There are few things in this world that only the name brand will do...Grape Nuts, Bounty paper towels, and Windex are 3 favorites of mine. I have never found a suitable replacement for any of these. Until yesterday, that is.
No more Windex purchases in this house! I am making my own. Wanna know the "recipe"?
1/8 cup ammonia
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1 quick squirt dish soap
enough water to fill up the old Windex bottle
Let me tell you, this stuff works great! I tested it out on a few of the many windows in this house, and they sparkle! My mix would have even been blue if I had used regular ammonia. However, my blue dish soap mixed with my yellow lemon ammonia, and made green glass cleaner. Works for me though!
Now, if you could help me out with the other to things on my list, that'd be great. And no, Nutty Nuggets are not suitable replacement for Grape Nuts.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Accident Prone
My beautiful 2 year old, Jeff, seems to be my "accident prone" child. If someone is going to get hurt, it's gonna be Jeff. I don't know why that is, but it is.
Consider this:
Earlier in the year, I took Mandy and Jeff to Chuck E Cheese with my neighbor and her two darlings. On the way out, while I was holding leftovers and Jeff's hand, he decided he didn't want to walk anymore and sat on the ground in the middle of the parking lot. Not a great place to stop. I dislocated his wrist trying to get him up to safety. ER visit #1.
Then, in May (or was it April?), he was running around the house here in TN, fell over a toy truck in the living room, and hurt his foot. My boy never cries, and he screamed bloody murder. After his crying induced nap, he still wouldn't stand on his foot. Turns out he broke the bone just above his toe, and was in a cast for 3 weeks. ER visit #2.
In July, shortly before Peter was born, he tripped in my room while playing with Mandy and Andrew. He fell face first into the corner of Paul's dresser and hit his lip. There was blood everywhere, along with my poor screaming baby. He ended up needing a stitch in his lip to close up the wound, and now has a scar where it was. ER visit #3.
A few days ago, Andrew dropped a glass bowl on the floor in the kitchen. I did my best to make sure the entire area was clean of glass. I must have missed a piece, though. Whose little foot found it? Yeah. Jeff. He has a nice slice across the bottom of his right foot, making him walk funny. No ER visit for this one, thank God, but still.
Why is it always one child who just seems to attract injury? Could it be his full-speed-ahead approach to everything? Is it just the nature of boys? I don't know for sure, but I sure hope things calm down for my precious baby.
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| Please excuse my messy face! I had to get in on the picture-taking fun! |
Consider this:
Earlier in the year, I took Mandy and Jeff to Chuck E Cheese with my neighbor and her two darlings. On the way out, while I was holding leftovers and Jeff's hand, he decided he didn't want to walk anymore and sat on the ground in the middle of the parking lot. Not a great place to stop. I dislocated his wrist trying to get him up to safety. ER visit #1.
Then, in May (or was it April?), he was running around the house here in TN, fell over a toy truck in the living room, and hurt his foot. My boy never cries, and he screamed bloody murder. After his crying induced nap, he still wouldn't stand on his foot. Turns out he broke the bone just above his toe, and was in a cast for 3 weeks. ER visit #2.
In July, shortly before Peter was born, he tripped in my room while playing with Mandy and Andrew. He fell face first into the corner of Paul's dresser and hit his lip. There was blood everywhere, along with my poor screaming baby. He ended up needing a stitch in his lip to close up the wound, and now has a scar where it was. ER visit #3.
A few days ago, Andrew dropped a glass bowl on the floor in the kitchen. I did my best to make sure the entire area was clean of glass. I must have missed a piece, though. Whose little foot found it? Yeah. Jeff. He has a nice slice across the bottom of his right foot, making him walk funny. No ER visit for this one, thank God, but still.
Why is it always one child who just seems to attract injury? Could it be his full-speed-ahead approach to everything? Is it just the nature of boys? I don't know for sure, but I sure hope things calm down for my precious baby.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
My Struggle With Weight
No, not my own weight, which is down quite nicely after this last pregnancy! I actually weight less after baby than I did when I started, believe it or not. And I haven't tried to lose weight, either. I only had a net gain of 6 lbs.
Nope, this is about my struggle to help Peter gain weight. And quite a struggle it has been.
When he was born, Pete weighted 6lb15oz. When we left the hospital the next day, he was a respectable 6lb10oz. However, he soon dropped to 6lb4oz. After being labeled "failure to thrive" by nearly 3 weeks old, we had to begin supplementing our nursing with formula. I didn't mind, as it was what was best for Peter at this time. However, I tried very hard to increase my milk supply to eliminate formula all together.
Alas, it was not to work. He was barely on the weight chart at his last appointment at 5 weeks old. He weighed 7lbs4oz. Supplement more please, the doctor said. And so I have been. It seems to be working, as well. He is finally starting to put some meat on those little bones of his!
I thought I would feel worse about not being able to exclusively breast feed my little boy, but every bit he gets is helpful. I still nurse him first, but we follow that with a bottle of formula, which he usually finishes. I really feel badly that he was still hungry those first weeks, when he wasn't gaining. Hopefully, our doctor's visits will normalize after his next checkup at 7 weeks, though he will surely need to go back again for a 2 month check. I am pretty sure he will be on the charts at his next visit, and above the 2nd percentile, as well.
Nope, this is about my struggle to help Peter gain weight. And quite a struggle it has been.
When he was born, Pete weighted 6lb15oz. When we left the hospital the next day, he was a respectable 6lb10oz. However, he soon dropped to 6lb4oz. After being labeled "failure to thrive" by nearly 3 weeks old, we had to begin supplementing our nursing with formula. I didn't mind, as it was what was best for Peter at this time. However, I tried very hard to increase my milk supply to eliminate formula all together.
Alas, it was not to work. He was barely on the weight chart at his last appointment at 5 weeks old. He weighed 7lbs4oz. Supplement more please, the doctor said. And so I have been. It seems to be working, as well. He is finally starting to put some meat on those little bones of his!
I thought I would feel worse about not being able to exclusively breast feed my little boy, but every bit he gets is helpful. I still nurse him first, but we follow that with a bottle of formula, which he usually finishes. I really feel badly that he was still hungry those first weeks, when he wasn't gaining. Hopefully, our doctor's visits will normalize after his next checkup at 7 weeks, though he will surely need to go back again for a 2 month check. I am pretty sure he will be on the charts at his next visit, and above the 2nd percentile, as well.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
How To Turn a Floor Into a Friend
Yesterday, we laid a laundry room floor for one of our customers. This is not something we have ever done before, and he was WELL aware of it. However, we did our research, chose a great product, and sent our proposal for the work we completed. He called to accept, and we set yesterday as the date to complete the work.
Not only did Paul and I arrive on the job site, but our kids came along too. You see, Howard just loves them, and they really enjoy spending time with him, as well. Paul and I worked to tear up the old vinyl floors (2 layers) which went very fast. We cleaned to floor, and then took a break for lunch. Howard spoiled the kids with cookies and ice cream after their sandwiches!
We went on to begin laying the new vinyl tile floor. Setting the first course was very quick, as the tiles literally peel and stick. Around the edges, we had cuts to make, but even that went well. It was getting late, and Howard offered to buy us all dinner. Mandy and Andrew went with him to Taco Bell to order our food, and we had a nice dinner with Howard.
After dinner, Paul and I grouted the tile, creating a BEAUTIFUL finish that you would never think was vinyl. It looks like a ceramic tile floor, except it will be much more durable. We replaced his washer and dryer, got everything all set for him, and got ourselves ready to go! Here he is, our client, and he has turned into a great friend, as well.
I really love the work we are doing. Building relationships with people you would otherwise never meet is a great way to do business, for sure.
Not only did Paul and I arrive on the job site, but our kids came along too. You see, Howard just loves them, and they really enjoy spending time with him, as well. Paul and I worked to tear up the old vinyl floors (2 layers) which went very fast. We cleaned to floor, and then took a break for lunch. Howard spoiled the kids with cookies and ice cream after their sandwiches!
We went on to begin laying the new vinyl tile floor. Setting the first course was very quick, as the tiles literally peel and stick. Around the edges, we had cuts to make, but even that went well. It was getting late, and Howard offered to buy us all dinner. Mandy and Andrew went with him to Taco Bell to order our food, and we had a nice dinner with Howard.
After dinner, Paul and I grouted the tile, creating a BEAUTIFUL finish that you would never think was vinyl. It looks like a ceramic tile floor, except it will be much more durable. We replaced his washer and dryer, got everything all set for him, and got ourselves ready to go! Here he is, our client, and he has turned into a great friend, as well.
I really love the work we are doing. Building relationships with people you would otherwise never meet is a great way to do business, for sure.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Happy Birthday, Andrew!
12 years ago today, my life changed forever. My baby Andrew was born, bringing never-ending love, joy, and happiness to our family. Since that day, our family has changed a lot. But one thing will never change. I will love this boy all the days of my life, and beyond. He will always be my baby, no matter how big he gets. And he will always be the one who made me a mother. Thanks, Andrew, and happy birthday! I love you more than you will ever know.
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