Laundry and Credit Cards

Small observation as I work on our budget and laundry!!

So I've come to conclusion that Laundry is much like Credit Card Debt....

Once you get behind it is nearly impossible to catch up when you only do the minimum, and even if you do extra it still takes double the time to catch up then it did to get behind!!!

And thus I hate Credit Cards and Laundry!!!

Adventures in CIO #5: Starting Over cause Habits Die Hard!!

So two weeks of illness leads to MUCH regression in the CIO department.. Needless to say I've had to START OVER!!

As I laid in bed last night I kept saying "WE ALREADY DID THIS!! THIS HARD WORK WAS DONE!!!"

Now I will endure another week of sleepless nights!!! As if 2 weeks of sleepless nights due to illness wasn't enough!! (It's no wonder I have so much Gray Hair!!)

This adventure reminds me of my own habits and battles with bad habits!! When I allow myself to even take a taste of the bad habit I totally Regress!!! So when its time to go back to Good habits I think I am much like Noah... Banging my head against the crib, pulling my hair out, and SCREAMING!!! (Noah has a set of PIPES!!!)
Healthy living is one of those areas for me!! I just want to grab what is easy and not think about the nutritional value it has on me and my body!!! I don't want to walk / run, I just want to RUN. My body is so not ready to RUN a 5K. I think I've shared this before but I Hate the process and just want to get to the PRODUCT!!! Cause the Product means I can be "Laxed" and it doesn't take as much brain power!! The Product means I've gotten myself back into good choice routines!

 

Noah and I are both going to try and enjoy this process a little more... For example while I won't feed Noah in the night I will pick him up and rock and sing to him, taking baby steps back to sleeping through the night! Thinking that maybe for both of us COLD Turkey isn't the way to go!! For me I'll walk /run outside in the beautiful sunshine while listening to my Fave Music and hopefully the process of getting to Running a 5K will be a little more enjoyable!! Instead of dwelling on what I can't do at the moment I'm going to dwell on what I CAN do!! ;-) As for food... CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE are what is on my mind, MY NEW MOTTO....

MY CHOICES TODAY WILL AFFECT THE RESULTS OF TOMORROW!!!

Fashion Faux Pas TOTALLY BUSTED!!!

When I was in 3rd Grade I would spend every Tuesday afternoon on the Campus of Eastern Nazarene College... My babysitter was a student and Quincy had 1/2 day every Tuesday... (They still do actually)

Well I had this light baby blue Sweatshirt and a Pink Polo shirt that I would wear with jeans (This outfit sounds terrible!!!!)... But I thought it was so Cool!!! So naturally I had to wear the "Coolest" thing I had on Tuesdays when I was with College students. Well After several weeks maybe even months... It came to my attention that when you only see people once a week and you wear the same thing on that day WELL you get the idea... They think those are the only clothes you have!!! ;-) (Even in later years it was known as my "TUESDAY" outfit) So at the age of 8 I learned a valuable fashion lesson... Variety is good, Mixing things up is important.

Well Fast forward to mommy hood meaning limited money, self-esteem issues, etc... And over the last few weeks I've been looking through our photos... Apparently I've reverted back to my 8year old ways. I'll just let you see what I'm talking about...

 

We'll just call this shirt my "Special Occasion" or "Photo Op." Shirt.

Holding on to Truth!!

As I prepare to send my children back to school after a week off and an extreme life altering, world view changing tragedy...  I have Two Scripture verses that I am HOLDING ON TO SO TIGHTLY and I am using as the words to my prayers in the aftermath of the Marathon Bombing.

2 Timothy: 1: 7
For God has not given us a Spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Philippians 4: 6-8
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.


I pray these words not because I fear for their physical safety at school, I fear for their emotional and spiritual safety. I worry that the thoughts and words of the others in regards to these tragedies will take aways my children's innocence, sense of security, sense of peace...  We as parents have chosen our words carefully and have been as honest and protective as one can be. I pray that the focus of tomorrows discussion be on all the THINGS that were Honorable, Right, Pure, Lovely, NOBEL...

And the truth is this not just my prayer for my 3 children but my prayer for all the children that enter Boston (& the surrounding area) schools tomorrow. I pray for God's Hand to guide the words of the teachers & administrators as they comfort our children. I was so incredibly impressed and grateful for how the school handled the events of Sandy Hook.. I am praying for the same wisdom in light of the events in this past week.

So if it comes to your mind tomorrow as these children go back to school pray that  their little hearts and little minds will be protected from A Spirit of Fear and Timidity, and that they will be embraced by POWER AND LOVE!!! 



 



 

I am Boston Strong: Because I have Hope and Comfort in Jesus Christ

A glimps at our week....

Boston's 117 Marathon Monday... Need I say More (Clarification we were not at the Marathon, but the events that happened shook us)... BOSTON STRONG!!!!

Picture taken Last Spring (Not Marathon Monday)

Tuesday Phone call my mother is in ER from Dehydration she caught the stomach bug.

Wed 1am Noah is crying he seems fine... Sadie is Crying Fever of 102+
3am Noah has a fever of 102+

Wed & Thursday are spent secretly following the news online and trying to take care of Two sick children and entertain a Highly energized Bored 7 year old.

Wed afternoon my childhood/life long Best Friend delivered her sweet little boy Isaac.

Thursday Doc appointment confirms that Noah and Sadie have influenza B yes Round 2 of the flu for us!! UGH!!

Friday... Still two sick kids, a man hunt and Boston on Lock Down!! (Thankful my actual residence is safe)... Highly energized boy is outside playing!!!

Today I reflect on the emotions that have Filled my Heart this week!!!

I am Over Joyed by God's gift of new life

I am Sorrowful at the loss of young life 

I am Mad at those who have stolen our sense of security
I am Proud and Appreciative to those men and woman who risk their lives to heal and bring security back to our city.
I am Determined to not let fear overcome us

I am Tired from fighting infection and sickness

I am  Over whelmed by all that life throws at us
I am Grateful to God for the life he has given us and His gifts of Strength & Peace in the face of adversity!!!  

 

You may not be in mourning for the pains or loss of loved ones or fearful from acts of terror... but whatever hardships you may find in this life may this song remind you of the comfort that can be found in knowing that...

 

"The arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright

And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go"

 

Stomach Bug Blues

This is by far a night for the books aka blog worthy!!

Dinner time 5pm Cam says my stomach hurts...
6:30pm Cameron gets his jammies on... Goes to put his dirty clothes in the bathroom closet and turns around to throw up in the toilet!!

Between 9:30 - midnight Cameron throws up every 20 min. Becoming mildly dehydrated, I kept using the capillary refill Test, (Check out this website I found it to be very helpful!!)
 (http://pediatrics.about.com/od/symptoms/a/05_symp_dehydtn.htm)
Eventually he started keeping fluids down and fell asleep!!!

10:30pm Sadie wakes up crying her stomach hurts

11:30pm Sadie is throwing up

1:00am Mike wakes up and starts throwing up... and a little later we all fall asleep for about an hour..

2:30am Noah wakes up crying I totally break the rules and start nursing him

2:45 Sadie threw up for the last time Crying for me But I was still feeding Noah... Cameron is already asleep and done throwing up...
3am fall asleep on the hard wood floor next to Sadie.

4:30 Noah wakes up for the day

Kids wake up at 5:30am

They've Managed to keep down drinks and Toast/Crackers.


I must say this morning I'm running on Adrenaline and of Course LOADS of Coffee!!


Counting my blessings
1. My children seem to be on the up swing of this nasty stomach bug

2. I'm getting tons of Laundry & Cleaning done
3. Motivation to clean to get these nasty germs out of my house!!
4. I've managed to Stay clear of this bug!! (Praying it stays that way!!! Throwing up and I don't mix!!!)

Mother Knows Best!

So when Cameron and Sadie were little the City of Quincy put in a beautiful little playground a block away from our house... It was right next to the Clam Box on the beach. The playground has the recycled tire on the ground and a small structure that little toddlers can easily learn to climb and mama can breath easily and let them be somewhat free.

Well when Cam and Sadie were little they were always getting sick and I was always trying to brainstorm patterns or connect the dots to find a common denominator so maybe I could prevent the germs. One of things I thought was that this playground seemed to something we did shortly before they got sick... Well I mentioned this to my mother and the thought stuck... She would often say "Don't take them there, they are gonna get sick". Well as they got older we stopped going there cause other playgrounds had larger structures more appropriate for my big kids.

That brings you up to speed...
Yesterday was beautiful day and the baseball team was practicing so we can't play in the yard cause I fear someone getting hit by a ball.. Every time I hear the crack of the bat my heart jumps. So the kids and I walked up to that park.. Perfect for Noah to run and climb and have a good time. I jokingly told the kids, "Don't tell Niney tonight at dinner we went here cause she's gonna worry that you guys will get sick". Despite what I said we talked about it at dinner and sure enough she said, "Why did you take them to that play ground... You know they always get sick, Just you wait within two weeks you guys are gonna be sick."

Well it didn't take two weeks more like 6hours... About an hour after Noah went to bed he started crying. (Strange) so we went up checked on him he fell back asleep. For the next 5 hours he would randomly start crying.. And then at 1am it all hit the fan I heard him cry, gurgle and cry some more.. I immediately jumped out of bed and said, "He's Throwing up!!" I ran into his room picked him up and found his head and crib covered... Into the tub and then for the next hour and half we tried to comfort a very confused baby boy, he would cough and throw up!! I'll spare you the gritty details but it was bad.

This morning he's sleeping and resting on the couch next to me and has managed to keep down some fluids (juice and mama milk) and a few cheerios. Let's hope it's just Noah and the big kids are OK!


The moral of this story is... Trust your "mama" instincts and when your own mother tells you not to do something... LISTEN!! After all....

Mother KNOWS BEST!!!!

 

 

Counting my blessings

 

1. A husband with a understanding employer so he can go in late and take the big kids to school

2. I'm a stay at home mom so I'm free to be home with my sick kiddo! 

3. My sleepy baby boys smile when he wakes up from a nap!!!

4. Cuddling my baby boy!! 

Double the Trouble

I swear sense the day Sadie was born Cameron and Sadie have been double trouble!!!

There have been several occasions where I got a glimpse into what the teenage years are going to be like when the two of them put their minds together!

So our church runs an Easter Egg Hunt where we stuff over 15000 Easter Eggs. Well one of the work nights the kids and I went over to help stuff eggs. Cam, Sadie and I stuffed eggs while Noah sat at the table played and ate Cheerios...

Fast Forward to after the Egg Hunt our children were sitting around talking about their eggs and what goodies they got when

Sadie: "I wonder who got the Cheerio Egg??"
Cam: hahaha Yea I wonder
Me: What do you mean the Cheerio Egg??
Sadie: We each filled an egg with Cheerios
Me: What... You mean that night when we were stuffing eggs you took Noah's Cheerios and Stuffed an Egg with them?? And then bagged it like the rest of the candy Eggs.
Cameron and Sadie: HAHAHAHA YEA!
Mike: HAHAHAHA, Ehem I mean That's not funny! (SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR!!!)

Later I was telling a friend about this and was reminded of the year we visited our friends the Yeh's I believe Sadie was almost 3 and Cam had just turned 4. My children are Early Birds and their beloved friends are night owls... So Cameron and Sadie Came barreling down the stairs one morning during our visit Laughing hysterically with the camera in hand... Come to find out Cameron had snuck the camera and took pictures of Sadie Making Faces at the sleeping Yeh Children!! OMGoodness.

And let's not forget the Lotion Fun while I was preparing for our trip to Florida. (Age 3 & 4)

 

I'm glad my kids can enjoy having some harmless fun together!!!

But Boy it can drive this mother Bonkers Sometimes!!

 

Oh and My apologies to the kid who got the Cheerio Egg!!!

 

 

Counting My Blessings

1. BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY!

2. The ability to take 2 one year olds outside for an hour
3. Walk to the playground
4. Chili's Dinner on Mom's Treat

5. Rocking Noah before Bed 

Dairy Free Soy Free days are Technically Over

So the official word from the doc... Noah has grown out of his intolerance to Milk and Soy. She recommended that I keep nursing while he is still interested. I'm thinking now that he can have food with Flavor the interest will die down significantly. Really I don't want to be the Time Magazine cover. No offense to anyone who nurses until their children are 4, but it's just not for me one year is enough for this mama. My guess is that his 4am 45min feeding will be the last to go!

Ok So on to more exciting things... I CAN EAT MILK AND SOY!!!

First thing I ate was a Reeses Egg... MMM It tasted so good but made me feel nauseous.

On the other hand I felt Fantastic after my 1/2 of Grumpy Whites Buffalo Chicken Sandwich w/Blue Cheese and a side of Mac and Cheese. MMMM It was so good and yet soooo BAD for a woman with a goal to lose 15lbs before May 1st. (To make up for it I ran on the treadmill like my life depended on it).

So if we recall I have a list of top five food choices
http://csjohnstonmommy.blogspot.com/2012/08/catching-up-change-new-life-style.html

So #1 is Complete.. Let's be real these food experiences are not going to help my weight loss goals. SO I have a plan! I will only eat this if they are for social reasons. (IE girls night out, special Family outing, Or Date night). The reality is between now and May 1st those experiences will only happen once. I think that should allow me to lose the last of the baby weight.

While my days of ingredient reading are technically over, and I'm glad to not feel as though I'm imposing on people when we eat at friends or at a restaurant, I'm really not totally ready to kick some of the life style changes to the curb. Actually I think some things could be permanent things at my house.

Here's what I'm keeping...

1. Cooking Fresh/from Scratch... I'm not going back to the days of Lipton Onion Soup or
MaCormack Taco/Chili Seasoning. Fresh flavors work for us and Less Sodium, Less Chemicals

2. Almond Milk/Coconut Creamer... I've always Hated Cows Milk, My cereal will still have Almond Milk and I just might stick to using it in my coffee at home. Of course when a Dunkins, Coffee Break, Or Mary Lou's Run are in order I'll have skim milk, but at Home Almond Milk or Coconut Creamer will work best!! (Not to mention Coffee Runs wont be happening very often cause EVERY PENNY is IMPORTANT IN this house. Home Coffee is the way we roll)

3. My Dairy Free Soy Free Recipes... Those meals were yummy so they will certainly be staying in my Recipe Box/Menu Plan. I probably will continue to Pin those kinds of things on Pinterest...

4. Ingredient Reading... If I can I will probably still choose products that are made with Canola or Olive Oil... I'm not gonna go nuts, but I'm still going to opt for those products I know are soy free... For example the Classico's Tomato Basil Sauce is what I will use from now on  (Sorry Ragu and that was just one thing I couldn't make from scratch!!! I was terrible at it!)... another product is All Natural Creamy Skippy Peanut butter.


There you have it while I'm free!!! I'm still changed by the total experience!



Counting My Blessings:
1. Decluttered areas of my house that had me totally overwhelmed
2. Cam getting to go to his first Celtics Game
3. The weekend
4. My New Flat Iron... No more Friz
5. Noah on a schedule it seems to be working!!

Adventures in CIO #4

So We've come a long way in a week I believe... We've added music to the mix... We put it on and YES it plays all night!! (Just like Cameron)

So getting Noah to Go to sleep on his own has become such a success that now when we are rocking him he will squirm and fuss until we put into the crib then he lays there we give a few pats to the back and out the door we go. (Again much like Cameron!!).. He is napping great 2 naps a day for about 2hrs... and goes to bed at night GREAT!

Biggest Struggle he will wake up at 3:30 or 4 and he can't get back to sleep until about 45 min before the kids have to go to school so then he has to wait for that morning nap thus he just walks around the house fussing while I get the big kids ready for school!!! I will say this these early wake ups do seem to be associated with an  AM BM. UGH!! We see the GI on Thursday Praying for some information to help us move foreward and hopefully get a little more sleep.

We are getting there!! I feel encouraged!


Counting my Blessings
1. I serve a Risen Savior!!!! He has overcome the Grave!!
2. Easter Egg Hunt was a success!!
3. Warm Weather
4. Window's Open
5. Kids are sooo dirty from playing outside
6. Yummy Dinners
7. Unexpectadly being able to afford our trip to FL
8. The knowledge to know how to lose weight!!! (Dr. Phil Weight loss challenge works for me!!)
9. Running
10. SUNSHINE POURING THROUGH MY WINDOWS!!!