Anyone that has traveled any distance with a baby can more than likely relate to this. On our trip to Baltimore, I found myself doing dishes each night. Any kind of travel you shouldn’t have to do dishes, right? Well with a 6 month old girl who uses 4-5 bottles a day and a 2 ½ year old son who has only mastered the use of a certain kind of Sippy cup that meant that “momma” was doing dishes on the road.
So not only did we take two pack and plays, two suitcases, a double stroller, baby food, formula, water for the formula, books, toys, portable feeding chair, Luke’s walker, diaper bags, Luke’s own plates and forks and spoons, Faith’s own bowls and spoons, and a cooler. But, because I needed to do dishes each night we took a wash basin and dish rack (along with a bottle brush and Dawn).
By the second night I learned that using the bathroom sink wasn’t the easiest thing to do. So I opted for the bathtub. I knew it might not be the most sanitary thing, so I made my best effort to not allow anything I was washing to actually hit the tub. So I’d fill up the wash basin with hot soapy water. Then I would proceed to scrub everything down, starting with the bottles and working my past the Sippy cups, plates, bowls , and finally down to the forks and spoons. (If I didn’t have to feed both kids in the backseat the whole trip I could of saved some washing time in not needed the plates, bowls, and utensils).
Anyway, after scrubbing each thing I had to decide where to put it until I could rinse them off. (I didn’t want to keep the water running this whole time, because usually Luke was finally asleep and the bathroom was right next to him and I didn’t want to risk waking him up or keeping him awake). So I put the soapy dishes in the dish rack, then once I was done “scrubbing” I dumped out the soapy water from the wash basin and then rinsed it out and filled it with non-soapy hot water. Then I would put all the dishes back into the wash basin to rinse them off. Once they were rinsed I put them all back into the dish rack.
Needless to say, this all took much longer to do than what it normally does at home. After doing this for 5 nights I came to the conclusion that no one has really “done dishes” until they have done them in the bathroom of a hotel.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Bumper Walkers?
When we went to OT the other day we met a little boy who is almost exactly one year younger than Luke. They were having a PT session and were trying to get him to use a walker just like Luke has. Since we needed to walk down the hall to the OT’s room anyway, the PT got the other boy set up in the walker and we tried to motivate the other boy by following Luke down the hall.
The idea worked out well, in fact it worked so well that the other boy kept trying to run over Luke with the walker. The walkers actually connected a few different times. At one point the rear wheels of Luke’s walker and the front wheels of the other boys walker were tangled up. The problem was that the other boy kept walking and Luke kept stopping to look back at this boy. It was pretty funny to watch.
Since Luke wanted to look back we tried switching up the order and put Luke behind this other boy and tried to continue walking down the hall. This time the other boy took off and Luke went into “turbo walking” speed. Luke, who is still learning to turn his walker, somehow veered his walker to the right of the other boy and actually tried to pass him. Luke managed to pull up right alongside the other boy. It was kind of like watching a NASCAR race. My husband was so proud that Luke is picking up on his daddy’s love for NASCAR.
So Luke now has a racing buddy. I’ve never seen anything like it.
The idea worked out well, in fact it worked so well that the other boy kept trying to run over Luke with the walker. The walkers actually connected a few different times. At one point the rear wheels of Luke’s walker and the front wheels of the other boys walker were tangled up. The problem was that the other boy kept walking and Luke kept stopping to look back at this boy. It was pretty funny to watch.
Since Luke wanted to look back we tried switching up the order and put Luke behind this other boy and tried to continue walking down the hall. This time the other boy took off and Luke went into “turbo walking” speed. Luke, who is still learning to turn his walker, somehow veered his walker to the right of the other boy and actually tried to pass him. Luke managed to pull up right alongside the other boy. It was kind of like watching a NASCAR race. My husband was so proud that Luke is picking up on his daddy’s love for NASCAR.
So Luke now has a racing buddy. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Go Sippy Cup!
Luke loves to drink…that may not sound so good…but he does. He loves juice, water, milk anything I give him, and when he drinks he seems to give him renewed energy. But, even when he is thirsty he throws his juice cup. It has been easier around the house to simply put him on the floor and then give him the Sippy cup. That way when he throws it he simply crawls after it. Although sometimes he throws it on the couch where he can’t reach it, then of course he screams until he gets it. So when I get it for him or put it where he can reach it, he takes a sip and then throws it back. Then he proceeds to scream again…it is a vicious cycle. After a couple times, I rig up the couch with pillows and various toys so that he can’t throw it too far back, then he can always reach it.
Because of his “throwing expertise” we bought some Sippy cup straps about 4 months ago. I thought surely they would keep him from throwing the cup and he could even drink in the car without me worrying about him throwing the cup everywhere. Well, for some reason he would only drink from the cup with the strap attached if I held part of the cup for him. If I didn’t, he would scream and act afraid of the cup for some reason.
Well, on our “adventure out East” since I was right next to Luke we worked on using his Sippy cup while it was attached to this strap. He would do ok and then try to throw the cup, and then scream like it was attacking him or something…even though I was right there. We finally got to the point where he would scream when he threw it, but then pick up the cup again on his own.
Yesterday, after therapy I tried the strap again hoping that Luke would do that same thing he did on the trip. Where he would drink, try to throw, scream, and then pick up the cup again. Boy was I surprised when he didn’t scream at all and drank the entire cup of juice within 15 minutes of our trip home! Yea!!! I’m so excited!!! I feel like I just won the lottery or something!
It may seem a small accomplishment to some, but this is so huge! He is always thirsty and now I can easily give him juice and he can drink in the car to get an “energy boost”. Yippy!!!
Because of his “throwing expertise” we bought some Sippy cup straps about 4 months ago. I thought surely they would keep him from throwing the cup and he could even drink in the car without me worrying about him throwing the cup everywhere. Well, for some reason he would only drink from the cup with the strap attached if I held part of the cup for him. If I didn’t, he would scream and act afraid of the cup for some reason.
Well, on our “adventure out East” since I was right next to Luke we worked on using his Sippy cup while it was attached to this strap. He would do ok and then try to throw the cup, and then scream like it was attacking him or something…even though I was right there. We finally got to the point where he would scream when he threw it, but then pick up the cup again on his own.
Yesterday, after therapy I tried the strap again hoping that Luke would do that same thing he did on the trip. Where he would drink, try to throw, scream, and then pick up the cup again. Boy was I surprised when he didn’t scream at all and drank the entire cup of juice within 15 minutes of our trip home! Yea!!! I’m so excited!!! I feel like I just won the lottery or something!
It may seem a small accomplishment to some, but this is so huge! He is always thirsty and now I can easily give him juice and he can drink in the car to get an “energy boost”. Yippy!!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
New Rules
After going to Baltimore with the family we have learned two important things. The first is not to use a website to prepay for a rental car. When my husband went to pick up the car we had planned on, an Impala, they did not have any. Therefore they wanted him to get a similar car, but one that had less space than we had planned. Since he knew that wouldn’t work he looked at upgrading the current car. Unfortunately the only upgrades available were intermediate SUVs and Luxury cars. Since the SUVs available had just as little space as the cars he was looking at previously, we wound up getting a black Lincoln. We were styling!
If we hadn’t prepaid, my husband would simply have cancelled and gone to a different rental place to find a mini-van or something. But since we prepaid we couldn’t get a refund or anything, so we were stuck. So we decided to never to that again, at least when taking children and all their stuff.
As it worked out we barely had enough room. The front seat passenger side was completely stuffed, on the floor and seat. In the back I was sandwiched between both car seats and had just enough room on the floor for one foot on each side. The trunk was completely packed, the first couple days it took a while for my husband to pack it since he had to learn the right order to put things in. After a couple days it didn’t take nearly as long since he had it down to a science.
The second rule we now have is to use cash and use credit at hotels only, and then only because they require it. Somehow our credit card number was stolen while in Baltimore. We still have our card, so someone had to have swiped it through a card reader or written the numbers down to use somehow later on. Whoever did it was only able to use it twice at a grocery store before it was shut down, because of abnormal activity. It is now being investigated, but we can no longer use that card.
We used cash most of the trip, but used the card three times in Baltimore. Once for gas, once to eat out, and once at the hotel. So somehow it happened at one of those places. The only place the card was out of our sight was at the restaurant, so we assume it was there…but who knows. Live and learn.
If we hadn’t prepaid, my husband would simply have cancelled and gone to a different rental place to find a mini-van or something. But since we prepaid we couldn’t get a refund or anything, so we were stuck. So we decided to never to that again, at least when taking children and all their stuff.
As it worked out we barely had enough room. The front seat passenger side was completely stuffed, on the floor and seat. In the back I was sandwiched between both car seats and had just enough room on the floor for one foot on each side. The trunk was completely packed, the first couple days it took a while for my husband to pack it since he had to learn the right order to put things in. After a couple days it didn’t take nearly as long since he had it down to a science.
The second rule we now have is to use cash and use credit at hotels only, and then only because they require it. Somehow our credit card number was stolen while in Baltimore. We still have our card, so someone had to have swiped it through a card reader or written the numbers down to use somehow later on. Whoever did it was only able to use it twice at a grocery store before it was shut down, because of abnormal activity. It is now being investigated, but we can no longer use that card.
We used cash most of the trip, but used the card three times in Baltimore. Once for gas, once to eat out, and once at the hotel. So somehow it happened at one of those places. The only place the card was out of our sight was at the restaurant, so we assume it was there…but who knows. Live and learn.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Happy Kids
I’m sure my fellow moms can relate to this. I like my kids happy. No screaming for this or that, no whining no fits….just smiles and laughter. Usually Luke is a pretty happy child. But there are those times where no matter what I do, he is cranky and if I simply stand up off the floor he throws a fit. I’m sure no one else has had that happened, right?
Well, over the last 2 ½ years my husband and I have had various tricks up our sleeves to keep Luke happy. When Luke was pretty new to the world and until about 6 months old or so, we did a couple things that would always work when he was upset. The first was to sit on top of an exercise ball and bounce. Sometimes the crying was so bad we would almost bounce to the ceiling, but it would always calm him. Some nights we just sat on the ball with him while watching the news and when he would start to fuss we would start up the bouncing.
Then other times, if I couldn’t get him calm my husband would pick him up and put him on his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes or something. Then they would just walk all over the house, it would calm Luke right down. Although you couldn’t stop walking or he would start up again. So crazy!
Then as Luke got older we found he loved playing with balls. So when he would get upset we could roll a ball to him and he would start laughing. Who knew that rolling a ball could be so funny? That eventually progressed and he got “tired” of the small balls so we moved back to the large exercise ball. So even to this day, when Luke throws a fit and nothing else will get him to stop his screaming…we bounce the big exercise ball. Something about the noise or the vibrations through the floor, since Luke is usually laying down while crying, calms him right down. After a while, he’ll start laughing…like it is the funniest thing in the world to watch this big ball bounce up and down. Of course, once we start this we can’t stop for a while or else he’ll start crying again.
What we won’t do for some peace and quiet!!
Well, over the last 2 ½ years my husband and I have had various tricks up our sleeves to keep Luke happy. When Luke was pretty new to the world and until about 6 months old or so, we did a couple things that would always work when he was upset. The first was to sit on top of an exercise ball and bounce. Sometimes the crying was so bad we would almost bounce to the ceiling, but it would always calm him. Some nights we just sat on the ball with him while watching the news and when he would start to fuss we would start up the bouncing.
Then other times, if I couldn’t get him calm my husband would pick him up and put him on his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes or something. Then they would just walk all over the house, it would calm Luke right down. Although you couldn’t stop walking or he would start up again. So crazy!
Then as Luke got older we found he loved playing with balls. So when he would get upset we could roll a ball to him and he would start laughing. Who knew that rolling a ball could be so funny? That eventually progressed and he got “tired” of the small balls so we moved back to the large exercise ball. So even to this day, when Luke throws a fit and nothing else will get him to stop his screaming…we bounce the big exercise ball. Something about the noise or the vibrations through the floor, since Luke is usually laying down while crying, calms him right down. After a while, he’ll start laughing…like it is the funniest thing in the world to watch this big ball bounce up and down. Of course, once we start this we can’t stop for a while or else he’ll start crying again.
What we won’t do for some peace and quiet!!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
multi-tasking
As a mom, I have had to learn to multi-task. I’m sure I’m not the only one. When I was a teacher I would easily multi-task, but parenting has brought it to a new level. I’ve mentioned before trying to feed both Luke and the baby at the same time and how I usually do ok till I try to throw in a “third” thing, like talking on the phone. Then I would proceed to feed the food to the wrong child.
Well the other day my multi-tasking took on a new level. My husband wasn’t home, so I had to put both kids to bed and do that whole routine without him. I’ve done this before, but those times went more smoothly because the baby was ready for a bottle early or she would wait till after her brother was in bed. But the other night, Luke was ready for his bath and the baby was very fussy…which meant she was ready for her bottle and bed too.
Since there was only one of me, I thought why not try to do it all at once? So, I got Luke’s bath ready and got the baby’s bottle ready. Then, because I usually read a book while Luke plays for a while in the tub…I grabbed that as well. I put the baby on the floor on a blanket in the bathroom and then got Luke undressed and helped him walk to the bathroom. Once Luke was in the tub and playing, I got the baby off the floor to give her the bottle.
Now, you have to understand our bathroom upstairs is barely big enough to turn around in. Once you walk in there is a sink, directly next to that the toilet, and then the bathtub is only 4 inches from there or so. You can imagine where I am going.
When I give Luke a bath I usually put the lid down on the toilet and sit there reading my book till he is ready to be washed up. So this particular night I was sitting there giving the baby a bottle, reading my book and keeping an eye on Luke as he played in the tub. This was by far the strangest multi-tasking I have done yet. Although I am sure I will find myself in even stranger circumstances down the road.
It all worked out well. Once the baby had her bottle, she was content to watch as I got her brother ready for bed. Then we got her bath and got her ready for bed. Then, wonder of wonders mommy got some “alone” time before she went to bed as well. We all survived another new “multi-tasking experience”.
Well the other day my multi-tasking took on a new level. My husband wasn’t home, so I had to put both kids to bed and do that whole routine without him. I’ve done this before, but those times went more smoothly because the baby was ready for a bottle early or she would wait till after her brother was in bed. But the other night, Luke was ready for his bath and the baby was very fussy…which meant she was ready for her bottle and bed too.
Since there was only one of me, I thought why not try to do it all at once? So, I got Luke’s bath ready and got the baby’s bottle ready. Then, because I usually read a book while Luke plays for a while in the tub…I grabbed that as well. I put the baby on the floor on a blanket in the bathroom and then got Luke undressed and helped him walk to the bathroom. Once Luke was in the tub and playing, I got the baby off the floor to give her the bottle.
Now, you have to understand our bathroom upstairs is barely big enough to turn around in. Once you walk in there is a sink, directly next to that the toilet, and then the bathtub is only 4 inches from there or so. You can imagine where I am going.
When I give Luke a bath I usually put the lid down on the toilet and sit there reading my book till he is ready to be washed up. So this particular night I was sitting there giving the baby a bottle, reading my book and keeping an eye on Luke as he played in the tub. This was by far the strangest multi-tasking I have done yet. Although I am sure I will find myself in even stranger circumstances down the road.
It all worked out well. Once the baby had her bottle, she was content to watch as I got her brother ready for bed. Then we got her bath and got her ready for bed. Then, wonder of wonders mommy got some “alone” time before she went to bed as well. We all survived another new “multi-tasking experience”.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wind
Have the elements ever just been so bad you didn’t want to go anywhere? I have had many days like that. When I was single and even before having kids I could usually stay home if it was raining hard or snowing or just nasty outside. With young kids you would think it would keep you inside more if the weather was bad. But, I find we have so many things to “do” with our children that it can be hard to avoid the elements. Having to take Luke to therapy two to three times a week, puts staying inside when it is bad out very hard.
Many weeks we have somewhere we have to go at least four days out of the week, between therapy and doctor appointments the weeks fill up fast. During the winter we braved out the day after a snow storm, and about 90% of the Fridays (when we always have therapy) there was rain. It wasn’t always a huge storm, but the OT therapist we see always jokes with us about it. “Oh, its raining…Luke must be coming today”. So far in 2010, it has reduced from 90% to about 50% on Fridays…hopefully that continues.
To understand our most recent “adventure with the elements” you have to understand that where we live it is pretty flat. When I say “flat” I mean FLAT. You can see for miles and miles, especially where we take Luke to therapy. There are hardly any buildings either, so when the wind picks up you feel it.
A few weeks ago the wind was so bad when we got to therapy that when I parked the car, it was rocking with the wind. Then, when I went to open my door…I felt like I was pushing against some sort of weight machine or a person who weighs 300 pounds! Once I finally got out of the car, I barely cleared the door when it slammed itself shut!! Then I had to get Luke out, luckily I didn’t need to bring our baby girl that day as well. I had to put my body between Luke and the door to keep it open, which allowed the wind to ram the door into me over and over. After finally getting him out of the car and barely clearing his slamming door I got his walker situated, which the wind kept trying to pick up, and we tried walking into the building. Luke was literally being caught by the wind and being pushed backwards, so I got behind him and pushed him up the ramp and then into the building.
Now, we when we left therapy I was hoping the wind had died down…but if anything I think it picked up. Once we got out of the building, a bag of thickener the therapist gave me (which had to weight at least 1.5 pounds) flew out of the diaper bag. When I bent to get it, Luke got caught by the wind at the same time and took a nose dive to the sidewalk!! Poor guy! His momma abandoned him for a pack of thickener!! He cried of course, but I picked him up and helped him finish walking with this walker to the car. Only this time instead of him needing me to help push him into the wind, I had to hold onto his shirt to slow him down since the wind was pushing him!!
Then I had to wrestle with the car doors again while keeping Luke upright, which was fun. Once we were both in the car and safe from the wind, except the rocking of the car, I noticed he had road rash on his forearm. I felt so bad, but Luke seemed to be fine. He stopped crying right after I picked him up and started walking again.
I had to wait till we got home to clean his “war wound”, which he didn’t like. Imagine that!! But, we survived another day against the elements.
Many weeks we have somewhere we have to go at least four days out of the week, between therapy and doctor appointments the weeks fill up fast. During the winter we braved out the day after a snow storm, and about 90% of the Fridays (when we always have therapy) there was rain. It wasn’t always a huge storm, but the OT therapist we see always jokes with us about it. “Oh, its raining…Luke must be coming today”. So far in 2010, it has reduced from 90% to about 50% on Fridays…hopefully that continues.
To understand our most recent “adventure with the elements” you have to understand that where we live it is pretty flat. When I say “flat” I mean FLAT. You can see for miles and miles, especially where we take Luke to therapy. There are hardly any buildings either, so when the wind picks up you feel it.
A few weeks ago the wind was so bad when we got to therapy that when I parked the car, it was rocking with the wind. Then, when I went to open my door…I felt like I was pushing against some sort of weight machine or a person who weighs 300 pounds! Once I finally got out of the car, I barely cleared the door when it slammed itself shut!! Then I had to get Luke out, luckily I didn’t need to bring our baby girl that day as well. I had to put my body between Luke and the door to keep it open, which allowed the wind to ram the door into me over and over. After finally getting him out of the car and barely clearing his slamming door I got his walker situated, which the wind kept trying to pick up, and we tried walking into the building. Luke was literally being caught by the wind and being pushed backwards, so I got behind him and pushed him up the ramp and then into the building.
Now, we when we left therapy I was hoping the wind had died down…but if anything I think it picked up. Once we got out of the building, a bag of thickener the therapist gave me (which had to weight at least 1.5 pounds) flew out of the diaper bag. When I bent to get it, Luke got caught by the wind at the same time and took a nose dive to the sidewalk!! Poor guy! His momma abandoned him for a pack of thickener!! He cried of course, but I picked him up and helped him finish walking with this walker to the car. Only this time instead of him needing me to help push him into the wind, I had to hold onto his shirt to slow him down since the wind was pushing him!!
Then I had to wrestle with the car doors again while keeping Luke upright, which was fun. Once we were both in the car and safe from the wind, except the rocking of the car, I noticed he had road rash on his forearm. I felt so bad, but Luke seemed to be fine. He stopped crying right after I picked him up and started walking again.
I had to wait till we got home to clean his “war wound”, which he didn’t like. Imagine that!! But, we survived another day against the elements.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)