You always hear the adage, sleep when the baby sleeps.  In theory that is fantastic and wonderful.  What happens when you have other children who don’t nap much?  You are on call 24/7 without a break.  That is the situation of my life right now.  As I am trying to type this, my kids are driving me crazy!  What creative thing do you do to get a break besides locking yourself in the bathroom for a few minutes?

Now that we are parents, we are responsible for another human being even after our death.  I know how overwhelming this thought can be at times!  Aside from emotionally providing, we also must provide financially.  Have you stopped to think what would happen to your kids if you were to die?  I know, I know, we don’t like talking about our own mortality.  It can be scary, however necessary.

If you die before your kids are 18, what will happen to them?  Do you have a will?  Do you have life insurance?  If you have some family members who you can’t imagine raising your children (I do!), please have a will written up!  You can go to a lawyer or do some research and find software (I used Nolo software to write ours).  Don’t leave it up to chance, your kids deserve better.  Also, around half our population doesn’t have life insurance.  I can’t emphasize how important this is!  Even if you are a stay at home mom, you need some.  If something happened to you, your hubby/partner will need to have money for daycare, housekeeper, etc.  If our position were a paid one, we would make around $150,000 a year (yes, you are worth it)!  In regards to life insurance, please promise me you will be a well informed consumer.  Some free financial advice (if you are in the Portland, Oregon area my hubby can give you more)….only buy term insurance and don’t fall for the lie of whole life (it makes the company good money and you get screwed in the end.  if you want me to explain, let me know).  Make sure you read the policy and fully understand it before you sign.  I will step off of that now:)

Not only are we to provide for our children now, but even after our death.  Get those two things done now and you won’t have to think about them unless you have major life changes.

You always hear “the experts” telling you to ask questions.  Weren’t we raised to be nice girls?  We aren’t supposed to question those in authority (for all the schooling the doctors sure do deserve some authority haha).  I always viewed myself as being informed and asking all the questions I had, especially with the complications pregnancy brings to my life.

Maybe it’s the fact it’s number four, or perhaps I feel empowered by the books I am studying to become a doula.  I don’t know for sure.  I have asked any question that has come into my head without hesitation.  I find myself speaking up more.  Example, your random fact for the day….Did you know the blood pressure cuff doesn’t actually measure your heart?  I thought it measured the intake and outflow at the heart.  The top number is the number when the blood starts flowing through the cuff and the bottom number is when blood is fully flowing.  I just learned that one last week and it was by asking.  Although I love those caring for me and would recommend them to anyone, I feel like I have some control over my health (my PICC line is a great example of that one!  I was persistent and got it.)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if they are as silly as how a blood pressure cuff works.  I have found the nurses and doctors are more than happy to explain it to you.  If they aren’t, it is time to find others who do.  You deserve good care!  Think of this as good practice.  If your child’s teacher mentions your child having a hard time at school, wouldn’t you ask tons of questions?  In a way, not only are you advocating for your own body, but you are beginning to be the advocate for that little baby swimming in your uterus.  If you feel lost or timid, visit your local library.  There is such great power in books!  The Birth Partner is a fantastic book to get you started.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions!  The more you ask, the empower you will be to make good choices for you and your baby.

I am now 24 1/2 weeks along.  Four weeks of IVIG down, too many more too go.  Too many blown veins from the IV every week.  A doctor’s appointment every week or so with another ultrasound next week.  I must confess, I knew what I was getting myself into, however, didn’t really.  Ya know?  One thing I am grateful for is the fact I am not on bed rest.  I have no idea how this girl could handle letting my house go, and being stuck lying down all day.  One day for IVIG is bad enough (about 8-9 hours).

I have to accept this is just a stage of life.  A crazy one at that!  If you are one who is on bed rest (even modified), my heart goes out to you.  What we go through to have babies is certainly a labor of love just for a “normal” pregnancy (no shame in admitting those who have them, I am jealous!).  Those of us who have a little extra to do, how much sweeter is that moment when the doctor lays your precious one on your breasts.  That is the moment I keep looking forward too (hoping for a VBAC).  Knowing all I do is because I already love this little girl more than words can express.  All of this is worth it!

On those days when you don’t want to be pregnant (every Tuesday evening when I remember in the morning I will have to have another IV put in, and hoping I will only have to be poked once or twice), focus on that moment.  The moment when you finally meet your little one.  Know also, you aren’t the only one and it doesn’t make you any less of a loving mama.

To those who visit me, sorry for the long silence.  The last half of December and first part of January have been a crazy time for our family.  I have started my myriads of doctor’s appointments and weekly IVIG visits to the hospital.  Also, my hubby is making a career change and that has been some chaos.  Then we had a snow storm, no internet for a couple weeks, now our laptop has decided to stop working.  Can’t a girl get a break?  With Kevin working from home now, that only leaves us one desktop computer.  It got pretty boring this week for treatment (9 hours with a book and t.v whahoo.)!!  Hopefully mr. laptop will be fixed soon and my online world will be reconnected (it has been some serious withdrawals!).  Thanks to all you who come by and visit.  I promise I will begin posting with regualrity again.

I saw this in a magazine and thought it was to good to keep to myself.  Isn’t it amazing what our kids can teach us?  People wonder why I want a handful of kiddies and I am always mistaken for being younger than I am….hhhhmmm

8 Eternal Truths We Can Learn From Tykes

1.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Even when there isn’t a prize in the box.

2.  Your world can be half-real and half-imaginary.

3.  If there’s even the slightest doubt, hit the potty before you leave.

4.  Homeworks blows.  Bring work home with you and it’ll ruin your night.  And your marriage.

5.  There’s a reason they don’t give credit cards to 8-year-olds.  You’re supposed to save up for a new toy.

6.  The coolest adults are the ones who listen.

7.  Adrenaline is the greatest drug.

8.  Rain isn’t something to curse but to enjoy.  Hurry up, before it clears.

by Mike Zimmerman and Duane Swierczynksi

Especially with the craziness of the season, take some cues from the little ones around you.  Have fun with life!  Your kids will think you are a pretty cool mom too:)

Tags: life • raising kids

Do you give yourself permission to relax?  I am a doer and it drives my hubby batty sometimes.  I cannot watch a movie without doing something else at the same time.  I feel so lazy when I am just watching t.v and doing nothing else.  These last few weeks I have been having to give myself A LOT of liberty to relax.  I think my laptop is getting kinda lonely.  Somedays, my sweet hubby has to give me permission and promise to clean or make dinner.  As moms in general we need to give ourselves the freedeom more often to care for ourselves.  When we are pregnant, this can mean the difference between being a nice pregnant lady, or a hormonal crazy lady.  Can you imagine all the energy your body needs to grow another person?  Make sure to take some time everyday to get a quick catnap or even to meditate for 10 minutes.  As my hubby told me today, we need a happy mommy so we have a happy baby.  Just think of it this way, when you are agitated or upset, the biochemical stuff in your body goes to the baby.  When you are happy, those endorphins go to the baby.  Wouldn’t you rather have a smiling baby then one that is always fussy?  Be kind to yourself, this is a time when your body really needs all the kindness it can get.  If you find it hard, I give you permission.  You can blame it on me.