Redbox Code
By · CommentsThis code expires at midnight tonight. Go out and try redbox with today’s free rental code!!!!
Code: QNGJ7KD
Bye bye Binkies… Here come the BIG KIDS!
By · CommentsSo, Zane rarely takes a binky, but Bree has been DEPENDENT on it! We have been talking to them since they started potty training, that binkies are for babies. Yesterday, we really started hitting it hard core. Bree wanted earrings (”like Mommies”). I told her only big girls could wear Earrings.
Naptime for Bree was rough. She didn’t really sleep any. I gave her some “broken binkies”, but that just made her mad.
Tonight we made a family date. I searched the house for all the binkies. We went to the nearby mall. At the suggestion of a friend, we went to build-a-bear and stuffed all the binkies in a Hello Kitty and an owl (minus 2 newer ones… Hey, I was worried and hid them. lol)… It was so funny, because Bree had to suck EVERY SINGLE ONE before it was stuffed into the kitty… but, They were SOOOoooo excited to get new animals!
Then, Bree and I went and got her ears pierced, since only big girls can wear earrings! It was pretty smooth. A little crying on the 2nd ear, but excitement once it was done!
At bedtime, they both went down. Bree cried for a bit and actually told me to “Get them out of Kitties’ BACK!”. But I told her they were gone. DH put a sleep sack on Hello Kitty (like Bree and Zane’s) and she went to right to sleep! I think her falling to sleep so quickly was due to no real nap, but I’m still excited!
Day 1 with no binkies!!!!!
Wordless Wednesday
By · Comments
TARHEELS!!!!
By · CommentsFor all you, NC Tarheel fans out there… this will melt your heart!
Strabismus
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. :(
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!!!!!
By · CommentsWordless Wednesday
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.
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!!!!!
