Such a Weird Day!!

Today has been the weirdest day, to date, of my parenting career. I know my parenting career is only beginning. But let me tell you how Jake decided he was ready to rid himself of diapers today.

Here's the thing. This is not open for advice, at the moment, but I did want to share what went down today. :) Everybody does it different, and Jake is doing it WAY different than I'd originally planned.

Back in August, Jake peed on the potty twice, he was talking about going, he liked to flush the potty, it was fun and interesting for him. I made a huge deal, but he was so little, he didn't really get it. I tried to force him into potty-ing for like half a day, and he wanted NOTHING to do with it. He got so mad about it that he did the whole thing they warn you about... He would not even TALK about the potty for at least 4 months following.

The past couple months, Jake has started talking about it more and more. He's been acting really interested. He would pee on command for Derick, when he asked him to. He liked to sit on the potty, he liked to stand and try to pee. He'd try SO hard sometimes. I did NOT force him. This time, I was not ready and he was getting that way. I just didn't feel like I was in a great place emotionally, mentally, whatever... Just not really up to all it involves. Which is a lot, and I knew that. You're not just ridding yourself of diapers. You're still wiping a butt, but now you have to stop and go potty ALL the time, EVERYWHERE you go. You have to deal with accidents and wet pants and blah, blah, blah. Not ready, was I.

The past couple DAYS Jake has been VERY talkative about potty stuff. He pulled his potties out of the closet and wanted to sit on them. I ignored it, as usual, because I am not ready. :)

Today, I was at a conference. Jake was staying with his Nanna (Derick's mom). She text us around noon saying Jake had gone pee in the potty! What the heck?! Is what I was thinking lol. She told us that he had run off after a diaper change and let her know that he did not want a diaper back on. She said that he started to "leak" lol and told him, "Oh, no! Run to the potty!" He said, "I pee in potty" and he sat down and did it. I thought, whatever, a fluke... if he wants to pee now and then, then whatever.Then a few minutes later she text us again saying that he was playing in his playroom and he stopped playing and ran to the potty, saying, "I gotta pee pee"! And he did it again. He peed FOUR more times this evening, in the potty! We went to the store (he had to wear a diaper, so we used his old cloth diaps, so he could feel the wetness a little better) to get him some "big boy night-night unnawears".

4-4-2012, Jake decides it's time to start potty-ing

picking out his big boy night-night unnawears

The picture explains itself, I do believe. :)

I can NOT believe he took this into his own hands... and I can NOT believe my baby is growing up so dang fast!!! Just YESTERDAY I was saying how we are nowhere NEAR thinking about potty training. Jake thought otherwise. I guess I'll follow his lead.

Happy Wednesday!

The Adventures of Our Little Pickle

Yesterday, Jake and I spent nearly all day outside. We have been so blessed with beautiful weather this week!! Last week was spring break for the area, and since we don't have "spring break", I was sort of dreading the week because of all the extra people that would be in all our normal places. The zoo, the aquarium, the park, even the grocery store! But it rained all week, so we happily hibernated. Jake played outside regardless, because even though it was rainy all week, it was pretty nice out. So, before I go onto our fun day yesterday, I have to post a couple of my favorites from last week.

That would be my umbrella. :)

seeing the world through the eyes of your child has got to be one of the coolest things this side of eternity!

Ok, so I am on a quest to be outside as much as possible while it's so nice we aren't melting yet. Jake surely does not mind that! For the first probably 18 months, being outside was more of a chore keeping him from eating everything than it was exploration.

We started our day with morning time snuggles and giggles.

Silliest kid I know!

I seriously do not understand his obsession with the "wips"...

We got all ready to go to the park and play around.

He likes to slide down normal, face first, and this way... mixing it up, keepin it real on the playground.

Someone didn't take a very long nap, so we took advantage of the extra time and went out to a nature park in South BA. It was reconfirmed to me, while we were there, that children BELONG outdoors. Not just the playground, but like really outside with the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. This nature park is like a nice little hike through the woods, but still close enough to society lol.

We happened upon this little gem. We walked up and all the trees around were gnawed off, and I thought... hmm... Then I saw a large pile of brush stacked quite nicely in the water. We were in beaver territory. 

My child, welcome to the wonderful world of "soft dirt".

He got an owie and was showing me, while also showing me his quite nice little quads he's got going on.

Watching a squirrel run up a tree.

This kid goes ninety-to-nothing... always!

He is so cute.

We went inside the little building at the entrance of the park, where there were plenty of displays. Here, Jake is admiring a tarantula. Jake is asking it why it's hiding, and telling it to come out of there, in this picture.

I wish I had pictures from swim lessons, we'll have to get some next week. We started a class a couple months ago, and Jake LOVED it. So we decided we would continue swimming, his first lesson in his new class was last night. Let me just say... the child is a FISH. We got to have the same teacher as last time, so she has been able to see Jake's progression. The class Jake is in, does full submersion. Yes, my 2 year old can hold his breath underwater with zero problems. Now they just started it in the last couple sessions, and those times he was always a little choked up when he came up.... like he'd gulped down a bunch of water. This time, toootally different story! He came up out of the water like nothing had happened. So, I just went with it while we waited on the other kids to take their turns. I let him start going under. You don't just drop them underwater, there are verbal cues that prepare them to take a breath before going under. By the end of class, Jake was swimming under water 3 feet stretches to the wall, climbing up and waiting on my go ahead to jump back in. If you know Jake and water, you know that 2 months ago, the latter would have never happened. That kid jumped in whether you were ready or not. Needless to say, Miller Swim School in Tulsa is AWESOME! Jake loves swim lessons, and I of course love watching him do something he loves!

It was such a fun day for both of us! We went back to the nature park tonight with Jake's friend, Kale. They were pretty cute together, although I feel like I spent most of my time keeping Jake out of harm's way. :)

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Jake, the ERF-er

Jake is now 2. He will be 26 months in a little over a week. In the past month, I have had several people ask me when I'm going to turn Jake around to forward facing in his car seat. Well, let me clarify this for anyone that wonders this same thing. :) And I am going to start from the beginning of my car seat days.

Before Jake was born, I did not research car seats. I bought what was cute. Which is fine, since a car seat is made to protect a child. However, the most important thing a parent can do when it comes to car seats, is to choose the best one for your child and to READ THE MANUAL. And when I say that, it is in all caps for a reason. The manual should be read... front to back. Also important, the automobile's manual should be read on all things child passenger safety/car seats. So, there ya have that. I did none of the above. I left the installation up to Derick, since that's what guys are good at. I trusted that he had it in right. He did. However, I had no CLUE how to even buckle him into his seat when we left the hospital. THANKFULLY where we delivered Jake (St. Francis Hospital, where I was working at the time) they try to have someone that is car seat certified working. A CPST was working and she ran the basics by me and out we went. I didn't even know how tight the straps needed to be. I was just guessing. And I certainly had no idea about the retainer clip (chest clip). I looked at my friend's pictures on facebook, because surely THEY knew what was best and how it was done, right? I seriously NEVER even gave it a single thought other than that. Then someone made ONE comment on a picture I'd posted to facebook when Jake was 3 weeks and 1 day old. Beverly Muzzy, if you read this... it was you. :) Her one comment (that was in no way offensive!!) is probably mostly responsible for beginning my obsession with car seats. This was the picture.

 She just said something about the straps being too loose. Look how loose they are! You can tell they're too loose! And that retainer clip... dear LORD look how low it is! Cryin' shame. After that, I started reading things online and read my manual and my car's manual. And then I used that info for me and only me. THEN I started to analyze pictures that people would post to facebook and my heart would just break for those poor kids whose parents were just like me and didn't know any better! So, I started posting little facts and tidbits here and there in an effort to bring light to subject that is so often brushed over. I have had people tell me specifically that the facts I post about car-seat safety has shed light on something they were not aware of and in turn were able to make their kiddo safer. Anyway, after that comment, Jake looked more like this in his car seat.

Perfectly snug fit, retainer clip at armpit/nipple level. Beautiful. And yes, it is perfectly ok for a kid's head to lay against the side like that. If you do not like it, you can place rolled up blankets, towels, washrag, whatever... Just so long as nothing comes between the child's body and what came WITH the car seat. Aftermarket positioners are UNSAFE FYI. Also unsafe and not recommended (which I did not learn until I became certified) are those little rings I have hooked to his seat. Anything that didn't come with the seat, is unsafe.

I unofficially began researching content on child passenger safety on my own. I knew what was appropriate, for the most part, and what was completely inappropriate. Truthfully, I used my friends' facebook pictures of incorrect usage, along with informational websites, to learn what was ok, and what was not... and also what was of popular belief but not true or ok.

Jake was on the heavier end as an infant, and his infant seat only went up to 22 pounds. At 6 months, Jake was 19 lbs, so I knew I needed to find a him a new seat quickly. I decided on the seat below. I ordered this seat before it was even available to be ordered. I thought it was THE seat for us. :) Here is Jake in his brand new seat at almost 7 months. He was actually only testing it out. We didn't go anywhere, I just buckled him in for the picture.

August 2010 with Sophie the Giraffe. Straps could probably have stood to be a little tighter, but we weren't going anywhere right then. I was just excited to see what he looked like in his new seat.

The reason I had bought this seat was, first and foremost, because it would allow Jake to rear face until 40 lbs. We have since moved on to a different brand of seat. This seat was a car accident, so it had to be destroyed. Here a few of my favorite of Jake from then till now in his seats.

At 26 months, 30 pounds, 37.5", Jake is perfectly happy (and safer) rear facing. 

I have had people sort of snicker, or try to justify their "turning around" of their almost 2 or barely 2 year-old toddler, and even a barely ONE year-old toddler. You can say whatever you want, especially if you have your own blog... because I'm about to say what I want... since this is my own blog. Sorry, I am really passionate about it. :) My child is as much as FIVE times safer than your forward facing child. So... snicker all you want. Because that is what I have encountered a couple times... however... I'm being very kind to keep my comments (and not so nice thoughts) to myself, even though I could completely slam them with facts. :) I did not make up that statistic above. It was a real number in a real study, published in real medical journals. Wanna see what it would look like if your forward facing kid was sitting right next to my rear facing kid in a crash?? Here you go. :) Hmm... Pretty sure I like the rear-facing position a lot better. And if Jake can still fit properly, he will still ride that way.

Ever heard of internal decapitation? Google it. It was enough for me to take the real-world studies seriously. Watch a couple youtube videos of kids who were affected by it. You may change your tune about my exponentially safer-than-yours child.

This site really explains every reason that rear facing is safer.

So, yep. Jake is still rear-facing. I have no time-limit set on it other than his size and what the seat will allow. Until we reach that point... my kid will be safer than forward facing kids. And trust me, I have the highest weight/height limit seat on the market, it will be a while. I am not interested in forward facing. It is NOT a fun or exciting thing. In fact, the day he turns around will be a sad day, because it will be a step down in safety.

So, there you have it. We do extended rear-facing in the House of Pickle. It is not for everyone. I totally know that. But DO know that the AAP recommends that ALL children stay rear facing until 2 years or as long as they fit the height/weight requirements of the seat in rear-facing position.

In June of last year, I completed a 4 day training course and left being "car seat certified", or the actual term... Child Passenger Safety Technician. So, if you have ANY questions, or would like me to help you make sure your seat is being used properly and safely, PLEASE ask me to look at any time!! I have honestly, since the day I passed that class, had 3 people ask me to look at their seats. Well, other than the ones in the car-seat clinics I help with. If I had a friend that was car-seat certified, I'd be all over that offer! Please ask, I want my friend's kids to be as safe as possible!

It is estimated that about 80% of car seats are misused, either because a child is in the wrong seat, the seat is installed wrong, or the child is not placed in the seat correctly. I will willingly admit that Jake's was installed incorrectly when I went to take the CPST course.

So.... feel free to ask me to check out your seat(s), or to help you find a car-seat check station in your area!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Let Them Be Kids

I LOVE this age of creativity and learning. It is so much fun to watch Jake explore and learn. And one of the things I love to do is let him learn on his own. Sure, we sit down with flash cards of our colors, numbers, and letters. But I also like to let him learn to do things on his own. Y'know, problem solve! Today, we painted with shaving cream... which he loved. He even tried to taste it. Ha! He was a little confused. When he was finished, he wanted his hands clean. He thought they were dirty. Messy, sure, but not dirty... it's shaving cream! So, I set a little bowl of water down, so he could clean his own hands. I just set the bowl down, and he figured out the rest. He loved it. Water was all over my kitchen. :) Water cleans up easily. It was so fun to watch him paint and then "clean up".

When we were done with that, since I already had my splat mat down, I figured I'd let him "cook". We used a mixture of just little things that would be easy to pick up, or fun to feel. I chose salt and flour because of their similar appearance, but very different textures (and tastes, he found out). He had a blast making his little concoction. It also cleaned up easily... with a broom.

We had lunch with my friend Shara, and her daughter, Jake's friend, Paisley. The two toddlers together always make an interesting time. The guy behind Jake and I had orange cheetle on his back... thanks to Jake. And the lady behind Shara and Paisley got a nice back rub, courtesy of Paisley. :) Good times.

When we got home, it was so nice out, so I took Jake to the park that is right around the corner from our house. He had so much fun playing and exploring. We came home around 1, and he went right to sleep. Ahhhh.

Well, our day was pretty fun!!

I hear him waking now... :)

Happy Monday, friends!

It Goes Like This...

Ok friends. I have had several of you praying for me. This is where I finally get to the nitty gritty of what's going on with me, medically. This will be very long and very wordy, so if you're not really interested, then this will be a very boring post. After all the miscarriages, all the tests run, all the doctor's visits. I have waited to get it all out there, mainly because things are a lot more vague than I would like, so I didn't want to have to go back and change my story and get more confusing. Blah.


First of all, thank you so, so much for all the prayers and positive words of encouragement. And to those of you that have asked how things are going, thank you. Sometimes with my sitch, it is kinda like a big elephant in the room and probably easier to avoid discussing for some people. Understandable. But to those of you who genuinely text me, called me, spoke with me... thank you. For real.


So, basically the past 17 months have gone like this..


October 2010, decide to start trying. Unsuccessful month.
November 2010 also unsuccessful.
December 2010 decide not to try, get pregnant naturally without fertility meds!
January 2011 miscarriage #1. Not out of the ordinary to have 1, continue trying in a few months.
3 month break.
May 2011 start trying, doctor would like to see how/if I'm ovulating on my own. I'm not.
June 2011 clomid. Failed.
July 2011 clomid. Pregnant, found out on my birthday.
August 2011 miscarriage #2 deemed "ectopic", but overall a pretty vague situation, but still called ectopic for all documentation purposes. Had to take methotrexate shots. Took 100 days for my hcg to reach non-pregnant levels. Weird. Decided both were separate flukes. Decide not to do testing.
October 2011 hcg levels finally drop to 0.
December 2011 decide to try again, took Femara.
January 2011 pregnant, found out on New Year's Day. Miscarriage #3. Not a fluke. You don't have 3 miscarriages in one calendar year. Diagnosis- recurrent pregnancy loss or habitual abortion. Followed shortly by the "recurrent pregnancy loss workup", which was the 16 vials of blood that were ran for all SORTS of different things. From what I've read, something like 50% of the time, there is nothing even found in these lab tests. So, I went into it thinking that since my odds have sucked thus far, I probably wouldn't find anything out.


Much the opposite. Two of my tests came back abnormal. Not one, two. I have two hereditary thrombophilias (clotting disorders); Factor V Leiden (V as in Roman Numeral 5, so it's said "Factor 5") and another one called MTHFR which is a short abbreviation for something called, get ready... methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Phew! Seriously. 


Ok, so... Factor V is not a disease, it is the presence of a particular gene that is passed on from the parents. Factor V Leiden is a variant of the protein Factor V, which is needed for blood clotting.

People who have a Factor V deficiency are more likely to bleed badly while people with Factor V Leiden have blood that has an increased tendency to clot.

People carrying the Factor V Leiden gene have a five times greater risk of developing a blood clot (thrombosis) than the rest of the population. However, many people with the gene will never suffer from blood clots

Researchers are still studying the exact nature of the relationship between Factor V Leiden (and other hereditary thrombophilias) and recurrent miscarriages. Different genetic blood clotting disorders have different levels of relationship to miscarriage, but Factor V Leiden is one of the hereditary thrombophilias that does appear to have a role in causing miscarriages (or at least increasing risk), because women with the mutation have a higher rate of miscarriages than women without it.

MTHFR can affect how a person's body processes homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood. Researchers have looked at MTHFR gene mutations as being a possible factor in recurrent miscarriages with quite mixed results. Some studies find that MTHFR gene variations increase the risk of miscarriages while others find no link. MTHFR gene mutations are fairly common; nearly half the population of the United States may be at least heterozygous (one copy of the gene from one parent) for an MTHFR gene mutation. 

Many doctors believe that hereditary thrombophilias, such as Factor V Leiden, may increase the risk of miscarriage by creating tiny blood clots that block nutrient flow to the placenta and so they include MTHFR gene mutations in this category. Doctors who follow the theory of MTHFR variations as a thrombophilia disorder may prescribe anti-clotting therapy such as heparin and low dose "baby" aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clots. Others may recommend high doses of folic acid and possibly other B vitamins with the idea that this will reduce homocysteine levels and eliminate any added risk on that front.

Both of these are said to affect later term miscarriages, and not necessarily early ones, like mine. So, I was left feeling pretty blah about it.

Had an appointment with a hematologist, whose office is in the "Cancer Care" clinic. Talk about putting me in my place. In the grand scheme, cakewalk is what I've got. Anyway, this doctor was pretty nice, but told me that miscarriages were just a normal part of the trying to conceive process. Sorry, doc... not three... in a row. He told me that we could treat it, or we could just continue on with trying (and miscarrying). He said that there really isn't research that shows it would help, nor otherwise really. But he also said that the treatment used wouldn't harm me or baby and that if I wanted to, then he wouldn't see why not. So, I left there still pretty confused and bummed.

This week I had an appointment with my regular OBGYN and we discussed and developed our plan of action. There are no guarantees that it will work, but it doesn't hurt to try. It is our only option, and therefore, we decided that I'd be silly not to at least try.

Plan is- start taking a pill that is extra folic acid and b vitamins, take baby aspirin. Take fertility meds to get pregnant. Get pregnant. Begin a (very expensive into the thousands, but found out this week that my insurance covers it awesomely!) blood-thinner shot that I have to give myself twice a day in my belly and continue to take for the duration of the pregnancy, also start taking progesterone.

So, two hereditary thrombophilias. Take a bunch of medicine. Pray it works.

That's that in a giant nutshell. :)

Happy weekend, friends!

Did You Get a Push Present?

I took care of someone the other day that was asking about a "push present" (while they were pushing, ha!) They'd recently heard of it, and were asking me if I had ever heard of it. Working where I do, of course I've heard of it! I have had this conversation so many times. The woman mentions it, the husband thinks it something that SHE made up in order to get something new. And I always side with the lady, confirming that the push present is for real. It's actually a much bigger deal in other countries. Which I found kind of ironic, being that we Americans are probably the most spoiled of all people in the world.

Have you ever heard of a push present? If not, it's a present a woman receives after having a baby, or... after pushing out the baby. Yes, I understand that not all women "push" their babies out. It's just the name of the gift. I didn't create the name... I just received one. ;) See, not making it up.... Lots of people haven't heard of one. Lots of people also think it's ridiculous, and a lot of people think it's a great idea. I've heard it all. Trust me, I work in it... so, I'm serious, I have heard it all. :)

I did want a push present, but I didn't want something big and extravagant and ridiculous. Although, carrying a human around for 9 months and then pushing it out of my body, was certainly no walk in the park. Even if I'd never had a kid, I really truly believe that a woman deserves SOME kind of recognition or appreciation gift (from her spouse or significant other) for doing just that. Just my thought. Think what you may. Anyway, Derick also liked the idea, so we thought long and hard on my push present before Jake was born. In fact, I thought so long and hard, that I didn't go pick it out until after he was born.

I wanted something that every time I looked at it, I would remember it. I wanted it to be important and not just like flowers that quickly die, or a gift certificate that I would spend and forget what I got. I wanted something that would last.

My push present

My push present was this Pandora charm bracelet. I've seen tons of these, and they're SO cute when they're all filled up. I've known people to get theirs filled up really quickly. But I didn't wanna do that. I wanted mine to be first from Derick, and then after that, we decided that when Jake "got" me a present for the holidays, he would get me charms. Each one means something. So, not only did I get the bracelet with three charms to start out with (the baby carriage, the light blue bead, and the J) for my "push present", but each time I get another charm, it means something. And I can look down and know for what occasion each little charm was for too. The first three and the bracelet itself, were for Jake's birth and Valentine's Day. The one that says "mother" on it, was for my first mother's day. The purple-stoned one, I got for my birthday. It's amethyst, Jake's birthstone. All the others are a mixture of birthdays and holidays from then till now. I know what each of them are for, and each one makes me smile. The most questioned one is the owl. I guess it doesn't really look much like an owl, from what I'm told. Then the next natural question about it, is why an owl? Ha. My grandma has collected owls for long before I even came along. And in the past few years, I have become quite fond of owls. My grandma packaged up a BUNCH of her old owl stuff from jewelry to knick-knacks for me. If you ever see me wearing an owl necklace (which I almost always am) chances are highly likely that it came from my grandma. My favorite owl necklace was one that she wore when she was younger than me!

Anyway, my push present turned presents from Jake. :) I couldn't wait for the day that Jake could help me pick out the charms he was "getting" me. For Valentine's Day, he helped me pick out a bead last night. He liked the blue swirly one the best. I narrowed it down to three charms for him to choose from and blue swirly is what we ended up with. :) Eventually I'll fill this one up and we'll move on to another bracelet. I can not tell you how much I LOVE the idea that he's gonna grow up picking out charms. I assume some of them are going to be ones that I would probably never, ever pick out, but they'll mean so much to me because he picked them.

There ya have it!

So, if you have a lucky (pregnant, or someday pregnant) lady in your life... go on ahead... treat her with something special for loaning out her body and birthing your child. ;-) Sure, the baby is gift enough, but trust me,

that bracelet is so special to me and totally worth the thought of a "push present".

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Birthday Number 2!

Happy birthday, beautiful boy!

Jake is TWO years old! We are celebrating pretty low-key today with a Jake-day (do whatever Jake wants all day). This included going to the store for balloons and stopping for chicken nuggets and fries, and watching lots of his favorite shows. Birthdays are for spoiling, so it's back to normal tomorrow. :) This weekend, we'll have his big YO! party, party!

My, how time passes. This child of ours is so fun and lovable. He spends most of his waking hours talking. He now speaks in full sentences and ideas. I know kids are funny and they say the darndest things, but holy cow... he's a riot! We just got back from vacationing with my mom's side of the family and one night at dinner he literally had us IN TEARS!! He's a mess. I have no idea where it comes from. His daddy is one of the funniest people I know, seriously. And the smart aleck side... well, I KNOW where that comes from. ;) He is king of eye rolling right now. Oh my. And tell me about the "terrible two's". Wait, I can tell you all about it. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. That kid produces more delight and blessings in my life than I ever thought possible. Those simple "wub you, momma"'s before bed will melt my heart every single time.

On vacation, two things were vital to Jake. Mickey, and me. I already know he's a momma's boy... but gooood grief. I was telling everyone at dinner one night that I always longed for a kid that would want me the most, that I would settle their tears and kiss away their owies. Well, ladies and gentlemen... I have all I ever wanted and more.

And I wouldn't it trade it for the world.

Let it go on record... everyone that said how much boys love their mommas... well, they were not kidding. Little boys LOVE their mommas. :)

I have been updating Jake's likes and size and what-not's, but other than the serious conversing he does now, nothing else really has changed. He still loves Gabba, McDonald's chicken and fries, playing outside, water, coloring, tv (oy), sleeping long naps :), jumping off of things.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NEWBORN BABY I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!

A COUPLE HOURS OLD


I can not believe it has been two years since these pictures were taken. They still completely melt my heart.

We love you, baby boy.