Time to change your will...

Dear Ian,
Congratulations! I am pleased to offer you admission to The Eberly College of Science for Fall 2009 at Penn State University Park campus. Our review of your credentials has convinced us that you have the ability to meet .....
Go Nittany Lions!

Change in routine....

I relish my new occupation as Nurse Susan. Rather than spending my day in Tecumseh library connecting students with the perfect book, I am home dispensing pills, refilling water glasses, giving hugs and providing medical transport services. Poor Ian! After an initial diagnosis of the flu, the blood tests came back positive for Mono, the chest x-ray was positive for pneumonia and the swab was negative for influenza. It was back to the doctor's office for an injection of antibiotics to speed up his recovery...even though Ian moaned he was too sick to travel. He wondered aloud what ever happened to house calls and I started into a litany of what is wrong with health care in America but Ian passed out before I could finish! Ian was so weak and disoriented that the pain of the medication traveling through his bloodstream actually perked him up...even with the meds being mixed with Lidocaine. It's humorous to hear your child's pediatrician remark in a loud voice "hurts like a bitch doesn't it?", followed with "keep in mind we use the same treatment for gonorrhea." I am going to miss this office when Ian ages out of the pediatrician.

He's recovering slowly. The fever and extreme chills are gone (that was scary!) He moves from his bedroom to the guest room in regular intervals as his sheets become soaked in sweat. I am encouraging him to eat to help with the nausea. He is hungry for a juicy medium rare burger with thick cut fries on the side. I suggested he start with applesauce. Poor baby...

Change in plans

Ian is home! Yeah! I expected we would spend the evening viewing his pictures from the trip and listening to his stories about his friends and all the colorful characters he met in New Orleans. The poor boy is sick and sound asleep. Walked in the door, undressed and climbed into bed. He called last night complaining about a high fever, cough and nausea. Pepto Bismol? Tylenol? Sleep? That's about the extent of my nursing skills. I'll bring him ginger ale and hope he's better soon.

Will Ian change the ranking?

Maybe it's just me (and Diane) but this waiting to hear from colleges is stressful. Ian probably doesn't even give it a second thought during his days...but I find myself hovering over the mailbox. Ian applied to 7 colleges, some were long shots but you never know. We heard from SUNY Albany almost a month ago, he was accepted and was awarded the Frederick Douglass Scholarship (makes you wonder what he wrote in his essay) which pretty much covers the tuition. Ian relaxed because he really liked the Albany campus and now he knew he would be going to college somewhere. Today, acceptance letter from SUNY Buffalo with a $3,000 merit scholarship. This is humorous because he has now heard from choices #5 & #7 in the college list. Where are the UPenn (#1), Penn State(#2) & Cornell (#3) letters?

Tonight a woman from SU (#6) called to speak to Ian. He is one of 20 finalists as a Coronat Scholar. (Ian's response when I called, "I don't even remember what I wrote the essay about.") He has to spend 3 days and nights at SU in the University Sheraton in March with the other finalists from all over the country. One finalist is from Alaska...SU is definitely saving money on Ian's transportation costs. Three days of classes and interviews, dress attire required ...except I have this mental image of Survivor. Will the other 19 kids leave SU hungry, bruised and crying...or will Ian?

This is a big deal because the Coronat Scholar receives:

• full tuition and fees
• free room and board
• an allowance for books, transportation and personal expenses
• additional funding for study abroad
• funding for up to 3 summers of approved study, volunteer or research
• mentoring for Rhodes, Fulbright and other national scholarships

Did I mention SU was choice #6? (my choice #7, but I am told it's not about me) Talk about conflicting emotions...too bad I drank the champagne last night to celebrate Elliot!

Embracing Change

I don't...not very willingly. But I am creating this blog and that is change. I have the time to create this blog because it is February break and I don't have to work(I go in to work, but I don't have to and that is nice)....and Ian is in New Orleans. Ian left Saturday morning in a van filled with 7 other wild, overstimulated seniors and 2 teachers I will forever refer to as saints...not that I believe in saints...but I think you understand. They are in Chalmette, Louisiana all week with the Operation Southern Comfort Organization rebuilding homes. While I am proud of him, working hard in the 80 degree sunshine all day, I miss him to pieces and I am getting a glimpse of life when Ian leaves for college later this year. Big Changes.