Homemade Kids Table and Chairs

I am proud to say that the kids and I have really been able to cut back on TV. It amazes me how creative we can be without the television on and how much trouble the girls can get into when they are not actively entertained.

 The weather has been really nice here in west Texas so we decided to spend the afternoon in the backyard.

My husband has been chopping away at an old tree in our back yard and we had some stumps laying around. The girls and I decided to chip the bark off and make a set of table and chairs.

They came out great!! Now we have a cute little homemade table and chairs set for the kids that didn't cost us a penny.  My husband is going to give them a once over with the sander and a quick coat of varnish to keep them in good shape and keep the bugs out.

Homemade Gifts For Grandma

The girls and I have been very busy this week getting ready for Christmas. We are still trying to watch less TV and we have been working on some homemade Christmas gifts for grandma. Our projects this week included. Two Christmas lamps for grandma's nightstand and a coin jar to sit above her sink.

We cleaned up a few Spaghetti jars with dish soap and water. Sometimes they require a little goo gone but these actually cleaned up really nice.

 Now the fun part. These lamps will be for grandma to display during the holidays so we decoupaged them with pink and green tissue paper.

 

 While the girls were busy gluing I snuck outside and spray painted two small pickle jars. I also painted the jar lids for the lamps.

 I added a coat of Modge Podge to the jars when girls were done gluing on the tissue paper.



 

 

   I used a black permanent marker to write a special poem on the coin jar

 

 Here are the finished jars with the Christmas lights inside. The lids were still drying but you want to poke a whole big enough on the top to be able to fit the end of the Christmas lights.

Decorating Options:

1. Fill the jar with potpourri, poke holes in the lid and glue a doily on the top for decoration. The warmth of the Christmas lights will give off the aroma of the potpourri, without getting too hot and causing a fire hazard. 
2. Spray paint the jar with frosted painted, use stencils, lace or doilies to create delicate designs on the jar. 
3. Use different colored Christmas lights or battery operated candle sticks. 

Visit Homemade Gift Ideas For Mom for more Homemade Gift Ideas for Christmas 2012. 

What is the Price of Change

I decided to take this past weekend off from creating webpages on Squidoo.

 I am very pleased at my recent progress. I am now seeing steady sales and I’ve managed to get a few lenses in tier 2. 

I returned to find that Squidoo has a new layout and many of my lenses in shambles. The Soldier in me was saying “suck it up and drive on, adapt and overcome” but as a stay at home I wanted to put my head in my hands and cry. 

I wanted to cry for all of the hours I worked on lenses instead of playing with my children, for the household chores that were neglected and for the conversations I asked my husband to save for another time while I worked on building my profile. 

Many lensmasters are angry, stressed and tired from the change. Some are rejoicing and anticipate an increase in sales and traffic. Many lensmasters have stressed to keep things in perspective.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I sat and stared at the computer screen for what seemed like hours not knowing where to begin. I have invested too much time to simply throw in the towel.

Today is a new day. I will start from the top and work my way through each lens. I am still making sales! I will continue to make progress! I will continue to learn!  

The only thing that does not change is that change is inevitable and sometimes very hard to digest.

Replacing TV with Nipple Cream and Basket Baths

Several weeks ago our pediatrician recommended we watch less TV. My husband and I agree we have really gotten lenient with the girls schedule and my son watches way more TV than the girls did at his age. I stay home with the kids so I decided to cut back a little at a time. They were watching almost 4 hours of TV before nap time and the TV was on from the time they woke up from their naps until bed time. I know it really does sound like a lot.

So..... how are things going. I was really motivated the first day. We woke up got dressed ate breakfast, played games and made art projects. That took up most of the morning. The girls decided to entertain themselves while I was making lunch. They usually watch Sesame Street. Instead, they washed each others hair with a tube of lanolin cream!! and the baby figured out how to squeeze through the baby gate.

 I had to chase my son and put him back in the living room probably 50 times before I figured out a way to barricade the gate so he couldn't get out.

We watched a little TV after nap time than it was time for dinner. Did I risk another another debacle with nipple cream or  turn on the boob tube? I turned the TV off!

I kept poking my head out to see what the girls were up to. They weren't  fighting and that can be dangerous. They were pretending to give each other a bath in the wicker basket I keep in the den. Suddenly Sofia appeared with an ice cream bucket full of water. Where, How, I have no idea but apparently it was not the first bucket full of water.

She had managed to give Abby a bath in the den. I had to mop up water from the bathroom to the den, change their clothes, serve dinner and OH YES take care of the baby. Geez and I wonder why we started watching so much TV.

The Problem With Sterotypes

The problem with stereotypes is that they are always wrong. You can’t assume someone is a certain way because of the color of their skin or the clothes they wear.

 I am pretty sure I’m going to blow a gasket the next time a Walmart cashier assumes that I am on welfare or WIC. 

We braved Walmart yesterday with our three small children. The place was overcrowded with impatient people and frustrated employees. We grabbed a few items, my husband took the baby to the car and I stood in line with the girls. Our cashier was flustered and having some difficulties with the cash register. She scans the line and shouts back “I’m sorry my register won’t accept WIC or Welfare cards right now”. I look around; everyone seems to know she is talking to me. I’m not sure if is my brown skin, three small children or the fact that I was wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that made her assume I was on government assistance. I resist the urge to chew her up and spit her out. I guarantee it would a conversation she would never forget but I’m in the holiday spirit. I look at her and smile “oh honey I’m not on welfare, nor have I ever been”. 

You can’t judge a person by looking at them. I don’t have a problem with welfare, some people really need it but I do have a problem with people judging me. You will never know that I have saved a few lives or that I was entrusted with the lives of Soldiers by looking at me. You will never know that I struggled to have my children, that I left a career to raise my babies.You will never know that I am one of the toughest, strongest, and most determined women you will ever meet.

I look at the women scanning my items. She has a tired face, and overworked hands. I want to make a snide remark about her being the one working at Walmart but I don’t know her story. I want to make assumptions about this women that I’m sure wouldn’t be right. Instead, I look her in the eyes and wish her a merry Christmas.

How To Organize Without Spending Money

I was reading a few blogs the other day about organizing and decorating your home. I am obsessed with trying to get the kids stuff organized. They are always outgrowing or destroying something. I have to admit I was a bit envious of all of the pretty bins, baskets and caddies I was seeing all over these blogs. I really don't have the money to spend on those things.

Here is how I curbed my craving for neatness without spending any money.

 We recently moved the girl's plates to the bottom cupboard because they insist on picking out their own plates for meals. They don't stack nice and neat and the whole thing was a mess really!

 I had this metal rack with a draw in the pantry. I was using it for baby food but  I thought hmmmmm I wonder if the kid's plate will fit in there.

 I am so pleased at the results. The plates are neat, organized and the girls can still reach them.

I also put an old Fisher Price baby food jar lazy susan to good use. Most baby food comes in those neat little containers now so I had this in the garage sale pile. The small spices fit perfectly. The larger ones don't fit quite right but it is so much better than the way it looked before.

Easy Nutella Brownie Recipe

I decided to try the 3 ingredient Nutella Brownie Recipe I have been seeing all over Pinterest. Did they change my life? OH YES! are they absolutely delicious? OH YES! Are they as easy as they look? OH YES! The original blogger of the 3 ingredient Nutella Brownies is scoochmaroo over at the blog Instructables. I have to admit I was a little skeptical. The recipe calls for three ingredients.

1 Cup of Nutella
10 Tbs. of flour
2 Eggs

I read a few of the comments before whipping up a batch. Some people were asking about substitutes for the Nutella because it sells for about $5.00 a jar. We absolutely love Nutella. I was so lucky to purchase a dozen jars for $1.50 from a Big Lots that was relocating. They sale a knock off Nutella spread called coca and hazelnut spread. It taste just as good as the real stuff and sells for about half the price. 

The Pralinutta is the hazelnut from Dollar General that also taste fabulous at a fraction of the cost.

I decided to use my silicone cupcake pan to make the Nutella brownie bites. I think I will use a mini cupcake tin next time. My pan looks a little rough but it bakes great!

Simply mix the three ingredients, fill the cupcake pan and bake.
22 minutes in a 350 degree oven for a regular size cupcake tin or 30 minutes for a mini cupcake tin.

The texture of the brownies is amazing. They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They weren't as sweet as our usual brownie recipe but the hazelnut more than makes up for sweetness. Our family gave these Super easy Nutella brownies a 2 thumbs up!!

President Barack Obama 2012

I woke up yesterday to the results of the 2012 presidential election. President Obama will be our president for the next four years.

I was so disappointed in the comments of so many of my friends. I understand the passion behind politics but I wish they had the same passion for this country. It angers me to hear the comments that this nation is failing, that we will not survive, that we are doomed.

America remains one of the greatest nations on earth. Hundreds of troops put their lives on the line because they believe in our great country. Our country can not be destroyed by a thousand men, a hundred men and certainly not by one man.

I want to raise my children to believe in this country despite the flaws and the hardships.

Change cannot happen without hard work and perseverance. Stop complaining and make a difference in the lives of those around you. Make it a better world for the future of your children. Do not expect one man to solve all of your problems.

How Do You Stay Positive During Tough Times

My husband and I have been experiencing some tough times in the last few weeks. It seems like everything in the house has decided to break at the same time and the hospital bills keep rolling in. It is so important to stay positive and proactive during tough times. It is so easy to let yourself feel defeated, especially so close to the holidays.

I  continue to make a little money from home. My Squidoo articles have earned a total of $24.00 in sales last month and I am positive this month will be even better. I have already made $25.00 this month. I cleaned up some of the kids old toys and sold them at a local consignment sale and made an extra $50.00 and my husband has worked 2 overtime shifts this pay period. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. God willing we will pay off the medical bills with our income tax check and start putting some money back in our savings account. Keep your head, stay positive, the tough times shall pass.

How do you stay positive during tough times?

Surviving The Holidays Living Paycheck To Paycheck

My family is going through some rough times. I am sad to admit that we are living paycheck to paycheck after so many years of working, planning and saving. We had to take the computer in to get fixed after it crashed last week. I wasn't able to work on my Squidoo or anything else for nearly a week. The icing on the cake was waking up to a fridge full of spoiled food and receiving a $700.00 medical bill in the mail that our insurance doesn't intend to pay.

We have drained our savings account and my husband had to get on the overtime list. I called my mother in desperation.

She was quick to remind me of my blessings "These are hard times, nothing more. Pick your head up and look around. You have three healthy children, snuggled in warm beds in your dream home". She is right!! Many people will be in much worse situations this holiday season.

Here is what I am doing to help our situation:
I am earning gift cards on Swagbucks to use for Christmas I also joined Jingit. It is a website that pays cash for watching videos and scanning products at the grocery store using your smart phone. I am selling most of my winter blouses to a local consignment store.

Squidoo continue to be my obsession! I am finally starting to see a few sells this month. My Minnie Mouse Children's Chairs website seems to be very popular so I plan to keep building more websites with Minnie Mouse. Who new the little mouse would give me so much hope. 

Minnie Mouse Children's Chairs and Room Decor

You Are Beautiful Momma

I woke up before my children and jumped into the shower this morning. I could feel my eyes close as I washed my hair. My body wanted to go back to bed. It is Saturday, I had a rough night and a rough week. I slowly creep to the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee. I'm in a funk and I really can't bring myself to do anything useful this morning.

The computer has been shutting down and won't start up properly, We purchased the Norton antivirus disk with money we don't have. My phone completely gave out  last night and my husband broke the chainsaw. The worst casualty this week was our blackberry. It wouldn't charge but was still covered under warranty. I was horrified when it was returned from repair to realize we didn't  remove the pictures and the videos before we sent it off. They were all gone. Videos from last Christmas and my son's birth. I just wanted to cry.

I feel terrible this morning. I picked a fight with the hubby yesterday. I was frustrated, not at him, just in general. We have been working so hard. I have been working so hard to get back on track. Why does this kind of crap happen to us.

I sat at my desk waiting for the computer to start up for the 10th time when my daughter Sofia walks up the stairs. She is carrying her babies and has on her Dora PJs. I hug her good morning. She squeezes my leg and says" Momma your beautiful". I don't know what she is thinking behind those big, brown eyes but her simple statement nearly brings me to tears.

I am too blesses to let a few materials bring me down. I can't believe I was so angry this week. I kiss her on the forehead and serve her a bowl of cereal. It is a new day. I have so much to be thankful for.

Spending Money Saving Money

Sometimes I am sure that I am spending more money by trying to save money. I hate paying full price for anything now days and it is even harder to pass up a good deal. I set a $75.00 a week grocery budget for my family several months ago. We were doing great until I started to lose steam. It is tough work following the sales ads, clipping coupons and reading money saving blogs. I have been busting our budget for the past two months now.

We made a trip to our local Big Lots this morning. It is relocating. Everything in the store was thirty percent off and I had a coupon for an additional twenty percent off of that. Can you picture me sprinting to the van this morning, three babies in tow?

I slowly browsed every aisle. I only purchased things we will need in the next few weeks. I resisted the urge to stockpile for the next decade. I also picked up a Christmas gift for mom and for the baby. $37.00 well spent.

I decided that today I would clean out the fridge and reorganize the pantry. I have had enough wasting food and wasting money. The holidays are coming up and money is tight. Time to get back on the wagon.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

I woke up ready to conquer the day. I had piles of laundry to do, papers that needed to be filed and well the bathrooms really could use a good scrubbing. I went to work on the laundry. I could here the girls fighting in the other room. They were bored and at each others throats. The baby was fussing and needed my attention.

I couldn't help but think about my mother. Her house was always spotless. She prided herself on always having a clean house. I have learned so much from her about being a mom and housewife but I couldn't help but wonder.... Is Cleanliness next to Godliness?

I don't have memories of playing with my mom or sitting down on the couch and watching a movie. I have memories of her always in the kitchen and scrubbing floors. She was ALWAYS cleaning. I admire her organization and her discipline to keep a clean house but I don't want my children to feel that my house is my priority.My mom had a tough life and a not so great marriage.Sometimes, I think she used her cleaning as a means to escape.

I dressed the kids and took them outside. The girls were covered in dirt when we came back inside. I still had piles of laundry and the paperwork wasn't going to get filed but we had a great day.

I don't have a dirty house by any means but it isn't no where near spotless either. I think making your family happy and enjoying your children is Godlier than cleaning and I'm pretty sure my children would agree.

The Price of Chaos

I got up early and took out my box of coupons. I can't believe I haven't clipped and sorted coupons in over a month. I was doing so well. I was able to get our grocery budget down to $75.00 from $150.00 but I haven't been able to do that lately. I have coupons coming out of my ears. I have been shoving them into my purple coupon box. I would say that nearly 80 percent of my coupons were expired. I am so glad that I still have a friend stationed overseas. The military can use expired coupons up to six months in commissaries overseas.

I laid out my Albertson's flier and made a list of the sales that I could pair with coupons. It only took a few minutes to get into the swing of things. I was excited about all the money I was going to save. I'm not sure why but I decided to double check the date on the sales flier, only to realize that the sales were good until October 2nd. UMMMM what is today's date? GEEZ you have gotta be kidding me. Oh well! I took a stack of coupons and headed to  the grocery store, surely I could do some quick calculations in my head. NOPE! I blew my budget by $35.00. Time to get more organized and get back on track. This chaos is costing me money.

The Body of a Stay at Home Mom

I took a little time for myself today. My husband agreed to watch the kiddos so I could go out and enjoy some fresh air. I told him I was going shopping! He didn't roll his eyes or immediately hide the credit cards. he knows I'm headed to the nearest thrift store in search of  a bargain.

I browesed the rack of jeans and blouses, piling clothes on my arm. I have no idea what size I wear. I haven't bought any clothes since I had my son.

I enter the dressing room and am immediately faced with a three way mirror. I take my clothes off.  I am shocked at the person staring back at me. I recognize the face. My face still looks like a young, bright eyed mom but it is my body that surprises me.

I can clearly see the light stretch marks racing from my hips down my butt. I have a little pootch that sags just over my underware. My breast are large and not so perky.

I didn't get depressed or quickly put my clothes back on. I felt empowered. I was in really good shape when I was in the Army but now I feel like a woman.

My breast are not just for show. I nouished three babies. I am my son's life line. The stretch marks are my battle wounds from the weight of twins and a nine pound baby growing in my belly. I am even okay with my flat butt and my wide hips. I am strong! I am a momma! I walked out of the dressing room with a black sweater and kaki pants but I had such a huge aahaa moment.

I probably could have walked out naked.

Mommy Tip of the Day

I really thought I was going to get the house more organized this month. I am pretty determined and disciplined when I have set a goal for myself. It is funny how you think you need something, when in fact, you need something totally different. I thought I need to scrub the cabinets, clean the washroom and organize the closets.

I woke up today with a list of things to do. I knew exactly what I could accomplish during nap time and in between episodes of sesame street and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

My son's Face Says it all! This is what I needed to do!

Instead the girls and I lounged around in faded T-shirts and shorts. I didn't do their hair. I rolled around on the floor and played with the baby. I danced and shook my booty to the theme song to Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.

Mommy tip of the day: Stop reading and blogging about trying to be a better mommy and be one!

Success As A Stay at Home Mom

Today is  day six of my 30 day goal to a more efficient house hold. My husband is on shift and grandma has gone home. I am here alone with the twins and the baby. I'm tired, I have a sink full of dirty dishes and the girls are whining for my attention. I can't help but wonder what makes a successful stay at home mom? Did my children laugh more today than they cried? Did I teach them something? Did I say please and thank you when I spoke to them or did I simply nag them to say it? Did I roll my eyes when the baby cried? It was easy to measure my success as a Soldier. It is much more difficult to know if I am doing a good job as a wife and mother.

It is so easy to take a day for granted but days turn to weeks and weeks to months. My tiny NICU babies are walking, talking opinionated toddlers and my dream of a baby is a the chunky little man sitting on my living room floor.

Spiders, Rats, Bats and Coupons Oh My

The girls convinced my mom that they needed rats, spiders and bats yesterday when we were out shopping. They just couldn't resist all of the Halloween decorations. We decided to make a quick trip to the dollar tree to see if we could find the odd request at a reasonable price. What did I see glimmering in the window? A giant sign that says "we now accept manufacturer coupons". You would have thought I just witnessed a miracle. I was so excited. I quickly browsed the aisles for name brand products. I can't wait to use some coupons and see what I can get for free.

A Rainy Day With Grandma

It is actually raining in west Texas!!The husband is at work today. Mom bought the girls bikes last night so we decided to pick them up from Walmart today. I'm pretty sure mom is exhausted from playing hide and seek last night. It takes 30 minutes to convince Sofia to put on the matching pants to her blouse and another 30 minutes to convince Abby to go to the bathroom before we leave. Mom has to go out and move her car because she parked it behind the van. The baby is screaming because he doesn't want to be in his car seat. I just look at the kiddos and shake my head.

My mom lets the girls in the van first so they start screaming that Anthony is going to smash their fingers when I pass his car seat to the back. I explain to mom that she has messed up the routine. Anthony is seated first than Sofi, than Abby. She is hot, sweaty and out of breath. "This is a lot of work" is all she can manage to get out.

It's funny, how people don't realize how tough it is to be a stay at home mom. My mom stayed home with my brother and me but she came from a different generation. She focused on cleaning the house and cooking dinner. She did not have a computer,didn't clip coupons and definitely did not play with us kids. We were not given choices. My mom was the dictator no questions asked. I look at my children who want the baggies of snacks I've packed and the stuffed animals that always tag along and can't help but wonder how they would act if I was more like my mother. Would life be easier? Would they be better behaved? Would we be at Walmart alread? 

The Sacrafices of A Stay at Home Mom

I have been a stay at home mom now for just over a year. It is one of the best decisions I ever made. Do we have to make sacrifices? Yes absolutely We were finally able to buy the kids Halloween costumes today. I know Halloween is still weeks away but the girls have been asking for a Hercules and Witch costume for weeks now but we couldn't afford them.

It hasn't been hard to give up my gym membership, the Chrysler 300 and days at the spa but when I can't give the kids something they want it does stress me out a little. I know they have everything they need and I am sure in the long run we are teaching them valuable lessons but it is still hard.

Today's focus is on clipping and organizing my coupons. They have saved my family a lot of money and I have really been slacking in this area. I need to focus on stretching and saving the money we have instead of getting so obsessed with making more money.

Oh and grandma is here!!! I might actually get some housework done this weekend.

I Need More Sleep

One of the first things I need to do to start getting my house in order is to reestablish a bed time for the girls. I have a seven month old but he isn't the one giving me trouble. He goes to bed at 8:30 and sleeps nearly five hours before he gets up to eat. The girls are a different story. Abby figured out how to open the doors about a month ago. We have been struggling to get them to bed ever since. We will follow our nightly routine than wait for them to pop their little heads out 50 times before they finally settle down. Our new goal is to go to bed at 10:00. Hopefully they will go to sleep since the house is dark and quiet.

I am sure we will miss our movie and cuddle time alone on the couch but it will be worth it in the end. I am exhausted. They have been staying up until 11:30 than sneaking down and crawling into our bed at 2:00 in the morning.

So how was our first night of Mission Get Some Sleep...... Exhausting.We cleaned up, got ready for bed and said our good nights. The girls snuck down stairs 4 times!! Oh well walking up the stairs counts as my exercise for the day right?

 

Yes This is the before picture

 

I am approaching my goals one small task at a time. Today we organized the girl's bookshelf and took all the big girls toys out of the toy box downstairs.

I took out all of the magazines and left 10 books for the girls to read. The plan is to change out the books every month. 

Oh yes and we went to the costume store and looked at Halloween stuff!!

30 Days To a More Efficient Household

I making the commitment today to make my home a more efficient household in the next thirty days. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and tired. I find myself scrambling to fix dinner, putting the kids to bed without reading them a bedtime story and over all neglecting the important things.

It all started a few months ago. I started creating websites online in hopes of making a few extra dollars. I have to admit I'm addicted to Squidoo but it went from being my creative outlet to my escape from reality.

My husband and I had been planning a vacation for the girls' third birthday for nearly a year. It wasn't a big vacation but money has been tight so we were pinching our pennies and making plans. I'm sad to say that our vacation was a flop! What does this have to do with our household. Well. I couldn't help but feel defeated. I started dedicating more and more time to the computer.

I got this crazy idea that if I made a little extra money making websites that life would be easier to manage.

My mother said something to me that made a lot of sense. She said " If you can't be happy with what you have than you won't be happy with more". Wow!! what an eye opener.

My goals for the next thirty days:

1. Spend more quality time with my children and less time on the computer
2. Get more fresh air and exercise
3. Organize and baby proof the house before the holidays..... the baby is crawling it needs to be done.

Today is day 1 of a healthier, happier home.

 

The baby sat up today for the first time!

I took the time to make cookies with the girls.

 

 

Focusing On Home

People often ask me how I manage to get things done with three year old twins and a seven month old son. The honest answer..... I have no idea. Most days I walk around in a daze and go to bed wondering where the day has gone. I am a schedule, menu and planning kind of gal. I've been in a rut lately when it comes to house cleaning, coupon clipping and freezer cooking. I am working really hard to make a little extra money writing online. I pray that the wheels are in motion and I will start to see the fruits of my labor around the holidays. I have invested so much in my stay at home work. I really need to prioritize and get back on track here at home.

NICU PTST

I finally managed to write an article about my daughter Sofia. She was in the hospital for over two months when she was born. The entire experience was heartbreaking. I know most parents of premature babies suffer some sort of PTSD. I just didn't expect to be one of them. I have three healthy, happy children and so much to be thankful for. I'm not sure why it is so painful to think about the girls in the NICU. I think in some ways I feel cheated. I waited so long to have children. I didn't get the excitement of taking a pregnancy test in the privacy of my own bathroom. Instead, I was in a cold, sterile room in a clinic with a doctor holding my husband's sperm in a tiny container. IVF was such a huge blessing and the end of a bleak time in my life. It was a new beginning. It is terrible how sometimes we can forget how badly we wanted something. The journey of having children was so difficult for us that I almost forgot to catch my breath when I finally found out I was pregnant. I went through a terrible phase of "why me" when the girls were born early. I can look back now and see how far we have come. Sofia's Story of Survival

The Girls Are Three

I can't believe the girls are three already. Where has the time gone! I debated on writing about Sofia's sleep apnea this week but couldn't fight back the tears. I guess I'm not ready. The girls have started sneaking down the steps in the middle of the night and sneaking into bed. They are so funny. They try to stay awake on the balcony until we fall asleep and often fall asleep up there. I'm going to miss this time. They are so cute at this age and a huge hand full. I am so proud of their strong personalities.

The Girls are Turning Three

My daughters will be turning three in a few days. I once again find myself overwhelmed with emotion. I can't help but think about my babies in the hospital and everything we went through. Those times were so hard. I feel terrible that I am not more excited and just HAPPY!! I should be jumping up and down with joy because I have two healthy, happy toddlers. I'm not sure what is wrong with me. How long is it going to take me to get over these feelings. It just doesn't make any sense.

This sadness is exhausting. I am barely able to function. The husband came home to a dirty house the other day. I waited for him to say something about it so I could pounce on him but instead he cleaned up the house and asked to take us for a drive. The fresh air was so refreshing. I'm doing my best not to think of the "What Ifs" I know thousands of babies are born premature, many of them suffer complications and worse yet! never come home.

I am so truly blessed that our daughters are thriving.

What To Expect At The Bataan Memorial Death March

I am working on a new article today about the Bataan Death March. I hope this one does as well as my first one. I am really putting my heart into it. I can not wait to participate in this amazing event again. It should be interesting with three small children.

My mom is a little nervous about doing the march but I know she can do it. We just need to train really hard starting in October. It is a little difficult to train right now because I am still nursing the baby. He eats every two hours but I do what I can.

The Good Life

My article about the Bataan Death March is article of the day today on Squidoo! I am so excited! I can not believe I have earned two purple stars this month. I really want to work on my articles about my children. I am a little disappointed that I have not been able to write as passionately about them as I have my military career. I know in my  heart that it is because I still have my guard up. My heart hasn't completely healed from Sofia being in the hospital. My son has be such a huge blessing.
In a way I almost feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Our lives have never been so good.

Here It Is My Old Bio

I am currently a 30 year old stay at home mom. I have two beautiful 11 month old daughters. I am preparing to return to work as a Department of Defense firefighter instructor and I'm dreading every minute that brings me closer to going back to work. I served in the Army for nearly 11 years then got out and settled down in West Texas. It still doesn't quite feel like home here. I am originally from Grand Island, NE. I have always enjoyed the simple things in life a good sunset, a good meal, a lazy day on the couch but I have been blessed to see and do amazing things, go into a burning building, dangle from a helicopter and of course now raising twins. I think 30 is a milestone in my life but a very small one. I look forward to what the next 30 has to offer

I'm Back

I can not believe it has been so long since  I blogged. I just read my blogs and WOW! my life has changed so much. I will probably start off my adding my bio as a blog than create a new one. It is definitely not who I am anymore. I am a new writer on Squidoo so check it out!