ispeakmom.com

With the dreaded Enterovirus D68 making its presence in my state, my NICU mommy, post traumatic, germ-o-phobia is rearing its ugly head. Between Entero, Ebola and Chikungunya cases filling my newsfeed and dominating the media, I am all but ready to purchase a bubble for the three of us.

Oct 3

Oct 3 Date Night In!

Since bringing our baby home almost a year ago, the hubs and I have not had a single date night. Sure we have gone to an early dinner here or there with baby in tow, but it's not the same.

Oct 2

Oct 2 As Long as it's Healthy...

"As long as it's healthy"... A term used by many a pregnant mom, daddy-to-be, grandma-to-be and even random stranger. I myself have used this term many times without a second thought. But I must admit, that these once harmless words now sting just a little bit.

Oct 1

Oct 1 A Letter to New Dads from New Moms

Dear New Dad,

I love you. I love the way our baby’s face lights up when you come home from work. I love the giggles that fill our house when you two play together. But I want you to know that this mom thing is harder than I ever thought and sometimes I need your help with a few things.

Sep 29

Sep 29 How to Beat Monday Madness

Mommy Wellness

It’s been a crazy morning! After a fun filled weekend including my son’s first trip to the zoo, we’re exhausted and totally unprepared for the week. The house is a mess and i’m running extra late for our Monday, Mommy and Me class.

Sep 27

Sep 27 The Perfect Saturday Morning!

I have to shout this one from the rooftops as i’m not sure if this anomaly will ever happen again! We just had the perfect Saturday morning! It was the kind of Saturday morning that little girls dream of when they think of what their families will be like one day.

Sep 25

Sep 25 Picky Eater Pointers

When it was time to feed him, I excitedly took out the “yummy” food I had prepared in the morning. I was sure he would eat it this time! I lifted the colorful spoon to his little mouth and… he whacked it away with his hand! Freshly pureed fruit and veggies went flying across the room. His mouth remained clenched and I was exasperated.

Sep 24

Sep 24 Things you should never say to a NICU mom!

“You’re so lucky! You have round the clock babysitters for your baby!” This is one of those “jokes” you should probably keep to yourself. NICU moms would hardly ever think of their situation as lucky and would give anything to be at home with their baby.

Sep 23

Sep 23 Recognizing Preeclampsia

I had no idea I had preeclampsia. My pregnancy had already been so difficult that I missed some symptoms and totally ignored the others. It was fate and God that saved my son and I from the dangers of this life threatening condition.

Sep 22

Sep 22 A Broken Heart Heals Fast

This was it. They unplugged my baby from all of the wires he had been connected to for months and put him in my arms. A part of me wanted to just clutch him tightly and run right out of there. I wished that I could just take him home, but we weren’t there yet. He needed open heart surgery.

Sep 20

Sep 20 It's Mom's Special Day too!

Sep 18

Sep 18 Surviving the NICU Roller Coaster

Our NICU stay felt like a never-ending, roller coaster ride. It was the kind of ride that takes you high up into the sky one minute but then drops you hundreds of feet from a sharp angle the next.

Sep 16

Sep 16 Pump.Pump.Repeat

I always thought I would breastfeed my baby, that’s what good moms do! The thought never crossed my mind that I would have to pump to get breast milk for him, far less give him formula.

Sep 15

Sep 15 Flu Fighter

By law of nature, my husband is away on a business trip and my son has come down with the flu. These things always happen at the most inconvenient times. Now I have no one to wake up in the middle of the night with my neurotic behavior.

Sep 12

Sep 12 Blown Away

Mom Humor

The other day I experienced the phenomenon known as a “blow out” for the first time. While it sounds like something you might ask for at a hair salon, I assure you this was much less pleasant.

Sep 10

Sep 10 "Happy Ending" Envy

It is a heart wrenching thing to leave the hospital without your baby. After a 9 day stay in the hospital, it was time to go home. But my baby was staying behind. At just 2.5lbs and attached to a multitude of wires and cables, he would remain in the NICU for a long time to come.

Sep 5

Sep 5 Doctor Office Blues

Not many parents take their kid to the doctor as much as I do. In addition to the regular pediatrician well visits, we see a cardiologist, gastroenterologist and pulmonologist almost every month. That means an appointment almost every week.

Sep 5

Sep 5 A New Me

Mommy Wellness

Yesterday I finally caved and bought myself a new pair of jeans. Over a year after giving birth to my son I decided that I was done waiting to finally fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans again.

Sep 5

Sep 5 One Grateful Mom!