what's infidelity

My husband says it's not real. but it is. I'm feeling the effects of it. Maybe it's on the low end of infidelity, if that even exists. Online emotional infidelity, taking private pictures, opposite sex friendships that don't know you're married, exchanging "I miss you" and "I love you". Those words in the context they were used belong inside the marriage. They literally laughed at me becuase I accidentally saw the pictures after my husband passed out and quickly realized what was happeing. It wasn't just pictures or instant messages, it was voice messages too. Over 10 years of marriage- together for almost 14 years. Three children ages 5 and twin 4 year olds. I feel like i'm the trash.

Overtime

We live off of overtime. I know we shouldn't but with the mess our finances are in we have to. Overtime accounts for $900-1200 bring home per month. To pay our minimum bills we have to have $800 of that overtime. We found out last night that overtime is about to be cut out. I really need one of these positions I've applied to too hire me in a bad way. If his overtime gets cut and I've not found a job then we'll have no choice but to file bankruptcy. Wild Huh?

Entergy Bill and Financial Makeover

We had great weather this past month and did not have to use the air conditioner or heat so our Entergy bill went from $225.00 to $95.00. WooHoo! That's $130.00 in our new Emergency Fund.

We will be cutting out retirement today, it is suppose to take a couple of checks before it stops. The funds from this will begin to go toward our Emergency fund until we reach $1,000.00- Sad we are in our 30's and no longer have an Emergency fund. We did have a very nice emergency fund.... but it was spent by my other half... some toward a true emergency the rest not...then he piled on the credit card debt for us because we all know how important those virtual games are.......

I have been applying to several positions in hopes to get this Financial Makeover going strong... but no luck yet. UPS does need holiday help so do different tax offices.... maybe I'll try them.

Note to all females: Always, Always, Always keep track of the bills and accounts even if you're not the one who pays them. Then you'll never go through this! Never Ever accept "I've got it covered, quit worrying, or it's none of your business." If you're married it's your business!!!! The End!. We're making it through this but only by the skin of our teeth and sometimes it feels like it's my skin.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Makeover

Days ago I started Dave Ramsey's Financial Makeover and a financial diary. I say "I" because although my husband says he's on board....I'm not 100% convinced. I have cut off our phone, Internet, and cable TV. I am gazelle-intense. Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary and the only thing we are doing is having a nice "on sale" steak dinner with a great salad and pie after the kids are in bed. This is at my request because we will be debt-free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Understanding

Small children know and understand much more than we "adults" give them credit for!

Whew!

Been awhile since I've even seen this blog.... let's see. We live in Arkansas where on Monday April 25th we had a tornado come through our city. Thankfully it missed our subdivision and we were only without power till that Thursday night. We went home Friday night and Saturday night/early early Sunday morning May 1st I had to call 911 to get us out of the house (my husband works nights) we were flooding, it was in our entire house ankle deep and knee deep outside running fast. There was no way I could have gotten us all out safely without help. Since we don't live in a 100 yr flood zone we didn't have flood insurance and lost hundred's of dollars of household things and have thousands in damage inside the house. Thankfully we received help from fema, it's not enough to cover everything but it's a huge help and I am grateful.

Oh, I just read about an even better diapering system

After seeing the Gro Via Hybrid system this past week from Safe Mama and from watching the YouTube reviews I have changed my "How I would cloth diaper again", if I have another little one this type(notice I said this type... I'm not spending that much money) of diapering system is what I would go with b/c it would dry in lightening fast time and could be used anywhere especially with the throw away inserts for vacation use.

For me, I would still use prefolds in the beginning... it's just easier to fit for a newborn IMO. Then use my Kawaii pockets but I would also buy some Kawaii covers and their inserts then a yard of pul and some fleece. Sew the pul to the back of the inserts and sew a fleece insert for the top (next to baby's bum)... you don't have to have the snaps for the inserts... they'll stay in place once the diaper is on... plus I could use the throw away inserts for vacations... this would be the same system as the gro via except it would cost way way cheaper.

I get too excited over diapers!

Another words you could have a complete diapering system that would be in my opinion amazing (minus the detergent, washing, cloth wipes, and cloth diaper bag/can- all of this you have for any cloth diapering system). To equal 30 diapers needed if you washed every other day.. would cost you approx. $133.00 plus about $8.00 shipping.

Tested Nautilus in Store only

I managed to make it to Target to test the Graco Nautilus out with my son. He is extremely cramped in the nautilus. His poor shoulders have to scrunch together to sit in the seat and his bottom is on the crotch strap. I asked his opinion and he stated "it's too small". The straps were sufficient and had growing room there as well as with the torso. Keeping in mind that my girls will not be as big as my son at his age I was ok with the seat as long as the crotch strap could be sat on. According to the Graco Nautilus Manual (read in the store) you are not to use the harness if the crotch strap is covered by the child's bottom (in my words). Upon returning home I found on some sites that Graco said it was ok for the child to sit on the strap some..... I've yet to find an official Graco site stating this. I also discovered that there is an issue with the buckle.... which I did notice in the store but assumed it was me not being use to the seat. Many parents are having a hard time unbuckling their child and are concerned that in an emergency they would not have sufficient time to get their child out of the seat. From what I have read Graco is being helpful with replacement buckles but the replacements are sticking too. This last finding completely horrified me. We will purchase Britax Frontier 85. Hoping I don't have an install problem. Here are only two sites of many I used to make my decision ARFC and car-seat.org

Disclaimer if needed: I am not a certified technician nor am I responsible for car seat safety reviews. I am only a parent trying to find "the right seat with the right fit for my child".

Does the Graco Nautilus really hold children to 65 pounds in harness?

This is my question... For my kids build will the Graco Nautilus really hold them to 65 pounds in harness? I've read sooooooo many reviews and studied pictures and I still don't have an answer. My kids are apparently a little bigger than most... not in a bad way. My son is 4.5 yrs, 45", and 55#. My girls are each a little over 3 yrs, a little over 39", and 40#. I realize that my girls will not be as big as their brother at his age (nor does he need a seat, he's in a Regent) but I think I'm going to put my son in a Nautilus at the store to see if he fits harnessed. If he can't fit harnessed then I feel as though I'll be forced to buy Frontier 85.

Car Seats

This is such an anxiety producer for me. I want my girls to be just as safe as I feel my son is in his Britax Regent and it's time for the girls to have new seats since they are 40 pounds. I have a STRONG belief that children should ride in a 5 point as long as possible so I began narrowing the seats down based on ability to harness longest. If we have another little one then the choice would be so simple... (to buy a Radian xtsl from the beginning) rear face them to 45 pounds! Right now my choices for the girls have been narrowed down to the Graco Nautilus and Britax Frontier 85. If I can wait for a good sale then the price difference of the Frontier 85 vs. the Nautilus would only be $140.00 (buying two remember). My main problem with the Nautilus is the crotch strap may not allow the girls to be harnessed as long as I need. The Frontier is a good choice for me if my son ends up needing a booster I could just switch the seats, giving his Regent to one of the girls and them still be safe.