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The Nittany Lion

On our way home from Old Grandma’s house last week, Grace asked if we could stop to see the Nittany Lion. “If you’re awake, we’ll stop,” I responded, hoping that she would sleep the whole way home. What if I’m sleeping? “Then we won’t stop.” About 15 miles before Penn State, Grace woke up. Did I miss it? she asked, stretching and sleepy. “No. You had perfect timing. We’re almost there.” As soon as I unbuckled her, Grace raced from the car to the Nittany Lion. She climbed up all by herself, and she hugged its neck. I’ve missed you, … Read more

Allison’s Birth Story – The Delivery

Did you read part one, part two, and part three of Allie’s birth story? The pain. I remember the pain so clearly. I pushed the button to give my epidural more medicine. I pushed and pushed and pushed the button. “What do you mean, you have to go to the bathroom? Do you have to urinate?” the nurse asked. “No, I have to poop. I have to push.” I said. “You have to push?!” she repeated, moving toward the foot of my bed. “Let me check you.” Not yet an hour had passed since I was 3 cm dilated. My … Read more

Allison’s Birth Story – The Labor

Did you read part one and part two of Allie’s birth story? The Labor The doctor told me to take a hot bath in the jacuzzi and relax for a while while the pitocin helped my body to get things moving. The hot bath made my cervix change a bit – a 1/2 cm. My contractions were still  frequent and strong. My blood pressure continued to climb, requiring intravenous blood pressure meds and a heart monitor. To ease the tension, my sister recounted a funny story that made me laugh. Once I started laughing, I didn’t stop. My hysterical laughter … Read more

Taking a Day Off in New York City

This past Saturday, I gave myself a day off. It was my first day off since Allison was born on December 28. Leaving home was not as hard as it could have been; I departed before 6 am. The children were still asleep. I drove to Bryner Chevrolet in Jenkintown, where GM-Northeast had arranged a breakfast and cars for the Philly Social Media Moms to drive into New York City. I was expecting to ride to New York with my dear friend, Shannon, but a sick child prevented her from coming. We are moms before we are mom bloggers, after … Read more

Five Years Ago

I’ve been wanting to play along with Lisa-Jo’s Five Minute Friday since I learned about it. Since I’m sitting in a comfy hospital chair, cuddling a snoozing baby (who is being discharged today), I certainly have five minutes to spare. Five Years Ago – February 2006 Five years ago, I had recently recovered from emergency gall bladder surgery. I had needed help from my friends, but none were there for me. A lot of those relationships were coming to an end, damaged beyond repair. I was sad. I felt betrayed. Five years ago, my mom had a total knee replacement … Read more

Grace’s Birth Story

I have never passed by a birth story without reading it. I think those stories are the ties that bind women. Every woman who has given birth has shared the same experiences, no matter the individual circumstances. I find them fascinating. So. If you aren’t interested in reading my birth stories, stop now and ignore my post next Thursday, too. You’ve been warned. Grace’s Birth Story I wrote this out in the days following Grace’s birth. I have a journal in which I wrote every single day for the first ten weeks of her life. This is the first entry. … Read more