Too Smart For Me!

So my Mini is an early riser.  She gets up between 6:30a-7:00a.  Shut up, it is early to me!!  I am more of a night owl than a morning bird.  I was talking about this with a friend of mine, Mae over at Mae's Got This, and she told me about this awesome thing she came up with for her Munchkin, she talks about it here.  I had heard from other parents that they used the same trick so I thought 'why not!'  Then I got lazy and so I never posted a picture of 7:00, I just talked to Mini about how she needs to stay in her room until her clock starts with a 7.  I didn't really expect much, fully taking the blame on myself cause I hadn't posted anything.  Well, she figured it out herself!  And will tell you all about how she doesn't come out of her room until there's a 7.  :-)  Go me, right!!!  Um, no.  Well... partially no anyways.  Every morning around 6:45a I hear thumping in her room (which is right above mine, YAY!)  Then at no later than 7:02a she is "sneaking" into my room.  Seriously?!  So I asked her this morning "do you wait for the clock to turn 7:00a?"  Her answer, with the cutest little grin "yep!"  So much for sleeping in.  :-)

Lumps of Coal

I'll start by saying thank goodness this is a holiday cookie.  By holiday cookie I mean there is really no reason to make it any other time of year (unless, of course, it is to hide in your closet and inhale the entire batch!)  This cookie gets it's name solely from the fact that it looks like a lump of coal, though I have heard it called a cookies & cream bar but what fun is that??? 

The recipe is pretty simple:

1 - 16 oz. package of Oreo Cookies (30 cookies)

4 Cups of Large Marshmallows well packed

(about 38 to 40 marshmallows)

1/4 Cup of Butter

Prepare a buttered cookie sheet.

Grind up the Oreo cookies in a blender or place the cookies in a plastic freezer bag and beat them to bits with a rolling pin.  You want a crumb like consistency.

Melt the butter in a large bowl in the microwave, when butter is melted add the marshmallows and microwave for another minute to minute and a half (just until the marshmallows are melted.) Stir the butter and marshmallows together until full incorporated working quickly so it doesn't cool.

Quickly add in the cookie crumbs and stir til they are completely coated.  Using a greased cookie scoop or a tablespoon drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the cookie sheet to set into lumps of coal; place the sheet into the refrigerator to make them a bit more firm.  These cookies are soft and yummy!

For larger lumps of coal you can press the mixture into a buttered 8x8 pan, allow it to set for 20 minutes and then soften the edges to make it look more coal like.

Store in an airtight container.  For giving away put several lumps in a bag and tie closed tightly with a ribbon.
 

Here's a tag you can use to label them:

There really isn't much else to say about these except that if you eat an entire batch it is soooo not my fault.  :-)  ENJOY!!!!

Garlicious Roast w/Potatoes & Carrots

After buying this for hubby the other day I figured I'd better find uses for all of it before it goes bad. So I grabbed the round roast I had purchased and came up with a game plan.  I usually just throw the roast in the crockpot with a packet of onion soup mix and some water.  This time I resolved to work a little harder.  I had heard of cutting slits in meat and stuffing garlic into it to season so I just went for it.  Amazing!  Here is how I did it:

First, I turned my oven on to preheat it to 525 degrees.  I then cut my garlic cloves into big slivers.  After that I cut pockets into my meat and shoved the garlic slivers in.  I suggest doing this to your own taste.  We are huge garlic fans so I used 5 cloves all over the roast.  Honestly, I think I could have used even more.  It came out looking like this:

I then mixed up a little rub to put on it.  I used approximately 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 tablespoon dried onion.  I sprinkled the rub allover the roast:

I then flipped the roast over so that the fat side was facing up onto a roasting pan that had been coated in nonstick cooking spray.  I halved my new potatoes and circled the roast with them and some baby carrots.  I then halved more garlic cloves and sprinkled them around with the veggies.  I could have put more potatoes, carrots and garlic.  I sprinkled some salt, black pepper and white pepper over the veggies:

I put the whole thing in the oven for 6 minutes per pound for a medium rare roast (5 minutes per pound for rare and 7 minutes per pound for well.)  So for my roast, which was a little over 4 pounds, I cooked it for 24 minutes at 525 degrees.  Now comes the most important part!  Once the cook time is over TURN THE OVEN OFF & DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR!!!!  Leave it alone for 2 hours.  After the 2 hours are up you have 2 choices.  You can either take it out and eat it as is, it will be lukewarm or you can turn the oven on to 325 degrees and let it cook for 10 minutes.  This will warm it up without overcooking it, which is what I did:

I sliced it up and it was a perfect medium rare.

PERFECTION!!!!!!!!



I will definitely use this method again, only next time I will be using even more garlic.  :-D

Garlicious Roast w/Potatoes & Carrots

1 round roast approx 4 pounds

15 cloves of garlic (5 in slivers & 10 halved)

6 new potatoes halved

20-ish baby carrots

Salt, black pepper & white pepper to season vegetables

Rub Mix:

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried onion

Preheat oven to 525 degrees.  Cut slits in the roast and stuff with slivers of garlic.  Sprinkle rub mix over the entire roast.  Place roast fatty side up on roasting pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Surround evenly with new potatoes, baby carrots and garlic halves.  Bake in oven for 24 minutes.  Then turn oven off and allow to continue cooking with the oven door closed for 2 more hours.  It is imperative that you do not open the oven door during these 2 hours.  Once the 2 hours is over either serve as is (it will be lukewarm) or turn oven on to 325 degrees and allow to reheat for 10 minutes.  Enjoy.

Pin It

OCCUPYing My Mind

I try not to get into political arguments and whatnot.  I listen, absorb, research and make up my own mind about things.  I realize that the idea of journalistic freedom is a vague concept a lot of the times and I am a believer that in war times there are things that don't need to be shown out of respect and safety.  I also believe that much of the news that is reported is skewed this way & that so that the full story is not really represented.  I allow others to believe what they will and go my own way.  BUT this picture is making the rounds and I am having a hard time with it.

My grandfather, a rancher who worked the land that has been a part of our family for 125+ years until he was physically unable to at 88 due to cancer, would say that he fought so that his children were able to live in a country where they were free to not live hand to mouth & so that others had those same opportunities.

My father believes he served so that his children could continue to prosper and have opportunities that were unheard of previously. He continues to work after 22 years of service in the ARMY so that he can help take care of his grandchildren NOT because their parents can't but because his children are part of the working poor- those people who work full time, live modestly & still are unable to 'get ahead.' My father does not want his children & grandchildren to go without.

I believe that the full picture of the protesters is not being shown. The protests are full of servicemen who have returned from war to a country unprepared and financially unable to support their needs; there are vets from previous wars who believed what they were told, long ago, and are finding that there is nothing left to support their care. There are parents who have to send their children to schools that are questionable, at best, because the education budget has been deeply cut. There are young people who were told to get an education and they would be able to get a job to pay for it and have found that there are no jobs. There are professionals who have been out of work for several years who have applied for 100's of jobs and have not been able to get one yet.

Take a good look at this picture (found here)and tell me how many 20 year olds you see:

More of today's vets are a part of the Occupy Movement (as discussed here):

WWII Veterans (like the soldiers in the first pic) are a part of the Occupy movement (as pictured on the Facebook page for Military Veterans Who Support Occupy Wall Street Protest):

This is not about ENTITLEMENT. It is about being ENTITLED to a decent work week that allows you to support your family without going into debt. It is about NOT having to work 2 or 3 jobs, have your spouse working and having to pay someone to raise your kids. It's about being able to sleep at night knowing that there will be food to feed your family the next day. To know that you can keep your house warm in the winter & cool in the summer.  It's about knowing that if you are laid off you will be able to find a job to support yourself and your family, if you have one.  It is about being able to HAVE a family.  It is about having the confidence to work a job for 25-35+ years and know that you'll be able to retire and live comfortably.

It is about everyone paying their fair share. It is about helping our country as a whole and not allowing the rich to get richer while the people who line their pockets suffer unduly.

This is what each generation that has gone before has worked towards. What they have believed in. What must be. Is this the best way to make it happen, I don't know. But I do hope that this does bring change for I am very worried about the quality of life for my children if things remain the same.

Do You Hear The Words That Are Coming Out Of My Mouth?!?

If you are my 3 year old, Mini, you do not.  I swear she blocks me out better than anyone I have ever met.  I will ask her to do something when she is stand just a foot or so away and all I will get is a blank stare (if I get that!)  I repeat myself over and over and over again and it gets me absolutely nowhere.  I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely frustrating it can be.  Not to mention when I tell her to do something and she actually responds to me and then she STILL doesn't do it!

I know I am not the only mom in my crowd who is having this issue.  We have pretty much decided that the 3's are way worse then the 2's (and rumor has it that the 4's aren't any better!)

This article, from Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine, helped me to understand what was going through her head.  I know that I am guilty of not following through.  As in- "It's time to go...after Mommy pins this one last thing on Pinterest."  (Beware of clicking that link!  It will suck you in!)  Or- "I am counting to 5...and going to catch your little brother before he destroys something."    I know that Mini believes that we know what she is thinking or what she has done every minute of every day.  When asked what she did today or what she is drawing she constantly responds with "you know, you tell me."  Now I feels safe in the knowledge that this is normal.  How do I deal with this?  I plan to make sure she knows that I am talking to her; I have a feeling that a big part of our communication issues come from the fact she doesn't realize that we are talking to her.  I also hope to remember to break down tasks into small, short instructions so that she can remember and follow them easily.  I want to have her understand that I am in charge but that I respect her as a little one.  Plus, I will make sure that I am better at following through so that "give me just one sec..." doesn't end up meaning "it'll be awhile." 

I vow, as a parent, to do my part to make sure my child grows up to be someone who knows how to listen.  If only I could guarantee that she'll WANT to listen. ;-)

Do Blondes Really Have More Fun?

Well...  Do they?

The infamous Marilyn Monroe believed they do; hence her evolution from Norma Jean to Marilyn.

 (Isn't she beautiful?!?)

I have no clue and I have been blonde for 10 weeks.  I have not noticed a difference.  What I have noticed is that I still blink when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  My hair has been many different colors over the years but this is the first time it has ever been truly blonde since I was 12 years old.  While I like it I am not sure that it is my favorite look.  Recently my 3 year old daughter asked me why I had black underneath my blonde hair...lol...  So now I am at the fork in the road.  Do I stay blonde, go back to brunette or go DARK, as in black (which I have done before and is very striking)?????

Nap Time

Nap time.  Ugh.  You never know how good you got it til the game gets changed.  In many ways I was spoiled when I had my daughter.  Because my husband worked long hours away from home 6 days a week it was mainly just her and I.  This meant that, as a stay at home mom, my world revolved around her & her needs.  I was able to get us into a routine that worked for us and by the time we moved across the country to be closer to my family & keep hubby from working himself to death, she was locked into a set nap routine.  One that meant I got 2 hours free in the morning and 2 hours free in the afternoon.  We moved in with my parents & I kept that routine and pretty much 'convinced' my niece (my sister & her daughter lived with my parents, too- they have a HUGE house) to be on the same routine.  Yay! After I got pregnant with our twins we moved out, our nap routine stayed the same (I know, a 2 year old who takes 2 naps a day?!?) and I was able to get the rest I desperately needed. 

The twins have not been as cooperative as my daughter.  :-(  I know that part of the problem is our daily routine is not as calm.  Mini has dropped her morning nap and it is not like we can just hang around the house while the boys take a nap.  She has school 3 days a week which means we have to be out of the house early and since the school isn't near home and it is near the gym that means we go there next, then it is lunch time and before I know it time to pick Mini up from school.  I took the easy road for the first year and just held both boys to get them to go to sleep for nap time.  Now that they have a set bedtime routine I am trying to get a set nap time routine for at least one nap, the afternoon one since, theoretically Mini takes one, too.

Getting their bedtime routine set was not fun.  It required the use of the Cry It Out method.  Now, before you get your panties in a twist, the twins are 1 year old and old enough to get the concept.  It only took a couple days but they figured it out and now they sleep from about 7:30p-7:00a.  :-)  Nap time has not been so easy.  I put them in their cribs at 3:30p every day and leave them there until 5:00p; 90% of the time Little, Little Man will sleep while Big, Little Man will scream & cry like he is being tortured. It makes me sick to my stomach to listen to him cry and I hate it.  I KNOW he needs sleep and I can't think of another way to make it happen besides holding him BUT I need to get things done without interruptions and, yes, sometimes I need some sleep.  I don't know what else to try and so tomorrow I will do it all over again...

Legwarmers!

Mini loves to wear dresses to school, the gym, the store, everywhere.  Mini lives where it is getting cold fast.   Mini is a 3 year old who is likes to go to the potty by herself.  Tights are no longer an option (pants are complicated enough!)  Sooo....  LEGWARMERS!!!!  We have a couple pairs from when Mini & her cousin were babies and she wears them all the time but more are needed.  They are soo expensive!  So I looked up how to make them from ladies' knee high socks.  I made hubby buy some today (I let him pick the patterns- talk about trust!)  And I made a pair for each kiddo!  (They work great for the boys when we are at home cause it means I don't have to take pants off to change diapers.)  Here's how I did it:

Women's knee high socks:

Cut the socks as shown:

Discard toe and heel sections.  Trim the last piece as shown:

(This will be the second cuff so how much you trim is up to you-

it all depends on how tight you want the cuff to be.)

Sew the soon-to-be cuff WRONG SIDE OUT back together:

Fold the cuff in half so the RIGHT SIDE shows (I missed this pic.  OOPS!)

Turn the sock WRONG SIDE OUT and pin the folded cuff to the inside:

Sew close to the unfinished edge, I recommend sewing it twice.

(You don't HAVE to pin it; feel free to free hand sew it.)  :-)

Voila!!



Not bad for my first go around.  Plus, each pair only cost $2.50 and it only took me about and hour and a half to make all 3 pairs (this was in between taking care of a 3 year old & 2 1 year olds soo....)  Oh & I have some ideas about how to turn them into arm warmers.  :-D

Big, Little Man    Mini    Little, Little Man

in their legwarmers/baby legs

**UPDATE**  Mini has mastered tight and as it gets colder we have found that legwarmers over tights or leggings is perfect for her.

One year ago today... Today...

One year ago today I was ready to be done being pregnant.

One year ago today I made Hubby stop and get me breakfast on the way to the hospital cause I didn't want to starve all day.

One year ago today I was laughing at my husband & B as they sang/danced Thriller to keep my mind off the pain.

One year ago today I begged them not to send me home.

One year ago today I thought the hours couldn't pass fast enough.

One year ago today I had a room full of professionals at the ready (and hallway full of of gawkers.)

One year ago today I couldn't feel a thing from my waist down.  :-O

One year ago today I was told "It's time."

One year ago today I heard my sons cry for the very first time.

One year ago today I asked Hubby who was who.  ;-)

One year ago today I held my sons for the first time.

One year ago today I devoured some Taco Bell.

One year ago today I took pictures of 2 of the most beautiful babies ever and sent them to everyone I could think of to.

One year ago today I relaxed in a hospital bed and drank in the knowledge that I had 2 healthy baby boys snuggled together in an isolette.

One year ago today I thought 'this isn't so bad.'

One year ago today I had no clue just how hard yet rewarding it would be.

Today I know that I have survived.  :-D

Today I am wondering where the time has gone.

Today I chased 2 adorable little boys to give them hugs.

Today I smiled while watching Mini try and get the twins to quite whining.

Today I got hugs and drool kisses from 2 big boys who are about to start walking.

Today I listened to Little, Little Man screaming "mama" and Big, Little Man screaming "dada" and got the warm fuzzies.  :-)

Today I discovered that Big, Little Man could reached the blinds when they are partly opened.

Today I realized that Little, Little Man could climb the stairs.

Today I could use a couple of more hours sleep.

Today I can't imagine my life without them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LITTLE, LITTLE MAN & BIG, LITTLE MAN!!!!!!

Teething

Have I ever mentioned how much fun dealing with a teething baby is?? How about 2 of them? It is great! (If you're buying that I have a bridge...)

The boys are teething hardcore again. The worst of it comes & goes and right now it is really sucky. The boys have been waking up of and on all night long and, usually, one will wake the other. :-( Last night Big, Little Man was up for 2 hours. Ugh! We try not to medicate the boys too much- they both get Benydril to help with sinus drainage and Big, Little Man gets Claratin for his allergies. Tonight they are getting baby Advil in the hopes that their teeth don't bother them & I (we, really because Hubby gets up,too) can get a solid night's sleep.

It wasn't an easy decision but sleep is a precious commodity that neither of us can afford to do without.

Mean Mommy

I have never hidden the fact that I am NOT a morning person.  I have an extremely hard time functioning before 8:00a (and that is pushing it!)  I once had a boss who wouldn't call the office before 9:00a because he didn't want to talk to Mean Jennifer.  This was not really an issue when I only had myself to worry about; actually, it wasn't really an issue when I just had Mini because she would sleep in with me.  Now that Mini is older she is up earlier and I have not been able to convince her that 6:00a is NOT acceptable.  Plus the twins wake up early so that by the time I get them settled again Mini is up.  This has turned me into a very bitter mommy. 

In fact one could call me Mean Mommy.  I try very hard not to get angry with the kids but I am having a hard time with it simply because I feel so out of it that I can't function.  Sleep is not necessarily the answer because, while it does help, I still have a hard time functioning that early.  Coffee really isn't an option as I can't stand the taste and caffeine only helps minimally.  There is no way I can get up before the kids because that would mean getting up at 4:30a and I don't even want to THINK about that!  I haven't found a solution yet but I'll keep looking because I don't want my kids to suffer.

My husband

My husband is an amazing man.  He works his but off and feels guilty when he can't make it home in the middle of the day to spend time with us.  He cooks dinner just as often as me and does his own laundry.  When I have completely had it after a long day with the kids he jumps in to help out.  He brings me chocolate when he knows I'm down.  He keeps me sane.

That is not to say that he doesn't drive me absolutely INSANE!  Guess that's why I love him so much.

Playdates

Sometimes I think we forget that playdates aren't only for the kids. 

Yesterday I had a swim playdate at my parents' house (they have a huge saltwater pool, I do not so we go there.)  :-D  There were 5 moms and 13 kids in the pool (it is a really big pool, I swear.)  The kids were ages 9 months to 13 years old & we moms are all similar in age.  ;-)

It was nice to be around other mothers and to be able to talk about decisions we were making, things that had happened and even simply laughing when one apologized for her kid being 'sassy' because a nap was not had.  (I thought said kid, a 2 year old, was doing great for not having had a nap!)  I also really liked that it exposed the children to other children of similar AND different ages.  The bigger ones had to adjust because there were little ones in the pool and the little ones had to learn that they couldn't go everywhere the big ones did.

I'm thinking that I am going to have to plan more playdates.  It will go a long way to keeping me sane.  :-D

I'm ADD; give me a break!!!

I swear I did not forget that I am supposed to be blogging.  Life just got away from me.  Summer is a busy time to be outside, away from the computer (that is my excuse and I am stickin' to it!)  I will try and be better about it.  :-)

I can't give you that right now.

I think I am good in a crisis situation.  Pressure brings out the best in me.  My first night as a restaurant manager a customer got her purse stolen and a server mixed up the credit cards on 2 table and 1 of the tables had already left (always check your credit card!)  Easy...didn't hardly blink.  I quickly became the one people looked to to handle things.

My life right now is pretty stressful.  Mini is testing my limits practically hourly, the boys are teething, I am trying to get my business up & going to help out our financial situation and we are getting ready to move.  The house we rent is too small for us.  It is a 2.5 bedroom with 1.5 bathrooms.  The .5 bedroom is because the master bedroom was added onto a small bedroom, so we used it as the boys room knowing that we'd move before they got so big that we'd need to worry.  It was a bit crowded but doable.  Overall the space issue wasn't too bad when we were able to use half the basement as a playroom but that ended when the rain began.  Now it floods when it rains, the carpet has been pulled up and you take your life in your own hands when doing laundry.  Now the upstairs is the playroom. 

We have been anticipating moving this weekend to a bigger place where we have room to breathe, a big playroom, & a bedroom for the boys where we could fit 2 cribs and their clothes.  The house is a wreck.  There are boxes piled up in the dining room and only 3 chairs are available to sit at the table.  Half the pantry space has been emptied into boxes and there is no space to walk much less put the boys down for tummy time.  To say that it is extra stressful is an understatement.  But I could handle it.  I have been hanging on by the tips of my fingertips (and my sanity) because there were only days left.  Oh and, on top of all this, my in-laws come into town 2 weeks from Friday (moving day.)

Well, today we found out that there is no electricity to the house and there won't be until at least June 1st.  We are not the only family affected by this, 5 other families and several college students are, too.  Our current landlady has no problem with us staying longer as, once we move out, she will be having the foundation torn up to fix the leak issue.  I realize that I should look at the positive and be happy that we have someplace to live and that it is just one more month.  Right now I can't. 

Right now I am overwhelmed by everything going on and this is the straw that is breaking this camel's back.  So if you are looking for the silver lining, positivity, or decisions beyond 'is it nap time or not' I can't give you that right now.  I'm not sure when I'll be able to.  Probably tomorrow because that's what's expected...

How I spent the last hour

Get ready to put the Whole Wheat Vegetable Lasagna into the oven and realize that it is made w/portobello mushrooms.  **shudder**   Little, Little Man needs his diaper changed, no diapers handy, leave him laying on the changing pad (on the floor) to go get some, walk past the kitchen & realize the ice tea is not brewing into the pitcher but all over the counter/floor.  Forget about Little, Little Man in the scramble to clean it up. Hear a baby screaming & rush back to the living room to find that Little, Little Man rolled over & bumped his head on the coffee table. Change his diaper, make a comment about his stinky poopy to which Mini responds "me, too!" Follow Mini into the bathroom to find she pooped in her underwear, get her cleaned up & hubby walks in the door...  I'm beat!

2nd Time Around

When we had Mini we were just learning how to be parents.  We did our best to make the right choices; sometimes we probably goofed but overall we did pretty good, I think.  Be that as it may there are always choices you wish you could have a "do over" on.  That is what second children are for.  ;-)

We get the chance to things differently the second time around.  For better or for worse.

Some of them are purely for survival and others because we figured out that they ended up being an issue as Mini got older: 

Pacifier- I didn't push it with Mini because I pretty much was always able to pick her up and comfort her, with the twins there is just no way.  I need Little, Little Man to be able to gain some comfort on his own while I deal with Mini or Big, Little Man and visa versa.

Breast feeding/Co-sleeping/2am feeding- We co-slept with Mini until she was 10+ months old and she was breastfed on demand.  It was not possible to co-sleep with both boys and they both had latch issues so I pumped and bottle fed them before starting formula at 6 weeks.  Once they were old enough we weaned them off the 2am feeding because the lack of sleep was becoming detrimental.

Pass the Baby- I'll admit it with Mini I had a hard time letting others hold her (& this included her Daddy!)  With the twins I am quite willing to hand them off to whoever wants to hold them.  :-)

I am sure there are more changes to come as we learn what has worked and what hasn't with Mini.  Of course, there is no guarantee that it will help with the boys.  ;-)

A Whole New World

I recently decided that I was suffering from postpartum depression.  I was overwhelmed by the kids and a lot of days it was all I could do to get up and follow our routine.  With a toddler and 2 babies depending on me there was no way I could just stay in bed each morning.  I would force myself to feed everyone, change diapers, get them dressed, get me dressed, plaster a smile on my face & head to the gym.  All I wanted to do was disappear into a dark room to hide.  The longer I tried to deal the more my OCD tendencies tried to assert itself.  I attacked my husband for giving the babies the wrong color toys or bottles and for countless other things.  He was an easy target really, who else could I attack?  I noticed that my 2 year old was starting to pick up on things and act on them.  My heart would break when she would say "Too loud, Mommy, too loud" but I felt out of touch.

On top of all this my body does not seem like it is mine.  Instead of losing weight since having the twins I have gained more even though I go to the gym and workout and eat healthy.  In order to have my Essure procedure I had to have a Depo shot at the end of December so my hormones are out of whack.  I figured part of my depression stemmed from all of this so I talked to my nurse practitioner, who is also a family friend, and she made me an appointment with her for the next day.  She ran a full screening (kidneys/liver function, hormone levels, thyroid...)  In addition she prescribed me Zoloft and Ritalin.  She has had good results treating postpartum depression using Zoloft plus it also is used to treat OCD and, because I had been on Ritalin in the past, she went ahead and gave me a prescription to treat my ADD.

I have been on the medications for almost a week now and the difference is amazing.  The chaos has calmed.  I realized it the other day when I managed to clean 3 bathrooms from top to bottom, do 4 loads of laundry and take care of the kids w/o feeling overwhelmed.  Doesn't seem like much but to me it is a whole new world.  Do I think it is all just gonna go away now that I am on meds? No.  But it helps and those around me have noticed and that is what matters right now.  The rest I am working on.  :-D

Twice the...

Aahhh.... The magic of twins.  When I got pregnant last January the first thing I noticed was how much bigger I seemed so much earlier than my pregnancy with Madison (does any of that make sense...lol...)  I told my nurse practitioner, whom I have known almost half my life, that her only job was to tell me my due date and that I was NOT having twins.  Well, the first thing I noticed when I had my ultrasound was that as she moved the wand across my stomach there seemed to be 2 voids.  I chose to ignore it.  You can only ignore it for so long.  My husband cracked a joke, "there's gonna be 4 in there."  :-o I told him not to joke.  The ultrasound tech said, "well, there's not 4 but... There's 2."  :-O  Of course, I immediately went into shock.  That is almost too much to absorb, I can't even imagine being told there were more than that.  My nurse practitioner was excited, of course, even if she didn't quite do what I asked.  It was a long pregnancy that I thought was going to get the best of me but with tons of support from many friends, whom I call family, I was able to make it.  The twins are almost 20 weeks old now (WHERE DID THE TIME GO?!?!?) and, so far, we are all hanging in there.  We have survived jaundice, their first colds, and weaning them off the 2am bottle.  I can only think about how everything is twice as much than when you just have one.

Twice the worry,
twice the work,
twice the exhaustion.

Twice the crying,
twice the terror,
twice the illnesses.

Twice the diapers,
twice the formula,
twice the bibs,
twice the laundry.

But there is also:
Twice the giggles,
twice the wiggles,
twice the smiles.

Twice the joy,
twice the cuddles
twice the love.

I'll take it.  :-D

Can this day just end already???

I am so over this day.  This week.  This month.

I have a lot on my plate.  Too much, I know, but that's life.  Some days I just want to hit the fast forward button.  Like today.  So, please, can this day just end already?????

Tomorrow

Some days are better than others.  This I know.  Today is not one of those days.  All day it seemed like things were not going my way.  Nothing major just little things: the boys were up at 3:30a, I woke up with my sinuses clogged and a sore throat, dropped my iPod and the case broke, stepped wrong on my foot and my ankle started bothering me, the lock on my gym locker decided to randomly change it's combination and I had to pry it apart (which was way too easy!,) plans got rearranged and I ended up w/an extra toddler, and for some reason I no longer have any perception of my body so I keep bumping into things...  Just enough to put me on a ledge looking over the cliff.  I took a deep breath and turned my back to that stupid ledge.  You see, tomorrow has to be a better day.  And this time I know it will be.  Hubby and I are going to run away for a night, take a breather, if you will.  I need it.  I just wish I could remember to do it more often.  Then maybe I could stand on the ledge and just enjoy the view.

Potty Training

After observing my daughter for almost an hour her doctor asked me if she was potty trained yet.  I said no, I mean she is only 2.5 so it's not like she is behind or anything.  Well, the doctor said that with her intelligence level she was just playing us.  We're fine with this cause with 2 4 month olds I don't have time to clean up the messes big girl panties would bring.  She goes on the big potty when she wants to and if I catch her with a dry diaper she'll usually go for me.

Today after her bath she says to me "something's coming out of my parts, maybe I go pee potty."  So she's playing us big time.  Oh, well, what ya gonna do...right.

Tackling the crib

Hubby rearranged the boys room last night so that he could fit their swings in it.  For those of you who don't know they sleep in their swings, usually from 11:30p-ish til 6:00a-ish.  At the last minute last night we decided to try to put the boys to bed in their crib.  Gasp!  We didn't expect it to last long as they don't like to lay still unless they are in bed with us and even then they want to be held.  So we laid them down on their sleep positioners and turned on their music.  After a couple of times sticking their paci's back in their mouths they went right to sleep.  They woke a couple times needing paci help but from 11:30p-ish until 5:00a-ish they slept in their crib in their room.  Plus they didn't wake up when I had to pass through the room to go check on their crying sister and the floor in their room is the squeakiest one in the house!  YAY!!!  Hopefully by the time we go to NY they will be used to sleeping in a crib so we don't have to share the hotel bed with them.  :-D

"You are gonna get stuck and I am going to laugh at you."

"You are gonna get stuck and I am going to laugh at you."  I'm not sure how often I say those to my daughter but it seems to be often.  Maybe I shouldn't say that to her at all but I do believe in having a measure of truthfulness with her.  One of these days she's gonna get herself stuck and I'm gonna have to laugh at her.  Wouldn't want her to think I was a liar, you know.

Breaking My Heart

In February of 2007, Hubby & I brought home Prince & Princess.  They were, oh so tiny and I adored them.  When Mini came along in 2008 they weren't jealous of her and loved to curl up next to her.  All was going good until we moved into our present house.  Due to the size of the house their pen has shrunk in half.  Not usually an issue because they can run around out side as well as play with us.  Then we brought the twins home.  Within the first couple weeks I noticed something that was not good.  Everytime Big, Little Man was near the dogs or anything with dog hair on it his eyes turned red and swelled shut.  Uh oh.  This means the dogs aren't allowed out of their pen at all and now that the temperatures have dropped and they can't spend long periods of time outside they are stuck in a too small pen.  This isn't fair to them and they have gotten antsy as of lately.  So we made the heart wrenching decision to rehome them.  I have been slow about doing it.  Today their ad was posted on petfinder.com.  My heart is breaking and I have no idea how I am going to explain to Mini where they went but I know what they deserve better than what they are getting from us. 

I Don't Want Anymore!!!

I have told pretty much everyone I know that I don't want anymore children.  My husband and my goal was to have 2 and that was it.  We were blessed with twins our second pregnancy so we are blessed with 3.  After I got pregnant the 2nd time around the decision to get some type of permanent sterilization (what a word!)  If my husband takes time off work he doesn't get paid.  This meant that the decision of who had a procedure done was pretty much a set thing...me.  I checked my options and chose the Essure procedure (less invasive, quick recovery.)  One would not believe the uproar this caused with some people I know.  They insisted that it was not what I wanted and that I would regret it.  Say what?!?!?!  As a family we have 5 mouths to feed, 5 bodies to clothe, 3 butts to diaper and 3 educations to pay for.  We live paycheck to paycheck as it is.  The future brings more expenses.  Why would I do a disservice to the 3 absolutely amazing kids I have by bring more mouths/bodies/butts/educations into this family.  Don't get me wrong.  I adore children but there is a point that you have to be responsible with your resources and my resources dictate that 3 is ENOUGH!  What about in the future? you ask...  I am not getting any younger and the older you get the higher the chance of birth defects and multiples...I don't need and more twins!  What if on dies?  I get so aggravated by this question.  I am not going to get pregnant to replace a child.  There is NO replacing a child.  My identity is not wrapped up in whether or not I can bear children.  I am insulted when someone even insinuates this.  So I have made my choice and had the Essure procedure done.  Quick, painless and permanent.  And I have no regrets.  Nor will I ever regret it in the future.  3 is enough for my family.  :-)

Liberating the bedroom aka Getting the Boys to Sleep in Their Crib

Ok. So the boys sleep from 11p til 7a now.  The caveat being that they sleep in their swings...in our room.  We do not have a very big room & 2 swings take up a heck of a lot of space.  They will also sleep with no complaints in our bed when we have our bed heaters on (think electric blanket under you instead of on you.)  I figure they'll sleep in their crib if it stayed warm like our bed.  Obviously, they do not make crib size bed heaters so I researched and researched and I found this:
http://perfectlysafe.stores.yahoo.net/81202-bedwarm.html

I think it might be the answer to our prayers.  Plus, I'm thinking about getting one for Mini, too, cause her room is freezing.

UPDATE:
I put the bedwarmer on Mini's bed.  Though I cannot tell the difference when I put my hand on it I can tell that it makes a difference.  It is 62 degrees in Madi's room right now yet she is warm with just her lightweight footie sleeper on.  Her hands are warm (this is how I can tell, before her hands were cold.)  Well worth the $8 investment.

We are Crazy

The tickets are bought, hotel rooms booked and mini-van reserved.  Flying with 2 (then) 5 month olds and a 2.5 year old, we might have lost our minds!!!

My "Current" Addictions

I titled this My "Current" Addictions because, as I mentioned before, I have ADD so I tend to forget I'm addicted to something...sad but true.

*Iced Tea or more specifically Iced Sweet Tea...though now I have scaled back & when ordering in restaurants I order half sweet/half unsweet and at home I limit the amount of sugar to 1/4 cup per 50oz of tea.

*Mocha Cappuccino Whey Protein Shake mix.  No I do not eat it straight; I mix it with milk.  YUMMY!

*Nesquik- this I do eat straight; really must break myself of this habit.

What are your current addictions?

"Good" Morning

I am not a morning person.  I loath mornings.  The twins get up between 5:30a-7:00a.  They don't get their first bottle until after 7a so there is usually a lot of comforting going on til then.  Mini gets up between 7:00a-7:30a and, for some reason not known to either her father or I, she will not get out of bed until we open her door and say she can.  Instead she lays there hollering til we come get her.  At 6:50a this morning she hollers:
"Feed me, Mommy.  Feed me!!!!  Feed me, Mommy! Feed me!!  I hungry!!!!"
After a couple rounds of this I figure she isn't gonna give up so I get up.  I open her door and tell her to quit hollering.  She says to me:
"My tummy hurts.  I just want to feel better. I need my cereal bar, yogurt & marshmallows."
So now it is 7:40a, everyone is fed and happy and all I want to do is crawl back in bed and go back to sleep.  How many more years of this do I have?!?!?!

A touch of OCD

I might be a little crazy; heck, I'm probably a lot crazy.  I recognize this.  I have taken a lot of flack for assigning my kids a color.  What does this mean???  Well, my daughter and my niece were born 3 months apart and pretty much have always lived near each other.  This means they are often bought the same items- stuffed animals, toys, clothes...  So my daughter gets purple and my niece gets pink (this is supposing they come in those colors...)  With my sons one gets green and the other gets blue.  This drives some people in my life absolutely crazy.  Sad thing is it drives me crazy if they don't follow it!  All I can think is 'at least I'll know whose is whose when they are fighting over an item.'  Yes, I will take the easy road.  Pick your battles/issues, why add more when you can avoid it.  Right....

All about me

Let me start by saying that I have no clue how good I'll be at this.  I happen to be lucky enough to consider myself a friend to one of the best bloggers out there and I have big shoes to follow.  :-)

I am a mom of 3.  I have a 2 year old girl and twin 3 month/3 week old boys.  I am a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom.)  It makes no sense for me to work as what I would earn would barely cover daycare.  My kids drive me crazy and I drive my husband crazy.  :-)  This blog is gonna be a mish mash of this and that.  Little things I learn, stuff I discover, enlightening thoughts I may have (hey, you never know, it could happen!)  I may post a million little blogs in one day, one big long rambling blog or I'll forget that I'm a blogger and you'll have to remind me to post something.  I'm ADD...hehehe...  Let's see how it goes.  :-D