Bedtime routine update:

Well, last night did not go exactly as planned but it was a step in the right direction.

I got home from a meeting & Jake tells me that Jace stuck something in his ear. Well, CRAP! So I start questioning him & he says it hurts "weally weally bad mama, right here" (points at right ear). Well my mom just so happened to be working last night (she's a nurse) so I took him down to the hospital & had her look. Indeed he has a bulging ear drum and it was bright red. I contemplated taking him over to the E.R. & checking him in, but they had just received patients that were in a roll over accident. So I came home, grabbed Brily & headed up to Urgent Care.

I really was really impressed with how quickly they got us in & out, they were all business no waiting! Brily has had the same symptoms minus the ear pain & I assumed it was viral. I went ahead and took him because if it was not viral I would need medicine for him as well. Well luckily it was just viral on Brily's part. But, poor Jacer boy has a bulging ear drum & an bad ear infection. The doctor asked me if he got them frequently & he doesn't. This is actually his first ear infection, she said it did not look good. They filled his Rx there & gave him his first dose, we loaded up and headed home. It took us longer to drive to UC than to be seen.

So on the way home I called Jake & told him to get the bath water ready. We got home & instantly put the boys in the tub. Jake bathed them while I made something quick to eat since we didn't have a very big dinner, only a snack before we left. I could not send them to bed hungry. They ate, we brushed teeth & took medicines. Then for the fun part, they were in bed at 9:40p and they were NOT pleased with the fact that they were not getting to watch a movie. I knew they were both sleepy because they had played hard that day & they only slept for maybe 10 minutes in the car. I couldn't really control that, no matter how hard I tried if they want to sleep they do. So I kissed them goodnight & left the room, with in minutes someone had to "potty." After a little chat to inform them that if they did get out of bed again, they would be in trouble. Well it wasn't 10 minutes & the door was opened again. Jace was up playing & had the light on. So he had to face the consequences, he was not pleased, he did stay in bed though. Just a few minutes later Brily got up & had the light on. (I left the t.v. on the blue screen for a night light until I could get to the store to get a different one.) Poor B, sometimes he is so afraid of the dark & I am pretty certain he has bad dreams. So when I open the door he instantly started crying, I didn't have the heart to spank him. I just told him that he needed to get into bed & that he was fine, brother was right there.

At that point I needed to get in the shower, it was 10:30p. I was in there probably 10 minutes & when I got out they were asleep!! YAY! I didn't have to cave & turn on the T.V. & it only took one warning & getting onto each of them once for a success! (Yes, I call last night a success! No T.V. was in itself a success!!!) They still slept pretty late today Jace was up at 10:30a & B was up at 30 minutes later, I blame the daylight savings for that.

Let me tell you though, their mood is 110% better, they are actually snuggling right now in the recliner watching a episode of Astro boy. Much nicer than them trying to strangle each other. Jace did get into a little mischief today, he decided to grab a permanent marker that I didn't have put up & jazz himself up a bit. He also colored on a piece of paper & hang it proudly on the refrigerator. Haha! I couldn't really get on to him, he was more upset that I wouldn't wash it off of him. He also colored his nails & if you know Jace he is ANTI-nail polish. So I teased him a bit about being a girl with painted nails (even though he looks Gothic with black nails haha!).

So one step in the right direction! Hopefully tonight will go just a little better & I will be pleased :)

Sleep... It's a hott mess...

The boys have always been very good sleepers, I cannot remember a time that they wouldn't just lay down & sleep. We have never had to "Cry it out" or anything like that. And they LOVE to sleep, even as wee babes they would sleep many hours, wake-up, eat & straight back to sleep.

Here a while back we allowed the boys to have a T.V. in their room to watch before bed. (I assume problem 1) We only let them watch about 30 minutes during the day but at night before bed they can watch a movie. (And please for the sake of all that is good and wonderful do NOT lecture me on how a T.V. will fry my kids brain! If you know these two you have seen the wild imagination they have, they are not one bit behind.) We also use it for night light purposes- I know that any night light that would be plugged in would be throughly examined & little fingers would probably be black from electrical shock. Most of the time, if he didn't have a 4 hour nap from 5-9PM B would fall asleep rather quickly. J on the other hand does not, he watches the entire movie. (See: PROBLEM) Then he will come in & ask us to change the movie that is over.

We have never been real strict with a bed time routine... EVER! I stay home with them so we would put them to bed whenever we went to bed & they would wake me up in the morning. And it never failed, every single Sunday morning, it's like they know Jake is home & they wake up at 8am just to aggravate him. We do not have a "set" bedtime or a routine really. We put on nighties (read:overnight diaper), brush teeth, take vitamins & allergy medicine, give kisses, start movie & they hop into bed lights out.

As of right now they do not nap, why do they need to when they sleep 10-12 hours a night. I would though like to implement a "rest time" of some sort. Again, with a newborn it is going to be wild crazy. I think it would be good for them to have time to chill & myself as well. And NO they do not have to sleep, but they would need to play quietly in their room and chill out for a while. No longer than 30 minutes if they are not asleep & they would be woke up after an hour & a half. I cannot do the 4 hour naps RIGHT before bed time.

Sure, while it is all unicorns & daisies to sleep in until 11am, but I was up until after 2am trying to get the little monkeys to calm down, lay down & relax. It's like up, down, up, down, door open, slam door, door open, "mommy, I gotta potty," back to bed, door open, light on, tv up, "mommy, I have to poo," back to bed, light on, jumps on bed, light off... It's a never ending vicious cycle for hours. Ending in me having to be a mean Momma & get on to them. Then I was up umpteen MILLION times to pee. The inner insomniac in me has trouble going back to sleep after I up. Also, we really need to be getting to bed earlier, my dear sweet husband has to be up early & going fighting with the boys is normally left up to me for the most part. It does make it really hard for him to get up the next morning at 5:30a to go to work when he doesn't fall asleep until after midnight.

So today we are on "No Nap Status" I am gong to take them to the park and wear their little hineys out. And hopefully implement the following night night schedule. I am also going to implement new "rule/consequences" and "daily schedule."

1. Start at 9:00p
2. Brush teeth & take medicines
3. Use potty & put on "night pants"
4. Tucked into bed by 9:30p

Simple enough, Right?! We are going to have to quit the movies cold turkey. I think it will mysteriously break tonight-wish me luck. I do need to get a very kid friendly night light that they hopefully will not bother.

I am not one for big change & I am not good about making a schedule & sticking to it. Hopefully this works, we really REALLY need it to. Both boys have been in terrible moods today are absolute bears! J has thrown numerous fits, hitting brother, etc. B has spilled a whole box of spaghetti in the floor, stolen toys, beat his brother with the fly swatter & they have only been up for like an hour.

I never claimed we were normal, sane, or functional. We are what we are... borderline side show. All we need is a talking dog & one 6 legged cat. (**Side Note: I did see the CUTEST 2 legged chihuahua on television last night. My heart almost exploded it was so freaking cute. It just bunny hopped around on it's back feet. Jake could tell I was totally googly over the silly think and make it clear that I was indeed delusional if I ever thought we were getting another animal. HA!)

And they are at it again, fighting over a Happy meal toy. Evidently it is time to load up & head out!!! Hopefully they cheer up, especially Jace, he is his mother all over again, such a morning person. Well, forget I ever said that last little bit.

Heavy heart....

Sometimes I feeling like I do not process & display my emotion how society would expect me too... It's almost like is shuffle them away into my Rolodex heart & forget they are even there.

I am not a overly hormonal person & I don't cry a lot. I actually hate crying because it makes my throat hurt & my cheeks turn red. On top of that I do not deal well with other people's emotions. Crying people make me soooo very uncomfortable. I never know what to say or do, I just stand there like an idiot frozen.

Today I got onto Facebook & everything seemed so depressing & sad. I hate that, I feel like I should say something but I don't. I almost skip over & act like I never read it. I know that makes me look like a total jerk. I also see people that are affected & normally it affects me as well.

Japan for example, so many people have written about their heartache for Japan & the other affected areas. I have a foreign exchange student that lived with us when I was in Kindergarten. I will never know if she is alright or if her family is alright. That will probably haunt me forever, but it's not something I can write about or express.

Military & deployment is another example. Many of my friends have had loved ones that were deployed. I know all too well what they are feeling, my brother served for 6 years & that included 3 tours of duty. My mother & I would worry ourselves sick between letters & phone calls. I still to this day think the tours "changed" him, he is not the same brother that left. He lost his "fun & spunk for life." Yet I cannot muster a comment of encouragement to save my life.

I see young couples that struggle in their marriage & I flash back to those days. The days when I thought my marriage was over, that I could never again love the man I thought I would spend eternity with. I know how rough it can be, I remember those fights & screaming the words you cannot take back. But, I do know that it gets better, the loves comes back. Someday you will be as happy as you were the day you married. Instead, I glance over & read on.

I see people who have been affected by cancer & I never mention anything. I never repost the status for an hour, I never mention the two grandma that I lost too soon to cancer. I never mention that the only memory of my Grandma was how much she LOVED to have my mama wash her hair after she was too weak. It's so unfair but I just shuffle away those emotions & go about my days.

Today I posted Isaiah 40:31 on Facebook, I hate seeing everyone so down. Life is so unfair sometimes but we shall "soar on Eagles wings... run and not grow weary... walk and not be faint." And even though I may not express it, my heart is heavy right along with everyone else. (Maybe that verse is just as much for me.) I do care, I hate to see families separated because of deployments, I hate seeing heart break when marriages are not picket fences, sedans & cobbler on the table. I wish I remembered more about my Grandmother, but I know that some day she will meet me at those pearly gates and we will make up for lost time. I pray for every person that was affected my the recent earthquake & tsunami. And even though I don't know if Myau & her family are alright, God does. He will take care of them & protect them. If he's called them home all I can say is Lucky them!

29 Weeks... Princess Long Legs

I had my last monthly appointment & ultrasound today. I officially go every 2 weeks now, we are closing in on the end. Here is a run down of basically how the appointment went.

(bullet style cause that is how I am rolling today.)

• Princess has some LONG legs! She also has her daddy's nose & plump lips. I am assuming that her daddy & brother's have their work cut out for them.
• Consistent kidney pain (2 weeks worth) & clear evidence from urine sample only concludes I have a bad kidney infection. I am on antibiotics for 2 weeks, according to doctor they are strong & if they make me sick I will have to have them through a IV.)
• She is measuring a little bit big, obviously catching up from being a little petite at her last ultrasound.
• We scheduled the C-section for May 23rd considering I have a wonderful pregnancy full of rainbows & unicorns, but with my pregnancy reputation I wouldn't count on that. Cox has a hospital policy that no C-sections can be scheduled for more that week before the due date unless it is medically necessary. With B I went to the doctor & she said we're having a baby today, I objected since it was my cousin's birthday & begged to wait until Monday. I suspect the same thing will happen again, just guessing though.
• I got put on a diet :( Since baby is good sized & I have a higher risk of gestational diabetes, my doctor suggested I go ahead & take all precautions. I can basically have skim milk & water to drink. I also cannot have potatoes, noodles, white breads, starches, sweets, sugars, etc. Considering I could be a vegetarian this SUCKS! I could LIVE off potatoes & noodles. So while I bang my head, I remember I WANTED THIS, I just have to press on & try to survive. It could defiantly be worse!
• I think she is scheduling a appointment with my urologist. YAY! **sarcasm**
• I go back in 2 weeks on the 24th hopefully the kidney business is all better

I am not including the stats for this week since I just did them 3 days ago. I am trying to figure out a day to get a baby shower scheduled but we couldn't get a room on the original day & now some important people cannot come on the secondary date. I'm not sure what we are going to do.

Also, Big Black (my Suburban) has been acting foolish lately, the battery keeps going dead. Jake says the battery looks too small for it. I don't know but between that & the "run out of gas if it gets under a 3/4 of a tank because I'm a moody little girl" I am about to blow it up! So I have been driving the truck the last week or so since Jake hasn't had time to charge the battery & get some gas. So today I took the ONLY trusty vehicle, our $900 gas saver to Springfield to the doctor. Well his truck is stuck at the school, he thinks it is the fuel pump. All Chevy 1500 owners know that they are infamous for the fuel pumps going out. The fuel pump has whined since we bought it & well it decided that today it was D.O.N.E!! That is just another $300 we can pull from that money tree in the back yard. **back to reality** I guess we will just park it for a good while under that lousy money tree.

So overall not a wonderful day... Kidney Infection, Diet & a broken truck. On the bright side I was able to see my sweet girl. She had her hands, arms, legs & feet all in front of her face, it was too funny. He did get big black running but to be honest with you, I don't want to drive that gas guzzler. So until next time.... Toodle Loo!

It's not always about giving up....

As many of you know today is Fat Tuesday & tomorrow beings the 40 days of Lent. While most people sacrifice a vice, like the sacrifice that Christ made while he trekked the desert for 40 days, you do not have to "give up" things. You can commit to make yourself a better person, you can commit to work on relationships with Christ, family, friends, etc.

And I'm sure you know I am not Catholic & I do not know the "in's & out's" of Lent, but I am up for any reason to make myself a better person. I am going to do more than one thing for Lent and I am blogging about it to help keep myself accountable. I sure hope that when the Monday after Easter rolls around I continue to carry on with the GOOD that I have committed to and I won't miss the not so good I have left behind.

• I am going to read to my boys every single night.
• I am going to attend Church.
• I am NOT going yell & lose my temper, instead stop and ask God for self-control.
• I am gong to shut off my computer at 6:00p & spend the time that I would have been on the computer doing nothing, with my family. (Now this does not mean that I won't be online after 6:00, I just won't be on here aimlessly doing nothing.)
• I am going to keep my laundry done & my house tidy
• I am going to blog 3 times a week
• I am going to avoid MWOP & JM (sorry not everyone know what I am talking about here, but if you do... you should do the same thing :))
• Donate to charity

At the end of the 40 days I hope that I am 100% successful. If not I hope that I am at least a little bit better of a person. I guess that is really all that matters, Right?

So, are you giving up or committing to do something up for lent? If so, I would love to hear what you are doing & why.

All my love-

Whitney

28 Week update & shopping news!

**Edited to add: Clearly I am losing my ever loving mind... I did not title this post before publishing it... Dearest baby girl, stop eating my brain, there is more than enough fat you can snack on. Thank you, Love Momma**

Hello Everyone!!!

I feel like I need to re-introduce myself, I have been out of the blogasphere for quite some time now. My apologies, mommy just got a little busy. We have been so busy as a family & I know it is probably going to be this way until the baby gets here. I have been taking weekly trips to Goodwill & consignment shops trying to get my hands on some good deals. The boys are doing WONDERFUL, they are growing up so quickly. I need to do a post soon that is completely dedicated to them. They say & do some of the cutest things ever. It is hard though for me to get any pictures of them, they are nudist. I think they come by it naturally, I am pretty much anti-pants if it's just us here at the house.

I want to update everyone & for my records on the pregnancy. So with out further ado, here is this weeks highlights!

How Far along: 28 weeks 4 days

Size of the baby: Squash Average size: 15.2-16.7 inches, 2.5-3.8 lb. (7 months)

Total Gain/Loss: I'm not sure, I don't think I have gained very much yet.

I know when the water retention begins Momma will get F.A.T!

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Gender: It's a Girl!! We finally decided on a name, Neeley Kayt.

(If you ask me how to pronounce her middle then you need basic letter pronunciation skills. Sound it out... AND no "T" does not make the sound "Tee" it makes the sound "Ta" )

I signed her name on a birthday card this week so, it's that official. hah!

Movement: Girlfriend is a mover & a shaker. She can really get wound up & kick for hours!

Sleep: I cannot complain, I do have a little insomnia from time to time.

Cravings: Cherry Sprite! We are getting married so, save the date!

Today because I am a "Mom-to-be" I was able to hit up the Rhea Lana sale in Rogers. I have had more success finding things in the Springfield sale even though it is like 1/8 the size of the NWA sale. There were so many clothes on racks, you could not even move them to look. I do not need anything that bad to work that hard. I also did not have any luck with the bigger boys clothes. I don't really dress the boys in dress clothes or polo's & that is basically all there was. I did get some cute things for Neeley & I have put some pictures below. I am really too cheap for some sales. I really cringe at paying $4.00+ for anything that doesn't have a tag on it. The entire time I was thinking "At the right garage sale, I could find this for a dollar." Garage sales have ruined me my friend, I love the challenge of finding a good buy & I cannot wait for it to warm up. There will be another RL sale in April in Springfield, they are much more organized & you can actually look. There were seriously HUNDREDS of pregnant ladies there tonight, visibly pregnant women.

Here are my adorable findings.

2 pairs of shoes- both were $3.00 a piece & brand new

This is the pattern to my new FAVORITE dress. My mom has a dash hound that I have always called "sister dog." I saw this & had to have it, it's quite possibly the cutest thing ever!

Some how while shopping I picked both of these adorable very cherry Carter's pieces out. The one on the right is a onesie/pant set that was $4.00 & the one on the right is a ruffled butt onesie that was $3.00NWT. Both from different sellers & different parts of the rack. It got a good laugh when I was going through my finds, evidently I like cherries.

This was a set in itself, it is a strawberry sleeper, strawberry onesie/pant set & berry hat for $4.50. I clearly have a thing for fruit.

Here is the "new favorite set" on the right. It's is sooo darling I cannot wait to see her in it. It was also my splurge item, I debated & debated on buying it. My decision is quite obvious, it's is Gymboree set that I paid $7.00 for. It was too cute to pass on. On the left is the hearts Gymboree dress with bloomers, I paid $4.00 for it. It is also very cute.

Here is a NB dress that is handmade. I was able to snatch it up for $3.00. This does not look too difficult, so I am going to try my hand at making one of these myself.

On the right is a Carters Ruffle bottom outfit with little sweater, I think I paid $5.00 for it. I normally would not pay quite that much but it is very cute. On the right is a Carter's sleeper set that I paid $3.0o for, it matches a blanket that we bought a while back.

These are 3 Carter's onesies that are 6M that I got for $3.00 I loved the little mommy/baby zebra one & couldn't pass it up.

Last but not least I got my hands on 2 Razorback pieces. On the right is a sweet but simple Hogs dress with bloomers. I paid $4.00 for it. I am going to try and find some cute ribbon & make a bow to match this. On the right is onesie that says "Future Cheerleader" & I won't lie, hopefully someday that will be true. I am going to get some rhinestones & tulle to make a tutu to go with this & girlify (My own word thankyouverymuch!) it a little more. I paid $3.00 for it.

I think I did pretty good, I annoyed Jake by making him look at every piece & comment. He said that I "don't even need the light on" because he would say it's all "wonderful honey." I think the next time he asks me for my opinion on a classic car or a boat I will tell him "wonderful honey" & see how he likes it. :)

I have another ultrasound on Thursday & doctors appointment. She said that we might schedule the C-Section then, but I have a feeling that it will all change right at the end. It always seems to be that way & I am infamous for complicated pregnancies. I will post & keep y'all updated!

All my love,

Whitney

Dilemma's & Decision's

So, as many of you know I have been selling Scenty for about a year & a half. While I love the product, business, people who I work with, etc. I just do not know what to do.

When I signed up I had NO intentions of making a "big business" out of it. I wanted to keep it small & enjoyable. I do not like being away from the boys much. I did not want to get burnt out by doing too many parties. I have had some good show & I have made good money, but my heart just isn't into it much anymore. Every Linda, Louise, Laura & Lisa sell it here locally. I am NOT one for competion when it comes to business, I don't need money or business THAT bad. I kind of feel like I am burnt out on it. It seems like I scrounge to find a qualifying order to place for my 3 month deadline.

I have a few loyal customers that order online. They are really the only reason I have contiuned to sell it. I do have a great friend that they could order through the same way they do me (The same person I will order through). I just don't know what to do, I could really use a little input & advice...

Basically what the heck would you do??? AND let's be realistic!

Oh and I am due to have the baby at the end of May. I am seriously going to have NO time for anything for a long time.

I ALSO have a post coming to update everyone on the baby!!!

And PLEASE people I really need some input on this issue. I have been stuck for some while & I need to decide. I need to get on the bandwagon & ride or get off. I only have until May to decide, since the baby will be here then.