Please help
I found this today on The Parent Bloggers Network and went over to see what was what.
Now, I sit here crying because this woman has to deal with so, so much right now. I can easily put myself into her shoes through her writing (especially this post.
She doesn’t want pity – although I can’t help but feel so bad for her. Perhaps it’s because I’m back in my dark place and my emotions are very raw again. I am finding it hard to even fathom what I would be like in her shoes, but I know she’s handling it a hell of a lot better than I ever could.
My nana had breast cancer – and she kicked it’s ass. My mom has had to have a breast biopsy because of something rather disturbing growing in there. I simply wait in line for my experience … but I simply CAN NOT FATHOM doing it while nursing my sweet baby boy.
And although it’s a day early, I’ve also nominated her for the June Perfect Post award (offered by Surburban Turmoil & MommaK), because it did make me cry… and not much usually does that – except for the two child death posts that I read on Friday *and I can’t go there*.
So please, grab this and put it on your blogs to show support for Team WhyMommy and then go over there and offer her some encouraging words in her comments. She needs them.
Thank you.
Technorati Tags: cancer, survivors, blogging, perfect post award, helping
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I found this today on The Parent Bloggers Network and went over to see what was what.
Now, I sit here crying because this woman has to deal with so, so much right now. I can easily put myself into her shoes through her writing (especially this post.
She doesn’t want pity – although I can’t help but feel so bad for her. Perhaps it’s because I’m back in my dark place and my emotions are very raw again. I am finding it hard to even fathom what I would be like in her shoes, but I know she’s handling it a hell of a lot better than I ever could.
My nana had breast cancer – and she kicked it’s ass. My mom has had to have a breast biopsy because of something rather disturbing growing in there. I simply wait in line for my experience … but I simply CAN NOT FATHOM doing it while nursing my sweet baby boy.
And although it’s a day early, I’ve also nominated her for the June Perfect Post award (offered by Surburban Turmoil & MommaK), because it did make me cry… and not much usually does that – except for the two child death posts that I read on Friday *and I can’t go there*.
So please, grab this and put it on your blogs to show support for Team WhyMommy and then go over there and offer her some encouraging words in her comments. She needs them.
Thank you.
Technorati Tags: cancer, survivors, blogging, perfect post award, helping
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What does motherhood mean to you…
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
and can you fit it into a 60 second video? I am by NO means a fan of video cameras, particuarly with me in front of it – but for $30,000, I’m gonna plant my mug right square in the middle of one in the next few days because Huggies, in celebration of THIRTY YEARS of hugging baby bottoms, is looking for your videos on what motherhood means to you.
Yes, that’s right – $30,000! That’s what the grand prize winner will receive if their video receives the most votes. Time to dust off those address books!
Even if you don’t own a video camera, hop over to their website because they’re touring the country and if they come to a city near you, you can record your video right there!
Huggies will also select 30 videos from moms across the country to feature in their new commercials.
Here’s more -
About Generation Huggies:
Now through November 20, 2008, there are two ways for moms to create a video reflecting on “What Motherhood Means to Me.”
1. Videos can be uploaded to www.GenerationHuggies.com
2. Alternatively, moms can create a video on-site when they
visit a local Generation Huggies event.
3. Videos should be no longer than 60 seconds in length and
no larger than 5MB.
4. Everyone can participate by giving a hug, or vote, to their
favorite video through November 30, 2008.
5. Judging ends November 30, 2008.
Visit www.GenerationHuggies.com for the official sweepstakes rules and details. Entry is limited to one per day per person or e-mail address during the Sweepstakes Period. Void where prohibited; no payment or purchase necessary. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States plus the District of Columbia, age 18 or older.
If you do create a video, I hope you’ll also post it on your blog – and please, feel free to come back and comment! I’d love to see everyone’s 
.
My thanks to Mom Central for the opportunity to share this with you.
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My choice for June Perfect Post award.
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
One of the best things about twitter is the fact that it connects you to so many people that are normally not within your realm. As such, I happened upon a blog post by Her Bad Mother last week that had my heart pounding in my chest and tears in my eyes, because I could feel her anxiety, her fear, her helplessness. As I read The Closer You Are to Fine, I became not just a fan, but one of her confidants. I became her friend, her sister, her neighbor. I wanted nothing more than to hug her and tell her that she’d be ok – and that her baby would be ok.
And you can manage the constricted heart and the withholding of breath until you get there, to the hospital, but once your baby – your tiny, tiny baby – has been stripped of his tiny clothes and is laying naked on the hospital bed – a vast expanse of cold sheet beneath his tiny frame – the machines looming, menacing, around him, you struggle. You crouch beside him, cradling his head and nuzzling his cheek, babbling whispers of love into his ear, willing him to not cry, to not squirm, to let this be over, fast.
That’s the stuff of great writing. That’s why I nominated Her Bad Mother for the June Perfect Post award, made possible by the Letter T, the Number 4 and the friendly folks at Petroville and Suburban Turmoil.
You can visit them to see more of this month’s Perfect Post awards, too. But before you do, seriously – go read “The Closer You Are to Fine” first (and then her followup).
On reading more of her latest blog posts, I’m coming to realize that I really wasn’t the only one who thought that breastfeeding wasn’t the easiest thing on earth (but pushed through it anyway, despite the pain), that being post-partum with a baby and other kids is really freakin HARD, and that life, in general, is harder with a new baby. Motherhood is hard. I wish her the best.
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Where’s Waldo?
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
See if you can spot the differences in these pictures.
Do you see it?
You see it now? It’s Libby’s new Birthday Dress that I bought for her for her birthday party in a couple of weeks. It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized that it was the same pattern as my new comforter LOL I’ll have to make sure not to lose her on the bed. LOL
Quote of the Day:
The secret pleasure of a generous act Is the great mind’s great bribe.
–John Dryden
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Miscellania
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
- I cannot find the little shoe thingie that screws into the bottom of your camera and then snaps onto the tripod. Anyone know what it’s called?
- I went to see the movie “The Bucket List” last night with a friend of mine. It was a really good movie
Would you believe that Jack Nicholson is actually only a couple of weeks older than Morgan Freeman? (Both were born in 1937!) (Morgan Freeman’s real life son played his movie son ) - Jimmy & I both have the same disk in our neck herniating. He was told yesterday he could have a shot of cortisone, but that it could possibly paralyze him. He could also have surgery. Neither of which he is choosing. :S
- Our vacation dates have been changed, thanks to Jimmy’s screwy work.
- I got really aggravated last night when I realized that amazon.com had bought IMDB.
- I AM SO ready for Spring. I looked out in my “garden” last week under the pots that I have out there, and found something shooting through!
- Found out that a girl that my babysitter used to bring along for company was arrested last week – FOR HUFFING. I had bad vibes about her last year and had already decided to tell my babysitter NOT to bring her back… but then the babysitter never came back anyway, so it was a moot point. Now, I’m SO glad!
- We bought a 2003 Pontiac Montana last week. It’s in fabulous condition, seats EIGHT and ya know… RUNS It’s also put us in debt for the next 60 months, so I’ll be taking more pay per post opportunities to help pay for it.
- I also put a banner up there in my sidebar for ingDirect. They’re an awesome online bank and I’ve used them for several years very happily. Now they have a great affiliate program, so if you’re seriously looking for a new bank, please consider them – They offer MUCH better interest rates on savings accounts and mortgages than your local bank, that’s for sure.
I think that’s all for now
Happy Tuesday, people!
Quote of the Day:
I not only use all the brains I have but all that I can borrow.
–Thomas Woodrow Wilson
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In the category of "WTF?"
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
Search Engine Terms
These are terms people used to find your blog.
Today
Search Views
nookie for breastfeeding babies 1
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Now is the time
about 1 year ago - Comments Off
Sorta . I mean – I know somewhere in my blackened, charred heart that it’s time for me to start that long, Lonnnnnng process of reclaiming myself. Me. Dawn Marie ########################. Now that Zachary has finished nursing and doesn’t need ME specifically anymore – and I can take more time for myself without feeling quite so guilty, it’s time to start looking to see who I want to be when I grow up.
Isn’t it funny (but not ha ha funny) how I’m the type of person who has never been able to do one of those “where do you see yourself in 5/10/20 years” questions with any kind of honesty. I’ve NEVER been able to – sure, I could make up an answer … “oh, in 5 years, I can see myself in a management situation, perhaps office manager or equivalent” blah blah blah – but it was never an honest answer. I don’t know why I’ve never been able to do that. I never really had a “career” before I had kids. Before I met Jimmy & moved to TN, I had spent the most time in a job as an administrative assistant and by the time I left that job, I hated it. I didn’t LIKE being a grown man’s mama, and that’s what I felt like. I left the job because at that point, I wanted to pursue events planning – something I’ve really always wanted to try. But then things sort of got curtailed and within the year, I was pregnant with Anthony and would become a stay at home mom.
The closest I’ve ever come to “seeing” myself in the future was a couple of years ago, before I became pregnant with Zachary, I was taking some business classes and the instructor asked us to visualize ourselves a year from then. After a few minutes, I started to see myself – a year from then. Slimmer (I was in the process of losing weight and it was always on my mind) and looking happy and confident as I stood before a class I was teaching. I could see the successful me.
Well, that was 3 years ago. At that point, I was working on developing my business as an eBay educator as well as doing graphics & web design, teaching technology classes and in my free time, selling on eBay. Everything was going pretty well, too – I was making (some) money – enough so that Jimmy could stay at home w/the kids and work on HIS love (music) while I did what I (sort of) enjoyed at the time – teaching.
Then, everything changed. I knew that the pregnancy would take it’s toll on me, and so as I got farther along, I stepped back from booking classes in various cities and states around me. I WELCOMED IT because teaching is a lot harder than it looks. When all was said and done, I didn’t really miss it – because it really wasn’t something that came easily to me. I would have to steel myself to stand in front of a class of adults and teach them whatever it was I was teaching – but I never really felt like I was effective in it. I got great reviews, but it still didn’t feel like *me*.
So then Zachary came and of course, my world became Baby Central 24/7. That’s a role that’s harder than anything, as everyone says, especially while battling depression AND a 4 yr old. But obviously, a year later, Zachary has come out of it unscathed, and I – other than a few extra scars, seemingly have too. I’m left wondering what’s next?
When Jimmy bought me my new camera for Christmas, he also stressed that when tax time came around, we’d also buy me some of the accoutrements that go with photography, such as backdrops, lighting, etc. So now that time is here, and I’ve been picking up things here and there – mostly filters and whatnot – and looking at classes to take to really get a better – WORING knowledge of my camera. Photography has ALWAYS been in the background of my life – and now I think I’d like to bring it really to the forefront and develop it and work it.
Jimmy found a job online last week that I got really excited about. It’s for someone to travel to Vermont State Parks and photograph the activities, campgrounds, campers, etc. You get free admission to the places, free camping, and they reimburse for travel and supplies. It’s an internship, but what fun would that be! I could take my kids with me and do what I love to do. So I’m considering applying for it.
Something else I’m thinking about is offering my services to photograph products for a local place where I was teaching classes. They have a store where the members of this organization can sell their items, but anyone with a website needs *good* photos for it – and I can do that pretty well too. I think, though, that doing anything related to photography at this point is what excites me – and it’s been a while since anything got my attention like this has
So I took a baby step this weekend and submitted 4 of my pictures to a stock photo website. That’s where people who need good quality photos for print & web work go to buy photos that they can use without violating copyright laws. I’m waiting to see if they’re accepted – if they are, then if someone chooses to buy one of my photos, I get a percentage of the sale. So we’ll see. I’m also considering making photo notecards to sell online and perhaps at the local craft shows this summer and fall. I’m not sure if the market can stand yet another person selling flowers and mountain pics, but I’ve got time to investigate it anyway. But I guess the important thing is I’m looking past the days of diapers and trying to find somewhere to stand on my own. We’ll see what happens
Oh, and on a separate but related note, I have made an appointment with the neurologist to get back on that journey of figuring out what’s wrong with me. Now that my belly has mostly healed, it’s time to figure out what’s causing the whole body tremor, lip twitching, muscle twitching, numbness, flashing, etc.!
Technorati Tags: photography,product photography,kids,growing up,changes
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rebuilding your credit – a warning
about 2 years ago - Comments Off
For the last year, I’ve been working on rebuilding my credit. My credit history has kinda sucked, so my first credit card was $100 limit from Fashion Bug. I used it a couple of times, paying it off right away. Eventually, they increased that to $200, and as soon as that happened, I started getting dozens of credit card offers in the mail. Tons of them! But I didn’t snatch up every one. I only chose the ones with 0% finance charges (at least temporarily) – and only used them when I could pay them off quickly, etc. This has worked out well because now my credit’s looking pretty good.
It wasn’t a big surprise when I received another credit card offer in the mail yesterday. Since I’d just paid off 2 of the lowest limit credit cards, as well as another one (leaving us w/just 1 bill), I figured I’d try for it and see what happened. I went to the “pre-approved” website and filled in the necessary information. However, something made me stop before I clicked on the “submit” button when I chose to get another card for Jimmy – and there was a $20 charge for an additional card. Hmmm, I thought – let’s just look to see what ELSE they charge for. Here’s what I found:
So, for the privilege of having this card, I’m already sunk for $256. According to their pre-approval conditions, my initial credit limit is $250. BUT, if I am assigned the minimum credit limit of $250, the available credit limit will be $71. So wouldn’t that then put me over the limit? Then, if I want to pay through the Internet, $4. If I want to increase my credit limit – $25.
Thankfully, I realized something was up before I “accepted” their terms & fees and whatnot, but so many people, eager to get a credit card fall for this kind of stuff – and so I just wanted to put a warning out there – READ THE FINE PRINT!! Building/rebuilding your credit does NOT mean going into immediate debt with that company just for the privilege of having their card.
Oh – and by the way – if you DO get these “pre-approved” offers in the mail and you choose not to use them, do not just throw them away – you must open it and at least obliterate the “pre-approval” code – so that someone getting ahold of your trash can’t just apply for the same card in your name!
This is not a paid or sponsored post – this is just me, really annoyed at this stupid credit card company for trying to scam me.
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my mama
about 2 years ago - Comments Off
It’s chaotic, and not very restful, but I’m home. My mom had to leavea bout an hour after I left this morning,b ut it had been such a GREAT thing for to have been here and take care of my family so I didn’t have to worry about them. She is such a fabulous mom – she really is. I know she’d like to have stayed, but she works TWO jobs 4 days a week. She gave up those 2 days worth of income to come up here and being treated rudely by my daughter, and try to not step on anyone’s toes (Jimmy gets overly sensitive and emotional when I’m not around either) but this was definitely one of the better visits. He didn’t complain about anything! LOL
She came up to the hospital last night and we spent a few hours abusing each other and amusing the nursing staff. My mother picks on me MERCILESSLY, I tell ya. She cheats at cards too. Oh, and she stole the food right out of my mouth. I’m abused, I tell ya. And I’d be totally lost without her. She’s my biggest defender and advocate. She was the one who (literally) backed the nurse into a corner to ask her to change the bed that hadn’t been changed and had floor dirt on it from those stupid slipper socks they make you wear. She was the one who had ot ask and ask again for the shower chair so I wouldn’t fall on my butt in the shower. She nagged reminded me to do the breathing machine thingie. Oh and she took pictures to blackmail me with of my newest incisions.
So I’m so eternally grateful that she once again, dropped everything in her life to come help me. I know, I know – she’s my mom – it’s her job – but I still can be grateful, can’t I?
(Even if she burned the soup)
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1:46 a.m.
about 2 years ago - Comments Off
There’s just something innately wrong with feeling like you’re putting someone out by asking for something from someone who is paid to provide the service you’re requesting. Now I will be the first to admit that as healing progresses, my pain tolerance tends to diminish – or perhaps it’s just that it’s risen to such a threshold that I simply cannot handle it. But I still shouldn’t have to ASK someone to empty a potty chair (the ones they put in the toilet to measure how much urine you’re putting out) because it hasn’t been emptied all night and now it’s about to overflow. I shouldn’t have to ask them to remove the wet towels and linens from the shower. I shouldn’t have to ask for the garbage to be emptied or the bed to be changed. So today, my mood has been rather dark and angry.
I hurt badly. My stomach hurts from the really ugly incision for the hernia repair. And for whatever reason, My body simply does NOT recover from any kind of manipulation of my insides very well. It paralyzes my bowel – and the drugs that they give to make things actually happen – not only does it NOT work, it just makes the pain worse because there’s no where for it to go. So by the 3rd day (with all 3 c-sections as well), I’m in horrendous pain. Now, with previous experience, I’ve learned that there are certain things that I can use to at least lessen the pain. Things like GasX (or it’s generic equivalent, symethicone) and the last time I was here, they gave it readily. As I’ve also mentioned, both to you and to the nurses AND doctors, the percoset simply is NOT doing anything for my pain other than making it more possible to get off the bed. None of these things have seemed to actually have been heard by these people, though, and that makes me even angrier, because I’m not some 20 year old just angling for drugs. I am asking for things I KNOW will help me. I cannot walk the halls to help move the gas along if I can’t WALK. (I just found out when I asked the nurse (again) for the symethecone that the doctor had said no to it. I have some in my purse, though … hmmmmmmmm
My temperature keeps going up and then back down. So I alternate between sweating and shivering. Shivering with a 4 inch incision in your belly is NOT fun.
Oh, and my breasts have now filled up so much because of my lack of nursing, they’re virtually rock hard and I had asked for a breast pump and was talked out of it, citing the possibility of infection. So I tried to get by with ice packs. I went to sleep and tried to sleep on my side, resting my belly up against a pillow, causing gentle pressure, which typically has helped in the past. I woke up almost in tears – the ice packs were leaking, I couldn’t even sit up because of the searing pain in my belly and breasts. I’m alone, and no one on the nursing staff seems to CARE that I’m in pain. It’s so frustrating. I KNOW I’m emotional because of all this – so I know I’m taking it more personally than I should, but it freakin hurts. It hurts that I have to ask yet again for a breast pump because I simply can barely lift my ARMS now, my breasts are so hard and full. And the night nurse giving me this attitude of “Oh, I thought you weren’t GOING to pump” and after I explain that I’m in such horrible pain that I HAVE to, she offers to go see what she can find. I mean, I am literally 100 feet from the OB department. I know, she’s busy. I know I said I wasn’t going to pump. But geez – is it better for THIS to happen? Ooh, and have I mentioned, I haven’t taken my zoloft in uhhhh 4 days?
So, I’m sitting here at 2:02 am, waiting for something that they gave me to help me sleep actually kicks in and trying NOT to take it all personally. But I did tell one woman who HASN’T made me feel like I’ve overstayed my welcome, that I appreciated her help but the others who literally watched me walk by – barely walking, more like stumbling because I couldn’t stand up straight, constantly grabbing the hand rail because I was dizzy – and not bothering to ask if everyting was ok – yeah, they’re not gonna be getting anything from us – we typically will buy some goodies for the medical staff that takes care of me (we did for the 2 babies births) – that isn’t gonna happen. :S I hate feeling like that though – like I’ve overstayed my welcome and please, you really need to leave now. Can’t you see we have other, more serious people to take care of? I will say, though, That I also did have someone from OB who I’d seen when I first had Zach and who helped us get our nursing problems taken care of, and she was very friendly and helped and I made sure to thank her too.
I’m apparently going home tomorrow, although I don’t know how we’re gonna handle things from there. My mom has to go back to RI tomorrow around noon – so it leaves SO much on Jimmy’s shoulders, which aren’t up to par either. I should have just waited for this stupid surgery.
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Playing catch-up
about 2 years ago - Comments Off
Well, we’re home. We got home at 1:30 am on Wednesday morning. It took us about 5-1/2 hours to make the 200 mile trip, but that included a 1 hr stop at the Super WalMart to grab some stuff that our local Walmart doesn’t carry, like these Baby MumMums that Zachary likes so much. The transmission place was only able to fix the brake caliper during the day on Tuesday, so Jimmy just nursed the car all the way home, being careful not to let off the gas or accelerate too harshly. He did a great job, too. The day yesterday was spent just trying to recoup – which wasn’t so easy when the power went out at 5:30pm & stayed out till after 8. oh, & Jimmy slept…. the entire time. Then TODAY was spent without Internet ALL DAY LONG, apparently due to a huge fire here in town. In any case, I did manage to edit some pictures to show, but my blog somehow does not like my blogging software that I normally use, so this will have to do for now. I’ve changed the template about 50 bazillion times, too, and haven’t found one I absolutely LOVE yet – but this is cute for now.
Oh, and I don’t remember if I actually blogged about this yet or not, but a NEW SYMPTOM has shown up – I’m now experiencing a full body tremor, including my teeth. Fun, huh? You’re totally jealous. I know you are. 
so I leave you with my new desktop photo for now – and I’ll post more pics and a recap of our trip soon
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Comments are closed.
about 2 years ago
Hey, I just wanted to come by and let you know I posted the answers to the TT13 – Have You Ever – it’s up at Any Apples.
about 2 years ago
Awesome. Thank you for getting the word out!
about 2 years ago
Mine isn’t working on my Babycenter boards! What am I doing wrong!
about 1 year ago
Yes thank you for getting the word out and blogging about it!