My SIL asked if I had a magical cheap dishwasher detergent alternative. Hmmm....I did not. It sounded like something I needed though. Dishwasher detergent is fairly cheap at Sam's, but (as much as I cover my eyes and ears and sing "la la la la la" when I walk through the door) Sam's is really just WalMart and I really really try to avoid giving my money to Walmart. So dishwasher detergent, huh? I was on a search. And I found what I was looking for. Better yet, it uses the same ingredients as the homemade laundry detergent--yay! I found a few theories.....
The one I made (and is washing a load of dishes as we speak) mixes equal parts Borax and Washing Soda. That's it. Why oh why have I been buying cascade all these years????? Most people also recommend filling the rinse aid compartment with plain ol' white vinegar (very cheap at Sam's---grrrrrrrr maybe I can't get away from it after all, though at the rate we're going I need a 50 gallon drum of vinegar). Apparently the homemade detergent will leave spots without the vinegar rinse.
Some people said to use baking soda instead of washing soda, but I think these people are new to frugal/green living and just misunderstood something somewhere along the way.
Some people just use the homemade laundry detergent in the dishwasher as well--apparently, it's non-sudsing enough that it works fine.
In searching for a recipe, I also found the best blog I've ever come across: http://christinemoers.blogspot.com/ I especially love her smooching trees, sex, and breastfeeding posts (click on the appropriate tag links to see the posts).
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Free Advice
I was driving to the doctor today and saw something that I feel deserves a blog post. It's not often I claim to know what's best for a certain person. Well, maybe I'll gripe about my opinion to Josh, but I don't go around telling the whole world they should do this or that. However, I think I can confidently say NO ONE should be reading while driving. I'm not talking a quick look at directions or something, but actually reading while driving. I had the joy of ending up behind a truck that had a college-aged looking guy holding a book up off to his right (cause you wouldn't want to obscure your vision of the road while you're reading and driving would you?). Yes, the truck was moving. Now, I'm a reading addict. I've been known to read while eating, while riding in a car, while waiting for an appointment, even while walking (not on busy roads though), but I can say without hesitation that it is NOT a good idea to read WHILE DRIVING!!!!!!!!! Not just for your own sake, but for the poor sap who's in on coming traffic, or the lady behind you with her baby in the car that would rather not be planning how she's going to avoid the wreck you're likely to cause. Really---I can't think of anything that can't wait until you get to your destination.
As far as that doctor visit....I think we can say Sedona's making progress (of some sort anyway). She has maintained her growth curve for her length and head circumference (yay!). Her weight is still dropping off. She has managed to steadily gain 6oz/month for the last 7 months. I guess a steady gain is a good thing, but it's not enough to maintain a growth curve. Back at 2 months old, she was in the 90th percentile, as of today she is right on the 25th percentile line. Now, I realize we are more "25th percentile" people and I never expected her to stay at the 90th. I'd be quite okay with her being at the 25th (though, even Sierra's right on the 50th), but she needs to level out and follow a curve here at some point. She hasn't had bloody stools for a long time now, but we are constantly battling constipation issues--the child eats a huge amount of prunes (she likes them at least!), but any grain at all seems to cause her problems (we've tried rice, corn, millet, quinoa). We have an appointment tomorrow with her GI, so the pediatrician said he'd just leave that to the specialist. She also has cradle cap that will not come off. Sierra's lasted a while, but this really won't come off (I've tried shampooing, scrubbing, rubbing in oil, picking with my fingernails...it won't come off). He prescribed something to put on that to clear it up. I'm still thinking there's some sort of (admittedly, mild) immunology/food allergy thing going on, but I don't know what to look for anymore. Numerous people have commented about yeast imbalances causing constipation (though that just came up with the addition of solid foods...surprise, surprise, don't get me on my lactation consultant soap box about that one) and cradle cap problems. I suppose I should go pick up some baby probiotics. They carry them at the local natural foods store and I figure they fall into that "won't hurt, might help" category. Anyways.....overall, I say she's doing a lot better--I wish she'd gain weight better, but the absence of bloody stools has got to be a good sign.
As far as that doctor visit....I think we can say Sedona's making progress (of some sort anyway). She has maintained her growth curve for her length and head circumference (yay!). Her weight is still dropping off. She has managed to steadily gain 6oz/month for the last 7 months. I guess a steady gain is a good thing, but it's not enough to maintain a growth curve. Back at 2 months old, she was in the 90th percentile, as of today she is right on the 25th percentile line. Now, I realize we are more "25th percentile" people and I never expected her to stay at the 90th. I'd be quite okay with her being at the 25th (though, even Sierra's right on the 50th), but she needs to level out and follow a curve here at some point. She hasn't had bloody stools for a long time now, but we are constantly battling constipation issues--the child eats a huge amount of prunes (she likes them at least!), but any grain at all seems to cause her problems (we've tried rice, corn, millet, quinoa). We have an appointment tomorrow with her GI, so the pediatrician said he'd just leave that to the specialist. She also has cradle cap that will not come off. Sierra's lasted a while, but this really won't come off (I've tried shampooing, scrubbing, rubbing in oil, picking with my fingernails...it won't come off). He prescribed something to put on that to clear it up. I'm still thinking there's some sort of (admittedly, mild) immunology/food allergy thing going on, but I don't know what to look for anymore. Numerous people have commented about yeast imbalances causing constipation (though that just came up with the addition of solid foods...surprise, surprise, don't get me on my lactation consultant soap box about that one) and cradle cap problems. I suppose I should go pick up some baby probiotics. They carry them at the local natural foods store and I figure they fall into that "won't hurt, might help" category. Anyways.....overall, I say she's doing a lot better--I wish she'd gain weight better, but the absence of bloody stools has got to be a good sign.
Monday, April 14, 2008
This is your brain...
This is a can of juice:
This is what happens when a can of juice spontaneously leaps from your hand and kisses you on the leg:
ouch. It also left a very sizable dent in the step stool my brother in law made us (sorry Harold).
And in other no good very bad day news, Sierra has 5---yes FIVE cavities. joy. I can't say I'm surprised. Josh and I have both had an insane amount of dental work done. My first thought was "why fill baby teeth?" but an internet search turned up the information that yes, you do fill baby teeth. There is a little gray area there, but four of these are in each of her second molars, which don't fall out until age 10-12 and you can't let decay sit around for the next 7-9 years. sigh! That should be fun. I think I'm gonna owe her a few milkshakes. Also fun is paying to fill 5 cavities. I'm gonna talk to the dentist and hope they'll give us a discount if we pay cash up front.
But all in all, life is still good. We are all healthy and together and that's what's important, right? A friend of a friend has spent the last week and a half in the hospital with their baby girl---she went to daycare just fine and then was in the hospital following an "incident". No one knows for sure what happened, but it's pretty easy to put the pieces together when you see and read about the damage that's been done. The family could use any prayers/good thoughts/healing vibes you can send their way. She has a carepage under the name AlexisLinn if you want to read more about her and see her pictures. Anything we've had to deal with (ever) pales in comparison to what this family is going through.
Our two happy girls:
Sedona still won't crawl, but she's happy as can be standing:
I made Sierra a "twirly skirt", I couldn't get her to sit still long enough to take a picture of it though, so all you get is an action shot:
This is what happens when a can of juice spontaneously leaps from your hand and kisses you on the leg:
ouch. It also left a very sizable dent in the step stool my brother in law made us (sorry Harold).
And in other no good very bad day news, Sierra has 5---yes FIVE cavities. joy. I can't say I'm surprised. Josh and I have both had an insane amount of dental work done. My first thought was "why fill baby teeth?" but an internet search turned up the information that yes, you do fill baby teeth. There is a little gray area there, but four of these are in each of her second molars, which don't fall out until age 10-12 and you can't let decay sit around for the next 7-9 years. sigh! That should be fun. I think I'm gonna owe her a few milkshakes. Also fun is paying to fill 5 cavities. I'm gonna talk to the dentist and hope they'll give us a discount if we pay cash up front.
But all in all, life is still good. We are all healthy and together and that's what's important, right? A friend of a friend has spent the last week and a half in the hospital with their baby girl---she went to daycare just fine and then was in the hospital following an "incident". No one knows for sure what happened, but it's pretty easy to put the pieces together when you see and read about the damage that's been done. The family could use any prayers/good thoughts/healing vibes you can send their way. She has a carepage under the name AlexisLinn if you want to read more about her and see her pictures. Anything we've had to deal with (ever) pales in comparison to what this family is going through.
Our two happy girls:
Sedona still won't crawl, but she's happy as can be standing:
I made Sierra a "twirly skirt", I couldn't get her to sit still long enough to take a picture of it though, so all you get is an action shot:
Monday, April 7, 2008
50 books in a year
Since I will not be finishing any books by tomorrow evening, it's time to draw this year's 50 books in a year challenge to a close!
From April 8, 2007-April 8, 2008, I read 37 books (no, not 50, but this year I had my toddler to care for, added a new baby to the family, worked full time much of the year, moved, and completed major renovations to our new house--I think I did well ;-). I ended up with 14,326 pages. I gave myself zero credit for all of the Newsweek, Mother Earth News and Smithsonian magazines I've read cover to cover. I attributed the big increase this year to the fact that we ditched TV in July and that I finally took the time to get a library card.
The link to "50 Books In A Year" on the left goes to the list of what I've read and my short review of each book. It will stay active until I finish my next book, and then it will switch to the next year's books. That post was written August 30, 2007 (if you're looking for it and the link's already changed)
Just to sum it up for myself:
2006:
30 books
8,222 pages
2007:
37 books
14,326 pages
From April 8, 2007-April 8, 2008, I read 37 books (no, not 50, but this year I had my toddler to care for, added a new baby to the family, worked full time much of the year, moved, and completed major renovations to our new house--I think I did well ;-). I ended up with 14,326 pages. I gave myself zero credit for all of the Newsweek, Mother Earth News and Smithsonian magazines I've read cover to cover. I attributed the big increase this year to the fact that we ditched TV in July and that I finally took the time to get a library card.
The link to "50 Books In A Year" on the left goes to the list of what I've read and my short review of each book. It will stay active until I finish my next book, and then it will switch to the next year's books. That post was written August 30, 2007 (if you're looking for it and the link's already changed)
Just to sum it up for myself:
2006:
30 books
8,222 pages
2007:
37 books
14,326 pages
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
