I always feel terrible when I allow days to drift by between posting. I used to update daily, now I’m lucky to get something once a week. I guess life got busy? Who knows.

Anyway, I wanted to share a link to Faith Comes By Hearing. They have the entire New Testament available for free download to your favorite mp3 player. As I type, I’m downloading the dramatized NIV version to my player. The site also offers a variety of pod-casts. Including an entire page of stories for children. I just recently listened to one of the KidzBible podcasts and think that DD1 might get a kick out of them. Some of them are quiet and relaxing enough, that she might even be able to have the on to listen to before naps.

Speaking of naps, I stopped by the library today to pick up three books for this weeks theme. (”Eyes,” with the vocabulary word being “iris.”) Usually I bring in a list of 5 or 6 recommended books and then choose three of the most interesting options to check out. I limit our selection to three books because A) It’s an easy number to remember and B) three books is my pre-bed limit. The problem with today was that there was only ONE of the books on the list even available at the library. Which would have been fine if the book hadn’t been mis-filed. Dh and I searched that place up and down and never located it.

So then we decided to just find something that would work instead. Except, we couldn’t find ANYTHING that had anything to do with seeing or eyes. No “I Spy” books, nothing. It was so frustrating. When I asked the librarian for help she told me I needed to stop looking at the fiction books and go check out a book on anatomy.

Gah.

The whole point is to find three STORYbooks that follow our week’s theme. Not to go check out a textbook.

In the end we found three books that only sort of relate to our theme. One ended up being a horribly boring selection about “spectacles” and a little girl that found out she needed glasses. The other book was a book about dreams. The third is a book about “seeing” the moon. All three are quite odd. We probably should have just scratched the theme all together and just tried to find three fun books. Except, by the time I started thinking about that option, the girls were starting to get restless and we bailed.

About the only other real accomplishment for today was the fact that I finally picked up ringsling material for a sling I’m making for my cousin’s baby. (He doesn’t read my journal, I don’t think. So this shouldn’t ruin the surprise. I hope.) My plan is to make the sling tomorrow and have it in the mail by Wednesday. We’ll see how ambitious I get.

I have two more craft projects on my list. A bag for a friend and three heavy capes for the girls. The capes can wait, though. They’ve been waiting for a couple months already. So a few more days won’t hurt. I have a photo shoot concept that I want to do with the capes. Stay tuned for that adventure.

Oh, before I go. I wanted to mention that I just found out Sonlight is offering a Core A curriculum for 3 and 4 year olds? We’d thought about getting the Core B for DD1 in the fall, but now I don’t know. We’ve been trying to do the Letter of the Week Pre-school curriculum and may just continue on that course. I guess it just matters how far we get with LOTW.

Please someone remind me to find out the location to the free hearing screening for DD2. I called this morning and was told it would be on the 14th of February. But asides from a vague location called “Collier” I’m not certain where the screening will be. I have plenty of time to ask DD2’s speech therapist. I do not want to forget!

Edited to add: I think I may have found it! Link Here Oh, and apparently it’s Callier, not Collier.

Everytime that MacBook Air commercial comes on, I can’t help but smile. Not because of the total awesomeness of a computer small enough to fit in a manila envelope. (Although, that’s very cool in and of itself.) Instead, I smile because I’m totally in love with the music.

Yael Naim’s “New Soul.”

Go ahead, sing along. You know you want to.

I’m a new soul I came to this strange world hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
But since I came here felt the joy and the fear finding myself making every possible mistake

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

I’m a young soul in this very strange world hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake.
But why don’t please trying to comunnicate finding just that love is not always easy to make.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

This is a happy end cause’ you don’t understand everything you have done why’s everything so wrong

this is a happy end come and give me your hand I’ll take your far away.

[Refrain]:
I’m a new soul I came to this strange world hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take but since I came here felt the joy and the fear finding myself making every possible mistake

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la….

Today our case worker with Early Childhood Intervention and a Speech Therapist came by to evaluate DD2. We’d already met the caseworker earlier a couple weeks ago, but this was our first time seeing the Speech Therapist. They were here nearly two hours. Praise God my Mom decided to come over and entertain DD1 during the evaluation. I’m not sure what we would have done had she not helped out. I know it was hard for DD1 to watch DD2 get so much undivided attention.

During the interview and testing we were asked a whole host of questions about DD2. Everything from cognitive development to gross-motor skills. Questions like, “Does she eat with a spoon.” “Can she identify objects without prompting.” They did a clinical observation and administered the DAYC test as well as one called Rossetti. The DAYC test focused on five subset categories. These categories included: Cognition, Communication, Social-Emotional, Physical Development, and Adaptive Behavior. The Rossetti is a little more complicated to describe. So go read up on it for yourself.

Immediately following the testing they talked to us about the test scores. I wish I had written it down. My memory is really sketchy on all the fine details about what the scores were. I know for the DAYC test she scored around 20 months on a lot of things. (She’s closer to 26 months.) She did score higher on the social-emotional level. I think I remember that being about 31 months.

The part that we were most interested in, and really the most surprised by, was that she scored between 9 and 12 months for her speech. I knew she was delayed, but had no idea how severely.

We sat down and worked out 6 month goals as well as a long-term plan for when she graduates from ECI. We’re currently on a twice a month therapy rotation and were given information on how to get her hearing tested for free. The financial aspect of everything really has been one of the biggest blessings. DD2 qualifies for the hearing testing AND the therapy for free.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am that we’re finally doing something. AND that we’re going to be able to afford it. My biggest heart-ache was wondering what we would do if we found out we needed to do something but couldn’t afford to help her.

DD2’s first therapy appointment is in February. February 12th, at 11:00 a.m. to be exact.

It’s been two weeks now that we’ve been trying to be HFCS free. It hasn’t been easy. Day three of HFCS free was probably the hardest day. I spent all day itching under my skin to run out and drink an entire route 44 Cranberry Limeade. I used to think that it was the caffeine that kept me coming back to Soda, but the truth is, I haven’t been drinking caffeine. Certainly not enough to be addicted to it. It’s strange to think that HFCS has the same pull on me.

I fully admit that the change hasn’t been easy. We’re finding HFCS in some of the strangest places. One of the surprises that stands out to me is when Dh brought KFC home and he showed me that the first ingredient listed on their honey was HFCS! Sheesh! Shouldn’t honey be honey?

I know there were some people wondering about how to go about making the HFCS-free switch. I thought I’d share how things work in this home, and then some simple tips for avoiding HFCS.

To begin with, our standard day starts with protein. On the list of breakfast items is eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, sausage, and whole wheat toast. Not all at once, mind you. But it’s a list that I can easily choose from and make something filling and delicious. My favorite “easy” breakfast is scrambled eggs with cheese. The girls like it with ketchup, and as long as I buy organic or natural ketchup, we have it in the house for them to use.

Snacks usually consist of carrots, celery, or apple wedges. I’m not so super terrific at setting out snacks everyday, but the girls know if they’re hungry they can ask and I’ll get them some crispy veggie or fruit to munch on. (We avoid things like fruit leather and raisins, because they’re generally not great for teeth. Considering the tooth saga’s we have going on around here, every little bit helps.)

Lunch is invariably some form of last nights dinner. However, if I don’t have left-overs to choose from, then we make PB & Honey or tuna sandwiches. We get our bread from Costco. They offer a whole wheat bread that is similar to Ezekiel bread, without the price tag. Until I finally start making our own bread, it is sufficient for right now. I actually really like the bread. The girls sort of tolerate it. DD1 is the one person in our family that really doesn’t like it very much. If I cut it into shapes then she does better with it. Sometimes, I even toast it for her and she’ll eat it then.

Our Lunch menu is our most meager meal of the day. At least when it comes to selection. I’ve been known to make a double batch of scrambled eggs and store the rest for lunch “breakfast” tacos. I’d like to get better at making quiche, because I see it as an all-around great option for breakfast or lunch.

Dinner is whatever is scheduled via the menu mailer. All of KerryAnn’s meals are Gluten and casein free. By default they’re also all cooked from scratch. She uses a minimal amount of sugar to begin with, and to be sure, none of her meals call for HFCS. If I remember to do it, I try to bento the left overs, so that lunch the next day is already ready to go.

The fact is, eating at home isn’t the problem. It’s eating out. Most sauces (BBQ and such) have HFCS and any white bread you purchase is also made with HFCS. We stick with meals that begin with protein and try to build from there. Although, there will be days when you show up for a meal and the only beverage options are soda, bottled lemonade, and coffee… At that point we pick the lesser of the three and give ourselves a little grace.

For instance, today the girls, my mom, and I went to a spinning guild “Roc Day.” I hate to say it, but I’m certain those sugar cookies were made with HFCS and I know the lemonade the girls drank had it as well.

The only way we could have avoided it is if I had been better prepared. Which leads me to my “on the go HFCS-free” tips.

1) Be prepared. Bring your own drinks and snacks. Keep them with you so that you don’t find yourself stranded at a spinning guild with nothing to eat or drink.

2) Buy “natural” or “organic.” I realize this is not always financially an easy task. But it’s a fairly fool-proof way to eliminate HFCS.

3) If in doubt, eat the protein first. You’ll eat less of the other processed foods and thereby eat less HFCS. Not to mention, the minerals in the protein will aide your body in processing the fructose.

4) Ask the chef (baker, preparer) if they have any alternatives or if they use HFCS in their meals. Ironically our local donut maker doesn’t use ANY HFCS. Not that I advocate eating donuts. Just saying…

The list is fairly short. I may add to it later. But I guarantee that following those four rules will eliminate most impulsive HFCS foods from your list.

Oh! And as an anecdotal note: I have lost five pounds in the last two weeks. Just by eliminating HFCS. Not bad.

The weather here is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve got the back door open and the wind is blowing in the fresh air. I can’t tell you have delicious it feels. It’s hard to believe that some parts of the US are currently frozen, flooded, and snowed in.

Speaking of nature and all things natural. I saw that Costco is currently selling Method products. They’re selling three bottles of the handwash (two are sea mineral and the third is naked.) for $7.99. It’s like buying two and getting the third for free. On top of that, they’re also selling the large refill bottle of sea mineral for $7.99. It was all I could do not to swoop it all up and buy it on the spot.

Of course, I made myself wait. I try very hard to never impulse buy. So this morning I’ve been surfing the net looking for the best deal. I found that Amazon is selling a six pack case of 12 oz Method pink grapefruit handwash for $11.81!! That’s a considerable savings. PLUS, not only will you get free shipping if you spend $25.

Choices, choices…

I do know one thing that I intend to do today. That is to try my hand at cottage cheese. I’ve been researching and collecting information on it. And it’s time to take the plunge. I may wait until Dh wakes up to do it, though. Only because the girls have gotten a wiff of the nice weather, and it’s driven them to heights of hyper-activity, that will only resolve with doing something OUTSIDE.

Well, the initial reports back from the laundry detergent are not good. My mom said her whites lacked their normal bright clean look, and she ended up running them through the washer again with some bleach. She’s going to try it again with double the detergent and will report back with her findings. I’m hoping that the issue was too little detergent for her large capacity washer.

I was so excited about that DIY laundry detergent. Phooey.

In other news, I found a simple overnight recipe for my steel cut oats.

Breakfast Porridge:

2 cups of steel cut oats.
2 cups warm water.
2 TBSP plain yogurt (or substitute kefir, whey, buttermilk, or lemon juice)
1 tsp sea salt.

Mix all ingredients together the night before and let it sit overnight on your counter. Add 2 cups of water in the morning, and cook. Be sure to stir constantly. It only takes about 5 minutes. Top with butter and drizzle some maple syrup and raw milk over the top for added flavor.

As an aside, I cut this recipe in half if I know it’s just going to be the girls and I in the morning eating breakfast. Two cups of steel cut oats is just too much for us.

I’m very aware of all the millions of little projects in this house that need tackled. It weighs on me sometimes. To the point where I do nothing. I just don’t know where to start! However, the new year is upon me, and at least for this moment, I am feeling inspired enough to actually do what I’ve been meaning to do for an entire year.

Organize my laundry room. It desperately needs it.

The laundry detergent tub sits on my washer because the shelf above the washers is stacked with random, unrelated household stuff. Mostly painting equipment, I think. I have no where to store my brooms and mops and I want a place to store hangers. So that when I am finished with a load of laundry, I can hang the items immediately.

So, yesterday, Dh and I wandered around Lowes brainstorming. Our conclusion is that we need to install an extra shelf, a hanging rod to store hangers, and something to organize my mops and brooms. I’d also like to have a wastepaper basket in there for throwing away lint and a three tier recycle bin system similar to this one. The three tier recycle bin is not something I’ll be able to do right away. It’s more of a “for when I have an extra chunk of change lying around dream.” So, instead I’ll keep using the blue ones from the city. At least until I figure out how to get myself a three tier system.

I’m getting really excited about the idea and as soon as Dh and I can get going for the day, I think we’ll start organizing my Laundry room.

P.S. My mom and I have grand plans for making ourselves one of these laundry hampers. We just have to figure out how to do the hooks on it.

Or something like that. We have January marked on our calendar as the day we’re giving up HFCS for good. It’s a bit surreal. And part of me wants to run out and buy a cranberry limeade. One. Last. Time.

Tomorrow is also when we purge our fridge of all HFCS products. After all, you can’t give up HFCS and then have HFCS foods lying around. Someone might get tempted and eat them! Speaking of which, anybody want a free box of random food? I am thinking about giving it to my parents, but feel sort of bad that I’m giving them food that I’ve deemed “not worthy.” *Giggle*

I have also spent today organizing a household notebook. I still have more work to do with it, but am satisfied with the progress I’ve made. For anybody looking to do something similar, you really should check out organizedhome.com They have a ton of free printable forms. Everything from an emergency contact sheet to calendars and to-do lists.

In the name of order, I also tackled the master closet today. It had become a dumping ground of laundry. Fat clothes, skinny clothes, maternity clothes. A nightmare. I’ve managed to wrestle it into a semi manageable state. There is the pile of maternity clothes that need tagged for the JBF sale in February and a pile of give-away clothes that Dh needs to sort through.

I packed up all my skinny clothes and have them boxed for later. I can’t wear them now. I will soon. But right now I’m holding on to too much pregnancy-related weight. (”Related” in the sense that it’s the weight I gained while pregnant. Not so much that it’s pregnancy weight.)

After I get my master closet back in order I plan on working on the laundry room. I’ve put it off for a year now. It’s time to really get serious about organizing.

Don’t worry, I’m going to happily post before and after shots. I just can’t resist.