World Rare Disease Day - Feb. 28th

For those who are not aware, I have Hereditary Copro Porphryria. Never heard of it? That's OK some doctors haven't either. Today is World Rare Disease Day. I support the Global Genes Project. Please show your support for those living with or have lost someone due to a rare disease today by wearing a denim ribbon. Global Genes uses this very simple concept of "jeans and genes" and the color blue to broadly promote the healthcare challenges facing the rare and genetic disease community. 1 in 10 Americans (10% of U.S. population) and 350 million people worldwide suffers from various RARE diseases. 95% of RARE diseases have no treatments or cures.

This is a HOPE Photo Book representing some of the Rare Diseases.  

I am on page 52 representing Hereditary Copro Porphyria.

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Sweet Aprils Motorcycle Diaper Cake

I followed the Motorcycle Diaper Cake tutorial on Sweet Aprils blog for a baby shower gift a couple of weeks ago.  She has many other awesome tutorials so I encourage you to check out the blog.  I have her button on my right side bar.  

The tutorial was super easy.  The instructions were very thorough with step by step pictures, which I LOVE!  I was quite pleased with how my gift turned out.  

My friend posted a picture of it on Facebook (see below) saying she loved it!   What do you think?

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Put The Gloves On

Just wanted to share a post I read recently about how in hard times we need to "Put The Gloves On" and fight.  Too many of us when experiencing disappointment and/or sadness don't fight and get stuck in the victim role instead.  I loved Autumn Darden's "It's Time To Put The Gloves On" post on the Christian blog A Modern Voice.  Here are a few of her points I wanted to share below, but I recommend giving the whole post a read.

"Put the gloves on and punch the enemy in the face! If anxiety pushes at you, you push back with: "I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will continually be on my mouth." Or, "I sought the Lord and He heard me and saved me from all my troubles." Hey! Now we are fighting! What about mistakes? All your mistakes come at you and want to take you down in despair. Well, put the gloves on! Start proclaiming Jeremiah 29:11 over your life."

"the stuff that comes at people: depression, hurts, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, sickness, poverty, etc. All these things can come like a bully and then what do you do? Put the gloves on! Sure there are scriptures that say God will fight for you but there are also scriptures that say, "We fight!"" 

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What's My Word?

People are asking for help on this word game called "What's The Word" all the time on my Facebook news feed. So, I decided to make my own. Can you guess the word that fits these four pictures?

Box wine, black yoga pants, exhuastion, and anti-depression & anxiety meds......that's right the word is "mother". Ha ha ;)

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Mason's Super 3rd Birthday

Friends Assemble...Mason's friends came in a FLASH to his 3rd Birthday Bash!  Activities included balloon ninjas, decorating their own capes, and a photo booth.  Since Mason had surgery not too long ago we wanted to keep his birthday party intimate and at home.  However, we still wanted it to be fun and memorable.  Mission accomplished, I think! What do you think?  

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Best Valentines EVER!

 This Valentines Day The Lee family went to the Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey game for a family date.  It was the best Valentines Day I've ever had.  I am very blessed!

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Happy Valentines Day

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No, no Fenway!

Mason is giving his best impression of me to Fenway (our dog) right now and I am offended! I do not sound that annoying! Or do I?!? 

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Bday Craft FAIL

Ugh, Please remind me why making these superhero suckers for Mason's bday was a good idea! #momproblems #justshootme

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Sale Alert - Kiki La'Rue

Take an additonal 40% Off all items under the Kiki La'Rue Inventory Clearance tab on the website with Promo Code: CLEAROUT

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Lies, All Lies

Mase will only take the red colored cherry med. Throws a fit and will not take the pink colored bubblegum med. Guess who just took the pink one and didn't even know it! Ha ha #momswag

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The Children's Place: Sale Alert/Promo Codes

Baby Girl Knit Owl Hat on Clearance
with 20% discount is $1.59

The Children's Place sales are still going on. These promo codes/passes will be valid through 2-11-13. Here are a couple codes I have.  It says each code is good for three online purchases or multiple in-store uses. Feel free to try them.  I plan on using the V7K2013 for just one online purchase which leaves two more uses online and all three uses left on promo code T7K2013.  First come, first serve on the codes. They are still offering free shipping on online orders over $75 or $5 flat rate for other US ships.  

Happy Shopping! Promo Codes: V7K2013 & T7K2013

 

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Warm Buddy To The Rescue

Due to a friend's recommendation of applying heat to Mason's throat I dug out this monkey stuffed animal that has a heating pouch in his tummy.  My mother got it for me when I was in college I believe.  Monkey is getting lots of use now.  What a great idea!  I now want to get one for my daughter Emerson.  This one is a Huggy Buddy, but it appears after an internet search that they have been discontinued.  Bummer.  However, I did find a site for the "Warm Buddy" with the same concept.  Looks like the Warm Buddies can do cold also.  I will be getting Emmy one.  

From the website...."Warm Buddy Company created the original warm-up stuffed plush animals, microwavable teddy bears and warm-up plush toys. A Warm Buddies inner heat pack is created from all natural ingredients and promotes relaxation and provides relief from aches, pains and stress. Warm Buddy plush animals have won the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Award for excellence in parenting products. Warm Buddy products are proudly made in Canada."

Thanks for the tip Faith!  Seems to be helping Mason if anything to relax.  Just wanted to share the Warm Buddy with you Mommies out there.  Might be something you want to have on hand for those aches and sicky times with your little ones.

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Mason's Surgery

Mason had his tonsils & adenoids removed and had tubes put in his ears.  When we went to the ENT we were not expecting to schedule surgery during the visit, but that's just what happened.  Turns out having about eight double ear infections in a year is a bit excessive.  They tested his hearing and he was experiencing about 40% hearing loss.  They said his tonsils were so big they almost touched and were the cause of him not getting enough sleep.  He has always seemed tired and cranky.  At night we would hear him thrashing around in his bed all night long.  I mentioned his snoring to his pediatrician and he seemed concerned because a two year old should not be snoring he said.  He took one look at his throat and gave us a referral to an ENT.  I wasn't aware of this, but apparently there are many cases of children even being diagnosed with behavioral issues such as ADHD due to enlarged tonsils.  They don't get recuperative sleep and it can cause irritability, tantrums, lack of focus, etc.  I knew we needed to follow through with the surgery for his health and development but he is just SO little.  It was hard on Mommy.

On surgery day the hospital was amazing.  He was scheduled to be first since he was the youngest.  That way he didn't have to go without eating so long.  They kept him active and distracted with activities.  They gave us markers to color on his bed sheets. Mason loved it.  We made sure we let him know these were special sheets and he wasn't to color on sheets at home. Ha ha  They let him decorate his mask for anesthesia with superhero stickers and smeared cherry chapstick inside to smell good.  We took turns smelling the cherries.  This way he wouldn't be afraid of the mask later. When it was time to wheel him back they let him wear his Captain America mask and hold his shield   My little superhero was off to the OR.

My husband and I sat in the hospital cafe trying to make idle chatter while picking at our breakfast while we waited.  It wasn't long before our pager was signaling us to go back to the surgery check-in area to see the surgeon.  I was a worried mess.  The surgeon smiled and I almost cried.  He said all went well and we could go see him in recovery.  He said he was quite a hit with the staff and he can now brag that he operated on Captain America.

Recovery was brutal.  We walked in and my little man was screaming and crying.  He was scared and in pain.  I could not get to his bed fast enough.  I sat with him in a rocking chair and calmed him down while the nurse got his vitals.  He was given some morphine and he relaxed.  Mommy rode on the hospital bed with him to his room.  I ended up staying in the bed with him for a couple hours.  As I was cleaning vomit off of myself and Mason I was thinking...this is going to be rough.  Mason stopped getting sick and Mike stayed with him at the hospital so I could go home to clean up.  While I was gone I got a call from Mike saying that he was now playing in the play room, keeping stuff done, and was looking to get discharged.  Mason came home the same day and that night was playing superheros.  Mason was on pain meds but we were still amazed with how well he was recovering. We have already noticed a marked improvement in his speech.  He is also a bit sensitive to noises that he never seemed to mind before such as the vacuum cleaner.  For five days he was our little superhero.  What a trooper!  

Then...day five hit us in the face today.  The ENT warned us that he would be doing great and then around day five he would get worse for a bit and then improve from there.  He woke up around 3AM screaming in pain.  He refused to take his pain meds.  He hit the wall.  We were up all morning trying to get him comfortable.  Unfortunately,  my husband has already returned to work so I am on my own to get through this with Mason and take care of our four month old daughter.  One of the hardest Mommy moments for me so far.  It is hard to see your child in pain and not be able to do much about it.

Mason can't wait to get back to Preschool on Tuesday and celebrate Valentines Day with his classmates and his upcoming birthday on Feb. 18th.  It is a superhero themed party, of course! I just hope he is feeling better by then.  We are keeping his party very small and at the house just in case.  We go for his follow-up on the 27th so I will keep ya posted on his progress and what improvement we see.  In the meantime, please pray for Mason's recovery!  We hear day five to nine is the worst, so we have a few more not-so-awesome days ahead of us.

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1. Black & White Chevron Baby Blanket 

Missoni Inspired Baby Blanket - Custom Made $180

Emerson would look so pretty wrapped up in this! Don't you think?!?

sheilalikestoknit on Etsy

2. Gold Double Number Charm
I love personalized family necklaces.  No one does it better than Isabelle Grace Jewelry. Both of my children were born on the 18th.  I want to get this with an "18" and add the April Stone charm for my husband. I love my Love-Lee family!

Isabelle Grace Jewelry - Gold Double Number Charm

3.  Duck Dynasty -Happy Happy Happy Mug

I love coffee! I love Duck Dynasty! 

Therefore, I really REALLY love this mug and it must be mine!

"Happy, Happy, Happy" - Phil Roberston

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Old School Gamers

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You May A Parent If....

You May Be A Parent If.....You Blog Like This!! 

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Sale Alert: The Children's Place

The Children's Place - Got this 15% Off savings pass in email. Thought I'd share it. Promo Code: F8K2013. Also having a Winter Clearance, Spring Sale and free shipping on $75 or higher orders. 

They had this code on their FB page but no details on what it gets ya. "Still looking to shop? We've extended our Buy More, Save More through today! Use online code U6K243 athttp://bit.ly/12nIh8m or 111 if you shop in-store"

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Mason, Where are you?

The other day I could not, for the life of me, find Mason in the house. He likes to play hide and seek with me during the day. I looked in all his usual spots...but no Mase. Here is where I finally found him with a little help from Fenway (our dog) who wouldn't leave the dryer door.

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Happy Groundhog Day!

Predicting an Early Spring and The Superbowl Champs! Ha ha Staten Island Chuck

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Winter In NC

I know what you are thinking, and Yes we do have cold Winter periods here in North Carolina.  They just aren't as long, or as cold, or as miserable as your's are! Ha ha  You're welcome for that. Anyways, here is what The Lee family does whenever the opportunity for Winter activities in NC arise.

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