And I just got home. Finals weeks mean many things on campus. For people in my job it means midnight breakfasts, and manning the all night study locations.
A 1-3am shift makes for an awkward time to go back to sleep to wake in a few hours.
While I'm up though I thought I would share a story from last night's midnight breakfast. I was serving french toast sticks to hungry, sleep-deprived students (many of whom had probably FINALLY cracked that book open for the first time this semester) and I realized I was talking to them like I do to Koda. With Koda, I find a mumble, a half-nod, a grunt an unnacceptable way to say yes. Well, many of our 18-21 years olds on campus seem to still be doing this.
Me: French toast sticks *wearing my cheesy grin
Student: mmmmph
Me: Yes? Or No? *in a motherly-clearly ennunciate-tone
Student: Yes
Me: Great!
Replace student with Koda in the above dialogue and that is the average morning in our household.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Peanut-free for me
A few months ago now Tristen had a head to toe reaction while eating eggs. Fortunately, Benedryl stopped the reaction, and off we were to the doctore who actually did not think it was the eggs but a cross contamination reaction to peanuts. We got our allergist referral, and have been avoiding peanuts just in case.
By avoiding, we certainly were not over the top. We still have PB in the house. Travis still ate peanuts. Tristen still ate from the bakery section of the grocery.
Today, Tristen finally had his allergist appointment. They had to end the test early because his reaction was severe. So, Travis came home with perscription for an Epi Pen to find a freaked out momma who threw out/donated every jar of PB, and started reading every label. Our generic cherrios? Definitely made in a facility that has peanuts. Travis's argument is that the cheerios haven't given him a reaction yet and he has had them for nearly a year. My reaction? Do you really want to risk it?
So, my momma bear protective nature is trying to balance letting my child be a child and wanting to bleach every surface he will ever touch. Travis doesn't want our little guy to live in a bubble, I don't want to stab my child in the leg with an Epi Pen.
I remember hearing schools going entirely peanut free and debating with myself if that was overboard. Now, I can't imaging sending my child to school where 90% of kids are eating PB, have PB oil on their hands, place those hands on toys... you get my point.
I'm sure we'll find the balance between bubble and living. It will take time, we did only learn for sure a few hours ago. Yet, I can't help but mourn that Tristen will be the kid at birthday parties that has to ask the host what is in the cake before he can enjoy it too. Seems like such an unfair loss of innocence.
By avoiding, we certainly were not over the top. We still have PB in the house. Travis still ate peanuts. Tristen still ate from the bakery section of the grocery.
Today, Tristen finally had his allergist appointment. They had to end the test early because his reaction was severe. So, Travis came home with perscription for an Epi Pen to find a freaked out momma who threw out/donated every jar of PB, and started reading every label. Our generic cherrios? Definitely made in a facility that has peanuts. Travis's argument is that the cheerios haven't given him a reaction yet and he has had them for nearly a year. My reaction? Do you really want to risk it?
So, my momma bear protective nature is trying to balance letting my child be a child and wanting to bleach every surface he will ever touch. Travis doesn't want our little guy to live in a bubble, I don't want to stab my child in the leg with an Epi Pen.
I remember hearing schools going entirely peanut free and debating with myself if that was overboard. Now, I can't imaging sending my child to school where 90% of kids are eating PB, have PB oil on their hands, place those hands on toys... you get my point.
I'm sure we'll find the balance between bubble and living. It will take time, we did only learn for sure a few hours ago. Yet, I can't help but mourn that Tristen will be the kid at birthday parties that has to ask the host what is in the cake before he can enjoy it too. Seems like such an unfair loss of innocence.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Winter Wonderland
Today we took a short trip over to the campus preschool to use their playground...in a snowstorm. It was fun, cold, and wore the boys out. A perfect morning. Note: the pics are messed up, but if you click on them you can see the full image. Not sure what happened there.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
So much to be thankful for
Every year I feel I have so much more to be thankful for. While we do not say grace before meals in our family, Travis and I have been saying our "I'm thankful fors" for the past few years before our meal.
I'm not even sure I could limit it. I am so incredibly thankful for a stable job that I really enjoy, wonderful coworkers who challenge me to be better and more humble, a roof over our heads, an amazingly supportive husband who loves me (even if he is about as romantic as mud), and children who everyday amaze me. I look at them all the time and can't believe they are mine.
Times may be stressful and a struggle, but what a blessed year it has been.
I'm not even sure I could limit it. I am so incredibly thankful for a stable job that I really enjoy, wonderful coworkers who challenge me to be better and more humble, a roof over our heads, an amazingly supportive husband who loves me (even if he is about as romantic as mud), and children who everyday amaze me. I look at them all the time and can't believe they are mine.
Times may be stressful and a struggle, but what a blessed year it has been.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Death and Taxes
They say the only sure things in life are death and taxes. Well. I've got another one. With two kids...freaking laundry...a lot of it!
Anyone want to come help fold ten loads? I'll pay you with the homemade applesauce I made today. Ignore the way-to-much water. I'm not quite in touch with my domestic diva yet. I doubled the recipe witout accounting that I should not have doubled the water too since I cooked it in the crockpot. My bad.
But really, who wants to come match socks :)
Anyone want to come help fold ten loads? I'll pay you with the homemade applesauce I made today. Ignore the way-to-much water. I'm not quite in touch with my domestic diva yet. I doubled the recipe witout accounting that I should not have doubled the water too since I cooked it in the crockpot. My bad.
But really, who wants to come match socks :)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Emergency Kit Goof Up
I used to be Coordinator of Campus Safety in my last job. Even before that position, I was always a worse case scenario gal. Maybe I watched too many end of the world made for TV movies with my mom growing up (luv you mom ;) ). Given all of that, I've always belived in having: an emergency kit ready to go, and a fully stocked pantry.
Travis is more than supportive, and if anything, would love to have a doubly fully stocked pantry. It gives him piece of mind. A few nights ago, I got to thinking of our emergency kit. I hadn't really gone through it since moving, and I could guiltily count the times I had gone in to grab something "to be quickly replaced" that never was. The waterproof matches used to light birthday cakes, the batteries used for dead remotes and kid toys, the bandaids long since used over the fun summer. With new resolve, I decided to update ours.
After ten minutes of cussing, I finally had to interupt Travis to ask where the heck our emergency kit was (Fail #1). It apparently had been moved into a closet, under a bag of old clothes, tucked behind a suitcase. Where any emergency kit should be, right?
Now, here I justify that our emergency kit used to be a large tupperware bin. In moving to Maine, I had temporarily downgraded it to a much smaller container because I needed to larger bin in the move (Fail #2). I never got it back in shape.
Upon going through it I found: One large battery that goes to a lantern. Lantern no where to be found (Fail 3), some square batteries- that go to nothing (Fail 4). I did have a first aid kit (but no ready ice pack- used when Koda fell once- or thermometer- used when Tristen got sick and couldn't find ours- or scissors- who knows where those went), the plastic sheeting Homeland Security ordered every kit to have in the days immididately post 9/11 (yet no duct tape, hammer, nails, etc to do anything with it...so maybe a fancy see-through blanket?). How many fails am I up to? Basically, all said and done, I had supplies for, um, nothing.
Looking at our pantry, we always keep a stock of fruits and veggies, and pasta. That said, we've definately depleted our stock in recent months and have 0 bottled water.
So, my news years challenge will be getting up to date on our emergency preparedness. Would you believe I don't even have my families phone numbers actually written anywhere? They are in my cell phone. Thank goodness I don't teach others about safety now, I'm failing hard here! We'll get back up to speed just in time for the bird flu, attack, depression, or whatever calamity the latest talking head is spewing today.
Travis is more than supportive, and if anything, would love to have a doubly fully stocked pantry. It gives him piece of mind. A few nights ago, I got to thinking of our emergency kit. I hadn't really gone through it since moving, and I could guiltily count the times I had gone in to grab something "to be quickly replaced" that never was. The waterproof matches used to light birthday cakes, the batteries used for dead remotes and kid toys, the bandaids long since used over the fun summer. With new resolve, I decided to update ours.
After ten minutes of cussing, I finally had to interupt Travis to ask where the heck our emergency kit was (Fail #1). It apparently had been moved into a closet, under a bag of old clothes, tucked behind a suitcase. Where any emergency kit should be, right?
Now, here I justify that our emergency kit used to be a large tupperware bin. In moving to Maine, I had temporarily downgraded it to a much smaller container because I needed to larger bin in the move (Fail #2). I never got it back in shape.
Upon going through it I found: One large battery that goes to a lantern. Lantern no where to be found (Fail 3), some square batteries- that go to nothing (Fail 4). I did have a first aid kit (but no ready ice pack- used when Koda fell once- or thermometer- used when Tristen got sick and couldn't find ours- or scissors- who knows where those went), the plastic sheeting Homeland Security ordered every kit to have in the days immididately post 9/11 (yet no duct tape, hammer, nails, etc to do anything with it...so maybe a fancy see-through blanket?). How many fails am I up to? Basically, all said and done, I had supplies for, um, nothing.
Looking at our pantry, we always keep a stock of fruits and veggies, and pasta. That said, we've definately depleted our stock in recent months and have 0 bottled water.
So, my news years challenge will be getting up to date on our emergency preparedness. Would you believe I don't even have my families phone numbers actually written anywhere? They are in my cell phone. Thank goodness I don't teach others about safety now, I'm failing hard here! We'll get back up to speed just in time for the bird flu, attack, depression, or whatever calamity the latest talking head is spewing today.
Sunday Koda-isms
Upon arriving at Walmart today, Koda began reciting the store rules to Tristen that we normally tell Koda.
"No running, no screaming, no crying, when say stop- STOP!" and upon finding Tristen giggling at him, he added a new store rule "and no laughing, no funny!" Serious trip to Wal mart it is.
As Travis was bringing the dog out this evening Koda called out to him "Daddy walk the dog real quick, daddy watch out for dinosaurs!". Those silly dinosaurs get us every time.
Happy Sunday!
"No running, no screaming, no crying, when say stop- STOP!" and upon finding Tristen giggling at him, he added a new store rule "and no laughing, no funny!" Serious trip to Wal mart it is.
As Travis was bringing the dog out this evening Koda called out to him "Daddy walk the dog real quick, daddy watch out for dinosaurs!". Those silly dinosaurs get us every time.
Happy Sunday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)