Today and tomorrow, the weather is supposed to about as non cooperative as it could be. Rain, rain and more rain. So my challenge is now to find something to entertain the 3 boys, ages 10, 5 and 3 that is both enjoyable for all, and somewhat cost effective. As a family of 6 (plus two dogs that have had extra expenses this month) saving money is not just a priviledge, it's necessary. And I think I do okay with it!
Guess I'll start looking around in the paper, online, to see what might be possible today. I'd love to get out of the house, but realistically, it will probably have to be something that we can all do together, at home. Matt is out at a wedding out of town today, so it's just myself and the kids.........
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Dinner Bell! Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
It's been really hot here, and don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Not with the flooding going on right here in Manitoba, even with the high water's right down the street from where my house is. However, it makes turning the stove on to 400F for an hour in the evening, when the house seems to be at it's warmest, not the most acctractive deal. This is where my crockpot comes in! I love crockpot cooking. So easy, and it makes cleanup a breeze when you don't have a few pots and pans in addition to the plates and cutlery to clean up after you enjoy your meal.
Tonight, we're having BBQ drumsticks. Basically, I took a package of chicken drumsticks (I think there were 16 in it), put them in the crockpot. Sliced up an onion, chopped some garlic, tossed those in. Poured (yes, I took the easy way today) half a bottle of Bulls Eye original and a whole bottle of Bulls Eye Honey Garlic sauce on top. Stirred so the chicken was coated, put it on low for the next 8 hours. We'll have noodles or rice with it, and some veggies. Simple, the house will smell great from it cooking all day, and no one will complain about how hot it got when I was cooking!
Tonight, we're having BBQ drumsticks. Basically, I took a package of chicken drumsticks (I think there were 16 in it), put them in the crockpot. Sliced up an onion, chopped some garlic, tossed those in. Poured (yes, I took the easy way today) half a bottle of Bulls Eye original and a whole bottle of Bulls Eye Honey Garlic sauce on top. Stirred so the chicken was coated, put it on low for the next 8 hours. We'll have noodles or rice with it, and some veggies. Simple, the house will smell great from it cooking all day, and no one will complain about how hot it got when I was cooking!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
WHY Rear Facing is so important
As some of you may know, and as many of you don't, I am a CRST-Child Restraint System's Technician- and strive on the importance of not only rear facing (including extended rear facing) but also proper harnessing and kids in booster seats (when they're ready).
This family is lucky. Very very lucky. They were armed with the knowledge, the tools and the child restraints to keep themselves and their most important cargo, as safe as they could in this situation.
It breaks my heart to hear and read of things like this, but also warms my heart to know that these children, and these adults, are okay. Because of restraints, and car seats.
Lets keep our children safe.
Why I Do What I Do
This family is lucky. Very very lucky. They were armed with the knowledge, the tools and the child restraints to keep themselves and their most important cargo, as safe as they could in this situation.
It breaks my heart to hear and read of things like this, but also warms my heart to know that these children, and these adults, are okay. Because of restraints, and car seats.
Lets keep our children safe.
Why I Do What I Do
Ugh. Need I say more?
It's been 24 hours of pure hell in this house. Our dogs, very large dogs, have fleas. This is bad. Very bad. Bad for them, bad for me. They were treated last night and the cleaning fest started today. Lots and lots of cleaning. And it will continue tonight, and tomorrow. The walls and floors were done today, tonight is steam cleaning of the couches, and tomorrow, my room. The one dog that had fleas the worst, has a habit of sleeping on our bedroom floor and as much as we try to keep them off the bed, there is always evidence of them having hopped up and relaxing, until they hear us arrive home.
I don't need this. Not now. Not ever. I have heard fleas are very difficult to rid of, and that the flea eggs can take a long time to hatch, and that fleas jump places that we wouldn't think of. I have vacummed a ton today, every nook and cranny is done, or so I think. Someone at the nursery school suggested putting a bowel of warm water out, as it will attract the flea's, so I will try it. No harm done!
OK, this was just my quick post, now back to cleaning......
I don't need this. Not now. Not ever. I have heard fleas are very difficult to rid of, and that the flea eggs can take a long time to hatch, and that fleas jump places that we wouldn't think of. I have vacummed a ton today, every nook and cranny is done, or so I think. Someone at the nursery school suggested putting a bowel of warm water out, as it will attract the flea's, so I will try it. No harm done!
OK, this was just my quick post, now back to cleaning......
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Our day in Surgery
Yep, that's how we spent yesterday. Our just turned 3 year old has had problems for awhile, snoring, snorting, drooling, and his speech is affected. He had an adenoidectomy yesterday and did great!
I was fine up until the morning of, I mean, 4 kids, all whom have had a surgery of some sort in the past. (Tonsils, T-Tubes ect). You'd think I would have been fine! I suppose surgery is something that one never gets used to. I was worried that, at 3, he might be scared or unsure of what was going to happen. But he surprised me! He played while waiting, and in the OR waiting room there were really cool toys to keep kids occupied while the "team" came to talk to each set of parents in there. Video games, bead mazes, wagons, ride on cars, TV's to watch and the coolest, which are kept solely for kids to drive into the operating rooms, a powerwheels Hummer and Corvette! Kaden chose the Hummer and as it was time for him to leave me, he hopped in, buckled himself and his kitty in, kissed me good bye and told me he loved me. And off he drove! Now, he was still in his street clothes as he absolutely refused to put hopsital jammies in, which was not really a big deal. I knew that he'd be changed once he was "asleep". About an hour later I got the call to head to recovery. I was warned that he was quite upset, which I also know, is not abnormal. Well, I had no idea a 3 year old child could be quite as strong as what he proved! When I walked in, he was very aggitated, screaming and crying and trying to pull his IV out. You could see in his eyes though, that he wasn't really there. I took him and sat on a chair, with his IV arm tucked behind me so he couldn't reach it with his other. He'd have about 15 minutes where both of us worked up quite a sweat, him trying to break free from me, and me trying to stop him. Then he would relax and drift off. His little heart pounding until he'd relax. This went on for about an hour. After that, we went back to the ward where we stayed until we were ready to come home. He had a few popsicles and a cup of apple juice. He slept soundly, all the way home. Last night he was very wired, which I've come to learn is normal for my kids after a general anesthetic. I had to set my alarm to wake him up for Tylenol every 4 hours, throughout the night. It was a long night for both of us, but probably moreso for Daddy, who slept on the couch so Kaden could sleep in bed, next to me!
This morning he slept in a bit, the day surgery nurse called to see how the night went, and Kaden woke up happy and hungry!
We have a bit of running around to do today, so hopefully all goes well with him!
I was fine up until the morning of, I mean, 4 kids, all whom have had a surgery of some sort in the past. (Tonsils, T-Tubes ect). You'd think I would have been fine! I suppose surgery is something that one never gets used to. I was worried that, at 3, he might be scared or unsure of what was going to happen. But he surprised me! He played while waiting, and in the OR waiting room there were really cool toys to keep kids occupied while the "team" came to talk to each set of parents in there. Video games, bead mazes, wagons, ride on cars, TV's to watch and the coolest, which are kept solely for kids to drive into the operating rooms, a powerwheels Hummer and Corvette! Kaden chose the Hummer and as it was time for him to leave me, he hopped in, buckled himself and his kitty in, kissed me good bye and told me he loved me. And off he drove! Now, he was still in his street clothes as he absolutely refused to put hopsital jammies in, which was not really a big deal. I knew that he'd be changed once he was "asleep". About an hour later I got the call to head to recovery. I was warned that he was quite upset, which I also know, is not abnormal. Well, I had no idea a 3 year old child could be quite as strong as what he proved! When I walked in, he was very aggitated, screaming and crying and trying to pull his IV out. You could see in his eyes though, that he wasn't really there. I took him and sat on a chair, with his IV arm tucked behind me so he couldn't reach it with his other. He'd have about 15 minutes where both of us worked up quite a sweat, him trying to break free from me, and me trying to stop him. Then he would relax and drift off. His little heart pounding until he'd relax. This went on for about an hour. After that, we went back to the ward where we stayed until we were ready to come home. He had a few popsicles and a cup of apple juice. He slept soundly, all the way home. Last night he was very wired, which I've come to learn is normal for my kids after a general anesthetic. I had to set my alarm to wake him up for Tylenol every 4 hours, throughout the night. It was a long night for both of us, but probably moreso for Daddy, who slept on the couch so Kaden could sleep in bed, next to me!
This morning he slept in a bit, the day surgery nurse called to see how the night went, and Kaden woke up happy and hungry!
We have a bit of running around to do today, so hopefully all goes well with him!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Just sent off an email
To the elementary school that my 10 year old son goes to. He has a severe egg allergy, and in the past, to date, the school has been anything but supportive. They're an "allergy aware" school, and as long as you have a peanut allergy they are on board with it all. But, if you're allergic to anything else, it seems they really don't care. They say they do, they even have asked for my input when it comes to bake sales etc, but the bottem line is, if it benefits the school financially, or makes the school look good, they don't care. His class is going to Camp Arnes next month, and I'd like to know how students with food allergies (or any health issue, for that matter) are accomodated when at camp. I've also been speaking with the camp myself, and will continue to do so until the date they go.
My son had an allergic reaction a few years back, after sitting on the gym floor for a movie day. This was in the spring. The fall prior to that spring, the older students had done an experiment where they had to insulate a raw egg in a box, with different materials. The goal was to launch their box from a certain height or distance to see if their egg would break or remain intact. I know this, because my daughter took part in it. Now of course, some eggs were fine, but obviously there was a mess on the floor from the eggs that broke. The gym floors were cleaned however many times for the remainder of that year, so when I got the phone call to "come pick Brandon up because he's covered in hives", I didn't expect it could be from that. The principal that was at the school when this happened, and I, later on sat down and tried to figure out how he was exposed to his allergen, and when. I had sent all his own food for his movie day, his teachers and classmates were of course, aware of his allergy. Any precautions that were needed, were met. The gym floor is the ONLY thing that any of us could pin this reaction to. We know it's a severe allergy, his RAST test, done by one of the top pediatric allergists' (google him, you'll see-Dr Allan Becker) shows his allergy getting worse, not better. He was diagnosed at 10 months old, and turned 10 years old this past September. So egg "stuff" is not something new to us.
Anyhow, back to the school. Over the past few years, the concern and the way allergies are handled has really, in my opinion, gone downhill. Everyone that lives with, works with, knows someone, or has any type of life threatening allergy, should watch this video documentary. Click on the orange section just below the text and a warning, have some kleenex in hand. All it takes is one exposure, or one exposure too many.
I have never asked that our school doesn't allow anything with egg in it to be brought in, but rather I've asked that no eggs be allowed in Brandon's class, or near him. No egg salad sandwiches, no boiled eggs. No egg decorating at Easter time in the class. I've heard people, not knowing who I am, talking about how it's not their problem that there's an "egg allergic kid" in the school. Guess what??? It's everyone's problem. People tend to know more, and of nut allergies (peanut specifically) than any other, and it seems if it's not something they need to know about, or care to know about, then it's just that. Not their problem. Why should their child go without?
We've done our best at educating our son when it comes to his allergies. We've taught him how to use his epi pen and twinject. We've discussed the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Without the support of others, what more can we do but hope for the best? I don't want his allergy to be his crutch, or something that labels him. He is no different than any other 10 year old kid. He just can't have eggs (or anything to do with an egg).
There's a saying that stands so true, but sadly, you don't see it practiced often.
It takes a village to raise a child.
My son had an allergic reaction a few years back, after sitting on the gym floor for a movie day. This was in the spring. The fall prior to that spring, the older students had done an experiment where they had to insulate a raw egg in a box, with different materials. The goal was to launch their box from a certain height or distance to see if their egg would break or remain intact. I know this, because my daughter took part in it. Now of course, some eggs were fine, but obviously there was a mess on the floor from the eggs that broke. The gym floors were cleaned however many times for the remainder of that year, so when I got the phone call to "come pick Brandon up because he's covered in hives", I didn't expect it could be from that. The principal that was at the school when this happened, and I, later on sat down and tried to figure out how he was exposed to his allergen, and when. I had sent all his own food for his movie day, his teachers and classmates were of course, aware of his allergy. Any precautions that were needed, were met. The gym floor is the ONLY thing that any of us could pin this reaction to. We know it's a severe allergy, his RAST test, done by one of the top pediatric allergists' (google him, you'll see-Dr Allan Becker) shows his allergy getting worse, not better. He was diagnosed at 10 months old, and turned 10 years old this past September. So egg "stuff" is not something new to us.
Anyhow, back to the school. Over the past few years, the concern and the way allergies are handled has really, in my opinion, gone downhill. Everyone that lives with, works with, knows someone, or has any type of life threatening allergy, should watch this video documentary. Click on the orange section just below the text and a warning, have some kleenex in hand. All it takes is one exposure, or one exposure too many.
I have never asked that our school doesn't allow anything with egg in it to be brought in, but rather I've asked that no eggs be allowed in Brandon's class, or near him. No egg salad sandwiches, no boiled eggs. No egg decorating at Easter time in the class. I've heard people, not knowing who I am, talking about how it's not their problem that there's an "egg allergic kid" in the school. Guess what??? It's everyone's problem. People tend to know more, and of nut allergies (peanut specifically) than any other, and it seems if it's not something they need to know about, or care to know about, then it's just that. Not their problem. Why should their child go without?
We've done our best at educating our son when it comes to his allergies. We've taught him how to use his epi pen and twinject. We've discussed the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Without the support of others, what more can we do but hope for the best? I don't want his allergy to be his crutch, or something that labels him. He is no different than any other 10 year old kid. He just can't have eggs (or anything to do with an egg).
There's a saying that stands so true, but sadly, you don't see it practiced often.
It takes a village to raise a child.
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