Update from the ranch - well, not quite "the ranch" because we live in the burbs, and our lot is really small, but you get the idea..
Abby got her cast off last Friday. I wasn't thinking she would be off and running, but it's been disheartening to see how much trouble she's having. She rarely uses her leg, and if she does she holds on to something and limps. She mainly scoots, crawls, or cries and screams for help (she's been doing a lot of that lately). It hurts to see how much she's struggling. I called and spoke with our OT from ECI yesterday. She said what Abby is going through is totally normal, to give her another month or so to get up and moving.
Jacob's ARD is this coming Monday. He's been doing well at school, and they are not going to recommend summer school. He's going to be soooooooo confused when Joshua gets on the bus. Rachael will be able to 'get it' after a week or two, Jacob.. I don't know..
Daniel is now a five monther! I took him to our favorite chiropractor/naturopath this past Tuesday. He recommended probiotics for his gut/reflux, and did some adjustments to help his ears drain. We've decided against the tubes for now. We're going to see how the alternative treatments work for awhile. The chiropractor was noting all the gas and reflux problems Daniel has, and said that the by-product of Daniel's immune system doing overtime in his gut is mucous, which could be aggravating the ear problem. Something to think about, isn't it.
Daniel is getting curious, and he is getting fast. The other day he grabbed off Rachael's glasses before she knew what hit her. Speaking of Rachael.. she finally got in to see the eye doctor. She's wearing a patch 2 hrs/day, and got her lenses changed AGAIN (we've spent several hundred dollars in lenses now - going from pre-surgery eyes to post-surgery back to more crossing/may need surgery again eyes). She's in bifocals again. Hopefully the new lenses and patching will head off surgery, along with praying - I haven't been good about praying lately. I've generally been feeling like a total failure at being a wife and a mom. But isn't that just what happens when you start getting lax with the Word and praying?? I need to kick by bottom into gear..
We got all the receipts mailed off to the IRS, and we're waiting to hear back. We haven't even thought of doing this year's taxes. Deren was comparing tax products online last night. He was looking into the audit assistance components, seeing how Uncle Sam has been coming after us every year about our medical bills.
Is that enough whining for you? My mom's probably clicked out of the blog by now - she hates it when I whine! Can you just tell we've had about 2 wks of cloudy/rainy weather?! I'm getting so moody!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Oprah Smoothie Recipe
A month or so ago I actually got to watch some grown up tv. Oprah was on and doing a show with Bob Greene on eating fit. She was making a smoothie that I've since become addicted to.
Strawberries
Banana
Chocolate Soy Milk
Blend above. I add a small amount of stevia and 1 Tbsp of flax oil (my favorite brand is Barleans). I've used plain soy milk a lot, too. But the chocolate is the best.
A month or so ago I actually got to watch some grown up tv. Oprah was on and doing a show with Bob Greene on eating fit. She was making a smoothie that I've since become addicted to.
Strawberries
Banana
Chocolate Soy Milk
Blend above. I add a small amount of stevia and 1 Tbsp of flax oil (my favorite brand is Barleans). I've used plain soy milk a lot, too. But the chocolate is the best.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Let me tell you about my day yesterday..
It started off with Deren leaving for work late, because he stayed home to help me get ready to take Daniel to the doctor. Now ordinarily, getting ready by 9:45 is not too big of an issue, but throw in spring break and everyone on different schedules.. let's just say I don't have my game on, okay?
Made it to the doctor. Daniel has joined the ranks of the wheezing. Jacob and Daniel have both been on breathing treatments for bronchiolitis. The other kids are working on it. Abby's cough is starting to sound pretty bad, but not in the chest yet. Joshua is bawling more than usual. My voice has gone south again. And it's funny. It may be me just being sick and in a bad mood and all, but it seems like Deren gets more chatty than usual when I lose my voice. All the sudden he's asking me questions left and right - questions that involve an in depth answer - not just "yes" or "no". Deren and I generally have a "talk to the hand" policy with each other when we get sick. One of us starts whining, and the other is walking out of the room whistling. "Oh, were you saying something?" Yes, it's something we need to work on. But with all the kids sick for what seems like FOREVER, a "Can I go take a long nap because I don't feel good?" comment falls on deaf ears. So, I'm whining here!
Anyway.. back to yesterday. Got to the doctor. Spent $25 more bucks confirming he's wheezing and we should continue breathing treatments (we already have the medicine at home). Nursed Daniel in the car. Side note: Daniel has decided the ONLY way he'll nurse is with a pillow and blanket over his head. So I loaded a nursing pillow in the car and he was in heaven nursing in the parking lot. He wouldn't nurse at all in the office. Finally finished nursing him. Called home to check on Mallory, our babysitter. She said all was fine. I then proceeded to back into the truck behind me in the parking lot. This is the second time I've run into another car in the same parking lot. I barely ran into the truck - the van has no marks on it whatsoever. But the owner of the car was pointing to a tiny dent and saying "oh, that's going to be very expensive to fix!" Gave the lady my information. Called Deren and told him about the dr appt and the fender bender. Conversation went something like this "*#&#^@ $@#&# %#!@" (Deren speaking).
Made it home. Saw Mallory off. As she was leaving Rachael came up to us and started talking about poop in the potty. Went and checked. Jacob had apparently stuffed half the container of toilet wipes in the toilet. Oh - and he had bad diarrhea - let's not forget that tidbit. When I flushed the toilet the diarrhea water went pouring over the toilet. I pulled up on the lever thingy inside the tank - did nothing. The diarrhea water went everywhere. I started crying. Jacob came in to check on me. He trailed through the water, walked down the hall, got onto our bed, and started rolling around on the bed - with diarrhea water on the bottom of his sweatpants (there was a good 2" on the floor in the bathroom before I got the water turned off) and on his feet. I cried more, and more, and more. Jacob started crying with me. He kept wiping my tears off my face and crying along. I called Deren. He's like "get a grip! You're having a breakdown!" I called my neighbor Monique (Mallory's mom). "Monique can you come over and help? I'm having a breakdown." Monique came over until Deren got home - yes, he's on the show up late leave early policy this past week. Monique directed clean up efforts and watched the kids while I cleaned up. We agreed that the bath towels used needed to be burned.
Deren got home a short time later. He finished clean up. Maybe that's why we're all doing worse today, come to think of it. He dumped enough bleach in that room - I could feel my lungs burning! He got the toilet plunged, and we're back on track (minus the tank lid that got knocked over and shattered during cleaning.)
I guess that about sums it up. I got a grip, mopped the house, started tackling the mountains of laundry.
Gotta go. Daniel is doing worse today, and poor little guy is crying.
It started off with Deren leaving for work late, because he stayed home to help me get ready to take Daniel to the doctor. Now ordinarily, getting ready by 9:45 is not too big of an issue, but throw in spring break and everyone on different schedules.. let's just say I don't have my game on, okay?
Made it to the doctor. Daniel has joined the ranks of the wheezing. Jacob and Daniel have both been on breathing treatments for bronchiolitis. The other kids are working on it. Abby's cough is starting to sound pretty bad, but not in the chest yet. Joshua is bawling more than usual. My voice has gone south again. And it's funny. It may be me just being sick and in a bad mood and all, but it seems like Deren gets more chatty than usual when I lose my voice. All the sudden he's asking me questions left and right - questions that involve an in depth answer - not just "yes" or "no". Deren and I generally have a "talk to the hand" policy with each other when we get sick. One of us starts whining, and the other is walking out of the room whistling. "Oh, were you saying something?" Yes, it's something we need to work on. But with all the kids sick for what seems like FOREVER, a "Can I go take a long nap because I don't feel good?" comment falls on deaf ears. So, I'm whining here!
Anyway.. back to yesterday. Got to the doctor. Spent $25 more bucks confirming he's wheezing and we should continue breathing treatments (we already have the medicine at home). Nursed Daniel in the car. Side note: Daniel has decided the ONLY way he'll nurse is with a pillow and blanket over his head. So I loaded a nursing pillow in the car and he was in heaven nursing in the parking lot. He wouldn't nurse at all in the office. Finally finished nursing him. Called home to check on Mallory, our babysitter. She said all was fine. I then proceeded to back into the truck behind me in the parking lot. This is the second time I've run into another car in the same parking lot. I barely ran into the truck - the van has no marks on it whatsoever. But the owner of the car was pointing to a tiny dent and saying "oh, that's going to be very expensive to fix!" Gave the lady my information. Called Deren and told him about the dr appt and the fender bender. Conversation went something like this "*#&#^@ $@#&# %#!@" (Deren speaking).
Made it home. Saw Mallory off. As she was leaving Rachael came up to us and started talking about poop in the potty. Went and checked. Jacob had apparently stuffed half the container of toilet wipes in the toilet. Oh - and he had bad diarrhea - let's not forget that tidbit. When I flushed the toilet the diarrhea water went pouring over the toilet. I pulled up on the lever thingy inside the tank - did nothing. The diarrhea water went everywhere. I started crying. Jacob came in to check on me. He trailed through the water, walked down the hall, got onto our bed, and started rolling around on the bed - with diarrhea water on the bottom of his sweatpants (there was a good 2" on the floor in the bathroom before I got the water turned off) and on his feet. I cried more, and more, and more. Jacob started crying with me. He kept wiping my tears off my face and crying along. I called Deren. He's like "get a grip! You're having a breakdown!" I called my neighbor Monique (Mallory's mom). "Monique can you come over and help? I'm having a breakdown." Monique came over until Deren got home - yes, he's on the show up late leave early policy this past week. Monique directed clean up efforts and watched the kids while I cleaned up. We agreed that the bath towels used needed to be burned.
Deren got home a short time later. He finished clean up. Maybe that's why we're all doing worse today, come to think of it. He dumped enough bleach in that room - I could feel my lungs burning! He got the toilet plunged, and we're back on track (minus the tank lid that got knocked over and shattered during cleaning.)
I guess that about sums it up. I got a grip, mopped the house, started tackling the mountains of laundry.
Gotta go. Daniel is doing worse today, and poor little guy is crying.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
I guess I'm on the once-a-month post schedule.
Abby had an accident, and broke her leg just above her ankle. She's in a full leg cast until the end of this month.
We've had one kid or another throwing up every weekend since the first of January.
We're passing around another (who-knows-how-many-now) cold.
Joshua is on another hunger strike, albeit more sever than some of the others. All I have to say is "Time to eat!" and he runs and gets his barf bucket. Yesterday evening I was feeling a bit sadistic. I kept saying "Joshua, time to eat!" ..Poor guy gagged I don't know how many times. I suspect that he got a bit of a tummy bug, then that prompted his most recent hunger strike. So I'm not pushing him to hard. If he wants to go outside and play or watch a movie, he has to take a bit of soy yogurt. After crying for minute or two, he often does. OR he throws up. And does anyone know if you can selectively throw up things. A couple days he ate some pretzels, followed by some hamburger. He threw up only the hamburger - no pretzels (and "yes", we've cleaned up enough pretzel puke that we can tell the difference.)
Needless to say, we're celebrating our spring break in usual fashion. It's also been raining this week, so Joshua is positively stir crazy. The sun peaked out a bit ago. I was talking with Deren on the phone. I told him I was thinking about taking the kids for a walk. His response was something along the lines of "Do you have a death wish?!"
Took Daniel to an ENT specialist this a.m. Looks like he's going to get tubes. Daniel has his third ear infection at the tender age of 4 mos. He also has the respiratory yuck that the others are passing around, and has a bad cough. The doctor said that research shows that kiddos who get their first ear infection when they're under 4 mos usually have many to follow. Seeing how Daniel is on #3, it's not looking good. And since we don't like to give antibiotics to the kids in general, let alone every other month, Daniel's getting tubes. Poor baby.
In other Daniel news, he's growing - he's 17 lbs, 12 oz now. He's also taking prevacid for reflux. It was so weird. The other kids started having reflux problems when they were a couple weeks old. We thought Daniel was going to beat it. But he started having all his problems late last month. Finally, he's lifting his head up like a pro. I will post a pic later. Abby has a swiffer and it sounds like she's pounding the dickens out of something in the bathroom. And she's squealing and laughing to boot, so I'd better go check!
Abby had an accident, and broke her leg just above her ankle. She's in a full leg cast until the end of this month.
We've had one kid or another throwing up every weekend since the first of January.
We're passing around another (who-knows-how-many-now) cold.
Joshua is on another hunger strike, albeit more sever than some of the others. All I have to say is "Time to eat!" and he runs and gets his barf bucket. Yesterday evening I was feeling a bit sadistic. I kept saying "Joshua, time to eat!" ..Poor guy gagged I don't know how many times. I suspect that he got a bit of a tummy bug, then that prompted his most recent hunger strike. So I'm not pushing him to hard. If he wants to go outside and play or watch a movie, he has to take a bit of soy yogurt. After crying for minute or two, he often does. OR he throws up. And does anyone know if you can selectively throw up things. A couple days he ate some pretzels, followed by some hamburger. He threw up only the hamburger - no pretzels (and "yes", we've cleaned up enough pretzel puke that we can tell the difference.)
Needless to say, we're celebrating our spring break in usual fashion. It's also been raining this week, so Joshua is positively stir crazy. The sun peaked out a bit ago. I was talking with Deren on the phone. I told him I was thinking about taking the kids for a walk. His response was something along the lines of "Do you have a death wish?!"
Took Daniel to an ENT specialist this a.m. Looks like he's going to get tubes. Daniel has his third ear infection at the tender age of 4 mos. He also has the respiratory yuck that the others are passing around, and has a bad cough. The doctor said that research shows that kiddos who get their first ear infection when they're under 4 mos usually have many to follow. Seeing how Daniel is on #3, it's not looking good. And since we don't like to give antibiotics to the kids in general, let alone every other month, Daniel's getting tubes. Poor baby.
In other Daniel news, he's growing - he's 17 lbs, 12 oz now. He's also taking prevacid for reflux. It was so weird. The other kids started having reflux problems when they were a couple weeks old. We thought Daniel was going to beat it. But he started having all his problems late last month. Finally, he's lifting his head up like a pro. I will post a pic later. Abby has a swiffer and it sounds like she's pounding the dickens out of something in the bathroom. And she's squealing and laughing to boot, so I'd better go check!
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