Before I write this, I just need to put a note here to my Mom...***in case you have stumbbled across this blog someday... I am exploring my feelings on your recent hospital stay hope that is okay....***
My Mom took a bad fall over the weekend and is now in the hospital. Two broken shoulders one of which required surgery. It's scary to see an older parent in the hospital. I guess I worry that the first occurance will be followed by more until "the end." I'm not sure why I have this fear. It seems like a slippery slope kind of thing like, if a person can avoid going to the hospital that first time, they won't ever get sick or hurt other times...I know that doesn't make much sense, it's hard to explain what I am thinking. The hospital just makes someone look so much frailer than they are in real life. It is scary. And sometimes, even when the person has gone home, they for some reason seem older and frailer than before. It makes it seem like death could be closer than before. I can say though that these were mostly fears I had before going to see my Mom the first time. After I actually saw her, she seemed like herself...groggy and in pain but not frail and sickly. I was very relieved. Hopefully there will be no more visits.
And now a bit of a rant...
Why do many members of the hospital staff speak to the patients like they are children??? I don't know why they do it and it is so irritating! Like, nails on the chalk board irritating - makes me want to scream! I know they are trying to be nice and it is tough for them that no one knows what the heck they are talking about since we haven't all been to medical / nursing school so they are probably trying to "dumb it down" but all the "honey" and "sweetey" and sickening sweet voice just doesn't seem necessary. But, I do have to admit, I haven't heard any of the actual patients complain so maybe it works. One doctor was being so ANNOYING at least from my point of view...using all those terms of endearment and saying words in Spanish like she thought my Mom couldn't understand even though she knew my Mom is actually a medical interpreter so actually has a very good understanding of the words in Spanish and English. I figured my Mom was going to get really irritated but then she told me how nice the doctor was...and my Mom has no patience for people who annoy her. So, maybe it is just me that doesn't like the way the staff talks...
Oh well...time to get ready to go visit...should be interesting bringing to small children with me...hope it goes okay...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Random
Jack's Big Music show was on the TV today - cute kids' show featuring lots of different music. One of the performances on this episode featured two guys with violins. They were so good! I did a Google search and here they are...doesn't seem to usually be kids music, great sound! Hoping I can find them on Itunes...my Itunes store seems to be all messed up and can't figure out why - if this is some kind of new format they have chosen, it is not workin for me...
http://www.nuttinbutstringz.com/
Sam is now old enough to play outside by himself while I keep watch from inside. I love seeing what he comes up with to do. If I'm out there, he reacts to what I am doing but on his own, his choice is completely independent. Right now he has found an old watering can and is "watering" various items. So cute!
Time for the daily afternoon fight with myself - coffee or no coffee...as in, risk Anika having difficulty sleeping due to caffeine in breast milk or risk me smashing my face into my computer when my head hits the keyboard after falling asleep while working...I think I'll go with....COFFEE!!! Amazing how after holding out for so long, one Keurig machine can turn me into an addict - obviously I like gadgets a bit too much that I found myself HAVING to use this one so much that I now HAVE to have coffee... And yes, I do realize that maybe if Anika slept better at night I wouldn't be so tired during the day - however, since forgoing the coffee does not actually GUARANTEE a good nights sleep - I'm having the coffee...so there.
I read a sad newspaper article today about a man in Tiverton who lost some of his property to an accident by a road construction worker. They are building a new bridge to go from here to Portsmouth and in order to save themselves a few bucks, they decided to not buy this man's property (who would have sold it to them) but to build the on-ramp to the bridge right on the border to his property. And, its not like its a huge property, the house is RIGHT there...he will be able to read the coffee cups of the commuters from his kitchen window it looks like. Anyway, so they are trying to stick right close to that property line and go over instead. So, now, he's got this huge whole where some of his land used to be. The state is going to pay to fix it but really - they can't truly fix something like that. He has a lawyer to try to force them to buy the property from him. I hope he wins. His lawywer did our closing on this house and seemed like a nice guy.
http://www.nuttinbutstringz.com/
Sam is now old enough to play outside by himself while I keep watch from inside. I love seeing what he comes up with to do. If I'm out there, he reacts to what I am doing but on his own, his choice is completely independent. Right now he has found an old watering can and is "watering" various items. So cute!
Time for the daily afternoon fight with myself - coffee or no coffee...as in, risk Anika having difficulty sleeping due to caffeine in breast milk or risk me smashing my face into my computer when my head hits the keyboard after falling asleep while working...I think I'll go with....COFFEE!!! Amazing how after holding out for so long, one Keurig machine can turn me into an addict - obviously I like gadgets a bit too much that I found myself HAVING to use this one so much that I now HAVE to have coffee... And yes, I do realize that maybe if Anika slept better at night I wouldn't be so tired during the day - however, since forgoing the coffee does not actually GUARANTEE a good nights sleep - I'm having the coffee...so there.
I read a sad newspaper article today about a man in Tiverton who lost some of his property to an accident by a road construction worker. They are building a new bridge to go from here to Portsmouth and in order to save themselves a few bucks, they decided to not buy this man's property (who would have sold it to them) but to build the on-ramp to the bridge right on the border to his property. And, its not like its a huge property, the house is RIGHT there...he will be able to read the coffee cups of the commuters from his kitchen window it looks like. Anyway, so they are trying to stick right close to that property line and go over instead. So, now, he's got this huge whole where some of his land used to be. The state is going to pay to fix it but really - they can't truly fix something like that. He has a lawyer to try to force them to buy the property from him. I hope he wins. His lawywer did our closing on this house and seemed like a nice guy.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Here comes the rain and waves!
Anika did her first sign today - I'm 90% sure anyway ;-) Sam came into the kitchen after his nap (dry bed - yay!) and Anika raised up a hand and wiggled it at him. I'm pretty sure that was a wave. It is one of the signs I've been showing her. I waved to her and said "hi!" and she did it again. She was so crabby while he was napping but now she is happy as a clam. She loves him so much! It's pretty amazing considering how for several months he was pretty mean to her. But, he's been much nicer lately and they are starting to play together and I just love to see their relationship starting to form!
It looks like a very big storm is going to hit us within the next hour - maybe half hour. I love watching it approach. One one side of the house is sun and light blue sky. On the other side, dark clouds moving really fast! Weather report from my eyes on the sky in Warwick (hubby) reports torrential rain and hail. Can't wait! I love storms :) Hoping for an extra big one that will knock out power and give me a little unexpected vacation time...
Tonight's dinner - Amaral's chourico with peppers, onions and potatoes - yum! I would have never thought the brand name mattered with chourico but then one day I sprung the extra $2.00 a pound for Amaral's and I will never go back!
Yesterday's bread turned out very good! Nice light and fluffy loaf of white bread. Next time will try substituting some wheat flour for the white so it is a bit healthier.
Picture of the day (by the way, picture of the day is not a picture I took this day but just a picture I decided to post):
It looks like a very big storm is going to hit us within the next hour - maybe half hour. I love watching it approach. One one side of the house is sun and light blue sky. On the other side, dark clouds moving really fast! Weather report from my eyes on the sky in Warwick (hubby) reports torrential rain and hail. Can't wait! I love storms :) Hoping for an extra big one that will knock out power and give me a little unexpected vacation time...
Tonight's dinner - Amaral's chourico with peppers, onions and potatoes - yum! I would have never thought the brand name mattered with chourico but then one day I sprung the extra $2.00 a pound for Amaral's and I will never go back!
Yesterday's bread turned out very good! Nice light and fluffy loaf of white bread. Next time will try substituting some wheat flour for the white so it is a bit healthier.
Picture of the day (by the way, picture of the day is not a picture I took this day but just a picture I decided to post):
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Yummy
I really want to get in the habit of posting more often but, I have trouble finding the time most days. So, expect to see more frequent but shorter posts...just to try to get me in the habit because I do enjoy blogging...
Found a new yummy snack today - plain yogurt with local raw honey. I was having trouble finding a way to enjoy a little honey every day that didn't involve adding it to tea or oatmeal which I worried killed all the good stuff due to heat...But, plain yogurt with honey is so yummy! And, this will allow me to keep those nice big, cheaper containers of yogurt in the fridge without it going to waste. Another yummy...pretzels dipped in honey...
Anika is crawling like champ!
Sam is diaper free - still has pretty much daily accidents though but I refuse to backwards and use pull ups or something like that. I think he'll get it quicker this way...I hope so!
Love Spring!!!
Trying a new bread machine recipe today...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Bread-Machine-Bread/Detail.aspx#
I feel bad because I neglected to cook or clean or do laundry today...again...maybe after I am done working...if I'm not too tired...
Picture of the day:
Found a new yummy snack today - plain yogurt with local raw honey. I was having trouble finding a way to enjoy a little honey every day that didn't involve adding it to tea or oatmeal which I worried killed all the good stuff due to heat...But, plain yogurt with honey is so yummy! And, this will allow me to keep those nice big, cheaper containers of yogurt in the fridge without it going to waste. Another yummy...pretzels dipped in honey...
Anika is crawling like champ!
Sam is diaper free - still has pretty much daily accidents though but I refuse to backwards and use pull ups or something like that. I think he'll get it quicker this way...I hope so!
Love Spring!!!
Trying a new bread machine recipe today...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Bread-Machine-Bread/Detail.aspx#
I feel bad because I neglected to cook or clean or do laundry today...again...maybe after I am done working...if I'm not too tired...
Picture of the day:
Monday, April 5, 2010
Playtime
Several months ago I came across a message board discussion on Mothering (www.mothering.com) that discussed playing with one's children. The mother who wrote the original post was saying she felt bad because she didn't like playing with her kids. She seemed to be having a lot of the dreaded "mommy guilt" because of it. Several other posters chimed in that they too did not enjoy playing with their kids. I wish it hadn't been so long ago so I could put a link to the discussion here. I tried a search but too many unrelated threads come up.
Anyway, the gist seemed to be that as long as the parent provided a place to play that encouraged play, it was not necessary for the parent to actually play with the child. I was a bit taken a back by this. While I certainly agree that it is important for kids to learn to play on their own...I think it is really good for kids to get play time with their parents too. And, I was mainly just surprised that there were parents who didn't like to play with their kids. I've thought that getting to play with my kids was one of the best parts about having them.
I noticed lately that I was not really spending much time playing with my kids though. Life kept getting in the way - "gotta do this, gotta do that...blah blah blah" And that post I read, and the thoughts I had when I read it, kept creeping back into my head...not that I don't like to play with my kids but that even if I did like it, if I didn't do it, then my kids were still missing out - and so was I.
So, I've been trying to really play with my kids lately. Maybe I just get really silly with Sam and start running around the house making funny noises or spinning him around. Or, I'll get in the sand box with him and make some really cool sand castles. Today we played with his blocks and cars making ramps and roads and buildings. I've totally fallen in love with playing all over again! It is just fun! I'm laughing outloud, my kids are laughing, we're bonding, I feel younger and can literally feel all this energy. Normally, after Sam goes to bed, I'm like a big giant couch turd - good for absolutly nothing other than maybe changing the channel on the TV if the remote is close enough. Tonight, after playing with Sam before he went to bed, I cleaned the kitchen and dining room - something that I always mean to do at night but rarely manage. The wonderful feeling I had from playing has stuck with me. What a bonus!
Another thing I noticed is that while I start playing with Sam mainly to spend time with him and to kind of show him stuff that can be done with his toys by example...I end up playing like a kid - not an adult. I'm just doing what seems like fun and enjoying myself...I have to remind myself that I am the parent so I don't snatch toys away from my kids 'cause I wanna play with them! Today, at the playground, I got in the sandbox with Sam and was going to build sand stuff with him but he seemed like he wanted to play on his own so I built a sand snow man and it just felt so great to just play instead of just sitting there like usual having the same old parenting discussions with whichever parent happens to be near bye - that just gets dull after a while.
My point to writing all this is that while I rarely think I am the type of person who be an example for anyone, I do think that I've met lots of people who do not spend enough time playing like a kid. Just free for all - no thoughts attached - fun playing. I'd like to tell people - go on out and play! Laugh! Run around chasing someone! Play capture the flag! Be a kid again :) I hope to spend at least some time every day in child like play, if anyone wants to join me - let me know!
And, since I've heard that blogs without pictures are boring - here's some random shots :)
Anyway, the gist seemed to be that as long as the parent provided a place to play that encouraged play, it was not necessary for the parent to actually play with the child. I was a bit taken a back by this. While I certainly agree that it is important for kids to learn to play on their own...I think it is really good for kids to get play time with their parents too. And, I was mainly just surprised that there were parents who didn't like to play with their kids. I've thought that getting to play with my kids was one of the best parts about having them.
I noticed lately that I was not really spending much time playing with my kids though. Life kept getting in the way - "gotta do this, gotta do that...blah blah blah" And that post I read, and the thoughts I had when I read it, kept creeping back into my head...not that I don't like to play with my kids but that even if I did like it, if I didn't do it, then my kids were still missing out - and so was I.
So, I've been trying to really play with my kids lately. Maybe I just get really silly with Sam and start running around the house making funny noises or spinning him around. Or, I'll get in the sand box with him and make some really cool sand castles. Today we played with his blocks and cars making ramps and roads and buildings. I've totally fallen in love with playing all over again! It is just fun! I'm laughing outloud, my kids are laughing, we're bonding, I feel younger and can literally feel all this energy. Normally, after Sam goes to bed, I'm like a big giant couch turd - good for absolutly nothing other than maybe changing the channel on the TV if the remote is close enough. Tonight, after playing with Sam before he went to bed, I cleaned the kitchen and dining room - something that I always mean to do at night but rarely manage. The wonderful feeling I had from playing has stuck with me. What a bonus!
Another thing I noticed is that while I start playing with Sam mainly to spend time with him and to kind of show him stuff that can be done with his toys by example...I end up playing like a kid - not an adult. I'm just doing what seems like fun and enjoying myself...I have to remind myself that I am the parent so I don't snatch toys away from my kids 'cause I wanna play with them! Today, at the playground, I got in the sandbox with Sam and was going to build sand stuff with him but he seemed like he wanted to play on his own so I built a sand snow man and it just felt so great to just play instead of just sitting there like usual having the same old parenting discussions with whichever parent happens to be near bye - that just gets dull after a while.
My point to writing all this is that while I rarely think I am the type of person who be an example for anyone, I do think that I've met lots of people who do not spend enough time playing like a kid. Just free for all - no thoughts attached - fun playing. I'd like to tell people - go on out and play! Laugh! Run around chasing someone! Play capture the flag! Be a kid again :) I hope to spend at least some time every day in child like play, if anyone wants to join me - let me know!
And, since I've heard that blogs without pictures are boring - here's some random shots :)
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