Whhheeeeeeeew! I am LAZY lately.

Well no, not really, but I am TIRED.  Brady has been sleeping like crap....AGAIN and I have no energy for doing much of anything that I don't HAVE to do.  I have to cook, clean, and take the kids to their daily things, but blogging has gone to the wayside.  I can't complete a thought so instead I sit on the couch at night watching mindless TV wishing I was more productive.  I really need a swift kick in the butt to get me going.  I promise to try harder. 

So since I last wrote things have changed.  

First this happened.....

We got a hamster! We named him Georgie.  We had him for 10 days and this happened.....

Georgie wasn't a boy.  SHE had 9 babies.  Now we have a hamster family.

Thing 3 started crawling rather than dragging himself across the floor....

Then he did this.....

Big kid got his blue belt......

Middle boy got a haircut.

Busy times. 

King of Naps, Hater of Night Sleep

This kid can nap.  I actually had to WAKE HIM at 3:30 after he had been sleeping over 2 hours.  Too bad he can't sleep for crap at night.  Little punk.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 7 - Final Thoughts

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer or dryer.

The Flats and Handwashing Challenge ended this past weekend.  I am running behind on posting.  You know life.

To be totally honest I was really glad when the challenge was over.  I took it on knowing that adding extra to my day would be tough, but I wanted to do it because I know I am more capable than I give myself credit for.  We survived and now I get to go back to lugging diapers to my mom's house to be washed and dried.  Not having a washer of my own makes cloth diapering difficult.  Honestly I go through long periods of time using disposables for the sole purpose of not having to lug dirty diapers to my mom's house and then being without those diapers for a few days.  I can't afford enough diapers to be without the clean ones for 3 days and still have enough to use for Brady.  Just isn't going to happen.  So I find myself more often than not either using disposables or running around trying to make time to wash diapers between running errands that happen to pass by my mom's house.  I am lucky to have the option of buying disposable diapers.  I am lucky that as of right now I don't HAVE to decide between food and diapers.  But you never know when you will be in that position.  I take this challenge to prove to myself that I CAN do more than I give myself credit for.

Also because of this challenge I will be selling off my pocket diapers, and moving forward with using flats and covers full time.  I can't stand the difficulty of using pockets, and while they are "easier" and more "convenient" flats just jive better with my washing ability and they are more forgiving when I am sick or too tired to bring diapers to be washed more than once a week (eeeek!).  I have ruined many a diaper for that reason.  Using flats also brought out a creative side.  I will be dying my diapers (stay tuned for that!) as well as making my own diaper covers (wish me luck as I am as creative as a rock!) to show that you can have some "cute" poop catchers (lol) while still staying on budget.

Thanks to everyone that has been reading my blog during this challenge.  I hope you stick around.


Christine

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 6 - Plans for Future Diapering

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer or dryer.

We are almost done with the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and I really can't believe how quickly the week has gone by.  I have learned a lot and made a few mistakes.  Also my husband has used disposable diapers this week.  I have learned that while the Wonder Washer is pretty darn awesome when you take that lid off after the first rinse you might not want to have your face right by it.  There is a suction that tends to splash a bit of water when the lid comes off.  Yup.  Learned that the hard way.

I have a new found love for flat diapers.   They are beautifully simple.  I actually ordered some dye to spruce up my stash a bit after this week is over.  I also bought some PUL and am planning on making my own diaper covers as well.  Getting back to basics has really got me thinking about my future diapering plans and now that I have spent a week connecting with others who are crafty and resourceful I want to be the same.  I have cloth diapered 3 babies and have tried EVERY single diaper out there and I keep coming back to the simplicity of prefolds and flats.

Thing 1 Rocking a Bummis Cover and a prefold.

Thing 2 during the 2012 Flats Challenge

Thing 3 Brand New

So for now I think I am going to be sticking with flat diapers.  Thing 3 is my last baby so there is no reason for me to buy anything new (keep repeating that in your head Christine) and I think it would be a good challenge to myself to utilize what I have and to stop looking at the latest and greatest.  Simple is better for sure.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 4 & 5 - The Cliff Notes Version

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer or dryer.

Okay so I am a blogging slacker.  Truth is that I have been feeling sick for days and am exhausted most nights when I get my boys to bed.  But the challenge still goes on.  We are doing good with flats and I am still in love.  I am actually thinking of dying my flats, but that is for another post.

Day 3 of the challenge us bloggers are supposed to talk about our washing routine.  My routine is very simple.  First I take my dirty flats (which I am storing in a plastic Target bag - classy) and put them into my Wonder Washer.  I fill the wonder washer about 2/3 the way full or enough to cover the flats with VERY hot water, put the lid on, and crank the wonder washer handle for about 10 minutes.

Next I connect the drain hose and drain the washer.  Then I refill the washer with more hot water and 1tsp of Rockn' Green.  Put on the lid and agitate another 10 minutes or so.  Yes, my arms are killing me by now.

After the diapers have been "washed" I drain the machine again, but instead of rinsing them in the machine, I decided on Day 1 to take the diapers in the shower with me to rinse.  So before soaping up myself, I take the diapers one by one out of the washer and rinse and wring them in the shower.  They are placed in a big sauce pan after being wrung out and then hung on the back of my chairs in the dining room.  Total the washing took about 40 minutes and the diapers dry overnight.  Not bad.  Of course every year that I do this it rains the entire week.

Day 4 asked us about our favorite folds.  Well honestly I have only been using one fold.  The pad fold.  How lazy can you get right?  There is something so very easy about a pad folded flat pre-loaded into a cover.  Goes on with the east of an AIO.  Now my little guy's poop is pretty formed and ploppable. If that wasn't the case I would most likely have fallen in love with a snappi or pinned fold.  I think once things calm down here and I am not sick anymore I will move onto other folds.

More pictures to come!  My kids hid my camera cord.  Sigh.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 3 - Dear Microfiber, We are NEVER getting back together.

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer or dryer.

Today is day 3 of the challenge and we are falling into a groove.  I have been good about keeping up with the diapers at night and trying not to let them pile up.  My little guy has also been good about not pooping so much.  Love that boy. 

Since this is an open topic day for blogging I have decided that I will write about how I am breaking up with my microfiber diaper inserts.  

Dear Microfiber,

You are a nifty made-man fiber.  You absorb pretty good, unless my son is in a baby carrier and then you might make my shirt damp.  You are easy to wash, until you aren't.  You take forever to dry.  You feel like crawling spiders on my hands.  Even though I have dealt with you over the course of cloth diapering 3 children, I must have diaper amnesia.  Each and EVERY time I have a newborn I start out with you in my diapers.  You stuff my pockets, you line my A12s, and you are all over my house.  Lately though you have started to stink.  No matter how many times I wash you, when I take you off my little one's tush you smell like a barnyard.  So in closing dear microfiber we are done.  I am breaking up with you and moving forward with my new love, flats.

Yours Truly,

Christine

Okay that was overly dramatic, but so true.  I really do think I am going to trash my microfiber (or use them as dusting cloths) and use flats to stuff pockets.  Or even better I might start using flats full time.  The ease of use can't be beat and in a pinch I know I can wash flats in my bathroom and hang them to dry in my dining room and they would be ready to go the next day for my guy.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 2 - Whatcha got?

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer or dryer.


Today is day numero 2 of the challenge and despite being sick (damn spring/summer colds stink!) and having all 3 of my boys acting crazy all the time I have managed to stay ahead of the game washing diapers.  When I did the challenge 2 years ago I let a couple of days lapse between washing and boy did I learn my lesson.  I wasn't sure how it was going to be doing this with Thing 3 because he is used to stay dry diapers, but he doesn't seem to mind.  We are averaging about 6 to 8 flats a day and 2 to 3 covers.  Nothing too crazy.  I only have been using our stay dry liners when he is going down for a nap or going to bed.

Today I am writing about the fun part of the challenge.  The supplies!

For this challenge I am using 8 - Flip daytime inserts, 6 Stashify  Pad-fold bamboo flats, and 12 Green Mountain Diapers unbleached flats.  If I were to buy all of these new it would cost $133 for these 26 diapers.  I already had the Flip inserts in my stash from my first son.  There are many cheaper options when it comes to flats that work just as good.  I also love Diaper Rite flats which can be bought for around $20 per dozen.

Next up are my covers.  I am using 3 Flip Covers, 3 Econobum covers, and one majorly felted SBISH underwoolie that I got from my friend.  The Flips covers I already had, but they can be bought for $14 per cover and the Econobums go for around $11.  I was able to score a 3-pack of Ecnobum seconds covers for $15 which was a huge deal.  Other great brands of covers that are easy on the budget are Thirsties, Kawaii, and Bummis.   Cost for covers - $60

Next up is my Cotton Babies Fleece diaper liners.  They work great and wash up even better.  These were 5.99 for 6.  Total cost - $12 for 12.

Last is my handy Wonder Wash.  I am using it to wash diapers during the Challenge.   Cost - $39.99

Other supplies (gloves, snappi, wipes - $5)

Now I could have done this a lot cheaper, but I wanted to try some new things for the Challenge.  I could diaper my son from birth to potty training with this stash with no problem.  But if you think about how much disposables cost weekly throughout the time your child is in diapers, the start up cost of diapering with flats is minimal.  

Grand Total - $249.99

This can be done MUCH MUCH cheaper with still having the same results.  Check out what my fellow bloggers are using for their challenge! 

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 1 - What? WITH YOUR HANDS????

I am participating in Dirty Diaper Laundry's 4th annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  One week of using flat diapers and covers, with no washer and dryer.

It might be hard to understand why I would decide to sign up for something that will ADD to my workload for 7 days.  The answer is actually pretty simple and the truth is that it isn't as hard as you think.  This is my second time participating in the challenge.  I did this very same thing back in 2012 when my middle son was just shy of 2 years old.  So when the challenge came back around this year I was actually excited about having yet another son to participate with.  This event was created to show that anyone can cloth diaper in any situation.  There are many people across the US that have to make the choice between diapering their children and food.  They make the decision to leave their children in one dirty disposable diaper the entire day or worse re-use a disposable diaper.  If you Google or just take a look at some of the other bloggers doing this event you will see that it can actually cost very little money to start up cloth diapering with flats and covers.  I am about as crafty as a rock, but some folks have even created their own full diaper stash out of stuff they already had!  Now that is awesome.

My personal reason for taking this challenge is that I live in an apartment and do not own my own washer or dryer.  I am limited to either taking my diapers to a laundry mat, using the dirty nasty laundry rooms here where I live, or drive my load of diapers over to my mother's house which would mean not having diapers for a couple days since I can't stay there and hang out till they are done. None of these options are ideal, and I know some families have it much worse.  I hope to show readers that not only can you handwash and dry diapers in an apartment setting, but it is actually easier and cheaper!  No backyard or clothesline needed.

Day 6 of Whole30

Please send cake.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2014 - Almost There!

The 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge starts Monday and I am ready.  I just finished prepping my stash and I am excited to get started.  

For the challenge I will be using 6 covers:

3 - Flip covers

3 - econobum seconds covers

1 - completely felted SBISH Underwoolie to use at night 

I have 12 Fleece liners (boring but wanted to note I was using them).  They are mostly for nights since my guy is sensitive.

And the main star of the Challenge is the FLATS!!!!! I will be using 12 - GMD flats, 6 Stashify bamboo flats, and 8 Flip daytime flats. 

And the boy wearing it all!!!! (In this pic we are testing out a GMD flat pad folded in a flip cover) 

What are you using for the challenge?

 

Wordless Wednesday

Day 2 of Whole30 and I miss SUGAR.

I never realized how addicted to sugar I really am.  Crazy actually.  I always thought of myself as a healthy eater, but I am a true carb fan.  I like bread, bagels, desserts.  Day 2 of 30 and I am already feeling the sugar monster getting angry.  I have been grumpy and head-achy.  It probably doesn't help that I am still breastfeeding Thing 3 so my caloric requirement is higher than most.  I am also a runner who runs almost daily.  I have been filling in the gaps with some (gasp!) snacks because I tend not to be able to eat large meals.  I have been sticking to the plan though.  An example of my days so far:

Pre-work out - handful of almonds and a banana
Black coffee (ack)
Post work out/Breakfast- BLT Egg Salad (NOTE: I didn't omit the bacon as I was able to get nitrate and bad stuff free bacon)
PM - Pecans, bananas, coconut mix
Dinner - Squash sauteed with ghee, salt, and pepper and a large salad with olives, grilled chicken, and strawberries.  Homemade vinegar dressing.

Not bad.

Hopefully I can keep up the momentum.

My Body Hates Me.

I knew it would happen at some point.  My body is failing me.  After 3 pregnancies in 6 years and cancer, chemo, and surgery mixed in there as well, my body has given up the good fight.  I am dealing with a few problems that at first seemed like nuisances but are now proving to be otherwise.  Low thyroid which might be autoimmune related.  Digestive issues that have cause me much pain and trips to the bathroom.  I am just tired of it.  My Endo and a few other folks have recommended the Whole30 Plan to help figure out if my issues are dietary or food allergy/sensitivity related.  I am going to give it a whirl.  I have a lot to gain from it and nothing to loose.  So I guess today is Day 0. 

Wordless Wednesday

GEARAPALOOZA!!!!! - What it is and why you NEED to go if you can!

For this guy.......

The end.

Just kidding.  But who would pass up the chance to meet, talk to, and hear "TheBabyGuyNYC" - Mr. Jamie Grayson talk about baby gear? Not this girl.  So when I heard Gearapalooza was coming to NJ and it was only a few towns away I was there.  Gearapalooza is a tour put on by Bump Club and Beyond - touted as the "Ultimate Baby Gear and Registry Event".  It didn't disappoint.  Not only did attendees get to talk baby gear with Jamie, they also had a chance to talk to different baby gear vendors about their products.  At this stop of the tour, tables were set up with reps from Dr. Smiths, Bugaboo, Cybex, Nuna, Chicco, Quinny, Uppa Baby, 4 Moms, Beco,  and others.  We were all able to walk around the store - Nesalee Baby - mingle and have our "baby bingo cards" stamped by the vendors after checking out their wares.  I had a lot of fun talking strollers and car seats with the Chicco rep (new stuff coming down the line people!) as well as hearing all about the new infant seat from Nuna - the Pipa (which is amazing and I would totally be buying one if I was in the market for another infant seat). 

After I spoke to all the reps there I walked across the hall where they had chairs and food (BROWNIES! SCORE!) set up for us.  I sat down and spoke to two lovely woman (I am terrible with names) who were there representing JPMA .  Now if you don't know who JPMA short for Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association are, you really should.  They are the folks that certify the the stuff that you use everyday and make sure they are SAFE to use for your child.  When shopping for your kids you should try to always buy stuff that is JPMA certified.  It is really important.  JPMA is getting ready to launch their new Baby Safety Zone which is a information hub for parents and caregivers to join together.  It really sounds like it is going to be an awesome and informative site.  Keep your eyes peeled for the launch. (Check them out on Facebook at the link above.)

Jamie was already in the room getting ready for his presentation.  He is a really funny and personable guy.  I had a conversation with him about our old mutual employer and there were a few laughs with some of the other moms that had made their way over.  Finally it was go time and Jamie was hilarious.  If you can attend an event with him as a speaker, please do it.  He made car-seats and strollers entertaining.  Jamie talked about registering and shopping for a new baby.  What to buy, what not to buy, and things to look for when you are buying.  He gave us some great safety tips when it came to car-seats and even demonstrated with his side-kick "Angry Baby".

Angry Baby taking a ride in the Cybex Aton 2 

What the Foonf???? 

Jamie gave us his top picks, answered a ton of audience questions on safety and registering for baby gear.  Then it was raffle time.  There were tons of amazing prizes given away to the audience.  Top of the line strollers, car seats, baby carriers, and much more.  I was lucky enough to win a Summer Wifi Video baby monitor (which is what I needed!) and that alone retails for $260 and it was one of the lower MSRP prizes.  That gives you an idea of the amazing raffle prizes.  They really did give away a TON of prizes.  But for folks that didn't win a raffle prize the swag bags were insane.  Holders of the regular Single Tickets (which were in the $50 range) received a gift bag worth $150 which included a Maxi Cosi foot muff and a Stokke Folding bath tub.  For platinum ticket holders ($100 range) you received the gift bag that the Single ticket holders received as well as a Beco Soleil baby carrier (which retails for $130).  Everyone was a winner.  

My raffle prize and the Beco.

The Maxi Cosi Bunting and the Stokke Bath

The goodies inside the bag!!!! Pacifiers, bottles, toys and much more!!!!

I had a total blast attending Gearapalooza.  They are 2 stops into a 12 stop tour so check them out.  They maybe coming to a city near YOU! 

 

 

The Past Few Weeks

Things have been nuts here lately so Blogging has been thrown to the wayside.  I am back now though with lots of fun things coming up.  First tomorrow I have GEARAPOLOZA!!! I am so excited to hear The Baby Guy talk about baby gear!!!!!  Then in May I have the 4th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  I did the challenge once before in 2012 and it was fun.  I am looking forward to doing it and blogging daily about it. For now, here are some pics from the past few weeks.

Wordless Wednesday......(a little late)

3 Times the Charm? When it comes to Breastfeeding....Not Always....

I thought I was a breastfeeding professional.  Between 3 kids I have logged 52 months of breastfeeding which is roughly about 4 years and 3 months.  Breastfeeding my first was hard.  We dealt with the pain and the uncertainty for about 6 weeks and then things were great till I sadly had to wean him at 15 months due to my cancer diagnosis and needing to start chemotherapy.   My second baby was a breeze to nurse until his food sensitivities started.  Once I eliminated EVERYTHING from my diet things got better and I nursed him for 2.5 years, till I was roughly 5 months pregnant with my 3rd child.  Baby #3 was born and everything just seemed easy.  He was a great nurser and sleeper.  He was the picture perfect baby until his teeth started coming in and didn't stop.  From the time he was about 3 month old he has gotten a tooth or 2 a month.  That is a lot of teeth.  He now sits at 8 teeth at barely 8 months old.  As the teeth came in, his latch got worse and worse, my supply dropped, and he started wailing all night long for food.  I started to think I was loosing my mind.  I called a friend who happens to be an IBCLC (Certified Lactation Consultant) and she literally came running to my house the day that I had found out that Brady had lost a pound.  I was scared.  The truth was that he was not getting enough milk.  She figured out quickly that Brady's upper lip tie and tongue tie was probably causing all the issues.  He had had them from birth, but once the teeth started plowing out of his gums at the ridiculous rate he couldn't compensate his latch anymore.  It was a chain reaction of him not being able to nurse properly and my supply dropping.  I was scared.  Taking her advice I took a trip out to see a Pediatric Dentist that does laser ULT and TT revisions.  From my research and talking to people the laser seemed like a better option that the traditional method of snipping.  After meeting with the dentist a week ago, we had to make the decision to do the revision or wait and see if things would get better on their own.  But after another week of misery we decided to go through with the revision. 

Yesterday was the big day and let me tell you, I was freaking out.  We got to the dentist around 12:45 pm and it went quickly from there.  They took him to the back while we waited in the waiting room.  He was weighed, given a dose of Tylenol, swaddled down, had before pictures taken, the numbed his mouth with drops, used the laser (which was about 20 seconds total), and then did after pictures.  He cried.  A LOT.  It was hard to hear him scream, but before long the dentist came out holding him.  He was upset, but he got over it quickly and the first time he nursed in the office was like night and day!  It really already is making a difference in his latch.

For the next 2 weeks we need to do stretches a few times a day.  That means some screaming, but he doesn't seem like he is in pain less than 24 hours after having it done.  His sleep was about the same as when he is getting a tooth.  Mostly he hates me putting my fingers in his mouth (but who really likes it?).  So that is where we are now.  Hopefully this makes a difference and I can rebuild my supply quickly and he can get back to his old chubby baby self.   

2014 Flats and Hand Washing Challenge!

Kim over at Dirty Diaper Laundry  just announced the dates for this years Flats and Hand Washing Challenge!  I am so excited  to be able to participate again this year.  I did it when Matthew was a baby back in 2012 and it was a lot of fun.  I realize that washing diapers by hand does not seem like it would be fun, but it was.  It was also fun to link up with other Bloggers and read how they did with the Challenge.  I have not yet decided what supplies I am going to go with this time around.  But it is time to start thinking!

Here is more information on why we do this.  For me living in an apartment with no personal laundry area (unless I want to drag diapers to my mom's house, which I do!) this is a week for me to ditch the washer and wash at home.


The 2014 Flats and Hand Washing Challenge is running May 11-17.

My New Adventure!

If having 3 kids isn't enough.....

Recently I became a Cloth Diaper Advocate with Imagine Baby Products.  Since I have been using cloth diapers since Daniel was a baby, I figured I have some knowledge that I might be able to share and why not do it in a way I can help out my family by bringing in some income.  Since this is a new thing I am doing, I have no idea on how it is going to go, but I can't wait to get started.  I am currently looking into starting to throw Cloth Diaper Parties (think Tupperware parties but with cloth diapers, lol) as well as Twitter Parties and giveaways.  But for now.......

If anyone would like more information on cloth diapers please don't hesitate to ask, I can send you tons of information.  If you already are cloth diapering your kids and would like to or need to buy more fluff please check out Imagine Baby Products at the link below.  They have wonderfully affordable products that work!

So I Blinked......

And this......

Turned to this....

Where does the time go?

Wordless Wednesday

Eating Disorder Awareness Week - What you might not know about me.

Today kicks off the start of Eating Disorder Awareness Week.  More people die from eating disorders than from any other psychiatric illness.  Eating disorders destroy lives and families.  I know more than I would like to know about eating disorders because at age 16 I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.  The funny thing about eating disorders are that they start small.  They are sneaky.  I remember with me it was the end of my sophomore year of high school.  During that summer I decided that my thighs were too fat and I was going to diet.  The diet became skipped meals, became hours of exercise, became a 20lb and then a 30lb weight loss over a year.  By the time I was 17 years old, my mom had exhausted all the outpatient therapies and nutritionists she could trying to help me and with my health failing (I was 89lbs at almost 5'8) she put me inpatient.  First it was at a psychiatric hospital in Pennsylvania that had an eating disorder program, but when that proved to be too dangerous (since we were mixed with violent children with other psychiatric illnesses) she moved me to a eating disorder program at Princeton Medical Center.  It was her last option.  Surely without some sort of intervention I would have died.  I spent the entire summer of 1999 inpatient doing group therapy, solo therapy, nutritional therapy, and was heavily medicated.  Slowly but surely I gained weight, followed the rules and was discharged a week before I was to start my senior year of high school.

The funny thing about eating disorders is they are never really "cured".  I like to say that like Cancer (which I have had too!), eating disorders go into "remission" and when they flare the person with the eating disorder needs to decide if they want to fight to keep themselves together and healthy, or let the eating disorder win.  I started my senior year of school, but that wasn't the end of the story.  Just 2 weeks after starting school I managed to loose 20lbs.  Back inpatient I went and this time it was longer.  Much longer. I rebelled, I fought tooth and nail AGAINST the program.  I was determined to "NOT GET FAT!" no matter what the cost.  I ended up even more medicated, just barely missed getting a feeding tube, and earned myself a one-on-one and bedrest because I liked doing jumping jacks in my bathroom.  It wasn't all bad though.  While I was there I met a lot of wonderful people.  I met someone there that still to this day remains one of my very best friends.  Eating disorders are very isolating.  No one really understands what it is like to live with the voice in your head telling you that you are fat when you are 70lbs.  People don't understand why you can't "just eat".  Friendships were formed out of a common foe.  I spent most of September, all of October, and almost all of November in those walls.  Finally around Thanksgiving my doctor decided that I would be better off going home, because staying there wasn't doing any good for me anymore.  My mom was scared and so was I.  She brought me home the day after Thanksgiving and I have never been inpatient since. Almost 15 years.  I am an almost 15 year eating disorder survivor.  That is a huge deal.  I am one of the lucky ones.  I know many people that weren't as lucky as I am.  They didn't make it.  I am happy to say that my friend that I met inpatient all those years ago has finally found her road to recovery.  She is 2 years hospital free.  Some people have harder roads to recovery than I have had.  My journey hasn't been easy and there are still days now all these years later when I have to make the decision to keep myself healthy and I do.  Not just for me, but for my sons and my husband.

Have you tried Ebates?

I know, I have read sone hokey referral blog entries before, but I promise this one is worth it.  Back in 2012 my brother-in-law asked if he could send me something to my email for me to read.  He had just signed up for Ebates and the more people you refer the more money you make.  I figured it wouldn't hurt to sign up, at best all it would do is help him out.  I signed up, got to pick a $10 gift card (I picked Target, cause well, it's Target) and waited to see if I would actually get anything.  I didn't have much faith.  Low and behold a few weeks later I had my gift card and a renewed interest in buying online through Ebates.  I do a lot of online shopping and to date I have earned $78.33.  I realize that doesn't seem like a lot in 2 years, but it is when you are basically getting paid to shop.  Ebates also has all the current coupon code available for many sites, so you can shop, get a discount, AND earn money back.  Sounds good right?  Want to get started?  Follow the link here!

Wordless Wednesday

Surviving Teething

Brady has been a beast lately.  If teething was a sport, he would be a gold medalist.  After getting his two bottom teeth just shy of 4 months, the kid has gotten 4 more teeth and they always come in pairs days apart.  Life has not been fun.  He is grumpy and not sleeping well.  I have tried everything on the market and some things work better than others.  Here is my list of go-to teething helpers.

Punkin Butt Teething Oil - This is stuff is awesome.  It is a mixture of essential oils of chamomile, clove and peppermint.  I put some on a q-tip and rub onto Brady's gums and it seems to help quite a bit.  Smells lovely too!

Amber Teething Necklaces/Bracelets - Some folks swear by these (like me) and others think they are worthless. I have found by using them on 2 out of my 3 boys that they do help.  I have noted a reduction in drooling and daytime fussiness when Brady has his necklace on.  Some folks don't mind having their babies wearing necklaces while they sleep, I am not comfortable with it.  Brady wears an amber bracelet at night under his PJs.  You could also take a necklace and wrap it around a wrist or ankle, but keep in mind it works better the closer it is to the head.  Lightly colored raw amber has more painkilling properties than the polished and darker amber, but they are all amazing.  I even wear an amber necklace myself to help with my upper back/neck pain.  Helps a ton.

Teething Rings - Honestly I have never experienced these being super helpful.  Yes, my kids chew on them and yes I have about 203902390239 of them laying around my house but babies will chew on anything!  My favorite teething rings are the Life Factory Silicone teethers and the Heava Panda Teether.  I see these as safer options for Brady to chew on, other than the Matchbox cars scattered around my house.

When all else fails, and sometimes, like the past 2 weeks when Brady has gotten 4 teeth pretty much at once I have had to resort to using my more natural means as well as giving Tylenol or Advil (never together).  The pain of teething can be a real pain in the butt for both baby and you when your kid isn't sleeping.  I reserve the use of actual medications for nighttime when he is completely miserable and we need sleep.

Wishing you easy teething and that your kid is nothing like Brady and gets teeth at a more manageable pace.  Geeze. Everything I have listed here can be bought at Dearest Diapers from the link below.

Happy Teething!

Dear Baby

My Dearest Baby Boy,

I realize that you have only been on this planet a mere 6.5 months and things are all new and exciting for you.  I also realize that it is hard being a baby.  Teeth, gas, rolling over, the lint and stale cheerio you were trying to eat off the living room floor all contribute to you needing to stay awake all night and process through your very bright and very new brain.  I get it son, I really do, BUT - MAMA NEEDS SLEEP.  Sweetheart you aren't an only child.  You are one of 3 very sweet, but very needy boys.  It is bad times when I am so tired that I forget your oldest brother's drink in his lunch or his lunch all together, because you decided it would be fun to roll around grabbing your feet while simultaneously screeching about not being able to get to your foot through the sleep contraption you insist of sleeping with at 3 am. I have left keys and wallets places they shouldn't be left.  I drove away one morning after warming up my car (gotta love the -10 degree weather!) forgetting that I was driving the big kid to school.  Oh and while we are on the subject of sleeping my love, naps?  Yeah, lets work on them.  I would love nothing more than to snuggle you and carry doze on the couch holding you for your naps like I did with your brothers, but I can't.  I have too much to do and I don't relish the idea of living in squalor.  I only ask for 1.5-2 hours twice a day, in your bed so I can do stuff like....shower, wash dishes, clean up the gazillion toys looking to ruin my feet while I walk, and think about all the cool stuff I want to do with you guys that I can't do when I am going on 2 hours sleep a night for months and months.

You know sweetie, they say that parents of babies who sleep are much more fun.......


All my love,

Mom

I have a LOVE - HATE Relationship with Snow Days

Yesterday was a snow day here in NJ.  Lovely yes.  And no.  I have 3 little boys and live in a tiny apartment.  Nothing good can come from being cooped up all day in this place.  I did try to look at the positives.  No dragging my whiny 6 year old out into the cold.  Getting everyone dressed, ready, fed, lunch made.  I was able to walk in the sub zero temps to get a cup of coffee which I was able to drink while it was hot while I nursed the baby on the couch.  My zen attitude was gone by noon after fights, screaming, tantrums, hearing "I NEEEEEEED THAT!" yelled over and over again by the 2 talking monsters in my group.  The baby's naps were interrupted a few times by kids being too loud and not remembering their "inside voices".  Meals were made, dishes were washed, games were played.  I prayed for bedtime.  Bedtime came, more tears.  Finally the house was quiet. 


Looking back on yesterday it seems tame compared to today which was NOT a snow day.  Up at 7, kids fed and dressed.  Rushing the 2 older monsters out the door to get to school and Occupational therapy on time.  Traffic was horrendous.  Parking scarce.  Dragged kids crying because of the cold up to the school.  Left on there, took the littler one to therapy.  A normally 15 minute drive took 55 minutes.  (it was ONE TOWN OVER GAH!)

So until the next snow day.......

Why I am a Blogging Failure....

I have started numerous blogs in the past and actually at some points I was blogging almost daily. But then life gets in the way, your blog gets lost when your account gets hacked and before you know it you have 3 kids and you never sleep so all you want to do in your free time is dick around on the internet in a squirrely way looking at stuff you can't afford.  But now I can say I am back.  I doubt many of my old readers will find me since I moved from Wordpress to Blogger to Blog.com and back to Blogger, but I hope to get some better traffic now that I plan on posting more.  My writing is random at best and scattered at worst.  I do have 3 little boys 6 and under so my time is limited, but with having 3 little boys 6 and under the amount I of stuff I can write about is endless.  This blog will probably consist of sleep problems, poop, cloth diapers, baby gear, coffee, moving into a first home (hopefully!), vacations, illnesses, breastfeeding, and a whole bunch of awesome.  Wanna come along for the ride?