Friday, July 14, 2006

A conspicuous absence

Hello blogger world! Remember me? I'm sorry I've been gone so long. The summer is just slipping away. This is just a quick update.

I really mean to blog, I do. Don't we all? I sincerely apologize for not keeping up on "My Life Monday." I thought I would have more time with not working, but instead I have less. Part of not blogging is the computer is in the room where my stepson stays when he visits. Since he spends a lot of time playing computer games and video games on the TV in his room, I get little computer time and rush when I am on the computer so I don't invade his space. But he leaves tomorrow for his home in PA (has it been six weeks already?!?!) so I will get more computer time again. Part of it is that when Camden is awake and I am on the computer, he LOVES to help type. And you can imagine how helpful an almost 15 month old when typing. Part of it is sheer laziness and business. And part of it is not feeling good. I found out a few weeks ago that my gall bladder is really bad. I've been nauseated off and on for weeks now (no, not pregnant) and the doctors finally checked that. It's being removed on Monday, July 17th. I hope to be back up and running by the following Monday with "My Life Monday." Please don't abandon me completely! I do read your blogs, but don't comment often because of lack of time. I promise to get back on track by the end of July with everything. I miss you and all your stories!

So I end today with a questions on almost 15 month old toddlers. Camden is not walking yet. Should I be concerned? Mark tells me I am crazy to worry. Cam will stand on his own and cruise around everything, but just won't take those steps yet. Did any of you have late walkers? Tell me Camden is normal. :) Also, give me your best toddler lunch ideas. Camden loves grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and quesidilla's, but we need variety. He won't eat much meat, hates potatoes, and I haven't introduced peanut butter yet. Hit me with your best toddler lunch ideas!

Thanks for checking in on me!

28 comments:

utmommy said...

I hear you on the blogging absence. I've been going all summer, and have been a horrible blogger. I'm trying to get back though!

emlouisa said...

I am glad you are doing okay. I"ve been worried! And it is good you are having less computer time. Camden is reaping the benefits I'm sure. We aren't though. Poo. I do have to say though that I am excited for you to go back to work in the fall so that you can start your habit back up again. ;)

Okay, on with the other stuff. Let's see. A-Boy didn't walk until he was around 16 months and it was only when he was around tons of other little kids that were SMALLER than him that were walking that he realized that he could do it. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Sheesh girl.

Then toddler meals. Hmm. My kids love spaghettios. They are messy, but Alicia tells me that they are full of the RDA of most vitamins so I feel okay giving them to them. We eat a lot of fruits and veggies cut up. Different kinds of pasta shapes with butter and veggies, meat and cheese thrown in occasionally. I'm drawing a blank right now on everything else though.

Is this the longest reply in the history of the world yet? Okay. Good.

Big hugs, thoughts and lots of prayers coming your way. Good luck on your surgery and I'll totally be thinking about you.

Mall Worker said...

I'm glad to see you back! I've missed you! I hope everything goes well with your surgery and you recover nicely!

Lynanne said...

I was just starting to worry. I had hoped you were just too busy enjoying every precious moment of vacation time. You deserve your time, we can wait. :)

I’m so, so, sorry to hear to hear your gallbladder has been giving you such misery. I will be sending lots of prayers your way for an easy surgery and speedy recovery!

About Camden – a mother is NEVER crazy to worry. Does he stand well and take steps while holding on to someone/something? Has he met most of his other milestones? Remember that the “normal” ages are based on averages (think bell-shaped curve). It can be perfectly okay to fall outside the average range. Both my sons were late walkers. When they finally did walk, it went quickly. If you are concerned, you should talk to his doctor – the reassurance alone can put your mind at ease.

It’s been so long since I’ve thought about toddler meals. You can try disguising finely chopped veggies in his favorite meals – soft carrots and broccoli usually work well (even if you sneak in a few tiny pieces the first couple times). My boys loved meat loaf cut into shapes. Also, arrange new foods on his plate in pictures: sailboats, smiley faces etc. Don’t fret about the food jags where he won’t eat anything else but one or two favorites. New foods might require lots of repetition (even if he rejects it every time) and tons of patience. Keep mealtime lighthearted and fun. Toddlers can be quite stubborn.

All the best to you!!!!

Carrie said...

I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Get better soon and I hope all goes well with your surgery.

I do not have a lot of suggestions for lunch. We do a lot of soups, lunch meats, crackers, cheese, quesidillas, fruit (I used canned when they are younger because it is soft and easy to dice up), cooked veggies, sandwiches, etc. If I think of more, I will let you know.

Good luck and we will keep you in our prayers for a quick recovery.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your surgery. I had my gallbladder removed about 6 years ago. Be sure to give yourself that full week for recovery. I was feeling so good a few days after surgery that I took my son to a local fair and had lots of fun. Two days later I was back in the hospital to fix a "leak" that had sprung.

Dawnyel said...

Man, I'm really glad I DIDN'T pass by your blog today. I've been checking everyday and almost didn't check today! WHEW!!
Gall bladder problems STINK!! I still have my misfiring one, and I know how MISERABLE having problems can be! I hope your surgery goes well! :)
As for him not walking yet, it's NORMAL!! If he's cruising, I wouldn't worry too much! Cam didn't walk until he was 15 months...almost 16 months...so he's just fine!!
And I don't have many more choices for food...I can't serve peanut butter at my house because the little girl I watch is severely allergic...so I'm at a loss for what to make myself. I usually make cheese sammies, or mac and cheese. Yesterday was graham crackers and sliced cheese. :) Good luck!

beth said...

Hey, here you are! You've been missed. Sorry to hear you've been having health problems. I'll be thinking of you on Monday.

On to our almost same age toddlers. Sam is not walking yet either and I think it's ok. If he is cruising it is probably fine. Just this week he has started to let go of things and stand on his own a few seconds before sitting down. And it's just faster to crawl, right?

Food is totally hard, I hear ya. Sam also loves grilled cheese...cheese in general. He likes it when I spread peanut butter really thinly on toast and cut it into little pieces, but if you are worried about an allergy don't do that yet. If you are ready you can get the Smuckers Natural peanut butter which has no sugar or hydrogenated oils. He'll eat deli meat if I am sharing my food with him. Scrambled eggs, corn, crackers, fruit. I guess he likes a lot of snacky foods. So I'm having a similar problem. He's not big on noodles of any kind, which makes it hard.

Melissa said...

Good luck with your surgery! I had mine out a few weeks ago!

My kids always liked things wrapped up in tortillias! Made it more interesting, I would just put whatever sandwhich stuff I had into a tortillia and they would eat it! We did noodles and rice too, I would just put some spagetti sauce or some cream soup on top and mix in some veggies and they would totally eat it up! HTH!

Rachau said...

I hope you surgery goes well.And you have a nice speedy recovery.I had my gallbladre out a year ago.I took me a few weeks to get back to normal!So take it easy!:)

Valarie said...

well, hi there! It's good to see a post from you. I hope the surgery goes wll and you're back in full blogging mode soon.

sheri said...

Oh man! As soon as I read the "I haven't been feeling good lately" part, I got all giddy, thinking you were pg again. Dang! I hope your surgery goes smoothly.

And the walking thing...totally normal! I have a friend who's baby didn't even CRAWL until 17 months (crazy!) and ended up being completely normal. (and is an active, 9 yr old athlete now). But I know how hard it can be to look around at what the other babies his age are doing. (I was doing that w/Kelly when she wasn't sitting at 9 months yet. 2 months later...sitting, crawling, cruising the furniture and getting 2 teeth. slow down already!)

You've already received GREAT toddler lunch ideas, so I don't think I have any more to give.

It's good to see you around. I hope you end this summer feeling somewhat satisfied w/the time you've had w/your family. I hate how I always get these huge plans in my head for my "free" time and I end up not even doing 1/2 of them. Oh well...I'm sure Camden is just in heaven w/you home!

~V~ said...

A quick lunch idea my kids love...

The canned chicken (that looks like a tuna can) shredded and heated in a frying pan. Then sprinkle with cheese and melt it.

I serve mine with fresh green beans cooked with a couple bacon strips for flavor. The kids can eat the green beans with their fingers too.

And can I just add that the way I got my kids to eat green veggies was to always serve them (raw or cooked) with Ranch Dressing for dipping. Even peas we dip in Ranch. They get their greens and it tastes good to them.

beth said...

I came back to tell you I got this book today called "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. I'll let you know if it is helpful. Leaving my comment the other day made me realize I really needed to expand on meal ideas for Sam. Hopefully this will help. I've heard it's good.

Anonymous said...

De-lurking to say that 15 months isn't time to worry yet. My first baby didn't want to walk AT ALL. She was almost 16 months and would walk on her knees rather than stand up. But then one day it clicked and went really fast after that. They each have their own little timeline.

Domestic CEO said...

Glad to see you're back!
All three of mine didn't walk until they were 15 months, one of them at the end of his 15th month. Still considered normal, so don't worry.

Lunch ideas you may not have tried yet: scrambled eggs, tofu pieces, other kinds of noodles besides mac and cheese (especially the enriched Barilla kinds - lots of protein), cheese squares and crackers

Lana said...

my earliest walker was at 8 months, my latest at 15months. There is a huge normal range. My friends 6 kids, all active athletic, normal kids didn't walk until 18m onths or more.

don't worry, if all else seems fine it probably is:)

Anonymous said...

As far as walking Cam sounds normal to me. The AVERAGE range for walking is 14-18mo(that is a HUGE gap!). I've had a walker at 13mo, 12mo and then 15mo. And I didn't pull up on things till I was 18mo and walk until I was 2yo and I consider myself "normal" LOL
As far as toddler lunch you could do jelly on bread since you haven't introduced pb yet. bananas, yogurt, any cut up fruit, oatmeal(my kids LOVE oatmeal). That's all I got for now

Diana Mancuso said...

Hey, you're having your galbladder out? Is it a result of gallstones? You might want to have your enzymes checked first. I went to a homeopath who believes that many people unnecessarily undergo the surgery when all they need are enzyme supplements. I still got gallstone pains a couple of weeks after my surgery... Good luck with everything.

Mama D said...

Good to hear your internet voice again! Good luck with the surgery. I'm thinking about you. I can't give you any advice since your boy is older than my girl. I wouldn't worry about him being a late walker. Boys are usually later walkers anyway!

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you today... hope it all went well!

Gina said...

Glad you are back and I hope your surgery went smoothly. Get well soon!

No lunch ideas... I can't even feed my kid solids without belly aches afterwards. Poor kid.

Grammy said...

I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling rotten. I hope your surgery went well and that you'll take it easy on yourself as you heal. As for the other stuff, everyone already gave my answers. So to sum up, don't worry. Be happy. Hope all is soon well with you.

Kristen said...

It's great to see you Rachelle! I've been wondering about you!

Sorry to hear about your gall bladder. At least you know what it is and the problem is being taken care of. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Both of my girls didn't walk until about 14 months. The pediatricians always told me to not get worried until about 18 months. If he's standing and moving around the furniture, the steps will get there eventually. :-) Don't worry yet. I always rationalized it by saying that my girls were perfecting other things and small motor skills before they mastered the grand task of walking. :-)

Glad to see you back.

Blackeyedsue said...

I hope you checked your sitemeter to see that there are a lot of people out here that love you...your absence hasn't gone unnoticed. Blogging just slows down this time of year, as it should.

Don't worry too much about Camden. He will when he is ready. My oldest didn't walk till she was almost 16 months. She could get there faster crawling.

With meals, I kept a jar of cheese sauce and ranch dip and ketchup nearby. Once you introduce dipping, you will be SO surprised what you can get a toddler to eat. I would never have thought that broccoli dipped in ketchup would be so wonderful! Who knew!?!

I hope your surgery went well. Get feeling better soon! (((Hugs)))

Lei said...

I vote normal. Surely you've talked to his pedi about it already. He's not concerned, is he?

Welcome back... you've been greatly missed chica. :)

Missy said...

Oh, there you are!!! I am hoping that you are healing well and that you keep snuggling Camden..before you know it he will be running, and you will think...why did I want him to do this? ;)

Sabra at Sew a Straight Line said...

i hope surgery went well. crazy galls anyway.