5 on Friday

1. Recipe Success

I love pinning new recipes from Pinterest but finding the time to prepare them isn't always easy. Never the less, the hubs and I have been attempting to taste test a new dinner idea each week. Our most recent trial meal that was a success for the family were stuffed zucchini boats.  Scrumptious!

We did alter the recipe and used ground turkey instead of beef. We also eliminated the chorizo because I cannot and will not eat that (never read the ingredients if you like it or you may not eat it again). That being said, we did spice up the meat to give it a little kick.
I hope you like this one too!
 

2. Ta-Da

It was a big night for Miss Tess on Monday when she successfully completed her punch card at gymnastics. All the girls were given a card and were rewarded a punch each week if they landed their skills correctly, lifted their arms in the proper pose, and said their ta-das. Tessa was the second in her squad to complete her card and for being the youngest in the class we think that's pretty cool.

 

3. Loft

Girls, if you're in the need of freshening up your wardrobe for Spring/Summer I really recommend heading the the Loft. This mama scored some great deals there this week with the whole store 40% off and up! I love when I can find an amazing bargain but I love it even more when I know I am getting a higher quality item as well.  
 

4. Lilly Pulitzer

Am I the only one that completely missed out on all items Lilly? I am a bit in shock on how quickly the items went and how Target's website completely crashed! Don't get me wrong, I love myself some Lilly but I didn't anticipate the madness being so drastic. Here's hoping the stores are restocked soon and I can snag myself these, this whole look, this matching romper for Tess, and/or these shorts.
 

5. Plants

So...I want a plant. Those of you who know me well know that I can't even keep a cactus alive. In fact, there is a plant four steps from my desk at work that I walk by a million times a day that is slowly losing its oomph because I remember to water it about once every three or four weeks. Even still, I heard that there are certain plants out there that can actually help clean the air in your home. So help me out plant people, is this true? If so, which plants are they and are they hearty? 

I am also 100% convinced that I need a lemon tree in the house. I haven't persuaded the hubs to buy into this one quite yet but I think I'm getting close. I mean, he's a California boy, you'd think he'd appreciate my sentiment! ;)  isn't this the cutest? See, now you all want one!

Happy Friday to all! After traveling last weekend and the hubs working three 24 hour shifts of the last four days, it had been a rat-race of a week for this mama. I am ready for some relaxation, Saturday morning donuts and coffee, and family time.

5 on Friday

1.  Sephora Splurge

I rarely make an appearance in this store because whenever I do I end up spending way.too.much money.  That was the case yet again, but I felt an obligation to do some emotional retail therapy and make-up seemed like a good purchase.  Am I the only one who justifies purchases each and every time?  I picked up three new goodies to try and am wearing them all today so we will see which ones make the cut.

2.  The Week Of The Young Child

The daycare/school we take our kiddos to celebrate this week every year.  I absolutely love that they make each day a special event to celebrate those who care for our children, the parents that encourage their growth and development, and time to focus strictly on making the kids feel special.  They have had super-hero day, pajama day, and costume day.  They also provided breakfast for the parents, had a thank-you day for the staff, and this morning I wrote notes that will be delivered to the kids saying how much we love them.  Even though it takes extra effort and work for the staff and the parents, I truly believe that these little events that are often over-looked are very important in the lives of our kids.  It’s easy to say, “forget it” or “maybe next time” but to our children that moment means the world to them, even when it doesn’t seem like a big deal in our fast-paced world.  So, take the extra time – before it’s too late.

3. Archer Farms Coffee For The Win

The hubs ran and did errands for me yesterday (thanks babe) and picked up a new flavored coffee to try.  We I am trying to get coffee creamer out of my life (don’t get me started on the list of fake ingredients in there).  I cannot and will not drink black coffee so we are on a mission to find some good options with robust flavor.  He picked up some coconut…..and it was delightful.  I’m not certain it’s my number one favorite but definitely one to add to our mix.

4.  Another Day, Another Specialist

I just got done making a huge announcement about Brady yesterday.  Even though that chapter is over, which we are ever so grateful for, we still have our hurdles with this little man.  He suffered a bad rash a couple of weeks ago that lingered on for nearly five days.  We were supposed to meet with the allergist in August but expedited our visit due to this little outbreak.  We began our series of allergy testing, with pricks into his spine, to see where we were now at with things.  We began with those that we already knew he had issues with, which are quite a few so we have to break them into two different appointments.  Of the seven first tested, he was allergic to five. 

 

1. Peanuts - Anaphylactic Allergy
2. Dairy - Anaphylactic Allergy
3. Whey – Anaphylactic Allergy
4. Wheat – No Allergy!!  Removing all wheat and slowly introducing it into his diet may have helped.  Yay!
5. Tomatoes – Allergy but not harmful other than masking on his face
6. Dogs - Allergy
7. 2 Types of Dust Mites – No allergy

We will be going to the allergist again next week for our next batch of testing.  Cross your fingers we can be allergy free from here!

5.  Honor

If you are a regular follower of the blog, you know it has been a difficult week for my family.  We have been busy making preparations and plans for traveling this weekend so we can all be together to honor a fallen hero.  I know it will be a difficult service but I’m hoping it will also bring some peace and closure to many.  The last I heard, there are over 90 fire departments that will be represented to share their support, coming from as far away as Miami and Pennsylvania.  What an amazing brother-hood.  Our porch lights will be lit on Sunday evening in memory – prayers always welcome for all.

 

*As a side note, I want to say thank you to all my blog supporters.  It was a big week for me hitting the 10K mark (and no I am not referring to running).  It is your following that encourages me to stick at it, so thank you again!  Oh, and I always appreciate comments as well. ;)

A Huge Weight Is Lifted

An amazing thing happened last week and I’m finally getting around to telling the story.

Nearly two years ago, we were hit with the news that the child I was carrying wasn’t healthy.  I will save the details of this story as I know many of you already know the tale.  But, for those of you who do not you can find the post here. 

Never does anyone wish upon themselves to become ill, let alone a family member or someone they love.  The reality of it though, is that it happens – and it’s beyond our control.  The moment you hear the news, the first thing you focus on is getting the best medical care out there.  You research conditions, you interview specialists, you attend countless doctors’ appointments, and you do a lot of praying.

Not for one second do you hesitate on care because of finances.  In fact, the thought doesn’t even cross your mind; at least it never crossed ours.

In the time that transpired from when we received our news on Brady up until shortly after he was born we were seeing an OB-Gyn, a Fetal Specialist, a Cardiologist, a Nephrologist, and a Urologist.  Brady spent a week in the NICU and an additional five days on the hospital floor.  The amount of lab work and additional testing that was done during that time was immeasurable.

It took no time at all, and shortly after Brady was home from his second stay in the hospital, the medical bills started flooding in.  It was overwhelming and we immediately met with hospital billing to see if we could consolidate the charges into one bill.  We were able to do this with most – and hence we have what I refer to as The Brady Bill.

So maybe some of you are thinking “Didn’t you have insurance?”  The answer is “Yes, we did.”  In fact, we had what we thought was a great plan at the time.  Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean your care is free.  So here we were making payments every month for all Brady’s initial care.  If only it would have included all the care and testing he has needed since he was three months old, but we weren’t that lucky. ;)

I will admit that there where many times when I would be doing our monthly bills and I would become frustrated.  After a few minutes I would realize how I was acting and then would immediately feel guilty for becoming upset.  Here I have this amazing little man at home and I’m becoming all worked up about paying money for this blessing.  It was ridiculous to feel that way, and I understood that, but I’m also human.

Well folks, I’m here to yell from the mountain top that I submitted our final payment of our $00,000 Brady Bill!  I don't know that I could ever properly express how much of a relief this milestone is.  Brady has been doing so well and not having a monthly reminder of what we went through will be an amazing change of focus. We can finally move on to the next chapter of our lives; with what we can only pray is continued good health and happiness.

*And as a side note for all you families out there in a similar situation, my word of advice is to be open and honest with the hospitals and clinics.  Believe it or not, if you are willing to work with them – they are willing to work with you.  Even though our institutions wanted their money in 90 days, not many people are able to handle that financial burden.  Payment plans are always an option.  Your attention needs to be on your child and not on the money, so make it as stress-free as possible.*

A Community As One

It happened.

There was a fire; a blaze powerful enough to claim the lives of civilians and a firefighter.

When a tragedy of this magnitude presents itself, all anyone can do is come together.

 

 

My brother was one of many firefighters and first responders on the scene of a house fire in South Dakota.  He, along with many other brave men and women, fought until it was no longer safe.  Everyone was instructed to evacuate.  Unfortunately not everyone was able to escape.

I may not be living in that community any longer, but from afar the outpouring of support that I have seen is remarkable.  I have witnessed family, friends, and firefighters from around the country sending love and prayers to everyone.

It will take time to move past this tragedy, and although nobody will ever forget, I can only hope those closest to the situation find the peace to move forward.

And My Thoughts

When you are married to a firefighter and have a brother as one as well, a situation as described above is my worst nightmare.  You think that because you live in a smaller community you are exempt from a tragedy like this.  Yet each shift they leave home with no idea what their day will bring and as family we can only pray they return to us the same manner as when they left.

Because of what they witness and experience, there are many days where the above does not happen.  They come home exhausted; both physically and mentally.  As a wife, you start to “learn” certain behaviors (because they aren’t going to tell you anything) and make adjustments to your schedule because you know something bad happened while on shift.

We wives attempt to call or text and it may be hours before there is any response back.  Or, there’s my favorite, when I am speaking to my husband and in the background I hear alarms……click.  I know he is off to something more important than what I have to say but the feeling doesn’t get easier as time goes on.

 

Whether he realizes it or not, each day he leaves the house, I pray for a safe return.  I can only hope that God protects me from every having to witness the red car pulling up to my driveway, the low chime of the doorbell, and the words from the chief that my firefighter won’t be returning home.

I am a full-time working woman – and that is tough.  I am a mom to two kids three years old and under – and that is tough.  I am a firefighter’s wife – and that is the toughest job of them all.

Finally, did I personally know the individuals affected by yesterday’s tragedy?  No.  But, I saw this statement last night and I think it describes my feelings better than I can express in words.

 

5 on Friday

1. Weekday Activities

It was a raining week here in Iowa; rain every.single.day. Mr. Brady spent many moments standing by the windows pointing outside and yelling "go." He loves the outdoors. Since this lady isn't one to dance in the rain, I had to come up with some other forms of entertainment for us. One evening I took the kiddos to a mommy and me music class. I thought for certain that this would be a huge hit with Brady since he seems to have a passion for sound and dance. Unfortunately it took nearly the whole class for him to get comfortable and want to participate. Miss Tess, on the other hand, really enjoyed herself! In the end I was happy we gave it a try.

 

Thursday nights our local library is open "late." After dinner we headed there for some play time, new books, and new movies. Tessa is in her world there. She went right to the kids section, picked two books for herself and one for little bro, grabbed a new movie, and headed to check them all out at the desk. 

After a successful check out, this is what I see. Seriously, did I even need to be there?

All set up with their new books.

 

2. Seek & Find DIY

I had seen this idea on Pinterest a few weeks back and decided I would give them a whirl.  The hardest part was finding little items to put inside the bottles.  I headed over to Michael's craft store and found some miniature critters to use.  They had tons to choose from so I did a mixture of ocean animals, dinosaurs, safari animals, and barnyard friends for a little variety. 

 I am happy with how they turned out and they've been a fun new toy for the kids to play with here and there.

 

3. Joggers

Have any of you tried this trend?  I'm on the fence with whether I can appreciate the "dressed up" look of what should be a very cozy clothing item. 

To me, jogging pants should be soft and quite frankly I don't care how they look because it's all about comfort.  However, I do love me a pair of leggings and I can dress them up to be appropriate for outtings.  Hmm...maybe I should give them a whirl?

 

4.Sanuk

If you all haven't tried this brand of flip-flops, I suggest you head to the store or order some online ASAP!  I have been a Havianna girl for quite some time, but I need a little more comfort in my life as I age. ;)  These flip flops use yoga mat material for the sole!  I can wear these all day without sore tootsies.  They are in quite a few stores here in Des Moines but I could only find the ones with the thick straps.  Although I think those are adorable (and come in many colors), I need skinny straps to offset the look of my chubby and wide feet.  That being said, I found some online with free shipping and bingo - the best flip-flop ever.

 

5. Projects & Time

These are two little words that just don't seem to go together in my life very well.  My mind has tons of projects that need to be done around the house but I seem to have less and less time to complete them as the days go on.  I have a partially painted bedroom and a ladder that has been near the bed for two weeks now (sorry neighbors, we will bring that back).  Does anyone else have this problem, yikes?!  With the nice weekend weather ahead, I'm hoping to finish our painting project and move on to another.  The list just never ends...

Easter Weekend

It took a lot to get out of town but after nearly an hour of rush hour traffic and two trips back home to grab items we forgot, we finally managed to make it to my folk’s house late on Friday night.  It was such a relief to get there, especially for me who does worse in the car than the kiddos.   

We unpacked the car, let the kids play with their cousins for a while, and had some nice conversation playing catch-up with everyone. 

Saturday morning David, Brady, and I went for a run around the lake.  The weather was beautiful and I never mind running when I can have views like this.

We had a nice Easter meal that afternoon and did an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Many of you may have seen these photos on Facebook.  I think there were more cameras taking photos than kids participating in the hunt!  My brother and his family and David all had to leave that evening but at least we had a great day all together. 

The kids and I went to church with my parents.  The service was longer than usual, obviously, so Brady and I spent some quality time together out in the lobby reading books. ;)

Clearly Over My Photo Taking

When we got home we had lunch and enjoyed playing with some of the toys the Easter Bunny brought them.  Surprisingly, neither kid cared about the candy at all.  Are they my children?  Tessa was most excited about her purple jelly shoes and Brady was over the moon about receiving more bubbles.  An afternoon of sidewalk chalk and bubbles it was until we ventured home.  Overall it was a great and ever-busy weekend.

 

Outta Here

5 on Friday

1. Happy Easter

It’s here, it’s here!  Today marks the beginning of one of my favorite holidays.  I love all things that have materialized this holiday; the fresh air of Spring, flowers, candy, bunnies, etc.  But what is most important is this…

 

I hope everyone takes a minute to remember the real reason behind celebrating this holiday – what a special one it is!

2. Polish

A co-worker surprised me with some nail polish and candy for my birthday this week.  She has the same taste as I do with polish and gifted me with some good ‘ol Sally Hanson Xtreme Wear.  I love this polish!  It goes on even and dries quickly.  This is great for an ever busy momma and also wonderful for little girls who just can’t seem to sit still for longer than 60 seconds.  Plus, it is a bit harder to chip than most. 

 

You can find it at Target and it’s usually around $3, so much cheaper than other styles.  They have some great colors right now so run out and get yourself one, two, or maybe three.  Gosh, I feel like I keep posting about polish, but hey, when I find something I like I feel obligated to share the news.

3.  Fubbles

Do you remember my post last week when I was sharing my gifts already purchased and those I needed to get for the kid’s Easter baskets?  Well, one of the items I still needed to purchase were the small bubble wands that I had previously purchased from Target.  They were wonderful for Brady since he could easily hold them in his hand.  Plus, when he spilled the wand there wasn’t much to lose.  Well, this lady waited a bit too long to purchase the bubbles and after two different Target stops and one at Walmart, it became evident that I wasn’t going to have these for Mr. Brady’s basket.  I did end up purchasing these.

 

Have any of you seen these before?  They say they are spill-proof but I really wonder if that holds true.  I guess we shall see as the Easter Bunny will be delivering these in just a couple more days.

4.  Laurlelu

I wanted to let you all know about a little Etsy shop that I found and love.  I recently purchased a floral head wrap and three leather bows for Miss Tess from this shop.  I know there are shops all over the place that are selling these so it is hard to decide on one to try.  I saw these ladies first on Instagram and followed them for a while before making a purchase.  I received my purchases in a timely manner and have been very happy with the quality.  If you are in need of a little something different and cute for your girls, you should look them up.

5.  A Love So Strong

Ok, this is a bit sentimental but do any of you parents have moments where you look at your little ones and your heart just hurts?  I have had a few of those moments, more than usual, this week.  I was helping Tess with her cartwheels one evening and when she nailed one just perfectly and I saw the excitement on her face, I couldn’t help but feel so proud and a love so deep.  The same feeling came yesterday morning as I was packing the kids for school.  I looked over at Brady with his little outfit on and freshly combed hair and it hit me that he is becoming a little boy. 

My heart melted at his little grin and I even managed to catch a photo of the moment.  Oh how I love these kiddos…