Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

We have a garden. It's still a bit early, but we are starting to reap what we sowed. Today's take was carrots, onions, and spinach. Yummy!

So, tonight, we had a spinach salad with onions, carrots on the side, cheese pasta with ground beef, and bread. My kids crack me up. They will eat almost any veggie from our garden with one simple rule. They must eat it IN the garden. I am so glad we don't spray or use any type of chemicals in our garden. They have tried so many new foods simply pulling them off the plant and popping them in their mouths while standing in the wonderful soil. Why would I want them to miss that? Yes, it means more work for us physically. I have to pull weeds by hand, we have to pull bugs off of plants by hand sometimes, but my kids smiles as they taste a new vegetable is all I need to do it every year. 

Today our youngest son decided spinach was his food to try. I cut him a leaf and he took a bite. He declared it to be one of his new favorite foods. He ate a huge helping of raw spinach and carrots for supper, no dressing needed. 

We are going to have to double plant a few areas where things just didn't grow for some unknown reasons. It's a bit late in the game, but I am hoping we might have some success. 

On another topic, my husband brush hogged our "yard" today (the 10 or so acres around our home). After lunch he came running in and told me to grab a basket and put something soft inside of it. I grabbed our egg basket, put one of my son's old windbreakers in it, and ran outside behind him. I didn't know what was going on, but he seemed insistent. 

He walked me over to an area near the edge of our property and told me to look in an high grass area he hadn't mowed. I asked if it would bite me (joking of course) and he replied "not yet". That got my curiosity up. I moved the grass aside and found this:

8 wild turkey eggs. No, that one isn't cracked, it's grass on the shell.

We ran them in, they had been away from their Mom for a bit, but we didn't think long enough to hurt their viability. My husband had seen the Mom fly away and waited to see if she would return, which she didn't.

I put them under a heat lamp to see them warm until we could figure out what to do. I called our state's department of wildlife. They first got me in touch with the law enforcement division (think game warden). In some states it's illegal to possess the eggs of a game bird. Come to find out, it's not in our state. It is illegal to release them back into the wild if you hatch them unless you are a rehabilitation center. So, we figured maybe we could get 1 or 2 to hatch and survive (turkeys take a lot of training to be able to be, well, turkeys). Then we would keep them as a pet.

Thankfully I found a local wildlife rehabilitation center very close to me. I live in a tiny, tiny, tiny rural town. I was SHOCKED that she was 1 mile from my home. She knew my mother-in-law, we know her husband and have met her once. She took eggs (most rehab people only take live animals, not eggs), she took turkey eggs, she had room for all 8, she could pick them up right then. Within 4 minutes of the call they were in her hands to try and save them. Hopefully in about 20 days (with the helps of the wildlife biologist we estimate the oldest egg is 8 days old) there will be 8 brand new little turkeys on this planet ... or at least a few given how many eggs often don't hatch or the babies don't make it.

Last 36 Hours of the Freebies!!

Don't forget to join me and other bloggers for the freebies that The Old SchoolHouse is giving us the chance to share with you. Check out mine and then visit the other bloggers because we all signed up for different items to share. Hurry because these deals end tomorrow.

My Freebies

Want More Freebies

And, since we are on the topic of The Old SchoolHouse, they had a funny online that I had to share. If you are a Mom, a Dad, even a grandparent, you have probably felt this way.

Coexist?

I was driving home yesterday with my youngest son in the back seat and I passed a car with a coexist bumper sticker on the back window. I am sure you know the one I am talking about.

There are other forms, but they are all basically the same at their core design. I have seen these many times over the years. Many ... many times. I never paid them much attention other than an eyeroll in their direction. That was until yesterday.

Yesterday was different. I saw this sticker and actually gave it some thought. What is this asking us to do in society? Well, let's break it down.

The definition of coexist is:

Verb (used without object)

1. to exist together or at the same time

2. to exist separately or independently but peaceably, often while remaining rivals or adversaries 

OK, that sounds basic enough. Let's take it further. What about the words exist, rivals, and adversaries?

EXIST

Verb (used without object)

1. To have actual being; be:

2. to have life or animation; live

3. to continue to be or live

ADVERSARY

Noun, plural adversaries

1. a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe

2. a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant

RIVAL

Noun

1. a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor

2. a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority. 

Now that we are all working from the same place, because we can't discuss what we don't actually know, let's move forward. If I see this bumper sticker, what is it literally asking me to do? Well, according to the English language dictionaries on hand, it's asking everyone to exist at the same time as people who are different from you in any way while NOT stopping being against them or their beliefs. 

Hmm, as I look at it that way, I am following the request of that bumper sticker. I am on the planet, living with people who are 100% against me and my beliefs while I am 100% against their beliefs. I dare say I am not even trying to hurt or kill them, though that's not a full requirement (one part does mention peaceably, but we can choose that one or not). 

However, I have a sneaky suspicion that's not really what these bumper stickers are requesting of us, not truly. What they are really asking is for us to lay down our differences, call them nothing, and change to what the person with the car thinks is a logical and good way of living. By the way, this isn't coexisting, this is changing others at their deepest core being or causing issues with them, calling them names, and even trying to force their compliance. Don't believe me? Look at the other stickers that often are on the same bumpers/back windows. You will see a full picture of what most of these drivers actually want.

With the reality of what these stickers are asking, I say no. I won't coexist using their twisted and personal definition. Here's what I will do:

1) I will love every person on the face of the planet with a Biblical and Godly love to the best of my ability: "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31

2) I will love God above all others in order to share the love of Christ through my actions and words:  "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." Mark 12:30

3) I will never harm another person for no reason:  "Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20:13

4) I will stand for Godly principles in my life in all situations: "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 10:32

5) I will not go quietly into the night, instead sharing the promise, grace, hope, and mercy of God's salvation message to anyone who will take the time to listen: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  Matthew 28:19-20

6) I will teach my children to do the same: "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 11:19 ... so they can go into the world as strong Godly men who love others more than themselves: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

So, I am coexisting, in fact God taught us how to coexist in the best way possible. We aren't taught to kill in His name. We aren't taught to force compliance from others to our will, or even His. We aren't taught to hate in His name. We aren't taught to demand others listen to the Gospel or die/suffer consequences. We are taught to love God, love others (our neighbor is everyone in the history of time), and to share God's promise with those who would listen. 

Coexist? Yes. Coexist how the world has twisted the meaning? Never. God's way or man's? The two cannot coexist. Which shall you choose?

Sleep Study Part 2

He sleeps.

My kids don't.

We finally threw up our hands and had a sleep study and EEG. Now THAT was an experience. My son slept as usual. Only parents of kids with special needs knows the fear that this will be the one time he sleeps (acts) like every typical child. But, as far as I know his sleep was just like it is when we are at home.

Now we wait. The report from the doctor won't be ready for 5 - 10 business days. Yeah, I am very much hoping for 5 rather than 10.

Sleep and a Study

See that picture above? Yeah, that doesn't happen at our house without a lot of work. It hasn't happened at our house for years. Add in the issues once the kids finally fall asleep (light sleep instead of deep, sleep talking, wild movements during sleep, snoring, etc) and sleep is a dream goal (no pun intended).

Our sons are finally healthy enough to start addressing this issue. So, I went to our doctor and asked about an EEG to figure this out with our older son. Younger son will come next. He quickly agreed and just a few days later we are ready for our sleep study and overnight EEG. Yes, they are different things. A sleep study hooks up monitors that measure such things as O2 levels, CO2 levels, leg and arm movements, heart rate, etc. The EEG will look at what his brain is doing during the time he goes to sleep and while he's sleeping. I don't know if we will find any reasons with this type of test for why he isn't sleeping well, but I pray if there is a reason we find it on the test. He needs sleep. He needs deep quality sleep. He needs to be rested. How can you heal, grow, thrive when you are exhausted? Simple answer, you can't.

So, if you have any prayer time today, I would love for you to use some of it for us to find answers to our son's sleep issues.

I Took the Plunge in Planning, and a New Favorite

I am very organized. I am good at organizing other's homes, lives, what ever you have. I like to organize. I hate planning. I am terrible at planning. You would think planning was just organizing time, but it's just something I am not great at and never have been.

I tried using my phone for appointments, events, etc. Yeah, it only half works for me. The phone works, I only half work with it. I tried using our iPad but found I rarely carry it when I need it. So, that won't work well.

I caved and decided old fashioned paper and pencil will be a better fit for me. Enter my new Day-Timer.

It's not pretty, but it's suitable. I didn't want to spend a lot of money until I made sure this would be a good fit for how I live life. It costs about $25 and comes with 3 months of filler so I can try it out and figure out what I like before I buy stuff for it. Later on, when this one wears out, I will buy a pretty planner.

I want to put it in my backpack that I carry all of our son's tube feeding items in when we leave. That way it's always with me, I have it at the ready, and yet I don't have to search for it when I leave the house.

Anyway, my husband has a new crazy schedule that will begin in June (no, really, it's like the higher ups said, "what is the nuttiest thing we could do to these guys and their families schedules? Oh, yeah, that's nuts.... let's do it!") and I need to really get organized before then or I am going to have us out of the house on his days off and at home on his work days. I try very hard to schedule things around when he works. Right now that's easy since it's the same days every single week. I have been spoiled.

I will post later to let you know how it's working for me, for us.

Oh, I have a new favorite thing. I am talking use it many times a week favorite. I used to use cooking sprays to keep items from sticking. Well, further back from that I used Teflon (gag) to keep things from sticking. As I got wiser about toxins and what they were doing to our body, and add in food intolerances that prevent us from using many cooking sprays, and my choices for non-stick baked goods was dwindling.

Enter parchment paper.

Yep, nothing new about parchment paper only my use of it. I use it for everything. Even if I make rolls that say to bake them on a bare cookie sheet, I use it. So, if you are into stocks and investments, you might start watching the prices on parchment paper companies, I might be helping them purchase their homes.

Seriously, if you haven't used it, do. Just read the box to check for temperature safety (some can be used at higher temps than others) and try your hand at using it, especially if you haven't gotten rid of the more toxic surfaces on baking items. At least that would provide some protection.

What We Have Been Up To This Week

What a week so far. Our week wasn't hard, per se. I think I just took it badly.

It all started last Thursday. My husband came home from work with What he so colorfully described as "hamburger throat". I don't really know what that feels like, but it hurts according to him. Yep, sick. It wasn't a horrible illness, but it started with a sore throat, moved to just feeling really under the weather, then a cough started. He is now feeling a lot better, but the cough remains, though not nearly as bad as it was.

Then the weekend hit and our younger son had a freaky situation with his hypoglycemia. Normally when it hits he just gets cranky and a bit tired. I try hard to stay on top of it so he has been very level for a while. But, Saturday whoa! He was fine, we were chatting about lunch, we were actually getting it early while doing errands. Suddenly he squatted down and told me he was a bit tired. I figured he stayed up late Friday night since it's "brother's night" every Friday where the kids get a fun supper and get to stay up late playing with each other in their room. However, that was not the case. He then stood up and got cranky about how slow the service was. Hmm, well, a bit slow but not cranky worthy. Suddenly he said the smell in the restaurant was making him sick, we had to take our food and eat in the car because he couldn't stand it, he was going on and on about how sick it was making him. Lastly he told me he had to use the restroom. Fine, buddy, go. I didn't know what his issue was, but yeah, go to the potty. We got our food to go and waited on him. He was gone a long time. I went to knock on the door (it's a single person restroom) and ask if he was OK. I couldn't hear a response. I asked my older son to knock and ask in case I was just not hearing him. He knocked, nothing. I started to panic wondering if they had keys to the restroom and my son knocked again. This time he heard something. The bathroom door finally opened to my younger son having a gray face. He told me this place was making him feel so sick he had his head in the toilet that whole time. He didn't throw up but was heaving and just wanted to go. He was gray, sweating and clammy, felt odd.

We got out of there fast. I figured it was better to get sick in the parking lot than a restaurant. He kept stopping to bend over and heave. I threw the food in the car, told my older son to hop in so I didn't have to worry about him in the parking lot, and grabbed my younger son. I sat on the door opening with him on my lap heaving over and over. Finally he lifted his head and asked for a drink. I told him throwing up and drinks were a bad idea. He begged saying he thought he needed a drink. I figured the worse that could happen was he would throw up Sprite, so I gave it to him. He sipped. We waited. I noticed the tightening in his stomach stopped almost immediately. I had been feeling his wretching as I held him. He asked for another drink. I gave it to him. He drank and drank. He told me he felt a little better and could he have something to eat, he was very hungry. He ate, finished his drink, and perked up so quickly. His face pinked up, his lips pinked up, he was feeling so much better.

I called my Mom to tell her about it and she reminded me about his hypoglycemia. Yep, that's what this was. I had never seen it get so bad and I am not sure why it did that day. Thanking God that's what it was and that it wasn't something else like a stomach virus. Sigh. Hard way to start errands.

Later that day, to add bad to worse, he was given something with red dye in it. And that took out the rest of the evening and all of Sunday. BAD, BAD 24 hours.

So, we trucked along with Monday. I just had it as a day of rest after music lessons. We just hung out as a family, relaxed, and had fun.

Tuesday came around, I was ready for a day with school, music practice, and chores. That was until my older son woke up and his first words to me were, "Mom, my throat hurts". Yep, Daddy passed on the goodies.

So, here we are back at Wednesday. We were supposed to go to a Passover meal tomorrow at a local church. Hubby had the day off from work because going to work would mean he wouldn't make it home in time. He had the day off for a whole 24 hours before they had to cancel it. Guess it's good we weren't able to go. Now no one is disappointed because big brother is sick.

I was up very late Monday night, just unable to sleep for some unknown reason. This means I was wiped yesterday. I went to bed early to get some rest. Around 11:30pm my older son comes into my room to ask me what the noise he hears is and could I look. I got up, not hearing anything, and walked into the living room. It was our weather radio blaring it's siren. How I didn't hear it beats me. I always hear it. It wasn't even a watch, it was the warning siren. Thankfully it wasn't a tornado, but serious enough I needed to not sleep through it again. So, I grabbed my pillow and slept on the sofa in case it got worse. UGH! This Mom is tired.