Becoming Debt Free

I love this time of year.  Just last week it was Jesus' Birthday a time of rebirth and new life.  Feels like you've just pressed the reset button for your new beginning.

2012 for me will be becoming debt free.  That is one of the few goals I have for myself.  Here's an update from my last post about my debt. In the last 3 months we've been able to pay off $1,550.  That's about $500 a month towards debt reduction.  That's not bad considering we're living off of Jaime's income plus my unemployment, for now. Below are a list of lifestyle changes to not only accommodate for the income loss, but also lean into paying off as much debt as possible. Every dollar counts.

• Match coupons with sale items for groceries
• Thrift stores for only good quality clothes (like blouses or Jeans)
• Buy accent furniture or home decor at Moving Sales / Garage Sales
• No restaurants
• Take care of what we already own
• read labels before washing clothes
• Use the sewing machine to repair or hem clothes
• Spray stains immediately
• Accept hand-me-downs
• Don't upgrade cell phone, rather do a phone swap with someone who is upgrading. (Make sure you add insurance to your line before swapping to repair, if needed, then cancel insurance after swap)
• Wear old glasses, Don't buy contact lenses  :(
• Stay healthy and brush teeth :) (Doctor or Dentist visits aren't cheap)
• Drive with caution (Tickets suck!)
• Pay all bills on time (late fee's add up)
• No cable (Television is targeted to consumers, meaning you will feel the need to buy)
• Try to DIY as much as possible
• Live below our means
• Don't use credit cards, have at least $1,000 in savings for emergencies 
• Give myself a weekly allowance of Gas, Groceries & Misc.

I'm sure there are a lot more things I can list off, but these were the ones off the top of my head. To stay motivated, I have to remind myself that this is only temporary.  Later on I will be able to vacation and spend like it was my business.  Can't wait to break the chains and become debt free. 

Christmas in Maryland

We're back from our Christmas vacation in MD.  We drove up that Friday before Christmas Eve and drove back home Friday before New Years. 7 days was plenty (fun fact: 7 represents completion in the bible :)  It was nice to see my family and all the kids but there's no place like home.

Sometimes I weigh the pros and cons to moving back and ultimately I feel GA is where God has placed me.  I can't explain how I ended up here in a GA suburb where the people are predominately white and southern, far from DC suburbs where Latin Americans are taking over and everyone is, northern, to sum it up.  Has to be God's plan.

As humans I feel we want to stay where we feel comfortable, but growth comes from our differences.  This probably explains why opposites attract.  So we can learn and grow from one another.  So get uncomfortable and see how God will use it to bless you abundantly like He has me and my family.
 

Christmas present I painted for my Mom

Maximus and Briana with their Aunts

Just hanging out

Most of the kids

Bella :)

Cousins

busy tattooing all the boys

Sleepover

Thanksgiving

I know we're well into December, but I wanted to post these Thanksgiving pictures before Christmas.  I forgot how much time a baby consumes.  Maximus is now 2 weeks and Briana is 134 months old. Ha!  I have to give props to those women with multiply little ones, because my life definitely has revolved around Maximus.  Jaime and Briana has had to fend for themselves.

Mom decorated the table

Maximus was sick of taking pictures.

Proud Grandparents

Both fake sleeping

Playing with his toys

My skinny guy saying Hi!

So crazy, I have a boy

Birth Story

Jaime watching Maximus get his first bath

First of all WOW what a miracle.  All the credit goes to the Lord!  Childbearing can not be possible without God's presence and I definitely felt His presence that night.

Tuesday - At my 39th week check up, I was 2cm dilated.  I was getting antsy so I started googling, things/foods that induce labor and this is the first thing that came up, an Eggplant Parmesan recipe.  That was a Bust! but at least we had an awesome dinner on Thursday. 

Friday - Next was the Castor Oil, but before trying it I wanted to ask my midwife about it first. I had the appointment with my midwife and I was 3cm dilated. woo hoo!  She asked me if I would like to schedule an induction but I told her I would rather begin labor at home and what her thoughts were on taking Castor Oil?  She said it is completely safe for mommy and baby and if my body was ready, it would indeed induce labor, If not I'd be cleaned out with no harm to baby. O_o

Saturday - At 9am I drank 2oz of Castor Oil mixed with 2oz of Orange Juice, showered and curled my hair, just as prescribed, then waited......and waited.....nothing happened, so my midwife told me to repeat dosage after 2 hours.  Still nothing. 

6pm - I felt my first contraction.  So I began getting ready.  I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, finished packing my hospital bag then called the doctor's office to let them know I was coming. 

7:30pm -We were out the door to drop Briana off a family friends house.  Then we came back home because we forgot to pack sandwiches and snacks for Jaime. (I'm all about saving a few bucks)

9pm -We finally got to the hospital and I was 6cm dilated!  They had to monitor me and the baby for the first 20mins, so i was stuck laboring in the bed.  Meanwhile the nurse asked me questions and had me sign papers in between contractions.  Paper work took like an hour or that's what it felt like.

10pm - Luckily I brought my own yoga ball to the hospital because it worked great.  I bounced on that while me and Jaime watched the Ray Charles movie.  Then with each contraction I would clench over on the bed and humm.  The nurse would tell me to breath a certain way, but I liked humming instead. 

11pm -Once the contractions felt unbearable I knew it would be over soon.  I felt the baby coming down with the last couple contractions and told the nurse I had the urge to push.  Jaime was so supportive and surprisingly calm. Which is exactly what i needed.  When the doctor and nurses would tell me to push I would push but resist at the same time.  I think it was because I was too scared to really push.  I prayed to God to give me strength and to just take over because I could not do it.  Right after, the fear of pushing went away and I gave it my all.  Not even 10 minutes later, at

11:59pm - the doctor places my sweet baby boy in my arms.  Jaime kisses me and tells me what a great job I did.  It couldn't of been more perfect. :)

It's a Boy!

Maximus Lee

7lbs 4oz

Birthday 11/19/11

 



39 Weeks Pregnant

Hopefully this will be my last belly shot post.  At my appt. I was 2cm dilated.  I hate to be one of those pregnant women who whine and complain about pregnancy, but you know what, the last couple of weeks are miserable.  I know fifty percent is in my head and fifty actually because of pregnancy.  I wonder how when I was pregnant with Briana it was a breeze all the way till the quick labor.  And now I know why, back then I was working full time and very active.  Compared to now, I'm at home on a lay off, just waiting for baby.  My mind has been very focused on cooking this turkey and that's about it.  Next time, if there is a next time, I will remember to stay active and have some sort of routine going on.  Note to baby: The world doesn't revolve around you! ha! ;)

How far along:
39 weeks.

Size of baby:
Over 7 lbs according to babycenter.com. I'm just hopeing for under 9 lbs

Total Weight Gain:
37lbs. No weight gain this week.  Thank goodness.

Maternity Clothes:
It was nice out so I wore my very comfy maternity shorts. The rest isn't maternity.

Exercise:
None whatsoever. Feeling alot of pressure when I walk. Goal is to run a half or full marathon by next Thanksgiving. Can't wait to get training.

Movement:
Same smooth movement. No kicks or punches since baby has taken up all the space.

Sleep:
I've been sick this week and have not been able to sleep at night. Good thing i've been able to nap during the day to make up for it.


What I miss:
To be honest, working (okay now you know I'm sick). I just haven't gotten into a routine that will help me feel like i'm contributing to the world.

Cravings:
Well still no cravings but I plan on eating an Eggplant Parmesan tonight to see if it will induce labor. It's worth a try.

Symptoms:
(here is where i complain) Lower back pain, frequent urges to tinkle, tiredness and still anxious.

What I'm looking forward to:
Finding out if baby is a Boy or Girl!

Still need to:
Finally finished that darn tree mural updated pic. It was redone like 4 times. I need to post the finale version. I could also get birth announcements ready and compose an email list. 
  

Music Monday & Ramblings

I'm still waiting for this baby to make its grand entrance to the world. I guess he or she doesn't know or care about my schedule,  since it's too busy doing it's own thing like, oh I don't know, finishing up business in the womb.  Anyways, yesterday Jaime and I and even Briana (somewhat) deep cleaned the whole house.  Even the dogs got baths and nails trimmed.  I'm sure the baby will appreciate it and any guests that come by.

So now it's Monday and waiting for baby can be well, how do ju sayyy? BORING.  But I've been doing alot of thinking and praying and browsing the web and quiet time can actually be very humbling.  Below is a song I heard and want to share with you.  It's hard to find good christian urban music, but this one is good.







 I remind Briana that even though she has parents that loves her alot she should always seek her heavenly father for guidance.  Us parents aren't perfect and will screw up more than not.  So the only way to find truth and understanding is to look up to Jesus who is perfect.