Flats & Handwashing Challenge {Day 3}

Day 2 Recap:  I totally got caught up in my work yesterday morning and completely forgot to change Raegan's diaper between 9am and 1pm.  Oops.  Then she fell asleep (and so did I) so she didn't get changed until late in the evening.  Good thing FSTs hold a lot!!  I haven't cut up my flannel sheet yet, because I can't get to my sewing machine and I'm worried that the edges will fray too much before I get a chance to serge them.

Today's blogging challenge is an open topic.  Since the theme of the week is diapers, I'm going to rave about my favorite diaper rash remedy. CJs BUTTer Spritz o BUTTer Plus

This fall, Raegan ended up with a terrible rash.  Every time she had a BM, it practically ate her skin away.  I've seen other moms call it "battery acid poo" and that's an accurate description.

We tried Desitin.  We tried A&D.

The poor girl would get these blisters and as soon as I wiped her to clean her bottom the blisters would break open and bleed.  It was so bad that I took her to the doctor to get it checked out.  The doctor assured me it was a yeast rash, which I had never heard of, so I started researching.

We tried prescription cream.  When that didn't work, we went back to the doctor.  We tried Aquaphor, which actually worked for a short period of time.  We tried coconut oil with a splash of tea tree oil.

Then I came across CJs BUTTer Spritz o BUTTer Plus.  It's designed specifically for yeast rashes, with all natural ingredients.  I got a tube of regular CJ's Butter first, because the store I ordered from was out of the PLUS formula.  The regular stuff worked.  It at least kept the rash from getting any worse.  But, as soon as the CJ's Butter PLUS Spritz arrived, her rash was gone.  I swear by the stuff.

I like that with the Spritz, I don't have to actually touch her rash (so no more irritating those blisters). The Spritz also has lasted us a lot longer than the tube of cream because it's easier to control how much you use each time.  And, the smell of the PLUS formula is strong but not bad.  It's better than the fishy smell of Aquaphor.  But, the best part was that CJ's is cloth diaper safe!!

Just to be safe, the day care started using our cloth diapers and they restricted her diet a bit (no acidic fruit or juice, low fat milk).  The day care even started using wet paper-towels instead of baby wipes!  They were super helpful.

She ended up getting another rash just last month when I broke my leg.  She was with family for a few days while I adjusted to life on crutches and she used a lot of disposable diapers.  It seemed like her rash came back almost instantly, but a few days with CJ's PLUS and it cleared up again.

I use regular scented CJ's Butter Spritz for normal diaper changes.  We just finished out our bottle of Tis the Season, which smells like Christmas cookies!  I have a bottle of Monkey Farts scented Spritz in her dresser, but I can't get upstairs to grab it!  The Spritz lasts forever!  Monkey Farts has to be my favorite scent so far.  Bananas & coconut.  I also got some Pink Sugar scented Spritz for a friend and that was pretty yummy smelling.  CJ's has a ton of fun scents that I want to try.... Narwhales & Unicorns, Mango Sugar & Mint, Blueberry Crumble, Pixie Pie.. and then they have seasonal scents!  Who knew cloth-diaper-safe rash cream could be so fun??

Stay tuned for other posts about the challenge:

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?

Day 2:  Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?

Day 3:  Open Topic

Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine? 

Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.

Day 6:  Open Topic

Day 7:  Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats & Handwashing Challenge {Day 2}

Day 1 Recap:  Day 1 went pretty smoothly for all the running around we did.  We went to church, my mom's, my grandma's, my MILs, and out for icecream.  We actually only used 5 diapers, including our nighttime diaper.  I had packed two pocket diapers stuffed with FSTs for family/friends to use for easier changes, along with a bunch of pad-folded FSTs and covers.  If my leg wasn't broken, I could easily just say, let me change her and use less covers that way - but I can't, so I made adjustments.  I have plenty of covers, so it's not a big deal to stuff them and use them as pockets.

Last night before bed, I rinsed off all of the diapers that needed rinsed and I put them in to soak for about 30 minutes.  I'm washing in the morning today but I might switch that and wash at night instead.  I have plenty of diapers and covers, so I could probably go every other day washing but I worry about them not getting dry since I can't use my clothesline while my leg is broken. 

Here is my stash!

Covers:
I have 7 8 SoftBums shells, all purchased used from the SoftBums B/S/T group on Facebook (except one I bought last week from Eco Baby Boutique).  I got some Omni and some Echo because I wanted to try both.  I like that I can get a better fit with the Echo but the Omni can also be used as a pocket, which is the only type of diaper my husband will use.  So they both have their pros.

2 Omni Shells (Ocean and Snowcone) $34
1 Peace-a-phants Omni Shell $22
3 Echo Shells (2 Ocean and 1 Snowcone) $55
1 Pink Echo Shell $18 (pictured ON THE BUM below)
1 Nebula Omni Shell (just arrived on Monday morning!!) $25

Flats:
I'm using 12 flour sack towels as my flats.  My husband picked these up at Sam's Club for me for around $13 with tax.  I washed them twice to prep them, because I read they shrink in the dryer and it really helps to tighten the weave of the fabric.  We tested them out the last few week in the "pad fold" and they are working great.  They are supposedly really easy to handwash as well.

If I end up getting behind on the laundry (I plan to wash daily), I will use my pockets as covers and I will use tshirts as flats.  I have an old flannel sheet set that I can also cut up into flats to use as doublers or just extra flats.

So my official stash cost us $167.  Maybe after the challenge I will post an update of my entire diaper stash!!


Stay tuned for other posts about the challenge:

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?

Day 2:  Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?

Day 3:  Open Topic

Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine? 

Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.

Day 6:  Open Topic

Day 7:  Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats & Handwashing Challenge {Day 1}

I'm taking the Flats & Handwashing Challenge this week.  

Why am I taking the challenge?

1.  I plan on using prefolds and covers on the newborn baby arriving in July so this will be a good chance to practice my folding skills.  I used some Gerber prefolds and rubber pants on Miss Raegan when she was a newborn and I wasn't impressed.  We used them to fill in while I built our stash of pockets.  Pockets seemed much easier and microfiber inserts were more absorbent than the prefolds I had.  I loved the jellyroll fold and couldn't really get any other folds to work for me.  I'm excited to try out some new ones.

2.  I've never used flats.  I hear flats are great.  I don't know why flats are so great, so I'm looking forward to finding out for myself.  I made the switch from microfiber inserts to cotton & bamboo prefolds with hemp inserts and I like the results so far.  Currently, my routine is to hang my covers (pockets) on the clothesline and dry my inserts and prefolds in the dryer, because otherwise they take forever to dry!   I hear flats wash really well and dry much more quickly than prefolds and inserts.  Bamboo prefolds are my favorite, but maybe that will change after this week!  

3.  I want to learn to handwash.  I want to spend more time camping.  With Landon in Cub Scouts and my husband an Eagle Scout, our family jumps at the chance to go outside.  In the past I've used disposables while camping to avoid extra laundry.  But, since Raegan's battle with diaper rash last fall, I've avoided disposables as much as I can... including traveling less to avoid laundry issues.  With two in diapers this summer, it would be nice to have the handwashing experience if we decide we want to get away for a weekend.  Maybe I will fall in love with handwashing and decide to handwash all the time to save on electricity!  Maybe not.  But I hope it will be a good learning experience.

4.  I love a good challenge.  Especially one with blog prompts.  I like writing.  I like trying new things.  I'm bored, because I'm stuck here on the couch most of the time waiting for my leg to heal.  This challenge is giving me something else to think about -- instead of sitting here thinking about all the cleaning jobs that I can't do with crutches.  I never thought I would want, so desperately, to vacuum the floor, or wash the windows, or finish painting the trim!  That is, until I sat here in the living room for six weeks staring at all of the things that need done.

Stay tuned for other posts about the challenge:

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?

Day 2:  Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?

Day 3:  Open Topic

Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine? 

Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.

Day 6:  Open Topic

Day 7:  Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats & Handwashing Challenge!

I recently switched to using more prefolds with covers to cut down on laundry (usually you can reuse the cover) while I'm out-of-commission with my broken leg.  It's been great!  I was typically washing every 2-3 days and washing between 12-20 pocket diapers at a time.  But, since I switched, between Saturday morning and Monday night I only had 10 diaper shells in the wash!  If I would stop using pockets completely it would have been even less.  I'm even more excited at the prospect of less laundry because of our newest addition arriving in July!  I had already planned to use prefolds and covers on the baby, but cutting down Raegan's diaper laundry is an added bonus!

And, because I've been spending a lot of time on the couch and I will hopefully be feeling quite a bit better in a few weeks, I signed up for the Flats & Handwashing Challenge this year.



Flats:  I've never used flats, so I need to get some!  I think I'm going to grab a few flour sack towels at Target and just see how I like those.  They also have them at Sam's Club but I heard they are huge!  Like these ones...

I also read how to fold an old t-shirt to use as a flat, which I might try because I have a lot of old t-shirts laying around.  Maybe we can get Daddy to clean out his t-shirt drawer, too!



Covers:  I'm going to use my Softbums shells, just so I can reuse them and not wash as many shells every day!  The Echo shells are just like a regular cover and the Omni shells can also be used as a pocket.  I have a few of both!


I have a package of Dappi covers that I have never opened from when Raegan was a newborn and I have some Size 1 Thirsties Duo Wraps that I'm sure would fit my skinny toddler so I will use those as back-ups if I have to.  I could also stuff her pocket diapers with flats but I'm not sure how absorbent that would be.



Washing:  I haven't quite figured this part out yet.  I think I am just going to use the trash can that I use as a diaper pail and the plunger we already have, instead of making a "camp washer".


I should do a test run, but I'm having surgery next week and I don't think it will be high on my priority list until later in the month.



Drying:  I love my clothesline.  On rainy days, I hang diapers on pants hangers on my shower rail.  I would love a pulley clothesline like this one.  But, I don't think there is a chance I'll get one installed before the challenge.






So, I'm excited to try out something new!  And, hopefully I'll get really good at handwashing and we can do a lot of camping without worrying about laundry!! :) I'll post about the challenge while it's going on and you can sign up here if you'd like to participate with me!

Help! I've fallen....

and I can't get up!!

I fell down the steps.

To me, that sounds so much more dramatic than what really happened.  I couldn't find the skirt I wanted to wear, so I took a basket of laundry upstairs where I could empty it, sort it, and make sure my skirt wasn't in there.  Then, I thought, I might as well fill this basket with the dirty clothes so I can start another load.

I was being productive.

I even counted the steps on the way down.  I knew there were fourteen.  I knew I couldn't see over both the clothes basket and my growing belly.  So at step number 12, I stopped and peeked under the basket to make sure there were no hoodlums lingering at the bottom of the steps.

Two more to go.

Next thing I knew, I was sitting on the bottom step.  One leg under me and one leg in front of me.

I've fallen before.  Many times.  I just get up.  I'm usually mumbling that my husband doesn't always need to frantically ask me "Are you okay?!" over every bump and bruise.

I know why he does it now.

Oh, how I love that man.

"Are you okay?"

"I broke my ankle."

"Are you sure it's not sprained?"

"Yes!  Call someone, please!"

He called my mom to watch the kids and pulled our new-to-us minivan around to the front door.  He carried me out to the van and drove as quickly and as slowly as he could -- being careful not to hit too many bumps while getting to the hospital as quickly as possible.  He drove in circles around the parking lot until he had aligned my door perfectly with the hospital entrance.

I got to ride in a wheelchair.  It wasn't as exciting as it had always seemed.

I was crying hysterically but there were no tears.  It was a strange feeling.  I was so upset, so in pain, and I kept thinking, Why aren't I crying?  I feel like I'm crying... 

They checked the baby before they checked my leg.  In my pain-filled haze, I remembered -- Don't tell my husband the gender of the baby! Priorities, people.  Baby was 25 weeks and perfectly fine.

Then I what I thought were the most painful x-rays I would have.  I was wrong, because I had to get more later that day.  The doctor came in and just shook his head.  "You're going to need surgery and I don't know how they are going to do it while you're pregnant."

No.  I am not having surgery.

We followed-up with an orthopedic doctor who said I might not need surgery.

That's more like it.

I think I scared the poor nurse when I shouted "Purple!" so quickly after she asked me what color cast I wanted.  There are just some things you always wish for as a kid.  Broken bones may not be one of them, but a cool cast?  Every kid wants one of those...

I never realized how painful a broken bone is.  I actually have three broken bones.  But still.  It hurts more than I imagined.

And I just feel so helpless.  I have amazing friends and family who have bent-over-backwards to help me.  But, I'm helpless.  I'm helpless because I'm proud.  I want to do it myself.

Just like my toddler.  No.  Don't help me get dressed.  I would rather take three times as long struggling on my own than admit that you can do it faster.

I'll accept help.  I just don't want to ask.  I desperately want to be able to do it by myself.  And, asking you... that hurts twice as much as struggling on my own.

But, I'm learning.  I'm learning to be resourceful.  I'm learning to be humble.  I'm learning to ask for help when I need it.  I'm learning to be still.  I'm learning to focus less on the stuff and the tasks and more on the people in my life.

And, I'm not even half way through my first "phase" of healing...

I'm scheduling that dreaded surgery because my bones are not healing correctly after three weeks in a cast.   Then I'll be in another cast for six more weeks.  I'm now 28 weeks pregnant... so hopefully I will at least be able to walk when I go into labor!  But, if not, I'm sure I'll learn something from that, too.

Menu for March 16-22

Sunday:  I have no idea what we ate for dinner.  I cannot remember for the life of me.
Monday:  Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf with sweet potato hash
Tuesday:  Taco Salad
Wednesday:  McDonalds... family road trip
Thursday:  Carbonara, after spending the evening in the ER.  Quickest meal ever.
Friday:  Mac&Cheese with Chicken.  I had a wonderful meal planned with homemade mac & cheese and cooked chicken breast.  Then because of a death in the family everything fell apart so we had Kraft mac&cheese and organic chicken nuggets... :)
Saturday: Funeral dinner

I also cleaned my deep freezer.. I have a pizza casserole and a lasagna casserole from my "Third Trimester Freezer Cooking" in 2012!  How freezer burnt do you think they are?  :)

Menu for March 9-15

Another menu plan!  But this one is for last week.  I decided it's probably better to share what we ACTUALLY ate instead of what I planned on feeding everyone... because between work and pregnancy, I rarely do anything creative with dinner.

Sunday:  We ordered pizza.
Monday:  We had hoagies from a Cub Scout fundraiser.
Tuesday:  Pizza, again, for a very special young man's birthday!
Wednesday:  Lasagna at church.
Thursday:  Clean Enchiladas... Chris had seconds and packed three for lunch but I think all three came home and I haven't had a chance to ask what happened.  So, I'm not sure if these were a hit or not.  I do have three extra jars of the homemade enchilada sauce and it smelled amazing.
Friday:  General Tso's Chicken with rice and veggies
Saturday:  Eggplant Parmesan with the ladies while our men are at the Father & Son banquet at church.

We're trying to eat cleaner to get Chris ready for his juice fast.  And, I'm excited for spring veggies!!