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Wordless Wednesday: Hello Pretty Kitty
December 30, 2009 By 1 Comment
Update on the “Bug” #Pregnancy #VBAC #Doula
December 29, 2009 By 8 Comments
Last week I went to a new OBGYN in Winter Park, as recommended to me by a friend. As it turns out, it is a small practice as their hours are by appointment only. So the wait was literally, less than 5 minutes. I went in, filled out a few sheets of paperwork and they took me back. No real wait. It was nice.
He wanted to check the status of the subchorionic hematoma/bleeding. The last OBGYN didn’t say anything other than it was “small”. No measurements, although I know they measured it.
When checking, my NEW OBGYN was very happy to say that he saw no such clot anymore, that it had dissolved itself. I was off the floor so happy that it was gone. On top of that, they had dated the baby wrong and I was no longer behind on my date, but right on time with my LMP. I walked in at 7 weeks, 5 days and walked out being 8 weeks, 4 days. I finally felt like I was getting somewhere!
We also sat down and discussed my desire to have a VBAC and he told me quite frankly that WP Hospital does not do VBACS, and as I checked the ICAN list, he was in fact correct. They have a DeFacto Ban, which isn’t a written policy – just kind of an unsaid rule. They will do anything to give you a c-section if you’ve had a previous c-section. Well damnit to hell!
But then he said, “You can just go to a different hospital. I won’t be able to deliver, but it’s possible you may get what you want from a different hospital.” And I knew just the hospital.
Fighting for my VBAC is tough, tough, work. It seems that the only way to get a VBAC without the guilt is hiring a midwife and birthing at home. Well, my home is NOT my sanctuary. It’s rather chaotic and not the environment I imagine birthing a child into. Plus, I know it’s perfectly safe to have a homebirth – but I just don’t feel safe. I haven’t even experienced labor before, let alone have confidence in myself to know what is normal and what is not normal during labor.
I was highly recommended a midwife, who was an EMT for close to 20 years – and of course that would make me feel more comfortable and secure – but, still. I just keep thinking, “If something happened to me and/or the baby because of my stubbornness to have my baby naturally – what will happen to my marriage? Will Forrest ever forgive me if something should happen?” Man pregnancy politics in the US really know how to lay the on the guilt.
I think I would feel most comfortable in a hospital environment but have been told that if I choose to go to a hospital to birth – then I have to be prepared to fight for my rights to deliver a healthy baby the way G-d intended, naturally. I am weak – I am. So my ICAN chapter recommended getting a doula, which costs around $600 and I am not sure that is something we can afford with so many other things that we need. Man, I wish I personally knew of a Doula who was a friend of the family. (But if life were only that simple).
So my current plan is, if my pregnancy is uneventful and healthy and if at the last ultrasound s/he is head down – I will try to labor as much as I can at home before heading to the more baby/VBAC friendly hospital. Who knows? Maybe I am a natural birther and it will be easy for me to labor as much as I can at home before heading to the hospital. Maybe I’ll enter the hospital at 8cm and fully effaced and when they try to tell me that I need a c-section, I can give them a big ol “F-you! Let me have this baby my way.” and push out a baby in 2 pushes an hour later. (Hey, it’s possible!)
If I can accomplish having my VBAC, then by FL Law (as I’ve heard it) I will be able to birth my child at a birthing center my next pregnancy because I’ve already had a successful VBAC. Or maybe I’ll think the whole thing was manageable enough to do at home. (Oh my god, I can’t believe I am discussing the possibility of #3. I need to stop that talk!)
I would love to hear from mothers who have had successful VBACS!
Our Very Merry Christmas Catchup!
December 29, 2009 By 3 Comments
It’s been a busy, busy holiday! Our little toddler, Miss Carli – was spoiled beyond comprehension! We woke up early that morning and got her ready for the festivities at my parents house. As per the picture to the left – you can tell it was a “I just woke up” face. Cute, none the less.
We got to my parents around 9am for a delicious breakfast of Quiche, fruit, and (for me – water). It felt good to eat a breakfast other than bagels that I have been living off for the past month!
Then the fun part, Carli got to open all her presents. But – she her attention was immediately stolen by the rather large play kitchen my parents found on craigslist for $20 (yes, $20!) It makes our dinky kitchen at home seem like nothing in comparison!
So we’re sitting here trying to open a room full of gifts and she kept going back to her table and chairs and fake feeding herself and everyone around her. It’s weird how playing “pretend” is so natural and ingrained within their very own souls. She went to her kitchen, “washed the dishes” and then made some more meals for us to eat.
She ended up getting a lot of great clothes, toys, and Elmo, Elmo, Elmo! (Oh how I am tired of Elmo already – but I sure do love the excitement in her face when she sees “Bobo!”) I got some gift certificates including $50 to Barnes and Noble (Yippee!) so I got the following books.
My purchases from my giftcard:
I am so excited about these purchases! With tax, I was just a buck or two under the giftcard limit. I am just so happy that they were there and I had no problems picking my books out at all!
I did try to look for the “Among the Hidden” book, but I guess they don’t normally carry it in stores, or at least that one. They offered to special order it but I didn’t see the difference between special ordering it and then ordering it online – other than the fact I would have to physically come into the store.. and this store was a good 20-25 minutes away. So I opted for the ordering online option.. but I haven’t purchased it yet. I have way too many books to be read.
My brother got this baby book for me from Dr. Oz called “You: Having a Baby”. It’s pretty cool looking because it’s filled with cartoons and drawings. It makes reading it look like a lot of fun! I thought it was a really thoughtful gift! I may end up reading that one next since it looks like such a fun read!
I am still reading “SHIVER” but I am closer to finishing it and am determined to finish it this week. (But I’ve said that before, right?) But NO – really! I am GOING TO FINISH IT! I have so many great books to catch up on that this is ridiculous – I will finish reading SHIVER and get back into the “nose in a book” scene. Yes, I will.
Anyway – I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend and an even better New Year!
Merry Christmas from Our Family (to Yours)
December 25, 2009 By 6 Comments
Forrest, Carli, Bug, and I are currently spending time with our families in celebration of this holiday. I thank you for being a loyal reader and sharing with me in my book reading and baby growing, mothering a toddler and not driving my husband crazy.. journey.
When I am back from prying my kid away from all her Bobo (Elmo) presents, I’ll update everyone on the festivities with pictures! (Oh everyone loves cute toddler pictures, right?)
I hope you have an absolutely WONDERFUL Christmas with your loved ones! (And may you get everything you could ever hope and wish for!)
Wordless Wednesday: Rockin’ These Glasses
December 23, 2009 By 2 Comments
To participate in this meme, visit: http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/.
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Experience a Branson, Missouri Christmas!
December 22, 2009 By 6 Comments
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
Holiday in Branson, Missouri
Some families would like to share the holiday with their loved ones, with less focus on the material gifts and more about the joyful unions of loved ones – doing family activities that will create memories for years to come.
You don’t have to travel out of the states, though, to create some really magical memories. Branson, Missouri is home to many extravagant holiday activities such as (but not limited to) theatrical spectacles utilizing thousands of lights, costumes, and music. Branson, Missouri goes way out for the Christmas Season (which for them, starts in November!)
Of course while you’re visiting Branson, you’re probably going to want a place to stay, a place that promises to bring the family together in comfort and warmth of an Ozark Mountain Christmas. The Hiltons of Branson have a few locations, and many packages for your wishes and desires for this holiday season.
From the dates of November 23rd until December 31st, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is offering an exciting and relaxing package titled, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. What a way to pamper your loved one with all its amenities.
Amenities in the “It’s a Wonderful Life” package include (for as little as $329/night):
- Deluxe, overnight accommodations at the hotel.
- Full breakfast for two.
- A spa treatment for two
Hilton at Branson promises family and children family activities such as the package “Santa’s Coming to Town” located at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel for as little as 189$ per night. This package allows the little ones to enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and they will even have the chance to meet Santa, himself! Santa will deliver presents, cookies, and milk to guests’s bedrooms.
I haven’t been to Missouri before, but after hearing about Branson – and all the Holiday festivities, it makes me feel like this would be a wonderful place to take the family. The lights, the town parade, the snow (which you can’t get in Florida!) – spending the holidays with the pampering of the Hiltons in Branson sounds like a Winter Wonderland dream come true!
It’s Monday! What are YOU Reading? #meme
December 21, 2009 By 8 Comments
J.Kaye created a Meme for Mondays where you list the books you have recently completed this week, books you are currently reading, and books you hope to read this week. This is one of my favorite memes (and favorite bloggers) so make sure you check it out and participate, if you can!
The books I have read in the past week:
- None
Books I am currently reading:
- The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D.
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Books I plan on reading this week:
- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
So I have read nothing for weeks, now. I have just felt so darn sick and tired, all of the time! I’ve felt sort of apathetic about everything because I’ve felt so ill so it’s been hard finishing anything up! I am really hoping to finish Shiver this week though. (I know, I know – I’ve said it before). But it’s been a difficult first trimester so far. 
What are YOU reading?
Tired ALL the Time!
December 18, 2009 By 2 Comments
I know in part it has to do with just being pregnant – but, my GOD – I am tired ALL the time. I usually nap when Carli does – and sometimes (as Forrest has been home this week) I will sleep until the evening time. Still, though – I manage to go to bed on time just as exhausted as if I hadn’t taken a nap in the first place.
Today we were at the mall – and walking through a department store on the way in to find Santa and I see their display of beds and I instantly wanted to crawl into them and go to sleep. So what if people stared? I didn’t though. I have SOME self-control. But – oh, how I wanted to!
I don’t remember being this tired the first time around. Forrest says the last pregnancy’s first trimester went by a lot slower for him and he said I was a lot worse.. Is there some sort of natural instinct to block out these horrible memories so we’ll have more kids? What kind of dirty trick is that?
I keep telling Forrest, “This is the last pregnancy for me! I don’t want to go through this again.” and he told me to write it down and remind myself because come 2nd Trimester, and when I see Bug for the first time, that feeling and memories of these early days in pregnancies will be long forgotten.
And they probably will.
Mickey’s Very Merry Xmas Party
December 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
On the ferry ride over!
The only thing that I don’t quite understand about Disney’s Christmas Party, is that for something made for children – the hours surely aren’t anything to be recommended. 7pm+? Carli enjoyed all of an hour and a half before she just got way too tired. By 9:30, when the fireworks started – 1.5 hours past her normal bed time, she was very, very cranky.
Plus, it being so dark out – we had no idea where we were going half the time. So we missed out on a lot! Carli didn’t get any pictures with characters and we only went on two rides (It’s a Small World and The Haunted Mansion). Even so, she did have fun. To see her eyes and mouth in wonder and giggles – was worth every minute! I can’t wait to take her back during the day time!
Forrest and I split a giant smoked turkey leg in Frontierland, something I have wanted to do for at LEAST 20 years. I thought it was delicious and juicy and crispy and messy! Forrest insisted Feathers were smoked in, but I never saw one. Carli also enjoyed the turkey leg, which was surprising since she is not a huge meat enthusiast.
On another positive note – I felt pretty good through out the entire thing. Maybe the key to morning sickness is to just keep moving. The longer you sit stagnant and think about how awful you feel, the worse it is! So this makes me think that today, we are going to go get her pictures taken with Santa. (Or maybe it’s the Zofran speaking).
Can you believe we forgot to buy one?
Carli & her Daddy (With Cinderella's Castle behind them!)
Seeing even the moments of pure wonder as Carli saw the lights and characters – it just makes me all the more excited to take her in the day time. Maybe in February for my birthday, we’ll go again. I’ll be in the 2nd trimester and more than likely feeling pretty great and I can get in Free – and Carli is under 2, so she can get in free, too!
Next time I’ll bring my Canon Rebel XTi and not my pocket camera so I can get some really good photos!
Why the iPhone is myPhone.
December 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Yamaha. All opinions are 100% mine.
Me and My Addiction
See, it’s 100% true. I own an iPhone – and not just any iPhone, but the new iPhone 3G. Since it’s with me 24/7 – it comes with a cover protector to protect the screen from my keys and other such purse fatalities and a hard pink & black case on the outside. You never just know when I am bound to drop it on the gravel – which has happened on more than a few occasions.
I love how my iphone has an app for everything (and boy do I own/use a lot of apps!) I use it to Twitter from the comfort of my own bed, send videos of the spawn doing something adorable to the Grandparents, and check my balance on my bank account. I can do everything, anywhere!
Because I am a book-a-holic, I use my iphone for reading ebooks – more than you can imagine. Is it strange looking at a small screen – sure. But it gets easier and I love how it’s a book I can fit in my pocket. I can put hundreds, if not thousands of titles on my iphone. (Can you fit a whole bookshelf in your back pocket? I don’t think so!) It fits so much data onto it and makes everything so much more convenient for the Mom on the Go.
In bed. On the road (passenger, of course!) or waiting in line – it’s always with me. The only issue is – well, it’s small and sometimes it gets lost while charging (gets knocked off the table, or the cat chews through the cord dangling in front of her). I need a good dock. Something that can not only charge my phone, but blast all the music I have stored on it. (An iphone’s speaker is only so loud) so it would be really great to have the aid of something made for power.
I keep hearing about the Yamaha PDX-60, which I wrote about in a previous entry when I was first introduced to the product. But I am learning even more, now. For example – you can actually charge two iPhones with this dock (one actually on the dock, and another in a cradle that comes accessory to t he PDX-60). Seeing is that I rarely see just one iPhone per family, this is awesome that it can accommodate multiple iPhones.
I believe, other than the multiple color finishes available for every taste – the dual charging stations has to be my new favorite feature. Maybe it’ll be more likely to get my husband on board on trying one of these bad boys out, if he can feel included! You know – it’s not just for my iPhone, but for our iPhone(s).
Friday Firsts: To Resume Next Week
December 18, 2009 By 4 Comments
After Carli being loads sick this week (even to go to the doctor twice) – and with my feeling sick as well .. I haven’t been able to read. At all. No fun, really. I did a Friday Finds of a book I had intended to read, last week – but have yet to finish Shiver. Such a bad reader, really. (Just a lot going on)
But I have a feeling things are getting a little easier as I am getting the hang of this morning sickness thing. So please be patient with me.
If you have participated in Friday First’s today, please feel free to add your link to Mr. Linky below:
You’re serious? I don’t even need to leave my home?
December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alice.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
I finally joined Alice.com today, as I heard you can buy many of your household necessities online (and with free shipping, too!) Signing up was extremely easy – you indicate who you are (Female/Male & 18+, etc). Then you proceed to list the “age group” of family members in your home so it can find products customized to your specific needs.
So easy.
Then you’re brought to a screen where you click on item categories your family most frequently purchases (dishwasher detergent, soap, toilet paper, shaving creme, etc). They are put into a category titled, “Your Products”. You then simply select each category (for example body wash) and Alice.com lists hundreds of products they carry (some including built in coupons!) The prices are low and it’s great that what you make up for in savings, they don’t charge you in shipping! (Shipping is free, as I’ve mentioned briefly before!)
After you select your specific brand of body wash, it will then give you an option of how often you want to be reminded about it to purchase it ( 3 weeks seems fine with me!) You can then add it to your immediate cart, or save it for later.
The typical user, when surfing Alice.com – will find hundreds of dollars worth of coupons. What makes this environmentally friendly is there is no need to print and cut, as they are automatically applied. When you view your cart, Alice.com shows you just how much money you’re saving by using their service. It’s incredibly user friendly.
I seriously (no lie) think this service looks like a dream come true. Sometimes I cannot make time to go to the grocery store. My toddler has been ill for weeks, it seems – and I haven’t been feeling all that great myself. So – knowing I can purchase what I need online and have it delivered without me even having to set foot in a grocery store.. well, that seems pretty fantastic.
When you go and sign up for your free account with Alice.com (and seriously, I urge you to sign up and just check it out) you’ll see loads of information that make managing your household products budget. It’ll show you over time what items you tend to buy more of – as well as the savings!
This company also has a “Refer a Friend” program (which you can find located under “My Account”). This is their affiliate program where you can have your friends and family receive $10 off once $50 is spent on the website, and then they get 3% back of the purchases for a year. So – in a nutshell, more options to save! I don’t know any big time company or grocery store that makes it so user friendly and conscious of our need to save.
The website is adorable with it’s vectored cartoon images, and organized incredibly well. I, myself, will be making some purchases from Alice.com and will relate at a later date about the (what I can only imagine) high quality of customer service and shipment process.
The LG Chocolate TOUCH does it all, and then some.
December 15, 2009 By 1 Comment
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of LG Chocolate Touch. All opinions are 100% mine.
A few years ago I was the proud owner of a silver LG EnVi. Nothing, and I repeat nothing (including my beloved iphone) could compare to the crystal clear pictures that LG products have to offer. LG is the only phone product I’ve owned that has an automatic focus on their camera phones (so no boring blurry pictures!) There is nothing worse than whipping out a camera phone to capture a moment, but lose it to the dreaded “blurs”.
Now LG has a brand new phone out that seems to be a powerhouse of a phone, but small enough to fit easily in your pocket. It includes all the features we are now deeming as necessities such as:
- Making Phone Calls.
- Visual Voicemail (decide which voicemails you want to listen to, first!)
- Mobile media allowing you to send top-notch texts, picture, and video messages.
- Use the Internet.
- One-touch Social Network Message Key for easy use of mobile blogging (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, & More).
- Take Pictures and video (3.2megapixel camera) which also features an image editor.
- Listen to music utilizing the Dolby Mobile Technology for crystal clear sound quality.
- Awesome visual affects and features, including Rhythmical Beat that vibrates the handset to the beat of the music
In the day and age where we want everything in one, and on the go – It seems as if the LG Chocolate Touch would definitely help assure you have what you need in a single device. There would be no need to carry around one cell phone, a PDA for calendar use, a notepad, or camera. You can get rid of all the separate items cluttering your pocket , purse or book bag, and get everything you need in one simple small machine.
Carli’s First Haircut (18 months)
December 15, 2009 By 1 Comment
I was very nervous about Carli getting her first haircut. First, she has become extremely independent lately. Doesn’t need my help for squat! If you offer her your hand, she swats it away as if to say, “Pssh – Woman, I can do this myself!” and then she runs off squealing typical of an 18 month old.
A year and a half already. Holy, wow. It felt like just yesterday when I was complaining about morning sickness with her, and now she’s a toddler – a toddler tornado. But our toddler tornado was having trouble seeing through her mop of bangs. So we decided – okay, it’s been a while. We’ll try the whole “first hair cut thing”. “Just please..” I told our long time family hair stylist, “Please keep the curls.”
We made our 90 minute drive to the Bombay Hair Salon in Cape Canaveral. Yes, you read that correctly. We drive 90 minutes for a hairstyle! When you find a good stylist – you to to where they are, even if they move a little further away than you ever thought you’d drive. But – it’s always worth the trip.
Carli was allowed to pick out which cape she wanted to wear (both brightly colored) and even had some foam shapes to play with. She never even realized that she was about to get her hair cut!
She was so easily distracted – that I was surprised. I thought for sure she would be fussing and wanting my mother to hold her. But never a second did she question what was happening!
This little girl was having a BLAST! She was laughing, giggling, and making faces in the mirror. This relieved me quite a bit and I was able to take a bunch of pictures to document this event, a positive one at that!
I am so happy that not only did she enjoy her first haircut experience – but it also eased my husband’s fears of too much getting cut off. (Oh how we love her curls!) Now that she got her bangs cut (so she can see much easier), but the split ends are cut off so her hair will grow like a weed, now!
.. and of course we saved her first hair. Now, to figure out what to do with it?
Sharing Memories with the Ease of Wireless
December 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Eye-Fi. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have an addiction to my camera. I guess it’s the photographer in me that takes it everywhere. I mean – what if you miss the best moment, like your toddler’s first haircut (and how well it went – by the way).
I have two cameras, one is a pocket camera that I can easily fit in my purse. But whenever I take photos, the day barely ends when someone is asking me, “Hey – when can I see those pictures you took today?” (sigh)
So I go to plug my camera in to the USB cord and low and behold – my lovely cat, Sachi, has chewed right threw the cord. (Does anyone else know of a cat that has cord fetishes such as this one?) Now what? My computer doesn’t have a slot that works with my card, let alone two very different sizes from two varying cameras. I am stuck just giving excuses until I can purchase a new cord.
But wouldn’t it be just a whole bunch easier if you could upload your pictures wirelessly, as you take them? No nagging from friends or family who want to see your pictures. No “putting it off until tomorrow” – just a quick wireless upload and you’re done. Ta-da!
Eye-Fi has a card that you can insert into your camera (a 4mb memory card) that also allows you to upload your photos wirelessly to popular websites like Facebook and Flickr (both sites of which I use frequently). It also allows you to upload/backup the photos directly to your computer in special, organized & dated folders.
All you need, in order to take advantage of the Eye-Fi card is a SDHC capable camera and a wireless router. That’s it! Takes the hassle out of uploading photos, for sure. I keep hearing about the Eye-Fi card, and it looks like something I would love to find in my stocking this holiday season.
