Huzzah for Whiskey

And honey. And cinnamon and black pepper and turmeric. As revolting as it sounds, I threw together a hot toddy tonight to ease the agony of post-nasal drip:

Healthy slurp bourbon, whiskey, whatever you call it
Honey
Cinnamon
Pinch of turmeric
Light sprinkle of ground black pepper
Hot water

I can literally feel it crackling and breaking crap up in there. It's awesome. I'm sure I'm copping some one else's idea but let's just call this a continuation of my multicultural medicinal melee.

Multicultural Medicine

The Bean has been sick for about a week now; your usual complement of sneezing, gross coughing, tons of snot, much fretfulness, etc. She was eating reasonably well for the first few days, and then just stopped. I managed to keep fluids in her, but the food thing was proving a problem. This has certainly happened in the past, but it's frustrating and worrisome every time -- she's small for her age, and I admit I tend to stress about eating maybe more quickly than other parents. I tried to let it go for a day or two, figuring, yes, she'll eat when she starts feeling better, but anyone who knows me knows I was gnawing on my fingernails the whole time.

Today she is *somewhat* better...not fantastic, but not as bad as earlier, and she seems to be sleeping a bit more easily. Applesauce and yogurt went down well this morning, so I was emboldened to try congee for lunch. Taking a cue from a Taiwanese friend, I added some peanut butter and soy sauce, to make a kind of ersatz peanut sauce, as well as add some protein that had been sadly lacking for the last few days.

Wonder of wonders, she ate it. I wouldn't say with gusto, necessarily, but without the screaming and hissy fits of previous attempts at meals. Thank goodness for Asian grandmas, is what I say.

Here's my recipe, should you want it:

3 Tbsp rice
4 cups water
1 Tbsp peanut butter
splash of soy sauce

Bring the rice and water to a quick boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 45-50 minutes. Cover the pot partially, but leave lid a bit askew so that rice doesn't boil over. Add peanut butter and enough soy sauce to make a nice sauce. Feed to grumpy sick preschooler.

Time Marches On

We recently decided that it would probably be a good idea to shift Bean's crib into the "toddler day bed" configuration, since her 4th birthday is fast approaching. We've left her in the crib longer than most kids probably are, basically because she isn't independently mobile, and it just didn't seem to be much of an issue. However, we're tossing around the idea of having another child, and for what it's worth, I just psychologically can't let my four year old sleep in a crib.

So I moved the mattress down, took off the side rail, struggled and cursed to put the mesh guard rail together and then discovered...it doesn't fit crib/toddler mattresses. Too big. I should have figured that out earlier, but hope springs eternal, I guess. Granted, it will come in handy when we do move her into a "regular" bed, so it wasn't a total waste of time, but it was slightly maddening since the thing is a *bitch* to put together. I sat there thinking, okay, so what now?

Well, I took the removed side rail and lashed it to the head and footrails with a boat rope. Yes. It was total McGyver but you know, it worked just fine. It only extends up about an inch and a half so in a way, it's a good compromise for the transition to "big girl bed". I do admit that I threw down tons of pillows and comforters in case she decided to launch herself overboard, but she did great. Okay, I did find her upside down this morning with her feet under the pillow, but she was still IN bed, and that's what matters.

In a way, this is kind of lovely, that she is growing up, but of course, in many other ways, it's saddening to remember how tiny she used to be and how she didn't throw tantrums and show preferences for TV shows and music and toys. When she was basically a milk sucking parasite attached to me nearly permanently. That being said, I like the idea that she is carving out the persona of "Bean", separate from me or Gene or anyone else. It does, however, point out pretty bluntly how fast time flies.

Good on Google

Check it out before today ends: their title page at www.google.com is in Braille, because today is the anniversary of Louis Braille's birth in 1809.

Whoop...makes Bean's mom happy.