Catch Up Post

So what have I been up to lately?

I was sick with what they diagnosed as the "flu" last week. I truly don't believe it was the flu even though they did a culture. I did feel bad enough to miss three days of work. I took vitamin C and oscillococcinum and feel good as new now. The worst part was that Braelyn had to be away from me for two nights b/c Jay was scared she'd get the flu. The doc gave me a script for Tamiflu - which you know I wasn't going to get filled. So, he got it and started taking it that day - which I think is ridiculous, but his background is to follow the Doctor and take as many drugs as they tell you to. I told him I'd buy him some oscillo for a lot cheaper but he didn't trust the "homeopathic stuff". Ugh, its so frustrating trying to convert him to wellness! Anyways, he was paranoid that Braelyn would get the flu. I really wasn't. She'd been in my face for two days when I didn't know I was sick (which is when you're most contagious) So, if she were to get it it would have been based on that exposure. But for his peace of mind (and to avoid any kind of blame had she gotten it) I agreed to let his parents watch her two nights in a row. I was miserable without her, but it did allow me to get lots of rest which probably made me feel better faster and I'm sure her Grandparents enjoyed the extra time with her.

By Saturday of last week (the 1st) I felt good enough to meet Rachel at Studio Movie Grill to watch The Other Boleyn Girl. It was a pretty good movie especially once I realized that it was based on real people. (20 minutes before the movie ended I whispered to Rachel..."oh, this is Henry the 8th - that King Henry and that Anne Boleyn) Typical Julie moment. After the movie we headed across the parking lot to Blue Goose and I had a couple of Coronas with lime. YUM! It was a great time and I love chatting it up with Rachel.

Sunday was church, pretty typical routine that day - not much to mention. Well, except that's when i noticed Braelyn's teeth. So that was exciting. (Like REALLY exciting - I had to call half the world who probably could have cared less!)

I did make a veggie soup on Sunday which I've eaten on all week. I make it different every time, but here is what I put into it this time:

1 yellow summer squash
1 zucchini squash
1 pkg fresh button mushrooms
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 head green cabbage
1 pkg. carrots
2 potatoes
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1/2 yellow onion
1 bunch green onions
Knorr Vegetable Mix
1 Knorr Vegetable Boullion Cube
1 bay leaf
fresh cilantro (or parsley, but I wanted a little spice)
lil bit Italian seasoning

Chop / Slice / Dice Veggies. Add everything, plus enough water to cover, in stockpot. Bring all to boil, then simmer for at least an hour.

I finished my last bowl yesterday for lunch. SO good and totally guiltless!

Tuesday night on the way home from work and after picking up Braelyn from Jay's Mom I got on the Tollway, going 70 in the left lane as always. Then my tire blew out. Scariest thing that's happened to me in a long time. Thank you GOD we didn't skid around. I was able to get off the tollway and into a shopping center lot. Except I nearly got hit trying to get off the tollway. Hey, idiots, when someone is going 20 mph with their hazards on they MIGHT NEED TO GET OVER! Anyways, Braelyn and I waited at Starbucks for Jay to get there and put the spare on. Poor Jay didn't get home until 9:30 that night. He had to get me two new tires at NTB. They found 5 nails in one of my tires alone. Seriously? They're doing construction around our house so maybe that's where I got them? Who knows, but it sucked paying for new tires.

Yesterday it snowed and iced. We thought we'd get lucky and maybe be able to sleep in a little longer this morning, but no such luck. It melted enough to get here on time. I'm disappointed we didn't get any pictures with Braelyn in the snow. She was grumpy last night, I think b/c of the teeth coming in still. This morning she decided she was ready to wake up for the day at 4:00. I got up and changed her diaper and fed her. At 4:30 I took her back to the bed and thought she'd go back to sleep. She just kept kicking me and cooing. I looked at her with a pleading look on my face and she actually laughed at me. I guess she thought it was REALLY funny that I wanted just one more hour of sleep. Again, I blame the teeth b/c she was chomping on her pacifier as she cooed and kicked. At least she lay there awake and didn't cry. She just stared at the ceiling and made enough noise to keep me awake. Somehow I think Jay managed to sleep through most of it. I bet she's napping the morning away at her sitter's right now......

Tonight we're having Jay's 30th birthday party (weather permitting) at Fox & The Hound. My biggest concern is staying up past 9:00! Hopefully it will be a good time. A lot of friends are coming that we don't get to see very much anymore so it will be nice to catch up with them.

Lets see...what else do I want to mention.....

Oh, I guess everyone has heard of the family in Georgia being compensated by the government, who conceded (well, they say her body was "significantly aggravated") that their daughter's autism was caused by a routine vaccine. If not, read here. Its at least one step closer to making more parents aware of the side effects of vaccines. Even though they're treating it like its this very rare case, I'm educated enough on the issue to tell you there are a million more 'rare' cases. I don't want to get into a debate over this issue but this news made me happy (obviously not for the poor girl who was harmed) and its my blog so I post what I want to. Green Our Vaccines!!!! Spread them out!!! Take the aluminum and formaldehyde out!! Remove the thimerosal completely from EVERY shot for every age. Stop putting MSG and antifreeze and gelatin in them. If we can clone life can't we come up with more non-toxic, less reactogenic vaccine ingredients? Ah, but you see why they don't? Can you imagine the money the government would have to pay out if they made such drastic changes in the vaccine ingredients and schedule? My gosh, kids might not be coming down with as much autism, allergies, learning disabilities, autoimmune disorders, SIDS, Guillian Barre Syndrome, decreased immunity, ear infections. I didn't say there wouldn't be any of these problems, but I can promise you there would be a plummeting line on the graph.


Lighter news. I love Brooke White on American Idol. I hope she wins the whole shebang. I would buy her record in a heartbeat.
Next. I found a great website www.diapers.com Free shipping over $50 and I got 10% off with the discount code "parents4" from Parents Magazine. The prices are only slightly higher than store prices, but they have everything at one place. Target and Walmart don't carry a lot of the products I buy for Braelyn. The closest Whole Foods and Babies-R-Us are 15 minutes away from the house. So, this site is great and is going to save me lots of time.

Well, now that I've wasted my morning blogging away, I think I'll go to Whole Foods and treat myself to a Friday lunch at their scrumptious salad bar.