Did you ruin your stainless steel pot?

   That is one scorched on mess! But not to worry. It can be easily cleaned up - with the help of a dryer sheet (of all things!) Even if you don't use dryer sheets in the dryer it's handy to keep a cheap box of them to rescue pots and pans. They are inexpensive (you can get them for $1 at the dollar store or sometimes cheaper at the grocers if they are on sale or if you have a coupon - or bonus, on sale and a coupon!)
     
  Here's what you do... 

Put a dryer sheet in the pot and add some water. If it's really thick burned on muck, use two. Add a few inches of water. Enough to cover anything burnt on the sides. the dryer sheet will float for a while and that is okay, normal even.

 Then just set it out of the way for a while...

 You can watch the rain fall because (ahem) you have nothing better to do, right? *wink*

  ...or star gaze because you're leaving it overnight. 

After a few hours (at least) you can rinse the pot and amazingly most of the yuck simply comes off with the water. Use a dish cloth for any remaining bits - they wont be bad - really! Then as Sparrow is fond of saying "all done"!

Peace vs Clutter or Too Much Stuff!

As I try to make our home a peaceful, serene, joyful place one thing keeps getting in the way... Clutter. We folded 5 garbage bags of clothes, and household items this weekend. It's not that I wait to do laundry all at once, I do some everyday. So, clearly something is wrong. We just have too much of it. No one needs as many clothes as we have. We've decided to pack up all except 3 work outfits. 2 comfortable outfits and 1 dress outfit. (the baby is the exception to this) I have found that I am much more comfortable in skirts than pants. I actually only have 2 at this time so I'd like to have one more. If that isn't enough, I'll make our clothing pile even smaller.

   There are 3 of us, so we should only need 3 towels, 3 wash cloths and 1 hand towel for each bathroom. With the exception of the day that the dog and cat get baths. We really need only one set of sheets. In the kitchen, I haven't yet thought of a way to eliminate linen in there. We use cloth napkins, cloth "paper"towels, dish cloths and tea towels. The kitchen is a busy place!
   We have huge plans for re-arranging things very soon. the clothes we aren't going to use currently will be packed in plastic bins to be used as our current clothes wear out. Mike and I will share a dresser. Adelaide will have what is now my dresser and the plastic drawers that Adelaide used for a dresser since she was born will be used to organize crafts and office things.

   Books are another area in our home that we are trying to thin. Last spring our library system had a huge book sale. We went overboard! It was without a doubt a blessing. As we take the time to read them we are finding that they don't all capture our attention or, entertain or, teach us. So we are weeding them out. Last night I sold 10 books for $5 on Craigslist.
Ultimately, this is not just a lesson in organization but also frugality, stewardship, and self discipline.
   The peace of not being overwhelmed with things is worth seeking. 

 

another seizure?

   We think Sparrow may have had another seizure, not witnessed. Thursday (Aug, 25th) when I went to get her up for her morning Keppra dose, she was already awake just laying quietly in her crib (7:30 am). She had been running a low grade fever for a few days and had not been eating much. She is teething and those are all normal things. I took her to our room and changed her diaper on our bed. Brushed her teeth and carried her back into her room to rock her for a little while. Her room is fairly dark (we purchased blessedly thick curtains because Mama isn't a morning person). Jack, our sheltie began sniffing around her crib so I knew to look more closely. Dried vomit. I stripped the sheet and took Sparrow down for some breakfast. She drank her milk but would not eat. She crawled up next to me on the sofa and sat quietly. She asked for a movie, I indulged her. I checked my e-mail and glanced at her. She was asleep. Hmm. She slept for the next three hours. I'd been warned by several Dr.'s and nurses that fevers could cause break through seizures. She was a nice pink color and since I couldn't prove a seizure and you can't do anything for a virus, I decided to just observe her rather than calling a Dr who wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. She was sleepy most of the day and after noon she slept for another hour. We noticed she stopped saying "up" and went straight to "please" to be picked up. She would put her arms in the air and say "ease, ease".  Saturday she was trying really hard to make a sound and it dawned on me that she was trying to say "up". We'd been trying to get her to say it but but she either wouldn't or couldn't. After I figured out what she was doing I had her watch my mouth as I would say "up" and then she would say the short u sound "u". Finally she said "up" followed by a huge grin and multiple "up pease" sentences. She was already in Husband’s arms through out this episode so it was not from a desire to be picked up. From what I can gather she had indeed forgotten how to say "up". I don't know and probably never will know if she had another seizure, but I really suspect that is what happened. I'm so thankful for her. She is such a mild little girl. Oh, she plays like all little ones do, and gets into things that she shouldn't but, there's just something about this girl. This girl who more often than not sits with her little hands folded together in front of her or on her lap. I love her. She seems to be back to normal now, all except her appetite. We'll just keep praying about that one.

Glory to God

   I give thanks and glory to my God because my daughter has had no more seizures!!!!! But as hard as it would be I'd have to give Him glory if He chose to allow her to continue having them. Because He is worthy of all my worship and glory and praise, no matter what my situation or emotion He has not changed and is therefore still the Holy God.
   All of Sparrow’s tests including her EEG have been negative. Her neurologist is keeping her on the keppra for one year. If during that year she has no seizures and her tests continue to be normal/negative then we will do a trial of the medication.
    Husband and I pray for her. We know that God is in control of this He either is allowing the medication to stop the seizures or He has healed her or the purpose for which He allowed the seizures has been accomplished.