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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Everyday Life, Life Lately, Shay ·

Life lately…is it Friday yet?


Hello life lately.  I’m ready for Friday.
So, this week kicked my hiney just a tad.  Nothing too major…but still, I could use a weekend. 
 Andrew left for a ski trip to Vail and immediately following his departure, Smith got strep.  Which thankfully it was only strep and nothing worse…but you know, boo.  Kid home from school sick…two other kids to get from A to B. 
 Ashby’s nosebleeds decided to come back with a vengeance this week.  They were out of control and then we got them under control and apparently, they’re back to being out of control.  Twice this week, they’ve started in the car which is super frustrating because you’re driving down the road and all of a sudden your kid starts saying “my nose is bleeding mommy” and you look in the rear view mirror and it looks like some kind of crime scene…that you can’t help with because…you are driving.
Annnnnd…they called me back for another mammogram and another ultrasound.  Sigh.  Apparently, my girls enjoy being squished because this keeps happening.  I had a mammogram last Tuesday (my 4th one in 12 months) and then they called me back on Monday and said those words you never want to hear…we found a small mass on your right side that we would like to investigate further.  Oh heaven help me.  So, on Thursday morning, I had yet another mammogram and then I waited for the radiologist…and then they wanted more…so all together, they took 8 additional images and thankfully, they have decided conclusively that it is nothing to worry about…but still, that’s not a fun way to spend your morning.  
So…all of that to say…I’m ready for Friday.  And a vacation (even if it does involve 6 kids seven and under).  #amen
Here are a few pics from our week…
 We had a gender reveal party for another family member on Saturday night.  Catherine and I both wore pink thinking it was a girl…

…but much to Smith’s delight…it’s a boy.  He’s the only boy cousin on my side of the family…so to say he was overjoyed would be an understatement.  He even wore pink because he said we only get girls in our family.  Not any longer little man!

 Hanging with my sidekick on Monday morning.  I love this girl.

We headed to our grocery store (which is pretty spectacular if I do say so myself) and she wanted pizza for lunch.  Who am I to deny her pizza?  I had sushi (which they hand roll there in store).
Strep kid, second mammogram…things got in the way of my gym time this week so I practiced yoga at home instead.  I heart yoga.
Strep blows man.  He’s all better today…but he did not feel well.  Poor kid!
 The big guy’s glasses came in this week.  He had been so disappointed when he found out he had to wear glasses for reading and such, but now…he’s pumped.  He was so proud of his new frames :).

Morning shenanigans with my three four.
Okay…on my foodie blog today…
…Roasted Garlic & Tomato Pasta because…pasta makes me happy.
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Comments

  7. ari says

    So sorry for your rough week…sounds like you need a big girls getaway weekend too!!:) I love your yoga mat-where is it from and do u love it-i have a hard time with the grip on those! Thank u!!

  9. M Martinez says

    So glad everything is ok!! Why is it that everything tends to happen when your hubby is gone? I've experienced this chaos many times myself. I hope today is extra peaceful for you. 🙂

  10. Joy Woods says

    Sorry to hear about your call back – those calls make your stomach drop! Have you thought about getting a breast MRI? No radiation and the doctor can get a clear look at the breast – especially if you have any dense breast tissue.

    !! Have you thought about getting a breast MRI? No radiation and the doctor can get a clearer view – especially if you have any dense breast tissue.

  12. Melissa says

    Sorry you had a rough week!!! I'm so glad you got good news from the radiologist and hope you get some rest and fun this weekend : ) Hugs!

  13. Carrie says

    My daughter has been getting nose bleeds in the last couple of weeks, too! Ugh! It is frustrating! I have had to run her up new clothes at school at least two times this year (one time was from earlier this winter and one time just recently). We put a humidifier in her room, doing saline nose spray and vaseline in the morning and evening on inner bottom tips of her nose and it seems to help! It is the dry weather and her getting over a cold. It is stressful and I have my phone on my hip at all times, worried school will call me! I'd put clothes in her school bag, but she doesn't want me to since its embarrassing since she's in 1st grade. Sigh. What's a mom gotta do. I am glad your girls are ok! You need to treat yourself to something special this weekend, you've had a week!!!!!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

  15. kelly says

    I always think of Smith as resembling you but he looks so much like andrew in the pic where he's sick with strep. And what a cutie in those glasses!! Glad everything turned out ok for you but sounds like a looong week!

  16. Nicole says

    Praying you have a restful, blessed weekend! You deserve it! Phew!

    I know you used to run, if you skip the gym – do you ever go for a run? Or only yoga at home?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I go to the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays and then try to run once a week. I also try to incorporate yoga 1-2 times a week. I try. This doesn't always work out that way. I couldn't run this week, because I couldn't leave the house with my sick kid inside and no adult home…thus, lots of yoga :).

  17. Laura says

    Hey Shay, thanks for your blog. Have you ever tried something called Blood Cease from the pharmacy? (It is gauze, nothing to be taken.) My sons doctor suggested, we tried it, we were amazed and so thankful. It has helped tremendously! This stops the bloody noses in 2 minutes or less versus the 30-45 or longer ones from before.

  20. ~Kristen says

    Have you heard of thermography or a thermogram? They are less invasive (no smoothing and radiation) and actually detect breast cancer befor a mammogram. My chiropractor has someone at her office once a month who does them.

  21. Mackenzie says

    Wow- sounds like you had one of those weeks! You know what they say, "bad" things come in threes, so I think you're good for a bit now 🙂 So happy to hear that the mass was nothing big.

  22. babyone says

    I can totally sympathize with the nosebleeds. I think it has something to do with the change of the seasons because that's when my oldest always gets hers. We've had her nose cauterized twice and that helped for a while, but now it's come back. But a lot of times they don't. Also there are nose bleed stoppers at CVS, it's a drugstore if you guys have that. I keep a box in my car and at home. They are great for when it's a bad one:( I feel your pain, they are not fun! Best wishes! Oh also our ENT told us to use the BAby oil Gel, just in her nose every night

  23. Sandy P says

    Hey Shay,
    I was wondering if you got the same reasoning from your eye doctor that we got for my 5 year old. She also has reading glasses. The doctor told me this is something she will outgrow in a few years. The eyes are not fully developed at 5 and 6. It use to be something they would not correct because they were still developing their eyesight. Now, with all the reading kids are required to do at this age, they are correcting it more. I was just wondering if it was a similar situation with Smith. It was a very interesting thought to me.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We were told that he probably wouldn't out grow them and that if he didn't wear them now, he would need to wear them all the time by the time he was in middle school. Maybe he will out grow them though? That would be awesome!

  25. Andrea K says

    Sounds like a rough week! Have your Drs considered doing an MRI of your breast instead of all the radiation from mammograms? Just a thought, seems like you have had so many recently! Benefit over risk for sure but you are so young too!

  26. J. Woods says

    That week sounds rough; of course it would line up with husband's vacation! My little one gets crazy nosebleeds as well–mostly in the middle of the night. Someone suggested coating the inside of her nostrils with personal lubricant. I know–weird. However, it has worked well for us and maybe would for Ashby as well.

    P.S. I made your mushroom risotto last night–so delicious. Husband approved! He kept brainstorming other things we could eat it with (we ate it as the main dish last night). He said he would like roasted pork loin with a side of the risotto. Maybe next week.

  28. JeanCaroline says

    Wait, if the new baby boy is gonna be Smith's cousin isn't the only option that it's Sean and Catherine's baby? Sean's your only sibling. Unless you meant like extended family so second and third cousins.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Well, no…Andrew isn't an only child, so they have cousins from two sides of their family. That being said, my family is small, and there are only four cousins, so everyone calls each other Aunt _ or Uncle _ and my cousins' kids are called cousins by my kids.

    • JeanCaroline says

      You said Smith was the only boy cousin on your side of the family until this new one is born. That's why I was confused. The "cousin" is not an actual first cousin. Got it.

  29. kkarr says

    Poor kiddos! (And poor you!!) Those hemostatic products work great for bloody noses and cuts, but are usually packaged individually, so not sure if it's something Ashby can open on her own at her age if you were driving. I keep an empty extra-large cup in the cup holder near my kids' car seats for motion sickness emergencies and it sounds like it might also work for your situation in addition to getting the hemostat. The big cups have wider openings for catching stuff, and it's just easier to tell your panicking kiddo to hold the cup up to their face and under their chin until you can safely pullover to help them. I hope Andrew gets back nice and relaxed to give you some extra time to yourself!! 😉

  33. Jenna says

    I can totally relate to Ashby. 🙁 Back in May, I was having them everyday (and it stunk!). This winter, I've been doing NeilMed Sinus Rinse everyday; It takes less then a minute and works great. Hope Smith feels better soon, too. 🙂

  34. Courtney says

    Oh I hate those call backs. I had one a few weeks ago when they told me I had two masses in my lungs and after a CT scan they confirmed it was nothing suspicious. Praise the Lord! So glad all is well!! Praying for your sweet girl and her journey as well as mamas!

  37. Astleigh H. says

    Sounds like you are certainly in need of the weekend, and i hope you get a lovely one! I had nosebleeds all the time as a kid, so I can totally empathize with sweet Ashby. Using saline spray and a dab of vaseline really helped!

    p.s. If you us in the title of your sidebar images/gadgets, you won't have to use periods! I discovered that and it made all the difference on my blog! Those pesky periods are no more!

    xo,
    Astleigh @ Hill Collection

  39. Carrie says

    My midwives recently shared this about mammography
    http://www.stopcancerfund.org/p-breast-cancer/update-when-should-women-start-regular-mammograms-40-50-and-how-often-is-regular/

    It does point out the downside of getting so many x-rays. My Mom had a similar experience due to having a lot of cysts in her breasts and some other things. She had tons of call backs and biopsies until they did things differently.

    Nose bleeds in the car, ugh. An emergency nosebleed kit beside her carseat would help maybe? some paper towels and a plastic bag and some lessons on pinching her nose at the bottom? It might at least give you time to pull the car over and help her.

  41. Jennifer says

    What a stressful week! And of course when you're hubby is out of town, it makes it that much more! Glad everyone's feeling better and that you're ok. Smith's glasses are absolutely adorable!

  44. Jeanie says

    My goodness, that was a totally crapola week. I'm so glad the "mass" is nothing to worry about. Smith really looks sick in the picture where he's laying on the chair, but looks totally happy and handsome in his new glasses. I hope Ashby's nose bleeds stop soon and forever.

  47. Mandii M says

    You did have an exhausting week! Glad all od your mammograms came back good. Smith in those glasses is just too darn precious! He looks adorable!

  48. Megan says

    Smith is so cute in his glasses!! And poor kid- glad he is feeling better! What's with kids waiting for daddy to leave to get sick! It always happens that way.

  49. giginpink says

    Bless your heart for having such a week! You are definitely in need of a restful weekend!!! I guess all is well with sweet Kensington since there was no mention of anything with her. (You needed something somewhat normal!) Glad all the other things are looking better! Smith does look like a mini Andrew in the big chair.

  50. Kim W says

    Shay, I so enjoyed reading this post! You're honesty is refreshing and it was such an encouragement to be reminded that I'm not the only one who deals with weeks like this. Happy Friday to you!

  51. Chaeli says

    Shay, I love your blog, I love your consistency, and I love your heart!! Thanks for sharing!! A couple from our church started a sweet company that sells the most adorable children's glasses (check them out here: http://jonaspauleyewear.com/) and I wanted to send the website your way since you may be buying several pairs in your future 🙂 God bless!!

  52. Rebecca Carl says

    Sorry to hear your week was so stressed. Hoping the weekend is awesome to make up for it. Smith is sooooooocute in his glasses, hope he feels better. Sounds like Ashby needs her own little towel to carry around for those nosebleeds. You are such a good mom. Congrats on Catherine and Shawn (and Smith's) baby boy! Prayers and love ♡

  53. Sara says

    If you are looking for some more yoga options, I put this app on my Ipad called FitVid Yoga. It has all these different yoga programs on there. I am in the middle of a 14 day yoga challenge that's under DoYogaWithMe. And it's all free and amazing! I hope you have a relaxing weekend!

  54. Lindsay at Lindsay'sSweetWorld says

    Oh Shay, what a week! Thank goodness for the weekend!! It sounds like you just need to kick back, snuggle up with your hubs, and veg for a while. So glad that you got good news from your radiologist… that must have been hard to handle while Andrew was out of town. Do some serious relaxing this weekend! You deserve it!