One sick miserable baby + NOT Sticking to a bedtime schedule = TOTAL BABY HYSTERIA

One would of thought that I was skinning Gabriella alive or abusing her in some other way but I wasn't. I was getting the humidifier from Joannie's room to bring into the nursery, so I put Gabriella in her crib for safe keeping. Before heading off on said venture, I had suctioned my sweet baby turned demon child'

s nose with a bulb syringe which I guess set off a chain reaction and made the her turn into a screaming banshee. Needless to say, she must of thought mommy didn't love her cause even after I had everything set up, Gabriella continued on her tirade. She screamed with such force, I fear my hearing maybe permanently damaged. She was still screaming with a bottle in her mouth...a little bit like this..AHHHHHHA...suck suck...AHHHHHA...suck suck suck....Ahha..suck..ah..suck. Well you get the picture, needless to say, my easy breezy but to bed baby...was not so easy breezy tonight...DID I MENTION SHE THROWS THINGS TOO!!!! Ouch my head hurts!!!

Feeling Nostalgic

     As I made breakfast today, which was a wonderful French Toast and Maple Sausage, our weather was cool and rainy. This made me remember my life growing up in Orange County, California when all year around rain or shine my adopted dad would make pancakes or hot breakfast for the family out in the backyard on the gas grill. I also thought about swimming in the pool during the rain, as long as it wasn't thundering or lightning in the area. These are two of my fondest memories as a child, beside eating outside in our covered porch. Maybe this is why, even with my two beautiful girls on Saturdays when nothing is planned I enjoy making our family a hot breakfast, having the doors and windows open, feeling the breeze of fall or spring, and just being in the moment. Yes, it may take a little preparation and planning to do, but quite seriously these are memory making moments that I live for and hope my girls continue on with.
     We are also potty training our oldest, Joannie, and today has me thinking of traveling with multiple trips to the potty with my adopted family. "Jenn, do you have to go potty? Do you need to go number 1 or number 2?" As a creative 5-6 year old that I was I came up with an extra number that usually would combine both number 1 and 2, which would then equal number 3, this would mean that I had an upset tummy and had to go diarrhea. Well, the first time I used it, no one understood what I meant and I was asked "Jenn, what is number 3?" The very brilliant, intelligent me replied calmly, "It's when you pee and poop at the same time and it comes out of my tushy."
   These are just a few of my favorite memories that have me going today, besides sugar and caffeine which every mother has hidden some where in her parenting repertoire.  Wishing all my mommy friends a wonderful and a blessed day. Hug your kids because they just grow up way too darn fast! 

Just One Of Those Moments In Life

            I'm sure some of you have a place where you go, and you can remember the first time you stepped foot into this place. Have you ever just sat there and replayed those events in your mind? Well, this past Saturday, was my youngest, Gabriella's first birthday. Instead of being at home, spending it with her. I was getting the fellowship hall at our church ready. I boiled off the pasta for the macaroni and cheese, which I made all from scratch except for the macaroni. I set up the tables and chairs all by myself, not because I'm supermom, but because I needed to keep myself busy so I wouldn't think about the two angels I have waiting for me in heaven. I sat down for a bit and called a family friend back who had called to wish Gabriella, a wonderful birthday.

              After the phone call, I was sitting in our fellowship hall and my mind started playing all the times, I had been to this building. I was here on my honeymoon in 2008, as a new bride traveling to meet my husband's family. I was shy, quiet, reserve, and very nervous about if his' family would like me. Approximately 2 years ago, we moved to Pittsburgh, PA and I started attending this church with my then 6 month old baby girl. I replayed in my mind her baby dedication with her grandpa, great aunt, and great uncle looking on. Fast forward, to when Chris and I joined the church. Quickly, in my mind I jumped forward again, to when Chris and I announce our pregnancy with our lovely, Gabriella. Little did we know then, that she was going to be a girl who would change our lives. Little did we know then that she would be our last child. My mind moved forward to her baby shower, where we welcomed her to our church family.

All this got me thinking about how many bridal showers, baby showers, engagement parties, birthday parties, wedding receptions, and various different events this church has seen. What would these walls say if they could talk? What would the building say if it could talk? Then I realized, that I am a part of the church, the church isn't just a building it's me! It's me in how I treat my children. It's me in how I treat my family. It's me in how I treat a complete stranger. I am the body of Christ, I am His' Church, and I am His' Bride. The Church is the Bride of Christ. Then shouldn't our lives demonstrate this to others. I have loved and lost, but who knows this very few close friends and my church. Does anyone else besides my church know the reason I write? The reason I blog? That I even blog at all?

                  I'm not someone who wants to be recognized, but I am someone who believes that God has me here for a purpose, just like the fellowship hall has a purpose. I may not know what my purpose is right now. I may not ever realize in my lifetime what my purpose was. But I know that no matter what I do, I am right now fulfilling God's purpose as a mother to my two beautiful young girls. And that for me is just one of those moments in life that I am learning to be content with.

                  May we all have the moments in life, that are just one of those moments that we look and reflect on. May we all have just one of those moments in life always!

What Side of the River Are you From?

     Pittsburgh is truly a wonderful place to visit. The most amazing sight is when you are driving through the Ft. Pitt Tunnel and you reach the Ft. Duquense, there is the city of Pittsburgh laid out before you in all her glory. This is how I first saw Pittsburgh, while I was back here in 2008 on my honeymoon. If one had told me then, that I a California native would move here. I probably would of chalked that person as crazy. But now 4 years later, here I am living in Pittsburgh for the past 2 years. There are some things I, being the outsider, have noticed about people in Pittsburgh. I will travel across the three rivers to go to interviews, doctors appointments, meet with friends, and church. But living on the other side of the river in Scott Township means that not very many if any people are willing to travel to me.

       So being a mom, with two young beautiful girls isn't that easy to meet other moms and their children. I grew up being told very often that in order to be a friend one had to be friendly with others. While I am somewhat private, but I am honest, perhaps that is why I am writing this article. Because I've found that most mom's in Pittsburgh, generally stick to their neck of the woods where they are the most comfortable. In California or Washington state, I know without a doubt that the parents are more friendlier. But here it seems that parents are very suspicious of other parents. And rightly so, as a parent one needs to be vigilant, but so much to the extreme that you don't say hello to the other mom or dad. The children in my neighborhood are all school age children, my oldest isn't even 3 years old yet. Most MOPS groups meet during the early morning, which is not a convenient time for me all the time. Have you ever tried waking up a 2 ½ year old and an almost 1 year old to be out of the house by 8:30 am? It's not an easy task to do, I'm not saying some moms can do it, but this mom can't. Honestly a night time or early evening MOPS program would work best for my family, but these programs are designated for older children, not younger children like mine. I've tried to start a moms play group with some friends on Facebook, but I don't get people who are interested. So instead my mom friends are women, I know only from my church in Brighton Heights.

        I guess one day, when my 2 ½ year old and almost 1 year old head off to school then maybe they will have friends and I will be able to become hopefully friendly with their parents. But until then, I guess I will just bide my time, trying to be friendly to not-so-friendly parents at the malls and parks where my children play.

Vinegar Fridays is a must have book!!!

So in my effort to attempt to be a Greener mother and leave this place a better place for my children. I decided to read Vinegar Fridays put out by Hana Haatainen Caye. She's a member of my church and someone I've personally gotten to know.  I enjoy her blog, Green Grandma, and I'm a fan of her Facebook page also titled Green Grandma. I read this book, not really sure what to expect. But I figured I would try out cleaning my microwave, I had heard a glowing review about it also. Well, I am happy to report that one week later after cleaning our microwave and deodorizing our kitchen drains with the leftover Apple Cider Vinegar Mixture our microwave is still clean. I cleaned both the inside and the outside with the Apple Cider Vinegar mix that was suggested. Mind you in our old house the fact that the outside is still clean is amazing all considering that it's mighty dusty in our house.

  I honestly can't wait to try some of the recipes in the book, as it's not just about cleaning with Vinegar. But it has a children's story and cooking recipes. Green Grandma is seriously my go to for green products or if something is possibly hazardous to my child or family. If you aren't a fan of Green Grandma, you should be especially if you are a green parent, while you're at seriously buy her book too. It's worth every penny you'll spend on it and then some.

The Many uses of ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)

So this week, on Monday, our Joyful Joannie had her 2-year old check up. I so despise waiting in a waiting room with sick children. Something about a sitting in a confined space with two healthy children under three years of age, and there being about 2-3 children in the same office with head colds and GOD knows what other ailments. Seriously people bring the sanitizer with you when you bring your child to the pediatricians office or don't let your children touch toys that you know healthy children will be playing with.  As of Monday when we left the pediatricians office, the Joyful Joannie was healthy except for her usual shots that she was behind on getting. So Tuesday night rolls around and what starts do I hear as I'm making dinner, cough cough achoo achoo. I start thinking to myself and praying, "Dear God, so far you've kept her healthy please don't let this be a head cold." Then all night long and all day yesterday, it was a runny nose, coughing fits, and a low grade temperature. I say low grade, because Joannie takes after mom, our normal body temp is not 98.6 as it should be but rather it's usually 94.something to 96.something. SO if we are running a fever our low grade fever is generally 98.something.
   At this point last night, I had to change the dinner plans to be something without dairy so it wouldn't produce more mucous in my sweet daughter. I sent a message to the Vinegar Queen aka Green Grandma on her Facebook page asking for an all natural remedy for cough syrup. I honestly love Green Grandma she's filled with invaluable information on how to treat things all naturally. Which odd enough, I try to be as organic as possible. Somethings I'm honestly not so green about, I'm sorry but I use Kirkland disposeable Diapers and Kirkland brand Baby wipes. I've used them for Joannie, and we are doing the same with Joannie. It's generally for convenience honestly, but I do my best to dump and flush the poop out of the diapers in the trash can.  So getting back to Green Grandma, she provided me with recipe for making cough syrup for Joannie which GOD BLESS her worked in only two doses. It is as follows:

      1 Part of ACV (ORGANIC RAW Apple Cider Vinegar is the BEST!)
      1 Part Honey (DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE OF BOTULISM GIVE 
                            TO AN INFANT UNDER THE AGE OF 1 YEAR)
      2 Parts Filtered Water

      Place all ingredients in a bottle and shake until combined. Appropriate directions are: 2 TBSP every
      2 hours

   I gave Joannie two does and she didn't fight me to take those doses, she actually came running to me for them. Odd but true, this doesn't smell yummy at all but the taste isn't at all as it smells.

  I grew up having ACV, honey, lemon, and warm water for sore throats when I had to sing the next day, that and gargling with salt water. This also works, I'm posting the recipe here also for that as well.

      8 oz of Warm Water
      2 - 3 TBSP of honey
     1-2 capfulls of ACV (ORGANIC AND RAW - Again this seriously works best)
      1/2 lemon squeezed

   Place all ingredients in a mug stir until well blended, sip or guzzle it down that's your preference. I tend to drink this pretty face because it doesn't taste so good once it gets to be room temperature.

  For the flu I suggest another all natural concoction that I grew up having especially when I was throwing up, this is basically best if you sip with a spoon also serve warm as it again doesn't taste so good when it cools down to room temperature.

    8 oz of water (Boiling for tea, then allow to cool until warm before adding the last 3 ingredients)
    1 tea bag of Chamomile tea
    1/2 lemon squeezed into the mug with the tea
   2 - 3 TBSP of honey, or to taste
   1 - 2 capfulls of ACV (ORGANIC AND RAW - Works best TRUST ME)

 Combine all the ingredients and drink by the teaspoon, until symptoms subside.

Joannie is napping and has been napping now for 2 hours, which has given me enough time to publish this article for all your viewing pleasure. I hope that everyone finds some use for these recipes, as I know I will be soon needing Green Grandma's ACV Cough Syrup.  I try my best not to heavily medicate my children, we generally use Tylenol and Ibiprophen to treat fevers. I try and stick with the old home remedies that are tried and true. These are home remedies, that I know work. Beside the new tricks, like Vick's rub on the bottom of your feet for head colds, and 94.5% all natural cold/flu bath soak/salts that you can pick up at WalMart.  Please feel free to send me any questions and I'll try to answer them as best as I can. If I don't know, I know I always have Green Grandma who can help me out!

God's Love, Peace, Blessings, and Grace to Everyone!

Jennifer Cormier

Gabriella

So, this past Sunday, was Gabriella's debut and Baby Shower. Yes, I know a little odd to have the baby shower after the arrival of the child. But if you know my past pregnancy issues, I believe you would understand why this was decided by both Chris and myself. As a gift from Kelly Lowry, we got a journal for me to write in for Gabriella along with the attendees to write their wish/dream/hopes for Gabriella.
   I read them all and they all brought me to tears, I couldn't read them without crying. So I decided to let Gabriella know a little bit about the person who was writing their wish/dream/hope to her. I promise nothing negative was written because I'm not the kind of person to be negative. Upon completing that task, I started writing to Gabriella. I'm not sure how many of you know what Gabriella's name means. It's a Hebrew name and it means God's gift, to Chris and I both her and Joannie are truly God's gift to us. I was told when I was 24 years old to stop trying to have children because I'd never be able to have them for medical reasons. The doctor who told me this, I'd love to go back to and show him the error in his prognosis. Chris got tested before we got married to see if he could ever have children and well he was also told he would never be a father. I don't think I need to tell anyone that God's plans aren't what medical science dictates, but what His' will is. Needless to say, we didn't listen to our doctors, and we tried. Our first miracle, was Joannie surviving her twin's early miscarriage. The second miracle was Gabriella, her name only seemed fitting to both Chris and myself.
  I've told very few people, my only two desires for my children are to the following:
    1. For them to know that God and their parents love them unconditionally and abundantly.
    2. For them to know God, as their Lord and Savior, and to have a relationship with Him.
My children will always know they are loved, by my actions and how I talk about them. I've experience what is like to be loved unconditionally as a child and to be loved conditionally. I choose unconditional love because no matter what I do or what mistakes I make, I know I am loved.  I'm not perfect, I am far from perfect. I am a follower of Christ and I follow my Lord's examples.  I feel that while I am here on earth, I have been entrusted with the health, safety, and well being of my children here on earth. While I may make decisions that some may question regarding the health, safety, and welfare of my children know that these are my decisions to make as God's servant to these precious gifts that God has entrusted me with. My children are and will always be gifts from God to Chris and myself.  I hope that anyone reading this will see their children if they have any as God's gift also. God bless and keep you and yours!