tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23062025115739010642024-03-04T20:34:21.334-08:00Ambition: MotherhoodThis is my journey towards motherhood.Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.comBlogger413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-91161409455612484272016-08-16T13:55:00.003-07:002016-08-16T13:55:27.949-07:00Another year gone byTime flies, when you're having fun... and yes, motherhood is all that, plus more.<br />
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Can't believe the offspring is already 4.<br />
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Here's a picture....<br />
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~JemJemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-63536473448521072532015-08-22T00:14:00.000-07:002015-08-22T00:44:46.782-07:00Years go by...Gosh, has it really been so long? Really? I now have a charming three-year-old who talks up a storm, runs around, loves our cat, her "guinea pig" (a stuffed red bull) named "Ash-el-ly" (yes, three syllables).<br />
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I do miss blogging and my old friends. I don't miss the old days of infertility and wondering what life would be like as a mom.<br />
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I will check in more often. I promise. In the meantime, below is a picture...<br />
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~ Jem<br />
<br />Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-25344189686507928102013-09-07T12:18:00.001-07:002013-09-07T12:23:08.129-07:00"Rosie's mom"<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These words are music to my ears, overheard when my three-year-old neighbor boy was describing me to his mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Rosie's mom." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Me. Little ole me. Someone's mom. Still thrills me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rosie is now 16 months old, running around, saying words. Today she said our cat's name. Sorta. "Darky" for "Sharky." Cute as all get-out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm still a stay-at-home-mom. Still loving it. Lots of play dates and activities. Just wish I had the money to go to all the music classes, etc. Happy price to pay for not having a paycheck anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here she is playing peekaboo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~Jem</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-23523122572229677112013-06-09T23:01:00.003-07:002013-06-09T23:01:42.669-07:00Getting in gear<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wow does it take a lot of stuff to raise a child. Diaper bag brims with it. We are packing to travel to Boston for a week to see Mr. Jem's mother. Packing is a bitch. What toys to bring to distract Rosie during the five hour flight? Will she sleep? How will we carry it all? Should I bring diapers or buy them there?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Better go to sleep. Big travel day tomorrow. Do like being back blogging. Missed you all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">~Jem</span>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-23955984508416026582013-06-08T23:02:00.001-07:002016-08-16T13:59:22.470-07:00Life with a toddler<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A reader asked to hear what it's like with a toddler at home. Here goes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's go-go-go the minute Rosie wakes. Big smile on her face. "Hi-ya!" she croons at me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her vocabulary is still quite limited at 13 months. Everything she likes is "Da-da" with Daddy being the self-professed president of the "Da-da Club." She does say mama, sometimes, but I think she's trying on new sounds. Her sound this week is "Dub-ya-dub-ya-dub-ya" like she's about to tell me her favorite website. Yes, it's very cute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More cuteness? Even though she's a serious girl, she loves to laugh and has her own sense of humor. One day it will be the fly-swatter that will crack her up. Today it was mommy doing an impression of a chicken. Yes, those improve classes are really paying off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What's not cute? The tantrums. Mostly because she can't yet articulate fully what she wants. She does point at things and grunt loudly to tell me she wants them. If I have to take something away from her she has a total meltdown. Tears, folding herself in half on the floor. It's actually kinda cute. "I understand you are mad you can't pull Sharky Kitty's tail." Sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Almost a year ago I happily quit my job in the big city with the long commute and long hours. That's not to say that my days as stay at home mom aren't long. Au contraire!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rosie wakes around 7:30 and will have one or two naps during the day. Every day I plan an activity for her/us. Since the weather is nice, we've been going to the park to play in the sand, climb the jungle-gyms and go down the slides. Often we'll meet up with other mom friends and their babies. We'll share sleep stories, talk about food our kids are eating, and more mom stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rosie goes down for the night around 7:30 p.m. after getting her ready for bed: brushing and flossing her six teeth, changing her diaper (disposables - I tried to do cloth, but failed), then story with daddy, then last story with me (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Bed-Board-book-Mem/dp/B0083I3A6C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370756871&sr=8-2&keywords=it%27s+time+for+bed+board+book" target="_blank">this book</a>) which I've read her every night for the past year. Then I sing her three songs: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (with accompanying signs), followed by, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and finishing with an enthusiastic rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Usually I nurse her to sleep. Tonight I didn't have to. She didn't like it at first, giving me a shriek of disbelief, but then settled in the crook of my arm and fell asleep. She will wake multiple times at night for a quick sip or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes, I'm still breast feeding - which was rough at first. Very rough. And I'm co-sleeping. It's so much easier to have her nurse for a couple of minutes and then roll over and go back to sleep than get up, etc. etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Okay, It's almost 11 p.m. and I need to go to sleep. I hope this gives you some insight into what life is like with Rosie. And I didn't even cover solid food, how she's walking and other milestones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In sum, it's all pretty amazing, my own real-life Unicorn farting rainbow of a life. Don't let any mom tell you otherwise. It's "all that" and more to be a mom. For you all still in the trenches, I send you my heartfelt best. This mom business has far surpassed my expectations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Did I mention how darn cute she is? I plan on showing this photo and others with frontal shots to her prom date (cue evil laughter!!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~Jem</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-81944559748097073892013-06-07T21:03:00.000-07:002015-08-22T00:27:52.750-07:00Rosie is 13 months old & yes we are both still aliveOkay, I've been a terrible blogger...No posts since New Years? What the heck is wrong with me?<br />
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<insert active="" guilt-ridden="" here="" mother="" of="" post-infertile="" rant="" toddler="" typical="" very=""> Let's just say that I don't get a lot of computer time and leave it at that.</insert><br />
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I have missed you all. The past year has been amazing. Crazy, fun, tiring, and amazing. This picture should say it all.<br />
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~JemJemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-47561781971644521172013-01-01T08:56:00.001-08:002013-01-01T08:56:45.639-08:00Happy New YearYes we are still here and Rosie and I are loving life. Every day is a gift. Better than I ever imagined. Promise to post more in 2013. Miss you all.<br />
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~JemJemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-2100921590554563422012-10-01T17:16:00.001-07:002012-10-01T17:16:14.578-07:00Beware!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Serious cuteness... baby picture below... warning!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is Rosie at 5 months, our little chef...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(I warned you!!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~Jem</span></span></div>
Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-62133153015245799652012-09-26T01:28:00.000-07:002012-09-26T01:28:04.794-07:00SAHM status<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's 1:30 a.m. on Wed, the second week of officially being a stay at home mom - SAHM. I am loving this, folks. Loving it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, I still worry about finances and miss my pay check. That said, Mr. Jem is finishing up his 11th month at his "new job" and is kicking ass and doing really, really well. He loves his job, loves going to work, loves his colleagues and is breaking sales records monthly. Only thing - wish they offered health insurance and paid him more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rosie continues to grow - She's 16 lbs, 10 oz - and is so much fun. She wakes up every morning with a huge smile on her face. She's giggling and loves when I sing to her. She rolls over to her tummy from her back and can do a back-stroke gesture to roll back on to her back. She's starting to scootch back and yesterday actually got on to her knees and hands, like she might actually crawl! I'm not ready for that, tho. The thought of her mobile is a bit scary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The other huge change in our lives - yes, having a baby <b><u>has</u></b> changed our lives fundamentally!! - my mother has moved from Oregon to my town. 10 minutes away in a retirement community. It's great to have her so close, to have Sunday dinner together, to have someone to watch Rosie when I go to dentist. It's going really, really, really well. She drove with me into San Francisco last week when I cleaned out my desk at work (bittersweet moment - I'll miss my colleagues, miss downtown SF, miss my job, but NOT miss actually seeing my daughter grow up).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Okay, I better go back to sleep. Rosie slept 4 hours, needed nursing and is now back asleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~Jem</span>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-46423277628837420862012-09-19T18:21:00.001-07:002012-09-26T01:17:02.112-07:00Cliches I thought I'd never hearWhile at lunch today with two friends with babies, I actually heard these two cliches:<br />
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One friend asked, "So is Rosie on solids yet?"<br />
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Me: "No, she's not yet 5 months. We're in no hurry."<br />
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Her: "You should." She then lectured me one why. I'm the only one still breast-feeding plus, really?!? Are you my doctor?!? Why are moms in such a hurry?<br />
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Next cliche - same friend: "You have to let her cry it out. If she cries when you put her down she's trying to manipulate you."<br />
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Me: "No, it just means she wants to be held."<br />
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I thought those cliches were dead. Good grief.<br />
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What cliche/myth have you heard lately?<br />
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~Jem<br />
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<br />Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-62955781055838034822012-09-05T18:05:00.006-07:002012-09-05T18:05:59.088-07:00Infertility Podcast - Bitter Infertiles<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At long last there's an infertility-related podcast! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Check out <b>Bitter Infertiles </b>- click <a href="http://bitterinfertiles.podomatic.com/" target="_blank">here</a> to listen. And <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bitter-infertiles-podcast/id556431624" target="_blank">here</a> to get it through iTunes.</span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"This week we discuss the public perception of miscarriage, open
adoption with Lori Lavender Luz, and why celebrity pregnancies annoy us."</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Be sure to subscribe and support our community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~Jem </span>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-72018351767582157572012-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:002012-09-02T13:24:06.586-07:00Losing my marblesIt's official! I'm so sleep deprived that I'm losing things, namely my keys. Twice. First I lost my regular set of keys somewhere between the house and the car a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday I lost the spare set of house keys. Again, somewhere between the house and the car, but maybe at he store. Mr. Jem was upset and super concerned.<br />
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BTW, his job is going really nicely, with two record months of sales. And he still lives what he's doing and his team.<br />
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Rosie has been napping but only briefly (20-30 min). No naps for me. Tired. Very tired.<br />
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~JemJemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-14568646088526562192012-08-27T14:38:00.002-07:002012-08-27T14:38:58.517-07:00In a fog...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Lack of sleep has me completely in a fog. If I can get one thing done a day, it's amazing. I don't know how working moms do it. Good grief! I'm working on refinancing the Jem household before I officially quite my job. Gulp. Did I just type those words?</div>
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I don't have a lot to report. Just received a box of baby books from a college friend - they are in French! How fun to read to Rosie in French. It always makes her smile and laugh when I read or talk to her in French. She loves it.</div>
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So much better to be blogging on the PC, rather than my silly small iPhone screen.</div>
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Gotta go as Rosie is trying to "talk" to me. And Sharky cat wants to be fed.</div>
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~Jem</div>
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Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-86892176324666498662012-08-24T22:04:00.000-07:002012-08-24T22:04:03.920-07:00Rosie is 17 weeks? Already? Really?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Holy cow, time flies!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Things have been up and down - mostly up. Motherhood rocks, better than I could<span class="Apple-style-span"> have imagined. Rosie is a joy. That smile alone melts my heart.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Okay, enough unicorn farts. Reality? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">First issue: I wish she slept more. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">She hasn't be</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">en napping and that has been affecting her night-time sleep - waking more often. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So we started sleep school today. Didn't go on a walk with local moms, just concentrated on napping. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Two hours after she woke I tried putting her in her crib for her morning nap. Epic fail. Tons of crying. Instead I rocked her and sang to her and ended up nursing her to sleep. Which is what I have been doing every night. The "twins" are a bit sore, to say the least.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rosie slept in my arms for a couple of hours. I slept too. I'm tired. Living off five hours of sleep (total) is hard. I've been breast-feeding her on demand and plan to continue this, but the sleep thing has to happen. During the day and at night. Must. Sleep. More.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Second issue: to go back to work or not. I've been agonizing over what to do. It's a hard issue, deeply psychologically, emotionally and financially scary. I could write a whole post just on this topic. Maybe I will, but I'm so busy with this parenting thing, that I can't really promise to. The bottom line is that we can afford for me to stay home with Rosie, if we tighten our belts - living in the San Francisco Bay Area is expensive. I've yet to actually tell my boss that I'm not coming back. Scary. Except that all I want to do is stay home with her. My commute to work was one hour each way. I can't imagine doing my job, commuting and coming home to take care of the house and spend time with the kidlet, wake in the night to nurse her, etc. I know I could do it if necessary. But if I don't really have to...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Okay, better go sleep because Rosie is sleeping (not on me for once).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do know that just because I don't post often, I am reading your blogs and thinking of all of you.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">~Jem</span></span></div>
Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-36530139895806782112012-07-22T11:44:00.003-07:002012-07-22T11:44:33.745-07:00Pic<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Check out how big and grown up Rosie is now!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWfTnL9pz01KbiaCaq8RHdm0WEm78boJH8S1hY6AaCjpsaI_NBEK1-WNyFXURDdgTHbCsprkEare8ZrzgVpOlmZTILLfyK0Z9zRkqL0qEJYWnCaAZsBYQFH0RkbqHR4n2fMuYUOtUq4k/s1600/12w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWfTnL9pz01KbiaCaq8RHdm0WEm78boJH8S1hY6AaCjpsaI_NBEK1-WNyFXURDdgTHbCsprkEare8ZrzgVpOlmZTILLfyK0Z9zRkqL0qEJYWnCaAZsBYQFH0RkbqHR4n2fMuYUOtUq4k/s1600/12w.JPG" /></a> </div>
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I can't seem to get this picture in the right direction. At least you can see how cute she is!</div>
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~Jem</div>
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<br /></div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-74613861720765299922012-07-21T14:50:00.002-07:002012-07-21T17:28:32.930-07:00Rosie Update @ 12 weeks<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I'm typing with one hand, chicken-pecking with my left index finger on my iPhone. Baby is asleep at my breast. Her warm body snug against mine. I'm so darn happy. Tears come to my eyes just typing this. </div>
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Here's my quick update in bullets </div>
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<li>Rosie is twelve weeks old. Hard to believe. She's a different baby now. No longer a new born. She's awesome. Only cries only when she's tired or startled. Last night I knocked over a lamp in her room while she was sleeping and she freaked. </li>
<li>She weighs 14 pounds now. Gaining weight like a champ. </li>
<li>Breast feeding is going well. Only trouble is that my let-down is too strong. She gasps and sputters. Oh and she won't take a bottle anymore. </li>
<li>I'm freaked about going back to work in September. </li>
<li>Looking for child care is confusing and makes me want to cry </li>
<li>Mr Jem is an amazing father. Except when he's tired and or sick. </li>
<li>I've lost all but 5 lbs of my pregnancy weight. I still have 20 lbs of infertility treatment weight to lose. </li>
<li>I shower (almost) every day. Today Mr Jem watching Rosie meant that I even put on makeup. </li>
<li>We had a party last Saturday to introduce Rosie to friends and family. We also had a Jewish baby-naming ceremony in the back yard. Gave Rosie her Hebrew name. </li>
<li>Being a mom is more amazingly wonderful than I foresaw. </li>
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Sorry for being off-line for so long. Forgive typos. iPhone format difficult. </div>
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~ Jem</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-48306767040216997482012-06-08T20:08:00.002-07:002012-06-08T20:08:34.219-07:00First coldPoor Rosie woke in the middle of the night coughing and sputtering, totally congested. Been keeping her fed and comfortable all day. I'm exhausted.
I promise to post about thrush another time.
~JemJemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-19623999715178682712012-06-06T12:04:00.003-07:002012-06-06T12:04:53.908-07:00Thrush update<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Thrush update</span></b>: I saw the Physician's Assistant at my OB yesterday and she prescribed fluco.nazole. So I'm cleansing my breasts after (almost) every nursing with diluted vinegar (1 tbs / cup water) and use lanolin cream after nursing. After 2 weeks of suffering with painful breasts/nipples, the relief was almost instantaneous, or at least over night. After 1 day on the drug I'm not 100% better, but 80%. So much easier (and more pleasurable) to actually breastfeed now that my nipples and <span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">areolae</span> aren't bright red, chapped and painful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Essential purchase recommendation: </span></b>One thing they don't tell you is that you have to write down the time
and length of every feeding (which side did I nurse on first?), wet
and/or dirty diaper. I have been using printouts from the internet up until now, which worked great since I was home. The pages lived in a three-ring binder, in blue, which we affectionately called "The Blue Book" and then "The Blue Book." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now that we are going out on the town, I need something more portable. I recently found <a href="http://styleberryblog.com/the-stylebabylog" target="_blank">this wonderful book</a> that allows
you to mark down all those details, plus sleeping patterns, and other
notes. My friend uses it and I just ordered one for myself. Cute and useful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Okay, baby is sleeping, so I better do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">~Jem</span></div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-48186158881891544522012-06-03T11:40:00.001-07:002012-06-03T11:40:17.356-07:00Body Snatcher<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Dear readers,</div>
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Please, please forgive my absence from the cyberworld. I've been busy being a mom. I'm lucky if I get a shower, get fully dressed and/or fed myself. I can usually do one or two things outside the home per day. Last week we actually took Rosie out for a walk in the stroller. I started the "Mommy and Me" group Tuesday. It was great to meet with other new moms, share stories. I took a walk and had lunch with one of the other moms. Delish.</div>
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My spirits are good. I am loving being a mother, changing diapers, nursing on demand, sleeping when I can. </div>
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My body is slowly shrinking back to pre-pregnancy weight. I've lost over 30 pounds in the last 5 weeks. I'm eating very healthfully, and have started walking more with Rosie. It feels good to get out, see more friends, etc. </div>
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Oh, and other good thing: our cat Sharky is slowly adapting to Rosie's presence. Don't worry, he's never alone with her!</div>
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Only bummer: Thrush. Rosie doesn't have any symptoms, but I sure do. It feels like there are needles being inserted down my nipples. I have to treat them after each feeding, and usually do, except in the middle of the night when we both fall asleep after nursing. I'm rinsing with diluted vinegar and then using a topical antifungal and then wiping them down with a wet paper towel before nursing again. Rinse and repeat. I change out my towel daily, wash my hands often and I'm trying to cut down on sugar.</div>
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I would love any advice on Thrush / yeast. Internets?</div>
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~Jem</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-44374509556467751812012-05-23T20:35:00.001-07:002012-05-23T20:35:33.660-07:00Babymoon<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I can't believe Rosie has been in my life for almost 4 weeks. I've been in this blissful, timeless place where there are just the two of us, oh, and Mr. Jem, of course. My mother was here for 3 weeks, which was wonderful, super useful, especially with me healing from my c-section.</div>
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Oh, I'd like to write more, but Rosie needs to nurse.</div>
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~Jem</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-44590040851180284172012-05-13T20:06:00.004-07:002012-05-14T08:31:12.830-07:00My First Mother's Day (updated picture)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Truly the best mothers day ever. My parents are here visiting. I
couldn't ask for more help and support. And I totally need it. I live in
a strange twilight world, feeding her, changing her, gazing at her tiny
features, drinking her very presence up every moment. I have no time
for anything else. My life before included work (commute, intellectual
and adult conversation, challenges), blogging,
commenting on your blogs, reading books, enjoying a slew of favorite TV
shows, cuddling my cat, sleep.</div>
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No more. </div>
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My
world now: lack of sleep, deep gratitude, abject terror that something
horrible will happen to little Rosie. At her two week Pediatric checkup
last Thursday she still wasn't back up to her birth weight (she'd lost
13% of her weight), so I've been pumping 4 times a day (during the day -
can't face those fiendish, always hungry cones at night) to supplement
her sleepy breastfeeding. What do I mean, sleepy? Instead of nursing for
20 minutes, she lingers for around an hour, lazily nursing and just
enjoying herself. Let's just say that if you have to nurse every two or
three hours and one hour of that time is the nursing, plus another 10
for burping and changing, then 15 for pumping and 10 for cleanup, going
pee, that doesn't leave much time for "just sleep when baby does." I'm
exhausted, folks. Grateful, happy, terrified with a twinge of bored
thrown in. Please don't judge me. It's just that this cycle goes on and
on and on.</div>
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The good news is that I have this wonderful gift. Rosie. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgxmZHIt7V9865AH6dAaRYPQwnlrkGF_KQNTHSfr5LenR91d2Ng9ZlzdLZ5noFxNYSjh3FiQ3kZ6i2enBQVlGNjOMNyGnOlQ-2dDZFKCEwSRNbbjHftOFANR1p62bAnfKzHbqat0UtN8/s1600/Jamila+and+Shayna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgxmZHIt7V9865AH6dAaRYPQwnlrkGF_KQNTHSfr5LenR91d2Ng9ZlzdLZ5noFxNYSjh3FiQ3kZ6i2enBQVlGNjOMNyGnOlQ-2dDZFKCEwSRNbbjHftOFANR1p62bAnfKzHbqat0UtN8/s1600/Jamila+and+Shayna.jpg" /></a></div>
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(This is from 10 days ago, but gives you an idea of her cuteness)</div>
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Okay, better get back to it. Birth story to follow, eventually.</div>
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~Jem.</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-34531176621649912062012-05-04T08:56:00.001-07:002012-05-04T08:56:37.504-07:00Rosie has arrivedBorn April 27 @ 1:44 pm via c section after 19 hours of labor, 5 pushing. I'm recovering still and just getting used to this whole motherhood thing.
Pics and more details when I can.Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-85458556114127256612012-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-23T06:00:03.939-07:0039w0d: Doula vs. Pain<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Pain. </div>
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From discussion with others, pain is only part of the labor/delivery story. It doesn't have to be the whole story. After taking a childbirth class (where I cried multiple times, and felt completely overwhelmed), I realized I wanted to take more ownership of the whole birth process, to open myself to the experience of childbirth, instead of fearing it, anticipating pain and stress. </div>
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Because of this we hired a doula to help us through the experience, so it's not just a medical procedure, but more. E, our doula, will help us create a peaceful, non-stressful environment that enables labor to progress as it should. Her job will be making sure that I'm in the right head-space and use the right coping mechanisms to make birth better for me, for Mr. Jem (but mostly for me). </div>
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We interviewed three women for this important and expensive (over $1,000) job. We chose the person with the most experience - she's attended over 100 births as a doula and is trained as a midwife - and who we clicked with the most. Plus, we liked her process - first meeting Mr. Jem and I had to fill out a questionnaire, answering questions about ourselves and each other so she could know us better, know our relationship, how we work together, our relationship with "pain" and stress and how we cope with them.</div>
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During the second meeting (on Friday), Mr. Jem wasn't there. I gave E a tour of our house (I plan to labor here as long as possible, especially how good I feel floating in our body-temp hot tub). We went over labor positions. I asked her to touch my back, massage me so I could be accustomed to her touch. She has strong nice hands. We also spend some time talking about the physiognomy of squatting during labor and delivery, what positions are better during the different phases of birth - for example, saving the full squat (on my feet or on the bed if I have an epidural) for pushing, as it opens the bottom of the pelvis. We discussed how relaxation, visualization and even vocalization can help with the labor. She said that when women get stuck, it's usually because they are afraid or stressed. She'll help me through this. </div>
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That said, I'm still open to being as medicated (epidural) or not as I feel appropriate in the moment and she (and Mr. Jem of course) support me in this.</div>
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So, in the battle of doula vs. pain, I'm betting on the doula (and me).</div>
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For those of you who have experienced labor and delivery, what's your take?</div>
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~Jem</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-75523379585217363282012-04-22T13:58:00.004-07:002012-04-22T14:01:52.766-07:0038w6d: Pregnancy Update (Any day now...)<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pregnancy update and pictures... feel free to skip.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Total Weight Loss/Gain:</b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I'm up over 188 lbs from around 150 at time of IUI. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maternity Clothes:</b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 99%. Sundress today, as it's so hot. (Yes, that's me on the phone with my mom at the same time as I'm taking a picture with my new iPhone)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDteBXjauMRlAdysvb8bsVzPeZtr25Ade_8DWli3sz9lWr1fQjvgtyzsRBs70wezTcOiYuKBeZIW2ROmp5c9_D_T4m4onSgDLKvwWRBkH2WH-ixW5Mry3iUjjiARQO2oI1gtIOdH736mo/s1600/38wksAnon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDteBXjauMRlAdysvb8bsVzPeZtr25Ade_8DWli3sz9lWr1fQjvgtyzsRBs70wezTcOiYuKBeZIW2ROmp5c9_D_T4m4onSgDLKvwWRBkH2WH-ixW5Mry3iUjjiARQO2oI1gtIOdH736mo/s1600/38wksAnon.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stretch marks:</b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Nope. Ligna negra = yes. Even some pigmentation around my nipp.les.</span> <br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sleep:</b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I can easily fall asleep, but wake almost hourly to change position,
pee, stretch out leg cramp. Best sleep if I take a "warm tub" (hot tub with temp lowered to 97 degrees) before bed. </span><br />
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<b>Movement:</b> Much less now that there's less room. <br />
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<b>Cravings/Aversions:</b> Ice cream.</div>
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<b>Gender:</b> It's (still) a Girl!<br />
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<b>Symptoms:</b>
Still suffering from swollen hands and feet. Wake up with numb hands, and can't even make a fist, especially with my left hand. My left hip has been out of whack and I've been visiting the chiropractor a couple of times per week. At least I can walk now. When I walk for more than 5 minutes I start to have contractions. My ribs are 99% better (thanks to chiropractic, rather than drugs).<br />
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<b>What I miss:</b> Nothing!<br />
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<b>What I look forward to:</b> Meeting our baby girl.<br />
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<b>Moods:</b> Overall very good. I find my world has seriously shrunk. I don't want to go more than 5 miles from home. My focus is very much inward. I find myself stopping what I'm doing and just breathing into a mini-contraction (Braxton-Hicks? or The REAL THING????!!), relaxing my shoulders, opening myself to the moment, to what I'm feeling in the moment. </div>
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<b>Milestones:</b> Being full-term, with hospital bag packed, infant seat installed in my car. NB diapers and a Diaper.Genie in the nursery. Baby's name picked.Yes, we've picked a name, but you'll have to wait! Mostly we want to see her to confirm.<br />
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<b>Medical concerns:</b> Anemia (not as bad any more), constipation, and fatigue (will I catch up on my sleep before she arrives?). Aching back and hip.<br />
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<b>Sex?:</b> With Mr. Jem? Nope. Some solo action Friday night in hopes that it would bring on real contractions. Didn't really work, but fun all the same.</div>
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<b>Misc:</b> Have finally started to relax since my MIL left and have been finishing my list of things to accomplish before Baby has arrived. Just enjoying this amazing moment of anticipation. When will she be born? What will she look like?<br />
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Next post will be about our Doula. I promise (unless I go into labor).<br />
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~Jem</div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306202511573901064.post-2078788408323290632012-04-19T11:06:00.002-07:002012-04-19T11:06:27.191-07:0038w2d: Final 2WW<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, this is it, folks! My final 2WW (hopefully). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yesterday's weekly OB visit was routine - dilated 1 cm, with some softening of the cervix. I think I should have picked an OB with smaller hands, however. I had to grip the side of the exam bed when he had is WHOLE HAND up there for the cervical check. Good grief!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I'm starting to have what I think are real contractions, but mostly in the evening and at night and not at all regular. Those practice contractions are really ratcheting up - intense is the word I'd use. Like menstrual, pain but from my sternum down to my cervix. I haven't slept well the last couple of nights... didn't get to sleep until 4 am and was woken by the phone at 10 am. I see a nap in my very near future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am slowly getting my list of things done before the baby comes: Taxes filed (getting an awesome refund, thank you failed IVF last January that wasn't covered by insurance), renewed drivers license at DMV before my birthday early May, hired a doula, waxed "down South" complete, and getting my hair cut today.Still putting together list of people for Mr. Jem to email with the happy news... picking </span></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hospital bag is packed and
"birth plan" is typed up (multiple copies in the bag). I'll share the
list next post. I'm sure I have WAY too much stuff with me. We have a
separate bag full of snacks and goodies (protein bars, nuts, dried
fruit, pretzels, lemonade boxes, chocolate) for me and Mr. Jem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, and I'm officially HUGE. I will post a picture later today or tomorrow (post hair cut). It still blows my mind that I've made it this far. I can't wait to meet my little girl and to introduce you all to her, too. A-fucking-mazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">~Jem</span></div>Jemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10480192191711301637noreply@blogger.com9