Marlena has strep. We took her to the doctor on Friday, and they hopped her up on anti-biotics but the antibiotics don't seem to be helping her feel much better. She still has a really sore throat, a cough, and a runny nose. In addition, she is delusional.
Yes, I said Delusional.
She spent all day yesterday staring at her father and me and telling us our heads were too small. She would then rub her eyes, shake her head a little, and then stare at us for a minute before again pronouncing our heads tiny.
After a bewildered call to her pediatrician, I learned that delusions are a side effect that occurs in some small number of children who take antibiotics for strep.
Oh.
Yay for us! We are rare! I was advised to "not ask her repeatedly if my head is still small, as it would only make her focus on the issue and become a way of getting attention."
Right.
Well, there go my plans for the day. I had fully intended on quizzing my daughter as to the size of my head all morning long!
Hopefully the delusions will fade soon, but until they do, I am trying not to be totally creeped out.
Onto more cheerful things.

Yesterday I posted this image in my weekly winners:

Many of you responded with requests for how to make Vanilla Extract.
Here is a link to the Instructables website we used to get the recipe. Note, this is not a two step process, it will take you a day to make it. However the steps are easy to follow, and pretty self explanatory.
As for why to make it, well, you can guarantee that your extract does not have HFC added to it, and uses only natural flavors, like Vanilla bean and Vodka. Additionally, you can make it double strength, which takes twice as long, but guarantees a fantastic cooking aid.
Further, we have discovered a lovely use for the remaining beans. We split them, harvest the caviar (bean innards) and then toss them into a can of sugar. What comes out a few days later is vanilla sugar. I have been able to halve the amount of sugar I use in recipes if I replace it with vanilla sugar.
It's nice over cereal too (and in coffee I am told).

Well, this shrunken headed mom is off for some coffee. Enjoy!