Family Binder

Ok, I first got the idea for a family binder from the FlyLady book I got from my mom for Christmas 2 years ago. I ended up disassembling it and now that our family is getting bigger I thought it would be a good idea to stay organized.

For me this contact to therapist page is a good one because I started contacting therapists years ago and forgot about them until recently. Until I find one I think will work with our family this will be a good way to keep track of who/what/when type of thing.
Contact to Therapists Family Binder

This is a good one for the first 2 years of life. Babies go to the Dr. for a lot of appointments and it is easy to lose the information or forget it, when it is in one place it can be looked at for reference and can later be transferred into the baby album.
.Baby Appointments Family Binder

Ok, my older 2 have behavioral issues and I did temperment things on them when they were younger. The temperment pages were very long and time consuming, so this is kind of my version. I would highly recommend this if you notice your child has behavioral issues (besides normal behavioral things kids go through) to track them and bring them up to the Dr.
Behavioral Issues Page 1 and 2 Family Binder

My state does not require a yearly homeschool report, but for me, this is helpful to make sure I remember what they did throughout the year and what books/workbooks they used. It also allows me to show progress they have made and things they could use some work on.
Homeschool Yearly Report (elementary years)

With so many news stories about missing women, kids, people, these ID pages (one for each member of the family, even adults- hay you could even make one for the pets by tweaking it a bit) are very handy.
ID page family binder

I know for myself, having had my older 2 children on medication in the past, I do not remember which one was on what stuff at what dose and how long they were on it. I was recently asked and couldn't remember, so for me this page is a good one to have in the binder because I can look at it to reference it later as needed.
Medication Family Binder

Ok, again with the baby tracking page, when you are pregnant, whether or not you have other kids, you tend to forget a lot of things, having this sheet allows you to keep track of your appointments and save it for reference. Once baby is born you could shred it or save it for the baby album.
Pregnancy Tracker Family Binder

Ok, over the years I have had my kids (esp. my older 2) to several specialists and I have no idea who or what or when. I thought this would be a good page to have as a reference.
Specialists Seen Family Binder

I have been keeping on top of appointments lately and trying to schedule the needed ones (eye dr. and dentist appts) and it is very hard to remember everyones information of when they last went and when they are supposed to go again. For me, this will be a huge help having in my family binder.
Yearly Appointments Age 2 and up Family Binder

This one is good when the little (or big ones) are sick, because if you have had sick children and you take them to the Dr. you know they ask what meds have been given. If you give them tylenol or ibuprofin to help with fever, it is a good reference to know the dose and time right on the page without having to not only worry about your sick little one but try to remember what you gave when.
yearly I'm sick form family binder

These are just some of the pages I made for my own binder. I also made a calendar with appointments, a list of important phone numbers (but I couldn't get the formatting right to add it on here!), and an exercise plan to try to keep myself on track until delivery.
I also plan to include much more in my family album, as one album I saw on pinterest had birth certificates for each family member, social security cards, family photo page (then and now), family emergency plan, etc. Really the posibilities in a family binder are endless. I hope if you decide to create one you have as much fun as I am!

Tips for a good visit to the park

Tips for a good visit to the park:

Whether you walk or drive, make sure to bring water. Kids will get thirsty from running around and so will you. Even if you think it is going to be a quick stop, it is always smart to pack some.

Make sure to lather up with sunscreen! Even if there is no sun, kids (and you) can still get sunburnt.

Wear appropriate clothes. If it is supposed to be hot, don't bring extra stuff that can get lost at the park. same thing in the cold make sure to dress warmly enough but not too hot. And watch what shoes you wear, my boys wore socks and sneakers and took them off when their feet got hot- this could have been a big loss for us if we had left them at the park.

If your kids like basketball, bring one with you. Some parks have basketball hoops and you and your kids might wish you had brought one to play with for a while when the playground equipment gets boring.

Make sure to go to the bathroom before leaving the house. All parks should have a public restroom, but don't always. It might be a good idea to know where the nearest convenience store is in case a bathroom is out of order or one is not available at the park.

Know where the closest emergency room is in case your child gets hurt while at the park. This way you don't have to waste time driving around trying to find one if someone gets hurt while playing.

No matter how tempting it is for kids to bring favorite toys to the park, it is always a good idea to leave the toys at home. It is just another thing that can get lost or left at the park and cause a meltdown later.

An idea for fun at the park is to buy a cheap bag of army men or other small toys like dinosaurs. While the kids are playing bury them in one area of the sandpit/rocks and have the kids dig around to see if they can find them. If they don't find them all, the next kids who like to dig can find them.

Try to choose different parks in your area to go play at so the kids don't get bored with going to one park all the time.

Cleaning and Laundry Tips

One of the best laundry tips that I have found is to put your load of laundry in the wash in the morning and then as soon as the washer stops put the load in the dryer. As soon as the dryer stops, put your load of laundry away. I just got done putting away 2 huge baskets full of clothes that have been piling up (clean) for the last 3 days. It is always easier to put one load away rather than having to put 4 or 5 loads away at a time.

My favorite laundry soap right now is powdered Gain (regular scent) and the purple Purex Crystals fabric softener. If you haven't tried the Crystals, you really should!

The biggest tip for cleaning that I do is keep things clean on a daily basis. Every day I make sure that my dishes get done, even when I don't feel like doing them, the house is straightened and vacuumed. The most important rooms to me and the kitchen and living room since these are the rooms in the entry of the house that people who come to visit see. I can alway shut the bedroom doors if we have company over.

I made my own all-purpose cleaner by filling a spray bottle with vinegar, dish soap, and water. I put a little bit of dish soap, about 1/3 or 1/2 with vinegar and the rest with hot water. I found that this cuts grease, cleans mirrors and windows, and basically every surface that I normally clean. I found one on pinterest where you put hot vinegar and a lot of dawn dish soap, but for me the vinegar smell is overpowering and it leaves too many suds. Adding water cuts down on the suds and the vinegar smell. (plus the vinegar is a disinfectant).

I always recruit my kids to help clean up. They do not always participate willingly or cooperatively, but it helps me out as well as teaches them that cleaning is a part of life. I have them help clean up toys in the living room and pick up little things that get thrown on the floor. I will also have them vacuum sometimes, but more often than not I do this.

For paper clutter I try to keep the excess mail that I know I don't want right in the paper shredder and shred it when the box gets full. I normally let a stack of papers gather on my tv stand and then put them away on a day that I don't like looking at it anymore.

Basically the thing to do is a little everyday so you don't have to spend hours a week cleaning and scrubbing things.

A really great website to check out is:

www.flylady.net

A lot of sun and a little fun

So yesterday was my dr appt. I got to drink the nasty stuff for the diabetes test. They asked if I wanted orange flavor or cola flavor and I said cola thinking it would be like coca cola. Yeah, no. It was just as sugary and nasty as the orange flavor one, but more so. Someone should really change the rules and give donuts or a huge sugar filled candy bar instead of that stuff. Either way, it came back fine. All is good. And I didn't gain any weight in the 5 weeks since my appt! For someone my size that is nice-pregnant or not!
We also cooked out last night- or well V started the grill and I cooked on it. Corn, hot dogs (veggie dogs for me please!) and potato salad. The potato salad turned out pretty good for my first real time making it without mom!
Today I made a cleaner I found on pinterest, cleaned the house, did tons of laundry, spritzed the beds off with a de-odorizing/de-urineizing spray I found on pinterest (and it worked!!!!), did a few loads of dishes, made cookies that V has been asking me to make for a while now, took mom's cat to the vet to leave her overnight to get her infected tooth pulled tomorrow, and then made supper and went and played basketball at the park with B while N, S and G all rode thier bikes around the court.
All in all it was a productive day!

Here is the link to the cleaner I made:
http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275
I didn't use Dawn dish soap and I used about 2 oz of soap instead. It made some bubbles but not overwhelming amount. The vinegar smell was kind of overwhelming when spraying so make sure you keep that in mind if you use it. It cleaned REALLY well, windows, counters, shower/tub, bathroom floor, mirrors, etc.

Here is the link to the spray I used on the bed:
http://www.inspired-housewife.com/2012/03/30/how-to-get-pee-stains-out-of-a-mattress/
It is still a little damp where I sprayed it, so ideally it would be great to spray it on right away in the morning and then let it sit all day and make the bed right before bed. It works amazing though!!

To do lists....stupid or helpful?

Some people think to do lists are stupid, a waste of time, and a waste of paper. I personally do not. I love writing out a good to do list when I know I have a lot of phone calls to make or things to do in a day. It helps me see what I need or would like to get done and what I get done as I cross it off.

Some tips:

1. Write your list the night before. I know I get a lot of ideas of what I need to do as I am laying in bed.

2. Cross off what you get done as you do it or highlight what you get done. Do not make your line so dark that you can't read what you wrote. It will help you feel more accomplished at the end of the day.

3. Put the most important things at the top or put stars by them. This way things that don't get done can be carried over for the next day.

4. Make a daily to do list and a weekly to do list seperately so you know what you want to do for the week and what you need to do for the day.

The Gift of Following Thru with Letters

So, it really helps to review things you buy or places you go. When we went on our road trip I sent letters after our week stay where the room was so bad. The company who mom booked thru online responded (the hotel did not), and said they were investigating and even tho it said we could not recieve a refund if we had told them the issues they could have refunded the money or helped us find another room. Instead they offered a 64 (or so) dollar refund. I also sent a letter to another hotel and told them how upset we were with mom waiting so long for that dream and having the first room not have had housekeeping and the second one was still dirty too, but cleaner than the first. I recieved a call today and the night manager left a voicemail and said mom would receive a 50 dollar credit for that and please give them a chance in the future (which I won't and mom said she had her one lifetime visit there). In addition I felt I did good because I reviewed the hotels on trip advisor as well. I think the letters help, even if not requesting anything (because I did not in my letters) but it will help the business know how thier consumers feel with a certain product or service. I did this at Wal-Mart the other day when I saw the Bud Light guy stocking my tea. I told him I hoped Wal-Mart carried it for a long time because it is my favorite tea (which I forgot to buy today while grocery shopping- darnit!) So, next time you are unsatisfied with something about a business or a product write to the manager of the business or the company of the product and let them know- you never know how it might turn out!

vote for the baby's name

Ok, at the bottom of the page I added an option where you can vote on the baby's name. I liked the name Catalaya ever since we saw the movie Columbiana. V didn't. Now V's friend who will be the baby's Godfather said he likes the name Catalaya so V wants to name the baby this. Well I had already picked out Daisy. So, we are undecided. When the voting is over I will announce which one got more votes, but it doesn't mean that is what we will name the baby :) just want opinions about her name.

Right now this song is S and G's favorite. Every time it comes on the radio S sings it and now G "sings" as well.

Just a normal busy day

Well, I missed writing yesterday, so my plan to write everyday went out the window! It was a boring normal day anyway, not much to write about except some news stories that I read about online.
Today we took Lucy, Lucky, and Baby Girl (3 of moms 5 cats) to the vet. She thought they were going to tell her she needed to put them down, but they think Lucy has fluid in the abdomen, Lucky looks fine, and Baby Girl has an infected tooth. So baby girl has to go next week to have her tooth removed. It was an early morning to get up and go but it was worth it for moms peace of mind knowing the cats are for the most part looking good (or better than she thought!). N decided to act up in the car, so he went to moms to take a nap and do his schoolwork (we homeschool) and S, G and I went home to the apartment where S decided he wanted to act like N, so he got sent in for a nap too. Then came lunch time and cleaning up. Then G and S went to moms while I went to the school and had a meeting about S's speech evaluation. He will be receiving services until the end of the school year (May) 2 times a week. The speech therapist at the school referred me to a program that S doesn't qualify for, but he qualifies to see the speech therapist at the hospital over the summer so that is my plan and then he will qualify for services in the school year next year as well. I have to decide if I want to send S to school for preschool or not. Thinking I might, but not sure.
Tonight the plan is to go check out a Tae Kwon Do class for the boys. It says they start at 5 but I am hopeing S will be fine to do it because I think it will benefit him. I read the other day that children with ADHD and conduct disorder (B and N have ADHD) benefit greatly from Tae Kwon Do, so I am really hopeing they will cooperate and join in the class.
Tomorrow is B and N's consultation with the therapist and again I am hopeing that goes well, he wants to work with them/us and that it benefits them and things get better from here on out.
Saturday we are going to a garage sale hopefully around 7 am because they have name brand 0-3 boy and girl clothes for .50 cents each (for G and baby) and s-xl name brand womens clothes for $1 each (for mom).
Also spent time today on pinterest and got the idea to try to make a new cover for the carseat that G had as a baby for the new baby. I plan to take off the cover that was his and use it for a pattern. We shall see how it goes, since I am not a real whiz with the sewing machine but have enjoyed turning pants into shorts and hemming up pants for the boys.

Haircuts and a real job

So this morning, V had off work like every Tuesday. He woke us up early and I decided I wanted a chocolate donut (this baby is really giving me cravings for sweets!), so we did a few errands in town and then went to the grocery store for our donuts. I got the pretzel shaped one with glaze and chocolate frosting and boy was it good! I also picked out some fresh cooked bagels (my weakness!), and some chocolate chocolate chip muffins for a special snack today.

After running another errand, we stopped at Goodwill and got a few bargains. S found a doctor set that was $2. And G got this rocking horse for $2. I also found G a Sean John sweatshirt and V got a new sweatshirt for work.

This was probably the best bargain of our Goodwill trip. I really didn't need a wall shelf, but the price on the back of it was $1.50!!!!! And it is real wood and heavy! So, we couldn't pass it up. It is going to go under my "Bless Our Home" sign in the dining room.

Today was also haircut day. As with normal, I did it myself. I tried to make each haircut different from the next. G's was the worst. V had to come help me hold him and his hair is a little uneven and needs to be done again, but for being 21 months old and a mover and shaker I thought it came out decent.

After haircuts the boys went outside and played and drew some sidewalk art.

Back to normal

Well, we are home again. This morning I got up and once we got ready we went to the local store and got a small choclate milk and rolls for breakfast. The jelly filled donut I picked for myself smelled great and tasted nasty. We went to Wal-Mart for groceries, where I was SO excited to find my tea!!!
 I hope they keep carrying it and plan to write a letter to tell them that. At home I got 3 loads of laundry done and the kitchen cleaned and one sinkful of dishes washed. I have so much to do now that I am home. I also called the doctor and he said for now just keep watch on the spotting, since I only had it once it could have been a blood vessel that popped. So hopefully that was all it is.

On Day 12 I heard this song at least 5 times in the car, so now I just want to keep hearing it on the radio, so I had to share.

New Car

So I had started another blog on a different site, and last night I went to update it and it messed up, so now I started this one on this site. At the end of March, I sold my 2000 Ford Windstar (that had a salvaged title). It was a piece of junk. I actually didn't sell it, my boyfriend sold it to his friend who was going to use it as a work car. Whatever works. I borrowed mom's car until I was able to find my own car. I used the money from selling the van plus matched it with money from my taxes. I looked around, I researched on the web about the cars I was finding and finally spent 1 day in SuFu looking at 4 different vehicles. The last vehicle of the day was a 97 Ford Expedition. When the girl's boyfriend drove it up it looked really nice. It was in good outer condition. It sounded good. So I took the 2 little boys and took it for a test drive. I drove 25-30 mph and I noticed at the lights it was shaking in idle. Well, I had never driven an expedition and didn't know if this was normal, so I asked about it and was told by the girl and her boyfriend that it was because of the a/c. I told them I would have to come back later that night to buy it and she said they could drive it down to me. So I paid the $2700 in cash and went home. When they drove it to me, I went and picked up mom and the kids and took them for a short ride in town. The next day we drove to Town and I noticed when we got up in speed it was really shaking and pulling forward/back when I accelerated. On Saturday on our way to the St. Pat's Parade in SuFu it was really bad. Sunday nothing was open, so Monday I took it in to the mechanic and was told it had 700-900 dollars of work that needed to be done, spark plugs, elbows, etc. I was unable to drive it home because when they were inspecting it, one of the elbows crumbled because it was in such bad condition. So mom came back to Town and picked me and the 2 little guys up. The next day between leftover money from buying the expedition (had 3k all together) and my boyfriends leftover tax money, we got the expedition fixed. They said bring it back in a week to make sure all of the codes were gone- otherwise it would need new manifold bolts at 4-500 dollars. A week later I brought it back and the codes were all gone, so I was set. It made me very upset that I was told that there were no problems mechanically, they took really good care of the car, and everything was good. I tried to do something about it, called her and told her what happened and she said she felt bad but the car drove fine for her, which I felt was a lie but couldn't prove- if I could have proven it I could have taken her to small claims court and filed suit against her. I wish I was able to prove it. If I had known it had the problems I would have A.) offered less money or B.) walked away from the deal. I thought I did good but I know nothing about cars and trusted that what they told me was true.