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10 Memorable Easter Ideas To Make This Year Special

In the past, Easter hasn’t been a very memorable holiday for my family. We celebrate with one side of the family the week before Easter, and then not at all with the other side of the family.

We would do Easter baskets in the morning, and then our big kids would head off to spend the day with their mom’s side of the family. The rest of us would just hang out at home and eat “normal day” foods for dinner. We always made it a fun day and spent lots of time playing with the littles, and we would make sure to do a small Easter egg hunt, but it was never an Easter worth remembering.

This year, I am looking forward to something completely different for Easter. I want this Easter to memorable and exciting, so I have spent the last few weeks searching for ideas and preparing for the big day, and I can’t wait until we get to celebrate!

10 Memorable Easter Ideas to Make This Year Special

1. Start the day with an Easter-themed breakfast

While the highlight of Easter morning is normally seeing what goodies the Easter bunny brought, breakfast could be a close second. I found the cutest Easter bunny pancakes while I was browsing Pinterest and immediately added them to my list of Easter festivities.

Since my little Liam is allergic to egg I will have to use my own recipe or substitute for the egg, but the idea will still be the same. I can’t wait to see my kids’ reaction when they see their Easter breakfast!!

memorable easter
Image from DIY Candy (click here for the link)

2. Decorate with fresh flowers

I am absolutely in love with having fresh flowers displayed around my home. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also add a fresh scent to the air that can’t be faked in any way. Love, love, love it.

For me, Easter is the day when I really start to feel like Spring is here (or near). I am hoping my family all feels that way on Easter, and having flowers decorating the house should help with that.

memorable easter
Image from One Good Thing (click for link)

3. Cook a traditional Easter dinner

I know many people cook on the grill on Easter but, for our family, that doesn’t seem very Easter-y. I mean, we cook on the grill so often during the spring and summer that I feel like it just makes Easter seem like any other day.

Having a traditional Easter dinner will make the day seem more festive and special, so my menu this year consists of ham, scalloped potatoes, Easter bunny shaped rolls, asparagus, carrots, and a variety of fruits.

memorable easter
Image from A Spicy Perspective (click for recipe)

4. Fill plastic Easter eggs with something other than candy

My kids get a ton of candy at our family Easter egg hunt so I hate buying them more candy for our own hunt. In the past, I have done it anyway and ended up with more candy than any family needs in a lifetime.

This year, I am going to fill the plastic Easter eggs with non-candy items instead. At first, I struggled to come up with a variety of items small enough for plastic Easter eggs so, in case you’re like me, I’m including my list of ideas for the Easter egg hunt.

Non-Candy Easter Egg Fillers

  • Tattoos
  • Plastic rings
  • A necklace
  • Pieces of papers with numbers that correspond with a specific larger item (kite, bubbles, chalk, activity book, etc.)
  • Un-inflated balloons
  • Tiny figurines (Dollar General has Paw Patrol characters that are small enough to fit)
  • Fingernail polish
  • “Coupons” (stay up 30 minutes past bedtime, have an extra 30 minutes of screen time, choose your favorite snack at the store, no chores for a day/week, etc.)
  • Coin money
  • Paper money
  • Hotwheels cars (I had to open the package to fit the car in the egg)
  • Goldfish crackers
  • Raisins
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This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

5. Have an “Easter egg hunt” for adults (AKA: Beer hunt)

Easter isn’t just for the kids!! Get out there and have some fun. You deserve it after all the careful planning you did for Easter!

Have a non-drinking adult hide the beer around the yard, and then the rest of the adults all rush off to see how many they can find. You keep (and drink) whatever you find, of course!

6. Do memorable Easter crafts

Easter crafts can be done anytime leading up to Easter, so you can get extra creative with this ideas. This is handy because you won’t have to squeeze all of the fun stuff into one single day. It also makes it possible for you to help your littles with their crafts, or you can take the time to talk about the meaning of Easter while working on crafts with them.

On the actual day of, you can plan a craft that the kids can do all on their own since you’re likely to be pretty busy that day.

A fun idea for a craft during the Easter day celebration is coloring pages. Kids will be able to do this at their leisure, and they won’t require adult assistance.

7. In the week leading up, do Easter-themed activities

This might be my most favorite part of any holiday. Easter is the most fun because of the plastic Easter egg idea, though. You can use plastic Easter eggs for so many activities, learning concepts, and sensory play.

Image from A Little Pinch of Perfect (click for link)
easter, make easter memorable, easy easter with kids, easter egg fillers that aren't candy, non-candy easter egg hunt, easter dinner, easter traditions
Image from The Educators’ Spin On It (Click for link)

Some of the other Easter activities I want to do with my kids this week include:

8. Make a special dessert (or 3)

Dessert is my favorite part of the meal, so I plan on making it extra special. Just like with the adult Easter hunt, adults cannot be forgotten at dessert time, either. I plan on making a few desserts; one that the adults will love, one that the kids will love, and one that everyone will love. This way, no one will be disappointed.

9. Have fun Easter treats throughout the day

You can help your kids get by until dinner with yummy Easter treats. I plan on bringing out one treat when we first start our celebration preparation, one while the food is cooking, and one later on while the adults are catching up. I want these treats to be Easter-themed, but also kind of interactive and fun.

10. Easter “Nailed It” challenge

I am so, so, so excited about this part. This idea came from the TV show on Netflix, and if you haven’t watched “Nailed It” on Nexflix, I highly recommend it. I already bought Easter cookie cutters and we are going to make sugar cookies in the shape of eggs, flowers, bunnies, and other Easter or spring inspired shapes.

Once the cookies are baked and cooled, we are going to choose a couple design ideas from Pinterest and have a challenge to see who can come closer to nailing the design.

easter, make easter memorable, easy easter with kids, easter egg fillers that aren't candy, non-candy easter egg hunt, easter dinner, easter traditions

Final Thoughts On Memorable Easter Ideas

Easter tends to be a “forgotten” holiday in our family. We don’t ignore the holiday or anything, but we have never gone all out before. This year, I plan on changing that. I want to make this Easter memorable for everyone in my family, adults included.

Tell me about your Easter plans!!! What traditions does your family follow? What new ideas do you want to implement?

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Holiday On My Mind

28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

I turned 28 on the 11th (and my baby turned 2 the same day!!) and I spent quite a bit of time reminiscing and reflecting on the past years of my life. With the reflection came some of the life lessons I have learned along the way. There have been so many events in my past that I always think I would want to go back and change but, if those events never happened, I wouldn’t have been able to learn these lessons. So, I guess I should say that I am thankful for the “bad” events in my life since they have guided my learning and living.

I want to be able to remember and recall these lessons quickly if need be. When I am having a bad day or beating myself up about something, I would love to be able to come back here, reference this post, and remember all of the things I’ve learned along the way. So, without further ado, here are 28 life lessons that I have learned in the past 28 years.

Life Lessons I Have Learned

1. You have to learn to love yourself.

2. You have to learn to admit when you are wrong.

3. If you realize something isn’t working for you, it’s OK to change your mind.

4. The opinion of others SHOULD NOT MATTER.

5. You have to say no sometimes.

6. You must communicate with your partner.

7. Being “ready” is impossible.

With all things in life, you will never be completely ready. For a baby, marriage, a new job, etc. You just have to have faith and jump in, ready or not, when life throws huge events your way. If you spend your time waiting until things are perfect or waiting to feel completely comfortable, you will never be able to get things done.

8. Friends are important, even if you are in a relationship.

9. You are harder on yourself than anyone else is.

10. Your past doesn’t define who you are now.

You should consider this when you are thinking of yourself, but also when you are thinking of other people. Everyone deserves a second chance.

11. Mental health and self-care should be a top priority.

I cannot stress this one enough. I spent too much time putting everyone else first when I desperately needed to think of my own well-being. Spending some time taking care of myself and doing things that I enjoy, as well as doing things to promote positive mental health (such as supplementing with natural remedies such as turmeric) all helped along the way.

12. Be honest with yourself and others.

Speaking of mental health, mine stands in the way of my honesty sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes when I say that I am “busy”, I’m really not. I sometimes despise myself for this, but it is easier (at the time), than saying that my depression/anxiety is standing in the way of my social life and that I just want to hibernate in my home until I’m feeling better.

Taking the easy way out may seem like the best option, but it really isn’t. People who truly care about you will understand what you are feeling, and they will respect you for being honest about why you can’t hang out or show up to an event.

13. Stop comparing yourself to others!!

14. Don’t lose your cool when people are looking.

15. Stop wishing your life away.

16. Appreciate the people who are honest with you.

Even if you don’t want to admit the truth.

17. Having kids is HARD, but so fulfilling.

18. There comes a point in life when age really is unimportant.

My husband is 11 years older than me, and we are truly perfect together.

19. Don’t settle!

Jobs, relationships, big investments, etc. Be patient until you find the perfect one for you.

20. Help others whenever you can.

21. You have to be your own person outside of your relationship.

Continue pursuing your own hobbies. Don’t let go of everything you love to do what your partner likes to do.

22. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

23. Avoid debt of all kinds.

24. Follow a budget!!!

25. Co-Parenting is HARD, but it does make life easier.

Happier kids, less stress, and just a more relaxed situation overall.

26. Never take out a student loan.

I learned this a little too late, and my job doesn’t even require a degree. I would take a pay cut if I took a job that I would need my degree for. Now, I have student loan payments monthly for pretty much the rest of my life.

27. Simplicity is key.

28. Children’s artwork DOES count as home decor.

life lessons

Life Lessons From My Husband

My husband wanted to offer some of his own life lessons, which are really helpful. Or something.

  1. Don’t zip your pants zipper too quickly.
  2. Do not lick a frozen pole.
  3. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. (Courtesy of TLC)
  4. Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys. (Courtesy of Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson)

Final Thoughts On 28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

Most of the lessons I’ve learned in life were learned the hard way. I’m sure many of you can relate to at least some of my mistakes.

I know that I’m missing some key lessons, so I’m sure I can relate to some of yours as well!! Leave a comment and let me know some of the life lessons you’ve learned in your years on this earth.

Categories
Family Activities For the Home Holiday Home How To Organization Our Family Parenting

Achievable Goals For The New Year

The New Year is already here, and I just sat down this morning to figure out my New Year’s Resolution. I wanted it to actually be achievable goals for the New Year. It was a tough call because I can honestly say I won’t be going to the gym every day (or even once a week… I have 5 kids LOL), I also won’t ALWAYS eat healthily so I’m not going to restrict myself there, either. Every resolution that I considered just didn’t seem right. 

I instead thought about what areas of my life I wanted to improve in, and things that I wanted to learn about. It seemed that everything I desire fits into two categories:

  • Finances
  • Home improvement
  • Routine
  • Family
achievable goals for the new year

Why This Didn’t Work For Me

Instead of heading into the rest of the year with vague resolutions to improve finances, improve our home, and focus on family, I decided to make a list of how I can accomplish all of those things.

I didn’t go overboard. There are so many more things I could have added to my list, but I wanted to start with an achievable goal. I figure that I will be more likely to follow my goals through when I actually have a goal that seems possible, instead of a vague idea to work toward the goal.

I didn’t want this: Spend more time with family.
Instead, I wanted something specific: Dates with kids weekly.

Then, I even went further into it and wrote:

“Dates with kids weekly. One kid each week, rotating schedule. After 5 weeks of individual kid dates, one big family outing. Then start over.

Not all of my achievable goals for the New Year were that long, either. That was probably the most complicated one. (List of all 10 of my goals for the New Year will be listed at the end of the post).

Later tonight I plan on sitting down and making a concrete schedule of dates with the kids. I may make and print out a calendar of the whole year and write it on there. Then I can put it into a binder so that the kids can always look and see when their next date is.

achievable goals for the new year

Plus, it might be fun to put a memento from the date in the binder afterward. Then, next year on New Year’s Eve we can look back at all of our date memories from the year.

I wanted to figure out a plan to implement each of the things I wanted to achieve. Once I narrowed it all down and wrote out my detailed list, all of the fun ideas came naturally when I began typing up my plans. The “date binder” was one of those that just came as I was planning.

So – back to the achievable goals for the New Year. Instead of just choosing one or two vague ideas of which areas I wanted to improve in, I came up with 10 smaller achievable goals.

10 Achievable Goals For The New Year

achievable goals for the new year
  1. Follow chore/payment chart (blog post about that is coming soon so check back!!)
  2. Start seeing a larger increase in the savings account.
  3. Hire someone to do the yard work. (so serious. we can never keep up and I’m sick of stressing about it.)
  4. FREAKING LAUNDRY. (and yes, this is how I wrote it on my list. I guess this one might be vague but I will be typing a schedule for everyone in the house to follow.)
  5. Dates with kids weekly. One kid each week, rotating schedule. After 5 weeks of individual kid dates, one big family outing. Then start over. (We have 5 kids, hence the 5 weeks. If you have less/more, adjust the number accordingly).
  6. Crunch numbers for vacations for the year before January 14th. Come up with a savings plan and a plan of when to make payments by February 1st.
  7. Post a new blog post 1 time per week.
  8. Make $150 on TextBroker every week.
  9. Lose 40 pounds. 10 pounds every 3 months. First goal: Lose 10 pounds by March 1st.
  10. Buy “clutter baskets” for each person in the home. Put anything they’ve left lying around the house in those baskets and distribute accordingly after school.
achievable goals for the new year

Final Thoughts On Achievable Goals For The New Year

All 10 of these goals are achievable goals for the new year. I won’t have to make a HUGE change in my lifestyle, I’ll just have to plan a little better and look for ways to cut costs while also making more money. Plus, I just need a plan to contain all the freaking clutter that my family accumulates each day.

I never follow through with my New Years Resolutions because I never come up with a list of ways to actually accomplish my goals in life. This time is different.

It may sound crazy to have 10 New Years Resolutions, but if they really are achievable goals for the new year, you can hit your goal sooner and see all the progress you have made. Plus, when you do accomplish one, you can come up with an even bigger goal next time.

Did you set any goals for yourself for the New Year? Tell me about them in the comments!

achievable goals for the new year
Categories
Marriage

South Haven Beach Wedding

Chris and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary this past weekend. We got married last year in South Haven, MI and the little town quickly became my favorite place in the world. We were able to have a small beach wedding at a very reasonable price.

As a kid, I dreamed of a big wedding but when the time came and the planning began, I panicked. My anxiety got the best of me and I started stressing out about the wedding before there was even anything to stress about.

I jokingly (kind of) suggested to Chris that we elope. He vetoed that idea because he wanted our parents and our kids, at least, to be at the wedding. BUT he didn’t completely knock the idea of not having a traditionally large wedding.

Researching Low-Key Wedding Options

I began researching some different options and decided that I wanted to get married in a beach wedding on Lake Michigan, no reception or anything. At first, I was worried about what everyone would think but then remembered, our wedding day is supposed to be about US and that would be impossible if I was stressed out and anxious all day.

I found a cute little bed and breakfast in South Haven called Martha’s Vineyard that offered a wedding package… 2-night stay and a private wedding (with a couple other perks as well) and went for it.

In the description on Martha’s Vineyard’s website, it stated that the wedding would be held at the bed and breakfast. I was okay with that but I reaaaallly wanted a beach wedding. I sent an e-mail over to the owner asking if it would be possible. She agreed and made all the arrangements. I literally didn’t have to do anything except bring the marriage license and look nice. Oh and bring the rings, of course.

The Wedding

A handful of our closest family members were able to make it to the wedding. Since we didn’t have a reception, we all went out to eat afterward.

This tiny little low key wedding was SO perfect for us. We have no regrets about our decision.

The wedding was so inexpensive, intimate and personal. Plus, we got to spend the weekend in a beautiful place. Having a 5-month-old baby, I didn’t want to be away for long and definitely didn’t want to travel far so a traditional honeymoon was out of the question, too. The South Haven wedding still gave us the chance to spend relaxing alone time together both before and after the wedding.

We loved it so much we are heading back this coming weekend to celebrate our marriage.

Did you choose to have a big wedding or did you opt for something smaller? If you aren’t married yet, what kind of ceremony do you plan on having? Let me know in the comments!


*If you want to know how we made it through the first year of marriage, consider checking out these posts: 10 Steps to Make Your Marriage Last, How to Keep the Spark Alive *

Categories
Big kid fun Family Activities Our Family Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Family Camping Trip – What to Pack

Before this summer I had never taken my kid’s on a family camping trip. Call me a bad mom or whatever, but I was terrified of taking 3 littles camping!

Well, we finally did it and I definitely don’t regret it. I would do some things differently and pack differently, but we will definitely be doing it again SOON.

It was so much fun and the kids loved it, so I took note during the process of things I needed that I didn’t think to pack, things I packed but didn’t need, and things that would have been nice to have.

Now I’m giving you the opportunity to learn from my mistakes!! I’ve put together a list of what you should pack for a family camping trip. I even included a section dedicated to packing for a toddler, a teenager, and a big kid. You’re welcome. 😉

family camping trip, what to pack when camping with kids, camping with toddlers, camping with teenagers

What to Pack for a Camping Trip

Bedding/Misc.

Tent (if needed)
Sleeping Bag/Blanket
Pillow
Sheets if staying in a cabin
Flashlights (flashlight tag anyone?!)
Glowsticks
Backpack
First aid kit
Cell phone & Chargers
Garbage bags
Clorox Wipes
Citronella Candle
A book
Lawn chairs
Beer bottle opener/corkscrew
Cash
Any necessary medication
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Bikes
Games (board/card)
Chairs
Bluetooth Speaker
Kayak/Canoe
Fishing poles

Clothing

Raincoat/jacket
Swimsuit
Tennis shoes
Clothes (2 outfits/day for everyone, more for younger children)

  • Shorts/t-shirts
  • Pants/Long sleeve shirts

Hats
Extra socks
Sweatshirt/sweatpants (in case it gets chilly at night and you want to be comfy)
Underwear (duh)
PJ’s
Flipflops
Extra shoes for everyone

Personal

Shampoo/Conditioner
Soap
Deodorant
Toilet Paper (You never know!)
Toothbrush/paste
Shower Bag
Hand Sanitizer
Lotion
Lip balm
Towels and washcloths
Bag for dirty laundry
Hair ties
Brush/Comb

Cooking

Camping dinners
Pre-prepped breakfast meals
Wine
Beer
Water
Gatorade (if you’re feeling nice)
Coffee/Creamer
Favorite snacks
S’mores ingredients
Condiments
Coolers/Ice
Firewood (Sometimes you have to buy this right at the campground)
Lighter
Plastic utensils
Paper plates
Napkins
Plastic cups
Tablecloths
Paper Towels
Grilling/Fire utensils
Foil
Skewers
Resealable Plastic Bags

Toddler Specifics

Toddler-sized chairs
Blocks
Lots of extra clothes (3 per day if your child is extra messy or the weather isn’t cooperating)
Sand/Beach toys
Life Jackets
Teddy bear/baby doll, favorite blankets
Baby wipes

Big Kid/Teenager Specifics

Football, baseball, volleyball, other sports equipment
Water toys

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

What would you add to this list? Have you ever forgotten something essential on a camping trip? Tell me about it in the comments! 🙂

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On My Mind Parenting

Febrile Seizures – What Every Parent Should Know

One thing I never learned about during pregnancy or even during the toddler years (until now) was febrile seizures. I had literally never heard of them and I read books, articles, pamphlets given by the doctors, and any other baby/toddler related reading material I could get my hands on. I read EVERYTHING. I thought I was so prepared and mostly I have been. Until now.

On Sunday night, my eyes were opened to febrile seizures (also known as fever seizures) when my 1-year-old had a seizure.

All day Sunday Liam had a low-grade fever. 99.4 is the one temperature that I remember. We chalked it up to teething and just tried to keep him inside (the real feel outside was over 100 degrees), keep him hydrated, and give him lots of cuddles. We monitored his fever throughout the day and it never went over 100 degrees. Totally fine, we’ve dealt with that countless times.

Bedtime came along and he went to bed without a problem. Nothing was unusual aside from that low-grade fever that had been lingering all day. I decided to not medicate the fever because it was so low and I really don’t like giving Tylenol or Motrin unless it is completely necessary.

Around 11 pm he woke up screaming. It wasn’t just a fussy little cry that I would normally ignore and let him go back to sleep on his own… it was a scream like something was wrong. I rushed into his bedroom and picked him up out of his crib. He was BURNING UP. I don’t think I’ve ever felt a child so hot before. I yelled for my husband and rushed downstairs to grab a thermometer. As I was taking his temperature, my husband went to get the Ibuprofen because it was obvious he needed something. I took his temp. under his arm and it read 102.6… with that kind of reading you have to add a degree so it was well over 103 degrees.

At the time, I was so worried and wasn’t thinking straight that I didn’t even add the degree, even though I normally would. In my head, his temp was 102.6 and even that worried me. Chris went upstairs to run a luke-warm bath to help cool him down.

I was cuddling Liam and talking to him about taking a bath because that usually makes him smile and cheers him up. I got no response but I kept talking and cuddling. All of a sudden he turned his head and started to shake. It was just a little shake. I remember saying, “oh buddy, you’re really not feeling well, you’re shaking a little”. Still no response from him. The shaking continued and I felt like my heart stopped beating. He was drooling, too. I knew something was wrong, even though the shaking was nothing crazy. It seriously was just a little tremor almost. Before I even said anything or reacted, my step-daughter sat up off the couch with a terrified look on her face and in that instant, I jumped up and started yelling for Chris. He wasn’t hearing me so I ran to the stairs and yelled even louder. He came running out and I said, “take Liam, I need to get dressed. We’re going to the hospital”.

When I came back downstairs the shaking had stopped but now he was just staring off. He literally looked like he was asleep with his eyes open. Chris was frantically trying to get him to respond or even look at us and rushed upstairs to splash water on his face. He was still out of it. All of a sudden, he blinked and turned to look at us. It still wasn’t his normal look, but it was something. We quickly loaded him into his car seat, gave Nevaeh strict instructions on what to do at home and who to call if she needed something (don’t worry, she’s old enough to babysit and both of the other toddlers were sound asleep), and headed to the hospital.

I sat in the backseat with Liam so I could keep an eye on him. I held his hand and talked to him the whole time. He still wasn’t being himself, but he was at least responsive. He wouldn’t talk to me, wouldn’t smile at me, wouldn’t even say “car, car” like he normally does when we are in the car. It was just a blank look, but he was blinking and looking around so I took it as an improvement.

So – we get to the hospital, told them what was going on and then sat in the waiting room. 15 minutes pass and they call us back to get him registered and take his vitals. At our local Emergency Department, we would usually have to go back to the waiting room after that until a room opened up. This time we didn’t have to do that.

They took his temp and it was 102.9, and that was about 30 minutes after Ibuprofen. Then they checked his other vitals and found that his blood oxygen levels were low and he wasn’t receiving as much room air as normal. They got a room for him immediately, gave Tylenol, and the doctor was in shortly after.

It was determined that he had a febrile seizure, which happens to toddlers when their fever spikes very suddenly. These kinds of seizures can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. I honestly couldn’t tell you how long Liam’s lasted because at that moment the last thing I was worried about was watching a clock. I would guess around 3-4 minutes.

After this determination was made, it was time to figure out if something serious was going on. What?! The seizure wasn’t serious!? In my eyes it was, but the doctor said it’s more common than people realize and that since it was short, there wasn’t going to be any long-term effects.

Now, the first thing that popped into my mind was, “If this is so common why have I never heard of it before?!” After talking to several other mom friends, I realized that they hadn’t either!! All of those books and articles and pamphlets and nothing could even warn me that my child may have a seizure caused by a fever?! I’m still in shock.

Liam was tested for the flu, RSV, and strep throat. He had X-Rays done to determine if he had pneumonia or anything else going on in his lungs. He was checked for an ear infection. Nothing.

He slept most of the time we were there and didn’t even wake up when they checked for the flu and RSV. He was exhausted.

When that was all done and the tests all came back negative, they checked his vitals again and they were back to normal. Well, mostly normal. He was still only breathing 98% of room air, but it was better than the 90% before. His temp had gone down to 99.something. He was looking better and actually sitting up and talking. They sent us home.

We left with no answers other than to follow-up with his primary physician, give him amoxicillin, and rotate ibuprofen and Tylenol every 2 hours around the clock for 2 days.

Fast forward to the next day when we followed up with his primary physician… he said to not give amoxicillin (luckily we hadn’t filled the prescription yet. We wanted to wait for a more definite answer from his pediatrician) because it was just a virus and to not give the Tylenol/ibuprofen so frequently unless his fever came back.

We had a second follow-up appointment with Liam’s pediatrician today and all is well. He is a little congested but other than that he is good.

The most terrifying moment of my life turned out to be kind of “normal” in toddlers. While things could go wrong, as long as you are monitoring your child closely when it happens and helping them stay safe, everything should be okay.

I don’t want other moms to be as clueless about these seizures as I was. I can’t believe there isn’t more information readily available.

What to Know About Febrile Seizures

  • These seizures normally happen when the child’s temperature is above 102 degrees.
  • Febrile seizures do not always mean something serious is wrong.
  • If your child is having a seizure, lay them on the floor or hold a small child face down on your lap.
  • Lay the child on their side to keep their airway clear.
  • Stay calm! It’ll help calm the child and you’ll be able to think more clearly.
  • Try to time the length of the seizure.
  • You don’t have to put anything in your child’s mouth to hold their tongue – it could actually injure the child.
  • Talk to your child in soothing tones.
  • I was told that we don’t have to bring him in if he has a febrile seizure that is shorter than three minutes, but you should call the doctor immediately and ask their opinion.
  • You should take your child to the emergency department if your child’s fever won’t come down with Tylenol or ibuprofen, or if they are not acting normal. Go with your gut, you know your baby better than anyone else.

I hope it never happens to your little but, if it does, just try to stay calm (easier said than done, I know) while you assess what your next step should be.

Have you heard of febrile seizures before? Do you have any experience with them? Let me know in the comments!

Categories
Our Family Teenager

Advice for a Teenage Girl

Do you remember being 14 years old? What was your life like at that time?

I was 14 in 2005. When I think back, I think of hanging out with my friends, going to concerts, having boyfriends!!!, watching Laguna Beach, and essentially becoming my own person outside of my family unit. I feel like once I reached high school, I became so much more independent. I had friends who had cars so I didn’t need my parents to drive me everywhere anymore. It felt like freedom.

I spent quite a bit of time in my bedroom, wishing my parents would leave me alone and reading magazines or talking on the phone. You know, normal teenage stuff.

We were wearing layered polos and popped collars and some people were even wearing awful trucker hats (I may or may not be guilty of that myself..).

Gone were the days when I spent most of my time with my parents and siblings. Gone were the days of playing with toys and watching cartoons. I was 14, and that was a huge deal.

Well, Nevaeh turned 14 today. OMG. We are IN TROUBLE.

Just kidding… kind of. I know we are entering a whole new chapter with her, but I also know she’s learned how to make better choices and respect herself, and all we can do is hope that we have taught her right.

When Chris and I started dating, Nevaeh was only 8 years old. She was a kid, a 3rd grader.

Now she’s 14. She’s going into high school, will be learning to drive a car, beginning an entirely new chapter in her life.

I constantly think she’s just a little kid. Reminiscing on my own memories of being 14 has made me realize that she’s not. We’ve got a high schooler on our hands now!!

It’s such a HUGE milestone. Life happens fast, guys.

This silly little girl…

 

has become this beautiful young woman.

One thing that hasn’t changed since I was 14? Girls still wear hair ties on their wrists even when they’re dressing up. LOL!!

One thing I’d love to give Nevaeh for her birthday is some advice, but I know she won’t listen. My only hope is that she reads it here and maybe takes some of it to heart. 😉

Advice For a Teenage Girl

  • Surround yourself with positive people – When you’re choosing your friends, think about how they treat you and how they speak. Are they always being negative? Do they say things that hurt your feelings or make your start thinking negatively? Maybe it’s time to rethink the friendship. Be friends with people who build you up and always want to see the best happen. Surround yourself with people who truly love you and will never intentionally hurt you.
  • Boys should come last – I know teenage girls are going to be talking to and dating boys, but don’t make them the priority. Spend time with your friends, make memories that will last forever, build lifelong relationships with your best friends so that you will still have them in your life 20 years from now. Don’t ditch your friends for a boy, don’t pass on experiences and opportunities for a boy, and don’t lose yourself for a boy. You’ll have plenty of time for boys when you are older, don’t let them fill every thought and moment of your life.
  • Put down your phone – Honestly, this piece of advice could work for any age group. Live in the moment, enjoy what is going on around you, and talk to people in person.
  • Be nice – Say kind things to others, help others out even if you have to go out of your way, stick up for people. Talk to the person sitting all alone at lunch or in class. Being kind is something you’ll never regret. You never know how someone is feeling or what they are dealing with, never be the person to add to their pain or the person who ruins their day.
  • Save adult stuff for when you are an adult – I know adult stuff seems exciting but it’s really not. You’ll have plenty of time for that later. You aren’t expected to make adult decisions or do adult things, leave that to the trusted adults in your life. They are in your life to guide you and help you, let them. Learn from them. Then, when it’s your turn, you’ll see why it’s best to hold off as long as possible.
  • Step out of your comfort zone – Try something new or go somewhere you’ve never been before. Take a chance at something you might suck at because you just never know. You won’t regret making new memories of things you’ve never done before, so just do it. Don’t worry about what others will think of you or about messing up, everyone has to start somewhere!
  • Do what makes you happy – If you love doing something, keep doing it!! Even if your friends aren’t interested, keep doing the things you love. Don’t lose your passions or miss out on things that make your heart happy. Stay true to yourself.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a teenage girl? Leave it in the comments below, I know a couple teenagers who will definitely be reading them! 🙂

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Our Family

Happy Birthday To My First Born

How can it be that my first born is four years old? My sweet Sylas… the baby who taught me how to be a mom, how to successfully breastfeed, how to change a diaper on my lap, how to love with my whole entire heart. We learned all the hard parts together and formed a bond greater than anything I ever thought possible. Through all the sleepless nights, exhausting days, frustrated tears, painful nursing, we grew closer to one another. He became my best friend and my sidekick. He became my rock, even though I know I’m supposed to be his.

He taught me to smile on the hard days and fight through what seemed like unbearable post-partum depression. Looking back, I realize I could have been such a better mom if only I hadn’t been so depressed but Sylas loved me unconditionally anyway. Holding him and talking to him when he was an infant was the only thing that made me feel better some days.

Even now, all these years later, I go to Sylas when I’m feeling sad. This boy can always cheer me up and knows just what to say to make me smile. His sweet kisses and big hugs can cheer me up any day. We have come so far together in these 4 short years.

This boy is perfect in every single way. He is so smart, funny, caring, and a little bit crazy. He’s my little love bug and will always be a baby in my eyes… my sweet, sweet, baby. How crazy that my boy has grown from a tiny little baby who nursed non-stop, constantly held onto mama’s finger, and rested in mama’s arms most of the day into a 4-year-old, independent, crazy, wild almost preschooler. I can’t believe it and I wish time would SLOW down. I need my baby just a little longer before he realizes he doesn’t need me anymore.

Today is your day, my little superhero. This is the day mama’s life changed… the day mama became a better person… and the day mama found a love that would forever overfill her heart. This is the day you were born, and a day that is so special to me. I love you, Sylas Pierce,  more than you’ll ever know.

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Weekend Wrap-Up

Weekend Wrap-Up

I hope you all had a good weekend! We did, even though it rained a lot and was cloudy the entire time. Except for Friday (I count that as the weekend because my weekend starts early hehe), it was pretty sunny then. It was still a good time, though.

On Friday I woke the babies up early and got them around to take Peyton to school. He usually rides the bus but he didn’t want to take his Paper Mache Diamondback Rattlesnake on the bus. Liam took an early nap when we got home and the older toddlers and I played restaurant.

When Liam woke up we went to playgroup at the park. We had a blast and the kids amazed me, as always. Josie is growing and learning so much and seeing her play on the playground equipment was kind of bittersweet because she was climbing up things she normally wouldn’t have without help from mama. I’m sad she doesn’t want my help but SO EXCITED for her because she’s learning new things every day. Sylas even had a tiny little milestone… he usually won’t go down the tunnel slides. He’ll only go down ones that are open and he can see out of. Well, Friday he went down ALL THE SLIDES. Even the tunnel slides. WHOOO. Liam still needs my help, of course, but he likes the slides, too. Mommy just has to hold him and that’s completely fine. LOL.

After that the day was kind of a blur… headache and anxiety all day so when Chris came home from work I laid down and he played with them and fed them dinner. I got up to read them their bedtime store and for some cuddles before bed. Momma guilt was kicking in from laying in bed all evening.

Peyton went to spend the night at his grandma’s house (ended up spending the whole weekend LOL) so after the toddlers were in bed we had a quiet house so we caught up on our shows and went to bed early (living the life, I swear).

Saturday we all slept in until 8ish, had breakfast and went to some garage sales. I’m obsessed with garage sales. You can find the coolest stuff. My hubby complains about them but then he gets just as into it as I do.

Hubby’s garage sale treasure. I have NO IDEA where he plans on hanging it.

The toddlers also like garage sales because … toys. I don’t go crazy because they don’t need more toys and we definitely don’t have the room for more toys but they did get a couple hot wheels cars, Josie got a couple necklaces, and Sylas got a hand clapper thing. Totally random stuff but it’s all stuff they’ll actually play with and didn’t cost me much at all. The hand clapper thing is annoying, however, and I’m sure it’ll somehow end up in the trash soon.

After dinner on Saturday Chris and I had some friends over to watch the NBA playoff game. Basketball is life in our house. Duke wasn’t playing though so I wasn’t really interested. I drank wine and pretended to know what was happening.

Sunday was Sunday… I always struggle with Sundays and I’m really not sure why. I always assume it’s just because the next day is Monday but I seriously don’t know. We had a lazy morning and then Peyton and Nevaeh came.

Peyton hung out for a while before going over to his friend’s house because his friend’s pool was getting opened! How can I deny him the first swim of the summer?

My blog went live FINALLY!! I’m so excited about it! I spent the rest of the day working on stuff for the blog, and then it was time to go to Pizza Night at Chris’ parents’ house.

I had yummy wine, the kids played outside. Oh, and Sylas fell down the stairs. Seriously, he just tumbled down the stairs on the deck. It’s only like, 4 steps I think, but he literally barrel rolled down them. I even saw his head make contact once. I was rushing out of the house and Chris (who was already outside) was running over. I’m waiting for screams and before either of us could get to him he sat up and said, “That was awesome!!”. Alrighty then, I’m gonna assume you’re fine. LOL! It was hilarious. Wouldn’t have been funny if he’d actually gotten hurt, though. Obviously. LOL

Oh, and my mother-in-law got me this super cute shirt!

Ssoooo that was our weekend.

Tell me about your weekend!! Did you do anything fun!?

 

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Holiday Our Family Weekend Wrap-Up

Weekend Round-Up

This weekend was pretty great. With it being Mother’s Day weekend, it was pretty relaxing for me and my hubby might have gotten me some cute gifts. 😉

So Friday was a lazy day, for sure. It was rainy and SO COLD and the babies and I just stayed in all day. We got out their instruments and we sang songs while playing. We also cuddled in our warm, comfy clothes and watched movies, read books, and colored. It was a wonderfully unproductive day.

Friday night I braved the cold and went with my sister and her best friend to dinner, shopping, and out for a couple drinks. While I was out I got a couple cute Snapchat’s from Chris and Sylas.

Saturday I definitely slept in, as did all of my kids… they’re pretty great, am I right? When we woke up, Sylas and Josie helped me make pancakes. Later, Chris took Sylas and Liam shopping for a couple grocery items and I took Josie and Peyton to buy birthday gifts for Sylas. Then we went to Tractor Supply Co. to pick out a Mother’s Day gift for my mama. There was an animal called a Brahman at Tractor Supply and Sylas was brave enough to pet him! This Brahman has a medical issue that requires expensive treatment so his owners were there collecting money for him. Sylas fell in love with the store and decided to add five more things to his already extra long birthday list.

We had fried chicken, green beans, and potato salad for dinner on Saturday, which is always an event in our house. Chris and I listen to music and sing (if that’s what you want to call it) while we cook, and it turns out to be so much fun every time. Plus, fried chicken night is EVERYONES favorite here so that’s always exciting. Chris makes the best fried chicken, I make the best green beans, and we are working together to master my mother-in-law’s AMAZING potato salad. She never measures so it’s a guessing game for us… we’ve gotten close but never gotten it perfectly.

Sunday was Mother’s Day and it was also my due date for Sylas 4 years ago, so it’s extra special to me! I don’t know why I always get emotional on his due date day, but I do. Probably because he was my first baby and I remember so vividly the way I felt when the due date came around and still no baby… he didn’t come until 13 days later. Stubborn boy lol

Chris surprised me with the best gifts… I was so surprised he nailed every gift perfectly. We had donuts for breakfast and I drank coffee out of my new mug.

We got all the kids around and went to visit my mama. Sylas and Josie made her a cute little craft. They wanted to cut out flowers and tape them to paper so I let them go to town on Saturday. LOL. I drew the flowers out for them so my mom would have some idea of what they were and then the rest was up to them. When they were finished I did write a little message on them.

We also got my mom a gift for her garden.

We came home for a nap (the babies, not parents, unfortunately) and then went to my in-laws’ house for pizza night. We got Chris’ mom flowers because she is too tricky to shop for. I had delicious wine (of course) and will be posting about it on Wednesday so make sure you come and check it out.

Mommy drank wine on the deck while everyone played. 😉

Josie played on the rocks.

Liam walked up and down the ramp with Nana.

Peyton and Chris played catch.

 

It was such a good weekend! How was your weekend?!