Living the Sweet Life

Abby Update

2010-07-25T22:39:00.001-07:00

I apologize for the amount of time since my last post. I have been spending my time trying to be a good mommy, and working hard to get Abby well again. I was scanning my usual blogs when I realized how much has changed since my last post, and I decided that you all deserve an update!

A few weeks prior to my last post, I ran across this wonderful blog: The Enlightened Homemaker. Shari Goodman has 5 children, one of whom has Autism. She is incredibly knowledgeable about taking care of the body naturally, among other things, and has been a guiding light for me through this whole experience. I posted a comment on her blog with a link to my blog, and she read my last post on Abby. She referred me to a world-renowned doctor in So. California that treats (and cures) Autistic children, as well as children with tummy issues (since they kind of go hand-in-hand). His name is Dr. Kurt Woeller, and I was amazed to find out that his office is just 5 minutes away from our house! I would have driven hours to see him, but talk about meant-to-be! I made an appointment right away.

The visit with Dr. Woeller was life-changing. He opened up a whole new world. Not only did he help me to realize that I’m NOT crazy, and there really was something wrong with Abby, but he also reassured me that there is a lot I can do to help her get better. He started out by asking about her symptoms. Exactly what was wrong, and when did I first notice? I basically reiterated everything that I said on the blog, and he asked a few questions. Then he explained exactly what he believed happened in Abby’s tiny body during her vaccine reaction.

(On our way to Disneyland as Abby's reward for filling her Sticker Chart. Thanks for the passes Granny-K!)

He explained that there are different types of vaccine reactions, and all range from mild to severe. Judging from her current symptoms and the symptoms she had during her reaction (high fever, vomiting, and going into such a deep sleep that I couldn’t wake her) he believes that Abby experienced moderate encephalitis (brain swelling) and that it caused damage to some of the nerves in her brain stem. He explained that Abby was lucky; had her swelling been any worse, it could have led to severe brain damage (ADHD, Autism). He explained that the nerves that control all of our bodily functions originate in the brain stem, and spread down through our body like an upside-down tree. Some of the most common nerves that are damaged during vaccine-educed encephalitis are the nerves that extend to the gut.

**That statement was like a light-bulb turning on for me. That explains the issues with Abby’s tummy. That is why she was always constipated no matter how many prunes or salads I fed her- the nerves that tell her intestines to move food through her bowel don’t work right! **

He went on to explain that certain vaccines can cause the gut to become inflamed, which can cause permanent damage to digestive function. This is why many kids who have had vaccine reactions (including Autistic kids) have to be on a Yeast/Gluten/Dairy-free diet. Due to the problems with her gut and her symptoms at the time of the appointment, Dr. Woeller also theorized that Abby had Candida- a yeast build-up throughout her whole body and most likely had developed Leaky Gut as a result (you can read all about Candida and Leaky Gut by clicking here).

I cannot tell you how relieved I was to finally find a doctor who knew exactly what was wrong with my daughter. I had been to one pediatrician so often that I swear she thought I was making it all up for attention. The pediatrician we switched to was getting there, when I finally gave up, and decided that going the conventional route was a waste of time. Having Dr. Woeller confirm that there WAS something wrong and that he knew how to treat it literally brought tears to my eyes.

Now for the treatments…

Dr. Woeller sent us home with two tests- urine and stool- so he could determine exactly what types of bacteria were overwhelming Abby’s digestive tract (judging by the size of her swollen belly, there had to be something in there). He recommended a few natural remedies for her constipation - Slipery Elm, Magnesium Citrate, Probiotics, etc. He also told me that MB12 has been proven to repair nerve damage, and he recommended RevitaPop Suckers as a great way to deliver a daily dose. He also said to make sure she is getting plenty of DHA oils, and to try to cleanse the Yeast out of her system.

(Pre-school field trip to the local dairy.)

I am happy to report that these few small changes Dr. Woeller recommended have made a world of difference for Abby. Here is what we are doing on a daily basis:

DHA supplement
RevitaPop
YeastBeater drops morning and night
Herbal Laxative tea every night after dinner. We have been experimenting with the natural constipation remedies Dr. Woeller recommended, but most of them Abby just won’t eat. This tea seems to be working (at least she will drink it willingly) as long as I add hot cocoa mix to the water and make it her after-dinner “treat.”

What has changed:

No more yeast problems, like yeast infections, bladder infections, and wetting the bed! WooHoo!
She makes it to the potty on time! Prior to treatment, Abby would wet her pants 2-3 times a day because the Yeast in her system was causing her pelvic muscles to swell and loose control easily. Now, it happens maybe once a month. MUCH better! The Laundry Fairy is VERY pleased.
No more “loopiness,” or glazed-eyes, and no more running into walls J
Longer periods of concentration without boredom, and she can hold a conversation with me without “zoning-out.”
No more terrible belly-aches and constipation.
We made a sticker chart (another great Dr. Woeller idea) to help make pooping a “positive” experience. Abby still isn’t convinced, but she does enjoy putting stickers on her chart and picking her prizes.

(Getting her face painted at a party.)

What we’re still working on:

Getting to the potty in time, ALL the time. I think the yeast infections were the primary cause before, but now that she’s improved, I think that maybe her nerve damage has something to do with why she still has occasional accidents- delayed warning system.
Gluten/Yeast/Dairy-free diet. We have Abby on the YeastBeater drops, which are doing a great job of keeping her system yeast-free. The next goal is to heal her gut, and a strict diet will help with that. We did attempt strict Yeast-free eating for about 2 weeks- I filled our cupboard with Yeast/Gluten-free snacks, and cooked meals from a special “Yeast-Free” cookbook. The problems we ran into were that Yeast-free snacks are soooo expensive, and they are incredibly CONSTIPATING. They wreaked havoc on Abby’s little digestive system as well as the family budget. There are ways around this, but everyone hated my “Yeast-Free” meals, and Tom practically begged me to stop torturing him with vegetables. I have been on the hunt for some yummy Yeast-Free recipes, and we decided to just take it a step at a time, and just focus on getting Abby regular for now.
We have to find a Probiotic Abby will take, and get those tests back /see Dr. Woeller again. Abby's aggression and irritability have gone up, which is a sure sign that she has a Claustridia infection- a bacteria that can take over when a patient is on an anti-fungal to get rid of yeast. The tests are $300 each, and a visit with Dr. Woeller is $400 each time. Neither is covered by insurance. It's so frustrating when you can't give your child the care they need in the speed you would like because of financial restrictions. Anyone have an extra $1000 lying around?

During our visit, Dr. Woeller made a comment that really hit home for me. He asked what my plans were for future vaccinations. I told him "Never again." He looked relieved, and told me about another patient who had a vaccine reaction similar to Abby's. He treated the patient, and he improved. Then the parents decided to continue with the vaccination schedule. The boy had another reaction, and became Autistic. He said that little boy was just one example, and that he has seen this happen many times throughout his career. I was firm in my decision not to vaccinate my kids, but I secretly doubted myself time and again. After hearing those stories from Dr. Woeller, I KNOW I am never vaccinating again. My poor Abby's health depends on it!

**And to all you moms out there wondering if you should vaccinate your kids: From what Dr. Woeller said, vaccine reactions only get worse. If your child had any kind of a reaction to a previous vaccine, STOP! The next one will be worse... but there’s no way to know how much worse it will be until it’s too late. THAT'S the scary part.**

(On a picnic during a Primary field trip. No, all that junk food isn't ours. Friends brought some to share with all the kids, and for my kids, it was a VERY special treat. Nothing like that resides in our house :) )

I know we have a long way to go, and I have so much to learn. None-the-less, I am thrilled that Abby has made the progress she has in the past few months, and I am so grateful to all those who have led us in the right direction. If you have a child suffering from the effects of vaccines, don’t give up! There are people out there to help you heal your child, and a brighter future lies ahead. You just have to look.

Vaccines: Our Story

2010-04-01T02:13:00.000-07:00

I know vaccines are a hot topic now-a-days, and they also happen to be a very emotional one for me. My intent in posting this is not to offend anyone in any way, but merely to share my story and what I have learned through my experience with my daughter's vaccinations. I haven't shared this story with more than 2 people since it happened, but a friend of mine just posted something on her blog about vaccines and she inspired me to share. Her post made me realize how I wish I would have had more information on vaccines before I made my daughter's first doctor's appointment, so I would like to share with you why I made the decision not to vaccinate my children, and to provide you with resources where to find more information on the topic if you are interested in doing your own investigating.

Abby at 12 months, a few weeks after her appointment

Abby was always very bright and had started speaking very early- at 9 months she was saying as many words as Stryder is now at 18, and she was holding full conversations at 11 months. She was incredibly curious, self motivated, and could sit in her room for 2 hours all by herself looking through her books.

Like any first-time mom, I tried really hard to be a perfect Mommy: I read books on how to be a good mom, and followed everything to a tee. I went to all her doctor appointments with a list of questions to ask. There were so many things I was worried about, and vaccinating Abby was not one of them. I had never questioned vaccinations, or even thought about the option to refuse them. After all, why would I want to? I had been vaccinated as a child, and all the parenting books I read said they could save my daughter's life if she ever comes in contact with any of those horrible diseases. After all, they are harmless, right? WRONG!

After Abby's 12 month check up, everything changed. For some reason, she hadn't received all her 6 month vaccinations, so the doctor sat down with me at the appointment (with a concerned look on his face) and asked my permission to 'double her up'. I said, "Sure, they won't hurt her, right?" "Of course not," he assured me. "She might have a mild fever tonight and be cranky for the next few days, but that's completely normal." I held her little legs tightly as they administered 7 different shots and my baby cried out in pain.

We left the doctor's office around 1pm, and she seemed fine. She was her happy, talkative self. As I was preparing her snack at around 3pm, it started. She walked into the kitchen, started to whimper, and threw up. For the next hour or so I carried her around, and she would point to the kitchen sink every time she was going to be sick. I would hold her over the sink as she vomited, over and over. Then things got worse. Much worse. She rapidly became weaker and less responsive. I laid with her in my bed all night with towels underneath us, as she had become unable to lift her head or even wake up to vomit. At one point she went into such a deep sleep that I couldn't wake her, and I was worried she was in a comma. I picked her up and lightly shook until she came out of it: it took almost a full minute. Her fever measured in at 102. I called the doctor's office. I explained the situation to the doctor on call and said she was having a bad reaction to her vaccinations and asked what I could do. The doctor assured me that it was a "coincidence" and that there was no way her vaccines would have caused that reaction. This infuriated me.

6 1/2 Months

As mothers, many times we have to trust our instincts. Sometimes we just KNOW. In this situation, I just KNEW, and it blew me away that the doctor not only didn't draw a connection, but refused to even acknowledge the POSSIBILITY of a connection.

Abby stayed sick for 2 days, but it was when she began to feel better that I immediately knew something was wrong. She wasn't herself. She seemed 'spacey' and had lost some of her vocabulary to name the most obvious changes. I thought she would come out of it, but days passed, then weeks and she stayed in a daze. Eventually she began to learn her words again, and she became better at staying focused on stories, but I felt as though she had been knocked back several developmental months. In a way, I felt I had lost who my baby girl was.

13 Months

I knew her reactions had something to do with vaccines, but I didn't know why. After all, they were harmless, right? About 6 months later, when I was trying to decide whether to take her in for her shots at 18 months, I received my Parenting magazine in the mail. It had a story in it about a mom and her son with Autism. Her son had a similar reaction to Abby's after receiving vaccinations at his 18 month check up. However, he remained in a daze, and just grew worse and worse. The part that really caught my attention was that the doctor claimed it had nothing to do with the vaccinations, but this mom KNEW differently.

I started researching more articles and stories about kids with Autism, and I was amazed at what I found. We are told that studies prove no connection between vaccines and Autism, but the one similarity I found between all the stories was that the changes in the children became apparent within a week or two following the vaccinations, and all the mothers KNEW it was a reaction to the vaccines even though their doctors said it wasn't. If you have ever had an experience with your own 'Mother's Intuition,' you know all those mothers can't be wrong, I don't care what the scientific studies find or the doctors say.

Then I looked for books on Amazon to see what others have found. If you read the reviews, many people provide references to the best books on the subject. That's how I found this book: Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective by Miller (click on the link to find it on Amazon). Neil Miller is a medical researcher who started looking into private vaccine studies when he was deciding whether or not to vaccinate his first child. I like his perspective because he is not anti-medicine or anti-drugs, and he examines each vaccine individually- the severity of the disease it prevents, how it is created, its efficacy and known side effects. Here are a few things I learned:

1. Vaccines aren't tested to determine their safety. We test baby shampoo before it is released on the market, but not vaccines?! Crazy!

2. All the major drug companies have stock holders on both the FDA's and CDC's Board of Advisors, and they frequently use the leverage to their advantage.

3. Vaccines are created in batches of millions of shots (billions of dollars in product). Sometimes certain batches of vaccines are deemed to be 'Hot Lots,' which means that unusually high incidents of 'severe reactions' have been reported (severe reaction= coma and/or death) among the children who have received the vaccination. Keep in mind that a certain number of severe reactions are expected with every batch (What? Expected?!?), but these batches have UNUSUALLY high numbers. When a batch of vaccinations is deemed to be a 'Hot Lot,' the drug company that created it is not required to notify the doctors or pull the vaccinations from the shelves. Not one of the many 'Hot Lots' reported have been pulled from the market, which means the remaining millions of shots are currently being administered to children all over the world. It also means there is no way of knowing if your child has received or will receive one of these shots.

4. Many of the vaccinations we receive are truly unnecessary, as the diseases had become virtually non-existent BEFORE the vaccines were ever created. Other vaccines (like MMR) have been created for diseases that are either easily treatable or virtually harmless and were previously known as common 'childhood' illnesses, like the Chicken Pox. *P.S. The vaccine for Chicken Pox has recently been determined (by private studies, of course) to be very harmful... especially when combined with MMR and Polio.

5. Drug companies themselves have found vaccines to be ineffective before the age of 2. Before the age of 2, the body's immune system is too immature to process the vaccine. That's why they have Boosters, which are also ineffective. It's amazing to read in this book the studies that have been done of outbreaks- almost all of the children who contracted the diseases had been vaccinated for them.

6. ALL of the studies that have been done that show "No connections between vaccines and Autism" were funded by the drug companies themselves. There are many private studies that DO show a connection with Autism, as well as ADHD, Cancer and SIDS.

7. When a child is injected with a vaccine, their body reacts to the 'foreign agent' in a similar way to any disease: their immune system attacks and causes a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. as their body tries to purge. Some reactions are more severe than others, and that depends on each child's genetics. One commonly reported reaction to vaccines is that the brain swells and the mylenation around the brain stem deteriorates. This is the reaction that is believed to cause changes in the brain and can lead to Autism, ADHD, and more. Swelling can occur at all different levels of severity: mild (like Abby's) up to severe. In the more severe reactions, brain swelling can cause coma and death within a few hours. How do you know how your child's body will react? Every child is different, and you don't know until it's too late.

8. I was astonished to read in this book how little we actually know about the immune system and how it functions. We are learning that the immune response begins the moment bacteria or viruses enter the body, and by the time they get to the blood stream the immune response is in it's final stages. With this knowledge, it's no wonder that people continually contract diseases they had previously been vaccinated for: by injecting dead viruses into the blood, there is no way the body can generate an effective immune response because it hasn't gone through all the steps. It's even less likely that the body will be able to fight off the disease in the future.

And my favorite...The Flu Vaccine.

9. I have to quote from Miller's book, because he explains it better than I ever could: "To understand why flu vaccines are so problematic, it is important to know how authorities try to control this unpredictable virus. Production of each new flu vaccine, to be distributed in fall, usually begins in January. Therefore, officials must guess one year in advance which mutated strains of the flu virus will circulate throughout society. If they guess right, the vaccine is thought to be about 35% effective at temporarily preventing that year's flu in the elderly. If they guess wrong, as often occurs, or the circulating strains mutate again between January and the end of the year, which is likely, the vaccine may be worthless.

For example, in 1994 flu "experts" predicted that the Shangdong, Texan, and Panama strains would be prevalent that year, thus millions of people received flu shots containing these strains. However, when winter arrived the Johannesburg and Beijing strains were circulating. In 1995, health officials modified their predictions and created a flu vaccine that contained the Texas, Johannesburg, and Beijing strains. Again, millions of people were vaccinated. However, when winter arrived, the Wuhan strain predominated. During the 1997-1998 flu season, officials once more had to admit that "the flu shot did not make a dent in flu cases because the strains included in the vaccine did not match the strains that actually circulated that year." The vaccine was 0% effective." (p. 85)

Generally, authorities know several months in advance that their vaccine won't be effective, but they frighten the public by predicting a deadly flu season to use up their costly vaccine. Another quote from Miller: "Even when there is a good match between the viral strains in a flu vaccine and that year's circulating flu virus, immunity from the shot is short-lived because antibody levels begin to decline within months, and are often low one year after vaccination. Permanent immunity to a particular strain of flu is only possible by contracting the disease naturally..."For example, in one influenza outbreak in a Minnesota nursing home, 95 % of the residents, and 72% of the staff members with direct patient contact had been vaccinated 4-8 weeks prior to the outbreak. Authorities were baffled when they learned that the viral strain isolated from the outbreaks was 'antigenically identical' to the one contained in the vaccine. In other words, the vaccine was a 'perfect' match for that year's circulating flu virus, yet it was a complete failure. Authors of the study concluded that, "despite widespread vaccination... influenza outbreaks continue to occur...""

13 Months

So basically, what I have learned from this book and others is that vaccines are not only harmful, they are ineffective in preventing the diseases we use them to prevent. There is so much information out there on this topic, and so many parents with stories like ours, and worse. If you are trying to decide whether to vaccinate your child, I recommend reading as much as you can on the subject before making that first appointment.

Today, Abby is doing well. She is still incredibly intelligent, does well in school and is just about perfect in every way. I still notice some things haven't gone away:

1. Severe constipation. Ever since her 12 month vaccinations, no matter what she eats, she is always constipated. I feed her prunes, prune juice, fruits and vegetables, etc. Nothing helps. She has developed a fear of going poop because it is always so painful. I have to give her a laxative or enema about every 4-6 days.

2. She has difficulty with bladder control and has frequent bladder infections. We have tried everything from cranberry juice, changing laundry detergent, to switching from baths to showers. Again, nothing helps.

3. She has difficulty focusing, and is still really "spacey" at times. She frequently runs head-first into stationary objects like walls, chairs and playground equipment because she was in "dream land" or not walking straight.

We have seen our pediatrician so frequently about all of these things that I think I am annoying her. She can't figure out what is causing them, and has even told me that there may be nothing wrong. "It could just be who she is," she said. She refuses to believe that vaccines could have anything to do with these lasting effects. I know she is wrong. I saw the changes take place in my daughter, and no amount of science is going to change that fact.

P.S. If you are curious about the links that have been found between vaccines and cancer, I recommend you visit www.OurAlexander.org and read their Letter to Congress in the upper corner of the page. The two parents/medical professionals have found an amazing link between the Polio vaccine and brain cancer.

A friend just responded to this post on Facebook with a book recommendation: Dr. Robert Sears The Vaccine Book. Click on the title for a link to the book on Amazon. This was a book that I have had my eye on for quite some time, but have never had the chance to read. Thanks, Leeanna, for the recommendation!

Another great book that provides insight into how the Immune System works is The Sanctity of Human Blood : Vaccination is Not Immunization by Tim O'Shea. My friend Tara, who is incredibly versed in Homeopathic medicine, got me into this one, and it is an eye-opening read.

Just Between Friends Consignment Sale

2010-03-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

If you live anywhere near Escondido, CA you are going to want to hear about this event!

It's the Just Between Friends consignment sale! Woohoo! Come sell your gently used kid's clothes, accessories, toys, etc. to make some extra $Moolah$, or just go shopping to get some great deals, like I'm doing!

Here is their site: http://escondido.jbfsale.com/

And here is a video that will get you super excited: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTrb43KetYg

Maybe I'll see you there!

Prices Reduced

2010-03-24T05:27:00.001-07:00

If you have checked the site lately, you probably noticed that I reduced the prices. We all know things have been tough... for friends, neighbors, me, and I'm sure for you too.

So, to make things a little easier on your pocketbook (and hopefully to bring more business to the site) I have given in to the pleadings of this economy and shaved off the pennies... or quarters... or dollars on just about every product.

What this means is fewer sales (because everything is just about at sale price already), just everyday low prices. So please enjoy, and think of us first when you are looking for a hair accessory or a baby gift. Tell your friends and help spread the word about Sweet Abigail!

Fun on a Saturday

2010-03-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

We have always been outdoorsy folks, and this Saturday we were thrilled to discover that there are miles and miles of cool hikes just 10 minutes from our house! So we packed up the kids and snacks, and headed out for an adventure.

Stryder got to ride along with Dad.

We outfitted both the kids with a 'Goodie Bag;' A little burlap shoulder bag for them to collect fun things they found on the hike.

Abby was excited to find these 'treasures' right by our car.

And we're off! Yes, that is a sign that warns about Mountain Lions in the area. In the instructions on what to do if you see one it says, "If Attacked, Fight Back!" Great...

Here is the start of the hike. It literally started right in someone's backyard in a nearby cul-de-sac. Amazing!

Although he complained he wasn't allowed to walk the whole time (we did want to eventually FINISH the hike), I think Stryder enjoyed his bird's eye view and endless supply of snacks.

Abby was nice enough to take a moment to pose for mom.

Abby kept lagging behind for the first part of the hike to draw stick figures. Then we told her that the Mountain Lions like to eat the last person who stays behind their group...

She didn't have a problem keeping up after that :)

A little further into the hike, the trail really gets beautiful and there were lots of places for the kids to explore.

They climbed some rocks...

looked around the trees...

discovered new plants...

blazed their own trails...

and even picked a flower or two for Mom. Awww! Melts my heart.

Everyone went home with a stick and fun 'nature' finds in their bags. All in all, a very fun short little hike around the corner!

40% OFF SALE

2010-03-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

I love sales, don't you? Then don't miss this one! Just for a few more days, receive...

40% off your ENTIRE order plus free shipping on all orders over $50.00!

Just enter the coupon code SWEET40 at checkout, and click on 'Recalculate.'

AND I just added a BUNCH of adorable new stuff to the site, and more to come in the next few days so...

Happy Primping!!

Baby Blessing

2010-02-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

As you all know by now, I just LOVE seeing Sweet Abigail products on Babies, Big Girls, and Moms alike! Not only does it make the bow so much more beautiful than it ever could be on a card, but it makes me happy knowing that something I worked so hard to make is making someone else happy.

I just have to post some pictures of adorable baby Harley at her blessing (I just *love* her name!). She is wearing the Small Gumdrop in all white, on one of our Nylon Interchangeable headbands. Isn't she adorable?!?!

And here is another one with Harley wearing the Wild One Gumdrop with Zebra.

Congratulations Garett and Leslie on such a beautiful baby girl! And thank you for letting me share her beauty with the world!

Clippie Club

2010-02-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

Local gals have enjoyed a fun little party I put on every month, called "Clippie Club." It is TONS of fun! What a great escape each month to be able to get away for a few hours, hang out with friends and get crafty!

I set out a variety of cute things I use to make hair clips- sparkly butterflies, crochet flowers, mini silk flowers, buttons- along with different kinds of clips and ribbon. You select the applique you want, the ribbon to match, and the type of clip you want to attach it to, and you're off!

The clip appliques range from $2.50-$4.00, and all the supplies are included. You just pay as you go!

I am opening up Clippie Club to any local gals who would like to come! It is usually held the 2nd Friday of every month from 7-9 pm.

I am also taking reservations if you would like to host your own Clippie Club! I am willing to drive anywhere near Long Beach, San Diego, or in between. I would love to come teach you and your friends how to make hair clips!

It is so much fun! Email me for more info on my monthly Clippie Club, or to book your own!

Santa Pic

2010-01-07T13:54:00.001-08:00

So our Santa picture didn't turn out that great this year. Up until the moment he was on the Big Guy's lap he was happy, and the moment I took him off he was happy. I guess it's just the age.

I was actually just happy to get it over with- I've never had to go through this much effort for a picture. We actually attempted the picture the day before. After getting the kids all dressed up, doing Abby's hair, keeping tights clean the whole way there, avoiding the Disney store... the lady closed the line for Santa's break right in front of us. We couldn't wait the 1 1/2 until he came back, so we went home. The next day, we tried again. But this time, it took us all day to get dressed and out of the house. By the time we got there, the line was 1 1/2 hours long! With a sigh, I dragged the kids all the way around the huge Christmas tree and found our spot. I figured with all this effort, at least I should be rewarded with a decent picture.

Oh well. At least we have something to laugh about for years to come :)

Why I'm a Germ-a-Phobe

2009-12-31T03:05:00.000-08:00

People call me a Germ-a-Phobe. I will proudly admit my paranoia of all things germ-related. Some folks don't think much about getting sick. If it happens, it happens. No use in trying to prevent it, they say. I disagree. All illness is preventable in my book, and I'm too busy/sleep deprived to be sick. I would rather exert my efforts in the 'prevention' phase, rather than the 'cleaning up after sick kids' phase.

Here is a peek into my Germ-a-Phobe world...

I have one of those baby seat covers that MUST be used whenever we go to the store or eat at a restaurant, no matter how embarrassed my husband is. If for some reason the seat cover is unavailable (my husband has been known to sneak it out of the car and hide it in the garage) then I carry an extra stash of sanitizing wipes with which to wipe down the cart or the restaurant's high chair and table.

When we run errands, like any mother who wishes to keep her sanity, I come well-prepared with snacks. With that being said, I am well-known to withhold said snacks without a smidgen of guilt if the hungry party refuses to allow me to sanitize their hands (husband included). At 8 months old both my kids knew how to spread the foaming sanitizer on their hands in order to get a snack.

**Once we were at the park and I forgot my sanitizer. All the other kids were eating their snacks, and Abby was looking hungry. I felt bad for her and thought, "One time won't hurt," and allowed her to eat snacks without sanitizing. A few days later she got MRSA- a flesh eating bacteria that can be fatal and is resistant to antibiotics. We found out from the doctor that it is most commonly contracted orally (not washing your hands before eating) and had been rampant in the park we were at that day.**

When all else fails, my second line of defense is my trusty Zicam. This little orange box has saved me from more colds and flus than I can count. I haven't figured out how to give this to my kids yet (I wish they would come out with a gummy or something) but it has worked wonders for me. Zicam is actually the inspiration for this blog post.

And this is why I'm a Germ-a-Phobe...

The stomach flu has ruined my 'vacation' week. I was very excited about all the fun we would have this week. Tom was going to have the whole week off work, and I had a lot planned for us! Abby was going to spend time at Granny-K's on Monday, so while she was away we had planned to get our grocery shopping and errands done, AND my hubby was going to watch the little guy so I could go to Nordstrom Rack and use a Christmas gift certificate I was VERY excited about. This nasty flu had other plans for our little family.

It all started two weeks ago, when I ran out of foaming hand sanitizer. My attempts at withholding snacks lasted a while, but the troops were restless and mommy had Christmas shopping to get done, so we couldn't go home. I resorted to wiping their hands with baby wipes as I gave them snacks throughout the day.

Last Wednesday, it hit my little guy hard at about 1 in the morning. I ran upstairs after hearing strange gasps over the baby-monitor. After comforting him, cleaning him up and changing his bedding, I immediately took my dose of Zicam. I sat up with him all night as he was sick over and over again. By about 11 am the next day, he was better. Still weak and a little gray in color, but keeping water down. It took another two days before he could eat a full meal. I continued to take my Zicam every few hours, and warned everyone else to do the same. A few days later, since everyone seemed fine, I thought maybe it was just the dinner he ate that night.

Then, about mid-day on Monday, I suddenly felt super weak and dizzy. At one point I was holding Stryder while fixing him a bottle, and I became so weak that I almost dropped him! I spent the rest of the day resting on the couch with the chills and not really feeling like eating anything. That was it! Apart from being weak for a few days, I got a pretty mild version of it, thanks to my Zicam!

Later that night, I was awakened by Abby throwing up in our hallway on her way to our room. I spent the rest of the night sleeping in her bed with a trash can in hand. It hit her hard, taking her 12 hours to stop vomiting, and another day of me carrying her everywhere because her legs were 'too tired.'

Abby was feeling better today, but we stayed inside just in case she was still contagious. I thought Tom had escaped the bug, until about 3 am this morning. I am actually listening to him run to the bathroom upstairs as I type this. I am going to use this example next time he refuses to take Zicam.

So much for the 'Week of Family Fun.' I guess the moral of this story is run to your nearest Walmart and stock up on Zicam and hand sanitizer.

I'm off to bed. I have another long few days ahead of me.

Sweet Abigail at Auction!

2009-12-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Head over to A Daily Scoop blog to participate in the auction for John Jones (see earlier post).

Sweet Abigail goodies are up for grabs at super-cheap auction prices, as well as some really great items- photography sessions, handmade jewelry, Molly Clothing, etc! You don't want to miss this!!

Good luck and happy bidding!

A Big Hit!

2009-12-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

The 50% off all orders was a big hit!! So many orders came in, that I actually ran out of a few products! AND I am completely overwhelmed trying to get all the orders done in time!

However, I have had many requests to extend the sale by some who found out about it a day or so too late because they were out of town. So to all those who missed the original sale, or wish they bought a few more things...

All next week, December 7th through 14th, receive 50% OFF your entire order and receive FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50! Type coupon code LASTCHANCE into the coupon box and press 'Recalculate' after adding all your items into your cart. You should see the savings off your total!

Spread the word, and happy shopping!!

Something you can do

2009-11-30T21:07:00.000-08:00

John and Emily Jones

You may have heard of the story of John Jones, a young man from Utah who died in the Nutty Putty Caves after being stuck for 28 hours.

We heard of his death the other day on the news and this story struck home for me- my husband has been spelunking in the Nutty Putty caves.

He was 26 years old, and married with a 14 month old little girl. He and his wife had recently found out they are expecting their 2nd child in June. He graduated from BYU and was in medical school at the University of Virginia to become a Pediatric Cardiologist. He and his family are from St. George, UT.

I can't imagine the stress and hardship his wife is going through right now, and the hardships she will have to face in the future. One of those hardships, especially, will be financial- she is now the widow of a medical student.

A friend of mine is organizing an auction for the family, and all the proceeds will be donated to the John and Emily Jones Memorial Fund. This is something you can do to help by either bidding on an item or offering an item for auction. Please spread the word and post on your blog. Let's all do as much as we can to help this family through this tremendously difficult time.

Here is the link to the AUCTION and you can find his family's statement here.

50% off all orders!!

2009-11-23T21:56:00.000-08:00

I LOVE shopping! Unfortunately this year I won't be going hog-crazy as I have in years past.

But SOMEONE has to go hog-crazy, so I am offering YOU 50% off all orders now through Saturday!!

Stock up on fun accessories for you, and upcoming baby gifts for your friends!

This also means you can create Custom Gumdrop Bows to match your favorite holiday dress! You will be amazed at the difference a Gumdrop makes!

Just incase you thought it couldn't get any better...

FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50!!

Enter coupon code BLACKFRIDAY into the 'Discount Coupon' box, and it will take 50% off your entire order!

Are you as excited as I am?

Happy Primping!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-20T01:53:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine posted this video on her blog. I enjoyed the sentiment, and I thought I should share.

This is a time of year when we are supposed to think about what we are grateful for. But honestly, I think about what I am grateful for just about every day, and it's a long list.

I am grateful to be a member of this Church, and I am grateful that I have strong faith.

I am grateful to have an open line of communication with my Heavenly Father, and to receive answers from Him daily.

I am grateful for the path that He has led me down, and the paths He has protected me from. I am grateful to know that I have a special purpose here on this Earth, and that I am continually growing with His guidance.

I am grateful for all of my challenges because they have given me strength and wisdom, and they have made me who I am.

I am grateful to have been raised by two amazing and hard-working parents who were and are the best examples of love, patience, and strength anyone could have. I am grateful for my sister who continues to teach me many lessons through her kind nature, and adventurous spirit. I am grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of such a close-knit family.

I am grateful for my husband; His strength and perseverance inspire me, his patience and wisdom astound me, and his undying love takes my breath away. I feel humbled and privileged to have such an amazing husband and father as my partner for time and all eternity.

I am grateful for my mother-in-law, and for her amazing faith, hope, and strength. I am grateful for her love and for all I have learned through her example.

I am so grateful for my children. I am eternally grateful to be a stay-at-home mom, and to have been entrusted with the privilege of raising such beautiful, sweet spirits. I know that they were specially selected for me, and that they are the greatest gift I will ever receive.

What are you grateful for this season, and always?

The Best Picture Ever

2009-11-17T23:28:00.001-08:00

While snapping some photos of Abby for the site today, I was lucky enough to capture this great photo!

Abby was being a great little model (again) and Stryder wanted in on the action. As she was smiling for a shot, he came wandering in frame, turned around, backed up, smiled big and said, "Eeeezz!" So cute! I snapped a few before they both became disinterested, and this is the one I like the best.

I just love random perfection!

My Little Goofball

2009-11-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

Abby is a great little model. She loves to show me all sorts of interesting poses she has come up with for our 'modeling sessions.'

Going through these photos from the other day I couldn't stop giggling. She is such a goofball!

We did get a few good ones to use on the site. This one's a beauty, thanks to my beauty :)

I'm so grateful for my Abby girl. She makes every day an adventure.

Flower and Butterfly Headbands Now Available!

2009-11-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

The Flower and Butterfly Headbands are now available for purchase on our site! In honor of our September giveaway winner's selection, for a limited time, these adorable headbands will be on sale for 50% off! Hurry and stock up! November 15th they go back up to $12.99.

Happy primping!

Can't I just get one thing done?!

2009-11-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

Before I was a stay-at-home mom, I always wondered what moms did all day. They must just have all the time in the world to get things done. Now that I am a mom, I know otherwise.

Yesterday, I had so much to do. But at the top of my "If I can only do ONE thing today" list was washing the kitchen floor. It was long overdue, and mud had recently been discovered outside, which made matters much worse.

Stryder was napping and Abby was coloring, so I thought I had found my chance. I quickly pulled out a washrag and bucket and filled it with Advantage Wonder Cleaner (I love that stuff) and warm water. I swept, cleared off the floor, and got started. As soon as my bucket hit the floor, it was like ringing the dinner bell. Stryder woke up and Abby wanted to help. I grabbed him, and a rag for her, and started again.

Abby was so excited to help, and mostly did a great job if I wrung the rag out for her on demand every 30 seconds. Sometimes she just skipped the step and soaked the floor. Then Stryder, as if on cue, would come wandering in and slip in the puddles about every minute and a half. Abby would also take the occasional slip, no matter how many times I shooed them out or told them to be careful.

After consoling Stryder for the 5th time, I sent him outside to play. Returning to my chore and wiping up more puddles, I noticed Stryder with a bucket in his hand. He came running over to where Abby and I were and eagerly dumped a big pile of dirt chunks at our feet.

This saga continued for the whole 2.5 hours it took me to completely clean the floor. And you guessed it- as soon as I got it clean it was dirty again.

No one can tell me that being a stay-at-mom isn't the hardest job I will ever do. It's also the only one I would ever want.

Cool Abby

2009-11-03T07:43:00.001-08:00

I snapped this pic with my iPhone the other day. It makes me laugh because after I took it I realized that my daughter is cooler than I am. Oh the joys of motherhood.

And the winner is...

2009-11-02T09:37:00.001-08:00

A winner was selected yesterday for the New Products Giveaway!

And the winner is... Hanna!

Here is a picture of two of Hanna's girls I found on her blog. Aren't they the cutest?

Hanna said,

"Hey Krista! I would choose one of those adorable head bands because I am pregnant with my fifth girl, and I think that

would be stinkin' cute on her!!"

This is the headband Hanna selected. Congratulations Hanna! You will receive your product in the mail shortly! And congratulations on your 5th girl!! Woo Hoo! Be sure to send pics!!

New Product Giveaway!!

2009-10-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a special preview of some new products over here at Sweet Abigail.

This is an adorable Felt Flower that comes in Hot Pink (shown), light pink, teal, brown, black, creme, orange and yellow. It is attached to a snap clip- perfect for pulling bangs out of your daughter's eyes.

This one is too cute for words. This adorable Pearl Crochet Flower is soft, and adorned with small pearls. Also attached to a snap clip, the simple charm of this flower makes it a perfect addition to any outfit. Available in white, pink, hot pink, teal, orange and black.

The next two photos are of my favorite new product. Abby has worn one of these flower clips in her hair almost every day. This clip was designed by my good friend Rachel.
This Three Large Crochet Flowers clip is cute with casual clothes, as well as sweet Sunday dresses. Attached to a snap clip, these flowers are available in pink, teal (both shown), magenta and orange.

This is my friend Andrea's daughter modeling the Three Large Crochet Flowers clip in teal. I'm fortunate to be surrounded with friends who have beautiful daughters!

This is another ADORABLE crochet flower. Modeled by Rachel's daughter, the big center in this flower just can't get any cuter! The Cutie Pie Crochet Flower is available in orange, dark pink, teal, light blue, deep purple and black.
And for my favorite new baby product...

Headbands!!

These cute Butterfly and Flower sheer headbands are available in brown, hot pink, yellow, pink outline, pink, golden yellow, burgundy, red, teal and black.

I know you can't wait to see these on the site!! Neither can I! But even better than that- An EXCLUSIVE Giveaway for the readers of my blog!!

Enter to win the new product of your choice!!

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave me a comment telling me which new product you would choose and why.

You receive extra entries if you:

2. Follow my blog and leave me a separate comment letting me know you follow.

3. Post the giveaway on Facebook along with a link back to this blog. Leave me a separate comment telling me you did it with a link to your Facebook homepage.

4.Tweet about the giveaway and include a link back to this blog. Leave me a separate comment letting me know with a link to your Twitter page.

5. Blog about the giveaway and include a link to this blog. Leave me a separate comment with a link to your blog.

6. Grab my button and post it on your blog for 5 extra entries!

7. Check back and see if any of your friends have become followers of this blog. If they have, leave me a comment and tell me who they are- you get an extra entry for every friend that follows!

The winner will be announced November 1st! Happy primping!

A Kid Day

2009-10-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. Why? Because today was a kid day.

First, we went to the pumpkin farm with Abby's preschool. It was more than a pumpkin patch- it was awesome! Petting zoo, pony rides, hay rides, corn maze, fields of pumpkins, etc.! Sooo much fun! Only problem was I didn't get one picture!! I took out my camera to capture the perfect moment, and to my dismay, all the screen read was, "No CF Card." *Sigh.* It gives me an excuse to steal Dad away from work early tomorrow so we can try again for that perfect photo.

After, we met Abby's class at Chick-fil-A for some yummy nuggets and an ice cream. My kids don't eat treats very often, so when they do, boy is it a treat! Abby was nice enough to share her cone with her very excited brother. After playing in the play area for about another 1.5 hours, we headed home for naps.

After everyone woke up and had a snack, we set off for the park to feed the ducks. What fun! I didn't realize how busy I had been until I saw the joy on my kid's faces. I haven't seen that look in too long.

Wow! So many ducks at this lake!

"Mom, they are soooo hungry!"

Tickle! Tickle!

"Higher, Mom!!"

1st time down a slide by himself! Way to go Buddy!

I like this new pact I made. And I know my kids do too. Tomorrow there is more fun to be had. I can't wait!! I just have to remember my CF card!!

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

2009-10-25T02:31:00.001-07:00

I was searching for a photo tonight, and I came across these pictures and they just took me back. It's amazing how fast time flies, and how quickly things change. Take a few moments to walk with me down memory lane as I share with you some of my most cherished memories...

This was Mother's Day this year. We spent the day with my parents, and my dad took Abby for a very fun 'horseback' ride. They had a such great time together. My dad is remarkable. He has successfully built many companies, and is incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it comes to business. He is currently the CFO of a successful internet search company, and travels the world frequently on business. He and Abby don't get to spend quality time together very often, so this was a very special day to both of them. Every time I see the pictures it just warms my heart. Abby sure loves her Grandpa!

This was when we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park when Stryder was just 6 months old. He spent most of the day cranky and bored, but then, while peering into the monkey cage, something amazing happened: The monkey came right up to us, and Stryder suddenly realized that the cages had animals in them!! He was so excited, and the rest of the trip he was laughing and crawling out of my arms to get a better view!

This was Easter with my family. My mom is on the far left, then my Aunt, Abby, Stryder, and I. My dad took the photo, and Tom is in the reflection in the window. This photo makes me think of how much I love my family. My mom, especially, never ceases to amaze me. Not only is she the hardest worker I have ever met, she survived breast cancer TWICE, and she just ran her 1st Marathon a few weeks ago. Amazing. In this photo her hair is just growing out from her Chemotherapy.

This was a trip to the Zoo we took with Abby's cousins last year. The kids had such a blast exploring. I was lucky enough to catch this shot in the Walrus exhibit.

This was Abby right after we moved into our house. Up until just a few weeks before this photo was taken, I was working so she was with a babysitter during the daytime. This photo is precious to me because it was taken during the first few days I was a Stay-At-Home Mom! I had always worked outside the home and I hated leaving Abby every day. I took this photo while 6 months pregnant, playing with my baby girl in the front yard, and just happy as I could be to be sharing these long-time coveted moments with her.

This was not too long ago, but it still makes me giggle. This picture epitomizes Abby and Stryder's relationship. She is always singing a song to calm him down while she subjects him to all sorts of atrocities. He is surprisingly patient, but after a while he gets a concerned look on his face and calls for me (as he has just begun to do in the photo).

Although Abby may take full advantage of the fact that she is larger, she still adores her little brother. She really is like a little 'mommy.' She leads him by the hand around the house singing to him and showing him interesting things she has discovered. She includes him in her fantasy play ("Hey 'Boots,' let's go on an adventure!!"), and she always warns me when, "...Stryder is doing a bad thing!" Here is one of those moments that I want to keep in my heart forever.
I'm so grateful to have photos like these to remind me of how precious motherhood is. I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. It was something I prayed fervently for everyday for years.

While I was working, there was nothing I wanted more than to take Abby to the Library, or to the park to feed the ducks, and to watch the delight on her face. Now that I am with them every day, I tend to get caught up in all the work I have to do and I forget about the fun we could be having together and how important it is. I need to stop taking time with my children for granted.

Here is my new commitment: From now on, I am doing something for them every day. Whether it be a trip to the local museum or even a walk in the park- SOMETHING FOR THEM EVERY DAY. I was lucky enough to receive the gift of time with them, and I need to take full advantage of it. Children are a precious gift, and they grow up way too fast.

Here's to the moments.

On a sweet note...

2009-10-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

I love hearing from customers and fellow vendors I have met at past expos. Today I was fortunate to hear from a sweet woman who is one in the same. Julie was selling yummy The Chocolate Traveler chocolate at the E Premier Expo, and ended up purchasing a tutu for her daughter, Avery. We shared a few laughs because Tom and I were deciding between the names 'Avery' and 'Abigail' up until a few hours before Abby was born!

Julie was so sweet to let me know that Avery wears her tutu all the time, and even wore it to school today. Isn't she just so cute?

I just have to mention the chocolate that Julie sells. If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, The Chocolate Traveler is the way to go! The chocolate is the best I have EVER tasted, it is packaged beautifully, and it is inexpensive! You can buy a case of 12 tins from their website for only $29.99. That is only $2.50 per tin! What a great yummy (and economical) gift for friends, colleagues, neighbors, or even to have around the house in preparation of those surprise 'drop-off' gifts around Christmas time!

P.S. I highly recommend the Dulce De Leche! Mmmm!

Thank you Julie and Avery for the adorable picture! I hope to see you at another expo very soon!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year! Pumpkin patches, crisp air, hay rides, costumes, and the anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner!

On Monday we took this year's first trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

SO excited!!

We spent a good amount of time just running around like crazy kids!

Abby befriended the local inhabitants.

I don't know how she fit her whole head through that thing with those big 'ol bows on, but she was determined!

And the search begins...

The perfect one!

'Buddy' found his!

Say "Cheese!"

Such a fun night. I'm sure we will be back a few more times... Daddy still has to pick his!

A Mother's Work is Never Done

2009-10-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

It's 3:18 AM as I am writing this. What have I been up to the past few hours to keep me up so late? Scrubbing toilets. Well, not JUST scrubbing toilets.

A friend of mine came over today. Amidst the catching up we did, she asked, "How do you do it-balancing kids, a household, a business and all?" I told her, "Oh, it's no big deal. I just do it." That conversation came into my mind as I was doing some long-over-due cleaning a few minutes ago. I must be the only insane woman up this late, besides fellow crazy mothers. Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Here is a breakdown of the past few hours:

Dinner, everybody wash up, clear table, 1/2 hour walk with kiddos and hubby, straight to bath, jammies on, brush teeth, 2 stories, kiss kiss. Stryder, go to sleep. Kiss kiss one more time. Ahhh. 9:00- kids asleep.

Orders to fill, emails to answer, internet research to do to find a great Patent Attorney and Reps for my product. It's 1am. I would like to sleep, but there is too much to do.

Promised Abby I would wash her favorite jammies- the new ones we got from Costco that have cute little penguins on them. A midnight accident put them out of commission last week, and I have promised for the past 3 days I would wash them for her. Tonight I REALLY have to wash them. LAUNDRY. Then, tackle the front room AKA the toy room. We had 4 friends over to play today. Toys everywhere. *Sigh*. Toilets need scrubbing... BADLY. With Clorox and paper towels tucked under my arm, me and my Scrubbing Bubble friends tackle all 3. Too tired for toy pick-up tonight. Will try to get to that tomorrow after preschool drop-off, post office and grocery shopping.

Currently taking a break to post my busy evening. Next: 3 days of neglected dishes. Bedtime around 4:15 most likely. Kiddos up at 7am, and it starts all over again.

A mother's work is never done.

SD Kid's Expo

2009-10-08T01:38:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time at the San Diego Kid's Expo in Del Mar last month. It was wonderful to meet new friends and see previous customers! I even was fortunate enough to meet some babies born since the BabyTime Expo in San Diego in April! I first met their mommies when they were just weeks away from their due date while they were purchasing some bows for their babies-to-be, and meeting the new little ones in person was so exciting!

The San Diego Kid's Expo was great- lot's of fun things for kids to do, and mommies and daddies too! If you missed it, I definitely suggest you put it on your calendar for next year. One of the funniest parts of the day was the Diaper Derby put on by Gymboree. I wish my little guy would still crawl- we would have entered for sure!

I also met two amazing photographers from BlueFlair Photography. Not only were these two gals a kick to hang out with, they took amazing photos too! Looking through their portfolio at the expo almost brought me to tears! They are incredibly talented. I am happy to announce that we are planning a shoot in the near future! Keep a look out for new photos on the site! The photo above is a snapshot they took of my booth at the expo.

I also have to mention what a great job Steve and all the staff of the SD Kid's Expo did before and during the event. Not only were there fabulous exhibitors, fun events, and lots of people... We were treated like royalty, and they made sure we had everything we needed. That is one thing that I have found is overlooked these days- the happiness of the exhibitors. It was great to work with such a wonderful group of people, and I will definitely be back next year!!

San Diego Kid's Expo

2009-09-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but Saturday always turns into my 'stay-home-and-get-stuff-done' day. Unless we have somewhere to take the kids for 'Family Fun,' I (and my family) always fall victim to my need for productivity. My poor kids! Well, if you suffer from the same 'Busy-Bee Mommy' affliction, here is your excuse to take the kids somewhere fun...

The San Diego Kid's Expo is this weekend! It will be fun for the whole family, PLUS Sweet Abigail is exhibiting! Fun for you AND fun for the kids! Here is an excerpt from their site:

"The San Diego Kids Expo will be turning the Del Mar Fairgrounds into “Kids Central” on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. Open to the public all weekend, this fun-filled event will feature exhibits , shows, presentations, demonstrations, activities, games and more. There’s cool stuff for the entire family – Mom, Dad, babies, teens, toddlers, and grandparents – with all the latest and greatest new products and kid-related services under one roof. And with 68,000 square feet of exhibitors, entertainment and education, this promises to be San Diego’s biggest, one-stop opportunity to have some fun while finding everything your family needs!

The show is two days only so reserve your tickets now! And remember, half of all ticket sales will go directly to Rady Children’s Hospital."

**PLUS I just got in a whole slew of new products that I am making for the show! They include adorable Minnie Mouse clips, Halloween clips, beautiful flowers, and lots of fall colors! Get there early for the best selection.**

Come see us! I hope you are as excited as I am!

The Progression of Being...Painted

2009-09-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

I just love being artsy- paint, glue, scissors- you name it. My daughter is following in my footsteps. However, as usual, she likes to put her own little twist on things. While she enjoys the conventional canvas... construction paper, mommy's cardstock, even the occasional leaf... but sometimes the appeal of a life-form is just too much to resist.

Here is the progression into canvas-ism we know all too well:

The smooth talking...

She moves in...

The justifying; "I suppose a little can't hurt..."

The end result.

Really, I was spared. It could have been worse. Much MUCH worse... as demonstrated by this not-so-willing participant...

Don't worry, the little 'Work of Art' is now happily bathed and has fully recovered. I'm not sure he will be quite so trusting of his much-larger, brush-wielding sister next time... but it made for lots of giggles, good photos, and a fun afternoon.

Gumdrop of the Month!

2009-09-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Fall, I would like to introduce our Gumdrop of the Month: Island Getaway. Made to Match the '09 Gymboree line, these colors just sweep you away to childhood memories of raking leaves, crisp air, and school friends.

With many new Gumdrops added to the Sweet Abigail website, you are certainly going to be able to match your daughter's favorite back-to-school outfit.

Abby wore these the other day with a brown dress, and boy did those colors pop! Gumdrops really 'Make' the outfit, and I often find myself buying her clothes just to match my favorite bows!

I would love to hear from you: Do you buy your daughter's clothes to match your favorite accessory? Which Gumdrop pair is your favorite?

Happy primping!

Such a Doll!

2009-09-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Bethany, the winner of our Bloom™ giveaway, recently sent a photo of her adorable daughter, Olivia, wearing the Bloom™ and headband she selected!
Isn't she a doll? Congratulations Bethany! I'm glad to see you and Olivia are enjoying your new accessories!

Happy primping!

For the love of Pigtails

2009-09-21T03:20:00.001-07:00

Ah, pigtails. What's not to love? They bring out the kid in all of us. So cute, so fun to decorate. Before sending Abby off to preschool the other day, I just had to snap some photos.

I LOVE orange, especially with Halloween just around the corner!

P.S.- I am currently taking custom Gumdrop orders. All orders must be in by Wednesday September 23rd! If you have a fall outfit or Halloween costume you would like to match, please email me with the size of bow and the colors you would like, and I will send you an invoice for the total.

Happy primping!

And the winner is...

2009-09-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

Through a random number generator, Aik's entry was selected as the winner of the MiniBloom Giveaway!

Aik said...: I think I'd choose the pink or white bloom although all of them look equally attractive.

Congratulations Aik! You will receive your MiniBloom in the mail soon!

Watch for more giveaways coming soon!

Happy primping!

Birthday Boy

2009-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! Has it been a year already? I just had him yesterday, didn't I?

Sunday was my baby's 1st birthday. *Sniff Sniff.* It seems like with my first I was always wishing her life away...
"I can wait until she rolls over! ... until she can say my name! ... until she can walk! ... until she can hold her own spoon!" You get the idea.

I suppose by the time the second child has come along, you realize how quickly they grow up. With him, I am savoring every moment...
"No rush to roll over, mommy will get you that toy! ...no need to walk Bud, I will carry you everywhere! ... just stay little... who needs toddler-hood?"

Even all my wishing couldn't keep this birthday away.

1st cupcake

It's a hit!

Opening presents with Big Sis' help

Horay! Clap for toys!

What a fun birthday, and now he is stocked in his OWN toys that sister can't steal... at least when mommy is watching.

Now I have to prepare myself for birthday number 2!

Friends

2009-09-15T07:57:00.001-07:00

It's good to have friends. I know this. My daugher REALLY knows this. She loves having friends to come play. Unfortunately, we don't do it nearly enough.

Yesterday was a treat. Ballet and Tap in the morning, then a friend (who is also in our class) came to play.

The little gals painted pictures, modeled Mini Blooms, played with the Little People town, ate Mac and Cheese, and chased each other in the yard just to name a few of the adventures.

Here's our friend Abbie. Isn't she the sweetest? My Abby sure thinks so.

Mini Blooms Giveaway

2009-09-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I am trying a new product, and I would like you to try it too!!

Introducing the Mini Bloom...

I love using these as side clips to hold back Abby's hair, or to clip in above her small pony tails.

They are made with an AbbyBaby Grip, so they are also adorable in the hair of little baldies, or clipped to one of our interchangeable headbands!

I would love to hear what you think! Enter to win the color of your choice. Here is how to enter...

1. Leave me a comment telling me what you think of the Mini Bloom, which color you would choose if you win, and how it would be worn.

You receive extra entries if you:

2. Follow my blog and leave me a seperate comment letting me know you follow.

3. Post the giveaway on Facebook along with a link back to this blog. Leave me a seperate comment telling me you did it with a link to your facebook homepage.

4.Tweet about the giveaway and include a link back to this blog. Leave me a seperate comment letting me know with a link to your Twitter page.

5. Blog about the giveaway and include a link to this blog. Leave me a seperate comment with a link to your blog.

6. Grab my button and post it on your blog for 5 extra entries!

7. Check back and see if any of your friends have become followers of this blog. If they have, leave me a comment and tell me who they are- you get an extra entry for every friend that follows!

This is only going to be a 5 day contest, so don't waste any time! A winner will be chosen Tuesday, September 15th.

Good luck, and happy primping!

Beach Fun

2009-09-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's my fault. I take complete responsibility. It's not that I didn't want to, it's just... all the sand... and the waves...and the sunscreen...

Just the thought of tackling the beach alone with two small kids was enough to keep me away from my childhood love the whole summer. On Labor Day, my hubby and I decided we had stayed away too long. We reeled in the kids, lathered 'em up, stuck a snack and drink in their hands, and set off for the Beach!

It was just grand! Perfect weather, perfect waves, a tad crowded, but all in all a great day.

"I don't know, dad..."

"Oh, they call them Seagulls..."

Shell searching

"I wanna go shell searching.."

Castles

Angels in the sand

Too much sand. Enough said.

The highlight of my day was Stryder's face at the beach showers. Poor guy. He had sand EVERYWHERE- I had to take action. There was a line, but to his dismay, I didn't care. No shame, I tell ya. I striped that boy naked and proceded to scrub sand from every oraphace. And I do mean EVERY oraphace. The little girls were giggling. The moms were whispering. His peers were babbling and drooling. The look on his face was loud and clear:

"MaaAWM!!"

He was lucky dad didn't take a picture.

That would have been great for prom.

And the winner is...

2009-09-10T09:31:00.001-07:00

Today is the day! One lucky winner has been selected to win the headband and Bloom of their choice from Sweet Abigail Bows!

Through a random number generator, Bethany from Boone, IA is our winner!

Bethany said...

I just love your site! I love dressing up my 5 month old daughter. She doesn't have any hair yet, so I like to put bows and blooms on headbands. I would choose the open rose bloom with the dark brown headband.

Congratulations Bethany!

Stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon!

Happy primping!

Bloom and Headband Giveaway!

2009-09-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

It is easy to get stumped when it comes to putting flowers in our girls' hair. We want to stick with the little ones because... well.... just WHAT do you do with a large one? Here are a few ideas; You can clip the large flower next to a bun or at the base of a pony tail. You can clip two of them on top of pigtails. My personal favorite, however, you can clip it to a crochet headband and bring in an extra splash of color!

Here is Abby wearing our Magnolia Bloom and Dark Brown 1 1/2" Crochet Headband

What are some of your favorite ways to wear a large Bloom? Submit your ideas for a chance to win your choice of Sweet Abigail Bloom and Crochet Headband! Here is how to enter:

1. Post a comment with your ideas of your favorite ways to wear a large Bloom!

2. Visit my site and tell me in your comment which bloom and headband you would choose if you win.

Get credit for extra entries if you:

1. Sign up as a follower of my blog

2. Post this contest on Facebook and send me the link

3. Tweet about the contest and send me the link

One lucky winner will be selected September 10th!

Happy primping!

Scam Alert!

2009-09-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

To all who attended the Long Beach Women's Expo, please accept my apologies. It was a total scam. Complete and utter, no doubt about it.

When selecting expos at which Sweet Abigail could exhibit, I consider myself a careful investigator. I always ask questions such as; "How many years has this expo been in existence?", "What was your attendance last year?", "Where are you marketing?", "How many vendors will be attending?" and so forth. The Exclusive Premier Women's Expo sounded amazing! Here is what I was promised:

- 1500 Vendors

-Expo has been around 10 years and has a massive following

-40,000 attendees last year, up to 60,000 expected this year

-Dr. Phil, Tyra Banks, Oprah and 10 other celebrities will be making appearances

-25 world-renound speakers lecturing on women's issues

-4000 tickets pre-sold by June

-Multi-Million dollar marketing campaign

-Product exclusivity promised (only one booth for each kind of product being sold, IE: no competition)

Sounds great, right? I arrived Thursday at the Long Beach Convention Center. Big name companies were there, and all the booths were awe-inspiring. "This is going to be amazing!" I though to myself.

Here is what actually occurred:

-120 Vendors (BIG difference)

-This was the Expo's 1st year EVER

-No celebrity appearances

-Speakers were cancelled

-0 tickets pre-sold, and a total of "22 tickets sold" as of Friday at closing (so they claim)

-No marketing, at least none that my mom saw... and she LIVES in Long Beach.

-No product exclusivity (just about every vendor had at least one competitor selling the EXACT same product: 2 selling Mary Kay, 3 selling Flat Irons, 2 selling Make-up Brushes, 4 selling eye glitter, 3 Psychics... you get the idea.)

It became apparent very quickly Friday morning that something was wrong. There were no people. NONE. Not one. All the vendors were there... waiting....and waiting. We were promised 15,000 attendees on Friday alone. We heard crickets. Finally, around 3 pm, some staff walked outside to the streets of down town Long Beach, and started handing out free tickets. They say they sold a total of 22 tickets. I think they were just people whom they convinced to attend the show for free, but either way, I didn't see them. I don't know where they went, but it wasn't by my booth.

Friday evening, all the vendors began to gather together and strategize. Saturday morning we all signed a petition stating we were defrauded to hand to our banks in an effort to fight for our money back. We also put down all our information in order to be contacted as plaintiffs in the group lawsuit someone was filing. Someone else called Fox News.

Sound extreme? I thought so too... until I began to talk to the other vendors. It became painfully obvious how much money was lost in all the empty promises. Some vendors paid up to $1400 for their booth. Many traveled across the country to be there, paying $6000 in freight alone... then there was flight, hotel, and car rental costs! The guy across from me paid for 3 booth spaces (totaling $4000), shipped product across country, flew himself and 3 employees to the show, rented hotel rooms, and hired 8 models to sell his products. Ouch! Had the show been what it was promised to be, he would have earned much more than what he lost. Needless to say, he was first in line for the lawsuit.

Saturday at noon, about 1/2 the vendors left, including me. I called American Express and disputed the charge on my card. Here is how the end of the conversation went:

AMEX Representative: "Mrs. Jones, we will get this dispute filed for you. Now, we always like to ask if you have made any effort to settle this on your own...?"

Me: "Well, yes, I tried. However it was rather difficult. You see, the organizer of the event was walking around drunk Friday morning, and when any of us tried to approach her, she told us to 'go jump in the lake,' except in not-so-nice words. Then she went up to the VIP lounge overlooking the arena, closed the blinds and put security at the door. A few hours later she left. The next day, she went right up to the VIP lounge again with security, and a few hours after that she was escorted out by the police and never returned. But I tried my best."

AMEX Representative: "Oh.... I see. I will get this filed for you right away."

So as you can probably infer, I am rather ticked-off about the whole thing. And it's too bad, but I probably won't be attending any expo in it's first year ever again. Before this I figured if it is in a good location and well marketed, I might as well try it. After this experience however, I have no faith.

If any of my followers attended, I apologize to you for cutting out early. I was so sick of the misrepresentation of the event and the lack of management, that I had to leave. Plus, I had been away from my babies long enough. I was more than ready to go home and tell them how guilty I felt for leaving them for 3 days for that ridiculous event.

Next time I will bring my computer so I can at least notify all of you. Actually, there won't be a next time, because I will be extra careful in choosing expos from now on.... let me know if you know of any ;) I could obviously use the input.

Sweet Taste of Summer

2009-08-18T22:14:00.001-07:00

The popsicle. Such a delicious treat. A necessity of Summer.

After her nap, Abby just HAS to have one. Today I couldn't help but pull out the camera and capture these precious, messy moments. Here are a few of my favorites...

'Sweet' Smile

Drip Drip Drip

Sticky Fingers

After a wet paper towel or two, everything was back to normal. Until... the lil' guy discovered how easily he could manuver our screen door to lock Mommy and Big Sis out... or in... it made no difference to him. Anytime we got close- *swish* would go the door- with a big smile from Stryder on the other side. I'm glad he got such a kick out of it... I guess my laughter didn't help in the matter :)

A little sweet talking and a few Cheerios later, problem solved.

The *Ahh Ha* Moment

May you enjoy the remainder of your beautiful Summer... and don't forget the popsicles :)

Hair Style Idea

2009-08-13T01:33:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a new and exciting way to incorporate a Gumdrop? Here is how Abby wore her hair to church on Sunday...

It's just a messy bun with a Gumdrop clipped underneath. Pretty cute, eh?

Happy primping!

1st Day of School

2009-08-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Oh the anticipation was too much to bear. What will the class be like? Will she have any friends? Did I make the right choice in schools? I'm sure she was nervous too, but not possibly as nervous as I was!

Drop off was equally aganizing... "I only packed her a sandwich in a bag- all the other kids have fancy pails with chips and juice and cookies...will she ever overcome the dissapointment?"

The classroom was heavenly, with educational wonders at every turn. The teacher was equally wonderful... and the kids! Oh, sweetest little darlings on earth, hand-picked by this teacher for her perfect little 7 child sensory-driven class! I can't believe we made it off the waiting list!

After 3 of the longest hours of my life, I returned, anxiously awaiting the report... "How was it? What did you do? Who did you play with? Were they nice? Did you like your teacher? What did the other kids have for lunch? You want a lunch pail? I think we should definately get you a lunch pail. Did you have fun? Did you learn anything? Well? Did you? How was it???"

School girl: "Good."

Mommy: "Good? Good!" (Sigh!)

Our little girl is growing up! Sniffle Sniffle!

Joy in the Little Things

2009-08-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we are in a tough economy. My mom is constantly telling me, "we all need to tighten our belts a little and start finding joy in the little things." Last Saturday we did just that. Rather than taking the car to the car wash, we decided to let the kids loose with the hose and a bucket full of suds, and watch the magic happen. Here are some precious moments:

Teaching Stryder proper 'Bucket' technique

Watch and learn, Bud!

Me too!

Dad! Don't spray me!

Run Away!

What a great Saturday. And the car looks good too :)

See Kai Run Giveaway

2009-08-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

More giveaways on the Veater Family Blog! This time it's for See Kai Run Shoes!! Go check it out for your chance to win!

Giveaway!

2009-07-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

Did I mention I love giveaways? Check out this great one on the Veater Family Blog. This pillowcase from Keeping It Positive has positive affirmations written all over it! What a great idea! I am going to get one for Abby... and maybe me too!

2009-07-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all those who came to the Home and Garden Expo in Long Beach last weekend. It was good to see some old friends! Our next show will be August 28th - 30th at the Exclusive Premier Women's Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center. The show hours are as follows:

Friday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Not only will you receive show specials and products that you won't find on our site (like $2.00 off all bows!), the expo is going to be fabulous! They have some amazing speakers, stylists, products, etc. all exclusively for women! Gather the gals, and take a day off! Get advice from the experts, stock up on awesome products, (and bows of course ;) ) and have a blast! I hope to see you all there!

4th of July

2009-07-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great time on the 4th! What a great holiday- I just love to splurge on everything American... big juicy hamburgers, country music, stars and stripes everywhere! Here is a photo of our little 'Firecracker' sporting Firecracker Gumdrops. To celebrate the holiday we headed over to a local park where the city hosted a huge 4th of July parade, vendor fair and fireworks show. I couldn't believe how crowded it was! Hundreds of people with pop-up tents and grills BBQ'n all day and playing football. Such fun! Abby had a great time running around in the kids section where they had about 15 inflatable mazes, bouncers and slides. We took off before the fireworks show to get the kids in bed. After skipping her nap, Abby had a very 'glazed' look in her eyes and began ignoring orders from mom and dad, so for our own sanity we decided to let her catch the fireworks next year. With kids in bed, Tom and I headed up to our balcony with a few sodas to watch the distant fireworks shows. All in all, it was a great holiday!

The Spider

2009-07-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

So I have a HUGE, unexplainable fear of spiders. Big or small, to me they are all equally terrifying. The other night while I was crafting, a giant Daddy Longleggs came strolling over the arm of our couch and made a reach for my arm. Lucky my 'Spidey Sense' was on and I noticed the terrifying creature just in time to jump through the air faster than the speed of light. Normally I would call my hubby to come wrangle the lanky beast and relocate him outside. However, to my dismay, my hubby had fallen asleep on the next couch over, and was looking rather peaceful. Not having the heart to wake him, it was all I could to to find a Ziploc container and trap the spider inside. Releasing him at that hour was COMPLETELY out of the question (it was dark, and what if he jumped on me?) so I placed him (in his tightly sealed container) on our kitchen counter, thinking I would inform my husband in the morning, and he would release him.

By the next afternoon I forgotten all about the spider lurking in the ziploc, and by this time, he had been camoflauged in an ever-growing pile of dishes. When my husband started doing the dishes, I didn't think anything of it. Then, my poor, unsuspecting husband reached for the ziploc.... imagine his surprise when, after removing the lid of this innocent-looking container, a giant spider jumped out and began climbing up his arm! After struggling with the beast for several minutes, he finally managed to stuff it down the garbage disposal.

After telling me the story with a laugh, my sweet hubby requested that any future trapped spiders be placed on another part of the counter. I sheepishly ablidged.

And we're off!

2009-06-30T13:52:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Sweet Abigail Blog! This is where you will find all the 'Sweet' tidbits that go on behind the scenes of Sweet Abigail: juggling the kiddos, the piles of laundry, the messy craft area in the garage... and everything else that goes into being a Super Mommy by day and a Crazy Crafter by night.

I have to give kuddos to my AMAZING web designer, Bobbie of The Nifty Studio. Absolutely the most wonderful person to work with, she made all my design dreams come true. Her style is right up my alley, and her creations are brilliant. I couldn't be more pleased with the work she did for me, and I have received countless compliments! She created the web design for Sweet Abigail after a thought I had of my Abby running through a field chasing butterflies. The designs she came up with are just adorable! She is so talented!

Please bear with me as I struggle to get all the remaining products up on the site. My 9 month old son just started walking and teething last week- quite the combo. Poor guy! Poor Mom! Big sister Abby has been such a great little mommy- fetching him an endless supply of crackers and warning me when he gets too close to any toilet or stairs (did I mention he is lightning fast.. and he has been somehow equipt with a stealth mode). I usually work at night- kids in bed at 8pm, mom up until work is done. Lately, however, my teething munchkin wakes up every 1/2 hour until I give up around 10 and just take him to bed with me. There goes all my work hours! I promise I will get everything up soon.

Well in light of the recent success of the BabyTime Expo in San Diego, we will be appearing in about 1 expo a month for the rest of the year. Please check the Event Calendar on my site for dates and times. If any of them are near you, shows are a great way to take advantage of show specials and stock up on products! You will find deals and products there that aren't on our site!