Summer Fashion With #ThirtyOneGifts

Disclaimer: I was sent products to review. All opinions are my own.

I had the opportunity to choose some awesome summer products from the Thirty-One Gifts Spring and Summer Catalog. The first thing I knew I would choose would be perfect for beach days, river days, day trips, and even vacation. Koda thought so too!


When it arrived, she just jumped right in. I guess she didn't want to be forgotten!


When I look at it, I just think of summer. I love the basket look and the lining is a pretty "Tiffany" blue! It just makes me happy. The straw outside speaks to my coastal roots and the leather accents give it class. What a wonderful combination.

The "Shore Enough Tote" in Diamond Straw is a must have for summer adventures and it is big enough to carry all the essentials and not so essentials. There is an exterior flat pocket, inside zipper pocket, 2 inside flat pockets, lobster claw for keys, and has a tie closure. It has everything you could want.

Get you one today, before these designs are gone!


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Awesome Free Summer Worksheet!

Summer break is almost here for my kids and I've been seeing on Instagram that it is already here for many children across the country. I'm a huge believer in continuing learning and reviewing over the summer. I'm lucky, my kids love learning new things, so that is easy. Reviewing takes creativity.

Education.com is making summer learning and review easier for parents everywhere. There are worksheets for all types of lessons and a wide variety of themes to make them more fun!

Get ready to show off your reading skills by matching the words to the pictures. Please visit Education.com for more exciting early reading activities!

 This CVC worksheet is perfect for early learners! Thank you Education.com



Education.com on Pinterest and Twitter
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Change A Tire: Needed Skill For Moms

Before I was handed the keys the very first time I drove, I had to know how to change a tire, check the fluids of a car, and even change the oil and sparkplugs. But with dad having been a mechanic and truck driver for the majority of my life and before, those were things that I pretty much already knew, but dad had fun testing me. He didn't want me to be stuck on the side of the road and depending on someone to stop and help (hardly anyone had cell phones when I was 15).

Even in today's world with technology in your hand, you still need to know how to change a tire. What if no one is available or you have no cell signal? Even if you do have service, do you really want to wait 2 hours for someone to change your tire when you can have it done in just a few minutes?

We actually had a blow out on the way back from Charlotte, NC last week on the interstate. I could have changed it, but my MIL and I watched traffic while my husband ad FIL changed it- in like no time!

It is really simple- and it won't hurt to practice a little. Having that skill can also boost your confidence a bit!


First things first- periodically check your tires and your spare. If there is a problem take care of it ASAP. You should always have a jack, lug wrench, fully inflated spare, and your vehicle owner's manual. It would also be a good idea to get some wood wedges put them in your trunk.

How to change a tire:


1. As soon as you realize that you need to pull off to change a tire, turn your hazard lights on. Not only will it let the other drivers know there is an emergency and to watch out for you and bring attention to you being on the side of the road. Leave them on until you are ready to get back on to the road.

2. Find a safe location to pull to the shoulder. A location where there is a long stretch of straight road and plenty of room on the side of the road is best. Try to avoid narrow areas off the shoulder and facing oncoming traffic. Keep driving slowly if you need to in order to find a safe place to change your tire.

3. Apply your parking brake. This will help minimize the risk of your car rolling while you are changing the tire. Have any passengers exit the vehicle in case it does get hit.

4. Put your wheel wedges in place. If you are changing a rear tire, put them at the front tires and put them at the back tires if you are changing a front tire. Bricks will work for this as well as long as you put them in place securely.

5. Remove your hub caps with the flat end of the lug wrench. Sometimes a special tool may be needed, but this will be stated in your owners manual.

6. Loosen your lug nuts. Do this just a little- about a 1/2 counter-clockwise turn. You may need to use your foot or all of your body weight to fight the resistance. I've had to jump on a lug wrench before to loosen them. This is so your wheel is not spinning while you are trying to loosen them. Be sure not to loosen them all the way.

7. Check your car owner's manual to see where the jack should go. Each car is different and there is usually a specific place where the metal is exposed for the jack to go. Position the jack.

8. Once the jack is in position, carefully raise your vehicle until the flat tire is about 6 inches off the ground. Never put any part of your body under the car once it is raised or while it is being raised.

9. Now you can finish removing the lug nuts. Do not lose them- put them in your pocket or inside the removed hub cap, like I do. You should be able to do this mostly by hand because you have already loosened them.

10. Remove the tire- gripping the treads, gently pull the tire straight toward you until it is free from the car. Lay it on the side so that it does not roll away.

11. Mount the spare tire- Line the rim with the lug bolts and push gently until the lug bolts show through the rim.

12. Tighten the lug nuts by hand. Once they are tightened, check each lug nut again and tighten as much as you can.

13. Lower the vehicle to the ground and finish tightening the lug nuts with the lug wrench as much as you can. Use your full body weight to ensure they are as tight as possible.

14. If the hubcap you removed will fit the spare, you can put it on. If not, stow it with the removed tire.

15. Put everything away- I always throw everything in the trunk and put it away correctly once I'm home. I like to minimize the time I'm sitting on the side of the road.

16. Check your tire pressure. If it is a full-size spare, the pressure needs to be what the vehicle manufacturer recommends. A mini spare or "doughnut" needs to have 60 psi. If you need air, slowly drive to a service station.

17. Replace or fix the removed tire as soon as you can. Spares are not meant to stay on the car- especially a mini spare. Having your tire replaced will not take long at all because they have awesome equipment like best buy automotive equipment tire changers at shops.

18. Pat yourself on the back and smile for a job well done!

Congratulations! You did it!
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Slammers: Superfood Snacks for Super Kids

Disclaimer: I received products to review. All opinions are my own.


As our kids grew up, they were asking for fun and yummy treats to throw in their backpacks. We created these awesomely delicious on-the-go snacks with super-healthy organic ingredients, designed to ENERGIZE for every activity.
Slammers™ is for all the busy parents and active kids with great taste in food!

Founders


The company was so very sweet to send my kiddos some Slammers to keep them energized through the summer (and to make mom happy by making them nutritious too!) It couldn't have come at a better time either. With the warmer weather, my kids come out of hibernation and get active! In South Carolina, we hide if the weather is under 60. 

In the summer, Tbomb and Kodabug are out in the yard riding bikes and scooters, running, climbing, and everything else that kids do outside. We like to camp, hike, and travel as a family. The struggle I have is finding healthy snacks they can have outside and that are easy to travel with. Slammers take this away. 

Another reason that the timing was perfect is that with Tbomb's ITP and finally getting out of the hospital, I have been on a mission. I've been striving to give him snacks that have wonderful nutritional value to not only help get his platelets back up, but also to make sure he stays healthy and doesn't get sick again. 

Our ingredients come from certified organic farms: no artificial colors or flavors. We know it’s good stuff because we taste every batch.


Each flavor has unique nutritional qualities. See the nutrition panel for each flavor on the website. 

My kids absolutely love Slammers. Even when I allow them to choose their own snacks out of the bin, they often choose Slammers over chips and cookies. 

These will definitely be a staple in our house, especially once Kodabug starts school full time next year. I'm sure she will be carrying her lunch because she's a picky eater- since these are winners, they will be sent quite often.


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Kid Stuck In The Hospital: 10 Tips To Help Them Cope + 1 Important Tip For Parents

My Tbomb was recently in the hospital for a week. I never thought I would see my little boy stuck in a hospital bed. Luckily, we were sent from the Doctor's office and I had a chance to run by Wal-Mart and the house on the way before he was officially admitted.

I learned some tricks that help kids in the hospital. I'll share. I hope your child is never stuck in the hospital, but if they are these tips should help.



1. Embrace electronics- Whether it is a tablet, phone, game system, television, computer, or some other form of electronics. They can help ease the boredom. Using apps like Skype, Facetime, and other forms of visual communication can be handy as well.

Several times while Tbomb was in the hospital, we used Skype to video chat with his sister, daddy, Nina, papa, and even great-grandparents. This really lifted his spirits, especially on the days they weren't able to visit.

2. Bring Comforts from home. Even if you have to have someone bring them later, having a favorite blanket, cup, toy, book, and other items can make them feel safer and more relaxed. I definitely recommend their own blanket and cup, even if you have to buy a new one. They really made a difference with Tbomb. He also requested his Bible.



 3. Don't forget a new Lovie! No matter the age, a stuffed animal can make a huge difference in their outlook and comfort.

4. Toys are probably the best distraction. Include a mix of new items and items from home. Tbomb had cars, action figures, and Lego sets. The Lego sets really helped him pass the time. Just think about what your kid enjoys and go from there. Had it been Koda, it would have been doll stuff, tiny dolls, and play jewelry.

5. Encourage visitors and phone calls. This is probably the best thing of all to raise their spirits. As long as your child is not contagious and the visitors are not, the hospital will likely be okay with this- but it never hurts to check. Tbomb's visits ended up being spaced out so that he had a visitor almost every day. The days he did not, we went to the playroom. It worked out great and having visitors really helped, although he really missed them when they left.

6. Bring Pajamas. Nobody likes to wear a hospital gown and children are no different. Bring along comfy pajamas, some slip-on shoes, and a robe or poncho they can put on to walk around.

7. Take walks together, once they are allowed to leave their room. Many hospitals have gardens you can visit and playrooms. Even if this is not the case walking (or riding) around the hospital can make your little one not feel so "stuck."

Even before this, moving to a chair out of the bed can make an impact.



 8. Favorite foods and snacks help. Between me and his visitors, Tbomb had a ton of food in his room. Whenever he wanted a snack, his favorites were available. If he didn't want what he got for a meal, there was something available he would eat. The nurses thought it was funny that it was like a pantry in a drawer, but it made a huge difference, especially when his meds started making him want to eat constantly.

9. Find out what services are available to your child during their stay and take advantage of the ones that are beneficial to your child. That is why they are there- so use them.

10. Talk to them about what is going on. Let the child know what is going on with their body, when they may get to go home, how the medications work, and why they are in the hospital. Let them ask questions and be as honest as possible with your answers. If you do not know, tell them. If it is something you are not ready to talk with them about, simply tell them that you will talk about that later.



I want to mention something else that made a huge difference. Tbomb's daddy was coming to visit and he grabbed "Peter Parker" and a pair of his pajamas on the way out the door, thinking it might make a difference. Boy did it ever.  The nurses even gave him an IV and a hospital bracelet. having this friend with him made a huge difference and I will not forget that. He's even taken him to each doctor visit and has not been away from him since he got out of the hospital- he's his partner in crime.

It doesn't have to be a doll- it can be an action figure or stuffed animals, but let the nurses know that things like this can help- they are always willing to help make it easier on kids. Grab a pair of pajamas out of the doll section and put them on the stuffed animal (most of it fits). This will make a huge difference for your little one. I was very impressed with the difference it made!

One Important Tip For Parents:

Take care of yourself. It is easy to forget your own needs when you are caring for your child. Luckily, I had people reminding me to eat and making sure I was eating whenever they would call to check on him. It's not just eating that is important- take time for yourself. Take your showers, take a walk, read a book, sleep when they sleep and even put some makeup on to make you feel better. 

Depending on your child's and family's situation, and the diagnosis, you may need someone to talk to. I was very lucky that I have a wonderful support system. Friends and family were always calling, texting, and stopping by to check on Tbomb and make sure I was doing okay and didn't need anything. Unfortunately, not everyone has this. 

Don't give up hope. There are people out there to talk to. Not only do hospitals provide this service, but if you have other needs like anxiety or depression, there are online services available. BetterHelp.com is an online therapy service. There are people you can talk to anytime right from the hospital and even after your child is released. If you need help dealing with this difficult phase of life, please do not hesitate to reach out for help- it is too easy to get in this modern time to not take advantage. 

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Greenville Memorial Hospital: Charities to Know About

While my son was in the hospital a few weeks back, there were several charities that made his stay easier on me and him.

Happy Wheels

Happy WheelsEvery week, volunteers push a cart through the halls of the Greenville (and Columbia) Children's Hospital. This cart is filled with new toys and books. Each week, every child gets to pick a toy or book that is useful for passing time in the hospital. They even get to take the toy or book home with them. It really puts a smile on their faces. Tbomb was so excited to get a Star Wars Lego set. On their website, there are ways to help by buying shirts, donating toys and books, and volunteering. 








The Ronald McDonald House

I was aware of the Ronald McDonald house and always donated at the register because they were a huge help to my family. When my cousin was born and a child, she had many heart surgeries. Because of the Ronald McDonald house, her family was able to stay close instead of driving back and forth between Charleston and our mountain town. Her family didn't have to worry about anything. They had a room, food to eat, people to talk to, and even things for her brother to do. 

Fast forward and I learned something really cool. The Ronald McDonald house has a Family Room at the Greenville Children's Hospital. There are snacks, drinks, coffee, games to play, and so much more. There are comfortable seats as well. There are volunteers that family members can talk to. This is a great place for parents and siblings to get a breath of fresh air. They even have gifts and hygiene products for parents- to make the stay a little more comfortable for them as well. When you go in, they have you choose a gift for your child as well- again a Lego set- this time, a Spiderman one. The greatest thing about this is having somewhere to go without looking at the machines to catch a breath and have someone to talk to. 

On their website, there are ways to help. You can help plan a party, adopt a room, volunteer, donate money, and even buy from their wishlist. 

Valiant Player

Image result for valiant player greenvilleSome Furman Soccer players came by the room while we were there and Tbomb got to take pictures with them. They even gave him a coloring book, bracelets, and a Furman Soccer Patch. It was really cool. They even talked video games with him. 

These guys were really sweet. They were laughing with all of the kids. Its not just the guys' soccer team, it is several teams from Furman and Clemson that participate. This is a great program and I would love to see more from them- they are making a huge difference. See if you can help at ValientPlayer.org



Child Life Services

The Child Life Program is actually part of the Greenville Hospital System, but it is really awesome. There is a playroom. Volunteers come by to see if kids need something to do. They clean the toys and equipment in the hospital and doctor offices. They are available to siblings and parents if support is needed. I believe they even help with making sure the kids don't get behind in school. They even talk to the kids and offer support before procedures. You should definitely check out their website to see all of their services and how you can help. 

If there are other organizations that help children in the hospital, I would love to include them in this list. I would love to have a more comprehensive list of services for parents to reference. 

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The Letters ITP Changed It All

Our life has been turned upside down over the last month. Luckily, it did get flipped right side up again because of some amazing doctors, nurses, family, and a whole lot of people praying!

About a month ago, I took Tbomb to the doctor because he had a swollen lymph node beside his groin. He also had these little red spots all over him, which I thought was from rolling in the grass. There were other things- like he was pale (he had been sick) and his eyes were different from his allergies. The doctor took one look at his red spots and ordered blood work and he took a look at the lymph node. The blood work came back and his blood platelets were at 1,000 and should have been at least 150,000. The doctor said he would need an antibiotic for his lymph node, but that he needed to talk to a haematologist about the platelets. He let us go, but said to hang around town and not to let Tbomb do anything that could get him injured. My mind was reeling.

The doctor called me back about a half hour later and told me to take Tbomb to the Greenville Children's Hospital because we don't have pediatric care at our hospital or a pediatric haematologist in our town. This hospital is about an hour and a half away. I grabbed a few things he would need in Walmart, ran by the house to see my hubby and grab a few other things and we were on the way.
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It turns out that Tbomb has ITP. Which is low blood platelets and they are not sure what causes it, except for that it generally happens after a child has been sick or had the measles vaccination. The antibodies that are fighting the virus basically get confused and start attacking the platelets.

While this is not a fatal condition, it can be if one gets a head injury because your blood cannot clot. He was on watch for injuries because they didn't want him bleeding. Every time his blood would be drawn, it would take forever to get it to stop. To top it off, he had a loose tooth, so we had to make him not wiggle it.

The first treatment was IVIG they were doing a slow drip to make sure he didn't have a reaction. They gradually increased the speed (like they do with an infusion), he did have a reaction although he was Benedryl. So, they slowed it back down and gave him a steroid. It ended up taking about 24 hours. The next morning, his platelets hadn't increased. They did a smaller dose- same thing.


The next day they started him on a stronger steroid. It took a couple of days, and his platelets finally increased to 2,000. The next day, they were at 9,000 and we were able to go home. He is on a lot of medication but a week after leaving the hospital, his platelets were at 138,000. He's looking good. He has to keep going back and seeing the doctor, but he is doing better and better. Tbomb is still under orders to keep both feet on the ground at all times and not doing anything that could cause injury- no bike riding, scooter riding, running, or anything else overly active. He can't even climb into his loft, so he has been camping out under it.


I want to thank all the doctors, residents, nurses, and staff at the Greenville Children's Hospital for being so wonderful while we were there. There are also a lot of charities involved that help parents and children while in the hospital. One nurse even wore Spiderman scrubs the day after she met him because she found out how much he loved Spiderman. How absolutely amazing is that?
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