My little surprise!

Saturday, March 29, 2008
it was a morning i will never forget.......

at 7am i woke up to the feeling of my water breaking! papa bear, sister bear and i had just returned from our apt in deerfield beach and we had just stayed the night at tommy bahama's in punta gorda. i announced to papa bear, who had been buried in a deep sleep (go figure it's 7am on a saturday morning -can you blame him?) i mentioned again, "honey, my water just broke!!!!!!!" this time i think i emphasized the matter. he woke up half alert and asked if i was serious? well, as much as i'd like to be joking being 5 weeks early.... i'm speaking the truth. we rushed around and let mr bahama know that he would be inheriting sister bear for the day and a few instructions on what to do with her, we continued to scurry around like little mice who were utterly confused. i was wearing a pair of tommy's old sweat pants and judy garland's t-shirt, hardly an outfit i would have imagined picking out to go and deliver my baby. but at that point, i didn't care if my shoes were on the right feet. I WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!!!!!!

just the night before, sister bear and i were having a stale cracker and salt and vinegar chip party while daddy and tommy took a canoe ride down the creek. papa bear said when he kissed me goodbye and i climbed into bed that i looked like i was about to deliver. i wish he had mentioned his thoughts to me, maybe i would have prepared for this. not really, the pop quiz type of surprise fits me best!

so back to the morning of our journey of the continued unexpected.........
as we made our way to the hospital, we were given the scary news that dr miggleschmoot, the dr i had met with my entire pregnancy and pre-paid for this delivery WAS NOT ON CALL THIS WEEKEND! WHAT?????????? this could not be true! i was extremely nervous about what was about to happen. papa bear reassured me that everything happens for a reason, keep my faith. well, it was easy to swallow for a second and then i was back to panicking. this dr i had never heard of was going to see me thru this very scary experience, especially since this baby had chosen to come 5 weeks early!

well, we continued on our way and arrived to the hospital.. they did the usual, threw me (not really, but i must be dramatic!) into a wheel chair and wheeled me up to the maternity ward, a place i had remembered quite well, sister bear had been born there 2 1/2 years prior, all the memories of labor came flashing before me........... now i was even more petrified, not knowing this dr scarington! they admitted me to a room, questioned me about my water really breaking.. what kind of question is that to a pregnant woman who has done this before?

so they tested the fluid, yes, it was amniotic fluid, "nurse needs to go back to school"! then they checked to see if i was dilated and during all this, papa bear and i sat back and listened to the nursing station get more and more chaotically flustered with my visit and questioned my stay! what? things just got worse and worse. papa bear and i looked at each other in deep fear and knew we couldn't stay here. they had mentioned that there was a great chance that immediately after i delivered my baby that he would be taken from me and ambulanced to one of the two nearby hospitals, where he would be taken to the NICU because they didn't have one. surprised? i don't think so! he was coming way too early for this to be a normal and safe delivery. so what did this mean? were papa bear and i going to flee the hospital and make our way to where my baby was going to end up anyway? like a scene from "little miss sunshine", i know! so we spoke to "nurse needs to go back to school" and asked her if we could safely drive ourselves to a chosen hospital -we made this calm, collected decision in 2-6 seconds time -but knew it was better than sticking around this garage sale quality joint. she said she couldn't recommend it but that we could sign off that they would NOT be liable for me if i chose to do so. so we signed the document and left. well, i was wheeled out by one of the nurses who confirmed it was by far just fine for me to make a stop for food, that they would not be feeding me anytime soon at new hospital i was going to. remember, my water broke, they checked me to see if i was dilated (i wasn't at that point). does anyone know the pace a labor and delivery goes with any woman? NO! so how did they think me stopping for food or leaving the hospital in general was ok? exactly!

so we stopped by our friend's bait and tackle store to drop off our house key for our neighbors who were going to take sister bear for the night and then we stopped at circuit city for a phone charger and since i still hadn't felt any pain or contraction at this point, we stopped and got some morning drive-thru. i was too confused to eat so i just took a few bites of my croissant and drank a few sips of orange juice and called all my family and friends and let them know where i was headed to..... i know, you're thinking at this point, "this girl's crazy!" hmmmpf, i was not quite myself and normally the ol' papa bear is logically calm and collected and only makes rational decisions. this time, we became some other couple. not sure WHO we were, but we made our way. even stopped to donate some money to the firefighters, papa bear stuck $100 bill into a fireman's boot -i think he kissed it for good luck that we'd make it further than the traffic light up ahead. yup, we hit slightly a bit of traffic coming off the freeway. nope, not contractions yet! i think if i felt any at this point, i was in complete denial.

at 11:30am, we arrived to the emergency part of the hopsital because that is what we were instructed to do by the "garage sale quality dive" we had left about an hour ago. they had mentioned they would contact the hospital and let them know i was coming..... never happened. really?? but, whatever, we were handling all this on our own anyway, what's one more task, right?

they wheeled me up to triage and admitted me and that is where i met the most fantastic nurse and dr... "dr too good to be true". he was just absolutely the dr i had been looking for the first time around. you know, one that smiles sincerely and has the look of confidence in his eyes, followed by words of comfort and the basics of what's going on. i never had that experience with dr schmigglemoof or whatever his name is -who needs to write that one down? so this was the moment i know this was all happening for a reason, the early delivery, the wild goose chase of where we were going to deliver this baby. it all made sense even though we still had no idea about why my water had broke so early and what was going to happen with the baby. we were scared, certainly.. especially when they said we may have to keep the baby in the hospital till his official due date. we still didn't know for sure.

after they checked me, at this point i had dilated 1 cm, at least now i was in a safe place with a staff of professionals who knew what to do. this brought me immediate peace. they wheeled me up to a big room, i was now being treated like a queen. i never asked or thought of this treatment, but it sure was nice. my sister and good friend, miss cali arrived and then later my cousin and her boyfriend came. they stayed till 3am the next morning. we just had a blast! i never was too uncomfortable or felt any real contractions till later in the night. that is when i decided that it was time to try the "drugs" and oh were they lovely! then at 3am when my family left, papa bear stayed with me of course, he had been drinking coffee all day, so you can imagine how pumped up and ready for a baby he was. ok, lets back up, i had an ultrasound done when i got to my room and they let me know the baby was approx 6 to 6 1/2 pounds, so that gave me hope and peace that he would be a normal sized baby. ok, back to 3am, when i got my first epidural, i was now 4 cm dilated. well, it didn't take long because by 5am, i was asking to start pushing, they called "dr too good to be true" on the telephone and got me ready and by 5:37am i was being lulled by the sound of my beautiful baby boy's cry. he was absolutely dreamy! he looked good, sounded good and i felt fantastic! it was all over, the anticipation of when he was coming, how he was coming and if he was going to make it ok.

my nurse, her name was "miss magic". she was wonderful.. she stayed with me the whole time and her shift ended at 6am. we joked that the baby would make his way out before then as the tick tock of the clock came, he made it just in time for her to be there for the delivery. i felt like my friend had been there for me, she was more than wonderful and made me feel at ease and so comfortable at all times. we even held hands while i was having a contraction and sitting on a port-a-potty listening to papa bear talk on the phone to sister bear, trying to calm her down. i will never forget this moment, ever.

little baby brother bear and i stayed in the hospital for 2 more days then we were released. i met the most amazing women, whether they were a nurse, lactation specialist, ear testing volunteer, food delivery person, you name it.. they were all amazing! i will write about them next. my fingers are about to fall off.

the great thing was that brother bear was born on my father's birthday. it was such a joyous moment to realize that and that maybe it's the reason he came so early. i loved being able to send my dad a happy birthday text message with a "guess what happened to me this morning?" he called me immediately with the happiest tone in his voice, it made his day and said it was the best birthday gift he has ever received. happy birthday dad and now forever on this day, i celebrate my healthy, beautiful son and all the surprises you will bring to my life -none could top this day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY! you're loved more than you can ever imagine.

"Thanksgiving Thursdays" -Lollipop

Sister bear's favorite song -just ONE of the many. But this is always an oldie but goodie. We love to sing and dance to this old song.




I'm thankful for having these lovely moments with my children, so sweet and lovely. We listened to thunder and rain all day, it was very dark and gloomy (I love it). So we stayed in our jammies, opened all the windows to see out and put on some good ol' 50's music and shook our booties to this song.

"Bear Cubs Daily" -We're Baaaaa-aaack!

Well, we're making our way slowly. Don't expect much for a few reasons:

• I'm in "Party Planning Mode with Brother bear and his upcoming "One Year" party. Can't believe it's here already.
• I'm slow at getting back on the horse -any horse, really.
• I like being out of touch sometimes. Feels freeing!
• Gotta get my mind to put sentences together, so they make sense when I type. Does that make sense? Yikes!
• Savoring e v e r y last bit of Brother bear's last week of "month-hood".

So just enjoy this post, it may be the only one this week. I am making no promises. So, back to party planning and cleaning house!

PS: This was not so much a "Wordless Wednesday". But I think you may have wanted it this way since I took the week.. er, week and a half, off. Feels so good, I'm extending my vacay. Wish it was this easy when I was lounging in a nice resort somewhere remote. Be back soon guys.

Oh and another PS: The photo is the bear cubs plum tuckered from grocery shopping and a kid you not, a 5 or 6 hour playtime. We attend a weekly Wednesday playgroup, it's alot of fun, but this week we had a change in the way it was run and it was quite explosive. Lots of fun and cleaning up. So we went with it. Now, I am paying for it, feels like a BIG RIG ran me over and left me for dead. So I am blogging about it. Not sure how, my eyes are crossed. Ok, going to rest my tired feet and every other body part connected and my mind. This is my final PS: Goodnight.

i'm taking a leave of absence......

just for the week. don't worry, i'll be back. in a week. i'm just enjoying the "unplugged" kind of feeling. so i'm going to continue on with it for the rest of the week. we all need to "take a break" and give ourselves time to regroup, rejuvenate and so forth.

happy holidays. frolick frolick frolick!

so this is me signing off.

Sister bear's favorite color is......

Her favorite color choice describes her personality perfectly! She is a happy girl just full of sunshine....... even on the most gloomiest day. She is my pocket full of sunshine.

***

"YELLOW is my favorite color!" says, Sister bear

MY RANT!

i am not so happy with a certain phone company.. T-MOBILE! all of a sudden tonight, my phone numbers just vanished like a thief in the night.....

t-mobile's solution to my problem?

"your phone's software is old and has no backup capability, oh wait! yes it does, didn't someone explain that to you when you purchased the phone, 2 years ago?"

uh, not really, i don't think i'd be in this situation had i known about a BACKUP plan! DUH!!!!

what am i going to do now, you ask? well, enjoy the rest of my, once hot cup of coffee turned cold. i'm going to call my sister, who always makes a bad situation turn good -just by the pureness of her soothing, calm, rational voice of reason. she makes the best listening ear.

sorry for the photo, but i am pretty fired up that i have lost all my phone's contact info! like i have time or the patience to retrieve it all, manually, mind you. WHAT. A. DRAG!

VERIZON, i miss you and your great reliable, happy and wide range of service! we just might get back together. do you still love me?

doesn't everyone look happy in this photo?

-i want that same happiness again.

oh, i see, this is a bad friday the 13th joke, isn't it?? lovely!

"Thanksgiving Thursdays" -Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?

Mine are.... I just had the best massage by a lovely person named, Gloria.

"Gloria (Gloria), I think they got your number (Gloria)

I think they got the alias (Gloria) that you've been living under (Gloria)

But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?

Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?

(Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria)

(Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria)"

I'm going to call "Glorious Gloria" again in about 2 weeks!



I had our family helper come and stay with the cubs while I slipped out of the Treehouse for about 2 hours, just enough time for a 90 min. massage and a stop at my favorite coffee hut drive-thru on the way home. It was the perfect day to go and have this blissful moment all to myself. It's very chilly and cloudy, such cozy weather.

A big THANK YOU to Papa Bear for suggesting this.

This is me after a quick trip to heaven and back.

I promise myself to do this again soon. My sweet suggestion, to all you hard working mamas out there: Take time for yourself every now and then, even if it's only for 30 minutes, and all you get to do is sit quietly and read a book or take a long bubble bath. It all sounds great and ya ya ya, we say "we'll do it" or "we'll get around to doing it". Mark it on your calendar and DO IT!

We all deserve a little T-L-C. Mine goes by the name of G-L-O-R-I-A.

Colorful Wednesday.... and a few words attached.

"Is the witch-sh gone?"

So Sister bear wakes this morning and cuddles up to me in her sweet way that just always makes my mornings just right. This is how our conversation went.....

Sister bear: "Mama?"

Mama: "Yes, baby?"

Sister bear: "I don't want that witch-sh in back of me."

Mama: "A witch?"

Sister bear: "Ya.. she was chasing me!"

Mama: "Ok, did you have a bad dream last night?"

Sister bear: (slowly and barely getting her words out and still trying to wrap her little mind around what she remembers, then says in her sleepiest and sweetest voice) "Ah-Huh-uh"

Mama: "That's ok, baby, Mama's here and it's all over (I'm hugging her and making it all better), bad dreams are just make believe and they aren't real. The good thing is you get to wake up and see Mama!"

Sister bear: "The witch-sh (that's what she calls her) I don't like her. She has a purple hat!"

Mama: "Oh?" (thinking, this is starting to sound like an interesting dream, she's remembering the wardrobe and the color, I like this! Let me remind you, this is the first time she is remembering one of her dreams and sharing the details -sorry for the lengthy commentary, I'm just excited over this, that's all!)

Sister bear: "She's gone?"

Mama: "Yes, baby, she left and she wasn't really ever here, remember, dreams -good and bad, are just make believe. They aren't real. You just see them while you're sleeping. It's like reading a book or watching TV, while you sleep."

Sister bear: "Where did she go?"

Mama: "Probably back to her home."

Sister bear: "She had a red cate!"

Mama: "Oh! Wow! A red cape, huh?"

Sister bear: "Ah-huh!"

Mama: "Wow! She's got quite an outfit on, I like it! Good color choices. Well this witch really knows how to dress pretty! Doesn't she?"

Sister bear: (her face lights up! and she smiles) "Yes.. uh.. did she leave?"

Mama: "Yup, on her broom (trying to make light of it by being silly), she won't be back. Remember, she was never really here, it was just a bad dream. Tonight, we are going to make sure to read a few extra happy stories before bed and say our prayers so NO MORE BAD DREAMS!" (tickling her)

Sister bear: (laughing and still a little uncertain and possibly wondering if that fashionista of a witch, really left our house)

Later in the day, she shared her "Bad Dream" again, with our Family Helper. This bad dream hung around a bit longer than most. I have a feeling, this might happen again. I'm prepared. Ready to journal them. I'm finding this very sweet. I have very vivid dreams myself and can tell you a story about them play-by-play. Papa bear has retired his listening ear (it used to be a morning ritual, "Oh MY gosh, I had this dream last night....") After a while, he actually had to leave the room, they were so long, abstract and detailed that he wasn't sure when they would end. God love him, he has sat through many many of those.

I'm prepared to take the torch and be the listening ear to Sister bear and her colorful little dreams.

"Bear Cubs Daily" -Mondays are for Dancing Pirates!

The theme today at Dance class was "Pirates"!

Arrrrggggghhhh!

They had a treasure Hunt and all the girls discovered that they love "Hot Wheels" race cars! -Cool! They were orange and purple, so funky and fun and not so girly! We likey! And then there's Mr. Colorful..........

Just sitting back in his seat, flirtin' with the little ladies!

On our way home, I looked out my car window and saw such a beautiful sky. It reminded me more of the ocean.....

A friend of ours unfortunately lost her father this past week and so another friend and I cooked up some "comfort food". Meanwhile at the Treehouse, I was in the kitchen cooking up a storm and my little cubs were in the "Family Play Pen" learning how to play nice. Take a looky, aren't they the sweetest?....

Later we met up at Miss Chalisa's (you know that's is not her real name, so I am having fun with it -hahahaha! I cahnge everyone's names here at the Treehouse! I'm "Mama Bear" protective like that!) Miss Chalisa delivered our goods, while I stayed at her place with all our children. Oh, look what kind of fun we had.........

Quiet times watching TV.....

Oh ya?

Come on, chase me and my BIG GIANT PIRATE BALLOON........


Woo Hoo, Look out! Coming Through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*******

It was me, 3 Three year olds and a baby! We had a BLAST! It was no quiet moment, that's for sure.

Brother bear's song.....

"Bear Cubs Daily" -Family Play Pen

Awoke from a nap and a bit on the grumpy side. She would deny it herself. So, shhhhh, don't tell her, but she's just a little grumpy. We had to make sure, so I took another photo to send to Noppy! She is the reason we even have "Bear Cubs Daily" -remember?

This little guy? Not so much.

Sissy loves to play in here with Brother.

And, so do I! You can find any of us in here, anytime.

It's why we call it the "Family Play Pen"!
-it's truly the most fun.

Brother loves it because it means,
playtime at his level.

Sometimes, I'm just called in to be the referee.

Or, better yet, I volunteer myself.

It's a MUST NEED situation!

E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D

uh, that would be me.

"Bear Cubs Daily" -Off to Story time.. Grab your imaginations!

BOTH kids engaged and listening to the story called "Pinkalicious".
-yes we own it now!


Reading quietly to herself.
A favorite thing she loves to do, even at home or in the car.



Snackin' in his seat and people watching.




Sister bear at play!
She always finds a friend OR many to play and read with.




"Wet's go over there, Mama!"


Just catching up on his cloth reading books.



"Hmmmm, do I finish reading this? Or Grab THAT book on the shelf?"
(of course, thinking this to herself, I can read it in her eyes)

We can't leave without handpicking those two yellow pansies.

What a lovely evening out with my two bear cubs. I grabbed some Chick Fil A on the way home! The night was complete.

***

Well sort of, remember that ol' change your clocks..? time to "SPRING FORWARD!" Ya, real easy to do when I am already sleep deprived because of my consistent, interrupted sleep due to my lovable, adorable, chunky lil choo choo -aka the teething baby for the past month. Not a happy camper. BUT, I'm up and awake! Thank goodness for a strong will, coffee and most of all a burning drive to get to church "no matter what!" (using the woman's accent from the orbit gum commercial) -don't worry about the mismatched clothes, half eaten waffle and screaming children, we'll make it!

***

I call it being "un-fashionably-late". Meet you in the back row!

"Bear Cubs Daily" -Hello House, it's me, Mama Bear -nice to meet you.

I have been in denial for the past few weeks that my house needs some attention. Unlike a child who dances and sings loudly in front of you, my home remained on the quieter side. I knew that everytime I looked my living room in the eye, it gave me those sad puppy dog eyes of abandonment. But I kept packing my bags and gathering the cubs and getting the "HEE HAW" outta here.

We have much more fun places to be than at home, cleaning, mind you. Remember a few weeks back? Yep, we still remember the feeling of having "cabin fever". Yikes!

So every chance we get, we find somewhere else to be but home. My home started to feel as though we were strangers, I don't like that feeling, but it still didn't stop me from leaving sounds of screeching tires as I exit out of my driveway. I've realized the more I am present with my children and involved as much as possible, the better we all feel and the happier our family is. No sleep required. J/K! It's one thing I am lacking these days and I'm accepting it. Not sure how nice I am to always be around. Yes, I'm saying it, "I'm Grumpy Mama!"

My house is not going anywhere, we have plenty of time to see each other, face to face of (when I am on my hands and knees, wiping the floors). Time with my children is very valuable as I weigh it all out, plus, I cannot get any of it back. So instead of worrying so much about the crevices of my home and the spic and span cleanliness of my floors, which my children are most likely not going to remember "how clean our house was..." anyway -but our experiences, attention and nurture they're getting seems to outweigh the odds.

Don't worry, my house will get cleaned. I'm just learning that it's ok that my laundry piles just like yours and my floors get dirty just like yours and the list can go on and on, BUT there is so much to show your kids, mainly, your attention. SO, see my house did get clean afterall and it didn't take me stressing over it and shoving my kids in front of the TV so I could do it. Don't get me wrong, mommies out there, my children like the tube every now and then just like the next kid. It's just watched less and less and some days not at all, because we are getting out more and more. So sorry little house, I love you, but I love being with my little cubs just a little bit more.

This was my reward to myself when it was all done.

mmmmm, the smell of a fresh brewing pot of hot coffee.

-hits the spot!

Life IS good.

We had some friends over for the afternoon and that was worth the hard work of cleaning up just a little. An even better reward to ourselves, good times with good friends. SO, "Let the good times roll.. ."

Puppy Love.
Big Sissy watching out for us.

See? Even the "Circle of Neglect" is lonely without a baby to hold. They have better things to do with their time. Commune with each other and create lovely memories.