Books for kids, teens, & those who are young at heart

Category: Anecdote (Page 16 of 31)

The Precipitous Birth of Baby Boy #2

Seems my boys always arrive with excitement. My first son (a.k.a The Boy, who will be three at the end of August) arrived 17 days early in the middle of Hurricane Irene (you can read his birth story here). Baby Boy #2 (which admittedly is not a great nickname…any suggestions on what his Internet name should be?) arrived during storm free weather, but with haste.

The word used by the nurses and doctors was “precipitous” and I was warned that if I should have any more children, everyone should know my last labor was fast. My water broke while we were getting The Boy ready for bed, and since my water had broken (which supposedly only happens to about 15 percent of women before labor starts…but I’m skeptical on this number b/c of my two labor experiences) with the first baby, I actually knew it was my water breaking this time (last time I was kind of hoping it was a bladder control issue!).

So we settled The Boy into bed and called the on-call doctor. Based my my history, which was a 12-hour labor with induction the first time around, she said it was up to me whether or not to labor at home or to come right to the hospital. We had to wait for my mother-in-law to come and to finish up packing the essentials in our bags, so we said we’d head to the hospital soon.

My contractions were steady at about 7 minutes and not too bad. Fast forward an hour or so and they were closer to 4 minutes apart and we were ready to go. Fast forward another few minutes while we were on the way to the hospital and they were coming hard and only 2 minutes apart. Yikes! The hubby picked up the pace and we made it to the hospital (which is several towns away) in 12 minutes, despite getting stuck behind some slooooow construction vehicles.

I had a contraction in the valet parking area and three more on the short trip up to the triage area where they check to see how far along you are. The pain was intense and there was some kind of emergency so the staff was scarce. I could barely stand and couldn’t get on the table, and the hubby was frantically trying to get someone to check me out.

It was a long few minutes until someone came in and when she checked me she was like, “The head is right there.” Then yet another contraction hit and with a panicked face, she was like, “Please, don’t push.” And I was like, “I’m trying not to push.” But this baby was coming!

Then things started happening really fast. My doctor hadn’t arrived at the hospital yet, so a bunch of nurses, a resident, a midwife, and the NICU doctor all squeezed into the tiny triage room with me, my husband, and all our bags. A handful of pushes later and an 8 lb 2 oz, 20.5 inches long baby boy was born, healthy and happy.

My two older sisters were supposed to be there for the birth. One made it in the middle and wasn’t allowed in (and couldn’t fit in the tiny room anyway) and the other arrived shortly after the birth. Needless to say, no one expected our little bundle of joy to arrive so fast. All the staff in the triage agreed it was a very exciting birth and that we certainly spiced up the night for them.

We’re home now and getting used to our new, bigger family. The Boy is such a sweet big brother, and the baby has been great so far too! Loving my time with the family, even with the expected sleep deprivation. Closing out the post with some pics.

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Spring 2014 in Pictures and Updates

Baby’s due date is fast approaching, so if I’m bit quiet on the blog over the next month or so, don’t fret. I’ll make sure to post a baby update when the time comes and I’ve got some great guest posts lined up. I might even go and grab a few old posts from the archives and rerun them. We’ll see!

Local peeps, be sure to check out Local Authors Day on June 11, 2014 in honor of the 375th anniversary of the founding of Milford, CT. I may be making an appearance (if baby’s arrival cooperates) and will post  more details soon. In the meantime, here’s a quick and easy post of pictures from spring!

Fun with the cousins:

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Cookies!

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Outdoor time:

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Writing time:

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How was everyone’s spring? What are you looking forward to doing this summer?

Winter 2013-14 in Pictures

Like many of you have been experiencing, our winter here has been snowy and cold. A few days in the 50’s this weekend made me hopeful that spring really is around the corner. Too bad we still have enough snow around to make it hard to even play in the yard with The Boy. Here’s a look at my winter in pictures.

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Before winter even started, we had this lovely snow/ice storm in which our garage had a close call with branches from the neighbor’s tree.

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While Daddy braved the ice to cut down the branches, The Boy got out his saw and went to work on his car.

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Trimming the tree and dancing to some Christmas tunes.

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A dusting of snow.

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Posing in our Christmas hats made by my grandmother.

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Opening a fire truck while wearing fire jammies on Christmas day.

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Present excitement!

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Never too cold to go pantless.

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I have to believe this face is a result of frustration over news of more cold and snow.

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A rare snowfree walk downtown.

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I think he’s simply given up on ever being able to play in the yard again.

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Snowman family!

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Found a little patch of grass to ground myself.

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The Boy “grounding” himself as best he can when Mommy won’t let him be like her and take his boots off.

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Just like it’s never too cold to go pantless, it’s never too cold for some cool shades.

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This about sums up how The Boy feels about sleeping in his bed lately.

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Lots of snow, but warm enough for some much-needed fresh air and sunshine.

 

A Sweet Valentine’s Post from Penny Estelle Author of A Float Down the Canal

A sweet treat for all of you on Valentine’s Day from Penny Estelle, author of the MG short A Float Down the Canal. Leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win a copy. Welcome, Penny!

New cover for A Float Down The Canal-1Since Katie was nice enough to let me visit her blog on Valentine’s Day, I though I would talk about what some folks have done for their sweethearts on this special day.  I put out a request for some of my blog followers and friends as to what they have actually done.  I received many stories of going to dinner, receiving candy and jewelry, going to a favorite Bed and Breakfast, etc…..all wonderful stories.  I did receive three that I thought were quite unique.

1.   Mr. X happened to be off work on this particular Valentine’s Day and flipped the TV to the Oprah Show.  She suggested having her favorite dinner ready, spreading rose petals from the front door to the couch where a new nightie would be spread out.  Run a bubble bath for her just before she gets home and have chilled champagne waiting for her at the door.  He ran out and bought all the above and completely set this scenario.  He had just finished the bubble bath when Mrs. X drove into the driveway.  He grabbed the two glasses of champagne and waited at the door.  The door opened and in walked his wife, with their neighbor’s twelve year old son.  (The neighbor’s other son had broken his wrist at school and asked Mrs. X to pick up her other son.)  Now this is why men should NEVER go off track with a proven, first class, plan),  He decided to be naked…with a rose tied to his….uhm…best friend.  After Mr. X ran to the bedroom, the neighbor’s son said, “Somebody’s planning on getting lucky tonight!”

2.   This time Mrs. X went to where her husband works and completely decorated his car.  She painted all the windows with “Happy Valentines Day”  “Hurry home for a big surprise”.    She put helium filled balloons inside the car with messages about what her plans for him were when he got home.  Pairs of sexy panties were laying in the front seat complete with a picture of Mrs. X in a bubble bath holding a glass of champagne and blowing him a kiss.  Well he was hurrying home when he got pulled over by a policeman, because he felt his car was a distraction.  With a penlight, the policeman, saw the panties and read some of the balloons.  He looked at Mr. X and said, “You are one lucky man.  Drive safe!”

3.   THIS WAS MY FAVORITE –  This Mr. and Mrs. X lived off the PacificBeach.  Mr. X loved steamed clams.  The day before Valentines Day, at night, Mrs. X and a friend went to the beach and buried a bottle of champagne, plastic glasses, clams (in Ziploc bags) a deep sauce pan, two gallons of water and lighter fluid.  She also had wood that she hid up against a cliff wall.  Now it’s not warm in February, so as the sun was just starting to rise, Mrs. X got Mr. X up and headed to the beach, with a blanket.  She drew a huge sigh of relief when nothing was bothered.  So as the sun rose into the sky Mr. and Mrs. X had a fire going, clams steaming and toasting champagne.  Now that’s love!!!

A Float Down the Canal blurb:

Not a Valentine’s Day story, but a sweet story of puppy love

and one where the underdog finally wins!!!

Twelve-year old Pam Simpson gets dumped on when her mother is called into work. She must cancel her plans for the mall to babysit her younger brother and his friend and take them to the public pool.  To make matters worse her cousin, Candy, is also coming over for the day.  She doesn’t even like Candy!

Much to Candy’s dismay, transportation to the pool is on inner tubes, floating down the canal.  One thing leads to another and it is Pam who, once again, must save the day.

When things couldn’t seem worse, the day takes a drastic turn for the better and it is Candy, and the float down the canal, that makes this the best day of Pam’s life!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQEZYE

About the Author:

I write stories for the young and for the young at heart.  More about my stores and myself can be found at the following links.  Stop by anytime.  I love visitors!

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

www.pennystales.com

www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/Pennystales

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle

http://www.facebook.com/pennystales

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82

Thanks to Katie for having me today.  I would love to offer a PDF copy of A Float Down the Canal to one commenter who stops by and leaves an email address!

How Does a Mother’s Love Grow?

A few months ago, my toddler (affectionately known on the Internet as The Boy) woke up from an unusually short nap. He was sitting in his crib kind of wobbling back and forth, like he wasn’t really awake, and sobbing. He had pooped (this is not TMI b/c when you’re a mom to babies or toddlers, poop is a way of life), which was probably the reason why he had awoken so suddenly.

I changed him and sat down in the glider for a few minutes of quiet time, guessing he wasn’t going to go back down. And then he fell asleep right against my chest, something he hadn’t done in probably over a year. It was wonderful to feel his little chest rising up and down on me and to hear his steady breathing. To sit quietly with my always on the move toddler was a treat I hadn’t had much of lately.

Since then, this type of thing has been happening more and more, and though I still love snuggle time with him, it’s not quite as charming as it was that first time because he seems to have regressed on the whole sleeping in his own bed thing. Having sleep problems suddenly at 2-1/2 when he previously has always been a very good sleeper has been difficult to deal with (to say the least).

We’ve had to change over from the crib to the toddler bed because he kept trying to climb out and right now, either Mommy or Daddy has to be in the room in order for him to stay in bed and fall asleep. Not an awesome situation, but it’s the lesser of all the evils we’ve attempted so far. At least this way, there’s generally no crying (for all parties involved) and he settles down pretty quickly. I’ve also been getting a lot of quiet time to read and reflect on my own stories, but still this has been a stressful time for the whole family.

The hardest thing is I know why he has the need for extra comfort and there’s not much I can do to take away his sleep and separation anxiety. A few days before our first nap time in the glider, The Boy had gotten some news: He was going to be a big brother! Though I’m guessing he doesn’t know how this will change his life, I am sure he understands his life is going to change, as will the family dynamic.

He’s a sensitive, intuitive kid. Something I love about him, but it can make big changes like this especially hard on him and on me and his father. So while I was thrilled to learn I was pregnant, I was also anxious on how it was going to impact The Boy. Big changes take time for him to process.

I guess it was naive of me to think the second pregnancy would come with fewer worries. But it’s not a matter or more or fewer, it’s just different worries. I’m more comfortable with my changing body this time around and less anxious about the delivery and how to take care of a newborn.

Instead I worry about how I’ll manage to take care of a toddler and a newborn. I worry about losing all the special time I now have with The Boy, and how the new baby will never have me like The Boy did. Sure, I can spend time individually with each of them, but it won’t ever be the same again. I worry about having to put even more responsibilities on my husband when he already does so much.

And then there are the selfish worries. I already give so much of myself to The Boy, I wonder with another one if I’ll be giving too much of myself away. At what point do I go from being a well-rounded, dynamic person to just a mother? What kind of mother can I be if I’m not in a good, healthy frame of mind? Then there’s the worry about having even less husband/wife time. And the worry that I’m ruining The Boy for life because I’m staying in his room while he falls asleep (at least I don’t have to sit on the floor and hold his hand anymore!). And how am I gonna deal with a second child when right now I’m not even feeling like I’m dealing with having one? Whew!

I’m getting all angsty just writing about this. That’s not to say I’m not very excited about having another child. I grew up in a big family and always knew I wanted more than one child. I think The Boy is going to be a thoughtful big brother, and I’m so excited he’ll have a sibling. I treasure my own sibling relationships and wouldn’t want my children to grow up their own. A big family can mean compromise and fighting and noise, but it can be full of love and fun and adventure.

And, well, it wasn’t my intention to announce my pregnancy on the blog with so much negativity in the post, but I’ve been trying to be more real and honest in my writing, and it seems to be spilling over here as well. As a family, we really are very excited about expanding our ranks. I love being a mom. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

I know, too, that one day The Boy won’t need his mommy so much and will probably even not want to be around me at all. So beneath the frustration of having to be around him so much, I’ve been trying to appreciate being around him so much.

I’m excited, too, about bringing another human into the world and getting to know him (oh right, I haven’t told you yet…it’s a boy!). I’m excited about seeing what kind of men my two boys will turn out to be. I know they will fight, but I hope they are friends like my siblings and I are friends. I hope they find a passion for a career like I have found in writing and are able to pursue it. I love how The Boy already likes to give his little brother kisses (on my belly) and we talk about how he’s going to teach the baby sign language and “help” change the baby’s diapers.

There’s so much to look forward to. No matter how scary change can be (which for me seems to be harder to deal with as I get older), it’s wonderful and life affirming. And, well, we’re having a baby! So let’s put the worries aside and celebrate!

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