pregnancy
« Previous EntriesThe Mommy Moment (aka The moment I knew)
Thursday, July 8th, 2010Do you remember that moment? You know, the moment you saw the line on the pregnancy test and knew that you were having a baby. I remember both times pretty well.
Let me take you back to the end of December 2002. TechyDad and I had just gotten back from Las Vegas and were upset to learn that our digital camera had been stolen from our backpack while we were in the Pittsburgh airport coming home. We went to bed that night furious about the memories of Cows on Parade that were gone. Still, we both knew that the next morning our lives may change. We had bought a pregnancy test and I planned to use it first thing in the morning when I woke up.
At about 5 in the morning, I woke TechyDad up and told him that I had to use the bathroom. Unlike my usual self, I was having to make pretty frequent trips to the restroom. My teacher bladder had gone out the window, making us curious if I was indeed pregnant. So we went into the bathroom and I did my thing with the stick. We walked out and waited. When we both went back into the bathroom to check, we were greeted with a plus sign! We never took photos of that positive sign, but we did make calls to relatives at that early hour. We also made a special book of sonogram photos of NHL as he grew from a little bean shape into the little guy who would be born.
At the end of August 2006, just before I was heading back to teaching, I had a feeling that I was pregnant. We had bought a kit of ovulation and pregnancy tests to use. One morning, I left the bed and went into the bathroom while TechyDad still slept. I did the test and hardly had to wait. Within seconds I saw the following:
Yes, I took a picture later on. I planned to use this picture to e-mail to family and friends to announce that we were expecting our second little one. I did and it was fun seeing/hearing/reading their reactions. After I saw the positive test, I ran into the bedroom and woke TechyDad up telling him he was going to be a Daddy again! Over the next nine months, we took photos of me pregnant and kept the sonogram photos of the little guy who looked like this once he arrived on the scene.
What did you keep, document, or take photos of when you were expecting? Did you take a photo of your pregnancy test, or dare I ask . . . do you still have it? Yes, I’m serious. Apparently, people keep their positive pregnancy tests as keepsakes. When Mom Central asked people to sign up to tell people about our Mommy Moments, I signed up because it sounded like fun. As my baby days are behind me, I still cherish that time in my life.
Mom Central also let me in on the pregnancy test keeping thing. I had never heard of this before (I’m naive I guess) and E.P.T. is making it easier for those that want to keep their pregnancy test memories for years to come.
Yes, if you go to the e.p.t.. website you can read about their keepsake case and products. Here is a little more information:
According to a recent survey commissioned by the makers of e.p.t. brand, the top three pregnancy keepsakes are ultrasound photos, items from the delivery day and at-home pregnancy tests. What’s more, 67% of expectant mothers saved their at-home pregnancy test – the first proof that they were pregnant – for reasons ranging from showing it to a partner to saving it as a poignant life-milestone keepsake. Now, e.p.t. offers women a commemorative Keepsake Case and scrapbook card to mark the life-changing occasion (available with a mail-in proof-of-purchase).
I guess I am in the minority since I never saved my test longer than to take a photo for later use. Am I sad about this? No, not really since I have the memories of those magical moments to last me along with my two beautiful little boys.
Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of e.p.t. keepsake case. I received a keepsake case to facilitate my review (willing to donate to anyone interested) and will also be receiving a $20 gift card to JustGive.org for my participation. I look forward to donating this to a great charity close to my heart.
What’s in a name?
Friday, May 7th, 2010Expectant parents often labor over names for the children. Hours are spent searching for just the right name for their baby whether with books or online sources. When TechyDad and I found out that we were expecting our first child, we did not have to think too much. It is a tradition in most Ashkenazi Jewish families to name for relatives that have passed away. We immediately knew who we wanted to name our baby after. TechyDad and I agreed that we would name our first baby for my Nana and TechyDad’s paternal grandfather.
For quite some time, we looked at boy and girl names that started with our target alphabet letters.Needless to say, we had no problem finding girl names, but always had difficulty with boy names. Then when our ultrasound confirmed that we were expecting a son, the name hunt intensified. We stretched the traditional rules a little when naming NHL, but we were happy and that is what matters.
When we were expecting our second child, we did not think about names until we knew if we were having a boy or a girl. I knew that I wanted to name for my other maternal grandfather, but beyond that things were up in the air. Several weeks before the little guy was born, my paternal grandfather passed away from a long fight with Parkinson’s Disease. From that moment, we knew that our second son would be named for both of my grandfathers. There was no debate really, JSL’s name was very quick and easy.
So my question for you this week:
How did you decide on the names for your children? If you do not have children yet, do you know the story behind your name?
Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there!
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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.
Aloha #98
PatientStyle antimicrobial socks – Review/Giveaway
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Spending time in a hospital as a patient is daunting, no matter what the reason. As a first time expectant mother, I had no clue what to pack and take with me to the hospital. The second time around, I knew things to leave at home and other items that were must haves. Then, when my little guy was only nine months old I stayed with him in the hospital for 4 long nights. It was during that stay, in February 2008, that I realized warm, clean socks were a must for me. The socks that they give you while there just do not cut it.
Recently, I was contacted by PatientStyle to review and give feed back about their anti-microbial slipper socks. Since I love slipper socks and thought they would be nice to have when traveling away from home, I opted to participate. Patient Style sent me a pair of slipper socks – one mens and one womens.
About PatientStyle (from their website):
Going to the hospital is no time to start compromising comfort, quality or style. Patientstyle.com is the perfect place to find gifts for a loved one or yourself, whether you’re planning to welcome a new family member or caring for the ones you have.
We’ve searched far and wide – and designed our own exclusive offerings – to bring you the best products out there in one convenient online store. From chic hospital gowns – front and back – to anti-microbial pillows and products, our site features the most useful, comfortable, and stylish items, designed specifically for what you or your loved one needs.
Feeling better means healing faster, and our products make a significant difference when spending time within hospital walls or while healing at home.
We received the men’s and women’s chenille lounge socks. They are enhanced with antimicrobial features and 99% polyester (1% spandex).
My Thoughts:
When I first saw the pink socks, they reminded me of my favorite cozy slipper socks from when I was a child. They seemed really soft when I was petting them with my hands, but that was nothing compared to when I tried them on. The minute I put them on, I was in heaven. They were the softest things I have ever felt on my feet. They were warm, cozy and fabulous. As a person who battles the cold all winter, these are a welcome addition to my slipper sock collection to keep my tootsies warm.
My husband has a hard time finding slipper socks. He has size 12 feet (wide width). Often, the socks we purchase from stores do not fit him. These socks were not too narrow and went up past his ankle properly. Score!
I definitely think that these would make fabulous socks for patients that are in the hospital having a baby (wish I had these with me), having surgery or have a condition that requires frequent hospitalization. Of course, I also think they will be packed with me when I go stay at other people’s house or a hotel. The antimicrobial bonus will help to protect me from all of the nasty item that can be found not only outside of my home, but inside with two young children. My only wish is that they had some socks in smaller sizes for my boys.
Giveaway:
Thanks to PatientStyle, one lucky reader will be able to win their own pair of the antimicrobial chenille socks.
Rules for Giveaway:
- MAIN RULE – Head over to the PatientStyle website and tell me one other item that you like.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Follow me on Twitter @TheAngelForever. Be sure to leave your Twitter ID.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Follow PatientStyle on Twitter @PatientStyle. Be sure to leave your Twitter ID.
- 1 Bonus Entry daily – Tweet about the giveaway. Be sure to include @TheAngelForever and @PatientStyle in the Tweet. Please leave a direct link to your Tweet in a separate comment for each daily entry. Example Tweet (feel free to use): Have you seen the @PatientStyle antimicrobial socks? Review/Giveaway from @TheAngelForever http://bit.ly/7Z0sD4
- 1 Bonus Entry – Let me know who this pair of PatientStyle socks will be for.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway posts from the month of December. Be sure to leave a comment here to let me know which one. You may only do this twice for this giveaway.
- 3 Bonus Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog about the PatientStyle giveaway. Be sure to leave 3 comments about this to get credit for all of your extra entries
To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today December 22nd and ends at 10:59 EST December 30, 2009. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only.
Disclosure: I received two pairs of the PatientStyle antimicrobial socks complimentary of PatientStyle in order to facilitate this review. No other compensations was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own feelings about the product that I tried.
Aloha Friday #14
Friday, September 19th, 2008Aloha and TGIF everyone!
Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.
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My questions for this week is:
How much sleep do you get on the average night?
Sleep, what is that? Seriously, I do not think I have slept a really decent night since I conceived NHL almost six years ago. Whether it was hormone induced lack of sleep, pregnancy bladder, nursing babies, teething toddlers, or a preschooler with nightmares, nights have been sketchy to say the least. On a good night I may get 4-6 hours of combined sleep. My body and mind have learned to cope with this, but it can be rough at times.
I joke with JL that my theme song should be the following:
How I love this song! Although I may not get a great night of sleep at least the boys seem to be able to catch some Z’s most evenings, even when on the road.
Sweet dreams to all!
So what do you think?
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
Sharing some bloggy love
Thursday, February 7th, 2008Heather over at OMSH is having a giveaway for some amazing art by Allison Strine Designs over at Etsy. What she is asking people to do is spread some bloggy love for people out in the blogosphere. Here is what she said:
By midnight (CST) on February 8th, you must spread some love yourself. I want you to write a loving, uplifting, encouraging, generous, complimentary post about one, two, three, four, or however many you like, of your favorite bloggers.
Put some thought in it – not just a blogroll, m’kay? Let your adoration ring! Pssst…No extra points for it being me – this is a drawing, not a contest.
Right before my Blogoversary (last week) I actually posted a bunch of thank you blurbs to people out there that have encouraged me to blog (OMSH was actually one of those people). It was sort of similar to what she is asking here, but still I will challenge myself to expand on what I previously wrote.
In that entry I casually mentioned Renee. Renee is one of the May07 Mommy bloggers that I met online while pregnant last year with JSL. Renee has a blog called Life With My Special K’s. I do not believe that Renee knows how much she assisted me back in early December of 2006. Two days before my 30th birthday my OB called me after work. I knew something was not right when I saw the number on the caller ID. He was telling me the results of a blood test that I had taken. The test came back that I had a higher risk of my baby being born with Downs Syndrome. I was beyond depressed. This news ruined my birthday and left me feeling ill. I did not know what to do. I turned to my mommy group where Renee saved the day.
How did she do this? Well, Renee had actually had the opposite result with the same pathetic test. Her result came back within normal range and her third beautiful child Kennedy was born three years ago with Downs Syndrome. Renee coached me to look at all different medical websites about the so called test and how useless it is, sent me to Downs Syndrome groups, and spent hours online chatting with me. She also helped me to realize that I had to know what was going on with my baby. I did not want to wait until the baby was born. I opted to have an amnio so that I could prepare for whatever my baby may or may not have. We were blessed with a happy and healthy little boy, but thanks to Renee I knew that Downs Syndrome was not a curse.
Renee is such a strong woman who continues to amaze me day after day. While we were pregnant last year Renee’s daughter Kennedy was diagnosed with leukemia. Soon after that (I think I am getting the sequence correct) she was told that she had gestational diabetes. Renee worked through this while keeping her family going. She changed her diet, stayed with Kennedy during all of the pre-chemotherapy tests/hospital stays, and got ready for her forth child. Then when her son was born in May she arranged to have him stay with her at the hospital while Kennedy was treated.
Renee has such strength and courage. In addition to being the mother of four beautiful children (Her Special K’s), Renee is a loving wife to one of our military heroes. Her husband was just deployed for another tour of duty in Afghanistan. He will be gone for 18 months (except when he joins the family for a Make A Wish trip to Disney this spring) and I know that Renee will keep her family going. She is a brave, strong woman who is a real role model.
Please stop by and say hello to Renee. This is a summary that she wrote on her blog:
Welcome to my blog where I take on day to day life with my four amazing children: Kassidy, Kameron, Kennedy and Keeghan, and a husband in the military. Join us as we face issues with Down syndrome, Leukemia, Deployments, and every day life with 4 young kids! You’ll be in for the ride of your life!
Thank you again Renee for all that you do 
Birthstory carnival by MamaLady
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007This past Friday, MamaLady hosted a Carnival of Birth Stories. Since I was away over the weekend I finally linked up to my stories today.
I remember with both pregnancies being glued to my mommy groups to see when the next baby was born and to read their birthing experience. Each one is so different and beautiful to hear.
Here are my birth posts:
JSL’s birth story – posted May 18, 2007
NHL’s birth story – posted on his 4th birthday August 17, 2007
So those are the stories of how my little guys came into the world.
Message to Uncle I and Aunt M
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007Below is a message that NHL made for Uncle I and Aunt M. It’s important to know that these are the same words that I heard EVERY day of my pregnancy upon NHL’s arrival home (especially once I was showing).
C’est Moi
4 years ago tonight .. .
Friday, August 17th, 2007I was in the hospital in labor. At about 9:00 that Saturday night I was sitting on the couch reading the new Harry Potter book while Pretty Woman was on the television. JL was working on his website. I was half reading since I figured I had 2 more weeks to read before the baby was born. I guess NHL had other plans. I got up to stretch and felt a pop and a gush.
Yup, you guessed it…my water broke. JL said he’s never seen a pregnant woman run so fast.
I flew into the bathroom and he followed me there to see what was going on. He called the doctor’s number and they instructed us to head to the hospital. Once I got there I was only about 1 cm dilated and my water had indeed broken. My parents met us there and were so excited since it was the birth of their first grandchild. At about this time (11:00) everyone left and JL and I were told to walk around to see if it would help my contractions to come more regularly.
Unfortunately this did nothing so I was told to rest and see how things were in the morning before they did more. I opted for no medicine at that point.
In the morning they checked and I had made no progress. I was told I had to have pitocin since my water broke and the risk of infection increased with time. So silly me opted not to have an epiduralright away. BIG mistake that I didn’t make with JSL.
The pitocin was started at about 6:30 and by 10:00 I wanted the epidural. The contraction were horrid thanks to the medication making them worse. They finally found someone to come (another woman couldn’t have it anymore). Thanks to the epidural they were able to crank up the pitocin. Within 40 minutes to an hour I was finally progressing. 10 minutes after they checked me I felt pressure and the urge to push. They didn’t believe me, but looked. Sure enough I was 10 centimeters (from 3) dilated and ready to roll.
Little did I know, but the doctor didn’t think I would be able to push the baby out. I sure showed him. In less than an hour at 1:17 in the afternoon on August 17th NHL was born.
A look down memory lane:
Minutes after NHL was born.
Popeye NHL.
My favorite photo of the little guy with his tongue out.
Peacefull baby NHL.
NHL visits with Papa and Poppy Sol.
Uncle I meets NHL (My baby brother is going to be a daddy soon – Whoa!)
Nana gives NHL his first “bath.”
NHL is so TINY in his big crib.
Ah, the memories. Now my little NHL is a big boy and going to be 4 tomorrow. Here’s a photo of him now (please excuse the cookie face):
C’est Moi
Post Surgery Update
Friday, June 29th, 2007Wednesday I had the surgery at about 8:00 in the morning. The first few hours I bled a lot, but then it slowed down a ton. By 9:30 that night I had NOTHING! By noon yesterday there was still nothing and I ditched the diap. . . -er I mean pad for a panty liner for the first time since May 14th when I had JSL. Wow, it was so nice! Last night before bed there was a little break through spotting so I put a pad back on since I was too nervous. This morning still just a little streaky/spotting.
Yesterday afternoon the nurse from my OB’s office called to talk to me. She asked if I had done a Pap-Smear at the visit last week. I told her they tried it with the bleeding, but she was the one then that told me it likely wouldn’t be good. Well, she was right. It was a no-go. They had no cells to work with, so when I go back on the 11th I need to have that re-done. She then told me that she was trying to track down the pathology report from my surgery since Dr. J wanted it ASAP. She said the hospital didn’t have it. I reminded her that last Thursday I had that chunk taken with the other doctor and that should be done. So she said she would call me back when she knew something since I wanted to know as well. She was able to get the report from last Thursday and it was confirmed degenerated placental material.
That’s when I asked her a question about the use of post delivery uterine massage. She said they will usually do it right away. Well, here’s the deal. JL and my mother were there for both of my deliveries. With NHL the doctor that delivered him took a LONG time massaging me and then the nurses continued this for 24 hours after. With JSL another OB delivered and she stitched me up and took off. She NEVER massaged my abdomen and neither did the nurses at this hospital. Not sure if this would have made a difference, but I have a hard time believing that they wouldn’t have felt that massive piece that I passed Monday.
Oh well! On that note I am off to get JSL up to eat soon since I feel like I am going to explode. Today we are going to school for a computer class. It will be nice seeing some people and getting out for a little while.
C’est Moi
Current Mood: 
contemplative.
