Wordless Wednesday - Why am I in a basket? And the cat's not?

January Budget Review

January is over and one of my 2012 resolutions was to keep better track of and improve our finances.
So far, I have been utterly unsuccessful and overspent by $291.00!!!

• Budget allowance for groceries/household goods/toiletries was $600.  We spent $670 PLUS $180 on fast food (OH MY!)
• Budget allowance for miscellaneous expenses was $150. We spent $230 which included clothes, two fluffy bums, random Ikea stuff, $45 cash spent who knows where and a case (yes, a case) of Tassimo Chai Tea Latte T-Disks.
• Budget allowance for medical expenses was $150.  We spent $170.
• Budget allowance for vehicle expenses/gas was $300.  We spent $235 (not too shabby!).

Despite going under budget on vehicle expenses we still ended up going hundreds of dollars OVER BUDGET!  Oh Bother! I would love to some day build our dream home and take the kids on a Disney World Alaskan Cruise, but in order for that to happen we NEED to stop over spending!


My daughter was in definite need of new clothes.  She had went through a major growth spurt over the holidays and was beginning to outgrow her entire wardrobe so that portion of my spending was a worthy expenditure.  However, due to that extra expense I probably should have held off on getting those fluffy bums, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants... As for the Chai Tea Latte's.... Well, those were a necessity!

Next month I'll be stronger and I am determined to stick to the budget.  I have officially declared February to be void of fast food and I will pay much much closer attention to what our miscellaneous money is being spent on. 


I WILL NOT go over budget in February even if it means Chai Tea Latte withdrawal! YIKES!


In terms of saving and making extra money, I would rate my accomplishments this month as being barely satisfactory.
January's Coupons Savings = $64.00
Online Survey Earnings = $56.50


Hoping for a better February

Sleep Deprivation

There have been studies which have demonstrated that sleep deprivation hampers cognitive abilities just as much if not more so than alcohol impairment.

I believe it.

I am tired.  Utterly exhausted.  Unfunctional.

Peanut is normally a "bad" sleeper.  He habitually wakes every two hours to nurse but he nearly always goes right back to bed following a quick feed.  But not this past week.  Since he's been ill he has been staying up ALL night long.  Well he sleeps, but for no more than 30 minutes at a time and more often than not he wakens as soon as he hits the bed.  OH and I have been rotating shifts to allow us to get at least one stretch of 3 hours sleep, but we're still exhausted.  I want to cry.

My house seems to be falling apart at the seams.  The dishes are piling up as is the laundry.  And it's messy.  Very very messy.  Whenever I get Peanut to actually sleep in his bed as opposed to on top of me I'm just too exhausted to do housework.  I'm too exhausted to think.

Oh bother!

How do you manage when your sleep deprived?

Ear Infection Update Two

I caved and went running to the hospital this afternoon.

Peanut's fever continued into the morning as did his fussiness.

The visit was fairly inconclusive.  The only thing made for certain was that Peanut is extremely cute sick or not... and that I already knew!

Of course, the fever dissipated as soon as we walked through the hospital doors, though he remained unsettled.  He cried and cried as the nurse took his vitals.  It broke my heart.  The doctor then assessed him and found that Peanut's left ear showed "very slight" inflammation.  The doctor said the problem was very likely an ear infection but due to the mildness of the inflammation the source of the infection could very well lie elsewhere... Perhaps a urinary tract infection?

Like I said, inconclusive.

As we were walking out of the hospital room, Peanut started smiling, laughing and waving.  Gotta love it when kiddos make liars out of us, but it was lovely to see him cheery after days of being miserable!  The rest of the day Peanut showed gradual improvement.  He had moments of happiness, he crawled around, played for awhile AND he even ate supper.  He still preferred to spend most of his time cuddling and he was still "warmer" than usual, but improvement was certainly evident.

As such, I was/am on the fence as to whether or not I should give him the antibiotics.  He's still not well, but he is slightly better.  There's a large part of me wanting to believe it was an ear infection and that my mommy milk did something in helping to reduce the inflammation.  I'd love to believe that he's on the mend and there's no need for antibiotics, but there's still a small part of me worried that the infection stems from elsewhere and that delaying treatment may make it worse.

Decisions

Decisions

Ear Infection Update

Is it an ear infection?  Or is it not an ear infection?  That is the question... and we may actually have to go to the the doctors to seek the answer.  

We're on day 2 with a fever.  It rose slightly higher than yesterday and peaked at 39.0 C.  Still not terribly high, but high enough to make him uncomfortable.  My poor little man is restless and has been napping for very short periods of time periodically throughout the day.  My husband and I rotated shifts last night.  We're both exhausted!  

Today, there was no ear pulling.  Just misery.  Aside from the fever and slight lethargy my little man has no other physical symptoms of illness.  No respiratory ailments, no digestive upset, just a fever and some lethargy.  He did get up and crawl around a few times throughout the day but most of his day was spent cuddling.  

He didn't eat much solid food today and sustained himself primarily on mommy milk along with some water.  I worry of dehydration.  He was not as "drooly" as usual though his lips didn't seem abnormally dry.  He voided the recommended amount, his skin turgor normal, capillary reflex normal, heart rate normal, respirations normal but I worry.  

A part of me is concerned that the ear pulling stopped.  His body is obviously fighting an infection of some sort and if it were an ear infection it seems rather bizarre that the ear pulling would stop so soon before the cessation of the fever.  I worry that he may have an infection elsewhere... Urinary perhaps.  I've spent so much time and effort advocating against circumcision it seems just my luck that my little uncircumcised son would fall prey to one of the risks of not circumcising.  

If things don't improve tomorrow I will take him to be assessed.  If I knew for certain it was an ear infection I would feel comfortable to give it another day or too but I'm concerned of it being a possibly urinary tract infection and even more concerned of the possibility of it progressing to his little kidneys.  In the meantime, I'll pray for improvement and healing.  

Sometimes I love being a mother

And other times I ask myself 'Why?'  

Why?

Avoid Disgruntled Babies - Use Laundry Tarts!

I would absolutely LOVE to win a years supply of Laundry Tarts.  I have yet to try the product, but I have several friends who swear it is the best fluffy bum detergent EVER!  And the scents sound PHENOMENAL.  Banana Bread, and Bubblegum and Apple Pie, Oh My!  And I can only just imagine how yummy Birthday Cake, Root Beer Float or Pina Colada  must smell.

Ear Infections.... WITHOUT Antibiotics (& my past encounter with yeast)

For two nights my baby boy just wouldn't sleep.  I wouldn't say he was miserable or unwell, but perhaps just a little unsettled.  Yesterday, my husband noticed him pulling at his ear.  Maybe it was the beginnings of an ear infection.  Maybe a tooth. So we waited to see what would become of it.

This morning my little cuddle bunny woke up absolutely miserable.  He just was not content at all.  Then the afternoon came and along with it came a low grade fever and some ear pulling.  I am not a doctor, and I did not examine his little ears with a otoscope but I am quite confident that my little guy has an ear infection :(

Aside from one day with a runny nose back in September, this is the first time he has ever been unwell.  He's nearly 10 months old and I suppose it was bound to happen but it still makes it no easier.

Years ago, when my daughter was just an infant, she too developed an ear infection.  She was miserable, tugged at her ear, and developed a fever.  We RAN her to the doctor.  They gave us antibiotics.  We gave her the maximum amount of Tylenol recommended.  We cuddled.  She was still miserable the next day.  The fever came and went along with the Tylenol.  The following day she was feeling better, but we now had a whole new problem to deal with.  At the time of her ear infection I was still breastfeeding her and suddenly breastfeeding hurt.  It wasn't a little painful.  It was UNBELIEVABLY painful.  We had never experienced any breastfeeding problems prior to that point.  I was puzzled.  Soon after, my precious little girl developed a nasty diaper rash and became quite miserable herself.  She had never had diaper rash before.  I was even more puzzled.  So we went to the doctors again...... And..... We had YEAST!  My nipples were infected, as were my daughters mouth and diaper area.  What a mess.  It was then I discovered why my mother always told me to eat yogurt with probiotics when on antibiotics.  Antibiotics kill bacteria.  Both the good bacteria and bad bacteria.  That's right, us humans have good bacteria all over our bodies and we need it to keep nasty things like yeast (candida) at bay.  When antibiotics are taken our natural defenses against such things weaken and we're subject to a take over.  Yeast took over! So we had to be treated which turned out to be quite the endeavor.  We were given an anti-fungal ointment to use on my nipples and her bum as well as Nystatin to combat her oral thrush.  Off we went.  And things didn't get better even after my daughter finished the entire course of her antifungal treatment.  Breastfeeding continued to be a painful hell, the horrible diaper rash continued and my daughter still sported chunky white patches all over her mouth.  We went back to the doctor.  He prescribed Diflucan (a stronger anti-fungal with more potential side effects) and told us to continue using the same anti-fungal nipple/bum ointment.  We went on our way and followed his orders.  Upon completion of the Diflucan, breastfeeding continued to be painful as hell, the horrible diaper rash continued and my daughter STILL had white patches all over her mouth.   We went back to the doctors once again.  We were then prescribed gentian violet.  At last, a treatment that finally worked!  Sort of.  My daughters oral thrush was eliminated, my candida infected nipples were treated BUT that diaper rash remained.  We were using cloth nappies.  So we stripped them.  And stripped them.  And stripped them.  We let them hang in the sun.  Then we stripped them again.  Her poor little bum was so raw.  We soothed it with plain yogurt in hopes to help eliminate the yeast.  We kept using the anti-fungal ointment.  I eliminated sugars from my diet.  I even tried breast milk on her bum. Eventually, after we battled and battled, sterilized everything that touched my baby's mouth or bum, used 3 oral anti-fungal treatments, a medicated anti-fungal nipple/bum ointment, topical use of yogurt and breast milk, and stripped her cloth diapers SEVERAL times we finally eliminated our lives from the yeast.  It took a little over 2 months.  It was a LONG 2 months.  But we finally destroyed the yeast that was taking over our lives.  I am not sure what it was exactly that finally demolished the yeast or if it was a combination of EVERYTHING we did but one thing I do know is that I do not want to go through that again.

It turns out yeast is a VERY tough fungi.  It is resilient to many treatments and it's resiliency is growing at an overwhelming pace.  Nystatin is a very common first line treatment.  It's one of the gentler anti-fungal treatment though it does have several potential side effects.  Nystatin FREQUENTLY fails and has been known to make yeast infections worse.  Diflucan isn't as gentle and it's toxic effects have been well illustrated. Yet, it is certainly not uncommon for yeast to withstand Diflucan as well.  Then there's gentian violet.  A messy solution.  Some say it is one of the most effective solution, however it's known to cause oral sores and may be linked to oral cancer. Eek! And sometimes, none of those work.  Over the years, I have even met a few poorly individuals who have had on again off again battles with yeast for months at a time who have experienced absolutely no relief from pharmacological approaches. YIKES!

I suppose the best way in treating yeast is to avoid getting it in the first place.  More on that later.

So back to my baby boy.  The poor little guy likely has an ear infection and this time I WILL NOT be running to the doctor this time.  Over the years, I have read many a article on ear infections, best treatments, possible sequelae etc and have come to the research supported conclusion that 'most' ear infections will in fact resolve on their own with out any ill effects and that many ear infections are viral in nature and do not respond to antibiotics anyways.  I have also read more deeply into the possible side effects of antibiotics.  Yeast is certainly a risk but it is not the only consideration.  Antibiotic resistant bacteria is also a growing REALconcern.  And it's not a potential concern, it's an actually happening right now concern.  Then there are the side effects and risk of allergy and possible anaphylaxis.  

In terms of managing my baby boy, I have decided to take the natural approach and we will just observe for the time being.  Observe and cuddle and comfort and offer as much mommy milk as his little heart desires.  I have also decided to try using my breast milk directly to combat any possible ear infections as well. I have heard of many other mommies use it with success and I have used breast milk for several other ailments over the years so I'm going to give it a try and hope for the best.

Of course, if my little guy's fever gets too high, or if there is no improvement over time I will take him in to the doctor and I will be open to the medicated route.  Often, 'natural' minded parents get a bad rap for being neglectful and uncaring when they deny treatments at the first sign of an illness but that is not the case at all.  I, for one, am opting away from seeking antibiotics because I feel that that is the best thing for my little guy's health and well being both currently and long term.  I am doing what I think is best for him and getting him well again IS my focus.  I have absolutely no issue with the use of pharmacological treatments WHEN truly indicated.  In fact, I have a great appreciation for medications and our advanced health care in general.  But based on the current literature out there right now I do not feel antibiotic treatment is indicated.  Antibiotic overuse is problem and I for one will not contribute.  

BUT if things go astray and antibiotics are indicated for my son or anyone else in the family, prophylactic prevention of yeast WILL be a priority.  Acidophilus is excellent in that regards and can be given to both adults and infants both orally and topically.  Plain yogurt (not the sugary, sweetened fruity kind) is also an excellent source of probiotics which help to maintain healthy flora and avoid yeast overgrowth.

Wordless Wednesday - So THIS is what SNOW is for!

Risks of Formula Feeding

Risks to the Child:

• Colic and reflux
• Gastroenteritis
• Pyloric Stenosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative entercolitis
• Increased episodes of vomiting and diarrhea
• Constipation
• Neonatal hypocalcemic tetany
• Allergies
• Eczema
• Childhood and adult obesity
• Impaired ability to regulate appetite 
• Type 1 and 2 diabetes
• Ear infections
• Meningitis
• Appendicitis
• Bacterial infections (e.coli, salmonella, streptococcus, etc)
• Botulism
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Childhood cancers ( leukemia and hodgkins disease)
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Respiratory illnesses (RSV, pneumonia, bronchitis)
• Urinary tract and Kidney infections
• Septicemia (blood infections)
• Inguinal hernia
• Improper jaw and teeth alignment
• Speech impairment
• Tooth decay
• Lowered bone density
• Impeded cognitive development
• Decreased effectiveness of immunizations
• Autism
• SIDS
• Mortality following disasters 

Risks to Premature Babies:

• Infection
• Necrotizing entercolitis
• Slow weight gain
• Longer hospital stays

Risks to the Mother:

• Postpartum Hemorrhage
• ObesityBreast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Anemia
• High blood pressure
• Postpartum depression
• Postpartum anxiety

Formula and Feeding Equipment Risks:

• Formula contamination (recalls)
• Water contamination (hard metals or bacterial)
• Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure
• Latex nipple induced allergic reactions
• Burns from improper heating

Risks to the Environment:

• Wasted resources during manufacturing process
• Wasted resources for transportation
• Energy wasted to boil water, heat formula
• Increased garbage (formula cans, old bottles, etc)

Risks to Family Unit:

• Financial hardship
• Shorter inter-pregnancy intervals
• Inconvenience – washing, sterilizing, preparation, heating

Risks to Community:

• Increased hospitalizations & physician visits
• Increased costs to our healthcare system
• Loss of breastfeeding knowledge
• Corrupted societal attitude towards breastfeeding

Does Baby REALLY Need a Gender??????

I recently came across an article in the news about a family who just revealed the 'gender' of their child, 5 years AFTER that child was born. Every few years I come across this.  News coverage of a family who has decided to take Lois Gould's 'X: A Fabulous Child's Story' to life.  And every few years there is social up roar.

"Why on earth would parents do such a thing to their child?"
"Don't they care about him? her? it?"
"They must just want attention!"

But perhaps there is merit to their madness after all?
While I do believe 'males' and 'females' are genetically inclined towards some traits and tendencies I also firmly believe that much if not the majority of our current gender constructs are primarily artificial and cultural based.  From the moment of birth (and for some with that first ultrasound) gender is the key focal point.  Baby is born and they announce "It's a (insert sex here)".  And it doesn't stop there.  Each and every time those parents share the news of their new baby it's ALWAYS accompanied with a mention of what gender that baby is.  And why is that?  I speculate it has absolutely NOTHING to do with penises or vaginas!  The gender needs to be known so that us bigger people will know how to interact with that baby.  What words to use, what tone to say them in, what movements to make, what gifts to give.  All those things are dependent one what gender the baby is.  Unfortunately, we don't have a schema on how to interact with a gender-neutral baby.  It's no wonder the parents who have chosen this route for their children have been confronted with such social conflict.  We outsiders just don't know how to interact outside of our gendered boxes!

So what is the point of denying a child a gender?  Are there actual benefits?
Well, gender stereotypes most certainly do put restrictions on what us humans are socially 'allowed' to do.  By denying a child a gender, one is also eliminating any potential gender taboos.   They would have no feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment for their preferences which may have evoked ridicule in our 'real gendered world'.  Without societal pressures that child would be fully enabled to pursue their own endeavors and essentially become true to themselves.  There are no silly culturally constructed gender limitations or barriers in a genderless world!

But things are better now aren't they?  Girls are 'allowed' to do anything boys can do!  Right?  And boys can do anything a girl can do?  Moms say it all the time.  "My son loves to cook in his toy kitchen" or "My daughter plays with toy trucks"  but even with that layer of acceptance there is still a deep ingrained gendered understanding that there are certain things boys do and certain ways boys act that contradict with girl interests and behaviors.  It's evident everywhere!  In movies, in books, in classrooms, at the mall, and in the home.  A boy may be 'allowed' and 'encouraged' to play with dolls but he will eventually observe that doll playing is not a 'typical' boy behaviour.  Depending on his personality he will either A. abandon this feminine past-time or B. rebel and continue with the feminine behavior.  If a child chooses B it does not mean that that child does not feel the social pressure, it means he has chosen to defy it.  In a genderless world, this conflict would not exist.

So back to the question, are there benefits to denying a child a gender?
In my opinion, probably not.  While I agree with the motive and theory behind such action, there is one giant flaw that cannot be ignored.  Children are observers.  They watch and they learn.  Gender inequality is a societal problem.  Unless one was to completely isolate the child from society, being genderless will not have full effectiveness as that child WILL learn gendered behaviour second hand because it is EVERYWHERE.  It is in books and at stores and even lingers around the playground.  Exposure is inevitable.

It's a BRAND new year - 2012 here I come!

Okay, so 2012 has been here for a little over two weeks now and I haven't posted in AGES but it's better to post late than never right???? Right!


I am actually quite excited about this year and have quite a few plans/resolutions lined up.




#1.  Become organized (and what better way to do that than to start off with a 2012 list???)
There are many many many smaller (though some big) projects involved with this one

• The first one being THE BASEMENT eek!  My basement is bad... Real bad... It could probably even get me on 'Hoarders'
• Then I need to purge.  I intend to go through my home square inch by square inch and get rid of everything and anything my family does not need.
• Then there are my memories.  I have lots and lots of memories scattered ALL OVER the place.  This year I intend to organize them all into a nice not so little scrapbook and perhaps I'll finish my children's baby book along the way.... The oldest is 10 and it would be nice to get that thing completed by the time the poor dear moves out!  

#2.  Improve our finances

We have debt.  A lot of debt.  We would love to buy land and build ourselves our dream home but that just can't happen until we get our financial head above water.  This year I'm determined to do just that.  This year those credit cards WILL be paid off!  Here's my method of attack:

• Use those coupons!  I'm certainly not a couponer newbie but I'm eager to take it a little further this and I am aiming to save at least $150 monthly using those lovely little money saving slips of paper.
• Make money online.  
• Sell things we do not use or need (which meshes quite nicely with my organization goal)

#3.  Improve my health

I don't necessarily want to lose weight (though that would be a bonus), but I would love to 'feel' better. 

Currently feeling: Blah

Would like to feel:  Awesome

• So, in attempts to feel AWESOME I have decided to get up and be active.... at least a few times a week.....
• I also intend to eat healthier.... I like food.... I like food a lot.... There are certain things in life I just won't give up.... and many of them are edible.... I won't dare to even attempt to eat "healthy".... so I'll stick with 'healthier'...

#4.  Me Me Me

       I feel as though I have neglected myself over the past few years.  

       I miss "me" so I'm gonna try to get her back!  I'm going to start doing "ME" things again.

• I'm going to buy myself some desperately needed new clothes <GASP> 
• I'm going to spend time scrap booking
• I'm going to spend time writing
• I'M GOING TO WRITE IN MY BLOG!   I've neglected it for far too long.  This year I'm determined to keep at it.  I love to write.  It only makes sense to keep doing it!

#5.  Be a better mommy

Life has been a little chaotic since Baby Peanut entered into our lives and sometimes I feel that my kids just don't get the attention and care they deserve.  I've also observed a few more not so ideal behaviors/temper tantrums occurring lately than I would like to see.  Somethings have to change and they have to change NOW!

• This year I plan to ensure that each kid gets individual Mommy-Kid time free from distractions from their other siblings.
• I would also like to help my kids become intrinsically motivated to help out around the house.  
• I would like to move away from authoritative parenting style I have appeared to have fallen into and a create a better democratic natured atmosphere within our household.  Wish me luck!