Dear Parent

Dear parent of young children,

As a nurse there are a few things I would appreciate your help with when you bring your child to see a nurse or doctor. Here's the list:

1) Do NOT tell your child "Oh, you're going to hate this." Or any variation of this statement. Telling your child that they are going to hate a finger stick for a hemoglobin check, having their blood pressure taken, or getting a vaccine DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION! In fact it increases the fear your child has and makes it a lot more traumatic than need be. Not to mention, it makes the nurses mad that you are telling your child to hate them or what they are doing.

2) Be honest with your child. If they are coming in for a vaccination, tell them before you get to the office. Yes, they will be upset, but they are often more upset if you spring it on them last minute.

3) Please refrain from telling your child "It won't hurt". Let's be honest, that shot I am about to give your child is going to hurt. While you think telling this to your child helps, it just makes them think you and the nurse are liars when the shot does hurt. They remember this when they come in for future visits whether they are getting poked then or not. Instead, tell him or her "It will be over really fast." or "I know this hurts but it will keep you healthy."

4) Please help hold and comfort your child. It helps ease the stress and also makes nurses not seem like so much the "bad person".  Your child needs properly held while having their finger poked or receiving a shot.  When you stand 3 feet from the table and don't help hold your child, someone is likely to get hurt and your child is probably going to be more upset. Hold their hand and talk calmly to them please.

5) Lastly, for Pete's sake, bring your diaper bag with you to an appointment. If you know you are coming to a well child visit, and your child will be weighed, or that there is a possibility your diaper wearing child will load their pants in our office, BRING YOUR DIAPER BAG. We don't have diapers just laying around for children to be changed.


Thanks in advance for your help with these steps to make your child's visit to the doctor or nurse a more pleasant experience for all involved.

Wordless Wednesday

Balance

For as long as I can remember, I've been struggling to find a way to balance work, housework, time with Chris, time with Carson, and time for myself.  Obviously this is hard to do considering I am gone for work until at least 5:00pm weekdays, Carson's bedtime is 8pm, Chris goes to the gym from 6:30-9pm most nights, and I am ready for bed by 9:30.

 Without getting up at 4am everyday, I'm not sure that it will ever totally happen, but I am going to try. Here's my solution *hopefully*

-I am going to "schedule" myself to do one or two house chores every night, so as not to put it all off completely, but also so it is not all on one day.
-I will have my "me time" from 8-9pm while Carson's asleep, and Chris is working out at the gym.
-I am going to really try to make more meals up ahead of time and have them ready to just pop in the oven or whatever when I get home. Less time in the kitchen = more time with my boys.


Three simple things that hopefully will help get some balance back in my life.

Why am I here?

The past couple of days I have sat here and questioned my blogging over and over again.

 Often I sit and wonder... Why do I blog? Does anyone actually read this? Does it really matter what I say?

I've come to this conclusion. I blog for me. Not for my family, not for my friends. For me. I may not devote time to it every day, but when I have something to say or to share, I put it out there for whoever to see.  Blogging is my mental therapy I suppose.

Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I am a very high strung person. Typically I'm the smiling, hyperactive one. Truth is though, I worry about everything. Regardless of if it effects my life directly or not. I worry about things in the past, the present and the future. Lately my worrying has been pushed over the edge by my pregnancy and hormones. It's become more of a depressive state than an anxious state.  I'm defensive, angry, cranky, and so much more. I've let my appearance go. I've pushed my husband and friends away and alienated myself from them. I have to stop that.

I will make more time for my blogging. More time for friends. More time for my husband. But most importantly,  I will make more time for me and my mental health.

Chris is probably going to read this and give me heck for putting it out there for everyone. I don't care. Whether anyone reads this or not, I feel better now that it's off my chest!  If I say it on here I have to keep it up right?!

20 Week Update!

As of today, I am 20weeks, 2 days. Here's the run down of what's going on in my world!

Weight gain: 4 pounds

Food aversions: None

Morning sickness: Practically gone!

Appetite : Increasing

Cravings: Potatoes, Caramel 

Clothes: Starting to get snug. I am wearing maternity pants (even though my regular jeans still fit!)

Sleeping: Insomnia from 345-6 every morning!.

Bellybutton: Still in

Backaches: Every Day

Heart Burn: Not terrible but definitely increasing

 Movements: Finally starting to feel little kicks!
 

Gender: IT'S A BOY!

Name: We have one picked, I think!

Next appointment: Mid February, 23 1/2 weeks :)

Looking Forward To: Buying more little boy stuff!

 

19 weeks! Baby gender poll!

Crazy to think that I am almost halfway through this pregnancy! Where does the time go?!? So in 6 days we will find out the sex of baby #2. I'm curious to see what people think it will be.

To help you (maybe), here's my responses to some old wive's tales:

Sleeping position: Right side (but that's pretty usual for me!) so that's one point for GIRL.

Necklace over stomach/hand: back and forth, so that's a point for BOY.


Skin on hands: VERY dry lately, so one more point for BOY.

Morning Sickness: horrible from week 6 to week 17, somewhat better lately. So that's one more for GIRL.

Leg Hair: growing like crazy, so one more for BOY.

Baby's Heartrate: it's been over 140 every visit except the first one at 9 weeks, so that's another one for GIRL.

Cravings: more salty foods than sweet, so that's BOY.

Mayan Odd/Even Theory: both were even, so that's one more for GIRL.

Chinese Prediction: Says BOY


Hard to tell by the old wives tales. I really don't have a feeling either way. So what's your predictions????

Here's my bump at 16 weeks if it helps your guess!

2013...A year of change!

2013 shall be a year of change for us. We will welcome a new family member in June, and hopefully sell our house later this year too!

First off, we will be updating parts of the house to make it 'market ready'. We've been in this house for 7 years. It's where we spent our wedding night, welcomed our first born child, and made countless memories. We've simply outgrown this space.

In addition to hopefully selling our house and upgrading our living space, we will welcome a new blessing to our family in early June. I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant and eagerly awaiting January 21st when we find out our baby's gender!

With all of that said, being pregnant makes it hard to make resolutions! I generally don't make resolutions, but this year I have a couple.

1)  Keep better track of my spending. I seriously NEVER write down anything in my checkbook register. I get online once a week or so, make sure stuff's cleared, and just go on with life.  This year I want to keep track better. I want to know where my money is going and see where we can be saving money.  I think having an iphone will help this, as I can get an app that is at my fingertips anytime I need it!

2)  I want to run a 5k this year. I wanted to last year, but it just didnt work out. This year is the year. I WILL DO IT! As soon as the doctor releases me to exercise after baby is born, I will be hitting the pavement and getting ready for my first 5k! If hubs can do triathlons or a marathon, I can surely make the effort to do a 5k with him :)



Two relatively simple things to do, 12 months to accomplish them....I got this!