Positive Attitude

As I sit here, trying to decide how to start this blog entry...I can barely concentrate because I am so hungry!  Carter has been waking up at 5:55 the last few mornings.  I really hope this isn't a new schedule for him!  This mom CAN NOT function that early in the morning.  But then again I said that about 6:30 and now I miss 6:30 am! haha  But when you are awake at 5:55, by the time its 8:41 you have already had almost a full day!  So THAT Is why I am starving...I need me some breakfast!  I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a donut!  So bad!  And I could easily get in the car, go thru the donut shop drive thru, get me a nice big Chocolate Long John with Cream Filling and swallow it whole.  But now, I am going to have my cherrios and juice and get over it!  Last night I "NEEDED" a cookie, or something fudgy or something that had some form of icing.  But I resisted...but then satan took over and I had two hotpockets AFTER I ate dinner! haha  Trying to change the way you eat is so hard.  Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. But atleast I am trying.  Its all for Carter.  I want to make sure that I am healthy so that I can be around for a long long time!  I just wish the people in my life would feel the same way and eat better.  Its hard to eat good when all the people around you eat horrible.  So I have basically no one to hold me accountable for what I eat...or to make sure I am exercising or anything...UGH! haha

Ok enough about that.  I have noticed lately that I want so badly to help everyone and to do as much as I can for others that I become a little pushy.  I dont mean to, I just want to help. But I guess I should just wait till people ask me for help. I am the type that likes to get stuff done NOW and RIGHT.  So pretty sure that is why I am so pushy.  I can't stand it when people wait to get stuff done.  I have no idea where all of this is coming from.  Just a thought that came to me.

As I finished that thought, I realized, no one cares about all this! haha  For those of you that read this, why do you read this?! haha  Its so boring.

Couponing:  Well I have done much the last few days.  I haven't really seen any good deals.  But I did get some more coupons from my in laws and my MIL gave me this cool little folder thing to hold all of them in.  I get so excited over little things. HA  But as I continue to do the couponing, I am going to keep you all updated so that if any of you want to do it, you can! YAY!

Carter has slept ALL NIGHT the last two nights.  Yes, he has been doing this since he was 2 months old, but now he is NOT SWADDLED!  I never thought we would get here.  He just sprawls out in this little footy pjs and goes to sleep. I love it. 

Well its Friday, just another day for me...but the really cool part is we dont have plans tonight.  I would LOVE to put carter to bed early, rent a movie and just relax. But we all know that wont happen.  I will probably end up going over to my dad's new rent house to help fix it up (see, I do things like this when I am free, so really I am never free).  Saturday we are having my brother's birthday party...pretty sure he is going to be 23.  That just seems crazy to me!  but then again, i am almost 30! WHAT?!  lol ok almost 27, but might as well be 30.  Sunday we try to do a whole lotta nothing.  But then next week starts a not so fun week!  We have Carter's six month appointment on Tuesday, which means shots.  I hate those things.  For some reason the last few shots, bothered me, but he was a baby baby so in my head, he didn't blame me.  But now he is a "big boy" and I am afraid he is going to get really upset, and mad because he knows we took him there to get hurt.  Oh the joys of being a parent.  But then on Wed we have to drive to Addison again for another helmet appointment.  I pray that they tell us he is still growing really fast.  Because that means we get to get rid of that thing faster.  Those two days basically ruin the whole week...because we spend Monday getting prepared for it, and then Thursday trying to recoop.

Well Carter is napping right now and all of a sudden my brain shut off, so I think I will wrap this up.  LATER

WAIT! I just realized I titled this Positive Attitude, but never explained why.  Lately things have really been getting me down. And I think they have been getting worse because I am tired and well, I ponder on it and basically make things worse.  So I have decided, i am going to use all my strength to have a positive attitude, no matter what.  Easier said than done! 

LONG DAY!

What a day!

Carter woke up a few times last night, and Derrick has decided to start snoring like crazy lately, so this mommy and wife didn't get much sleep last night.  And THAT caused 6:15 am to seem much much earlier.  On the days that Carter wakes up and we aren't completely ready to wake up yet, I take Carter and we cuddle in the recliner and watch a little mickey mouse until we have had time to wake up.  I wont lie, I will wake up at any hour if we can keep doing that.  I love it!

Carter has started to hug now and it almost makes me cry every time.  He will just look at me and then throw his arm around my next or over my shoulder and squeeze.  Best thing ever! 

So today we did our normal morning routine, except we didn't go to "work" like we normally do because I had to work later that afternoon and well, I wanted some Carter time!!  So we hung out at the house until 11.  That is when Grammy and Granddad came over to watch Carter while I went to work.  Went to work...hahaha.  That sounds funny.  I went to the Plex with the daycare because they needed an extra worker.  It was pretty fun. I drove a big van and walked with the kids while they played putt putt and then games.  Now that I have a kid, I understand them a little better...and I think it is making me a more relaxed person because I can see how small things are so exciting to little kids.  There was this one little boy that looked JUST like Derrick when he was little and so I knew that his is what Carter will look like in five years.  He was so stinkin cute!!! I just watched him play and laugh and got a little teary eyed. haha   Oh the things motherhood will do to you.  I cry over almost everything now! Its ridiculous!!!!

I got home after being gone for almost four hours and well, Carter really didn't care that I was home.  He was having too much fun with his play dates!  He had a great time with Grammy and Granddad and I think they had just as much fun! 

As soon as Daddy got home, we loaded up to go see the other grandparents! ha They asked us over for supper.  Carter is so funny.  While we were eating, he was screaming.  Not because something was wrong.  He wasn't crying.  Just screaming.  Why? Because he wanted our attention.  ALL of our attention! haha And of course we gave it to him.  He has Pappy and Nonny wrapped around his finger! I love it!   Pretty sure Uncle Brady even likes him a little.

FINALLY, bath, bottle, and bed.  As much as I love my little boy...I love that time of the night because it means I get a few min of quiet before sleep and before another day starts.  So right now, I am playing, shopping and blogging while Derrick plays his video games.  He seriously never gets to do that any more. Both while we eat our yogurt cups! ha And the really funny, and sweet part was that he asked me if it was ok if he played. haha  Well of course!  He is such a good hubby.  And an amazing Daddy.  Its so great seeing him look at Carter and seeing how much love he has for him.  Almost as much love as I have...because, well...I did carry the kid for 9 months!  We have a pretty close bond! haha  I joke about that, but I have noticed lately, no matter who is holding him, he still looks to see if I am there.  I LOVE IT!!!!  Pretty sure he actually likes me.  The feeling that this little person that you MADE loves you as much as you love him...that feeling is indescribable.  And only other parents will know how that feels.  Its so much stronger than any love you will ever know.  And see...typing that made me cry! I have accepted that I will never again be the person I was.  I am now and forever more emotional... much much more emotional.  Just ask Derrick.  My body will never look the same. Ever. And my house will never be quiet.  But I love it all!! 

So tomorrow is going to be just as crazy.  As I typed that sentence I thought, what was crazy about today?  People who read this wont think my day was that crazy.  But those of you that have or have had little kids....Just getting out of routine is crazy enough! ha  Anyways...tomorrow we have some things to do "in town" and then going over to Grammy and Granddad's for supper ( you will all start to notice that my folks and my in laws no longer have names...they are now, Pappy, Nonny, Grammy and Granddad! ha).
THEN>>>> its friday!!!  That doesnt mean much to me, all my days are the same except this means Derrick is home for a few days.

And well...the rest of the week and weekend are packed full...but I just got super tired and so that means...Bed time for this MOMMY!  Gotta be up and awake and happy in...about 8.5 hours.  ATLEAST!

Night yall... and for those new mommies that are still trying to figure out your "new life"...every day gets a little easier and a little more stressful in all new ways.  BUT enjoy it...it flies by!

New Jobs

As if being a stay at home mom isn't enough...

I have now accepted a job at Dalton's Kiddie Korral working on their bookkeeping and records.  Along with feeling in if ever needed.

I have also accepted the personal job of saving us money by clipping coupons.  I watch the Extreme Couponing on TLC and I am obsessed!!!  I want to get free stuff so bad!

Along with all of that, I have accepted the face that a stay at home mom is supposed to clean, cook and be basically awesome in every way possible!

So...I have made sure my house is clean at all times, we always have clean clothes to wear, and there is NEVER a dirty dish in the sink (that drives me crazy).

Also, I have always liked to bake, but now I am going crazy... making things left and right.  I just made homemade potato chips yesterday.  Turned out really good.

And I have made sure we are having a REAL supper most nights.  No more of this eating out mess. Both of our blood pressure and cholesterol is high...so need to eat better.

And that alone is another job...eating healthier.  Its hard!!

With all of that said, I want to tell of you whats new in our life, since I haven't updated in a while.

Carter is now 6 months old and doing GREAT!!   He has had his helmet on for a month now and he loves it.  He really doesn't even seem to notice he has it on, except for when we take it off.  We have his name on the front of it with Stickers and Uncle Shane and his girfriend Bobbi, got us an awesome sticker that we have on the back that says "fixin my flat".  We love it!

He is also rolling all over the place...sitting up on his own and eating baby food...tons of it!  More than he is actually supposed to based on what I read.  Oh well.  We are seeing a new pediatrician in a week.  THe old one, well...i liked her..but she didn't seem to know much about babies.   So I guess the new pedi will tell us if he is eating too much or not.  But he loves that baby food.  ANd I am so glad that I am making it myself because that would add up fast!

Speaking of baby food...that is a good way to lead into my next topic.  Coupons!  I have started clipping coupons and I am determined to save us money as best as I can.  So I sent derrick to the store with a list and the coupons.  The total bill was $150 and we spent $78.  So a total saving of $72.  Granted the items, we didn't need right now, so that is money we didn't NEED to spend right now, but they were items that we can hold on till we need them and we wont have to spend money then, when we needed it.  So...I saved us money in the future.  :)  That is what couponing is all about.  Buying things when they are dirt cheap..and stockpiling.  LOVE IT.  So...in this trip, we got 2 packs of steaks and got 4 free! One pack of pork chops and one free. On meat alone we saved $60. 5 Hot pockets for $10 (pretty good price), 4 Big boxes of cereal for $10 and a $2 coupon so really it was $8 for the cereal, when normally 4 boxes of cereal would have cost ATLEAST $13. And then, we got 10 packs of frozen veggies for $1 each.  That is mainly for Carter's baby food...and for supper some nights.  :)   The hard part about couponing is in our area, no stores will double coupons or let you stack coupons.  They will let you use one store coupon and one manufact coupon.  That is good, but not as good as it could be if we lived in a bigger area. 

So, I plan to blog more often about the couponing..that way if any of you are wanting to learn, we can learn together.  Heck if any of you want to do it WITH me...come on over!  We can clip, look thru ads and go shop!! YAY

WAIT!  the best deal I have found so far.... If you buy a wonka bar at target, you get a coupon for a free one!  use that coupon and you get another free one! haha and it keeps going!  We bought one yesterday and then used the free coupon.  Today we got two more free ones and another coupon! haha  The store is out of candy right now, but we WILL be back tomorrow! haha

No Worries

All of my life, I have been a worrier.  Not a BAD worrier, but I would worry like crazy when something big was going on.  So bad, that my body wouldn't let me sleep.  I am trying to remind myself that worrying doesn't help anything.  Also, if I have a lot to do...I tend to think, and make lists in my head all night, again, something else that keeps me from sleeping.  So basically I haven't had much sleep lately.  THere is just so much going on that is keeping my mind going.  Nothing serious, just new things in life we have to adjust to.  I have always loved being organized and I would have planners with me at all times, even tho most of the time I had nothing to write in the planners, I never did much! haha  But now, my planner is BOOKED!  Almost everyday I have somethign that HAS to get done, or a trip we have to go on for Carter, or something.  I mean I like being busy, but some days its just too much.  This week, I have been at my folks alot learning their books for daycare so I can help them out a little. This weekend is Father's Day weekend, so we have to figure out how to fit in time with both of our dads before we leave Sunday afternoon for Addison.  Carter gets his helmet that next monday morning so we have to leave sunday to get there in time to put carter to bed before his BIG DAY! haha  So then all day Monday we will be out of town and then as soon as we get back, Derrick will more than likely go to work so that he can make up sometime. Then this weekend is my cousins first birthday, and possibly a second garage sale to get rid of all the stuff that didn't get sold the first time around. and then the next tuesday we go back to addison to get carters helmet fit, and then we go every two weeks.  THat alone will be enough to kill me! haha  Its stressful enough going somewhere for the day, hoping you have everything your baby couldn't possibly need while you are gone, but to go someone over night...that like a whole extra bag of baby crap! haha  but I am sure after we do it a couple times I will have my packing list memorized and we will be good.  I just wish gas wasn't so expensive right now...oh well.  I just realized this blog is about basically nothing, i just haven't done it in a while.  OH...I am thinking about giving Carter some cereal tonight, we will see...he is over 5 months old and i think he is ready.  I am also thinking about making my own baby food at home instead of buying it in the store, that should save us some money.  I will just add that to my "stay at home mom" list of things to do...it just keeps getting longer. but I love it!  Also....my SIL is due with her first baby in less than two months and well...it really could be any day now and I am just PAST excited!  This is my first niece and I am just super thrilled to meet her....i can barely stand it.  Karen, I know you are going to read this at some point.  After talking last night, I realized how far our relationship has come in the last few years and I am so thankful for you.  Everyday I feel like we are closer and I love our conversations...even if they are mainly thru text and email (thanks for understanding that I dont really like or have time for phone convos! haha)  Ok on that note...I have things to do before Carter wakes up! :)

Next phase of life

Well Carter has his last scan on June 8 and then they will order his helmet. We go to get the helmet on June 20. I'm glad it's happening fast so that we can get it fixed but at the same time I'm not ready. it just sucks. As a mom you don't want to ever feel like you caused harm to your kids or let them down in any way. There was really no way I could have prevented this from happening yet I still feel responsible. I know this is just like getting braces, they are temporary and make you look so much better, just like his helmet. But I hate that he is having to wear one. I hate that I know people will make rude comments and I hate that I probably won't be able to control myself when they do. Derrick and I were talking the other day about everything that's going on and he said "when it rains, it pours, huh?". And that is so true o our lives lately. Everyday something else keeps popping up that requires money, emotional strength, time... All of which I just don't have anymore. God knows how much we can handle and apparently it's a lot more than we thought we could. Everything will work our and I shouldn't worry... But I worry. I get upset. I am trying to work on that, but this is my kid! It's a whole new level of worry! Please pray for me and my family to be strong. And pray that we can have a garage sale sometime soon so we can make some money to pay for this darn helmet! Ps insurance won't cover
Any of it! Joy! Oh well, we can make it.

Oh Carter

I love having a kid.  Yes there are many many trying times, but more times than not, its very rewarding.  Its so fun to teach them new things and see the excitement on their face when they finally figure it out.  Carter is at the age now where every day he is doing something new, learning something, and accomplishing it.  It happens so fast.  I feel like just the other day he turned 3 months old, and now he is almost 4 and a half months old.  Its crazy!  I really need to start doing better with keeping up with this blog because I have no idea what I have already written about.  A few weeks ago, I spent about a week and a half really working with Carter to learn to put himself to sleep.  It was much easier than I thought it would be.  People always tell me that they had to use the Cry it out method, or waited till they were a year old to teach them to put themselves to sleep...or people feed them to put them to sleep.  Nope, not my kid.  I wrap him up, lay him in bed and he goes to sleep.  Sometimes he gets a little fussy so I give him the paci, he will suck on it for a few minutes, spit it out and go to sleep.  I pray he isn't one of those kids that ends up having to have the paci to sleep, but its not looking that way.  Ever since he was born we had to make him take the paci and even then, he would spit it out after a while and didn't want it back.  Thats my boy!  Right now we are definitely going thru a growth spurt!  He is sleeping so much!  Night before last he slept over ten hours and then over 5 hours in naps. He was hardly awake! ha Last night, he only slept 6.5 hours and needed a bottle and then went back to sleep.  SO slept a total of about 10 hours again.  Looks lik we are slowly getting back on the road to sleeping all night.  Oh how I have missed that.  And I can tell Carter does to.  Ever since he stopped sleeping thru the night, he hasn't been his excited, loud self.  Just looked sleepy all the time.  And now, he is starting to bust out of his swaddle more often.  Last night he busted out COMPLETELY and was trying to roll over in the crip.  Only problem is, he wont sleep without being swaddled..so... hmmm... yea looks like that will be our next lesson..sleeping without being wrapped up.  AAHHH  So this last week has been a very trying week for me.  We have our appointment to have Carter's head looked like, which is good, but at the same time I still hate that this is happening.  A lot of people understand what we are going thru and understand that its very normal for this to happen but then there are more people that dont understand, think we have done something wrong, think there is something wrong with Carter.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with my child.  He will grow up just like any other kid, and will be just as smart as any other kid.  And we have done nothing wrong.  Now that parents are supposed to put their kids on their backs to sleep, this is happening more often.  And like I said in previous post, my kid is an amazing sleeper(which most parents can't say) and that is why his head is the way it is.  But on the brighter side, Derrick and I have noticed that it is starting to look a lot better!  We have been working really hard at keeping him off his head except to sleep.  I hope we get to the clinic and the dr says that it doesn't look that bad, and lets give it one more month to see if it will correct itself.  I just really dont want Carter to have to wear a helmet and THEY ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE!!  And if he does have to get one, we will be driving to dallas like every other week to get it refit...and well that will add up too...and to be honest, we dont have that kind of money.  So lets add that to my stress list.  I know God is taking care of us, and he will make it all work.  I am trying so hard not to worry or be upset about it all...but its hard.  Also, now that Carter is sleeping longer during the day, I have so much free time.  YOu can only clean your house so much!  So, I am looking for something to do that can bring in a few bucks to help pay for all of these possible expenses...any ideas?  Well this week will be a fun one, thats for sure.  Today is Dad's birthday, so we are having a little party for him tonight.  The rest of the week, there is no telling... But this weekend is my SIL Baby shower that me and Ashley are hosting.  It should be a lot of fun!  Oh and ASHLEY GOT ENGAGED!  She is so excited, so I need to go see her ring at some point.  WEdnesday, I am having blood work done to check my cholesterol.  It has been extremely high in the past, so I want to see how it is now.  Probably not good.  I am trying to eat better, but its so hard.  And then sunday...is THE BIG DAY!  Our first trip with Carter.  Pretty nervous about the trip in itself.  I just have this feeling he is going to scream the whole two hours there. NO FUN!  And our first stay at a hotel with a baby...hope they dont kick us out! ha  And then the Appointment is Monday morning at 8:45.  Hopefully I have good news after that.  Well I am going to go enjoy the quiet while Carter naps.  Yall have a great day

Plagiocephaly

Plagiocephaly or also called "flat head syndrom".  THis is something we are learning about right now.

When we took carter to his two month check up we told the dr we were concered about a flat spot on the back right side of his head.  Yes, this is common since now we are told to put babies on their backs to sleep.  The dr didn't seem to be too concerned since it is more common now.  She just told us to make sure we do more tummy time and try to keep him off of it as much as possible.  Also to make sure that it wasnt a neck related problem, make sure he can turn his head to both sides.  He could turn his head with no problem, its just that he is a little stubborn and likes to sleep on the right side of his head.  So of course, being the person that I am...I researched.  Now, one in five babies have some form of this problem and is more common in babies who are good sleepers.  Well that was Carter!  After his two month check up, we did everything we could to keep him off his head.  We propped him up in bed to try to make him sleep on the other side of his head.  That actually worked and now we dont prop him up, but he sleeps on both sides equally.  So that should help.  But shortly after his two month birthday, he started sleeping in his crib thru the night, in his crib during naps instead of me holding him (so glad we broke that habit) so really he ended up being on his head more than he was before. So we saw that his head started getting worse.  Since he was holding his head up pretty good now, we basically put him on his tummy as much as we could.  The only time we didn't put him on his tummy was after he ate, and even then, we would hold him in our laps so that his head would't be touching anything, or if we absolutely had to, we would put him in his bouncy chair, even then, most the time he wouldhn't sit back because he was so excited that he could almost sit up.  And alot of the time we would put him in his bouncer.  He really seemed to like being able to jump every where.  But with all of our efforts to try and correct his head...it wasn't working.  So at his four month appt we told the dr we were still concerned and after looking at his head, she agreed it would probably be best for us to be referred to a specialist.  She did say that it looked like it was trying to fill out some on its own, but better for us to be safe and have it looked at.  Basically around 6 months, his head will more than likely start correcting itself since by then he will be sitting up and off his head more.  And normally by a year old its completely corrected, on its own.  But sometimes it doesn't work out that well and if you wait too long it cant be corrected.  So we all agreed it was best to have a specialist look at him to see if it was a severe enough problem to correct it now, by wearing a helmet.  We were referred to Star Cranial Center in Dallas.  We have our first appt May 23.  I am actually really nervous, mainly because, yes i will admit it, I am a vain person, I get  my feelings hurt easily, and well...I dont want Carter to have to wear a helmet.  I feel like I should have caught this earlier and worked harder on making sure it didn't get worse.  But at the same time I know its not my fault and its a very common problem now, and its all because carter is a good sleeper...who would be upset that their infant is a good sleeper?! NOT ME!  So now...we take our first step into seeing what we can do to fix this.  Who knows, maybe we will get tehre and the dr will say that its not that bad and that it will correct itself.  I just didnt' want to NOT do something about it and later in life it didnt fix itself and then its too late, or if it was a serious problem and we didn't look into it when we should have.  Better to be safe than sorry.  So I ask, those of you that read this blog,be in prayer for my little family.  One that we have a safe trip to dallas, two that carter does ok in the car (he has only been to wichita and back), and three that we learn what we can do about his head. :)
Also, I am trying to keep updated pictures to see if his head is getting worse and hopefully later, better.  These pictures are hard to tell...but atleast its something.

Getting a flat spot on one side of a baby's head can cause the opposite side (front left) to also get flat.  Dr described it as a balloon.  You push on one side, it gets kind of oblong in shape.  It can also cause the ears to be uneven. One of carters ears is closer to the front of his face than the other.  In very severe cases, it can also cause the face to basically start sliding and be uneven. This has not happened to Carter, he has a perfect face. 

March 15, 2011

See how the front left and back right look flat while the front right and back left look kind of pointy.

April 1, 2011

May 5, 2011

It can also cause, the top part of the head, (the crown) to stick out some.  Almost cone head like

May 6, 2011

May 6, 2011

THe lump on the back part of his head is where the dr said it is starting to fill out on its own.  Good sign

 May 7, 2011

Top angle.  Can see the flat spot pretty good here.

For those of you that read this and have negative thoughts on this matter.  Like how in the world could parents let this happen to their child, believe me, I felt the same way.  But after lookign into it, its a very common problem and there really wasnt much we could have done to prevent it.  God blessed us with a good sleeper and thats that.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  I am happy to share what we are going thru and what we are learning.

This in no way is effecting carters growth or learning ability. He is actually doing things right now that are at a 6 month old range.  So he is actually ahead of the pack, it is basically all cosmetic.  But if you could help your kid look better, woudln't you?   I mean later in life when he goes bald (because he will) he will hate us if he has a funky shaped head! haha

Now we just wait for our appointment, see what the dr says, and go from there.  Hopefully he will say he is positive it will correct itself and we wont have to get a helmet, but if we do have to get a helmet, then that is for the best.  I just wish the darn things weren't so expensive!  They told us that they are a little over $3800.00 if insurance wont cover it.  Yea, my jaw dropped too!

Well that is all I have to say about that.  :)

If you want to learn more about Plagiocephaly or want to see what the helmets look like, this is the place we will be going to.

http://www.starcranialcenter.com/