This week Emily interviews, Kate Ford, a mom of two bio babies and two step children. Emily talks to Kate about what it’s like going back to work after having a newborn and in the middle of a pandemic. Kate works in a hospital Pharmacy so going back to work is not easy. She’s very lucky to have a fantastic support system including her partner, parents and in-laws. It’s a bittersweet experience for Kate, she wants the balance of working and having adult conversations but misses her kiddos while she’s at work. Having a work life balance is so important whether you’re a full time parent, work full-time or work part time. Listen to this week’s episode to find out tips to ease the transition back to work and to learn from Kate some positives that have some out of her working,

Music By: Jason Kozel

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This week Emily continues the Overcoming Obstacles mini series and she interviews a strong mom, Ginna Shellhammer, that had her first family home taken away from her. Everything seemed to be going well until she received a foreclosure notice. Her husband’s work info was hacked and they stole all their money which made them late by 16 days of paying their mortgage, once. Somehow a portion of their loan was transferred to Wells Fargo but they were requiring they pay the full note on their loan which was about $75,000 or else lose their home. Ginna and her young family were forced out of their home for one payment that was late due to a ridiculous hacker. It really makes you wonder who holds your loan especially if you worked with a broker when you secured your home mortgage? Listen to this week’s episode to learn from Ginna and what she’d do differently when buying a new home.

Ginna mentions MERS during the interview. Learn more about your specific mortgage and who holds your mortgage loan.

https://www.mersinc.org/homeowners

Music By: Jason Kozel

Are you ready to buckle up and hold on tight with Emily as we climb this stroller-coaster ride of mama-hood? Join Emily weekly and let’s get through this together! Please subscribe!

Not ready to subscribe? No big deal! Say hello on one of my social feeds so I can thank you for listening or share this week’s episode with a friend!

Instagram: @otterlymama - https://www.instagram.com/otterlymama/

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Do you want to hear a specific topic in an episode? Contact me via my social feeds above or email [email protected]

This week Emily starts the Overcoming Obstacles mini series and she begins by interviewing an incredible mom, Jennifer Perkins, that is raising her son on her own. Her son was diagnosed with Caudal Regression Syndrome from the first few days of life and she has been fighting for him ever since. She a nurse so she knows her way around the health care field but it does not make it any easier. She was told that her son, Noah, would never walk but he has been proving physicians wrong left and right. He’s walking, jumping and playing on playgrounds, something she thought he would never do. Jennifer’s perseverance and strength is incredible, she says all moms would do this for their kids, but Emily’s not so sure. Caring for a child with a health condition is not easy but Jennifer makes it look, dare I say, easy? Listen to this week’s episode to hear some tips from Jennifer and what she does to make it through the countless surgeries, MRIs and doctors appointments. 

During the episode Jennifer refers to a website: https://opwdd.ny.gov

Music By: Jason Kozel

Are you ready to buckle up and hold on tight with Emily as we climb this stroller-coaster ride of mama-hood? Join Emily weekly and let’s get through this together! Please subscribe!

Not ready to subscribe? No big deal! Say hello on one of my social feeds so I can thank you for listening or share this week’s episode with a friend!

Instagram: @otterlymama - https://www.instagram.com/otterlymama/

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Do you want to hear a specific topic in an episode? Contact me via my social feeds above or email [email protected]

In today’s episode, Emily explores the fun topic of circumcision. Did you or will you have your son circumcised? Emily is done procreating but firmly believes she would not make that decision for her hypothetical son. She talks about the history of circumcisions, religious traditions pertaining to circumcisions, the harm and benefits of performing circumcisions. Reach out to Emily if you’re pro or con circumcisions, let her know your thoughts!

Links from the episode:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-brit-milah-bris-ceremony/

http://www.cirp.org/library/history/

http://www.circumcisiondebate.org/health-vs-harm

Account on a forum from a US Army recruit in 1957- https://alt.circumcision.narkive.com/4h0UlMsg/us-military-circumcisionsn

Music By: Jason Kozel

Are you ready to buckle up and hold on tight with Emily as we climb this stroller-coaster ride of mama-hood? Join Emily weekly and let’s get through this together! Please subscribe!

Not ready to subscribe? No big deal! Say hello on one of my social feeds so I can thank you for listening or share this week’s episode with a friend!

Instagram: @otterlymama - https://www.instagram.com/otterlymama/

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Twitter: @otterlymama - https://twitter.com/otterlymama

Do you want to hear a specific topic in an episode? Contact me via my social feeds above or email [email protected]

In today’s episode, Emily breaks down her fears of owning a gun and why her family has had to use it, twice in the last year. What is up with these past couple of years? Small town Texas doesn’t seem so safe anymore. Emily and her husband used to live in Chicago proper and never came close to this many run ins. Emily speaks to the current gun laws in Texas, the current environment around owning guns and some ideas on what needs to change if the Texas senate passes the House Bill 1927 which allows anyone over the age of 21 to carry a gun in public without any additional license.

References from the episode:

https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting

https://openstates.org/tx/bills/87/HB1927/

Music By: Jason Kozel

Are you ready to buckle up and hold on tight with me as we climb this stroller-coaster ride of mama-hood? Join me weekly and let’s get through this together! Please subscribe!

Not ready to subscribe? No big deal! Say hello on one of my social feeds so I can thank you for listening or share this week’s episode with a friend!

Instagram: @otterlymama - https://www.instagram.com/otterlymama/

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Twitter: @otterlymama - https://twitter.com/otterlymama

Do you want to hear a specific topic in an episode? Contact me via my social feeds above or email [email protected]

On this week's episode Emily gets nerdy and breaks down mastitis. This week you'll learn what mastitis is, how it differs from a clogged or plugged milk duct, how to deal with and what you can do to prevent a clogged milk duct or mastitis. This episode is strictly informational and is not be to used instead of seeking medical attention. Always talk with your health care provider first before making any decisions about your health. If you have any signs or systems of a clogged duct or mastitis call your health care provider to prevent it from worsening. 

References from this week's content: 

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/ 

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/natural-treatments/#mastitis  

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/breast-abscess/ -This was the woman that had the abscess the size of a kiwi, not a grapefruit- I exaggerated 

Music By: Jason Kozel

Are you ready to buckle up and hold on tight with me as we climb this stroller-coaster ride of mama-hood? Join me weekly and let’s get through this together! Please subscribe!

Not ready to subscribe? No big deal! Say hello on one of my social feeds so I can thank you for listening or share this week’s episode with a friend!

Instagram: @otterlymama - https://www.instagram.com/otterlymama/

Facebook: Otterly Mama - https://www.facebook.com/OtterlyMama/

Twitter: @otterlymama - https://twitter.com/otterlymama

Do you want to hear a specific topic in an episode? Contact me via my social feeds above or email [email protected]