money, Money, MONey, MON-EY!

Layne fell in love with my grandma's old electric juicer. He started up he own juicing business by selling his orange juice for $2 a quart. I think he ended up making over $50 over the last month and now he is burnt out.

Jarom did most of the picking, but Layne did most of the bagging. At home he washed them, cut them, juiced them, poured the juice in jars, sort of cleaned up (it was the month of the fruit flies) then called people to buy them. I was mostly impressed with his system, except for his phone skills. The worst being when he was talking to one person on the phone and someone rang the doorbell. People at the door are the most important people in the world to Layne.

He put about half in the bank, paid tithing, spent some and gave away the rest.

Record Keeping

Time is so hard to keep track of anymore. Someone asks when did he start doing this or when did you notice that? I don't have the foggiest idea. But I have found scrolling back through this blog (and emails) quite helpful in pinning down dates. So let it be known that 2 days after taking his first steps, we got Roxwell to crawl.

During his AZEIP evaluation on Friday the therapist made mention of his weak core and upper body muscles because of his lack of crawling. She discussed how beneficial it would be to his strength to do such an exercise that forced him to bear a heavy load on his left side like crawling does. Now, in addition to all the other things we have been working on, we are on the floor with him encouraging him to crawl and using the exercise ball to strengthen his core. As exhausting as a newborn, but very rewarding.

Milestone

Roxwell took his first steps today,just shy of 18 months. This is quite an achievement for out determined little one. He has been working so hard these past few months, but progress has been slow.

After taking him to the doctor last month for delayed motor skills, getting an MRI and having it all translated by a pediatric neurologist, we learned that Roxwell has a small amount of scar tissue in the right-center (semiovale, corona radiata and corticospinal tract) part of his brain. It is the result of bleeding in the brain which most likely occurred around the time of birth and the cause is indeterminable. His grey matter (the area that tells the body what to do) is well developed but the scar tissue interferes with the transmission of information to the spinal cord. While the spinal chord naturally tells everything to be stiff and the brain tells everything to relax, this affected areas are rigid. The technical terms are; hemiparesis from hypoxic ischemic brain injury.

We are so fortunate that it is mild and feel very good that he will able to fully recover. I have been working with him a lot; immobilizing his right hand while initiating play with his left, massaging his left side 2-3 times a day, using essential oils and cold laser therapy at the chiropractor. Hopefully we will start formal therapy soon, he is being evaluated this week for that.

It is possible for his brain to heal, but the main focus is for his brain to be made aware of the connections that are missing. Even if the scarring does not heal, young brain cells are very capable of taking on extra duties when there is a need to. Before three years of age the brain can rewire when given the right stimulation, so physical therapy is key right now.

Brik is the supportive big brother behind the camera. I didn't even tell him to cut me out because I hadn't showered yet, but he did anyway, he is so thoughtful. Roxwell got bitten up by misquotes, that is what is on his head and why his left arm is covered (to keep him from scratching.)

Almost Free

“Hey lady.”  Buy this dress, buy this, hammock, buy this rug, buy this jewelry, buy this Mexican junk.  For real.

Those locals were really creative in finding ways to make a living off of all the tourism.

Pay me for throwing this sedated donkey on you and taking your picture.

Pay me for making sculptures in the sand.

Pay me for stacking rocks.

I will put some iguana’s on you, grab the camera out of your hands, shoot a picture and tell you, you have to pay me. For real.

Excursion Versions

Mexico is not really the place to go if you want to wander around and find your own fun.  It is more of a “stay with the pack” (of tourists, that is.)  I would have loved to see where the locals shopped and ate and lived, but my gun-less companion would not comply.  We opted for Princess Cruiseline coordinated excursions to entertain us on land.

They had offered many different cooking oriented options.  Many of them included tequila drinking.  We figured the prices on those excursions reflected the drinks, so the most bang for our non-drinking buck would be the one that did not advertise the alcohol.  We were wrong.  In Puerta Vallarta we rode a tour bus from port into town where the guide pointed out every large hotel and American business. While I looked the other direction and saw empty store fronts with bashed windows, covered in graffiti.  The tour guide was rambling about how Puerta Vallarta was such a paradise and declared there was no crime.  I wondered who was doing all the vandalism, Jarom guessed it was the tourists.  

Unnerving...

\

We were dumped off in down town, where thousands of tour buses drop off.  It felt like Sun City more than Mexico.  We tried to haggle in the shops to no avail and paid American prices on sunglasses, a bottle of vanilla and souvenirs for the kids.

Then we were led to a restaurant for out cooking “class.”  It was an upscale tourist restaurant similar to our Café Lorado.  The tables were set up with a small assortment of ingredients, a cutting board and a bread knife.  We were instructed to chop the small amounts of ingredients and mix them together to make pico de gallo and guacamole.  Next, two tortillas, a bowl of mole sauce and a chunk of cold chicken.  Cut the chicken, put it on the tortillas and spoon cold mole sauce over it.  No recipes.  The tour guide told us to make the mole sauce you by a can of it from Wal-Mart and add water. 

That night Jarom looked for an excursion to sign up for in Mazatlan, rather than going off of the alcohol promotions he found one with a recommendation from previous Princess passengers.  This proved to be better criteria since we had a blast.

We took a catamaran to a small island, laid on the beach, played some sand volleyball, rode some horses and had lunch at a clean but very rustic restaurant.  The horseback riding on the beach was such a good time.  The guide only spoke Spanish, so it was fun trying to communicate and having Jarom to clue me in. He got off and took pictures for everyone and had a great sense of humor.  It was a short walk on the beach and the guide let us run back. The horses were so engrained with the route that there was no steering that they would adhere to.   It was a beautiful day and we were having so much fun that we lost track of how much sun we were getting.  We both got a terrible sunburn that was hurting for the rest of the trip.

The next day at Cabo we had to stay out of the sun because of out stupidity, so we didn’t do an excursion.  We got off the boat for a short time trying to find a phone to call home and got to do some haggling in the shops.  By then were so done with the men on the streets trying to get us to ride on their boat that we just went back to the ship.  It was a beautiful place, and we could see that just as well from the ship’s deck.

Culinary Adventures

The biggest surprise of my first cruise was how extraordinary the food was.  Being a total foodie, having high standards for freshness, striving to use the highest quality ingredients and favoring whole foods, you could say I am “picky.”  I expected cheap cafeteria and diner type food that was soggy, greasy and, uber-processed.  I expected the apples to be mealy and the green beans frozen and microwaved.  I admit to bringing my own homemade granola, a bag of AZ oranges and organic apples for survival.

 I was skeptical when I read the first dinner menu; they made it all sound so excellent.  But excellent it was!

Pan-Fried Barramundi

Giant Perch with Green Asparagus, Brown Butter, Lemon and Rice Pilaf

Cajun Spiced Crawfish Crockpot with Black Mussels and Tomatoes

Creole Rice

Moroccan Vegetable Ragout with Pita Bread and Read Oak Leaf Salad

Cauliflower, Carrots, Bell Pepper, Zucchini, Pea Pods and Potatoes in Tomato-Yogurt Sauce.

How on earth was I going to choose?  Oh, how I wished my stomach was stretched out more that night because I could have had all three, if I had room.  Each night they had a completely different selection of about 4 appetizers, 4 soups and salads and 6 main courses.  They also offered 2 pastas (one that was the same every night) and 7 alternative choices that were the same every night.

Yes, my stomach stretched and accumulated some extra “padding”, but a week of culinary adventure drove me to set good judgment aside and enjoy the ride.

Breakfast was the trickiest.  I started off having a lot of poached eggs.  Scrambled eggs are often made with powdered eggs, so I stuck with what I could see was real. I don’t do homogenized dairy, non fat yogurt, cold cereal or sugary pastries.  A couple mornings at the buffet I stacked an egg on a small waffle with a slice of smoked salmon.  By the last few days I was eating my (dry) granola and a couple oranges.  I was fine with eating light in the morning, because dinner was always over the top.

Lunch:

Doesn’t that salad look amazing?  It was!  I also tried borscht for the first time, which was not bad and had a very tasty blueberry roulade (yes, dessert at every lunch, shame.)

Finally, here is what I learned at the dinner table;

• I don’t like pate of any kind (seafood, meat or vegetable.)
• Frog legs have the texture of chicken and the flavor of crab legs
• Escargots is delicious (but likely anything doused with lots of garlic butter would be.)
• Caviar is worth eating again if I get the chance, but not worth the hefty price tag.
• Soufflé’s make great desserts after a hefty meal, they are light and not too sweet.
• It only takes sharing three meals with someone before I feel comfortable asking them for the vegetables off their plate.
• Thankfully, the bread was awful.
• Jarom can eat a lot of meat L
• Spending 2 hours at the dinner table never tired.
• Six days of stomach stretching allowed me to enjoy a soup, salad, pasta, entrée and 2 plates of lobster in one sitting.
• Although I was over eating every day, I felt good and never had digestive problems.
• I love seafood.

Ship Bliss

I am typically not a vacation type of person.  I don’t like to be away from the comforts of home.  I like my soft water to shower in, I like my kitchen to cook in, I like my bed and dark, quiet room to sleep in, I like to have my clothes in drawers and hangers… I hate the hassle of preparing for a trip, trying to remember everything that I might need or will surely need, getting the house and kids ready for a lengthy departure, making travel arrangements...

For the first time, it was all worth it!

First off, after years of traveling with small children, traveling alone was not so bad.  Packing snacks; simple, Airport security; a breeze, Waiting to board; almost peaceful, Carrying our luggage; no problem.  We had super helpful family members that took great care of the children.  They all enjoyed the week, got spoiled with toys and fun activities and ate their vegetables.

Aboard the ship, I really didn’t know what to expect; what we would do, how we would feel and if there would be any food worth eating.  We quickly found out that you sleep when you are tired, eat when you are hungry and look in the Patter (the daily schedule of activities and shows) when you are bored. 

I was most impressed by the clean entertainment and delicious food (which will get a lengthy post all of its own).  They had dancers, comedians, an awesome illusionist and showed mostly PG and PG-13 movies in the theater.  We participated in a latin ballroom dance class each day we were at sea.  There was a fruit and vegetable carving and culinary demonstration that we enjoyed.  We played games, took naps and met some really great people.

It was relaxing for sure, we didn’t have to lift a finger.  Joselito made our bed, folded our clothes, wiped down the counters, took out our trash, got us ice, changed the toilet paper roll, wrapped up the chord on my blow dryer, washed our towels.  We were able to truly enjoy every second.

Happy Anniversary!

Mexican Riviera

Aboard the Sapphire Princess

Puerto Vallarta

 Mazatlan

 Cabo San Lucas

Love is in the Air

Happy love day to everyone. We are enjoying extra hugs, extra sweetness and extra cards from each other.

Layne gave me a pencil he got from school, his Mexico money for our cruise and 2 quarters because I was all out last time he earned one.

Brik had a creative drawing of me by a rock.  I had mistaken my head for the sun, but Jarom pointed out that it was just hair coming out of my chin.

This sweetness cuddles his teddies at night, which we encourage simply because it is cute.

LOATHE

Fuming.  Rage.  Wrath.

 Pure hatred for these vermin.  I want this

To break their grubby little necks.

Then I will skin them and hang their hides as a warning to all their kind.

"This lady is cRaZy about her vegetables, you DON’T want to mess with her garden!"

UP

Last year's Christmas present

reinvented

Chewing

food

with only

eight

front teeth

is REALLY

hard.

The Shopping Event of the Season

Around mid-December out whole family went out for a day of Christmas shopping.  Brik had $5 to spend from a birthday card that was burning a hole.  Layne had earned a handful of quarters from doing extra work and found a few pennies for a total of $1.27, which pretty much was engulfing him in flames.  With two die-hard savers for parents, these boys were itching to experience the other side.

Our first stop on the trek was to Power Square (formerly VF Factory) to the kitchen stores.  A man overheard Layne blubbering about what he could buy with his measly $1.27 and quarrelling with his brother to share some of his dough.  This man proceeded to had Layne a $10 bill and told him to split it with his brother.  Layne was all about to give Brik all of his money and keep the 10 for himself.  The man set him straight and the cashier split the money for them to share.

Brik spent most of his now $10 on a miniature cheese grater, measuring cup and a plastic straw with spoon.  As we walked between stores, Layne wanted to spend all of his money on stupid ride-on toys.  Luckily he only had two quarters and that is all they took.  He decided to hold out for toys which he found later at Big Lots a.k.a A Lot of Junk.  He took forever looking down every isle asking if he has enough for this or that.  Once he found what he was looking for (a complete piece of junk) his heart was set.  So, toy in hand, I told him to get out his money -- which he was explicitly told ,at least 5 times, to keep it in his pocket after seeing him transfer it between ever crack and crevice known to man. He looked up to me with guilty eyes and said it was under Roxwell’s seat.  Roxwell was sitting in a shopping cart and was brought in by dad, while I came in with my own cart with Layne and Brik, later met up with Jarom and ditched my cart.

Layne bent down and looked up under Roxwell and of course it wasn’t there.  TEARS.  We retraced out steps all over the store looking for an abandoned cart.  Layne was checking other customer’s carts as they strolled by.  Hopeless.  We made our way to the checkout counter.  A woman was standing there by a cart looking at the wrapping paper, I leaned down to take my first glance at someone’s cart.  There it was, folded and tucked in between the metal and plastic flap of the child seat was the $5 bill.  That is insane.

Layne got his stupid toy that didn’t even work and I had to return it the next week anyway.  We walked that returned $5 directly across the parking lot to the dollar store where he spent every bit of it.

Out With the Old, In With the New

9 Significant Bagley Family Records From 2009

1. Brik is allergic to dogs.
2. We enjoyed an increase in visits from my parents.
3. Completed our bathroom remodels.
4. Jarom and I attained regular free bimonthly therapeutic massages!
5. We entered the realm of cloth diapering.
6. Discovered Brik’s inborn ability to water ski.
7. I was called to serve as Primary President.
8. Our household transitioned from eating factory farmed meat in moderation to eating wild game/pastured meat sparingly.
9. Accomplished my first year of blogging.

10 Things I am Looking Forward to in 2010

1. Growing a garden that produces like gang busters.
2. Replacing the carpet with wood flooring.
3. A 7 day cruise alone with a hunky guy.
4. Roxwell’s first steps.
5. Brik starting kindergarten
6. Reaping the rewards of cloth diapering by easily potty training Roxwell and having 0 children in diapers.
7. Starting up more cooking classes.
8. Katie moving to Arizona.
9. Enjoying a backyard complete with grass, a play set and swimming pool.
10. Dancing on Dancing with the Stars

Merry Christmas To Me

Me likes me a nice slow, quiet Christmas. No chaos, no rushing around, not a lot of show. My dad used to have this thing with opening gifts, he would draw it out as long as possible. I can appreciate that now. It is the event for the night, so we revel in it.

This year we had a dinner at our house with Errol, Elaine, Reachel, Andrew, Coco, Leisel, Sterling and our family. Simple potluck with salad, roasted vegetables, ham, baked potatoes and apple crisp. The kids did a cute story telling of The First Christmas, we sang songs and enjoyed the gifts. I thought this year was modest. Jarom and I are planning a cruise this year for my 30th birthday, so our goal was to apply for passports by Christmas and call that our gift to each other; check. Roxwell got all regifted items from storage. I gifted Layne and Brik with their own stuff they had lost months prior because of bad behavior...How did we end up with so much stuff!? I was astonished with the pile that towered beside me as we finished. It was a great time and I am grateful to feel abundance and love through my friends and family.

Layne wasn't sure what to expect from Santa. We never got out to have the kids sit on Santa's lap and ask him for anything. Everyone who asked Layne what he wanted received the answer "a trumpet." Layne also is very aware from all the songs that Santa brings toys to good boys and not bad ones...uhhh. He knew he may not qualify. My favorite was when we were delivering Christmas gifts to friends and one asked "Are you on Santa's good list or bad list?" Layne replies "I'm on his kinda good list, but my brother (pointing to Brik) is on the REALLY good list."

Brik was also asking for a trumpet and sometimes would decide he wanted a new battery for his power wheels. He was pretty sure that Santa would not be leaving any gifts for Roxwell because he wakes mom up in the morning (big no no in our house.)

Christmas Day I got up and fed Roxwell. Brik was up with me, his room faces the living room where all of Santa's loot was laid, unwrapped. He never even noticed, it all blended in with the piles he remembered from the night before and all he was thinking about was the new toys he knew and had dreamed about through the night. Once Layne was up we lead them in and checked out the new stuff. We spent the morning finding batteries, playing games and planting my indoor starter plants.

For lunch we went to Grandma and Grandpa Bagley's. The kids got to sit at the adult table since our numbers were so few. Layne asked why there were little rugs on the table (place mats). He is really funny when he is not throwing a fit. Earlier that day, he walked by Jarom as Jarom was pointing at something. Layne said "Oh, I though you were going to give me a high five. That's disappointing." We laughed and he retracted "Actually, that doesn't make any sense, since you laughed." We assured him it did make sense and I was kinda sad that he is becoming so perceptive. Soon he is going to grow out of using his childish verbage that is so endearing.

I did miss my family, but it was so nice to stay put and not be thrown around from place to place. Travel is not my thing. I like to be home, I like to be warm, I like to relax. So this year -- Merry Christmas to me.