Feisty Little Bugger!

Over the last several weeks we have needed to give son A (that's what I'll call him for now because this is an open blog for now and if you know me then you may know his name already) once-a-day breathing treatments through a nebulizer unit.  Previously, and with a different medicine we have given him with the nebulizer, I can hold the mouthpiece in front of his face and let him breathe it through his nose or open mouth.  This medicine, however, gives directions to make sure it is breathed in the mouth, and even to avoid letting the vapor get in the eyes.  I don't know at what point most people stop naturally breathing through their nose and begin to more commonly breathe through the mouth, but son A has not made that switch yet.  So, being able to hold the mouthpiece in front of his face still affords him inhaling the medicine through his nasal breathing.  With this medicine needing to be in/go in through the mouth, it is more challenging for me to get him to breathe it appropriately.  In other words, he finds great joy in being feisty and blocking the mouthpiece with his tongue, while breathing through his nose.  Doing this just pumps the vapors out the back hole of the mouthpiece, effectively wasting the medicine.  And what is the best way to encourage mouth-breathing?  Pinch his nose closed.

Generally son A tolerates the pinched nose just until he wants to breathe again, then he tries to swat my hand away.  The very first time this happened, a few weeks ago, it only took me pinching about twice before he decided HE could do the pinching.  And then it only took me a few moments to realize he would pinch for a second or two, then just have his finger and thumb rest on his nose so it looks like he's pinching....unless I am paying close enough attention to see he's not pinching.

And so the cycle goes, son A trying to avoid the nose-pinching and breathing through his mouth, while I try to get him to breathe it properly so he gets the most out of this medicine (which is actually a corticosteriod of sorts meant to help his lungs [instruction insert says: this medication is intended to help prevent and control asthma symptoms], so breathing it properly is pretty important).

This experience reminds me of when he was born and in the hospital.  A few nurses nicknamed him "scrappy" because he was calm and content except when he was bothered (like for a diaper change), and then his feisty side really showed.  And now, over 2 years later, he's still quite the same--calm and content until mom bothers him and then he gets a little feisty.

As it says in Alma 34:34, "...for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."  Given the context of this scripture, I believe that "spirit" here is representative of "personality".  So if the same personality we have in this life has the power to continue with us into the eternal world, why can we not suppose that the same personality came with us from the premortal realm?  How else can I explain son A being born with such a temperament that still maintains a close similarity after more than 2 years and is something he was not taught after birth?

Churning

 As you will see in the pictures to follow, our home is in the process of churning--meaning stuff is moving 'round and 'round, from one room or place to another.  So, here we go on a tour of "before" and "after 12 weeks"

  





After 12-Dining



Before-Dining

















Dining: Some clutter is gone from the counter; the floor seems more cluttered temporarily

 

After 12-Walkthrough



Before-Walkthrough







Walkthrough: This has changed to the dumping grounds for things that need to leave.  What better way to remind me daily that it needs to go?

Before-Doorway



After 12-Doorway



Doorway:  The shelf top isn't a junk collection currently and jackets aren't on the floor.  This is a bad picture to see the floor collection is smaller, so continue on

Before-Living Room



After 12-Living Room



Living Room: Here's a better picture for the floor collection, and it only looks worse in the after because when I took the "after 12" picture there is a pile of rags that was there for one day while their normal bucket was being used and the diapers boxes are in transition from a bedroom while it is being organized.



Before-Bookcase



After 12-Bookcase



Bookcase: The pile in front of the bookcase is different, as things are being moved to more appropriate locations and sorted through to determine what needs to go.



Before-Couch



After 12-Couch



Couch: Well, clearly there is progress towards cleanliness  :)



Before-Bedroom entry



After 12-Bedroom entry



Bedroom: At least the laundry has been done in the "after 12" so the basket by the door is not overflowing



Before-Bedside 1



After 12-Bedside 1



Bedside 1: I've been busy with other areas more than this one



Before-Bedside 2



After 12-Bedside 2



Bedside 2: I think someone took a before picture because it was so clean and is the only area he's fully in charge of keeping how he wants it.  I took the "after 12" picture to make myself feel better that he goes through cycles of cleanliness & mess also.  But don't judge him too harshly because the "after 12" was taken shortly after he finished comprehensive exams...hence the books and papers strewn about from studying



Before-Bedroom II entry



After 12-Bedroom II entry



Bedroom II: The stack of boxes and plastic bins will be in the closet as soon as I get in there and move them





After 12-Bedroom II window



Before-Bedroom II window









Window: I should have pointed the "after 12" shot down a little more so you can see the floor is open enough to not fear tripping between the door and the bed.  Oh well, that will be more obvious with the coming "after: what I really wanted you to see"



Before-Bedroom II closet wall



After 12-Bedroom II closet wall



Closet wall: Now the stack of boxes isn't covered in loose clothing

And there it is for now.  I'm proud of myself that the clutter is getting less, even if little by little.  OH!!! I almost forgot...there are no kitchen or bathroom pictures because those are the two places currently that I keep pretty organized and clutter-free pretty regularly.  Or at least they must not be too annoying because, truth be told, the person who took the "before" pictures (not me) chose angles that showed the most constant mess at the time (except the bedside 2 photo).

12 Weeks of Weakness

Blah.  This 12-week challenge was a disaster.  Not a complete failure, but certainly a disaster.  The most progress I have made has been over this last week or two.  I have had a VERY hard time finding something to motivate me to consistency, and my recent successes have come only through a better effort toward self-discipline of staying off the computer unless there is a very good reason or unless I set a timer to keep it short.  I have a tendency to get distracted once I get on the computer because there are so many interesting things to look at, then before I know it, hours have passed and so has a significant amount of time for productivity around the apartment.  But don't worry, I will still post pictures soon.  Maybe they will just include "before", "after 12 weeks", and "after: what I really wanted you to see".

Even though I did not succeed within the 12 allotted weeks, I have not given up, nor will I until I have better organization in my home.

By Choice

Yesterday as I was reading in the scriptures, I came across something that gave me cause to pause.  In this particular verse, even though the speaker/author was talking to the people of his time, I couldn't help but feel the application for today as well.  He says

   Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.    (see reference here)

Ye look upon me as a teacher... Even though this scripture was given and written in an earlier time, as a reader I certainly am looking to him as a teacher.
As an adult, I choose to go to church even though I may sometimes think it's boring, I choose to read scripture even though I may have read it before.  I choose these things because I don't know all the answers and I turn to sources I believe will teach me what I do not already know, or may need to be reminded of.  Is that perhaps why any of us go to church or read scripture--because we are looking to be taught?

Life Lessons

Tonight's dinner reminded me of two things I have learned in my life.

1)  Store-brand boxed macaroni and cheese is just as tasty as the big-name brand.  The cook just has to know how to make it right. [Hint:  less butter than the box suggests, a little more milk, do not overcook the noodles, sometimes add a little grated cheddar cheese]

2)  Pan-fried hotdogs are MUCH tastier than boiled hotdogs any day.  I wish I'd known this when I was younger because I ate way too many boiled hotdogs and didn't know the better taste I was missing out on.

12 Weeks of Challenge

Here's one of my bigger revelations to the world:  My home is currently VERY unorganized.  We don't have very many people come to visit us, but those who do would see what I mean.  I don't want to post pictures--yet--because of a little challenge.  A pretty well-known diet & exercise lifestyle coach offers his supporters a 12-week challenge during which time they are to change their lifestyle to one of healthier eating, exercise, and weight loss.

Because this family is tired of extra clutter weight and general lack of proper motion of things in our home, I have been given a 12-week challenge to get things better organized around here.  "Before" pictures have been taken, nearly 6 weeks have passed now, and progress has been slower than I would like.  Because I've heard that sometimes better successes happen when you are accountable to someone, I decided to make myself accountable to anyone who happens to read this post.  And if March 2011 passes and I haven't updated my progress, feel free to ask me for proof (e.g. pictures).

Bubbles!!!

Who knew that bubbles could be SO much fun?!?  Watching a young child chase bubbles, then ask for "more bubbles please," when they're all popped, makes me smile.  And it makes me want to dance around popping bubbles too.  I recently read that bubbles can make anyone happy.  I think there may be some truth to that.