Playground for Parents

To Wean or Not to Wean

 

Funny how my detailed plans in raising my kids seem so realistic in theory. But, at least half the time, that plan is shot to hell once real life enters the equation. I'm either in denial, or stupid determined, because I continue trying to plan out their future in my methodical manner. I guess obsessive-compulsive disorder dies hard.

 

Baby is almost ten months now, and I am faced with a breastfeeding dilemma. The plan was to nurse her until one year, just as I did her sister. No one will be able to say that she got anything less than the first kid. Start them out on equal footing, so to speak, even if baby already has fewer photos (everyone told me that would happen). If she turns out to be a serial killer, it won't be because I didn't nurse her and get all her vaccinations.

 

But, now I need to take a medication that isn't safe to use while nursing. Don't worry, it's not anything life-threatening. I'll still host all those giveaways for you to enter (yea, I know what you were thinking). My 12-month nursing plan is being challenged. Do I just tough it out and wait two short months, continuing (as we so often do) to sacrifice my own comfort for the sake of my child? Do I wean her now, and have her drink formula for two short months? Do I wean her now and start her on cow's milk?

 

I believe in nursing, but I'm not a die-hard. Mamas make different choices for different reasons, and I respect that. Well, unless maybe it's someone nursing an eight year old. But I have such freakishly high standards for myself. When I set a goal, I get pretty entrenched. You call it anal. I call it...focused (just trying to be positive). So, if I said that I'll nurse for 12 months, then doing less makes me feel like I have failed.

 

If I give her formula at all, I will likely feel guilty, as if it's totally acceptable for others but not for me. God forbid someone should witness me giving my baby formula, and not know of the many months I endured engorgement that felt like my skin was going to split open, stabbing milk let-down, and the fear of leakage during a morning meeting.

 

If I wean now, could I go straight to cow's milk or soy milk instead of formula before 12 months? Some moms have said no, pointing to risk of allergies as one reason; another mom said that she introduced cow's milk at nine months and baby was just fine.

 

If I continue to nurse and wait another two months, I risk my condition worsening. It won't affect my overall health, but will be very aggravating.

 

And the funny part is, whatever decision I make about weaning, whether now or in two months, and regardless of how challenging and toe-curling painful the nursing was at times, I know I'll still miss it when it's over.

 

I'm considering my baby's needs, but also my own, and that's all mixed in with a big cup of perfectionism, and too many tablespoons of guilt. The end result? My brain feels like a blended jar of Earth's Best peas.

 

What would you do?

 

 

 

 

Giveaway! Personalized Pacifier! THREE Winners!

 

Things that make you say, "ahhhh."  Here's the cutest little accessory that is also an absolute necessity for many babies and parents - a personalized pacifier that not only gets points for the adorable factor, but is a safer way to distinguish your baby's pacifier from that kid with all the mucous (you know that kid, whose mom swears it's just "allergies").

 

Introducing: Personalized Pacifiers. "The perfect choice for your baby. Our products are made of non-toxic, hygienically formed, natural bite-resistant materials designed to form naturally in the mouth, satisfying babies' need for supplemental sucking and providing parents with peace of mind."

 

Personalized Pacifiers offered to send us a pacifier to review. My Munchkin doesn't actually use a pacifier (she'd rather wail until you stick a boob in her mouth). So, I had one personalized for my best friend's son, who wouldn't be caught without his binky. The quality of the pacifier was impressive, the personalization perfect, and I was proud to give it as a one-of-a-kind gift.

 

Everything imaginable is personalized these days. Makes total sense to personalize one of the most visible objects a baby holds. The brilliant mama who thought of this particular concept: Danielle Riiber, with a bit of influence from her own son. "When my husband and I became parents to our son Theis, now age 3, we were very concerned (well…. at least I was) with keeping a germ free environment. We have purchased every gadget to help us in our quest ranging from bottle sanitizers, pacifier sanitizer, sanitizer sanitizers…Theis was growing very quickly and trying to keep all my bases covered was becoming more of a challenge. As play dates became more frequent so did more germs then it happened- Shared Pacifiers!! EWWW!! PersonalizedPacifiers.com is presented to moms everywhere who have lost pacifiers due to lack of identification, daycare workers who love and nurture our little one when were are not there, and anyone seeking the perfect personalized gift for that special baby in their life...Personalized Pacifiers is a mom-friendly, fashionable way to identify their child’s pacifier and finally eliminates what we like to call SPS “Shared Pacifier Syndrome”. You can engrave your child’s name or nickname onto our pacifiers and we guarantee the letters will never rub or wash off. We have several nipple sizes and materials to choose from."

 

The pacifiers are available in "boy colors"  of blue, green, red, and clear, and "girl colors" of pink, yellow, lavender and clear. It comes in sizes for 0 to 3 months, and 3 to 36 months. The turnaround is super quick, as the pacifiers are produced in just 1-2 days.

 

This is no small-time operation. Personalized Pacifiers have been featured in over 200 publications, and over 85 television programs, including VH1, E! Entertainment (see clip below), HGTV, and the Tyra Banks Show. 

 

 

 

I just had to make special mention of this particular item on their website, because it's still making me laugh: The Diamond Pacifier. Seriously. I'm not talking about the shape of a diamond. I'm not referring to "pretend diamonds" like in my daughter's Barbie ring. It's a $17,000 full-on blinging pacifier that you have to check their website just to see. NOW you can say you've seen it all. I'd like to wear that pacifier on my finger. Wish I had been sent that one to review. Ha!

 

A personalized pacifier. Because babies look alike, and you'll be able to tell which one is yours. No, no, no. Because the celebrity kids have them. Hmmm. How about - because we just love personalized stuff for our kid!

 

Wanna Buy It?  Check out Personalized Pacifiers and their colorful selection of Personalized Pacifiers, Expression Pacifiers, Holiday Pacifiers and more. You'll be surprised at their great low prices, and many of them are sold in sets of three.

 

Wanna Win It?  THREE lucky readers have a chance to win a personalized pacifier for their little one, or to give as a perfect gift!

 

Come out to play with a Giveaway!

Visit Personalized Pacifiers.  Leave a Comment telling me your favorite pacifier from their collections.  Comments must be received by 11:59pm (PST) on July 10th.  One winner will be selected by Random.org. Winner will be notified via email, and will be announced here.  Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you (and make sure it doesn't go to spam) - I'd hate for you to miss your prize. Winners have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of U.S. only. Good luck!

 

Increase your chances to win!  For more entries, you can: 

1. Subscribe to my blog (located on the top, right side of this page).  After you've subscribed, leave a comment and let me know.  Be the first to find out about Giveaways and parenting info!  Are you already a Subscriber?  Just leave a Comment and say, "I subscribe!"
2. Blog about this Giveaway and link back to Playground for Parents.  Leave a Comment, with the link to your post!
3. Post my blog button on your site!  Leave five separate Comments with your blog link, for five entries!! 
4. Email a friend about this Giveaway and cc me: PlaygroundMail@aol.com. Leave a Comment for your extra entry!
5. If you have Entrecard, drop your card on me, or advertise on my site! Just leave me a Comment and let me know you've done so.
6. Follow me on Twitter  AND tweet about the Giveaway! Leave the link to your tweet in your comment.

* Be sure to leave a Separate Comment for EACH entry. That's SEVEN total ways to enter this fantastic contest!! 

 

Reminder:  Check the top left corner of this page for other fantastic Giveaways! Hurry, they end soon!

Many thanks to Patty with Personalized Pacifiers for arranging this Review and Giveaway!

 

Congratulations to the THREE lucky winners:  Renee (#51), ShootingStarsMag (#21) and Michelle (#9)!

 

 

 

 

Giveaway! Luxurious Skin Products from Suave!

We buy the best products to pamper our children's skin, but we don't do the same for ourselves. We lather our children up with soaps and lotions that leave them smelling sweet and dreamy. But, we're lucky if we remember to brush our own teeth. Time-out, mom. Mother's Day isn't the only time to look good, smell good, and take a little extra time to feel invigorated and refreshed. Ask me when is the last time I indulged in a skin care product for myself, and I will embarrassingly tell you...that it's been so long, I don't even remember. Well, at least until this week, when I got to try out the new Shower Yourself Beautiful line of natural skin products from Suave®.

 

I was invited to review the new Suave® Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash, Suave® Naturals Apricot Exfoliating Naturals Body Wash, and Suave® Advanced Therapy Body Lotion. Honey, I am not exaggerating when I say that I smelled sooo delicious after using that Apricot Wash. On a scale of one to five loofahs, it gets a five for lather, texture, and that incredible scent. When I walked out of that bathroom, I left the scent behind, and this time it was a good one! Ha! It was as if I had lit a tropical aromatherapy candle. A wonderful and well-deserved change from a boring bar of soap. The Wild Cherry Blossom lathered up just as nicely, and was my husband's favorite (yes, I shared and let him participate in the review. Figured I'd benefit just as much from him smelling good). The Advanced Therapy Body Lotion was thick and creamy, with a wonderful, light fragrance. It's indeed long-lasting, with no greasy residue. None of that cheap, watery stuff in this bottle, baby.

 

Suave is so convinced that you'll love their skin care line, that they have a "beautiful skin guarantee." Get beautiful skin, or get your money back. Now that's a guarantee that mamas on a budget can appreciate.

 

In addition to my blog giveaway, Suave® is also hosting a Shower Yourself Beautiful Sweepstakes! They've even created a special link for Playground for Parents readers to access the sweepstakes site! Here's your chance to instantly win a prize of your choice, including gourmet kitchen items, summer vacation items, and living room themed items. AND be automatically entered for a chance to win the ULTIMATE at-home gathering, for you and your friends, awarded as a $2,000 check! Head on over and enter today. Just be sure to send me an invitation to your little shindig if you win. At least you know I'll come smelling good. Click our link, and enter each week:  https://www.ShowerYourselfBeautiful.com?track=PlaygroundforParents

 

Go on and pamper yourself, mama. Great lather, smell, and coverage, at a great price. Because sometimes the shower is our only escape.

 

Wanna Win It?  One lucky reader will receive a set of skin care products, by simply leaving a comment below! You have a chance to win all THREE Suave® body treats that I reviewed:  Suave® Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash, Suave®  Naturals Apricot Exfoliating Naturals Body Wash, and Suave® Advanced Therapy Body Lotion.

 

Come out to play with a Giveaway!

Leave a Comment telling me which Suave product you'd love to try! That's it! Comments must be received by 11:59pm (PST) on July 10th.  One winner will be selected by Random.org. Winner will be notified via email, and will be announced here.  Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you (and make sure it doesn't go to spam) - I'd hate for you to miss your prize. Winner has 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of U.S. Good luck!

 

Increase your chances to win!  For more entries, you can: 

1. Subscribe to my blog (located on the top, right side of this page).  After you've subscribed, leave a comment and let me know.  Be the first to find out about Giveaways and parenting info!  Are you already a Subscriber?  Just leave a Comment and say, "I subscribe!"
2. Blog about this Giveaway and link back to Playground for Parents.  Leave a Comment, with the link to your post!
3. Post my blog button on your site!  Leave five separate Comments with your blog link, for five entries!! 
4. Email a friend about this Giveaway and cc me: PlaygroundMail@aol.com. Leave a Comment for your extra entry!
5. If you have Entrecard, drop your card on me, or advertise on my site! Just leave me a Comment and let me know you've done so.
6. Follow me on Twitter  AND tweet about the Giveaway! Leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
7. Leave a Comment telling us how you indulge yourself in your "spare" mommy time.

* Be sure to leave a Separate Comment for EACH entry. That's EIGHT total ways to enter this fantastic contest!! 

 

Reminder:  Check the top left corner of this page for other fantastic Giveaways! Hurry, they end soon!

Many thanks to Suave, and Amy from MomTalkRadio, for providing this Review and Giveaway!

 

Congratulations to lucky winner, Erin (#111)!

Michael Jackson: A Kid's Sudden Lesson About Death

I was driving home from work today at about 1:30pm, flipping radio stations as usual, and stopped when I hit a Michael Jackson song. When the song ended, the DJ said something that sounded like "Rest In Peace." Huh? I couldn't get home fast enough. Like many of you, I turned the TV on as soon as I got here, searching for breaking news. OK, actually, I immediately asked the nanny if she heard anything, and ran to the TV, before I even greeted my kids.

 

Daughter (age 8):  "How did Michael Jackson die?"

Me: "They think it was cardiac arrest, which means a heart attack."

Daughter:  "What happens in a heart attack?"

Me:  "It's when someone's heart stops beating all of a sudden. Once their heart stops beating, they pass out - like going to sleep. And they stop breathing. Sometimes the paramedics can come in time to get the person's heart beating again with a machine. And sometimes they can't, like with Michael Jackson."

Daughter:  "I thought Michael Jackson was brown."

Me: (the death question was easier than this one)  "He was, when he was younger. He said it was a skin disease, but no one knows for sure."

Daughter:  "That's how the queen died in Tale of Despereaux. She saw a mouse and had a heart attack."

 

End of discussion. Sometimes their questions are easy. Sometimes they are excruciatingly difficult. And sometimes kids relate it to a cartoon, and it's over.

 

There's one thing for certain: whether in real life or a movie (and someone ALWAYS seems to die in kid movies), death sucks.

 

Amazing how things change in just days. My daughter was making up a little dance routine, and of all the millions of songs to choose from, including the current ones of her day, she wanted to choreograph her dance to Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Long after we found it on YouTube and played it for her, my husband and I continued to listen to our other MJ favorites that evening - Billy Jean, Thriller, Man In The Mirror...

That was just last Saturday. Today, the creator of those legendary and timeless songs is dead, and an entire world mourns the death of a musical icon.

 

One of my favorite MJ songs, which is much more meaningful to me now that I'm a mother: Man In The Mirror. "...If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change..."

Giveaway! Set of "The Safe Sippy" Cups from Kid Basix!

 

 

Colorful. Modern. Super-Cool. Safe. Bet you never thought so much would go into a simple sippy cup.  Except there's nothing simple about it. This sippy cup looks different. It feels different. And it's made different. And you'll want it for your child because you're the kind of mama that stands out in a crowd. Oh, and there's that little thing about creating a less toxic world for our children too.

 

Introducing:  The Safe Sippy by Kid Basix.  "The Safe Sippy™ cup breaks away from the all-plastic sippy cup designs of the past.  From the clean, non-leaching stainless steel cup to the unique safety features to the plastics free of Bisphenol A and other harmful chemicals, The Safe Sippy™ cup was created to accomplish one simple goal:  Clean In, Clean Out."

 

Kid Basix sent us The Safe Sippy in blue. My favorite features, besides its very modern and unique look, are the removable handles, and the rubber sleeve that keeps Munchkin's beverage cold. And I love that it's free of all those nasty chemicals that are going to lead to who-knows-what twenty years from now. This is especially important since Munchkin manages to suck and chew on every part of her sippy cup.

 

Tell me more, tell me more... "We thought carefully about every feature while we were designing our cup. The most important issue of all was safety. So it’s not surprising that the first thing people ask us is, “How come the cap is plastic?” The answer is simple: No child (or adult, for that matter) wants to suck on a stainless steel straw. It hurts our teeth just thinking about it.

We did the next best thing. We kept contact between water and plastic to a minimum, and we insisted that all our plastics be certified free of Bisphenol A, phthalates and DEHA. We pay for extensive independent laboratory testing on our cups to make sure they are free of these chemicals. Lastly, we make our cap out of Polypropylene, #5 plastic. PP is the most stable of all plastics.

We also took into consideration the fun stuff, like hands - little hands, messy hands, hands that can't quite hold onto big things yet; the developing mouths and speech abilities of growing infants; children's desire to look at bright, colorful objects; children's propensity for turning food delivery systems into projectiles...and other stuff as well."

So cool, you'll want to borrow it from baby and use it yourself. But, you probably shouldn't. Or at least remove the handles first.

Wanna Buy It? Check out the The Safe Sippy website to find the many online and store locations that sell The Safe Sippy in the U.S. and Canada, including Nordstrom and The Right Start!

Wanna Win It?  Kid Basix is offering a full set of The Safe Sippy cups to a lucky winner!
That's not one, not two, but THREE sippy cups - blue, pink AND green!

 

Come out to play with a Giveaway!

Visit The Safe Sippy site here.  Leave a Comment telling me your favorite feature on their sippy cup! Comments must be received by 11:59pm (PST) on July 3rd.  One winner will be selected by Random.org. Winner will be notified via email, and will be announced here.  Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you (and make sure it doesn't go to spam) - I'd hate for you to miss your prize. Winner has 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of U.S. and Canada. Good luck!

 

Increase your chances to win!  For more entries, you can: 

1. Subscribe to my blog (located on the top, right side of this page).  After you've subscribed, leave a comment and let me know.  Be the first to find out about Giveaways and parenting info!  Are you already a Subscriber?  Just leave a Comment and say, "I subscribe!"
2. Blog about this Giveaway and link back to Playground for Parents.  Leave a Comment, with the link to your post!
3. Post my blog button on your site!  Leave five separate Comments with your blog link, for five entries!! 
4. Email a friend about this Giveaway and cc me: PlaygroundMail@aol.com. Leave a Comment for your extra entry!
5. If you have Entrecard, drop your card on me, or advertise on my site! Just leave me a Comment and let me know you've done so.
6. Follow me on Twitter  AND tweet about the Giveaway! Leave the link to your tweet in your comment.

* Be sure to leave a Separate Comment for EACH entry. That's SEVEN total ways to enter this fantastic contest!! 

 

Reminder:  Check the top left corner of this page for other fantastic Giveaways! Hurry, they end soon!

Many thanks to Jemima with The Safe Sippy for providing this Review and Giveaway!

Congratulations to lucky winner, Alexia (#144), who tweeted about this giveaway!

I'll Take That 50% (Update on Baby's Hernia)

 

First of all, let me say that you mamas ROCK! After revealing how nervous I was about the possibility of my baby needing surgery, I must thank you all for your positive words, prayers, and for letting me borrow your mantras! ;-) Secondly, let us all be reminded that we NEVER have to go through this mommy journey - and all of it's self-doubts, fears, confusion, questions, and triumphs - alone. If we simply ask, there is another mommy willing to share her experience to make ours an easier one. As I've written before, having mommy friends is essential to surviving this journey. They will truly save your sanity. I read so many emails today from mommy friends, Twitter friends, and blog readers, whose own child or family member, had hernia or some other surgery under anesthesia. One long-distance mom even emailed me a "before" photo of her child, who had a large hernia and a navel that looked exactly like Munchkin's. She then emailed me a current photo of her child with a belly-button that is now a normal size. That was a huge boost to my optimism. With that said, on to the update...

 

You'd be proud of me. I held my composure in the doctor's office and wasn't a weeping mess as I envisioned. I was actually more sad thinking about it, than I actually was experiencing it. Ever had that happen? It took us longer to drive there than it did for the consultation. Side note - during that drive to the hospital, I was quickly reminded of how dirty and busy the Hollywood area is - blech. Although a homeless man did compliment my Stokke stroller.

 

The bad news:  if a hernia measures under 2cm, there's a 98% chance that it will heal on its own. But, that likelihood drops to 50% once the hernia reaches 2cm in size, and surgery is recommended. Munchkin's hernia measures close to... 2cm. Of course.  

 

The good news:  it's only a 50% chance, but we can wait up until she's four years old to see if the hernia does close on its own. Surgery would not have to be done immediately. Love it when every so often, I get to put off doing something that's frightening (surgery and flying at the top of the list). The surgeon did say he'd be "happy to do the procedure at anytime." Yea, I bet you would. Like a hairdresser who finally gets to cut your hair short. So, we'll take that 50% possibility and pray over that freakin' belly button like it's a temple, for the next four years. IF she must have surgery, the doc said there was "less than 1% chance of infection or complications." Good, reassuring. In terms of the anesthesia, he said the risks were "the same as getting into an accident on the drive over here, or experiencing road rage." OK, now THAT is not so reassuring. He hasn't seen the way I drive. And is he possibly referring to Los Angeles drivers?! Good thing I'll stop nursing long before she reaches age four, because I may very well need a valium. 

 

We are very fortunate to have a pediatrician for the girls, and a consulting surgeon, who are personable, patient, thorough and punctual. There's nothing worse than having questions and concerns, and after a long wait, having a physician who is rushed and condescending. If that's your experience, get out now, find someone else. I bring our pediatrician fresh pumpkin bread when we see her because I know it's her favorite, and that's how much I like her personality. Plus, maybe it gets me in a few minutes faster. I'm not above giving bribes.

 

I'm feeling good, fired up, ready to address the next challenge. Because there will be another challenge. Medical, educational, social, or emotional...there's always another challenge. And it's always easier to get through with resources, information - and friends.

 

 

Dear God: Please Don't Let My Baby Need Surgery

 

This afternoon, my husband will get off work early and we will take Munchkin to a pediatric surgeon for a consultation. We were referred by her regular pediatrician, who is unable to make a definitive diagnosis/prognosis, so she's sending us to the specialist who can. Apparently, Munchkin may have a hernia that will not heal on its own, and will require surgery. Mind you, it's not the surgery itself that has me anxious and teary-eyed. The procedure actually sounds pretty straight-forward, I guess, as far as surgeries go. It's the anesthesia. OK, it's a little about the surgery (fears of complications, infection), but it's mostly about the anesthesia.

 

The possibility of putting my baby "under" is what really has my stomach in knots. I've seen all the news stories of kids put under anesthesia for surgery or dental work, who never woke up. Those are the stories that are always broadcast on negative news, and those are the stories that stay with you. Heart-breaking tales of innocent babies given the wrong dosage of anesthesia, or who otherwise fall victim to "human error." There's also the worry if babies feel the pain (because they're given a lighter dose), and the risks to infants (which remains under-researched). My uncle was an anesthesiologist. I know that the process is not as carefree or risk-free as it looks on Grey's Anatomy. I'm not trying to be dramatic; I'm just a mom who would rather not do this.

 

In a nutshell (and without all the confusing medical jargon), a hernia occurs when the baby's abdominal muscles don't fully close. The intestines push through a small hole that is created. From the outside, it basically creates a large belly-button. It's more common among African American children. Yep, one more medical issue leading the way in my racial group. Great.

 

An umbilical hernia is a bulge in the abdominal wall within the navel. The hernia sometimes contains tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen, a loop of intestine, fat, or fluid. This tissue protrudes through an opening or weak spot in the abdominal wall where the umbilical cord was attached when the fetus was developing. This weak spot forms when muscle and other tissue around the umbilical cord do not close properly. Umbilical hernias occur in about 15% of all children...An umbilical hernia is not painful. It does not pose any health risks except for very rare cases when complications, such as strangulation or rupture, develop. Umbilical hernias almost always resolve on their own as a child's abdominal muscles grow, but they sometimes require surgical repair. (from webmd)

 

Munchkin's hernia was rather large at birth. Made her belly button look like a small rubber ball sitting up on her stomach. But, her pediatrician examined it everytime Munchkin had her regular baby checkups, and indicated that, fortunately, it wasn't big enough to require surgery. Her navel would eventually reduce in size. Sure enough, it started getting noticeably smaller, and I didn't give it a second thought. My biggest concern wasn't her hernia, but those freakin' vaccinations that they have to get every couple of months. She is healthy. The hernia doesn't hurt. It doesn't require any special care or attention. It doesn't keep her from getting tickled or scooting belly-down on the floor. She's perfect. Her older sister had a hernia at birth too, although it wasn't nearly as large, about the size of a cherry tomato. Her sister's resolved on its own.

 

Fast forward to Munchkin at age nine months. I recently noticed that her navel seemed bigger. It's one of those things that I wasn't quite sure of, and second-guessed myself. Maybe my perception was off? Maybe I was just eager for her belly button to get smaller, and was imagining it? 

 

I asked the nanny, who said, "No, it looks like it's getting smaller to me."

 

I asked my husband, who said, "I don't think it looks bigger."

 

I asked my mother. "I did notice that it looked a little larger."

 

A mother always knows.

 

So, I took Munchkin to see her pediatrician, looking for some reassurance. Tell me again that it will heal on its own by the time she's five years old, and she'll end up with a cute little outie just like her sister. Instead, Munchkin's doctor told me that she not only has the one hernia, but apparently she has a small SECOND hernia on top of this one. This second hernia was too small to determine at birth. But, now it can be detected because she's a bit older. It is causing the larger hernia to protrude more. That's why her navel looked like it was getting bigger to me. And it's this second hernia that will require surgery. Of course, since the diagnosis, in my mind her belly button looks like it's getting bigger by the day.

 

I was already getting emotional when her pediatrician was emphasizing how "minor" the surgery is. But, when it's your kid on the table, and everything is out of your control, does it matter?!  It always comes back to that darn control. Because if anything happens to her...if anything happens to that always smiling, clapping, kissing, funny-face-making, bundle of love in the other room...suffice it to say, I will be D-O-N-E. Enough said. I can't let my brain go there.

 

I'll be sure to post an update.

 

 

I know, I know - surgery or not, everything will be fine, right? Ahhhh!

I always love to get Comments from you ladies. This time around, I'd love to get some strength. Have you faced something similar? Do you have a mantra you can share, that will help me to not fall apart with the doctor (fortunately my husband will be there so he can retain all the important information)? Even if you don't leave a Comment, a prayer or wish or whatever it is that you do, is most appreciated!

 

Father's Day, the Budget Way

Surely I can't be the only overwhelmed, sleep-deprived, working, blogging, juggling mom who just realized that Father's Day is THIS Sunday?! Good thing I got that gift stuff out of the way when I bought him six new pair of dress socks last week. Ha! As if those count. My husband made it very clear, very early on, that socks were not an acceptable gift for ANY occasion. Somethingabout being traumatized when he was a kid, when he wanted a stupid toy and instead got stupid socks. Only three days away, and yet I'm not stressin'. Why? Because I won't be giving him a purchased gift. No $60 per person brunch. No day of golf. Instead, he gets to make a list.

I confess that I'm the first person to say, "Oh, don't buy me anything. It wouldn't make financial sense." I pay all the household bills. I know this. But I'd also be the first person to sulk if my husband actually listened to me and didn't get me anything. I mean like really pout. And I don't do a very good job of playing it off (to be honest, I don't try). My snide remarks and quivering bottom lip are probably a dead giveaway.

This past Mother's Day, in my attempt to have a truly special day but not spend any money, I created a list of things that had better I wanted to happen that day:

1. Sleep-in. He's pretty good about letting me sleep in normally, so I went easy on him with this one. Basically, take the baby after I nurse her, and wake me when breakfast is ready;

2. Breakfast in bed. Banana pancakes, hash browns, orange juice. He can prepare that in his sleep. Except he won't be sleeping, because he'll be watching the kids;

3. Watch the kids. This includes all diaper changes for the baby, meals, etcetera. Sure, I'll be sitting right there with you and spending quality family time. But, when the baby cries, you don't get to look at me with that "are you going to get her" stare;

4. Keep the kitchen clean all day. I was really proud of myself for coming up with this one. This is the request that probably proved most challenging. But, I definitely deserved it, at least for one day. I have that family that will get a cup from the cabinet and leave the cabinet door wide open; make a sandwich and leave bread crumbs on the counter top immediately after I've washed it down. A clean kitchen is the way to my heart;

5. Neck and back rub for at least 15 minutes. I had to designate a specific amount of time, or the rub wouldn't last through a single tv commercial.

There was a little more, but you get the idea. And you know what? It turned out great. No sulking or pouting. And I'm not just referring to my husband. I felt loved, cherished, nurtured. Best of all, it was free. Although, he may have preferred at some point when he was working from that list, to have just taken me to dinner and given me some SEES candy.

Now it's his turn. Can't wait to see what he comes up with for his free Father's Day wish list. After all, what could he possibly want that he's not already getting?

Uh-oh.

 

Imaginabox. Kids' Gifts Just Got Easier.

Remember when you were a kid, you opened one of your birthday cards...and nothing fell out. No money, no gift card, nothin'. Your mom insisted that you should just be thankful for the acknowledgement, that a gift didn't matter. When it's your birthday as a kid, it doesn't get much worse than the card with no money (yea, yea, save the materialism speech for Christmas. I'm 41, and I still wait for the money to fall out the envelope). And when you're a kid, it doesn't get much better than a gift box with multiple toys. It's as if they discovered a treasure chest. Here's your clue for what's coming up next: just IMAGINE a BOX filled with age-appropriate goodies for a child's special day. And just imagine that it's super easy to put together this box of kids' goodies, from the comfort of your own home, at no extra cost to you for delivery. Well, imagine no more, mama...

Introducing Imaginabox. "Looking to find creative kids' gifts for birthdays, holidays or any day?  Now you can Imaginabox!  Build, buy and ship an entire box of gifts created by YOU!  Choose from movies, toys, books, games and more…all for one flat fee and FREE SHIPPING.  Choose 3 gifts, select a regular or themed box, type a personalized message...and we ship it off for you!  Make your shopping experience quick, fun and easy." 

Imaginabox sent my eight year old daughter a gift box to review. I don't know who was more excited, me or her. It's probably not fair to compare, since I'm taller, I can usually jump higher. Anyway, she opened her cute green box to find a double feature DVD, The Chronicles of Narnia chapter book, colored pencils, stickers, and lip gloss (her favorite of the gifts. She's such a girly-girl). It was obvious that Imaginabox took into consideration both her age and gender to provide a gift box she would truly enjoy.

Imaginabox has been named a USA TODAY "Hot Site," and it's no wonder considering their popular gift choices for kids, 5 to 10 years old. In addition to boxes you can create, they also offer Pre-Made themed Imaginaboxes: Signature, Happy Birthday, Way To Go! and Get Well.  They've pretty much covered all the gift-giving bases. "It’s your nephew’s birthday.  He’s in New Jersey, you’re in Florida.  Your granddaughter in Dallas won MVP on her soccer team.  Perhaps your son needs the perfect gift for a friend’s party.  Or maybe you have family and friends all over the country but you can’t spend the holidays in five states at once.  Whatever the reason, you have something to celebrate right now.  And you need a gift.  It doesn’t get any faster or more convenient than Imaginabox!"

Wanna Buy It?  Afterall, you have better things to do with your time than track down a gift for the twentieth birthday party you've attended just this year. Visit www.imaginabox.com, and check out their great selection of toys, books, movies, and trinkets. Just click on an item in each column, and BAM, your box of plenty is done! Playground For Parents readers get 15% off any box!  Thank you, Imaginabox! Just use "PPF" for the coupon code. 15% rebate will be applied immediately after purchase.

 

Big thanks to Kristen of Imaginabox for this Product Review. 

Cheap Summer Movies for the Kids!

Wonder why the malls are so crowded during the summer? It has nothing to do with summer sales or even people-watching. I'm convinced that it's for the air conditioning. And now you can beat the heat AND be entertained (by something other than teenagers making-out, and old men wearing bermuda shorts and knee-high socks):  many local and national movie theaters provide kid-friendly movies, for free or at discounted prices, all summer long! Have a toddler and want to take him to his first film? This is a cheap way to experiment and see if he's ready! If you have to leave because he's managing to scream even louder than everyone else, it's not a big deal since it cost so little. You may not even make him pay you back. This will be a fun, easy way for my daughter to spend just a little of her allowance and save the rest (um, once I start giving her an allowance - that's another post). Granted, these aren't first-run movies. But, kids can see a movie ten times and still act as if it's their first time. Besides, I rarely make it to the movies these days anyway, so it'll be first-run for us.

There are nearly a dozen movie theaters across the nation participating in the summer discounted movies. I've listed just a couple of them here. Check your local theater or the web for others, and save that extra money for the price of gas to get there.

AMC Summer Movie Camp: Movies only $1. Wednesdays at 10AM, from June 17th to August 5th. All admission proceeds benefit Variety – The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. Add a KidsPack of popcorn, snack and drink for only $3, and you just fed and entertained your kid for under $5 bucks. Super Mommy status for sure.  

* Their summer line-up includes Space Chimps, Kung Fu Panda, Spiderwick Chronicles, Nim's Island, and other kid and animated films.

From June 16th until August 19th, Cinemark theaters are showing kid movies twice a week, for just $1 each show. To sweeten the deal, and have even more leftover for that expensive box of popcorn, you can buy an advance pass for all ten movies for only $5. That's a movie for only $0.50! Seriously, the cost of the air conditioning you get for that 90 minutes is worth way more than that. I'd actually never heard of Cinemark, but apparently they are in California, just not near me. They are across America. Since I'm feeling all sunny and cheery, and because I have readers across the country (which excites me to no end), I'll let you click here to find the Cinemark near you.

* Their summer line-up includes Spongebob, Veggie Tales, Nanny McPhee, Tale of Despereaux, Madagascar 2, Horton Hears a Who (one of my favorites), and other family-friendly shows.

FREE G and PG-rated films can be seen at Regal Cinemas, and United Artists and Edwards theaters, which are owned by Regal. They are shown every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10AM.

Check the website to find out what movies are playing each week. Their summer line-up may include Kit Kittredge: American Girl, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, Igo, Surf's Up, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and others.

Because free food taste better, and free/cheap movies get more stars. At least from where I'm sittin'.