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April 17, 2007 Unofficial tax day...
Okay, well we've had ours done for quite some time now. I will be calling the place to get my car tomorrow....why haven't they called yet? I WANT TO GET MY CAR BACK...okay so I will quit with my tantrum now. I will also be making a Dr visit for Sunshine tomorrow, I'm pretty sure that he has an ear infection. Just not sure if I should make it with the ENT or the Dr. I hope the Dr since she is so much closer and I hate to drag the baby and Sunshine out all the time. I replanted a dead plant today, in hopes of bringing it back to life. We'll see what happens. I've also started to really dig into cleaning, which I'm still motivated and will be jumping back into in a bit. I was reading some of the comments on the Cafe today, and I had to put in my two sense. Some people! Sunshine's B-day party will be in a week and a half, so I have tons that I want to get done. Smiley is sleeping very well now, the pillow trick has worked yet again. Again, as parents we do what we have to to keep our kids comfortable and safe.
Smiley is becoming an eating champ. Today he ate a teaspoon of squash and really seamed to like it. This is day two on squash, two more and we will start carrots. We did have a little allergic reaction over the weekend. His bottom was on fire. Duck had, as I requested, gone to Wally and bought some wipes. Unfortunately I forgot to specify the particular type, he got the brand correct, but I've been using the sensitive. Well, his bottom reacted to them and we had to switch from cloth to disposable diapers temporarily to get the reaction cleared up faster.
Well Smiley is asleep and I want to get about 15 more minutes of stuff done. Hope everyone had a wonderful day. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim, family, friends and everyone who has been affected by the the VA Tech tragedy.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 16, 2007 In light of the....
tragic event in Virginia, I would like to take this day off of my usual complaining and/or joys and pray for the families and individuals caught up in that heinous act. As a parent I find it horrifying to know that one day, my children could be attending a college or school with such a tragic event. It's sad to know that not even our innocent children are safe in this world.
God Bless everyone involved and affected by this tragedy.
Katy
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 15, 2007 The usual Tax day....
Well for most people, this would be tax day. Instead for some it is a day of rest...and that's what we did. I have a bunch of chores to do this evening, but not too bad considering the relaxing day that I had.
After seeing someone else do this, I'm going to try it as well. Here is our plans for this week.
Monday:
Me: Focus on the bathroom - straighten under the sink; detail the tub, toilet and sink including base of sink and shower curtain and mirror; scrub floor; wash down walls. Total this should only take me about 30 minutes, if I can get it done without a child attached to me. In addition to the usual kitchen, living room and laundry work that I do daily.
Duck: Clear off computer desk; move cords and brains back to block off from hands; work on business for about 45 minutes.
Sunshine: DT early in morning; play outside with dad and help dad feed the dogs, and play some more, that's how kids are suppose to learn after all.
Smiley: Well, sleep, eat, coo and poop. If we get through 1 teaspoon of cereal today, we'll try squash tomorrow.
I'll try to get all that done tomorrow and perhaps more. I want to start sleeping upstairs again, or I will just need to move my bed down here. Well I'm going to straighten the living room and perhaps clean the floors as they have had a rough weekend with all the mud.
Well we had a good night sleep and I want to get everything done so we can do it again.
Katy
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 14, 2007 A good night
Last night Smiley slept for 7 hours strait. Yippee-yippee-joy-joy!!!!! I woke up this morning to raspberries being blown and a smiling face on a squirmy 4.5 month old little angel. We went into town and picked up some movies and stopped by our usual place. They screwed up my order...again. They always make it right. We were watching a movie earlier and a baby was crying, Sunshine put out his bottom lip and started crying. It was sad and cute all at the same time. Well, Smiley is upset, so I must go.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 13, 2007 Setteling down
Well we had some company earlier today. I made a huge pot of Spaghetti, it was very good. I have enough left for about 5 meals. I think that we'll either pick up a whole chicken or some boneless skinless for some more soup. It was good and we are nearly out. Since I now know that I can do it, I can ad spices and herbs to it to make it more tasty. Smiley is hanging out on my knee, he is sitting up so well and doing so good. I can't believe that he is as far as he is. I know that doesn't mean anything because I've known kids who could recite their alphabet by well before 2 and now they are normal average/a little above average children.
Sunshine helped me make bread tonight. He really enjoys helping me in the kitchen, even though he has to stand on a chair, he is the best stir-er that I know. He also likes to help with the dishes and the laundry. Trust me, I'm taking full advantage of this now, it is important for a man to learn how to do things for himself, especially in the kitchen and laundry room.
Well, I'm getting tired, Smiley is now down for the first count, Sunshine is waiting on his father and I will be retiring to a nice movie when they get done doing what the two of them do. Duck is so wonderful to his kids, it almost brings me to tears of joy to see him play with the boys as he does. I've been around a lot of kids growing up, and I have hardly ever seen a father get so involved with the playing. He actually gets down on the floor to their level and do the things that they want to do. Today the 4 of us sat down on the floor and put together a large puzzle that Sunshine picked out. He is so smart when it comes to puzzles. I try to do the Spiderman Puzzle with him every night.
Well gotta go.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 13, 2007 Well I'm whipping up...
a big pot of Spaghetti, then this afternoon I will be making 3 batches of bread and possibly some cookies. I figure, if I have to pay to heat my house I might as well cook and have the place smelling great.
Smiley slept a little too much yesterday afternoon, therefore he didn't do so well last night. He is taking his morning nap right now and I will wake him in an hour or so. Sunshine was up until about 2:30 due to an extended nap yesterday afternoon, I guess we all needed the sleep. Well it's started off to be a good day, I just miss my Duck. He's busy right now doing a whole lot of nothing, which is something that one must do sometimes for when something comes along he can do it. Make sense?
Okay, well lunch needs to be served up after I drain the noodles.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 12, 2007 The end to a good day.....
The difference between night and day. Well Smiley is starting to get into the classic textbook sleep patterns as described by Dr. James Dobson in the book that I'm reading. I'm also looking into one that I checked out from the LLL library. Unfortunately, it seems as if I am producing less milk. He seems to still be hungry sometimes after I feed him and that is even switching sides which I never do. I will just keep drinking more fluids and I will try to eat oatmeal for breakfast, if that doesn't work, I'll fall back on drinking 4 oz of red wine. Well I got a lot done last night, but hardly anything done today. I just wanted to report the good news about the nice sleeping habits we have experienced the past few nights. I'm feeling a little better, even with a little more sleep. I contribute the change greatly to the new bed situation. I pray that it continues to work for all of us. Next thing will be to condition Sunshine to going to bed at 9ish and getting up at 7:15. Which means that I will start to follow the same schedule. Okay, well I've got like an hour and a half until Duck gets home and I want to throw the dishes in the dishwasher and throw the last load of cloths in the dryer. That is one thing that I did get done today, I have washed 4 loads of laundry. I can't believe how fast the stuff piles up, I just caught it up not too long ago. I just refuse to let it get as bad as it was when I was a kid. I can't stand to see that many dirty clothes on the floor when it only takes 3 minutes to switch and refill. Even if they aren't all folded, at least they are clean. Anyhow, I feel better today and happier. Tomorrow is Friday the 13th, and if you are superstitious, as I am, I don't think I'll be leaving the house since I don't see a need to. Not that I believe anything will happen, just dumb luck. Okay well I'm motivated, gotta go.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 12, 2007 The article.
In the Feb 2007 issue of one of the magazines that I receive Dr. Barbara Howard advises that "a new study for the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver found that waiting until after 6 month of age to introduce cereals did not protect against wheat allergies; it actually increased the risk of developing one. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises starting cereal between 4 and 6 month, and the study's authors say their results support that recommendations." I know that I'm not Jewish, but I find that everyone has their own opinion about starting foods for infants...it's kinda like the egg theory, one day they are good for you, but the other they aren't. Kinda like Indiana weather, you never know what is going on.
Perhaps more later, I've gotten quite of bit of stuff done today, but I want to do more.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 11, 2007 The final decision....
We have decided jointly that we aren't going to punish Sunshine for everything that he does, especially when we are at other's houses. We have had several play dates recently and it has come to my attention that he is being targeted by one of the mothers in the group. To put it lightly, this is pissing me off completely. The phrase that comes to mind is, "Don't push me because I'm close to the edge, I'm about to lose my head!" Hence, I cut the play date short. I don't not appreciate other people trying to discipline my child while I'm there. Have any of you ever wandered why I look over my kids shoulders so much? I don't want him to hurt another child or do something that he should be doing. I AM BEING A PARENT! Then I almost did something that I would have really regretted. I almost punished my child for something he didn't even do. The child started crying and the mother automatically assumed that he bit her child. She even said that he bit, well biting in our household (since we've had such a problem) warrants a spanking and time out. I didn't exactly believe that he bit the child so I went over next to Sunshine for a moment. The mother pulled up the child's sleeve and sure enough, there was nothing there, not even a wet spot on the child's sleeve. There was no evidence of ANYTHING. She has no idea how bad that makes me feel, blaming my kid for nothing, and to think that I was going to use the harshest punishment we use. How horrible I felt...there was another instance where the other child pushed Sunshine, so Sunshine pushed the child back. Can you guess what the other mother did? Well let me tell you, she started correcting my child right in front of me. Boy, she has a brass pair of balls. I was standing right there and already began correcting. Do you think she said anything to her sweet little angle? NO. So she had the nerve to correct my child, while I was in the process, and in a sense punish my child, and let her child get off scott free. HELL NO. Is she stupid? Where in the world does she get off punishing or even correcting my child in the first place when it was her child who started the incident? I guess everyone who has children has the "Rose" colored glasses on when it comes to their own children. Well guess what people, I don't. My child is 2 going on 3 and acts like a normal 3 year old except for the speech delay. My child isn't perfect and neither is anyone else's. I do not appreciate anyone correcting my child when I'm present verbally or with discipline, and it is going to stop RIGHT NOW. I'm tired of her trying to impugn my parenting skills when none of us are perfect. We do our best to raise our children. Now how do I tell her all of this without hurting her feeling or making a scene. I'm not sure that it is possible. I can't let this go on anymore and I refuse to punish my child as in time out every time he does something when she isn't going to do the same and he is just defending himself. It looks as if the play dates are going to have to stop for a while until something changes. And you know, it is sad for the children. I'm going to put Sunshine in pre-school at the end of this month, and then we are going to sign up to do things at the library also, they have some wonderful programs. Bottom line is, I think that I'm doing the best that I can with my children, and my best is great. I've quit my job to stay at home with them so we have more bonding time and I can teach them more than they would learn in the daycare setting. I'm breast feeding Smiley and going to workshop type things to keep me focused on it. Sunshine's vocab is exploding with new words, they just aren't always used, and we are working on that. We will always put our children first, and not put them into an environment where they are not going to be treated unfairly every time they walk into the door. I know that I can't always do this, but I can for now. The other parents would not like it if I were doing what they are doing. The sad thing is that I don't think that they even realize that they are doing it. I didn't have my kids for fun, nor do I expect anyone else to raise them, or punish them. I agree that they can learn from others, and that is what we were trying to introduce, but I think we need to see if we can find smaller groups or a different situation until this mother realizes what she is doing is wrong in every way.
I went to the LLL meeting last night and left with a lot on my mind.
Should I ask to be put back onto Prozac? Not yet, I'm sure that I can fix this myself, and will ask if it gets out of hand. The proper exercise, diet and sleep should do the trick.
When will Smiley get into the groove of a "normal" 4 month old? Whose normal anyway....he's starting to get his routine in, well keep working on it over the next oh, 18 years.
If I introduce the bottle to him now, what harm will that do? NONE! I've got enough BM to last me at least a week, so I can pump and put back if Duck can watch him while I sleep a little extra. Besides that, he is going to be starting a sippy cup within the next month/month and a half. Start at six months and off by 2 year.
And then there is the great food debate. Well, I look at it like this, Sunshine has no food allergies, and I know that isn't a road map to Smiley, but I started him on cereal at 4 months just as his doc advised. Smiley's doc has advised to start cereal, his DT and all the millions of reports out there. They say that you should introduce between 4 and 6 months. Last time I checked, he is around 4.5 months old. He is holding his head very well, sitting up with support, pushing himself up on his arms and rolling. The tongue reflex is also allowing the spoon in and the swallow reflex is working. I also read in a recent study and I'll do my best to find it and post it, that waiting until the child is 6 mos old or older to start cereal and foods can lead to more wheat allergies. Our niece was started on cereal at 2 months old, and granted they are now saying that doesn't have any helpfulness on the sleeping aspect, it benefited her in other respects. Something else that I found interesting was that children who are spoon fed earlier are better talkers because of the muscles in their mouths and throats. While they are sucking they are going in one direction and stay in that direction until they need to start swolling food. Granting Sunshine started with cereal in his bottle, which is a big no no, and he is delayed in his speech, I also understand that again it is not a road map for every child. We have weighed the pros and cons and at this point the pro out weigh the cons. In fact the only real con is that of the allergies, the only allergies in our family with my milk allergy and that is genetic, both my dad and brother have it. And that of alcohol with my grandfather and brother. Since Smiley isn't going to be drinking cow’s milk, just mine and he isn't going to be drinking for quite some time, the pros have it.
Something else that disturbed me last night at the meeting...I brought a bag of toys for the children to play with, as did another mother. I really appreciate the toys that she brought as the children loved them. Anyhow, the little girl was done sharing one of her toys, a bubble want to be exact and she was trying to take it back for Sunshine. Someone in the group piped up and told him to give it back since it was hers. Sunshine was playing with it for quite some time, and there were plenty other, she just had her sights set on that one. So I explained to him that it was infact actually her toy and that we were grateful that they were sharing it to begin with, but that she didn't want to share it anymore and we needed to give it back to her. I hated having to say that to him, because infact it is WRONG. We teach our children to share. Anytime that a child or group of children is here I always make Sunshine share his toys. EVEN if one child picks up his favorite toy and plays with it, I explain to him that we share our toys and that is a good thing. That he can have it when they are finished and put it down. That's the way it’s supposed to be right? This isn't someone's car or wife, it's a toy and there were other to use. So, I just sent my kid a mixed message, that means that when he is here and there are other children here and he really wants a toy that they have, since it is his I should make that child give it back to him right? Isn't that the message that I was sending to him over the bubble wand thing? So how do you explain to a three year old that it is okay for someone else to take their toys back when they want, but it's not okay for him to do it? I don't think that he is able to understand that philosophy right now. This is why he carries a lot of toys around with him where ever he goes, that way, no one can take them from him. The joys of being a parent.
Well I need to remember to send the leader a message about the signs as Duck is ready to actually start them now since he is slow right now. I will also not be at the next meeting since we may have company for Sunshine's birthday party and we will be getting ready for the party. Well I need to get a few more things done and send out and email and start a Katy Doo List for tomorrow, which will include research on sharing and feeding and infant night sleeping. Lots to do and it's nearly 2 am.
Me.
said 26 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 10, 2007 The decision...
Well, first of all I have to say that I'm extremely disappointed in the fact that Larry Birkhead is the father of Anna Nicole's Baby. For those of you who don't know, I'm a complete tabloid junkie. I was hoping that it was Howard's Baby. He seems to have so much love for that baby.
Tomorrow's Chore list...
Clean carpets, finish laundry room, put all laundey away, plant plants and strawberries, finish bathroom. All in all it should take me about 1.5 hours to do it all. Great 15 minute jobs.
More tomorrow, I'm completely drained.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 10, 2007 Finally an answer to my prayers
Smiley slept last night, YUP HE FINALLY SLEPT. I am so grateful. He woke up twice to feed, but went strait back to sleep. The bassinet worked...for now. Last night, I just begged for some sleep and it happened. Perhaps we can keep this up. I only slept for about 6 hours total, but I fell like I've slept 10 or so. Well I need to get up since I have the energy. I'm ready to get going and I've already worked about 30 minutes today on the house, and I'm ready to start doing some detailing and moving again. By the way, we keep moving things around...two reason. I'm claustrophobic and the other reason is as a sign of autism children are very confused or unhappy when things are changed. So, I change them so he can get used to them...
Me.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 09, 2007 Grant me the serenity
Grant me the serenity...we well all know how this prayer goes. I'm very exhausted, it seems as if all the sudden I can't keep my eyes open, yet I have too. Both kids are asleep, and I have taken a break from cleaning to blog for a minute. What I'm about to say shocks even myself, I'm ready to switch Smiley to a bottle for the day. I need to sleep and he is eating every hour or less. As most of you know, I am still sleeping on the couch since Smiley for some reason can't stand it upstairs. Last night was one of the most horrifying nights of my life. I woke up to realize that I was suffocating my child. I woke up because of a bad dream and subconsciously realized that Smiley wasn't on my chest anymore, he was at my legs, between me and the couch. I didn't feel the weight of the baby at all. I was so shook up that I literally flipped myself off the couch. I was in a complete panic, when I looked over and saw that it was Sunshine that had wedged himself there, so I touched him to make sure that he was moving and looked for the baby. Sure enough he was safe and sound in his bouncer right next to the couch. Within 2 or 3 minutes he was screaming awake and nursed for only 2 or 3 minutes, and then would not let me put him back down. I really am having a hard time sleeping, and my emotions are truly suffering for it. I'm having some of the worst nightmares I think I have ever had. I know that some of you still feel like I have the missing mother/orphan complex, well maybe I do. Yes I miss her, or should I say that I miss the things that we should be doing together. I miss that she should be there to talk to, and that I should feel safe, but I don't. This is why there is so much distance between us, I can't let her hurt my family anymore. Here is a "IF" question for you....if you could change on thing about your parents, what would you change? I'd change who my mother is completely. Anyhow, that was a rough thing to wake up to, tonight we are going to put him in the bassinet and hopefully that will work, he is having a problem laying on his back right now in his bouncer, almost as if it is hurting him. He is very much acting like he has colic, but I feel like he is constipated so I have broken out the Apple Juice. Why you say? Well it's logic in my mind. If I eat beans and he gets gassy, like the chili that I had for dinner yesterday, or when I have burritos..you get the picture. Then when I drink something like Apple Juice it should soften his bowel enough to pass. Think about it, if a mother drinks a glass of wine and it makes her baby tired, then this would be the exact same thing. The doctor once told me to eat a thing of yogurt every day, well as most of you all know, I'm lactose intolerant, therefore I can't. But the point is that it helps with his yeast balances as well. This has worked in the past, and I'm hoping that it will work now. I do hope that I get some more sleep tonight as I really need to sleep more than I have and even though Duck gave me a mid afternoon nap, I'm completely drained. I hope to go to the LLL meeting tomorrow, we'll see if I feel like I can make it. Thanks for listening. Off to cleaning again...
me.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 1 Comments
April 09, 2007 The 9th day of April
Today's Goals:
Complete 5 (15) minute routines. I want to hit at least 5 spots today.
Bring in the exercise bike and ride for at least 30 minutes.
Give Smiley his bath
Wash 3 loads of Laundry
Go to Wally to pick up batteries and other ess.
Well that is what I want to accomplish today, I'll do my best to get it all done. I was reading a blog of a friend last night and it got me thinking. As she so bluntly put it, What is normal? I have one child who is very very far behind in speech, and then I have another who is surpassing the milestone for children his age, even though he is still considered to be 3 weeks early. It's amazing what we learn as parents. For example, Sunshine was in the 95-105 percentile group as a baby growth wise, and Smiley remains in the 50 percentile. So maybe where Sunshine grew faster than most children, he lacks in his speech. I think that all in all, Sunshine is a normal two year old, except for his speaking. We are working hard on correcting that. Just this morning, he went upstairs to wake up his dad. Once he got to the top of the stairs he shouted MORNING, something that we have never heard him say, be we say to him everyday. So you see, even though he may not be normal now, he wasn't all that normal at birth either, but one day I feel that where he lacks, he will catch up and possibly excel. After speaking with so many people concerning the Autism condition, and they have had time to see how he acts, everyone tells me that he is incredibly smart. IF HE COULD ONLY SPEAK. Grrrr. Well gotta go, baby is crying.
me.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 07, 2007 The 7th day of April
Today we went to pick up some free cycle stuff, outlet plates for the new garage...or soon to be new improved garage. Last night Smiley was literally up every hour to nurse...I'm trying to nurse my dead brain back to health. I'm mush today. We did go to the grocery store and pick up a couple of movies for tonight. After watching the Pursuit to Happyness, Duck and I have decided that if we ever win the lottery, we are going to do great things with part of the winnings. It is sad that so many people want to do good with their lives and can't and other mooch off the government and don't have any dreams at all. Well I'm going to put all the groceries away and have a little snack until we decide what we are going to do for dinner. Perhaps more later.
Me.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 06, 2007 What a Good Friday

Today we had a gold friend visit. I gave her my crib, precious moments bassinet, car seat hoodie, crib sheets and a kid carrying back pack. I also need to see if I can find a LLL leader in her area. It was wonderful to see her and I'm sure it took a lot for her to get here. It is a long drive and extra hard with a 5 year old and being prego. I've invited her and her family to Sunshine's B-day party. I don't think that they will beable to make it because of work though. Just though I'd invite them.
Smiley learned how to use his Jumparoo thing today. He is bouncing away, and very happy. Well I need to get up, we have a huge list of things to do today, include make some money, so I must go and try at least.
Me.
said 27 months ago Edit · Delete · Permalink · 0 Comments
April 04, 2007 14 lbs and 8 oz.
Smiley had an appt today, as you can see he is 14 pounds and 8 ounces. My house is a mess, I haven't gotten anything done and he is finally asleep, so I am going to get up and clean. Just wanted to drop a line. We are going to put in the exercise bike this week and I am going to start riding it everyday. I'm tired of being fat. I will track my progress without telling you how much I weight. I find it humiliating to be this big and I can't wait to lose it. Once I lose 50 pounds I get to cut my hair as short as I want it, and once I lose 100 pounds, we are going out on a hot date all dolled up. I can't wait to wear my prom dress or red dress again. Perhaps more later...I'm very sleep deprived and Smiley is running a fever.
Katy