A Mom on the Go

Break downs. Yes they happen to everyone but I seem to be having them a lot lately.  Baby B wants Mr. H more than me results in a breakdown. The kitchen isn't clean results in a breakdown.  I get a promotion at work results in a break down. Wait what? That last one would seem like a good thing.  And let me tell you it is.  It's exactly what I am looking to do next in the "career" side of my life.  It's a move to a great team, a chance to learn a LOT and it's a pay raise which is always lovely.

Our plan is for me to eventually be at home.  That's where I want to be; it's where I should be.  So, after accepting the offer I broke down being overwhelmed with guilt.  I felt guilty wanting the new job, guilty that I leave my son every morning to go to work, guilty that after work I sometimes go to the gym and by the time I get home Baby B (who will soon not be a baby) is asleep or cuddling with Mr. H.

Then enters what ever creature is on my other shoulder.  Right now Corey is finishing school (my job allows tuition to be waived), he is also working really hard to build his book of business as well as learn the business because one day he will probably be running said business.  (No pressure)  Since financially I must work I might as well make the best of it.  Make it something I want to do, make it something that will help me when I am home, and quite frankly be a little selfish. Gasp! As moms we hardly know what that is. Sometimes it's a 5 minute soak in the tub before little fingers appear under the door, sometimes it's a girls night, sometimes it's indulging in ice cream, and sometimes it's perusing a career. Like I said, for us it is right at the moment and there is no sense being in a position I am not enjoying when I can be in one I do enjoy.  No point in making myself miserable waiting.

So enter next phase of my life.  I am a working mommy, yes I understand I have been a working mommy for a while. But I need to embrace it. I need to find a balance of bettering myself and my family.  I need to find ways to make the time I have at home valuable.  I need to make memories with my family and not sweat the small stuff (Mr. H that does not mean I won't have break downs over the cleanliness of the house). I need to make sure we are having Family Home Evening's every week.  Reading scriptures and other books daily.  I need to remember to get out my camera and video camera. Oh and that thing called a date night...(hint hint).

Any suggestions? What works for your family?

Easter

I love Easter! It's a time to celebrate Resurrection, life, and Spring! Not only does it remind me of his sacrifice for us it reminds me of (spoiler alert, my inner nerd coming out) Persephone returning to her mother (Greek story of Spring).

Next year when Brodie is a little older I want to have Easter lessons leading up to Easter Sunday. I want to make Resurrection rolls with him and help him be excited for Easter too.  There is of course Easter baskets, stuffed animals and chocolate but I am most excited for teaching my son the gospel.

It's also a great time to continue the Humrich tradition of pictures in your Sunday best on Easter Sunday.  That's something I got to start this year with Brodie.

   

Christmas Advent

I have been searching the web for a Christmas Scripture Advent that I like.  Some of them had scriptures that I didn't feel fit or there was one verse on one day but 20 on another day. I think I will be changing it throughout the years but so far this is the best one yet.  I also want to come up with an activity for each day.  (making cookies, ecaroling, acts of service) Maybe I will get even more creative and make the activity coordinate with the scripture.  Maybe...

What are some activities you do leading up to Christmas day?

{via}
December 1: Isaiah 7: 14
December 2: 2 Nephi 26: 3
December 3: Matt. 15:30
December 4: 2 Nephi 2 : 9
December 5: 3 Nephi 11: 1-11
December 6: Mark 16: 5
December 7: Moroni 7: 28
December 8: Luke 23: 33, 34
December 9: 1 Nephi 19: 9
December 10: 2 Nephi 9: 21
December 11: Matt. 14: 17-21
December 12: 3 Nephi 11: 15
December 13: John 13: 34
December 14: Matt 20: 30-34
December 15: 2 Nephi 2: 26
December 16: Matt 4:23
December 17: Luke 2: 46-47
December 18: Matt. 3: 16
December 19: 2 Nephi 2: 6
December 20: Luke 2: 8-11
December 21: Matt. 1: 21-23
December 22: Helaman 14: 2-4
December 23: Helaman 14: 5-8
December 24: Luke 2 : 12-16

FHE: Work

Topic: Work

“Be Anxiously Engaged” by Elder M. Russell Ballard in General Conference October 2012

Lesson

For young children:

Honeybees work together to make honey.  They work very hard.  One bee produces a very little amount of honey but every bee is very important.

Why is each honey bee so important? When the honeybees work together they can make a lot of honey. 

Show a container of honey.  If one bee had to make all of this honey he would get very tired.  But if lots of honeybees worked together each one only has to work a little but to make all of this honey.

As a family we can get a lot done by working together.

In what ways do we work together as a family?

Have children color a picture of a honeybee. (example)

For teenagers and adults:

Have someone read the following quote:

“We read of the service Church members provide around the world and especially the humanitarian service given in times of crises – fires and floods and hurricanes and tornadoes.  These much-needed and much-appreciated emergency responses should certainly continue as a way of bearing one another’s burdens.  But what about our everyday lives? What would be the cumulative effect of millions of small, compassionate acts performed daily by us because of our heartfelt Christian love for others? Over time this would have a transformative effect upon all of our Heavenly Father’s children through the extension of his love to them through us.  Our troubled world needs this love of Christ today more than ever, and it will need it even more in the years ahead.”

Talk about service performed by family members.

·         Church service projects

·         Scouts

·         YM/YW

What are some things we can do daily to help others?

Elder Ballard says there is one simple thing we can do to make daily service a habit. 

“In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children.  Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.  Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen.  If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.  Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

Activity

Beehive jar:

What you will need:

·         Glass jar or vase

·         Yellow or cream strips of paper (larger squares for younger children)

Explain how we just learned that by small daily acts of service each member of the family can help improve the atmosphere in the home.

Take a strip of paper and write down an act of service a member of the family has performed in the home.  Ask other family members to do the same thing.  Younger children can draw a picture of service. Have older kids and parents help younger children think of acts of service. Keep doing this until the jar is filled.

If we all pitch in and do a few little things we can fill this jar and fill our home with love and happiness. 

Free Tip: Green Onions

I have learned a lot from Pinterest.  No, really I have! For example: Did you know that you can get regrowth from your green onions?

I pinned this a while back:

{source}

Finally remembered to keep my green onions rather than throw them away.  I had my doubts that it would work but it was worth a try. 

I will have you know my thumb is far from green.  Ask Mr. H, I kill every plant that comes into our home/garden.  I have killed a number of basil plants, tomato plants, and flowers.  Currently I have a tree only needs water once a month and I am lucky if I remember to do that.  So far it lives but I am sure it is just a matter of time.  Miraculously we still have a blueberry bush but it has never had blueberries and only had leaves for a brief moment.  So I guess it's a bunch of blueberry bush branches (say that 10x's fast).  

But regrowing green onions I can do! I've regrown them at least 4 or 5 times.  I just grab my kitchen scissors and chop as much as I need.  My favorite thing to put them in is eggs. I spray a bowl with Pam, beat two eggs, and add salt/pepper/green onions. I shamelessly microwave them until they are almost done, add some cheese and cook them until done and melted. 

Microwaved eggs aren't for everyone.  Mr H really doesn't like them!

Inspiration: Wall Gallery

Have you seen this on Pinterest?

{source}

I pinned it a while back, before we moved into the new house, and I have yet to actually do it. I have the perfect wall for it too.

We hope to knock the wall out (it divides the living room from the kitchen) and replace it with an L shaped bar. I keep using this as an excuse for not hanging pictures on this wall. What’s the point if we’re just going to knock it down right? The reality is, it will probably be YEARS before we do that.

Now my excuse is, when am I going to have the time and money to get all of those frames?!

 



The Mommy Switch

In the last few weeks I’ve been asked several times how I would handle leaving Baby B to go back to work. My Answer: I would be ok. He’s being watched by Grandma, holidays are coming, and I’m pretty strong emotionally. I also know that we are working on a way for me to be able to stay home. I’ve also been asked how it feels to be a mom. My Answer: It’s good. (I really don’t know how to answer that question.)
Part of me has been feeling guilty for not dreading the day I go back to work. Part of me has been feeling guilty for not feeling different now that I am a mom. Isn’t there a switch that gets turned on that makes me an emotional and over-protective mommy? I don’t think it has turned on yet or our hospital stay made me numb or stronger than I thought.

Then we took Baby B to Grandma’s this morning and he stared at me while I went through the basics of his day to day. He stared at me as I tried to leave without crying. As soon as my eyes started to water I ran for the car.

So I am human. I do miss my baby. However, I have been blessed to be tough while I make it through working while we pay off bills and get Mr. H through school. I have been blessed that someone who will love Baby B as much as I do is watching him during the day.

Living Room - Before and After

New Paint Color

Wall Decor

Curtains

Protect the Children - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

We have a new family routine at night.  Each night we read scriptures to Baby B and then we say a family prayer.  I can't wait until we get to hear the innocent prayers from our son.  Last night we finished up our new routine and Mr. H was talking to Baby B.  Baby B has become quite the social bug.  As Mr. H was telling him how much he loved him and how much his Father in Heaven loves him, Baby B smiled and did his little baby chuckle.  Baby knows. 

It made me think of a very powerful talk during Conference last weekend.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke on the importance of protecting children.  He talked about the abuse, health, diminishing numbers of the next generation.

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:5–6).

Link to Elder Oaks' talk.

Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Every time I go home I get my mom to make breakfast burritos.  The way she makes them are bomb!  And she's laughing as she reads this because she doesn't follow a recipe or make them the same every time.  She's just mom that's why!

When I came across the idea to make a batch of breakfast burritos and freeze them I was definitely inspired to give it a try. 

You can find the original post here.

This recipe makes about 36 burritos, mine only 15.  I didn't want to go overboard on the burrito making if I ended up not liking them. 

My recipe:

10 eggs - beaten

1 package of maple sausage

1/2 red bell pepper (or green, or yellow - which ever you prefer)

1 small onion

2 cups hash browns - optional (I didn't actually measure this, I am guessing that is how much I dumped)

15 burrito/fajita size tortillas (next time I will buy the Costco kind - love them!)

shredded jack cheese

2 gallon size freezer bags

plastic wrap

Directions:

I cooked the sausage in a separate skillet because it was frozen but next time I will use the same skillet (less mess).  So cook the sausage and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels. 

Next, cook the onion and pepper until the onion is clear and the pepper is still a little crisp.  Dump in those hash browns! (optional but let me add it's a cheap filler)

Mix in the sausage and eggs (I seasoned the eggs before putting them into the mixture).  Cook until eggs are completely cooked.  Mr. H is always worried the eggs aren't completely cooked but guess what? If they didn't cook all the way they will get cooked in the microwave when you reheat them. (shh don't tell Mr. H)

Now your ready to make a burrito - or 15. In small batches (5-7) heat tortillas in the microwave to soften.  in each tortilla place a heaping 1/4 cup of mixture. 

Some tortillas will take more, some less. Sprinkle on some cheese.  Tuck and roll. 

Wrap each burrito in plastic wrap and place in a gallon size freezer bag. 

Dining Room - Before and After

Two new paint colors

Curtains

Wall Decor

Baby B is 6 Weeks!

I can't believe it's been 6 weeks already! When we brought Baby B home 3 weeks ago I knew time would start to pick up. We keep pretty busy with doctor appointments for both of us, getting the house organized and shopping of course.

During his stay in the hospital it was very obvious how much people loved him.  The nurses, family and friends couldn't get enough of the little guy.

Being able to take him out of the hospital for the first time was the best feeling, even though we had to drive straight to Lutheran to get paperwork.

At home Baby B got lots of grandma time.  It was great having my mom and sister here for 6 weeks. They were both very helpful.  Grandma even took Baby B overnight so I could get some sleep.

We get lots done. Really, we do.

Baby B was blessed on September 16th and afterward we took our first family photo (out of the hospital).

My dad and brother came into town for the blessing.  Uncle W will be going back out on a mission soon now that he he healthy again.  I was very excited he got to see Baby B before leaving.  Uncle W got out of flooring and painting by taking care of the little one.

We tried to take pictures multiple times but as soon as we laid him down he would wake up.  Unless of course we had his binkie in his mouth.

Baby B has always slept with his arms above his head.  

He is also making lots of faces! (and looks just like Daddy!)

New Paint and New Floor

We're home from the hospital and life is beginning to resemble normal.  Baby B does really well in the morning and lets me get a couple of tasks done.  Saturday I used that time to clean up a few rooms so I can show you what we've done so far.

It's amazing what a little paint can do.

I would like to replace our baseboards next.  The plan is to use 1x4s painted white or stained very dark.

Remember in this post I shared some kitchen inspiration?  The kitchen really was last on my list since everything I wanted to do caused a domino effect I wouldn't have been able to stop.  Shortly after coming home from the hospital I redid our kitchen floors with the help of my mom and brother. (Had to use them while I could!)

I decided to keep the baseboards off since I want to replace them soon.  The floor is a peel and stick from Home Depot. More on that process to come!

Happy Birthday Baby B and Mr. H

August 28th is Mr H's birthday. It was also Baby B's due date but instead he turned 1 week old today.  Staying in the NICU for 7 days has a way of making me disoriented.  It was easy to not mention Mr. H's birthday, not that I forgot, but because I did not know what day it was.  With the help of both moms I put together a little surprise birthday party in the NICU.  We had king ranch chicken and peanut butter pie, along with the cake he had at work and yummy cinnamon popcorn.

I told Mr. H happy birthday in the early hours of the morning but didn't make a big deal out of it.  Then I had his mom put a card from me on his desk at work.  His desk was also decorated by the ladies in his office.  He decided he HAD to mow the lawn that day so he didn't get to the hospital until after both families came with the goods.  We can even see the parking lot from our room so we knew when he arrived. 

Surprise!

 First Family Photo

Surprise! 

Happy Birthday Daddy!

 His favorite birthday gift!

The Life of Baby B - The First 24 Hours

Baby B was born Tuesday August 21, 2012 at 1:14 am.  

The day before: 

Of course for me it all started Monday morning.  I got up to get ready for work, disappointed I did not go into labor that weekend despite the massive amount of walking I did on Saturday. Sunday I had signs of labor but a Google search told me I could still be a week away from delivery.  As I got ready for work more signs of labor started.  Not enough to know if I should stay home from work but like I said, I was disappointed I didn't go into labor over the weekend.  The signs were so faint that after Mr. H gave me a kiss I told him I thought I had been feeling a contraction.  His response, "I have that affect on people." 

I called my doctor's office to ask questions only to leave a message.  I decided not to go into work and ended up being walked to death into labor.  My mom, sister and I went to my sister's school (the one she will be attending during the 6 weeks my mom is in town). While my sister tested, Mom and I went grocery shopping at King Soopers.  We picked up Caitlin from her tests and did some more shopping at Walmart.  By 12:30 I was not the only one complaining about all of the walking.  Thanks to my sister's complaints we were allowed to go home, where I went to bed immediately.  At that point contractions started coming every 7-10 minutes and this time they were for sure contractions. 

So I called Mr. H home from work so he could take me to my doctors office to be examined.  At the examination we were told Baby B was ready and to head over to the hospital.  

The hospital:

We arrived at the hospital and instead of being examined again we were immediately taken back to a delivery room. The rooms at Lutheran are pretty snazzy, equipped with not only everything they need for the delivery and after but also had a jetted tub. The labor did not take long, I pushed for 30 minutes and everyone was amazed.  Yes, I pretty much rock at birthing a child. I had the help of Mr. Epidural.

The rest has turned in to a bit of a blur.  After he was born at 1:14 am on Tuesday August 21 I was able to hold him immediately while the nurse and doctor cleaned up the room to allow family to come see him.  Baby B was then passed around until he had to get cleaned up and given a shot.  Baby B loved getting his hair washed.

At 4:00 am we were taken to our post delivery room where the nurse noted "told patient all information needed but patient could barely keep her eyes open." She was a funny nurse with a southern accent.  Mr. H and I got a couple of hours of much interrupted sleep.  I don't remember when visitors started to trickle in but they were there throughout the afternoon.

Things take a scary turn:

We had noticed a couple of times that Baby B's lips would turn blueish and his skin tone turned a dusty color.   We would pick him up or rub him and his color would return. We mentioned it to the nurse who told us to let her know if he did it again.  At some point I took a shower or went to the restroom and he had turned again.  The nurse checked his oxygen levels and they had dipped but returned as soon as Mr. H had stirred him.  They decided to take him down to the nursery to observe Baby B for any trends during these "episodes." Visitors continued to come and Mr. H would take them down to see Baby B.  I had yet to see him since he left our room and after Mr. H returned from one visit he let me know Baby B was going to be transferred to Children's Hospital where they would continue more test.  Seizures were mentioned but I didn't really hear anything else.  Mr. H helped me get ready to see him and I was taken to the NICU to sit by his side until the Flight for Life team arrived.  (He was not taken by helicopter but by ambulance).  My doctor gave the ok for me to be released (only 7 hours after I had delivered), and Mr. H and I drove straight to Children's.  When we arrived doctors and nurses were at his bedside in gowns and masks.  We were not allowed in the room due to a sterile procedure we were later told was an LP or spinal tap.  We waited in the hall able to see the doctors work.  Finally Baby B's doctor came out to explain the need for a spinal tap.  They wanted to rule out everything, including meningitis.  The only way to test for that is to test fluid from his spine.  Unfortunately they were unable to get the fluid but they started his antibiotics to treat meningitis and would try again the next day.  I was strongly encouraged to go home to sleep and since I had no energy to think I was numbly taken home where I cried...and cried...and cried... So much for getting sleep.

Much has happened since that night but I will never forget those first 24 hours.  Today Baby B is one week old and has been extremely loved by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles (even aunts and uncles who have yet to meet him).

The doctors were able to get the spinal tap the next day and the results showed that he had too many white blood cells indicating he was fighting something.  He will have two weeks of antibiotics before they will test his white blood cell count again with another LP.  If it's down we can go home.  If not we will need to stay longer.  Fingers crossed and prayers prayed for only being here 7 more days

Dad holding Baby B his first full day in the Children's Hospital NICU.

Doctors tested for everything, including seizures. The tech liked that we weren't freaked out about the Brodster being hooked up to the wires.  She said most parents freak. Mr. H and I take pictures he won't live down. We're awesome parents. 

Then Baby B become a little jaundice.  He only had the lights on him one day, what a strong little guy! He looks like a cross between Batman, Cyclops, Iron man, and a glow warm. Let me tell you feeding him while attached to an IV is hard, but feeding him while in a blue glowing blanket and IV, and his stats. Exhausting.

Baby B had a hard time getting a central line to get rid of the multiple IV's.  The doctors tried twice but it really needs to be done by a nurse specialized in that.  We had to be very careful with his current IV's and I came very close to talking to administration about a specific nurse who was not careful with his IV line.  I told Mr. H if Baby B lost his last IV the next day (she was a night nurse) it would be her fault.  And guess who was our night nurse the very next night.

Kitchen Inspiration

The kitchen will probably be the last project I start because it's the most expensive but it's always the first thing I google when looking for renovation/decoration ideas. Our current kitchen is a tad out dated.  We have a burnt orange sink that leaks, dark brown cabinets with a little damage, and horrible linoleum floors. 

We eventually plan on knocking out the wall between the kitchen and dinning room to put in a bar.  That has been the only real plan and many have offered to help with hitting our wall with a sledge hammer.  Before we get in over our head I just dream of a kitchen that looks like this...

(source)

What we would need to do:

• Paint cabinets
• Put in new hardware
• New sink
• Replace counter tops (butcher block style)
• knock out wall and install bar
• Replace floor (and possible remove a sub floor since our kitchen is a little raised compared to the rest of the floor)

Pregnant Pictures

If you have been reading this blog you know that not too long ago I broke down a little in this post about my scabbed face and chubby cheeks.  After reading the post a couple of days ago Mr. H said I was not allowed to think that...oops!  Well, I will have you know I finally got pregnant pics that I am ok with thanks to my mother-in-law who forced me to take pictures.  I do wish I looked like I had make up on but that is not a pregnancy problem, that is just a problem in general. (user issue)  But I am about to get a sister-in-law that is all about makeup, maybe she can give me a few tips.  I mean, I probably need to learn how to apply eye liner correctly! Basics, one step at a time people.

Here they are:

Something to Blog About

I like to write.  I hate having writer's block...or nothing to write about.  Therefore, I don't write that often.  As I said in the last post, the movie Julie and Julia made me want to blog more.  After googling "finding things to blog about" and "what on earth do I blog about"...if only I were kidding about the second search, I decided to tackle updating and renovating our house and writing about it. 

I needed the motivation to write and to work on the house. BINGO!

Home Stretch

We're in the home stretch! Exactly two weeks until my due date and I am ready to be done.  Baby B's bedroom is just about complete.  We just need a shelf and a side table, nothing major.  Car seat is in the car.  We just need to buckle it in.  The weird looks we get when it tips over are just too funny right now.  We have a hospital bag packed for me but I've been told as soon as I bring it back in the house and unpack it I will go into labor...tempting, very tempting. 

I have an entire binder full of coupons and I am actually having fun finding as many free deals as possible.  I'm excited that the shelves we have in the basement are actually filling up and I feel like I have some kind of storage, even if it is mainly toothpaste.  I've tried to become more self sufficient.  I would love to have a great garden, be able to can lots of veggies and fruits, make my own bread...basically I want to be Sandy Ligget. Don't know her? You should! 

Last night we watched Julie and Julia and it makes me want to blog about something...and cook everything in butter. Instead, I sit at my desk eating a very gourmet Pop Tart.  Baby steps.

Life in July

As you can tell we have been oh so busy.  We had our first house party, 4th of July, and it was a success.  Angus has chewed through our Direct TV cable...again.  We've driven to Utah and Grand Junction.  Mr. H is finishing up one term and starting a new one.  All this while I sleep and sleep some more. 

We have 5.5 weeks left until Baby B is due to arrive and we are not quite ready.  I need to get the house ready...I have not nested and that upsets me! There have been a lack of pictures of the round belly and I do not apologize for that.  You know that glow? Yeah didn't happen to me.  Instead I have spots all over my face and ears.  Who wants to take pictures when your face is all scabbed up? Not me!  I'm not trying to be stubborn and not take pictures...I surprisingly want pictures.  But I get upset everytime I see a picture of me now.  Chipmunk cheeks and scabbed face.  I used to be conceded and think that I took pretty good pictures, that I was photogenic.  Now I just want to cry.  I am ready to own my body again.  To feel good about it and want to take pictures again.  You may say that this is the best time and that I shouldn't care about the chubby cheeks or that I'm pregnant and supposed to have chubby cheeks.  But that's not how I feel and I can't change that to please people.  I want nothing but the best pictures.  Other women get to have cute maternity pictures (and you may be thinking mine would be too; let me stop you there, don't you dare say it). It makes me angry when people tell me that I am cute.  And not because I am being a girl and whining about it but because I am fed up with the scabs.