Mystery Rash

We all know that these mystery rashes happen to our babies every once in awhile.
For a few days we try to handle it ourselves and if not call the doc.
This is my story.

Baby G has a rash. Started in the fat rolls of her thunder thighs. I tried the regular things: Lotion, and Balmex at night when I used the sposie and California Diaper cream during the day with the cloth diapers. No change. Really it was slowly getting worse.

Called the doc on Friday. Phone nurse says to try and 1:1:1 mixture of: Eucrine, Vaseline and Aquaphore. Ummm....ewwwww. Why don't I just dip my child in motor oil. What a slimy mess. And that can't be used with my cloth diapers. So that suggestion was easily dismissed.

So I contact my local (well 100 miles away) cloth diaper dealer who I bought mine from and ask her what she thinks. She says it could be baby yeast and try Virgin Coconut oil and that is ok with the cloth diapers. Ok...off the the local health food store (which is our only one and has a corner on that market may I say) and they have the oil. It comes in what looks like a standard peanut butter container. The oil is a white solid but has a melting point of only 78*. So when you stick your finger in it, it melts...so very odd. So, I slob that on the baby. She smells like a cabana boy, but that's ok.

No change in the rash. Hmpf. So cloth diaper gu-ru says it could be the detergent I'm using to wash the diapers. It has been known in rare cases to cause a rash even after months of use. I'm sooooooo very very very bummed because I LOVE the stuff. (It's called Charlie's) Totally natural. Left all my clothes smelling like...well...clothes. Not like a lavender plant on steroids or a "cool mountain breeze"...

So I get a list of other top notch detergents to use and go on a wild goose chase. That is when I came to the conclusion that I live in the middle of no where. Yes, it's the state capitol but it still has NOTHING. I'm caught between corn and soybeans.

Now, albeit, I'm from the 'burbs of Chicago where we had just about everything. My high school had THREE gyms. It was crazy. I come here and the high schools don't even have a place for the kids to play soccer. It's nuts!

Anyways...I give up. I strip the diapers (wash them 4x on a sanitize 3 hour super hot water cycle) and use ALL Free & Clear. Grrrr...

So today..the rash has spread!!! It's on her tummy and up her back. WTH?? Was it never the Charlie's? Sheesh.

Then on our way out the door this morning in the middle of the laundry room, the brand new bottle of ALL is broken on the floor. Thankfully on a rug so it was easily thrown in the wash. But I think that may be a sign from the diaper gods that I shouldn't use that stuff.

So I'm taking her to the doctor in a few minutes. This rash is consuming me!! Making me nuts. Doesn't really bother G too much at all. But I'm about to pull my hair out over it. GO AWAY RASH...GO AWAY!!

First Friday

Ya I know, it's Monday...just a forethought....

On the first Friday of every month I wear a light blue t-shirt with the word LIFE on it in simple white letters.

It reminds me (and hopefully others) that all life is precious. That every human, started at conception, deserves to be loved and cared for.

I am comforted in knowing that all babies not able to enter this earthly world are being cared for by God. They are with Him and His mother, Mary.

To all loved and lost:

Hail Mary....

Seriously??

Thanks to Sean for this one....oy vay...

Is she serious? Really....I'm not kidding.

There are some things in life I will (hopefully) never understand.

1. I will never understand what it's like to have a serious disability.
2. I will never understand why people think it's ok to kill babies.
3. I will never understand what's it's like to have a sibling.
4. I will never understand why people enjoy running.
5. I will never understand Hillary Clinton.

Really, Hillary...who painted it? I don't know who to blame more for that idiotic question. Hilary herself or her dumb ass staff that didn't brief her on some history facts on what she was going to see.

I guess she's getting some award too. The Margaret Sanger award. Ya know, the founder of Planned parenthood who wanted to kill off people that weren't perfect (ring a bell anyone??)

I'm kinda curious what is on top of this award? Probably some symbol that is supposed to be empowering to women. Ya know, cuz killing babies makes you cool. Not one I'd be putting on my mantel. Or maybe its just a big $.


Oh, hey Hilary...she is a pretty great virgin. Glad we can agree on something. Sheesh.

Prayer request

Can everyone please add my client J to your prayer list. He is going thru some tough times right now and will be in need of a bone marrow transplant. (which has a low success rate) J has Fanconi Anemia .

Please pray for J and his family. He is the 7th of 8 children of a good Catholic family.

Thank you.

i <3 my mom

My mom rocks. Really she does. She has a shirt that says so.

I am an only child. Her world revolved around me. Which I still don't understand. I couldn't imagine. I have an immense amount of love, joy and passion for my three children. I couldn't imagine putting all of that energy in to ONE child. Sheesh. No wonder why she was so tired all the time!!

My mom loves Hubby like he is her own child. It's amazing their relationship. They have this connection that goes beyond a mother-in-law. They have lengthly conversations over a few beers long after I have retreated to bed. I have no idea what they talk about. Maybe I don't want to know. But I think it helps both of them understand me. If that's at all possible.

My mom also loves my kids to no end. They call her Grandma Grandma. Yep, say it twice. Aili named her that and it has stuck. We think it's darned cute. And we haven't heard of another one.

And that is very fitting for my mom. One of a kind. She is a riot. Will make you laugh until your sides hurt. But will be there with a huge hug when times get tough. She will always take care of us, in so many ways that I can't number.

Love ya Ma!!

The belly picture

I just wanted to explain the belly picture at the top of the blog.

Yes, that is my belly. In all of it's blinding glory. I was about 38 weeks pregnant with Gwen.

It was nicely decorated by my middle child, Frank. He had a blast doing it and I highly recommend this to other preggo moms with other children. Aili had her turn the next day and also enjoyed it.

A few thoughts on this for others...
1. Make sure washable markers are used. I didn't let my children use Sharpies or anything, but I had no idea if they were washable or not. They were the unlabeled markers in the ziplock bag in the art closet. It didn't come off too easily. Took a bit of scrubbing, but did come off.
2. Don't use any random stickers. I think those I used originally for pricing garage sale items. I think I bought them at the dollar store. They were *very* sticky. And being the wonderful Sicilian woman I am (which means a bit hairy), they were a bit painful to take off.


Also, if you can see it...there is a large incision scar towards the lower right side of my belly. At 32 weeks pregnant with Gwen I had my appendix taken out. To answer the questions that just popped in your mind: Yes, it is possible. Yes, it did hurt. Just more of a reason why we know that Gwen is our pure miracle baby. I went into labor twice during that ordeal and she decided to stay put. Oh ya, and we were out of town when I got sick. About a 7 hour drive away. Looking back on that time it's very surreal.

And that's my belly!! Maybe someday there will be another occupant. But for right now I'll take the vacancy.

Spinning clocks

I hate hate hate hate hate hate this time change crap.

It really screws everyone up. Me, hubby, kids...UGH.

Seriously, is this necessary in this day and age? Can't we just keep the same time all year? Is that asking to much? It will take at least a week to get used to this change. And then guess what....we get to do it AGAIN in a few months. Yipee.

The clock on the wall says 10:35pm...but my body is saying..."hey Carrie...it's only 9:35pm...it's too early to go to sleep. Stay up. Watch some more HGTV and read a bit" But nope. Can't do it. Because if I do stay up later when the alarm goes off at 6:30 am my body will say "Hey Carrie...it's 5:30 in the friggin' morning. What the hell are you doing up this early? We don't function at 5:30!!" It will be a rebellion on all fronts.

Grrrr. Did I say I HATE THIS TIME CHANGE CRAP!! I'm gonna write Oi-ma-ba-ma (as Aili says). This is what I want changed, dag nab it.

Home

This is the most comfortable place I have ever walked into. Please scroll thru to see all of the pictures.

The first time I walked into Blessed Sacrament I knew that this is where I needed to be. This is where I will come to be with Christ. This is where I belong. This is where my family belongs.

My first steps inside were taken with hubby, who wasn't my hubby then...just dating. But I think we both gave an audible sigh of relief when we walked in. And that was before the restoration! The place is amazing.

Hubby and I went thru a lot of sacraments there. That "simple" building has changed our lives in more ways than we can count. It has enriched our relationship with Christ. It has introduced us to some of the best friends we will ever have. It is filled with memories. It is filled with love. It is filled with Christ.

Busy....

Imf can't whirt mooooch nuuuuw becuz Grrrrrllll Scouf coookies here.

(who says you can only play 'fluffy bunny with marshmallows. Thin mints work very well)

He's nuts...really

Kick ass hubby and I have come to the consensus that our 3 year old son Frank is the craziest, silliest, more complex child ever made. And for some odd reason he's ours.

Right at this very moment he is wearing his shoes on the wrong feet (no socks), Handy Many undies, Thomas shirt and a monster puppet on his hand. Jumping around like a deranged animal picking his undies from his butt crack and going BLLLLAAAAAHHHHH with the puppet in every one's face. This is normal typical behavior from Frankage. We have come to realize that strange is actually normal.

He will spend 30 minutes dancing, singing and jumping around with is reflection in the glass doors from the fireplace. He will also do this with his shadow. It's like someone has string from above that are jerking him around. It's quite amusing.

Yesterday we had a large family gathering for the birthday bash here. My mom bought him a pirate dress up costume. Hat, shirt, pants, sash, eye patch, sword...the whole sha-bang. He insisted that he wear it out to dinner. We went to a local Mexican joint. After we were finished eating he got a bit restless. He then decided to practice his round house kicks in between tables. In a pirate costume. In a Mexican restaurant. We got many looks and blamed it on the cake.

He also some out got wind of the word "Constantinople" today. I went to get him from quite time and he was sitting on his night stand with a wadded up sheet next to him and said, "Look Mommy. It's my Constantinople. See? I made it. It's mashed potatoes. But really it's a sheet". Seriously. Constantinople? Huh?

More over, I love it. I really do. He makes me laugh like I never have before. He makes me want to dance with my shadow like no one is watching. He's a free spirt that God placed here so I can remember that being a kid is about jumping in ALL the puddles!

Happy happy birthday Aili

My beautiful baby girl turns 5 today.
I'm amazed at her every day. She is full of personality and spunk.
Today 5 years ago I fulfilled my life long dream to be a SAHM. She made my dream come true.
She will never know how much I love her.

I love you Aili.