Temptations

The (original) plan: I have a fabulous Friday dinner planned, Mallory's Fantastic Salmon Persuasion (my own recipe and my fam's fave), garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans, topped with none other than the affectionately called "apple dessert" which is apples fried in butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. I wasn't messing around tonight.

The Temptation: I get the mail this afternoon and Pizza Hut has a special on pan pizza, most likely the tastiest but most regrettable pizza known to man. I will get heartburn, I will feel like my abdomen is even heavier than it already is, the house will stink, there will be boxes to get rid of, and we'll spend an extra $8 on food that we really didn't need when there was a perfectly good dinner ready.

But...it looks SO good!

Excuses

This morning I woke up tired. I took the easy route and gave Luke too much apple juice because I didn't want to deal with a tantrum. I put the breakfast dishes on the counter and walked away, not wanting to clean dishes. I thought of a thousand excuses why it would be better to stay home all day instead of taking advantage of the car in the garage and go to the gym. I looked at the clock at 9:30 and realized Luke had been watching Playhouse Disney since 7am.

Right now (noon) I filled the dishwasher but left the pans for later. I did go the gym and feel much better for it, and am now showered, dressed and have lunch in the oven. I need to vacuum, clean up the pizza stain on the carpet and fold the clothes in the dryer...I JUST DON'T WANT TO. All I want to do is read New Moon, finish crocheting my baby blanket, watch Pride and Prejudice, and eat everything in sight while I watch the house turn to shambles, the dishes pile up and the laundry gather in heaps on the floor, all while using Mickey Mouse as a babysitter.

I feel awful for feeling unmotivated today (and the past few days), and I feel especially guilty for neglecting the motherly attention that is so important to me. I guess there are days for resting and days for nesting. I just wish that on the resting days I wouldn't feel burdened with all the nesting duties that are being pushed aside because of my lack of enthusiasm for stay-at-homemaking.

...an hour later...

With the little boy napping I'm still looking at the vacuum perched in the corner reminding me of my uncompleted to-do list, but ice cream and my book are going to win this afternoon.

I'll get some work done tomorrow...maybe.

Detergent Update

In my first post about detergent making I explained that the detergent separated and gelled. When I went to do a load this morning I noticed that it not only gelled, but the top had a thick layer on it that I can only describe as fat collecting on the top of milk. I tried to stir it, but it was too thick and the layer was floating around in large chunks in the bucket. I then used a wire whisk and even a potato masher, but the detergent was still lumpy. I was seriously considering getting out my electrix mixer.

I ended up spooning it (lumps and all) into an empty laundry container about halfway, filling the rest up with water, and shaking it aggressively. This seemed to work okay, although it wasn't smooth the way I wanted it. To be safe, I did a load of dirty towels I use for cleaning bathrooms, floors and countertops. Nothing much to report yet on the condition of the cleaning, I won't have that until I wash everyday clothes stained with ketchup and smelling of urine. I will say though that the cleaning products I use were quite smelly before washing, and I could detect none of the icky cleaning/mildew smells on my towels.

After some Googling during naptime regarding lumpy homemade detergent I think I'm going to put the whole batch back on the stove, reheat, and stir until completely cooled. It seems that others who have had my problem do the same and this will prevent the separating I experienced and just create a gel I can stir or shake. Apparently I needed to dissolve the washing/baking soda and borax over hot water...

I'm going to try that tonight and get back to my washing. I've got a load of whites and some sheets I'm ready to try.

Entertainment

Puzzles are Luke's favorite toy. From the time he wakes up until right before he goes to bed, puzzles occupy nearly every part of his day. Our floors are constantly full of pieces or completed puzzles, while Luke makes his way from one to the next. I try to clean them all up at least once a day so I can sweep and mop, but it doesn't always happen. If you were to stop by unexpected, you'd be bombarded by floor puzzles in every size and pattern. Hey, at least he's not obsessed with micro-machines, in that case we'd have a situation on our hands.

Disgust

AND SO IT BEGINS....courtesy of lifesite

Obama to Revoke Mexico City Policy Today, Fund Overseas Abortions
By John Jalsevac

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – One day after the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Obama is set to sign an order to lift the Mexico City policy, a Regan-era policy that prohibits taxpayer funds from going to organizations that promote or perform abortions overseas.
It was widely anticipated that Obama would sign the executive order yesterday, on the 36th anniversary of Roe. In 1993 former president Bill Clinton had revoked the policy on that day. George Bush, however, reinstated the policy on his first day in office.
Instead of signing the order, however, Obama instead issued a statement yesterday defending Roe, while speaking of the need to find “common ground” in the “divisive” and "sensitive" abortion debate.
In yesterday’s statement Obama explained, “I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.” Nevertheless, he said, “we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.”
While the decision not to revoke the policy yesterday was cautiously interpreted as evidence that Obama may not be as extreme on abortion as he has promised to be, and would not force taxpayers to pay for abortions, pro-life and pro-abortion organizations did not have to wait long for Obama to prove his solidly pro-abortion credentials.
The Mexico City policy was considered by many to be one of the most effective pro-life policies of the Bush and Regan administrations. International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of the most pro-abortion organizations in the world, told the BBC today that under the Bush administration, thanks to the Mexico City Policy, the organisation had lost more than $100m (£73m) in funding.

Informer

Prepare for what's to come.

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Video Plug

If you haven't seen this video from catholicvote.com, it is highly worth your time. It's 40 seconds long and has had a big impact on the online community, soon to be aired on national television.

Watch it.

Just Because

Notice that his HANDS are clean, and yet there is ketchup on the back of his head. I must admit, this is some talent. I think it runs in the family.

Detergent Making

I just finished making my first batch of homemade liquid laundry detergent.

The recipe:
1 Quart boiling water
1 Bar Fels-Naptha soap, grated
2 C Borax
2 C Baking Soda
2 Gallons water

Where I found the ingredients: I found Borax and a very large box of baking soda at Wal-Mart in the same aisle. Many recipes call for "Washing Soda," but I couldn't find it anywhere, and after much forum reading, it seemed that baking soda was a fine substitute. Fels-Naptha is an old-fashioned bar of soap intended for laundry and laundry stains. I found it at Ace Hardware and think it can probably be found at general hardware stores. It was $1.29 for a bar.

Instructions:

Boil Water in large pot, add grated Fels-Naptha and stir until dissolved.
Add to a large pail and add soda and borax, stir until dissolved
Add two gallons water
Use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry

Notes: The Fels bar didn't like to melt, so I used a wire whisk and that worked better. Grating the soap was no picnic, it probably took 15 minutes. Once all combined the complete mixture almost completely separated and thickened. Forums explained that the liquid mixture will gel and to give it a shake or stir before use. Also, on recommendation I added a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil.

I haven't tried a load yet, but will soon.

Too Blessed

It's a special day when without prompting or practice your two year old climbs on your lap, wraps his arms around your neck, kisses your cheek and whispers "I love you, Mommy."

It's almost too much.

Reprimand

I was rummaging through the fridge and cupboards yesterday afternoon trying to find something for lunch. We had plenty to choose from, but being picky and pregnant I ended up with about six different items piled on my plate. I casually sat down at the table and started eating while watching Luke play on the floor.

Noticing me eat, Luke yelled, "No mom!" Disappointed a his disrespect, I calmly explained to him that he could eat too, he just needed to ask using his manners.

Frustrated, Luke clarified, "No mommy, no eating. Mommy forgot to bless food."

Humbled by a two-year old, I put my fork down, told him that yes, we should always bless our food, and then asked him to pray for me.

Another lesson on why we should always practice what we preach.

Domestics

The Hesitant Homemaker is turning over a new leaf. Whether this leaf is a result of the nesting instinct or just simply unadulterated inspiration, I have to give myself props for the steps I've taken lately to improve myself and our family life.

First, I have baked muffins in the morning no less than four times in the past week and a half. This is an accomplishment considering I actually baked them not out of a box, but with flour and sugar I actually had to measure. I mashed my own apples and bananas to boot. My last batch were Bran/Apple/Flax/Whole Wheat muffins, which are really like a meal in themselves. They are the perfect breakfast food for me as someone who enjoys carbs and the conviction that I'm feeding my family a step above Fruit Loops.

Secondly, after my banana-muffin extravaganza I ventured to the mysterious world of bread making. In this case, bagels. I spend nearly three hours preparing, kneading, rising, rolling, boiling and punching dough to make bagels. They turned out bland and flat but I haven't given up. I'm addicted to fresh bakery bagels, but not their price, so I'm going to keep rolling and doughing until I get it.

And my last venture during these cold house-ridden days in January is homemade laundry detergent. After some research, reading, and endless stalking on web forums I'm ready to take the dive. I have all the ingredients but one, and after a quick phone call to a local hardware store for a special soap I'll soon be ready. It seems easy, and the cost is incredible. My total detergent expense for close to 120 loads of laundry will be approximately $3.00.

I'll keep you posted.
Who knows, before you know it maybe I won't be eating boxed macaroni or frozen pizza everyday for lunch.
Baby steps...

Record Lows

It's cold here in Minnesota. Very cold. It's projected that it may get to -53 below zero by the end of the day. All area schools are closed, and the paper has advised that all children, elderly, and anyone with health problems remain indoors.

Yesterday, having received an astronomically high gas bill to heat our home, I was a little frightened at the thought of keeping our home warm with the frigid cold outside. Last night I shut unused rooms in our house and bundled up. This morning I layered Luke with a turtle neck, sweater, sweatpants, socks and slippers. I collected every extra blanket we had, rolled them up and placed them in front of every door and window to keep out the draft. Refusing to raise the thermostat, I drank some hot coffee and turned on the oven. Luke and I ate Bran and Flax Muffins for breakfast and I plan on baking at least three more times today to keep the oven heat going.

Although Luke likes his house and never likes to leave we still get our occasional bout of Cabin Fever. Prepared for these situations, I had a new challenge for him today when after mastering his Christmas puzzles I had another waiting for him, a 100 piece Melissa and Doug Noah's Ark puzzle. Being his favored activity, I'm hoping this puzzle will be enough of a challenge for him to keep him busy for as long as we're home bound. I did venture to the library yesterday, too, so the stacks of fresh kids books should keep us entertained at least until it's safe enough for a short car trip.

Are you freezing your buns off, too?

Christmas is OVER

Just before lunch Luke and I were sitting down doing some reading. Opening a picture book to Noah's Ark, I begin asking Luke questions about the animals.

"Luke," I ask, "tell me what animals you see."

Luke begins, "Two giraffes, two eagles, two rhinos, two elephants, two monkeys."

Then, pointing at Noah, I ask, "And who's this?"

"Santa Claus, Ho Ho Ho."

"No."

Phone Home

Luke usually has no interest in my cell phone and has even less interest in talking on the phone. I was surprised this morning when he picked up my phone and pretended to talk.

"Hi daddy, it's me. I at my house. Bye. See you later."

It was cute.

Widget

I need a widget on my blog to count the number of times I clean poop off the carpet. I've already done it three times this week, and last week I lost count because it was nearly constant.

I don't need it for you all to feel sorry for me, all moms do clean up a lot of poop. But, I think a widget would be a helpful reminder of what exactly we do here in the Domestic Church that gets us to Heaven.

Bonus points for cleaning up poop with a smile.

Stumped

For nearly the past year and half Luke's had skin issues. Luke always has a rash, and I've brought him to the doctor over ten times and have filled countless prescriptions to no avail. It seemed that this last summer it became worse, making me look forward to winter. With winter here it's worse than ever, and I wonder if there is an end in sight.

I feel like I have tried everything. I've changed detergents, I've switched diaper brands, I've stripped him down to no clothes at all. I've bathed him, I've stopped bathing him, I've bathed him without soap, I bathed him with soap and then thoroughly rinsed him afterwards. I've smothered him in every lotion on the market, I've gone to the natural food store and smothered him in almond, olive, and lanolin oil. I've covered his rashes with hydrocortisone, prescription hydrocortisone, and other eczema topical creams such as Elidel.

I'm completely stumped. I feel terrible because I know his eczema is both itchy and painful, and yet it's a chronic condition that he's had to cope with because I can't seem to fix it. And that's just it, a chronic condition. Fortunately, as his doctor points out, at least it's not on his face...yet.

I've got a greasy monster on my hands this morning. After his normal creams caused him to scream out in stinging pain last night because his itchy skin started to break, this morning I resorted to my least favorite and most messy treatment--pure olive oil and pure lanolin cream (which stinks). Now I have a naked and slippery child sliding all over the wood floors and leather couches. If it works this time around I'll keep it up, regardless of the clothes we stain with splotches of oil or the expense of having to raise the thermometer a few degrees higher because of the naked boy parading around the house while it's below zero outside.

If I knew what to do I would do it. Looking at Luke's poor little red tummy, back, arms and legs makes me want to cry. We'll get to the bottom of it, I hope, until then we'll just keep trying.

Luke-isms

Mom: "Luke, we're listening to Franz Schubert."

Luke: "Brown Sugar."

Mom: "No, not Brown Sugar, FRANZ SCHUBERT."

Luke: "No, mommy, Brown Sugar."

I don't get the connection.

And So It Goes

It's my turn to be sick. I wishfully thought it wouldn't happen, but who was I kidding?

Yesterday, as I paced the house with our affectionately labeled puke bucket, Luke scowls at me saying, "No Mommy, my pute buttet, my turn pute."

If he only knew.