Update on Scout

Scout is home! He spent Friday and Saturday night at the emergency vet hospital, but had no more vomiting. It still appears from the x-rays that something is in his stomach (they can't tell what), but he is eating small amounts of bland food every couple of hours and drinking all the water he wants and is keeping it all down. So, no surgery for now. This is VERY good news!!!
So for now, we'll just give him his meds, keep feeding him the special diet, and keep an eye on him. We are soooo happy to have him home!!!! And thank you so much for the well-wishes!

Funny thing is, the first thing the vet said to me the night I admitted him was "Are you SURE he's a lab/golden retriever mix? He's HUGE!!!" I laughed and told her that's what the lady at the rescue was told, but everyone thinks he's part Newfoundland. She replied, "That's what everyone here is betting on! We've been talking about it since he got here!" But all in all, he got a great report. They said he is "one cool dog" and he was the perfect patient...all of the vets and techs fell in love with him. Isn't that the most wonderful thing to hear as a pet owner???

Oh Scouty, what have you done???

As fun as Christmas was for us, I think Scout was feeling a little left out and bored. On Christmas Day, Barry let him outside for a bit and found him later chewing on one of our chickens. We were really surprised by this, as he usually leaves the chickens alone! Anyway, Barry saved the hen from Scout's clutches and then later found her dead in the coop. Add to that another hen that appears to be missing... DAMMIT! I started out with 12 chickens and now I am down to 5. Looks like I will be shopping for chickens soon.

So on with the story. Barry left for his hunting trip the day after Christmas, and Scout had been pretty low-key all day. That night, I was totally looking forward to an evening to myself....get the kids to bed, maybe have a nice hot bath, read in bed for a while....you know what I mean. Well, I got to bed a little later than I wanted due to a long overdue phone conversation with my friend Sheri. We had been having trouble connecting through the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and were due for a long chat! So, I didn't get to bed until 12:00-12:30. At 2:30, I woke up for no reason in particular, just couldn't sleep....WHAT???? I fantasize about sleeping!!! This was distressing, to say the least! So the longer I can't sleep, the more pissed off I get. Finally at 3:30 am, I gave in and started reading. At just this moment, Scout started barking. I ignored him, hoping he would go back to sleep...which it appears he did. That is until 5:00 am, which coincidentally, was just about the time I fell asleep. So I was annoyed, with a capital A. I stomped down the stairs and asked him what the hell the problem was. And that was when I noticed the vomit in his crate. UGH.

I let him out, and not feeling like cleaning it up in my tired and surly mood, I let him out and then let him come upstairs to lay down in my room for the rest of the morning in hopes I could get some more sleep. NO, it wasn't meant to be. Noah woke up twice and then Scout threw up again, this time on my new bedroom carpet. Shit. Now I was forced to get up and actually DO something! And through all of this drama, the kids were still sleeping....

So I took Scout outside again, and then he came in and laid down on his bed and went to sleep. Seems everyone was sleeping at their leisure but me...what the hell?

When I finally gave up the ghost that I would ever get back to sleep, I got up, made breakfast, and waited for the kiddos to get up. During that time, I talked with my friend Deetra and we made plans to run into Columbus to run some errands and do some returns. Since we had to go to the same stores, we decided to go together. Right before she got here, I went to the basement to crate Scout and there were no less than 4 piles of MORE dog puke! It appears he had eaten some of the cat's food and wasn't able to keep it down. Break out the steam cleaner for the 2nd time....

He appeared fine after that, so I went ahead and crated him and we left for our shopping excursion. When we got back, the kids went down to let him out and he had thrown up again in his crate. No biggie, I cleaned it up and asked him if he was ok. He just looked at me and drooled long, thick strings of drool. Poor baby...he was nauseous. By 5:00 he was throwing up nothing but mucousy blood. OMG, did I get worried! I immediately called the vet and they said to bring him right in. So I did, and he perked up quite a bit when he saw the other dogs and was more than eager to play...I felt better about that immediately.

So the vet checked him out and said he appeared fine in all respects (normal temp, normal gums, no tenderness in the abdomen), but she was definitely concerned about the bloody vomit, or vomity blood, or whatever you want to call it. She suggested that he be monitored overnight, and since they are not a 24 hour hospital, I would have to take him into Hilliard. Oh JOY. But, I am not messing around here with my sweet pup, so off I go...and my good friend Deetra volunteers to go with me for moral support, and her sweet hubby Shawn watches all 3 kids for us.

Now the 24 hour clinic in Hilliard was AWESOME, let me just say that right now. Everyone we dealt with was warm, caring, and professional. I just loved the vet. She was very upfront, honest, and calm. They did an exam, bloodwork, and some x-rays to see what was going on. He was healthy in all respects except for the fact that his stomach appeared full, even though he vomited all day and hadn't eaten at all. This was the worrisome thing. So, she said he needed IV fluids because of all the vomiting, various drugs to help with the nausea, and overnight monitoring...in fact he will be there until Saturday morning at the least. All this and $900 later, I left without my dog... and still no definitive answers. Kendall fell to pieces when she realized I didn't have Scout with me and I had to rock her to sleep and put her in my bed. None of us got to bed before 11:00.

So this morning, the vet called at 7:00 am to tell me he had perked up a bit and hadn't vomited all night, but he is still salivating. Also, his updated x-rays show his stomach is still full. They will see if he is interested at all in eating today and see what happens, but she is thinking he will have to have surgery if whatever is in his stomach doesn't dissipate or pass. And this will cost "a couple thousand dollars" for a dog his size...86.6 lbs to be exact. So anyway, I guess we just doubled the Christmas budget...LOL. Whatever...it's just money. We'll pay the darn bill and cut out some unnecessary expenses for a while...you do what you have to do for the ones you love, right?

Oh Scouty, what on earth did you eat???? Chicken feathers? Chicken bones? A toy? A ball? Who knows....but I guess we'll find out sooner or later, won't we???

What a Fun Christmas!

Another fun Christmas has passed!

We started off the weekend with a trip to see the zoo lights with our friends, the Huntingtons. It was a relatively warm night, so the kids were having a good time. Kendall was already worn out from all the holiday preparations, so she was a little whiny, but we still had fun.

Saturday, we ventured west and headed to Barry's dad's house for Christmas with the Kucks. This year we had brunch, complete with pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Of course, we can't forget the traditional peppermint stick ice cream and little cookies that Luanne always has for dessert! The kids could barely wait to open the gifts, as usual, but were much less rowdy than in previous years! Noah was really into ripping open the gifts the year, but he really would have been happy with just one gift. As soon as he opened the first one, he wasn't interested in any more! Just like every year, the kids made out like bandits...and we had such a wonderful time sitting around visiting with the family and watching the kids play.

We had to leave the Kucks around 4:00 to get to my mom's family Christmas at my uncle's house. They have a new house that is HUGE...and really, really nice. Plenty big for our huge family! There were kids EVERYWHERE, all 3 floors, I tell you! But it was great fun seeing everyone.

We left for my Dad's about 7:30-8:00 and Noah fell asleep on the way, poor baby. He had been fighting a nasty cold all week, and all the excitement got the better of him. We put him to bed as soon as we got there and then stayed up late talking and eating. The next morning, we got up, had brunch, and opened all the wonderful gifts everyone had brought. We stayed for awhile, watching my new "The Office, Season 3" and laying around relaxing. And then it was time to head back home to get ready for my Mom and Joe to arrive on Christmas Eve...

Mom & Joe and Jess all arrived late in the afternoon, and we sat around chatting and waiting for Noah to wake up. We usually eat and then open our gifts to each other, but this year we decided to eat late and open gifts early. So as soon as Noah woke up, we got him a little snack and sat down to give gifts! By this time, Noah had the gift thing down pat. The gift of the night was Noah's excavator (see the pics at the right!) This thing was major-cool, and he talks about it non-stop. And no-one, I mean, NO ONE is allowed to touch the "escabator"!! And check out the necklace Barry had made for me! (Thanks Kathy, I love it!)

Santa came that night, but thank goodness the kiddos slept until 8:00, so we were all well-rested by the time the kids went crazy with the presents again! We had raspberry stuffed french toast and a scrambled egg strata for breakfast...YUM! Then we just sat around and watched the kids play. Never got out of my pajamas the whole day...it was AWESOME.

Jessie stayed again last night and we got up today to do a couple of returns and a little shopping before Barry headed out for his hunting trip. So now, Noah is sleeping, I am finishing this long overdue blog post, and Kendall and I are watching Shrek 3. It promises to be a nice relaxing night in the cabin.

Enjoy the pics and I hope you and all your families had a warm and wonderful Christmas together!!

Sunday morning

Good Sunday morning everyone! Hope you are all having a good weekend. We are getting lots of snow and icy rain, and sitting around in our jammies. Last night, I finally got it together enough to get the kids in front of the tree and get our Christmas card picture. What do you think? Normally we get one of all of us, but I had no one to take the pic and I KNEW that Noah would never sit still and wait for the timer on the camera. So...here it is. Just the kids. But I think it turned out pretty cute, don't you?
Some of you have been asking how Noah is doing with his potty training. He's doing pretty well! We haven't hit it hard-core yet, but we are planning to start that over Christmas break, when I will be with him 24 HOURS A DAY. Well, whoo hoo! But for the most part, if he sits on the potty, he goes. In fact, he won't get off the potty until he has squeezed out at least a few drops of pee. Pretty funny, actually! So, I'll get you an update after Christmas break...but for now, here's a little funny picture for ya:
This morning, we felt like making a full-on breakfast. We opted for Blueberry-sour cream pancakes and fruit smoothies. Kendall has been dying to try out her new Drinkmaster that our friends The Woods sent us for Christmas. So, here are Kendall and Barry making their banana/strawberry/pineapple smoothies. YUM!
In case you were wondering, the pancakes were DEEEE-LISH!!! Witness:
And Noah ate 4 whole pancakes and 2 cups of smoothie all by himself! "More pancakes! More pancakes!!!"
Today we are going sledding at The Grosses house. They invited us yesterday, mid-snowstorm. The kids will think it's the cat's pajamas, I'm sure! Other than that, we are going to be working on the basement and possibly doing some Christmas baking. Yesterday, Kendall and I made a batch of Reindeer Munchies and some Sand Art Bars. Pistachio Bark and Christmas Bark are on the agenda for this afternoon. If ya'll want some of the recipes, let me know. Maybe I'll post a few! Until then, I will leave you with the recipe for the pancakes!!!

Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
(topping)
1/2 c sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 c. water
4 c fresh or frozen blueberries

(pancakes)
2 c all-purpose flour ( I use half oat flour, half unbleached)
1/4 c sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1-1/2 c milk
1 c. sour cream
1/3 c butter, melted
1 c fresh or frozen blueberries

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in water. Add blueberries and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm. For pancakes, combine dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Add milk, sour cream and butter. Mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the berries. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle and turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Serve with blueberry topping. YUMMMMMM!!!
(**You can also substitute plain yogurt for the sour cream, if you like. It's just as good!**)

So predictable...

Ok, so I broke down about 1:30 and did the dishwasher. So predictable I am. But at least I did it while Noah was eating his lunch, so I didn't have to take time out of our fun day to do it. Whatever. It's done and I'm done with my tantrum.

On to bigger and better news...

The kids are in bed, Barry is out playing poker with the guys, the dog is sleeping on the floor...and I am headed to a nice, hot bubble bath with my half-read book, Eat, Pray, Love. Ahhhhhh...

And then it's off to bed with me! I have to work tomorrow morning! Have a good night, peeps!

The Dishwasher

Do you ever have one of those days that you just can't bear to do that one daily task...not even one more time???

Today is the day for me. And the source of my stubborn stance is the dishwasher. I came into the kitchen today to a dishwasher full of clean dishes and a counter full of dirty dishes. This is not an abnormal occurrence...it happens nearly every morning. I come into the kitchen in the morning, fix the kids breakfast, and while they are eating I unload the dishwasher and reload it. No big deal, right? Right!

Well, ummm....most days anyway.

Today was a day like any other, but I was feeling particularly put-out this morning for no good reason. Ok, that's not necessarily true. I had a reason. Noah was up and down all night last night and I spent a good part of the night in his bed with him, trying to coax him back to sleep. Yeah, he was actually requesting a Nutri-Grain bar at 4:30 this morning. What's up with THAT??? Anyway...I was tired and a bit surly this morning, and seeing that dishwasher and counter full of dishes just sent my sense of "mommy-responsibility" over the edge. I simply could not do it. I have been walking by the dishwasher, actually SNEERING at it all morning. I want the dish fairy to come and take care of it. I cleaned all morning on Wednesday and then the majority of the day yesterday...and I. Am. DONE!

I don't WANT to do housework today! This is NOT what I am good at! I am a people person...I exist to talk to people and work with their muscles and give them a smile and a positive outlook...I want to play with the kids and read my book and work on my scrapbooks! I want to make Christmas cookies and wrap gifts and make out my Christmas cards. I want to play Christmas music and dance around the living room being silly with Noah. I DO NOT WANT TO UNLOAD THE DISHWASHER!!!!! (My God, am I being ridiculous, or WHAT????)

What on earth do I hope to accomplish by refusing to do this one simple task? Absolutely nothing. I am being childish, and I know it will just make the job bigger later this afternoon when I finally have to cave in because there are no clean dishes. But you know what? I really don't give a shit right now. I'm taking the day off. I just think it would be great if one morning I got up and came out and the counter was clean, the dishwasher was empty, and I didn't have to hop right to the household chores. But alas, I don't think THAT is a realistic thought. Our dishwasher runs probably twice a day...and one of those is while we are sleeping, so...you get the picture.

Oh well. Not to worry. After I get done having my little tantrum, I'll just buck up and do my chores...and feel better when it's done. But for now, we'll just use paper plates!!!

Finally...the Christmas Tree!

So there it is, folks! FINALLY, we have got the tree up and decorated. I was starting to think Christmas would get here before I could get caught up! I was so focused on getting the tree on Sunday that Barry and I picked out this lovely tree in THE RAIN...and it was wet, wet, WET!! So we put it up and let it stand for a day to dry out before we decorated it. The kids had fun going through all the ornaments they had made and the ones that have been given to us over the years...it was so nice. We put Noah on candy cane duty, as he is like a bull in a china shop. But let me tell you, he was ABSOLUTLEY fine with that! Plus, they were easier to hang than those little metal hooks!
We also decided to have a few friends over for New Year's Eve...a party in our PJ's, if you will. We are asking everyone to wear comfy PJ's and their funkiest socks. Funky-cool, not funky-stinky! We are having a contest to see whose are the best! Barry has been hard at work getting the basement fixed up for the party. We took the carpet that we had removed from the main floor of the house and put it downstairs and moved some things around...and Barry is building a wall or two. Then we will move all the toys downstairs and set up the TV and Playstation and set all the kids loose! That way we adults can sit up here and chat! Food, friends, and fun...what more can we ask for?

Still don't have my Christmas cards started. This is UNHEARD of around here. I usually have them done the first week of December. I don't even have the picture taken yet. Maybe I can make that happen tomorrow night, when we will all be home. Then I can just have the pics printed on Saturday morning and get the cards done and sent on Monday morning! That will be a weight off my mind... OR, maybe I could use this picture I took the other day...Haven't made any Christmas cookies either. Gotta get on that...soon! I will pick 3-5 of my faves and then we will make them to distribute to our neighbors and friends. Ah, so much to do yet, and so little time!

Hope you all are coming along with your holiday preparations as well!

Holiday Eating Tips

I got this recently from my friend Torben...and thought I would pass along the advice for the upcoming holidays! Heh heh...

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they 're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's the Holidays!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Enjoy the upcoming Holiday season!

SNOW DAY!

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

We knew we would eventually get snow...but I guess I kept hoping for just a week or two more of fall weather.

But alas, it is not meant to be. Last night, we had some actual accumulation! The first snowfall of the year really is so beautiful! Anyway, Kendall's school was cancelled today...(what? Cancellations due to a lousy 2-4 inches??? Unheard of in my day, I tell you!) so we have been hanging out cleaning and playing today. She was so excited to see the snow on the ground this morning...and had her panties all in a twist because I wouldn't let her head out to roll around in the snow at 7:30 am! Yeah, I got her to hang on until about 10:45, and even then I thought she was positively going to explode. So here are some morning pics...Of course, this was Scout's first experience with snow...he was SOOO curious! And then, once he was comfortable with the entire winter experience, he got a little crazy!And as if that weren't enough exciting news for the day....the special edition Candy Cane Christmas Joe Joe's are back at Trader Joes!!!! YUMMMMY!
For those of you who have never experienced this wonderful holiday confection, the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's are just like Oreos, except with no hydrogenated oils. They are the ONLY Oreo substitute that Barry (the Oreo addict) will accept! And these are just the icing on the cake...or the cookie, so to speak! Each "oreo" has crushed-up candy canes in its vanilla-bean filling....oh MY GOODNESSS!!!! They are sooooo gooooood!!! And they only come out at this time of year...and only until they sell out! So get 'em while they're hot, people!!! (I've got 2 boxes already!)

Weekend Happenings

Well hey there, ya'll! Hope you all had a nice weekend!

We had a really busy week, and Friday was the only evening that both Barry and I were home, so we spent some time playing with the kiddos. Then on Saturday I had to work for a few hours, and while I was doing that, Barry took the kids to Santa Saturday at his work. I guess they had a really fun time...there was Santa (of course), games, music, and lunch.

Then Barry met me at my sister's and dropped Noah off with me so he could take Kendall out for some special time, just the two of them. They went to see Enchanted....Kendall loved it!! Then on Saturday night, we went over to Shawn and Deetra's for dinner. Roast...YUM!!! The kids played like crazy, and Noah was completely obsessed with Shea's Barbie Princess Castle, of course because it went up and down it was TOTALLY COOL.

On Sunday, I went to Ms. Kathy's to work on some beading projects for Christmas. Here are some pics of the few things I made. I think I am safe in posting these, since I don't think the recipients of these gifts read my blog. But just in case, I won't say who they are for! Well, ok...the earrings are for me (heehee....)!


After I got back from there, I had just enough time to get changed and get a bite to eat before Deetra came to pick me up for some Christmas shopping. The Eddie Bauer warehouse was having a big sale for preferred customers only...and we were SOOO there! I picked up a cute brown quilted jacket for half off, and also a fleece pullover that was so soft and fuzzy inside that I just HAD to have it. I also got 5 shirts for work and a cool zippered sweater for Barry. AND, just for spending $20.00 (or quite a bit more) I got a cute stuffed black lab puppy wearing a red scarf. This little doggie is for Noah...he loves his Scouty so much, and this pup looks so much like him! So anyway, we had a successful trip!

Then today, Barry was off due to the fact that our new carpet was being installed. What a pain! We (Barry) had to move all the furniture and make sure it was not in the way. We had to keep Noah occupied so he was out of the way...and that was NO easy task. Then we had to move everything back. Right now we are both just sitting on the couch watching mindless TV, since we are so freaking tired.

Also in for today... since we were moving all the furniture today anyway, we took this opportunity to take down Noah's crib and put him in his big boy bed. No, not the log bed that we will get him when we move him upstairs. This is just a transitional daybed...same one Kendall started out in. And I am happy to report that he seems to like it! He's been in bed for over an hour, and hasn't come out once! So, knock on wood, but we are really excited about that!

Oh yeah, and Noah woke up Saturday morning at 5:45 a.m. moaning that he wanted "More pancakes! I want MORE pancakes!!" Really, this kid must dream of nothing but food! But hey, at least he has good taste!!!

And one more thing, if you're still with me at this point....what a perfect storm of football this week...all the right teams lost...and now,

The Bucks are back at #1, Baby! Watch out LSU, here we come!!!

That's my boy!

More on Noah...


So the other night, at about 12:58 a.m., Barry and I awake to hear Noah moaning in his sleep...and we start giggling. Ya wanna know why? It's because of what he was saying...

"It's MY chocwut! It's MY chocwut!"

Yeah, so my husband thinks that is primarily my influence. Hmmmmmm... let me think about that...

I think he may be right! Now if only I can impress on him the difference between crappy chocolate and the really good stuff!

All in good time, people....ALL IN GOOD TIME!!!

Sinky Diaper, Part 2

So, in other Noah adventures...

Noah has also decided in the past week that if he desires not to be in his crib, he shouldn't be. I put him down for his nap earlier in the week, and sat down to check my email. About 1o minutes later, I saw a quick motion out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw my darling little boy standing there.

"Ah, what are YOU doing, little man?"

"I sit on couch."

"You sit on couch, eh? Well, I think it's time for your nap."

"No, Mama. I no nap. I sit on couch!"

Now, I'm no dummy. I knew if I put him back in his crib that he was just going to continue climbing out... and to be honest, I was pretty surprised it took him this long to figure out how to get out. So, I told him he could come out and sit down, but he had to lay down on the couch and watch a movie... and BE QUIET. Of course, he willingly agreed. And fell asleep within the first 15 minutes.

So, that is all just really background. The real story happened the next night. I had told Barry that Noah had started fleeing his crib, just so he was prepared for the nighttime ritual. About 8:15 or so, Kendall and I headed up to her room to read before bed, and Barry took Little Man in and got him all settled into bed. I could hear everything over the monitor that sits in the kitchen.

"Night-night, Noah. Have pretty dreams, ok?"

"Ok, Dad-dee. Night-night."

"I love you, Buddy."

"I wuf you too, Dad-dee."

Then I heard Barry come out and drop onto the couch to watch some TV. A couple of minutes later, I hear Noah babbling over the monitor.

"Dad-dee...what-a-doin'? Dad-dee...Dad-dee! I know you sit on couch! Come 'ere Dad-dee!"

Silence.

"Dad-dee! Come 'ere Dad-dee!! Pease! Come 'ere!"

Finally I hear an exasperated sigh as Barry heaves himself off the couch to see why Noah beckons. Kendall and I finish up her book, I kiss her goodnight and head downstairs...where I plop MY butt on the couch. A few minutes later Barry comes out, shaking his head and smiling a half grin mixed with confusion.

"Do you know what our son did? You'll never guess. Just guess!"

"I don't know...what?"

"I went in there, and he was standing in his crib...and he said "Here Daddy! Is for you!". So I put my hand out and he gave me something and stood there like he was totally proud of himself. I told him thank you and looked closely at it because I wasn't sure what it was. I thought it was a piece of caulk from one of the log walls...but it wasn't."

"Well, what was it?"

"Well, it was dark in there so I put my face closer to it, and as I got closer, I smelled it! It was a turd, Jenny! He handed me a turd!! I looked at him and said "Noah! Is this poop? Do you have a stinky diaper?" and he just stood there smiling and said "YES." Can you believe that??? He reached in his diaper and pulled out A TURD and handed it to me. THAT'S what he called me in there for!"

Now keep in mind, I am trying VERY hard not to laugh here because the next time something like this happens, it will surely happen to me. But seriously, folks! I could not keep it in. That was too funny to not have a complete belly-laugh over. I am still laughing with tears rolling down my face as I tell the story! I swear...this child is something else!

So needless to say, Barry washed both his and Noah's hands, changed Noah's diaper, and then got him back into bed...but not before telling him, "Dude, don't give people your poop!"

Sinky diaper!!!

So Noah's really into using the potty all of the sudden. Last Sunday, he woke up at 6:00 am moaning, " A sinky diaper! Its hurtin'!" So of course, I went in to change him. No "sinky diaper" after all...he was completely dry! Yet, he still complained when I pulled him into bed with me. "A sinky diaper, MAMA!!! Sinky diaper!"

Of course, while he's getting all upset, he's arching his back and stiffening up, all the while repeating his message of the "sinky diaper". This particular behavior led me to believe that he may possibly be constipated, so I asked him if he wanted me to rub his back. Yes, he did...so I did. And the complaining still continued..."Sinky diaper! S'a SINKY DIAPER, MAMA!!!"

Well, good ol' redirection is usually a good tactic, so I did the best my tired mind could do at 6:00 am on a Sunday morning. "Do you need to sit on the potty?"

"YES!!" Keep in mind this was said in such a way that I felt he was basically calling me an idiot. So, I took him into the bathroom, my eyes still not fully open...and took off his jammies and diaper and sat him down on the little potty. I had him lay his warm little head on my shoulder and I rubbed his back, thinking we may be here for a while. But no, that was not the case.

In about 6 seconds, I heard noise. A lot of noise. And then he said, "SEE! A sinky diaper! All done!" I couldn't believe it...I had to look. Yeah, that little booger was definitely not lying. He went and pooped in the potty like a big boy! And my, was he proud of himself! So, I went on and on about how proud we are of him and how grown-up he is getting...and he was just all smiles. And then he did the exact same thing at 6:00 am on Monday morning too...and that's great and all, but I really hope he doesn't get into a pattern of waking up at 6:00 am every morning to have his fun time on the potty! But the good thing is, we actually are now all on the same page that "sinky diaper" means "I have to go to the potty!" Don't know how I missed that one! HA!

So anyway, that's a big development around here. Lots of pottying. I actually have a part two to that story, but I'm so sleepy right now, I am saving it for tomorrow. Tune back in then, ladies and gents...it's a good one! 'Night!

Go Get 'em, Boys!!!

OH....

WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN!
WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN!

WE'RE FROM O-HI-O!!!!!

Yep, that's right! Today's the day that every Buckeye sits glued to their TV or radio or makes the road trip to Ann Arbor. Today is the day that the entire state of Ohio is draped in scarlet and gray, and The Best Damn Band in the Land can be heard playing over every radio or CD player. Tailgating abounds. There are Buckeye parties aplenty.

Today the greatest rivalry in college football takes place...the Buckeyes take on the Wolverines in the Big House.

GO BUCKS!!

BEAT MICHIGAN!!!!

A Little Shopping!

Hey all! Sorry I've been a little lax in posting, but I've had things I've had to get done! So today, I was wondering what I should post about...and lo and behold, I had forgotten to share my recent purchases with you! Last week, I had a really light schedule at work, so I used my time wisely and went out running errands that I'd been meaning to get done for quite some time. Well, in the course of my errand-running, I happened to be in Target (I LOVE Target!) and ended up strolling past the bedding aisle. I couldn't believe my eyes! The bedding that I've had my eye on for Noah's room was on SALE!!!! I got the quilt and pillow sham for $59! Woo hoo!






The reason I love this quilt set so much is that Barry and I have had our eye on this bed for Noah, once he gets out of his crib . Won't it be so cute?












Then, I also noticed these flannel sheets, which were also on sale... for $15! So I picked up a pair of these for his bed in the winter.








Then, as I continued walking...JACKPOT! More accessories for Noah's room-to-be. And ALL ON SALE! These cute sheets, which have little bear pawprints all over them, a throw pillow, and my favorite find...the lantern bedside lamp! I got his entire bedroom decorated for $110! Ah, yes...and that is why I LOVE Target! Can I get an AMEN, Terri???







Also, good news on the progress of the deck. Barry was off yesterday and luckily for us, we were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL fall day...and were able to complete the first coat of staining. So at the very least, that has been taken off the "Critical" list. We would like to get the second coat on, but if we can't, we can't.

Also, Rudy from the tree farm where Barry bought all of his trees came out last night to dig the holes and drop the trees in. What a fun experience for the kids! He brought out a skid loader with a big hole-digger (yes, that's a technical term!) attachment on it. That thing would start spinning and dig the hole in like, 30 seconds! Then, when he'd lift it up out of the hole, he would shake it and the dirt would go flying off the blades. Noah squealed each and every time! Boy, it was so worth it to have him come and do the work. Barry paid him $15 per hole...can you believe that?!?! WELL WORTH IT!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I was reading Logzie's post about flaxseed, and I got to thinking. There are a lot of products out there that I have found through the last 10 years or so in my quest for eating more naturally and healthfully that have become staples around our house. And so, I was thinking maybe I would share some of my most favorite finds!

First off, we have Emergen-C drink. This stuff is awesome. It comes in a lot of different flavors, and is so easy to take with you, since it comes in a little packet. You just dump the packet in a small glass of water and it fizzes to life...tastes good too! Even the kiddos like it. We take this with us when we travel (especially on airplanes), and I keep it in my office. As soon as any of us start feeling run down or sick, the Emergen-C comes out.



Next up is Uncle Sam cereal. This cereal is soooo good for you. It is whole grain toasted oats and flaxseed, and comes plain or with dried mixed berries. You can eat it just as you would regular cereal, and it is also good to use in baking breads or cookies. No yucky sugary stuff in this box!












Stonyfield organic yogurts. YUM. We get the Yo-Baby whole milk yogurts for Noah and the large containers of plain yogurt for Barry and I. I also will buy boxes of the yogurt sticks to throw in the freezer and the kids will eat them like popsicles...no high-fructose corn syrup, and a healthier treat for sure!



Creamy Brown Rice Cereal. Oh my, this is the most wonderful breakfast. The kids ask for it nearly every morning, and it's a snap to make. If you don't know all the benefits of brown rice, you should check it out for sure. Brown rice is naturally sweet and is nearly a perfect food. This is sort of like oatmeal in consistentcy, but tastes so good. It takes about 6-8 minutes tops to cook and then we serve it with some milk, a bit of honey and some cinnamon on top. Mmmmmmmm!




Odwalla Superfood Drink. I used to pick these single-serving drinks up (a pound of fruit in each one!) when I didn't have time for a full meal at work. But, more importantly, when Noah was going through that rough time where he wouldn't eat any more than 3 specific foods, (and veggies were NOT in those 3), I decided to see if I could sneak them in some other way. So I started buying this superfood drink in a half-gallon jug (about $7). It has spinach, kelp, apples, pears and all kinds of good fruits and veggies in it. Yes, it is a dark green and looks a little yucky, but I just put it in a sippee cup that is not see-through and he sucked it right down. Now he requests "green juice" all the time. It is his favorite drink (besides milk) and I am happy to know he is getting some of the good leafy greens that he won't normally eat! And in case you're wondering...it IS good! The fruit makes it sweet!




Another of my sneaky ways to get Noah to eat green things. These snap-pea crisps are meant to go on salads, but we eat them for a snack. I don't like the Caesar ones...too weird tasting. But the regular ones are VERY TASTY. Noah will eat the whole bag!










Annie's Naturals Mac 'n Cheese. The kids like both the white cheddar and yellow cheddar varieties. And again, none of the crappy ingredients like the ones you find in Kraft. This we make with a 1/2 cup of plain yogurt instead of milk and butter. So creamy, and a healthier alternative! Also, I will add peas to the white cheddar to sneak in some green...and a can of white tuna into the yellow cheddar...it tastes so good and adds protein too!



This is my latest and greatest fave. Sheri turned me on to these tasty little numbers, darn her! All I need is another snack to obsess about. Anyway, these crackers are made with nut flour, so they are gluten free. They are crispy and light and oh-so-good. Barry and I will eat an entire box while watching The Office on Thursday nights. And at $2.49, they are a steal. They come in a variety of flavors, including Smokehouse Almond (my fave), Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, Garden Ranch, and Cheddar Cheese. Try 'em...you'll like 'em!








Fisol. Enteric coated fish oil. Enteric coated means the coating won't break down until it hits your intestines...therefore you won't have a fish taste in your mouth or be burping up fish all day. Tasteless, good for your heart, joints and brain, and this brand is guaranteed mercury free. I was turned on to this at a seminar Sheri and I attended on pain. It was taught by a neurosurgeon who could not stop talking about it's benefits.







And last, but not least, Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use. I use it for baking and cooking. It has no taste, and a high amount of naturally occurring antioxidants as well as no trans fats. It is solid in the jar, which is actually really nice. Easy to measure, and not messy! Do a little Googling and you'll see that coconut oil is where it's at! So many health benefits...




That's it for today folks. I hope you've found this post interesting... and maybe, just MAYBE I've helped you to find some healthy alternatives that will end up being staples in YOUR pantry!

Updates!

Ok, now I finally have a few minutes to sit down and update this blog! But first, I have a question.

Why do men's razors always seem to work better than womens? SERIOUSLY. Occasionally, I'll accidentally leave my razor on the side of the tub and then when I'm in the shower the next day and need to shave, I'll just use Barry's. It always leaves my legs satiny and smooth, whether his blade has just been changed or not. Mine, even with a brand new blade, does a mediocre job. I always THOUGHT it was doing a good job....until I used Barry's!!! This has happened numerous times over the course of our relationship...don't you think by now I'd just go buy a men's razor???? Maybe I will today...

Ok, now that I've got that off my chest, on with the updates!

First of all, look what we found in our chicken coop:Barry was cleaning out the bedding, and when he poured the new shavings in, he saw a mouse run out. Then, as he was spreading the bedding around, he heard faint squeaking. He called me over...and of course, I called Kendall. Now this is where I sometimes don't think. I am all about the educational aspect of every situation, and am always happy to engage Kendall in learning and experience whenever possible. But sometimes I don't see the possible problems that can come out of these experiences. For instance...Kendall was, of course, totally interested in these little mice. She wanted to hold them, which we quickly shot down and explained why. She had a million questions about what mice eat and why the baby mice's mother would just run off and leave them. Then she wanted to find a way to feed them and keep them...and this is where the problem started. Because of course, Barry had every intention of killing them, or at the very least, just leaving them in the pile of chicken bedding to die. To those of you who think this is inhumane or cruel, I understand. I don't want to be involved in the killing of any kind of living thing, except spiders...I have NO problem with that. But you also have to understand what kind of problems mice cause. Lots of problems. And they reproduce like mad. So, they had to go. How on earth do you explain that to a 6 year old? We basically just told her that they wouldn't live without their mother...they were just too young. To put it lightly, she was upset and obsessed by the prospect of saving these baby mice. We are better now, thank goodness!

Secondly, after much deliberation, we decided to get Kendall's hair cut. See, Kendall has that typical tow-head, fly-away, fine-as-chicken-fuzz hair. And when that type of hair gets too long, it gets stringy and just plain messy looking. We decided it was time for an updated hairdo. So, Danniel took 2 1/2 inches off, and now we have this sleek little bob. She loves it! Then, of course, there's the progress on the deck. I swear, we will all be so happy when this is finally finished. You know how when you start a big exciting project and you're all gung-ho and totally into it...and then when it comes to all the little finishing touches you just can't wait to be finished??? Well, folks, that's where we are. And this staining needs to be finished before winter gets here. Soooo, here are the pics of Sheri and I gettin' the job done!

And this last one is of the ever-changing sky. Our weather is so flaky lately. One day it's gorgeous, the next it's cold and windy, the next we're under severe weather warnings. On Monday, when I took this particular picture, it had been sunny all morning, and then looked like this by afternoon...Looks like it's actually going to snow, doesn't it? Freaky weather. Oh well, you know what we say here in Ohio? If you don't like the weather, hang out a while and it will surely change.

Cleaning...

Yeah, I know I need to get on here and post. I even have some new pics to share...but alas, it has been so crazy around here that Noah and I have to devote today to CLEANING and ORGANIZING.

Yippee.

We will be going through toys, closets, and hopefully my pantry. We are throwing away, giving away, and cleaning up. I will be doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and also the dreaded fan blades.

Woo Hoo.

And then, when Barry gets home...we are back to staining those deck rails. Yes, folks...the pressure is on! It's getting darn cold outside and the staining has to be finished before winter! So, if I get time (yeah, right) later today, I will try to get on and get you all some updates. If not, well....I guess I'll have to try for tomorrow!

Wish me luck!

Cowboys and Indians...

Trick or Treat has come and gone for yet another year. The kids costumes were inspired by the book "The Indian in the Cupboard", which we read last month. Kendall wanted to be Little Bear, and she decided that Noah could be Boone the Crying Cowboy. Hope the little one didn't take that personally! The little monkeys brought in quite a haul and were real troopers, as we walked a VERY long way. Noah insisted on walking the entire time because he likes his new cowboy boots so much...and it's really funny because he shuffles when he wears them! My sister came out to join us in our quest for free candy...and the kids thought that was the greatest. And just look at that! She even came in costume! Because Jess was here to help, Barry opted to stay home and finish his railings on the deck, since after this weekend we will be extremely short on daylight. Yeah, and I'll bet it also had something to do with the fact that we were all dressed up, and he didn't want to.... ;0)
I'll post more pics later...my sis took her camera along with us, so I didn't take mine. Therefore, she has all the trick-or-treat shots. As soon as she emails them to me, I'll post some more! So for now, enjoy these! Hope you had a great Halloween everyone!