Sunday, May 22, 2011
New Do...
After a long and trying week it was nice to get out and get the morning to pamper myself a bit. Decided on a new look for my hair. Took my long bleached hair and turned it into a layered and reddish/brown do. It took 3 1/2 hours but it was well worth it. Happy with the outcome. It is always a little scary making such a drastic change to your hair...but I'm glad I did it.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Child's Surgery
It is 2 days after Ava's surgery...and thankfully life goes on. Ava is recuperating nicely and we are falling back into our old routine. Before I go any further let me just say that the last couple days have been the most trying of my life. I never realized how much I love my child, want to protect her, and can't bear to see her in pain...until we went through this ordeal. Let me take you back a few days....
Monday the day before the surgery...it is rainy and dreary and I feel a weight on my shoulders that I have never felt before. I am an anxious person by nature but this was a anxiousness that took my breath away and made it feel like a 1000 people were sitting on my chest. I can't really pinpoint exactly what it is about a looming surgery that causes so much anxiety...perhaps there are to many things to list. It is an overwhelming thought thinking of your child going under, getting cut, facing risks, waking in pain, not understanding what is going on, and the list goes on and on. Then in our case...with it being a surgery that was optional...it left us wondering if we made the right decision and if the whole thing was really necessary. As an adult you can make your own decisions on your health and whether or not you want certain procedures to be conducted. As a child all that responsibility lies in the hands of a parent.
The day slowly moved forward as I packed our bags for the hotel stay, for the hospital stay and for Stef who would be staying with her grandparents for 2 days. The time finally comes where it is time to drop Stef off and head out to a hotel that is near the hospital. Ava was very excited about the prospect of traveling with both parents alone and getting a fun evening out at a hotel to eat, swim, and play. A fun time was shared by all but the cloud of dread never stopped looming over our heads.
Tuesday at 4:40am....after a restless night of sleep...I got up and began getting ready. A million thoughts were going through my head and a million different questions I all of a sudden wanted to ask anyone that would listen. How will she take the IV? Will she panic when we have to leave her? How long will they let us stay with her? How long will it take?? Will it all be okay?? Questions perhaps I should have asked but didn't really think of as other information was being spewed out to me the two weeks leading up to this. Information I was given included time of operation, procedures that would be taking place, location, possible time frame depending on the severity of the brachial cleft abnormality, and that she would be staying one night. Other than that...I didn't know much.
We arrived at the hospital at 6am with 15 minutes to spare. In my minds eye I pictured us walking into a quiet office where we would be the only ones there. We would be taken back and then be given further details about what was about to occur. An operation is such a major thing to the individual undergoing the procedure and the family undergoing it with them...but unfortunately is is not as major to a hospital. How can it be...there are hundreds of operations that go on everyday. People are just people to them...nothing else...not family, not friends. But to us it is more and it is was hard to swallow how it all really went down and how impersonal it all felt. We get to the hospital and we find our way to the in/out surgery area. It is a large room filled with at least a 100 people. There are old people, young people, babies, people with major disabilities, deformed individuals....pretty much someone from every walk of life. We go to the check-in desk where we receive a pager...much like the one you get at your local Ruby Tuesdays when waiting for a table. You sit and when your pager goes off you go to another desk where you sign your name on a screen. It is barely even explained what your signing. When asking...the lady states it is insurance information and she wishes she had more time to go over it with us but has so many people to usher through the office. We then sit and again wait for our pager to start buzzing. It goes off about 15 minutes later and we go to a nurse that is standing at the front of the room. Several other peoples pagers went off at the same time so we are all standing together. We are then asked if we have to go to the bathroom. This begins feeling somewhat surreal...again not what I expected in my minds eye. Why am I being asked this?? Where am I going?? Are there no bathrooms? How long will I be back there? To embarrassed to raise my hand...I decide I can hold it and we move on. She takes us to another floor down various corridors and then hits the big silver button that opens two double doors into a room that looks like something out of a nightmare. There are people laying in beds throughout the room with various tubes, in various states of consciousness and in the background you hear babies crying, children shouting, and you see the doctors rushing around. It all became to much at that point. I felt lost, confused, and completely overwhelmed. Tears welled up in my eyes and I just wanted to grab my baby and run from all of this. She could live with these bumps...anything is better than this. I then snapped out of my daydream when I am told to go to the desk and sign some more papers. Once that was done we were led to our curtained off corner of a room and Ava was placed on a hospital crib. She was given a pair of hospital pajamas to wear and was completely clueless to what was about to happen. Her and Brian were having a grand old time playing with all her stuffed animals and she was jumping all over the place like her normal spirited self. Several minutes later the entourage of doctors, nurses, and residents began. First came the nurse who explained what was about to happen. This was when I realized that one of my worst fears was about to be put to rest. She explained they sedate the child with a medication so the separation from the parents is not so difficult. Why did no one ever tell me this?? This entire time all I could picture is them wrenching Ava away from us as they wheel her away into a sterile and scary looking OR room. I thought she would be panicking throughout the whole thing until someone finally put her under anesthesia. What a relief to know that this is how it was about to go down. After wrestling with Ava to get the medication down her throat...she began to get a bit "fuzzy". As she was zoning a bit the doctors continued to come in and out. Everyone asked the same questions over and over and over again. What is she getting done? What is her past medical history? When is the last time she ate? When is the last time she had a bowel movement? Just over and over and over again those questions were asked. I honestly do not know how hospitals make mistakes on patience because it sure does appear they are thorough. The doctors marked the areas of surgery and explained the entire procedure and what we could expect. The anesthesiologist explained they would put a mask on her and put her to sleep before inserting the IV. Yet another major relief. I thought for sure that would be another terrifying experience...watching them struggle to get an IV in a 2 year old that is in a rage. Hmmm...maybe this whole thing isn't going to be as bad as I thought. Finally it was time to separate and one of the very nice anesthesiologist grabbed Ava up after making "friends" with her and off they went. Ava never even looked back. Again...not how I pictured it would all be.
Brian and I head back to the in/out surgery area where we are to wait for the doctors phone calls. We sat there and processed what just happened. We felt a sense of relief of how it all went down and that no tears were shed by Ava and that maybe the worst was over. Little did we know...
About 30 - 40 minutes after our initial separation from Ava our "Ruby Tuesday pager" goes off and we report to the waiting room liaison. She states that the doctor (hand specialist) is on the phone to report on how the first part of the surgery went. Again...not how I pictured that happening. I expected to be in a quiet waiting room where the doctor would come in smiling telling us all went well and she was resting peacefully. Instead I am sent over to a phone that is ringing in the corner...where pretty much anyone that wants to listen...can. The doctor reports that the ganglion cyst had been removed and was larger than what they thought. They got it all, tied it off, and stitched the incision shut. They bandaged her arm with a cast in order to keep it stable for the next week or so. He explained the next doctor was currently in the OR and getting ready for his portion of the surgery. Little bit of relief...but the worst surgery was yet to come.
We decided since we had a while to wait we would run and get some coffee just to get out of the oppressive room with all the patience and their anxious family members. So we took our pager and headed to the cafeteria. We chocked down some coffee and quickly returned...not wanting to miss the doctors call. This portion of the surgery took approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. My pager went off and I returned to the liaisons desk where she motioned me to the phone. The doctor reported that there was indeed a fistula connected to the pit and they were able to remove it all with one incision. He reported that she did well during surgery and warned me that she might wake irritable. He also stated there was very little bleeding and if she was doing extremely well by the end of the day that perhaps we wouldn't have to stay the night. The doctor then stated that she would be arriving in recovery soon and they would call us as soon as we could go back. We sat there for about 15 minutes before they called us. They gave us a piece of paper with directions on how to get to the recovery room. We were so excited to see her and thought for sure she would be asleep and when waking she would be thrilled to see us. What we found was completely different...
We followed our directions to the room, hit the big silver button to open the double doors, and again we were greeted with a room full of surgery patients in all different states. This time I didn't care and didn't pay much attention....I just wanted my baby. We stated who we were and they said "oh good...they were asking for you all". We rush back to where we are led and there is our poor baby being cradled by a complete stranger. She only has her pajama pants on, tubes all over her, a huge bandage around her neck and a cast on her arm. Her face is so swollen it is almost unrecognizable and she looks like she has been through the worst experience of her life...and in all actuality she has. This child has never so much as had a band-aid. The worst she has had is a ear infection and we have been there for her every second of her life...if she needed anything. This time she woke up, she was scared, hurting, and we weren't there. I don't know why they didn't have us there the second she opened her eyes? So without us there she woke with a "bang". From what we gather she went berserk. She was trying to pull out her IV, she must have been screaming on top of her lungs and crying her eyes out...hence the swollen face and the massive pile of tissues lying beside her. I quickly approached and neeled down in front of her and I felt my heart break in a million pieces. She did not seem happy to see me or relieved, in fact, I felt that she was mad at me. If she was...I will never know. She wanted her Daddy and for him to hold her. So Brian calmly sat down in the rocker and held her to his chest. Ava would lay there peacefully for a bit and then she would sit up and start pulling on the bandages and IV's and start crying. I just sat there helpless and in tears myself. The doctors came in and checked in on her and felt that she was calm enough now that she could be moved to her room. They put Brian in the wheelchair and he held Ava and they pushed them to the children's hospital.
The next phase of this whole thing became much easier. The nurses showed us around the children's floor of the hospital and tried to make us as comfortable as possible. At this point Ava was extremely restless and could not seem to settle herself. This is often how she gets when she is overtired. There was no way to keep her calm unless we had the TV on. Thank goodness I had the whits about me to pack her favorite movie...Toy Story. We popped that in and she settled some. She would come and sit with me for a bit and then she would go sit with Brian. She did not want to be bothered at all but seemed to find comfort in being near us. The minutes just drug by as we sat in the room and we just felt dread over the long night that was potentially facing us. However...late afternoon the ENT arrived and took a look at the incision on Ava's neck. Being that it was still bloodless...he felt he could release her and let her go home. AMEN!!!!!!! We couldn't get discharged quick enough. We felt confident that if we could get her home to her own bed and the things that make her comfortable that she would rest better and in turn heal quicker.
Within the hour of the doctor saying we could be discharged we were in the car and on our way home. Ava fell asleep almost immediately. Brian and I...at this point...felt this whole experience come crashing down around us. I quickly called my mother to check on Stef and to just vent about the days happenings and to let her know we were on our way home. The moment I opened my mouth I began crying recounting the day and all the events. Brian silently listened as he drove and wiped the tears from his own eyes as the day caught up with him. After getting off the phone we continued to process the day and talk it over. It was a very strange feeling. The operation was something that we wanted to have over with...yet we were not feeling a sense of relief. I guess it was the unknown of what to expect once we got home. We did not know how Ava would be, whether she would be in pain, if she would relax and be comfortable...it was all stressing us out a bit. On our way home we stopped at the pharmacy and got her pain medicine, her antibiotic, Popsicles, and ice cream. Once we got her home we made her favorite macaroni and cheese and then gave her ice cream. We were doing anything to make her happy and to make things up to her. She was just beyond tired and miserable at this point. So as soon as dinner was over I gave her a sponge bath, administered her medicine, dried the tears that followed and got her to bed. Thank the Lord she slept the whole night without a peep...and woke up the next morning in good spirits.
The days following the operation she would tire easily but for the most part was her normal self. She was not as energetic but still as compliant as ever and sweet as can be. Exhaustion seemed to envelope us all as we were somewhat like zombies the days following the ordeal. We were happy to have our Stefi back and have the whole family returning to normal. It has been 4 days since the operation and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome or with how well Ava is doing.
 |
| Day after surgery |
I have come to the realization within the last couple years of my life that everything happens for a reason. Everything is a piece of the puzzle of our life and there is a lesson(s) to be learned from everything we go through. Finally...to be thankful for every experience and lesson no matter how hard or grueling it might be. Believe it or not...the morning after the surgery I woke up and said a prayer to God thanking him for the whole experience. I did not know the lesson yet but I was thankful that He led me to a situation in which He was present and guided me through it. In the days following I have learned that perhaps the biggest lesson in all of this was for Ava. Perhaps this is her first glimpse of how gracious God can be. When he created Ava he created this situation for her to go through. From it hopefully she will see how good God can be...how He can bring us through tough times...and how he is there even when it is all over. I personally have learned that things continue to be out of my control, and that when I am faced with the unknown, I MUST HAVE FAITH. I'm sure as time progresses I will continue to see the lessons from this experience and how I can apply them to future experiences. I hope to also take these lessons and teach them to my own children someday. It is safe to say...the things that happen in life are all lessons for the days ahead.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Drawing Near...
Today I pack all our bags for our stay at the hospital. Ava goes in tomorrow morning to have a branchial cleft abnormality removed from her neck and a ganglion cyst removed from her wrist. We are heading out tonight to the Danville area as her surgery is very early in the morning. We are going to stay at a hotel tonight that is close to the hospital and make the most of our night before the surgery. First we will take Ava out to eat, then maybe do a little shopping, and then take her back to the hotel where she can swim in the pool. I want her to enjoy herself and have no worries. I have tried explaining to her a few times what is about to happen in order to prepare her but how much does a 2 year old really understand?? I am anxious beyond belief when I am by myself and with my thoughts. I have complete faith that God will bring us through this and she will do just fine. However...I still feel anxious. I will be glad when this is all over and she is on the road to a speedy recovery. If you read this blog...please say a prayer for a our little girl.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
EASY Lemon Cookies
Want a cookie that simply divine, melts in your mouth, and is super easy (and cheap) to make??? Well...then this is the cookie for you!!!! Ingredients:
1 pkg lemon cake mix1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tub of lemon frosting
Yup...that is all it takes. And if you do coupons you can usually get the cake mix/frosting really cheap!
Now on to how to make it...
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet. Combine cake mix (dry), oil and eggs in large bowl with spoon until dough forms.
Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Bake about 8 minutes, or until set. Remove from baking sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
There you have it....it just doesn't get any easier than that. One word of warning though...you want to watch these cookies closely and find the right time in which they take to cook. In my oven they take exactly 8 minutes if I leave them in for even more than a minute they will be brown around the edges and brown on the bottoms. So watch you don't let them brown at all around the edges and if they do just lower your time a bit until you get it just right!!
Now it is time to eat them.....ENJOY!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Making Time...
I sit here at my desk surrounded by more paperwork than I know what to do with or let alone know where to start on it. Transactions needed to be posted, bills need to be paid, paperwork needs to be filed, blah, blah, blah. Upstairs I have floors that need to be mopped, furniture that needs to be dusted, laundry that needs cleaned, cats that need fed, meals that need cooked, grocery lists that need to be made. It is just an
unending cycle of work...that no matter how much I get done there will always be something else to do. I work furiously every day to get as much done as I can. All the while Ava and Stef are growing by leaps and bounds....and even though I am here with them all day in and day out I feel like it is passing me by to quickly. When they are not napping or down for the night I need to spend more time just enjoying them and joining them in their play. How lucky are we as adults to get the opportunity just to play again?? Very lucky...and I need to take advantage of it while the girls are little. I need to put down the mop, shut the laptop, push the paperwork aside, turn the TV off and enjoy more quality time with this little miracle that God has given me. So often I find myself hustling around doing stuff while she is awake and trying to get things done. Then
when they are down for their nap I continue trying to get more things done. Well where is the quality time with the girls in all of this??
I have made a pact to spend more time interacting with them and when I can get to that other stuff I will. That other stuff will always be there but babies are only little once and I want to enjoy it while I can. I don't want the monotonous chores of life to take that away from me. So with that said....I am signing off
and going to go play with girls and enjoy as much time as possible with them.
unending cycle of work...that no matter how much I get done there will always be something else to do. I work furiously every day to get as much done as I can. All the while Ava and Stef are growing by leaps and bounds....and even though I am here with them all day in and day out I feel like it is passing me by to quickly. When they are not napping or down for the night I need to spend more time just enjoying them and joining them in their play. How lucky are we as adults to get the opportunity just to play again?? Very lucky...and I need to take advantage of it while the girls are little. I need to put down the mop, shut the laptop, push the paperwork aside, turn the TV off and enjoy more quality time with this little miracle that God has given me. So often I find myself hustling around doing stuff while she is awake and trying to get things done. Then
when they are down for their nap I continue trying to get more things done. Well where is the quality time with the girls in all of this??
I have made a pact to spend more time interacting with them and when I can get to that other stuff I will. That other stuff will always be there but babies are only little once and I want to enjoy it while I can. I don't want the monotonous chores of life to take that away from me. So with that said....I am signing off
and going to go play with girls and enjoy as much time as possible with them.
Friday, May 6, 2011
10 Survival Tools for Raising 2 Under 2
Though I no longer hold the proud title of mom of 2 under 2...I am proud to say I am survivor. My oldest is 2 1/2 and my youngest 18 months. That first year was insane but do-able. I'm not saying things are crazy now...but they are a different crazy. A crazy that involves 2 children that are much more self-sufficient which helps a lot with the everyday tasks involved with raising 2 little ones.
Now I used to blog back in the day and I shut that blog down shortly after having my second baby. It was just to much to keep up with and I felt like I was disappointing followers by never updating it. Anyway...I was looking back over some of my posts (I had them converted to a PDF so that I could always have them) and stumbled across this list of survival tools of raising 2 under 2. So for those of you out there who find yourself being a mom of 2 little ones or a mom that is riddled with anxiety because she is soon be a mom of 2 under 2....hopefully this helps.
This is a list of items that I would not have been able to function or live without and it goes in
order of least to most important.
10. Microwavable steam bags: This is one of those things that helps save time. If you are not familiar with this handy little bags and you have kids that are on formula...you should quick go out and get a pack. They are plastic bags that you put your dirty bottles in, add a little water, and put them in the microwave for a minute and 30 seconds. In this short time you have sanitized bottles and you don't have to go through that whole boiling process. Really is a time saver.
9. Formula: I support breastfeeding and I think that any woman that does it is amazing. I attempted it with my first child and after 4 months, slowly drying out, and eventually getting pregnant...I decided it wasn't for me. This time around I am going the formula route and it is definitely much easier in my eyes. Yes...it is more expensive but if you save your money, spend wisely, and utilize coupons it is worth the costs. It allows you the freedom of letting other people help with feedings, if you are busy you can prop the bottle (even though this is not recommended it is sometimes necessary), baby gains weight a lot faster, more time between feedings, more convenient when going out in public, etc. Those are just a few of the reasons why formula works better for me. Has definitely made things a lot easier this time around.
8. Wii Fit: Again not a survival tool that everyone might want or even enjoy but it is one I enjoy and it is a way for me to release steam...if I can find a second or two. Being that I am just 7 weeks post c-section...I have only been able to work out for the last week. Having the freedom to move about freely and use muscles I haven't used in a long time is invigorating and actually gives me more energy. The Wii Fit allows me to stay at home as opposed to dragging the kids out to a gym daycare and exposing them to the seasonal bugs out there. I also have the freedom of stopping and starting a workout. If I need to tend to a baby I can always come back to the Wii Fit a little later...something I would not be able to do if I had only a gym membership. I cannot see myself running back and forth to the gym several times a day. Ugh.... The workouts are fun and challenging and I appreciate that they have incorporated many different ways to keep you motivated. Hope
it continues to be something that is fun and that the novelty of it doesn't wear off soon for me.
7. Sound Machine: I have one of these handy little compact machines in each of the girls rooms. They provide white noise and block out some of the noises in the house that would more than likely keep them awake. It works great for during nap time and best at night time. That way when the baby wakes at night crying for her feedings it doesn't wake Ava. Also...during the day when Stef is napping and Ava is playing and screaming it doesn't wake the baby. Great machine and if you are interested you can purchase them
through Wal Mart online.
6. SUV: Before purchasing an SUV I had a 4 door sports car. I only had Ava at the time but it was cramped. I had to put her rear facing car seat in the middle of the back row or 120 else we would have had to move our seat closer to the dash and it would have been uncomfortable. Therefore...when #2 came along there would not be enough room to have a rear facing and front facing car seat in the car. Also...I didn't have much trunk space...and there was no way I was going to be able to fit the massive double stroller in the trunk. So I traded in my cool car for an SUV. Granted...it is not as suave...but it is the most practical, wonderful, and lifesaving purchase we have made to date. I am now able to fit the kids comfortably in the second row. I fold down the third row of seats and have plenty of room for my double stroller, umbrella stroller, and lots of groceries. The SUV has been the best thing ever...and I am so thankful that we were able to get one!!
5. Computer: This is a survival tool for several different reasons. For those of you that know me...know that I am a Google freak. I Google everything and anything. This has come in handy since having kids. If they look at me crooked...I go and Google it. If they have a mysterious bump, sneeze, make a weird sound, etc....I Google it. This might be a good thing...or it might not...but for me it is a necessary tool. I am worrier, a researcher, and a problem solver and Google helps me through it ALL!!!! Another reason the computer is handy is because it is a way for me to be able to communicate with the outside world. I am able to stay in touch with family and friends via email, social networking, and blogging.
4. "The Baby Whisperer": I cannot promote or push this book enough. I have mentioned it numerous times in other blogs and I will continue to mention it...as it has been my "baby bible". The book written by Tracy Hogg has helped me through all the developmental stages of the babies thus far. It helps with sleep issues, eating issues, developmental stages, scheduling, etc. If you have a question on how you should do something with or for your baby or want to know why your baby does things a certain way...it is in this book...and it is spot on!! If you are a parent...READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Sleep: Believe it or not this is number three...not because I don't want it to be number one but because it is impossible for it to be number one. Why is it impossible??? Because until the baby stops getting up for night feedings and I actually get an adequate amount of sleep...then it will stay a little lower on the list since there are other tools that I need to get me through the extreme exhaustion. At first the baby was waking every 3 hours to feed...meaning I was only getting 2 hour "naps" at night. Being post operative, hormonal, tending to two babies all day, and doing the night feedings every night on my own....really started to wear on me. Finally the baby is able to make it 4-5 hours at night meaning I get 3-4 hours of sleep at a time and that extra hour or two in comparison to only 2 hours feels like a full nights sleep. I can only imagine how a full night would feel again. This is why I have put sleep as a survival tool...I know it is important...I know it would help me get through my days better...and believe me I cannot wait for the day that I can move this "tool" to my number one spot!!!
2. Loving and Supportive Friends and Family: I don't know what I would do without my parents who help out with the kids consistently and remain our only babysitters. Don't know what I would do without the support of my sister who was even able to come out from AZ to visit us. Where would I be without the calls, emails, and lunches out with friends?? All of these are important and help any mom keep there sanity. Without these people in my life I would have lost my mind long time ago. Thank you!!
1. Caffeine: Yes....ladies and gentleman...caffeine is number one on my survival list. I would not be able to function without it. I would not be able to go from day to day without it. I cannot imagine life without my caffeine right now. It is the very first thing I do in the morning and it is what gets me through my day. I drink coffee all morning and then move on to soda from there. I know this is not healthy but until sleep is something that can be achieved with some consistency...then this is what I have to do. This is a definite survival
technique for me right now...and I have found it works!!!
Wow...re-posting this and reading it again sure does bring back a lot of memories. What a year that was...but I would do it all over again if I had to. I have the two most amazing little girls, who are just so close, and it is so fun to watch them together. If you wear the title of "mom of 2 under 2"....wear it proud...know that things will get easier some day...and drink lots of caffeine!!! Just so you know...some things never change...I continue to drink lots of caffeine now...maybe just not as much. :-)
Now I used to blog back in the day and I shut that blog down shortly after having my second baby. It was just to much to keep up with and I felt like I was disappointing followers by never updating it. Anyway...I was looking back over some of my posts (I had them converted to a PDF so that I could always have them) and stumbled across this list of survival tools of raising 2 under 2. So for those of you out there who find yourself being a mom of 2 little ones or a mom that is riddled with anxiety because she is soon be a mom of 2 under 2....hopefully this helps.
This is a list of items that I would not have been able to function or live without and it goes in
order of least to most important.
10. Microwavable steam bags: This is one of those things that helps save time. If you are not familiar with this handy little bags and you have kids that are on formula...you should quick go out and get a pack. They are plastic bags that you put your dirty bottles in, add a little water, and put them in the microwave for a minute and 30 seconds. In this short time you have sanitized bottles and you don't have to go through that whole boiling process. Really is a time saver.
9. Formula: I support breastfeeding and I think that any woman that does it is amazing. I attempted it with my first child and after 4 months, slowly drying out, and eventually getting pregnant...I decided it wasn't for me. This time around I am going the formula route and it is definitely much easier in my eyes. Yes...it is more expensive but if you save your money, spend wisely, and utilize coupons it is worth the costs. It allows you the freedom of letting other people help with feedings, if you are busy you can prop the bottle (even though this is not recommended it is sometimes necessary), baby gains weight a lot faster, more time between feedings, more convenient when going out in public, etc. Those are just a few of the reasons why formula works better for me. Has definitely made things a lot easier this time around.
8. Wii Fit: Again not a survival tool that everyone might want or even enjoy but it is one I enjoy and it is a way for me to release steam...if I can find a second or two. Being that I am just 7 weeks post c-section...I have only been able to work out for the last week. Having the freedom to move about freely and use muscles I haven't used in a long time is invigorating and actually gives me more energy. The Wii Fit allows me to stay at home as opposed to dragging the kids out to a gym daycare and exposing them to the seasonal bugs out there. I also have the freedom of stopping and starting a workout. If I need to tend to a baby I can always come back to the Wii Fit a little later...something I would not be able to do if I had only a gym membership. I cannot see myself running back and forth to the gym several times a day. Ugh.... The workouts are fun and challenging and I appreciate that they have incorporated many different ways to keep you motivated. Hope
it continues to be something that is fun and that the novelty of it doesn't wear off soon for me.
7. Sound Machine: I have one of these handy little compact machines in each of the girls rooms. They provide white noise and block out some of the noises in the house that would more than likely keep them awake. It works great for during nap time and best at night time. That way when the baby wakes at night crying for her feedings it doesn't wake Ava. Also...during the day when Stef is napping and Ava is playing and screaming it doesn't wake the baby. Great machine and if you are interested you can purchase them
through Wal Mart online.
6. SUV: Before purchasing an SUV I had a 4 door sports car. I only had Ava at the time but it was cramped. I had to put her rear facing car seat in the middle of the back row or 120 else we would have had to move our seat closer to the dash and it would have been uncomfortable. Therefore...when #2 came along there would not be enough room to have a rear facing and front facing car seat in the car. Also...I didn't have much trunk space...and there was no way I was going to be able to fit the massive double stroller in the trunk. So I traded in my cool car for an SUV. Granted...it is not as suave...but it is the most practical, wonderful, and lifesaving purchase we have made to date. I am now able to fit the kids comfortably in the second row. I fold down the third row of seats and have plenty of room for my double stroller, umbrella stroller, and lots of groceries. The SUV has been the best thing ever...and I am so thankful that we were able to get one!!
5. Computer: This is a survival tool for several different reasons. For those of you that know me...know that I am a Google freak. I Google everything and anything. This has come in handy since having kids. If they look at me crooked...I go and Google it. If they have a mysterious bump, sneeze, make a weird sound, etc....I Google it. This might be a good thing...or it might not...but for me it is a necessary tool. I am worrier, a researcher, and a problem solver and Google helps me through it ALL!!!! Another reason the computer is handy is because it is a way for me to be able to communicate with the outside world. I am able to stay in touch with family and friends via email, social networking, and blogging.
4. "The Baby Whisperer": I cannot promote or push this book enough. I have mentioned it numerous times in other blogs and I will continue to mention it...as it has been my "baby bible". The book written by Tracy Hogg has helped me through all the developmental stages of the babies thus far. It helps with sleep issues, eating issues, developmental stages, scheduling, etc. If you have a question on how you should do something with or for your baby or want to know why your baby does things a certain way...it is in this book...and it is spot on!! If you are a parent...READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Sleep: Believe it or not this is number three...not because I don't want it to be number one but because it is impossible for it to be number one. Why is it impossible??? Because until the baby stops getting up for night feedings and I actually get an adequate amount of sleep...then it will stay a little lower on the list since there are other tools that I need to get me through the extreme exhaustion. At first the baby was waking every 3 hours to feed...meaning I was only getting 2 hour "naps" at night. Being post operative, hormonal, tending to two babies all day, and doing the night feedings every night on my own....really started to wear on me. Finally the baby is able to make it 4-5 hours at night meaning I get 3-4 hours of sleep at a time and that extra hour or two in comparison to only 2 hours feels like a full nights sleep. I can only imagine how a full night would feel again. This is why I have put sleep as a survival tool...I know it is important...I know it would help me get through my days better...and believe me I cannot wait for the day that I can move this "tool" to my number one spot!!!
2. Loving and Supportive Friends and Family: I don't know what I would do without my parents who help out with the kids consistently and remain our only babysitters. Don't know what I would do without the support of my sister who was even able to come out from AZ to visit us. Where would I be without the calls, emails, and lunches out with friends?? All of these are important and help any mom keep there sanity. Without these people in my life I would have lost my mind long time ago. Thank you!!
1. Caffeine: Yes....ladies and gentleman...caffeine is number one on my survival list. I would not be able to function without it. I would not be able to go from day to day without it. I cannot imagine life without my caffeine right now. It is the very first thing I do in the morning and it is what gets me through my day. I drink coffee all morning and then move on to soda from there. I know this is not healthy but until sleep is something that can be achieved with some consistency...then this is what I have to do. This is a definite survival
technique for me right now...and I have found it works!!!
Wow...re-posting this and reading it again sure does bring back a lot of memories. What a year that was...but I would do it all over again if I had to. I have the two most amazing little girls, who are just so close, and it is so fun to watch them together. If you wear the title of "mom of 2 under 2"....wear it proud...know that things will get easier some day...and drink lots of caffeine!!! Just so you know...some things never change...I continue to drink lots of caffeine now...maybe just not as much. :-)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Glass Jello - Spring Edition
I found this creative, festive, and beautiful goody on the site Our Best Bites and it is called glass Jell-O. What a fun treat to bring to a party and have all the guest "oh and ah" over!!
Spray 4 small food storage containers (like Tupperware/Gladware/Rubbermaid) with non-stick cooking spray (make sure it is plastic and not glass because the Jello-O sticks to glass and gets all tough around the edges). Set aside.
Glass Block Holiday Jello
4 3-oz. packages assorted Jello (spring colors)
2 packets unflavored gelatin
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
4 3-oz. packages assorted Jello (spring colors)
2 packets unflavored gelatin
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
Spray 4 small food storage containers (like Tupperware/Gladware/Rubbermaid) with non-stick cooking spray (make sure it is plastic and not glass because the Jello-O sticks to glass and gets all tough around the edges). Set aside.
Bring 5+ cups of water to a boil. Combine 1 c. boiling water with 1 package of Jello, stirring until dissolved. Place the dissolved Jello in one of the prepared containers. Repeat with the remaining packages of Jello. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferable overnight.
When the Jello has set, bring another 1 1/2 c. of water to a boil. While the water is heating, sprinkle 2 packets of unflavored gelatin over 1/2 c. of cold water. Allow to stand for about 4 minutes.
When the water is boiling, pour 1 1/2 c. boiling water over the dissolved gelatin and stir to combine. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well. Allow to come to room temperature.
Lightly spray a 9×13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray. Carefully cut the colored Jello into cubes and gently toss to combine in the 9×13″ pan. Pour the cooled milk mixture over the colored Jello and, if necessary, rearrange some of the colored Jello to make sure it is evenly distributed and not sticking out of the white mixture too far.
Place the 9×13″ pan in the refrigerator and chill overnight. Cut into squares, rectangles, or various shapes with cookie cutters and serve.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Cut Above the Rest
Over the years when I meet up with old friends or make new friends there seems to be a real interest in Brian's occupation. I think when I say he is a logger many things come to peoples mind. Some may think he is a flannel wearing, bearded man with suspenders. Other picture a forest ranger riding a horse through the woods. Well the only truth in either of those descriptions is flannel wearing. The boy loves flannel and will sometimes go as far as layering his flannel....ugh!
Logging is an extremely dangerous job. Loggers deaths per 100,000 workers is approximately 82. Logging has fluctuated with fishers throughout the years as the most dangerous job. Why is it so dangerous? Because loggers are susceptible to high winds, falling branches and hidden roots or vines that present great risks around chain saws and other heavy equipment. We had a major scare several years back when Brian cut his
knee with a chain saw. He cut it the bone but needing to get this particular job done he continued out his work day. At the end of the day he decided to go to the ER. It was grueling what they had to do to his knee and I rather not go into detail about that but lets just say he has a nasty scar to prove he got in a "fight" with a chainsaw....and it defintely looks like the chainsaw won.
In order to have a successful business in logging you have to have the right equipment. The right equipment being a skidder (machine that pulls the trees out the woods), a knuckle boom (machine that helps trim the logs and loads the trucks), harvester (a small machine that can be manuevered through the woods and will cut small trees without the logger having to do it by hand), log truck and trailer (way to haul own logs and get them to a yard in order to sell the logs to a veneer buyer), work truck (typically a pick-up truck that holds a fuel tank in which you can fill the equipment while out in the woods), and of course chainsaws. A logger must know how to competently run all of this equipment. And just like anything else man made they don't run forever...they are apt to break down. So Brian then has to find the time in his schedule to do regular maintenace on the equipment and fix the problems in order to get it up and running again.
I believe I have touched on just a little bit of what Brian does. I know some of it was a bit technical but hopefully you have a clearer picture of the job that he does everyday. People often wonder why he is never around....well now I think you know that answer. It is because he is either buying timber, cutting timber, selling timber, hauling timber, or fixing equipment. It is a lot for one person to do and I appreciate his hard work and dedication to his job everyday. It is his "bread and butter" and it what he knows best and
loves doing.
Behind every good logger is a loggers wife....I will have more information on that job in
a past post entitled the Loggers Wife!!
 |
| Log Pile |
So to clear up any confusion on what Brian does and what a logger is...I thought I would
tell you all a little about the business we run...Generations Timber. In the logging industry the logger provides a service to landowners with valuable timber. The service includes Brian walking the land with the landowner and explaining what he sees and what he would recommend, based on what they explain as their goals (at no
cost to them). If the landowner chooses to employ him to cut their timber he does a 100% cruise (measurement) and marks the timber to be cut. He then writes a contract, which includes the trees to be harvested (cut), dollar value of the trees, and general written needs of the owner. Upon conclusion of the job he conducts grading and seeding of the harvest area, and then finally he will conduct a final walk through with the landowner. We are a unique business in the sense that we pay the potential customer to provide a service. We do no require any out of pocket expenses to the landowner, they will only benefit from our service both monetarily and in terms of preserving their land. So when they say money grows on trees they are not kidding...
tell you all a little about the business we run...Generations Timber. In the logging industry the logger provides a service to landowners with valuable timber. The service includes Brian walking the land with the landowner and explaining what he sees and what he would recommend, based on what they explain as their goals (at no
cost to them). If the landowner chooses to employ him to cut their timber he does a 100% cruise (measurement) and marks the timber to be cut. He then writes a contract, which includes the trees to be harvested (cut), dollar value of the trees, and general written needs of the owner. Upon conclusion of the job he conducts grading and seeding of the harvest area, and then finally he will conduct a final walk through with the landowner. We are a unique business in the sense that we pay the potential customer to provide a service. We do no require any out of pocket expenses to the landowner, they will only benefit from our service both monetarily and in terms of preserving their land. So when they say money grows on trees they are not kidding...
Working in the forestry industry has been in Brian's family for over 50 years. He has gained additional knowledge and skills by obtaining a forest science degree from Penn State University. This is what he loves to do and has a true passion for doing it. I often say he has saw dust in his blood. He stands out in the industry as one of the best and he wants to use that to his benefit and grow and manage individual’s timberland the way it should be managed. This is a competitive field in Northeastern PA. Our goal is to stand
out above the rest and be the company that landowners call on when they want their land
harvest properly and professionally.
out above the rest and be the company that landowners call on when they want their land
harvest properly and professionally.
 |
| Knuckleboom |
This is a grueling job that requires a lot of physical strength, strong knowlege of forestry, dedication, long hours, and a strong business sense. Being that our business is based in Northeastern PA...Brian worst "enemy" is often Mother Nature. Often it is not realized that weather greatly affects the logging industry. If it rains it makes the ground wet which then makes the equipment sink into the ground. If it is to dry then the dust will gag you have to death as you drag the trees out the woods with the skidder. Deep snow is hard to work in as you have to shovel the snow away from the base of all the trees you cut. Also with the snow you eventually have a time where it melts and that in turn makes the ground wet as well. The best weather to cut in is when it is below freezing. These are the mornings Brian gets up when it is still dark and gets out in the woods to cut when the ground is frozen solid. I used to complain about having to walk out to my car to warm it up and he is out cutting in it all day long...and the thing is he loves it.
 |
| Log Truck |
knee with a chain saw. He cut it the bone but needing to get this particular job done he continued out his work day. At the end of the day he decided to go to the ER. It was grueling what they had to do to his knee and I rather not go into detail about that but lets just say he has a nasty scar to prove he got in a "fight" with a chainsaw....and it defintely looks like the chainsaw won.
In order to have a successful business in logging you have to have the right equipment. The right equipment being a skidder (machine that pulls the trees out the woods), a knuckle boom (machine that helps trim the logs and loads the trucks), harvester (a small machine that can be manuevered through the woods and will cut small trees without the logger having to do it by hand), log truck and trailer (way to haul own logs and get them to a yard in order to sell the logs to a veneer buyer), work truck (typically a pick-up truck that holds a fuel tank in which you can fill the equipment while out in the woods), and of course chainsaws. A logger must know how to competently run all of this equipment. And just like anything else man made they don't run forever...they are apt to break down. So Brian then has to find the time in his schedule to do regular maintenace on the equipment and fix the problems in order to get it up and running again.
I believe I have touched on just a little bit of what Brian does. I know some of it was a bit technical but hopefully you have a clearer picture of the job that he does everyday. People often wonder why he is never around....well now I think you know that answer. It is because he is either buying timber, cutting timber, selling timber, hauling timber, or fixing equipment. It is a lot for one person to do and I appreciate his hard work and dedication to his job everyday. It is his "bread and butter" and it what he knows best and
loves doing.
Behind every good logger is a loggers wife....I will have more information on that job in
a past post entitled the Loggers Wife!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Just a Housewife
Yup...that is me...just a housewife. In my "former" life I did social services for the U.S. Army...my official title...Relocation/Mobilization & Deployment Specialist/Army Emergency Relief Office. Yes...quite a mouthful and quite a fulfilling job. I was able to help soldiers and their families on a regular basis, play an important role in our current war, travel all over the U.S. to take part in conferences, work groups and focus groups. Ahhhh.....that was the life...but nothing beats the life I have now which is just a housewife. Now when people ask me what I do...there is not that sense of awe as when you tell them you work
for the Army and have a government job. However, there are a select few that can appreciate what being just a housewife is all about. At least as a government worker I had more time to get things done...yes....I am about to air my dirty little secrets...I didn't work diligently 8 hours behind my desk everyday...there were times of the day where I would go on a website and read the Hollywood gossip, I would pay a few bills on-line, I would do some Christmas shopping or just some personal shopping. There were days where I would run and do my errands during my lunch hour. Shoot...I would even head down to the gym...that was free...and work out for an hour. Oh and of course I worked my rear end off but I did find time to "play" as well. Well...being just a housewife there just doesn't seem to be that time. Yes...I am blogging right now and you ask how do I find the time to do that?? Well....I have decided to make the time. You can't constantly be tending to a child or doing housework...you have to take some "you time"...and that is what I am trying to do here. There are 2 hours during the afternoon where the girls takes a nap...and I have come to realize not every minute of nap times needs to be filled with trying to do the endless amount of laundry, cleaning the unending messes around the house, making baby food, paying the bills, etc. I have to find time to do something I enjoy once in awhile or I could lose my mind. With that said...let me get back to my original subject...being just a housewife. I read an article the other day that my mom presented me...and it was written by a wise woman named Mary who was a faithful reader of Dear Abby and here is what she had to say:
Here is my job description:
I am a wife, mother, friend, confidant, personal adviser, lover, referee, peacemaker,
housekeeper, laundress, chauffeur, interior decorator, gardener, painter, wall paperer,
dog groomer, veterinarian, manicurist, barber, seamstress, appointment manager,
financial planner, bookkeeper, money manager, personal secretary, teacher,
disciplinarian, entertainer, psychoanalyst, nurse, diagnostician, public relations expert,
dietitian and nutritionist, baker, chef, fashion coordinator and letter writer for both sides of
the family. I am also a travel agent, speech therapist, plumber, and automobile
maintenance and repair expert. During the course of my day, I am supposed to be
cheerful, look radiant and jump in the sack at a moments notice.
From studies done, it would cost more than $75,000 a year to replace me. I took time out
of my busy day to write this letter because there are still ignorant people who believe that
a housewife is nothing more than a baby sitter who sits on her behind all day and looks at
a soap operas.
If I could afford to pay someone to do all the things that I do, I would be delighted to go
back to working an eight-hour day with an hour for lunch and two 15-minute breaks.
What do I get out of my job in the absence of a salary? Joy, happiness, hugs, kisses,
smiles, love, self-respect, pride in knowing that I have done a full day's work to ensure
the physical and emotional well being of those I love.
Wow...couldn't have said it better myself. This woman summed up everything in a few
short paragraphs that I have been feeling and have wanted to get off my chest. So if you
are one of those that naively thought that a housewife is a glorified baby sitter watching
television....think again...it is anything but. I am going to get off my soap box now as I
hear my little one stirring from her nap....and I am going to go back to being just a
housewife.
Until next time....
for the Army and have a government job. However, there are a select few that can appreciate what being just a housewife is all about. At least as a government worker I had more time to get things done...yes....I am about to air my dirty little secrets...I didn't work diligently 8 hours behind my desk everyday...there were times of the day where I would go on a website and read the Hollywood gossip, I would pay a few bills on-line, I would do some Christmas shopping or just some personal shopping. There were days where I would run and do my errands during my lunch hour. Shoot...I would even head down to the gym...that was free...and work out for an hour. Oh and of course I worked my rear end off but I did find time to "play" as well. Well...being just a housewife there just doesn't seem to be that time. Yes...I am blogging right now and you ask how do I find the time to do that?? Well....I have decided to make the time. You can't constantly be tending to a child or doing housework...you have to take some "you time"...and that is what I am trying to do here. There are 2 hours during the afternoon where the girls takes a nap...and I have come to realize not every minute of nap times needs to be filled with trying to do the endless amount of laundry, cleaning the unending messes around the house, making baby food, paying the bills, etc. I have to find time to do something I enjoy once in awhile or I could lose my mind. With that said...let me get back to my original subject...being just a housewife. I read an article the other day that my mom presented me...and it was written by a wise woman named Mary who was a faithful reader of Dear Abby and here is what she had to say:
Here is my job description:
I am a wife, mother, friend, confidant, personal adviser, lover, referee, peacemaker,
housekeeper, laundress, chauffeur, interior decorator, gardener, painter, wall paperer,
dog groomer, veterinarian, manicurist, barber, seamstress, appointment manager,
financial planner, bookkeeper, money manager, personal secretary, teacher,
disciplinarian, entertainer, psychoanalyst, nurse, diagnostician, public relations expert,
dietitian and nutritionist, baker, chef, fashion coordinator and letter writer for both sides of
the family. I am also a travel agent, speech therapist, plumber, and automobile
maintenance and repair expert. During the course of my day, I am supposed to be
cheerful, look radiant and jump in the sack at a moments notice.
From studies done, it would cost more than $75,000 a year to replace me. I took time out
of my busy day to write this letter because there are still ignorant people who believe that
a housewife is nothing more than a baby sitter who sits on her behind all day and looks at
a soap operas.
If I could afford to pay someone to do all the things that I do, I would be delighted to go
back to working an eight-hour day with an hour for lunch and two 15-minute breaks.
What do I get out of my job in the absence of a salary? Joy, happiness, hugs, kisses,
smiles, love, self-respect, pride in knowing that I have done a full day's work to ensure
the physical and emotional well being of those I love.
Wow...couldn't have said it better myself. This woman summed up everything in a few
short paragraphs that I have been feeling and have wanted to get off my chest. So if you
are one of those that naively thought that a housewife is a glorified baby sitter watching
television....think again...it is anything but. I am going to get off my soap box now as I
hear my little one stirring from her nap....and I am going to go back to being just a
housewife.
Until next time....
Monday, May 2, 2011
Surgery For My Baby
Finally got Ava's surgeries scheduled. Yes...you read that right...surgeries plural. My baby was born with a branchial cleft cyst that now needs to be removed. Hers is a small pit in the base of her neck that drains a mucus like substance. It is very small, doesn't seem to cause her any discomfort but it has the potential of infections and other medical issues could potentially arise so it is best to have it removed. Here is a picture. You have to look very closely to see it as it is only about the size of a pin head on her neck. It is not the pit that is the problem it is the tract underneath the skin that needs to be removed. I am attaching another picture of a sketch of what it looks like underneath the skins.
Depending on how long the tract is...depends on how extensive the surgery is going to be. If the tract is short then they can probably get it out with one incision. If the tract is longer then they have to do a step ladder incision to remove it which causes more scaring and always increases the risks involved with surgery. Being that this tract is amongst important nerves such as the tongue, vocal chords, tonsils, auditory canal, etc...it is a bit unnerving to think about. However...wee have complete confidence in our doctor and faith in God that she will get through this without any problems. In addition to removing branchial cleft cyst she must also have a ganglion cyst on her wrist removed. This is a cyst that is usually aspirated but we have a bit of a unique situation here. More times than not a cyst located on the wrist will come back after aspiration and have to be surgically removed. So instead of risking the chance of Ava having to have two separate operations so early in life we are just going to go ahead and have the cyst removed. Removing a ganglion cyst involves the following:
Here is a picture of Ava's wrist so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
This is what we are dealing with and hopefully it will all be a distant memory this time next month. She goes in for surgery 2 weeks from now. I did not expect it to creep up on us so soon so I better prepare myself mentally very quickly. The easiest way for me to do that is put it in God's hands and let Him have control over the situation. I am just so thankful that neither of these issues she is dealing with are major issues...in the grand scheme of things they are minor and for that I am thankful.
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