Thursday, January 30, 2014

How Do You Tell Your Child He Has Cancer

A question I get asked a lot is if Liam knows what he went through.

It was his little body that went through the treatment and fought with such strength, but it's Brian and I that livesd the nightmare. Liam's scar is so faint he doesn't even know it's there.

Recently Brian asked when I thought we should have that conversation with Liam, when will he be vale to understand? As the cliche says; we weren't given an instruction manual for this.

With an appointment happening last week I started sharing some things with Liam. Currently he has an abdominal ultrasound every 4 months, we had been telling him we were going to get pictures taken of his belly but never said why before. Last week I decided to ask him if he knew why he has to get pictures taken of his belly. If course he didn't. Since he had recently had a stomach bug he has a recent experience with being sick. I explained to Liam when he was Aubrey's age he had something growing in his belly and it was making him really sick. He doctors had to take it out and why he has a scar on his belly. We want to make sure nothing starts growing again so we take pictures of his belly to keep him healthy.

I know he can understand more than that, but cancer is such an abstract concept.  What we tell Liam will continue to change each time until he fully understands.  We just want him to know about his history before cancer is associated negatively in his mind. 

Liam, You are a survivor.  You are my hero!
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Chocolate-y Goodness

Oh the weather outside is frightful...  why do we only hear that song at Christmas?  We aren't likely to see any snow until after Christmas in the Sweet Carolinas and polar vortex has made sure there is frightful weather all winter long!

I've got a drink recipe I think it perfect for these cold winter days.  Go ahead and turn the fire up, snuggle in and have a Godiva Chocolate Martini, but be carful- its good!

 
Of course the more chocolate the better, so swirl some chocolate syrup around the glass. 
 
The recipe is easy; Mix 1 shot of each of the following
 
Godiva Milk Chocolate Liquor
Godiva Dark Chocolate Liquor
Godiva White Chocolate Liquor
Chambord
Vodka
 
Cheers!
 
 

Our Three Peas
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Friday, January 24, 2014

2014: New Year New You

As a public school teacher I have often encountered parents dressed inappropriately for bringing their children to school.  I always told myself, because conversations with yourself are the best, I would not take my children to school in my pajamas. 

This was very difficult with Liam starting school right after I had just had a baby.  Although I have never went in my pajamas, I am not sure my yoga pants and sweats are that much better. 

It might seem small, but one of my goals for this year is to get dressed.  Staying at home, it has been far too easy to spend the day in workout clothes or sweats.  But there is something about putting on clothes, maybe a little bit of makeup, that makes one feel human.
 
And, really, it doesn't take that much effort.  Most days my children are better dressed than I am, which probably won't change, but at least I can look like I belong with them!
 
Thank you Katie at For Lauren and Lauren for motivating me to get dressed.
 

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Aubrey: 6 months

Stats
At her appointment last week she weighed in at 14 pounds 11 ounces  and 25.75 inches long.  She is thankfully gaining weight, just on the small side, but hey, someone has to be in the 10th percentile.

Eat
Not exactly what I had planned, but we switched to formula this week.  Its been about 4 days now and I already see a huge change.  At her 6 month appointment last week I spoke with her doctor about her not sleeping, we had been trying to give her a bottle before bed but I was having trouble keeping up with how much she wanted to drink.  This lead to another concern; was she eating enough throughout the day?
I am finding more peace with the decision to switch to formula than I had expected.  It is obvious how much more hydrated she is now, and her sleep has been better the last few nights.  Andplusalso she loves it, the girl is crazy!

Sleep
Yup, that's all I have to say on the topic

Play
We have been on crawl watch in the Fudge house.  She has figured out how to move, just not crawling yet.  On New Years Eve she began pulling herself across the floor.  This is definitely when I start to enjoy having a baby, yes they are cute and cuddly when they are little, but I LOVE when they can sit up on their own and start to explore things.

I know we need to rethink childproofing for a baby, however childproofing with an almost 4 year old is an oxymoron.  I am continuously yelling at Liam to pick up his legos.

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Five on Friday {v.5}


Last week I began sharing items I enjoy for babies.  We started with sleep items.  This week I thought I would share breastfeeding items.  Amber, who we also went to high school with, is sharing some helpful tips here too.

I am writing this full of mixed feelings.  Breastfeeding is HARD.  You are told it is the more natural thing.  I call it the most unnatural natural thing.  I breastfed Liam until he got sick and stopped eating at 8 months.  We are also coming to an end with Aubrey (I'll share more on why with her 6 month update next week).

{one}
a good breast pump

You will be spending far too much time attached to this machine after you return to work. I actually didn't mind pumping with Liam, it is just time consuming and a pain to wash the parts.  This has been more difficult with Aubrey, just because I also have an almost 4 year old running around.
 
You will also need storage bags, your milk will interfere with your husband's ice cream storage. By pumping in the first few weeks and building up a freezer stash you will have plenty of milk stored away for when you return to work or have a night out.  This is also how I am going to be able to continue giving Aubrey breastmilk for another 2 months.
 
{two}
 
I bet in your breast feeding class you were also told its not painful.  She lied!  It HURTS for the first 2-3 weeks.  You just need to get past that, beyond the initial few weeks it really is painless.  To help you with those first few weeks make sure you get some lanolin cream.
 
 
{three}
 
Okay.  You are going to think I am absolutely crazy for this.  Gel pads that you can keep in the freezer to put on your boobs after you feed.  Wetting a diaper, then freezing it will also work.  Ice on your boobs has never felt so good.
 
{four}
 
bra pads.  Leaky boobs. Enough said.
 
{five}
 
A nursing pillow.  I used a boppy.  I have also heard great things about my breast friend.  Whatever you choose, you want to bring the baby up as close to the food source as possible, keep your posture, your back with thank you.
 
Love you B!  Hope I haven't scared you yet :)

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Monster Jam

Hi Liam here.  Remember me?  I used to get this blogs undivided attention.  Then my sister came along.  I am taking over today!

Lucky for me I have one awesome Tia who gives me the attention I deserve.  I got to go stay with her last weekend.  She took me to the monster truck show.  Monster trucks and race cars are my jam!  Its super great that Tia and I have that in common because there is no way my mom will help me be the next Ricky Bobby.




 
Grave Digger and Son of Grave Digger are my favorites.  Do you like monster trucks too?



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Friday, January 10, 2014

Five on Friday {v.4}

I still have more 2014 goals to share next week, but today I am excited for my first Five on Friday post of 2014.


My best friend from high school is having a baby and soon.  I am so excited for her.  She asked me a while back to share with her some things I found necessary.  I am going to share some things I like having, not that they are necessary, and each baby is different.

This week I thought I would start with things for sleep {not that I know what that is anymore}

First the obvious, a place to sleep.  Beside the crib in the nursery, both Liam and Aubrey started off in a pack n play in our room.  I have also heard a lot of great things about this Rock n Play.  And I really wanted one, but that would have been another piece of gear around our house and I just couldn't justify it {although I might have gotten more rest between then and now if I did}.
 


Sleep Sacks.  I have found my babies sleep much better when they are wrapped up.  Woman thinks I am torturing my children, but it is comforting to them.  Infants are used to being in a cramped place and by wrapping them tight they cannot wake themselves up as easily with their startle reflex.

We got this noise machine with Liam, but all babies are different.  We use this SO MUCH MORE with Aubrey.  I don't lay here down without turning it on.

Okay so the night light is more for you.  A baby is not going to be scared of the dark.  I like a dim night light for myself when I am up feeding Aubrey at night.  I don't like it too bright to wake her up, but I do like to see what I am doing.

Finally a monitor.  I love our Motorola video monitor.  It has a 2 way radio in it so I can talk to Aubrey when she wakes up, not that it calms her down...  No a video monitor isn't necessary, we didn't have one with Liam, but it has made me more comfortable being able to see Aubrey.
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Monday, January 6, 2014

2014: Its My Year

So after Christmas my mom and I snuck out and got a pedicure.  My polish was called: Its My Year.
 
Not my usual look, but it felt right. 
Last year my word of the year was purpose.  I feel really good about my year last year.  I worked hard to find purpose, I am continuing on finding purpose.  This year I am taking purpose a step further.  My word this year; Strength.


Strength will mean lots of different things to me this year.  One thing I will work on is physical strength.  I have signed up to run another marathon in April and training has started.  I have ran everyday this year so far, and plan to continue. 
I have also taken on the 30 day ab challenge.  I will need that physical strength in my core that make it 26.2 miles.
 
Its going to be a lot of work, but I can do it.  
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