The last couple of weeks I've been down. I want to blame it on the rainy, cold weather, but I don't even think that's it.
I feel like one of those balloons that is only doing enough to just skim the carpet, but doesn't have the air to float. Its even worse that I know I'm being like this.
I keep going through all of the excuses in my head, and reassuring myself that once this is over or once that happens, I'll go back to feeling normal... I know it's in my head... I know it won't go back until I make it happen.
Here's to pushing through
XO!
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
4.18.2013
I Feel Like I Just Wrote This Post
It wasn't more than 4 weeks ago that I was writing about how fast things can change. 3 1/2 weeks ago it was my mom who was in bad shape. The last 2 days, my dad has been in the hospital going through a battery of tests.
This isn't the first health scare my dad has been through, and each one gets increasingly scary. Not just for him... for my mom... for me... and now for Chloe. She has had anxiety since yesterday morning when we stopped by to see him at the hospital. I feel like the worst mom putting her through it and it was absolutely not my intention, of course.
She began by complaining that her head hurt and that it felt like that was an ice cube inside her brain. I chalked it up to having an "ice cream headache" because she was drinking ice water, and it was pretty short lived. Later last night, she mentioned 3-4 times that she felt as if she were floating up toward the ceiling. I immediately started questioning her about how everything else was feeling. Once I realized what was happening with her, we sat down to have a reassuring talk.
*Papa is in the hospital to get help from the doctors.
*The hospital is the best place to be for someone who's very sick.
*He WILL be okay.
*(and I may have ---lied--- and said that he would be heading home the next day)
Truth is, I don't know when he's coming home. I don't know if he'll be okay. And if he's not, I don't know that I will be okay.
This isn't the first health scare my dad has been through, and each one gets increasingly scary. Not just for him... for my mom... for me... and now for Chloe. She has had anxiety since yesterday morning when we stopped by to see him at the hospital. I feel like the worst mom putting her through it and it was absolutely not my intention, of course.
She began by complaining that her head hurt and that it felt like that was an ice cube inside her brain. I chalked it up to having an "ice cream headache" because she was drinking ice water, and it was pretty short lived. Later last night, she mentioned 3-4 times that she felt as if she were floating up toward the ceiling. I immediately started questioning her about how everything else was feeling. Once I realized what was happening with her, we sat down to have a reassuring talk.
*Papa is in the hospital to get help from the doctors.
*The hospital is the best place to be for someone who's very sick.
*He WILL be okay.
*(and I may have ---lied--- and said that he would be heading home the next day)
Truth is, I don't know when he's coming home. I don't know if he'll be okay. And if he's not, I don't know that I will be okay.
4.15.2013
Breastfeeding is Hard, Part 3
This post is an honest account of a new mom and breastfeeding.
If you missed Part 1 and Part 2, catch up here and here.
It's been over a month since I posted Part 1 and Part 2 about breastfeeding. I didn't intend to post a Part 3, but the last couple of weeks have been very hard and I realized, I am probably not the only one. So let's support each other.
As I mentioned in Part 2, Aria is gaining weight (or I should say not gaining weight), at an incredibly slow rate. At her 6 month check-up, she weighed 11 lbs, 10 oz. (I was informed that if there was something smaller than 1 percentile, we'd be in that category.) At a doctor appointment 2 weeks ago to check for ear infection because of a lot of extra crying and fussiness, she weighed 11 lbs, 10 oz. Exactly 1 month later, she had not gained a single ounce.
Aria nurses 5 times a day (every 3 hours, and I usually have to make her eat because she's not ready yet), and eats fruits/veggies/cereal 2 times a day. She chows down on the solid food, eating more than a serving at each meal.
When she nurses, it has been very frustrating. My letdown seems to be taking longer than in the previous months, and she is not patient when there is other things she would rather be doing. She eats for 3-4 minutes, pulls away and cries. I switch sides and the whole process repeats. I don't know if my milk supply is not enough for her, I don't know if she's full and telling me no more, I don't know if something else is bothering her... ugh.
I've tried all sorts of things to help the situation. I've spent several days pumping right after she finished eating to help boost supply (I usually got 5-10 DROPS of milk...). We've experimented with positions. We've experimented with quiet locations. I've tried, unsuccessfully, to get ahold of our lactation consultant for the last week. It all sucks...
I'm ready to throw in the towel. No more stressing out about feeding her while I'm not with her (getting a bottle takes 3-5 pumpings). No more worrying about feeding her out and about. No more wondering if she's getting enough.
And I feel guilty about quitting... I don't know what to do.
What did you do?
XO!
If you missed Part 1 and Part 2, catch up here and here.
It's been over a month since I posted Part 1 and Part 2 about breastfeeding. I didn't intend to post a Part 3, but the last couple of weeks have been very hard and I realized, I am probably not the only one. So let's support each other.
As I mentioned in Part 2, Aria is gaining weight (or I should say not gaining weight), at an incredibly slow rate. At her 6 month check-up, she weighed 11 lbs, 10 oz. (I was informed that if there was something smaller than 1 percentile, we'd be in that category.) At a doctor appointment 2 weeks ago to check for ear infection because of a lot of extra crying and fussiness, she weighed 11 lbs, 10 oz. Exactly 1 month later, she had not gained a single ounce.
Aria nurses 5 times a day (every 3 hours, and I usually have to make her eat because she's not ready yet), and eats fruits/veggies/cereal 2 times a day. She chows down on the solid food, eating more than a serving at each meal.
When she nurses, it has been very frustrating. My letdown seems to be taking longer than in the previous months, and she is not patient when there is other things she would rather be doing. She eats for 3-4 minutes, pulls away and cries. I switch sides and the whole process repeats. I don't know if my milk supply is not enough for her, I don't know if she's full and telling me no more, I don't know if something else is bothering her... ugh.
I've tried all sorts of things to help the situation. I've spent several days pumping right after she finished eating to help boost supply (I usually got 5-10 DROPS of milk...). We've experimented with positions. We've experimented with quiet locations. I've tried, unsuccessfully, to get ahold of our lactation consultant for the last week. It all sucks...
I'm ready to throw in the towel. No more stressing out about feeding her while I'm not with her (getting a bottle takes 3-5 pumpings). No more worrying about feeding her out and about. No more wondering if she's getting enough.
And I feel guilty about quitting... I don't know what to do.
What did you do?
XO!
3.25.2013
A Personal Anxiety Attack
Life is normally predictable. You know what tomorrow will bring by looking at your schedule. Plans are made for your day and are expected to be met to some degree.
Then there are the days where something happens and everything is thrown into the air, leaving you to wonder when things will feel back in place. Leaving you standing there, awe-stricken at how many things we take for granted. Sometimes these days are rocked by a unexpected death, an accident, or a broken heart.
I'm close to my parents. Physically (about 7 miles between our houses) and emotionally (we talk daily). A year ago, my dad went through a threatening case of diverticulitis (a hole in the colon). It was a couple weeks in the hospital, intense treatments of antibiotics, and a lot of worry. When he was first diagnosed, it was extreme enough to push your mind to the dark side of losing a loved one, and it rocked my world for quite a while.
Thursday night, my healthy mom tripped on a kitchen rug and fell. Big deal, right? We all trip and fall. There was no one home to see what happened, but the end result of her falling is a crushed eye socket, broken left side of her nose, and a pinched muscle that affects her ability to blink and see. She hit the sharp corner of the island with her chest leaving a small puncture wound. She's sore from landing, from the swelling, from her glasses smashing into her face.
As we learn the extent of the damage, and the amount of surgery she will need to correct the breaks, it makes me sick. Sick with worry, sick with anxiety attacks, sick with "What if"s.
Life is precious. Life is short. A simple trip can send things falling into chaos.
Hug your loved one a little tighter next time and remember to enjoy the little things. I will every time I see my mom, knowing although this sucks, she will be OK.
XO!
Then there are the days where something happens and everything is thrown into the air, leaving you to wonder when things will feel back in place. Leaving you standing there, awe-stricken at how many things we take for granted. Sometimes these days are rocked by a unexpected death, an accident, or a broken heart.
I'm close to my parents. Physically (about 7 miles between our houses) and emotionally (we talk daily). A year ago, my dad went through a threatening case of diverticulitis (a hole in the colon). It was a couple weeks in the hospital, intense treatments of antibiotics, and a lot of worry. When he was first diagnosed, it was extreme enough to push your mind to the dark side of losing a loved one, and it rocked my world for quite a while.
Thursday night, my healthy mom tripped on a kitchen rug and fell. Big deal, right? We all trip and fall. There was no one home to see what happened, but the end result of her falling is a crushed eye socket, broken left side of her nose, and a pinched muscle that affects her ability to blink and see. She hit the sharp corner of the island with her chest leaving a small puncture wound. She's sore from landing, from the swelling, from her glasses smashing into her face.
As we learn the extent of the damage, and the amount of surgery she will need to correct the breaks, it makes me sick. Sick with worry, sick with anxiety attacks, sick with "What if"s.
Life is precious. Life is short. A simple trip can send things falling into chaos.
Hug your loved one a little tighter next time and remember to enjoy the little things. I will every time I see my mom, knowing although this sucks, she will be OK.
XO!
3.07.2013
Breastfeeding is Hard, Part 2
This post is an honest account of a new mom and breastfeeding.
If you missed Part 1, catch up here.
There are a lot of pros to breastfeeding. I found this link: Timeline of a Breastfed Baby which I liked referring to during my moments of doubt to remember that I am doing something wonderful for my daughter. My favorite part, especially during the first 2 months: You’ve probably heard the delicious fact that breastfeeding uses up the fat stores you laid down in pregnancy. The greatest weight loss is seen in the three to six month period (Moody et al). You’ve just hit the start of this uber fat-burning period.
Aria went through a colic period during our first 3 months together. It was A LOT of painful crying, no pooping, and hours and hours of screaming. Chloe did not have this, so my first thought was "it's my breast milk!" We went to the lactation consultant twice, the doctor many times, I cut things out of my diet, all in an attempt to help her. Nothing helped. I was ready to throw in the towel again and try formula because in exasperation I knew she MUST be allergic to my milk. Everyone we talked to that had any sort of authority on the subject told us to continue breastfeeding, it would only get worse with formula. Speaking only as a mother who has gone through this, keep breastfeeding! We did give her formula a couple of times to test our hypothesis, and it made the pain and crying intensify.
Everyone's willing to talk about the pros but there are cons to breastfeeding.
If you missed Part 1, catch up here.
There are a lot of pros to breastfeeding. I found this link: Timeline of a Breastfed Baby which I liked referring to during my moments of doubt to remember that I am doing something wonderful for my daughter. My favorite part, especially during the first 2 months: You’ve probably heard the delicious fact that breastfeeding uses up the fat stores you laid down in pregnancy. The greatest weight loss is seen in the three to six month period (Moody et al). You’ve just hit the start of this uber fat-burning period.
Aria went through a colic period during our first 3 months together. It was A LOT of painful crying, no pooping, and hours and hours of screaming. Chloe did not have this, so my first thought was "it's my breast milk!" We went to the lactation consultant twice, the doctor many times, I cut things out of my diet, all in an attempt to help her. Nothing helped. I was ready to throw in the towel again and try formula because in exasperation I knew she MUST be allergic to my milk. Everyone we talked to that had any sort of authority on the subject told us to continue breastfeeding, it would only get worse with formula. Speaking only as a mother who has gone through this, keep breastfeeding! We did give her formula a couple of times to test our hypothesis, and it made the pain and crying intensify.
Everyone's willing to talk about the pros but there are cons to breastfeeding.
- The feeling (and reality) that all you do is nurse. It can be as often as every 2 hours. So by the time you're done feeding and changing the diaper, you have maybe 30-40 minutes before you start all over again.
- Having a new baby is exhausting. There are no extra long naps or sleeping through the night while someone else feeds the baby.
- Pumping is a pain in the ***. Getting everything out and ready, sitting there holding bottles, cleaning everything... ugh.
- There is no sure-fire way to see how much milk your baby is getting. Pumping gives you an idea of how much he/she may be getting but even the best pump is not as efficient as a baby's mouth.
- There can still be times nursing hurts, even 6 months in. Everything I read about breastfeeding has told me "If it hurts, you're doing it wrong". I have learned through experience, even if you're doing it right, it can/will still hurt sometimes.
- It it not always convenient to nurse. Smashed between a car seat and booster seat with a wiggly preschooler makes it nearly impossible for a comfortable feeding for you or the babe, but it's reality. (I see nothing wrong with a mother who is nursing her baby in public, but I am not one of those people)
- The weight that you put on during pregnancy does not always melt right off if you breastfeed. Sometimes, breastfeeding does not affect the amount of or speed that weight comes off - it takes hard work. I did not lose the weight any faster than Chloe, and I had to work out a lot more this time.
- Every baby poops. Breastfed babies are supposed to poop after every feeding. That doesn't always happen and you fear that something is terrible wrong. Breastfed babies can go a week without pooping, which is a rude awakening when they start cereal and begin going multiple times a day. (Aria pooped about once a week for the first 6 months and we were reassured every few days that she was fine for the first few months.)
- Getting on a schedule feels impossible. Breastfeeding is an on-demand job. You can get there, but it takes fooooorrreeevvvvveeerrrr. (And it will change every few days to a week.)
- Hugging anyone for the first month or two (or maybe three) hurts.
- The risk of a blocked milk duct and/or mastitis.
- The feeling of judgement if you decide to stop breastfeeding for any reason (convenience, pain, schedule, pumping, whyever).
Aria is gaining weight at a painfully slow rate, which leaves me questioning almost daily if she's getting enough to eat and should I start supplementing with formula. I have had a blocked milk duct which is a painful reminder of the everything you've been through so far. Aria is getting to the point of becoming easily distracted by things around her while eating so she pulls back, causing me to shriek out as she twists and bites at the same time. It's still difficult to leave her for any length of time; it takes 2-3-4 pumping sessions to get enough milk for 1 bottle.
What I've learned through my experience so far... breastfeeding is hard. It's not for everyone. It's OK if it's not for you. It's OK if you struggle through it. I know I am.
I know I'm not alone... right?
XO!
3.03.2013
Breastfeeding is Hard, Part 1
This post is an honest account of a new mom and breastfeeding.
When I was pregnant with Chloe, I was very unprepared for a lot. Some of it may have had to do with the surprise of her and the denial of me throughout almost 7 months of pregnancy. I was very on the fence about breastfeeding before her arrival (but I mostly mean I was leaning on the fence and standing on the 'no way' side). And this is more honest that I've ever admitted out loud... I was scared the hubby (who wasn't the hubby then) wouldn't find me desirable after watching me feeding someone out of my boob. Selfish, immature, naive. I gave it a shot though. It wasn't a "I really want to do this and make it work" kind of shot, it was a "I don't want anyone to think I'm a bad mom if I don't do this" shot. Selfish, immature, naive. It lasted maybe 5 days... maybe 4, and I hated it.
Becoming a stay-at-home mom with Aria meant losing an income into our family. Formula is expensive. I knew breastfeeding was going to be more of a necessity this time around and I had grown into mother hood enough to know that I could do this, probably.
In case you didn't know, there are not lactation consultants available to you at the hospital during Labor Day weekend. I relied on memory of what the consultant told me with Chloe, the nurse that got stuck working on the holiday weekend who was not overly friendly/helpful, and instinct. I was very conscious of her latch, I was generous with the Lanolin ointment and it still HURT. Day 2-5 is by far the worse. By day 2, I was cracked and bleeding. It was turning into the same story as Chloe. We went home from the hospital on Sunday, I was ready to quit Monday. Part of my milk supply and settled into into a gland under my armpit, causing a huge, painful lump. I was still cracked and raw, even after using Lanolin ointment after every feeding. I was engorged. I was done. I had a breast pump from Chloe that was not expressing any milk and hurt equally bad as nursing. (It got to the point where I was sitting on the toilet seat, crying, holding a bottle and hand-expressing - think similar to milking a cow - to have some relief, any relief.)
My mother-in-law is pro-breastfeeding and wanted it to work out for us this time. On Monday, while I was nursing Aria, for what I expected to be the last time, she was driving the 40 minutes into Target to pick up a "good" pump and nipple shield.
When I was pregnant with Chloe, I was very unprepared for a lot. Some of it may have had to do with the surprise of her and the denial of me throughout almost 7 months of pregnancy. I was very on the fence about breastfeeding before her arrival (but I mostly mean I was leaning on the fence and standing on the 'no way' side). And this is more honest that I've ever admitted out loud... I was scared the hubby (who wasn't the hubby then) wouldn't find me desirable after watching me feeding someone out of my boob. Selfish, immature, naive. I gave it a shot though. It wasn't a "I really want to do this and make it work" kind of shot, it was a "I don't want anyone to think I'm a bad mom if I don't do this" shot. Selfish, immature, naive. It lasted maybe 5 days... maybe 4, and I hated it.
Becoming a stay-at-home mom with Aria meant losing an income into our family. Formula is expensive. I knew breastfeeding was going to be more of a necessity this time around and I had grown into mother hood enough to know that I could do this, probably.
In case you didn't know, there are not lactation consultants available to you at the hospital during Labor Day weekend. I relied on memory of what the consultant told me with Chloe, the nurse that got stuck working on the holiday weekend who was not overly friendly/helpful, and instinct. I was very conscious of her latch, I was generous with the Lanolin ointment and it still HURT. Day 2-5 is by far the worse. By day 2, I was cracked and bleeding. It was turning into the same story as Chloe. We went home from the hospital on Sunday, I was ready to quit Monday. Part of my milk supply and settled into into a gland under my armpit, causing a huge, painful lump. I was still cracked and raw, even after using Lanolin ointment after every feeding. I was engorged. I was done. I had a breast pump from Chloe that was not expressing any milk and hurt equally bad as nursing. (It got to the point where I was sitting on the toilet seat, crying, holding a bottle and hand-expressing - think similar to milking a cow - to have some relief, any relief.)
My mother-in-law is pro-breastfeeding and wanted it to work out for us this time. On Monday, while I was nursing Aria, for what I expected to be the last time, she was driving the 40 minutes into Target to pick up a "good" pump and nipple shield.
Both of these were lifesavers. The shield provided enough relief from the suction of Aria's mouth to allow the skin to heal, while still allowing her to receive milk. (It still hurt, but was manageable.) I used it on the worst side for 1 full day, then every other feeding, than only if it was really sore, and by 4 days I no longer needed it. The pump did not hurt while it was pumping (A good pump should NOT hurt!) and expressed enough milk to remove the intense pressure and give back the feeling of softness to my breast. Between these two "tools" I successfully made it through the first week and what is deemed "the hardest part" of breastfeeding.
That doesn't mean it got easier.
Part 2 coming soon...
XO!
2.28.2013
The Color Run
Have you heard of The Color Run? Have you ran it?
What is The Color Run™?
The Color Run™ 5k is a unique experience focused less on speed and more on crazy color fun with friends and family. Color runners come from all different ages, shapes, sizes, and speeds; but everyone toeing the start line has a blast. Whether you are a casual morning mall walker or an Olympic athlete, the 3 miles of The Color Run™ course will be the most memorable and colorful run of your life! (thecolorrun.com)
I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. The e-card that talks about 'if you see me running, you better run too!'... yeah, that's me. I sometimes dream about becoming one though. My hubby was an outstanding runner (Olympic material, no joke) until a car accident in 2004. I've gone through phases of begging him to teach me how to be a runner and he tried - but when you've always been a runner, and a good one, it's hard to teach a non-runner.
3 weeks after Aria was born, The Color Run came to Iowa. The photos make it look like so much fun, I knew people from work were going, I wanted to run. ...but 3 weeks after giving birth is not the time to suddenly decide to run a 5k.
I will run it this year. I will run it this year. I will run it this year!
I am starting this endeavor today. In 135 days I will run my first 5k. I will become a runner.
What is The Color Run™?
The Color Run™ 5k is a unique experience focused less on speed and more on crazy color fun with friends and family. Color runners come from all different ages, shapes, sizes, and speeds; but everyone toeing the start line has a blast. Whether you are a casual morning mall walker or an Olympic athlete, the 3 miles of The Color Run™ course will be the most memorable and colorful run of your life! (thecolorrun.com)
I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. The e-card that talks about 'if you see me running, you better run too!'... yeah, that's me. I sometimes dream about becoming one though. My hubby was an outstanding runner (Olympic material, no joke) until a car accident in 2004. I've gone through phases of begging him to teach me how to be a runner and he tried - but when you've always been a runner, and a good one, it's hard to teach a non-runner.
3 weeks after Aria was born, The Color Run came to Iowa. The photos make it look like so much fun, I knew people from work were going, I wanted to run. ...but 3 weeks after giving birth is not the time to suddenly decide to run a 5k.
I will run it this year. I will run it this year. I will run it this year!
I am starting this endeavor today. In 135 days I will run my first 5k. I will become a runner.
Want to do it with me?!
XO!
2.14.2013
Liebster Award
I got a Valentine today and it looks like this:
I am honored to receive such award from Kansas Gal and am so excited to pass it on to others!
Have you heard of the Liebster Award?
And my questions for them:
*I may have broken the rules [embarrassed face] - I don't have 11 blogs, and 1-2 of them may have over 200 followers.... but it's really hard to find good blogs out there that other people haven't found, too. So I'm sorry :-(
I am honored to receive such award from Kansas Gal and am so excited to pass it on to others!
Have you heard of the Liebster Award?
For those of you who aren't familiar with the Liebster, it is awarded to new blogs with less than 200 followers. It’s a way to get the word out about great, up and coming blogs, I am honored to be selected by Leeane for the award! Thank you!
Award recipients keep the love going by following these steps in awarding to more new bloggers:
- Each awarded blogger posts 11 random facts about themselves
- Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for bloggers you pass the award to
- Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) and pass the award (and link) to them in your post.
- Go to their page and them them about the award
- No tag backs
Oh geez... 11 random facts? Here are mine:
- If I could (and by could I mean... justify the cost and time) take a skydiving course, I would in a heartbeat. 2 times is not enough!
- My hidden talent involved a weird looking clam with my tongue. I can also twist it upside down both ways.
- I bought the house I grew up in, which brings the total of years I've spent in this house to 20 years.
- The list of cons to living in Iowa is quite long, but I would never move.
- I am harshest on myself
- When I create something and it doesn't work, I get upset - then pretend like it was supposed to be like that.
- I need to make more mommy friends.
- I hate that I love reality TV
- My hubby and I have known each other for 16 years, together for 8, married for 1 1/2.
- The control freak inside me often tries to rear her ugly head, and I fight like crazy to let things go.
- I think I'm a terrible writer, but I'm determined to become better through practice.
Kansas Gal had a few questions for me, and here they are:
Now for the fun part - Here are my nominees!
- What is your favorite movie of all time? The Wedding Singer, without a doubt!
- What are you most proud of and why? As I age, I am becoming more confident for standing up for myself and realize that it doesn't make me a bad person.
- If you had a whole day without any commitments and could do anything, what would you do or how would you spend your day? Uhhh....probably absolutely nothing. Lying around like vegetables sounds wonderfully boring.
- If you could time travel, what time period would you visit and where? Having always been fascinated by the pyramids (along with the rest of the world, I know) I would certainly go back as they were finishing up construction to be in awe.
- What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream, hands down. There's always room because it fills in the cracks.
- Would you prefer to spend your spare time with people or by yourself? That varies on the day, but usually I would prefer to be around people I can laugh with and have fun.
- Why did you start blogging? Way back when, to help get the word out about my Etsy and Facebook shop - now, to have a record of what life is like as a stay-at-home-mom and crafter.
- Did you make a new years resolution? If so, what was it and why? If not, why? Like, a hundred. Here are some.
- How many blogs do you read regularly? In my blog feed I have 15 wonderful reads.
- If you were to design a music festival with only five artists, who would you invite? Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Train, some DJ that my hubby loves so he wouldn't complain about going with me.
- What is your favorite book and why? In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It was a tragic story that is written so beautifully that you find yourself drawn to the murderers, just as Capote was himself.
And my questions for them:
- How many brothers or sisters do you have? Are you close?
- If money were no object, would you work at your same job?
- What is your favorite month of the year?
- You can only eat 1 food for the entire week, what is it and why?
- Do you have a favorite blog(ger)?
- What attracted you to that blog?
- Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction (book and TV)?
- What is your favorite trait about yourself?
- Were you a good student in school?
- Are you a DIYer? What's your best project to date?
- If you could write a letter to yourself at 17, what would it say?
*I may have broken the rules [embarrassed face] - I don't have 11 blogs, and 1-2 of them may have over 200 followers.... but it's really hard to find good blogs out there that other people haven't found, too. So I'm sorry :-(
XO!
1.31.2013
DIY Cleaning Schedule
I've been "working" as a stay-at-home-mom for 8 months now (WOW!) I still don't have it all figured out, it's not as easy as I thought it would be, and our house is still a disaster almost all the time. I know I've talked about this before, but it's something that does really bugs me and I'm trying hard to correct.
To help feel less overwhelmed each day, I created a schedule, of sorts, to help manage what needs to be done each day and what can be left to another day in the week.
Some things are done everyday:
Some things are conquered once a week, or as needed (which sometimes is 5 times a week)
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(Bonus Tip: With this being on the front of the fridge, it's not only my eyes who see it. Meaning... the hubby might notice that I haven't gotten to wiping the counters for the evening and lend a hand)
I made some kid friendly ones as well for my little helper who is always wanting to do what I'm doing, whether it's more helpful for me or not. I love it because it keeps her on track of what needs done in the morning before leaving for school, too, and I find myself trying to hurry her onto the next task as often - hallelujah!
Do they enforce things getting done on a daily basis? No. Do they help keep on track and feel less bombarded with chores? Yes. I'll take what I can get. Maybe when spring comes and I can open the windows for some fresh air, I'll be more apt to keep up with chores (ha).
To help feel less overwhelmed each day, I created a schedule, of sorts, to help manage what needs to be done each day and what can be left to another day in the week.
Some things are done everyday:
Some things are conquered once a week, or as needed (which sometimes is 5 times a week)
.JPG)
I made some kid friendly ones as well for my little helper who is always wanting to do what I'm doing, whether it's more helpful for me or not. I love it because it keeps her on track of what needs done in the morning before leaving for school, too, and I find myself trying to hurry her onto the next task as often - hallelujah!
.JPG) |
| These are her everyday "chores" - Brush hair, make bed, etc. |
.JPG) |
| These are her extra "contributions" - sweep, change sheets, etc. She does 1 of these a day. |
*The circles aren't cut perfectly, the colors are matched up well... it was a quick job. I will probably re-make them until I'm satisfied with how they look then laminate them for longer durability from little hands that like to move them 30 times a day.
Do you have a cleaning schedule you stick to? And how do you hold yourself accountable?
Until next time... XO!
1.17.2013
...Ugh
I've fallen into a funk the last few days. I don't know what to say about it. That's not true, I don't have the energy to say anything about it... it's that bad.
I'm trying to pull myself out but it's hard when each days seems to be the exact same thing and all I can think about it Groundhog's Day.
What do you do when you need a pick-me-up?
ugh
I'm trying to pull myself out but it's hard when each days seems to be the exact same thing and all I can think about it Groundhog's Day.
What do you do when you need a pick-me-up?
ugh
1.08.2013
Working Out
If you remember my breakdown of not fitting into my clothes 10 weeks after giving birth (catch up here) I bucked up my attitude and hit the gym. (My gym looks a lot like my living room with a Wii controller in my hand and Jillian Michaels yelling at me via Biggest Loser). I started keeping track of everything I put in my mouth via MyNetDiary's iPhone app. And drum roll please....
I lost 46 pounds from August 31st - December 18th! AND MY JEANS FIT!!
Since then... we've been through the holidays and a nasty cold for both myself and C. I hate that I have to confess I am back up 5-6 pounds on the average day and I haven't even turned the Wii on for 2.5 weeks. While watching The Biggest Loser today on DVR, I have given myself a challenge that I will continue to add to each week throughout this season.
This week's challenge - begin entering all of my food and drinks into MyNetDiary again. When I began doing this in November, it wasn't in an attempt to cut calories but in an attempt to recognize how many things I was nibbling on throughout the day that I wasn't thinking about or aware of even. It was surprising how many times I opted out of eating the cookie I really wanted because I didn't want to see the number of calories added to my daily total - I hope it was have the same effect this time around!
Anyone out there want to join me in my challenge?
Until next time... XO!
1.07.2013
New Year Resolution
Oh yikes! How has it been so long since my last post?! I often think about posting, even have everything written out in my head... but I haven't gotten to anything bigger than my iPhone for what seems like an eternity.
I'm ready to change that.
My New Year Resolution: organize my life (and my family's) throughout the months.
XO!
I'm ready to change that.
My New Year Resolution: organize my life (and my family's) throughout the months.
- I want more time for crafting and blogging about it.
- I want to update my Etsy store... which hasn't had much activity in some time.
- I want to solidify a cleaning schedule so I don't feel extreme anxiety when someone wants to drop by and I feel like I should hang a huge sign on the front door
- I want to play with my kids more... wasn't that the whole point of becoming a stay-at-home-mom??
- I want to declutter everything
- I want to start working out again
Is that too many? I think I could add to it, but we'll leave it at that for now... small goals *wink*
What's your New Year Resolution?
XO!
11.14.2012
Closet Overhaul
It's been 10 weeks since Aria was born... 10 weeks! ... and I still don't fit into my jeans. UGH.
I have 1 pair of jeans that have always been very big and (I can't believe I'm saying this but..) they are the only jeans I've been wearing for nearly 10 weeks. Ridiculous.
In other clothing news... I am also having trouble feeling comfortable in any of my shirts (not size comfortable, but how my body looks). My typical days includes throwing on another T-shirt and my only pair of jeans, take Chloe to school, come home and switch to sweatpants, repeat to pick her up. I hate that.
I hate it so much in fact that this is what I spent today doing:
I emptied every drawer, every hanger, every laundry basket (after a laundry spree, it's all clean expect for what I was currently wearing - small victory around here). I sorted all of it into piles - T-shirts, tanks/camis, sweats, sweaters, skirts, etc.
Then came the hard part. I put on every shirt I own and made an impulsive decision to keep or toss.
First came tank tops and cami's... most of them are for under things so it was fairly easy decision - if they fit they stayed. The left is the starting pile, the right is the keepers.
I have 1 pair of jeans that have always been very big and (I can't believe I'm saying this but..) they are the only jeans I've been wearing for nearly 10 weeks. Ridiculous.
In other clothing news... I am also having trouble feeling comfortable in any of my shirts (not size comfortable, but how my body looks). My typical days includes throwing on another T-shirt and my only pair of jeans, take Chloe to school, come home and switch to sweatpants, repeat to pick her up. I hate that.
I hate it so much in fact that this is what I spent today doing:
.JPG) |
| With the exception of a few pairs of jeans that I know don't fit yet... this is all of my clothes, so sad |
I emptied every drawer, every hanger, every laundry basket (after a laundry spree, it's all clean expect for what I was currently wearing - small victory around here). I sorted all of it into piles - T-shirts, tanks/camis, sweats, sweaters, skirts, etc.
Then came the hard part. I put on every shirt I own and made an impulsive decision to keep or toss.
First came tank tops and cami's... most of them are for under things so it was fairly easy decision - if they fit they stayed. The left is the starting pile, the right is the keepers.
Next came T-shirts... my most embarrassing pile. Almost all of these shirts were from high school/college or free. (Am I the only one who feels obligated to keep stupid shirts because they were free and ya never know when you may need a shirt to paint in or... lounge in... or...)
My most dramatic cutting by far. Left is toss, right is keep.
I went through sweaters
I widdled down the sweatshirts and sweatpants by several pairs and discovered a couple more pairs of jeans that fit I had stored away when I started wearing maternity clothes (Happy Day!)
By the end of my painful task, I realized several things.
- I have mostly black or white clothing... I have no idea why
- I do not stop and think about clothing purchases for long enough. I had many pieces of clothing that I know I haven't liked since day 1, but continued to fold them and put them away.
- I love (HATE) Pinterest for making me so self-conscious about my wardrobe with all of there cute outfits pins.
- Time to go shopping and hope for better and longer lasting decisions.
Do you have troubles with hating your clothing or is it just my post-baby (won't go back to where it was - damn second pregnancy body)?
Until next time... XO!
9.30.2012
Help me
For the last 3 weeks, we have been trying desparately to deal with a baby girl who cries in pain from what appears to be gas. I am at my wits end after trying anything and everything we can think of to help her deal the pain. (gas drops, leg ups, warm towel on tummy, etc.). In addition to the gas, or maybe in conjunction, the little one is not having bowel movements often... As in every 5-7 days. The doctor has told us this may just be her "normal" but the gas and crying is getting worse.
What can I do for this sweet, little, miserable girl??
What can I do for this sweet, little, miserable girl??
9.07.2012
Preeclampsia
How's this for a bit of drama..
Short hours after posting about my beautiful new baby, I was rushed to the ER with blood pressure of 172/100. (as someone who has never understood how blood pressure works, I was less concerned than it seemed everyone else was at first).
So here I sit, in a hospital room again waiting for the medicine to work its magic and let me return to my family at home.
We were informed by the doctor shortly after arriving that preeclampsia is a condition many pregnant women get that involved high blood pressure but usually corrects itself after delivery. I have to go off the charts and get it AFTER delivery with no other preexisting conditions, and frankly... They don't really have any idea why I have this.
12 hours of magnesium sulfate IV, 3 blood pressure pills and a little bit of rest later, I feel shaky with a terrible headache, stressed to the max about my girls, and more tired than I felt after our first night home with Aria. Good note, my BP is down to 130/80... Still high for me, but I'm out of the seizure high levels for now.
And maybe I can go home soon...ish.
Until then.. XO
Short hours after posting about my beautiful new baby, I was rushed to the ER with blood pressure of 172/100. (as someone who has never understood how blood pressure works, I was less concerned than it seemed everyone else was at first).
So here I sit, in a hospital room again waiting for the medicine to work its magic and let me return to my family at home.
We were informed by the doctor shortly after arriving that preeclampsia is a condition many pregnant women get that involved high blood pressure but usually corrects itself after delivery. I have to go off the charts and get it AFTER delivery with no other preexisting conditions, and frankly... They don't really have any idea why I have this.
12 hours of magnesium sulfate IV, 3 blood pressure pills and a little bit of rest later, I feel shaky with a terrible headache, stressed to the max about my girls, and more tired than I felt after our first night home with Aria. Good note, my BP is down to 130/80... Still high for me, but I'm out of the seizure high levels for now.
And maybe I can go home soon...ish.
Until then.. XO
9.06.2012
It's a Girl!!
The day has finally come and gone. We have another beautiful daughter to add to our family. Meet Aria!
 |
| Hours old |
 |
| Packed up and ready to go home |
 |
| Super proud BIG SISTER |
 |
| Relaxing after a big meal |
Aria was welcomed into our lives on Friday night after a very fast paced labor that left us running for the hospital, a ride in the ambulance and a painful delivery a short 1 hour 21 min after my water broke. Whew... but she's here and she's perfect.
XOXO
8.22.2012
Confession
I absolutely hate when my 3 year old refuses to nap.
It drives me completely nuts to hear her talking to herself or her babies when she's supposed to be sleeping. It kills me that she makes up having to go to the bathroom 3-4 times.
How do you get your resistent preschoolers to nap?
It drives me completely nuts to hear her talking to herself or her babies when she's supposed to be sleeping. It kills me that she makes up having to go to the bathroom 3-4 times.
How do you get your resistent preschoolers to nap?
8.20.2012
Crying Wolf
Although I'm over 37 weeks pregnant and more than ready to meet this little bundle... I'm not one of those people who like to use pregnancy as an excuse to not do something or complain about the aches and pains [insert big lie here].
I really really try not to complain about it, but I have to say... 2nd pregnancy sucks! I was pregnant with Chloe 4 years ago, at the ripe age of 23, and maybe my younger body was capable of handling such reactions but this time around, my poor ol' torso is feeling the pain inside and outside. I have been experiencing some pretty nasty "Braxton Hicks" contractions for a few weeks now and have been certain, at least 3 times, that this little girl was going to make her appearance. On Thursday, I was so certain that I drug my hubby home from work early with 6 minute intervals and made him pack up the car and drive me right on down to the hospital... to be patted on the leg and sent straight home until they "became more regular and intense". (Don't they know that I'm not making these things up?!)
So since Thursday... after my embarrassing 3rd "This is it!" moment, I have decided to keep my mouth shut, to anyone who asks about the pains, aches, contractions and uncomfortableness. Don't get me wrong... they still hurt and come more frequently than I want, but I hate being the poor miserable pregnant girl who is continually crying wolf. Next time... it will be for real!
Until then... XO
7.25.2012
Kind of starting over
Hi out there. I'd like to take this opportunity to sort of... start over in a sense.
So, hi! I'm happy to meet you. I am a mom to 1 adorably ornery 3 year old and a soon-to-be-here little one (soon-to-be-here meaning 6 weeks... but with this weather, hopefully a tad bit sooner). I am embarking on a new journey as a stay-at-home homemaker as well as taking on a second child and am loving it so far - but I'm pretty sure I'll love it more when I can bend over and do the dishes without wanting to die.
I love love love organization, although I sometimes get so caught up in what I really want to do, that it's hard to tackle it and may procrastinate it far more than I should. I also sincerely enjoy DIY crafts and creations that I pick up for Pinterest, HGTV, other blogs... where ever! As I begin my new adventure into homemaker, I'm trying (not very convincingly yet) to become better with cooking and managing our finances.
This blog is going to be a collection of sorts... more or less, me trying to depict my successes and struggles with 2 kids, a home and maintaining some sanity throughout it all. I hope you enjoy and come back often.
Until then... XO
So, hi! I'm happy to meet you. I am a mom to 1 adorably ornery 3 year old and a soon-to-be-here little one (soon-to-be-here meaning 6 weeks... but with this weather, hopefully a tad bit sooner). I am embarking on a new journey as a stay-at-home homemaker as well as taking on a second child and am loving it so far - but I'm pretty sure I'll love it more when I can bend over and do the dishes without wanting to die.
I love love love organization, although I sometimes get so caught up in what I really want to do, that it's hard to tackle it and may procrastinate it far more than I should. I also sincerely enjoy DIY crafts and creations that I pick up for Pinterest, HGTV, other blogs... where ever! As I begin my new adventure into homemaker, I'm trying (not very convincingly yet) to become better with cooking and managing our finances.
This blog is going to be a collection of sorts... more or less, me trying to depict my successes and struggles with 2 kids, a home and maintaining some sanity throughout it all. I hope you enjoy and come back often.
Until then... XO
5.28.2012
Day 1... Stay-At-Home Mom
Tomorrow marks Day 1 as a stay-at-home-mom. C finished up her week Friday at daycare and we enjoyed an extremely busy and tiring Memorial weekend with Ed's brother in town. Needless to say, I think C and I are both looking forward to a little resting at home this week.
Goals for this week:
*Get a morning routine started that does not include pajama's until lunch (how our typical weekends always end up, which isn't a terrible thing for the weekend I suppose)
*Spend time outside everyday
*Plan a menu for dinner everyday this week
*End the week looking closer to this
Goals for this week:
*Get a morning routine started that does not include pajama's until lunch (how our typical weekends always end up, which isn't a terrible thing for the weekend I suppose)
*Spend time outside everyday
*Plan a menu for dinner everyday this week
*End the week looking closer to this
 Not this |
 |
Oh... and I have the towel wrap completed, but it's in the washer and I haven't snapped a picture of it yet. I will get one up tomorrow... C loves it!
XO!
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