Well, that one back-fired!

Lately, I have allowed Andrew to watch certain educational TV shows. They center around learning to read or learning good values. However, there is one thing he has learned that I am not pleased with.

One of the commercials that comes on often stars a certain "SmokerMan" and the theme song goes, "SmokerMan is the one who caaaaaannnnnnn't". The commercial shows smokerman in some super-hero scenario where he can't quite make the save because he wasn't able to breathe. It seems like a good concept to show kids that you lose your abilities if you smoke. Unfortunately, all Andrew is getting from the commercial is that SmokerMan is a cool super-hero.

It seems rather ironic that I am having to teach my 4yr old that smoking is bad all because he saw an anti-smoking commercial.

Ode to Lizzie

When I discovered that I was pregnant with Lizzie, I was, of course, overjoyed but apprehensive. Would she be just as difficult, high-strung, and exhausting as Andrew and Rachael? Would she have food allergies like them? Would this be our last child? That question would be determined by the answers to the first questions.

Well, apparently Heavenly Father wants us to have more children because the only "yes" answer is in relation to the food allergies. Lizzie's allergies are just as severe as Andrew's were, but this time we were prepared and caught them at 2 1/2 wks. In all other ways, she is quite different from our first 2; she sleeps alot, is growing very quickly, and is a happy, calm baby.

When she is awake, she is very alert and loves to look around and be outside. Today she started cooing. It was so cute - she cooed while looking at me and was surprised to realize that she had made that sound. Her expression was so cute. She tried it again then smiled at her new-found ability. I smiled along with her.

Andrew and Rachael have also learned that they can make her laugh and they love to do silly things in an effort to get her response. They love her (yes, Rachael has finally accepted her) and it is heart-warming to see them interact.

All in all, I am so grateful for our latest bundle of joy and that my begging prayers for a calm baby were answered. Now, if I could just find some safe food to eat.... :)

My Mother's Day

I have been plagued by migraines since I was 6yrs old. At their worst, I was getting about 2/wk with a constant chronic headache anytime I was awake. We finally figured out what was wrong and since I've been on medication, I get them rarely. However, certain things will still set them off.

Mother's day for me started out very calm and relaxing - just as it should be. Mike helped get the kids dressed for church as I lolly-gagged all morning. Church was enjoyable, until it came to nurse Lizzie. Our church building is kinda old and the mother's room is rather small with a very high ceiling. There is a fluorescent light at the top and a ceiling fan under the light. They are controlled by the same switch. This wreaked havoc with me as the fan turning causes a slight strobe-light-like effect. Strobe lights give me nausea and migraines. I tried to just keep my eyes shut while I was nursing, but the strobe-throbbing was too intense and by the time I left the mother's room I was quite sick and desperate to get home. I made it through the last hour of church (Mike and I are Primary teachers together).

This is where the true gift of Mother's day came for me. I slept for 4hrs, Mike took care of everything. I woke up, still feeling sick and with a migraine. Mike made a fabulous steak dinner for me (I was hoping some iron/protein would help) and did all the clean-up. I crashed back in bed, still completely debilitated. By now my vision was mostly gone as well as my speech and I was just trying not to throw-up.

The kids were quiet, knowing that "mommy has a headache" and Mike got them to bed and the house picked-up (no small feat). I finally had to take some drugs around midnight. The whole time, Mike was nothing but loving and concerned.

It is quite humbling to be debilitated by such a small thing as a fan set under a light. What a blessing to have a husband who can take care of everything when my body fails me!

It wasn't exactly a typical "perfect" mother's day, but it reminded me how truly blessed I am.

Money by Andrew

Andrew and I had an enlightening conversation about money today. I grew up being told that "money doesn't grow on trees." Well, Andrew has his own version. For ease of writing, M is for mom and A is for Andrew.

A: "Mom, we need to get more money to go for tumbling and swimming"
M: "umm, ok" chuckle, chuckle
A: "Why is that funny, mommy?"
M: "Because, Andrew, it is hard to get more money."
A: "Oh, well, we just need to go to the money store."
M: "What money store? There is no money store."
A: "They just have to take down the old building and build a new building for the money store."
M: "And does the money store give you money or take your money"
A: "They give you money."
M: "Oh, where do they get the money that they give you?"
A: "They sell it to you."
M: "They sell you money? What do you give them for the money?"
A: "You give them your old money and they give you the new money."
M: "Oh.... ok."
A: "Then we can have lots of money to go tumbling and swimming."

Ahh, if it were truly that simple!

But, my tongue's not long enough!

My sister, Kim, often comes down from Salt Lake to play with the kids and make sure her status of "favorite Auntie" is secure.

So, Kim came down for the weekend, and Mike and I went on a date. Andrew is potty-trained, but still uses a diaper for bed. He was laying down on the changing pad and she said, "Lift your bum up so I can put your diaper on." Andrew sits bolt up-right and says, "But, I can't lick my bum! My tongue's not long enough!"

Mommy, you made a mistake!

Andrew's preschool works on a different letter of the alphabet each week. The letter of the week is introduced on Monday and on Friday he gets to take a show-and-tell item starting with that letter to end the week of learning. I try to find multiple items for each letter and let him choose what he wants to bring.

This past week was the letter W. Friday came quickly for me and I had only thought of: water, wheel, and worm. He has a cute caterpillar, named Cally, that he had been playing with all week, so I suggested he take the caterpillar for show-and-tell. When I picked him up from school, he looked at me with a very concerned look and said, "Mommy, you made a mistake! Cally is NOT a worm, she's a caterpillar. See, she has all these feetsies. Worms don't have feetsies. See, mommy, Cally has feetsies, she's not a worm, she's a caterpillar!" He continued explaining to me until I admitted that I was wrong and that Cally was not, in fact, a worm.

3 for 3

Too bad i'm not talking about my batting avg. Instead I am referring to my babies with allergies. That's right, Lizzie has food allergies just like the others. I am concerned that hers are as severe as Andrew's - she's having symptoms like his. I am hoping that catching it this early will prevent them from getting worse. So...

I am now soliciting (begging) for recipe ideas that don't require: dairy, soy, egg, or peanut. I am especially in need of dinner ideas. I can substitute some things in recipes, but if you have to substitute more than 2 ingredients then it no longer resembles the original item. I have yet to find a good substitute for cheese, sour cream, or cream cheese - and almond cheese has a dairy protein (casein) in it, so no good.

Please help if you can. Thanks :)