A Toddlers Thanksgiving

    Any other moms spend two days preparing and cooking Thanksgiving dinner? Just to have their children only eat one or two items off the menu? Well that's what happened to me. So now I'm debating if I should add more items to the menu that I know my children will eat. Adding more food means more cooking and more work.

    Toddlers are picky eaters and Anaiah has allergies. Our dinner consists of Turkey, stuffing, collared greens (beans tomatoes potatoes), macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and corn bread. For dessert I make cookies, rice crispy treats and sweet potato pie. Once dinner is done and I set the table and make everyone's plate, I smile.

    Then Anaiah and Zariah decide all they are eating is corn bread and sweet potatoes. They refuse to eat any of the other food!

    Of course they then ask for cookies and rice crispy treats and pie. None of the items on the menu can be removed since they are required by Hashim. So this year I have to add food so that my children can actually eat. So I will be adding mashed potatoes, chicken, rice and broccoli. So I will expect to cook for two days straight but not the rest of the week. It's definitely a win and will be worth all of the work. Stay tuned.

Anaiah is Healed

Having children means that they will eventually get a cold. Having multiple children means that one will get a cold and pass it on to the rest. In our house it started with Zariah. She had a fever and we took her to the doctor to get checked. They said she was fine and it would pass. A few days later Anaiah had a fever.

Once Anaiah's fever went down we went to the park to play and get back out of the house. She mentioned her knee hurt but it was bed time so I just figured it was a toddler fighting sleep as they do so well. She wasn't crying and didn't appear to be in much pain. The next morning she took a shower and I noticed a few bumps on her legs. They looked like chicken pox. She didn't seem bothered by them so I decided to just keep an eye on her. She was playing and I noticed her limping. Limping turned into not wanting to play and wanting to sit down. She said her leg hurt and she couldn't walk. So we took her to the ER. I really felt like they were brushing us off. The Doctors gave us a very generic diagnosis. They did x-rays on her legs and nothing was wrong with her bones. While we were in the hospital Anaiah refused to stand up and walk. She screamed in pain and agony. They told us that her pain and bumps that had now spread to her elbows were not related. The Doctors told us that the bumps are because her fever has come down and the pain could be an ankle sprain. I was not satisfied with their answers.

The next day I made a Doctors appointment to get Anaiah checked again for later that day. Knowing Anaiah she can be a little dramatic. So Hashim and I decided to test her pain level by going to the park. She wanted to go to the park and play like any child would. While at the park she continued to limp. She wouldn't run and she would only go up the structure on one foot.

At this point her bumps looked more like a rash and were dark red. They were all up her legs and on her elbows. When she got to the doctor he was very concerned with her symptoms. He instructed us to take her to the Children's Hospital. So from the Doctors appointment we went straight to Children's Hospital. She was seen right away and they knew what it was. It is called Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). We were relieved to know what it was but so sad to see our baby going through this. The Doctors told us it could take up to a month for her to heal and for it to go away. They told us it was common. Hashim and I were shocked especially since we have never heard or seen it before since it was so common. They said only pain medication and Benadryl would help.

Over the next two weeks she still had pain. I was able to keep it tolerable with alternating pain medication. Her rash got really itchy and at times unbearable for her. The Benadryl would help. We tried to keep her comfortable and just encourage her. It really hurt our hearts to see her going though so much and feel like we could not help.

What was supposed to last a month only lasted about two weeks. Her spots slowly started going down and turned into bruises. She was able to walk and run with ease. We prayed for her every day and I rubbed coconut oil on her daily. Honestly I don't know if the coconut oil helped but she enjoyed the massage. HSP never affected her stomach which was definitely a blessing. It could have made things a lot worse for her. We still don't know how she got it and pray that it doesn't come back. We also pray that none of our other children get it. I am so happy that Anaiah is back to her healthy, happy self.

If you ask her about it now, she'd say "God healed my bumps."

Meal time for HouseofLafond...

Cooking for just Hashim and myself was such bliss and I didn't even know it. I cooked what I knew we liked and we usually agreed. I know what he is allergic to so I avoid that always. For the nights that I wanted something he didn't or couldn't eat, we would go to a restaurant. It was so easy to decide on what to eat when it was just the two of us.

Then, Anaiah came and put a stop to all of that. She came with her own allergies which are different than ours. And she had the nerve to dislike things that we like. Her allergies make it hard for us to just grab food while we are out. Sometimes I have to cook a separate meal just to accommodate her. It wasn't so bad when she was smaller and didn't require much since it was just her.

Now Zariah is in the family and she also has her own preferences. I often wonder is she even old enough to make some of the decisions she does. Thank God she has no allergies that we know of. I thought that was going to be a blessing and life would stay the same. I was so wrong. She actually eats the opposite of her sister.

Anaiah will eat all of her vegetables and Zariah will eat all of her meat. I am then left with an entire meal. For the first time through my daughter Zariah I have met a child that does not like peanut butter and jelly.  How can a person not like it. I understand the allergy but to just not like it and refuse to eat it confuses me. So I often have to make two different sandwiches. Anaiah will eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Zariah will have nothing to do with it.

So much food gets wasted because honestly when children eat, it is kinda gross. I find myself cooking enough food to feed a family of 10 since we all have to eat differently. There are days that there is food in the oven and all four burners on the stove are being used. The house gets so hot it is ridiculous. I am so nervous for Yasir to start eating. Who knows what his eating habits are going to be. I just pray they fit in with mine. There are so many dishes to wash after cooking one meal to feed only four. I start to wonder how does a family with more than three children function and do dinner.

Babies first shots

I hate taking my two month old baby to get their shots. I was emotional with all three children. I feel so bad putting my baby through the pain of the shot and then the after affect they have. Shots are scary for me as an adult. I have to mentally prepare myself to go through them. Knowing that I'm going to put my innocent baby through something so traumatic really bothers me.

I know that there are people that don't believe in vaccinations and feel that they are dangerous. As a family we decided that it is safer to vaccinate than not to. However, I still hate them. The silent cry is heartbreaking. The sad and sensitive baby that I have for the rest of the day makes me so sad.

When Anaiah got her two month shots she did okay afterwards. I was nervous that she was going to be fussy and clingy but thankfully she was not. She went to being her happy silly self. Zariah was the complete opposite. I don't think I will ever forget the day Zariah got her two months shots. I thought she would be okay and I was wrong. After she got her vaccines I went to the grocery store. I was by myself with my two girls in the winter. She woke up in her car seat while in the store and started screaming. She was completely inconsolable. I tried to breastfeed her, change her, pacify her everything I could think of. Nothing was working. Other customers were looking at me. I felt so much pressure. One person had the nerve to tell me that I had my hands full. I just looked at that person completely overwhelmed and frustrated. Only thing I could think was WTF! I picked up my girls and left the store. I didn't buy anything. I went to my mothers house and just begged her to help me.

At that moment my mom saved my life and my sanity. She gave me life changing advice. She told me to swaddle Zariah and breastfeed her using a Boppy pillow. She will feel secure in the swaddle and it will help calm her. The pillow will make it so you don't have to hold her and touch her legs where she got her shots. It worked! She went right to sleep and was calm for the rest of the night. After Yasir got his shots he was fussy. I remembered my mothers advice and tried it with him. It worked again!!! This is the only thing that has worked on two of my children after getting their two month vaccinations. Thank you Mommy for your wisdom!

The current state of my house...

I wouldn't quite call my house clean, but it's not a total mess either. Like the floors are swept but still a little bit sticky. Clothes are washed but the laundry hasn't been put away. Some of it is folded and some is just sorted and in separated piles. Still in the beginning stages of being put away but was for whatever reason abandoned. Everyone is sleeping on clean sheets and made beds. However there are toys in every room of the house. Food is cooked but dishes must be washed before you eat. And the dishes that are clean are currently still in the rack as if they need to dry.

I have only gotten around to cleaning the necessities. If there is a spill it is cleaned but I haven't mopped the entire house. Everyone can get dressed with clean clothes but it takes a little longer to find the matching sock or that specific shirt. I do not consider my house to be in order. However my family is happy. We are living the life we thought we were only dreaming about. There is always a spot to cuddle. I would rather take the time with my loves than tackle the many tasks in my house. I will get this house together I swear. I am in no rush but I am determined. Although it is frustrating when I think back on my day I am at peace.

What's in that bag whatcha got in that bag?

Having 3 with my oldest only being 3 means that I have a lot to carry for a day out. Each child needs their own items for the day. I thought I had a lot in my bag with just Anaiah, but now I feel like everything I need for 3 doesn't fit in one bag. You would think that the older a child gets the less that they will need. That is a LIE! They just need different items from when they were newborn.

For Anaiah: Anaiah is potty trained which is a huge blessing. However a potty trained three year old has accidents occasionally. So I carry at least one pull up in my bag for her. She has a change of clothes for whatever could possibly happen throughout the day. Then she also needs snacks for the day. For whatever reason toddlers are always hungry even if you feed them regularly. She also needs a cup for water because as much as they eat they also drink. I try to keep a toy, book or some activity in my bag for her. Anaiah has allergies which means I am carrying her epi-pen and Benadryl. That's already a lot but there are two more kids I have to pack for.

For Zariah: Zariah is 18 months so she is in the in between stage. She gets a lot of the same things Anaiah gets, so for snacks I have to pack enough for two. I also have to have a cup for water for her. I occasionally carry a bottle if we are out during nap time. She uses it for comfort to go to sleep. Zariah is not potty trained but we are working on it. She needs to have diapers and I try to keep at least 5 for her in my bag. That means I also have wipes, ointment and a changing pad. I keep a change of clothes in my bag for Zariah for whatever she may get into.

For Yasir: He is only 1 month old. Although he is small he requires a lot. I think he requires the most but it's packed in the bag with the items for the older girls. He needs diapers. I try to keep at least 10 diapers in my bag for him. He goes often and I want to try my best to avoid a blow out. If you don't know what that is google images (it's terrifying). I keep a change of clothes for him in case of a blowout, spit up or what the day may hold. I exclusively breastfeed so that does eliminate some of the things that I carry but I do carry a nursing scarf for my comfort in public. I keep a burp cloth in the attempt to keep myself as clean as possible. He rarely uses a pacifier but I carry those for when we are in the car or I can't nurse him right away. That's not even everything because there are things that I like and feel that I need to be human.

For me: I carry my phone, wallet, keys (my personal chant before I leave the house or I will forget). I keep all of the children's medical records in case of an emergency. I must have chap stick and lotion. I must have water for me to drink although I rarely have room for it. These are my personal bare minimum items. What I am doing that day will determine if I need to carry more for myself.

Where do I keep these items... in my baby bag. I try to find ways to reduce the amount of things I am carrying. Sometimes I try to take change of clothes that will fit both girls rather than an outfit for each. Sometimes that works and sometimes not so much. I also have Anaiah carry her own backpack but I usually end up carrying that as well so it's not always worth it. So I am currently hunting for a new diaper bag. The one I am currently using is the Skip Hop Chelsea Downtown Chic Diaper Sachel. A great bag! Worked great with two under two. I am sad to admit that I have outgrown my beautiful bag. Now I have a reason to go shopping.

My Baby Blues

Thank you HashimLafond for being an amazing husband and friend! Hashim has been so attentive and aware of my behavior after having Yasir. I have had the baby blues especially during week three. I noticed that it would creep up on me when I had time to myself. Hashim would notice me sitting on the bed and staring off. He would catch me looking at my phone but not have any app open. Just a blank screen! He would ask me if I was okay and if you know me you know I said yes and tried to brush it off. He however noticed I was seconds from tears.

I say "Baby Blues" because I have no issues loving on my family. I never want to put Yasir down and we are definitely bonding. I do not want to harm anyone and don't have any negative thoughts. So I say baby blues because I have moments of sadness that I cannot control or explain. I am not sure if it is because of the different hormones of having a boy but I did not experience this with the girls. At least not that I was aware of.

I could tell he wanted to help but wasn't sure what I needed or how to help. So he called some amazing women we have in our lives. Such as friends and my Sister-in-law Aisha. They either gave advice or told me to come over.Hashimdid everything he could to help. He let me sleep in with 3 under 3. Then he kept me busy even if I was out with him. He kept me around people. This helped 100%!!! I can honestly say that I am feeling great! The baby blues has passed. I don't know how I would have gotten through this without the love, help and support ofHashim.

Yasir Hashim Lafond

On Monday, June 19th my pelvis hurt so bad I felt as if I couldn't walk, sit, or even stand. I called my doctor and she suggested I get checked out just to make sure I wasn't in labor.

They hooked me up to the machines and monitored me for about an hour. No contractions and Baby Boy was doing find. My cervix was still closed and there were no signs of labor. So we all went home.

On Tuesday, I cleaned the house since my Mother in Law was coming the next day (and because I was nesting). I was still in pain but I had to get the house ready for her arrival.

Before Hashim came home from work I asked him to stop by the store and get me some Celeste pizzas and chips. While he was out I started have the strongest contractions. I started timing them and they were consistently 3-5 minutes apart!

Once Hashim came home I told him that we would be going to the hospital tonight. He was not happy... Especially since we were just there yesterday. He also wasn't happy because he just went to the store for me and he hadn't eaten yet.

So we both ate and I tried to move around and do things to stop my contractions but nothing! By ‪11pm‬ I got up and got the girls dressed in pajamas. I grabbed my hospital bag and we were on our way to the hospital. He actually wore his DAD shirt.

Hashim was in SHOCK!

My cousin arrived and immediately after they took me into the operating room. By ‪2:59am‬ my baby boy Yasir Hashim Lafond was born! 6lbs 14oz 19 inches of PERFECTION!

I was supposed to have a scheduled c-section but he just couldn't wait! He came exactly a week before the scheduled date. He was also two weeks earlier than my estimated due date.

His sisters love him and always want to be near him. They check on him and want to make him feel better when he cries. I love being a mom to three of the greatest children in the world!

My Mother in law came to California for the first time and she has been with us for two weeks. She came right on time. We thought we would get a week to hang out with her and show her around, but apparently Yasir had other plans. She has helped me with all the children, cooking and cleaning.

I have been able to sleep and get a lot of rest so that I can heal. I am feeling well and completely enjoying my 3 under 3 under 30.

What's in my bag?

⁃I am 36 weeks pregnant and going in at 39 weeks for a scheduled c-section. I finally packed my bag! I put it off a bit since I'm having baby number three and my water broke only only one week early with Zariah (Baby #2). I figured I have some time. I am no pro but I do have some experience so knowing what I need didn't take me very long. What I put in my bag are things I know I will want and things I will want for the baby.

⁃For myself: I have flip flops to get around the hospital and shower with. A nursing bra (and I do plan to exclusively breastfeed). I have long sleeve shirts that are easy to nurse with. They are also loose fitting and long enough to cover me when I walk around. A bathrobe if it is cold or just to walk around in. I learned after Anaiah to have nipple cream. I didn't need it with Zariah but with Anaiah I really wish I had some. I was lucky that the hospital had samples that I used all up. I pack it because I would rather have it and not need it than wish I brought it. I love my Nuroo Pocket shirt. I had it with Zariah and I will not give birth without it. I love that it allows me to hold the baby on my chest but also be hands free to hug my girls. It's great for skin-to-skin and not being so wrapped up in a carrier. I also like to have my Nuroo nursing scarf. I like to have this for when guests and family visit and I want privacy to nurse without asking them to leave the room. This is my personal preference and I know my dad and other family members don't want to see my boobs lol. Lastly I bring something loose and easy for me to wear home.

⁃For the baby: My favorite thing to have is a swaddle. I love the velcro swaddle from Nuroo and Summer Infant. I have always found that no matter how tight the swaddle blanket is the baby finds some way to loosen it and get free or pull the blanket up near the face. The velcro swaddle keeps everything nice and snug and does not move. I like to have a gown for them. It makes changing easy so I don't have to unsnap buttons to change diapers. Also the pajamas that don't have feet. The hospital alarm that is on the ankle is so big it gets in the way. I bring socks to keep my feet warm so I don't have to worry about the alarm and the ID bracelet they put on the ankle. I really like the belly button binder. It's like a belt that covers the belly button. Sometimes it is still wet or bleeding and can ruin baby's clothes. I put the binder on first and then the clothes. I bring my own hat so they look cute in their little clothes. I also bring a pacifier. I didn't with Anaiah and wish I had since she was pacifying on me and caused so much pain. Also Anaiah and Zariah both didn't like the hospital pacifier.

⁃I am bringing my black Petunia Pickle Bottom weekender bag that fits everything I mentioned. I am also bringing a nursing pillow. It helps with nursing and comfort for my c-section. And lastly is the car seat. Can't bring a baby home without it.

We Love Baby Wearing

Baby wearing is such an amazing way to bond with a child. The child is able to hear and feel the heart beat and it helps them regulate their body temperature. There are different ways to Baby wear from baby carriers to fabric wraps. It really depends on what is most comfortable for the person wearing and the baby. Our family go-to is the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One. It is great for newborns up to age three and does not require an additional insert for newborn. The child can face in or out and can be carried on the front or the back.

We love it!!! Now that I am pregnant with Baby Boy I have not been using it much but I occasionally will put Zariah in it. Sometimes it's easier to put a child in the Baby Carrier than it is to take out the stroller. It also allows Baby carrying and being hands free at the same time. It's super comfortable which means Baby can be carried for a long period of time. The Baby Carrier One has great back and shoulder support. It is cushioned and Baby is definitely safe.

Hashim also loves it and has mastered using two. He puts Anaiah on his back and Zariah on his front. It works for us but I don't necessarily recommend it for obvious reasons. We also keep the child in the front until they are at least a year. After then we would move them to the back if necessary. We keep newborns facing in until at least six months. After that, we might turn them around so they can see out and look around.

Rest Time

I try my best to put both of my girls down for what we call "rest time." Often I am successful and other days they take naps at different times. When they nap separately, I get to spend 1 on 1 time with that child and that's not so bad. When they both nap at the same time I find myself very confused.

Once I close their door, I have absolutely no idea what to do with my life. Should I take the opportunity and watch tv, clean, sleep, write or any of the other 1 million things that come to mind that I can accomplish on my own time. However, I do find myself actually wasting my free time. Sometimes I just sit and scroll through my phone. Before I know it someone is awake and wanting something from me.

Many will suggest to sleep while the children sleep. That is great advice. I just find myself too excited about all of the other options that I have. I very rarely sleep during nap time. What do you do when your child is sleeping?

Hushh

At only a few months old Anaiah woke up screaming. We tried everything to sooth her and calm her. Nothing helped. I tried to nurse her, sing, rock her, talk to her. Hashim also tried everything and still nothing helped. Then silence... After a few minutes of screaming which felt like a lifetime that would not end, she was silent...As if it never happened. Hashim and I just looked at each other confused. We laid her back down and went back to sleep. This has been continuing every once in a while at night after she falls asleep. As she got older it happened more often. So much so that if it didn't happen she would just wake up and get into our bed every night. We asked her doctor and she informed us that Anaiah has night terrors.

Night terrors are different than nightmares. Night terrors happen about 2 hours after a person has fallen asleep. The person is not in a deep sleep like they are with a nightmare. They are not dreaming. They also wake up not remembering or being bothered by the experience. It bothers the people around them more. Hashim and I were definitely bothered.

I heard about a white noise machine called Hushh by Marpac. It is supposed to help a person sleep through the night. It does!!! It blocks out other noise and allows the person to fall asleep faster and into a deep sleep. It has helped Anaiah stay asleep through the night. The night terrors very rarely happen. Zariah is also sleeping through the night now. She used to wake up to breastfeed all night. Now both girls are sleeping in their own room in their own bed. Hashim and I finally have our bed back! Just in time for Valentines Day! There are nights that one of the girls might wake up and want to sleep with us, but because it is rare we don't mind. It is also easier to lay them back in their own beds if they wake up with the Hushh machine in their room. It is such a great device. It's rechargeable so it is wireless and very portable. I am in love with this machine and it has allowed me to get a full nights rest again. I'm going to take advantage of as much sleep as I can until Baby Lafond 3 is born in June.

Baby Show!

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the LA Baby Show. What an awesome event. Many of the top manufacturers of the best baby products were all in one place. They had everything a growing family needed. We were able to meet companies that made strollers, car seats, high chairs and so much more. Many of the companies gave out samples of their products to try at home. We left with our bag full!

They had an amazing set up for children to play. They had live entertainment for the children and offered sample classes. There were stations set up for nursing mothers which were super comfortable. They had lounges for mothers and fathers to just sit down and take a break. They also had amazing seminar speakers that were very knowledgeable. They discussed things such as diapering and being a fist time parent. I swear they thought of everything.
Any new or expectant parents should take the opportunity to attend a baby show or expo. They have great information that is very important. It is such a great thing to be able to speak to the companies directly about their products and attend seminars from so great speakers. It is a great way to compare the different products with professional help to make a decision. Often the companies have a discount for that night for the attendees and that alone is worth it. These events are great for both mom and dad. Take advantage of any opportunity and attend a baby expo!

www.bigcitymoms.com

www.lababyshow.com

www.bumpclubandbeyond.com

www.droolbabyexpo.com

Munchie Mug!

One of the greatest inventions for a toddler is the snack cup with the top. The child puts their hand in the cup and takes out their snack. They cannot spill or make a mess. It's great! However, Anaiah has figured out how to take the top off. Most of the snack cups sold in store do not twist on. She has mastered pulling the top of and then of course dumping her snack all over the floor. She is upset because she doesn't have anymore snack and I am upset that there is a huge mess to clean. It's the worse.

I was so happy when I found the Munchie Mug! It is a twist top so she cannot take the top off. But it also locks and will only open if twisted properly. It is everything I was looking for in a snack cup. As silly and simple as that sounds this cup has solved many of our problems. She cannot spill her snack and there is no mess. It is easy to clean and easy for her to use. It even comes with a lid so I can store any unfinished food.

I recommend the Munchie Mug to any parent who's child has masted taking the lid off of their snack. This is your solution!

Storage Almost Full

I hate that when I need to take a photo my phone tells me I don't have enough storage. It's worse that the way to make space is to delete photos or videos . Pictures and videos are precious. They are irreplaceable. No one ever likes deleting a photo or video, not even the bad ones. My daughters are always doing something cute or document worthy. I try to capture as many moments possible. When I get the pop up that says my phone is full I get super frustrated. However a super awesome company came up with a solution to the problem. It is the Bevy!

The Bevy is an external hard drive that is connected to an app. The Bevy gets plugged in at home and connects to wifi. After that everything else is operated using the app on the phone. I can upload pictures and videos to the Bevy anywhere I am. Once they are uploaded, I delete them from my phone. That frees up a lot of space. If I want to view the photos or videos I go to the app. I can download them back to my phone if I want to. I can also do the same thing using my computer but Hashim does all that.

The Bevy is also great because you can link and share as a family. Hashim and I both upload to the Bevy. So it's a great way to share. If he takes a great photo and uploads it I can access it through the app. We know our photos are stored but we have space in our phones so we can use them.

The Bevy also hooks up to the T.V so that you can display all of the awesome photos and videos. You don't have to print every photo and use a photo album or buy a special gram and choose which pictures you display. You plug it in to the T.V and a slideshow of your photos starts to play.

People who are constantly using all the space in their phones for pictures and video the Bevy is a great solution. A lot of thought has gone into this product and that is very important when storing something so precious as photos and videos.

I was Pregnant!

A week after my period I started spotting. I thought this was odd and called the on-call Doctor. I expressed my concern and asked if I could possibly be pregnant or miss-carrying. She explained that it is normal to spot after a period and that since I had a period I was not pregnant. She explained that there is nothing to be concerned about. I was still concerned. I waited a few days to see if it would stop or change and it just continued. I noticed during the week that I was hungrier than usual. So I decided to take a pregnancy test. To my surprise it came back positive. So I called my best friend and we went to the ER together. Her, both of our 2year old daughters and Baby Z. They drew blood to do a pregnancy test and that came back positive. All we could do was laugh. We were both in shock. I was taking my birth control pills and preparing to move my family to California in a week. This pregnancy was very unexpected. We took a photo of me in the hospital and sent it to Hashim. He was so confused and also completely in shock. I asked the doctor about the spotting and raised my concern. The doctor said spotting at the beginning is normal. I expressed more concern regarding a possible ectopic. The doctor explained that he doesn't think I should be concerned with that either since I have no pain. I requested an ultra sound. Although they were hesitant, they did one. They could see nothing on the ultra sound. The doctor advised that I be seen to check levels in 2-3 days. I left with mixed emotions. I was excited but nervous. I had experienced a miss-carriage before Anaiah. The waiting is always the hardest part.

2 days later I go back to an ER with Hashim and the girls to check the levels. They are rising but very slowly. Also a cause for concern. They said I need to be seen by my doctor and have my levels checked and another ultrasound. I had a little more hope since the levels were rising and no pain. Spotting has mostly stopped. Everything seemed good.

3 days later I go see my doctor. She checks everything and expresses her concern. But says everything seems good other than the numbers. I get my blood drawn and go home. I wait all day for her to call me with the results. She does and says they have dropped about half. So you are miss- carrying. She says that I need to check my levels when I get to L.A to make sure they are down to 0.

3 days later we have the car parked and we go to the ER for 1 last level check before we leave. The doctor comes in and tells me the levels have doubled. I'm completely confused and so are they. They do an ultrasound and still see nothing. I told my doctor the situation and she tells me that as soon as we get to L.A that I need to be seen. She is worried about an ectopic pregnancy. She said that if I have pain I should stop and go to the nearest hospital. We make it to L.A and no pain. I'm still a little hopeful but have also accepted that we probably won't have this baby and I'm sad.

In L.A they check the levels and they are up a little. They do an ultra sound and see something on my right side. I still feel no pain. They tell me that I'm going to be admitted to the hospital. Hashim and I are both overwhelmed. We have only been in this state for about 3 days. We don't need any more pressure. The doctor tells me I need surgery to remove the right tube. He says if I don't it could rupture. I'm confused, on how it got this serous. I have no pain and I feel great. I would not have known anything because I don't feel anything. I'm freaking out. I'm talking to my mom about it. I'm trying to figure out why surgery is my only option. As far as I know, it should be the last option. I get in touch with my doctor. She doesn't agree with L.A. She tried to get in touch with him but he was not reachable. She informed me of another option without surgery. A shot of medicine called Methotrexate. She felt that was the best option and my family and I agreed. I told the doctor that I wanted to try this option first. If it works great, and if not then we can discuss surgery. He was not happy and did not agree with my decision. The hospital made me sign a convent form before the shot.

There were to shots in my butt. They hurt so bad! I was in so much pain for the first 15 minutes, I could barely sit up. They told me I might feel sick or have discharge as a side affect. I had nothing. I went back a week later to check levels and have another ultrasound. Levels were dropping. The right side was clear. They informed me that it might take a while for levels to go to 0 but the shot worked! No surgery!!!!!

As a result of the shot, I have to wait at least 3 months before getting pregnant. I also had to give Zariah formula for a week and pump and dump. That is another blog post soon to come... Our family has experienced 1 miss-carriage and 1 ectopic pregnancy. We have 2 beautiful girls and are just getting started.

I was Pregnant!

A week after my period I started spotting. I thought this was odd and called the on-call Doctor. I expressed my concern and asked if I could possibly be pregnant or miss-carrying. She explained that it is normal to spot after a period and that since I had a period I was not pregnant. She explained that there is nothing to be concerned about. I was still concerned. I waited a few days to see if it would stop or change and it just continued. I noticed during the week that I was hungrier than usual. So I decided to take a pregnancy test. To my surprise it came back positive. So I called my best friend and we went to the ER together. Her, both of our 2year old daughters and Baby Z. They drew blood to do a pregnancy test and that came back positive. All we could do was laugh. We were both in shock. I was taking my birth control pills and preparing to move my family to California in a week. This pregnancy was very unexpected. We took a photo of me in the hospital and sent it to Hashim. He was so confused and also completely in shock. I asked the doctor about the spotting and raised my concern. The doctor said spotting at the beginning is normal. I expressed more concern regarding a possible ectopic. The doctor explained that he doesn't think I should be concerned with that either since I have no pain. I requested an ultra sound. Although they were hesitant, they did one. They could see nothing on the ultra sound. The doctor advised that I be seen to check levels in 2-3 days. I left with mixed emotions. I was excited but nervous. I had experienced a miss-carriage before Anaiah. The waiting is always the hardest part.

2 days later I go back to an ER with Hashim and the girls to check the levels. They are rising but very slowly. Also a cause for concern. They said I need to be seen by my doctor and have my levels checked and another ultrasound. I had a little more hope since the levels were rising and no pain. Spotting has mostly stopped. Everything seemed good.

3 days later I go see my doctor. She checks everything and expresses her concern. But says everything seems good other than the numbers. I get my blood drawn and go home. I wait all day for her to call me with the results. She does and says they have dropped about half. So you are miss- carrying. She says that I need to check my levels when I get to L.A to make sure they are down to 0.

3 days later we have the car parked and we go to the ER for 1 last level check before we leave. The doctor comes in and tells me the levels have doubled. I'm completely confused and so are they. They do an ultrasound and still see nothing. I told my doctor the situation and she tells me that as soon as we get to L.A that I need to be seen. She is worried about an ectopic pregnancy. She said that if I have pain I should stop and go to the nearest hospital. We make it to L.A and no pain. I'm still a little hopeful but have also accepted that we probably won't have this baby and I'm sad.

In L.A they check the levels and they are up a little. They do an ultra sound and see something on my right side. I still feel no pain. They tell me that I'm going to be admitted to the hospital. Hashim and I are both overwhelmed. We have only been in this state for about 3 days. We don't need any more pressure. The doctor tells me I need surgery to remove the right tube. He says if I don't it could rupture. I'm confused, on how it got this serous. I have no pain and I feel great. I would not have known anything because I don't feel anything. I'm freaking out. I'm talking to my mom about it. I'm trying to figure out why surgery is my only option. As far as I know, it should be the last option. I get in touch with my doctor. She doesn't agree with L.A. She tried to get in touch with him but he was not reachable. She informed me of another option without surgery. A shot of medicine called Methotrexate. She felt that was the best option and my family and I agreed. I told the doctor that I wanted to try this option first. If it works great, and if not then we can discuss surgery. He was not happy and did not agree with my decision. The hospital made me sign a convent form before the shot.

There were to shots in my butt. They hurt so bad! I was in so much pain for the first 15 minutes, I could barely sit up. They told me I might feel sick or have discharge as a side affect. I had nothing. I went back a week later to check levels and have another ultrasound. Levels were dropping. The right side was clear. They informed me that it might take a while for levels to go to 0 but the shot worked! No surgery!!!!!

As a result of the shot, I have to wait at least 3 months before getting pregnant. I also had to give Zariah formula for a week and pump and dump. That is another blog post soon to come... Our family has experienced 1 miss-carriage and 1 ectopic pregnancy. We have 2 beautiful girls and are just getting started.

Expect the Unexpected!

People always share their birth story. It scares new expectant mothers and makes them completely nervous! I have learned that no matter who's story you hear they are all different.

Every experience is going to be completely different. Both of my stories are completely different. However, both of my girls were delivered by C-sections. From my experience, the only advice is be prepared for everything .

Many families do not want or expect to have a c-section. I know we did not. We wanted to deliver both girls vaginally and it just did not happen for us. When we had Anaiah, I wish I knew more about a c-section and what to expect. Anaiah was an emergency c-section because her heart rate was dropping and we found out the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. We did what we needed to do to have a healthy baby.

I did not know how I was going to heal or what I would feel. I didn't know what was normal or what to look for after the surgery. The doctors and nurses were great but I like having some clue about what is going on. I was more prepared when we had Zariah since I experienced a c-section before.

Unfortunately, I had to learn from experience. I thought since a c-section was not part of our plan, I would not focus on it. If a mom is planning to deliver vaginally, she should also prepare to have a c-section.

The NüRoo Company

In honor of breastfeeding awareness I want to shout out the NüRoo company. They are my go to for my breastfeeding scarfs. They make super comfortable and cute scarfs for privacy when breastfeeding baby. I personally use a scarf when I breastfeed in public and that is my preference. Shout out to the mothers that do not want to cover, it is their right! The NüRoo company also has the amazing NüRoo Pocket. It is a shirt designed for baby wearing. It is great for skin to skin which is an awesome way to help milk come in while bonding with baby. I had it with me in the hospital when Zariah was born. It allowed me to keep her close and cuddle with Anaiah who was only 17months at the time. The shirt is light weight and breathable so baby and mom don't get hot. If you are a new or expectant mother and plan to breastfeed check out the NüRoo company!

Johnetta Lafond and Zariah Rose Lafond in their NüRoo

Johnetta Lafond, Zariah Rose Lafond and Anaiah Marie Lafond with their new NüRoo.

Breastfeeding Success

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and I am a strong believer
that breast is best. I especially solute the mothers that exclusively
pump. That is hard work and an amazing commitment. I also solute the mothers that tried and truly wanted to breastfeed their baby and was not able to do so. I can't imagine how difficult that experience is.

I successfully breastfed Anaiah for a little over a year, and I am
currently feeding Zariah at 7 months. I LOVE to breastfeed. I think it
makes life so much easier and it is a great way to save money. I could not even picture myself getting up several times in the middle of the
night to make a bottle.

I love the fact that I just pick up the baby and feed her. Sometimes I fall asleep or I just put her back in her bassinet. I have done all kinds of things while breastfeeding. I have washed dishes, cooked dinner, washed and folded laundry and so much more. I really enjoy the fact that there is no preparation to breastfeeding. Most people talk about how much better it is for Baby and Mom and I have noticed that both of my girls have few doctor visits. However, I am a big believer in keeping life simple and costs low. 

Breastfeeding wasn't always easy for me though... When I first started with Anaiah in the hospital it was terrible. I was determined and demanded the help from my nurses and lactation consultant. I think I had her see me in the hospital every day to make sure I was doing everything correctly. Anaiah wanted to breastfeed every hour or more I swear.

Then I realized she was not always hungry, she needed to pacify. I am not a pacifier. I wasn't planning on giving her a pacifier because I was afraid it would cause confusion and make it difficult to breastfeed. I was so wrong! I NEEDED to give her a pacifier if I was going to be breastfeeding. My nipples got so sore and so cracked I was actually bleeding. I had to pump from one side so that I could give my nipples a rest and feed her from the other side. I also had to put breast milk and lanolin on my nipples all day.

Once I started healing and the help of the pacifier I was able to breastfeed her for over a year. I didn't go longer because she used to ask for it. I was just not comfortable having a conversation with my
child about my breast. So she was weaned and took a bottle.
Breastfeeding Zariah wasn't so bad until she was 6 months and got two bottom teeth. Anaiah didn't start getting teeth until she was almost a year old. So I never had to worry about teeth with Anaiah. Zariah decided one day to bite me. She actually did it three times that day. It hurt so bad I was bleeding. I thought I was done. I could not go through with breastfeeding if I was going to potentially be bitten.

I went home and started pumping. I thought that I was going to be
exclusively pumping. That way she could still get the benefits of
breast milk while I save money. Yeah that was a no. It was so much
work and so time consuming. I would pump for an hour or more and only get 1 oz. So since I wasn't getting much milk from pumping I still had to put her to the breast. I think she learned that when she bites she is done and I think that's what got her to stop biting. Every time she bit me I would just take her off and put her down. Mostly because I was in so much pain. Since I kept doing that, she stopped biting and I was no longer afraid to feed her, and I stared breastfeeding again.

I'm actually really happy that I did.

Breastfeeding isn't always easy and takes a lot of commitment. I LOVE looking at my children while they are eating and experiencing the ways that they learn to sooth themselves. Anaiah plays with skin and Zariah plays with her ear. I LOVE the connection that I feel to them as they look up at me. I learn their schedule and get to spend great time with them. I hope to breastfeed all of my children until they are at least one year old. The only way a person can successfully breastfeed is with persistence and determination. There is help that provides information and sometimes will come out to you. Reading and asking questions so that you know what to expect and where to go for help.
www.lalecheleague.org