Being a Mom is Gross

Art By Nolan

If you had told me four years ago that I would, without thinking twice, wipe snotty noses with my hands, share my drinks with a toddler (who is known for back-washing), or have to double check my hands and arms for poop, I probably would shrug and say, "That's why I'm not having kids."

Kids are gross and the younger they are the grosser (I think).  But nothing, no nothing, could have been grosser than what happened today. 

Nolan has been fighting a fever since late Tuesday afternoon.  It's been a pretty bad one, because when the fever is at its highest (normally when his fever medicine is starting to wear off but I can't give him more yet.) he can't do anything.  He lays on me for comfort, and doesn't want anything.  No food (we temped him with ice cream, and he said, "no"), no drinks, nope just mom and Thomas and Friends will do it for this sicky. 

I was hoping that it would only last a day or so and then break and he would be back to normal.  But it didn't, in fact it has been getting so bad that I was having a hard time bringing it down last night.  So, off to the doctor we go. 

They confirmed that he was indeed sick and prescribed him with antibiotics, which is what they do with every illness (at least it feels that way).  Well, while Nolan and I were filling the prescription something gross happened.

THIS IS REALLY GROSS AND IF YOU ARE NOT A MOTHER YOU MAY NOT WANT TO KEEP READING.

Nolan threw up in the store! And what was my gut reaction?! I caught it in MY HAND!!!!  I had to call an associate of the store over for help in getting rid of the vomit.  You should have seen his eyes! 

As much as my mother instinct tried to catch all the throw up in one hand I couldn't (I really do have small hands), and some got on N and the cart.  (note to self: Always disinfect shopping carts).  I cleaned myself, N and the cart up as best as I could.  Disinfected as best as I could but the smell...you never forget that smell.   So, while we waited for our prescription to be filled we smelled.   Luckily, it didn't take too long, and we were out the door, back home and in a tub in no time.  I texted Steve for a raise in wages and the addition of privileges.

On the plus side of all this Nolan started feeling better right after the incident and asked for food.  Which he hadn't either been in the mood for or just couldn't keep down.  So, there you go!

    

Playing in the rain.

These pictures were also taken by my cell phone, hence the quality, during a rain spell that we were having here in KC.  N had a great time of splashing through two big puddles in our driveway.  He came in soaked but it was all worth it. 

Pictures of N from my cell phone

I have this collection of pictures of nolan on my cell phone, and wanted to share some them and their stories.

Grandpa Quinn got this balloon for N on one of our trips to Trader Joes.  N didn't want to let it go for nap time.

N wearing his sunglasses upside down

 

Nolan had gotten a hold of a permanent marker... you can guess what happened next. 

N's Giraffe made out of blocks. 

I showed N how to put balloons in his shirt.  He and I had the best time bumping bellies!

I don't know if you can tell but N is soaked in this picture.  I asked him to wash his hands and he decided he needed to wash his hair too. :)  But doesn't he look like a little boy in this picture?!

Asleep in his new bed.

Strawberry Patch

 Today was the perfect day to be outside, and what better way to spend your time than at a Strawberry patch?! Growing up we could get together with friends and descend upon the local strawberry patch, and pick berries till the sun was down and the mosquito were unbearable.  

Thank goodness, the mosquitos were no where to be found!  Nolan and I had a great time looking and finding the precious red berries.  When we got there the farmer told me that the center patch was small ruby red berries and that the side patches were larger sunset berries that turn red orange when they are ripe. 

 Nolan was SOOO excited about picking the berries.  At this stage in his talking skills everything is a narration, so, he mostly said, "Pick strawberries. Pick strawberries! I get bucket."  When we brought the strawberries home he was still excited to see his catch being washed in the sink.  Once, washed he got to the taste some of the sweet berries.

I ended up freezing 3/4 of the batch that we got and left the rest for snacking and meals.  If you too would like to go to this Strawberry Patch (Hurry quick before the season is over!!!).  It was John and Linda's Fruit & Berry Farm in Bates City Missouri.  Cost is per gallon bucket $10.  A little pricey I thought but it was still really cool to have my narrator so excited about picking some strawberries.

P.S.
Words of advice: Call ahead if you can, and make sure to wear boots or at least shoes you don't mind getting strawberry stains on.  Enjoy!

What are you reading?

The Art of Eating In

I hate to say this because it makes me sound like such a party pooper but I'm SUPER picky when it comes to movies and books.  I always feel bad when I go on a date with my husband because there are very few generas that we both can enjoy. 

The reason I am very particular is because each story I watch, or read becomes apart of me.  I can remember details in movies for many many years even if I didn't like the movie or just saw a little bit of it, I can't help it.  There are many times that I wish I wasn't this way.  I want to go to the movies with my husband and not watch a historical or family film.  Or even when we are at home to watch a war/ action movie with him would make his day but....I really don't like violence, gore, over use of bad language or sexuality anything (which is almost every movie out there except for family films).

Books have a stronger hold.  When I am reading a book, suddenly my opinions may start resembling the main characters.  I'm now picking back up "The Art of Eating In".  It's written by a blogger in NYC who will not eat out.  Instead, you watch how her life changes from when she first decided to eat in to....well I can't tell you the end because I haven't finished it.  I started reading it awhile ago and I was driving my husband mad!!!  While reading it I insisted on eating in for our dates or if we must eat out it had to be a local restaurant and not some chain (which is hard to find if you didn't know where to look).

So, why am I picking this book back up? Because I haven't been eating my own cooking for a little over two months.  For about two months I've been too sick to even look at the ingredients in my fridge and pantry.  Can you guess why food was so distasteful? Yup, I'm pregnant, and I am finally able to think about food with out getting squeamish.  So, I'm using this book, not only for entertainment and recipes, but to help reignite my love of cooking. See I do use my super picky-ness for the powers of good (not just to annoy people).        

Do you have any problems reading or watching movies?

Nolan The Artist

Nolan is becoming the avid artist.  Most times we have to use our imagination to guess what he is drawing/painting but I find that is just as wonderful as if he painted a realistic painting of fruit. :)

He is also becoming quite the poser.  It was hard to catch him painting once he realized I was taking his picture.

Chalk and Kashi don't mix

So, something just happened that pulled me out of my "whoa is me" thinking and got me laughing. 

As of late I've been waking up starving at all hours of the night. To combat being disturbed from my sleep I eat a small cup of Kashi Go Lean cereal right before bed.
Okay, this might gross you out but I don't like milk in my cereal so I kinda end up using the same cup two nights in a row.  I keep the cup close to my bed for easy reach at night.

Tonight, was no different. I grabbed my kashi poured it in my cup and headed to bed. While eating and reading other blogs I discovered a piece of chalk in my kashi. "okay, odd. Probably nolan putting it in my cup. Good thing I'm not grossed out by this." Is all I thought. 

Little while later I suddenly came upon a big CRUNCH!  Yep, you guessed it more chalk!

I got up to spit it out and found out that it was red chalk. Oh, did I get Steve when I walked into the kitchen with red chalk juice streaming down my lip!  What fun!