AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Pampers Dry Max and other evils on the shelf DATE: 5/04/2010 11:39:00 AM ----- BODY:
Bird is at school and Squeak is sleeping in his bouncy seat. He slept on my chest for 90 minutes, but then want to move, so he's vibrating and snoozing, and I have two free hands. Two free hands which should be cleaning something, writing thank you notes, doing laundry, or organizing the boys' clothes for storage - but I'm actually trying to put writing back into my list of priorities, so here I sit.

I have a copy of Healthy Child, Healthy World that I have been putting off reading because I'm scared of all the things I could be doing better for my children. That's so lame. After this week of recalls and dangerous products, I'm thinking it's time to dive into it.

Squeak had almost finished his trial size bottle of Infant's Tylenol that has been recalled. It could have tiny particles - of what, they didn't say - in it or it could contain too much of the active ingredient. Either way, it's not good for him.

Bird had on a Pamper with their new "Dry Max technology" the other day. When I went to change it, he started grabbing the inside of his thigh and telling me that it hurt. I lay him on the changing table, and he began to scream before I could even get his shorts off of him. The blisters on his legs and bottom were unbelievable. I immediately began trying to calculate when the last time I changed him was and starting cursing myself for letting him have a wet and dirty diaper - even though I hadn't done anything different that day than from any other day. I changed him right when I noticed, and it wasn't that long from the last change.

I was mortified and cried right along with him. I stopped trying to clean him up at the changing table and put him straight into the tub. I wanted to make sure he was 100% clean, and rubbing the blisters wasn't an option.

After I put him to bed that night, I noticed a buzz online about Pampers and their new Dry Max diapers. A friend from my LLL group had posted a news story, and after watching it, I started searching for more information. What I found was unbelievable.

Thousands of reports of chemical burns and unusually bad blistering and rashes have been reported with these diapers. I couldn't believe it. The pictures I saw of those poor babies look just like Bird. The bigger than a quarter raised blisters - they were on all of these babies.

No more Pampers for us. I don't care how much that box cost me. I'm not using another Pamper ever again.

So begins my foray into cloth diapering. I tried it with the gCloth inserts for our gDiapers and hated them. They were terrible. But I've got some friends who are willing to give me lessons in all of the other ways to cloth diaper, so we are getting ready to make the switch. And for the times we need a disposable one, I'll be using a Huggies natural or a Seventh Generation diaper.

I feel so strongly right now, that as a mama and a consumer, I have got to start making better choices for my family. Choices based on their well being instead of cost and convenience. I did that for Squeak's birth, and now I need to continue that throughout their lives. I owe it to them to keep them safe and healthy.

It's frustrating to not be able to trust as a consumer.

Labels: , , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 1:24:00 PM EDT Oh, that's so horrible. Your poor guy. It's kind of shocking that those Pampers are still on the shelf. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Renee DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 1:42:00 PM EDT We have had issues with both the tylenol recall and the dry max pampers as well. Little Max kept getting blister after blister with them, and he wasn't going too long between changings, either. I was chalking it up to "acid poo" from having been on antibiotics until I saw the Pampers warning. I am FURIOUS. This sort of thing should NOT be happening in this so-called "developed" country... it just feeds my continuing anti-capitalistic rant. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Magpie DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 1:44:00 PM EDT That totally sucks. Poor kid. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous workout mommy DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 2:53:00 PM EDT ugh, this is awful! poor little guy! Is this just the new version? I've always used pampers and never had problems---but I don't use the cruisers, which I think are the new ones?

i agree--the inability to trust these brands it just awful! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous themsrevolution DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 3:48:00 PM EDT being a smart consumer is even more difficult than usual when you have small children to care for, and often on very little sleep! it sounds like you are being a smart mama, despite these factors. thanks for the heads up about the diapers. i had not heard that but my little bird has had some blistering. so frustrating! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Two Lines On a Stick DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 3:56:00 PM EDT Yikes! That is awful about the Pampers. We use Huggies on Taylor (Target brand on Bailey) but I love the HUggies Naturals. They are sooo soft and they fit really well. I have done cloth diapering on and off. I go through phases where I love it and phases where I don't want to bother. I haven't wanted to bother since Taylor was born but I might get them out again one day. Try Bum Genius :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 8:11:00 PM EDT I was shocked when I heard the Pampers thing. As a cloth diaper mama, I'd always heard the chemicals are bad line but didn't really give it much thought. I can't believe he had blisters!!! I'd be pissed.

Anyway, I'm reading Healthy Child, Healthy World as well. We can chat about it. I just have to keep telling myself that I can't improve everything all at once, but I can do the little things like air out the house and get some houseplants along with the other things I'm already doing.

Can't wait to share our diapering experience with you. Have you read my post about it already? I don't want to repeat what you already know. http://tinyurl.com/573zzs

-Abby

(Is it bad form to a post on my blog in comments? I don't know this stuff. If so, sorry.) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anavar DATE:Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 5:49:00 AM EDT First, you couldn't know Pampers are bad. After all, they have so nice commercials! I can't believe one has the heart to still produce them! Nowdays it's so hard to trust the merchants. And it's even harder to find quality products! Poor little kid... I hope he'll never had to go through this again. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Another battle in the war DATE: 4/01/2010 10:29:00 PM ----- BODY:
I hate cancer.

That's a really stupid thing to say. It implies that maybe someone out there doesn't hate it.

Momma's numbers are down and her scans show improvement. Not enough to get a break from chemo, but improvement nonetheless.

My friend Susan, however, did not have clean scans and is facing another battle.

The thing that makes me so angry is not the cancer itself. It's the freaking inconvenience. Susan has things to do. Great things because she is a freaking genius. Great things because she is an awesome mom. Great things that the world will have to wait on because of cancer.

We're brushing off our Team Whymommy badges. We're remembering when the wall of support started. We're lifting prayers and positive energy.

Keep fighting, SuSu. It's worth it. You make the world a better place.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Imstell DATE:Friday, April 2, 2010 at 12:17:00 AM EDT I think I need a new badge since I moved my blog... :-( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Ilina DATE:Friday, April 2, 2010 at 8:59:00 PM EDT Want to join Team Dirt & Noise in the Race for the Cure? I'm adding Susan to our list, along with my friends Jenn and Jennifer who are mothers battling breast cancer too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Becki DATE:Friday, April 2, 2010 at 10:34:00 PM EDT So sorry to hear Susan is fighting the fight again :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous winecat DATE:Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7:42:00 AM EDT Breast cancer sucks the big one. I've almost made it 4 years after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Fortunately mine was found very, very early (tumor less than 1/4 inch).

I'm almost, yes almost 4 years out - May 6. I'm not a mom but who cares in this ugly battle?

My best wishes to you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10:57:00 AM EDT Thanks. Just ... thanks. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Dear Asshole Who Just Stole My Purse DATE: 1/16/2010 06:16:00 PM ----- BODY:
Dear Asshole Who Just Stole My Purse,

Really? You take purses from the parking lot of a nice city park where families take their children to play? Did you happen to notice that I'm 39 weeks pregnant and toting around a 2 year old? Did it occur to you that carrying a purse too was just too much for me today?

I guess you did, since you stole it right out of my car.

All the cards and checks are canceled. The phone too. I don't carry cash. There is nothing for you there except my address. Which, if you had any decency about you, you would just drop off my favorite bag intact some time tonight. At which point I will forgive you and we'll call things even.

You took the pictures of my son that were on my phone. You took my day planner and all the information on my son's upcoming surgery. You took our evening. You've certainly tested my ability to hold it together.

I hope that you found my blogging business cards and come by for a peek. There was nothing for you to gain by taking my purse. If you happen to be the little shits who were throwing mulch all over the place where toddlers were trying to play, then yay for you. Maybe you feel some vindication because we asked you to stop.

More than likely, you're just some asshole who ruined our afternoon and took my most favorite Holly Aiken bag. Congratulations. I wish I had the pleasure of being around when karma comes back to you and gives it to you good.

Sincerely,
The sucker who forgot to lock her car today

Labels: ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 7:52:00 PM EST That sucks royally. Seriously, WTF?

-Abby

Surgery for C? What's that about? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 8:11:00 PM EST Oh no M. I am so sorry! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 8:22:00 PM EST I feel totally responsible since you wouldn't have been there otherwise. Ugh. Am just sick for you about this. Have had mine stolen before and know the pain all too well. Please call if we can do anything. (This is CSO from PSO's computer) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous nikki DATE:Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 8:59:00 PM EST NO. I can't believe it, Marty. I'm just sickened for you -- so very sorry.

The thief will learn someday that karma's a bitch. I'm sure of it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 9:20:00 PM EST Bastard. If you are going to take a purse, please have the decency to take the money you can find and leave the rest because nothing sucks more than having to go to the DMV. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Brenda F. DATE:Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 3:33:00 PM EST Just be so careful because now they know when you are going to be home and when you have a appointment. I have a friend that just had their house broken into and the police think they had been watching the house.. Well now these assholes know when all of your appointments are.. It would be nice if the police could do a little extra watch on your home while you are away, you never know they might save your belongings or these assholes may have dumped your purse and thought nothing else about it. Just be careful, if these people are brave enough to take a purse out of a car in the day light you never know what else they will do.. Brenda from AZ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 4:21:00 PM EST That sucks!

But Bird? Bird has surgery?

Am dialing you now. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous clifford DATE:Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 11:24:00 AM EST Hell hath no fury like Margaret pissed off... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Holly DATE:Friday, January 22, 2010 at 11:54:00 AM EST Hi Marty,

I read your blog about your purse being stolen. What a jerk! I know I can't get back all the time and memories you lost with your purse but I would love to remake the bag for you for FREE. Please email me or stop by Stitch in downtown Raleigh and we will hook you up.

-Holly Aiken
info@hollyaiken.com
919-833-8770 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Марина DATE:Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 6:22:00 AM EST www.primaloans.com
Any questions about loans? You may ask me – I feel as an expert now! And all what I had to do was to read the information on primaloans.com. I am jut happy that I found this site! It helped me a lot –I made my choice within an hour and tomorrow I will be a happy loan owner. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: I'm THAT mom too DATE: 7/01/2009 10:22:00 PM ----- BODY:
Tonight we toured another hospital and met a group of midwives. They were lovely, and the hospital was alright. I don't think it's what I want to do, but it's still a very viable option.

During the tour, we proceeded to be the family that made all of the first time parents in attendance think, "OH DEAR LORD. What have we done?"

Little Bird was a holy terror. All he wanted to do was get down and run like a mad man. When we put him down, he ran in circles and squealed at the top of his lungs, making it very difficult for the midwife to be heard. If we picked him up, he thrashed about and screamed, "nononononononono" until we put him back down again to run in circles and squeal.

I thought Kevin was going to implode. I thought I was going to collapse.

People stared, and I know they were thinking, at least the ones who were still carrying their first child safely around in their bellies - they were thinking, "I will never let my child act like that."

What they fail to understand is that we weren't letting Bird act like that. Bird was choosing to act like that because he is his own little person. We were trying everything we knew to do to distract, redirect, occupy, or remove him. Only, when we were in the hospital part of the tour, we couldn't remove him because you can't hang out in the hallways. We didn't have a lot of options, and I could only whip out a boob when I had somewhere to sit.

It was his choice to act like a little hellion, and tonight, we failed to find the magic button to make him stop.

We were THAT family. He was THAT child. I was THAT mom.

There is a lot of talk about being THAT mom going on. I hope that you'll click over to Triangle Mamas and read about Susie's recent experiences as THAT mom. It's an awesome lesson in looking at someone through eyes of compassion instead of judgment.

It's also an awesome reason never to step foot in a Whole Foods again. Buy local. Buy fresh. Buy organic. But do it straight from the farmer and the dairies. It's better for everybody, and you won't risk getting treated like dirt from the emo artist lead singer check out people at Whole Foods.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jill DATE:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 10:58:00 PM EDT I was "that" judgemental person before I had kids and had a hard time breaking myself of the habit until my second was born. He is my little walking, talking, breathing karmic retribution. And now I'm "that" mom. Because we're all that mom at one time or another. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Julie DATE:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 11:25:00 PM EDT I'm with Jill. When my daughter came along, I told everyone that my son was my angel and my daughter was my comeuppance. I find myself repeating almost every behaviour with her that I judged so harshly before. It's humbling. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 11:28:00 PM EDT Oh, I've been that mom ever since my little bug was born. Linus has always been a handful. I've actually had "friends" say they fear having a 2nd b/c he/she might be like Linus.

Many moms I know who have only their one sweet little quiet girl child look at the moms of kiddos like mine and they sneer. My only consolation is hoping with all my fingers crossed that they get their very own little wild man when number 2 comes along.

Of course, for you, I'm hoping you get your sweet little quiet girl, at least for a few years. :)

-Abby ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 12:14:00 AM EDT I tried really hard not to judge and I still find myself doing everything to not make some snap judgment.

I am THAT mom. My child, my children, are the ones that scream sometimes. They are the ones that thrash and say no to everything. They are the ones who, while I'm digging in the supermarket freezer, are unbuckling their seat belts and standing up and taking off their shirts. Those are my kids.

And I'm their mom and I'm proud of it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Lawyer Mama DATE:Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 12:41:00 AM EDT Oh yeah. I was a *perfect* mom.

Then I had kids. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 7:23:00 AM EDT I stopped judging moms years ago. There is no reason, like you said he's his own little person. And people, no matter how big or small, are gonna do their own thing.

Don't worry, those that were judging shall soon be judged.

Karma comes round. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Michelle Lynn DATE:Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 7:50:00 AM EDT I was also that judgmental person. And now? I'm that mom. But you know what? I'm a better mom for it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 9:31:00 AM EDT Those "toddler moments" happen at the most inconvenient times, don't they? Always when your focus needs to be elsewhere - doing an adult only thing - pure kid torture!

The lesson is not only have some compassion before passing judgement but to remember we are all in this together. I'd have been the mom offering to take CC for a little walk so you could listen. And then we'd go to the Farmer's Market... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 1:48:00 PM EDT Dude, these things happen. They do.

Whether or not you're THAT mom, you're a GREAT mom. You are. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Ilina DATE:Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 12:23:00 PM EDT I have walked in your shoes. Many times. Welcome to the THAT mom club. Cheers! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 10:36:00 PM EDT I don't think you qualify for THAT mom, M. Those are the ones that somehow view their two-legged weapon of mass destruction loudly wrecking civilization as...cute.

The Committee rules, forthwith, that you showed the proper amount of repentance and shock to not qualify as THAT mom.

This time. :D ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous workout mommy DATE:Monday, July 13, 2009 at 1:17:00 PM EDT I'm "that" mom now too, although my skin has not grown any thicker. I avoid public places with my kids at all costs.

I think we live relatively close to each other (?) and I absolutely LOVED my midwife practice. So much so that I now drive an hour+ to see them now that I am pregnant again. let me know if you need their info. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous thepsychobabble DATE:Friday, July 24, 2009 at 9:12:00 AM EDT I feel like that mom a lot some days. I just think of it as being pro-active in slowing global over-population. B/c you know that after meeting my kids, at least a few people have changed their minds.... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Not permitted DATE: 4/15/2009 04:40:00 PM ----- BODY:
We have permits now for the work about to be done on our house. It took two trips to the office; one to get the paperwork and another to return it. The first trip that Little Bird and I took to the office took a long time because the permits lady was being incredibly helpful. And I don't say that sarcastically. She really was helpful.

The whole time she was meticulously gathering every scrap of paperwork I needed to obtain a permit from the city to even pee in my own yard, I was chasing Bird around the empty waiting room. He was intently interested in the goldfish and the telephone. He refused to be held, and I didn't have the stroller. He also enjoyed the water bottle they had on the floor by the front window - I guess to water their plants.

I kept retrieving him and trying to give him something else to be interested in, but he just kept going back to that damn phone. After every apology I issued to the lady helping me, she would say, "That's alright. He's not hurting anything." Still, I kept him under a tight thumb, because it was a place of business.

Today, I returned with moola and all the paperwork filled in. I also had my Babyhawk in tow. Before we went in the office, I strapped Bird onto my back and handed him his most favorite toy as of Sunday, the wand for the bubbles. He was so much easier to contain while strapped onto my back in his baby straightjacket.

It took forever because of the new lady at the office and because they stop to do whatever else in the middle of what they were already doing. Which is inefficient and annoying. It bugs me when I'm standing right there and yet three phone calls that came in after me get their attention away from what they were doing for me. That's what the hold button is for, people.

After everything was finally completed and we were about to leave, the woman who helped us on the first visit begins to tell me how much cuter my child was today. I honestly thought maybe his hair was brushed or she liked his shirt better or something. I wasn't sure, but then she said,

"Yes Sir, you are much cuter today than you were when you were tearing up my waiting room. I'm glad I don't have to spend all that time cleaning up after you today."

Um, WHAT? Did you seriously just say that to me and my baby? First of all, he didn't tear anything up in the waiting room. I wouldn't allow that. Second of all, I moved the telephone and the water bottle so that he couldn't reach them anymore, and I put them back just like I found them before we left. I even took a once around the room before leaving to make sure that everything was in it's place.

I replied to her, "I'm sure that I put everything back before we left, but I'm sorry that he bothered you."

Then she just said how much cuter he was again.

I guess I really am too sensitive, but she pissed me off. He's a baby for crying out loud. Babies get into things. He's curious and loves to explore. He was just being a baby. And I was just being a mama - balancing letting him be a baby with making sure that we were respectful to their workplace.

There is only one thing I know for sure, and it is that THAT woman? Doesn't have children. And I just deleted the nasty reason why I could have written. I'll keep that to myself.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7:42:00 PM EDT You are NOT overly sensitive! That is beyond rude for her to say to you or to Bird!!
I'm sorry but what a B*tCH!
I am very much the same...my kids stay under a tight thumb and watch when we go anywhere that is not familiar or is in public! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous toddlerplanet DATE:Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 8:34:00 PM EDT Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

It is NORMAL to have children, and children who act like children. Well-behaved children at least. :-)

Sigh.

Think she's passive agressive much? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:07:00 AM EDT That was plain ole rude. I dont have kids and I know that... She was out of line. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Margaret DATE:Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:58:00 PM EDT I hear ya loud and clear. I recently took my 5 year old to a pediatric allergist appointment where I also brought my 18 month old. It is clearly a children's office with toys in the exam rooms etc. My 18 month old was acting like an 18 month old and, like you, I was careful to leave things the way they were when we got there. As I was making a follow up appt. the nurse suggested that maybe I should leave my youngest home next time. Are you kidding me?!! I could only look at her with my mouth and eyes wide open. Whatever. There seems to be a huge problem with intolerant people these days. I'm glad you said something. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 8:48:00 PM EDT What a bitch. How did you ever keep from throwing something at her? Seriously. Kids are kids and there's nothing a mother can do to change that so they're gonna leave a mess in their wake. Deal with it, lady.

-Abby ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Nicki DATE:Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 9:14:00 PM EDT Well, that was rude of her! How much damage could a little kid do in a waiting room, anyway? Unless he was armed with a permanent marker or something! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Magpie DATE:Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:44:00 PM EDT I think the word for her begins with B and rhymes with itch. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:53:00 PM EDT I would have been irritated too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 1:07:00 AM EDT Love ya Mar-tay, but yep. You are too sensitive. The lady was just trying to find something somewhat dryly witty and cute to say to you. Feet tend to contact moufs when that happens. Relax dude.

Speaking of which.

It's Super Bulldog Weekend. Where the heck doth you be at? I am eating your hotdogs as we speak. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah DATE:Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 8:59:00 AM EDT I agree. She does not have children. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 12:22:00 PM EDT Oh my, this is very fitting with a post I am working on regarding a recent trip to Duke Gardens. You are not being over-sensitive (she was) and if you are, you are in good company! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Reason enough for a new camera DATE: 6/26/2008 10:05:00 PM ----- BODY:
Yesterday was not the day Christopher turned five months old. Today is. I just don't ever know what day it is anymore.

Today's post was going to be some sweet pictures of me and Christopher on the tree swing in our backyard. Kevin* had taken them this afternoon. We take pictures on every month birthday.

Here's what you get instead. Because the damn camera didn't have a memory card in it. You would think a camera as nice as the one Kevin has would tell you when it didn't have a memory card in it. But it doesn't.

Of course I am extremely upset by this, and Kevin thinks this is funny. My main function in life, after all, is to provide amusement for him.

He said we could just take some more tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Is not Christopher's five month birthday.

Mr. Smarty Pants then proceeded to point out that neither was yesterday, but I said it was on my blog. So why couldn't I just be confused again tomorrow, take some more pictures, and everything would be fine.

He's lucky he's cute.

*Meet Kevin. He's my husband. Since I've dropped the pseudonyms at Deep South Moms, I figured I might as well drop them here too. Oh, and me? I'm Marty. Nice to meet you.

Labels: , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Friday, June 27, 2008 at 9:39:00 AM EDT Well, let's hope Christopher won't change too much overnight. Nice to meet you Marty - although I may still always think of you as Canape. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Andria and Co. DATE:Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:01:00 AM EDT You know, the pseudonyms always mess me up. I end up calling people by them off of blogs. I once thought about using pseudos, but, then I realized that the people I wanted to run from would always find me.

Does your camera have a backup memory? Mine will hold 10 pictures when the disk isn't in. That sucks about the pictures! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 12:42:00 AM EDT If the camera didn't warn you then you should be able to put a card in and transfer pictures to it. I say should because I don't know what kind of camera it is and things like that seem to not go the way you want them too.
When my daughter was born the hospital lost her newborn pictures. I was so upset because she was a couple of weeks old before they old me and I hadn't taken her anywhere for pictures yet because I was sure I had newborn ones. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous k. DATE:Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 1:58:00 PM EDT I kept thinking who's Kevin?! And why doe she think he's cute?!
I would have never have guessed him as a "Kevin". My brothers name is Kevin, awesome name! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Liz DATE:Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 5:26:00 PM EDT happy five months to christopher and his fine folks.
typing one-handed in brooklyn... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Fancy Pants DATE:Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 6:17:00 PM EDT Amusement, food, and beer! Glad that you know your place in my life. :)

Kevin and Christopher are awesome names. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 2:36:00 PM EDT Happy 5 months sweet boy! (And I'd have totally been upset too) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Monday, June 30, 2008 at 7:14:00 AM EDT Hi Marty.. I'll always call you Canape too... :) and no Kevin - it's Guy! I'm gonna be all confused.

5 months really? DAMN! He's getting old! hee..hee. NOT! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Stupid rotten weekend end DATE: 5/26/2008 09:16:00 PM ----- BODY:
Mastitis is mean.

Now that Bird and I are finally nursing like a team, we've switched our nighttime feedings to the side lying position. I was getting more sleep at night, he was enjoying sleeping right up next to me, and all seemed to be good.

Unfortunately, the side lying position leaves me with clogged ducts by the morning. Twice now, these clogged ducts have developed into mastitis before I can get them unclogged.

It hurts. I get a fever. It feels like the flu, and it feels like someone kicked me in the boob really hard. I don't like it.

That was the first half of the weekend. The second half of the weekend consisted of Guy getting a ticket in my Jeep because I totally forgot to renew the registration. It was due in January. I was a little preoccupied and never got around to it. It couldn't be me that got the ticket though, it had to be him. Fair.

Topping it all off? I got one of my high school students to come take care of the dogs while we were away a few nights. I was paying him to come over four times a day. He was to let them out, feed them, play with them, and clean up any messes that poor old Pupstar might have made. She's older and has a bladder issue. It's mostly controlled with medication, but she still has the occasional accident.

I don't know what he did, but it wasn't what we agreed on. We came home to a total disaster. The dining room floors are ruined because dog pee soaked into them. There were days of dog mess all over the floors. We could tell by how much food was left that he hadn't been feeding them. How we knew he had been there at all was because the door to the music studio was open when we had left it closed, thereby allowing the dogs to pee and poop in that room as well.

When I called him, he said that he had been here that morning and there was no mess.

I don't know what to do about that. He isn't being honest. I've taught him for almost 10 years, and I love him dearly, and now he isn't being honest with me. There were days of mess in the house. Days.

It's so very disappointing.

And Guy's floor? Ruined.

I will have to talk to the boy more about this. I haven't paid him yet, and I'm waiting for him to tell me how many times he came over until I do. I think I'm going to pay him based on his word even though I'm pretty sure he is going to lie to me again.

I expected so much more from him. I've always gotten so much more from him. It could just be a stupid teenager mistake.

But Guy's floors. And my poor dogs who missed I don't know how many meals, missed their medication, and were relegated to pee and poop where they knew they shouldn't. They tried. It was all up next to the back wall of the house - as close to the backyard as they could get without being able to be there.

So disappointing.

In a way, I'm really glad this weekend is over. Another post is due about the wonderful parts of the weekend. There were many wonderful parts. But tonight is just for the whining.

Labels: , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:08:00 PM EDT Bummer.. I am sorry there was anything to whine about but am anxious to hear the good. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Two Lines On a Stick DATE:Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:49:00 PM EDT Dude, I wouldn't freaking pay him for that. That's just cruel to the dogs, and shows a lack of respect for you. He doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt on this one :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 3:51:00 AM EDT I don't think I'd pay him the full agreed upon amount. He didn't do the full job, so he should be paid accordingly. I'd make it a point to talk to him with his parent there though. So that they know WHY you aren't paying him the full fee. I'd bet that they will realize that your right, especially when you show them the ruined floors, etc. Poor pups and poor you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:02:00 AM EDT I have a friend who paid someone to take care of her lab and her labs puppies while they were on vacation. The puppies were starved half to death (one actually died) when they got home because he didn't bother to take care of them either. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:02:00 AM EDT I am so sory that he did that! I wouldn't pay him the full amount. I hope he fesses up. Those poor puppies! Damn him!

Glad there was some fun in there though! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Patience DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:35:00 AM EDT Don't pay him! He didn't do the job, he knows he didn't do the job! He should be over cleaning up the mess!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous the new girl DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:36:00 PM EDT Oh Canape,
That's so terrible. I don't think I'd pay him either, really.

Horrible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 4:47:00 PM EDT Oh, NO! I feel so horribly guilty for taking you away from the dogs this weekend. Poor babies. It must have been just awful to come home to that.

Are they recovered?

(I think you should come back here immediately to recuperate. Oh, wait. That won't help. Maybe we should all get away WITH the dogs and kids. Ahhh, I'm dreaming of that already.)

Miss you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:35:00 PM EDT Kick him squarely in the jimmies. SQUARELY. Dog poop and pee in hardwood floors. Ugh. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous annie DATE:Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 5:47:00 PM EDT I feel for your pain (mastitis). It's always been a barometer for me. Clogged ducts. They're a sign I've reached a bit too far and need to spend some time in bed with the baby. My husband has learned to take them as a form of marital communication. ;) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Who exhumed Kathie Lee and put her back on TV? DATE: 5/07/2008 09:14:00 PM ----- BODY:
Heather doesn't need another person defending her. I'm sure she can stand her own ground just fine. Plus, there are plenty of us out there who love her, and I'm sure she is used to the occasional rude person.

So I won't defend her. She does it quite well with this beautiful post.

However.

Kathie Lee Gifford is a complete git.

Her "interview" of Heather on the Today show this morning was the worst excuse of journalism I've ever seen. Even for a morning news show.

Starting out by bragging about how little she know about computers and how she doesn't even know what a blog is? That is just plain rude when you are interviewing a blogger. She should have done her homework and found out what a blog is. She should have pretended to have some knowledge on the subject.

Instead? She stumbled around a few questions, barely let Heather answer them, and then interjected her unfounded reservations about how Heather blogs about her daughter and posts her pictures.

It might have had some semblance of relevance if Kathie Lee had done that homework and read Heather's response to that accusation. She wouldn't have tried that line of attack, for sure.

It also might have had some semblance of relevance if Kathie Lee hadn't spent years on television sitting next to Regis boring the world with stories about her children.

Instead? She hadn't read it, and when Heather tried to respond on air by pointing out that Kathie Lee takes her children out into public where strangers see them everyday, Kathie Lee interrupted her to gloat about how she did not, in fact, live in New York City.

Then she tried to segue that into outdoor furniture.

She was a trainwreck.

And she looks like something that CSI had to put back together before placing her in front of the TV cameras again.

So even though this isn't something that she will ever see, I'm posting my support for her right here. Thanks, Heather, for sharing your family and your thoughts on motherhood with us.

And the pictures of Chuck. Because I love those.

Labels: ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous PunditMom DATE:Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10:05:00 PM EDT "Exhumed" is right -- both her body AND her brain, such as it is. The worst excuse for a morning host EVAH!!

WTF was NBC thinking?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10:24:00 PM EDT You are so right on with this post! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Andria and Co. DATE:Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10:28:00 PM EDT I wonder if Kathie Lee was pretending to not know what blogs are- for the sake those who might not live in the age of computers.
Then, I remember what an idiot she is, and I wonder WHY anyone let her back on TV. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous RedBullMom DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:11:00 AM EDT I initially read your post on SV Moms Blog. I couldn't have agreed more with every point you called out. So, I popped over here and got what I was seeking...more of the same critique I found unintentionally running through my mind all day long. KLG was a poor, poor excuse of a journalist today. And a hypocrite of a human being to boot. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous DC DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 1:38:00 AM EDT You said "git." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Liz DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 8:17:00 AM EDT i was actually EMBARRASSED for Kathie Lee.
i CRINGED.

...and yes, "exhumed" is right! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 10:37:00 AM EDT I just watched the clip this morning and had these same thoughts. Kathie Lee is an idiot and a pathetic excuse for a journalist, but I think most people know that. Heather was gracious and well-spoken and I thought represented "mommy bloggers" admirably! Right on with this post. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous singdenver DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 3:29:00 PM EDT For real. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous dana DATE:Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 6:19:00 PM EDT I was cringing during the entire interview. I was also wondering how Kathie Lee was going to work in a mention of her son CODY while discussing Leta. I wonder what knowledge Kathy Lee knows on the producer that got her back on the air?

Heather did great, but it could have been better if it had been more about HEATHER and less about Kathie Lee. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, May 9, 2008 at 6:25:00 AM EDT omg.. someone please send KL a computer that will jump up and eat her while she is sleeping, because you know, that's what they do!

Train wreck is right!

And Chuck rocks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous mobrian32 DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 10:02:00 AM EDT I not a blogger but I love posting anything anti-KathyMee. She's an opportunistic narcissist. I don't know who told her she had talent but she's she doesn't. She's not a trained journalist and therefore never asks pertinent questions. Her main motivation in life is letting the "world" know what a FANTASTIC human being she really is. All her charitable work is for self angrandisement.

She's a liar because she actually has a blog on NBC. I know she puts her kids out there any time she can worm it in.

In a nutshell, she's a talentless liar and hypocrite. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Thinking twice about Johnson & Johnson DATE: 3/20/2008 09:26:00 AM ----- BODY:
Late to the game again. I stay about a day or two behind in blogland these days. But if you haven't heard, Johnson & Johnson is holding a little getaway called "Camp Baby" for the influential mommybloggers. People you read probably got invited and will have a lovely time at some sessions on how to braid hair and parallel park their minivans. Whatever.

Aside from the carcinogens that Johnson & Johnson likes to use in their products, I now have another reason to hate them.

Julie, over at Mothergoosemouse, was dis-invited from this little soire once they found out she was planning to bring her baby. To Camp Baby. Go figure.

Oliver was born just a few days before Christopher and is breastfed.

So no Camp Baby for Julie.

I do not understand though, all of the remaining willing participants. Sitting around and writing about how uncool it is that they dis-invited a nursing mom from Camp Baby is one thing. Everyone still showing up and having a lovely time at hair braiding and minivan parking? That shows them nothing. That shows them that they can totally get away with this.

We are so quick to boycott Myspace and Facebook when they censor pictures of breastfeeding mothers. What about now?

Julie is very polite and states that she understands that J&J is hosting and setting the rules, so she will play by them. Well, the same thing can be said of Facebook. It's their website, so play by their rules and don't post breastfeeding pictures.

I really hope that at least a few of Julie's friends and moms who care about breastfeeding reconsider Camp Baby. And while you're at it, be sure to read some of the ingredients of the J&J stuff you might be slathering all over your baby. J&J and their products are all full of crap.

Labels: , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous mothergoosemouse DATE:Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 1:02:00 PM EDT Canape, thank you. But I honestly want my blogfriends to attend and have a great time.

First, they deserve it (and I wish more of them could be invited). But also, I'm willing to give Lori - J&J communications - a second chance. She really seems to care about rectifying the situation and has taken full responsibility for this situation.

Now Facebook, on the other hand, is led by an arrogant, immature, unresponsive CEO who has demonstrated little to no interest in taking responsibility for his mistakes. I'm not missing my Facebook account one bit. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous MB DATE:Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 4:32:00 PM EDT I am with you, Canape!!

It will be interesting to see what kind of blog posts come out of those attending the event. I think you would feel obliged to say nice things about them after going on an all expenses paid trip. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous twolinesonastick DATE:Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 6:35:00 PM EDT This is the first I've heard about the whole thing... I think I've been really out of touch lately :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Christine DATE:Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 7:41:00 PM EDT I am going, and am looking forward to the retreat - That is what it is, after all. I have a 7 1/2 month old (as well as five older kiddos) who I will be leaving with my very willing husband. I will also be pumping the entire time I am gone, as Baby Noah only drinks breastmilk. J & J have made it clear that we are not at all required to blog about the event. I'm sure they do know however, especially now, that "mommy bloggers" TALK... Look at all of the exposure they are already getting!! (Yes, even from YOU!) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mamma DATE:Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 11:02:00 PM EDT Some of these companies are having a difficult time figuring out how to approach mommybloggers--that's for sure.

In the meantime, I'm more concerned about the fact that I didn't know about the carcinogens. Going to read now. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Friday, March 21, 2008 at 4:10:00 PM EDT Canape, Thanks for saying exactly what I was thinking. I don't use J&J products on the kids because of the contents and I tend not to go anywhere my kids are not welcome. We once did not attend a good friend's wedding because I was nursing and the baby was not invited. While I don't think folks should necessarily boycott the event, I do think J&J may want to figure out better ways to handle future events. After all, not planning on nursing moms? That was a silly mistake turned into a PR nightmare. It simply makes them look BAD. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous mamma knows DATE:Friday, March 21, 2008 at 10:11:00 PM EDT What the heck, I HAVE been slathering these products all over my daughter! Did everyone know about this but me?! What are all of you other mothers using for baby soap and lotion? What is safe?!
HELP! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Monday, March 24, 2008 at 6:06:00 AM EDT Very interesting. Was not aware of all that.. and that does strike me as odd that they would not want a mommy to bring their baby. Interesting to see what happens from here. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Because I can't believe it myself DATE: 2/22/2008 02:35:00 PM ----- BODY:
At the pediatrician's office today:

Doctor: I don't see any signs of thrush.

Me: Are you sure? Because my breasts hurt so badly. Like I would rather be in labor again than have my breasts hurt this badly.

Doctor: And you're sure you want to continue breastfeeding?

Me: (after initial stun of question wore off) Absolutely I do, and I will.

Doctor: Well, they're your boobs, not mine.


OH MY DEAR GOD. He actually said those exact words to me. Perhaps I am still hormonally sensitive???

Or PERHAPS NOT?

Please. Weigh in. Would you be taken aback if your older than dirt pediatrician actually taunted you about your persistence in breastfeeding? And used the word BOOB? I mean, I use it all the time, but the letters M.D. don't follow my name either.

Let's discuss, shall we?

And you don't have to tell me to get a new pediatrician. It's already in the works.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Heather @36 balloons DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 2:48:00 PM EST One of the ped's our practice is just that nonchalant about preserving the breastfeeding relationship. Very irritating! Have you looked through kellymom.com for ideas? I thought I had thrush with my first, but it turns out she just had a crappy, lazy latch and was using her jaw instead of her tongue or some such nonsense and my nips wanted to run away from the torture. It got better. Hoping for the same for you. You rock! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 3:44:00 PM EST Im sorry he was so flippant and hope you can figure out why you hurt. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous TheMusingMommy DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 3:58:00 PM EST delurking to comment...

I find it so hard to believe when members of the medical community play down breastfeeding. It is SO AGGRAVATING. If I could, I would send you my lactation nurse. She's the best...when I run into her at the grocery store she takes time to find out how it is all going.

We had breastfeeding issues in the beginning too. My daughter wouldn't latch, and it took a lot of (literally) hands on work to teach her. We used the supplemental nursing system, as well. But after a couple of weeks it got better.

They say the first 6 weeks are the hardest for breastfeeding. I found after the 4th week it was smooth-sailing. I'm still nursing her (just before bed) and she's 17 months now.

So good luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 5:42:00 PM EST First 6 weeks are horrible, but keep it up! If our ped. said that to us, we too would be getting a new Dr. I thought we had thrush, and our Dr. saw no evidence, but suggested several things I could do, none of which included quitting breastfeeding! You have my support. Keep it going, and have that lactation consultant come back out to check on your latching and for thrush, sometimes the baby has no symptoms... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anth DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 6:46:00 PM EST Um, yeah, I would think it was really weird if the ped used the word "boobs." And was so nonchalant and unsupportive of me continuing to bf. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous the new girl DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 8:13:00 PM EST Not that you asked for stories but I had MASSIVE NIPPLE HURTAGE and her latch was fine, it's just that she was clamping down from an overactive letdown.

I know that may not be your issue but the lactation consultant will probably be more helpful than your asshat pediatrician in figuring out the problem. She will certainly be more supportive than your asshat pediatrician.

It boggles my mind that they know next to NOTHING about breastfeeding, really. They honestly don't. Your determination and your lactation consultant are all you need to do this.

Your conviction that you're doing what's best for your beautiful son is what makes you a great mom.

And yeah, they ARE your boobs. Damn right they are. lmao.

Did I mention that I think he's an asshat? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:12:00 PM EST I can't believe he said that. Breastfeeding can be off to such a rough start and it GETS BETTER, much better. WOmen need encouragement!

Anyway, I had a horrible yeast infection in my breast when I nursed my daughter (who did have thrush) and it was like she was suckling on my breast and there was a horrid piece of glass deep down inside. If that had been my first nursing experience I would have stopped. Hope it's not what you have.

My OB gave me an oral pill (1 day) for a vaginal yeast infection (which I didn't have) and it cleared it up pretty well.

Best best of luck to you.
Maybe find a lactation consultant... but not one that's too militant! :)
C. B. in NY ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous sunraysnsaturdays DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:23:00 PM EST Whoa. That man needs a new profession. Asshat. Hope you figure out what is going on so you can get some relief. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous FENICLE DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:37:00 PM EST Although I understand his point...that he can't tell you what to do...it was a rather inappropriate way to get his message across!!! Geez. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 10:08:00 PM EST If any of you (CB in NY!) are back reading comments, could you tell me if your baby was treated too? Or just you?

Right now, I'm just taking the oral medication you mentioned, C.B., but I'm worried that we're not also treating Bird.

Any insights? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 10:29:00 PM EST Did you burn four-letter words into his forehead with your eyes or what? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mutt DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:08:00 PM EST Seems a little casual to me.

Breastfeeding is hard and it surprised me how little help those in the medical profession were. We did find an incredible lactation consultant through our local childrens hospital. She spent over an hour listening to us and watching me try and then really helped us.

Hang in there. As much as you can give him is great for him. If you can't go for a year (or longer, I don't know your thoughts on that) then at least you know you gave every drop you had.

I had very few supporters, but my husband was great and we just kept going as long as we could. We made it to about 10 or 11 months and switched to formula.

Again, I think it's great your doing this for bird. It's so hard with the recovery, no sleep, sore boobs, and all the other issues. Congrats to you!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Beautifully Unique DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:14:00 PM EST Hang in there girly, you are doing a great job and your Dr. should be slapped in the mouth.
Just a little FYI, when I had thrush, we BOTH had to be treated. We did Nystatin and it worked great. Best wishes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous toddlerplanet DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:31:00 PM EST Bee-zare. If our pediatricians don't support us, who will?

Oh, yeah. Lac consultants. Love them.

I'm seconding the hurtful latch idea and suggesting making some LLL buddies locally too ... others may have reservations, but I mostly found them WONDERFUL. Christopher could also just have a very strong suck, which could be hard for awhile.

Breastfeeding is SO important, for mom and baby, but it is also SO hard for the first 4-6 weeks.

Good for you to keep going. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Cher DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 6:15:00 AM EST I would be so completely pissed, and probably not polite enough to NOT say something to him right on the spot!
Its been many moons since I breast fed, but my mother gave me a set of nipple guards. They are little plastic sheilds that fit over your nipple area and help the baby latch on better. Maybe seeing if you can find some? Like I said, it's been a while (like since 1984) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 7:57:00 AM EST Hi C-
This is CB (Carin) in NY. Yes, baby was treated too-- a goo to squirt on her cheeks inside. Her thrush was obvious-- white patches on the insides of her cheeks and back of her tongue. The medication was for both of us-- I was supposed to rub it on my nipples also, which I did.

I'm not a doc, but I had been timid enough with physicians to just do what they said-- no more. If you think your baby has thrush, get a second opinion. If you don't trust your pediatrician (with good cause it seems!)or even just feel wierded by him get another. If you think you have a yeast infection in your breast, find someone to take you seriously. It frikkin hurts!!!

I found a serious problem was, no physician seemed to think my breasts were their area of responsibility. Seriously! Because I was nursing, my breasts became this third entity!... my OB thought the pediatrician should do something. My pediatrician said I wasn't her patient. My general practitioner helped me, but thought the OB dropped the ball (I agree).

Best, best of luck to you. I even nearly bought gentian violet http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/breastfeeding/a/gentian_violet_2.htm to treat my sore breast, even though it might turn your breast-- and baby's mouth-- purple for a while. But, the oral yeast pill did the trick for me, so I never attempted the purple cure. :)

Take care!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 9:51:00 AM EST A new pediatrician is definately a must have. Wouldn't you walk out if your gynecologist told you he/she needed to see your boobs? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous useless_rambler DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 10:57:00 AM EST I just emailed you (off of the picture link email) and forgot to change the subject so as to get your attention...

check it out...

Good luck!!!!

j ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous KimmieRo DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:05:00 PM EST Treat Bird too. You can pass it back and forth otherwise. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous ~JJ! DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 1:33:00 PM EST I can't believe he called them Boobs. He's a professional. Or supposed to be.

Since you are already on the path to a new ped. All I can say is do what is right for you...If you can get over the pain threshold until it becomes comfortable for both of you, do it....

However, I have no idea about breast feeding we couldn't do it.

Good luck Mamma. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Paige Jennifer DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 9:20:00 PM EST Apparently Bedside Manner 101 was not part of his medical school education.

(1) Find a new pediatrician.

(2) If there are multiple physicians in the practice, I'd eventually pen a letter explaining why you left. Sorta similar but I had a doctor with a cunt for a receptionist. And when I relayed how she handled his patients, he was aghast. Doctors are doctors but they also are a business and the less people who come in the less money they make. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 11:19:00 PM EST Okay... so I'm totally a lurker... but I wanted to offer up an unlikely possibility.

I thought I had thrush because my breasts burned and itched and were red and swollen and my nipples were always sore. I kept smearing myself with Lansinoh, because baby didn't have thrush and I just figured they were irritated from nursing 24 hours a day.

After consulting with a lactation consultant, turns out, I was allergic to the "hypoallergenic" lanolin ointment. Within 24 hours of stopping using it, I felt 800% better.

I think this is super atypical but I bring it up just in case. I know you have a lactation consultant, so you probably don't need my second hand advice. :) Hope things get better for you two soon! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Momma B DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 12:19:00 AM EST I would have probably bitten his head off. That's terrible! You might want to check with your OB/Midwife. Snugglebunny had very obvious thrush and we battled it for over a month, but there were times during that period when she didn't have it and I still did. We both got treated with nystatin, her with a liquid and me with a cream. I hope your new PED is more supportive! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Andria DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 6:54:00 PM EST No words. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Space Mom DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 8:15:00 PM EST Dude, that is SO wrong. Boob is not acceptable for doctor....

Sigh.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:26:00 AM EST I definately don't have the experience you or most of your commenters have, but it doesn't seem right to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous sltbee69 DATE:Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:44:00 AM EST Delurking to say that pedi needs to retire. And yes, if it is thrush bird needs to be treated as well or you'll never get rid of it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous VDog DATE:Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 1:38:00 AM EST OHmahFG!!

My jaw would have been on the floor. KUH-RAZY.

I am so sorry that happened to you!

I've always read that you need to treat both mom & baby.

If it is a latch/other problem, I love, love, LOVED my nipple shield (Medela small size, if ya need to know, heh). We used it until 3 months, and then weaned off of it. By then their mouths are larger and suck is more effective. And they've learned correct mouth positioning from the shield (easier to manipulate their mouths on the silicone than on skin).
The only drawback is when you're out and about and have to put it on -- I carried mine in a 4 oz tupperware or specimen cup (seriously) everywhere I went.

Good luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Lilith DATE:Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 10:31:00 AM EST Find a lactation consultant, they know their stuff. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous The Mommy DATE:Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 8:44:00 PM EST That's SO uncool! I can't believe he said that to you! Pediatricians should try to encourage breastfeeding! My gosh! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Certainly not an ad for SanDisk memory cards being that they are complete pieces of crap apparently DATE: 1/09/2008 10:43:00 PM ----- BODY:
Guy and I had some pictures done in mid December. Couple shots and maternity shots. We didn't have a wedding, so there are no wedding pictures. We wanted some good pictures, so we hired this guy to take some.

It was a gamble. His work is really quite good, but he had never done maternity shots before. We didn't want the heart around the belly button shot anyway, so we opted to go with him for his portraiture.

When he asked if we needed the pictures before the holidays, we said "no." What I didn't figure into that was him waiting until now to actually take said pictures off the memory card and try to load them.

Email tonight said this:

"I'm afraid I've got some bad news about the photos..."

They are ruined. Something about the memory card and noise and whatnot. There are no pictures. He wants to come and reshoot them this weekend.

Here's where the not hiring a maternity photographer is coming back to bite me in my ever expanding ass. There is a HUGE difference between a 34 week pregnant woman and a 38 week pregnant woman. I am enormous. Shirts don't cover my belly. My face is starting to swell. I don't glow anymore, I just flat out sweat. I'm no longer in the mood to cuddle up to Guy and smile for a camera.

And by the time I am in that mood again? I won't be pregnant anymore, and I will have missed my chance at having maternity shots of this pregnancy with Little Bird.

My friends have told me tonight to let him come back. Get the pictures. That I will regret it if I don't. I know they are right. But something just doesn't feel authentic about it.

It was such a good day. We had just brought Gibson home. The house was all decorated for Christmas. Guy and I had snuggled in that morning and skipped church to get ready for the photographer. The light was right. The mood was light.

I just don't know that it can be recreated. I certainly don't trust him anymore.

He should have checked those pictures that day. Even if he didn't clean them up and get them to me until now, that would have been fine. But he should have checked them that very day. Stuff happens. Things break. Equipment malfunctions. Fine. But to have waited this long to find out? For all he knows, I've already had this baby. I should email him and tell him I have and see what he says.

I've at least decided not to email him back tonight. I tried, but I couldn't keep myself from typing things that I shouldn't say. Especially if I decide to have him come back. Having him come back after calling him all sorts of adjectives that might come before moron probably isn't a great idea.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Lisa DATE:Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 11:10:00 PM EST I am so sorry the pics didn't turn out. That sucks.

I have an idea for Susan but don't have your e-mail. Can you e-mail me at motherofbun@yahoo.com Want to run it past you... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 11:36:00 PM EST Oh I would be furious. There's no excuse for that. You go ahead and be nice to the guy and invite him back--or someone else. Us mommybloggers will be mad FOR you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Michelle Lynn DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 8:03:00 AM EST Oh that SUCKS. Idiot photographer. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 8:13:00 AM EST Oh, I am so sorry! That is very disappointing and you're so very right about the differences between 34 weeks and 38 weeks. But I bet you'd look great regardless!!
I also understand what you mean about waiting to type...I usually don't wait and everything comes out! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous eliz the sil DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 9:27:00 AM EST Man that totally sucks. I wish fertile mertile/girl could fly to NC to take your pics!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Paige Jennifer DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 10:46:00 AM EST Yeah it sucks but come on now, you're still a hot mama to be (insert sizzling noises here).

Have him come back and if you want to show your dissatisfaction let the pregnancy induced farting run rampant. I had to evacuate a Kroger when my then prego sister let a squeaker rip in the cereal aisle. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Space Mom DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 10:55:00 AM EST I would certainly demand he come back. Take the photos you can. And ensure that he checks them that day!


SanDisk is normally extremely good. Are you sure that he didn't delete them by mistake and tell you that the card was bad? I have NEVER had a bad SanDisk and I've used tons.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Candygirlflies DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 1:38:00 PM EST Oh, that stinks. Absolutely.

Happened to the girlies and me, too, this Christmas... I have to book our annual photo shoot no later than September if I want to get them done in time to include them with the Christmas cards... And, of COURSE, we had just finished having our entire family sick with the stomach flu by the time the date actually arrived. We dragged ourselves to the studio, all dressed up, hair done (try THAT with three green-ish, grouchy, worn out little girls) and completed a fairly successful shoot...

Only to discover that ALL THE PHOTOS WERE RUINED, because the camera had been "on the wrong setting" the whole time. We had to re-sit, and then the SECOND batch all turned out to be badly over-exposed, too...

I had HAD IT with the portrait studio, but they gave me all my money back, and a brand new set of properly-developed photos.

I won't go back, but at least we got the pictures in time, and they didn't turn out too badly, at that!! My gentle suggestion to you is to get your photos re-done, too... because you will LOVE having them, once it's all over.

Good luck, sweetie...

xo CGF ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous TinaGirl DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 1:59:00 PM EST as a photographer and a mommy I am appalled that he would wait this long to get back to you. I would never leave my clients hanging then try to explain how my equipment failed. He should not only ratake them (because I never had beautiful preggo pictures of my boys) but should also give you a discount or some sort of reimbersment (extra pictures or a post baby session for free or something) to fix the problem. There will be no positive word of mouth advertising for this photographer no matter how good the portraits are, bad business is bad business.

http://mominfocus.blogspot.com/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous No Minimom DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 2:39:00 PM EST You should definitely demand (if he doesn't offer) a significant discount or even a refund for this behavior. To wait an entire MONTH to just look at the pictures? That's ridiculous and a terrible business practice. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Cathy DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 5:48:00 PM EST I vote for doing it again, only maybe with a different photographer.

My husband took a black-and-white of me when I was 35 or 36 weeks. (Daughter was born at 37.)

I'm puffy and huge and clearly uncomfortable. But I do cherish the photo. It's framed and hanging in our bedroom and my daughter loves to see the evidence of her pre-birth existence.

I'm so sorry the first ones didn't work out. He should have gotten those off his memory card immediately. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Heather L. DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 6:44:00 PM EST I hope you get you got your pictures done right this time! I would be mad too if that happened to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous labugga DATE:Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 8:56:00 PM EST Oh my.

I'm so sorry--I want to drive down their and beat him up. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, January 11, 2008 at 6:30:00 AM EST I'm sorry that happened. I'd be pretty raging myself... Maybe someone else this time instead? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Slackermommy DATE:Friday, January 11, 2008 at 2:29:00 PM EST What exactly is wrong with the photos? If he can't retrieve them from the memory card there is a software that can retrieve them. I thought I had a bad memory card and my photos were lost but I was able to retrieve them.

I totally understand your disappointment. I had photos done with all mine and I treasure them. I also did a belly cast with my last pregnancy. Very cool. At the time I did it I didn't think I would love having it as much as I do now.

14 days! I'm so excited for you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Laura McIntyre DATE:Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2:27:00 AM EST Thats terrible, how unproffesional. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 12:54:00 PM EST I have 2 new sandisk memory cards and one of them shows everything in some weird writing on it now. Everytime I put it in the computer it tells me something is corrupt. I was able to get the pictures off of it but it took a lot of patience and work. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Monday, January 14, 2008 at 1:35:00 AM EST Y'all go easy on the sacrificial lamb aka photographer. Even the best equipment fails from time to time. Sandisk is normally good stuff. Moisture, finger oil, and static will kill any flash media if applied at the right time.

Perhaps he should have transferred them to his laptop before departing the premises, though. All media needs to be backed up, even flash.

(and Canape...girlfriend, if you have any amount of baby pics on a computer somewhere, do yourself a favor and invest $150 in an external backup drive. either that or burn to CD/DVD often. best advice an IT guy could give you. one of our dev guys just got married, and he had all his wedding pictures on his laptop. laptop HD dies. no backups. ouch.) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Aren't I lucky to do what I love? DATE: 12/03/2007 03:11:00 PM ----- BODY:
Girl posted this video a few weeks ago. It riled me up, because it is so true. Today, I'm finally adding my two cents.

I used to think that it was musicians who were just taken advantage of as a profession. I know better now. There are so many people out there who want to get it for free. While I've discovered that it isn't an issue unique to musicians, I do think though, that it is a more prominent issue in arts based professions.

I'm here to tell you though, that just because my profession had to start of with some raw talent, doesn't mean that I didn't work my ass off to become good enough to earn my keep this way.

Music is one of those majors that you can't just walk into your freshman year of college. There has had to be years of training prior to making that decision. Training that you didn't get in school. Private training that cost your parents extra money, and that you had to make a conscious effort to continue every year. Training that requires expensive equipment and countless dollars towards books and upkeep of the instrument.

It's not like majoring in English, math, chemistry, or any other of those core classes that everyone takes. Anyone can choose to major in one of those if they have the credentials to get into the college in the first place. Not everyone can follow through, but they can try.

To major in music, you have to not only be able to academically get into the college, but you must also audition to gain permission to major in music. It's a whole different ballgame. And if it sounds like I'm a little snotty about it, I am. I am tired of people assuming that I'm less intellegent because I'm in an arts profession. Want to compare SAT scores? LSAT scores? IQ's? Bring it on. I'm a musician because I chose to be a musician. Not because I wasn't smart enough to do something else.

My training began when I was five and continues to this day.

Why then, am I expected to do what I do for free? Why am I expected to work under any circumstances, play any old crappy instrument that is provided, work without a contract, and be okay when people cancel a gig at the last minute?

Because I'm just a musician.

I'm calling bullshit on that today. I'm so tired of people thinking that because I get to do what I love, that I should just give it away. Literally and figuratively. That's one of the reasons I shy away from getting too involved at church. The day Guy and I joined the church, I was introduced to the music director and given the list of times that the choir met and all the other ways I could "give my gifts" to the church.

Yeah. Well, I might bake you cookies. I will donate to your Joy Gift fund. I will volunteer to do many things, but I will not be your free musician. You pay your preacher, your administrators, your janitor. Pay your freaking musicians. Pay them well. Because they have been studying their craft a lot longer than anyone else on your staff.

Here's the thing. I was supposed to have a gig at a historic home that has been converted into a place for parties. The holiday season is my busiest time of year, and this year, I have had to choose my gigs wisely. I can only sit at the piano for about an hour or my hips really start to hurt. It's also extremely tiring to be "on" for 3 hours at a time. So, I said yes to some one hour gigs, put them on my calendar, began brushing up on my Christmas music, and bought a non-returnable maternity outfit appropriate for gigging.

Less than 24 hours before the first gig, the girl from the house calls and cancels. Says very casually that they won't be needing me after all.

So let me ask this of you, oh unorganized event planner, what would happen if you did that to your caterer? What would happen if you did that to the florist? What would happen if the guests did that to you? There would be money exchanging hands anyway. People would still get paid instead of just brushed off.

Do you not understand that what you have done is completely unacceptable? That you can't just hire someone for an event and then decide the night before that you have changed your mind?

No. You don't. Because I didn't make you work with a contract. And that is my fault. I know better, and I still didn't send one. You were so nice on the phone, and I trusted you. I trusted that you were going to do what you said you would do, that I would show up to the scheduled gig, play, get paid, and go home.

Stupid, stupid me. But I always trust people. Guy has been gently pointing out to me different times when I have just trusted what someone has said, been let down, and then been angry about it. When I never should have trusted them in the first place.

I'm bitter today. Tired of being taken for granted professionally.

So from now on, don't even ask me to give it away. Unless you are my friend. In which case, I give you music because I love you and want you to have it.

Everyone else can just bite me.

Labels: , , ,

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Karaoke Diva DATE:Monday, December 3, 2007 at 5:38:00 PM EST Fuck 'em, I say. You deserve much more than that crap. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Monday, December 3, 2007 at 6:21:00 PM EST Oh, hell yes. My second client for my videography business, who was a "friend" of mine from my preschool sucked up a ton of my time and effort and then flaked completely on the project. You know what invaluable lesson I learned from that? ALWAYS make them sign a contract. I'm sorry this happened; it's totally lame. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Perugini DATE:Monday, December 3, 2007 at 8:04:00 PM EST Amen. I have also spent many years studying and honing my musical chops. For a long time I trusted people at their word, and I too, got taken advantage of. Gigs, giving lessons, musical directing shows and vocal coaching. People think that it's all easy, because, perhaps, we make it look that way. Or maybe they just don't care.

It was when I met my husband when I finally started putting my foot down - he showed me how valuable my time and talent really was.

I totally understand. You are a nice woman, just like I am. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous labugga DATE:Monday, December 3, 2007 at 8:57:00 PM EST Just want to say that even though I've never heard you play, I admire you and your gift...I'm sorry so few appreciate what you do. You are 100% right, and you deserve so much more. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous moosh in indy. DATE:Monday, December 3, 2007 at 11:26:00 PM EST Anyone who feels they can use your talent for their own gain without proper compensationor courtesy is a jackass.
I just typed out an entire rant and deleted it.
This is your rant baby, and you did it well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous mimi DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 12:39:00 AM EST Douchebags, the lot of em. Clients should have to give you a deposit or sign a contract.
As for friends who would exploit you, "Sure, I'll play for your party if you have your mechanic husband fix my car next time I have a soiree." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Ally DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 1:51:00 AM EST Well said, Canape. You are so right that you shouldn't have to play for free any more than I would give free legal advice. (Except I end up doing that all the time, too. People have a whole list of questions they've been wanting to ask when they hear I'm an attorney).

I agree that musicians, and artists in general, are deserving of much more respect. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 12:33:00 PM EST I demand you put your music on this blog. For free.

Damnit.

(You know you're right, don't you? I have no idea what that flake was thinking. Send her a bill and cite the oral contract that she broke. Verbally.) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous imstell DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 4:18:00 PM EST A very good friend of ours, Anne, gave Daddy-O a great piece of advice when he was first starting his landscape business. He was not charging much thinking he had little experience. She told him a very simple truth, "Other people will value your time if you value your time." I agree with WhyMommy. Send her a bill. You and your time are valuable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Heather, Queen of Shake Shake DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 5:45:00 PM EST I'd send that party house a bill if I were you.

A church doesn't pay their musicians? Gack!

Queen of Shake-Shake ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 11:04:00 PM EST Grrr.... :(

I concur. Send them a bill.

Our church actually has some paid musician positions. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 11:16:00 PM EST Oops. I didn't mean to imply that our church doesn't pay any musicians. They do, and they pay them well. I just meant that as soon as people hear you are a musician, they jump on all the "opportunities" you have to "share your gift."

Bogus. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 7:47:00 AM EST Oh hell yeah you should be getting paid and their jackasses for doing that to you!

Sorry they did that to you. Totally not right, you should send them a bill. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 8:15:00 AM EST I was juuuuust gonna write something about this... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Yamagoo DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:35:00 AM EST Former professional musician here and I can't stand the "gifted" card being played on me at church. You Go GIRL! I came over by way of CAC and have read up to this post. Great way to spend an hour! I'll definitely be back! ----- --------