We moved!

That's right! We moved into our own apartment and out of my in-laws basement. Took us long enough ;) I'm also in school going for CNA :)

The BIG cleanup. Round two.

I don't recall if I posted about round one. Either way, you probably remember my post about Moo having lead poisoning. A City health inspector came out and took samples. We found out that we have a high concentration of lead in our dust and we need to clean it up. This was back in December. We also have a support beam that needs to be painted over, and much more dust that needs to be cleaned up.

Now, being a stay at home mom with two kids three and under and a cat (more like a tiger) means that I have quite the mess on my hands. Always. Today I pretty much organized the unorganized, and at least made things look orderly. I still need to wash dishes (in my bathroom) which can't get done until the kids are fast asleep. I also need to mop, sweep, and put the slipcovers on the couches (which requires the strength of my husband!). The last load of laundry is in the washer.

The laundry room is a different story, as is the crawlspace under the stairs. My husband had to work all day and I obviously couldn't do it. His parents were watching TV all day (remember, it's their house, and these areas aren't ours) so the cleanup started about two hours ago when he got home from work. His father and grandfather are helping him, so that's good

tbc..

All Over the Place

I'm just spinning right now. I'm not 100% sure of the Aspergers diagnosis. The pediatrician didn't do a thorough interview/eval. I hope that the Occupational Therapist will do a better job. I know there's something up with N. I don't know if it's sensitive kid+introvert mixed together, or what. Something is not right. Not to say something is WRONG with her, but something is just different. I want her to be happy, confident, and to love herself. I don't see any of that right now. I've put the SpiritedAspieGirl blog on hold for now. Maybe.

Also, the City (I find it sad that we call them The City like we're talking about a holy entity. Yay for anarchy.) called and said they're coming Monday to check our lead issues again. Back in November (I believe it was November, lol) they came and took samples and said we have a high concentration of lead in our dust. So we've cleaned. We just need to do some hardcore organizing tonight and over the rest of the weekend so that this lady (who sounds pretty strict) won't have a hissy fit. Oy vey.

As for moi :) I've got a cold. I took echinacea tea on Tuesday, and tons of Vitamin C both days. I have to say- something worked! I felt like crap yesterday and though I still feel like crap, I feel a bit better today! :)

Plans for today? Laundry, eat clementines, relax.

Oh, and I really need some sort of buggy board for our stroller. It's getting to hard to wear Moo on my back and push N and her 2.5yo cousin C. So if anyone wants to offer one up.... ;) Lol. I kid. But it'd be nice.

Guess what?!

I started up a second blog, called Spirited Aspie Girl. It's a journal of sorts. Come check it out!

Murky Water

I figured I'd update the ol' bloggity blog.

We've known N was a little "different" for quite some time. We finally had her evaluated by a Developmental Pediatrician, and we found out that she has Sensory Processing Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome. Everything makes sense, but it's still difficult to hear the words come out of the mouth of a professional. Everything I've been wondering about is now confirmed. We're now waiting on eval round 2 with an Occupational Therapist.

If that wasn't overwhelming enough, we also found out that N has Celiac Disease, though just borderline. Still though- explains everything. We're making a whole-hearted attempt to go gluten free.

As for little M, Miss Moo, she's doing okay. She hasn't gained any weight in awhile so I attempted cutting back nursing so she'd eat more solids. It somewhat worked. We're going to keep trying this, and if it doesn't work, we'll look into dayweaning.

Getting back to normal

If anyone told you that taking Cod Liver Oil wasn't that bad, they're lying. If you hear someone tell you about the wonderful benefits of it, they're not lying, and you should promptly initiate a hug because they've just opened a new door to Awesomeland.

After much thought and research, I learned that my nutrient stores are very, very low. I'm always tired, cranky, etc. Moo was born with a few midline defects (lip tie, sacral pit, stork bite on lower spine, gap in her teeth) and I did some digging and found that to be related to low nutrient stores during pregnancy. N just washed out everything I had and took it with her.

SO, I've got myself on quite a regimen. Here's what I take...

Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Unflavored, the Blue Ice brand. Yuck. I take 2tsp of it because I'm nursing. Joy... but it naturally contains vitamins A and D, both things that I need more of :)

Vitex/Chasteberry
I'm taking this because it's an adaptogen- it regulates your hormones. Mine are whack because of nursing, plus a little extra helping of whack on the side. And whack for dessert.

Maca Root
I'm taking this superfood in powder form. Again, it's an adaptogen and I'm attempting to get my hormones in check. Supa Dupa Whack.

Folate, in the form of 5 MTHF
I highly suspect I have an MTHFR gene mutation, which means that I can't take folic acid, so insted, I take Folate. No, I'm not pregnant, but it's something your body does need and I need to make sure my body is getting it.

Also, I'm going to be taking Floravital (gluten free floradix) soon because I think I might be anemic and I need the added B vitamins anyhow.

My diet is rather balanced now and I've finally given into grazing as opposed to having set meals. It just feels right for my body and I function better this way!

Ya know...

I really like a lot of Waldorf Education. Mostly the Waldorf, and not the Education. I think I was really drawn in due to the whole "closeness to nature" thing, as any aspiring bush hippie would be. I really love tradition, and our N set her own rhythms over time (um, that has gone to hell.. lol). HOWEVER... I have came to the conclusion that Rudolf Steiner was a quack. Quackadoodledoo. I don't buy into anthroposophy, I just like the warm fuzziness. So there.

Back to my original plan (nonplan??) of unschooling. I was going to Waldorf Inspired Unschool anywho... but that felt a little too Waldorky. Okay okay. Enough of that...

Oh, and I don't plan on giving up any of my projects or anything. I love that stuff :) :) :)

Okay, uhmmm

Nightweaning failed miserably on Day 3. I decided she wasn't ready (she voiced her opinion as well, haha). So all is well.

In the meantime... She's had a scare with retinoblastoma (!!!) but we thankfully found out that she is just a little nearsighted, so she sees the eye doc again in a year. Phew!

Adventures in Night Weaning- NIGHT 1

Night 1 wasn't as bad as I had anticipated it to be. Here's how it went:

10:45pm-Moo nursed to sleep.
11:00pmish-I fell asleep :)
12:00am- I woke up. N was fussing and tossing and turning.
12:30am- Moo woke up. N woke her up, actually, because of the ridiculous tossing and turning. Hubby's snoring probably played a roll in it, as did my anxiety over her possibly waking up.

I nursed Moo for a minute or so, and unlatched her before she fell asleep (but was groggy). She wasn't having any of it. She cried. A lot. Over the course of about 3hrs, she fought, cried, I sung to her, etc. Hubby decided to move to the couch. I don't blame him. About halfway through those 3 hours, I was feeling really cruddy (I almost never use that word, haha). I decided to take my temp, and had N (who was wide awake) turn on the light for me. I pulled out my old basal thermometer and I thought it said 106!! I thought that couldn't be right (battery was low, lol) so I pulled out the celsius thermometer. My fever was only 102, but since I was so out of it and dizzy (REALLY dizzy) I took some medicine. Back to bed, lights out, and continued with the "please sleep" fight with Moo.

3:50pm- Moo was finally asleep! I got her that way by rubbing her belly and singing a lullaby to her.... about 300 times.

I tossed and turned and finally fell asleep. Then hubby started snoring again, so I had to go to the living room and jostle him a little so he'd stop.

4:30- Moo woke up, largely due to the fact that big sister N was still tossing and turning and making a racket in her bed. BUT, she crawled over to me, laid across my chest, put her head on my shoulder, and started rocking herself to sleep! (I think she gets the big idea now!).

After she fell sound asleep, I laid her next to me. I then tried to sleep, but couldn't because our lovely cat Artemis kept sleeping on my head.

5:30ish- Moo woke up again. Wide awake and in a really good mood. I decided to call this the end of our "7 hours" (though it was only 6.5...) and nurse her. We're now up for the morning.

So in a nutshell, she woke up:
12:30am, 4:30am, and 5:30am.

We;re also trying to fix our sleeping patterns right now- but I'm fairly happy with how things went tonight. I got an hour of sleep and will be exhausted until naptime, but I think I'll survive!

Adventures in Night Weaning

So, the time has come. I've decided to nightwean Moo, if she'll let me. She has been waking all night to nurse, constantly, and I'm far too exhausted to be mama in the mornings. My back has also been killing me from nursing her in a weird position ALL NIGHT, so it's time. We plan to implement Dr. Jay Gordon's method, since it is fairly gentle and I've heard great things about it. The first three nights, from 11pm-6am, I'm supposed to nurse her, but put her down awake and soothe her to sleep. Fingers crossed it doesn't get too ugly. She's a brutal little kiddo.

I'm also battling a cold.. so I must get to bed.

Happy Winter Solstice!!

It is only 2 something AM, so our Solstice festivities are not yet underway. Photos are still to come.

I feel such a warm presence around me, I feel incredibly spiritual and filled with light. Today is the solstice, and there was a total lunar eclipse (though I did not get to see it, Mother nature was being quite modest with her cloud cover tonight!). The energy I feel at the moment is very profound.

I have taken this time to meditate, nurse M, shuffle around the snow outside, and breathe in the cold winter air. I have reflected on the past year quite a bit and there are some definite changes I'd like to make in the coming year. I feel like I need to get closer to Mother Earth. I need to feel more grounded. The feeling I've felt tonight is a feeling that I last felt when my mother passed on.

Right now I am making the garland for tonight's (later!) solstice celebration. N told me that she wanted me to make garland for the tree outside, for the "Snow Angels". I've been stringing dried orange slices, apples, carrots, and raisins into garland for the "Snow Angels" to come and eat. We're also going to hang a lantern or two in the tree so the snow angels can find their way on the darkest day of the year.

Whoops! (=

I just found out that the solstice is actually TUESDAY, not wednesday. Woohoo (=

Here a MOO, there a MOO..

...everywhere a MOO-MOO!

Today we had a party for little M. She had a blast. Her actual birthday isn't until Wednesday (also the solstice!!). The party was quite large, but since we had one just like it for N's first birthday, I figured we'd do the same for Moo. She especially loved her cupcake from The Bleeding Heart Bakery. They're an awesome organic bakery who uses local ingredients and sustainable practices.. if anyone is in Chicago, I highly suggest you check them out. Their red velvet cupcakes are divine. I'm rambling..

The party was fun, I got to see a few friends (some old and some new!) and was overall wonderful.

Also, MOO TOOK HER FIRST STEPS TODAY! N didn't take her first steps until she was 14 months old. I'm very excited and oh so proud of my little one.

Whether the weather be cold...

...or whether the weather be hot,
we'll weather the weather,
whatever the weather,
whether we like it or not!

It's COLD! Granted, it could be worse, it's actually 25 deggrees out right now. Last night it got into the single digits, and I'm sure the temps will continue to plumet. Something is up with our furnace and it's not heating the house at all (I went and felt the side of it when it kicked on and it doesn't get warm at all!). I've got a space heater going and that's not exactly ideal. I might order another one from Amazon because this one isn't effectively heating the house. Without the space heaters it's between 55 degrees and 60 degrees during the day! The space heater kicks it up to about 70 and it makes all the difference, but it only heats one portion of the house at a time (so our bedroom are is significantly colder, and the bathroom and hubby's office are both around 50 degrees. Brr!

Anyways, Moo is having a big party on Saturday for her birthday. It's not very Waldorfy of us, I know, but it's a tradition that we have a big party for our children's first birthday. That said, all of the food will be home made (except for the cake, which needs to be quite large and I couldn't afford our local organic bakery) and the treats will be natural not toxic-laden ones. No real games, just a big activity table set up for kids to color and create, etc. It should be pretty fun :)

With that said, I've got to continue cleaning. I don't have much energy and want to curl up in a ball as it is FREEZING in here, but I think I'll survive!

Back for business.

Well, after a brief hiatus, I'm back.

I had stopped to contemplate taking photos down. A few months ago I requested on facebook that family & friends not post photos of my kids on their pages. Most of those photos weren't OK'ed by me. Currently, I feel that yes, photos can be posted, but my permission needs to be attained before hand.

As for the blog, I have decided to continue posting photos here, as I normally have. I want my children to grow up knowing that photos of themselves matter, and being in a blog with stories about them, little vignettes, almost, is a great start. At least, in my opinion it is.

So. Updates!

My darling husband Jaime has gotten me a sewing machine! It was for our anniversary last month. I'm still learning to use it, but so far I have made Moo a pair of longies and N a pair of under-mittens from a felted wool sweater.

I may be starting an online business. Hint: has something to do with breastfeeding advocacy. Check for updates in the coming weeks!

Preparations!

It's good to be back into the swing of things!



I've been pretty busy lately. Tossing most of the kids toys due to lead meant only that there would be very few things for them to play with. I'm all for simple living and minimal toys, but this is seriously the bare minimum. I had to figure out what they'd be getting for their birthdays, and for Christmas (which all fall in the same week!). Since we're flat broke, I was only able to get a couple of things. The rest is up to me to make.



Right now, on the agenda for "creating", are playsilks, felted wool balls (though the cats keep stealing them, I'll get to that later), and a doll for M. I'm doing surprisingly well. I think that the doll, when finished, will end up being about 12-14". I'm not totally sure yet. I need to get some brown embroidery floss for her eyes, and I need to figure out something for the hair (I can't crochet so that's out of the question!). I also obviously need to make the body, but that shouldn't be too difficult. I'm using things around the house, and doing it all by hand. For the skin, I used a cotton knit crib sheet that I had laying around. The stuffing in the head is a lambswool sweater that I thrifted. The only synthetic material in the doll is the nylon stocking that I used for her head, but that's not too bad seeing that she's being created using only found materials!

Also in the works are preparations for N's 3rd birthday. I'm going to hold a very small party on her actual birthday, which falls on a Monday. We plan to dye playsilks with the kids, so I've got all that ready. I also need to come up with a "game plan" so that I can figure out how to make it short and sweet but still special for N. More importantly, I need to start trying out cake recipes for the big day. I might just do cupcakes, I have better luck with those! We shall see. Invitations need to go out in under a month, and I don't want to be thinking too hard about this during the weeks before Christmas because we have the Solstice, Moo's birthday (Which falls on the solstice!), Advent, and a ton of other things to worry about! I need to get everything set -now-.

Oh, and I need to make their birthday crowns.... eep!!!



Current nature table setup,not so many nature goodies as our cats have been rather mischevious!

M Has Lead Poisoning!

Last Friday, the kids went to the doctor for a checkup. I'm not one to do well-child visits, since we don't vaccinate, but I'm glad I followed my insticnts. M, who I call Moo alot now, is 10 months, so the decided to prick her finger and draw blood to check her hemoglobin and lead levels. No biggie. After about 20 minutes (the test only takes a few minutes) our wonderful doctor came back in to give us the news- her lead count was elevated, at 11. It's borderline, but not normal. They then sent us for bloodwork to be drawn from both girls via their veins, and I get the results tomorrow (eep!).

In the meantime, I've been stressing about where it's coming from. We've since found two sources- there is a lead water pipe that comes into our house- it's the first pipe that the water hits, and all of our water passes through it. We also found lead pain in one of the support posts in our basement apartment. We're hoping that these issues can be fixed quickly and effectively, but in the meantime, we've been taking alot of precautionary measures.

Bathing- Tonight, we started filtering our bath water. We each have to bathe out of a bucket, at let me tell you it is not fun. M is especially not fond of it. N didn't seem to notice a difference, but was glad she wasn't being bathed with "blood (lead) water".
Ingesting- We've also been filtering our drinking and cooking water.
Toys- I went with my instincts and bagged up all of our questionable wooden (Melissa & Doug and cheap Target brand) toys, and our plastic toys that I've been meaning to weed out.

There's just so much going on... I've been meaning to blog, but I really haven't gotten the chance! Anyhow, that's where things stand as of now and I'll be sure to update as we go.

In addition- if anyone has any Pur water filters that they want to get rid of, I'll take them off of your hands! I'm so so broke and we really need them. Thank you.

Megan

Ergo Giveaway!!

5 Vinez Monkeys is holding an Ergo giveaway! Check it out!

http://www.5vinezmonkeys.com/2010/09/ergobaby-carrier-review-giveaway-108.html
http://www.5vinezmonkeys.com/
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

We LOVEEE our Ergo but it has seen a little too much love!

Apple Picking

We took the girls apple picking at a wonderful apple orchard about an hour and a half away. I couldn't find an organic one, but I didn't want to deprive N of the experience (she really wanted to go!). We finished up the day with some local honey sticks and all was good.

We have teeth :)

Well, maybe not teeth, but one single tooth. That's right, M is working on her chompers :) Also, she has started playing "peekaboo". It's adorable and I'm very excited.

Poor N is very sick. She has a terrible cold and gunky eyes. I'm likely taking her to the doctor in the morning so we'll see how that goes.

On a side note, I need to find some patterns for wool slippers (for Madelyn) and for a winter hat (also for Madelyn). Her winter hat from last year isn't going to fit her this year. I might make a fall hat for her also- I'll have to see.