A new first for my baby-- he's sick. Actually, I don't think he's sick so much as I think he has allergies. A week and a half ago, he started this cough thing. It wasn't very strong; to be honest, it sounded like a fake cough (but I knew he wasn't faking it). We found out later in the week that the other boy who stays with him during the week (Parker, whom Ethan adores) had bronchitis. Maybe I should have been worried, but I just wasn't. Of course, I come from the school of thought that some exposure to germs is a good thing and we don't necessarily give medicine for a fever because I think a fever is a sign that the body is fighting-- and that's good. I want to develop his immune system. But then there's this cough. And last weekend, the cough sounded a little more wet (whet?). There was definitely some sort of fluid, but no fever, and he was still his happy-go-lucky self. He barely slept on Saturday and Sunday nights, so Monday morning I called the pediatrician's office and no surprise, they weren't any help. They said they didn't want to see him because he didn't have a fever and to just give him some Benadryl. I realize that this is not their child, that they deal with helicopter parents on a regular basis, but I wish they would simultaneously realize that this is MY child and this IS important to me. Anyway, we've give him some Benadryl here and there this week and it hasn't seemed to help and we've given him Motrin to help with the teething. I did some research and have started giving him warm herbal tea because my mother's instinct has reminded me that warm fluids can break up any congestion in his chest. I've also channeled Martha Stewart and am currently making some homemade chicken stock, hoping that will also help.
I've also recently developed a love for Big Lots. We've bought furniture there a few times (we firmly believe that we'd rather spend our money on memorymaking rather than populating our house with *things*) but Susan is always telling me about the good deals on groceries that she finds there. So tonight I stopped in, just to buy a few boxes of Earth's Best ABC pasta that were going for a $1. I bought two boxes, and some bread and ketchup and an Annie's Natural marinade and some fabulous chocolate chips that I've never seen anywhere else. It was like a little aisle of heaven, there in Big Lots. Our money is so tight these days; most days, I'm not sure how we're making it (and we are just barely making it and there are days when it doesn't feel like we're making it at all). It was nice to actually feel like I got a good deal.
And now, I'm watching Grey's Anatomy, a show I gave up on long ago, because every single episode made me cry. But every Wednesday, sometime during Lost, there's a commercial for the next night's Grey's and I get sucked in and watch it and now I'm tearing up again and not from the onions I cut for the stock, but because of this show. Ugh. I should totally give up on this show again.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Everything Is Everything
Spring break is over! It went by so quickly. Halsey got to spend most of the week with us, which was awesome. We planned "field trips" for a few days, to make the most of the break. It was a staycation, if you will. Last Saturday, we colored Easter eggs together and on Sunday, it was Easter. We went to church with Susan and Patrick and then made the trek out to Boones Mill to Debbie and Larry's house for the annual lunch and Easter egg hunt. The boys had a blast and were supercute hunting for eggs!
On Monday, we went to Homestead Creamery. A few weeks ago, we started having our milk delivered by the creamery once a week and I thought this would be a good way for our boys to realize that our milk doesn't just come from the store. After we toured the creamery (and sampled the milks and ice creams!), we drove over to one of the farms and met the cows! The boys loved the tractor and petting a new calf and I hope one day it all sinks in. Eating locally is becoming more and more important to me. I really want our kids to feel a connection to their food.
The second day we drove to Lynchburg to visit Amazement Square, a children's museum. It's fun for the boys but sort of like research for me. I would love to help open a children's museum here in the valley. Anyway, it was a neat place, worth the drive, but unfortunately it was packed because it was spring break (and besides, my favorite children's museum is in Winston-Salem).
Our last field trip was to downtown and the new Art Venture. We parked at Jason's Roanoke office and caught the trolley (the free city bus decorated up as a trolley) downtown, and then walked over to the Taubman. I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the new Art Venture. The set-up wasn't very kid-friendly; the art supplies were limited and the supposed-fancy-pants light show thingy was just lame. They had some ink pads set out that had mostly dried up and when I asked to get out some paints for Ethan, I was told it would be too messy. Uh, hello? That's why we came to Art Venture-- to make art! Who's worried about the mess? We only stayed about an hour and then treated the boys to a Indian lunch (they weren't impressed but they ate anyway) and then we put them in the wagon and walked off our lunch, wandering around downtown.
The last few days of break were low-key. Jason had been with us all week, so he needed to head into the office and Ethan and I just hung out. I feel ready for the summer but we have six more weeks of school left. I am excited because we've got some cool projects planned, plus Earth Day is coming up, and Strawberry Festival! It will go by quickly and summer will be here before I know it.
On Monday, we went to Homestead Creamery. A few weeks ago, we started having our milk delivered by the creamery once a week and I thought this would be a good way for our boys to realize that our milk doesn't just come from the store. After we toured the creamery (and sampled the milks and ice creams!), we drove over to one of the farms and met the cows! The boys loved the tractor and petting a new calf and I hope one day it all sinks in. Eating locally is becoming more and more important to me. I really want our kids to feel a connection to their food.
The second day we drove to Lynchburg to visit Amazement Square, a children's museum. It's fun for the boys but sort of like research for me. I would love to help open a children's museum here in the valley. Anyway, it was a neat place, worth the drive, but unfortunately it was packed because it was spring break (and besides, my favorite children's museum is in Winston-Salem).
Our last field trip was to downtown and the new Art Venture. We parked at Jason's Roanoke office and caught the trolley (the free city bus decorated up as a trolley) downtown, and then walked over to the Taubman. I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the new Art Venture. The set-up wasn't very kid-friendly; the art supplies were limited and the supposed-fancy-pants light show thingy was just lame. They had some ink pads set out that had mostly dried up and when I asked to get out some paints for Ethan, I was told it would be too messy. Uh, hello? That's why we came to Art Venture-- to make art! Who's worried about the mess? We only stayed about an hour and then treated the boys to a Indian lunch (they weren't impressed but they ate anyway) and then we put them in the wagon and walked off our lunch, wandering around downtown.
The last few days of break were low-key. Jason had been with us all week, so he needed to head into the office and Ethan and I just hung out. I feel ready for the summer but we have six more weeks of school left. I am excited because we've got some cool projects planned, plus Earth Day is coming up, and Strawberry Festival! It will go by quickly and summer will be here before I know it.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Break It.1
Thank goodness that spring break is just around the corner! The students are all kinds of keyed up and my mood swings right along with theirs (and they are middle school bunches of hormones!). Halsey will be with us for the week and I'm so excited. I even dusted off PrintShop and made a daily calendar for him to follow. On Friday, we're coloring eggs, Saturday is a trip to the library, Sunday is Easter (church with Susan and then a mini-family reunion for lunch). On Monday, I just scheduled a tour at Homestead Creamery, a local dairy farm that delivers milk to our house now every week. I just really want the kids to have a connection with their food and understand that milk comes from the cows that just live a little ways from us (we'll buy our produce from the farmers' market once that opens back up, too). On Tuesday, we're trekking to Lynchburg to visit Amazement Square, a children's museum (feeding both their need for entertainment and my own need to "research."). On Wednesday, we plan to take advantage of the free "trolley" and ride a bus to downtown Roanoke and go to ArtVenture, which just opened up at the Taubman. It's a staycation and I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, I'll have some great pictures to share with you all next week!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Looking for The One.
I've married my One and now, we are currently for The One person to take care of our Little One. I officially started the childcare search on Friday. I visited one church based center near us, which we loved. The standards are high, the ration of kids to teachers is very low and Ethan jumped right in to play. The bad news is that the cost is high-- very high for us. Jason makes good money, but pays out a buttload in credit debt and in child support. I don't make great money, but love my job... The center starts at $150 a week, so $200 more a month that what we're struggling to pay now. Option Number 1 is out of the question.
Option Number 2 was a shot in the dark. I searched craigslist and found a woman close to our neighborhood for $16 a day, the caveat that kids needed to bring their own lunches, which I prefer anyway. I drove by her house before hand and wasn't thrilled to see old play toys outside, right off of a busy street without a fence. We went anyway and I was so disappointed. The one room where the kids are allowed was packed with junk. The kids were just watching Noggin and yelling at one another. She has a pitbull, which she says is kept outside, but still made me nervous. When I asked about the equipment outside, she told me that she doesn't take the kids outside-- ever. As if the rest of it wasn't enough, that sealed the deal for me. I'm sure she is a very sweet woman and a good option for some parents, but I just couldn't imagine leaving Ethan there all day. Ugh.
I've got a few other numbers to call, but this is so disheartening. I really love my job and want to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice Ethan's care. Something's gotta give...
Option Number 2 was a shot in the dark. I searched craigslist and found a woman close to our neighborhood for $16 a day, the caveat that kids needed to bring their own lunches, which I prefer anyway. I drove by her house before hand and wasn't thrilled to see old play toys outside, right off of a busy street without a fence. We went anyway and I was so disappointed. The one room where the kids are allowed was packed with junk. The kids were just watching Noggin and yelling at one another. She has a pitbull, which she says is kept outside, but still made me nervous. When I asked about the equipment outside, she told me that she doesn't take the kids outside-- ever. As if the rest of it wasn't enough, that sealed the deal for me. I'm sure she is a very sweet woman and a good option for some parents, but I just couldn't imagine leaving Ethan there all day. Ugh.
I've got a few other numbers to call, but this is so disheartening. I really love my job and want to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice Ethan's care. Something's gotta give...
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