Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Happy Friday friends!  I wanted to continue with my story from last week.  Within hours after my baby dumpling was born, we had a minor scare with a student nurse being unable to find his heartbeat.  I won't lie, it scared me to the point that I sent his father after them to find out what was going on.  Nurse Polly was able to get things taken care of quickly.  The days in the hospital that followed are a bit of a blur, but things I can recall include finding it difficult to have him in the nursery.  Breastfeeding wasn't the easiest task, but I am glad that I took advantage of the help at the hospital.  When we were finally released to go home, I was a scared "Mommy".  At the time, I had a soft side water bed and I was concerned about getting in and out of the bed so soon after giving birth.  I quickly discovered that he was hungry CONSTANTLY.  Knowing what I know now, I think I was not eating in the best possible way to give him the n...

Happy Friday friends!  I hope everyone has had a good week.  Mine has been a bit emotional.  Monday was the anniversary of my Mom's passing and my oldest son's 28th birthday on Tuesday.  For this edition of Flashback Friday, I am going to share my memories of the day of his birth.  Given that, be forewarned that it's going to be long. 28 years ago on Monday, I woke up feeling like it might be any other day because Jarrod wasn't due until November 8th.  I had already been put on bed rest because my blood pressure was 130/90 and they were concerned if it didn't come down that they would have to induce my labor.  A couple of side notes, my Mom was working compressed night shifts at the time of my pregnancy and bed rest is all fun and games until the urge to nest kicks in.  I think when the urge to nest hit they may have had to strap me down to keep me from moving and I'm not sure that would have worked either!  I had been off work for a...

Happy Friday friends!  Wednesday night for dinner I decided to make an easy (I mean super, super easy) chicken and dumplings.  We've had some cooler weather so I thought it'd be quick and easy before heading to church.  It really hit the spot!  We had no leftovers to speak of so I call it a hit.  I used boxed chicken stock, a can of Annie's biscuits and canned chicken.  We ended up adding a carrot and some rosemary.  It wasn't the same as my Nanny's, but it really hit the spot.  What I will say though is that when I took that first bite, I was transported back in time to my Nanny's kitchen when I was a little girl.  Smelling clothes drying on the line also reminds me of my Nanny.   Has anyone else noticed that certain foods or smells just take you back to another time or place or that they instantly make you think of someone?   Beans and cornbread, especially pinto beans, send me right back to Mom's house. ...

My Sousin (Sister-Cousin, for those that don't know) and I were talking a couple of weeks ago about things that our kids will never experience.  One of the things that came up was a rotary dial phone.  I did see a YouTube video of a teenager trying to figure out how to use a rotary dial phone which was pretty funny.  These seem to have gone by the wayside now.  The funniest part of the YouTube Video to me is that this poor child had no clue.  I don't really remember being taught to use a rotary dial phone, but I am sure I must have been at some point.  The blue phone below is what I remember my Memaw, my dad's mom having, but I didn't spend so many hours on.  My Nanny, my mom's mom, had a black rotary dial phone.  I spent hours sitting in her hallway after church on the phone talking to friends and making plans.  It was always so often just in that hallway because you couldn't go any further than the cord would allow.   Thi...