I'm back

Sorry Readers, I've been VERY VERY sick the last week and had to head to my parents house for some help with the kids while I tried to get better. I am starting to feel better since I've been on medication for a week but I see a endocrinologist on Monday to see what is really up with me and to get more information.

So... I am sure I will be posting about Hypothyroidism in the future as I'm finding its quite common and quite miserable and there are lots of women I know who have stories to share about how they deal with it.

Thanks for your patience - let the blogging continue now while I have a few spare seconds and a little energy to spare!

When Tired is not JUST TIRED!

I'm not one to go to the Doctor unless absolutely necessary. Even when I'm pregnant - I just don't get super nervous about being sick etc....
But, the past few months I have been MISERABLE. I'm talking walking zombie, moody, hot flashes, headaches all the time and stiff neck. Now... breastfeeding is tough and I do have to get up 2 times at night at least - but when I first brought Ben home and was up ALL NIGHT, I had more energy than I have now.
It doesn't matter how much sleep I manage to grab during the day, morning and night - I was really really really desperate to find out what was wrong. I knew it wasn't just that I was tired.

I even told my husband that if the doctor said I had to eat fish and it would magically make me feel better - that I would do it - no questions asked. (I HATE fish)

So, on a suggestion of a friend, I went to the doctor and requested that they take some blood. I was expecting my iron count to be low and was prepared for that. The physicians assistant that I saw, told me she was almost 100% sure that I was just tired from being home with kids and that I was more run down than I realized and that stress can do horrible things to your body. I went home miserable because that only meant that there was nothing more we could do to change how I felt other than continue to go to bed at 8 when the kids were down and sleep as much as possible and HOPE I had some energy during the day.

The next day, we went on a family outing to Van Saun Park in Paramus NJ. The place is AMAZING. They have a carousel, a zoo, a train ride and PONY rides.

Well, I hit my rock bottom that day. I was the biggest B$*ch on the planet, (my poor husband) and was suffering from horrific hot flashes and about to get ANOTHER headache - I seriously cried because I HATE the new me. The always tired, cranky, b$%chy, hot, fuzzy headed me.

We came home and I took a nap. When I woke up the doctors office called with my blood work results and she told me that My Thyroid Hormone was seriously Low.

Hypothyroidism.

She asked if I had ever been diagnosed before and was surprised when I said no. I asked her if she could give me more information and she ACTUALLY told me to look it up online. Needless to say I will be finding a new DOCTORS office and an endocrinologist ASAP.

I have to take meds now every day. Supposedly they can start working in a few days and I will feel like my old self. Your thyroid pretty much manages your entire body function and explains why I was having all the symptoms I was having.

Relief. At least now I know I'm not just destined to be a cranky B$%ch for the rest of my life and that there is an end in sight to my ridiculous exhaustion!

So... now begins a journey of finding out as much as I can about this "diagnosis" and making sure that my old self comes back because it's been a long time since we've all seen her and we miss her terribly.

So... moral of the story - sometimes it's good to go see a doctor and sometimes you need to push to have them do bloodwork or get a second opinion because If I had let her, that PA would have sent me home with a prescription for more sleep and my problem could have ballooned into something MUCH more serious.

Thank god for FB - because I have already linked up with 4 or 5 friends on there who suffer from the same thing and are already offering information and support. Yay for technology. FB is my new Best Friend as it constantly provides me with friends who can offer just what I need and to whom I can offer so much!

So... the next few days I might be a little quiet, but I will be back with a vengeance and I will be making this blog kick ass! Mark my words - we will have a great time!

Thank you for patience and support!!!!

I

How Peapod is saving my sanity

I know, I know - Peapod to a lot of people seems like the lazy way to grocery shop. I get it.
I used to LOVE grocery shopping. In fact, when I first got my license it was my favorite thing to do! My mom would send me out with a list and her car and I was in heaven. (granted looking back I realize, I didn't have to cook the food, pay for it or pay for the gas or car even- so of course it was fun!)

Anyways - fast forward to now. 30 years old (and proud I might add) with 2 kids - living in a house (which takes A LOT of work to keep up with 2 kids staying home full time) and being the head of the house - because let's face it - the Woman is the head of the house. (My hubby might be bringing home the money, but I'm managing it:)

There are gym classes, play dates, park trips, naps, feedings, a house to clean, clothes to wash, meals to prepare, etc... the last thing I want to do is strap the baby into the baby harness (because he's already out of his infant car seat - so I can't put him in the cart yet) and push a toddler in a cart - all the while trying to keep to a list, match up coupons and get the best deals before one of them realizes that grocery shopping is not fun! My kids are angels compared to most, I realize this - but I get frazzled and can't concentrate and rush and then it results in me having to go back multiple times for things I forgot or decided to forget about to get home before naptime.

So... I have taken to Pea Pod. Not every shopping trip - but at least once or twice a month. It's my one luxury in life. I go online, while drinking an icy cold drink or a hot cup of coffee - or while I wait for the pasta to boil and I slowly piece together my shopping list.

Here is what I do to keep it cheap (ish) I only shop from the sale items AND I use coupons. Since I stay at home, I can also utilize their "green" delivery times which makes it a little cheaper. They also have a function where you pay by e-check which makes it cost a little less too.

So, I figure - if I save enough in coupons to cover the deliver/tip charges (which are nominal if you think about it!) then I don't feel as guilty. It allows me to multi- task while I shop but I stay more organized and create better meal plans. Then at that lovely time of day you chose, the "grocery man" as we call them in my house, rings your door bell and carries all those heavy bags straight into your kitchen so all you have to do is put the food away.

Genius.

I also try to stock up on stuff so that I buy enough that the delivery charge goes down even more and then I don't have to go out for certain things for even longer. In particular I like to stock up on heavy items.... because hey, they are carrying them - not me... is that bad??

Anyway - I think it's worth the money. Once you do it enough times and if you tend to buy the same stuff every week minus a few special items - you can get your grocery shopping done by clicking a few buttons and it will generate a list for you automatically which makes it take 5 - 10 minutes MAX!! No crying kids, no waiting in line at the check out, no diaper changes in the middle of a shopping trip and no kids demanding they NEED THE CARS cheez its because - it's CARS - even if they have never had Cheez it's in their life!

Win, Win.
Anyone else use Pea Pod? or a similar shop at home service? I have also done the Shop Rite order online and pick up at the store which is convenient too - but I prefer the walk it to my kitchen service of peapod... and it CAN be cheaper if you shop sales and use coupons!
Don't forget - stop and shop doubles coupons under 1.00 too!

Getting Crafty for cheap

2 empty toilet paper rolls + blue painters tape left over from painting her room + yarn from my tremendous stash = super cool binoculars!

What's the craftiest thing you've made lately with your kid?

Teething Bling - GET ONE!

O.k. I posted previously how I initially thought this product was silly - until I had my son who actually tries to chew on everything he can get his little hands on. (My daughter never did that)

We ordered the Coral Pendant and it came in the mail quickly. My only disappointment with this product is that the color is a little darker than it looked on the computer - it's more of a fall-ish orange - and I was envisioning a brighter, summery orange. Obviously that is a small disappointment and something that cannot be avoided when ordering online as colors differ from computer to computer.

I used a special savings code they advertised in Baby magazine and got a GREAT deal on it too which made me happy since we are pinchin' pennies left and right here!

At first, I thought the string was a little long - but then when Ben woke up and started playing with it, I realized again that these ladies are smarties who know exactly what they are doing. It's the perfect length so that he can play/chew on it and it won't pull my neck down or get uncomfortable.

He already knows it's for him to play with after a few days of me giving it to him and he looks for it when I'm holding him and his mouth hurts. He also looks for it when he's nursing which was a welcome surprise because he tends to get a bit distracted lately and pulls away to look at stuff while trying to nurse at the same time. (yes, it is as uncomfortable as it sounds and NO, mommy's body doesn't bend and twist that way)

It is dishwasher safe - which is a plus for people who tend to dishwash everything - although I haven't figured out what to do with the chord yet if I were to put it in the dishwasher.

For now, I wash it like any other teething toy. with hot, soapy water.

My 2.5 year old daughter likes to wear it when I'm not wearing it which is funny because for a little girl who is "princess" age - she's a tried and true tom boy - so her interest in the jewelry makes me smile.

They have TONS of different colors and I might just splurge and get myself one of their shimmery pendants as I think they are just adorable.

Smart Moms, the company responsible for this awesome product, is going to be sending me a bangle bracelet to review as well - and I am assuming that it's going to be just as awesome as the pendant and that I will be telling you to order a set for your next baby shower gift :)

All in all, I love this item. My husband even wears it sometimes when we are at home and he's holding Ben to give him something to chew on that we don't have to keep holding or handing back to him. So, so far - our entire family of 4 are huge fans!!!

Thank you Smart Moms, for being so smart and creating this fun, modern product for baby AND mom!

Sesame Place rocks my world

If you follow my personal page on FB, then you know I have a little obsession with Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa - similar to how some people obsess about Disney.

Let me tell you why!!

It's only an hour and 15 minutes away from where we live - which makes it an easy day trip.
We took Katie as an infant with some friends who had a toddler at the time and were able to enjoy ourselves because all the rides are adult friendly and we got to get pictures of her with the characters while she was little AND under 2 is free.

The following year, we got season passes and went about 6 times during the summer. We would get up, pack the car, the cooler and set off to get there for opening. We didn't have to pay for parking because we had one season pass that included parking and one regular season pass. (They have different levels) Katie would be so excited and patient on the car ride and then get giddy as soon as she saw the Big Bird Welcome Sign.

There are wet and dry rides and a place where you can wait in line to take pictures with characters and they are VERY good about letting you take as many pictures with your own cameras as you would like.

They also walk the characters around the park for pictures and are great and organized about having people wait in line to see and take pictures. We went May, June and July and then one time in August. The August trip was the worst because by that point, the park gets very crowded and people are gross - so the bathrooms and everything else are just dirtier and messier and it's just harder to enjoy it. My daughter however never noticed a thing.

With season passes you also get 30% off most things you buy in the park. So, they more than paid for themselves last year. We even took her back in October for their special Spooktacular where they do Halloween stuff and the dry rides stay open.

You can bring a cooler into the park and the parking lot is SO close to the entrance that we would bring the cooler in with our lunch at opening at 10 and then take it back out after we ate to save space in our stroller. They have dine with me programs which we took advantage of once and Katie was head over heels. It was well worth the money for the awful breakfast food. (luckily they carry yogurt and cereal:))
This year with an infant, I have to honestly say I'm sad that we haven't been able to go as much. Dave took Katie on a special daddy, daughter date last month and I was so bummed when they called to check in because I knew I was missing out on a great day.

Sesame Street has become a HUGE part of our lives and I am so happy that Sesame Place has helped that. For Halloween last year - we kept the obsession alive with home made costumes - all requested by Katie. I only hope that Ben likes Sesame Street as much as Katie did because I can already see us at the park next summer - all summer long. In fact, season passes are on sale now where you can get them NOW for the rest of the summer and get all of next year free too - I might have to splurge and do this because Ben will be big enough by Halloween and maybe it will be time for his first trip to Sesame.
If I never get to Disney in my life with my kids, I will die happy - because we have Sesame Place and it has brought lots of joy to our lives with our kids and really hasn't been all that expensive.

So... if you have little ones... GO
Just try to go during the week when it's a little less crowded and make sure you take some patience with you because it is a crowded theme park but your kid will have a GREAT TIME!

Why I love the craft stores!

Kids Room Decorating for cheap!
40% coupons rock my world right now. Particularly for Thomas the Train items (those little suckers are EXPENSIVE and my daughter loves all of them)

The craft stores have more than craft stuff. They carry toys like Thomas the Train and Melissa and Doug wooden items and a WIDE VARIETY of room decorations for kids. And every week there is a coupon you can print or get from the paper for 40% off one item.

Last week we went to AC Moore and bought new stickers for the kids room - Sesame Street for the boy and Thomas the Train for the girl. We had 2 coupons and since Katie paid for her own - we got each set for 40 % off. They are safe for paint and you can reposition them a bunch of times which makes them a great value! They even make borders made out of the same material so you can move it easily and it won't be permanent.

So, next time you need a childrens gift or want to decorate your kids room - check out your local AC Moore - you might be surprised at the deals you can score by printing out a coupon first.

Also, anyone who has a Thomas fan, there were some AMAZING 75% off clearance deals on wooden railway sets. Figure 8's - Cranes, etc.... so if you are looking to expand or buy your first Wooden set for your little one - go check it out soon before they are gone!

Happy Shopping!