The Angel Forever

I do not want to go

Posted on April 27, 2009 8:27 am by TheAngelForever

A little less than a year ago I made a decision to make a switch, a switch of medical practices that is. For years I had been unhappy with several of the doctors in my OB/GYN group (I have written about this before – especially after JSL’s birth). Still I stayed. Why? Well, when I was pregnant with NHL a new doctor came into the practice. This doctor was young, fresh, a woman and also pregnant herself. She actually sat, listened to me and did not rush from the room. In addition to her, I loved the staff at the office. I stayed out of pure laziness and knowing what I was in for at this practice.

What finally put me over the edge was what happened when I was pregnant with JSL. Numerous times the other doctors were uncaring, got nasty and turned their ear the other way which landed me in surgery. When I went to make an appointment with the doctor I loved for my follow up exam last year, I was told she would only be in the far away office. Very odd.

Lucky for me, when we were at a craft event for kids one weekend, I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and there was the doctor that I really liked. She asked if I had heard the news. After five years, she was moving to a new practice because she could not tolerate what the other three doctors were doing to the practice. I was stunned. I got the information about the new practice and waited a few weeks to call. The new practice had a policy that I had to be seen even if it was not time for my annual visit. So in the early fall I went in and chatted with my doctor in her new office. When I switched my files over I was able to read through them and had some questions for her. She agreed that there were several instances that indicated nobody listened after JSL’s birth. Signs were there on the placenta that it may not be intact. Yet, for weeks they allowed me to bleed and never once looked at the report right in my chart. It sealed the deal that I had made the right decision. Clearly the other doctors had become too busy with things to take a patient who knew something was wrong seriously.

About a month ago, I finally had my annual GYN visit scheduled at the new office. To say that I am not a fan of the nurse the takes you back would be an understatement. I truly do miss the ladies from my old office that did these things. After that I went back to the waiting room. 45 minutes later I was called to the desk. I was told that my doctor was off at a delivery, even though she was not on call. I was offered to see one of the other doctors, but I declined. That’s the beauty of not being pregnant, I can wait and see the person I want to and nobody can say boo.

Last week, I had to cancel the make up appointment on Tuesday. Thank goodness I did since JSL’s temeprature spiked to 104 Monday evening. Today I am supposed to go again. My grandmother is watching JSL, so he will not have to endure waiting with me at the office during his typical nap time. The problem, I just do not want to go. I want to call and cancel. I do not want to deal with the witchy nurse or any of the rest of this.

These are the days that men should be happy they are not a woman and do not have to think about this "fun" event.

Categories:
decisions doctor looking back me moments vent

Tie Buddies Winner

Posted on April 26, 2009 3:54 pm by TheAngelForever

Thanks to all of the hoopla going on around here, I forgot to post the winner of the Tie Buddies giveaway. The winner who was notified a while ago is:

Nancy is the lucky winner and will be receiving the race car Tie Buddies to help teach her son to tie his shoes. Happy shoe tying!

Categories:
giveaway

Story time at Chez Angel – Go! Go! Go!

Posted on April 25, 2009 4:31 pm by TheAngelForever

When growing up, I remember I adored books that had flaps. It was always exciting to go inside and explore all of the hidden wonders. My oldest son, NHL loves reading flap books as well. He is now able to explore them without damaging the books.

Recently, NHL and I read the book Go! Go! Go! by Roxie Munro. Right on the cover of the book, it states that there are "More than 70 flaps to uncover and discover!" Each and every page in this book is loaded with flaps and items to unwind and flip that help and tell the story.

NHL and I waited for a quiet time and stretched out on the floor to explore the book. As soon as we opened the book, NHL noticed that the information on the inside cover was even included in a flap. We immediately knew that this was going to be a fun experience. As you continue into the book, you are taken on a transportation adventure. Roxie Munro’s colorful illustrations, and interactive flaps quickly brought us into the world that she created.

Our first stop was a fire station where firefighters were getting ready. NHL liked lifting a flap to help some of them slide down the pole. Another flap made one of the people in the scene pick up a telephone. This allowed NHL and I to talk about things that go on in a fire house. He had a great time using his 5 year old imagination and playing out the scene sine there is no text on the page. As we continued on, the book a huge flap that allowed the fire truck to drive down the street, send out the ladder and put out a fire. NHL was in his glory because this one page required you to flip a section four times.

Next, Munro takes us to a Balloon Festival. Here you lift flaps to assist the people taking items out of their trucks and getting the balloons off the ground. Then you go to another page and the balloons all lift into the sky in a gorgeous display of artistic perspective.

Go! Go! Go! continues taking you to a horse race where you watch the horses getting ready and then they are off and racing. Next, there is a Deep-Sea Discovery Research Vessel that shows a diver exploring the ocean below. The last stop is a Pit Stop where members are assisting two cars in a race. The last page of the book opens up to reveal an amazing display of a raceway that is as wide as four pages. While exploring here you are able to make the cars race around the track.

NHL and I enjoyed this book. It was a great way for us to talk about different items that are on the "go" and discuss things that take place in these environments. Roxie Munro does an amazing job of capturing the details and allowing the reader to truly feel like they are in the scene while flipping and turning the flaps. I know that we will definitely be exploring more of the wonderful books by Roxie Munro in the future.

Categories:
books Product review Story time

Grilling Goodness – Take 14

Posted on April 24, 2009 9:58 am by TheAngelForever

1. When you were in school, did you study hard or cram the night before? – In High School I never studied too much. At pharmacy school I learned better ways, but it always seemed like cramming. While doing my Education studies there were not many tests honestly.

2. What can pull you out of a really funky mood? – A hug/kiss from my boys.

3. Do you keep the invoice after you’ve paid the bill?– Yes, you never know IF you may need it. Now I just need a better system of filing things.

4. Do you have yard sales? Shop at them? – Debating having one soon, but not sure if it is worth the effort. Have not shopped at one in a long time.

5. When was the last time you rode a roller coaster? – I believe I went on one last summer with my son at Six Flags. Hoping to go on the Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney Hollywood Studios soon :)

6. Spring cleaning…do you do such things as wash your windows? – No, have not done this in way too long. Something we should do, but other things always crop up that are more important.

7. How often do you clean out your refrigerator? – Weekly we go through the refrigerator and empty things out when it is garbage night. We also do a massive cleaning before Passover.

8. Have you ever been a victim of identity theft? – Yes, hubby’s identity was stolen a little over a year ago. It was a huge mess, but I think I caught things quickly since the thief was stupid and we were sent the credit card. Still it means a complete lock down for our protection and it complicates getting credit checks and everything. Really wish the government helped victims a little more than punishing us more.

Head over to Golden Goodness to play along!

Categories:
Grilling Goodness me moments web fun

Books for boys

Posted on April 23, 2009 11:03 pm by TheAngelForever

Growing up I remember reading several different book series. My Uncle J and Aunt A hooked me on the Polk Street School books by Patricia Reilly Giff. I recall going out with them to have pizza, playing Pacman at the arcade and going to the book store to get something to read.

There were other series that I read as a child. I quickly became a fan of the Ramona Quinby books by Beverly Clearly. In addition to this, I loved the Anastasia Krupnik books by Lois Lowry (author of Number the Stars) and adored reading about Peter and Fudge in the books by Judy Blume.

As a college student who was an education major, I read a lot of children’s literature. Some of these include Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling), Junie B Jones (Barbara Park), Cam Jansen Mystery books (David A. Adler), Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket) to name a few. As a teacher I read even more. While teaching Language Arts I read many of the books that my students were reading outside of class to keep up with their interests.

This past summer we decided that NHL was ready to start listening to chapter books with us. I had bought a copy of Dinosaurs Before Dark, the first book in the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pop Osborne.

Originally I started reading the books with NHL, but soon JL took over and it became a nightly thing for them. Over the months the boys have been reading the books here and there. Last night NHL and JL finished book #40 in the series. Today I requested the newest book from the library.

So my question for youthis week:

What series of books did you read as a child, or did your children read, that you would recommend for a little boy? NHL is in kindergarten and loves to read so the more ideas the better.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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.