The move is done. Complete. We are SLOWLY settling in, emphasis on the word slowly!
Our disastrous first couple of days here totally slowed down my usual "putting up house" progress but things are finally starting to take shape.
After too much time in doors, I decided the kids and I needed to tackle a project outside. Just so happens we had just such a project.
Leaves....LOTS OF LEAVES! (the house has been vacant since last summer so last years fall's tree dumpings had been left decomposing in the yard until now.)
These 10 bags are from the front yard alone! The back took another 6 or so.
The boys LOVED this part. The house we lived in before didn't have a tree in sight. I'll admit we have really missed out on the whole fall time playing in the leaves thing. I don't think that will be an issue as long as we are in this house. :)
We've already spent plenty of $$$ on home improvement stuff, finished our first project (drywalling an unfinished wall in our storage room), and I've hung the first (and only so far) item on the wall. I can't wait until we actually close on the loan and I can start paining and replacing animal "marked" (aka soiled) carpets. :)
I thought I would share a little walking tour of the house for those of you who are interested (and have been asking for one). Come on over to YouTube to view.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to go out on the water with my husbands family (thanks C and B for the use of your water craft).
It has been YEARS (probably a decade and a half) since I have been out on a boat...and this time, I got to share the experience with my husband and kids. Nerves were in abundance...the "unknown" and the "haven't known for a long time"...but we mustered up our courage and ventured out onto the monster tube, three at a time. For some of us, nerves were quickly replaced by adrenalin...others had a good time but were not as anxious to give it another "go"...and then there were some that would have rather stayed planted in security on solid ground.
Mini Rob kept yelling "faster, faster"....I could have been mistaken for a hitchhiker with my ever present "speed up" thumb...G-McBabe laughed cautiously and finally exclaimed, "that was fun," once the boat slowed down a bit...Roberto, after a few minutes said, "I don't even know why I wanted to do this," and Litte Red just wanted to be done. Mr. Golden Locks...well, he stayed on the shore with grandma to take a nap...smart kid. I was really proud of everyone for giving it a try...I was pleasantly surprised.
Melanie, Rob,Mini Rob
G-McBabe, Rob, Mini Rob, Little Red
Little Red and Cousins
Later in the afternoon I left the kiddos with the husband on the "beach" and had a chance to go out with some other family members.
Melanie, C, H
Melanie, C, H
Melanie...all by myself. :)
It was a blast!
To let go of the monotonousness of stay at home mommyhood and do something "thrilling" for a change was awesome.
We got back on shore and my brother-in-law, who happened to be the driver of the boat, said to my husband, "Man...your wife is CRAZY!"
I laughed...
...didn't we established that a long time ago?
My husband just nodded...he of all people should know the truthfulness of that statement...on multiple levels.
I used to spend all day, every day trampoline hopping around the neighborhood (since we never had one). I loved to jump. I still do.
We ordered it online. It arrived site to store while we were on vacation.
So...instead of unpacking and putting my house (and life) back in order, I spend the day putting up this puppy.
Took me 3 tries and most of the day but I finally got it put together 100% correctly...at about 10:00PM.
IT. IS. AWESOME!
Kudos to Roberto hubby. I couldn't have finished (and finished, and finished) without his brute strength.
I know what you are thinking...injuries, injuries, injuries....but it can't be any worse than putting your child in football or gymnastics and both Rob and I survived those without brain damage (at least I did...he he he...Mr. Five Concussions Man).
Little Red and Mini Rob also put good use to the boxes. They used them as "beds" last night. We didn't think they would actually fall asleep like this....but the did. Too funny!
I'm happy to say that I have not been on the trampoline yet this morning. I have been getting down to business and taking care of my responsibilities. Already I have...
De-laudryfied the laundry room
Washed the Leaning Tower of Pisa replica-made of dishes
and swept the floor
Now I will feel guilt free as I spend all afternoon throwing tricks and just all-out-enjoying myself on my (I mean, my kids) new toy.
Questions?
What is YOUR favorite thing to do on the trampoline? Any favorite games? Any rules I should consider? Any warnings? Tell all...we are newbies at this.
Rewind 4 years. Melanie feeds Little Red (just a week shy of 1 year) a few raisins from a canister of trail mix. Little Red breaks out in hives. Melanie sets up allergy testing appointment. Little Red finds a peanut on the floor at grandma's house (from same canister of trail mix). Little Red chews it up. Melanie finds him and makes his spit it out. Little Red breaks out in hives again...this time with a bit of hoarse coughing and crying. Scary! Go to allergist just SURE that he is severely allergic to peanuts. Not so much. He did test positive for a peanut allergy but actually pretty mild. Cashews were the big culprit. So much that even a bit of oil could cause his throat to swell and close off. The doctor was convinced that that is what happened. He believed the oil from the cashew caused the reaction...not the peanut itself. "He may even grow out of the peanut allergy," he says.
We've spent several years being very careful and very paranoid.
6 weeks ago we took G-McBabe and Little Red to the allergist. Diagnosis: Both are allergic to many grasses and tumbleweeds (JUST GREAT for here in the good old tumbleweed haven of Washington). Second, Little Red's peanut protein test comes up negative (although his cashew protein sensitivity more than doubled from the last test....great). They try another tactic. They spread actual peanut butter on Little Red's back, poke the skin with a needle, you know, to draw it under the skin and into the blood steam. Nothing.
Hhhhmmmm.....
Fast forward to yesterday. Little Red and I spent nearly 4 hours at the allergist for a food trial. After checking vitals and making sure Little Red was in good health (and I sign a waiver on his life...ahem), he was given a lick, a very small lick of peanut butter. We watch very vigilantly for signs of distress for 20 minutes. Nothing. Next, 1/16 tsp...20 minutes....Nothing. 1/8tsp...20 minutes...nothing....etc (you get the idea). The doses doubled each time until we reached 2 tsp....20 minutes....again, nothing. The doctor clears him of his peanut allergy (stating that he hadn't been worried since we passed the 1/16tsp) with orders to make sure he has at least SOME type of peanut product every other day. This is so that the body can continue it's "immunity" to the proteins. Makes sense, right?
No problem here. Little Red requested a peanut butter sandwiches for lunch when we got home. And today. He loves it so far.
Even better than that...he tasted his VERY FIRST Reese's peanut butter cup tonight. LOVED IT! Watch for yourself.
It's funny how things work out. When Little Red was two weeks shy of a year I wanted to make him a peanut butter sandwich ("He's ALMOST one, right?"). I had a bad feeling about it and decided not to. Just a few days later, as I am picking raisins to feed him out of a trail mix, I think to myself..."maybe I shouldn't." I rationalized, "He's had raisins before. He should be fine." Not once did I think about danger from nut oils ON the raisins. Why would I? Thankfully the Lord had mercy on poor Little Red. A bunch of incredibly itchy hives (anywhere his saliva touched (which was just about EVERYWHERE)) and mild throat closure. Things could have turned out worse. MUCH WORSE.
So...I just about hyperventilated making him his first PB sandwich (even though I had just watched him ingest PB all morning). But...we made it through. Unscathed. I kept a very close eye on him. Very close.
It still feels so taboo. So bad....so scary. I still want to go and wash my hands and the counter every time I touch peanut butter or look at it or even think about it (I'll have to share my "Walgreens ad cashew overreactions" later). At the doctor's office Little Red was playing with my phone and put the screen pointer in his mouth and I thought to myself, "Don't do that...you have been eating peanut butter...Little Red could touch it...and then he could get sick." Uh....DUH!
I'm sure with time it will get better. With the peanuts at least.
We were reminded, with even more caution, NOT to feed Little Red ANY kind of TREE NUT. E.V.E.R! His allergy to cashews is so severe that there is a huge risk with ANY possible sort of contamination from nut to nut. It could prove to be fatal or in the least, make him very very sick.
It is a scary thing to live with. For him...and for us. But...it's our life.....it's HIS life. And until he is old enough to make the choices for himself (as in a snotty teenager who thinks he's invinsible), we deal with it one day at a time. And we NEVER leave home (or try not to) without out trusty Epipen...or two...or three...or four. I think we actually have five. :)
