Happy Halloween!

Kyndall the ladybug and her pumpkin. It's a cat!

This one is too funny not to share. We went to a local church's Trunk-or-Treat, and we ran into a couple of friends. As you can tell, trying to get three little ones 10 months, 14 months, and 17 months to cooperate is rather difficult. Chandler is playing with the decorations; Kyndall is screaming, and Salem is trying to figure out what is wrong with Kyndall. You should have seen 5 out of 6 parents making faces, calling names, and making funny noises trying to get all 3 to look at the camera at the same time. It didn't work.

I am Smarty Pants, and Kyndall is a ladybug. I have about half a bag of Smarties safety pinned to my pants, get it?

Kyndall, all ready to go to Trunk-or-Treat!

What did you do for Halloween? Did you dress up yourself?

I parent my way; You parent your way

Ya want to know what ticks me off? A person whom either A) has never met me or my child B) has no children at all of their own or C) someone who doesn't see my child every single day tries to tell me how to raise my child.

Yes, some of the tips are helpful, but when I tell you that that isn't the way I do it, don't tell me the same thing a couple of days later. Its still not the way I do it. Just because it worked for you does not mean it will work for me.

Oh, and another thing, if I don't ask, don't tell. Well, you can, I just probably won't listen.

I am Kyndall's mom; Chad is Kyndall's dad. We are the only two people who see her everyday and know what works, what doesn't work, what size she is in, and what shes doing. Her doctor says she is perfectly healthy- just small. No, she is not failing to thrive. Yes, she eats- quite a bit to be honest. Yes, shes small for her age, but you don't have to tell me EVERY time you see her. So what if she can still wear 3 month clothes(despite the fact that she will be 10 months on Oct. 30), that just means I'll have my little peanut a little longer.

Leap of Faith

Well, after months of going round and round with my work about my schedule and it just resulting in "We'll try our best" and nothing being done, I put my 2 week notice in. November 5 will be my last day at Super 1.

Chad and I have been talking about this for about a month or so, but this week was the final straw. I am scheduled for 2 1/2 days this week, that's only 18 hours. We can't live on my only working 18-21 hours a week. My boss asked me what would have to be done for it to make it worth my while to stay, and I told him I HAD to have at least 4 seven hour days. I don't see that as a problem because some other cashiers can and always seem to get 4-5 days a week, where as others of us only get 2-3 days a week, and we have just as much availability as the others.

It wouldn't be so much of a problem if we had someone to help us out, but when my parents live 14 hours away, his dad and step-mom both work, and his mom is 4 hours away, it makes it difficult on just Chad and I. Chad's schedule is pretty set, but he doesn't get off until after the daycare is closed.

I have put my application in at a few places for some desk/clerical work, but I haven't heard back from anyone yet. Hopefully something will become available soon.

Breastmilk: Good to the last drop

That is what I told my husband one night when he asked me why I was shaking and banging the horn of my pump against the bottle that I had just pumped 5oz into.

Now, I know some mothers decide to formula feed or can't, no matter how hard they try and how much they want to be able to nurse just can't. I have no qualms what so ever with formula. Kyndall has had her fair share of formula herself, and I was formula fed. There have also been several times, late at night, while I am up pumping that I thought about giving up and switching to formula only.

However, what I do have a problem with is people who turn their noses up when mention breastfeeding or having to go nurse their baby. Breasts were created to be a nourishing part of the body, not the sex object that society has turned it into. Why is it acceptable to post pictures of women covering themselves with their hands or hair on the cover of magazines and then putting them at eye level to small children, yet, Heaven forbid, there is a picture of a mother nursing and bonding with her child?

I have people at work and friends ask me why or if I'm still nursing and them seem to squirm when I tell them that yes, as a matter of fact, I am. My goal was to make it to at least 12 months, and I am at 9 1/2 months. The other women at work say things like, "eww, that just disgusts me" or "after having to share my body with my baby for 9 months, I want it back as soon as possible after birth." Now, that is what I call selfish.

I finally had someone(other than my doctor or Kyndall's pediatrician) actually encourage me to continue for the next 2 1/2 months. They had bought something that caused a coupon to print out for Enfamil. We had been talking about our babies, and they asked me if I would like the coupon since they didn't use that particular formula. When I told them, thank you, but no thank you, we don't use enough formula to buy a big can of it, she looked at me and said "Way to go! Most mothers don't make it to 9 1/2 months. Keep up the good work!" That made me feel really good about myself and the accomplishment that I have done.

Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, keep up the good work. You are a good mother no matter how much criticism you get from others on how you feed your child. You have to do whats best for you and your baby. That is the only way you can and will be the best mother you possible can be. Keep it up moms!

My BBC moms

So I have found this amazing group of ladies on BBC (babycenter.com). Though I don't know them in real life, I feel like I "know" them.

We all have little ones that are right around the same age, doing the same thing, and growing about the same rate. Some moms are experienced moms and others are first time moms like me. It is fun to chat with them about any and everything from the weather to our kids to sex and anything in between. Because our children are all around the same age, we can compare what our children are doing and give advice on different things that other moms are struggling with.

This group of ladies are some of my closest friends and I look forward to days when I can chat with them and miss the days that I don't get to.

Thank you ladies!

What a day!

So today wasn't a good day for me and college football. OU lost to UT by 3 points because of a bad call at the very end of the game, and Baylor lost against Iowa St. of all teams, whats up with that?! However, Tech beat #15 ranked Nebraska so I guess that's not to bad. Florida also won. Who were you cheering for? If you know anything about me, I was all about the Bears. Sic 'em Bears!

Today we took Kyndall to her first pumpkin patch. We had a pretty good time and even ran into some friends from church. However, we expected to run into some of Chad's aunts since it was at their church, but oh well. Have you gone to a pumpkin patch this season?

Kyndall with her pumpkin:

Our friends we ran into. From L to R: Salem, Seth, Kyndall.

After the pumpkin patch, we went out to Kyndall's great-grandfather's(Popple) house to help go through stuff at the house. Then we went to dinner where Kyndall ate 3 chicken nuggets, 2 nilla wafers, and a french fry. That was after she ate a WHOLE banana and had nursed twice. She also nursed after we got home...I had a little piggy today!

Tomorrow we're going to church and then probably just having a lazy Sunday afternoon.

UGH!

So today was my first day back to work since Saturday. Yes, I had 4 days off- that was good and bad. Good cause I got to spend time with my family, but bad because there was no money coming in.

Also, I hate working in the express lane. The sign says, on 3 sides, "About 12 items or less." Now, I don't mind checking someone out if they have about 14 items, but 32? Either learn to read, count, care about others, or all three. I mean come on, there are 5 other check stands open that have more room and are more capable to handle that many items, and you won't have people behind you getting upset with you or the cashier because you held up the line...

Now for some pictures:

Despite the face, Kyndall loved going down the slide.

See? This is how she normally went down.

How cute is she?!

Dr. Phil and good news

Today, while I was waiting in the waiting room for Chad to have his CT scan, Dr. Phil came on. Normally I don't want that show, but when its on a TV that you can't change the channel on, you tend to watch it. Well, the episode was about Working Moms vs. Stay at Home Moms. It was pretty interesting, and I really wanted to finish it, but Chad finally came back from his scan. There was one mom who, in a nutshell, thought that if you have to work and can't stay home with your children, then don't have children at all. Crazy? I think so! Now, yes, I'd LOVE to be a stay at home mom, but in today's economy, really? We wouldn't be able to make it and pay all our bills, eat, and have somewhat of a life. Yeah, I do get to stay at home some days with Kyndall since I am currently working part-time, which is good for me. I need time to myself away from her.

They also had a mommy blogger on the show. She created the site dooce.com. I haven't really gone to it, but from what I could gather from the show, its a pretty popular site.

Now for the good news: Chad was given a clean bill of health and can return to work on Monday!! However, his schedule is going to be 2pm- 2am. Problem with that is that the daycare Kyndall attends closes at 6, and I am not always off in time to pick her up before they close. That has caused us to come to the conclusion that I am going to have to write a letter to my boss explaining our situation and tell him that HAVE to get off no later than 5:30 so that I can pick Kyndall up from daycare. If that can not be done, that will also be my 2 week notice. Pray for an understanding boss or a full time job that will allow me to get off in time to open up.

Happy Birthday Chad!!

Today is Chad's 26th birthday. Happy Birthday Babe!


I made a birthday sign and hung it on the back doors. Kyndall picked out the balloons.



I also got him a German Chocolate cake. I bought it, but last year I did make him cupcakes.

After our little celebration, we packed our bags and the car and headed to Temple for Chad's doctors appt. It rained almost the entire way. At one point, we were going 40MPH in a 70MPH zone because we couldn't see the car in front of us. As soon as we got into Waco, I35 was at an almost standstill. I'm still not so sure what happened, but we saw 3 ambulances and 4 fire trucks once we started somewhat moving.

Once we got to Temple, Chad's mom was working on Chad's birthday dinner- Chicken 'n Dumplings...needless to say, Kyndall LOVES dumplings, but find a food that child doesn't like. LOL.

I love you

Tonight while Kyndall and I were playing, she said "I love you." I thought I was going to cry! I'm not sure if she knows what it means of not, but she sure does hear it a lot!

We got her a new toy tonight from Sam's. It is a Playskool walk and ride toy. She's not too sure about the walking part of the toy, but she sure does enjoy the spinny thing on the back/top depending on how it is set up. She will stand with it, but once it starts to roll, she falls, but she gets right back up!


Also, she has 2 new teeth with 2 more right there. She has had her bottom middle teeth for a while now, and just with in the last couple of days, her top teeth on either side of top middle have broken through, and you can see the top middle in the gums. I'm ready for this teething to be done with! I hate seeing my baby in pain like that. I guess it's a good thing we don't remember much from when we were infants!

We are leaving for Temple tomorrow after lunch so that we can go to Chad's doctor's appt. Wednesday morning. Here's hoping he gets a good report and he can return to work! Also, tomorrow is Chad's birthday.

Whats been goin on

So some of you know that my husband, Chad, has been sick for a while now. He took a week of vacation back in June right before Father's Day, and he was a little congested then but didn't think anything of it despite the fact that I told him to go to the doctor. Well, he went back to work that Monday and had to leave early, but he went back on Tuesday and his boss sent him home. He went to the doctor and they diagnosed him the pneumonia, prescribed some meds, and told him to come back on Friday. Friday comes, and hes still not feeling any better so they give him some more meds and tell him to come back on Sunday for another x-ray.

Well, Saturday morning, hes feeling worse than ever so drop Kyndall off at a friends house and head to the ER. Five hours later, they admit him with what they are diagnosing as double pneumonia and an infection on the outside of his lungs. He stays in the hospital for 4 days before coming home. Hes off work for 2 more weeks for recovery time.

Once he does go back to work, he can only work 5 hours a day on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday, we go BACK to the hospital and they readmit him, but they're not sure what he has this time. After a LONG list of tests, they decide he has mono, prescribe him more meds and send him home after 4 more days.

A week later we finally think he is well enough to go back to work...WRONG...his fever spikes back to over 102. We finally give up with the doctors here in Longview, and his mom makes him an appointment at Scott & White in Temple. After seeing 2 doctors and them doing scans and blood work, they finally figure out what caused everything. A sinus infection gone wrong. Something super simple, but the doctors here didn't think about it.

Simply put, Chad has not been to work for more than 15 hours since Father's Day. It has been rough on us emotionally, physically, and financially. He goes back to Scott & White on Wednesday, and we are hopeful that they will give him a clean bill of health and he can return back to work soon. However, God is watching over us. We have gotten some financial help from our church, my grandmother has sent us a couple of gift cards to Wal-Mart and Super 1, and then today a complete stranger paid for our groceries AND filled up our car with gas. They asked for nothing in return. we even tried to get their last name or address but they wouldn't give it to us. So if you happen to come across this and it was you, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!