Tim and I decided earlier this year to live in a more frugal manner, and for the most part we have done really well. I no longer plan to get a Starbucks drink the fight before I am going to drive by that well beloved place, and now, if I am going to get a drink, sometimes I forget and pass the joint. That always give me a bit of a happy feeling, believe it or not.
I have recognized the same old problem with myself, and I would bet that it is a human wide problem. The more tired or stressed I am, the more I waver on my commitments not to eat out and not to grab a coffee. The number of nights I get up in the night to feed my baby is directly proportionate to the likelihood that I will go to Starbucks on my way home from taking Tim to work.
That is a terrible failing.
Because of this failing, the last couple weeks have not been a boasting point for me. Not that I should last about it anyway, and I am not, but for sure these last couple of weeks I absolutely cannot boast. No reason for boasting here.
What I have been doing well at these last few weeks is my housecleaning. I have rearranged my room and that always involves a good old fashioned clean up and and clean out. We aren't done with it because we have just both gotten so incredibly tired. I have wondered if I have Parvo or something since I am so achy, or maybe I am just spending too much time on the floor with Ilse. Whatever the cause, we have been too tired to finish the room, but it certainly does look nicer.
I also cleaned some blinds, mopped some (very) dirty floors, and have been keeping up with my laundry. I am very happy with how all of that is going.
I have also been spending a lot of time teaching the boys some things we have been quite lax on, like how to respond to a question about something they did. The answers tend to involve other people, like blaming parents or each other, and we are working on having them begin their explanations with the personal pronoun 'I' and not use anyone else's name in the explanation. Adam and Eve would have benefited from that lesson, so I want the boys to have it. Their wives will appreciate their ability to take responsibility, too, I am sure.
We are also working with one son on the difference between trying to be bad and not trying to be good. (I know the words bad and good in relation to children aren't very popular, but there's no getting around it, sin is bad and no sin is good.) This one son doesn't try to be good. He thinks he lives in do-whatever-he-wants world, and he doesn't care if it is good or bad. If he wants to do it, he will. I had a long talk with him today on how important it is to be an active obey-er instead of a passive naughty boy. He needs to TRY to behave. I think this road with him is going to be very long.
Update:
Last night I broke down and took some ibuprofen for my aches, and I feel so much better today! Hopefully this will be a day of getting some good things done.
All in all, we are happy around here, and we are waiting on the doctors appointment for Ilse's blood. Hopefully that will be soon.
Showing posts with label Healthy Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Living. Show all posts
Friday, March 2, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Ilse's Nine Month Update and Life and Boys
Ilse Joy was nine months old on February 4, and she continues to be a major source of joy in our home. Joey and Chris try their hardest to make her smile-- even though they don't need to try at all since she sees them and breaks out in a grin-- and I tell them all the time that she will know for sure that they love her. They are wonderful big brothers to our Ilse Joy.
Ilse is 27 1/2 inches long now, but as of February 8th, she was only 12 lbs. 5.5 oz., which is only 1lb 1oz heavier than she was at six months. We are pretty concerned about her weight, since in the last few days she has dropped a whole pound. She has been sick off and on for two months, really since mid December. We have had one ER visit, another ER visit that resulted in a night in the hospital, another ER visit to replace her button when it came out in the night, a surgery to insert ear tubes because of ear infections that wouldn't go away even after three different antibiotics, an antibiotic that made her scream for several nights in a row, four different bouts of diarrhea-- the first lasting for 23 days, and the latest for one day, two nights, and part of another day. This latest bout made her lose the pound I mentioned earlier.
Next week we will be beginning some deep testing on her immune system. They are going to see if her body has reacted properly to her vaccinations, do a complete metabolic panel which includes liver function, and check something having to do with protein albumin, or something like that. The reason the doctors want to do this testing is because the last immune system testing just raised more questions as some of the numbers were high and some were low.
We did have Ilse tested for allergies to milk, soy, wheat, and egg. Of course we knew she is allergic to egg, and I was honestly hoping she would be allergic to milk since that would explain the random diarrhea and barfing, but no such luck. We will have to look deeper. Of course some of her barfing is because of SLOS, but I don't think all of it is.
Ilse has really started playing. She grabs for toys without fail these days, and she brings things to her mouth also. Her fingers are her favorite toy, though. The other night when she should have been sleeping, she was instead holding one finger in her mouth, her other hand on that hand, and talking. It was super cute and kept me awake quite effectively. I bought her the Fisher-Price Jumperoo, and she loves it! She doesn't quite jump correctly. She more break dances.....
I love watching her play. I am working on fattening her up, but it is a constant struggle to get enough food in her. The last two days she has only barfed once a day. That has been nice. Also the last two nights I have gotten up in the night to feed her. I intended to get up twice each night so that she would be eating every three hours all day and night, but this tired mommy just can't do it. In fact, I wouldn't even have gotten up the first night I fed her in the night except I dropped my phone on the floor in the dark, before I got the alarm turned off. That right there got me out of bed which in turn got me to her room to feed her. I just couldn't do that twice in one night, though, so I didn't even try to get up again. Then last night the only reason I fed her in the night was because I just stayed up for it. Yes, that's right. I stayed up till 2:15am just to feed her again. I don't know what is wrong with me. I guess I am doing what I must to ensure that she gets fed in the night even though it makes me Mrs. Zombie. I generally get a little nap sometime during the day. The boys are really good at having "quiet reading time." they really do lay on their floor absolutely quietly and look at books, sometimes for two plus hours. They are amazing. I don't now now I would get through the night without that little snooze, and yes, I did just call two plus hours a little snooze... Lol.
Today Ilse actually ate in therapy! I fed her squash on my finger, and she gobbled it up. I need to do it again tomorrow before she forgets how to take food off a finger. Our therapist was amazed. Ilse is also doing really well putting weight on her legs and her right arm. I have ordered her some elbow immobilizing splints that my friend Micia found. It is too bad they aren't pink, but they will hopefully do the trick of getting her elbows locked so I can help her be int he crawling position without feeling like I am an octopus holding two legs, two arms, and a tummy. I guess that would be a quintopus, but I am not one of those either, whatever it is. Something with five appendages.... Um, yeah. :)
Tonight at Walmart I bought the boys camo bandanas and sleeping bags. They will have so much fun I think.
I have been doing really, really well making food at home. We are saving so much money it is unbelievable. We just got our Sam's bill, which before was in the $800-900 range, but this time was ZERO. Yes. So nice. With the diarrhea bout I did go to Starbucks more than I should have, but since I was dead on my feet from not being able to leave the changing table during the night I think I can forgive myself.
And then today we went to Starbucks to celebrate getting our tax return. :) I can't think of a better reason to go spend $14.
Life around here is busy but wonderful. The Lord sustains us, blesses us, and gives us much joy.
Ilse is 27 1/2 inches long now, but as of February 8th, she was only 12 lbs. 5.5 oz., which is only 1lb 1oz heavier than she was at six months. We are pretty concerned about her weight, since in the last few days she has dropped a whole pound. She has been sick off and on for two months, really since mid December. We have had one ER visit, another ER visit that resulted in a night in the hospital, another ER visit to replace her button when it came out in the night, a surgery to insert ear tubes because of ear infections that wouldn't go away even after three different antibiotics, an antibiotic that made her scream for several nights in a row, four different bouts of diarrhea-- the first lasting for 23 days, and the latest for one day, two nights, and part of another day. This latest bout made her lose the pound I mentioned earlier.
Next week we will be beginning some deep testing on her immune system. They are going to see if her body has reacted properly to her vaccinations, do a complete metabolic panel which includes liver function, and check something having to do with protein albumin, or something like that. The reason the doctors want to do this testing is because the last immune system testing just raised more questions as some of the numbers were high and some were low.
We did have Ilse tested for allergies to milk, soy, wheat, and egg. Of course we knew she is allergic to egg, and I was honestly hoping she would be allergic to milk since that would explain the random diarrhea and barfing, but no such luck. We will have to look deeper. Of course some of her barfing is because of SLOS, but I don't think all of it is.
Ilse has really started playing. She grabs for toys without fail these days, and she brings things to her mouth also. Her fingers are her favorite toy, though. The other night when she should have been sleeping, she was instead holding one finger in her mouth, her other hand on that hand, and talking. It was super cute and kept me awake quite effectively. I bought her the Fisher-Price Jumperoo, and she loves it! She doesn't quite jump correctly. She more break dances.....
I love watching her play. I am working on fattening her up, but it is a constant struggle to get enough food in her. The last two days she has only barfed once a day. That has been nice. Also the last two nights I have gotten up in the night to feed her. I intended to get up twice each night so that she would be eating every three hours all day and night, but this tired mommy just can't do it. In fact, I wouldn't even have gotten up the first night I fed her in the night except I dropped my phone on the floor in the dark, before I got the alarm turned off. That right there got me out of bed which in turn got me to her room to feed her. I just couldn't do that twice in one night, though, so I didn't even try to get up again. Then last night the only reason I fed her in the night was because I just stayed up for it. Yes, that's right. I stayed up till 2:15am just to feed her again. I don't know what is wrong with me. I guess I am doing what I must to ensure that she gets fed in the night even though it makes me Mrs. Zombie. I generally get a little nap sometime during the day. The boys are really good at having "quiet reading time." they really do lay on their floor absolutely quietly and look at books, sometimes for two plus hours. They are amazing. I don't now now I would get through the night without that little snooze, and yes, I did just call two plus hours a little snooze... Lol.
Today Ilse actually ate in therapy! I fed her squash on my finger, and she gobbled it up. I need to do it again tomorrow before she forgets how to take food off a finger. Our therapist was amazed. Ilse is also doing really well putting weight on her legs and her right arm. I have ordered her some elbow immobilizing splints that my friend Micia found. It is too bad they aren't pink, but they will hopefully do the trick of getting her elbows locked so I can help her be int he crawling position without feeling like I am an octopus holding two legs, two arms, and a tummy. I guess that would be a quintopus, but I am not one of those either, whatever it is. Something with five appendages.... Um, yeah. :)
Tonight at Walmart I bought the boys camo bandanas and sleeping bags. They will have so much fun I think.
I have been doing really, really well making food at home. We are saving so much money it is unbelievable. We just got our Sam's bill, which before was in the $800-900 range, but this time was ZERO. Yes. So nice. With the diarrhea bout I did go to Starbucks more than I should have, but since I was dead on my feet from not being able to leave the changing table during the night I think I can forgive myself.
And then today we went to Starbucks to celebrate getting our tax return. :) I can't think of a better reason to go spend $14.
Life around here is busy but wonderful. The Lord sustains us, blesses us, and gives us much joy.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The New Year
I have always scoffed at New Year's Resolutions, but this year I am afraid that Tim and I unintentionally joined the ranks of the resolute.
I have been doing the money in our family every since we were a family, and let me tell you, I have never ever done a good job of it. Bills have been late, I have spent way too much, and everything that could go wrong did. And since the night I sat up in bed at the hospital after my c-section when my little baby was at a different hospital in the NICU..... just to do bills..... I said to myself, 'Self, this has to end.' I simply didn't have the brain power anymore to do it.
So, on Dcember 31 it did end. Tim and I sat down to work out a budget, and during it we made some decisions that I am so happy with.
Of course, we didn't intentionally decide all these things on the last day or the year. I think that was just a convenient time to sit down and go over it all. :)
Some of the changes we made are the following:
I am 97% off coffee. I am 99% off Starbucks. That is the one I am so happy about. I am ashamed to say how often we went to Starbucks, but now I am pleased to be able to say that I have gone twice, TWICE, this week. That is, well, that is amazing. That is saving so much money right there. And, not being on so much caffeine and sugar is good for me.
Also, we have only eaten out ONCE this week! Wow! If you know us, that is a gigantic change. We wouldn't have even eaten out that one time, except that was the day that was so busy with two labs and Tim's appointment. I simply didn't have time to grab some lunch at home before I had to go pick Tim up at work.
I have been having fun making wholesome, homemade meals for my boys and for myself. We have eaten some cereal, yes, but we have also eaten fish, chicken, cinnamon toast, quesadillas with leftover chicken, and various other things. One day I gave Joey salad for a snack, and he ate it because he wanted to be thankful. He could have told me that he didnt want a snack, but no, instead he ate it happily. Lol. The other day we ate Pizza salad, which is spinach salad with pepperoni in it. The boys are making a habit of telling me that "this food is 'alicious!" (Joey) and "this is good!" (Chris) It is sweet of them.
We are also trying to use up most of the food we have in the freezer and pantry before buying tons more. So far I have been doing really well with it. We have finished one kind of fish and the chicken, and most of the tortillas are gone. I am trying to go shopping every week for just that week's worth of food instead of going once a month. Those huge shopping trips are so stressful, it is nearly impossible to fit it all in the car since there is a stroller back there, and I am sure I spend way too much that way anyway.
Today's shopping trip to Walmart was difficult, though, because I feel like the walking dead, Ilse is coughing up a storm, and I managed to erase my list halfway through the store. I had worked really hard on that list. And I had really been trying to make sure I didn't buy things we didn't need this week... and also that I didn't get home to discover that I forgot something of magnitudinal importance. Hopefully I didn't do either.
I tried to rest as much as I could today since I feel so sick, but I know I didn't rest enough. I have to feed Ilse one last time at 11:30 tonight, and then I can go to bed. Maybe she will sleep the night through, but I doubt it. I think she is trying to grow and so is hungry in the night. I will take hunger in the night any time over screaming in pain.
I am considering buying her a shirt that says, "I am sick. Please don't breathe on me or touch me without permission" Ilse gets sick every time she thinks a thought, poor child.
Today for the first time she was goofing off when I tried to put her in her carseat. She wouldn't bend, and she was making happy noises. It was cute-- until I lost my grip on her and thumped her head on her seat. I consoled myself with the logic that that part of the seat is made to keep the head safe in a wreck, so a little thump should be fine. She is herself, so it did no lasting damage. I am thankful for that.
And our therapist is recommending that I begin getting notes from the doctor everytime we have to do any medical proceedure at all on Ilse, since her skin is so markable. The GI scared me the other day asking me why her chest was so marked up red. All I had been doing was holding her while she stood. At least our pediatrician and therapist understand, but I guess I need to get a signed something from them stating how the baby's skin is before I get accused of something terrible.
And now, it is time for some cold medicine and for getting ready for bed.
Good night!
I have been doing the money in our family every since we were a family, and let me tell you, I have never ever done a good job of it. Bills have been late, I have spent way too much, and everything that could go wrong did. And since the night I sat up in bed at the hospital after my c-section when my little baby was at a different hospital in the NICU..... just to do bills..... I said to myself, 'Self, this has to end.' I simply didn't have the brain power anymore to do it.
So, on Dcember 31 it did end. Tim and I sat down to work out a budget, and during it we made some decisions that I am so happy with.
Of course, we didn't intentionally decide all these things on the last day or the year. I think that was just a convenient time to sit down and go over it all. :)
Some of the changes we made are the following:
I am 97% off coffee. I am 99% off Starbucks. That is the one I am so happy about. I am ashamed to say how often we went to Starbucks, but now I am pleased to be able to say that I have gone twice, TWICE, this week. That is, well, that is amazing. That is saving so much money right there. And, not being on so much caffeine and sugar is good for me.
Also, we have only eaten out ONCE this week! Wow! If you know us, that is a gigantic change. We wouldn't have even eaten out that one time, except that was the day that was so busy with two labs and Tim's appointment. I simply didn't have time to grab some lunch at home before I had to go pick Tim up at work.
I have been having fun making wholesome, homemade meals for my boys and for myself. We have eaten some cereal, yes, but we have also eaten fish, chicken, cinnamon toast, quesadillas with leftover chicken, and various other things. One day I gave Joey salad for a snack, and he ate it because he wanted to be thankful. He could have told me that he didnt want a snack, but no, instead he ate it happily. Lol. The other day we ate Pizza salad, which is spinach salad with pepperoni in it. The boys are making a habit of telling me that "this food is 'alicious!" (Joey) and "this is good!" (Chris) It is sweet of them.
We are also trying to use up most of the food we have in the freezer and pantry before buying tons more. So far I have been doing really well with it. We have finished one kind of fish and the chicken, and most of the tortillas are gone. I am trying to go shopping every week for just that week's worth of food instead of going once a month. Those huge shopping trips are so stressful, it is nearly impossible to fit it all in the car since there is a stroller back there, and I am sure I spend way too much that way anyway.
Today's shopping trip to Walmart was difficult, though, because I feel like the walking dead, Ilse is coughing up a storm, and I managed to erase my list halfway through the store. I had worked really hard on that list. And I had really been trying to make sure I didn't buy things we didn't need this week... and also that I didn't get home to discover that I forgot something of magnitudinal importance. Hopefully I didn't do either.
I tried to rest as much as I could today since I feel so sick, but I know I didn't rest enough. I have to feed Ilse one last time at 11:30 tonight, and then I can go to bed. Maybe she will sleep the night through, but I doubt it. I think she is trying to grow and so is hungry in the night. I will take hunger in the night any time over screaming in pain.
I am considering buying her a shirt that says, "I am sick. Please don't breathe on me or touch me without permission" Ilse gets sick every time she thinks a thought, poor child.
Today for the first time she was goofing off when I tried to put her in her carseat. She wouldn't bend, and she was making happy noises. It was cute-- until I lost my grip on her and thumped her head on her seat. I consoled myself with the logic that that part of the seat is made to keep the head safe in a wreck, so a little thump should be fine. She is herself, so it did no lasting damage. I am thankful for that.
And our therapist is recommending that I begin getting notes from the doctor everytime we have to do any medical proceedure at all on Ilse, since her skin is so markable. The GI scared me the other day asking me why her chest was so marked up red. All I had been doing was holding her while she stood. At least our pediatrician and therapist understand, but I guess I need to get a signed something from them stating how the baby's skin is before I get accused of something terrible.
And now, it is time for some cold medicine and for getting ready for bed.
Good night!
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