My little espresso, as I like to call my son, has been teething what seems to be like forever. He has a nice row of teeth snug in his gums, but so far, they don't want to pop through. I've received countless advice from other mommies but my little espresso is not taking to any of those methods. If my son could offer his teething advice, this is what he would tell other parents of teething babies:
1. Hold or play with something because the child will want it. Note to parent: It is best not to hold anything valuable or breakable during this phase.
2. If the dishwasher is open, let your child chew on the edge or let them pull out forks & spoons to chew on. It's beneficial because they may take in some dried food for extra nutrition.
3. Give them a remote (not a play or old one), but the tv or dvr remote, and let them slobber and chew the dickens out of. You don't really need a remote. You can always get yourself up off the couch and change the channel's manually.
4. Get them addicted to teething drops so they will wiggle, smile and scream for them.
5. Offer your chin as a teether.
6. If you would not like offer your chin as a teether, an empty egg cartons work wonders too.
7. If the child is no longer interested in your chin or egg cartons, offer them the antenna on a cordless phone. This would need to be a phone you use every day, not an old one you could care less about.
8. Leave your shoes scattered about the house. Teething children, like puppies, can't resist shoes!
9. Mommies, leave your purse in a place when the child can chew on the straps. If you leave it open, make sure there are packs of gum accessible where child can chew your gum.
10. Cut a lemon and make it accessible within their reach at the table. If you're lucky and they grab it the sourness will distract them momentarily and you'll get a kick out of their sour expression!
Before any one takes this seriously, please don't. These just seem to be the things that my son WANTS to chew on or do during his teething phase. I really don't let him chew on the edge of the dishwasher or forks and spoons. What kind of a mom do you think I am! :p
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Andrew's Song
This story is not really about me, but for sake of background and understanding, you'll have to bear with me to lay some foundation.
I became an American Idol fan during season 4 as Carrie Underwood boosted her way on to the national season. The following year, I was drawn to Mandisa, a big, black girl with big pipes and big testimony for Jesus. Simon, the notorious, critical judge, had made a comment about Mandisa's weight which was aired on national television, and which Mandisa viewed with a roomful of her friends. (OUCH, SIMON!!!) During the selection of the Top 36, Mandisa was able to confront Simon on his "weight based remark." She blew everyone away with her response. To quote her as best I can, she told Simon that she had forgiven him for his remark because Jesus had forgiven her for all she had done wrong. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it was in that room. She made it known right there she was Christian and was going to make no apologies for it.
Mandisa made it through to the Top 12. :) I do not know which week it was, but the contestants were told to pick a song from the past three years to sing. Mandisa chose Mary Mary's "Shackles(Praise You)," a Christian artist and very Christian song. I was blown away again! Not only does she tell Simon that she's forgiven him because Jesus has forgiven her, she goes on a national stage and sings about Jesus setting her/us free! You go girl!! However, one week later, Mandisa would be voted off. But that was not the end of Mandisa. She has now come out with three CD's and is still singing about/for Jesus.
My hubby and I moved to Huntsville in 2007 and started the long process to find a church. (This is the South so there are lots to choose from.) Eric & I felt led to Willowbrook Baptist and a specific Sunday school class. We've met some great people there, and some extra special ones in Billy & Rebecca. When we joined the class, I was pregnant with Ethan. Rebecca was also pregnant - just a few weeks behind me. Ethan was born in April 2008 and in May we were awaiting the birth of Andrew, Billy & Rebecca's son.
Jumping back in time a bit, Ethan was extra special to us because the week I found out I was pregnant with him, our good friends in VA lost their unborn son (Matthew) when he was six months along, still snug in his Mommy. Finding out I was pregnant that same week was bitter-sweet to say the least. We decided to honor Matthew's life by giving our son Matthew as middle name.
With the foundation laid, let the story continue....
Rebecca was given a baby shower by some friends and one of those friends knew that Rebecca was a Mandisa fan. She wrote Mandisa to ask if she would write a blessing for Rebecca's baby shower. Of all the fan mail Mandisa receives, she chose that e-mail to read and graciously replied with a blessing for Rebecca. Just weeks before Andrew was due, Mandisa was in Huntsville at another baptist church and Rebecca was able to meet her.
It was nearing the end of a work week, when Rebecca started to feel some labor pains. She was scheduled for an inducement in just a few days, but it appeared as though baby Andrew wanted to come early. Billy & Rebecca headed to the hospital thinking that they would meet their boy earlier than expected. However, tragedy struck. While the nurses attempted to find Andrew's heartbeat they could not. God chose Andrew to skip this world and join him in
Heaven.
This sounds like such a sad story, but hang on...
The friend that wrote Mandisa to ask her to write a blessing for Rebecca, contacted Mandisa again to tell her that Billy & Rebecca had lost Andrew. Mandisa set about to find songs that could comfort Billy & Rebecca and was searching particularly for a song from Andrew's perspective in Heaven. She could not find one, so she decided to write a song ("You Wouldn't Cry," or as we like to call it, "Andrew's Song") for Billy & Rebecca.
The blessings that have come from this are numerous. You'd have to ask Billy & Rebecca about them all, but I know they could go on and on for hours. Rebecca was asked by Mandisa to be in the video for this song and next month, she and Billy are flying to Dallas to hear Mandisa sing live the song written for their little boy.
While I know Billy & Rebecca struggled with many emotions after the loss of their son, it was the power of Jesus that got them through. If ever I saw Jesus and God's grace in anyone so vividly, it has been Billy & Rebecca.
Mandisa's new CD, Freedom, which includes "You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song) comes out March 24. To hear her CD visit:http://www.imeem.com/mandisaofficial "You Wouldn't Cry" is #11. I ask that you take a few minutes to listen to this song. It's powerful!! Before you do, please keep in mind that even though the circumstances of both Matthew and Andrew are extremely sad, if we really could see them in Heaven (or any loved one) we really "Wouldn't Cry" for them.
I hope you will share this with anyone you know. Not only is the CD awesome, I know God is gonna use Andrew's short life in his Mommy's tummy through the song, "You Wouldn't Cry," to be a blessing and encouragement to SO many people.
Oh, our friends in VA that lost their son Matthew have since had a beautiful baby girl, Hannah Renee AND Billy & Rebecca are expecting a little baby this Fall. Praise Jesus!
An article about Mandisa and her upcoming CD: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/11/mandisa/index.html>
Lyrics - You Wouldn't Cry
You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song)
All you saw was pain
All you saw was rain
But you should see me now
Moments filled with tears
Lasted all those years
Disappeared some how
You never said goodbye
On your knees you cry
You're still asking why
But blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
What you think you see
Isn't really me
I'm already home
You've got to lay it down
'Cause Jesus holds me now
And I am not alone
Your faith is wearing thin
But I am watching Him
And He is holding you too
And blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
Oh what may seem like years
Will just be a moment
Oh the day will come
When I'll show you where you're going
I can't wait to show you
And blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
I became an American Idol fan during season 4 as Carrie Underwood boosted her way on to the national season. The following year, I was drawn to Mandisa, a big, black girl with big pipes and big testimony for Jesus. Simon, the notorious, critical judge, had made a comment about Mandisa's weight which was aired on national television, and which Mandisa viewed with a roomful of her friends. (OUCH, SIMON!!!) During the selection of the Top 36, Mandisa was able to confront Simon on his "weight based remark." She blew everyone away with her response. To quote her as best I can, she told Simon that she had forgiven him for his remark because Jesus had forgiven her for all she had done wrong. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it was in that room. She made it known right there she was Christian and was going to make no apologies for it.
Mandisa made it through to the Top 12. :) I do not know which week it was, but the contestants were told to pick a song from the past three years to sing. Mandisa chose Mary Mary's "Shackles(Praise You)," a Christian artist and very Christian song. I was blown away again! Not only does she tell Simon that she's forgiven him because Jesus has forgiven her, she goes on a national stage and sings about Jesus setting her/us free! You go girl!! However, one week later, Mandisa would be voted off. But that was not the end of Mandisa. She has now come out with three CD's and is still singing about/for Jesus.
My hubby and I moved to Huntsville in 2007 and started the long process to find a church. (This is the South so there are lots to choose from.) Eric & I felt led to Willowbrook Baptist and a specific Sunday school class. We've met some great people there, and some extra special ones in Billy & Rebecca. When we joined the class, I was pregnant with Ethan. Rebecca was also pregnant - just a few weeks behind me. Ethan was born in April 2008 and in May we were awaiting the birth of Andrew, Billy & Rebecca's son.
Jumping back in time a bit, Ethan was extra special to us because the week I found out I was pregnant with him, our good friends in VA lost their unborn son (Matthew) when he was six months along, still snug in his Mommy. Finding out I was pregnant that same week was bitter-sweet to say the least. We decided to honor Matthew's life by giving our son Matthew as middle name.
With the foundation laid, let the story continue....
Rebecca was given a baby shower by some friends and one of those friends knew that Rebecca was a Mandisa fan. She wrote Mandisa to ask if she would write a blessing for Rebecca's baby shower. Of all the fan mail Mandisa receives, she chose that e-mail to read and graciously replied with a blessing for Rebecca. Just weeks before Andrew was due, Mandisa was in Huntsville at another baptist church and Rebecca was able to meet her.
It was nearing the end of a work week, when Rebecca started to feel some labor pains. She was scheduled for an inducement in just a few days, but it appeared as though baby Andrew wanted to come early. Billy & Rebecca headed to the hospital thinking that they would meet their boy earlier than expected. However, tragedy struck. While the nurses attempted to find Andrew's heartbeat they could not. God chose Andrew to skip this world and join him in
Heaven.
This sounds like such a sad story, but hang on...
The friend that wrote Mandisa to ask her to write a blessing for Rebecca, contacted Mandisa again to tell her that Billy & Rebecca had lost Andrew. Mandisa set about to find songs that could comfort Billy & Rebecca and was searching particularly for a song from Andrew's perspective in Heaven. She could not find one, so she decided to write a song ("You Wouldn't Cry," or as we like to call it, "Andrew's Song") for Billy & Rebecca.
The blessings that have come from this are numerous. You'd have to ask Billy & Rebecca about them all, but I know they could go on and on for hours. Rebecca was asked by Mandisa to be in the video for this song and next month, she and Billy are flying to Dallas to hear Mandisa sing live the song written for their little boy.
While I know Billy & Rebecca struggled with many emotions after the loss of their son, it was the power of Jesus that got them through. If ever I saw Jesus and God's grace in anyone so vividly, it has been Billy & Rebecca.
Mandisa's new CD, Freedom, which includes "You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song) comes out March 24. To hear her CD visit:http://www.imeem.com/mandisaofficial "You Wouldn't Cry" is #11. I ask that you take a few minutes to listen to this song. It's powerful!! Before you do, please keep in mind that even though the circumstances of both Matthew and Andrew are extremely sad, if we really could see them in Heaven (or any loved one) we really "Wouldn't Cry" for them.
I hope you will share this with anyone you know. Not only is the CD awesome, I know God is gonna use Andrew's short life in his Mommy's tummy through the song, "You Wouldn't Cry," to be a blessing and encouragement to SO many people.
Oh, our friends in VA that lost their son Matthew have since had a beautiful baby girl, Hannah Renee AND Billy & Rebecca are expecting a little baby this Fall. Praise Jesus!
An article about Mandisa and her upcoming CD: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/11/mandisa/index.html>
Lyrics - You Wouldn't Cry
You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song)
All you saw was pain
All you saw was rain
But you should see me now
Moments filled with tears
Lasted all those years
Disappeared some how
You never said goodbye
On your knees you cry
You're still asking why
But blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
What you think you see
Isn't really me
I'm already home
You've got to lay it down
'Cause Jesus holds me now
And I am not alone
Your faith is wearing thin
But I am watching Him
And He is holding you too
And blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
Oh what may seem like years
Will just be a moment
Oh the day will come
When I'll show you where you're going
I can't wait to show you
And blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer
Honey never tasted so sweet
There's a song in the breeze
A million voices in praise
A rose has never smelled redder
The sun has never been brighter
If I could find the right words to say
If you could look at my face
If you could just see this place
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
You wouldn't cry for me today
Monday, March 9, 2009
WARNING: Say NO to Lortab
This past week I had a wisdom tooth extracted and part of another tooth removed. It was a quick 35 minute surgery and before I knew it, I was on my way home. As with any surgery, the doctor sends you home with a prescription for pain. I have had numerous pain medications, but this was my first encounter with Lortab and it will be my last!
My surgery was mid-morning and it was not until mid afternoon that I started to feel the first twinges of pain. Wanting to be on top of the pain and not wait until I was IN pain, I decided to pop a pain pill and continue chilling on the couch. I did just that minus the chilling.
One hour after taking the Lortab, I started to feel nauseous. My first thought was that it was the anesthesia working it's way out of my system that was making me nauseous. I was told following my ear surgery that I might feel some nausea due to the wearing off of the anesthesia. With this knowledge, I decided to take a nap and sleep the nausea away.
Just as I was about to doze off, the doctors office called to check on how I was doing. My hubby told them I was nauseous and they said it was from the Lortab, but not to worry. They would call in a prescription for nausea and I'd be good to go!
I woke up a couple hours later and I thought I was feeling better. "Thought," that's the key word. After taking care of my son's needs, it was after 6:30pm by the time I was able to get my supper. I had developed a nasty headache, which I thought was from lack of food. (I did not have breakfast because of the surgery and lunch was mashed potatoes and yogurt.)
I settled down on the couch with my tomato soup and started sipping away. Three sips later, I put down my tomato soup and curled up in the fetal position. The nausea was back.
Having experienced nausea with my pregnancy, I immediately started doing things that helped me during my pregnancy. I also took a nausea pill and waited for it to do it's work. (It definitely did not work as fast as Zofran). Fifteen minutes later, I was leaning over the toilet bowl offering it my lunch.
During my pregnancy, vomiting always made me feel better. "Ok," I thought, I'll be able to eat now. After two more sips of tomato soup, I put it down again and curled up in the fetal position. Fifteen minutes after that, I was back before the toilet bowl offering it the nausea pill and the few sips of tomato soup that I had managed to get down.
Surely, NOW I would feel better, right? Cold foods always did the trick for me during pregnancy, so I thought, "ICE CREAM." Much to my horror and dismay, I had three small bits of ice cream before I set it down and watched it melt. And, you guessed it, fifteen minutes later I gave the ice cream to the toilet bowl.
Everything gets hazy after this. I know I get on my pj's and crawl into bed. The headache I had earlier was now a throbbing, aching, pounding headache. As I lay in bed, the headache would subside, but as it did, my nausea would return and I would find myself leaning over the toilet boil in heaving convulsions. I had nothing in my stomach to offer. I think what did come up was my saliva!
I tried again to take a nausea pill only to leave it in the toilet bowl. After three or four times of laying down, having my headache go away, getting out of bed, heaving, having my headache return, laying back down etc...I FINALLY fell asleep and slept 11 straight hours and thankfully NO MORE NAUSEA!!!
From sharing this story with a few people, they shared with me that Lortab has this affect on many people. Others, like my neighbor, it does not bother. With all the pain medications out there, why would they prescribe one that may possibly cause some unpleasant side affects, similar to what I experienced. The nauseousness that I experienced Wednesday night was by far ten times worse than any I experienced while pregnant. Thankfully, I did not experience any severe pain, and the pain I did feel, was quickly sent packing by 600 miligrams of ibuprofen.
The moral of this story is, don't take Lortab if you've never had it before . It's not worth it. The next time I am at the doctor and they ask me if I am allergic to any medication, I am telling them Lortab!
My surgery was mid-morning and it was not until mid afternoon that I started to feel the first twinges of pain. Wanting to be on top of the pain and not wait until I was IN pain, I decided to pop a pain pill and continue chilling on the couch. I did just that minus the chilling.
One hour after taking the Lortab, I started to feel nauseous. My first thought was that it was the anesthesia working it's way out of my system that was making me nauseous. I was told following my ear surgery that I might feel some nausea due to the wearing off of the anesthesia. With this knowledge, I decided to take a nap and sleep the nausea away.
Just as I was about to doze off, the doctors office called to check on how I was doing. My hubby told them I was nauseous and they said it was from the Lortab, but not to worry. They would call in a prescription for nausea and I'd be good to go!
I woke up a couple hours later and I thought I was feeling better. "Thought," that's the key word. After taking care of my son's needs, it was after 6:30pm by the time I was able to get my supper. I had developed a nasty headache, which I thought was from lack of food. (I did not have breakfast because of the surgery and lunch was mashed potatoes and yogurt.)
I settled down on the couch with my tomato soup and started sipping away. Three sips later, I put down my tomato soup and curled up in the fetal position. The nausea was back.
Having experienced nausea with my pregnancy, I immediately started doing things that helped me during my pregnancy. I also took a nausea pill and waited for it to do it's work. (It definitely did not work as fast as Zofran). Fifteen minutes later, I was leaning over the toilet bowl offering it my lunch.
During my pregnancy, vomiting always made me feel better. "Ok," I thought, I'll be able to eat now. After two more sips of tomato soup, I put it down again and curled up in the fetal position. Fifteen minutes after that, I was back before the toilet bowl offering it the nausea pill and the few sips of tomato soup that I had managed to get down.
Surely, NOW I would feel better, right? Cold foods always did the trick for me during pregnancy, so I thought, "ICE CREAM." Much to my horror and dismay, I had three small bits of ice cream before I set it down and watched it melt. And, you guessed it, fifteen minutes later I gave the ice cream to the toilet bowl.
Everything gets hazy after this. I know I get on my pj's and crawl into bed. The headache I had earlier was now a throbbing, aching, pounding headache. As I lay in bed, the headache would subside, but as it did, my nausea would return and I would find myself leaning over the toilet boil in heaving convulsions. I had nothing in my stomach to offer. I think what did come up was my saliva!
I tried again to take a nausea pill only to leave it in the toilet bowl. After three or four times of laying down, having my headache go away, getting out of bed, heaving, having my headache return, laying back down etc...I FINALLY fell asleep and slept 11 straight hours and thankfully NO MORE NAUSEA!!!
From sharing this story with a few people, they shared with me that Lortab has this affect on many people. Others, like my neighbor, it does not bother. With all the pain medications out there, why would they prescribe one that may possibly cause some unpleasant side affects, similar to what I experienced. The nauseousness that I experienced Wednesday night was by far ten times worse than any I experienced while pregnant. Thankfully, I did not experience any severe pain, and the pain I did feel, was quickly sent packing by 600 miligrams of ibuprofen.
The moral of this story is, don't take Lortab if you've never had it before . It's not worth it. The next time I am at the doctor and they ask me if I am allergic to any medication, I am telling them Lortab!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
sssssoooo bad
I've been so bad at writing on this blog I created. I get too distracted with other things that by the time I remember I need to write something on my blog, I'm way too stinkin' tired. I need to write myself a note where I can see it daily to get on here and write. But then again, it's not like I have a super large following anyway. I do a lot on facebook, so this is just really extra.
But, I will try to be more consistent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)