Turning the World Around

Last night was a rough one.  Therefore today was a rough one.  The babe was up half way through the night and then she went back to sleep.  Then her brother woke up, and didn't go back to sleep.  I was in and out of his bedroom constantly for half the night and couldn't sort out what his problem was.

He didn't have a fever.  He didn't have a nasty diaper.  I gave him water, so he wasn't thirsty.  He didn't have a hair stuck around his toes.  Ultimately, I think it was his tummy.  He let out a few farts but I think there was a lot more stuck in there.  I felt bad for him but he wouldn't let me comfort him.  But he also didn't want me to leave his room.  I finally fell back to sleep in my own bed at 6:00 am.  It was like having a newborn.

Needless to say, we didn't quite make it to music class this morning.  I just didn't have it in me.  Instead we picked up a mocha, a few groceries, and chilled out at home until it was time for an early nap.  The thing that made everything all right was listening to Raffi.

Have you heard of him?  If you're Canadian, you probably grew up with his music.  If you're from somewhere else and have not heard him, I encourage you to check his children's music out.  He has great lyrics, wonderful messages, and music which can be both calming and upbeat. 

Check out the lyrics to Turn This World Around (2000, Homeland Publishing).  You'll see what I mean:

"We heard it from Mandela, turn this world around

For the children – turn this world around.
He’s done it once before, and now we hear his call
For the children, turn this world around.

The dreams of our young ones born into this world
Need respect and love to come alive.
Honouring the children is what we’re here to do
Now is the hour and we’ve got the power to

Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.
Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.

If every nation’s leaders put their children first
Care and provide for every child
Each and every household could sing a song of joy
All round this planet, a new light within it could

Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.
Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.

And the children sing: help our light to shine
May we all be fed, may we all be loved.
May the elders here open up their hearts
To this song of ours, may they do their part.

May our dreams unfold, may we find our place
In a healthy world, embracing every race
May we all be free, may we live in peace –
Hear the children sing, hear us sing.

Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children

Turn this world around.
Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.

We heard it from Mandela, turn this world around
For the children – turn this world around.
He’s done it once before, and now we hear his call
For the children, turn this world around.

Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.
Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around.
Turn turn turn, turn this world around – for the children
Turn this world around …
For the children, turn this world around –
For the children, turn this world around."

More Poop Stories

I can't help but share this gross story. 

After we were done running our errands this morning, I popped upstairs with the little guy for a much needed diaper change.  I get into the job, and of course there is some poop in there.  The little guy starts kicking me and then grabs his crappy diaper and flings it up by his head.  Yuck.  So I grab the nasty diaper, get his bum cleaned up and into a new diaper. 

I look at the changing pad when I sit him up and see a poop streak.  Then I look at his shoulder and see another poop streak.  Then I smell his hair, and yep, you guessed it, poop streak.  So off we went for a full bath and hair wash (too bad last night was hair washing night).  I got him all cleaned up and walked back into his room to grab some fresh clothes.  Guess what I almost stepped in....yep, poop.  So that also got cleaned up.

We finally made it downstairs for lunch.  After a small hang out/digestion session in the living room, we went back up for nap time.  As I was changing his diaper again, he started pushing.  I got a good view of the log that was stuck in there.  The next few minutes were similar to giving birth.  The poor kid grunted and pushed and I helped him along by rubbing his tummy and singing songs.  It finally worked.  The little guy had managed to get out a grown up size poop.  I can not believe that was stuck in him and am sure that it would never have come out if he had been sitting in a diaper.  Sometimes you just need a little help, I suppose. 

A few things

A few highlights of the week (in no particular order):

• My prayers to the poo Gods were answered and after 6 days of no action down there, we had some serious action (of the carrot variety). I was one day away from having to take my baby to the doctor for who knows what kind of procedure. Apparently "solid" food can lead to baby constipation.


• I found her missing sock in the dishwasher (the same dishwasher I walked into 2 weeks ago).


• She tried to eat one of our two plants (must remember to not keep high chair next to plant). I actually had to do the mouth sweep to make sure I got all parts of the dusty leaf out of her mouth.


• I officially have tendonitis in my wrist. Silly me for thinking it was carpal tunnel syndrome. The doctor said that in addition to wearing a brace all day I should ice it for 15 minutes, 3 times a day. As if that's going to happen! I can barely brush my teeth before noon!


• My baby can sleep through Fourth of July fireworks that literally had our windows rattling (we're about 14 blocks from the White House). I have a new respect for our baby monitor which registered every pop, bang and boom.


• I should not eat beans or lentils when breastfeeding (even if it's yummy Rajma made by my mother-in-law). No baby should have to fart that much.

Happy Weekend!