Meal Plan Monday- August 23-29th

I have been a baking fool lately (surprise, surprise)!  I have seriously used my Bosch Universal Plus Mixer almost every single day since I received it from Marmee's Bread Market!  So far I have made basic whole wheat bread with both red and golden wheat (10 loaves total), about 35 of the softest dinner rolls on the planet (froze a bunch), whole wheat pizza crust, banana bread, overnight cinnamon rolls & frosting, and today I added whole wheat english muffins to the mix!  I'm on a roll ladies and soon you will see posts (and even some video... eek!) about all of it!

Here is what's on the menu for this week!  You will probably notice a lot of repeats, but since we are on a tight budget still I am trying to stretch one meal as far as I can!

Breakfasts:

Whole Wheat English Muffins and scrambled eggs (English Muffins from Marmee's Bread Basket Cookbook)

Sweet potato Oatmeal

Sweet Potato Oatmeal (LO)

Breakfast cookies & Scrambled eggs

Breakfast cookies & hard-boiled eggs

Spinach & bacon Omelets w/toast

Frozen Cinnamon rolls

Lunches:

MTM- ABC- butter pasta, cheese, apples

Whole Wheat English Muffin Pizzas w/ applesauce

 Whole Wheat English Muffin Pizzas w/ applesauce

Tuna Melts on Whole Wheat English Muffins

PB&J, Carrots, Pretzels, Grapes

PB&J w/ Yogurt

Macaroni & Cheese w/ carrots & applesauce

Dinners:

Chicken Osaka w/ rice & corn

Pork chops w/ appleasauce, rice, salad

Rotisserie Chicken w/Corn & salad

Chicken & rice soup w/ garlic mozzarella braid (From Marmee's Make it Special DVD)

Chicken & rice soup w/garlic mozzarella braid (LO)

Hamburgers, Homemade Hamburger Buns, Macaroni Salad & Corn

Hamburgers, Homemade Hamburger Buns, Macaroni Salad & Corn

Snacks:

(morning/afternoon)

dried fruit/ peanut butter toast

dried fruit/ peanut butter toast

Grapes/ pretzels & cheese

Grapes/ Caterpillars (From Marmee's Make it Special DVD)

Applesauce/ Caterpillars (From Marmee's Make it Special DVD)

Grapes/ pretzels w/Peanut Butter dip (from Deceptively Delicious)

Graham crackers w/Peanut Butter dip (from Deceptively Delicious)

And here is my prep-ahead schedule:

Yesterday- Make English Muffins

Monday- Make a batch of bread, prep oatmeal for next morning, prep english muffin pizzas

Tuesday- prep english muffin pizzas

Wednesday- make breakfast cookie dough, prep tuna melts

Thursday- Make Best Bread (from Marmee's Bread Basket Cookbook), caterplillars and garlic mozzarella braids, pack lunches for Friday

Friday- Free Day!

Saturday- Free Day!

Sunday- Make Graham Crackers

I have linked this post up to OrgJunkie.com's Meal Plan Monday!  What are you eating this week?

Be sure to visit my sponsor- Marmee's Bread Market- for recipes and everything else you need to easily make fresh baked goods for your family!

Love Letter #5- February 5

I am going to take a little break from a direct love letter to my hubby, just to brag about him for a bit to all of you!

I don't know how aware you all are of it, but I am married to an AMAZING carpenter!  I mean, seriously, he is such a creative, ingenuitive, perfectionist when it comes to his craft... it leaves me in awe.  He never does anything half way, and if you give him the room to create, he will deliver some of the most unique, classically stunning work out there!

Okay, this just a small and silly little example, but check out the adorable little doors that he made for the cubby room (which he also made) that is underneath our stairs between our bedroom and R-Man's.

R-Man's Side

Our Side

Oh, and did you notice the cool shadow boxing he did in each of our rooms?  Yeah, I love it!  And those are such small examples of his brilliance and craftsmanship!  Check out this house he is basically building for a friend (the friend is a mason, so he did the brick work but my hubby is doing pretty much everything else!)... oh, yeah, it's a castle!

 

He can pretty much build anything I want, including my dream home... someday... and I love that!  I love going to his jobs and seeing what he has created.  I am so proud of him!  Yup, he is pretty handy to have around!  And he creates pretty cute kids too (with my help, of course!) but that's a post for another day!

Babe- I love you and think you are the best at what you do!

P.S.  I know he will say that I over-talked him in this post... blah, blah, blah... but I don't care!  He really is amazing at what he does and if he isn't going to toot his own horn then by golly, what's a wife for?!

Love Letter #4- February 4

Jer,  I love the dreamer in you!  One of my all time favorite things to do is dream with you!  Our long talks about everything from house plans, to family, to travel, fuel my spirit.  I cherish when we can be creative together- even if it is just in talk and plans.  We have so much in common and I think we draw on each others' ideas to form even better and more unique ideas.  I value your opinions and input- they are priceless to me!

So won't you come away and dream with me for a bit?  This Saturday maybe?  Even if only for a short car ride... it would be my favorite part of the date!

I LOVE YOU!

Love Letter #3- Februaury 3

Jer- I love your smile!  I mean, seriously, LOVE your smile!  When it is genuine it is priceless!

And your laugh makes my day!  I love to see what things you think are funny when we are watching a show.  I love to hear you laugh at the goofy things are boys do and say- ESPECIALLY when it is something you are trying really hard not to laugh at and your eyebrows go all high and surprised as you try to fiend seriousness!

It brings me so much joy!

And totally cracks me up!

Oh, and I really love when you laugh at something I said... if I meant to be funny (otherwise, shame on you!  :-P ).  Sometimes just having my wit appreciated is enough to truly lighten my mood, and let's face it, our 3 1/2 year old doesn't always catch on!

So thank you for your friendly face!

And I love you!

Love Letter #2- Februaury 2

Jer,

I know I tell you all the time, but I love you.  I love hearing your truck pull up after work.  I anxiously wait for you to walk in the door and give me a kiss.  I love being wrapped in your strong, safe arms.  I love cuddling up next to your warmth on a cold night (or a steamy one for that matter! :-) )  I love that we have so much different and yet so much the same.  I love that there are things only I know about you.  I love our dreams for the future and the possibilities that await us.  Yes, I just love you, my handsome husband!  I do, I do!

Always,
Kenz

Love Letter #1- February 1

Dear Jer,
I adore you for loving me, in spite of me!I know that there are times when I drive you to the brink of near insanity,but somehow you still love me. I can be annoying, and naggy, and entirely selfish,but somehow you still love me.I can entirely fail to meet your expectations, or worse yet, just flat out fail,but somehow you still love me.I can mess things up, make a mess, and look a mess,but somehow you still love me.I can burn dinner,but somehow you still love me.I can forget to wash your socks,but somehow you still love me.I can be wasteful,but somehow you still love me. I can loose my temper, yell and scream, and even slam doors  (gasp-it's true!)but somehow you still love me.  You may not always like me,but you always love me...and I love you for that!  Have a letter you would like to share?  Check out the details here & link up below!  

Love Letters and such...

"Officially" I am not back.  "Officially" I still have work to do in order to pay the dreaded visit to our accountant (who should be facilitating a hefty return for us, so maybe I shouldn't dread it so much).  But, "officially" I said that I would be back in February and there are just so many things happening right now that I can't keep myself away any longer!

First order of business- today Tyndale publishers are launching a brand new website and, as a blogger, I think that their new features are pretty appealing and exciting!  Some of them include:

-          Links to all of Tyndale’s social media sites

-          A list of all Tyndale authors and their blogs, Facebook and Twitter accounts, etc.

-          A place where you can share stories about Tyndale products that have had an effect on your life

-          Under product details you can post reviews with a link to your own blog so others can see the exciting other books you’ve been reviewing

In honor of their launch, they are hosting 4 book giveaways a day (kids, Bible, fiction & non-fiction) for 30 days!  You can enter every day of the month, so head on over there to celebrate and sign up for their blogging program!


The other piece of news I want to share with you is a contest going on over at Focus on the Family called The Love Letter Contest.  Basically, every day between now and February 11 Focus on the Family will pick the four best love letters written on the topic of "Why you want to grow old with your spouse."  Then, on February 12 they will pick one lucky couple to receive a trip to the simulcast Focus On Marriage event in Colorado Springs on February 27!

In honor of the contest I have decided to write some sort of love letter to my husband every day between now and Valentine's, maybe even for the whole month- we'll see how it goes!  As you may have guessed, this little project is going to formulate the bulk of my husband's Valentine's gift, and I thought that some of you might want to join me in this little project!

Here is what you can do to participate:

1. Blog love letters to your spouse, linking back to this post (you are welcome to use my button- found in this post and the left sidebar).
2. Blog about the creative way you are going to present these letters to your love ('cause we all love a good project!).
3. Link Up!  Come back each day and enter your specific posts in that day's MckLinky so that we all can see!

<center><a href="http://mamakenzstudio.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-letters-and-such.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/Chic_Mama/DearLove.jpg" border="0" alt="Dear Love Button"></a><center>
I can wait to spread the love and the creativity!  I will be posting my first letter later on today, so be sure to stop back by and link up!

Monday Mentions- January 4!

There are so many cool things that I have found lately and I am just busting to share them with all of you!  So, let's not waste any time!  Check these out!

• SWAGBUCKS!  Okay, many of you may have heard of this site already but this is a new one for me.  I had heard of it here and there and just thought it was another one of those scamming, time wasting sites that you never really get anything out of.  Well, it's not!  All you do is sign up for an account and start using their site as your regular search engine (instead of, say, Google).  You randomly get points, or "swagbucks" from the searches you do (and you know we all search for things all the time!) which can be traded in for such things as giftcards (to stores like Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble and so many more!), electronics and so forth!  You can also earn points for referrals and such, and whenever someone signs up under you you get points when they get points too!  I know of people who bought all of their Christmas presents this last year just with the bucks they had earned from Swagbucks!  Now seriously, that is pretty darn awesome!  Give it a try- what do you have to loose?!

• Make Your Own Blogger Background Tutorial!  Okay- this is pretty darn cool too!  I have been really wanting to redo the look of my blog (as well as change the name- more to come on that!) but just haven't found anything that really suits me that is free and I can't afford to have it professionally redone.  Then I stumbled upon this tutorial the other day on The Cutest Blog on the Block and I am so excited about it!  I obviously haven't done it yet, but I am working on it and can't wait to show you all what I come up with!

• Well, in order to make a really nice background and such of your own, you really need to have some cool digital scrapbooking stuff!  Robin @ the Heart of Wisdom has been featuring some really fun free scrapbooking kits lately and the ones she posted today are SO cool!  They are from The Shabby Princess and I am in LOVE!  They have the coolest download for holiday recipe cards, so of course I am already planning my Christmas projects for next year (hey maybe if I start working on them now they will actually get done by Christmas!)!  Anyhow, they are definitely worth checking out!

• And lastly for today, here is a project I found through UCreate on Bright & Blithe for a super cute mail sorter that I want to make!  Such great ideas- I think I am going to have a very crafty year!

If you have great things you have found lately then definitely share them in Monday Mentions on Daily Mish Mash!

Friend Makin' Mondays- Christmas Survey!

1. Favorite website- OOOO- that is so hard!  Of course I love blogger and my Google Reader!  I also usually hit Facebook a couple times a day, but generally on my iPhone.

2. Favorite color- Pink- but only since I had boys and I think I have to over compensate to have girly things in my life!

3. Facebook?  I am on it, but I generally keep it for IRL friends or people I have gotten to know really well online.  I do have a fan page for Mama Kenz Studio though, right here!

4. Favorite Christmas song?  Another toughy!  I love Carol of the Bells and all the tunes that actually sing about Christ's birth!

5. Christmas tree: Real or fake?  Fake for now, but someday if I have a bigger house I hope to get a giant real one!

6. Hottest celebrity?  Hugh Jackman

7. Favorite restaurant?  The Beach House, on Kauai!

8. Favorite magazine?  I don't read magazines much these days, but Mothering I guess.

9. Favorite thing to drink around the holidays?  Spiced Cider (and lately Hard Cider, but come on- Lion Cub cries A LOT!!!)

10. Favorite Christmas movie.  Tie between Christmas Vacation and The Santa Clause!

To join in on Friend Makin' Monday hop over and visit Amber at {ae}Filkins!

Friend Makin' Monday- Thanksgiving!

Amber over at {ae filkins} is hosting Friend Makin' Monday, and this week it is all about Thanksgiving!  Here are her questions!


1. Turkey or Ham?  Turkey of course!  Who eats ham on Thanksgiving!?  That's just weird!

2. Favorite side dish.  Tie- Green Bean Casserole and Cheesy Potatoes!

3. Favorite dessert.  Cherry or apple pie!  With homemade whipped cream of course!

4. Black Friday: Are you going or not?  Not, for two reasons- no money and hate the crowds!

5. If so, what's on the top of your list?  Well, I am hoping to help my grandma take advantage of the Black Friday sales at Kelly'sCloset.com to buy Lion Cub some bigger diapers.

6. Going out of town or staying close to home?  Close to home, although I wish I was spending the holiday in Hawaii like last year- best Thanksgiving EVER!

7. Hosting or helping?  Helping (and really I don't even know how much of that I will be able to do with Lion Cub stuck to me!)


8. Name one family tradition at Thanksgiving.  Hmmm... don't really have many, although I do like watching the Macy's parade!

9. What do you do after dinner? Debate over what to do and try to convince the men that football and video games are not fun options for everyone.


10. What are you most thankful for this year? My healthy boys!

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme!

 Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? 

It is kind of a tough year this year, so I am not really expecting much of anything.  I am hoping to get a grain mill to mill our own wheat (I have been trying to make our own bread lately and would like to continue to do so).  Ultimately I would love to get a Vitamix Blender, but I know that isn't going to happen (but maybe at the fair next year if things are going better!). 

I need new socks underwear and a haircut, but those sound pathetic to put on my wish list, so scratch that.  I would really love to get this set of books and DVDs and this book from the Simply Charlotte Mason website about early childhood learning, the Charlotte Mason Method and establishing habits in your kids and yourself.

I would also like to get the Duggar's book and a Message/NIV Parallel Bible.  So, yeah, I think that is about it.  I am sure I could come up with a lot more, but those are things that come to mind that even if I don't get for the actual Christmas holiday I hope for us to be able to afford in the early part of the new year.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? 

Hmmmm... I am trying to think of one I have received.  I got some cute fabric coasters from my sister-in-law a few years ago.  Those were nice.  Yup, I think that's it.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? 
A few years ago I bought the fabric to make bags and notebook covers and I was also going to include aprons, homemade bath products and knitted wash cloths- they all have yet to be made.  Maybe someday!  I would also really like to make quilts, but I think that will happen many years from now when I have more time and space!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? 

I received a new Cabbage Patch Doll every year and loved EVERY one of them!  I would set up my whole little Cabbage Patch family and take pictures and everything!  I LOVED those dolls!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? 
R-Man wants just about everything he sees!  Mostly he wants trucks, construction equipment and legos.  I would like to get him some books and games so that we can start having family game nights. 

For Lion Cub I hope to mostly get clothes and diapers, I mean what does a 6-month-old really need anyway, especially when he has all of his brother's old toys to play with?!

6. What is your favorite holiday food? 

We have BBQ crab every year for Christmas Eve dinner with my family and it is to die for!  I wait all year for it!  I will have to post the recipe for you all because you simply haven't lived until you have had this crab!


I also have a minimal obsession with my grandma's popcorn balls and suckers!  They are sooooo good!  In fact, I should go call her right now so we can plan a date to make them!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? 
I am considering making a few simple things (which I can't really post because the people I will be giving them to read my blog! :-) ), but it is really going to depend on how much time I have (Lion Cub makes everything more difficult right now) and if we have the money to buy the ingredients and so forth.  We'll see!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? 
This is so bad, but growing up my family had a tradition of watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation- it is just so stinkin' funny!  We all know all the lines and have a hoot watching it!  We don't watch it with the boys around now though, so alternatively I enjoy the classics, like the Rudolph from the 60s, and The Santa Clause.

9. Favorite holiday song? 
I love Carol of the Bells.  That is a really hard question though because I like so many of them!  I mean it's Christmas music!  What's not to love?!

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
This is a year of lots of new traditions for us.  We are going to do The Jesse Tree Advent countdown, decorate cookies, go look at Christmas lights in our PJs and I am working on more!  I really want to make things special and memorable for our family, especially now that R-Man is getting to the age when he will start remembering the events.  So, any tips or ideas you have would be greatly appreciated!

Aloha Friday- Oct. 9, 2009

 Here is how this meme is explained over at An Island Life-

"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!"

So, my question for this week is-

Do you decorate for fall?

Personally, I like to add fall colors to our home and place gourds and cornstalks on our porch, but we don't make jack-o-lanterns because we don't like to celebrate Halloween.

Answer my question, post your own then link up and find more at An Island Life!

Fluff Mail!

Well, Lion Cub is still growing like a weed so I had to purchase some size mediums!  I had a few from R-Man but a lot of them the elastic was shot and so forth, so buying a few more was really the best option right now. Plus, R-Man still wears his fab fitteds as a just-in-case during naps (which he rarely wets, but still) so now that they are in the same size (crazy right?) I just couldn't resist!

So I got 4 new Fuzzibunz Onesize (which I TOTALLY Love!!), 4 Thristies Fab Fitteds and 2 snap in soakers to go with my GroBaby!  Very exciting and helpful!

Have you received any fluff mail lately?  Link up!

The Simple Woman's Daybook- Oct. 4, 2009

 For Today- October 4, 2009

Outside my window... dreary, fall day!  40 degree drop from a week and a half ago!

I am thinking... about my brother who is in the hospital struggling to recover from a surgery to replace his shunt.  Also about a dear friend who is having an anniversary today, in more than one way.

I am thankful for... my beautiful boys and my loving husband!  I am blessed- especially in light of others' loss and sickness.

I am wearing... a bathrobe and pjs!

I am remembering... Tyler Robles- a beautiful little boy who would have been celebrating his first birthday today.  He will NEVER be forgotten!

I am going... to a friend's house who recently had a baby to make them dinner.  Also possibly going back to the hospital to see my brother.

I am reading... everything I was reading last time I posted, plus more!

I am hoping... that my brother recovers and stops having seizures.

On my mind... my brother, birth, babies, loss and hope.

From the learning rooms... preparing for a week of learning about fall and continuing or study of Moses.

Noticing that... my hard drive is officially full- bummer!

From the kitchen... think roast, but not sure.

Around the house... toys, lots and lots of toys!

One of my favorite things~ blogging!  Haven't done enough of it lately- it is such good therapy!

From my picture journal...

To participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook

Aloha Friday- Oct. 2, 2009

I have seen Aloha Friday around so much but never really joined in, but today I decided that I would!  So, here goes- my laid back Friday post! Here is my simple question for you all to answer:

What do you just love about me?

Haha- just kidding!  How ridiculous would that be?!  I already know you all think I'm wonderful!  Okay- kidding again!  I am completely joking, so please, don't answer that! 

Okay, my real question, mostly for you stay-at-home-mamas:

What time of day do you actually get ready and put on real clothes?

My honest answer is that I am trying to get better and goodness knows there were many days this summer that I threw something on other than my nursing bra, boxers and a bathrobe as I heard my husband's diesel truck roar into the driveway after work!  However, it seems that Lion Cub is best behaved just after he wakes up in the morning, so I have been trying to shower and slip into something from my actual wardrobe by around 9 or 10 am while he watches Baby Einstein with R-Man.  So far it is going pretty well, but I am wearing the above described sleep-wear at the moment I am writing this, but hey, I'm getting a cold and it is rainy outside so I justify!  Haha! 

Okay, that answer wasn't nearly as short as I intended.  Oops!

What about you?

Answer my question, post your own then link up and find more at An Island Life!

Friend Makin' Monday- I can't live without...

This week Amber is hosting a Friend Makin' Monday all about the things you couldn't live without.  My list will exclude all things living and focus solely on the material- silly and shallow maybe, but the living things are a given!  So, here goes:

• My iPhone!  It is my link to the outside world!  Helps keep me sane!
  

• My computer/internet- link #2 and also offers sanity!
  

• Baby Einstein- I would never get to shower without it!
  

• Cloth diapers- for more than the obvious reason!  They allow me to accessorize my boys!  

• Something we mamas of boys often miss out on!
  

• Books- they let me escape, they teach me, they inspire me, they distract me and help me relax!
  

• Dark Chocolate- I would not make it through some days without this little vice!

Yup, I think that about does it!  How about you?

The Simple Woman's Daybook- Post 1!

 FOR TODAY

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Outside my window... abnormally warm temperatures for late September in our neck of the woods!  R-Man actually ran through the sprinklers yesterday!

I am thinking... about the curriculum I am writing for a Preparing for Birth and Baby series of classes I am hoping to being offering this winter.

I am thankful for... the jobs my husband was called on yesterday- we own a finish carpentry business so a "job" is only a few weeks of work, but it pays well when he has one and it couldn't be more timely!

From the learning rooms... R-Man is learning the letter "E" this week and about Joseph in the Bible.  I am diligently getting back into working on my Certified Lactation Educator training.

From the kitchen... not much- I am in dire need of a trip to the store but I just can't bring myself to pack up both boys and take them after our last ultimate melt-down!

I am wearing... sweats!  Sometimes you just have to!

I am creating... curriculum (as I mentioned before), not very creative but very satisfying!

I am going... to hopefully meet up with a friend at the park in place of our normal co-op time, and also a trip to the store.

I am reading... too much!  I am still working on If God is Good (and probably will be for a while!), The Ultimate Guide to Breastfeeding, Love Has a Face, Extraordinary, and Creative Correction!  Sheesh!  I need to get some of these finished!

I am hoping... that both boys will nap at the same time today!

I am hearing... ok- to be totally honest, I am writing this very late at night (or early morning rather) so I am listening to my husband snoring in the baby monitor!

Around the house... are toys- lots of them!  We broke out R-Man's old toys for Lion Cub this week!  It's crazy!

One of my favorite things... is quiet- it is so rare, but so cherished!

A few plans for the rest of the week: possibly going to the lake for the weekend and not a whole lot else!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...  Actually, instead of a picture I thought I would just point out the new look of my blog (hope it didn't throw some of you off!).  I was just feeling the need for something more Fall-ish!  Now, if I can just figure out how to alter my html to make my columns spread out a little better (so they aren't so jammed on top of each other) I will be in business!

To participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook

Mama Time- Just the Blues?

 

As you may have noticed in recent weeks, my appearances in the blogosphere have been significantly less than any time in the past 6 months.  About 4 weeks ago, around the time Lion Cub reached 11 weeks old, I began to feel not quite like myself.  More than tired, which is obviously normal for a mama of two little ones, I began to feel significantly fatigued.  My motivation to do much of anything all but vanished completely, and I could be brought to tears at nearly any moment of the day for the most obscure possible reasons.  To be frank, I felt very similar to how I felt after my miscarriage two years ago- just not right. 

 

On top of all that, some harsh reminders of the past came back into the "picture," which hurt me deeply and caused me to spiral into a state of questioning and despair about my current life.  To others involved it may have seemed silly and small, but it pained me to the core and brought nothing short of heartbreak, misery, frustration and outright anger.  I felt defeated and hopeless.  

 

After taking a pregnancy test to rule out that incredibly small possibility, I was forced to face the most likely culprit for the way I had been feeling- Postpartum Depression.  Many people don't realize that PPD can strike at any point in the first year postpartum, and has so many varying degrees that the preferred term has now been changed to Postpartum Mood Disorders.

"Well, maybe you just have the Baby Blues," you might be thinking, but by definition, the Baby Blues occur in the first days following birth when the mother experiences a significant shift in her hormones, and then passes.  I am quite sure that what I have been facing goes much beyond that, after all, it popped up at two months postpartum and has lasted a number of weeks.  The comment has also been made to me (by our pediatrician no less) that I have been smiling during the boys' appointments, so I must be fine.  This assumption, based on a plastic smile pasted on for public outings, seems rather silly in my opinion and lacking in much credibility!  Just because I haven't hit the road and headed out of town or demonstrated some violent display of bitter rage, doesn't mean that I haven't been under the burden of some degree of PPD.
So, what do I do?  I don't think that medication is the answer- not that some people don't need it, it just isn't right for me.  At no point in the near future am I going to have the chance to skip town and spend a few days by myself (or even with my husband or a close friend) to get a break and recharge my batteries.  My options are limited.   What I have done is prayed, a lot.  I have sought out the help of family (many of my friends have had their own issues to deal with lately or simply been out of town).  I have tried to get out of the house as much as possible.  I have tried to get a few minutes of quiet each day to read or do something for me (usually when the little people in my life are sleeping- so there is no guarantee this one will happen!).  I have tried to help others, for a variety of reasons, including taking the time to focus on what someone else is going through instead of what I am.  I have begun to wake up every morning knowing that I have to choose to make that day productive and joyful, and so I try to, most days anyway.  Each day gets a little bit better than the last.

As for that other situation, those reminders of the past.  Well, I don't discredit those feelings just because I have been dealing with Postpartum Depression.  Obviously, either situation would be hard enough to deal with by itself, but handling them together has only compounded my emotions.  I have tried to reign in my thoughts on the matter and move on, again, but that of course is not to say that the problem doesn't need to come to some sort of resolve.  The issue still must be addressed and concluded before I can fully get past it, but such is life.

Can any of you relate?  Have you been facing your own postpartum trials and would like to share, or vent?  Do you have any solutions to the issue, things you have been doing to help ease the pain?  I sincerely believe that postpartum mamas need each other, and simply relating to one another on a topic that others not in this season of life can rarely understand, is oh so helpful.  So please, link up!

I Was Here... Breastfeeding- Pumping!

I have tried pumping a few times in the last few weeks and although Lion Cub doesn't seem to be as completely averted to the bottle as R-Man was, he still isn't that interested.  I am hoping that in the next month or so he actually will take one and Jer and I can have an evening out by ourselves!  We'll see!

So, instead of an actual breastfeeding pic this week. I thought I would post some pumping pics.  I think you can understand why I just couldn't resist posting these!

Phone?

Oxygen Mask?

So do you have any breastfeeding (or pumping) pics or stories to share this week?  Include the I Was Here... Breastfeeding button and link up!

Make sure to come back next week for a little Mama Time- we will be talking about dealing with the blues and postpartum depression.

Friend Makin' Mondays- Fall Shows!

This week for Friend Makin' Monday we are supposed to list the shows we are looking forward to this fall, and I must admit, as the cool weather approaches I enjoy a little time on the couch, under a cozy blanket watching my favorite shows with my hubby!  So here is what we are looking forward to this fall (some have already started):

So You Think You Can Dance (my FAVORITE!!!)

18 Kids and Counting (soon to be 19!)

The Office

House

LA Ink

The Biggest Loser

(Or Big Fat Loser as we usually call it- it was a slip up years ago and we have called it that ever since! lol!)

My husband will also probably want to watch Survivor, and although I usually watch it with him, it is not my favorite.  We also have a TIVO, so that cuts down on a lot of the watching time because we fast-forward through commercials and can watch things when it is convenient for us!

Hope on over the AEFilkins and join in this week!