Monday Minute: Have You Ever Felt Like This At The Beginning Of The Week?
Poop, poop and more poop. And an ant invasion. After a 4-hour dance recital. Ryan’s been working round the clock for the last several weeks, including all of Father’s Day weekend. There is still no soy or dairy in my life. After a couple of quiet months, Adam’s tantrums are baaaaa-aaaaack. The house is an unfathomable mess, despite the weekly housekeeper. Look up “dire” in the dictionary and you will see the massive heap of laundry that was sorted out in Ian’s room to be put away. Two weeks ago.
Then there was the slight medication snafu that resulted in James not sleeping a wink last night. Not. one. wink. Despite caving in around 1:00am and handing him a gameboy, granola bar and glass of water, he continued to weep that he was bored and scared of the room he sleeps in every night and came upstairs to find me every 10-15 minutes through 5 o’clock. Ryan got up at 5:30 for work. Good morning, Monday!
You might be judging me on that gameboy maneuver. You might be thinking, of course he didn’t go to sleep, because he had the gameboy. Just to illuminate the level of desperation, despite his history of sleep issues I have given James an ipod or gameboy in the middle of the night exactly once in the last 4 years, and it was last night. And surprisingly ineffective. But when there’s no break from the kids for weeks on end, I get a little more protective of those wee morning hours.
You might also be sick of hearing about poop. You might be thinking, why does she have to include the word “poop” in every other post? Hi, have we met? It’s not my favorite word either, but my life at this moment revolves around butts. And today I just don’t think there’s a better way to capture the full extent of why our upcoming beach vacation is looking so darn good. It’s absolutely necessary. Not the poop, the beach.
So after the above weekend, this is a glimpse at Monday: Read more…
Worst Charities List 2013
America’s 50 Worst Charities were just revealed this week, and I felt compelled to share the list with you because some disability organizations were on it. The list is searchable so you can check before you give.
Top Ten: Substitutions to survive dairy and soy free
As I recently mentioned, we’ve discovered that Ian has a bunch of severe food allergies, requiring me to cut all soy and dairy out of my own diet while we get things figured out. I won’t lie, this last month has been no picnic – no pun intended. Milk, coffee creamer, cheese, chocolate, sour cream, baked goods, and butter have all played feature roles in my life, as have tofu, bread, crackers, soy sauce, and a whole slew of items I never would’ve dreamed had soy in them.
But as with many challenges, I’m now on the other side of the soy/dairy free dilemma and am ready to share the fruits of my (frantic) labor with you. Whether you’re looking to limit your dairy and soy for lifestyle reasons (crazy) or you’ve been banned from it all like I was, the following ten items have provided adequate to excellent substitutions for everyday soy and dairy products, and have eased my pain considerably. Instead of the initial heart attack it’s feeling like more of a dull ache these days.
Top Ten: Substitutions to survive dairy and soy free Read more…
Monday Minute: Got Milk? No, but we have milk chips.
Among the many reasons for falling off of the blog wagon lately was finding out (the hard way) that Ian is seriously allergic to dairy and soy. As in break out the epi pen, hives/vomiting/breathing trouble allergic. And because he’s not allowed near it, neither am I. I am strongly pro-nursing, but this new dairy/soy-free diet has really tested my limits (good thing my limits have been stretched out so much already).
So even though it may appear so, the following conversation was not exaggerated in my mind due to dairy-deprivation. My kids just live to torture me. Read more…
Thanks for your support! CPC 2013 Photos
Let me distract you from the fact that the Monday Minute isn’t quite yet done by sharing a few pictures from the Central Park Challenge this past weekend. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us to reach our goal of $1,000. Make sure to check back for updated team photos as they become available!
Monday Minute: Memorial Day Thanks
Me: So we’re going to Greenwood Cemetery for a Memorial Day concert.
James: Memorial Day is to celebrate soldiers and honor them for fighting in war.
Me: That’s right.
James: Not concerts.
Me: Well, we’re honoring the soldiers at the cemetery with some American music.
James: And they can have some of our picnic, right?
Me: Hmmm, well they could if they wanted – but I’m not sure we’ll see any soldiers today.
James: But you said we would give some of them our little American flags.
Me: I did…… well, those soldiers are the ones that died. We’re putting flags by tombstones.
James: What?! How did they die?
Me: Protecting our country in battle.
James: Can they hear the concert?
Me: I like to think so.
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Moms, especially special needs mothers, are often compared to soldiers. But today, let’s not forget who gave us the ability to be home caring for, laughing with, stressing out over, hugging, reading to, even yelling at our loved ones, while they leave theirs behind.
Thank you.



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