Job Opportunity????

Some day I will go back to work, either out of necessity (these knitting projects aren't gonna pay for themselves!) or sanity (once all the children are in school, there's only so much time I can devote to Facebook).  I think I have come up with a perfect job (besides the actual job that I want at American Eagle folding clothes)!  A "bathroom break giver" at the Children's Hospital!  I'm sure there is a better title for this position, but for now, work with me.  "Potty Break-er"???  "Gimme A Break-er"???

Starting at 8:00 am, I would visit rooms that had patients under the age of 3 that had only one parent staying with them overnight.  I would then offer said single parent a 10 minute opportunity to use the bathroom however they see fit.  I would stay in the room with the child and make sure no bodily injury was inflicted.  Let's not get crazy, though...I'm not offering to take your kid to the playroom, feed him or her, teach him or her a foreign language, a musical instrument or anything educational.  I'm strictly keeping your kid safe while you pee and brush your teeth.  Don't waste time by checking your FB updates, folding sheets or finishing that magazine article you started last night.  The clock is ticking and there are other parents that have to go potty.  I promise not to ask what you were doing for so long in there or pass any judgment...you do what you gotta do.  I'll come back around later in the day to give you another break, but don't make foolish mistakes like chugging a gallon of water (or coffee) that will leave you uncomfortable for quite some time.  And yes, I realize that the nurses will ask each time they leave the room if you need anything, but let's be honest...they're offering to bring you a water bottle, snack, fresh towels or linens...not a bathroom escape.

What do you think?  I think it has potential.

p.s. I know that if it was urgent the nurses would absolutely help however they could, my point is that I don't think babysitting is in their job description and they shouldn't have to do so.

A Stitch in Time

Every once in a while, I get a bee in my bonnet about wanting to do something, go somewhere, learn something, build something.  While I was pregnant with Trey, I had a hankerin' to learn to knit.  I envisioned all the free time I would have on my hands since all a new baby does is sleep, right?  What was I thinking?  Free time?  Really?  I don't know what happened to my brain, but I still wanted to learn how to knit.  For Christmas that year, my aunt got me a knitting starter kit.  Saaaa-weeeet!  Immediately, I got a skein of ugly green yarn and set to work.  Using only a book with pictures and descriptions, I did it!  I made a rectangle!  And a square!  And a single strand!  Then I put the needles down and picked up a baby, drove kids to school and baseball games and Science Fairs and family functions...yada, yada, yada.

But!  After the last stay at the hospital, I realized I needed something more to do than read and try to watch a muted t.v. while Trey slept.  Both activities were starting to hurt my eyes.  Today, Bella and I hit up Pat Catan's, which is an awesome mega craft store.  I had already picked a blanket pattern, so I let Bella pick the yarn and got a fancy circle needle thing-a-ma-jig....

I'll let you know how it goes!  Any tips???

A Spoonful of Sugar...

As we settle into our new "normal" over here, we continue to face challenges that can be frustrating or scary or both.  Things like, why can't we get a thermometer that gives the same temperature 2 times in a row???  How can 2 thermometers put under the same arm at the same time give 2 different answers?  Do the doctors really trust ME to give Trey his daily shot???  Hmmmm....

Anywho...part of our routine is to give Trey an anti-biotic twice a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  This is a pretty critical medicine in that it helps to protect him against pneumonia and other junk like that.  Here's the problem, Trey could possibly be the worst medicine taker ever.  Okay, that's a hyperbole...he's the worst medicine taker in this house!  Now, that's accurate.  The medicine we have is in liquid form and has grape flavor added to it.  We've tried mixing it with juice, water, food...to no avail.  It's almost like he can sense the medicine is lurking in the drink or food.  His eyes flicker quickly between his Sponge Bob sippy cup and me as I casually try to look like this is a regular cup of juice.  Maybe I have a "tell" or a tick or something, because that cup goes flying!  We resort to Jay restraining him with one arm and opening his mouth with the other while I put the syringe thingy in the back of his mouth and blow in his face to make him swallow.  Trey screams the whole time until he chokes on the medicine, then he tries to spit it out.  It's quite the ordeal.

So, anyone have any helpful tips?  Trey is not quite old enough yet to understand bribery...but I'm not above trying just about anything....