I found something my kids love to share!

Do your kids love to share?  My kids are 2, 4, and 5, and they think that sharing is the worst idea ever invented.  With their ages being so close together, it's an impossible dilemma to avoid, because they are interested in most of the same things. 

Today, however, was one of those 'aha' moments when I discovered there was something my children actually love to share with each other....their sickness!  I swear this week my kids are in a competition to see who can have the highest fever.  My 2-year-old started at 102.8 on Thursday, then my 5-year-old got up to 103.2 on Friday, and tonight my 4-year-old son registered at 103.4. 

Fevers are a scary thing for this mom, and others I'm sure.  I know how bad I feel when I have one, so I understand their pain and do everything I can.  Tylenol, warm baths, fluids, cool washcloths, etc.  But when should you call the doctor?  I don't want to be the mom that runs to the ER every time my kids shows the slightest problem, but I also don't want to ignore something that needs medical attention either.  This is easily one of my biggest struggles as a mother and after 5 1/2 years, I'm still not sure I'm getting it right.

 
 

I have found an app for my IPhone that I really like called the ChildrensMD Symptom Checker Mobile App from the Children's Hospital Colorado.  It has a symptom checker and care advice, as well as guidelines for when you need to seek medical attention and how quickly that attention needs to be sought after.  Plus, it's free!



The kids are down for the night, and the plan for tomorrow is a day of rest for everyone to recover from our week of illness.  I hope they continue with their restful sleep so Mommy can get rested and ready to face a new day.  I should get some sleep while I can!

What are your go-to interventions to make your children more comfortable during a fever?  When do you decide it's time for a trip to the doctor.  I would love to hear advice from other moms on this topic!  Now, off to bed for me to pray for a better tomorrow!

Every farm needs a good dog

My dad has a saying,

"One dog is a good dog, if you have 2 dogs you really only have half of a dog, and if you have 3 dogs, you don't really have a dog at all."

If you're trying to make sense of this, he was thinking of dogs in working terms. If you have a good cattle dog he will be of great value to the rancher helping him sort his livestock. If you decide to have two dogs, they can get distracted by each other and not give their full attention to their cattle work. If you get that third dog, you might as well plan on sorting those cattle yourself, because all of your dogs are going to be too busy playing together to do any work. Now maybe this isn't always the case, but my dad has some good quotes that make you sit and think about what exactly he's trying to say and he's usually right.

So why is it important to have a dog on the farm? It is my strong opinion, that we all need one all the time. My husband and I have always owned dogs and growing up, my parents never went without that I can remember. I should have recalled that when my husband and I decided after our last dog disappeared to relax and wait and find the perfect dog that we really wanted. We have gone almost a year without a dog around, and let me tell you how that's gone.....my yard looks great, there are no more holes dug in the grass or piles of poop to avoid. There aren't any paw marks on the vehicles where they jumped up to see if we were in there and my shoes don't get chewed up when I leave them on the porch. But let me tell you the problem. We've had problems with skunks, raccoons, rabbits, the neighbor dogs, cats, and now a badger. Does anyone know anything about the badger? Number one rule: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! We had to get a dog to keep these pests away, and fast!

So we decided we couldn't not delay any longer, it was time to train a puppy. We got lucky and found a beagle (which has always been my personal favorite dog breed) and there was a female in the litter ready to go that hadn't been claimed yet. This is fate folks! So now we have an absolutely adorable little girl (and her older brother and sister) dragging around an absolutely adorable beagle puppy. The number one reason I think it's imperative to have a dog on the farm is because they bark when people approach the house. When you live in the middle of nowhere and your driveway is long enough you can't see someone pull in, barking gets your attention and alerts you to guests. I don't like surprises out here in no man's land!

It's not chasing the rabbits out of my garden yet, but hopefully next year it will be ready. I'm excited for my kids to grow up with this little pup and learn the responsibilities of caring for a pet and I'm excited for the day that it figures out it's role as protector of the farm.