Pro-Active Measures

I just read about another Allergy Mom's experience with her daughter's recent reaction to food that had a trace amount of peanuts.  Here's her story: http://averageallergymom.blogspot.com/.  It is a reminder how easily a reaction can happen. 

The longer we live this lifestyle, you go from being hyper-vigilant, to sometimes falling into a false sense of safety.  For example, when I drop the Babe off at the Kiddie Koral, I sometimes forget until I'm just about out the door to give them her Benadryl and Epi-pens.  Please note, I've never left them without it.  Wherever the Babe goes, those go too.  I'm still in the building, and we've been there so many times, which is probably why this has happened.  However, timing is very important.  If she were to have a reaction, by the time they could locate me in the gym or locker room, to getting the meds out of a locked locker (assuming I remember how to open it in a panic) and getting it to her could be several minutes that are needed to fight a reaction.  Minutes are everything when fighting an allergic reaction, and there is no excuse for a delay.  Children who have food allergies should always have their medication with them.  It scares me when I hear of parents who don't carry an epi-pen everywhere for their allergic child (or in one case, never bothered to fill the prescription). 

If I'm being preachy, its just the facts as I know it.  And if you read the linked article, you'll realize how much parents of food allergic children have to watch, as well as be their child's advocate with medical professionals. 

Not Tech Saavy

So I just figured out a bit of an oops regarding my blog, er rather, two blogs.  When I set up this blog, I wanted it to be Allergy Babe.  If you noticed from the URL, its allergybaby.  That's because I kept getting bounced around a bit.  Well, just found that I did set up a blog under allergybabe.  So now, if I accidently send you there, it should correctly direct you to me here.  Hope that made sense.

Gym time

In case you were wondering, we did go to the gym today.  It was wonderful.  I got to talk to other adults, burn some calories, and have a hot shower without having to rush to make sure the Babe wasn't getting into something (or the t.v. program I put on to keep her captive in one spot wasn't about to end).  Afterwards, we meandered through the building towards one exit, because my child does not like to leave.  She is content to sit on a sofa pretending to read a magazine, watch others go in and out, and of course wave or start talking to total strangers.  So after a few minutes, one of our friends came by to say that the kids she'd just played with were now in the gymnasium playing.  That worked for us.  We spent some additional time, and the Babe got to run around some more.  And I got more adult conversation.  Double win. 

Ratatouille

I'm trying to be good again regarding diet and exercise.  I went on hiatus, sort of, while we were having work done on our basement.  Granted, there was nothing stopping me from using our WII Fit or doing an On Demand workout, but I really didn't want our two very nice contractors to hear me stomping about (or heavens forbid, come upstairs and witness it).  So I've started logging on to myfitnesspal.com.  Its a slow start for me because I haven't been 100% committed, and have had a few days where it was difficult to track what I was eating.  However, I am trying to encourage my husband and mother-in-law to do this, so now I feel I need to step up my game.  So today I've logged in all my calories and been good.  Yes, the night isn't over, but other than having a glass of water, the kitchen is closed to me. 

Tomorrow I intend to go to the gym.  The plus is that I plan to shower there after my workout.  Rather than go home, try to get the Babe to cooperate so I can rush a shower, I can take my time while she is being watched at the Kiddie Korral.  A hot, uninterrupted shower is all the incentive I need to get my rear out the door tomorrow. 

In light of my new goals, I attempted to make a hearty, healthy dinner.  I finally found eggplant, which is both scarce and expensive around here allegedly due to the winter freeze in Florida.  So on the menu tonight was Tarragon-Lime Chicken, corn pasta, and Ratatouille.  Here's the recipe for the Ratatouille.

Ratatouille
1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion sliced
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 medium-large eggplant, peeled and cubed
2 medium zucchini, peeled and sliced into half moons
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 tsp dried Thyme
1/4- 1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 Cup water

1. Heat oil in a large pot, then saute onion until translucent (5-10 minutes).
2. Add vegetables, garlic, and spices.  Stir and let heat through for a minute.  Add water.  Cover. 
3. Keep on medium heat for first half hour (or until boils), then lower heat, and cook covered for another 1 1/2 hours.  Stir occasionally.
* Total cooking time will be 2 hours.You will start out with high volume, but as it cooks, the vegetables will become softer and volume will go down in half.  The longer you let it cook, the more flavorful it will become.

New People

We had to take the Babe to a specialist this past week at the Children's Hospital.  We had been there only once before for her allergy testing.  I didn't even consider the fact that she might remember the place and associate it with the discomfort of her test.  Or it could have been my husband and I discussing the hospital and doctor while en route.  Either way, as we approached the hospital, she started repeatedly having to tell my husband something.

"Daddy, I don't like doctors!"  "Daddy, Daddy, I don't like doctors!".  This was repeatedly said by her every few seconds as we reached the drive leading to the parking garage, and then as we circled within the parking garage.  Finally, we told her that we weren't going to a doctor, but to meet some new people.  She paused for a moment, and then said, "I like meeting new people".  That lasted for a little bit, until we got into the doctor's office.  As we were taken back into the examining room by a woman in scrubs, the Babe then told us, "I don't like these new people".  Clearly, she knew what was up.  It didn't matter that she didn't have to get undressed, and the entire exam was external.  A doctor is a doctor is a doctor. 

Staying Right Where I Am

Let me clarify some things regarding my prior post.  I do enjoy being home and very much appreciate the time I have with my daughter.  However, I miss being seen as more than just a mommy.  When I meet new people, no one asks what I did before I had her.  Its as if time is divided.  Once I had her, part of me was put on a shelf. 

My grandmother gets a kick out of the fact that I now cook, and enjoy it.  When I was about 14, I said I didn't want to cook or bake, and wanted a house-husband.  I didn't think I was going to be Miss Career-Woman, but knew I wanted to be a lawyer, and was not particularly good at baking (nor did I like to clean my bedroom).  Now I'd just be happy with a little house-hold help.

Most of the time I'm right where I want to be.  But there are times when I see my former self and miss that confidence and pride doing what I did, using a different part of my brain.  I miss getting dressed and being put together.  Nothing is stopping me now from that except myself.  Sleep deprivation, wanting to be comfortable, needing to wear washable versus dry-cleanable clothes, are but a few reasons.  And if its just the two of us all day, who cares if I have makeup on?  (Well, only my mother who believes one shouldn't leave the house without lipstick.)  So on days when I get to blow dry my hair, spend a few minutes on my make-up, and wear something more than just a t-shirt or casual sweater, I feel better.  I know these are only surface things, but they do give me a boost.  With that said, time to go watch some cartoons with my Allergy Babe.

"Playing Housewife"

I have a guy friend who I haven't seen since before the Babe was born.  Kind of difficult when you live hours apart, or when I would come in town and barely had time to see my immediate family.  Via an email, he asked if I was still "playing housewife".  I don't think he realized how dangerous that phrase was, unless he was kidding.  That is the problem with the written word, you can't always grasp the tone of the author. However, I think it was not a joke, but a poor choice of words. 

There have been days when I think back to when I had a career that required me to wear a business suit and depose highly respected medical professionals or appear before judges to argue motions, and wonder, if they could only see me now.  Singing songs off key with made up words that don't rhyme and probably don't make much sense.  Elbow deep in a dirty diaper.  Doing what seems like hundreds of loads of washes, doing the dishes, cooking, baking, grocery shopping, and picking up my husband's dry-cleaning.  I've become that 1950s woman I swore I wouldn't.  Well, I haven't started sewing my own clothes.  Being a homemaker made my mother very happy, but I never saw myself in that role.  I do hope to return to the workforce, and bounce between wanting to now, RIGHT NOW, or someday down the road (those are my 3 time-tables for working depending on my mood and level of sleep).

Anyhow, I am not a housewife.  I did not marry my house.  I am a stay-at-home mom.  Please note the difference.  I did not marry my house.  My career right now is my child and her well-being.  Did I think 10 years ago when I was working very hard to finish my law degree that this was where I'd be now?  Yes and no.  Does it really matter?  Nope.  I have a happy child who I get wonderful kisses and hugs from, and still likes to snuggle with me.  That beats winning an oral argument in court any day.

Library Time

As the Cat in the Hat sings, we need to "Go-Go-Go-Go...on an Adventure!".  Now that is two-fold.  First, I need a vacation.  That's not happening anytime soon.  Second, the Babe has been stuck in the house for too long.  We had work done on our basement, which kept us housebound for about six weeks.  Then she was sick.  And now, but for the current rain, I have no more excuses. 

So this morning I took her out to a place I love, but don't love taking her to.  Its been months, but for the love of learning and getting her out of the house, I did it.  I took her to the library.  A wonderful mecca, until its time to go. 

We met friends, and she had fun playing with puzzles and a pretend ice-cream cone (go figure, since she's never had a real one).  Our friends left, and I hoped to leave with them.  However, it didn't work.  She didn't want to leave, and cried and wailed and made a fuss.  So she got an extra five minutes.  And then I carried her out wriggling and crying.  I of course got the looks of sympathy- unsure whether the looks were directed at the Babe or me.  I didn't care.  We paused momentarily to get coats on, then I hefted her up, and got her in the car.  Within minutes of our ride, she kept telling me, "green means go", and was good the rest of the way home.  This was a significant improvement upon our last visit to the library, for which she threw a tantrum in the library lobby for 20 minutes, I then wrestled her into her coat, and spent another 20 minutes trying to get her into her carseat. 

I'm not sure when we will return to the library, but I can't completely ban us from it. However, I need to start going to the wonderful places I know are in our area: the Dinosaur museum, the Children's museum, several art museums, the Domes, the local gardens, parks, zoo, etc. etc.  Oh the places we will go...once Mommy finds some energy!

Its Time

Its time to start potty-training.  I really don't want to do it.  I know I need to do it.  I would like my 101-year-old grandmother to come over and take care of this task.  According to my mother, when I was a toddler she had my grandmother baby-sit one day, and was pleasantly surprised to come home and find out my grandmother had potty-trained me that day (without request).  While my grandmother is an amazing woman, she's not quite up to repeating this for the next generation. 

Reasons why I don't want to start potty-training:
1. Not looking forward to dealing with "accidents"
2. Need to be committed to taking the Babe to the bathroom even if she doesn't need to go
3. More reasons for her to wake me up during the night.

Reasons why I should start potty-training:
1. She's now 2 1/2 and I refuse to have a 3 year old running around in diapers (no offense to those who do)
2. Diapers are expensive
3. I really dislike the taste of Desitin (somehow can never get it fully out from under my nails)
4. And the major reason, as exampled tonight, is I dislike leaky diapers, particularly poopy explosive diapers while she's sitting on my lap (she couldn't have waited for Daddy?!).

Dinner Gone Wrong

I'm not bragging or anything, but yesterday's dinner was awful! First, timing was way off because of how I decided to cook the chicken. So what should have been served together was served separately.

Course one started out as pasta with a side of sauteed broccoli and onion. I decided to get creative and wanted to attempt a cream sauce. I happened to have an open box of potato flour, and thought I could use that to start a roux. Please note, I knew this was an experiment. Well, it seemed more like potato soup than a roux. I kept trying to thin it out. It tasted ok, but not what I had intended. I then mixed together the vegetables, pasta, sauce, and topped it with some fake mozzarella. It looked edible. It seemed edible. My husband's response was he wasn't sure if he liked it or not. For me it, it was ok, but for the fake mozzarella. As a result, I was nauseous for the next three hours. This happened last time I had the fake cheese, so I'm pretty sure it was that and not the pasta dish. However, I don't think I'll be in a rush to make it again. It was very starchy between the potato flour and rice noodles (I hate to think how many calories went into making this less than tasty dish).

The second dish was just baked chicken. This is so simple, how could it go wrong, right? Well, I thought I'd cook it in the bakeware my in-laws bought me that I've only used a few times before to make brisket. Its meant for long, slow cooking either on the stove-top or in the oven. That should have been my first clue. Secondly, my husband loves lemon. So I cup up a lemon and put it in- with the rind on. It worked in a different dish, but apparently long and slow leaves an aftertaste of lemon rind. What should have been an hour took almost three, and what should have been fragrant and flavorful was bland but for an after-taste that stuck with my husband for hours.

So dinner left me nauseous and my husband with a bad taste in his mouth. Gee, how can I top that tonight?!

Girls Day Out

We survived a trip to the mall. No, not our local mall. The Babe and I met my sister and niece at Gurnee Mills, a very large indoor outlet mall on the northern end of Illinois. I went in knowing that a) its not too far from home (meaning way under an hour), b) we wouldn't be there more than 2 hours, and c) my sister's a lot more patient than I am (and in some ways, nicer, too). So off we went.

The car ride started out fine, until the Babe declared she wanted pretzels. I brought with Corn Chex, which she did not want. I did not bring pretzels, and offered to stop at the one store en route that carried her specialty pretzels that are both gluten free and way over-priced. Its not like I just run into a gas station or drive-thru for them. She didn't want to stop, but she certainly wanted pretzels, crying for them for twenty minutes of the ride. My super-nice sister, knowing this, stopped and got the next best substitute- potato chips.

While at the mall, the girls had fun chasing each other, trying to get into everything, and then, for a while, contentedly eating potato chips in their strollers. At one point, while reaching over, I narrowly missed clocking my niece with my saddlebag, a.k.a. my big momma purse. No, I'm not a big momma (well, relatively speaking), but my purse certainly is. It does double duty as a diaper bag. My sister made a comment, and I explained the reason. I have just about everything in it but the kitchen sink. The contents of my purse include: pants, shirt and socks for the Babe, 2-3 diapers, a package of wipes, bags for said diapers, epi-pens stored in a case, benadryl, inhaler with the breathing chamber (picture 8-10 inch plastic tube), wallet, cell phone, juice box, water bottle, and more. The items mentioned though make up the brunt of it, which but for the beverages and inhaler get carried with us at all times. I can't wait for her to be out of diapers, but suspect my bag will just get filled up with other junk. Anyhow, we got out today, we survived the trip, and now we're home. I'm ready for her nap and/or a big cup of coffee.

Misnomer

So I've been told my Moroccan Chicken isn't technically Moroccan. The person who told me this is probably reading this post, and no, I'm not insulted, and I hope she isn't either. The thought did cross my mind when I titled it. I altered an existing recipe, and kept the name. However, would it be more appropriate to name it Turmeric Chicken or Middle-Eastern Chicken? I just don't know. Turmeric is usually found in Middle Eastern or Indian cuisine. Its considered a poor-man's saffron. I have never cooked with saffron, although would like to, however the price doesn't make it worthwhile to me just yet. I also wanted to try out Turmeric, which I did for the first time last night. So call it what you want, I just know that we enjoyed it. Its probably a lot more milder in flavor than other recipes out there, but I'm just expanding my repertoire. And my friend has no fear of spice or experimenting. Alas, she lives too far away right now for me to enjoy her cooking, but what she does make sounds and looks amazing. So if she tries this recipe, maybe she can come up with a new name for it...hint, hint.

Moroccan Chicken

For the longest time, you could probably consider my cooking rather boring. The same dishes every week, which is probably why my husband is sick of stew. So I'm trying to mix it up a bit, and go outside my comfort zone.

Tonight I made Moroccan chicken, which was enjoyed by us. The Babe twice complimented her chicken, exclaiming that dinner was delicious (too cute from the mouth of a two year old). Of course her chicken was plain. She's not a big sauce person, and I didn't want another fight. It was easier to separate one piece and cook hers separately. So dinner was a success because we all enjoyed. Here's the recipe.

Moroccan Chicken
3-4 chicken quarters (thighs), about 2-3 lbs.
1-2 Tbsp canola oil
1 large onion, cut into 8 sections
2-3 cloves garlic
1 lemon (wash the exterior), cut into quarters
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
3 grinds of black pepper
3/4 C chicken broth
1/4-1/2 C water

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in a oven-safe frying pan that has a lid, or else a dutch oven.
2. Add chicken skin side down. Cook 2 minutes. Turn, cook another 2 minutes.
3. Turn chicken again (skin side down again), add onions. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Press garlic through a garlic press, add garlic to chicken, turn chicken again. Cook another 2-3 minutes (skin side should be up now).
3. While chicken is cooking, mix in a bowl the ginger, turmeric, salt, paprika, pepper, broth, and water. Once you've completed the first 10 minutes of cooking the chicken over medium high heat (total cooking time so far after turning several times), pour liquid mixture over chicken. Add lemons. Cover.
4. Put pan in oven, cook 50 minutes. Midway through, baste chicken with liquid.
Good served with any grain or starch. The cooking jus is good over the chicken, mixed into potatoes, over a grain, etc. Enjoy!

Frustrating Facts of Life

Generally all the things we miss out on because of the Babe's allergies are tolerable. Either she misses out on it or we miss out on something as a family. I've come to accept this as a fact of life. Its is frustrating at times when others don't grasp the need for why we don't participate or venture out into the world for fear of coming into contact with a hazard. Why not just wrap her up in a bubble, a cocoon, put a mask and gloves on, etc. so she can go somewhere? She is not a circus freak, but a beautiful, curious little girl. I want to encourage that curiosity in a safe environment, and never make her feel left out.

With that said, this weekend is a holiday that I would like her to be able to celebrate. It generally involves a lot of noise making and merriment, with children in costumes and a more relaxed atmosphere for celebration. However, because the holiday falls on a Saturday night-Sunday morning, most places of worship that are within an hour of us are making Saturday night services either an adult event or a food related event. That leaves Sunday morning, which will also involve certain foods and fanfare. This is what is now saddening me. Something I grew up with, that is part of her heritage and religion, may not be something the Babe can attend, at least for now. Our limited options are a special needs program, which I admire, but do not necessarily want to attend. The other option is to go with my parents to a very early service, located over an hour from our home. That's it- living between two major metropolitan areas and we have two limited options. This is the frustrating part of living with Food Allergies.

Fashionable Miss

This comment probably isn't the nicest thing I have to say about my daughter, but right now she is dressed for the early bird special in Miami. That would be because she is wearing last year's summer sandals- hot pink with flowers- with purple socks. And the sandals are a little too small so her purple clad toes are hanging over the edge. Otherwise she is completely coordinated and dressed for the cooler clime we live in. Of course, that doesn't always stop Miss Independent, aka the Allergy Babe.

She reached the independent dressing stage several months ago. We can pull out five different items from her dresser, to which she puts her finger to her mouth, tapping it, and slowly tells us no to each one as if we were at the hottest fashion show in New York. Then I must tell her to pick one of two that I have narrowed it down to, and she usually goes back to the very first item I picked. Eventually she is dressed, although later in the day I may find her only in her diaper or missing a top or pants. We have had days with three outfit changes, and not by necessity, just because she wanted to change. I do not think I have a fashionista on my hands just yet, but I certainly have a little one who knows her mind (while playing with mine at the same time!).

Sick but Getting Better

Here are two ways you know my kid is still sick but getting better:

1. Yesterday she thought it was hilarious to put some green stuff she picked out of her nose onto the wall adjacent to our stairs. No, that is not how I want my walls painted, thank you very much!

2. She came running to me to say, "I got poops", turned around and ran to the stairs. I carried her up to her room, put her on her changing pad, and giggling, she kicked me in the jaw. She's still wheezing- that's how you know she is sick, but not that sick!

Trade offs

Once upon a time I practiced law. As part of my job, I negotiated settlements. Now, I use those skills to negotiate with my toddler. That's right...my kid would do most lawyers proud. Today it was to get her to eat some meat and potatoes for lunch in exchange for a juice box. Other days its eating something or else the t.v. goes off. OK, that's not so much a negotiation as a threat. Whatever it takes, right?

The past few nights she has had no interest in what I've made for dinner. Somehow she still winds up with french fries and hot dogs. Tomorrow I will renew my effort to get her to eat dinner. Part of the recent problem, and greater willingness to cave on my part, is she's been sick. We almost had another trip to the ER Friday night.

Its pretty much Murphy's Law that she gets sick when the doctor's office is closed. She was just easing into a cold in the morning, and by the time her breathing was much more labored, despite giving her the inhaler, the doctor's office was closed. We watched her with bated breath, listening to her breath and moan in her sleep during a late nap. She eventually woke up as if nothing was wrong, although still having a little wheeze. Tonight there is the occasional bronchial cough, but otherwise she is so much better.

In case you were hoping for another recipe, here's the easiest Crockpot chicken dish. It took me three minutes or less to assemble. You may spend more time opening the jar then anything else.

Chicken Marinara
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup jarred marinara
1 cup water

1. Mix the water and marina
2. Place the chicken in the slow cooker, pour the water/marinara mix over the chicken.
3. Cook on high heat for 5 hours.
4. Serve over pasta.

Lightening Up

If you saw our grocery bills, you'd think we lived the life of luxury, or I was feeding about five more people. Its just my husband, the Babe, and myself. For a while my husband has commented about our high grocery bills, and I just ignored that since its a necessity. But the more I think about it, the more I want to fix it. Unfortunately, there isn't too much I can do. Well, there is, which I will explain, but I can also explain why its so high.

I've mentioned that living in our Allergy-free zone is expensive. Everything is more when its a "speciality" item. On top of that, I only buy kosher meat. For example, a pound of ground beef is about $5.99 per pound, and there are no sales. If you've noticed, we eat a lot of meat and poultry here because of the Babe's diet. That is one part of our grocery bill that won't change.

I can't entirely figure out how else our bill remains so high when I try to watch sales and buy only what we need. However, I think I have a little hoarding problem. Well, not so much a problem as I don't want to keep taking the Babe to the store. She no longer will ride in the shopping cart (unless I want her crying and wailing like I was hurting her), so I have to constantly watch where she is and what she might be getting into when I just want to grab a few bananas. That means if I need to buy juice, why buy one bottle when I can buy three? We go through so much of it, when I am at a store that has the best price, I try to stock up.

How can I cut the bill down? Well, we could cut back our portion sizes. We definitely eat more than one recommended serving at dinner. I try to incorporate fresh or frozen vegetables into our meals, and watch sales in those areas. As for coupons, there are limited ones that apply to our dietary restrictions. Have you seen any Earth Balance Buttery Spread Coupons or for Coffee Rich? I sure haven't! Its time to get even more creative in the kitchen. Maybe if I can cut back on portions, our jeans might fit a little better too. In the meantime, my goal is to use what I have. I have a pantry full of dry goods, not just our usual pasta and potatoes, but millet, buckwheat and quinoa. Soups and stir-frys are good ways to fill up too. So with a little spring in my step, and the sun shining through the windows, I'm getting ready to lighten up here, in more ways than one.

Detente

We have a temporary cease-fire in the Bedtime War. The night I started the War, my husband returned home sick from a business trip, and I suspect the Babe and I are on the verge of being sick, too. In addition, exhaustion won out. So while I am not waiving the white flag, I have temporarily caved so I can get some sleep.

In other news, I just came across the easiest blueberry muffin recipe. I know, this has nothing to do with sleep. However, I do find the more tired I am the more I want to eat. Can I blame cortisol on my lack of self-control?

Anyhow, the blueberry muffin recipe uses GF Bisquick. Follow the pancake recipe on the box without the oil, add blueberries and 2 Tbsp sugar, and then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Super easy, and you don't feel guilty if you pop a few because that equals a serving of pancakes. I use flax seed in lieu of eggs, so I can rationalize this with it helping my cholesterol and the blueberries providing anti-oxidants. Yeah, that's why I eat them, for my health!

Misperceptions in the Grocery Store

I must have sounded like such a mean mom. One of those parents who makes up stories to get good behavior. Someone who doesn't want their kid to have too much sugar. That is not me, and was not why I said what I said. But I think that's what I looked like when I told my little one not to touch the candy on display at the check out line. Its all so shiny in its wrapping and at her height while walking beside me. Of course she'd want to grab it. But alas, I say don't, it will make you sick, you are allergic to it. And she looks at me confused, not understanding why she can't touch something. For I fear that if one candy bar opened in transit, and somehow its contents touched any of the packaging, she could then touch something with dairy. And I just can't allow that to happen. So I will be the mean mom... but really, I'm not.

Calcium Doesn't Just Come From Cows

How do you get calcium into a child who is allergic to milk? There are milk substitutes, but for the longest time, the only one we could use was soy milk. And for a while, we were concerned that she was sensitive or allergic to soy. There is also the concern of giving her too much soy (a balancing act in any diet). Of the vitamins available, they either bothered her stomach or she was allergic to a flavoring in it. So that meant no actual calcium in her system...or so you might think.

Many foods have calcium in it. Whether its as much as in a glass of milk or piece of cheese is unlikely. However, knowing that you need Vitamin D for absorption for supplements, and supplements are less absorbable than from a natural source, I'm hoping the Babe is getting something from what she eats. Foods richer in calcium include salmon, spinach and broccoli. She won't eat the first two, and presently won't eat broccoli (she used to love it!).

Today I heard, and then confirmed with a quick google search, that chickpeas have calcium. The light bulb went off in my head. My hummus-loving child is getting more calcium than I realized. Not a full sigh of relief here, but a little less maternal guilt. From what I read, 3 Tbsp of chickpeas provides 41 mg of calcium. This led me to check, and an avocado has 23 mg of calcium. The Babe also drinks Motts Plus Light apple juice fortified with calcium and Vitamin D. The label says it provides 10% of the daily requirement of Calcium per 8 oz serving. Not sure what that translates for a toddler's required daily amount, but again, its something. So, while she is probably not getting the 500 mg per day recommended for her age group, she is getting some. Added to my ever-growing list of goals is renewing the search for a vitamin she can ingest and will actually take (a two-part challenge).

Bagels

I know I've already posted about the past 24 hours, but ate something that was pretty good today and wanted to share.

We went to my parents for lunch today. While the Babe didn't eat much (oh what fun a picky food-allergic toddler can be), I enjoyed lunch. My mother attempted to make bagels. While the texture was hard, the taste was good. She followed a regular bagel recipe, substituting King Arthur's Gluten Free Multi-Purpose Flour (which I've never tried before, but will now). The recipe is detailed, and one of the steps required boiling, and then baking. The first bagel put in to boil apparently fell apart, so the rest just got baked. She thinks it was the high baking temperature that caused the texture issue, although I think it may have been because there was no xanthan or guar gum in the flour dough or recipe. Either way, they were tasty, just had to watch how I chewed them. And this is not a criticism of my mother's baking. Experimenting with gluten-free, dairy free, and egg-free recipes can be challenging to get the right taste or texture. Not all foods can be exactly replicated, and to get baked goods to be the correct texture, its not just as simple as replacing equal parts of alternative flours.

So now that I have something that could lead to an addiction (they really tasted good, have I mentioned that?), I'm going to have to make some. But I don't want to "proof" or knead dough. Silly me- I have a bread machine for this purpose! One day soon I will attempt to make bagels, using the machine to do the hard work to make the dough and then bake them in the oven, and will let you know how it goes. Right now I'm too tired to contemplate when that day will be, but it will happen... eventually.

Night 2

I thought I'd give an update on our second night of the Bedtime Wars. It involved 2 hours of trying to get her to go to sleep. I took the first hour, and then because I was getting angry and tired, I called in the reserves. I had enough of going in and out and over the stupid gate.

She had about 6 diaper changes during that 2 hour period, repeatedly telling us she was wet, or had "leaked". By the 4th or 5th time, it was Daddy's turn. She also had 3 different pairs of pajama bottoms last night (one of which was prior to putting her to bed), because of how we put the diaper on. So at about midnight, I got up, kicked my thankfully patient husband out of her room, and roared that she had to go to sleep. And you want to know what she did? She went to sleep. Well, until about 4:10 a.m., gently crying "mommy". In I went, and luckily she was still in bed. Soothed her, and she went back to sleep. She awoke at 7:10 a.m., gave her some juice, and then brought her into my room for another 2 hours (I woke her up so we could go out).

So last night we got 7 hours of her staying in her bed. I'm so tired, I really just want to let her go to bed with me, but that just puts us back at square one, or worse. So in a couple hours we will begin Night 3. Wish me luck (and some sleep)!

Battle of the Bed

Battle of the Bed and Bedtime is on. I am tired. I am tired of being pushed to the edge of my bed. I am tired of being kicked in the face, back, etc. I am tired of looking up at 3 a.m. to make sure my little one who is bordered by pillows on one side and me on the other, doesn't find her way over the side of the bed anyways. I am tired of my child thinking my bed is her bed and not my husband's bed.

So last night began the Battle of the Bed. The Battle of the Bedtime will be following one day soon.

Last night I had enough (I've had this reaction many times, but hopefully now it will stick). Over time we've had interruptions caused by travel resulting in the Babe ending up with me during the night, and then failing to get her back to a good routine. Routine yes, but not a good one.

At about 10:30 last night (yes, I know its a really late time to get a kid to bed), I took her into her room, and attempted to get her to go to sleep. Obviously bribing and threats did not work. An hour later and very irritated, I whipped out the baby gate. It has not seen any use since we moved here, and never for this purpose. I was locking her in the tower. She thought this was amusing, and in her own language said the equivalent of "bring it on". So I got her settled into her bed with a blanket, pillow and stuffed animal, put up the gate, turned out the light, gave kisses, and climbed over the gate. Waiting, waiting, waiting, until 2-3 minutes later she started howling. The bravado had ended and she wanted "Mommmmyyyy". I returned, we snuggled, and eventually she fell asleep. Until 3:10 a.m. I returned, she had some juice, snuggled in her chair, in her bed, on the floor. She kept falling asleep only to waken as I was half-way over the gate. Finally around 4:10 a.m. she fell back to sleep, until once again I heard her cry. I gave in at 4:30 a.m.

But its not over. I will rule my own bed again. Once that has occurred, we will work on getting her to sleep earlier in the evening. Maybe I can once again watch the news in my own bed- what a thought!

Easy Asian Chicken

Last night I got to go out to eat. While this is a treat for me since I don't take the Babe into restaurants, it does require someone to watch the Babe at home. About once a week the sitter comes and my husband and I have a date night. Last night he was busy at work and I made arrangements to go out with a friend. Hence, the need for our sitter to come over.

This does not let me off the hook as far as cooking for a night. Usually when the sitter comes the Babe gets hot dogs and french fries. I sometimes wonder if our sitter thinks that's all I feed the Babe. However, last night I was also feeding the sitter so I felt she might like something a little more substantive. Out came the Crockpot and some chicken. I had the leftovers today cold, and enjoyed them. So this recipe works well hot or served later cold.

Asian Chicken
1-1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp Tamari (or soy sauce)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder

1. Mix together oil, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic powder.
2. Place chicken breasts in slow cooker. Pour mixture over chicken.
3. Cook on high 4-5 hours. Serve over rice.

Dinner Win

I previously mentioned trying to cook with curry. This is something new to me, but I'm finding more and more recipes within our restricted diet that are of Indian origin . I should mention that I grew up where onions and garlic were rarely used due to stomach sensitivities both my father and sister have. Once I got married, my then-new husband expressed how bland my cooking was (and I can now admit, not too good in general). I soon learned to cook with more flavor, although would like to incorporate even more.

Yesterday I caught one of the many shows I've DVR'd (can you guess what type of programming is usually watched in our house?!) which was about making Beef Vindaloo. It was by Aarti Sequeira of the Food Network, and her descriptions of the smells made it very tempting. I followed the general cooking process she used with minor alterations, but changed the spices based on what I had in the house. Also, I've never toasted spices before, so not ready to (one day though). The results were good. My daughter didn't even want to taste it, but once she had that first taste, she ate. And from my husband, when asked what I should change if anything, he responded that he would have liked more sauce. That recipe then is a winner to me.

Beef Curry
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
1-2 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cumin
1/3 cup vinegar
1-1.5 lbs stew meat
1 cup water
salt

1. Saute onions in oil until translucent, about 10 minutes. While cooking, in a cup or small bowl, mix dried spices except salt with vinegar.
2. Pour vinegar-spice mixture over cooked onions, let simmer for 2 minutes on medium-high, stirring frequently. *Warning: do not stand directly over pan, as you may inhale vinegar fumes.
3. Add stew meat, mix together with onion/spice mix. Brown beef for about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add water to pan. Add salt (about 1/4 tsp). Let mixture reach a boil, then cover and cook on low for 45 minutes.
5. Partially remove cover, cook for another 10-15 minutes to let the sauce thicken, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice.