Baby Making with Style! Tales of a surrogate

So, Hi

2012-01-16T16:58:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile, I know. Things have just been in a mushy haze this last year.

I re-opened my diaper store, and have been really focusing on my kids and being a mom.

As always things just kinda have their peaks and valley's.

Right now I am getting over a bad cold, and I feel like total yuck. I hate being sick. That is what I get for missing 3 days of my vitamins!

Anyway. Just wanted to check in. Let ya'll know I am alive!

Free 2 week trial of Hulu Plus

2011-08-22T11:58:00.000-04:00

So, since I got my Roku I have been enjoying my free trial of Hulu Plus. If you like Hulu, then you will like the plus version since it has extra content and other shows than Hulu.

From Hulu
Hulu Plus is the only subscription service that allows you to watch every episode of current hit TV shows like Glee, Modern Family, House, and dozens more on devices from computers and TVs to mobile phones and tablets.

Anyway, they are giving a 2 week trial free if sign up via this link CLICK HERE

Hulu Plus Free two 2 week trial

Plus if you sign up with this link and then link your facebook acct you get an ADDITIONAL month free!!!

Quiet

2011-06-02T12:40:00.002-04:00

I have been so busy lately. Summer started, and we are working on the garden and a multitude of other things. I have many blog posts in my head I need to post...i'll get there eventually :)

Dear Roku

2011-05-16T12:28:00.005-04:00

I love you.

You came into my life only two weeks ago, but you have changed it so much. I can lay in bed and watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, (you get a free 2 wk trial on HP if you click that link and sign up) and all sorts of other channels without having to squint at a computer screen.

Ok all kidding aside. I love this thing. I don't even remember how I stumbled upon it, but I read a couple things about it, and decided it was worth the $100 to try and see. You can add all sorts of channels and watch your Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions plus lots of free content like Nowhere Tv, Tv.com, and Justin.tv that has all sorts of shows and movies and streaming channels (like the weather channel)

Roku 2 XS Streaming Player 1080

The XS model Roku 2 now comes with Angry birds (which my son is OBSESSED with) and a special motion remote (like a WII) that more games will be able to utilize soon

**NOTE

I wrote this post in March. Since then I have found tons more PRIVATE channels that totally gave me no need to have cable! Between Justin.tv and NokNok I have all the cable I need. I ordered 2 more Roku's and cancelled my cable! YAY!

Roku Channel List

Well that is odd

2011-05-13T14:54:00.000-04:00

Blogger was down for about 24 hours.

I posted a blog post yesterday, and I guess that they lost anything that was posted yesterday :(

Ok, I guess that is a lesson I need to learn to backup! Several other bloggers were hopping over to wordpress, but I am not sure I am ready to take that leap.

So today is Friday! Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

I am patiently waiting on some fluffy mail I ordered, including some GoGreen CHAMP diapers! Woo! Super excited to try them out!

Neat-o

2011-05-12T13:47:00.000-04:00

I have spent today filling out wholesale applications for new diapers to stock. I have found a few really great brands that I had never heard of before! That excites me, because as much as I like mainstream brands, i LOVE smaller brands too!

Hoping to hear back soon on a giveaway also!!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Books I love

2011-05-03T08:02:00.001-04:00

I am always getting asked on my personal facebook page about books I recommend, so I figured I may as well write a blog post about it. I have a short list of favorites, that I recommend EVERY pregnant woman read. They can be purchased from Amazon and shipped for free if you sign up for Amazon Mom

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.

Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding

Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding is filled with helpful advice, medical facts, and real-life stories that will help you understand how and why breastfeeding works and how you can use it to more deeply connect with your baby and your own body. Whether you’re planning to nurse for the first time or are looking for the latest, most up-to-date expert advice available, you couldn’t hope to find a better guide than Ina May.

Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

According to writer and editor Jennifer Block (Our Bodies, Ourselves), "the United States has the most intense and widespread medical management of birth" in the world, and yet "ranks near the bottom among industrialized countries in maternal and infant mortality." Block shows how, in transforming childbirth into a business, hospitals have turned "procedures and devices developed for the treatment of abnormality" into routine practice, performed for no reason than "speeding up and ordering an unpredictable...process"; for instance, the U.S. cesarean section rate tripled in the 1970s, and has doubled since then. Block looks into a growing contingent of parents-to-be exploring alternatives to the hospital-and the attendant likelihood of medical intervention-by seeking out birthing centers and options for home-birth. Unfortunately, obstacles to these alternatives remain considerable-laws across the U.S. criminalizing or severely restricting the practice of midwifery have led the trained care providers to practice underground in many states-while tort reform has done next to nothing to lower malpractice insurance rates or improve hospital birthing policies. This provocative, highly readable expose raises questions of great consequence for anyone planning to have a baby in U.S., as well as those interested or involved in women's health care.

Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife

In a joyous, often hilarious ode to the Birkenstock-scuffling, tackle box-toting mobile midwives who flourished in the 1980s, Peggy Vincent chronicles her abundant life as a professional Baby Catcher. The wild ride begins during her nurse training years in the 1960s, when laboring women were expected to lie down, shut up, and submit to whatever drugs and procedures the doctor ordered. A rebellious patient who chants and dances through her contractions--and the hell that ensues when seasoned hospital staffers intrude--lights a permanent fire under Vincent. Her resolve to serve each laboring woman with compassion and respect carries her from obstetrics nurse to head of an alternative birth center within Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, California, and eventually into her own private practice as a licensed midwife. Like the most courageous home births, this collection of delivery experiences refuses anesthesia: plenty of bellowing, sweating, bleeding, and pushing accompany nearly all of the more than 40 tales. Tough confrontations with stubborn physicians, panicky labor partners, and one particularly nasty calico cat are dabbed with as many keen insights as Vincent's quieter, more heart-rending newborn encounters. Baby Catcher is an inspirational literary gift suitable for expectant mothers, fellow baby catchers, and anyone who loves reading about nature's greatest magical feat.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

Every intelligent, informed woman is used to gathering the most complete information she can get before making a decision. But when it comes to one of the most important decisions in her life--how she will give birth--it can be tough to get the complete picture, even from an obstetrician. Surprisingly, much of the latest research goes against common medical opinion. Certified Lamaze instructor and activist Henci Goer brings women the carefully researched facts they'll want to have. Based on the latest medical studies and literature, The Thinking Woman's Guide To A Better Birth offers clear, concise information on tests, procedures and treatments--and gives advice about:* cesareans * ultrasound * gestational diabetes * breech babies * inducing labor * IVs * electronic fetal monitoring * ruptured membranes * epidurals * episiotomies * vaginal birth after a cesarean * midwives and obstetricians * alternative birthing methods * choosing a birth location * drugs and delivery * elective induction * professional labor support * and much more

Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First

"Dr. Wagner depicts the state of obstetrical care in the United States with clarity and accuracy. He is clearly an 'insider' who has the courage to tell the truth about how our love affair with birth technology adversely affects both mothers and babies. Importantly, he outlines a path toward much-needed change. Born in the USA should be 'must' reading, not only for all pregnant women, but also for all ob/gyn physicians, hospital personnel, and those who make public policy. Dr. Wagner has done all of us a great service with this book." - Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom"

Spiritual Midwifery

Here is the 4th edition of the classic book on home birth that introduced a whole generation of women to the concept of natural childbirth. Back again are even more amazing birthing tales, including those from women who were babies in earlier editions and stories about Old Order Amish women attended by the Farm midwives.
Also new is information about the safety of techniques routinely used in hospitals during and after birth, information on postpartum depression and maternal death, and recent statistics on births managed by The Farm Midwives.

From the amazing birthing tales to care of the newborn, Spiritual Midwifery is still one of the best books an expectant mother could own. Includes resources for doulas, childbirth educators, birth centers, and other organizations and alliances dedicated to improving maternity care at home and in hospitals.

Added 6/20/11

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America, Revised & Updated Edition

An Amazing Resource for Nursing Moms

Although breastfeeding is the natural and healthy way to nourish your baby, it’s not always easy. Many new mothers are scared away from nursing because of difficulty getting started and lack of information about what to do when things don’t go as planned. In this fully revised and updated edition of The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, two of today’s foremost lactation experts help new mothers overcome their fears, doubts, and practical concerns about one of the most special ways a mother can bond with her baby.

In this comprehensive guide, Dr. Jack Newman, a leading authority on infant care, and Teresa Pitman, a La Leche League leader for more than twenty years, give you the facts about breastfeeding and provide solutions for the common problems that arise. Filled with the same practical advice that made the first edition a must-have for nursing moms, the new edition features updates on:

• Achieving a good latch

• What to do if your baby refuses the breast

• Avoiding sore nipples

• Ensuring your baby gets enough milk

• Feeding a colicky baby

• Breastfeeding premature and special-needs babies

While these are my favorites, I am sure I will add more later :) So check back. If you have any personal favorites to reccommend, drop me a line!

Thank goodness it is friday!

2011-04-29T12:55:00.000-04:00

This has been a really long week. 2 sick kids, teething daycare babies....just lots of fun

The boys just left for their dads for the weekend and I am counting down the hours til all the daycare kids go home and then I am gonna do NOTHING! All weekend! Yay!

My love affair with baltic amber

2011-04-23T16:10:00.000-04:00

Last year, i joined a facebook page for crunchy parenting. Occasionally posts would pop up about something called Baltic Amber that is supposed to help with teething babies. I remember looking at it a couple times, and thinking it seemed neat...and not thinking about much more than that.

In november Inspired by Finn ran a fan appreciation sale. They are one of the best known baltic amber sellers. I ordered a few pieces, and waited for them to come in.

They came in, and i put mine on, and gave my sons theirs to wear. IMMEDIATELY I could tell a difference. I put it on and my arm quickly felt warm. By the next day I had more energy, felt overall clearer, and my headache was gone. I realized over the next few weeks that it really did work.

Historically, Baltic Amber has been used in Europe as a natural and traditional remedy and curative for many ailments for centuries. Long ago it was considered one of the leading ‘medicines’ of its time. Baltic Amber is the most esteemed amber in the world, and the healing qualities of Baltic Amber make it unlike any other type of amber found in the world.When baltic amber is worn on the skin, the skin’s warmth releases trace amounts of healing oils from the amber. These oils contain succinic acid and are absorbed into the skin.

Baltic Amber has some of the highest concentrations of Succinic Acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic Acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and it's presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.

How can baltic amber help us?

Pain Relief -Baltic amber contains analgesic properties and helps take the edge off of many types of discomfort associated with dental issues, headaches, joint pain, etc.
Strengthens the body's immune system -In many different and subtle ways, succinic acid helps boost the body's own natural healing ability and immune system.
Restoring Energy –The human body naturally produces succinic acid. The salt of succinic acid (succinate) is one of the most active substances in the processes of cellular respiration and intercellular energy creation. Succinic acid restores oxygen and energy supply to depleted cells and helps the body return to a normal, functioning state.

Succinate is a raw material and a catalyst in the Krebs Cycle which is one of our main sources of energy. During the Krebs Cycle carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized for energy.

Maintaining Wellness -When the human body reacts to stress, the body’s cells begin to use oxygen more quickly. Oxygen plays a central role in the intercellular creation of energy, and a lack of oxygen can result in feeling lethargic.

Oxygen is alkaline-forming in the blood and maintaining a slightly alkaline blood ph helps keep us healthy. Whenever the body functions in a state of low oxygen, it is much more susceptible to illness.

To help break a cycle of (chronic) inflammation -Where chronic inflammation is present, disease lurks.

When the body’s cells are chronically inflamed the human body’s immune system response is to increase production of free radicals. Chronic overproduction of free radicals results in inflammatory-related disease. Chronic inflammation is a common denominator of many seemingly unrelated diseases.

While wearing a piece or two of baltic amber jewelry may not cure all that may ail you, it has been a proven benefit to many!

Take jewelry off while showering, swimming, and putting lotions and cremes on. Those can clog pores and decrease the amber's life

Since then I have bought multiple more pieces from Inspired by finn, and have recently also started selling them!

Love Love Love my amber! Months after buying them, they are still going strong, and everyone I know that has bought one also loves it!

Ebates free $5

2011-04-15T21:09:00.001-04:00

One of my friends on Facebook posts all the time about Ebates and the cashback she gets from using it, so I finally signed up. I shop a lot on line, esp Amazon, and I figured, hey, anything is a bonus!

Anyway they are giving you $5 just for signing up

WooHoo Free Money!

I'm cynical I guess

2011-04-07T08:21:00.001-04:00

I am watching The Today Show and they are talking to the couple who wrote the book Inconceivable.

Apparently they wanted to use all their embryos and went in for IVF and were implanted with another couple's baby (on accident). The wife gave birth to the child and they gave it to its parents. Which to me was the right thing to do, but that isn't the issue.

They are on there today talking about their surrogate being pregnant with twins. And gushing over how much they love and appreciate her, and how she will always be a member of their family.

For her sake I hope that is true, and it wasn't just "for tv".

I have heard those words before, and believed those lies....and it still hurts.

arrrgh

2011-04-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

For the second time in 3 months, my cc# for my main bank account was stolen. Last time, they only got a penny, this time, they got $400. They emptied out my bank account! I called the bank, and they are fixing it. It still sucks! I had 5 credit card payments that were supposed to come out and since my balance is now $28 i pray to GOD that they don't bounce. The guy i talked to said that they wont, and that if they try to pull they will get the fraud error and it will take it out when my acct is fixed....that sounded too good to be true though.

Gonna use some positive thinking over that one.... *sigh*

Whoops

2011-03-27T16:59:00.001-04:00

I have been so busy I guess I kinda forgot about ya'll...lol.

Started round 2 of the diet monday, down 7 more lbs (i need to update my ticker)

Have spent the last week buried under a pile of emails about the new carseat guidelines, since i am everyones go-to for carseat advice. If you haven't heard, it is now reccommended that you keep children rear facing until age 2! WOOHOO PROGRESS!

More info on the new guidelines

(photo courtesy of carseatblog.com)

Anyway, ill be back into the groove soon, until then....

I haven't forgotten

2011-02-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

Sorry, been super duper busy! Anyway I finished my first round of the HCG diet phase 2 yesterday. Down 17 lbs! WOOHOO! So now I just have 10 days until I start again. I can't wait!

I will succeed

2011-02-03T18:41:00.000-05:00

I am Battling a lifetime of bad habits that need to be changed. I will win.

My mantra :) This cook book is helping

Well worth the $20

VLCD 11

2011-02-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

12.8 lbs down!

WOOT WOOT!

Week recap

2011-01-29T10:48:00.002-05:00

Down 2.4 this am for a total of 10.4 since starting!

WOW!

Yesterday I had a turkey burger with tomato and pickles for lunch, and eggs (1 whole 3.5 whites) with turkey and tomatoes for supper. Then i had a handful of nuts :/ lol But hey looks like it worked!

*Doing the dance*

Day 9-VLCD 7

2011-01-28T08:31:00.001-05:00

Today is a week exactly I have been on very low cal days. Lost .02 this am. I know why the loss was low, but I have to say I am glad it wasn't another gain. Today is a new day. No more Cheating! I ate a turkey sand with mayo and tomato last night, and a handful of nuts. Grrrrr.

Oh well.

NEW DAY! I can do it.

Now that is just wrong

2011-01-27T19:22:00.000-05:00

I just got on the scale again...+1.8 which means since yesterday I gained 2lbs. BOOOOOO

I guess I *knew* that would happen. It usually takes 2 days to show a problem after a "bad meal" (or bender lol)

Oh well...still further than I was before. Drinking a cup of coffee right now which is really helping!

Tomorrow is a new day.

Oh and it took everything in me not to sneak a candy bar at the check out of winn dixie today!

AAAAARGH!

2011-01-26T18:20:00.002-05:00

I just totally went off the diving board and cheated!

I wanted something fatty/sweet so bad. I ate a handful of nuts and a 1/2 a pnut butter sandwich.

I am so dissapointed :(

It got worse....i ended up going waaay off last night, a couple pb&js a banana and a coke. I gained .02 from it. Guess it wasn't too bad. Could have been way worse i guess :(

Maybe I am just destined to be a fat ass forever

Shop it to me freebie!

2011-01-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

Shop It To Me is offering $10 gift cards to a number of your favorite establishments when you refer 10 new friends to them. I received a $10 gift card to Gap the other day from them, so I thought this would be a great time to tell you all about this promotion.

Just become a member of Shop It To Me, a site that will send you deals on the brands that you specify directly to your inbox. Refer 10 friends that sign up for Shop It To Me and you'll earn a $10 gift card to the retailer of your choice. (amazon, gap, old navy, whole foods and more!)

Note that you won't see anything about this offer when you register. However, when you click on the confirmation that arrives via email, you will be prompted to setup your account and receive information about the program.

YAY

I want...

2011-01-26T12:46:00.000-05:00

There is a website that I love to go to for recipes, they have EVERYTHING and it is called Our Best Bites

They have a recipe book coming out next month that I want soooo bad!Our Best Bites by Sara Wells, Kate Jones

Preorder now for $16.28

This is the next recipe of theirs I want to try MMMMMMMM

Day 8-vlcd6

2011-01-26T08:22:00.003-05:00

Well i just weighed and obviously the salsa was bad. Real bad.

I was down .2 today.

BLAH!

I guess that is what I get for going off protocol.

Day 7-vlcd5

2011-01-25T20:10:00.001-05:00

I just ate the best most filling supper...wowzers. It is actually something I normally make on a bigger portion scale, and it was kinda "off protocol" but I am hoping that it will jump a loss for me...

Chicken breast (100g) mixed with tostitos salsa and a small whole onion (sliced and nuked with a little water for 3 mins) mixed in a bowl...sooooooo good!

Anyway, to the good stuff! This morning I was down .9 so another lb lost. WOOHOO

Day 6

2011-01-24T09:20:00.001-05:00

I am down 1.1

I made the mistake of thinking I could drink coffee this morning, and used my fancy vanilla stevia in it. MISTAKE!

I have been fighting the urge to vomit for an hour. OMG.....awful!

VLCD 4

Not that bad Day 5-vlcd3

2011-01-23T18:25:00.003-05:00

It is getting easier. I am learning the difference between boredom eating, and hunger eating. It gets so hard, when you are used to just walking in the kitchen and getting something "just because" and now you can't.

I am down 6 lbs though, so that makes me motivated to keep going. It is getting easier to not think about cheating. The hard part is mindless eating, like when fixing my kids peanut butter and jelly for lunch and getting peanut butter on my finger and trying to lick it off! CLOSE CALL! You snap back to reality really quick!

Anyway. I will post more photos friday. I am hoping for another 3 lbs tomorrow, that would be AWESOME! I need to add my ticker here too so that yall can follow my weight loss even when I don't post for a couple days

Urgent!

2011-01-22T20:20:00.000-05:00

An animal rescue near and dear to my heart is in dire need of donations! I adopted my cat from them a few months ago and love her to pieces.

Anyway, they rescue animals and also work on rehabbing feral cat colonys in our area. Tonight one of the workers went to check on that cats and someone had killed a bunch of them and a bunch more were missing.

Currently all funds have been going to vet bills, and in order to rescue the feral cats that haven't been killed yet they need donations ASAP to free up resources.

PLEASE PLEASE if you have any extra funds even $1 or $5 would help, please spread the word and help American Animal Foundation out!

Chip In Site

AAF site

Thank you for helping!

so hard

2011-01-21T10:22:00.002-05:00

I am not hungry.

But I want to eat. Because it tastes good.

I am tired of being a slave to food.

I can do this.

vlcd1

I am FAT

2011-01-20T18:22:00.003-05:00

and I finally need to do something about it.

It is sad. When I decided to be a surrogate, I KNEW that I needed to lose weight. I think over 200 on any woman is totally unacceptable. When I had the twins, i lost all the pregnancy weight within a few weeks...but I have stayed bloated (i enjoy carbs too much!)

I was in denial. I kept saying, but I enjoy food.

I am just a chubby mommy.

I am fiiiiiiine.

Right?

WRONG!

I was reading on my favorite message board (mothering) earlier this month, and somehow stumbled onto the HCG thread. I read everything I could get my little hands on....and then I read some more....and then I bit the bullet and ordered it.

I started yesterday. I will be done with my first "cycle" around Valentines day, and I hope to have lost 20 lbs by then. Yesterday I weighed in at 236.3 (fat) and I wrote down all my measurments so I can see the changes, because the beauty of HCG is that it helps to rearrange your fat so that you don't have all the loose skin.

I am excited :)

To hold myself accountable...i am going to post photos as I go along.

I want to get pregnant again...and there is no way I would do it right now. Which gives me even more motivation! I want to make families, not eat little debbies!

I'm here

2011-01-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry, with the chaos of christmas I haven't been posting much, but I have a couple reviews typed and need to edit and post them soon!

New things coming, Happy 2011 everyone!

Making nom-noms with leftovers!

2010-12-19T12:56:00.000-05:00

I cleaned out the fridge today and still had a whole bag or turkey left over that I had already pulled off the bone. I knew i needed to use it, or it was gonna go bad in the next couple days...so I got my creative juices flowing...

Cut/pull turkey into bits

Now what....I had some frozen rice in the freezer (brown organic) that I cooked last time I boiled a turkey...

Turkey, rice, broccoli and cheddar bake! VIOLA!

Ok so get a big bowl and mix up your leftover turkey, a cup of precooked rice, a 1/2 bag of broccoli (frozen), and some cream of mushroom.

Oh yeah, I am out of cream of mushroom...doh. So I made my own!

Saute a pat of butter, add 3 tbs of flour slowly whisking it, add a 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of water, some chicken boullion and a can of mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper. You will see it thicken up. When it is thick dump it in your bowl and stir.

Then dump everything into a 9x13 pan and sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top. 350 degrees for apx 45 min.

It was delicious!

Can i tell you

2010-12-17T17:49:00.003-05:00

How excited I am!!!! Literally 5 mins ago FedEx dropped off a box, I wasnt expecting anything so I got excited....and I saw the label, and got even MORE excited!!!!

OMGeeeeee. How did they KNOW?! I have been CRAVING some BBQ popchips, but no one in my poor town sells them! So i immediately tore into the box and opened a bag of bbq goodness...oh pop chips...how I love you.

Seriously, though. These are the BEST chips in the world. They are not fried, and they are not baked. I don't know what they do to them, or how they do it...but they are so good! Go try them!

Find a location near you here

Have you eaten a turtle lately?

2010-12-13T11:58:00.004-05:00

MMMMMMM

No not THAT turtle silly!

These Turtles!

I have been wanting to make them for awhile, but I thought they would be alot harder than they were. I was googling and found this recipe on Humble Hostess. I edited it a TINY bit.

Chocolate Caramel Turtles

Ingredients

1 pkg halved pecans
1 11oz pkg caramel bits
Candy/Melting Chocolate

Preheat oven to 350.
Put 3 - 5 pecans in each muffin cup depending on size. Sprinkle caramel bits over pecans. Put at least 3 in each cup but if you like caramel put many more (I used 5 or more). Bake until caramel is melted, about 10 minutes. This will also toast the pecans a bit. Once the caramel is melted put the muffin tin on a cooking rack. This is the hard part -- walk away. Do not move the candy until the tin has completely cooled.

Once cooled remove the candy from the muffin cups using a butter knife.

Melt your candy coating and dip the turtles into it, let harden on wax paper, then store in fridge. The only hard thing about this recipe is having the patience to let the candy cool.

I changed it up a little though. Instead of the bag of chocolate originally called for, I bought melting/candy chocolate and just melted it and dipped...mmmmmmm. They were SOOO good!

50% off Toms of Maine @ Soap.com PLUS $10 off!

2010-12-08T09:27:00.003-05:00

HOT!

Soap.com has 50% off their Toms of Maine products today only!

PLUS

Use code 10bucksfree to get 10 off your first order of ANY $ amount! Shipping is like $4.99 (so super cheap)for orders under $25 or FREE for orders over $25

I used the code the other day and got Seventh Generation products (All purpose, glass cleaner, and napkins) for $6 shipped!

Soap.com

Amazon Gold Box Deal

2010-12-03T19:55:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to post this really quick before I go crawl into bed with my babies to read and watch Polar Express.

Amazon's new gold box deal is 60% of select crayola, a few cute things

60% Off Crayola Amazon Gold Box deals

Go forth and shop

Quick Carseat photos & links

2010-11-30T19:29:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I got a great deal on a new carseat. I ended up with a Britax Roundabout 55 (next gen) for $108 after discounts (SCORE) anyway, this seat is for my 3y2mo son. He is 44" tall and 36lbs he has a 15.5 inch torso. And, why, yes, he IS still rear facing! It is, afterall, 500x safer than forward facing. He also has a really large head, which makes me uneasy forward facing him this early.

If you are curious WHY I choose to rear face my toddlers, I have some educational materials for you :) Don't worry, I don't berate, I educate...

and don't forget, boosters are for big kids!

Fudge Fail

2010-11-30T18:11:00.002-05:00

I tried, oh lordy I tried

TWICE

to make fudge. Once the day before thanksgiving, and once this weekend, and both were flops :(

The first time, I did not have a thermometer, and got it too hot. I stirred my heart out, but it wouldn't thicken. It later went into brownies.

The second time, I used the thermometer I bought, and got it all right. It STILL did not set...i ended up tossing it. It set enough to almost be fudge...but not quite.

I didn't save the original recipe, but here is the one I am trying next

Next Try

Some Diapers.com blowout deals

2010-11-27T17:49:00.014-05:00

Ok I just noticed Diapers.com is having some Black Friday blowout deals, the best one is

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe for $38.25 !!! Use code GABABYMAKR for the extra 15% off your first order (if you have ordered before just set up a new account with a diff email)

That is the BEST price I have seen a cozy coupe in a LONG time! I just ordered 2 for my daycare! I also noticed they have it in PINK and POLICE CAR for $42.49!! Click Here

I also like

Little Tikes Bumblebee Car For $26.34 Use code GABABYMAKR for the extra 15% off your first order (if you have ordered before just set up a new account with a diff email)

We have one of those and the kids FIGHT over it constantly.

More deals HERE Just remember to use code GABABYMAKR to get the extra discount

They also have some great deals on strollers!

Combi Twin Sport 2010 Regular retail is $229.99!!!

Jade for $133.44

Remember to use code GABABYMAKR for the extra 15%

"Gingerbread" Ornaments

2010-11-24T14:27:00.007-05:00

MMMMMM

Smell that? That is the smell of cinnamon.

Yesterday while speaking with my sister, i discovered that we needed to do something about the cat box odor for our rescued kitten Max. It stinks. Bad. Now Max is a loveable little critter, and we saved him from a major butt kicking by a bunch of mean teens, but, Max stinks.

Well, yesterday we got our christmas tree in the mail from Wal*Mart, and that got me to thinking about those lovely cinnamon smelling ornaments we all made as kids. Maybe that could counteract Max's odor, So I got to googling, and found this recipe for them (courtesy of The Simple Dollar)

1C Salt
2C Flour
5ts Cinnamon
3/4c Water

Now my motto with this was go big or go home, so I put a WHOLE CONTAINER of cinnamon in mine

Mix all the ingredients in the bowl and then knead it all up real good until you get a firm ball and stick it in the fridge for about 30min.

Roll it out really flat (1/2" or so) and get your cookie cutters out and start cutting. Then place the cuts onto a cookie sheet on parchment paper at 325 for about an hour.

Now sniff the air....mmmmmm cinnamon.

I used ornament hangers and ribbon to hang them. I don't think they are quite enough to mask Max's odor...but it is a start. I think the other batch I have failed to roll will need about 1/2 jar more cinnamon.

Mmmm free Starbucks coffee

2010-11-23T20:16:00.001-05:00

Just saw a freebie

Starbucks Coffee

Love me some coffee! Go fast these never last long!

Isn't she lovely

2010-11-22T20:25:00.003-05:00

I keep looking at my wrist and singing "Isn't she lovely" in my head. This is absolutely the most beautiful bracelet ever. Review to follow.

Thank you Inspired by Finn

Bracelet was provided by IBF for review purposes. All thoughts are my own, IBF has not edited my post in any way.

Woot Woooo

2010-11-20T15:14:00.002-05:00

It has been a forever long week in my world. I am sure everyone has missed me :)\

I have been working long hours, my car broke down, and the list goes on...and on.

Well, I have a few new products to review, waiting on a few more. How exciting. Are you excited? I am excited!

Oh also not to toot my own horn or anything, but my Klout score updated....

61

I am over the MOON!

Be back soon with reviews!

This weeks prizes 11/7-11/13

2010-11-10T09:01:00.005-05:00

Things I won:

11/9/10 Musselmans Prize Pack

Prizes I recieved:

Pampers Prize Pack

I think the weather is going to do me in...

2010-11-10T08:54:00.002-05:00

I live in South Georgia

(Get the images of Dukes of Hazard out of your head please)

The winters here are usually pretty mild, and it never gets cold until December. Well this year is proving that wrong! I have had the heat on since monday! It was in the 40s in the AM and 50s in the afternoon....until today!

I would like to thank Mother Nature for our messed up weather lately, because todays high is...

*drumroll please*

80

Yes Folks, we went from 50s to 80s in two days. My poor kids are getting sick and I am going to have to switch the unit from Heat to Air!

Crazy Crazy Crazy.

I bet next the weather report will call for snow (haha)

Longest week ever

2010-11-04T20:33:00.001-04:00

I swear, Sunday to now, this has been the longest week this year! I need a good stiff drink...lol.

Thank goodness tomorrow is friday!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I feel sick

2010-11-01T18:35:00.004-04:00

I just got a call from the hospital I delivered the twins at, and hey! guess what?! Insurance is taking back payments!

I feel sick. I cannot pay these, I cannot pay for a lawyer...and it was hard enough to get them paid the first time around...i don't know what to do...I emailed my fIm, hopefully we can get this figured out. I guess I get to call the ins co tomorrow and see what the heck they are doing.

UGH

Update 11/12

Because I know you are *so* interested in my story lol.

Yesterday i got another call from the hospital for a NEW bill that insurance took back, and i went round and round with the billing lady. Anyway ended up hanging up and calling the insurance company. It took me 45 minutes on the phone to figure out what the heck was going on. Turns out the hospital was TRIPLE billing the insurance for ultrasounds, and obviously when the insurance company discovered it they requested the payments back. So to try to recoup the money the hospital is doing what is called "Balance Billing" and that, i was told, is illegal. I was told by the insurance not to pay the hospital a penny. Which is good because, well, i don't have a penny! lol. So for now, i am in the clear with the billing department...until the next bill comes in....ugh

I think

2010-11-01T14:18:00.002-04:00

...That if I hollered in here, i would hear an echo!

I need followers...lol...but how do I get people here? Any good ideas?

Help!

Is it bad

2010-10-29T10:28:00.002-04:00

Is it bad that i just cried because I didn't win the stroller...

I am so sad. I just knew mine was gonna win. It was so good.

here is my entry

the winners

http://www.britaxusa.com/promotions/b-ready-stroller

My Klout score

2010-10-26T09:36:00.003-04:00

I am so excited. Last week during a twitter party I found out about a site called Klout, which measures your influence online.

I did my score, and came back today to check it, and it is (drumroll please)

44

o.m.g

That is REALLY good! I am so excited!

Now...if I could just figure out what I am supposed to do with a good Klout score, I would be set...any ideas lol

Klout: 44
True Reach: 37
Ampliication: 27
Network: 60

This weeks prizes 10/24-10/30

2010-10-25T10:17:00.006-04:00

Wins:
10/24
Chocolate Swirl Clutch From #beeacutie2

In the Mail:

Workout Dvds (i thought it was going to be one, it was 3!)from the #Momavation party

Dove Prize Pack, contained a workout tee, a book, and a dove bag with 2 (much needed) deodorants! YAY!

Coffee ramblings

2010-10-24T14:17:00.003-04:00

I love coffee. Love. I will gladly visit a starbucks anytime I am near one (there isn't one in the town where I live *gasp*). I make my own coffee at home right now and I am running into a huge problem lately.

My coffee is bitter. Blech. I usually cannot even drink it, which is bad news for a coffee fiend. I have a brand new (well 3 month old) coffee pot, and use maxwell house in the plastic canister. I even threw out a WHOLE new canister of coffee thinking that was it...alas, it was not it. I still have bitter coffee.

I am using almost 3 scoops for 12 cups of water...any tips?

I got my Uggs!

2010-10-23T17:38:00.003-04:00

I got my Uggs on Thursday! They are SO SOFT!

I haven't got to wear them out of the house yet, because I still have to waterproof them first. But my 4 year old loved them so much, that i had to order him a pair. He would not take them off!

(Don't fret, I will post photos tomorrow! My blackberry is updating right now)

I do have to say, if you don't have a place to try them on first, measure your foot and look at the size chart. Before I had kids I wore an 8.5, now I don't even know what size shoe I wear, because I don't buy shoes! I have a pair of reef flip flops and some adidas runners. My Reef's are a 10 and my adidas are a 9 or a 9.5 I think, anyway I measured my foot to get the inches for ordering the Uggs and my foot is 10 inches (oh lord that is amazon size! In my defense I am 5'10) so the size chart said I needed a 9. They fit perfect!

<3

Ill post more once I waterproof them and wear them some more

Britax Contest

2010-10-22T13:34:00.004-04:00

Last week Britax announced a contest to win one of five B-Ready strollers.

The B-Ready is a FABULOUS stroller that can be used until 55 lbs (so much higher than other strollers) that you can also add a second seat to for an additional child.

I WANT THIS STROLLER.

Let me repeat.

I NEEEEEEED THIS STROLLER.

So I got my creative juices flowing, and we made Britax for breakfast! There is NO WAY we will not win this stroller! NO WAY!

Here is a little sneak peek of what you will see when they announce the winners

This weeks prizes

2010-10-21T18:51:00.005-04:00

Well, so far I have done exceptionally well with twitter parties. It is so much fun, and I am glad that I jumped in feet first. So far I have won

Southern Living Cook book
Barber Food prize pack
Febreze Prize Pack
Workout DVD
Chuggington book and hat
Dove prize pack
Lands End childrens coat and boots
subscription to a video site
2 xbox games
New Prizes
Seat Snug
Anne Geddes Book

WOW! All that in a 2 week span! So far I have gotten the cook book, the febreze pack, the chuggington book and then the xbox games were codes and so was the video sub. site. The Barber foods pack will be here tuesday. So exciting! I do about 5 parties a day on average, and I am having so much fun winning things!

WooHoo

2010-10-19T09:34:00.002-04:00

I just checked the tracking and my Uggs should be here friday!

Is it bad that I am so excited about SHOES?! Lol

Fall is here!

2010-10-18T11:21:00.003-04:00

Here in south georgia, the leaves are falling. In the mornings it has been in the 40s to 50s which is so nice! I haven't had the heat OR air on in a month! Fall is NEVER like this here, because it is so humid most of the time. During the day the high has been in the 80's. Most days now we spend a lot of time outside enjoying the weather and letting the kids play in the piles of leaves under all our trees in the back yard.

It is so beautiful out, I love this time of year and wish it could last forever! I ordered a pair of Ugg boots yesterday. I never splurge on myself, but I have wanted them for 2 years, and finally decided just to go for it. I work so hard, and they would come in handy. Go Me!!! Now here is to hoping I don't feel utterly guilty when they arrive!

Zagora Naturals Review

2010-10-16T19:47:00.007-04:00

About a month ago, I met the owner of Zagora Naturals through Facebook. They offer a line of completely vegan products for your face and body at an extremely affordable price ranging from $2.75 to $10.00.

I was sent the Body Scrub and Honey lip balm to review.

The Scrub:

The scrub was a very thick, lightly scented salt scrub. You have to keep the scrub sealed tightly though or it WILL dry out. I used the scrub in the shower on my hands feet and legs. I have very dry skin and this worked great on my legs prior to shaving to get all the dead skin off that would normally clog up your razor. A little goes a long way!

The lip balm:

The lip balm is very thick and moisturizing. I put it on at night and I could STILL feel it the next afternoon on my lips. Not in a heavy greasy way though. My lips chap really bad and I have a *urm* *cough* habit of picking my lips lol. They are so dry from the humidity where I live. The only negative I found on the balm though, was if you are sensitive to smells like I am, the balm is heavily scented. There are two different flavors on the balm, honey, and root beer.

Zagora Naturals sent me the products to try free of charge, all opinions at gababymaker.blogspot.com are those of my own

Reviews and Giveaways

2010-09-26T16:16:00.006-04:00

Hi, my name is Brittany I am a former surrogate and a single mom to 2 boys age 5 and 3 (they are 20 mos apart). I also run a home daycare with ages 6 weeks to 5 years

If you are looking for me to host a review or a review and giveaway on my blog please contact me at georgiababymaker@gmail.com . This is a win-win for both of us, it allows you to introduce your products to a market you might not normally reach, and allows me to generate blog traffic.

I can do a review of any product, or a review and giveaway. If you choose to do just the review you will be sending me a non-returnable full sized product to use and review on my blog in a reasonable time frame. For a review and giveaway you will send me a product to review, and I will also offer another of the same or similar product for giveaway. All giveaway items must be shipped by you to the winner in a reasonable time frame. I can run a giveaway for either 2 weeks, or 1 month. I will also “tweet” about giveaways on my twitter account to reach even more of an audience.

I can also place a "button" ad in my sidebar for your business for a small fee.
If this is something that interests you, please feel free to contact me so we can discuss it!

Still not over it, but ready to move on

2010-08-08T18:43:00.006-04:00

I guess the title says it all. I am still not over the way my journey ended, the way my IPs treated me and what they did to me. But I am ready to move past it. I have decided to go ahead with searching for new IPs for a 2011 journey. I am right now in the "if it happens it happens" mentality. If I find someone and it clicks, maybe I can learn to trust again. I was cleared by my OB to do another journey when they were delivered...I just cannot do multiples again. I won't go through what I went through agan. I don't feel like I could ever do that again.

Anyway. I am still alive. Relocated for now, since you know the whole IPs selling my house thing *sigh* Ill try to post more regular again. I couldn't even tell you how the babies are...that is another thing i want from my next IPs...communication. Not just using me like an oven and throwing me out when I am done...

If you or someone you know is looking for a TS for a 2011 journey, please have them contact me! Average second time comp with extras plus housing. Prefer Atlanta, Ga area.

Anyway
Peace

at least I am losing weight

2010-03-27T12:41:00.000-04:00

Because of the water weight at the end I gained a total of 40 lbs with the twins, 20 regular and 20 the last 2 weeks.

As of yesterday I am 2lbs below where I started. I guess having a functioning kidney helps, cause I am peeing like a racehorse! Here is to loosing another 50+lbs lol...

Can't win!

2010-03-25T19:32:00.001-04:00

Tuesday I ended up in the ER for kidney pain. Turns out I had a stone in my left kidney which also isn't functioning correctly. Had to have a stent put in. Worst pain EVER!

home now though, gotta go back in a few weeks and see if we can figure out what is going on.

The Birth

2010-03-22T14:34:00.009-04:00

Ok I think I finally have a minute to try to type it all up.

I don't remember my last update so bare with me. At about 30 weeks I started swelling, which would be normal except I was on bedrest, my bp went from 130/80 to about 145/100.

I was still only at +1 protein, which I have been at the whole pregnancy because of my constant UTIs. I also felt fairly ok...

Week 31, swelling got worse, I also gained 10 lbs. Headaches started and spots but not bad...bad enough though that I was asked to come back in a couple days to re-check everything, I was also asked to do a blood draw to check for pre-e.

Monday 3/15 I went back to the DR and my bp was still high, 145/104 but my labs came back normal. I was also having some mild ctx. Dr decided to send me to hospital to be observed and to do a 24 hr urine screen.

Got to hospital and checked in, got my room and did the monitors, was having regular ctx, but not too bad, BP stayed high...i just felt tired, other than that I felt fine. My pelvis was killing me from the bones and ligaments moving and I had a headache that nothing was helping. Peri came in and saw me, said my swelling was bad, I mght have toxemia and they were gonna see after the 24hr screen if I needed to be induced or if I could wait it out.

Next morning at 7:30 I went to the peri for an u/s. Babies looked good...the peri decided that I did not have toxemia, but I probably wasn't going to get any better...they decided to take my cerclage out and induce me.

The cerclage removal was the WORST thing ever, I cried and cried. I was all alone, but thankfully I had a great nurse holding my hand the whole time. I started to bleed when they took the cerclage out, which looking back should have been an indicator of things to come...Immediately after the cerclage removal contractions started, no induction needed.

I went back up to my room and called the parents to let them know that I was in labor so they could come on.

They took me down around 10:30 to L&D and checked me, I was already at 4cm and soft. Dr started me on pitocin at 2 (just enough to keep me moving, average pit dose is 10)and an IV.

Parents got there a little later and we just waited. I was checked and was at 5.

Things slowed down at this point, I was told I had some scar tissue from the cerclage and it was gonna take a little bit to break it down...so I stayed at 5 for about 6 hrs. I slept through most of that 6 hours. About that time, I felt the urge to push. They checked me and I was at 8 but pliable so they called the NICU team. Everyone came in and got set up, and I was ready to push.

It took about 10 minutes to get baby A out. I didn't get a good look but when they held her up she looked HUGE! Now remember this was 32w6d. Pushed for another 8 minutes and baby B was born, his head was bigger I could feel that much, but he looked about the same to me. They took them to the incubators cleaned them up and got them on oxygen. This was about 7:30p

Then the fun started...they used the u/s machine to check for any remnants in my uterus and the Dr noticed one, so he pushed on my uterus and a huge one came out, and alot of blood...then he noticed another...and this kept going, pushing and gushing clots and blood...it wasn't stopping....he got on a gown and a glove and went in to manually clean me out...this helped some. Enough that he felt comfortable leaving me. They took the babies up to NICU and the IPs followed them and everyone left but me and the nurse. But the blood kept coming.

I ended up with a bag of full on pit, an IM injection, and 3 cytotec up the butt before the bleeding finally stopped at 1am. I cried and cried because I was all alone with just the nurse (who was wonderful) but I felt so awful I was in incredible pain and they gave me a catheter because they didn't want me standing up and passing out from blood loss...I would fall asleep for a few mins and wake up, over and over and cry and cry...I just wanted someone there with me.

When the bleeding stopped about 1am they moved me back to my room from that morning and all my nurses came in to congratulate me. They were all nurses from the 5weeks I was in the hospital on bedrest and they were so nice...

Anyway babies were A) 6lb2oz 19.5 inches and B) 5lb9oz 17 inches.

Noone came to see me the next day. I just wanted to go home. As soon as the dr came to see me that morning (3/17 morning after delivery) I asked to leave and he allowed me to. My IPs were nice enough to get a limo and have it pick up my kids and sister to meet me at the hospital. I cried and cried when I saw my babies! The ride home was REALLY uncomfortable though, limo seats are HARD and small, and don't feel great on a just pushed out twins butt.

The babies are doing good now, on room air and their IVs are out they are basically just growing.

I am doing Ok. My kids are gone to their dads for the week and my sister went to my parents, so I am feeling really blue. I spent most of Friday crying...I feel lost. For the past year my "job" was to be pregnant, and now it is over and I don't really know where my life is going...it is hard on me, but I am working on it and feeling better.

I Delivered

2010-03-17T07:08:00.001-04:00

i delivered last night at around 730.

32w6d and 6#2oz 5#9oz both 17inches. Doing good in the NICU, on cpap and a little lung fluid.

I started hemmoraghing and almost lost my uterus, at about 1am it slowed enough that they felt ok with it.

Ill post more later

Almost 32 weeks

2010-03-06T14:50:00.004-05:00

and I honestly feel great (when i am sitting down lol)

I realize I haven't blogged a whole lot, after the stalker episode I have been afraid to say anything, but now that my blog is back to where you have to register to post I think I am ok to go back posting.

I am still on bedrest, on procardia 3x a day. I have been having random contractions here and there, but nothing unbareable. It is REALLY hard to sleep because it hurts to roll over or move because my body almost gets stuck from laying in the same position and then my pelvis and hips crack and pop...getting better about dealing with it though. Learned to sleep with a pillow between my knees and one propped under my belly to support it.

All total as of last week I had gained 18 lbs. I can tell you right now alot of that is water weight because I am mega swollen. My feet ankles and hands are getting worse and worse. My belly has gotten huge in the last few weeks. None of my clothes fit. I have 4 pairs of jeans that are the 2 same styles and the one style is too big and the other wont cover my ass (because every pregnant woman wants low rise maternity jeans ) I seriously did NOT think that when they said low rise they ment do-not-bend-over.

Moral of that story is I have now ordered .DRESSES! I am not a dress person but damnit I will not have my belly and ass hanging out for the wide world to gawk at, so I ordered the long dresses and a cardigan and will wear them with my reef flip flops to accomodate my poor swollen feet :)

Next article of business? FOOD!
I have not really been hungry (which is how I know that my weight is water weight) but I do love me some popsicles! I actually emailed my IMs earlier to hopefully bring me some cause I am OUT! I ate a whole box yesterday that should have lasted me til tomorrow. These are my favorites Crystal Light Pink Lemonade mmmmm

I have heartburn from the procardia. It stinks because the only way to get it to go away is 4 Zantac 150 pills! Yes 4!

I guess that is about it, I will try to take a photo on Wed (32 wks) if I can fit it all in one frame lol.

Thanks for reading!

30w2d peri appt

2010-02-26T17:02:00.002-05:00

Babies measured 32w5d and are 4lb3oz and 4lb5oz cervix is 1.4 all looks good :)

ETA:
At Dr appt on thursday, I have gained 5 lbs since leaving the hospital (which makes sense since they are so big now) but I also had +1 Protein, Ketones?, Leukocytes, and white blood cells. So I knew I was gonna have a UTI since they didnt send me home with macrobid from the hospital, but the Ketones I have no clue what they are, I think +1 protein is normal for me...

30 weeks

2010-02-24T04:24:00.000-05:00

Made it to 30 weeks. I feel fine. The strain of the weight of my uterus on my lower abdomen makes it hard to walk, and I cannot roll over at night without wanting to cry..but other than that no complaints. I am still on bedrest, and still on procardia for contractions. I have dr & peri appts this week so we will see what is going on (hopefully nothing)

27w3d

2010-02-06T12:02:00.003-05:00

Chugging along..cervix is still fine, as long as it looks ok wed (28 weeks) I can go home...

Today they noticed 10 small contractions while i was being monitored for an hr...so now they are putting me on procardia and monitoring me 3x a day instead of 1...I am really bummed I better still get to go home.

I want a strawberry milkshake..so bad...

26w1d belly

2010-01-29T10:50:00.002-05:00

still in hospital prison

Dear Crazy Stalker

2010-01-21T14:53:00.002-05:00

Please leave me and my blog alone. I deleted your comment, but realized afer reading it over and over, that half the stuff in it was not talked about on my blog. Are you following me around online? Because if so that is creepy and I am asking you now to stop. You are the crazy one, not me.

I have the sads. (mostly abt food)

2010-01-14T14:52:00.003-05:00

It is starting to get to me being stuck in here. I don't think I updated, but my OB wants me here til 28 weeks (lord help me) so I am only 24w1d today....4 more weeks to go.

I have an appt in the morning to check my cervix again and make sure all is well, which I am sure it is...I feel fine...I want to go home.

Still starving. What is new...i am getting used to always feeling hungry though. Right now I want an entire loaf of Sunbeam pull-apart BBQ bread....that sounds so good. They have this snack cart that comes around every morning and you get what you want, but they never really have anything I can eat (since I am scared of having another gallbladder attack) I usually get a couple bowls of cheerios and some nutragrain bars, of course they were out of Nutri-Grain bars this morning...I asked for SOME and they brought me ONE. BAH. Do they forget I am freaking pregnant with TWINS! I swear there is gonna be nothing left of me in a month...Guess it will make losing weight easier though...came in the hospital at 250, this AM I was like 247.3

They weigh us every morning. I feel like I am in eating disorder bootcamp. It is embarrasing and depressing and I always feel panicked when they drag that damn scale in here...I mean if you were REALLY that concerned with my weight you would be feeding me a normal amt of food...Like I am so sick of eggs I swear I could live without ever eating another. EVERY morning for breakfast they serve eggs and something equally crappy to go with it. Lunch today was turkey and dressing...which was ok, the dressing was really good, but I would estimate there was about 1/3 of a cup total, and the turkey was inedible and dry...and I don't like green beans...so I ate dressing and a roll for lunch...

Anyway enough complaining I guess...I need to find something to do to pass the time.

24 weeks!

2010-01-13T16:17:00.002-05:00

We are now 24 weeks! YAY! Babies are good, I feel fine...starving but fine..I lost another pound, so I am down 3 lbs since being in the hospital...oh well.

I guess that is it, I will update when something happens, but hopefully nothing happens lol

Countdown til friday

2010-01-11T10:27:00.001-05:00

U/S this AM looked good. Cervix is back over 3, completely closed. Babies are measuring 24w2d and they are starting me on the steroid shots for their lungs today. I should get to go home friday! YAY! I am so excited.

That is it, still starving, but learning to deal with it

I made it out with my gallbladder

2010-01-10T20:25:00.003-05:00

For now.

Yesterday afternoon I got some VERY bad back pain...the nurse kinda ignored me when I told her I was in alot of pain...finally I begged for something so she brought me percoset, but the pain just got worse. Finally I was in tears almost screaming, the pain had spread wrapped around my lower ribs and back concentrating on my rt side. They took some labs and gave me demerol (which didnt take since my IV was blocked). The nurse was really mean to me...i layed there screaming and crying and they finally took me serious, and called the dr who said to do a gallbladder u/s (they were originally gonna make me wait 8 hrs, but they saw the intense pain and rushed it).

Still screaming they are trying to replace my IV, which is impossible because I have ONE good vein between my two arms. They already had the IV in my good vein which was no longer working...so they had to call the "iv team". The nurses were sauntering around taking their time about the new IV so I could have the morphine...at this point I was BEGGING them to HELP ME...my IMs were just staring at me and I was continuously throwing up from the pain...finally they decide to give me the morphine as an IM injection, and then work on my IV.

Took over an hr for the morphine to kick in. I felt dead once it started to get in my system...i just was so out of it from the mix of percoset, demerol, and morphine...did the U/S and waited 2 hrs for the results...

NOTHING.

I had some sludge in my gallbladder which they said prob caused a small blockage, but the pain never came back. Thank God.

I am now on a low fat diet. Fun. No cheese, no fried food, no processed food, no coffee...you get the point...no good food. They dont like to remove gall bladders during pregnancy because of the risk to the babies....

It is hard though, because in the hospital low fat=low cal=NO FOOD! They were already starving me, now it is that much worse...the general surgeon came in to see me and said they would send the dietician in so they could work on something since the goal was NOT to starve me. I have only gained 5 lbs so far, and I think I prob lost them since i have been in here...As I type this I am starving...STARVING I SAY

Anyway, i think I have an u/s in the AM to check the cerclage, hopefully everything is great so I can go home this week. I miss my kids!

Cerclage-Check

2010-01-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

So we got the cerclage yesterday. It hurt. I won't lie. I am ok now I guess. Just depressed. Really feels like noone cares about me, and I miss my kids like crazy.

Here is a link to info on cerclages

http://depts.washington.edu/dippweb/micc-cervcerc.pdf

I doubt I will be having anymore kids of my own or for anyone else after this, because I do not want to go thru this again. I just dont understand how 2 no problem pregnancies can lead to a 3rd this traumatic to me....IDK.

They take the cerclage out at 36 weeks so unless I go into labor before then, they say you usually go into labor within a week of cerclage removal.

in hospital

2010-01-07T18:52:00.000-05:00

3cm bulging bag cerclage tomoro

So Fun

2010-01-05T19:53:00.003-05:00

Well yesterday morning I woke up to some pretty intense back pain and lower abdomen pain. I figured it was because I had gotten stuck sleeping on the couch again...i took some tylenol and got back in my bed since my youngest had vacated it and went back to sleep.

Tossed and turned, got up and went pee and realized I was pretty sure it was a UTI. Called my doctors office (who were of course closed) and cried on the phone to the midwife on call that i was in severe pain. She told me to go to L&D and to let them check me.

Called my IM and told her I needed to go to the DR, in the process scaring her shitless I am sure. So she picked up my other IM and they came and got me and we went to the hospital.

Got there and they put me in a triage room took urine and put me on monitors. OF course baby A was not cooperating since she is so active, so the nurse stood there are held the monitor on her long enough to get a strip. Then I got to lose the baby monitors and just stay on the ctx monitor. She told me they would have my urine back in an hr and that she felt some tightness when she was doing the monitors and asked me about it. I told her I didnt think it was contractions because it was too low, it centered around baby A and my bladder, so she said it may be bladder spasms due to the UTI.

Now let me interlude and say I am NO stranger to UTIs. I had 17 last pregnancy (basically one long UTI since the meds stopped working) I informed them of this and told them that the ONLY thing that works for me is IV antibiotics. She said she will pass this on and she was gonna call my MW to let her know I was here.

She comes back in awhile later and tells me the MW said to refer to the OB (Dr Jackass) for my care...ummm ok. So I asked her if they wanted to check me to make sure my cervix had not shortened anymore since I was feeling pressure and she said she would ask, and pass it on because her shift was ending.

So a couple hrs go by and we see noone. I was about to pop a kidney I had to pee so bad so I had one of my IMs hunt down a nurse to unhook me so I could pee and find out the status on my urine.

Urine had white blood cells so Dr wants to culture them to make sure it is a UTI. By this time I had been there about 5 hrs...i was in severe pain and they wouldnt give me ANYTHING. Dr said that they would just call me in a script for the UTI and pain medicine...I said what are they calling in, she said Macrobid. I said even with my history of it not working they still want to give me that. She said they want to "try it and see"

great so lets experiment on a pregnant woman in severe pain.

Oh and they dont want to check my cervix, just go see the peri...SERIOUSLY!? Isn't it better to be safe than sorry when you are dealing with a short cervix and twins?

To sum it up, i left crying and get to the pharmacy and they never called it in. It was after noon today before they called it in and guess what, it is the second lowest dose of the medicine. Seriously. I am dying still...

MW appt and peri appt tomorrow. joy. 23 weeks tomorrow

Depressed

2010-01-03T10:09:00.003-05:00

I guess bedrest and depression go hand in hand.

I feel like a little kid. Cant do anything. My sister is here to help me, but we don't really get along for long periods of time so she is already getting on my nerves. She wont drive anywhere, so if I want something, instead of being able to get it like I used to I just have to go without. I am about in tears over wanting dang apple fritters and she wont go find some...

My pelvis and hips are really hurting from laying here. The girl is super active and I always feel like she is just gonna fall out.

Ims are in mexico on vacation. I am sure they are having fun.

I feel like I am in a constant state of "about to cry" and noone really gives a shit

ETA: It just keeps getting better. Shortly after writing this we discovered the lines to the washing machine are frozen solid, so no clean clothes. THEN I asked my sister to crank my car since it had been a week since it was cranked and guess what, it is dead as a damn doornail....seriously?! It just gets better and better

21 and 22 weeks belly

2009-12-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

22 week peri update

2009-12-30T17:22:00.002-05:00

Well they were super backed up so we waited over an hr to get in. It was a very quick scan since they were so behind. She at least explained some stuff which was good. I have about a 3.5 inch to 4 inch cervix. Right now the funnel is about 2 inches and the cervix is the rest. The peri said that my cervix measures between 1.6 and 2 so he said it is the same as last week. A is head down, B is transverse. That was about it. Stay on bedrest, back next week.

I feel better

2009-12-25T11:01:00.002-05:00

So I had some "strange" discharge this morning and called the midwife. (she said the discharge is normal)

I feel so much better now. She spoke to me for about 10 mins in RE to what the peri is telling me and making me do. She said that she thinks my cervix lengh is normal and nothing to be scared of, that naturally carrying twins things are going to be different, i just need to take it easy. She said their job is to make you scared...which is how they have made me feel.

She just really made my day better...she made me feel alot better about everything

:)

More bedrest

2009-12-24T14:06:00.002-05:00

I am guessing basically for the duration of the pregnancy I am on bedrest. Weekly progesterone shots in the ass and peri visits too.

Fun.

Babies looked great though

Win a carseat prize package from the KDMF

2009-12-22T18:55:00.012-05:00

Enter to win a Carseat Prize package from the Kyle David Miller Foundation! Tickets are $10 and prizes are listed below!

CLICK LINK BELOW TO ENTER!
Raffle proceeds benefit the Kyle David Miller Foundation

The prizes for the older child raffle are:

*Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL car seat
*Car Seat Poncho
*$100 gift certificate to Hip Monkey

The prizes for the infant raffle are:

*Britax Travel System in Red Mill carseat with base/ stroller **Retails for $500!
*A baby sling from Hip Monkey - of your choice
*A Pacimal of your choice from Hip Monkey

CLICK LINK BELOW TO ENTER!
Raffle proceeds benefit the Kyle David Miller Foundation

The goals of the Kyle David Miller Foundation are:
1.To educate the public about seat belt failure and car seat safety.
2.To provide safe car seats to those who otherwise could not afford them.

Yep, still sucks

2009-12-22T10:18:00.001-05:00

I am soooooo bored. Really I cannot get much more bored than this. The days last forever and ever...I want some REAL food I am tired of Tv dinners and sandwiches since I cant cook...ugh PRAY PLEASE that i get off BR on thurs, I truly cannot take much more than this...

It is so beautiful out, I want to go shopping! arrrrgh

Bedrest SUCKS!

2009-12-19T15:19:00.002-05:00

Yeah so that sums it up! I have been on bedrest now for 24 hours or so. The boys are with their dad for the next week and when they come back my sister will be here to help me (or replace me lol)

tomorrow is my birthday. I had plans to go to the spa with my IMs, but the peri nixed it. So my birthday gets to be spent laying in bed.

I got on the scale today again and my home scale says I have lost weight again...i dunno, i guess that is good since when I am laying here i get bored and want to eat.

In other news, baby A (girl) was head down but B is transverse. He is so in my ribs it HURTS...he moves around some, but right now he is lodged in there and it hurts...They are 15 oz each and she said average length at this gestation is 8-10 inches. They are measuring 21 weeks

My back is already killing me from laying down. This next week is gonna be FUN! Pray that thursday my cervix has either not changed or has gotten longer!

appt

2009-12-18T12:22:00.001-05:00

Peri appt this AM the babies looked great but my cervix has shrunk to 2.5 so I am on complete bed rest. It sucks. I had been feeling pressure but just assumed that it was because they were growing, not because my cervix was shortening. I have to go back next week and have them check again and I am going to start getting weekly progesterone shots. 2.5 is the bottom of normal so it can't get shorter than that or i might have to be on hospital bed rest....ugh.

owie

2009-12-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

my vagina hurts. Like pressure...owie.

20 weeks today :)

Beautiful Breech Birth video

2009-12-13T12:55:00.001-05:00

19 weeks woah!

2009-12-09T13:55:00.004-05:00

Today is 19 weeks! Totally woah halfway thru pregnancy! WOW!

I think i figured out why i dont feel baby B as much, for starters he changed positions from where he hung out before, he is now kinda middle to left side totally behind his placenta...every once in a blue moon i feel him wiggle...his sister however makes herself very known. She likes to dance/tickle my cervix and she also gets the hiccups like every day! How fun!

Picked up some more for IMs xmas baby box...hope they like it :)

Too scared to get on the scale...i was starving yesterday to the point I said screw it if I gain 5 lbs this week at least I wont be hungry lol

First midwife appt tomorrow YIPPEE!

ETA: MW appt today-
Todays appt was GREAT! I have actually only gained 1/2 lb by their scale lol, so going with that! She sat and answered all our questions, we talked for 30 mins and she gave lots of good info. We will be seen by them AND their OB that they work under (alternating between both) the Ob and the MW will be directing the birth. If both are head down i can deliver in a L&D room but if B is anything other than head down I have to deliver in OR. She reccommended some vitamins to take, and a that I start prenatal yoga to help keep me moving and stretching....they also reccommended staying with the peri because the U/S place that the OB uses is over an hr away so we are staying with the peri...

That is it here

Oh yeah forgot to say my belly is measuring 24.5 holy cow!

I feel so great

2009-12-07T16:57:00.003-05:00

I am sure I am gonna get my ass kicked later by these babies, but for now, i just feel great. I dont even feel pregnant half the time (minus the insane heartburn!). I am enjoying it while I can though...

I can poke the babies and feel where they are. I am sure they get annoyed by it. The little girl likes to dance on my cervix. The boy i only feel once in a blue moon, He is much higher up and since both placentas are anterior I think he is mostly hidden behind them. Sometimes it makes me worry, but then he moves or something and I am ok.

19 weeks on wed. Wow it is flying by!

Natural Birth on TV Show Deliver Me

2009-12-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

18w0d

2009-12-03T18:52:00.002-05:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND

My boobs are leaking already. Not enough to soak, but i feel the droplets on my bra and the tips of my nipples already

Full Body shot

2009-12-03T12:09:00.001-05:00

My new clothes! Yay! They fit!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

I also called and scheduled our first appt with the midwife group for next week :)

So excited!

2009-12-02T13:36:00.002-05:00

Tonight is our "Meeting with the midwives"

I am so stoked! We met our doula on Monday and she is the most awesome person ever! Can't wait for our next meeting. She had her 7 week old with her I couldn't see her cause she was in the sling the whole time but i though that was sweet

Another plus was that my IM took me and my kids out for lunch after the doula meeting YAY! That makes me feel great! I know it is a small thing, but it ment alot to me. They are taking me out for dinner tonight too...YAY!

Anyway. Another battle with the scale this morning...it said 239. UGH. 3 lbs. I don't feel quite so bad though, because the 18 week email said average weight gain for 18 weeks is 10-13 lbs. I would be outta my mind if I had gained that much this far. Now with MY kids, I had, but I was much lighter then...and knowing that I started out at 245 (then down to 236 after morning sickness) this time around, I KNOW I cannot justify gaining 40 lbs this time. When you are heavy to start it is better to gain 20 lbs or less because you just don't NEED to gain the extra weight...so I think I am on track.

0-20 weeks: 5 Lbs
20-30 weeks: 10 lbs
30-40 weeks: 10 lbs

That is my goal and so far I am on track. I figure I will give myself some leeway and say no more than 30 lbs total. Knowing about 20 of that should be baby related (since there are 2 and they will make up about 10 lbs of that alone then add in fluid placenta and BOOB)

If i could just stop eating a family size bag of M&Ms every night I would be ok.....

lumpy baby bodies

2009-12-01T20:20:00.000-05:00

I illustrated it for you lol

I dream of you

2009-11-30T08:24:00.002-05:00

I waaaaaaant these boots.
I found them on amazon for $160

I was going to order the short version from REI the other day, but when I went back to get them at the amazing price of 109, they were gone....

:(

all I want for christmas is Uggs....and jeans to wear them with. Hopefully the jeans I ordered from Old Navy fit this time...the last 3 pairs I have ordered have been too big and too small...ugh

Bad Scale (all weights will be posted here)

2009-11-28T18:55:00.019-05:00

********************************************************************************
Note-Starting Weight on Dr Scale @ pre pregnancy appt was 245.0

12/10 245.5 (dr scale)

1/06 250 (dr scale)

1/30 249.7 (hospital scale)

2/24 263 (Dr Scale) (+18lbs total)

Day of Delivery (3/16) 280.0

Day after delivery 260.2

August 2010 228.6

Jan 2011 237.0

17w3d belly

2009-11-28T18:52:00.000-05:00

Gobble Gobble

2009-11-27T18:44:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was great, ate lots, brought home lots of leftovers. Eating some of the chicken pot pie my daddy made on wed now...it is delish :)

Had a chiro appt wed before I left for thanksgiving. My right hip was out of alignment apparently, but hell, he did some stuff and I feel no different, well $85 of my allowance lighter, but that is it. I have another appt wed am for my back and if that doesn't make me feel better then I won't be going back.

My belly is huge. I need to take a pic. It is past my boobies full time now and a little above my belly button.

We are going to the "meet and greet" with the midwife group I REALLY REALLY want to use on Wed and out for dinner HOORAY! I have to say that made my heart happy when they said we would go out for dinner. I know my IMs are well meaning, but sometimes i feel forgotten because (does this sound petty and selfish?) they aren't really the gift giving lets go shopping and do stuff type. I don't mean that in a bad way, I love them to death and they will be great parents.

I started picking up stuff for their gift basket for christmas this week, I have a little list of things that I want to get...mainly baby related but I hope they will like it :)

Anyway off to read some more and then hit the hay, this week has worn me out.

17 Weeks

2009-11-24T19:14:00.002-05:00

Can't believe already tomorrow will be 17 weeks! AMAZING

Still haven't gained any weight (thank god!)

so for the record

Home scale says 236

I dreamed i gained 1lb at my 20 week appt and 1 pound a week from there out lol...hey I can handle about 15 lbs...

Heartburn is easing off, appetite still non existant and even if I wanted to eat I can't because I am full in one bite. My eyes are bigger than my belly...we ordered $45 worth of pizza today and ate about 3 slices...ugh.

Speaking of UGG...man I really want a pair! I found them on the REI site as part of their winter clearence for $109! That is about $50 off regular price...

http://www.rei.com/product/661410

(save me a pair of chestnut size 8's please lol)

I am too cheap to buy them though. Someone else feel free to buy them for me...kthanx

tata

It's birth, not a medical mystery!

2009-11-23T20:29:00.003-05:00

I just read that quote on the ICAN forums and thought it was great! I have taken the leads on researching new OBs and think I found a Midwife that will work with us. I sent them an email tonight to check on insurance coverage just to be sure.

I have decided that I will NOT roll over and play dead on the c-section issue. I will fight for a vaginal birth if I have to. Which I hope I don't.

But like the quote says, vaginal birth is natural, and nature intended. There is nothing natural about a c-section and I don't want on unless there is no other option for the health of the babies.

The end. lol