Losing Ground

So, sadly, over the past week, Sadie has lost weight again. I am so frustrated; but also so full of gratitude. Because of the miracles of modern technology, I have this blog. My cousin's wife in Texas keeps up with me through the blog. Tiffini was able to put me in touch with her friend in Boston who is going through a similar experience with her daughter. It's amazing to be in correspondance with someone who knows what I am going through; having been there herself. Her blog has reminded me of my blessings: a wonderful children's hospital, great doctors, and fabulous health insurance. I needed that today. After I found out we were losing weight again, I just cried in the doctor's office yesterday. She's on a high-cal diet, but she just doesn't eat much. She is eager to eat; but unlike me, she has the self-control to stop after a few bites (not a good thing in her case, it would be a great thing for me). She just doesn't eat a lot quantity-wise, and she's had a cold/fever going on for about a week, so when I get food into her, she has a hard time keeping it down. I also think that I am having to learn to not push food on her. When she starts to refuse food, I just have to stop feeding her so I don't overfeed her and start down the slippery slope with having her throw it all up.

Gas Prices

Hey, so I've avoided it up until this point. If anyone reads this blog, I would rather it be funny stories about me and the kids rather than getting into my opinions about politics, business etc. However, I can't bite my tongue this time. The media drives me nuts. Everything is so skewed...the way they portray the country, the economy...we're all dying! I read an article on CNN this week about the fact that of course, holiday travel was down because of gas prices. It related two very moving stories about high gas prices...one about a family that had to miss their Memorial Day camping trip becasue they couldn't afford the gas (instead, they stayed home and swam in their new in-ground pool..honestly, I'm not kidding)...another woman has to limit her trips "into town" to once a day. Wow! We are really cutting back!
I don't say this to minimize the effect of gas prices. It seriously is a real issue. I know that there ARE people that this is affecting. Honestly, it's affecting the way that I drive too. However, I think that we sometimes aren't completely realistic about how much we have as Americans today. I was in the grocery store last week with my kids. I had someone mention that they have a niece with 6 kids...she thought it was totally irresponsible...it's just too expensive to have 6 kids "these days". Really?? I asked her...harder than during the 30's, harder than during the World Wars? Really? Look at my shopping cart...your average middle class American...my cart at WalMart was brimming with today's "necessities" including not only food basics, but a side of junk food, disposable diapers, baby wipes, etc. I disagree completely that these are really hard times. Yes, compared to the past few years, these are hard times. Yes, there are serious problems with people in foreclosure etc. But to see hard times, take a look at history...I don't want to be totally negative. In fact, the point of this post is to be positive and grateful. I think these are amazing times to be alive. We have so much to make lives simpler and easier. We are very blessed with so much knowledge available at the touch of a keyboard. I just get miffed because we (including me) sometimes miss it all because so much of the publicity is negative...I'm trying to remind myself what amazing times I am raising a family in and how much more I feel is expected of me giving what I have to work with. Wow...anyway...kids are screaming...gotta ditch the thinking stuff here and go change another diaper...

Yard WORK

We've been doing a lot of work out in the yard. I'm not sure what order the pictures are in. The first project was "trimming" the lilacs. We had these stately, massive, awful lilacs trees. They were as tall as our house and probably ten feet wide. They were huge. I started with a hand saw...and they met their demise when Jake let me use an electric saw. We'll see how they recover. Jake and Jared shared in the fun of playing with power tools when they took down two trees in the yard. We took out a pear tree, that was dead; and a pine tree that was killing the grass. Later, Brian helped Jake move a big stump into my flower garden, to be used as a seat. I think the only other pictures here are of my azalea that I bought for mothers day (it's got beautiful blooms right now) and my "square foot" garden. We'll see how that turns out. The book that I learned about SF gardens claims it will be more manageable, but also still produce a lot of veggies. We'll see....

Hello Grandma Johnson!!!

My Grandma Johnson is working on learning to navigate the internet and keep up with her email! I'm excited! She will be adding my blog to her favorites list, so I wanted to send out a big HELLO and add some cute pictures. We just have some pictures from the park; and Sadie's birthday party. I made her a Dr. Seuss cake, because we started calling her Sadie Lou because of Cindy Lou Who on the Grinch. Besides, it made it so much easier...I didn't even had to TRY to make my cake lopsided..but that was how it was supposed to be!

Ranting and Raving

What a day! You just have those days sometimes. I getting lousy about posting pictures, but better at posting in general. I guess that's a good thing. Not much new. Yesterday, we went to the zoo...an unplanned trip after Linda saved me when I was on the way to an appointment and realized my battery was dead! We decided to feed the goats, probably the highlight of the trip. Brooklyn wasn't so much into it, but Ty LOVED it. He giggled histerically any time the goats got close to him (which is surprising, they are rather large comparatively). Sadie is struggling with her new "diet". She's got some kind of cold or something going on; so the diet is on hold. Today was wonderful...Brookyn played with Abby for most of the day...Ty was off my hands while I went to a doctor's visit...I felt so free. Which ended up being good. At the end of the day, I had a visiting teaching appointment. On the way home, I still had my companion with me, but needed to go pick up Brooklyn. Traffic was bad...never a good thing. Sadie was not a happy camper because she was in the backseat next to Ty and he kept kicking her. We finally made it to pick up Brooklyn, but had to switch seats around on the way home so my companion's sweet daughter was next to Sadie. It was awful. My companion was so kind, calm, collected, and understanding. I was ready to blow my top...Ty was in lots of trouble (which was too bad; while Brooklyn was gone we went on a little "date" to McD's for lunch and had so much fun). He's just such a tease. He tortures Sadie by pulling out her pacifier and throwing it, hitting her with toys, kicking her...there's never really REAL harm done, but Sadie certainly doesn't appreciate it. I hope she can get back one day...I might have to help her.

Butterin' Both Sides of the Bread

So, Sadie went to the GI (gastrointestinal) clinic today. Again, our main concern is the lack of growth and weight gain; as well as developmental delays with gross motor skills. For right now, we're just starting with the basics. That being, adding more calories to what she is already eating. She's not a super huge eater, so we struggle. But I literally had a dietician telling me to add butter and canola oil to her baby food; don't have her eat food like cereal for finger foods (avocado and cheese are more bang for the bite); and have her eat Carnation Instant Breakfast with whole milk rather than formula. I guess the thought is right now, with the dietcian and the GI specialist, is to get her eating more calories and see if we can get her to gain weight. If not, I guess we may have to look at other issues. Until then, the dietcian recommends any and all high-calorie foods, including pudding, mac n cheese, ice cream...are you kidding. If I could pack whatever Sadie has in a bottle; I'd be a millionaire. When was the last time you went the doctor and were told that you needed to eat more fat; the more the better? Where did I go wrong that my kid went right? I smell that stuff and it goes to my hips...SO, I am disappointed that we STILL don't have "answers" persay. But, the GI specialist said it is hard to distingish exactly what is going on in a baby with gross motor delays and eating problems. Which one causes which? How are they related? Hard to say. Good news. When we went to the physical therapist today (we haven't been for 3 weeks) she noticed differences. Yea!

Funny, Funny Kids

So, I spoiled this for anyone at book club tonight...but my kids are so funny. We had quite a day.

First, Brooklyn. A few days ago she saw Jake take a quarter out of my purse to "pay" Brooklyn for doing her "chores". I gave him a bad time about it because it was from my emergency mommy treat fund; I NEVER carry cash. We went back and forth with some teasing and I didn't think anything of it. Then today, returning home from visiting teaching, Brooklyn says; "Mommy, do you know why Daddy has to work so many days?"...Hmmm, what do you think? "Mommy, he has to make lots of money for you to spend because when you were naughty Daddy took away your money and gave it to me for doing my jobs". Oh wow, please don't repeat that kind of stuff.

Then, there's my Ty. We bought new sandals today. Emphasis on SAND. Shortly after, we went to the park. Ty stopped dead in his tracks as he walked onto the sand in the playground. He was stunned as he felt the sand on his toes. He just looked helplessly up at Jake and I and said, "stuck". It took him awhile to get used to the idea of SANDals.