Love, Life and Appreciation

I was recently selected to test out the new Pampers Cruisers #SagToSwag VoxBox through the Influenster program. I was really happy to be selected because of the new structure of the diaper (it's supposed to hold up better with fluids, therefore lessening the sag of the diaper) and also having two little ones in the house, it's always nice to have diapers. I've done VoxBoxes in the past with Influenster. My last VoxBox was back in May for the Bella VoxBox. From my four years in the Influenster program, I've received about six VoxBoxes. Before getting the boxes though, a survey is sent out and if the answers provided qualify, than the box can be sent out. Recently the company has been doing Virtual VoxBoxes which offer products and those VoxBoxes appear on the dashboard and there are specific tasks to do to get the VoxBox. Those VoxBoxes appear for everyone in specific categories, I think.

Today Rex has his first day of school after work. He'll be going to Hartford Community College. The college is about 45 minutes away from the house but he'll only be going Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 pm to 9 pm. That's for now, when he gets further in the schooling the days might change. I'm so proud of him and I know he'll do well. It's going to be tough especially with work and school and family life. I know when he has assignments he'll need space. I will try to give him the space from the kids. I am now with them 24/7 and hopefully within the next month I can get back to work. I know then too, for me it'll be work and family life and these next few years will be interesting.

We got a chance to go back to NJ for the day this past weekend. We spenyt time with my grandparents and parents. Money is still tight but we gathered up some of our funds and made the trip. We are actually about 20 minutes closer, than when we lived in Laurel. It's been at least 7 months since the last time we had been to NJ.

The ride was pretty good though we had to wait for a good 15 minutes for around 500 bikers to go down Interstate 95 North with a police escort. Actually we were ahead of the bikers at first. At one point we saw them all lining up off the side of the road with police nearby and I was thinking that they were going to be going on the road and using the escort. We stopped at a rest area down the way so I could nurse Nia and as we were heading back to merge onto 95, a police offer riding a motorcycle blocked our path and the train of bikers followed. Before that people were standing on the bridges above 95, waving and holding American Flags. Rex thought it was flag day. I knew it wasn't flag day and knew it was some event but when I search it online with my phone all I could really find was Bikers Ride August 22nd. That train pushed us back a little bit, though we weren't really in a rush.

We stopped to see my grandparents first. It was the first time my grandparents saw their new great-granddaughter. Both my grandparents are having more health problems and they did not come down to the hospital after I gave birth like with May. I understand. I know as we age, less works. My recovery from the c-section seems to be a bit quicker this time. I have my check-up with my doctor on Thursday. My grandparents kept saying for me to wait until I felt better after the surgery to visit as well and thankful I feel more like myself in the last couple of weeks. It was so great to see them. May had a good time and when she saw her great grandparents before she would be so shy but now she was is very comfortable even though she doesn't get to see them that often. Nia was resting well in her great-grandmothers arms. She was just listening to the stories that were being told. My grandfather came in later and May ran over to him. It was so nice.

I had the opportunity to read Shoo an ebook by award-winning Isreali author Hana Goldberg. The book is about 12 pages long and features rich and colorful illustrations that fit the story line perfectly. The story features Shoo, a stray cat who is hungry and has no place to call home. Shoo dreams of having a home and meets a little girl named Maya, who upset about moving to a new home. They comfort each other and soon Maya has a new friend and Shoo has a new home.

Finally got around to another blog post for the 30 Things list.

Here's number 4: List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could. Much of these you will still be referring back to as your future self.

We've officially been a family of four for a little over a month now and things are starting to get more into a rotation.  Nia is growing well and at her last doctor's appointment she was is the 75% percentile for both her weight and height. She is exclusively breast fed at the moment. I know this will change once I can go back to work somewhere though. I've been pumping more, now that my breast milk is more established. I can't believe I'm using the same electric breast pump from when I breastfed May. It was much more trial and error with May and though I spent a good portion of time with her during the first couple of months, we still supplemented with formula. We had even given May formula in the hospital, Nia has received strictly breast milk. As I stated in previous blog postings, I think breast feeding is such a great and natural way for mother and child to bond and its so good for both child and mom as well. It's also very inexpensive compared to formula. Times are tough.

I'm hoping to go back to work towards the end of this month or early next month, it's not set in stone yet but I am applying both in my field of science and also in the office type setting work. I called the temp agency a couple of weeks back to let them know I would be available more towards the towards the end of this month. It's been hard these last few weeks. Rex has been doing so much and he actually left his job at the car port and is now working as an electrical apprentice. The company he works for now is actually the same company he applied for two years ago, when May and I had to leave Maryland to New Jersey and he stayed for three months looking for work in Maryland. His friend Paul referred him then and referred him again this time. This time for the interview the boss said he didn't know why he hadn't hired Rex the first time when he applied. Since Rex has been working there for a little over a month as well, he is really leaving a good impression on his co-workers and his boss. He goes to work on the lightning for new buildings around the area and with this he'll be a certain project for a number of time and then another and another. With this his schedule won't be completely set but at least he will have work. I know with temping, as I have done it much more often in prior years, the company can send you on different assignments in various places but those assignments usually don't last as long as they say. For some it can move towards a permanent position.

Rex will also be starting his classes on August 24th. I am honestly so proud of him and know he will do great in the classes. He will be going to school two days a week and working full time. He also has been doing side jobs with his friend Paul around the area for extra income and this has helped in paying for bills, especially the rent. We had to ask family and friends too, it's really hard with one income. We know it will get even harder when he starts school. I know I'll be going from watching them all day to really really watching them all day especially when school starts. As I stated earlier, I would like to go back to work, though soon childcare will be a option. We looked at a few daycare centers around the house and we found two we really might pursue. The area is not the best but the daycare centers definitely seem like good and reliable ones. It's just the price for both that is our challenge. Rex's brother's girlfriend is offering too to watch them for a certain lower price. We know if we go this route we can help them too. They are just around the corner but they also have things that they are working on as well.

I have been involved in my product testing and focus groups like back in New Jersey. It helps to bring in a little bit of something and get a couple of things we really need. I was able to get a pressure cooker with Amazon gift cards that I got not too long ago and I plan to use this to cook more healthy foods for the family. It also will cut back on my spending on outside food. Though we had to let a few things go, we are making a way. We know that this too shall past and we have seen much worse. I do love the time I get to spend with both May and Nia and though it is hectic at times, we are all falling into some sort of routine. I still teach May her colors and numbers and she is learning very well. She has such a big imagination and she really loves her new sister.

We know that things will pick up sooner than later. You have to crawl before you can walk and we are so thankful for the many blessings we have and we are looking forward towards reaching that plateau in the future.

 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: