Friday, November 19, 2010

My Favorite Things To Do Once My Kids Have Gone to Bed

Watch TV – For the past couple of years I have gotten addicted to Adult Swim.  It comes on the Cartoon Network Channel at 10pm. They show King of the Hill, Family Guy, Robot Chicken and several other shows but I normally can’t stay awake that long. I normally start watching when Family Guy comes on and that show although is a little "raw" has to be the funniest show ever!  Robot Chicken is a 15 minute show of mini clips and parody’s, it is a short show but another really funny show.  I love a good laugh before going to bed and those shows will give you that.

Treat myself with a treat – With a diabetic toddler and two other kids that have a horrible sweet tooth, I normally have to hide my chocolate and candy stash.  My husband and I will go to Walgreens and stock up on candy bars and other chocolates. So when they have gone to bed I like to treat myself to a piece of candy. 

Have some me time – I know the more popular name for it is “mommy time”  But I like to remember the things I did before my kids; I could take that long shower or bath, paint my nails, prance around in just my hubby’s T shirt, and just relax without a care. 

These are the things I enjoy doing once my kids have gone to bed. Although it’s only last for a few hours until it’s time for me to go to bed myself, I have to say that I enjoy every minute!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Adiós Mexican Restaurants: Bacteria in Salsa

You ever hear something mentioned on the news but you fall asleep before it came on? I am famous for that.  The other day my local news was talking about bacteria in salsa. I tried to watch it but I missed it and really hadn’t thought that much of it again.  But I get to work today and there’s an email going around about that broadcast.  The reporters go to five local Mexican restaurants and get samples of their salsa to test it for bacteria. Keep in mind I frequent 3 out of the 5 they went to. So they send the samples off to the lab to get tested and they are saying that the levels in the salsa were more than what they should be. They then tell you  about the restaurant with the least count of bacteria and of course it’s one of the restaurants I don’t go to. And the one with the most count, eww, it’s the one right across the street from my job that I go to the most!  Yuck! The crap that I can’t even type without getting sick, that they said was in there has the “potential to cause infection.” The article explained that we should expect some bacteria in the salsa, but bacillus species, leifsonia aquatic, pantoea agglomerans, streptococcus intermedius, and Streptococcus species are very scary and gross. 

I love Mexican food.  Matter of fact when I was dieting after my youngest, chips and salsa was my favorite low fat snack.  Ok maybe I wasn’t getting fat, but what else was I getting?

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Sharing Some Scrapbooking Work

I was going through my scrapbooking stuff and I posted some of my work on my page (scroll down on the right). I hope you enjoy it and I also hope to meet other scrapbookers on here. I just started blogging four days ago and have met so many people and got so much inspiration.  I hope this brings out the scrapbookers out there. Do you have any work to share with me?

A Mommy in Training: A Geeks Wife

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Who's Hot and Who's Not on Kid Shows

With my last two boys we decided to only have them watch PBS, Sprout, and Nick Jr. Yes, my Spanish and Chinese is pretty decent thanks to Dora and Kai Lan. I am also very "hip" thanks to Yo Gabba Gabba and The Fresh Beat Band. I also suddenly have the urge to travel the world, thank you very much Toot and Poodle. Oh and Steve from Blues Clues (he was around with my oldest, but thank God the repeats still come on) I had the biggest crush on him, but not so much the cousin Joe, he just seems young, lol. Then I also have the guest stars on Sesame Street, they are always fun. Oh and I love the Sunny Side Up Show, it's almost like a Good Morning America for kids.  The Pajaminals are so cute and their night night songs. I am a little iffy of Nina, only because my husband thinks she's so hot but if the kids want to watch her and dada is not around we’ll watch her and Star. And Caillou he is pretty cool, he does a lot of whining but I can tolerate him too.

But there is always that one show your kid loves and just the sight and sound of them drive you crazy! I hate to say it but the Wiggles are mine.  I have no idea what it is about them I just really don’t enjoy watching them.  When I know the Wiggles are coming on I try to change the channel before they do or convince them that Nick Jr is showing something better. 

So what shows are hot and not hot with you?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Potty Training a Diabetic Toddler


I have successfully made it through two of my sons with potty training, but my youngest is giving me a run for my money.  To catch you up on my potty training experience and to add a little humor to this situation, my oldest was “hide and go seek” pooper. You would never know he had to use the potty until you smelt it later.  But then after that you had to go find it. Yes, it was pretty bad.  But he was potty trained by two.  My middle son went straight to the potty.  Matter of fact he just turned 4 and he already does the stand up and scratch your butt, potty.  He is such a little man.  The only issue I had with him is he would hold it.  He would go for hours without using the potty. I used to be afraid he would hurt his little bladder, but our pediatrician said he was and would be fine.  

So to be totally fair, I might as well confess this one situation before I explain the dilemma with my youngest.  Last Halloween we had a costume party and we decorated the downstairs bathroom to scare some of our older guest. But because my youngest was getting familiar with the bathroom and my middle son was using the potty I was on bathroom patrol to make sure the little ones went upstairs to use the potty.  I think I walked away for maybe 5 minutes and of course one of them walks in there, which attracts the other in the bathroom. And just like that nobody was using the potty!  

Some time passes and the boys would go in the bathroom only if escorted, the sun was out and the light was on.  More time has passed and my youngest would occasionally visit the upstairs bathroom maybe sitting on the potty, sometimes the big potty, and getting comfortable with the flusher.  But still no pee pee in the potty.  We tried different approaches like this Spanish speaking Elmo potty (which is very annoying), just a plain potty, cool underwear, stickers, applause, and praise but still no pee pee. 

Then one day we get a tinkle! YAY! And another tinkle and a few more tinkles! And we are on our way to being full blown potty trained! Until he gets what we thought was a virus. After a week of upset stomach we go to the ER and find out my son has Type 1 diabetes.  There was a lot of crying, a lot of babying, and a lot of no using the potty days. Now we are back at trying to use the potty.  It has been the most challenging thing ever. Especially these past couple of days, we have had high sugar days, which means we have been frequently peeing. It has been hard on me to get up with him every few minutes so I can only image how it has been on him to have that feeling every few minutes and then sometimes not even making it.  I want to back off him and not push the potty but I am scared that if I do we will be in diapers forever.
Do any of my readers have any advice for a mother potty training a diabetic toddler?

Friday, November 12, 2010

Things that warm my heart in the cold season

Now that the cold season is here I have so much to look forward to not to mention some of my favorite things I have already started enjoying.  Like turtle necks and boots, there is nothing I like to wear more when it’s chilly outside is a turtle neck, my favorite pair of fitting jeans, and a nice pair of boots, and not to mention a cute matching bag on my arm. It takes me away from that “tired mommy look” to that “cute mom” look. There is also the fall and winter foods I enjoy. My husband’s chili, it has perfected over time, as he has. It’s very hearty; he uses big chucks of tomatoes, onions, meat, and peppers. It’s not too spicy but it has a little kick to it especially now that we have the little ones. Green bean casserole, and now that I think about it, why do I only cook this dish twice a year? It’s such a good dish, especially when the French onions are still a little crunchy on top. And finally a caramel macchiato, its offers me a little more comfort in the winter. I still get a great caffeine rush, but it keeps me warm and a smile on my face while driving on 95 to work in some of the worst traffic.   

Then there is Easy Sundays, mmmm.  What is an Easy Sunday? Easy Sundays is when it’s too cold to go outside and play, we don’t have any plans, we just had a big good ‘ole Sunday breakfast, the smell of Sunday dinner is floating through the air along with the linger of maple syrup from breakfast, you occasionally hear the clatter of the croak pot from where my husband keeps checking and sampling the meat, we are still in our pajamas, cuddled up on the couch watching movies, with frequent little cat naps.  A little before dinner the kids get a bath, then after that they eat off to their room they go to play.  That leaves enough time for my husband and I to catch the Fox Sunday line up, Simpson's, Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad. After several years of Sundays of watching this together we still talk about watching the Simpson's as growing up, good times.  Easy Sundays are the best, they also make Monday’s so approachable.  
 

Where Moms Who Blog Go!

My favorite homeschool joke

What do yo call a home school mom who talks to herself?

A parent teacher conference!

That puts a smile on my face every time

A Geeks Wife

Rusty
This is my husband Rusty, he is my Geek.  Not one of the oily hair, glasses wearing geeks, but that cute guy that just so happened to know a lot about electronics.  We go to Best Buy like we go to Wal-mart or our grocery store. Even if we are not buying anything he’s there looking and thinking about our next purchase. But the cool thing that I later appreciate about him is his research he puts into each product that we buy, weather it is a toy for one of our boys or our next TV.  No matter what we get I know a lot of thought and research has gone into it. And in most cases we end up with the cool stuff.  


I love my Geek

Thursday, November 11, 2010

I Need a New Dish for Thanksgiving


Now that I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year I need to start shopping, because we have 2 weeks left.  OMG, which means 2 weeks to start finalizing my Christmas list.  This part of the year is so busy.  And then when I think it’s all over my youngest birthday is in January.

Whew, just thinking about all that is exhausting.

But back to my original point, I need a new side dish for Thanksgiving.  I usually make cornbread stuffing, yams, green bean casserole, collard greens, corn pudding, macaroni and cheese, and deviled eggs. So I need something else to “wow” my family with.   Last year, I saw on one of those cooking shows a Turducken with sausage stuffing.  For those who are not familiar with Turducken, it is turkey, duck, and either chicken or hen.  You debone the birds and layer them with this sausage stuffing and then you sew them up and cook it.  After you cook it you slice it like a loaf.  It looked cool, . . .  and the sausage stuffing sounds tasty.  But I don’t know anybody that has made it. I may have to try cooking it before I do it for a major holiday.  But that sausage stuffing sounded real good.  If anyone has a recipe for that I would love it if you shared it with me or any of your favorite sides for Thanksgiving.  

Speaking of cooking I guess I should start cooking something for dinner.

Battle of the Thanksgiving Dinner

Introducing from the red corner, rated by many as the best cook by far, with several delicious dinners, one knock out Thanksgiving, and ZERO defeats.  She is the former best cake champion, former 15 minute dinner champion, former 5 meals for $40 champion, . . . . ..     the daughter in law,….   TIFFENE!!!

For the past few years the holidays have gone like this; Thanksgiving we go to my mom’s house and then I cook Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. Then for Christmas we go to dinner at my mother in laws and I cook a ham for my family at home.  I thought this was a great plan because the weight and responsibility of dinner was spread out amongst the family.  Not to mention my mother in law works at Wal-Mart and it is mandatory for her to work on Black Friday, so it was no big deal for me to cook on Friday for the family.  

So this year I’m super hyped about having another successful Thanksgiving dinner.  I even started planning the beginning of October, . . . .  .   Until one day I have my mother in law over for dinner, as she is enjoying one of my family’s favorite dinners, and leaving no crumbs behind.  She drops the bomb, “ I think I am going to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house, I just didn’t like the way it was last year”

Oh no this bitch didn’t?!

So she continues on explaining how she hasn’t had Thanksgiving at her house for a long time, she normally goes out, blah blah blah.  Honestly I can’t hear anything she’s saying because I was too busy fighting that big knot in my throat and the tears since she said she didn’t like my Thanksgiving dinner! I put my heart and soul (lol literally) into that dinner.  I made homemade pumpkins pies, my husband and I were on a wild goose chase looking for the perfect Turkey recipe, I made homemade stuffing, along with 6 other delicious sides. I even had holiday music playing on the TV. Needless to say it could not have been any better. But she didn’t like it??  

After crying for 3 days and trying to figure out what was wrong with my Thanksgiving dinner, my husband finally calls her.  Of course he eats up whatever BS she fed him and he comes back and tries to feed it to me but I’m not having it.  She said she didn’t like it and I WANTED TO KNOW WHY!

I went through several moods over the next couple of weeks, “I hate her, she’s mean” “Nobody is going over there to eat her dry turkey” “That’s it we will go to beach and have Thanksgiving there” then to “You know what I’m cooking the best Thanksgiving dinner ever, and she is NOT invited!”

So last night she comes by and casually says this, “So are you still cooking your dinner on Friday?”

I say, “yes”

She says, “Well I don’t think I’m going to cook Thanksgiving dinner, I have to work 3am-4pm and plus I cook Christmas dinner.”

All I can think was, OH YEA THANKSGIVING WAS MINE AGAIN!!!!!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Power of Movies

OK, so a few days ago I decided I wanted to start a blog.
I hate to sound cliché but that dang on movie, “Julie & Julia” has been on for the past month and I guess after a while “ding” a light went off in my head and I jumped up off my couch and decided I want to be heard too! So after reading and doing my “research” on blogging I realized a lot of blogs go unread.  Needless to say, back on the couch I went.  But I’ll be dammed if that movie didn’t come back on. This time I googled how to get my blog read. And after I got a few good pointers here I am.
My name is Tiffene.