Monday, September 22, 2008

Blog

If you follow this blog, I'd like to know. You can add yourself on my page as a "follower" on my page by creating an account. You can also leave comments without having an account. Anyone can comment. This blog was meant for Taylor and Luke, so that they can look at it someday, but I've been surprised at how many people enjoy the pictures and video to keep an eye on them. At some point when I have tons of time...lol ...I want to make a printed book of this blog with pictures and it would be neat to add comments as well.

How to post...anonymously...for those who need directions. lol Enter your message. Make sure your name if you're posting anonymously. Type in the "word verification" (the letters above the box, just repeat what you see (like my sample).....then pick anonymous and the publish button.

Mom, I set up an account for you. I'll email you the password. Just "sign in" at the upper right.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Luke When Tired . . .

Taylor Squealing

Luke Laughs Too!

4 Month Docs Visit and SHOTS!

Can a 4 month old remember? Well it sure seemed little Miss Taylor remembered. She was fine UNTIL I laid her on the examination table to undress her. She screamed and cried! Picked her up....she was fine....laid her back down on the table....screaming. They got their shots, Polio, Pneumococcal Disease, Diphtheria, Rotavirus and Hib.

Luke was first for his checkup. He laid there smiling, staring at the light all happy. Dr. Zelis examined him and then gave him his oral vaccine and shots. The shots brought on his whimper escalating to a cry and then as soon as Nick picked him up he was fine again. Luke is a BIG boy. 95th percentile for weight! 18lbs 14oz. He's actually not even on the chart that I have for weight. 75th percentile for height. 25-3/4 and 50th percentile for his head circumference. 42. And we thought he had a big head. His head is the only thing that's not big. lol

Then, it was Taylor's turn. As soon as I laid her on the table, she started screaming....and screaming...and screaming. The whole building could hear her little lungs. Dr Zelis laughed and said, so do you notice any difference in their personalities. lol Just a little. I asked him if she could possibly remember and he said you'd be surprised that some babies do seem to. The screams turned to whaling with the shots...she didn't want her pacifier...she just wanted outta there! She didn't calm down until we left that room and she pouted in protest the whole way home. I talked to the doctor about how she's doing feeding wise and we're gonna up her medicine a little and see how she does. He wants to see her in a month because she seems to have lost weight. I say it like that because Nick and I both thought last time that they wrote her weight down wrong. We thought they verbally said 12lbs 9 oz and wrote down 13lbs 9oz. Either way she's not gained much even if she didn't lose. I kinda thought she might not gain as much since she's off the high calorie premie formula. Today she weighed 13lbs 2oz. which is in the 25th percentile. 20th for height, 23-1/2 and she made it to the 10th percentile for her head circumference, up from the 3rd. I am glad her tiny little head is growing.

He told us a fever at this age is 100.5 taken either way. If they have a fever for more than 4 days to call the office. The doc asked how they were sleeping and I told him about Taylor's new pattern of waking at 2am and, 3 and 4 and wanting her pacifier. He gave me a article with some suggestions and said his 2 year old at one point woke up every 1/2 hour. Hopefully we can get her diverted and able to console herself back to sleep. I'll love when she can put that pacifier back in herself! The article talked about using a blanket or stuffed animal to comfort them but at this age they really aren't supposed to have "things" in their crib. We'll see...she's been trying to put the pacifier in herself, she just can't get it in the right direction and she's been sucking on her fingers a lot too. We shall see.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Coupons






I've really been trying to learn how to save as much money as we can. I've dived into coupons and I'm learning how to make them work for us. This may sound silly to someone who knows how to use them well.......but I never really used them much before. I mean I'd cut things out and use them from time to time but I never really planned ahead and I'm learning that's what you have to do to save money. I go through my Sunday paper and clip the coupons of the things we use. This I've done before, no biggie. BUT then, if you then take those coupons and match them up to the grocery store weekly flier of sales items or a stores coupons....you really can save. For example...I had a coupon for Hamburger Helper (I know it's gross but once a week it's a cheap meal)...buy 3 and get a $1.00 off. I then looked at Kennies sales flier and saw that they had a sale on Hamburger Helper. Buy 5 for $5. So by buying 5 Hamburger Helpers when that sale was running and using that coupon, I got 5 Hamburger Helpers for 80 cents each. Get it? I did that with several items. BabiesRUs is another good deal. Use their store coupons coupled with manufacturer coupons. It adds up. Last week at the grocery store, I spent $150 and I saved $40. At BabiesRUs, I spent $112 and saved $30. I don't know why but I didn't think you could double up coupons like that. But you can. I'm getting excited about it. With Taylor's formula costing $25 every 5 days, we need a break somewhere. I was so upset my Sunday paper wasn't there this past Sunday. I missed all my coupons and sales flyers. ahhhh.......anyhow, I thought I'd share what I learned and hope it helps someone else save too. It does take some time and planning but I think it's worth it.