adventures in home-making

Our lemonade stand.

Of all the days to raise money for a good cause, this morning might just have been the hottest. All proceeds from Max's lemonade stand will be sent to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, so we were hoping that we might have more than $20 to send.

After making signs and cookies last night, we were a little late getting started this morning, but no matter- everything came together in its usual, Schumpeter-inspired way. Patrick went out with Max to get ice and put up signs. By the time they returned, Milla had finished nursing and the lemonade was ready to go. Max sat outside in the sweltering heat; he manned the stand with enthusiasm, which involved screaming, "Lemonade" at passing cars. Soon, Micah woke up and joined him.

 

The morning started slowly until Emma showed up and brought good luck. Then a few garage sale customers followed by a donor with an extra-large heart that left a twenty dollar bill. Max invented a dance to celebrate. He also decided that his goal would be to earn $100; I smiled and secretly thought he was overshooting it. A few cool neighbors whom we hadn't ever had the opportunity to meet stopped by; one gentleman had hair even longer than Mr. Max's (always fun). Things were picking up. And so was the temperature.

So Patrick set out the sprinkler as I refilled the lemonade and the munchkins soaked themselves in the water. Then we had a visit from Carol and Connie from the Woodland Hills Garden Club, such a lovely surprise... and my 5th grade teacher, whose wife was one of Emma's professors at the University.... and suddenly there were more customers than Max could quickly serve. The heat, only bearable when you agreed to move in that slow and "lazy" (I say heat-adapted) Southern way, was too much for little Milla, who spent most of the morning in the house.

Even after the lemonade stand had officially ended, a gentleman whose daughter had been under the care of Children's Hospital came by and left a huge bag of change and cash on the table. We discovered it later in the afternoon- such an awesome gift. Max had to sort and count all the money; I love those homeschooling exercises which come for free.

Thanks to the kindness of friends and strangers, Max will donate over $120 to Children's Hospital. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Happy birthday Lydia.

Today was my mom's birthday. She surprised me this morning looking radiant and happy with a basket of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers from her garden in hand; her cucumbers are some of the loveliest I've tasted. Seeing her standing in the doorway with her little sandals and her doctor's coat made my day- she is so beautiful inside and outside and such a continuous blessing in my life. I am grateful for our closeness even though it brings its own fights and fires. There is so much to assume and take for granted in this life. Giving birth to my own munchkins (and being far from perfect as a parent), raising them, being wrong- all of this to remind me that respecting and honoring the woman who brought me into this world is not just a joy but a joy-bearing duty. So I made a cobbler for mom and Gary brought a plethora of champagnes and other vine-related drinks and we celebrated Lydia Stefanescu's place on this earth. And I enjoyed my first glass of champagne in the past 10 months.

How many husbands.

Yesterday, we drove up to Birmingham to meet out pediatric endocrinologist and learn more about Milla's hypothyroidism. Patrick and my mom came along, though Patrick had to leave a little early to get back to work. Sitting in the doctor's office, my husband reminding me which breast to nurse from this time, I found myself gazing at Patrick with pride and love. 

How many husbands know which breast produces more milk? How many husbands bother to keep track of which breast was used last? Who else sleeps with his wife in the teeny hospital bed for two nights and wakes her with kisses? Show me another man who wakes up with his wife at night to help her nurse or pump (and freeze) or get contact solution to wet her eyes because she slept in her contacts yet again? All these little things, these tiny, precious things are ways in which he reminds me that I am not alone in this world or this life - that I have a partner in the glorious, but, more often, the mundane and dreary. I've never met a man more hardcore and courageous in his approach to intimacy than Patrick. I learn something from him every day. 

The doctor's visit was extremely reassuring, and we feel free to stop worrying about sweet little Milla now. She is doing great - turns purple with rage when she is hungry, but, apart from that, a happy little thing that spends most of her time sleeping, chirping, and communing with the world around her. I love how she watched my face and raises her little eyebrows with interest. She has even smiled at me (hush, I know it wasn't gas). Dr. Mick confirmed her attempts at smiling yesterday. 

Micah's favorite game.

 
 

Max's perspective.

Max borrowed the camera and took a few photos of his own. I love seeing the world through his eyes.

 
 

Quinoa and black bean salad recipe.

1 1/2 cups quinoa

1 1/2 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 1/2 cups cooked corn (fresh, canned or frozen)

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

4 scallions, chopped

1 tsp. garlic, minced fine

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped fine

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/3 cup olive oil

Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve under cold running water until water runs clear. Put quinoa in a pot with 2 1/4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 20 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Fluff quinoa with a fork and transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool.

While quinoa is cooking, in a small bowl toss beans with vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Add beans, corn, bell pepper, scallions, garlic, cayenne and coriander to the quinoa. Toss well.

In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, salt, cumin and add oil in a stream while whisking. Drizzle over salad and toss well with salt and pepper. Salad may be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving.

This recipe was borrowed from the American Institute for Cancer Research, which suggests that this tasty dish might have some anti-carcinogenic properties.

Happy three week birthday to sweet Milla.

Hello Tilly.

Given the incessant nursing schedule commanded by Sylvester, the older munchkins have been exploring new past-times and hobbies. Micah, who once shunned her swing as if it were contaminated with the plague, now loves nothing more than to swing alongside Max screaming, "Micah harder, Micah harder". She also enjoys chatting with Miss Emma and "reading" her books. 

Her current favorite is a book, Hello Tilly by Polly Dunbar, which was given to us by Lisa and now has become a re-reader every night. I admit to getting some sick pleasure from watching Patrick read little girl books about "pretty prancing". 

Max just wrapped up a week learning about chemistry at Riverwood Classical School. His teacher, the illustrious John Thiele, impressed Max with his ability to manipulate matter. Max waxed poetic about funnels and melting copper pennies and the properties of this and that for as long as he could before finally putting on his pajamas.

Below is a coloring page to print with characters from Dunbar's book. I've posted it as a reminder to myself to print it and make popsicle stick people for Micah to react a few favorite scenes and prances.... 

 

Today list.

African Quinoa Soup recipe

Organic Baby Belle Carrier made from 100% natural Romanian hemp

Creative Caravan, the house swap and sublet site for "creative folk"

Falling Leaves soft structured baby carrier tutorial

Bean bag toss game how-to

iKat print kimono dress, for the inspiration  

Cardboard nursery

Marijuana fuels a new kitchen culture

Question everthing

Lactation cookies recipe

Small, stunning little discoveries which range from lovely to grotesque.

"Baby why...", says Micah. She is still working on that letter "c".

A hanging order from Lenin.

"All Joy and No Fun", a wry take on parenting.

Pet rocks, hootenanny puppet shows, and more ways to savor summer days.

78 things you didn't know about Johnny Cash.

Sidewalk chalk paint.

Pillowcase pajama shorts tutorial.

A perfect, pint-size thunderstorm to water the garden.

Watermelon salsa recipe.

My dad and Pam flew in today with bells and balls to make the munchkins smile.

Proletarian posters from 1930's Japan.

Mysterious places.

Motherly Micah.

 

 
 

Cloth diapering vacation.

Flying across the world with money saved from diaper costs? Let's hope that is the case next summer. We decided to start a vacation fund with money saved by cloth diapering. Since Micah is still wearing diapers, we invested in one-size cloth diapers with a few pre-folds on the side, which we hope to use on little Milla when she graduates from newborn size. (If anyone has any one-size bumGenius they no longer need, we are lacking the pride or good sense to turn it away.)

The TuTu MaFiA has an awesome, free PDF cloth diaper pattern. If only all patterns and instructions were so colorful and enticing, this mom might find a greater incentive to strap herself to the sewing machine for the requisite afternoon.

Pattern + Instructions

I also have another neat pattern for pirate cloth diapers that I picked up from a baby board somewhere...

PIRATE DIAPER PATTERN

Other randomized suggestions I've received from the cloth diapering mafia include:

• Mrs. Meyers Clean Day diaper cream in Baby Blossom 
• How to use cloth diapers from Green Mountain Diapers
• The Cloth Diaper Whisperer has tutorials on everything from using pins to laundering.

Emma B's photos of Micah.

Micah and Max both love Emma, and look forward to seeing her on weekdays. When Micah woke from her nap this afternoon, she asked about Emma. The following is a photo taken by Emma on her iPhone of Micah eating watermelon to stave off the heat:

 

Max's robot.

 

Modeled by Miss Micah.

Grinding stone: A Malaysian game.

Player A stands beside the leader while the others scatter out, short distances away. After the leader calls out, "Grinding Stone! Grinding Stone!" he issues a command such as "Hop on one foot!" Or, "Fly like a bird!" Or, "Get down on your knees!"

Player A tries to tag another child before he can obey the command. If A succeeds in his attempt, the one caught takes A's place beside the leader and A joins the rest of the group.

Bad parenting and why everybody does it except for you.

This article about the "bad parenting" obsession made me smile. Why are we such busybodies? Do we not have enough to do that we still find the need to judge how other parents raise their children? I hope that I have never made anyone feel that I would do a better job parenting their children than them....

A dahl recipe for little people.

 I don't think I've ever had a baby who loves to eat so much before. Milla nurses nonstop (which means I am munching constantly, a fond hobby). When I'm not watching her sweet little baby face nurse away, I've taken to browsing through recipe books. Today I found some delicious recipes in the Organic Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann- a great book because it has small portion servings for small folks, so you don't cook more than gets eaten.

DAHL

 

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander or cumin seeds
• 1/2 cup (125 grams) red lentils, washed and picked over
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1 1/4 cup (300 mL) water
• small handful shredded cabbage

Heat the oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the onion and fry gently until soft, about 5 minutes. Mix in the spices and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the lentils, carrot, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and the dahl has a smooth consistency. Add the cabbage and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Serve with boiled rice or a flatbread like naan or pita. 

 

Micah gets some time in Daddy's lap.

 

 

A daily scene.

As we embrace the new "normal", we find ourselves appreciating the old familiar familials as well. For example, this morning, as Patrick talked to Milla, Max and Micah argued over books in the background. I love these photos because you can see the story as it unfolds.... with Micah eventually running over to Patrick to tattle on Ba-Ba because he took "her" book. So sweet to see Milla coming out of her little shell as well.

    

Playing chess and eating popcorn.

Max and Micah continue to amaze me with their newfound close friendship. Yesterday, they even played chess and chowed on popcorn together. Granted, each had to have a separate chessboard and Micah's attention to the conventional rules was negligible.... but the end result - two sweet, giggling munchkins - beats all.

 

A girl named Sylvester.

Johnny Cash made a boy named Sue famous, but who ever heard of a girl named Sylvester? 

When Milla was first born, we laughed about how she resembled, well, a Sylvester rather than a Milla. So I took to calling her Sylvester...

"Honey, I think Sylvester is rooting. I'm going to nurse her."

"Awww, Sylvester is squawking. She must have a dirty diaper...."

And so on. When referring to Milla in public, we kept the nickname Sylvester a secret, like the sacred names of yore; perhaps Milla's knight would be the one who knew her well enough to know her secret name. 

Then we learned about Milla's thyroid condition and Sylvester disappeared overnight. Milla she was. Milla Percy Coryell. Walker Percy's daughter was born blind. Milla made more sense in the tender sobriety of medical land. Even the stunning sunshine was serious.

This morning, however, Sylvester returned. I couldn't help marveling over Sylvester's angry hunger chirp and tough linebacker stance. The easy joy of a newborn baby lit the room. And the sunlight was filled with what Max calls "wishes", the dust dancing in a ray of sun. Sylvester makes me so happy. And I can't help but wonder if we named her after a Southern Christian existentialist author because existence is not meant for feeling good all the time but for pure, unadulterated AWE. I am in awe of the shape of our lives and humbled with respect for all the beauty we find in those unimaginable situations, those things we believe could never happen, until they do.

Milla's perfect fit.

Max likes to joke about how tightly our family now fits into our tiny, new, fuel-efficient Fit when we go on outings. But there is much truth to his bantering, as our Milla seems to be the perfect fit. She is an easygoing and sweet baby, puffed with the usual grunts and grimaces that mark those first weeks of life. 

She likes to sleep on her daddy's chest, though she doesn't complain if the chest is taken. She nurses as if the world were on fire and that little mouth had access to the only water. She already sleeps for stretches of four hours during the night- more like Max than Micah. 

 

 

An ice-creamy kind of afternoon.

 
 

Our sweet, happy, hypothyroid baby.

Patrick and I have been scouring the internet and various resources to learn more about congenital hypothyroidism. We have a large learning curve on this one, but would like to be ahead of the game before our visit with the pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital later this month. Just in case other mothers or fathers out there are searching for similar subject matter, I thought I'd make a list/bank of the best resources we've discovered.

PARENTS GUIDE TO CH (pdf format)

CH PAMPHLET FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA (in pdf format)

Hypothyroidism Overview

Controversy over generic thyroid drugs

Canadian panel on bioequivalence of thyroid medications

Childhood and Congenital Hypothyroidism

Thyroxine

Flow chart for clinical suspicion of neonatal CH

Congenital hypothyroidism at Genetics Home Reference

Key Thyroid Function Test (normal rates, etc.)

The Magic Foundation

Thyroid Disease Manager

 

Milla in Pops' lap.

 

Bittersweet beautiful days.

Patrick returns to work next week, and I will miss him so much when he is gone. The past week, Milla's first week of life, only reminds me how much I love my husband. Despite any disagreement or passionate discussion we might have about everything from Kierkegaard to raising children, he is the only man made just for me, like the Liz Phair song "Favorite", it just feels right. 

A beautiful, bittersweet week it has been. Beautiful because we welcomed Milla into our family and bittersweet because, a few days ago, we learned that Milla has neonatal congenital hypothyroidism. One phone call from our pediatrician's office turned the lightness of engorged breasts and baby banter to the heaviness of health problems. Our joy is tempered by concern and uncertainty. We are fortunate that newborn screening caught Milla's extremely high TSH level (over 400) early enough to begin treatment, but we still do not know how this has affected or will affect her development. 

I've kept checklists running through my head, checklists I revisit as I watch her precious little gas grimaces following a rigorous nursing session. (She is my first barracuda.) We know that her condition is severe enough to warrant immediate medication with thyroid hormone. How do all the lists and symptoms apply to little Milla? What do the numbers mean? What are the physicians trying to tell us when they wrinkle their foreheads and move on to the next question? What should we hope for and what should we just accept? I can't find any answers so I return to the comfort of checklists.

 

Infants with severe hypothyroidism often have a distinctive appearance. Symptoms may include:

• Puffy-appearing face - Yes, Milla looks puffy.
• Dull look - Is this truly a medical description?
• Thick, protruding tongue - No. That would indicate a misplaced thyroid and it seems fairly clear that Milla is missing a thyroid altogether.

This appearance usually develops as the disease gets worse. The child may also have:

• Dry, brittle hair - Milla's hair is so soft, rich, and dark.
• Low hairline - Perhaps, but Micah had a low hairline as well. 
• Jaundice - Milla does have jaundice, but not enough to warrant any heel pricks from the doctors or nurses.
• Poor feeding - She is a wonderful nurser with a voracious appetite. In fact, she already regained the 5 ounces she lost in the hospital plus 2 more. 
• Choking episodes - No comment.
• Lack of muscle tone (floppy infant) - Not according to our pediatrician.
• Constipation - She was constipated for an afternoon a few days ago, but has been regular since.
• Sleepiness - Yes.
• Sluggishness - Yes.
• Short stature - She shares the same height stats as Micah.

 

Early diagnosis is very important. Most of the effects of hypothyroidism are easily reversible. Replacement therapy with thyroxine is the standard treatment of hypothyroidism. Once medication starts, thyroid blood tests are regularly done to make sure levels are within a normal range.

Milla received her first dose of thyroxine yesterday and her second dose this morning. 

 

Hypothyroidism in the newborn may be caused by:

 

• A missing or abnormally developed thyroid gland
• Pituitary gland's failure to stimulate the thyroid
• Defective or abnormal formation of thyroid hormones

 

Incomplete development of the thyroid is the most common defect and occurs in about 1 out of every 3,000 births. Girls are affected twice as often than boys.

We suspect from the suggestions and coded speak of the medical establishment that Milla is missing a thyroid gland. There is no history of missing or broken thyroids in either of our families.

 

Very early diagnosis generally results in a good outcome. Newborns diagnosed and treated in the first month or so generally develop normal intelligence.

Untreated, mild hypothyroidism can lead to severe mental retardation and growth retardation. Critical development of the nervous system takes place in the first few months after birth. Thyroid hormone deficiency may cause irreversible damage.

We are hoping for the "good outcome", but we are also accepting the fact that we may not know for sure what such an outcome means. What we do know, however, is that our family will continue to blossom in its own, wildflowery way and we are overwhelmed with happiness in celebrating the one-week birthday of our littlest munchkin.

 

 

 

 

Max takes over the hospital at CHOM.

Earlier this week, Max had his own special outing with Suebee and Pops while we stayed home and tried to work out nap time with an infant and a toddler. It seems that Max's preferred activity at the Children's Hands-On Museum was managing the main desk at the hospital. When asked, Suebee says he claimed to be an ENT. Otherwise, he answered phones and directed museum visitors both young and old around the hospital. Every physician's dream.... a bossy hospital admin staff. Bunica may or may not have been proud.

Below, you can see how Suebee and Pops responded to the offer for a free meal at the hospital.

  

The Baby Hotel, a new development at the Coryell Castle.

Max and Micah have been getting along famously since Milla's arrival. It makes us happier than I can put to words... The latest development in our home was the creation of the Baby Hotel last night. For at least two hours, Max and Micah labored in the guest room, creating what can only be described as a luxury inn for babies. Like a self-respecting, one-day-to-be-resume-adjusting American, Max did not fail to create an advertisement for their product. 

In the upper hand right corner of this photo, you can see the "vent" advertised by Max as an amenity at the Baby Hotel. Does that mean our house is too hot? Is an air vent really an amenity? I love the space inside Max's head where all these beautiful, fun imaginings bloom. Is it any wonder Micah adores him so much? Oh, and in case you are wondering, yes, Micah is reading the ad in the photo above. Now let's take a look at the Master Suite round back.

    

 

Whole wheat cherry bread recipe for Emma.

One of the first joys waiting for me when we arrived home from the hospital was Suebee's banana bread. I ate half the loaf within moments. Delicious! She was sweet enough to leave the recipe (which I posted further down). 

Then there was the joy of my mom's fresh blueberry cobbler just waiting to be devoured. And then another joy was a 2 lb bag of cherries which my mom brought to the hospital and which Pops left in our fridge. Patient Pops pitted all those cherries, and this nursing brain got to thinking about all the lovely possibilities. The result earned compliments from Emma, so I promised to post it.

WHOLE WHEAT CHERRY BREAD

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups pitted and mashed (or softened) fresh cherries
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2-3 tablespoons flaxseed

Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and cinnamon. Beat well. (I used a whisk because we're old-fashioned/poor like that). Add cherries, flour, and baking soda. Pour into greased loaf pan. Sprinkle with flaxseed. Bake at 350 for 1 hour (or until ready). 

SUEBEE'S EASY BANANA BREAD

 

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 crushed bananas
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs. Beat well. Add bananas, flour, baking soda, and salt. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour (or until ready). 

A tired daddy with his Milla.

 

Heck no on the "hooter hiders".

I find it so amusing how baby equipment has come to include expensive nursing accessories like the lame-named "Hooter Hiders". Is there something cute, endearing, or nice about the word "hooters" that I have been missing all these years? 

Anyway, "hooter" ranting aside, I've discovered the perfect nursing cover hanging on a hook in our dining area.... APRONS!! You just tie them loosely, slip an arm through, and voila the perfect nursing cover.

 

Rocking chair fun.

While visiting their new little sister at the hospital, the munchkins discovered rocking chair fun. Believe it or not, we've never had a rocking chair or glider, so this piece of equipment, utilized by yours truly to rock through a number of contractions, turned out to be a new adventure. Micah wanted to rock Max - and rock him she did.... for about 20 minutes straight.