The Birth eX-Perience... or 'A Roll of the Dice'

First off, I apologize for my blatant disregard of this blog... I used to like to pride myself on doing little features of local venues, opinions, etc. from a mom's perspective, but I guess you can say I have been a little preoccupied these days. My husband & I are just so blessed and happy to welcome baby girl #4 safely into this world. She was born the last weekend of January, and we are just tickled "pink" to say the least :)

In fact, PINK seems to be a popular color for this family- just a week after our precious bundle was born, my hubby's little sis had her own little girl at one of the larger hospitals in Knoxville! It has been an exciting month for our family. That being said, I have had some time to recuperate and grab a little rest when I can... actually, I can't lie. I am one of those lucky *ladies that have the good fortune to have a Mommy who recently retired. Yes - Granny's here & just in time too! Yes- we are having an adjustment period... because of course Grannies like to do things the 'Granny' way. Yet- I am still so thankful for this, because during the last trimester of my pregnancy, my husband and I got extremely sick, and the kids did too. I don't think I would have lasted so long if my Momma hadn't come to the rescue! Much love out to all the Grannies, Ma-maws, Nanas, and such that always come to the rescue -XOXO!

Having had three previous pregnancies & birth experiences to compare, I can definitely tell you this little nugget of truth is certain- No two pregnancies or birth experiences are exactly the same! So don't let your friends scare you with their own terrifying nightmare ER stories... Don't let your Momma wig you out about her 36 hours of excruciating labor to bring you into this world, or your sister freak you out with her thousandth telling of the OMG- 'my water broke in Walmart' story. You are your own individual being, and the same goes for your birth process as well. And if you are like me and have had four individual birth processes, then you will soon find out that each one is going to be its own unique experience as I assuredly found out with this past pregnancy.

My overall pregnancy went well- aside from the crazy illnesses going around this past winter, everything from my oldest bringing strep home from school 3 times in a 4 month period, to H1N1 (which also came through my place), to bronchitis, let's see throw in some crazy bacterial infection, a little bit of sinusitis... some nasty hospital trips... Well, I think you get the idea. Folks- the illnesses going around out there are SCARY! It was enough to almost turn me into a Howard Hughes disciple at the end of my pregnancy... I was wearing gloves in the supermarket so I didn't have to touch the buggy, spraying Lysol everywhere- lucky I didn't poison myself or the kids with cleaner!! UGLY stuff. Anyway, as far as weight gain- I only picked up about 11 pounds, a triumph because this is the least amount of weight I have ever gained during a pregnancy. Which is odd, since this is the BIGGEST baby I have delivered so far!! My first pregnancy tipped the scales with a whopping 60 pounds gained... I am only admitting this to show that each pregnancy is different. Yikes, with my first baby- EVERYTHING swelled- even my poor little nose!!

Country Mouse VS City Mouse...
Now, I am the first to admit that I am city born & bred. It has taken me some time to get used to some of the differences between big(ger) city living and the country life. One thing that I have wholly come to embrace here is that of my family doctor taking on the role of delivering my babies. I have to say that I love my doctor- he has delivered three out of four of my babies, and he knows me & I know and trust him. I think the most important quality you can have in your doctor, whatever their specialty, is trust. I have confidence in the fact that what he is telling me, is absolutely for my own good & that of the baby. The other thing that is high on the list of important qualities is LISTENING. My doctor never makes you feel rushed, or like you are on his time, he always sits patiently and listens to what I am saying. He is like the old school family doctor who knows my husband & his family (in fact, he was my husband's childhood doc), and has a talent for making you think you are having plain old conversation when in fact he is actually gleaning valuable health-related information from you.

I know that some folks may think my doctor's way seems a bit old-fashioned, and might then jump to the conclusion that his medicine is dated... I think so many of us now have the impression that in order for a doctor's practice to be 'professional' that it should almost be devoid of any trace of a human element. We have gotten used to the totally sterile environment, white coats, office visits strictly scheduled for15 minute increments, and the doctor appears as the great unquestionable totem of birth knowledge. Okay- I am exaggerating a bit... but apparently not much. I have to say that when my water broke, I went right to the local hospital here in Oak Ridge, and my doctor showed up right away. He even spent the night at the hospital because he didn't want to go home and chance not being there for my little one's birth! On the other hand, my sister-in-law's Knoxville OB who came highly recommended, didn't even show up at the Knoxville hospital for her delivery... and neither did the doctor on call for the practice. My sister-in-law had what is termed a "nurse delivery," which I am told is more common than you'd think. The OB that was in the hospital was already in the process of delivering another baby when my sis-in-law was in labor. I was upset by this, but someone told my husband when we were at the hospital, that most doctors don't even want to be called unless the baby is crowning... for me this is too late! If I am crowning- you better be here with a catcher's mitt standing at the ready! My doctor said he didn't want to miss our delivery for anything- he even went so far as to tell his wife he couldn't go away with her that weekend for a quick trip... How's that for dedication! Lucky that my doc was there ready & waiting because my little petunia was a whopping 8 lbs 12 oz & there was a bit of a complication with her shoulders getting *ahem, stuck. If my doctor hadn't been there, things may not have turned out so well for us both. We were both lucky & blessed. Thankfully, things turned out well for my sister-in-law & her baby too.

I will also say that in the 2 1/2 years since my last stay at the local hospital, there have definitely been some changes. The nurses were all very nice and accommodating, some more so than others, but I was not so thrilled about feeling pushed to use medications for pain, sleep, etc. One nurse really tried to insist I take a sleep medication, and I adamantly refused. I don't like to take medications like that unless I absolutely have to do so. Other than that, I really felt that the nursing staff took excellent care of us. They were considerate, kind, and very willing to answer any and all questions that we might have had. The pediatrician also checked in on us & personally reported his findings regarding the baby's first few examinations. A new thing for us was that the babies now have to wear a little monitor that will sound the alarm system if someone tries to take a baby off of the ward without permission. Believe me- it works! I found this out because one day we heard the alarm go off- I thought the hospital was on fire! A nurse ran frantically into our room & shouted, "Do you have your baby?!!" Dumbfounded- we managed to blurt out a yes. That was a CRAZY moment, but comforting to know that your baby is not going to be slipped out of the hospital in a duffel bag! It was a bit annoying though, the little monitor kept slipping, so I'd have the baby sleeping, or feeding, & the nurses would constantly come in to check the little box & rustle her awake again. I often hear a lot of negative reviews regarding our local hospital in Oak Ridge, but while the Labor & Delivery unit may not have had some of the newer amenities as the Knoxville hospital, it has always been beyond adequate for our needs & the nursing staff was just wonderful to our family.

Mmmm... A Healthy, and YUMMY start to the day!

Need something yummy to do with those fresh peaches? Oh my goodness, my husband made peaches-n-cream over the weekend, and I just had some over Special K cereal... It was just SO divine! I have been sick, so my taste buds were a little out of whack this weekend, but this morning I am so happy to say that I was able to savor the sweet flavor!

He used fresh peaches, cut up into wedges, sprinkled with a little sugar, and chilled to perfection in the fridge. Oh they just are SO yummy!

A Proper Fit... Ladies- Get Your Girls a Lift & Keep Your Can-Can Covered at Church!

Let me just begin this with a small disclaimer: Guys may want to shy away from this particular post... but your wives and girlfriends will much appreciate the info. I am about to impart.

Ladies, I am a thirty-something of the female persuasion raised by a woman who was a stickler for proper fashion. Let me explain- my Momma was a business woman of the 80s, in her hey-day, before she opted to take on a career of the heart (she later chose to lend her service to the public school system) she worked a high-profile, high-income career in banking, and boy, did she know how to dress for success! The woman always wore stockings & heels, her skirts and slacks tailored to a length that was just so, the hairdresser was pretty much a second home, and we always, ALWAYS, dressed appropriately for church. Now, I am not by any means the career woman my mother was, but I did manage to take in some of her style etiquette (although she would dispute this point) and apply it to my own life. I am a little more of a free-style personality, a bit more bohemian than my mother would perhaps have abided. However, I do believe that you should dress appropriately for church. I don't mean you have to dress to the nines, church-life these days seems more relaxed than back in the day when I had to don a bonnet and little pinafore dress with tights and black patent leather mary-jane's. I see folks wearing jeans, and nice khaki pants, some shorts... this is all fine, and I do believe that 'come as you are' mentality.

My husband and I are by no means into forcing stiff collars or ruffly dresses onto the girls, but this weekend when we saw a teenager in church wearing cut-off SHORT shorts, that was just a jaw-dropper. This girl was probably around 13-15 yrs of age, and my husband nudged me and whispered, "I'll kill you if you let our girls go out like that... ANYWHERE!" I have seen this little number before, but never at church. Usually we spy this scandalous style out at the mall when the parents have dropped these little ladies off & they are meeting their boyfriends. Ladies PLEASE tell your daughters they are not allowed to wear shorts so short we can see their buns poking out of the bottoms, especially to CHURCH! Believe me, for many young girls this fashion is not flattering unless you are blessed with the gams and backside of Daisy Duke... and that's few & far between! The sad thing is that many times, we have seen these young girls out and about WITH THEIR MOMS wearing things that would make Dita Von Tesse blush. Recently, we were out at a restaurant and a mother-daughter team strolled out, my husband began to gag on his food and point towards the exit- I looked just in time to glimpse a young lady rolling out the door in a dress so short that from behind I could see all of her... ahem, ASSETS! At the time, our waitress saw the commotion at our table and came over to see if my husband needed a Heimlich maneuver or what. We asked her if she had seen what just walked out the door, and she informed us that the young lady was not a lady at all- but a girl aged 10! What was worse, she said that some of the older male waiters had been ogling this girl, and when she informed them of the girl's age, they shrugged as if to say, "So what." You might think that based on how I described this girl's attire that her mom was dressed the same... or worse. Nope! Her mother was prim and polished, wearing her summer white, and looking like she was fresh from a magazine ad in Parenting mag. The mother looked perfect! How then, could she let her 10 year old child go out ANYWHERE in an outfit that a woman 'on the hunt might' wear to a nightclub?! People, PLEASE- you know this is not at all kosher attire for a child of ten, or 12, or 16 even! Not unless you are perhaps considering to further your daughter's early education into the realm of Burlesque. I just remember that my own mother was not a prude, she understood that sexy did not mean baring it all for the world to see, but hinting at the possibility of it. The seduction of a plunging neckling that suggests at the secrets within can be much more appealing than a triangle-top bursting with bosom at the sides and baring the whole thing for free. A proper fitting pair of shorts or slim jeans that flatter your backside can be way more sexy than airing your buns (and sadly some of your flab) out beneath ragged cut-offs. Mothers should be a catalyst for this, we should say to our daughters, 'Look- no way I am letting you out of the house like this. Let's find something more flattering... like this shroud!'

Just kidding, but you get my point. Look, we aren't prudes here, but I think your perspective on appropriate clothing changes once you have children of your own. I know I wore risque outfits, but that was when I was on my own, in my early twenties, and for sure I out of my mother's eagle-eye line of sight!!

Another topic that I have for this post is to promote all the ladies to go out and get properly fitted for a bra. Moms should also take the reigns on this one when daughters get old enough. For families where Mom is not present, Dad might ask a trusted Aunt or female relative to help out on this one if he is too squeamish. Women- here is another little tid-bit- You need to have a proper bra fitting more than one time in your life! Things change- people change, your boobs change! For example, I am pregnant right now, and I have had a terrible time finding a comfy bra that is supportive. I used to like underwire, but now I find it EVIL! This is just my personal thing, some folks swear by it.

A few months back, I went to a reputable big name maternity shop in the mall- and the woman measured my bosom, OVER my padded bra. This method is NOT correct! It resulted in her telling me that I measured as a DDD or F. I suddenly felt like I could easily stand in for Jane Mansfield or move over Pamela Anderson here I come, because she also informed me that by the end of my pregnancy I could be into a size G & have to special order! So for a couple of weeks I went around trying on I don't know how many styles of bra trying to find one that fit properly. Even the ones in the maternity store did not fit well. I even went back again, but the same thing happened. Because she did not take the time to take me in the dressing room and ask me to remove the padded bra, the sizing was incorrect. You might wonder why I wear a padded bra anyway, being blessed with a generous size anyway... For me, it's not for effect, it's to keep certain little things in check! Anyway, I went forth again and tried to find a bra that fit comfortably. Let me tell you something, a pregnant woman is uncomfortable enough- I needed something to keep the girls in-line and happy! As any woman who has had children knows, the bosom, as well as the belly, is affected by the wonderous changes that occur during pregnancy. I needed some darn support! Finally, I decided I would go old school and headed to Belk's, our local department store, and headed over to the lingerie department and sought out one of the lovely older ladies who held the title of 'fit specialist.' I was uncomfortable for about 5 seconds as she requested that I remove my outer clothing and bra, while she did a proper fitting. She took the measurement, and I had picked out a nice Bali brand style that seemed supportive and lacked the wicked underwire that has become popular. I am now in a state of perpetual bliss... or at least my bosom is. I can't believe the difference a proper fitting bra has made in my overall comfort level. I even noticed the difference of how my clothing falls over a proper fitting bra. There is no spillage, or back roll going on, clothes look smooth and streamline, but most of all- I feel GREAT! YAY! So here's my advice to all of you Moms out there- take your daughters out for a proper bra fitting. Get them in the habit of doing these kinds of things from the start will also get them to thinking about paying attention to their breasts from early on, knowing the changes, and also getting a proper exam! Did I mention how much better I feel now?! :)

How A Proper Bra Should Fit:
* The back of your bra should be parallel to the front, in other words- your back band should not feel as though it is riding up on your back.
*I know you dream of looking like Marilyn Monroe, don't we all, but you should not be spilling out over the top of your bra, this is not proper support.
* Your breast should be fully encased in the cup of the bra, this may seem common sense- but think about how many time you bought a cute bra even if you felt the underwire pressing into the underside of your boobage. The underwire should fit against your ribcage
* There should be no wrinkling over the cup of the bra, this indicates that it is too big.
* Your straps should not dig into you, nor should you feel like your oxygen is being cut off when you clasp your bra.

For more helpful tips:
Check out bare necessities
This British Article Is Your Bra Making You Ill?
Or watch this YouTube - Bra Fitting Guide- Wearing the Wrong Bra Size

$5 Off a Family Membership to the American Museum of Science & Energy!

Coupon Katie is running a special treat for the month of May! You can get $5 off a family membership to the American Museum of Science & Energy in Oak Ridge. This year sounds like a great time to get a family membership. The AMSE has had some great exhibits this year, including the popular Crime Lab Detectives, which just ended May 3rd, but don't worry- there's still plenty more to see and do at this cool museum, not to mention it's celebrating it's 60th year as a museum! They're also offering summer camp opportunities. Hey, AMSE even Twitters! Check it out @ twitter.com/A_M_S_E, or you can also find them on Facebook. I had a membership a couple of years ago, and it was really a great deal, especially when I realized that I could visit back home and get the family into the science museum there for free as well- Cool Bonus!

For the membership discount go to CouponKatie's page.

AMSE
300 South Tulane Ave.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
{865} 576-3200
www.amse.org

Somebody Likes Me - I got an Egg Plant for Easter!

I just received the cutest Easter gift from my friend. She gave me an Egg Plant by Cobra Co. that she found at Lowe's garden center. It is a lovely ceramic egg with a snapdragon plant waiting inside. You crack the top, just like a soft-boiled breakfast egg & it already contains both the soil and seeds. Just add water and place in a sunny location! This is a really cool gift idea for your Momsy, the kiddies, your Ma-maw, a good friend... Really, it's so ADORABLY neat-o I think just about anyone would be delighted to find this in their Easter basket!

My camera is sick right now with the fuzzies, but here's a great pic from three swingin' chicks:



Check out three swingin' chicks Egg Plant post for more fun stuff about Egg Plants including a recipe using real eggplants!

A Good Sturdy Pair of Shoes...

I hate to say this people, but I am having a lot of trouble finding what my Step-Dad used to refer to as a 'good sturdy pair of shoes' for my girls. What he was talking about, and what I am so avidly seeking, is a pair of everyday shoes that the girls can wear to school, out to play, or to just stomp around the yard... not sneakers, or flashy dress shoes, just a regular pair of comfortable everyday shoes that go with mostly anything. An alternative to my oldest wearing Hannah Montana tennis shoes all the time... and to hopefully wean my four year old out of her black multicolored star-covered hightop Converse knock-offs that she insists on wearing with everything... Even *GASP* to church!

Although these practical shoes may be made of leather, mary-janes, reddish-brown, or black, they are tried and true, with good soles, and cozy cushy inserts. You know, a pair of shoes that you hated as a kid, but could stand up to a Tennessee tornado... 'cuz honestly that's about the wear & tear my girls will put on them as they run around here like wild-fire!

Why is this even an issue?! I'll tell you why! Because today I dragged all three girls around to THREE different stores in Oak Ridge and I am disgusted with the utter lack of selection & availability of sizes. Here was the cake topper - when I complained at the final store, a BIG name department store that doesn't even CARRY children's shoes, the associate, who I can describe at best as being a little on the moderately snubby side, rolled her eyes and said to me, "Well, this is Oak Ridge..." As if to say, 'Honey - don't you know that Oak Ridge is in some abyss far away from any semblance of meaningful civilization?' I don't think that this is just an Oak Ridge problem. I can tell you that I went to Stride Rite in the mall in Knoxville yesterday & their selection of everyday shoes for girls was almost as well, sad. There were a few more options and colors, but at a real hefty price. Actually, my friend commented that it's the smallest Stride Rite store she's ever seen... and I really would have to agree!

Really, is this such a strange thing for a mother to request- a good pair of sturdy shoes for girls? Have the styles changed so much? Really, I often see such cute shoes in catalogs, or online, but I can't imagine actually buying shoes from either a catalog or online. Ladies, we all know shoes are meant to be tried on & admired in the store. What ever happened to the shoe salesperson waiting on you hand & foot, bringing you endless boxes of deliciously different styles and assisting you in trying them on, like you were Zsa Zsa Gabor?! Okay, I'm sorry, I was in dreamland for a second, things are different here on planet earth now, but it seems to me in the not so distant past, that the shoe salesfolk of my dreams existed... they even brought me those horrid Buster Browns I had to wear as a kid, when my Step-Dad took us to Van, Dyke, & Bacon in Baltimore, and I hated those 'good sturdy shoes!' Now, at most, you tell them what size to bring, there is no fawning over you, they just come & go like ghosts.

Anyway, my girls are fast a-growin', and as my Mom & Step-Dad always say, "You need to wear good shoes. Because if your feet hurt, everything hurts!" I have to agree, of course, because like many fashion conscious women, I know what torturing oneself for beauty is feels like... don't I perform that ritual masochistic act of standing in front of the bathroom mirror in the one-legged flamingo stance meticulously plucking my brows? Don't I wait until 1 0'clock in the morning to hide out in the bathroom & 'dye' my hair to hide all the grays these girls have given me?! Okay, maybe these beauty regimens have since suffered now that I have the three lil' nippers to run after, but in my younger days, didn't I used to try to be cute, teetering around (pre-pregnancy) on 3 inch heels all day... What was I thinking?! Anyway, children are too young to be thinking too much of what's in fashion, right? So then, why ever do they sell high-heeled shoes for little girls? Isn't it bad enough we adults of the feminine persuasion torture ourselves when we get older- why torture your child with shoes that only look cute when standing completely still? I see these poor little girls all the time clodding along in heels thinking, Oof- that's not even remotely cute, that's just plain painful to watch. Look - I am not a stick in the mud! After all, I do have a tattoo & a nose ring... and so what if my husband could probably pass for an extra on Sons of Anarchy, but you better believe when it comes to our girls, it's pink corduroy & denim all the way! Eh-gads, have I turned into my mother?!

If you can recommend a good place to find shoes, please let me know. We like cute shoes, but they must be practical as well, right? We are not going to buy satin froo-froo lacies, and sparklies that'll fall off after one wear... even though my daughters would likely la-la-love them!

Big Goings On in Oak Ridge @ End of February...

Glen Miller Orchestra
Feb 21st 8-11 pm at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge
hfhac.org or call (865) 482-7713

International Fest @ The Children's Museum
Feb. 21st 10am-4pm
childrensmuseumofoakridge.org or call (865) 482-1074

CASA's 5th Annual Barbeque & Bluegrass Bash Feb. 21st 6 pm @ Elks Lodge in Oak Ridge www.casatnh.org or call (865) 425-0888

Girls INC to host 31st Annual Basketball Classic
Feb 28th @ 4pm
www.girlsinc-oakridge.org or call (865) 482-4475

Get Ready for Spring Rowing Season 2009!
orra.org or call (865) 482-6538

If there are any Oak Ridge events I've missed, please let me know, or if there are upcoming local events you would like to see announced for March/April, please let me know and I will be sure to check it out!

New Recycling Program for Oakridgers... Get Ready for the Smart Cart!

I just received a letter in today's mail from the City of Oak Ridge, announcing a new recycling program called RecycleBank. Apparently, on February 16th, we will be receiving a brown recycling cart, dubbed the 'Smart Cart,' and ALL recyclables on the list can be thrown in the cart together... that's right folks, NO SORTING involved!

Here is the real twister - the Smart Cart is actually embedded with an identification chip that will be able to show who is participating in the program. The best part is that RecycleBank is actually a rewards program to encourage households to recycle. You will earn RecycleBank Points for recycling! The more you recycle, the more points your earn. The points are then deposited into your personal account on www.RecycleBank.com and after you register, you can redeem your points at local businesses.

The RecycleBank program officially starts on March 2nd. For more information regarding the Smart Cart & the RecycleBank program, check out www.recyclebank.com or go to the City's website or call: 888-727-2978.

Top 10 Things to Do in Oak Ridge During Winter...

1. Check out the current exhibits at the American Museum of Science & Energy - Now until Mar. 29th "African Americans in WWII."

2. Your kiddies will LOVE the life-size doll house & rainforest @ the Children's Museum.

3. Oak Ridge Public Library for Storytimes - FREE!

4. Check out the cool little shops on Jackson Square.

5. Try EVERY locally owned & operated restaurant in Oak Ridge... at least once!

6. Take the Historic Driving Tour of Oak Ridge...

7. See a play at the Oak Ridge Playhouse.

8. Hike the greenways... on mild days _ FREE.

9. Ride the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train.

10. Listen to a concert at ORCMA.

If you can think of more, please feel free to let me know. If it's fun, I might feature it on an upcoming post!

My Superbowl Sunday Menu

Well, it appears that it is becoming an annual tradition around my house - the big Superbowl Sunday Meal! I think the only reason people keep coming over to my house for this event is really for the Buffalo Chicken Salad, a really great & EASY recipe that I learned from Rachael Ray, here's the actual recipe. It's really been a big hit for the past two years running now. You can really do what you like with this recipe, it's just so versatile. If you want to use spinach instead of romaine, go for it! It's just such a great quickie recipe... and even the guys love it!

We really are watching our budget this year, but still like to have fun with the family! So here is this year's Superbowl Sunday Menu at my house:

Homemade Chili - Three Bean
Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks for the Kiddies
Buffalo Chicken Salad - A Rachael Ray recipe
Salsa, Chips, & Dip
Southern Peach Cobbler from allrecipes.com

I gotta tell you, my cousin who is a big-time cook, actually turned me on to allrecipes.com and now I find myself using it on a regular basis when I am doing my brainstorming for meal planning ideas. There are really some great recipes, a 5 star rating system, and I like that there are critiques so that you can see how people who tried a recipe actually felt about it. I also love the fact that you can print out recipe cards, it's so cute.

That's it- my simple little menu for Superbowl Sunday... really for me it's all about the food & family. For me to do this, it's gotta be quick and easy and VERY yummy, stick-to-your-ribs kinda food...

What Superbowl food favorites do you guys enjoy every year?

bowl of chili image from Free-Stock-Photos.com

Atomic City Mom is Now on Twitter!

Hey All! Now you can follow Atomic City Mom on Twitter! I plan to do a whole lot more blogging this year, including my own reviews on local restaurants, books, interesting products, and family friendly spots... and all my favorite things to do in Oak Ridge.