The Bug Came Back June 26, 2008

The stomach bug that The Bean had last week returned with a vengeance to our house this week.  I started vomitting about 3am on Tuesday morning and could not stop.  T ended up taking me to the emergency room once he got The Bean off to daycare. 

The nurse practitioner there said that this virus going around has been light with the kids who get it, but is knocking adults flat.  Yeah, I can agree with that.  After some IV fluids and nausea meds, T was able to take me home where I promptly spent 30 of the next 36 hours asleep.  I’m slowly getting better, but still weak and dizzy. 

The nurse practitioner also said that for some reason, people who have this virus are coming back in with appedicitis shortly thereafter.  I was given strick instructions to show back up if I start having right flank pain. 

We’re praying that T doesn’t catch this.  He’s been using the other bathroom and sleeping in the living room.  So far, he seems to be avoiding it.  I’d appreciate prayers for healing and for protection for T from this bug.  It’s a doozy.

Works For Me Wednesday - NOT Arguing June 25, 2008

Any mom will tell you about the challenges of hearing your toddler/pre-schooler tell you “no” when you give them an instruction.  The Bean can pop out with it in response to everything from “eat your chicken” to “wash your hands” to “it’s bedtime.”  She usually isn’t shouting it defiantly, but simply states it as her preference to not do what I’ve asked. 

For a while (as I think is probably true of most people), my response to her “no” was “yes, you are!”  However, that usually only led to us volleying “yes” and “no” back and forth.  Not very satisfying and definitely frustrating for both of us. 

So I started responding differently.  When I told her to go wash her hands, and she replied, “no”, instead of a “yes, you are,” I say something like, “Let’s wash our hands very fast so you can get back to your books.”  I usually will be physically taking her hand and leading her towards the bathroom to wash as I say it.  Usually, she goes right along with whatever I’ve asked her to do.  She may still give a little whiny protest, but generally acquiesces to what I’ve told her to do. 

I know that her “no” is still a definance of what I’ve told her to do, but leading her to do it anyway instead of entering a pointless debate with a three-year-old shows her that she has to do what I tell her to do.  It Works For Me.

Head over to Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works For Me Wednesday tips!

Menu Plan Monday June 22, 2008

Well, after my blogging hiatus, I’m back to posting my weekly menus.  I was partly successful at following a menu while I wasn’t posting, but I think that everything that was going on contributed more to that than the fact that I wasn’t posting my menu here.  I still had a menu posted in my kitchen, but the events of certain days and weeks really steamrolled me at times. 

Hopefully, this week will go off without a hitch!  Without further ado, here’s this week’s menu!

Sunday: Rosemary Steak in Red Wine Sauce - NEW

Monday: Grilled Chicken with Fire Roasted Tomato Sauce and Zuchini - NEW - Due to the tomato issue right now, I’ll be using a can of my organic fire roasted tomatoes from the pantry for my sauce.

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Beef Lo Mein - NEW - I’ll be using some roast and probably some chicken also from previous meals that I’ve got in the freezer for this dish to cut down on time.

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Chicken Alfredo with Mushrooms, Peas, Tomatoes and Penne - NEW -This isn’t something I’ve made before and it’s just going to be a bunch of things I’ll be throwing together.  No special recipe or anything.  Again, I’ll be using canned tomatoes from the pantry for safety, and leftover chicken from Monday’s meal to save time.

Saturday: Chili Rubbed Pork Chops - NEW - I’m not using cinnamon like the recipe calls for and will be mixing the spices with a tiny bit of worchestershire sauce to form a paste to rub on the pork chops before grilling them.

Wow!  I’m doing a lot of new dishes this week.  I’ll let you know next week how they all turn out.

Head over to I’m an Organizing Junkie for more great menus and recipes!

A Sprouting Photographer? June 21, 2008

While we were waiting for the limo to be ready to head out and surprise my in-law’s for their 40th wedding anniversary, I occupied a hungry and tired Bean by letting her take some photos. 

Here’s her portfolio.

 

Clearly, we’ve got to work on keeping our fingers off the lense when we shoot.  But I think she did just fine.  I especially like the one that is next-to-last.

Feeling Better June 20, 2008

The Bean is feeling better.  Her fever seems to have run its course, and she has eaten a little bit today.  I think we’re on the up-swing!  Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!

We have now entered the lovely period of getting back into our bedtime routine. 

Like everyone, The Bean doesn’t sleep well when she’s sick, and we usually do some extra cuddling and rocking and sitting with her whenever she’s sick.  When she starts to feel better, she, of course, feels Mommy and Daddy should continue sitting with her for 2 hours every night until she goes to sleep. 

I will continue our night time rocking and snuggling before bed until she’s 20 if she lets me, but as much as I love my Sweet Bean, I just cannot sit with her for hours on end at night.  It’s not good for me or for her.  She has to learn to soothe herself to sleep.  The first few nights after she’s been sick are very difficult as we work to re-establish The Bean’s night time routine. 

Sigh.

We’re starting to get there, but so far, it’s not been pretty. 

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mamaw & Papaw! June 19, 2008

This past weekend, we headed back to our hometown to join T’s sister and brother-in-law and numerous other friends and family members in surprising T’s parents with a 40th anniversary party.  T’s sister has been planning this since last year, and I’m thrilled to report that Mamaw and Papaw were definitely surprised. 

The plan was for them to think that they were only going out for a celebratory lunch with T’s sister and brother-in-law and niece.  The first surprise was that they would be taken to lunch in a limo!  The second surprise was that T, The Bean, and I were waiting for them in the limo when the door was opened.  Since we live a 7 hour drive away, our visits back home aren’t run of the mill, and the fact that we were there was a treat for us and for them. 

Here’s a picture of them when the door was opened to reveal The Bean sitting in her car seat.

I couldn’t get around fast enough to get a clear shot of Mamaw’s face since we nearly forgot to have the camera out to catch their expressions until it was too late!  But if you look through the window, you can kind of see her face too.  T’s mom said her first thought upon seeing The Bean was “that baby looks just like The Bean!”  She quickly peeked in the car to see if we were in there too to confirm to herself that it really was The Bean in person!

Here they are in the limo on the way to Red Lobster for lunch.

After lunch, we all used the “girls-need-to-lie-down-for-a-nap-just-ride-around-in-the-limo-for-a-little-while” excuse to keep them occupied until the driver would drop them off at the surprise reception T’s sister had planned a little later.  The girls did get naps, but we also used the time to finish setting up before T’s parent’s arrival.

They were surprised again to see so many friends and family waiting for them when they were dropped off at the reception site.

 

Here’s the whole immediate family at the reception. 

It was a lot of fun, and we were so happy to honor such a special anniversary milestone. 

If you look closely at the table decorations, you’ll notice a small, metal, heart-shaped basket on the table.  The baskets were filled with red hots which The Bean discovered are quite tasty.  Every time I looked up, she was scoping out which table had a chair positioned close enough for her to reach the red hot basket on each table.  She ate so many that she threw up when we got back to the house a couple of hours later.  We’ll see if she still wants them the next time she has a chance to have them again!

Hats off to T’s sister, K, for spear heading the whole thing and doing so much work to make it happen.  Other family members definitely contributed as well to make it a special day! 

Congratulations, Mamaw and Papaw on 40 years of marriage.  Thanks for being such a blessing and a wonderful example!

Beautiful! June 19, 2008

I’m moved to tears every time I watch this.  What a reminder of the power of our God!

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night June 19, 2008

After The Bean finally went to sleep last night amidst the thuderstorm, I was hoping she’d get some good rest. 

It was not to be. 

The looming vomitting commenced about 3:30 this morning followed by a second round about 4:15. 

This morning, she is still running fever but has not vomited anymore.  Currently, she’s watching Nick Jr. and drinking some diluted white grape juice.  She’s doing well at taking in fluids but has only eaten a handful of chex cereal.  That’s okay since the fluids are probably more important at this point.  Her appetite will return when she feels better. 

I’ll head to work this evening when T gets home, and he’ll stay  home with her tomorrow while I put in a long day.  Between tonight’s hours and the long day I’m planning to put in tomorrow, I should still get all my hours in at work.  Most of the time, I get more accomplished in the evenings at work anyway since people don’t expect me to be there, and the phone is not ringing constantly. 

Hopefully, the vomitting is over, and the fever will be gone soon.  Keep her in your prayers!

A Small Bump In The Road June 19, 2008

I am working on getting back into my posting routine and had planned to do a Works For Me Wednesday post today.  However, The Bean was exceptionally clingy when I picked her up from daycare today and started running fever shortly after we made it home.  She’s been complaining of her tummy hurting and saying she has to “spit up” but hasn’t yet vomited.  I’ve spent most of the night attempting to comfort her.  T and I swapped out sitting with her tonight until she fell asleep which finally occurred less than an hour ago. 

Due to this lovely development, my currently fuzzy brain is not quite up to putting together my planned post.  I had not yet had the chance to type it ahead of time this week.  So instead of a Works For Me Wednesday post, you lovely people get treated to my rambling on about The Bean needing to vomit. 

I’m sure you’re thrilled. 

Hopefully, she’ll be feeling better in the morning.  If you want, you can still head over to view this week’s Works For Me Wednesday Mr. Linky and revel in all the great ideas out there.

The Bean Is Growing Up June 17, 2008

Well, as of last night, The Bean is officially out of her crib and in a toddler bed.  T’s parent’s, AKA Mamaw and Papaw, found a nice toddler bed frame at a yard sale a couple of months ago.  Since we were in town visiting them this past weekend, we were able to bring it home with us. 

Last night, the three of us put it together.  The Bean was so cute taking the screwdriver and trying to help tighten things up.  After it was all together, she helped me clean it.  We took it back to her room and arranged her covers and pillow on it, and she practiced lying in it. 

When it was bedtime, we did have to sit with her for a while to remind her to stay in her bed and just give her some security since she now didn’t have a big bed all around her.  But she finally settled in and drifted off to sleep. 

After she was asleep, I went into her room and watched her for a bit.  Lately, it’s really hitting me how fast she’s growing.  I know my days of rocking her are quickly passing, and I don’t want to miss a one.  There are nights when I’m so exhausted, but I try to remind myself not to pass up on these moments.  I never regret putting aside my weariness and spending a little time listening to her chatter or giving her butterfly kisses while she giggles. 

I know I’ll blink, and she’ll be off to college.  But she’ll always be My Sweet Bean.