La Bella Vita

2010-05-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Ike is going to be 1 on 6/7! Already!
My mom and older sister are graduating with Bachelor's degrees tomorrow ... and my younger sister is graduating from high school as well tomorrow. I'm having a birthday party for Ike on the 5th (6/5) ... I guess it'll be a cookout type thing for friends and family. I'm pretty sure his baby friends won't be able to come, since we moved 2 hours away from them this past January. :( . But my parents/sisters and some friends here will come. Maybe more :)

My best childhood guy friend got married 1 week ago (5/15) and it is weird to me - oh yes, and of course I wasn't invited. The whole "I hate your fiance and I'm not talking to you again" type thing happened uhh well, in 2005, so there hasn't been much contact since. Absolutely none for at least 2 years, sadly enough. I still remember ... I had left my phone in the car and ran in to WalMart for a little bit, then realized I didn't have my phone so I went back out to get it. I saw I had a missed call from him and a new voicemail. Once I checked the voicemail, my heart just dropped, there's no other way to describe it. So I'm listening to this 2-minute voicemail from him basically telling me he wants nothing to do with me anymore and to not call or try to contact him in any way again, and that he was just over it.
Really? Over 18 years of being best friends? You suck, you know that? I'm happy for you now, as I should be, even though I ... well, frankly, don't believe in marriage anymore. I think it's stupid. But you don't know that. I would still be friends if I was given the chance. *sigh* Until then? I think about you a lot and I hope you're always doing well. And I'm sorry for my jerk-ness back then. And I hope you don't turn out anything like him.
By the way, my wedding consisted of 15 people, including myself and Paul. That means pretty much no one was invited to it [we did have a reception for everyone who wanted to come though].
I sent you a high school graduation card. I don't know if you ever got it, 4 years ago, because I don't know if you moved that year. *another sigh*

A friend of mine had her little girl this past week. :) This makes her 2nd edition and she is very adorable, from the picture I saw. :) Another friend is due in a little over a month.
I am sooooo soo sooo sooo sooooo glad it's not me. I am good with one. Yes, I said it. ONE. So quit asking me when I'm going to give Ike a "little brother" or a "playmate"!!!!!! I'm good. If he wants a playmate, he can make friends. :)

Ike broke my X key yesterday. He chunked a can of dog food at my computer. :(
Anyway. I think I'm done for now.

sigh

2010-02-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

Moving is fun ... I've only done it 13 times in the last ... well, less than 4 years. And we're not even military.

Ike is now crawling, as of about two weeks ago. And a few days ago, he was in the crib while I was making a bottle and I walked in and he was standing!
So I turned around and walked out of the room and came back in. I thought I was hallucinating or something, I guess. Nope, sure enough, my little chunk pulls himself up & stands already!

Anyway, once we get internet hooked up at our house, maybe I'll be able to update more than once a month. :)

La Bella Vita?

2009-12-01T19:01:00.001-08:00

When we moved back from Franklin to the Pines ... or wherever, it was a fresh start. Paul had gotten hired as a General Manager at a brand new chain restaurant, and my job had transferred nicely.
Or so we thought.
The "La Bella Vita" is now marked on my left hip, and has been since summer of 2007 when we came back to NC.

I miss Franklin like nothing else. Franklin is beautiful. My drive to work from Franklin to Smyrna was the best drive you could ever take. All 19 1/2 miles of it. Hills and mountains with cutaway rock, tons of farms with lots of baby animals ... it really cannot be described unless you've seen it for yourself.
My last drive back from work, the last day we were in TN, was very rushed and I was quite upset that I could not enjoy the beautiful scenery just once more.

It plays back in my mind. And I enjoy every second of it.

Exactly one year ago (+ a week), a friend of Paul's was getting married back in Franklin. A former coworker of Paul's (well, they all originally worked together) purchased two plane tickets for Paul and me so we could go see the wedding. The second we stepped off of the platform and onto NWA airport, we were at home. It was an amazing feeling. Our time there was entirely too short, but it was still great.

Franklin is my home. And one day, I want to be back.

Yay for the ER

2009-11-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

Poor lil Ikey.
We called the hospital last night to have them connect us with our Pedi. Ike was unwilling to eat, had a stuffy nose, pink eye, possibly rotovirus again ... and a few other things going on. Oh, and a temp of 100 degrees. The Pedi told us to bring him in and get him checked out.
He didn't even want to drink the pedialyte. Once he finally did, he perked back up. His temp went back down to normal. And we got antibiotic drops for his eyes.
I just hope I don't get it! I'm washing my hands tons and not rubbing any part of my face.

The ER Doc said pink eye can come from someone coughing or sneezing around him, which I have done plenty of this past week - coughing everywhere. I cover my cough but it's still not enough of course. Anyway, he's still not taking a bottle today but I was able to give him a little bit of pedialyte earlier. I'll try some more in a few minutes.
I just want all of us to stop being sick! Colds suck ... and pink eye ... poor lil guy! He's just had a lot going on this week!

Black Friday Shopping + a Change for Mom & Baby, and more

2009-11-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

I refused to shop today. So much so, that Paul sent me out to get rubbing alcohol and lysol kitchen cleaner.
I went BY WalMart ... NOT happening!!! So I just took myself all the way down the street to RiteAid.

And I am glad I did. :)

I ended up going to 3 RiteAids around town (we have at least 4!) and I bought several Schick razors - different kinds, Quattro Titanium, Quattro (women's), and several disposable razors.
I paid $.14 for one order, $.09 for another, and $2.49 for the last (only because I ran out of coupons for the Quattro!) Altogether, it was $2.74 out of pocket.
How I did it? I had 2 coupons for $2 off Schick Quattro Titanium. I also had a $10 gift certificate from the Fall Gift of Savings program. (Yay!). At the 3rd store I went to, I found 3 $1 any Schick disposable razors, so I ... borrowed ... those coupons. :)
If I had found the same coupons for $1 off any Schick disposables at the 2nd store I had gone to, I would have gotten an even better deal! Maybe not having to use my $10 gift certificate. Who knows. I'm definitely not complaining - I have plenty of razors for my entire family. Definitely awesome!

The change for Mom and Baby is heartbreaking for me. This past week, Paul and I were both sick (just a cold, though). Paul's parents picked up Ike and watched him for a couple of days.
I breastfed him as much as possible, however I have had so many issues trying to keep up with my hungry little boy! Anyway, during the time Ike was at my inlaws, he was fed formula, baby food and baby cereal - so I just pumped - every 2-4 hours, depending on whether I was sleeping or not. And I had plenty of milk! More than usual ... it was very strange to me. So only a couple of hours after picking Ike up on Wednesday (and after feeding him once), all of the sudden, there goes my milk. It's like it evaporated, completely randomly.
I have tried everything. The only thing that helped was beer and I HATE beer, it's too disgusting for me.
So considering this random "I wake up with no milk supply" happened, only this time it wasn't morning time with me waking up, I just cannot keep fighting it. I have way too much going on.
He spits up so much when I feed him as well. With formula, no where near as much. (We use Enfamil AR, because of his reflux).
So I will feed him when I can with what I have left, then feed him formula.
It is definitely not something I ever wanted to do. I wanted to breastfeed Ike until he was much older than just 6 months! (Not quite yet though, he will be 6 months old December 7th). But I cannot keep up. I do not know why I have had so many issues trying to breastfeed, but for months and months I have struggled to try. I drink a gallon of water a day, EVERY single day, so I know it is not a hydration issue. Anyway, I hope this is for the best.
I have to start looking for work soon as well, so I knew it was probably going to happen soon anyway.
I was an EBFB. If I ever have another, I hope to try again!

Today, before the shopping adventure, I was able to catch up with some old friends (who are in town from KY) I have not seen since I was 17 (and I am 22 now). I enjoyed it - I introduced Ike to all of them and Jennifer, who I originally went to go visit, tried to hold Ike a couple of times but for some reason, he started crying each time! I felt so bad! He is never like that, he LOVES to be held and he LOVES all of the attention! He was extremely tired though, so I hope that was the reason why! I stayed there for about an hour and as I was leaving - putting Ike in the carseat already, Jenn's oldest son pulled up with his fiance.
He was my best friend - from when I was 2 until I was 18.
I hope to also spend some time with all of them tomorrow as well. We shall see!

There is this forum I have been a part of for just under a year - I joined last December (but I was a lurker for a few months prior!). Anyway, one thread for June mommies is doing a homemade gift exchange for the babies. I got a little girl, Mia. Recently, a friend showed me how to crochet and I have picked up on it pretty quickly. I'm still learning of course! So far, I have crocheted a baby scarf - white and periwinkle - for her, as well as periwinkle baby ankle warmers (just a short version of baby leg warmers). I attempted decorating a wipe case for her as well - but it did NOT turn out as planned, so I'll just end up using it myself probably (it looked awful I thought!). The only part of the gift I have left is to make a few paci clip ribbons for her. I need to find the things to make it with (sewing-wise) quickly, because I have to ship it out by December 1st! I'll definitely be working on it this weekend. :)

Well, Ike has been sleeping for a few hours already so I think I will go join him! Goodnight! :)

Happy Thanksgiving, a day late, to you all. Hope it was wonderful!

Thank you, genuises ...

2009-11-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

Rule # 1: If you are sick, STAY HOME.
Rule # 2: If you think you may be getting sick, STAY HOME.
Rule # 3: If you are not quite over being sick, STAY HOME.
Rule # 4: If you are sick, DO NOT GO ANYWHERE.
Rule # 5: If you think you may be getting sick, DO NOT GO ANYWHERE.
Rule # 6: If you are not quite over being sick, DO NOT GO ANYWHERE.

Because America does not follow these simple rules, I have not seen my 5 month old son in TWO days - as we do not want him to be sick like we are.
Because America does not follow these simple rules, my husband and I have both been sick.
Because America does not follow these simple rules, my inlaws have been taking care of my son.
Because America does not follow these simple rules, we got colds in the FIRST place.

Thank you, America. Getting the world sick, one family at a time.

Note to self: Sick? Think you may be getting sick? Still getting over being sick? DO NOT SUBJECT ANYONE TO WHATEVER HAS INFECTED YOU.

Can you tell I'm pissed?
I miss my son, what can I say?

Update on Ike

2009-10-29T17:42:00.001-07:00

Well, taking Ike to the doctor is more than just a trip. All thanks to insurance ... we have on his card that his PCP is a different place - however, I have tried 8 times to change it. I have called and called and left messages, etc. for 2 months. We decided when he was about 2 months old that we no longer wished to go to the office we had been going to and went in search of a different place. A few weeks later, we found one we like.
Anyway, so at first, the new place said since what is on the insurance card as his PCP is not them, we have to go to the other place. So I call the insurance people and get it changed. It won't take effect until ... Dec 1st I believe. Unfortunate! Then Paul calls the other Dr's office. They say the won't give a referral so the new place can see us, but they also won't see us since we just had the PCP changed.
Umm, so where do we go?
I asked to speak to the insurance lady in the new doctor's office. She had to get on the phone with the old place and practically beg them for a referral, which they were very adament to even give us! So, more bad news, if Ike has to go back for a follow up appointment ... we could be out of luck. The old place won't see us no matter what. And the new place is doing what they can to be able to see Ike!

I'll just take him to the hospital if it comes down to that. He's an infant. He deserves care.
END OF STORY.

He is getting scheduled for an appointment in Chapel Hill with a specialist - nothing life threatening, but good to know. We also are taking him in for an Xray on Saturday at the outpatient center at the hospital. And again, nothing life threatening.

I believe that is all for now! :)

Dentist Update & Ike

2009-10-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

The office I was referred to was able to get me in for a cleaning and Xrays. We just went from there. I have a ton of cavities, unfortunately. I blame being pregnant, haha, because that's when I noticed them. But I do have very soft teeth. They were also able to schedule me for 2 hours this morning to get all of them filled. I am still numb! I guess the other dentist just didn't hit the nerve right.
Turns out no matter how much you wish for your wisdom teeth to disappear, they won't disappear without being taken out! (I had the bottom 2 taken out a few years ago - awful experience.) The office was also able to schedule me for tomorrow morning to get the top ones taken out! I'm not looking forward to it, but for insurance purposes, it has to be done before the 31st of this month, so I definitely don't have much time!
I think I'm just going to be numb for this - which means I'll be able to hear all of it going on, yuck. But at least I won't get home and throw up constantly for 24 hours while the valium wears off! (Not fun, trust me!)

So, Paul was watching Ike this morning while I was at the dentist ... and he had a 3rd blowout of the morning, but this time it was different. Gross. Umm, anyway, certain things, yadda yadda, we are taking him to his pedi's office in a few minutes.
He's (Ike) sleeping right now! It's amazing! He decided again that 4am was playtime - and I am soo tired! He didn't go back to sleep and I had to get up at 7 to get ready for the dentist. (I'm only up because I was starving so I made a snack).
Anyway, time to go wake the boys up (Paul's napping too).
:)

Routines

2009-10-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

When you have a baby, everyone tells you to make a schedule and follow it to the T. I read one article a while back that made me realized how stupid a schedule can be for someone like ... me. Just one article.
So I decided to let things happen as Ike needed. He decided 8pm is his bedtime and somewhere between 9-9:30am is the time to wake up. He wakes up several times in the night to feed still, which is very tiring ... and more recently, has started waking up several times more than he used to ... (used to be 2-3 times a night, now it's 6-9). Maybe one day he will sleep through the night? He's just over 4 months old now. He typically likes to take 2 naps a day, one near 11am-12pm and one in the afternoon. I also realize a schedule with colic would have never worked and everything would have been much more difficult that it already was. Colic was awful. It's over and I am so glad. I also like not having to wake up at 7 or 8am everyday! Well, not technically. We always go back to sleep, lol.
I think his doctor's appointment is tomorrow. [I should probably call to find out, huh?] No shots for him, not yet at least. We changed pedi's and it's great so far. I wish I'd changed his pedi much sooner. We felt like we were being harassed by the first one. Awful!
Wow, I just pulled a baby finger nail off of my keyboard. I should probably not have the computer open next time I trim his nails! =]
Tending to Ike time! :)

Ike's birthday!!

2009-10-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Little Budda (Thanks, Grammie!) Ike turned 4 months old yesterday. We spent the afternoon at my in laws house who, at this moment, are also housing Paul's grandparents who are visiting from CA.
I finally decided to let him try a little bit of food. He's been getting tiny amounts of rice cereal for a month now due to AR, but this food was going to be tasty! It was between carrots and sweet potatoes, and the carrots won. He looooved them! It was so cute. Paul made a video on his phone but we haven't uploaded it to the computer yet. Of course, he wore more of what he ate. :)

First time in a While

2009-10-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

It has been a very long time since I have blogged consistently. At the moment, my son is in the swing and watching Yo Gabba Gabba - highly entertaining, apparently. I screen the show just in case the producers add something in like how Mighty Mouse snorted coke ... or a "white powdery substance", really.
Tomorrow is my Ike, my sons', fourth month birthday. I may give him a taste of baby food. (He gets one teaspoon of baby cereal at night when I remember for his reflux, but that doesn't really count, does it?) :) I bought pears, apples, bananas, sweet peas, green beans, squash and sweet potatoes last week for him when he seems interested enough.

Anyway, I'd like to add my shopping adventures! I was referred to the site "moneysavingmom.com" a few months ago, and I have gone from there. Now, I have about twenty links bookmarked, and several more I visit every week for deals, specials, sales, etc. I also buy the Sunday paper for the coupons.
I realize that when you walk out of the store with only a few pennies spent, you get some seriously crazy looks and the question "is this right?" for your total. YES, in fact, it is!
Last week, it was RiteAid, where my total before coupons was around $25 and after the coupons ... $2.36 I do believe. And the week before at RiteAid was even better! $48 worth of stuff for about $3!
Today was great. I shopped at WalMart while waiting for a prescription to be filled. I didn't buy much and I plan to upload a picture later on of most of the things I bought, but here's the rundown:
4 travel sized packs of Natural Care Huggies Wipes (40ct) - $1.53 each
4 travel sized packs of Naturally Refreshing Huggies Wipes (32ct) - $1.84 each
2 travel sized packets of Tide (1 load each)
1 Powerade
1 Kitkat
Total AFTER coupons: $.07

Oh yes.
(8 coupons for $2 off any Huggies Diaper Product, 2 coupons for $1 off any Tide product)

My favorite shopping comes from Harris Teeter during their triple coupon week. I will update on one of those later!