It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.... Cough, Cough, Hack

Excuse me while I rant for a moment.

Children are the cutest, most rewarding, little people.  They are also the most dirty, germ infested, sharing, creatures filled with slime.

I am sick.  I'm pretty sure it is their fault.

The End.

The Sickness (That Does Not Seem To Go Away)

Poor Eddie has had an intestinal flu for 7 days now.  Little guy has had a rough time!  Other kids in our area have had the same thing and theirs lasted about 8 days, so we should be on the mend soon.

Found him sleeping on the couch like this when I arrived home from work last night.

 

Poor little guy.  I just want to cuddle and kiss him.  (And make him all better)

Menu Plan Monday: March 4, 2013*

Where we spend a lot of time!  They are always hungry.

My children are as different as apples and oranges.  Elizabeth doesn't eat many different foods, but is always hungry.  Edward is just always hungry and will eat just about anything.  As of last week, I am sending breakfast, lunch and snacks with Elizabeth to daycare.  She has been having an intense sugar craving lately and I realized it is time for her to detox.  So instead of whatever she has been eating at daycare, she is getting healthier alternatives to help her get rid of the cravings.  I think we will keep this up for a couple weeks and see if it helps make a difference and maybe she will start to eat a few different foods as well.

So now I am on the hunt to get some new ideas for easy meals for her.  Today's menu was fairly simple and based on items she does like to eat.

Breakfast: Plain Yogurt, Sunflower Seeds, two Prunes, Orange Sections
Snack #1: 1/2 Cliff Bar, Banana
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Cheese, Carrots/Celery with Ranch Dressing
Snack #2: 1/2 Cliff Bar, Orange Sections
Snack #3: Homemade Hummus, Vegetables (ones leftover from lunch)

We need to get more vegetables into her rotation, but she just will not eat them.  And I can't hide them in things like soups, macaroni and cheese, or spaghetti sauce because she won't eat those items either...  I will have to do some thinking and research to see what else I can do to help her eat some different foods.

But for the rest of us, here is what we plan on using up from the pantry this week because we are still trying to use up what we have at home! 

Breakfasts

• Oatmeal, Bananas, Oranges or Apples
• Protein Shakes
• Green Smoothies

Lunches

• Dinner Leftovers
• Snack-y Lunch (cheese, vegetables, fruit, lunch meat, nuts, avocado, hummus)

Dinners

• Baked Pork Chops (BBQ), Baked Potatoes, Broccoli
• Spicy Lentil Soup, Bread sticks
• Tacos & Fixings
• Hearty Chili Pie (similar to this recipe, only with chili), Broccoli
• Beef, Potato & Carrot Bake (in the Crock Pot)
• Homemade Pizza
• Lasagna Casserole, Bread sticks, Broccoli

This post is shared at Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Down for the count*

I have been sick with the stomach flu the past few days.  I am finally starting to feel better.  Just in time for William to leave on his snowmobiling vacation out west.  I just hope he and the kids don't get it!

Water*

It is no secret that I love water.  Sitting in a canoe on a lake or river, surrounded by water is one of my favorite places to be.   A sunset cocktail cruise on Big Sandy is always a great way to wind down the day.  A nice warm soak in the bathtub can rejuvenate me like nothing else can.  The sound of the rain hitting my roof is like a lullaby.  I was married on the bank of a beautiful creek.  I labored in the water with my son before heading to the hospital.  Amazing how many important moments of my life are connected to water.

I have been thinking a lot about our drinking water lately.  Actually, I have been thinking about it for years, especially since we have chemically treated city water at our home.  It was only recently that I decided to do something about it. 

We ended up purchasing this bad boy, the Big Berkey.  I like the fact that it isn't a whole house system and that it is portable.  Plus, it filters out some pretty nasty stuff that can be in our water supply.  While our water doesn't taste bad, it doesn't taste all that great either.  Especially when they up the chlorine because they found "above acceptable" levels of bacteria.  I don't drink water from the swimming pool and so when the water coming out of my faucet smelled like the pool, that was the last straw for me. 

So far I really like the filter.  We got a little table for it to sit on and I have been filling it each night and by morning we have great tasting water.  It does take a little while for the gravity filter to work in this unit, but with the quantity that we drink, I think we should be okay.  Now I realize that I need to figure out someway to get this good water to my office.  I drink between two and three quarts of water at work everyday, so it is a bit to carry with me.   I will have to think about that...  And how do I get the chlorine out of the water we bathe in?  A simple shower filter will not work for the kids as the tub they bathe in doesn't have a shower head to fill the tub with.  Something else to start research on!

This post is shared at the Homestead Barn Hop.  Hosted by Kendra at New Life on a Homestead.

Winter Solstice

Today is a great day.

The winter solstice.

Today, it will be dark longer than any other day this year.  From here on out, our days start getting longer.  Slowly, sure, but longer none the less!

I plan to celebrate this day with hot tea, OTC drugs, and sleeping in an upright position to help my sinuses drain...  I have a terrible sinus infection.

If I wasn't sick I would head out this evening for a quick walk through the neighborhood to celebrate the beauty that is winter in Wisconsin.  Another great idea would be a small campfire in the backyard.   It is currently 10 degrees and with the wind it feels below zero, so this isn't a great day for a campfire, but the thought is nice!

Happy Solstice everyone!  And stay healthy if you can!

Stomach Flu - A TMI post.

Libby had the stomach flu on Saturday night.  I could tell something wasn't quite right with her as she really wanted to be held and picked up all day long on Saturday. 

She went to bed Saturday night just fine, then during the middle of the night, Bill heard her crying and got up to see what was going on.  He found her with a pile of vomit on her bed.  We cleaned her up and not much later she vomited again, this time on her pillow.  As I was changing her diaper, she vomited again (of course while laying on her back) and I quickly flipped her over and helped her clear her mouth.  She seemed much better after this and since we didn't have anymore sheets for her bed (note to self...  buy another set of twin sheets) we brought her into bed with us.  I really didn't think there could be much vomit left in that little girl after the last three episodes, but low and behold, she surprised us.  This time we were able to catch most of it in a bucket, but our blankets and sheets got a nice little spattering as well.  Thankfully this was the last time. 

Eventually we all fell back asleep.  Bill and I were on edge for quite some time as the fear of being vomited on (at least for me) outweighs the need for sleep!

The next morning she was asking for food right away, and didn't even act sick.   She had a full day of playing and dancing, so thankfully our first full blown stomach flu didn't last too long!

Tis the Season... for Colds.

The cold/flu viruses have set up shop at our humble abode this week.  

Libby has had a fever since Monday and it finally seems like it is breaking.  To top it off, she also has a hefty dose of chest and nasal congestion. 

Eddie has nasal and chest congestion as well and it is so difficult for me to see a little baby with these problems.  We were so blessed Libby never got sick with a cold until she was at least a year old.  Last night was spent sitting up in a chair holding him so that he could at least get a little sleep.  I, on the other hand, didn't get much at all.  The little I did get, was very light and interrupted every time he sniffled or coughed (as I had him right next to me in bed because he had so much mucous, he was gagging on it and I didn't want him to choke). 

Thankfully, Susan has been at our home and has been able to care for the kids while we went to work.  They have been home most of the week from daycare due to the illnesses and Susan has been a blessing so we haven't had to take time off work.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

On a bright note, I was able to get a wonderful massage yesterday afternoon.  I took some birthday money and decided on a little "me" time (took a half day vacation from work).  Now if I could get in a bath (without children) I could be a whole new woman!

This weekend will be a busy one for us as Wisconsin Deer Hunting begins tomorrow.  We also have our family photo session tomorrow and a wedding to attend.  I am really looking forward to going to the wedding with Libby.  I purchased her a new dress and we are dressing up to go on a Mommy-Daughter date night. 

Hopefully Sunday will be a day of relaxation and rejuvenation for us.  If everyone is feeling up to it, we will go to church and then come back for a group nap.  When it happens, it is one of my favorite times.  Even when I only get a short nap because they wake up just after I fall asleep!  Still love it.

 

What is left to eat???

After a lengthy visit to our holistic doctor/chiropractor this week, it has been highly recommended that Libby cut dairy out of her diet (at least temporarily until her cold symptioms go away or she develops immunity to school children sharing germs that give her said colds) and that Eddie cut out gluten (which I had already been dabbling with) because he cannot tolerate it in the breastmilk.

Translation:  My two favorite food groups are off limits or restricted to certain family members.

Translation:  How do I cook without dairy and wheat?

Translation: $$$$$ for substitutes until I can figure out how to make substitutions or find new recipes.   

So, I guess meat, healthy fats and fresh fruits and vegetables it is for our family.  Wait, Libby doesn't eat meat or vegetables...  Can a kid survive on apples, almonds and peanut butter on a spoon?  I guess we will be finding out.

On the bright side, it will be easier for me to enforce than for Daycare.  Almost every snack they have there contains wheat and/or dairy...

Put another check mark on the list as to why I should be home with the kids instead of working.  But, I digress.  I must now go home and make dinner.  Out of what, I don't know yet. 

(CSA) Community Supported Agriculture

We decided to invest in a CSA this year.  I have a feeling I will not be spending a ton of time in our garden this summer and therefore we will not get a lot of fresh vegetables from it!  The added expense is something we feel can be justified this year.  Plus, we will get to try a whole bunch of vegetables that we are not familiar with and I have wanted to try one for the past 4 years or so anyways! 

We chose to go with Burning River Farm because they are a local farm (within 20 miles from our home) and while they are not certified Organic, they do practice "Certified Naturally Grown" (a grassroots alternative to the USDA Organic certification).  We don't eat all our foods in organic form, so we felt comfortable with this designation. 

While we do have to drive to Luck to get our delivery (pick ups are at Cafe Wren, a great place to eat) we seem to be there on a fairly regular basis anyways (not only to eat, but our holistic practitioner/chiropractor is located in the same building as well).  Plus, it is only 4 miles from our house so we could literally bike there if we wanted to.  Although, I am pretty sure I won't be doing much biking this summer with a newborn! 

I am so excited to begin getting boxes of vegetables and researching the ones we don't know about!  It will be fun to try all the new ways we can prepare these foods.  I see lots of great meals in our future this summer!

Ticks...

We found a deer tick last night that was bit into Libby's chest.  Now we just need to wait it out and see if any signs of infection show up or to see if we get the dreaded rash that would indicate the possibility of Lyme's Disease.  I hate waiting.  I don't want my little girl to hurt.  Hopefully nothing will come of it and she will be just fine.

04/06/12 Update
So far nothing has come of the tick bite.  The site is healing well and she isn't showing any signs of reactions yet so we are very hopeful this tick did not carry any diseases that were transmitted to her!

Antibiotics

I finally have some antibiotics to take to see if it will help get rid of this sinus infection.  While I know they will be doing nasty things to my digestive system until I can get the good bacteria replenished, I am thankful for the hope that this may help me recover.

Libby is doing better with her cold.  Her eyes are still draining, but other than that, she seems to be in a good mood and playing well during the day.  Her appetite is returning and I hope she is rounding the corner on this cold.  And while I know another one is just around the corner, it feels good to have her feeling better!

A special breakfast treat at Grandpa's house.  SUGAR CEREAL...

On a positive note, Baby Schulze is growing and becoming more active!  Even though I haven't gained any weight with this pregnancy (I am still showing a negative gain) and we are almost half way through, the midwife says the baby is fine and is measuring right on track.  Next Wednesday will be exactly half way through the pregnancy.  I can't believe how fast it has gone!  Before I know it he/she will be arriving!

Back to the Doctor

I am going back to the doctor today to see if there is something they can do to help me get rid of this terrible cold and sinus infection.  It just seems to give me reprieve for a day, then comes back with full force worse than before.  There has to be something they can suggest that I haven't tried yet...

Libby's eyes were draining yellow and green substances again yesterday afternoon, so she is in the thick of it as well.  Maybe they can give suggestions for both of us!!!

Monday

Elizabeth went to daycare this morning as she seemed to be feeling a bit better last night.  We will see if it lasts the entire day or not.  I would be totally find having to go get her early today as I feel like the weight of a car is sitting on my chest.  Not quite sure how I will make it though the entire day, but will have to try as I am already at work. 

Holiday Illness

I am finally crawling out from under the flu.  It started early on Monday morning and has had me in a fog for the past three days.  Granted, it could have been a lot worse, but any flu is never fun.  Between the intense headaches, body aches and vomiting, I am so ready to feel better!  Thankfully, I was able to return to work today with the help of Tylenol keeping the persistent headaches at bay.

Now, if we can just avoid anyone else getting sick, it will be miraculous!

The Cold is Passed On...

Elizabeth is starting to feel better now from her cold symptoms.  Her nose is still running a little bit, but not bad compared to what it was doing earlier in the week.  We kept her home on Wednesday as during the night she had an extremely high fever and was very uncomfortable.  I wasn't sure how she was going to feel the next day, but her fever broke and she seemed better.  We had a great day spending time together and while she probably could have gone to daycare, you never know how they are going to feel after a night like that. 

Now she has passed the cold onto me.  I can feel it in my sinuses and back of my throat.  Yuck.

Hanging out at Home.