Thats it....

I have said it so many times...

but this time..

is FOR REAL...

I

AM

SELLING

MY

WEDDING

DRESS

!

I know a ton of your jaws just dropped to the floor, 

so let me explain...

I do like to keep certain things, that hold alot of memory..

But,

I also am a bit OCD....

I luuuuurve to clean out, throw away, organize, and condense...

I am always labeling, & listing.

I can't stand the feeling of clutter.

I thought about saving my dress...

My mother saved hers.. and by the time I needed one. it was sooooo

out of style, yellowed, and not my size....

So I thought.. why?

I have a Mary's Dress...

It was expensive...

It was worn once.. and will never be worn again...

and... ITS TAKING UP SPACE.

So ..... I'm selling it...

There is a store about a half hour away that only sells used wedding dresses...

I have heard of people having luck using that store

so next week.... 

I will be heading there, with my dress.

THIS DRESS

Walking down the Isle with my father

But first.... 

I'm going to try it on ...just one more time

It's going to be big on me... I weighed about 22 pounds more at my wedding then I do now

but... just for fun, and maybe a tear or two.

It's a lifesaver

THE MESH FEEDER

I know some bloggers have talked about their hate for these little pieces of plastic & netting, and to each their own, I for one.. and in awe of them.

If you follow me on twitter (@mrsstethoscope) you have heard that E is cutting

her top tooth(this will be her third tooth).

It has been a real nightmare rollercoaster,

to say the least. 

Girlfriend has been chewing on EVERYTHING

we went out to grab a bite to eat the other day,

thank goodness I had a

 TABLE TOPPER

 with us

she was literally biting the side of the table to a good 10 minutes.

The one thing that seems to ease her gum pain,

and keep her very occupied

while also letting her feel like "Miss Independent" 

is her MESH FEEDER.

We love this thing. Seriously!!!!

Every night after dinner while she is still in her highchair

we give it to her.

Usually its filled with a piece of peeled apple, or pear.

However I quickly learned that she prefers it to be frozen.

It actually leaves a tiny red rash around her mouth

because its cold... but SHE LOVES IT.

She chews on it until it turns to mush and then sucks 

on the mush until there is really nothing 

left inside the netting.

We are going to try adding new fruits/veggies 

over the next few weeks. 

About a month ago she actually had her first

"REAL tantrum" when I took it from her, 

only to refill it.

She freaked out, cried like she just got stung by a bee.

Do you have a favorite teething/occupying/chewonthissomommycanblog tip?

Giveaway Alert

I'm almost at 100 followers..

As soon as I hit 100

there will be a favorite things  

GIVEAWAY

She's Growing

E is almost 8 months old...

Just seeing that while typing is enough 

to give this momma a heart attack.

We have covered alot of new things this month

Foods

Avocados

Blueberries

Green Beans

Apple Juice

We have also introduced the following in the way

of finger foods

 (which was very nerve wracking for the mother who is deathly scared of choking)

Whole wheat Bread

Watermelon

Peaches

Cheerios

She even got to taste her first Snoball 

(for those of you up north that is just a "sno-cone")

 thanks to the 90 degree weather!

We had our first picnic lunch

first time wearing sunblock

and first time going nakey (only a diaper) in the yard

We are looking forward to going to gammies and getting in the sprinkler, swimming in some pools, and crawling.

Yes I said it.. I am excited for my girl to become mobile.. I know it means more work.. but what about all of this isnt work? She is trying pretty hard to get the hang of it.. and I think it will be soon.

Currently we are working on the third tooth (first top one).. this one.. 

way worse then the bottoms.. its very swollen, and looks like a blister

on her gums so I'm thinking it will be through any day.

Easter Photos

Just a few of the hundreds we took of Baby's First Easter 

she enjoyed the tissue paper more then the gifts

BLANK

With everything that has gone on lately

and all the doctors appointments

between E and hubs...

I am just kinda getting back into 

the normal everyday groove

Hubs should be going back to work

the end of the week, which of course

will throw a curveball into the 

everyday groove I just

spoke of.

However, all that said

I'm hitting a blogging blank

I have a ton of half written blogs

and lots of ideas.. its just finishing them.

So I will leave it up to you

My faithful readers...

What do you want to hear about,

or better yet..

we could make this a Q & A

Anything you have been wondering 

about us...

Ask away!

Looking for deals

Since money has been kinda tight around here

I have been searching for deals at

local consignment stores

we have tons around here.

Want to see what I got

$1.00

$1.25

we needed  something to hold the toys
$18

was brand new still in box $11

Tubes

I was putting E to bed, last wednesday night.. and I was nervous. It was the night before 

her surgery, and I didn't know what the morning would hold.

The doctors told me that should couldnt eat or drink anything after midnight

this worried me the most. I knew she couldn't make it that long

and I just kept thinking about her screaming and screaming.

Earlier in the day I called a friend who is Anesthesiologist, 

I wanted to hear what she thought about this.. I had read some articles 

that didnt line up with this. She agreed that I could feed her

after midnight. Basically Breastmilk is considered a "clear fluid"

and the NPO (nothing by mouth) orders for infants are

4 hours before surgery is the last time they can eat, after 4 hours

there will be no Gastric residual content.

I was so thankful to hear this, and I fed her around 2am

she seemed to do fine waking and getting ready to leave without eating.

I got some new toys to but with her in her seat to keep her busy for the ride.

We got to the hospital, checked in.. and they put us in the waiting room

a few minutes later they took us to a prep room.

The got her vitals, we signed some consent forms, me all the attending physicians, 

Then I headed to the surgical wait area.

My hubs took her back to the OR, 

I knew I wouldnt be able to hold it together watching her struggle as 

they placed the mask over her face to put her to sleep

He came soon behind me, and said she was out.

we waiting MAYBE 8 minutes and then they came and got us

and told us she was in recovery. We had already been warned that babies wake from anesthesia 

VERY angry, but nothing, NOTHING could have prepared

me for what I saw next. I walked through the isolette entrance

and I could hear it. It was a painful, blood curdling scream.

The kind you hope you never have to hear from

you baby. There was a nurse holding her, she was flailing her arms, and arching her back.

She was screaming so hard at times no sound was coming out.

My heart literally broke into a thousand pieces. 

I'm sure she was scared, I know how awful that feeling is coming out of anesthesia

being disoriented, nauseas, and hungry, and to top it all off.. she was surrounded by scary 

people she didnt know.. no mommy or daddy there.

I wanted to snatch her right out of that nurses arms

BUT,

they wouldn't give her to me..

they kept saying I needed to sit down, and put on a gown,

in case she vomited on me.

Um hellooooooooo.. Im her mother.. it wouldn't be the first time

she threw up on me.. and so what if she did

just GIVE.HER.TO.ME...NOW!!!!!

They finally did, and she did calm down a bit, but still was screaming hysterically.

They said most of the time when babies leave the unit they stop crying.

Not my girl, she screamed the whole ride home, and for the first hour being home

until she just fell asleep in my arms.

Getting that upset caused her reflux to flare horribly, (the reflux I was pretty sure

up until that point she had grown out of... guess not)

she began refluxing every 5-8 minutes, for the next 2 hours. 

If your not familiar with reflux, basically she would burp and then

you would hear acid in her throat like carbonation and she would scream and cry 

for about 2 minutes from it.

I gave her all the meds I could to help it

she pretty much had to just wait it out.

it was torture seeing her like that.

By that evening she began to calm down

the refluxing had subsided to about once an hour. 

She was able to sleep that night.. thankfully!

NOW, she is doing much, much better. we are still putting the drops

in her ears twice a day, and she has to wear ear plugs when in the tub.

We are already seeing lots of improvement since the surgery.

Sleeping is better

Eating is better

Nursing is better

Playtime is better

It's amazing how much better she feels, which does make me very

happy but also sad to think she must have been in that much discomfort.

All of the sudden she is babbling and talking up a storm,

she has gotten louder

and bubblier too!

At her pre-op we found that she had almost 45% hearing loss

I was very upset to hear of this.

I can already tell her hearing is improved since the surgery, and the fluid has drained.

She must be able to hear herself now, and I don't have to call her name as loud

anymore to get her attention.

As tough as it was to go through.. I am so happy we did it, and I am so happy to 

know my girl is feeling better now!

Thank you all for your kind words, through emails, and twitter.. and all the prayers the day of surgery!

For what ails you.

I wanted to share a recipe with you all

It's great for the following things

Pregnancy Nausea 

Heartburn

Morning Snack

{with added ingredients} A COCKTAIL!!!

Cantaloupe Crush 

1 C Cantaloupe cubes

1/3 C Pineapple chunks

1/4 C Orange juice

1/2 C frozen or canned Peaches

1 Tbsp Sugar

3 Ice cubes

{opt... 1-2 shots Malibu Rum}

Whirl all ingredients together in a blender until smooth

A new week!

Tomorrow I start back on my CRAZY strict diet.. 

so basically what this means is I am eating everything in sight today!

E has added a new food to the ones she eats

We are now throwing green beans into the mix

O and cheerios, she loves them

maybe even more then puffs!

Planning to get pics done with the

Easter Bunny this week

however I have to look around because 

the one at our mall is very scary looking

Excited for this weeks Bethenny ever After....

Love her!

Etsy Sponsor Highlight

If you haven't heard I am thrilled to have Leap of Faith Designs join me as a sponsor. 

Are you looking for a birthday, Baby Shower, or Just Because Gift? 

You may be able to find just what your looking for at Leap of Faith Designs Etsy store.

What about a gift for the little man in your life? How adorable are these Tie shirts

Want a personalized gift?

Check out the Customizable Pillow Cases

These pillowcases can be customized to match your child's bedroom. You choose the theme, and the colors!

Check out Leap of Faith Designs Facebook page to all of the latest 

store happenings

4 Years!

4 years ago

I said "I Do"

to a Wonderful Man

who has not only been an Amazing Husband

but has become an Outstanding Father

an irreplaceable Best Friend

and a lifelong Soul Mate 

We were 2 very different people then

and we have become 2 very different people now

When we first got married we were living in a basement apartment

making very little money, trying to pay off all sorts of debt.

Now we own our own home, I am a part time working MOMMA, he is a fulltime law enforcement DADDY.

somehow we still have very little money...

but we have this beautiful girl...

Who has become OUR WORLD.

There is something so heart warming, and tear jerking about seeing your husband

interact with his little girl

It's not something I can explain really.. although whenever I see those

two together.. I know All is right in the World!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Update

Surgery went well.

E had a slight reaction to the anesthesia , which last much longer then the doctors told us it would

Hopefully she will start doing better

I have already noticed she nurses better since the tubes went in

A full surgery re-cap to be posted later

7AM

Tomorrow is the big day

E's Surgery is scheduled for 7:20

I think I'm Nervous, of course I am... I'm her momma

I'm actually more nervous about how she will act when she wakes up and I cannot feed her.

I wonder how upset thats going to make her?

Excited? Well yes, In a way I am.. She will not be in pain anymore

I am excited to see how well she sleeps tomorrow night, once all of the pressure is relieved.

-------

I think she must know I was a bit worried, and so she gave me a special surprise tonight.. I was in the bathroom taking off my make-up, and brushing my teeth. She kept looking down the hallway for me, and I heard her making the noises she makes when she is looking for someones attention.. I obviously wasn't giving her enough.. so as I was about to turn off the light an walk out.. I heard...

Mmmm Mmmm MUM-MUHHH

I jumped out of the bathroom and yelled for the hubs.. "did she just say momma?".. He said he thought he heard her too.. I walked over to her and said.."Say Momma".. She started mimicking my mouth movements, with a huge grin on her face.. "Say Momma".. I said it again.

She looked up at me with a huge cheesy smile.. and ... she said it.

"MOMMA!!!!"

Her new favorite "spot"
Don't look at the messy sheets that are not smooth..

New Design!

Notice anything different?

How could you not..

Thanks to the extremely talented Katie

My blog is back up and running, with a whole new look.

In need of a new blog design? Check her out.. she did an excellent job, and had it designed and installed very quickly!

Under Construction

I know it looks like a disaster area on my blog.. don't worry it will be back soon.. with a whole new facelift!

Surgery Update

Yesterday we saw E's pediatrician and as we suspected another Ear infection, so the doctor is putting her on a high dose of antibiotics every day until the surgery. She was very surprised they were making us wait until the end of them month given the circumstance.. so she made a phone call to the ENT.

Late last night the nurse from the ENT's office called me ans said after speaking to the pediatrician they wanted to bring us in tuesday (today) for a pre-op & hearing test, and they have opened up thursday morning for surgery.

While I am VERY nervous, I am also very relieved that my sweet girl will not be in pain all the time anymore.

I am also excited that we can all get start getting some sleep soon!

Thank you all so much for your kind words, and emails, and prayers!

When will it be over?

I am honestly DRAINED. I really am, I almost feel like if my daughter wasnt 7.5 months old that I could fit the description of a mom with a touch of PPD.... The past month has been a nightmare, it really has. Evey time E seems to be doing better, then she gets worse. We saw the ENT to schedule the surgery for tubes, which is at the end of the month. Not more then 3 days after finishing this last round of antibiotics (the 2 one this time around) the ear infection has returned. We are literally up all night. As soon as she is flat down in her crib again, she is creaming in pain. I was so happy because while she was on this last med she was doing so good only waking once at night, so so happy during the day, and overall doing great.

I hate, HATE seeing her in pain all the time. It was bad enough that the first few months of her life were spent in tears (both her and myself) over her severe reflux, and now all of these ear infections. It seems to me like everyone she gets is a bit worse then the last. I hate that I cannot really do much for her, but hold her, and try to comfort her.

The other thing thats really getting me lately, are the nasty comments I get when asked if my girl sleeps through the night. Well no she does not, but I feel that her circumstances are different that that of a perfectly healthy baby. Even my pediatrician agrees with me that I cannot expect that out of her, with everything she has gone through. I cannot stand when moms tell me to just let her cry it out. Honestly even if I wanted to... have you ever tried letting a baby with reflux cry it out???? Its not a pretty picture, 2 am pulling all the sheets off the crib, changing jammies, and re-feeding because all of her stomach contents have now made an appearance in the crib and on the child. I do wish she was sleeping through the night, because Lord knows momma is running on empty.. but I also know that my job as her mother is to make sure she feels safe, and to protect her, and comfort her when she is in pain. Theres no way in hell I'm letting her scream for hours in her crib because she is in pain.

When her ears are under control she does great, and sleeps from 7p-8a with only waking once... So when her sleep is messed up I know something is up... and yea I will get up and rock her if it means she is in less pain that way.

I also received an email telling me to get over it, (regarding the tubes) its just a simple procedure and there are many other children going through much more difficult things. Lets get one thing straight... I KNOW THIS. I realize that in the big picture this is a small thing.. but to me it's big. I am so so so thankful every day that all my daughter has to deal with is reflux, and re-occurant ear infections. I am thankful she is home with me and not in a hospital bed somewhere.. BUT, again.. as her mom this is huge for me.. and it kills me that at least once a week we are in the doctors while they are digging in her ears, and she is letting out blood curddling screams because it hurts. But (back to the email) No I wont just get over it.. my tiny 7 month old girl has to be put under anesthesia and that right there.. scares me to death.

To put it all in perspective though.. as much as I am afraid I also cannot wait for the surgery so she can get the relief she needs.

I really hate to complain and I know usually my post's are pretty upbeat.. but I just needed a chance to vent. Its been a real tough week, and it's taking its toll... on my house... which is a pure mess, my marriage... since I know E will be up all night screaming I try to go to bed as soon as I put her down to get in at least and hour or two, and I know being stressed out I have been quite bitchy to my poor husband... my checking account.. as I have had to call out of work 1 too many times, and to top it all off.. I feel like it has been rainy or gloomy all month???


However like I said before.. I just have to remember to thank God every day for my sweet girl and the fact that she does not have any life threatening illnesses, and that all of this will go away soon!

Baby's First Easter...

Little Miss E has already been getting some 

Baby's First Easter gifts.

This one if from her Nana

It's so pretty I really can't

even think about her putting it on 

TO EAT..

Can be found at mudpie.com

Then a sweet lady at our church put together 

an Easter Goodie bag for E

It included, 

Bunny hat

Bunny rattle

sunnies

hairclips

a doorhanger

and a Giftcard

Party of three... or maybe more?

The hubs, E, and myself went out to eat 

a few days ago at Outback.

 E was in a highchair eating some puffs, 

while we were chatting over the drink menu. 

The restaurant was pretty crowded for a weeknight

they were running on a 30 minute wait time to be seated.

So needless to say we were eager to eat our meal

and chill after waiting for a while.

As we were sitting there

a young-ish girl (13?)

was running behind an even younger girl (2?)

back and fourth from their table

which was a few behind ours to the bathroom.

The first few times they past

the little girl just giggled and screamed

and would motion to E and say "Baby!"

Then our food got delivered to our table

we were eating, and enjoying the evening

when what do you know the 2 girls are back

but this time they decided to stop at our table

The older girl picked up the younger girl

and brought her close to E, saying "See the baby"

and the little girl would giggle.

I however was not giggling

She was cute and all, but I already entertain one

 "non english communicator" all day

I really don't need another one at dinner 

who is a stranger to us.

The two girls continued back and fourth in the isle 

and would keep stopping at our table.

At this point I was getting very annoyed, the first couple times

I would smile, and say hi to the small girl

but now, I mean come on.. 

we are trying to have dinner

and for realz where are your parents kid??

The final time they stopped at our table

they tried "petting" my daughter..

lets get a few things straight here

First.

We came out to a restaurant to enjoy dinner 

just the three of us, 

and while I realize this place is full of other people

they are not crowding my table

If you guys keep coming back 

there prolly gonna add you to my tab.

Second

The thought kept crossing my mind

as to where... are your parents.

I would never let my child frequent the table of strangers 

at a public place

it's weird
it's rude
and it's annoying
again... WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?!?!

Third

and possibly the most important

While I am flattered you think my child

is adorable and I'm perfectly fine with 

you talking to her.

Please DO NOT ever think it is ok 

to touch her, and also petting?!?!

thats what you do to a cute puppy dog, 

or a newborn kitten

NOT to my 7 month old

and especially NOT with your

sticky ketchup hands and snot on your face. 

I'm a germaphobe who hates when random people just

touch my child.

I felt the same way about the whole thing when I was pregnant

regarding the whole

"touching the belly"

I just don't understand it

No you cannot touch my belly

and no you cannot touch my child.

THE END

Communication

I have started signing with Miss E

so far we are working on

Milk

image from babysignlanguage.com

we are also doing the sign for 

MORE

image taken from babysignlanguage.com

Once this girl gets the hang of it, Im sure she will quickly learn they would benefit her to add them together in the same sentence!!!!!

All this baby signing is making me think of

  Meet the Fockers.. 

when little jack signs about milk & poop 

Ear, Nose, & Throat.... o my

After waiting many long weeks, we finally had our appointment with the ENT. I was nervous the whole day wondering what he would say, and the outcome of the appointment. We got to the office and waited an hour to see the doctor, it was past naptime, my girl was melting down, and I knew this was not going to be fun.

They took us back in the room, and then we waited some more. I has pretty much exhausted all of my "keep her occupied" options. We read a book, ate a mum-mum, looked out the window, walked the hall, and now she was every bit of a tiredmeanieletmesleepnow girl.

The doctor came in, looked in her ears.. which of course set off a cry bomb. Then a nurse came in to get some sound wave readings on her ears. The doctor said the infection was gone but the ear canal was still full of fluid. He told us that his criteria for tubes is more then 5 infections in 12 months or more then 4 in 6 months, well we are at number 5 and she just turned 7 months.

He suggested we go ahead and set up the surgery for the tubes. Of course it sounds like a great idea,no more running to the pedi for antibiotics every few weeks for another infection. However my girl.. she loves her some bath time, in her ducky tub, and now she will have to be very careful with bath water, it cannot get in her ears, so she will have to wear ear plugs.. not sure how well that will go.

The part that stresses me out just thinking about it, is the anesthesia, she will only be 8 months at the time of the procedure. Being a nurse I am very familiar with anesthesia both general and local, I realize people undergo procedures that require it all the time, but I also understand there are risk's associated.

I know that she will wake from it very angry, because she will be so disoriented, and scared. This part also worries me. I know how strange of a feeling it was for me when I woke up from being under, its not fun.. but for a baby It must be a scary situation. The doctor says within a few hours post procedure she will be back to her normal self, and we wont have to deal with ear pain any longer. She may still get infections but will no longer need oral antibiotics just ear drops to clear it up.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have my medical background when it comes to parenting, then I would know all of the risk's involved, and have read the case studies, or seen things go bad. I also wish that being a parent didn't mean I had to make so many tough choices. I know this may not seem like anything big, but there are just so many things about this that worry me, including the part where they take her from me before she is out, I have seen this so many times working in the hospital, and the mom is crying and the child is scared and crying...

O how I wish this could all be over. My poor girl just hasn't gotten a break, its been one thing after another for her. She has had so many trips to the doctors office, so many medicines, and so many visits to the hospital... when will this part be over, when can she just feel well?

Final Blog sale of the season

This is the final blog sale post, then everything is going to the consignment store, so I can make room for my new mom hips wardrobe. You know how this works, leave a comment or email me at mrsstethoscope@live.com. Shipping is $5 with additional add on items $2 shipping.

Jcrew Vintage Matchstick "busted" jeans 

Size: 25S

$45

Black boutique dress 

Large

(ribbon is light pink)

$20

Victoria Secret

Medium

Grey lounge pants

$10

Apostrophe size 9

$10

*NEVER WORN*

Studio 1940 $10

*only worn a few times*

Predictions $7

Carters NWT 3pc outfit

size:9months

$7

Zinc by Victoria Secret

brown gaucho pants

Large

$9

Gap long & lean 8L

$8