Chemical-free

I am inordinately proud of the fact that I made popcorn in a cast-iron skillet tonight. Not that it was hard, but this last year I have been trying to remove the processed food from our diets, all the way down to the commercial canned tomatoes (some cans are lined with plastic that contains BPA, which meant I canned endless quarts of tomatoes and marinara last fall). Maybe it's not necessary. But can you really argue that the chemicals, preservatives and words you can't pronounce and don't understand are GOOD for you?
I'm not a fanatic. We aren't vegetarian, we eat fast food sometimes. But the best-tasting food is REAL food, with minimal ingredients, eaten "close to the ground". And in my efforts to teach my son to eat real food, not to ruin his palate with processed sugar, salt and chemicals, I made all his baby food. Yes, it was alot of effort, but now he loves fruit and vegetables. In the grocery store, he asks, "Does this have big words?" when he wants something. "Big words" is his first question, not whether he can have it, because he knows if the answer is yes, it's going back on the shelf.
That sounds really strict, but I feel I'm protecting him, not depriving him. And what does it hurt?

Entertainment, or something like it

I haven't been to the symphony in five years. I love classical music, always have, and I refuse to defend it. Anyway, the last time I went, I was easily the youngest person there by about 20 years, except for the odd teenager whose forced attendance was obviously their grandparents' idea. So I was pleasantly surprised that a single ticket in Kenan auditorium can get you the lone seat right up front, beyond the front row, with no neighbors - Yes! And, apparently, that seat will always be my seat...
I've never invited Paul, as I assumed he would be bored. On New Year's Eve, while watching "Live from Lincoln center", I found out that I was right to leave him home - he is a hopeless philistine.
Here's some of his running commentary:
On seeing an oboe," Is that the thing they play on Star Wars?"
While watching the 1st Violinist jerk thru a rapid section, "What, does she have Touretts?"
At the close-ups of the pianist (who truly was pretentious to the point of being annoying), as his face was transformed by the music, "Is that his O-face? No, wait - he's holding in a fart."
And on, and on. I know he was mostly trying to make me laugh, but really!
So I will continue to leave him home. Maybe when Aidan gets a little older, I can drag him with me and break the cycle :)

The worst parts of having health problems

WARNING: This is shaping up to be a rant. Not cute stories about the midget man, not pics of our last vacay, just all the things that I've been trying not to say. All the reasons that I stopped blogging so I WOULDN'T say. So if that might bug you - skip it. I'm done, I'm 'bout to spit the truth as I see it.

The most annoying part of having health problems is that most people make stupid comments. My health issues are NOT the "exact same thing" that your mom's co-worker's next-door neighbor's niece has. I am NOT deficient in B-12, or digestive enzymes, I am not allergic to wheat/soy/dairy. I do not need to see YOUR doctor/chiropractor/kinesiologist/nutritionist/witch doctor whatever. I've already been sent to Chapel Hill, so don't tell me about going to Duke, or ask why I haven't been to Johns Hopkins or the Mayo Clinic.
Didn't we just have a really great part on the District convention about NOT giving people medical advice? Haven't we seen article after article about how to actually be supportive, not just make noises at people who aren't well? If one more person says "Call me if you need anything".....Yeah right. I'm an independent control freak who just in the last year finally started delegating the side dishes when we have 15 people over for dinner. I didn't ask for help when my son was born. Like I'm ever going to ask anyone for anything. I don't do help.
And I'm fine, I've got this. I have a great husband and tons of wonderful local family. But I'm irritated to the point of violence by pointless conversations with people who have no idea what is going on with me and wouldn't actually DO anything if they did understand the situation.
And most people don't have any idea how sick I get sometimes because I'm sick to death of having idiot conversations. So I don't mention it. All the people that need to know, already know. This way, I don't have people calling on Sunday when I didn't make it to the meeting and keeping me on the phone for an hour. Maybe if I couldn't make it out of bed that day, I would like to be asleep or resting or doing something other than hearing about who else has the "exact same thing" that I do!! (Besides, they still haven't diagnosed me.)
This isn't about any one person. And I'm sure all you nice people are thinking, "Oh, but people mean well! They just want to help!" By that logic, the next time I see a 4-year-old with a pacifier, and I slap it out of their mouth in a sincere effort to protect their teeth, don't say anything to me. It was for their own good. I was trying to help.

Whoo - I'm back

Finally, now that I've completely given up on this whole blogging thing, and all 2 of you who read this have totally given up on my ever posting, I am back. Mostly, I was having logistitical issues... everytime I had time, Paul needed the computer. Anyway, now that my fab hubbie just bought me a totally fab laptop of my very own, I have pics to share!

This is Aidan and his Uncle Preston. They landed a 3lb catfish - it was priceless



We went picking tomatoes at Holden Brothers, mostly because Aidan likes to ride the Kubota. He had a blast! SO much so that we got a little carried away... I put up 20 quarts of tomatoes, either as diced or as marinara.

Aidan has been sick for most of the last 2 months. He had a double ear infection at the beginning of September, and has had hearing loss ever since. The doctor says it should be temporary, but it is still worrysome. Just tonight Paul was "testing" Aidan's hearing - Aidan was sitting at our feet, and Paul started asking me very quietly if I would like some ice cream, or if we should watch "Cars". Aidan never flinched - which told alot, since he loves disney/pixar cars to much that we have redecorated his room with 'Mater and Stickers.

Next week are off to Florida to take Aidan to SeaWorld and the Animal Kingdom. I can't wait to see his little face.

Anyway, I've been in physical therapy for the back/pelvic pain, and am much better. Better enough that we've been able to take Aidan to lots of Fall activities, like pumpkin picking and the Little river shrimp and Jazz fest. He's at such a fun age :)

Summer 2010

So.... it's been over six months since I posted. Lots of reasons, none of which were fun. (like surgery and funerals).
I'm moving forward. Trying to focus on the positive. Trying to focus on my family, and having a great summer. We need it.

New funny story about my annoying intelligent offspring: While watching TV, I said something was S-T-U-P-I-D. He immediately looked up and said, "Stupid. Don't say stupid, Mommy." What - spelling doesn't work with my 2 year old anymore? I blame it on Sesame Street :)

Recently

Why do I feel like I'm losing my mind?
Since my last post we've been busy every weekend, going camping a different time, going to the Circuit Assembly, then we went to Ohio. *Sigh* Riding in a car for 14-17 hours with a 2 year old is never a good idea, even if they behave. Actually, holiday traffic was so bad on the way home that I was threatening to jump out and run around the car, which I could have done, as the traffic was CRAWLING. But it was good we went. Grandma-great's memorial went well, we had a nice time visiting all the family up there, Aidan got to play in the snow AND have a Gibson's doughnut all in one day, so there were high points. Like the way Bob and Barb bought half of Toys-r-Us for the three kids...


Big Bear and Little Bear, watching football


The famous tractor, one of the many items from Grandpa Bryant

The doughnut. Funny story: it was so cold! so Sr sat with Elena and Aidan in the car while the rest of us went in a few shops. Paul Sr snuck Aidan a chunk of doughnut, but Aidan is too little to understand that it was a secret. So the first thing he says when I get in the car is, "Mommy, Aidan have more doughnut, please?" BUSTED, Grandpa!

First snow. Gotta eat it!

This was a much-needed break on the way up. If you can imagine what riding for 14 hours with a 2-yr-old, a 3-yr-old and a 4-yr-old... Yeah, we stopped alot.

I have to include a few pics of the circuit Assembly, even though it seems like it was 6 months ago. That was still a stressful trip, but also so enjoyable! Aidan behaved really well, on the both the trip there and during the session itself. I was a nervous wreck, since he flatly refuses to wear Pull-ups unless he is in bed, so he was wearing real undies at the Assembly. But of course he did fine.

Gotta love the Eskimo coat

My guys are so handsome ...

...and I think this one knows it!

Purely a side point, but WHY are there all these old people grabbing my son and asking him what Santa is bringing him? It really isn't practical to explain our beliefs to everyone casual passerby, and I get so frustrated by all the assumptions that I really want to say, "Because we're raising our son not to celebrate pagan holidays." I really don't feel that reply is any more rude that people trying to involve my son in their beliefs. Honestly, people.

And don't touch children anyway, just in case you didn't get the memo about H1N1.

Uwharrie camping trip

Last weekend we went up to Uwharrie national forest for a camping trip with a huge group of people. I was really nervous - we've never taken Aidan camping, and I've also never camped without electricity. However, we packed well, and even though we had some bad weather, we had a great time. And the scenery was gorgeous!

Badin Lake at sunset






This is how Aidan "hikes"




Aidan is "hiking" again


He has two handfuls of rocks, and is gleefully throwing them


I think they look like a postcard.
Wish you were there!