Diagnosis

I have mentioned my sciatic nerve pain multiple times in recent weeks. I finally have a diagnosis. Thanks to Amy's husband, Filbert, who is a chiropractor and muscle mangler galore, I have been told that the source of my pain comes from my piriformis muscle.

As I was googling the piriformis, I found it referred to as "the pain in the butt that won't go away." Lovely. As glamorous as it is, I'm really looking forward to the day that I can pick up String Bean without cringing in pain!

I gotta go. Time to heat up my heating pad and put it on my butt. Like I said, glamorous.

Haiti

We want to thank everyone who has given to Haiti through our fund raising effort. We still have about $650 to go before we reach our goal. Can I be honest with you? When I set up this page and informed Amy about it (Like how I didn't ask permission?), I figured if we got $100 it would be a wild success. So, to be at $369.22 after just a few days has blown me away.

There are a lot of people who have shown interest in what we are doing but have yet to donate through our link. Frankly, I could care less whether people donate through our effort as long as they show their support (financially or prayerfully).

Thanks for joining with us and supporting our brothers and sisters in Haiti. You can click on the link to the left to donate to Samaritan's Purse for Haiti relief.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

Join Just We Moms in helping raise funds for Haiti Earthquake Relief! We are raising funds for Samaritan's Purse who already have sent out aid as of this afternoon to Haiti.

You can donate online securely through First Giving. The direct link to the page is http://www.firstgiving.com/jwm.

We are excited to see what kind of fund raising moms like us can do from home. Any dollar amount will help those in Haiti devastated by the Earthquake yesterday. Willing to give up your Starbucks drink for the day? (Or if you are my co-blogger, Amy, your Coke for the day?) Please consider donating that amount toward relief. Being that Haiti is an impoverished nation, funds will be needed to help with immediate needs and long term rebuilding.

Let's see what Just We Moms (that means YOU) can do to make a small difference! If you are interested in adding the progress button you see displayed to the left on your blog, please email us and we'll send you the code.







P.S. Ok...You don't have to be a mom to help us raise funds.

P.P.S. Update--funds are continuing to add up thanks to college students from Azuza Pacific University, Biola, and Olivet Nazarene University. This is not just a mom effort!

Tabernacle

I am in Beth Moore's new and revised study on the Tabernacle. Last week's homework was the overview of the children of Israel's history from the fall to the giving of the plans for the Tabernacle to Moses. I'm looking forward to diving into this study because, although I went to Bible school, I haven't had a lot of exposure to this topic.

I'm excited that Amy is in my small group and we've gotten to hang out at the park after Bible study the last two weeks. Our daughters have a lot of fun running around, swinging and sliding.

Fish Oil

I just watched a program on the History Channel about Alaskan Pollock. I'm really grossed out now by the fish oil pills that Amy's husband, the chiropractor, insist that I take. Blech.

Dear History Channel:

I do not need to know what happens with every part of the fish. Just seeing you catch it was enough entertainment. Excuse me while I go and puke.

Yours Sincerely,

Home Again

After a fun-filled, stress and drama-free vacation, we are enjoying the 12 hour car trip back home. No doubt we will be playing the movie game, changing diapers at gas stations, entertaining a rear-facing child from the front seat, and wishing the state of Illinois were not so long.

Similarly, Amy will be wishing central Iowa and eastern Illinois were not so far apart, but she has to do it with 3 kids and no husband in the car.

Wish us luck.

We Survived

I recently had a conversation with Amy and Filbert about things our kids have that we didn't...and we survived! The conversation mostly revolved around seat belts and car seats neither of which were required when we were young. Although I do not advocate letting your kids do without seat belts and car seats just because we survived without them, there are certainly things that fall into that category.

Wipe Warmers. Sure it makes the experience more pleasant, but is it necessary? I think not.

Remote Controlled Mobiles. Really? My daughter never had a mobile, so maybe I've just missed the whole boat. I guess parents who are too lazy to get up and go across the room/house to start the mobile or change the speed/sound need a remote. Speaking of remotes, where is my TV remote...?

Mini Washing Machine for Cloth Diapers. If you don't believe me, check it out. Although this link does not advertise to use this gadget for cloth diapers, other places it is advertised as a solution for keeping pees and poops away from the rest of your laundry with this new machine. If you have expendable income, go for it. And it fits on your counter top! That's where I like to clean my poops and pees!

Crying Analyzer. Maybe I'm the odd mom out, but isn't it easier just to check the diaper, offer food, and look for something uncomfortable than to pull out a machine, have your baby cry into it and hope that this is right, as it is 87% of the time, about your baby's cries?

Shopping Cart Covers. *Dodging tomatoes* I know many of you out there think this is a necessity for your precious little one. I'm told that 95% of first time moms will take precautions for their firstborn and then just find that to be a hassle and unnecessary with their second. (You caught me, I made up that statistic, but you second and third and fourth time moms know there is truth to that.) Our grocery store has disinfectant wipes at the door next to the carts. I just use those and try to keep my life simple and my diaper bag light. (Similarly, there are these same covers for restaurant high chairs.)

Lead Testing Kits. Somewhere the Consumer Product Safety Commission has just started a file on me. When I was a kid, we ate lead for fun! My elementary school had a back alley where not only my sister was caught kissing a boy behind the shed, but the lead dealers (who were all in 4th and 5th grade) would go to sell their product and get us all our fix before the dreaded afternoon dolldrums. The trace amounts found in toys just are not worth the hysteria the CPSC has thrust upon us. Unless your kid is eating paint, the lead threat just isn't that great. And you have a bigger problem. YOUR KID IS EATING PAINT. Besides, I saw an exposé on the news that showed these tests often give false positives and fail to detect lead in some cases.

What would you add to this list?

'Tis the Season!

A plague has hit both my house and Amy's. I am suffering with a cold of some sort (the day before the big Oscars party my husband hosts for all his coworkers every year-joy). The Nut household have symptoms that include tossing cookies, snot, coughing, and all the delights of a nasty virus you could ever hope and wish for.

'Tis the Season! Embrace it. Love it.

*cough, cough*

Visitation

My friend, Cheri, is in the hospital. She had a low blood pressure but high pulse episode and they took her in for observation. The bottom line (as of this post) is they think it is just stress related and haven't found a medical reason for it, yet. Better safe than sorry.

String Bean and I got the e-mail about her hospital stay this morning at 9 am. (She wrote it at 6:00 am after the cardiologist visited with her.) We had a playdate scheduled (with my co-blogger Amy's kids and some other friends), so following the playdate around noon we visited with Cheri. We were her first visitors! I hope she got a lot more this afternoon.

Let this be fair warning to all my friends: If I end up in the hospital for ANY reason, I need visitors!

Another Year Down!

Congratulations to Amy on the 6 year anniversary of joining the league of motherhood! Her oldest, Walnut is 6 today. Walnut was born during the 4th quarter of the Superbowl (Bucs vs. Raiders where the Buccaneers won 48-21). He is in kindergarten this year.

Happy Birthday, Walnut!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Amy already wrote about what she's thankful for this year. I thought I'd take my turn and make a list of all the things that I am thankful for in 2008.

• String Bean. She's a constant source of joy and my love for her gives me a small glimpse of God's great love for me.
• Mr. Bean. I know I am a lucky woman to have a man who cooks, cleans, does laundry and chauffeurs us around. My friend Amy (the other Amy) reminds me of this on occasion. She's right. I'm lucky and thankful for him not because he's my husband or because of the things he does for me, but because of who he is.
  
• Marriage. Having a guy like Mr. Bean has made marriage such a wonderful experience. I'm more in love with him now (6 years after our wedding day) than ever. Not only do I have a great guy. I have a great marriage.
  
• Met needs. With the economy in the toilet, I am constantly reminded that having food on our table, all our bills paid, and money to go to Starbucks occasionally while staying out of credit card debt is truly something to be thankful for. *Knocking on wood that our cars (that are paid off!!!) continue to be healthy.*
  
• Employment. Mr. Bean and I both love our jobs. Mr. Bean is living the dream having a job he looks forward to every day. My job is not always exciting. It is rarely glamorous. However, the people I work with are fantastic and I enjoy having the flexibility to work from home occasionally, flex my hours as I need to, have my summers off, and do a variety of work. I also enjoy the freedom Mr. Bean has given me to keep my pinky toe in the workforce (I only work 12 hours a week during the school year). I have much respect for moms who are able to stay sane and be stay-at-home moms 100% of the time. I'm at 92% and that's about my limit to keep from going insane. Mr. Bean saw that I was hard wired differently than other women and would be a better mom by having some adult time every week. Thanks, Mr. Bean.
• Friendship. This year I've struggled with friendships. It is quite a long story, which I won't bore you with. Here are a couple highlights: My friend Aimee moved to Jerusalem which was sad for me, but with her moving it brought me closer to my co-blogger, Amy and the other Amy. All my friends are named Amy. I met a visitor at church on Sunday named Amy. Is it wrong that I immediately thought, "Oh, this girl could be a great friend to me!" I've also had the chance to reconnect with some old friends this year (Thanks, Facebook!) and look forward to rekindling those relationships.
• Family. My in-laws live in town right now (usually they are all the way over in Hawaii). It has been so great to have them in the area (for reasons other than free babysitting, too). My parents have been able to visit a lot this year. I think it has something to do with String Bean, but I'll pretend they just want to see me. We've also been able to connect with our cousins this year (Thanks, again, Facebook!) and have felt their love. It has been a good year for family.
  

There are lots of other things I'm thankful for, but these are the big ones. You are probably tired of reading this post now and you have better things to eat do. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all enjoy your turkey (or tofurkey) and the love and fellowship of friends and family today and (hopefully) this weekend!

Need Unique Christmas Ideas?

I have some hard to shop for people on my list this year. I love to get well thought out gifts for people--things I think they will love. Sometimes that person who has everything makes that difficult!

My co-blogger, Amy, is planning on making Christmas gifts this year. Not me. I'm not so crafty. Instead, I thought I'd share with you some of the things I'm considering getting some special someones in my life. Maybe it will inspire you as you start finish up your shopping.

For Her:

I think I've mentioned previously that I am having a love affair with Etsy. I found this adorable customized rubber address stamp, Funky Swirls, made by designer babyjewels. There are quite a few customized stamps available on Etsy. Just do a search and you'll come up with all sorts of ideas and some shop owners who will work with you to get your own designs in stamp form.



If I were finished having children, I would be tempted to purchase Mommy Cards. What a cute idea to leave a calling card for your family when you meet new moms at the park, at school, or at church. This company will also do Pet Cards, Allergy Cards, Grandparent Cards and more. There are also designs appropriate for Dad Cards.

For Him:
Sports equipment. My man is into football. Maybe yours is into ping pong. Either way, getting some replacement sports equipment for that raggedy stuff that's falling apart in the garage would be a welcomed gift. Say you are getting a football and you just aren't exactly sure which football is the right one (there are about a billion out there ranging in price from $10 to $90 or more), you can always go the route of a gift card to the Sporting Goods store. Or one of those handmade coupons you used to make as a kid inscribed with "Good for one __________ of your choice from Dick's Sporting Goods." Bonus: purchasing a new play toy for that macho male in your home may just promote wellness and fitness!

You know that movie (or trilogy *cough, cough*) that the guy in your life just loves and for the life of you, you can't find any logic as to why? Chances are it has recently come out with a collector's edition that he does not own, yet (or in the case of Mr. Bean any collectible from his favorite move will do). Amazon.com is a great place to look for the latest (and often times cheapest) movies and the old favorites that you can't find on the shelf at the store.

For Anyone:
I love iTunes. If someone on your list has an ipod, you can't go wrong with iTunes gift cards. They come in denominations of $15, $25, $50 and $100 through the Apple Store. At least you know they will love what they get!


I wasn't sure how to graphically represent this idea, so I made the image above instead. Have you considered getting an "experience" gift for someone? One of my best Christmas gifts ever was a swim with the dolphins adventure at Sealife Park in Hawaii. I will never forget that day and I have photos to prove I did it! Think about the within-driving-distance locations with extreme adventures. Think about the people you know or the friends-of-friends that you could call that favor in from. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing: flying in a private plane, deep-sea fishing, shadowing the local meteorologist, rock-climbing, scuba diving lessons, wine tasting at a vineyard, golf lessons...you get the idea.

Good luck with your shopping!