{story time}

I love baby wearing, i believe that it allows a even deeper bond with your child! I love when i put him in my Moby Wrap and he falls asleep on my chest! Not only do i love the feeling of his warm breath, but knowing that it was my warmth and heart beat that put him to sleep. Also those are the times that he sleeps the best.
So here is what I want, I want you to share with my your story via URL link on your bog, as well as visiting The Great Letdown on Facebook, and posting photos of your wonderful baby wearing experience! cant wait to see photos and stories!  This photo is also my {this moment} for the week!

post comments and be sure to follow us and like our facebook! Thanks for reading!

Its amazing what a mother can do!!!

pulled from: www.mailonline.com

Miracle mum brings premature baby son back to life with two hours of loving cuddles after doctors pronounce him dead

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE
Last updated at 5:47 PM on 27th August 2010

It was a final chance to say goodbye for grieving mother Kate Ogg after doctors gave up hope of saving her premature baby.

She tearfully told her lifeless son - born at 27 weeks weighing 2lb - how much she loved him and cuddled him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

Although little Jamie's twin sister Emily had been delivered successfully, doctors had given Mrs Ogg the news all mothers dread - that after 20 minutes of battling to get her son to breathe, they had declared him dead.

Awful moment: Kate and David clasp each other and their son Jamie, circled, after being told he did not survive the birth. They were given the child to say their goodbyes but then, miraculously, two hours later he began to show signs of life

Signs of life: A smiling Kate holds Jamie after it becomes clear that her son is going to survive

Having given up on a miracle, Mrs Ogg unwrapped the baby from his blanket and held him against her skin. And then an extraordinary thing happened.

After two hours of being hugged, touched and spoken to by his mother, the little boy began showing signs of life.

At first, it was just a gasp for air that was dismissed by doctors as a reflex action.

But then the startled mother fed him a little breast milk on her finger and he started breathing normally.

'I thought, "Oh my God, what's going on",' said Mrs Ogg.

'A short time later he opened his eyes. It was a miracle. Then he held out his hand and grabbed my finger.

'He opened his eyes and moved his head from side to side. The doctor kept shaking his head saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it".'

Proud mum: Kate with son Jamie when they appeared on Australian TVl. The boy was born prematurely with twin sister Emily at 27 weeks

Sweet slumber: Five-month-old Jamie sleeps in his mother's arms as she gives an account of his remarkable survival

The Australian mother spoke publicly for the first time yesterday to highlight the importance of skin-on-skin care for sick babies, which is being used at an increasing number of British hospitals.

'He started gasping more and more regularly. I thought, "Oh my God, what's going on?" A short time later he opened his eyes. It was a miracle'

 

In most cases, babies are rushed off to intensive care if there is a serious problem during the birth.

But the 'kangaroo care' technique, named after the way kangaroos hold their young in a pouch next to their bodies, allows the mother to act as a human incubator to keep babies warm, stimulated and fed.

Pre-term and low birth-weight babies treated with the skin-to-skin method have also been shown to have lower infection rates, less severe illness, improved sleep patterns and are at reduced risk of hypothermia.

Mrs Ogg and her husband David told how doctors gave up on saving their son after a three-hour labour in a Sydney hospital in March.

All smiles: It was after Kate gave her son some of her breast milk on her finger that he began breathing regularly

Enlarge 

'The doctor asked me had we chosen a name for our son,' said Mrs Ogg. 'I said, "Jamie", and he turned around with my son already wrapped up and said, "We've lost Jamie, he didn't make it, sorry".

'It was the worse feeling I've ever felt. I unwrapped Jamie from his blanket. He was very limp.

'I took my gown off and arranged him on my chest with his head over my arm and just held him. He wasn't moving at all and we just started talking to him.

'We told him what his name was and that he had a sister. We told him the things we wanted to do with him throughout his life.

'Jamie occasionally gasped for air, which doctors said was a reflex action. But then I felt him move as if he were startled, then he started gasping more and more regularly.

'I gave Jamie some breast milk on my finger, he took it and started regular breathing.'

Mrs Ogg held her son, now five months old and fully recovered, as she spoke on the Australian TV show Today Tonight.

Her husband added: 'Luckily I've got a very strong, very smart wife.

'She instinctively did what she did. If she hadn't done that, Jamie probably wouldn't be here.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1306283/Miracle-premature-baby-declared-dead-doctors-revived-mothers-touch.html#ixzz19XKOdNaO

Lactation Cookies Recipe

1cup butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
4 tablespoons of water
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons brewer's yeast
3 cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips


Soak the flaxseed in the water for a few minutes to soften.
Mix dry ingrediants.
Cream together butter and sugar, add eggs, flaxseed and vanilla.
Add to dry ingredients.

Drop on cookie sheet .
Bake 8 - 12 minutes on 375º.

{I heart Dating my husband!}

My husband Dustin and I are going on a well deserved date tonight! You see this does not happen that often, my son is SBF and wont take a bottle so "alone" time is few and far in between! We recently Had our one year anniversary of marriage, and Jack(son) came with :)

As much as I love my kids, I believe that most of forget about our spouse, and having time alone with them is so very important, so I am going to study him, play footsie, and kiss him without thinking about the kids throwing food at me, or diapers to change!

Thanks Janna (there great-grandmother) for being so kind to take the kiddo's tonight for a few hours.

Time for some R&R with my husband!!

Six Tips to Braving Breastfeeding in Public -- Baby Development Month by Month -- WhatToExpect.com

Six Tips to Braving Breastfeeding in Public -- Baby Development Month by Month -- WhatToExpect.com

Summer Infant Deluxe Comfort Folding Booster Seat

I received Summer Infant Deluxe Comfort Folding Booster Seat as a gift. We have a larger high chair, but for our 6 month old son it just was not working. I love this booster seat for the following reasons:

1. Its small and compact.
2. Both my children can use it.
3. The adjustable straps, you can make them adjust according to your child. 
4. its light weight and folds completely down! this one is great for the apartment dwellers such as myself.
5. So easy to clean! 
6. Straps to any chair, securely! that is important for those rambunctious kids (mine) 
7. Travels with you easily.

There are many great things to say about this chair, but I think that one of the other best parts is, its affordable for any family!

you can find it at many retail stores around you such as: 

• Amazon
• Burlington Coat Factor
• JUST KIDS STORE INC
• Meijer
• Wallmart
• ALBEE'S
• DIAPERS.COM
• Babies R Us
• Target

Click HERE to be directed to the Summer Infant page, featuring this booster seat. also be sure to Check them out on FACEBOOK  and TWITTER

(Nature Baby...Naturally)

A new favorite!!! I have fallen in love with Nature Baby...Naturally Blog , there a great blog to follow, great information and amazing giveaways! I am a sucker for mommy blogs, and more so the ones that Love to give back! And Nature Baby...Naturally does just that!

Click HERE to be directed to there giveaway page!

Be sure to find them on FACEBOOK and like there page! 

http://www.nurturebabynaturally.com/search/label/Giveaways

Great Breastfeeding Story.

Has this happen to you?


(CNN) -- All newborn babies cry, but Anika Reese seemed to be in a category all her own. She screamed in pain nearly all the time, grabbing her own little cheeks so forcefully she sometimes drew blood.
Her mother, Suzanne, describes Anika's first four months as "living in hell with an angel."
"There are almost no words to describe what I thought was only some form of prison camp torture," Reese says.
Reese noticed her baby's stomach was swollen and her poops were green and frothy. Several friends and family members suggested it might be a problem with Reese's breast milk, and urged her to give Anika formula instead. But Reese was "hell-bent" on nursing and refused to stop.
Only 43% of moms breast-feeding at six months
Unlike Reese, many mothers, for various reasons, give up on nursing. While 75% of mothers breast-feed their babies soon after birth, only 43% are still nursing six months later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends moms breast-feed for at least a year, but the first six months are especially crucial, says Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, a spokesperson for the academy, since most babies that age aren't yet eating solid food and rely solely on milk for nutrition.
Breastfeeding habits in America
Reese was committed to nursing because of the significant health benefits to her baby: fewer cases of gastroenteritis and ear and upper respiratory infections, to name a few, and now a new study out of Australia shows some breast-fed babies do better academically later in life.
While it's not easy to overcome the hurdles of early breast-feeding -- whether it's sore nipples, a screaming baby, or a low milk supply -- Reese managed to do it.
Fighting for Anika
When she noticed Anika's belly swollen and strange, frothy green poops, Reese called lactation consultants, who told her all babies have gas and to be patient. Then, when Anika was 7 weeks old, Reese noticed blood in her daughter's stool.
The Reeses raced to the emergency room near their home in Ramona, California. Doctors gave Anika a barium enema to get a good look at her intestines.
The test showed Anika's colon was normal. The Reeses then took Anika to a pediatric gastroenterologist, who advised Suzanne to stop eating foods that might be bothering Anika. But Suzanne was already down to a diet of chicken, beef, sweet potatoes, and rice -- there was nothing more she could cut out.
Feeling like "a total failure," Reese still wasn't ready to give up nursing her baby. She called another lactation consultant, who listened patiently to her story and immediately offered this tip: pump some milk, throw it away, and put Anika to her breast.
"OVERNIGHT, we had a new baby!" Reese recalled in an e-mail. "INCREDIBLE! We were utterly relieved -- to the point of tears."
The lactation consultant explained Reese was producing too much foremilk, which is full of sugar and can irritate a baby's delicate gut if she gets too much of it. By pumping off the foremilk and getting rid of it, Reese was giving Anika more hindmilk, which has significantly less sugar.
"I was also utterly angry that we had to go through all of this when it was such a simple fix," Reese says.
Breast-feeding advice from moms who've been through "hell"
Reese found when it comes to breast-feeding, sometimes the experts who should know the answers -- pediatricians, lactation counselors -- don't.
"We're getting better at training residents to learn more about breast-feeding, but we still have a ways to go," says Feldman-Winter, a professor of pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey.
Reese is glad she kept looking for answers -- she's still nursing Anika, who turns 2 next month.
Various websites offer helpful breastfeeding tips, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, pregnancy.org, and La Leche League International. In addition, La Leche League and babycenter.com offer forums where moms can seek advice from each other.

Happy Reading!

Story pulled from CNN HEALTH www.cnn.com, in the health tab .

{Christmas Morning}

The night before was fun and Emma could not wait to get home, go to bed, and wait for Santa! When we arrived home it was busy. Presents were every were, Emma was so tired and there is me trying to feed little man. But soon it all settled down, Emma was off to bed as well as little man too.

It was strange as i could not sleep either, I think that I was just so excited for Emma. This is the first year that she really can understand the concept of Santa. So the morning came and  I went to wake up Emma and I get this.

Needless to say she was still VERY tired! It was so cute! But she did get out of her sleep mode, and it was cute as it just HIT her! and she opened the Presents and screamed: "MOM LOOK WHAT SANTA GAVE ME!" It was just adorable!

 She was getting excited

 she really really wanted this barbie!

Bonus!! MOON DOUGH!

She loved everything so much and played all day!
Lets all share, leave a comment, and share your link to your child's morning!!!

Hope all my readers had a great Christmas and that they end with a safe and loving new year!

{this moment}

Hello there its Friday, Christmas Eve and i have stumbled upon a new blogger that I love Soule Mama. She does something every Fri that I will be taking part in.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Visit Soule Mama's Blog and check this out, leave a comment here too with your {this moment} so we all may be able to enjoy. 

Have a happy and Safe holiday weekend everyone, be safe!

Why is this?

why is it that when you are pregnant and people ask if your going to BF or FF, that to me is a loose loose question. I think that truly it should not be a topic that others besides the mother and the baby should worry about. I love BF and my son is SBF and is 6 months now. But I have a lot of mommy friends that FF and have been getting some negative "feedback" if you will. I think that when a mother BF thats her choice and  I will support her to the max! And when a mother desides to FF well, I SUPPORT HER TOO!

 To the BF moms that dislike FF:

I know that BF is the "best" for baby, but you talking down to the women that FF is not ok, us BF moms do no like to be cut down, why do some BF moms think that it ok to do that with FF moms. I know that this is a ongoing battle between moms, but we should all support each other! we are no better then one another. Other then assuming that the mother just didn't want to, you might want to know her story. Do not get my wrong I'm a strong believer in the art of BF, but it is not one mamma's right to judge another.

Has this happen to you? Has someone either said to you, will you please do "that" in the bathroom? Or have you encountered comments about FF that upset you?

We really need to put a stop to this! It makes me sad. Readers lets band together and support the mommy's in our lives for what ever choice she may make!

Breastfeeding during the Holidays!

Hey moms!!! How do you feel about breastfeeding during the holidays? Are you scared to do "it" in front of the family? Do they support you? - "your still nursing?" - "how long are you going to be doing THAT?" - "you mind leaving the room?" - "He is nursing too much, that must mean he is not getting enough, just give him a bottle already!" Does this at all sound familiar? Well a lot of it does to me. I want moms to know that they are not alone, breastfeeding is hard and time-consuming, but people don't realize that we don't do it because it's "hard"! We do it because: We love it, its great for baby AND for mommy! it decreases postpartum as well as allows the mom the heal faster. Oh and not to mention the incredible bond! Mom's, know this; mothers and fathers too that don't agree with it most likely NEVER will and you can convince them otherwise. So just remember that this is your baby and your body, and you must do what you feel is right. If you family does not like the art of breastfeeding, just try to remember that you are doing what is best in your eyes for your baby and that what they say is simply an opinion and that's it. Support yourself and love that you are doing this for your baby! Here are a few tips to remember. 1. stay calm, do not let others get you worked up. This can effect your nursling. 2. holidays are busy and loud, allow yourself to nurse in a dark and quiet room. 3. no interruptions! 4. Slow down....don't forget to breastfeed, some babies will wean during the holidays and you will lose you supply. 5. take baby with you, breastfeeding babies mostly travel well! and finally.. 6. Take the opportunity to become a confidant breastfeeding MOM! I know that you can do this, and if you do then you will do wonderfully!

Lanolin-free Nipple Butter      

Review

i am a strictly breastfeeding mom of a 6 month old, and from the beginning i was having issues with cracked, dry and bleeding nipples. It was so painful and I almost could not handle it, till i found this, The first years Lanolin-free nipple butter. I absolutely love this, its not greasy, it doe not smell bad, and my son does not mind the taste at all. I was so badly cracked and felt at my wits end and thought that it would never heal, and literally 2 days of applying The first years Lanolin-free nipple butter it was HEALED! and that was amazing to me! I would totally recommend this to all my breastfeeding mommas! 

And if this does not fully work for you breastfeeding mothers, well The First Years has a great line of healing and comfort products for us nursing mothers. 

like there Nursing Care Instant Relief System and Soothing Breast Wipes ,i have used all these products, with the instant relief system its great for those new mom that have sore nipples. and the breast wipes are so amazing, as no mother likes to smell like sour milk! 

I really hope that this will help some of you suffering mommas! Please be sure to check out The First Years out on FACEBOOK  and TWITTER !! 

                                

        
ROUNDTABLE TOYS

Ryan's Room Doll House, made by Roundtable Toys is one of the most astounding doll houses that I have ever seen, and my daughter absolutely loves it. Some of the things that I love about it is, I love that its solid and well made. It withstands the poor abuse from rowdy children! I also love that its not just for girls, as most "doll houses" are aimed for just little girls. My daughter has some little boy friends and they all have a blast playing with it. I think that its so neat all the little pieces and trinkets that you can get for it are so well thought out. To be honest i find myself playing with it with her all the time, and i don't get bored!

I would recommend this to any mother that I know, and I have. This truly is a great investment into ones playroom for there kid/s!!!!!

There on the web, facebook and twitter!

So check out there web page (link is posted under the header)

Top 10 Educational Toys 2010

1. LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table Educational Toy

• 2. LeapFrog Leapster 2 Educational Toy
• 3. Uncle Milton Moon in My Room Educational Toy
• 4. LeapFrog Scribble and Write Educational Toy
• 5. Melissa and Doug See and Spell Educational Toy
• 6. Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube Educational Toy
• 7. Snap Circuit Jr SC-100 Educational Toy
• 8. Melissa and Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock
• 9. Scientific Explorer Mind Blowing Science Kit
• 10. Vtech Preschool Learning Tote N Go Laptop Educational Toy

Hey all, here you go the top toys to get your kiddos! To keep that brain working and those brain cells to multiply!! 

I have personally have had the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table Educational Toy and the LeapFrog Scribble and Write Educational Toy, and they are so neat! My daughter loves them so much, she currently plays with the Leapfrog scribble, and is learning to write her letters and such so well. I am a busy mom and love when i can find a toy that is not only fun for my child but educational! Best of both worlds for me!

Enjoy and tell someone you know. 

Drop-Side Cribs Banned

ITS ABOUT TIME

• Public News Service - NY
• December 2010
• Children's Issues
• Consumer Issues
• Health Issues
• Download audio
• Print this article
• Email This article

December 17, 2010

NEW YORK - Drop-side cribs have claimed more than 30 infant and toddler lives in the last decade. Prompted by concerned parents, Suffolk County ordered what is believed to be the first ban on them last year. In November, New York State followed suit.

Now, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has outlawed the cribs, which can trap and suffocate children.

At the Parenting Resource Network on Long Island, Karen Horowitz says 24 cribs in an affiliated child care center were replaced over the summer.

"Our center itself, at the time, probably was six or seven years old. These were relatively new cribs to begin with, but we felt that we had to be proactive and not take any chances at all."

More than 9 million of the cribs have been the focus of recalls in the past five years. The country-wide ban on the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs will take effect next June.

The hard part, says Horowitz, will be spreading the word about the risks of continuing to use an old drop-side crib that may have been in a family for generations.

"Probably the most significant problem is yard sales, hand-me-downs or people borrowing from other people - cribs that serviced everyone well for many, many years, so no one really sees the inherent danger."

Horowitz says she hopes the financial burden on parents will be eased by manufacturers offering an alternative crib at a discount or rebate to customers who purchased one of the now-forbidden drop-side cribs.

"If they have a second child, and they want to use the same crib they used for their first child, to be told it's no longer safe and they now have to go out and buy a new crib, that's going to be a very major problem."

Child care centers and hotels will be given two years to replace the dangerous cribs.

Mark Scheerer, Public News Service - NY

kids pics!

                                                                            Emma

Emma

                                                                         Jack

                                                                             Jack

                                                                          Both the kids!

Christmas Timel

Well here we go!!! its almost Christmas! And i think that I am not excited for the hassle and bustle of it all. But i am very excited to see the look on Emma's face when She opens presents!!!! She is going to be so excited, as this year she is older and i believe with understand more. We have so much planned, first this Sat. is with my mothers family, Then xmas eve with my Husbands. Christmas day with my dad's side, and finally the following day with friends! AWW what a busy time of year this will prove to be! I want to really count my blessing this year, there are many people in my life right now that have blessed me in so many ways. My husband, kids and some friends have really been there for me! I want to thank all the people that are close to me in my life right now, because if it was not for you life would not be as full as it is right now!

Emma

It all began almost 3 years ago when i found out that I was pregnant! I was just over joyed, as was my husband(BF at the time) I was on my way to my friends birthday, and i thought to myself i should really take a test, if i plan to drink. So i did and there is was, as I was in the bathroom at a Coborn's. The double pink lines!!!! HOLLY CRAP! i could barely make it out of there not tripping over things. So i ran home to Tell Dustin. We were both just elated! So we got our own place and started to make a home for our new baby. As the months went on I was miserable! i was so bloated, retaining more water then one human should, and I just wanted to puke, So was really giving me a run for my money. During my pregnancy I suffered the following:
boarderline justational
High blood pressure
swelling of my limbs
back labor(bad!)
pre-turm labor

And my list goes on, I was hospitalized so much that the staff knew me by my first name just by a glance! I was so miserable, i just want to be done being pregnant. Well there it was my wish that i truly didnt want that soon! at 28 weeks i went into preturm labor!!!!!! BAHHHHH i was so scared, i didnt want her to come out, not just yet. they hospitalized me. I was on all sorts of meds to stop the labor, as well as they gave me corticosteroids to boost her lung growth. They knew that she was going to come early, and i would not let them do a amniocentesis on me, so they just gave me the meds.

After i believe 4 days they released me. After that i resumed my life, i couldnt work any more, but i tried, and that proved to be so hard. I was so huge and my legs and feet soooo swollen! So a couple weeks later, i was not feeling ok, not at all!! I was talking to my mother online and she informed me that i should talk to my nurse, so i called her and the stupid woman told me to call a ambulance! So i called my husband, and said i needed a ride to the hospital to get checked out. Him and his dad were working on there race car at there house. So he sent his mother, we went up there and they hooked me up to the monitors. The docs kept coming in and making me turn and swop positions, then they were giving me oxigen! I was getting worried at this point. My mother in law called Dustin and said that I was going to have this baby tonight, so he rushed over. Then i saw it, the moment of truth. Her heart decels!!!!! her heart rate was droping and they didnt know why, they tried to see on a U.S. but that didnt work and they advised me that the best thing to do is to deliver! I was freakig out, not only was i only just about 35 weeks, but now they are going to have to cut me open!!!!

Well I did it and she came out just fine, on Sat. February 9th 2008 she was born and was 5lbs and 12 oz and 19 in long! she would have been a huge baby if i were to go full turm! so was in the NICU for a while as she was have a little trouble keeping her core temp up. But as soon as that problem was done, her billi levels went through the roof! she was Jaundice, and looked like a little pumkin! So as i had to leave the hospital she had to stay, and be under the lights. It was the worst day of my life, leaving my baby there with strangers!!!!!!!

All was well though as that floowing sat she got to come home! I was so greatful that she was ok!! she truly is my oxygen! i need her and love her more then anything! And i will never take one moment that i get with her for granted!

Family

Here is to Tammi;

I know that we not always see eye to eye, but lets just agree to just disagree. I know that you might not think my way is the best way, but lets just do it our own ways. :) I want you to know that the past is the past and that you are my mother-in-law and the grandmother to my kids. We love you and know that from this moment on there will no longer be anything that we cant tell each other. Love is something that we should not have to try at, and I think that we all lost site of what is important and that is family. so lets take a oath, one for us and to the better well being of our minds, hearts and family.
We shall never listen to the "hearsay"
There shall no longer be there he said, she said.
If its not from the birds mouth then we are not to think it is true with out further and real information.
We must remember that our own person is important and in order to love others and be true, that we must take care, love and be true to our self before that can happen.

I am truly sorry for all that has caused a gap in the lat 4 years. But i am looking forward to the future and the great times that I know that we will have. Much love!!!

Megan