As I was driving to my parents' house today, I was thinking about this blog. I was thinking how the title is "confessions of notwifezilla" and really, I haven't confessed anything. I have basically given more of a play by play of events that have occurred in certain situations or uploaded pictures and labeled them.
Have I really confessed anything?
Well, with that, I thought what could I confess? What secrets have I withheld? What do I need to share?
I came up with the idea to make a list.
I am a list person. I have little pads of paper left over from Bry's old job and on these pads I create lists. Lists of groceries, people who need thank you cards, addresses, lists of photos to order, etc. etc.
A list is really me.
I was going to go with the great "Good things about being a mom" but then I figured I might as well go both ways. The good and then bad things people don't tell you about being a mom.
So here it goes. Let me know what you think.
1. Labor and delivery are nothing like the movies. Whatever you think you'd want to happen, it won't come close.
2. Having a c-section actually has some perks. Good drugs, less bleeding post-partum, and your kid doesn't have a cone shaped head.
3. Recovery from a c-section is different for everyone. For me, it wasn't too bad thanks to the Oxycontin and walking. I did learn not to mix Oxycontin and orange juice on a empty stomach.
4. People will have an opinion on every little thing you do/want to do/ don't want to do, usually with conversation beginning "if I was you I'd...", or "I'm not telling you what to do but...".
5. In response to number 4, it's easier just to nod and then do whatever you want anyway.
6. Most of those things you say you'll never do with a newborn, you end up doing anyway. After saying I didn't want Moira to have a pacifier, I caved within 48 hours after she used my nipple as one. I also think I would have co-slept more if Bry wasn't terrified that he would roll over and crush her in his sleep.
7. For me at least, breastfeeding was easier in my mind then the upkeep of bottles. I also didn't pump so basically Bry got a free ride the first year. I intend to make him work it off the rest of Mo's life.
8. The first three weeks or so, I honestly believed Mo would be an only child. Every time I saw a family on t.v. with more then one child, I wondered how these people did it. Don't get me started on the Duggars!
9. I was jealous the first few weeks Bryan went back to work and I was here. I was incredibly lonely and sick of being covered in spit-up. Now, I'm glad I don't have to dress up and be out the door.
10. There are some moms who claim they enjoy the first six weeks of their newborns life. I think these women are full of crap. The first six weeks sucks! If someone told me I could be pregnant for 12 months and then have a 3 month old baby, I would jump all over that proposition.
11. Hormones are a bitch. God bless my husband and family for putting up with me those first 3 months.
12. Mo is a year old and I let her watch television... a lot of television. The tv is always on here. I consider Bry and I to be smart and successful people and at first I felt guilty for keeping the tv on, but then I realized other moms were doing it too. Mo loves Jack's Big Music Show, Blue's Clues, Sesame Street, Little Bill, and Jeopardy. That is not a typo- Mo loves her some Alex Trebeck!
13. Meeting other moms is totally like the first day of high school in the cafeteria at lunch time. Walking into a new class or group, I usually feel that sick to my stomach feeling. I seriously practice my introduction in my head on the way in.
14. Not everyone agrees with my idea of motherhood and that's fine. I have friends that co-sleep, bottle feed, have children without bedtimes, and don't let their children watch television. I've learned to keep my (big) mouth shut unless they ask for advice.
15. I'm new at this mom thing. I figure by kid 4-5 I should be good.
16. Just kidding about 4 or 5 kids.
17. When things are really rough here I remember that fifteen year old girls are having babies and raising them, therefore I, a 30 year old with a Master's degree in education living in suburbia, can handle Mo.
18. Mo really is as awesome as I describe her.
Blogging about boobs, babies, bed lust and everything in between since 2007.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Playing In the Puddles
We were suppose to head to my sister's house today. Unfortunately Bry's car wouldn't make it past 20 mphs, so we were stuck at home. Since I have such a wonderful family, my mom and brother as well as my sister came to us! They drove through the rain and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon together in our cramped townhouse.
Once the rain subsided and my brother and mom were getting ready to go, my brother decided to take Moira outside. Of course, I thought nothing of it. I figured he just wanted to play with her a bit on the walkway.
I didn't realize she was barefoot.
I also didn't realize he was teaching her how to jump in the puddles,
in barefeet,
in our parking lot!
Uncle Joe-Joe teaching Mo how to jump in the puddles.
Mommy ruining the fun!
I guess you can tell my brother has no children of his own.
Once the rain subsided and my brother and mom were getting ready to go, my brother decided to take Moira outside. Of course, I thought nothing of it. I figured he just wanted to play with her a bit on the walkway.
I didn't realize she was barefoot.
I also didn't realize he was teaching her how to jump in the puddles,
in barefeet,
in our parking lot!
Uncle Joe-Joe teaching Mo how to jump in the puddles. 
Mommy ruining the fun!I guess you can tell my brother has no children of his own.
The Reason Behind the Gift
As you can see below (hopefully) is a slideshow. For Moira's birthday I decided to do something special. I figured how many toys or dresses does she really need? I used a great site called Scrapblog, which saved me a decent amount of money on paper, and other scrapbooking accessories. At first I was going to make a scrapbook, then it morphed into a month by month book, and then, somehow it became an alphabet book. Moira is obsessed with Chicka Chicka ABC right now, and so I hope that an alphabet book about her and for her will be right up her ally.
I just ordered the hard copy today, so hopefully it turns out okay.
ENJOY!
I just ordered the hard copy today, so hopefully it turns out okay.
ENJOY!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Sigh of relief.
I don't know how else to explain it.
I can breathe a little easier now as Moira's CT scan is over. As I wrote about in my entry The Birthmark and the Bump Moira has what the plastic surgeon believes to be a dermoid cyst on her upper right forehead. We had an appointment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP)this past Friday morning for a CT scan.
When we first met with the plastic surgeon, he mentioned a CT scan and casually mentioned that Moira would be sedated for the scan. He explained how it would be a low dose of medication and basically she would be in a light sleep, mainly because she could not lie still without it. From that appointment until this past Wednesday, I have been silently freaking out inside about the potential of Mo being sedated.
I know people, even children, are sedated day in and day out, for scans, and surgeries and all different medical procedures with little to no fanfare. I know in the logical part of my brain that this is true.
But in mommy brain, I was freaking out. What if she had a reaction? How would she handle the meds? What would she be like after? Would we lose a day or a couple of days as she rebounded from the after-effects? How would I handle her going under?
All that worry was for naught. My first glimpse of a different option came on Wednesday when a nurse called and let me know they could try doing the scan WITHOUT sedating her. Of course, my heart lifted as she mentioned the words without sedation. The problem, however, would be that she would need to be sleeping for them to preform the CT scan.
Yeah, that might happen! My kid who is literally running from sun up to sun down, would be able to sleep through a CT scan. HAH!
On Friday morning, just as I jumped out of the shower and was about to bathe Moira, the phone rang. It was a nurse, Ryan, (yes, a male nurse) who was in charge of the CT scheduling. He again reminded me that they could try to do the scan without sedation if she was asleep. His advice- keep her awake. Sit in the back of the car for the hour and 15 min. trip and keep her awake.
IT WORKED!!!!
We got to CHoP and spent a little over an hour and a half in the waiting room. Mo was a champ! She played and talked to other kids. We only ran into one hurdle. When Bry was checking in, we found out that the plastic surgeon's office did not send in the script. After a delay of about a half-hour, we were called in and right around 11she started to get a little antsy. We went into the prep room, met (the male nurse) Ryan, and waited for our turn. As I held Mo in my arms she started her "sleepy song". When she's tired she actually sings to herself to sleep. It's more of a hum, but it seems to be our indicator that she is on her way to dreamland. So she started humming and before Bry could remove his sweater, she was out!!! Ryan happened to walk by just as she nodded off and upon seeing that, he decided to get us into the CT scan STAT!
He took a blanket and I passed off my sleeping baby to him. We walked to the CT scan room, all the while I'm praying and hoping and wishing that she stays asleep. As they brought up a gurney from the ER for another child needing a CT scan, Ryan explained he was going in the lab to sit and we'd be next.
I continued to pray- stay asleep. STAY ASLEEP!
We were up. Bry and I put on the protecting aprons as Ryan successfully got Moira onto the examining table.
She didn't move or make a sound, even as they strapped her onto the table.
The other nurse explained that it would take about 10 minutes and off the went. Bry and I looked at each other and we both thought the same thing.
She'd be up in a minute.
We were wrong, as we watched the seconds tick on the clock, she slept. She slept through the entire 20 minutes she was on the table. Just as they undid the Velcro her eyes shot open and she looked menacely at the nurse. When she saw me she gave me a great big smile and I sighed a big sigh of relief.
She did the scan without sedation! I basically skipped out of there. Mo was famished and ate nearly an entire banana before we made it out of the parking lot.
The scan is over. I can breathe easy.
Now we have to wait for the results.
I can breathe a little easier now as Moira's CT scan is over. As I wrote about in my entry The Birthmark and the Bump Moira has what the plastic surgeon believes to be a dermoid cyst on her upper right forehead. We had an appointment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP)this past Friday morning for a CT scan.
When we first met with the plastic surgeon, he mentioned a CT scan and casually mentioned that Moira would be sedated for the scan. He explained how it would be a low dose of medication and basically she would be in a light sleep, mainly because she could not lie still without it. From that appointment until this past Wednesday, I have been silently freaking out inside about the potential of Mo being sedated.
I know people, even children, are sedated day in and day out, for scans, and surgeries and all different medical procedures with little to no fanfare. I know in the logical part of my brain that this is true.
But in mommy brain, I was freaking out. What if she had a reaction? How would she handle the meds? What would she be like after? Would we lose a day or a couple of days as she rebounded from the after-effects? How would I handle her going under?
All that worry was for naught. My first glimpse of a different option came on Wednesday when a nurse called and let me know they could try doing the scan WITHOUT sedating her. Of course, my heart lifted as she mentioned the words without sedation. The problem, however, would be that she would need to be sleeping for them to preform the CT scan.
Yeah, that might happen! My kid who is literally running from sun up to sun down, would be able to sleep through a CT scan. HAH!
On Friday morning, just as I jumped out of the shower and was about to bathe Moira, the phone rang. It was a nurse, Ryan, (yes, a male nurse) who was in charge of the CT scheduling. He again reminded me that they could try to do the scan without sedation if she was asleep. His advice- keep her awake. Sit in the back of the car for the hour and 15 min. trip and keep her awake.
IT WORKED!!!!
We got to CHoP and spent a little over an hour and a half in the waiting room. Mo was a champ! She played and talked to other kids. We only ran into one hurdle. When Bry was checking in, we found out that the plastic surgeon's office did not send in the script. After a delay of about a half-hour, we were called in and right around 11she started to get a little antsy. We went into the prep room, met (the male nurse) Ryan, and waited for our turn. As I held Mo in my arms she started her "sleepy song". When she's tired she actually sings to herself to sleep. It's more of a hum, but it seems to be our indicator that she is on her way to dreamland. So she started humming and before Bry could remove his sweater, she was out!!! Ryan happened to walk by just as she nodded off and upon seeing that, he decided to get us into the CT scan STAT!
He took a blanket and I passed off my sleeping baby to him. We walked to the CT scan room, all the while I'm praying and hoping and wishing that she stays asleep. As they brought up a gurney from the ER for another child needing a CT scan, Ryan explained he was going in the lab to sit and we'd be next.
I continued to pray- stay asleep. STAY ASLEEP!
We were up. Bry and I put on the protecting aprons as Ryan successfully got Moira onto the examining table.
She didn't move or make a sound, even as they strapped her onto the table.
The other nurse explained that it would take about 10 minutes and off the went. Bry and I looked at each other and we both thought the same thing.
She'd be up in a minute.
We were wrong, as we watched the seconds tick on the clock, she slept. She slept through the entire 20 minutes she was on the table. Just as they undid the Velcro her eyes shot open and she looked menacely at the nurse. When she saw me she gave me a great big smile and I sighed a big sigh of relief.
She did the scan without sedation! I basically skipped out of there. Mo was famished and ate nearly an entire banana before we made it out of the parking lot.
The scan is over. I can breathe easy.
Now we have to wait for the results.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
When it rains, it pours!
As I wrote yesterday, it was Moira's first birthday and it was memorable, but not in the warm fuzzy way. More in the craptastic, I hope never to repeat it, kind of day. I expected her first birthday to be different, but what can we do?
Today we had an appointment with the pediatrician. Yesterday between her morning nap and her 3 1/2 hour nap ON me, I noticed she had what looked like a pimple on her lip. I then tried to forcefed her yogurt. Currently, she is on day 5 of her amoxicillan prescription for her first ear infection. The pediatrician recommended we give her a daily yogurt for the acidopholus and to prevent yeast infections. (Yummy, I know). So, I'm in the kitchen, trying every different way I can think of to get my kid to eat the yogurt. I notice something in her mouth. I look closer at her tongue for a second.
Yup, there's something on it.
Something the size of small pea.
I call the pediatrician's office. They have a phone nurse. Basically, you leave a message "with your child's name, birthdate, and phone number and we will get back to you in a moment". I define moment as under 30 minutes. APparently, to them a moment is just under an hour and 35 mins. As I was holding Mo during her 3 1/2 hour nap, almost falling asleep myself, they call back. The nurse "thinks" it might be a fever blister. She tells me some antedote about how you can get them when you kiss, and how her and her husband get them, apparently because they kiss, but neither of her children have ever had one. As I listened to this wacko nurse tell me this story, I tried to imagine who Mo had been kissing.
Then I remembered, she's not a promiscuous teenager whacked with hormones, she's a one year old! She doesn't kiss anyone!!! Her defintion of kiss is lean in w/open mouth and attempt to suck your cheek.
I diagress, but the fever blister nurse thankfully finishes her story and offers me an appointment today.
9:45 we walk in (okay it was really 9:48, we were 3 mins late!).
9:50 Mo starts playing with the toys
9:51 Mo attempts to untie some other mom's shoe
9:58 Other mom & child go into office
10:04 Mo makes her way to the "healthy kid area" and gets two different compliments are her silver mary janes.
10:10 Have a nice conversation with the two receptionists about pregnancy cravings and cheeseburgers. (I craved cheeseburgers from Outback during my pregnancy!)
10:14 Still sitting, Mo starts to get antsy
10:25 Another sick kid comes in with his mom. Mom hands kid Nintendo DS.
10:26 Mo walks over to 5 yr. old sick kid and attempts to swipe said DS.
10:26:30 I grab my kid and apologize for sick kid with DS and mom.
10:28-10:38 Mo's getting crabby and starts whiny crying.
10:39 FINALLY, they take us in, weigh her 21 lb. 10 oz, and take her temp-no fever
10:41 Nurse Practitioner(NP) comes in w/Student First student checks out her breathing, mouth and ears. NP comes in a does the same. She's basically looking at the bump on her tongue and thinks it might be that Mo bite herself.
10:42 Picture this: I'm sitting in a chair. Mo is on my lap faced forward. I have one arm braced around her body, holding both her arms close to her sides. My other arm is around her head. NP is attempting to use the wooden stick and light to check Mo's throat. My kids starts screaming and spitting. Nice, huh?
10:43 It's not a bite. It's Coxsackie virus! Yum!
No wonder why my baby was so miserable. She has little white blisters on the back of her throat. Since it's a virus, there's nothing short of Motrium that we can do about it.
Considering all that happened with her, she is a much better mood today. Bry & I decided to have a re-do today of her birthday. We never got a chance to sing to her yesterday nor did she eat the Tastykake. We're doing it tonight! Plus, I think I might have to persuade Bry to stop at Rita's and get some water ice for her. I think that cool ice would feel good on her throat.
I do have a few pictures to share from yesterday, taken about 10 minutes after the Motrin kicked in.
Her Birthday Mail
Fun in the wagon.
Her wagon and the balloons from Grandmom!
Today we had an appointment with the pediatrician. Yesterday between her morning nap and her 3 1/2 hour nap ON me, I noticed she had what looked like a pimple on her lip. I then tried to forcefed her yogurt. Currently, she is on day 5 of her amoxicillan prescription for her first ear infection. The pediatrician recommended we give her a daily yogurt for the acidopholus and to prevent yeast infections. (Yummy, I know). So, I'm in the kitchen, trying every different way I can think of to get my kid to eat the yogurt. I notice something in her mouth. I look closer at her tongue for a second.
Yup, there's something on it.
Something the size of small pea.
I call the pediatrician's office. They have a phone nurse. Basically, you leave a message "with your child's name, birthdate, and phone number and we will get back to you in a moment". I define moment as under 30 minutes. APparently, to them a moment is just under an hour and 35 mins. As I was holding Mo during her 3 1/2 hour nap, almost falling asleep myself, they call back. The nurse "thinks" it might be a fever blister. She tells me some antedote about how you can get them when you kiss, and how her and her husband get them, apparently because they kiss, but neither of her children have ever had one. As I listened to this wacko nurse tell me this story, I tried to imagine who Mo had been kissing.
Then I remembered, she's not a promiscuous teenager whacked with hormones, she's a one year old! She doesn't kiss anyone!!! Her defintion of kiss is lean in w/open mouth and attempt to suck your cheek.
I diagress, but the fever blister nurse thankfully finishes her story and offers me an appointment today.
9:45 we walk in (okay it was really 9:48, we were 3 mins late!).
9:50 Mo starts playing with the toys
9:51 Mo attempts to untie some other mom's shoe
9:58 Other mom & child go into office
10:04 Mo makes her way to the "healthy kid area" and gets two different compliments are her silver mary janes.
10:10 Have a nice conversation with the two receptionists about pregnancy cravings and cheeseburgers. (I craved cheeseburgers from Outback during my pregnancy!)
10:14 Still sitting, Mo starts to get antsy
10:25 Another sick kid comes in with his mom. Mom hands kid Nintendo DS.
10:26 Mo walks over to 5 yr. old sick kid and attempts to swipe said DS.
10:26:30 I grab my kid and apologize for sick kid with DS and mom.
10:28-10:38 Mo's getting crabby and starts whiny crying.
10:39 FINALLY, they take us in, weigh her 21 lb. 10 oz, and take her temp-no fever
10:41 Nurse Practitioner(NP) comes in w/Student First student checks out her breathing, mouth and ears. NP comes in a does the same. She's basically looking at the bump on her tongue and thinks it might be that Mo bite herself.
10:42 Picture this: I'm sitting in a chair. Mo is on my lap faced forward. I have one arm braced around her body, holding both her arms close to her sides. My other arm is around her head. NP is attempting to use the wooden stick and light to check Mo's throat. My kids starts screaming and spitting. Nice, huh?
10:43 It's not a bite. It's Coxsackie virus! Yum!
No wonder why my baby was so miserable. She has little white blisters on the back of her throat. Since it's a virus, there's nothing short of Motrium that we can do about it.
Considering all that happened with her, she is a much better mood today. Bry & I decided to have a re-do today of her birthday. We never got a chance to sing to her yesterday nor did she eat the Tastykake. We're doing it tonight! Plus, I think I might have to persuade Bry to stop at Rita's and get some water ice for her. I think that cool ice would feel good on her throat.
I do have a few pictures to share from yesterday, taken about 10 minutes after the Motrin kicked in.
Her Birthday Mail
Fun in the wagon. 
Her wagon and the balloons from Grandmom!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Happy First Birthday Moira!
Dear Moira,
I had thought your first birthday would be some magical day. I thought you'd wake up at 7:30, like usual with a glimmer in your eye and a huge smile on your face. I thought your dad would get up before the alarm and join us downstairs as we sang to you as you got your ceremonial breakfast tastykake. I also thought after that wholesome breakfast, we'd bring you into the family room and give you your gift- a radio flyer red wagon.
As they say Moira, things don't always go as planned. It's now 10:30 on your birthday and you are napping. Yes, you're napping this early because you decided to wake up just about every hour on the hour last night. Daddy took care of you from midnight until 1:30 and then you slept for about 2 hours. Once 3:30 came along, I was on duty. Just you and me on the couch in the family room, red radio flyer wagon waiting. Those 3 hours on the couch tossing and turning with you were in no way anything I had expected for your birthday. I especially did not expect you to start crying every moment I tried to put you back in the crib, when I thought you were asleep. Yes all 6 times!!
So as you nap, I debate whether to wake you up for Music class. I also have the opportunity to write you this birthday letter. You have been the best surprise of my life. You are the most fascintating creature I have ever met. Every day you amaze me with your personality and actions. I feel so blessed to be your mommy and look forward to many more, hopefully happier birthdays. Your daddy always joked that he wanted a dog, but I know you are the best thing, next to me, that has happened to him too.
The Tastykake is still waiting for you, whenever you do wake-up.
Love,
Mommy
I had thought your first birthday would be some magical day. I thought you'd wake up at 7:30, like usual with a glimmer in your eye and a huge smile on your face. I thought your dad would get up before the alarm and join us downstairs as we sang to you as you got your ceremonial breakfast tastykake. I also thought after that wholesome breakfast, we'd bring you into the family room and give you your gift- a radio flyer red wagon.
As they say Moira, things don't always go as planned. It's now 10:30 on your birthday and you are napping. Yes, you're napping this early because you decided to wake up just about every hour on the hour last night. Daddy took care of you from midnight until 1:30 and then you slept for about 2 hours. Once 3:30 came along, I was on duty. Just you and me on the couch in the family room, red radio flyer wagon waiting. Those 3 hours on the couch tossing and turning with you were in no way anything I had expected for your birthday. I especially did not expect you to start crying every moment I tried to put you back in the crib, when I thought you were asleep. Yes all 6 times!!
So as you nap, I debate whether to wake you up for Music class. I also have the opportunity to write you this birthday letter. You have been the best surprise of my life. You are the most fascintating creature I have ever met. Every day you amaze me with your personality and actions. I feel so blessed to be your mommy and look forward to many more, hopefully happier birthdays. Your daddy always joked that he wanted a dog, but I know you are the best thing, next to me, that has happened to him too.
The Tastykake is still waiting for you, whenever you do wake-up.
Love,
Mommy
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