day 3: meaning of my name

A lot of you may be wondering where my blog name came from, how I came up with it. As I have previously mentioned i have 4 kids. They are currently 11,10,8 and 6. They are all very close in age as you can tell. When I created this blog my kids were all little. I had 3 in diapers at one at one point. My girls are Irish twins, so less than a year apart. As you can imagine things have been and can be very hectic and crazy at times. I started this blog to talk about our crazy adventures. When we threw in special needs things got even crazier and Crazy Mommy Blog was born. 

day 2: 20 facts about me

1. I have Irish twins 

2. I am a huge Disney fan 

3. I love camping 

4. I am terribly afraid of snakes.

5. I have 4 tattoos ( but that’s another post)

6. I love cats

7. I love building miniatures 

8. I am currently going through IVF to have a baby.

9. I love Dolphins

 10. I love sugar skulls 

11. I love working with kids. I have been babysitting like 20 years and I have worked in daycares.

12. I am also a huge Harry Potter fan. I am a Hufflepuff.

13. I love the beach

 14. I have my associates degree in medical administrative assisting. I got the degree while pregnant with my youngest in online school from Ultimate Medical Academy 

15. currently working on my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from University of the Cumberlands. 

16. My favorite color is blue.

17. I love baking and wish I was good enough to do it for others.

18. I have ran a 5k and was super proud of myself. Finished in under an hour just about a month after a major car accident

 19. I was in a major car accident back in 2019 after being ran off the Highway by a semi truck.

20. I have 1 brother and no sisters. He is 8.5 years younger than me.

day 1: reintroduction

Hello everyone. Some of you have been here a while and others may be new here. For some this may be your very first time seeing my blog. I feel this would be a good time to reintroduce myself. My name is Ashley. I am originally from Ohio and moved to Florida earlier this year. I was married to my ex husband for 10 years we had 5 kids together. We have 4 on earth who are 11,10, almost 9 and 6. We also have 1 in Heaven who passed at birth 8 years ago. We are now divorced. 

I got remarried to my amazing husband in March of this year and we are currently going through IVF to have a baby of our own. We live in Kissimmee, Florida but moving over to Tampa to be closer to the beach.

i have my associates degree in medical administrative assisting, but my dream career is to work with kids, so I am currently working on my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

 That is the basics about me feel free to look through all my previous posts and be on the lookout for my new posts to learn more. In the comments tell me something about you.

Oscar’s 8th birthday in Heaven

On this day 8 years ago I gave birth to a beautiful 5oz 7.5 inch baby boy. He was only 16 weeks 4 days and passed shortly after birth. There has not been a day since that I haven’t thought of him. Happy 8th birthday in Heaven baby boy I miss you. This year you have someone special to celebrate with as I lost one of my best friends a little over a month ago. I know Casey is giving you a big celebration today. 

 

another IVF update

Hello everyone. Figured I would update everyone on where we are with IVF. My husband’s genetic results came back that he is not a carrier of the same things I am so no further testing is needed on that front. That doesn’t mean nothing can happen as my husband does have HLHS and cleft lip and palate, but that will be checked once we are pregnant and get far enough along. As for now my medicines have been ordered and are awaiting shipment. We are just waiting on my next cycle to start which should be around October 5. This will put our retrieval around October 18 and the transfer around the 23. If this results in a pregnancy we will be due July 2022!!! I will keep everyone updated as things progress.

ivf update

Well it’s been a little bit since I first posted about our IVF journey. We had our consultation back at the end of June. They ordered a genetic carrier screening test for me to see if I was a carrier for anything on that screen and it did come back that I am a carrier for two different things on there that can both potentially be very life-threatening. So the next step is going to be to test my husband to see if he is also a carrier for those things. After we do that we will finish up our blood test and the semen analysis then go from there. We will hopefully be ready for a transfer around October or November.

I will attach a picture that tells you what the two things are that I am a carrier for. I could also potentially be a carrier for other things as well as my husband just things that they don’t test for on that screen especially my husband with him having the hypoplastic left heart syndrome and the cleft lip and palate so we have a lot of decisions to make but also depends on what the semen analysis says because he potentially could not have the ability to have kids. 

Practice Makes Perfect During the Pandemic

 Have your kids been missing out on dance lessons? While the pandemic has thrown off

everyone’s regimen, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep up a semblance of your old routine. In

fact, now might be the ideal time to set up a studio space to play with some styles — try a few

new steps and work on your form. While it won’t replace formal instruction, when you can return

to the studio, you’ll be ready to dance up a storm with these tips courtesy of Crazy Mommy!

Hone Skills and Learn New Ones

Trying to establish an in-home routine isn’t the same as going to a professional. Your dance

buddies aren’t there, the instructors can’t engage you directly, and you don’t have the space

and equipment that a professional studio offers. However, the next best thing is in-home

practice, and that begins with finding your inspiration.

● Stream sessions. You don’t have to totally miss out on the studio since you can

participate in fun virtual classes.

● Embrace a classic. Ballet is centuries old and still alive and well, and the basics carry

over into other dance styles.

● Try new flavors. If your home routine gets dull, spice it up with a little salsa.

● Add old school moves. Give the 90s a nod by tossing some hip hop into your regimen.

● Click and clack away. Just for kicks, another idea is to toss in some tap.

Your Space, Your Way

Having your own studio space tailored to your needs ensures you can practice whenever

inspiration strikes. Contemplate what areas in your home are out of the way and underused,

and think about what it will take to make it into your dream studio.

● See yourself. Mirrors are a must-have! You can buy Mylar sheeting as an inexpensive

solution; it comes in under $35 per roll.

● Brighten the space. Think about what types of lighting the space will need.

● Quiet down. Unless your studio is in an outbuilding, garage, or basement, noise might

be a problem, so you may want to soundproof your space.

● What’s underfoot. Dancing is definitely a full-body sport. To help avoid strains and

injuries, choose flooring that will keep you comfortable and safe.

● Keep it clean. Aim for a hygienic studio space.

Maintain Your Motivation

Dance is good for you, and you already know that. But you might not realize just how good for

you it is. As you contemplate your project and setting up a routine, focus on the carrot at the end

of the stick.

● Body and mind. Dancing is loaded with physical and mental health benefits, from better

cardio fitness to stress reduction.

● Personal space. Your household has likely spent a lot of time together over the last

year, so this is your chance to be alone.

● Home improvement. Your house is your biggest investment, so sprucing it up with a

new studio is one great way to enhance its value.

Are you ready to create your own home studio? A place to practice gives you a chance to stay

in shape and decompress. What’s more, it ensures you keep up — and even improve — your

hard-earned skills. When you get back into the professional studio, you’ll wow your instructor

with your improvement!

IVF Journey

 Ok so in my last post I promised a post about our IVF journey. After I had Silas 6 years ago I had my tubes tied because my ex husband didn't want anymore children. Well here I am no longer with him and now happily remarried. My husband loves my kids like no other, but he has no kids of his own. Since we already have my 4, we only want 1 or 2 kids. Instead of putting my body through another surgery to try to do a tubal reversal which may or may not be successful to only have 1 or 2 kids, we have decided to do IVF. We have our consultation with a fertility clinic on June 14. Of course insurance doesn't cover IVF so we have to pay all out of pocket. We are fundraising to try to help cover some of the costs.

T-Shirt Fundraiser

Above is the link to our t-shirt fundraiser. Feel free to support us and all proceeds will go straight to IVF costs.

If you don't want to buy a t-shirt but still want to help here is our GoFundMe. 

I will continue to post our updates on our journey for those interested so be on the lookout. 

update

Well hello everyone. It has been a little while since I have posted because things have been busy. I moved to Florida back in January and I now work for Sea World at Discovery Cove. We are at peak time with spring break right now so been working 6 days a week.

 Oh in other good news I got married to my best friend on Wednesday March 17!!! It was an intimate ceremony at the park on a beautiful day and we couldn’t be happier.

 Our next stop besides getting a goose is to have kids. We will have to do ivf so I will be writing about our journey here to keep everyone updated. I will be writing a separate post about that later.

SeaWorld Orlando Announces First Inside Look Weekends of 2021 with Limited Capacity for a Special Peek Behind-the-Scenes of a World-Class Animal Care Facility

 At SeaWorld Orlando’s Inside Look, guests can go behind-the-scenes to hear and see firsthand what goes into providing world-class animal care from the experts who do it every day. This special event features six unique, entirely behind-the-scenes locations, accessible in small groups to limit capacity and maintain safe physical distancing. Guests can also attend an intimate socially distanced Trainer Talk with one of the park’s animal care specialists! Inside Look tours and trainer talks are available at each location at various times throughout the day. 

 

In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures, including enhanced cleaning and sanitation, temperature checks, and face covering requirements, capacity will be significantly limited to create even more open space for a visit that promotes safes physical distancing. The weekend event takes place Saturdays and Sundays, January 9-17 and is included with park admission. To learn more, visit: https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/inside-look/

 

Inside Look Locations:

 

SeaWorld Rescue Center

Guests can visit the home base of the SeaWorld Rescue Team and meet and hear from the dedicated veterinarians, animal care personnel, lab technicians and filtration experts who work around the clock to deliver life-saving care to animals in need.

 

Dive Operations at Manatee Underwater Viewing

SeaWorld’s team of divers has some of the park’s most challenging and interesting responsibilities. Here, guests will meet the divers, learn more about the basics of diving, and find out about some of the little-known secrets of what it takes to be a part of SeaWorld’s dive team.

 

Beluga & Seal Primary Housing

Step into the maze of back hallways that provide service access to the beluga whales and harbor seals that call Wild Arctic home. Plus, guests can meet the team that spends their days caring for these incredible animals.

 

Shark Encounter

Get a topside view at Shark Encounter and unlock the mysteries of caring for the sharks and sawfish in SeaWorld’s 700,000-gallon shark habitat. Guests can visit the medical pool and learn how a shark receives its an annual physical. They can also observe the moving walkway used to temporarily divide the exhibit for cleaning and understand how the sharks are fed. Guests have the opportunity to experience SeaWorld’s sharks from a vantage point that is very different from the regular guest view and hear directly from the aquarists who care for these fascinating creatures. This location is not ADA accessible.

 

Manta Aquarium

Go above the surface, literally, and discover what it looks like towering over the depths of Manta's main aquarium. In a location few have ever seen, guests can uncover what goes into caring for the wide array of fish, rays, sea dragons, live corals, and giant Pacific octopus that call Manta home. This location is not ADA accessible.

 

Trainer Talks

Guests can join the park’s trainers to hear them share their passion for animal care and learn about training and husbandry techniques with the animals. The Trainer Talks take place behind-the-scenes at locations throughout the park including Dolphin Theater, Sea Lion and Otter Theater, and Orca Encounter.

 

Additional Dining Options

 

Inside Look Dine at Sharks Underwater Grill: NEW this year on Saturdays during Inside Look weekends, guests can enjoy a signature meal hosted by members of the SeaWorld Rescue and Zoological Operations teams at SeaWorld Orlando, including an inspiring presentation on our commitment to research and rescue. We recommend booking in advance as capacity is very limited: https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/inside-look/

 

Guests can also dive into Orlando's most immersive and memorable family dining experience at Dine with Orcas, where guests dine next to orcas, learn more about them from animal care experts and watch the specialized care they receive daily: https://seaworld.com/orlando/dining/dine-with-orcas

 

Both restaurants include arranged seating layouts to accommodate physical distancing and limited capacity. Tables and chairs are sanitized with increased frequency, condiment and topping stations are closed, and guests with refillable products will be provided single-use alternatives. In lieu of traditional menus, paperless QR code menus will be used, and buffet-style service areas have been adjusted or closed until further notice.

 

 

 

Best Way to Play

For a limited time, pay for a day and play all year with the purchase of a 2021 Fun Card! That means for the price of a single day’s admission, Fun Card holders can visit again and again to enjoy events like Inside Look and more throughout 2021¹. This offer is available only for a short time as prices go up on February 1, 2021.

 

For guests looking for additional perks and discounts on things like parking, additional guest tickets and access to special VIP events, upgrading to an Annual Pass is the best option. Available starting at low monthly rates of $11.75/month with NO down payment. Restrictions apply.

 

Visit www.Seaworld.com/Orlando for more information, park hours and to purchase tickets.

 

Safety:​ 

SeaWorld Orlando is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care. The park has worked diligently with state and local health officials, outside consultants and attraction industry leaders to enhance our already strict health, safety and cleanliness standards. These protocols and guidelines will be modified based on evolving industry standards and methodologies, public health, and governmental directives, and advancing scientific knowledge on the transmissibility of COVID-19. SeaWorld Orlando is excited to continue to provide our guests with fun, inspiring and memorable experiences, while addressing important health and safety needs during this time. For detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when visiting the resort, including key operational changes, visit Seaworld.com/orlando/park-info/park-safety.

 

Follow SeaWorld Orlando on Facebook, Instagram and the SeaWorld Orlando Blog for the latest park updates and information.

 

¹Blockout dates apply

SEAWORLD LAUNCHES FREE 2021 PRESCHOOL CARD FOR LIMITED TIME ONLY OFFERING FREE ADMISSION FOR FLORIDA PRESCHOOLERS ALL YEAR

 SeaWorld’s pint-sized guests can enjoy an ocean of experiences with the launch of the FREE 2021 Preschool Card, now available for a limited time, providing FREE UNLIMITED admission to the park all year! Florida preschool children receive FREE admission for a year full of fun and safe park experiences in a spacious outdoor environment with limited capacity and enhanced health and safety protocols. Kids are also in for a very special treat with the launch of two fan-favorite events to kick off the year: Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend (January 23-24), and Elmo’s Birthday Celebration (January 30 to February 3)! Families can experience these events plus all of the park’s kid-friendly annual events with unique features like specialty beverages for tots at the Seven Seas Food Festival, kids dance parties at Electric Ocean, trick-or-treating and meeting spooky-fun characters at Halloween Spooktacular, photos with Santa and millions of twinkling lights at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, and more, with the 2021 Preschool Card for their little ones, now available exclusively to Florida Residents.

 

In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures including increased cleaning and sanitation, temperature checks, and face covering requirements, capacity will be significantly limited to create more open space for guests to enjoy their experience, while maintaining physical distancing in a safe environment. 

 

To be eligible for the FREE Preschool Card for unlimited visits to SeaWorld through December 31, 2021, kids must be ages 5 and younger. Advance registration must be completed online and is only valid for children ages 5 or younger at the time of redemption at the park. Registration is required by February 3, 2021 and first visit ticket redemption must occur by February 28, 2021.

 

To learn more and to register for the Preschool Card, Florida residents can visit:

https://seaworld.com/orlando/tickets/preschool-free-admission/    

 

Upcoming Special Events for Kids:

 

Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend January 23-24

Everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends are hosting a party just for kids January 23–24. Join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Rosita, and all your favorite furry friends for a fun-filled weekend with activities, character photo opportunities, and much more. We’ll also be celebrating Everyday Heroes during the event, so bring your kindness and caring along (no cape required!). Located in Sesame Street Land and included with park admission, this family-friendly celebration features updated safety precautions including limited capacity and physical distancing.

 

All New! Storytime on Sesame Street

Ready for a special story with your Sesame Street friends? Their story time float will appear several times a day, so keep an eye out and find a physically distanced spot to listen.

 

All New! Everyday Hero Badges

You don’t have to wear a cape to be an Everyday Hero. You’ll have a chance to earn special badges for things like Bravery, Helping, Manners, and more all weekend, so get ready to join the Everyday Heroes Club!

 

All New! Oscar’s Trash Art Activity

Oscar would be proud! In this activity, kids get to turn everyday materials that may seem like trash into beautiful works of art, which is sure to make any grouch happy!

 

Elmo’s Birthday Celebration: January 30-February 3

Celebrate Elmo’s birthday with meet and greets, a family-friendly DJ, photo opportunities with Sesame Street friends and much more! Located in Sesame Street Land and included with park admission, this celebration features updated safety precautions including limited capacity and physical distancing.

 

All New! Elmo’s Birthday Storytime

Elmo has a very special story to tell for his birthday, and he wants you to be there! Be sure to watch for his float throughout the day and find a physically distanced spot to listen nearby.

 

All New! Scavenger Hunt

There’s plenty of space around Sesame Street Land for Elmo’s goldfish, Dorothy, to hide. Have fun trying to find her in this kid-friendly scavenger hunt!

 

Photo Opportunities

It’s Elmo’s birthday celebration, and the present he wants most of all is a special (and physically distanced) photo with you.

 

DJ Dance Party

Join your favorite Sesame Street friends for a fun-filled, DJ dance party with physical distancing, at select times.

 

Upgrade the Day with Breakfast with Elmo and Friends

 

Both Elmo’s Birthday Celebration and Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend offer an upgraded dining experience, Breakfast with Elmo and Friends, which features a delicious and nutritious breakfast buffet and morning greetings from everyone’s favorite furry friends.  This breakfast is a fun-filled and physically distant outdoor experience sure to delight kids and parents alike! Breakfast is served 10:30 am on event Saturdays and Sundays. Prices start at $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for children for the breakfast and advanced reservations are required. Pass Member discounts apply. More information can be found:

https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/sesame-kids-weekends/  

 

Best Way to Play

Parents, family members, and other guests can pay for a day and play all year with the new 2021 Fun Card! That means for the price of a single day’s admission, SeaWorld Fun Card holders can visit again and again throughout 2021. This offer is available only for a short time as prices increase on February 1. And for those guests looking for additional perks and discounts on items such as parking, guest tickets, and access to special VIP events, upgrading to an Annual Pass is their best option. Annual Passes are available starting at low monthly rates of $11.75/month with no down payment. Restrictions apply.

 

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorld.com/Orlando. To keep up to date on park hours and events, follow SeaWorld’s social channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

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SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, behavioral training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 37,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.

 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company. Visit www.seaworldentertainment.com for more information.

 

 

 

 

Happy New year

I hope everyone is having a good year so far and that you had good holidays. It  has been a while since I have really been on, things have been a little crazy on here. I know things are crazy for everyone with the whole Corona thing. 

In October, I finally finished up my divorce after over a year of fighting. I wish I was able to say things are better with custody, but that's a different story. I am glad that part is over finally. 

Then we had the holidays, right before Thanksgiving my boyfriend had a very scary health scare (not Covid related). Then we had Thanksgiving, with Christmas and New years right behind it. In between all of this we have been working this whole time, end of September I switched jobs and careers. I went from working in a call center to being a 1 year old teacher in a daycare. 

We have also been packing and preparing everything to move by the end of this month. I also just started back to school this week to get my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. I plan on being a Kindergarten teacher. 

I am also still dealing with my lawsuit from my car accident I was in back in June 2019. To say its been hectic is an understatement. But, I am going to try to get back to being more active on here as much as I can.