Monday, Monday...

It's a Monday. While I was nursing Harry, B and I were watching "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood".  Sean was getting dressed.

Suddenly, B was tapping my arm. I looked over at him, he had tears streaming down his face and I could tell he was choking.

I put Harry in the bouncer and grabbed B (in one "mom swoop"). I gave B the Heimlich and smacked his back. He puked all over the floor and a penny came up. Thank goodness for my lifeguard training!!

While I was tending to B, calling Ma'am (my mom) and making him drink water to see if his throat was sore, Sean went out into the garage. I went to see what he was doing, and as soon as I opened the door, I hear, "I so, so, sorry."

Yep. Pee. In the garage. Again. This is the second time he's felt the urge to pee in the garage. I asked him why he did it and he said, "I don't know, Mommy. I so, so sorry."

One choking, one peeing...all before 11 AM.

Garfield was so spot on... 

But at least it is over with, right??

My Expectations of President Obama

Obama won a second term. While I'm not pleased with the results, it is what it is. That being said, as an American citizen, I'd like to lay out my expectations for President Obama.

1. Transparency. We were promised a transparent Obama Administration in 2008 and we don't have it. I'd like to see the transparency we were promised.

2. A budget. I expect our Country to have a budget, just as every American family must have. President Obama, please call Harry Reid and get this done.

3. The truth of what happened in Libya. The election is over and you don't need to sugar coat anything anymore. Please, just be honest with the American people and tell us what really happened in Libya.

4. Replace Eric Holder as Attorney General. This is pretty self explanatory.

5. Cut the deficit. President Obama, you promised to cut the deficit in half back in 2008. Our National debt has increased to 16 trillion. And when I say cut the deficit, I mean the deficit amount you promised to cut in half back in 2008, not the one you just inherited from...well, yourself.

6. Respect the American public...not just those who voted for you. Please, respect ALL Americans.

7. Go to your meetings. This really shouldn't be that hard and shouldn't have to be said....but I guess it does. 

8. And last but not least, UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, don't try to wiggle your way around it. We have a great system in place.

These are the expectations I have off of the top of my head after a long night watching results. You've just inherited a big mess from yourself. Get a mop and roll up your sleeves. And please, cut back on the rounds of golf.

Why I'm Voting For Romney...

Yes, during the Iowa Caucus I was a Santorum supporter. But here are the reasons I'm voting for Romney.

I'm getting really tired of people pegging me as an anti-woman's rights, all about the bottom line, Conservative.

So I care about babies. I believe that life begins at conception.

So I believe that people should be responsible for their decisions, it's how I was raised. I was raised Catholic and we're raising our boys Catholic. Even though my husband and I skewed from our faith by conceiving Liam before we were married, there was no discussion of abortion. We both knew we were going to be parents. And almost 7 years later, I couldn't imagine my life without him.

So I think that people should live within their means, again how I was raised. I drive a van that's 19 years old but you know what? It's paid for. It runs. It gets me and my boys from point A to point B. Our "new" car, the 2005 Corolla is paid off. Granted, it can't fit everyone in the family anymore, it's a good to and from work vehicle for my husband....and speaking of work....

I believe in hard work. I work hard. My husband works hard. He works a lot of 12-16 hour days and provides our insurance. I'm often up at 2 AM working on articles. We work hard. Granted, we're not in the coal mines in America, but we work hard.

So I don't think people should live on the Government assistance if they can work for themselves.

I nursed all of my babies and have always given away my formula samples (from the hospital/Doctor) to my Church and woman's shelter. I've worked in a soup kitchen. I coupon like crazy and give my excess to my local food bank. I'd much rather donate out of my heart rather than "donate" out of force (taken from my paycheck).

So I have faith in our military. My husband served in Iraq and was away from me and our first born for a year. I had so many sleepless nights waiting for the call that didn't come....and I went to work and took our toddler to daycare the following day. It was tough, but I did it. Because I believed in America. In the America he was fighting for. In the change that he was bringing to the women of Iraq. They deserved the same freedoms that I enjoyed. While it would have been great to have him safe and sound in my bed, that would have been selfish of me. I'm not sure how many lives he saved while he was over there (he's a medic) but what's he has discussed, it was a few. 

So I don't believe in the Government State. I believe that Americans are a very prosperous, educated, intelligent people. I believe they are a God fearing, independent, freedom-loving people.

So I'm voting for Romney for all of those reasons and the hope that my children will know a free America, the same America I knew growing up.

I'm mean...

I just sent Dave with Sean, B and Beckett to get Beckett's shots (Beckett is our cat). Pray for Dave.

BPA? It's Not What The Media Wants You To Think

I'll admit, I'm a news junkie. Baby Harry sleeps in the bouncer while I work and all of the commercials he hears on Fox News during the day, I'm pretty sure he's going to be an attorney for women who've had a bad experience with vaginal mesh or those with Mesothelioma....and then he'll take his earnings to buy gold. I only hope he never has to use a catheter (even if it does lubricate itself in the package).

So when news breaks on something that can effect my kids, of course I research it. While I'm nursing Baby Harry and he has yet to have a bottle, I'll admit, I got a little swept up in the BPA scare. But me being me, I did the research. And guess what...it's not bad for you or your kids.

Shocker, right? After all of the media scare, after tossing bottles and buying new ones, you could have saved quite a chunk of change by doing your own research. And with three (yes, three) in diapers, I'm all about saving money where I can.

Canada, one of the first Nations to ban BPA are now saying there's no real direct link between BPA and health issues. But that's not what the media would have you believe. I suppose on a slow news day they have to run something, but it is important to know the facts as parents.

Do your research, you could save a lot of money (and sleepless nights) by reading the actual reports instead of just believing the reports from the media.

My First Grounding...

It's official. I'm a mean mom. Or so I've been told. Because I just grounded my oldest child for the first time. Why, you ask? Oh, there's a good reason.

When Liam (our 6 year old), gets off of the bus, most days (unless we have Faith Formation), his Grandpa is there to pick him up. If Grandpa isn't there, he knows to walk home (less than 1/2 of a block).

On Monday, I get a panicked call from Grandma. Grandpa had called her and Liam didn't get off of the bus. I called the school, who radioed the bus, and said yes, "William" (which is what he goes by at school cause he's a 'big boy') got off of the bus. Panic.

I immediately ran two houses down to his friend Kaiden's house. Kaiden's sister answered the door and said, "Yeah, William got off of the bus with us. And then he went to play with Kaiden. But Kaiden is here. I don't know where William is."

PANIC.

I turn around to walk home, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. And then I see him. Sauntering down the sidewalk, kicking a rock, on his way home. I screamed "WILLIAM!" Somehow I managed to hug and spank him at the same time. We went inside, I called Grandma to have her call Grandpa (who was already on his way back to the school) and let him know that Liam was safe. In trouble, but safe. Grandpa came by to give Liam a talk...and then it was back to his room.

And yes, I used the "Just wait until your father gets home" line. 

For the rest of the week, he's not allowed to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Except for dinner, showers and school, he's in his room. And I'm a "mean mom".

I couldn't help but find the irony in the fact that this all happened the same day I gave Grandma the free "If your child is lost, use this card as a photo for authorities".

Maybe I shouldn't have given her the card?? What I do know is he won't run off again. So, do you think I'm a "mean mom"??

Last Day of Kindergarten!

It's been awhile since I updated the blog, but today's post is a good one to start blogging again.

Today is Liam's last day of Kindergarten. I found the same outfit he wore on his first day and thought it would make a great bookend of pictures.

I can't believe he's going to be in first grade this fall. I can't believe all of the changes we went through this year. We moved, they all got bigger and I'm expecting baby boy #4. What a crazy couple of months! Here's the blog about his first day of kindergarten.

As promised for comparison, here's the first and last day pictures.

First day!

 And last day!

 He's so big!!! This fall, FIRST GRADE!!!