Have you seen this?! It's the Steam Mop from Shark and is supposed to be a "green", high-tech, easy way to clean the kitchen floor. I have a Swiffer and a regular mop but both seem to fall short. Maybe I never learned how to properly scrub the floor but I feel like I'm just redistributing the dirt around and that always bugs me. The steam mop claims it: "disintegrates scuff marks, uses no toxic, messy chemicals or refills; safe for all surfaces". Plus the steam evaporates on the floor, leaving your floor dry almost immediatley!:) I like that it also comes with reusable pads, I can just throw them in the wash and reuse. It seems to good to be true!:) Here is the link to the website (check out the cheesy, yet effective informercial on the home page)!:) https://sharksteammop.com/contents/index.aspx. If you have one, I would be curious to hear your review! It sells for $80 and is available at Target, Best Buy, etc.
Since we got the diagnosis about Garrett's asthma I've been trying to eliminate things that might aggravate his condition. It might just be a seasonal issue (he's been fine the last week or so). I've heard that sometimes that Sept/Oct weather change can be a hard time of year for that. We are going to a specialist in December though so I will be happy to get the complete report. There are so many things that could be contributing (our cleaning supplies, dust mites, the weather, food allergies, etc). Until we find out what his "triggers" are, we'll just have to keep monitoring him and taking notes. I went through a stage where I thought we would have to transform our entire lifestyle. Throw out all of our cleaning stuff and buy all natural, change the carpets, buy organic food, etc. Then I realized we don't even know what's causing his allergies and asthma yet, so it would be premature to go to that extreme! I want to do do whatever I can to keep my family healthy, but at the same time, I realize we need to TRUST that God will take care of us! You can't sterilize your entire life! There is always a balance to everything. So I'm trying to just take it easy and wait to see what the specialist can tell us in December.
That's about it.:) Last week the boys and I wrote a book and it is precious! It's called: "The Great Moogly Woogly". Gabriel and Grant created it, (I dictated what they wanted me to write) and Gabriel illustrated it. I am so amazed at their imaginations! I should post it, in my humble opinion it's just as good as the children's books you can buy at the store! Plus it's neat for them to read a book THEY actually conceived and completed themselves! Well I think that is the full update for now.:) Happy Halloween and HAPPY NOVEMBER! I can't believe we are less than 2 months from Christmas!:) Maybe I should put the Shark mop on my list?!:)
Sorry for the lack of posts. Any free online time I have, has been focused on medical articles, info, and research lately. Last week I took Garrett to the doctor because he's had an ongoing cough and wheeziness for over a month. I know I should've taken him right away but at first I thought it was just a cold. After a few weeks it tapered off but he still wasn't 100%. It was like a nagging hack that he would get periodically (but not constantly). So I took him in and the doctor said it's Asthma. He has issues with eczema and allergies already and I have learned that goes hand-in-hand with asthma.
All of this is new to me (and Jim). We are both totally healthy and have no history of any allergies or asthma so it's been a crash course to learn everything.
I'm grateful that two of our neighbors happen to be Respiratory Therapists so they've also been a great resource too.
My first instinct was to worry. This is my baby boy and I felt concerned for his health and what it meant. After the initial news wore off though I have just been like a sponge soaking up any information I can find to become knowledgeable and confident in how to treat it. The good news is that I know he'll be fine! More is known about asthma and how to treat it than ever before. It is the most common chronic childhood illness and affects more than 6% of children in the United States. Our next step is to go to a specialist who is also going to test him for allergies (another issue Garrett has). My poor buddy!
I have to share this new photos of my cuties! Over the weekend we went to a trick or treating event at our local park. I procrastinated on getting Garrett's costume but it ended up working out. He looks so cuddly and sweet as a little puppy! Can't beat $10 at Target'. The weather was perfect and everyone was in a good mood...no meltdowns all day, wohoo! We also re-upped our membership to the Y. We always cancel in the summer (because we never go) then head back when the weather gets cold. I am so thankful it's close, we practically live there in the winter!
I'm also happy to get back into a regular running routine. The last month (or two) I have been slacking and just haven't felt motivated. We won't be going anywhere tonight though, the Indians are on! Gooooo TRIBE!
We had a fun time last night. Praise-a-Pella is an amazing local Christian group we really support. They are coming out with a Christmas album and our air staff is going to be inside the CD cover! So I took Grant (my date) and we headed up to Cleveland for the shoot. We are going to have video posted in our "clip of the week" hopefully today. If you haven't seen it yet, check er' out!:) This last clip is yet another totally unflattering clip of my (I keep using the "bad lighting" excuse) haha. This was our pep rally for the Tribe!
http://wfhm.salemwebnetwork.com//subpage.asp?StationId=WFHM-FM&PageNo=613
What an adorable idea for Halloween! This is called "Bubble Bath Baby", it's from Parents magazine. A mom actually gathered the materials and made this herself, so crafty! I admit I fall way short in the creative costume-making category. A few years ago I tested my artsy skills on Grant and cut out some eye holes in a pillow case and made him a ghost. The worst part is, the pillow case wasn't even white! It was like an off-yellow....what kind of ghost is that?! ha ha. Poor kid!:) So my days of making the costumes are over. Gabriel is going to be Optimus Prime (Transformer), Grant is going to be the Human Torch (Fantastic 4) and I'm not sure about Garrett yet. I need to get something by this weekend. Hopefully the stores won't be too picked over. By the way, if you are braver than me and want to make the "bubble bath baby" check out the link with instructions:
http://www.parents.com/parents/slideshow/slideShow.jsp?slideid=/templatedata/parents/slideshow/data/1190667905555.xml&page=3
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So it looks like this week we are finally going to get "fall" weather. I feel like such an old biddy but I am totally ready for a breather. I must be the only person complaining that it's still 80 degrees. It's just that we spend SOO much time outside and I'm sick of opening the door and instantly sweating! We aren't out for 5 minutes and I'm drenched and uncomfortable and wanting to go back inside already. I just want a little nice breeze or a break from the sweltering temps! I know in another month I'll be griping about bundling everyone up and taking forever just to get out the door though! Lol.:) Thank goodness for air conditioning.
Good to be back! If anyone is still reading this blog, thanks for your patience.:) Over the past few weeks a lot of things happened and I needed a break. First off, I went up to WI to be with a good friend who experienced an unimaginable tragedy. The short trip wiped me out and given the circumstances, really just made me want to be with my family and not focus on anything else for a while. So I've been laying low and keeping busy with the boys.
Right now we are on a mission to find a new TV. I never turn it on during the day but earlier this week I flipped on "Oprah" and it immediately turned off by itself. Turns out it's a power switch thingy that broke and it's too expensive to fix. Noooooo!! That stinks. Jim is on a mission to find a new tv now. I think my role will be to just remind him we can't get the super-huge, gaudy, plasma that costs a fortune that he's dreaming about! Lol.:) So it suddenly looks like that will be our Christmas present to each other.
We are excited about the Indians too....go TRIBE!! This has been an outstanding sports season for our family so far: GB Packers kicking butt, the Browns doing great, and now the Indians are unstoppable! The boys are just now getting the point of understanding the excitement and sitting through the long games so it's fun to watch them too.
I guess that's it for now. I found a video on I wanted to share but be warned it's a total tear jerker!! It's VERY, VERY heavy but beautiful beyond words too. There is a song by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans that makes me cry EVERY time I hear it. It's called "New Again". Usually if I hear a song that makes me emotional I get over it after a few times. After hearing it 5-6 times you know the story, you are prepared for the ending, and it's easier to not cry. That's true for every sing except this one! I ALWAYS weep when I hear this, no matter how many times it's played. So pair it with the video and I a turn into a total crybaby with the snotty nose and ruined mascara! Be prepared for graphic images and very deep content, but also know this could change your day (and your life)!!:) http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b00db3c2afc128dc13b7
