Mother's Day

So Mother's Day is fast approaching...what a gift, being a mother that is. It is such a blessing and joy to be a mom. Yes, I will be the first to admit it has its crazy, hectic, and chaotic moments but all in all...it is wonderful and I would never take it for granted. My children are my world, my number one priority in life....They come before any and everything. I can't stop staring at them, looking at those features on those tiny little bodies that my husband and I created...the little pieces of me. I grew these little creatures in my womb, I gave them life, and I will protect them forever. Each one has their own little quirk and personality; nothing brightens my day more than seeing these tiny people bloom everyday, even if it is Kailah and her crazy "fits". I wouldn't change them...not one bit.

I want nothing more in this world than to be an amazing mom. My mother is...I can't even put into words what she is because she is that amazing. An angel in disguise. She is my bestest friend and I look up to her so much. I hope I can be half the woman she is. My mother is always there, through thick and thin...my saving grace when the world feels like it's collapsing below me. She is my strength.... always pushing me to do better, go further, and never settle. She has the biggest heart that sometimes gets taken advantage of but because she is a child of God, she forgives them and prays. She has a strong will and determination, always wanting to help the less fortunate. She would give her up her last penny if it helps to put a smile on someones face. She is awesome and I can't thank her enough for all that she has done. If I could give her the world...I would, in a heartbeat. <3

This mothers day I don't want anything money can buy...Lord knows I could use a shopping spree, a hair trim, a massage, and mostly my eyebrows threaded lol but no, I really just want to soak in the love and laughter of my children. They are growing so fast, too fast...and it's beginning to hit me...hard. I regret a lot, wish I did more but most importantly I promise to be better and do more with them. That glass of spilled juice...let's clean it up together, the flooded bathroom from too much toilet paper....let's laugh about it, the temper tantrums....let's all take a deep breath and hug...for a long long time. And most importantly mommy promises to take better care of herself, for the sake of her children. My number one goal is to get back on my "happy medication" so I can come out of my dark hole and be a better woman, wife, daughter, sister, and mother. I tend to focus on my childrens well being and health forgetting that my own health is declining quickly before me. So this mothers day I want to focus on getting better for my children and savoring their little moments. I love how they see small things and turn them into such big creative things using their imaginitive little minds. They don't ask for much, just to be loved and guided in the right path. If I could keep them little forever, I would but then again it is so beautiful to watch them blossom into their own independent beings. I know the day will come, as it has happened already, when anger strikes and they shout, "I hate you"....and I will do as my own mother once did and smile, responding, "oh but I still love you!"

I hope they know how much I love them and that I will always, always fight for them...with every last breath I have, I will hold onto them and fight for them. They are so beautiful, so smart, so silly and have so much wonder in life. I hope they never  lose any of it and never change for anyone.

Thank you God for blessing me with three precious children. I will forever cherish them and their little moments.

 Happy Mother's Day!

True Life: I'm a Starbucks Addict

It's true...I admit it...I'm an addict...and I need an intervention.


I once worked at a Starbucks...many moons ago when Amirah was an infant. I loved it...nothing better than free coffee all day everyday. Plus I learned so much about my little habbit. I did quit because I got into it with a manager...thats a whole 'nother post! LOL


But my love for that divine espresso stuck around. I used to get Frappachinos (never call them fraps or frappes..Starbucks law) but then I was intruduced to espresso shots. Oh sweet girl scout cookies I fell in love. That was it...my life forever belonged to Starbucks espresso. Not to mention the mocha is ever so thick and richly flavored! mm yum!

My usual drinks are:

double tall mocha with whip (whole milk only) OR
Iced triple grande upside down caramel macchiato extra caramel drizzle (whole milk only)

YUM!!!!! I'm drooling just thinking of it...although I do have one in hand at this very moment ;)

So over time I've become very addicted....I had my third baby and WAM BAM SHA-LAM Im drinking coffee like an infant drinks its milk.

Im also picky about my location and who makes my drink. I mean come on, I'm paying for it..I expect nothing but greatness. So I usually visit the Kingsland and Mason location...love my baristas there! holla!

Okay so lately I'm trying to cut back on the coffee...its just a must. I need this intervention like no other and I have come to terms that it is time. I drink coffee like my brother smokes cigs...relaxtion...control...content...everything is better once you have it. And yes, caffeine is like a drug....you can get addicted and its hard to break away...becoming "sober" is difficult. The headaches are the worst not to mention my moods go insane. So I have to break away slowly. Im not quittin...oh no...if I quit, I'll be a mean you know what and nobody wants that. LOL I just need to cut back.


Okay so Im cutting back...I go two days without one...just to see what happens. WHOA...headache was brutal and I wanted to gut everyone and everything in sight. I was not a happy woman. So the next day I went in for my "fix"...seriously this stuff is my crack.

I order my double tall mocha.....and get this, homeboy says "oh its on the house!" WHAAAAAT? great free coffee...its perfect, its a dream come true for a day but seriously I need to pay for it so I can spend my last pennies and be done. What-ev...theres always tomorrow.

Following day...I order my double tall mocha again. They place a "double tall latte" on the counter and nobody claims it....then they place my drink on the counter and then proceed to ask if I would like that unclaimed latte for free. UGH! dude Im in the middle of an intervention here...you're killing me!

OF COURSE i took that free drink. Its like asking a crackhead if they want free crack...take it and run...run like you stole something! lol

And here we are today...i go in as usual and today I ask for an iced double tall caramel macchiato. I grab my drink and the barista says, "I added an extra shot for you...i know you like three shots usually...its on the house."

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! WHYYYYYY????!!! Do they know what they are doing to me?? ::sighs::

no worries, I didnt turn it down...I drank it in record time. SCORE!....not. :/

So anyhoo, wish me luck as I break free from this insane little addiction. Im trying to get down to at least one coffee a week for now...and eventually one every so often. But until then....Im wired and always wanting more...more espresso...the taste is so...well its so good I cant even put into words. Eventually I may be left with no choice but to go cold turkey and become a mad woman.

Bleh! Oh Starbucks....why must you be so delicious?

It's like...Spongebob?

As usual, every morning I get up and take Mira to school and come home to begin the day with my youngest two before sending Kai off to school. Well Nathan has been in a good mood today...laughing and smiling and everything Kailah does he thinks is just so hilarious.

And boy does she soak it up...like mother like daughter. Get us going with our theatrical movements and silly facial expressions and we just dont stop!

As you know, Kailah doesnt each much of anything....she never ate solids until she was over two years old. Part of her OCD and autistic behaviors. Well she loves...absolutely LOVES

MAC N CHEESE :D

So I whip up one these handy little singles like usual and place it in front of her. Usually when I offer her new foods...i cross fingers and hope she likes it or at least tries it. This however is something she loves so I didnt think she would "criticize" it.

Well she starts playing with it and staring really hard at the noodles individually and Im thinking ohhh crap, now what. By the way she has started this new sideways face talk and its really weird yet so entertaining and comical. So of course she gives me this sideways face look and starts telling me why she wont eat the mac n cheese.

this is that sideways face

She begins to say, "um mom, these noodles are really spongy...you hear it? it goes squish, squish, squish...like a sponge. It's um...kind of gross. I really dont think I can eat this...this...spongy noodle thing. Somethings wrong with it." *and she flicks it around making the squishy sound all while making that sideways face.*

Of course Nathan just finds this humorous...or maybe hes just laughing at all the gas he continues to pass. But hes gigglin up a storm.

I try to explain to her that the noodles make that sound because of the cheese and whatnot...basically making up some crap just so she can eat it...but Oh no...cant fool her...by golly this kid is too smart and quick on her feet than me.

She says, "Mom I really cant eat this...its like Im eating Spongebob and thats just not right. I'm not hungry anymore but you can leave Spongebob here....maybe Tyson will eat him."

UM okay? So now "spongebob" sits on my table and Kailah goes without lunch...nothing new for her. She settled for some water and a few bites of pretzels and she was good to go.

All while Nathan is still laughing and by now I'm convinced it really is his gas thats tickling his tummy. My favorite part is when Kailah shouts in her little southern twain accent

"OH Nafin Cha'les...you are so silly!"

Let me introduce you to some new...eh hem...critters..?

Please refrain from judgement...it takes a brave mom to come out and explain this horrid situation which actually occurs to many families....they're just to scared to admit thus causing greater...well a HUGE infestation. But hey, its reality...so lets talk about it...I need to vent and maybe you can share some thoughts..? Okay lets get started!

So lets flashback about a month ago....

Hangin' out at the house and I notice Kailah is scratchin away at her head. So being the mother I am and knowing all the wonderful things kids can catch, I decide to check it out...praying to GOD its not what I think. Oh but low and behold...yes its LICE! ugh, yes you may vomit...i did too. FYI: for those uneducated about lice...anyone can get it...ANYONE! you can be the cleanest person on the planet and still catch lice. They just happen to love kids ;) especially at school where they all hang out, hug each other, share jackets, hats, you name it...lice love it! Well Im disturbed as any parent would be...then I think Oh crap...my other kids! So I check Amirah and yep...shes got em..dang! Check Nathan...nope...check Randy...nope. Check me...nothin'. So I sit and think....trying not to panic

This is me...thinking....hmmm...

Okay both kids are missing school...I gotta get rid of this...this little critter! So I shoot both teachers an email to let em know and be aware. Only to have a reply saying, "oh yeah, a kid in the class had it last week". WHAT THEEEEEE...... AND YOU DONT LET PARENTS KNOW??? This is Katy ISDs great new plan of "lets not do routine head checks and when a kid gets it...dont let other parents know"...oh smart...now let the infestation begin. UGH! Anyhoo...i head off to the store and puchase the expensive products to treat...bomb...kill...terminate...these bugs and everything else imaginable. Let me tell you, this stuff is insanely expensive!! Come home...douse the girls head in this shampoo and let it sit. After the time is up...we head to the tub to rinse and comb....OH EM GEE....*vomit* these suckers are falling out...one by one...some dead...some alive...some adults...some teeny ones. Im disgusted but continue to comb and comb...by now the girls are crying...im crying...its an awful sight. I feel like an awful parent but I know now there wasnt much I could do...the critters were gunna show up no matter what...they love my kids head. By now im wanting to threaten the school..the district...everyone. How dare they stop routine lice checks...how dare they not inform parents when kids in the class get it. Im not ashamed...it happens...just let me know so I can prevent it from spreading,etc. Anyhoo I treat the girls...bomb thehouse...wash everything you can think of in hot water...replace brushes..etc. I even blow dry and flat iron their hair...heat kills the eggs.

a week later...retreat...didnt see any but you still gotta retreat.

Its the following day..Friday...OH EM GEEEE i get a call from the school nurse, "um your daughter, Kailah, has lice" WHAT THEEEEE....ummm yeah duh lady I treated my kids because I FOUND IT, NOT YOU...I DID!! AND IVE BEEN TREATING FOR A WEEK NOW!! I get rid of them and they flippin pop back up! UGH! The joys of kids spreading little critters back and forth...only the parents of the other kids dont know because the school wont tell them or the parents gave up on treatment. Im furious....

i take Kai home and pull Mira out too. We go home...I check heads...NO LICE. Whatever Im treating again. By now my kids head is red, inflammed, itchy, and burned. UGH, now I feel awful. I treat the house AGAIN.

And its Monday...I return necessary forms (ridiculous if you ask me) and return children. Oh and by the way when I return the kids...the nurse has to check their heads...as we walk into the school, Kailah is telling everyone she sees..." I DONT HAVE BUGS ANYMORE!!!"...niiiiiice...thanks kids.

Alrighty...lice free! Oh and let me just say I have been putting grease, hairspray...you name it to keep these suckers from coming back. And for weeks I see no sign of itching or bugs...i check daily...wash their sheets, stuffed animals, hair brushes, scrunchies...everything is washed daily.

My water bill was $80 this month! :(

Okay so...hello...its today...Friday Feb 24th....I notice Mira scratchin her head....

Its a BLOODY LOUSE!!!!!!! So here i am...treating this damn house again and little heads. Poor kids know the routine now. Im beyond frustrated. Im running out of ideas. Almost desparate to dye their hair...it kills and prevents them from coming to the hair. I shoot an email to the teachers..."oh well idk where its coming from..no other kid has had it"....OH GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK...I still have the email where you said yourself another kid had it...PLUS i spoke to the nurse who said they had an outbreak with 3 other kids in the same class so dont act like its coming from my house. UGH!

Anyhoo...I just treated their heads...AGAIN....then I put an olive oil conditioner in it and Im leaving it in all day...suffocates the eggs and helps comb them out (oh yes, im a pro at this now). No worries, if we come in contact with you...my kids arent "contagious"...i killed those suckers. I cannot wait for summer...to be lice free for good and get out of that awful school!

Just when you think it can never happen to you...ohhh think again...it can. I have plenty of stories to share...joys of being a parent. Some would gross you out...some would make you cry...and others will make you laugh. I enjoy every minute with my kids. I dont call myself a SAHM...Im not...never will be...its not me. Its for others...but not me. I love my kids but I need to work...Im very independent and I need my sanity. I dont like my husband to be the provider alone for the family, although he has for the last year and I am ever so blessed. But its time for me to go back...

GOOD GOD...i got off topic...thats a whole 'nother post! ;)

But yes...I plan on traveling back in time and sharing past experiences I have had with my kids. I may even write a book...not sure.

But if you happen to see your kid scratchin at the scalp...its prolly a louse...and where there is one...there is tons more.

Didja' know in NY they actually have a salon made specifically for lice removal? pretty cool!

Well Ill keep ya updated on these critters...hopefully i knocked em out for good and I can keep them from coming back. If ya happen to have some remedies of your own that i havent tried already, please do share. Remember...it happens to the best of us! Aint it great? :D

And Mother of the Year Award Goes to.....

Sorry it took so long to get this post up, I had to get my little chickens all settled. And yes, I promise to make more blogs. Its really hard from a cell phone. LOL

So I went to JCPennys today to get an outfit for Nathans Sip & See tomorrow and it literally took me 3 hours! And here is why...

I get Nathan all settled, fresh diaper, feed him, and hes knocked out. Yay, I can actually shop without hearing a screaming baby....well mine that is. I'm looking around and find a cute top! Yay! Okay its been 30 minutes and of course Nathan wants to wake up for attention. He gets fussy and I try the paci to no avail. Im trying to figure out what I will wear with this top as I look around and wonder if this is what I should wear tomorrow. Well he starts to scream his head off. Im thinking what the heck, youre fed and fresh diaper, what is wrong kid? I pick him up and rock him as I'm pushing along the stroller hoping to find something. Next thing I know I get this awful smell and Im thinking Oh great, he made a poopy (words used only by mothers lol). As happy as I am that my infant just made a poopy because he has tried so hard all morning to have one, Im a bit frustrated because now it means I must change the stinker. I haul off towards the bathrooms, hide my adorable shirt in a rack so no one takes it since I cant obviously take it with me into the bathroom. I get back there and an employee tells me that the bathroom doors have just been painted and to be careful. Um thanks dude, just gunna stand there and watch me push this stroller with a screaming baby into the bathroom all while avoiding touching the paint? yep, he just stood and watched...typical man who obviously has a mother that did not raise him right. shame on her. Well I did it, made it in successfully...almost wanting to take a nap on the floor from the struggle I just went through but that would be gross, plus there is a baby that needs his poopy changed :) oh and this is the start of the great journey. I go to change him, talking in my baby voice to calm him and HOLY CHEESE STICKS there is crap everywhere!! It literally squished out of the diaper and was all the way up to his neck. Im trying not to vomit and cry as I pull the onesie off trying to avoid getting poo in his hair, which I failed greatly at. Then I wipe him down with wipes and put a fresh onesie on. BTW I threw that stinker in the garbage as a present to the donkey standing outside the door who didnt bother to help with the door. Maybe next time he will be courteous. Okay, baby is now fresh...lets get a move on. We head on back to continue shopping and I find some pants to go with the cute top. Of course, guess what? baby gets fussy! I check the time and discover OH MY BANANAS we have been here forever, its already time for him to eat again! which I had this all planned to where he shouldnt eat again until we got back hom but yeah right, what kid goes off a schedule? not mine! So I make him a bottle and prop it up on a blanket so I can continue to shop. Wait..I know what youre thinking. She did WHAT? yep, I propped that sucker up....I am THAT mom. Guess I dont win the mother of the year award. Oh whatever, this aint my first kid...he shall survive! me on the other hand...well lets continue this story because I almost didnt survive. Okay so we are headed to the dressing room, baby drinkin up his formula and me trying to squeeze a stroller into this lil cubicle of a dressing room. I try on the clothes and yep, I love it but I need a bigger size ( I dont like tight fitting clothes even if they do fit). Well baby begins to fuss. He finished his bottle. I go to pick him up to calm him down as hes screaming his heart out and last thing i need is a saleswoman knocking on my cubicle..eh hem i mean dressing room. Yep, pick him up and OH FRUIT LOOPS he just puked alllll over me. I start to cry, he cries more....yes i wanted this outfit but not THIS size! and he just ruined it. Oh dear, this is where I sit on the bench and cry, cursing my husband for being at work and missing out on this grand experience. I remove the clothing and we leave the dressing room. Me, being the nice person I am, find a saleswoman and tearfully pass her the curdled formula soaked clothes that I wont be purchasing and explain what happened. Bless her soul, she smiled and thanked me explaining its not the first time. Oh thank heavens, i feel slightly better. I then find the sizes I need and hurry to check out. I realize we have been at Pennys for 3 hours!! And I have to hurry to get my other two chickens. I decide that i owe myself a Starbucks for the heck I went through so I swing on in. I pull in and yes, it begins to pour down rain like no other. Literally like cats and dogs. Im thinking, crap i gotta get the baby and try to make it into the store without falling or getting drenched. I didnt want someone to call social services for leaving my baby in the car so I had to take him in. No, I would not leave my baby in the car. I parked out in an area away from other cars so I could jump out, get in the back, grab his seat and GO! Oh but this little heffer of a woman driving a BMW pulls up next to me going over the white line. grrrr I wanted to jump out and jump her like im from the hood...but I didnt....I wanted to but I didnt. Okay, on the count of 3 im jumping out and hoping in the back to grab baby and then we run. 1...2...3...and we are going...*open back door, hop in, close door* and now we get the happy little man out, grab the credit card and place in the mouth and get ready to make a run for it. *grabs door handle* WHAT THE HELL???? it wont open!!! Freakin child locked my butt in here!!! ughhh! I put baby back in carseat ( of course he gets pissed because he thought he was going somewhere) and I crawl around my car to find a door thats not child locked. Believe me, all of america in Starbucks watched me climb around my car like an idiot. I finally made it out and we ran for it. Get inside and Miss BMW says, Oh why on earth did u bring this baby out in the rain. Bitch dont test me. OOPs, no I didnt say it. I thought it...but instead smiled and said Oh i needed coffee and where there is a will, there is a way. :) I finally got my coffee, got my outfit, and we picked up the girls and made it home. the bittersweet moment of it all was when I was at Pennys, I sat in between all the chaos and fed Nathan the rest of his bottle. Two other moms with their infants, doing th same. We started chatting and discovered all three of our babies were born December 14th of 2011. We were so amazed at how cool that was and we shared stories and the babies cooed with each other. At least I wasnt the ONLY mom who heaven forbid brought her baby out in this rain! LOL

so thats my story...and Im sure we will have more to come. As chaotic as it was, its a memory that I wont forget. Gosh, I love being a mom! =)

Every mom needs red wine

I was introduced to red wine today...dont ask what kind, I dont know...it was just really good. I sipped...yum, this is delish! kids start bickering...another sip...ah heck, just gulp it down. mmm even better. And before you know it, its gone. Would you like another glass mam? Sure dont mind if i do! pour myself a nice tall one and keep sipping away. Baby begins to fuss....gulp...gulp...gulp...husband informs me baby is crying. Glass in hand, huh what baby? just kidding...feed baby and continue sipping. Lay baby back down and turn to grab glass....what the hell? who drank my wine? *pours self third glass* mm yummy! Wonder if my mom will notice the bottle missing....? Husband informs me hes ready to go. I casually ask, "but honey dont you wont a drink? pina colada maybe?" we dont have wine at home...i need to stay here. :) Kids are bickering again, baby is crying...fine i guess we better go as i chug down the remainder of whatever glass number this is...i lost count because someone, i dont know who, keeps drinking MY wine! Now headed back home and I pull out grocery list....scratch off milk and replace in bold RED WINE. yup, every mom needs red wine. :)