This Is Getting Ridiculous.

Seriously. Again.

Quincy prefers to snuggle with Auntie "Say-sey" during her breathing treatments. Usually we have to put in a movie to get her to hold still, but she was so lethargic last night that the combination of the steroid gas, her fever, and Kasey's cozy lap just lulled her right to sleep. I kept her home from church yesterday because she was coughing so much, and now I'm really glad I didn't take her, because I've since heard that Chicken Pox and RSV are going around...which certainly would not add to her congested fun.

We have an appointment with the pediatrician this afternoon.

If either of her ears are infected we are going to consult an ENT for tubes.
At lunch today, Reese blessed the food and asked that "Quincy will get much better because she's my sister and I love her, and thanks for Mommy not to throw up today"
At least we're being well cared for!
I am REALLY wishing we didn't have a $1000 deductible on our medical insurance right about now.

"I Can Do Anything! Take a Look, It's in a Book, A Reading Rainbow..."

You know you miss that show. Not as much at 3-2-1 Contact or Voyage of the Mimi...But Reading Rainbow was still some pretty good stuff. Especially when Lavar would bust out the roller skates.

The theme for Reese's little preschool group last week was "R for Rainbow". She came home with a darling little kite with rainbow streamers, and rainbow jell-o. She really loved the theme and was even more excited than usual....probably because she's a narcissist and "R" is also for Reese. Either way, she loved the rainbow theme, so we've continued it around here all week.

We have some form of breakfast for dinner once a week. Usually on Wednesdays, since it is easy to fix and I am usually in a hurry to get to the church to help with the Young Women activity on wednesday nights.
I mix it up and cook a variety of things, so we won't get sick of it. It's been about a year of this and we still enjoy it. It has been months since we've had pancakes, so this week, we had eggs, juice, and Rainbow Pancakes!
I've never put food coloring in our pancake/waffle mix before, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out. The girls LOVED it....even though some of them overcooked and our "rainbow" looked a little muddy. Quincy would only eat the PINK pancakes. Her nursery teacher told me on Friday that she also refuses to color during the activity part of the lesson unless she has at least one PINK crayon in her hand. They said she knows all her colors, and is very particular about which color paper she gets when they are doing a craft! News to me! It must be that her BIG SISTER always gets her way at home, and the pink crayons are rarely available to her...maybe she feels the need to be the boss somewhere else. Oh well, at least she gets her way somewhere. Hopefully she isn't a bully about it.

More posts about the colorful fun we've had to come!

"I Think I'll Go For a Walk Outside, Yeah The Summer Sun's Calling My Name"

SPriNg iS hErE! Finally!

We've spent as much time as possible outside the last few days. Poor Quincy's allergies are killing her. I won't be surprised if she develops an ear infection from all the sinus congestion within a week. We spent 3 1/2 hours at the park on Friday, playing, eating a picnic lunch, and visiting with friends. It was a great day. I am excited that my kids are finally to the age where they can play fairly independently at the park and I can sit in the shade and chat with the other moms. Occasionally, one will come running, crying over a shared toy, or sand in the eyes, or "so and so" is hitting...but yesterday went so smoothly, we will definitely spend more time at the park this Spring than we did last year (when Q refused to walk in the sand).

Speaking of Quincy, she woke up with a nice black eye this morning. I'm guessing it happened during one of those times that she came running, crying about something or other. Her little cheeks are all rosy from the wind burn, too. When you add in her watery red allergy eyes and bed head, she looks like she's been in a sweet fight. Hopefully, her shiner won't hang around too long. She looks pretty pathetic.
The kids were having so much fun outside the other day while I was watching my friend's little girl. I took a little video. It's pretty cute to see them so happy to just be outside enjoying the sunshine. I love the giggly girls and Q saying "HEY! Help me up, Help me up!"

In The Mail

An attempt to journal some of the going-ons around here:

We've been getting excellent packages around here lately! The first was a package from my mom with a few books and a baby blanket for Big Willy. My mom has made all of our receiving blankets for my babies and I just love them. Quincy still sleeps with the same two blankies every night and they are titled, "My Blankie" (the purple one) and "My Two Blankie" (the pink one)...and when I had to pry them from her the other day and put them in the wash (finally), we gave her a substitute pink and purple blankie, which is now affectionately called "My Nuther Blankie". Once My Blankie and My Two Blankie were out of the dryer, I was able to sneak My Nuther Blankie back into the linen closet where it will live until laundry day next week. Having to track down two blankets every nap and bedtime is enough...we don't need a third in the mix.

Anyway, these little flannel hemstitched blankets are The BEST. I love them, especially for newborns as they are the perfect size for swaddling. I was a little distraught that Big Willy would have to settle for the two gender neutral blankets I have from back when Reese was a newborn. After being used for two infants they are looking a little shot, but I still love them.
Grandma's hands have been hard at work and Big Willy now has two BOY blankies that look just like the ones that were used and loved by his big sisters, minus all the pink and purple. Yay for grandmas! Oh, and of course, they have matching burpies! Thanks!

Also, Reese's little prayer was answered this week. She came to me SOBBING when she pulled at a loose string and unraveled the knit hat Grandma had made her for Christmas. Of course, there was NO WAY to rescue it, but I told her Grandma would make her a new one soon. That night she prayed that Santa or Grandma could come fix her broken hat so we could take it out of the trash can. I forgot to tell my mom about the cute prayer or the broken hat, BUT...
Only 2 DAYS later did these little cuties arrive! LOVE THEM! With scalloped edges and big obnoxious flowers! I love them! Reese just couldn't believe it..Grandma is officially sharing rock star status with Santa right now in the eyes of my year old. Oh and I know you love their "outfits"....the girls have been dressing themselves lately. It's going...well I am realizing that I saved nearly NOTHING from Reese's wardrobe to be used by Quincy at this age for summer. I'm guessing it all got covered in little kid grime and wasn't worth salvaging. Quincy's idea of a perfect outfit includes a stripey tee and a pair of pj bottoms crammed on over her jeans. It is the ONLY way she is happy...otherwise, well she just strips out of what I've dressed her in and kicks it naked. It's not even worth breaking a sweat to wrestle her down and put something remotely cute on her right now...she takes it off, and I'm just left there all schwetty. Be warned that you will see some interesting outfits from her in future posts, I am sure. Maybe I'll take her shopping WITH me and let her pick something out. Since when did my 2 yr old start caring about what she wears?! Sad!

The other package we received was from Auntie HolleeAnn, Uncle Paul (aka Fonzo), and cousin Jordan. Well all I can say here is THANK YOU!!! It was complete with a crusty t shirt with a nasty beat up trailer on it for me...seriously, as far as crusty t shirts go, it is RAD. I'll be sporting it as soon as my belly is big enough to make the trailer a double wide...gotta make sure we fit in around here. Don't be jealous.

For the girls, little felt valentine purses FULL of goodies, which Quincy devoured immediately.
(don't get too excited about the "big girl undies" Q is sporting...they are over her diaper, and we are just glad she is no longer wearing them as Nacho Libre-style face masks. I am 90% sure they are a clean pair)
Reese wore the candy necklace as a COLLAR for Ash for a few hours before she gave in to it's sugary goodness and ate it. Check out the awesome cold sore that takes over her bottom lip. Thanks for the genes, Grandpa Hal! I hope I don't get one from her.
Also, a HUGE thank you to Jordan for passing on her Tickle Me Cookie Monster for Big Willy, AND her Polly Pocket Collection! My girls ARE. IN. HEAVEN. Seriously. Reese woke up before the sun this morning, and played with the polly pockets in the living room until Quincy woke up 2 hours later, and I SLEPT IN! WHoop! Whoop! It was fantastic. We didn't have any Polly Pockets of our own before Jordan's contributions, and the girls are LOVING IT! They have quite the collection already! Thanks J!

The final gift to arrive to our house last week came to the front door. A Valentine Balloon from Neighbor Ross. He and Marge were SO excited to bring it over to the girls, and they squealed with delight. I had to hold back a laugh when he asked me "if Aaron and I have any big, romantic plans coming up for Valentine's Day this weekend, and if we are going to go anywhere special, or celebrate at home."
I wanted to say, "Yeah, um...it's MARCH and Valentines Day was 3 weeks ago."
...But who am I kidding? I freaking have CHRISTMAS lights on my roof, so I have NO ROOM to talk about which holiday we should be celebrating up in here. They ALWAYS bring a holiday treat over for my girls. It is so sweet. Sweet enough to make up for the WIND CHIMES that have been added to their yard ornamentation.

So thanks to all for the massive love being sent our way this week. I got a beautiful note in the mail from a friend today (you know who you are) that made me (cry, I know...I'm all hormonal) and appreciate having good friends and family to share my life with. Your words were so thoughtful and kind and totally made my day! I was reminded of how important it is to express our appreciation and gratitute to the people who bless our lives, and I will be putting a little something in the mail today, too!

Isn't it cute? HolleeAnn, this is comin' your way! 2009 has already been FULL of emotional events for your family, and I made you this little bracelet to remind you that we may far away, but are always thinking of you, praying for your situation, and are FULL of HOPE that this year will be the year that you are granted with the things you've hoped would happen for so so so long. We love you. I promise it is much cuter in real life...but now you have something to look forward to opening when you return from NYC! Wear it with faith. Things will turn out better than "fine"...I hope they will be great.

Iron Woman

Long, whiny post...

So I went in for my 28 week appointment yesterday with a list of things I wanted to talk to my OB about. Primarily, the fact that I am SO SO SO TIRED. I frequently become so dizzy that I have to lie down immediately, and even then my hands and legs are shaky for a good 10-15 minutes. Generally, I eat a piece of cheese and drink some sugary juice and I am pepped back up to my functioning self after 45 minutes to an hour of rest...but this happens at least 3 times a day, and is usually accompanied with a fever that will spike up to 102, then gradually drop the longer I lie down.
Does this sound normal to YOU? Yeah, me neither, and it has been happening for a few weeks. The fever thing IS fairly normal for me. With all of my pregnancies this has happened, but usually only during the first trimester and part of the second, never this far along, and not with the shakes and dizzy/faint feeling of total exhaustion. I'm never doing any kind of strenuous activity when it happens either, usually it is something simple, like loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, reading books to the girls, or even getting kids out of the car after picking Reese up from school.

Anyway, yesterday was my blood/glucose test for gestational diabetes, and I mentioned to my OB that I'd like to have my iron levels checked out also, because I actually FEEL anemic. I also pointed out that I've had horribly restless legs and cramping/swelling in my calves daily (also related to low iron or low potassium). I take my prenatal vitamins daily, and although I do intake more than my share of junk food, we eat pretty well. I make sure I have a glass of OJ w/calcium every day, a banana, some frozen berries, and an 8oz glass of milk with instant breakfast in it. I eat a lot of frozen pizza, sure...but I've been eating mounds of apples, broccoli, beans, and asparagus lately, too.
It just doesn't add up. Something is wrong.

My doctor chuckled at my complaints of fatigue and said "well you ARE pregnant".

YEAH. I KNOW how being pregnant feels. I also know how it feels to be anemic, and how it feels to pass out...this is a little closer to THAT end of the spectrum.

Doc: Well, are you happy?
Me: What the? Yes, of course I am happy, what does that have to do with my iron level?
Doc: Well are you exercising much?
Me: UM. NO. Doc: You know, it's going to be pretty nice outside toward the end of this week, why don't you try to get out of the house and take a walk in the sunshine. Go for a walk around the lake. It will do you some good to get moving.
Me: I seriously get so lightheaded that I don't even think I could make it all the way around the lake without having to stop and sit down. That is what I'm telling you. And what about the fevers?
Doc: How was your physical activity before you got pregnant?
Me: Well up until I found out I was pregnant I was running almost every day, and every 3rd day or so would do up to 5 miles on my treadmill. And I actually WAS pregnant when I tiled my guest bathroom floors and shower, so I'd say pretty good. I stopped running as soon as I found out I was pregnant per YOUR recommendation because of my history of miscarriage. I've been VERY good to myself this pregnancy and I try to nap nearly every day and I'm taking it pretty easy. But this is just ridiculous. I couldn't exercise if I WANTED to at this point. I can't even keep up with NORMAL activities.
Doc: Fatigue is a definite sign of depression. I think you might be sleeping too much.
Me: I AM NOT DEPRESSED. In fact. I'm quite happy. VERY happy. I'd be a lot happier if I wasn't so freaking tired all the time. I KNOW my body and THERE IS definitely SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME My body shuts down on me.
Doc: I understand, but I can't tell you how many women become exhausted at this point in their pregnancy. Hang in there, and increasing your level of physical activity WILL help. Skip the Krispy Kreme this time and get outside and get some exercise today.
Me: Remember my last appointment when I called you a jerk face?
Doc: (laughs) I promise you can call me that tomorrow if I call you and tell you your iron is low. But I also promise I won't be calling you. The last time we checked your iron it was fine.

WELL DOC. YOU WERE RIGHT!

You WON'T be calling me in the morning to tell me my iron is low.
You will have your nurse call me.

8am the phone rings...
Me: Hello?
Nurse: Yes, Megan? This is so and so from Dr. so and so's office. We received your blood tests back from the lab and I wanted to go over them with you
Me: Oh ok
Nurse: Well your glucose levels are fine, so you don't have gestational diabetes, but Dr. so and so is VERY concerned about your Iron levels. You are INCREDIBLY anemic.

DING DING DING DING DING!
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner!

Me: I KNEW IT! I spared the innocent nurse the name calling.
Nurse: yes, he'd like you to get started on Iron supplements immediately.
Me: Ok, well I took SlowFe the last time I had low iron, what does he recommend.
Nurse: He was very specific that he wants you to take 325 mg two times a day, in addition to your prenatal vitamins.
Me: EXCUSE ME? 325 miligrams? That's crazy, are you sure?
Nurse: yes do you have a pen?
Me: yeah, hang on let me write this down, because that seems like an awful lot of iron.
Nurse: He wants you to take 325 mg of SlowFe twice a day, and take it with breakfast and with dinner, because this much iron will be hard on your system.
Me: THREE-HUNDRED and twenty-five miligrams?
Nurse: yep!
Me: Ok, got it. Thanks, bye


So I get the Slow Fe and look at the package. The last time I was anemic I took 1-2 tablets a day in addition to my prenatals.

There are 47.5 mg of iron PER TABLET of Slow Fe. That is 264% of your daily recommended value of iron. My doctor is recommending that I take 650 mg of Slow Fe, in addition to the prenatal with has 28mg. That's 678mg of iron a day from supplements ALONE! I would have to pop THIRTEEN TABLETS of SlowFe PER DAY to keep up with his recommendation.

Is that even NORMAL?

My math could be off...but isn't that like over 3000% the daily recommended dose?
I know I am tired...but just how anemic AM I?

I think he is trying to KILL ME!

After examining the box, and thinking about my previous experience with low iron, I opt to take ONE tablet, and call the Dr's office back to confirm (yet again) that this is correct.
I know I am pregnant and spacey...but this is NOT adding up. I had even asked twice on the phone and written it down, so I would be sure my mind wasn't playing tricks with me.

Of course, I have to leave a message, and received no return phone call today.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoyed my experience with this OB last time, and aside from this, everything has been fine...but I am really irritated right now. I honestly think in my head that taking that much iron could kill someone, couldn't it? THIRTEEN PILLS? PLUS a prenatal vitamin? What the heck people? At least call me back!

My only thought is that my Doctor WROTE 3(space)25mg of Slow Fe, meaning take THREE 25mg pills twice a day on the prescription and maybe the nurse just wasn't reading it to me correctly. Even that dose seems a little excessive...that would be 150mg a day plus the 28 mg from the prenatal...but 178 mg is certainly less than 678mg, and could be a reasonable dose if my Iron levels are as low as they feel like they are. But still the mystery of where to find Slow Fe in a 25 mg dose...didn't see that anywhere, so who knows what I am supposed to be taking. I do trust my doctor, but lately I am starting to feel like I might be better off diagnosing myself sometimes. Honestly, I think he's excellent, and did a fantastic job with Quincy's delivery. One of the reasons I like him so much is because 1) he gets my sarcasm and doesn't take offense to being called a jerk face after telling me I gained weight, and 2) He is ordinarily so compassionate. But this week I just felt like another whiny pregnant woman and that he wasn't really listening to me when I had a real concern. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt this time, but I'm not sure how much longer my patience will last if he continues to tell me I'm "fine" when I KNOW that I am not. 'Cuz that won't fly on delivery day.

So that's where we're at today. I'll give an update tomorrow...or when they call me back.

And yes, when he calls, I WILL call him a Jerk Face. Maybe twice.
....ok, maybe Three times if he asks me if I am depressed or if I exercised today.

For what I'm paying...I think he can handle it.

On Being a Domestic Goddess...

Oh don't I just feel like Suzy Homemaker today...

I busted out the wheat grinder (love it!) today, and turned 7 cups of this:

(hard white winter wheat)

into 10 cups of this:

(freshly ground whole wheat flour)

Then while this was mixing and rising...
I turned 8 cups of this:
into 13 cups of this...to make into cornbread another day.
I made 3 loaves of homemade whole wheat bread from scratch. I felt like the Little Red Hen when I asked my kids, "who will help me to grind the wheat?" only to be rejected with dissappointing responses that were all too similar to the "'Not I', said the rat...'Not I' said the cat....'Not I' said the pig" in the fairytale.

Lucky for the girls...this Little Red-Aproned Hen decided to be nice and share her fresh, tasty bread with the cat, the rat, and the pig at dinner time...but not until after they had "Ooohed" and "Aaahhhed" properly over it's deliciousness. The recipe I used is one that I made every two weeks when we lived in Green Bay. I made it once, shortly after we moved here, but it turned out awful! I decided to give it another shot today, hoping that my failure before was due to lousy yeast. I am SO glad I made another attempt, because IT. IS. AWESOME!

I'm also glad that I decided to make bread right after milling the grains, because the aroma created in the process of grinding wheat is not a good one...it sort of smells like cooking oil...but very green, like the smell right after mowing the lawn.
Now my home smells like a bakery. YUMMY!
here's the recipe...

90 Minute Bread:
...I guess I should call it 100 minute bread if you include the 10 minutes it took to grind the wheat...but I did other things while the bread was rising and baking, like cook dinner, clean up an ENTIRE roll of toilet paper that the girls wrapped themselves up like "mummies" in while the grinder was going and they were left to their own demise, blow dry the hair of all the doll house people that the girls bathed in the dollhouse bathtub using the water from Quin's sippy cup that Reese opened...oh and don't worry-she also added 2 squirts of hand soap so it could be a BUBBLE bath. They had no idea why any of this should bother me. I guess it shouldn't, they were only playing...and having a good time, but seriously?! TEN MINUTES Of neglect and this is what happens? I made Reese roll the toilet paper back up and she will be using it all week as a consequence for being wasteful, but they thought that was a game too, and Quincy kept laughing and saying, "Again?"
Oh well. At least the bread is freaking good.

Ok, sorry for the tangent...here's the recipe for real this time.
100 Minute Bread:
4 cups warm water
4 TBS (or packages) active dry yeast
8 TBS sugar
4 TBS vegetable oil (can substitute 1/2 out with applesauce... I chose not to this time, because I was testing the recipe in this climate)
8 cups whole wheat flour
1 TBS honey (not raw...from the bear) optional*

Dissolve yeast in water, let prep a minute or two
Mix all ingredients in a kitchen aid (adding flour last-1 cup at a time)
Let rise 30 minutes
Pour (yeah POUR....it is a VERY sticky, runny, dough) into three greased loaf pans
Let rise another 30 minutes
Bake at 400* for 30 minutes
turn out onto wire racks and devour one entire loaf immediately with butter, honey, or homemade mixed berry freezer jam.
Let the other 2 loaves cool before transferring into large ziplock bags for storage.

MMmmmm. Yeah. The first loaf was long gone before the camera came out.
I am suprised at how much lighter the color of the bread is from using home ground flour vs. store bought whole wheat. The bread is lighter and fluffier too.

Everybody's Doing It

We gave the girls Pop Rocks for the first time.



I'd expected Reese to love them, and Quincy to freak out.
Reese is STILL mad at me for pushing them on her and "letting her hand get burned by the yucky candies". Quincy would have licked the inside of the bag clean if I'd have let her.