The icing on the crap cake...

I have to take a moment for me. So bare with me, I'm about to vent. Yesterday was horrific, and it managed to carry on into today for that matter. I have been really sick lately, and on top of just generally not feeling well, I managed to get me a nasty sinus infection. I went to a walk-in clinic a few weeks ago and the doctor there gave me antibiotics, which I hate to take, but did, and it still didn't fix it. So I made an appointment with a naturopathic doctor. I prefer them anyways, but since we are still fairly new to the area, I hadn't pick a primary doctor yet. So anyways it's hard for me to go to appointments with the childcare, my mom is the only one who can cover for me right now, because she meets with licensing guidelines, but she is a busy lady, so I had to schedule a dentist appointment and a doctor appointment in the same day, to make good use of her time.

This is were it went bad, very, very, bad. I hate going to the dentist. I am terrified of needles. You would think after two pregnancy's, one of which ended up as a C-section, that I would be over that by now, but I am so not! I managed to survive the shot in my mouth, barely, and then they started drilling and boom...shooting pain! I freak, they stop, he gives me another shot, they start again, and ouch...more shooting pain! So I am bawling by this point, because this has happened more then once in the past, I don't know why I don't numb, and it's scary and it really HURTS. They stop again, get out the laughing gas, attempt to calm my now hysterical self down, and then proceed to give me yet another shot straight into the gums. Finally I was completely numb, and they finished their evil work. It sucked! By the time I was leaving, I could barely talk, because my tongue and half my face was completely numb, I sounded ridiculous.

So a little later that same day I am off to the doctor. Everything went fine, although I almost bit off his fingers because I forgot that my jaw was sore, so when he told me to say aaaahhhhh, and started to take a peek in my mouth, I proceeded to yelp in pain and snap my mouth down on the tongue depressor thingy. Which freaked out the poor man. I'm sure he thought I was some sort of crazy finger biter! A brief explanation was needed. Anyways he told me that I am indeed sick (No way, really?) and that I desperately need to reduce the amount of stress in my life and boost my immune system so that I can start feeling better. He gave me lots of *useful* (sarcastic statement) suggestions for over all health like get a solid nights sleep, and more then 4-5 hours (ha, ha, I've got 3 boys 3 and under mister!), take 45 minute walks alone for stress reduction (Oh sure, I have 45 spare minutes laying around), drink 48-64 ounces of water a day (okay I admit that's a good one, but I seriously don't have time to pee that much!). When he wrote up my treatment plan the first thing he wrote on there was the thing about more water, which when my husband saw that he had an "I told you so" moment. Annoying! But the doctor also wrote on there that I needed steam inhalation, which I told my husband had to come in the form of long hot baths, doctors orders.

Speaking of baths, I decided to take one that very same night, last night. My husband had picked up some peppermint extract, suggested by the doctor, and so I ran a bath and dumped some in...OMGoodness...what a way to end a wretched day! No it was not in a good way, I dumped way to much in, apparently you are only suppose to use a few drops, and well I'm not even sure how much I put in there but it was way to much! I started to feel a cold sensation, followed by a cold, but burning sensation, followed by an Oh CR#@ thought, and I jumped up and started showering off, and my skin was on fire, but I was freezing cold at the same time. Like when you put the icy hot stuff on sore muscles. I got all light headed and I started screaming for my husband, he came in, and freaked out, because apparently the stench of peppermint was so strong his eyes started watering. Only I would be such and idiot. So there I stood, buck-naked, shivering and crying while my husband tried to calm me down. It wasn't pretty, literally. I was afraid I would have to go to the ER or something, and have to explain my idiotic self, but instead we put olive oil all over (I was willing to try anything!) and it really helped, but it took a few hours for the cold/hot feeling to go away! Not the relaxing bath I had envisioned.

Then the icing on this crap cake is that Atty broke the toilet in the main bathroom this morning. Broke, Broke, as in need a new toilet. Water was gushing everywhere. He climbed up on the toilet when we were all in there brushing our teeth, and I got him down, and of course he climbed up again because he just HAD to get into the stuff on the shelf above the toilet. So I grabbed him again, and this time he grabbed on and hung on for dear life, putting up a good fight as usual. I am used to this resistance, so I didn't think much of it. Somewhere in between scolding one of the other children because they keep flicking the light on and off, stopping another child with my leg from falling off a stool, and wrestling Atty off the toilet, he managed to lift the lid up with him and then before I could even react he decided to give up the fight and let go, CRACK, the lid hit the tank and it split down the side! I freaked, tried to turn off the water, and as water is pouring out of the toilet I sprinted to the laundry room to grab towels, sprinted back, and then realized in my panicked state that I turned the water all the way up, not down. Urrrrrgggg, righty tighty, lefty loosey, stupid! I guess I didn't really need to turn off the water, just empty the tank, (as hubby patiently let me know, after the fact) but I wasn't thinking to clearly, just panicking. I also started saying "Sh#@, sh@#, sh#@, over and over again- I don't handle these sorts of emergencies well- until I looked up from cramming towels around the toilet and realized that all the kids were staring at me (I only had one daycare kid at the time, I called her mom and explain the situation, and my poor choice of word, which she thankfully understood. Not a shining star moment in the world of childcare.) It's not really that child that I am worried about though, it's my oldest, he likes to pick up on words you would rather he not have heard. So any ways, what was Atty doing while all the flooding was going on? Well he took advantage of the fact that I was good and distracted and went back to climbing up the tallest dresser in their bedroom, and grabbing the breakables off of the shelf that is way up high on their wall for a reason. His newest favorite pass time, besides breaking toilets. When I discovered him up there, my head almost popped off, and I think steam might have started to pour out of my ears!

Yeah, I think I'm doing really well so far at reducing that stress the good ol' doc was talking about...

baby in a box

We put Juicy baby in our letter box, we are on the letter I and since his name starts with I he got put in the box too, along with the insects (fake), index cards, and instruments. This letter was a hard one to find things to put in our letter box. There's always icecream and ice, but those would have been a little messy...

It's a good thing we had him just sitting around, or our letter box would have practically been empty.

He didn't want to get out though, I think he could have lived in there, he stayed in the letter box for the rest of preschool time, and only the lure of snack coaxed him out.

Pray for the monsters

Lately bedtime prayers with Bubu have been an interesting experience. He prays for everything and I mean everything! From the light in the ceiling, to his shoes, to the ketchup he had with dinner. He will list every family member, extended family member, friends, neighbors, pets, the cashier in the grocery store we said hi to that day... the list goes on. But last night was a first, last night he prayed for monsters.

"Dear Lord Jesus I thank you for (everything under the sun) and please send your guardian angels to protect (everything under the sun)... and the monsters."

Apparently even monsters need prayers.

Wheat free cornbread anyone?

I have a kid with a wheat sensitivity, so we have had to cut all wheat out of his diet (and a lot out of ours too!) to keep him from feeling yucky. It's been a real adjustment for our family, and a new cooking experience for me. I altered a cornbread recipe with great success and I wanted to share it with anyone who has a wheat sensitivity, or if you just want a new delicious cornbread recipe, I guarantee your kids will love it. It is super yummy, my hubby brought it to work, and shared, and even a few of the guys he works with want the recipe! Be warned that my recipes are a fly by the seat of your pants sort of deal, I guesstimate (a combination of guess and estimate, great word!) a lot.

Turn your oven on to 350, put 3 tablespoons of butter in a 9 by 13 glass baking pan (or something close to that size), and place in the oven to melt while the oven is warming up. Make sure the butter does not burn! Keep an eye on it, and take out as soon as it is done melting.

In a big mixing bowl add:

1 cup rice flour

1/2 cup soy flour

2/3 sugar (I usually put a little less then this)

1/2 cup corn meal

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Mix all of these ingredients together, then make a hole in the middle of the dry mixture and add the following ingredients.

1 1/4 cups milk

1 large egg (Beat separately first, then add.)

You can use 2 eggs instead, but I think the cornbread is more moist with my egg/water combination. If you do put 2 eggs in then do not add the 1/3 cup water listed below.

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil.

Mix all ingredients together well.

Pour the cornbread mixture into the pan with the melted butter, I always gently mix the melted butter in with the cornbread a little bit, but I don't think you have to do this. Word of advice, don't grab the hot glass pan with your bare hands in a hurry to get it in the oven, ouch! Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bottom of the cornbread should just be a little brown, do not over cook. Trust me...

You can also do this recipe with no eggs, I had to the other day, and I just used 2/3 cup water, about a tbsp of corn starch, and a little extra oil. I'm really good at getting everything mixed up in the bowl and then realizing that I have no eggs, happens more then I even want to admit!

If you try this cornbread recipe, let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Monkey look alikes

My friend made these adorable sock monkeys for all three of my boys, and they look just like them, don't you think? If only my boys would sit this still for a picture! You should check out her blog at http://www.treasuresunderthewillowtree.blogspot.com/ (also listed under blogs I follow on my profile page.) She is possibly the craftiest person ever! In all seriousness she makes beautiful things, her newest item that I like a lot is called a Bella Bunny and it is so adorable. She makes custom orders too, and there is a link to her Etsy shop on her blog. You can order what ever you want and she mails them out to you, you can pay by pay pal or whatever, it's super convenient. Just thought I would help spread the word. I love ordering things from her, and I am never disappointed, they are always beautiful. If only I could be so crafty!

Passing on the positive.

I have this beautiful quote, with a picture of a sunrise in the background, posted on my fridge. It's titled, Don't Quit, and I stop to read it at least a few times a week. I am going to share it with you. I know we have all had hard times, and it's such a good reminder to stay positive.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
It's when things seem worse,
That you must not quit.

I think it is so important to keep this attitude and share it with our kids. Teaching them resilience could possibly be the most important thing you ever have to teach.

There is something I tell Bubu when he gets frustrated. When he is trying to do something new or hard and he can't figure it out. When he is whining and wants me to do it for him, I tell him, "try your hardest first, keep trying, and when you feel you have tried your hardest, then let me know and I will be happy to help you." So the other day he couldn't get the door open and I said this to him again, and he kept trying until he got it. Then he turned to me and said, "I tried my hardest and I did it!" He was so proud of himself, and I told him I was proud of him also. It's those little things that help teach resilience to our children.

Then yesterday I was talking out loud while trying to get the lid off a pickle jar, and I was complaining that his dad always tightens the lids so tight and I couldn't get it off. I was about to give up on the pickle idea. Bubu hears this and says to me "try your hardest mom." So noticing a learning moment, and feeling an immense need to set an example of trying your hardest, I stopped my complaining and put some muscles into it. Sure enough I got that lid off, although I think I broke a sweat, all for a pickle! What does my sweet little son tell me next? "I'm so proud of you mom." The point was not getting the lid off, but of trying your hardest before quiting, because you just never know, you might succeed!

Remembering to teach that failure is a learning opportunity, and to keep on going in these moments too, to not let yourself be set back by failure is also so vital. This is when it is the hardest and most important time to keep on going!

Let's keep passing on the positive!

Look mom I made purple!

Um, yeah, I was speechless.

Situation went a little like this;

Me- washing another child's hands in the bathroom after our painting project in preschool.

Bubu- from the dinning room "I like purple"

Me- Hummmmm..... (answer for everything when busy.)

Bubu- "Purple is nice"

Me- "Oh?" (wait a minute, purple? We weren't using the color purple.)

Bubu- "I like it on my body."

Me- "Bubu, what are you doing?"

Bubu- "It's fun, Atty too mom."

Me- Wait a minute he's calling me mom! "Bubu, come here"

Bubu- suspiciously silent.

Me- "Bubu!"

Dashing back to the dinning room, almost run into little purple man, auggggg!

Bubu- "I made purple!" He shows me his hands with pride.
Good grief...and there's Atty all grins and giggles, covered from head to toe, enjoying purple. Well what can I say, it was a pretty color they made, although not my favorite. Maybe next time we will experiment with yellow and blue.

Preschool painting projects are so much fun!