Love, Life and Appreciation

 Overall I am very happy with the swimsuit and even more relieved that it fits. It top is pretty adjustable so even if I loose a little weight, I believe the top will still fit. I am nursing too so my chest is a bit bigger as well. I can't wait to wear it more for next year, maybe if I can get some of the baby weight down quicker, I can wear the swimsuit out sometime in September or Octoberish.

Currently the bikini swimsuit retails on Amazon for $20.99.

To learn more about Esfeel check out their homepage.

Here's a pic of me with the top. I took a little bit to get those fringes in order. Hehe.

I was soooo happy to be selected for this promotion of the Azio Hue Wireless Keyboard/Mouse through the website Giveaway Service. I have had a couple wireless mouses in the past but I always seemed to lose the USB transmitter. I moved to wireless mouses a few years ago because of the freedom of not being confined to a limited area. A wireless mouse gives so much more movement and with a wireless keyboard, typing is more free as well.

Azio offers this type of keyboard/mouse combo in 3 different colors: green, pink and blue. I will be honest, all of the colors looked very appealing and I went back and forth on pink and blue for a couple of minutes. I decided on blue and when I opened the package I was very pleased by how nice the keyboard looked. It's so stylish and stunning!


The package comes with everything you need for both the keyboard and mouse. Batteries are included! Look like something is missing? The USB transmitter is in the mouse. Yup the quick installation instructions were very helpful. I thought that was clever to store the USB transmitter in the mouse. Can't really lose it in there!

The setup up process took a couple of minutes which the on command prompt did mention. Here's a couple of photos during the installation of the software to my Windows PC.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: pm7940afa57337177ffc2907f935b4aab3

Happy 168th Liberian Independence Day to all the Liberians out there. We hope that you are healthy and well. Yesterday we went to the Liberian Embassy in DC. Rex and I went there in 2012, it was my first time seeing the Liberian culture dancers. I remember I was pregnant with May, when Rex and I went and it was so rainy. This time it was very sunny and though it sprinkled a little later.

We all got there around 2 pm and it was alright packed with a lot of people. It was nice though because we got to see a lot of Rex's friends and about two fashion shows as well as activities with kids like learning the history of Liberia. I tried to get May out there to dance when they asked for the kids to come forth but she didn't want to go. May was more happy playing with the sticks and rocks and then she saw bubbles and it was over. She played by the child playing with the bubbles and we came to find out that the device the child was playing with was being sold nearby. May actually figured it out and pulled Rex over to have him buy her one. It was $5 and whomever was selling them made a good profit that day because we saw bubbles everywhere.

Later in the day, Rex's family came and it was nice hanging with the family. We didn't go to too many of the tents selling products, we did go to the food area and Rex bought what is a popular treat in Liberia. It's like juice in a sandwich bag, you bite the end to get more of the juice or sour milk out. It's very refreshing especially on a hot day. We didn't stay for too long after Rex's family arrived. Nia was starting to get cranky, but she slept for much of the time when we first got there. I did nurse her, discreetly. We left during the more cultural part, which I know Rex and I really wanted to see. We got to see the cultural dancers and hear the more cultural music being played live. Oh before that they asked for all the ladies to join in on the grass in front of the field to dance. I did, even though I wasn't even 3 weeks postpartum them. I love to dance and I danced with Rex's step-mom. It was fun and we danced to the song Kukere by Iyana.

Last year the celebration was held in Philadelphia and even though we were in New Jersey then, we didn't go. Hopefully the embassy holds the celebration again at the DC location. The kids will be older then and we'll probably go later so we can see more of the culture and May and Nia can learn more about their heritage. Here's a couple of pictures from the event:

Nia Jane Sumo is here and she has already been so calm and precious. She was born one week ago today on July 7th at 2:13 PM. Nia weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces and was 21 inches long. I had her at the same hospital I gave birth to her big sister, May-Holy Cross in Silver Spring, MD. Nia's birth was much different from May's delivery. It was a much more calming experience. Her delivery was by scheduled C-Section. As I previously stated in past postings, I went back and forth with the options of getting a VBAC or a repeat C-Section. In the end, Rex and I decided that a repeat C-Section would be our best option and the day prior to the surgery I went to Holy Cross for blood work to be taken.

I seemed like there were so many pregnant women getting their blood taken the day I came in. In fact the lab tech said I was the fourth pregnant woman getting my blood drawn that day. After that hospital visit, I was not to eat or drink anything after 12 am. Not eating or drinking anything after a certain time that night was not hard because I actually felt sick the night prior to the surgery. I wasn't sure what I had ate that made me feel nauseous but I felt like I was floating on the ocean at one point and all I could think was "Don't throw up." Rex, May and I stayed at his parent's place that night because it was closer to the hospital. Also we knew that the next day May would have to stay with the family until I was in my hospital room after the surgery.

The morning of the surgery went by pretty quick. I was scheduled for 12:45 pm and I was told to come to the hospital at 10:30 am. Traffic was not too bad getting to the hospital, especially for 495 W. It was so different because I had no contractions, nor did my water break. I walked into the hospital and told to go up to the third floor, only with May my contractions were less than 4 minutes apart. I calmly checked in and Rex and I were told to walk back to our room in Labor and Delivery. While there I casually got into my clothes for delivery. I was given an IV but it took three times due to my small veins.  The nurse also thought it was because I was dehydrated because I couldn't eat or drink anything prior to the surgery. Rex and I waited patiently and as Nia's heartbeat and movement was monitored. I took these pics while we waited:


I wasn't in much pain as we waited but I did feel a little due to Nia's karate chops in my womb. When it was around 12 pm, the nurse gave us news that my c-section would be slightly delayed. She said that it would be more around 1:15 pm. As 1:15 pm came closer and passed and I still had gotten the epidural, I wondered if I would at least get the epidural in the room  I was waiting in before I got the surgery. At around 1:30 pm the nurse came in and with the anesthesiologist and said that my turn was next and that I would be receiving a spinal block in the operating room. A few minutes after that I was told that I would WALK into the operating room. Last time I was quickly wheeled in due to the emergency. Calm music was playing as I entered the room and the doctor and anesthesiologist were talking about a trip to Italy. The spinal block went well for as much as spinal block is. I remember I was having a contraction during the epidural before. Not too long after the block I noticed I couldn't breathe well and I told the doctors that it was getting harder and harder for me to breathe. The anesthesiologist lifted my head a little and I felt so much better. They put the curtain up and Rex was brought inside. It seemed to take a bit before the real tugging. I remember the first time the doctor said, "And know you'll start to feel some real tugging, we're going to pull out the baby." The doctor said around the same thing this time. That tug was strong and with about five to six tugs, Nia was born. I remember the doctor said, "Oh she's a cute baby."

Nia's cries were magical and I cried once again. She was taken to the table to be weighed and then I heard someone say to Rex, "Would you like to cut the cord?" May's delivery was such an emergency that Rex wasn't given that option. Rex gladly said "Yes" and later told me that the cord was tough to cut. Nia was then washed a bit and given back to Rex and for a good 20 or 30 minutes for the time they were stitching me back up, Nia was so quiet and was alert as Rex sat with her.


 Later I was taken to the recovery room were she was washed further and I was able to do skin to skin and start nursing right away. I'm happy to say after a few bumps the first few days of birth, Nia and I have found our rhythm and she's been nursing ever since.

While I was in recovery, Rex left to get May and not too long after that I was moved to my hospital room. May seemed so happy to see Nia and she was beaming. She was very intrigued too and we said, "May this is your sister." Here's a picture of when May first saw Nia:

I've been testing the Adeline Antioxidant Serum for about three weeks now from the Tomoson.com website. I was happy that I got accepted for the promotion as I had tried the Adeline Anti-Aging Moisturizer previously and was pleased with that product.

As per the product description on Amazon for the Adeline Antioxidant Serum, the serum:
I think I've mentioned it before but I have tried a lot of different serums with Vitamin C. Many of the Vitamin C serums come in a dropper bottle. This serum is different due to the bottle in which the product is contained. The Airless Pump of the bottle helps to keep the free from contamination and oxidation which I never really thought about with the other Vitamin C bottles I have tried. The serum itself is of medium consistency and is a little tan in color. I found that had a soft smell of citrus. I applied the serum more at night after my washing my face. Within a few days I noticed my skin feeling softer and I had no breakouts due to the serum. I like that their are no paraben or harsh chemicals in the production of the serum. Overall I am pleased with this serum, as I was with the moisturizer by Adeline. I think with the way the bottle is, you are getting more quality product and that's always good. I will use this serum every other night and especially around my eyes. Currently this product retails on Amazon for $35.25.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

It's pretty late as I write this but we just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day!!!! We celebrated differently this year.  Rex had gone with Paul to New Jersey to get a few things from my parents house for Nia, especially the car seat. May and I went to Rex's parents place for Rex's niece Susie to braid my hair for the delivery. Ever since I cut much of my hair off, it was so matted and rough, about almost three years ago, I've been on more natural hair journey. It's actually something I was planning to do for a long time and I even have it mentioned in my 30 before 30. My hair has gotten slightly longer since I cut it and I have a lot of hair so it took some time for my hair to be finished. It came out great though and even Rex's aunt Ridia helped in braiding my hair. It was late when it was done and we got to see some fireworks from the window of the apartment. May was pretty good while I was getting my hair done and she and some of her cousins liked watching the fireworks above the trees. Rex won't actually be back until tomorrow. He and his friend, Paul are also helping DJ at an event in New Jersey. Paul is also a DJ on the side and Rex has been looking into that option too, to acquire some extra income.

Just 3 days now until Nia's birth. I'm going to try and get my blood work done tomorrow. I have to get the blood work done 24 to 48 prior to the delivery date. I currently don't have any contractions or water breaking and I really think I'll make it the scheduled delivery date. It's OK if she come early though. I have to get the hospital bag together soon too. I've just been more tired this pregnancy.

For the past four months now, Rex has been working hard at the Mecedes-Benz Port in Baltimore. The port is close to where we live and he drives the cars and gets them ready from the ships that carry them from Germany. Thankfully he is still employed there, but in recent weeks he has been thinking about another path into electrical work. His friend Paul, as been in the electrical ever since they meet and graduated from a Job Corps program.  Over the years, Rex has more worked as valet in hotels but he wanted to go on another path, like one in which his friend Paul has done. The path his friend Paul took was to obtain an electrical apprenticeship and work with an electrical company learning the field as well as taking course. Paul will be graduating next year as the program lasts for about 4 years. After graduation of the program, he can go on to his masters or start his own business doing electrical. For Rex, he has the opportunity to work with a company, learn the trade and have the company pay for his schooling, through this program.

We spoke about the electrician path before and when we had to move out of our apartment in Laurel 2 years ago, he stayed with Paul to see if he could find work in construction and electric. He stayed for about 3 months and unfortunately he was not able to find work. He came to live with May, me and my parents in New Jersey and we found work, eventually, but we didn't see a way to pay our bills and possibly move out of my parents place. It took us a year to find the work here in Maryland and move back for much more affordable living then when we were in Laurel. It's been tough though with me not working but we are so delighted in the fact that Rex has decided to truly follow this path. He went for an interview not to long about and I helped with the material for the exam. It reminded me a lot of my Earth Science background. There are a lot of similarities in the fields. Before the exam he filled out a long application for the program. Well yesterday we got the letter we were waiting for. Rex has been ACCEPTED!!! He has to make calls for a company to take him on and pay a somewhat fee towards his tuition. He'll hopefully be entering Hartford Community College this September for classes.

I know that it'll be tough the nights that he is going to school and working. He'll be bringing in income through the working aspect. I know he can do it though. This is a great choice for a career. It can be taken pretty much anywhere and it won't die off as many jobs in this economy are doing nowadays. He has support and notes to look over from Paul and I know I will help him in whatever I can towards his school work. In 4 years he'll be really knowing the field and may be able to earn extra income doing side work. I'm so proud of him and I know May and Nia will be happy too. We know this path looks more promising and one day even my field will prevail. We just have to be patient, it will come.