Daycare Issues...sigh :(

So, I have recently started a job and Madelynn is going to daycare. I'm currently training in Manhattan but I start in Salina on July 1st. I was really excited for Madelynn to go to daycare because I felt it would be great for Madelynn to be around other kids close to her age for both developmental and socialization reasons.
After what happened in the past week or two at Madelynn's daycare in Manhattan has me hoping and praying that the daycare I found in Salina goes better. I want to preface this by saying that Madelynn will not be going back to this daycare next week.
First off, Madelynn is really sensitive and gets diaper rash very easily. I put it diaper rash creme at least every other diaper change, if not more often. I pick her up from daycare after work and after about an hour of being home, I change her diaper. She wasn't clean from a bowel movement she had earlier in the day (sorry to those who don't change diapers regularly!) and she had the worst diaper rash I had ever seen. She cried when I changed her diaper, so I could tell it ws painful. After Madelynn was asleep, I called my daycare provider and she mentioned that her mom had changed her but that she would address the issue with her. I also mentioned using the diaper rash creme more often. Problem solved for the first issue that arose.

About a week ago, my daycare provider's mother informs me that Madelynn had been given a chocolate donut and some of a hotdog. This is not appropriate food for a 9 month old. Obviously, this is frustrating to me for the reasons of choking and that chocolate contains caffeine. When the mom told me that Madelynn had only slept about half an hour, I responded politely that it probably was because of the chocolate. What is most frustrating is that I provide all Madelynn's food and formula, so there is no reason for her to be getting anything besides what I have brought for her. I didn't want to be the parent that got very angry at what had happened so I decided to think about what I wanted to say and talk about this issue the next morning. My daycare provider wasn't there (the next issue to talk about!), so I mentioned to her mom that I would prefer that Madelynn only be given the foods that I bring for her. Her mother mentioned that her daughter might have confused Madelynn with another child that had been given a chocolate donut and a hotdog. Her daughter wasn't even there and the mother was the one who told me that she had been given those foods!  Believe me, I'm all for older adults interacting with younger children but if memory issues are occurring, then it's definitely a safety issue.

Okay, next issue. This is going to be the longest blog I've ever written! My daycare provider has been absent a lot in the 3 weeks that Madelynn has been there. Except for the first week, I've seen more of her mom and teenage daughter lately than I've seen of her. I'm not sure what's going on with that but me not being told that she is going to be gone is frustrating to me.

I also heard her teenage daughter mention that Madelynn was left alone with her for a little while while her grandma did something else in the house for about 10 minutes. Now, I know it wasn't a long time but Jon and I aren't paying $125 a week for our daughter to be watched by teenagers. If that was the route we wanted to take, we would most definitely be paying a lot less.

So, I feel like Jon and I are fairly understanding people but Jon and I have decided that this daycare is not a good place for Madelynn. I pick Madelynn up Friday and after about an half hour of being home, I notice Madelynn has a little over a 2 inch bruise on her lower left leg. Nothing had happened while she was at home to cause her to bruise. Now, I know kids bruise easily but if something happened that caused Madelynn to bruise, I feel I should have been told what happened. I called the daycare provider and asked if she knew what had happened. She mentioned that she didn't as she was gone with her dad at the VA hospital all day (I did know about this) but was glad that I told her because she needed to know for documentation purposes and that she would try to figure out what happened. I haven't heard from her all day, so it makes me feel like she is hiding something from us. I took pictures of the bruise just in case. Madelynn hasn't ever gotten a bruise before, even with becoming more mobile, so it just seems suspicious to me. This is just an extremely frustrating situation and it's very upsetting to me.

I just feel like some shady things are going on and I'm not being informed of what is happening with our daughter. I'm pretty upset about this because I had such good hopes/feelings about this daycare provider. We are looking into our options on where to file a complaint at. We have already paid for next week and I'm hoping we can get our money back but I doubt that will happen.

So, that is what we are dealing with right now. Having a child sometimes makes a lot of opportunites for stressful situations! I will be going to Madelynn's daycare on Monday to get all of her things that are there. I'm nervous about it because confrontation is hard for me but I know that it needs to be done. I feel like I've been straightforward about what I expect and that hasn't been happening.

So, I thought I would end with a quote about having children so that this entire blog post isn't negative! :)
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

I hope everyone's weekend is going well!

Day 30: Your highs and lows of this month.
June has just started! :)
High: I started my job and I love it!
High/low: Madelynn started daycare and is doing really well. I do miss being away from her but I'm glad for her to have the chance to be more social. I think it will be good for her. It's nice to be working again and for me to have some adult time! :)

It's the end of the 30 day challenge! Now, what am I supposed to write about? I will hopefully think of some ideas!

Almost Done with the 30 day Challenge!

Day 29: Goals for the next 30 days.
1) To learn as much as I can about my new job!
2) To enjoy my free time with my family!
3) Make wise food choices the majority of the time- I feel so much better when I eat healthy!

Madelynn is 9 months old today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. She's not quite crawling yet but she's getting very close. She also can move from the laying down position to sitting as of two days ago. I'm excited to see her grow and the changes that are to come!

Day 28: Something that you miss.
I think it's funny that I just talked about yesterday how I miss being able to sleep as well as I used to! :) I'm having trouble thinking of anything else that I miss because life is pretty great right now!

I guess I can talk about how my new job is going. I really like it so far and the people are great! I have a lot to learn but a new job is always at least a little overwhelming. I know I will catch on soon though. I'm already starting to feeling more comfortable and confident in this new environment. It also helps that Madelynn's transition to daycare is going really well. I really like the lady I found in Manhattan. Madelynn doesn't cry when I leave, which helps me a lot! I only hope the daycare I found in Salina goes just as well. I'm most likely going to start working in the Salina office at the beginning of July after my training in Manhattan.
Hope everyone's week is going well!

Day 27: A problem you have had.
Well, I have been trouble getting Madelynn to stay asleep at night. I wouldn't necessarily call this a problem as Madelynn isn't a problem but life is good and I can't really think of anything else that I would want to change right now! :) One thing I miss since I've become a parent is being able to sleep well. I'm not sure if this will ever change or if I will always worry about Madelynn! I would appreciate it any advice. I started to feed Madelynn a couple tablespoons of cereal right before she goes to bed because it seems to help her not need a nighttime feeding anymore.

Okay, next subject. I started my new job today and it went really well! It was a little overwhelming because there is a lot I have to learn but I'm so excited and thankful for this opportunity. I was a little  nervous about Madelynn going to daycare but she did great! That helped out a lot with this new experience and I hope daycare continues to go well for her.

Attraction!

Day 26: What kind of person attracts you.
I don't think there is a certain kind of person that attracts me. Given the right situation/circumstance, I believe it's possible for people to be attracted to anyone.

I know this is short but it has been a long weekend of travel and this is one tired momma! Have a good week everyone!

I'm Behind! :)

My Internet is not working at my house, so I'm playing catchup today! :)
Day 23: Give pictures of 5 guys who are famous who you find attractive.
So, I don't feel like taking the time to find pictures of guys, but one guy I think is attractive is Robert Pattinson. I've seen him in quite a few movies lately and I think he is a great actor.
I also think George Clooney is attractive and a very talented actor. Umm, who else? I like Brad Pitt- Troy anyone???? :) Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are two other actors that I really like!

Day 24: Your favorite movie and what it's about.
I love movies and I have trouble just picking one. I would say that one of my favorites is My Girl. I've always loved this movie and I cry everytime I watch it. Here is a summary of the movie but it does reveal a lot about the movie:
The movie is set in Madison, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1972. Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) is a 11-year-old tomboy and a hypochondriac. Vada's father, Harry Sultenfuss (Dan Aykroyd), is an awkward widower who does not seem to understand his daughter, and as a result, constantly ignores her. His profession as a funeral director, in which the Sultenfuss' residence is also a funeral parlor, has led Vada to develop an obsession with death as well as disease. Vada also thinks that she killed her own mother, since her mother died giving birth to her. She regularly tends to her invalid grandmother (Ann Nelson), who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Harry's brother Phil (Richard Masur), who lives nearby, also stops by frequently to help out the family.

Vada is teased by other girls because her best friend, Thomas J. Sennett (Macaulay Culkin), is unpopular and a boy. Their summer adventuresfrom first kiss to last farewellintroduce Vada to the world of adolescence.

Vada's summer begins well. She befriends Shelley Devoto (Jamie Lee Curtis), the new make-up artist at her father's funeral parlor, who provides her with some much needed guidance. She is also infatuated with her teacher, Mr. Bixler (Griffin Dunne), and steals some money from Shelley's trailer to attend a summer writing class that he is teaching.

But before long, things start to fall apart. Her father and Shelley start dating and get engaged, she cannot bring herself to tell her father that she has experienced her first menstrual cycle, Thomas J. dies from an allergic reaction to bee stings while looking for Vada's mood ring in the woods, and she finds out that Mr. Bixler is engaged to someone else.

Vada's grief, however, manages to mend the rift between her and her father, she learns that she didn't kill her mom during childbirth (since her father tells her that things like mothers dying in childbirth just happen), and by the end of the movie, Vada has not only managed to deal with her pain and grief, but has also overcome some of her previous issues as well.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102492/synopsis

I actually just bought this movie on DVD a couple months ago because I love it so much!

Day 25: A person who fascinates you and why.
That person would have to be my husband. He does so much for our family and I appreciate it so much. He helped me while I was going to college and I'm so excited for him to go back to school to achieve his dreams!

I hope everyone's summer has gotten off to a good start!

Day 22!

Day 22: How have you changed in the past 2 years.

One word: alot! Jon and I got married August 1st, 2009. Marriage did change our lives but it has been great for us and I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with him! Our 2 year anniversary is coming up in a couple months. I can't believe how fast it has gone by but I look forward to many more years.
Our daughter Madelynn was also born September 9th, 2010. I remember being very surprised that I was pregnant. We were trying to become pregnant but weren't expecting it to happen so fast! It really  does only take one time. :) She has been great for Jon and I. Nothing can describe how much love we have for her. I always say it's amazing how such a beautiful human being can be created. So enjoy your family, whoever they are, and tell them that you love them!
Happy Wednesday everyone!

Day 21: One of your favorite TV shows.
I would have to say Grey's Anatomy (my roommate freshman year of college got me hooked on it). I think it's a great show and can't wait for next season. I also love American Idol and So You Think You can Dance.
I know this is short today but I am super tired! It's been a long day and I'm hoping that I have good news to share tomorrow! :)

Day 20: How important you think education is.
My education at KSU has been great for me. It's exposed me to different viewpoints and to things that I had not considered before. It's so easy to get along with people that think the same things as you do, but it's a lot more fulfilling to be around those who challenge you.  I found this great quote that I feel at least somewhat describes what college and its experiences taught me.
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.- Will Durant
This was very true in my case. I definitely had some ignorant assumptions when I came to college. Looking back, I think of some of the things I used to say and I'm amazed that I could make such assumptions. But life is a learning process and I have definitely learned a lot during my college education years.
I hope everyone's week has gotten off to a great start!

Day 19!

Day 19: Disrespecting your parents.
Well, becoming a parent has changed my perspective a lot on this. Not that I ever thought it's okay to not listen to your parents or at least pretend to take their advice. :) I never realized how challenging it would to be a parent and Madelynn is only 9 months old! While I love being a mom to her, it does get hard sometimes. I found this great quote that showed the high ideals I had while I was pregnant!
Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot

So I guess the point I'm trying to make is that it's important to be understanding of your parents. You never realize the stress of being a parent until you actually have children. Whether it's worrying about health concerns, sleeping issues, there is a lot to think about as a parent. While there is a lot of joy in having children, it's definitely not the easiest thing I have ever done. After having Madelynn, I realized just how much my parents actually loved my sister and I because it is a difficult adjustment. However, looking at Madelynn definitely makes it all worth it! :) Be nice to your parents and hopefully if you have kids, they will do the same!

Happy Memorial Day tomorrow and remember to thank those who are serving/who have served our country!

Day 18: Your beliefs.
I am Catholic but I don't feel it matters what religion you are. I found this video posted on a friend's Facebook page and I think it describes what I think perfectly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvZ9aXg5Xs&feature=related

Also, I think it's important to recognize that people do and should have the ability to make their own decisions about what they do or do not believe. Being Catholic is something I have chosen and helps me in the life I live every day. It's definitely a support system for me but I know it's not for everyone. It's not up to me to be judgmental towards others and the decisions they make. A holier than thou attitude is actually extremely annoying to me. In my opinion, a better message would be acceptance of who a person is.
Obviously, being Catholic and/or religious often brings up the issue of abortion. I want to preface this by saying that my intent is not to be judgmental of others who have had abortions. Life is full of hard decisions and I've never been in the position that I would have to make such a decision. I can't imagine how difficult it would be. Especially after having my own baby. However, I think it's important to discuss and not avoid the issue. This is something that I am often in conflict with. I do believe in a person's right to choose, but at the same time shouldn't the baby have a choice? I guess I have trouble because I can see how it should be the woman's choice but also that it is ending a life that doesn't get a choice. A lot of the times, abortion is painted as a black and white issue but it's definitely not. After doing some soul-searching and deep thinking, I would say that I am pro-choice but I still find it difficult to say that (you have no idea how hard it is to say that!). After looking into what some pro-life advocates say about women and the choices they make, I'm amazed at how it places all the "blame" on women. That definitely furthers my belief that we do live in a sexist society (among other things). It's quotes like these that make me extremely angry and sad to think that a person can be this narrow minded:
"If women were in charge, abortion would be a sacrament..."
Carter Hayword, Episcopalian priest at the 1985 National Abortion Federation (NAF) convention. National Abortion Federation Update, Fall 1985, page 7

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." Pat Robertson, Christian Coalition

It's very difficult for me to say that I am pro-choice, especially given my background of a Catholic. But as I said previously, it's not up to me to judge others on the decisions they make. That's definitely not my role. Just think how much better a place the world would be if we could be accepting of others and not make assumptions. There is always a reason for peoples' actions. The following quote makes sense to me and what I believe but still takes into account that there should be a right to choose.

"I think we have deluded ourselves into believing that people don't know that abortion is killing. So any pretense that abortion is not killing is a signal of our ambivalence, a signal that we cannot say yes, it kills a fetus, but it is the women's body, and therefore ultimately her choice." I believe that very firmly. You look at the ultrasounds and there's a fetus with a heartbeat and then after the procedure, there's the fetus, usually in pieces, in a dish. It was alive one moment and it's not the next. I don't believe it's a painful experience for the fetus because its nervous system is not "wired" so that it can feel pain at that point. I don't believe, as some anti-abortion people would have you believe, that there's a 'silent scream.' But it's very clear to me that it's killing a potential life. And I found that hard at first."
--Faye Wattleton, former director of Planned Parenthood

So, therefore I hope this makes sense. I always feel nervous talking about sensitive topics such as this, but I think it's important to discuss it. “Too many people in America believe that if you are pro-choice that means pro-abortion. It doesn't. I don't want abortion. Abortion should be the rarest thing in the world. I am actually personally opposed to abortion. But I don't believe that I have a right to take what is an article of faith to me and legislate it to other people. That's not how it works in America.”

iilana Senator John Kerry quotes (American Senator, b.1943)

Day 17: Your highs and lows of the past year.
Highs:

• Becoming a mom and watching her grow/change everyday!
• Graduating from KSU
• Getting a job offer!

I try and find something to celebrate about each day but those are all I can think of right now!

Lows

• Sometimes being a stressed out parent and wonder why I am responding this way :(
• Not getting a job that I really wanted
• Being sleep-deprived

So, I know my blogs probably aren't that interesting. If anyone has any ideas about what to do for blogs, I would love to hear them! After I get done with this, I was thinking of doing some reviews of books I have read recently. Let me know and have a great weekend!

Day 16: Your views on mainstream music.
I love a wide variety of music! I probably tend to listen to more mainstream music since I don't download songs and the only time I really listen to anything besides kid music is when Madelynn is asleep in the car. :)

Madelynn slept amazing last night and I really hope this continues. For some reason, this has been a struggle lately. As a parent, sleep is highly valuable and I become a little grumpy when I can't get a decent night's sleep!

Madelynn is also getting over a cold, so I'm hoping we can go to playgroup this morning and to storytime at the library on Saturday. The Manhattan Public Library has an excellent children's program and the summer program starts at the beginning of June. I'm so excited to go with Madelynn because I think it's great for both of us!

Day 15: Your favorite tumblrs.
I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what this meant. I thought I was going to be talking about my favorite alcoholic beverage :) Good thing I googled it!
I love Facebook, so that would have to be my favorite. I love to know what is going on with people that I don't get to see as much as I would like to. And seeing pictures is another thing I like about Facebook.

On a side note, I'm still applying for jobs. A blessing is that there are a lot of social work jobs available to apply for. I did get one job offer but Jon and I are still discussing whether I should take it or not. It would mean moving, which is something we are willing to do but we would prefer to stay in this area. The job offer is in a town that doesn't have a state university that offers the same majors as KSU in Manhattan, so it's a lot more expensive to attend since the colleges are private . This is a big decision and Jon wants to go back to school in the fall at K-State (I'm so proud of him for wanting to do that because I know it would not be easy going back!). We will also have a lot more costs now that I am out of school (childcare costs, loan payments, etc.). It's hard not to immediately say yes to the job offer, but there are a lot of important factors to consider. When I get the job offer, I felt like Sally Fields during her Oscar speech- You like me, you really like me! :)

I hope everyone's week is going well!

My Internet wasn't working so 2 updates in 1!

Day 13: Somewhere you'd like to move or visit.
I really like Kansas and wouldn't mind staying here! :) There are lots of places I would like to visit but one that comes to mind is New York City. I think it would be fun to a visit a city that's upbeat 24/7 and maybe relive the party life a little bit! :)

Day 14: Your earliest memory
This is kind of a random memory. I was probably about 5 and I had set my alarm but it didn't go off. Our babysitter was there and I refused to get out of bed until my alarm went off.

Hope everyone's week has started off well!

Day 12- Bullet your whole day!

• 6:30 am: Madelynn woke up and nursed
• 8am: Madelynn ate breakfast; she had bananas with apple and blueberries, mixed veggies, and whole wheat cereal. I had Kix and two tangerines for breakfast.
• 8:15-9 am: Madelynn and I played.
• 9:15 am- 10:15 am: Madelynn nursed and then took a nap for about an hour.
• 10:30 am- 11:30 am: Madelynn and I played!
• 11:45 am- Madelynn and I ate lunch. Madelynn had peaches as her finger food and the rest was the same as breakfast! I had a sandwich with mayo, cheese, and bbq chicken deli meat on whole wheat bread, a peach, and tortilla chips. I also had a Sierra Mist.
• 12 pm-1pm: Madelynn and I played. I tried to lay her down for a nap on her own but that only lasted for about 15 minutes.
• 1:30 pm: I laid down for a nap with Madelynn- I think it's bonding and I'm going to miss it when I'm not a stay at home mom anymore! However, after only being asleep for about half an hour my neighbor's dog wouldn't stop barking and woke both of us up. I was not too happy.
• 2:15pm: Madelynn nursed and we read books while Madelynn did tummy time.
• 4:45 pm: Madelynn took a 30 minute nap and nursed when she woke up.
• 5:30 pm: I ate an early dinner. I had a hard egg sandwich with tomatoes and two tangerines. Madelynn ate a little before 6pm. She had sweet potatoes as her finger food and instead of wheat cereal, she had oatmeal cereal. The fruits and veggies were the same!
• 6:15 pm: I let Madelynn "choose her" meals for tomorrow. I hold out 2 fruits and veggies and let her pick! :) It's kind of fun and Madelynn smiles every time I do it!
• 6:30pm: Madelynn and I played until 7pm.
• 7pm: Madelynn nursed.
• 7:30 pm: I've been trying to get Madelynn to sleep through the night. A nurse told me that I can feed her some cereal right before she goes to bed and that might help. Her bedtime is around 8pm, so hopefully this will do the trick!
• 7:50 pm: I put Madelynn in a Pampers (we use Parent's Choice during the day but they don't do too well all night) and laid her down to sleep. Said a quick prayer to keep her safely through the night and gave her kisses. She sleeps with her stuffed dog, Violent. Violet plays lullabies, which helps Madelynn fall asleep most nights.
• 8:10 pm: Madelynn is asleep! :) Now it's time to relax!

Have a good week everyone!

I don't have an iPod! :)

Day 11: Put your iPod on shuffle and list 10 songs that pop up!
Well, I don't have an iPod but I can talk about songs/artist I like right now. These are in no particular order.
#1- Adele. I love her voice!
#2- Christina Perri
#3- Haley Reinhart on American Idol. I was so sad that she didn't make it to the finale! I think she channels my inner rock star! :)
#4- The Fray
#5- Adam Lambert- Whataya Want From Me but also his take on Mad World. That was one of the best performances on American Idol I've ever seen! Can you tell I'm a big American Idol fan?
#6- Just being general on this one. I really like 90's rock music!
#7- Sappy on this one. Madelynn and I listen to her Pooh CD while we are driving places! She really likes it or at least I think she does. :)
#8- Alanis Morisette
#9- Jewel- Pre-country!
#10- Green Day

Well, there you have it!
So on a side note, there is the possibility of a lot of changes coming up for our family. I've started the job search and have two interviews next week. Jon and I are going to look at daycares for Madelynn, which I'm kind of excited for because I think it will be good for her to be around other children. It also makes me nervous because I want to make sure that she is still being played with, read to, and so on. I feel like I will be giving up alot of control over what happens in Madelynn's day to day life (which I am). I've been able to make sure she makes it to playgroup at least twice a week and that we go to storytime at the library. I've learned developmentally approriate activities for her from Parents as Teachers. However, I have found a daycare provider that has training in these areas and has been a daycare provider since the 1980s. That makes me feel better and I can't wait to meet her! I'm so excited to start this next part of our lives, just a little nervous at the same time! :)

Love! :)

Day 10: Discuss your first love and first kiss.
Well, my first kiss was during eighth grade at the park and then I didn't have another kiss until I was a junior in high school...Yes, I was kind of a late bloomer but I was kind of nervous about boys in general while I was growing up! :)

I would rather talk about my first love! :) It was Jon and we met my freshman year of college. Things moved pretty fast for us but I think that tends to happen when you meet the right person. It's nice knowing that I can be myself around Jon. In previous relationships, I wasn't able to do that. I can be the stressed out mama who is job searching and has a couple interviews next week. Or the now sleep-deprived mama because Madelynn has stopped sleeping through the night. He loves me no matter what and I will always love him.

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a good weekend!

Day 9

Day 9: How you hope your future will be like.
Well, I hope to have a job I love. I've applied for 6 jobs in the past month so maybe one of those jobs is my dream job! :) I want Madelynn to grow up healthy and happy. I eventually want to settle down so Jon and I can buy a house! In about three years, Jon and I would like for Madelynn to have another brother or sister! I'm just excited to live life and see what it has in store for our family. There are bound to be surprises and difficulties but it's definitely worth it! Happy Thursday, everyone!

Day 8!

Day 8- A moment you felt most satisfied with your life!
It would definitely be when Madelynn was born. I know some people say that they loved being pregnant and things like "I loved you the moment I found out I was pregnant with you". Maybe I'm just not sentimental but pregnancy was not fun! I was in a lot of pain and didn't sleep well from about 5 months on, especially towards the end. I think I had trouble visualizing Madelynn inside of me even though I saw her in sonogram pictures. Maybe the next time, I will enjoy pregnancy more since I now know the end product is so amazing! :) I don't think it really set in until Madelynn was born that Jon and I actually made a beautiful human being. It was such a surreal moment when she was born. I remember hyperventilating after she was born because I couldn't believe that she was actually here.

"When we choose to be parents, we accept another human being as part of ourselves, and a large part of our emotional selves will stay with that person as long as we live. From that time on, there will be another person on this earth whose orbit around us will affect us as surely as the moon affects the tides, and affect us in some ways more deeply than anyone else can. Our children are extensions of ourselves."
-- Fred Rogers
Parenting is a challenge at times but everytime I see Madelynn laugh, smile, or do something new, it helps me remember why Jon and I decided to become parents in the first place!

Day 6 of 30 Day Challenge!

Day 6- Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.
This is a description I found online of my sign Virgo:
Virgos are often put down badly by many astrologers and written up as being fussy and narrow-minded. But when a Virgo shines, there is practically no sign to match their inner light. An in-tune Virgo is a treat to meet. When a Virgo is confident within themselves they are the most successful, structured and creative of all the signs.

Many Virgos can be found working in the "service to others" industries, ranging from welfare work, doctors, school-teachers through to practising natural forms of healing like massage, herbal remedies etc. One of the most magical characteristics of the Virgo is no matter how many times life or romance turns sour on them, they still manage to maintain faith in others, refusing to become cynical. There is ingenuity around this sign, a kind-heartedness, which unfortunately is sometimes played upon by others for their advantage. Virgos can often become victims of relationship power-games, where they are mistreated.

Creative and sensitive, Virgos are delicate people who, like rare and special orchids, require individual treatment to fully blossom into their true unique beauty. Shy, they are happy to allow others to take centre-stage and often generate their time and energy into making those they love happy or successful.

Virgos are givers and when the chips are down and you need a friend, the one available during those testing times when you need advice or companionship the most, is likely to be a Virgo. Virgos understand human frailties better than most, because they are so deep and reflective themselves. With a Virgo in your life you have someone who understands and cares and any romance or friendship based upon these qualities is certain to be mutually rewarding.

I would have to say this is accurate in who I am as a person. I'm not sure how it's decided what Virgos are like but it describes me well! :)
On a side note, Madelynn is starting to pick up food and feed herself! It's amazing how fast they learn. Have a good night!

30 Interesting Things about me!

Day 6- 30 Interesting Facts about me!
Well, I will try to get to 30 but no guarantees! :)
#1- I'm related to William Wallace or who was made popular by the movie Braveheart!
#2- I have degrees in social work and gerontology.
#3- I sleep best on my left side.
#4- In my free time (which means when Madelynn is asleep!), I love to read books!
#5- I've never done drugs.
#6- I'm Catholic.
#7- I love to take an afternoon nap with Madelynn!
#8- I believe that reading a book to a child is one of the best things you can do for a child!
#9- I also believe that playing with a child is so important for their development!
#10- I went to college for 5 years.
#11- I did my social work internship at a domestic violence agency.
#12- "Live and let live"
#13- Being judgmental of others never gets anyone very far in life.
#14- I believe in love.
#15- I think things are easier said than done.
And Madelynn woke up from her nap so I'm done! I will try to finish later but no guarantees! Have a good Monday, everyone.

Day 5!

Day 5- A time you thought about ending your own life.

So I have trouble putting personal aspects of my life on the Internet. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I would rather have a talk face to face about these topics. So I'm not going into too much detail, but this is something I have considered before.

What is important to recognize is that "Life is good" ( this is something my friend said to me and I think it's very fitting!). I just think about all I would have missed. An amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, and everyday things that I take for granted but that are so important! I wouldn't have graduated from college yesterday. I'm so lucky and blessed to live my life! So I like quotes and I found one that seems to relate to what I went through and how my life is now.

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as a fuel, as a reminder of your strength." -August Wilson

Retry

Apparently, the blogger website was updating and deleted my blog so I had to do it all over again! Nothing is going to stop me from blogging. So I'm kind of swamped today and tomorrow with graduation, so I'm going to combine 2 days into one of the 30 day challenge! :)


Day Three: My views on drugs and alcohol
Drugs: I've actually never tried any type of illegal drugs so it's not something I know a whole lot about. I could maybe understand it on a recreational basis but addiction is a very scary and powerful thing! I have seen it affect the people who use them on a regular basis and those close to them negatively.

Alcohol: I don't drink a lot since I am nursing and a parent in general. I've had a lot of fun at college parties and it's definitely something I miss (although I wouldn't trade being a mommy for anything!).  Probably too much fun :) But I had great experiences with friends that I will always remember from those parties!
To be honest, I can't be as carefree as I was back then because my life has completely changed from what it was. It's hard for me to be away from Madelynn for more than a few hours but it's also important for me to take time for myself and Jon to be "adults". So to wrap this up, I believe alcohol is okay as long as it's in moderation and it's for fun!

Day Four: Views on Religion.
"To each his own". I am Catholic but that is where my life has lead me. There are parts to the Catholic Church that I do disagree with and it's something that I'm willing to acknowledge. Every person has different experiences that lead them to what they do or do not believe.
This is a video that I have seen that I feel accurately describes how I feel about religion in general. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvZ9aXg5Xs&feature=related
This is how I choose to live my life and others have the right to live their life the way they choose.