Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Pass the lyson

One word: stomach bug! ! !

I swear that hubs and I had a verbal agreement while dating that when we adopted our gorgeous first child (remember I was never going to get pregnant?!?!) I would handle everything, diapers, rashs, feedings and appointments, the only thing he would have to do is handle big kid vomit, because .... I .... just .... can't. I CAN'T !!!!!

This past Saturday my little man was attacked by the latest stomach bug that has hit his Kindergarten class. I'm putting on my best "mama's got you" face, while trying not to be sick right on top of him. The whole time, hubs is covering his face laughing, knowing how horrible it was for me!!!!

After the 2nd round of barf buckets he finally jumped in when I had to tap out!!!!

All that to say, have a written agreement set in stone, maybe have it framed and put under glass to keep it safe and sound for such a situation as this !


Adios Mis Amigos,

Monday, March 7, 2016

Mamavation Monday - My God is Bigger


Good Morning My Amgias! 

Its finally looking like spring here in the "jerse"! We are going to reach highs in the 70's almost every day this week!!!! 
YIPPEEEE! 

Kids will be running around outside, fresh air will be blowing through this house that has been locked up tight all winter,  and mama will feel the warm sun on her face! 

This winter was a rough one for me. Facing some super stinky health issues, dealing with loss of cherished friendships, and loosing a family member that fought the brave fight against cancer. 

I found myself feeling down most days, with a real struggle to keep my head up and focused on my tasks at hand: raising these awesome kids ! 

The other day this image came across my personal Facebook page 




and it was like the hand of God himself was showing me it was time to snap out of it!  I needed to realize that as big, bad, and scary as some of this stuff might be, my God is even bigger. And He will carry me through! 

So Mamavation Monday (mamavation: encouragement and motivation to all the mama's out there) today my friends, don't give your problems more strength then the big and mighty God who is watching over us!




Adios My Friends,
 

Monday, February 29, 2016

Hello, Goodbye, Hello, Goodbye

It's been quite some time my friends, to be honest, its been a roller coaster. I loved this blog and the sounding board it gave me to be a mama, free and unashamed. I am hoping to get back in the game and start sharing again. This time, focusing on our new journey as a family of 4 and all that life brings our way.

Excited at all that is to come, and I hope you'll stick with me while I navigate the journey ahead. 

Adios Mis Amigos,

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

I will never forget

Growing up in Jersey, we have always felt a certain closeness with New York City. The thought that Carrie and all her girlfriends were just a merely hour and a half away having this fantastic life got us through our boring high school days. Too many times to count, the conversations with my girlfriends were about how one or two or all of us couldn't wait to graduate and move to NYC and live it up. Then broadway came into my life and I had a whole new love for the Big Apple. The way that you could be completely transported to a differently place and time in the 3 hours you sat in your theater seat felt like a blink in time.

I remember Septemeber 11, 2001, like it was yesterday. I was driving in the car with a boy who I had a major college crush on. I had woken up early, gotten my hair and make up just right and sat out on our dormroom steps waiting for him to pick me up. We met every Tuesday and Thursday to go have breakfast together and then get to our 11am class.

"Today", he said, "we are in for a real treat" . . . . "No disgusting caffeteria food today, we are going to IHOP". We were rocking out to whatever song was popular at the time when the music stopped and the DJ said that a plane had struck the World Trade Towers.

A pit in my stomach that would stay for days came reeling us to a stop. We literally pulled over on the side of the road and listened as they described the scene. Up ahead was a Dunkin Donuts who we knew had a Television so we made a beeline for the building. My mouth dropped as I entered the normally bustling coffee shop and there was already 10-15 people gathered under the television.  We joined the group and sighs, moans, and Oh My Gods, were being whispered as the minutes proceeded. We came to know these people in the hours we stayed and watched. We couldn't bear to leave not knowing what was happening just a few short minutes away from us.

There was a men's group of retired "old cranks" (the term they gave themselves) who met every morning to get out of the house, away from their wives and talk about the times. One was a retired volunteer firefighter, one was a retired stock broker, one a retired real estate broker. All had a much different perspective then the two 20 year olds sitting next to them. We stayed for hours, not able to leave until we knew that everything was going to be okay. That feeling never came.

Never before in my lifetime had I felt in danger of attack. Had I felt like the security of "MY COUNTRY" been in danger. Much less the beloved New York City being under attack. Hearing people calling in saying they were trapped in the buildings and just wanted their loved ones to know they loved them. Watching as people saw no other choice to but leap to their deaths before the towers collapsed. But in the same heartache and sadness we also saw amazing acts of kindness up on the screen, for every 10-20 people you saw running away from the chaos you would see paramadics, firemen, random every day people running towards it trying to help.

You would see a group of 2-3 men carrying someone who could no longer walk on their own, women running and hugging other strangers who were sitting on the side of the road simply in a state of shock. While I did feel completely and overwhelming sad at what was transpiring, a flicker of hope and a sense of pride filled my heart knowing that in the midst of the craziest trauma my eyes had ever witnessed there was the American Spirit alive and well. People taking care of people.

The hours and days that followed were filled with alot of sad. Hearing of those confirmed dead, those who's loved ones couldn't and wouldn't ever be found. Children loosing their mothers, Mother's loosing their husbands. Children dying over an act of terror. But I dare say that for ever story of sad there was one of honor. The man that risked his life going back into the very same tower he had just exited because he couldn't leave knowing that there were still his friends and coworkers inside. For every minute that the news mentioned the horrible monsters that caused this, there were two minutes focused on the heroes who rescued, and saved, the masses!

Today I am choosing to focus on the good, the noble, the beautiful. The way that "our people" took care of each other. Sure the government could have done alot of things differently, but we, as one nation under God, a group of normal every day people. WE DID GOOD!

And when my children someday ask  me about this day in History, I will tell them it was the day that their Mama was proud to be an American!


Adios Mis Amigos,

Monday, July 15, 2013

Nothing like an early morning wake up call to get a new perspective

I think I have mentioned a few times that I am not a morning person. 

Never have been and probably never will be (anytime soon at least). I am not a good sleeper. It takes me entirely too long to fall asleep and once I am asleep I often wake and toss and turn throughout the night. This makes morning come entirely too soon. And the only way to combat my groggy sleep deprived crankiness is a giant cup of java. 
This needs to be consumed, completely, before any chance of productivity can occur. 

This morning, like most other mornings, little man woke up entirely too early. Defintely before my achy bones were ready to get out of bed. So I went into his room, after I failed to get him to go back to sleep in his own bed, He was freshly snuggled down under my giant down comforter, 
curled up next to me. I took a deep breath of his mango shampooed hair, kissed his baby soft cheeks, and squeezed him tight!

It was in this moment, awake, but not really, that it hit me. These are the days I want to remember forever. The days where he still fits in the crook of my arm, but is big enough to understand that it's still "sleepy time". Where he still needs me when he is scared, hurt, or upset. But is also so independent and free spirited that he can do so much on his own. We can pack up and go at the drop of a hat, off to share little adventures at the beach, park, or in our own backyard.

My stomach hurts when I think about how much he has grown. 
Sure I miss the baby, the newborn, the adorable chubby toddler. But this little man that is snuggled up next to me is hands down absolutely my favorite! 

Sooooo we are still in bed, an hour and a half after he woke up. He has had his morning ritual of warm milk and I sipped on my cup of coffee. We have read books on my tablet, played a few games, and he was happy enough to sit next to me while I wrote this whole piece and there is no sign leaving this soft, cozy, toasty warm bed any time soon!


Adios Mis Amigos,