Tuesdays Mom is full of GRATITUDE

I could post about How Landon has gone from fever to PUKING, but since I have been a little complainy lately, I am instead going to post something about all the great things in my life.

I live in California and it's 80 degrees this week. I have a house with a pool. I have a lemon tree, an avocado tree, and an orange tree that bear the most delicious fruit. I live in a town where celebrity sightings are the rule rather than the exception, helping to curb my habit of buying US weekly.

My husband is adorable, funny and loves our son to death. He believes in me when I don't. He plays the drums, cooks gourmet meals, and can fix anything. He's a genius.

My son is a miracle who spent 52 days in the hospital and still smiles every day. He is sweet and snuggly and loves his Mama.

I am a writer and I get to be creative every day whether blogging or screen writing. I have sold a script and have a new one that (now that the writers strike is over) will sell.

Last, I feel balanced. I work out, read, watch TV, teach Sunday school, write, cook, do mommy and me gymnastics with Landon, have lunch with friends, and scrap book the heck out of everything. I have a great family, fun and understanding friends, an amazing church, and fabulous neighbors. A full life!

What are you grateful for?

Hot Hot Hot!- How not to freak out when your baby has a fever

Landon freaked us out yesterday morning as we left Mammoth. He was bright red and crying at about 5am. We took his temperature and sure enough 102.6. It's easy to freak out when you see this number. You immediately think you need to head to the hospital! After all don't they die when they hit 103? The answer is NO.

My pediatrician has a website and here's a few goodies from the How To Handle a Fever page:

1) Fever is a natural way your body fights an infection so it's a good thing!
2) Fever will not cause brain damage or hurt your child whether it's 101 or 104 degrees.
3) Tylenol and Ibuprophen take about 30 minutes to work, so give it a chance.
4) A fever is very serious for babies 2 months an under.
5) Call the doctor if fever lasts more than 72 hours, if fever does not respond to medicine, or if it goes higher than 105.


We gave Landon liquid motrin and his fever came down in 30 minutes. He's acting like he's fine, which is making us feel a lot better.

Remember don't freak out!

Mother of the year award--in mammoth!

Here I am getting the mother of the year award up on Mammoth Mountain. No I do not ski. Yes I hate the snow and cold. Yes I am couped up in a condo with a now 19 month old! Truth is hubby loves to ski and we are on a trip with our small group. Since I knew I'd be in the condo (Grand Havens) A LOT, I researched and got us the best possible place. It's very sunny and blue skies so I am feeling pretty good.
I am headed out to lunch with Landon and to the polo outlet(mama didn't raise no fool), to see what I can buy for under $50! HA!

Not So Fabulous- Permanently pregnant stomach!

I don't mean to complain, but I have been pregnant since 2005. This is not a picture of me, but it almost could be! Yes I have been pregnant for 18 months. I gained weight during my pregnancy with Landon, but I have lost it all and more (Thank you weight watchers), and still have a pregnant stomach. I am not talking about a little flab (a muffin top as my friend Alyssa calls it), it looks like I am 5 months pregnant.

I have been to every doctor that I can go to. I have had ultrasounds, scans, blood tests, nothing is wrong. Finally after a consultation with a plastic surgeon (I AM DESPERATE), he told me the scary truth. My muscles never came back together. He said that nothing NOTHING will bring the tummy down but surgery. This is because everything is pushing up through this big opening of muscles!

I feel a little too shy to post my own stomach but here are a few women featured on the Dr. Phil show who have my problem.




Obviously I am not happy. Snappy Casual Gifts wrote a great post about her friends tummy tuck. This is something I will consider doing after I am done having kids. We are gearing up for baby #2, but are not pregnant yet. The surgery idea gives me serious hope, but it's a long way off! In the meantime, this is annoying! If another person asks if I am pregnant I will run them down with my Pacifica.

Fabulous Book for Kids

One of my favorite moms and friends Gina (I feel an interview coming on), mentioned this book at our Ash Wednesday service at church last night. It's called The Three Questions, by Jon J. Muth. Based on the writings of Tolstoy, this book has a philosophy I just love.

What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important ones? What is the right thing to do? These are all answered in the story of a boy named Nicolai who gets some pretty wise advice from a turtle.

Beautifully illustrated, this book will open your little ones eyes to what's really important in life.

In The Kitchen! Latest toys my almost toddler loooves!

Landon is almost 19 months and is becoming more active every day. We do gymnastics class, a mommy and me class and go to an indoor play place once a week. While we're at home we have a swing in the yard to play on, we take walks, kick a ball around...all great stuff. His latest obsession however is the Step 2 Lifestyle Custom Kitchen!

I love that it's not too girly looking for him, his Dad is an amazing cook. Nothing wrong with guys being in the kitchen!

He has also discovered he's a safari cowboy and loves hopping around on this: Bounce and Spin Zebra!



He is hysterical swinging his leg over it, climbing on and bouncing up and down. He has so much fun!


He also Loves this Kiddieland Pirate Ship Godmother gave him for Christmas:



Godmother/BFF is in town by the way...we headed to Marshalls hours after she was off the plane! More on that later!!!

What are you anyway?

I am always trying to connect people, find the best deals and share or convince someone to do something! Makes me think of one of my favorite books: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

He says there are three basic types of people involved in affecting change. These people can cause a phenomenon if you get enough of them together!

1) CONNECTORS

Highly social types who have a compulsive need to bring people together. These are people who know everyone. As the author points out. These people don't see the same world we do. You have met these individuals in your daily activities. Women who are always arranges dates between other people they know is an example.


2) MAVENS

These are people who like to pass knowledge to the rest of us. They are compelled to do it. They are not persuaders however, according to the book. Think about the guy who starts a blog, doesn't get paid a dime for it and has 50,000 people reading his every word. He wants his information shared.


3) SALESMEN

These are the people who educate the naïve among us. Politicians are salesmen by definition. They are attempting to motivate the rest of us to believe their message whatever it might be.


Some people are a combination or all three! I remember reading this and just thinking everyone was all three like this. How wrong! I hate it when people don't pass on great information or help. Makes me mad! I literally feel offended!

I think as mothers, or women really, we should all help each other. I guess that's why I always want to share everything I learn. I can't help myself! Looking above it's easy to see why I started a blog! Too funny.

So what are you?

We did it!!!!

Just have to say it was an exciting game! Go Giants!

Starter Kid

I know you've heard this term before. I use it to refer to people who aren't ready for a baby just yet, so instead they get a dog to practice their parenting on! Such is the case for our best friends. They came to dinner last night and brought their new dog Wolfie. Excuse me, Fu Shih Wolfie. That's his full name, the handsome guy. He really is so sweet.

They got him from this amazing group on line called Second Chance Animal Aid in Shanghai China, who rescues dogs in China and finds Americans to bring them over to their new parents! They looked at dogs here but this kind of fell into their laps and was obviously meant to be. They are in love with this dog for sure!

Through this organization you can foster a pet until it gets a permanent home, adopt, or donate. A really wonderful idea. Go there and check it out!

I had a special Asian themed dinner in honor of Wolfies arrival in the states. Notice the sushi candles in the center and chinese lanterns above!!! We had Orange Chicken, sesame rice, and broccolini. I served Sake and Japanese beer too!




What a fun night!

Fabulous Friday- Recipe

Hubby and I made this last night and it was soooooooooooooooo good! I just went through my recipe book and FINALLY (hello writers strike boredom) went through everything and threw out half of the stuff. This however was something from 2005! I always wanted to try it and we did YUM!!! I am full of recipes this week!

It was from Coastal Living magazine. I love this magazine so much. The covers make me excited to live in California!

Penne with shrimp in a peanut sauce. We prepped while Landon had a baba and baby Einstein. Then after his bath and bedtime we had our dinner and WINE thank you very much. We even watched the first half of The Last King of Scotland. Good so far...not too violent yet!



Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked penne
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
1 cup julienne-cut carrots
2 garlic cloves
1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 teaspoon chili oil
1 large cucumber, halved, seeded, and sliced
1/2 (10-ounce) package edamame (about 1 cup)
Preparation
Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Two minutes before pasta is al dente, add shrimp and carrot. Cook 2 minutes or until shrimp are done. Drain.

Process garlic in a blender or food processor until finely chopped. Add cilantro and next 5 ingredients; process until smooth.

Toss cooked pasta, cucumber, edamame and dressing in a large bowl. Cover and chill at least 2 hours before serving.

We watched No Country for Old Men last week. Too scary for me. I had nightmares all night long. Ever since I had Landon scary movies have no place in my life. I seriously don't want this stuff in my head! Am I alone in this?