Catching Up......

"The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege."
- Charles Kuralt

I'm not completely certain that I truly knew the meaning of the word "BUSY" until I had my second child.  Now I know.  Sometimes I wish I did not.  

I love staying busy, it makes me feel a sense of fulfillment in my everyday life.  I feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete tasks and don't sit down all day.  This is where the Keurig comes in to play even more.  I swear if I don't drink 5 cups of coffee I get nothing done.  As if I am not busy enough I have decided to start working again.  I am very excited about this.  I still want to be able to be the "stay at home mom" and run carpool, handle cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc but I have decided that there is some room in my already full life for professional development as well.  I will be taking on just a few clients and working part time from my home.  As Steuart is unable to attend daycare due to his health issues I cannot work outside of the home so I am bringing work into the home.  I have been out of the game for a little while but stay current through blogs and newsletters for social media.  This will provide a new challenge for me that I am very much looking forward to.  Stay tuned for exciting updates and news about new clients!  

We have not had to really go anywhere lately which is a good thing.  Mardi Gras was very busy between balls, barn parties and parades but we found a way to stay sane and have a good time with the kiddos.  I am very glad it is over though.  Jason had a blast riding a couple of times this year and I had fun getting up at the crack of dawn after the balls!  

Steuart will have his surgery exactly two months from today so I am working hard to put things in place for Hunter for our absence and make sure he is taken care of.  Since my mother will be here I am not worried about him but sure will miss him while we are gone.  Good thing I will now have something to work on from the hospital :-)  Hunter is still the best big brother on the planet and is very excited about the school year winding down so he can be a "grader" next year.  

Jason is once again on the committee for the Chili Cook-off for the American Cancer Society.  He is the Entertainment Chair again so we will be out to support that event.  He has also been racking up brownie points at home for doing morning carpool, bringing home fresh flowers and cooking dinner.  

One thing that I have found rather exciting that I may not have before is researching cars.  I am starting to look into what my next car will be since we have completely outgrown my pathfinder.  I love it but I need a 3rd row and cargo space so I have really focused on Ford Expeditions.  I hear they have more cargo space that the Tahoe/ Yukon when the 3rd row is up.  Jason wants to go American this time to support our already struggling economy.  Interesting choice as I have never had anything but Japanese cars but hey- I will try most anything once.  So there is that!

I'm also taking suggestions for new topics!  I come up with stuff to blog about all the time but by the time I sit down to do it I forget.  Send some to me!  

This Obsession Will Not Stand!

"Obsession is the single most wasteful human activity, because with an obsession you keep coming back and back and back to the same question and never get an answer."
-Norman Mailer

I have found that recently there are a few things I'm absolutely obsessed with. My stroller, my coffee maker, finding the perfect pair of black boots, and finally- the perfect pair of skinny jeans. All of the above are- in their own right- very important.

Lets start with the stroller. Strollers have come a long way since 2007. Yes. Since 2007. I realize that is only 6 years ago but it's true. I loved the stroller I had with Hunter. It was a mint green Peg Perego Pliko lite. My matching car seat snapped right in and it was super convenient, easy to fold and didnt take up much space. When I started looking for strollers for Steuart I just knew I was going to get another Perego. UNTIL.........one night Jason went to a concert at the Saenger and my life changed. I opened an email from diapers.com about a special Britax was running. Buy a Britax B Ready stroller and get an accessory free. So I started to research it. I mean, it looked like a good deal. The free accessory could be a bassinet, one of two infant seats, a second seat or one of two convertible car seats. The stroller was on sale 20% off and had free shipping. So I was able to get the awesome stroller and the Britax Chaperone for free. Hello, it's a wonderful life!

This stroller is AWESOME! It is a modular system. The biggest selling point is that it can convert to a double by adding a second seat. The seat is removable. You can snap the infant seat right on the frame and the bassinet attachment as well. My stroller is silver and so is my carseat but I bought the bassinet in green. It's like having 3 strollers. The handle is adjustable so someone over 6 feet could push it without bending down but I can lower it for my 5 year old to push. It's also super easy to steer with one hand. The cup holder is large enough for my super size Tervis tumblers and the cargo area below is amazing- super roomy! The bassinet attachment is great bc the baby can lay down and stretch out. If I am in a hurry I can just throw the car seat on. It can go on rear or forward facing. As all the components can. The wheels are rubber and the suspension is great. It takes bumps with ease and has a great turn radius too. I try to think of things to do just so I can use my stroller! It's super stylish. Looks a lot like the UPPA. Although it takes up more room in my car it's totally worth it. OBSESSED. I am OBSESSED!

Being a new mom for the second time- and I say "new" mom because there is such an age difference between Hunter and Steuart that I had forgotten lots of the little things you tend to forget in order to talk yourself into another- like lack of sleep. I had heard so much about Keurigs that I started to research them. I knew I didn't want the tiny one and likely didnt need the platinum until I knew if I liked it so I got the step down- the Special Edition. I should have gone with the Platinum because I am OBSESSED. I also bought the mesh drawer KCup holder to go with it. It's great for saving counter space bc the keurig sits on top of it and the surface is roomy enough for my sugar dish, k cup attachment and flavor syrup as well. It's also fun to look for K-Cup deals and try new flavors. We have hot chocolate for Hunter as well as hot tea for mommy. Since I'm up way earlier these days I drink more coffee. Sometimes I find myself having like 5 cups before noon and sometimes just one. That's why this machine is so great. It's super quick and I don't waste an entire pot. I just pop in a K-Cup and BOOM! Instant gratification. I cannot get enough of it. OBSESSED!

The perfect pair of boots is hard to find for someone as picky as I am. I have been looking for 3 years. As soon as I make the decision to commit of course my size is sold out completely. EVERYWHERE. Now I have found two pairs that I like and know I need to hurry, make the decision and buy before every female on the planet with the exception of me has them. I mean is it really too much to ask for a good looking black boot that isn't too tall or short, isn't too high or flat, isn't too tight in the calf or foot and can be dressed up or can be completely casual. I think I have found the perfect pair of black riding boots- thank you Frye. Once I purchase we will see if I will keep them :-)

Much like the perfect pair of boots I have been looking for the perfect pair of skinny jeans. I L-O-V-E a pair of James jeggings I got like 3 years ago but they have almost been loved to death. I bought a pair of J Brand skinny jeans last year. They are great to wear with ballet flats but are not skinny enough for boots. And they don't have much give. They are great in the legs, but the waist stretches FAST and if you aren't wearing a belt you have to pull up your pants all day. That's annoying. I bought a pair of Earnest Sewn skinny whites and they are ok. Not skinny enough for boots. But good to wear with slides. I can't remember the style of the pair I love. So the other day I purchased a pair of James "twiggy" jeggings. They were supposed to be dark blue but might as well be navy or black they are so dark. I wish I could find a pair that worked great with boots and flats, could be dressed up or down and had some give but not too much. Is that too much to ask?

At least I have the perfect stroller and coffee maker if I can't find the perfect boots and jeans :-)

Waiting for What Will Become the "New Normal"

"I didn't want normal until I didn't have it anymore" -Maggie Stiefvater, Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception

I was speaking with a friend the other day who has been through the ringer medically with one of her children. At first she didn't quite know how to deal with the weight of it all and sought advice from her priest. "Well, you will just find your new normal" he told her. And so we do.

Since my 18th week of pregnancy with Steuart I knew that we were facing a long road ahead of us with many unknowns. The baby was less than half baked and already had some pretty serious issues that I have explained in a previous post. Since that time it has been a game of waiting. And waiting. And more waiting.

We FINALLY after two delays had our appointment at Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. We went up last Monday and went right in to have a CT Scan with contrast of his chest to see what the mass on his left lung had done and whether or not we would be having surgery. The last few weeks of my pregnancy the mass had not gotten larger or smaller- it had just stayed the same. Poor little Steuart had to have two IVs run because the first didn't take the way they needed. I think it was worse for me than it was for him.

After they took the pictures they needed we went downstairs to meet with our pediatric surgeon, Dr. Anderson. Obviously we were nervous and anxious but ready to hear FINALLY what was going on with our baby boy.

He informed us that the mass was about 20% of his left lung. The feeder vessel they found towards the end that goes from the lung to the aorta is still there. The diagnosis is still a CCAM/ BPS. BUT......when they were able to see more detailed pics with the CT they also found a second vessel that hooks around to the right lung. The surgeon has never seen this before. He called on several members of his surgical team- none of whom had seen this either. The CCAM diagnosis is rare- only 1/25-35000 pregnancies. The BPS hybrid make it even less common and now the second vessel super rare- obviously if they have never seen this.

So, April 25 Steuart will have the lower lobe of his left lung removed. The surgery will take longer than anticipated due to the second vessel. They don't totally know what to make of it yet and will know more once they get in his chest. He will have a tube in to drain fluid and that will cause him some discomfort and pain. The average hospital stay is 4-7 days but could be as many as 10. Hoping that will not be the case with us.

Since the lungs regenerate until around the age of 6-8 he will eventually have two full lungs. Dr. Anderson said that although he may never be an olympic marathoner, he should live a completely normal and full life. He will be able to play just like a normal child and do normal things as he grows up. We will need to be careful with respiratory illnesses because those can be problematic at first but otherwise he will be ok.

So. Now we work on the new normal. Trying to find a good balance between caring for Steuart and making sure Hunter is getting the attention he needs as well. I don't want him to feel ignored or any less important. We will figure out a way to be in Birmingham and Mobile at the same time and learn how to care for a newborn with medical issues.

The good thing is that Steuart made it here and we have him and are able to care for him. It will be hard I am sure because they cannot tell you at that age that they hurt and I am also sure it will be harder on me than it is on him. I hate seeing my babies sick or hurt. Especially when there really is not much I can do to make them feel better. Luckily babies are resilient and he will be just shy of 5 months so he will not remember this.

We have had a wonderful support system in our friends and family. I'm not sure we would have gotten through this so far without them. And, at this point I don't know how I will make it through this with my sanity in tact but I am sure I will find a way. I'll find my new normal.