My Blog Is MOVING….

Since I am no longer pregnant, I thought it would be appropriate to start a fresh, new blog! I will still be keeping this one, but it will mainly be for myself to blog and gain extra contest entries. (Hey, at least I am being honest!)

I am VERY excited about my new blog. though. It will have more features for my readers, such as a GFC widget so you can follow, etc. I also have web-hosting now and my own domain, so it offers more reliability.

I am also making a shift in content. I will still have personal posts so you can get to know me and my family, but I will be focusing more on reviews and giveaways.

So please hop on over and follow my new blog Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3! I am just getting it set up and importing some content, but bear with me, I hope to have some fresh, new content soon!

Oh, and tell your friends! As soon as I reach 100 GFC followers, I have an awesome giveaway in the works!

What Is Love…After Marriage and Babies?

So Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and that means all the heart shaped boxes of candy are on the shelves everywhere you look, jewelry ads are all over the TV and in magazines, and love is in the air…. But while all of these Valentine’s Day rituals are a lot of fun, it seems more people do these things out of obligation rather than out of a genuine love for their partners. Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not Anti-Valentine’s Day by any means…I think it’s wonderful to celebrate being in love, and I am definitely all for acts of kindness and romantic gestures of any sort. But it seems that these things tend to occur one silly day per year, and love is something that in my humble opinion, should be shown often, without reason or expectation, 365 days a year.

So that leaves me with the question of the ages….What exactly IS this thing we call love? Some people claim is is nothing more than a chemical reaction in our brains. A release of endorphins or oxytocin…That love is merely something scientific. Others claim that love is a fairy tale like existence, where they are swept off of their feet and live happily ever after with a man who cooks, dotes on them and basically treats them like a goddess until death do they part…Some others claim that love is nothing more than lust in disguise, and when that fades we are all basically the victims of serial monogamy and on the hunt for our next one and only.

I, however, disagree with the above theories.  My definition of love is something far more complex and far more simple all at the same time. Maybe it’s because it took me so long to find it. Maybe it’s because I did my fair share of kissing frogs before I found my prince. I didn’t know love, okay, let me rephrase…I didn’t know REAL, unconditional love until I reconnected with the man who is now my husband almost 6 years ago. And when I found him, I wasn’t even looking for anything, and my whole opinion of love in general was a little jaded and bitter, after having gone through an abusive marriage. When I found my Noodle, it hit me like a ton of bricks that THIS was different, and was what so many people spend their whole lives looking for and that few are fortunate enough to ever find.

My life isn’t full of flowers and candle-lit dinners…I don’t get serenaded or read poetry….I don’t get fancy jewelry or gifts….But what I DO have, in my mind, is far more special and more rare than that. It may not be glamorous or the stuff of romance novels, but here is what I have…This is what love is to me:

I have a man who knows me inside out and can finish my sentences and read my thoughts. We can communicate without saying a word. Yep, that’s how we roll. I think it’s pretty darn special, myself!

I have a man who can laugh at me when I am worrying too much and can snap me back to reality.

I have a man who does things like break into spontaneous dance, and while it is sometimes done at the most inappropriate time, it always makes me laugh.

I have a man who makes me feel safe and protected.

I have a man who, even while angry, has never once called me any names.

I have a man who loves to snuggle and doesn’t care who knows it.

I have a man who knows the worst things about me and loves me anyways.

I have a man who has no problem doing dishes, doing laundry, or helping out with household chores. And he does so without a single complaint. He may not always do the BEST job, but at least he tries!

I have a man who changes diapers, makes bottles, and meticulously packs his own diaper bag.

I have a man who always puts his family’s needs first, and does his best to make sure we’re taken care of.

I have a man who, no matter how tired, always finds the energy to play with the babies or wrestle with my 10 year old.

I have a man who goes out of his way for those he cares about. He has a big heart, even though he might not want people to know it.

I have a man who spent 2 back to back pregnancies cleaning up vomit from my hellacious morning sickness, put up with my raging hormones, and did it all with a smile.

I have a man who literally walked away from many toxic people and things for the sake of wanting to be a family. His lifestyle did a complete 180, and he made this choice on his own, and without regret.

I have a man who always makes sure my oil changes, etc, are up to date.

I have a man who can assemble things. This comes in handy.

I have a man who has a wonderful sense of humor.

I have a man who is slow to anger, and even slower to act out in an angry manner. He is incredibly laid back.

I have a man who puts things in perspective for me when I cannot seem to do so myself.

I have a man who, when looking at his children, absolutely melts. When I watch him with his babies, I fall in love with him all over again.

I have a man who while I was pregnant was willing to indulge any wacky preggo craving I may have had…even at 2:00AM, even in the snow.

I have a man who completes me. He is the make version of ME. We complement each other perfectly.

I have a man who lets me be ME, and to him, that’s always good enough.

This is what love means to me. Yes, my life is full of screaming babies, poopy diapers, bills we can barely pay and the stresses of everyday life. Will there be roses or jewels for me this Valentine’s Day? I highly doubt it. I doubt we will even be able to go out to dinner. With 2 small babies, a 10 year old, and only 1 income, we can’t afford it. But I am not disappointed. This Valentine’s Day (and every day) I am content with the knowledge that I am married to my best friend. I have someone I can lean on, who loves me unconditionally and will for the rest of my life. To me, love isn’t about what material things you can give someone. Love is about the gift of one’s self, and this is a gift he gives me and his children on a daily basis.

What are your plans this Valentine’s Day? What is YOUR definition of love?

WINNER!

Sorry for the delay in choosing a winner for my Wildtree with Amanda giveaway. We had a medical emergency that needed to be attended to, but all is well, and things turned out alright. Without further ado, my randomly selected winner out of 83 comments was comment #49, Emma Peel!

Emma said: daily tweet 1/21 http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/28466401794588673

Congrats, Emma! I know you will LOVE this product as much as I do! I will be e-mailing you shortly. Please respond within 48 hours so I can forward your info to the sponsor. If I don’t hear from you, I will be forced to choose another winner.

Thanks to all who entered! Keep your eyes open for future giveaways and reviews!

A HUGE Fluffy Raffle For A Wonderful Cause At Fabulous Family Reviews!

As a mom, this cause touched me, and when offered the chance to spread the word, I jumped on it.  As a lot of fellow bloggers already know, Shannon of Coupon Mommy of 3’s world has literally been turned upside down. Around Christmas time, they found out their daughter, Emily, has  stage IV ganglionuer oblastoma, a type of cancer.  Shannon and her family have been through so much, and are now dealing with taking Emily for chemo and other necessary medical treatments. Over at Fabulous Family Reviews, there is a HUGE raffle event to benefit Shannon and her family while they focus on taking care of their little girl. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Shannon, and will help her family with travel expenses, medical expenses, time off of work, and whatever else they may need during this difficult time. Please take the time to check it out and enter. Every little bit helps! And FYI- Get a load of the prize packages! There is a LOT of good stuff being donated for this event by very generous sponsors. I do not know Shannon personally, but she is a FB friend of mine, and I have followed her blog for quite some time now, and she is a wonderful, kind person who has always been there to help others and is a wonderful role model for her children. Plus, she is a fellow Virginian, and we Virginians have to stick together!

]This is all for little Emily

You can read about Emily’s story here.

Shannon’s blog

Shannon’s Facebook page

Shannon’s Twitter

Here are some important details:

To enter this giveaway a mandatory $5.00 ($5 = 1 entry) donation is required.  All money is going directly into Shannon’s paypal account.  Click here to donate.

• For every $1.00 over the $5.00 mandatory entry you receive another entry.  Ex. donate $10.00 and receive 1 entry for the first $5.00 and 5 more entries for the other $5.00, total would be 6 entries.
• Must be 18 or older to win.
• This giveaway is open to US and Canada. However some sponsors are not able to ship to Canada.  In that case I (Melissa from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways) will be the go between and have the items shipped to me and then I will ship to Canada.
• Sponsors and bloggers ARE allowed to enter. Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways will be the only one with access to the entries therefore they will not be eligible to win.  Everybody else is fair game.
• You MAY win up to TWO packages. If random.org picks you twice I will allow it but if you are lucky enough to be picked a third time then it is somebody else’s turn to win.
• If you are a sponsor or blogger and you win the item you have donated it will be separated from the prize package and be raffled off via random.org as a single prize to all other entrants.
• If you have any questions at all please email Melissa from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways at fabulousfamilyreviews@gmail.com
• Feel free to comment on this post but it will not count as an entry unless you fill out the giveaway form posted below.
• If you have not entered a giveaway from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways before it’s really simple.  Just fill out the form and add up your entries at the end.  ALL entries will be verified.
• Here is a Link to all Sponsor’s websites, Facebook pages, Twitter pages, and blogs.
• You also get an extra entry for following all participating blogs on Google friend connect, twitter, and ‘Liking’ them on Facebook.  So be sure to hop around all blogs below for up to 3 extra entries for each participating blog.

Click on the ChipIn Widget below to donate.  After you donate Click  HERE to fill out the entry form.  If you have any questions at all please email Melissa at fabulousfamilyreviews@gmail.com

http://arel=

Thanks!!!!

“http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=31188“>

Now on to the fun stuff!!  The prizes you can win!

Cloth Diapering Package #1

FuzziBunz one-size diaper from Wee Little Changes

Small wetbag in either cars print or vines print (winners choice) from Green Bumkin

1 gender neutral diaper from Mud Butt Cloth Diapers

Bag of Rockin’ Green from Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent

Fitted diaper, winner’s choice of in stock diaper or a custom one from Wee Expressions

$25 Gift Certificate from Sew Crafty Baby

Limited Edition diaper (only two of a kind!) from Knickernappies

Wool Longies (boy or girl colors) from Babee Greens

Diaper kit including The Champ diaper, wipes, wet/dry bag, and pail liner from GoGreen Pocket Diapers

$15.00 Gift Card to the The Fruit of Her Hands

2 Little Bundles from AppleCheeks

$5 gift card from HootHootBaby

Cloth Diapering Package #2

Limited Edition diaper (only two of a kind!) from Knickernappies

$5 gift card from HootHootBaby

bumGenius 4.0 onesize pocket diaper from Jennifer’s Cloth Diaper Boutique

Go, Baby, Go! 14″ X 12″ Hot Pink wet bag with orange and lime stripes from Gina Turella Garcia- Go, Baby, Go! Independent Consultant

2 size Medium gPants, a bag of gRefills and a package of gCloth from gDiapers

$10.00 gift certificate to The Ginger Kid

Happy Heinys OS Snaps Puppy Print from Cute N Fluffy Cloth Diapers

$15.00 Gift Card to the ali AND swan

6 pack of organic prefolds with 2 covers and a roll of biosoft flushable liners from Bummis

Wetbag from Prairie Tales, LLC

LolliDoo Diaper Anonymously donated

Bag of Rockin’ Green from Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent

Fluff’s Enough donated a set of Tree Huggin Momma’s fleece liners. (*Not pictured)

1 size Medium BabyKicks Hemparoo Joey-Bunz PREMIUM donated by Life With My Littles(*Not pictured)

Cloth Diapering Package #3

Pack of 6 Charlie Banana 2-in-1 eco-diapering system from Charlie Banana

24 oz bag of detergent from Eco Sprout

Cloth Diapering Package #4

Good to Go package from SoftBums

Baby Package

Pacific Moby Wrap from Moby Wrap

Key Fob from BabyBug Creations

Carnival bloom bib & burp cloth set from Designer Bub

Aden & Anais Diwali – Bamboo Muslin Swaddles 3 pack from Kelly’s Closet (DiaperShops.com)

Winner’s choice of hat from SweetPeas An Bumpkins

Custom shoes, size and print from Clothbaby.org

Fabric covered wipes case from BabyBug Creations

(1) pair of Rock-a-thigh baby socks in winners choice of color from All American Baby Boutique

Custom diaper/wipe case from BabyBug Creations

Gift Basket – Items will include some crinkles, loopies, soakers, reusable lunch sacks, cloth wipes and some baby balm from Hen House Creations (*Not pictured)

Toddler Package

Musical Gear Center toy from Playskool

Toddler Pillow from BobbleRoos

Custom appliqued shirt/onesie from Tiny Toe Creations

Winner’s choice of ERGObaby carrier and color choice from ERGObaby

$25.00 Gift Card to The Head said

10 Handmade Birthday invitations of any Disney Character from Moms Saving Money

1 green children’s edition of the i like book

$15 gift certificate to EcoMom

Denim apron from Five Talents Boutique

Girls Package

Custom tutu and matching flower clip from Little Miss Posh

Two girl style pair of BabyLegs from Mom 4 Life

Size 3T dress (pictured) from Cute Factor

Pink & white korker from Lily’s Bowtique

$25.00 Gift Card to The Head said

Mom’s Package #1

1 BEADtastic book bling from Bouncing Woolies

Pair of FUNKtastic dryer balls (design will vary)from Bouncing Woolies

Wool car freshener (colors will differ, without beads) from Bouncing Woolies

A batch of french pressed soap for the  winner from Beck, The Crazy Housewife

$20.00 Gift Card to Homestead Emporium

Necklace from Avon anonymously donated

Wrap-a-Nap winner’s color choice from Wrap-a-Nap

2 – $5 Amazon gift cards anonymously donated

Corn/therapy pillows, facial-sized with flannel cover from Delaynie Cooper Designs

Sewing Instructions/PATTERNS/ Tutorials from 2 Teens and a Toddler Boutique

Sewing Instructions/PATTERNS/ Tutorials included:

• -Shopping Cart Cover (Single)
• -Rag Quilt Blanket
• -Boppy Nursing Pillow COVER
• -Crayon Roll
• -Ring Sling
• -I Spy Bag
• *Theseare  for a sewing pattern only, the items pictured are NOT included.

Mom’s Package #1

5 – 8×10 original photographs by Samantha Shuman (Fresh Samantha)

Scentsy Warmer and bar of Scentsy from Independent Scentsy Consultant ~ Lisa Marie

You Go, Girl! Scentsy Bar from Adventures in Abby Land

Pin from Avon anonymously donated

A basket full of bath goodies made by a 7 year old little girl (with help from her Mommy.)    Wash Away Cancer (Beck, The Crazy Housewife)

Wrap-a-Nap winner’s color choice from Wrap-a-Nap

4 EasyLunchbox containers and 1 EasyLunchbox cooler bag, winner’s choice of color from Easylunchboxes

Corn/therapy pillows, regular sized and one facial-sized with flannel cover from Delaynie Cooper Designs *This is just an example, fabric will differ

1 couples edition of  the i like book

Boba Carrier

Boba Classic 2G, winner’s choice of color from Boba Baby Carrier

BabyLegs

$50.00 in BabyLegs products

Sleepy Wrap

Classic Sleepy Wrap, winner’s choice of color from Sleepy Wrap

Advertising Package

Enter to win ad space on multiple blogs (more blogs are participating in this than pictured – complete links to come soon!) ** I just wanted to note the winner for this package will be drawn last.  So if you win this you will not be taken out of the running for other prizes.  I know many individuals will enter the giveaways and might not be so interested in this package.  However it would be super cool if you are an individual that wins it and you donate all the ad space to your favorite shop(s)!  It would be a great way to pay it forward! **

Disclosure:  I nor participating bloggers received any monetary donations or item donations for this posting.  This is a charity event and all money goes directly to Shannon Hubbel of Coupon Mommy of 3 for her families unexpected medical expenses, travel expenses, and time off from work.  This is being done out of the goodness of our hearts.   ♥

My Birth Story~Welcome, Xander!

Okay, so I probably should have posted this (or something….anything…) by now, but I have been focusing on getting to know my little Magoo and recovering from my c-section. Right now my whole house is asleep and I have a few minutes to share the details of the birth of my son.

For those who know me, you know that this pregnancy was not planned. It actually came at a very stressful time. It took awhile to get used to the idea of another baby in the house, but now as I watch my Xander sleeping, I realize that things happen exactly the way they’re meant to. He is only just over a week old, and already I cannot picture my world without him in it.

Xander was a scheduled C-section. (BOO!) I was VERY unhappy that I had to have yet another c-section, (this makes #3) but I knew that since Sophie is only a year old, there was no way they would even contemplate letting me attempt a VBAC. I just had to accept that I would have to have surgery yet again, even though it scares the crap out of me.

Xander’s birth was scheduled for January 14th. The night before, we did not sleep. We made last minute preparations, checked all of the bags, and we baked a TON of toffee-chocolate chip cookies for both my doctor and the nursing staff at the hospital. They were delicious, and everyone raved over them, by the way! The only nice thing about a scheduled delivery, in my opinion, is that you can shave your legs and put on make-up at your leisure. So of course, I did that. Not that it would end up mattering much, since the meds in the spinal caused me to itch so badly that I scratched the heck out of my face the whole time they were operating on me!

 

Anyway, we left to go to the hospital at around 5:00 AM. I was terrified and didn’t want to get out of the car. Dan literally had to drag me into the hospital entrance, and I just wanted to go home. They got me up to our room very quickly, had me change, and hooked me up to the IV, did my bloodwork, etc…. Then the anesthesiologist came in and talked to me, my doctor came in and said good morning and chatted for a few, and then it was time to go to the OR. They didn’t let Dan come, because they don’t allow support persons in the room while they administer the spinal block. I felt the panic welling up and I almost started crying…I HATE spinals. They make you feel like you can’t breathe! So while they were swabbing my back and prepping me for anesthesia, I had an A-HA moment…This would be my last baby. We opted to get a bilateral tubal ligation while I was opened up. I could either freak out like I did with Sophie’s delivery and be a wreck, or I could leave it to God, trust my doctor, and actually enjoy my delivery….Well, as much as one can enjoy surgery. I chose to enjoy  it. As they gave me the spinal, I said a little prayer and felt a calm come over me. I laid down on the operating table, and I started talking to my doctor, the nurses, and the anesthesiologist. We were laughing and joking, and when they brought Dan in, he was literally shocked to see me there on the table smiling. So for the next 20 or 30 minutes, we were all laughing and talking, and then I heard the suction of the fluids and I knew it wouldn’t be long before our son was born. Well, he ended up not wanting to come out, and they had to use forceps and do a lot of tugging and pulling (which I felt the effects of over the next few days)  and finally, I felt him being lifted out of me. The first thing my doctor said was “Well, he has hair!” I asked if he was still a boy, just so there were no surprises, and they lifted him up so I could see him. He was beautiful, and a carbon copy of his daddy. He had a full head of black hair, and was so tiny! (Keep in mind, I am used to looking at a 1 year old!)

 

Me before the surgery. Updating my Facebook status, more than likely!

So Xander was born at 8:01 AM on January 14th, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs, 14 oz, and was 20.5 inches long. And although I was afraid the whole pregnancy, and even as I walked into the operating room, I will always be able to tell my son that when he was born, everyone was laughing and smiling. This day was one of the best days of my life.

My Favorite Guys…Well, Kyle was in his room, so 2 of my favorites!

Xander Eric Has Arrived!!

If things have been a little slow around here, there is good reason. Our son, Xander Eric, was born via scheduled c-section on Friday, January 14, 2011. He was born at 8:01 AM, weighed 6 lbs 14 oz, and was 20.5 inches long. Oh, and he had a FULL head of black hair! I will post in more detail about him and his birth later. I just wanted to officially announce his arrival and post some pictures.

The date on the camera was wrong!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day…The day that Xander will make his entrance into the world. I can’t believe how rapidly my pregnancy has flown by this time around. Maybe because I was still in baby-making mode. Maybe I was already so used to it that it didn’t phase me much. Regardless, I know that my life is about to change forever. I am feeling so many different emotions right now…Excitement, anxiety, fear, happiness, trepidation….It literally varies from minute to minute. It still feels almost surreal to me that I am about to be a mother again. Dan and I struggled for so long to have Sophie, and dealt with the heartache and disappointment of infertility, and now here we are, blessed with not only our little princess but with a new addition as well. A son. It’s quite humbling, in a sense, and I thank God for blessing us with our family, especially when we were so afraid for so long that we wouldn’t be able to expand it through means other than possible adoption. We are so lucky.

I don’t think I am going to get much rest between now and Friday morning…My nerves are shot. There is so much I am worried about. The biggest thing is that I will once again be willingly walking into an operating room for yet another cesarean. I fought for the chance at a vaginal delivery, but that was a fight I lost, and I have absolutely no choice but to accept it. I have to be honest, though…Surgery scares the hell out of me. There is always a risk involved, no matter how small, that things could go horribly wrong. I will be doing a lot of praying that both me and Xander will come out of this healthy and strong. I’m sure things will be just fine, and I know I am in capable hands. I have the greatest doctor in the world, and I just have to trust that he will take good care of us. And I will have Dan by my side the whole time, more than likely keeping me calm. And when I am freaking out, which I am sure I will be, that’s a HUGE job in itself!

I have a lot to do still. I have packed and unpacked the hospital bags a few times now, so I need to make up my darn mind what to take with us. I need to make sure I have the camera, my laptop to upload pics, a phone list so we can make our phone calls once Xander is born, and I still need to make sure I have Kyle and Sophie’s things packed for their stay at our awesome friends’ house. I actually broke down and bought some disposable diapers for Sophie, since I am pretty sure her Godmother doesn’t want to deal with cloth. I *almost* feel guilty for doing so,lol…But I know it will make things so much easier for them. and then of course once we’re back at home, she will be little miss fluff butt again. Xander will be in disposables at least at first, but we will be switching him to cloth as soon as those run out. It will make things a lot easier initially as I am healing and we’re dealing with the exhausting schedule of caring for a newborn.  I also need to make sure I do my nails and shave, and that I do something with my hair, even if it’s just a good washing. Hey, since I am going for a scheduled section, I might as well look presentable!

I am also a nervous wreck over what I am going to do once Dan is back at work. He is only getting a week off, and I will have no help. And I will be recovering from surgery. Most of our family members live out of state, so it’s going to be on me 100% to care for both babies and Kyle as well as try to take care of the house, too. I am really worried about that. After a C-section, you’re not supposed to life anything heavier than your newborn….Well, my daughter weighs about 22 lbs. If I life her, am I going to hurt myself? I can’t just leave her in a playpen or crib all day, so I will HAVE to pick her up, probably 100 times a day. How am I going to manage? I am really afraid that I am going to overdo things and end up slowing my healing process. Or even worse, that my incision will open due to the added strain. I don’t know what I am going to do. I’m afraid. This is going to be so hard. Worth every second, but hard!

I just keep staring at the clock and counting down the hours. I cannot wait to meet my little Xan-Man. I cannot wait to finally be able to hold him. I know it will be love at first sight. I wonder who he will look like? Sophie takes more after Dan, in looks and mannerisms. Maybe Xander will, too, or maybe he will be a Mommy’s boy, through and through. Guess we will have to wait and see. Hopefully he will have a head full of hair, though, because it’s COLD here in VA!  So many things to look forward to… And only a day away. We have been waiting for 9 months, and the day is finally approaching, faster than I had anticipated. Tomorrow there will be joy and there will be pain, and there will be a beautiful little boy who will change our lives forever. I can’t wait to meet the little booger!

Onions Make Me Cry And More Desperate Attempts

Any of you who have ever been pregnant KNOW what I mean when I say I’M DONE. By the time a woman reaches her 9th month of pregnancy, all of the novelty of pregnancy has worn off, and you’re ready to sock the next person who randomly comes up to you and tries to rub your belly, or who says “Oh honey, looks like you’re ready to pop any day now!” (DUH….Like I don’t realize that my belly looks like a beach ball or that there is a head mercilessly squishing my bladder, making me have to pee literally every 5 seconds, or that I am now officially waddling like a duck!)

Many women also know that the end of pregnancy is HARD, and enough to make a woman borderline psycho due to pain, discomfort, lack of sleep, and a myriad of other things that just happen to be enough to put one into a state of emotional and mental unrest. For me, last night it was onions. Yep, onions. Now don’t get me wrong, I have always detested the things. I do not understand why anyone would want to eat something that SMELLS like that. And don’t get me started on the texture,lol…Eww. Just EWW. Anyway, last night Dan and I ordered from a local carryout place that is absolutely fantastic. They have the BEST chicken alfredo pizza, and their subs and sandwiches are always amazing, too. Well Dan decided to get a gyro. (Which apparently have onions on them.) We enjoyed our dinner, watched some TV, played with Sophie, and went to bed. Well at about 4:00 AM, I woke up in hysterics….I mean, I was MAD and CRYING. Why? Because Dan had snuggled up to me, was breathing in my general direction, and all I could smell was  ONIONS. Being woken from a dead sleep, especially when sleep is soooo hard to come by lately, by the rancid aroma of onions was enough to make me totally lose it. I cried for a good half hour and demanded to know why he would “eat onions on purpose.”  Of course, now that I am fully awake, this sounds ludacris, but last night, it was as if he had committed the most horrific offense that I somehow took personally. I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones and complete and total exhaustion. Yes, onions upset me, and they upset me greatly, but not enough to make me cry,lol…So now I am laughing my butt off at myself! I need to be done with this whole pregnancy thing. I want to be ME again, and I am sure Dan does, too,lol

So that brings me to my latest attempts at coaxing myself into what my 10 year old calls “Boom Boom POW labor.” I am stuck at 1.5 cm and am mostly effaced. I hurt all the time, and am having contractions that are painful as all get out that start and stop. So I have been desperately trying to convince my body to have mercy on me and go into labor already. I have been trying everything I have been able to find to induce labor. I am convinced that Xander just isn’t going to cooperate, and I am stuck being preggo till my scheduled C-section date of January 14th. Thankfully, that is now less than a week away. So what have I done to try? Let’s see… I will make a list.

• Yoga Ball. Dan was nice enough to run to WalMart and get me one to sit and rock on. It is relaxing, but has done nothing in the way of getting the ball rolling, no pun intended.
• Eggplant parmesan. I have been reading on preggo message boards that this can jump-start labor. While it is tasty, and I enjoy it, all it has managed to do is irritate my heartburn,lol
• Evening Primrose Oil. Inserted into the va-jay-jay nightly. This is supposed to help the cervix dilate and efface. All it has done for me is make me smell odd and wake up feeling like I have been stuck in an oil slick overnight.
• Breast pumping. When the breasts are pumped or there is sufficient nipple stimulation, the body releases oxytocin, a hormone that can cause strong and regular uterine contractions. But you have to pump a LOT. So I have been. While it HAS produced some contractions, they have not been enough to get the show on the road, and frankly, now I know what dairy cows must feel like!
• Bumpy car rides. This DOES NOT WORK. It does NOTHING other than piss Xander off and make him beat me up internally. NEXT!
• Skipping stairs. Going up flights of stairs 2 steps at a time. A friend SWEARS this worked for her, and I don’t doubt her one bit, but it has done nothing for me other than wear me out and make me cramp…although apparently not enough, and I have done this for an hour at a time.
• Sex. Okay, I know that the prostaglandins in semen are supposed to work, as is the female orgasm. But for some reason when I am pregnant, I “feel” different and the main event only lasts a few seconds. Not sufficient for bringing on labor, I’m sure. So while it’s still fun to try, no cigar.
• Spicy food. Xander is a Taco Bell baby, so I have been eating a LOT of spicy food. And nothing is happening. Myth debunked. Although anyone who brings me a cheesy potato burrito will be my friend for life! lol
• Having a good, long cry. Okay, if this actually worked, the onion incident would have landed me in labor and delivery last night!
• Cumin Tea. Can we say acid reflux attack? DO NOT TRY if you have a sensitive tummy. Just don’t. Ouch!
• Raspberry Leaf Tea. Said to tone and prime the uterus for labor. Okay….My uterus must be ready for an Iron Man competition, but still no labor….
• Walking. Not working. All it does is bring on contractions that stop, causes intense feelings of pressure, and makes me feel like I need to walk with my knees crossed to keep the baby from falling out. But still no labor.
• Galloping. Yes, I said galloping. Like a big, preggo horse. I think a man must have come up with this one solely for his own amusement. Granted, it must be funny to watch a pregnant woman desperate enough to gallop around make a total fool of herself, but this did not work. It just shook my guts around and made me feel silly.
• Dancing. Anyone who knows me knows I do not dance. As in I can’t. But it didn’t stop me from trying. A few times. And nothing happened. I made Sophie laugh, though, so I guess it was worth it, anyway.
• And that leaves the dreaded castor oil…Which I am NEVER doing again.

So here are the things I have been trying to jump start labor and get this baby out of me. Nothing has proven to be effective. I officially give up! Unless YOU have any ideas I haven’t tried yet…..

I Must Confess, I Am More Than A Little Scared

Wow…The past 9 months have literally flown by. Here it is, January 8th, and in 6 days, I will be having my son, Xander. I have given up on Mother Nature bringing him sooner…If the yoga ball, stair hopping, eggplant parmesan, galloping, evening primrose oil, Taco Bell, breast-pumping, sex, and bumpy car rides haven’t coaxed him out, I am sure that nothing will at this point,lol… I am excited and eager to finally see my little boy. But I am also scared. Terrified. Borderline petrified, actually. I will be having Xander via C-section. Just like I had Kyle, and just like I had Sophie. You may think that since this is the 3rd cesarean for me, it would get easier somehow. It probably should be a breeze….A piece of cake. I should be going into this without a care in the world. But it’s not that way at all. I am afraid. They are going to stick me with a huge needle, put me on a catheter and an IV, and they are going to cut me open. And I am going to be awake for the whole thing. Maybe for some people, surgery is no big deal. But it scares the hell out of me. I trust my doctor 100%. I adore my doctor, and so does my husband. But not everything is in my doctor’s control….There are certain things that are just out of everyone’s hands, and I have to pray and trust that God will get me through this in one piece. C-sections are scary. Especially when you’re walking yourself into one. An emergency C-section is different…You don’t have much time to think about it. You are whisked away, prepped, and your baby is delivered. That’s how it was with Kyle, and maybe it’s because I was 18 years old, but I didn’t have the level of fear that I do now. With Sophie, she was scheduled, and it was SO hard to walk myself into the hospital knowing what was going to happen. It was so hard walking myself into the operating room alone so the anasthaesiologist could administer the spinal block. Dan couldn’t be in the room for that, and I panicked. Once the meds kicked in, I felt like my legs were crossed, although they were straight out in front of me…. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I cried during the whole procedure, and Dan was doing the best he could to keep me calm. It was downright traumatic, and on top of the surgery being frightening, I felt like something was being taken from me. I really wanted to have a VBAC, but unfortunately, they just wouldn’t allow it. Most, if not all, local doctors here do not allow VBACs at all. So instead of giving birth, I felt like they were TAKING my birth from me. It was pretty disheartening. And here I am, 6 days away from another C-section, and I am so afraid. I can’t sleep. I just don’t feel prepared to go through this again just 12 months after the last one. I am afraid of everything that can go wrong, and I would be lying if I said I’m not afraid of the pain involved. (Yes, I am a big baby when it comes to pain, and I also HATE taking any kind of painkillers, go figure.) Dan seems so relaxed. I on the other hand feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown between now and next Friday. I don’t like not being in control….I don’t like knowing that I am literally putting my life and the life of my baby in someone else’s hands. I don’t like not knowing for certain what the outcome will be. Rationally, I know that chances are, everything will go just fine. But there is the big, nagging what if that is driving me insane. I’m just not ready to DO this again. I’m not ready for the procedure, I am not ready for the pain of recovery or taking care of 2 babies at the same time while trying to heal… I am not ready to be away from my daughter for days at a time….Kyle will be fine, but Sophie is only a year old, and I am not used to being away from her…I am just NOT READY. But I cannot stop the hands of time, and D-Day is creeping ever nearer. I wish I could just put on my big girl panties and toughen up, but I think they got lost somewhere in the laundry,lol…I’m terrified. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Review and Giveaway! Wildtree Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil

For my first sponsored review and  giveaway of 2011, I am SO excited to share a line of gourmet food products from a specialty line called Wildtree. I first learned about Wildtree products from a Facebook friend, Amanda, who is a Wildtree consultant. She was looking for bloggers to review and promote her products, and being the foodie that I am, I was more than thrilled to hop on board!

Wildtree offers a wide variety of all natural, health conscious products that make cooking at home a fine dining experience. And did I mention, these products are delicious, too?!  Wildtree products are completely chemical, MSG, and preservative free. They are also made of only the highest quality, all natural ingredients. As a mom, this is important to me, since it’s often too easy to rely on not-so-healthy “convenience” foods. Let’s face it: Kids are particular in what they want to be eating. But Wildtree has even thought of ways to cater to the most discriminating (read: picky) of tastes. They carry such a diverse product line, there is something sure to please every palate in your home.

Here are some examples of what Wildtree has to offer:

• spaghetti sauce seasoning
• taco seasoning blend
• sloppy joe mix
• pizza dough mix
• banana bread mix
• soups and stews
• marinades
• bread dippers
• pancakes and yummy syrups
• infused cooking oils

So as you can see, the Wildtree selection is HUGE!  I picked the Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil. My family LOVES garlic, and I was looking for an interesting  alternative to the EVOO I usually use while cooking. Don’t get me wrong, I love my olive oil, but it has a rather low smoke point, and on the rare occasion that Dan attempts to cook, that has proven to be disastrous! As I browsed Amanda’s extensive catalog, I was intrigued by the infused grapeseed oils. Not only did they all sound mouth-watering, they have a TON of health benefits, too! Did you know:

Grapeseed Oil Facts

Wildtree’s Grapeseed Oil is Expeller Pressed. Wildtree Grapeseed Oil is NOT solvent extracted like the vast majority of Grapeseed oils in the marketplace. Expeller pressed grapeseed oil is the result of a chemical-free mechanical process that extracts oil from seeds with no external heat and produces the finest oil. This method of oil extraction is an alternative to the chemical extraction method used for many conventional oils. Sometimes expeller pressed is referred to as cold-pressed.

Expeller Pressed Grapeseed Oil is made from grape seeds after wine production. It is therefore environmentally sound and requires no new farmland or water to produce. Versatile, delicious and good for you, Grapeseed oil allows the pure flavor of fresh food to come through. Its delicate flavor and body make it perfect for sautéing, baking or frying. Try it in salad dressings, on pasta or hard breads, or use as marinades or bastes for the grill.

Health Benefits

• There are NO preservatives such as TBHQ or BHT.
• It is NOT hydrogenated.
• There is NO sodium.
• NO trans fatty acids.
• NO cholesterol (it actually aids in cholesterol reduction).
• It has one of the lowest levels of saturated fats of all oils.
• It is easily digestible.
• A good source of Vitamin E Alpha (an important anti-oxidant)(4.3 mg per serving).
• Highest concentration of poly (76%) unsaturated acid of any oil.
• Helps the body produce High Density Lipoprotein (HDL).
• High in Linoleic acid – and its health benefits:
  • is a fatty acid which acts as a transporter for saturated fats – helps prevent accumulation in the arteries.
  • also known as Omega-6 and in near identical proportions to mother’s milk.
  • vital to life and cannot be produced by the body alone.

Grapeseed Oil is ideal for frying at high temperatures. It may be heated up to 419 degrees (F) without burning, – one of the highest flashpoints. Deep-fry your favorite foods in Wildtree’s Grapeseed Oil for a wonderful light crispy taste and cholesterol free frying.

Last night, I was excited as I prepared my first meal with Wildtree Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil. I decided to make Chicken Piccata, Fettucine Alfredo with Broccoli, and some crusty garlic bread. Rather than pan-frying my chicken breasts in the customary butter that is called for, I used my Wildtree Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil. Let me tell you….As I was heating the oil in my pan, the smell was absolutely divine. The hubby even commented that dinner smelled good already, and I had to laugh and tell him it was only the oil in the pan preheating, that the chicken wasn’t even cooking yet!