Parenting

What’s Wrong with Staying Covered while Breastfeeding?

April 29, 2013 By Angie Vinez 66 Comments

Before I begin this post, let me state that I am a breastfeeding mom. I have breastfed 6 of my 7 children, and several of them made it past the one year mark. (One didn’t even wean until he was 19 months old.)

That being said, I support breastfeeding moms.

Except when it comes to whipping your breast out in public and not putting a blanket or cover over yourself.

I do not have a problem with breastfeeding. I have a problem with how “today’s woman” is so determined that it’s ok to flash an entire restaurant because she is feeding her baby.

Now, I realize I may be in the minority when it comes to this issue. After all, Luvs has a commercial out showing a second time mom that has no problem being uncovered. And don’t even get me started about the post over on The Leaky Boob about Fear and Breastfeeding. It has nothing to do with fear. Ok, well maybe it does, but not the kind of fear she is insinuating in her article. I fear the Lord, and I do not want to do anything that will cause Him shame. I fully believe that even how I present myself while breastfeeding in public can either bring Him glory or cause Him shame.

I understand the remark, “Everyone wants to see your boobs – unless you are feeding a baby,” and in today’s culture, that does seem to be true. BUT, there are many of us who DON’T want to see your breasts – whether you are in a bikini on the beach, wearing a “black tie” dress for your walk down the red carpet, or even if you are feeding your baby.

I do not wear bikinis. In fact, I cannot even remember the last time I put on a bathing suit and didn’t at least have a pair of long shorts or capris over it.

I do not wear low cut tops. If I do, I wear a camisole or tank top underneath it.

And when I breastfeed – even if I am at home with just the youngest 3 kids, I still throw a blanket over myself.

Why?

Photo Credit: Bebe au Lait. Click the picture to be taken to the website.

Because I believe in modesty, and I believe that as a woman striving to be like Christ, it is my duty to keep “private” parts covered and for my husband’s eyes only.

Like it or not, breasts are sexual as well as functional. Yes, God gave them to us so that we can feed our children. I can give you verse after verse in the Bible that references breastfeeding. But I can also give you many verses that refer to the breasts as pleasure for sex.

What about the man that struggles with a pornography addiction? And there you sit, right next to him, fully exposing your chest. You are causing that man’s mind to wander. Yes, he is responsible for his own thoughts, but as a woman, YOU are responsible for what you cause others to think. (Titus 2:5 – “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”)

The entire topic of exposing yourself while breastfeeding makes me think of Proverbs 11:22 – “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

My husband and I have discussed this topic many times over the years. I know firsthand that he appreciates the lengths I go to in order to stay covered up. I know he doesn’t want my breasts exposed for the world to see. He has always been my biggest breastfeeding supporter, and I truly believe it’s because I choose to do it in a modest and tactful way.

Now, I can hear you through the computer: “But, my baby doesn’t like being covered up.” … “But my baby will get too hot.” … “But I cannot bond with my baby if I cannot look at her.” … “But, but, but….”

To all those buts, I say, “Baloney.”

Please scroll back up and read the second sentence of this post. I have breastfed 6 children. Through summer and winter, with blankets, cover-ups, or whatever I could find to throw over me at any given time.

Yes, we did go through stages where baby didn’t like to be covered. But, my baby isn’t the boss. From an early age, they will come to understand that sometimes they will just have to deal with what they are given. If they continue to pull the cover off, they are taken off the breast and are allowed to nurse again after a few minutes. Not one of my babies has ever starved or suffocated from being covered up while nursing. I promise.

Nursing covers are fantastic when baby wants to try to pull a blanket off. Because the cover goes around your neck, baby can’t pull it off. And most nursing covers now offer a curved neckline that allows you to see baby (and vice versa) while shielding your chest from the world.

So, please, ladies. The next time you are out and need to feed your baby, take a moment to cover yourself – or even just pull your shirt down and keep yourself covered. I’m asking this on behalf of my husband, and many many other men out there that are trying to keep their minds and hearts focused on Christ and don’t want to see what you have to offer.

I’d love to see some women who are willing to take a stand with me and cover up while nursing. What do you say? Let’s show the world that there are still discreet, respectable, God-honoring women who want to please the Lord out there.

Edited to add: Thanks to the comments on this post, I realize that you can be discreet without using a cover. My problem is not covered vs. uncovered, my problem is with those that refuse to show any form of discretion and feel the need to be vocal about their opinion. This post is simply my way of voicing MY opinion about the topic. This blog is based on my thoughts, opinions, and convictions, and should be respected as such.

Also edited to add: I am no longer going to take the time to reply to comments on this thread. Those comments that do not use foul language or outright attack my character as a person or a mother will be still be approved whether you agree with me or not. I have stated my opinion in this post and do not have time to reiterate the same opinions over and over. If you see this as you having “won” or having the last word, so be it. I know where I stand: Firmly planted on the Bible, and that’s where I plan to stay.

Photo Credit: The photo used in this article is from BebeAuLait.com – a place that sells some of the most beautiful nursing covers you will find online. I personally own and use several of their covers. This is not an affiliate link, and I am not making any money off of this post, I’m just thankful that companies like Bebe au Lait exist and believe their website should be shared.

Regarding Comments: I am sure there will be many who disagree with this post, and that is your prerogative. However, nasty, spiteful, or unnecessary comments will not be approved. Period. You are welcome to disagree, just do it respectfully.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: breastfeeding, breastfeeding and modesty, breastfeeding in public, modesty

Car Seat Safety Tips from Chicco {Sponsored}

April 13, 2013 By Angie Vinez Leave a Comment

For my time in creating this post, I will receive a gift card.

I am probably what many would call a “Car Seat Nazi.” I believe that it’s so important to understand car seat laws and safety guidelines in order to keep your child safe when you are on the road. I am never mean in my approach when I see something that shouldn’t be happening, but I will kindly point out what should be fixed. (Well, let me rephrase that. If I happen to stop at a light and the person in the car next to me is letting their 3 year old child jump all over the car and isn’t buckled in, I may not be very nice.)

The first time I purchased a car seat, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I just went and bought the prettiest car seat I could afford. Boy, have things ever changed. Six kids later, when it comes to purchasing a car seat, I find myself researching safety ratings, reading other user reviews, and checking out what other Mom Bloggers have to say about the car seat. Why? Because I need to know that the investment I’m about to make is the best investment for my child. I want to know that it is safe, reliable, and that it’s going to work well in my vehicle.

I want to share a few Car Seat Safety Tips from Julie Prom, the Car Seat Safety Advocate for Chicco:

Rear-facing is safest . The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend rear-facing as long as possible. Parents should keep child rear-facing until at least 2 years old, longer if the car safety seat weight and height limit allows. Young children are fragile and are best protected in a rear-facing car seat. To ensure a child can stay rear-facing as long as possible, purchase a convertible seat when your baby outgrows the infant seat.
Most children younger than 5-years old are not mature enough to sit without a full harness. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until at least 5 or 6 years old.
Always buckle your baby into the safety seat first, and then cover the baby with blankets. Avoid bulky clothing and add-on products such as car seat buntings. This can interfere with proper harness fit and crash performance of the seat. A good trick for older children is to buckle them in without their jacket and then put it back on them backwards over the harness. Not only do these techniques ensure proper harness fit, but also avoids overheating by allowing the baby to be easily uncovered or the child to take his jacket off once the car gets warmer.
Most common mistakes can be avoided by simply following manufacturers’ instructions. All car seats must meet stringent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to be sold in the U.S. It is when they are not used correctly that makes them unsafe. Always read and follow the instructions for the safety seat. Also, read the vehicle owner’s manual section on child restraints.
Always use the top tether when installing a forward-facing car seat. The tether reduces movement of a car seat in a crash and helps to achieve a tight installation.

NextFit Gravity Hi Chicco has recently released a new car seat called the Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat. Here are some benefits of this car seat:

Protects your child through the next stage of growth. (5 – 65 pounds)
Fits your vehicle. Fits your child.
Simply. Accurately. Securely.

I hope you’ll consider checking out the Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat if you are in the market for a new seat for your child. We will soon be needing a convertible car seat for Carly, and the NextFit is definitely the one I will be checking out and considering for our baby girl.

For more information about the Chicco Next Fit Convertible Car Seat, please check out the following resources:

Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Chicco and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: car seat, car seat safety tips, chicco, mom central, sponsored

Getting the Super Mom Complex Under Control

January 10, 2013 By Angie Vinez 3 Comments

beth moore quote

In my effort to PURGE this year, I have decided that my Super Mom Complex needs to be reigned in and brought under control.

I don’t know how you are as a mom, but I think I can do it all. The problem is, I’ve been doing so much for everyone else that I have neglected to take the time for myself and my marriage.

So often it seems like hubby and I get pushed to the side. The kids need this, the kids have to go here, the kids, the kids, the kids. And, I try to do everything I can. But, I’ve had enough. My relationship with Christ, my quiet time with Him, AND my relationship with my husband all need to come before anything else.

Now, hear me out. I am not saying that I’m going to stop doing things for my kids. What I am saying is that I’m going to be much more selective about the things I do for them. Do I need to run myself ragged trying to get everything done they need to get done? (“Moooom, I need 4 dozen cupcakes by tomorrow!”) Absolutely not. I will still do my best to help them, but they are going to have to learn to be more responsible to do things for themselves.

On Tuesday, I went back to my OB/GYN for my 35/36 week ultrasound and check up. At my last appointment, I had been diagnosed with tonsillitis and treated with antibiotics. The doc took another look at my throat and told me that it actually looked worse than it did at the time of diagnosis. For the past 2 weeks, I have killed myself getting the boys to their surgeries, doing things for the older kids for school, ushering the kids everywhere they needed to go, and doing all the chores that the kids somehow seem to always get out of, that I neglected to take any time for myself and just rest. Now, I have to go see a specialist because this infection is so severe that it can actually become dangerous during pregnancy. If I had just taken a few hours here and there and taken a nap – or even just rested, I might not be in this predicament at all.

Then, yesterday, I was listening to the radio, and I heard the Beth Moore quote that I posted above, “No one can do a thousand things to the glory of God.” It was like a stone right between the eyes. Like God was speaking to me through the radio.

I try to do so much for everyone else, and I say that I’m doing it all to the glory of God, but I can’t be. If I am taking on so much that I can hardly function, I am not doing anything for His glory.

Therefore, I’m calling a mom time out. I’ve got a baby coming in the next 2 – 4 weeks, and I need to just chill out until she comes. The kids will be fine, and if they need something, they are perfectly capable of getting off the couch and getting it themselves. I need a break.

Are you suffering from the Super Mom Complex? What have you done to get it under control?

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: beth moore quote, mom time out, parenting, supermom complex

After Ear Tube Surgery

January 9, 2013 By Angie Vinez 2 Comments

Recently, my 21 month old had surgery where they removed his adenoids and put tubes in his ears.

Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After we got home, I had about a bazillion questions, but the more I googled, the more frustrated I became. I just couldn’t find any answers to all the questions that I had.

So, I figured I would put up a post and tell you what you might expect to see after your child has a similar surgery. Please note that what Gage experienced after his surgery may not be what your child experiences, but since I couldn’t find any information out there, I want people to have a starting point.

First, the inside of your child’s ears will be gross. I mean really, really gross. There’s lots of drainage, and the gunk builds up in the ear canal and directly outside of it. This is normal. And, thankfully, it disappears within just a few days. (Where it goes, I have no idea… except for the chunk of gunk Gage pulled out of his ear and then handed to me. Ick!!)

There will be discharge for several days after surgery. With Gage, his ears actually started pouring out blood. This absolutely freaked me out, so we called the doctor that performed the surgery and then headed to the ER. It turns out that Gage’s ears were probably infected at the time of the surgery, and that is what caused them to bleed so badly and run a very high fever.

They started Gage on another round of antibiotics, and by the next day he was completely back to normal. No more bleeding ears, no more fever, just his happy little self.

Typically kids don’t have any issues after surgery, but it IS possible for complications to arise – especially if your child’s ears were infected at the time of surgery.

Also, if your child has their adenoids removed, they will have VERY bad breath for at least 2 weeks. (Though it can last up to 4 weeks.) If you are pregnant, the smell of their breath can literally knock you to the floor. It is bad. But, it is normal, and it is all part of the healing process. Their nose will also run quite a bit. Keep lots of tissues or Boogie Wipes on hand.

If you have any complications after your child’s surgery, CALL THE DOCTOR. They will be able to tell you exactly what is going on, or if you need to take a trip to the Emergency Room.

For the record, I have noticed a HUGE difference in Gage since his surgery. I absolutely believe he can hear better because now he is trying to talk so much more, and his words are so much clearer. He is sleeping through the night, and he is just as happy as can be. I am so glad we had this surgery done. Even though there were complications, I still think this was the best choice for him.

Did your child have tubes put in his ears? What was your experience?

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: adenoid removal, ear tube surgery, ear tubes, question and answer

Angry Dad Screams at Daughter: What Would You Do?

January 7, 2013 By Angie Vinez 14 Comments

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Today my 4 year old had his second dental surgery. I knew it was going to be more complex than his last surgery, so I was prepared to sit in the waiting room for awhile. I was not, however, prepared for what would go down in the waiting room while we were there.

My husband couldn’t go to Parker’s procedure with me today. His work schedule just didn’t allow for it. Since I had a sitter for Gage, I wasn’t too worried about it. After all, I’ve taken the kids to lots of doctors appointments and procedures alone. This wouldn’t be any big deal.

Shortly after we arrived, they ushered Parker back to get his vitals and give him a dose of happy juice. With Parker, the happy juice kicks in after about 10 minutes, and I cannot let him off my lap. He would seriously hurt himself if I did.

Just before Parker got his happy juice, a dad and his daughter walked into the dentist’s office. They signed in, filled out the paperwork, and then sat down. Just before they took Parker back to sedate him, the little girl received her own dose of happy juice.

Rather than sit his daughter on his lap, the dad put his daughter in the chair beside him – which also happened to be right next to me. Then, he hands her his iPad.

Ok, I thought to myself, he’s got a good 10 – 15 minutes before her happy juice kicks in. Hopefully he’ll be smart enough to take the iPad away from her.

Wrong.

10 minutes after she got the happy juice, the little girl decided she wanted to get up and walk. As she went to get up, the iPad flipped off her lap and landed face down on the wood floor. You could hear the screen shatter as it hit the ground.

The dad flies into a rage, screaming at his daughter for doing this. He’s calling her stupid, an idiot, and all sorts of other names that horrified me.

I couldn’t hold my tongue. I turned to him and said, “Sir. Calm down.” He then goes off on me… telling ME what an idiot his daughter is and if she hadn’t been so stupid, this never would have happened.

The poor girl is in tears by now. My heart is breaking and I say, “It wasn’t her fault. It was an accident.”

To which he replies, “Yeah, an $800 accident that never should have happened and only happened because she’s too dumb to hold onto the iPad.”

At this point, my blood is boiling. I mumbled, (making sure it was plenty loud enough for him to hear me), “You are the idiot that gave your six year old an $800 iPad to play with while she’s on happy juice.”

He tells me to “BLANK off,” and that’s the end of our conversation. (Although I had SO much more I wanted to say.) He then proceeds to call someone, (I’m assuming it was his wife), and tell them how stupid his daughter is…

I immediately sent a text to my husband, using my “angry thumbs,” and tell him how upset I am over how this guy is treating his daughter. All I wanted to do was snatch up that little girl and tell her it was ok… and then punch her father in the face.

They came out shortly after that and took her back to sedation, so I was left alone in the waiting room with this guy. I’m proud of myself for showing self control, because honestly – all I wanted to do was slug him. Hard.

I am not a perfect person, and I am not a perfect parent by any means. But, when I make the mistake of screaming at my kids, (which I do more often than I would ever like to admit), I always apologize. Usually immediately, but if not, I apologize shortly afterward. Then, that night, I make it a point to pull that child aside at bedtime and pray with them. I confess my sin to God in front of them so they know that not only do I need to make things right with them, I also need to make things right with God and get His forgiveness as well.

To watch this dad scream and yell at and about his daughter literally ripped my heart out. While I am thankful she was on happy juice, and she probably won’t remember this first hand, I have a horrible feeling that he will never let her forget it.

In my heart, I hoped that John Quinones with ABC’s WWYD would come out from behind closed doors and tell me this was all just an act. But, it didn’t happen. That poor little girl really had to suffer through a verbal beating from her father.

I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I felt the need to step in and protect that little girl. Would you have done the same, or would you have made a different choice? I’m interested to hear what you would have done.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: angry parent, bad parenting, parenting, what would you do

What Pinterest is Doing to Motherhood

December 29, 2012 By Angie Vinez 3 Comments

As a mom, we want everything to be perfect. We want the perfect children, the perfect house, the perfect husband, the perfect life. And with just a few clicks of a mouse, we can “pin” all our dreams and desires onto a board in the hopes that someday we will turn those pins into reality.

I am blessed to have lots of mom friends, and I am so thankful for those friends. However, my heart is heavy because some of them are feeling guilty because they can’t achieve a pinterest-perfect life.

One mom has 4 children and had to opt for store bought cookies for her kids’ school Christmas parties. When she walked into each room, her guilt intensified at the site of reindeer pretzel cookies, snowman donuts, and other pinterest discovered goodies that covered the tables.

Another mom friend has 2 children and confessed that she was feeling guilty that she had to buy the cheap disposable diapers when all the “good moms” were going the cloth route.

What is going on here? When did snowman donuts, reindeer cookies, and making your own baby food become so much more important than teaching our children the things that really matter? We are teaching our children that it’s important to do things better than everyone else, to always have “the best,” and that stuff is more important than the intangible items. We are no longer helping form our children for God’s Army, but instead we are showing them how much control the world really has over us.

And, believe me, I am SO guilty of this. I can’t point fingers at anyone, because I have 3 fingers pointing right back at me.

In fact, let me just share with you my biggest flub up of 2012… My head hangs in shame as I share this with you…

When I was hanging up Christmas decorations this year, I went all out. Snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, tree trimmed in all it’s glory, icicles on the window, wrapping paper on all the pictures… I honestly about killed myself making Christmas “perfect” in our house.

My husband asked why I decided to go all out this year, and my response was, “I want to have the most pinterest-worthy house around.”

Hand – smack forehead.

I totally screwed up Christmas. Sure, I wanted the kids to love it, but I had so much more in mind. I wanted everyone to want to pin my Christmas decorations, mimic them, and drive tons more traffic to my blog.

It honestly didn’t even hit me until I read a status update on Facebook that said, “As mothers, the measures I believe we should judge ourselves on are actually simple: its not the size or “pinterest-worthiness” of their first birthday cake. It’s the amount of unconditional love and affection we give to our children, the values and confidence we instill in them, the quality of the time we spend with them, the examples we set for them in our actions as their role models…”

That one quote cut me to the core. What have I been doing?! Since when does what other people (pinners) think of my home, my family, my blog mean more than what GOD thinks? Am I doing things for HIS glory, or for the glory of man?

I pretty much answered my own question right then and there, and it brought me under a deep conviction.

Am I saying pinterest is evil? No, not really. I’m sure I will still pin things that I like. Thanks to pinterest, I have found some really great recipes that my family enjoys, and I’ve saved money by making our own laundry soap, fabric softener, and other things. There IS good in Pinterest…. in moderation.

However, from now on, my relationship with my Savior comes first, followed by my relationship with my family. No longer will I worry or fret over how “pinterest-worthy” my decorations, my family, my blog, or anything else in my life might be. Instead, I want to know how God-worthy and God-honoring they are. I want my goal to be to please my Savoir, not anyone that might happen by my blog.

If I have to give up time with my husband or my children in order to complete a pinterest project, it will wait until I have “me” time… when the kids are in bed and hubby is working late. If it takes months for me to find that me time, then it will take me months to complete that pinterest project. End of story. No longer will my family compete for my attention because I have a board full of “Must Makes” that I just have to complete.

And if I find that I need to buy disposable diapers, cookies made by the grocery store bakery, or candles that I don’t get to cover in glitter and give as gifts, that’s ok to. I will not beat myself up for wanting to give the time to my family instead of screaming “Look what I did!” for all the pinterest-world to see.

I wrote this post as a reminder of myself of how much I am missing out on by worrying about what everyone else thinks. These are my convictions, and my feelings. I am not writing this to upset or anger anyone, just to maybe make you think a little bit. We are all entitled to our own opinions. If pinterest has helped you, be thankful for that. For me, it became too much and I need to back off and use it in a way that will not harm my family.

What are your thoughts on the pinterest movement? Is it helpful or harmful to motherhood in today’s world?

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: motherhood, parenting, pinterest

Keeping Christ in Christmas with Jingles the Elf

November 29, 2012 By Angie Vinez 1 Comment

Back in 2009, I did a review for Jingles the Elf. Every year since then, we have continued the tradition of Jingles’ arrival on December 1st.

However, this year, I am determined to do things quite differently.

I don’t know how it is in your house, but in my house, my kids seem to have caught a case of the “Gimme’s”. (“Gimme this, gimme that.) With my husband’s job situation being what it is, there just won’t be an abundance of gifts this year. And, besides… that’s not what Christmas is all about.

So, this year, I’m doing something completely different. Yes, Jingles will still arrive, and yes, we will still have fun finding him around the house. However, this year, Jingles has a very important job to do. And, Santa has given each of my kids a job to do as well.

Dying to know more?

Well, Jingles will arrive in a box from the North Pole tomorrow night. Only this year, the box won’t be the typical Jingles keepsake box. Instead, inside the box, Jingles will be blanketed in “snow” from the North Pole, and he will have a letter from Santa.

Thanks to Pinterest, I came across this blog post by a fellow Christian mom. Her Santa Letter was fantastic… but it didn’t exactly fit my kids. So, I used many of her ideas, but I put them into my own words and added things that would pertain to my kids.

Here is what my Santa Letter says:

Dear Ashley, Zander, Jace, Lucy, Parker, and Gage,

I hope you are all having a great Christmas season, and that you are being good little boys and girls for your mom and dad. I heard that you have a new little sister on the way. I want you to make sure you are helping Mom and Dad get ready for the new baby to be born. There’s going to be lots you can do to help, and if you don’t know what they need, just ask them.

A few years ago, I sent Jingles your way to play hide and go seek. But this year, I have given him a very important job! He’s not just here to play games and have fun, but he’s here to keep a very close eye on each one of you.

Right now, we are in what people call the Christmas season. Things can really get kind of crazy. It seems like everywhere you go, you hear people that have a horrible case of the “gimme’s.” What’s a gimme? They say, “Gimme this. Gimme that. Gimme all those things!” I’m sure you have been telling your Mom and Dad what you want for Christmas. And that’s ok. It’s ok to want a few things, but I see people – both grown ups and children – that get very selfish. They want so many things that they seem to forget the whole reason we celebrate Christmas.

Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son…” That means that a very long time ago, God gave the very first Christmas present to the whole wide world: His Son. And Jesus was born so that He could die on the cross and we could live forever with them in Heaven. Pretty amazing gift, isn’t it?

As you are getting ready for Christmas, I don’t want you to forget about Jesus. Yes, I want you to have fun. I want you to drink lots of hot chocolate (with extra marshmallows!), sing Christmas songs, eat candy canes, and give and open presents. But what I don’t want is you to forget the most important present: God’s love for all of us and the gift of His Son, Jesus. It is so important that you show love to others. Be kind to other people. Help other people. (Yes, even your mom, dad, and siblings.) By doing this, you will show people how wonderful Jesus is.

So, Jingles is here to help you kids, and your mom and dad, remember the most important parts of Christmas. Jingles will hang out at your house, watching everything that happens, and making sure that each of you:

Show love to one another

Always speak kindly to each other

Help each other without complaining

Help your friends if they need it

Give things to people who do not have all the wonderful things you have. (Doesn’t have to be objects, you can give them love, friendship, and other things.)

Remember that God loves you all so very much.

And, I’m giving each of YOU a job to do too! Every night, when you sit down to pray together as a family, I want every person to write down one thing they did to show the love of Jesus that day. Mom or Dad can write the list, and Jingles will share it with me when he reports back that night. I want you to find one way every day to be kind or help someone out. That’s not too hard, is it?

Take good care of Jingles, and have lots of fun sharing the love of Jesus this Christmas. I know you are all good kids, and I can’t wait to hear a good report from Jingles every night.

With much love,
Santa

This was printed out on fancy Christmas paper and will be tucked into the box with Jingles.

It is so important to me that my kids remember the true meaning of Christmas this year… and every year. I want them to show the love of Jesus whether they are at home or away, and I’m really hoping this helps make a difference.

I will keep you posted either here on the blog or through our Facebook page and let you know how it goes over with the kids. I’m also going to try (try!!) to post daily pictures of where the kids find Jingles. I hope you’ll stay tuned!

How do you keep Christ in Christmas?

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: christmas, elf on the shelf, jingles, keeping christ in christmas

MedImmune RSV & Preemie Awareness #protectpreemies #rsv

November 21, 2012 By Angie Vinez Leave a Comment

I am so blessed to have gone through 7 pregnancies and have 6 healthy children, with another one on the way. But, getting them to a safe delivery date wasn’t always easy. I have had my share of preterm labor, bedrest, and other difficult pregnancy experiences. I remember several times as I was lying in a hospital bed while doctors tried everything in their power to keep labor from progressing anymore before my baby was strong enough to be born. And that’s why this campaign is so important to me. I believe every mom-to-be should be aware of the dangers associated with babies born before 37 weeks.

It’s easy to get to the third trimester and joke that you are ready to be done pregnant. But, all joking aside, preemies are prone to infections from viruses like the common cold, the flu, and RSV, and the longer you can keep that baby inside you, the better it will be for him or her.

When I worked in day care, I had the joy of working in the infant room. I adored each of those babies, and because I spent so much time with them, we developed a real bond. And then one day, Jack didn’t come in to the center. And then another day passed, and still no Jack. On day 3, his mom finally called and told us that Jack was in the hospital in critical condition with something called RSV. You see, Jack was a preemie, and the disease was just too strong for his little body to fight.

At the time, I had no idea what RSV was, or how harmful it could be to infants. I now know that RSV (or Respiratory Syncytial Virus) typically shows up as minor symptoms in babies, but in high-risk infants, it can quickly develop into a serious infection that can be very hard for them to fight.

Jack ended up spending nearly 3 weeks in the hospital, just trying to survive having RSV. When he was finally released from the hospital, it took several months before he was declared “healthy” again. It broke my heart watching him struggle every day, and I was so thankful when he finally got past it. Ever since that experience with Jack, I have tried to be very aware of symptoms in my own children.

November 17th was World Prematurity Day. The day is set aside to raise awareness about prematurity and all of the risks associated with pre-term birth. I want to take a moment and share some facts about RSV with you:

RSV Quick Facts

RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, and severe RSV disease causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu.
RSV is most prevalent during the winter months. The CDC has defined the “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
In addition to prematurity, common risk factors include low birth weight, certain lung or heart diseases, a family history of asthma and frequent contact with other children.

Prevention is Key
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Since there’s no treatment for RSV, parents should take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:

Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently
Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer
Avoid large crowds and people who are or have been sick
Never let anyone smoke near your baby
Speak with your child’s doctor if he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available

Know the Symptoms
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

Severe coughing, wheezing or rapid gasping breaths
Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
High fever and extreme fatigue

Because I have a baby due in February, you can bet I will be taking extra precautions to ensure her safety during the remainder of RSV season. I hope that those of you who have recently had babies – or are expecting soon – will also take a few minutes to educate yourself about RSV and the potential risks associated with pre-term birth.

To learn more about RSV, visit www.rsvprotection.com and for more about the specialized health needs of preterm infants, visit www.preemievoices.com.

Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: good info to know, infants, preemie awareness, pregnancy, rsv

Toddler Fear – My Child is Afraid of Pajamas!

November 2, 2012 By Angie Vinez 5 Comments

As a mom of 6, one would think that I’ve seen just about everything. And I really have. In fact, I’ve dealt with many toddler fears in all my years of parenting. We had the fear of the dark, fear of the bathtub, fear of bugs, fear of loud noises, fear of the vacuum… lots of different fears from lots of different kids.

However, Gage’s fear of pajamas really has me stumped. Never have a seen a toddler fear quite like this.

It started about a week ago. We put Gage in a pair of footy pajamas, and he discovered there was a small circle-shaped hole in the bottom of one of the feet. He freaked out. He screamed bloody murder until we removed the pajamas.

Ok, this is just a one-time thing, and he’ll get over it. Right?

Wrong.

Little did I know this was just the beginning of the toddler fear, and things were going to get much, much worse.

That night, we put him in a pair of pajamas without feet. He slept fine. I figured the crisis had been averted and we were back on our way to restful nights.

Ha.Ha.Ha.

We did ok for 2 nights. And then we got word that it was going to drop into the 30s at night. We didn’t have new filters for our furnace, so we didn’t want to turn on the heat. I bundled all the kids up like Eskimos that night. I had Gage in the non-footy pajamas, socks, and then a pair of footy pajamas (without a hole in the foot) over top of that. I wanted to make sure he was going to stay warm enough all night.

He went to bed all right that night, but he woke up around midnight and proceeded to scream bloody murder all over again. So, I took off the footy pajamas. He still screamed… for 2 hours straight. At this point, I was worried. Something else had to be wrong. Was it another ear infection? Was something hurting him? What was going on with my child?

I never did get anymore sleep that night, and Gage slept most of the next day – after I got him dressed.

That night, I went to put his pajamas on him, and he screamed like crazy all over again.

His toddler fear is a fear of pajamas. He just can’t sleep if he’s wearing them.

What in the world?!

For the past few nights, we’ve put Gage to bed in sweat pants and a long sleeved onesie, and he’s been just fine. No screaming, no waking up at night, nothing. He is just fine as long as I don’t try to put pajamas on him.

This truly has to be the craziest toddler fear I have ever seen. I’m hoping it’s just a phase and that someday I don’t have a 12 year old that’s still afraid of pajamas. Any advice on how to make sure that doesn’t happen?

Tell me: What’s the craziest toddler fear you have ever heard of or experienced?

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting Tagged With: fear of pajamas, toddler fear, toddler fears, why is my child afraid

Tips for Parents Choosing Life Insurance (Guest Post)

October 2, 2012 By Angie Vinez 3 Comments

When you become a parent, your priorities change. It becomes less about you, and more about them. You realise the importance of making sure your little ones are safe and provided for, whether that is making sure they go to the right school, or making sure they eat something healthy before they start throwing down cookies and ice cream.

Unfortunately, being a parent also forces you to think about the worst things that could happen. How to minimize risks, and how to prepare for the bad times. One important aspect of this preparation is life insurance. Helping to provide protection should the worst happen, life insurance can be an invaluable investment.

So, what should you be looking for when you are buying life insurance?

Value Work Done At Home

One of the most common mistakes made by families choosing life insurance is undervaluing the work done within the house. You may be a stay at home parent, or you may work part time, whatever the situation, it is important to give value to the work you do within the household.

This may include cooking, cleaning, washing the dishes, vacuuming, doing the laundry, ironing, driving the family around, gardening, and everything in between. All those hours you spend doing chores around the house, should be valued when you are deciding how much life insurance you need. If you were not there to do them, how much would it cost for an outside party to do them?

Add Your Kids To Your Policy

Most life insurance providers allow you to add on extra features, or riders, to your base policy to tailor it to better suit your needs. Find out what riders you can add to your policy, whether they are worth the cost, and how much you will benefit from them. One rider you may want to consider as a parent is a child protection rider. This can offer financial assistance if something bad were to happen to your child.

Do Your Research

Find out everything you need to know about what types of life insurance are out there, which insurers are offering what, and what is best for you. Think about income protection insurance, accidental injury insurance, and standard life insurance options. You will also need to work out how much cover you will need. Try using an online life insurance calculator or speaking to an insurance expert.

Get Healthy

While many parents stay fairly healthy running around after their kids all day, it can be helpful to look into any health issues before getting life insurance. Try to lose the excess pounds if necessary, and quit smoking. Take up regular exercise, and try to lower high levels of cholesterol or blood pressure.

Shop Around

As a parent, you will recognize the value of shopping around to get the best deal. There are dozens of life insurance providers out there (such as GIO Insurance, at www.gio.com.au), all offering different deals at different prices. To make sure you get the policy that is right for you and your family, spend some time looking around at what’s available. Use a comparison site, insurer websites, and speak to friends or relatives to see what they recommend.

Payment Options

Some insurance providers offer discounts for paying annually rather than monthly. If this is an option for you, make sure you take it. You may also find that buying your policy online can provide a number of bonuses, from premium discounts, a couple of free months, and cashback if no claims are made.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: choosing life insurance, guest post, life insurance, parenting