In My Home This Week: It's Not Over Until the Baby Sings

In my home this week...

...I'm  teaching the baby to sing...Really.  Isaac's most favorite form of expression to date is screeching shrilly at the top of his lungs.  It has been known to not only make grown-ups jump in their skins but to shatter eardrums.  So this past weekend, when he began his screeching I started to sing scales.  Isaac listened and began to mimic me.  Soon his pitch matched mine.  'Do' is still a little low for him yet but he did right well with 'Re, Mi, Fa'. 'So' and 'La' will come in time.

From that moment forward we've practiced our scales daily.  I can say sincerely that my voice is getting better.  His pitch is improving.  Our eardrums are grateful.

Towards the end of last week we settled into a routine of sorts...and naturally this week everything has shifted and changed.  Sometimes, life really is a beach and the tide is constantly changing the shore.  We do our best.



I really slept last Friday night.  I would guess I got nearly 7 hours which is a LOT for me.  I went back to bed after John left and listened to praise and worship music and dozed.  It was chilly.  The quilt felt good.  Which reminds me of something I scanned earlier this month on a post on Facebook.

Apparently it's now a 'thing' to have a sensory blanket that is very heavy to calm anxiety and help those who have sensory issues.  I believe it's called a bodyweight blanket.   I chuckled about this only because it's been a big deal these last few years to have blankets that are super lightweight though very warm.  I confess I'm not much of a fan of them.  I find them irritating on a number of levels not to mention that they can be very unsatisfying at producing comfortable heat.  For me they are just too hot.

I remember living in an older home as a child, as well as visiting grandparents homes.  The places were frigid in winter as there was no central heat and my relatives were not about to leave propane heaters lit in the bedrooms.  Not only were there concerns for our safety there was the financial side to be considered.  What we did have was a load of quilts, all handmade of cotton and real cotton filler which were HEAVY,  and they were piled upon the beds so thickly that I seriously can't recall turning over in bed in my childhood!  No one mentioned anxiety or sensory issues much in those days.  I'm not saying quilts had a thing to do with that, but it's interesting, I think that yet again an old fashioned thing (weighty blankets) is considered a good thing.  Don't you think so?  I remember after my illness a few springs ago, I found quilts very comforting and reassuring on a deep level.  I felt my life was out of control, I was afraid of what might happen, I had dozens of warnings to deal with.  But that daily nap snuggling under a quilt did as much to restore my soul as my daily bowls of soup did to restore my body.  I haven't forgotten how beneficial those old fashioned quilts of mine were!

One rule in my home at present is that Josh watches little television.  In his own home, the TD as he calls it, is often on from first moment in the morning until bedtime.  I suggested that with all the outdoors to play in and us well away from roads that they let him go out.  Cold?  Then let him put on a coat.  Next year he'll no doubt have a heavier winter coat, but for now layering clothes helps keep the cold at bay.  Sunshine and exercise go a long way in warming a child.  Dirt?  Boys wash as well as clothes.  A little dirt or mud or puddle jumping never hurt a child.  Fresh air and sunshine have been recently rediscovered as beneficial to health.  A child roaming about the country yard sees so many things.  Bugs, birds, plants that change in the seasons, small animals.  Understanding nature leads to an understanding of seasonality, change and growth.  Imagination is a wonderful tool that leads to thinking deeper thoughts and discovering solutions to problems.  I was told once long ago that a happy child is a singing child.  I love hearing Josh sing or talk out loud to himself as he roams about the yard.    Television may teach but it can't be a substitute for hands on play and observation and a child doesn't sing nor talk to it over much.

There are problems however.  Allergies.  While he's yet to officially be tested it is a fact that bug bites send Josh's system into a frantic attack on the sting site.  An ant bite, just a little ant bite, caused his foot to swell to the point the skin on his toe cracked open and it was impossible to put a shoe on his foot.   Mosquitoes affect him much the same.  He also seems to have a few other allergies which may or may not act up when he's outdoors. Pollen made him develop a deep cough but that is clearing.   Grass is another possible allergy issue.    I'm hoping these things are resolved for him soon.  On days when it's just misery for him to be outdoors, there's cars and trucks and little odds and ends that Gramma allows him to entertain himself with.  He spent an hour happily winding an alarm clock (one that doesn't work well) and sounding off the alarm one afternoon.   I spent two hours one day teaching him to form the letters of his name.  His Aunt V sent some cards that we can dry erase and reuse to help him learn to make straight lines and shapes and has the added value of teaching colors and numbers.   Prior to Easter he played for hours on end with the little bunny village I had set up.  When he gets very restive I will turn on the television and allow him an hour of TV time but mostly the TV stays off and play suffices.

I worked:  

Stripped bed.  Washed sheets and hung to dry.  Remade bed with fresh linens.

Refreshed bathroom towels.  Laundered previous set and hung to dry.  Later in week did more towels from guest bath.

Planned and prepared food for all.

Gathered trash, vacuumed, did dishes, did laundry, kept boys, contemplated a dozen and fifty other jobs I wish I could tackle but haven't time nor energy for at present.

New catalog launch this week and that made for a busy work week.  I also set myself the task of finishing organizing my Jam notebook where I keep track of customers, income, expenses, forms needed etc.

Weeded one whole section of flower bed last Sunday afternoon.  Discovered that the tiger lily bulbs had set forth a plant and Maddie had yet again ripped them from the ground, sigh.

Mostly coped.

I made meals:

HUGE Sub Ring Sandwich, Fresh Fruit, Chips, Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Garden Peas, Apple Pie

Taco Salads for us.  Deconstructed burritos for the boys.  Chocolate Ice Cream.

Mongolian Beef, Egg Noodles, Broccoli

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole, Pear Salad, Green Beans

Dinner at EMS banquet for John and I.  Chinese take out for the rest.

Leftovers night.

I saved money:

All the usual of laundry being hung to dry, full loads of laundry and dishes run, trash going off  with anyone headed away from home, etc.

Lots of water is wanted for drinking in this house.  Even the little boys are big on water.  I keep a steady supply of cold bottles in the fridge, which is Sam's preferred method of drinking it.  I wash bottles in the dishwasher then refill.

My trip to the grocery store wasn't the least expensive one I've made by any means but there was savings in it.  First, Bess kindly texted me a reminder to pick up coffee which happened to be on sale.

I picked up some fancy sugar cookies (my especial love) 'for the two little boys'...Then thought again.  For the cost of $7.99 for two dozen cookies?  Chocolate Chip cookies were $2.29 and just as well liked by the boys.  After all to them a cookie is a cookie.  And an apple pie was $3.99 which happens to be John's favorite.  Dessert for two days for less money than 2 dozen cookies.

We couldn't go to the meat market next week as I'd like.  But no ground beef on hand is not good either. It leaves us having to eat far more pricey meats.  I  decided it was worthwhile to buy some ground chuck.  It was $1 a pound more than the best price in Macon, but then again I haven't time to go to Macon next week anyway. I divided the family pack and put into the freezer.

Coffee, milk, bread, eggs...How do households run without them?  Bought all of those things and while prices are far better at Aldi it was most expedient to shop where I was at the time.

Decided a proper Sabbath day was wanted as much as possible.  I picked up a big huge submarine sandwich and told the family there was Saturday lunch and dinner.  I also bought fried chicken for Easter dinner.  I made sides at home but it was nice to have easy meals for the weekend and the previous week certainly hadn't afforded me the opportunity to make anything ahead.  I realized as I paid for my 'extras' that sometimes money is exchanged for a bit of leisure.  Well I was quite happy to make that exchange.  And a lot less harried for the Sabbath and Sunday, as well.

Helps tremendously that the grocery store was closed when we were out of church on Sunday.  John went into the gas station to get a paper and coffee and that reduced our spending by about $50 on that day.

Out with Mama on Tuesday.  My day to pay for lunch which I did, from my pocket money.  Then into the grocery.   She wanted just three or four things.  I needed broccoli and egg noodles and potatoes and an over the counter med for John.  I forgot potatoes.  I'll buy them another day.

Went into Kroger to pick up items that were on a very good sale.  2L sodas for 77c, bags of chips for 99c.  Both prices are far better than Aldi prices.  Forgot potatoes.  Wish I'd remembered cheese was also on sale but somehow failed to print that coupon.  Picked up a free bag of Doritos, 15oz, from a store coupon Kroger sent out to me in the mail.


I had my leisure:

A nap.  I lay down next to John, he wrapped his arms around me and amid all the screeching and screaming and laughter just outside our bedroom door, we went to sleep.  I slept for a good 10 minutes.  It was awesome.

We go haircuts and went out to the EMS banquet.

I went to visit with Mama.  Not a leisure activity but one that afforded me an hour or so alone while I traveled  and that IS luxury.

Not much leisure to be had really but I cut myself slack this week.  I am not reading my usual multiple chapters of Bible daily.  I'm reading a Psalm and a page or two.  God knows just what I'm dealing with at present and the pressure of not enough time.  I haven't forgotten him.  He hasn't forgotten me.