Ice Cream

What is better than a child's first ice cream cone of the warm weather season??? 

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.

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.   :-)

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!! 

Glass Block Holiday Jello
 
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.

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!

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...

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.

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

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!!

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....

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:

The surgeon then makes an incision in the skin overlying the ganglion cyst. The size of the incision depends on the size of the cyst.

The surgeon removes the cyst and the stalk that attaches it to the joint or tendon, along with a small portion of the surrounding tissue in most cases.

Then the surgeon will stitch and bandage the affected area.

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.