I took Seth to the doctor's this morning, expecting him to have an ear infection. But his ears were perfectly clear. Then the doctor checked his throat, and it turned out that he had a lot of pus and blisters on his throat, so the doctor suspected strep. He took a culture and we waited for the results. The results, however, turned out negative. So back to square one. The doctor said it could be coxsackie, although his symptoms weren't consistent with Hand-Foot-Mouth disease. Basically, he has some kind of virus. We're supposed to keep him hydrated and give him Motrin or Tylenol for pain.
When I got home, I immediately looked up coxsackie on the Internet and I diagnosed Seth with Herpangina. It's almost textbook. I say almost, because his fever didn't last very long at all, and it's more common for the fever to last 2-3 days. And also, his appetite hasn't been too bad. But every kid is different, right? Last night, Seth slept very fitfully, but he didn't spike a fever again. I eventually brought him into bed with me. He woke up at 6:00 a.m., his bright and cheery self. He wasn't clingy or cranky at all, so I never would have guessed that his throat was an issue. Go figure. Anyway, he'll stay home with Ed tomorrow, although now that his fever is gone, technically, he can go back to school. But he's drooling a lot, and he has a lot of mouth blisters, so I think it's only fair that we keep him home.
Between the stomach virus and the coxsackie and all the other rhino-viruses circulating out there, it will be a miracle if William stays well.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Coupon Adventures
I spent a LOT of time this past weekend going through coupons and store circulars, trying to put together the best deals and seeing how I could save us some money. Our weekly grocery bill has crept over $100/week, and I'm feeling like I'm not taking advantage of the opportunities to save us some money. I mostly shop at Safeway using my club card. I'm pretty good at buying only things that are on sale with the Safeway card. I'm not good at using coupons. First of all, manufacturers coupons are usually for items that I don't normally buy, or they're for processed foods that I should be avoiding anyway. So I save more money by not buying the items at all, versus buying them on sale, even with coupons. If there does happen to be a coupon for something I typically buy, I'll clip it, and then forget that I have it. If I manage to put it in my purse, I'll forget to use it at the grocery store. I can't tell you the number of times I've forgotten to use a coupon, even when I had it in my pocket, or better yet, in my hand. It's mind-numbing.
There are two services that do electronic coupons and load them onto your club card. This is awesome, except many of the items are for money off of TWO items, and since I don't have the coupons in front of me, I forget, and usually, I only buy what I need for the week. I'm trying to get better about this by looking at the electronic coupons when I make my list, and then writing the number of something I need on the list in order to use the coupons.
I have also tried going through the different store circulars, and figuring out which store has the most items that I need on sale. This is almost as time-consuming as going to three different stores to buy what's on sale. Time versus money--I always have to consider this as a full-time working mom. And I've been shopping at Safeway for so long that inevitably, when I do try a different store, they don't carry certain products that I consistently buy. Which is frustrating. And it usually ends up a wash anyway, which each of the stores having several items that I normally buy on sale, but none of them are ever clear winners in terms of saving money.
Also frustrating is the coupons themselves. Like most grocery stores these days, my Safeway doubles coupons (as do Shoppers Food, Harris Teeter, and Giant--sometimes). But this weekend, I figured out that most coupons are now for $1.00 off two items, which means they can't be doubled. (The doubles only apply to coupons up to $.99.) So, back to square one. This weekend I clipped coupons, checked out circulars, made lists for each of four stores, with the items I needed that were on sale, and what coupons I could use to save even more. It turned out that I didn't really have that much in the way of coupons. Harris Teeter had some good deals, and they were tripling coupons (they run specials where they triple from time to time), but the only coupon I could use for tripling was .$75 off of two Total cereals. If I bought two boxes (on sale 2/$6), it would come to $1.87 per box. I like raisin bran, so I would have gotten Total raisin bran, but Safeway had Kellogs raisin bran on sale for $1.88/box. So not worth it to go to a different store.
Giant, however, is running a special where they'll double coupons that are $1.00 in value. They have four "doubler" coupons in the paper that you have to clip, and with each one, you can double 4 coupons. So in theory, you could double 16 $1.00 off coupons. After going through the circular for on-sale items, the one great deal that I could score there would be for ReddiWhip cans of whipped cream. I think they're normally $4 per can, maybe a little less. Giant has them on sale for 2 for $4. I have a $1.00 off two coupon, which could be doubled, giving me a final price of $1 per can. That's a deal that may be worth going to Giant for.
Harris Teeter had several things on sale that I have coupons for, and even though they wouldn't be tripled, but I could still use the coupons and save money. But Harris Teeter is not very close to my house, and not near anywhere that I usually go, so it would involve an extra trip, involving gas and time. Ugh. Also, lots of HT items are buy one, get one free (B1G1), but since I don't know what one item costs, it doesn't help much when I'm trying to comparison shop. Safeway lists their sale items as 2 for $price, so I know what the cost is. (With the "two for" items, you don't have to buy 2. One item is half the price.)
The one big deal I scored at Safeway was on Betty Crocker cake mixes. Safeway had them on sale for $.69 each when you buy 4. I had a coupon for $.75, which was doubled. I ended up with four cake mixes for $.31 each. Now, I didn't need any cake mix, and I certainly didn't need 4 boxes, but both boys are having a birthday coming up, and Ed loves cake, so they will be put to good use.
What I'm hoping is that like menu-planning, "couponing" will become easier and less time-consuming with practice. If I build up a stockpile of coupons, maybe I will find that I can start saving money on my "regular" items. But of course, I'll have to remember to use them!
There are two services that do electronic coupons and load them onto your club card. This is awesome, except many of the items are for money off of TWO items, and since I don't have the coupons in front of me, I forget, and usually, I only buy what I need for the week. I'm trying to get better about this by looking at the electronic coupons when I make my list, and then writing the number of something I need on the list in order to use the coupons.
I have also tried going through the different store circulars, and figuring out which store has the most items that I need on sale. This is almost as time-consuming as going to three different stores to buy what's on sale. Time versus money--I always have to consider this as a full-time working mom. And I've been shopping at Safeway for so long that inevitably, when I do try a different store, they don't carry certain products that I consistently buy. Which is frustrating. And it usually ends up a wash anyway, which each of the stores having several items that I normally buy on sale, but none of them are ever clear winners in terms of saving money.
Also frustrating is the coupons themselves. Like most grocery stores these days, my Safeway doubles coupons (as do Shoppers Food, Harris Teeter, and Giant--sometimes). But this weekend, I figured out that most coupons are now for $1.00 off two items, which means they can't be doubled. (The doubles only apply to coupons up to $.99.) So, back to square one. This weekend I clipped coupons, checked out circulars, made lists for each of four stores, with the items I needed that were on sale, and what coupons I could use to save even more. It turned out that I didn't really have that much in the way of coupons. Harris Teeter had some good deals, and they were tripling coupons (they run specials where they triple from time to time), but the only coupon I could use for tripling was .$75 off of two Total cereals. If I bought two boxes (on sale 2/$6), it would come to $1.87 per box. I like raisin bran, so I would have gotten Total raisin bran, but Safeway had Kellogs raisin bran on sale for $1.88/box. So not worth it to go to a different store.
Giant, however, is running a special where they'll double coupons that are $1.00 in value. They have four "doubler" coupons in the paper that you have to clip, and with each one, you can double 4 coupons. So in theory, you could double 16 $1.00 off coupons. After going through the circular for on-sale items, the one great deal that I could score there would be for ReddiWhip cans of whipped cream. I think they're normally $4 per can, maybe a little less. Giant has them on sale for 2 for $4. I have a $1.00 off two coupon, which could be doubled, giving me a final price of $1 per can. That's a deal that may be worth going to Giant for.
Harris Teeter had several things on sale that I have coupons for, and even though they wouldn't be tripled, but I could still use the coupons and save money. But Harris Teeter is not very close to my house, and not near anywhere that I usually go, so it would involve an extra trip, involving gas and time. Ugh. Also, lots of HT items are buy one, get one free (B1G1), but since I don't know what one item costs, it doesn't help much when I'm trying to comparison shop. Safeway lists their sale items as 2 for $price, so I know what the cost is. (With the "two for" items, you don't have to buy 2. One item is half the price.)
The one big deal I scored at Safeway was on Betty Crocker cake mixes. Safeway had them on sale for $.69 each when you buy 4. I had a coupon for $.75, which was doubled. I ended up with four cake mixes for $.31 each. Now, I didn't need any cake mix, and I certainly didn't need 4 boxes, but both boys are having a birthday coming up, and Ed loves cake, so they will be put to good use.
What I'm hoping is that like menu-planning, "couponing" will become easier and less time-consuming with practice. If I build up a stockpile of coupons, maybe I will find that I can start saving money on my "regular" items. But of course, I'll have to remember to use them!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Menu Plan Monday -- March 29
Sunday: Turkey spaghetti with garlic bread and watermelon
Monday: Popcorn Shrimp, corn on the cob, watermelon
Tuesday: Beef, cheese, and noodle bake, garlic bread
Wednesday: Chinese chicken broccoli
Thursday: Free-for-all
Friday: Pepperoni calzones, fruit
Saturday: Pork schnitzel, asparagus, dinner rolls
For many more menu plans and menu planning tips, visit Organizing Junkie!
A Taste of Things to Come
Saturday was one of those vaguely planned days that turned into an awesome day. For starters, we all ran errands together as a family, which usually doesn't work out very well, but it did on Saturday. We got William's haircut first (and didn't have to wait at all). Then we headed to Home Depot, but we took a slight detour so Ed could get something to eat. While Ed ate, Seth and William and I browsed around a nearby Kaplan Learning Store. I love that store, and the boys do, too. They were having crafts, so William and Seth spent a few minutes (literally a few) making paper puppets. William and I read a book, Seth played with balls and with a cleaning set (brooms, mop, duster), we checked out every aisle. It turned into a really nice detour! After that, we hit Home Depot and loaded up on mulch and flowers. It was pretty crowded, but we were in and out quickly, and the boys even got to see the fork lift unloading big pallets of mulch. All in all, we really enjoyed the errands.
The best part of the day, though, was the afternoon. During Seth's nap, William and I headed outside to start planting the flowers we had bought that morning. It wasn't long before Seth woke up, and then both boys decided they wanted to play on the playground. We abandoned the flowers and ran into a few more neighborhood kids on the playground. Kylie (8) was there (one of the girls with whom William had played on Thursday), along with Elizabeth (7) and her brother Daniel (5). The four kids started playing together, so Seth and I went back to our house to continue planting. Ed was out by then raking and spreading the mulch. The playground is about 50 yards (I'm really bad at estimating distances, but it's not very far) from our house, so Ed and I let William play without our direct supervision. This was our taste of things to come. It was awesome! We could hear the kids laughing and shouting. When it got quiet, we'd go check on them. They eventually migrated off the playground and played on the pathway behind our house. Then William invited them to play on our back patio. They played in the sandbox and blew bubbles. Then they headed back to the playground.
Seth, meanwhile, wanted to stay close to Ed and me. He was determined to help Ed rake the leaves. Then he'd pick them up, one by one, and put them in the big trash bag. I was able to clean out all our pots and plant the flowers we had bough uninterrupted. It was glorious! William had such a great time with his "new friends." He has gotten more and more independent as he has gotten older, and while this is a natural, and somewhat obvious, progression, I wasn't sure that William would ever get there. At home, he always wants me around, often begging me to play with him. He rarely plays in the basement by himself, and if I go upstairs, within minutes, he's right there with me. So watching him play with other kids, independently, was so awesome. But of course, a little bittersweet. My baby is growing up and it won't be long before his world doesn't involve me quite so much. So for now, when I start getting frustrated with his neediness, I think twice. It's the same reason I let William climb into our bed in the early mornings and lie on top of me. And why I "rock-rock" with Seth in the wee hours of the morning. Because I know these days are numbered, and boy will I miss it when it's gone.
The best part of the day, though, was the afternoon. During Seth's nap, William and I headed outside to start planting the flowers we had bought that morning. It wasn't long before Seth woke up, and then both boys decided they wanted to play on the playground. We abandoned the flowers and ran into a few more neighborhood kids on the playground. Kylie (8) was there (one of the girls with whom William had played on Thursday), along with Elizabeth (7) and her brother Daniel (5). The four kids started playing together, so Seth and I went back to our house to continue planting. Ed was out by then raking and spreading the mulch. The playground is about 50 yards (I'm really bad at estimating distances, but it's not very far) from our house, so Ed and I let William play without our direct supervision. This was our taste of things to come. It was awesome! We could hear the kids laughing and shouting. When it got quiet, we'd go check on them. They eventually migrated off the playground and played on the pathway behind our house. Then William invited them to play on our back patio. They played in the sandbox and blew bubbles. Then they headed back to the playground.
Seth, meanwhile, wanted to stay close to Ed and me. He was determined to help Ed rake the leaves. Then he'd pick them up, one by one, and put them in the big trash bag. I was able to clean out all our pots and plant the flowers we had bough uninterrupted. It was glorious! William had such a great time with his "new friends." He has gotten more and more independent as he has gotten older, and while this is a natural, and somewhat obvious, progression, I wasn't sure that William would ever get there. At home, he always wants me around, often begging me to play with him. He rarely plays in the basement by himself, and if I go upstairs, within minutes, he's right there with me. So watching him play with other kids, independently, was so awesome. But of course, a little bittersweet. My baby is growing up and it won't be long before his world doesn't involve me quite so much. So for now, when I start getting frustrated with his neediness, I think twice. It's the same reason I let William climb into our bed in the early mornings and lie on top of me. And why I "rock-rock" with Seth in the wee hours of the morning. Because I know these days are numbered, and boy will I miss it when it's gone.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Not Such a Bad Sick Day
Seth is over his bug and we're all back at school and work today. I stayed home with the boys yesterday, to make sure Seth was better, and we had an okay day. I only lost my temper a few times with William. He's in a lovely phase where he likes to hear us repeat ourselves several times until he sees steam coming out of our ears, and then he'll follow our directions. It's making Ed and me crazy, but clearly, that's his objective.
In the morning, we went to Barnes and Noble and had a good time reading lots of books. Seth found a willing mom to read a book to him while I was reading a book to William. It was pretty cunning, really. First he started playing with a 1-year-old girl, doing peek-a-boo, and jumping and laughing. Then he tried handing a few books to the little girl, and then he handed the books to her mom and batted his eyes and flashed his devilish grin and sat down right next to her with his hands clasped together in his lap. What else could she do but read to him? She was very sweet.
After the book store, we went home for lunch and nap. And after nap, we finally played outside. I had hoped to go to Home Depot in the morning to buy some flowers for our front pots, but that just didn't happen. So we played outside. William latched on to our 8-year-old neighbor and one of her friends and followed them around like a little puppy dog. They were super sweet and played with him for a long time. (See my Project 365 blog for some cute pictures.) He loved every minute of it.
I even remembered to bring my camera outside to shoot pictures. I still haven't mastered the manual controls, though, so I played with the auto settings, now that I know a little bit more about them. There's a portrait setting which makes the background unfocused and the subject focused, and there's a panorama setting, which makes the foreground and the background equally focused. But when I'm in those modes, I can't see what the aperture and shutter speed settings are, so I don't really know what the camera is doing. But at least I have a better understanding of how different aperture settings make different pictures. I haven't gotten to metering or ISO yet, and clearly I have SO MUCH MORE to figure out. But I figure if I stick to it, slowly (really slowly) but surely, I'll get better. But for now, here are some of the pictures I took.
(This last one cracks me up. This is how Seth likes to play basketball, sitting in the chair right in front of the hoop. I guess he needs to get out more!)
In the morning, we went to Barnes and Noble and had a good time reading lots of books. Seth found a willing mom to read a book to him while I was reading a book to William. It was pretty cunning, really. First he started playing with a 1-year-old girl, doing peek-a-boo, and jumping and laughing. Then he tried handing a few books to the little girl, and then he handed the books to her mom and batted his eyes and flashed his devilish grin and sat down right next to her with his hands clasped together in his lap. What else could she do but read to him? She was very sweet.
After the book store, we went home for lunch and nap. And after nap, we finally played outside. I had hoped to go to Home Depot in the morning to buy some flowers for our front pots, but that just didn't happen. So we played outside. William latched on to our 8-year-old neighbor and one of her friends and followed them around like a little puppy dog. They were super sweet and played with him for a long time. (See my Project 365 blog for some cute pictures.) He loved every minute of it.
I even remembered to bring my camera outside to shoot pictures. I still haven't mastered the manual controls, though, so I played with the auto settings, now that I know a little bit more about them. There's a portrait setting which makes the background unfocused and the subject focused, and there's a panorama setting, which makes the foreground and the background equally focused. But when I'm in those modes, I can't see what the aperture and shutter speed settings are, so I don't really know what the camera is doing. But at least I have a better understanding of how different aperture settings make different pictures. I haven't gotten to metering or ISO yet, and clearly I have SO MUCH MORE to figure out. But I figure if I stick to it, slowly (really slowly) but surely, I'll get better. But for now, here are some of the pictures I took.
(This last one cracks me up. This is how Seth likes to play basketball, sitting in the chair right in front of the hoop. I guess he needs to get out more!)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Better?
Seth has not thrown up again since Monday night, and he didn't run a fever today. But he still has diarrhea, so we'll be staying home again tomorrow. He ate hardly anything today, so obviously, his stomach still isn't quite right. William still seems okay, so knock on wood that he stays that way. I wish we lived much closer to school so I could take him in instead of keeping him home with the germs. But such is life.
The weather is supposed to be really nice tomorrow, so I'm hoping to make a Home Depot run in the morning for bark mulch and maybe some new flowers, depending on what they have. Probably just pansies right now, but those will do. Anything would be better than the dead plants we currently have in our planters. If I'm going to take an annual day (since I'm out of sick leave), I want to make the most of it! Maybe I'll even bring the camera and take a few pictures.
The weather is supposed to be really nice tomorrow, so I'm hoping to make a Home Depot run in the morning for bark mulch and maybe some new flowers, depending on what they have. Probably just pansies right now, but those will do. Anything would be better than the dead plants we currently have in our planters. If I'm going to take an annual day (since I'm out of sick leave), I want to make the most of it! Maybe I'll even bring the camera and take a few pictures.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Not so Great Ending to a Great Meal
Dinner went pretty well tonight. It cooked up quickly, Seth kept me company while I worked, William watched Benji while he did his nebulizer treatment, Ed got home just in time for us to all eat together, and the food was tasty. Seth, however, declined to eat anything again. Clearly something is going on with him. He had an okay day at daycare. He wasn't fussy or clingy, but was a lot more lethargic than usual. His teachers said he ate lunch, but on the ride home, he didn't drink his apple juice or eat any crackers, which is unusual. He wanted chocolate milk when we got home, so I gave him some, and held him while I made dinner.
During dinner, he didn't touch anything, and he didn't sit down with us. But when it came time for dessert, he wanted an ice cream sandwich. I went ahead and gave him one, feeling bad for him that he's been feeling bad. Big mistake. Less than 5 minutes after eating it, he vomited all over himself and the floor. It wasn't pretty. (It never is!) But 15 minutes later, after getting cleaned up and taking a warm bath, he was playing and begging for more chocolate milk. I gave him some, although I'll probably regret that before too long. Please please please don't let the rest of us catch a stomach bug! We'll be staying home tomorrow. After the boys went to bed, I mopped the kitchen floor, and hopefully, I can prevent the boys from sharing sippy cups tomorrow. If school weren't so far away and traffic wasn't so atrocious, I'd take William to school in a heartbeat. But it really isn't worth the trouble. Hopefully, we'll have a good day. If not, there's always TV!
During dinner, he didn't touch anything, and he didn't sit down with us. But when it came time for dessert, he wanted an ice cream sandwich. I went ahead and gave him one, feeling bad for him that he's been feeling bad. Big mistake. Less than 5 minutes after eating it, he vomited all over himself and the floor. It wasn't pretty. (It never is!) But 15 minutes later, after getting cleaned up and taking a warm bath, he was playing and begging for more chocolate milk. I gave him some, although I'll probably regret that before too long. Please please please don't let the rest of us catch a stomach bug! We'll be staying home tomorrow. After the boys went to bed, I mopped the kitchen floor, and hopefully, I can prevent the boys from sharing sippy cups tomorrow. If school weren't so far away and traffic wasn't so atrocious, I'd take William to school in a heartbeat. But it really isn't worth the trouble. Hopefully, we'll have a good day. If not, there's always TV!
Menu Plan Monday -- March 22
I've been thinking a lot about my week-night dinner prep, looking back over the last few months and what we've been serving/eating, trying to figure out how to streamline things even more, yet maintain some sense of healthy, family eating. After hearing from many of you about what you're serving dinner, I felt much better about where we are. And I even felt a little proud for what I've been accomplishing. And I also realized that I need to cut myself a lot more slack. I want to continue to menu plan, and now that I've gotten in the habit of cooking one meal for everyone (with subs here and there, as needed), I don't plan on cooking separate meals for the boys and Ed and me. But I will work in a leftovers night, where I can plan on a quick, easy meal for the boys, and Ed and I can scrounge. And although I'll assign a day for this, I'll work my menus to be flexible enough to fit that night in anywhere. Some nights Ed has to work late. Some nights, traffic will be horrible. Some nights, I'll forget to thaw something in time. So flexibility is definitely the key.
This week, for example, the pepperoni calzones will take a bit of prep-ahead work, assuming I make the dough from scratch, which I plan to do. Just in case that doesn't work out, though, I have Grands biscuits that I know will work in a pinch. So we'll see what happens. I'm also not sure if the boys will like the chicken adobo, so they can have deli ham and cheese if that's the case. Anyway, just trying to make compromises to make it all a bit easier. So here's this week's menu:
Sunday: Sauteed scallops, angel hair pasta, asparagus, dinner rolls
Monday: Pork Piccata, wild rice, green beans/salad
Tuesday: Slow cooked chicken adobo, rice, broccoli
Wednesday: Leftovers, mac-n-cheese, maybe sandwiches
Thursday: Pepperoni calzones, fruit
Friday: Grilled steak, broccoli, dinner rolls
Saturday: TBD
For more great ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Weekend Report
The great weather continues, and what a difference it makes! On Saturday, I took the boys to a park near Annapolis and met a friend and her kids. The kids played, we had a picnic lunch, they played some more, and then crashed on the way home. In the late afternoon, Ed and I took the boys to the park by the airport to watch the planes land. It was crazy crowded, but the boys still had a blast. We brought dinner with us, but the boys were too distracted to eat.
Today we mostly hung around the house. The boys played outside with Ed while I went to the grocery store. I met a friend for lunch, but when I got back, William and I took a long walk while Seth and Ed were off somewhere else. (William got to play in a skid steer loader that was parked in the pool parking lot. That made his day!) The boys played on the deck for a while, too, blowing bubbles and playing with William's firetruck that squirts water. My plan for the day was to clean all the bathrooms, but it took me all day (with lots of starts and stops) just to clean two. That's okay. I took these pictures from my bedroom window. Pretty funny.
So that was about it. I'm feeling a bit better about things after the weekend, but still a bit apprehensive about how to make the time after work more meaningful for everyone. I guess that's my ultimate issue--feeling like I'm not making the most of my time and letting small things overwhelm me. But I know, like everything, it's a work in progress. Good days, bad days; ebb and flow; yin and yang; yada yada yada. Well, maybe not yada yada yada, but you get my drift. Just hoping for a better week--that's all!
Today we mostly hung around the house. The boys played outside with Ed while I went to the grocery store. I met a friend for lunch, but when I got back, William and I took a long walk while Seth and Ed were off somewhere else. (William got to play in a skid steer loader that was parked in the pool parking lot. That made his day!) The boys played on the deck for a while, too, blowing bubbles and playing with William's firetruck that squirts water. My plan for the day was to clean all the bathrooms, but it took me all day (with lots of starts and stops) just to clean two. That's okay. I took these pictures from my bedroom window. Pretty funny.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Target Fixes Everything
Nothing like a trip to Target to fix what ails you. William's class is having a picnic today, and parents were instructed to send the kids to school with a backpack, water bottle, and lunch. William already has a backpack (Lands End, with his initials), but it's a full-size one, so I thought we might be able to find a smaller one. I also needed a water bottle and wanted to find a lunch bag. So after school and work, we headed to Target. Target is one of William's favorite places, so he didn't even dawdle on the playground after school. We headed straight to the car as soon as I picked him up.
At Target, we found the backpacks first, and the first one he saw was a Star Wars backpack. That was it. It didn't matter that it was a full-size one and we already had a big one at home. It was a STAR WARS backpack. He was soooo excited about it that I couldn't say no. (I could have, but I didn't really want to.) Meanwhile, Seth spotted an Elmo backpack, and that was it for him. At least his was small.
After backpacks, we found the water bottles and lunch bags. Guess what lunch bag William picked out? You got it, Star Wars. He then spotted a Star Wars water bottle, but it was $14, so I drew the line at that. Instead we found a $3 water bottle that would work just fine. After we loaded up our cart, we headed to the toy section so the boys could play for a bit. While playing with the toys, William had a slight pee accident, and Seth pooped, so we headed out to the car to clean up. (I never carry the diaper bag anymore--guess maybe I should!) William wasn't done playing with the toys, though, and he really wanted to eat dinner at Target, so we headed back inside. We ate first (pizza, chicken nuggets, and popcorn--dinner of champions!) and then played a little more. We didn't get home until 8:00, but it didn't really matter. It was a really nice evening and the boys had fun and they behaved and it was a nice break from the norm.
As for my post yesterday, I just have to say that you guys ROCK! Not only did I get the empathy/sympathy that I needed, but I also got awesome advice and ideas. Sandwiches for dinner are a great idea, and something both kids will eat (for the most part). Also, giving the boys their own dinner one or two nights a week so that Ed and I can have a nice dinner after the boys go to bed is a great idea. I really like having family dinners, and the boys seem to behave better and eat more when we're all sitting down together. But there are plenty of nights when Ed works a little late anyway, so we could easily work that into a regular routine. As for the bath, I know the boys don't need a bath every night, but it's just become so routine that they expect it now and throw a fit when they don't have one. They really love bath time. But I have been skipping bath more often lately, so it's not as big of a deal. On the other hand, as the weather warms up and they spend a lot more time outside, they're going to start coming home filthy. And since they're both in daycare all day, I feel like the daily bath helps wash away the daycare germs. But still, frequent hand-washing will go much further in keeping those germs at bay! And a washcloth rub down can function just as well. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think I can ever give up this blog. (Not that I was thinking I would.) I would miss the interaction and support way too much!
At Target, we found the backpacks first, and the first one he saw was a Star Wars backpack. That was it. It didn't matter that it was a full-size one and we already had a big one at home. It was a STAR WARS backpack. He was soooo excited about it that I couldn't say no. (I could have, but I didn't really want to.) Meanwhile, Seth spotted an Elmo backpack, and that was it for him. At least his was small.
After backpacks, we found the water bottles and lunch bags. Guess what lunch bag William picked out? You got it, Star Wars. He then spotted a Star Wars water bottle, but it was $14, so I drew the line at that. Instead we found a $3 water bottle that would work just fine. After we loaded up our cart, we headed to the toy section so the boys could play for a bit. While playing with the toys, William had a slight pee accident, and Seth pooped, so we headed out to the car to clean up. (I never carry the diaper bag anymore--guess maybe I should!) William wasn't done playing with the toys, though, and he really wanted to eat dinner at Target, so we headed back inside. We ate first (pizza, chicken nuggets, and popcorn--dinner of champions!) and then played a little more. We didn't get home until 8:00, but it didn't really matter. It was a really nice evening and the boys had fun and they behaved and it was a nice break from the norm.
As for my post yesterday, I just have to say that you guys ROCK! Not only did I get the empathy/sympathy that I needed, but I also got awesome advice and ideas. Sandwiches for dinner are a great idea, and something both kids will eat (for the most part). Also, giving the boys their own dinner one or two nights a week so that Ed and I can have a nice dinner after the boys go to bed is a great idea. I really like having family dinners, and the boys seem to behave better and eat more when we're all sitting down together. But there are plenty of nights when Ed works a little late anyway, so we could easily work that into a regular routine. As for the bath, I know the boys don't need a bath every night, but it's just become so routine that they expect it now and throw a fit when they don't have one. They really love bath time. But I have been skipping bath more often lately, so it's not as big of a deal. On the other hand, as the weather warms up and they spend a lot more time outside, they're going to start coming home filthy. And since they're both in daycare all day, I feel like the daily bath helps wash away the daycare germs. But still, frequent hand-washing will go much further in keeping those germs at bay! And a washcloth rub down can function just as well. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think I can ever give up this blog. (Not that I was thinking I would.) I would miss the interaction and support way too much!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Working It Out
I've been thinking about the "purpose" of my blog lately, about why I post and what I want to convey. First, I
consider this my kids' "baby books" so to speak, the place where I record milestones and photos and funny anecdotes about their lives growing up. Second, I see it as part memoir--something my kids and family can read to remember who I was and how we lived and what life was like. Third, I see it as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, to let them know what's going on in my life. I like the fact that it's unobtrusive--there if they're interested, but not forced down their throats. And fourth, it has become my way to interact and to connect with moms like me, to share experiences, seek advice, get empathy, and basically, to bond. I have met some amazing women through my blog, women who have become my friends in every sense of the word. I guess it's the '00's version of playgroups, but without the kids interrupting all the time! (What the heck do you call this decade, anyway? Or the decade that just passed, since it's 2010 now.)
So it sometimes feels like each post is directed at a different "audience" or is meant for a different purpose, and my blog is a bit, um, unfocused, disorganized. But I've since realized that my life is pretty unfocused and disorganized, so it suits me just fine. Ultimately, it's a pretty accurate reflection of who I am.
When I changed my blog name to Working It Out a while ago, I thought I would focus a lot of posts on how I balance (if there is such a thing) working full time outside the home with raising two kids and being a wife and daughter and friend. And I guess I do have many posts that reflect how I'm trying to work it all out, even if I'm not explicitly referring to that. But lately, I've been feeling like I haven't been working it out at all. I feel stuck in a cycle that I don't know how to break out of. We're not getting home until 6:00 p.m., and usually even later. We're barely getting out of the house by 7:30 a.m., which means traffic sucks and it takes an extra 10-15 minutes to get to school. I'm getting to work "late" almost every day. I'm giving all of my energy--both emotional and physical--to my kids and not to my husband, which is straining our marriage. Yet I feel resentful at the thought of having to "give more" to my husband, even though I want desperately to feel more connected to him.
I know that we could change some things to try to work out some more "balance." But every alternative has some kind of negative consequence. There's always a trade-off, and trying to prioritize and balance the "must-haves" with the "like-to haves,"--especially when those lists don't always mesh with your partners, is extremely challenging. There are no "right" answers, only what "works." And then what do you do when it stops working? Things are always changing. The boys will be in elementary school in the blink of an eye, and things might get better, or they might get worse. My employer might start allowing telecommuting or flexible scheduling, and that might make things better. Ed might get a promotion that requires him to work longer hours. I guess we'll cross those bridges when we get to them. But for now, how can I get a handle on our routine?
I think one of the biggest problems this week has been the time change. I know it's nice to have extended daylight in the evenings, but it's not like we actually gained an hour of daylight. We lost it on the morning end. Now I have to drag my butt out of bed when it's pitch black outside, and I HATE that. And I'm not falling asleep until closer to midnight, which sucks. And the kids are all whacked out. William has been having a really hard time falling asleep. And they're waking up cranky. Not to mention the fact that coming home with that much daylight just makes William want to play outside when we get home. So yeah, now I'm supposed to work playing outside into my routine of make dinner, eat dinner, do nebulizer, take baths, read stories, and go to bed--all in 1 and 1/2 hours. Why is DST such a good idea? I think it sucks and I don't want it anymore.
For now, I guess I need to work on the little things. Better prep the night before to streamline the mornings so we get out the door earlier. The earlier we get to school and I get to work, the earlier we can leave and get home. Now that the weather is nicer, I can meal plan for the grill more. And meal planning definitely helps, although I wish I wouldn't feel guilty for feeding my kids boxed mac-n-cheese and processed chicken nuggets, because those things go a long way into making dinner easier with the kids. But I do feel guilty and I do feel the need to do a better job feeding my kids. So I will keep up the meal planning, hoping that one day, it will be super-easy and not so mind-consuming. And I need to remember that everything is a phase--whether it's tough times or good times. This too shall pass. I need to keep the focus on enjoying my kids, experiencing things with them and letting life happen, and I need to focus on my husband and reconnecting on that level that we both need. And ultimately, I probably just need to get more sleep so I'll stop being so darn grouchy!
consider this my kids' "baby books" so to speak, the place where I record milestones and photos and funny anecdotes about their lives growing up. Second, I see it as part memoir--something my kids and family can read to remember who I was and how we lived and what life was like. Third, I see it as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, to let them know what's going on in my life. I like the fact that it's unobtrusive--there if they're interested, but not forced down their throats. And fourth, it has become my way to interact and to connect with moms like me, to share experiences, seek advice, get empathy, and basically, to bond. I have met some amazing women through my blog, women who have become my friends in every sense of the word. I guess it's the '00's version of playgroups, but without the kids interrupting all the time! (What the heck do you call this decade, anyway? Or the decade that just passed, since it's 2010 now.)
So it sometimes feels like each post is directed at a different "audience" or is meant for a different purpose, and my blog is a bit, um, unfocused, disorganized. But I've since realized that my life is pretty unfocused and disorganized, so it suits me just fine. Ultimately, it's a pretty accurate reflection of who I am.
When I changed my blog name to Working It Out a while ago, I thought I would focus a lot of posts on how I balance (if there is such a thing) working full time outside the home with raising two kids and being a wife and daughter and friend. And I guess I do have many posts that reflect how I'm trying to work it all out, even if I'm not explicitly referring to that. But lately, I've been feeling like I haven't been working it out at all. I feel stuck in a cycle that I don't know how to break out of. We're not getting home until 6:00 p.m., and usually even later. We're barely getting out of the house by 7:30 a.m., which means traffic sucks and it takes an extra 10-15 minutes to get to school. I'm getting to work "late" almost every day. I'm giving all of my energy--both emotional and physical--to my kids and not to my husband, which is straining our marriage. Yet I feel resentful at the thought of having to "give more" to my husband, even though I want desperately to feel more connected to him.
I know that we could change some things to try to work out some more "balance." But every alternative has some kind of negative consequence. There's always a trade-off, and trying to prioritize and balance the "must-haves" with the "like-to haves,"--especially when those lists don't always mesh with your partners, is extremely challenging. There are no "right" answers, only what "works." And then what do you do when it stops working? Things are always changing. The boys will be in elementary school in the blink of an eye, and things might get better, or they might get worse. My employer might start allowing telecommuting or flexible scheduling, and that might make things better. Ed might get a promotion that requires him to work longer hours. I guess we'll cross those bridges when we get to them. But for now, how can I get a handle on our routine?
I think one of the biggest problems this week has been the time change. I know it's nice to have extended daylight in the evenings, but it's not like we actually gained an hour of daylight. We lost it on the morning end. Now I have to drag my butt out of bed when it's pitch black outside, and I HATE that. And I'm not falling asleep until closer to midnight, which sucks. And the kids are all whacked out. William has been having a really hard time falling asleep. And they're waking up cranky. Not to mention the fact that coming home with that much daylight just makes William want to play outside when we get home. So yeah, now I'm supposed to work playing outside into my routine of make dinner, eat dinner, do nebulizer, take baths, read stories, and go to bed--all in 1 and 1/2 hours. Why is DST such a good idea? I think it sucks and I don't want it anymore.
For now, I guess I need to work on the little things. Better prep the night before to streamline the mornings so we get out the door earlier. The earlier we get to school and I get to work, the earlier we can leave and get home. Now that the weather is nicer, I can meal plan for the grill more. And meal planning definitely helps, although I wish I wouldn't feel guilty for feeding my kids boxed mac-n-cheese and processed chicken nuggets, because those things go a long way into making dinner easier with the kids. But I do feel guilty and I do feel the need to do a better job feeding my kids. So I will keep up the meal planning, hoping that one day, it will be super-easy and not so mind-consuming. And I need to remember that everything is a phase--whether it's tough times or good times. This too shall pass. I need to keep the focus on enjoying my kids, experiencing things with them and letting life happen, and I need to focus on my husband and reconnecting on that level that we both need. And ultimately, I probably just need to get more sleep so I'll stop being so darn grouchy!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Two down, Thirty-six to Go
William had his second visit to the dentist today. With two down, I figure two visits per year until he's 21, and that leaves 36 more appointments to go. That's only regular cleanings, of course. Who knows how many more visits things like braces and wisdom teeth will bring. At any rate, William did so well during his visit. I was so proud of him! On his first visit, he got a little scared and I had to sit in the chair with him on top of me while the dentist examined his teeth. This time, he went right to the chair and climbed in. He answered all of the dentist's questions. And he held his mouth open and sat very still while the dentist examined and cleaned his teeth. When it was over, he said, "That was fun!" Then he waited so patiently while I had my teeth cleaned. At first he played with Legos. Then he just sat in his chair and watched me. The dental hygienist thought he was so cute. When we made our next appointments, I went ahead and made his first and mine second again, so that I could be with him during the visit. But I think after that, I can schedule our visits for the same time. I don't think he'll have any problems being in the room by himself.
Prior to the dentist appointments, I let William come to my office with me after we dropped Seth off at daycare. He watched Martha Speaks on my iPhone for a little while, and then doodled and wrote on some memo pads. He helped me make a cup of hot tea, and talked to a few of my co-workers. After the dentist, we stopped at Subway and ate lunch. It's so nice to spend one-on-one time with him. And he loved every minute of it. He didn't even freak out when I took him back to school. As long as we can keep getting great reports from the dentist (we were both cavity-free!), I will look forward to our biannual dentist trips together. Of course, there's always Seth to consider. He'll start going to the dentist soon. Not sure if I'll try to make their appointments back to back, or go with them each separately. After days like today, I'd lean toward separate trips--special one-on-one time with mom or dad. But that might not always prove convenient. In the meantime, though, I'll bask in the glow of a successful day.
Prior to the dentist appointments, I let William come to my office with me after we dropped Seth off at daycare. He watched Martha Speaks on my iPhone for a little while, and then doodled and wrote on some memo pads. He helped me make a cup of hot tea, and talked to a few of my co-workers. After the dentist, we stopped at Subway and ate lunch. It's so nice to spend one-on-one time with him. And he loved every minute of it. He didn't even freak out when I took him back to school. As long as we can keep getting great reports from the dentist (we were both cavity-free!), I will look forward to our biannual dentist trips together. Of course, there's always Seth to consider. He'll start going to the dentist soon. Not sure if I'll try to make their appointments back to back, or go with them each separately. After days like today, I'd lean toward separate trips--special one-on-one time with mom or dad. But that might not always prove convenient. In the meantime, though, I'll bask in the glow of a successful day.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Menu Plan Monday -- March 15
Monday: Oven fried haddock fillets, broccoli, dinner rolls
Tuesday: French dip sandwiches (with leftover roast beef), mixed fruit
Wednesday: Corned beef with cabbage (and potatoes)
Thursday: Pork piccata, salad, wild rice
Friday: Homemade pizza (or Rubens with leftover corned beef)
Saturday: TBD
For more great meal planning ideas, visit Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Weekend Report
We had a good weekend. It rained all weekend, though, starting Friday. Boo for that. But yesterday, I took the boys to a birthday party in the afternoon and they both had a blast. And today, William and I went to his first swim class. It's a group toddler-and-me class, so I'm in the water with him. We've already done this format a few times, but I'm hoping this time will be different. And today was great, so it looks promising. The warm belly suit helped a lot in ensuring that he didn't get too cold. (The water was freezing!) And he was fine in the water. He got in and out of the pool with no problem, and practiced moving his arms like the instructor said. He didn't want to blow bubbles, but he does it in the tub all the time, so I know he'll get there. My plan is to complete this class, and by then, he'll either be ready for the next class which is instructor only, or I'll find one-on-one instruction for him.
Not much else to report. I'm reading The Help and all I want to do is get back to that book. So I'm cutting the blogging short tonight. I did manage to figure out a menu plan for the week, so that will go up first thing tomorrow morning. I'm excited because I bought a new crock pot today. There aren't a whole lot of meals that my family enjoys from the crock pot, but I'm not ready to give up just yet. 'Till next time!
Not much else to report. I'm reading The Help and all I want to do is get back to that book. So I'm cutting the blogging short tonight. I did manage to figure out a menu plan for the week, so that will go up first thing tomorrow morning. I'm excited because I bought a new crock pot today. There aren't a whole lot of meals that my family enjoys from the crock pot, but I'm not ready to give up just yet. 'Till next time!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Feeling Better
We stayed home again today since Seth continued to spike a fever all day yesterday and into the night . He woke up once, at 1:30 a.m., and I could tell he was hot again. He requested chocolate milk, so I obliged. I took him downstairs with me, made his milk, gave him Motrin, and then brought him back upstairs. He drank his milk and we rocked for a few minutes. Then I put him back in his crib, and he slept until 6:30 a.m. When he woke up, he was fever-free, and didn't spike a temperature all day. He was still a bit clingy, but not as lethargic. We went to Kohls this morning to buy clothes for William, and then to the library to return books and pick out new ones. He was a good sport, mostly just wanting me to hold him.
After his nap, we played outside. It was overcast today, but the highs reached the 60s, so we didn't even need to wear jackets. William rode his big tricycle (the one my mom gave him for Christmas) outside for the first time and he loved it. He rode on the basketball court and up and down the path behind our house. Seth blew bubbles and played in the sandbox. We played at the tot lot. We played basketball. William rode his trike some more. As the sun started to set, I got the grill ready and grilled hot dogs as the boys played. When the hot dogs were done, we headed inside and ate dinner on the deck, just as the last rays of the sun faded from the sky. Although we were all under the weather, I couldn't have chosen two better days to stay home with the boys. For that, I'm very grateful!
From today:
After his nap, we played outside. It was overcast today, but the highs reached the 60s, so we didn't even need to wear jackets. William rode his big tricycle (the one my mom gave him for Christmas) outside for the first time and he loved it. He rode on the basketball court and up and down the path behind our house. Seth blew bubbles and played in the sandbox. We played at the tot lot. We played basketball. William rode his trike some more. As the sun started to set, I got the grill ready and grilled hot dogs as the boys played. When the hot dogs were done, we headed inside and ate dinner on the deck, just as the last rays of the sun faded from the sky. Although we were all under the weather, I couldn't have chosen two better days to stay home with the boys. For that, I'm very grateful!
From today:
From yesterday:
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Best Laid Plans
Yesterday after lunch, I started feeling bad. Really, really bad. I went to bed at 8:30 last night and had a restless night. I got up at 1:30 a.m. to take some Advil. William woke up at 2:30 a.m. and wanted something to drink. Seth woke up at 4:30 a.m. and I was so out of it that I picked him up and rocked him, forgetting all about Project Get Tough. I got back in my bed at 5:00 a.m., and William came in at 5:10 a.m. and got in bed with me. At that point, my plan was to take the boys to daycare, and then to come home and go back to bed. I don't think I've taken a sick day for myself since Seth was born.
Best laid plans, right?
When Seth woke up at 6:15, he felt hot. I took his temperature: 101.9. So we're home, but it's not exactly the sick day I was looking for. Poor Seth feels pretty bad, based on he uncharacteristic lethargy. I gave him Motrin and that is helping. William is fine, so I imagine it's going to behell interesting trying to keep him entertained today. As for me, I took some Mucinex, so hopefully that will help the congestion. Last night I was too stuffed up for the neti pot. It's only a matter of time before the sinus infection sets in.
Ed is feeling pretty much like I am. The only reason he didn't get up with William last night is because he had gone downstairs to sleep on the couch. Hopefully, he'll be able to stay home tomorrow. And hopefully, I'll be feeling much better.
Best laid plans, right?
When Seth woke up at 6:15, he felt hot. I took his temperature: 101.9. So we're home, but it's not exactly the sick day I was looking for. Poor Seth feels pretty bad, based on he uncharacteristic lethargy. I gave him Motrin and that is helping. William is fine, so I imagine it's going to be
Ed is feeling pretty much like I am. The only reason he didn't get up with William last night is because he had gone downstairs to sleep on the couch. Hopefully, he'll be able to stay home tomorrow. And hopefully, I'll be feeling much better.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Finally, Spring!
We had an awesome weekend, despite the fact that all four of us have colds. William got it first, then Seth soon followed, then Ed, and now me. William was wheezing a little yesterday, so we did Albuterol with the nebulizer every 4-5 hours yesterday, and once more this morning. He sounded good this morning, so hopefully, all will be well.
On Friday night, I started getting ready for the jewelry party. I made a bunch of food, and worked on clearing away clutter in my house. On Saturday, Ed and William left pretty early for a birthday party at the zoo. They took the Metro, which William LOVED, probably even more than the party! So that left Seth to help me clean and bake. I was expecting to get very little done with him around, but he was great. He did make 2 messes for every 1 that I cleaned up, but I got the bathrooms cleaned and a bunch of laundry done and everything dusted. I cleaned the kitchen table and cabinets and appliances. I got all the grubby fingerprints and dirt off of doors and walls and handles. Once he went down for his nap, I swept and mopped the kitchen and bathrooms. It was awesome! It was nice to spend time at home with just Seth. Even though I was busy, we still had lots of time to play and be silly and have fun. William and Ed came home in the afternoon, and Ed helped finish things up. He ran to the store for ice and a few last-minute things. And he vacuumed the house. His parents came over around 5:30 and Ed and his Dad took the boys to dinner and then back to Ed's parents house while his mom helped me with last-minute prep.
On Saturday night, I hosted my jewelry party, and it went really well. There were only 7 women there, but everyone had a great time, and the jewelry was a big hit. Lucky for me, the 7 women who attended were big spenders! I ended up earning $240 in free jewelry. I'm so excited! I've been working on "accessorizing" this year, so it will be fun to have more than 2 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings to work with. After the party, Ed's mom and I drove back to Ed's parents' and we spent the night there.
On Sunday, we had planned to stay at this parents for the day, but William woke up wheezing, so we headed home early to start him on the nebulizer treatments. He was really cranky, and you could tell he wasn't feeling well. But once we got home and he had a treatment and some Motrin, he started feeling better. And the rest of the day ended up being great. It was such a gorgeous spring day outside, so we went outside and played in the sandbox and then went to the tot lot to play. William was having such a good time. He kept saying, "This is fun!" And, "We haven't done this in a long time!" We decided to take the wagon to the school playground, so played there for a long time, too. I think William thought I must have been holding out on him all this time! We finally headed back home and then played outside for a little while longer until William said he was tired and wanted to go back in. Seth took a late-afternoon nap and William watched a movie with Ed. To top off the perfect day, I grilled steaks on the patio as the sun set.
Part of what made yesterday so great was that other than cleaning and putting away platters, I didn't have any cleaning or "chores" to do. And it felt good to have the house clean and un-cluttered. But mostly it was great because of the weather and the time we got to spend outside. I am soooo ready for spring and warmer weather. So bring it on!
On Friday night, I started getting ready for the jewelry party. I made a bunch of food, and worked on clearing away clutter in my house. On Saturday, Ed and William left pretty early for a birthday party at the zoo. They took the Metro, which William LOVED, probably even more than the party! So that left Seth to help me clean and bake. I was expecting to get very little done with him around, but he was great. He did make 2 messes for every 1 that I cleaned up, but I got the bathrooms cleaned and a bunch of laundry done and everything dusted. I cleaned the kitchen table and cabinets and appliances. I got all the grubby fingerprints and dirt off of doors and walls and handles. Once he went down for his nap, I swept and mopped the kitchen and bathrooms. It was awesome! It was nice to spend time at home with just Seth. Even though I was busy, we still had lots of time to play and be silly and have fun. William and Ed came home in the afternoon, and Ed helped finish things up. He ran to the store for ice and a few last-minute things. And he vacuumed the house. His parents came over around 5:30 and Ed and his Dad took the boys to dinner and then back to Ed's parents house while his mom helped me with last-minute prep.
On Saturday night, I hosted my jewelry party, and it went really well. There were only 7 women there, but everyone had a great time, and the jewelry was a big hit. Lucky for me, the 7 women who attended were big spenders! I ended up earning $240 in free jewelry. I'm so excited! I've been working on "accessorizing" this year, so it will be fun to have more than 2 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings to work with. After the party, Ed's mom and I drove back to Ed's parents' and we spent the night there.
On Sunday, we had planned to stay at this parents for the day, but William woke up wheezing, so we headed home early to start him on the nebulizer treatments. He was really cranky, and you could tell he wasn't feeling well. But once we got home and he had a treatment and some Motrin, he started feeling better. And the rest of the day ended up being great. It was such a gorgeous spring day outside, so we went outside and played in the sandbox and then went to the tot lot to play. William was having such a good time. He kept saying, "This is fun!" And, "We haven't done this in a long time!" We decided to take the wagon to the school playground, so played there for a long time, too. I think William thought I must have been holding out on him all this time! We finally headed back home and then played outside for a little while longer until William said he was tired and wanted to go back in. Seth took a late-afternoon nap and William watched a movie with Ed. To top off the perfect day, I grilled steaks on the patio as the sun set.
Part of what made yesterday so great was that other than cleaning and putting away platters, I didn't have any cleaning or "chores" to do. And it felt good to have the house clean and un-cluttered. But mostly it was great because of the weather and the time we got to spend outside. I am soooo ready for spring and warmer weather. So bring it on!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Pretty Sneaky Sis
I'm not really sure that things are progressing on the sleep front. On Wednesday night, Seth slept through the night until 5:45 a.m., and since it was so close to 6:00, I sat in the rocker with him and snuggled and played until it was time to take a shower. But meanwhile, William had woken up at 3:00 a.m., and I ended up laying in bed with him, dozing on and off until 5:00 a.m. Then yesterday, when I picked the boys up from school, William was congested and had told his teachers that he was sick. And sure enough, his nose is all goopy and runny. So who knows how this will impact the whole effort.
Last night, Seth woke up at 1:30 a.m., so we did the usual (gave him water, he protested a bit, then lay down and I covered him). Then he woke up again at 3:15 a.m., but this time, he just couldn't find his pacifier. I groped around for it, but couldn't find it right away. So Seth said, "Mommy, outside," meaning I should go outside to look for it. Pretty funny. Anyway, I found it and he took it and went right back to sleep, not even bothering to try to get me to hold him. I took that as a good sign. But meanwhile, at some point, William had crawled into bed with us, and neither Ed nor I had even noticed. He used to stand on my side of the bed and wake me up, and then I'd ether get up and take him back into his room, or I'd pick him up and put him in our bed. But now he's figured out that he can climb onto our bed from the foot of the bed, and get between us, and not even wake us up. Pretty sneaky, huh? Now it seems clear that William is the one who I need to focus on, except much of the reason for the wake-ups might be the whole sickness thing. So I think I'll wait it out a few more days. I'm sure Seth will catch it, too. I've been thinking what a good run we've had in not being sick. I think Seth might have gone an entire two weeks without a runny nose. That might just be a record!
Anyway, after the boys went to sleep last night, I headed out to Target and then to the grocery store to get what I needed for my party on Saturday. I almost talked myself out of going last night, thinking I could make a grocery store run during my lunch break today, but that would have been a bigger PITA. I'm so glad I went last night, and now I can focus on cleaning tonight night, and then more cleaning and party prep on Saturday. I'm certainly not outdoing myself, keeping the party snacks simple, and the cleaning focused. William has a birthday party tomorrow that Ed will take him to, which means I'll have Seth home with me. But after Seth's nap, Ed and the boys will be heading to his parents' house. So hopefully, I'll be able to get it all together.
BTW--you guys are making me feel really good with your "how do you do it all" comments. But believe me, there is soooo much that isn't getting done. My standards for cleaning have practically dropped off the charts. I'm not reading nearly as much as I'd like to be. Organizing projects aren't happening. And I am HATING our long commutes home and the fact that once we get home, the boys have no time to really play. I don't see how I can change this any time soon, though. I need one more hour in a day. Or just one less hour of work. Is that really so much to ask for???? In the meantime, this is the balance that we have struck. And I can't forget that I do have Ed helping to keep things together. He is the only reason that our house looks somewhat presentable on a daily basis. So things could definitely be better, but then again, they could be so much worse. I should count my blessings.
Last night, Seth woke up at 1:30 a.m., so we did the usual (gave him water, he protested a bit, then lay down and I covered him). Then he woke up again at 3:15 a.m., but this time, he just couldn't find his pacifier. I groped around for it, but couldn't find it right away. So Seth said, "Mommy, outside," meaning I should go outside to look for it. Pretty funny. Anyway, I found it and he took it and went right back to sleep, not even bothering to try to get me to hold him. I took that as a good sign. But meanwhile, at some point, William had crawled into bed with us, and neither Ed nor I had even noticed. He used to stand on my side of the bed and wake me up, and then I'd ether get up and take him back into his room, or I'd pick him up and put him in our bed. But now he's figured out that he can climb onto our bed from the foot of the bed, and get between us, and not even wake us up. Pretty sneaky, huh? Now it seems clear that William is the one who I need to focus on, except much of the reason for the wake-ups might be the whole sickness thing. So I think I'll wait it out a few more days. I'm sure Seth will catch it, too. I've been thinking what a good run we've had in not being sick. I think Seth might have gone an entire two weeks without a runny nose. That might just be a record!
Anyway, after the boys went to sleep last night, I headed out to Target and then to the grocery store to get what I needed for my party on Saturday. I almost talked myself out of going last night, thinking I could make a grocery store run during my lunch break today, but that would have been a bigger PITA. I'm so glad I went last night, and now I can focus on cleaning tonight night, and then more cleaning and party prep on Saturday. I'm certainly not outdoing myself, keeping the party snacks simple, and the cleaning focused. William has a birthday party tomorrow that Ed will take him to, which means I'll have Seth home with me. But after Seth's nap, Ed and the boys will be heading to his parents' house. So hopefully, I'll be able to get it all together.
BTW--you guys are making me feel really good with your "how do you do it all" comments. But believe me, there is soooo much that isn't getting done. My standards for cleaning have practically dropped off the charts. I'm not reading nearly as much as I'd like to be. Organizing projects aren't happening. And I am HATING our long commutes home and the fact that once we get home, the boys have no time to really play. I don't see how I can change this any time soon, though. I need one more hour in a day. Or just one less hour of work. Is that really so much to ask for???? In the meantime, this is the balance that we have struck. And I can't forget that I do have Ed helping to keep things together. He is the only reason that our house looks somewhat presentable on a daily basis. So things could definitely be better, but then again, they could be so much worse. I should count my blessings.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Wednesday Randomness
I'm taking a page out of London's book and trying out some Wednesday randomness:
- I've been drafting a post in my head on how William and Seth get along, how they're different, and how much I'm enjoying watching their relationship develop. LauraC noted in her review of Nurtureshock that there is a chapter on siblings that talks about how to nurture close relationships. I'll probably read the whole book, but I will definitely read that chapter!
- I'm hosting a jewelry party on Saturday night, and while at first I thought it was a good idea, now I'm wondering what the hell I was thinking. I thought it would be good motivation for me to really clean my house and get some pictures hung and get organized. But my lack of motivation lately had just led me to the point where my guests are going to be lucky if I wipe down my kitchen counters and vacuum the floor! Oh well. At the very least, I can buy jewelry at 50% off.
- Oooohh--Project Get Tough! Can't believe I've forgotten to give updates on this. So two nights ago (Monday night), Seth slept through the night until 5:30. He woke up crying, I handed him water and after protesting, he lay down, I covered him, and I walked out. He was up again at 6:15, though, so not sure if he fell back asleep or not. Last night, he woke up twice, though. At 1:00 a.m., I did the usual drill, but I noticed that he felt a tad bit hot. He woke up again at 4:00 a.m., and he was shivering like crazy. He felt really hot, too, and although I didn't take his temp (don't know where the thermometer is), I picked him up and gave him Motrin and water and rocked him until he stopped shivering. I put him back in his crib and he slept until 6:30. He was fine all day today though (yes--I sent him to school), so I'm thinking it may have been teething-related. But we'll see how he does tonight. I'm getting close to just letting him cry if he wakes up. But I need to decide if the 5:30 a.m. wake-up is terrible enough to force the crying, or if it's just an early-morning phase.
- I'm reading True Compass, Ted Kennedy's memoirs, and I have to say it's a pretty good read, even if you know that you're reading a very one-sided, rose-colored-glasses kind of story. I keep thinking, "Really? Is that how it happened?" as I read his version of events. But at the same time, his story is compelling, and I can't deny the impact he had on public policy throughout his career. (An impact that I happen to think was mostly good!) I'm eager to finish the book, though, because next up in the rotation is The Help, which I know I'm going to love.
- I've started taking a hard look at my daily sugar intake--and how much sugar the boys eat--and trying to make small changes. But OMG--I think I'm addicted. I'm trying to start with breakfast, and to get away from sweets in the a.m. But that's hard with William, because he doesn't like eggs or bagels. He typically eats waffles with syrup (they're whole wheat, so that's good at least), or cinnamon toast, or a cereal bar, with some kind of fruit--usually grapes or grapefruit. Both boys also like sugar cereals. I've tried cheerios and honey nut cheerios, but they're not falling for it. Anyway, it's hard. I'm not good at making big changes in my life. And I'm not even good at the little changes!
- William starts swimming lessons next week. We'll have 8 weeks (once a week) of mommy-and-me classes, to get him comfortable in the water. Then I'm hoping I can enroll him in the kids/instructor class, where I'm not in the water. (I'd like to do a mommy-and-me class with Seth at that point.) We'll see how it goes. I bought both boys a Warm Belly suit to hopefully keep them from getting too cold in the indoor pools, even though they're "heated."
Monday, March 01, 2010
Menu Plan Monday -- March 1 (And Project Get Tough)
Before I get to my menu, I'll start with Project Get Tough. The boys had a long day yesterday with no naps (Seth slept for about 15 minutes in the car), so I expected the worst. But it wasn't too bad. Seth fell asleep in the car on the way home at 6:45. William fell asleep shortly after. We got home at 7:30. Ed took Seth upstairs, changed him into pjs, gave him some milk, and put him back to bed. William did his nebulizer and I read to him after that. He went to sleep around 8:15. Seth woke up at 5:20 a.m., and we went through the usual drill. After a minute or two of protest, he lay down, I covered him with his blanket, and I walked out. Meanwhile, William had woken up to Seth's racket, and although I got him to lay back down in his bed, he eventually got up and came into our room. So I let him get in our bed. I'm not sure if Seth fell back asleep or not, because at 6:00, he started crying again (it's getting light outside at 6:00 now!), so I got him up for the day, and William got up too. So for the most part, he didn't have any wakeups during the night. It might just be that this 5:30 a.m. wake-up is here to stay for a while. Anyway--Lindsay, the clock is really cool! Thanks for the tip. And Maria--I will start leaving water for Seth in his crib and see if that can eliminate his need to call on me at all. I just have to make sure the cups I use are totally leak-proof.
So, on to the menu:
Monday: Turkey spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Tuesday: Lemon mustard chicken tenderloins, green beans, biscuits
Wednesday: Sirloin steak,asparagus, dinner rolls
Thursday: Pizza (sort-of homemade, using Pillsbury ready-made pizza crust and spaghetti sauce; I'll add pepperoni and fresh spinach)
Friday: Salmon with Dijon-dill sauce, broccoli/spinach salad, wild rice
So, on to the menu:
Monday: Turkey spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Tuesday: Lemon mustard chicken tenderloins, green beans, biscuits
Wednesday: Sirloin steak,asparagus, dinner rolls
Thursday: Pizza (sort-of homemade, using Pillsbury ready-made pizza crust and spaghetti sauce; I'll add pepperoni and fresh spinach)
Friday: Salmon with Dijon-dill sauce, broccoli/spinach salad, wild rice
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