A few of my favorite links!

At this time are:

Get you free Democrat sticker: http://my.democrats.org/Sticker

Get free tickets for you and one other person on Museum Day: http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/

Info on the Ferber Method: http://www.professorshouse.com/family/children/the-ferber-method.aspx

My beautiful Lily:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eumPlE3ZoRc

Funny blog entry on breastfeeding in public that I got from my friend Natalee:
http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2010/09/16/the-inconsiderate-breastfeeding-woman/


and the MOST HILARIOUS thing I've seen in awhile:
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7148143/




ENJOY!

Friends???

Yeah, that is friends with three big, fat, question marks. Why? Because when you become a Mom, friends seem to slowly dwindle. The friends you used to take long car rides with and sing at the top of your lungs to your favorite songs with, the friends you got into trouble with, the friends who were your bridesmaids, the friends who swore they would never leave your side......

Doesn't take long for many of them to leave your side, does it? I know it's not like this for everyone. However, for those of us who got married young, had kids in their early twenties or maybe even late teens.....you know what I'm talking about.

I have one friend who I can still call my good friend after all these years. A friend who I can count on to come to my kids birthday parties, a friend I can count on to be there when I need to talk. And no matter how many kids I have screaming in my ear, I'll always be there for her as well.

I can't forget to mention the friends I have made as a result of beng a Mom though. These friends mean the world to me. These are the ladies I talk to every single day. These are the ladies I talk to about everything, the ladies who have laughed with me, cried with me, and have been there for me in so many ways.

While many of us complain that we are losing friends when we have kids, maybe those friends aren't worth it. Actually, they AREN'T worth it. Your family life and new mom friends are your life now. As you change so do your friends. It's a part of life we all need to accept. No matter how much it hurts.

I Can't Stop Thinking About It

Why do bad things things happen to good people? I remember my mom had a book with that title when I was younger. A copy was given to her by someone very shortly after my dad died and I remember being 8 years old and looking at it just sobbing thinking to myself and asking myself, why? Why does God let such awful things happen to good people?

And as I sit here tonight I wonder the same things. Friends dealing with crisis within their families. Families and my family dealing with death. Friends and family dealing with horrible people who want nothing but to make their lives miserable for whatever stupid reason. Myself dealing with crazy family, health, and finance issues that are allowing me to fall into a state of emotional wreck.

But, a good friend gave me some great advice recently. God gave us eyes in the front of our head so that we can look forward and not back. The quote is not exact but very similar.

So as I sit here, ready to throw in the towel, ready to give up. Ready to go back into my bed and sob as I try to sleep....I remember that what I'm going through is nothing compared to what some others close to me are dealing with. I have to have a plan. I can't let myself keep looking back. I have to move forward. With or without those who are holding me back. Life is too short.

It's Been Too LONG!

I have to stop neglecting my blog. But, alas, I have been busy. Busy removing toxic people from my life, from my groups, from stalking my friends, etc. Busy with a toddler that is getting her molars, and two boys who claim to be ever bored on their summer break. (I have to admit, it's been so hot it's hard to leave the house and the A/C! Is this the hottest summer ever, or what?) Busy trying to keep myself going and on track with tapering from my Suboxone and getting myself back to "normal".

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me is how incredibly ignorant and immature some people can be. In just the past day I have witnessed bullying, stalking, ignorance, and women who have WAY too much time on their hands. Don't you people have children to care for? Oh yeah! I forgot they must take a back seat to online feuds (insert puke face and yawn face here!)

On to the GOOD stuff! My daughter, my beautiful daughter! She is dealing with an undiagnosed (for now) speech delay. We have EI coming out on Aug 3rd for the eval. for their speech therapy program. I'm excited. I'm excited to learn some new tips to get her talking sooner and getting some interaction with others besides us. It will be great for her. Robert was an early talker, Tyler was a late talker but at the time I wasn't online and his doctor wasn't overly concerned with it so I dealt with it. And no worries, when he was about 3.5 yrs old he started talking and to this day, never stopped. My only worries with Lil are her sensory issues combined with her not talking. I'm going to be very relieved to have a professional involved.

So maybe now that toxic people are going to be removed and vacation is upon us....NC for 4 days! WOOT BABY! (except for the 9 hr car drive, No WOOT on that one! UGH!) It's gonna be a blast. And much needed. Many upcoming things to look forward to as well as Robert is looking forward to Cub Scout camp next week. I never hear the end of it. I'm just proud of him for being a scout. That's my little man!

Stay tuned for my Paying It Forward entry coming soon!

The 10 Commandments of the Shultz Home

If your a mom you know that there are very certain things that make your home run smoothly. Things that dare not be messed with, and also things that we wish would happen. And even though we know that they would make things so much better, it's a hassle to get everyone to abide by them. But, either way, they are things us moms know are right!

Here are my Ten Commandments for our home. Things that will make our lives easier. Well, my life anyway. Heck with everyone else, if mama ain't happy, no body happy.

#1. Thou shall pick up after your messy ass self. Put your dishes in the sink (or even better yet the freaking dishwasher!), socks in the hamper or washing machine, and for heaven's sakes, the kitchen table is NOT a trash can!

#2. Thou shall threat all three children equally. If one child gets 2 oreos, the other two children must also get 2 oreos. If you pour a glass of milk, all of them MUST have the same amount in each of their cups or the world will come to an end. And if one child loses a tooth and the tooth fairy visits and leaves that child a dollar, then the tooth fairy is ALWAYS smart enough to leave 50 cents for the other sibling, just for being a good sibling. Otherwise the whining of "it's just not fair!" will echo in your house for the rest of the day.

#3. Thou shall worship no other woman. I am the queen of your life. Mother and wife of the Shultz home. See the intro where it is stated "if mama ain't happy, no body happy"

#4. Children- For five days you shall labor, work hard at school and get good grades. On the 6th and 7th days you shall play and stay up late and eat all kinds of crap.

#5. Husband- For seven days you shall labor.

#6. Thou shall not lie. If you do and I catch you, there will be hell to pay.

#7. Thou shall not ask me for anything before I have had at least one cup of coffee in the morning. And if you do, be prepared for foot stomping, sighing, and bitching.

#8. Thou shall keep your room clean and free of mess, clutter, and food. A clean room, and a made bed makes a very happy mommy.

#9. Thou shall be a Phillies fan, and an Eagles fan.

#10. Thou shall honor your mother and father.

Not Just a Mom...

First, let me apologize to the few followers I have. I have been seriously neglecting my blog. I not only have my personal blog, but also my entries for Philly Moms Blog. When you get depressed (like I have been) for whatever reason, things just don't flow like they should when it comes to blogging and writing. Things however, are starting to look up. Rob has found a position with a temp to hire company doing commercial painting, so I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

This entry is taking a lot of guts for me to write. Lately these days I have been struggling with the fact that being a mom isn't the only main thing in my life. I also struggle daily with Diabetes and addiction.

My struggle with Diabetes started in July of 2006. I started out on just Metformin, a pill. In October of 2007, I became pregnant with my daughter, Lily. I didn't have insurance at first so my first trimester while i was waiting to get on Medicaid I was just watching my diet and staying on Metformin. As soon as I saw the DR and got blood work i was immediately started on insulin due the extreme highs of my sugars.

My Diabetes has been up and down since then. I am now on insulin and pills. I hate that it rules my life. The worst feeling is being sooooo hungry and craving meat and carbs , but your blood sugar is over 300. It's impossible to satisfy any cravings or hunger at that point. So, that makes you miserable, and so does the high blood sugar.

I have to test several times a day and constantly be aware of what is going on with my food and sugars. Its no fun. When my blood sugar gets high I feel awful. I really do. It takes away from having fun with my kids and being active and energetic, like every mom should be. It makes me feel guilty.

The other demon I struggle with is addiction. It's something I rarely talk about. If you are reading this you probably had no idea. I used to be addicted to pain pills. Well, i still am but I am in recovery now. You know what they say, once an addict always an addict. That's why we are called recovering addicts. I started on Suboxone last May when I got to a point in my life when I couldn't take it anymore.

I hid it well for years. Probably hid my addiction for about 5 years. I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't want to make anymore excuses. I didn't want to lie. I wanted to wake up and feel normal with out shoving 6 Percoset down my throat as soon as I opened my eyes.

I finally called a Suboxone doctor in May of 2009. It not only changed my life, it saved my life. If I had never had the guts to pick up the phone that day and call, I really don't know if i would be here. So much of the pain I have dealt with in my life I have chased away with pain pills, and it was getting to the point where i was taking so many to chase that pain away I could have killed myself.

So, those are two things I deal with on a daily basis, in addition to being a mom of three and a wife. Some days lately it all seems like too much. But, I know I am strong. I know I can do this. I know I can be better. I have three kids counting on me to do so. I know God won't give me more than I can handle.

It's Ok to Be Crunchy But Not ok To Be Silky?

Apparently it's OK to be crunchy. Because being crunchy means you care about the earth. You do your research on vaccines and modern medicine. You do your research on CIO, and co-sleeping.

But, if you are silky and proud of it you are labeling yourself and dividing yourself from other moms. You haven't researched vaccinations if you give them to your child. You are automatically just blindly letting Dr's do whatever they want to your child.

Well, wait a gosh darn minute! Guess what??? I went to school to be a medical assistant. I took classes on Pharmacology and Diseases. Classes on Micro-Biology and Anatomy. I have worked in the field. Tell me again I have not done research, I dare you.

I have done enough research to know that co-sleeping is dangerous and can cause death and SID. But, I have also co-slept, the correct way, and now I CIO with my daughter. I have researched the Ferber method and researched CIO. I don't just stick my daughter in her crib and let her scream for hours.

Moms who parent alike automatically gather together. They feel most comfortable with other moms who agree on their parenting styles and choices. It's not labeling and being cliquey it's being human. And it's life. Let's just accept each other for who we are and how we parent. At this stage of the game you aren't going to change anyone's mind. Let it be, let it be. Let it be, oh, let it be......