Review: The Mighty Handle

OK Moms.  You know that moment.  You just pulled up in the driveway with a car load full of groceries. One kid is grumpy because we didn't stop at the gumball machine and the other is already crying to be held. Just me?  Oh. Well I am pretty sure I am not the only mom who tries to get every last bag in one trip.  Am I right or am I right.  I do this every time.  Bags up to my elbows and I wobble up to the door.  Most days I'm pretty good about unlocking the door first.  Some days not so good.  Then I have to set all the bags down, because by then my hands are turning blue and I can't lift my arm all the way up thanks to the gallons of milk weighing me down.  Then once the doors unlocked I slide each bag back up my arm and go rolling the though house like a mac truck.  And most of the time, my little sister is coming in right behind me, doing the same thing!

Mighty Handle to the rescue.  I will admit, I was a little skeptical at first.  When I took it out of the box, my little one shouted, "cool toy" and I thought there is no way this is going to work!  But this little guy lives up to its name.

The Mighty Handle is lightweight and easy to store in your car or purse even.  Its even easier to use. Just hook the handles of your bags on the hook, making sure to distribute the weight on each side.  And when I come inside, I can twist the handles to close the bags up and keep curious dog noses and little hands out of them. You can do this when you put your bags in the car to keep your bags from spilling out on the drive home.

I was able to carry my bag of canned goods, a gallon of milk, boxes of cereal and pastas, a bag of chips, a 5lb bag of potatoes and a few other things into the kitchen with ease in one hand.  And all without any bruises or red marks on my forearms. Love it!  And by carrying all my groceries comfortable in one hand, my other hand was able to close the van doors and hold my little ones hand.  Fewer Trips back and forth and less of a struggle with the little ones make this little guy a winner in my book.  Each one can carry up to 50lbs.

The only con I have, and its a user error and not at all a problem with the Mighty Handle itself.  Its just that I am short!  And so If I leave my hands hanging and try to carry things, they usually skim the ground.  But then all I have to do is lift them up.  Its a welcome work out though, so I will not complain.  I suppose I could throw some heels on next time I go shopping.  That would work too!

One more great thing about the Mighty Handle.  They are worth it.  At $9.99 for a two pack.  You can find and buy a pair HERE!

**I received this Mighty Handle in exchange for my review.  All opinions are honest and my own.**

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Hope for tomorrow

The past few days have been rough.  Sleep has been is hard to come by and my appetite is doing this annoying up and down thing.  I've had some really great moments over the last week.  And some pretty low ones.  Its crazy how different a hour can be from the one before.  I'm trying to figure out whats wrong.  Looking for a sign or a reason why I feel so out of sorts.

But then I have to remind myself that this is my life. Some days I am OK with it.  And some days I am just angry at the world.  I am sick.  I have a liver disease and I know it is only going to get worse before it gets better.  I look at all I have to be strong for and I get hyped up.  And then the pain sets in and its like a slap in the face.  Knocking me back to reality.

The pain in my side has only been getting worse.  A constant throbbing that aches so deep in my body. Hows that for a sign. A reminder that things are a little different for me.  I've had a few days of pretty bad nausea.  And today I'm just feeling flat out beat.  Been ready for bed since I woke up this morning.  The past few days I have been short with the boys and angry at a lot of things.  I'm not myself.  I've disconnected and I can feel the dark closing in around me.

Its the little things that pull me though. Things that remind me what I am fighting for. Today at dinner time it was just Ant and I.  We talked about school and what they have been learning.  As he was explaining it to me, I had a flash back to the conversations we would have when he was little.  Hes not that little boys talking about cars and toys anymore.  It was nice.  Something I think we both needed after days of driving each other up the wall!

Every year when October starts creeping up on me, I'm reminded of the days when all this started.  Five years.   5. I've been doing this.  The mood swings, the fear, the anger followed by the happy days and thankfulness. This round just seems to be more negative that positive.  I'm tired of all the drama and stress that have been piling up on me. I need a shift.  A change.  Something to pull me up for a breath because I feel like I am drowning.  

Here is to Tomorrow.  A fresh start.  Another new beginning.  A better day.

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Invisible Illness. Visible me!

If you were to see me in the grocery store, you wouldn't even know.  You might pass me on my walk to the bus stop and you will never see it.  That mom in the parking lot coasting on the cart with two smiling boys hanging on for dear life, that's me!  You might laugh but you would have never guessed.  Photos of me and photos I take don't show the whole picture.  We could talk, hold a full on conversation, but you would have no clue. I am one of thousands living with an invisible illness

I have Budd Chiari Syndrome.  A rare liver disease.  Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of it too. The typical response to finding this out, people always say "you don't look sick" or something along the line. That's the deal with invisible illnesses.  Unless you are the one living with it, or are told, you don't see it.

Every morning I wake up, take a deep breath try to convince myself I have the energy to get out of bed.  When I roll out of bed, I cringe.  My body is stiff and that sharp pain in my side is a reminder or the monster living inside of me.  I walk to the bathroom, turn on the light and stare at myself in the mirror.  I ask myself.  Am I pale?  Are my eyes still yellow?  I wipe away the blood that drips from my nose after another nosebleed.  I take a few more deep breaths, wash my face and look again.  I am awake.  There are bags under my eyes after a night of tossing and turning.  The veins in my chest and neck are so dark.  My hair is thinning again.  But the truth is, I don't look sick. Tired, maybe.  Sick, no.

On a typical morning with no appointments, I chase down my morning meds with some ice cold water and something small to eat.  I check my sons backpack and make sure he is dressed and ready.  I have a window of time before I get sick, so off to the bust stop we go.  I pray the bus isn't late because I look forward to talking to the other parents for a bit before I have go home.  By the time I hit the door, I can feel the energy I worked so hard to convince myself I have, draining out of me.  For the next 4 -6 hours I will be running to the bathroom.  My little one wakes up while I am lying on the couch and gives me my morning hugs.  I wonder if I have the energy to be a good enough mom that day.  I make him something to eat and try to get some chores done.  Some days my energy is better than others.

Some days I have the energy to just be what my oldest calls a "regular mom".  We play cars on the rug or we chase each other around acting like ninjas.  Some days we are a lot more low key.  We color or snuggle up and watch a movie.  I make it a goal to do a few exciting activities each week.   An alarm goes off to remind me that its lunch time.  Most days I will make something for Alex only.  I will snack on something small but I am usually still sick so I keep it light.  I hop on the computer for a little bit.  Before I know it, another alarm reminds me its time to head to the bus stop.  Shortly after we get home another alarm tells me to start dinner.   No matter how tired I am, I have to feed my family.  Dinners are kept pretty simple these days.  But food is always on the table.  Sometimes later than usual, but there none the less.  While dinner is cooking I try to pick up the house and freshen up so David isn't to shocked when he gets home!  After dinner its time for baths and bedtime for the boys. I have day/night reversal, insomnia and anxiety all keeping me awake after everyone is sound asleep.  

The hardest days are the ones where I actually have to leave the house.  I recently had to say no to being the team mom for my sons Soccer team because I knew there was just no way I could.  Its hard enough for me to put on a happy face and make it though practice.  I have to mentally and physically prepare myself for my these days.   They are almost as draining as my meds.  Our school schedule is starting to settle in.  Soccer practice Mondays and Wednesdays.  Speech Thursdays and Fridays.  And weekends are spent running all the errands I can't do during the week because I am not allowed to drive.  Its frustrating.  And as much as I dread these days, I look forward to getting out of the house for a little bit.  Even lab work can be exciting!

This is my life.  It is painful and frustrating.  But it is also amazing.   I have the sweetest craziest boys.  They love me unconditionally.  I have a husband who never lets me give in but knows when not to push me.  I have a support system of family and friends who always lift me up on the bad days.  I will fight my illness every day with all I have.  You may not see it, but its there.  My illness is invisible, but I am not!

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Happiness is ______ {Week 19} #happinessis

Lisa over at Crazy Adventures in Parenting has a weekly series where we share what happiness is.  Every week I look forward to Wednesday because I love sharing all my happiness with everyone.  This week was no different.

Happiness is camping in the back yard.  Before we were getting ready to bed the kids all disappeared and I was worried that they were not coming back.  But sure enough, they did.  And they all made it the whole night...piled up around me....even though they had the whole other side of the tent to themselves.  I'm not complaining either.  I was just happy to make some memories.

They were having fun.  Doesn't look like it though!

Happiness is stopping by Baskin Robbins after a hot afternoon of soccer practice.  I haven't had orange sherbet in a long time, but I could almost hear my dad telling me to change it up from my usual pistachio.  We used to get one of each and then share because we could never decide which one we wanted.

Happiness is a beautiful sunrise on the walk to the bus stop.  I am not a morning person, but seeing the amazing and always different sunrises ever morning make being up early so much better!  Anthony said I must have loved this one because its all different shades of purple and according to him that's my favorite color.  I guess a silver sunset would be kinda boring.  

Happiness is a best friend.  One who will never leave your side.  Knows when to be serious.  And one who will share his bed with you.  Even if it means he has to hang his head over the edge and you only have enough room for half of your body :)  These two are inseparable.  It makes me so happy to know they have each other!

What made you happy this week?  Did you get to spend time with loved ones or do something that you really enjoy?  I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and first few weeks back to school.  Don't forget to stop by Crazy Adventures in Parenting and see what is making the rest of the gang happy this week!  

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