It's not even May!

I'll keep this short and sweet. It's not even May, and yet we have already had our first pediatric trauma due to a lawnmower. KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM LAWNMOWERS. This includes letting them sit on them with dad or grandpa, even while it's off. And obviously, don't let you kid ride on their lap while cutting grass. Teach your children to ALWAYS stay away from lawnmowers. Teach them to fear the lawnmower, and avoid it at all cost. KEEP THEM INSIDE WHEN THE GRASS IS BEING CUT. We see alot of injuries from kids simply being outside at the same time the grass is being mowed, and somehow getting injured. Even though, by parents report, they were far away from the mower. Here is the solution. If grass is being mowed at your house, keep the kids inside and DEADBOLT THE DOORS. I'm heartbroken every time I see these very preventable injuries. Working at a large trauma center and children's hospital exposes me to more than I care to see. But, learn from what I do, and KEEP THE KIDS AWAY FROM THE LAWNMOWER.

I think I made it pretty clear........

Well that lasted a long time...

Two weeks in, and I've already fired my nanny. Now the joy of searching for a new one. I'm to the point where daycare even looks good. Unfortunately, Eric works out of town all week, so isn't here to pick Drake up by 6:30 and get him home. Why is this so difficult and frustrating???

And since I know you are all wondering, she didn't do anything specific. She has a blog, and her recent entry, combined with facebook posts lead me to believe she is extremely unhappy being a nanny and taking care of Drake. I had a very unsettling gut feeling, and had to go with it. That mother's intuition and all.

Stay tuned this week for some big news from Casa de Kirsch......and NO I'm not pregnant. Neither is Eric.

My rants for the day.......

I know I have ranted about these things before. However, I'm feeling the need to rant again. And the glorious thing is, that since this is my blog, I can! If I seem too harsh.....well then quit reading. Since I blog about things I am passionate about, I'm often very harsh and abrasive.

First off, I am SICK AND TIRED of people referring to a vaginal birth as a natural birth. Let me set the record straight. There are two ways for little ones to enter this world: either via a C-section, or through a vagina. It's just a word for heavens sake: v-a-g-i-n-a. It's a body part like all the rest of them. SAY THE WORD!!! It's not a dirty word. It's okay to say it, I promise. Maybe I'm more okay with it b/c I use correct medical terminology frequently. I sure wish others would. What REALLY pisses me of though is to hear someone in the medical field (particularly an OB!!!) say natural when they really mean vaginal. If they would just use correct terminology, then maybe patients would too. A natural birth is a vaginal birth without drugs, epidurals, and unnecessary interventions. Natural, as in the way our bodies were designed and created. I find it personally offensive for someone who had a vaginal birth with tons of interventions to call their birth natural. MY birth was natural, Yours was vaginal. I didn't have an IV, epidural, episiotomy, etc etc. When someone who did not have a true natural birth claims they did, I am personally offended by such a false claim. For the love of God, just say it........VAGINAL birth. It will be okay to say the vajayjay word. Okay, rant number one over.

Now, onto rant number two. PEOPLE OFFENDED BY BREASTFEEDING.

I am so frustrated with our society here in America, that people can't get over seeing breasts as a sexual obsession. They are not my husbands funbags. (Thank you Allie on Oprah!) God designed my body with breasts that lactate and produce milk to nourish and feed my child. That is their purpose. They serve NO OTHER purpose. (Yes Eric may disagree, but he's not the author of this blog:-)

I understand that a generation or two before mine simply didn't breastfeed, but surely everyone has heard by now that it's healthier for our babies. So if you know it's good for my little man, and you aren't looking at my boobs as a sex object, then what's the big deal?!?! If it makes you feel better (and you are a Christian) just look at it as me glorifying God by using my body in the way he intended. I'm not going to hide in the car, or corner, or bedroom. I am going to feed my child wherever and whenever I please. If you are not comfortable with it, you can put a blanket over YOUR head. My poor baby already has to be covered with a "hooter hider", and that's bad enough in my opinion. Okay, second rant over.

Ya know, I only had two rants I really wanted to blog about. But I'm gonna throw in my third one. Just to round it out.

The nurses at Drake's pediatricians office annoy the hell out of me. For the most part. (Some of them are okay). I have told them THREE TIMES now that all vaccines are to be drawn up in front of me, after I look at the vial. I just don't trust people. If Drake was sick and in the hospital, I would require the same thing there. I would personally want to inspect all drugs and dosages before they gave him anything. Shit happens, but not to my child if I can help it. I took Drake for his dtap vaccine today, and we walked in the room to a syringe on the counter. It had "dtap" written on it in black sharpie. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? I mean seriously people, how many times do we have to go through this. It's written in the chart, so read it if you can spare a second. I vaccinate Drake on an alternative and selective schedule that I am comfortable with, and I don't doubt for one second that they are capable of screwing it up. They were really close to giving him dtap last visit, when I had only consented for Hib. It's a good thing I'm so vigilant!

And on a little bit of a side tangent from that, the after hours nurse line annoys me. I've only had one experience with it. I have learned from that experience, and it'll be different the next time. The only time we had to call was when we had thrush. It was a Saturday, and since my midwives called in some meds for me, I wanted Drake started on meds as well. It was a nurse who returned my call, asked a bunch of questions, and then "called in" his prescription. With some doctor who I've never met name on the bottle. I got to thinking about it. Here I am talking with someone who is less educated than me, and my husband, making medical diagnoses over the phone, and then calling in a rx. I'm simply not comfortable with that. So next time, I will be the obnoxious, overprotective, bitchy mother. I will be the one who refuses to deal with the nurse, and demands to either speak directly to the nurse practitioner or doctor on call. Yep, that'll be me. Is it wrong to simply want to talk to someone who I'm confident knows more than Eric and I? I mean in all honesty, we could just pretent to know everything, and Eric could call in whatever rx's we think Drake needs. But we don't. That's why we have a pediatrician. And next time, LET ME TALK TO HIM.

And on a side note, the medicines never worked for the thrush. We used a natural homeopathic remedy called gentian violet that finally got rid of it. And to think people make fun of me for being all granola. Ya know, sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out.......

If you made it this far in the post, I am impressed. Strong work, and thanks for listening! :-)

Just a few photos to share!

Guess who got a new diaper???? That's right, a new monogrammed diaper came in the mail from Aunt Lindsay! It fits great and is so super cute!

I just cannot believe how BIG my little man is getting. Rolls everywhere.
Someone managed to scratch himself in his sleep last night. See his poor little cheek? This is his "I just woke up" face.
Lifting that head up!
Face plant during tummy time.

As if there was any question......

My sweet husband did two really nice things last Friday. First, he stopped at a Farmer's Market downtown and got some fresh organic fruits and veggies. Second, he brought me flowers!
I have a new favorite place. I call it The Mecca. It's real name is the Carter's Outlet.
Big Pimpin...
I'm so in love!

Dave Ramsey Update Week 6

We are almost halfway thru our Financial Peace University class. Well, I am. Eric thinks he knows everything. Seriously. Actually, he thinks he knows more than Dave Ramsey. He's funny.

I've enjoyed learning new things, and putting practices to use in our everyday lives. We now sit down on Sunday nights and discuss what we need/want to spend money on for the week. We also revisit our bigger goals, in order to stay on track. I am happy to announce that ...

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WE ARE OUT OF CREDIT CARD DEBT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the first time EVER, we used our tax refund for a worthy purpose. Usually we just buy something new, like a hot tub for the deck. This year we used our federal refund for paying off all credit cards. And it feels really, really good. I'm tickled beyond belief. I feel like we are finally making very smart decisions about our money and future.

Next on our our list is our 3 months of living expenses in an emergency fund. For us, that is around $15,000. Our monthly budget is around 5K, including everything from student loan payments, to eating out, to the water bill. I can't wait to have the security of knowing we just have 15K sitting around in an emergency account. So, that's our next goal. All of our extra money is going to that savings fund. One thing at a time; that's what I keep telling myself. We don't have our state refund yet, and that will get our emergency fund off to a really nice start. I can't wait!

You have to wait and see what the goal is after the emergency fund has 3 months worth in it. Patience is a virtue. I will say though, it's a goal I like alot. I can't wait to get to that point. But first things first!

Easter 2009

We were in Florence for Easter, to visit Davy, Bridget, and our new niece McCall. She is so snuggly! Drake was SO handsome in his Easter outfit and bib, and went to church with grandma.

Lacey Anne!!!

FINALLY, a chance to tell you all about my new niece Lacey. Being back to work has totally interfered with my ability to blog. In any case, on Sunday, April 5th, I got a call at 6am from my SIL Lindsay. I can't say I was surprised, at all. Linds had been in early labor for days, and when we'd spoken the night before, I knew she was close. Lindsay was hoping for a natural childbirth, and was calling that morning for some advice/inspiration. She'd been at the hospital since 2am, with no progression. We texted back and forth for a while that morning, until I was called into work. She had one hell of a day, and you can read her entire birth story on her blog. (It's linked at the side). That evening she finally had a C-Section after days of labor, and hours of pushing. My princess niece Lacey was posterior with meconium in her amniotic fluid, with a nuchal cord to top it all off. Causing drama already:-) It's been two weeks now, and Lindsay and Lacey are both doing wonderful. I hear reports that she is eating and sleeping like a champ, and I'm so happy for our family to continue growing. Not only were Eric and I extremely blessed this year to have a healthy child, all of our siblings were too. And I think it's really cool that all 4 of us moms are breastfeeding. Go us! Lacey is in cloth diapers as well, so me and linds always have plenty to talk about in that arena. Lacey is a big girl- 8pounds 3 ounces at birth. 19 3/4 inches long. I think it's neat that Lacey and McCall were the same exact length. It's also cool that Drake and Lacey are exactly 3 months apart!

Last weekend we went to Florence to snuggle McCall and help out Davy and Bridget. Until I have time to get photos up, you can see them on Bridget's blog. It's also linked at the side.

Photos from McCalls Birthday

Me and Drake with Bridget and McCall

Princess McCall! She was sticking her tongue out and smacking her lips- ready to nurse already.
This is Davy (my brother) pushing the button on the wall- it plays a chime throughout the hospital that signifies a baby was just born:-)
My parents with both of their grandchildren; you can only imagine how thrilled they were.
She is sooo pretty!
Bridget's Mom and Step Dad waiting.......

Aunt Maggie and Drake waiting......
My Mom waiting......
My Dad and Drake waiting....... (This was early, can you tell?)

And I just wanted to add that it is so fitting that McCall be an April Fools baby, seeing as how people in my family love playing jokes on one another!

What a week!!!

This last week or so has been so crazy for me, so many changes, and so little time to blog about it. Okay, to start with.

Last week was my first week back fulltime. Three LOOOOONG 12 hour shifts. I prefer just two a week, not three. It was hard, but do-able.

Now on to the important things. Last Tuesday night/Wed morning at 3:15am, my phone rang. This is big stuff, b/c I actually had my phone beside me. It always stays in the den, far away from where it can wake me. Now you are probably wondering why the girl who HATES to be woken by the phone slept with it next to her. It had a little something to do with having not one, but TWO sister in laws who were due in minute:-)

The phone call was from my brother, and I answered it just knowing it was the call to announce McCall's (my niece) arrival. No such luck. Instead, it was him informing me that his wife was dying, and he wanted to know what he should do about it. See, Bridget had been to L & D Monday night, and Tuesday night, and they kept sending her home. Not a very nice thing to do, but it's the evilness of early labor. They'd only been home about an hour or so I think, when he called me at their wits end. Why me? I guess b/c I'm in healthcare. I guess b/c I'd planned and had a successful natural birth. I really don't know, and I certainly didn't feel capable of helping. But I sure was honored that they thought I could! I gave him some tips, and felt really sorry for Bridget. I couldn't go back to sleep after that. Finally at 4am, I sent him a text and said that I couldn't sleep, so was going to get up and drive to Florence. I was hoping that I could be of some help to get them through early labor. Before I could even leave Charlotte, he called and said he was taking her back to the hospital (third times a charm folks), and that time she was finally dilating. Epidural heaven she said!!! Bridget didn't have a very easy time of it since they sent her home twice, and was thrilled when she finally got some much needed pain relief. So as it turns out, my getting up and leaving for Florence was a good thing since it would soon be McCalls Birthday party.

I got to Florence around 8 am, after a long 2 1/2 hour drive. It went so slow, b/c I just wanted to get there. I enjoyed my morning in the waiting room with Drake and my parents (Eric was working). My Aunt Maggie, and Bridget's Mom and step dad were also all there. I am happy to announce that my beautiful niece McCall Claire Gregg was born at 12:06 pm weighing 6 pounds 6 ounces, and 19 3/4 inches long. She is such a cutie patootie! We left Florence about 5pm that day, since I had to work the next day. I was super sad I didn't get to hold and snuggle McCall, but by the time I had to leave, Davy and Bridget had barely gotten to hold her much. The hospital they delivered at transitions babies in the nursery under heat lamps, instead of skin to skin. So, when they finally got McCall, I certainly didn't want to take her away from them. Eric, Drake, and myself are going to Florence this weekend, and I'm gonna cover her with kisses and snuggles!!!

Drake is crying, so I g/g, but will be back to tell you all about my OTHER niece born!!!!!! TWO NIECES IN FOUR DAYS!!!! I'M THE LUCKIEST AUNT IN THE WORLD!!!