Chipotle BOGO

I'm sure by now most have you have seen this, but just in case you haven't Chipotle is offering a buy one get one coupon in exchange for watching a 1 1/2 video clip promoting the new show on NBC America's Next Great Restaurant.  The show actually looks pretty entertaining, so the process is painless. Just go to their facebook page here, like the page and then watch the video and voila you can print out your coupon!

Ooooh Baby Part 2

As I stated earlier, my two deliveries and babies couldn't be any more different.   We were very fortunate and were able to get pregnant pretty much on the first try both times.  So when we started talking about baby number 2 we were hopeful that we would get pregnant fast again.  I found out I was pregnant with Addie while I was training for a 1/2 marathon, I would be 9 weeks along the day of the race and was secretly hoping that my Dr would tell me I had to stop training, but she didn't so I ran the race and have yet to run since.  So here is the story of baby number two.

Lil' Miss Addie
  When I went in for my first ultrasound at 9 weeks, immediately I knew that something looked different.  There just seemed to be a lot of empty space on the screen.

9 week ultrasound

My Dr said that it appeared that I possibly was originally pregnant with twins and that the second sac didn't form, they call it a vanishing twin.  She said it's somewhat common and it should absorb back into the other sac, so we scheduled for a followup ultrasound 2 weeks later.  I must admit I cried when I left that day, I think especially after you have had a baby and truly watched the evolution that unfolds in your body you have a much deeper feeling on life (at least I did.) I was sad for the twin I maybe lost because for some reason Jason and I both were thinking twins. 

So I went back 2 weeks later and the sac was still there just as large and the baby was still doing well, so she referred me to a high risk pregnancy Dr for follow up ultra sounds.  After my initial appointment at the new office it was apparent that I did not have a vanishing twin but instead had something in my uterus, what we did not know.  So I continued getting ultrasounds there every 4-6 weeks for 4 months.  What was nice about it was that I would get to have these 1 hr ultrasounds on a big screen TV and get to see the baby growing and detailed, it was at this office that we found out we were having a baby girl.  Because we didn't know what the thing was in my uterus we just monitored the baby.  Regardless there really isn't a whole lot that can be done while you are pregnant and baby girl (that's what I called her) was growing and thriving so there was no urgency to investigate more.  Throughout every ultrasound though baby girl was always breech, always.  She was measuring ahead just like Augie but I had no intentions of having a c-section even though I was given the go ahead because of the size. 

As my due date was slowly approaching it was becoming more evident that she would not be flipping.  We tried just about everything except for version, I had no desire.  I would throughout the day rub my belly in a clockwise motion calmly telling the baby to follow my hand, Jason on the other hand would yell to my hoo-ha "come towards the light baby girl, come to my voice", neither worked.  The thing with a breech baby especially a big breech baby is it really feels so weird, your body is designed for the baby to be head down, and baby girls head was protruding to the left all of the time she moved and it looked like an alien sometimes.

We scheduled a c-section for 1 week before my due date about a month in advance just to get me on the books, we had our final ultra sound the week before my scheduled date just to make sure she hadn't flipped.  She of course did not listen to her poppa to follow the light.  My Dr and I kind of guessed that because of the thing in my uterus it may have been blocking her a little to move as freely as she would like.

On May 21st I went in for my c-section.  If I'm being totally honest I will tell you this, I HATED the c-section.  We dropped Augie off at daycare and got to the hospital around 10am for a 12pm c-section.  I delivered once again at OSU (Ohio State University Medical Center), and when you are prepping for a c-section you are in a pre-op room with 4 or 5 other people divided by a curtain.  Remember the coat closet recovery room I was left in after Augie?  Well I found out that it wasn't the coat closet it was the pre/post op room but I was facing all of the scrubs.   So Jason and I are in pre-op anxiously awaiting when they wheel in "Randi" with an "I", well she just had had an emergency c-section on her 5th child.  When the nurse was asking her her medical history and asked if she smoked her response was " well I quit 3 days ago so you could say that I'm not a smoker" (in my best WT/RN accent.)  She then explained that she was "gonna go get myself fixed if this baby makes it through ok."  I think that is a fabulous idea.  Jason and I just looked at each other and I said she's really messing with my zen right now.  I think it's funny that when you have a vaginal delivery they set you up in this serene stress free room but then with a c-section they treat it just like a surgery. 

I was taken back at noon and Jason had to wait in the hall while they got me prepped.  This is one of the reasons I hated it, I received the spinal which is a crazy experience, it really does completely numb you from the chest down.  I kept telling myself to wiggle my toes but I couldn't and then I thought "wow an epidural has nothing on a spinal!".  But as everyone was working diligently to get me ready I had nothing to take my mind of the fear and nervousness I had for this major surgery.  No music, no TV, no Jason just to talk to me.  I think people forget that c-sections are major abdominal surgeries they aren't just some in and out thing, and having Augie too I have to say I was really scared that something may happen to me.  So all these thoughts were running through my head and I started to get really uneasy and started to cry, I looked at the anesthesiologist and asked "can my husband please come in now"  so they went in and got him.  As soon as he came in the surgery began, Addie was born around 12:45 pm and was a petite 8 lbs 13 oz.  And when I say petite I'm not being facetious she looked tiny compared to Augie.  And just like Augie I got to see her for a minute and then they whisked her off to the nursery and Jason followed and once again I was left alone in the O.R.

I was in the O.R. for over an  hour, we had issues with my placenta and she could not get it detached from the uterine wall.  This was kind of to be expected because of my previous placenta accreta.  The thing with c-sections is that although you are numb you still feel everything, it just doesn't hurt.  So as they were trying to get it detached they were pulling and tugging on my insides while I was still cut open.  I began to get really nauseous from the roller coaster from within, they gave me a shot of something because the thought of throwing up was just another nightmare in itself.  So as I was laying there I finally started to relax after the shot and started talking candidly about "Randi" with an "I" and how she was messing up my zen, and also that they should think about having some music or head phones or maybe just knocking the mom out during this whole section, because it was brutal.  I was finally wheeled back to the coat closet and after 2 hours apart Addie and I were reunited.

Addie took right to breastfeeding and did an awesome job, from the start she had no desire to take a paci.  My milk came in by the time we left the hospital and little missy miss became a 10 min nurser.  Because of the complications after Augie we already had my prenatal visit and ultra sound scheduled.  My milk supply was never in abundance but it was enough to satisfy my little peanut.  So when I went in 6 weeks later we found that my uterus was still filled,  we were going to do an MRI but at 8 weeks Addie was still refusing to take a bottle.  If a bottle touched that child's lips she would arch back and scream, we tried every bottle and nipple type, we tried to get her hungry, tried when she was sleepy tried to trick her, she wanted nothing to do with anything!! She hates bottles and paci's still to this day.  So I went in for my MRI with contrast and told them that I couldn't do it because they said I would need to pump and dump for 48 hrs.  When I went back to the Dr 2 weeks later we did another ultrasound and scheduled for a D&C.  So there I was at 8 weeks PP still bleeding and having a D&C again.  I had to pump and dump for 24 hrs and it was the longest 24 hrs ever.  Addie refused to eat from a bottle, we had to force feed her with a medicine dropper.  She ate about 6oz that whole day.  SO when someone says "they will eat when they are hungry" they have never met Addie Mae!  After my D&C we followed up with another ultrasound 4 weeks later and I still continued to bleed.  When we had the ultrasound we found a mass.  I  finally had my MRI about 4 mos PP and once again Addie went on a 24 hour hunger strike, and after the MRI and another biopsy it was concluded that I have a fibroid. 

So I somehow developed a fibroid in between having Augie and getting pregnant with Addie.  The fibroid grew on the scar tissue that was left after the placenta accreta with Augie and the placenta from Addie adhered to the fibroid.  So that's where we stand today.  I'm scheduled for another ultrasound next month to see if anything new has changed.

WHEW!!! Well there it all is, I think.  Thanks for reading all the way to the end. 

Dr. Seuss Story Time

If you are looking for something to do tomorrow, Targets nationwide are having story time from 9-11am.  Here is a link to find more information about the story time near you!

Amazon Wipes

If you are getting ready to buy some diapers or anything else from Amazon and are getting some wipes, use the code MOMWIPES and get an additiional 10% off wipes!

Is That Going to Scar?

Last night when I was putting Addie down for bed she was a little fussy so I stood at her crib and patted her back.  While standing in their dark room I closed my eyes and began to daydream.  I started to think of the beach and a vacation that I so want to take and then I felt like I had to pee.  Then all of a sudden it dawned on me, for both of my kids entire life they have been lulled to sleep by sounds of the ocean and running water.  They know no different, for all I know they think that at night time, waves roll through the grass and flocks of sea gulls fly through the night sky like bats.  And then I thought to myself, how much therapy is this going to cost us!! We've kind of blocked out the wave machine at night, but sometimes in the middle of the night I am reminded of the sea gulls flying overhead.  The kids have never been to the beach so they don't even know the sounds that they are listening to.  I know that every decision we make we have a 50/50 chance they will need to go to therapy for so I wonder if the waves will leave a scar, how bad would I feel if one day one of them tells me they had nightmares everynight about sea gulls!!

Swagbucks

Allison a friend I have met through the wonderful world of online life introduced me to Swagbucks.  I'm still learning the ins and outs and it's another one of those sites where you get out what you put in.  In a nutshell you earn Swagbucks and then you can redeem them for prizes or gift cards.  I've decided to start using the site to get Amazon gift cards to pair with the diaper deals.  I just signed up a few days ago and have earned 76 swagbucks so far.  You have a variety of ways to earn what I do is everyday I take their daily poll and then I use their search engine to search instead of yahoo and google.  If you use their search engine you will be randomly selected to earn swagbucks, I've been randomly selected everyday.  Feel free to sign up using this link.  I know you can find codes too but I haven't gotten that far yet!

Free Apps

Since becoming an iPhone family we have all become a little addicted even Augie.  I received an e-mail today from Fisher-Price and their new Laugh & Learn Apps.  So far they have been a hit at our house so I thought I would share!

I Cheated

I've been cheating on my husband.  Jason loves scrabble, his whole family does.  It is one of the things I love about his family, if you go to his Grandma's everyone sits down for a competitive game of scrabble.  Jason knows all of the little words like "Jo" and "Qat"  all the tricks to get the maximum points.  While trying to prepare him for an iPhone I showed him Scrabble on the iTouch and I have since created a monster.  He plays it all the time.  So every night we now play a pass-n-play game and for the last 2 nights I have lost by 1 point. 1 stinkin' point!!!! So last night we were playing and I was getting beat so I decided to use the "best word" heart.  It's a little button that you can press and it takes your tiles and puts the best word for the maximum points.  So throughout the game I used all 4 of my hearts, but I never once told him.  So as we were laying down for bed I mentioned that I would not be losing tomorrow night by 1 point!!! He told me he was proud of me and how good I had gotten and I felt a tiny pang of guilt.  Then when we turned out the light and gave me a kiss he said "Are you going to use up all 4 of your Best Word Hearts again?"  BUSTED!!!!

My Daily Battle

In case you didn't know I have Narcolepsy, which in Lehman's terms means that I fall asleep easily and am always tired.  It is something that I have dealt with for a long time but wasn't diagnosed with until about 5 years ago.  What I don't have is Narcolepsy with Cataplexy (thankfully) which is what most people think of when they hear the word Narcolepsy.  Cataplexy is when the person falls asleep during an activity, usually what you see in most movies or comedy skits.  What I battle with daily is exhaustion, with Narcolepsy I feel exhausted all day everyday.   It can be treated with medication which is typically what I do but you can't take anything while you are pregnant or nursing.  For some reason both times I have been pregnant my body has created some type of hormone and my Narcolepsy has seemed to diminish, when most people are struggling with low energy levels during pregnancy I was thriving the whole way through.  Because I have chose to breast feed for a year I have just had to battle it daily and some days are harder than others.

Today was a hard day.  As some of you know my kids don't sleep.  I try not to complain about it because frankly I don't want unsolicited advice on the matter.  You know how you have those random things that you just don't want to hear people's 2 cents about? Well this is my thing.  I don't know why but I get defensive when people try to tell me about what I should do regarding my kids sleeping or lack there of.  Maybe it's because I only get about 4 hrs of sleep total a night, 6 hrs is a really great night.  But it's my problem to deal with and I have super happy kids during the day so I'll take the trade off.  Alot of times people ask me how I do it and I always think it's a funny question because well you just do.  I mean it's like anything with motherhood you don't really have a lot of options when it comes to certain things with your kids.    Anyways back to today, I have all of these tricks I do to keep my brain stimulated so that I can stay awake.  That's one of the reasons we are always on the go, this is the only way to keep me going, if we are at home too long sitting around I can barely keep my eyes open literally.  Today I made the mistake of putting on comfy pants when we got home from Addie's 9 mos appt.  my jeans had gotten wet from the snow so I grabbed some PJ pants.  Then when Addie went down for her nap I laid down to and slept.  It.was.great. But then I realized all of the things I didn't get done, the house is a mess, and the problem with Narcolepsy is that naps don't make you feel refreshed.

Why as mom's do we always have so much on our "To Do Lists"  I mean really? Is there ever a day where we won't beat ourselves up about taking an hour to just do nothing?  I'm guessing maybe not, or maybe once the kids are older.  Thanks for letting me be totally random and now you can say you have a friend with Narcolepsy!

Ebates

I know I have mentioned Ebates before but I just saw that they are having a promotion where you can pick a gift card just for signing up.  Also you can buy groupons through their site to.  Any little bit helps especially if you are shopping anyway!

Baby Talk

I just read that Baby Talk magazine has had $10 off Amazon diapers coupons. The $10 off can be paired with the 20% off found in Parents and Parenting. Here is the link to sign up for a free subscription! http://www.opt-in-offers.net/bonnier/A1.asp

Creativity in the Bathroom

I had another one of those "what in the heck do I do, nobody told me about this" momma moments today.  I took the kids to the Columbus Museum of Art, which was fantastic and free!! While we were there I really had to use the restroom, so I wheeled the sit in stand to the bathroom and maneuvered our way in .  Now on the door it had a little handicap symbol but there is no way in Haiti's that a wheel chair could fit in the largest stall.  So I tried to push the stroller in the stall and realized there was no way that it would fit and I could shut the door.  So there I was in the bathroom with the mini bus, having to pee and stuck. Of course the stalls were situated directly from the sink and the wall of mirrors so I'm looking at my reflection thinking what to do.  I couldn't bring myself to push the kids out and close the stall door and I couldn't get them both down because where would I put Addie?  So I decided to get creative and I pushed the stroller in as far as I could, held a blanket up with my teeth for a curtain and just gave the women that walked in a look of "when you got to go, you got to go!!"

Photography

As I mentioned earlier I took an amateur photography class on Saturday.  I have a middle of the line camera, it gets the job done but doesn't deliver like DSLR's.  I hope to one day buy a DSLR but it will be awhile so for now I will make do.  Anyways, I went to this class confident and left realizing that I know nothing about actual "photography."  My head is still spinning and I'm still trying to make heads and tails of my notes, I think I need to read the owners manual again and then start practicing.  I did sit next to a very nice girl who has a 9 mos old and 2 year old and we talked alot, so hopefully I made a new friend, I'm always looking to make new ones!

I'm really fortunate because Jason and I decided early on the photography would be our splurge on the kids.  We knew we wanted to do maternity pictures, well I knew I wanted to do them and given I was waddling around with his almost 10lb baby, he wanted them too.  So I found a photographer and since have become slightly obsessed with her.  Erin Johnson some how captures every emotion that I feel in her pictures.  I sometimes think that I will never be able to put into words how much I love Augie and Addie but when I look at the pictures that she has taken I feel like she has frozen my love for them in each photograph. 

So I have ended my weekend realizing that photography will just be something that I enjoy but definitely never my career.  Going to the workshop inspired me to find some more classes to take, I think next up will be a sewing class!

PS: make sure to check out Erin's Website, she really is fantastic both as a person and a photographer!

Let's Talk About...

I'm working on a post but I need everyones honest opinion.  I have put up a poll (don't worry it's anonymous).  Select your answer as to how often you and your significant other get intimate. I have the poll closing on Friday or Saturday I don't have a calendar handy!

Project Overload

I am in project overload this week.  You know the weeks, where you have so much that you "want" to do that you become so extremely overwhelmed that you get nearly nothing done? That's the kind of week I am having, hence why my blog has been a little sporadic.  Here is what has been going on in our lives:

1. I got a new phone on Monday! I made the switch from a crackberry to an iPhone which is way more addicting.  I thought the transition would be tough but I haven't looked back since.  We are on a budget so we got the 3GS's.  Jason got one too, he was upgrading from his ancient razor, yes he still had a razor.
2. Spring gave us a sneak peek, which means we spent close to 8 hours at the zoo, went to the park, took walks and played outside.  We also spent some time at the library and I checked out a new book that is adding to my project overload.
3. My real estate gig had me working on a postcard which was all consuming in itself.
4. I'm reading a book that I am hoping will change our lives.  I love magazines and was reading an article about clutter and the author said she read this book and it changed her life, so I checked it out from the library and have begun reading it.  It's a little out there but the premise is going through your entire home top to bottom, every drawer, closet every inch and getting rid of things.  This is something that we really need to do and I am hoping this book gives us the swift kick we need.  I'll keep you all posted on the status.
5. I'm School Board President at Augie's daycare and have been dealing with board issues and am creating a website for the center.

And then just life in general, the ins and outs of my daily week.  I'm taking an amateur photography class tomorrow morning which I am so extremely excited for, and which will probably add more projects to my brain but that's OK.  I'm borrowing my parents DSLR until we can buy our own, I'm sure I will be driving my household crazy taking pictures but oh well.

I have lots of topics I want to blog about, so I hope to be getting them transferred from the note pad in my brain to the computer in the weeks to come!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

So I told you yesterday about the benefits of Facebook Contests and today I found out I won one!! I'm so excited, I won Augie and I tickets to see Madagascar Live which Augie is just going to love.  One of our favorite indoor play places Firefly Play Cafe was having a contest about the strangest thing your little one has put in his or her mouth.  Well some of you remember the Dead Baby Bird Incident ( here it is in the words of Augie.)  But in a nutshell we were playing outside when Aug was about 14 mos old.  He loved eating mulch and I was constantly batting things out of his mouth.  Well I saw him put something in his mouth and I actually thought it was a wild mushroom, so I ran over to him to bat it away as he was pulling it out to examine when to my surprise it was a FEATHERLESS DEAD BABY BIRD!!!!!!!  I freaked out grabbed him ran into the house screaming and trying not to vomit.  I took him into the kitchen and sprayed his face with the sprayer trying to get him to rinse out his mouth.  Try to tell a 14 mos old to rinse and spit, it doesn't work.  Coincidentally a few days later Augie came down with the Chicken Pox, when I was telling the pediatrician about what had happened and asking him if they could be connected.  ( I was a new mom!)  He listened intently, paused and then said "Wow, that's got to be the grossest thing I have ever heard."  and then when I left I heard him telling one of his partners "you gotta hear what this little guy tried to eat!!"  I felt awesome!!!

Contests

One of the reasons I love facebook is for their contests. I "like" just about evry business page I can, well local ones because they are always doing contests, or just updating their loyal customers about something.  In the last few months I have won 2 tickets to see Broadway Across America CATS and I won Augie this awesome vest from one of my fave store's in Columbus Lottie Da Baby the owner Amy is an absolute doll. I met her at a Baby Bonanza before she opened her store and we had an instant connection.  Her store has amazing things, that are a little over our everyday budget but it's a great place for gifts and she is always doing contests.  So if you don't get on facebook very much, this is one reason to check it daily!

Run Momma Run

I have been wanting to get back into running. I ran a 1/2 marathon when I was 9 weeks pregnant with Addie and I haven't ran since I stammered across the finish line. I just read this articleand am hoping to start up again. Once the snow melts and it gets warmer and...

Kate Spade Sample Sale

It is Sample Sale time at Kate Spade.  This promotion happens about once a year and prices are up to 75% off.  I have found that some items do go quickly so if you see something you just have to have order it fast, but if there are things you are on the fence about sometimes they offer an additional discount on the last day.  Here is the link Kate Spade Sample Sale, you have to enter your e-mail but they don't spam you.  Happy Shopping!

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful day.  I would love to tell you that we did something romantic, but it was just another night for us.  Jason did bring me a box of choclates which he informed me that he laughed while he was picking them out, because I'm not a fan of choclate so he was actually buying them for himself! At least he is honest and knows me well, I guess it's the thought that counts.   I hope to post my birth story with Addie tomorrow night, it's going to be a long one so make sure to check back!

Ooooh Baby

As I said in my first post one of my reason's for this blog was to be open and honest about the trials of mommahood.  I know that some of my loyal readers (smile) are expecting, new mom's,maybe entertaining the idea, grandma's or even dad's so I've decided to share my birthing story.  I feel like there is a major disconnect with what to do with you once you get home from the hospital.  The books,classes, websites all prepare you for every random possible situation that may happen during your 9mos (which is really 10) leading up to the baby, having the baby and then what to do with the baby once you get home.  Well I have found that a lot gets left out so here I am ready to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly.  This post is not intended to scare you, don't worry I won't be graphic or gory but my hope is that my post can bring light to the subject that too often gets over looked.  As always feel free to message me, or leave a comment if you ever have any questions, anything is open for me.

My babies couldn't have been any more different so I feel like I have the perspective of both sides to cover all bases.  Here are a few differences; boy/girl, vaginal/c-section, normal position/breech, bottle fed/breast fed, just to name a few.  I'll split this post into two different posts as to not bore you or scare you off.  Feel free to post your own stories, tips or comments as well!

My BIG Baby Boy
I get really big when I'm pregnant and with Augie I gained 75 lbs, we knew that he was going to be large just because and I fortunately never got gestational diabetes or anything.  I was scheduled to be induced 1 week early but I went into labor 13 days early.  I had a fairly easy labor, I had an amazing nurse who was with us the entire time.  When we first got settled in she asked everyone to leave the room, I had Jason, my mom and my sister Trish with me.  She just wanted to talk.  I had printed out a little "Birthing Plan"  I had found on Baby Center that I told her about.  We had an open dialog about what was most important, she simply stated that things arise and sometimes (most times) things won't go exactly as we planned or wrote down.  We both agreed that our number one priority was the health of the baby and all of the other things would be secondary.  She then explained something that I try to share with everyone, because it was so true and it put me at ease.  She in so many words said " At some point today your little man will have a freak out moment, It will most likely be nothing other than a little ahh, got your attention now, but regardless we will take it seriously, to ensure the safety of both you and the baby, this is why we don't want a ton of people in the room or people hanging out in the hall."  She also said baby boys tend to have their moments right before the pushing begins, she doesn't know why they just do.  How she worded it, how she expressed it as though we were just two friends talking really helped calm some of my nerves.

My labor moved at a steady pace and was pretty much status quo, I received an epidural and after having my water broke and 12 hrs of labor it was finally go time.  So as I did my first push Augie decided to have his freak out moment, in a blink of an eye they were unhooking everything, had my bed rolling and threw scrubs at Jason.  I actually didn't know what was happening until I looked at my sister and she told me they were taking me to the O.R.  My Dr knew that I didn't want a c-section unless it was completely necessary and I had all intentions of birthing my massive baby.  As they were rushing me down the hallway my wonderful nurse explained that Augie was having his freak out moment, that he had been such a good boy and wanted a change of scenery.  That his heart rate had dropped so they were taking me to the O.R. just in case a c-section was needed.  Now for anyone who has been transported in the middle of labor you will know that it is like night and day between the birthing room and the O.R.  I had spent the last 12 hrs watching the Golden Girls in a serene room with only my family, a nurse and the Dr, when BAM!!!! The O.R. is sterile and cold and metal and bright and their are 20 some people in there from the surgery staff, pediatric staff, nurses, Dr's, and lord only knows who else.  So once I was settled on to the table and they got all of the monitors hooked up, Augie's heart rate went back to normal and I began to push.  Well one thing about pushing is that all the cheerleaders around you lie! I swear they told me for 45 mins "One more big one Christy, One more big one!."  I finally asked the nurse " Is it possible, can I do it, can I actually have him" She kindly said "yes, you really are almost there" and after 1 hr of pushing my 9lb 14oz toddler was born.  I only got to hold him for a moment, and then he was taken up to the nursery to have his blood sugar tested.  It is common in large babies to have low blood sugar so they monitor this for the 1st 24 hrs, fortunately Augie's was fine.  Jason went with the baby and I stayed in the O.R. for about an hour and then went to recovery for another hour.  Which the recovery room I swear looked like a linen closet, I actually thought for the longest time until I had Addie that they had left me in the linen closet.

Augie and I were reunited after 2 long hours, he latched on right away, and in hindsight I wish I would have asked more questions with the lactation consultant or even taken a breast feeding class.  I did have to supplement a little because the big boy was hungry and my milk hadn't come in yet.

Once we got home everything was smooth sailing until Augie was about 4 weeks old, and we took him in for his checkup.  Augie was a very noisy sleeper, we would call him chipmunk boy or dolphin boy because he always made these weird breathing nosies.  But we were new parents and we knew nothing else.  At 4 weeks we had to go to Children's for chest x-rays and Augie was diagnosed with Tracheomalacia or a floppy airway. Fortunately it was a mild case, but it has caused all of his breathing issues that he currently has.

As for me, well I had successfully had a 9 lb 14 oz baby, I wasn't prepared for the "crime scene" that happens the few days after having the baby in the hospital.  One thing I was surprised about too and later found out that I could have asked, I didn't get anything for the pain.  After I had him they gave me 2 ibuprofen, that was it!  So once I got home I was pretty sore, but I used the tucks pads, bactrin spray and sits baths were my pals.  I still struggled with breastfeeding, and found that I was always needing to supplement and Augie was always wanting to nurse, like every hour wanting to nurse and still being hungry.  At 5 weeks PP I went to the Dr for my PP checkup. (My Dr had a baby 2 weeks after me, so I was seeing one of her partners.) I explained to the nurse practitioner that I thought I may have started my period because I had never stopped bleeding and I didn't have much of a milk supply.  She said I probably was just pushing myself and to take the weekend to relax and prop my feet up.  If that didn't do the trick to call the following week, well the next week came and nothing had improved, they brought me back in and did an internal ultra sound.  They discovered that over 50 % of my uterus was filled with placental tissue, and when they did my blood work it still showed my pregnancy hormones as high.  So I was schedule for a D & C 3 days later, in which they discovered that I had Placenta Accreta where a whole extra lobe on the placenta had grown into my uterine wall and after delivery it didn't separate.  Everything was normal after my delivery so I showed no signs that I would have this.  It was because of the Accreta that I had no milk supply because my body still thought I was pregnant.  After the D & C I had to go on an antibiotic for 7 days and was unable to breastfeed on it.  I met with a lactation consultant and we tried to increase my supply, I had to rent a hospital grade pump, which looks like a milking machine. And pump every 2 hours, day and night for 2 weeks.  Fortunately the summer Olympics were on so I would watch that.  I also took the herb Fenugreek which helps with milk supply and also makes you smell like Maple Syrup, yes it's lovely.  So after all of my efforts I had gotten my supply up to 6 oz a day, yes 6 whole oz, which at that point Augie was 8 weeks old and about 16 lbs, so that was like a sip for him.  I decided at that point to give up pumping, and put my effort into my boy instead.

So there it is, I hope I didn't bore you too much.  But I think birthing stories are things that should be shared.  When I was pregnant a client said to me "Remember having a baby is the most natural thing your body can do, we live in a world where we are electively doing things to our body, but a woman's body was designed for child birth."  I loved this and still do.

Never Hurts to Ask

So I'm always trying to find ways to save money without having to give up too much.  Every year at the beginning of the new year I make a point to call the cable company and get my bill lowered, I'm finally getting around to it.  We have our cable, phone and Internet all rolled into one.  We use Time Warner, and I'm not really interested in changing company's so I just like to call and get a reduction.  One of my guilty pleasures is the series Big Love on HBO so I really didn't want to cut this off of my bill, when we first got HBO it came with Cinemax for a bundled deal, I could take or leave Cinemax.  It is nice to have the movies on Demand especially for Augie.  So I called today and was so excited to get my bill lowered $25 a month and get 2 more movie channels added, so now we get Showtime and Starz too and we pay less!! So it only takes about 5 mins and remember to be NICE!!! Niceness will always get you farther, I always like to start any conversation when I'm dealing with customer service "how are you today" let's face it they probably want to get asked just like us mom's do!  Good Luck on your quest.

De Clutter

As I have said before we live in a fairly small house, we love it, but we are constantly trying to be creative with our growing family.  We try to think things as minimal as possible because 1-we don't have much space and 2-Jason is anal retentive.  Jason also has an obsession with side tables, like a real obsession, so he is always looking for new ones, coming home with one and rearranging the living room and the dining room.  Well we have this little desk that he just had to have, that we are supposed to put the mail on so that we don't have a pile on the table.  Well this little desk doesn't really have any type of organizing so it just ends up over flowing with mail and then looks like a total eye sore but I pick my battles and I use the desk.  I hate junk mail and noticed the other week that we have been getting a ton of pre-approved credit card applications.  We are each getting about 3-4 a day and then I realized that our 5 year opt out had expired.  So I wanted to pass this along, because I must admit I don't shred like I should I usually recycle half and throw away the other.  If you are looking to help reduce clutter, hey I'll take it where ever I can, you can go to Opt Out Pre Screen and be removed from the distribution lists for 5 years electronically or permanently by mail.

Check it Out

We are very fortunate to have an awesome library within walking distance from our house.  Obviously today was quite frigid so we drove.  I asked Augie this morning if we wanted to go to Cosi or the Library and he chose the library.  He absolutely loves it there which is fine by me.  We spent close to 2 hours there this morning and we didn't even go to story time.  He loves picking out books and playing with the kitchen set.  We always check out a few books when we are there and a few movies too.  I love to let Augie pick out books because he somehow picks out the coolest ones.  I'm always looking for new books, I feel like anytime we go to the book store they are always the same ones that we have seen a million times but the library has so many.  He's obsessed with animals so we of course had to get some Nat Geo books on Octopuses, Cheetah's and Hippopotamuses.  But the really cool books were these Follow The Line Books, one was Follow the Line Around the World and the other was Follow the Line Through the House.  They are so cool that I thought I would share, because like I said I'm always looking for fun new books.

Also on a side note, if you haven't explored your local library lately I definitely recommend it.  If the one nearest to you isn't that great than try a neighboring city.  Ours has all the new releases for DVDs, they have magazines, audio even downloadable books for those reader things. So no matter what your age is it's probably one the best free resources around!!

And if you don't subscribe to any of the parent magazines they usually have few with the Amazon coupons in them!

I have an extra 20% off diapers at Amazon coupon code. It's
YJRW-G4B4GH-EVYACE exp 2/28/11.
Just make sure to leave a comment that you used it so no one else tries!

Cloth Diapers

My super talented friend is making these awesome cloth diapers, Tangerine Baby Cloth Diapers.  I would have loved to CD but daycare doesn't allow it and I still am actively looking for a job.  Her online shop Tangerine Baby is one of my faves!  She makes the cutest dresses and PJ's. I'm going to do another post about her with some of the custom things she has done for me, but I wanted to share the diaper link separately!

Different Worlds

I honestly think that men and women are from completely different worlds, and I often wonder if we are really meant to be together.  I always knew that we think differently but it wasn't until I had kids that I realized that our mental makeup is so drastically different that it's astounding.  Today was just a crummy day, you know those days, you wake up with all of these great intentions and then bad moods, short naps and life in general makes for a doozy of a day.  Today was a first Jason took both of the kids out by himself, surprisingly he survived.  He had the day off,and like usual he ended up getting grumpy because he didn't get any "me" time.  We ended up bickering because of this and that just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I used to fret over these things when we first had Augie, from the start I was perfectly content being with Augie all day long.  And now with 2 on most days it never crosses my mind to be away from them , or the fact that I did nothing today for "me". Everyday he needs to have his "alone" time, whether he goes to work or not. There is never a day, a minute or a moment that I abandon the thoughts of the kids and do something.  If I run to Target, take a shower, make a Dr's appointment my first thought is always of the kids.  These are the things tha Jason just doesn't comprehend, he just goes about his day because lets face it I've got the kids covered.  I always (Sorry if I'm jumping, I'm catching up on my Oprah DVR and this whole Trump Family thing is kind of making me gag!)  Anyways someone told me once that you realize how needy your spouse/boyfriend/babydaddy (whoever!) is once you have a child and man were they right!!!! I do love my husband and I do think that he is a great poppa, but I honestly don't get where he is coming from.  And on the flip side I don't think he honestly sees what I do day in and day out, that being a mom is the absolute most selfless act.  I find on crummy days like these I have to take lots of deep breaths and suck on lots of lifesavers so that I don't let it get the best of me.  Sometimes I just want to scream, but I know that we are like oil and water when it comes to how we think.  Now don't get me wrong I'm all about communicating but I think there are aspects where men and women are just different simple as that.  By the way, study's have shown that sucking on a flavored life saver or hard candy can reduce stress by allowing you to concentrate on the yummy flavors!

Well I know this post has been all over the place but I just needed to vent,I'm sure Jason is at pool tonight venting about me too!

Chicken & Corn Soup/Stew Recipe

I got this recipe from Family Circle February's magazine.

Chicken & Corn Chili (Soup/Stew)

What you will need:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• bag of frozen chopped onions * recipe calls for 1 large onion chopped
• (Recipe calls for 1 green pepper, Jason doesn't like green peppers and all of the colored ones were $3.99 at the time so I didn't find it necessary)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 (14.5) can chicken broth * calls for low sodium
• 1 (14.5) can seasoned diced tomatoes *recipe calls for 1 can plain diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 bag Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips cut into bite size pieces (you can find these in the freezer section, just heat before you cut) * Recipe calls for 1 1/4 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
• 1 box (10 oz) frozen corn thawed
• 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans drained and rinsed, I have a hard time finding these sometimes so I usually just buy some type of white beans
• 3/4 tsp salt
• shredded cheddar cheese

To prepare:

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add onion and green pepper.  Cook, stirring, 5 mins.  Stir in cumin, coriander and chili powder;cook 1 minute.
2. Stir in chicken broth and tomatoes.  Bring to a simmer.  Add chicken.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
3. Sir corn, beans and salt into pot.  Heat through.  Spoon into bowls and top with shredded cheese.

Redbox

If you use RedBox here is the monday free code: FEB7MOVIE.  I signed up forever ago for their texts sometimes I get a monday code every week, other times it's once a month.

Meal Planning Follow Up

We are now heading into week 3 and I must say it is going very well.  Ive been trying alot of new recipes and we have had a few hits and misses along the way.  I must admit I hate when dinners are a flop, especially if I don't like it it really bums me out.  Last week I made a new crock recipe and in theory it should have been really good, but it was just so-so, so i got the cross off on the meal planning sheet and a big fat no.  It also had way to much prep, which is why I like the crock pot I don't want to prep I just want to toss and go.  I have found since doing our meal plan, my original 17 meals is probably going to last us 5-6 weeks instead of 4.  The reason is because we actually have made the meals last longer than I expected and a few meals we have had enough ingredients left to make it again.

I thought I would share this Chicken & Corn Soup/Stew Recipe with you all because Jason really liked it, and even complimented me on it the next day which rarely happens.  I thought it was good, my only reservation is that the recipe calls it a chili but it wasn't at all so I renamed it Soup/Stew because it's not really brothy but it's not really a stew either, so you can call it what ever you like.   The second night I mixed it with noodles to make a goulash, I like to do this anytime I make chili type things so to change it up a but.  As with all recipes I do my own little tweaks, so I will put both down so that you can decide for yourself!!

As you may probably realize by now I never comment on if Augie likes it or not, he truly won't try anything other than noodles, cheesy things or chik fingers for dinner.  He usually sits at the table and points at our plates saying "that's yucky momma, that's yucky" and sometimes if I'm lucky when I'm feeding Addie he will look at her food and scream "Noooooo baby, that's yucky!!!!" which then scares her and gets her in a tizzy and then dinner fun really begins.

I sometimes wonder why I even put so much pressure on myself for dinner, I rarely get to eat it hot, I always am eating it one handed, I get up every few minutes and it's usually who ever can talk the loudest between Augie and Jason.  At which I then zone out.  So tonight when you sit down for dinner if you are bored do the following things and think of me;

1. Put a vase filled to the top with water or some type of liquid on a lazy susan.
2. Make a bowl of watery oatmeal.
3. Turn on the t.v. and the radio (yes both)
4. Turn them up loud! ( this is mimicking the sound of Augie and Jason :))
5. After you plate up the food put yours in the fridge, wait 5 mins, take it out.
6. Now sit down.
7. Have your spouse/partner/roommate (whoever!) spin the lazy susan...fast.
8. Start eating, you can only use your right hand for everything, that includes cutting things...you'll figure it out.
9. With the lazy suzy spinning take spoonfuls of the oatmeal and try to dump them in the vase while looking over your right shoulder saying "yes sweetheart, one more bite please" over and over again.
10. Excuse everyone from the table including your spouse/partner... sit  alone and enjoy the glass of wine you poured!!

It's just another day in paradise folks and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Reusable Snack Bags

For awhile now I have been hating all of the zip lock baggies I throw away a week.  I wouldn't say I'm total granola but I do try to be earth friendly.  I try to reduce what we throw away for two reasons, 1) I like to recycle when I can and 2) we have to pay for trash and recycling is free.  So being less wasteful does really save money for us.   In the community that we live in our trash is not rolled into our water bill or taxes, we have to buy trash stickers.  Each sticker costs $2.90 (I think they just went up) and 1 sticker is good for one 50 gallon trash can.  So we try to only fill one large outside trash can per week.  On a side note when they last reported our area had 30-40% less waste then other area's so it is a pretty good idea, except for when it's 10pm and you realize you are out of trash stickers and you have to run to the grocery to buy some!

Anyways back on track, so I was thinking of buying some reusable snack bags when fate stepped in and my friend blogged that she was going to start making some.  I call that divine intervention!! The day I was looking (I kid you not) this was her blog post Pictures for my new adventure.  So I ordered myself 6 and absolutely love them.  I have been using them for dry snacks, the kids nebulizer attachments,and hide the toy for Addie (a game we play and we put different toys in them for Addie to try to get out).  I can honestly say that I have probably cut our baggie usage in half already and I haven't even had them for a whole week.

So I definitely recommend checking out her blog, it's kind of funny because we have never actually met in real life but she is a dear friend of my sister and we kind of live this bizarre parallel life and have a lot in common.  Her blog  is Make A Silk Purse.

What Order?

Whenever I'm at the grocery or Target I always find myself faced with the same dilemma.  You would think now that I have 2 kids that I would have this problem figured out but yet I still find myself second guessing myself and thinking "I wonder what other people do?  Do they stress out about this as much as I do?".  So my question is...in what order do you take the bags out, put the baby(s) in and put the cart back?  I always try to park right next to the cart corall so that I don't get totally stressed out, but that isn't always an option.  When the weather is nice it doesn't really matter I usually unload the bags, then drop off the cart then come back to the car.  But since I do live in Ohio this rarely happens, so there I find myself on weekly basis not knowing what to do.  Here are the 3 scenarios that I think of:

a) Put baby in car, then bags, then return cart, then Aug.
b) Bags, then cart, then baby(s)
c) Cart, then bags, then baby(s)

Now something I always think about doing but I never have, especially on days when it is freezing or extremely hot is too actually start the car.  But then the little voice in the back of my mind says you are leaving your kid(s) in a running car to return a cart.  And you know all of those Lifetime Movies, that I now regret ever watching, they always say it only takes a second.  But besides not starting my car, I usually always put Addie in first, then the bags, then take the cart and last load Augie.  I always feel like people stare at me like "She just put her baby in the car and walked away!!!!"

Ok, so I know I am probably totally being irrational about this, but I have always wondered what everyone else does.  Make sure to leave a comment so that everyone can see.  It is stuff like this they need a section for in the baby books!!

I'm Not Crafty...

so I have friends that are!  I wish I could say I was craft, now don't get me wrong, I do think that I am creative but I am not naturally crafty.  Yes I could probably take a class and learn how to sew or make bows, I don't know how to but I still like to gift things.  I am very fortunate to have crafty friends though which makes me look like an amazing creative friend!!!  Throughout my blog I will be sharing their information with you.  They are all mommas and I love supporting them in the things that they are so talented and passionate about.

I love sending gifts to people that are original and are out of the box.  My friend Amanda has a fabulous business called Lady Bird Designs and she has the handsomest model ever.  She makes custom baby apparel and she was my go to girl this spring when all of my friends were having babies.  She is super fast and packages them up like little cup cakes. 

Our friends just had their third baby, so I had her make shirts for all 3 kiddo's with their first name initial plus headbands for the girls.  I'm so excited to give this gift I can hardly wait!!!



Shortly after we had Addie our good friends had a little girl, well their last name is Jester so I wanted to send them something special, so Amanda made this awesome onsie for them.  The dad actually called to thank me because he thought it was so cool! How can you resist ruffly butts!!

She made this cute set for our friends who we met in birthing class and both of our babies are less than a week apart!

So if you are ever looking for a unique gift that is reasonably priced,she is your girl!!

When I Can Do No Wrong

We've been couped up for the last few weeks.  The babies have both been sick, Addie has RSV with RAD and Augie has been fighting a bronchial infection too.  Pair that with an awesome ice storm and no power and needless to say we were running out of ways to have fun.  Well at least Addie and I were.  It always amazes me how Augie can find new and exciting things in the house.  I guess I should be thankful that he has the ability to do this, because I'm sure before I know it this gift will be gone.  The day before we lost power Augie asked me if we could color on his box, the same box that kept us entertained last week playing oscar the grouch.  So we got out the crayons and then began coloring, well Aug is obsessed with all animals and he decided that he wanted me to draw animals for him.  He didn't ask me to draw a cat, or a pig or a dog, all of which I would do miserably because I CAN'T draw, instead he asked me to first draw a cheetah, then an alligator, a lion and a kangaroo.  So I like a good sport drew him his animals.

As I drew each one, he got more excited and scurried over to his basket of animals to have me draw him a new one.  As I laughed at myself I began to realize that to him they were perfect.  That they looked just like his animal toys and that I could do no wrong.  It is these moments that catch my breath and make me love being a mom even more.  But at the same time it makes me want to stop time and sit in this moment; sick babies, no sleep, crumpled clothes and all, forever.

I think becoming a mom has showed me a whole different side of love that I never really knew, a love for myself.  In the eyes of Augie and Addie I can do no wrong, I am invincible. I can fix anything and I can make anything happen.  I'm a super hero of sorts.  I find this can work against me if Jason and I are arguing because sometimes I think in the back of my mind "who cares what you think, I've got two people that think I'm the best thing since sliced bread!"  I've been trying to work on this...a little.

I know this will all come full circle, there will come a day when they will think the opposite (the dreadful teenage years) and then they will be adults and I will be like my own mom and will do everything in my power to fix everything, make everything happen and still wear my super mom cape.  But for now I will draw animals with my head held high, and be paid back with smiles, because in the end, I still think my mom is one of the best artists ever.

Well we've been out of power for 20 hrs with no end in sight!! I'll be blogging again soon my friends.

So if you are iced in today like me just wanted to let you know that today you can get 20% cash back at Old Navy through Ebates. This could be trouble!!