My Grandfather, Robert Lee Zimmerman, Germany 1944
Today is for remembering with gratitude.
Archive for May, 2010
Memorial Day
Monday, May 31st, 2010 by by Smacksy
advertisement
Hearty Salsa Recipe
Monday, May 31st, 2010 by by JM Guest BloggerI love this salsa- it’s my dad’s recipe and it’s just so substantial and healthy. My family will eat this for dinner during the summers. It’s filling, and oh so yummy!
We’re going to start with the dressing- Here is what you will need: Sugar, Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt, Cilantro, Cumin and Chili Powder
In a container (preferably one you can tightly seal), pour 1/2 cup of (more…)
Memorial Day Ramblings
Monday, May 31st, 2010 by by ValerieMemorial Day has become very important to our family. We have always remembered our family and friends who have served in the Armed Forces, but this year, it just hits closer to home. My brother in law is in the Army Reserves and is about to be deployed for the 2nd time in 7 years. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2002-2003 and is set to leave for another year sometime in the near future. He leaves my sister with their 2 young children (4 1/2 and 21 months). As anyone can imagine this is very hard on all of them. He is a very proud soldier and enjoys his job however, he knows that he will be missing so much. Last time he left, he and my sister were dating and it was hard enough. This time, it’s going to be unimaginable how things are before he leaves. He does have 3 weeks that he can focus on his family and preparing himself and them as he leaves, but can you truly prepare children of that age? I just don’t know. (more…)
advertisement
Saw the Surgeon Again
Monday, May 31st, 2010 by by BethI saw my surgeon again on Friday. After reading the report from the rheum, he asked me if we wanted to set a date up for surgery. My left wrist is the one that is bothering me the most, so we are fusing that wrist first. Surgery is set for June 23rd. I’ll go in at 11 am, and the surgery is scheduled for 1 pm. They booked the OR for 2 hours, and said I should be back in recovery with Chris and Charlie by 4 pm.
Right now we are fighting for the right to breastfeed after surgery. I know Charlie will need a bottle while I’m in the surgery, which frightens me to no end, but the doctors are telling me they don’t want me nursing for 24 hours after surgery. That isn’t going to happen. All the literature shows that a nursing mom can nurse as soon as she is alert. There is no danger to baby except the possibility of passing out and smothering the child - so it should never be done without supervision. I tried to explain this to them, but they weren’t listening and the scheduling nurse was very condescending. I told her I’d contact my IBCLC if that would help, and she set me up with a liaison at the hospital where the surgery would be. The hospital agreed to allow Chris and Charlie to room with me, so that was one hurdle that was cleared. On Tuesday my IBCLC is contacting the hospital on my behalf and working it out with anesthesiologist, not only for me but to educate him for future surgeries on lactating women. It will be quite a feat to nurse, but I will let nothing deter me. (more…)
Sickness and Anxiety
Sunday, May 30th, 2010 by by BrittanieI’ve spent the majority of the past 10 days thinking I was pregnant. (No, we’re not trying). It certainly felt exactly like it, but I started my period today, so I know I’m not.
It made me think a lot. I was terrified. I was terrified for several reasons, but there are 2 main ones.
First, I throw up a lot when pregnant - I’m not exaggerating, my teeth are proof (2 root canals, 4 crowns and 2 fillings so far, another crown and 3 fillings on June 1st, and 22 more fillings to be completed in 3 more appointments). With Cora, at one point I had been throwing up at least once an hour for 16 hours, and every 2 hours through the night. I went to the ER when I started throwing up blood. I have to be medicated my entire pregnancy, and anti-emetics make it so I only throw up 2-3 times a day (and still feel completely, horribly nauseated constantly). The medical condition has a name: hyperemesis gravidarum. To translate, hyper = too much; emesis is related to emit, which means “to give forth, release or discharge;” and gravidarum means relating to pregnancy. So “throwing up a lot when pregnant.” Or just extreme morning sickness, though I think the previous one describes it better. I read an article a while back which spoke of hyperemesis causing post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, people joke about having PTSD, but this is serious, psychologist-diagnosed PTSD. I don’t know that my stress reactions are that bad, but it is definitely something that causes me serious anxiety when thinking about pregnancy.
My other issue is also something that can cause (more…)
Smacksy Sunday Links
Sunday, May 30th, 2010 by by Smacksy
I am thrilled that my friend Dr. Tina Bryson has started a blog. She is a parenting expert, and her real-world, real-mom advice is smart and delivered with a sense of humor. If you have children in your life or are surrounded by adults who act like children, sign up to have her new posts delivered to your email. You’re welcome.
I am the person who will spend 20 minutes looking at photos of collections of mason jars filled with buttons and the interiors of a stranger’s lovely kitchen cupboards. I am not defending this, merely relaying the facts. I like the pictures over here. The photos are of nice stuff and pretty places and cute clothes.
And this is :33 seconds of delight.
Happy Three-Day-Weekend Sunday.
advertisement
Ryan and the Tampon
Sunday, May 30th, 2010 by by MommaTrishRyan (just coming out of the bathroom): “Mommy, what’s this?” (He holds an unopened tampon.)
Me: “Um, that’s mine.”
Ryan: “OK, well, what is it?”
Me: “Don’t worry about it, it’s mine.”
Ryan: “It’s candy, and you don’t want to share!”
Me: “Nooooo! Trust me, it’s not candy.”
Ryan: “Yes it is. You’re not being fair, and you’re telling stories. I’m going to wash your mouth out.”
Me: “I promise you, Ryan, it’s NOT candy.”
Ryan: “Is it a new toy?”
Me: “No.”
Ryan: “Well, Mommy, what is it?”
Me: “It’s mine. Just leave it alone.”
Ryan: “No, tell me what it is now!”
Me: “Ryan, did you get into the cabinets?”
Ryan (looks down): “Um… no?”
Me: “Ryan, are you telling me stories?”
Ryan: “Never mind, Mommy, you can have it.” (And he runs to his room.)
So similar
Saturday, May 29th, 2010 by by BrittanieMy rainbow baby girl will be turning 3 in 10 days. I’ve been going through her newborn pictures, and it really just hit me how much Erin looks like Cora. That helps when I wonder what Cora would look like; I just imagine Erin with red curly hair. Maybe I can get Husband to do work some photoshop magic and put red hair on Erin so I can REALLY see it.
But it’s not that that gets me the most. I wish I could have gotten to know who Cora was. Erin and Patrick look very similar and are very, very, very different, so I can only assume that Cora would have been very different from them too.
I always felt she would have been stubborn, but beyond that? How can you know from kicks and wiggles in the womb what a child would have really been like? This is the hardest part for me.
advertisement
