Fat Tuesday - My, How the Body Changes

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Today marks the 7th week of Miri’s life and my full return to my pre-pregnancy weight of *gulp* 215 lbs. I fit in my old clothes with exception to my pants - I needed to go up a size to *additional gulp* 18 thanks to the postpartum belly. But at least I get active again. Considering I was injured most of last year and then pregnant, my return to activity must be steady and slow to say the least. …continue reading»

Topics: Losing 70 | No Comments »

Money Mondays, ep 9 - Welcome me back!

Monday, 12 May 2008

“Back in the saddle again…”

That’s right, folks. I’m back writing about the horrors of debt and how to get out from under that monster with a deeply personal saga. (I’m all about sagas lately!)

Let’s take a look at our progress over the past 5 months… …continue reading»

Topics: Debt Elimination | No Comments »

The Labor Saga - part 3

Sunday, 11 May 2008

Continued from The Labor Saga - part 2…

So I’ve been hooked up to an IV and a fetal monitor for umpteen hours, administered a catheter and had it removed, administered an epidural that wasn’t working and was awaiting the news that after all that I may need an emergency c-section. …continue reading»

Topics: Baby Mania, Family & Children | 3 Comments »

The Labor Saga - part 2

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Continued from The Labor Saga - part 1…

We loaded everything into the car - the backpack with clothes and baby supplies, the aforementioned car seat, me in labor. The ride was quite smooth but then again it was 4 am on a Monday morning - even the Orange Crush doesn’t create traffic at that hour.

We arrived at the hospital and had to use the Emergency Room to enter, which was actually empty which shocked Justin.

“I’ve never seen this place empty,” he replied as I waddled up to the admitting desk. He was a seasoned visitor after my 6-day stay in the hospital from the hypertension.

“Just wait until 6 or 7,” I retorted just as another contraction hit. “Heart attack hour is on Mondays just before work.” …continue reading»

Topics: Baby Mania, Family & Children | 2 Comments »

The Labor Saga - part 1

Thursday, 17 April 2008

I cannot pretend that I am anywhere near 100% though physically I have healed from labor and have a healthy, determined little girl in my arms. I say this so you can be gentle as you read my next few posts - I have only been able to sleep in 2-4 hour shifts since my 44-hour labor. As a person with bipolar, I can’t express how much this has diminished my mental capacity - right now Dora the Explorer’s plot lines lose me. So be kind or I’ll have to go postpartum postal on your bupkes.

Despite my mental fog, it has been three weeks since our “blessed event” (what a semi-sarcastic euphemism that is!) and I really should at least attempt to tell my tale. Or return to writing. Or whatever.

Let me start by saying that child labor - as in the kind that brings children into the world, not putting a child to work in the coal mine with that little canary - is not at all like they show on television. A woman’s water typically doesn’t suddenly break and bring an onslaught of contractions worth screaming over. Oh, nay nay! Labor, for most women as it was for me, is a game of hurry up and wait. Contractions come - they range from uncomfortably ticklish to truly painful - and then they go for a few minutes. For hours on end, it’s an ebb and flow situation with little progress as far as dilation. Only 1 in 10 women will actually have her water break on its own, the rest of womankind must wait for the good OBGYN and his/her giant crochet needle. Oh my, but I get ahead of myself! …continue reading»

Topics: Baby Mania, Family & Children, Gratitude, Life Goals | 10 Comments »

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Thursday, 27 March 2008

We are proud - no, thrilled - to announce the birth of our daughter Miriam Rose! (Regales of my 44 hours of labor - yes, FORTY FOUR - to come once we’re settled and I’ve had more than 3 hours sleep in any 24-hour period.)