Thursday, December 29, 2016

Addiction

When you hear the word addiction you probably think about the big ones,the ones you hear about needing rehab for, the addictions that ruin relationships and can cause riffs in families. But, did you know there is another addiction than can have similar effects but isnt talked about. This particular addiction is literally right in the palm of your hand...smartphones.
I unfortunately have an addiction to my smartphone and it is awful! Having a smartphone I have easy access to addicting social media sites where instead of being a doting wife and loving mother I'm looking at what Sally had for lunch and the fact that Tina and Jim broke up again. during this season of life, ya know the one were I'm raising tiny humans, is that information really that important...no. I mean its wonderful Sally had a salad for lunch and I'm happy Tina broke up with Jim since he treated her like dirt, but how does knowing that better my life. Honestly it doesn't, but then why do I spend hours upon hours scrolling mindlessly through these social media sites. To be honest I have no idea but with having the computer in the palm of my hand it's so easy to pick up and start scrolling. Now I will admit it sometimes I need a mommy timeout which is a fine time to start scrolling, for a set amount of time usually when the kids are having quiet time since naps are non-existent right now.  But not scrolling for hours or setting social media as a higher priority.
When my children get older I want them to remember me as a good mom,a mom who tried, a mom who played, not a mom with a phone attached to her hand and always looking down. I've already taken steps to solve that problem. I've deleted all social media and internet off my phone so it is a "basic phone" until my phone contract is up. I've set time limits and on my certain times of days when I can be online.  Unfortunately That means pictures of the kids will be less frequent. But I promise you'll still see them. And since I just received a kindle and we have a home computer I'll still be blogging. So no worries about that. Hopefully I can keep this up especially since its almost January 1st meaning it's a new year to start fresh!

XO
Leah

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Getting my life back!

A little backstory since 2012 I have had on and off pain. Sometimes I could go months with no pain others i was in and out of the hospital. Since having Saul in July I have been in constant pain. In and out of the hospital. My depression worsening, feeling like I was living in the fog of just trying to make it through the day. Its been rough. I couldnt do the things I loved because they caused more pain, heck just getting out of bed was painful. All this pain was physical and emotional.  Finally I had enough. I thought I knew what was causing this pain and I needed it out! After speaking to my doctor we set a date to get my ovary and my appendix removed. Keeping our fingers crossed that this was the answer. Surgery day came and I was a mess! Ive had many surgeries in the past but having surgery as a mom is hard! I had so many fears going into surgery regarding my children and my husband, and of course worry that after surgery the pain would still be there. Surgery went off without a hitch and that day I was feeling great! Other than recovery pain the pain I was feeling was gone! It was as if the block in my body was removed and my right side felt empty. Two weeks later I feel terrific! I have not felt that pain since surgery day. I am now so excited for life! My depression is so much better, I am happier, enjoying my children and my life. I finally have my life back! Im excited to get back on bike, and do yoga without the pain holding me back. Heck I even enjoy my household chores! It blows my  mind how much my perspective on life has changed since I am pain free. To be quite honest I am so incredibly exhausted from Saul not sleeping but I am happy and oh so thankful!

XO
Leah

Monday, November 21, 2016

Product Reviews 11/21

All of what I express is my own unbiased opinion. I did receive this products at a discounted price but everything I say is my own and was not influenced in any which way.

NYB Arabic Scrub
https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Arabica-Coffee-Organic-Ingredients/dp/B01LZDS706/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1478535197&sr=8-1&keywords=new+york+biology+coffee+scrub

let's Chat about this #coffeescrub! okay I love love love coffee so being able to rub it on my body is a win win! there is no harsh aroma with this scrub I mean it just smells like glorious #coffee. I've used scrubs before that have used Mits or stick applicators but honestly I just use my bare hands to rub it on my problem areas. My skin does feel smoother but I'm not seeing a decrease in my #stretchmarks yet.

 SwissVita Eye Serum
http://www.amztk.com/eye-cream-for-wrinkles

I'm a mom to two adorable children....who hate sleep. With that being said the bags under my eyes should have their own zip code. I've been using this under eye Serum twice a day for a few days and I look like a new person! I don't need as much concealer and it looks like I have actually slept more than a few hours in the past week! This #micrite3d is a life saver! The only issue I have with it is that after I use it, under my eyes feels a bit sticky. But I can honestly look past that since it works!

SelpHbalance Mosquito bands
http://amzn.to/2etGtqO

I hate mosquitos they drive me crazy! I love being outside in the summer but I feel like these bugs prevent me from enjoying that. this #mosquit looks to be a product I have needed in my life. I love that the package is #resealable to keep all the good in. Also it comes with 12 different bands! one color per family member. I Love that wearing this I don't have to worry about spraying myself or my children with those nasty sprays! This saves the Hassel and keeps everyone protected. the smell is not overwhelming like that of #bugspray. Once you take the band off your skin doesn't smell like it either. Which in my opinion is great!

HealthyWiser Water test strips
https://www.tomoson.com/account/your-reviews


I Think it is extremely important to know what is in your water! These test strips from HealthyWiser show just that! It's so easy to use. Once you open the cap there are four vacuum sealed bags filled with tests. You then take a strip and put it horizontally in your drinking, pool, spa, shower,fish water for 30 seconds. After you take it out, DO NOT SHAKE, and then compare your test strip to the legend on the side of the bottle. So easy! Some of the things you can test for are nitrates, water hardness, alkaline.

XO
Leah




Wednesday, November 16, 2016

I Cant Do this Alone..

Being a mom is hard! For the past week I cant even tell you how many times I found myself sitting in the hallway of the kids room crying listening to them cry as they both didn't want to nap. Yesterday I reached my breaking point. Saul hasn't been sleeping at all no naps no sleeping during the night it is exhausting! and on top of that Hannah has hit the terrible threes. She skipped over the terrible twos but this terrible three holy smokes its rough! Yesterday Hannah got sent to her room for getting in trouble and  I of course attempted to put Saul down for a nap. Both kids simultaneously screaming and crying and me sitting in the hallway silently crying along with them. I sat there with tears streaming down my face and I just prayed. I prayed to God to help me, give me the strength to get through this because I cant do this alone. Ive tried but I have failed. I have failed over and over again because I simply was trying to do things alone. I don't know why sometimes I think I am stronger than I am. Why I think I am wonder woman who can take care of everything without God. Now I am not saying I have run from my faith that is simply not true. But in the times of trials I forget to turn to Him, because during these rough times He truly is the only one who can give me rest. Not the close your eyes and go to sleep rest (even though I do need that) but, the rest that my heart and my mind need. This season is a rough one, Im trying to be a good wife to my husband, housewife to my house, and mother to my children. Without the help from God I will be drained easily and burned out and not enjoying this season as much as I could be. Honestly, the only thing I can think of is Satan knows I am weak right now. There is a lot going on in my life that I haven't shared yet on this blog, so he is attacking me. It doesn't help that I have PPD so there are days where I feel like a crappy human being anyway.  He knows my weakness just like God does but Satan being who he is attacks that and makes things so much worse! I need to pray and strengthen my faith even more during these times. I have learned the hard way that I cant do this alone and I plan on keeping that in the front of my mind because its a truth that I need to be reminded of daily. God doesn't give me more than I can handle, but sometimes I do feel pushed to my limits (aka surviving on no sleep) But I'm going to turn to Him and Ill get through it. So no matter what season of life you are in, remember your not in this alone!

XO
Leah

Monday, October 31, 2016

Product Reviews

Lately I have been able to review some pretty awesome products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest opinion. These are a few of the awesome products I was able to test.

 Anxiety & Stress Relief with Tranquility Synergy
 https://www.amazon.com/Tranquility-Synergy-Anxiety-Relief-Support/dp/B01BDJERKK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1477933665&sr=8-13&keywords=anxiety+remedy&m=A6FVX63KQA3ZR&tag=transbiz03-20

 I Struggle wit anxiety and stress. Honestly It has just been a part of my normal day to day life. I was given this product to review and at first I was extremely skeptical. I did not think some smelly oil was going to help me feel better. But that "smelly oil" exceeded my expectations! To start it smells Great! I applied it to the back of my neck before bed and honestly I haven't been able to sleep that well in years! When I was feeling anxious or stressed I would apply a few drops to my wrist and rub it in. It worked nearly instantly.This product is wonderful and does just what it says it will. As an added bonus it didn't leave my skin feeling oily or greasy. This little bottle ( and the awesome bag it came in) will go with me everywhere!

  Weight Management & Appetite Control with SlimWay Grapefruit Synergy
https://www.amazon.com/SlimWay-Synergy-Management-Appetite-Suppressants/dp/B01BDEXQNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477933673&sr=8-1&keywords=natural+weight+loss&m=A6FVX63KQA3ZR&tag=transbiz03-20

 This oil is made by the same company. I had the same thoughts using this as well. This also smells amazing, and I used it twice a day rubbing on my stomach in a clockwise circle as well as behind my ears. Unfortunately I am still waiting for the results. I don't feel an decrease in my appetite. I wont stop using it though because I truly believe this will work. I plan on doing some research to see if there are other places I can put it like pressure points and what not. So we will see!

MEIKEER
Women's Classy Short Sleeve Cut Out Belted Casual Party Cocktail Dress
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019Y2LMQU/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Beautiful Casual dress. It fits like a glove, so if you have any problem areas around the stomach or hips I would suggest Spanx. The color in my opinion is a bit more blue than the green than I expected but nonetheless it is a beautiful color. It zippers up the back and once zipped it is fairly discreet. Also comes with a nice belt. The belt has a bit of shine to it especially when outside, but not terrible. This dress also has very nice cap sleeves as well as the bottom which are excatly like the dress iI the stock photo. The material is a nice stretchy material so once the dress is on you do not feel like you are suffocating which is a bonus I feel.


Stretch Mark Remover and Anti Scar oil
http://www.amztk.com/synergy-for-stretch-mark-removal


Just like with the other Oils I was a skeptic. I tried this oil twice a day in two different areas of my body. I tried it on my newer stretch marks from having Saul 4 months ago, as well as the stretch marks on my legs from gaining weight. I must admit the stretch marks on my legs seem to have faded very nicely and they are almost unnoticeable. The stretch marks on my stomach on the other hand did not fade very well. Im assuming that it is because they are fresher. There are a few that have faded though so Im not sure what the difference is. I still enjoy this product and will continue to use it. I am also very glad that there is no awful smell too. For some reason I thought it would be sticky and greasy but it wasn't. Overall I think it is a great product!


Christmas Laser lights
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Waterproof-laser-lights-Decoration/dp/B01IDAQY5I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=christmas+laser+lights


So I have heard that Christmas Laser lights are the new thing. and I can see why! These are amazing! It makes decorating for Christmas so easy! I love the way it looked on the house and there was no setup at all. There were two things that I didnt like about this product. I didnt like how there wasnt a remote control to control the laser. I wish I had an on/off switch so I could turn the lights on in the comfort of my own home. I also wish this was solar powered.  For this product you have to use a waterproof cord or else it doesnt work. If it was solar powered you wouldnt have to worry about having an outside outlet and an extra cord. But overall once it is set up it looks great!
XO Leah

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Why Do you blog?

Honestly, Ive been thinking about this a lot. Why in the world did I start this blog and what were my original intentions vs how the blog developed. I started this little blog as an online diary of sorts. I have an awful memory and quite frankly I started to write so in a few years I wont forget this important season of my life. I never thought I would share my life with the world, and be as open and honest as I have been. There have been many times I have thought to myself if I really wanted to post certain blogs. My Presley and Sage posts as well as my PPD are all situations that I have gone through that were/ are still tough to deal with. Those posts I must have sat and thought should I post these, will anyone read them, will people look at me differently, for a very long time after writing them. Obviously I posted them and I am so glad I did. The outpouring of love and that other people have gone through the same things is why I will continue to write. I decided that I was going to post the good the bad and the ugly about my life as a mother, and as a wife. Im sure there will be posts where people will roll there eyes, but hopefully all who read will laugh and cry along with me. When It comes to motherhood its an exhausting job and not very pretty. Trust me Im trying to figure out if its my skin or my shirt that smells like sour milk right now. But its an amazing and rewarding job. Being a wife is a tough job too. Trying to be the best for my husband and keeping him sane once he comes home from work. Stressful at times but still amazing. I hope you continue to stay with me on this journey and enojoy reading what I write. Also If anyone has ideas of what they would like me to write feel free to share. Somedays theres not enough coffee and I cant think of what to write haha. XO Leah

Monday, October 10, 2016

Monday Deal Madness

Lately Ive been able to receive products from companies at discounted and even free prices and give my honest opinion. On Mondays (not every Monday) I will share these awesome deals and my honest opinion on certain products.

UKCOCO Phone stand
https://www.amazon.com/UKCOCO-Multi-Angle-Adjustable-Adhesive-Smartphones/dp/B01KF3XCKG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475852400&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=UKCOCO+phone+stand&psc=1

 Not going to lie at first  I thought seriously its just a lowsy piece of plastic with some tape. But boy was I wrong. This little piece of plastic is the best phone stand I have ever purchased.  There are seven different levels of height as well as a lock in tab. It was so easy to put on my phone and so easy to use. I love that now I can record videos without having to prop my phone up on something and play music the same way. The only downfall is once its on your phone its on your phone. If you want it on a different phone or phone case you would have to buy a new one.

 Patella Knee strap
https://www.amazon.com/Arthritis-Basketball-Sports-Athletic-Volleyball/dp/B017CA2MOW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1475852633&sr=8-10&keywords=patella+knee+strap

Lately when I run or bike my one knee always hurts either in the middle or as soon as Im finished my workout. I have tried other braces before and honestly nothing worked. I always ended up coming home putting my knee up out of frustration and icing it. I had high hopes for this product and I am so glad it worked! No Pain! Its extremely comfortable to wear and you adjust it to your specifications so no worries about adjusting it during your workout. I absolutely love this product!


Non Slip Antibacterial Bath Mat Deluxe


https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Bacterial-Deluxe-Shower-inches-White/dp/B01GLSGCJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475853028&sr=8-1&keywords=non+slip+anti-bacterial+bath+mat+deluxe

I love a good bath Mat. To be honest the floor of any bath or shower really freaks me out. Even in my own house. This Bath mat is great. It has suction cups on the underside that suctions to the floor and it doesnt move when  wet. As far as the mit goes I was worried it would be too thin but, it wasnt. I felt like like it did a great job of scrubbing my skin and all the dead skin cells. * I was given this product for free to give my honest and unbiased opinion*


2 in 1 photo lense



https://www.amazon.com/EvershopUniversal-Professional-Camera-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B016IGBEI6/ref=sr_1_cc_7?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1475853547&sr=1-7-catcorr&keywords=2+in+1+photo+lense

I'm a mom of two little ones so of course I love to take pictures of them and I dont always have my regular camera. This product I wasnt too sure of at first. It has two different lenses, a wide lense, and a macro lense. I love the wide lense It works so much better than I originally thought. The only downside to it is It doesnt fit over my phone case. So If I want to use the clip with the lenses I have to remove my case which gets quite annoying. I do like though that the clip, two lense, and caps come in a little baggie to keep everything together and clean.

Whitening Serum with AC-11
https://www.amazon.com/Swissvita-Whitening-Cream-Serum-AC-11/dp/B01CN98EKS/ref=sr_1_68?ie=UTF8&qid=1476109218&sr=8-68&keywords=lightening+cream&tag=transbiz03-20

 Some days I love the way my skin looks other days I absolutly hate it, especially since having Saul, I feel like since giving birth my face is very blotchy and uneven. I was given this product to test and i must say after using it twice a day for a few days I can notice a change. My skin feels a lot smoother as well as more even. Im excited to see how much better my skin will look as I use it more. * i was given this product free or a discounted price to give my honest opinion*

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPffd950be2ba8975f27de4c1ee121f8a8" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>
Micrite 3D All Use Anti wrinkle Cream


So I dont have wrinkles (yet) but I am sure this product will come in handy in the near future! But I still wanted to give it a try. I Noticed with this cream it is very lightweight. It doesnt feel like I have a pile of lotion on my face. And there is no scent which I think is an added bonus. A little dab can really cover a good portion of someones face to which is nice. *I was given this product free or at a discounted price to give my honest opinion* To find this cream go to https://www.amazon.com/Swissvita-Anti-Wrinkle-Cream-AC-11/dp/B01CN98DK4/ref=sr_1_178?ie=UTF8&qid=1476657983&sr=8-178&keywords=anti+wrinkle+cream&tag=transbiz03-20
<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMffd950be2ba8975f27de4c1ee121f8a8" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>
<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPca9aa41faf2146d6d24b4c6080264ea3" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>
Skin Serum
Let me just say this has been my part of my daily routine and I couldnt imagine a day without it! I use a little bit all over my face twice a day and I can really see a difference! Like the other two creams it is lightweight, odorless, and a little bit goes a long way. I feel like when I put makeup on in the morning it goes on better and stays on longer. When I use the cream at night my face feels hydrated and refreshed. I love this! *I was given this product free or at a discounted price to give my honest opinion* Find this product at https://www.amazon.com/Swissvita-Anti-Aging-Serum-AC-11/dp/B01CN98D8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476658275&sr=8-1&keywords=anti+aging+cream&tag=transbiz03-20
<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMca9aa41faf2146d6d24b4c6080264ea3" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

XO
Leah

Thursday, October 6, 2016

You are (not) a failure....

..you are an awful mother
..why dont you just stay in bed all day
..just run away to a hotel and sleep
..your a terrible housewife
..youve failed at being a mother and a wife
..youll never be happy again..

Those are the thoughts that have been in my head for what feels like daily.  As many of you know I struggle with post partm depression and anxiety. It has been a very long journey since Saul was born. But finally after being put on medication I was Happy again. Genuinely happy. but now Im wondering were did  that happiness go?  A few weeks ago i found out i had an ovarian cyst burst yet again. i decided to go on medication to see if i could prevent those from happening again. Since the medication i am on does affect hormones it seems that it is unfortuantly affecting my depression medication as well. Which is so incredibly frustating. Ive made so much progress and now I feel like Im back at where I started and all of the progress ive made is gone. Im between a rock and a hard place so to speak. Either stick with this new medication  and pray my levels even out soon and possibly fix my cyst issue until i can have surgery. Or go off the new medication have the possibiliy of pain but be happy.
 Depression is seriously ugly and I hate every second of having it. I wish it was a quick fix like just don't think about it, but it's not like I can do that. I can't not just think about it it takes over and I have no energy and a short temper. I know I'll get this figured out but the right here right now stinks!
 When those ugly thoughts pop into my head I just have to remind myself
..you are a great mother
..get out of bed and enjoy your day because you won't get this day again
..don't run away you'll be missed
..you are a good housewife!
..you are not a failure!
..you WILL be happy again

XO
Leah

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Evaulating life..

A few weeks ago a super scary situation happened to me and quite frankly Im still a little shaken up. I went to the ER with another ovarian cyst. I knew it burst and this wasnt the first time this has happened so  I knew what would happen while I was in the ER.  Of course I had no idea how fast things can go bad. As I was sitting in my ER room going through many tests to pretty much confirm the cyst pain, I was overcome with pain more unbearable than the contractions I felt giving birth twice. I hit my call bell my nurse friend came rushing in seeing how in pain I was  and got an order for more pain medication quickly. After sometime I finally got relief but I was feeling super nauseated and so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. All of a sudden I heard a bunch of beeping coming from the machine next to me and just like in the movies here comes the rush of staff oxygen thrown on me and the head of my bed lowered quickly. I got a glimpse of the machine to see my pulse ox dropped to 73. The nurse said my bp dropped quite low as well due to the pain meds but I didnt see what that was (I usually run  between 95/60-110/60 so I cant imagine what it was) In that moment I honestly thought I wasnt going to make it. Ive been through many different medical scares but nothing like that. I thought about Kyle how I wished I would have spent more time with him and been nicer to him on some occasions. I thought how I wish I would have spent more time playing with Hannah and watching Saul grow up. I know I know I probably overreacted and I was no where near death but it really shook my world. And I got to thinking what in the world has taken more of my time than my family? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks...social media
Social media you know instagram, facebook, the internet in general. My eyes are glued to my phone as I peruse the internet and looking at the way others live and spending more time with  said others instead of with my family so to speak. So I decided to take an internet break for about a week and man did it feel good! I didnt have the feeling of needing to know who broke up with who, what food someone was eating, the latest trends nothing. I spent time with my family in the moment and I loved every second of it, and to be honest I really debated on deleting all of my social media accounts. Of course as you can tell I decided not to (mainly because I think people would miss seeing Hannah and Saul) but Ive decided to really really limit my time on there as well as only go on certain times of the day. I hate how easy the internet is to access to be honest and not gonna lie I cant wait for my phone contract to be up so I can get a nonsmart phone and wont have the temptation right at the tip of my hands. But until then I'm going to put my phone in the drawer and go hangout with my family because Hannah and Saul will only be this young once and I dont want to miss any of it!


XO
Leah

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Product Review: Nestlé splash of fun

I always have trouble with my water intake during the day. But with nestle splash water it's made things so much easier! Thanks to influenster I was given the Nestlé Splash water in berry to try and to review. And I much say this water is amazing! It has just the right amount of splash. Not to overwhelming and tastes delicious! I can't wait to buy more and keep my fridge stocked! I may try the grape flavor next!
I give this product 😊😊😊😊😊 5/5


XO
Leah

Blog postings will resume next Wednesday

Thursday, August 18, 2016

When you look at my face what do you see...

... the face of a new mother
 the face of a new mother to a two day old son...
These are the tears of said mother who lost a baby 1 year ago...
These are also the tears of a mother to a two day old son who cried for two hours straight...
These are the tears of a mother who is diagnosed with post partum depression two days after one of the happiest day of her life.
This is the face of someone who refused to be silent.
7/14/16
As I sit in my hospital room gazing at my newborn I can't help but feel sad and anxious. One of the worst feelings especially since I'm supposed to be happy, I am supposed to love being a new mom, but I dont. This is a hard journey I dont know if I am ready, Can I handle two kids, am I strong enough for this, am I going to fail. Its been a long day filled with anxiety, I dont want anyone else to hold my baby I dont want my baby to leave my room, I dont want anything bad to happen to him. I am the only one who can properly take care of him. I did it for 9 months and other than Kyle I dont want anyone else to hold him. I just want to sit here rocking him to sleep and cry, I am probably tired since I havent slept well for a few days and I am still having pain from a new c section. I wonder if I will ever feel "normal" if these feeling will ever go away...
8/4/16
What you just read was raw, I wrote that the thursday after I had Saul. I broke down at 2 am and talked to a nurse about how I was feeling. And I held Saul alone in my room and cried. I was nervous that after having so many visitors that he was shaken without me realizing it. Where those feelings came from I have no idea. That night is a night I will never forget. Those feelings of not being able to control my emotions were awful! I talked to my doctor that night and poured my heart out. I told her how I had anxiety of something bad happening to Saul. I haven't slept since I was nervous something would happen while I slept. That night I was diagnosed with Post Partum Depression for the second time in my life. And I was quickly put on medication that night for it.
 Most of the time when people hear the diagnosis of PPD they think the mother wants to hurt herself or her baby and doesnt want the baby. But, it can manfest differently in everyone. For myself it gave me extreme anxiety that something awful would happen to Saul. I didnt want him out of my sight or anyone else to hold him.
8/14/16
 It has now been a month since my diagnosis and honestly reading that top part is hard! I wrote that at a very difficult time. I am glad I did though, I was at my most vulnerable and its good to look back and see how far Ive come in a month. As far as my anxiety goes I am a lot better. Many people have held saul since then and I havent felt anxious, and I even left him with someone twice so I could run an errand and I didnt feel like anything awful would happen while I was gone. Now I do still have my bad days but I in no way feel how I felt that Thursday night.
 I am still getting medications adjusted since there are days I feel like I fake being happy. That I'm not as happy as I could be. That's not a fun feeling to have, but I know with the right adjustment and time I will feel better. Being on medication was something I wasn't very happy with at first. Like what is wrong with me I need medication to be happy. But I want to be the best mom for my kids, and the best wife for my husband, and if I need some medical help with that than Ill take it. I know I wont be on medication for these issues the rest of my life, but right now I need it, so right now Ill take it.
If you have ever felt this way or are feeling like how I felt I urge you to talk to someone it will be hard at first but I promise it will help

XO
Leah

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

I am a Mother

When I was younger any time I heard the word Mom I would think of my own mom, an "older" woman who has a lot of life experiences. I know I have two children whom I carried for 9 months and gave birth to but honestly I dont feel like a mom. I know, I know how can I not feel like a mom when I have a two year old who follows me around yelling mom, mom, mom. If you follow me on facebook you may remember how I talked about the fact that after Hannah was born I felt like I was just babysiting and waiting for someone to eventually take her back. Honestly thats how I felt again. I felt like I'm just babysitting these two adorable kids 24/7 waiting for someone to eventaully come and say thanks for watching them I'll take them now. Thankfully that wont happen.
Mainly I felt/feel this way because I can not believe God blessed me with these two incredible kids! What did I do to deserve this priveledge? I am no one special, yet I was chosen to mother these two kids. I remember after we lost Sage the feeling of Ill never be able to have children. Than once we lost Presley the feeling of Ill never be able to give Kyle a son since I was so sure Presley was a boy. I'm so glad that I learned to trust in God's plan and being okay with what he had decided for me no matter how hard it would be. And let me tell you it has not been an easy journey but its my journey.
 Now in no way am I a perfect mother. I definitely have my flaws. I mean Saul is currently in his swing, and Hannah is eating breakfast in front of the TV so I can have a few minutes alone before I start my day ( yes its currently 930am.) There are some days that I am not proud of my "mommy methods" aka a lot more tv time than I want, and a lot more toddler play by herself than I want. I know, isnt hannah playing alone a good thing? It is because she learns self play but more times than I like she wants me to play and I have to say no. But being a stay at home mom, especially to two kids, gets pretty busy even if my house looks like I didn't get anything cleaned.
 Ultimately my point of this post is I am Hannah, and Saul's mother, I am the only mother they have and I really hope that in their eyes I am doing a good job. I hope they don't remember the bad days, but they remember the good days. Like the days we played outside for hours on end, or the tea parties in the middle of the living room, and the dance parties while cleaning the kitchen. I am not a perfect mom, I have many many flaws but God gave these two perfect kids to me and I don't want to mess up my chance of raising them. In the end I am a mother, a sleep deprived, running on caffeine and sloppy kisses, endless loving, wouldn't have it any other way, Hannah and Saul's Mother.

XO
Leah

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Story of Saul

What a whirlwind pregnancy! I can't believe it's over and my precious baby is in my arms. Even though I felt overall better during this pregnancy emotionally it was so much harder. Having lost a baby a year earlier I was nervous this entire pregnancy. We obviously didn't decide to find out the gender and I think for my emotional well being it was a smart decision. I was convinced our previous baby was a boy and that's why we lost him. So I was convinced baby boom boom was a girl since I carried this baby to the end Boy oh boy was I wrong! Now let's get to his story
 We decided fairly early we wanted an "end date" since kyle is traveling to Ghana July 30th and we were due on the 15th. I wanted to make sure he would get time with the newborn before his trip so we decided to schedule a csection on the 12th (with the hope of going into labor and having a vbac before that date) I did in fact go into labor in regards to contractions but unfortunatly I never progressed which seems to happen to me. Anyway each doctor appointment we went to every doctor said they thought there was a big baby in there. With no ultrasound to confirm I was a little nervous if I would be able to do a vbac if the time came.
 We made it to the 12th with no signs of a vbac and after a sleepless night we arrived bright and early at 530am. The emotions I felt going into the hospital were so overwhelming. I had so many fears and so many worries that I think I cried to kyle numerous times I just wanted to go home. I was keeping this baby inside forever and I didn't want to go through it. I'm glad he didn't agree with me.
 I absolutely love our hospital and all the staff know our history so they are super sensitive and just overall sweet. We got to our room about 545 and signed all the papers and went through what the day was going to look like. I feel like time went so fast! Before we knew I was being rolled down to meet my baby. We met the staff who would be assisting in the surgery. Kyle and I prayed and he waited as I went back and was prepped. Of course after I got my spinal and was on the table I threw up everywhere which was pretty much the entire pregnancy anyway so why wouldn't the last day be any different.
 While the surgery was going on me and kyle just chatted as if it was just a regular day and my stomach wasn't getting ripped open. We waited in anticipation to find out what this precious baby was. As the doctor pulled boom out (yes I have pictures of him entering the world but they are pretty gruesome so I'll spare you) kyle got to look and tell me what the baby was. With tears he said it's a boy! To which I replied no its not it's a girl, after going back and forth, having all the staff tell me it's a boy and seeing a picture I broke down crying saying I have a son. I looked at kyle and said I gave you a son! We were both excited. While the surgery was still happening they brought Saul over and I got to do skin to skin. It was an incredible experience! I unfortunatly couldn't hold him for too long due to some shoulder pain but the time I had was everything I could have wanted. Everyone was quite curious how big he was since he was quite a large baby (he still looks tiny to me) Kyle went with him to get weighed as I finished up and met him back in recovery where he told me he was 10lbs 3oz 22inches  that is a big baby! But he is perfect! He nursed right away and was super content.
Hannah was the first person to meet him and had the privilege of telling the rest of the family that he was a boy. She absolutely adores baby brother and is so helpful I couldn't have asked for a better big sister for Sauly, as she calls him.
 We are adjusting to being home now, and it's a huge adjustment but things seem to be going well. Sauls days and nights were mixed up for a bit so we are still trying to set that straight. But thankfully he is nursing like a champ! Mommy is very happy she can drink more than 12oz of coffee lol. Big sister Hannah has adjusted very well to her new brother and is very protective of him. Kyle is cool calm and collective of course. And I am still recovering from surgery some days are better than others, but I'm anxious to get back into a routine.
Heading to the hospital to meet baby boom boom!
Skin to skin with my son
Hannah meeting baby brother for the first time
Saul Isaiah Robinson 
Father and Son, which happens to be my favorite picture! 

XO
Leah




Thursday, June 30, 2016

Let's play!

Time is quickly (or in my case slowly) moving along until we finally find out if baby Boom Boom is a girl or a boy! It has been a long 9 months and entering our 38th week tomorrow boom boom could come at any time! (But we've talked and I told him/her to stay in until we get home from camp) Anyway a few months ago I started a baby pool where people can guess all the stats about boom and I thought I'd put the link here so more people can play! Feel free to click the link any play along! I also added the latest comparison belly picture from Hannah and boom at 37 weeks.


XO
Leah http://www.babyhunch.com/poolpage.php?poolid=7a98576456b7439d1b1ee1e39f4c6451

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Caution: Rough Waters Ahead

So Handi*Camp 2016 has started and it has been a whirlwind so far. But on another note the camp we are staying at for these two weeks is simply beautiful and you can pretty much find inspiration in anything.
 The other day Kyle and I found some time to actually be alone together. We were both "off duty" (the quotation are for the fact we are never really off duty) and hannah was asleep. So of course our alone time consisted of kyle fishing and me gazing at my husband thinking about how much our lives are going to change in the next few weeks.
 As I write this I can say we are having a baby next month! Meaning the time we get just us is very few and far between. Life is already chaotic with one child, adding another to mix will definitely be like entering rough waters.
While we were fishing I looked on either side of the bridge and noticed how different the waters looked. On one side it was very still and calm and the other was rough with rocks causing Rapids and honestly life gets like that. There are many points in my life where I feel like I just went over a waterfall and the Rapids will never stop. But if I'm still and I listen for God he will help me get through those times. As I sat and looked at the calm water with my back to the Rapids I couldn't help but remember the verse that says "Be still and know that I am God" I mean hello I have a shirt that says it too. And that during the day rough or not I need to take time to be still and listen.
 As the next few weeks fly by and we welcome baby 2 into our family, there will be rough times, between late night feedings, no sleep, a baby and toddler needing my attention. But no matter what I do need to remember to always take time and be still


XO Leah

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

FEARfully and wonderfully made

One of my favorite verses in the Bible talks about how we are knit together in our mothers wombs and are fearfully and wonderfully made. Since I am pregnant that verse pops up alot and I think how this child I am carrying is someone God specifically made, and He made this person with the intent that I be his or her mother. That just baffles me! Before I was created, heck before even Adam and Eve  were created God knew that I would be pregnant with this child. How crazy is that! As I was writing a title for this blog I specifically put fear in all caps since well that's how I am feeling at this exact moment.
 No one tells you that when you lose a child there are different days that will effect you more than others especially the first year after the child passed. In regards to Presley, we have four days ( Presleys due date, when I was 10 weeks with boom since we lost presley at ten weeks, the exact date of presley passing, and the Thursday of orientation when I learned about Presley being born into Heaven.) Tomorrow is our fourth hard day and as it gets closer I am so overcome with fear that it makes my stomach turn. Being pregnant during these specific days makes things alot harder, when I've actually been told it makes things easier. I am fearful that Ill end up in the same predicament as last year. And as much as I pray, as much as I give this baby and this pregnancy to God everyday the fear doesn't subside. I'm only human though, I do trust God that whatever his plans for this baby are I'm trusting in Him. It doesn't make things easier but to be honest I don't think anything will make tomorrow easier.
 So as we approach our fourth and final hard day I'm praying for an uneventful day but ultimately the day is in God's hands and I'm trusting in Him to help me make it through the day (with not too many breakdowns) But as it also says in the Bible, Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

XO
Leah