B: IS FOR BALANCE.
As all mothers know, it is hard to balance life, kids, work, chores, friends, etc. Finding the right balance in your life is imperative for being a mother. I have set days of the week when I get things done. I also have set times everyday that the daily chores get done. I do all laundry and major cleaning on Sundays. The other days I complete the minor chores. I dedicate one evening a week to doing what my kids want to do, so they don't get lost in the shuffle of a hectic lifestyle. It didn't take too long for me to figure out what I needed to balance in my life. I re-prioritized my life after I had kids. Best of luck finding your personal balance in your life.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
ALPHABET SOUP
I'VE DECIDED THAT EVERY DAY, FOR THE NEXT 26 DAYS, I WILL POST A TOPIC RELATING TO EACH LETTER OF THE ALPHABET. THE TOPICS WILL ENCOMPASS PARENTING, DISCIPLINE, EDUCATION, THE INSANE, THE FUNNY, AND THE OBSTACLES WE ALL GO THROUGH. HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!!
A: AWKWARD - AS MOTHER'S WE ALL HAVE THOSE AWKWARD MOMENTS WHEN YOUR CHILD BLURTS SOMETHING OUT IN THE ELEVATOR, CHECKOUT LINE, OR IN FRONT OF THE GRANDPARENTS. MY MOST AWKWARD MOMENT WITH MY TWINS WAS WHEN ONE OF THEM WENT TO SHOW AND TELL IN KINDERGARTEN AND INFORMED THAT CLASS THAT, 'MY MOMMY WEARS BROKEN UNDERWEAR, THEY DON'T HAVE A BACK ON THEM.' FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, IT WAS VERY AWKWARD GOING TO THE SCHOOL FOR PARTIES, SNACK DAY, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. I'M SURE THAT WAS THE TOPIC IN THE TEACHERS LOUNGE FOR DAYS TO COME. AS MOTHERS, WE MUST HOLD OUR HEADS UP HIGH AND SMILE AT THE FACT THAT OUR KIDS ARE SO INNOCENT AND VOCAL.
A: AWKWARD - AS MOTHER'S WE ALL HAVE THOSE AWKWARD MOMENTS WHEN YOUR CHILD BLURTS SOMETHING OUT IN THE ELEVATOR, CHECKOUT LINE, OR IN FRONT OF THE GRANDPARENTS. MY MOST AWKWARD MOMENT WITH MY TWINS WAS WHEN ONE OF THEM WENT TO SHOW AND TELL IN KINDERGARTEN AND INFORMED THAT CLASS THAT, 'MY MOMMY WEARS BROKEN UNDERWEAR, THEY DON'T HAVE A BACK ON THEM.' FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, IT WAS VERY AWKWARD GOING TO THE SCHOOL FOR PARTIES, SNACK DAY, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. I'M SURE THAT WAS THE TOPIC IN THE TEACHERS LOUNGE FOR DAYS TO COME. AS MOTHERS, WE MUST HOLD OUR HEADS UP HIGH AND SMILE AT THE FACT THAT OUR KIDS ARE SO INNOCENT AND VOCAL.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Staying organized with twins
What are the best ways to stay organized with twins? Here are some of the things I have learned as a working mother of multiples.
1. I do all the boys laundry together. I do not mix their clothes with anyone else's.
2. I bought a daily clothes organizer that is labeled with each day of the week on it. It hangs with velcro on the clothing bar in the closet. Every Sunday, I put their clothes in their for the week. I also set out play clothes for the week so they can learn, the days of the week, how to dress themselves, and how to clean up their own laundry when they change clothes.
3. I pack all sporting event bags on Sunday. Since we play baseball and soccer at the same time and it gets very hectic, on Sunday, I put all the cleats, balls, pads, hats, uniforms, shin guards, etc. in the appropriate bag and leave it in the closet ready to go. All I have to do, is add a cold water bottle on the way out the door.
4. I put a small shelf in their closet with 3 levels on it. It is small enough for shirts to hang over it so you don't lose hanging space. I put play shoes on the top level with bedroom slippers, school shoes on level 2, and bath towels, wash rags, desitin, powder, lotion, and a basket with belts, ties, etc. in it. This way they boys know everything has a place and everything goes back in its place when they are done. It teaches them responsibility and respect for their stuff.
5. I have two large Rubbermaid containers in the garage. One has everything pertaining to a ball in it. The other is full of guns, cars, swords, etc.
I have maintained the same system with my twins since they were babies. This has shown them that everything has a place. I feel that this has taught them how to pick up after themselves, respect their toys, and take responsibility for their messes.
1. I do all the boys laundry together. I do not mix their clothes with anyone else's.
2. I bought a daily clothes organizer that is labeled with each day of the week on it. It hangs with velcro on the clothing bar in the closet. Every Sunday, I put their clothes in their for the week. I also set out play clothes for the week so they can learn, the days of the week, how to dress themselves, and how to clean up their own laundry when they change clothes.
3. I pack all sporting event bags on Sunday. Since we play baseball and soccer at the same time and it gets very hectic, on Sunday, I put all the cleats, balls, pads, hats, uniforms, shin guards, etc. in the appropriate bag and leave it in the closet ready to go. All I have to do, is add a cold water bottle on the way out the door.
4. I put a small shelf in their closet with 3 levels on it. It is small enough for shirts to hang over it so you don't lose hanging space. I put play shoes on the top level with bedroom slippers, school shoes on level 2, and bath towels, wash rags, desitin, powder, lotion, and a basket with belts, ties, etc. in it. This way they boys know everything has a place and everything goes back in its place when they are done. It teaches them responsibility and respect for their stuff.
5. I have two large Rubbermaid containers in the garage. One has everything pertaining to a ball in it. The other is full of guns, cars, swords, etc.
I have maintained the same system with my twins since they were babies. This has shown them that everything has a place. I feel that this has taught them how to pick up after themselves, respect their toys, and take responsibility for their messes.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
what is a cervical cerclage?
When I was 21 weeks pregnant, I was getting ready for work. I went to the bathroom and noticed a white, foggy discharge in the toilet. I immediately called my doctor and they said to come in immediately. Upon arrival to the doctor, they first did an ultrasound to check the boys. Based on what I had told them, they initially thought my amniotic sac ruptured and I was leaking amniotic fluid. However, the results of the ultrasound showed that my cervix had shrunk drastically. At 21 weeks my cervix was measuring 1.8 cm. At my first ultrasound, my cervix was 3.9 cm. My doctor told me to get dressed and meet him in his office.
When I got to his office, he informed me that my cervix shrunk and could no longer hold the babies in on it's own. The doctor referred to my cervix as an incompetent cervix. He told me I had three options: bed rest, do nothing, or a cervical cerclage. He said doing nothing almost guarantees a miscarriage, bed rest can't make the cervix hold the babies, but he highly recommends putting in a cerclage and going on bed rest. I said, 'ok, let's do the cerclage.' He explained that I will go in the hospital for outpatient surgery, I will be awake, and they will stitch my cervix together to prevent the cervix from opening and losing the babies. He told me it was very important to not worry or panic because if I went into labor during surgery, they could not stop it and I would lose the boys because they were not viable at this time. After the surgery, the doctor explained to me that my cervix was so tiny that they were only able to get 1 stitch in it. The surgery was not painful, it was scary because of what was at risk.
The surgery was a success. I went home and was put on bed rest until delivery. My cerclage was removed at 36 weeks and I delivered the boys at 39 weeks 2 days!
When I got to his office, he informed me that my cervix shrunk and could no longer hold the babies in on it's own. The doctor referred to my cervix as an incompetent cervix. He told me I had three options: bed rest, do nothing, or a cervical cerclage. He said doing nothing almost guarantees a miscarriage, bed rest can't make the cervix hold the babies, but he highly recommends putting in a cerclage and going on bed rest. I said, 'ok, let's do the cerclage.' He explained that I will go in the hospital for outpatient surgery, I will be awake, and they will stitch my cervix together to prevent the cervix from opening and losing the babies. He told me it was very important to not worry or panic because if I went into labor during surgery, they could not stop it and I would lose the boys because they were not viable at this time. After the surgery, the doctor explained to me that my cervix was so tiny that they were only able to get 1 stitch in it. The surgery was not painful, it was scary because of what was at risk.
The surgery was a success. I went home and was put on bed rest until delivery. My cerclage was removed at 36 weeks and I delivered the boys at 39 weeks 2 days!
Helpful home remedies
Over the years, I have come across some helpful home remedies for illnesses and household chores.
For a fever, take a cotton ball, dip it in rubbing alcohol and rub the bottom of the child's feet with the cotton ball. This will break a fever fairly quickly without using any medication. I have done this several times to break fevers.
To help a stomachache, melt a peppermint candy in water. Put the mixture in a bottle or sippy cup and have the child drink it. This will relieve gas pains, air, and hard stomachs. I started using this on the boys when they were 10 months old.
Do you have that dirty, musty smell coming from your dishwasher? Put the setting on the hottest your dishwasher will allow. Run the dishwasher through a full cycle while it is empty. Fill both detergent dispensers with either pure bleach, lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. Any of these will take that nasty smell away. I do this once a week to prevent the smell from coming back. I prefer the bleach because it makes my whole house smell very clean.
For some reason when my twins were a couple weeks old they would nap in there baby swings. The only way they would fall asleep is if i turned the vacuum cleaner on and left it running. I would park the vacuum in the corner and let it run while they slept. The noise of the vacuum resembles the sounds they hear in the womb.
For a fever, take a cotton ball, dip it in rubbing alcohol and rub the bottom of the child's feet with the cotton ball. This will break a fever fairly quickly without using any medication. I have done this several times to break fevers.
To help a stomachache, melt a peppermint candy in water. Put the mixture in a bottle or sippy cup and have the child drink it. This will relieve gas pains, air, and hard stomachs. I started using this on the boys when they were 10 months old.
Do you have that dirty, musty smell coming from your dishwasher? Put the setting on the hottest your dishwasher will allow. Run the dishwasher through a full cycle while it is empty. Fill both detergent dispensers with either pure bleach, lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. Any of these will take that nasty smell away. I do this once a week to prevent the smell from coming back. I prefer the bleach because it makes my whole house smell very clean.
For some reason when my twins were a couple weeks old they would nap in there baby swings. The only way they would fall asleep is if i turned the vacuum cleaner on and left it running. I would park the vacuum in the corner and let it run while they slept. The noise of the vacuum resembles the sounds they hear in the womb.
Friday, May 22, 2009
how do you survive bedrest?
When I was 21 weeks pregnant, I was put on bed rest for the duration of my pregnancy. I was at a loss and didn't know what I was going to do. My husband, at the time, was a paramedic with that crazy 24 hours on 48 hours off schedule. He had a second job that he worked during the day on his 48 hours off. Every third day I was alone, in bed, for 24 hours straight....no company, no one to talk to, no one to hang out with. I had to find a way to cope.
My parents came over to help set up a 'station' for me. They rearranged the furniture in the living room. They put our futon in the middle of the room. We dug out my old dorm refrigerator and microwave from college. My mom set up a table beside the futon with food, crossword puzzle books, hand held computer games from Wal-mart, and magazines. My frig was big enough to hold juice, milk, and fruits and veggies. I had cereal boxes, snack mixes, and canned veggies with a can opener. My dad put my small desk at the foot of the futon with my computer on it. I joined every expecting mother website and chat room I could find. I would dig around on the computer for hours a day searching for ways to cope with twins, etc. I also recorded every baby show that came on so I would have a back up of things to watch.
I hated to read, but suddenly came to enjoy it for a brief moment in my life. I also kept a calendar on my desk and marked off every day I made it one step closer to delivery. I also kept a journal and wrote quite a bit about my experiences and things I had done so far in life so I could give it to the boys one day.
Looking back on it, bed rest was incredibly boring and one of the worst experiences of my life.....however.....it was well worth it times two!!!!
My parents came over to help set up a 'station' for me. They rearranged the furniture in the living room. They put our futon in the middle of the room. We dug out my old dorm refrigerator and microwave from college. My mom set up a table beside the futon with food, crossword puzzle books, hand held computer games from Wal-mart, and magazines. My frig was big enough to hold juice, milk, and fruits and veggies. I had cereal boxes, snack mixes, and canned veggies with a can opener. My dad put my small desk at the foot of the futon with my computer on it. I joined every expecting mother website and chat room I could find. I would dig around on the computer for hours a day searching for ways to cope with twins, etc. I also recorded every baby show that came on so I would have a back up of things to watch.
I hated to read, but suddenly came to enjoy it for a brief moment in my life. I also kept a calendar on my desk and marked off every day I made it one step closer to delivery. I also kept a journal and wrote quite a bit about my experiences and things I had done so far in life so I could give it to the boys one day.
Looking back on it, bed rest was incredibly boring and one of the worst experiences of my life.....however.....it was well worth it times two!!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
how to lose the baby weight!!!
When I got pregnant I was a size 2 and weighed 118 pounds. The day I gave birth to the boys I weighed in at an astonishing 222 pounds. Yes, folks, your math is correct, I gained 104 pounds during my pregnancy. I had so many friends that took their pre-pregnancy jeans to the hospital and actually wore them home after giving birth. Wishful thinking....I did the same. Not a chance. I had to wear the same ugly, elastic waistband pants home that I wore to the hospital. When I got home I made a decision to get that weight off as soon as possible.
I bought a double jogging stroller and away we went. I walked our subdivision daily, sometimes 3-4 times a day. I never joined a gym or bought any crazy pills or workout videos. I watched what I ate, and immediately got moving. I also bought a pull behind trailer at Target for my bike. It seats two kids. I pulled the boys all around for miles at a time. Fortunately, I was 26 when I gave birth, so my metabolism was on my side, unlike these days.
My best suggestion for getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight, is to not wait! The longer you wait to do it, the harder it will be and the bigger you will be. I also found that exercising made me have so much more energy. My mother kept telling me to sleep when the boys slept. I couldn't do it, I wanted to put them in the stroller while they slept and walk and exercise and get my blood moving again. Once you get started, it will be easy. Getting up and moving is the hardest part. Make losing the weight a contest with yourself. Make a chart of your goal for the week and month, reward yourself accordingly with some ice cream or a candy bar.
I am proud to say, it took me 11 weeks to lose the 100 pounds I had gained. No fad diet, no miracle pill, just pure walking, biking, and watching what I ate. Good Luck!!!!
I bought a double jogging stroller and away we went. I walked our subdivision daily, sometimes 3-4 times a day. I never joined a gym or bought any crazy pills or workout videos. I watched what I ate, and immediately got moving. I also bought a pull behind trailer at Target for my bike. It seats two kids. I pulled the boys all around for miles at a time. Fortunately, I was 26 when I gave birth, so my metabolism was on my side, unlike these days.
My best suggestion for getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight, is to not wait! The longer you wait to do it, the harder it will be and the bigger you will be. I also found that exercising made me have so much more energy. My mother kept telling me to sleep when the boys slept. I couldn't do it, I wanted to put them in the stroller while they slept and walk and exercise and get my blood moving again. Once you get started, it will be easy. Getting up and moving is the hardest part. Make losing the weight a contest with yourself. Make a chart of your goal for the week and month, reward yourself accordingly with some ice cream or a candy bar.
I am proud to say, it took me 11 weeks to lose the 100 pounds I had gained. No fad diet, no miracle pill, just pure walking, biking, and watching what I ate. Good Luck!!!!
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