PSF -- Sisters

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

From Day one, You've been attached.


You've loved each other.



You've shared talks with each other.



You've plotted together.


You play together


You irritate the snot out of each other.


AT the end of the day -- You curl up and Fall asleep together, no matter how mad you were before bedtime.






And in 8 weeks (or so) you will share all of the above with a new little sister.


For more PSF, click HERE

I'm so upset

We took Izzie to the dr today for a routine repeat lead check. Her last two levels had shown a significant decrease and we were in the safety zone. BUT they wanted to keep checking every 6 months to make sure things stayed okay.

I was NOT worried about this test.


I guess I should have been.


We are up 3 points from the last time and back over the "safety" zone.


I just don't even know what to think.

Wordless Wednesday -- 6 years

We had a great Weekend!

Happy Belated Father's day to all the Dad's out there.

Busy today, so no Tackle it Tuesday post.

Love is in the air

Tee Hee.

I'm off for the weekend.

My anniversary is Sunday, along with Father's day. Will catch up with the blog world Monday!

Toddler Madness

As posted Here, Some days Just don't end well when you have a toddler.


I decided I should follow up with pictorial evidence of that "bad" day and also, Stephanie know you have proof that your daughter isn't the only one who loves permanent markers!


Izzie's Artwork. After bath. Gotta love Sharpies.



And on her legs





AND the allergic reaction to the Dawn, she had poured all over her head

Who Is...

This little lady who has replaced my baby faced baby girl?

Welcome Third Trimester

I try not to Whine. I know that I am extremely lucky to be pregnant. To be able to carry this baby to delivery. When so many of my dear friends cannot.

I try to revel in each little kick, each tiny detail of the life growing inside of me, because I know this is the last time I will experience this miracle.

But, unfortunately, once the third trimester hits, especially it seems the more children you have, there is just so many aches, pains, and other things to whine about.

So I've made myself a promise. For each gripe/whine I have, I'll come up with a positive too. We are talking pregnancy here folks, so there might be some TMI.

SO

The WHINE's

1. Peeing 5 drops every 30 minutes.
   
2. Sciatic pain
3. The unability to get comfy to sleep for long stretches of time.
   
4. Pelvic pressure
5. Braxton Hicks. Fake contractions. FAKE my hind end.
   
6. 3rd Trimester headaches

The YAY's

1. Feeling baby girl moving.
2. Knowing there is only 10 weeks (or less) until I meet the new little one.
3. Getting to sort through baby goodness again.
   
4. Big Boobies! (The best part of pregnancy/nursing)
5. No PUPPPs this time!
   
6. An excuse to eat WHATEVER I want, WHENEVER I want. (and finally feeling like doing just that)
   

PSF -- Who Needs a Son?

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Dear Sweet Caity. You are Our first born. Our sweet girl. But you, my dear are a TOTAL TOMBOY. It is so fun to watch you as you grow and see JUST how different you are from your sister. To see your personality blossom.




While Playing with Izzie outside, you discovered several DEAD crawdads in the yard. My assumption is that they either crawled up from the neighbors pond OR one of the cats brought them over as gifts.








Why most children (especially girly girl ones) would run screaming from this discovery -- YOU relished in it and had to have a cup to keep your "crabs" in so you could show grandpa.




Following your crustacean discovery. You went on the search for more offensive creepy crawlies -- ICK.

WORMS



Ladybugs




You are a Connundrum to me sometimes. I never know what you will come up with next -- but I love every day of finding new discoveries with you.


For more PSF, click HERE

Beware

We drove by the hospital the other day and Caity remarked that that was where we "got Izzie from"

I told her that that is where we would bring Calleigh home from too. Her response


"Only if she's clean though, mama."


So Beware of hospitals giving out dirty babies.

Wordless Wednesday -- Looking back

On the last time I had a new baby in the house





For more WW posts, Check out 5 Minutes for Mom, and 3 Kids n us.

Happy Birthday Tip Junkie!

Tip Junkie is Turning 2 AND Going DOT COM!

To celebrate, they are hosting a 5 day bash of awesome prizes.

Check out what you can win today by visiting HERE

I personally would love to win

Prize #3 -- A Car Seat Cover of my choice from ChubbyBaby

I love the Pink Hawaiian print one!

OR

Prize #5, the Open heart name with birthstonesFrom AF Designs.

How awesome would that be to celebrate my 3 girls!



What prizes would you want to win?

Tackle it Tuesday -- FOOD

This weeks Tackle is.......... FOOD.

Let me explain. I will have a repeat c-section with this baby (Hopefully she arrives on the scheduled date -- but knowing my babies, she will come earlier)


I try to have a good bit of prepared foods frozen, so that when we get home, we can just take out of freezer, toss in oven and voila dinner. Without much work.

This week, I've started on my Freezer stash.

The list: (So far)
Spaghetti Sauce -- 3 bags
Meatballs -- 2 bags
Chili -- 3 containers
Beef Stew -- 2 containers
Chicken Noodle Soup -- 2 containers


Next up: Casseroles, Burritos, Pancakes/Waffles, Chicken Pot Pie, and who knows what else I'll come up with between now and then.

What are you Tackling this week?

For more Tackle posts, click Here

Ever have one of them days......

Where nothing is going right, everybody is irritating you and you SUCK at parenting.

That was my Monday.

The girls fought and whined all day. Didn't listen well.

Izzie got into the sharpie, and colored her arms and legs.

Caity sprayed windex on everything.

And it just continued once we got home.

Izzie poured half a bottle of Dawn on her head. Which was fun to clean off lemme tell ya. Then she broke out in a rash *Can we say allergic to Dawn* So I gave her benedryl and prednisone -- of which she dumped half down the toilet and told me it was "Nassy"

She tried climbing onto the bathroom sink and fell instead. Nothing hurt, just scared her.


The day ended with me wanting to pull my hair out, and Izzie screaming herself to sleep because she hadn't had a nap and was exhausted.

How was your Monday?

Our Weekend

Was Hot. And Fun. And DID I mention HOT?

Saturday the girls had a birthday party to attend. A swimming birthday party. Great idea in the 90 degree heat, right? Not so much. Ever stood outside in 94 degree heat while watching kids splash around in a pool that's big enough for your foot?

Now, ever done it 28 weeks pregnant?

Yeah. Not so much fun for mama. But the girls had a great time. And after a 3 hour party and running around with other kids, they slept WELL that night.

Yesterday was the usual, church, followed by lunch at Papaw's, and then home for cleaning (Laundry)

Not Me -- I'd never

This meme was created by MckMama


So I see this meme everywhere and I finally decided to participate. Who me, a slacker? Never.


I did NOT hide in the laundry room this weekend, so I could eat an ice cream sandwich without sharing. Nope, not me.

I did NOT let the kids run around naked all day because I was too lazy to keep redressing them.

and finally,

I did NOT forget to wash DH's workclothes over the weekend and then give him a semi-clean pair of pants this morning, claiming they just came out of the dryer.

For more Not Me Mondays -- check Here at My Charming Kids

A new Take on Excercise

Most parents know that excercise is the key to staying in good shape (eating right too of course)




GE, yes the appliance gurus, have come up with an amusing take on excercise this summer. Dubbed Strong as steel, each excercise uses a GE kitchen appliance. Check out the video below, featuring Alison Sweeney, from the Biggest Loser.









You can check out the latest in GE appliances by clicking Here

Good Kidney News!

I spoke to our urology specialty nurse yesterday to schedule Caity's future appts/tests and also to double check on what we need to do for Calleigh, since some of Caity's issues are hereditary (but have thankfully skipped Izzie)

Anyways -- While on the phone, she gave me some good news! Dr. Reddy had analyzed the latest results from our urodynamics test. AND There was great improvement made. Her bladder capacity has DOUBLED since we started the drugs. Her output volume has doubled as well (which means less urine to back up into the kidneys)

This is awesome news! Of course She still has kidney damage, she still has an abnormal bladder -- but to see results of any kind is AWESOME.

We'll be doing a kidney/bladder U/S soon to make sure no further damage has occurred since the last one.


As far as Calleigh goes, we will do an u/s at around 6 weeks to check her bladder/kidneys. BUT if all looks well between birth and 1 year, we will hold off on the VCUG until 1 year. WHEW. This makes me so happy!

My Stash...

Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing posted pics of her carrier stash and asked fellow bloggers to do the same.

My stash is not near as impressive as most, and parts need replaced (Thanks to certain people not returning things they borrowed) But here goes.

The Pouch -- With Caity, I had a WAHM made pouch with a fabric I wanted. Of course it was ladybugs.






I loaned that pouch out to a cousin, and never got it back.

With Izzie, a friend from an online group sent me a Cortez and Co pouch. This was super handy with itty bitty Izzie, who rode in it comfortably for 5 months and then it was stolen out of our car along with other stuff







I also tried a wrap for the first time with Izzie. It was a Sashawrap, I got for really cheap. Not as awesome as other wraps, I'm sure, but it held my 5lb'r comfortably and was easy to learn to use.




My current favorite carrier -- The Beco (I have the 4th Gen). I struggled with whether or not to buy one due to the cost adn the fact I had other carriers that worked. Best decision I ever made. I love my Beco. I still use it to carry Izzie (yes at 28 weeks pregnant)


Misc. Carriers not shown (I can't find pics right now)

Mei Tei -- Another of those that was loaned out and never came back.
Solid Black Hotsling
Solarvail Ring sling


For Miss Calleigh I plan to replace the mei tei and probably get an Ergo.