went back to work when DS was 3 months old.
DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
It's all a matter of routine, habit. We've been doing the same thing since I went back to work when DS was 3 months old.
<br />
<br />DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
<br />
<br />We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
<br />
<br />If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
<br />
<br />On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
<br />
<br />DS has always been restless with the vest, but calm with CPT. So we get up before 6 and I do CPT on him while he sleeps. Then while I shower, he does tobi with his dad. Carnation instant breakfast and a pop tart for breakfast along with his meds.
<br />
<br />We get home around 5 and do his vest and nebs. He usually has a snack on the car ride home. Meds. Supper. Homework. Bathtime. Snack for the next day in his backpack. Then around 9 we do vest nebs and meds again. Bedtime snack.
<br />
<br />If he has a med he takes 4 times a day, I get up at 2 and give that one to him while he's sleeping. Also, if he is sick with a cough, DH will get up around the same time and give DS an extra CPT treatment, which ds sleeps through.
<br />
<br />On the day he has gymnastics right after school for an hour, we skip that second vest treatment.
Planning - I do as much as possible the night before. Washing lunch box containers/thermoses, laying out snacks for both during school and after-school care. Thinking about what's for breakfast, laying out clothes, etc.
Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Planning - I do as much as possible the night before. Washing lunch box containers/thermoses, laying out snacks for both during school and after-school care. Thinking about what's for breakfast, laying out clothes, etc.
Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Planning - I do as much as possible the night before. Washing lunch box containers/thermoses, laying out snacks for both during school and after-school care. Thinking about what's for breakfast, laying out clothes, etc.
<br />
<br />Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
<br />
<br />Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
<br />
<br />I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
<br />
<br />Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
<br />
<br />I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Giving myself plenty of time in the morning - I get up two and a half hours before we need to leave the house. I put the elastic strap on the mask and DD can sleep through breathing treatments. She is used to this and wakes up just enough to position her head just right, and she lays perfectly still throughout. I check on her and obviously go back in her room to swap nebs out, but I can also use this time to get ready for work, pack lunches, put breakfast on the table. Squeezing vest in before TOBI in the "on" months is tougher because it wakes her up and she gets less sleep.
<br />
<br />Helping the girls be self-reliant - Their alarms are set to turn the radio on; I make sure they are awake and then they have about 15 minutes or so to come to and get out of bed. DD's oral meds, including her breakfast enzymes, are in the pill organizer so she can help herself once she gets to the breakfast table. She knows which ones to take before breakfast and which ones are for after.
<br />
<br />I put my cell phone on the breakfast table - I have an alarm set for 10 minutes before we need to be walking out the door. When it goes off, the girls know that they need to start wrapping up breakfast, get shoes on, backpacks organized, etc. It goes off every 5 minutes until I turn it off, so that helps them pace themselves without me having to remind (nag) them that we need to be out the door.
<br />
<br />Not many extra-curricular activities - I work through lunch so that we can get home at a reasonable time in the evening. They play with the neighbors or do homework while I get dinner together, boil nebs, prepare for the next day. Vest time is usually a "treat" because they can watch one of their shows that we have DVR'd. Then she usually falls asleep during night-time nebs.
<br />
<br />I give myself a "vacation" from making lunches by about Thursday and let them eat whatever the cafeteria is offering. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">