It's been awhile

Nursing, diapers, cleaning and fundraising. Oh and soccer season is beginning. So busy!

Lately I've been trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I'm 37 and I have so many years of work ahead of me. I love being home with the boys, but soon they will grow up and I will have an empty home to some degree. Jack is 9 1/2yo and Fin is now 6 months and starting solids. Cooper is potty training and Riley is running wild in the neighborhood most warm days (OK, just the park next door, but still without me staring at him every minute!)

The other day I went to pick up Jack and Riley from school. Jack had CSAP testing a few days in row and Thursday was the last day for the school week with a teachers work day on Friday. Of course since Cooper was potty training, I was super paranoid about an accident because he had been so successful the entire day. He was in training pants, so he could afford an accident, right? I even brought his little potty along with a change of clothing and an emergency diaper. And did I mention the dog? Yeah, that was a bright idea for me that day. So we get to the school and Cooper is fussing. I then think it's potty time and have him sit on his little potty. He of course starts pooping before he sits down and the poop is now smearing the back of the pants, ugh. Then Jack jumps in the car sobbing hysterically and the dog decides at that very moment to get excited and stomps on my diet soda (full can) sitting in the drink holder. Soda everywhere, sobbing 9yo and poop smeared toddler. So I'm scowling while cleaning up the toddler and the mess that that brought and trying to figure out why my 9yo is crying. He's screaming that his legs hurt really bad. That he feels sick and that he's felt sick all afternoon. He is like Niagara Falls at this point only take it a few decibels louder and you get my drift. Everyone is cleaned up and the soda is mostly mopped up as best as I could. Thankfully the baby didn't decide to vomit or decide to nurse immediately at that moment, or it could have been even more fun.

So we get moving and as we are driving, I'm getting more concerned about Jack. He is shrieking that his legs hurt. His legs have been hurting off and on for a year and we are on the waiting list to see a Neurologist in a few weeks finally (we've only been waiting for 2 1/2 months at this point, but I digress.) I ask if he thinks it's serious enough to go to the Urgent Care and he says yes. At this point, Cooper decides he wants to use the potty again. And the dog decides that maybe since I'm mad at her, she needs to be in my lap so I can remember how great she is (all 45lbs. of her.) We pull off to the side of the road, I help Cooper out, put him on the potty and he laughs and says that he is all done, except he poops the tiniest of the tiniest turds. So I wipe him and now just throw him back in the backup diaper as the day is going to shit, literally. I rush the dog home, grab some quick drinks and snacks and yes, another diaper and backup outfit. I ditch the potty because I'm so done at this point. We head to the Urgent Care and now the baby poops. So I take Cooper and Gryffin into the restroom and change Gryffin. Cooper decides he wants to potty, so I let him and he tinkles, yay! I'm so flippin' frazzled and just throw him back in the dry diaper. We clean our hands and head back to the waiting area with Jack and Riley to eat some snack. Within 5 minutes Cooper poops (during which Gryffin needed to be fed, thank God for my milk filled breasts.) Who knew that child could poop that flippin' much??? So I grab Riley since Jack is super out of it in pain and have Riley sit on the floor of the bathroom holding wiggly Gryffin while I change Coopers diaper. I get that taken care of just in time to see Riley lay Gryffin belly down on the floor of an Urgent Care bathroom. Germ horror abounds in my head and I try not to do the howler monkey scream and grab Fin immediately and disinfect everyone's hands.

We leave the restroom and Jack is playing with my iPhone app with his legs curled under him and totally animated with delight. Hmm. I'm thinking the leg pain is gone. The nurse comes out at that moment and I ask Jack if his legs hurt and he says, nope. So I tell the nurse we are leaving and we head out of there. They'll just refer me to the neurologist we are about to see in a few weeks anyway, so why bother.

This is why I want to go back to school. This is why I need "me" time. I am so overwhelmed being a Mom some days it will be nice to get to know myself again after all this time. I love my kids and I love my adventures and after the day I had? I laughed. So now it's time to do some research and figure out what else can bring me some personal joy to share with my family in a positive way. Wish me luck!

Laptop Lunch Review

Several years back I had received a link to www.laptoplunches.com Jack was starting 1st grade and I wanted to save money, so I put aside my laptop lunch wish list and went to Target for something cheap. I spent $15 on the container and another $5 in ice packs. I bought a thermos for $4.99 and some juice drink bottles for about $2 a piece. After about $30 plus tax, I was totally ready to go. At the time, the laptop lunch system was $37.99 for the original bento system, so I saved $8 + shipping, right?

Within two months, Jacks Target container started ripping, I had gone through a box of plastic spoons/forks and countless ziplock type baggies. He broke one of the juice drink bottles and I think I used the thermos maybe two times before he lost it. I ended up replacing the container twice that year and by the end of the year, remembered all about Laptop Lunches. Hmmm.

So with Riley starting 1st the following year with Jack in 2nd, I decided to buy two Laptop Lunch systems. They looked more sturdy and had easily replaceable containers and silverware with bottles that fit all in one. I crossed my fingers and took the plunge.

When I received the Neoprene case with a rubber attachable ID tag, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the casing. I opened the case to find the bento box and had Jack and Riley try to open it. They opened it without any trouble at all. Inside were the containers (two of which have lids) and a set of fork/spoon reusable silverware. Accompanying the case, box, containers and silverware was a long rectangular water/juice bottle and a book with lunch ideas. The containers were the perfect size for small appetites. It allowed me to put in the four food groups and a snack. There was a learning curve with sizing food to accommodate the smallish containers, but the presentation was inviting and the kids were always happy with the laptop.

Fast forward this year to Jack in 3rd grade and Riley in 2nd. It has been 1 1/2 years with the Laptop Lunch system and the neoprene containers still look new. The bento box is in perfect condition and the inner containers are still in tact. I did buy an extra set for each kid in case they lost them, but with writing on the containers with a sharpie, we haven't had any replacement issues. The silverware have had to be replaced by the 100% stainless steel Laptop Lunch silverware (the old version had a plastic handle, the new version is all stainless, so it is just holds up better.) They have never lost a set of silverware either! The juice/water bottles have had to have one top replacement from Jack biting it too hard, but that's a small price to pay. So all in all, it has been far economical to purchase the Laptop Lunch system.

Now Laptop Lunches is phasing out the original Lunch System and introducing Bento 2.0. I bought a Bento 2.0 to try out at home for my husband Rich because the original system was on the smallish side for a grown man. I am pleased to say it is perfect and often, I have extra space in the box because it is roomy enough for the four food groups which Rich doesn't necessarily always have time to eat. For an even bigger option, they have the Power Lunch box which is perfect for two original bentos or a Bento 2.0 with a large thermos of coffee or hot cocoa or whatever. This would also be perfect for a lunch outing with my four boys with room for plenty of snacks, drink bottles and wipes.

The new colors they've introduced are gorgeous. Purple Party makes me wistful for a girl while the Aliens are on my sons wish list. Unfortunately for them, the laptop lunch system they have now is going so strong they probably won't be getting a new one for a long long time!

We have a school fundraising program for the Laptop Lunches that give 10% from the sales of the products back to the school. Plastics are a health concern and for this reason, they manufacture the lunch containers in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene that are FDA approved for food use. None of the products contain phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA) or lead. So you can feel good with this product.

If you would like to order a Laptop Lunch, mention this ad and I'll send you an ice pack free with your order! If you are wanting more information on the school fundraising program, contact me directly at diaperdash@gmail.com. I give discounts to groups orders as well, so contact me at my email for any and all questions regarding this product or any other I sell.

www.diaper-dash.com