New research in the science of male infertility…
Some isolated mouse stem cells that had begun to develop as sperm cells were injected into female mouse eggs, successfully fertilized, and implanted into a female mouse. Seven baby mice were successfully produced (though the baby mice has some issues…).
In Vitro-Differentiated Embryonic Stem Cells Give Rise to Male Gametes that Can Generate Offspring Mice

I just heard on the news that 69% of the residents of my county are overweight and 25% have no health insurance. That’s some scary numbers peoples!
In other news…
Today was immunization day. Andy got his 6 month shots and Brendan got his 4-6 year shots. They also turned his MMR shot into the MMRV because they believe by September a 2nd varicella shot will be required. Both did well and we tried hard to make a distinction between “clinic” and “doctor” but he told me when I put him in the car that he didn’t like the doctors. 🙁 He sees his pedi next week and I really want him to be socialable- and he certainly won’t be if he is afraid he’ll get another shot. His pedi is a no-fuss doctor and ALL I need right now is him to be sent off to some high cost specialist to be evaluated further. Seriously, he NEEDS to be around other kids- that’s all. We’re working out the kinks on a plan to send him to Pre-K up at his grandparents’ house for the last few months next year, before he starts K that fall.
Thank goodness he doesn’t need any more shots until he’s 14!!!! And there aren’t any 9 month shots for Andy either. Wheee- a breather!
We took him to a place called Chacho’s for lunch that has a really nice 3 story indoor playground and he worked on conquering his fear of heights. In 1/2 an hour he had managed halfway up on his own! And his fave food is chips and queso so in the end it was a good day for him! We even shared a homemade giant pecan praline.
Oh yeah- and the clinic gave each of us a coupon for free DQ cones!
*****
The baby bug has hit me again. LOL… groan. I have a chubbily wonderful baby and dream already of being pregnant again. I’m crazy. I’m barely hanging on to my wits as it is. But I made it about 6 months longer than I did with Brendan, haha. I think I am in this evil, evil neverending PMS stage (grumpy, angry, tired, oily…). I think my body is STILL trying to ovulate because I feel ovary twinges right now as I am typing. Grrr. Come on AF- at this point I’ll welcome you with open arms. I’d take an hpt but- honestly- what breastfeeding mother with PCOS who has a husband who makes no sperm just ups and gets pregnant the easy way??? Besides… I’m not nauseous.
A good friend of mine just announced that she is 8 weeks pregnant with twins!!! The OB is pretty sure they are identical. How exciting!! She is living my dream- and I know her own as well. I’m a bit envious but totally ecstatic for her! 😀 She has had a bit of misfortune recently so if you are the praying type, please send up some positive thoughts that her and her little ones stay safe and healthy. God’ll know who she is.

Bren plays real Mario type side-scrolling games now!!
He more often than not starts up conversations with “Hey there buddy!”
After hearing us say “hey guys” so much he now calls either of us “guy”.
He says he is scared a lot and STILL talks about being scared of birds.
He saw a can of Raid on a shelf in the garage and because of the pics of the bugs on it he assumed it was frog food. LOL.
Bren has suddenly “noticed” Andy and will touch him, kiss him and interact with him on his own now.
*****
Andy shakes his head back and forth a lot as if he is saying “no”.
He eats finely diced carrots, bananas, green beans and cheerios now. Green beans are not his favorite at all. Which is hilarious because it is the only veggie Bren will pretty much eat.
If you stand him up in front of you while sitting on the bed facing him, he loves to put his head down and have you kiss the back of his neck.
He loves his exersaucers but his love for the swing is declining.
He loves Baby Einstein movies and will often watch a whole 20 minute episode giving me enough time to shower.
He watches Brendan’s every move and thinks he is just hilarious. 😀
******
Funny story:
I went up to Brendan as he was playing his game boy on the floor beside the couch. I laid across the couch, put on a cheshire cat grin and stared at him until he noticed me. He giggled and went back to playing. Looked at me, giggled and went back to playing…
After a bit I leaned over, knocked on his headphones, lifted them up and whispered, “Wanna go get the mail with me?”
He said no.
So I said, “Okay, I’ll go. See ya later.”
Brendan replied, “No!!! You can’t go! You gotta watch me.”
Hahahaha.

We decided to go visit the in-laws for a week. We leave tomorrow so today is the last detox day for me. A whole week! Too bad it couldn’t have been Tuesday we went. I was so close to the 9 days…
Do I feel better? Actually, no. :/ That may have something to do with less sleep that usual this past week though. I should have been able to catch up by today but Darrell has been crazy-busy at work.
Do I feel normal? Yes, I finally got to where I feel normal without the sugar, caffeine, etc. No headaches, not so tired. And my cravings for them have lessened considerably. Day 1 I was a mess by bedtime. Last night I calmly ate grapes. BIG difference. 😀
Now if I can just minimize sugar and caffeine for awhile it’ll all have been for the good. And I’m pretty sure I lowered at least my cholesterol with so many oats and no meat. Go me! And DH too!
I have a long list of Bren-bits and Andy-dotes but they’ll have to wait. I’m Solo Mama right now and I have lots to do before we can leave in the morning! Be back in a week or so.

Here is a great idea from a homeschooling mama:
Math War with cards
Now play the classic game of War, but lay out 2 cards at a time. Add your two cards, and the player with the highest sum wins the turn. I have the student add my cards for me as well.
If your sums are equal, you have a battle: just lay two new cards on top of your first two, and winner takes all.
Since your deck will be smaller than with the usual War and since you each use two cards/turn, this game will usually end far more quickly than the neverending card game that we all dread.
For an older child you could use the whole deck, or practice subtraction or multiplication. To make it a little harder, you might try using 3 cards at a time. The possibilities are endless and easily tailored to almost any child’s level.

I’ve made it through 48 hours now of the detox- very little wheat, no non-naturally occurring sugar, no meat, and I cut my caffeine down about 75% (now one can of diet cherry coke). Lots of brown rice and oats and beans.
I eat plenty of carbs and protein and calories though my fat is probably less just because I’m not eating meat.
I have actually had withdrawals!!! I’ve had headaches the past 2 nights- probably from the lack of caffeine but maybe sugar as well. I’m amazed at how much the caffeine apparently affects me and I know a diet coke always helps when I *have* a headache. It’s kind of a vicious cycle. I can just imagine how many people would be out sick for a week if they ever made coffee illegal!! I actually thought by allowing myself 1 soda a day I wouldn’t be affected.
I heard yesterday that Pepsi and Coke are releasing the amount of caffeine in their drinks (can of Diet Pepsi- 36mg & Diet Coke- 45mg) and that Pepsi is now making a Diet Pepsi MAX- with MORE caffeine.
Anyway… still waiting to feel BETTER from doing this. I wonder if Andy got a headache from me skipping the soda?
I have to hand it to vegetarians who do it for their beliefs- it’s hard to stay away from meat! I wonder if I will lose the cravings or if they are going to dawg my every move this whole time??

Remember those posts I awhile back about the Asian Home Gourmet spice paste packets? Here & Here I tried another one last night- these things aren’t merely good but really excellent!
I made Thai pineapple rice… wow!! I reserved the juice from a can of pineapple chunks and used it as part of the water required to make 3 cups of rice. Then I used the spice paste from the packet, which had some oil in it, to stir-fry the cooked rice in. Then, near the end, I added the pineapple chunks and it was FANTASTIC! I’m definitely making it again next week if I can get to the market.
DH and I are starting a kind of detox diet where you wean yourself from unhealthy eating habits. My main 2 are sugar and the caffeine. This diet is largely fruits and vegetables with lowfat dairy, a few eggs, oatmeal and brown rice. It goes for 9 days starting Sunday. I hope to lose a couple pounds but not a lot since I am still BFing. I really hope DH loses more than a couple. He always loses faster than me on a diet and his jeans are too tight.
The weather has been perfect for afternoon walks as well. Bren has been enjoying his bike but he is getting too big for it. His Mimi and Papa are getting him a scooter for his birthday. I hope he likes it!!!

I’m not into cornmeal-y cornbread. I want my cornbread more like corncake– it’s gotta have at least the same amount of flour as cornmeal and it’s gotta be sweet. I’ve been experimenting with different recipes, starting with the recipe on the back of the cornbread bag. I’ve finally found the right mix of ingredients. This recipe is as healthy as I can make ’em without losing the wonderful qualities of a great corncake. Good source of whole grain, good for you oils and no sugar but what naturally occurs. My DH says this is the perfect recipe- the perfect fluffiness, the perfect texture, the perfect sweetness. I agree.
Corncake Muffins
Makes 6
1/2 cup whole grain cornbread mix (1st 2 ingredients state “whole grain”- I like Arrowhead Mills)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup Splenda
Preheat oven to 375.
In one bowl mix together the flour, cornbread mix and baking powder.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg well and then combine with the remaining ingredients.
Spray a muffin tin with Pam or line with paper cups.
Pour the wet bowl into the dry bowl and combine just until mixed. Lumps are fine. Do not overmix. Immediately scoop batter into the muffin tin and bake for approximately 13 minutes.

You said it Carrie! This is so me.
I like being a stay-at-home parent. It’s convenient, it lets me be extra-involved in my boys’ lives, and I think it’s important. That having been said, being a stay-at-home parent seems to have also set me in a role that I like much less: housewife. I never intended to sign on for that particular job. Housewives do chores all the time, serving the home by cleaning and organizing it. I suck at housewife-dom. I do it because somebody has to do it, and because I’m the logical choice by actually being on location most often, but I am no Martha, and I am showing no signs of becoming one. Marthas are born to their roles; I struggle daily with mine, and I struggle against it.

My 2 boys…

And this month’s bloopers…