Category Archives pregnancy

The Mommy Moment (aka The moment I knew)

Do 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.

NHL at 4 days old

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:

EwokPartDeux

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. 

Sleeping JSL - about 10 days old

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.

e.p.t Keepsake Case

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.

TheAngelForever

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.

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What’s in a name?

Expectant 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.

The people NHL is named for

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.

The people JSL is named for

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! 

TheAngelForever

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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 Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #98

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PatientStyle antimicrobial socks – Review/Giveaway

Spending 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.

PatientStyle logo

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.

 PatientStyle socks

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.

Modeling my PatientStyle 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. 

TheAngelForever

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.


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Aloha Friday #14

Aloha 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.

 Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

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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. 

A good night sleep

Sweet dreams to all!

TheAngelForever

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