tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90578580022182328982024-02-07T02:28:59.812-05:00Making the most...Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-89992251262278728952012-07-28T01:25:00.002-04:002012-07-28T01:37:13.724-04:00Under ConstructionPlease excuse the plain look of this here blog for now. I'm in the process of making it all shiny and new!Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-20422933786417382182012-07-28T01:04:00.003-04:002012-07-28T01:07:05.143-04:00I actually had to get out of bed to write this down...I just had the most fantastical of ideas!<br />
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I spent a good amount of time right before bed tonight organizing pictures into a photo album from the day I gave birth to L. After I went to bed I was just laying there reminiscing about the day I gave birth and how sudden and unexpected it was. Naturally, when I left the doctor's office to go home and pack that day, there were many phone calls that had to be made to let my family and friends know what was happening.<br />
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So I just started thinking, with all the things we capture on our phones these days (thanks facebook, twitter, instagram, [insert next big social media platform here], etc.), why not capture something meaningful? Why not capture the "now" of that day, the "in the moment" thoughts and ramblings? Why not capture <i>THE TEXT MESSAGES</i> sent back and forth on the day I gave birth?!<br />
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Sure, you can write your birth story and it will be as long, detailed, and as wonderful as you make it out to be. But the birth story is written after the fact. It's merely a glimpse of the details that you remember. Text messages are completely different. They happen as you go. They tell the story of any given moment. They may be <i>the purest</i> form of documentation in an individual's day...maybe even life!<br />
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I've gone through my phone and screen captured the few texts I have from May 4th, 2012. There aren't many. I imagine I called a lot of people rather than text. But there are a few. I haven't decided what I will do with them. Perhaps just print them and put them into one of the many photo albums I have dedicated to Baby. Years from now it will be interesting to look back at these texts and read the kind words of encouragement sent to me. Baby will have a mini glimpse into that day when she is old enough to be intrigued. I can't wait to show her. Here's one for you to enjoy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABlC-dk01c170T2WZ_sZ8GIkAQhXXYBTV4HsztSK87RB2Bxlo8RFiYWj2dpO_iwAQ1yfFlIdHq0C-NBnOe4ms6qGsn0zdP1EB3VkjT8bbu4DPPxkzYxHXAI-Eu6E2RBcB9XQ7ag95x30/s1600/ry=480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABlC-dk01c170T2WZ_sZ8GIkAQhXXYBTV4HsztSK87RB2Bxlo8RFiYWj2dpO_iwAQ1yfFlIdHq0C-NBnOe4ms6qGsn0zdP1EB3VkjT8bbu4DPPxkzYxHXAI-Eu6E2RBcB9XQ7ag95x30/s640/ry=480.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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P.S. If this goes viral on Pinterest, you know where the idea came from! ;)Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-51597876859070687372012-07-11T22:53:00.004-04:002012-07-11T22:54:29.110-04:00May 4th, 2012As cliche as it sounds, it is the day that changed my life. I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. She's perfect, sweet, and made this entire journey worth the wait.<br />
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Baby's birth story is not at all how I pictured it. Not in a million years.<br />
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A little back story... During the last several weeks of my pregnancy I experienced what a lot of pregnant women experience: severe swelling. My feet, my legs, even my calves looked like they were about to explode. I was wearing flip flops from March to May because I couldn't fit my feet into anything else! I called my doctor several times about this just to be reassured that this was normal. He calmed my fears each time.<br />
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On Tuesday May 1st, I had my regularly scheduled appointment with my doctor. I left work a little early, went to my appointment, and was sent on my merry way with no indication that things were anything but normal.<br />
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The week itself was an exciting one for me. I was still 23 days away from my due date at this point and getting ready to leave work on Friday May 4th. I purposely made it so that I had some time in between leaving work and my actual due date to relax and get any last minute things done before Baby made her debut. I had lots of plans for those last three weeks of pregnancy! Most of it involved lots of TV. And food. Some of it involved arts and crafts.<br />
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During the course of the week after my last doctor's appointment, I noticed my swelling getting worse and worse. I didn't even recognize myself from the knees down. By Thursday I really felt I had surpassed the realm of normalcy even for a pregnant lady. I spoke to my doctor and he told me to come in the following day for a follow up appointment. He mentioned he did make a mental note of the swelling and my high blood pressure. This was the first time I had heard of the high blood pressure. No one mentioned it on Tuesday!<br />
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The following day, Friday May 4th, was a fun day. A few teachers and I had put together a field day based on <i>The Hunger Games</i> for our students. (Side note: I pretty much knew when we planned this field day that May 4th would be my last day of work. I wanted to make sure my last day of work required the least amount of effort in an attempt to start my three weeks of "pre-baby vacation" off right! ;-] ) The field day was a great way to end the year for me. It was a huge success, we had a lot of fun, and everyone enjoyed the luncheon we had for the students afterwards.<br />
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After the luncheon I met my mom at my house to head over to the doctor. I was still in my field day t-shirt and jeans. I had no time to change! On the way to my doctor my mom and I talked about what would happen. I joked around that I'd definitely be having the baby that night. (I mean, this WAS a possibility with my high blood pressure and all!) My mom didn't find it so funny.<br />
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Once I got to the doctor's office, he informed me that we'd be doing my blood pressure twice during the appointment and also an internal exam. The appointment went like this: take BP. Determine it is sky high. Give me an internal exam. Send me through the roof during said exam. Take BP again. Determine it is even higher than before.<br />
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Wait...I mean...is ANYONE surprised here? I actually asked the doctor if he was seriously doing to take my BP again after that exam. I mean, what EXACTLY did he think would be the expect outcome? I'm pretty sure I screamed a couple times and almost fell off the exam table trying to get away from him! For those of you who are blissfully unaware of what an internal exam at 37 weeks 1 day pregnant entails, I will spare you the gory details. But let's just say it's an unimaginable pain unlike any pain I've ever had to endure. Tree trunk through a keyhole kind of pain...<br />
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Once we got the SUPER SURPRISING "OMFG-this-is-the-highest-BP-we've-ever-seen-how-are-you-even-alive-right-now?!" diagnosis the doctor informed me that it was unsafe to stay pregnant any longer. Baby needed to come out. Immediately.<br />
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Wait. What? Wasn't this just a joke in the car with my mom? This is really happening? I think even my mom was a little surprised that this was playing out the way that it was<br />
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I was given the option of trying to give birth naturally or to go straight for the C-section. The doctor informed me that since it was my first time giving birth and I wasn't dilated AT ALL, this would likely end in a C-section anyway after hours of labor. I opted for the C-section. I wanted to get her out as quickly as possible.<br />
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Things started happening quickly. My mom called D at work and he left to come meet me at home. The hospital was made aware that I would be there that night. My mom went home to take care of a few things before coming to the hospital later on. And I went home to finish packing and wait for Damien.<br />
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Luckily I had started packing the weekend before. I had my list of everything that I still needed to pack. So other than the house being really messy (we were in the middle of cleaning before Baby arrived), leaving for the hospital wasn't too crazy.<br />
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The drive over was surreal. I knew in my head what was happening but it didn't feel like it was happening. I mean, I still in my field day t-shirt! Surely I wasn't mean to arrive at the hospital to have my baby sporting a t-shirt that said "I Survived The Hunger Games 2012," right?!<br />
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We checked in fairly quickly at the hospital. We got there around 5:30pm. I was hooked up to an IV, dressed in a gown, and watched TV with D and my mom until it was time to head down to the OR. We had to wait until around 9:30 to get prepped since I had eaten lunch around 2pm.<br />
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D and I had to separate while I got the spinal in the OR. The spinal was painful but not as bad as I anticipated. I do remember crying. It was scary being in there alone and I felt very vulnerable. D came back in once I was laid out and drapes were over me. He was awesome throughout the whole thing.<br />
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The C-section was an interesting experience. Although I couldn't feel pain, I could feel everything they were doing. There was pressure, pulling, the numb feeling of my doctor cutting. And then there was the sound of a baby crying. It was a beautiful sound. I remember D telling me he could listen to that all night. (I wonder if he still feels the same? ;-] )<br />
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The details are a bit fuzzy from this point on. I remember someone holding Baby close to my face and I said hello and kissed her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9vtfagHzEsh9_bUOn8LTehsiLVZMj-Ea0oyalHOofxLdwTeqH_eZHM_EHN92rA-uLL9XrYvCorGm2GN0uTI2O9NKEmzkUcEzWtK87U-j6mVbJAWdvWxYjTvAXR2HYdYDPFvkauuqx8k/s1600/DSC03246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9vtfagHzEsh9_bUOn8LTehsiLVZMj-Ea0oyalHOofxLdwTeqH_eZHM_EHN92rA-uLL9XrYvCorGm2GN0uTI2O9NKEmzkUcEzWtK87U-j6mVbJAWdvWxYjTvAXR2HYdYDPFvkauuqx8k/s320/DSC03246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then she was whisked off to the nursery where D accompanied her. The doctors finished up with me and I was wheeled into recovery. Baby was gone for a couple of hours and I slept most of the time I was in recovery. I was so dizzy and nauseated. But I was able to hold Baby when they brought her in.<br />
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After a couple of hours I went sent to my post-partum room. Since I was throwing up from the anesthesia, still very nauseated, and awake for almost 24 hours (Remember I went to work? And participated in a FIELD DAY before giving birth?), we thought it was best that Baby spend the night in the nursery. D and I needed sleep. I needed to feel better.<br />
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Those first few days in the hospital and the first two weeks home with D there, were amazing. As far as D and I are concerned, the first two weeks of Baby's life have been the best two weeks of our entire relationship. We've never shows more support, love, kindness and patience towards each other. I'd love to relive those entire two weeks.<br />
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As for me, I'm healing well. I felt great at 1 week PP. I started doing light exercising at the gym at 3 weeks PP. I'm enjoying having the whole summer off with Baby (who just turned two months!).<br />
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When I think about where I was one year ago, I can't believe how much has changed. I'm so grateful to have such an amazing husband, and to finally have the baby I waited a long time for.Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-48450627341383576762012-07-11T21:52:00.002-04:002012-07-11T21:53:47.164-04:00I've been yelled at...by multiple people for not updating this blog.<br />
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But life got in the way! So here's a quick recap: In the past several months I've finished another school year (even worked up until the day I gave birth! but more on that later...), had a baby, and decided it's time to get back to looking like my former self. Pre-marriage former self that is. I'm notorious for making changes and then promptly forgetting about them days later, but I mean it this time. I'm not sure if it's the new baby hanging around my house that's made me realize I need to be a healthier, happier person but I am on a mission.<br />
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It's no secret that once people get settled into a relationship they start becoming a little too comfortable. I'm no exception. But I can no longer make excuses.<br />
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This is one change I have to make and keep myself motivated enough to stick to it. So far I've set easy goals for myself. No more soda, drink more water, get to the gym three times a week (this has actually been the easiest goal to accomplish if you can believe it! Baby comes with me and hang out in childcare while I take a class.), snack only on fruit, and stay away from the scale until one month from today. I imagine that last one shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. I usually avoid the scale like the plague on the regular.<br />
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I have all the reasons in the world to make this work. All I have to do is stick with it.Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-5952454554546641222011-11-13T20:26:00.002-05:002011-11-13T20:32:19.159-05:00Someone's been keeping secrets...But as of just a few days ago, the secret is finally out. D and I are pregnant again!! Our little one is due May 24th, 2012. We are super cautious but very excited. Here's a pic:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keeping this secret has been especially difficult. While I was bursting to tell everyone the good news, I knew I had to hold out just in case. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a positive note though, things have been looking good since my first appt. (and trust me, I've had quite a few in my short 3 months of pregnancy). The baby has had a consistently strong heart beat and has measured ahead by a few days at each appointment. I couldn't ask for more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past Wednesday was our <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/firstscreen.html">NT scan</a>, done at 11 weeks 6 days, and I'm relieved to report that the measurements were great. The doctor said our results couldn't possibly be any better. Once we heard the positive results, we shared our news with everyone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It feels amazing to finally be "out." I love that I can finally talk openly about how I'm feeling with my family and share our ultrasounds pictures and DVD. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also relieved to be "out" among our friends too. More than once in the past 10 weeks or so I've been in a position where I've had to whisper to a waitress or bartender to make my drink without alcohol. Ordering water or virgin drinks on the sly and dodging shots at friends' houses got real old, real fast. ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So where are we now? Well I'm currently 12 weeks and 3 days along. According to <a href="http://www.thebump.com/">The Bump</a>, my baby is about the same size as a plum this week. The Bump also offers this bit of insight: <b>This week <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">As far as symptoms, I've had it pretty easy thus far. No morning sickness, but some general soreness in a few places I'm not willing to mention here. ;-) I've had a tough time with food and my prenatal vitamin. These two things may be the worst of what I've dealt with. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">I had some serious food aversions for a couple weeks. There was a period of about 3 weeks when I basically lived off of bread. I've never been so grateful for whole wheat bagels. It was all that sounded good. Everything else basically made me gag.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">For the most part the food aversions have let up, although I still have my days where I can't eat a thing. Although, the days I COULD eat were sometimes ruined by having to gag on my prenatal vitamin. The gagging induced some puking and this would all generally take place right after dinner. You do the math.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">My doctor has been wonderful since day one. I'm so thankful I found him. He listened to my concerns about the PNV and changed them to a vitamin that is MUCH easier to get down. I haven't had a problem since.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">So it looks like we are just cruising along now. My next appt. isn't until December 6th. I may possibly be finding out if I am Team Pink or Team Blue that day. We'll see if the baby cooperates. ;-)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Anyway, that is my (long) update. Now that our secret is out, I imagine I will be posting more to track my pregnancy and record every milestone. Life feels good again. :)</span></span></div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-22881411235840611482011-09-20T19:27:00.003-04:002011-09-20T19:30:48.213-04:00Due dates.Last month, on August 27th, my due date for my first pregnancy passed.<br />
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I have to say...it wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be. It was during the weekend of the hurricane and I had just spent the week down the shore with my family.<br />
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That entire week (up until the part where we got evacuated a day early) was FUN. I relaxed, I shopped and I spent so much time with my nephews. I just really enjoyed myself in the few days leading up to what I imagined would be a very difficult day.<br />
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My due date loomed over my head for the past several months and I think the anticipation of it was worse than the actual day. I stayed in the entire day with D although we did do something early on in the day (before the weather got all crazy) to honor the little one we never got to meet. It was a sad day but it was manageable.<br />
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It's been reassuring to know just how far I've come in the last 7 months. I still think about it every single day, but it doesn't automatically reduce me to tears every time. I can talk about it, whether it's with my doctor or a friend, without falling apart. This is how I measure my progress.<br />
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I still imagine how different my life would be today if I had never lost that little one. I'd have a baby right now. I might be putting him or her to sleep, or changing a diaper.<br />
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But instead, I'm settling in for the night (all alone because D is away in Indiana) because I have work tomorrow morning. I started school a couple weeks ago and it's back to reading, writing and...different kinds of due dates. :)<br />
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I've never felt more grateful for the constant distractions. The beginning of the school year is always the most stressful but it's a relief to have other things (or people) fighting for my attention. There's very little room left to dwell.<br />
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I know dwelling will only bring me down. So I'm trying my hardest to move forward. And I think it's best to start here. I will always love my little one that I lost but I can't allow myself to be defined by this.<br />
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I'm looking forward to having much more to write about in the months to come but I do want to share one last thing... This is one of my favorite poems. It was read at my wedding but has taken on a whole new meaning for me these past few months. And with that, I hope to close this chapter of my life and open a new one.<br />
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<b>"i carry your heart with me" by e.e.cummings</b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">i carry your heart with me (i carry it in<br />
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere<br />
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done<br />
by only me is your doing, my darling)<br />
i fear<br />
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want<br />
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)<br />
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant<br />
and whatever a sun will always sing is you<br />
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here is the deepest secret nobody knows<br />
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud<br />
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows<br />
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)<br />
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart<br />
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i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)</span>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-80062743343409166272011-08-05T14:57:00.001-04:002011-08-05T15:02:52.184-04:00'Tis better to have loved and lost..."You know the saying... It's basically a positive spin on what is an otherwise heartbreaking experience. It's better to have had something or someone that you loved at least once in your life... Better to have been able to experience that joy... Better to have had the opportunity to feel true love even if it was temporary... Certainly much better than the opposite: to never have experienced it at all. I've been wondering how this applies to my situation for many months now.<br />
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Is it better to have had this precious, albeit fleeting, moment as a mother? Couldn't I cherish those 10 weeks and think of them as what may possibly have been the best 10 weeks of my life? Wouldn't it be the "half glass full" thing to do?<br />
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I struggle with this. I struggle with it daily but I always seem to go back to the same idea.<br />
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No. For me, right now, in the aftermath of a traumatizing experience, I can whole heartedly admit that it was <b>not</b> better to "have loved and lost." I would much rather have never "loved at all."<br />
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Yes, what I am saying is I <s>sometimes</s> oftentimes wish my pregnancy never happened. And to clarify, that's not to say I never want children. I do. But I wish this pregnancy, the one that ended with ME losing, never occurred.<br />
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I didn't just lose a baby on January 31, 2011. I lost so many things that come along with it. The initial excitement (when I find out I am pregnant again)... The idea that everything will go smoothly and my pregnancy will end with a baby... I want to be naive again. I don't want to be jaded.<br />
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But although there were some things that I lost on January 31st, some of them are slowly being returned to me.<br />
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Hope for one... I do feel like this will happen for me again. I have a renewed sense of hope, although it isn't as overwhelming as when we first started trying. But it's there. And it counts for something.<br />
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I am motivated again to do something other than be at home succumbing to depression. I joined a gym this week. And I've gone everyday thus far. And I've actually DONE something while there. I shocked myself.<br />
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Sidenote: (You may be wondering why I am shocked... See what some of you may not know is...I use to WORK for this gym. Do you know what the perks are for working at a gym? You get to go to it. For free. You don't pay a dime. In the year or so that I spent working at this gym, do you think I took advantage of this fabulous perk? Nope. Not at all. AND, I worked there for the last 9 months or so before my wedding. I certainly had REASON enough to go. Alas, I did not. And now I must pay to go. But I'm going. And I will keep going because it is making me feel so much better than I have in a very long time. Okay back to what I was rambling about...)<br />
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Peace and an overall relief of some of the stress has been returned to me as well. This is what I am most thankful for. Because, since January, I haven't felt at peace with myself. My mind has been the never ending internal monologue... nonstop... for months. I've been stressed out with worry, concern, anger, bitterness, depression, anxiety, fear...and all the thoughts that come along with those feelings. I couldn't escape any of it. There was no way to "just relax" as I've been told time and time again.<br />
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But I did finally relax. I can't say it was something that I worked at. It just happened. I just noticed one morning while sitting at a doctor's office (for someone OTHER than myself...WINNING) how incredibly relaxed and calm I had been feeling.<br />
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I've had my miscarriage support group, I've had time, I've had lots of cardio workouts... Do all of these things add up to relaxation? Who knows? All I know is I am soaking it all up for now. It's been a while since I've felt this way and I'd like to enjoy every minute of it.Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-18289734149392430932011-07-12T20:45:00.001-04:002011-07-12T21:53:33.162-04:00"Miscarriage is a quiet funeral attended only by the immediate mourners."The waiting was over. The worst was confirmed. The question remained: Where do we go from here?<br />
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To say that I did not immediately deal with my emotions is an understatement. Avoidance was my way of dealing. I threw myself into packing, shopping, cleaning, working, anything. But mostly packing. The move was on whether we liked it or not. We had to get out of this apartment by the end of February. We could not afford to take time off for grieving. Time was not on our side.<br />
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And neither was Mother Nature. She clearly didn't care that I was in the middle of the move when I physically lost my baby. Before I lose you as a reader, I am well aware that there are some details that need not be shared. That is one of them. I will say this...it is horrific, traumatizing, scary and <i>nothing</i> can prepare a woman for it.<br />
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After the packing, moving, decorating and settling in came to a screeching halt, I <i><b>still </b></i>had yet to deal with the pain of everything that happened. I began to have all these ideas of how I would turn this negative experience into a positive one. I was going to use this recovery period to make all these positive changes. And although I think my heart was in the right place, perhaps I would have followed through with those plans if I had made them in the right order. Mourn --> make peace --> make changes. All I had done was make empty promises to myself under the <i>pretense</i> of making positive changes in my life. I needed to pretend there was some light at the end of this tunnel.<br />
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It wasn't until about a month and a half later, still dealing with the physical recovery, I finally <b><i>felt</i></b> something for the first time since I originally learned there was a problem with my pregnancy. I finally felt the weight of my loss. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I was leaving Target, driving through the parking lot, and a sad song came on the radio. I don't remember the song and I'm sure it had nothing to do with any issue I was facing but it didn't matter. I was no longer able to push away, ignore, or deny that this loss affected me way more than I had been letting on. I wasn't "over it." And I wasn't going to ever be "over it."<br />
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It's been hard not being open about this experience since it happened. I'm the type of person who likes to talk (or write) things out. Knowing D wanted to keep this as quiet as possible, I went along with it. The man doesn't ask for much. Ever. But the not talking about it (except to my sisters who have been absolute dolls) has done more damage.<br />
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Can I talk to D about it? Yes. And I do. But I try my hardest not to talk about it all the time. I don't want to be "that girl." I don't want to be the phone call people dread picking up. But I have to let it out. I'm still going through it and I need an outlet.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, D has been so wonderful throughout this process. He's actually been more than wonderful. There aren't enough words to describe how selfless, caring, and concerned my husband is. My heart breaks knowing I can't bear this pain all on my own. I hate that this was our experience to share. I hate that he was hurt by this too. Although it was his wish at first to keep this a secret, he was gracious enough to give me his blessing when I told him I really needed to write about it to cope. I'm so very thankful for that.<br />
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In addition to finally writing this all out, I've been attending a support group. Although it's only once a month, it's nice to be able to talk about my loss with people who understand. And I don't have to feel guilty about bringing it up or feel like people are struggling to keep from rolling their eyes when I talk about it. It's a good place for me to be. How long will I attend? I can't be sure. I just know that for right now it's a piece to the puzzle on my road to healing.<br />
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Miscarriage is a desolating experience. I feel like I've been robbed of so much without ever having been given an answer to the million dollar question: Why? I don't think anyone can ever answer that. Or maybe one day I will have my own answer. I just know that for right now, I've stopped looking for it.Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-11392727163123721932011-07-12T20:13:00.002-04:002011-07-12T22:33:22.739-04:00"I 'squoze' so hard I stopped your heart from beating."Even before we found out I was pregnant we had been toying with the idea of moving. Our one bedroom apartment was old news and we were so over not having enough space to live. And tripping over each other in a cramped space just wasn't an option anymore after we saw those two pink lines.<br />
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</div><div>Off to Craig's List we went to find an apartment that fit us, our stuff, our baby and our budget. And eventually <a href="http://melissaismakingthemost.blogspot.com/search/label/moving">we found one</a>! </div><div><br />
</div><div><a name='more'></a></div><div>Needless to say, after making this major change to accommodate our new life and new addition, we had lots of shopping to get started on. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The Sunday after we had the less-than-stellar-ultrasound, we had gone shopping for a new refrigerator. Regardless of what happened at that appointment and what would happen at our viability scan, we were committed to this move. As of February 28th, 2011 we no longer had a place to live where we were and we had already signed a lease for this big, beautiful, new apartment. We had no choice but to keep on truckin'.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In the midst of our shopping experience, it was clear this miscarriage was happening. The physical signs were all there. I was bleeding. In the middle of a home improvement store bathroom. While my husband perused the stainless steel refrigerator aisle.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Caught off guard can not even describe that moment. I kept my cool but internally I was freaking out. I did not know what to expect or when to expect it. I am grateful that nothing major went down that day and I was able to drive myself home quickly. I don't even want to imagine what I'd be typing right now had things progressed inside that store.</div><div><br />
</div><div>After speaking with my doctor he decided to move up my viability scan to the following morning. Yet another day off of work. With this new development, I can't say I wasn't relieved. The thought of physically losing my baby at work was even more horrifying than the home improvement store scenario. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Going into the hospital that next morning was again surreal. I should be at work. I should be enjoying my pregnancy. I should be packing the maternity clothes I had recently purchased with the rest of my belongings. I should be writing in my pregnancy journal that my sister got me when I told her the good news. I should be anywhere but here... But alas, I was headed to the hospital to get the final verdict: healthy pregnancy or a confirmed miscarriage.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Although I knew in my heart what the outcome would be, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little hope. Maybe my little one was a procrastinator...a procrastinator in the "growing" department. Maybe he/she got a little bigger and worked on beating his/her heart as fast as he/she could. Stranger things have happened right? Miracles happen. They happen all the time.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Unfortunately, this one wasn't our miracle. I was given an ultrasound on the most high tech equipment I've ever seen. My insides were on display on what looked like a huge flat screen TV. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And, I was given that ultrasound in complete, utter, stone silence. Eye contact was not made. My simple question of "Is that my baby right there?" went unanswered. Twice. And then at the end of it all, the tech would not confirm what she had or had not seen and heard. I was forced to wait for the phone call from my doctor.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The phone call came at 5pm. We lost our little one on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 10 weeks 2 days. Simply put? The baby had no heart beat. </div><div><br />
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</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-43680548542947408042011-07-12T18:55:00.000-04:002011-07-12T22:01:21.320-04:00Good news, bad news.I've just made public a post I wrote many months ago and saved as a draft. I intended to make that post public much sooner but then things changed. Considering the subject of the post was announcing my pregnancy, I no longer had a need to make it public since only one month after it was written, we lost our baby.<br />
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Soon after we found out I was pregnant I had an ultrasound. It was so early that we could barely see anything, but there was a heart beat! We were very excited and scheduled out next prenatal appointment towards the end of January.<br />
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The beginning of January was a great month. I was happy where my life was headed and physically I was feeling really great. I had the "first tri sleepies," but I was lucky enough to not have any morning sickness for the 10 weeks I was pregnant. The few pregnancy symptoms I did experience though were enough to make me feel confident in my pregnancy.<br />
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Fast forward to January 27th, my sister Danielle's birthday. I was 9 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I remember the wait for that next appointment was unbearable. All I kept saying to D was that I just hoped the baby was measuring on schedule. That's all I wanted to know.<br />
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There was a huge snowstorm that week but we planned on going to my mom's house immediately after the appointment to tell them the good news. We also planned on calling my sister on the way there to tell her that her birthday present, a new niece or nephew, would be arriving in August. If you've ever been to Hudson county on a Monday morning in 70 degree weather, you know that parking is literally impossible. This was now 7pm on a Thursday evening in the aftermath of a snowstorm but we were determined to make it there, find parking and share our news.<br />
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We never got that far. During the ultrasound the doctor simply said "The baby is measuring small." I knew in my heart what that meant. I've done enough research and knew my body well enough to know exactly how far along I should be measuring. 9 weeks 5 days. It was impossible that was my due date was wrong. SOMETHING was wrong but it wasn't my due date. 9 weeks 5 days. My baby measured about 6 weeks.<br />
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I asked if there was a heartbeat. He said there was but it was extremely low. Cue the tears. My heart was breaking right there in my OB's office.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After what seemed to be an eternity, my doctor confirmed what I was already thinking. It looked like the beginning of a miscarriage. I was given an appointment for a viability scan for the following Tuesday and sent on my way. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The car ride home and the rest of the evening were extremely difficult. I started to realize what few pregnancy symptoms I had were completely gone. I hadn't felt them in a couple weeks. How had I missed that? My baby hadn't even been born yet, I was still carrying my baby and I couldn't tell something was wrong? What kind of mom-to-be was I?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The following morning I had a hard time keeping it together. Given what I do for a living, it was in my best interest that I take the day off. Attempting to hold it together in front of my kids when all I wanted to do was fall apart seemed too immense a task.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My mom also had the day off and I decided to drive to her house and tell her what was going on. It wasn't something we originally wanted to tell people but being home alone all day didn't seem to be a wise choice and I just needed my mom.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">She was wonderful about it. She offered encouragement even though in my mind I knew this wasn't going to end well. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So far I was just sad. It was all so surreal. I didn't think it was really happening. Until Sunday that is. Sunday is when it all sunk in.</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-48427804977962313572011-07-12T17:55:00.000-04:002011-07-17T18:18:22.707-04:00*The following is a post I wrote back in December of 2010*<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Before reading please realize what I am about to share is very personal and very painful. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">My one request before you continue: please keep any comments and questions about anything you read here off of facebook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">. I understand I am sharing this blog with tons of people since it is public, but I'd like to keep my facebook page a positive place. </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"></span></b><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Life has a way of throwing these moments at you that are so perfectly predictable yet utterly unexpected<strong>*</strong>. Life launched a big one at me on the morning of December 15, 2010. I made sure to catch that moment--and my breath--and stow it away deep into the depths of my heart and soul because it's not one I'd soon like to forget.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 15th was the morning I found out D and I are GOING TO HAVE A BABY!<strong>**</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When I was little I used to wonder what that moment would be like...finding out you're expecting. I imagined it would be just like you see on TV, in the movies, even in commercials. I would walk into the room where my unsuspecting spouse is casually lounging around and stand there with a big grin on my face. My husband would look at me and JUST KNOW --well, obviously, the elusive pregnancy glow radiating off my skin would be a dead giveaway and I would, of course, have a husband perceptive enough to notice it. There would be embracing, kissing, crying and, of course, soft, triumphant background music!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But, I have to admit, there was always another, slightly altered version of this moment floating around in the back of my head. And, if you're an 80s baby like me (well, and a female) there is no doubt in my mind that you, too, had the same vision in your head growing up. If you've spent many a Friday night glued to the TV to catch up on the latest antics of the Tanner family, you'll remember the episode where Aunt Becky told Uncle Jesse she was pregnant by cooking him a "baby-themed" dinner. I may have considered using that same idea when I was a "grown-up" for a good portion of my pre-teen years. And I say slightly altered because after my highly perceptive husband caught on to the baby theme of his main course, naturally there would be the embracing, kissing, crying and, of course, soft, triumphant background music introduced in scenario number one!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Alas, that early morning in December was nothing like either of those scenarios. In fact, D wasn't even <strike>home</strike> in the country! He was due back on Friday morning after spending the week in France. It was the two longest days of my life. However, it allowed me time to plot D's perfectly predictable yet utterly unexpected moment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's how it went down: I purchased a onesie sporting the name and number of his favorite baseball player, Derek Jeter, similar to this one:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTveB3hpmoUAz2y7QOx4Eg4r07O0Ct6cvDfYfDdu_iGOpvZH_ukEMpQw-CYHpcinwRKXYSBfviprnWStS7rFqL5RLrJPoNbfP8PScaYpZcWQ_Tk6dXK3WbEq67IVplkKvO8EPPECW1CME/s1600/jeter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTveB3hpmoUAz2y7QOx4Eg4r07O0Ct6cvDfYfDdu_iGOpvZH_ukEMpQw-CYHpcinwRKXYSBfviprnWStS7rFqL5RLrJPoNbfP8PScaYpZcWQ_Tk6dXK3WbEq67IVplkKvO8EPPECW1CME/s1600/jeter.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I wrapped it as a Christmas present and wrote out a nice Christmas card. The card was inside the present, underneath the onesie. When D opened the box, he saw the onesie first, then he read the card that explained this odd Christmas gift. I won't tell you what came next (embracing, kissing, crying, background music) but I will tell you I wouldn't have had it any other way. :-)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Notes:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>*I say predictable yet unexpected because</strong> although a couple "tries" to have a baby and it is predicted that you will one day, well, have one (in most cases)...there's still the unexpectedness of when it will occur. There's something to be said for the element of surprise! I liken this to a child (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcxURx9JiqU">or a teenager...</a>to each their own...) playing with a classic toy: Jack in the Box! As you turn the knob, you KNOW he's going to pop out. That's the predictable part. But WHEN? Even if you follow the song, there's the anticipation of the unexpected.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**<strong>Disclaimer for any family members just now stumbling upon my blog</strong>--wait, you're JUST NOW stumbling upon my blog?! Shame on you for not making me the center of your universe sooner. Well, now that you're here, STAY! You MUST STAY!-- ..Back to your regularly scheduled disclaimer: Please note this entry is backdated. I sit here writing this and making it a secret entry long before you all have found out our joyous news. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT think I confided in the entire internet about our impending bundle of joy before I shared the news with all of you! -12/29/10</div></div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-26505281226662386642011-05-03T21:33:00.001-04:002011-05-03T21:42:32.824-04:00Need. More. Time.With a few rough months behind me, I think it's time to focus on some positive and easily attainable goals to lift my spirits a bit. And by goals, I don't mean things like losing 10 lbs (although I should highly consider that one...) or getting a raise (I'm a teacher. Stop laughing.). I mean fun, meaningful activities that I don't always get the chance to do.<br />
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We all have them... You know all those things you wish you could do if only you "had more time?" Lately I've been thinking about all those things... And with the pink slip I received a couple weeks ago--standard procedure in my district for all non tenured teachers--and the the way things are going for public school teachers right now, there is a chance "thinking" about those things may actually turn into an opportunity to "do" those things in a couple of months.<br />
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Now let me preface this by saying, I am not <strike>worried</strike> <em>too concerned</em> about my job next year. I might be tempting Fate here, but I know the kids need to be taught and they will need teachers to teach them. However, a pink slip is a pink slip and nothing is guaranteed. <br />
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But, back to those "things" ... I've compiled a list of things I'd love to do with a little more free time.<br />
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1. Finish my art wall in my office (Ugh... even with mock ups and fantastic directions and suggestions from my girl Cozy over at <a href="http://www.cozylittlecave.com/">http://www.cozylittlecave.com/</a> I feel so lost. I <em>can be</em> crafty for smaller projects, but I have a hard time envisioning major projects and executing them nicely. Plus, obtaining all the items I want for my art wall isn't really in my budget right now. I did just get a pink slip... But it's always in the back of my mind.)<br />
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2. Work out more. (Not that I have a gym membership or anything...)<br />
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3. Read more! I just finished a fantastic book that will probably get it's own post. While reading this book, I couldn't put it down and it made me miss reading for fun. Between reading for graduate classes and grading essays, it's difficult to dedicate time to leisure reading anymore.<br />
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4. Spend more<em> quality</em> time with my husband. (As I read this we are sitting just a few feet from each other on a cozy evening at home. How nice, right? Not really. We are both on our respective laptops typing away furiously, not engaging in any conversation and, in essence, wasting away an evening together. Although he is actually working so I have to cut him some slack for tonight. But regardless, this shouldn't be on my list of things to do if I end up unemployed in September. Mental note: Change this ASAP.)<br />
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5. Take a cake decorating class. (I've always wanted to do this but I can't find anyone to do it with me! There are classes in Michael's and AC Moore but I don't enjoy walking into a new situation and not knowing anyone. Therefore since no one will do this with me, I have yet to sign up for the class by myself. Lame, I know.)<br />
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6. Take a class for writing children's lit. (This is more of a bucket list goal. One day I will write a book. One day.)<br />
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7. Spend more time doing things by the water. Our <strike>new</strike> not-so-new-anymore apartment is in such a fantastic location but I hardly ever take advantage of it! Perhaps I can combine this one with numbers 3 and 4. And maybe 6...)<br />
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There's so many more things I'd love to do if I suddenly had all the time in the world. However, baby steps. Summer is almost here. Even if I have the opportunity to work summer school, my work schedule is slashed in half. I can surely get started on <em>something</em> from this list!<br />
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I should add a number 8. Blog more. I could even blog about the progress of this list! Genius idea!Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-40923880940011360502011-03-23T22:56:00.002-04:002011-03-23T23:23:23.099-04:00New digs!My apologies, dear readers. I have been too wrapped up with many things happening in the last few weeks that I have slacked on bringing you all of the most minor of my life's details. D is in Belgium right now so I have some time to sit down, get my pictures together and show you what has been taking up the majority of my time lately!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">D and I are finally <strike>all</strike> (for the most part) settled into our new apartment but still working out some left over decor issues. Here are some before shots:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom (and D)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsS_VAQjhpxc6NAgIDqL8QEqKKwvWH5qnLk4Z1GtTNA8b14rwfTlabmKT6GBJyPfpw69Lzc2IE8eA_0VfyrT_0a64MNK2fmMdGYsEcfSa1szk1EvFsPiZN4jn31KYPRcn8GlPsYffOBA/s1600/DSC02725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsS_VAQjhpxc6NAgIDqL8QEqKKwvWH5qnLk4Z1GtTNA8b14rwfTlabmKT6GBJyPfpw69Lzc2IE8eA_0VfyrT_0a64MNK2fmMdGYsEcfSa1szk1EvFsPiZN4jn31KYPRcn8GlPsYffOBA/s320/DSC02725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spare Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SPTamCaLNtIz9kd-HNK5Dv64T-qQCjsX2Hn9GF33EkYR8NHnWbRmEeX7eCPW4yQq7h6HZ2TaTqN_iTx6KHT1rTzseI8CZgUmOs1h8JnTFuwew3QeDH1fye3Dj11IpJVBKJSfymyBUzI/s1600/DSC02730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SPTamCaLNtIz9kd-HNK5Dv64T-qQCjsX2Hn9GF33EkYR8NHnWbRmEeX7eCPW4yQq7h6HZ2TaTqN_iTx6KHT1rTzseI8CZgUmOs1h8JnTFuwew3QeDH1fye3Dj11IpJVBKJSfymyBUzI/s320/DSC02730.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGUHGvrHAgEkmZRvnedaOM4oV1puY0U0_UqpE_wL-wPIwf-_wSEYvCag6goiWD5a7FMlWKg5td_N7eKgqNwwPmCLBIitpjgTOsOjUvm38lik4fG0ydm2xWChsmB4gHyBfIGMUZrrqMGg/s1600/DSC02731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGUHGvrHAgEkmZRvnedaOM4oV1puY0U0_UqpE_wL-wPIwf-_wSEYvCag6goiWD5a7FMlWKg5td_N7eKgqNwwPmCLBIitpjgTOsOjUvm38lik4fG0ydm2xWChsmB4gHyBfIGMUZrrqMGg/s320/DSC02731.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4D_PFg4O12Xd7DWuya5filSCAV1wV5rFjCGRnSIg0c7D0smf2rXD3zkaM-34d3WzuQhacOPqLOfiY3XcMEUzee6pepwt9cd2ymciwCFNHqMGsEbbUt04ZpW6YFU1VXQOgp5NdU1HsBQ/s1600/DSC02733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4D_PFg4O12Xd7DWuya5filSCAV1wV5rFjCGRnSIg0c7D0smf2rXD3zkaM-34d3WzuQhacOPqLOfiY3XcMEUzee6pepwt9cd2ymciwCFNHqMGsEbbUt04ZpW6YFU1VXQOgp5NdU1HsBQ/s320/DSC02733.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...during renovations.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88jfdsZfEWWkWRii9haPPIitqfdwXuKHxNt4bC4X3Uf4uc7ogM93qsB9a_c4UXApnAIo8LKsGoyzoibNljBumFYU-ZuCkdBLVp5C7bZU2pbbo_ZodecZnrnXWAF2rz3FFlWC5uqAF9MM/s1600/DSC02734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88jfdsZfEWWkWRii9haPPIitqfdwXuKHxNt4bC4X3Uf4uc7ogM93qsB9a_c4UXApnAIo8LKsGoyzoibNljBumFYU-ZuCkdBLVp5C7bZU2pbbo_ZodecZnrnXWAF2rz3FFlWC5uqAF9MM/s320/DSC02734.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We took lots of after shots. However, there are no new pictures of the spare room right now because it's just storage. Hopefully soon that bedroom will have more going for it. Once it is cleaned out we'll decide what to do with it. But, if you ask my nephews, CJ and DJ, you will hear a different story. According to them, that room is their bedroom...all we need is a bed! ;-)<br />
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Here are the pics:<br />
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I absolutely love how my bedroom came out! My vision started with the bedding. I knew I wanted zebra and I found this set that I adore. Then I decided on the red paint, red sheets and black curtains. Though I did go out on a limb with black curtains. I wasn't sure D would like them and I also didn't want my bedroom to look like it belonged to a 16 year old emo kid either. But I'm really happy with them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much thanks to my girl Ange for helping me out with the bathroom <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I LOVE the green walls in the living room. It is exactly the shade of green I envisioned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAu_kK1X91jD2TZ_toqiX34klqm5mYbdvQBGy7yKflnzU8WvcvdxO2pPh_GqX10967yi1Zcr_6lctk16k-2gVyh6ihkn5abrSGhlrNdqwjQ074gAT2-JTglAxdfCLgIIuIBnOTJ1WTb8/s1600/DSC02750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAu_kK1X91jD2TZ_toqiX34klqm5mYbdvQBGy7yKflnzU8WvcvdxO2pPh_GqX10967yi1Zcr_6lctk16k-2gVyh6ihkn5abrSGhlrNdqwjQ074gAT2-JTglAxdfCLgIIuIBnOTJ1WTb8/s320/DSC02750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're still looking for something fun to hang above this couch...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the way my cubbies and vases look against thegreen wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That wall piece is actually pretty straight. It's my hand that was crooked when I took this picture =)</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love my kitchen! We are debating an accent wall in the kitchen (of course in a different color than the other rooms). We are thinking about lavendar on the wall with the baker's rack. I also need to put some pretty curtains up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> WE HAVE AN OFFICE! We were going to leave the walls white but I got a brilliant idea to do an "art wall" which of course had to be painted...<br />
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</div> We chose aqua:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The art wall will be a work in progress. I will post pictures when my work has progressed ;-) I do have some great ideas from my girl Cozy on how to put this whole thing together. (Her blog is fantastic BTW and you should definitely check it out <a href="http://www.cozylittlecave.com/">http://www.cozylittlecave.com/</a>) Thanks Cozy <3</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And last but not least, the hallway with my awesome zebra rug runner!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-58451524279189445932011-02-05T23:55:00.002-05:002011-02-06T00:04:42.752-05:00Moving is awesome!Except for the fact that it's not. It's so not awesome. At all. The new place is awesome. And it will be even more awesome when we get all our stuff in and we're all settled... but in the meantime? So completely the exact opposite of awesome.<br />
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We took the place I fell in love with and already have the key. Luckily we don't have to be out of our apartment now until the end of February. So we have the entire month to move. Fortunately we live close enough to the new place that we can pack things up and drive them over a few nights a week. All the big stuff will make the transition on Feb. 19th. <br />
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I can't wait to be in the new place. Everything is in disarray. I feel like I'm on an episode of Hoarders. And for those of you who think you have a messy house, I have photographic evidence that my living quarters are currently a million times worse than yours.<br />
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This is actually mild in comparison to the last few days... I'd show you pictures of my bedroom but it's embarassing. It's ten times worse than the rest of the apt. WITHOUT having been ransacked for packing purposes. ;-)<br />
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I'm excited for this move and grateful to have something to keep me busy. D and I have had a difficult time lately with some personal things going on and this move has proven to be a welcomed distraction. It's a bittersweet move in many ways but hopefully once we are settled it will prove to be much sweeter and less and less bitter.<br />
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Anyway...here's some fun stuff to look at. I'm IN LOVE with <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Sherry-Kline-Zuma-7-piece-Zebra-Print-Comforter-Set/4342357/product.html">my new bedroom set</a> that I found online. I am a zebra fanatic and this set will look great with <a href="http://www.raymourflanigan.com/night-and-day-4pc-queen-bedroom-set-591007109.aspx">our new bedroom furniture</a>. <br />
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We are going to do a red accent wall in the bedroom similar to this color:<br />
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I'm looking forward to decorating and seeing how everything turns out. Before and after pictures to come :)Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-29407355410482458962011-01-15T20:12:00.003-05:002011-02-06T00:03:50.601-05:00We may have found a new apartment......but taking it would be a leap of faith. It's in a six-unit building and the apartment we looked at is under renovations. A lot of them. We saw it today and it's a hot mess. However, we love the layout and I trust the owners of the building. They own a fabulous, luxury high rise close by that people pay a pretty penny to live in. I am confident that they are doing this right and the end result will be a beautiful apartment, completed in the time frame they promised, that we are very happy with.<br />
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It's a 3 bedroom but really the third bedroom is tiny and could be used as a big walk in closet/dressing room area... (or an office, I guess). I personally like the dressing room/walk in closet idea. I wonder if I can get D on board with this idea... Maybe he will take a cue from Big, and design it behind my back to resemble <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/09/20/the-sex-and-the-city-movie-real-estate-heaven/">Carrie Bradshaw's</a>. Sadly, even if he did so, mine will not be filled with <a href="http://www.shoeperwoman.com/2009/07/shoe-deja-vu-martinez-valero-does-manolo-blahniks-something-blue-pumps.html">Manolo Blahnik</a> anytime soon. But I digress.<br />
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So we love the apartment but we have some concerns:<br />
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1. The renovations<br />
2. No fridge! (Although, we are quite resourceful and a legal way to get one for free may have just fallen into our laps as I write this...)<br />
3. The rent is significantly higher than what we pay now, but still doable<br />
4. The ever present nagging fear that our living room furniture will not fit through the door (in this apt. or others)<br />
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But even with all of our concerns I am fairly certain we will be taking this apartment. It has so much more room than where we are living now so needless to say I can't wait to start packing up and high tailing it out of here!Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-53161794872971869892011-01-04T22:22:00.005-05:002011-02-05T23:57:17.850-05:002010 Highlights<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Although I am hoping 2011 brings about bigger and better things, 2010 is definitely worth taking a look back at.</div><br />
The year began with me midway through my first year of teaching. It was a struggle but I was enjoying every minute of it, while D was celebrating 4 years at his current job.<br />
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</div>D also took one step closer to 30. He has been aboard and riding for a while now, but he has quickly started his descent on "The Flight of the 20s". Of course, we celebrated (or mourned?) accordingly:<br />
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Soon after came another reason to celebrate: I graduated from grad school...<br />
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...with my SISTER!<br />
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D and I celebrated one year of marriage by taking a trip to one of my favorite places: Massachusettes. We spent a lot of time in Salem:<br />
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July brought good news while I was away at a workshop: I got rehired!<br />
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Yet another reason to celebrate...My coworkers and I had a great time!<br />
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August brought about some GREAT memories while on vacation... THIS being one of them:<br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>...although I'm not quite sure D remembers that one all too well. Or maybe he would just like to forget. ;) We had a good time on a great cruise with even better friends.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I think my favorite part of our vacation was the mini trip to Orlando before the cruise. I got to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which was everything I imagined it would be and more. I'm so happy as a fan of the series that I got to experience it right after it opened. I hope to go back one day maybe with some little ones who are even bigger fans than me.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The beginning of the current school year started off well and proved to be much easier the 2nd time around. D and I are relieved that the crazy work load days are now behind me since I'm no longer a newb.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Winter time brought some fun festivities! We went Ice Skating in Central Park with awesome, ugly Christmas sweaters:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9wAj4ewZ4mf_i2kszeVoa8K4HbDw_mVs9wcx7eegYsA7aQyjsZaqkWM21mHibbf8OJsZpSNpFQpVJ_HrR3kXt7c4khFJ_biYXRPRHmE8og1wbJBeF_UdRYMJ538tHiJRgwgG-0FZbMI/s1600/162821_476249004549_531834549_5834096_1100494_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9wAj4ewZ4mf_i2kszeVoa8K4HbDw_mVs9wcx7eegYsA7aQyjsZaqkWM21mHibbf8OJsZpSNpFQpVJ_HrR3kXt7c4khFJ_biYXRPRHmE8og1wbJBeF_UdRYMJ538tHiJRgwgG-0FZbMI/s320/162821_476249004549_531834549_5834096_1100494_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">There may be one or two highlights I've left out so check back for updates on how we navigated through a challenging but fulfilling year.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-74360446454407920592010-12-29T11:42:00.003-05:002011-02-05T23:57:37.041-05:00Christmas has 'past', but, presently, here's a look into our immediate future...Santa came and went and although he did not leave me snuggly little puppy to cuddle with, he did bring me a beautiful Michael Kors bag that I would just as soon snuggle up to.<br />
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Can you blame me? Isn't she a beauty? SWOON!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was blessed enough to receive a slew of other gifts that made me <strike>completely</strike> momentarily forget about the puppy. Maybe next year... ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a possibility of a fun weekend trip coming up in the near future. Two destinations currently on the negotiating table are Newport, RI and Chesapeake City, MD. Newport was lot of fun last year (even in the midst of a blizzard) but I am leaning more towards Chesapeake to change it up. It doesn't really matter where we end up though...the people who are going are oodles of fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other news, the time has come for D and I to say goodbye to our very first home together as a couple. I know, I know...we've said we were moving for the past 3 years or so but we mean it this time. We officially have no more room to live in this tiny one bedroom apartment. And you can forget about acquiring new belongings. I'm afraid to even buy a new pair of socks for fear this apartment is going to bust at the seams!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But don't get too excited, kids! We won't be buying a house this time around. Not yet, anyway. We will be settling for a 2 bedroom apartment to house us and all of our belongings for the next couple of years before becoming full fledged homeowners. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our current lease is up at the end of February so we have two months to find us some new digs. I can't wait! No, seriously...I am counting down the days. I really do need some new socks!</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-29047914908192670552010-12-07T23:00:00.002-05:002011-02-05T23:57:53.790-05:00Dear Santa....(Everyone secretly has a wish list. Here's mine...)<br />
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I've wanted one of these for a long time. I even picked out a name for a boy pup: Linkin!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiZe0lA0dFxExaQE9Rwwhu7ITuLfgnl6QJCsZrZM0fktuCmz5BQGme3ttAKQ-soicRdS9sv1lt_l28arCP9AEczxpKcdVft8xYhK9Nk1v0t0KymhnvrWJaW_bqYkefFmnl3RGVPtmmkM/s1600/imagesCAKWGHRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiZe0lA0dFxExaQE9Rwwhu7ITuLfgnl6QJCsZrZM0fktuCmz5BQGme3ttAKQ-soicRdS9sv1lt_l28arCP9AEczxpKcdVft8xYhK9Nk1v0t0KymhnvrWJaW_bqYkefFmnl3RGVPtmmkM/s1600/imagesCAKWGHRE.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7V829W9-nhR2gzja6njok3U8JrFwvSaRZevcOcLYyIjSfYQFK_iU4kiJPleaN_Lm5g3AC4k4HPdLLleXyKPqJMKzUS36BdppJ79QsKbVHLqm4e5-D3F8lSFtRftP62YODlKGZB3jK_Q/s1600/imagesCADAECY6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7V829W9-nhR2gzja6njok3U8JrFwvSaRZevcOcLYyIjSfYQFK_iU4kiJPleaN_Lm5g3AC4k4HPdLLleXyKPqJMKzUS36BdppJ79QsKbVHLqm4e5-D3F8lSFtRftP62YODlKGZB3jK_Q/s1600/imagesCADAECY6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These guys make my heart melt. I would take such good care of them. I really love the beagle. He looks so sad. I think it's because he remembered he doesn't have me for a mom. =(</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Some other things on my wish list:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've been a FUgg-wearer for quite some time. I am THAT girl. I rock Fake Uggs because the real ones are silly expensive. I've rocked Airwalk, Skecher, Steve Madden, and Emu. There's nothing WRONG with FUggs... but I am ready to move on.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Tip: If you ARE going to go with FUggs, I suggest Skecher... Emu is a close second. Steve Madden disappointed me. Normally I am Steve's biggest fan but his FUggs were disappointing. I actually threw them away. They were extremely itchy and I'm pretty sure they gave me a rash on my legs. Not cute. </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am SO done with Fake Uggs.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This year I am wishing for the real deal (classic style of course).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love accessories, specifically rings. I've always wanted a double finger ring like these but I never seem to find them anywhere! I think they are so cute and fun. I love the name rings and the ones with a word or saying. </div></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oSORRcG0MPmsRhyphenhyphen-DQWQ7_AEIhlDNa7q6qDthZosG-YIKt2mzCXqLzt9Dhrw1mJ8su8diWBQtB4ZrOTn3z-5gxzxd0Fv6j0WcWc_9H7JvurSCs359u_DwLwdymY5T-NvDNYSC3QgzX8/s1600/imagesCAQ8IN2A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oSORRcG0MPmsRhyphenhyphen-DQWQ7_AEIhlDNa7q6qDthZosG-YIKt2mzCXqLzt9Dhrw1mJ8su8diWBQtB4ZrOTn3z-5gxzxd0Fv6j0WcWc_9H7JvurSCs359u_DwLwdymY5T-NvDNYSC3QgzX8/s1600/imagesCAQ8IN2A.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And one more thing I really want to invest in is a quality hat, glove and scarf set. Every winter, other than a coat, I never seem to have adequate outwear. I've been telling myself for years that I would buy a nice, good quality set early on in the season but I never do it! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqxJquleu5qpMbHBTuIldQM3dDeHS2k-r55x_zePkq4Yn4PDkjZUApeFhVFbpekDnhJmo7aieTgrmA3Suu2cV0taj-zZ-wjfESGyykM5jUw41UJkhvVhEi42CgtpDbfA4AWLkZ4uYMps/s1600/imagesCA08FAVD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqxJquleu5qpMbHBTuIldQM3dDeHS2k-r55x_zePkq4Yn4PDkjZUApeFhVFbpekDnhJmo7aieTgrmA3Suu2cV0taj-zZ-wjfESGyykM5jUw41UJkhvVhEi42CgtpDbfA4AWLkZ4uYMps/s1600/imagesCA08FAVD.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm loving this style hat and the color is perfect! I will be on the hunt for something similar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also loving Michael Kors handbags and sunglasses right now. And a classic Chanel purse is on my life-long wish list. Ahh Chanel. ::swoooooon:: Wishing is fun, isn't it? ;-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-81646764340338896442010-12-04T13:58:00.001-05:002010-12-04T14:02:01.120-05:00"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you..."A few days ago one of my oldest friends posted some throwback pictures on FB from high school. It was so awesome to take a stroll down memory lane. <br />
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This is exactly how I remember my senior year:<br />
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The black box theater, the couches, food everywhere, playing guitar and singing songs like hippies... ::sigh:: I wouldn't change a thing about it. <br />
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THIS picture (from my graduation/18th birthday party) has made me a little sad:<br />
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Check out the chick on the left! Where did that skinny girl go?! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mission: Find skinny girl, return her to her rightful owner. Stay tuned...</div>Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057858002218232898.post-26444345907550903472010-11-27T00:44:00.001-05:002011-02-05T23:58:20.205-05:00I won't bore you with the details......because for that you can just check out my About Me or uber fascinating profile! Instead, for my first post I will make a shocking confession. Ready?<br />
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This blog, although something I genuinely considered doing for quite some time, was conceived by and born unto Procrastination and Motivation. How is that possible, you ask? It's quite simple actually...(Thank you, Paula Abdul, for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweiQukBM_k">reminding us</a> that opposites DO attract!)<br />
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I tend to procrastinate every minute of every day. I like to fool myself into thinking I work well under pressure, but really, I do! The odd thing about the procrastination that I find myself most often experiencing is that, while I am usually procrastinating on taking care of an important task, I become EXTREMELY motivated to do something completely unnecessary. <br />
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Hence, this blog. Did I want to start one? Sure. Did I NEED to start one last night? Absolutely not. But I was so focused on putting off what I needed to do that I succumbed to the nagging urge to work on something utterly superfluous. See? Procrastination and Motivation.<br />
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So there you have it. There's the story of how the little gem of a blog was conceived. Tell all your friends. No really, tell them. I want followers. <br />
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While I COULD get into the laundry list of things that I should've been doing last night while setting up my pretty fonts and beautiful header, I won't. That's boring. Let's keep it light, shall we? Instead, I'll just go ahead and get started on that laundry list of chores now that the pressure of writing a semi-witty first post in order to set the tone of my blog is now behind me. Yup. That's what I'll do. Go get started on those tasks... Riiiight now. Just as soon as I am done grouping my hair care products by color and then rearranging them into height order...Miss M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09930796013844693984noreply@blogger.com0