Mama Ellen's

News of the Week

2005-04-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

Bug gives mom some lip. He's not even 5 and he acts like he is 15. So how did the conversation go you may ask? Well..

Me "I don't want to hear you saying things like that to your sister!"

Bug " Then you shouldn't listen!"

Boo spent a lot of time in solitary confinement due to her love of "stealing" things from table and counter tops. The result of said heists have been a nearly full jar of carrot babyfood spilled on the carpet, banana rubbed into the new couch, and water nearly being poured on daddy's laptop so that Boo could "clean up". There have been other things but I just don't want to go there right now.

Blurg is being "ferberized" starting tonight. I give her credit. The girl's got lungs. First try for goinf to sleep only took 1 hour and about 20 minutes. Hopefully she will be able to go to sleep on her on by her first birthday, which is coming up next week. Yipee!!

Bogus got new glasses and they are cuuuuuute. Tomatoes

And I myself have been battling being sick for nearly 8 months now, on and off, and finally have some good news. Well maybe good is not the right word but at least reassuring news. I'm not insane!! The joint pain and swelling is real and I have the blood test to prove it! This may sound a little twisted but I was really starting to think that I was becoming a whiney hypochondriac. I'm a mother of 3, of course I should be chronically tired, have joint pain from the constant bending and lifting of my wiggly 20, 30, and 50 lb "weights", and feel like Sybil. Aren't all moms that way? Guess not.

But after multiple blood test there was one called a SED rate that came back at 56. "The sedimentation rate (sed rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a test tube in one hour. When inflamation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. The more red cells that fall to the bottom of a special test tube in one hour, the higher the sed rate." Normal SED range is <25.

So what does all this mean? We don't know yet. It could be caused by a lot of things but at least we know it isn't nothing. I was all ready to start looking for a little white padded room with nice soft music. Not needed. Hooray!!

Quick Kiddie Update

2005-04-03T20:03:00.000-05:00

Things have been very hectic and I have not blogged here or at MAWB Squad in a long LONG time. Just a few quick comments here and there have been all that I could afford to due. Why? Well it is a long story that I will get to once I have answers to a few other questions. Mysterious enough? Good.

So what is new with the kiddies. From youngest to oldest...

Blurg has started cruising but is still afraid to stand on her own. Thank heavens. I fear she will be a real terror once she can go solo. She has added a new favorite word to her vocab, "No!". She has cut 4 teeth in the past week and is working on 4 more. And she is NOT happy. And finally, she will be celebrating her 1st birthday in 9 days.

Boo Boo has crossed over into a horrible obstinate phase. She will be lucky to make it to her third birthday. On a cuter note, she has also entered the dress up phase and always wants to be in party clothes. And when she isn't she pretends. Just the other day she was running around the house wearing nothing but her pull-ups, tap-tap shoes (black mary janes) and a pink bowl on her head yelling, "I am the queen".

...........45 minutes later...............

Blurg is sick, fever shot up to 102. Most likely an ear infection but urgent care is closed so we will drug her and wait until morning. Tonight she will sleep in my arm as we rock together in the glider. Sigh. Also, Bogus was holding the little screech monkey and as soon as I went to take her she smiled, turned her head and said, "Bye Da". Drama queen.

And on to Bug. His current topics of enjoyment are spring, herb/carn/omnivores, multiplication, structures of the inner ear, and pirates. And he is still questioning the existence of God. And now that he and Boo share a bunk bed he has pointed out to her that because she is on the bottom the monsters are under her bed. Such a big brother thing to do. We are also preparing for his 5th birthday party. He turns 5 on the 27th. He andBlurg will share a Pirate Party on the 30th. There will be pirates, snakes, and buried treasure. What more could he want?

And last but certainly not least, the biggest kiddie, Bogus planted tomato seeds today. It seems we will have 33 plants this year (this is actually lower than last year).

Time is took to write this post - 1 hour 27 minutes. Less than 500 words. Ugh!

It is now 4/4 in the p.m. and wouldn't ya know that my meanderings didn't post. Let's try again.

Philosophy and the 4 Year Old

2005-03-07T23:36:00.000-06:00

When I became a Mom I thought I would get lots of those fun and funny questions from my children. Boo is really good at these questions. Why do pickles smell like throw-up? Who just tooted? Where does poopy come from? These are fun questions. And answers can be silly.

Then there is Bug. Today we had a 20-30 minute conversation on why lies are bad. Who gets hurt? When does a person go to jail? What is jail and what is life like in jail? And on and on and on. Granted, I'm proud of him and the fact that he is trying to figure out the world. But talk about draining. Eventually he asked if going to jail is like a really long time out. I took his example and ran with it. At the end of the discussion he decided that he didn't really want to ever go to jail. Good boy!

He is also trying to wrap his brain around time travel. Since traveling takes time he figures we just have to plot the trip on a map. Any ideas on explaining the time space continuim?

And the other questions of the day; "If the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, what controls the middle? And do the sides of the brain fight over what they control?

Last Week's Update

2005-03-07T23:26:00.000-06:00

There is an article Odds and Ends at MAWB Squad with an update on the kiddies last week. Go on over, take a peek, and check out the other cool posts too.

Paper Dolls and Starfish

2005-02-28T15:33:00.001-06:00

Most parenting books will tell you that kids are fragile and should be handled very carefully. And on a certain level this is true. But kids are also resilient. They can and should be taught to bounce back and toughen up. No, I do not believe the “spare the rod spoil the child” theory. Children should not be abused physically, mentally or emotionally. But all people, including adults can make mistakes or have a lack in judgement that hurt a child’s self esteem. We all try to avoid this dilemma. How the problem is corrected is what truly matters.

A lesson in Paper Dolls:
A few years ago I attend a parent/child class that discussed the self-esteem of children. We were each given a paper doll. As the parent educator read off phrases that parents may say to a child, we were supposed to tear of a piece of the paper doll if the comment was an esteem crusher. The size of the tear was to be based on the amount of self-esteem damage. Paper dolls were losing body parts left and right. By the end of the exercise, there were ripped torsos everywhere. I personally thought this was a really violent representation. The lesson they were trying to teach was that what we say can hurt a child so don't say anything bad, ever. Sorry folks, life doesn't always work that way.

JJ lost an Arm Today
I told my sister-in-law the paper doll story and that quickly became our shorthand for having a "bad mommy day.” She might call and say, "Well, JJ just lost an arm" at which point we would discuss what happened. Or I would call her to say Bug just lost a leg and explain my bad mommy moment. We all make mistakes. So then what?

Starfish
I decided, just last night, that I prefer to think of children as starfish. Life can be cruel and no matter how hard we try, they will get hurt. And hopefully we will give them the right tools to heal. I want my children to be starfish. If they lose a limb metaphorically speaking, I want them to be able to grow it back. I want them to know that although they may be slighted they don't need to be martyrs. They don't need to walk around, detached limbs flapping in the breeze. I want them to be like starfish. I want them to be able to rearrange themselves in order to fit where they want to fit. (Starfish can be symmetrical or change shape in order to wedge themselves between rocks for protection.) I want them to become what they want to become. I don't want them to be made victims. Then I asked myself, how would I make a starfish?

What do children need to learn in order to have self-esteem, recover after attack, and go on to be decent non-self-centered humans? I think the easiest and yet most complex answer is respect. They need to respect themselves. They need to respect others. They need to understand that others have the right to their own opinion, and that the right must be respected. Note that I don't say that the opinion should be respected, it is the right to have the opinion. They need to understand that everyone makes mistakes. And to admit one's mistakes, apologize, and ask forgiveness is essential. This shows respect of others and oneself.

Children are not as fragile as everyone believes. They are extremely strong. They can be extremely resilient. And they are extremely forgiving. As parents, when we screw up and say or do something that we fear will hurt our child's self-esteem, we should apologize, ask forgiveness, and then do everything in our power to not repeat the offense. A phrase we have used with our children is, "Sorry means we are not going to do it again." And although it doesn't always work out the way we want, there is a certain level of pride when we hear our 5-year old apologize to his little sister, and to hear her say, "I forgive you." No limbs lost.

Back and Back Again

2005-02-24T09:11:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to get out here to post something more than 2 sentences for over a week and it hasn't been possible. Either Wonder Bug has been making comments like, " A-3= 5 so A =8 right?" or "Did you know some things are fantasy and some are real and some fantasy things started out as real but were changed to be fantasy?" (I'm sitting here shaking my head.) BooBoo has been either reeking havic in her own special way or saying things like, "You are my best fwend and I love you so vewyvewy much".. Gotta love her. And Barnicle Blurg is attached to me like velcro. Dependent independence. Anyway...

Last weekend was really rough. On Friday, Bug had to go through allergy testing. This wasn't the first time but it was certainly the worst. The 35 needle pricks to the back were tough. The 13 mini-shots in his arms were awful. He screamed and jerked away so I had to help pin him down while Boo was screaming "Don't hurt my budder. I luv my budder ###". Lucy chimed in too with her glass breaking screeches. And then after all this he had to have some blood drawn. It took 3 attempts in the arm (which failed) and then finally 3 more in the back of the hand to get 1 vial of blood. And yes he has allergies. Eggs, peanuts, dogs, cats, 1 type of grass and 2 types of dust mites.

So to help him feel better and reward him for being brave, I finally got around to finishing his and Boo's bunk bed. They both love it. Unfortunately, Boo insisted on going on top. And before I could say Noooooo, she got her foot stuck on the guard rail and went over the edge. She banged her forehead and bridge of the nose on the ladder before flipping over and landing on her back. Many screams insued. She is fine albeit a little bruised. And of course, she scolded the beds. "Bad bed, how rude!"

And then there was Blurg. This weekend, she pulled herself up to stand for the first time. She also figured out climbing over and through which resulted in her getting stuck on the shelf of our coffeetable. We thought it was funny even if she didn't. And although she has no teeth, she was able to eat a piece of porkchop with mustard for dinner that night. Oh, and her favorite phrase, especially when I have left her for any period of time was and is, " Ma Maa Maaa Baaaaaaaa". Should I be concerned. Whee.

Well I am back and back again. It only took and hour to right this itty bitty post. More will come. And since I haven't mentioned it, there is a new blog, MAWB Squad, which is a collective effort of women bloggers, myself included. Check it out. Now. No I mean it, now. Why are you still reading this. Get your butt over to the MAWB. Have a great one!

Melsie...Welcome to the Blogosphere

2005-02-23T23:14:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, please wish a warm welcome to my bestest friend and new woman of blogs, the chick I know as Melsie Muppett. She's cool, she loves Duran Duran, and she can be found here.

Cheers to you!!

Hello Nebraska

2005-02-19T20:22:00.000-06:00

Hi Sue. Hi Kate. Hope all is well over in Husker land. If you are reading this message, I can assume you made it to the sight just fine. Feel free and drop me a line in the comments section. For your convenience, if you look at my other posts, Bug is our eldest's nickname. Boo Boo is our little ballerina/tornado. And Blurg is the one that can now sit up on her own and really likes porkchop sandwiches. Bye! Elle

Terri Schiavo's Right to Life

2005-02-18T08:18:00.000-06:00

First off if you don't know Terri's story this is the link to go to. Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, " was taken off life support more than a decade ago and still managed to survive. Since she cannot feed herself, a feeding tube is being used to sustain her. Her parents want to keep feeding her. Her husband does not. He insists that Schiavo would not want to be kept alive by artificial means." Is it right for him to speak for her, when she can’t speak for herself.

Her family has requested that he agree to dissolution of marriage and to let them take over her care. He does not desire this. He wants to have her feeding tube removed so that she can die from starvation and dehydration. An article by Brainstorming made me think of something and here it is. And remember, Terri is a PERSON, not a pet.

In Florida: FLA. STAT. ?? 828.12 et seq. -- last amended 1999

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates or kills any animal, or carries in a cruel manner; intentionally commits an act which results in a cruel death, or the repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering; fails to supply a confined animal with sufficient food, water, or exercise, or abandons any animal.

* Cruelty to animals.
o 1st Degree Misdemeanor
o Fine up to $5000.
o Imprisonment up to 1 year.
* Intentional cruelty.
o 3rd Degree Felony
o Fine up to $10,000.
o Imprisonment up to 5 years.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Both

Other Sentencing Provisions: Cost of care.

Exemptions: Veterinary care.

Summary: If a person intentionally commits an act which results in a cruel death, or the repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering; fails to supply ... with sufficient food, water, or exercise, .....the said person would be charged with a 3rd degree felony, fine up to $10,000 dollars, and imprisonment up to 5 years. They would be required to forfeit rights and provide cost of care expenses.

Hmmmmmm. So this is what happens to an animal, but in the case of a person, the husband is trying to gain the right to deny food and water which will result in the cruel death of his wife. Does this seem wrong to anyone else?

To help support Terri, there is a blogburst that has been established. Check it out and help save a life

Happy Pills

2005-02-14T17:48:00.000-06:00

I have depression. Did that catch your attention? I wanted to talk about depression and how it effects me and others but actually admitting to having depression is a totally different matter. Unfortunately we still live in a society today that looks upon depression and other forms of mental illness as a character flaw or weakness. I do not consider myself a weak person. As a matter of fact I know that I am not. My family growing up was not the type that put “FUN” into dysfunctional. An alcoholic father, a depressed and sometimes paranoid delusional mother, and an autistic sister rounded out my home. Sounds more like a made for TV movie plot line than real life. And although I went through many trials and tribulations as a child, I’m still here. I survived. And I realize the importance of acknowledging the real me. And in that I find more strength.

This isn’t to say that I don’t have my moments. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have gone to the doctor almost 2 years ago to be checked. There was some PPD (postpartum depression) as well as regular run of the mill depression. I wasn’t sad or weepy. I wasn’t really suicidal. I was angry, aggressive, and just didn’t want to be a mom anymore. I wanted to leave, disappear, never come back. This may be a surprise to anyone who regularly reads this blog. I love my kids and get so much joy from there antics. So to realize that I was having these feelings was difficult. I had to put my pride aside and seek help and get medicated.

I hate medication. In some ways it feels like a daily reminder that I couldn’t hack it. I know this really isn’t the case, it just feels that way. I don’t like the side affects. Frequently having dry, cotton mouth without the pleasure of drinking is quite unpleasant. Being overly tired, occasionally dizzy, and having frequent night sweats also is also a pain. But hating life, hating people, and hating my career as a mom is much worse. Kids really can tell when their parents are not connected. Depression creates a disconnect. And the damage that is done, takes time to repair. Unfortunately I speak from experience on this as well. Luckily kids are resilient and forgiving and loving without condition. But don't be mistaken, depression effects everyone in the family.

This all being said I now need to discuss a close friend that is considering going off their medication. The only reason given is not liking the side affects. I get that. But I also realize that it is a matter of pride and self-centeredness that creates this want. Denial and avoidance are self-serving. We have a mutual friend, LCS that disappeared almost 2 years ago. He lives with bi-polar disorder and on more than a few occasions, has abandoned his medication and then his friends and family. Sometimes he comes back within a few months. Sometime it takes longer. He has been a friend and figurative family member for over 15 years, but we have not heard from him once since the last disappearance. For all we know, he is dead. But we hope that he is not. Of course we are worried and saddened by his behavior, but I know that I am thoroughly ticked off as well.

I know that this self-indulgent behavior has effected our family. It has left an open wound that still has yet to fully heal. And even when it does, and it most likely will, his choice to abandon treatment will leave an emotional scar. It hurts to know that he didn't feel he could turn to anyone close when life became to much. It hurts to know that he is hurting. And it has left all involved, a little more jaded and cynical about the world.

I hope my other friend will remember and evaluate the decisions that LCS has made and realize that they are making the same errors in judgement. If your medication isn't working then go see the doctor. Put pride aside and go. Your actions effect others whether you like it or not. You can be angry at me, that's fine. Be angry. I'd rather you be mad than missing, physically or emotionally.

What Hugh Hewitt and David Cassidy have in Common

2005-02-11T15:58:00.000-06:00

Well it sounds as if the Hewitt-Beinart dinner and debate last night was stellar. Granted, I had some idea how things went after Bogus returned home. After he sat on the edge of the bed, recounting the events, I decided to get up and listen to the rest of his rambles. (For some reason last night the kiddies decided to go to bed without a fuss and early no less. I actually was getting some sleep.) He was so jazzed about the event and of course getting to meet Hewitt , Lilaks, and Beinart. And although he will be embarrassed by this comparison, he reminded me of a giddy school girl getting to meet David Cassidy for the first time. It was soooo CUTE.
Sorry dear. It had to be said. I Love You!!

Boo Boo Alert

2005-02-07T16:15:00.000-06:00

Not to be outdone, Boo Boo is being a terrific two year old. She is pretending to be a ballerina on the mini-trampoline. She has tried to use the potty whenever it has been the most inconvienent. And she also continues to call her big brother Meatball . Who knows why. With all that being said.

Come back Meatball. Comeback.

Arts and Crafts -Bug Style

2005-02-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

Today, after almost 2 weeks of Bug avoiding arts and crafts at school, he chose to paint. Did he paint trees? No. Did he paint fuzzy little bunnies. Nope. Did he paint something depicting death and destruction. Thanks heavens, no. So what did he paint? Math problems of course. My favorite was 14 + 15 = 29. That's our boy.

On the Menu.....Deluxe Chocolate Pudding or a Poor Man's Pot de Creme

2005-02-07T14:49:00.000-06:00

Boo Boo and Bug helped make this decadent yet easy dessert last weekend.

1 small box Jello Cook and Serve Chocolate Pudding
1 cup half & half
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Carmello candy bars broken

Follow the directions on the box, substituting cream and half&half for the milk. As it heats add the chocolate chips and candy cars. Stir to melt. Bring to a boil (as per the directions). Remove from heat and stir. Let sit for about 3 minutes and stir again. Pour into serving containers and chill.

We have tried other variations such as chips only and a different chocolate bar. I'm guessing that most will work. Enjoy!!

Diversity - A Bug's View

2005-02-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

My sister-in-law and I had a discussion on diversity today and although I will not bore you with all the details, I will tell you what I relayed to her about an experience last week.

Last Friday, Wonder Bug came up to me and said, "Did you know people are really different but also the same?".

Me "What do you mean?"

Bug "Well, people live all over the world. They live in different countries, have different holidays, and are different colors. Nobody is the same, exactly."

Me "True..."

Bug "But everybody is the same on the inside. We all have blood and guts. Otherwise we would be dead. We all have hearts and lungs, muscles and bones. Some people did have gallbladders but have them taken out..... (Here is where he digressed a little. He is
only four after all.) So people are the same but different, all at the same time. Pretty cool, Huh?!

Pretty cool, indeed!

Just a FYI

2005-02-07T14:00:00.000-06:00

Yes I am back to blogging. I am no longer sick, or at least not as sick as a couple of weeks ago. And now with the weekend over, Bogus is back to work and I have re-captured my laptop. For those of you who don't already know, Bogus tried to turn his laptop into a new drinking partner and poor Lap just couldn't hold his liquer. So while Lap is recovering at the Dell Detox Center, Bogus has been using my laptop, Sal. Why Sal? For some reason the song Mustang Sally was stuck in my head and Sal seems to be a good name, so Sal it is. Anyway, my posts may be few and far in between but they will still come. Just as long as I can keep Bogus from bogarting Sal. Tee Hee.

Something I Like about our Public School

2005-02-06T16:59:00.000-06:00

So , I have had many a rant about the things I dislike about our public schools, but to be fair I should mention something I like, ECFE. "E arly Childhood Family Education provides information and support to families with children birth - kindergarten. Offerings include parent/child classes, School Readiness pre-kindergarten classes, a home visiting program, a unique drop-in center, and special events and field trips." (Just click on the link to find another link for a list of the Winter/ Spring Newsletter)

In our case, the ECFE classes are just around the corner from where we live, at the city community center. I found out about the classes by accident when Bug was turning one. I needed to have some adult contact and he needed to be around other people as well. Bug was always demanding interaction and it gave him an opportunity to explore a new place and people. And did I mention, I really needed adult contact. So we joined the toddler class the following fall. Bug was 16 months. Just an FYI, there are classes for varying age ranges, day and night.

At first barnacle boy was always attached and would go into fits if I left his sight. These were no ordinary fits either. He would arch his back, scream, vomit, head-butt, and claw. It was your basic everyday Exorcist experience. But with time, and the support of other parents and the teachers, he learned to separate and I learned that I wasn't a bad mommy. And guess what, we learned other things too.

A list of topics were chosen for the class by the parent educator and the parents. There was potty training, sleep struggles, relaxation and marraige after children, just to name a few. It also provided me/us with some of the first feedback on Bug's abilities. Granted, most of it was attributed to him being the first born but over the years that has changed. They have provided as much help as they can in developing and adapting to his learning style.

I can honestly say that I/we have had really good experiences with this area of the public education system. Of course, things are not perfect but that can not be expected from any program. And usually the flaws are out of the control of the teachers. The thing that makes our ECFE different is that the educators and the parents actually work together for the best interest of the children and community.

Magnet Schools

2005-01-29T17:36:00.000-06:00

Some might think that this is a moot point considering that we have decided to do at least some level of home-schooling but I still think it is an important piece of info. Just as a summary for anyone who is visiting this blog for the first time, our eldest child Bug is gifted academically. His areas of interest currently are geography and human anatomy. Emotionally and socially, he is his tender age of 4 1/2 years. We were looking for a school that would give him the academic challenge with the emotional social support. Now here is what I think of magnet schools.

Magnet schools are the educational version of a wolf in sheep's clothing. When I went in search of a school program that offered options for gifted children the magnet schools were presented as a wonderful opportunity for his academic and social enrichment. Here is the information that was given to me:

".....Science, Math, And Technology Magnet will provide rich learning opportunities for students through daily, integrated science, math, and technology. In addition to a comprehensive inquiry-based, hands-on classroom science and math program, students will work in a lab complete with lab coats, current technology and equipment to do experiments and collect and analyze data. Through partnerships with the Science Museum of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, students will collaborate with real scientists and mathematicians in actual research projects."

Sounds great, right? WRONG. As with all things political, and don't be fooled, our educational system is quite political, there is a catch. And as far as I am concerned, these programs are not for academic growth but are rather for fulfilling a liberal agenda.

These magnet schools were devised by the Northwest Suburban Integration School District.

What is NWSISD?
"Northwest Suburban Integration School District is a non-profit organization that promotes district and community-wide multicultural educational programs. We provide our schools and communities a variety of programs and services to help enhance diversity and cultural awareness."

Ok, so why exactly is this organization involved with the magnet schools?
"Specifically, NWSISD emerged because Brooklyn Center and Osseo School Districts were identified as racially isolated as defined by the new desegregation rule, which took effect in January 1999. A "racially isolated" school district is defined in the law as "a district where the district-wide enrollment of protected students exceeds the enrollment of protected students of an adjoining district by more than 20 percentage points."

Who are the "protected students"?
The rule defines "protected students" as those who identify as African/Black Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, American Indian/Alaskan Native or multiracial students having origins in more than one of these categories or one of these categories plus Caucasian.

And what does this mean?
According to the law, if a district or school is identified as "racially isolated" the district must work with neighboring districts to create a voluntary desegregation plan.

What is essentially implied by this program is that the schools identified as racially isolated are not able to provide a comparable education as would a non-racially isolated school. Desegregation is required for these isolated students to receive an equal education and as a result other students that are viewed as "privileged" in this area are given the chance to experience multi-racial and multi-ethnic diversity.

Our son loves to discuss and learn about other cultures. He is fascinated with how people are different and yet essentially the same. And my husband and I help him in this pursuit of knowledge on a regular basis. My issue is that academics have taken the back seat to teaching diversity. I am concerned as to exactly how this diversity would be taught. We live in a very anti-Caucasian, anti-male society. Will other racial and ethnic backgrounds be highlighted and celebrated and the American Caucasian be vilified. Unfortunately I think the answer is yes. And although no one likes to admit it, isn't this just another form of segregation.

I think that each child should have the opportunity to receive the best education possible. I believe in school choice. I also believe that sometimes choices require sacrifice. However, I do not believe that educational advatage should be given for the sake of fulfilling an agenda. If the goal of these programs is to bring together children of different cultures that share the same academic interests, I would tolerate them much better. But there is the feeling in my gut that says this just isn't the case. And I'm not about to let my son be a guinea pig.

A New Bed, Attempting to Crawl, and A Trip to the Dentist

2005-01-28T15:56:00.000-06:00

Well, this has been a busy week with lots of stuff going on.

Boo Boo Bear
After several nights off Boo falling out of her toddler bed, she finally got a big girl bed this week. Actually she got the top half of the bunkbed that she and her brother Bug are going to share. Unfortunately, I was a little slow in gettting the frame put together, so the first night she slept on a mattress that was on top of the bunk bed shipping box. It was still pretty cute none the less. Once the real bed was up, she was thrilled. Oddly enough, her bed is now taller than her brothers'. For some reason I didn'r realize/remember that the legs of the bed would be taller to allow for head room once the beds are put together. Oh well, have I mentioned that she is a little monkey. She just grabbed ahold of the guard rail and flung herself right over. And for any safety natzis that might be reading this, no she will not be on the top bunk once they are put together.

Her other activity of the week has been throwing tea parties. I have had tea with bears, Barney, Barbie, and her cousins M & M from Iowa( they were not really here but she misses them and thus pretends that they visit).

Blurg a.k.a. Fuzzy Duck a.k.a. Minnie Me
Little Blurg has been trying really hard to crawl. She drags herself along with one arm really well. At least well enough that she can go from room to room. And she can get up on her hands and knees, she just can't cooridinate the movements. And today she tried to pull herself up on the couch trim and failed thus gaining her first motility battle scar. It is a beautiful goose egg on the noggin. She was definately more angry and hurt. She is a tough little fuzzy duck. Now if I can only convince Boo Boo that her little sister is not a bank, life will be good.

Bugga Bugga Boy
And as are all things with our Bug, our trip to the dentist this week was fun. Bug needed to get a filling in between his molars. Most kids, even older ones would freak out a little but not Bug. We walked in, he greeted the receptionist and and got himself signed in. After a little small talk, he went over to check out the fish tank. He then announced that 2 fish were dead. One receptionist was a little concerned, the other was stunned. Why? Because, he was right. Between his appointement 2 weeks ago and this week, two fish had died. When asked how he knew he said, "Last time there were 13 and this time there are only 11. Will there only be 9 left the next time I come in?"

They chatted more. Then one asked if he liked sports. His response (as he jogged in place on a chair), "I like running. Did you know that runners from Kenya are some of the fastest in the world?" That's our Bug.

He also likes basketball . It's fun to dribble but he can't make a basket. He also got to talk about his trip to CA when he was 2 and his most recent trip to Iowa. That is where his favorite cousin Mac lives. He proceeded to talk about all the things they like to do together, jumping on the bed, off the furniture, etc. Bug and Mac are only 6 months apart and look and act more like brothers. And now everyone at the dentist office knows about it.

There are many other funny stories of the week but they'll have to wait. Plus, I need to start/finish my rant about Magnet schools. Hee Hee Hee.

Just a Quickie

2005-01-24T16:57:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone for making me so welcome at Keegans on Saturday. It was a great time and hopefully I will be able to snag a sitter for a Thursday night.

Right now things are quite hectic and there isn't time for a real post so, I'll try to write later.

On the Menu.....A drink is named

2005-01-21T16:37:00.000-06:00

This little concoction was created one night when I wanted a margarita but we were out of tequila. A daiquiri just wouldn’t do so I began to blend. This is a fru-fru drink but it is good. My measurements are approximate, and some only consist of the glub factor. (You know, the glub glub sound liquid makes as it comes out of a bottle.) Originally I was calling this a pink flamingo since I had to use a flamingo zoo pals plate as a lid for the blender. Unfortunately, this name is taken so I am now referring to this as a Frozen Pink Penguin, similar reasoning.

Warning: It is very easy to consume many of these drinks. It is high on the stumble meter.

What you need: Blender
1 mug of ice
4-5 glubs strawberry margarita/daiquiri mix
3 glubs lime margarita mix
1 shot cointreau
1-2 shots vodka
A straw

Place all the ingredients(minus the straw) into the blender and liquify. Pour back into the mug, insert straw and drink.

YUM! Hiccup! Enjoy!

On the Menu.....Meatloaf Vocanos

2005-01-21T16:12:00.000-06:00

So you may be asking, “what exactly is a meatloaf volcano?”. A meatloaf volcano is a fun way for kids to eat something that they normally wouldn’t. Bug will not touch meatloaf. But turn it into a volcano and there is no problem. If my memory serves me, this idea came from a kids in the kitchen cookbook from Betty Crocker. I first made it when I was 12 and have been making variations ever since. Cooking any meatloaf recipe in a ring instead of a loaf can cut 10-15 minutes off your cooking time.

Here is what you need: Favorite meatloaf/meatball recipe
Cookie sheet- non-stick
Ketchup, mustard, salsa what ever you choose
Your imagination

Just mix up your favorite meatloaf or meatball recipe. Make 4 donut shaped meat rings directly on the cookie sheet and 4 golf ball sized meatballs. Bake at 350 until done. Place 1 ring on each plate and top with 1 ball. Drizzle with ketchup and mustard. Voila, a mini volcano.

Want to make an island? Start by placing the volcano on top of a lettuce leaf. Add a couple of small mounds of cheesy mashed potatoes(sand dunes) and stick in a couple of asparagus for trees. You can even hide a couple of carrot slices or pieces of corn and call them golden treasure. Kids don’t like mashed potatoes? Spread some ketchup around the plate and top with a few tater-tots. You now have boulders floating in lava. Celery sticks can act as trees, raisins as bugs, and strawberries as mushrooms.

Let the kids go and see what they come up with.

T T T Tamiflu

2005-01-21T13:47:00.000-06:00

So I took the young'ns into the doctor yesterday and after the nose and throat swabs, and Boo Boo's chest x-ray, it is offical, influenza is in the house. And luckily no strep or pneumonia. Since noth Bug and Boo were in the first days of ailment, they were prescribed TAMIFLU. I was also put on this anti-viral med as well, as a precaution. Supposedly, it helps to shorten the duration and severity of the stymptoms. Let's just say IT ROCKS!! Both the kiddies' temps dropped to close to normal range. They have energy and appetites. I got some sleep. Hurray!! Let's just hope this luck continues.

If you or any family member comes down with "the flu" make sure to ask your doctor for tamiflu for you and the rest of the family. It is worth it.

Welcome to the Infirmary

2005-01-20T13:21:00.000-06:00

Just as Bogus blogged in his health update a house of flu is not fun. So far Doug, Bug, and Boo Boo have been taken as casualties. Fevers have ranged from 101 to 104.5. Our littlest Blurg seems a bit out of sorts today but hopefully she will not get struck down. And as for me, it is amazing what lots of sugar and caffiene can do. It has been almost 2 weeks since I have had more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep.

So hopefully we will be well enough to go to Keegans this weekend. We'll just have to wait and see.

Blabble Labble Abble

2005-01-18T09:44:00.000-06:00

It is just one of THOSE days.

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood

Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepperd. If Peter piper picked a peck of pickle peppers then how many pickled peppers did peter piper pick.

I'm the Grumpy old Troll who lives under the bridge. Hey! I'm the Grumpy old Troll who lives under the bridge.

In the Bahamas...In his pajamas....In the Bahamas....In his pajamas

64, 64, 64 Zoo lane...6 years old, 6years old, 6years old today

If you understand this, you understand my day.

Now Showing....Bug Live

2005-01-17T23:22:00.000-06:00

Bug and I went out for some mom and son bonding this weekend. First we hit Hammetts Learning center so he could pick up a book on human anatomy and then we went to lunch at Subway. He loves deli sandwiches. Anyway, as we ate we discussed the overhead transparencies in his new book. And thus, Bug Live, began. He would ask me questions. I would ask him questions. He would ask the people waiting in line to place their orders questions. It always went something like this:

Bug "Know what?"
Unsuspecting Patron (UP) "What?"
Bug "The small intestine is the longest organ in your body."
UP "Really, did your Mom tell you that?"
Bug " No silly, I learned it on my new computer game about the body. Did you know the large intestine is where the poop is made and then it come out your rectum?"
(He smiles that devilish grin)
(giggles from the teenage girls in the place)
UP stutter stutter "What else do you know?"
Bug "A lot. Want to hear about the circulatory system?"

Next UP "Sure"

And so on and so on and so on for about an hour. He also got to talk to 2 EMTs (Emergency Medical Techs) that were on their lunch break. They thought he was a riot.

Now there was one lady that wasn't too impressed. But then again he pointed out that he knew she was a woman because she had a big pelvis. Men have smaller pelvic bones. (These are the times when I just smile, shrug, and blush.)

Eventually lunch was over. He put on his stegasaurus fleece hat, asked me to adjust his spiderman boots and we left. And this is when I started to think more seriously about homeschooling.

Kids Raised in a Foodie Family

2005-01-16T10:10:00.000-06:00

Both Doug and I are foodies. We love to cook, eat and critique good food. From everything I’ve heard, Doug has always had a relatively extensive pallet and a willingness to try most things. As for myself, I have always had a very sensitive pallet and as a result tend to be pickier. Before Doug and I got married, he had little experience in the kitchen whereas I was practically raised there. So after being together for a few years we started cooking together. Doug learned how to sear and saute while I expanded my range of tastes. We started going to different restaurants and then tried to reproduce some of the meals at home. We would judge the food and try to determine what could have been done differently. Food and wine became a hobby. Over time we became true foodies.

And then Bug was born.

Our culinary experiences changed dramatically after Bug’s birth. He was very colicky and extremely high maintenance. Some may say that is just what happens with a baby. Bug was different. He didn’t sleep, he vomited 9+ times a day, and could only be consoled by me. This meant that our food excursions(at home and out) were put on hold for a long time

Around 10 months, he began to eat more solids and we introduced him into our type of table food. His favorites were steak with A1 sauce, asparagus, and tomatoes. By the way, he would not eat steak cooked past mid-rare because it was “too dry”. The more he tried different foods, the more he became interested in how they were made. So by the time he was 2, he was helping in the kitchen. It has mostly been pour this or stir that type of cooking but recently that has expanded into sauteing onions and even cutting fruit. For Christmas he asked Santa for a juicer so he could squeeze his own OJ. So far he was made OJ, grapefruit juice, apple juice, and strawberry juice. He combined the strawberry juice with lemon yogurt in the blender to make a smoothie. With all this being said, he is our future Chef.

Then there is Boo. Now she has never had the pallet that Bug has, but that is not to say she hasn’t tried. Once again asparagus was a favorite and she also like mashed potatoes. But over time she has become more and more fickle. Granted she is two and toddlers are fickle by nature. Sometimes though she reminds me of my childhood food issues. In the beginning she didn’t like strawberries because they were too bumpy. Anything with too much texture has the potential of being rejected. Things needed to be cooked “just right”. And for these reasons she will be a future Food Critic.

And finally there is Blurg. You might wonder what type of culinary experience a 9 month hold can have. Well, her first love was garlic mashed potatoes, heavy on the garlic. She also likes her potatoes drizzled with a little truffle oil. She like marinated flank steak. Granted, she doesn’t have any teeth, but she will gnaw on the meat like there is no tomorrow. She also likes strawberries, raspberries and sauteed spinach. We don’t know if she will like to cook or critique but she is well on her way to becoming a foodie as well.

So this is what happens when kids are raised in a foodie environment. Now we just need to wait see if these traits follow them into adulthood.

On the Menu.....Bloody Mary Meatloaf

2005-01-15T19:44:00.000-06:00

Just to clarify, this is not a drink but rather a meatloaf that uses the basic ingredients of a bloody-mary.

For many years, Doug had an aversion to meatloaf. I have always been somewhat fond of it. So with some persuasion and the promise that is would not taste or smell like vomit, his meatloaf experiences began. It all began with the basic italian style loaf made with spaghetti sauce. Bloody Mary style meatloaf is one of our favorites.

Ingredients:

1 lb hamburger or ground chuck
2 c. bloody mary mix
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbs chopped dill weed
1 tbs minced garlic (or garlic powder to taste)
1/4 c bread crumbs
2 tbs milk
oil to saute

Place your favorite bloody mary mix into a sauce pan heat until liquid is reduced by half. Set aside to cool.
While the sauce cools. Saute the celery and onion over low heat until soft. Cool.
In a bowl combine meat, ½ cup sauce and remaining ingredients. Salt and pepper to preference.
Mix gently until ingredients are blended. Do not over work or the loaf will be tough.
Place in a loaf pan. Bake in a pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes. Remove and top with remaining sauce. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Side note: This recipe can be made using 1 egg as the binder. I altered the recipe due to Bug’s egg allergy.

Coming Attractions

2005-01-14T13:51:00.000-06:00

Just so I don't forget my blogging ideas, here is a small list of some topics, in no particular order, coming in the very near future.

On the Menu.....Bloody Mary Meatloaf
On the Menu......Meatloaf Volcanos
On the Menu......A Drink yet to be Named
What I don't like about Magnet Schools
Kids raised in a Foodie Family
Kids raised in a Conservative Family
On the Menu.....Favorite desserts
Respectfulness vs Acceptance: A Simple Diversity Lesson

Annoyance with the Education System

2005-01-13T23:39:00.000-06:00

This is just a little mini rant. I've been looking into kindergarten options for Bug and I just want to say, " What the ......?!" To the point, the people have been very nice and have tried to be accommodating but no one seems to know what to do with a highly gifted child. I was told in not so many words, and I'm para-phrasing, schools receive money for special education but there is no real focus or fund allocation for extremely bright/gifted children. Essentially, it is felt that these children will pretty much be fine on their own. They'll figure things out.

As far as the concept of "no child left behind", unless there is some form of physical or mental impairment involved, these children don't qualify for anything. I'm not looking for a hand-out or government subsidized program, but could I at least find a way to help him reach his potential. Or hell, let him be tested so we can see where his potential is going. Yes, we can have him tested independently but those results may be given little credibility.

IQ and other intelligence tests are not recommended or really respected for children his age. You see I've been told that most children "level off" by the time they are second or third grade. And this is when the usual testing takes place. Hmmmm.

Let's connect the dots;
Dot one: Take one gifted child and put him in a non-nurturing educational environment.
Dot two: Keep him there for 3-4 for years with minimal to no cognitive stimulation.
Dot three: Test him.
Dot four: Check results.
The child appears to have slowed down enough to be in-line with his peers.

UGH!!!!! Enough of my not-so-mini-rant. There are more schools to call tomorrow.

Black eyes with peas

2005-01-13T23:27:00.000-06:00

Bug tried to do a flip on the mini-trampoline today and in perfect form he smacked his nose and upper lip. The nose looked bad especially with the impending black eye. He wouldn't use an ice pack because it was too cold and rough. Dr. Mom to the rescue. How about a pea pack. (One of the best companions for a breastfeeding mom is that bag of frozen peas that has probably been sitting in the freezer for ever. Peas conform to varying shapes better than ice cubes or packs.) Bug thought I was crazy. I just took some left over birthday balloons, stuffed them with 1-2 dozen peas, added a smidge of water, tied them off and voila, instant mini ice packs. I must admit, these are pretty cool and I will be making more, just to have on hand. Quick, easy, disposable, and kid sized, what could be better.

Just call me Martha

2005-01-13T23:14:00.000-06:00

I had a very Martha Stewart moment yesterday. My sister-in-law is going to a football party and needed a dessert idea. The menu will be snack food, so the obvious ideas were cookies or brownies. This is when the Martha lobe of my brain kicked in. How about football shaped rice crispie treats. Substitute Coco Pebbles for crispies, shape them into footballs and then decorate with either frosting, plain crispies, or anything white. Ta Da kitschy Crispies. This idea stemmed from the "Dinosaur" eggs that Bug, Boo, and I made using Fruity Pebbles, although I would recommend using 50/50 pebbles to crispies. And to minimize the sticky factor, wear vinyl gloves lightly coated with margerine when making the shapes.

Birthday Memories

2005-01-13T01:23:00.000-06:00

Well my 35th birthday has come and gone. I have to say that it was quite pleasant considering that Blurg was sick. Bug and Boo helped make an egg free cake for the occasion. Bug is allergic to eggs and peanuts. Boo appears to have the peanut allergy although she has not been tested. Anyway, the cake was ok, nothing stellar. Of course after going to all the effort I had hoped that Bug would like it. He didn’t and that was fine too.

As the day went on, I realized that during my lifetime, I have has some really odd birthdays. There are some funny and not so funny memories that I will share. So let’s begin.

Jan. 10, 1970 I was born. No I don’t remember this but trust me, I hear the story EVERY year. I won’t shock you with all the gory details. But here are the basics. 9lb 3oz 21 ½ inches born at 6:21 a.m. in a little farming community in central Illinois. My parents were expecting a boy. The doctor pulled me out, slapped me on the tush, and my dad pronounced, “It’s another split tail,” They did not have a girl’s name selected. My dad wanted Nelle Lynn after his mother. My mom wanted Ellen and convinced my dad that it was good compromise since Ellen was Nelle spelled backwards. During different phases of my childhood I was sometimes referred to as Nelle and sometimes Jimmy (James was the boy name). I had a full head of black hair, dark eyes and was apparently a good sleeper. My mom said she would wake me several times a night just to make sure I hadn’t died in my sleep. Unfortunately, my mom didn’t stop this habit until,,,,,well that’s a whole other story.

Jan. 1975 - The weather was unseasonable warm for central Illinois. Rain the previous days but my birthday party day was supposed to be sunny and mild. And it was. Unfortunately, my mother had decided to invite every girl in my kindergarten class over for the party. For most kids this would have been wonderful BUT you see, I am an introvert. My mom is an EXTROVERT. And to top it off I was shy and geeky already. So, I had my first panic attack the night before the big get together. I woke up sometime after midnight, and raided the fridge. My mom was on one of her fad diets and so there was a gallon container of cut up celery and carrots. I think I ate most of the contents. Anyway, the next morning I didn’t feel so good (go figure) but since the party was that afternoon, it was off to school I went. Tensions mounted all morning until finally circle time then....HURL. I was sent home, on the bus with a empty coffee can from the teachers lounge, just in case I couldn’t make it. Good call because I couldn’t. By the time I got home, my mom was furious, after all we did have about 25 kids and their moms coming over to the house. Needless to say, I ended up spending the entire party in my room, in bed while the guests got to eat cake and ice cream. All gifts were sent home since I wasn’t able to open them during the party. Sigh.

Jan.1980 - This was a typical winter. I only invited a few guests to this party and most of the evening went pretty well. We had dinner and games and were getting ready to open gifts and have cake. My big request this year was for white frosting on my cake. Family tradition was chocolate cake, chocolate frosting. After much begging my mom agreed to the white frosting and she made a boiled butter-cream. This is really good icing because it tastes like divinity or marshmallow fluff. Unfortunately, it also reacts like marshmallow. My mom lit the candles, everyone sang and I tried to blow them out. Emphasis on tried. You see, this year my parents though it would be comical to try out the new “re-lighting” candles. Just like a marshmallow held to close to a fire, my cake went up in smoke.

I’ll skip my teen years. They were filled with more awkwardness and introvert/extrovert conflicts then anything else. Let’s move on to college.

Jan. 1990 - Oh the college years. I was a well behave geeky freshman at first but then I decided to embrace the college life, with moderation. Unfortunately, moderation was not in my vocabulary on my birthday weekend when I turned 20. For some reason, I chose to become totally blotto, and I have to admit it was great. Then result though was some mild alcohol/blood poisoning. To shorten the story, I didn’t realize that had happened. It was really mild, but it resulted in a UTI and then kidney infection. All in all it took about 6 months to recover. I also had a severe alcohol sensitivity (or paranoia) for several years thereafter. My 21st birthday was much more mellow.

Jan.1995 - Long story short - my father passed away and I spent the day before my birthday at his funeral and my actual birthday driving from Indiana back to Minnesota via Illinois.

Jan. 2000 - Not too shabby. Had a pre-natal check up and scheduled an ultrasound. We got to see our first glimpse of peanut, now known as Bug. He was positioned like a frog, hands covering his boyhood so we didn’t officially find out his sex at the time. We were just happy to see that everything was going as planned.

And here we are back at Jan. 2005. I told Doug that when I turned 30, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Most people freak out about getting older but I really felt young. So what if I wasn’t in my 20s. Turning 35 was a whole other story. I feel as if I have aged dramatically. And I am just pooped. That was when he pointed out that in those 5 years we have had many changes, the 3 most important being our 3 beautiful children. I’ll take that as an acceptable reason for feeling old and tired. .

Life is a bizarre and twisted road that we all travel. Oddly enough, with all the weird crap that I’ve experienced, I truly don’t believe that there is one thing that I would change. It has all made me who I am today. And as I finish this post I realize that today is actually tomorrow, so good night, good morning , and good life.

Recovery

2005-01-11T22:38:00.000-06:00

I'm still recovering from yesterday. Not so much due to my birthday but due to Blurg, the 9 month old being up all night, 8 times to be exact. I just love those upper respirtory and ear infections. But she is drugged and snot free enough to sleep and I hope she does.

Until tomorrow, live long and blog often.

More on Wonder Bug

2005-01-10T10:15:00.000-06:00

This is some more insight on our boy Bug in response to a comment I recieved from Elizabeth. I realized my response was getting to wordy and would be better as its own blog. Anyway;

He has not been tested yet (IQ), but it is coming up very soon. As of yet, I have not been able to locate any schools for the highly gifted but I'm still looking. He has been very active in ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) programs in our community which has provided alot of the social/emotional interaction thus far. And through this we have seen some social "things" that are a little off. Some have improved over the last 2 years but after his mid-term teacher conference, his teacher and I decided to have him evaluated by an OT (Occupational Therepist).

Through my own research, I would guess that he falls under the category of Sensory Integration Disfunction, meaning he tends to "misinterpret everyday sensory information, such as touch, sound, and movement". In some situations he is overly sensitive which results in extreme tantrums, crying, etc. Other times he is under sensitive, so he seeks out the intensity, like bumping into other kids or yelling instead of talking. One time when he was yelling at Doug, Doug asked him to use his inside voice. Bug didn't, he just got louder. Out of frustration, Doug asked if he knew how to use an inside voice. Bug's response was, "No." We could tell by the look in his eyes he really didn't get it. And so began the research. I'll get the feed back from the OT this week.

We have thought about home schooling but I have some reservations. Essentially, Bug and I are too much alike and so we butt heads, A LOT. No matter which route we choose, he will receive a certain amount of home schooling. That is actually the term he uses when he can't go to school, either due to illness or holidays. "Can we homeschool today Mom? Please!" It is so cool having a child that wants to learn.

A note about Blurg

2005-01-09T19:51:00.000-06:00

Since I have already talked about Bug and Boo I should at least mention Blurg. Poor little Blurg, she is so stuffed up today. Those sad puffy eyes are so pathetic. But she is a trouper. Unfortunately this looks like a virus so we just have to let it run its course. This part of parenting just sucks.

Thoughts on kindergarten

2005-01-09T19:46:00.000-06:00

What do you do when you have a child that hasn’t entered kindergarten yet but is already smarter than you in certain areas? Bogus Dad and I are encountering this conundrum. Bug currently knows way more than I do in geography and more human anatomy than Doug. I tried to explain to Bug the other day that I really, REALLY am not that interested in geography. No, I don’t know all the names of the countries in Africa and I really don’t care to. His response, “That’s not sensible.” And so he began giving me geography lessons. He has been giving Doug similar lessons in anatomy. “See Dad, this is a picture of the lungs and inside are the alveoli”, etc. etc. etc. One thing that is funny about all this is that when he doesn’t know something, he makes it up, just like a typical 4 old year. And that confuses everyone else. I have to admit that I find humor in the fact he corrects his preschool teacher when she forgets a word or two during story time. Or when he makes comments like, “you bumped my scapula”.

Now our biggest concern is finding the right school for him. Being where we are there are several magnet and charter schools but they are either for older kids or would require a long bus ride. And I don’t think either he nor I are ready for that. He looks old and wise yet young and vulnerable. Man, am I being sappy or what. I can honestly say that the idea of him stepping out into the wide world of school scares me to now end. Kids can be cruel and unfortunately Bug would be a prime target. I know that I should embrace these upcoming events with a “we all went through it and survived” attitude, but I don’t want to. Why should a child’s education be a battle that they must survive? Right now my head is spinning and I have no idea where I’m going with this. So with that being said I should go check on the girls.

By the way, Bug just took a small break from the lite brite to discuss the role of the arteries, veins, and aorta in the circulatory system. That’s my boy.

Funny when it's not your kid

2005-01-09T18:23:00.000-06:00

Over the last few years we have had many a funny moment, totally attributed to the quirky antics of our kids. Granted they weren’t so funny in the moment but in retrospect they were. Most of these moments of late have been delivered by Boo, our 2 year old. As I write, she is standing by a toy box attempted to sing America the Beautiful. Just a cute moment. Here is a list of some of her pearls of wisdom over the last few weeks.

1) After being told she had to stay in her seat at dinner until she ate at least one noodle, “I don’t like you Mommy, I don’t like this chair, and I really don’t like that noodle.”

2) At thanksgiving dinner when we were attempting to get her to sit at the table, she stood at the window with her arms crossed, stamped her foot and said, “I don’t like it. It taste gross.”

3) While trying to explain to Bug (4 2/3) about using good manners, Boo chimes in, “Mom, your being impossible.”

4) After explaining to Bug that he needed to take a bath I got to hear, “ Hey Mommy, you need a shower too. You a stinky.”

5)Are you a cranky girl today Mommy?

6)Boo, “Hi Mama, I’m Boots today.” My response, “ Hi Boots, how are you?” Boo, “I’m not Boots, I just tending”

7)Me, “Boo, don’t throw popcorn. Pick it up now.” pause “I said now” Boo’s response, “Ok, ok, ok geez.”

8)Bug starts a game of fetch. Boo runs after the ball, picks it up in her mouth and brings it back. Bug says, “Drop”, and she does. She also sits and rolls over. Of course she did this plus some panting at toddler group when the teacher said, crawl like a dog.

9)”What I do?” or “Come and see, come and see.”

10) Sawee, sawee, sawee,,,,I wuv you Mama..

Is Dr. Ferber a genius?

2005-01-08T22:40:00.000-06:00

For those of you who don’t know, Dr. Ferber is “the nation's best-known sleep specialist, and heads the Sleep Lab and the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital in Boston” (BabyCenter.com ). I have heard a few good results from following his cry it out sleep method. I have heard more stories similar to the one posted by Army of Mom, Ok so I lied. Personally I have been through this with 2 children, with mixed success. And here is my story of woe.

Our oldest Bug, now 4 2/3 (as he likes to tell people) was the first to be Ferberized. He was about 14 months old and had just begun to wean. For the previous 14 months, he used me as his personal pacifier, nursing a minimum of every 2 hours, especially during the night. I needed sleep and thought this Ferber idea would work. Ummm WRONG!!!! There was no warning label. But there should have been something to the effect of: WARNING may result in projectile vomiting. Yes this was our case. Bug was and is the type of child that can get so worked up that he throws up. We now know that this he is a “spirited child”, just intense. We would tuck him into his crib (he was in a toddler bed but that doesn’t work well with ferberizing), kiss him goodnight, and leave. He would then scream, scream, scream, vomit, and scream. We would go, get him out of the crib, change the bedding and repeat. Usually after the third to fourth bed change, he would fall asleep standing up, leaning against the crib rail. This lasted for about 4 nights, then he learned to scream sitting/laying down. A few nights later, he started falling asleep, with minimal protest. And then a few weeks later, when out guard was down, it began again. After about 2 months, he slept and for the first time in a very long time I slept the whole night. Bug still has some sleep difficulties and has had to be re-ferbered with the birth of each sibling. He also has sleeping issues any time he goes through a cognitive development stage. Great thesis topic if you are in the market, “The effects of cognitive development on sleep patterns in children”.

Now, Boo was a different beast. She turned 2 back in August but was Ferbered just 1 year ago. She and Bug began bunking together in anticipation of Blurg being born. She went into a toddler bed in November and the ferbering began. She would scream and scream but there was no vomit. Hurray!! But, if she got too worked up, she would keep or wake up Bug which would result in 2 kids to get calm. Eventually, Bug learned to block out Boo, so she was on her own. She was so little that she couldn’t quite open the door, so as she cried we would see these tiny fingers poking out from underneath. Talk about pulling on the heart strings. Sometimes should would fall asleep at the door, so we would have to open the door just enough to get in and then transfer her to her bed. Sometimes she woke up and it started again. Sometimes it happened during the night. And then we changed the strategy. Boo really didn’t like being left and still doesn’t. So I started by sitting in a chair in their room. They fell asleep, I left. Then each night I would move the chair a little closer to the door until finally I was out of the room. I worked my way down the hall and voila mission accomplished. Granted sometimes I make a “Mommy bed” on the floor of their room so they think I’ve stayed there but now at least I don’t need to. Unfortunately, these two still have night when they play off of each other. Boo can no longer have naps or she won’t go to sleep at bedtime. She picks on Bug. Bug gets too worked up and then crashes. They fight, I get agitated, call in the relief parent and then eventually win the war. That is what happened tonight.

And then there is Blurg. She is almost 9 months and well has yet to be fully Ferbered. Her time is coming and we will see what happens. She has had some small tastes of the method and was not pleased. She will cry and tell me off until she falls asleep. Is it a bad omen that her first word besides Mama and Da is Ne (No)? She usually falls asleep within 20 minutes but continues to hiccup sob while sleeping.

So did Ferber work for us? Yes, eventually.
Will it work with all kids? Depends on the kid.
Does it work with all parents? Depends on the parent.
Would I try it again? Duh, hello, three kids and the only thing that has remotely worked. Like anything it just needs to be tweaked to fit the family dynamic.
Am I glad they are almost old enough that it won’t be an issue? Yes
Has it given me some fun memories that I will be able to tell the grand kids some day? You Betcha!

As a side note, I have 2 sister-in-laws that have gone in totally different directions. One has three kids 5,7,and 9 that each have their own room but also still sleep with their folks on occasion. They were co-sleepers as infants. Now there is enough space in their parents room they can camp out on the floor.

The other has two children, 3 and 1. They bunk together and she has treated it in a very mellow manner. They go to bed, she and her husband leave the room and that’s that. The kiddies can talk all they want, she leaves them to figure it out. So far it has worked well, but we will see what happens when their littlest moves out of the crib.

AoM, I empathize, sympathize and had a drink in your honor tonight. Good Luck!

On the Menu.....

2005-01-07T20:50:00.000-06:00

Since I like to cook and talk about the creations I decided to create a special spot "On the menu" to write on this topic. The last two meals mentioned were Grilled Rosemary chicken kebobs served with prosciutto and caramelized onions and Frisee with goat cheese red potato salad, tarragon, chives, and prosciutto. So here it goes.

The rosemary honey chicken kebobs were a total off the cuff idea. We had chicken and a rosemary tree in need of pruning. If you have read my previous post you already know that I only approximate the measurements of the ingredients. Spending 10 years in the culinary world can do that to a person.

First, I trimmed 4 long thick rosemary sprigs and removed all except the top tuft of needles. These will be the skewers for the kebobs. I added about half of the removed needles to the marinade. The marinade contained about 1 cup honey and 2 tbs water, micro-waved for about one minute to warm and thin. While the marinade cooled, I cut the split chicken breasts (Cub frequently has them on sale) in half lengthwise. Then the chicken went into the marinade for about 3o minutes. After the marinade time was over, 2 pieces of chicken (one breast) was woven on the skewer. They were then cooked with a little safflower oil over a medium low heat until done. I served it with a piece of prosciutto, lightly fried in safflower oil and sliced caramelized red onion.

While the chicken was marinading, I prepped the salad. First put 2-3 b-size red potatoes on to boil. Cook until fork tender. Cool. Plate some frisee and top with some fresh chives and tarragon to taste. Also mix some chives and tarragon with approx. 4 oz of goat cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. If the cheese seems too dense add a little milk (skim works well) or a little oil(safflower or olive). Slice the potatoes in halves or quarters and place on top of the frisee. Add a dollop of goat cheese. Sprinkle with additional tarragon, chives, and chopped prosciutto (fresh or lightly fried). Drizzle with evoo(extra virgin olive oil) a balsamic vinegar. Salt and cracked pepper to taste. Salad substitutions: Watercress or arugula for frisee, Green onions for chives, and bacon (even Bacos) for the prosciutto.

The Anchoress, Varifrank, and the Candy Bomber

2005-01-05T16:51:00.000-06:00

Today while perusing the blogoshere, I came across an interesting article on the site, The Anchoress called Go read Varifrank. Right now. Go. Read. in reference to the article Today, I was "Unprofessional"...at the site Varifrank. I’m not going to go into any great detail. Just go read these articles. Thanks to both for letting me know of contributions of Gail Halvorson, also known as the “candy bomber’. And to Varifrank, good for you. Most people would have done the comfortable thing (walk away without saying a word) rather than doing something that is correct (even if viewed as unprofessional). Kudos!

Smoking bans and the like

2005-01-05T03:25:00.000-06:00

Not a lot of time to blog so here it goes. While reading a couple of Craig Westover's articles on the smoking bans in Bloomington, I was reminded of a previous place of employment. Yes there was a smoking ban on the premises. But there were also individuals that were trying to get the company to ban perfumes and other potentially offensive odors. One individual wanted to ban particular food items such as broccoli and Parmesan cheese as well. Where does it stop?

Just so everyone knows, I’m a non-smoker with allergies and airborne sensitivity reactions to most things, i.e. I sneeze and sniffle a bunch. I realized a few years ago that I could choose to avoid everything and anything that may contribute to my allergies or I could choose to live my life. I weigh my options. Would I rather be socially and emotionally healthy while exposed to some smoke or be a physically healthy hermit. Quite honestly, it depends on the day. I rate my risk factors on a scale of 1 to 10 when I know that they exist. And in case the unexpected happens, I come prepared. There are these little things called allergy pills and tissues. Oooooh ahhhhh.

There is another area of smoking that is not addressed in this ban which is also of concern to restaurants. Fajitas, saganaki (Greek flaming cheese), flambes and any other dish served table side that expel smoke could become an area of complaint. And in fact it has. I experienced this complaint firsthand as a restaurant manager on 2 separate occasions. Once, it was the fajita smoke that was offensive to someone sitting in a non-smoking section. The other time it was because the smell of sizzling meat offended a vegetarian guest.

I guess I have two points. One, I really liked Craig’s article. It was well stated and encompassing of the fallout that can and will happen with the full smoking ban. And secondly, we all have choices to make. Even if you agree with the smoking ban, what will your reaction be when one of your “bad habits” is banned.

Culinary adventures thus far in 2005

2005-01-03T23:02:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my first blog, I am very texture sensitive. What I did not mention is that I am also sight, smell, and taste sensitive as well. When Doug and I go out to eat I spend a good deal of the evening playing "guess the mystery ingredient" as different meals go by. And quite honestly, I've gotten really good at it. I can also "taste" by smell and "smell" by sight which sometimes allows me to create some interesting food concoctions. So on with the concoctions.

New Year's Eve: Mixed greens with balsamic shallot and strawberry vinaigrette (mine)
Fois Gras on a bed of watercress with raspberries cointreau and the afore mentioned vinaigrette (D's)

The salad was very simple, a variation of the house salad served at Bobinos restaurant in nordeast Minneapolis. (Just down the way from Keegans, Good stuff!! I combined equal amount of balsamic vinegar and safflower oil (approx. 1/4 cup) with one small shallot 3 fresh strawberries and about 2 tbs strawberry daiquiri mix. I blended them with a boat motor(i.e. hand blender) and presto change-o a scrummy vinaigrette. Tossed with some mixed greens, throw on some sliced strawberries and it's good to go. I think next time I might add some slivered almonds or sugared pecans. Another version is to top it with freshly grilled chicken.

The fois gras was lightly seasoned with coarse salt and cracked black pepper on one side and cooked over a low heat for about 1 minute. I then turned it over, seasoned it again and put in the oven at 200 F. I placed the watercress on a plate and drizzled it with some of the vinaigrette. Pulled the fois gras out of the oven just to transfer some of the drippings to another pan. I used these drippings with about a cap full of cointreau and a little brown sugar to toss the raspberries. The raspberries were placed around the watercress, the fois gras placed on topped and a little additional vinaigrette drizzled over the fois gras. (picture to follow)

Next post....Grilled Rosemary chicken kebobs served with prosciutto and caramelized onions
Frisee salad with goat cheese red potato salad, tarragon, chives, and prosciutto

First a word of thanks

2005-01-03T00:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who has welcomed me to the blogosphere. Also thanks for the reminder about Keegans. I set things up with the sitter, so I can officially be there.

Hopefully later this evening there will be a new post about our culinary adventures of this week end. Take a little bit of TiVO, a couple hours of Iron Chef, and 3 sleeping kids and suddenly I am inspired to create fun gourmet food. Anyway, I'll be back with the scrummy details later.

And away we gooooooooo

2005-01-01T20:25:00.000-06:00

Ok folks, here it is. My first official post to my first official blog on the first day of 2005.

Ok, so here I sit looking at the little blinky thing thinking to myself, "what am I going to write about?" and "what is that little blinky thing called again?". Ahhh the cursor, that's right. I have really been away from technology too long.

Anyway...

As I sit here watching my daughter eat cotton candy out of a bowl, I am reminded of childhood and how I always thought that cotton candy on a stick was a silly idea. I was the type of child that was very texture sensitive. So the idea of having my face buried in a sticky mixture of spun sugar on a stick was less than appealing. I even had nightmares about it. (No really, I was a weird kid. Picture Night of the Living Dead with all the zombies walking around with cotton candy faces and paper cone noses.) However, now as a parent, I understand. Cotton candy on a stick results in a sticky face, period. Cotton candy in a bowl results in a sticky face, hands, table, chairs, clothes and consequently a sticky mom. This all being said, I still don't like cotton candy stuck to my face but seeing it on my 2 year old ranks high on the cuteness factor. And a sticky face is worth it when it comes with kisses.