Grocery Shopping

It is really cold here, but we haven't gotten any snow. I'm a little bummed about it; just about everywhere around us has gotten a little bit of snow, but we just got missed.

I can't complain too much though-I am not a fan of big snows; I just like enough of a dusting to play in, make snow cream with, and then have it all melt in a day or two.

Anyways, the weather people called for snow, twice, last week, so the kids and I ran out to get the ingredients for snow cream. Since Little Dude and JR were still getting over ear infections, Little Dude got to ride in the cart, too, instead of having to walk, as usual:




The boys had a blast sitting like that. Ahh, the simple things.

Potty Training Poop Issues? Try Fiber Gummies

Potty training is a not-so-fun part of parenting. Sure, then they make it into the potty, or get there in time, it is super exciting. But when they don't and pee on the floor? Or worse, POOP their pants as you are RUNNING for a potty? Yea, I have been there.

I also have FINALLY overcome the final road block our family was facing with Little Dude's potty training: His fear of pooping.

Yes, I know, my son was afraid to poop. And I have no idea how that started, or what I did in the potty training process to cause this fear, but for MONTHS he has been holding in his poop for A WEEK AT A TIME. So then, when he finally couldn't put off pooping anymore, it DID hurt, because he was just, well, backed up SO MUCH.

So, we took him to the doctor, we've had him on laxatives, but ever time we started to wean him off the laxatives (which we had to do-we couldn't keep him on them forever, or that will cause a whole different problem) he would go right back to being scared to poop. I almost think it was because the laxatives made everything SUPER soft, so when it started to go back to being more normal and solid, he would be scared and fight it.

And even though Little Dude is usually a decent eater, it seems like any time of fiber rich food-fruit, veggies, what have you, Little Dude just isn't getting enough. (obviously, since he has so much trouble) But try as we might to increase his consumption, he just picks at the extra food, or won't touch it at all. It has been very frustrating!

I know, too much info, eh? But surely I'm not the only one out there with a kid that hates to poop? Or am I? I dunno...

Anyways, I have GREAT news now to share, and I owe it a lot to the invention of gummie vitamins! There are gummy FIBER vitamins, and we tried the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies, to great success! We are now able to guarantee Little Dude is getting enough fiber to ensure he has enough fiber in his system for easy poops. We have been laxative free and pooping easily every day for the last 3 weeks-OH I am excited, because that is a record for us! And I have been looking over my poop chart for him (I mark a calender, yes, I know, maybe too much info) and it has been MONTHS since Little Dude pooped everyday for a week straight, let alone everyday for 3 weeks straight.

And you know what? Saturday he pooped two good poops! IN THE SAME DAY. I am so excited. You just don't know!

So, I really hope this info helps any of you that might be facing the same issue (or if you haven't gone through the potty training phase yet, it could be handy to keep this in the back of your head).

January is also Fiber Focus Month, and you can learn even more about how important fiber is to a healthy body, get fiber recipe ideas, a food journal and poop chart go to www.fibergummies.com and become a fan of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Facebook.

I also have a bottle of the Fiber Gummies to give away! If you would like to try a bottle of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies, leave me a comment below. Make sure I have a way to contact you so I can get your mailing address if you win.

Gone

One of the best things about this world of blogging-and what keeps me blogging-is all the friendships I have made with amazing women/moms out there. I have "friends" all over the world, and we share our ideas, our failures, our days, our tantrums, our joys and when things get bad, we sweep in quickly to lift each other up.

But sometimes, worlds crash.

And there aren't words, thoughts, or deeds to do. What does one do, when the world collapses beneath a dear friend?

You can read what happened, at To Think Is To Create, simply because I can't bring myself to write it and I don't know that I should.

My dear friend, Arianne and I have never met in real life. But we read each other's blogs, help each other out with occasional comments, and work together with the One 2 One network. She hooked me up with the Blu-ray Snow White, even though I was officially too late to sign up myself. She knew what a Disney fan/freak I was and slipped me in for the review. We may have never actually talked, though hopefully someday we will, but I certainly consider her a friend. A friend who I've turned to for parenting advice, and who I've turned to for simple chit chat when the kids were driving me crazy. We've been corresponding since back in the day when I only had one kid. Back when I needed help adjusting to a baby and a move, Arianne was there to share stories and cheer me up.

But now, I don't know what to say, or do, and I have never wished so badly to be a real life friend. I wish I could hold her and hug her.

I'm thinking of you, Arianne.

Behind

I'm still sick, and it actually seems to be worse. I don't think I have the flu, but I am achy everywhere, my head feels like it is going to explode and my chest hurts from coughing so much. I won't even tell you what is coming out of my nose when I blow it. It's gross.


The kids seem to be all better now that they are halfway through their medicine; 5 more days and they won't need the antibiotics anymore. Right now they still have runny noses (similar to mine, gross)but the coughs seem to be going away.

So, we are still alive, though I'm really not at all productive. The house is in pretty good shape, though the playroom is a disaster-mostly because we have been spending all our time there. (I'm there now, using my laptop on the couch, while the kids build with blocks)

I am stressed about my work; I am so very behind and HATE that feeling. I have the weekend to "catch up", and I am quite certain I will have everything done in time, but I still just hate that panicky feeling I get when I am behind. I just hate to let anyone down or fail. I think that is some of my first-born perfectionism coming through.

Anyways, I am now going to start working like the wind while I have a break in the coughing and the kids are entertained. Just wanted to let you all know I was still alive, barely.

Aarrrggggah

Muuuaaggggah. Uuuuggggah.

We are all sick with ridiculous coughs, colds, runny noses, ear infections (both the boys have DOUBLE ear infections, sigh) and on top of it I have no voice left. I thought the kids were getting better yesterday, but the coughs came back in full force this morning.

Though, unlucky for me, Little Dude and JR both have their energy levels pretty much back, so I have regulated us to the downstairs family room, where I can lay pathetically on the couch and whisper at them to be good.

Somehow "Be Nice To Your Brother; Share Your Toys" doesn't get the same result when whispered from a frog filled throat while only raising a hand from the couch to wave in the general direction of the toys.

I got a little spoiled over the weekend with my husband AND in laws around to pamper all three of us sick ones, but yesterday and today it has just been me, and I think that is why today I am pretty much dead. And it is only 8 am.

Oh my. I'm going to go lay back down on the couch and watch "Sid the Science Kid".

Christmas Lights

Our house, right after Santa came...

Our yard...
The neighbors went all out...
Seriously, they went all out...

And we had one of the most beautiful streets. With a three year old to really get into it, I think this was the most magical Christmas so far. I'm already excited to do it all again, next year.

Starting Off Right

Well, the kids and I are both sick and I am so happy that my wonderful husband was here this weekend to help me with them; otherwise I might have died on the floor while the kids piled toys on me.

It is hard when multiple kids are sick, but worse when you are sick, too. We went to the doctor yesterday, and both of the boys have DOUBLE ear infections-ouch!

We are on some great medicine now, and spent a lot of time snuggling on the couch while Bill brought hot tea. My wonderful in laws happen to also be around Sat. and today for a previously planned visit, so it turned out even better, having a few extra hands around.

Having everyone here with me and the boys made being sick actually a little relaxing. I will have to plan these things more often.

So, I am starting off the new year right, surrounded by family and snuggling with my boys. Who cares if I have no voice and can't stop coughing; I'm on cloud nine.

Yes, the new year has started off perfectly.