Random Tid Bits

1. I've been tired, since Daylight Savings Time hit! Lights out early, so is my brain power. I've even bumped up my Vitamin D3.


2. Isaak's been put in 2 groups at school. One group doesn't seem like they'll listen to him. The other group had one sleeper and another one that left the group to go do what they wanted. He's pretty frustrated. I don't blame him. While it's important to learn to work with people, middle school is a rough time even without being in groups.
   
   I was in a group in middle school where boys were violating my space. One put his pencil on my chair and said, "Sit and spin!" Then he kept putting his hand on my upper leg. You could say I hated groups at that moment! BUT I asked the teacher if I could switch, and said the boys were doing things to me that wasn't acceptable. He didn't ask questions, he let me switch groups. I got in a group with one of my best friends at the time. We're still friends. It was a negative situation that turned positive.


3. Mr. Sunny is now pooping regularly. YAY! Not Vet follow-up.
   
   We actually have seen him grow. His tail is thickening up. Such a good thing! The Vet said his tail was too thin. His diet has expanded. He used to only eat 2 small mealworms every other day. Now he eats 1 superworm, and 2 small mealworms, or 1 cricket, and 2 small mealworms. We're attempting to breed mealworms and superworms. He could eat roaches, but after a fun back prick allergy test I know that's something I'm allergic too.
   
   
   
   
   
4. I had a student that came to me and said, "I'm sorry I wasn't in class. I had a reaction to a med I was taking." I asked, "Can I ask what med you had problems with?" She said, "Well I had an allergy flair up, so I took Claritin D, an Equate Allergy, a Zyrtec, and a Montelukast. No one could wake me up."
   
   If you know anything about allergy meds, she basically took 3 of a similar med; overdosing! Montelukast is the generic of Singular. It's, it's own bird. Basically it's primarily for Asthma. The rest of what she took are all the same type of drug!
   
   I don't worry about drugs with students as much as I do with them mixing drugs! I hear all the time about them being on an anti depressant, and drinking on top of that. Not good!
   
   
5. It might not stay this way, but as of right now Isaak has higher grades than Mica. Mica found out he had all A's mid way through. I think that went to his head. 

Poop Already!

The oh so cute Sunny AKA our Leopard Gecko is backed up. When we got him he had blue sand in his tank. After researching, we found that sand even if it has calcium in it isn't good for him to digest. They lick everything.

We reset up his tank to have coconut substrate in it made for lizards. I read that, that was ok.

He's pooped, but it had blue in the poop. Now it's been 2 weeks, since Sunny has pooped.

At first I was just like, "I don't know how much he actually needs to poop. Maybe there's poop that's hiding in his tank."

We've researched some more. Any loose stuff in their tank isn't good. Out went the coconut substrate. He now has a cork board, for the ground. He has fun things to hide under, and climb on.

Travis didn't believe me at first, but to help Sunny's body relax, and keep up hydration he needs some warm baths. In the water he goes. We've been watching him, so he doesn't drown. He just needs water to hit his under belly. Then if your lizard likes you, you can rub his tummy to help him. I did that. He didn't seem to mind. After that Olive Oil can be applied to his lips (we used a q-tip), and put in his drinking water. We did that. Still no poop!

We only have to take him to the vet if his eyes seem sunken in, and he's not active at all.

There were mixed reviews on feeding him, or not. We laid off on feeding him one day, but fed him the next. Then we followed up with more Olive Oil.

We decided to take him in to see a Lizard Veterinarian. It was $60 for the visit, and $10 for a laxative.

After he had the laxative one day he pooped. YAY! $25 for them to test his poop sample. Then they want a follow up. I just want him to be regular. If he can become regular, I'm all for skipping the follow up. Ha!

Moral of the story:

Leopard Geckos do best with a hard surface, for a ground. No sand, no substrate. Just newspaper, paper towel, and Scotch Brite Pads (Smooth Surface, not Rough). I think cork board will be just fine. It can be taken out, and washed.

Have you ever had problems with an animal? If so what was your problem?

Random Tid Bits

1. It's midterms at the college I teach at, so that means I'm super busy!
    I spent an hour or more grading this morning. There's one more project staring at me. The guy that turned it in was late, skipped everyone's presentations, and didn't talk to me about it. I'm kind of letting him stew in the fact that he has an F in my class right now. I need to take some photos of artwork, but plan on doing that tomorrow. If I've been a bit absent from blogging, that's why. I kind of thought if I blogged, I'd feel a little more uplifted afterwards. 


2. Isaak's had a shitty week! There's a reason I'm saying that. I'll get to it.
   
   He's been missing a lot of recesses this year. I'm not a fan of kids not getting breaks in elementary school. So...I emailed his teacher about it. Go to find out...the principal was holding recesses because they were talking so loud, he could hear them down the hall.
   
   In my mind that means they should be outdoors all the more. They wouldn't be so loud if they got it out of their systems outside.
   
   If you want to take play away from them - fine. Have them go outdoors, and turn them into runners. They have a track.
   
   Even at home when our kids can't focus on a task they run, outdoors, up and down the hill. Am I a perfect parent, no. This helps them get their tasks done!
   
   Now I feel it's important for me to find all the research I can about how recess is important. Let's add work to Alissa's schedule! Typically I like Mr. Principal. Damn it! Not this time. It pisses me off!
   
   I don't even feel pissed off about Isaak not having it per say. He's a good kid. He gets A's in school. I feel for the kids that are hyperactive, have trouble focusing, and so on.
   
   5th grade is one of the biggest classes in the school.
   
   Guess what? I'd love it for my son to be able to hang out with other kids in the other class. 


3. I told you I'd get to Isaak's shitty week. Here it is! The craziest, messed up scenario I've heard for awhile.
   
   A 5th grader boy has been pooping and peeing on the floor. What does the school decided to do about this? They decided to pick 3 or 4 good kids in each class to have shit duty. Ok so they don't call it that, but I do. Isaak is in rotation of the other good kids, he goes out of class when someone needs to go to the bathroom. He looks in the bathroom to make sure nothing is on the floor. After the kid is done doing their duty, he gets to look again. Crappy, ya think?
   
   
   
   
   We found out about his shitty duty when he didn't know how to do his math homework. He missed 1/2 the lesson because he was not in the classroom. That night Isaak was in tears because he wanted to finish his math. He was worried about his grade dropping. He was so frustrated.
   
   We were/are so annoyed! Travis sent a text over to his teacher expressing that Isaak didn't understand his math because he was out of the room for some bathroom duty that seemed like a crazy story. She gave him another night to work on his math. I told Isaak to tell his teacher he didn't want to do that job anymore. If they won't let him stop, I'll freaking put a stop it. Conferences are coming up. Guess who's getting an ear full about that one? 





4. Travis also waited and waited for Isaak to come out one night after school. Where was Isaak? He was putting up chairs for other kids in the class. His teacher was praising him. Travis said, "Isaak is that your chair?" Isaak said, "No." Travis said, "Then don't put it up. Come on we have to go." I don't know that I blame Isaak's teacher for that. Travis and I are pretty annoyed that the good kid gets crap duties. 


5. I applied to 3 art things lately, and was denied with all of them. I know they get a lot of people that enter. I was hoping to get into just 1. Boo!

Check out TUSHY

Have you ever heard of TUSHY before? I haven't heard of it until now. It's a way to clean your tush without using toilet paper. In other countries they use a water washing system. Here it's toilet paper that's used all the time. Most brands of toilet papers fill their products with bleach. Not only is toilet paper filled with harmful chemicals, it only wipes a fraction of your stool away. TUSHY on the other hand fully cleans your tush.

  
Your family’s health is important! TUSHY, the chic attachment that transforms any standard toilet into a booty wonderland. They just released a campaign to introduce the game-changing benefits of using a bidet.

In Time To Get With The Clean Poop Program, People, an adorable young boy, Danny, highlights all the health benefits of washing your bum with a TUSHY bidet versus using toilet paper. Geared toward cause-driven millennial families that strive for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, TUSHY’s campaign aims to break down cultural taboos and encourage proper butt washing for all poopers.

Find the TUSHY launch on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The campaign is in the works. You'll soon see ads on TV too.

Take good care of your TUSHY!

About TUSHY:

We believe a clean booty is a happy booty. The easy-to-install modern bidet attachment is a sleek way to modernize your bathroom. It helps people feel cleaner, keep booties healthier, and helps improve our environment. TUSHY wants to forever change the way people clean their rears.

What brand of toilet paper do you buy? Do you worry about harmful chemicals in your bathroom products?

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers or family.

Full of It!

Last week when Travis went to pick up the boys he saw Isaak in pain. He was hunched over, and just complaining saying, "My bladder hurts!" Isaak said he just started hurting about the time school was about out. Travis rushed him home, had Isaak sit on the pot to go to the bathroom. 

Our Conversation on the Phone:

Me: "Does it burn when he pees?"

Travis: "No." 

Me: "Then it's more than likely not a bladder infection. I hope it's not his appendix! Ask him where it hurts?"

Travis: "In the middle below his belly button."

Me: "I'd think it wouldn't be his appendix then. That's off to the side, but kids act different than you'd think they would. When my sister had her appendix out when she was little she hunched over like that to. You said he pooped right?"

Travis: "Yep."

I drove home. 

I repeated all the same questions to Isaak. I made him some tea. I told Travis to set up a bed for him on the couch, plug in the heating pad, and to call the nurse. Thankfully the boys' doctor's office has a nurse on call all the time. I was trying to get the rest of us some dinner, and coddle Isaak at the same time.

She told us to go to the ER. I had my doubts thinking, We're waisting our money! Then I thought, This is our kid! It's best to be on the safe side. Travis gets annoyed with me because I'm not quick to rush to the emergency room. 

Sure enough the doctor didn't think it was his appendix. He wanted him to get a scan just in case. I was thinking, Are you sure this is 
necessary? Isaak was happily bouncing over to get his scan. I was thinking, I'm paying for this. He's fine! If I don't have him get the scan it seems like I'm that Mother that doesn't give a crap!

The boy was full of crap! We've hardly had constipation problems in our family. If anything the opposite. 

He was watching Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The boys eat really well actually! BUT last weekend I told the boys they could eat my broken cookies. If you remember I dropped a tin. They were eating way more than they should. Like shoveling the pieces in their mouths. I cut them off, but I think they snuck more behind my back. I know the cookies were the culprit. They just are not used to eating that much sugar and flour.

We had a choice: An enema, MiraLax (a stool softener), and/or fiber bars. I decided that MiraLax would be the best choice. I wasn't sure how Isaak would go for an enema. Then I told the doctor I'd put Benefiber in our smoothies in the mornings.

The doctor was talking to us like it happens to all boys much of the time. Being full of it has never happened to us. 

Isaak was so worried he'd miss school the next day. He has perfect attendance so far. 

He went to the bathroom 4 times before school. (Thank Goodness) Every time he went I said, "That was the most expensive poop EVER!" I'm scared to get the bill on that ER stay!

Travis walked him into school to talk to his teacher about letting him go potty whenever he needed that day.

I found out Travis was giving the boys my cookies for after school snacks. I said, "Nope! Only at Christmas time, and New Years! Let them eat fruit, nuts, seeds, or veggies for a snack!"

The Little Punk Pooped On Me!

Last weekend I thought to myself, "I want to go see my lil' sister and nephews." I feel like I haven't been able to see them most of the winter because of my sickness or that sickness in our family. Now we are all well. Everything is good except for Isaak's emergency room visit last week. That's not contagious. I called them on Sunday and said, "Can we come over sometime today?" They said, "Yes." At 12 we were off to their house.

The boys played with their cousins. Terra and I hashed out what we were going to do for Isaak and Evan's joint family party. We decided that we're going with the ever popular mustache theme. My Brother In Law works at Oriental Trading Company, so he gets a deal and can pick it up, so we won't have to pay shipping. For the first time in my birthday party history (with my kids anyway) we're making cupcakes instead of cake. I couldn't resist these mustache toppers.

Source

Almost the whole time I was there little Mr. Punk Emerson was sleeping. He hardly sleeps. That's a major problem at their house. I show up, and all he wants to do is sleep.

If you like his shirt, I won it at Snugfits when Isaak was little. They have the best shirts! I have to pump it up, I'm friends with the owner. Truly they wash up so nice though. They say some funny things to!

Finally Emerson woke up. I was holding him and he smelled. I didn't know he pooped. I just smelled a funky smell. I know they bathe him less because A) His skin is sensitive. B) He is going through chemo and under his shirt is all kinds of stuff they have to protect. C) He hates baths. I don't blame him. They literally have to put Saran Wrap on him to give him a bath.

The funk smell was poop. It smells funky because of the meds he's on. Up his diaper it went. I went to hand him off and my coat sleeve dragged into it.

I washed myself off. We had to drive home with the funk still lingering for 15 to 20 minutes.

Then my sister got threw up on and pooped on after I left. I think she took two showers that day.

Emerson is only on light chemo. Imagine what it would be like if he was on the nasty stuff!

Once Upon a Poop...

If poop stories gross you out, do not read this. If you don't get grossed out, you will be laughing at this story.

Tonight Isaak hardly ate. He said, "Mom this is the grossest steak I've ever had!" It was a veggie burger...

Then he had to poop. It took awhile.

Then I heard the dreaded, "Mom I'm done!" That's when I'm thinking, I just sat down. Oh man I need to train this kid how to wipe his own butt!

I went to wipe him. The roll of toilet paper had brown on it. I said, "Isaak why does the toilet paper have poop on it?

Isaak said, "Mom my poop wouldn't come out. I had to help it with my fingers!"

I'm thinking, GROSS!

I wipe him and tell Isaak, "You have to wash your fingers with soap and water!"

Isaak says, "No! I don't have to. I wiped them off on the toilet paper!"

Don't worry, I made him wash his hands!

Boys!!!!

Uncommon

Last night I picked out $50 worth of stuff at Uncommon Goods. I won a $50 Gift Certificate through Jumpin Beans. They have great products that are upcycled, artist made and just plain cool! The only downfall is that some of their things are higher priced because of the custom factor.

You would think all shopping would be over. NOPE! I have one nephew that has a birthday on Christmas Eve, my niece had a birthday yesterday and another nephew with a birthday in January. This time of year is spend, spend, spend.

I already took care of my nephew that had a birthday on Christmas Eve. We got him a microscope set at Costco.

My nephew that is in sixth grade is getting this:

He wanted a bonsai tree kit. I found a really good one here. His Mom, my sister is picking up the bonsai scissors. It's kind of odd the kit came with everything, but them. This is the best, affordable kit I could find.

On to Uncommon Goods. My one and only niece in high school wanted this:

I got it for her room. We always celebrate her birthday with her brothers in January. That way it's a little further from Christmas.

That clock wasn't the full $50, so I picked out a few other things.

Socks for me. I just love the mismatched socks they have:

I looked at socks for my nephew Emerson to. They were kind of expensive, he got some socks for Christmas, Aunt Terra says some socks are too tight around the top part and lets face it if they don't work for him online stuff is harder to return. So I refrained from the cuteness of these tube socks:

Instead I finished off my $50 with a book for my Dad. I'll give it to him in March for his birthday.

The book is both funny and true. My Dad always says, "You can tell a lot about your poop." It's gross, but so true. He also has told me, "If your pee is very yellow you need to drink more water!" After I had kids poop and pee are ok to talk about. Heck I had to describe poop to the doctors when each of my kids were in the hospital and weigh each of their pee diapers. Isaak insists I say, "Goodbye" to his poop when it's flushed down. It's just part of being a mom.

Thanksgiving

We drove 6 hours to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Apel. We also saw Aunt Laura and Cousin Payton.

The boys were pretty good in the car to and from. We did get the question, "Are we there yet?" and "When will we get there?" over and over again on the way Grandma and Grandpa Apel's. We drove both times at night. The only thing I hate about driving in the dark is that CD books are pretty much out. On the way back both boys slept, which was great!

If I was at home I would have kept the boys on the BRAT diet {banana, rice, apple sauce and toast} for a few days. They were sick with the tummy flu before they left. It was Mica that got sick first and Isaak followed. They acted just fine prior to leaving town. In fact they were hungry. I really thought they were on their upswing. The second night while out of town, Mica threw up all over their bedding and Isaak had a major poop explosion in the morning. It's been a long time since Isaak's had a poop explosion. He really hasn't had too many. Both of those situations were embarrassing and hard to clean up! 3 baths and 3 loads of laundry! YUCK! Isaak required 2 baths. We thought they were over their tummy issues. I honestly think that the combo of too much to eat, the type of food they ate after being sick (McDonalds on the way out of town really didn't help!) and lack of sleep didn't help either. The day after I fed them toast, applesauce and bananas.


They both showed some signs of being allergic to their cute kitten and cat. Unfortunately they get that from me! I'm the queen of allergies. I've taken many back prick tests that were off the charts. Mica acted allergic right away, while Isaak was more at the end of our visit. I do have to say that that kitten was CUTE!

Not all was sickness and wiping noses. The kids had a blast playing with their one and only cousin on that side. Payton is in the second grade.

Grandma Apel told Mica and Payton some great stories. Mica's still talking about them.

Daddy, Isaak, Mica, Payton and I went for a walk down to some train tracks. We also went for a drive to see Daddy's first house, school and second house, which no longer exists. The cabin he built with his Dad is still there.

Mica went back to Grandma and Grandpa's and drew this for Grandma Apel.

Mica, Payton, Grandma Apel, Daddy and I played ball outside. Isaak was napping.

We watched TV with Grandpa Apel. Grandpa Apel had knee replacement surgery. He gets his other knee replaced in a month. The surgeries sound and look painful!

The boys performed for us. They made sure we were sitting down. Mica did skits and magic tricks. Isaak followed up with singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and ABC's over and over again. Now he's singing Bah, Bah Black Sheep and 1, 2 Buckle My Shoe over and over again. He skips 5, 6 Pick up Sticks just about every time. Mica lets him know too. :)

Gallery Openings

Last night we went to gallery openings as a family. That's always interesting with the boys. One gallery lasted roughly 10 minutes. Mica kept asking, "Where's the food Mommy?" Lovely!

The next gallery was a little better because it's bigger, has a bench and food. Isaak sat down. Some lady sat clear on the other side of the bench. Isaak said, "Daddy a lady sitting next to me." As if Daddy could make this lady move. Then Mica tooted and laughed to point out the obvious. I was so embarrassed. I whispered to Mica in a Mommy tone, "That isn't appropriate. If you feel the need to let out gas, go to the bathroom. If you happen to toot on accident, certainly don't point it out!" He seemed to understand.

We moved on to a park with huge metal slides. They went down a handful of times.

One last gallery on the way to the car. I was sitting there with the boys. We were talking about which art pieces we liked and why. Isaak yells out, "Daddy I have to poop!" A group of people laugh. I'm glad they found it funny. Another part of me dislikes when people laugh at that kind of thing. I'm sure I'm just as guilty as the next person. It just encourages my kids to be rude, merely because it's funny to people. As if that's not bad enough. Mica chimes in, "I have to go to Daddy!" Daddy and I both wanted to hide.

Isaak's getting very LOUD and VOCAL these days! I've had to remind him to use his quiet voice often! He has one decibel and it's LOUD!

Even at home he pretty much YELL talks. I hear, "HEY MOMMY LOOK AT THIS!" many times throughout the day. He'll show me something he's shown me many times before. I have to watch what he's doing to. He keeps repeating himself until I do watch him. Then he says, "That's cool Mommy!"

Then when it comes to snacks, Isaak's new thing is to say, "One more and that's it!" After that one more, he'll say it again, and again! He actually said that at the grocery store with a sample of dark chocolate.

He also puts his hands over his eyes when he's on the potty or sitting in his car seat. I'll go to get him off his seat, he yells, "SURPRISE!" every time! It was funny the first 5 times. Now I feel like saying, "OK KID I GET IT! STOP YELLING IN MY EAR!" Instead I say, "Oh you scared me again!" ;)

I have to watch myself with yelling. I sometimes feel like YELLING because Isaak is YELL talking to me.