Last Day for the Root Candle giveaway

Tomorrow we will be giving away our Paradise Root candle before we start our NEXT contest. Don't be shy and leave a comment . Who does'nt love free?

Here's a hint about our next giveaway- They come in a dozen and are yummy and all the rage right now. You have to comment to enter people!!

http://thebestfriendsguideto.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-friends-thursday-giveaway-win-root.html


~ Karen

Holy Harry!!!!

I heart you Harry

Dessert party at Disney..and you're all invited!

Yet another great wedding add on by WDW is a personal dessert party for the bride, groom and guests. For a fee of $22 a person you and your guests can choose between an Illuminations dessert party at Epcot or a Fantasmic one at Hollywood Studios.. I'm gathering that this might be best for a more intimate crowd and also a great way to celebrate a vow renewal or anniversary.

What you get...

For an IllumiNations Dessert Party, your group is admitted to Epcot at about 8:30 pm. IllumiNations starts at 9:00 pm and runs about 12 minutes. Your event concludes about 9:30 pm. During the party, your guests will enjoy a buffet of yummy desserts and non alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic beverages can be added on for a higher price and trust me...I would add on the bevs.

For a Fantasmic Dessert Party, your group is admitted to Hollywood Studios at about 30 minutes before the park closes. The show usually starts around the time of "official" park closing and runs about 25 minutes. Your event concludes about 30 minutes after the show ends. During the party, your guests will enjoy a buffet desserts and again, nonalcoholic drinks.

I have been trying to find more info on the official wedding site to make sure that all pricing is up to date and accurate, but it has'nt been easy. For some reason their site seems very random but trust me..it all sounds delicious!

~ Karen

Monday Mystery Photo- Where are we?

I don't think a hint is even needed for this one. I'm just shocked I finally found a picture of the two of us where we don't have a drink in our hand.
Leave a comment below to take a guess and remember to comment on our candle giveaway!


http://thebestfriendsguideto.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-friends-thursday-giveaway-win-root.html


~ Karen

Who Wants to Live at Disney?

Got 8 million dollars? How about 1.5?

For a few million Disney fans can literally own a piece of Disney with their very own custom build mansion on Disney property.

Based on the map, it looks like these homes are going up on the other side of Bay Lake (it's the big tree icon near the Magic Kingdom). Families who plunk down cash to live near Mickey and friends will have access to a private clubhouse, concierge service, a planned Four Seasons resort, a full service spa, a golf course and more.

For that kind of coin I would expect the monorail to stop outside my door.

The details can be found here: http://disneygoldenoak.disney.go.com/

~Davina

Tan like Snookie...without the bitch slapping side effects

Honestly I don't really want you all to get as tan as Snookie- excessively brown, sassy Jersey Shore girl for all of those who dont watch- but I do have to admit a tan person just looks better than a ghostly one. Me...I tend to be ghostly. I don't go to the tanning beds and when I do go outside I lather on the SPF. By July my freckles merge into a semi tan and I've gotten a baby glow about me. Olive skinned I am not, but I wish I were.

Self tanners are good but I am still on the hunt for the perfect one. Recently while reading Allure though I stumbled upon an article about the top sunless tanners by city and went straight for the Boston one. Indeed they did have a top for Boston and it's called Envy Mobile Tan by Kelly Conway. I called Kelly to get some info and found out the best thing ever...she comes to your house and spray tans you there and ( it gets even better here) she does spray tanning parties. Oooooohh! You supply the appetizers and cocktails, Kelly supplies the tan.

She comes equipped with a pop up tent that fully encloses you during your tan. While the other party guests are waiting is when the cocktails and food comes in. Fabulous right? The cost for each girl is only $25 dollars which is a steal for city prices, especially for a good and reputable place.

Now my big problem is that I am outside her travel area. Southie and Dorchester however are not for my girls who live there and would love to host....you know who you are. Before you say no, the hostess of the party gets a free tan .

http://www.envymobiletan.com/location.php

~ Karen

Who wears short shorts?...the answer is not me

I'm not quite sure what the majority of sane women are thinking lately but the new summer trend of super short shorts is so not working for me. The trend appears to be "hey, my shorts are so short you can see my ass cheeks". I don't like to look at my own cheeks forget someone elses. Unless you are a size 2 , underfed waif, the shorts just arent going to work for you. So I suppose for the majority of Hollywood the look is ok.

Now add to the ever diminishing shorts glitter...yeah thats right GLITTER.. and you've got Richard Simmons dream come true. I'll stick to my Bermudas thank you.

~ Karen

Best Friends Monday Mystery Photo- Can you guess where we are?

This one could be an easy guess for some. Our hint..it's a BF's favorite for cocktails and fireworks. To take a guess leave a comment below, and while your at it, dont forget to comment on our Root candle giveaway. Good luck!

Swedish Vampire eye candy anyone?

Thank you Eric Northman..thank you

Mini Nerd Shirts - Let Your Baby Geek Flag Fly

Yes, I am a nerd. My husband is a nerd. And I am proud to say I am raising two small nerds in training. Why not embrace it now and shout it out loud?

~Davina

All shirts can be found on thinkgeek.com (please note: wearing the baby star trek shirt may result in your son never talking to girls and living in your basement until he is 40)

Twicon Countdown- Oh it's on!

I can no longer contain my nerdy excitement... just 31 more days until the Twilight Convention in Boston! I've been putting off posting about this for fear of actually telling Davina I was going. Alas, she does not share the love of Twilight and all things Edward as I do. It could be the one thing we actually disagree on.

The convention is for 3 days but I am only going on Sunday. No Volturi Vampire Ball for me...a nerd has to draw the line somewhere. Sunday will be enough though as it's the day that Kellan Lutz (Emmett) will be there for a private meet and greet. No Rob, *sigh* so he will have to do. Yes it does cost extra and yes I am all over him.. or rather it. A special shout out to Bootsie for the birthday gift of Emmett love.

More details to follow after the convention and of course some photos of me and Emmett. For this reason alone I must lose 10 pounds.

~ Karen

Best Friends Thursday Giveaway- Win a Root candle

My favorite candle has to be by Root, a company based out of Ohio. It is soy based giving it a longer, cleaner burn time. I can't tell you how many people have asked me, when walking into my house"what smells so good" or "where did you get that candle?"

The Best Friends have decided (like Oprah on a much smaller scale ) to pass along their favorite things and we are giving away a 2.1 oz. Root candle in the Paradise scent. This size has a 20 hour burn time. It's the one scent I always have . A little coconut and pineapple anyone?

Here's how to enter:

1st entry- Leave a comment below telling us your favorite candle

Bonus 2nd entry- Follow the Best Friends on twitter


Bonus 3rd entry- Retweet about this giveaway

The contest will end on July 1st when a new giveaway starts. Good luck !

~ Karen

Franck says..head over to the Grand Floridian for some wedding cake

Located directly next door to the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian is a recreation of Franck’s Bridal Studio from the popular movie “Father of the Bride”. Anything and everything wedding related can be found here, all housed in a beautiful, relaxing, Victorian setting. Future Disney brides can meet here with a wedding specialist to plan out all aspects of their big day. From the flowers to cakes, music, decorations, guest books to linens…it’s all here.

What a fantastic way to see actual elements that can be incorporated into your ceremony or reception, while listening to beautiful classical music in a tranquil setting. Sample some flavors of cake (YUM!) or take some photos at Picture Point to see just how beautiful a view it really is.
So shake that wedding planning stress off and head over to Francks’ Bridal Studio for their open house on Saturday August 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. , Disney’s Wedding Pavilion – 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Why this did'nt happen when Davina got married there I'll never know. Phooey on me for not being prepared enough to plan a girls trip around Franck. I will think of it though as a good excuse to utilize Franck's services when she has her 5 year anniversary vow renewals. You better be ready Brian ! ( Mr. Davina )

~ Karen

Go Green... and red, and blue, and black....

Expand your home recycle program beyond plastic and paper and start collecting those old crayons. You know the ones... they can be found underneath a couch cushion, in the backseat of your car, maybe even in your pocket or pocketbook?

The National Crayon Recycle Program will take those odd bits and pieces and melt them down to make brand new ones. If you're crafty you can do the same (how to melt down crayons). Or if you're lazy like me, you can just buy the ones someone has melted and shaped for you.

I recommend Eco Stars from Miss Brittany: http://organicfundough.com/item_7/Eco-Stars-Recycled-Crayons.htm

For $8.95 you get a box of star shaped crayons. Perfect for small hands and the five points are like 5 crayons in one.

~Davina

Harry Potter Grand Opening Online - Like Being There Without the Humidity

Wish you could attend the opening of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Me too.

So maybe I can't actually be there but I am marking my calendar for the super-nerdy online opening where I can watch from the comfort of my own home. Muggle t-shirt optional.

Maybe it's not as "cool" as being there, but at least there are no lines.

*******************
WHEN:
Celebrity Preview* -- Wednesday, June 16 from 9:30 - 10:00 PM EDT
Official Public Grand Opening -- Friday, June 18 from 9:00 - 9:30 AM EDT

NOTES: Go to www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotterNews and click on the LIVE FEED button at the top left of the home page (next to the RSS feeds button)

Live updates from the grand opening events will also be shared on Universal Orlando Resort's Twitter page - www.twitter.com/UORnews.

~Davina

I Just felt like running....

Well couch to 5K and I are still friends though our relationship has it's rocky moments. I am currently on week 3 and doing good. As I stated in my previous post

http://thebestfriendsguideto.blogspot.com/search/label/couch%20to%205K

because of birthin babies my sciatic nerve is a hit or miss mess, so if I have a day where I can't run...I cant' run, but overall it's been cooperative.

I have to say that I totally prefer running on the treadmill over the neighborhood jog. The times have run outdoors I've returned home so red and sweaty that it looked like I got a sunburn and someone poured water over my head. Realistically though, any 5K I run will be outdoors, not in the comfort of my airconditioned gym, so outdoors I go.

If you see a sweaty redhead running, please stop and give me a ride home

~ Karen

Disney Cruise: So Close Yet So Far

My family cruise on the Disney Dream is not until March of 2011 but Disney wants to make sure we are all excited.

Yesterday in the mail we received a reminder of our cruise-- like I would ever forget. Check out the personalized card. Disney knows how to make a gal feel special.

~Davina

Best Friends Monday Photo- Can you guess where we are?

Time for a new BF's Monday photo. It's a good one so put your thinking cap on and get going. Leave a comment below to take a guess (and be sure to come back this week for our first giveaway.)

My one hint....Rum in a pineapple = Yum!

Aloha!

~ Karen

SWEEPSTAKES QUEEN UPDATES

A few more sweepstakes for you to enter from the sweepstakes Queen.

Sarah Lee has a great Toy Story 3 sweeps. Entry is limited to one a day per email address

http://disney.go.com/partners/wholegrainfun/

National Geographic Get closer sweepstakes, Win a trip to Sea World. One entry per day

http://seaworld.kp10.net/start.asp

Liberty Travel win a stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite..Ooooooooooooohhh!

One entry per household

http://ww2.libertytravel.com/contests/disney/?utm_source=LeftBanners&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=DisneyCinderellaContest_Sidebar

Medela Symphony - Accept No Substitutes

Dear Medela Symphony 02 Breastpump,

You just left yesterday and I feel like I didn't get enough time to say goodbye. Sure, we had some differences. Like night after night where you made me get up every two hours at 20 minutes a shot. The prune fingers from the constant cleaning and washing of the pump pieces. The fact that my insurance would only cover you for one month.

But honestly, I couldn't have done it without you. With my premature son in the NICU, you gave me some control in an out of control situation. At one point the nurses even told me that there was no more room in the NICU fridge and I would need to freeze the surplus of milk. They would ask, "what pump are you using?" And when I said you, they would all nod like it made perfect sense.

So thank you. Thank you not only for giving me a feeling of purpose during those long NICU weeks. But also on behalf of my 3 month old son who is thriving - see chubby photo.

I really couldn't have done it without you.

~Q's Mama

FREE DISNEY CHARACTER PHONE CALL

Barilla Piccolini Pasta is offering FREE Disney character phone calls for your child. You can choose from Mickey, Minnie, Donald or Goofy.
You just supply Barilla with your child’s name, occasion for the call and who they should say arranged it. You can preview the message online and set the date and time for them to receive it!

This deal is not available in ID, WA, GA, KY, SM, NE, TN or LA. Not sure why. You also have until September 20th to arrange the call and calls can only be made a week in advance. I tried to schedule one now for September but no luck.

~ Karen

Take a dip with me.

My favorite new clothes I've purchased lately have all been dip dye. No...I did not say tye dye, A hippie I am not. Dip dye is entirely different.
Take for example my favorite Graham and Spencer dress which "technically" is not mine...it's borrowed..from my well off cousin. Irregardless of the rightful owner (it's mine now ) it's a stunner

Random skinny model wearing it above. She needs a sandwich with it.


Me rocking the dress with D and our P Diddy lookalike waiter in the Bahamas.
Mamas got more meat than the toothpick model but not too bad right?





My new Favorite dip dye sweater comes from Banana (way overpriced )Republic .


It's called the Boho and I think it looks way better on than it does in this picture, which is a rare thing. It's lightweight, great with a white tank and I paired it with some white shorts. I have'nt worn it yet so no pics of a "real" woman wearing it but just trust me, it's dreamy. Pink is my favorite color but this sweater from Banana and the Graham and Spencer dress both came in blue as well.
Anyone else love this look like me?



~ Karen

The Ford Flex. Not Your Grandparents Wagon: Update

So we did it, we took the Ford Flex for a test drive. And the verdict?

I like it.

Some highlights:

• It's a giant car. I mean looooong. Like old man, panel-side, Chevy Chase Vacation long.
• All the seats fold down. So if you ever needed to sleep in it, you would be all set.
• I heart the fridge option. The dealer thought I was crazy. Not all of them come with it so I made a point to call out I would not accept one without it. I will never be without a cold Diet Pepsi again.
• The Microsoft Sync system is bad ass. Voice command: "call Brian" or "play Beastie Boys" or "climate 72".  Yes, you can control the temp in the car by just asking nice.
• It's not a minivan

And those are just a few of the cool features. We took it out for a drive. Seemed like a nice ride. It's somewhere between a SUV and a wagon. You don't sit as high as a SUV, but it doesn't feel sedan low.

We're still on the hunt so it's not a done deal yet. Anyone have any suggestions for a family friendly car that can fit giants and doesn't rhyme with skinnytan? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

~Davina

Update to: The Ford Flex. Not Your Grandparents Wagon

Smile if You're Worried - Update

HE SMILED!!!!

And he keeps smiling. I finally feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief. One milestone down - a million more to go.

Now I just need him to start sleeping through the night.

For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about:
http://thebestfriendsguideto.blogspot.com/2010/05/smile-if-youre-worried.html

Seems like what they say is true. Preemies seem to work on their corrected age and not their birth age. Who knew?

~Davina

What is it with Boys and Dinosaurs?

Need a good book for your toddler?  Try Dinosaur Versus Bedtime by Bob Shea. We recently discovered this book on a trip to the library and it became such a favorite we ended up buying our own copy.

Be warned, this book will result in you child roaring like a dinosaur and requesting a bowl of spaghetti.

~Davina

Check out the author reading some of the book on Noggin:

Walt Disney World in 5

My girl Melissa wrote a great piece for FoxNews.com about some tips and tricks to navigate the house of mouse (see link below). Love the Epcot "back door" tip - that's been my choice entrance for years.  Karen and I stumbled upon this much overlooked entrance on our first girls trip. Now it's like our own VIP access.

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/leisure/2010/06/03/walt-disney-world/#slide=1


~Davina

Best friend's Monday photo-Can you guess where we are?

Do you know where we are and what we're drinking? One hint...they were très délicieux!

Take a guess by leaving a comment below..you just might be right.

A Preemie Story - Part 4: Back Where it All Began

(Continued from: A Preemie Story - Part 3)

The strangest thing about being back at the hospital was having to repeat all the steps as if I had not just been there a day and a half earlier.

Step 1: register with OB check-in
Step 2: head to triage
Step 3: wait and wait some more
Step 4: answer all the doctor's questions as if I had not just answered the same questions 48 hours earlier

I was contracting-- of that I was sure, but for some reason the monitor could not pick it up. Each time I would feel my abdomen contract I watched the numbers on the monitor barely move.

"I know you can't tell but I swear this hurts a lot!" I told the nurse. She nodded sympathetically and adjusted the belly band. Still nothing.

The doctor came to see me and decided that it was time for an internal exam. Everyone else had stayed away from this option as they did not want to make an irritated cervix even more so. For whatever reason, my husband and I found this amusing.

"Irritated cervix," I chuckled. "Why is my cervix so sensitive? Did someone say something to make it mad?"

The mood in the triage room was light and calm as we bantered a bit with the night shift. The doctor prepared for the internal and said he was going to perform a fetal fibronectin test to determine if I was in labor. Turns out, we didn't need to know. After completing the internal there was blood - a large amount of blood - and the mood turned serious.

For a brief second the doctor and the nurse glanced at each other. It was in that glance I had everything I needed to know about the severity of the situation. Without a warning the doctor threw a sheet over my waist and the nurse pushed the side rails of the bed up and started rolling me down the hall.

"I can walk," I said.
"No. We want you as stationary as possible."

My husband followed the medical parade with my pocketbook in hand looking dazed. I watched the blood stain on the sheet covering me get bigger.  I instinctively put my hands on my belly and willed the baby to kick so I would know he was ok. He remained quiet.

Back to the labor and delivery room they carefully slid me over to a hospital bed where we, for the final time, tried not to have a baby.

...to be continued

~Davina

Don't judge me....One womans love affair with Phineas and Ferb

A few weeks ago my husband was watching something lame that may or may not have had a chain saw in it on the television . It's a regular occurence in my household. My usual response is to quietly slink away to our bedroom where I can sprawl out in bed and watch whatever I want. This night was no different, however I found our son already doing what I just described. He had finished reading and snuck into our room for some tube time. He's only 9..no t.v's allowed in the kids room yet.


Words were not exchanged, I instead just got in next to him and settled in for some Phineas and Ferb. A half hour later, he kissed me good night and went back to his bed. I grabbed the remote to put on something else, but paused when a new Phineas and Ferb started. It was one I had never seen before, so I put the remote down and watched...intently. As luck would have it it was a P & F marathon so an hour later when my husband trudged upstairs it was still on. I heard him pause when he opened our bedroom door and walked in



"What are you watching ? "

" Phineas and Ferb" I answered with a sigh

silence... then

" Is Jack in here hiding or something ? "

" Ummm...no "

more silence...then

" Well why are you watching this ? "

" I like it. Leave me be"

I find this happening to me quite often with my boyfriends Phineas and Ferb. It truly is a super cute and family friendly cartoon on the Disney Channel, with humor that I can laugh at. Really , it's a cartoon about two brothers and their adventures on an endless Summer vacation. Every kid and grown ups fantasy. Throw in their pet platypus Perry, who doubles a s a secret agent and their sister who is always trying to bust them in the middle of their antics. Perry is my personal fave. I enjoy that he makes an unknown gutteral sound and has a lazy eye when in "pet" form, but stands tall, wears a fedora and oh hey...no lazy eye, when a secret agent. My son Jack as expressed several times while at Disney World that he would love to see them somewhere out and about . Those cracked out Little Einsteins and Power Rangers are there...why not give P & F a chance? Jack won't be the only one looking for them and yes...I do know all the words to Gitchi Gitchi Goo .



Jack's favorite..Backyard Beach




Emma's favorite..Squirrel in my pants. Typical Emma

~ Karen

THE CAPTAIN AT MY WEDDING? YES PLEASE...

Disney announced recently that all you pirate loving, swashbuckling couples can now have a pirate themed WDW wedding. Complete with pirate cake, favors, decorations and flowers. The pictures I have seen all look great and very different. Personally I think that some of the themes seem to be an overkill and a bit gawdy, but this one looks super cute.

If you are a pirate lover and looking for something different, then this is for you. What a great way to tie in all the Pirate’s of the Carribean movies with a fun Disney twist. And girl...if Captain Jack starts making appearances at pirate weddings, then I’m going to have to run to WDW and have myself a pirate vow renewal! (say this in your best Niecy Nash voice)

~Karen -AKA.. Mrs. Captain Jack Sparrow

ESCAPE FOR A DISNEY WEDDING

After the excitement of the proposal winds down and the celebratory confetti has settled, you and your bride or husband to be may be at the point where your ready to decide on the best place for your wedding. You’re a huge WDW fan but you just don’t know if you can afford it or let’s say you only have a handful of people you want to invite. On the other side of the scale you could be ready to go all out and get married with a grand boom! Either way WDW has 3 different wedding packages for you to choose from. They are perfect for all budgets and styles. From an intimate gathering to a gala event, it’s up to you to decide.

The three collections are
- Escape
- Wishes
- Couture



Today I’ll talk about the Escape collection which Davina and I have personal experience with. Davina decided to get married at WDW a few years ago and wanted to keep it a small, simple affair. She had envisioned a tropical , Hawaiian style wedding but that proved to be a difficult task. I was traveling with her as her maid of honor with my husband and two small children. A 12 hour plus flight was not in the cards for me. The perfect solution was the Polynesian Resort…mini Hawaii! They offered the Escape collection there which is listed as an “Exotic” choice. Ceremonies are 7 days a week at Sunset Pointe.You could also choose between 4 different ceremony times which made it more convenient. It truly was gorgeous with Cinderella’s castle in the background, Hawaiian music playing and a perfect cropping of palm trees surrounding the bride and groom. Keep in mind that this site will only technically accommodate 8 people, but more are welcome to watch from the beach.

Other Exotic locations include an open air elevated veranda in Canada at Epcot. It looks out onto the World Showcase in one direction and has the mountains behind you. Maximum guest number is 20, but you can only have your ceremony at 9 a.m. Sunrise Terrace at the Wilderness lodge also looks like a gorgeous spot. Elevated on the 4th floor with a view of the untouched area surrounding Bay Lake. Maximum guest count here is 8 and you can also choose from four different ceremony times here.

If your feeling more magical then head over to the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian. This site can accommodate 20 guests and has wonderful views of the lagoon and castle . Pictures would be great here surrounded by all the beautiful foliage. Ceremonies are 7 days a week.

If your idea of romance includes saying “yes” in a romantic garden setting then choose a garden ceremony location. Head over to sea Breeze Point at Boardwalk Resort. Say your vows In a classic white gazebo on the shores of Crescent lake. Maximum guest count is 18 with 4 different ceremony times to choose from.

If you’re in a New England state of mind then the Yacht Club Resort wedding gazebo is the perfect choice for you. Surrounded by roses with architecture that will remind you of the beach hotels of classic New England. Again the guest count is 18 with 4 different times to choose from.

With all of these you also get flowers, a cake and champagne, violinist, limousine, WDW photographer and a personal wedding website. Add ons are always available for a cost. At Davinas wedding Mickey himself appeared looking quite dapper in a top hat and coat tails. Needless to say he was a huge hit with the kids, but I couldn’t wait to get my picture with him as well. It’s not every day you can dance at a wedding with the head cheese himself.

I think he loved me.

~Karen

A Preemie Story - Part 3: The Shortest Longest Bedrest

(Continued from A Preemie Story - Part 2) 

I arrived home from the hospital on a Friday. My orders were to do nothing. Do not move. Do not climb stairs. Do not pass go. I walked in the door, up two flights of stairs (already breaking rules) to my bed and tried to remain still.

Bed rest sounds like a treat (who wouldn't want to be told you had to remain in bed?) but it's actually a nightmare. My mother made me tea and sat at the end of the bed trying not to look worried. My husband bought a Play Station 3 (I believe this is the guy version of retail therapy) and moved a mini fridge into our bedroom. He could not stop moving while I sat as still as stone. The anxiety in the house was so palpable and my stress from my stay in the hospital so clear, my two year old son took one look at me and started crying "NOOOOOOOOOOO. No Mama. No Mama".

I wanted to jump up out of bed, hug him, and tell him everything was going to be fine. But I really didn't know if that was the case. I made his squirmy body snuggle with me all the while trying to keep my belly out of harms way. I tickled him and he finally laughed. To him I had snuck out of the house 4 days earlier in the middle of the night. I didn't blame him for holding a grudge.

The day came to a close and my husband and I sat close together on the bed.

"How are we going to do this for 8 weeks?" I asked.
"We will manage," he replied.

One half day of bed rest had past.

The next day, Saturday, was much of the same. We had to all get used to the new world order where I did not do anything but everyone had to do everything for me. The minutes and hours ticked by painfully. Even my mother couldn't help but state the obvious as she made yet another cup of tea.

"How are you going to do this for 8 more weeks?"
"I don't know," I sighed.

My mother left our house around 5PM. My husband headed downstairs to give our son Grayson his dinner. Sitting alone for the first time in days, I took stock of how I felt. I did not miss the hospital but there was a part of me that took comfort hearing the baby's heartbeat and knowing he was ok. The magnesium had all but worked it's way out of my system and the sluggish feeling that followed me around had faded.

The entire day was such a whirlwind of adjusting to the new routine, I barely had time to register that I felt cramps. Now that I sat quiet and alone I felt a slight tightening in my abdomen.

At 7:30 my husband came upstairs after putting Grayson to bed. I told him about the tightening. I didn't yet want to commit to calling it "contractions" or "cramps". I just felt "off". I put a pillow between my knees and rolled to my side. The tightening lessened. A few minutes later it started again.

It was becoming clear that it was time to call the doctor again.  What started as an 8 week bed rest was about to turn into only a day and a half.

Next up: A Preemie Story - Part 4: Back Where it all Began

~Davina

The Disney Dream - It's Getting There

My cruise (Meet Me on the Lido Deck Mickey) on the Disney Dream is 288 days away. I'm hoping they tighten up these last minute details before then:

More about the completion of the Dream's construction can be found at StitchKingdom.com

~Davina

A Preemie Story - Part 2: "Try Not to Have the Baby"

(Continued from A Preemie Story - Part 1) 

How do you stop a run-away train? Well, the truth is, you can't. Once the chain of events are set into motion, the best case scenario is to delay the inevitable crash.

So that's what we did, we delayed the birth of my son. At 31 weeks he was in the danger zone for a host of problems. None of which were a guarantee, but all of which were a concern. Breathing issues, low birth weight, organ failure. His body needed time to develop and time was the one thing on short supply.

And so began the drugs. An IV drip for magnesium sulfate to slow down the labor and boost his brain development. A round of steroid injections to improve his lungs. An antibiotic drip for group B strep. The machine supplying the drugs became a companion, my hope, my baby's protector (yes this is an actual photo of my IV drip).

One after another I heard babies being born down the hall let out their first cry. "Am I the only one on this floor trying to NOT have a baby?" I asked the doctor. "No," he responded, "There are more like you".

As Wednesday and Thursday passed the mood in my room became a bit more optimistic. The drugs were having some impact and my body began to slow down the labor progression. The question was, when they stopped the magnesium drip, would nature take over again? Somewhere in my heart I knew the answer was yes, but the doctors felt they had a handle on the situation so I tried to be positive along with them.

On Friday-- three days after being admitted to the hospital-- a doctor came into my room.

"So, how are we today?"
"Well, no bleeding," I responded.
"Cramping?"
"Some, but mild," I answered.

The doctor looked disappointed but informed me that they were thinking of sending me home. Having done as much as they could, it made more sense for me to be at home with my family. I could see the logic, but the nagging thought that this ride was not over would not leave me. I thought of the night it all began. The relief I felt getting to the hospital and having medical professionals watch over me. At home was different. I would be on strict bed rest. For 8 weeks. With a two year old. That's like trying to run a marathon without sneakers-- it probably could be done, but far from ideal.

Friday afternoon I was discharged. The doctor came in and read us the rules of strict bed rest:

1. No stairs (I live in a three story house)
2. A shower is fine but be quick about it
3. No picking up laundry, your son, or anything heavier than a feather
4. Nothing in your vagina

My husband and I giggled at the last one. Sex was the last thing on our minds and of course I would never think to use a tampon.

"Damn," I said to my husband. "Where are we going to store that coin collection?"
"We'll just have to find a new place to keep all those old books," he responded with a smile. 

And off we went. The nurses all waved goodbye. One even gave me her phone number if I needed anything. "Hope not to see you soon," they said. I smiled and thanked them all for taking such good care of me. At that moment, I loved each and every one of them.

I left the labor and delivery ward as pregnant as when I arrived.

Next Up: A Preemie Story - Part 3: The Longest Shortest Bed Rest
~Davina

HOIST THE SAILS...THE CAPTAIN RETURNS NEXT SUMMER!!

Alright people, it's time to TAJ...talk about Jack. The Captain who makes me swoon will be returning the Summer of 2011 for the 4th in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, On Stranger Tides. The plot involves Jack and Barbosa searching for the fountain of youth. A new character, Blackbeard is also on the hunt and it appears his daughter ( played by penelope Cruz) is helping him. I imagine that lucky tramp will somehow be romantically linked with my Jack.

Filming is in Hawaii, (rough right ? ) and I believe starts soon. All I can say is I CAN'T WAIT. The Pirate movies have always been my faves and my son, also named Jack, loves them as well. Johnny Depp has been my love since I was 14 and he's still going strong and hotter than ever. The next time Davina and I return to WDW I plan on somehow bringing the robot Captain Jack back with me from the ride. For him ,I am willing to buy an extra plane ticket . Can he count as my carry on?

Karen