What to Pack for the Hospital!

This is more for my soon to be mommy friends, but also for myself for the next time around!

I researched the perfect hospital bag and took advice from friends, but after my own experience there were still some things I needed that thankfully my mom went out and got me!

So here are the necessities!:

-toothbrush & toothpaste

-everything for a shower...including a razor because you're going to want to feel as "normal" as possible when you're finally able to take a shower!

-hair ties, hair clips, bobby pins, anything to keep your hair up & out of your face!

-make-up...just the essentials though...you'll pretty much just feel like putting on powder, mascara, and lip gloss. Ya gotta look good for pictures!

-gowns that you can easily nurse in...not necessarily nursing gowns since those are expensive, but ones with buttons in the front so you can easily nurse. And lightweight gowns! I got so hot! I had a pretty set of button up, pant pjs that were light weight, but I was still so hot!

-stretchy house shoes that you don't mind wearing around the hospital. I say stretchy because my feet were so swollen they would not have fit in tight ones.

-socks...Yes even though I was hot I wanted socks to try to hide my super swollen feet. :(

-nursing pillow

-neck pillow. Thankfully Ryan took his so I used it...I was too sore to completely lay flat to sleep so I slept sitting up a little. I was able to do this with a neck pillow. :)

-a maxi dress to go home in. I packed a velour suit and had to have a c-section so this was SO uncomfortable to wear home! A maxi dress would have been most comfortable either way.

-now as far as shoes to wear home...I don't know! I packed flip flops, but my feet were too swollen to put them on...I wore my house shoes home!

What to pack for the baby!

-Swaddle Me's...since they're easy & that's what you'll be using at home!

-gowns and matching hats for the baby to wear while in the hospital

-footed PJs & matching hat for the baby to wear home...I packed a gown & this was difficult with the car seat...

-pacifiers. Our hospital doesn't provide pacificers since it's suggested they're not used until 4 weeks once breastfeeding is well established. I had planned on waiting the 4 weeks, but I'm glad I packed them because Prestyn needed one to get home! I packed a couple different kinds & of course she took the green soothie kind. :)

-noise maker...it'll help the baby sleep!

-a pretty blanket to wrap the baby in. :)

**There's of course the "duh" items like your camera, Husband's stuff, etc.**

 

 

What not to pack:

 

-a bra! you won't wear it!

-panties. you'll be most comfortable in the kind the hospital provides

-pads. they'll provide those too!

-reading material. 1. you won't have time. 2. when you do have time to do anything else you'll want to get caught up on respond to people's texts and FB messages. ;)



 

I think that's all I can think of! I'll add more if I think of more!



 



What's for Dinner?::Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

I made a baked ziti recipe a while back, but that was before I was posting recipes...I prefered that one over this one, but this wasn't too bad...I mean it was good, but yeah I liked the other one better. :) This one had peas in it...which I thought was weird, but I guess that's one way to get your greens in! Also, the only turkey sausage I could find was breakfast sausage. Ha! But with all the seasonings you couldn't tell the difference. :) Here it is!

And below this one is the recipe for the baked ziti recipe that I liked better. :) The picture is of the turkey sausage one...It makes a lot! Don't judge my portion size. ;)

Ingredients

	3/4 pound(s) uncooked turkey sausage(s), spicy-variety, casings removed
	1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped
	1 medium green pepper(s), chopped
	28 oz canned diced tomatoes
	10 oz frozen green peas, thawed
	2 Tbsp canned tomato paste
	1 tsp dried oregano
	1 tsp dried basil
	1/2 tsp dried thyme
	1/2 tsp fennel seed
	1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
	1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
	12 oz uncooked whole wheat pasta, ziti, cooked according to package directions
	6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
  
• Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.
  
• Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
  
• Stir in the tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.
  
• Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese. Spread evenly into a 9- X 13-inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese.
  
• Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before slicing into 8 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Baked Beef Ziti

Ingredients

	12 oz uncooked ziti
	2 tsp olive oil
	2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
	1/3 pound(s) uncooked lean ground beef
	1 tsp dried oregano
	1 tsp dried thyme
	1 tsp dried rosemary
	1/2 tsp table salt
	1/2 tsp black pepper
	28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
	1 cup(s) (shredded) part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
  
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
  
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
  
• Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
  
• Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.