I've been trying

Last week, I had enough. I was sick of Annie pestering me about wanting to watch cartoons for the billionth time, or about getting a new toy or book. It was really about having any kind of privilege while the house was covered in Polly Pocket shoes and plastic fruit while Annie was still in Pajamas.

I figured there had to be a better way. And there is!

I went online and found a free chore chart and loaded it up with things that I wanted her to get done every day (brush teeth, say prayers, make bed, get dressed before 7:00 a.m., have her hair done, pick up toys). Then I loaded some extras that she could do after all of her daily stuff was done (dust, vaccuum, clean toy closet, help with laundry), and I also put some fun things that she could do if mommy was in the mood (read a book, practice letters and numbers, write her name). Each item carries with it a single point, and watching an episode of a cartoon costs 10 points. She can save up her points and buy a book or a small toy.

The strides in her behavior have been great. She gets dressed quickly now - and doesn't complain about me doing her hair. She asks me for things to do on the list instead of asking to watch a cartoon. I think my house is cleaner, if only because she can't watch cartoons in a dirty house - and she's motivated to clean up after herself.

It's been working. I'm just hoping I can keep it up.

Don't. Just don't.

I have had some real successes in my life. I can make a beautiful cake. I can recover and refinish furniture. I can shoot a gun and not embarrass myself. I'm not being vain or prideful when I say that I usually can do almost anything I put my mind to - especially if there is a book or a class involved.

So when I went to the jewelery shop to find out how much it would cost to have my wedding rings resized (over $100!!) I figured there was a better way. I went home and googled and you-tubed and figured "it can't be that difficult - it's not like it's rocket science!"

Over the next week I went on e-bay and purchased a ring mandrel, a jewelers saw, some gold solder and flux. I spent about $50, but I figured it would save me money. I even went to the thrift store and found some practice pieces so I wouldn't have to practice on my wedding bands.

I used my little butane torch that I use to make creme brulee, I was assured on a couple of websites that this would put out enough heat. The first two solders worked perfectly - flowing and doing all the things it is meant to do - so I went on to my wedding band. I sawed it and prepared it for solder. Again, the first couple of solders flowed and behaved beautifully. When I tried it again, though, all the solder did was form a beautiful little ball that didn't stick to anything. Arrgh. I cleaned it up and tried it again - and again the ball kept showing it's ugly little head. I kept trying and now my ring is heat scaled and not "one eternal round."

I think I need a higher btu torch (real jewelers use oxygyn and acetylene in their torches - but those are really spendy) - but if that doesn't work, I would pretty much be spending as much on tools as I would on getting my rings sized properly by someone who knows what they are doing! I don't think I actually ruined my band (which we bought after the wedding) - and I never touched the actual ring that was at the wedding (a small band with 9 diamonds). I'll end up getting the little ring sized up and I'll probably end up purchasing another cheap band. Argh. What an ordeal.

Throughout this process I learned a couple of things.
1. Hormones make me think I can do impossible things.
2. My husband must be a saint. He never once voiced the "I told you so" I know was on his brain.
3. Sometimes I just have to leave it to professionals and not think I can do everything.
4. Target sells beautiful sterling silver/cubic zirconia wedding bands that I wouldn't be embarrassed at all to wear. In fact, while I am saving to purchase the band and re-sizing, I might just spend the $25 on a beautiful wedding set.

Cabbages

I've talked about my awsome vegetable/fruit co-op before. I get a huge basket every couple of weeks and usually they are amazing - tons of really fresh, beautiful fruits and vegetables, some normal - some a little crazy. But never have they been the dreaded cabbage!

I'm not a huge fan of cabbage. I've tried bok choy, napa and even the brussels sprout, and I just can't get the hang of cooking it so that it doesn't stink up my house and cause me to vomit. We had a good friend in South Carolina that gave us the biggest cabbage I have ever seen - straight from his garden. I made Annie hold it, took pictures with her and the beast, and threw the thing away.

So what do you think they gave us in honor of St. Patricks day? Two huge, heavy, green cabbages. So I got out the cookbooks and hoped that there were at least a couple of recipes that I could get through. I don't know if it's the texture, or the flavor, or the stinkiness or the cabbage-i-ness - but I'm trying to use up all of my basket so I can get the best value from this co-op. And I've been reading all the good things that cabbage can do for you - so I thought I would give it another try

I found one that is called "Cabbage Joe" - it's basically a Sloppy Joe made in the crock pot with ground turkey and a pound or so of shredded cabbage. I have it in the crock pot right now and all I smell is the lovely smokiness of the homemade bbq sauce I put in it. I'll have to let you know how dinner turns out.

I also have a recipe that is a "cabbage casserole" - but there ain't nothin' healthy about this recipe. It calls for mayonaise and butter and it's covered with melted cheese and corn flakes and baked for an hour. I may hold off, just for the sake of my heart.

I might also make some egg rolls, but that won't take up much of the poundage.

Does anyone have any really good cabbage recipes? I'd love to hear how you would use up two heads of beautiful cabbage.

We've got a puker!

Annie's has allergies and because of those allergies, she pukes. Her doctor explained it to me that her drippings don't drain out, they stay inside her. So when a large amount of drip enters her stomach, her little stomach rebels. This usually happens in the middle of the night - starting right around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. and continuing until there is nothing left in her stomach. This morning it took until about 7:30 a.m.

Claritin helps a lot, but I guess it doesn't help everything. As a faithful mother, I get up every time she hollers "Mommy," go into her bedroom, and let her puke on me. This begins the process. Then, if I am at all awake, I run to the linen closet and grab a towel. I try to get her to the bathroom, but she still doesn't get the whole "spew into this" concept and it is sometimes easier to just get a towel and let her do her business in the comfort of her room.

My question is - is there a better way? I am truly asking anybody out there for puking advice. I don't know if there is another way to do it. Towels seem to be ever so cleanable - but am I missing something?

I seem to remember my own mother bringing in a LARGE stainless steel bowl when we weren't feeling well. I never remember actually puking into the bowl, but someone must have because whenever I suggested stomach ailment, it was always brought out and set (coldly) in my bed along with an old towel.

Now that I read that last sentence, I realize that this just prolonged her stay in bed by a few minutes. We still wanted our Mommy to be with us as we puked. If nothing else, she could hold our hair and get our shaky selves a cup of water to rinse with.

So even if I get really good advice the physical aspects of a puking child, I suppose I am destined to get up multiple times a night when she upchucks. I guess that's what being a Mommy is really about.