ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas

Here's this year's ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas schedule!

Monday, December 1

(4:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)
(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)

Tuesday, December 2 

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) PRANCER

Wednesday, December 3

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS

Thursday, December 4

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SNOW

Friday, December 5

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(8:00–10:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
(10:30–11:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(11:30 PM–2:00 AM ET/PT) – FRED CLAUS

Saturday, December 6

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS
(11:00 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS
(1:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
(4:00-6:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
(6:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY 3
(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS - Network Television Premiere!
(11:00 PM–1:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)

Sunday, December 7

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS
(9:00-9:30 AM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
(9:30 AM–11:30 AM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
(1:30-3:30PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)
(3:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
(5:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY 3
(8:00–8:30 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT – ABC FAMILY PREMIERE
(8:30–10:30 PM ET/PT) ELF
(10:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT
(11:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

Monday, December 8

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE FOSTERS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(9:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) SWITCHED AT BIRTH – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(10:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) THE FOSTERS
(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SWITCHED AT BIRTH

Tuesday, December 9

(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE MERMAID
(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) PRETTY LITTLE LIARS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(9:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) CHASING LIFE - NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(10:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) CHASING LIFE

Wednesday, December 10

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE MERMAID
(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) BABY DADDY
(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY
(8:00–8:30 PM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) BABY DADDY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(12:00–12:30 AM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY
(12:30–1:00 AM ET/PT) BABY DADDY

Thursday, December 11

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SCROOGED
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES

Friday, December 12

(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)
(5:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) SCROOGED
(7:30–9:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

Saturday, December 13

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE 3
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER
(3:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(10:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(11:00–11:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(11:30 PM–2:00 AM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

Sunday, December 14

(7:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)
(9:30–11:30 AM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)
(1:30–4:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS
(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(6:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
(9:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Monday, December 15

(4:30–7:00 PM ET/PT) WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
(7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S PREP & LANDING
(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE
(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY

Tuesday, December 16

(2:00–4:30 PM ET/PT) WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
(4:30-6:30 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(6:30–8:30 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(8:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE

Wednesday, December 17

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAZE
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(3:00–4:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS
(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(5:30–6:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(6:30–9:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID

Thursday, December 18

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER
(5:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
(6:30–8:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(8:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

Friday, December 19

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) DESPERATELY SEEKING SANTA
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
(11:00–11:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) PRANCER
(1:30–3:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)
(3:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SCROOGED

Saturday, December 20

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) THE DOG WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS VACATION
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS
(11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
(2:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(8:00–10:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
(10:30 PM–1:00 AM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(1:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) A MISER BROTHERS’ CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 21

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH
(1:00-1:30 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
(1:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) NESTOR, THE LONG EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
(2:00-3:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(3:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(4:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(5:00–7:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
(7:30–10:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

Monday, December 22

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH
(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) SNOWGLOBE
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES
(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(5:30-6:30 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(6:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(7:30–8:30 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Tuesday, December 23

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
(8:30–10:30 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID
(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY
(12:30–2:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE
(2:30–4:30 PM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS
(4:30–6:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE
(6:30-7:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 24

(7:00-7:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(7:30–9:30 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
(11:00 AM-1:00 PM) SNOW
(1:00 PM-3:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SCROOGED

Thursday, December 25

(7:00–7:30 AM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(7:30–8:00 AM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
(8:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) NESTOR, THE LONG EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
(8:30–9:00 AM ET/PT) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(2:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN (3:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(4:00–4:30 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S PREP & LANDING
(4:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’ S PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) ELF
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE
(12:00 AM–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOME ALONE 3

Pumpkin Butter

This year we plan to put as much of our pumpkin to use as possible.  We will be toasting the seeds like usual. Some new additions this year will be putting those guts (the stringy innards) to use.  You can even make pumpkin bread by taking your favorite zucchini bread recipe and swapping the shredded zucchini for chopped pumpkin guts.  

PUMPKIN BUTTER:

• 3 1/2 cups pumpkin guts, pureed
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Toss all the ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the mixture has thickened, making sure to stir frequently.

Put thickened mixture in a container and chill until you're ready to serve.

Pumpkin butter is not safe for preserving.  Just like Apple Butter it never lasts long enough in our house to need preserving though.   

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

I will be lighting a candle for all those who have experienced this loss. 

Walmart Savings Catcher App

The Walmart Savings Catcher app is far from perfect but it is a nice back up for saving money while shopping.  (still doesn't match with a few of the stores local)

This was the saving on our first receipt I entered. 

I am seriously the worst couponer ever.  I clip them and organize them only to forget them at home while shopping. There is also the times when I get to the register and forget I have them with me.  ::shame::

Visit the Walmart Savings Catcher website for more information and to get started. 

You can also download the app at the Apple Itunes store or Google Play.

The NowClinic App

There is a new app out to help make your life even easier. No more sitting in a doctor's office waiting to be told you are sick.  No need to get dressed and drag any number of kids with me to hear someone say it's a cold, allergies or my asthma acting up again.

With the NowClinic app I don't even have to leave my house.  Diagnosed from the comfort of my pj's without the judgemental looks for being in public in my pj's. 

NowClinic is for non-emergency health care needs.  Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, it's there when you need it.  Meet one-on-one with NowClinic health care providers through your computer, smart phone or tablet.  Receive diagnosis and even have prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy.

NowClinic online services may be able to help with:

• Acne

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Athlete’s foot 

• Bladder infection/UTI

• Bronchitis

• Cold sore 

• Cough/cold

• Diarrhea

• Ear infections/swimmer’s ear

• Eye infection/pink eye/sty

• Fever and chills 

• Flu/flu-like illness

• Gout 

• Insect/spider bite

• Laryngitis 

• Nausea

• Poison ivy/oak 

• Ringworm

• Runny nose

• Sinus infection

• Skin inflammation 

• Skin rash

• Sore throat

• Sunburn

• Viral illness

NowClinic is available in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia.  

Download the app today from the Itunes App Store or the Google Play Store.  Now you can get the care you need at a time right for you. 

For more information visit LearnMore.NowClinic.com

This will be my family's go to for our above listed medical needs. I used it myself for my out of control allergy induced asthma recently.  (Fall allergies have gone hay wire)  I was putting off going to the doctor because I hate dragging myself into an office full of sick people to request refills on my maintenance medication.   In less than 15 minutes I was seen (video conference) by a doctor. He helped get me the refills I needed and I never had to get out of my pajamas or even leave the comfort of my own bedroom. The visit was only 10 minutes long but that is how long I usually spend with doctors after waiting 2 or more hours to be seen. 

Lost in the Land Called Motherhood

How did I let so much time go by without writing? Oh yeah, raising 5 kids and choosing to virtual school from home the 3 school age kids.  Then if life isn't crazy enough with bunnies, dogs and parrot we added chickens to the mix. The eggs are delicious, the chickens are amusing to watch, but it still takes time to care for them properly.

I spent my small amounts of free time reading books from Amazon's Top 100 FREE books.  I have yet to pay for a single e-book.  If you use it just be sure to leave a review. If you aren't going to give the writer money for their work at the very least tell them you thoughts about it.

Housework feels like using a snow blower in a blizzard.  I start to make a little progress, then look around and wonder what I am doing.  I clean one room and instead of cleaning they are spreading bird seed on the floors of the other rooms.  ::eye twitch::  I love my kids.  I just really don't like them sometimes.

Should I have warned you before spouting that little nugget of motherhood truth?  There are times you wont like your kids.  You would still lift a bus or fight a bear to save them, but there are times even the most polite kids are little assholes.  I am always getting compliments on how well behaved my kids are.  I often wonder what kind of kids these people are hanging around if my tribe of heathens is considered well behaved.

It's Friday and this mom is planning on refilling her cup both figuratively and literally.  Bring on the Blush wine in a big bottle, bubble bath and a good book.

The Scariest Acid Reflux Diagnosis

I never knew how scary Acid Reflux can be.  I thought it was just like really bad heart burn.  Then it happened to Maxx.  He didn't have any issues with this as a baby.  That's why it came as such a shock.

It was the night of our 15th anniversary we had just settled in for the night.  When suddenly I hear a choking cry come from down the hallway.  I turn terrified to my husband.  It's Maxx again. He was gasping and clawing again.  We held him as we tried giving him a breathing treatment.  He was spitting frothy/slimy spit and wiping his mouth as if it was disgusting.  We believed it to be another asthma attack and followed what the doctors told us.  This time making the diagnosis a permanent part of his life.

I watched in horror as he struggled and screamed. Slowly his lips started to turn blue.  This was the moment I called for an ambulance. The wait for help felt eternal.  Before we were even in the ambulance the paramedic trainer said "oh yeah this is just another croup case."  The paramedics tried to make me ride in the front as Maxx was strapped in the back for the ride.  He lost it as soon as I disappeared from view.  I ended up riding the 10 miles strapped on the gurney in the back of the ambulance holding him. I argued throughout the ride that it just sounds wrong. There was a weird wheeze but no cough.   She told me that I didn't know what I was talking about and that she was the medical professional.  It was hard to silence my mom brain.  It screamed at me that this diagnosis was wrong.  I've been through croup, whooping cough and so many other childhood illnesses between my 5 kids. Croup would have responded to his breathing treatments.
 
I'll never forget sitting in that chair next to his hospital bed as he took breathing treatment after breathing treatment to get his breathing normalized.  Terrified that it was not working and they were not doing enough to help.

Maxx ended up being admitted to the Pediatric ICU.  I sat there as my normally active kid just lay there listlessly.  Pulmonary specialists were called.  They now said he may have been admitted with croup but it was not croup, because it was not responding how it should to croup medicine.  The wheeze was too high in his chest and he had no cough. They were now considering an asthma diagnosis.

With nurses in and out constantly taking note of his vitals I explained to Maxx that they were checking his numbers.  The numbers said how sick he was and when he got better numbers we could go home.  One visit late in the night as the nurse was adjusting tubes. He tilted his head back to watch the monitor with his "numbers" that was hanging just over his head behind the bed.  It was almost as if magic.  His horrible wheeze disappeared.  Before the nurse could rush out I pointed this weird phenomenon.  She had a confused look on her face and said to me "that's weird."  I demanded to see a doctor in his room now.

The doctor arrived and asked me to repeat what had happened as he listened to Maxx.  Sure enough the wheeze was gone when he looked up but back when he sat normal.  The doctor was stumped so he then called in the Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist.  With the scope still down Maxx's nose the doctor announced, "Look at those acid burns, he has acid reflux not breathing problems."   The acid reflux had made his vocal chords swell to the point it was causing difficulty breathing.  This was long term damage. (even his tonsils had burn marks on them) I asked if this could be what was wrong when we were at the hospital 6 months before.  He said it was most likely the problem.  Not only was it missed by the hospital we went to for treatment but also by his pediatrician at his follow up appointment.

Now Maxx knows what food he can't have.  I've helped to educated him on what causes him to make excessive acid.  He refuses to eat chocolates, because as Maxx explains they make his tummy hurt his throat and make him not breathe.  Nothing like a scary trip to the hospital to scare your away from chocolate for life.  He is now on a daily dose of prescription Zantac.

I never knew this was even a possibility with Acid Reflux.  I never knew it could be so severe that it could actually swell his throat closed.      

The evil of Asthma... or is it?

One night in the early morning hours I lay there in bed struggling to force myself back to sleep.   Then I hear it... Maxx has woken up coughing this horrible cough. ( unlike croup or whooping cough) he crying as if in pain.   I rush to his room to find him clawing at his throat screaming in terror now.

I rush Maxx to my room and get a nebulizer treatment started.  Believing this to be another episode of something in  This isn't his first time using a nebulizer.  (Bronchiolitis in the past). The difference this time.. He wants nothing to do with it and starts screaming louder.  As I have him sitting in my lap he is biting at me, scratching and starts to spin like a gator.  I wake my husband in the worst possible way by yelling "Help me!" Over our child's screams. ( how he slept up to this point I don't understand)

I watch as my husband calms him to take a treatment.  My poor  husband is an old pro at breathing treatments having had them himself from the time he three.  I see the guilt in his face as he blames himself for passing this lung disease to our boys.

We rush him to the hospital.  On the way there his breathing calms, I start thinking they will say I am overreacting and send us away.   His breathing is still not normal, with a strange rasp.

I carry him into the emergency room.  As I approach the nurse station tears start streaming down my face as I remember what it felt like for me having my first asthma attack at the age of 12.  I thought I was choking on a chip during lunch while at school. One minutes I was coughing, the next I had blacked out and my friends were helping me to the nurses office as I clawed at my neck trying to get air.

As I approach the desk, I blurt out, "Please help my son.. I think he's having an asthma attack."  The three guys at the station take one look at me and rush us through check-in.

I'll never forget the hours after that with the many medical professional standing outside that glass walled room staring at us like a specimen on a slide. Not talking to us, for the most part just scaring the crap out of me.

I look back now and wonder is it my fault they diagnosed Acute Asthma attack since that is what I came in crying.  Why had no one looked in his mouth or at his throat?  If they had looked back then would they have seen the damage? It was very visible once we finally got our true diagnosis 6 months later in an even scarier incident.  Why had his pediatrician not seen this at his checkup between these incidents?  My faith in the medical community is not as strong as they once were. It just feels like educated guessing.  Too many times it's without even finding out all the facts first.

From one that was left behind

Suicide is never the answer.  It is the most selfish thing to do. It leaves so much pain and anguish behind, more than you could ever imagine.

Today I had to tell my kids that you were gone.  I couldn't tell them that you chose to leave, the words just wouldn't come.  I watched as the safe little world I surrounded them in burst into a million painful shards.  You were a person my kids loved.  I pitifully explained that our time with everyone is a gift that needs to be treasured. Even though you didn't treasure your own life enough to stay.

My sister fell in love with you after many years in a a relationship I worried would kill any hope in her heart for love.  Looking back I remember listening as you both talked about a forever together.

Today I held her as she screamed out her loss and anguish.  I listened as she blamed herself for your self-seeking choice.  In that moment I hated you with every part of my being.  You left us behind to pick up the pieces of her that you had shattered.  This gentle soul that does not like to see conflict or pain, who roots for the little guy and always finds a reason to like someone.  You didn't even protect her from your final selfish choice and left her to discover what you had done.  Left her to be the one to make those painful calls to your family, because you chose not to be strong enough to cry out for help.

You promised her a future that held great promise.  Today she ends it with no home to go to because your family would not let her stay in the home you both shared.   No love to cradle her in their arms and tell her that the world will be ok again.  A future uncertain and a heart in anguish.   You promised me you wouldn't hurt her and yet you destroyed her whole world today.  You were her whole world, because of that I had let you into mine.  I say FUCK YOU! For all those left behind to pick up and keep moving on.

I stand today guilty of having those thoughts myself in the past.  After seeing the aftermath of suicide I am angry at myself for having even considered it as an option.  Thankfully I got the help I needed from my support system. I leaned too close over that cliff of despair and they pulled me back away from the edge.

Suicide is never the answer.  If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please get help.  Do not brush off comments by co-workers no matter how flippant they may seem.  You could be the one person that heard the warning.

 There are many ways to get help.  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

In Dire Need of Mental Health Care Reform

The way the mentally ill are treated in the United States is horrible.
Be warned there is mature language in this post.  This topic is one that make me very angry.

In this country we need mental health care reform in a very serious way.  We went from a country that made institutionalizing people far easier than it should be. (Don't want to be married to your wife anymore?  Just say she is crazy and have her placed in an institution. Then divorce her for abandoning you.) We are now a country that makes it impossible to get the help that mentally ill people need until they have harmed someone. We thought the abuses were over when we closed these horrible places.  Now the world can see that the abusers have just moved buildings as we turn a blind eye.  We need better mental health training for our police, so when they answer a call that involves someone under an episode they can respond in a non deadly manner.  We need changes so that when individuals with mental health issues are jailed they can receive the medical care they need without delays or posturing.

Many years ago we had a friend that ended up in jail for 3 days over some minor crap. He was denied his medication for Schizophrenia for his entire stay.  His parents had even brought it for him with doctor's notes stating it's need.

After being released he took his medicine as usual but it needs to be built up in his system to work correctly. Our usually happy friend ended up having an episode. This episode involved coming to my house and screaming at me about a video we supposedly borrowed without returning. (we didn't even borrow it)  He was over the top angry.  Spit was flying from his mouth as he yelled at me, calling me a lying bitch. He got in my face yelling at times things that made no sense at all.

I was alone with my oldest two as toddlers.(they were napping) I was afraid of how violent he was going to get.  Luckily I knew him enough to know this was not normal behavior. I remained calm and convinced him it must be somewhere else. I collapsed in tears when he did leave. I felt horrible for the thoughts I had when he showed up acting aggressively.  I was expecting my two children to be waking up any minute.  Was I going to have to hurt my friend to stop him from harming my children or myself?  Luckily I didn't have to.  I snapped into what I call waitress mode.  I stood there with a smile on my face. I him answered calmly and quietly.  It was almost as if he didn't know how to process my reaction to his angry outbursts.  His head tilting to the side at times just like a puppy learning commands.   He left in a slightly calmer state as well as in confusion.

He was horrified when he learned what had happened.  I was horrified when cried as he apologized to me.  I knew that it wasn't my friend who was standing before me that acted like that.  It was the unhealthy part of his brain filtering everything through a filter of unreasonable anger.  He did not choose to go off his medication. He was denied his medical rights.

   

Puke Fairy

Oh Puke Fairy why did you have to make a stop here in my house. The end of the school year is in sight.  Is it not bad enough that it got me on Mother's Day?  She had to circle back around and get the youngest as well.  Nothing like a stomach bug with someone with no puking manners.
Feel that sick feeling in your gut?  Begin making your way to or aiming at a proper receptacle.  Do not remain where you are.  At no time should you move to a carpeted area or on top of upholstered furniture.

Ugh... Time for crackers and electrolyte fluids.  The Puke Fairy won the first round all over my couch.  I made the mistake of giving him a sipper cup.  I have now resorted to a medicine capful every 15-30 minutes.   He's holding it down as well as the crackers... for now.  Wish me luck, this ends with him.  I am so done with puke.
Thank goodness for sanitizing wipes. I have been using those like mad today.  My Hoover Floormate SpinScrub has been a godsend when he poured puke as I ran down the hallway with him to the bathroom.  

Oh the joys of motherhood. Sounds so glamourous, I can see why women do it.  

Zip Code Specific Gardening

Want to know when to plant your garden for your specific zip code?  Use SproutRobot!  If you are like me and live in an area with many micro climates, this is a great help.  I hope to be able to put this into more use.

Our compost is really starting to look great. The benefit of living in a hot climate, is it seems to break down faster.  The chickens go crazy every time I turn the compost.  I joke that they are begging to be let loose on the compost.  Sorry ladies, Las Vegas does not approve of chickens out of their coop/run.

Right now we only have 3 topsy turvy planters.  I found them on sale in the middle of winter for $2 each a few years ago.  We finally got them hung and filled this year.  Yes, I am guilty of being a procrastinator married to a procrastinator.  With 5 kids I feel like I spend much of my day in damage control. (3 glasses were broken by my kids this week alone)

Growing in our hanging planters are tomatoes, two kinds of peppers and strawberries.  Everything but one of our peppers has flowered. We have gotten a few strawberries that my kids instantly ate.  We have 1 huge pepper on one plant and nothing on the other.  Darn bugs attacked and destroyed the leaves faster than it grew them.  We may not get anything from it.  Our tomato plant has tons of little green tomatoes.  We are just waiting for them to redden up. Although some fried green tomatoes like my dad used to make sounds really good. Or the pickled green tomatoes from my mom. Is my lack of patience showing?  

I can't wait for the first taste of a sun warmed tomato.  They have a different scent and taste that for some reason makes me feel as if everything is right with the world at that moment.  Then another dish breaks and I'm back in the trenches of motherhood again.  Thank goodness for my Tomato Vine Scentsy scent. I bring that sun warmed vine smell into my house anytime I want.

Are you an urban gardener?  What is the one thing you love growing the most?

Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub Wet/Dry Vacuum Review

I was not paid or provided any rewards for this review of the Hoover Floormate SpinScrub Wet/Dry Vacuum.   My family had killed another floor steamer.  With over half of my house being tile it was an enormous task to clean.  When you add all the pet/kid mess I clean as well it is overwhelming at times.  Bird food and bunny food scattered around cages.  Jello hidden behind the couch because my 2 year old doesn't like the texture.   I was spending too much time cleaning the floor.

With my Floormate SpinScrub I do a quick sweep of all larger object. Why sweep first? Because there was a chicken nugget under the train table.. among other WTF findings after my children picked up.  Then I switch my SpinScrub to Vacuum and finish picking up any dirt or debris.
I almost cried the first time I actually washed the floors with it. It was cleaning my gross grout! I was to the point I wanted our floors professionally steamed.   I've even pulled up gum and other mysterious spots that were here when we moved in.
Once I was done washing the floors I switch it to dry and my floors are dry before I can wrap up the cord.  Which for me means no children's footprints across a newly cleaned damp floor. It's dry before they can even plot to run on it.
Cleaning the machine is easy too!  Everything comes apart for easy washing.  The Spinbrushes underneath pop off for easy rinsing as well as the front hood.  I clean my machine after every use. Dumping the dirty water out without spilling is so easy my kids sometime help me.

My Hoover Floormate SpinScrub Wet/Dry Vacuum has become my favorite household appliance. That is really saying something because I finally have an Artisan Kitchen Aid Mixer as well as a Delonghi Food Processor/Blender both that I have wanted for years.  This amazing product has taken a chore that would normally take a few hours down to a 20-30 minute task to clean the same areas.

I bought my machine off Amazon because with our Amazon Prime membership we got as great discount as well as having it shipped to our house. Hoover Floormate SpinScrub Wet/Dry Vacuum 

Our Easter Egger Chickens and Eggs!

They have only been here a short time but we already love our Easter Egger chickens.

Wary of us on their first day

It took them a day or two to get used to us.
These chickens have surprised me with their intellegence and curiousity.

Checking what I dropped for them.

These bearded ladies have individual personalities.  

Their feather patterns are gorgeous.  We say they look like they are wearing chainmail. 

Two of our Chainmail Chickens!

Smallest yet bravest chicken

Bossiest chicken

The colorful eggs they have provided for us have been a fun rediscovery every day. Sure our 4 hens will never provide enough eggs for our family of 7 on a daily basis.  They are a good start though.  Plus they are a better pet than aother dog.  Atleast the chickens will provide us with a meal once a week.

3 Shades of Green Eggs from our chickens.

Eggs in their storage container.

We are saving up the eggs to make Eggs in a Basket for breakfast for everyone.  Should only take 3 days for our very young chickens to lay enough eggs. Some of our earlier eggs went into making cookies. 

This is how I take pictures of my eggs. In natural light outside on top of artist white paper.  I love how on the white paper shows the best variations of the coloring.  

Big Feathered News!

As if my nutty life wasn't crazy enough we are adding some new additions to the family soon.  With 5 boisterous children, 2 energetic dogs, 2 curious bunnies, a noisy African Grey Parrot and a couple of startlingly large feeder goldfish you would think our urban family was complete.  You would be wrong.

We got Chickens!

This is another step in my family having a more sustainable kitchen.  After many months of research it was an easy decision to make.   The bunnies have been a huge help in cutting down our waste by eating kitchen vegetable scraps.  This will be a huge improvement as the chickens can break down the bunny waste faster than nature can as well as kitchen scraps.

3 different green eggs from our hens

We started with a small backyard flock containing only 4 lovely ladies.  Sorry, no roosters allowed in city limits.  I had hoped to go down to our local feed store and pick out some local chickens, but did not like the look of the chickens. (balding from plucking and or fights)  Instead we ordered our started pullets from a very old and reputable Hatchery. The Murray McMurray Hatchery with almost 100 years in business was an easy choice to make with it's years of glowing reviews.

6 of our eggs from our Easter Egger Chickens

We ended up picking 18-22 week old pullets to start with, as the frail chicks frighten me. (not going to have the kid's first experience raising chickens end in an early death.)  We also have 5 kids very anxious to find their first eggs.  The breed we ended up choosing was the Easter Egger. It is not a recognized show breed, but perfect for our family's needs as an egg production bird not meat.  This breed of bird has a huge variation in feather color/pattern as well as egg color, so it's like the surprise chicken. Who knows what color the chicken will be?  What color egg will they lay? Easter Eggers can lay varying tints of blue, green and even pink eggs.

They were wary of us at first.

Sadly since we live in Las Vegas we are forced to keep them in a coop/run at all times, but my husband has plans for a small track-like enclosed run to go around the outer edge of our yard.  It will give them more area to explore while staying protected from our surprisingly many predators in the city.  To think I was excited to see that Hawk chasing the pigeons through the skies of our neighborhood last year.  There are many other improvements we would like to make to the coop/run in the future, but it works for our current smaller flock of hens.

We sprouted seeds in mason jars for a tasty treat for the chickens.  We purchased the Wheat berries from Bountiful Basket food co-op to sprout for the chickens as well as try to make some baked goods.









One day I hope to have 2 chickens for every family member in the house. Just like this old poster suggests.   We will have to move before then, beause our backyard cannot support a little over a dozen chickens. The girls we do have are a nice start.