Archive for Featured Post
Strabismus
Posted by: | CommentsWe went to the pediatrician. He was glad I brought in the pictures. He did a few tests with covering each eye and having her follow a stick. He said he could see that the right eye was a bit slower or resting at the crossed point at times. He gave me a referral for a pediatric optometrist. When I called, they started to give me a date in Oct. When I said who my dr. was and that he had said to get us in Monday, something magically opened up at 9:30 Monday morning. So, Monday we will go the next step.
It looks like it is some kind of strabismus. She might need a patch, glasses, or possibly surgery. Maybe some or all. We will just have to wait and see.
If you have experienced something similar in yourself or your children, please share. I feel like the more I know, the better off we will be.
Worried about my sweet princess. :(
Posted by: | CommentsLast week I started noticing B’s right eye turning in. I thought it was just my own eyes playing a trick on me. Then, my mom noticed it. When we returned, dh noticed it. The more I have watched her, the more I noticed. In addition, she has started complaining about the other eye hurting.
After some research, I think it may be week eye muscles in the one eye. From other people, they say it can come on fairly quickly. The stronger eye is hurting her, because it is over compensating.
Perhaps others of you have experienced this. For us it is new. I am worried about it. I just want to protect my little baby. I hate to see her going through something else. 
First IUGR, then projectile vomiting/reflux, a bit behind on gross motor muscles, now this. I love her so much… I hate to see her going through anything.
Tomorrow we have an appt. with the pediatrician. Wish us luck. Here is a picture I captured at dinner. You can clearly see the one eye turning in.
2 year old fishies!!!!!
Posted by: | CommentsWordless Wednesday
Posted by: | CommentsI have been away from the computer for much of the last week. I had received word that my grandmother will not make it much longer. My mom, the kids, and I all drove down to Houston, Tx. immediately. We got a little visit in with her. Though she will not make it much longer (she is 90), it was wonderful to be able to see her once more and introduce her to her great-grandkids. Here is a picture of 4 generations: Me, Bree, my mom (Grammy to the kids), Zane, and grandma.
How to vermicompost or make a worm bin.
Posted by: | CommentsSo, I have had a few people ask about the vermicomposting, or worm composting. This is something we did in my classroom years ago, as composting is part of NCs standard course of study. If you want to build one, here are some basic steps. I learned from Susan, who visited my class years ago and who graciously had us over to her house to build ours yesterday. If you are in the Raleigh, NC area, I advise you to contact her at redhen@nc.rr.com
So, you need:
- newspaper (shredded into 1/2 inch strips… moisten with a spray bottle so they are good and damp).
- 2- 10 gallon solid tubs (you don’t want clear… the light should not go through)
- organic food scraps (peelings, rotting veggies/fruits, coffee grinds, etc)
- Drill
- a brick, piece of styrafoam, tupperware container, or something that can help leave a gap between the two containers
- Worms (We got ours from Susan, but there are sites online where you can find them. Just search: red worms)
Drill holes in the bottom of one of the containers. We drilled about 20-30 holes.
Then drill holes along the top of the same container about 2 inches apart. This creates circulation for air for the worms.
Put the brick or whatever you are using for a spacer, in the bottom of the undrilled bin. Then nest the other in it. This creates a place to catch any moisture that drips from your bin or worms that are on the move (this happens at the beginning sometimes because they are frightened and fleeing).
Layer the drilled bin with about an inch of moist newspaper.
Put the worms, and whatever dirt they have in shipping, on top of the newspaper.
Then, place about an inch of your organic food scraps on 1/2 of the area. This will leave the other half to use the next time. If you put too much, it will not get eaten quick enough.
Cover the entire area with about 1-2 more inches of moist newspaper.
Then, leave the bin in a well lit area for 24/7. They need to get acclimated. The light detours them from wanting to escape. You can keep it in your house. It will not smell. You can put the lid on top to keep animals/kids out. I have left ours open for the moment to keep the light on them.
After a week or so you should see the pile of refuge starting to go down. Once it looks like it is being sufficiently eaten, you can put food on the other half. Do not use meats, cheeses, milk products, etc. Only plant material (fruits, veggies, etc). Don’t let the newspaper get too dry. Though the food should keep it fairly moist, it can sometimes get dry. I use a spray bottle to keep things moist and the worms happy.
Another tip: The worms need to stay between 65-80 degrees. Don’t let the bin be in the direct sun… it will kill them. If the temperature gets below 65 they will stop moving around and eating. I plan on putting our bin in the bathroom closet during the winter (though dh doesn’t know that yet! ;)).
Hope this gives you enough information!!!! Let me or Susan know if you have other questions. Good luck!!!!!
Mama, I feel yucky.
Posted by: | CommentsKids woke with temps of about 101. Both were fairly lathargic. So, I finally gave them a little tylenol. They both perked up pretty quickly. We spent the day morning drinking my juice/salt/water mixture, watching Barney (yes, though this would be my last choice, they ARE sick…), changing nasty sick poo diapers, getting lots of snuggles, and reading books.
I let them stay in their jammies. I figured they would be much more comfortable… and I would love to be able to stay in mine while sick. So, we put on some clean ones and they have been comfortable all morning.
I myself DID shower. I thought about staying in my night gown all day. But since R was due to come around noon (yes, she was coming since she is also sick), I decided a shower was a necessity.
So, I have graced the day in very SEXY mommy attire. I have on an oversized t-shirt… decorated with some juice, maybe a bit of snot, and some tylenol (gotta give hugs when needed). I have on some baggy, but extremely comfortable capris. Glasses and frizzy hair in pig tails complete the look. Maybe I should submit my picture for “best dressed”! lol
Anyway, the kids are doing OK. Their temp has stayed around 100 or below since the 1 dose of tylenol around 7:30. I have been loading them up on liquids, soft foods, emergen-c, and rest. Hopefully, they will be ready to get back to the park soon.
Our new pets, worms!!!!
Posted by: | CommentsToday we went with some friends to build a worm bin. Jaime and Bailey gave me this for my birthday present. The kids loved it!
They had purchased a tupperware container. With Susan (the worm lady)’s help, we drilled holes in the container. Then we lined it with wet newspaper strips. Next, we put the worms in. Finally, we covered it with more wet newspaper strips.
When I got home, we put the bin in the kitchen, so it could get light for 24 hours. Then we gave it some of our compost scraps. It was a blast!
If you are in the Triangle area interested in building one, getting worms, or getting meal worms, contact redhen@nc.rr.com
Susan was awesome!!!!!!
Sadness
Posted by: | CommentsThis week a horrible tragedy happened, just blocks from our house. It is on a road often traveled, and often traveled too fast. A six year old got off the school bus and was crossing the street on her way home. She got struck by a car and was killed. All the children on the bus witnessed it. I feel so bad for the mother… and I feel bad for the woman she will never get to grow up to become. I also feel sad for the children who will keep this memory tucked in their minds for the rest of their lives.
Hug your children a little tighter. Kiss them goodnight, even if they are asleep. Life is short. It is precious. Our children should be treasured… every single moment.
Now a 2 car family, once again
Posted by: | CommentsYAY! As of yesterday, we are back to 2 vehicles! DH found a used 2003 Acura from a friend of a friend. It is nice and roomy! It also has space for all 4 of us to ride comfortably. The best part is the sports shifter. It is fun to act like I’m back in a manual vehicle! I miss my old Ford Ranger with the stick shift. Made me feel like a strong woman!
Yes, we had been with only 1 vehicle for a little over a month. On July 14th DH was headed to Charlotte (about 2-3 hours) and the head gasket on his Buick La Saber blew. I had to pack up the kids and head out on an empromptu journey. The good thing was, DHs kettle bell class he had help set up was right down the street from my MILs. So, the kids and I had a nice visit.
I was fine with having only one car, in the sense that I felt we were being more green. We have so many cars on the road here in the USA. It was nice to feel like I was saving a little bit of the environment (along with my recycling, cloth diapers, composting, eating organics, etc). However, after a few weeks I started feeling depressed.
With near 100degree days here, there wasn’t a whole lot to do. We played trains, made pictures, played in our little pool, rode bikes, etc. But 1 adult and 3 toddlers is hard in itself. It was even harder being stuck at home most days. On top of it, Zane has continued to struggle with sleeping in his “Big Boy” bed. So, naptime is spent putting him back in bed and bedtime is a bit of a battle. I was getting worn out!
Now we have the van back to ourselves. I am sad to have 2 vehicles on the road, for 1 family. But, for my sanity, it had to be done. We celebrated yesterday by going to the airport to watch the planes and by going to the park with some friends today. Sanity is slowly returning.
