Homemade Instant Oatmeal

This weekend Sean wanted oatmeal for breakfast, but I was still sleeping. I heard Michael and Sean trying to find instant oatmeal and Michael told Sean that whenever he tries to make the old fashioned Quaker stuff he messes it up. So viola... in an effort to make it easier for Michael (yes, he's getting spoiled now that I'm a SAHM) and to teach Sean to make it himself, I premade containers. These handy 1/2c Rubbermaid containers (which were things I used when I made Sean's homemade baby foods years ago) were perfect. I explained to Sean all he had to do was get a bowl, empty the contents into it and fill the small container twice with water. He knows how to use the microwave (thanks to St. James Montessori), so he just pops it in himself for 2-1/2 minutes and it's done!! I even added the amount of sugar I normally add for Sean so he doesn't sugar it himself. This is a great way to get your kiddo to eat a healthy breakfast and teach them some independence.

Summer Reading Programs - DFW Mama DFW Mama

This is a post from one of my friends on Summer Reading Programs for your little ones. It's easy to slack off during the summer and this is a great way to keep your kiddos engaged in learning.

Summer Reading Programs - DFW Mama DFW Mama

Manual Labor - Fixing The Fence

Due to the series of storms that blew through the DFW area a section of our fence was blown down. As a result Michael decided to replace several of the posts on the 100+ feet section of the fence. Michael spent about 8 hours working on it with the help of Aaron (family friend), Papa, and of coarse Sean. Helping with home improvement projects has become one of Sean's favorite things to do with his dad. Every project Michael starts, Sean will ask every day if they are going to work some more on it. The flower bed retaining wall is completed and I just need to get pictures of the great job the boys did. Now we just need to fill it with soil and plants.

More Eczema Drama

(Andrew's eczema)

Even though Andrew's eczema cleared up significantly after figuring out it was caused by the old bassinet mattress, I was still concerned about the raw broken skin behind his knees. I have been holding off using the antibiotic the pediatrician gave me, but I decided to give it to him the beginning of the weekend. Since I'm not a big medicine person, I had completely forgotten to give it to him the 3x per day as prescribed. So I gave the second dose on Sunday morning with the intention of setting reminders on my cell phone so I wouldn't forget. Later that afternoon when I was changing his clothes I noticed he was broken out all over his torso and as the day went on it was all over him. I've concluded that Andrew is allergic to Penicillin. Thank God I didn't give him another dose. Who knows what kind of reaction he would have had. And wouldn't you know... his skin cleared up again after 24 hours.

Eczema Mystery Solved!!!

Poor Andrew has been suffering from some pretty bad eczema the last couple months. With the Texas heat coming in full force it's done nothing to help the situation. He started to develop breaks in the skin behind his knees because of the moisturizer we have to keep applying and sweating from the heat.

Out of concern he would contract a secondary infection I took him to his pediatrician yesterday. True to form the doctor wanted to give him oral antibiotics to treat him in case he has a secondary infection (uuuuuu... not giving that to him if he can't confirm there's an infection). He also gave us a steroid cream. I'm not fond of medications, especially steroids for infants/children. However, I was willing to use it til it improved then use an over the counter cream to finish it off. This was all going to be temporary until I figured out the what was causing the reaction.

When I got home from the doctor I had to feed Andrew and I started going through every allergen he could come in contact with. We already use free and clear detergent for the family and I cut dairy from my diet. I was going to do wheat next. As Andrew nursed I was looking at him trying to figure out what could cause it ALL over his body. He wasn't congested so it couldn't be triggered by "hay fever". Then it hit me... maybe DUST MITES!!! We keep our mattress in one of those expensive mattress covers because of Sean's allergies. It was then that I realized we NEVER bought a new mattress for the bassinet, because Sean's was still in it and he only used it for 6 months. However, I realized it had been stored in the bassinet in our attic for the last few years. Who knows what the condition of the inner material. It could be breaking down or be full of dust mites. So off to the store I went to buy a new mattress. When I got home just comparing the appearance of the new to the old was obvious.

By the time I got home it was time for bath and bedtime. So I reluctantly applied the steroid cream behind his knees and put him to bed on his new mattress and clean sheets. This morning when he woke up and I was changing his diaper I checked out his skin. What an improvement!!! I sat down to nurse him and like I do countless times per day I just gazed down at him adoringly. Then I started to check his face and then noticed that the skin behind his ears weren't irritated and peeling from his eczema. I thought, wow that cream really... WAIT!!! I was told I couldn't use it on his face. So if I didn't put it on his face, that means it improved because I got rid of the old mattress.

Finally Andrew is on the mend and he's getting his beautiful baby soft skin!!! As for the steroid cream... I'll keep it around IF I need it, but for now it's put away hopefully to never be used again.