Our First Smoothie Recipe

Going along with our eating healthier this year, we decided to try smoothies and shakes. We thought this would be a fun a way to incorporate more fruits and veggies into our day!

For our first smoothie we decided on the following:

Bananas

Strawberries

Blackberries

Orange juice

Vanilla yogurt

Ice

Into the blender!

This smoothie ended up tasting so good that we made them into smoothie pops! 

Fun and nutritious and the kids loved them! Think we will be trying out many smoothie recipes soon!

Have you ever made your own smoothies? Have any recipes to share?

I Felt Helpless

I felt helpless during all 3 of my pregnancies and my babies first few days. All were tough in their own ways. All had high risk issues.

I've had hospitalizations, kidney infections, gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid), a nuchal cord (umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck) and a breech baby!

All 3 of my babies came early with the first at 38 weeks and and the others at 36. That is not super early, but the youngest 2 both ended up in the NICU with respiratory issues.

I felt helpless each and every time. But my love for my children gave me the strength to do whatever it was I needed to do. Whether it was additional doctor visits, hospital stays, amniocentesis, insulin injections or the like I was ready to take care of myself and in turn take care of them. I felt helpless, but I didn't need to be. I also had a strong support group around me.

I am not going to have any more children, but having 3 has taught me a lot about myself and how strong I can be!

My 3 healthy beautiful children and my inspiration to never feel helpless! 

*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

Can I Just Get My... Act Together!

Every day I set out to accomplish some type of task. Whether it be organize an area, balance the check book or do the laundry. Yet every day I end up straying from that specific task and starting a bunch of others and then nothing gets done!

So starting today, and I mean it, I am getting my act together! I will make one goal to accomplish each day and get that done before bedtime. No more procrastinating by taking on other projects! No more letting my mind wander on all the other things that need done! No more realizing how tired I am from being up half the night!

So today I set out to clean! That is until my mind wanders to somewhere I'd rather be!

*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

We Spent Months Without Going On Dates

My husband and I have now been in Florida together for a year and 2 months. During this time we've gone on maybe 3 dates! Its tough going from always having a ton of family around and never needing to look to far for a sitter to not knowing anyone and not knowing where to start to find one!

When I first joined my husband in Florida we did interview a sitter that Marc found through a co-worker. She came to the house, met the kids, and was wonderful. But, every time we contacted her she wasn't available to sit! So we gave up. The times that we did have a sitter were when family visited, and when my son's school had a kids night out.

We now feel ready to try again. I asked for help on a mom's page I found on Facebook. These ladies have helped me with many issues since moving to Florida including things to do in the area, spider identification and yard help. I am positive that they can help us find a sitter we can trust and have already given us a few leads.

I look forward to being able to spend some date nights with Marc. We've had a tough year and it's time we get to go out and enjoy our new location!

*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

I've Been Here All Night!

I've been here all night and practically wide awake! My now 15 month old doesn't like sleep! I don't understand it because both her parents do!! 

She's a very light sleeper (unfortunately gets that from mama) and wakes easily. Once awake it's hard to get her back to sleep. 

I know all the books and "experts" say let her cry, but I can't! She was a very difficult pregnancy and a NICU baby. She's also my last baby. So maybe I spoil her by holding her while sleeping! There's a short time in her life she'll want me to hold her and well... I'll be there all night! 

*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

Just Don't Do It

Today's Blog Dare is Just Don't Do It. This is a tough one. At my age and place in life I do not want to have this attitude! I want to enjoy each and every opportunity that comes my way. I want to "DO" a lot. I have a lot to learn and a lot of living to do! I have so much yet to enjoy with my children. See them play, learn, grow, succeed and accomplish. I have lots of Florida left to explore since moving here. Then theres that whole pesky getting a driver's license I need to do! One more thing I definitely need to do is more date nights with my hubby!

If there's anything I Just Don't Want to Do its limit myself. There's lots of things to do and learn out there!


*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

My 14 of 2014

I read this quote tonight and thought what a fantastic idea! January 1st brings with it a clean slate, a new start, and 365 days to look forward to! Why not get a blank book and track my progress of my 14 Goals For 2014 and share that here with you?!

My 14 are, in no particular order:

Quit being sad about moving from Pittsburgh and start making a wonderful life in Florida. I'll never, ever forget my roots, but my new hometown has many opportunities and things to explore!

Get my driver's license. I've had my permit a few times, but never got my license. Pittsburgh had a huge transit system and you could take the bus or trolley just about anywhere. Add in all the family I had and I could get a ride just about anywhere! Florida has buses, but nothing like Pittsburgh. I need my license and no longer have an excuse not to get it! 

Learn to use my sewing machine. I recieved a very nice machine from my husband and kids for Mother's Day almost 2 years ago. I want to learn, just didn't make the time. I will be bringing that machine out very soon!

Hang living room curtains. May not seem like a big deal, but we've lived in our Florida home over a year and still do not have curtains! Maybe I'll be daring and even make them myself! 

Convince my oldest son Elias to move to Florida. This one is more a dream than a goal. He's a college graduate and has a very nice job in Pittsburgh. I respect him wanting to stay in the Burgh, but he'll always be my baby boy and I want him near me!

Get everyone on a sleep schedule. My 4 1/2 year old son Peyton and 1 year old daughter Delaney do not have the best sleep schedule. My husband and I have tried to set one and failed. We will succeed and have 12 months to do so!!

Eat better. We've already cut out red meat and stopped keeping a lot of snacks in the house. I also recently joined a fruit and veggie co-op which gives us a huge box of produce every 2 weeks. Now we just need consistency. And donuts to go away. 

Walk more. The plan is to walk more, which will hopefully lead to running, which will hopefully lead to a 10K or 2. I'm all about baby steps though so walking another 5K is the goal I'm setting  for now. 

Read more, especially with my kids. Modern technology has a way of taking over. I want us all to learn to put the phones, iPad, and computers away and spend more time reading books together. 

Garden more. This is one of my favorite parts of living in Florida. Year round gardening! I've already learned so much and now want to apply it and make the most beautiful garden I can! 

Have a successful blog. And I'll need your help! Please participate, comment and make suggestions on what you'd like to see in 2014. I would love to hear from you!

Do more crafts. I love being crafty and have gotten away from it a little since moving. I'm on a search for reuse and creative centers near I live and will share my finds!

Make friends. I've met a few people since moving, but haven't really made good friends yet. I just need to get out more!

Have date nights with my husband. Marc and I haven't found a babysitter yet, which makes getting out a little difficult. We've always had family watch the kids before moving. We will need to figure out how to hire a sitter! 

So there are my 14!  I would love to hear what you have planned for the new year.

What are your 14 for 2014?

*This blog post is part of the Bloggy Mom's Blog Dare 2014

What If We Need Help!!

Living so far away from mostly everyone we know is very difficult. My husband has made friends, and I am working on it, but you just can't call someone and say "Hey, can you watch my kids, I need to go somewhere?" that you just met!

We've been blessed with the fact that in the past year we haven't had any major emergencies. The power went out a few times, but luckily the weather wasn't too bad that we didn't freeze or get overheated. A few minor issues with the house, but the Landlord took care of those. What worries me the most is health issues.

Earlier this year I had a minor procedure done. My husband had the kids, and had to drop me off at the hospital alone. I was sad. I felt really lonely. Surgeries are scary enough, but when you're sitting in the hospital alone its a bit worse. Luckily my post op nurses were very wonderful and kept me in good spirits. One wheeled me down to the car at discharge so that Marc, my husband, didn't have to lug the kids in to get me. That night it was almost business as usual with the kids as they didn't understand I needed rest. We could've used an extra person to help out!

This past month my 2 youngest took turns getting sick. Marc was able to get them back and forth to the doctors on lunch hours. Then, my daughter gets worse while my husband was out of town for work! What to do! I call the pediatrician and they say she needs a chest X-ray right away! I don't drive! I don't have anyone I can call! Again, luckily, my husband called a friend who was able to drive me and the kids back and forth from the doctors to the imaging center and home again. Thank goodness he was available!

Next up is a surgery I have scheduled for tomorrow. Its laparoscopic, but still pretty major. My husband is off work, and this time we have care set up for the whole day for the 2 kids at my son's school.  Hopefully the day goes smoothly, and our timing is perfect, and all works out well. They then have plans to be out of the house most of Thursday, so I can (hopefully) get some rest.

This is a time I definitely wish I had someone else here. To talk to, to hold my hand, to tell me everything is going to be ok. Marc has been WONDERFUL and very supportive. I couldn't have asked to be any more there for me than he has been. But to have a support "group" would be great! Maybe in time, as I meet more people and make more friends!