Weekly Randoms 7/9-7/13

Jens_Hoes

What is everyone up to?

runrinserepeat

Well, I'm at work. So...

coybig

I'm trying to cram as many fun things as I can in this week because the rest of the summer and fall is going to be pretty much booked.

Yesterday I went to the IndyCar race at Iowa Speeday, Wednesday I'm going to Milwaukee to see two Liga MX soccer teams play at Miller Park, then Saturday I am refereeing at USA Cup in Minneapolis followed by an MLS game.

katy0990

@coybig Wow! Sounds like a busy week!

 I am currently trying to speed up my toddler’s bath, so we can go get garlic powder for the crockpot dinner that was supposed to start cooking 2 hours ago.

texas_t

Morning. I'm taking a half day today because I'm going to my sister's dad's funeral this afternoon. It's kind of a weird situation, so I'm not really looking forward to it (not that anyone is ever looking forward to a funeral).

rosebud332

@texas_t So Sorry that’s what your day is filled with today and I’m sorry  about your family’s loss. I hope your week is looking up from there.

katy0990

@texas_t I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.

Jens_Hoes

@runrinserepeat how did you get that video of me at work?

@texas_t I'm sorry for your sister's loss.

I am trying desperately to stay awake currently.  My mother agreed to come to my house today to watch DD instead of me coming to her, which worked out really well considering my daughter slept until almost 930, which is unheard of.  She definitely has HFM, but I'm hoping that her sleeping a lot means she's fighting it off and will only feel better from here on out. 
@coybig I'm exhausted just reading your plans lol

temmetime

@texas_t I'm sorry for your loss. I hope it goes as smooth as it can.

I am at work, see @runrinserepeat's gif above. Now that the 4th is over the long week looks quite daunting.

katy0990

@Jens_Hoes If I remember correctly, when DS had it, he slept for 2-3 days and woke up fever free and quickly improved from there.

clbness

Trying to catch up on TB after being shorthanded and busy all last week.  I missed you guys!

@Jens_Hoes I hope your DD gets over the HFM soon.  Mine had it about a month ago.  I feel for you girls!

I'm still trying to recover from the weekend.  Went to the zoo on Saturday and it was 99* and then the Children's Museum for a birthday party yesterday.  It was fun, but that heat kicked my arse!  Just reading @coybig's plans wears me out even more. 

runrinserepeat

@coybig’s plans are wearing me out, literally. And the “rest of summer and fall pretty much booked” has me dreading the rest of summer and fall. 

mag1cbeli3ver

@Jens_Hoes Hope your daughter feels better soon! 
@texas_t Sorry you have to start your week off with a funeral. Thinking of your family!
@coybig I would feel just the opposite - if I knew I had a full rest of the summer/fall, I would take every opportunity now to relax. I hope you enjoy all of your events, though!

AFM, working a half day today then catching up on some rest after a busy last week/weekend. The first week of July is always busy for us b/c of Independence day, then DH's birthday is on the 6th and we usually have a couple different outings for that (one with his parents, one with friends, one just us). We were doing something almost every night from the 3rd to the 8th, so now I'm tired and kind of feel/look like the gif @runrinserepeat shared!

echo-charlietango

@runrinserepeat

@katy0990 So…what’s for dinner?

@texas_t Happy you have a half day, but sorry about the funeral.

@Jens_Hoes I hope YD gets over the HFM - meanwhile I am going to Google more about it.

@clbness I love zoos, but only when I don’t over heat! That sounds like a busy weekend.

@mag1cbeli3ver Enjoy your half day!

I picked up some random granite discs from a lady on FB today, they are way bigger than I thought, and the sides are too rough to really use in the house…so now I don’t know what to do with them But after picking them up I grabbed a few groceries before DH called to say that the electrician can pop over - a day early! So I showed things to the electrician and got a quote before he left. Now my Tuesday is free and I might go out and treat myself to some coffeeshop blogging to get out of the house again.

temmetime

Thinking of @PensiveCrayon this week - I hope you have a wonderful trip!! A won't even know you're gone

Jens_Hoes

Oh excuse me while I go cry in the bathroom

eta spoiler because damn it was a huge pic

PensiveCrayon

@Jens_Hoes OMG I’ve seen that before but Every. Time.

PensiveCrayon

Also THANKS @temmetime!! We’re having fun but I miss the kid. Funny how easy it is to dwell on the sweet moments when you’re away and forget all the day-to-day grind that made you desperate for a vacation in the first place. But he seems to be totally fine chilling with his Grammy and Pop-Pop, which is reassuring. 

A picture from our exploration of Oslo today! It is so nice and chilly. A big change from Alabama. 

morgantu

@texas_t hope everything going well this afternoon. 

@coybig Lord almighty, I'm also in the 'need a nap just reading It' club 

@echo-charlietango What were you thinking of doing with them? Maybe outside like as pavers? Or for landscaping? 

@Jens_Hoes I saw that yesterday and got all weepy!  And fx for your dd feeling better 

@PensiveCrayon have a great trip! If you get bored in Copenhagen or Stockholm, let me know, I have some recommendations! 

We have our yearly plumbing maintenance guy here today looking things over. I always feel weird when there are people working in my house and I'm just sitting on the couch or something. I try to make myself look busy but I really just want a nap! 

PensiveCrayon

@morgantu I’m always open to recommendations!

clbness

@PensiveCrayon Looks like a lovely trip thus far!  Ahh, the cool weather looks so nice.

I forgot to mention in my original random post that we are FINALLY getting a sprinkler system and sod laid down this week...WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GRASS!!!!  We have an ok patch in the front yard, but our back yard has been mulch, dirt and weeds for the past 2.5 years we've owned the house (the previous owners left it in poor condition).  DD will now get a beautiful back yard to play in!  And I may be asking all you gardening pros how your garden grows.  You've been warned... 

morgantu

Ok @PensiveCrayon, you asked for it 

For Copenhagen, the botanical garden/kings garden are a great place to chill and people watch, the castle is also nice and they have a royal jewelry exhibit Which is cool. 
 I believe it's jazz fest, so depending when you get there you may be in luck to see some shows so keep an eye out. Head to the norrebro neighborhood for 'cool' food and shops. A cute cafe I like right near the big shopping street is  paludan bogcafe- restaurant and bookstore! And try out a bike! It's a little intimidating at first if you're not a cyclist, but it is so safe and such a cool way to get around. And do brunch, lots of brunch. My fave is mad &kaffe. There is a giant food truck gathering at paper island, right beside the opera house that is fun as well. Wow, now I miss Copenhagen! 

I have much less for Stockholm, but if you're into museums, the vassa museum is one of the best I've ever been to! I was not super Interested at first because I don't really care about boats, but this is one amazing museum! The abba museum is also weirdly fun! 

Also if you're going to Helsinki (I forget) try a sauna, preferably that goes into a lake! Also the chapel of silence right in the middle of the city is lovely. 

You can't go wrong- have a great time! 

echo-charlietango

@morgantu I thought about using them in the yard somehow, but realized that they'll be slippery when wet - therefor a poor choice for stepping stone. Each one is about 20" across, so too large for trivets and hilariously too large for coasters. I might just look for a local granite company to smooth the edges, and half bury them vertically in the backyard to make a garden border on the side of the house.

PensiveCrayon

Jet. Lag. I gave sleep an earnest effort and woke up after 2 1/2 hours. H woke up shortly after so right now we’re sitting in the dark on our phones. I just had some rye crisp bread with spreadable cheese and fish from a tube. I love it here. 

echo-charlietango

@PensiveCrayon Was the fish tube similar to a toothpaste tube? I’m totally imaging Aquafresh rebranded as Aquafish

maureenmce

@PensiveCrayon Ah, how exciting!! Have an amazing time!

kadeephd

@PensiveCrayon Have an awesome time on your trip!  I spent a summer in Oslo in college and absolutely loved it.

Katzalia

@PensiveCrayon enjoy!! Sounds like a wonderful trip!

CecilB93

@PensiveCrayon have a fun trip!!

@Jens_Hoes oh no! Hopefully HFM is mild for her. I know for some it gets bad, luckily my son had just a few small blisters and they were gone quickly. I do hope she gets over it quickly!

Afm, just laying in bed before needing to get ready for my 4 day work week. We spent yesterday driving back from a weekend trip in Arkansas, so today is my Monday essentially. DH and I have plans to tear out everything in our downstairs bathroom so when my ILs visit this weekend we can get all the new tile laid!

And, for any STM+, Build A Bear is having a "pay your age" day, so I'm totally taking my child for a $2 stuffed animal. There's a max at $29, so adults can enjoy, too! It's on Thursday!

hbmama21

Heyo! Sorry I’ve been awol. Trying to get the house ready to sell and set up everything for the move. Nothing like laying tile while pregnant and managing a sleep regressing toddler. Lol. 

@pensivecrayon have a fantastic trip!
@clbness yay!! We inherited dusty grass patch too and had to revive it with a mix of seed and sod. It looks so lush and amazing now and is wonderful for Squish to play on. Will you do seed or sod? I have tips!  

Jens_Hoes

Who has a house cleaner? I am pretty sure I'm going to hire one after this second baby comes.  I have enough trouble keeping up as it is with one, so there is no way I can with 2. 

If you do have one: 
-how often do they come?
-how many hours do they stay (do you decide that or do they)
-what type of things do they do? (like vacuum and dust or deep clean like the tub?)
-what is a going rate for something like that?

morgantu

@Jens_Hoes i don't have one, but asked for it for Christmas. At least once before the baby and once after. Also interested in what they do. I feel like I'll need to clean before they come. 

echo-charlietango

@Jens_Hoes I’m certain that housekeepers vary as widely as people in general do! I had one in Arkansas, here’s how we worked:

• Identify frequency & needs at first visit/clean (not all of them will clean at first visit)
• Mine came every two weeks to clean the bathroom, dust, mop, vacuum rugs, clean kitchen, clean glass, and generally tidy things. Sometimes she would leave the dishwasher full of clean dishes, sometimes she would put them all up. I let her know that she did not have to worry about our laundry. 
• She would work for 2-4 hours each visit. I was in-house on day one, but afterward I had to leave about 30mins after her arrival. I had class, so I gave her a key to keep and she locked up. We have two dogs, so the mellow one would stay home with her while I took the crazy one to doggie daycare - otherwise he wouldn’t let her work. 
• She did keep a stash of cleaning supplies for our house in our house. I had final say about products used. I would reimburse her for supply costs (but didn’t ask for receipts). 
• She asked for $75 each visit, and for December, I gave her $100 and gave her the day off. I often brought her cold beer (during college football season), or treats for her dogs. We’re still FB friends
• She made our lives so much easier.

Jens_Hoes

@echo-charlietango Oh I completely forgot about whether or not I'd have to be there! I'd want her to come when I am at work, but obviously that might not work if she doesn't like my dog. Thank you!

echo-charlietango

@Jens_Hoes Mine loved dogs, and my boys loved her too! I actually got her contact from a dog sitter friend who met her because they had the same client

clbness

@Jens_Hoes How is DD feeling today?

@hbmama21 I'm sorry you had to deal with inheriting a cruddy lawn too, but glad you got yours back to pretty!  We had to revive patches of the front yard with seed, but we are completely re-sodding the back yard.  Which means we have to send the dogs to their Aunties house in KS for a month (our boys are very large)...I'll be going through withdrawls!  I'm not sure what type of sod we will be getting, but MH says he wants to install (does that apply to grass?  lay?) it himself to save money.  I have faith in him, but I also have this fear of something not being done right and it'll die.   

Jens_Hoes

@clbness she's better but also not.  Her all over body rash seems to be getting worse, but her blisters haven't grown or multiplied, so that's good.  She slept through the night thank god, but was also fussy again today.  Her diaper area looks rough, but I'm not sure what we can do to help.  I just feel so bad for her.  

echo-charlietango

@Jens_Hoes Do oatmeal baths help soothe the rash? I'm happy she's getting a little bit better

clbness

@Jens_Hoes I'm sorry, HFM is rough!  My DD's diaper area was AWFUL and it made me feel so helpless.  But, I did realize that she didn't wince in pain when I wiped her like she would when she has a normal diaper rash.  Our ped told me the diaper area is surprisingly painless compared to the sores in the mouth/throat...I hope that's the case for you.  @echo-charlietango that's a great idea!  I wish I would have thought of that.

katy0990

@Jens_Hoes I swear I’m not as crunchy as this is going to make me sound, but is your DD by chance breastfed?  When DS had HFM,  someone suggested that I put breastmilk on it, and I was amazed at how quickly it cleared up. 

Jens_Hoes

@echo-charlietango it is possible- but I tried giving her a bath on Sunday, and she usually LOVES the bath and all bodies of water to play in, and she screamed bloody murder and wouldn't even sit down.  I'm afraid to even try another bath right now.
@katy0990 I don't have any breastmilk left, but I would have tried that on her spots other than her diaper area, no need to worry about some sort of yeast infection in there as well.  I'll remember that for the future (although I hope I don't have to experience this again)