The Glass Is Half Full

The past couple weeks have been a little rough. It seems like every time I try to catch my breath, something else happens. It all started a couple weeks ago when my youngest got sick. Since then, we've all had our turn. I'm trying to look at the glass as half full, trying hard!
After Mason started to improve, Kemper got a bug. I took him to the doctor because he was running a temp at 103 degrees and I couldn't get his fever to break. They did a flu test, which came back negative, and gave him a prescription for antibiotics and cough medicine. Looking at the glass half full, I said to myself, "I'm so happy his flu test was negative."
He was about halfway through his antibiotics when the diarrhea kicked in. As I sat there scrubbing the carpet, I thought to myself, "I am so happy his fever finally broke."
A few days passed and I noticed my eyes were itchy. Then they started to ooze. Eww! I called the doctors office and they were able to get me in 30 minutes later. Looking at the glass half full, I thought to myself, " I am so lucky to be able to get in to the doctor so soon."
Later that day, we went to pick up my prescription. As I stood there with two screaming kids, waiting to pay, I was informed that they didn't have the eye drops and that it would be a little longer while they called the doctor. 30 minutes later, two kids still screaming, I picked up my prescription. As I paid, I thought of the glass as half full. "I am so fortunate that they had this other prescription in stock."
It is now 3 days later. This is the last day for my eye drops. However, there is one small problem. The drops have not worked. I called the doctors office to see what I should do. They called in a prescription for a stronger eye drop. Struggling to look at the glass as half full, I thought to myself, "I'm so happy that they called in prescription rather than have me come back for a second appointment."
I will close with this one last thought of a half full glass. "Maybe I should throw this one out, and get a fresh glass!"

Close Call

Something happened yesterday that has me a little shaken up. My youngest son, Mason, has cough that just doesn't seem to be getting better. I took him to the doctor and was given a prescription for cough syrup. We dropped it off at the pharmacy on our way home. No big deal, right?
We ate dinner and then went back to pick up the prescription. The lady at the counter explained the medicine and went over the dosage with me. Pretty standard... She was saying that the cough medicine was pretty strong because it has Codeine in it, so I should use it as little as possible. One problem. The dose that was put on my sons prescription said that he should have 1 1/4 teaspoons.
I questioned her about the dosage and she took a second look. She came back and proceeded to tell me that there was an "error" and that the correct dose, for my 20 month old son, is 1/4 teaspoon.
I sat there in shock. Even now, I keep playing the "what if's" through my mind.
If I hadn't questioned her about the dose. I would have come home and given him 4 times the amount that his little body could handle. My baby would probably have died in his sleep.
I want to let you know that she did pull out the prescription again and it was not an error on the doctors part. He had written the correct dose.
So for my realization. I feel like this is a wake up call. You see things like this on the news all the time. As a parent, I can not assume that what's on the label is always correct. It's my job to double check EVERYTHING. The truth is that people DO make mistakes. Thank God this one was caught before something terrible happened.
I can say this. I will not be so naive in the future.

Staycation

I've been hearing a lot of people talk about "Staycations" lately. It's basically a vacation but rather than go somewhere and stay in a hotel, you sleep at home and go to places that are within driving distance.
This is a new and exciting concept to me. Not because I go on vacation all the time.. quite the opposite actually. Simply because we are a young family and don't have the extra money for an actual vacation. The "staycation" brings a whole new array of possibilities to the table.
So for those of you who are feeling the pinch from the economy, I encourage you to look a little closer and embrace the "Staycation!"
(We took a "staycation" to Temple, Tx. We checked out the Train Museum and park!)

Thank You

I found this article this morning and it just made me smile. I just wanted to say "Thank You" to our guys and gals in Iraq and Afghanistan. They just don't get enough credit for what they do.



Gates Hails Soldier Snapped in Pink Boxer Shorts - Afghanistan | Map | War - FOXNews.com

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Who Needs Brakes?

Sometimes things are funny at the expense of others. I realize there are times when we really should not laugh but sometimes, no matter how hard we try, the laughter over powers us and there not a damn thing we can do about it.
Kemper, who is 3, recently got a new bike. It's bigger and goes a little faster than his old one. Yesterday, he was riding his it, back and forth, from one corner to the other. The sidewalk has a slight incline that goes toward the street on each of these corners. (AKA Corner of Horror) He has successfully rode this route until he got his new bike.
I was following him, pushing Mason in this little car thingy. We were approaching "The Corner Of Horror." I had told him to slow down so he'd make the turn. Just then he hit the incline and froze in fear. He began to scream, "Ahhhh Mooooommmmy!!" All the while unable to take his eyes off the approaching curb. My motherly reflexes kicked in, I pushed Mason's little car thingy onto someone's front lawn, and ran to save Kemper.
Unfortunately, my fingers just grazed the seat of his bike as he went over the curb. Screaming in horror. "Ahhhh!!!!" I could see every muscle in his little body tensed and could only imagine the look on his face.
Somehow, he manage to make it off the curb without tipping over. My poor son, still horrified, now screaming because he's in the road. "Ahhhhh Caaars!" (I have warned him about the dangers of cars and roads.)
He's still upright, on his bike, so I push him back onto the sidewalk. That's when it dawned on me. I had never taught him how to use the brakes. With his old one he'd just put his feet down. That's when I started laughing hysterically.
My poor helpless child.. screaming in fear.. as he went over the curb.. and there was nothing that he could do but hold on for dear life... because it never occurred to me that he didn't know how to use the brakes! I realize that he doesn't think this is the least bit funny and I shouldn't be laughing but each time I think about it, my laughter escapes me. What a way to learn about brakes!

Flea Market Find

This past weekend, I loaded up the kids and headed off to the flea market. The one we have here is small but it's so fun because they have a petting zoo and little taco stands everywhere. Oh and this time I found a fruit stand that had freshly sliced papaya, melons, grapes, berries, and more. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was in Mexico!
I am no "Pro", by any means, when it comes to flea markets and yard sales but I'm learning and loving it more each time I go! So for my beautiful find. It's a "Bean Pot with a serving basket." I saw it and fell in love! It's my favorite color and it's the perfect size to serve anything from a pot of beans to a winter stew.
As odd as this may sound, I have bonded with this cute little "Bean Pot" and plan to make it a regular addition at our family dinners!

Where Does It Go?

Kemper, who is 3, was in the kitchen waiting for his pizza to finish cooking. He was telling me how much he loved pizza and how he couldn't wait to eat it.
I decided to ask him, "Where does it go?"
He replied, "In my mouth!" With a big grin.
I continued, "Then where does it go?"
"My TUMMY!" He exclaimed.
I hesitated momentarily but I was curious and asked, "Then where does it go?"
Without hesitation he shouted, "MY FEET!!"