Last night, I dreamed of scrubbing the shower. It was very realistic. When I woke up, I thought - "Wow! Maybe I do have a clean and shiny shower. This dream could have been a message from the cleaning fairy letting me know that she had taken care of the shower for me!"
Sadly, the dream was instead apparently just a message from my subconscious that I really need to clean the dirty shower already. Darn it.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sign You've Been Watching Too Much Little House on the Prairie
You are feeling ill and suddenly realize - this is just how it started when Almanzo and Laura came down with diptheria!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
I Need a Pepsi...
...full sugar. Full caffeine. The goody-two-shoes Mormon girl's equivalent of hard liquor.
A couple of days ago, I came across an old post: I Am Supermom. And I thought - I can have more days like that! It's all in the mindset and some planning. I can make it happen. Saturday is going to be a supermom day.
And I really tried. I got up and made pancakes for breakfast instead of the usual cold cereal. I promised the kids some time playing at the splash park if they'd behave while we ran a couple of errands. And we headed out.
And then I didn't have the right insurance card to pick up Preston's inhaler from the pharmacy. Hopefully he won't run around too much in the next few days... And the trip to Target didn't go as well as hoped. And the fountains weren't running at the splash park.
And in general I just spent way too much time shouting at the kids. Even as I was shouting, I knew I didn't want to be this mom. And yet I couldn't stop.
By the end of the day, I really got nothing accomplished. The house is still a mess. I didn't catch up on the dishes. Or the laundry. Or the vacuuming. And it was a bad mom day, not a supermom day.
So I need a Pepsi. I wish I had some in the house...
A couple of days ago, I came across an old post: I Am Supermom. And I thought - I can have more days like that! It's all in the mindset and some planning. I can make it happen. Saturday is going to be a supermom day.
And I really tried. I got up and made pancakes for breakfast instead of the usual cold cereal. I promised the kids some time playing at the splash park if they'd behave while we ran a couple of errands. And we headed out.
And then I didn't have the right insurance card to pick up Preston's inhaler from the pharmacy. Hopefully he won't run around too much in the next few days... And the trip to Target didn't go as well as hoped. And the fountains weren't running at the splash park.
And in general I just spent way too much time shouting at the kids. Even as I was shouting, I knew I didn't want to be this mom. And yet I couldn't stop.
By the end of the day, I really got nothing accomplished. The house is still a mess. I didn't catch up on the dishes. Or the laundry. Or the vacuuming. And it was a bad mom day, not a supermom day.
So I need a Pepsi. I wish I had some in the house...
Friday, July 22, 2011
Eat, Papa, eat! Nobody likes a skinny Santa!
Bonus points if you can name the movie my title quote is from. :)
Just as we've suspected, Preston is just not growing like he should. He had his annual check-up yesterday and his height is actually ok (though still in that 5th percentile), but he's just too skinny. He's fallen off the end of the growth curve there.
So we were sent home with a list of high-calorie foods and instructions to really feed him up for the next 8 weeks. (*sigh* I never get those instructions from MY doctor!) After a weight check in 8 weeks we'll see if things have improved and hopefully avoid having to move on to a bunch of labs and tests. I'd sure like to avoid that if possible!
I just don't know, though. One of the doc's instructions was to not let him graze all day - follow scheduled mealtimes and snack times so he'll eat more at meals. Yep, already doing that & he still doesn't eat at meals. It's not that he's picky. He'll eat most things. But he eats two bites and decides he's had enough.
And the list of high-calorie foods? Mostly stuff he already eats on a regular basis. But hopefully if we're really intentional about having him eat those things he can gain some weight in the next couple of months. Wish us luck with that.
On a completely unrelated side note - posted this from my iPhone on the bus. Love this phone! Thanks to those who advised me to get it. You were totally right!
Just as we've suspected, Preston is just not growing like he should. He had his annual check-up yesterday and his height is actually ok (though still in that 5th percentile), but he's just too skinny. He's fallen off the end of the growth curve there.
So we were sent home with a list of high-calorie foods and instructions to really feed him up for the next 8 weeks. (*sigh* I never get those instructions from MY doctor!) After a weight check in 8 weeks we'll see if things have improved and hopefully avoid having to move on to a bunch of labs and tests. I'd sure like to avoid that if possible!
I just don't know, though. One of the doc's instructions was to not let him graze all day - follow scheduled mealtimes and snack times so he'll eat more at meals. Yep, already doing that & he still doesn't eat at meals. It's not that he's picky. He'll eat most things. But he eats two bites and decides he's had enough.
And the list of high-calorie foods? Mostly stuff he already eats on a regular basis. But hopefully if we're really intentional about having him eat those things he can gain some weight in the next couple of months. Wish us luck with that.
On a completely unrelated side note - posted this from my iPhone on the bus. Love this phone! Thanks to those who advised me to get it. You were totally right!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Eating Habits
Today's writing prompt is to confess a weird eating habit. I thought about it and sure, I could go with one of the old stand-bys... I hate to have my food touch. I eat all of one item on my plate, then eat the item next to it, then the next item. At the ripe old age of 36 (37? How old am I, anyway?) I still don't like to eat my vegetables - even though I make my kids eat theirs.
But no, today I decided I'd focus on utensils. I'm very picky about utensils. Really, I just prefer to use a spoon at all times. If I could figure out a way to eat steak with a spoon, I would. Forks are to be used only as a last resort.
The type of spoon matters, too. A heavy-duty plastic spoon is best. Something about the texture is good for me. A soup spoon is also very good. For some reason I just prefer that shape. There are two soup spoons in the utensil drawer at work and I always search for one of them to eat with. I find it disappointing if I can't find one and have to use a regular spoon. (So a heavy-duty plastic soup spoon would be ideal.) If I have to use a regular spoon (or fork, if forced), I want the thickest, heaviest one available. I really dislike thin and flimsy metal utensils. I have no reason for this, it's just the way it is.
What about you? Anyone else have a bizarre eating habit they want to confess?
But no, today I decided I'd focus on utensils. I'm very picky about utensils. Really, I just prefer to use a spoon at all times. If I could figure out a way to eat steak with a spoon, I would. Forks are to be used only as a last resort.
The type of spoon matters, too. A heavy-duty plastic spoon is best. Something about the texture is good for me. A soup spoon is also very good. For some reason I just prefer that shape. There are two soup spoons in the utensil drawer at work and I always search for one of them to eat with. I find it disappointing if I can't find one and have to use a regular spoon. (So a heavy-duty plastic soup spoon would be ideal.) If I have to use a regular spoon (or fork, if forced), I want the thickest, heaviest one available. I really dislike thin and flimsy metal utensils. I have no reason for this, it's just the way it is.
What about you? Anyone else have a bizarre eating habit they want to confess?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Kids' TV... Now with Schizophrenia and Cross-Dressing
I know that according to all the experts TV is horrible and we should never, never, never let our children watch. But I also know that unlike the "experts" the rest of us live in the real world and television is a part of it. So yes, I admit that my kids watch more than the recommended amount of TV. Though when asked about this by the pediatrician, I have been known to respond "Yes, we try to limit the amount of TV," wherein limit actually means "We occasionally turn the television off in order to spend more time playing Wii."
I actually think kids can learn a lot from TV. My kids can tell you all about eating habits of the koala bear and why earthworms come out when it rains thanks to Wild Kratts. They're learning Japanese from Ni-Hao Kai Lan. Phineas and Ferb helps encourage their imagination.
But then there are the other shows. The annoying shows. The ones that I occasionally ban because I just can't stand to watch them anymore.
Like Dora. Always with the shouting and encouraging them to jump up. I know, I know... they're encouraging kids to get moving. But sometimes I have my kids sitting in front of the TV because I just want them to sit still for one. freaking. minute. And besides, who are these irresponsible parents who let her wander around on her own with only a monkey? What kind of example is this? On Halloween, she had to be in by midnight! That's quite a late curfew for a child her age. (I did have a bit of a revelation about Dora a couple of years ago that may explain a lot: http://5shields.blogspot.com/2009/03/after-many-years-of-watching-dora.html)
I can't handle Calliou because of his constant whining. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. I have to hit the mute button. (And besides, what's up with the bald head? Is he a cancer patient? Does he have alopecia? Have they seen a doctor about it? Why is it never addressed in a "very special episode" where Calliou is teased by the other children because he still has no hair at 4 years old?)
Angelina Ballerina is another one that kills me with the whining. Believe me, there is quite enough whining and crying in my house already without watching it on TV! But in every episode you are guaranteed that at some point Angelina will begin to sob and probably run off somewhere to fling herself down dramatically and cry. (Maybe that's where Haley learned this charming habit!)
We've learned that sometimes watching children's television requires a little self-defense. If you add your own internal filter to the show, it's a lot more interesting (or at least bearable) for adults to watch. For example, Special Agent Oso... if you assume that the special part is because the bear is part of a special education program, then you see why he needs help to do the simplest tasks. Now you can cheer him on instead of being annoyed that he can't do anything right. ("Come on! You really need 'three special steps' to open a door?")
Handy Manny... does anyone else hear the tools talking? Or is it only Manny? Maybe the rest of the neighborhood just humors him. ("He thinks the tools talk to him. Just go along with it, because he's the only handyman in town.") The show is a lot more interesting to watch once you have that in mind.
A friend just told me that they picture Calliou's father as a closet transvestite... I'm watching that show with new eyes tonight!
I actually think kids can learn a lot from TV. My kids can tell you all about eating habits of the koala bear and why earthworms come out when it rains thanks to Wild Kratts. They're learning Japanese from Ni-Hao Kai Lan. Phineas and Ferb helps encourage their imagination.
But then there are the other shows. The annoying shows. The ones that I occasionally ban because I just can't stand to watch them anymore.
Like Dora. Always with the shouting and encouraging them to jump up. I know, I know... they're encouraging kids to get moving. But sometimes I have my kids sitting in front of the TV because I just want them to sit still for one. freaking. minute. And besides, who are these irresponsible parents who let her wander around on her own with only a monkey? What kind of example is this? On Halloween, she had to be in by midnight! That's quite a late curfew for a child her age. (I did have a bit of a revelation about Dora a couple of years ago that may explain a lot: http://5shields.blogspot.com/2009/03/after-many-years-of-watching-dora.html)
I can't handle Calliou because of his constant whining. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. I have to hit the mute button. (And besides, what's up with the bald head? Is he a cancer patient? Does he have alopecia? Have they seen a doctor about it? Why is it never addressed in a "very special episode" where Calliou is teased by the other children because he still has no hair at 4 years old?)
Angelina Ballerina is another one that kills me with the whining. Believe me, there is quite enough whining and crying in my house already without watching it on TV! But in every episode you are guaranteed that at some point Angelina will begin to sob and probably run off somewhere to fling herself down dramatically and cry. (Maybe that's where Haley learned this charming habit!)
We've learned that sometimes watching children's television requires a little self-defense. If you add your own internal filter to the show, it's a lot more interesting (or at least bearable) for adults to watch. For example, Special Agent Oso... if you assume that the special part is because the bear is part of a special education program, then you see why he needs help to do the simplest tasks. Now you can cheer him on instead of being annoyed that he can't do anything right. ("Come on! You really need 'three special steps' to open a door?")
Handy Manny... does anyone else hear the tools talking? Or is it only Manny? Maybe the rest of the neighborhood just humors him. ("He thinks the tools talk to him. Just go along with it, because he's the only handyman in town.") The show is a lot more interesting to watch once you have that in mind.
A friend just told me that they picture Calliou's father as a closet transvestite... I'm watching that show with new eyes tonight!
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