Good Luck or Cash Grab?

If you are married then you are expected to pass on your good fortune to the children and singletons. The money train pulls in at the yearly Chinese New Year 10-course dinner with 40+ people of immediate family and first cousin level family.

As a non-married person, particularly in my youth, it was great. Piles of lucky red envelopes filled with money. It's add up to a trip to the mall for clothes/shoes and/or movies and food. As I grew older-older I felt embarrassed to accept the envelopes. Franklin and I have been together over 10+ years. I'm finished school, working and on my way to buying my first home.

It's a little different now. I'm married with children. Handing out red envelopes to the masses is part of our yearly budget. Of course a little extra goes to my darling nieces. I love them as if they were my own daughters. Then there's all the children that are in elementary school. If they are still in school, be it University or High School, then I think they should. Now, for the cousins who are grown up and out of University and working. Should they still get? How about the ones that are older than me and are working? Should their bf/gf get one too? There are an additional 9 people then. 20 people. Varying amounts. Then dinner costs. Uggghh!

The reality is, it's all worth it. They are family and I wish them all great health, happiness, and prosperity. Just like the I HATE You post:

"There’s so many variations that are the same:

1. Do unto others as others do unto you.

2. What goes around comes around.

3. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

4. What you put out is what you’re going to get."

We will put out these positive vibes and be thankful that we are expected to give out the red envelopes. I have a great family, a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and am healthy. I hope every lucky recipient gets that in their life too.

[polldaddy poll=4504844]

Napping...A break from the waking world

Why do our little ones fight it? They either get super grumpy, super silly, or just listless.

I know he's tired. His dad knows he's tired. But, to ask him, he'll tell you "nooooooooooooooooooooo mommy". He gets mega restless and starts climbing all over you. This could just be cabin fever, typical crazy boy behaviour, or he's tired. We've got him in enough activities, crafts, toys, books, baking together at home, and cartoons on demand and video to keep him entertained. We STILL have to do the car ride trick to get him to take a nap. He needs it. If we have to resort to the car ride, buddy falls asleep before we hit the next block!

Now, with my little one, it's a bit different. He loves to be held. Who doesn't? But, to keep my sanity and to get laundry, dishes, and food ready, I cannot hold you 24-hrs. Sometimes, I submit and just hold him while he sleeps (trust me I love it, but I learned from the first one, if you don't put them down, you'll be holding them while you go to the bathroom too!) but, sometimes holding him just isn't enough.

He's already fed, burped, and has a clean diaper. So, he rubs his eyes. Is being fussy. I know he's tired. His father knows he's tired. But, to ask him, he'll tell you "waaaaaaaaaaah". So, my last resort after doing the monkey dance bounce-shuffle, I bust out the FIVE S.

I hold him side ways and monkey dance bounce in the bathroom with the lights off and the fan on. We don't do the pacifier. Heard too many nightmare stories from other parents. i.e. can't get rid of them when they get older, they cry in the crib when it falls out of their mouth every 2 minutes, it wrecks their teeth. Works EVERY time.

Don't know the Five S's to calming your baby? Google it, or here's some info from a site:

* Swaddling - Tight swaddling provides the continuous touching and support the fetus experienced while still in Mom's womb.

* Side/stomach position - You place your baby, while holding her, either on her left side to aid in digestion, or on her stomach to provide reassuring support. Once your baby is happily asleep, you can safely put her in her crib, on her back.

* Shushing Sounds - These sounds imitate the continual whooshing sound made by the blood flowing through arteries near the womb. This white noise can be in the form of a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, a fan and so on. The good news is that you can easily save the motors on your household appliances and get a white noise CD which can be played over and over again with no worries.

* Swinging - Newborns are used to the swinging motions that were present when they were still in Mom's womb. Every step mom took, every movement caused a swinging motion for your baby. After your baby is born, this calming motion, which was so comforting and familiar, is abruptly taken away. Your baby misses the motion and has a difficult time getting used to it not being there. "It's disorienting and unnatural," says Karp. Rocking, car rides, and other swinging movements all can help.

* Sucking - "Sucking has its effects deep within the nervous system," notes Karp, "and triggers the calming reflex and releases natural chemicals within the brain." This "S" can be accomplished with breast, bottle, pacifier or even a finger.

Being Polite or Indecisive?

Remember, back in the day you could just call up your buddy and meet up for some good times. Nowadays, trying to decide when and where to eat as a group can get too ridiculous.  That's about a million emails, texts, or phone calls just to see if the person you are talking to and their partner are free.  If you also have kids, then you have to include their social calendar too.  This week and next week doesn't work for us, the week after isn't good for you.  How's the first week next month?  Oh brother.

We tried to make plans for lunch with a couple that are good friends of ours.  20 emails later, we have a date and time.  We'll figure out where later.   That should be easy right?  There was a lot of "we're flexible".   They know we have a picky toddler, so they were probably just trying to be kind and go with what would be palatable for The Boy.  We've brought them to most of our local haunts, plus the chickee was on a time restraint, so we were flexible for them to choose.  Closer to home so she'd make it on time, but also we could try a new place that we haven't been to before.   Where do YOU go out to eat?  That's me making a decision.  I want to go where YOU eat.

Well, there were a few phone calls in the morning, websites checked (todine.com, chowhound.ca), and we all were still being 'flexible'.    After an hour after the first morning call, I just wanted someone to be INFLEXIBLE and choose. Where is the pregnant lady who has a craving when we need her?  Or maybe a 'pushy' person who will just not care what everyone else wants and stake their claim.

Usually, that's me.  Pregnant or pushy.  At one point, both!   I have been brainwashed to label myself pushy.  As a woman, that's what they call you.  I would prefer to call it decisive.  On my résumé, it's listed as "strong decision-making skills ensuring objectives are exceeded".   I'm still having rough nights getting the baby to sleep through the night, so my decision-making and patience were not in effect.  Just picture yourself on a Monday morning boardroom meeting with 4-hrs sleep.  You see how I feel?

We finally narrowed it down to two choices.  Greek or Pho.  Since we don't know a good Pho place (someone please comment of a good one in the north-east end.  Markham, Richmond Hill, but no further than Scarborough)  we went with Greek.  We took them to a place we've been to a couple of times.  They have good tzatziki.  And now, we have our next meet-up decided.  Pho!

You just cannot satisfy everyone.   To try to do so, will only make for frustration.  Be it lunch or other decisions in your life.  Find out the constraints (in this case, time) and benefits (in this case, satisfying our food cravings), budgets (nobody wanted to have to wear a gown nor tux), transportation, blah blah blah (uh oh...paralysis by analysis again) to consider, but K.I.S.S., it's lunch!

disclaimer:  to the couple we met with.  if you recognize yourself here, trust that we love you guys and enjoy your company.  can't wait to eat pho!

[polldaddy poll=4504689]

Di Ackee 'n Salt Fish make mi LOSE

It was an awesome foody night of amazing Jamaican food cooked by with love by the parental units.

The night's eats included:

1. Oxtail


2. Ackee & Salt Fish


3. Mackerel Fish


4. Dumplings


5. Breadfruit


6. Rice and Peas with Salt Pork


7. Boiled Yams

They don't cook this often enough for me, so diet schmiet.  I had 2nd and 3rds!  And the perfect drink to compliment the feast was Champagne Cola, Ting, Pineapple drink

I guess it shouldn't be totally shocking that I lost this weeks weigh-in.

I have slacked for 4 days now.  Not noting my food intake on myfitnesspal.com.  Eating at the Southern BBQ joint with less restraint.  Not doing the snacks-in-between-meals.  And the icing on the cake was the delicious goodness of mommy and daddy's cooking.

I gained one pound from last week.  Had to give back The Brother's $5 I won last week.  It hurt.  I won't lie.  You'd think I would have smarten up over the weekend.  Nope.  Had 4 cookies yesterday.  2 cupcakes today.

Perhaps putting it "out there" will put the proverbial Scarlett Letter F (for fatty) will get me back to mental discipline starting....tomorrow.

I need to finish the left overs I brought home!

Layered Jello

Layered Jello – is so cool looking and tastes great!

Ingredients:

different jello flavours

can of condensed milk

gelatin package

boiling water

Instructions:

1. make one jello flavour as per package’s instructions

2. in another bowl, mix condensed milk and boiling water until well blended.  stir in gelatin package.

3. ladle jello into container, place into fridge.

4. once jello is set, ladle a layer of condensed milk mixture.  place back into fridge.

5. repeat steps 1, 3, and 4

note: replace water with juice to add more vitamins and switch up the flavour combo!  mango juice with strawberry jello

J-E-L-L-O

What else can I feed The Boy that will help him get all his nutrients.  He loves to help in the kitchen, so trying to find recipes that doesn't involve a whole bunch of chopping isn't always easy.  I become the sous chef, and then I'll call him over to be my mixer.  He's also a great 'go-for'.

Last night, it was Jello time.  It's powdered sugar with gelatin and colour.  Great.

So, to bump up the nutritious value we added blueberries and grapes.  We used Arthur's Smoothie Juice instead of water.  BAM!  Just had him eating more fruit in one dessert!  Used clear plastic cups so he could see the suspended fruit.



 

He's had one already and wants more.  Dude, it's a snack/dessert, not a meal.

Layered Jello - is so cool looking and tastes great!

Recipe:

different jello flavours

can of condensed milk

gelatin package

boiling water

1. make one jello flavour as per package's instructions

2. in another bowl, mix condensed milk and boiling water until well blended.  stir in gelatin package.

3. ladle jello into container, place into fridge.

4. once jello is set, ladle a layer of condensed milk mixture.  place back into fridge.

5. repeat steps 1, 3, and 4

note: replace water with juice to add more vitamins and switch up the flavour combo!  mango juice with strawberry jello

Warning Signs

I am overjoyed to see that there were many hits on the post about how we found out that Franklin's kidneys were dying.

It was a bit difficult to write.  To re-feel those emotions brought a few old tears that I shed back then.  And then I read the post to Franklin and we hugged and talked about life's possibilities and responsibilities back then.  One thing that's still going positively strong is our love for each other.  This disease has tested our strength physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, both individually, as a twosome, and as a family.  Some days we are winners.

But, I digress.  In this post I wanted to share the warning signs that may indicate that you have kidney problems.   As mentioned in the Lifetime Journey post, a big indicator was the high blood pressure/headaches.  That was the early signs.  But, as things progressed and his kidney function deteriorated to less than 10% there were more signs.

On The Kidney Foundation of Canada on Facebook they asked people to share what symptoms they experienced.

Some of theirs that were shared from the people who have the disease were:

• Puffiness of the eyes, hands and feet


• itchiness, low blood count, tired


• Tired, swelling, high blood pressure, itching, unexplained nauseous feeling, appetite change..to name a few


• Don't forget the headaches, yellowing of the eyes and metallic tastes on the tongue if you're experiencing uremia.


• For me, food and beverages tasted horrible as well. Even after being diagnosed, I lost 80 lbs in 3 months. Took them a while to find a med that worked for me.


• Passing blood in the urine sent me to get diagnosed


• don't forget dark concentrated urine. it was foamy


• Flank pain was how my problems were discovered.


• leg and feet cramping, nausea, cold , blue knuckles and blue lace lines on my thighs , serious mid back pain up to my neck and down my arm

There are summarized lists on the internet like 10 Symptoms of Kidney Disease.  But, the best advice I could give is to get a yearly physical and to always follow through with the tests/blood work the doctors asks you to do.

It is scary, especially when you've never known anyone who has it.  But, you do.  You know my family.  You know my husband.  Either personally, or through me, you know someone.

Please sign your donor card.

[polldaddy poll=4505113]