Virus

I intended not to let Moose watch any TV today.

With Bean, oftentimes when he's acting up, a good detox of screen time and sugared cereal will usually level him back out.

The day started off well, but then he had a 102-degree fever, and I caved.

Last Friday, the allergist said that Moose was coming down with a virus. Boy, was he right! My poor guy won't eat a thing, has had the runs for days, and is now running hot. I gave him some Motrin for the fever.

He also had a bit of a bloody nose this morning. I think it's a combination of the saline drops and Nasonex. Maybe we'll lay off the saline drops for a while. His little nose is probably all raw inside.

On the plus side, his terrible cough was silent last night. SO, I'm hoping that means all the cleaning I did and allergy-proof products I bought are doing the trick in his room :) Of course, it doesn't help the virus issue, but I'll take the cough-free night!

Slowly trying to get the house in order (still). Big baby shower here in the beginning of August. I finally hung SOMETHING on the wall. (I spent a lot of time repairing and painting this walls, it hurts a little to stick nails and screws in them!) I may take some pictures, but the chance of something being decorated AND clean seems so unlikely!

Also, why is it so much easier to GET MORE stuff than it is to GET RID of stuff?

• I took a bunch of books to the used book store today and probably left with almost as many ...
• Gave away some Stampin' Up stuff I had no use for and acquired a bunch of school supplies (but they were SO cheap) ...
• I resisted printing off a Michaels 25-percent off EVERYTHING (including sale items) coupon, but I printed off the 20-percent Big Lots coupon. I ::need:: some window tension rods and sheers. Besides, there are certain other things I need there. Right, NEED?

Wow. What a day ...

This morning, I hauled both boys to the doctor for Moose's 3-year "well baby" appointment. Of course, he's been battling a virus since last Friday (diagnosed by the allergist) so "well baby" is quite subjective.

Moose was a nightmare from the get-go. The doctor thought he was going to hurt me. She didn't even bother with the full exam, because she didn't want to upset him further. "Bring him back in a week or two," she suggested. Thankfully, she was as thorough and understanding as can be. She is putting in for his speech referral but said the 3+ crowd was getting denied UNLESS their were some behavior issues accompanying it. (Judging by his psychotic behavior this appointment, there MIGHT be a bit of that ... but she said she knows he's not usually like this, so she doesn't want to jump to any conclusions). Still, if a mild behavior or occupational problem will give us the magic ticket to paid, private speech therapy, then I'll take it.

Moose has been really off these last two weeks. He was crazy at the dentist, at the allergist, and now at the doctor. He's been so irritable in the mornings and has been getting up more than usual at night (not every night, but once or twice a week).

My guesses as to what the heck is wrong with him:

• He's upset about potty-training. He's bladder-trained, but the bowel movement thing is NOT catching on.
• The heat makes him cranky. We're under heat advisory most days, so he doesn't get outside as much as he'd like.
• He's tired of me being pregnant and sick and miserable. Me too, kiddo, me too.

He's pretty in-tune with me, so perhaps my irritability is rubbing off on him. I'll try and get my attitude turned around and hope that helps him too.

I got all of meds on base today (after an absurd experience at CVS where they wanted like $70 for all of them), so he's started on a regular round of allergy meds. Due to the cough and sneezing, he's taking everything for now - three of the five are just "as needed," so it's not as bad as I thought.

I'm working on allergy-proofing the boys' bedroom. I bought mattress bags and pillow bags and a product called Eradicator. I've taken most things out of their room, sprayed the mattresses and pillows, vacuumed the floor, dusted the bed frames, and am drying the bedding. I want to see how the new mattress and pillow bags hold up before investing for them with our bed (which will cost more as we have a queen and a box spring and SEVERAL pillows that all need bagged).

Ideally, I still need to dust all the other surfaces and get a wet mop for the floor. I want one that you just spray water on and wipe, not one that has a chemical component or disposal wipes. I'm thinking of the AchooAllergy Microfiber Floor Mop, but I think I can find something comparable at Bed Bath & Beyond. I've considered a Shark Steam Mop in the past, but I'm lazy and don't want something I have to plug in or charge - it seems like unnecessary labor and expense. A more old-school mop seems much less complicated.

I met with our doula today ... finally! I think it's a good match and will be a good thing. We were on the same page about so much and she's attended so many births (since the 1970s) that she's seen moms do it every which way and seems very comfortable with drug-free births, choosing to use pain medication, or going through with a c-section (should all other options be exhausted). She seems very much to be focused on the birthing mom having control over how she wants things done - doesn't mean it'll always work out that way, but she wants them to know they did everything they could do and make their own choices instead of a nurse or doctor making them for you. She's also very familiar with the hospital that I plan on delivery at - what the can and cannot do and what they will and will not allow. So, that's good. Also, if Jonathan is up in the air, it'll be good to have SOMEONE there with me ... as none of my local friends are particularly interested in laboring with me (they'll watch the kids, but they don't want to see the show). My only complaint: She used the word "squat" a lot. I hate that word.

Bean is at summer camp at "the fancy school" this week and having lots of fun. They do arts and crafts and music and P.E. and some other stuff here and there. He goes again next week. It's been a nice way to break up the summer. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I'm free of both boys for a few hours - that's a nice break.

How could I forgot? I locked my keys in my car. No crap, I unlocked it, tossed my purse and keys in, shut the door and went to open Moose's door and it was locked. My car will lock automatically if a door isn't opened after unlocking with the FOB. But a door was opened! I think it was just perfect (or, quite IMPERFECT) timing. I must have opened the door just as it locked itself. Moose proceeded to act like a crazy person and crap his pants. Here I was with this reeking psycho, pregnant, in 100-degree heat, with no phone, and way too far away from my house (not that I could get in anyway) or from a friend's. Thankfully, a restaurant employee let me use his phone (since Husband's cell is long distance) and my husband answered and was just 10 minutes away. Oh my goodness, that could have been SO much worse!

Oh, the Husband test drove a Toyota Sienna yesterday. I think he was pleased with how "not his mom's mini van" it was. It was nice, but I still prefer the Odyssey ... now, if they would just stock some so Husband could test drive one of those. Overall, the Odyssey just seems to be of superior quality and design. Since our plan is to hang on to it for 10+ years that is far more important than saving a few bucks up front.

Something tells me my attitude would perk up a lot if an Odyssey suddenly parked itself in my garage!

Allergies

Holding your child during an allergy skin prick test sucks. I know it wasn't "painful," but he was uncomfortable and dying to itch, and I just had to hold him close and keep his hands off his back. It was terrible. I don't recommend doing it unless it's really necessary.

Thankfully, none of his food reactions tested high enough to be considered an allergy. The only things that offered ANY reaction were whole milk and corn (and corn can often come out when crossed with grass allergies).

His worse reaction was to dust mites (a year-round allergy), grass (which usually knocks off in very hot weather which explains why his allergies seem so much worse fall through spring), cats, and cockroaches.

Putting laminate wood floors throughout the entire house was the best choice we could have made. I'm also not to acquire anymore rugs (which will make Husband bummed), but our one low-pile rug is OK (as long as it's not in his bedroom). All the bedding in his room (his brother's too) needs to be cased. All the bedding in our room too, since he spends time in there snuggling in the mornings. I refuse to give up my ONE feather pillow (his allergies certainly aren't that bad - I really love my feather pillow). The bedding precautions will probably be beneficial to Husband too. It's also advised to wash bedding in 130-degree water. Our water heater is at 120 to prevent scalding. We'll need to think about that.

Our couches are gross. Which I already knew. They are beat up and stained and showing signs of wear. I didn't want to replace them till the boys were done beating the hell out of them, but it might be time for them to go anyway. Indoor cats have lounged upon them and there are 7 to 8 years of dust mite fun in them. Replacing them with leather is the obvious choice. I don't really like leather furniture, but it makes the most sense allergy-wise, hygiene-wise, and durability-wise.

Grass is unavoidable. Hopefully that is something the gazillion medicines he was prescribed can resolve (OK, it's not really a gazillion, but it is like five or six).

That cat is obviously outside for good. One of the cat's disappeared last week. It wasn't my cat this time, so I don't care. Husband said, "But White Chin misses her sister." I said, "No she doesn't. She's my cat. She doesn't give a crap. She's fine." And she is. She's the lower maintenance of the two, so it worked out. I'm guessing White Chin weasled her way into someone's home. Since moving, she was desperate to get back inside. I haven't seen any cat carcasses on the road. I guess it's possible that a neighboring dog ate her, but adopting new humans seems most likely.

As for cockroaches, the allergist was clear that this was the small cockroaches and mainly the dust leftover from their dead bodies and feces. I've only ever seen the HUGE ones outside the house since we moved in and did clean up a few HUGE ones before we moved in. He does think it's worth having the outside perimeter of the house sprayed once a year, if possible.

By far, though, his reaction to dust mites was much worse than anything else. Cats were second.

So, there you have it.

The allergist said an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor would gladly remove Moose's tonsils and adenoids (as that's how they make their living), but he personally doesn't see that being necessary. He wants to see how the drugs and preventative measures do clearing up his symptoms before resorting to surgery.

I'm not sure I entirely agree. I know surgery is a more invasive fix in the short-term, but being on allergy meds long-term seems to carry its own set of risks and general annoyances. Of course, surgery doesn't necessarily mean any of the allergy issues would be resolved either.

Looking at leather couches and wondering why they don't come in fun colors. Can only find brown, black, and white (which looks like it belongs in a retirement community). They can dye leather, right? Where's the turquoise?

My two top contenders (after looking at Sam's Club, Costco, Ethan Allen, Ivan Smith, La-Z-Boy, and Havertys):

La-Z-Boy Pembroke
La-Z-Boy Barron

Pembroke is more affordable (though, I think after you customize it to leather the price is probably equal - hard to make sense of online) but a little on the fussy side. On the other hand, Barron is all classic lines (almost boring) but could easily stand the test of time and be jazzed up with some fun pillows.

Aren't we supposed to be saving for a minivan down payment? Children are forever coming up with new ways to spend your money!

Naming Baby Girl

We are 60 days from the National Labor Day. As my children like to come on holidays, I'm betting she arrives on September 5. I'm hoping a little before. I hit 37 weeks on August 25. She is welcome to exit any time after that. All that said, my oldest child has named her Flower Pumpkin. I've thrown my hands up in the air and tell people her name is Juno (which it's not - I might consider it for a middle name, but not a first name).

We have looked at every "C" name on many websites and in books. The only contenders we see (or have seen):

Cara
Carraway
Calista
Cali/Callie
California

We liked Cara when I was pregnant last time. Today, though, it seems a little too simple. We are finally having a girl and all we have to offer is four letters? Carraway might solve this problem, BUT if were to call her Cara, I'd prefer to spell it Caraway, but The Great Gatsby character is Carraway - the two Rs are important! So, out of those two, it's just Cara that remains up for consideration.

We like Cali but feel it is too informal. The husband liked Calista a lot, but he's over it. We toyed with California (his home state), but decided she'd likely turn Ann Coulter on us if we plagued her with such a hippie name. Also, I kind of like Cali spelled Callie. So, yes, Calista/California/Callie/Cali are out too.

So, for C names. We are looking at:

Cara

For non-C names, we've discussed Emerine. It's a surname from my husband's side of the family. I worry no one will spell it correctly. Ever. Also, it sounds a little old-fashioned, so it needs to be paired with a very classic or contemporary middle name. I liked Emerine Grace, but it leaves her with the initials EGG. That will not work. Since Emerine is pulled from his side of the family, I'd like to add something from my side of the family. Unfortunately, all my hill people's names sound very old-fashioned when paired with Emerine. Emerine Lillian, Emerine Ola, Emerine Frances ... all old.

Cara Emerine is nice, but then her initials don't match The Boys. That might be fine, but if we're going to bother with a C, it seems like we should bother with a J too (and I have a J middle name that I like quite well with Cara).

I really like the name Piper (my husband does not), and I don't think I could use it. We joked about Piper Irene, so her initials would be PIG or Piper Ursula, so her initials would be PUG. While that is all hilarious, we're not using Piper.

Her 4D ultrasound pictures look just Moose. So, I feel a little connection of, "Well, if Moose was a girl, his name would be Cara, so her name IS Cara."

My husband's only other suggestion: Carissa. Which I hate. As a general rule, I hate all names that rhyme with my name - with the possible exception of Alissa (spelled with an I). I also disapprove all creative spellings (or, as I call them, misspellings) of my name. One L, an I, and two flippin' Ss. Got it?

ANYWAY.

As someone with a Top 5 name from her birth year, I will not use a name in the Top 5. As a matter of fact, I'm unlikely to use a name from the Top 25 or, honestly, even the Top 100. My first child's name was 114 when I used it and it is now in the Top 100 and it IRKS me. It is really an irrational fear (as none of the current Most Popular Names are nearly as popular as Jennifer/Melissa/Jessica, etc. when I was born). STILL. I am left not wanting to go there AT ALL. So, the following names are pretty much out:

Isabella
		Sophia
		Emma
		Olivia
		Ava
		Emily
		Abigail
		Madison
		Chloe
		Mia
		Addison
		Elizabeth
		Ella
		Natalie
		Samantha
		Alexis
		Lily
		Grace
		Hailey
		Alyssa
		Lillian
		Hannah
		Avery
		Leah
		Nevaeh
		Sofia
		Ashley
		Anna
		Brianna
		Sarah
		Zoe
		Victoria
		Gabriella
		Brooklyn
		Kaylee
		Taylor
		Layla
		Allison
		Evelyn
		Riley
		Amelia
		Khloe
		Makayla
		Aubrey
		Charlotte
		Savannah
		Zoey
		Bella
		Kayla
		Alexa
		Peyton
		Audrey
		Claire
		Arianna
		Julia
		Aaliyah
		Kylie
		Lauren
		Sophie
		Sydney
		Camila
		Jasmine
		Morgan
		Alexandra
		Jocelyn
		Gianna
		Maya
		Kimberly
		Mackenzie
		Katherine
		Destiny
		Brooke
		Trinity
		Faith
		Lucy
		Madelyn
		Madeline
		Bailey
		Payton
		Andrea
		Autumn
		Melanie
		Ariana
		Serenity
		Stella
		Maria
		Molly
		Caroline
		Genesis
		Kaitlyn
		Eva
		Jessica
		Angelina
		Valeria
		Gabrielle
		Naomi
		Mariah
		Natalia
		Paige
		Rachel

I am not saying there is anything wrong with these names. Many of them are perfectly lovely! I will not use them, though.

Let's look at names out the Top 100 (101 to 500) that I like well enough but aren't particularly speaking to me:

Harper (not quite feminine enough)
Rebecca (a friend named Rebecca advised AGAINST it)
Summer (rhymes with hummer - just not sure I can do that)
Delilah (the song reference is super, the Biblical reference is not)
Chelsea (Husband doesn't like it - probably because of Chelsea on Teen Mom)
Fiona (love the idea of it, but she might not like being named after an ogre - and I don't blame her)
Genevieve (it's a lot of name)
Malia (Husband doesn't like it, I'm not sure I do either)

Since our last name is quite vanilla (which I am thankful for), we tend not to like plain-and-simple names. Megan, Sarah, Mary, Sally, etc. are all fine names but when paired with our last name, the whole name is pretty darn boring.

All this makes Flower Pumpkin seem quite reasonable.

Moose Turns THREE

Dear Moose,

Here we are at three. Three years ago, we were still sitting in the hospital. We spied some fireworks out the hospital window the night before. Yesterday, however, there was a fireworks ban in place. We still had a few smaller ones and some very hazardous sparklers. You stepped on some ash and got a blister - at least it was the end of the day :)

You loved tearing open the gifts from your grandparents. Your dad and I bought you an aquarium and fish, so there wasn't anything to tear open (as I figured you'd rather have a ready-to-go aquarium than one in a box and wait for days to actually put fish in). We killed three guppies and a snail overnight, but the new betta is hanging in there. We've actually hit the 24-hour mark with him. He's blue and black and you suggested the name Brown for him. I'll ask you again in a few days.

You are hilarious. You're a bit of a bully at times and are sweet as can be in other moments. You love playing outside barefoot and digging in the dirt. You and your brother have a good time together and, lucky for you, he just adores you and rarely hits you back. You still like to hit. Everything. And Everyone. But you're getting a handle on it. Now you will "dance yourself down" as you think about whacking someone. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

You know all your big letters and are quickly learning the little ones. You are writing many of them. And counting too. You're getting your colors (albeit, not all the time, see what you wanted to name the fish?) down. You recently started potty-training. You're pretty darn flawless with your #1s. Your #2s need some work, though. Please resolve this issue quickly.

You are speaking more and more and adore babies (similar to me, you prefer them immobile - you're less impressed with the variety that moves and protests). You're still a kid of few words, but you're getting there. I appreciate you not running your mouth all the time. Most kids talk too damn much anyway.

You're particular about some things - which shoes, jumping off the curb instead of stepping off of it, what goes in your sippy cup - but very laid back about other things.

Everyone always compliments your "perfectly highlighted" hair. Some people think it should be shorter, though. I think they should jump in a lake. I love your long hair.

You're a great eater and an early riser. If we make it to 7 a.m., it's pretty darn successful.

You still have some baby left in you but your little personality seeps out more and more everyday. As I say every year, stop growing.

Love always,
Mama

Hardware

These suckers are about $4 each at Lowe's:I got them from Overstock.com for just $1.83 each (plus $2.95 shipping for the entire order). It's just as good of quality and fits the existing holes in the cabinets. Yeah! I needed 50 of them to do the guest bath, kitchen, and laundry room ...

We are going to do brushed nickel hardware in the master bathroom ... one day ... many days from now.

Now I need to find just as good of a deal on hinges. If I have 50 pulls, then that means I have at least 100 hinges (most cabinets have two, some have three, but the drawers have none). Debating painting the existing ones, but the hassle PLUS the likelihood of the finish holding up seems not worth it.

Still celebrating my good deal on the pulls, though!

Surrendering to the Mini-Van

It took three kids, but I admit defeat.

I want a mini-van.

What sold me?

Power-slide doors.

And my narrow-ass garage.

I get three rows of seating and slightly better gas mileage.

I'm not "hanging on" to being cool. I'm a stay-at-home mom with three small children. The ship has sailed. An Expedition isn't going to reclaim me any street cred.

My must-haves:

Seats 8
Fuel efficiency
Flat-folding third row
Power-sliding doors

Thankfully, there aren't too many mini-vans on the market. Unlike the SUV saga, there's not so much to look at! Only the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna offer 8 seats, so that whittles it down even farther. Both have flat-folding third rows.

The Odyssey gets slightly better gas mileage.

The Sienna is supposed to be "more fun to drive" and has better color options (and, yes, I am won over by color on most all things - cameras, phones, etc.)

The "eighth" seat is "not practical for an adult" in the Sienna, it is in the Odyssey.

It's easier to get into the Sienna's third row compared to the Odyssey.

The Sienna's price is slightly lower (by about $2,000) and Toyota offers some incentives ($500 military discount and low financing - but our bank is still offering a bit better, so that doesn't really matter), where as Honda is offering nothing. But a $500 military discount doesn't seem to make a lot of difference on a $32,000+ purchase, no?

Our local dealerships do not have a single van on their lot I want (see: WHITE, 7-passenger vans). I suppose I can still take both models for a test drive, though, and they can acquire the specific one I want.

Right now, I am stuck between the two.

I like the idea of a fully-functional 8th seat and best gas mileage on the Honda, but I also like the color options and easier-access 3rd row on the Sienna. Seems like a draw. Seems like the gas mileage is the most important of these issues and the functional 8th seat and access to 3rd row seem equally important.

I like the body-style of the Odyssey better, but I like the color options of the Sienna MUCH better.

Fret, fret, fret.