My name is Rachel. My friend Katrina suggested I check out this place. 
I've been married to Darren for 15 years, together 20. We were born and raised in SE Alaska. I am a SAHM to 3 kids. J, the oldest will be 19 in June. He moved out this month and it's been a big change. He is an AWESOME big brother to my "Irish Twins" Aiden, who will be 3 at the end of May and Lydia who will be 2 the beginning of April (she was due May 15th). While they were born in different years, they are less then a year apart, hence my nickname here.
I was born with pretty severe birth defects (one thing my mom was told I would never have children due to part of the birth defect being extremely low platelets). On top of having 3 perfectly healthy healthy children, I've overcome a lot of other roadblock doctors said would/could never happened.
I've also run into major roadblocks that keep throwing me for a whirl. I am seizure prone, but under control as I get older. Just before both younger kids I went from 1 seizure every 4 years to 4+ in the past 3 years. Pretty scary stuff. The last one was over a year ago. The doctors can not tell me why. I've done some extensive testing. It most likely is stress related (anxiety attack that goes into a grand mal seizure or low stress could still trigger a petite mal seizure {where I just zone out for a few seconds, up to a minute or more).
Due to the seizures, which have caused memory loss (both long and short term, some days are better then others, but I often do not articulate like I want to, or come out sounding like a ding-bat.), I sometimes jump all over the place or may not make total sense. So just let me know if I am not sounding right.
With my birth defect, I was born with my knees backwards, which were repaired as a baby. As I age I am finding more and more complications with my knees which is really scary. At some point, I hope to have knee replacement, but right now the specialist want me to wait a minimum -until I am 55 (15.5 years to go).
The biggest obstacle as a mom I have found, relates to my birth defect. I was born with out radius bones and shortened ulna bones. (I am a walking medical book
) I have no problem when the "babies" were babies, but I am finding the bigger they get, the harder it is to physically handle them.
LUCKILY they are pretty darn good kids, but we're heading into the fun 2-3 year age. Lydia (almost 2) is pretty hard headed and does what she wants. I am seriously trying to curb the word NO. I use it way too much with her.
Aiden (almost 3) is pretty good but has some rough periods. He doesn't like time outs but both kids are good about standing in the corner or sitting on the couch. I am against spanking if at all possible, but do not look down to those who do. Once in a blue moon they have gotten a swat, but it is very rare. I need more consistency when punishing. I try and redirect before time outs.
I've been married to Darren for 15 years, together 20.
I love photography (especially scenery, which isn't too pretty in most of AZ) and long road drives in our spare time. We can't do any winding trips because Lydia gets severe car sick. I think Sedona (AZ) and north of it (I forget what the road is but it connects to the I-17 and you can go back to Phoenix or to Flagstaff) is my favorite day trip, and San Diego is my favorite "long" weekend drive.
If you have any questions, please ask. While I am extremely shy in real life (and it is getting worse), I am pretty open online. I am still trying to figure some stuff out, where I belong. I am hoping to meet some new friends.
I've been married to Darren for 15 years, together 20. We were born and raised in SE Alaska. I am a SAHM to 3 kids. J, the oldest will be 19 in June. He moved out this month and it's been a big change. He is an AWESOME big brother to my "Irish Twins" Aiden, who will be 3 at the end of May and Lydia who will be 2 the beginning of April (she was due May 15th). While they were born in different years, they are less then a year apart, hence my nickname here.
I was born with pretty severe birth defects (one thing my mom was told I would never have children due to part of the birth defect being extremely low platelets). On top of having 3 perfectly healthy healthy children, I've overcome a lot of other roadblock doctors said would/could never happened.
I've also run into major roadblocks that keep throwing me for a whirl. I am seizure prone, but under control as I get older. Just before both younger kids I went from 1 seizure every 4 years to 4+ in the past 3 years. Pretty scary stuff. The last one was over a year ago. The doctors can not tell me why. I've done some extensive testing. It most likely is stress related (anxiety attack that goes into a grand mal seizure or low stress could still trigger a petite mal seizure {where I just zone out for a few seconds, up to a minute or more).
Due to the seizures, which have caused memory loss (both long and short term, some days are better then others, but I often do not articulate like I want to, or come out sounding like a ding-bat.), I sometimes jump all over the place or may not make total sense. So just let me know if I am not sounding right.
With my birth defect, I was born with my knees backwards, which were repaired as a baby. As I age I am finding more and more complications with my knees which is really scary. At some point, I hope to have knee replacement, but right now the specialist want me to wait a minimum -until I am 55 (15.5 years to go).
The biggest obstacle as a mom I have found, relates to my birth defect. I was born with out radius bones and shortened ulna bones. (I am a walking medical book
) I have no problem when the "babies" were babies, but I am finding the bigger they get, the harder it is to physically handle them.LUCKILY they are pretty darn good kids, but we're heading into the fun 2-3 year age. Lydia (almost 2) is pretty hard headed and does what she wants. I am seriously trying to curb the word NO. I use it way too much with her.
Aiden (almost 3) is pretty good but has some rough periods. He doesn't like time outs but both kids are good about standing in the corner or sitting on the couch. I am against spanking if at all possible, but do not look down to those who do. Once in a blue moon they have gotten a swat, but it is very rare. I need more consistency when punishing. I try and redirect before time outs.
I've been married to Darren for 15 years, together 20.
I love photography (especially scenery, which isn't too pretty in most of AZ) and long road drives in our spare time. We can't do any winding trips because Lydia gets severe car sick. I think Sedona (AZ) and north of it (I forget what the road is but it connects to the I-17 and you can go back to Phoenix or to Flagstaff) is my favorite day trip, and San Diego is my favorite "long" weekend drive.
If you have any questions, please ask. While I am extremely shy in real life (and it is getting worse), I am pretty open online. I am still trying to figure some stuff out, where I belong. I am hoping to meet some new friends.
to MDC! I'm in AZ too, in Glendale. Glad that you found this place, I'm sure you'll find lots of online friends here.
- Kate
