A Holiday Break Measured in Bodily Fluids

It is official. I am getting old and turning into a mom. When I look back at my holiday break the things that stand out are not the parties, shopping for myself or days I slept in (ha!). The things that stand out (aside from Christmas morning and quality time with the kids) were the many bodily fluids we encountered.

On Christmas Eve we had family over for some food, drinks and games. The kids were off playing while the rest of us chatted. After a while Wynne came to the dining room and I asked if she could check on Emmett. (Not a good sign when you have not heard from a two-year-old in a few minutes.) She came back and said "he pooped in his underwear and is taking a bath".

Pete was the first responder to the scene and shooed me away so I would not get sick. I did catch a glimpse of a naked little boy standing in a dry tub and well as tell-tale skid marks in various locations throughout the bathroom -- on the toilet seat, tub, floor, step stool (?). Poor kid did not want to ask for help. You can understand why we use a lot of bleach in our house.

We also seem to have had a large number of overnight accidents in our house -- we should really get some more sheets for the kids' beds. While I was doing laundry I decided to change the sheets on my bed and Emmett asked me "mom, why you tinkle in your sheets?" I quickly corrected him and said I was just washing them because it was time to change them and he said "no - you tinkle in your sheets. But it's OK." thanks, kid.

Early on New Year's Day (3:30 am) we heard Emmett crying at the top of his stairs. He told Pete that he "spilled". Pete took a look at him, thinking he spilled his water and brought him back up to bed in the dark. As he was tucking Emmett back in the smell hit him -- Emmett had not spilled, he threw up. Poor kid did not know how to describe what happened. I got up at this point and we changed his sheets and PJs and put him back in bed. He threw up again. He seemed like he was better and Wynne was having a coughing fit so Pete gave her medicine while I put Emmett back to bed with new sheets and new jammies. Bad idea. A few minutes later he was at the top of the stairs again, crying (do we not learn?!?!?). I picked him up just in time for him to puke down my back and on the stairs. We learned after that and set him up near our bedroom and gave him a bucket in case he could not make it to the toilet. He used it a few more times and then really took a shine to it. Every time he coughed he used the bucket.

By the next day he was not throwing up and was fascinated with the toilet and his bucket - he kept running to the toilet so he could cough in it.

Wynne kept things interesting by having several bloody noses, usually gushing and in the middle of the night (she insists she is only "scratching" her nose, not picking it. Hmmmm.)

All in all, it was a good break. We had a nice Christmas, I did some organizing, tackled the sewing pile, learned to cross-country ski and did LOTS of laundry. I feel a little bad that I am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. It is very unlikley that I will be puked on at the office.

To catch a mouse...

We have a mouse problem. Not sure how they are getting in, but we are having a real hard time getting rid of them. These are no ordinary mice. They are some kind of super-intelligent stealth mice. Traps are useless.

The back story:

A few weeks ago we noticed mouse poop. We cleaned out under the sink and set some traps. I showed the kids the traps and the loud noise they made when triggered. Told them DO NOT TOUCH THESE. You guessed it, the next day I was cooking and I hear Emmett say "what is this fo---SNAP". His finger was not caught but the trap did snap him. I asked him if he was going to touch the mouse trap again. In between crying he sniffed out a "yes". Well then I can't help you...

Fast forward a few days. I almost vomited when I saw mouse poop in the SILVERWARE DRAWER. eeeeeeeew. So, another round of bleach. and we set a trap in the drawer.

The next morning Pete mentioned that he saw that I moved the trap. I didn't move the trap. That sneaky little boy has a habit of putting his breakfast spoon back in the drawer (why do we have mice?!?) and he must have noticed the trap and he moved it to the floor. WITHOUT SETTING IT OFF. Crappy trap or crafty kid? not sure.

Then we went to the Dells for almost a week. We set out multiple traps and mouse poison. Got home and nada. We cannot seem to catch these suckers. But no more mouse poop so maybe the mouse problem is gone.

No such luck. A few days later I found mouse poop by my treadmill. Now I am the first to admit I do not use it every day, but by no means is it so unused that a mouse should take up residence.

So the mice are not gone. they are not falling for our traps. There have been two sightings but no captures.

Which leads me to our last-ditch effort. Last weekend Wynne and I decorated gingerbread houses at my cousin's house. Since we probably still have mice I can't leave it out (why feed the intruders). So we let the kids have at it tonight, knowing we are going to toss it. But Pete had a final idea. Let's set a trap right by the house and see if that lures the mouse. This plan has many, many holes but we are at the end of our rope. And there is a good chance we'll catch Emmett. But he's got to learn...




UPDATE: No luck, but no new sings of the critters anywhere. Are we in the clear???

Mommy's helper

I need to keep a better eye on Emmett. I just discovered that he has been putting his dirty clothes in the dryer instead of the hamper. Last week I caught him putting his used cereal spoon back in the sliverware drawer. At least he is trying...

Life with Two Moms

Wynne was telling me about her friend Bennett who has two moms. I asked her what she thought about that. She thought for a second and said "it would be great....if one mom is working you can just play with the other mom...."

Updated Photos

We've passed the inspection and have some new photos!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=a50pu45r.cl8vhkbv&x=0&y=epwlcg&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_album

The Countdown...

Our final inspection is June 1 so the end really is in sight. The carpet will also be installed that day so right now Pete is finishing touch-up paint, installing kitchen cabinet doors and lots of little things to get ready. The furnace inspector was out today and Pete put shelving, etc. in the closets last weekend.

PB & BS

I know I keep saying this, but we are seriously almost done with the house. Pete is going room by room, finishing paint, trim, installing light fixtures, etc. Our carpet should be coming in the next two weeks and all fixtures (sinks, toilets) are set. We still have to install the stove once we finish the cabinets, plug in the fridge (and hook up the water for the ice maker) and install the dryer. We can see the light.

And not a moment too soon. Emmett is hitting the terrible twos so caring for him can be a two man job. The poor kid cries over everything - I'm not even sure if he knows what he wants half the time. But he still is cute. Last week at day care one of the kids had an aunt come to pick him up. Emmett walked up to her and said "me, Emmett". It is pretty cute until you consider that he is introducing himself to strangers...

Wynne is sassy as always. And her BS meter is working. Last weekend my sister and I took the kids up to see my brother. It is a long drive and we were going to be in the car over lunch so I packed PB&J sandwiches. Wynne told me that she did not like peanut butter, wanted only a jelly sandwich. The quick-thinking mom I am I told her that she needs peanut butter. Jelly is junk food -- they both start with J. Peanut butter has protein and they both start with P. So eat your sandwich. I was pretty proud of my made-up reasoning and she quickly said "Mom, that doesn't make any sense." Busted. No fooling this kid.