How To: Have a CT Scan

1. Feed Toddler breakfast
2. Start to make self breakfast and then realise that it is too late to eat (have to be nil by mouth 4 hours before CT scan)
3. Abandon breakfast and watch Toddler eat theirs while talking to them about the day planned
4. Do some chores around the house until Trusty Grandpa comes home to give a lift to the hospital
5. Drink dye solution provided for CT Scan
6. Start to feel really ill
7. Ring CT place to question what can be taken to feel better
8. Be advised to not drink the next two doses of dye solution - nothing else can be taken until after CT
9. Check the time and quickly sort Toddlers lunch
10. Get in the car and leave for the CT scan
11. Arrive at the CT place and be advised that CT Machine is broken, so must go next door to the main hospital for CT (Trusty Grandpa has taken Toddler for a walk while this is being done)
12. Get to reception and hand over paperwork
13. Realise that referral form was left at home
14. Sign copy of referral form and obtain address to send master copy to
15. Sit down in waiting room looking at cool painting of butterflies - snap a picture to research artist later
16. Get called up by technician - get told to remove any clothes with metal pieces and jewellery and shown to a room with basket and robe
17. Put phone on silent, strip off clothes and put on robe
18. Spend 5 minutes looking for robes ties
19. Realise that it is a fancy robe that has ties sewn into it - collect ties and do robe up
20. Step out of changing room and walk into CT room
21. Be greeted by Head Technician 
22. Answer questions relating to CT scan
23. Be advised that because dye was not drunk, need to have a line in the vein to administer dye for the scan
24. Stand on scales to know what dosage is needed for dye
25. Be presently surprised to find that since last time being weighed, 15kgs has been lost!
26. Lie down on bed for CT scan put arm out for drip to be put in
27. Be warned about side effects of dye and sensations that may occur
28. Have first two scans without dye
29. Have dye put into drip
30. Feel dye go through body
31. Take deep breaths
32. Realise in horror that it feels like you have wet the bed
33. Take more deep breaths and remember that "sensation of wetting oneself" is apart of the side effect list
34. Hope that you're not one of the 1 in 1,000,000,000 that has actually "wet oneself"
35. Next scan is done - feel tightening and heat in chest (another possible side effect)
36. Feel happy that there is no metallic taste in mouth (yet another side effect)
37. Finish scan and confirm that no bed wetting has occurred (phew!)
38. Be informed to stay lying down for 10 minutes to ensure that there is no bad reaction to the dye
39. While waiting for 10 minutes start having panic attack and a quiet cry
40. Calm self down and by time technician comes back - everything fine and dandy (can just put it down to making oneself calm in machine, and needing a release of built up emotions)
41. Sit up and feel a little dizzy take time getting down off bed
42. Get changed and go to hospital cafe for something to eat as now starving (stop and lean against wall on the way to wait out dizzy spells)
43. Get to cafe and find only GF food is a bland carrot and kumera salad (of course it is the most expensive)
44. Order salad to take away
45. Get back to car to find Trusty Grandpa in passenger seat and Toddler "Driving"
46. Say hi to both and sit down to eat 2pm brunch - with Toddler sampling carrots and kumera

How To: Teach your Toddler fine motor skills with the items in your craft drawer

1. Wake up with a screaming cramp in left leg
2. Lie in bed panting and trying to take deep breaths until the pain subsides
3. Toddler comes in "Hi Mum! Ok?"
4. Smile through the pain and pat Toddler on the head
5. Toddler wants to get up into the bed 
6. Turn over to pick Toddler up
7. Leg cramps back up again
8. Deep Breaths
9. Tell Toddler "Mummy can't right now, my leg is sore"
10. Spot Russian Doll on bedside table - hand to Toddler to play with (Fine motor skills activity #1)
11. Toddler happily sits down and plays with Russian Doll - keeps Toddler occupied for 10 minutes
12. Cramp finally subsides - roll over on right side to get out of bed
13. Leg cramps up AGAIN
14. Toddler finished playing with Russian Doll stands up and walks to corner of bedroom
15. Comes back with phone "Phone mum!"
16. Thank Toddler for good thinking and put phone aside (no point in calling anyone, it's not something I can be helped with - just got to ride the pain out)
17. Lie back and take more deep breaths silently hoping that the CT scan booked later for the day will actually show what is causing this "cramping")
18. Toddler gets into ribbon drawer 
19. Lie in bed taking deep breaths while seeing colourful ribbons flying in the air and listening to Toddler squealing in glee
20. Toddler opens next craft drawer ask Toddler to come to the bed
21. Toddler brings bag of coloured pegs and popsicle sticks
22. Open bag and show Toddler how to peg the matching colours onto each other (Fine motor skills activity #2) 
23. Toddler happily obliges - keeps Toddler occupied for 20 minutes
24. Cramp in leg finally subsides enough to sit up
25. Toddler pulls blankets aside "Up Mum!"
26. Put Feet out of bed and onto the floor
27. Leg cramps up again
28. "Up Mum" Toddler jumping up and down
29. Nod to Toddler and breathe through the pain 
30. Point to different craft drawer and ask Toddler to open it and bring a jar out
31. Toddler opens drawer and pulls out jar with heart shaped paper clips 
32. Open jar to Toddlers excitement (Mum never lets him play with the craft drawers - currently in process of organising things we can use together) 
33. Show Toddler how to link the paper clips together (Fine motor skills activity #3)
34. Toddler takes a few goes to get the hang of it, but spends next 30 minutes playing with paper clips
35. During this time, slowly stand up and hobble to the end of the bed
36. Step round Toddler and make way to bathroom with cold tiles
37. Stand and sigh in relief as cold tiles help relax the remaining cramp in leg
38. Walk back to bedroom to find Toddler has emptied more craft drawers and contents scattered through out room (Don't tell them off as technically you gave them permission to go in the drawers) 
39. Ask Toddler if they want breakfast 
40. Toddler jumps up and down "BREAKFAST!" (be happy that they weren't wanting it before now)
41. Take one more look at the mess in the room, close the door and decide to leave it to clean up later when there is no threat of re-cramping (or Toddler to work around)

How To: Sort out the closet

1. Decide that today is the day for some spring cleaning 
2. Clear everything from that corner in front of the wardrobe
3. Dump it all onto the bed to sort out
4. Toddler comes in wants to "Help"
5. Take Toddler outside to play and leave everything in the bedroom to sort out later
6. Trusty Grandpa offers to look after Toddler
7. Thank Trusty Grandpa and go back inside to sort things out
8. Sort stuff into piles
9. Put any clothes into the washing or away
10. Take photo's of things to sell on Trademe and to put on Frugal Mama
11. Bag items and put into the garage 
12. Toddler follows into the garage and knocks over fire extinguisher 
13. Freeze for a moment to check Toddler ok and extinguisher not going to explode or go off (used to work in insurance and OH! The photo's I remember!)
14. Confirm and sigh in relief that extinguisher is sound and Toddler fine
15. Usher Toddler out of the garage and lock door behind to keep Toddler out 
16. Toddler goes off and rides bike
17. Go back inside and continue to sort things out on bed
18. Break for dinner and bedtime routine
19. Hubby lies down with Toddler to help settle while I sort bottle out
20. Come back to find Hubby asleep and Toddler close to it
21. Toddler still wants bottle
22. Toddler downs bottle and is fast asleep alongside his Daddy
23. Get camera and take photo to capture special moment
24. Hubby wakes up after hearing camera go off
25. Go back into lounge and spend quality time with Hubby
26. Return to bedroom and finish sorting out items on bed - finally get into the wardrobe
27. Pull out clothes that are too big and don sit right
28. Open vacuum bags and start trying on pre-pregnancy clothes
29. Fashion show for Hubby ensues 
30. Feel pretty happy that some of my favourite clothes fit
31. Try on 7th form ball dress for giggles
32. Find that beside post pregnancy chest - it FITS!
33. Grin from ear to ear and go back to show Hubby
34. Get ready for bed
35. Hop into bed and go to sleep really happy for a job well done

How To: Keep a Toddler in their own bed

Have a nightly routine sorted that consists of:

1. Dinner approximately 5.30pm
2. Bathtime
3. Say goodnight to everyone
4. 3 books of Toddlers choice read - each read more quietly then the last
5. Tell them Goodnight Moon 
6. Turn light off at the "Goodnight Light" Part
7. Sing Alphabet through once
8. Recite the phonetics of the alphabet - different theme each week
9. Sing There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
10. If Toddler not asleep yet, sing The Flying Fortress and/or This old man 
11. Toddler usually in bed asleep by 7.30-8pm

Then, when Toddler is sick with a head cold - the routine goes out the window on some nights... but try to stick with routine as much as possible, however other nights will be like last night:

1. Have a fun filled day of adventures
2. Mummy's back is sore, so go to bed for a rest
3. Leave Toddler with Daddy
4. Get up and realise it's 6pm - well after normal dinner time
5. Go into lounge and find Hubby in lounge asleep on couch (He has long days starting at 5am - so is usually exhausted at this time of night)
6. No Toddler in sight
7. In own half-asleep state - wake Hubby up and ask where Toddler is
8. Toddler comes running into lounge holding wooden spoon "Here I am"
9. Walk into kitchen and find pantry doors open with pots and pans on the floor
10. Find Toddler at feet "I'm Cooking!"
11. Sigh in relief that Toddler must have just started cooking so there wasn't food everywhere...
12. Thank Toddler for starting dinner
13. Pick up pots and pans off the floor, put away ones not needed, set others on stove 
14. Cook Mac n Cheese for dinner - burning self with hot water splashes in the process
15. Eat dinner and notice Toddler struggling to stay awake
16. Finish dinner and clean up Toddler
17. Hubby carries Toddler to bed who's falling asleep in his arms
18. Toddler mumbles "Bottle"
19. Sort bottle out
20. Toddler drinks bottle and then is right out to it
21. Kiss Toddler goodnight and go out into the lounge to enjoy an evening of scrapbooking
22. Go to bed about midnight (as got lost in the craftiness of it all)
23. Get woken up by Toddler crying and coming into bedroom
24. Try put Toddler back to bed
25. Toddler points to bedroom door - wants to sleep in Mummy and Daddy's bed tonight
26. Tell Toddler they have to be quiet if they sleep in the big bed
27. Toddler is quiet and nods
28. Go back to bed with Toddler
29. Lie in bed waiting for Toddler to go to sleep
30. Once Toddler is asleep put back in own bed
31. Go back to own bed and start to drift off
32. Toddler wakes up again
33. Give Toddler bottle 
34. Toddler drinks bottle and goes to sleep
35. Take empty bottle to kitchen
36. Just get back into bed and Toddler wakes up
37. Go into Toddlers room 
38. Hop into bed with Toddler 
39. Go to sleep until 4am when woken by sore back
40. Get up take painkillers and go back to own bed
41. Hubby's alarm goes off - he leaves for work
42. Toddler wakes up as Hubby's car drives off
43. Put Toddler on Hubby's side of bed and both go back to sleep until 8am 

How To: Play with a Tunnel

1. Get Tunnel out for Toddler
2. Toddler Crawls through tunnel for a bit
3. Toddler then decides to take tunnel for a walk around the house
4. Toddler tries to park ride on toy truck in tunnel
5. Toddler takes koala toy into tunnel
6. Toddler crawls through tunnel and sticks head through hole "Hello Mum!"
7. Toddler wants Mum to play with tunnel
8. Play with Toddler and tunnel - peek-a-boo games etc
9. Lift up tunnel and call down to Toddler
10. Toddler tries climbing up tunnel
11. Put tunnel down
12. Toddler wants Mum to go through tunnel
13. Remind Toddler that is how the hole got made in the tunnel - from Mum AND Daddy playing with the tunnel...
14. Washing machine goes off - Toddler wants to put tunnel away
15. Toddler grabs bag for tunnel while Mum ties it up
16. One tie is on and Toddler wants to go through tunnel again
17. Finish tying up tunnel and put away in bag

How To: Draw on a Box

1. Toddler plays with box
2. Toddler wants to "Draw"
3. Get pens and move box with Toddler into kitchen (that way if Toddler colours outside of box, it's easier to clean up)
4. Toddler Draws on box 
5. Toddler finds circle holes in box
6. Toddler uses circles as a stencil to make black and purple circles on kitchen floor
7. Notice what Toddler is doing
8. Grab Jiff and wet cloth
9. start cleaning floor
10. Toddler walking away with black pen in hand
11. Call Toddler back "I know what you are thinking of doing... we don't draw on walls"
12. Toddler comes back
13. Realise pen is not coming off with the cloth - need a scrubbing brush
14. Fill bucket and collect two scrubbing brushes (Toddler wants to help too)
15. Scrub away at the marks on the floor while Toddler scrubs the rest of the kitchen floor
16. Collect scrubbing brush off Toddler and grab sponge mop
17. Use sponge mop to mop up Toddlers puddles
18. Put bucket, scrubbing brushes and mop away
19. Toddler now wants to play with Tunnel - See: "How to play with a Tunnel"

How To: Eat Cheese and Fold the Washing

1. Start the day by folding washing just after breakfast
2. Toddler pulls out cheese grater
3. Take cheese grater off Toddler and put away
4. Toddler says "Cheese!"
5. Get cheese out for Toddler
6. Start to grate cheese
7. Toddler says "NO!"
8. Get Cheese slice out of drawer
9. Have trouble slicing cheese - opt to cut with a knife instead
10. Toddler now happy to sit and eat the cheese
11. Continue folding washing
12. Toddler comes out with bottle of milk
13. Toddler says "I have milk"
14. Pour milk for Toddler
15. Put milk away
16. Continue folding washing
17. Hear clatter in kitchen
18. Go to investigate
19. Find Toddler with piece of cheese, trying to use grater
20. Take grater off Toddler
21. Grate pieces of cheese for Toddler
22. Toddler gets a mandarin out of the fridge
23. Peel tough skinned mandarin for Toddler
24. Continue to fold washing
25. Toddler goes into freezer - gets frozen peas out
26. Put frozen peas in bowl for Toddler to eat for snack and to "cook" with
27. Put peas away
28. Toddler sitting on kitchen floor playing with Paw Patrol Dozer
29. Uses dozer to push peas, cheese and mandarin pieces around in a game
30. Leave Toddler to it (can always clean up later after washing is folded)
31. Toddler wants Thomas book
32. Get book down for Toddler
33. Fold more washing
34. Empty hot-water cupboard
35. Toddler still reading Thomas book - take opportunity to go to the toilet alone as each time pages are turned, the book "Toots" and makes noise
36. While in toilet hear Tooting Thomas book suddenly stop
37. Quickly finish up and rush out to find Toddler in bedroom emptying drawers
38. Put clothes back in drawers
39. Next load of washing is finished
40. Empty washing machine and put next load on
41. Toddler pushes buttons
42. Toddler gets grater and colander out
43. Put them away
44. Toddler wants Thomas book put away
45. Put it away
46. Toddler makes a fuss
47. Ask Toddler to "Use your words"
48. Toddler still upset
49. Get Thomas book down
50. Toddler doesn't want Thomas book
51. Put Thomas book away
52. Lift Toddler up to point to what they want
53. Toddler pulls out Fireman Sam DVD
54. Tell Toddler "No Fireman Sam today" (trying to cut TV time down)
55. Toddler not happy about that
56. Distract toddler with stacking toy doll their Genial Aunty gave them
57. Continue to fold washing
58. Get Toddler out of freezer
59. Toddler is holding Bacon bits "I help"
60. Decide to have Mac n Cheese for dinner - so Toddler can help cook it later
61. Put bacon bits on bench to thaw out
62. Look at time (12.30pm) and ask Toddler if they want lunch
63. Toddler nods
64. Make lunch for Toddler - See: "How To: Make a Toddler's Lunch"
65. While Toddler finishing lunch, put next load of washing on
66. Toddler wants to push buttons
67. Clean up Toddler and let them push buttons
68. Toddler plays with toys
69. Continue to fold washing
70. Toddler sees pirate undies
71. Toddler takes pants off
72. Take Toddler to bedroom to take nappy off and put undies on
73. Toddler wants nappy instead
74. Put fresh nappy on
75. Continue to fold washing while Toddler reads book
76. Toddler says "Girl stuck"
77. Look at book and Toddler
78. Toddler says "Girl out?"
79. Take closer look at book (it's a "First words" Book, the girl in question is a picture of a girl posing for the word "Excited")
80. Explain to Toddler that the girl is part of the story
81. Toddler responds with "Girl stuck. GIRL OUT!" 
82. Explain to Toddler that girl lives in the book
83. "Girl stuck!"
84. Find picture of the girl's "Mum"
85. Explain to Toddler that the girl's Mum would be very sad if she left the book
86. Toddler nods
87. Toddler goes to play with his box and says "Bye Girl"
88. Shake head and continue folding washing
89. Toddler says "Draw!" 
90. Get pens out for Toddler to draw on his box - See:  "How to draw on a Box"
91. Continue folding washing
92. Toddler wants his tunnel out
93. Tell Toddler we need to clean up the pens first
94. Toddler happily helps clean up, collecting the lids for each pen
95. As each lid is put on Toddler tries to name each colour - if he doesn't know, he asks "What's that?"
96. Pens are now away - Thank Toddler for a job well done
97. Pull out tunnel
98. Continue folding washing while Toddler plays with Tunnel - See: "How to play with the Tunnel"
99. Washing machine goes off
100. Put Tunnel away (with Toddler's help)
101. Toddler want to wear monkey hat
102. Put monkey hat on Toddler
103. Take basket of washing out
104. Toddler wants to ride bike
105. Swap monkey hat for helmet
106. Toddler still wants monkey hat - sling it over the handles of bike
107. Look at time - it is now 2.30pm
108. Decide that it's probably best to have own lunch now (Toddler was fed before)
109. Grab rice crackers, and a drink for self (Toddler too) and sit outside for a break 
110. Toddler sits down too then gasps
111. Toddler runs inside singing "Milk Milk Milk"
112. Wait and watch Toddler coming out with container in his hands
113. Toddler sits down and puts container full of defrosted peas from before on picnic table
114. Toddler smiles and nods "PEAS!" 
115. Ask Toddler "What happened to the milk
116. Toddler shrugs and goes to ride his bike
117. Shrug back and put it down to Toddler's random magic trick (being able to turn milk into peas...)
118. Finish belated lunch, hang up washing, and go back inside to finish folding the washing (with Toddler in tow of course!)