Breast is best! No matter how you look at it!

The same argument almost daily on cafemom. I have been staying out of it because I am very confident in what I did for my children. I find most moms bad mouth breastfeeding because they feel guilty because they did not do it and they are jealous of people who stuck it out.

With Christina I was uneducated and had very little support. I want to breastfeed but I also had to go to high school. Unfortunately I did not know what I know now. Do I regret it? Yes I do. I could have gave her a better start in life. She was only 5 lbs and I think it would have made a big difference. I am not going to lie she was sick alot. She hardly ever gets sick now but she did when she was little. I wish I would have least tried harder at it and gave her the colostrum. I admit it I made a mistake. My child is smart but when I compare her to Avanelle at this age I think Avanelle catches on to things faster. She is never hardly sick. I hate comparing but I have one breastfed and one not. It's a good example of things.

With Avanelle I was very educated. I could care less about how much support I had. All I needed was my husband's support. He of course wanted me to breastfeed. He even tried to help me in the early days when I had no idea what I was doing. Thank goodness for some really nice nurses at MGH who showed me how and the lactation consultant. I could call her anytime and she was there to help me. The first 6 weeks were hard. They tested me but I was strong. I knew what I wanted to do and even though latching was tough at first I held on. I knew if I kept trying it would work. By the time I went back to work I was a pro. I also figured out how to breastfeed and sleep at the same time. Avanelle grew like a weed. She never had one cold. She crawled early and walked early. She knows all her abcs. Can put her name is order and numbers in order. She knows what opposites are. She is doing well with cutting and pasting. She also can read small words. She is probably ready for Kindergarten! She talks very very well. Some people have asked if she is five or six. She can sit and concentrate on one activity at a time. I bought her a leapster and you would not believe how much more she has learned. She can spell her name outloud and tell you her address. I am very impressed with my little girl.

Tina is very smart too. Like I said I hate to compare. Tina is doing very well in all her subjects and is getting very good grades. She is reading at a higher level then most kids her age. So Tina is smart too. I just have to say she could probably be smarter if I would have breastfed her. I have no problem admitting that. I am not perfect. I am proud of her. I told Tina that I wish I did breastfed her. Not only for the wonderful side effects but because it makes a bond that you cannot even get close to unless you breastfeed. I do not know how to describe it. I have a bond with Tina and it is strong. I just wish I would have had the breastfeeding bond. You cannot get that by formula feeding. It is not the same. Unless you have done it you will not know what I am talking about nor be able to understand it. I of course never told Tina this. When she is older and is having a baby I plan to encourage her too. I might try to explain the bond thing but I would not want to hurt her feelings. So it would matter.

Advantages to breastfeeding? Do I really have to go there? Probably because there are so many!

• Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies

• The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs

• Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)

• Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis

• Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets

• Reduced risk of childhood diabetes

• Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning), Ava has never had any of these!
  

• Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease

• Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.

• Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolits

• Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)

• Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision. Ava has perfect vision and said her first sentence at 1!
  

• Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))

• Reduced risk of heart disease later in life

• Increased bone density

• Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies

• Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers

• Antibody response to vaccines are higher

• Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life

• The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby's blood

• Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia

• Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis

• There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others

• Less risk of childhood obesity I could go on and on and on

Mother's benefits

• Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers

• Reduced risk of anemia

• Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life

• Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation

• Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores... can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.

• Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies

• Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child

• Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)

• Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations

• Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses

• Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding

My sister plans on breastfeeding and I am very proud of her. She is excited and cannot wait to have the baby so she can start. So in a nut shell breast is best. Those who say is it not must feel guilty or jealous. People that think it is nasty need to grow the hell up! It is natural and the best thing for every baby!

I start back to work Monday!

So I am sitting talking to my mother in law while she uses our washer and dryer. Anyway I get a text. Amber is making up the schedule for next month and she wants to know when I can start back. I told her Monday. So I guess Bob gave her an ear full for trying to screw me over on hours! Ha! I am so glad I have him in my corner. I will not let him down. I cannot wait to see the girls! Oh my gosh I have missed them. I love doing things with them and helping them. For me it is not just a job. It is a way to help other people. I love my job and I love my life!! Everything always works out!!!

On another note, I got my bed set for the baby yesterday. It is super cute! I am going to do a rocket theme. I have tons of ideas. I am going to get a stick on mural, re-paint, have the girls make a rocket chandelier, going to buy a rug, paint pictures for the nursery, and get everything set up and put together. It is going to be super nice. I cannot wait to share my pictures when it is done.

Randy is working really hard on the cradle. I went out there and he was working away! He has the base completly done. Now all he has to do is put it together. I am thinking he is going to be sent out for the crib wood really soon. Probably by this weekend. I never seen a more excited Daddy. He would have been excited about having another girl , but he is so glad we got what we wanted. If any man deserves a son it is him. He is a good hard working man that will teach his son how to be a real man. This world is very deprived of them. All you have to do is look at this town and you see unemployed lazy men. My son will not be one of those. All because he will have a great daddy! There is nobody else I would rather have a son with.

So life gets back to normal on Monday. I will have my routine back. Work two days a week and every other weekend. The perfect balance of work and home. Works for me!

In five months we will have a son! I cannot get over how the Shettles method works! I am passing the book along to a friend at work. She really wants a girl! Hopefully it works for her. Then she will have one of each! Life is great and cannot get any better! Family, job, and expecting more joy soon. I am just on cloud nine! Fantastic really!

Good things happen to good people!

I do not believe in a higher power. I believe this life is what you make of it. If you do good things and you are good people then good things will come to you. No higher power included in that. For instance, I am a good employee, I have done good things for the ladies I work for. Therefor, I get my job back. Once again no higher power involved in that. Just me doing the right thing and it getting recognized. I did not pray. I did not go to church. I just fought for what I thought was right. Now everything seems to be working out. I am so happy. I am so glad that life will be getting back to normal. With the help of me and my family. Nothing else. Randy knew everything was going to work out. He is going to tell me " I told you so". I have to admit he was right. Don't tell him this but he usually is. I tend to panic prematurely. I always try to prepare for the worse. Maybe that is because I am a planner. I am now going to have to plan to have 6 weeks off. I need to make sure my mortgage is paid. So I need about two months of mortgage saved back. This is how you stop yourself from having problems. You have to plan. Not wait til the worse happens. So I have five months to save 1600 dollars for my family to be secure while I am on maternity leave with the baby. I need to get on that. Randy and I need to talk about how to do that in the next few months. He will also be off work for a week in July we need to prepare for that too. This is how you stop yourself from loosing your house or having financial problems. God is not going to help. You need to help yourself. Stress has melted away!

Christmas

Well it has come and gone. I have to say I had the best time at Randy's mom. The girls got spoiled rotten. I mean they got everything they wanted from Grandma. She made us the best dinner and it was nice to joke around and be Merry. Everyone expressed how excited they are about the boy. The girls got to be their self and play and be noisy. Christina got sick by the end of dinner. We had to go home for the night and not get to see my dad. That really sucked. But overall what a great time! Peace and calm. That was really all I wanted this year.

Yesterday night we ventured out to Upper to see the lights. Oh my goodness beautiful. Not to mention cheap! Due to my work issue we need to watch our pennies. Zoolights for us was out of reach. But to tell you the truth I would rather be all warm in my car listening to Christmas Carols and eating some of my home-made goodies with my favorite girls and hubby.

You do not need to spend a fortune to have a great time. Things are probably going to be tight for a minute but we always land on our feet. My kids will always have their own roof over their heads and utilities and that is what matters. They will never go without. I will make sure of that. If I have to work at McDonald. Never will I let my kids go without or not have a roof of their own. I might have to go on unemployment but I have been paying into that my whole working career being on it for a couple of months will not hurt anything.

Today I am cleaning and trying to get organized. Randy spend the morning sick but he seems better now. He had headed out to the garage to continue on the baby's cradle. Everything will come together. I tell myself that everyday. We just have to continue to work hard and be good people. You reek what you sow.

Baby video

Christmas Eve

Today we used to go to Randy's families and open up presents. We do not do that anymore. We have adopted a new tradition. If the weather stays nice then we are going to go to Upper and see the lights. We are also having our own feast tonight. I am so excited. During Thanksgiving I was not able to eat. I will be able to today. So we are pretty much doing our own thing. Just think this time next year I will have a baby boy and my three girls at the table. Life is so wonderful!

We are having a boy!!!!!!!!!!!

That's our boy!!!!!!!! We are having our first and last boy!!!! I am over the moon!!! We are still in shock siting at home right now just trying to ground ourselves! We have a dvd to prove it is a boy! I seen it within the first couple minutes but I was afraid that it was not what I thought I saw. It was clear as day! Now I can stop having babies!! We are officially done! We got what we wanted and we are done! I cannot wait to start decorating the nursery! So ladies and gentlemen the Shettles method works!! I have the book if you want to borrow it lol!!!

Solstice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we celebrated Solstice. Last night the girls made cookies for Santa. We decorated them. Then we made Santa Clauses. Then, they opened up their one early present before Santa comes. It was matching pjs with their names on them. They got super excited put them on. They watched The Polar Express then went to bed. They woke up this morning and Santa had came! They loved all their presents.

Christina got, A DS, lite brite, ZuZu Pet set, A science pin thing, four games for her ds, Scary Story book, and stocking stuffers that included a zu zu pet, earrings, candy and necklace

Ava got, My little pony bag, my little pony set, Dora mermaid doll, Dora bingo game, two leapster games, leapster, big my little pony, tea set, and Lite Bright. She got stocking stuffers too, necklace zu zu pet, candy, necklace.

They were super happy. They got to playing right away. What a great day for them.

But the day only gets better, we are going to find out the sex of the baby today!!!! So excited!

Happy Winter!!!!!!!

Discrimination because I am pregnant!!!!!!

I was so mad today because finally the day I have been waiting for has come. I was able to finally go back to work and start helping our family financially. Well a huge bump in my plan happened. I called my boss let her know my return to work release was in her box. She then told me I would not be put back on the schedule because here in a few months I would need leave again. i would be on a "on call" basis. I was so mad. After four years with them I get treated like this. I have to beg four hours. Not sure what I am going to do. I guess try to work things out but if worse comes to worse then I will have to find another job. I cannot be wondering if I have the mortgage money this month. I have to have something steady. I still cannot believe I am being treated this way. After all the time I have in. I do not think this is legal. There has to be a law against it. I was on medical leave for only two months. I feel bad about that but there was nothing I could do about it. I was very sick. I am not even off the pump yet and I want to come back. This whole thing is crazy. I called Amber back and left her a message. I asked her if we could talk about this. If I do not get something by Tuesday next week I am calling the big boss Bob. You cannot treat people like this. You cannot discriminate over someone being pregnant. In a nut shell that is what they are dong. If I was anyone else on medical leave they would give me my job back. It's because i will have to be on medical leave again. Not right!

Find out the baby's gender Thursday!

We could not wait any longer. Not Randy and I but Linda and I. She is paying for my 3d ultrasound to be done! I will know before Christmas what I am having. I hope so bad it is a boy. Sorry but it is true. It is the one thing that will make my family complete. I will be less likely to get pregnant again. If it is not a boy then I can see me doing it again. I wonder if I will be able to sleep until then? I am so incredibly excited!! I know I should wait til the baby is bigger. Why? I want to know now! Plus I can show my dvd at Christmas. Everyone will get to see what I am having. Please Please let it be a boy. Please! For my health sake!

Cookies Candy, and fudge!!!!!!!!!

I can make some goodies! Every year I go nuts cooking. This year is no exception. I have sent my hubby out to buy all my cookie and candy supplies. The girls and I are going to do a couple kinds of cookies this week. I am going to make cookies and cream fudge, buckeyes, potato candy, double chocolate fudge and regular fudge. Yummy! I am going to bake and bake til I have enough to take over for Christmas day. I think having a nice tray of goodies will do everyone some good lol. I love making things for people. Especially when I am in my opinion a damn good cook. I always had trouble making things at other people's house. Mainly because I am a messy cook. Randy's family seems so organized and clean. My stuff is usually everywhere and I have to dig to find everything. But that is what a creative mind is like scattered. I am who I am and I love me. Some people might find me strange but really if you really know me then you will find me very normal. Everyone likes to have space and time. Either one is available when you cook with Randy's family. That is why I like to only cook at my house

. My sister might come over to cook with me and I am looking forward to that. She is just a joy to have around. I love my little sister like I love my children in so many ways. I worry about her like I worry about my children. It is hard not to since I was put in the mother role so many years ago. I know she is not my child but someone has to care about her how a mother should. We all know my mother does not have that in her. I hope at some point she sees things for what they are and gets out of the hell hole. I want her and my kids to be super close. I want to be Raelynns favorite Aunt. I am so excited to be an aunt again. I hope the baby has Kisten's looks though lol. We all know Cory is no looker!

My kids are hilarous!

Kids say the darnest things. Last night the girls took their shower then I told them before they went to bed they could hear their new brother or sister on my doppler. I got it out. I let each one of them try to find it on their own. When they could not find it then I found it. Both girls tried to talk into the speaker at the baby. I was laughing so hard. Ava thinks that she is having a baby too in two weeks! I let her try to find the baby on the doppler too. I am so glad my girls are getting excited. This is good. I was worried that there would be jealousy. But I think everything is going to be okay.

Randy is going out today to get the wood for my cradle. He is very excited about getting started. I cannot wait to see how well he does. He has always been handy with his hands. I am sure it is going to be beautiful. Just like everything else he has made. I love hubby very much so glad we are together and have a great family. I am so glad that we have a marriage where we can talk about anything. I see us old and gray together. Randy and I. Life is wonderful.

What has happened to Pride?

What happened to wanting to do things yourself and not accepting charity if you did not have to? What has happened to working hard and getting what you worked for? It seems like people in this town have gotten so far from that. I have such a hard time making friends with people around here because there is so much abuse of the welfare system. People are getting things and they have to be lieing about their income or situation.

I remember being on assistance. I was living off of 400.00 a month in cash and 300.00 in food stamps. I hated every minute of it. But I was going to high school, married and living in my own apartment. As soon as I graduated I started working at Tri-Rivers. I could not wait to start making money and doing my part to support myself. My husband at the time was doing close to nothing. He was in the national guard but got paid 70.00. a month. Which was not cutting it. He joined the active duty because I was so sick of being the only income. Even though we were trying to get ourselves out of our situation Welfare cut us off. Even after he was no longer active duty. I was going to school full time and had a part-time job. They wanted me to work for the cash I was eligible for. I asked them when would I have the time to do it? I was barely home . now. Jeff then went permanent active duty. We had no choice. The money and the help was running out. We made some tough decisions that ultimatley helped with the destruction of our marriage (among other things).

Anyway back to my complaining. I feel that people should be forced to try harder to be independent. I think both parents should be forced to work in order to receive assistance. I think there should be a level of trying to get off of it. Especially when there is someone in the home not trying and not working when they can. There is daycare assistance too. Then when you are on your feet you should be off of it. I think if there was an amount of time you could be on assistance people would try harder to stay off. I am not talking about people with disabilities here or the elderly. I am talking about people that are young and are perfectly capable of working. People that choose to be on assistance because they refuse to do their part for their family. This causes the harder working people to pay for them. Yes I am paying for you if you are on assistance. A percentage of my income is deducted for your lazy ass to remain on welfare. If you are not trying you should feel ashamed! It is not my job to provide for your family. It is yours!

What amazes me it people that have health care but yet use medicaid. If you have health care available to you then you should not be receiving medicaid. Not even for a secondary insurance. Randy and I struggle but yet we have to do it on our own. Plus we have pride. We want to do it ourselves!!!!!!! We do not want help. If it needs done then maybe I need to pick up some more hours or he does. No one seems to feel that way anymore. It is all about getting things for free or having someone else pay for it. It is wrong! Medicaid is there for the poor not for someone who is making 35,000 a year and has health insurance at their job! Bullshit! It's not there for you!

I am so glad Randy and I have pride. We do not accept charity. We do not borrow money. We make it on our own. Our parents do not bail us out. The government does not bail us out. We are responsible for our family. Not the government. More people need this attitude.

Tina's Christmas program!

My goodness!! Tina was so awesome last night! She did so well singing and I got so many great pictures. I almost cried from beginning to end. Then when she sung a whole song in sign language the tears would not stop. I am such a baby. Avanelle loved seeing her sister perform she danced and swayed the whole time. My girls are natural performer lol. What a great night! She even had a singing part! I loved hearing her. She has a beautiful voice!

I cannot wait til all three of my kids are in school and I am going to three performances! Going to be a blast! Running around seeing and taking pictures.Me crying at every performance. I love having family and my kids are the best! Hands down!

The Grinch Alert , My take on it.

What is more Christian then hurting businesses and trying to dominate the holiday season. I mean Christians are the only ones that have holidays this time of year. Nobody else matters. Besides everyone in this nation is Christian and thinks exactly the same as them. Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are other holidays this time of year. Ever heard of Kwanzaa or Hanukkah? Or even New Years? Yes there are other holidays! Imagine that not everyone is Christian for a minute. Wait it's true not everyone is Christian!

Now I get to my actual point. I had to be a little sarcastic no fun if I was not. There is this Grinch Alert List where Christians can go to this website and add businesses that do not say Merry Christmas or have Christian decorations. This is to alert people to not shop there because they are taking Christ out of Christmas. How is this helpful? What does this accomplish? I will tell you what it does. It divides people. It hurts businesses and for what? Because someone did not say Merry Christmas! How childish does that sound? Have we heard of the word Tolerance?

My main problem with this whole site and whole thing is that this group of Christians are being egocentric. They think since they believe a certain way then everyone does. Then if for some reason someone does not do what they want then they can throw a two year old tantrum. Which is now the Grinch Alert site. What does this solve? I think stores will do what they want and the cashiers will still do what they think is right or what is in the store's policy.

What is the big picture? Well this site will cause people to boycott the businesses. Especially the ones that follow this Christian belief. It will divide people. People will argue over this and there will be division among friends, family and co- workers. I thought Christians united people, gave to the poor and brought communities together? Well this year they have forgotten those ideas. This year this group of Christians want to be childish and petty over a phrase! Seriously grow up Dallas Baptist Church and everybody else who wants to ruin the Holiday "spirit" or feeling! Let's stop this nonsense and get back to celebrating this great holiday season with our families.

When I hear "Happy Holidays", I hear, I all the holidays of the season united in one phrase. I hear someone respecting that I might not exactly celebrate Christmas. I might be Jewish or some other religion. I feel at peace. No fighting or someone getting angry. I feel tolerance that this is not a complete Christian country. I love it and I love hearing it. No idea how this could be anti-Christian. Oh then again everything is suppose to be about them all the time! Sorry I fogot. They are a bit egocentric.

Let's get rid of this Grinch Alert! Let's be thankful people are nice enough to wish our family well. Semantics have no place! Let's be united!! We are in fact the United States? Regardless or religion or what holiday we celebrate. Or whether we wish someone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.


So Happy Holidays to my family to yours! We hope you have joy in your heart and ignore all this craziness and enjoy your family!

Winter is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My kids got new boots and new snow pants today. I am hoping that soon we can take them sledding. We are looking at Christmas break. It was so cold today, only in the teens. They could only stand five minutes and they wanted back in. I do not blame them I am not a big winter fan.

I do however love to see them play in the snow and be kids. My goal has always been to let them be kids while they can. I am not afraid of them getting cold and getting sick. We all know that is a myth anyway. Kids can get cold and not get a cold. My kids hardly ever get sick and I think it is because I let them be around germs. They have a strong defense system.

Next year I will have to only let Randy or have someone watch the baby so we can go winter hiking. I am not well enough this year for it but next year I hope to take the girls. They really loved it and I get such great pictures. I love pictures lol.

Winter pictures

Click here to view these pictures larger

Avanelle's Birthday!!!! She is three!!!

Avanelle had her birthday Saturday. It was small because I am still not 100%. I get tired easy and still getting sick when I over do it. She got a doctor kit from grandmas and from Aunt Amy. Randy made her some Dora cupcakes. She loved them! I wish I would have been more organized and planned better but I have been sick and the last two months have sucked!

Looking over the last three years, Avanelle has become an incredible child. She knows all the letters of her name. She can count to 20 and put numbers in order 1-10. She can count in Spanish and Chinese. She knows so much for being three. She is my little helper and my little screamer. She keeps me on my toes and she is the sweetest little girl. She is going to preschool next year and I am so happy. She is growing up. Next year she is going to be a big sister. She is so excited. She too think she has a baby in her belly. I cannot wait to see her reaction to a new baby. I have been a mother to this amazing child for three years. I am so grateful and glad I have her.