Right Wing Mom

Its been a great week here so far. We have been getting actual work done! Amazing! I totally work so much better when I have a to do list. So the big questions is why do I not use one all the time? Sometimes I am so weird.

Speaking of weird… did ya’ll catch Bronie’s Haiku  in yesterday’s post? LOL! I love you girl, you make me laugh so much and for the record… I miss you too Let me know when we are coming for a visit LOL!!!  

Jake’s eating plan (He informed us that he is not on a diet, so we can not use that word anymore) is going great. I received all my material that I ordered from The Feingold Association. So much to look over, but its been great. We got this awesome book that has detailed lists for the grocery store. And a nifty little fast food guide. Hello SUBWAY! He had no reaction there - YEAH!!!

Emma is doing great as well. Her face looks pretty bad though. Poor thing, its itchy too, so we started using some hydrocortisone to help her out. I hope it clears up soon.I love the reactions on her pictures. She really does look like Jake at that age. I need to get some pics up of both the girls and Jake so you can compare them with Emma’s. Its really funny to see how much the look alike. Marc has some super strong and obviously reliable genes

I am going to be speaking to Kaitie and Mandy’s speech class this afternoon. They are doing a radio unit and since I did a little radio work while I was in the Marine Corps the kids get to hear me yack about it. LOL, I hope I dont bore them.

Alrighty, break time is up Hopefully I will find time to post later. And, I hope that post is not so random and blabbering… but hey! Stick with what youre good at right? LOL!!!

Oh, and if you get a chance check out Andrea and Adams blog - Super cool post!!! I wont tell you what it is, but its very interesting!

This week in history we have been learning about ancient Japan. Today we did a little internet research on a few Japanese holidays and looked up kimonos. I love the fact that Kaitie and Mandy share my love for all things Japan. The sad thing is that although they were born there, they dont remember it at all. We talked today about wanting to go back someday. I hope that will be a possibility for us a family! That would be fantastic!!! 

Another thing we discussed today was the haiku. It took awhile and a little help for the girls to get one written, but I just had to share mine. It seriously just popped in my mind with no effort:)

 A little brown dog
Who will not poop out-of-doors
His name is Buster  

LOL!Dumb dog :) 

Drive by posting… lots to do today and I need to run out the door in just a few, but I just had to show these off. Just took them a few minutes ago

Here I am… contemplating our homeschool efforts or lack there of. Since we began homeschooling “offically” in 2003 (umm, I think!) we have not had one “good” year. I guess I look at what the girls can do and what they have accomplished and I should be proud. But, that little check-it off the list girl in me is disapointed in the lack of little check marks.

I am so proud of Kaitie and Mandy’s character and dispostion. They are becoming huge helps around the house and of course with Emma and they love to read(currently reading White Fang and James and the Giant Peach). But I feel a little like I am failing them when it comes to math and spelling (my two favorite subjects - NOT!) So… I drug the lesson plan book out and planned out the next month - till the end of February.

I tried this once before, but for 6 months. That was just too much. I got a day or two behind in a subject and well, that little weird perfectionist that dwells deep inside me shut down. How could I be on Friday in math and Tues in English and one week behind in everything. Oh Lord - please tell me this is normal and I do nto need any sort of medication

We are also picking up a new math curriculum called Math-U-See. I have heard great things about it and as a bonus - its on DVDs! Tee-Hee! I love it!

In other news, Emma has a nasty rash on her face, probably baby acne or possibly from her rubbing her face on my shirt on my non-washed in Dreft shirt all day.

Jake was doing well till today. He had a little pizza sauce last night and that combined with going to church today.. it wasnt good. He is going on 2 1/2 hrs for his nap. I sure hope he is in a better mood when he wakes up.

Alright, I need to scoot and finish up the schedule for my freaky little homeschooled kids.

I am thinking Emma is at the tail end of a growth spurt - or something. She slept through the night on Wednesday and again last night. She also slept a bunch yesterday. I am hoping its just a growth thing and she is not coming down with something. You would think I would be loving all this sleep that I am getting, but sadly… it just aint happening! I was up at 5am yesterday morning and, although very tired all day yesterday, couldnt fall asleep till almost midnight. Ad here it is 5:15am and I have been up for about 45 minutes already. Blah! I should be sleeping along with my baby.

Ok, I was trying to reorganize all the pictures I have stored in my computer when I came across these jems - I saved the best for last!!!

My lovely Baby Emma has been quite agreeable today. She has been asleep, in her swing, for going on 4 hours. Do you know what that means? The girls and I have been able to clean the entire downstairs, including sweeping and mopping. Oh happiness! LOL, Seriously, the house was in bad need. Ask Haley, she and Dave and Jackson came to visit on Saturday. It was bad..very bad. Now, all we have left to do is get the upstairs cleaned before Karen and her kids get here Friday! Thank you so much for visiting Karen, it has made me get my butt in gear and get the house back in working order.

As a reward for helping me clean, Kaitie, Mandy and I are going to whip up a carrot cake, get dinner started and get funky with a little Dance, Dance Revolution on the Wii

Well, after I take care of Emma… I hear her stirring as I type.

I have gotten some questions regarding Jake’s “issues” and diet. So, I thought I would elaborate a little bit!

As I said before I kind of stumbled across the diet. It is called The Feingold Diet. It has been around since the 60’s. I did some research and found some people that totally discredit it, but the I found a whole bunch of Mom’s whose discription of their children sounded like Jake that were all for the diet. Seriously, when it comes to parenting whose advice am I going to take? Some “experts” or the real experts (aka: MOMS) Well, I am sure you know the answer to that one

One thing I read on the site was a list of symptims that the diet could help. I am going to run down some that we really identified with Jake. Now keep in mind, many of these can be identified with any normal 4 year old (especially a boy) but, Jake always found a way to do it bigger and better

*Marked Hyperactivity (always running, cant sit still, wiggling constantly)
*Impulse Actions (unresponsive to discipline,porr self control, loud and excessive talking, abusive behavior,destructive behavior(throws and breaks))
*Compulsive Actions (Aggression, touching things or people excessively,chewing on clothing or other objects, scratching, biting and picking at skin)
*Emotional (low frustration tolerance, demands immediate attention, overreaction to sounds or pain, mood swings, frequent crying)
*Short Attention Span
*Neuro-Muscular Involvement (accident prone, difficulty with playground type activities)
*Frequent Physical Complaints (bedwetting, stomachaches)
*Sleep Problems (resistance going to bed, difficulty falling asleep, restless sleep, nightmares)

OK, again kind of a semi-normal list right? But, you have to realize that everything was always taken to the extreme. And it wasnt like he would have a bad day or two with his temper. It was all day every day. It was either a bad day or an even worse day. It was really starting to take its toll on the entire family.

Things have been going alot better here. Last week was so-so. Still alot better, but it was a busy week and he did not get one nap and those days, in the evening, were kind of bad again. But, in reality, nowhere as bad as it once was.

Ok, diet details. What do we eat and not eat? Well, the whole premise of the prgram is removing all articial colorings, flavorings, sweetners and preservatives and asprine like chemicals. There are also many fruits and some veggies that are “out” for at least the first 4-6 weeks.

After the intial or first phase of the diet, you start adding things back in very gradually, seeing if he reacts to anything.

We have been doing everything on our own, but have ordered some materials from the Feingold Association. They provide an extensive list of prepackaged “stuff” and restaurant items that the kids can eat.

I have been doing alot of baking and cooking, which is a good thing, I know, but it has been alot of work. But, the results have been well worth it. It hasnt been perfect, but I feel like I now have a son that I can enjoy alot more.

Please feel free to ask any questions! And I will try and post some of the recipes we have been using and our menu.

Updating my blog with Emma sleeping, nuzzled up under my chin in her sling
Jake’s big brown eyes as he excitedly tells me a story
Starbucks
Homemade banana nut muffins
My silly puppy romping around the house with Kaya
Knowing that my friend Karen and her kids are coming to visit in just a few days
Seeing how many layers of clothing the girls put on this morning to go to the gym (ok, it was 37 degrees out, but we werent walking there!)
Watching a cooking show with Marc
Gettng my trash to the curb in time for pickup
Organizing my pictures on my computer

It is often the simple things that make me happy and content

(This post is probably going to be very boring for most of you, as it will have some inside jokes, but I felt the need to carry on anyway!)

My best friend in the whole wide world (aside from Marc of course) is Shannon. We met on the school bus in 10th grade and became instant best friends. Seriously, instant. I went over to her house that very same day! We almost started off on the wrong foot as she subjected me to hours of Duran Duran and well, I was a Depeche Mode kind of girl. But, we both dug The Cure! So it was a match made in heaven!

I really wish I could put into words what she means to me, but it would be impossible. She has been with me through some great times and some not so great times. She is the one person in the world that knows everything about me, and she loves me still She believes in me. When I am down or struggling with something she will tell me how strong I am. How I can accomplish anything. I still think she is a bit diluted in this thinking, but its so great to hear.

She was a Christian long before I was and she gave me a model to strive for. She showed me what a “real” Christian was.

She is beautiful inside and out. She is so funny and caring and sweet. But man, dont tick her off (YIKES!)

She loves coffee and condiments. You would not believe how that girl would eat Ramen noodles. One word - EWWW!

She hates the phrase (she is going to kill me for this one) OX-SNOT (that makes me laugh really hard just to type that!!!!, Oh man, She is going to kill me!) and her middle name (which I will not reveal, as I value my life)

She sings beautifully and photographs really well. She makes cute babies and really yummy pumpkin rolls!

I love you Shannon!

And now, imagine if you will, me saying this in my best Arnold Schwartzenager (or however you spell it!) voice:

IT’S NOT A TUMOR!

Love you Shay!