I don't know how many of you follow the news... but a local story for Houston has hit the national airways because of the absurdity of what happened. Last week, a major fire broke out at an at-home day care center that was caring for 7 children between the ages of 18 months to 3 years. Four of those children perished in the fire... which is tragic enough... but it gets worse.
As the story and investigation developed, we learned that the 22 year old lady running the day care center actually left those children alone to go to the grocery store... and at that she left them alone with a pot of oil heating on an electric stove! She returned home to find the house on fire, and then asked the neighbors for help.
Today the news broke that they would be filing charges against her for this, and at the close of the business day - it was reported that this woman has fled the country to Nigeria.
There is so much wrong with this story - and as a mother who leaves her children in the care of an at-home day care... I feel the need to put my opinion out there in the interwebs.
I can't imagine what the parents of the babies that were lost are going through - I mean you leave your most precious gift in the care of someone that you trust to look after them while you are at work... and the most unthinkable thing happens.
1) I'm not 100% sure that a 22 year old is mature enough to take care of 7 toddlers on their own... heck - I'm not even sure that I'm mature enough!
2) Really, in what crazy world does a person think it's okay to leave a child in a home alone?! Much less 7 of them! I mean I barely even feel comfortable taking a shower while my kids are awake... for the fear that something will happen to them!
3) So, idiot lady... you leave the kids home alone... but what in the heck were you thinking leaving oil (or anything else for that matter) cooking on the stove unsupervised while you left to go to the store!? I mean really, were you that hungry for something fried?
4) And to the State of Texas and the City of Houston... are you freaking kidding me?! You let the news break that this chick was going to be facing charges... and you didn't have her in custody already?! What did you think she was going to do? She's 22, and dumb enough to set these circumstances in motion... like a friend of mine said - I can't wait to see how the mayor explains this one away.
5) To the FAA... so, for me to get on a flight to anywhere outside of Houston - I have to go through a body scan and all sorts of other humiliating forms of security... but you can't prevent someone that is about to be charged with any sorts of crimes from skipping the country?!
Anyone else feel like beating your head against a brick wall at the colossal failure on so many levels? I'm heart broken for the families of the babies that were lost, and the three that still remain in the hospital tonight... I pray that no more babies lose their lives over this. I also pray that this woman pays a hefty penalty both on Earth and in the next life...
I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that even though I trust my babysitter completely - it was hard for me to leave my boys with her the last couple of days while this story gets more and more horrific. I know that she'd NEVER do something like that - but how can you truly protect your children if you're not the one caring for them? It's hard, being a parent today... on many different levels. It's a good thing that I know our Ms. Amanda better than these parents probably knew their baby sitter... and I know that she loves my boys very much.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Who's With Me?
** A momentary change from the regular programming... we'll be back to baby pictures and crazy life stories soon **
The journey of a lifetime begins with a single step, right? So we've heard... It is scary, intimidating, but also very true. Most of us have also heard - MANY times - that "you have nothing to fear, but fear itself." Oh how those words haunt me.
All these things are very true, and yet sometimes fear can paralyze you... because sometimes you just can't see the pieces of the whole. You see the big huge monster in the corner - the BIG unattainable goal... but you don't see the small ways to chip away at it each day to get yourself there. You think of it more as one giant leap instead of a journey of 100 small steps.
I'm guilty of that too. I also can get discouraged from time to time - for various reasons... I think we're all guilty of that. I heard on the radio yesterday that the world would be so different if we'd all stop putting on our brave faces and just be REAL. If everything isn't okay... don't try to fake it...
Which flies in the face of the old adage - "fake it until you make it" - oh, how I hate that phrase!
You know what, we all have the courage to make our dreams come true... everyone of us. It might not be easy - it might not be comfortable... but why not give it a try?
I've always wanted to work from home and own my own business. I've tried a couple of different things over the last 6 or so years - from designing my own jewelry and selling it in various capacities online... to now working as an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot.
Stella & Dot is getting a lot of buzz and publicity right now as being the brightest up and coming business of it's kind because of it's new fresh approach. They walk with us step by step to promote and become successful within their industry... and it's very exciting to see the publicity that they get.... the stars in Hollywood wearing the very things that I'm selling... the products worn in television programs... it's just very cool!
I mean think about it!
For a modest investment - which I've already made back in 3 trunk shows... you too can start your own business and walk along side me as we learn how to keep growing and building the business we've all dreamed of having. (Click here to read about all the details)
So I leave you with the words of Jerry Maguire: "But if anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the ground floor of something real and fun and inspiring and true in this godforsaken business and we will do it together! Who's coming with me besides... "Flipper" here?"
I would truly love to be your coach, to walk with you through this, to help inspire you, encourage you, and cheer you on as you achieve goals that you never thought possible!
The journey of a lifetime begins with a single step, right? So we've heard... It is scary, intimidating, but also very true. Most of us have also heard - MANY times - that "you have nothing to fear, but fear itself." Oh how those words haunt me.
All these things are very true, and yet sometimes fear can paralyze you... because sometimes you just can't see the pieces of the whole. You see the big huge monster in the corner - the BIG unattainable goal... but you don't see the small ways to chip away at it each day to get yourself there. You think of it more as one giant leap instead of a journey of 100 small steps.
I'm guilty of that too. I also can get discouraged from time to time - for various reasons... I think we're all guilty of that. I heard on the radio yesterday that the world would be so different if we'd all stop putting on our brave faces and just be REAL. If everything isn't okay... don't try to fake it...
Which flies in the face of the old adage - "fake it until you make it" - oh, how I hate that phrase!
You know what, we all have the courage to make our dreams come true... everyone of us. It might not be easy - it might not be comfortable... but why not give it a try?
I've always wanted to work from home and own my own business. I've tried a couple of different things over the last 6 or so years - from designing my own jewelry and selling it in various capacities online... to now working as an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot.
Stella & Dot is getting a lot of buzz and publicity right now as being the brightest up and coming business of it's kind because of it's new fresh approach. They walk with us step by step to promote and become successful within their industry... and it's very exciting to see the publicity that they get.... the stars in Hollywood wearing the very things that I'm selling... the products worn in television programs... it's just very cool!
I mean think about it!
For a modest investment - which I've already made back in 3 trunk shows... you too can start your own business and walk along side me as we learn how to keep growing and building the business we've all dreamed of having. (Click here to read about all the details)
So I leave you with the words of Jerry Maguire: "But if anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the ground floor of something real and fun and inspiring and true in this godforsaken business and we will do it together! Who's coming with me besides... "Flipper" here?"
I would truly love to be your coach, to walk with you through this, to help inspire you, encourage you, and cheer you on as you achieve goals that you never thought possible!
Friday, February 18, 2011
What a Difference...
Exactly one year ago this very moment, John and I were sitting at St. Joseph's Hospital in downtown Houston awaiting the arrival of the baby that we thought would be our daughter. We waited with baited breath each time we heard the lullaby played over the loud speaker that morning. Ultimately though, we went home empty handed that day.
I can't even begin to explain the pain and sadness that we felt that morning - some people equated it to being similar to a miscarriage... only I don't think that would be accurate. I think in situations like that there are complex emotions that can't be compared or explained. I can only imagine the pain and other things that go on emotionally when you lose a baby from your own body... but I can tell you that having a failed adoption placement is unimaginable as well.
I think the fundamental difference is that you're grieving a baby that didn't pass away - it simply is living his or her life with other people. For us that was a hard pill to swallow because we knew the dire situation that her family was in, and yet someone else was rocking our baby girl that day - without the promise of being provided with the things that she needed for her life.
What a difference a year makes though, right? I wouldn't change the experience in any way - I think God certainly had a different plan for our family... and I'd say that in the long run - we've done amazing things in this year since her birth. We've got two happy and healthy boys... an impending cross country move... and a LOT to be thankful for.
A friend of mine said it best when she reminded me that Tyler was even with us that very morning... while we waited in that room... it's just hard to even put that into perspective... but it's so true, and incredible!
I love my boys with every fiber of my soul, but that little girl has a piece of my heart too. I think about her today and wonder if she's happy, healthy, and loved. I wonder if she has everything that the world has to offer her... and if her parents are still together.
Sadly, her mother chose to keep her because of the father - and being a little bit older (and hopefully slightly wiser) I know that making decisions based on a boyfriend/girlfriend just isn't a good plan. I pray that they are together not only for the sake of the baby girl - but also for the support that is needed in raising children. I pray that her mother finished the school that she was attending at the time so that she might be able to provide for her three children. (or there may be another one on the way now too)
Life can be an interesting ride. If you hold on long enough - it will all work out for the best most of the time... you may not enjoy every twist and turn, but you certainly are often changed for the better by the experiences you have in your life.
Last week, we attended a funeral and the message that morning was that life is a series of "Hellos" and "Goodbyes"... that morning we went to the hospital for what we thought would be a very special "Hello" but it turned out to be a strange form of a "Goodbye"... but it led to a couple of extra special "Hellos" that came just a short while later.
I for one, can't imagine my life any different... and wouldn't trade these guys for anything in the world...
I can't even begin to explain the pain and sadness that we felt that morning - some people equated it to being similar to a miscarriage... only I don't think that would be accurate. I think in situations like that there are complex emotions that can't be compared or explained. I can only imagine the pain and other things that go on emotionally when you lose a baby from your own body... but I can tell you that having a failed adoption placement is unimaginable as well.
I think the fundamental difference is that you're grieving a baby that didn't pass away - it simply is living his or her life with other people. For us that was a hard pill to swallow because we knew the dire situation that her family was in, and yet someone else was rocking our baby girl that day - without the promise of being provided with the things that she needed for her life.
What a difference a year makes though, right? I wouldn't change the experience in any way - I think God certainly had a different plan for our family... and I'd say that in the long run - we've done amazing things in this year since her birth. We've got two happy and healthy boys... an impending cross country move... and a LOT to be thankful for.
A friend of mine said it best when she reminded me that Tyler was even with us that very morning... while we waited in that room... it's just hard to even put that into perspective... but it's so true, and incredible!
I love my boys with every fiber of my soul, but that little girl has a piece of my heart too. I think about her today and wonder if she's happy, healthy, and loved. I wonder if she has everything that the world has to offer her... and if her parents are still together.
Sadly, her mother chose to keep her because of the father - and being a little bit older (and hopefully slightly wiser) I know that making decisions based on a boyfriend/girlfriend just isn't a good plan. I pray that they are together not only for the sake of the baby girl - but also for the support that is needed in raising children. I pray that her mother finished the school that she was attending at the time so that she might be able to provide for her three children. (or there may be another one on the way now too)
Life can be an interesting ride. If you hold on long enough - it will all work out for the best most of the time... you may not enjoy every twist and turn, but you certainly are often changed for the better by the experiences you have in your life.
Last week, we attended a funeral and the message that morning was that life is a series of "Hellos" and "Goodbyes"... that morning we went to the hospital for what we thought would be a very special "Hello" but it turned out to be a strange form of a "Goodbye"... but it led to a couple of extra special "Hellos" that came just a short while later.
I for one, can't imagine my life any different... and wouldn't trade these guys for anything in the world...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Food Rant
Have any of you seen the recent reports that there is a chemical in most soft drinks that has been linked to cancer? Apparently the ingredient listed on most of the labels called "caramel color" is causing this problem.
I have seen my fair share of these types of reports over the years... and it's always a similar type situation - the findings are based on how rats respond to the chemical in a lab. Which begs the question - of when did humans and rats become so closely linked that this is even a valid form of testing... but that's a topic for another day and time.
My issue with this report is that it brings up a memory from years past where a report just like this came up in reference to the food dye "red 40"...
Here are my thoughts...
WHY do we need to add colorings to our foods? Would you really not drink the Coke/Pepsi/Dr Pepper... or whatever if it weren't brown? Does cheese really need to be an unnatural shade of orange? Is there a real valid reason why we can't just eat food in the color that it naturally ends up being?
I remember a few years ago when one of the ketchup companies made green ketchup... and even then - I wondered why that would even matter. I guess some kid out there would rather eat it if it is green? Doubtful...
We've gone so far over the edge that we can't even eat food in it's natural state anymore. Don't get me wrong - I COMPLETELY understand convenience items... and in the current season in my life - I embrace them for what little time I can get back, but I just highly doubt that it matters to anyone if the item is a vivid color or not. Beyond that - if it doesn't look appetizing in it's natural final color... we probably shouldn't be eating it in the first place. Just a thought.
When people tell you to eat the rainbow - I don't think they quite meant that you should be doing it with the help of things like "red 40" or "caramel color"...
I have seen my fair share of these types of reports over the years... and it's always a similar type situation - the findings are based on how rats respond to the chemical in a lab. Which begs the question - of when did humans and rats become so closely linked that this is even a valid form of testing... but that's a topic for another day and time.
My issue with this report is that it brings up a memory from years past where a report just like this came up in reference to the food dye "red 40"...
Here are my thoughts...
WHY do we need to add colorings to our foods? Would you really not drink the Coke/Pepsi/Dr Pepper... or whatever if it weren't brown? Does cheese really need to be an unnatural shade of orange? Is there a real valid reason why we can't just eat food in the color that it naturally ends up being?
I remember a few years ago when one of the ketchup companies made green ketchup... and even then - I wondered why that would even matter. I guess some kid out there would rather eat it if it is green? Doubtful...
We've gone so far over the edge that we can't even eat food in it's natural state anymore. Don't get me wrong - I COMPLETELY understand convenience items... and in the current season in my life - I embrace them for what little time I can get back, but I just highly doubt that it matters to anyone if the item is a vivid color or not. Beyond that - if it doesn't look appetizing in it's natural final color... we probably shouldn't be eating it in the first place. Just a thought.
When people tell you to eat the rainbow - I don't think they quite meant that you should be doing it with the help of things like "red 40" or "caramel color"...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Reflections
A very dear family lost their patriarch on Monday, and today we celebrated his life. It was truly a beautiful service, with lots of family and friends. But I wanted to take a minute to sort of process through some things, so bare with me.
This is a picture of the M family and as you can see Adam not only is the center of the photo - he was the center of their family. One of those men that left people inspired. The pastor that we shared said it best on Monday when he said that Adam inspired him to be a better family man. Adam never met a stranger - and invited everyone he encountered to be a part of anything that he was doing.
The flag at his feet in the photo represents his son that recently passed away as well... and he's holding his grandson that never met his father... this family has gone through a LOT in the last year... and have done it with amazing grace and courage. Grace and courage, in fact that I don't see in myself. I found myself watching Dawn this morning while she was caring for her children and thought about how incredibly beautiful she is inside and outside...
I also was reminded of my own little mini-breakdown last night where in a moment of frustration - I sort of got crabby that I hadn't been able to find time to eat dinner because the boys were so needy... and then it hit me. Life could be so incredibly different. In an instant. A blink of an eye. What I am frustrated by in a moment of weakness - could not be there. Plain and simple... 10 months ago - I was praying that God would grace me with these children, how in any moment can I see that as a burden or complain for an fleeting moment that my exhaustion or hunger should take precedence?
Right now, I'm getting a taste of what it is like to be a single parent... and while I can't say that I am enjoying it... the fact remains that it is temporary. For Dawn, it is her new reality.
I watched their beautiful children - ages 10, 8, 7 and 3 - say goodbye to their father until we are all in heaven together again... and I found myself viewing it from a whole different perspective - as I do with so much of life now. It could be any one of us sitting where Dawn was today, and needing to comfort our own children through this loss. Could I do it? I don't know. Certainly not with the grace and poise that I saw in her. If you can imagine - she also looked incredibly beautiful - almost like there was a light from heaven surrounding her... of course for me, I'd love to think that it was Adam holding her and helping her get through the day.
John sang today - "I Can Only Imagine" and "There Will Be a Day" - very beautiful and emotional songs... click the links to see the original artists music videos of each song. I took a short video of him during the sound check...
I say all of this to try to remind us all to not take any moment for granted. Love with all of your heart. Live IN the moment... not 1/2 there and 1/2 on your phone... be all there. Know that every moment offers a memory - that someone in your life will cling to someday when you're not there anymore. We all will leave this Earth at some point - that isn't within our power... not to control, to know when, or to know how... - BUT we can control right now and the memories we leave behind. The legacy we leave behind.
I know that Adam leaves an incredible legacy... I can only hope that I do someday as well.
This is a picture of the M family and as you can see Adam not only is the center of the photo - he was the center of their family. One of those men that left people inspired. The pastor that we shared said it best on Monday when he said that Adam inspired him to be a better family man. Adam never met a stranger - and invited everyone he encountered to be a part of anything that he was doing.
The flag at his feet in the photo represents his son that recently passed away as well... and he's holding his grandson that never met his father... this family has gone through a LOT in the last year... and have done it with amazing grace and courage. Grace and courage, in fact that I don't see in myself. I found myself watching Dawn this morning while she was caring for her children and thought about how incredibly beautiful she is inside and outside...
I also was reminded of my own little mini-breakdown last night where in a moment of frustration - I sort of got crabby that I hadn't been able to find time to eat dinner because the boys were so needy... and then it hit me. Life could be so incredibly different. In an instant. A blink of an eye. What I am frustrated by in a moment of weakness - could not be there. Plain and simple... 10 months ago - I was praying that God would grace me with these children, how in any moment can I see that as a burden or complain for an fleeting moment that my exhaustion or hunger should take precedence?
Right now, I'm getting a taste of what it is like to be a single parent... and while I can't say that I am enjoying it... the fact remains that it is temporary. For Dawn, it is her new reality.
I watched their beautiful children - ages 10, 8, 7 and 3 - say goodbye to their father until we are all in heaven together again... and I found myself viewing it from a whole different perspective - as I do with so much of life now. It could be any one of us sitting where Dawn was today, and needing to comfort our own children through this loss. Could I do it? I don't know. Certainly not with the grace and poise that I saw in her. If you can imagine - she also looked incredibly beautiful - almost like there was a light from heaven surrounding her... of course for me, I'd love to think that it was Adam holding her and helping her get through the day.
John sang today - "I Can Only Imagine" and "There Will Be a Day" - very beautiful and emotional songs... click the links to see the original artists music videos of each song. I took a short video of him during the sound check...
I say all of this to try to remind us all to not take any moment for granted. Love with all of your heart. Live IN the moment... not 1/2 there and 1/2 on your phone... be all there. Know that every moment offers a memory - that someone in your life will cling to someday when you're not there anymore. We all will leave this Earth at some point - that isn't within our power... not to control, to know when, or to know how... - BUT we can control right now and the memories we leave behind. The legacy we leave behind.
I know that Adam leaves an incredible legacy... I can only hope that I do someday as well.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Memo to Me
Yesterday, yet again - we had another Houston snow/ice scare. I left work early because it was sleeting and snowing out by my house... and there were reports that the path between my office and the boys was having patches closed because of ice.
I did see the snow and some ice, but nothing that closed down any roads. It was about 29 degrees... which isn't earth shattering to a lot of you... but for Houston it's pretty cold... and what do you think I found when I got home?! No POWER! For realz?!
It took about 45 minutes for it to come back on, but it didn't go out any other time during the evening. Thank goodness for our house running on most things via natural gas... and an extra special shout out to our gas logs in the fireplace... that kept this Momma and my baby birds from becoming popsicles last night.
My evenings these days involve a healthy dose of time spent feeding Tyler... the kid is amazing. He eats like a small bird during the morning and early afternoon - and then something happens around 4PM that turns him into an eating machine. So he eats 4oz between 4 & 4:30... then he eats another 4 oz at 6... and at 8 he starts chugging a 6 ounce bottle with rice cereal in it. It's amazing. It does somehow seem to be helping him with sleeping though.
It's been a couple weeks or so since we've had a middle of the night feeding... but he goes down between 8:30 and 10... and then we get up to start over at 4:30...
That is until today... the one time I've forgotten to set the alarm - and Tyler decides he wants to sleep in! I woke up at 5:15... and had to do a mad dash to get 2 of us fed and changed... and one of us dressed... but we were all 3 in the car by 6 and off to the babysitter's house.
There certainly was some ice around this morning... but not much other than that...
I did see the snow and some ice, but nothing that closed down any roads. It was about 29 degrees... which isn't earth shattering to a lot of you... but for Houston it's pretty cold... and what do you think I found when I got home?! No POWER! For realz?!
It took about 45 minutes for it to come back on, but it didn't go out any other time during the evening. Thank goodness for our house running on most things via natural gas... and an extra special shout out to our gas logs in the fireplace... that kept this Momma and my baby birds from becoming popsicles last night.
My evenings these days involve a healthy dose of time spent feeding Tyler... the kid is amazing. He eats like a small bird during the morning and early afternoon - and then something happens around 4PM that turns him into an eating machine. So he eats 4oz between 4 & 4:30... then he eats another 4 oz at 6... and at 8 he starts chugging a 6 ounce bottle with rice cereal in it. It's amazing. It does somehow seem to be helping him with sleeping though.
It's been a couple weeks or so since we've had a middle of the night feeding... but he goes down between 8:30 and 10... and then we get up to start over at 4:30...
That is until today... the one time I've forgotten to set the alarm - and Tyler decides he wants to sleep in! I woke up at 5:15... and had to do a mad dash to get 2 of us fed and changed... and one of us dressed... but we were all 3 in the car by 6 and off to the babysitter's house.
There certainly was some ice around this morning... but not much other than that...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
No WAY Wednesday
I am sort of stealing this idea from another blog - but only conceptually... and I don't know that she still does it either - I stopped reading a LONG time ago because in the midst of my fertility struggle it just became too hard to read her blog. ANYWAY...
No Way... did I keep adding to the dishwasher and rewashing the dishes instead of unloading them...
No Way... did I find myself getting envious of my kids because just once I wish someone would take care of my every need at the slightest sound of a whimper...
No Way... did I almost not only forget to wear a bra one day - but ALSO had my shirt on backwards!
No Way... did I silently laugh when it was John who found our first MAJOR blow out of a diaper situation... because we live by a "you found it... you deal with it" sort of rule in our house...
No Way... did I try to act like I didn't hear Tyler crying one night... only to shortly realize that I was the only adult in the house!
No Way... did I have to REALLY think about changing James' dirty diaper because he was already asleep in bed when I found it. (I did change it... but MAN - waking him up seemed like a BAD idea!)
No Way... am I sooo bored at work some days that I find myself getting bored with blog reading, facebooking, game playing, and pretty much anything else... I love the downtime, but wish I could be sleeping!
No Way... did I beg the dogs to pack the diaper bag and wash the bottles for me last night...
No Way... did I consider charging 48 cents on my bank check card at Starbucks because I wasn't sure I could count money like that at 6AM... (don't judge... I'd been up since 3:45 after only going to bed around 11)
No Way... have I misread several emails this week only to find myself wondering why people are so dumb... only to then realize that I'm the dumb one!
So, what have you done this week that you'd deny if anyone asked you about it? Join in the fun... if you dare!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Mystery Hostess Giveaway
I was brainstorming on ways to have some fun while building my business - I promise that the S&D posts will slow down soon... but I've GOT to make this work so that I can stay home with my baby birds when we move. That's when a friend of mine who does another home based business came up with a BRILLIANT idea - and I thought, why not? No harm, no foul.
And there you have it... I'm hosting a Mystery Hostess Trunk Show!
So what does this mean for you?
For every $10 you spend... you get an entry into the drawing to win the entire hostess package!! ** You will need to select: mystery hostess - when it asks you if you're attending an upcoming show. (it is the 5th one down on the list)
What is the hostess package, you might ask....
Sales:
$300-$499: you get 15% of the total in free jewelry AND up to 2 items at half price
$500-$999: you get 20% of the total in free jewelry AND up to 3 items at half price
$1,000+ : you get 25% of the total in free jewelry AND up to 4 items at half price
Just to give you an idea - my launch party did go over the $1,000 mark with less than 10 orders! (So you could get $250 in free jewelry!)
So once again - you get 1 entry into the drawing for every $10 you spend! ** You will need to select: mystery hostess - when it asks you if you're attending an upcoming show. (it is the 5th one down on the list)
I will give you 1 more entry for posting and promoting this show as well - and trust me - you will want to do that... the more orders - the bigger the prize package!
1 last entry for liking Stella & Dot by Kim Hawkins, Independent Stylist on Facebook.
The show will last until February 17th - to make sure that we go past one more payday for everyone!
** disclaimer - if the show doesn't reach $300 in sales... there is no prize package to giveaway. So you will want to help promote this if you want to win some fun stuff!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Giveaway Winner & Other News
Lets start off with the fun stuff... the Lovey Dovey Giveaway winner is... AMBER GI!! Amber - contact me via email (kbhawkins00 AT gmail DOT com) within the next 24 hours and I'll send you the discount code to use at CSN Stores.
In other news... those of us in the Houston area are bracing for 1-5 inches (INCHES!!!) of snow between noon today and noon tomorrow. I know for a lot of my friends up north... this isn't a big deal... but let me put this in perspective for you. In Houston, we deal with hurricanes, flooding, and 110+ degree temps in the summer... but the last time we've had any sort of MAJOR winter event was 1997.
We've had a snow flurry or two in the last couple of years... but nothing that shut down the city like this is. I remember the storm in 1997, very well. It was my second semester of college and I was transferring home from the University of Alabama... so I had just moved to College Station, TX - it literally was my second day there and my little Honda Civic was completely frozen to the ground... doors frozen shut... and no one was going anywhere. So I spent my first few days there stuck in my apartment not knowing anyone.
So this time - we're bracing for even worse... and it might even stick - which would be a little fun to see. I know that the area kids are excited - and schools are already closing and planning their early releases. It'll be the boys first snow - so I hope to be able to get them out for a minute to get a photo... but of course they won't be out long because God knows - I can't afford for anyone to get sick! Be sure though - if anything here turns white... I'll be documenting with the camera and will bring you updates.
No worries though - I have the essentials... formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, bottled water, dog food, hamburger helper, cokes, and other snacks! HAHAHA!
The airport here is shutting down operations at 3PM today... and we don't know what that means for John getting home from Memphis - but either way - he'll be here sometime soon. If they go ahead and cancel his flight - he's hopping in the car and driving home... so we'll see. He'll be here sometime within the next 24 hours.
***********
In other news... those of us in the Houston area are bracing for 1-5 inches (INCHES!!!) of snow between noon today and noon tomorrow. I know for a lot of my friends up north... this isn't a big deal... but let me put this in perspective for you. In Houston, we deal with hurricanes, flooding, and 110+ degree temps in the summer... but the last time we've had any sort of MAJOR winter event was 1997.
We've had a snow flurry or two in the last couple of years... but nothing that shut down the city like this is. I remember the storm in 1997, very well. It was my second semester of college and I was transferring home from the University of Alabama... so I had just moved to College Station, TX - it literally was my second day there and my little Honda Civic was completely frozen to the ground... doors frozen shut... and no one was going anywhere. So I spent my first few days there stuck in my apartment not knowing anyone.
So this time - we're bracing for even worse... and it might even stick - which would be a little fun to see. I know that the area kids are excited - and schools are already closing and planning their early releases. It'll be the boys first snow - so I hope to be able to get them out for a minute to get a photo... but of course they won't be out long because God knows - I can't afford for anyone to get sick! Be sure though - if anything here turns white... I'll be documenting with the camera and will bring you updates.
No worries though - I have the essentials... formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, bottled water, dog food, hamburger helper, cokes, and other snacks! HAHAHA!
The airport here is shutting down operations at 3PM today... and we don't know what that means for John getting home from Memphis - but either way - he'll be here sometime soon. If they go ahead and cancel his flight - he's hopping in the car and driving home... so we'll see. He'll be here sometime within the next 24 hours.
**********
Lastly for today... I have to leave you with this video. This song sums up my crazy life right now soooooo well... and it's just one of those songs that makes me smile. It's so happy and fun! I find myself tapping my foot and dancing around when I hear it... so hopefully it'll bring a little bit of sunshine to your day.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
New Mommy Confessions
Sometimes - I look back on the last 10 months of my life and laugh. Those moments are typically in the shower... because I do my best thinking and reflecting in there. (and if you didn't just think... "yeah, me too" - you're a liar!)
The moments that I was laughing about tonight are those crazed moments that no one knows are coming before the baby arrives - the kind of moments that when you hear someone is pregnant - before you can get excited for her - you think "bless her heart" or "man... is she in for it!"... yeah those moments!
One that sprang to mind tonight in my 5 minute shower... must be from a time when John was out of town not too long after Tyler was born... or something like that. (It's all a blur at this point) It was the start of our MAJOR complete family battle with the stomach virus...
That particular night - I was feeding Tyler, but I didn't have the monitor with me... we have a video monitor... go with me because this will come back around in a minute. So, I was feeding Tyler and heard James stirring... I didn't think anything of it because initially he wasn't crying. I thought he had sneezed... I finished up feeding Tyler and was putting him back in the bassinet... when I looked over and literally saw James do some sort of Mt. Saint Helen's eruption move on the monitor...
I ran upstairs to make sure that he didn't choke on his *ahem* "lava"... and saw that it was all over him... all over his face, in his hair, in his eyes... I mean literally he shot it straight up and it came right back down. I went to move him and he was so out of it... he didn't even wake up. His body moved where ever I put it, but he never woke up...
Are you ready for this?
There in that moment, I considered leaving him there in his spew because he was sleeping so soundly... and I was so desperately tired. I didn't do it of course, but for a split second - it seemed like the best rational option. Why strip the bed and clean up the baby when he's doing something he so rarely did at that point? Ooooh... how the mind plays with you when you've missed about 8 months of sleep!
Speaking of stripping the bed - is our crib the only one where you have to untie the entire bumper in order to get the sheet out?! Annoying!
There are likely many other moments like that from the last year - but this was the only one that sprang to mind during tonight's shower...
The moments that I was laughing about tonight are those crazed moments that no one knows are coming before the baby arrives - the kind of moments that when you hear someone is pregnant - before you can get excited for her - you think "bless her heart" or "man... is she in for it!"... yeah those moments!
One that sprang to mind tonight in my 5 minute shower... must be from a time when John was out of town not too long after Tyler was born... or something like that. (It's all a blur at this point) It was the start of our MAJOR complete family battle with the stomach virus...
That particular night - I was feeding Tyler, but I didn't have the monitor with me... we have a video monitor... go with me because this will come back around in a minute. So, I was feeding Tyler and heard James stirring... I didn't think anything of it because initially he wasn't crying. I thought he had sneezed... I finished up feeding Tyler and was putting him back in the bassinet... when I looked over and literally saw James do some sort of Mt. Saint Helen's eruption move on the monitor...
I ran upstairs to make sure that he didn't choke on his *ahem* "lava"... and saw that it was all over him... all over his face, in his hair, in his eyes... I mean literally he shot it straight up and it came right back down. I went to move him and he was so out of it... he didn't even wake up. His body moved where ever I put it, but he never woke up...
Are you ready for this?
There in that moment, I considered leaving him there in his spew because he was sleeping so soundly... and I was so desperately tired. I didn't do it of course, but for a split second - it seemed like the best rational option. Why strip the bed and clean up the baby when he's doing something he so rarely did at that point? Ooooh... how the mind plays with you when you've missed about 8 months of sleep!
Speaking of stripping the bed - is our crib the only one where you have to untie the entire bumper in order to get the sheet out?! Annoying!
There are likely many other moments like that from the last year - but this was the only one that sprang to mind during tonight's shower...
Keepin' it Real
It's the last day to enter the Lovey Dovey Giveaway- so hop on over and sign up - unless you couldn't possibly use $90 for free stuff! (And if you don't need free stuff - I need to hear ALL about your job!)
So alright, I just want to put a disclaimer on this post that I am NOT complaining... just keeping it real.
We've started the back and forth commuting for John to Memphis... so it's kind of like being a jack in the box... I never know when he's going to pop up. It keeps things interesting - to say the least. But it leaves me at times doing the Mom thing solo...
I called myself a "single Mom" over the weekend when describing the situation and was quickly reminded that I'm NOT single. So - we'll say "solo Mom" or something more catchy - if you can think of it.
Anyway, so here I am... it's 19 degrees in Houston, blistering wind... snow predicted for late tomorrow through Friday... up to 2" of snow... which I know to a lot of you is a whole bunch of nothing - but for this Houston girl - it's nothing I've ever seen here before.
I've got the boys to myself... a migraine... James is getting SEVEN teeth at once right now... and both boys are bottomless pits - putting away their weight in food everyday. I could just crawl in a hole and do some sort of groundhog move... maybe I could resurface in 6-8 weeks when it's over? Nope.
I've got to figure out how to push through it all... with a smile on my face. To say "it ain't easy" would be the understatement of the century... but people have done more with less, right? So where do I get off feeling sorry for myself at times? Where do I get the nerve to say anything?
A dear, dear friend... (she knows who she is) told me yesterday that I am too hard on myself... and I guess I am at times - I just don't feel like I deserve to be tired or weary when there are people dealing with bigger problems than I am. I also guess that I need to stay on myself to make sure that my boys have everything they need - because they can't fend for themselves... so I need to stay on my game or something will get dropped.
This means that I'm up at 4:30 getting things together for the day, and I don't sit down until everything is packed up and ready to go the night before... but I certainly appreciate my 10-15 minutes that I sit down to eat at 8:30 or 9PM... those are my magic minutes. Literally! It's almost as good as the moment I climb into bed...and silently pray that my two little angels will sleep through the night. Apparently those prayers are going unanswered at the moment since I went to bed at about 10... and had to feed kiddos at 12, 3, and 4... because you can't tell a 9 month old or 3 month old that Mommy has a migraine and needs to rest.
We'll see what this crazy day & weather bring our way too - because the sitter has already lost power this morning... and it's only supposed to get colder and yuckier until Saturday! I may be having to make a mad dash to pick up two cold little men, and what... bring them to work? I don't know - but even if we have to stay in the car... I'll find a way to keep them warm!
So alright, I just want to put a disclaimer on this post that I am NOT complaining... just keeping it real.
We've started the back and forth commuting for John to Memphis... so it's kind of like being a jack in the box... I never know when he's going to pop up. It keeps things interesting - to say the least. But it leaves me at times doing the Mom thing solo...
I called myself a "single Mom" over the weekend when describing the situation and was quickly reminded that I'm NOT single. So - we'll say "solo Mom" or something more catchy - if you can think of it.
Anyway, so here I am... it's 19 degrees in Houston, blistering wind... snow predicted for late tomorrow through Friday... up to 2" of snow... which I know to a lot of you is a whole bunch of nothing - but for this Houston girl - it's nothing I've ever seen here before.
I've got the boys to myself... a migraine... James is getting SEVEN teeth at once right now... and both boys are bottomless pits - putting away their weight in food everyday. I could just crawl in a hole and do some sort of groundhog move... maybe I could resurface in 6-8 weeks when it's over? Nope.
I've got to figure out how to push through it all... with a smile on my face. To say "it ain't easy" would be the understatement of the century... but people have done more with less, right? So where do I get off feeling sorry for myself at times? Where do I get the nerve to say anything?
A dear, dear friend... (she knows who she is) told me yesterday that I am too hard on myself... and I guess I am at times - I just don't feel like I deserve to be tired or weary when there are people dealing with bigger problems than I am. I also guess that I need to stay on myself to make sure that my boys have everything they need - because they can't fend for themselves... so I need to stay on my game or something will get dropped.
This means that I'm up at 4:30 getting things together for the day, and I don't sit down until everything is packed up and ready to go the night before... but I certainly appreciate my 10-15 minutes that I sit down to eat at 8:30 or 9PM... those are my magic minutes. Literally! It's almost as good as the moment I climb into bed...and silently pray that my two little angels will sleep through the night. Apparently those prayers are going unanswered at the moment since I went to bed at about 10... and had to feed kiddos at 12, 3, and 4... because you can't tell a 9 month old or 3 month old that Mommy has a migraine and needs to rest.
We'll see what this crazy day & weather bring our way too - because the sitter has already lost power this morning... and it's only supposed to get colder and yuckier until Saturday! I may be having to make a mad dash to pick up two cold little men, and what... bring them to work? I don't know - but even if we have to stay in the car... I'll find a way to keep them warm!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
One of those nights...
Do you remember when you were a kid and one night you woke up - sprung out of bed, and thought you were late for school on a Saturday?! That's what my night last night was like... only different.
** On a side note - don't you hate that? When someone says - oh I have one JUST like that... only it's longer, cuter, shorter... or some other major difference! Annoying!
Ok - I digress.
Things were rocking along fine for the most part - with the exception of a minor meltdown by James at bedtime... he went to bed on time and all was well... until about 45 minutes later when he woke up screaming! I mean bloody murder screaming - poor thing must be teething... because he couldn't possibly have bad dreams yet, could he? This little guy tends to get teeth in three's... so it could very well be the start of round 3 for us with teething.
I was able to calm him down after a couple of minutes of just holding him - he crashed back out mid fit on my shoulder. I put him back in the crib and set out to take care of Tyler again. I had him down for bed by about 8:15-8:30 and was feeling really good about myself. I relaxed for a few minutes and then got in bed myself around 9.
I must have crashed hard, because at 9:30 I woke up to hear James tossing and turning... only - I thought it was morning! Scared the snot out of me... because I literally thought it was 9:30 in the morning... never-mind the fact that it was dark outside.
We went through this several times - not the complete lack of brain - but the restless fussy tossing & turning. Then Tyler wanted to eat again at midnight - because you know... he hadn't eaten in 4 hours... and the boy wants to eat every 2! He was also waiting up for me when the alarm went off at 4:30... he was like - "Hi Momma!! Lets Eat!"
James has been eating like a horse lately too - I mean twice as much as normal... God help us when they get bigger! My third child need to be a dainty "eat like a bird" girl... or we'll be broke!
Speaking of serious amounts of food being consumed... can you believe there is a 6 month age difference between these two... and yet only a SIX pound difference in their weight?! Lordy!
Here are a couple of pictures of them when they went to spend a day at their grandparent's house with John... they make me laugh.
And earlier last month - we went to visit John's Dad while he was helping out John's Aunt & Uncle at their business... they had a riding dinosaur... and Mr. James had a good time!
Lastly, Mr. Destructo... can flip his gym over in 2 seconds flat... so he's pretty much lost the opportunity to play with it.
He now hangs out in his play pen with a whole bunch of toys to keep him entertained. I love that he can play and roll around - but he's safe so I can get a few things done. We also will set up his video on the shelf of the coffee table... so occasionally I will walk by, and he's got his head pressed up against the side of the play pen watching his video intensely. He just makes me laugh!
** On a side note - don't you hate that? When someone says - oh I have one JUST like that... only it's longer, cuter, shorter... or some other major difference! Annoying!
Ok - I digress.
Things were rocking along fine for the most part - with the exception of a minor meltdown by James at bedtime... he went to bed on time and all was well... until about 45 minutes later when he woke up screaming! I mean bloody murder screaming - poor thing must be teething... because he couldn't possibly have bad dreams yet, could he? This little guy tends to get teeth in three's... so it could very well be the start of round 3 for us with teething.
I was able to calm him down after a couple of minutes of just holding him - he crashed back out mid fit on my shoulder. I put him back in the crib and set out to take care of Tyler again. I had him down for bed by about 8:15-8:30 and was feeling really good about myself. I relaxed for a few minutes and then got in bed myself around 9.
I must have crashed hard, because at 9:30 I woke up to hear James tossing and turning... only - I thought it was morning! Scared the snot out of me... because I literally thought it was 9:30 in the morning... never-mind the fact that it was dark outside.
We went through this several times - not the complete lack of brain - but the restless fussy tossing & turning. Then Tyler wanted to eat again at midnight - because you know... he hadn't eaten in 4 hours... and the boy wants to eat every 2! He was also waiting up for me when the alarm went off at 4:30... he was like - "Hi Momma!! Lets Eat!"
James has been eating like a horse lately too - I mean twice as much as normal... God help us when they get bigger! My third child need to be a dainty "eat like a bird" girl... or we'll be broke!
Speaking of serious amounts of food being consumed... can you believe there is a 6 month age difference between these two... and yet only a SIX pound difference in their weight?! Lordy!
Here are a couple of pictures of them when they went to spend a day at their grandparent's house with John... they make me laugh.
"Mmmmmmm... brothers are tasty!"
Can you just hear him... "Ty, I think we can take them... we just have to work together to break 'em"
And earlier last month - we went to visit John's Dad while he was helping out John's Aunt & Uncle at their business... they had a riding dinosaur... and Mr. James had a good time!
Lastly, Mr. Destructo... can flip his gym over in 2 seconds flat... so he's pretty much lost the opportunity to play with it.
He now hangs out in his play pen with a whole bunch of toys to keep him entertained. I love that he can play and roll around - but he's safe so I can get a few things done. We also will set up his video on the shelf of the coffee table... so occasionally I will walk by, and he's got his head pressed up against the side of the play pen watching his video intensely. He just makes me laugh!
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