OOOH Its a Baby Shower!

5 Minutes For Mom is always doing cool stuff. And thanks to their dual pregnancies, all their sponsors are participating in a Fun Cyber Baby Shower! Not only do they get gifts, but we get fun prizes too!

Now they have 3 games, and I am going to partake in all three, just beware!

1. Most Sympathy Inspiring Delivery Photo....


As you can tell, I had a water birth, so that meant NO pain meds! I didn't have access to any, and as it was my first birth experience, I had no idea exactly what I was getting myself into. Although I do have to say that out of the three, it was the most amazing. I was in labor for 14 hours and had gone in with self controlled extremely high blood pressure. It was super intense. But the result, was my great little Train Junkie!


2. The Best Baby Bump



Also from being pregnant with Train Junkie, because I had such high blood pressure, I was incredibly swollen, this was taken a couple of days before I went into labor. I was huge, and was down to my last pair of pants! Not only that, because I had midwives, they didn't care how much weight I gained and encouraged me to eat all the time....


3. The most remarkable, interesting, or brutal Birth Story

This is something that could go either way. The birth story for my Train Junkie was interesting because I had a water birth. We chose a birthing center because I have always had issues with medical intervention, and with needles. So I wanted a birth that would allow me to make my own decisions, eat when needed, and move around to assist with the process. I had 5 amazing midwives who were with me through my entire labor and delivery. When we went in, I had been having contractions for a couple of days, but with little progress. They had the birthing tub ready when we got there, and after being checked hubby and I got in. Thats right, my hubby GOT IN the tub with me! 2 of my midwives were strong christians and prayed with us before we got started. We had brought a CD player and played worship music, mostly Delirious, throughout the birth. My water had broken earlier, but mine breaks on top. So when it got time for me to push, I pushed for 4 hours without anything happening. The reason why, was that the bag of waters had collected and was what I was trying to push out. They broke it and then everything sped up. I actually gave birth in the tub, I remember being very aware of the pain, but it didn't bother me. I knew the outcome would be a beautiful baby. Once I had my little Train Junkie, it was time to birth the placenta (gross, right?) but I just couldn't. Nothing happened. They gave me herbs to help, and also a shot of Pitocin and that didn't help either. So we all piled in cars, somehow that doesn't sound quite right, and headed up to Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) to have a D&C to get rid of the placenta. I lost a liter of blood, and was getting pretty weak. But I was able to walk in on my own. They admitted me quickly,and had the procedure done, and they said when I could get up and walk out, I could leave. So after about 30 minutes I did. We went back to the Birthing Center and spent 2 nights there. The room had a 4 poster king size bed and it was like staying in a bed and breakfast. Homemade meals and incredible care. It was an incredible experience, and should we, or God intervene, and we change our minds, I would definitely do it this way again!
My second child, Little Guy, was born at the Naval Hospital. NOT a good experience at all. My water broke in the morning, so I called hubby to have him come home from work and take me in. They looked me over and declared NO BABY SHALL BE BORN TODAY! Yeah right. I was already dilated to a 4, and they sent me home. But I knew the contractions were different then the ones I had been having for 2 months. So we went home with the intentions of heading out to dinner, and then to the mall to walk. Hoping to get that baby moving! We had Train Junkie with us, but had set up with out nanny agency to have a sitter on call for us that week. We went to eat at Souper Salad, one of my favorite places, but I just didn't feel good, and didn't want to go walking afterwards. We headed home and hubby went to run me a bath to help me feel better. But I didn't make it past the front door. I felt horrible and then the contractions started full force. Back into the car we went, my hubby will tell you I looked like I was going to climb out of my seat in pain. Once we got to the base hospital, they took me up to look me over, although I was obviously in labor. Let me tell you, Military Hospitals are not the best place to give birth in. And now the one my son was born in has several law suits against it for various reasons. Nice, huh?! Anyway, they decided I was in labor and took me up to L&D. I wasn't in very long before I was asking for drugs and an Epidural. However, the urge to push took over and I couldn't stop it. They kept telling me I wasn't ready, until the nurse looked down and saw the top of Little Guys head. He was on his way and nothing was stopping him. It took probably 4 pushes and he was out, as the man with the Epidural made his way in. The entire time, hubby was holding Train Junkie who just watched the whole thing with interest. I had a 2nd degree tear and the Dr. proceeded to sew me up without any local anesthetic. I stopped him, asking"OOOOWWW WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!" He replied, "Sewing you up". "WELL STOP IT! That HURTS!"
He didn't although the nurse finally brought over something to numb me.
Suffice it to say our Baby Girl was not born in the Navy Hospital, and my experience with her was normal and easy.

Now, I get to pick my top 3 gifts, and HOPE and cross my fingers, that I WIN something!!
1. First Choice Lucky Mom necklace
2. Flip Hop Slippers!
3. Peekaboo Baby nursing cover

Now, its your turn! Let me know if you play, I LOVE reading birth stories :)

My Too MUCH To Do List

I am sitting here eating my bowl of Count Chocula cereal, do you guys remember this cereal? We were at Wal-Mart last night and needed to pick up some groceries since hubby has duty today, and went to the cereal aisle. We ALWAYS neeed cereal. Come to find out, hubby's ALL-TIME favorite cereal is Boo-Berry. And since Wal-Mart carries this uber nutritious breakfast fare for the low low price of $1.88 a box, we got 4! One of which was Count Chocula, or as my Little Guy calls it Chocky-do da.
So here is my To Do list for the day....
* CLEAN my house, living room, kitchen, dining room, master bdrm
* Strip beds and wash and change sheets
* Laundry in general
* Work on my sewing project (and if anyone has any sewing machine usage pointers, PLEASE share them with me!!)
* Make "something" (I know what it is, but she reads this..)for a friend of ours for her birthday
* RE-CLEAN my kitchen since my boys will be helping with above task....
* Finish hanging pics upstairs
* Pay some bills online
* Workout

Now, if I accomplish even half of this, I will feel pretty good about my day. I also have to find time to hang out with my kids, make meals, take a shower, and bath my boys! Maybe I will just go back to bed.

So, 2 questions for you guys, 1. What is your favorite KID cereal?? and 2. Whats on your To DO list today?

Issues, We All Have Them...

Some of us more than others! Reading here earlier in the week, led hubby and I to start talking about our oldest childs food issues. And how TRULY bazaar some of them are. The topic, in case you haven't made it over there yet, was basically, how do you handle mealtime meltdowns? Go read it, and the comments, some are HI-LARIOUS! Ok, I know that took stinkin' forever, but it was worth it, right?
Train Junkie started life out pretty good, I nursed him full time (like its a job, right? And you all know it pretty much is...) until about 4 mos and then we did the usual starting food routine.(He breas*tfed until 11 mos, when he cut himself off) And he did well. Ate like a champ. LOVED green beans. Which in and of itself should have signaled my inevitable demise. Because according to my mother, when I was little I also held the green bean dear to my heart. To the point of asking for more, and at the tender age of two, I made my way around the dinner table taking them from peoples plates. Now I HATE them.... As does TJ. And all veggies in any form unless its tomato sauce and isn't that a fruit? He will eat most fruits.

But here is where it gets weird. I will start with the juice issue. We have always given our boys juice that is half water. For sugar reasons. Well, TJ HAS to have his juice with the water down (meaning put in first) and juice up. If it is any other way, and he sees you do it, he will NOT under any circumstances drink it.

The main foods he eats are Mac & Cheese, no preference to brand, so I could make it homemade if I was insane and had all the time in the world, hot dogs, ham and cheese, pb&j, and pizza. Most cereals, and breakfast foods. No eggs, he used to love them, then only wanted them if they were scalding hot. No sausage or bacon. Who doesn't like BACON??? He will eat pancakes. But hates Poptarts.

TJ will not eat a ham and cheese sandwich unless the ham is first and the cheese on top. The newest neuroticism, (is that even a word?) is he loves a ham and cheese rollup. This is a tortilla, with mayo, and ham and cheese. Ham first, cheese next, ROLL it up, do not cut it at all. If I make a quesadilla, same rule applies. We had a complete meltdown the other day when I made it WRONG. Ham on top, cheese melty on bottom, and oh the humanity, cut into the evil triangular shape. Instead of a circle....Which must be to symbolize the halo hanging over my little angel...
On a side note, I did refuse to make him anything else and he eventually picked at it and ate some of it.

Oh, and hot dogs, yeah they need to be COLD. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little thinking about that one. He will even go so far as to eat his Mac & Cheese cold. Like for lunch yesterday. All COLD. ICK. His chicken nuggets, if they are already cooked, he will eat them COLD from the freezer. And everything is to be dipped into ketchup and ranch.

He does, however, like grits. Yep, you heard me correctly. Something he picked up at school. I pay good money for my son to go to school and develop a taste for grits.
You know, for all the time we spend watching The Food Network, you would think some of it might rub off on him. So far, just the desserts have caught his attention. As he asked me to make him a CREAM PIE today. Too bad I can't camoflauge the veggies and mix them into that!

Do any of you hide foods within other foods? What are your kids weird food behaviors??

Pink With Excitement!

5 Minutes For Mom is at it again! October, as most of you know, is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And name brand products usually come out with something in that fabulous pink in support. A percentage of the sales typically goes to the charity. Dyson and Target are exclusively offering the Pink All Floor Vacuum, with 40% going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. And for all my effort posting here about it, I am entered into the drawing at 5 Minutes For Mom to WIN my VERY VERY own! You can too, all you have to do is head over to here leave a comment and then link back! Easy Peasy! Or don't cuz that makes my chances a little greater.... Just kidding! Go, comment, link, and then support a great cause!

Routines

Baby Girl is sleeping in her swing, the boys are engrossed in Little Bear, and I have a moment to myself. Jesus has got my back today! I guess that means I better get off my rear and go clean up my kitchen, do some laundry and put away all my desk stuff, and refill my filing cabinet. AND work on my latest project. What happened to that sigh of relief I just let out? I am pretty sure I just sucked it back in....

We are starting to finally settle into a routine that works for us. I don't think that happened with the boys until they were much older. God has really blessed us with a good baby. The boys tested my endurance when they were this age. Train Junkie didn't sleep. Would NOT sleep. We walked, jostled, danced and CRIED trying to get him to sleep at night. Laying him down didn't really work, he screamed and screamed. And then cried some more. And living in an apartment or base housing isn't really conducive to letting your kid just cry it out. And my little guy had allergies that kicked in at about 1 yr. His doctor didn't catch it, and so we endured crying at night, his little body so tense because his tum tum hurt. After eliminating suspect foods, we realized he had a milk allergy and a gluten allergy. And once we got that taken care of he slept great. Loved his crib and we could lay him down at night. He fell asleep on his own after that.
Baby girl is completely different. She sleeps great, she loves being in her swing. Most of the time she is happy and content! And finally my boys do to!

MPM once again

I have been so sporadic about posting anything, but I did manage to get a Menu Plan put together. Of course we haven't been sticking to it as well as I would like. But hey, I think thats par for the course with a new baby. And how long is a new baby considered a new baby? Baby Girl will be 7 weeks old tomorrow. I can't believe how fast these past weeks have gone. And she amazes us everyday with her big grins (slide show to be included!) and how well she can hold her head up already. Our little ones, although not little for long, are such a blessing. Even when driving me nuts. I was in the kitchen, getting Train Junkie his juice, and the boys were underfoot, getting into everything, pulling stuff off the counters. And I told TJ to knock it off or I was going to lose my mind. At which point, he turned to Daddy and said (or rather, whined) "But I want Mommy to lose her mind!"
My little guy is notoriously cranky if he doesn't get a nap. But if he does get one, we have a hard time getting him to sleep at night. He fell asleep yesterday in the car on the way to our friends house and then finished his nap on her couch. Of course he had himself a little accident so I had to pick him up some shorts and undies at Target. Because Train Junkie gets a train mag every now and then, it seemed only fair that Little Guy should get a magazine to look at too. The obvious choice was a Monster Truck magazine. He LOVED it. Little Guy flipped through it pointing out trucks until he came across a page with Jeeps. Which hubby has.
Little Guy got very excited,"Look at the Jeep, thats very special to Daddy!"
I know, I know, there is supposed to be a Menu Plan in here somewhere!
Here we go...


Saturday: Tacos with fresh avocado
Sunday: Chicken, Salad with Cherry Tomatos, and rolls
Monday: Breakfast for Dinner, Blackberry Pancakes
Tuesday: Roast with Red Potatoes, Baby Carrots, French Bread
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup (perfect since it will be raining all week!)
Friday: Spaghetti with Garlic Bread
Saturday: Marlboro Mans 2nd Favorite Sandwich


Here is a pic of the infamous Jeep...




After I came home from some major grocery shopping the other night, hubby went out to bring in the groceries while I fed Baby Girl. This is what he came in with instead!



Which is kind of funny since while we live within walking distance of the river, the beach is a good 20-30 minutes away. The boys got a kick out of it and decided to name it Herman. But then Herman had to go back outside because SURELY his mom and day missed him...

And finally, here is the promised slides of my SMILING baby girl!!

Road Trippin'

It has been a long two days. We are currently driving our way back from visiting hubby's family in Texas. Imagine how much fun it is to drive for 2 days with a 3 yr old, 2 yr old, and a 6 week old. I think Baby Girl has done the best. We have eaten our combined weight in junk food, and drank more caffeine than would normally be legal. Altogether makes for some delirious parents. Hubby and I tend to get ridiculous in our conversations. We start making up odd statements and ways to describe things that you normally wouldn't hear.
On the other hand, its great to have that time together as a family. The boys are entertaining. Train Junkie gets very excited and high pitched when he spots a train. Little Guy talks ENDLESSLY about the bugs he sees and whether they are nice or are going to "get" him.
I was reading from a Guidepost earlier this week and read an article that Alton Brown from the Food Network had written. If you are a fan, then you know he is responsible for shows like Good Eats and Feasting on Asphalt. I had no idea he was a Christian until I read the article. Which only makes us like him more! We were cruising through Mississippi, when we saw a group of guys on motorcycles. Convinced it could POSSIBLY be him and his entourage coming back from their FOA tour, we whipped around to follow them. They pulled into a diner on the side of the road, and we realized it was NOT him. Oh well, its the thrill of the hunt, right? Which makes us sound like stalkers, which we are not! Just enthused fans...
We have become technologically advanced for this trip. The boys have their DVD player, which lends to keeping them entertained. Not that we play it from the moment we get in the car. It usually gets put into play once that glazed over look takes hold of them. And I feel especially techy traveling with my laptop and wireless card. Thats right people, I can check email, and surf the net.... FROM THE CAR!!! Look out (insert techy persons name here, since I don't know anyone...) I am moving up in the world wide web!
During our time in Texas, I convinced hubby I could not go on a moment longer if I didn't do something with my hair. It had been cut right before Baby Girl was born into a shaggy rendition of Mandy Moores latest "do". I wanted to go blonde too, but knew the minute the hairdresser started putting the foils on, I would go into labor. I hear its a lot easier to head to the hospital in the middle of a hair cut, than get up and deliver a baby with my head covered in bleach and foils.
So I researched and found a reputable hair salon. The girl had put my hair in so many foils, I am surprised I didn't start picking up digital satelite tv. She put me under the heat dealy thingy with the hole in the middle, and I read up on Britney Spears and her troubles. She was on the cover of EVERY rag mag, so I didn't have much of a choice in reading material. Anywho, hairdresser girl came to check my progress, and in the process shifted the foils. The weight of them must have pushed them onto my scalp, because suddenly, it felt like my head was ON FIRE! I started looking for my girl and finally had to flag down someone else to find her. She decided it was time to rinse me out and blow dry my hair. It looks great, however, I now have crispy hair in places near my scalp from the BURNS that were inflicted upon my poor head. Its a little scabby too. I only hope it doesn't fall out and leave bald spots. That would completely spoil my attempt to look like I am completely together and not chasing around 2 kids while simultaneously being chained to the couch every two hours to feed a baby. And keeping an immaculate home.