We have a new routine, starting up this week, for the new school year. Today was E's first piano lesson (with a group of tiny friends), taught by my friend. Tomorrow is her first real day of her second year of preschool, where she'll be going for three afternoons a week (as opposed to two shorter mornings, as she did last year). Add to that Mr. Q's night class (starting tomorrow), two more batches of play dough to make before tomorrow, and a lot of food prep (as we process this year's garden, and freeze meals for the busy days), this week is going to be a bit exhausting for the Q family.
Outside of my little bubble, we watch anxiously to see what damage comes of this latest awful hurricane. At the same time, folks like esperanza and her church help with the cleanup effort from the last one.
With your big and small whines and anti-whines, how are you all doing?
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Yay for piano lessons, preschool, and laying in the bounty for later!
Yay for Baboos and friends packing emergency cleanup supplies for friends in Texas!
I know my friends in Florida made it through Irma OK, but power is out for millions (probably including them), and it might take weeks to restore! And that awful storm isn't done wreaking havoc yet, either.
9/11 is not so raw any more, but I still hate seeing the towers blowing up, over and over. That day's still vivid enough, thank you.
W: It unexpectedly got hot enough to melt a person yesterday; supposed to be a little cooler today. Enough already!
AW: Somebody in my support group is in a country with few resources for caregivers (and medical people) dealing with my SIL's unusual dementia. So he translated a lot of material, got local neurologists on board, and is getting his caregiving handbook published! Just amazing dedication; very inspiring.
Kathy, that's awesome that one support group person has accomplished so much.
I agree so strongly with you about the 9/11 footage. There are so many other things to show on the news, while discussing the anniversary, without making everyone relive the trauma.
Wow, kudos to your fellow caregiver, kathy a!
I haven't viewed any coverage of 9/11 or of Irma, really. I've kept up with friends on fb who live in Tampa. They've emerged with no apparent damage and still have power.
Re: buckets. I'm super proud of our little tiny congregation, but it's such a small contribution in comparison to the need and destruction. Every little bit counts, and our hearts were definitely in the right place.
Giggle: Baboos were understanding what and why we were doing the buckets. When it came time for the pickups to leave for the coast, they really wanted to go, too. Church man: well, it's not really a good place for kids. You can't flush the toilet right now (Baboos: EEEWWW!) or use wifi (Baboos: oh. We'll stay here). So whatever their generation is going to be called--their motto will be "wifi is more important than running water."
W: spent the day cleaning/straightening in Mini's room *after* she had worked on it most of Saturday. We still aren't done.
So, I used to live in Charleston SC, and that entire area is not in Irma's path -- but it is really flooded now because of the storm, everything's closed, and battered by winds. And the friend I called to check on? She lives by a creek (guessing there's flooding), and her phone's out. This is on the Atlantic coast, a couple hundred miles from the center of the storm. Oy oy oy.
Am a little worried about Savannah GA, because it also is by water -- but I think inland and less flood prone. At least, I hope so.
Oh, got ahold of my friend in Charleston! They're good; got the power back swiftly; the flood is "no longer over the yard."
I'm glad that your friend is safe, Kathy. What an incredibly wide path of damage! I can't fully comprehend it (being both far inland and north).
Sounds like a full week ahead of you QWP, but you will be glad for those freezer meals later on!
That's so great about your caregiver friend, kathy! I'm glad your friend is safe in SC.
esperanza, that's so wonderful about all the buckets. What a great way to help!
AW: Dad has been transferred to the city where he lives and they are ready to move him into the rehabilitation care center in the next few days. He's tired and grumpy, but at least he's there.
I'm so glad that there's progress with your dad, Sue! What a relief, after the scare he gave you this summer.
W: have any of you had a kid who refuses to go to the bathroom, unless absolutely forced? E admittedly has a ridiculous amount of bladder control, but she only willing to run to the bathroom if it feels like she's about to have an accident (and she did have a little accident last week, because she was determined to finish colouring before going to the bathroom). It's all tied to her refusal to stop an activity once she's started (she sees the bathroom as an annoying interruption). I've done so many things at this point: she has a sticker chart, where she gets a sticker each time she chooses to go to the bathroom (instead of being forced); we've talked about how she had all those accidents in the spring because she was holding for so long that it exhausted her muscles; we've watched fun videos about stopping and going right away; we've done so much positive reinforcement; we've tried leaving it up to her (but it turns out that she's so stubborn that, so long as she's home, she's happy with trying to never go).
I'm so tired. I thought we were past all the bathroom issues by now.
Sue, glad your dad's back home, and it sounds like he's continuing to improve, since they are planning rehab as soon as he recovers from the travel. (I'd be grumpy, too! This is not exactly a dream vacation, you know?)
QWP, as you know, it's been a million years since mine were in preschool. But we found that the kids were pretty motivated in the potty department with the beneficial effects of peer examples. All the cool kids do it! Nobody wants to have to change into the spare undies.
We also did the whole "let's go potty before we go" routine before we went anywhere. This works better if something exciting is happening at the other end of the car ride, such as "you can pick X" at the grocery store, or "maybe we'll have time for ice cream" or whatever.
Warning: It turns out that when you turn 60, your doctor celebrates by making you get a shingles shot.
That was Muffin Man, too. Sometimes just setting a timer worked. Sometimes saying, "finish that bit, then go to the bathroom, then we're going to do X."
That said, MM tries to avoid using the bathroom at school so he goes from 0830 to 1630 without a break most days. (he uses their bathroom on days when he has afterschool activities).
I had a great time with KLee and her husband!
Yay! Bloggy meetup!
Hooray for Bloggy Meetup!
QWP, this was not particularly about the potty, but Sweet used to hate being interrupted to do *anything* else. Now that she understands "pause" on movies, I can just say, "Let's pause this to go and you can unpause it later." I suspect it's also because she's getting older, but maybe that will give you some hope.
Pause is a good word to use, Esperanza! And reading through the suggestions, I must admit that E is good about going before we go out anywhere, and she loves using the bathroom outside of the house (she is very willing and independent at preschool, and she has a weird love of public bathrooms). I think getting back to school might be the cure for all this.
Hooray for your bloggy meetup, Liz and KLee!
AW: I'm utterly alone right now. I like the new, longer preschool days.
Oooooh, quiet time for Mama!
Liz, I think if my HS restrooms were arranged like boys' restrooms, it would have been uncomfortable. I could close the door, you know? BTW, college dorm co-ed bathrooms eliminate a lot of problems by providing doors for everybody -- tall doors, not the kind you can look over or under very easily. Anybody behaves badly, you know where they live.
I forgot to anti-whine: my BP is excellent! And I got a referral to PT, to work on my lower back pain. Yay!
Yay quiet time for you QWP!
Hooray for a bloggy meet-up, Liz and KLee!!!
AW: today, E and I have come up with a pause/play game, where I shout "Pause!" And she puts down her markers, and sometimes we do something silly (30 second dance break, sing a silly sing, etc), and sometimes we get a snack, and sometimes we have a potty break, and then I shout "Play!" And the colouring restarts. Thanks to esperanza for the idea!
ooh, I hope it works, QWP! You're way more fun than I am.
That sounds like fun, QWP!
That is AWESOME, QWP. What a great way to make something that's hard for her into something that's fun.
Good work, QWP!
Bleah! My bad cholesterol is high. Doc is recommending diet changes, weight loss, re-check in 2 months, and a pill.
I might not have fasted a full 12 hours before the blood draw. Might have leaned too heavily on cheese the past month or 2. (Sads, because I love cheese.) Sigh. In any event, we will be eating a lot of soup in coming months, with beans playing a decent role in providing the protein. (I've already got the spicing things to avoid sodium thing down. Ready to rumble.)
Meanwhile, I've been offered PT for my low back pain, and already have some good ideas from the online offerings, but am going to get some in-person PT appointments to get me going.
Oh dear, Kathy! I don't know how much movement is possible for you (considering the back pain and the need for PT), but my mom was able to bring her cholesterol down pretty significantly by getting herself moving every day.(She does a lot of treadmill walking.)
Well, I'm going to work on the PT, stretching, and the exercises and tips recommended. And try to do more walking, even if I need frequent breaks to "de-stress" my poor back.
I guess brie is out of the picture for the foreseeable future. Cheezy goodness in general will be more of a treat, less of a staple. Avocado, garlic, olive oil, beans, and nuts are on the good list, yay. Haven't eaten oatmeal in a long time, but that is supposed to lower cholesterol, too. Do not know if I can bear to use margarine. A person has limits, you know?
AW: And at this time, ta da! White bean and veggie soup is in the crockpot! Augmented with spices, some lentils, and one delicious chicken-based garlic and artichoke sausage, cut small.
W: a day with too many complex and nuanced issues to think about. My brain and soul are tired.
AW: I got all efficient and yesterday made supper for two nights, so I didn't have to cook when I got home tonight.
Hugs, Kathy. Giving up cheese is rough. (But, now that it's approaching autumn, starting off the day with a bowl of oatmeal, with a spoonful of peanut butter stirred in, would be pretty nice. I made some this morning with apple butter stirred in, and it was delicious.)
W: it looks like E has her first cold of the school year. It hit exactly a week after preschool orientation, and she's pretty miserable with her stuffy nose. I sure enjoyed that summer free of sickness.
I need opinions: we're going to Mr. Q's staff beginning-of-the-year event tonight, and they requested that we bring either an appetizer or dessert. I'm trying to use only what we have on hand (I don't have time to run to the grocery store), so what do you all think about me bringing homemade pizza as an appetizer, if I roll it thin, cut it into squares, and call it "flatbread"? I could put an onion and sundried tomato jam on it, and maybe add a little bit of mozzarella. Does that sound like an appetizer, or like I was the one who brought pizza when they asked for appetizers?
Anything the size of a bite or 2 is an official appetizer. My story, sticking to it! Besides which, everybody likes pizza. And everybody wants something besides brownie overload at a meet and greet like this.
QWP, that sounds terrific as an appetizer.
Muffin Man also has a cold. Sent him to school on Wednesday, asking him to "power through" (we thought it was allergies at the time. Increasingly unhappy texts came throughout the morning. I got him an appointment with the doctor in the early afternoon and he was prescribed nasal spray, copious amounts of H2O and a saltwater gargle, and to stay home. He slept over 14 hours Wednesday night, over 12 hours last night. Is finally saying he feels somewhat better.
AW: I had a phone interview yesterday, with a follow-up in-person interview scheduled for Monday. YAY!
W: My insurance company is pulling out of the state. They were the last ones in the private insurance market. So I really need to get a job.
YAY about the interview(s), Liz!! Go!
Very sorry about MM's cold. He really was sick, sleeping that much. Poor guy.
I don't even know what to say about your insurance mess. My belief is that this administration has tried to kill insurance the hard way -- hard for people like you. And frankly, people LIKE having insurance that they can afford. Go figure. xoxo
I'm so sorry about the insurance mess, Liz. I'm crossing my fingers for the interview.
W: I was feeling well all day, getting a lot done, and then as soon as I dropped off E at preschool, my stomach got upset. I suspect it's something I ate rather than a virus, but I'm in rough shape. So, just to be sure, we're staying home tonight, and Mr. Q will have to do preschool pickup.
AW: at least Mr. Q has prep time at the end of the day this semester, and so he can do pickup. This especially useful because I pick up another kid (daughter of another teacher, who teaches for another fifteen minutes after preschool lets out).
QWP, that is totally an appetizer. Cut it into small pieces and present it proudly.
Liz, glad MM is feeling better. We have two Baboo colds here, too. Quite unpleasant.
The insurance mess is so freaking annoying, even at some distance. Undermining it and then claiming it failed. Grrr. I'm sorry it's affecting you personally, but I'm glad to hear about the interview.
QWP, now I've made it down to your unwell post. Sorry, and i hope it resolves quickly.
AW: I found a new food that the Baboos will eat.
W: It's naan. They didn't exactly need another carb addition.
(((QWP))) I hope you feel better fast.
Esperanza, the good thing about naan is that you can spread almost anything on it or wrap almost anything in it, and it becomes fun.
And thank you, everybody!
I know! I bought it for myself! Put olive oil and sea salt on it and toasted it last night to go with my chicken salad. Now it's almost gone :(
Sorry about the cholesterol, kathy. I'm sure you will get a handle on it in no time. Cheese though...that's rough. :(
Sorry to hear MM is feeling poorly, Liz. Yay for the interview!! Appendages crossed for Monday.
(((QWP))) Feel better soon...
Yum...naan. It's a big hit around here too esperanza. It's one of the "gluten-y" foods I can eat. Yay!
AW: I signed up for yoga at the local 55+ senior center and had my first class on Wednesday. It was great!
W: My hips did not agree. They kind of hurt...
Oh, Sue! My online back tutorial reminded me of the pillow between the legs while sleeping trick! And also those flexion and extension things, to stretch the muscles and sometimes take a load off the affected portions. YMMV; this was talking lower back, not hips per se.
W: I am attempting (after 9 months) to get the already-existing church website transferred over to our own account and functional. I think the former has been successful, but not the latter. I have no idea what I"m doing.
W: I don't like feeling dumb.
AW: There's a customer service number I can call for help, the next time I have some time without Baboo interruption.
Good luck, Esperanza! I know little about this kind of thing, but sounds like you've got backup.
AW: My beloved might have found the dog he's been looking for, online. (Online dog dating: it's a thing.) We're going to check her out tomorrow, see if there is that spark in person. He's been a sad dad since his beautiful Cora died, but I think he's ready to dive into dog adoration again. My main rule is no puppies, which swipes some lovely pups out of the running; but I'd really be a bad puppy mom.
Oh, I hope that the right dog comes your way, Kathy.
Sue, that yoga class sounds fun! I hope your hips adjust well. (If they don't, talk with your yoga instructor, who ought to have adaptations to prevent stress on your joints.)
Esperanza: I hope that naan acts as a gateway food for the baboos. (And it's so delicious! I'm sad that you didn't get it for your own lunch.)
AW/W: my stomach has settled down through the day, and I managed to eat a bit of meat at supper without ill effects (I've finally learned that I can have meat well before I can have non-yogurt dairy). On the other hand, now I have a sore throat and congestion. This always happens: if my stomach gets upset at all, I catch whatever cold is going around immediately. (Or rather, my body succumbs to whatever cold I was already fighting off.) I knew the cold was inevitable, since E already has it, but after a few months' break from the non-stop colds, I'm feeling pretty whiny.
So, when I'm resting, I feel great, and I get thinking, "What am I doing, wasting the whole day, when I have so much produce to process? I should get making marinara sauce or canning apple butter." And then I get up, and whoooo, do I feel tired, sore, and terrible. Back to bed for me. Not a great time of year to be losing a Saturday to sickness. (But at least it's Saturday! Mr. Q is handling E and all the household stuff.)
AW: I'm feeling so much better now! I went ahead and did some canning. This is seeming more and more like I had a reaction to something, or ate something bad.
Whatever it was, I'm glad you're feeling better!
W: I am super unmotivated to write this sermon.
QWP, glad you're feeling better! That sounds pretty darned productive.
Esperanza, all I've got is "Love one another." Which probably isn't helpful.
I'm trying to get more in the swing of avoiding bad cholesterol. The love affair with cheese is severely limited, for sure. But I think I can do a splurge night out once a week. Not that I'm a steaks slathered in butter with a side of ravioli in cream sauce plus deep fried appetizers kind of person, anyway. But a little indulgence along with some more mindfulness should do the trick. Also, home cooked soups with beans, veggies, and spices. And oatmeal, which I have to admit is filling.
Of some relief -- shrimp have high cholesterol, but they are also low fat, and the good cholesterol balances out the bad. As long as there isn't cream sauce involved. Or deep frying. Doing my homework.
When I told my husband I can't do grapefruit on this new med, he contended that I've never eaten any grapefruit in my life. And I countered with the grapefruit spoons we used to own and use. And he correctly noted that was a long time ago. So, think I'm good on prohibited substances while on this med. ;)
Any fat that is liquid at room temp is a good fat. Avocados are a good substitute for cheese in terms of snacking. Amazingly, my cholesterol has gone down with my reduced sugar intake despite my increased chopped liver intake.
Liz on iPhone
Love one another is where I'm going this week! I go there frequently. It's kind of a preacher joke that we each have only 3-4 sermons that we parade out in different clothes on a rotating basis.
W: After her shower, Mini put on the same dirty clothes, including underwear, that she had been wearing. Sigh.
W: Sweet asked to go to bed early. I'm afraid her snotty nose is escalating.
Uh oh, I hope Sweet's early bedtime helps her fight off whatever she has! The school year sicknesses hit early, don't they?
Liz, my in-laws had the same experience, of cutting out a lot of sugar and still having a reasonable amount of fat, and having their cholesterol levels drop. I do not understand it!
W: Mr. Q is complaining of a sore stomach. I may have spoken too soon when I predicted that I had wouldn't be contagious.
Oh no! I hope Mr. Q stands strong. But at least it is short-lived, if not.
Sermon is finished. Same panic every week, yet I come up with something to say.
Liz, thanks for the tips. Small sad about butter, but it probably won't hurt much on a "rare" basis. Think the biggest change will be the cheese; although my doc also wants me to reduce carbs. She's a total spoilsport.
Today is the annual bazaar for the largely Japanese church at the end of my street! Good crowd, as always. There's a plant sale and a craft sale; plus taiko drumming, music, games, a raffle -- and a lot of food. Scored udon, curry rice, and a sushi combo to bring home for lunch. Passed on the various teriyakis, hot dogs, green tea ice cream, and I don't know what else. Lots of energetic volunteers from the high school, as well as the congregation; and they were collecting hurricane donations.
When my kids started preschool, it was housed on the lower floor of this church, so we have been attending the bazaar for a long time.
I had a great time with Liz -- it's been years since we saw each other! I was glad that she was able to meet us while we were close, even if we did end up at the wrong Panera location. :)
Not so happy with her tale of insurance woe. Screwing with someone's Heath care is just beyond wrong, and I don't want to angry myself up with a political rant, so I'll stop there.
Had a nice vacation, but came home to find some electrical damage to our house from Irma. We lucked out - no flooding or structural damage, but I do have to spend tomorrow trying to get an electrician out here to inspect the poles. Couldn't pass us by without some sort of middle finger....
Now off to unpack a week's worth of funky laundry and find places for all the new tchotchkes.
It was so awesome to see you, KLee!! And thank you.
About to hop into the shower to get ready for my interview today. They had forgotten to send an email confirmation last week, so I called them this AM to be on the safe side. We are still on.
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