Project Hope

If you have been reading my blog since the beginning, you probably know that I had two pregnancy losses before having my precious babies.

My first pregnancy was in late 2006 and ended at 6 weeks. The doctors called it, "just one of those things." In their words, something was wrong, it was common, etc. It was December 20th, I was on my way out of town and stopped at my doctor for my first real checkup after the checkup where they confirmed I was pregnant. I never in a million years thought a miscarriage would happen to me. I don't know why. Maybe because I was idealistic and just thought it happened to other people. Anyhow, it was crushing. Jason and I had been trying to conceive for about 6 months. I took that loss very hard, and became involved in Infant Loss Awareness month through some friends at school who had also lost babies. It's something no one talks about until it happens to them.

The next pregnancy was about 6 months later. We were anxious to try again and got a positive in early summer of 2007. At almost exactly 12 weeks, right before I planned to tell school and my friends, we lost the second baby. It was awful. I was at my school's open house greeting my new class for next year, mingling with parents. I excused myself to go to the bathroom and was bleeding. I freaked. I grabbed my best friend, Jill, and she took me to the hospital, no questions asked. After an eternity, I learned my second baby was gone. I scheduled my second D&C for the next day. Unfortunately, I pretty much went into "labor" that night around 4:00 and by my 9:00 surgery, was having delivery contractions. They asked if I wanted to deliver the baby and then have the procedure. I told them to knock me out ASAP. Later we were told that the baby had an abnormal amount of chromosomes and it would never live outside of my body. We both went into a depression. Understandably so. It was a dark, hard time. I wish I had something, anything to remember that baby by. I still wonder both of their sexes.

When I read Diana's (Hormonal Imbalances) recent post about Project Hope, I actually felt compelled to help. I KNOW the feeling. So what if your baby was 6, 12, or 20 weeks and you lost it? YOU LOST YOUR BABY. You want a memory. Everyone deserves that. I am so grateful for Laura from Bits of Splendor for doing this. Making a difference. Caring.

You don't have to have gone through a pregnancy loss to care or be involved. My involvement right now is this button and blog post. Can I do more? Sure. I'm weighing out what I'm available for. I pray that some of you will read the links to the actual Project Hope post and maybe just post about it. Let's try to make women that experience this now have a scrap of something to make them feel just a little but better.

Catch Up and Questions

*We are done traveling until the end of the month. We got back from our family reunion in Nashville last Sunday and have been working our way through the week with lots of cleaning, washing clothes, and getting back into routine. Having the fourth fall on a Wednesday did not help, but we did have fun!

*We went to a neighborhood block party for the fourth and had a blast! Everyone brought sides and the hosts did LOTS of hot dogs. We ate great food, let Emma and Harrison run wild, and stayed till 10:00 watching fireworks! Harrison went home for bed, but since we live 2 houses down, the baby monitor worked! Emma lost her mind around ten, she was so tired, so we packed it in and headed home. Where she proceeded to toss and turn until eleven, then came and got in bed with us.

*Don't let your kids eat watermelon unless they are wearing a bib and/or are naked. I let them both go to town on watermelon at the party, and they were in smocked outfits. Yikers. The next morning I began the stain removal process-soak cycle with LOTS of Oxi-clean. After that, a wash. Still there. Crud. I took to the interwebs for advice. Finally soaked them in Shout for 3 hours, then poured boiling water over the stains, then soak cycle again, then another wash, all on hot! Finally came clean! We are not doing that again.

*I am having issues with my hardwood floors. I have a Shark steam mop, which I love for the ease and no chemicals. However, I've noticed that they are still not really clean! I need something to use once a week in addition to the Shark. Something with cleaner. I'm thinking Swiffer wet jet. I'm also thinking not above $50. What do you all do? Please give me some advice. I really don't want to get down on my hands and knees and go Cinderella style.

*Question:  how do you get a baby off a bottle? One would think I hadn't already raised a child, but I seriously cannot remember how I transitioned Emma from bottle to cup. Maybe one of my problems is that I don't have a cup I love that DOES NOT LEAK. For the love. So, please tell me: how old and HOW can I do this? Is he still supposed to be having 4 bottles per day? He's still killing them and crying for them, so..........please help.

*Question: how do you get a potty trained almost 3 year old to get up and potty at naps and night? I'm honestly scared to do this. She is a great sleeper, but I wonder what will happen when she has to get up out of bed and go on her little potty. I think we have some wet sheets ahead, but I would LOVE to know how you get them to get to the panties during sleep point. All suggestions welcome!

What have you all been up to?

Life Lately

We have been super busy, hence the lack of blogging. I still have to get Harrison's first birthday pictures uploaded and post about that, but until then, here is what we have been up to:

*Harrison is totally a full time walker now! It is so freakin' cute. I have to get a good video, cause he's fast. He also has this little push car he got for his birthday from sister, and he drives that joker everywhere! He and Emma have "races" with their riding toys. More like he chases her, but she loves it.

*Emma is fully POTTY TRAINED, praise Jesus! She wears a diaper at night until I can figure out/research how to best get her out of her bed in the middle of the night to tee tee. It is awesome! However, while we've been traveling we have been taking our portable potty. She is real good about telling me when she needs to go, and sometimes I have to pull over off an exit ramp for her to get in the back of the Expedition and sit on her pot. Yesterday she "had to poop" and I pulled over to accommodate. She did not disappoint. This is super nice for many reasons, but I also thought this would never happen! Just goes to show you that they will do it when they're ready.

*We had a bomb ass 30th birthday party for sister this weekend. Friday night was cooking in (steaks and twice baked potatoes), then lots of beer/wine and a board game called Battle of the Sexes. Which was totally awesome and we won! Saturday started out with sleeping in, pedicures, Mall of Georgia, relaxation time, dinner out at 5 Seasons Brew Pub, then home to continue wretched excess with beer/wine and more Battle of the Sexes. Sadly, we lost. Sunday was more sleeping in, brother made an awesome breakfast consisting of Cotswold cheese grits and some Waffle House hashbrown concoction. It was amazing! We had a great time just being like the we were pre-kids. Lots of sleeping in and we still had "phantom baby crying" moments where we all swear we heard a kid crying. I also got an AWESOME ice cream cake from Publix. Remember when sister did this hair tutorial? Yeah. Picture. On a cake. With ugly roses. It was too much! 

This was the lovely picture gracing the cake. I'm sure Sarah has a picture of

 the cake and a blog post coming  about our weekend!

*We are heading back to Nashville this weekend for a family reunion and to see Grannie. I'm really excited to go! I missed last year because Harrison was 3 weeks old.


So, we've been very busy and having lots of summer fun! Next up-Harry's birthday recap!

Crappy Customer Service

Recently, I have had some AWFUL customer service.

It all started when I called to book my hotel room for this weekend's family reunion in Nashville. First of all, why do they have to transfer you a general reservation hotline instead of doing it themselves? I ended up talking to an Indian named "Zach" who pretty much couldn't understand anything I wanted or said. When I tried to use Jason's Hilton Honors points to get rewarded, he informed me that if Jason wasn't coming, I couldn't earn any points. I'm sorry, but that is complete crap. We are still members and are PAYING YOU to stay there. Give me my measly points so I can get a free room come Thanksgiving. Then, I asked him if I could get a room on the first floor since I have two kids and am flying solo, and he was real confused and not sure if that could happen. It's Nashville, not Vegas. Get real. Then, when I asked him if I could get a special rate for pre-paying, he was also unsure. My sister had JUST gotten off the phone where her operator offered her this deal-when I explained that to him, he had to "check" and then was reluctant. I'll be shocked if I get my $10 discount! Come on Hilton, let's get someone who can understand me and offer me the things I deserve AND give me the points I'm earning.

Next up, Target in Montgomery. I went in and got a few things, including a bath toy storage thing and some panties for Emma. When I got back to Atlanta, I noticed the panties were GIANT and will have to be exchanged. I got the receipt. looked it over, and noticed the panties were nowhere on there. Then I noticed the bath toy thing that was $14.99 was rung up TWICE. Ugh. I called the Target to see what could be done (since I live 3 hours away) and they informed me that they couldn't refund me unless I came BACK to their store. Also, they would have to "see" what to do about the panties. Ummm, this was not my mistake. The cashier didn't ring the panties up, then rang the toy up twice. After going round and round with the "customer service" person, she had to call me back after calling my local Target to work something out. Well, I will be able to exchange the panties here, but no dice on the refund. She's going to send me some coupons to make up the difference. How kind. Because I really want coupons instead of MONEY.

Finally, our new local pizza place. First of all, please train your employees on listening to the customer on the phone. I asked for delivery, and within 4 minutes was asked if it was for delivery three times. Also, please help them learn how to repeat credit card numbers and expiration dates back to the customers so that they don't make a mistake 390 times when getting your card number. Also, they can and should say, "Thanks for your order" and tell you how long it will be.

All of these things are minuscule in the grand scheme of things, but it really burns my biscuits when people dealing in customer service are not accommodating and gracious and thankful for your business.

Tell me, what is the WORST customer service you have received?

Thank You, God

So many times when we read blogs, we see such sad stories. I have been overwhelmed lately with all of the awful things I am reading. Sick babies, sick children, dying babies and children. Then you read the miracle stories. The ones that recover or are doing well with their disease.

My sister and I were recently talking about why we read certain blogs. We love connecting with others and reading their stories. We also love to read and rally for those families whose children are having problems. We like to learn about the things that can happen and be thankful for what we have. But it is heartbreaking.

Today I was reading Kellie Staats blog and one of her friends recently lost their son. I was so amazed by this mom-she was gracious, kind, faithful, happy (seemingly all the time) and just joyful with life. I know if I was in her shoes with having two special needs kids and then lost one, I would not be as amazingly graceful as she is. It really made me think about how I want to be and how I can change things I don't like about my parenting.

I am so THANKFUL that I have two beautiful, perfectly healthy children. Even when I feel like I'm ready to lose my mind or run my head through a wall if another person cries, fights, whines, or is disrespectful, I try to remind myself that at least I HAVE my children here. And I am grateful for that.

 Harrison is modeling his new Michael Jordan jams. With Emma's pink binky.

At the doctor for Buddy's one year old check up-which one day later led to enterovirus/hand foot and mouth. Pretty miserable for BOTH of them. 

Harrison's favorite play place-my tupperware cabinet! 

Emma was doing some cheerleading in a diaper, dress up high heels, and leftover birthday decor. 

Emma was begging for gummy worms at Walgreens while I tried to print a picture.

The big day!!

Harrison's big day is rapidly approaching! On Saturday we are having his FIRST birthday party, although he actually turns one on Monday, June 11.

The theme is sports like baseball, basketball and football. Honestly, what one year old likes anything enough (more than food) to communicate it to you? That's right-none. So we choose what we want. Ha!

We are having a barbeque slash pool party with family and friends. Our backyard will have four awesome pools, ranging in sizes from le bebe to "a family of eight can fit in here."

My bestie Jill is making sports cupcakes, a baseball smash cake, and cake pops for favors! I ordered some individual Cracker Jacks and my MIL found some sports rubber duckies, alas, the favor bags were created.
My other good friend made him an adorable banner, small sneak peek below!

The beer (and cokes, water, and juice) will be flowin and we will no doubt have a great time!! I shall update our shenanigans after the party. And this winning mom still hasn't gotten her birthday boy a gift.

Look how cute his invites turned out! I found them on Etsy, shocking, I know. They only have everything in the world you could think of.

I can't wait for la familia to start arriving Thursday and Friday. Lucky for me they will be the decorator queens. Cause I'm seriously challenged in that area.

Wish me luck! And let's pray Harrison has a good night's sleep since this is around naptime-yikes a million.

PS, before anyone mentions my address and phone number being on there: stalkers welcome, let me introduce you to my Ruger. Or Colt. Or Steyr Mannlicher, a beautiful high powered rifle with a custom built scope. Trained in the art of marksmanship by a master marksman, my father. Why do I have them? Well the first two for protection. The rifle for hunting. What? I'm from Alabama. That's what we get for gifts growing up. All I'm missing is my CCP-if you don't know what that is, then I'm not worried about you being a stalker. Come on over. Peace.

Nashville Updates

Well, yesterday Sarah and I left Birmingham to head to Nashville to check on our Grannie Annie. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and had some fluid in her lungs and her kidneys are in pretty bad shape. Sooo, please keep our Grannie in your thoughts.

As usual, whenever Sarah and I travel together, it's a barrel of laughs. We started our trip with a stop by Burger King to get some breakfast, and after placing our order, we were informed to, "pull to the secont winda fo ya total." We thought this was the funniest thing we had ever heard and proceeded to laugh and repeat it for at least 30 minutes. Once we were in Tennessee, we stopped to go to the bathroom and get lottery tickets, at one of the shadiest places we've been in awhile. Next door to the Boobie Bungalow. Right on. We spent a good thirty minutes playing this game with quarters, totally addicting because we would win, then spend our winnings immediately.

We made good time to the hospital since we left home at 7:45, so once we knew Grannie was up, we booked it over. It was fun to visit and see Grannie in better spirits and talk to some of her doctors. Things seem to be much better, but we have a long way to go to get Grannie home and back to normal.

After we ate lunch, we stopped to get more lottery tickets. This stop was unfortunate because the cashier boy was alone and there were about 8 people in line. Then we started getting our lottery tickets and the line grew. This joker started getting real agitated and started sighing. Of course he had a GIANT faux zirconia in his ear, and Sarah felt it appropriate to tell him, "Don't stress, you have that sweet rock in your ear." I literally busted out laughing in his face and had to walk out of the gas station before he punched me. This is just typical of us when we get together.

As usual, we are enjoying our nights playing cards and games with a few drinks! It's good to be here, seeing Grannie and visiting, singing songs and reminiscing about our favorite childhood memories. I will be sad to leave tomorrow, but Jason and I are planning to come back in two weeks with the kids so they can see Grannie.




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