Who said that?

No one ever said being a parent was easy. And if someone did say that, they are either a) crazy, 2) not a parent, or c) heavily medicated.

Two weekends ago, Katelyn was burning up with 103 degree fevers. But she was still very responsive and was willing to drink water and juice. This past weekend, Jakey was burning up! But he wouldn't drink water or juice. He even refused ice keki and susu! It was rough. We tried six ways to Sunday to play, trick, bribe, or force him to take Tylenol and drink water. Nothing seemed to work. He started to get the chills. He threw up on the bed. It was rough. Somehow the Lord brought us all through it, and little Jake is on the mend.

When I was a kid, I was a little delirious. I suppose most kids are - they think money grows on trees. They think being popular is everything. They think everyone else in this world lives to serve them. Well they're wrong! The world doesn't revolve around them. Unless, of course, you're a parent, in which case, your world does revolve around your kids. But let's bring it back to me, people, back to me.

One evening when I was in high school, I had a fever. A high fever. High enough for me to walk into my mother's bedroom and lie on her bed face up with my feet hanging down to the floor and say, "get out, get out while you can, get out before they kill you too." My mom stood me on my feet and walked me downstairs so I could take some Advil. While we walked down the stairs, I muttered nonsense and swayed from side to side like a drunk driver who is utterly incapable of walking a straight line. As we exited the staircase and turned toward the kitchen, I pushed over a lamp that stood on an end table in the living room. I knew that I shouldn't have done that, but I couldn't stop myself. We got to the kitchen and as I stood propped up against a wall, she prepared a glass of juice and some Advil. When she gave me the pills, I let out a maniacle laugh and told her that I couldn't swallow pills. So she crushed the pills and stuck them in some applesauce for me. I have no recollection after that.

James and I were not prepared to watch our 2 year old son turn lethargic and then combative because of his fever. I'm sure my mom was not prepared to watch me turn into some delirious crazy person. I mean, really, how do you prepare for that? "Welcome to Parenting 210 - part 1, how to deal with your teenager when she thinks spaceships are out to destroy her." You can't prepare. You just deal, and pray.

It is flu season, please take care. Keep hydrated, get lots of sleep, and eat vitamin rich foods.

Way back

When I was younger, I thought it'd be cool to have braces. Then I got braces.

When I was younger, I thought it'd be cool to wear glasses. Then I needed glasses.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

A Vending Machine!5 points to SharShine!
2 points to Bon.

This

This is what happens when your daughter has a terrible fever and doesn't want to drink anything:


This is what happens when you don't pay attention to your two year old because you're too busy playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook (it's like internet crack!):

Relax. It's watercolor.

If only...

If only I had mad sewing skills so I could make one of these:

Maybe one day. Yeah right.

Enter the
Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set Giveaway!!

Have you checked out Grosgrain Fabulous before? No? Oh man, you should! She is amazing!

This is only the second giveaway of hers that I've entered, and I don't stand a shot at winning, but I just had to share these costumes. So amazing! So inspiring! I'm making mango jam today, but now I feel like sewing.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

We had some leftover rotisserie chicken from Joeten, so I made a chicken salad sandwich - something I have never made before. The rotisserie chickens from Joeten are so moist and flavorful on their own that I didn't need to add much more to it.



shredded chicken
mayonnaise
black pepper
tiny bit of yellow mustard
coriander
onions

It was good, but next time I'll add some celery or cucumber (whichever is in the fridge) and some curry powder.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

A Light Bulb!

5 points to SharShine!
2 points each to Bon and Plumeria

Bruce - good job at being specific, but I need the name!
Mark - ike! Next time, next time.

FAIL

Easy open bag fail.

Yes, I did that.

We didn't use Kraft Macaroni. We made macaroni crafts.

Need to keep your kid occupied? Want her to get some good use out of those fine motor skills? Want a crafty counting lesson? Give your kid some salad macaroni to string!

I bought a $1.79 bag of salad macaroni knowing it wouldn't be used for salad, rather for stringing. I didn't really plan this out well, but Katelyn still had a fun time. She used my plastic darning needle and some green yarn (why green? because a ball of green yarn was sitting on the bar stool when we were setting up) and strung macaroni to her heart's content. Such joy with such little cost.

That's it. We didn't do much else with it. We were going to paint it afterward and turn it into a necklace, but we just didn't get around to it. Maybe next time. Or maybe she can string a whole skein of yarn and paint it in the nearest holiday's colors as a decorative garland.

A few weeks ago Jacob made spaghetti out of macaroni and popcorn kernels:

And Katelyn made a generator:

Seriously, she said it's a generator. She knows exactly where the gas flows and the water comes out. How cool is that?! I wonder if she'll be an artist or an engineer...

See what she drew when she was just two and a half years old:


I don't see why she can't be an engineer AND an artist.

I'm exhausted.

So exhausted I can hardly think straight. I have so much I want to tell you, my internet friends. But I fear it will all come out a jumbled mess. If I can get my memories straight, you're in for a blast from the past...

But for now, a snapshot of my present:

Before

Three years ago Katelyn showed OCD-ish behavior like her momma, there was chili everywhere, and we went to Rota.

Two years ago I sensed with my 6th sense, the kids liked broccoli, Katelyn cut my budget, I should have had Peet's, I quoted some funny quotes, a stranger emailed, and I lost a friendship.

One year ago I made some food from scratch, I posted some pretty pictures - and all that jazz, I defined my life, my heart ached, and I made some food,

That's me (and my girls). Before.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

A calculator!

5 points to Bon!
2 points SharShine.

Bruce that was quite a guess. Glad to see you're back.

Typhoon Melor....

James and I took a quick drive to gas the car, get some donuts, and check out the Marina.



That boat is the Blue Marlin. I don't know who it belongs to, but it was rocking quite a bit and the waves had only just begun.



It was really neat to drive through the marina and see all the commercial boats with 5 to 10 heavy ropes holding them at dock. I wonder what it looks like now. And what it will look like during the thick of the typhoon.

Track the typhoon here. It changed course a little so the outlook for Saipan is brighter. But the outlook for Pagan is dimming.

Quick Update

Saipan has been in typhoon condition I since 8:15 p.m. As of 9:00 p.m. typhoon Melor was just under super typhoon strength. Read updates and view graphics here.

The winds over our house have not picked up much. But then again, I can't see or hear much as all our windows are boarded - see previous post. I expect the power will go out sometime during the night, at which point, I won't be able to get online and provide any updates or pictures. But my cell phone is charged, so I will try to give you mobile updates via Twitter. I am SaipanDeece.

For now? I try to sleep while I still can.

Peace be with you my friends. May the Lord protect us all.

Another typhoon!

Typhoon 20W or Typhoon Melor is headed right to Saipan. Click here to see its projected path and here to see a satellite image. It is expected to turn into a super typhoon by the time it hits us tomorrow.

The weather is gorgeous right now at 6:00 p.m., but the winds should get pretty strong tonight. I'm really not looking forward to it. For the power outage that is sure to come, for the potential water outage, for the winds and rain, the destruction of property. Also? Jacob and I are sick. He's getting better, but I'm getting worse. Not fun. But at least I'm the one getting worse - not him.

So we filled the water tank and ordered drinking water, we have batteries and flashlights and candles, we have a gas stove and canned food and drinks, the cooler has ice, and we boarded the house.



Now we pray. And find ways to stay healthy and occupied through the super typhoon.

Don't run with food in your mouth

Where were you Sunday morning?
I was at Raffy's in my Angelo for Mayor t-shirt.

Have you been to Raffy's? We've eaten there a handful of times. It is the only 50's style diner on island. And it comes so close to getting it right.

The french toast is nice. And I like the selection of sandwiches, which includes the Reuben. But be warned (notice how I didn't use "forewarned", because really what is a warning if it's not a fore mention of something) these aren't the humongous stuffed deli style sandwiches one would expect Reubens to be. But they are good, nonetheless.

My advice is to skip the nachos and go for the enchiladas. I don't have the best palate for recognizing authentic Mexican food, but I know that the nachos are unimpressive and the beans don't taste great, but I like the enchiladas a lot.

So where were you Sunday morning?

Enter to win a t-shirt in Ayorátá's first contest! And tell your friends.