Let's get organized

Hello Friends! 


Today I want to share a few ideas with you on how I'm working on getting more organized. In the craziness of getting our house ready for Gabe coming home and traveling back and forth each week to the hospital, I decided it was time to do some more to get organized around here. I've always loved organizing things and getting things really clean, so this kind of stuff is right up my ally. :) 


I came across this first idea on a website that I found. I can't remember the site, but I do remember seeing the idea and thinking, "Wow, that's really smart!" So, here it is... 


If you're like me, you probably go through quite a few dish towels and cloths each week! I hate doing laundry alllll the time, so in turn, I hate having to wash a tiny load of dish towels just because they're sitting in our laundry hamper! I also dislike the idea of these towels and cloths being mixed in with all of our clothes. So, the solution that I found was to take a small trash-can, put in under the sink, and when a towel is dirty just toss it in the can. When you have quite a few (enough for a load in the laundry) toss all the towels in and VOILA! you're set! 

Here's a picture of what ours looks like. I found this old trash-can that really doesn't match anything in our home, so putting it under the sink was perfect! This idea was perfect for me... I'm always going through towels like crazy in the kitchen! The kitchen is a room in our home that I always have to have clean! I feel like I'm doing dishes and cleaning it everyday...so you can imagine how many towels I go through in a week! 

My next idea is keeping my purse fairly clean and making the important things easy to access. Now, I love buying purses and wallets....ask my husband, he complains because I have a tote box full of them in our closet!! These days, however, I have found that I need a wallet that has lots of slots for cards and space for money, checks, coupons, and anything else! I have found a new love for the zip-around wallets. These wallets make everything a bit more simple! I love the idea of it zipping all around, that way nothing can fall out of it (unless, of course, I forget to zip it closed). Anyway, I love the wallet I have now! I love it even more because I found it at Goodwill brand new for $1.99. It was originally from Target with all of the tags still attached, so I was beyond thrilled when I found it! I loved it so much  that I had to buy 2...just in case the first one were to wear out! haha. Here's a picture of it....

Alright Friends, that's a few of my organizing tips for the night! It's bedtime in the Schiff household. I got to get up early, clean around the house, and head back up to StL to the hospital to spend the week with Gabe! 

Have a good night! 

My Life: This weeks top 10!

I've decided that every week or so I'll post 5 or 10 things about my life that you may not know... So, here's this weeks top 10! 

1. I put my little family first and foremost in my life! 
2. I have a tub full of handbags that I'll probably never use again, but refuse to get rid of...(Because you never know when you might need it!) 
3. I have a college degree that I don't use...
4. I love to cook, craft, and blog about our adventures. 
5. I always had a 2 door car until I found out I was pregnant. Between December and April I went through 3 cars..yes, 3. Traded my cougar in for a 2 door altima, then we traded that for our Jeep Cherokee. 
6. My husband is the love of my life. 
7. I love being a mom to my son, Gabriel, and our puppy, Rylee! 
8. I'm trading my coach handbag for a wristlet and diaper bag! 
9. I like to shop at Goodwill! 
10. I'm learning to think before I say things... 

Blessed

I just found out this morning that Gabe can potentially come home before next weekend!! I knew the time was getting close. He has been taking his whole bottle on his own the past 2 days and is in a crib now! A few nurses yesterday said that it wouldn't be too much longer! I wasn't getting my hopes up then, but hearing the doctor say it makes me think it just might happen! So, so happy! Now, we're waiting for a few surgeons to come to check and see if they think he has a hernia. Our doctor and nurse practioner no longer believe that he has one. But, to be on the safe side we all agreed it's better to have them check. Better safe than sorry! I've also been working with the nurses and doctors, planning what types of follow-up appointments Gabe will need and when! This is the exciting part of being in the hospital! The part where we can finally start to see the light at the end of the tunnel! 


With all that being said, I wanted to share a few things with you all of what I have learned about having a preemie child and being in the hospital...

1. There is a difference between micro-preemie and preemie! What exactly is a micro-preemie? Well, according to micropreemies.com, it is defined as: a baby that is under 1 3/4 pounds (00-800 grams) and is generally born before 26 weeks gestation. Most people loosen this term up to include and baby under 3 pounds (1500 grams) or under 29 weeks gestation. Gabe was classified as a micro-preemie since he was less than 3 pounds. 
2. Isolette is the same thing as an incubator. 
3. Apnea & Bradycardia (A & B episodes) are when breathing stops and the heart rate drops. These are very common in preemie babies. It's important to remember that babies usually bring their heartrates up on their own, and they will eventually grow out of it! When Gabe first had these episodes, it scared me. Now, I just go with it, stimulate him a little, and everything is back to normal within seconds. 
4. Swaddling is VERY important, especially with preemies, again. You have to remember, these babies are supposed to still be in the womb. And like other babies, they like to feel almost like they are still in the womb. 
5. Reflux is common...more common in preemies. Be prepared for spit up every feeding! 
6. The formula with more protein in it causes their poop to smell 100x worse than normal! 
7. Bring things to your babies room to make it feel more like home. Examples: pictures, books, decorations, blankets, clothes, hats, stuffed animals, etc. Gabe's room is decorated here at Cardinal Glennon and he wears all of his clothes everyday! We usually go through about 3 outfits a day! 
8. Babies can move and wiggle more than you think. Hence the reason why we would find Gabe smashed against the side of his isolette and crib! 
9. Just because their small doesn't mean their cry isn't HUGE! I've heard the babies in this NICU cry louder than any other baby! 
10. If you have a question, Don't be scared to ask! The doctors and nurses are there to lend their support and advice! Don't worry, they understand that you have probably never experienced anything like this. They're prepared to answer ANY and ALL questions! 
11. You won't like them all! We've run into a few nurses that we weren't to crazy about. I just had to remember that they're doing the best they can and that no matter what, they would never allow anything to happen to Gabe! 
12. It's ok to cry, sometimes that's important! 
13. Always take the advice of the doctors...they're the ones with the degree...remember they put in many years and hours to become a doctor! 
14. Don't ever second guess yourself...as long as you're making the best possible decision for your child! 
15. Remember to put your child's best interest first! 
16. Most importantly, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS Remember that God is in control and everything happens for a reason. (I'll write more about this later). AND, ALWAYS remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It is a very long, hard, tiring process having a baby in the NICU for so long. It will get easier. You will have ups and downs at times; and you will have scary moments and joyful moments! Embrace them all! 
17. AND...KEEP EVERYTHING. Even if you think it's silly to ask for a bottle that your baby took, ASK! It may not seem like it now, but one day you will want to have these things to show. I remember when Gabe was being flown to StL, one of the nurses who was flying with him was like, "you should try to get a picture of the helicopter...i know it may not seem like it now, but you may like to have it in the future!" And was she right! I'm keeping record of everything and anything! I'm planning to get a little box to keep everything in and one day when Gabe is older he can look at all of it and see how far he's come! :) 

Everything Happens For A Reason! How many times have we all heard that before? During this experience, especially at the beginning, I couldn't find it in myself to believe this. We had a lot of questions like...why did this happen to us? will our son be ok? we're young, we can't handle this... Finally, we just had to start praying that God would watch over Gabriel and help him and us through it all. God is Good...and you have to remember this. We don't have control over anything really. The doctor's can try their best and the nurses can too...but ultimately, everything that happens, God has already planned it out! I know that God is good, and he's proven that to me time and time again, especially in the past 2 months! I know that he has big plans for Gabriel and that one day we will look back and realize that this wasn't so bad after all! I don't feel sorry for us... because this process has made Jesse and I stronger and closer than ever! 


Well, I get a break from the hospital tonight. My mom is coming up here to stay with Gabe, that way I can go home and see Jesse and get a few more things done around home in preparation for Gabe coming home. I think I will make a big poster for him coming home as well! 

Love this song!! 

"Blessed" by Martina McBride

the past week in pictures....

Today's post is a little different... I haven't posted pictures in awhile so I figured I'd do a post of pictures of our week so far...

Gabriel's baby shower cake!

This is a basket that we received here at the hospital for Gabe from the organization "Basket of Hope". It came with a teddy bear, 2 rattles, a bible, a notebook, a free family picture setting along with free pictures, a blanket, a hat, and the book "Quiet Strength" by Tony Dungy. 

Gabe in is new big boy crib at the hospital!! 

Gabe staring in his little monkey outfit

This is how I usually find him when I come back into the room. Smashed against the side of his crib. Somehow, Gabe manages to wiggle his way out of his snuggy thing and ends up smashed against the side. Tonight, his nurse and I devised a plan.... we put this "U" around him to try to keep him in the middle of his crib. Believe it or not, when he was in his isolette, there were times he would be completely sideways and against the side of it... It amazes me how much he moves even being all snuggled up!! 

Gabe and Mommy...in another monkey outfit! 

Gabe and Mommy again!! 

These past few days it's just been Gabe and I here. We've been bonding... reading books, singing songs and nursery rhymes, and practicing taking his bottle! Yesterday, he took 3 full bottles for me...and today he's taken 4 in a row! We're getting there! The bottle is one of the last things he has to do in order for him to come home!! At this rate, who knows.... it may be next week! I'm so proud of him...he's doing so great! :) 

Gabe winking at mommy after he took a bottle... he says "Don't worry, I got this down!" hahaha. 

My top 10

Here's my top 10 list of reasons why Jesse and I should move! 

Where is Thumbkin, Where is Thumbkin?

Today, I want to share some of our favorite nursery rhymes & songs. I've been "singing" these to Gabriel a lot lately since we've been in the hospital. We've been rocking in our chair singing anything and everything that I can think of. Gabe just smiles and laughs when we do this. His favorite!? Where is Thumbkin! So, here they are...this is what we sing everyday! 

1. Where is thumbkin, where is thumbkin? Here I am, Here I am! How are you today sir? Very well I thank you. Run away. Run away. Where is pointer, where is pointer? Here I am, Here I am! How are you today sir? Very well I thank you. Run away. Run away. Where is tall man, where is tall man? Here I am, Here I am! How are you today sir? Very well I thank you. Run away. Run away. Where is ring-man, where is ring-man? Here I am, Here I am! How are you today sir? Very well I thank you. Run away. Run away. Where is pinkie, where is pinkie? Here I am, Here I am! How are you today sir? Very well I thank you. Run away. Run away. Where is the family, where is the family? Here we are, Here we are! How are you today? Very well we thank you. Run away. Run away. 
2. This little piggy went to the market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. and this little piggy cried wee-wee-wee all the way home. 
3. I am a C. I am a C-H. I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N. And I have C-H-R-I-S-T in my H-E-A-R-T and I will L-I-V-E-E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y. 
4. 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" 4 little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkey's jumping on the bed!" 3 little monkey's jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" 2 little monkey's jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" 1 little monkey jumping on the bed. He fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkey's jumping on the bed!"
5. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Hide it under a bush, say NO! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bush, say NO! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bush, say NO! I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Won't let the devil blow it out, i'm gonna let it shine. Won't let the devil blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine. Won't let the devil blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 
6. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. 
7. Three little kittens have lost their mittens, and they began to cry. You lost your mittens, you naughty kittens, then you shall have no pie! Three little kittens, they found their mittens, and joyfully they did sigh! You found your mittens, you darling kittens, now you shall have some pie! 
8. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, Twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. 
9. Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white. They're all precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. 
10. Hush little baby, don't say a word. Momma's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird doesn't sing. Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring... (I just make the rest up as we go!) 
11. Then sings my soul, my savior God to be. How Great thou art, How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to be. how Great thou art, How great thou art! 
12. Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, bakers man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it up, pat it, and mark it with a "G." And put it in the oven for Gabe and me! 
13. 1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish alive. 6,7,8,9,10 then I put him back again. Why did you let him go? Because he bit my finger so. Which finger did he bite? This little finger on the right. 
14. Humpty- Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses, and all the kings men. Couldn't put Humpty together again.

So much to be thankful for!!

Hey friends!! 

I know it's been a while since I've posted! I'm so sorry. Anyway, i wanted to share with you all what has been going on lately with our family! 

Saturday, we had a baby shower for Gabriel. Unfortunately, Gabe wasn't able to be there, but Jesse and I had a lot of fun opening his presents! I told Gabe all about his goodies that night! :) We're so blessed to have such great family and friends! I think that we pretty much have everything now...so now all we need is Gabe to come home! 

This whole weekend I've been vigorously working on Gabe's room. I'm happy to say that it is pretty much done! Just a few last things to add. I found this awesome space picture at Hobby Lobby that I plan on getting for his room. Other than that, I just have to finish a few craft projects to hang up and I think we'll be done! :) 

Last night, Sunday, Gabriel finally hit 4 pounds!!! We are sooo thrilled about this. It's hard to imagine that he's gained 2 pounds so far... he still seems like that same 2 pound baby that we met 6 weeks ago! But, I can tell that he is getting bigger! He is keeping his own temperature, so in the next few days he will be transitioning from his isolette to a crib! This is a MAJOR milestone that we've been waiting for!! He also took is first whole bottle, 37 cc's, all on his own!! Another milestone! We were told that all he really needs to do to be able to come home is take his full bottle at every feeding and keep his own temperature!! Look's like he's on his way to coming home! 

We were told that he may have a small hernia that will need to be repaired by surgery before he comes home. We're praying that it will heal itself, we really don't want our baby boy to have to go through surgery! So please pray that everything will work out! I know that with God, it is possible! 

So, today is a huge day for us! It is Gabriel's 6 week birthday!! Yayy! Like I said before, it's hard to believe it's already been 6 weeks! I just wish that boy was home! Also, Jesse started his new job at the mines today, and today officially marked my first day of being unemployed. Yes, for those of you who don't know, I resigned from my full-time job at Verizon to be a stay-at-home mom. It was decision that Jesse and I thought long and hard about, but I think we made the right one! With Gabe being so little and early, we decided that the best thing for him was for me to stay home with him. We're not going to have anyone watch him for a couple of months anyway!! I want to spend as much time as possible with him when he comes home! I also had my 6 week checkup today. Dr. said that everything is just fine and I can return to my normal routine. He also told me that I can resume exercising now! Those words were like music to my ears! I've never been the kind to like to workout much, but these past few weeks, I've been anxious to get to a gym!! We have the marine corps ball in November, and I'm determined to fit into my dress by then!! 

Well, that's about it for tonight friends! I've been doing laundry since 1:00 today, and I have one load left! I then have to finish the dishes and cleaning this house! :) I'll be posting pics soon of our baby shower and Gabriel's room!! Have a good night! :))