FREE Coat

Get excited everybody!!!! I've been Crowdtapping for a few months now and just got to take advantage of my first 'sample and share.' This means that I won a free coat from Old Navy and passed along another free coat to a friend. If you don't already know what CrowdTap is from my facebook, then you aren't paying attention. CrowdTap.com is a website where you share opinions and ideas about brands that you use. You answer poll questions and get involved in discussions with fellow crowdtappers. The more you participate and provide QUALITY feedback the more oppertunity you have to get in on really awesome stuff! It's all about networking and getting your friends and family involved with you. I was slow to get started, but boy have I got the hang of it now. In addition to earrning 'stuff' you can also earn CASH and help support some pretty awesome charities. I am up to 10.50 in my cash bank. Some friends of mine have cashed in at over $40 and $100 (they are truly awesome). The charity I have chosen to support is Equal Rights. So anyway, what I'm saying is.... go TAP friends. It is a much better way to spend your free time than facebook stalking and playing Angry Birds.

Here is a link to join: <a href="http://bit.ly/kDMKQj"><img alt="Generic125x125" src="http://cdn0.crowdtap.com/images/ads/generic125x125.jpg?1320100700" /></a>

Here is a link to the gorgeous coat I got for FREE: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=73774&vid=1&pid=864330&scid=864330022

It's my blog and I'll rant if I want to...

Recently there has been a lot of talk in my life about breastfeeding. To top it off, I read this article about taking the free formula samples out of hospitals because it undermines breastfeeding. Let me make one thing clear before I start: I am an advocate for breastfeeding. I breastfed both of my girls. There is no arguing that breastmilk is best. Now, with that said, get off of your high horses you damn extremists! First of all, breastfeeding doesn't come naturally or easily to all women. Sometimes women don't have the time or determination to stick with it. Secondly, some moms have to return to working 6 weeks post partum and don't have the oppertunity to pump at work. Not everyone has a boss willing to give a mom a place or the time to pump. Finally, as a woman, I take great offense to ANYONE telling me what I have to or should do with my body and my baby. Providing a few tiny formula samples at the hospital would in no way convice a mother committed to breastfeeding to 'switch' to formula. That's like saying the free diapers could sway cloth diapering mothers to switch. Or the free bars of soap in the bathroom would pressure you to quit using your luxury shower gel. Get a grip people. My second born, Ava, was a stubborn feeder. My milk supply never came in strong and I struggled everyday to keep it up. I pumped my butt off. I saw a lactation consultant on several occasions. I was advised to supplement with a little formula in order to give myself time to pump and increase my supply. After 6 months I made the choice to switch to formula. I shouldn't be subjected to the glares and rolling eyes when in a restaurant I pull out my powder and mix a bottle. I have read study upon study that states breastmilk is most necessary in the first few weeks and it's 'medicinal' benefits dwindle by the sixth month. Beyond that, it is only a bonding/money saving tool. If i want to throw my money away on overpriced formula, let me be. I have a perfectly healthy 18month old who has had but one ear infection and no other sicknesses or diseases... period. Get off of your high horses. Let mothers be. Stop taking away women's right to choose. I commend the women who breastfeed for the first 11-12 months. It's amazing! It didn't work that way for me. Am I any less of a mother? Let's be appreciative that companies are still willing to 'give' stuff away. If there is something in that free bag that you don't want leave it behind for the next mommy or donate it. Let's stop judging each other and support one another. Being a mom is hard freakin work. It takes a village to raise great kids. I stand behind any mommy, no matter what her feeding preference.

Today's the day...

quick update on the medical shiz... went for my MRI a couple of weeks ago. That was tons o fun - not. Met last week with a neuro-opthamologist at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. He confirmed I definitely have inflamed optic nerves and swelling of the brain. I go today for my spinal tap. A little uneasy about the whole thing. Woke up with a headache and belly ache. Not sure if it's physiological or psychological or both, but it sucks. When the hospital staff starts asking you if you have a DNR and living will during the pre-registration process, it tends to make one nervous. The goal for today's procedure is to establish exactly how much pressure is built up in my spinal fluid and to verify the diagnosis is correct. The specialist made it pretty clear that if I am able to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time the pressure will be relieved signifigantly. The medications I have been on and off of and the huge weight I have gained in a short period of time is contributing to this fun mess of problems. So anyway, I will report back soon with how the lumbar punction goes and what they find... wish me luck!

if it's not one thing... it's another

So... Friday I woke up and went to the eye doctor for a routine exam. Mostly, I just really needed some new glasses. My current pair are many years old. I did the usual reading of the letters and covering one eye, then another. Everything was checking out just fine. A quick dilation of the eyes and I would be on my way to work in no time. Not so fast. After she looks in each eye, she pushes her chair back and says very matter of factly, "you won't be going into work today." This is when the "Oh SHIT" feeling kicks in. She starts spouting off lots of  big words and talking at a pace I am unable to keep up while in my state of shock. All I hear is cerebral spinal fluid, leaking, brain, blind, death. She quickly starts making phone calls and tells me I will be going straight to a specialist. As in, immediately. I call work to let them know the wonderful news. Then I call my husband, who happened to be off for the day. Finally, she tells me where to go to see this specialist. I head home, cry, talk to my mom, cry, talk to alan, cry, and eventually get the children dropped off and hit the road. I'm still not sure what the heck is wrong with me at this point, but I am sufficiently scared shitless. I arrive at the Tri State Centers for Sight. Everyone in the waiting room is either using a walker, a cane, or has patches over their eyes. I'm not feeling so hot about this place already. After going throught a series of vision tests, questions, eye pressure tests, drops after drops, I finally talk to the doctor. He explains that I have a condition called "bi-lateral optic disc edema" (swelling of my optic nerves) and this is causing "idiopathic intracranial hypertension" (high blood pressure/swelling of the brain). The good news is 'it' has a name, the bad news is, I have it. I go to another room and get injected with some red/yellow fluid that turns my skin yellow, make my veins in my eyes red, and causes me to see things in purple. A million pictures are taken of my eye. I am told to get an MRI of my brain as soon as possible. I am no being sent to a neuro-opthamologist at UC Hospital, Dr. Golnik. He will go over my MRI results and order my spinal tap. Yes, you read that correctly, spinal tap. Apparently this condition is treatable and not permanent, but extremely dangerous. At any moment I could go blind, become paralyzed, or die. Dr. Khaja indicated that as long as my vision is ok, I should be ok. If I start to have blurred, spotty vision I should go the ER. So Tuesday I will have my MRI's. I leave for Vacation for a week on Friday. The doc says I'm good to go and enjoy myself. When I get back I will meet with Dr. Golnik and get the spinal tap. Hopefully, before I know it, things will be treated and better!

You know, I'm really trying to keep a positive attitude about all of this. Perhaps, if I'm able to fight off the low thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, and weird eye/brain thing now while I'm young... I will be completely healthy in my 70's and beyond! I mean, jeesh, I just wanted some new glasses!!!!!!

weekend update... on tuesday

It's Tuesday and I'm just now getting around to updating. This was a jam-packed weekend, but I enjoyed it. Friday night Alan and I went to Joe's Crab Shack on the river in Newport. We had never been. I don't eat seafood. he loves it. I had some chicken and vegetables that were so-so. He had a big steam pot filled with crab legs, lobster claws, mussels, corn, sausage, and some other crap that sounded terrible to me. He enjoyed it. The atmosphere was the best part. Sitting on the water in beautiful weather while it gets dark is just plain awesome. I also enjoyed a beer. It made me feel kind of funny, but it tasted like heaven in my mouth. We went to see "Our Idiot Brother" with Paul Rudd. I was annoyed. It really wasn't funny. Actually, I am still pissed that I wasted $10, plus a drink, plus my time. I spent the day Saturday catching up with Nicole and baking a cake for Tina's baby shower. Saturday night I went to the movies AGAIN. This time I went with sister in law Rachel to see "Crazy Stupid Love." This redeemed the crap storm from the night before. Ryan Gosling + not wearing a shirt = deeelicious. Steve Carell is funny and Emma Stone is adorable. Go see this one. Sunday was the baby shower I had been working on for Tina. Dr. Seuss themed. It was a great turnout! Can't wait to meet little Karson.

Monday night I took my online final for accounting. It is officially all over. I am just waiting to find out my grade. I can not freaking wait for them to mail me that degree. AHHH, finally. It still feels like I have so much on my plate. I guess the cycle never ends.

"Mom, I have to poop!"

Yesterday I went to Kings Island with my co-workers. My boss got free tickets from her Time Warner representative and there were enough that we could all go and bring someone! It was an amazing time. I really do love the people I work with. We rode pretty much everything. I enjoyed the Diamond Back the most. Nothing like soaring up and down in the air at high speeds. It was a beautiful day to be outside. We got hit by 2 pop-up rain showers, but we were able to take cover and wait them out. Anyway, I got home and my body was screaming in pain from all of the walking. I was way sun-burned (which is totally my fault for forgetting the SPF 100 for my delicate albino like skin), and I was suffering from some killer blisters on my heels. Alan and I fed the girls and put them to bed by 8. I decided I needed a hot bath. I only have a stand up shower in my bathroom so I had to use the girls bathtub. This involved bleaching it first. I'm not saying it was THAT dirty, but let's be honest... kids are dirty little creatures and I was not interested in sitting in that tub without first giving it a heavy cleaning. So I gathered up the dora dolls, elmo toys, foam letters, and bath crayons and I got to work. Once it was shiny and sparkly I filled it up with some really hot water and dumped my milk soak in. I settled in, laid my head back, shut my eyes, and was ready for some solid 'me' time. (are you with me moms... this is one of those times we dream of) I had just taken my first deep breathe and was starting to review my schedule for the week when the door opened. In walks my 4.5 year old. First she looks suprised to see me in her bathtub. I am equally as suprised to see her. I ask her what she needs and she responds, "Mom, I have to poop!" I let out a heavy sigh. I politely ask her to use 'mommy's' potty down the hall. She responds, "I don't like that toilet. This is where I poop." So, she did. While taking her poop she wanted to talk about my 'sunburns' and make sure I was ok. She also wanted to let me know I am allowed to take a bath in her bathroom anytime. She reminisced about the time Alan took a bath with her. After a few minutes of conversation, I asked if she was finished. She decided she was and proceeded to give me the play by play on her wiping issues. She likes to use 2 squares to wipe her 'gina and 4 squares on her butt. I thanked her for her good hygeine. She washed her hands while singing the ABC's and ran back to bed. I decided my bath was over. I stood up, took a quick shower and went downstairs. Alan was nice enough to give me a 5 minutes foot massage before I headed up to bed.

I was reminded last night that you can never turn off the "mommy switch." We might try, even for brief moments, but it's always at least on 'dim.' I can wait 18 more years to take a quiet bath, right?

It's Friday, Friday, Friday...

I hate Rebecca Black for ONE reason, every Friday I can't help but sing her obnoxious song, "Friday." If you haven't heard it or seen the video yet, i have been kind enough to provide it for you below. Not because it's any good, but because if I have to be annoyed with it, everyone should.

So today I turned in my community service project at school. Monday I will attend my LAST class at Cincinnati State... for forever! I must say, it feels damn good. There were so many times that I wanted to quit and walk away from it. I couldn't see the benefit of it. I was sick of all the work. But here I am, so close to being D-O-N-E, done! I know getting an associates degree at the age of 27 isn't really something to be proud of, but at the same time it is. It took a ton of work and committment on my part to do this while working and raising kids (not to mention all the others 'issues' i was handed along the way). Plus, as a bonus, I think I have actually found a career that suits me... soooo.... 2 points for me.