Girlymama

This weekend was insane. Friday morning, I met with some local bloggers and Ubisoft to learn about the newest games for kids this year. I had a terrific time at the Wisk Philly event at Sarah's on Friday. Saturday was a blur of soccer games, birthday parties and such. Then Sunday I zipped up to New York with Jo-Lynne and Sarah to attend a LeapFrog sponsored event on internet safety at the Four Seasons on 57th Street.

It was a great discussion – I'll write up my notes later, there's a lot. Then we strolled back to the train station down 5th Avenue, drooling while window shopping and passionately debating important topics like fall fashion and our favorite perfumes. My favorite quote of the trip by a blogger who will remain anonymous:
"What street is Saks on?"
"Um… pretty sure its on FIFTH AVENUE!"
"Right."
Seriously, these girls are a hoot. The 3-hour trip flies by in a blur of conversation.

*****

Colin is doing much better. We took lots of your advice (Thank you, Internets!) and are doing a combination of things. I think the main success was that we turned off his nightlight. It is DARK in there. So when I pop in at night when he wakes up, I say "Its nighttime. Go back to sleep." And he does! (Well, he has the past few nights. One night he slept all night long. It was strange. Is that what you're supposed to feel like in the mornings? All rested and stuff? Cause I could get used to that.) I'm SURE we haven't 'solved' this problem yet, but we are getting lots more sleep, so file this under 'progress!'

I'm still undecided on the H1N1 vaccine. I'm slowly plowing my way through all your comments and links. (Again, you guys rock!) I'm leaning towards yes now, though. Colin is getting sick, which is freaking me out, so I'm wanting to be on the safe(r) side.

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So I just got this email:

"[My school district} ordered H1N1 vaccines for all students enrolled in our schools, K-12,
in September. Recently, the District received only enough vaccines for
students in Kindergarten
through fourth grade inclusive. Parents of students in Kindergarten
through fourth grade are asked to watch their email and student’s
backpacks early next week for a letter that outlines the details of the
vaccination administration."

I'm confused. They can't require that all the kids get the H1N1 vaccine, can they? Am I the only crazy parent that was going to skip it due to lack of research? We had decided to give Colin and the girls a regular flu shot, but not the H1N1 vaccine. (Well, maybe Colin because he's under 2, but we haven't really decided.) Now I don't know. I'm amazed that our school is doing this… Is it a bigger threat than I understand? Am I just listening to too much anti-vaccine hype? Does anyone have any good resources on this? I've glanced around  www.flu.gov and Ask Dr. Sears, but I'm still confused.

While I'm trying not to be overprotective, over-reactive or a totally germ-a-phobe-crazy-person, I am definitely doing things differently this year. This year I am actively trying to prevent my family from getting sick. Here's what we're doing:

• We're all taking a multi-vitamins.  Supplements are super expensive, so we're getting lots of our vitamins from food, which is the best way to get your vitamins anyway!  We're loading up on fresh fruits and veggies and not skimping on the OJ.
• We’re getting plenty of rest. (Or trying to!) A worn-out, tired body is much more likely to get sick. Bedtimes for the kiddos are strictly enforced and I'm trying to be disciplined about bedtime myself.
• My kids wash their hands as soon as they get home from school and I'm carrying Purell in my purse, which they use when we get back in the car. I've also been wiping down the shopping cart before I put Colin in with the disinfecting wipes my local store provides at the store entrance. I've never done that before, but I think it can't hurt. 
• As I said, we are getting our kids the regular flu shot. But I'm undecided about the H1N1 vaccine.
• I don't give my kids medicine unless they are really, really sick. Particularly with a baby under 2, this is so important. There is lots of press about the dangers of OTC cold meds for kids under 6.

But what to do when they are truly uncomfortable, but not 'sick' sick?  When One2One Network
offered me an opportunity to try out some homeopathic cold and flu
remedies from Boiron, I was game.  They sent me their 3 new
homeopathic medicines for children– Children’s Oscillococcinum®, Children’s Coldcalm Pellets®, and Children’s Chestal®.

I'm losing it, you guys. I'm  not exaggerating. It is only a matter of time before I snap and do something really dumb. Like what almost happened yesterday when I put the car in reverse instead of drive and hit the gas. In the preschool parking lot.

Let me tell you why I am losing my mind. This was my night last night:

8:00 – Colin goes to bed. Goes right to sleep without a whimper.
10:30 – Mommy goes to bed.
11:00 – Colin wakes up, screaming. Mommy changes his poopy diaper and tucks him back in.
11:15 – Colin screaming. Pat back, calm down, tuck him in, return to bed.
11:25 – Colin screaming. Pat back, calm down, tuck him in, return to bed.
11:30 – Daddy  takes Colin downstairs to watch the Phillies while Mommy goes back to sleep.
12:45 – Daddy puts Colin to bed, Daddy goes to bed.
1:00-3:30 – Colin still awake. Alternate periods of screaming at the top of his lungs and laying quietly in my arms.
3:30 – Mommy puts Colin back to bed, returns to bed.
3:35 – Colin screaming. Pat back, calm down, tuck him in, return to bed.
3:37 – Colin screaming. Pat back, calm down, tuck him in, return to bed.
3:40 – Colin screams. Mommy marches downstairs, is quite mean ("You WILL go to sleep NOW OR ELSE!!"), tucks him in and returns to bed.
5:00 – Colin screams. Daddy takes this one, pats back, calms him down, tuck him in, return to bed.
5:45 – Gracie crawls in our bed, claiming she had a bad dream.
6:00 – alarm goes off. None of us move.
6:10 – Ellie crawls in our bed.
6:50 – Colin wakes up.

THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL!!! If you read that carefully, I've been getting roughly 4-5 hours sleep. That are not consecutive. I can barely keep my eyes open most days, I'm forgetting important things (like deadlines or what day it is) and I can barely follow basic conversations. I'm just so, so tired. So tired. Sooooo tired.

I have no idea what to do.  He's not teething or sick except for a touch of the sniffles… we can find no reason for his not sleeping. This has been going on for a couple months now. About once a week he'll actually sleep from 8 to 6 without waking, but every other night he is up at least twice. And the best part? He screams SO LOUD that he often wakes up the ENTIRE family when he's up. So even the girls are not getting good sleep.

I need help. Has anyone else dealt with this? What do you do when your kid won't sleep?

How do you prevent yourself from raising brats? Particularly when you think that you secretly are one.

We live in a wealthy area, so this is a particular concern of mine. The average house in our neighborhood costs around $500,000. Chubby Checker lives around the corner. Really. (Well, our
little neighborhood isn't like that. We live in you might consider our town's "ghetto".)  Two kids
in my daughter’s pre-school class have moms who drive Hummers. Two! In a class of like ten. Blah
blah nannies, blah bling blah….

But because of this, our view of what is "normal" is totally skewed. I catch myself feeling 'poor' all the time – which we most certainly  are not. But I look at other people around us living in beautiful huge
homes, driving luxury cars, wearing designer clothes, shopping all the time… and I feel like we
must be poor because we stick to a strict budget. I know that's not
true and I give myself a nice lecture when I catch myself slipping into
that thought pattern.

But how can I help my children with this same
thing? They see their friends going to Disney every year,
taking horseback riding lessons and wearing real Uggs. And they are getting old enough to notice that they are not.

I want them to have every advantage, but I don’t want them to be brats. Not like we can afford ‘every advantage’ anyway.  I love
that they are so happy with so little. We can go to the mall on a Friday night to window shop and they’re thrilled to just throw pennies
in the fountain and visit the Disney Store with minimal whining. (I fully realize that this will not last.)

I’m very concerned about our girls having a proper perspective of money
and wealth. We have been richly blessed by God and we are to be
thankful and not covetous. But I remember being in high school and
“needing” to wear expensive name brands to be cool. I don’t want them
to be laughed at or anything, but at the same time I am not going to
buy them $200 jeans and $150 boots. Even if I could afford it. As of now, our plan is
to ship them off to their grandparents when they complain about being
poor, who live as missionaries in rural India. ("You don't have cool
shoes? Poor baby. Why don't you so see some kids who don't have shoes and then come tell me about your problems…") But that may be a bit extreme.

All this to say, how are you not raising brats?

Some
great opportunities to my door lately. Some terrific opportunities.
Some really cool opportunities… that I've had to say no to.

While
I work from home part time, my husband and I are committed to my being
primarily a stay-at-home mom while our kids are young. And lately it
seems like this has involved lots of saying no.
I've had such incredible offers to go to events and conferences. I've
had job offers – in this economy! – even a chance to teach ballet!
(Imagine actually using that part of my resume! Who would have imagined?)

It’s so hard not to feel like I'm missing out on something. Even those I chose
to stay home, it’s frustrating. I feel resentful that I'm giving up
career opportunities for my family. I sometimes long to be back
working, being something besides "just a mom." I feel like I'm
making all these sacrifices for my family while my husband – or my
friends who work – don't. I don't feel like this normally. 95% of the
time I love being at home with my kids. But when I have to turn down
something I really want to do, these feelings creep up on me.

Then
yesterday, I picked the baby up and he snuggled up against me, his head
on my shoulder, all warm and soft and pudgy. I kissed his cheeks and
whispered, "Don't grow up any faster, baby boy."

And it hit me: what exactly am I 'missing out' on by saying no to working right now?

Surely these opportunities will be here in a year or two.

My baby won't be.

These are my absolute favorite, but I've never tired to make them myself. When they were on sale for only $4.88 a pound this weekend, I had to give them a try! They were very intimidating, but they ended up being super easy and they tasted amazing! I like mine plain, with no butter or seasoning, but doctor them up to your hearts desire! Great for a fancy night in!

Snow Crab Legs

2 pounds snow crab legs
4 cloves garlic, peeled
Dash of Old Bay Seasoning, if desired.
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
1 stick butter, melted

Get out your very biggest pot and boil a bunch of water in it. When at a rolling boil, throw in the garlic cloves and if using, the Old Bay Seasoning. Put in half the crab legs (if they fit), put the lid on and boil:
if frozen: 15-20 minutes
thawed: 5-10 minutes

Drain and serve with lemon & butter! YUM!

sometimes mama takes my blankey away and puts it in a big machine. its so mean. i stand next to the machine and cry and cry…

but i love when its finally back, all warm and toasty! i take it out of the machine myself and snuggle up immediately!

its rough being me.

***
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motherhood

qualities of a mother

determined not to raise brats

my kids make me invisible

leaving my baby, packing the guilt

riding the parenting roller coaster

i’m fine, thanks!

guilty secrets

today my kids made me cry

how thirty minutes can actually last two hours

done nursing: i really thought i’d be happier about this

babyhood slipped away when i wasn’t looking

what could have been, what almost was

its okay. we’re okay.

battles i will no longer fight

look out, bully. mama is getting involved.

signs its your third baby

ipod controversy

whats not important. and what is.

santa doesn’t come to our house

my daughter is a better person than i am

today i let gracie skip school

love & marriage

surviving a traveling husband

ways i annoy my husband

blogging

does my blog represent the real me?

what happens to my house while i blog

disney social media moms recap

adventures in india

thanksgiving

a few pictures of india

size 8 is not fat