I love carbs. Any attempt to eat healthier has to involve some sort of carbs for me. I can go without for small amounts of time but as a realistic lifestyle change there’s no way I’m going to eliminate them completely. If you’re looking for keto diet or carb free alternatives these are not them. However, they are a healthier version of the plain bleached flour non-food carbs that we usually see on the shelves. Eating them sparingly seems like a fine approach in my book!
I felt the need to compose this because there is so little information out there for parents to find when it comes to bracing options with clubfoot treatment. If you’ve followed our Clubbie Adventures you know that we made the choice early on, prior to our daughters birth really, that we would use a unilateral brace after casting. While this seemed like the most logical decision for us it was NOT the easiest option to find information about, procure, or gain clinical insight into. It took some major digging and months and months of research to get answers to our questions. If I had only been able to access the information that we have now our journey could’ve been less stressful. For anyone out there considering a unilateral bracing option for their child I hope this information helps you weigh the options and have some clarity. Continue reading “Unilateral Clubfoot Bracing”
Well there’s a post I never thought I’d be writing. I tell everyone that homeschooling was never part of my life plan, so I thought. I loved the idea of it in theory but it was one of those “oh good for them, I could never do that” type of things. Until I really had no choice. Thus ensued one of the craziest, challenging, and rewarding experiences of my life that my family will always remember…
Aug 5 2020
Well here you have it folks, my homeschool or more formally known as the dining room. It’s a work in progress as this impromptu idea finally takes hold. Rearranging the entire house to accommodate the desk workspace in the back room was a fun time. As well as digging up anything I could repurpose for this absolutely insane adventure. I have many reasons for making the agonizing decision to do this, it is NOT the path I ever wanted and I’d be lying to say I wasn’t angry at what I feel forced to do here. However, I’m hoping this “mustard seed” blooms larger than life and I’m crossing my fingers to keep a shred of my sanity in tact over the next 10 months. I feel an immense amount of pressure to do this right for the sake of my children’s futures and my perfectionism allows no room for grace for myself. 4 kids. 4 grades. I think I can. I know I can. #operationhomeschoolisback#hangingonfordearlife#dinnerpartieswillhavetowait
The best way to tell the story is to start at the end because it sums up the entirety of this experience and most notably that we survived. The long and short of it is that we decided to pull our kids out of the public school system after the epic disaster that is “remote learning” and homeschool them for the school year of 2020-2021. Our intention was to take it one day at a time with the goal of them returning to the public school system after the chaos of Covid19 had died down. I will detail our year in various posts but the takeaway is the finish line. For anyone considering this, here’s a peek into the last day of our year.
Continue reading “The Life of Homeschooling”
Have I mentioned my design obsession? Oh yes, yes I have. As such I’m perpetually decorating or re-decorating or helping others decorate or re-decorate. Here are my insights into the big trends we will start seeing the next couple of years.
For the past 5-6 years we’ve seen a major boom in the industrial farmhouse vibe. Thanks to shows like Fixer Upper that gave this rustic yet modern style a name and a face the world hopped on the bandwagon hard. It’s cozy and inviting but new and fresh, it’s casual enough for every day families to embrace with the potential to elevate for those with a more traditional and crisp design style. While the farmhouse vibe isn’t going anywhere anytime soon I think we will start to see that married to some other more progressive yet vintage design ideas. Is that a thing? Progressive/vintage? Well that’s what I’m calling it.
Alright… for anyone requesting a comprehensive handbook of baby gear ideas and recommendations I give you my take on baby gear essentials and registry items complete with pictures and mom insight for each. It’s LONG (forewarning) and starts with the ‘essentials’ and ends with the ‘extras’. Happy barcode scanning!
As anyone will tell you, every baby is different so I wouldn’t quite call this the BIBLE of baby gear but it’s definitely a good starting point for any new mommies or mommies to be out there. Continue reading “The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide”
We headed into the hospital at 7:00 pm to start the induction. First we were settled into our room which I must say was like a luxury hotel suite, it was HUGE! Talk about plush, there was a pull out sofa for dad to sleep on, zero gravity recliners for other visitors, a flat screen tv with games, educational videos and movies on demand, the free room service menu including things like jumbo sea scallops, lamb top sirloin, and pork medallions, I mean even the bathroom was plush complete with hair dryer, and decorative curtain valance for the tub! After taking pictures of all of the “amenities” we got ready for a night of interventions. I was checked and the games began with me at a fingertip dilated and 60% effaced. I was given Prostin, similar to Cervidil, every 4 hours to help ripen the cervix and then we waited until the morning to see what the game plan would be. Continue reading “They Don’t Call it Labor for Nothing”
I want to stab someone chuckle in a NOT so funny way at the journey that became my NCLEX and licensure experience. To give you an idea let me start with the timeline of events.
End August 2012- Last theory exam done
Dec 1 2012- Applied CPNE
Mar 1 2013- CPNE first avail date and pass weekend Continue reading “NCLEX Oh the ever loving JOY”
My CPNE was in Madison Wisconsin at Meriter Hospital this past weekend (3-1-2013). Some general info, nice hospital and the staff I dealt with were very friendly. Had patients on 3 different floors, general med/surg, a cardiac floor, and an ortho floor. Couldn’t find any particular “specialty” for the hospital so I expected any type of general patient. Pediatric unit is brand new and located by the ER, I get the impression that they want any type of ‘student’ as far away from their new unit as possible. Continue reading “CPNE Adventure Begins- Labs and PCS 1”
Why did I chose a workshop unaffiliated with Excelsior?
I will be discussing my various contentions with Excelsior College in another post but to summarize I do not think the school has nor wants to work to have a good infrastructure for their nursing students. There are so many issues with the way the program is run and it culminates at the CPNE where you are expected to perform to perfection yet their own staff make the experience 100% subjective. You get 10 answers from 10 advisors and the only one who pays the price for ambiguity is the student. That’s not right. On a variety of levels. Especially when your entire degree is riding on this.
When I was finally ready to apply to the CPNE I started to feel completely overwhelmed with HOW I was going to study for something that was so subjective despite the expectation to perform precisely. Continue reading “CPNE Workshops”
Momma Maven 