Lily: Does healthy food come out in your poop?
Me: Yes, your body takes all the nutrients that it needs from your food and the rest comes out in your poop.
L:How does it do that?
Me: When your food goes through your intestines your body absorbs all the good stuff and then the bad stuff comes out in your poop.
Lily: Does paper come out in your poop?
Me: You're not supposed to eat paper.
Lily: Well, does it come out in your poop? I've never seen white stuff in poop.
Me: I don't know; I don't eat paper.
Lily: Well, I've never seen white stuff in my poop.
Me: Well, do you eat paper?
Lily: No.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Day 4 and 5: Snacks
The diet is easy as pie to follow at home. We have no problem following the guidelines here. However, it's become difficult when the kids are out and about. Today the went to Parents Day Out and there was a snack. It was a perfectly healthy snack, pretzels, which are fine. But, when you've eliminated gluten from your diet...pretzels don't make the cut. I'm not really sure how to handle this. Lily is old enough and observant enough to notice if I try to send a special snack with her. She would be none too happy if the kids were eating something that she wasn't having. I'm at a loss for how to handle this.
Yesterday, after dinner Lily asked me for an Oreo of dessert. I really wanted to give her one. I wanted to sit down with her and have Oreos and milk. I love rewarding her spectacular behavior over the past few days. But, I know that the Oreos may be one of the things that make it difficult for her to have the spectacular behavior. Following this diet may be even more difficult that I originally imagined. I'm going to have to make some tough choices. Limiting treats is not always a good thing. If you eliminate them too much...when the kids do get them, they over eat. I'm speaking from experience on this one! When I was in 4th grade I went to 4-H camp. My mom left me with some of my VERY OWN CANDY!!! This was unheard of at our house. I ate an entire ONE POUND bag of Skittles in one sitting. I will spare you the rest of the details. But, I will say that I was an adult before I ever had Skittles again.
Yesterday, after dinner Lily asked me for an Oreo of dessert. I really wanted to give her one. I wanted to sit down with her and have Oreos and milk. I love rewarding her spectacular behavior over the past few days. But, I know that the Oreos may be one of the things that make it difficult for her to have the spectacular behavior. Following this diet may be even more difficult that I originally imagined. I'm going to have to make some tough choices. Limiting treats is not always a good thing. If you eliminate them too much...when the kids do get them, they over eat. I'm speaking from experience on this one! When I was in 4th grade I went to 4-H camp. My mom left me with some of my VERY OWN CANDY!!! This was unheard of at our house. I ate an entire ONE POUND bag of Skittles in one sitting. I will spare you the rest of the details. But, I will say that I was an adult before I ever had Skittles again.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 3: Menu
Some of my readers have been wondering what else my children have been eating since we started the crazy diet. So, I thought I would share with you a bit of what they've been eating. However, I can't remember everything because Lily eats nonstop these days! I swear she must be growing.
Breakfast:
Oatmeal both days (Although, I've learned of some new breakfast ideas. Thanks Hilary!)
Snacks:
Rice cakes, Bing Cherries, Pumpkin Seeds, Soy Yogurt, Apple with peanut butter, Carrots, Apricots, Walnuts
Lunch:
Yesterday they had peanut butter on corn tortillas, rice crackers, frozen peas (my kids really like to eat their peas right out of the freezer), and oranges
Today they had leftovers from last night.
Dinner:
Yesterday they had Bean/Corn Casserole. Corn chips layered with refried beans, corn and soy cheese. They inhaled it!
Today we had roasted veggies. Asparagus, Carrots and Potatoes tossed with olive oil and Italian seasoning.
I really like experimenting with recipes. This is fun for me to try and come up with healthy ideas that my children will enjoy. Only once since we started this diet have they asked for anything sweet. Drew asked me for a cookie today. But, he was perfectly happy the the alternative that I offered him.
Let me stress that I think that this diet is working is ToTaLlY cRaZy!! I can't get over the changes that I've noticed in Lily. It has been easy to follow the diet at home; however, I'm concerned how it will be when Lily goes back to school and has snacktime. I assume that I will be able to plan something with her teacher. However, I KNOW that there are snacks that Lily will want to enjoy with her friends. So, maybe she'll be getting a smaller helping of those sweets in the future.
Breakfast:
Oatmeal both days (Although, I've learned of some new breakfast ideas. Thanks Hilary!)
Snacks:
Rice cakes, Bing Cherries, Pumpkin Seeds, Soy Yogurt, Apple with peanut butter, Carrots, Apricots, Walnuts
Lunch:
Yesterday they had peanut butter on corn tortillas, rice crackers, frozen peas (my kids really like to eat their peas right out of the freezer), and oranges
Today they had leftovers from last night.
Dinner:
Yesterday they had Bean/Corn Casserole. Corn chips layered with refried beans, corn and soy cheese. They inhaled it!
Today we had roasted veggies. Asparagus, Carrots and Potatoes tossed with olive oil and Italian seasoning.
I really like experimenting with recipes. This is fun for me to try and come up with healthy ideas that my children will enjoy. Only once since we started this diet have they asked for anything sweet. Drew asked me for a cookie today. But, he was perfectly happy the the alternative that I offered him.
Let me stress that I think that this diet is working is ToTaLlY cRaZy!! I can't get over the changes that I've noticed in Lily. It has been easy to follow the diet at home; however, I'm concerned how it will be when Lily goes back to school and has snacktime. I assume that I will be able to plan something with her teacher. However, I KNOW that there are snacks that Lily will want to enjoy with her friends. So, maybe she'll be getting a smaller helping of those sweets in the future.
Take a Picture of It!!
I don't ever remember Drew picking up bugs. I think it might because until recently, he couldn't see them. Here's a little video of Drew exploring his first bug capture.
If you can't understand him towards the end, he's telling me that he's going to use his fishing pole to catch the bug.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 2: Is it a fluke?
As you know, yesterday was the first day of our sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free diet. I had read that it would take about 7 to 10 days to notice results from the diet change. They said that if you eat a lot of processed food, then it might happen faster. But, we don't eat a lot of processed food so I was prepared to wait a week before I noticed any changes.
Last night, as Tom and I were going to bed, he asked me how long the "super diet" was supposed to take before it started changing behavior; because he had noticed a difference in Lily that night at dinner. I agreed with him. We are both skeptical people (him more than me) so it's a huge deal that we even think that this might work. If someone else was telling us that they were trying this diet, we would smile and nod....and talk about them behind their back. Telling each other how crazy we thought they were. So, for us both to notice a difference on the first day, we're shocked, to say the least.
Today was no different. She is a completely different child. As I type this I am still unbelieving. I just think any minute she's going to crumble into a state of her normal bedtime hysterics. Instead, she's sitting on the chair with Tom and having a normal four year old conversation.
Let me just give you some comparasion stories. Normally dinner time is not fun at our house. No matter what, by that time of day, Lily is spent and unable to function. She was constantly moving, playing with her food, spilling her drink, putting her feet on the table, unable to sit down on her bottom, and generally screaming and yelling and doing nothing socially appropriate. On a good night she was able to eat her meal without spilling and possibly tell us what she did that day. However, last night and tonight at dinner, she was sitting with her feet under the table (without kicking), she was using a spoon (and when she didn't, it took nothing but a reminder to get her to start using it again), she didn't spill. And even when I told her that we were having the new milk she didn't like, she suggested by herself that maybe she should try a bit and see if maybe she likes it today. At dinner she is now having a conversation with us, instead of talking at us or just screaming and arguing with us.
I still don't know what to think about all of this. What a huge change for Lily. What a huge change in our way of eating. But, if I had know that this diet would have even helped half as well as it seems to have, I would have worked twice as hard to make it happen. I am for the first time in weeks, maybe months enjoying my sweet daughter for most of the day. She and I have a renewed relationship. I have no idea what it will be like next week, or in a month. I know she is four and will still do four year old stuff, but, if this four year old's behavior continues the way it's been going....I'll take it!
Last night, as Tom and I were going to bed, he asked me how long the "super diet" was supposed to take before it started changing behavior; because he had noticed a difference in Lily that night at dinner. I agreed with him. We are both skeptical people (him more than me) so it's a huge deal that we even think that this might work. If someone else was telling us that they were trying this diet, we would smile and nod....and talk about them behind their back. Telling each other how crazy we thought they were. So, for us both to notice a difference on the first day, we're shocked, to say the least.
Today was no different. She is a completely different child. As I type this I am still unbelieving. I just think any minute she's going to crumble into a state of her normal bedtime hysterics. Instead, she's sitting on the chair with Tom and having a normal four year old conversation.
Let me just give you some comparasion stories. Normally dinner time is not fun at our house. No matter what, by that time of day, Lily is spent and unable to function. She was constantly moving, playing with her food, spilling her drink, putting her feet on the table, unable to sit down on her bottom, and generally screaming and yelling and doing nothing socially appropriate. On a good night she was able to eat her meal without spilling and possibly tell us what she did that day. However, last night and tonight at dinner, she was sitting with her feet under the table (without kicking), she was using a spoon (and when she didn't, it took nothing but a reminder to get her to start using it again), she didn't spill. And even when I told her that we were having the new milk she didn't like, she suggested by herself that maybe she should try a bit and see if maybe she likes it today. At dinner she is now having a conversation with us, instead of talking at us or just screaming and arguing with us.
I still don't know what to think about all of this. What a huge change for Lily. What a huge change in our way of eating. But, if I had know that this diet would have even helped half as well as it seems to have, I would have worked twice as hard to make it happen. I am for the first time in weeks, maybe months enjoying my sweet daughter for most of the day. She and I have a renewed relationship. I have no idea what it will be like next week, or in a month. I know she is four and will still do four year old stuff, but, if this four year old's behavior continues the way it's been going....I'll take it!
Lily is a Super Skier
Lily loves to swim. I've said it a million times before. She also has NO FEAR of anything (except for the spiders beside the basement toilet.) She is so good at swimming with the life jacket on and likes to take really fast tube rides behind the boat. She repeatedly asks to go faster and says that she wants to fall off! She's never actually fallen off, but that's not from a lack of trying. So, Tom and I decided that we thought she would be ready to learn to ski. I do not ski at all, but Tom is an excellent skier. He was on the ski team at ESU. So, Tom purchased some little skis for Lily to use and put the ski rope together so that it had two handles.
This past Sunday was a good day to learn. It was 90 degrees with no wind. Lily was so excited that she was nearly exploding with excitement. There was no trace of fear anywhere. She and Tom got out behind the boat and got their skis on. They got up on the skis the very first time!! Lily was between Tom's legs (this is where you should be impressed with my husband's skiing skills) he got up on his skis with Lily squeezed between his knees. Then he let go of the rope with one hand and pulled her to a standing position. Amazing. I was so excited for her. I have no doubt that she will be skiing in circles all around the lake my next summer all by herself.
Tom doesn't get to spend a lot of time at home. This summer has been really busy for him at work. He's leaving as early as 5 AM every morning and it's rare that he's home before 6 or 6:30. His Saturdays have become longer and longer work days as the summer goes on, too. So, time with the kids is rare and important. It was so cool that he and Lily got to do this ski lesson together. It is such an important part of parenting, to find things to enjoy together. Building long, healthy and honest relationships with your kids starts young and starts with afternoons like this one; where Tom taught Lily to ski for the first time. She will always remember learning to ski from her dad. Although, she might not remember the specifics of this day, she will remember that skiing and spending time at the lake was something great, something fun, and always with her dad.
We didn't have a lot of battery on the camera. So, this is the only video we got. I wish we would have gotten some pictures, but maybe next time!
This past Sunday was a good day to learn. It was 90 degrees with no wind. Lily was so excited that she was nearly exploding with excitement. There was no trace of fear anywhere. She and Tom got out behind the boat and got their skis on. They got up on the skis the very first time!! Lily was between Tom's legs (this is where you should be impressed with my husband's skiing skills) he got up on his skis with Lily squeezed between his knees. Then he let go of the rope with one hand and pulled her to a standing position. Amazing. I was so excited for her. I have no doubt that she will be skiing in circles all around the lake my next summer all by herself.
Tom doesn't get to spend a lot of time at home. This summer has been really busy for him at work. He's leaving as early as 5 AM every morning and it's rare that he's home before 6 or 6:30. His Saturdays have become longer and longer work days as the summer goes on, too. So, time with the kids is rare and important. It was so cool that he and Lily got to do this ski lesson together. It is such an important part of parenting, to find things to enjoy together. Building long, healthy and honest relationships with your kids starts young and starts with afternoons like this one; where Tom taught Lily to ski for the first time. She will always remember learning to ski from her dad. Although, she might not remember the specifics of this day, she will remember that skiing and spending time at the lake was something great, something fun, and always with her dad.
We didn't have a lot of battery on the camera. So, this is the only video we got. I wish we would have gotten some pictures, but maybe next time!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 1: I think I'm crazy, too.
I have officially began a super healthy, super restrictive diet for our family. (Tom is participating by eating what he wants at work and after the kids go to bed; and eating whatever I fix for dinner without saying a word.) So, we are on a sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free diet as of this morning. I thought I would use this blog to keep track of what I notice as we make this transition.
You may be asking why on EARTH I would be doing such a crazy thing. I'll just say that living with Lily, you might, too. Without going into too much detail, Lily is really struggling with impulse control, listening, and is, shall we say, hyperactive. After a lot of reading and research on the Internet and at the library, I have found a plan I am comfortable with trying. It really breaks it down for me and has given me many recipes to work with. (The ADD an ADHD Cure The Natural way to Treat Hyperactivity and Refocus your child) I have also found several sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free websites that I think will be very helpful when planning my meals and grocery list every week. Why this diet? According to my research, it is estimated that 30-35% of people have sensitivities to gluten and 50 to 80% of people have a sensitivity to dairy. Crazy, i know! In most people, dairy intolerance and gluten sensitivity cause mild discomfort. However, the effects on people with ADHD are worse. So, going on this diet is assuming that there is a possibility that she has ADHD and also may have a sensitivity to one of these things. I'm going to try it for 30 days and see if we notice a difference. If nothing else, we will be eating really healthy for at least 30 days!
I'm sure some people (Hi, Ann!) wonder what the heck I will be feeding the kids. Well, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; lots of things made from corn and rice (tortillas, chips, crackers, cereal, etc.) can all be found gluten-free. We'll have lots of fruit smoothies, oatmeal, and pancakes for breakfast. They also have easy to find rice milk or soy milk to make up for the loss of cow's milk in their diets. For those of you who are really curious, this is what we've eaten today.
Breakfast:
Bowl of oatmeal with a tiny squeeze of honey on top, with grape juice to drink.
AM Snack:
Fresh pear halves, rice crackers, and water to drink. (Although, Drew was none too happy about the choice of beverage!)
Lunch:
Corn tortilla with soy cheese melted on top. A banana wrapped in a corn tortilla, with peanut butter and honey. Grapes. Soy yogurt. Grape juice to drink.
On the menu for dinner tonight? Gluten-free pasta with tomato sauce and a veggie on the side.
You may be asking why on EARTH I would be doing such a crazy thing. I'll just say that living with Lily, you might, too. Without going into too much detail, Lily is really struggling with impulse control, listening, and is, shall we say, hyperactive. After a lot of reading and research on the Internet and at the library, I have found a plan I am comfortable with trying. It really breaks it down for me and has given me many recipes to work with. (The ADD an ADHD Cure The Natural way to Treat Hyperactivity and Refocus your child) I have also found several sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free websites that I think will be very helpful when planning my meals and grocery list every week. Why this diet? According to my research, it is estimated that 30-35% of people have sensitivities to gluten and 50 to 80% of people have a sensitivity to dairy. Crazy, i know! In most people, dairy intolerance and gluten sensitivity cause mild discomfort. However, the effects on people with ADHD are worse. So, going on this diet is assuming that there is a possibility that she has ADHD and also may have a sensitivity to one of these things. I'm going to try it for 30 days and see if we notice a difference. If nothing else, we will be eating really healthy for at least 30 days!
I'm sure some people (Hi, Ann!) wonder what the heck I will be feeding the kids. Well, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; lots of things made from corn and rice (tortillas, chips, crackers, cereal, etc.) can all be found gluten-free. We'll have lots of fruit smoothies, oatmeal, and pancakes for breakfast. They also have easy to find rice milk or soy milk to make up for the loss of cow's milk in their diets. For those of you who are really curious, this is what we've eaten today.
Breakfast:
Bowl of oatmeal with a tiny squeeze of honey on top, with grape juice to drink.
AM Snack:
Fresh pear halves, rice crackers, and water to drink. (Although, Drew was none too happy about the choice of beverage!)
Lunch:
Corn tortilla with soy cheese melted on top. A banana wrapped in a corn tortilla, with peanut butter and honey. Grapes. Soy yogurt. Grape juice to drink.
On the menu for dinner tonight? Gluten-free pasta with tomato sauce and a veggie on the side.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Why?
Here is an example of what it is like to ride in the car with Drew these days.
D: What's that?
Me: A big truck.
D: Is it workin?
Me: Yup. It's going to work.
D: Like Daddy? Daddy at work?
Me: Yes, Daddy is at work.
D: With the men? Daddy working with the worker men?
Me: Yes.
D: What is Daddy doing at work?
Me: Building a road.
D: He is driving an excavator?
Me: Sure.
D: With the worker guys?
Me: Yes.
D: What's that?
Me: A mobile home.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's a home, and it moves. So, that makes it a mobile home.
D: Why?
Me: Because it moves.
D: Where?
Me: To where it's going to stay.
D: Where? On the beach?
Me: Maybe.
D: Why?
Me: Because they like the beach.
D: Oh. Why?
Me: Because the beach is fun.
D: Why? Because we can swim there?
Me: Yes.
D: And fish there?
Me: Yes
D: And play there?
Me: Yes.
D: We're going to get Lily from Art Class?
Me: Yes.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's over. She's all done.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's time to go home and eat lunch.
D: So we can dance? Does Lily like to dance?
Me: Yes.
D: Why?
Me: Because she thinks it's fun.
D: Why.....
and on and on and on!!!!
D: What's that?
Me: A big truck.
D: Is it workin?
Me: Yup. It's going to work.
D: Like Daddy? Daddy at work?
Me: Yes, Daddy is at work.
D: With the men? Daddy working with the worker men?
Me: Yes.
D: What is Daddy doing at work?
Me: Building a road.
D: He is driving an excavator?
Me: Sure.
D: With the worker guys?
Me: Yes.
D: What's that?
Me: A mobile home.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's a home, and it moves. So, that makes it a mobile home.
D: Why?
Me: Because it moves.
D: Where?
Me: To where it's going to stay.
D: Where? On the beach?
Me: Maybe.
D: Why?
Me: Because they like the beach.
D: Oh. Why?
Me: Because the beach is fun.
D: Why? Because we can swim there?
Me: Yes.
D: And fish there?
Me: Yes
D: And play there?
Me: Yes.
D: We're going to get Lily from Art Class?
Me: Yes.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's over. She's all done.
D: Why?
Me: Because it's time to go home and eat lunch.
D: So we can dance? Does Lily like to dance?
Me: Yes.
D: Why?
Me: Because she thinks it's fun.
D: Why.....
and on and on and on!!!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Big Time
I feel like a big time blogger now! My post about breastfeeding vs. taking meds for ADHD has generated the most feedback of any post, ever. I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I felt so much better about everything after I posted all about how I was feeling. It's weird, because I'm a pretty private person and suddenly I'm blogging about my personal struggle with being the best mom I can be. What's interesting is, after I typed it all out and posted it...I felt like a weight had been lifted. I went on with my day and had a better attitude about it. I now realize that I would be much too sad to stop breastfeeding at this point. A lot of the feedback centered around thinking about myself and putting myself first. Taking care of me so that I can better take care of my children. But, really, nursing the baby is what I really want to do. It was never a question of whether or not I wanted to breastfeed. It's a special thing that I won't get to do forever and time with her that I won't get back. So, I'm going to continue to nurse for a few more months. Ideally, she will go from the breast to a sippy cup with no problem, just like Drew.
Now, I'm sure some of you are screaming, "What are you thinking?! What about your other children that you were so worried about yesterday?" I know. The concern for my other two children is still there. I am going to take small steps to make sure that I do better for them over the next few months. How? Well, first off, I'm going to be open with my friends and family about my struggle. That way I don't feel so alone with this chaos. I am going to ask for help when I need it and not feel like I need to take care of everything. Also, starting in August (i'm waiting until then because I can join the YMCA for free and Lily will be starting school.) I'm going to start a regular workout routine. I turn 29 that month, and for my birthday present I'm going to get myself a personal trainer for a bit, so that I can really commit to it. For those of you who don't know, working out is one of the best natural ways to help the mind to focus. Above all, I'm going to spend time each day with Lily and Drew making sure that they have a positive memorable interaction with me....that way if I get short-tempered, they will have something stored in their love bank.
Now, I'm sure some of you are screaming, "What are you thinking?! What about your other children that you were so worried about yesterday?" I know. The concern for my other two children is still there. I am going to take small steps to make sure that I do better for them over the next few months. How? Well, first off, I'm going to be open with my friends and family about my struggle. That way I don't feel so alone with this chaos. I am going to ask for help when I need it and not feel like I need to take care of everything. Also, starting in August (i'm waiting until then because I can join the YMCA for free and Lily will be starting school.) I'm going to start a regular workout routine. I turn 29 that month, and for my birthday present I'm going to get myself a personal trainer for a bit, so that I can really commit to it. For those of you who don't know, working out is one of the best natural ways to help the mind to focus. Above all, I'm going to spend time each day with Lily and Drew making sure that they have a positive memorable interaction with me....that way if I get short-tempered, they will have something stored in their love bank.
Wildlife Rescue
***If any of you have been laying awake at night worrying about the fact that my husband has been breaking the law by discharging his fire arm within city limits; you can rest easy. Lily has discovered the bunnies in the backyard and she has a completely different perspective than he does. This morning she was outside in her nightgown looking for the bunnies. They now have names and homes and she wanted to feed them her breakfast cereal. So, Elmer is no longer allowed to hunt in our yard. I convinced her to eat her cereal and found some old carrots in the back of the fridge for her to feed them with. It was so funny because when I looked outside to check on her, there she was in her Tinkerbell night gown biting off chunks of old carrot and launching them out of her mouth all over the backyard. Classic. Lucky rabbits!
***If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see post titled "Elmer Fudd" dated 7-7-09
***If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see post titled "Elmer Fudd" dated 7-7-09
Monday, July 20, 2009
What to do
I'm having a delima. I have breastfed all of my children. I breastfed Lily exclusivly for the first six months. Even though I was actaully pumping more than I was physically nursing her, due to my work schedule, it was worth it. At the time it was extremely important to me. I couldn't be there for her all day, everyday like I wanted to, so breastfeeding was my way of staying connected to her. She started having formula regularly at about 6 months, but I continued to nurse her until she was about 9 months. With Drew, he never took a bottle once (and not always by my choice!) He went straight from the breast to a sippy cup at 10 months. Julianna is 6 and a half months old and I am completely happy nursing her. Although the first weeks of all of my baby's lives were difficult (to say the least) to get used to nursing, and being the baby's only source of nutirtion, it becomes really easy after that. I never have to remember to pack a bottle, or wash bottle, or spend 100s of dollars on formula. I know that they are getting the best food they can and it caters to my very disorganized life. I always have the boobs with me! I don't have them sitting in the sink waiting to be washed, the milk is never wasted, and it's always the right tempreture. I COMPLETELY understand why nursing doesn't work for everyone, but it is one of the joys of my parenting experience.
Now, you might be asking what the delima could be if I"m this happy nursing. Well, let me tell you. As I've had children, 3 in the past 4 1/2 years, my life has progressively become more chaotic. I don't really mind a bit of chaos, but these days, even I can't handle the stress that it's causing. Most days my house is embarrassingly dirty and cluttered and I can barely get organized enough to get out the door with 3 children. I have become short-tempered with my Lily; which is sad, because she is the child the needs the most patience. The worse the chaos gets, the harder it is to overcome. Every book in the universe about parenting says that kids thrive on predictability. These days, there is no predictibility for my children. I am flitting from one task to the next without completing anything. I give them directions and then forget what I ask them to do. Or, I will tell them, forget about it, and then later will get after them for not doing what I asked them to do. (even though I've forgotten too!) I know the biggest reason for all of this chaos is the fact that I have ADHD. And that medication could help me to overcome some of the problems I've been having. I could have more focus and energy to be a good mom.
Now, I know you people are all thinking, "Oh, being a mom is hard! Everyone goes through it." or "I lose my keys sometimes, too." or "Everyone gets short-tempered with their kids. It's part of life." However, I don't think that you're really getting just how hard it is for me to appear that I am functioning well. One example of this would be one time when I had all three children at a playgroup. I thought I had everything that I needed in the diaper bag. Wrong. That day Julianna pooped right out of her diaper and she was covered in poop. I got out to the car to get her changed (because I didn't actually have the diaper bag with me during the playgroup, as most moms do) and I find that I don't have a single diaper in the whole van that is her size. Not one. Usually in these types of situations my disorganization can play to my favor. I can usually find a diaper stashed somewhere in the mess. This day there was nothing but a size 5 diaper (drew's size, as she was in newborn size at this time!) So, I had to wrap her in the size 5 diaper and hope for the best. This may not seem like such a big deal....but if you line these small failures up over and over throughout a day, a week, or month after month, it can start to wear on a person's self confidence. I rarely feel like I have it all together, and my very loving (and organized) husband has to compensate for a lot.
So, now for the delima. It is the fact that I love to nurse my children. I was planning on nursing Julianna for the whole first year. She is my last, and I just really was hoping to make it to 12 months. However, there are no medications for ADHD that have been proven safe for nursing mothers. (I am not interested in the medication debate. If I had a bad thyroid, wouldn't I take medication to fix it? Well, ADHD is a brain problem, that can be helped with medication. So, for the first time since my diagnosis 2 years ago, I am ready to try meds.) Anyway, I just don't feel comfortable nursing while on medication. But, I feel like my two oldest children are not getting the best part of me because I'm staying medication free to nurse their baby sister. I also understand that there are several "natural" alternatives to treating ADHD. I could change my diet and maybe get a life coach to help me overcome some of problems I've been having. However, as far as the diet goes, I don't have enough focus to really impliment such a plan. I'm not a detail person. And, the life coach won't really make the symptoms go away. Anyway, I would be so sad to quit breastfeeding. Once I decide to stop, there is no going back. But, is my desire to nurse so much more important than the health and happiness of all three of my children?
Now, you might be asking what the delima could be if I"m this happy nursing. Well, let me tell you. As I've had children, 3 in the past 4 1/2 years, my life has progressively become more chaotic. I don't really mind a bit of chaos, but these days, even I can't handle the stress that it's causing. Most days my house is embarrassingly dirty and cluttered and I can barely get organized enough to get out the door with 3 children. I have become short-tempered with my Lily; which is sad, because she is the child the needs the most patience. The worse the chaos gets, the harder it is to overcome. Every book in the universe about parenting says that kids thrive on predictability. These days, there is no predictibility for my children. I am flitting from one task to the next without completing anything. I give them directions and then forget what I ask them to do. Or, I will tell them, forget about it, and then later will get after them for not doing what I asked them to do. (even though I've forgotten too!) I know the biggest reason for all of this chaos is the fact that I have ADHD. And that medication could help me to overcome some of the problems I've been having. I could have more focus and energy to be a good mom.
Now, I know you people are all thinking, "Oh, being a mom is hard! Everyone goes through it." or "I lose my keys sometimes, too." or "Everyone gets short-tempered with their kids. It's part of life." However, I don't think that you're really getting just how hard it is for me to appear that I am functioning well. One example of this would be one time when I had all three children at a playgroup. I thought I had everything that I needed in the diaper bag. Wrong. That day Julianna pooped right out of her diaper and she was covered in poop. I got out to the car to get her changed (because I didn't actually have the diaper bag with me during the playgroup, as most moms do) and I find that I don't have a single diaper in the whole van that is her size. Not one. Usually in these types of situations my disorganization can play to my favor. I can usually find a diaper stashed somewhere in the mess. This day there was nothing but a size 5 diaper (drew's size, as she was in newborn size at this time!) So, I had to wrap her in the size 5 diaper and hope for the best. This may not seem like such a big deal....but if you line these small failures up over and over throughout a day, a week, or month after month, it can start to wear on a person's self confidence. I rarely feel like I have it all together, and my very loving (and organized) husband has to compensate for a lot.
So, now for the delima. It is the fact that I love to nurse my children. I was planning on nursing Julianna for the whole first year. She is my last, and I just really was hoping to make it to 12 months. However, there are no medications for ADHD that have been proven safe for nursing mothers. (I am not interested in the medication debate. If I had a bad thyroid, wouldn't I take medication to fix it? Well, ADHD is a brain problem, that can be helped with medication. So, for the first time since my diagnosis 2 years ago, I am ready to try meds.) Anyway, I just don't feel comfortable nursing while on medication. But, I feel like my two oldest children are not getting the best part of me because I'm staying medication free to nurse their baby sister. I also understand that there are several "natural" alternatives to treating ADHD. I could change my diet and maybe get a life coach to help me overcome some of problems I've been having. However, as far as the diet goes, I don't have enough focus to really impliment such a plan. I'm not a detail person. And, the life coach won't really make the symptoms go away. Anyway, I would be so sad to quit breastfeeding. Once I decide to stop, there is no going back. But, is my desire to nurse so much more important than the health and happiness of all three of my children?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Randomness
I haven't had a lot to write about lately. They kids haven't been signed up for much the last couple of weeks and we've been hanging out around the house a lot. I don't want to be one of those moms that has their kids signed up for everything under the sun and end up with exhausted, unhappy children. On the other hand, staying home a lot can also lead to bored, unhappy children but at least it gives them an opportunity to play and be creative at home. :)
So I thought I would just update you with a few random things that have been happening around here lately.
~I have been moving our bedroom back upstairs. When Julianna was born, Tom and I moved to the basement so that everyone could have their own room. I didn't really like it from the beginning, but I gave it six months before I finally made the move. I have switched everything but our bed. I plan on now using the basement as a family room and playroom for the kids. I hope that his move will also help me to keep the upstairs a bit more picked up during the day. Now that we've moved everything around, Drew and Julianna are sharing a room. It's gone nicely. Although, I haven't been brave enough to put them both down for a nap at the same time yet.
~During all this moving, Drew has been switched to a big boy bed. The transition was seamless, really. I have only 3 times had to put him back in his bed during nap time. What a blessing that was!! Lily had the hardest time because Drew had gotten something big and new and she hadn't. She was convinced that his bed was WAY fancier then her bed and she just MUST HAVE IT! Anyway, his move to the big bed made it easy to move Julianna into his crib in his room. So far so good.
~Julianna has been adding more and more baby food to her diet. Despite the introduction to green beans, she has not since then, met a jar of baby food she did not like. I hope that this means that she is bulking up!! I'm wondering if she will make it to 20 pounds by one year old. That is usually the goal, but I'm guessing 7 more pounds in just over 5 months seems like a bit of a stretch.
~Lily just finished up two weeks of swimming lessons. She really liked it and I thought she was doing an awesome job. They didn't pass her to the next level, although, if you ask me, she was ready!! It may be a coordination issue they were concerned about...because really she could swim even though her stroke may have seemed a bit manic!! Or, maybe the teacher harbored resentment towards Lily's inability to wait her turn. She's improved loads since the last time she had lessons...but Lily could barely contain her excitement....she would randomly do cannon balls during the lesson. What to do with all that energy!
~Julianna has fallen head over heels IN LOVE with Tom. When he walks in the room she lights up like a Christmas tree. She just smiles and watches him like he's the greatest thing that has happened all day. She talks and talks to him, all while wildly waving her hands and feet. I just love it....they really do have a wonderful bond. This week she has even let him put her to bed twice!! At this age Drew still wouldn't let a single person but me come near him during bedtime. What a blessing for everyone that Julianna loves her daddy!
~One more thing. Lily has taken to wearing Drew's big boy dinosaur underwear on a daily basis.
So I thought I would just update you with a few random things that have been happening around here lately.
~I have been moving our bedroom back upstairs. When Julianna was born, Tom and I moved to the basement so that everyone could have their own room. I didn't really like it from the beginning, but I gave it six months before I finally made the move. I have switched everything but our bed. I plan on now using the basement as a family room and playroom for the kids. I hope that his move will also help me to keep the upstairs a bit more picked up during the day. Now that we've moved everything around, Drew and Julianna are sharing a room. It's gone nicely. Although, I haven't been brave enough to put them both down for a nap at the same time yet.
~During all this moving, Drew has been switched to a big boy bed. The transition was seamless, really. I have only 3 times had to put him back in his bed during nap time. What a blessing that was!! Lily had the hardest time because Drew had gotten something big and new and she hadn't. She was convinced that his bed was WAY fancier then her bed and she just MUST HAVE IT! Anyway, his move to the big bed made it easy to move Julianna into his crib in his room. So far so good.
~Julianna has been adding more and more baby food to her diet. Despite the introduction to green beans, she has not since then, met a jar of baby food she did not like. I hope that this means that she is bulking up!! I'm wondering if she will make it to 20 pounds by one year old. That is usually the goal, but I'm guessing 7 more pounds in just over 5 months seems like a bit of a stretch.
~Lily just finished up two weeks of swimming lessons. She really liked it and I thought she was doing an awesome job. They didn't pass her to the next level, although, if you ask me, she was ready!! It may be a coordination issue they were concerned about...because really she could swim even though her stroke may have seemed a bit manic!! Or, maybe the teacher harbored resentment towards Lily's inability to wait her turn. She's improved loads since the last time she had lessons...but Lily could barely contain her excitement....she would randomly do cannon balls during the lesson. What to do with all that energy!
~Julianna has fallen head over heels IN LOVE with Tom. When he walks in the room she lights up like a Christmas tree. She just smiles and watches him like he's the greatest thing that has happened all day. She talks and talks to him, all while wildly waving her hands and feet. I just love it....they really do have a wonderful bond. This week she has even let him put her to bed twice!! At this age Drew still wouldn't let a single person but me come near him during bedtime. What a blessing for everyone that Julianna loves her daddy!
~One more thing. Lily has taken to wearing Drew's big boy dinosaur underwear on a daily basis.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
How long?
I never spend time doing much during the day besides taking care of my kids and catching a few moments of peace on the computer or with a good book. Today, though, I figured out on the computer how to make a picture movie of the kids. So, I spent all of naptime today working on a lovely video. I spent hours people. HOURS! I found some of my favorite pictures, and found the perfect song (that i had to find on the internet, download it to my computer, and save it to my video) and got all the timing just perfect. It was a perfectly lovely project that looked just right. It would bring a tear to my eye to watch it all the way through....such cute sweet children in all the photos!! Then, after all that work.....one of those cute sweet children from the pictures clicked something on the computer....and it all disappeared. :( I could have pinched her head off!!! Anyway, I did make a new one. I just put the pictures in the second time in no particular order. It was still fun and I look forward to doing another one when my kids are grown!! haha It's sort of cheesy, but i like it just the same. :)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Puppy Love
I know that Lily has been hogging my blog posts recently, but I just could resist sharing this story. Lily has been doing swimming lessons for the past two weeks and Julianna and I watch from the observation room with the other parents. Today when I went in the mom I sat by asked me which child was mine. I told her mine was in the preschool class and her name was Lily. She looked at me and said, "Lily's yours?!" I thought to myself, uh oh! what has my daughter done to this person's child!!! Then she told me what had happened at their dinner table last night. Her son Jason said to her, "Mom, I have some bad news. I can't marry you anymore. I"m going to marry Lily." Awwww!! This makes me so happy. Not that I want Lily to be betrothed at such a young age, but I just am so happy that she is liked by her peers. She sometimes has trouble playing well with others, so it's nice to hear that some kids get a kick out of her. Jason told his mom that he liked Lily because she was nice and funny. YAY!!! Later in the conversation the mother shared with me that her son generally gravitates towards bold bossy little girls. I said, well, that's my daughter!! :)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Vintage Lily
Lily can not be summed up simply. She is such a unique child; full of energy, creativity, and a large dose of stubbornness. She's bold, bossy, and tells it like it is. I always say that she trained me well for Drew and Julianna. Meaning she has always tested me on everything. She is a great negotiator. She can be sneaky and sly. So, whatever Drew thinks he can throw at me as far as misbehavior, Lily's already crossed that road 15 times. There is not a day that Lily doesn't make me laugh. She is SO creative and can entertain herself with a hair tie and a toothpick for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Anyway, I was looking through old pictures and movies and found a couple that are just so LILY. I thought I would share this one here. (She is about 2 1/2 in the video, Drew's age now.)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Langauge
I know some people think I'm crazy for having such strict language rules in our house, but I just can't help it. It is the way I was raised. At this house we say "bottom" instead of "butt" and "toot" instead of "fart" and "potty" instead of "pee". Now, I know that they will eventually use these words in their everyday conversations (as do I, to be honest.) However, I just feel like young children should learn the most polite term first, until they are old enough to know in what situations to use the most polite term, and when it is okay to just use the slang.
People say butt, fart, and pee around my kids all the time, but my little darlings have never repeated it once. Until today. This is how it happened: My mom's friend Rebecca called last minute this afternoon to invite us to the water park. Drew and Julianna were still sleeping, so Rebecca said she would come by and pick up Lily. So, when I told Lily to grab her swimming suit she started to strip naked in front of the open front door. I suggested that she go in the bathroom so that Rebecca wouldn't see her changing. Her answer? "So no one will see my butt??" Then she just looked at me all testing like, oh, i've dropped the bomb. what's mom going to do now?! I didn't say anything right away (i was trying to decide how best to respond) so, for good measure, Lily said it a couple more times, "butt, butt, butt!!" I know that if I had made a giant deal about it she would still be screaming BUTT for everyone in the world to hear. So, instead, I calmly came down to her eye level. I said in a very quiet and motherly voice, "I know that some people say butt. However, in this house we say bottom because it is more polite." She was quiet for a minute, and then said, "Butt people are nice. I want to be a butt person." Now, what exactly is a person supposed to say to that?? I just let it go. She hasn't said it again, and I think she got the idea.
People say butt, fart, and pee around my kids all the time, but my little darlings have never repeated it once. Until today. This is how it happened: My mom's friend Rebecca called last minute this afternoon to invite us to the water park. Drew and Julianna were still sleeping, so Rebecca said she would come by and pick up Lily. So, when I told Lily to grab her swimming suit she started to strip naked in front of the open front door. I suggested that she go in the bathroom so that Rebecca wouldn't see her changing. Her answer? "So no one will see my butt??" Then she just looked at me all testing like, oh, i've dropped the bomb. what's mom going to do now?! I didn't say anything right away (i was trying to decide how best to respond) so, for good measure, Lily said it a couple more times, "butt, butt, butt!!" I know that if I had made a giant deal about it she would still be screaming BUTT for everyone in the world to hear. So, instead, I calmly came down to her eye level. I said in a very quiet and motherly voice, "I know that some people say butt. However, in this house we say bottom because it is more polite." She was quiet for a minute, and then said, "Butt people are nice. I want to be a butt person." Now, what exactly is a person supposed to say to that?? I just let it go. She hasn't said it again, and I think she got the idea.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Elmer Fudd
Tom has had a long standing battle with the wildlife in our yard. The first year I planted a garden and immediately some animal ate every flower in the garden. We narrowed down the culprit, it was the rabbits hopping on their merry way all around our house. Tom started researching ways to protect the garden from these crazy beasts. For those of you who don't know, there are very few options for a person when you're dealing with a rabbit problem. We read that if you sprinkle cayenne pepper on the plants that it will keep the bunnies from nibbling. WRONG! The cayenne pepper seemed to only make the plants MORE delicious to eat. They chewed every flower to the nub after that! So, Tom continued with his research. He found another option, that just seemed impossible. They suggested building a fence something like 6 feet high, not only that, they suggested burying the fence at least 6 feet down, too. That seemed ridiculous. What good is a flower garden surrounded by the Fort Knox of chicken wire??
That's when Tom really took matters into his own hands. He brought out the fire arms. I'm not kidding. He dug out his revolver (i could be making up the name of that gun, he's not home to ask. But, it's the gun you see John Wayne using in the movies. Fits in the holster on his hip. Whatever that one is called) Anyway, the first time he did it it was after the children had gone to bed. He was very brave (or crazy) because he shot the rabbit in the FRONT YARD. Our house is at the corner of one of the busiest street in our town. My husband walked right out on the front porch and with one very loud shot, killed that wraskly wabbit! I'm being completely serious when I tell you that he then bagged up the dead animal and tossed it in the dumpster to be picked up on trash day.
I'm sad to say that his battle did not end there. I'm not really sure how many rabbits lost their lives that summer. Too many to count. I will tell you that children pick up on way more than anyone gives them credit for. We thought that whole summer that we were have a secret battle with the rabbits. We had no idea that the children had any idea. He never did it while they were around, although, we may or may not have told the story outloud in front of them. So, one morning I was feeding the children breakfast and Tom spotted a rabbit in the backyard. He went into to hunter mode and told me to usher the children to the front porch. I grabbed their breakfast and headed out. They didn't seem to mind this sudden change in schedule and sat their eating their breakfast. Until they heard the shots fired. Their private conversation when something like this:
(Shots fired)
Drew: "What that??"
Lily: "Oh, it's okay Drew, Daddy's just shooting the rabbits!"
I about died!! I had no idea that she knew anything about what was going on! So, even though Tom has still never gone "hunting" in front of the children, it's really no secret that it happens.
This year after I planted my garden, it remaind entirely intact all summer. Well, except for all the tulips Drew picked in early spring. However, Tom's battle with the rabbits has continued. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the garden at this point. He just really likes the excuse to shoot his gun!! The last couple of weeks he has really amped up his search for the rabbits, thinking that any shots fired will only sound like firecrackers, and not alert anyone to his illegal escapades. He's really turned into an animal himself. He will stop at nothing to get every rabbit that sets foot on our property. In fact he recently found a nest of baby rabbits while mowing the lawn. I will spare you the details on that one.
I may be wrong, but I think the rabbits are fighting back. A few weeks ago while working on the back patio, we accidentally left the garage door open over night. When Tom left for work the next morning he closed it up. We didn't venture in the garage after that for a good long couple of weeks. Something in the garage started smelling. Like really really smelling. We had no idea why it was stinking, but the smell was starting to seep into the house. One afternoon Lily and I decided to get the bicycles out to play with on the driveway. Lily ran into the garage to get her bike and came screaming out saying that there was an animal in the garage. I went to take a peek...there it was. A dead baby bunny. I swear she came back to haunt the hunter.
That's when Tom really took matters into his own hands. He brought out the fire arms. I'm not kidding. He dug out his revolver (i could be making up the name of that gun, he's not home to ask. But, it's the gun you see John Wayne using in the movies. Fits in the holster on his hip. Whatever that one is called) Anyway, the first time he did it it was after the children had gone to bed. He was very brave (or crazy) because he shot the rabbit in the FRONT YARD. Our house is at the corner of one of the busiest street in our town. My husband walked right out on the front porch and with one very loud shot, killed that wraskly wabbit! I'm being completely serious when I tell you that he then bagged up the dead animal and tossed it in the dumpster to be picked up on trash day.
I'm sad to say that his battle did not end there. I'm not really sure how many rabbits lost their lives that summer. Too many to count. I will tell you that children pick up on way more than anyone gives them credit for. We thought that whole summer that we were have a secret battle with the rabbits. We had no idea that the children had any idea. He never did it while they were around, although, we may or may not have told the story outloud in front of them. So, one morning I was feeding the children breakfast and Tom spotted a rabbit in the backyard. He went into to hunter mode and told me to usher the children to the front porch. I grabbed their breakfast and headed out. They didn't seem to mind this sudden change in schedule and sat their eating their breakfast. Until they heard the shots fired. Their private conversation when something like this:
(Shots fired)
Drew: "What that??"
Lily: "Oh, it's okay Drew, Daddy's just shooting the rabbits!"
I about died!! I had no idea that she knew anything about what was going on! So, even though Tom has still never gone "hunting" in front of the children, it's really no secret that it happens.
This year after I planted my garden, it remaind entirely intact all summer. Well, except for all the tulips Drew picked in early spring. However, Tom's battle with the rabbits has continued. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the garden at this point. He just really likes the excuse to shoot his gun!! The last couple of weeks he has really amped up his search for the rabbits, thinking that any shots fired will only sound like firecrackers, and not alert anyone to his illegal escapades. He's really turned into an animal himself. He will stop at nothing to get every rabbit that sets foot on our property. In fact he recently found a nest of baby rabbits while mowing the lawn. I will spare you the details on that one.
I may be wrong, but I think the rabbits are fighting back. A few weeks ago while working on the back patio, we accidentally left the garage door open over night. When Tom left for work the next morning he closed it up. We didn't venture in the garage after that for a good long couple of weeks. Something in the garage started smelling. Like really really smelling. We had no idea why it was stinking, but the smell was starting to seep into the house. One afternoon Lily and I decided to get the bicycles out to play with on the driveway. Lily ran into the garage to get her bike and came screaming out saying that there was an animal in the garage. I went to take a peek...there it was. A dead baby bunny. I swear she came back to haunt the hunter.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Big Catch
I had a whole blog post in my head all ready to go about the horrible time we had in the waiting room at the doctor's office this morning. However, the wounds are too fresh to re-hash on this blog. Just know that we all survived, and that everyone is just fine, despite a couple of ear infections for the girls. Oh, and for anyone that is keeping track, Julianna weighed in at a whopping 13 pounds 6 ounces. Apparently she had been under the 10th percentile for weight last month so it's very good that she packed on over a pound this past month. Way to go girl!!
So, instead of reliving the horrible morning, I thought I would share Drew's fishing story. What a big kid he is! :) Drew, always the Cautious Carl, is pretty slow to warm up. But, he really developed a fondness for Papa Brad over the weekend. They bonded while pulling in gigantic fish. Okay, so only Drew caught a fish, and it wasn't really giant, more minnow size, but no less exciting!! When we heard the news that Drew had hooked a fish all by himself (Tom and Papa were on hand, but Drew was actually holding the pole when it happened!) Anyway, when we heard, David and I went in to paparazzi mode. We came running cameras in hand. I started screaming at David to get the still shots and I would take care of the live video. I haven't seen the photos from David yet, but he says he took about 50, so surely there's a good one in there!
Here is the footage of the big catch. Drew was really excited about it. He told everyone that he caught a fish. He learned quickly to spread his hands just a bit wider everytime he told the story. "My fish was THIS BIG!" he would say...as his hands spread.
So, instead of reliving the horrible morning, I thought I would share Drew's fishing story. What a big kid he is! :) Drew, always the Cautious Carl, is pretty slow to warm up. But, he really developed a fondness for Papa Brad over the weekend. They bonded while pulling in gigantic fish. Okay, so only Drew caught a fish, and it wasn't really giant, more minnow size, but no less exciting!! When we heard the news that Drew had hooked a fish all by himself (Tom and Papa were on hand, but Drew was actually holding the pole when it happened!) Anyway, when we heard, David and I went in to paparazzi mode. We came running cameras in hand. I started screaming at David to get the still shots and I would take care of the live video. I haven't seen the photos from David yet, but he says he took about 50, so surely there's a good one in there!
This is before the big catch. Drew is learning the art of patience (which he has quite a bit of for a 2 year old.)
Here is the footage of the big catch. Drew was really excited about it. He told everyone that he caught a fish. He learned quickly to spread his hands just a bit wider everytime he told the story. "My fish was THIS BIG!" he would say...as his hands spread.
Sometimes I do know what I'm talking about
Beach babes!!
Lily has been coughing for a couple of weeks now. It really wasn't a big deal until the holiday weekend started. Isn't that how it always works?? By the night of the fourth she was complaining of an earache and pretty tired from all the coughing. Despite her mild illness, we had a great fourth of July! There was swimming, and fishing, and tube rides all around. Lily's uncles Chris and David were tossing Lily in the air at soaring heights (i will post pictures later.) Drew caught his very first fish (of which i will post video and pictures later, too) And, Lily took a very fast and crazy ride on the tube. I was on shore watching as my child bounced along behind the boat like a rag doll. I'm told that she was laughing the whole time and screaming that she wanted to be tossed off like Uncle David. She never did fall, so she just flung herself off the tube at the end of the ride. She is my little daredevil child.
As I mentioned earlier, Lily has had a cold for a couple of weeks now, but the other two seemed pretty good until Sunday. Drew woke up from his nap whiny and more tired then when I laid him down. He had a fever of nearly 101 and was looking pretty miserable. I have a tendency to be over protective (thanks, mom) and Tom usually is right when I'm being a little crazy. So, when Tom did his best to convince me that Drew was fine, that his fever was probably because he was hot from being under the covers at nap time, I conceded. I agreed to take my sickly child back out to the lake for dinner. When we got there Drew really amped up the whining. Tom doesn't handle whining well, and was doing anything to get him to stop. Including feeding him red fruit roll ups and red juice and various other sweets. Can you see where this is going? After all this snacking, Drew was still whining as Tom held him on his lap. And then it happened. Tom learned his lesson, that sometimes mothers do know best. That sometimes, my protectiveness is for a very good reason. Drew threw up red all over Tom. He was covered in puke. Tom being the ever responsible person that he is, instead of jumping up and running away, he held Drew in his lap so that the puke didn't end up all over the cabin. So, Tom took the brunt of the vomit right in his lap. Good for Tom, and poor sweet Drew. Needless to say we went home after that and everyone had a bath and went to bed.
PS Tom, I love you. I just wanted to let you know that I'm blogging this story not to embarrass you, but to give people just a glimpse into our lives with children. I hope that this blog makes you laugh and think of the fun times we are having despite the puke and poop and whining that we live through daily. So, when we are someday drinking Margaritas on the beach in Mexico, we can read this blog and remember what we went through.
You're a great dad.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Eat Your Veggies!
This is Julianna's first experience with green beans. Lily had much the same reaction, although I couldn't find the video footage on her. Poor thing, she DID NOT like these veggies. :)
Ice Cream Makes Everything Better
Yesterday was a stressful day. I was pretty grumpy from lack of sleep and the kids of course were reflecting my mood right back at me. So, while Drew was throwing an endless tantrum, I said loudly, "Who wants ice cream?" And the crying stopped. Whew!!
The first pictures are of Lily and Drew eating their ice cream from yesterday. Below that are pictures of Lily and Drew eating their ice cream just about a year ago. They are growing up!! I want to know what Lily's mother is thinking always letting her eat ice cream in her fancy clothes!!
Drew 2 1/2
Lily 4 1/2
Drew 18 mths
TOO CUTE!
Lily 3 1/2
The first pictures are of Lily and Drew eating their ice cream from yesterday. Below that are pictures of Lily and Drew eating their ice cream just about a year ago. They are growing up!! I want to know what Lily's mother is thinking always letting her eat ice cream in her fancy clothes!!
Drew 2 1/2
Lily 4 1/2
Drew 18 mths
TOO CUTE!
Lily 3 1/2
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