So much for hoping...

He didn't get the job. He called yesterday and said that the reason he didn't hire him wasn't because of him, it's just that he was going to keep what he has right now and if anything changes, he'll call him...He's not going to call, as much as I'd like to believe so. Dan's heart broken. We both are, but him more so. He actually got to see the 5 bedroom house that we could have had and how nice it was. Everything we have hoped for for the past 5 years was dangling right in front of our faces.

Everyone's always got something to say

My parenting style is different from anyone else in my family. I am the first person to be into attachment parenting (AP). I wasn't always though.



With my first born, I guess you could say I was more into the mainstream way of parenting, for lack of a better term. While I attempted to breastfeed, I couldn't.. She had a "super root". Her rooting reflex was so strong it was almost impossible to get her latched on. She'd shake her head back and forth as if possessed. Even after I was lucky enough to get my boob in her mouth, she'd start rooting again. This only led to a pissed off and hungry baby, so I ended up switching to formula. I believed in letting her sleep in her own bed and I usually let her cry it out, especially after all her basic needs were met. Little did I know she probably just wanted to be close to me...She was a quiet baby for the most part and appeared to want little to do with us and would arch her back when we held her (this can be an indication of autism). And since I believed in letting babies entertain themselves, she frequently did her own thing. She didn't spend all of her time alone or anything, just so ya know...Back then though, I rarely heard much about my parenting. Well, except that I needed to keep her awake more during the day so she'd sleep at night.  They didn't know she had sleeping issues, but it didn't matter what I said.



My son was the one who sparked the revolution. I was lucky to be able to breastfeed my son. I did have to supplement with some formula. The boy was literally attached to me all the time (I was lucky to get 15 minutes to myself). OMG, it was  rough and I wanted to give up soo many times...Once I found out both he and I were happier when we fell asleep in the same bed, I began adopting it into my parenting. Thanks to this, I was able to bond with him and realized how special of a baby he was. I mean, what 6 month old baby likes to play and run his fingers through your hair??



But, this is when people began to say stuff to me.




"You should really try to feed him on a schedule" Well, you don't always eat on a schedule, now do you? You eat when you're bored or for comfort, right? You eat when you cry and a baby cries when he wants to eat...And if I didn't feed him on demand then he probably would have ended up malnourished or even worse. He was always slightly underweight. It could have been due to supply issues...But this is why books like Babywise are dangerous. My mother has frequently made that comment to me. Thankfully, she has been working to accept this and even asked if she "was being old fashioned".



No one thought I'd breast feed for as long as I did either. With my son we made it through until he self-weaned a few days after his first birthday. I plan to do the same with Kyrielle. I don't care if you don't agree with it. For one, it's nationally recommended to continue to nurse for up to the first two years of life. For two, he's healthier because of it thanks to breast milk's super powers.


 
"You let him sleep with you?!" Good God, nothing shocks people more when you tell them you co-sleep and they don't. I acknowledge the possible link between SIDS and co-sleeping, but SIDS can also happen in the crib - hence the term "crib/cot death". There are certain measures that you take when  co-sleeping, just as there are certain measures you take when putting to baby to sleep in a crib. Plus, with all the recent recalls on things like the Nap Nanny and drop-side cribs is it truly safer to put your baby in a crib?? He doesn't sleep with us anymore, though. I gradually transitioned him into his own room and he sleeps just fine..

.


And once Dillinger got older, he fell in love with Dora the Explorer, mommy's and Dia's shoes, and other girly things. I don't have a problem with it at all, my husband does on occasion. Obviously the people who do,  fear that he will be gay. :Gasp!: Not the dreaded Gay Virus!! :rolls eyes: When my father was up here visiting back in June/July, he kept commenting to Dilli on how "it's gay" that he loves his pink Dora blanket and cup and his baby blue Diego shirt. So what!? He likes what he likes. If he (or any of my kids for that matter) are gay it won't affect me or my husband - we'll still love him just the same. I accepted the fact that you were a pretty shitty dad, why can't you accept your grandson for who he is? It's a good thing my father's a magician and can make himself disappear.

Opinions are like kittens. You can try to give them away all you want, but not everyone wants them. Parenting is hard enough without someone else putting their two cents in.  Unless I'm actually putting my kids at risk by say, leaving my heroin needles out or locking my kids in the car in the middle of summer with the windows rolled up (DISCLAIMER: I absolutely do not do those things), I'd like you to leave me alone...

Nervous! Eep!

Monday we hope to have an answer on whether or not Dan has the job. The owner said on Friday  he had to make a business decision & needed more time to try to make it work. I'm not quite sure exactly what that means & what it all entails. But I'm praying that he can make it work. If this falls through I know its going to depress the both of us. As I mentioned previously, this is perfect for us.

If this falls through, Dan said he's going to get his GED & enlist in the army. That is something I absolutely do NOT want to happen. It would take us from our families. It would take him from us. And I start getting separation anxiety sometimes mere hours if I go somewhere without him. If I go somewhere where there's a large crowd, he's the only reason I don't have a full blown panic attack. He would miss out on all of Kyri's first & a good deal of the other two's childhood. And Dillinger will sometimes cry for hours when he has to go to work. And the idea that he might not come back frightens the living piss out of me. I'd be a wreck & insanely depressed.

Now, he's said he was going to enlist w couple times in the past when things got bad for us, but thankfully it got better. I'm 95% sure that he'll do it too if he doesn't get this job.

I'm so nervous I could puke...that's part of the reason why I've been blogging away like crazy today.

All he wants to do is provide for his family... He feels like a failure when he can't. He's miserable here. We all are really, but him mostly.

Oh, please let him get this job...

-Posted via Blogaway for Android

Sexy Sunday

W00t for memes! Just when I thought I couldn't become more obsessed with blogging...

Smell that? That's new meme fresh scent! This one's called Sexy Sunday hosted by The Zombie Housewife, Boobies, Babies, & a Blog, Names Will Not Be Changed to Protect the Innocent, and Babes Rockin' Mami. Each week they'll post a list of  naughty questions or a sex related topic for you to post about, if you so wish. Take the Sexy Sunday button and put it at the top of your post, and link back to our hostesses in your post as well.

Since this is adult content, don't click read more if this kind of thing makes you uncomfortable or you're under the age of 18.

Random Dilli cuteness

eta: Sorry about the wind you're hearing. It's not me breathing I swear! It's our super-fan.

He was trying to play Lego Batman. He really wants to play video games like his big sis, but just can't grasp the concept. He kept exclaiming, "I told you...it's too hard!".

As each day goes by, I become more & more amazed at how his language has developed. It wasn't too long ago that he was speaking in almost complete vowels. I was the only one who was ever able to understand him. His vocabulary has increased exponentially...he knows words and phrases that I had no clue about. I love that he's growing up & stuff, but I still miss my baby boy. <3 

-Posted via Blogaway for Android

Saturday Six

This is my first internet meme that I've ever participated in. Up until now, I was mere voyeur and watched from the sidelines. So, who popped my meme cherry? The Zombie Housewife and Boobies, Babies, & a Blog, two awesome blogs I happened to stumble upon the other day.

Your mission should you choose to accept it:

• Click on the button above and grab the code
• Link back to our gracious hostesses: Ashlee from The Zombie Housewife, and Jana from Boobies, Babies, & a Blog.
• Copy the questions below and answer them in your "Saturday Six" blog post
• Then enter you info into the linky either at The Zombie Housewife or Boobies, Babies & a Blog

1.)   Name a song that describes you, one that describes your sex life, and one that describes your relationship (or your last relationship if you're single)! 

Myself: Oh Crap...This one's really hard...Uh. "Lips, Tits, Hips" by Tilt, I suppose. I dunno I've never been able to find a song that could describe me...Or "Like Shit" by MSI

Sex Life: "Never Wanted to Dance" by MSI. I'd been with a lot of guys before my husband. He's the only one I ever actually had feelings for and I knew one day I'd have him...It took four years, but. lol

My relationship: "I hate you, I love you" by the Dead Milkmen. I love the man, but damn he pisses me off sometimes!

2.)  Have you ever tried anal sex?  If yes would you try it again & if no would you ever try it? (You can thank Ian for this question, he never got around to asking it for TMM!)

 Yes I have and yes I would. My husband owns sole rights to that one...

3.)  If your teenager wanted a sex toy or a porn movie would you buy it for them?  Why or why not?  (This one was inspired by a debate on CafeMom.com)

Um.  I don''t think I could ever buy any of them a porno. It doesn't give a realistic image of what sex is. Granted sex can be sort of like it if you're just talking solely about what they're doing. But I don't feel like it promotes what a healthy relationship should be. There's no emotion, they're all plastic, it's all fake. I don't believe that a teen can truly know it's for sheer entertainment. And with young girls using sex for attention, I don't think it sends a good message. A sex toy, so long as it's just a simple vibrator, I don't ever hear them, and I never have to see the thing again, I can probably handle. It can't knock anyone up, give them a STD, or anything like that...

4.)  Let's say you commit a serious crime, but are able to get away with it. Could you live the rest of your life without paying your debt to society? OR would you turn yourself in?

The only way I could ever commit a serious crime is if my family were involved. If someone raped/touched/murdered my children guarantee I've got no problem hunting you down and slicing you open from groin to throat. People who harm children get off easily and I could not rest easy knowing that they're going to be out on the street again around other people's children.

5.)  What are the 3 core things you want to instill in your children. (If you don't have kids...assume you do.)

Individuality and the ability to think for themselves

Honesty

Compassion

 6.)  Could you ever be in an open relationship? 

I have in the past...I honestly don't know if I could do it again though. I just don't have the desire to have sex with anyone other than my husband. And if I did, I'd have to like them, and that's a no-no in my book.

 

And here we go...

So we got a phone call from Bucket's teacher already. She had several outbursts today. My husband took the call so I don't know too many details yet... Before Dan told me anything I asked her if something happened at school. She told me she got upset because everyone was winning a red ticket for the prize box and she was always losing. Now granted, I don't know all the details but I knew that prize box was going to be a problem... I don't think I'd have such a problem with it if it was to reward good behavior or for turning your homework in on time or for even passing a test. But it seems like it's possibly a lottery/game. I dunno, maybe I should buy them more toys/trinkets. Maybe then she wouldn't behave like this... She apparently sat in the grass crying & pulling up grass her entire recess. I asked her what about and she said that she was upset because someone was winning a game all the time. Notice a pattern here? I know she has tendency to be a sore loser, but I didn't realize it was to this extent. At home, she isn't that bad with it - but we've had time to work on it with her. She knows she can't win at everything. And I've explained to her that a lot is going to happen in life that you don't like...just so no one thinks I coddle my children...because I don't. She also walked up to the teacher and started tugging on her shirt to ask her a question. This wouldn't have been so bad had the teacher not been in the middle of trying to teach a lesson.  This is something we've struggled with for a while but haven't been able to resolve. Maybe we're not consistent enough on that one. It's an easy one to mess up because what if it's important, ya know?   And there were a couple more outbursts. All in one day. I'm trying to think if something was different or if something happened that would affect her in such a way. She went to bed the same - although she didn't fall asleep until very late, but that's typical. I don't know if she woke up during the night, but it's possible because she does that pretty frequently too. I did pack her a PB&J sandwich this morning vs the ham sandwich she's had the last two days, but I don't think that was it. Plus, I gave her the option... Maybe it was because it was Dan who got her mostly ready this morning because I was feeding the baby? I don't know... I don't raise bad kids. And she isn't like this at home. She's probably having a hard time adjusting (in school all day, can't eat as often as she did at home, etc). And the more I read about Asperger's the more it all makes sense. I've had my suspicions for a few years now, but part of me didn't want to face that fact & another part of me thought it was ADHD (which it could still be an underlying problem....we'll see). I'm just thankful that the teacher understood & will be asking the school psychologist to sit in & observe her. I had already planned to make an appointment, but I'm kind of glad that  it'll be done at school where it seems she has the hardest time. I know that her Asperger's isn't "as bad" as it could be but there is definitely somethin going on. And forgive me if my thoughts seem a bit jumbled...I'm still so surprised... -Posted via Blogaway for Android -Posted via Blogaway for Android

Last night did not end well

Breast feeding has suddenly hit a rough spot. I'm not sure what happened exactly but I'm insanely sore and my nipples are cracked pretty badly. It almost looks like I tried to cut them off...Every time she latches on I have to stifle myself from screaming. But I still cry out somewhat and since it alarms her, she pulls away only making it worse...This sort of stuff is supposed to happen in the early days of breast feeding, not six weeks in.

Last night wad probably the hardest time I've ever had. It took an hour each time to get her latched on and even then it wasn't properly. She cried so much that she threw up. I couldn't stop crying either, partially from pain & partially from frustration. So, after two hours straight of this, I caved and gave her a bottle of formula. I didn't have any pumped milk on hand, unfortunately. Formula was the last thing I ever wanted to use...

The worst thing is I have no relief. No nipple cream because I can't afford it (and after I learned what lanolin actually was, the thought kind of grosses me out). I can't go see a lactation consultant because I have no one to take me. My husband's job won't let him take anymore time off & I have no friends or family around here. All I have is my milk but that doesn't really seem like it's helping. My husband keeps suggesting I start using formula, even though he hates the stuff. I don't know what to do, but I need something....these cuts are borderline bleeding.

I only hope tonight isn't as bad as last night...

-Posted via Blogaway for Android

A Very Surprising Use for Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash

I've used Johnson and Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash in the past as a make-up remover. It works really well at removing eye make-up because it's pretty gentle (vs. soap), especially when I'm trying to wash off dark eyeshadow. Well, apparently, it also makes for an amazing stain remover. Breastfed baby poop is a pain to get out of clothes, even though it's water soluble. But since it's yellowy/green to orangey in color, it stains. She's already had a few blow-outs that have gotten on her clothes - usually while wearing disposable diapers. I immediately put her clothes in cold water, tried to get off as much as possible, and then tried pretreating it with our regular detergent, cloth diaper detergent, and baking soda...I tried gently scrubbing with an old toothbrush, rubbing it against itself, etc, etc. It was still there before and after I put it in the wash. Well, a nice neighbor of ours had given us some newborn disposables (I didn't have the heart to tell her I was using cloth). I put it on Kyri as well as a brand new, never-worn outfit that I utterly adore. Something deep down told me she was going to poop all over it. Sure enough she did... I got to thinking about how other baby products have surprising uses (baby wipes for spot cleaning carpet) and decided to give the Head-to-Toe Baby Wash a try. I rinsed off as much poop as I could, applied a bit, and got to scrubbing and rubbing. It worked almost immediately!! I was shocked (and really happy because the best stain remover for baby poop is sunning it and I live in Ohio, n'uff said). Later on, Dan made chili dogs and Bucket got some on her brand new teal colored panda shirt. I jumped on the chance to try it again. This would come as a surprise to those who know me... It took just a little more effort to get it out of the fabric, but it came out. I could not, however, get it off of the screenprint. And unfortunately, it's white. Most of it should come out over time, though. My favorite things about it are it's cheap, has fewer chemicals, and has multiple uses. And the messes come out quickly - anything that is a time-saver is a winner to me! The only thing I'm hesitant to use it on is cloth diapers. I'm not sure if there's an ingredient in it that may mess up my diapers. I need to do some research first... Who'dve thunk, huh?? Next time I'll be sure to take pictures to show you...And perhaps a video?

Wordless Wednesday - My Induction

$50 in Nift Nappy products sounds really nice, doesn't it? ^_^

Yeah I like that idea too. Nifty Nappy diapers are another one that I've heard nothing but rave reviews about. I've yet to try one, but would love to.

Head on over to Mama V's (the woman behind Nifty Nappy) new blog 6 and Still Sane and enter for your chance!

You can also check out her website here

Babee Greens giveaway

Your World: Healthy and Natural is hosting a giveaway for a one-size, organic hemp/cotton diaper. I've heard nothing but great things about this diaper. And unlike a lot of one-size diapers this one can fit little ones as small as 5 lbs.

Enter for your chance to win!

Back to school vent

Ugh, the crap that they put on school supply lists! And since Bucket may be switching schools depending on if we move or not, we have two lists to worry about. We will call out current city's school school A & the other B.  Of course they both have almost completely different lists. School A wants her name on all of her supplies & school B has a few things that are to be shared. I don't have too many problems with school A's list. Except that they're asking me to buy  five or more small prizes for a prize box. While I think a prize box can be a good idea, I don't have the money to buy toys for other people's kids. I rarely have the money to buy them toys period. Outside of holidays and birthdays they get a toy four or five times throughout the year, usually used. And since my husband was home sick for an entire week, his paycheck was really small. We were only able to get the supplies that we have is because her name was drawn in a raffle. I didn't realize that school started next week. For some dumb reason, I thought her school started the second week of September. I don't know why...you'd think I had pregnancy brain... So, she only has half the supplies for school A. School B is in a small, liberal college town. They want 48 sharpened #2 pencils that are to be shared with the class - USA made only. Hey, those made in Thailand pencils she got in her raffle backpack seemed alright to me...Plus, I was looking at their school fees list, the first grade's fees are the most expensive - $52. My sister-in-law was telling me that she has to pay a deposit for an iPad for her kids. They're 6 & 9. And their high school students get laptops. I don't know if school B will ask for such ridiculousness, but I sure hope not... I never had any of that crap & I did fine. -Posted via Blogaway for Android

Thirsties Duo Diaper Giveaway

Nicki's Cloth Reviews is a new blog and will be hosting a giveaway at 50 followers for a Thirsties Duo Diaper. Entering is super easy too.


http://clothreviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/giveaway-changed-to-50-followers.html

Grapefruit seed extract needs more street cred...

This is some amazing stuff!


As I mentioned in my previous post, I was given some grapefruit seed extract (gse) when I got my loaner stash of cloth diapers. It's almost gel-like & has a little dropper to dispense it. And it has soo many uses. It's antifungal, antibacterial, antibiotic, & antiseptic properties.


Our preferred use was to help clear up diaper rash. Just 3-4 drops in 4 tablespoons of water & apply with a cotton ball. Usually, by the next morning his diaper rash was almost gone. We continued to use it even after we went back to disposables. Mix a few drops of gse & witch hazel with water and you've got yourself some wipe solution.


Once he stopped getting rashes, I began using it to keep myself from getting sick. As soon as I felt a cold coming on, I'd add 6-10 drops (depending on the size of the cup) to some orange juice. Do not, I repeat, do not mix it with something like apple juice. It tastes wretched! If you add it to orange or grapefruit juice you can barely taste it. When I first tried this remedy I didn't think it would work, but by the next day I was beginning to feel better.


One of my friends owns a parrot & she said she was looking for something that would safely clean its cage with. I told her about gse & its magical capabilities & she went out and bought a bottle. She sent me a message shortly after thanking me for telling her about it. Not only was she using it to clean her bird cage, she was also using it to clean around the house.

I've used it as a mouth wash & to help keep my lip piercings from getting infected. I also used tee tree oil, especially when it started hurting because it numbs ya up. Don't swallow tea tree oil though, that stuff kills bacteria so well it made my stomach cramp up.

I could go on, but I could probably spend months rambling on about it, probably making it the longest post in the history of ever...so here, let me Google that for you! ^_^


The bottle that was given to me (pictured above, a 4 oz bottle) was 3/4 full when I got it. Here, 3 years later I still have at least 1/3 of it left. And I used it a lot. How awesome is that?! I think it's  time to buy more though, it seems like it's not as effective anymore.

My opinions expressed here are completely my own & I was not compensated for this in any way

My first experience with cloth diapers

My son was the first to wear cloth diapers. We were having a problem with persistent rashes. At first we thought it was due to the wipes we were using so we switched to using scented wipes then sensitive...but that didn't really help. We tried every diaper rash cream & still nothing changed. I then began to wonder if the disposable diaper were the culprit. We tried all the brands, some made it worse while some made it better. I noticed that the cheaper brands in particular were the easiest on his bottom - but it still wasn't good enough. I started researching cloth diapers & really began believing that this would help. I discovered all the garbage they put in disposables & couldn't believe what I found...So, my mother & I went and bought a couple packs of the Gerber "cloth diapers". Boy, that was a big fat fail. They leaked HORRIBLY! They're made with polyester so no surprise there.

I posted on Freecycle & explained my situation. I didn't think of get a reply, but I did, surprisingly. I set up a time to go pick them up & got into a rather large fight with my husband (i believe over how far we had to drive, my husband was on call, & we were kinda low on gas). I picked them up, she told me she used them on at least two of her kids & how she would bleach them when they got too stained. I got home and put them on Dillinger excited that they might be the cure I was seeking. They were soo thin though that he needed changed within an hour. I was surprised that the woman who gave them to me was actually able to use them on her kids for so long, but it definitely helped. However, because he needed changed so often, they weren't practical - as grateful as I was.

I reluctantly went back to disposables & vented on a mommy forum I used to belong to. Happily, a fellow member contacted me & said she'd let me borrow her stash to use. I felt kind of guilty for some reason, & even offered to pay shipping (even though we were broke but I'm sure we could come up with something), but she refused & promptly shipped them out. She sent several different styles & brands, mostly fitteds (Thirsties cotton fitted (not sold anymore, but they have others), Little Beetle, & Kissaluvs), a couple Fuzzibunz pocket diapers, & a couple each Bumkins AIOs & covers.   She also sent some grapefruit seed extract to use on diaper rashes (you CANNOT use traditional creams as it ruins your diapers) & some poo liners. I was so overjoyed that words could not describe.  Not only was my baby boy going to get the relief he needed, but it was all so cute! 

They all worked really well, but I quickly picked favorites. The Fuzzibunz (old style, there's a new version out now - I haven't tried it yet) were by far our favorite. This was the first diaper my husband reached for. It was simple to use, required no cover, & was gentle on his tush. They never left any red marks on him, not even on his legs, but to be fair he was a slender baby. These were also probably my favorite night time diaper as well.  They did leak a few times, but nothing too serious. Considering he was a "really great sleeper" & sleeping 5-6 hours pretty much from the get-go (once we began cosleeping), this rated really well in that department. The only downside to them is you have to remove the insert prior to putting them in the diaper pail. It can get icky, but that didn't really bother me.

The Bumkins all-on-ones were really convenient. They required no stuffing and no cover. Changing was a breeze - just like using a disposable. They weren't terribly absorbent though - but were really trim. Definitely not a nighttime diaper. The PUL (the bit that keeps wetness in) was a little plasticy feeling, but that didn't bother me. Didn't seem to bother my son either.

Old style Bumkins AIO

The Bumkins covers were awesome. I only had two covers to use - both Bumkins - but that was all I needed. Because they were slightly plasticy if a little poop got on them, it was pretty easy to clean in the sink with a little detergent. I'd hang them to dry over the shower curtain rod & they were ready to go again in about two hour's time. Both the Bumping AIO's & covers come the cutest of prints. They are a fitted cover so you're going to need to buy several sizes throughout.

Bumkins new style cover (notice rounded tabs)

We did disposables at night for a while, but that stopped after a bit.  We had leaks & a couple blow-outs, but fewer than disposable diapers. If leaks happened, it was usually because we waited too long between changes or he slept for too long. Best of all, his rash cleared up. Granted, he still got the occasional rash, but I was able to get rid of it usually within a day or two.

I was so sad when he outgrew  them & I had to return them. I had hoped to get our own stash with the stimulus package that was given out back in the day, but we needed to fix our car...=\ I would choose cloth over disposable diapers any day...Granted, it's expensive to start cloth diapering at first, but it's actually cheaper to cloth diaper in the long run (I'll get into that some other time).

(Since I'm posting this from my phone, I'll add pictures & links later.)

-Posted via Blogaway for Android

Waiting is Murder

Se we're still waiting for an answer about a potential new job for my husband. He came yesterday to check out some of his work. Apparently, he talked to his girlfriend (our one friend is friends with her) and told her how this guy came and applied out of nowhere like a godsend and he sounds too good to be true. So at least we know he likes him and likes the idea of hiring someone new. We we were afraid that he was going to have a hard time replacing his late friend and employee (he found him dead in his apartment). Also, we heard that he took the "for rent" sign down from the potential house we'd be moving into. So, that's good news, right? When he left yesterday, he said he needed to make the business  part of a decision and that he'd call Dan soon. Not terribly sure what that means, but hopefully it's good.

So now we wait.

Oh, my...We're all so anxious.


My husband is worried. He's constantly on edge about what the maintenance supervisor (hereafter referred to as Mr. Hero) is going to run to the regional about. It's all so childish, this vendetta against him. They've created a hostile work environment. He's constantly afraid of being written up for  trivial things such as "failure to notify his supervisor of a leak" when he handled the situation just fine. And just today he was given a verbal warning for being sent into an apartment several times to sand the stuff that Mr. Hero mudded and for forgetting a doorstop (Mr. Hero just had to come in while he was on vacation to give the resident one - just so he can be the good guy). I believe they were ready to write him up until my husband explained the full situation. They're trying to get him to quit. The property manager overheard the regional and Mr. Hero talking with each other saying "Well, he needs more write ups before he can be fired". (o.O) Now, tell me something's not rotten in Denmark... I'd love to try to pursue legal action against them, but that would require other people to risk the same treatment that my husband's receiving. :sigh:

Now for some good news:

My daughter is about to start the 1st grade next week! Really, that could go either way...Last year, I almost pulled her out especially after the incident where a boy exposed himself to my daughter on the bus and no one truly did anything about it. But she's excited, so that's good. Especially after we went school shopping last night. Bought 5 shirts, 2 pairs of pants,a super cute hoodie, and a pair of shoes for under $70!

My little rocker's new wardrobe

♥♥♥

She just got back from staying with my parents for almost a week And for some reason,  she's been all about doing chores. It's surprising considering I have such a hard time getting her to help otherwise - not that I'm complaining. lol. Both my daughter and son are leaving for my sister-in-law's to visit hopefully tonight through Sunday. We really need a break, even if we're just going to be cleaning for the most part. The baby will still be here, of course, but so long as she's sleeping it's not even like she's here.

Oh my, my computer's acting stupid so I'm just going to publish this now before it freezes. =/

Wordless Wednesday - Fun with Nerf

"More Mommy!"

The Cloth Diaper Foundation needs your help!

(button image from website)

The Cloth Diaper Foundation, in case you've never heard of them, they loan cloth diapers to families in need. However, they are currently closed for applications because they're so low on cloth diapers and covers. So, currently they're asking for your help with the Dozens Diaper Drive with a goal of 1,200 diapers. If you have a surplus of dipes in your stash or your little one has outgrown them, please consider donating them to The Cloth Diaper Foundation. They also accept monetary donations, so even if you don't cloth diaper you can still help out!

SunMate giveaway (and review)

The Jacobsen Family is hosting a giveaway for the SunMate by Purely Products.The Sunmate is a nifty little device to let you know the intensity of the UV rays you're exposing yourself to. It fits right in the palm of your hand and at the push of a button you can see how intense those UV rays are beating down. If it's too high, it will emit a loud beep. It's ingenious if you ask me and you can see it in action in Mrs. Jacobsen's review of the product.

I'm a big proponent of sun safety. Especially after seeing what it does to my sister...She breaks out in a horrible, blistering rash when she's in the sun too long and I worry that she may end up with skin cancer. This only developed within the last few years too. The SunMate would be perfect for someone like her.

So, whether you're like my sister or someone who just wants to keep themselves safer, head on over and enter for your chance to win.

One month goes by too fast

My husband has a job interview tomorrow at noon! He hasn't even turned in the application yet (he will tomorrow) & already has the interview. So I'm taking this as a good sign. The owner will also be showing him around & what his duties will be. I'm taking this as a good sign. Well, I'm hoping, at least. I'm also hoping that the pay is right & he's willing to give us an apartment - preferably a 3 bedroom. Although, I believe legally we can't live in a 2  bedroom. I really hope he gets this job...for one, he's more than likely going to be fired come Monday - even his boss (the nice one) thinks he's gone. For two, this means we'll be closer to family & friends. This means a happier family in the long run. Where we'd be moving to, we'll be 20 minutes away from our families as opposed to the 40-60 minutes that it is now.  Most of our long-time friends live in the town that we hope to move to. Dan getting this job would feel like winning the lottery. We NEED this. So, if anyone's reading this, please send some job vibes our way...it'd be much appreciated.

In Kyri news, she's now one month old! I can't believe how fast the time has gone since she was born. I can't remember if I mentioned it here before but at 13 days old she rolled over (tummy to back). Well, now she can do it pretty much now problem. She had her follow up appointment today to check how she was doing with her spitting up issue. Well, her doctor's an idiot &, uh, didn't check into it. I think she forgot; she's forgotten before, which is surprising considering no one else is ever there & we're probably her longest running patients. Yeah, she sucks that bad...at least with kids. The only reason we go there is because she has after-hours. But I even tried getting her to talk with me about it and she kept writing it off. Granted, she's growing fine & weighs 8 lbs & is 20 1/2" long now, but even the lactation consultant was surprised that she frequently spits up breastmilk. She's nursing all the time because of it. If all goes right though, we won't have to deal with Dr. Dummy for much longer.

Uh, what else? Breastfeeding's going pretty good. She still squirms & fuses frequently while latched on. It hurts. But I believe the nursing strike is over & she's latching on easier & not smacking her lips as often anymore. 

Dilli-boy smashed his finger today pushing his sister off the computer chair. It's all swollen & bruised. He can move it just fine, although he's favoring it. I'm not sure if its broken or not. I have no idea how it happened either because I was in the bathroom at the time. I guess that's what Mommy gets for thinking she has a minute for herself. Of course, I wanted to take him to UrgiCare but Dan wants to see how it is tomorrow...

Oh yeah, & my father never wished me a happy birthday either...makes me feel all fuzzy inside...

Wordless Wednesday - Mischief Makers

♫♪Aaaaaaaa Very Merry (un)Birthday to Me♪♫

So today is my 26th birthday. There will be no celebration, no gifts, no cards, no cake (unless I make it again). It's just another day. I am one year closer to health problems. I guess after you turn 21 the birthdays just go downhill from there anyway. Although, I didn't much celebrate my 21st either...Nor my 18th. But that's what happens when you're broke, so. I already cried about being 26 earlier this year. I started thinking about how next thing I know, I'll be 27...28...29...etc.

And now that we've had our last little worm baby, I'm closing in on the point when life stops giving you things and starts taking away...My mom's heart is damaged and she could have 20 years left or as little as three. My father's had a heart attack and died on the table (they brought him back). But he's been an inconsistent in my life for several years now anyway. My husband's mother is a ticking time bomb of ailments: vascular necrosis, emphysema, poorly controlled type 2 diabetes...So it's coming sooner for me than some.


Oh yeah, my husband is probably going to be fired sometime next week. Before I go any further I should say that he does apartment maintenance. Last week, he was out all week due to an intestinal infection. He used up his last two vacation days, went to work Wednesday but left and went to urgicare  because he threw up. He returned later that day to hand in a work excuse for that day and the next and went on FMLA (he was to return on Monday). And now they're probably going to write him up because Dan didn't call Mike to let him know that he wasn't going to be there on Thursday. Um. Isn't that what the work excuse was for???

Really, it's ridiculous. They write him up for any excuse they can. because they're just itching to fire him. Why? Beats me. Dan's an excellent worker but gets shit on all the time. He's put up with so much, been through four bosses, run this property by himself for a few months, removed snow during snowstorms by himself, but still gets treated like this. I think the regional's issue with my husband really boils down to the fact that he takes time off (to take us to appointments or because the kids got him sick) and because he's not a pushover. When he thinks something's a bad idea , he'll let ya know. He's a leader in a follower's position...Plus he knew this property in and out and better than anyone else. But if he gets fired, we have to move because this apartment is part of the pay.



On a lighter note, he's talking to a guy who needs someone for his properties. So hopefully, this works out. He's a friend of a friend. If it does we'll be able to move a lot closer to our families and not have to worry about what we're going to do about money and a place to live.


Also, I think we survived the nursing strike! She's still spitting up like crazy though and she's always hungry because of it. That gets frustrating  with two other gremlins. I've got my "Moby wrap" all made. Those things run anywhere from $40 to $60+, I made mine for under $13! It was supposed to be "no sew", but it was cut in half meaning I had to sew it up. But, it was the only fabric that I liked, was in our price range, and had enough yardage..It's sewn pretty sturdily, though. A little sloppy because it was so late at night (I don't have a sewing machine so it was done at a friend's).

Please disregard my messy bathroom. =/

Wordless Wednesday - World Breastfeeding Week

Crap. Forgot what today was.

"Small Wonders" (my son)

My son again

Him again...

Kyri

"Milk Drunk"

Feels like a Monday...

So it's been brought to my attention that its world breastfeeding week!  Wanna know something funny? I think Kyri's going through a nursing strike...it can take about 5-10 minutes for me just to get her latched on. She doesn't have a strong rooting reflex to begin with - she frequently will just smack her lips. Then when I finally get her to open wide enough, she detaches. Once I can finally get her latched on, she will start crying and then pulls away, pulling me with her usually. it's the worst at night & evening. This has been going on for several nights, & got worse within the last 3 nights.

Last night was probably the hardest on the both of us. After 10 minutes of trying to get her on & her crying, I laid her down, laid myself down, threw the blankets over my head, & sobbed uncontrollably. My husband came in & sat next to me & rubbed my back. He asked if I wanted to give her a bottle. I didn't want to. I was trying to avoid artificial nipples because I know that can make it worse. But I couldn't handle it at that point & I knew my baby was hungry. She wasn't accepting my breast, so I went in the kitchen to prep her a bottle of my milk, gave it to my husband, & went to the bathroom to cry. I felt like I failed her. I felt like I failed myself. I couldn't understand what was won't with me. Why didn't she want me? So many thoughts, none of them good. I came out after a few minutes & she had already sucked the nearly 2 oz down. She looked so content. Which, made me feel even worse... However, once my husband went back to bed I was able to get her latched on with relative ease. Made me feel better, but still gave me minor butt-hurt.

My husband is now worried about if she's getting enough to eat. He said I need to make a decision quick about weather or not I want to supplement with formula. I do NOT want to do that...but what if this only gets worse? I'm kinda scared...I don't want to fail. I had so much difficulty breastfeeding my son, but managed to succeed for a year until he self-weaned...I wouldn't be able to stop feelings of failure from creeping in.