Easter Sunday

So, while some people celebrate Easter with chocolate bunnies, colored hard-boiled eggs for the kiddies to find and Easter baskets full of other candy, this is not the true meaning of Easter. Consider me guilty of this childish pleasure, because I have a 7 year old who loves to hunt for the eggs the "Easter Bunny" has hidden for her. Easter is celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after being nailed to the cross on what we now know as Good Friday.

I grew up in a Christian household where I learned that Easter was a time for hunting Easter eggs and then going to church to learn about Jesus' resurrection. Every year from the time I was a toddler and into teen-age and early adulthood (although the Easter Bunny stopped visiting my house when I was about 12). Hence, beginning today, we are now engaging our daughter in the same way.

Yes, we let her hunt said Easter eggs - as I said in the beginning of my blog. But, we also purchased 'The Passion of the Christ' to watch later today - since we are waiting on some things before we start attending the church we've decided on becoming members.

I love Easter, bunny, chocolate candies and Jesus Christ.

God Bless!

Friends, kids, dogs and no dairy for two weeks!

Carli had not been feeling well yesterday morning, complaining of stomach pains. I figured she was really alright, so she got dressed and we headed out in plenty of time to catch the orbit to school/work.

Well, she threw up twice on the sidewalk! We turned around and came back home. I had her lay down on the couch and covered her up with her benny blanket and gave her her pillow. I let her watch kid shows for a little while and then when it was a given I was not going to work because I was unable to find a babysitter, I went into her bedroom, turned on her television and told her to lay down on her bed.

I felt bad about missing work, but my co-workers assured me it was alright and that I needed to stay home and take care of Carli. I let them know where they could find what they needed to cover my groups and I guess everything went ok because I never heard back from anyone.

I called Carli's pediatrician to schedule an appointment because she's been complaining of her stomach hurting for a few months now and after she threw up, I became quite concerned. Not that I haven't been concerned, its just that this time I was worried.

When we arrived at the doctor's, we sat in the waiting room for about 5 minutes and then Carli's name was called. The nurse took her temperature (normal) and weighed her (49 pounds) and we were taken immediately to an exam room. Normally we wait at least 15 - 20 minutes before the doctor comes in, but yesterday (I guess they're less busy on Fridays?) the doctor knocked on the door within just a couple of minutes. I was shocked that he'd gotten there so quickly.

He asked Carli how she was feeling and she said her stomach hurt and I told him that she has been complaining for a long time. I thought maybe she was lactose intolerant, he said we will eliminate all dairy for two weeks just to make sure, and the gross part? I have to collect a stool sample to take to the lab to check for h pylori. Oh great, a gut bug perhaps?

I looked on the internet when we got home to see what the cause might be. Well, come to find out, it could be almost anything from constipation to just wanting attention. It could be stress, adults get headaches, children get tummy aches. But nothing major has happened, James and I are getting along really well. SO...on to our friends who came to visit us.

Some of our dearest friends came to visit last night. They brought their dog Bear and a bottle of Glenlivet for James and a bottle of Disaronno for me and a Vegan Banana Cake for Carli (and for dessert). We ordered a Calzone from Oregeno's for dinner - it was delicious! We had red wine (Barefoot label) but we were enjoying the Glenlivet and Disaronno that it just seemed like too much with dinner.

After dinner, we sat and chatted for a couple of hours and somewhere in there we tried the vegan banana cake. Now let me tell you, I was sure it would be gross and grainy, but you know what? It is actually delicious! No, I'm not switching completely over to being a vegan/vegetarian, but there are some things I will definately eat that is vegan/vegetarian and drink things like soy milk (8th Contenient) and whole grains for sure. I know I certainly feel much better after eating something like that then a huge, greasy burger.

Ok, I've told you about all there is about yesterday. I will stop and go on to something else. Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!

I just sent Carli outside to catch some bugs in a glass jar with holes in the lid. We'll see what she comes back with.