Based on the copious number of faux pumpkins on my porch, it is already October...and nearing the end of it. I'm happy to report that Augusta decided that *perhaps* fall has come to stay. Well, until next month when we are hit with "winter" (I use the term loosely - in the Southern vernacular this indicates highs in the 60s or 70s). Our cooler evenings have me flipping on our hysterical, yet much appreciated gas log (Zella refers to this as "hot hot.") I am already well on my way toward gaining the requisite "Fall Fifteen" that occurs sometime between mid-October and Thanksgiving. Visions of pumpkin bread and spiced apple cider dance in my head. Reese's pumpkins line the secret candy stash. And just this morning we were "Booed!" by gracious neighbors with a bucket of Halloween treats. ... [Read More]
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Will your newborn exclusively breastfeed for at least the first 6 months of their life? Does your baby eat homemade, organic baby food, or do you prefer they get their daily arsenic serving from a glass jar of death? Will your 3 year old's speech ever be understood by anyone other than yourself and your spouse? Do you pollute your 6 year old's fragile brain with SCREEN TIME? Have you made the decision about when to get your child a cell phone?When do you plan to allow your child to stay home by themselves while you run an errand? Too. Much. Living in Crisis Mode These are the parenting questions we are faced with every day. But for some of us living in a fog of worst-case scenarios with a medically complex child, we just don't have the bandwidth to process (or frankly care about) ... [Read More]
Life is Hard. Then You Die.
Sometimes the problems of this world are all just too much to bear. You are laid off at a job you adore...You get a call from the principal about your kid's behavior... You make a bad investment and are out hundreds or thousands of dollars... The list of bad days goes on. And on. And on. And then it happens. You find yourself in a public space. Perhaps it is a doctor's office waiting room, or an elevator. You overhear a story. A young wife lost her husband to gun violence.A son discovers both his parents are gone in a tragic accident.A mother watches her daughter slowly die in hospice care. Suffering I grew up at the peak of wealthy, WASPy, American privilege. Despite being raised by nearly perfect parents, being grateful for what I have is not something that comes ... [Read More]
No-bake Peanut Butter Balls
In this house peanut butter is life. Sometimes it is the *only* thing left for dinner. Don't judge. As a kid I had this amazing children's cookbook. It was filled with incredibly simple recipes even the youngest cooks and bakers could handle. It was in this cookbook that I discovered the most delicious recipe for "no-bake peanut butter cookies" comprised of only peanut butter, nonfat dry milk powder, and honey. I realize it sounds strange. I mean who uses dry milk powder in 2019? Zella is skeptical. (Or that might have been the "smile" I requested from her). I decided to update my childhood favorite snack and swap out the honey for Truvia Nectar for a slightly lower calorie option. If you prefer to use honey, feel free - just double the amount. If you are ... [Read More]
Lazy Quesadillas
"You know what it's like having five kids? Imagine you're drowning. And someone hands you a baby."-Jim Gaffigan Yes, folks. This. This is where we are this week. So in honor of all you parents who just half-assed picture day this morning and picked up a discarded, half-eaten Pop Tart off the ground and thought "it's probably fine" as you chewed, this one is for you. Although my goal is to plan the majority of our meals, I live in a near constant place of failure on that front. I do, however, have a few quick and easy recipes that I can pull out with little notice. And perhaps more important than fast are recipes that don't require 27 incredibly obscure ingredients. With only three ingredients, these quesadillas fit the bill. Note: if you don't live near a Publix, let me ... [Read More]
Another Year of ADNP Syndrome
As we head back to school this week, I am reminded yet again of the truly amazing team of physicians, therapists, teachers, and babysitters that surround Zella daily. Thanks to their encouragement, in the last few weeks of summer Zella has hit milestones we never believed she would reach, namely walking. Simultaneously she has struggled with new self-injurious behavior, but team Z has pulled through and everyone is working hard to cooperatively manage these new challenges. Zella is loving her new preschool program at Apparo Academy. Teachers and staff have already gone above and beyond to make her feel right at home in her new space. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a sprawling metropolis to raise a child with ADNP syndrome. The only way to fully recognize the ... [Read More]
Summertime in Augusta
Nothing says summer like hitting 101 degrees A few days in to an amazing #Steichler vacation with our long time friends, just when I thought our life was finally slowing down, we got the call that our oldest had booked another acting gig. We were shocked and excited...especially when we found that he would begin filming less than a week later. Fast forward a few days - I managed to get 4 sitters to cover our atrocious post-vacation schedule. These sitters are amazing. Literally could not do life without them. Cole is having an excellent time and has the privilege of working with yet another amazing cast and crew. He turned 10 on set and stated it was "better than any birthday party!" The Georgia film industry has provided him with so many wonderful opportunities that he ... [Read More]
Cybex PRIAM 3-in-1 Travel System Review
A huge thank you to the Evenflo Savvy Parents Sampling Program for providing me with the Cybex PRIAM 3-in-1 Travel System in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed below are my own. At first glance I was shocked by the incredibly high-end look and feel of this stroller. The seat fabric is excellent quality and so easy to clean. And the design? Chic. Minimalist. Gorgeous. Thoughtful Details Leather-look accents on the belly bar, handlebar, and matching strap make this kid hauler stand out from the crowd...the crowd of single, double, convertible, and travel strollers hanging out in my garage at this precise moment. Thoughtful engineering for the PRIAM includes features like an intuitive standing fold (one that even the grandparents may be able to operate) ... [Read More]
