Quick Snack/Dinner: Egg Sandwiches

Forgot about dinner last night!  So, at 10:30, I finally realized that I was hungry.. and also remembering that I made a promise to myself to be more healthy, I didn't just grab cereal!

 

Olive Oil to brown the bread

 Yum!

Mushrooms!!!

Sauteed mushrooms in olive oil, black pepper, and a tiny bit of sea salt

New eggs :)

And it was delicious!

AP: What the heck is that?

*This is in no way a judgement of 

those who practice AP parenting!*  

Just my reflection on my own parenting

The first time that I saw "AP dad", or "AP mom", my first thought was... "What is AP?"  And what's with all of these new terms that keep coming out that you need a slang dictionary for!  ISO (in search of), DIY (do-it-yourself), I thought DIY was a store!  So, here we go again.. another "slang" term for, what's AP again?  So, on to this website to research the newest addition to initials that I needed to learn, to be able to understand my friends, and I find Attachment Parenting.  OK, I've heard of this before.. it's psychology terms, like authoritative versus permissive parenting!  But then I learn that the term is being sponsored, represented by super-moms and dads, blogged about, and getting waves of attention as the best way to parent a baby.  

Hold up here for a second!  

People have been parenting this way for centuries!  And now, all of a sudden, it's been given a label and put on a pedestal for parents as a guideline and comparison tool.  What happened to parents following their heart, and doing what comes naturally to them.  As long as the kid is safe?  Not anymore!  Now it's keep the kid safe, constantly be in contact with them, preferably skin-to-skin, and only positive reinforcement allowed.  And people are actually following these as "rules"; step-by-step, actual directions!  I have seen competitions on blogs where they are trying to find the best AP parent.  It's not enough anymore to make it through the day with a little spit-up on your shirt; I need to clean the house, cook some home-made muffins for after my home-made dinner, and make some home-made playdoh, all while "wearing" my baby.  And forget about those muffins now that they're in the stove!  My baby is crying, so I need to ignore the fire alarm and feed her ASAP!  Now, maybe the majority of people don't actually follow this 100% and allow a little room for the burning muffins, but I'm telling you, I have seen these parents!  And like I said at the beginning, this is no judgment on their part- I say "good for them!" if they can do this!  

Here's why AP just isn't for me:
- I was not ever able to breastfeed.  
- I was not able to go through a natural birth.  
- I was sticking a pacifier in my daughter's mouth so she would go back to sleep, instead of feeding her 3-4 times, at night.  
- I don't take baths, and I feel awkward about joint-baths.. have my kid see me naked, even though she won't remember it?  No thanks.
- I only have a baby, but I have a feeling that when my child is throwing a temper tantrum I'm not going to be able to just sit there and come up with a solution; yes, they are expressing an emotion, no, it is not the right way to express that emotion.  
- And lastly, I don't wear my baby 24/7.  I work, I cook, and I clean, all with her doing her own thing.  She has her toys, and she fusses sometimes too, but I'm okay with that.  She is learning to entertain herself, soothe herself, learns that yes I will eventually come back to save her, and it allows a little excitement in her eyes and smile when I do come back for her.  She has learned that if she's hungry, I'll put her down in a certain spot and go through a specific set of motions, and she goes from crying because she's hungry to smiling and watching me, because she knows what I am doing!

If you want to baby-wear, breastfeed 24/7, and make home-grown home-made dinners and desserts every day, more power to you.  I'm just happy I kept myself sane, and my daughter fed and cleaned, today without a total melt down on her part!

Wow, Yummy Fresh Start!

Yesterday marks the first day of another fresh start to eating healthy!  A few years ago, I was cooking all of my meals, wholefoods, vegetables, brown rice, etc..  Then I got into the bad habit of processed foods and junk; becoming pregnant a few months after this started didn't help either because of my exhaustion, and the energy it took to even cook a meal!  So, what is this oh so yummy meal I cooked myself tonight?

Salmon
Veggies
Potatoes

The salmon was cooked at 400degrees for 15 minutes (probably a little too long, it was a bit dry).  I marinated it in lemon, and covered in a bit of black pepper before I stuck it in the oven.

While this was cooking, I got 2 pots of water boiling, and added green beans and corn to one, and cubed/diced/sliced into squares, whatever cooking term you want to use, sweet potatoes to the other.
I have never tried sweet potatoes before, except for the fries which (in my opinion) were just gross!  So I wasn't really excited to try them, but I know they're so good for you I couldn't pass them up.  I have to be honest, I didn't try them flavorless.. I got out a mixing bowl and added honey and agave syrup, black pepper and a bit of sea salt to the diced sweet potatoes.  MMMMM yum!

The corn and green peppers only had a bit of black pepper and sea salt added to them and they're always good.

My portions, as you can see in the picture, were a little off because I wanted to be sure I had enough veggies left over for seconds!!

(last night I also made a semi-good for you meal..)
Pasta- not so good, since it was packaged
Salad with pineapple and cottage cheese- not so good with ranch dressing and croutons
and Salmon- not so good from a can

I'm looking forward to this 2nd new beginning!

Blog has been Down!

My blog has been down due to technical difficulties!  New blog coming tomorrow!!
Thank you

Since she's been Out

   Since Adalyn was discharged back on October 10, we have been through some major changes. 
First, we moved her from the hospital to my parents' home.  After being in the hospital for 117 days, this was a major change for her, and she showed it!  I think she cried a few hours every day for a week straight, and would not take her bottle without trying for 2 hours first.  In the first two days, she lost a couple of ounces; if she kept losing, we would have to go back to the hospital.  Luckily, she decided to cooperate a bit and gained it back a few days later.  Next, a few weeks later, Jason and I bought a house so we moved her again!  Being in the car, and changing the environment around her proved, and still proves to be tiring and upsetting to her.  She's getting better with it, but after traveling or visiting others at their houses, she is usually extremely fussy the next day.  Either from not sleeping while she was there, or because she doesn't know what's going on when we keep bringing her from place to place.  I wish I knew what was going on in her head!
   For about the first month since we had her home, she would cry pretty much everyday around 6pm; I would later learn that this is what colic is.  But, every day, I would try to figure out what she wanted.  And it was different every time.  One day she would want a bottle, the next day she wanted to be held, the next day she would want to be held but walked around with; and usually if she wanted a bottle, you had to try every 15 minutes until she would take it!  I can't express to you how happy I was to finally figure her out.. I learned her cries (she never cried in the hospital, because they force fed her through a feeding tube every 3 hours.. but more on that later!), her tired cry versus her hungry cry, and then even just her mad cry.  And we learned that when she cries at night, it's because she wants another bottle even though she just ate an hour beforehand.  So, no more crying!!
   Adalyn started to hate belly-time, then like it again; she started lifting her head up, and then eventually she could stabilize it on her own; she could only look to the right, and then she learned to move her head as she followed toys and people; when she was mad she would flip herself from her back to her stomach, and now I am currently watching her struggle to do it on purpose!  She kicks and bounces and sings along when she gets excited as a cartoon called "Dinosaur Train" comes on; she likes her bottle!  I think I cried the day that she actually got excited when I started putting her bib on her, and she grabbed her bottle.  That was such a struggle in the hospital, it took her 5 weeks to eat before they could discharge us, and I thought she would never enjoy eating!  When I took her bottle away because it got clogged, she would flip out; now, I take it out to unclog it and she watches me do it and waits for me to give it back to her.  It's completely amazing to watch her learn and develop.
   I'd like to write a few more blogs about my struggles, coming into my own as a mom; learning to express myself; learning to stand up for myself and Adalyn against others, even and especially family; talking to the doctors about meeting in the middle of their expertise and my opinions as a mother.

Pictures of the past 3 months, since she got out of the hospital, coming soon!  Check back again later!

Organization Part 2

To expand on my earlier post, Organizational Starters, I have some additional pictures

(I have no idea why this picture loads upside down!!)

The silverware drawer had an organizer in it when we moved in, but there was so much dust/food leftover in the cracks that I threw them away!  I found these bamboo trays to store them in.. Next, this drawer:

.......

Entry Way Part 2

The tubs weren't working, as you can see on the left.. everything just ended up on top.  So I moved the tub upstairs to the closet, and brought the baskets down!  

Adalyn's room: We were using plastic totes for her clothes, and the bureau was being used downstairs for her toys, diapers, etc..  the bureau has been replaced with 31 storage totes, and her clothes are now in Jason's bureau that he has had since he was a little boy.

 How cute is this Winter Gear storage container! 

I can finally put up some of her room decorations- there are no shelves in Adalyn's room, but now I have a flat surface!

One section of the closet!  From piles of clothes to totes and hangers..

Another side of the closet.. we took off all of the doors, too, so that it's one open room now instead of 4 different closets in a room

My storage totes from 31 (thirty-one) and my bureau helped clean up all of my clothes

I have decided to use a hanger until I find better storage for scarves and belts.. I've seen that shower rings on a hanger actually work really well, so maybe I'll look into that!

.....

More 31 (thirty-one) bags for storage in the playroom- holds Adalyn's toys, diapers, bottles, and our DVD's

 And lastly, here are some more pictures in the playroom that we hung a few weeks ago.  They make it feel more like home in here!

Again, thank you for your feedback and comments/ideas

Please follow my page, and like me on facebook!

MY AMAZON

I love Amazon, it has to be my go-to spot for anything before I buy anything anywhere.  Check out some of the amazing deals that it offers!

http://astore.amazon.com/httpsidewalkc-20

Organizational Starters

I have a few pictures of the things I've done to my new home to make it more convenient.  There's not a lot of shelving in the house, so we've had to improvise to store our things.  Also, more pictures coming, my camera's flash creates blurry images!

 These two pictures aren't really "Before and Afters" because it doesn't show all of the books on the ground!  I just switched the two locations so that the board games could be in the "playroom" instead of the dining room.  So the books went on the built-in shelves, and board games on the bookshelf!

Every room in this house has wallpaper in it.  I love the dining room and the playroom, hate the rest (no offense to the people living here before us, we love you guys!).  So I wanted to see how hard it was to take up wallpaper so we can start painting, and I'll feel more comfortable/at home, in my own home.  The hallway was too easy!  I guess it wasn't glued down.. so I took it ALL off!  Now we have another 4 months to wait until we can paint.. whoops!

 The laundry room had no shelving.. #1 priority in my book for this house, and that's what we did!  Laundry detergent now has a place to be!

 There are no windows in the kitchen like I'm used to.. so instead of a window, I put a picture frame above the sink so it's a friendlier area.. Maybe have shelves coming in to this spot instead later in the year, for more storage space, but we'll see.  For convenience with washcloths and drying rags, I hung our old key ring (which we exchanged for a newer one with a shelf, for hand sanitizer) right above the sink.

 Part 1 of the "Entry way" organization... fail!  First there was a bench seat to put the stuff in.. it didn't get used.  Next, a tub, which I guess doesn't get used either (it's supposed to be for Jason's work stuff when he gets home so he can just take his work gloves, hats, etc off).. So, we bought a coat rack!  Step 2.. instead of a tub which has drawers that need to be opened to put stuff in it, I'm going to bring down my baskets from upstairs.  That way he can just throw his hats and gloves in the baskets!

See: Organization Part 2

Lastly, the walls in the playroom have very colorful wallpaper, but didn't feel like home.  I don't have a good before picture for this room, but as you can see, we exchanged the bureau for the bookshelf with games.  We also hung some pictures to make the room more comfortable, it's so much better, I feel like it's ours now!

Stay tuned for the better pictures of other updates we have done to our home, and what we plan to do in the next year still!

Please comment below for any organizational tips you may have in an older home with no bookcases, shelves, little wall space (lots of windows!) and little cupboard space in the kitchen!
Thanks!

Never Let Go

This is amazing for people who are wondering what premature babies, especially micro-premies, like Adalyn go through or have the potential to go through
Here's a sneak-peek:
"The biggest fear was intraventricular hemorrhage: bleeding in the brain. Vessels could burst from the stress of delivery or a surge in blood pressure. Blood could clot, causing pressure to build. Brain tissue could die, destroying the capacity for movement, language, learning. A bad enough brain bleed would mean taking her off life support.
Her intestines were vulnerable to infection and rupture. In times of stress, the body diverts blood to the brain and heart first, the gut last. A lack of circulation could make her belly distend and turn black. Her intestines could die, poisoning her from the inside.
The ventilator kept her alive, but the pressure stretched her tiny air sacs, scarring her lungs. A surge in pressure — from aggressive resuscitation, for example — could burst the air sacs. Too much pressure in the blood vessels could fill the lungs with blood, drowning her.
Antibiotics to ward off infection could shut down the kidneys. Oxygen to keep her alive could make her blind. Narcotics to keep her comfortable could make her an addict."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/article1264963.ece

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: {Free Printable} Keeping Records for Entertaining

THIS IS AN AMAZING IDEA!  Store your family and friends' allergies, likes, dislikes, and what you have previously fed them so as to not serve them the same meal twice!


The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: {Free Printable} Keeping Records for Entertaining:
There is a place to write each guest or family's name, their likes and dislikes, and allergies.

Also, I have an irrational fear of feeding people the same meal twice.  So the printable has a place to record what meals you've served each family or guest.

She's Out!!

2012- OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

This is Annabel!  She is a month older than what Ady is SUPPOSED to be, but instead Adalyn is 2 months older than her!

Adalyn met her cousin (2nd) Jaidyn!  Ady was not being cooperative at all, but I was actually able to match her outfit to Jaidyn's because I had the same onesie.. kids' worst nightmares when they're older, looking through albums, right!?

Adalyn met some of the pets when she came home from the hospital.  Onyx was so jealous/loved Ady that she came over and laid right on her!

Emma unfortunately passed away about 2 hours after we arrived home.  She had been sick with cancer for a few months, and was not able to even lift her head.  My parents were nice enough to delay putting her down for a day so that she could meet Ady.  Instead of bringing her to the vet though, Emma died at home surrounded by everybody

Chloe didn't know what to think!

Jason's Great-Aunt TT came to visit- I believe that she is around 88 years old?!?

One of the neighbors stopped by for a visit!!

We made it home, on discharge day October 10, and visited with family!

Grandparents can finally hold Adalyn!

2012- VISITORS IN THE NICU/CCN

Loretta came to visit Adalyn!  She brought along her two babies, Andreas and Aaliyah; I call them her adopted BFF's.. these little twins were born about 2 months early, a week before Ady was born!  

Our friend, Paula, that we met at the Ronald McDonald House came to visit, and took lots of pictures of "Miss Ady"!

Paula's little girl, Kylie, went through a kidney transplant and has been receiving treatments ever since; they travel a couple of hours every week, and stay for a few days up to a week at a time!

For her 8th birthday, Kylie requested that everybody bring in donations for the kids at the RMH, and has started collecting soda can tabs.  The Ronald McDonald House exchanges these tabs for money, which goes towards maintenance, so that families can continue to stay close to the hospital.  What an amazing little girl!

September 13- Uncle Mat has been there since my first early delivery scare- today is the first time that he held his niece!

She looks so tiny in his arms!

September 12- Adalyn's Great-Grammie visits, from Florida!

In the CCN, Ady's Nana, Grampa, and Grammie can finally hold Adalyn!

In the NICU, my parents couldn't hold Adalyn.. they went through more than 2 months only being able to touch her hand

LIFE IN THE NICU/CCN

2012- LIFE IN THE NICU/CCN

October 10- DISCHARGE DAY (Day 117)  9lbs 2oz

Pretty outfit for the special day

Clean hospital room.. you don't realize how much stuff you accumulate over 4 months, until you try to pack it all in boxes and bags!

Ready to go home!

One more size comparison before we leave the hospital... look how small that onesie looks now!!










October 9

Adalyn worked so hard since yesterday, it's nap time for her!
No more feeding tube, and tomorrow is discharge day!!

 Goodnight!















October 7

Hanging out with mommy and daddy on the couch, she decided she didn't want to take a nap all day!














October 4

Belly time.. she decided she didn't want to work!











October 3

Preparing for possible discharge in the next week, Adalyn took her carseat test!  I told the doctors that if she was ready to be discharged, and then failed her carseat test I wouldn't be able to handle it.. so please do it now!

I guess the carseat test bored her...















October 2

Adalyn had a brain MRI today.  Because we are past her due date, and she still isn't happily eating from her bottles, the doctors want to rule out anything that might be wrong such as connections in the brain that aren't happening due to her being a 24/25 weeker.
The results were amazing; doctors actually stated that "Adalyn is the reason that we save 24 and 25 week old babies, for the chance of someone like her"!  I knew that we were lucky with her, and her health, but I didn't know that she would be doing so well.. they would not have been able to tell that she was a premie from her brain scan, at all!





October 1

Miss Acrobatic was swinging her legs every which way while she was sleeping

September 29

"1 day old" after 105 days in the hospital!









September 26

She didn't want to be swaddled, apparently!

She tore that feeding tube right out of her nose.. she's done it before, but only a few inches.. this time she got it all the way out!














September 25

Hardest baby to keep in a swaddle!

Aw tired baby

Heart ultrasound for an update on her murmur











September 23

Lets go Patriots!











September 19

Princess Dress that Ady's Nana picked out















September 17

Green is not her color!

She started up where the hat is...











September 16

Happy 3 months!  Only 12 more days until her "due date"










September 12

Ady's first time in a swing.  Just like everything else, she seemed indifferent and just relaxed for the ride














September 11

Little angel face

Is this the same baby as above!?  Chubby belly hanging out, and a little upset










September 9

Over 6 lbs while I was gone away to camp

She hangs out with us now that she's off of Oxygen















September 7

Her first day without Oxygen!  (Again, but for good!)










September 5

She's definitely starting to get baby chunky!

Bath time!











August 28

Less than 2 months ago, the premie onesie with dog paw prints on it looked HUGE next to Adalyn; now it looks so tiny, and the Newborn onesie fits!

August 27

5 Pounds!!












Adalyn drying off after her first bath

Ady's first bath!  She enjoys pushing her belly out, and she actually liked the bath










August 25

I wish I could be so comfy sleeping with my arms up like this!

August 24

Adalyn's first bottle!  She ate it all!

 Tired after her hard work, eating her bottle

Isn't she just so cute!

Little angel baby face











August 21

Another big day for the little girl, first day in a bassinet!!

A little scared of her surroundings without the walls of her isolette around her  :(














August 19

Busy busy girl, we were transferred to the CCN!











August 18

Adalyn's last day in the NICU!











August 17

Big worried eyes??















August 16

Happy 2 months!











August 14

A few rare minutes with nothing on her face











August 10

August 9

Size Comparison: Newborn Onesie

That onesie that was way too big for her a month ago?  It fits!!















August 6

Adalyn decided that her side was most comfortable today










August 3

She's finally 3 lbs!!











August 2

She looks so big with footie PJs on!

Little Clown PJs

Learning to hold her pacifier by herself, such a smart baby girl










July 29

So aware of everything that's going on

July 28

One of Jason's Aunts made Adalyn a duck hat, so we call this Ady's ducky day!  Isn't she a cute duck?

July 27

Adalyn's First Onesie!!

July 25

Leg Stretches

July 22

"Vogue-ing" or Little Baby Stretches!?

July 21

Meditating??











July 20

Another funny position!











July 19

How cute is she today!

July 16

Happy 1 Month!!
















July 15

Adalyn's 1st Piece of Clothing!












July 12

More funny positions

After almost 4 weeks, Adalyn reached, and passed, 2 lbs today!!









July 11

Her mouth has been open like this pretty much all day...  weird baby!

Had to make a request to a nurse, more than once, for the first time.  Usually they are so good at responding, but her feeding tube was crooked all day, and I believe the cause of her keeping her mouth open

Looked like her foot was swollen; after keeping an eye on it for the day, the swelling went down with no issues











July 10

 Size comparisons:  Premie Onesie

Size Comparisons: Water Bottle!












July 9

 Oh the positions you find Ady sleeping in!

July 7

Adalyn is so expressive with her face already!

Happy Birthday Uncle Mat!










July 5

Ady was put back on oxygen after 10 hours of breathing on her own.  But at least it's just "room air", and not CPAP!















July 3

 At 17 days old, Adalyn was off of Oxygen/CPAP!

She stayed completely off Oxygen for 10 hours, breathing on her own!











June 30

So comfy












June 29

Climbing out of her "boundaries" again
















June 27

The only way that we could comfort or have contact with Ady for a while.  Because she was so early and little, we could only hold her once a day; however, she had glucose issues so there would be days to a week at a time when Adalyn wasn't getting held.

Peeking out at the noises she hears












 June 26

 A PIC Line was put in Adalyn's leg due to her IV's needing a more permanent solution, instead of switching lines every 3 days.  Her arms and legs were running out of spots for the nurses to use, and it would take 3-4 tries to get an IV in successfully, after an hour of poking.  My dad couldn't watch because Ady would be crying, at only a few days old..  The line was taken out less than 2 days later because Ady got an infection, and the doctors needed to rule out the PIC line as the source.  After the infection cleared, they would need to put the PIC line back in.  Luckily, when it cleared the next day, she no longer needed the IV fluids!

Adalyn was known as the Wiggle Worm of the unit, constantly climbing out of her bed!










June 23

 Adalyn opened her eyes for the first time!  She was trying so hard since we held her a few days before!












June 20

 The first time, at 4 days old, that we could hold Ady!  She was SO tiny, I was afraid to move

June 19

Adalyn grabbed my finger, and Jason got a great picture!









June 18

 Adalyn was put under blue lights to prevent jaundice

Nurses need to have signs on doors telling parents what's going on with their babies!  I thought something was wrong with her until they told me about jaundice.. (Nurses in the NICU are the greatest and become like family while you're there)









June 17

Adalyn was born on June 16, 2012 at 9:51pm









She weighed 1lb 13oz (and I learned later that they round up, so she was actually 1lb 12oz)

 Ady was only 13 inches long, half of which was her long legs!








Pregnancy Pictures

 The day after I found out I was pregnant, on February 2- I was wondering why I started to gain weight!

 5 months pregnant!

 She was all curled up right by my belly button, something she did often.  Of course, I didn't know that she was a she yet!

24 weeks pregnant, on bed rest in the hospital- this was the biggest that I got, 15lbs heavier