Important Notice!

It seems the Springtime bug has struck inside our home. Not the family members who live here, no, this time the sick one is the computer. So, what's so important about that - you might ask? Well, for one thing there won't be any new posts on the Blog until we can figure something out. A few posts have been scheduled from the end of April until the middle of May but with no way to edit, format, etc. they might be looking a little rough.   I ask you to PLEASE bare with me while we work out the kinks, hopefully it won't be long. I figured this would be the fastest and simplest way to alert anyone who might be wondering about their (or my!) content on this space. SO hopefully if you're a partner, sponsor, Etsy store owner, avid reader, or the like, you come here occasionally and read updates.   The nature of this "time out" will also allow very little email responding/answering/writing, etc.   Please pllease be understanding while we try to get the Blog (and the computer!) back up + running again.   Thank you for reading, and thank you for supporting. You are important!   Sincerely,   Crista

CURRENTLY // APRIL 3, 2014 [MY APOLOGIES]

It's been a little, okay - a lot quiet around here, ever since we found out littlest is on his/her way. I chalk it up to pregnancy brain, nicer weather, Birthday season in full swing and a handful of other legitimate but otherwise boring excuses.

 

So, what have we been up to? That answer is a LONG one! Things have been fun and exhausting at the homestead as of late.
 

The chickens we brought home almost 4 weeks ago are finally acclimating to the frigid Northern Michigan weather (albeit indoors still) and will be heading outside SOON. Or so we hope. Last weekend while all three kids stayed the night at Grammy's (yep - she's BRAVE) those crazy chickens woke me up out of a perfectly otherwise peaceful night of sleep. Anyway, they won't start laying eggs for a few months but having them as baby chicks simply for the kids' reactions was priceless and not as hard to do as one might think. I highly recommend.
 

Bob and the kids have started cleaning a space for a brand new swing set to be built in our yard. We live, quite literally, right next to the park BUT with three little ones and constant snacking, napping, clothing changes, etc. having a play set behind the house will be a real dream come true. When we want to swim we can still walk to the beach and get tuckered.

 

I've been planning, baking and crafting for an upcoming Baby Shower that I am throwing, along with my good lifetime friend Meredith for our sweet lady Beth and her bump (Nyla). It's April Showers themed! Cloud cookies are being baked and packaged today, raindrop garlands were crafted last night, the whole thing is adorableness overload. Stay tuned for photos of the finished, colorful products - as well as a shout out to my girl Courteney at Remix Designs who is helping with the decor.

Speaking of baby (smooth transition, right?) I started reading midwife Patricia Harman's very touching memoir The Blue Cotton Gown - super recommend for all the crunchy, baby-having women in your life. She's choked me up already writing about twin pregnancy, labor and delivery, sex-changes, and her intimate country garden that reminds her of her kids. So diverse. So good.

 

 Epic Birthday for my insanely good-looking "old man" this week ;)

We're attending a foraging class in May to celebrate more!

 

Making room for the swing set, dad + twins style

Picked that wheelbarrow up for $free.99 this week, too!

 

 first we planted...

 

 now it grows!

 

 Introducing: LL Cool Tay

 

 Monkey boy

 

 Birthday swans - nomnom

 

 Sunning the chickies while dad cleans the pen

 

finally... time for me.

birthday card/coloring book from my thoughtful hubs, and my favorite- colored sharpies

HEART ATTACK.

Instagram, Facebook, Email, Smart Phones, Texting, Check-Ins, Apps...

It isn't any wonder I nearly had a heart attack.

At the age of 27.

 

Plenty of times I've said to my kids "you nearly gave mommy a heart attack", but this was not like those times. This was no joke.

 

My day started like most days start. Three toddlers bouncing on, in and around the bed while I drift in and out of dreams and they continually wake me from them. A slap to the face, crying for "treat snacks", claims of a poopy butt; these are all things that get me out of bed.

 

My doting husband, though he works late hours, often wakes before me to start coffee. Hmm... is it kindness or motivation from necessity? I don't know.

 

Some days a simple breakfast and/or cartoon is enough to change the mood of the house from frantic just-awake state to calm and manageable. This was not one of those days.

 

I felt like the world was out of control.

 

In hindsight I suppose it was.

 

I could not get a grip on the kids crying.

Although it wasn't true, I felt like to only person concerned with the kids' issues.

My husband threw his back out.

I tried to return a phone call to my mom and was unsuccessful due to crying tots.

Nothing sounded good to eat.

I didn't feel like cooking.

And so on and so on until I snapped.

 

Sitting on the bed, alone and disheartened I began to cry.

Nothing was going my way.

All of a sudden I noticed something that had been building inside of me. I had felt it for many days before but thought nothing of its severity... until now.

 

There was a pain, in my chest, stronger and scarier than anything I'd ever felt before.

I was convinced I was having a heart attack, and what's worse, I felt no one could hear my "cry".

Tears rolling down my cheek I reached for my smart phone and googled the symptoms:

chest pain or discomfort - check.

upper body discomfort - check.

shortness of breath - check.

 

Shit.

 

No insurance, I didn't want to call 9-1-1. Convinced I could help myself I googled that, too:

remove tight clothing - check

chew an aspirin - made me gag but still check.

sit with knees to chest - consider it done.

 

Bob was busy with the kids. I called the best nurse I know... my mom. Sobbing uncontrollably now thinking of my children "what will they do without me?" and my recently lost friend "is this my broken heart aching to be reunited with her?" ... a few rings and my mom playfully answered the phone "Jet's Pizza, can I take your order?" something I would, on any other day, find funny. "I think I'm having a heart attack" I said. She was over in 15 minutes.

 

She checked my blood pressure - normal.

She checked my heart rate - just fine.

 

Then we got to talking... panic or anxiety attacks.

I fit the symptoms completely.

 

Without seeing a specialist I am convinced that what I experienced was a panic attack. Here are the symptoms, for reference:

• Racing" heart

Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy

Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers

Sense of terror, or impending doom or death

Feeling sweaty or having chills

Chest pains

Breathing difficulties

 

I was experiencing six out of a possible seven of those. From years of therapy past, as well as my bachelor's degree in Social Work, I can remember quite a bit about managing one's anxiety.

 

For now I will get adequate rest, try not to keep up so diligently with technology, take time for myself, make my voice heard if I'm starting to feel anxious, eat healthy, get exercise, and most of all love myself.

 

I love my family, of that there is no doubt.

This wake-up call was a reminder to love myself.

 

I can do that, for me and for them.

Bless you friends, stay sane and love yourself, too.

             

On Fitting In [a mommy rant]

I've been wondering lately why I feel like I don't fit anywhere. I feel like the habits I create for myself set me apart from everyone. I can't nail down my clothing style, I don't have a way that like to wear my hair, nothing feels comfortable. Then today I heard a quote from MarkandAngel.com about values that you once had not always fitting your life. There comes a time when you have to change and adapt to what is now important. They went on to say that when that happens you probably will get very uncomfortable because nothing seems to "fit" and I thought "BINGO!" this is me.

As someone who has studied and majored in the practice of Social Work, I understand the value of seeking out counseling and having those services available. That being said, lately I've been seeing a counselor of my own. She's helped me to recognize that there are a lot of things about me that I want to be different, and ultimately I'm the only person holding myself back. For example I'd love to use my brain more, take a class, and be creative.
I'm quite certain there's an entire hemisphere up there turning to mush.


Along with caring for my family, I also need to care for me. What a concept, huh? In fact it's imperative that I be functioning, and well. Gone are the days of calling in sick, or anyone giving a shit if I am for that matter. It's important to remember that self-care is just as or more important than caring for others. I thrive on being able to help other people, it makes me happy, it makes me tick, but I often forget to at least take care of my own basic needs. Case-in-point: I was just making smoothies for my husband and my sons; he was going to take them rollerblading and by "take them rollerblading" I, of course, mean push them in the stroller while wearing Rollerblades which, by the way, were only $3.00 at a garage sale- score! but regarding the smoothies that I mentioned... I made one for my husband and one for each my sons and then I realized "hey! there's none for me!" which I quickly fixed by doing some liquid-in-glasses-juggling but it simply proves my point that I don't do for me. But I'm going to! At least I think I am. After all: If not me, who? If not now, when?

SO all of this is a very round-a-bout way of saying I HAVE A NEW GOAL! Which I love, also, having tons going on is easy for me to juggle, it's the slow slum that gets me down. Can ya believe it?

And the new goal is, drum roll please: take a class! A.K.A: use. my. BRAIN! I've always wanted to take a cake decorating class. Ever since I went to church camp in elementary school and decorated a mini cake with a professional I thought it would be SO FUN! I've signed up at JoAnn Fabrics, getting started is the first step and biggest step, and it starts in June. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

What goals have you set lately? Are you currently working toward them?

 

 

 

 

Name: Crista. Job: Mom. [+ a recipe]

For the past 12 years I've been working to provide myself (and then my husband, and then my family) with the things I/we want and need. This month, that all changed. My husband has taken a job working all hours of the day for the better part of the week which leaves me no option other than a work-from-home scenario. I'm not interested. What I am interested in is embracing stay-at-home-mommyhood and learning to master my new tasks. What new tasks, you might ask?

Number 1: Full-time Childcare
         
          I am starting from scratch. I'm channeling my inner 16-year-old babysitter and honing in on all the child-entertaining skills I thought I had shelved.

Number 2: Cleaning/Organizing

          HA! I plan to document all of my trials and tribulations here for you to laugh... er, look at. Side note: my husband is AMAZING and has done the majority of all cleaning since we've been together... but not anymore!

Number 3: Cooking

          Some call it that, I'll call it "creating food things." I don't have much experience as fortunately/unfortunately (glass half full?) my (again... amazing) husband has also done the bulk of this up until now.

So far I've found a staple website that provides quick, easy meals to prepare (I found it searching for meals that kids love when attempting to cook once for my 10-year-old step-son). The website is called Moms Who Think -- genious! Check it out, you might just find something you love! (My personal favorite falls under Week 5: Tuna With Garlic Cheese Biscuits -- yum!) I guarantee you don't have to be a mom to fall in love with their complete meal solutions.

Here's the recipe if you, like me, prefer less steps (i.e.: not having to click external links) Enjoy and lt me know how it turns out!

TUNA WITH GARLIC CHEESE BISCUITS

Ingredients:

2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained, flaked
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained
⅔ cup milk
1 ¼ cups Bisquick
⅓ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
½ cup milk
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.

In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix tuna, soup, vegetables and ⅔ cup milk.
2. Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
3. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, cheese and ½ cup milk until soft dough forms.
4. Drop dough by 6 spoonfuls onto hot tuna mixture.
5. Bake uncovered 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
6. Mix butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits.