Heidi

I am a stay at home mom to three kids (ages 4, 2, and 6 months). The bottom line is, that I've let myself go a little. -I'm not a total disaster, but it's not pretty. I've lost all my baby weight, and now i'm determined to spend some money to revamp my wardrobe into something more than jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies. The problem is that I have no vision of what I should purchase... I would love links to websites that show all the peices to various outfits that are casual and comfortable enough for a stay at home mom... the bottom line, is I need visual references as a guide while I shop. (-mix and match is always good too!) Thanks for your help!

So, here's the breakdown of my situation... I had a baby in the beginning of June, and had a period in the middle of August, and then another one in the very beginning of October. I am taking the micro nor mini pill, and sporadically nursing my baby (she's teething and as such, self weaning herself) My husband was gone for all of September and October, and got home on November 4th. We didn't use condoms or anything, but he did pull out before ejaculation (not and entirely reliable method, I know... but I am on the pill too). On November 10th, I had a tiny bit of colored discharge, a tiny bit of blood, and then a tiny bit more of the colored discharge, then nothing. Definitely not a real period for me since they generally have a couple heavier days and then drag out for almost a week. So, my question is... do you think that spotting may have been implantation bleeding? Or am I most likely just being paranoid...?

I have been a stay at home mom for almost 4 years since the birth of our first child. We now have 3 kids, ages 4, 2, and 4 months, and I just feel constantly overwhelmed with taking care of them and our house. As a result, I have just stopped doing everything. I do the bare minimum of picking up the house, just so it doesn't stink or I don't kill myself tripping over toys, but other than that, I nurse my baby and yell at the older kids. I don't even play with them anymore. Quite frankly, I just want to be left alone. Bedtime can't come soon enough for me, and I don't want to be that stereotyped 'lazy' stay at home mom. I want to be that crazy wonder woman mom who has an immaculately clean house, well behaved kids, and is a gourmet chef too. How do I motivate myself to be that woman? Please don't be rude with comments either. I'm genuinely trying to improve myself at a mother, wife, and woman.

I have a two year old son (background info: we also have a 3 1/2 year old son, and a three week old daughter) who for the past several months has been getting progressively worse with his whining. I don't know how to stop it! We've tried time-outs, i've tried giving him individual attention, and nothing seems to work. If anything, it seems to be getting worse! This has been going on since before the baby was born, so i don't think it really has anything to do with her (though i'm sure she doesn't help matters now that all i seem to do is nurse the girl). The biggest frustration with the whole matter, is that he also refuses to speak or try to talk at all. All we get is "uh, uh, uh" and pointing. Not to mention, he used to only want/need the 'ba-ba' at nap and bedtime. Now he wants it 24-7, and cries until you give it to him. The last tantrum went on for well over an hour before i finally gave in... Does anybody know any tricks to get him past this behavioral hurdle?

We have a friend coming to visit, and she is bringing her three kids. -Its going to be a full house, and I have NO IDEA what to feed everyone, especially when they are going to be here for 10 days! I have breakfasts covered, and most of the dinners (i need 2 or 3 more ideas), but am at a loss of what to do for lunches, and snack time considering my two kids dont usually have a snack time, but her three kids do... The kids can all eat anything, not that they do... but age issues are not a problem. Any suggestions would be much welcomed... the more the better!

We just had our two-year-old beagle's anal glands removed yesterday, and was wondering if anyone has had experience with the recovery of such a surgery? Our vet is very experienced with the procedure and has done over 100 such surgeries. I feel that he did do a good job of informing us with what to expect with the basics of recovery, but was looking for other people's experiences. Poor Charlie's rear end seems to be very bruised and sad looking, but we are closely monitering his pain level with two different medications and an antibiotic. He seems comfortable, but I still feel soo horrible for the poor boy. Any encouragement would be appreciated... thank you!

I have a very small chest before pregnancy (34A) and barely fill out a B-cup bra during and after pregnancy. The biggest problem I find with the bras I have used with my other baby, is that the part that holds the strap to the front of the bra while the flap is open gets in the way of the nursing. It just sits too close to the nipple area, and the flap never seems to want to fold down far enough either since it attaches so high on the side. In any case, I would like a slightly padded bra (to hide the breast pads and give my poor tiny girls a nice shape) without an underwire. I actually liked the nursing tank tops i used, with the round opening once the flap was down, but hate the no padding/uniboob effect. Any ideas?

Okay, so this is going to be my third baby (due this summer), and up till now I have used disposable nursing pads. However, I would like to possibly use washable ones, but the problem is, that even while nursing, I have an A-barely B cup sized breast. Nursing bras are a whole different dilemma, but right now, I am hoping to find contoured nursing pads that A: aren't so huge they stick outside of my bra, B: don't break the bank with the price C: have a contoured shape (i tried flat ones just to see, and there is just way too much material since they dont have alot of breast to cover). Any ideas?

I am having a little girl later this summer, and have been scouring the internet for free patterns to make cloth maryjane style shoes. Does anyone have any sites they know of that have the pattern to download for free? I'll pay for one if I have to, as i've found a few of those I like, but would prefer to be able to see the pattern before I pay for it.

How do I keep my little guys head from rolling all over the place when he falls asleep in his toddler booster? A lot of times he even ends up leaning forward with his head halfway to his knees. It looks so painfully uncomfortable, and we've tried getting him to lean against his pillow propped against the door, but the curve of the back doesn't really allow him to stay like that once he falls asleep.... any ideas?

I am currently using fuzzibunz cloth pocket diapers with both the microterry inserts they came with, and indian prefolds. The problem i have with this, is that the inserts they came with dont hold very long when my little guy has a lot to drink (its not that he needs to be changed more often, sometimes they dont even hold for a half hour before they leak), and the prefolds make the diapers so bulky we almost need the next size up pants to fit over them. What kind of insert could i use to get the best of both worlds? -trim like the microterry, but absorbant like the prefolds.

What are some good cheap snacks I can eat while nursing? I find that I need to eat something EVERY time I nurse, or I just don't produce enough for the next feeding. (I didn't realize this with my first baby, and ended up drying up and having to wean him to formula) This includes night-time feedings too, so i need something that I can also keep in the nursery for those feedings. Any ideas?

We have a two year old male beagle, and he has an absolutely disgusting problem with his anal glands. Its not that they get impacted or anything, but instead, it's almost worse. -they spontaneously leak. It even seems to surprise him sometimes and he has to quick sit down, crane around, and lick it up. -yuck. (though it's the smell that bothers me far more more than the licking) I have been trying to regularly get him expressed at the vet's, but they say he is never actually 'full' and the problem comes back within a week and a half. My question is, is there a dog food that i can try that might make his stools firmer/bigger to help drain them at that time? He is currently being fed purina one lamb and rice. ANY suggestions diet or otherwise would be appreciated! Thank you!

I was going about making muffins in my metal pan, and needed a few extra slots, so i thought i would try out my new silicon pan, and not really thinking, put paper liners in them... a few minutes later... major burnt rubber smell. Was this due to the silicon pan? or due to lining them with paper cups? -i was only at 400 degrees F.

We have two boys already, Jack and Andrew (we call him Andy), and just found out we're pregnant again, and dont have any boy names picked out! HELP! What would be a good name to go with Jack and Andy?

we have a volkswagen jetta, and as such, the smallest backseat EVER. i have to fit three carseats in the back of it: and infant carrier, a convertable booster, and child booster, for my 3 year old, 1 year old, and new baby coming next year. We have a Chicco30 that we would like to keep.... but what kind of seats can i get that will fit for the other two? I've got 28 inches MAX to work with....