Changes

I know, I know.  I basically haven't written in forever and ever--I haven't even kept up on READING other people's blogs.  The reason is, life has been busy.  And I know that everyone's is busy, but I just didn't find the time to do this, too.  And probably won't find a ton of time even still.  I have, however, gotten a new email address, and will be discontinuing the other.  So,  I think that many of you have my studette1372@juno.com on your private blog rolls.  I have, in a sense, been forced to grow up and get a more "adult" email address, since I became Relief Society president. I don't want to post it on here for all to see (since it's been REALLY nice not getting all of the spam I used to get), so please email the studette1372 email and I will email you the new one so I can be added.  I do enjoy being updated on everyone's lives, and I have been REALLY out of the loop lately.  I hope this finds you well and Merry Christmas everyone!  [Oh, and can I just say that I am REALLY diggin' the new blogger set-up.  Makes a lot more sense!]

Just for good measure, my cute kiddos... (talk about CHEESE)

(and strong hubby)

Jadyn's Birth Story

I wrote this a couple of months ago, but haven't gotten around to posting.  I am feeling the need to catch up on my personal life, though, so here goes:

I've had this on my list of things to do for ages, but just have never gotten to it.  Luckily, I think I remember things pretty decently, I hope.

I had been dilated to a 2 for a couple of weeks and knew that I could possibly go anytime.  My due date wasn't until June 15, but I had been hoping for her to be born on a Wednesday so that I could have the maximum number of days off before I had to get back to teaching piano lessons.  My dad and Dallin were supposed to sing in their ward on June 10th. My dad had asked if I wanted to sing, but since my due date was so close to that, I didn't go for it because I just couldn't be sure I would be able to do it.  But they asked me to accompany them.  I told them I would as long as I didn't have the baby on the Friday or Saturday before they sang.  We practice multiple times for the two weeks prior just in case.

On Monday, the 4th of June, we had some painters come from Devin's work to paint the house.  I was due the 15th, but really figured I would come early.  Still, I hoped and prayed that all would be complete with the painting before we had Jadyn.  The other thing was, I prayed that we could have her on a Wednesday so that I could have the most time with just our little family before I had to go to work teaching piano again (I teach every Monday/Tuesday).  They thought they could finish the painting on Monday and Tuesday, and I did all I could to ensure that happened, but they didn't have enough guys so it went into Wednesday.  The house was just a disaster area, but I felt so much fluid leaking those days that I thought it wouldn't be too much longer before I went into labor.  I also knew I had been overloaded working between the house being painted and piano lessons, and I just kept telling Devin to expect her to come Wednesday (that's why I was a bit disappointed when the house wasn't finished Tuesday).  I felt like I had so much to do, and I didn't want Jadyn and our family to come to a house that was in disarray. I continued to practice with my Dad and Dallin just in case.  Wednesday, some thing had gone wrong with the paint colors too, so Devin was running around that morning trying to get the colors changed.  I was nervous, because I just didn't know if everything would get done. 

I had been having a lot of Braxton Hick's contractions for several weeks.  They weren't ever getting regular though, nor were they getting stronger, so I just continued about my business.  Around lunch on Wednesday, I started moving some furniture back in the bonus room.  I felt like the contractions were getting stronger, but they were just so sporadic, I didn't know what to think.  Because of that, I continued to just think they were Braxton Hicks and worked forward.  It was going to take a lot of work to get all of the furniture back and then get the house cleaned.  And I remember telling the painter that I thought I was probably in labor, so not to think I was strange if I just stopped dead in my tracks or pulled weird faces.  I was tired and worn out, but determined.  I called my mom and JaNae to tell them that I thought I was probably in labor, but that I wasn't sure because the contractions would be 7 minutes apart, then 5, then 10, then 7 again.  They just weren't getting any closer together that I could tell. And I just kept timing them, but thought maybe I was just confused and a little too hopeful. I called Devin as well and told him I thought it would be the night.  He wasn't going to come home from work though unless I was ready to go to the hospital.  The painters left around 3:15 after a mad rush to get as much of it done as possible (there was only a SMALL amount of trim work that needed to be done on Friday), and then I just continued cleaning.  Devin came home from work around 5.  He started helping me get the house together and got his stuff packed just in case.  I had already had mine packed for quite some time, so I just kept cleaning.

Finally, the contractions were starting to get pretty strong. I would pause or have to move around.  They still weren't regular, but I thought there was a pretty good chance she would be coming soon.  I called JaNae to tell her to start to travel down (she takes pictures of the kiddos when they're born).  At about 8, I got out of the shower, and realized that I couldn't walk much through the contractions.  They were getting too strong and almost unbearable.  We decided we'd better leave and deliver the kids to my mom.  I still needed to clean a few things, so I finished the bathroom up and some laundry while Devin mopped the downstairs and vacuumed (I had literally moved all of the house back together AND deep cleaned the house during that entire day).  Then we loaded Camden into the car to take him to my parents.  I think we got there around 10 or so.  He was getting excited to have "Baby Jadyn" come (and she has forever been known by that name since).  He kept asking if Baby Jadyn was going to come out of my belly.  He was anxious and really seemed to understand what was going on.  He wanted to go to the hospital with us, but was content with staying at my parents.

We arrived at the hospital about 11:00.  They checked me in and called the doctor to see if I should stay.  My water sack was about ready to burst, they said.  It took a while to get me back to a room (much longer than I remember anything taking at the hospital in Orem with Camden--there, they had my epidural given to me in 15 minutes there).  I assumed it would be about the same at this hospital, but apparently their procedures are different.  Even though the anesthesiologist was at the hospital, I had to wait for my blood to be drawn and analyzed to make sure I could get my epidural.  It took like 2 more hours~!!  I was in some SERIOUS pain at that point, but wasn't dilating any more than I had been at my last doctor appointment.  With Camden, I had dilated MUCH more than this by the time I got to the hospital, AND my contractions NEVER got that painful.  I had a lot of back labor with him,……and let me just tell you, I MUCH prefer the back labor!  I was in so much pain I really thought I was going to be throwing up any minute.  If I had to go through one more contraction, I probably would have.  I was also starving.  I hadn't eaten anything since lunch!  Because I figured I was in labor, and my last nurse let me have a little bit of apple juice, I didn't think anything of it.  But later, I realized that was the biggest mistake I made.

The epidural was finally administered at around 2:00am.  Devin had been able to sleep the whole time I was contracting, but I hadn't slept since Tuesday night--not ONE little wink!  I was exhausted.  Because my blood pressure is so low, every time I am at the hospital and I start to fall asleep, it sends the machines into a beeping frenzy, so I still didn't get much sleep.  The nurse came to check on me around 4am.  I was dilating again (at an 8)!  And so luckily, I wouldn't need any pitocin or anything to help move the labor along!  I think the epidural helped me to relax enough to let me body do what it needed to do.  She said she would call the doctor and he would arrive in about 2 hours.  We called my parents and JaNae and told them the news.  They showed up around 6.  The nurse then came in and said she would call the doctor.  But I was already at a ten.  I knew Jadyn would be there soon because I was starting to feel the pressure that came with each contraction.  I don't remember what time he showed up, but he said she was at a 3+ already when he checked me, so it was GO time!  And it really was, because I gave two 10 second pushes (through one contraction) and she was THERE!  First thing I asked the doctor was if I had torn (since I did SO BADLY with Camden).  He said it was minimal. YAY!  Devin did cut the cord this time with Jadyn….it didn't seem nearly as rushed.  They took her and she weighed in at 8 lbs 6 ounces (a FULL pound and a half SMALLER than Camden!). I think she was like 20.5 inches long.  They handed her to me after wiping her down and Devin was standing to my left.  She cranked her head all the way around to look at him because she heard him talking.  Talk about being a Daddy's Girl already :O).  She wanted to see her dad.  She also had a lot of pictures of her taken.  She was very alert and just content as can be.  She was even making faces at the camera by sticking her tongue out.

When I had Camden, I was kind of time sensitive as to when I needed to have him because I was working at Jean and Bay's and wanted the maximum time I possibly could to recuperate.  It was roughly the same with Jadyn, too.  Camden, I needed to have on a Friday and Jadyn needed to come on a Wednesday to get the maximum amount of time I wanted before working again.  Luckily, the Lord answered my prayers both times.  There is no reason but Divine Providence that it would happen that way…..I was so grateful to have that beautiful baby girl and have the maximum amount of time with her as I could.

I wanted something to eat immediately after Jadyn was born; I was just SO famished.  They said my breakfast was on the way.  Then they moved me to recovery.  Devin got his food, but mine never came and never came (kinda like the epidural--this happened BOTH mornings I was there).  I didn't get to eat until about 10:00 AM!  Ridiculous!  I could've killed someone.  And I was tired.  I didn't get to see Jadyn again until around that time as well.  There were lots of babies born that night, I guess.

Camden came the next day and LOVED her.  We gave him a little book to tell him about having a sister.  He brought her a blanket.  Jadyn also had her grandparents and Uncle Dallin visit.

Recovery with Jadyn was a MILLION times easier than with Cam.  I guess that pound and a half and minimal tearing made a HUGE difference.  I also didn't get any intrauterine infections for the first several weeks, or recurring mastitis like I had with Cam.  It was fabulous.  I mean, not that I didn't have pain, but I now know that if all of my recoveries were normal like this one, I could have several babies.  As tired as I was from the lack of sleep, it was still a dream compared to what I had been used to.  I have even hoped to get pregnant again rather soon because it was SUCH a different experience than the last.

We are grateful to have Jadyn and Camden absolutely adores her EVERYDAY.  He has never been disgruntled or angry to have her in our lives.  On the contrary, I just can't get him to leave her alone he loves her TOO much! :O)  He's going to be a great big brother to her and I hope he will always stay as kind to her and hope that she will continue to flash him the grinniest grins.  They will be little buddies and I LOVE it!

Almost ready

I was getting a little nervous because I wasn't finding any little girl clothes while I've been out garage sale shopping.  I literally had a handful of girl clothes, and all of them were too big for a newborn.  This weekend, despite the rain, and my increasing desire for staying in my bed longer each day (getting WAY more tired), I went out to see if I could get my luck to change.  I found all of this between 2-3 houses (plus some other small items) in a matter of an hour and wanted to share my spoils. We so could not afford to clothe our kids without garage sales, so I am grateful to finally have some clothes for Jadyn.  These clothes range from 0-24 months.

-17 Pajamas
-8 Shorts
-26 Pants
-18 Skirts
-3 Leggings
-8 Jeans
-15 Dresses
-2 Hats
-2 mitten pairs
-1 slipper pair
-1 bib
-9 diaper covers
-1 sock pair
-5 shoe pairs
-5 swimsuits
-14 jackets
-38 tops/shirts
-48 onesies
-2 blanket

Total items: 223

Total cost: $57     (If I would have bought even the shoes new, it would have cost me about this amount--JUST for the shoes)

Total cost per item: 25 cents

SOOO AWESOME!


We are *almost* ready!

If you want to see more great deals and ideas, check out my sister-in-law's blog weekly at: http://garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/

Follow-up

Camden was accident free today!  YAY!  We have both gotten better at reading his body cues.  He is happier, and each day I have backed off a little more to give him the chance to show he can hold it!  And I just remind him occasionally that we need to go in to the bathroom.  He doesn't always want to, because he doesn't like to stop what he's doing, but when I bring him in anyway, he knows now what he needs to do, and does it!

I think it will still be a bit of time before he is telling me he needs to go on his own, or even before he gets to a point where he can just go in and do it all himself without any aid or prompting from me, but I think he is making progress, so we are just going to keep it up!  AND, he's been doing all of this with a 101 degree fever, so he's definitely a trooper!  I actually think it's a bit helpful because he isn't as active, so we can take things slow.

The first day, we went to the potty every 15 minutes.  The second day, we went every 30 (and on this day, I started showing him a movie while he was trying to go).  The third, it was about every 40 minutes.  And now, we just go in when he start giving his shifty cues and he is able to go right away, so we don't have to sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes each time.  We still "take a break" at night, so he wears a diaper, but I am getting better at slowing his fluid intake a bit before he goes to bed, and I think that will help him to get control of himself at night.  It's awesome that we can see measurable progress and that he is happy about it!   Hopefully it will all keep up! :O)

On Potty Training

Yesterday, I wrote about Camden beginning his potty training process.  He interest has been there in the past several months, as he likes to follow both parents into the bathroom and look in the toilet while we're doing our business, but I'm afraid that maybe I missed the "window-of-opportunity" with him.  I am a believer that each child has certain time periods which are their optimal time to learn various things.

After yesterday, I really just thought we were going to have to wait until we got to the age of 3 to start potty training again, because we had 7 accidents (including one on the kitchen table), a TON of visits to the toilet, and only 1 time actually getting pee in the toilet.  This only happened when his dad was home and set him on the toilet for a while.  It seems a lot of things I try to teach Camden don't sink in until his dad (or a peer--already?!) suggests it as well.  That's why I'm glad I have a spouse--I need the reinforcement; so I can have the emotional support for me as well as the teaching reinforcement for the children.  I'm also SO very glad Camden at least went ONE time in the toilet!  But because things went so badly overall, we just decided to quit the cold-turkey-from-diapers during the night and put a diaper on (Camden has NEVER, ever in a million--or I guess just 2.5--years woken up with a dry diaper, so I think it will be some time before we can get him fully potty trained at night).  I had almost decided that maybe he wasn't ready to potty train yet, but I feel like I have to give everything 3 days before I can really know, so I think I will give it until Friday.  If there is improvement made, we will just continue, but if it's just not happening at all, we'll wait until 3 YO, which is the age I've heard is USUALLY best for little boys, since they tend to train later anyway.  Camden still isn't quite 2.5, but it would be nice to not purchase diapers for two children come June.

However, today, we have had NO accidents so far. On the other hand, the poor kid hasn't gone to the bathroom at all (and it is almost 1:00PM!!!!).  I'm not really sure how he is maintaining himself.  He has figured out that it makes mommy sad when pee ends up on the floor or in his underwear, but he hasn't figured out that it makes me HAPPY when pee ends up in the toilet.  Poor guy!  I know he is getting some of it at least.  I have also backed off a lot today.  He still gets rewards for doing what he's supposed to (for now, it's just going in to sit on the potty every 30 minutes or so--yesterday it was every 15 minutes), but yesterday may have been a little traumatizing for him because he REALLY DID NOT want to sit on the toilet; especially that many times.  I also went to check on him at 2:00 this morning (I had just finished baking bread I've been pregnancy-craving. Usually, I don't do that, promise) and he had a fever of 101.  So maybe yesterday was just an unusually difficult day anyway.

And now, as I'm finishing up this post, I am proud to announce he has still had no accidents on my floor, but has FINALLY gone in the toilet today!  WOOHOO!  Let's see how this keeps up.  Today is already a million and a half times better than yesterday, even though I have zero desire to clean the house, get myself ready, or even work on the other projects I have going on.  Potty training takes enough of my mental and emotional energy I suppose.  It has been, by far, my most aggravating parenting moment of Camden's existence.  Overall, I never had the "sticker" shock with anything of being a parent (except health-related issues such as peanut allergies, hospital stays, and the normal worrying-about-a-fever concerns. Oh and don't read this as I've never had sticker shock with ANYTHING, just because I haven't had it with parenting, doesn't mean I haven't had other difficult things. I'm not claiming any sort of perfection here), but this could have (and still may) do me in.

For you, Lindsay:
We have an Elmo potty chair that I splurged on just for the occasion.  It has the little dish they can pee in closer to the floor, but then it converts into a step stool so they can access a larger toilet or stand up at the sink, and the seat from the little potty can be moved (easily and quickly) to the big potty if you (or they) like it better.  I like it because it seems to have the best of both worlds--the little potty they can get used to at first, and then the full ability to switch it to a BIG toilet.  Don't know if it's helpful, but I think it cost us about $12 at Walmart (you're paying a little bit for the Sesame Street brand, of course, but Camden has always really liked Elmo, so it has helped us).  There are other chairs there that probably do the same convertible thing as the Sesame Street one.  Good luck!

It went through!

The documentary, "Shamed," got enough funding to begin the project!  I'm so thrilled!  Keep your eyes out for it next year around this time!


On another note, today, we begin potty training.  I had to bribe with Sesame Street to get him to wear the underwear the normal way (and not on his head) after many refusals to put them on at all.  He is now happily watching the show dedicated to the letter 'R' and we try going to the potty every 16 minutes.  Yes, 16.  He gets an M&M each time he sits on the potty (for now) and will get two for actually going while on the potty (again, for now).   If all goes well, I'm hoping we can start weaning him from that many M&M's in 2-3 days.  If all doesn't go well, let's just say I have another full box of diapers waiting for us on the top shelf of his closet.  (Before you judge me, there is nothing else that would have worked besides cookies, and one little m&m is much smaller than the cookies I make, so we're going that route)

Yesterday, for Valentine's, I made Devin breakfast pizzas for lunch and from my Facebook post: Our Valentine's dinner consisted of (everything homemade): Flat enchiladas, Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), feijao (black beans), and authentic Brazilian lemonade. For dessert: French crepes.  It was SO. so good!  And we were absolutely stuffed.


And just because I am terrible at taking video and pictures of Camden, I never include them, but whenever my sister is in town, she gets a few things.  Here is one of her videos from about a month and a half ago.  There are several songs that are never-ending in Camden's world.  'Follow the Prophet,' 'Clean-up,' 'Sing, Sing, Sing,' and this one: (He definitely LOVES songs and we regularly go through the primary songs while I'm playing the piano--one of our favorite things to do together).

I promise!

I know a lot of people aren't looking for places to donate money, but please go to this site http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/141091137/shamed-a-documentary-feature-film (it's important enough that I'm actually listing the WHOLE site) and view both videos (and while listening to the song on the first video, read the captions regarding various statistics and quotes regarding pornography and sexual addictions--as they often go hand-in-hand).  As I am a mother, spouse, sister, friend, and child, there are so many unfortunate opportunities for this to affect my own life, and I know, unfortunately, it affects many of your lives (or will) in some way or another, as well--yes, even if you don't realize it.  Please, consider making a small donation if at all possible.  This is something I believe very strongly in, and realize that there are drastic changes that need to be made in our society to help those who struggle with such addictions.  I cannot express to you enough how much I fear for our young ones who will be raised in a world where these behaviors are normalized and/or shamed; even much worse than the world in which we were brought up.  But, if we are prepared, we shall not fear (D&C 38:30), and so, I hope we can put in the necessary means NOW (namely time, attention, money, spiritual and relationship uplifting activities, etc) that will catapult us into a prepared state when dealing with this issue.  Even if you cannot donate, please spread the word to those who can so we can make sure this project gets funded (it only has 7 more days to be funded or else it is dropped).  And when the documentary arrives, make sure you get out and see it! I promise, it will be enlightening and enabling if you make that effort.

*Make sure you watch the videos!  They aren't long and they give the information to you so much better than I ever could.  I am just not very profound (as if that wasn't obvious).*

100%

Well, so far, I'm 100% for guessing the gender of our babies.  

We're halfway done with the pregnancy 

for Miss Jadyn Marie!!

*Nicole, you are the winner!

4.5 carts later

I'm not your typical food storage type girl.  I just don't like spending money on items I will not use (and will have to learn to use if, for some reason, we need to start living off of our food storage--wheat grinder, anyone?--Ok, I know there are some of you out there, but it's not me).  I homemake pretty much everything, but I just can't/won't do certain foods--not until I have to, I guess.

What I did yesterday, is a way I make up for my lack of zest in wheat-grinding and pasta-making (though I do that on occasion just because it's GOOD).  And because we live primarily on one person's salary--Devin's-- I feel it's my job to spend as little money as possible (I work teaching 12 piano lessons weekly to pay for my health insurance--and I LOVE it-- and do an elderly couple's finances because we have been working for them for a few years and they are just so close to passing it would be so difficult for their family to take it on, but in essence, I am home taking care of the child(ren) and home).  The hang up?  Couponing takes me WAY to much time. And that's time that I don't want to put in when I work what I do and want to be a mommy the rest of the time.

I started using this site and this site to make my efforts worthwhile-->minimum time that yields the maximum results. And I mean VERY little minimum time...absolutely NO MORE, and probably significantly less, that what I would do anyway to plan out meals and a grocery list for the week (I shop once per week. That is my max. I will not go more than once to the store in a week--saves money AND time, as long as I plan well).

Sorry, no pictures, but I left Smith's yesterday with 3 FULL TO THE BRIM carts (yes, they closed down an entire lane for me, and yes, they were super annoyed to have to be checking me out), and then added another from Food4Less and a half of one (which is actually a much larger cart in comparison) from Costco.  I used no coupons, but bought 285 items for $369.05.  That comes to roughly $1.30 per item.  I am sure you have watched Extreme Couponers, and they have much better percentage savings than what you are probably calculating in your head (even though I estimated saving at least $130 from what I would have spent going to Walmart for those same items), but what I have found is that they don't count the money they spend in getting those coupons, the amount of time and work involved, and the fact that much of the stuff isn't always that usable (some of them have LIFETIMES of certain product just sitting in their garage)--at least for OUR FAMILY.  Not to mention, I don't find nearly as many great coupons in the Western US as I have seen in the East.....but, like I said, I don't spend that much time on couponing.

What you don't know is that despite the fact that my husband looks almost like a stick figure, he eats as much in one sitting as my ENTIRE immediate family did at a meal during my growing-up years.  He just eats and eats....and eats.  He is often referred to as the human garbage disposal (and rightly so).  For that reason alone, we have to have SUBSTANTIAL meals to keep up with our family.  We only have 3 of us, right now, and we better watch out if we have several boys that eat as much as him.  He already eats 4+ meals per day.  It could be exhausting to keep up with; not to mention, it would literally eat us out of house and home.  We need to be able to stockpile, not wait for coupons and build up the pile over time.

But last night, I bought enough pasta noodles, canned vegetables, sugar, canned fruit, canned beans, tuna, canned tomatoes, spices and seasonings, canned chicken, and deodorant to last us a year (until next year's case-lot sales).  And enough quaker oatmeal, ramen, cheese, apples, rice, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, bananas (and I means TONS), ground beef, chicken breasts, milk, tortillas, cases of water, and butter to last us several weeks to several months (and I would have bought more of some of this stuff if I already had an additional freezer in the garage).

These are all things I use (and can therefore rotate) in meals I make or meal recipes she offers on the website, which is also a HUGE time-saver.  This also means I will have to shop for a LOT less throughout the year.  I do these HUGE shopping trips, for certain items we use regularly, a couple times per year, and then only need to purchase our produce, dairy (though not even all of it once I get an additional freezer in my garage and can start freezing more of the things that freeze well--catching my hint, Dev :O)), bread (if I don't end up making it myself--this is something I DO NOT like eating after it's been frozen), some meats, and other perishables that we need for certain meals that week.  But I plan the meals around the things with the best sales, so we continue to save money.

I'm sure some of you are saying "well, I could do better than that," but it works for us, we end up having a food storage, I don't have a lot of anxiety over it, it's quick and simple, and for us, it just works!

What things do you do to save you time and money? I am all about efficiency!

P.S.  I spent about 45 minutes (with a toddler, so that makes it take longer) planning the grocery list and meal plan, 2.5 hours purchasing, loading, and unloading the items (again, with a toddler), and 1.5 hours organizing it all (AGAIN, with a toddler, and that will NORMALLY be MUCH less because I will eventually have a very set system in our house for where all the food goes. I just haven't done my large shopping spree yet since we've been in the new house and needed to figure out exactly what I wanted to do).  Also, I do SOME coupon shopping at times using Hip2save and just by quickly going through the ads I get in the mail (we get many coupons for free in NV) to get coupons for items I buy regularly, like Silk, that never go on really good sales, and we have to have it for Camden's milk allergy.

Also, see this interesting clip if you haven't yet: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15514795.  Either way you do it, you're saving BIG!

And see my sister-in-law's website for garage sale tips and ideas.  I bought pretty much every item of furniture we have in that way and have saved THOUSANDS.  I also buy clothes, shoes, toys, etc.  Saving money is FUN!  garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/