Monday, February 27, 2012

Potty Training and Pictures

No, the pictures aren't of the potty training.
Last week Mikey went to a Huggies sponsored potty dance party.  Myself and two of our mommy group friends were all chosen as hosts.  This means we were each sent 14 packs of potty dance dvds, coupons, and other things to get the kids excited about potty training.  We did not have 32 kids so there are a lot of packs left over :)  If anyone wants one or knows someone who might, please let me know.  So after watching the dvd which highlights little kids learning about the potty, Mikey was motivated.  As soon as we got home he asked to put on his underwear.  Since then he has been wearing underwear at all times except sleep and school.  We do still have accidents and he isn't yet great about letting us know when he has to go but we are pretty encouraged.  He has been pretty calm about the whole thing and it's pretty easy to give him something to keep him on the potty long enough to go.  Mike gives him the iphone games and I read him books.  I am really glad we have tile though.

The other exciting thing is Ayla's 6 month old pictures.  Here is the link Ayla's Pictures  So this morning she and I went to the photo studio with  two really cute outfits my mom has bought for her and got her all dolled up.  I purchased the hair bows from and online friend a few months ago in preparation.  She was really good for her pictures and I was really pleased with how they turned out.  If everything goes well withthe delivery of the pictures we will use the studio, Kiddie Kandids, again.  We have done Mikey's pictures at both Sears and JCPenney before.  JCPenney was a bit far and so busy you have to wait a while even with an appointment.  Sears lost half of the session from Mikey's 1 year old pictures so I would really like to never use them again.

And best of all, today I went to the mall without the kids.  Mike took them for the afternoon so I could go pick up some new makeup.  (Apparently foundation turns to pure liquid after 6 years.)  I found a new pair of pants at Old Navy (impossible trip with kids) and got most of the makeup I intended (still forgot the foundation).  The best part was enjoying a pretzel alone in my car after shopping.  There was no one screaming, napping or expecting me home 5 minutes ago.  Aaah, the bliss :)

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Lizards And Eating Solids

I'll start with Ayla's news since it is not likely to make anyone feel sick.  Ayla started eating bananas this week.  We had the go ahead from the doctor last week to offer her solids so we put some banana in her basket feeder and let her chew on it.  She loves it and gets very mad at it when it runs out.   She's been eating at least a half banana at each dinnertime while the rest of us eat our dinner.  She sits happily in her high chair and gets herself super gooey.  Tomorrow we are going to start baby oatmeal.  I suspect she will like that as well.

On an even more exciting note (especially for me), she seems to be outgrowing her milk allergy.  I've been testing with small amounts of cheese and baked goods with trace milk in them and so far she has been fine.  I did go overboard last weekend with some bubble tea that had cream in it and that did seem to upset her a little.  I am so thrilled!  I can easily eat a diet with only very small amounts of processed milk.  I can finally see the light at the end of the special diet tunnel!

Now for something really gross.  And you know it's bad when I, who cuts open abscesses at work, finds it disgusting.  On Thursday morning when I woke up, Mike told me he had already started the washer because it smelled bad.  I assumed he meant that it smelled of his workout clothes.  While it was running there was a weird mildew type smell coming from the washer closet but we couldn't find the cause.  Mike took Mikey to school and I went about my morning.  I went to move the wash to the dryer.  As soon as I opened the washer I knew there was something dead in it.  Believe me, I have smelled enough dead critters to know that smell immediately.  I was horrified!  Not only was there something dead in the washer, I had to find and get rid of the dead thing!  I pulled the wash out, one piece at a time.  I shook each piece over the washer before making a pile on top of the dryer.  The clothes smelled horrible!  If it hadn't been a very large load that included Ayla's favorite blanket, I may have thrown the whole load away.  Knowing how frugal I am, you get the idea of how bad this was.  When I got to the bottom of the washer my fears were justified.  There, sticking out of one of the drain holes, was half on a lizard with the skin pealing off.  I wanted to cry, scream and throw up all at once.  I used a baby wipe to remove the pieces and swab the inside of the entire washer.  I then ran an empty run with lots of bleach, hot water and an extra rinse cycle.  I then ran the clothes with lots of vinegar, hot water and an extra rinse.  And the clothes again with detergent, hot water and extra rinse.  The clothes then smelled fine.  As I moved them to the dryer I shook each one out to check for any more pieces.  I didn't find any.  Mike removed the clothes from the dryer.  There at the bottom was the lizard's tail.  I nearly a hysterical fit.  I think he saw the look on my face because he quickly reassured me the clothes smelled good so we were okay.  I think I will always shake my clothes out before washing from now on.  And hopefully Mike now can smell the difference between nasty gym clothes and decomposition.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sick Kids...

You know it's been a rough day when both of your kids throw up all over you.  (sigh)

Mikey has had a nasty cold for just over a week now.  He had a fever for 4 days that only stayed down with medication.  We got over that part but he still has a runny nose and a lingering cough.  Now, this kid has the most sensitive gag reflex ever.  Anything that makes him cough or cry too hard is likely to make him throw up.  During this illness we have had full blown vomiting 3 times and minor spitups twice.  It makes it really challenging to parent him while sick.  So yesterday afternoon I was trying to get him ready to go to the store and he got upset, started crying and then started vomiting all over both of us.  So much for going to the store.  Luckily Mike was home so he could go straight to the shower while I cleaned up the floor (thank goodness for tile).

Ayla caught this nice cold from Mikey and has been pretty fussy for 3 days.  Yesterday she started to get a fever.  While the fever was mild she does not clam easily.  In the middle of the night I went to go feed her and she was inconsolable.  She was crying, screaming and thrashing around.  I got some medicine into her and was trying to clam her when all of a sudden, full blown vomiting.  She rarely even spits up so this was not expected.  I managed to keep it puddled in my lap as I waddled to her changing table to get her cleaned off.  I stripped both of us down and once she was on new pajamas I got Mike up to hold her while I showered.  Not how I like to spend the hours of 2-4 am.  I took her back from Mike and finally got her settled down.

Today they are both still coughing and have runny noses.  I am so ready to be done with isolation so we don't pass this on to friends.  I have only gone out to work, the grocery store and walks around the block.  The only thing that could make this worse is if I catch it and Mike leaves town for work...