<p>We already have a bit of an agreement. During stressful situations d can act like a real b - lol So we’ve told her, it is her choice if she wants us to help her set up her room, printer, move furniture, assemble the bed risers and get her organized. She has major organizational issues. However, if when we get there and she starts getting at all antsy, embarrassed or obnoxious, we will hug her and say goodbye. </p>
<p>I believe our last shopping trip is to the grocery store to buy a few things to have in her room to eat. Still a few odds and ends to pack, including apparently a bag to bring along for rush. I just looked at the weather and move in day is going to be roasting hot. </p>
<p>Eyemamom: It is always hot on move-in day in Alabama! When my older son was in TTown, I helped him move in twice. As a freshman, we got there at 8 a.m., so the temps were all right. Got everything into his suite in 22 minutes. (yes, I kept the time). During his sophomore year, there was a mix up on timing and we did move in in the afternoon. Temps around 100 degrees. Because of these experiences, my younger son learned. We are doing move in at 9 a.m., or, as soon as we can get the keys to his suite. We need to hit the storage place to get his stuff, and may do that the night before. One of his roommates moves in a day earlier, and we do not expect to wake him, because he’s also a runner. I have offered to hit Walmart for some groceries, and I think my son will like that. We did not do that with his older brother, so he had to wait for one of his suite mates to take him along to the store for water and snack food. My younger son also has an issue with organizing things, but I think he will be happy for my help in putting away his clothing and helping to make his bed.</p>
<p>@cakeisgreat - I’m praying for your D’s speedy recovery! This time of year is busy and stressful enough without adding pneumonia to the mix. So sorry your D is sick! </p>
<p>@calla1 - Glad to hear your move-in went so well. My S acted much the same when I dropped him off a few years ago. I totally get making up the bed! </p>
<p>I hadn’t thought about discussing move-in logistics with D in advance. That’s a great idea because my D can also be a b***ch to me under stress. She is not very organized and I am a type A. Add to that our collective stress and it’s a recipe for a meltdown. She will, at long last, get her dorm assignment on Monday. The floor plans are online so hopefully she will come up with a plan for arranging the room and we can discuss my role in the set up. </p>
<p>Parent orientation runs concurrently with the beginning of student orientation. Move-in is at 9 am Saturday with events scheduled through 2 on Sunday. I’m hoping that will give me a little more time, absent move-in stress, to say goodbye to D. For some reason, I’m finding this more emotional and stressful than my first go around with S.</p>
<p>We shopped the past two days. I’m pretty sure we have way more things than will fit in the room yet we still don’t have everything on the list. How can that be?</p>
<p>The health insurance is a nightmare. The school has discontinued coverage this year and my existing policy won’t work in TN. With D 's health issues this is a real problem. </p>
<p>@cakeisgreat my d had pneumonia when she was in kindergarten. It was really scary for awhile because she was misdiagnosed and it got pretty bad before they gave her the right antibiotic. I hope she feels better soon!! It can take a good month to really get back to normal afterwords though, it zaps the energy. Makes sure she gets lots of rest and doesn’t try to push herself!</p>
<p>My d had her orientation day yesterday for her honors program, had a great time, and came home all smiles and ready to go. I can’t tell you what a relief it is that it went well and she is in a positive mind-set starting out! She’s been dealing with some anxiety issues for the past year or so. It makes me so happy that she’s feeling anticipation and not dread for it to start!!</p>
<p>Speaking of the heat, for those of you that have done this before, how do they manage the first few weeks in the non-airconditioned dorms? Even cooling off at night it seems like it will be pretty uncomfortable for awhile. Hoping there isn’t a fall heat wave…</p>
<p>@movemetoo, we live in So Cal without A/C, and I can tell you what my heat-sensitive son does when it is very hot. We have a couple of flat, flexible ice packs that we keep in the freezer. At night, he pulls one out, puts a thin towel around it (to mitigate the cold), and puts it in his pillow case. The cold temp on his head cools him off and helps him sleep. He also takes a cool shower before bed.</p>
<p>Good Morning!
@cakeisgreat - I hope your D makes a speedy recovery. That is a high fever.
@calla1 - sounds like you are handling the transition really well… A day at a time.
@movemetoo - S11 lived with no AC in freshman dorm. We bought a tower fan/mini fan combo at Costco and they helped immensely. Bought same set up for S14. Keep mini fan next to bed and have tower occilate in the corner.</p>
<p>S is recovering from wisdom teeth extraction but his jaw is still swollen- no bruising or bleeding. He is always hungry- I made potato cheese chowder for him yesterday. He is getting tired of mostly dairy- smoothies , pudding, frozen yogurt. He wants meat- I have to think of something soft and easy to chew… Ideas?</p>
<p>@cakeisgreat I hope your D is feeling much better soon!</p>
<p>@Minnymom My DS liked scrambled eggs, baked potatoes and spaghettios after his wisdom teeth extraction. He wouldn’t eat the dairy stuff at all because his dentist warned him that with the pain meds dairy might make him nauseous.</p>
<p>My son was in a non-air conditioned dorm last year and he and his roommate each had fans attached to their desks that they could point in whatever direction they want – on desk/chair or at bed.</p>
<p>Older d must’ve had 3 or 4 fans going in the unairconditioned room. She had a box fan in the window and big oscillating number in the corner. Roommate had a fan going, too. Not going to lie, it was miserable. And it can stay hot for the first month of classes. </p>
<p>Had younger selected a different school, we’d probably have had to contact disability services for accommodations. D’14 has asthma and pretty severe allergies. Hasn’t slept in a room with open windows since she was 12 years old. Can’t handle the nightly pollen bath. </p>
<p>@Minnymom - I had my wisdom teeth extracted over Christmas break of my junior year in college. My face had huge yellow streaks on either side. I had an internship interview about a week later and laid on makeup like cake icing, and they still showed. The editor took myself and another interviewee from my school out to lunch after our interviews. It was the first time I’d felt like eating since the surgery and I ate everything that wasn’t red hot or nailed down. </p>
<p>DS stayed in an unairconditioned room at Michigan a couple of summers ago. Both he and his roommate had box fans going, and then in a fit of ingenuity, DS rigged a smaller fan above his bed so that the air was blowing on his face while he slept. He said that made a tremendous difference! Since he was flying back and couldn’t take the fans home with him he gave them away to some kids who drove to campus so hopefully those kids are going somewhere where they can use them.</p>
<p>We bought the same fan combo at Costco that @Minnymom did. DS’s roommate is a big guy (6’ 3" and north of 225 lbs.) and according to him, sweats a lot, so he is bringing his own fan. :)). They will have two-a-days for two weeks before classes start and they are going to be hot so the more fans the better I guess.</p>
<p>I still do DS’s laundry and make his bed (sheepishly raises hand) but he has lived in dorms for summer programs and knows perfectly well how to do it himself. DH is moving him in, and I have a feeling they will make the bed together. I visit him later that week for parent orientation but I don’t think I’m going to be able to slip money under the sheets without him noticing!</p>
<p>DS has started his goodbyes to his friends this week. Of course, he said his goodbyes to his friends who are at the service academies back in June (3 at the Naval Academy, one at West Point) but he will be the second to leave from the civilian set of friends. One girl leaves mid-week for Georgia Tech, and then my son is the next to go on the 12th. Last big bash of the summer last night with the whole gang, and he has plans every day next week with his friends, including dropping in on a sports practice to say goodbye to his coaches and old teammates. I’m also going to miss seeing his friends around and chatting with them.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone for the well wishes and prayers. D still has fever . Will be calling doc tomorrow…hope she gives a stronger antibiotic.</p>
<p>@cakeisgreat: years ago I had pneumonia and the first antibiotic my dr prescribed didn’t work. I needed a stronger one, and within a week I was better. So yes, I’d bring her back to the dr tomorrow so that he/she can see your daughter’s condition and know what’s best to prescribed next. </p>
<p>I know when I saw my S2 back in June with a 104.4 fever that turned out to be mono, it freaked me out. I’ve never seen either of my sons look so sick. He did bounce back in two weeks. Also, he was give two bags of intravenous saline water at the office. The drip took an hour but by the time it was finished, his fever went down to 101. He was dehydrated from the fever, which made him feel worse. So, make sure she drinks water throughout the day, even if she’s only up to sipping it.</p>
<p>@cakeisgreat - we’re all pulling for your daughter! May the doc find an effective antibiotic, and quickly.</p>
<p>I’m missing DS horribly. Texted him today to see if we could talk or Skype. Answer: No, he was on his way to a beach party. And after that, they might play some games. </p>
<p>I still miss him, but I’m so glad he is having fun. :)</p>
<p>The rubber will hit the road tomorrow with the start of classes.</p>
<p>Jeez, everyone’s kids are sick it seems! We had to take my D to the emergency room on Friday… they thought it was her appendix but apparently not. Maybe just really bad food poisoning. At any rate, she is feeling better now… but it was scary. And of course, made me think, “what if something like this happens next month?”
Best wishes to cakeisgreat’s D! Hope she will also be feeling better soon.</p>
<p>Hope everyone’s kids feel better! I also had pneumonia a few years ago and it took a couple of different antibiotics until one worked. A fan is still on the list for DD as DS’11 still has his fan in his house off campus and will need it when he goes back to school.</p>
<p>We had DD’s grad party on Saturday. It rained off and on in the morning with downpours starting about 1:00. But miraculously, it stopped right about 3:00 when the party started!! We had tents with tables set up outside for eating (DS works for a tent company for the summer and was able to supply and set them up!) and the food and drinks were set up in the garage where it was dry. Definitely had over 100 there between her friends and our neighbors and friends and it was a great party. The kids were even able to hang out by the fire pit at the end of the night! Took us all morning to clean up and get the tables, etc. down and all. And then we headed out to a grad party for a girl she went to pre-school with and is still friends with. It was really nice to sit and relax at that one and talk with friends, most of whom were at our party and I didn’t get a chance to connect with!</p>
<p>The girls have big plans to get together this week and create photo collages of their times together - they’re even doing a photo shoot with another friend taking the photos. First one leaves the 10th and then DD’s bestie leaves the 18th - that will be the hardest! Luckily, her other bestie will be around until two days before DD leaves so they’ll still have some time together.</p>
<p>The Brown kids seem to have circumvented the roommate system and figured out a way to find out who their roommates are (at least for some of them). They still don’t know where they’re living but I guess the class FB page is seeing lots of activity about it all. Actual roommate matching and dorm rooms should be out tomorrow or Tuesday - then we can work on finishing some of the shopping.</p>
<p>@calla1- hang in there ! It will get better. When S11 went to college I felt so bad that he didn’t want to contact me at first. Try really hard not to phone or text- </p>
<p>This may sound weird, but I felt like I’d been dumped by a boyfriend! The same rules apply… Don’t beg for him to call. Don’t sound too eager when he does call. Let him come to you. And trust me, your son will miss you and want to connect. Just give him some space and be glad he is making connections at school.</p>
<p>Thanks @renaissancemom for the great advice! D had mono at one point too but we don’t know when so it want as bad as your poor DS! She is drinking lots but I will keep an eye.</p>
<p>Thanks @calla1 for the encouragement! I know I will be missing D when she goes hopefully healthy in three weeks!</p>
<p>So sorry @staceyneil that your D got hit so hard as well! That is exactly my fear too…what if she relapses or gets another really bad sickness while there. Luckily she said she wants me to text and call her a lot…so I can be a bit hovery :). Glad she is on the mend.</p>
<p>Thanks @akmom124 as well! And it sounds like you had an awesome party!</p>
<p>I almost forgot another thing that happened when Barnardgirl launched. I only heard from her when she was really anxious or having a bad day. After about a month, I asked her if she was going to be ok at Barnard because I was extremely worried about her. She was like “Yeah! I love it here!” and I mentioned that every time she texted or called, she was upset about things. She said that’s just when she reached out to me. I said “So if I don’t hear from you’re having a good day?” and she said yes. She got better about talking to me when things were going well too. I was totally freaking out that she was upset everytime we talked though. I think that’s kind of natural… when things aren’t going well, you tend to think “I want to talk to my mom”. I still feel that way and my mom passed away almost 7 years ago. Of course, I also think that when something really good happens too. </p>
<p>@cakeisgreat I hope your D bounces back quickly. I agree with others- it takes a while to recover and she should be careful about not overdoing it for a while. </p>
. Will be calling doc tomorrow…hope she gives a stronger antibiotic.</p>