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Sorry, I know this isn't your typical Valentine's Day Thoughtful Thursday post but this is very relevant to our lives this week.
Monday morning my sweet little, regularly energetic , 2-year-old slept in late and 30 minutes later was asking to go night night and snuggled in my lap for a long time. That was the beginning of this weeks yack-fest. I won't go into the details of who won the up chuck count but I do want to share a 3 things that helped us manage a household full of littles who are very good sharers. Keep in mind, these are just practical tips to add to the normal love'n, movie watching, snuggling, washing, book reading, diaper changing, temp taking, water chugging that goes with stomach bug 2013.
Our children are 2, 3, 4-years-old so the likelihood of them all making it to the bathroom when they feel sick in the middle of the night is pretty low. For some reason all 3 kids think the appropriate time to begin their barf marathon is between 10pm and midnight...gross. We decided to be proactive in this late night strike and make our Hazmat Team clean up a little easier by
With this years stomach bug came nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and low-grade fever. Needless to say we had a couple of medicines we were trying to use in making everyone feel a little better. To keep track of meds as well as limiting the ways this thing might get passed back and forth we
With everyone's tummy still curdling, gurgling, and a little on edge to say the least, we needed something to help get things back on track. The BRAT diet was something we've used since our kids started table foods. {AVOID Milk}
The BRAT diet is a historically prescribed diet for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are exceptionally bland and low in fiber. Low-fiber foods were recommended as it was thought that foods high in fiber cause gas and possibly worsen gastrointestinal upset.
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most children should continue a normal, age appropriate diet. The foods from the BRAT diet may be added, but should not replace normal, tolerated foods. Sugary drinks and carbonated beverages should be avoided. ~Source
Hope these tips help you survive your family's next bug epidemic.
I love Valentine's Day!
I'm not a big flower and chocolate kinda girl but I love a guaranteed date some time during the week of the "Love Holiday". Matt and I went out Tuesday night. Nothing fancy. We did get to eat at Old Chicago for < $15, just say'n. GREAT legit deal! We relaxed. Talked. Enjoying being ONE for a while rather than five.
I'm a slacker and only got my hubs a couple little cards. This is an odd holiday to buy for...well, I'm learning almost any holiday can be odd to buy a gift for a man. I know some women complain about it but for the most part you could get me anything 'householdy" and I would love it. Men...my man. Not so much into the "man toys." He's not outdoorsy and although he is becoming Mr Fix-it, I don't think he's looking for a drill wrapped in heart paper. Any ways. I've become worse and worse at this gift stuff the longer we've been married and the more kids we have. I love being sneaky but with all these kids and responsibilities floating around, there's not much room for surprise.
Matt on the other hand has taken advantage of my distracted mommy-self. One year he saved for ever and surprised me with a laptop, then a kitchen aid mixer, then tickets to ALUME! He's good!!! For Valentine's Day he bought me clothes. He knows me so well. I hate shopping. I get depressed trying to find modest clothing to fit my short squatty body. I love wearing t-shirts and for years my wardrobe has been youth event Ts. Those have all become extremely worn and there aren't any new one in my near future. Matt hooked me up with TWO new Union28 t-shirts. The brand new "One with my husband" t-shirt and the brown "United In All Times" t-shirt.
You know I love this company...I actually already owned 2 shirts and a hat. What can I say. When your wardrobe is t-shirt and jeans, ya got grab up the cute ones, even if they are all from the same place. ;D
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I was never the girl who had a secret binder of wedding plans so when I got engaged at the age of 19 I just winged.
Without knowing the does and don'ts, the what's hot and what's not, or the faux pas' of weddingry I think we pulled off a pretty cool party...and I think I liked it better that way 😀
Orange, lime Green, hot pink, turquoises, and yellow bridesmaid dresses! I always hated the idea of making someone uncomfortable in a certain make dress so I just handed out paint color swatches to each girls and let them pick the make and price. I LOVE who it turned out!
Matt of course knows who the best superhero in the world is and we had to make sure he made his appearance. From Matt's superman undershirt to superman holding his bride down to a superman brownie grooms cake. We had a personal wedding!
I plugged in as many friends and family as possible. No fire! Lots of balloons. Tons of bright color I loved. Incorporated gerbera daisies AND superman into our special day. I wouldn't ask for a do over, even nearly 9 years later!
How 'bout you?
Do you ever have those days where you know what needs to be done but can't fathom mustering up one more ounce of energy to accomplish whatever that thing may be?
Yeah, that! I know giving your kids chores are a vital part of training your children. I mean, how are they guaranteed to learn anything if we aren't going to take the time to teach them much less learn to do it the way we need them to do them...the RIGHT way? Being disciplined about disciplining your child is THE hardest part. I am exhausted all the time. It takes so much energy to make your kids obey. It can be done.
When Mags was an only child, that whole 18 months or so, we were Great about getting off our tush and physically making her obey. I'm not just talking about the count to 3 and then still show grace kind of stuff. Back then when we said, "Listen 1st time!" and "Delayed obedience is disobedience." we meant it! 90% of parenting really is choosing to get off my butt. There is no room for laziness. This is war. You give them an inch, they'll take 2 feet. lol
No but really, have you ever shown you child "grace" just because you didn't want to get up and make them do whatever it is you ask them to do? Have you ever said, "I'm about to ____ if you don't ____"? The phrase, "Don't make me ____" is a common one. A comedian once made a joke about a dad in a store saying, "If you do that one more time..." Really all of these can be translated, "Mommy {or daddy as the case maybe} is too stank'n tired to come make you so can you pleeeease, pretty please just act like you are going to do at least 1/2 of what I was hoping you were going to do like 20 minutes ago?" Am I right?
I've told you many times before of my awesome intentions and epic fails but I'm trying to start slow with a few new things rather than holding off on them "until we move & settle into a new house/routine/whatev like I would rather do. Feed the dog. Simple enough right? I'm just terrible at remembering this. Don't get me wrong, we've had our handsome Melkizedek since before "we" were "we". This has been Matt's dog. I've always ask that he be responsible for feeding, water, and bathing {bahahaha}. With him going to prison, I tried to help with this...well, I tried to make the kids excited about helping with this. My 4-year-old for real has a better memory than I do so I delegated 🙂
Often in the mornings she'll come ask me if Kiz has been fed yet. When I inevitably tell her no and give her "permission" to feed him she skerries off delighted. {sorry, all my brain wants to yell is SUCKA! anyways...} I've made this pet chore as easy as I can for my kids to do and it only required minimal training. Score!
1st I made all the pet supplies easily accessible. They are in the water heater closet right next to the back door where we keep the dogs bowls. Inside the giant Sam's Club bag I have a little cup they can use to scoop the food. They love this because they get to scoop way more times.
2nd I did this a couple times while they watched. Then I did it with them a couple times. Then I watched them do it several times {adjusting/correcting as needed} and now I have very little involvement. Woop Woop! As a matter of fact, Matt came home one day and ask, "Did you know the kids are out back on the porch by themselves?" "YEP!" 😉
3rd I try not to freak out on them. Yeah. Didn't see that coming did ya? I have lots of pet peeves. When Izzie decides to give Kiz "cereal" by putting his food in his water bowl I have to calmly explain to her dogs don't know about cereal and don't really like the left over shards of "cereal" left in their "milk". I don't like my children smelling like the stanky dog...but I have to be okay with them loving on the lonely, smelly, old-man, def dog ESPECIALLY when they are actually obeying and doing a chore I've given them responsibility for.
Any how. I AM attempting to find the energy I once had so I can keep my eyes on the prize and finish the race strong! It's no one else's job. When I ask my hubs, "What the crap? Where did this disrespect and disobedience come from? Rrrrr!"; it comes from Me...or the lack there of. Children were not born "good kids" or "brats". We are shaping them and the adults they will be. No wonder its so exhausting.
The Valley Church was planted on Easter 2013. Our church was NOT destroyed by the tornado because the church is a people not a building. Our meeting space may be gone but we will continue to be a light for Jesus in this community!
Clicking the image above will take you to our fundraising site. 
