Essentials - oral dispenser locking cap

Seraph has meds 3-8 times per day.  Sometimes I'm not home when it's time for meds.  Packing for a doctor's appointment, I always draw out any meds that she might need while we're gone and take them with me.  Previously, this was a pain in the be-hind!  Then I found this treasure:

I tested the seal with water.  Pushing with a fair amount of pressure did NOT pop off the cap.  Pulling created a vacuum inside that pulled the syringe back to where I'd started when I let go.

I used to fill the syringes and then tape them to a hard strip of plastic to keep them safe.  This is soooo much nicer.  I love it when people invent stuff like this.  Thanks, NeoMed :)

I get them through my favorite pharmacy--not the bland one you find at any grocery store but the nice pharmacy that does compounding.  If your compounding pharmacy doesn't carry them, you might slip the pharmacist this web addy:  http://www.neomedinc.com/distributors.php?dist=13.  

Aside from the cap, they are very sturdy.  They fit well into the connections I use--the bottle and the tubes.

Essentials - Baby Swing

The day after Angel came home from the hospital, I ran to Target and bought this swing.

Angel asleep in the Fisher-Price Open-Top Cradle Swing

I LOVE this swing!!!!  Sexy Haqon freaked out a bit at the cost ($100).  I promised him it was worth it.  Angel slept.  Naps.  Night. Mom and Dad slept. Sexy Haqon smothered me with kisses and asked if we should buy another one for Seraph. (We didn't buy a second one.  Angel slept in while Seraph was at the hospital.  Seraph slept in it when she was home. If we'd had both twins home that first night, I'm sure we would've bought them each their own swing.)

Best money a new mom can spend!

Things I love about this swing:

-not expensive compared to other swings

-helps baby/mom/dad get sleep at night

-Plugs into the wall!!!  (Ever run out of batteries with your swing?)

-Craddle swing - can rock back and forth or side to side.

-bright colors

Swinging activates baby's lymph system.  This helps them feel better and their immune system run more efficiently.

In the hospital, when Seraph was very sick and not really getting better we twisted arms until we got her a swing.  Her lungs started clearing out (duh!), her oxygen needs came down, and they were able to move her out of the ICU. Since then, every time she goes to the hospital (once she's well enough to get out of bed) we request a swing.

Cradle swings are hard to find in the hospital.  They break easily if you put someone in it who's over the weight limit.  Therefore, the last two times Seraph was hospitalized, we brought her swing from home!

When we were bolus-feeding Seraph, we'd hang the milk from the top of her swing. (also for venting when she was little)

Seraph needed to keep her head elevated for her reflux when she was tiny.  Her doctors said the swing was just right for that. She'd kick back and put her feet up on the little post that's between the feet

When Angel was learning to walk, she'd pull herself up onto Seraph's swing to play with her and bring her toys.  As Seraph's learning to walk, she pulls herself up holding the swing to play with the mobile.  All the kids love the music.

I think it's more important to have this swing for a newborn than a crib! (atleast until baby is old enough to start rolling.) 

Put a baby blanket under the baby in the swing to catch any diaper leaks.  The fabric is machine washable if it does get dirty.

(No paid promotions were involved in this post--just my unsolicited opinion.)

More pictures:

Essentials - Ramit

New segment today that I'm really excited about:

Raine's Essentials are things that I couldn't live with out, things I wouldn't have survived the past 2 years without, and things I desperately NEED want!

Pregnant with momo twins, and facing a 7 week hospital inpatient stay, the first thing I remember doing:  setting my finances in order.  I do the finances in our family. Pregnant = forgetful.  I set up everything to be as automated as possible....and then I stumbled across this lovely book:

Before I spent $10 on the book, I'd read posts from Ramit's website. I like his style--boy's got spunk.  He doesn't hold back.  Lifehacker interviews him here. He's been on NPR, morning shows, newspapers, etc.

Best $10 I ever spent.  I'd saved myself $29 in fees by the end of the first week.  Since then I've MADE (tax free) money with a Roth IRA for retirement.  I knew nothing about investing before I grabbed his book.

(He also has a continuing segment called the money diaries that I enjoy.)

OK - and here's the best part  - after reading his book...the 2 times when I found myself with financial questions that weren't already answered, I emailed him.  Both times, he responded within 10 minutes (even though it was after midnight!) and we chatted until my questions were resolved.  Now I'm not saying it's gonna be that way for everyone...but I found it pretty amazing! (I wonder if he's figured out how to get around the whole need-sleep issue.)

Anyway, go check out his website and his book.  You'll be glad you did. 

(No paid promotions were involved in this post--just my unsolicited opinion.)