Monthly Archives: August 2015

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 16, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 16, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was over 100F in San Jose today which did not make me a happy Jen. We also have smoke from the wildfires in the northern part of the state so it’s not good air for walks with the small child. *makes mental note to go in and record miles walked in the last week on MapMyRun*

I am thinking… about things in the coming week.

I am thankful… for the time with my parents. It’s been a good week with them and I’ve gotten to get together with a few people including Rebecca.

In the kitchen… Dad made hot dogs again tonight.

I am wearing… jammies (charcoal v-neck from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target).

I am going… to the store tomorrow for more apple juice for Daniel.

I am wondering… about a lot of things right now.

I am reading… The Alpine Yeoman by Mary Daheim for the third time. (2nd re-read this time.)

I am hoping… for resolution in some areas of my life.

I am looking forward to… a mall date with Rebecca to get some Giants socks. I’m going to my first MLB baseball game in a few weeks and it’s at Dodger Stadium so I can’t wear my Giants stuff. Before I even knew about the game, Jon and my priest were negotiating the terms. I can’t wear my Lincecum shirt (which I only have because they weren’t selling Romo shirts at Target) but I can wear Giants socks. I am also not allowed to boo Kershaw or Puig, which I think is completely unfair.

I am hearing… David Wesley singing on YouTube. (He’s a Canadian Christian version of Peter Hollens.)

A Daniel story for today… He’s been taking over closets at my parents’ house and playing with his tablet in them.

Around the house… silence as I think everyone is likely asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola which is pretty much banned at my parents’ house – my mom got me some one night when I needed “comfort food” (I’m weird, OK?) and she was referring to it as “hemlock”. Whenever I’d take a sip, I would say, “mmmmm… minty!” (According to a murder mystery, hemlock tastes minty.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: drive back down to LA and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… Daniel and I in the redwoods.

Daniel and I in the redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Ramblings from Tiredness

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

504 plans and IEP’s. Around this time of year, the question of 504 plans vs. IEP’s comes up in the groups with whom I hang on Facebook. This is the definition of a 504 plan and this is how it compares with an IEP. (The difference is accommodations vs. specialized instruction.)

For those keeping track, Daniel has an IEP.

— 2 —

For moms of non-verbal kiddos… Daniel’s 1:1 buddy from VBS at my church sent me this. It also works for elderly adults who may wander.

— 3 —

Prerequisite baseball take. Currently, the Dodgers are losing to Cincinnati and the Giants are beating the Nats. Life is as it should be. 🙂 (Why yes, I am conveniently ignoring the fact that the Giants are 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the standings and am instead baiting my husband with tonight’s scores.)

— 4 —

Cosmo and controversy. Last week while heading somewhere with Daniel (I think to get x-rays), I heard something about Rite Aid and a couple other national supermarket chains putting Cosmopolitan magazine behind a screen in checkout stands because the titles are too lewd for kids to read; and apparently, kids are asking their parents some pretty uncomfortable questions based on them. (We’re talking questions about sex acts and anatomy that their parents aren’t comfortable explaining to a 4 year old.)

So… should Cosmo be put behind a screen: yea or nay?

— 5 —

Don’t piss off women! Donald Trump insulted Megyn Kelly last week by blaming her hard questioning of him on her being on her period so there’s now a hashtag on Twitter with which women are trolling him with their period announcements.

I’m also heartened by Donald Trump being uninvited from the RedState Gathering for being such a jerk to Megyn Kelly. Even better: Megyn Kelly was invited in his place. It shows that Republicans are taking women seriously this time.

— 6 —

Eschet chayil! Dr. Frances Kelsey, who protected Americans from thalidomide, died last week at the age of 101. Because of her, the US was spared the scores of kids born with deformed arms and legs, deformed eyes and hearts, deformed alimentary and urinary tracts, blindness and deafness born in other countries where the use of the drug hadn’t been restricted. (It was used as an anti-nausea med and crossed the placental barrier.)

Irony of ironies, it is actually one of the chemotherapeutic agents used for my father-in-law’s type of cancer but they are meticulous about making sure that anyone prescribed it has no chance of getting pregnant or getting anyone else pregnant. It is also used to treat leprosy.

— 7 —

For Potterheads. This is funny but mildly NSFW.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

#5Faves: Things People Say to Me About Daniel

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#5Faves

For newbies, my son Daniel was born at 29.5 weeks prematurity (I am a HELLP Syndrome survivor) which left him with about a 50% development delay across the board, apraxia, and autism. Needless to say, mothering him is a full-time job and while I have a lot of fabulous people in my life advising me and helping me, I also deal with people to whom I need to hand a “stop talking” card. As I prefer to teach by praising the good in people, here are my five favorite things people say to me and to Daniel.

One

“It’s OK. He’s not bothering us.” This comes when Daniel is in public and berkerking around opening/shutting doors and acting like a tornado. It’s hard when he’s in that mode because he lacks the ability to calm down and we haven’t been able to effectively teach him how yet. People saying that (even when they’d truthfully like my precious sweetling to calm down) helps me to feel less awkward in having a kid who just can’t calm down at times.

Two

“You’re a saint.” I seriously don’t solicit this one because I totally don’t feel like a saint. I lose my temper with him, get frustrated with him, and a lot of times wallow in my feelings of unfairness that I have gotten so much thrown on me that is seriously beyond my capacity to handle. Catholic friends of mine have mentioned that we are to “help our kids to heaven” and I seriously think that’s Daniel’s job for me. Being his mom is purifying me from every ounce of selfishness, making me do things that scare me and require me to depend on God’s strength, and showing me that what I have been given is far more amazing than the kid I thought I wanted. Still… it’s good to know that people see God working in me.

(By the way, never tell someone that “God won’t give them anything they can’t handle” — it’s a bold-faced lie. God *REGULARLY* gives His people things they can’t handle except by His power and grace in their lives.)

Three

“He is so cute!” Yes. Yes, he is. 🙂

Four

“What a sweet and happy kid!” I’m seriously blessed that despite all the communication failures, the communication tantrums, and the normal moodiness, I have a kid who is smiley, happy, and very content 90% of the time.

Five

“You’re a good mother.” I think I need to hear this the most because I obsess about the tantrums in public, the milestones he hasn’t reached (potty-training), the kid sports that I probably should sign him up for but can’t afford, and a lot of things I feel like I do wrong. It’s nice to know that in the midst of these, I’m still a good mother.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 9, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 9, 2015

Outside my window… hot. Weather.Com says it’s 86F outside and I’ll trust them on that one. I’m also writing this before dark which is unusual for me; but I’m with my parents for 10 days and am not having to restrict blogging to times when Daniel is asleep.

I am thinking… about some things being discussed in some of the Facebook groups with whom I hang.

I am thankful… to be able to find stations for my listening pleasure on my 8-hour drive north yesterday. I normally listen to my CD collection or books on CD but the CD player in my car is refusing to cooperate. It was a melange of NPR, Air1, KLOVE, and Family Radio (which had some fabulous instrumental and acapella music).

In the kitchen… not sure what we’re having tonight but the Hawaiian pizza from Round Table was fabulous last night.

I am wearing… black “perfect tee” from Old Navy and capris from Kohl’s. My church attire was a top and pants from Kohl’s and Maude shoes from Naturalizer.

I am going… to Target for school clothes for Daniel in the next couple days.

I am wondering… about some things that are due to happen in the next few months.

I am reading… The Alpine Zen by Mary Daheim. I’ll be finishing my re-read and then re-reading The Alpine Yeoman which is the previous book in the series.

I am hoping… for a good visit with my parents and that my doctor can figure out what the Hades is going on with my stomach.

I am looking forward to… Daniel going back to school. Kiddo has been B-O-R-E-D for the last few weeks.

I am hearing… Rend Collective on YouTube singing “My Lighthouse”:

A Daniel story for today… we’ve been referring to him as “Toothless” since he lost the bottom tooth on Wednesday.

A favorite quote for today… “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and go well with ketchup.”

One of my favorite things… pesto bagel with garlic schmear from The Posh Bagel.

A few plans for the rest of the week: park dates, back-to-school shopping, and lots of walking.

A peek into my day… more Rend Collective. 🙂 This one is a song I’ve shared before and it’s called “Build Your Kingdom Here”. I’m seriously amused by bluegrass style instruments, Salvation Army band members, and fireeaters sharing the same space.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Why I Am Not Watching the GOP Debate and Other Parts of My Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Reason #1 why I am not watching the GOP debate. I can only deal with so many bloviating people before I want to drink myself into a stupor.

— 2 —

Reason #2 why I am not watching the GOP debate. The election is not until November of next year. I honestly don’t give a crap at this juncture about who in the GOP thinks they should run. When we’re 6 months from Election Day, I’ll possibly start paying attention.

— 3 —

Reason #3 why I am not watching the GOP debate. Donald Trump. Enough said.

— 4 —

Reason #4 why I am not watching the GOP debate. I don’t have a TV. 🙂

— 5 —

Jen and her food issues. I find that I really resonate with this piece from Buzzfeed on picky eating. Between food allergies and having to avoid certain foods (and cuisines) 6yto keep from exacerbating my G-I issues, I get quite a lot of flak for being a picky eater. Thing is… I’m not rude about it and for me it comes down to the fact that I don’t want to eat something that is going to cause me pain or aggravation.

There are also just some foods that I just don’t like and I’ll take small portions of those to be polite; but I’m not going to eat large amounts of something on my plate and praise it unless I actually *LIKE* it. To do otherwise would be a lie and will cause me problems down the road when people assume I love it and make it for me in large quantities.

— 6 —

The prerequisite take on vaccines. Some of the most vociferous objectors to vaccines that I’ve found have been Catholics claiming that it isn’t allowable because of their derivation from cell lines taken from aborted fetuses.

Actually, it *IS* allowable regardless because of the effect on public health.

— 7 —

Daniel’s dental appointment. Daniel had a consultation at a pediatric dentist in Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday. He was relatively good for it but definitely refused to let them do the full exam with x-rays, cleaning, etc. The dentist is totally used to this and can sedate him for the exam so we’re seeing his doctor tomorrow to get medical clearance for the sedation. Once we have that in hand, we can schedule the appointment. Denti-Cal has to pre-authorize all this so I’m thinking we’ll have at least a month before they can get it scheduled. If you could pray that this all comes together sooner than later, I’d appreciate it. Please and thank you!

Daniel also lost his second tooth last night while we were brushing his teeth. Given that they thought they might have to extract it, this is good news.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

#5Faves: Miscellanea (XLIII)

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#5Faves

One

Mary and Jerry. Mary of Passionate Perseverance and her “significant otter” Jerry are doing a series of vlogs answering reader questions on how their marriage survived having a special kiddo like Courtney, how they remember her, how they cope, etc. They are hysterically funny together and play off of each other well.

Two

Adam Eichelberger. This is my friend Kate’s husband and he looks like he should be in some kind of punk motorcycle gang. (Serious tats and piercings.) Looks are deceiving — this guy is a Catholic youth minister, a husband who seriously cherishes his wife (he secretly fundraised for a ticket and travel to Edel ’14 last year as a surprise 30th birthday present and was going to be selling some prized possessions to make sure she could go), and an amazing dad. The most wonderful picture of fatherhood that I’ve ever seen was him doing kangaroo care with his son Gus after he was born.

Anyway, he was interviewed on the Building Bridges podcast and I recommend you listen.

Three

Pie St. This is a local pizza place in the Village and the premise of it is the same as Pieology. Basically, you choose the dough and they make your pizza in front of you to your specifications with choices for sauces, cheeses, and meats. Unlimited toppings are $7.99 and they have some classics which are $6.99. It makes for an inexpensive date night for us.

Four

These cards. One of the chicas in the HELLP Syndrome Survivors group on Facebook linked these cards that say “Stop Talking” on them. I kind of want to just hand them out to random people who are spouting conspiracy theories about the government, vaccines, Obama, and the Illuminati.

Five

Mary Daheim. I’m re-reading The Alpine Zen and I’ve requested The Alpine Yeoman to refresh my memory on the things that led up to the latest book. She also has a series of books about a bed and breakfast which make fun of various Seattle landmarks and businesses.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 2, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 2, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s my usual late night blogging time. It was hot today though not completely unpleasant considering it was reported as being 95F. The breezes help.

I am thinking… about the things going on this week and the trip to be with my parents this coming weekend. I’m hoping my car’s CD player starts working well or it will be a boring drive.

I am thankful… that Todd, the newest cat addition in our house, is calm and not growling or swatting at us. Last night, he sat with me even though he was growly. When I went out for a midnight snack, he touched his nose to my fingers and let me pet him. Today, he has been licking my fingers and purring for me. I think he really just needed to know that he would be loved up and have human attention.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law made pizza from scratch for my sister-in-law’s birthday.

I am wearing… jammies.

I am going… to have to figure out a game plan for Wednesday when the power will be off from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and I have to entertain Daniel.

I am wondering… about how to remove certain food dyes from Daniel’s diet and if it will make a difference.

I am reading… The Alpine Zen by Mary Daheim. I actually finished it earlier this week (I could barely put it down) so I’m re-reading it. I finished Vanishing Grace by Phillip Yancey this week as well and *VERY HIGHLY* recommend it.

I am hoping… that my sleep deprivation feelings cease soon.

I am looking forward to… seeing my family.

I am hearing… the hymns I am listening to on YouTube.

A Daniel story for today… my little monster fell asleep at 7:30 and at 10:30, he walked into my bedroom rubbing his eyes and climbed on the bed where he preceeded to fall asleep.

Around the house… quiet. It’s wonderful.

One of my favorite things… well-done hymns.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT on Tuesday morning, Daniel’s dentist appointment on Wednesday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… Today was the “bread of life” reading in the Gospel of John so I thought I’d share one of my favorite hymns.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.