We've been getting really frustrated with Ariyah's sleeping arrangements. She treats her beds like she treats stuffed animals: they must DIE.
First, she shows them who's boss. Lays on them. Rearranges them a little in her kennel. Gives them a low grrrrrrowl or two. As they start to fear her, she reassuringly licks them to draw them in and make them think she loves them and will never hurt them. Then, when they are least expecting it, she really gives it to them. This is the skinning process. A little hole is chewed, an eyeball or other embellishment removed, and bit by bit ALL the stuffing MUST come out! AS.AP.
The only way to keep a bed alive with her is to keep it out of her kennel. Which defeats the whole purpose of a bed. We've scolded. We've punished. We tried wrapping the last one in two old sheets to protect the layer before the stuffing, but it did nothing. She ripped right through those sheets and every morning or time we came home to her, new amounts of stuffing would be scattered all over her kennel and bursting through the holes to the outside.
We are going out of town this weekend, and I was so embarrassed to show up at the kennel with her bedding in the condition it was. We had to figure something out as buying her dog beds has proved to be worthless and expensive.
SO, we zoomed off to Discount Thrift USA - the classiest of all thrift stores, I must assure you - and found some blankets! Nice big, ugly colored, slightly worn blankets. For $2.52 each. She will tear a little hole in blankets here and there, but doesn't have the drive to destroy them like stuffed beds.
We brought them home, threw out alllll of her old messy bedding and washed the new blankets in hot water with some bleach, just to kill any lurking little critters that might enjoy their new found home at our house. Last night she slept just fine in her new nest, and doesn't seem to mind the change at all.
We also found this treasure, which the girls have been thoroughly enjoying, as I will let you see for yourself:
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Domestic Goddess in Training
Since we are no longer a Dual Income Family and I am home most of the time, we are trying to save money on things we did a lot of last year. Like eating out. Oooooh the wonderful money we spent on that. We are really good at eating out in this city and we love to do it. I wish we could get paid to eat out - but we don't. SO, in an attempt to save money we are cutting back. And I am trying to become a cook.
You see, Scott and I are good partners. I do the laundry, and he takes care of the odd and end jobs around the house. He cooks and I do the dishes. He loves to cook - it's his stress relief. And he's really good at it. I don't mind doing dishes, I'm good at it. However, when he works a lot there isn't always the time or energy to cook - hence the reason we are so good at eating out.
Now that I'm home with school I have time to cook. SO - a new resolution for me: Get good at Cooking and better at Baking.
Cooking has become daunting to me though, since I've gotten out of practice. I'm having to relearn how to do it and become confident and creative with it, so that we can go beyond the three basics of Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghetti, and Tuna Fish sandwiches. (Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with those, we just might get sick of them after a week) For now, internet recipes are my best friend.
Earlier this week we made stuffed chicken breasts with spinach, sun dried tomato, asiago cheese, and onions, with a side of Quinoa, which I loved. Last night I made a Chicken Pot Pie (can you tell we got the super save bag of frozen chicken breasts from Sams?). I've never made that from scratch and it turned out awesome. A real ego booster. So awesome in fact that it "may be the best meal [I've] ever made." Yesssss!
So, now I can handle five meals. We'll see how the next few weeks go. Feel free to send me your favorite recipes that aren't TOO complicated. I'll do my best at them! :)
You see, Scott and I are good partners. I do the laundry, and he takes care of the odd and end jobs around the house. He cooks and I do the dishes. He loves to cook - it's his stress relief. And he's really good at it. I don't mind doing dishes, I'm good at it. However, when he works a lot there isn't always the time or energy to cook - hence the reason we are so good at eating out.
Now that I'm home with school I have time to cook. SO - a new resolution for me: Get good at Cooking and better at Baking.
Cooking has become daunting to me though, since I've gotten out of practice. I'm having to relearn how to do it and become confident and creative with it, so that we can go beyond the three basics of Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghetti, and Tuna Fish sandwiches. (Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with those, we just might get sick of them after a week) For now, internet recipes are my best friend.
Earlier this week we made stuffed chicken breasts with spinach, sun dried tomato, asiago cheese, and onions, with a side of Quinoa, which I loved. Last night I made a Chicken Pot Pie (can you tell we got the super save bag of frozen chicken breasts from Sams?). I've never made that from scratch and it turned out awesome. A real ego booster. So awesome in fact that it "may be the best meal [I've] ever made." Yesssss!
So, now I can handle five meals. We'll see how the next few weeks go. Feel free to send me your favorite recipes that aren't TOO complicated. I'll do my best at them! :)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Latest
I know lots of you follow our blog to stay updated on Scott's status. As some of you know, this week marks one year since he received his nice, big, tough man scar across his neck and got his Thyroid and lots of cancer ripped out. We've had our ups and downs since then - our roughest time being July when we thought everything was growing again with a vengeance. However, we are quite happy that the cancer has seemed to calm down since then.
Scott's latest rounds of scans found absolutely nothing and the best thing out of it all was that his Calcitonin levels finally dropped a little bit! 749 is the lowest they have been since July (when they jumped from 500 to over 800) and we are thrilled! We are planning some great vacations in the next few weeks and happy to not be thinking as much about cancer right now. Thanks to everyone for your prayers - for now life with his currently-napping cancer is just the norm.
Scott's latest rounds of scans found absolutely nothing and the best thing out of it all was that his Calcitonin levels finally dropped a little bit! 749 is the lowest they have been since July (when they jumped from 500 to over 800) and we are thrilled! We are planning some great vacations in the next few weeks and happy to not be thinking as much about cancer right now. Thanks to everyone for your prayers - for now life with his currently-napping cancer is just the norm.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A letter to my ladies -
To all of my beloved Lamaze & Natural Childbirth Patients:
I am a nurse who completely understands where you're coming from when you say you want to do childbirth without pain medicine or an epidural. I dig it, really I do. I'm right there with you when you say you want intermittent monitoring, a hep-lock, and the freedom to sway, walk, and do your labor dance. I am so happy when you come in and I can be your nurse. I love to go above and beyond just my normal nursing responsibilities - to support you, to be your cheerleader, to whisper soothing words in your ears, and rub your back as you muddle through labor. I'll be your advocate, support your family as they support you, and reinforce what you already know - that you are strong, and that you can do this. The truth is though, that sometimes after I care for the few patients like you, who don't want the drugs as soon as they are told they're being admitted for labor (and usually even before that), I go home feeling just a tad guilty. I leave feeling as though I didn't do a good enough job for you and it kills me. Those evenings, I think about you on my drive home and as I fall asleep.
You see, as I care for you my day gets busy. I get another patient, I get behind on my charting, I have doctors who need assistance, and emergencies happen on the unit that draw me away from the sanctuary of your room. These things start going down and I cannot be the intensely involved nurse that I want to be. While I am away, I see you get exhausted, your husband/boyfriend gets weary, and then you decide to get an epidural or pain medicine.
Now, this is not all bad. Drugs are freaking awesome at times. Most of you still feel pretty dang proud of how far you got, how little intervention you really did need, and you should feel that way! You got further than most chics do these days!
But, in some of you I see the twinge of disappointment in your eyes before that sweet, sweet relief hits. I see the remorse I sometimes feel - that you didn't do as much as you possibly could have. Maybe this isn't always true - I've been known to read into some things a little too deeply. SO, I've come up with a plan to help avoid this situation.
From now on let's make an effort to change things. Please, if you are dead serious about wanting to do this whole labor dealio without pain medicine, get ready for it! Psych yourself up. Psych your baby's daddy up. Read every book you can. Take a class. Talk to your doctor early in your pregnancy. Not all doctors are into medicine free labor. That's fine - change doctors. Find a midwife. Exercise throughout your pregnancy. Eat well. Take your vitamins. Pray. Know that things, especially labor, will not go exactly the way you plan it, so be ready to just ride it out. And, most importantly, bring backup.
Don't say all you need is your husband or boyfriend with you. You will usually need more than that. And please don't bring just anyone with you. Bring a doula. A good one that you like and trust, with good recommendations. This doesn't mean you have to hire one. A doula is a women's helper. Bring women with you who have been there and done that. A woman who has been part of a completely natural labor and can support you with your husband - especially when he and YOU start to get tired and panic, and this goes beyond what you think is normal.
As your nurse, I want to do everything I can for you, but we have got to start working better as a team. We have to make it so that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we both feel that sense of accomplishment and no guilt.
Best wishes, your labor-loving RN.
P.S. Most of these things go right out the window if you have to be induced. At that point, we play a different game - but I'll still be your cheerleader :)
I am a nurse who completely understands where you're coming from when you say you want to do childbirth without pain medicine or an epidural. I dig it, really I do. I'm right there with you when you say you want intermittent monitoring, a hep-lock, and the freedom to sway, walk, and do your labor dance. I am so happy when you come in and I can be your nurse. I love to go above and beyond just my normal nursing responsibilities - to support you, to be your cheerleader, to whisper soothing words in your ears, and rub your back as you muddle through labor. I'll be your advocate, support your family as they support you, and reinforce what you already know - that you are strong, and that you can do this. The truth is though, that sometimes after I care for the few patients like you, who don't want the drugs as soon as they are told they're being admitted for labor (and usually even before that), I go home feeling just a tad guilty. I leave feeling as though I didn't do a good enough job for you and it kills me. Those evenings, I think about you on my drive home and as I fall asleep.
You see, as I care for you my day gets busy. I get another patient, I get behind on my charting, I have doctors who need assistance, and emergencies happen on the unit that draw me away from the sanctuary of your room. These things start going down and I cannot be the intensely involved nurse that I want to be. While I am away, I see you get exhausted, your husband/boyfriend gets weary, and then you decide to get an epidural or pain medicine.
Now, this is not all bad. Drugs are freaking awesome at times. Most of you still feel pretty dang proud of how far you got, how little intervention you really did need, and you should feel that way! You got further than most chics do these days!
But, in some of you I see the twinge of disappointment in your eyes before that sweet, sweet relief hits. I see the remorse I sometimes feel - that you didn't do as much as you possibly could have. Maybe this isn't always true - I've been known to read into some things a little too deeply. SO, I've come up with a plan to help avoid this situation.
From now on let's make an effort to change things. Please, if you are dead serious about wanting to do this whole labor dealio without pain medicine, get ready for it! Psych yourself up. Psych your baby's daddy up. Read every book you can. Take a class. Talk to your doctor early in your pregnancy. Not all doctors are into medicine free labor. That's fine - change doctors. Find a midwife. Exercise throughout your pregnancy. Eat well. Take your vitamins. Pray. Know that things, especially labor, will not go exactly the way you plan it, so be ready to just ride it out. And, most importantly, bring backup.
Don't say all you need is your husband or boyfriend with you. You will usually need more than that. And please don't bring just anyone with you. Bring a doula. A good one that you like and trust, with good recommendations. This doesn't mean you have to hire one. A doula is a women's helper. Bring women with you who have been there and done that. A woman who has been part of a completely natural labor and can support you with your husband - especially when he and YOU start to get tired and panic, and this goes beyond what you think is normal.
As your nurse, I want to do everything I can for you, but we have got to start working better as a team. We have to make it so that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we both feel that sense of accomplishment and no guilt.
Best wishes, your labor-loving RN.
P.S. Most of these things go right out the window if you have to be induced. At that point, we play a different game - but I'll still be your cheerleader :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
School
Starts tomorrow for me!!!! I've bought my books, scribbled all over my planner, joined my study groups, and even looked at the syllabuses. Some of my classmates have been really eager and even started reading and working on the assignments ahead of time! I, however, have resisted the urge to become an over-achiever and have reveled in my last free weekend without work or school hanging over my head. Scott and I have slept in late, laid around watching football, played with the dogs, mourned the Saints loss, and even made it to Port of Call with some friends last night for dinner after the game. I've been working hard on getting over my nasty cold by slamming gallons of hot tea and eating oranges with every meal, along with lots of vitamins, naps, and lemon honey water. Today I am finally starting to feel better, which makes the thought of school not seem as daunting. I'm excited for everything I'm going to be learning about, and rest assured, you will be hearing lots more about it as the weeks go on.
Good luck to everyone else who starts classes tomorrow as well! Yay for being students!
Good luck to everyone else who starts classes tomorrow as well! Yay for being students!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Epiphany
We celebrated by taking down the Christmas tree and our lights out front. I'm in the process of organizing and boxing everything up for next year. Now all that's needed is a King's Cake and then it's time to start getting excited for Mardi Gras!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Northern Christmas
We had a great time in Wisconsin! Since we had five whole days there we got to catch up with almost everyone who I've been craving. Plenty of family time and plenty of play time with friends. Here's some pics from the last week...
Christmas at my parents and cooking with Grandma Knapp
Opening presents! My parents & us
More presents!
Both of my Grandma's were there and it made me so happy to get to spend so much time with them
New Year's Eve Party with the girls
While the boys were busy playing games
Coffee with college roomies I haven't seen in far too long
Then on Sunday we headed to Chicago for almost two days and got to see more family!
We spent Monday at the Museum of Science & Industry and had a blast! Hopefully we'll be getting to go back soon and spend more time with them.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Best Decision of the Day:
A fast paced 30min walk at 5pm with the dogs and their crazy selves. They have been snoring at my feet ever since. Well, Lucy more snoring and Ariyah more running in place and fidgeting with her silly dreams. Please note the time. I am in heaven and afraid to move from this computer, lest I break the spell and wake them from their unusual response to exercise (usually it breeds more hyperactivity for at least an hour or two before they take a quick nap and then wake up and forgot they got exercise in the first place and think they need more).
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