tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41477805889017524662024-03-13T13:45:41.216-07:00Never Been BeforeThe adventures of Sam and Ali. The story begins before the rings and continues on. Now we get to share adventures with new little ones as they come! alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-15126909004937253692018-06-29T10:17:00.002-07:002018-06-29T10:19:42.574-07:00Rookie Road Trip with Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Originally I planned for this to be a travel blog, cataloging the place we adventured around. Older stories on this blog cover Bulgaria, Turkey, Arizona, and coastal South Carolina. If I bothered to go through old journals, there are some anecdotes on solo travel across Europe.<br />
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The only rule we've ever had for trips was- we can only go where we've never been before. Ever heard that rules were meant to be broken? We make some repeat trips over night, and some day trips where we stretched the rule since we'd never been there TOGETHER.<br />
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Day trips started to breach our cardinal rule about the second or third year we were married as we began to have favorites. Mostly places in around Asheville, NC. A few down on the coast of SC as well. There was one week we went from the sea to the mountains! (Not a difficult feat for someone in the Carolinas.)<br />
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Now that we have someone traveling with us who new to everything all is up for grabs! Traveling with an infant gets interesting. We have yet to go on a plane with the baby, but several road trips have been made!<br />
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The first out of town trip was to Kentucky for a wedding at 2 months old. We packed up the rental car with enough stuff for a night in the mountains and headed up the day of the wedding. Sans baby, the trip is 4 hours from our home in South Carolina. With an infant who was breastfeeding every 2 hours, it took us a bit longer. Leaving in the morning, we stopped 2 hours in to feed baby and do some quick shopping. Johnson City Kohls provided the perfect place for my husband to grab a shirt for the wedding while I popped into the dressing room and nursed the sleepy/hangry baby.<br />
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By the time we were back out at the car- time to change a dirty! Note: SUVs are the best for road trips with babies. Much easier to change diapers in.<br />
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From there it a straight(ish) shot to Harlan.<br />
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Going on a road trip to the mountains is not what I would recommend for a baby's first trip. As you ascend or descend the air pressure change affects them, building up inside their ears causing pain/discomfort. For older children it may not bother them, and growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountain range I've never thought twice about it. My infant definitely let me know her discomfort. Before this trip she was really great in the car! By the end of it, she began to fuss anytime you set her in the car seat.<br />
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Thankfully we had my mother-in-law with us on this trip. I would highly recommend either planning riding in the back with you baby on their first road trip or inviting a friend or family member to tag along. If left back there by themselves, you will find yourself crawling back there, sometimes mid-traffic to deal with a needy infant. And they have NEEDS. This is not a recommended time to try the "cry it out" method. At 2 months, they are crying because they're hungry, dirty, or in pain. Plan to accommodate and care for your infant on the road the same as you would at home.<br />
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Add an hour or two to your travel time. Don't just <i><u>expect </u></i>to stop to care for the baby. <i><u>Plan to stop</u></i> around the time they usually feed. Don't rush anything. Make sure your car has plenty of space. Pack what you need, but don't overfill the car. Space is more important than stuff you can do without or buy once you get to your destination. (ex: disposable, one use items.)<br />
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I can't remember if we took the pack n' play with us, because we didn't use it. Since we stayed with family, they held her a lot and let me sleep for a while after the wedding. (oh sweet bliss!!) When I got up to nurse her, I just stayed out in the living room with her since she was sleeping so well on the couch. By sleeping well, I mean she was on her stomach arms out, completely relaxed and not going anywhere. Up till then she had slept swaddled in her bassinet, but her favorite place to nap was spread eagle on top of someone. (usually mom, dad, or grandma)<br />
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A lot of sources will not recommend sleeping on the couch with your infant- FOR GOOD REASON! This was simply the easiest way to let her sleep for the one night of our trip. I didn't sleep. I flipped through channels the rest of the night trying dodge Gaither Vocal band ads, resting as she slept and nursing her when she woke up. I discovered early on in motherhood that as long as I got 4 hours of sleep I could function pretty well.<br />
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The trip back the next day was pretty uneventful till it started to get dark. For some reason, the later the trip lasted, the fussier she became. Again, stopping every 2 hours was necessary and this time I rode with her in the back towards the end to try to keep her calm. <br />
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So overall- great trip! I woudl definitely recommend visiting family for their first road trip, extending your travel time, and packing light to conserve space. If you can, make sure you don't have drastic elevation changes or travel during the evening/night. <br />
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For those of you who have traveled with infants- what were your experiences? Where did you go? Would you do it again? What was a game changer for you?<br />
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-510764786957949342018-06-22T11:26:00.000-07:002018-06-22T11:47:41.369-07:00Balancing those Boundaries! (..and baring my soul-just a tad)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been wracking my brain trying to think of new topics to write about. <br />
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Should I write about PPD? Breastfeeding? Recovery? Should I try to start a dialogue about parenting?<br />
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Recently, in taking stock of my well being, I've noticed a shift. A shift in my attitude. I'm more confident. I'm able to be genuinely cheerful at work. Smiling isn't as hard. </h4>
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Do I still overthink stuff? Yes. Am I overly anxious about other's opinions? OH yeah! Running through hypothetical scenarios where I'm being verbally/emotionally/physically attacked though my head and coming up with solutions and re-rebuttals? Definitely.<br />
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I will always deal with anxiety. And as a mother the worst case scenarios can be all consuming. But I can choose to not be ruled by them. Practicing grounding principals, setting an evening routine, choosing to let go of insecurities and trust my partner and support group- these have helped me immensely.<br />
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Setting boundaries in my life has been huge. Anxiety over my career wasn't lessened by becoming a mother. In fact- it was MAGNIFIED. How were we going to afford this? How could we provide for our kid? If we wanted more children (and we do), how would that work?<br />
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Also, when you don't feel satisfied or fulfilled at your job this makes for a compounded problem. </div>
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<b>But BOUNDARIES. Those helped me re-evaluate the insecurities and hold the anxiety at bay. Work is left at work. At home, only my family has priority. </b></div>
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When I'm at work, I'm 100% invested in whats going on, even if I feel unfulfilled by it. I go to work because I love my family and it is what is needed to make ends meet. Where I work is pretty cool and has some really great people. I've also learned and grown there. But its not a "calling" for me. I'm simply grateful for the opportunity provided. Maybe one day I'll find a field I'm passionate about that also provides a sustainable income and benefits.<br />
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Thankfully where I work is very family friendly and understand that I need to pump. To be available for family emergencies or events. While I can't leave my desk to run errands or go to appointments, I can take calls and address things from my desk when needed. There are times when I wish I could take off early because I feel like there are things at my house that need my attention more than work.<br />
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I feel more fulfilled and purposeful taking care of my family than I do in my "career." That's no the case for everyone. And this post is not to shame those who feel differently. This is simply how I feel about my life and circumstances, cope with and enjoy them. My children and husband will always be my highest priority and I get more joy from caring for them than anything else. So as I leave my kid each morning, I remind myself that I do this for her.<br />
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Your next question may be, " Ok, but don't you need to take care of yourself?" Yes, yes I do. That's where BOUNDARIES come in. Boundaries and balance. </h3>
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While at work, I handle work first and answer personal calls/texts after completing a task. When at home, my phone gets set down and rarely picked up. I even tend to miss calls from my husband! My focus is on enjoying my time with my daughter, while also trying to catch up on stuff like cleaning, laundry, dinner, meal prep, and any errands that need to be done. Having a clean house and good dinner is a type of self-love for me. Sure, not all the messes are mine, but I'm not cleaning them because I'm expected to. I take care of it because I want to. <br />
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Changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, cooking dinner, wiping up messes. All these things are fulfilling to me. They are not meaningless. They do not go unnoticed. I'm rewarded sometimes with tears, screams, more food on the carpet, or a plate of uneaten food left on the counter. Other times there are hugs, sloppy kisses, giggles, and lots of sweet, cozy snuggles. There's a balance. It might not be what was initially envisioned at the time, but its there. All of the above means more to me than any kudos from a boss, bonus, or perks. The job is temporary in the long term, its a means to an end. My family? My family is that end the means are for. Does that make sense?<br />
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So much love for all of you who made it through this week's rambling post! </h2>
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I hope that sharing my thoughts and feelings wasn't too weird and that maybe some of you are able to relate. Feel free to share in the comments below YOUR thoughts and feeling about family, work, callings, and boundaries you've found to be useful!</h4>
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Also, do have any questions about being a new mom and going back to work? OR are there any topics you're interested in reading about?<br />
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Let me know! I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-16565574376204770062018-06-08T09:39:00.001-07:002018-06-08T09:39:58.145-07:005 Items You'll Want Post-Delivery (and other tips)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now I know I'm going to be leaving out a lot of items that other sites and people list for the hospital bag. The purpose of these Top 5 posts are to highlight helpful/necessary items to assist those easily overwhelmed and who may tend to over-pack. <br />
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As someone who struggles with anxiety (social and otherwise), I find it helpful to narrow down and simplify. Its ok to make-do and be comfortable with less. I may not be the most fashion forward minimalist, but I tend to cut out stuff if forgetting something is triggering anxiety that causes me to shut down. I would rather be present mentally and emotionally for those around me, than worry about THINGS.<br />
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You may operate completely differently. I think some people thrive on creature comforts and having them in a foreign situation is a necessity. My comfort is my husband. As long as I have him near me, I can think more clearly and feel more stable emotionally. <br />
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My room in Labor/Delivery wasn't luxe. It wasn't a birthing center. It was comfortable enough. And I honestly didn't ever open my bag there. Everything I used from home I used in the Recovery Room and it was interesting toting everything from one room to another. The bed they wheeled me out on had stuffed piled high at the foot. Next time- I think I'll condense it a bit more...<br />
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If told to pick only five items, to pack it would be these. </h4>
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Robe: </h3>
Because it gets chilly and it helps with modesty when you have a ton of family and friends popping by to see the baby. Mine was a light, jersey knit which I proceeded to live in for 3 months.<br />
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Nursing Tank:</h3>
It takes a lot of stress out your life. I didn't wear this till after my first shower because I didn't have a problem wearing the hospital night gowns provided. I never wear night gowns at home so I didn't want to spend money on something just to be "cute" for a little while.<br />
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Maternity pants/leggings:</h3>
I took some loose harem pants with me that I had been wearing the last month I was pregnant. Again, I didn't wear them till I left, but they were SO COMFY. Take whatever pants you are currently in a love affair with.<br />
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Nipple Cream: </h3>
You are gonna love this the first day/night. And you will worship it the first month. Dry, chapped, bleeding nipples are a fact of life with a new born and this stuff is a miracle worker. Life hack: COCONUT OIL. I used my lanolin based stuff in the hospital, but ended up using coconut oil once I got home and forgot all about the other stuff. A little goes a long way!<br />
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New Born Outfit with Mittens: </h3>
You will need something for your kid to wear even though they are swaddled and given a hat. We brought 2 in case one didn't fit. One in new born size and one 0-3 months, both pre-washed. Make sure you have mittens and socks packed with this outfit. Newborns have some wicked sharp fingernails!<br />
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There are of course more items that could be added to this list. Toiletries, towel, socks, camera, ect.<br />
But everyone has different styles/needs and I'll leave your personal toiletries up to you! (For example: not everyone is blind as me and needs extra contacts and solution!)<br />
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I would make 2 addendums to the list. </div>
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Bra pads and shower shoes. </h4>
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Neither will be provided by the hospital and you will need BOTH. </div>
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A lot of packing lists out there will tell you to pack stuff for "down there" post-partum care. I never used the stuff I bought online according to various recommendations. In the end, all I needed was what my nurse gave me and showed me how to use. With some light tearing and a few stitches, they provided all the care I needed and sent me home with the following items. During my maternity leave, I never bought/used anything extra than some comfy undies and disposable night pads with wings.<br />
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I realize that some of these items are completely foreign to most people, so I'm including some pictures below for visual reference. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This spray was introduced by my aftercare nurse and helped a lot. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitz Bath: I added ice to mine, and did it daily for 2 weeks. <br />The bubbly coolness was heaven. </td></tr>
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The nurses also kept me supplied with basic pain killers like Tylenol and gave me stool softeners. Go ahead and make sure you have those handy at home if you don't already.<br />
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I hope these past few posts have been informative and helpful! Let me know what your experiences were! I'd really like to hear from you guys who had c-sections or had a natural birth. Each birth experience is unique and I love hearing your stories. <br />
<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-16581043262735442962018-06-03T09:15:00.000-07:002018-06-03T09:17:06.409-07:005 Items Recommended by Veteran Moms So, I had some great feed back from other moms with their top 5 items! Some were items of clothing which I was planning on putting on another list for after you are moved to the room you recover in with baby post-delivery. Those will be included on the Recovery List. <br />
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Below is the Top 5 recommended items list: </div>
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These did not make my previous list for Labor and Delivery since I didn't use them in that room or feel like I needed them. However, they may make life more comfortable for you and definitely made a huge difference for some mothers!<br />
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One mom on Facebook made a great point that her hospital staff weren't that great at finding some stuff for her. Sadly, not all hospitals are equal. Ask other mom's who have delivered at your hospital before what their experience was like. This will give you a good idea what you may want to pack. <br />
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<i>Ya'll- I'm having so much fun putting these Top 5 graphics together! Even when my kid is pulling out ALL the Q-Tips and the laptop is on top of the changing table. Mom life- so sweet. </i><br />
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Next up! Top 5 for Post Delivery! Hopefully these bite size lists are informative and helpful! My goal is to help those facing anxiety when considering pregnancy.</h3>
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-10509984029090022562018-06-01T11:52:00.002-07:002018-06-01T12:12:48.335-07:005 Things You Will Regret Leaving Behind<div style="text-align: left;">
Hey there! </div>
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So I took a break from writing about the second half of my hospital stay to focus on some real life issues I've been struggling with. But we're back to the story today, after a Memorial Day weekend hiatus form writing. </div>
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Some dear friends have come across those helpful lists that are posted, detailing everything you could possibly need for your labor and recovery.<br />And they were a tad overwhelmed. Rightly so. </h3>
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A lot of the stuff you pack for labor and delivery (if you are going to the hospital) is the same stuff you pack for any overnight trip! Don't stress about it. Don't over think. Above all, refrain from over-packing. Your husband is awesome, I'm sure. But you guys really don't want to be hauling 5 different bags around the hospital. Yes, FIVE. Because you at 35 weeks are a hormonal MESS and nesting like a fiend. There will be YOUR bag, the baby's, the hubby's, and then everything you thought of or read of and couldn't fit into one of the 3 already packed.<br />
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Think of going to the hospital or birthing center as going to grandma's. </h2>
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They have most of what you need and are going to take the best care of you they can. Don't worry. If you forget something - they'll have it. If not, chances are there is enough family around to go grab it for you. (I still have the fluffy slipper socks my mom brought me during my stay!)</h4>
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I'll be frank. My lists may not work for you. You may find that you have different needs. For example, I didn't elect to have a c-section or schedule an induction. I'm also a minimalist. For most of our marriage we have always had our backpacks ready to grab for a spontaneous overnight trip or hike. That usually means a light backpack with basic toiletries, clean undies, and a protein bar.<br />
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My lists are going to highlight useful items. They are not comprehensive packing lists. There are definitely things I bought that I have never used. I used a lot of the hospital's stuff because it was convenient and already on hand. You may find, like I did, that its easier than getting up to rummage through your bag.<br />
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Stay tuned- </div>
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Top 5 items for Recovery and a Top 5 items I never used coming soon!</div>
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Till then, please enjoy the following input from a mama friend who went through 2 c-sections. </div>
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Please let me know in the comments what you remember missing most or helping the best!</div>
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-33666538419310243682018-05-18T08:10:00.000-07:002018-05-18T08:11:07.810-07:00Contentment<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Contentment. To be satisfied and happy. </h2>
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Am I content? I'm content with certain aspects of my life. As a mother, I'm content. As a wife, I'm content. As a daughter in law, I'm content. As a friend, I'm content. But there are areas in my life I am not. In fact, I'm so far from contentment in those areas its embarrassing. I am thankful and GRATEFUL, but I am certainly not content.<br />
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As a perfectionist, oldest child, and relentless need for affirmation in my life, there are huge areas which elude all sense of satisfaction and happiness for long periods of time. To name a few: appearance, career, and home. </h3>
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Most women (and men) are never satisfied with their appearance. Oftentimes due to health or time constraints it is out of our control. Career, is dictated by work experience and degrees of education. Home, seriously. What woman do you know keeps a perfect house? WITHOUT A MAID OR INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS. (Sorry Joanna Gaines and Martha Stewart...ya'll don't count as human here) News flash: they don't.<br />
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I struggle so much. And my discontentment bleeds into those other areas of my life that are amazing and give me purpose and joy. I don't want my bad attitude to poison the lovely things in my life. When I'm home with the 2 most amazing people in my life, I want to enjoy and encourage them. Not complain and mope. <br />
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Like I mentioned before, I am thankful- grateful for my overall health, job, and home. Heck, we have a home! We have a roof that doesn't leak. The AC and heat work wonderfully. There are no plumbing issues, mold, or infestations. (I'm really jinxing myself here aren't I?) I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to complain about. Yet all I can think of is ..."Man, I really need to empty and organize the spare room. The shower needs scrubbing- BAD! The bedroom needs to be painted, the living room paint needs to be patched up- and the carpet is fraying where it meets the kitchen linoleum." The list goes on. I feel like a failure because I make significantly less than my husband even though we graduated from the same university with the same exact degree. Maybe if I made more I could contribute to the house and actually make it more of a home. As it is, I work 40 hours a week and some days making dinner is my one huge accomplishment.<br />
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Being a working mom means that your house, unless you have help, will not look like your Pinterest page. Having a clean house, usually means that your kid wasn't there for the whole day. </h3>
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I love a clean house. I actually enjoy cleaning. Especially my kitchen. Its a high effort, high reward kinda deal. One of my favorite things to do is organize! It kills me that my closet looks like Hurricane Ali ran through and then gusted through another 6 times.<br />
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There are so many excuses I could make. I will eventually scrub my shower. (read: this weekend) My closet will get organized. Or at least the clothes will be washed and folded into neat stacks. The bathroom mirror will finally get that much needed wipe down.<br />
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I know I'm doing this out of order, but I really can't go too much into my discontentment at work for obvious reasons. Some days are better than others. I'm grateful for my job. Quitting is not an option. Losing it would terrify me. And maybe that's the root of my discontentment: fear.<br />
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When we are discontent, we are living in fear. Fear of other people's opinions. Fear of our own personal expectations. (If you've read my other blog posts you realize how much expectations truly are your enemy!) Fear of the unknown. Just writing this has helped me identify my fears and refocus. <br />
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It's like seeing a huge shadow out the corner of your eye. Terrifyingly huge and ominous, you ignore it but can't stop thinking about. The anxiety builds up, feeding off our skewed perception. The fear is suffocating, taking up so much room in our minds that it leaves no room for joy. I don't want to live like that anymore.<br />
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Writing helps me to turn around and look at what is making that huge, ominous shadow. To identify it as the small thing it truly is and not the distorted image cast on the edges of my mind. The house will be alright. My job provides for my family. I am not as ugly or out of shape as I think. I will no longer let fear rob me of my happiness and satisfaction in life!<br />
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What are you discontent with? Is it something you can change? Is it a change you fear? Identify it. Allow yourself to cry. Take the adrenaline from your frustration and go run, lift weights, or create something! </h3>
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I'm not a licensed anything. MY solutions may not be the ones you need. This is simply me sharing my story, hoping that my brokenness leads to someone else's wholeness.alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-24394245895727007382018-05-13T08:45:00.002-07:002018-05-13T08:52:40.721-07:00Mother's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First off: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! To all mothers everywhere!<br />
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Here I continue the story of how I became a mother.<br />
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Everyone has expectations for labor. Everyone has a different experience. Lucky for you guys this tale is pretty G-rated.<br />
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There are several stages of labor and differing ways to "induce" labor. I had already experienced Early Labor and <i>some</i> Active Labor by the beginning of my third trimester. Since I was already dilated to a 6 a month before my due date, my doctors warned me to come in once I experienced contractions less than 5 minutes apart. They expected this baby to come FAST.<br />
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I made it up to the week of my due date, working up to the last week of my pregnancy. At my final check up we made the decision to a membrane sweep 2 days before the "official" date to get things moving along and check on baby. This was how that week went leading up to labor.<br />
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Monday: First day off work. Baby due Thursday. I cleaned house, scrubbed floors, organized, and tried to stay busy. I hated waiting and had binged my favorite Netflix already when I had been sick a few months back. There was a lot of yoga ball time. I also drank as much Raspberry Leaf tea as I could.<br />
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Tuesday: Second day off work. Went to the OB's office. Everything was good! So dilated, I didn't feel the membrane sweep. Doctor confirmed that she could feel the baby's head and we listened the the heartbeat. Back at the house I found more stuff to clean, hung out on my yoga ball, and drank more tea!<br />
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Wednesday: Third day off work. Got a bit stir crazy. Walked a lot. Made sure the fridge and freezer were stocked and ready. My house would be clean for the next month! Sam and I made sure we enjoyed what time we had together as just the 2 of us. We visited some family, listened to stories of Costa Rica, ate some VERY good dark chocolate, and went home. Yes, Dark Chocolate is one of those things that are supposed to help induce labor. The rest of the evening was nice and quiet. I took a nice, long relaxing shower and took time with my hair afterwards.<br />
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Still Wednesday: Have you ever heard of the Bloody Show? or the Mucus Plug? Well you should. Because both things show up wayyyy before the infamous Water Break. They compose the layers that separate the sack your baby is in from the opening the baby will come out. They are removed when the baby is pushing downward because the uterus is constricting. Their names are descriptive enough for you to figure out what to look for as a pregnant woman. Mucus and light blood. Most women don't even notice it since the blood is usually so light. Especially if they have already experience spotting throughout the pregnancy.<br />
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Welp, mine SHOWED that evening. I took it easy and waited for noticeable/painful contractions. Having already experienced them earlier in my pregnancy, it was pretty easy to identify the stronger ones when they came. And did they! Within an hour they were 5 min apart and as we drove to the hospital they got to less than 4 min apart.<br />
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We were admitted and shown to a room to monitor my contractions before being taken to Labor and Delivery. It was probably around 11pm. By then the contractions were steadily 3-4 min apart. They hooked me up to a monitor and supplied me with a yoga ball in the Labor/Delivery room. They offered me an epidural when I was admitted, but I declined since the pain was still manageable and my water hadn't broke yet.<br />
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I was tired. I kept moving about during the contractions, utilizing the ball and walking around. At times I laid on my side. For some reason, the contractions slowed down again. This was frustrating since I had been hoping for a relatively fast labor. BUT it was a blessing in disguise since it gave me the opportunity to rest, and catch my breath before the big show.<br />
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Thursday: By 7 am my water still had not broke on its own. We decided my OB would go ahead and do the honors. Again, no pain, just warm liquid running down my leg. (yup, ladies its just like wetting your pants) Once that was out of the way, the REALLY BIG ONES came. Fast and furious. The kind that have you arching your back and clinging to the bed rail. any movement at all that could distract. <br />
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Unfortunately for me, the pain on my right side was unbearable. I had been experiencing severe groin/pelvic pain near my right hip for the last month, chalking it up to the baby's position pinching a nerve. During labor, there was pressure and pain on my left side, but it was not the blinding sharpness that I had on my right. My body went into shock from the pain and I began to throw up, my body in tremors. At this point I realized that I would probably blackout. I had no control over my body and its reactions at this point. It wasn't responding, just going into shock.<br />
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Since they already had to hook me up to an IV for penicillin because I was Strep B positive, I decided to go ahead and try an epidural. What the heck? I was already stuck with one needle and was having trouble not throwing up my guts. The nurse (I loved her, still remember her name too!) had me sit on the edge of the bed and held me while the doctor administered the epidural. I didn't see it, didn't even feel it. They talked me through it and explained what I should be feeling and how it would work once in place and secured. They even explained that they could go higher up my spine if needed since for some people the epidural was less effective lower down. They go lower initially so that the woman is able to be more aware of whats going on and push effectively without harming herself. In my case, because apparently I have some scoliosis (which I wouldn't have found out without getting the epidural), I had to have them return to adjust the epidural.<br />
<br />
I realize for some women at some hospitals this is traumatic. My experience was far from traumatic. The doctor and nurse were amazing. The adjustment went exactly like the first, painless. No discomfort. Seriously, I had the best team on the floor that morning. The only thing that hurt was the tape they had used to anchor the first needle and had to rip off in order to make the adjustment. Once the epidural was in place, I had control of how much was administered. The tremors went away, I was able to eat some Italian ice (lemonade flavored - YUM!!) and the parade began.<br />
<br />
So, no one tells you this, but when you are the oldest children on both sides and your families both live in town EVERYONE SHOWS UP. There was a constant parade of people coming in and out to check on me and how I was progressing. The epidural didn't slow down my contractions too much since I was already well into Transition phase when I received it. By then I was probably 12-14 hours into labor. The doctor visited and checked the dilation every once in a while.<br />
<br />
I was able to relax, my husband and his 2 youngest brothers came in and goofed off on the peanut ball (big yoga ball shaped like Mr. Peanut). They put on a sock show, cracked jokes and kept me laughing. I distinctly remember just wanting to watch old cartoons. I had the Flintstones theme song running through my head and intermittently muttering "Yabadabadoo!" It was a good time. <br />
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Eventually, sometime that afternoon it was show time. For those wondering, yes, I hadn't eaten solid food since the day before. I had been in labor over 12 hrs and been moving around or dozing for over half of that before I ever was attached to an IV, epidural, and catheter (which didn't register to me till later- that how good my nurse was). <br />
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To revisit the subject of family again- don't be afraid to kick people out. The only people who need to be with you are the doctor and nurse and the father of your child. Anyone else has no business there unless you specifically invited them to be present. Part of the nurse's job is to make sure her workspace is cleared for her and the doctor to successfully and safely deliver your baby. Let her kick anyone out that is not contributing to the delivery. Mine did and I loved her for it. <br />
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There was only one person I hadn't planned on being there. My sister. She 10 years younger than me, but happened to be on visiting rotation when the doctor said it was time. I didn't think twice about letting her stay. The nurse and doctor directed her and my husband as they coached me to push. My sister was on my left and my husband was on my right. Since my legs were numb from the epidural, they held my legs and spoke encouragement as I curled up my torso and used the abdominal muscles I'd toned most my life. I can't remember exactly how many it took, but it was around 3-5 pushes and Lucy was out. Definitely 3 to get her head all the way out and a couple more for good measure.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuY1JiD9W1w/WvhctE8g5jI/AAAAAAAAArU/DqGLhgA6OUMty1lujMosgmkpE3kEQWeYQCEwYBhgL/s1600/birth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1224" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuY1JiD9W1w/WvhctE8g5jI/AAAAAAAAArU/DqGLhgA6OUMty1lujMosgmkpE3kEQWeYQCEwYBhgL/s200/birth.jpg" width="200" /></a>She was ready and rarin' to go when she came. The doctor had a bit of a shock when Lucy turned her head as sh4 left the birth canal. Apparently new-borns don't typically have that type of muscle control. (you know, the whole "they can't support their head" thing) She was wiped down, checked, and cord cut - not all in that order! Almost immediately, I was holding my baby girl in my arms, soothing her shocked newborn tears as she adjusted to her new environment. I will never forget those moments. <br />
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As I wrap up this post on Mother's Day morning, I'm sitting on the floor in my pjs. My daughter is clinging to my arm and crawling all over me. And I couldn't be happier.<br />
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-29282331775719681292018-05-04T12:07:00.000-07:002018-05-08T05:22:24.848-07:00Birth Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In response to a request, I'm going to post my birth story. Birth stories are very raw, emotional things. I've been reading other mom's stories and have listened to most of my friends' experiences.<br />
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<h3>
This is not a harrowing tale of an emergency c-section. Nor is it an article praising the bravery of natural birth. This is MY story. No one else's. </h3>
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I had already experienced contractions prior to my due date. So, during my last trimester I was dilated to 4 and spent the last month at 6. By this point, we came to some decisions regarding the birth. You can't plan for everything, but its good to find out what you can plan for to make your first birth experience less intimidating.<br />
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As far as birth options and plans went I had done my research, met with mid-wives, looked at what my insurance covered and what I could afford. I took into account the close relationship I had with my current OB. She is AMAZING. The type of doctor who is respectful of your choices and wants to hear your questions and concerns so she can help YOU. No matter whether you choose a home birth or hospital- make sure you have a good relationship with you and your baby's caregiver. They should be supportive, informative, and inquisitive. You need to be comfortable asking them about everything and confident that they are doing more than just checking you off their list.<br />
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My Ob's office was always available to answer any questions or concerns I had throughout my pregnancy. There were no stupid questions. I got to meet every doctor at the practice who may be on-call during my labor and delivery. They all had real conversations with me leading up to the birth.<br />
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These conversations shaped my birth and delivery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4gDvCSn4Hs/WuyopVCxEtI/AAAAAAAAAo8/GdVsArqoCSI_gHDE4e69D--hQCtTAogKwCLcBGAs/s1600/lucy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="562" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4gDvCSn4Hs/WuyopVCxEtI/AAAAAAAAAo8/GdVsArqoCSI_gHDE4e69D--hQCtTAogKwCLcBGAs/s400/lucy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend splurging for a 3D ultrasound. <br />
If you have a pregnant friend, consider giving one as a gift. </td></tr>
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From the start of my pregnancy, I knew I wanted as little intervention as possible. I also knew that tearing was probably going to happen no matter what route I took. After (probably too much) research and reading, I figured out that I needed to do what was best for me in the moment. My doctors explained the difference pain-control methods, including natural. My goal was to try to do natural, but my doctors and family members assured me that using an epidural would do no harm, or make me any less a mother. <br />
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Complications scared me. I had read all the potential side effects and horror stories, but as mentioned before flexibility is your friend. Seriously! Sometimes (read: most times) you need to listen to your body and go with the flow. My biggest recommendation? Do your research, by all means- scour the internet. BUT!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The most important research you could ever do is talking to family members.</h3>
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<h4>
Interrogate your mom. (if she is living and you guys are talking) Talk with your aunts! Both sides if you have them. Last but not least, if you have living grandparents, take the time to hear their birth accounts. Ask the embarrassing and scary questions. When you're on the Labor and Delivery bed, in the birth tub, or where-ever, you are gonna wish you had. </h4>
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In the end, I told my team I wanted to try to go with natural, but would not rule out an epidural. The other pain relievers I ruled out since they would enter my blood stream and make me drowsy. I wanted to be as awake and alert as possible.<br />
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The rest of the "planning" was pretty simple. I didn't have money for a birth photographer, or a doula, and my husband was better at playlists than I was. The people allowed in the room during the birth was also easy- the moms were allowed, but other than that all I wanted was my husband next to me. I opted for delayed cord clamping. I wanted my baby to have all the nutrients they could! Most importantly, the hospital we were going to practiced the Golden Hour. An hour of skin to skin bonding for new parents and baby. Hence, why I wasn't going to let any pain killers that would conk me out or make me fuzzy headed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mamanatural.com/red-raspberry-leaf-tea/" target="_blank">Raspberry Leaf Tea</a> </td></tr>
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This is the first part of my birth story. I planned for a natural birth. Did the pelvic floor exercises. <a href="https://www.mamanatural.com/red-raspberry-leaf-tea/" target="_blank">Drank the Raspberry Leaf tea.</a> Was already dilated to 6, and the week of my due date stayed home from work. I cleaned, walked, re-packed my hospital bag and propped up my enormously swollen feet. In addition to cleaning, I meal prepped- froze enough meals to last a month! Everything was ready. At least I thought we were!<br />
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-42921367464715425622018-04-27T12:33:00.001-07:002018-04-27T12:33:34.527-07:00If you did it before...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since I'm not going to post my entire medical history or go into overly personal details about trauma and health, there are events during my pregnancy I won't be covering. These are things for you and your doctor/midwife to go over and work through. I do not have a medical degree, and beyond CPR and First Aid certifications am not qualified in any sense to offer advice.<br />
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Instead, we can talk about options and decisions that need to be discussed during or even before pregnancy. <br />
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<h2>
To begin, EVERY WOMAN IS DIFFERENT. </h2>
<h3>
<i>Heeellloooooo Captain Obvious. </i></h3>
We have different body types, blood types, habits, lifestyles, beliefs, allergies, health conditions, ect..the list goes on. All the above plays into what happens during pregnancy PLUS MORE.<br />
Not every pregnancy is going to follow the same template, what works for one woman may not be best for another.<br />
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<h2>
It's best to be balanced and flexible, to listen to your body, ask questions, and slow down when needed. </h2>
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I could go on and on about what I did wrong and what helped me. But please remember to consult your OB/midwife before making any drastic lifestyle/diet changes! (Heads up- this will start to sound like a broken record)<br />
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<h3>
First off, if you are planning on getting pregnant go ahead and prep yourself. By this I mean, do activities you want to be able to continue while pregnant. The rule of thumb during healthy pregnancies is that you can continue the activities your body is already conditioned for. This includes weight lifting and horseback-riding. </h3>
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<h4>
Example: </h4>
<h4>
If you do Cross fit or HIIT, most likely you will be able to continue, modifying the exercises as your range adjusts. </h4>
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In fact, the more active you are before, during, and after your pregnancy the better. For me, I hiked a lot, core work, and yoga. I'm not a runner and competitive swimming is a thing of the past for me. In my second trimester, I really cut down on the core exercises. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and at times painful. (listen to your body!!) I was terrified of Diastis Recti, where you abdominal muscle become separated. Once your muscle wall separates, "bouncing back" is less likely to happen without surgery. Don't let this mislead you though! Having a strong core made my delivery so much easier and shorter. If you can, do pay attention to your core as well as your pelvic floor. Both are key to a smoother delivery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4dh3jjBmZrc/WuNlM9ZdWZI/AAAAAAAAAng/fdUsVS7-XDM4S2YNE9bI_NYO9C1DhzeBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="502" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4dh3jjBmZrc/WuNlM9ZdWZI/AAAAAAAAAng/fdUsVS7-XDM4S2YNE9bI_NYO9C1DhzeBQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2935.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C<span style="font-size: xx-small;">amel pose never felt so good!<br />Photo taken by my instructor<br /><a href="https://www.zenmissionyoga.com/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Laura Messer</a><span style="text-align: start;">! </span></span></td></tr>
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What helped both mentally and physically was yoga. In fact, there were days I felt like skipping because I felt worn out or bleh and my husband would ask, "Don't you have yoga tonight?" He could tell the difference when I went. It calmed and centered me. I was challenged mentally and physically. My instructor made sure the class had the right focus before we started our practice. Your attention should not extend any further than your own mat. There is no competition. No comparison. You listened to your body, its needs. You focus on your breathing and center. Yoga helped me reel myself in and re-focus. I had to stop and enjoy, to celebrate the new life growing inside me. Pregnancy is no cake-walk. You need these moments of peace, because there are plenty of situations and new experiences that throw you off your game!<br />
<br />
Yoga strengthened my pelvic floor, helped my breathing, and opened my hips. All these things were boons throughout my pregnancy and during delivery. Although I have no "proof" I believe (and it makes sense) that my yoga practice helped position my baby. Head down and ready to rumble!<br />
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One activity I DO NOT recommend during any part of pregnancy is moving. Whether its across town or to the other side of the country- bad idea. If you do end up having to pack up and take off, get help (mentally or otherwise...ha!)<br />
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Granted, when we moved, I was working full time and taking classes that were kicking my butt. I had less and less time for healthy habits. Thankfully, I was in my second trimester and had a horde of family and friends who swooped in and took care of nearly everything. Still, the night before the move I was toting Rubbermaid tubs full of dishes and kitchen paraphernalia. Pregnant women, see above <i>rule of thumb</i> listed at the beginning. I was NOT in the practice of hauling around huge Rubbermaid tubs full kitchen equipment. And I paid for it. <br />
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The next day I couldn't stand up. I sat on the edge of my bed in tears. It was excruciating pain to plant my feet on the floor and lean forward. I lost count of the tries it took to finally stay standing and take a step. Don't ask me how I treated the pain or handled it. I don't remember much other than staying in my leggings and turning the heated seat on in my car.<br />
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After moving, yoga classes were out of the question since my old studio was too far. But I did continue to practice in my new home as much as possible. I even incorporated a yoga ball. (<i>yeah, ok it was more of a bouncy toy than anything else.</i>) My activity decreased during my third trimester. ALOT. I won't go into the why and how. <br />
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I got sick a few times. My schoolwork took up most of my free-time outside of work. Moving was an ongoing process. And the baby's room was chiefly taken care of by my husband and his mom. (<i>did I mention how much amazing help we had???</i>) Exercise was continuously being pushed to the bottom of the list. Please, don't be like me. Prioritize your health. When a pregnant woman prioritizes her health, what she is really doing is putting her child first.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-pIA17Pqtw/WuNj3LcQwUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/lUWIJDzdTTE_Vz1dxI93EoqVdTMMjz4iwCEwYBhgL/s1600/mug%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-pIA17Pqtw/WuNj3LcQwUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/lUWIJDzdTTE_Vz1dxI93EoqVdTMMjz4iwCEwYBhgL/s200/mug%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
<h3>
What I didn't do but should have-</h3>
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<ul><ul><ul><ul><h4>
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<li>Go to a Chiropractor for my pain</li>
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<li>Continue to go to yoga class weekly</li>
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<li>Re-evaluate getting a post-graduate degree (and the loans that came with it!)</li>
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<li>MORE CARDIO</li>
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<li>Join a pool</li>
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Hindsight is 20/20. I had to slow down in my third trimester. Forced to even. As stated before, I won't be detailing anything. Many pregnant women may face unavoidable trauma at point in their pregnancy. You can't control everything. As with most things in life- expectations are your enemy, flexibility is your friend. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVwxZ7SMSX0/WuN45Pc5TBI/AAAAAAAAAoE/rgQzQK4ELDAe21JqNYacxYO9oGmtOvP3QCLcBGAs/s1600/hiking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="732" height="319" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVwxZ7SMSX0/WuN45Pc5TBI/AAAAAAAAAoE/rgQzQK4ELDAe21JqNYacxYO9oGmtOvP3QCLcBGAs/s320/hiking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I did take it easier, cardio was something I wish I'd increased.<br />It wasn't all bad though, I was able to hike 1.4 miles in my Birkenstocks at 39 weeks!<br />They were one of 2 pairs of shoes that fit my poor swollen feet.</td></tr>
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I adjusted my activities during my final weeks. And my foot wear! Find out what is most comfortable FOR YOU. Everyone is different. All of us come to this with varying backgrounds and from different walks of life. Be open. Ask questions. Expect for your world and you to change immensely. </div>
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Please let me know if you have questions! Is there a topic that you think I should write about? Is there one you really are curious about? I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment!</div>
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<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-72181355734422099382018-04-20T12:26:00.001-07:002018-04-20T12:27:37.516-07:00So many questions!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6t0BVwx_3E/Wto3utznKdI/AAAAAAAAAkg/GhZjhhea7WAdBThMV_04CgbmSNqLHlseQCEwYBhgL/s1600/botany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6t0BVwx_3E/Wto3utznKdI/AAAAAAAAAkg/GhZjhhea7WAdBThMV_04CgbmSNqLHlseQCEwYBhgL/s640/botany.jpg" width="601" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Moss at Botany Bay Plantation</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry I've missed a couple weeks! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Vacation and lack of motivation can be very strong. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOJUgcBkd5w/Wto3TRUF0HI/AAAAAAAAAkY/cKf8wrfOASMOwKyZWppMcVteXn1B-xiKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/bontany%2Bbay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1454" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOJUgcBkd5w/Wto3TRUF0HI/AAAAAAAAAkY/cKf8wrfOASMOwKyZWppMcVteXn1B-xiKgCEwYBhgL/s640/bontany%2Bbay.jpg" width="581" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once family knew about the pregnancy we still kept it pretty quiet other than telling bosses/co-workers. It wasn't until the first trimester was over that we actually posted an announcement to social media. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdyvx9LTkrU/Wto3JZQXgUI/AAAAAAAAAkM/AVA3EYWw944R1FwJT-Oj2hHZc21UAjWCwCLcBGAs/s1600/15403551_1812437272363977_6965444056457412608_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdyvx9LTkrU/Wto3JZQXgUI/AAAAAAAAAkM/AVA3EYWw944R1FwJT-Oj2hHZc21UAjWCwCLcBGAs/s320/15403551_1812437272363977_6965444056457412608_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just over 3 months pregnant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I can't emphasize this enough. WAIT to post on social media. Losing an unborn child is devastating and sometimes having to answer questions repeatedly to acquaintances is painful. I have not experienced this, but I know many families who still cherish the memory of a lost child. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ok transitioning to more cheerful and amusing topics...</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">First question everyone wanted the answer to when I was pregnant. GO! </span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Was it: </span></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A) How far along are you?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">B) Boy or Girl???</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">C) What crazy food cravings have you had?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">D) When are you due?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">E) Can I feel the baby?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fTuczmQdm4/Wto5HysqJTI/AAAAAAAAAko/8PCC39Ims-wvTtUl9KrLGSi72480mJ_FACLcBGAs/s1600/16583773_1654419021240460_5021171374408859648_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1026" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fTuczmQdm4/Wto5HysqJTI/AAAAAAAAAko/8PCC39Ims-wvTtUl9KrLGSi72480mJ_FACLcBGAs/s400/16583773_1654419021240460_5021171374408859648_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">answer </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">is</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">.......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">........</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone was insanely curious to know what bizarre food cravings I had. Sadly, I was an extreme disappointment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">First Trimester food cravings:</span></u></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xMZPQe8xLmE/Wto7srIdprI/AAAAAAAAAlk/AAQh8p4_FeM1YcnxqJcLip3x_tEL9Bv1QCLcBGAs/s1600/10990632_1428979960735955_1594072680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xMZPQe8xLmE/Wto7srIdprI/AAAAAAAAAlk/AAQh8p4_FeM1YcnxqJcLip3x_tEL9Bv1QCLcBGAs/s320/10990632_1428979960735955_1594072680_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not gonna lie, the first trimester was a blur. I was nauseous and tired. Everyday I got home and went straight to the couch for 30 min to 2 hours. The smell and taste of coffee was just, well, UGH. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZADfTyYhRCE/Wto7IMHqdYI/AAAAAAAAAlM/TAgc8c1xbY06JpeHfeC9PDcg9oWubXQ0gCLcBGAs/s1600/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1000" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZADfTyYhRCE/Wto7IMHqdYI/AAAAAAAAAlM/TAgc8c1xbY06JpeHfeC9PDcg9oWubXQ0gCLcBGAs/s400/berries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What I did eat was mostly fruit. I LOVED fruit. Specifically watermelon and berries. For me, buying berries and pre-cut fruit is a splurge. Considering that it was healthy and something I could handle with my endless nausea, it was worth small rise in my grocery budget. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<h2>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Second Trimester cravings: </span></u></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Past week 12 I no longer needed a prescription for my nausea. I still couldn't really stand coffee, and there were some rough mornings, but I really turned a corner. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Gone were the healthy cravings of my first trimester. (With the exception of strawberries, they were a constant in my mad world of food) All I wanted from then on was the greasiest, creamy, sweet food a fast food diner could offer. Burgers, fries, fired pickles, shakes...you name it- I ate it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xAD1ZwzEowk/Wto7KFiDA4I/AAAAAAAAAlc/FYVKyDMqHGgqo224_vpp99Rciss-_kK0wCEwYBhgL/s1600/bobs-burgers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="683" height="203" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xAD1ZwzEowk/Wto7KFiDA4I/AAAAAAAAAlc/FYVKyDMqHGgqo224_vpp99Rciss-_kK0wCEwYBhgL/s400/bobs-burgers.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't help that I was very suggestible and we were watching ALOT of Bob's Burger's at the time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Instagram become an endless supply of food porn. I was hungry all the time and the greasier it was- the better. Fried? <i><u>gimme</u></i>. Salty? <i>don't mind if I do!</i> Sweet? <i>give it here! </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">The berries I craved turned into Strawberry Cake and Chickfila shakes. </span><br />
<h2>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Third Trimester cravings: </span></u></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvAP7EaarOo/Wto7OtxA5qI/AAAAAAAAAlg/Ph-sejBTlBAKU9qG5qnChAcu6A1uJloHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/waffle-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="770" height="191" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvAP7EaarOo/Wto7OtxA5qI/AAAAAAAAAlg/Ph-sejBTlBAKU9qG5qnChAcu6A1uJloHgCEwYBhgL/s400/waffle-large.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Carbs. I wanted all the carbs. Not pregnant Ali doesn't really DO sweet. I do not have a sweet tooth. Salt and Vinegar chips are my jam. Pregnant Ali however...I wanted waffles all the time. Granted, this craving started in my first trimester but it grew exponentially throughout. By Christmas the 2 people who know me better than anyone else in the world BOTH gave me waffle irons. I don't know what wrong with America, but how come Waffle House is the only place that serves waffles?? I love the place but I needed TOPPINGS. Butter and syrup are a great start, but this preggers woman needed her waffle with cream, berries, and sometimes topped with fried chicken. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Please note that none of the above cravings are unusual or odd. They just went against everything I had started out wanting to do during my pregnancy. It didn't help that everyone loves to tell you, "GO AHEAD!! You're eating for 2 after all!!" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ha. Yeah, well, you're eating for you and a tiny human. Small, and not needing all the fat and sugar people THINK they need. I tried to be good. Protein was a priority, as were vitamins and all the other good things you read up on. However, the busier I was with classes, work, and eventually moving across town, the less time I had for stuff like meal prep or exercise. (both of which I highly recommend for those wishing for fit/healthy pregnancy)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong! I had a great pregnancy. The fat, grease, and sugar didn't harm me as much as one would think. I attribute this the health and good shape I was in before my pregnancy. The summer before I was pregnant, my husband and I tried a vegan diet for a month, hiked almost every weekend, and took a trip out west where we did several miles on foot or bike every single day for over a week. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NY0GFfSgPWQ/Wto830dT5nI/AAAAAAAAAlw/cEMbfcx_4Uk_d7J9UNqlvWQFJjfIH-ejACLcBGAs/s1600/18889064_1913038945639938_5431702769675272192_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NY0GFfSgPWQ/Wto830dT5nI/AAAAAAAAAlw/cEMbfcx_4Uk_d7J9UNqlvWQFJjfIH-ejACLcBGAs/s320/18889064_1913038945639938_5431702769675272192_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: In my last trimester I was fully back on the coffee bandwagon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">During my pregnancy, I went from 125lbs my first month to 170lbs pre-labor/delivery. That's quite normal for a pregnancy, but not ideal for everyone. With my next pregnancy, I hope to gain significantly less, if only because I still have yet to fall underneath 150lbs. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This blog is to share my journey and not to impose an expectations on anyone else regarding their pregnancy or health. I learned a lot about myself on this journey, and hope that by sharing what I have found encourages others to pursue their best health in all endeavors. </span><br />
<br />alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-36514829667477791862018-03-30T12:27:00.002-07:002018-03-30T12:44:27.923-07:00(Old) Breaking News <span style="font-size: large;">It's common knowledge that you wait to see if the pregnancy is viable. Miscarriage is not uncommon in the first 12 weeks and some women never know they were pregnant. </span><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OfYwW60wiPw/Wr6NF3WYCzI/AAAAAAAAAh4/RiDzSmzRw20zMoWwYw5Zxc4NqVMZywrfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/blueberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OfYwW60wiPw/Wr6NF3WYCzI/AAAAAAAAAh4/RiDzSmzRw20zMoWwYw5Zxc4NqVMZywrfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/blueberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="577" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OfYwW60wiPw/Wr6NF3WYCzI/AAAAAAAAAh4/RiDzSmzRw20zMoWwYw5Zxc4NqVMZywrfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/blueberry.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />As excited as we were, holding onto our news for a month was difficult enough. In fact, the news nearly slipped out before the first ultrasound. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our family tends to make impromptu trips the beach. And by impromptu- there was a year we went to the each season: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. This fall was no exception. I can't remember the exact week, but we were all down at Edisto Beach. His grandparents, his parents, and we all shared an ocean-front beach house for a weekend. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM1wv78dXDI/Wr6NEioWi2I/AAAAAAAAAiI/w8bOw6NRWowYVmVWjF1YjM9BbSWV_O2eACEwYBhgL/s1600/beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM1wv78dXDI/Wr6NEioWi2I/AAAAAAAAAiI/w8bOw6NRWowYVmVWjF1YjM9BbSWV_O2eACEwYBhgL/s320/beach.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hint: there are 2 people in the chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cold, windy days made for mostly porch reading with big fuzzy blankets. Some braved the beach to look for seashells or take the metal detector for a spin. I took my prenatal vitamins covertly and politely turned down offers of coffee. The last night at a family dinner (I can remember what we had: smoked pork and pineapple skewers ...tender, juicy, melt in your mouth food!) I sat between my in-laws. The most wonderful people on the face of the earth! Per usual we were having a great time, food and conversation going quickly. Someone made the comment, "Yeah, when Ali stops eating chocolate we'll know she's pregnant!" I may be known for my food obsessions...<i>see above comment about dinner. </i>The conversation continued along that line coming a point where my father-in-law starts mimicking use of the metal detector, passing the imaginary tool over me jokingly saying, "BEEP...beeep...beepbeepbeepBEEEEEEEP! Pregnant! Pregnant!" His wife took up the joke on my other side, both of them miming a 'pregnancy detector'. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will never forget that moment when Sam and I just looked at each other wide eyed. That split second was all we had to pass it off as the joke it was meant to be. They would find out soon enough the following month how true it was! We all got a good laugh from it and had many more laughs in the following year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were a couple other times that the news almost leaked before we announced the pregnancy to family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWlLLbHaEMQ/Wr6NH0rRPdI/AAAAAAAAAiI/AfMcyUNb2owwmjyK4X4Roqb0vHb-wUJ6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/chimney%2Brock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWlLLbHaEMQ/Wr6NH0rRPdI/AAAAAAAAAiI/AfMcyUNb2owwmjyK4X4Roqb0vHb-wUJ6ACEwYBhgL/s320/chimney%2Brock.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took announcement pics<br />
that were never used</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had gone to Chimney Rock to enjoy the fall colors and weather. On our hike back down, we were talking about the baby and how we were going to tell family. Basically just super excited! Turning a corner, we passed a couple who looked familiar. It was Sam's aunt's parents out for a hike, we had almost missed them! <i>(to explain: family gatherings usually include many people's in-laws and we typically saw these wonderful people every major holiday and had even been down to their place a few times..In case you haven't noticed we're kinda big on family)</i> After stopping and visiting for a while we went our separate ways, but Sam and I wondered if they had overheard us talking about you-know-what. Later we discovered they hadn't - it had been close though!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On that same trip, we ran into some friends who were also there on a date to see the fall colors. Months later we all found out that they had just gotten pregnant too! We find it funny now, looking back, that we all had the same secret news. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--px9bVfVRQM/Wr6NL6eiFEI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/iv9HmBUmfJIAV5NhrogkJloyWnbaatY0gCEwYBhgL/s1600/ultrasound.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="899" height="273" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--px9bVfVRQM/Wr6NL6eiFEI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/iv9HmBUmfJIAV5NhrogkJloyWnbaatY0gCEwYBhgL/s320/ultrasound.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The official announcement took place after the first ultrasound. Both sets of parents were invited over for dinner (ha- nothing suspicious, right?). After chit chat, food, ect. Sam got their attention and made the announcement, pictures and all. They were just peanut pictures, nothing more than a white bean on a black background but they were loved on. This was their first grand child and they were over the moon. Smiles abounded, tears of happiness were shed. New life is always precious and exciting and that evening there was no better news! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After telling the parents we started to tell other family members. Some we called, others we stopped by to tell them in person. That whole weekend was spent going from house, to dorm sharing the excitement. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5N-RRJ6HXXE/Wr6NKAtBLmI/AAAAAAAAAiM/LpZam9rgGO0TO24Ro3KPOua30wgq03GSQCEwYBhgL/s1600/uncle%2Bben.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5N-RRJ6HXXE/Wr6NKAtBLmI/AAAAAAAAAiM/LpZam9rgGO0TO24Ro3KPOua30wgq03GSQCEwYBhgL/s320/uncle%2Bben.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam took his brother out to dinner<br />
and gave him<br />
this to break the news!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ok, I'll be honest here. There were some people who took the news with ALOT of energy. It was incredibly encouraging to have them be as excited as we were. But we also learned that not everyone was going to match our enthusiasm. That was difficult to take sometimes, especially when it was someone who we thought would have a bigger reaction. I don't mention this as discouragement, but to give other couples a heads up in regard to expectations. Even joyful reactions will vary.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">NOTE: Youngest siblings have the absolute best surprised reactions. Its priceless. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example...my little sister literally went into spasms. Jumping up and down, squealing, to the point of falling on the floor. Ok, she may be a bit of a drama queen, but still...HILARIOUS! Sam's brother's reactions were also priceless. No rolling on the floor, but same level of unfettered excitement!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As scary as the thought pregnancy and childbirth is, surround yourself with friends and family. Their support and encouragement is EVERYTHING! </span>alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-20992672466697730182018-03-23T12:00:00.001-07:002018-03-23T12:25:20.291-07:00Intuition..that stuff is real<span style="font-size: large;">I love being busy. I feel stretched, exhausted, and accomplished. Bragging rights are also kinda cool. "I did THIS..." But as many people will tell you these days, having too much on your plate is not always good. Especially if you are choosing to do so, and not out of necessity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Props to all you women who work full-time with multiple kids and more on the way, going through school at the same time! I have NO CLUE how you do it. May you continue to be blessed with the endurance, strength, and patience to conquer each new day! I know from personal experience that just having a full time job, school, and growing a human inside me is wearing enough as it is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of that!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my Iphone at Chimney Rock</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Autumn of 2016 was amazing. We found out we were expecting in October and waited as long as we could to share the news with friends and family. There were 3 friends I shared my suspicions with before I had it confirmed by a test. This is how it went...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went on a roadtrip to visit my 2 besties from who lived about 3 hours away. Before I left I had started to just feel "different." Couldn't really put my finger on it. Not a "fluttering" or any pain. I hadn't even hit the point where I was ravenous. Nothing was off. Its like your mindset is in the process of changing. Your reactions to mundane things shift. Intuitively I thought something might be changing or about to change, but I didn't want to get my hopes up until I could know for sure in a few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">SO. I went down and met my BFF of 8 years (<i>now a full decade! woot woot!</i>) for Thai and a movie. We sat down with our food and within 5 min I blurted out, "I think I'm pregnant!" I was that excited! She gave me a "Say Whaaaaaa????" look of excitement and we both laughed nervously as she started asking questions and then we moved on to other topics. I mean, at that point, it still could have been nothing. Way too early to tell. In the movie theater I proceeded to bawl at pretty much every trailer (especially ones with puppies) and during the movie. (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) During the trailers, my friend just turns to me and says, "YUP. You're definitely pregnant!" This girl, man she knows me. Neither of us are the crying type. We just don't do that- especially during cheesy trailers with talking dogs. And she was right. Pregnancy hormones- they getcha!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm the type of person that researches a subject till google wants exile me from the web and friends get tired of my questions. I like a mixture of scholarly articles and real life experiences. Everything is cross referenced and the references get background checks. (hello, I NEED credentials!) So, of course, I scheduled a coffee date with a mid wife referred to me by a good friend, just to ask questions. NOTE: I hadn't told the husband or taken a pregnancy test yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the way to meet with the Midwife and her assistant (certified doula), I started praying. "God, I know that YOU are in control, no matter what happens! I know that YOU have the best plan for my life." All the while I'm thinking, its a boy, pretty sure I'll have a boy- I have the perfect name for a boy! Then comes, "Well Ali, what if I gave you a girl? What would you do? Freak out because you have no plans or ideas for a girl? Are you scared to have a daughter?" In all honesty, yes. The years leading up to this moment of prayer and reflection had been full of <i>I couldn't do that! </i>BUT. In that moment I realized that no matter what- I loved this baby and was so excited to meet them! Suddenly my arms ACHED to hold my child and all I could think was <i>Gosh- I have to wait 9 months</i>. Intuitively, I knew we were going to have a girl, but I didn't trust myself enough to believe it. (and only a thorough ultra-sound at 22 weeks is really going to give you a positive answer) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I met with the midwife and asked many questions about pregnancy, labor/delivery, complications, and places to give birth. I got prices and the cost of what an at home delivery would be, along with care before and after. Having more information settled me, and I felt better equipped to make decisions as the process unfolded. Later that week, I finally purchased a pee stick and, sure 'nough, there were 2 strong lines. **squeal** And yes- I did a little happy dance!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First things first- the next day I call to schedule a visit to my OB to make sure everything was on track and this was no fluke. Cue <span style="text-align: center;">the beginning of odd food cravings, ravenous hunger, weird gas, and pain. Yup, the whole gamut. Before I even had my first appointment to "officially" confirm the pregnancy or even show him the positive test- Sam asked what was up when I started eating bananas. Those are NOT my go-to food. EVER. They have a weird texture I don't care for. But the next couple weeks I craved them, eating about 2 a day. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our wedding day, hands down my favorite shot!<br />
Photographer: Themis Vourous</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycVAvIzWQrA/WrVNcIP8dTI/AAAAAAAAAg8/HHkfb7qm4wwlmD9JAlViqdf_G-IetNekQCLcBGAs/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">By the time my appointment rolled around, I was trying to come up with a cute/original way of telling Sam he was about to be a dad. Something like that needed to be memorable- right? Heh. Guess pregnancy brain kicked into gear early for me (yes, that is a real phenomenon. Not a lame excuse.) I left the paperwork from the doctor's office on the passenger seat when I went to go pick him up at work. It was in one those little bags they give you, but STILL. My husband is smarter than your average bear. He's actually pretty intuitive for a guy! Already suspicious due to the banana consumption he jokingly says, "You're pregnant aren't you?" DING DING DING! WE HAVE A WINNAH!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not realizing I had forgotten the paperwork on the seat of the car, I looked at him dumbfounded and said- HOW DID YOU KNOW? Again- not my brightest moment....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He proceed to be the MOST EXCITED I HAVE EVER SEEN. Picked me up in a HUGE bear hug and spun me around the parking lot chanting, "We're having a baby! I'm a dad! I'm a dad!" You guys. I was more happy to be married to him in those moments than I had been on my wedding day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are highlight moments in your life. HUGE moments. Un-documented, un-filtered, not contrived bursts of pure delight. This. This was one of these moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the beginning of a fresh NEVER BEEN THERE Sali Adventure. </span><br />
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-29898359655095236722018-03-16T12:11:00.000-07:002018-03-16T12:15:55.591-07:00Aaand... WE'RE BACK! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yikes! I am such a terrible host. Poor you, waiting for another post that never came. (yeah, yeah, yeah I'm know what you're thinking <i>Don't flatter yourself!) </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resting at Redwall Bridge after hiking down from the North Rim. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forget which overlook this was at- just that it was sunset at on the South Rim. We rented bikes and rode up and down the South Rim road, occasionally hopping on a bus when we felt like we were needed a breather. (laaazzzy- I know) But had we not hopped the bus we would've missed out on the driver telling us about the mountain lion she spotted near the road that morning! And I thought the risky part would be watching my husband "fly" back down to our cabin on his bike- arms spreadeagled. He will never get the sound of me screeching at him to stop out of his head. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Narrows @ Zion National Park</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trip out west was phenomenal. I still look at pictures and think, "Man, I really can't wait to get back there!" Even to the point I've hinted to the husband, "Hey, I applied to a job in Utah!" It didn't pan out, but it was worth the try! (I may or may not subscribe to alerts on job opportunities near Zion National Park...) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely- <br />
you can spot the most phenomenal adventure Buddy on earth</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Despite being years ago, I remember my last post. And I had every intention of following up with stories of our travels! But before we even got back to the airport in Phoenix from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon- I had to start my course work for my accounting class. From there, life only got more interesting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I dove into my online accounting courses, determined to get my Master's in Accounting and pass the CPA exam. Not even back home from vacation, and I was paranoid about keeping up. We hit the ground running when we returned, going back to our work routines. I kept up with my classes, had fun with colorful new binders and taking notes in 8 different colors. (I'm guessing most accountants don't try to make their work pretty...?? Ya'll let me know here.) My front desk job left me with plenty of time work on problems between calls. All that down time is what had driven me to look for better career options in the first place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward to not many weeks after getting home. We went to SkyTop Orchard for our annual apple picking early September. We had discussed having kids "sometime in the future." Seeing all the families there together and several babies brought the topic up again. Now, if you're following what I'm saying you might realize that I already had a full plate. I was working full time and going back to school for my Master's. Buuuuuuttt.....Adventure is made of risks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained- right? The whole point of this blog is our adventures. And the biggest one was coming up next.</span>alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-39268347883162481592016-08-27T20:44:00.003-07:002016-08-27T20:44:38.140-07:00Go West Young Man - GO WEST!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sitting in a tiny log cabin listening to massive claps of thunder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is our first full day at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Just saw lightening outside our open window towards the canyon! Beautiful! One cabin isn’t ON the rim. We’re set back in the forest behind some rather mature pine trees inhabited by vey vocal squirrels. I can see the canyon past the trees…and the lightening is beautiful watch…sadly Sam keeps missing it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We’re both exhausted. Not so much from the hike we took this morning, as the journey we made yesterday! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After a 0430 departure (EST) we landed in Phoenix by 0900 (MST) and hopped a bus to get to where we could rent a car. The Phoenix airport is phenomenally beautiful! A massive stained glass ceiling sheds rainbows as you take the escalator to baggage claim, passing a life size model aircraft on your descent. Yes, shame on me for not taking pictures. Guess ya’ll will have to go buy tickets to Phoenix now. (nope, they paid me nothing to type that…you’re welcome City of Phoenix!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After getting on the bus, it took under 10 min to get to the terminal that housed the rental car kicks and garages. My hubby had booked ahead with Hertz because online they seemed to offer the best deal. We were served quickly and efficiently, but they kept wanting to add stuff on. If we had just agreed to what the soft spoken CSR suggested our rental car cost would easily have been over a grand for 5 days. I’m sure there are people who don't bat an eye at cost like that, but the cost we had been quoted for the small car we needed had been WELL under half of that. At the end of the whole deal, we still ended up paying more than the original online quote, even after waiving the walk-away insurance. Ended up feeling taken advantage of and pressured to pay more than we had budgeted (which we ended up doing anyways). So - watch out people. This was my first time renting from Hertz, we’ll see how it ends when we return the car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now that we had wheels we started making tracks to the North Rim. That trip was 5hrs 45min on paper. We made a few stops on the way. First stop: Target. Why? Because everyone needs snacks and deodorant. Second stop: Whole Foods. Pizza is ALWAYS a good idea. Especially when you haven't eaten anything more than Chickfila at 1630 the day before. Armed with Chicken BBQ pizza, drinks, and a bag of apples this couple FINALLY headed north. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you’ve ever visited the Grand Canyon (or looked at a map) you might be wondering, “Why on earth didn’t they fly into Vegas? WAY closer to the North Rim Lodge.” Correct. It certainly is. Especially if you’ve been up since 0300 EST and are operating on 1 hour of sleep (that would be my husband). During trip planning, and plane ticket buying, Phoenix seemed more logical. Especially when your point of reference is the South Rim Bright Angel Lodge. Since we planned to visit both north and south sides of the Grand Canyon Phoenix seemed to make more sense. So I planned on us going straight up and gradually make our way back. I thought riding through Navajo lands and the Kaibab forest would be fun. It may have been more fun if Sam and I hadn’t been traveling since before dawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We did make some more stops on the way…</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A rest stop gave us a warm welcome, the sign said to watch out for poisonous snakes and insects, with the 2 main culprits pictured below. Sadly, that photo has disappeared. just imagine it …staked into desert like gravel with landscaped bed of cacti surrounding it. Sweet dreams. My current state of mind is “is that a snake?” and *shaking out every shoe and piece of clothing I own* “there better not be a scorpion in here!” Just kidding, I just do double takes on the trails out here. No more than I do at home when I’m creek stomping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After MANY miles of dirt hills with five-o-clock shadows of scrub, we finally began to see red. Carolinians may believe they have the corner of the market on red dirt/clay. News flash: we don’t. Once you’ve driven though the Navajo area you realize that John Deere isn’t a household name in Arizona for a reason. Red hills upon red plateaus. Every once in a while we’d pass an open air roadside stand selling jewelry and pottery. But aside from wire fencing to discourage ATV enthusiasts there was little to see. Not even a tumble weed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Eventually we reached the bridge spanning the Colorado and began see the canyons we'd travelled so far to gawk at. It was worth it. So was reading this blog post if you didn’t just scroll past it all to look the pictures! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Bridge at Vermillion Cliffs Moument<br />(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies and Gentlemen....The Colorado River as seen for the first time by yours truly!<br />(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Once we’d allowed ourselves to be blown away (almost literally…the wind felt amazing after being cooped up) we hit the road AGAIN. The last hour of driving west and then south was spectacular. The day was ending and the sun was slipping. The closer we got to the National Park (Happy 100th Birthday!) the more vegetation we saw. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">While we saw signs every few miles warning us of deer, elk, cows, and bison, only the deer came out to greet us. Bill the Bison didn’t come out to play. Meadows and forest spanned both sides of the road as we made our way to the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Hoping we get to see some tomorrow when we head out for a mule ride! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Joan at the front desk was super helpful when we checked in! She gave us the times for sure rise and sunset along with tips on where it would be best to view them. Needless to say, we went and took in the sunset right after unpacking in our cabin. Pictures below!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from overlook behind the Lodge <br />(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(untouched photo take by Alexandria Andrews on a iPhone 6)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After taking in the views it was time to collapse. With bloodshot eyes, and congested sinuses I wasn’t hungry and promptly fell into bed. Waking to see the sunrise wasn’t gonna happen the next day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fast forward past the 12ish hour coma. Woke up to voices in the next room. That’s right people. The cabin is a tiny duplex and we can everything our neighbors say. Even their face-time calls with their grandchildren. Honestly, it was kinda sweet but an example of the amount of privacy those cabins provide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So we promptly decided to take a hike down the Transept Trail below our cabin along the rim of the Canyon....</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Which ended in thunder and lightening at Bright Angel Outlook after a bit of an unplanned trail run. More details and pictures to follow in the next blog post: STAY TUNED! </span></div>
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-66540291357436786372016-06-23T13:07:00.000-07:002016-06-23T13:07:14.943-07:00WhirlwindAs much as I would love to detail all 7 months of my visit in Bulgaria I'm afraid there are more adventures between now and then that deserve their proper due. Also, in the ensuing 4 years my memory goes hazy with details and I'm tired of trolling Facebook for pictures.<br />
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Last we left off my group was on an over night train to Istanbul. </div>
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Words cannot describe the meld of cultures that reside there. Yes, you see minarets. The call to prayer is heard daily and women are rare sight unless they're tourists. All point to a dominant Muslim culture. Granted it is. Just the same way the USA has predominant Christian overtones. (no mail delivered Sunday, beach nudity frowned on, ect.) OOPS yeah I just mentioned religion and a tiny bit of politics on a travel/adventure blog. Deal with it. (or stop reading, no worries here! Free speech baby!)<br />
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My point is that there are strong Christian and Jewish sentiments in Istanbul as well. From the history of the Hagia Sophia to the multicultural protestant church we visited on the Eastern side of the Bosporus we experience a mixture. Granted, I also experienced (a possible) near abduction as well.<br />
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At the church it was Father's Day and they celebrated by handing roses to the Father's and also giving roses out to "future fathers". Interesting....possibly more a fact that there was a surplus or encouraging them to "be fruitful". The church had a cat that lived there....I may have spent the better part of the service trying to get its attention and play! The service itself was beautiful combination of liturgies taken from Synagogues, Mosques, and Lutherans placed in a very Presbyterian format. There was chanting, sacraments, spoken prayer, ect. The lyrical chanting was a baring of the soul to the Almighty. The pastor met with us afterwards and had lunch with us, answering questions about the church, its members, and life in Istanbul as a Protestant Christian. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0A3Knji1_7c/V2w_3U-bWdI/AAAAAAAAARU/CVOyaGQ1LFspuQdK1HuVwHcsvcsxhrjNQCKgB/s1600/Visit%2Bwith%2BImam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0A3Knji1_7c/V2w_3U-bWdI/AAAAAAAAARU/CVOyaGQ1LFspuQdK1HuVwHcsvcsxhrjNQCKgB/s320/Visit%2Bwith%2BImam.jpg" width="320" /></a>Before we took the ferry back across to the Western side of the Bosporus we also visited with the imam of a local mosque, friend of the pastor. He answered our questions and shared how he became the local imam and explained the differences between Shi'a and Sunni (yes, there are several other denominations sadly 2 hours doesn't lend itself that type of discussion). I can honestly say that visit was rather vanilla. Interesting and informative but very basic.<br />
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The earlier trip to the Bazaar was more....exciting?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZIZmmDrzwg/V2w_2eG628I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/RFYGxE9vAkwEJscJepSpIoDyuM0JaPP1ACKgB/s1600/Istanbul%2BMorning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZIZmmDrzwg/V2w_2eG628I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/RFYGxE9vAkwEJscJepSpIoDyuM0JaPP1ACKgB/s320/Istanbul%2BMorning.jpg" width="320" /></a>Lets rewind to the night train, transferring to the bus past the Turkish border. It was my first experience on a public bus with it own TOILET. Like a jet without wings taxing its way down to the capital. My friends called it "the Turkish torture bus". When one part of your body is blasted with hot air and the other is turned into arctic wasteland one tends not to sleep. Since some of us (ahem..ME) slept a total of 30 min in their fold out train bunk, this was not the best combination when we arrived at the bus station roughly around 6am.<br />
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We got to our hostel by an above ground metro and watched the sunlight paint the sleeping city awake. The Paris Hotel Hostel wasn't 4 stars, but it was amazing. <br />
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The girls had almost the entire 3rd floor to ourselves with a balcony overlooking the harbor. After checking in an unloading we mostly decided to get coffee, shower and nap. Honestly, I can't remember in what order.<br />
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Some decided to sight see and later everyone crashed. Except for a friend and I. She had been before and we decided she would show me around the bazaar. (for those with taste you can visualize it by watching the opening scene from "Skyfall" featuring Daniel Craig)<br />
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The bazaar is overwhelming in so many ways. The colors, people, smells, yelling, bartering, shopkeepers.....oh the shopkeepers. There was everything. Imagine a crowded mall in an ancient maze of a building that had grown up around itself. Then fill it with shops like at a flea market as well as those mall kiosks. At some point every person has walked through an American mall and been approached by a kiosk person, maybe even mildly harassed. Or chased three stores down by a hair kiosk guy calling, "COME BACK RAPUNZEL!!" OK MAYBE NOT EVERYONE.<br />
But imagine a small village of that type of salesperson inside a maze like cavern of shops. That is the Bazaar.<br />
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The fun part is haggling. The not so fun part is standing out as a blonde American tourist and becoming an easy target.<br />
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-62624357093787193372016-05-19T12:43:00.001-07:002018-03-29T11:18:39.930-07:00Burn AlertWe interrupt your chronological perusal of a trip made over 3 years ago to bring up an account from this past weekend...<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Uui29EFPYE/Vz9pV83DYiI/AAAAAAAAAPY/XfOj93LF3zUJRrvjhblX5fYpJkPTcAE0ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Uui29EFPYE/Vz9pV83DYiI/AAAAAAAAAPY/XfOj93LF3zUJRrvjhblX5fYpJkPTcAE0ACLcB/s320/IMG_1013.JPG" width="320" /></a>This past weekend Sam and I took the girls on the second annual Hunting Island Beach Trip. A trip where my sister and her best friend are taught how to set up a camp site, and leave no trace after 2 nights of surviving with AC in a tent. Last year was pretty uneventful other than LOTS of bugs, mud slinging, and licking the foam. (I told them it was dead mermaids, but it didn't stop them)<br />
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This year the girls didn't eat the sea foam (thank goodness) but there was mild mud throwing and ALOT of splashing. This trip was more sedate, our campsite has a view of the waves, and we met more people. <br />
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Instead of driving down after work and setting up camp in the dark, I had the sense to take the day off. We pitched the tent pretty quickly. My husband didn't even have to help out of instruct! Downside- it meant I was putting the pegs in the ground and I ended up breaking the metal stake completely. So after some Hulk jokes the tent was secured and we were able to sit around with the citronella candles burning on the corners of the table.<br />
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With my hair up in a pony tail, I leaned back as we were talking and started smelling some terrible. REALLY TERRIBLE, the kinda of smell that makes you gag. I turned my head and saw the flames licking up the side of my pony tail and promptly flipped out. Grabbing my hair I yelled (ok, yes there was cussing involved...) and attempted to pat out the fire. The girls were laughing their heads off as I did my fire dance and my husband belatedly tried to cover it to put out the flames. All I can say is that never wearing hairspray came out in my favor! Ironically though, I had just gone to the salon the day before!<br />
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I moaned over my frazzled ends and the smell..but in the end the fire only got an inch and half off one side of my hair. Almost as bad were the looks I got from the parents at the campsite next to us. I can't remember what I was yelling...but apparently they didn't appreciate panic over someone's incinerated head. Whoops...<br />
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Thankfully, for the rest of the trip we stuck to burn wood, hotdogs, and only one or 2 marshmallows. That is, unless you count sunburn!<br />
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Last year's beach trip saw some red cheeks of both kinds. Reapplication was not really practiced. Sunscreen never really found its way to our backsides either. Needless to say after driving 4 hours home on toasty buns last year, we not only applied but reapplied multiple times this year. 50 sph is a marvelous invention, even if it meant it I came home with hardly a shadow of tan on my face.<br />
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The burn victims this past trip included legs, and the part of the back that doesn't not get coverage when reapplying sunscreen to one's self! My sister's bestie ended up buying aloe at the park store. Can we say $10?? Yes, $10. ALWAYS pack your own aloe for beach trips. A) You will most definitely need some no matter how strong your reapplication game is! B) The beach stores KNOW how desperate you are for immediate relief and will overcharge. We got the pain killing version and a bag of ice to stick it in to chill. Which felt AMAZING afterwards! Note: all aloe should be chilled, make sense, no?<br />
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So, while I've left out the attack of jellyfish, theft of sunglasses by waves, and an epic gathering for volleyball I feel I've left some rather good life lessons in this article.<br />
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1) Be aware of your surroundings- don't dip your ponytail into citronella candles!</div>
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2) If you cuss at family campsites expect to be the pariah.</div>
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3) When in doubt - ask/beg friends to hit your back with sunscreen that 3rd to 5th time after you've been doing handstands in the ocean. </div>
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4) You can never drink too much water at the beach. (you can always go pee in the ocean- gives you a chance to stretch your legs and cool off from all your sunbathing!)</div>
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5) PACK YOUR ALOE FROM HOME...and pack it in the cooler with your icepacks. (maybe this should have been lesson number 1?)</div>
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The final lesson I learned days after being back at work.<br />
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Apparently the jelly fish I ran into (top part) was benign! Those clear round jellies are harmless and don't really have a sting according to my friend at work who has a dive instructor's license. They are called "cabbage head Jellyfish". You can pick them up and play with them. I suppose I owe the ones I ran from screaming an apology - they just wanted to be friends!<br />
<a href="http://www.beachhunter.net/thingstoknow/jellyfish/cannonball-jellyfish.htm">Cabbage/Cannonball Jellies</a> <br />
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Now go reserve your tent site on Hunting Island and pack your bug spray...you're gonna need it!<br />
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<span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://southcarolinaparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/hunting-island/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=SC&parkId=10114" target="_blank">Beach Camp Reservation Site</a></span>alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-60189049590580335542016-05-11T11:57:00.002-07:002016-05-20T12:51:46.853-07:00En RouteNote to readers, this will be as chronological a blog as I can make it, despite it reaching back to 2012!<br />
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This means the next installment will be on Plovdiv and Istanbul. For those who aren't familiar with the former city, its located in Bulgaria roughly 41 min from Pazardzhik.<br />
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Our left after the week long clinic was over and met up with another part of our team in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It blew my mind that so many ancient ruins were open to the public! I;m used to being told to "KEEP OFF" and "DON"T TOUCH". But in Plovdiv I got to go down into the hippodrome and do pretty much whatever. It was like a public park! They still hold performances in the ancient theater. (I know, shame on me for not having better pictures to share) We walked all over, and did some light shopping. The shop we went to was not you typical tourist trap, it was more of a antique shop slash museum. Not being able to afford much or lug anything around, I bought 2 Ottoman medallions. The shop owner even explained the dates and wording for me. Don't ask me what Sultan they memorialized, I've forgotten somewhere along the past 4 years.<br />
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There were street stalls as well, but they were located nearer the city center. Plovdiv has gorgeous architecture! If you love Charleston's Rainbow Row in South Carolina, beware. The main streets of Plovdiv would put it to shame. The main streets are for foot traffic only - so wear your best walking shoes and be prepared to be entertained! <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-379U1NMX0Q8/VzNrrOfrg6I/AAAAAAAAANs/9xccJzrnMDgERd3axicRTru1ozuIqGPNQCKgB/s1600/Clowning%2Baround%2Bin%2BPlovdiv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-379U1NMX0Q8/VzNrrOfrg6I/AAAAAAAAANs/9xccJzrnMDgERd3axicRTru1ozuIqGPNQCKgB/s320/Clowning%2Baround%2Bin%2BPlovdiv.jpg" width="320" /></a>During the summer in Plovdiv, performance artists are in no short supply. If you've seen "Spy" with Melissa McCarthy, recall the scene where Rayna Boyanov compares Susan Cooper to her mother. Bulgarian clowns are, in fact, a very common in the warmer months. They are very talented and creative! My teammates and I got looped into an improve piece one evening and had a blast! Plovdiv did not lack for scenery, architecture, history, food, or entertainment. Also, its one of the less expensive European cities to stay in. Very accessible by bus from the capital, I made a day trip out there by myself more than once while living in Bulgaria.<br />
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That evening we left from Plovdiv on an overnight train to Istanbul. Best way to travel to Turkey EVER! Honestly I don't think I really slept at all. Mostly I stood outside in the corridor watching the countryside pass by with the windows open. Fields with bright red poppies, some with aging, rusted machinery, everything fascinated me. <br />
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About 3?am the train reached the border and we all disembarked, digging our passports out of our bags. Since most of the toilets on the train had been backed up we hit the restrooms at the checkpoint after being processed. I can't remember much other than waiting in line and getting a stamp. Not a ink pad deal, an ACTUAL lick-the-back paper stamp. My clearest memory was that there were clean, functioning bathrooms. On the other side of the check-point (think of the visitor centers next to the interstate) we boarded a bus to take us the rest of the way to Istanbul.<br />
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147780588901752466.post-74868348107233977102016-04-28T12:05:00.001-07:002016-05-11T12:04:46.695-07:00The Beginning....Its a good place to start My husband and I met in college. After month of "running into" each other at the local bagel and coffee joint I pretty much was convinced I was falling "in love." (and no, I was not excited) Up to that point, my life had been relationship-free zone - guys were buddies and nothing more. I hadn't ever dreamed of marriage, in fact I thought of romance as a pesky distraction.<br />
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Sam was by far the best distraction of my life. Both of us history majors, we graduated within a year of each other. Instead of getting married right out the door, we had time to travel, work, and prep for the road ahead. I decided to take an internship abroad with MTW. Sam stayed at his job and was able to visit me in Bulgaria for my birthday.<br />
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That wasn't the first adventure of our 3 years of dating, but it was our first completely uncharted, overseas adventure. By the time he and his mother visited me, I'd lived in Sofia for roughly 3 and a half months. By no means was I fluent in Bulgarian, but I'd traveled around Bulgaria enough to be able to be a semi-effective tour guide.<br />
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When I'd landed in Sophia that June, our group was immediately taken to drop off the bulk of our luggage (enough for 7 months and 3 seasons!) before driving south to Pazardzhik for a week long medical missions clinic. It was my first experience staying in a hostel overseas, but not the first time I had shared living quarters with a mouse.<br />
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During that week, sans medical training/experience, I and a few others partnered with other non-medical volunteers from the local church to help in a neighboring village. The name escapes me at the moment, which causes more than a little shame since the mayor hosted us himself our last day there.<br />
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Our project that week was to clear the churchyard of that small village, the pastor of which was upwards of 90 years old and walked precariously with 2 canes. The church was beautiful, historical, and small by American standards, but had a beautiful sounding piano which we played on our water breaks (much to the delight of a local boy who decided to help out). We filled the street outside the courtyard with brush, wood, and weeds planning to haul it off in gradual loads. Instead, local Roma came and took most of the wood for poles and the brush for kindling.<br />
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Here's comes the ironic(?) part of the trip. According to my friend who had been living in Bulgaria for many years, is a licensed doctor in the United States, and speaks fluent Bulgarian, poison ivy has not been introduced to his adopted country. I have a LONG list of things I'm allergic to, but worst of all is my reaction to poison ivy. So far, the last 3 times I've had a reaction its spread so rapidly (despite basic precautions) I had to seek medical assistance. No, I don't roll in it, and yes, I know what it looks like and am on the constant lookout. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J2bqMFfheM/VzOB_EJdUTI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zmPa3k3O9O8WF26nNXuhZ_LjcCZHaZtkgCLcB/s1600/Brush%2Bpile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J2bqMFfheM/VzOB_EJdUTI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zmPa3k3O9O8WF26nNXuhZ_LjcCZHaZtkgCLcB/s320/Brush%2Bpile.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, there I am, in a country that supposedly is berefit of my personal kryptonite. Fast forward to halfway thru the week. An itchy spot on my arm in the morning, another spot on my forearm in the afternoon, spreading....growing..So much for no poison ivy huh? When I showed my arm and explained what I suspected and why the medical team gave me that condescending look/smirk only all-knowing medical professionals have. When the spots continued to spread sans scratching and after washing, ointments AND oral antihistamines they finally deigned to offer what oral medication they had on hand.<br />
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Do I think got poison ivy in a country where it doesn't grow? Of course not! My theory is that some thing the church courtyard caused a similar severe allergic reaction. I would also like to say that my friends in the medical profession are extremely knowledgeable and compassionate, despite my descriptive words above. Admit it, you've been there too, possibly on the other side of the medical profession, watching people self diagnose and coming to ridiculous conclusions. In this case, I was blessed to have medical professionals on hand in a foreign country where I would continue to have limited access to medical assistance.<br />
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At the end of our week in Pazardzhik , the medical team had helped many people. My team had completely cleared the courtyard and fixed the walkway so that it was passable. The mayor of village hosted us at his offices, I wish I could remember the food better. Sadly, the only thing I remember with certainty was that cold bottles of Coke was served and the conversation was thorough! The mayor was very proud of his village and asked about the cities we were from. I felt so bad when I couldn't answer his questions about Greenville's population or how many malls we had. Disclaimer: I still have no clue. I could just Google it and pretend that my knowledge is endless, but I'm just gonna honest here. <br />
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Overall, that first week was OVERWHELMING. I missed my boyfriend so much. The language was different, the money was different, I was with a group of complete strangers I had never met before in my life, save for a conference phone call. During the time, I didn't FEEL overwhelmed because I was so busy. All the interns had their days completely planned out, even those of us who were still struggling with the time change (forget language barriers). This was helpful, it gave me no time to be vulnerable, no time for tears or "what have I gotten myself into?" I enjoyed every minute of it. The sweltering sun, working with new friends with whom I had to use parts of 3 different languages to communicate with, enjoying my first cold beer, changing money in 2 different currencies, ect.<br />
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There are so many other side stories from my first week in Bulgaria. Like using a Turkish toilet for the first time. There's nothing like needing to go REALLY bad, asking where the bathroom is, and no one tells you its just a porcelain pad, place for you feet and a 5 inch hole. That's right people - 5 inches. Squatting. Heaven forbid you have to poo. Eh, you get used to it real quick, thankfully the next week I went back to bathrooms with the throne in them. (I could go on a tangent about how they were different too, but I won't- comment if you want the story)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-heaJFqXr3H0/VzNrtOf7zXI/AAAAAAAAANY/bz167pQEa90R2cqWuuWpNqYKE_kPfMnGwCLcB/s1600/Poppy%2Bflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-heaJFqXr3H0/VzNrtOf7zXI/AAAAAAAAANY/bz167pQEa90R2cqWuuWpNqYKE_kPfMnGwCLcB/s1600/Poppy%2Bflower.jpg" /></a>Another side story would be about the mouse in our room, or shoe shopping for sandals in size 10. You could also hear about how hot it was, how good the (melted) chocolate was, the bizarre sodas we saw, the two lane roads driven like 4 lane highways. It didn't seem like it at the time, but everything was a whirlwind, and my head is just spinning thinking of everything we did and experienced. The poppy flowers beside the train tracks, learning the Cyrillic alphabet, passing gelato carts on every corner, trying different flavors every night when we walked around after dinner.<br />
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The poppy flowers you will hear more of in following posts, especially the next one about the overnight train to Istanbul.<br />
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alexandriandrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531241334914778020noreply@blogger.com0