Monday, May 27, 2013

Remembering...

Today is Memorial Day. A day to remember all those who have fought for our freedom and especially remembering those who have lost their lives doing so. We also need to remember the ones who they left behind, say a prayer for their families.

On Veterans Day 2011 (11/11/11, one year before Cathy Belle was born) a friend from high school/ youth group lost his life in Iraq. He was going to check to area so the rest of his squad could come through it and a land mine went off. He is now in heaven with his Savior, but his family and friends still morn his absence. While you thank God for your freedom please say a prayer for the Rushing family. Teddy was a happy funny guy that everyone lovee to be around.

Happy Memorial Day and God Bless America!

Monday, May 13, 2013

We Don't

Here are some things you might hear me say we don't do:

Put our head in the toilet

Eat diapers (thankfully it was a clean one)

Play in the flour

Put our feet in our grits

Lick/bite the cat

Get in the exercauser, unless we are the baby

Jump off of things

Mix our smoothie with a crayon

Eat random things we find on the ground 

Climb up the bookshelf

Roll the baby around. She can do it herself.

Drink out of the sink/shower when you have a cup of water on the table

Use the bathroom in the shower/bowls/cups/anything other than the toilet

Eat the cat food

Lick the chair/table/wall/etc

Run down the hallway and slam into Mommy and Daddy's door

Hide food under our bed

Sleep with food

Blow our nose on mommy


I know there are countless more, but I will save those for another time. Please tell me I am not alone!





Friday, May 10, 2013

Nursing through a Stomach Virus

Yes, you read that right. A stomach virus has hit our house twice in the past couple of months, when you add that on top of the stomach problems I already have....well let's just say vomiting has become somewhat common. Here are some ways I was able to keep nursing despite the whole "feeling like your going to die" while you are in the middle of it.

A few things to know about a stomach virus. For most people most of the time the vomiting part only lasts for 10 hours. Secondly, it is highly contagious, yes my poor 6 month old had it.

1. Wash your hands. I know it sounds like a no brainer, but it is very important. I would even try to change my shirt before picking up my baby to feed her.

2. Keep drinking. I know it is the last thing you want to do, but sipping some Gatorade helps. Even if you are losing it, you are still getting some hydration and nourishment. (Bonus is it gives you something to come up.)

3. Lay down. Find a spot where you are comfortable and baby can be close by. I chose my bed when my husband was available to help and the couch when he was not. I would allow the baby to play and sleep in the play yard next to me, while I put movies on for the big kiddies. I dozed and kept a bucket near me.

It is not easy, but it is doable. The key is to rest and drink. Once the vomiting has subsided drink as much as you can. You want to rehydrate yourself. Also, I am no doctor, so take care of you. If you need to stop nursing, that is ok. These are the things that worked for me.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Happy Baby

You know all the advice they give about how to raise your children....well it changes daily. When I was a baby I slept in my tummy, when I was old enough to babysit those babies slept on their side, now my babies sleep on their back. Then there are rules for feeding, changing, toys, even holding.

When I was pregnant with my son I read everything I could about feeding, sleeping, milestones, everything. Shortly after he was born they considered him failure to thrive and I was told to supplement (another story-rolling your eyes is fine) let him nurse then feed him formula every 2 hours. Wait, you are not suppose to wake a sleeping baby, but it is ok to wake them when they "need" to eat. I was naughty because I co slept most of the time. I started food at 3 months because he was nursing constantly.

Along comes baby number 2, and co sleeping is ok (that is funny because a year and a half ago it was not). No solids until she is at least 4 months better to wait to 6. Just let the baby sleep do not wake her up......wait what?!

Fast forward through some frustration and a couple of years along comes baby number 3. Ready for all the philosophies now......me neither. I had 3 children in 3 and 1/2 years and things changed so much in that time my head was spinning, so I thew it all away.

I made my own philosophies:

I co-sleep. That's what I am comfortable with and it allows me to nurse her easily through out bedtime and nap time which leads to my next point.

I feed baby when she cries. I know some people schedule babies, but that does not work for me. It does not allow for growth spurts and it helps my milk supply when I respond to baby rather than a schedule.

I do not give solids until they have their first tooth. I know this is a strange one, but hear me out. I have been reading some articles (yes I still read some on growth and development) that discuss how the digestive tract is still developing after a child is born for about 6 months. Children under 1 year old really do not need any more nutrition than mommy's milk (or formula). There is not nutritional need to give a baby cereal. The longer you wait the easier it will veto introduce solids.

I baby wear. I try to wear her when I go places, as often as I can. I do have some back problems and I also allow her some stroller and daddy carrying time, but she and I both enjoy our closeness.

I pick her up when she cries. I hate it when my babies cry! My husband cannot stand to hear a baby fussing. I am not a cry it out mommy in any way. I figure if they cry they need something, even if it is just to be held.


The medical world of information changes almost everyday, and one thing I am finding is that some of the old folk remedies are still true. They are discovering that what they were doing for the first few thousand years maybe was not that bad after all. I am not say modern medicine, science, and technology are bad. I thank God for the great minds who have worked so hard and are still working to cure diseases.

What I am saying is I do what my mothers intuition has told me and it seems to be working because Cathy Belle is the happiest baby I have ever seen! Trust yourself mommies know there babies.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Sorry for the silence

We have been batting sickness, rearranging furniture, had 5 out-of-town guests last month, zoo trips, my husband is back on midnight shift, organizing, cleaning, and trying to soak up every minute with my babies I can. Here are some pictures from the past little bit: