This Oz Life

... a friend who comes with her Swiffer to clean YOUR floor and with your favorite chicken salad because lunch just doesn't exist these days. ... a mom who will meet you at Babies R Us and the grocery store just to make sure the baby carrier can get from the car to your cart without you having to lift it. Even if the rude cart collector says "Shame on you for making your mom carry that!" Does he really want to know what a postpartum ripped stitch would be like??  (also, … Read more

via In the last 8 days, I have been reminded of the super powers we parents receive with a newborn. Now a newborn plus a toddler (that's extra pixie dust, right?) Without these powers, moms and dads everywhere would either be laying on the floor in a puddle of their own tears (or worse) and children would be running through the streets with dirty diapers, looking for the next adult to take down. The ability to pour a perfect one ounce shot into a bottle as if you've been a bar… Read more

It was very easy to name Larkyn. I had the name ready to use for years, and Matt liked it too. So we knew from the beginning that if we had a girl, that would be her name. It was fun keeping it a secret and letting everyone know when she was born.  If she was a boy, Matt had suggested the name Rhys. When we found out that we would be having a boy this time, I said as we left the ultrasound office "Well, we already have a name, so that was easy!" When Matt replied, "We d… Read more

Home as a family of four! It has been interesting. Nothing too dramatic, but it definitely, DEFINITELY is a team effort. My friends told me that the biggest adjustments would have to be made by Matt, and that is true. When my hands are full, changing Rhys' outfit for the 4th time in a day (how quickly I forgot about that!) and Larkyn wants milk, he has to jump in.  And he has, thank goodness. Big sis has had some moments. She is interested in her baby brother and hasn't said … Read more

Our stay at the hospital was just as fantastic as it was with Larkyn. I am writing this while Rhys is playing with his friends in the nursery for a little bit. This is an amazing place where I can truly appreciate the kindness of others and ease into real life with a newborn. After the delivery, we settled in to our recovery room. The nurses were so sweet to my boy while bathing him. My mom stayed for a few hours, and we had our first visitors!  Ann, Brenda, and Jill all came to see u… Read more

I can't believe he is here. In a way, it feels like I was pregnant forever. I don't mean that in a negative way, just that I got used to that way of life and now everything is foreign in this land of non-pregnancy. Kristy and I talked about this (since our boys are 10 days apart). We are simultaneously thankful that they are here on Earth and we finally get to meet them, but a tiny part of us already misses the comfort of them in our bellies. Maybe we are weird. Anyway, my snu… Read more

I have lots of news to share. First, I tried to rally and come in to teach on Tuesday afternoon, because "my afternoons were a lot easier than mornings". Ha. As soon as I texted my sub and told her that, my happy go lucky feelings went away and I felt like hell again. It was during those 3 hours with my classes that I decided this was enough. So, I am done teaching until May. The only thing I remember about being with my afternoon class that day is that a particular conversat… Read more

Because I didn't grow up with a brother or sister at home, and friends kind of go in and out of life, I have one person who has been a constant my entire life. She and I have shared clothes, traveled the country, been through awful life moments, laughed until we have cried, and now she has become a mother. My niece Kristy has always been the biggest kid-magnet I know. She was put on this earth to be a mom, and I am so happy that the moment came on Saturday, when Henry Joseph was b… Read more

For the last 5 days, I have been a little confused about just what the hell is going on with my body. With Larkyn, I went all the way to her due date without feeling anything remotely close to labor.  And then it only lasted a day and out she came. But every day since Wednesday, I have gotten bouts of "something" for several hours, literally knocking me off my feet and escalating to where I think I might burst out of my skin. Because the pain (in the abdomen and back) couldn… Read more