Pukefest 2008

It's becoming an annual event in our house, or should I say bi-yearly.

I've been knee deep in vomit since Friday and I'm done. Does anyone else have that smell in their nose for days?

Friday it was me. Thankfully no puking. That night Eloise. Sunday night Dave. This was horrible. He must have thrown up 20 times. And if you know Dave, he gives 100% of himself to things and vomitting is no exception. He was so loud I thought our neighbors would wake up. The Lawrence family can attest to this, we brought Ahl-bola to their house in August. Later that night, Lily goes down. Once and she's done. Monday night, again. Tuesday afternoon, again. She chose to spread hers out over 3 days.

So after laundering all towels, blankets, a few crib sheets (I threw one set away b/c I didn't have it in me), carseat covers and lots of jammies, I'm tired and I just want someone to come deep clean my house. I'm so overwhelmed now with my yard, my house and even my car. I'm so tempted to hire someone but I just don't know if I could justify it. Where is my mother?

Bodily fluids don't make me queasy, they make the process longer. If a child poops, it's generally contained to one area, when a child throws up, it's EVERYWHERE! And it takes 2 loads of laundry to get the smell out.

Here's the cherry on top. Tonight, after a long session in the car with the girls screaming, eloise wanted to sit in my car in the garage and "drive". (the garage door is closed and the key is no where near the car - that's for you safety kate) She tells me she has to go potty, which lately means she already has. Yep, she peed in my seat. SERIOUSLY! One more thing to wash?

I know I'm complaining, but sometimes a mama just has to let it out.

Fresh pair of kicks

Every sick months to a year I treat myself to a new pair of black shoes. Always black. Because really, is there a need for any other color? They are not fancy, just everyday-live-in-them-could-walk-through-Europe-in-them shoes.

I always buy my shoes at Nordstrom. Sounds snotty, but it's not. I just believe in the quality, customer service, and a fantastic return policy Nordstrom has to offer. And I don't buy alot of shoes so when I do, I want quality. I had my eye of a few lately and took them for a walk aroudn the store. This pair won out. Hands down the most comfortable. I LOVE them!

Here they are - the Keens Sienna Mary Jane in Black













Cheers to those who love new (black) shoes!

Just Right

So pukefest has entered our house again. Of course, through Eloise. I'm starting to think that a)the Lord is using her puke-capades to teach me more about him, b) I'm cursed, or, c) there is something wrong with her immune system. I think she got it from me, but I never had vomit. However, I have learned that if anyone within a mile radius of her has some sort of sickness that could involve vomiting, she will get it.

Anyway, following this sickness there is often diarrhea. She is now potty trained and today she wanted to go poop. She asked us to leave the bathroom and go sit on the couch. We were in the kitchen and this is what follows:

me: "Eloise, is your poopoo runny?"
E: "no"
me: "is your poopoo hard?"
E: "No...It's just right."
us laughing
E: "WOW! That's alot of poop."

Five Faves

Most every mama I talk to is stuck in those 5 meals they always feed their kids. I know I am. It's hard to break out and try something new. I'm always worried Eloise won't eat. Lily pretty much inhales everything I set in front of her. So I thought of sharing mine, in hopes of inspiring others, showing my girls what they ate for 5 years straight, and inheriting some ideas from other mama's.

Here are the Ahl family top 5:

1. Black Bean and Rice Quesadilla's or just in a bowl
   
2. Garden Burger's
   
3. French toast (Deceptively Delicious) with either pumpkin, applesauce, banana or sweet potato
4. Mac and Cheese with Black Beans and chicken sausage from Costco
   
5. Grilled Cheese
6. Peanut butter and Honey with Yogurt Dips (plain yogurt with honey or agave nectar)

okay there were six, but grilled cheese is a given.

Here are a few staples we always have on hand:

1. plain yogurt
2. honey or agave nectar
3. black beans - the girls go through 1/2 of the can in a meal!
   
4. stretch island fruit from Costco\dried mango from Trader Joes
5. penne pasta - we call them little tunnels and if cut, can be placed on finger's
   
6. olives - can't be without olives
7. bananas
8. apples
9. pickles
10. string cheese
    

I wish I had that cool linking tool where we could all list and see each other's, but I don't. I'd love to know what your top 5 faves for kid food are. Maybe we can all acquire something new.
Today, I hit the jackpot with a new one. Don't get too excited. There are no hidden veggies and there's a good chance the ingredients aren't organic or wholesome, but there is alot of room for additions to make up for that shortfall.
The meal today:
Reduced fat crescent rolls (the kind in the tube - this is the not so good part) filled with turkey. Eloise ate 2! She does not like meat, so it helped to get a little extra protein.

I'm not the best at getting my kids to eat, but I'm always on the look out for new ideas.

Blog-envy

I started into this venture of blogging just intending to send off a few pictures to family and friends at a distance and to make sure I was recording daily life with the girls.

It's time to get refocused on that, for me. I have been spending way to much time looking at other blogs wishing I could write as well, look as good, and be more creative. I have so many things I would love to blog about but I'm always worried about perceptions. It's a weird thing having others read your thoughts and daily happenings.

Weird post, but I had to write this as a reminder to myself.

Walking, but not yet talking

Lily has been taking more steps everyday. It's been interesting to watch her development weighed against Eloise's. They are such opposites. Eloise walked at 10 months and was sprinting by 12. She was talking by 8 months and had over 50 words at a year. Lily has maybe 2 words and is more observant and hesitant. Makes sense with walking b/c she's often pushed down by her sister once she gets a good stride going. Tonight we had a dance party listening to Veggies Tales Rocks to the 70's (Dave's favorite). She performed her new skill...and a few other's.

Cookies

I'm sure that this recipe isn't new. And I'm almost positive thousands of people know about it, but it's new to me. I tried it out the other day on a whim and it worked. And they are only 1 pt a piece if you are doing WW.

First one:
1 box spice cake mix
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs

beat until combined
Drop teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet
Bake 375 for 6-7 minutes
makes 48

Second:
1 box white cake mix
1/3 cup applesauce
2 eggs

Same directions as above


I have a 2 tsp. cookie scoop that works great. I prefer the spice ones but all we had was a white cake mix so i figured applesauce would taste better than pumpkin. But who knows maybe the pumpkin would have been good with a little pumpkin pie spice. hmmm....the possibilities are endless. Enjoy!