Once Upon a child and donations

Working on a labor and delivery floor, you hear a ton of stories from the patients.  Some good and some bad.  It can be about anything, but the biggest one is financial hardships.  Some are genuinely struggling, and some are taking advantage of the government.

Hearing these stories from the families who are trying their best to do things right, but are struggling is heartbreaking.  It makes me reflect on how stable our home and finances are for our girls.  I always try to help others and do my best to turn a negative into a positive.

We decided to start going through all the girls stuff.  I was trying to find a good place to send it all and decided on donating some of it and selling some of it to Once upon a child.

We sold the girls infant beddings, high chairs, and some clothes to Once Upon a Child.  We also donated some clothes to Goodwill.  We plan on giving the infant car seats to someone in need (we have all the instructions and checked the expiration dates so it is safe).  We also have two convertible cribs we plan on donating too.

It feels so good to know that I am helping families in need out.  As the girls get older, I hope to set an example for them.  Once the girls understand, we plan on having them donate some toys and clothes every so often and to teach them that there are some families in need (right now we do it for them).

If you have any clothes, toys, or equipment that people may be able to use; please don't toss it.  Donate it to Goodwill or give it to someone.  Please put yourselves in their shoes before throwing things away!

Also if you know anyone in need of cribs or infant car seats, please let me know!

In the end, all I want if for a child to experience happiness.  To see them light up, just like my girls in this picture.  Every child deserves this!

School!

The girls have been going to school for three weeks now.  They cried the first three days when I dropped them off.  After the third day, they were still sad, but didn't cry when we dropped them off.

Ian does drop offs now and says they are good when they go, no tears, they give him kisses and hugs, and say I love you.  When I pick them up, they are so happy to see me, they come running into my arms.  They always turn and say, "bye friends, I love you, see you tomorrow."  They have a favorite teacher that they hug every day before we leave.  She just adores them too, we really love her!

I had a couple tears those first two weeks, I was upset for not continuing to stay at home with them, but they are so happy there!  I have snuck in a couple times to watch without them seeing me and they are full of smiles.  They are very quiet there though, they don't talk as much, but the teacher says they are the sweetest, most well behaved, and extremely polite kids she has ever met.  That made me feel so good, like I did do something right!

I have also realized that I was being to hard on myself.  they need this, they need to get more comfortable being around other kids.  They are so used to just playing with each other.  I broke down the other morning for the first time since I accepted the job back in December.  Harly was standing in the living room.  I looked at her and could see the tears forming in her sweet brown eyes.  I asked her what was wrong, she looked at me and turned her head like she was embarrassed for crying.  I told her to come to me and held my arms out.  She came running in to them, her lower lip pouting, and tears streaming down.  I held her and we cried, it hurt my heart so bad my chest was tightening.  She looked up at me and said, I love you mommy, you pick me up after nap.  I looked at her and said yes, mommy always comes back to get you.  That was it, tears gone, kisses and hugs.  I feel good about my decision because they are at the age where they can tell me about their day.  They love to talk about their day, they like to feel important now and I love it.  They also tell me everything bad that has happened that day.  There have been a couple times where they have come home and said mommy so and so hit me today, or mommy so and so stepped on my toe.  I always ask them what the outcome was.  They tell me so and so had to apologize and sit in time out.  So I know this was a good age to start them since they can vocalize and tell me.  That makes this experience a little easier.

After these three weeks, I feel that my children appreciate me so much more.  They were definitely getting bored with me at home.  Now they are so happy all the time, cuddling with us so much, always giving us kisses and hugs and they say I love you about a million times a day.  I love them so much.  I never thought I could love someone as much as I love them, and I feel like it is a thousand times more since we started school and work.  It makes you appreciate life, your spouse and children so much more.  It takes all your feelings, and emotions to a whole new level.

This has been an experience, both happy and sad, but in the end everyone is happy and that is all that matters!

Girls:  when you read this, know that in the end this was the best decision for all of us.  I want to be able to be a part of all your school activities, sports, and your life in general!  Know that yes, those two or three days at school are not what we wanted but you both love it, and we love it and love the two teachers who take awesome care of you.  You two are so busy all day playing in the indoor playground that has the big slide, playing dress up, camping, learning about colors and letters, learning about Jesus, arts and crafts, and story time.  You are so busy, you probably don't even realize I am not there!  All I want is the best for you both.  I also want you to be comfortable without me.  you are going to kindergarden in 2 1/2 years and I want you two to be comfortable around children, and to learn to socialize more.  This is the time to start and I know you are getting that experience!  Mommy and daddy are always here for you!  I love you baby girls more than words could ever tell you!

Grown up job!

I made a life changing decision last month.  A decision that affected our little family.  I was offered an amazing opportunity to be a nurse on a labor and delivery floor.  You don't get this opportunity in my field very much,  so yes I jumped on it.  Toughest decision I have had to make since having children.

I have been a part of both perspectives: the stay at home mom and the working mom.  Both of them are extremely hard jobs.  No one has any right saying the stay at home moms have it easier.  That is not true, advice to those of you who say this: do it and then make a comment.  Vice versa: if you are a stay at home mom and are making comments, go to work for a week and tell me how easy it is then.  Both perspectives are tough, it is tough raising children.  It is enjoyable and rewarding, but it is hard work no matter what you do.

We never planned for me to go back to work til our children were all in school.  So it was toughest on my husband.  He understands why I needed to do this and supports me, but I know he is worried about me!

I didn't want to go back and be stuck in an area that I don't want to work in.  I don't do well with change, so if I took a job in the area I didn't want, I wouldn't change and would probably stay there forever.  I have been watching the postings for the past three years.  They are hard to come by in the two areas that I wanted to work in.  Back in November, there was a posting.  I applied just to get an interview and practice.  Well in the end I fell in love with it and accepted the position.

Everyone was questioning my decision from my family, husband, friends, and even my new manager.  When I started my orientation, everyone asked why I went back to work, instead of staying home.  They all looked at me liked I was crazy.  I started second guessing my decision, was I being selfish?  Was it wrong of me to place my kids in someone's else's care instead of mine?

I am not selfish at all.  I have never done anything for me.  I have always done everything for everyone else.  I knew the girls needed to socialize more.  It was just us three, they didn't really play with other kids, no one has ever been the boss of them besides Ian, me, and our parents.

My reasoning for taking this job is:  I wanted to get my foot in the door in this area.  I also wanted to get all my training out of the way.  I want to get a year under my belt so that if we have more kids, I can go PRN.  Where I work PRN is: you only have to work 16 hours a month.  I want to be able to go PRN when the girls start school and/or if we have another child.  This way I am there for them everyday, I can be a classroom mom, I can go on every field trip they take.  If there is a day where there is nothing going on I can work and be done to pick them up from school.  So in the end I am not being selfish, I am doing this so I can continue to be there for them and be involved in their lives!

I will be doing two to three days a week at night.  The girls will go to school from 7-12.  Preschool there is from 9-12 year round.  I have been there for 3 weeks now and love it!  My previous job, I used to want to throw my alarm out the window, I would get so mad when it went off.  I still gave 110% at my previous job, but I was not happy.  With my new job, I wake up before my alarm even goes off.  I am so excited to go to work.  All in all I think I made the right decision for our family!

2012!

We are ringing in the new years with two sick toddlers.  So happy they got sick while the hubby was off of work!  Time to reflect on 2012.

2012 was a pretty awesome year.  The past eight years have been amazing and it's all because of the man I have gotten to spend it with.  It just got better back in 2009 when we found out we were not welcoming just one human being into this world but TWO.  This year I have been blessed with so much.  I have gotten to watch friends become mothers, I have helped strangers who are having twins with tips on how I got through the first two years.  I have been blessed with being able to stay at home since the girls were born and raise them.  My husband and I were able to get away for the night during 2012 and act like adults but also act like we were dating and enjoy one on one time together.  We have had so many good memories this year.  Its crazy how fast these years have been going since bringing the girls into this world.  some of the harder times was our move away from family, no car for 3 months, apartment living and house hunting.  But in the end when I look back those moments seem so small and it was a fun adventure for the girls.  It also shows me how fortunate we have been.  I appreciate life so much more! 

2013 may be one of the hardest years that my husband and I will endure.  But we are both up for a challenge and in the end will overcome it.  The girls will be starting preschool this year, they are growing up way to fast.  I will be enjoying this year.  I will not let the small stuff interfere with this year.  I will continue to be positive and focus on what is important.  I will continue to decorate our house so we can call it "our home", I will also do this while using things we already own.  I am so lucky to have family and friends in my life who accept me for me, who don't judge me, and who truly would be there for me no matter what.  I hope to see these people more in 2013.  Even though 2013 may be a tough year, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make it one of the best years for my little family! 


I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year.  I hope you are all blessed, happy, and healthy this year.  I hope you all will make a change for the world this year, whether it be giving that person who is having a bad day a smile, or paying it forward.  Its time to make a change and make the world a better place for our children!  God Bless you all!

Mommy obsession

My mommy obsession is the Royals.  I am obsessed with Princess Kate and Prince William!  I have always been obsessed with them since they were dating.  I know I don't know him, but from the sounds of it and just watching him, Prince William seems like a genuine person.  Someone who is going to protect his wife and take very good care of her.  I love Princess Kate because she is sweet, and from the looks of it her parents raised an amazing person.  I love her because she recycles her wardrobe.  She has reworn outfits, she doesn't pay a fortune for some of her clothes.  What other celebrity has done that?  She has all the money in the world, yet she has reworn clothes and bought a 30 dollar dress.  Celebrities are big in this world and children look up to them.  This is one person I wouldn't mind my children looking up too.  (Yes, yes I know she has billions of dollars and had a very exprensive wedding, that could have been given to charities or a lot of people in need.)  Yes, my children and I watched the wedding!  They may have only been 11 months, and have had no idea what was happening but we had a royal party that day!

So, when my sister texted me and told me she was pregnant, the girls and I had a little dance party for them.  At nap time I decided to jump on the computer real fast, and read she was in the hospital with severe morning sickness.  It sent me back to when I was pregnant and on zofran for a while.  Maybe she is having twins?  How exciting would that be?  It would not be so exciting for the second twin though :(.

I stalk their website often, and wish Kate would start her own blog, I know this will never happen though!  Oh how I would love to meet both of them.  I would love to meet Prince Harry too, he seems like he gets along with everyone.  I am pretty sure he would never want to hang out with a mommy!

So there, I confessed to my obsession! 

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge website