Happy Jack!

This last weekend, the hubby, London, Pork Chop and I headed for the mountains. We stayed at my uncle's cabin in Happy Jack. Every year, we head up to Flagstaff for Cardinals Camp for my birthday. It was AWESOME! We left Friday night  (late) and came home Monday. We covered about 450 miles, driving a lot. Cardinal camp was fun. We sat next to this family with 3 boys, the 4th on the way. I pretty much made best friends with the kiddos... go figure! They had a son named Krew (mom!!) and he was so awesome... 10 years old and still loved school! Afterwards, we went and ate at a place called Altitudes Bar and Grill. Another place we visited was Macy's... my favorite vegan coffee shop... the biscuits and vegan gravy are to die for! Pork Chop got SO  much attention. I told Curtis he's not allowed to go anywhere with P.C. and not me (ladies of all ages were swooning!) Tee Hee!

Curtis and Pork Chop at Altitudes

I got FRIED! Even after putting 50 SPF on... WTH!?!?!

red face!

We went through Winslow, AZ (hubby's first time) to Flagstaff, then back on a really pretty scenic route. It rained the WHOLE way back to the cabin. And you wouldn't believe how many motorcyclists I saw, and we even saw one dude riding his bike and another WALKING. What is WRONG with you people! It's raining cats and dogs! Here's a pic from our drive.

In to the rain!

And the dude on the BIKE (no... not Harley Davidson!)

blurry, but we were going fast!

Sunday, we were 100% lazy. We played horse shoes... Curtis won with a ringer! That night, the storm rolled in late. There was lots of lightening and thunder, so we sat out on the covered patio and watched the pitch black night light up with each bolt of lightening. I won't lie... I was a little scared. It was INTENSE! The next day, we had plans to hit up Card's camp again, but we slept in too late. We went and ate at the Strawberry Lodge and Restaurant... biscuits and gravy weren't as great as Macy's in Flag, but the breakfast burrito was legit. From there, we headed to visit my Grandma Patty and Grandpa Scott in Cottonwood, AZ. It was a beautiful drive, and an even more beautiful visit. I sure do love my grandparents! My grandma was as chipper as ever, and it was so good to visit and relax with them. I could have stayed forever! My grandma is a photographer, and she took some great pictures of my loves!

On the way back... we passed a semi hauling missiles! What the heck? We sped just to get past!

hm.....

 

 It was a great trip... much needed! First time to sleep in really late, and one kid and one puppy is easier than 3 babies, 2 kittins, 1 puppy, 1 dog, and 2 step daughters. Everyone thought we were brave for having a 5 month old and a 10 week old puppy... little did they know! Here's some of my grandma's great pics!

Great Grandma Patty and Baby London (photographer... ME!)

 

really???

 

Sleep is for the weak...

Or so I used to think! "You'll sleep when you're dead" was another favorite of mine!

My sister asked me yesterday, "Are four month olds supposed to be on a schedule?" She was asking about a baby she nannies for, but it got me thinking.

I started googling (one of my favorite past times) 4 month old schedules. The first website gave me a good laugh. It had 8 different "sample schedules"as follows:
stay at home breastfeeding moms
Working breastfeeding moms
Stay at home breastfeeding moms with an older toddler
Stay at home pumping mothers

And all the same for formula feeding moms.

No where did it say "part-time, random hours working breastfeeding mom with two toddlers, two step kids, two cats, and a dog". Then I read the schedules, and none of them mention "time for babies tummy ache to get better" or "time for the Tylenol to start working after shots" or "time for baby to cry because those teeth are starting to move around". It was the picture perfect, "tummy time for exactly 10.467 minutes" and "time in baby saucer for mommy to clean". Ha! I love the picture perfect baby scenes!

I laughed, then went on to the next website. Ahhh... the baby wise! You can never look up "schedule" without seeing raves about the baby wise method. I once was asked about how I felt about "baby wise". I'm not a fan. Maybe because there's no way in my day to day events can I plan to have my baby down at the exact same time everyday or feed at exactly every 3 hours whether she's hungry or not. Maybe it's because I'm jealous that I cant have that perfect schedule. Maybe its that even IF I had that perfect schedule, I'd probably get reeeeally behind on bills, paperwork, cleaning, organizing, meal planning, etc. Maybe because it just doesn't make sense. I would LOVE to have my baby sleep through the night at 7 weeks, but I love my freedom to roll with the random spur of the moment events that pop up in my life more.

So, in conclusion, I've come to the realization (yet again) that every mom and every baby is different. I do it different than others, and that's ok. New mothers out there... do what FITS you and your lifestyle. If your baby doesn't sleep through the night at 4.785 weeks... he will eventually! Don't fret, instead enjoy those midnight cuddle sessions while everyone else is sleeping, they don't last forever!

Its been a few

Man, has life been a whirlwind lately!! Right now, all three are down for a nap and I'm in the mood to blog... what a perfect time!

Hmm.. where to start. I'll start with the not so happy stuff so I can end on a good note!

Two days ago, I took Maddox and London to a long waited appointment - London's 3 month and Maddox's 15 month (even though she is 4 months and he is 16). At his 12 month appointment, the doctor told me about a heart murmur Maddox had. He said if it was still there at his 15 month check up, he would refer us to a cardiologist. Unfortunately, it was still there.
At about 3 months old, my mother in law realized London's ring finger and pinkie only extended about maybe half way on both hands, which she gets from her father. The doctor also referred us to an orthopedics pediatrician, saying he doesn't see this often, but he thinks they will do therapy and most likely surgery to fix the tendon which is preventing full extension.    Yuck.    My poor babies. I called to schedule both appointments, and the soonest I can get them in is the second week of August... ironically just days apart. So personally, I'm trying not to stress or worry, but I won't lie.. when the cardiologist lady said EKG... my heart sunk.

Later that same day, I went to Urgent Care to finally get my knee checked out. Its been bothering me for a few months and was getting worse, so I figured why not conquer all the bad things in one day? Luckily, its just my knee cap that is pulling up crooked, making it inflamed. Basically, my hips and my outter leg muscles are stronger than my inner muscles, so it's pulling my knee cap over which is causing discomfort and swelling. Not a huge deal, I just have to do that stupid thigh machine... the one you never make eye contact while doing. Hopefully, I'll be spinning in no time!

My 68 year old grandma was in the hospital for the last few weeks, and its been a roller coaster. She went to the hospital originally because they thought she had a stroke when her arm clawed up unexpectantly and went completely limp. From the tests they ran, they found a lesion on her brain. She got transferred to a different hospital and they removed it, and confirmed it was cancerous. She was diagnosed with a Glioma and was originally given about 24 months to live. Her right arm has since been having strokes and has been limp ever since and her cancer severity was raised to a 4... predicting 12-20 months left in life. I've never had to think about losing a family member so close to me, so this has been a little bit of a struggle emotionally. I love my grandmama and appreciate all the great memories I have with her, and hope to make more with her. She's so young, its really sad. But, luckily her form of cancer is a lot less painful than others, so that's good.

Ok... on to the positive stuff!

On July 1st, Curtis and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary! Well, we didn't really celebrate it because we had all 5 kids and my grandma had just gotten brain surgery, but we did exchange cards and presents and kisses. Its funny to see how its evolved over the last 3 years... from 2 step kids to 5 total!

We just bought our first family vehicle big enough for the family and economical enough to drive! We bought a 2006 Ford Expedition that seats NINE! No, that does NOT mean we are having another baby! It just means our kids can bring friends along wherever we go! Even though we have done EVERYTHING out of order, its nice to see it is all piecing together beautifully!

I also am working part time at my uncle's furniture store "Pigsty Kids" selling kids furniture. I sell cribs, bunk beds, trundle beds and even home furniture. I really like it because I have been taking my bills and paperwork with me on slow days, which allows me to catch up while being kid-free. Plus I get to talk to other moms and kiddos all day. I have heard some of the most moving stories making me tear up, and the most sad stories relating to kids which also made me tear up. It really has helped me keep my life and how fortunate I am in perspective and make me realize how lucky I was to have the labor and deliveries I had and how healthy and happy my kids are. Who would think working a mall job would be so uplifting?!

I've said it a billion times, and I mean it just as much today as any day... I'm one lucky momma! Brooklyn amazes me every single day on how smart she is. And she is one of the most happy little girls I have ever seen in my life. I don't know if it's her smile or her eyes or her cute little voice... she can make me smile no matter how mad or upset I am and reminds me to have fun. Maddox is such a stud! And such a mommas boy. He cries every single time I leave or even walk up the stairs without him. Hes starting to talk, and it makes me so proud that both my kids had "thank you" in their small vocabulary of 3-6 words. 90% of the time he is walking around rocking one of my necklaces... how could you not smile at that?! And Londy... my little baby is not so little anymore. She's rolling all over the place and cracking up every time you tickle her. She absolutely loves to be sang to, and loves her face being kissed all over. She has such a calmness and chill-ness about her... I love to just cuddle and rock her at the end of a long day. Three different babies and different qualities... and I couldnt be happier!

Time to go play with my little ones! Maddox just woke up!