The MomGate MG1

So my husband is a vendor... meaning he sells bread from a local bakery to stores/resteraunts/etc.  He has a route that goes through a very nice section of Hamden.  And at these places there are 'Donation Bins.'  You have all seen them, they claim they will take your old clothing and give it out to the downtrodden... well read the fine print folks, some of them are Forprofit places that sell your donated clothes and don't give anything back in the process.

But I digress.  Specifically on the boxes near us it says 'CLOTHES ONLY'  no Furniture/No Toys/No random things you just want out of your house... okay that last part I added but hey, you will see bags of bric-a-brac all over that place.  And Furniture... and mattresses... I mean come on people.. NO ONE wants your nasty old mattress... heck I dont want the one I have ;) 

well the toys that get left there usually get left in the rain and ruined.  The trucks that collect the clothes never do anything with the toys/furniture/random stuph.  All they want are the clothes.  So my husband has found some very nice used toys for our kids.  Heck it is akin to driving down backstreets in town on Sunday or Tuesday night to see what folks think is worthless.  That is how I got the Little Tykes Cozy Coupe for my darlings along with some other neat things. 

Does this make me trashy?  I would hope not!  My kids are enjoying these cast offs, and honestly they don't care if it is new out of the box or was used!  I like to think I am keeping useful things out of the landfil, and you know... when I am planning on rehoming these toys, there are donation places that wouldnt say no to these gems... or I might know some other low income families that would find this windfall a blessing.

What matters is YOUR perception of size.  

I have been wanting to make this post for a couple days now.  Mainly since I have made a revelation.  Society and other people have no right to dictate to me how I should look, what I should weigh and how I should feel about my own body.  Lately I have been following a blog that is called Dances with Fat.  And it is really helping me realize that I shouldn't feel embarressed by my size.

I will be blunt - according to society in the US I am obese.  I am 5 foot 11, weigh over 250.  My doctor tells me that my weight will have me with all sorts of horrible deadly medical conditions.  But let me share something with you.

I have given birth to two healthy children.  My body shows the battle scars from these two HEROIC pregnancies.  I breastfed exclusively both children for a combined total of 3 years.  My breasts show the scars from that.  Should I be ashamed that I have a pooch?  Should I be ashamed that my breasts sag?  According to popular culture, yes I should be so embarressed I will pay for plastic surgery, or for diet pills or diet plans.  I have decided that I am proud of my body, I am proud of my battle scars.  And if you don't like it random person on the street... that is YOUR problem not mine.


I used to be a severe atshmatic, and that was back when I was 'acceptable' and not considered a 'plus size woman.'   After I was pregnant with Gabe - my athsma improved dramatically.  In fact I rarely use my rescue inhaler, something that I used to use a few times a day on top of plenty of controller meds.   Also used to have severe heartburn and migraines.  Well the migraines I still get but that is from a health problem that is completely unrelated to my weight.  (Lattice Degeneration in my eyes)

Now yes I know weight can have a negative impact on our health.  I do want to point out, that I walk every day, and I chase two children under 4 all over the place.  Now that summer is here I usually get a good leg workout in the pool pushing said kids around in their floaties.  My dinner plate has more fruits and vegetables then grains and protein.  And yet I cannot lose any weight. 

Yes my biggest vice right now is Pop... I am working on cutting that out but during the summer I just love the fizz so much, I am working on it!  My husband comments I eat a lot of crap.  I admit I do eat junk food, but just as often I will be munching on veggies and fruits.  Soon as I get this icky tooth pulled I can go back to my favorite carrots.  When I cook I generally cook healthy, very little fat, no salt, plenty of fresh veggies etc.  After all I am a mom who wants to see her kids healthy!

I used to obsess over my weight... I'd go into cycles when I was depressed about it, I'd dress in the baggiest clothes I had or even not bother to get dressed at all and just sit in my PJs.  No longer.  My blood pressure is low even for a 'healthy thin person.'  I haven't had the weekly athsma attacks in quite a long time.  The athsma is still there, just not running my life.   I have plenty of energy, most of the time, I am strong from carrying my kids and lugging around car seats/groceries.

Why should I punish myself for my body doing what it was designed to do.  My 'fat' thighs walk me where I want to go.  My 'big ass' lets me sit down so I can cuddle my kids.  My 'saggy' breasts fed my two kids and now make wonderful pillows for my husband and the kids.  If clothes don't fit, it isn't my body's fault, it is the style or cut of the clothes. 

You can keep your anerixic thin bodies society.  I am a woman.  I am proud of what my body accomplishes in the past and on a daily basis.  I plan on taking care of it, and honestly starving myself, taking weight loss pills, obsessing over wearing a size 0 or comparing myself to other people is not in my best interest or the interest of my wonderful body. 

When and if my body develops health concerns that are directly correlated to my weight that is a hurdle I will jump when I get there.  I am who I am now.  If you have a problem with that, then maybe YOU should rethink your stance.

Wikipedia defines Odontophobia and honestly... I fit the bill.

Everytime I see a fake dentist on TV my pulse starts to race... not to mention driving by offices.  Partly this is learned, my mother hates the dentist from a bad experience.  Partly because I remember getting teeth extracted with no novacain, another couple of procedures with novocain not working... and the fact that I have soft teeth so the insides which are supposed to be rocklike, are more like shoe leather.  Oh and did I mention a lot of mental put downs from hygenists.

My confession is, I haven't been to the dentist in almost 10 years.  At first it was because I had no dental insurance, or at least that was my excuse.  Dentists are EXPENSIVE.  Then when I HAD dental insurance through Husky A (state run care for low income families) I couldnt find a dentist because Medicaid paid out so little for dental procedures.   Then when that changed and dentists accepted Husky A again... I found out that the majority only accept up to the age of 19.

Well at this point I have one shattered back molar... it's been that way for 2 years now... and ironically only NOW causing me pain, and at least 5 cavities.  I am guessing more from my past history.  I KNOW I am going to need 2 crowns and potentially an extraction.  The broken back molar is really bad, we will see what happens. 

Well I finally found a dentist that accepts Husky A for parents as well as children, so before I could continue to put it off anymore, or make up excuses, I booked EVERYONE for appointments.  The kids both go on Thursday and Shawn and I are scheduled for Friday.  This is going to be embarressing for me because of what bad shape my teeth are, but something needs to be done.  The pain is just starting now and well it is hard to do anything when your whole head is throbbing. 

It is time we take better care of ourselves and I am going to do my best to get over my dentist phobia.  Luckily they do offer 'Laughing Gas' because goodness knows I am going to need it.  I am getting all cold and sweaty just thinking of the end of the week =X

Alright... so we all know kids can be a challenge.  However rewarding, challenging none the less.

Just last week the duct tape was removed from the VCR built into the TV in the playroom(music channels make Caitlynn silly!) but a whole bunch of toys and a surge protector (dont know WHERE they found that one, considering I've been looking for it for a year now...) were shoved in.  I guess that beats the fingers that used to get stuck in there... which is the reason the duct tape was there in the first place...

but I digress.

The latest battle, well besides the sleeping issue, has been over clothes.  Gabe as a rule would rather not wear pants.  He is happy in his underoos or a pullup.   I am blessed that he prefers to have something on the bottom rather then nothing at all... but that's Cait.  Well we used to let Gabe chose between 4 shirts to wear a day.  I'd lay them on the bed and he would pick one and our day would begin.  Over the past week, every time we try to peel him out of a grimy dirty and sometimes stinky shirt, he would have a complete poo fit and tantrum.   

I swear you look at Gabe funny and he starts to cry... which brings up a lot of frustration with Shawn and exasperation from me.  I don't know how today's battle ended... I left to do my errands with Gabe still screaming bloody murder about the 'Ben' shirt he was wearing yesterday.

Well at least Cait just takes off the clothes she doesnt like... of course that includes the diaper.. Oi Vey.

Well since folks have been asking for the delicious recipe... I figured I'd share it!
I got the idea from a cooking magazine... but I changed it up a little bit!

Reuben Quiche
Crust:
4 pieces of toasted rye bread (You can use crumbled up rye triscuits as well)
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp flour

Filling:
5 Green onions
1Tbsp butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups of shredded swiss cheese (divided in half)
1/2 cup drained saurkraut
1 Tsp dry mustard
1 Tsp pepper
pinch of salt
1/4 lb of deli corned beef cut into strips
1/2 cup Half n Half or Milk

Preheat oven to 375

Toast the rye bread and cut/crumble it into small pieces.  Mix with the melted butter and the flour and press into a 9inch pie plate.  Put it in the oven for 5-10 minutes to toast it up nicely.

Saute the sliced green onion in the butter and set aside. 

Put half of the cheese on the crust.  Place the meat ontop of the cheese.  Top with saurkraut and the rest of the cheese.

Beat the 4 eggs with the mustard, pepper, salt, green onions and half and half.  Pour on top of the rest of the ingredients.

Bake at 375 uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean (free of egg)

Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. 

It tastes good as is - but really good with Thousand Island dressing drizzled as well!  Enjoy!

So as some people might know, our first attempt at dog rescue was not so good.  We did not get to meet the dog first and we got him so young we had *NO* idea how big he would grow to be.  Sebastian was a beautiful dog, Dr Mark our vet believed he was part Golden Retriever part German Spitz.  He was a friendly dog but he had NO MANNERS.  And he is the first dog I have EVER known who was not motivated by food.  Not even a little bit.  I have no clue how to train a dog without food rewards =( 

So after a year of Sebby knocking everyone over for jumping, terrorizing the cats, breaking through screens, windows, 4 seperate crates.  And a lot of heartache, I found him a new home.  Gabe asked about the 'Woof'  but wasnt too upset about it, since he could never really interact with Sebby. 

After we found him a new home, I casually browsed Petfinder, looked on Craigs List etc to see if i could find a better fit for our family.  I put some applications in at local shelters just in case the workers there happened to find a dog for us.  I was in no rush after the debacle with Sebby. 

Well one afternoon I figured I'd go put in application in at the Meriden Humane Society.  We've adopted 2 cats from them and currently foster an elderly cat.  Petfinder didnt have any specific dogs from them that I was interested in.  But I figured I'd just put in an application and tell them what we were looking for.  While I was there, one of the volunteers said, 'I know the perfect dog.'

She brought me to the backroom and there was Ben.  A beautiful medium sized dog who wagged his tail so hard his crate shook.  I took him for a walk and spent at least an hour playing with him.  I was excited.  At the next available time I brought Gabe to the shelter to meet Ben.  Ben gave him kisses but the two of them seemed more interested in the cats.  However there was no knocking over, no growling.  Just a lot of kisses and tail wagging. 

So a week later we went back because Gabe was asking about Ben the Woof.  This time we couldnt stay very long but Gabe spent that time hugging Ben.  It was puppy love!  I was so excited when I got the call asking if we wanted to bring Ben home!  I dug out the dogbed we had in the closet, got food and water bowls set up and zipped over to get Ben.  When I brought him home, Gabe was thrilled.  Even Cait was excited, and Ben was very nice to her as well.

We've had Ben for almost 3 weeks now, and while Ben has some issues we need to work on, as well as attending a training class - he is a very sweet and loving dog.  Gabe and Ben are inseperable.  They sleep together, play together and take walks together, with me of course.  It is a very happy time for us!  And best thing is... Ben loves going for car rides... so he is going to join the kids and me for our trip up to Maine in July!  How much fun will that be!  A whole island for Ben to explore with two other dogs.   And of course plenty of love and attention. 


While I was in the vet's office with Ben I came across this poem that I thought I would end this post with.

I rescued a Human Today

I rescued a human today.
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels.
I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.
As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage.
I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today.
Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past.
I only have the future to look forward to and want to make
a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.
I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.
Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.
A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.
I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.
So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors.
So many more to be saved.
At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.

Remember Folks - it is TOO HOT to leave your dogs in your car while you 'run errands.' I had to call 911 today because I saw a very sweet looking dog panting like crazy in a locked car in the sun in a parking lot today. He was there at LEAST 45 minutes (the time I arrived at the store to when I finished my run in and... out and then waited) The officer that came (promptly I might add) said the car wasn't that bad but hey, if I was to leave my toddler in the car for even 15 minutes in today's heat I would have been arrested and my children taken away from me. PLEASE do not leave your pets (or kids) in your car!