Bait and switch

The past two days I've worked, I've asked for a bowl of oatmeal and brown sugar for breakfast. Well, they must be outoif oatmeal, because I keep getting something else. The first day, the lady was like, "we're out of oatmeal, here have a orange or a banana." Seriously?! Ok. Whatever. At least it's something. Then, the next day. I was hoping for oatmeal, please? Nope. But the guy (a different person was the key) brought me a plate of French toast! You guys! I love French toast! I like the oatmeal here too, but that's ok, I'll take French toast :)

No patience for patients

Still alive, yo.

Patient of the day: "Are you coming back in the morning? Because I'd like someone who already knows me to be my nurse" was said to me about 5 minutes after I met her. I met her at 7:15 pm, as my shift was ending. I guess she thought we had a connection going on.

Runner-up patient of the day: bed-ridden, 350 pounds, massively swollen legs, necrotic ulcers on her abdominal panis, multiple pressure sores on her back, butt, and posterior thighs, has a long-term trach, incontinent of poop, and won't do anything for herself. She thinks she gets to go home because she doesn't want to go to rehab/nursing home. Who will care for her? Her parents who are in their 70s. Her momma can barely walk without falling, her daddy is in a neck brace. It takes three strapping nurses to turn her over, amid her many shouts of "I don't want to turn, I'll be ok sitting in my sh*t, leave me alone. Yeah, of course she'll be fine at home.

Confession time!

So, with all the Mommy wars going around, I just want to put it out there why I'm a good mother to my kids. They're in no particular order, just as I think of them. And this not an all-inclusive list!

I use medications, like Tylenol and Benadryl for both of them.

They get their vaccines.

They use cloth diapers.

They use disposable diapers.

I work +12hrs a day, 3-4 days a week.

Some times, on my days off, I wish I was at work.

I carry (carried, too) my kids in my arms, in a baby carrier, and in their infant carseat. And they ride in the shopping carts without a protective cover!

I love coming home and seeing my son run to me yelling "Momma!!"

I love seeing my husband come home so I can pass of my kids to him for a break!

I hardly ever cook. Pancakes, French toast, and grilled cheese are weekly meals.

We don't eat organic.

I have laundry piled up all over my bedroom. Ha, my living room too.

I bathe the kids when they're cranky, not caring if they're dirty or not.

I had an epidural with both boys' labors, and breastfed them until a year or so. (still nursing the little one)

I used formula with both of them. And pumped while working full time (12+hr shifts!)

They're both circumcised.

My little one cries a lot. Nothing I do changes or helps it. So he cries.

My big one watches too much TV, but he can count to 13 and knows all the letters in the alphabet and numbers 0-10, so I'm ok with it. Thank you Sesame Street!

I usually have dirty dishes in the sink and stinky sippy cups under the couch.

We eat in the living room. Often.

My 3yo isn't potty trained yet. And my 11 mo doesn't sleep thought the night yet.

My 3 yo has a Bible verse memorized. It's "God loved us and sent his Son." and I'm super proud of him.

We don't spank often, but when we do, it's well-heeded.

I could go on. I'm not the perfect mom, or wife, but I'm perfect for my family. If someone tries to attack my choices and tell me I'm a bad parent because of what I do, I'm going to leave that person as fast as I can. I berate myself enough as it is, I don't want or need any one else doing it for me.

At the end of the day (or the middle of the night) they know I love them and when they call, my arms are around them tight!

What about you? What choices do you make for your kids that make you the best parent for them.

Life as I know it

Life with a toddler/preschooler is never boring. I am woken up by a nasally breathing. When I open my eyes, I see his head peaking over the bed and gazing at me. "Mama?" he whispers. I scot into the middles of the bed and and bombarded by his growing body. Some times he'll lay there for 2 minutes. Sometimes he's asleep. But usually he curls up next to me. I try to remember when he was a nursling.
And then the day starts. At 630, or 6. Or 645. But usually 630. He asks for milk. But it come out "mutch? Wam mutch?" He carries his cup to the couch, curls up under a blanket and drinks his milk. He's my baby again for the 2 minutes it takes him to drink the milk. Then the craziness begins. GEM wakes up, BAM wants breakfast, GEM wants breakfast, I need breakfast. BAM usually asks to watch a movie. Recently it's been "rat" or "scare" or "balloons" which translate into Ratatouille, Monsters Inc (or it could be Veggie Tales), and Up. Gavin is happy to watch either of those, so long as he can see and feel me!
Nap time for Gavin means shower time for momma :D Brendon entertains himself while I relax. I'm always apprehensive when I get out because I'm not sure what he'll have gotten into. Usually everything is fine, but there's the time he dipped (rather, jumped??) into the peanut butter. Of when he climbed into Gavin's crib, effectively destroying the morning nap. Or what about the time he dusted the kitchen with cinnamon? It smelled lovely but was such a mess.
But, in spite of all the challenges my boys are apart and together, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Should be called "people of Water Country USA"

We went to Water Country USA Saturday evening, and I really had to wonder at the peoples attire. Now, I know it's a water park, and many people are comfortable enough (some times TOO comfortable) with how their body looks to wear what they wear. But these made me ponder. I'll keep the mental images to a minimum :)

• a tank top UNDER a bathing suit, so it wasn't too low cut. You want to know how I know it was a tank top and not an added triangle of fabric? because it stuck out underneath the bathing suit. I'm very familiar with not wanting to show all of one's cleavage, but if you're going to wear a bathing suit and NOT like what it shows, wear the tank ON TOP!
• a "one piece" held together by a thin strip of material up the front. You those cars that are "convertible," but have a T piece in the middle? Yeah, like that. Just go for the bikini because it's all out there anyways.
• jeans and a polo. He did have his swim trunks tucked under his arm, and in a strange coincidence I saw him later wearing his swim trunks, but why come in jeans and a polo? in 100+ degree weather?!
• a strapless top (tankini type) with some sort of swimming pants. No joke. they went almost to her ankles (with cuffs) and she was in the water up to her knees, but her top was a regular bathing suit top.
• a (I'm guessing Mulsim) girl in a hijab, with long sleeves and long pants. Her top was loose enough to be in par with their dress, but her pants...think spandex yoga pants. They filled every crease...I mean, doesn't the one negate the other?

What did me and my family wear? I wore this top (which was very popular there) and some sort of running-type shorts. My son's wore rash guard shirts (because they don't need to tan yet) and swim trunks. Mark wore and athletic-type of shirt (Under Armour, I think) and swim trunks. Could we be made fun of, sure. But this is my blog for my brain's workings.

2nd Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 7

So I'm finally posting about the end. I could do this full time if I had to. But I don't. It was hard to find the time to wash them. It was hard to find a place outside for then to dry.
If I was without electricity, I doubt I'd have access to as much water as I used. I had to soak, rinse, hot wash, hot rinse. Another two rinses after that. The last rinse water was saved for the next loads soak. I used all hit water because I had it, but I'm sure cold water would have worked, but needed more rinses to get the soap out.
I don't have any more pics, except this one at the end. I couldn't to this and work like I do. Too much time between washings would elapse and I would, and did!, have too many to wash at once.
I whole-y support buying the flour sack towels from Wal-Mart or Target vs the diaper flats. $1 each or 12 for $20. Either way, they're both cheap.
So, I did it. Did you? Could you?

2nd Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 6

So I missed days 4 and 5 because I was working. And now today I caught up on all my washing. What an appropriate topic, my wash routine!
I drop a wet diaper in a bucket of water. I keep the bucket in the tub. When I have several diapers I use a designated spoon to agitate the diapers, but I think using my hand works better. Then I wring and refill the bucket with hot water. One more rinse, then a table spoon of Rockin Green for a load, which ends up being 4-6 diapers. I tried using 1/2 tbspn, but they were still stinky. Then I do two agitating rinses with hot water and wrong between each one.
Between wringing diapers and taking the stairs at work (the elevators were on the fritz) I'm going to be so muscular!!

I rolled each diaper and cover in a twirl and had my "assistant" help stomp them! But that was kinda dumb. Now I have a pile of wet towels!

And then I hang them up! Outside if it's a morning load, inside around the house if it's a nighttime load. I'm still waiting for a clothes line, so I improvise :)

I'm mobile so I can't post the links of the other bloggers, but you can visit Dirty Diaper Laundry for them! http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/2nd-annual-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-day-6-going-out-babysitters-and-husbands/