Bunnyworm is sick. She has a cough/cold and the runniest nasty nose ever. She has been running fevers, and last night she broke my measuring cup and stepped in the glass.
I didn't sleep last night. Bunnyworm is asleep right now. She *asked* to go to bed. She NEVER volunteers to go "night night". She ran a fever of 101.4 at 5am this morning. She complained about her foot hurting all night long. She slept in our bed last night. Our whole family, Wafflecat included, slept in the bed last night. Bunnyworm kept sitting up and then draping her torso across my body. At one point she said "Snuggle?" and pressed her back up against my chest and dragged my arm over her torso. When your sick toddler asks for a snuggle or cuddles, you don't say no. If you do you are a horrible parent.
I got up and called her doctor to schedule an appointment and made quinoa for breakfast.
Breakfast Quinoa:
(Serves 4)
1 cup Quinoa
1 1/2 cup Water
2 Cinnamon sticks
4 Pats of Butter
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
Pecans
Frozen Berries
* Combine first 3 ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes or until all water is absorbed.
* Remove from heat, take cinnamon sticks out, and stir in brown sugar.
* Put one pat of butter in each of 4 bowls, spoon in quinoa, and top with nuts and berries.
Bunnyworm wasn't feeling very well and didn't eat this as enthusiastically as I expected but she ate about half of it and picked all the nuts and berries out.
She threw up in my hands at the doctors office.
Her Doctor said she has another ear infection in her left ear (she had one last month too, same ear). He looked at her foot and said he didn't think there was any glass in her foot and congratulated me on my bandaging (Bunnyworm pulls off bandaids, I used a piece of gauze and a length of medical wrapping that only sticks to itself and then put a sock over her foot to keep her from playing with it.
She was tired and clingy and kept trying to give the doctor a hug while we were there. We went by walgreens and dropped off her prescription. She snatched a bag of Munchies off the shelf and dropped it in the cart. I put it back and she did not cry. She knows better. In the car I asked her "when we get home do you want to go night night?" and she said "yes. thank you." (I am trying to raise a polite child) I will say she has *never* agreed to go night night. Ever.
After we left walgreens and were going down the road, a woman pulled out of a Korean Church parking lot making a left turn in front of us, saw us, and slammed on her brakes. My dear partner slammed on his brakes and yelled "FUCK!". Bunnyworm immediately said "fuck! fuckfuckfuck!" and continued saying it all the way home.
So yeah. Now I can say "she didn't learn it from *me*!"
She crawled into bed as soon as we got home and hasn't gotten up since. She is running a fever and I gave her some ibuprofen (infant) and took all of blankets away and gave her a sheet. I don't like seeing her this way but her antibiotics should sort her out.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Brownies Today
I like to keep a supply of baking ingredients on hand at all times. This is awesome because if I am craving something sweet or bready then I can just bake something and have it in a few minutes/hours.
Today I am baking brownies. I have to work this evening and they will be done right before it is time for me to leave. Hopefully there will be some left when I get home...
The recipe I am using can be found here:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mmm-mmm-better-brownies/
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil (I used Crisco Brand Canola Oil, bought on sale with a coupon)
1 Cup White Sugar (I used Domino Brand...I think...I just refill the container)
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (I used McCormick Brand)
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour (I used White Lily Brand)
1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa (I used Hershey's Brand)
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder (I used Argo Brand)
1/4 Tsp Salt (I used Morton's Kosher Salt)
Combine the sugar, oil, and vanilla in a bowl, then add eggs, then add the rest of the stuff. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until it tests done (I use the toothpick method--stick a tooth pick 2 inches from the edge of the pan, if the toothpick comes out clean it's done.)
These are nice little brownies and I bake them frequently. This recipe is also great for the brownie portion of slutty brownies (which I will detail later). Sometimes I add walnuts (If I have them) or chocolate chips (when I am feeling a particularly strong sweet tooth).
Because this recipe has raw eggs in it, I should probably point out that licking the bowl or spoon afterwards is a salmonella risk.
I *always* lick the spoon and wipe out the bowl. I have never gotten salmonella (yet, *knock on wood*).
My thoughts on salmonella from eggs are as follows:
Egg farms pasteurize eggs before they ship them out to retailers. Pasteurizing kills bacteria/germs.
A year or two ago there was a lot of fuss about "salmonella contaminated eggs" and mass recalls of the eggs.
We freak out if they're contaminated, so I am guessing there is maybe a 20% chance of me getting salmonella. If that. I think 1 out of 5 is worth it to lick that delicious chocolatey batter out of a bowl (yes, I have a weight problem, why do you ask?)
Pictures later!
Today I am baking brownies. I have to work this evening and they will be done right before it is time for me to leave. Hopefully there will be some left when I get home...
The recipe I am using can be found here:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mmm-mmm-better-brownies/
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil (I used Crisco Brand Canola Oil, bought on sale with a coupon)
1 Cup White Sugar (I used Domino Brand...I think...I just refill the container)
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (I used McCormick Brand)
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour (I used White Lily Brand)
1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa (I used Hershey's Brand)
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder (I used Argo Brand)
1/4 Tsp Salt (I used Morton's Kosher Salt)
Combine the sugar, oil, and vanilla in a bowl, then add eggs, then add the rest of the stuff. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until it tests done (I use the toothpick method--stick a tooth pick 2 inches from the edge of the pan, if the toothpick comes out clean it's done.)
These are nice little brownies and I bake them frequently. This recipe is also great for the brownie portion of slutty brownies (which I will detail later). Sometimes I add walnuts (If I have them) or chocolate chips (when I am feeling a particularly strong sweet tooth).
Because this recipe has raw eggs in it, I should probably point out that licking the bowl or spoon afterwards is a salmonella risk.
I *always* lick the spoon and wipe out the bowl. I have never gotten salmonella (yet, *knock on wood*).
My thoughts on salmonella from eggs are as follows:
Egg farms pasteurize eggs before they ship them out to retailers. Pasteurizing kills bacteria/germs.
A year or two ago there was a lot of fuss about "salmonella contaminated eggs" and mass recalls of the eggs.
We freak out if they're contaminated, so I am guessing there is maybe a 20% chance of me getting salmonella. If that. I think 1 out of 5 is worth it to lick that delicious chocolatey batter out of a bowl (yes, I have a weight problem, why do you ask?)
Pictures later!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
A Note on Bunnyworms and Wafflecats
I am raising a toddler. When she was born (almost 2 years ago) the hospital put her in an infant gown with mitten cuffs on the sleeves and she looked like a little rabbit. She was also born in the year of the rabbit if you care about that sort of thing. Anyhow, I started calling her "Bunny". She was my little bunny and the baby I was told I'd never be able to have.
We had our trouble with her (she had GERD as an infant) but for the most part, she was an extremely easy infant. She didn't cry unless she needed something and even then, she'd start fussing first and if you stayed on top of changing and feeding,she pretty much did her own thing (eat, sleep, crap). When she was about 3 months old I bought a large purple bowl and I'd toss a blanket over it, place her Boppy in the bowl, sit her in her bowl, and put a select few toys in the bowl with her to explore. I'd go about my household tasks (like washing laundry by hand, we don't have a washer/dryer and the place we live isn't set up for them) and just carry the bowl from room to room. Those were the easy days. She didn't stay immobile for long and would rock her bassinet back and forth rolling around like a little worm. We called her worm then (also because of Albel from Star Ocean), but family members complained so we changed it to Bunnyworm. Now of course she just runs around the house and gets into everything. Oh, and throws explosive tantrums.
Wafflecat...well, when Bunnyworm was about 15 months old I headed out to go to the store and a little *skinny* orange tabby kitten came mewling up to my car. I have a soft spot in my heart for small animals be they scaled, furred, or feathered, but cats are probably my favorite pet. I scooped him up with the intention of finding him a home. I'd found another kitten in our complex's parking lot and found him a home (we called him Bastard and the name fit) previously, so I figured I could find this poor little guy a loving home too. This kitten wasn't as tiny as Bastard (he was only about 4 weeks old when I chased him down barefoot in 26 degree weather), and was a lot sweeter. I was resolute though. He couldn't stay. I am mildly allergic to cats and I have asthma. Our economic status isn't the greatest and we struggle sometimes. We didn't need an extra mouth to feed and another medical bill to foot. Anyhow, I took him in, much to the disgust of my partner, and started asking around about a forever home for him.
About a month went by and he spent a lot of time with Bunnyworm. He slept on the changing table that hooks onto her bed (a crib at the time). He would sit next to her while she played. She learned how to be gentle with animals and slowly, much to my horror, they started bonding. I pulled my partner aside and we talked. This cat was something special. He didn't claw Bunnyworm. Even when I played with him, he didn't claw and was really gentle and cuddly and affectionate.I talked with my partner and explained that I felt that this kitten had earned a spot in our family and I asked my partner to think hard about keeping him. I told him he had a week to come up with a decision.The decision of course, was that the kitten could stay, but only if I got him neutered (of course) and all of his shots.
There was some argument about what name we should call this kitten whom we had resolutely called cat up until then because he totally was not staying. My partner told me he didn't care what I called the kitten. I thought about it long and hard. He had this habit of sleeping on the floor at the entrance to our bedroom. We'd get up in the middle of the night and I'd usually trip over him, while my partner outright stepped on him (I walk more carefully). I told the cat that if he wasn't careful he'd wind up waffle shaped. I wanted a friendly, almost silly name for him. In my childhood I'd had cats named Missy, Pickles, and Fluffer McKitty. Then there was that little shit Bastard (inventor of the 3 am flying kitten deathleap attack to the face). I thought long and hard about it and I decided Waffles was an appropriate name for him. My partner said no. It's stupid. He said we could call him Pancake, but I didn't like it as much. Of course, we'd been calling him cat for a while I decided I was going to settle the matter once and for all. I coached Bunnyworm to call him "WaWa" which at the time was the best she could do. Then I told my partner she was already calling him Waffles and he said he didn't care what I called the stupid cat and that he was my problem anyway. So yeah, Wafflecat. I remember taking him to be neutered by Project Catsnips (I paid $85 for a neutering, a microchipping, and having his 4 in 1 boostered) and when they handed his carrier to me I said "Hey Wafflecat" and he looked at me and mewed. His name suits him well, and "WAFFLES!!!!!!!" is easy to scream at him when he does something bad like pulling the chicken packaging out of the trash. Now Bunnyworm calls him Waffles and all is happy.
So yeah. Bunnyworm and Wafflecat. My life revolves around them so it felt appropriate to name this after them.
We had our trouble with her (she had GERD as an infant) but for the most part, she was an extremely easy infant. She didn't cry unless she needed something and even then, she'd start fussing first and if you stayed on top of changing and feeding,she pretty much did her own thing (eat, sleep, crap). When she was about 3 months old I bought a large purple bowl and I'd toss a blanket over it, place her Boppy in the bowl, sit her in her bowl, and put a select few toys in the bowl with her to explore. I'd go about my household tasks (like washing laundry by hand, we don't have a washer/dryer and the place we live isn't set up for them) and just carry the bowl from room to room. Those were the easy days. She didn't stay immobile for long and would rock her bassinet back and forth rolling around like a little worm. We called her worm then (also because of Albel from Star Ocean), but family members complained so we changed it to Bunnyworm. Now of course she just runs around the house and gets into everything. Oh, and throws explosive tantrums.
 |
| In her bowl. What a face! |
About a month went by and he spent a lot of time with Bunnyworm. He slept on the changing table that hooks onto her bed (a crib at the time). He would sit next to her while she played. She learned how to be gentle with animals and slowly, much to my horror, they started bonding. I pulled my partner aside and we talked. This cat was something special. He didn't claw Bunnyworm. Even when I played with him, he didn't claw and was really gentle and cuddly and affectionate.I talked with my partner and explained that I felt that this kitten had earned a spot in our family and I asked my partner to think hard about keeping him. I told him he had a week to come up with a decision.The decision of course, was that the kitten could stay, but only if I got him neutered (of course) and all of his shots.
There was some argument about what name we should call this kitten whom we had resolutely called cat up until then because he totally was not staying. My partner told me he didn't care what I called the kitten. I thought about it long and hard. He had this habit of sleeping on the floor at the entrance to our bedroom. We'd get up in the middle of the night and I'd usually trip over him, while my partner outright stepped on him (I walk more carefully). I told the cat that if he wasn't careful he'd wind up waffle shaped. I wanted a friendly, almost silly name for him. In my childhood I'd had cats named Missy, Pickles, and Fluffer McKitty. Then there was that little shit Bastard (inventor of the 3 am flying kitten deathleap attack to the face). I thought long and hard about it and I decided Waffles was an appropriate name for him. My partner said no. It's stupid. He said we could call him Pancake, but I didn't like it as much. Of course, we'd been calling him cat for a while I decided I was going to settle the matter once and for all. I coached Bunnyworm to call him "WaWa" which at the time was the best she could do. Then I told my partner she was already calling him Waffles and he said he didn't care what I called the stupid cat and that he was my problem anyway. So yeah, Wafflecat. I remember taking him to be neutered by Project Catsnips (I paid $85 for a neutering, a microchipping, and having his 4 in 1 boostered) and when they handed his carrier to me I said "Hey Wafflecat" and he looked at me and mewed. His name suits him well, and "WAFFLES!!!!!!!" is easy to scream at him when he does something bad like pulling the chicken packaging out of the trash. Now Bunnyworm calls him Waffles and all is happy.
So yeah. Bunnyworm and Wafflecat. My life revolves around them so it felt appropriate to name this after them.
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