updates

I apologize for slacking when it comes to blogging. Things have been a little crazy. Eric is in California for almost 6 weeks. He took my laptop and my camera with him. Notice how I said "my". I gave him the camera for his last birthday and he bought the laptop :) I unpacked my desktop computer and set it up on my dresser top. My lovely children think that it is the funniest thing to push the big blue button while Mommy is typing. Needless to say, I don't get much time online while they are awake.

We are all missing Eric. Anika keeps saying "Papa's coming home tomorrow" and "Papa's on the airplane". We call him all the time and put him on speakerphone so it's like he's here. He even got to cuddle on the bed with the girls last night. They put the phone on the pillow. He's had some fun at the beach and the mall when he's not busy working. The girls and I are going to drive out there next week for a visit. Wish me luck on the drive! I'll need all I can get.

It has been very warm here in New Mexico. I am not at all ready for 80 degree weather. I've spent the last 2 days going through the girls' clothing. I have sorted out what is too small and too warm, filled a couple bags for my niece, filled a couple bags for the Airmen's Attic, and am trying to sell some of the nicer items. Emily is starting to wear some size 18 month clothing, but most of her sister's 18 month things are overalls, turtlenecks, and fleece. Thankfully we got a box of summer hand-me-downs from their cousin. All 3 of us are wearing sundresses as much as possible.

I am on week 5 of no shampoo. I think week 3 was the worst. I was almost ready to give up. I just kept it in a ponytail all the time and it was kinda gross how the hair would stay up after I pulled the rubber band out. It's feeling pretty normal now. At first I felt like I needed to wash it with baking soda every few days, but now I can go a whole week in between. I also stopped using soap on my arms and legs and where I am using it I am washing less often. I still shower just about everyday, but only soap a couple times a week. My skin is much softer now and less dry.

Yesterday I had a tax appointment on base. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I was terribly disorganized and forgot to take the girls social security numbers and the closing papers from our house purchase. I had to take the kids with me and they were pretty awful. They bickered over toys and wouldn't be quiet. Today I went back in with the forgotten papers and we finished it up. Our refund is enormous and now we need to decide how much of the money is going where. Some of it will go to savings and some to the mortgage and maybe some to the girls' college funds. Maybe Eric can get that expensive bicycle he wants so he can ride to work a couple days a week.

Anika is a little sick this week. She has been nauseous, had a sore throat, and today had a fever. Her friend next door had the same thing so the 2 of them rested together today while I was taking care of the taxes. I must admit to enjoying the naps she has taken the last 2 days. She stopped napping a year or more ago and I have missed the quiet time.

The timer is going off for my banana bread so I must run. This doesn't feel complete without pictures. Maybe I can borrow a camera this weekend.

pretty

ER trip

After an uneventful dinner last night, we tucked the girls in bed at their usual 8-8:30ish bedtime. Eric and I settled in on the couch to watch New Moon. When it ended I was reading in bed for a few minutes and Anika came in crying and upset and scratching all over. She said her neck hurt. I started looking at her neck and then unzipped her pajamas and found an awful looking rash all over her belly and neck and spots on her leg. Because it had come up so fast and she was so miserable Eric covered her in Benadryl cream while I dressed and then I rushed her to the ER. Eric had had a beer so he got to stay home with sleeping Emily. I had to use the GPS since we've never been before. She started having a coughing fit while I was driving so I was afraid she was having trouble breathing.

I ran her into the ER and told the receptionist all her symptoms. She was still coughing and scratching. We were given forms and told to sit. And we sat for 30 minutes. Then they took a quick look at her and took her temp and put us in another waiting room. This one had comfortable chairs and The Negotiator was on tv. I got to watch the whole movie... Around 2am we were led to a curtained cubicle and left without a word. He didn't ask if she was ok, if we needed anything, or tell us anything. After listening to machines beeping and a drunk guy causing trouble for another 2 hours I finally told the nurse we wanted to leave. I signed a piece of paper, drove home, and took Ani to bed with me. When Emily woke at 6 she joined us and Eric took the kids out when they were both fully awake at 7:30 so I could try to sleep another hour.

My best guess is that she is allergic to cilantro. She'd had a couple spots by her mouth once or twice and I had suspected the cilantro. I guess I should rub a little on her skin sometime to find out for sure. I'll follow up with a doctor on base tomorrow to see what they think.

cloth diapers

Cloth diapers were featured on Good Morning America this morning and I was very happy to see them getting some attention. The segment was short, but I think they made their point well. Here is the link if anyone wants to check it out. After watching that this morning and getting new diaper covers yesterday I am feeling inspired to write on the topic.

Why cloth?
It's softer, chemical free, money saving, and cute!

Environmental impact.

"The Real Diaper Association, an advocacy group founded in 2004, estimates that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the U.S. (according to the EPA, that translates into more than 3.4 million tons of waste dumped into landfills) and that producing those diapers also consumes huge amounts of petroleum, chlorine, wood pulp and water." Time article. 

A disposable diaper can take up to 500 years to decompose. 

Fecal matter is not supposed to go into landfills. On the diaper packages it says to put the poop in the toilet. Nobody does this though.

Team Pampers argues that the water and energy required to launder cloth diapers cancel out those costs. I have a high efficiency front loading machine and only wash diapers every 5 or 6 days so the water usage isn't that bad.

Money saving.

The average child will use 7000 - 9000 disposable diapers in the first couple years of life. That's over $2000! Even if you buy the cutest and most expensive cloth diapers you will still save money. Let's say you spend $30 on each diaper and you need 24 of them. That's $720. It's been calculated that laundry costs will be $413. This site has a great cost comparison. One of the most cost effective diapering systems is the new Econobums. Two of these kits will get you from birth to potty training for $100. I have one kit and they are great for the money.

Your child's health. 

My oldest is allergic to Luvs. We haven't tried many disposables so she may have problems with other brands as well. That made me wonder what was in the diaper that was causing such an awful rash. There have been studies linking disposable diapers with asthma and male infertility. 

On to the fun part.

There are so many choices when it comes to cloth diapering. There is the old fashioned prefold that you can pin or fasten with a snappi and put a waterproof cover over. This is the cheapest way to cloth diaper. I love the prefolds with a cute cover like the Flip. I have 3 of these. You just fold the prefold into thirds and lay it in the cover. No pinning required. Most of the time I can reuse the same cover all day and just put a new diaper in it every few hours. All in ones are awesome for when you are out and about. It's just like putting on a disposable which is great for those times when you have to change baby in the car or on your lap or in the stroller. One size diapers are wonderful if you don't want to buy all new diapers everytime your baby has a growth spurt.

Anika in one of her first cloth diapers. (Kushies from Walmart)

Emily is one of her first. (Thirsties cover with an infant sized prefold)

Ani in her Bummi's cover. (cute, but not my fave)

Emily in the same cover 2 years later.

Econobum prefolds with Flip covers. Same size for my 19lb 13 month old and my 34lb 3 year old.

Yesterday's mail :) The pink one is a surprise gift for a friend's new baby. I already have one.

And now the dirty part. Washing. Everyone does it differently and you may have to try a few things to see what works for you. I like to use a wet bag or a pail with a liner. I do a "dry pail". Some people prefer soaking the diapers. I shake off or swish the solids into the potty and drop the diaper in the wet bag. When the bag is full I turn it inside out into my washing machine (I have a front loader and I don't want to touch the diapers) and drop the bag into the machine with the diapers. I do a cold wash first with a small amount of detergent. Then a hot wash with the same small amount of detergent. Then an extra rinse. If the detergent builds up it can cause rashes or make the diaper less absorbent. I use Seventh Generation free and clear or Rockin' Green, but anything free of dyes, whiteners, and artificial fragrances will work just fine. A little vinegar in the first wash can help rinse the detergent out. If possible, I like to line dry my diapers. The sun bleaches them and makes them smell great.