52 Weeks of Blogging: What Being a Mom Looks Like (With Never Before Seen Pics!)

As it is Monday, I am back for another link-up with Becky at From Mrs. To Mama.  This week her prompt was titled, What Being a Mom Looks Like. 

The easiest way for me to describe this is by using some of my favorite unconventional photos to explain to you what I believe being a mom looks like. 

52 Weeks of Blogging: I said I would never...

So as you know it is Monday so I am doing another link up with Becky from over at From Mrs. to Mama.  She started a great idea this year with one guided post each and every Monday and I have had so much fun participating so far.  This week the topic is I said I would never....

I am interpreting this to mean that these are things I had always said I would never do as a mom, but for one reason or another I went back on my word.

Meet The Hubs

On this Fantastic Friday I thought I would do something similar to Joanna from Running On Sunshine.

Build Your Life

Back when I was in middle school I reached a conclusion about life, I didn't fully grasp it at that point but as I have gotten older I have begun to understand it more.

Growing up I went to a school that was very "clique'ish."  When my family moved there, I was in the 6th grade, and I was very "late to the party" if that makes any sense.  Now I am not saying I was unable to make friends, but in order to make friends without changing myself a little and kind of adapting to my environment.

52 Weeks of Blogging: 10 Survival Tips to the Expectant Mom

Hey everyone, so I am back to do another link up with Becky at From Mrs. To Mama.  This week the topic is 10 Survival Tips to the Expectant Mom.

Now I am  no stranger to babies.  As you read last week I have a brother and sister who are both significantly younger than I am so I remember them growing up and watching some of the things my mom bought and did when they were newborns.  But another little interesting bit about me is that my nursing education helped me to prepare for the arrival of Alex as well.   So when I was pregnant with Alex I kind of took all of that into account and made a list of my own.

Now I am going to share some of it with you all and add a few from my own experiences!

52 Weeks of Blogging: My Goals for Motherhood

Like I said yesterday I am beyond thrilled to be blogging once more, however I am even more excited to be able to participate in the link-up Becky at From Mrs. To Mama is hosting.

This week the topic to pic from is Goals for Motherhood. 

So after thinking long and hard about this topic here are my goals.

I'm Back & An Update on Alex!

I am sure you're thinking...

"she's said that before," or "Yeah, Yeah."

But I truly mean it this time.  

11 Months of Alex

Yes this little man is 11 months old now!!

Alex's 1st Ear Infection and 1st Anibiotic

So as I finished the last blog mentioning within 20 minutes of the dose of antibiotics Alex had diarrhea, now the nurse in me knows that it was probably not related but it was definitely a new thing for Alex and something to keep my eye on. 

So throughout the day Alex continued with diarrhea, I think 4 episodes in all that day, and as the day progressed his poor tushy more and more red.  After each diaper change we would let him air dry and then liberally apply Beadrueax's Butt Paste, Organic Variety.  And it did not seem to be helping.  He cried for about 15 minutes after that last change, his tush was fire engine red and as hot as a branding iron.  So this was the last straw for me.

I broke down and called the answering service line.  I needed more advice.  Yes I maybe a nurse, but when it comes to your baby feeling helpless a lot of the other ideas kind of go out the window because you have your blinders on or maybe the Supermom cape is tied a little too tight and it is affecting your thinking.

Thankfully we got to speak with a VERY helpful nurse.  She ran through a list of recommendations from Alex's pediatrician and said she would be sending an urgent note to the doctor since this was his first time on antibiotics since his stay in the NICU.  

**Let me preface this next part, these were the broad recommendations from a list that Alex's pediatrician has made up for the nurses to give overnight so he does not have to be called,  this does not mean they will work for your baby and by no means am I saying you should use them either.**

The recommendations were:

Give him at least one oatmeal bath per day

Mix mylanta and zinc oxide into a cream and apply it at each change

Start giving him probiotics or acidophilus daily

And let him go without a diaper if we could

So we took this info and ran with it, I put Alex in the tub and we waited for Chris to get back from the store.    Even while he was in the tub Alex would not sit down on his bum. he would kneel or lay on his hip but never putting pressure on his tush.  It was pitiful.

So our rigorous treatment began.  Alex played in the tub that night longer than he ever had and he loved it, other than he could not sit down. 

We tried everything but the probiotics and acidophilus and put Alex to bed. 

The next morning Alex did not wake up until about 1030 and when he did we could already see a difference in the redness and warmth.  The doctor himself gave us a call back and said that he we would also recommend putting zinc oxide on his bum every 1-2 hours until it was gone and gave us his direct office number for is we had questions. 

So after our diligent work Alex is doing much better and it is now Monday and his bum barely has any redness.  He has had only one other episode of diarrhea also.  

Alex's 1st Ear Infection and 1st Antibiotic pt 1

So as most of you know Chris and I have both been working night shift for the pas few months.  Well this past Thursday Chris got a call from his parents, who were watching him, saying he was screaming his head off and pulling pretty hard on his right ear.  So like the good Daddy he is, Chris called me at work, let me know what was going on and I got an appointment scheduled for Alex the next day.

Chris and I had spent all day with Alex, running all sorts of errands and he was fine all day, the only we noticed was he coughed a few times, we just kinda thought it was a fake cough.  So we couldn't believe it could be an ear infection, maybe it was teeth coming in or allergies. 

However if you needed to know anything about Chris or I, it is that we had chronic ear infections as kids, Chris had 8 sets of tubes and I have 3 or 4.  

Nonetheless I took Alex to the doctor's Friday morning after I got off work.  And to my surprise Alex was diagnosed with a double ear infection and a ruptured ear drum in the right side. 

So after talking with the doctor we put Alex on Amoxicillin twice daily and he made a referral.

SOO after the days running we did not get home until about 3 pm, needless to say I was exhausted.  

We gave Alex his first dose of antibiotics and within 20 minutes he had diarrhea.    

And this leads us into pt 2!

10 Months of Alex

Yes I know this is incredibly late, but at least it is here!

Height & Weight:  No accurate measurements this month.

Diaper Size: Still in size 3 diapers. 

Feeding:  We are 100% table food!  You love everything we give you!  And to touch on your transition to whole milk, we are now 2 oz of formula and 4 oz of milk, you are doing incredibly well with it, you suck your bottles dry, but we have noticed you are spitting up again, not everyday, and not every other but probably 2-4 times a week. So after talking with the doctor we are going to give almond milk a try and if it does not change then we will try soy.  For more info on our decision to transition a little early click here. 

Sleeping:  Nothing much has changed here but you have been falling asleep on our chests again while we snuggle on the couch and we love it!!

Milestones:  As of May 6 you now have 9 teeth!  On the top you have your front 4 and 2 molars!!!  And on the bottom you have your 2 front teeth with the one next to them, on your left, just coming through.  You are still pulling up on everything and cruising along the furniture like it's your job.  We are working with you to stand independently but you are bull-headed like momma so I feel like we have a fight ahead.  But on the other hand you love to walk with your walker and don't want anyone's help to do so.  We are down to bottles for bedtime only and momma could not be happier. And you are doing well with only having the pacifier during naps and bedtime. 

Likes:  Food, Mickey Mouse, being tickled, pulling the diapers out of our new storage for the living room, and swinging outside.

Dislikes:  Being told no, you have become very sensitive to when mommy or daddy are leaving for work and it is your least favorite time of the day, making it very hard on momma.  We pick you up to give you a hug or a kiss goodbye and you flip your s***.  We are gonna have to get better at this kid or momma ill have to quit working, which is not an option. 

Adventures:  You went to your first wedding, for Uncle Nick and Aunt Theresa. And not much other than that. 

YouTube Update

Hey everyone!

So I have been pretty absent from blogger since I started my new job back in January, but I wanted to let you all in on a little secret of mine.

I have had a YouTube channel for quite some time now and have been posting videos pretty regularly over there!  

Please feel free to check us out and share with your friends, family and readers.  And if you check us out and like us, then let me know if there is anything in specific you would like to see. 

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BuergerVlogs

Feel free to catch up on more recent and fun things here!

9 Months of Alex!

The fact that I was able to capture this one picture is a miracle since you hardly ever stop moving.  

Height: 30.5 inches

Weight: 19 lbs 15.5 oz you have lost a little weight due to you being constantly on the move!

Diaper Size: 3

Feeding:  We are now almost 100% table food.  Nothing incredibly new here, you just love to eat.

Sleeping:  You are not fussing as much when we lay you down for bed at night anymore.  But there is a new change here!! Because Mommy & Daddy are both working on the night shift you have been having sleepover's 2-3 nights a week.  You have been staying with both sets of grandparents and you are having a little trouble adjusting to that, but it is getting better. 

Milestones:  You now have 6 teeth!! You crawl faster than lightening on your hands and knees, no more army crawling!! You are pulling up on everything, mainly to your knees.  Most of our furniture is pretty low so to see and grab things on top of it you don't have to stand.  You have learned how to turn Daddy's Xbox on and off and you only do it while Daddy is playing, which Mommy thinks is hilarious!  And just the other night you started walking with your walker.  Mommy stood you up behind it and you took off across the living room, I turned you around and you flew across the room the other way.  And we are 90% off the bottle and onto the sippy cup.  You only take a bottle at bedtime.  The pacifier is next young man!

Loves:  Food, his new play table and Mickey Mouse!

Dislikes:  The word no, things being taken away from you, not being able to squeeze through to the kitchen and being set down when you are tired.  

Adventures:  You had your first sleepover within the last month and I must say it went much better than expected for both you and Mommy. 

8 Months of Alex

Height: 29 inches

Weight: 20 lbs even!  And we got him to sit still long enough on our scale for it to register.

Diaper Size: Size 3.

Feeding: We have begun to give you table food.  We are working to transition you off of baby food and onto what we eat, therefor mommy & daddy are eating better now too.  We gave you green beans the other night and you loved them.  We have also tried corn, blueberries, carving board ham, bananas, greek yogurt, pretzels, oranges and of course puffs.  But I have treated you a few times and gave you a cupcake which you mostly just demolished rather than ate and you also tried a little bit of ice cream. You are doing marvelous.

Sleeping:  Nothing has really changed here, you are still a great sleeper whether you are in your own bed or with us.

Milestones: You are so close to really crawling now, but you know that army crawling is your fastest means of transportation.  You can now put your self into a sitting position from your belly.  You have begun to pull up, you can't quite manage it on the furniture but you are really good at doing it on mom and dad.  You have 2 more teeth and 2 more on their way through! 

If I as being generous I would say you have 3 new teeth but, the other one has not broke completely yet.  And yes I am that mean mommy that will have daddy hold you still so I can take a picture.

Loves: Puffs and your high chair.  When you are being put into the chair you know food is coming so you get excited.  You have also taken a liking to your sippy cups.  And Mickey Mouse!!

Dislikes: Having things taken away from you.  You absolutely throw a fit!

Adventures:  We have been to and hosted lots of parties over the last month, you have loved it.  We went to the park again when we had a warm day and we discovered you love the swings.  I must admit this shocked Mommy since you never really loved your baby swing.

Finish the Sentence Linkup.

1. People always tell me that I am a very outgoing.

2. In the movie based on my life, I would need Tina Fay to voice my inner monologue, it is the funniest part about me.

3. Typically, I end up regretting not saying exactly how I am feeling about something.

4. I always ask to leave off the tomato and onion.

5. Kim and Kanye really need to stop cluttering my news feed, I really don't care what she wore, but I must admit I love their shows.

6. My Parents always reminded me to bring Alex back to see them.

7. Every single day I wake thankful to be alive.

8. This one time in College I thought it would be fun to go through nursing school, and I was right.

9. My grossest habit is I love to pop pimples and pick scabs.  Chris has learned the look I get when I am scanning him for them and takes off running.

10. My latest white lie I honestly can't remember.

11. I know all the words to ALL of Jason Aldean's songs.

12. When I grow up I want to be a Labor & Delivery Nurse.

13. Sexy time is sharing a blanket while we sleep.

14. I will never, ever be ok with leaving Alex anywhere while I am doing something else.  I feel like I should be spending that time with him.

15. I think it's hilarious when Alex crawls to the bathroom while I am in there, I have a phobia of not doing anything when I get home from work until I get a shower or at least washed up.

Finish the Sentence Linkup

Mommy Must Have Mondays Pacifier Clip

These things have been a lifesaver.  I always see moms and have known plenty of moms who are out and about and their child throws or drops their pacifier and then they feel like they are up a creek without a paddle.

I know some people believe that pacifiers are not good to give to children but I see otherwise.  It has had multiple benefits for Alex since he was born.  It has been used to help soothe him when he was upset, acted as a comfort item to help him to sleep, and it has also helped him to better develop his hand-eye coordination.  It also helps keep it off of the ground when we are out and about, which in turn keeps the germs and bacteria off of it. 

But as Alex has gotten older he has discovered that it is attached to him and therefore he is able to self soothe as well. 

All in all I love these pacifier clips, my favorite being the boogin head ones.  And I will continue to use them as long as Alex uses a pacifier and I will buy them for future children if we ever have them.

Super Charged Sunday 3-3-13

SAY WHAT?!?! 

AM I ACTUALLY BLOGGING!  

WOW! 

So I know it has been about 2 weeks since I last posted, maybe more, but I have just not had the energy.  I am still in my orientation process and have been working 4 and 5 days a week, which is way out of the ordinary for me and my schedule was way thrown off. 

Each day as I drive to work and sit in stop and go traffic I remember one of the reasons I decided that I am glad I became a nurse.  Aside from the normal reasons of patient satisfaction and making a difference in their lives I absolutely LOVE the hours.  With working 12 hour shifts nurses are not typically on the road during high traffic times, whether you work days or nights we tend to avoid high traffic times.  This is beneficial for people like myself who tend to get frustruated with other people who act like they do not know how to drive. 

On a lighter note for the last 2 days we have been sent home for low census, which as I am told is very rare.  Yesterday we left at 3 and today we were sent home at 9, after waiting for 2 hours to see if we could receive any patients. 

It turned out to be for my benefit, for the last 2 nights either I could not fall asleep or I had a bad dream.  SO combined I got about 6 hours for the weekend.  AND my brother and sister had their swim team championships, which yesterday they both qualified for the finals placing 10th and 11th!!  That is an excellent job!! And as I am told it is pretty rare for a swimmer who is within their first year on this team to make to championships let alone finals!

As of now my brother has made it finals again today!! Waiting to hear back about my sister.

Now for the next few hours I am going to work on posts for the week.

Chris's 25th Birthday Party 2-16-13 A Picture Review

 

 
 

Alex's 1st Haircut 2-16-13

So for the last couple of weeks I have been saying I was going to take Alex to get his haircut.  Everytime I felt like I had time I just didn't have the nerve.  I knew it would be a sad event for me and probably make me cry.  

Plenty of people said that they would cut it if I didn't get it done.  And plenty of people offered to do it for me.  But in my opinion that just wasn't enough.  It's not that I wanted a stranger to cut his hair but, I knew if I knew the person who did it I may hold resentment towards them. 

\

So here is a picture of the before.  This was one of the weekly pictures I take of Alex every Saturday.  It was one of the deciding factors to say Saturday was the day.  And the fact that Great Clips had their $5.99 haircut sale.   

So enjoy these photos of my super big boy getting his first haircut by Sarah, the Great Clips Stylist.

And here is a picture with my boy and me after his haircut, with his certificate and his little hairs taped to it.  

Yes I did cry, especially when they cut the hairs on the back of his head by his neck.  That hair was really the only hair he was born with.  He has fuzz all over but had his own little mullet when he was born. and I was sad to see it go.

But he looks so grown up now.  Which is bittersweet.