Monthly Archives: August 2016

Home & Total Bedrest – The 411

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This morning, all the labs were in and everything was normal.  The placenta is in tact and the blood flow from Mommy to baby is perfect.

They think I had a vaginal blood vessel rupture.  I wondered if I had an SCH, but no one could answer.  

The contractions were due to dehydration.  After 3 bags of fluids, they stopped.

My mom stayed overnight with me in the hospital and my sister came by after work.   

At 7pm they allowed me to eat I ate some of the Kabob platter my mom had and then ordered grilled cheese and soup for dinner last night.

This morning at 9 am, we were discharged and I called the HD LIVE sonogram place I initially had an appointment at and was able to get my appointment back.  I figured I would get it done before going on complete bedrest, which I am required to remain on until delivery, sans doc appointments.

Thanks for all the prayers and we’ll wishes !

34 Weeks 4 Days & In Labor and Delivery -The 411

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This morning at 6:45 am, I awoke to the feeling of a slight gush.  I get up, rush to the bathroom and realize it’s BLOOD.   A whole lot of blood!  I sat on the toilet and let it gush.  It gushed three times and finally stopped.   I called my mom and told her I was bleeding and that we needed to get to Reston to the hospital.   Of course, I am in Northern VA and not at home in NYC.   I attempted to call my OB, who is on call at the NYC Hospital today but they could not reach him.  

I went upstairs and threw my packed bags in the trunk and alerted my sister as to what was going on and my mom came up and we left for the hospital,  which is about a 40 minute drive away.  

I got to L&D and was checked in and placed in a room.  The OB on call is a young, black female doctor.   I was placed on a monitor, they ordered labs and a sono.  After her vaginal exam, I started contracting.  

The lab came and drew several vials of blood and then they tried to start an iv but kept blowing my veins.  I was sent down to do the sonograms and then sent back up and was placed in a private suite.  

The Anesthesiologist was summoned to get an iv started and the results of the sono were all normal.  They have no idea yet what caused the bleeding.  The sono looks normal so the blood work should let them know if there is an abruption.  

I have been admitted overnight at least for monitoring and the blood work ordered won’t be in until tonight or tomorrow because it had to be sent out. 

The baby is fine so I am glad I don’t have deliver her today.  It is possible I may have to tomorrow if there is an abruption.    Otherwise, they are ordering complete bedrest and delivery at 37 weeks.

Update:  contractions have stopped.  I was able to eat at 7pm, finally.  The doc ordered a repeat HIV test and the vaginal/ rectal strep swab.   

We are resting comfortably and stuck here overnight.

Thirty Four Weeks – The 411

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Whole cantaloupe with green stem on table

How my baby’s growing

The baby now weighs about 5 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers – which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born – are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing, and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

And from this week, until two weeks before birth, she will continue to gain about a half-pound of weight each week. Unlike the first trimester, the weight between all babies in the third trimester is much more variable. Some babies weigh more and are taller; other babies weigh less and are shorter.

Also unlike the first trimester, by week 34, not much is changing. The baby continues gaining weight through the development of subcutaneous fat, and with that weight, is probably gaining strength in her movements. You may even be startled by a sudden jab to the ribs, or be able to see a punch to your belly from the outside!

How Mommy’s life’s changing

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you’re under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning while trying to get comfortable.

Now’s the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you’ve been sitting or lying down for a long time, don’t jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly, and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short).

Up to 1 percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your healthcare provider so she can make sure it’s not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don’t have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

34 weeks !

How Big Is The Little One?

My little one now weighs in at 4 pounds 1 ounce

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

To my surprise, I got on the scale this morning after my shower and I have gained a total of five pounds this week !   I am up 13 pounds !!!!   WTH?  I think a few of these pounds are the swelling I have from hip to CANKLE ! After walking around NYC yesterday plus the 4 hour trip up there and back for my appointments, I was extremely swollen in my legs, calves, thighs, and ankles. (cankles !)  My feet look like they belong to Miss Piggy !

Maternity Clothes?

I am pretty sure my round belly will NOT fit into my normal clothing.  I have worn maternity jeans, capris and baggy tees all week.  My running tights are uncomfortable now.

Sleep?

I sleep pretty well and try to stay on my left side.  My baby HATES when I lie on my back.

Best Moment of the Week?

My best moments this week was (1) getting more awesome gifts in honor of my baby girl and hearing her heartbeat at my MFM appointment yesterday.  My placenta previa has resolved itself and the baby is growing and everything looks awesome.  After my ultrasounds, the doctor put me on the monitor for 20 mins and my mom and I sat there and listened to that perfect little heartbeat.  Now we are preparing for my mom’s reconstructive surgery next week.  I just hope she heals quickly with no complications since we are very close to my delivery date. I really do not want to have to hire a full time nurse to help me with the baby.

Symptoms?

I am experiencing an external hemorrhoid ! It is NO fun !  Luckily it doesn’t hurt nor does it burn.  The problem is, I can feel it and it makes for an uncomfy to sit down.  I read that it it best to lie on your side and avoid sitting and standing for long periods.  I stood around for almost 2 hours yesterday waiting until we could leave for Union Station from NY.  Luckily we were able to take an earlier trip instead of having to wait until 2 pm.

Food Cravings?

I still have no appetite !  I am trying to focus on protein right now since my protein levels were low when they did my blood draw two weeks ago.

Food Aversions?

Thank goodness my aversions are gone !

Gender?

Baby Girl !

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

My legs and feet not swelling up every time I travel or do a lot of walking.

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Our HD Live / 4D Ultrasound this week and seeing this little face up close and personal !

Bump?

I have a nice little round soccer ball that measures 36 weeks.

Navel In/Out?

In

Baby  / Mommy Purchases?

I have not made any purchases, however we got some amazing gifts in the mail this week.  We received a Medela Shoulder Bag for the Pump In Style Dual Electric Breast Pump, a gorgeous dress from St. Barth, France from my Godmother, Bree, A Kinde Bottle/Breast Milk warmer, and a baby jungle gym.

Gotta Find a New Doula / Lactation Consultant – The 411

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So… I have to now find a new doula and lactation consultant this close to my due date !   Why you ask?  The one I had, whom I initially felt was a perfect fit, turned out to not be !  Missed calls, too many excuses for not keeping appointments, never received the new client package, not calling back after a dropped call ten minutes into a scheduled weekly call despite the fact that I sent a text and attempted a FaceTime (unanswered), being a NO SHOW for my baby shower, costing me to lose $125 for a no show, and the last straw, using MY recipe for lactation cookies that I perfected to start a lactation cookie business without asking me if it was okay to use MY recipe !

My mother told me a few months ago when I was not getting regularly scheduled calls and getting excuses like “my child is sick” to find someone else because that is unprofessional and not a good sign.   A doula is supposed to be your first line of support and I feel like I am flying solo most of the time.   Ten minutes into our scheduled call two weeks ago, the call just dropped and it was not my phone.  I tried to call back… no answer.  I sent a text…. no response… I tried to FaceTime… not available.  So I assumed maybe she would call back soon.  To this day, I have yet to get a return call, an email a text… nothing !

She rsvp’d to attend my baby shower in NYC, saying she and her family were leaving for NY to stay there until after Thanksgiving because she had me and two or three other clients due to give birth from August to November. When I was talking to her, she said she had just got back from Fedexing things to NY she would need.  My baby shower was two days later and she did not show up.

I was so upset by all of these “friends” who rsvp’d for my shower and either cancelled or did not show up, all knowing the struggles I have gone through to get here and how important this was to me, that I decided that the very next day, I was going to change my cellphone number and just purge people out of my space who do not deserve to be there.  I have been to every party, event, engagement, etc that they have all had, whether I was sick or well…whether I could really afford it at the time, and sometimes leaving my sick mother’s side to go support them in whatever was going on at the time.  When it was my time to be celebrated, and note I do not ask much of anyone ever, it was not important enough for them to show up?  Okay… kewl…. Moving on !  Cutting OFF !  DONE !

Anyway, that being said, I now have to find someone for lactation support while in NYC for the two weeks I have to be there after giving birth and also someone to provide support at the beach.  My mom did not nurse us and we will be the only ones at the beach… my nursing friends are way too far away and I want dependable, professional support to make sure I do not fail at this, provided my milk comes in like I pray it does !

My mom told me to contact La Leche and just work with them.  I think that may be the best way to go at this point.   I honestly do not feel I need a doula in the delivery room nor at the hospital with me at this time.  My doula promised to go over my birth plan with me, that I sent her months ago, about three weeks about and it never got done.  I wrote it out and wanted feedback.  So now, I will just go over it with my OB and the nurse coordinator at the hospital and my mom has a copy.  She wants to be in the OR with me with me when my baby girl gets here, and she is all I need !

Thirty-Three Weeks – The 411

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Two pineapples in wicker basket on table

How my baby’s growing

This week your baby weighs about 5 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a pineapple). She’s rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look, and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a cone-head–like appearance.) These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How mommy’s life’s changing

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in – let alone sleep – is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist.

Nerves that run through this “tunnel” may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping up your arm with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks – which should be frequently.

Many women still feel sexy at this stage – and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.

Learn about: Monitoring your baby’s movements

How often should I feel movements?

Your baby should be moving as frequently as she has for the last month or so. Every baby has her own pattern of activity and there’s no correct one. As long as you don’t notice any major changes in your baby’s activity level, chances are she’s doing just fine.

Do I need to keep track of my baby’s kicks?

For an added sense of security, many healthcare providers recommend that after 28 weeks, you formally monitor your baby’s movements at least once or twice a day. There are lots of different ways to do these “kick counts,” so check with your doctor or midwife about how she wants you to track your baby’s movements. Here’s one common approach: Choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you’ll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Sit quietly or lie on your side so you won’t get distracted. Time how long it takes for you to feel 10 distinct movements – kicks, twitches, and whole body movements all count. You should feel at least 10 movements within two hours. (Don’t worry; it probably won’t take that long. Sometimes you’ll feel 10 kicks within the first 10 minutes.) If you don’t feel 10 movements in two hours, stop counting and call your healthcare provider.

What should I do if I think my baby’s movements have slowed or changed?

Let your doctor or midwife know right away if you notice a slowdown of your baby’s movements. A decrease in fetal movement may signal a problem, and you’ll need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

33 weeks !

How Big Is The Little One?

My little angel is the size of a pineapple

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I did not weigh this week, but as of last weigh in, I was up 8 pounds.  I lost 27 pounds first trimester, so I think I am doing pretty good !

Maternity Clothes?

Still rocking running pants, maternity leggings, oversized tees, body con dresses and mostly pjs since I have barely left the house this week.  The baby shower wore me OUT !

Sleep?

I sleep pretty well.  I do wake up a few times to urinate, but otherwise, I have no problem falling asleep.

Best Moment of the Week?

My week has pretty much revolved around resting, cooking and baking.  I was craving fried flounder and chips so I made that yesterday and today I wanted Baby Lima Bean and Country Ham Bone Soup, homemade buttermilk biscuits and grilled center cut pork chops.  I made egg custard pies for my mom using my great Grandmom’s recipe with a few tweaks of my own.  I wanted swiss n cheddar burgers for breakfast and homemade fresh cut fries so I made that at 8 am lol.  I only eat a few bites of anything before I am full, so I do not worry about weight gain.  Now that I am not as repulsed by the smell of food and sight of food, I really enjoyed the few bites of food I indulged in this week.

Symptoms?

My baby has been extremely active the past few days.  She was almost radio silent for the past few weeks with the exception of certain times.  Now, she is moving a lot again… Especially when I am trying to sleep or when I put belly buds on and play Mozart or Beethoven.

Constipation is plaguing me so I am back to taking 3 Colace in the am and drinking coffee with Miralax in it periodically.  That does the trick.

I had blood work last week and my TSH is extremely low (.066), my protein, fluid levels iron levels, Vitamin D, calcium, platelet counts, rbc… everything is LOW !  The baby is taking all my nutrients.  My sister instructed me to up my fluid intake and protein.  I went to get protein shakes but the kind I like was out of stock.  I will make a point of getting some this weekend and start drinking two per day that are 35g each.

Food Cravings?

Burgers, fresh cut fries, cheese, fried fish

Food Aversions?

None

Gender?

Female

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

Wine and Sangria

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Meeting this little angel and seeing who she looks like… what she sounds like… what she smells like.

Bump?

My bump is growing a little… becoming more round.


Navel In/Out?

In

Baby / Mommy Purchases?

I didn’t buy anything this week.

What’s New?

My mom is going to be doing her reconstructive surgery in a week.  I am hoping the have a cancellation and can get her in next week so that she has time to properly heal before I have my cesarean.  Since they are doing a tummy tuck for a flap and her breasts, I am hoping she will be able to sit up straight and be functional by the time baby girl is here, since I will not be able to lift her.

Grilled Salmon, Lemon & Lime Skewers – Recipe

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Grilled Salmon, Lemon & Lime Skewers
Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 lb. salmon fillet, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces;
  • 2 limes, thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Wood or metal skewers
Directions:
  1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
  2. Thread the salmon, lime, and lemon onto a skewer, alternating.
  3. Brush the skewers with oil generously.
  4. Season the skewers with oregano, cumin, sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Cook the skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes.
All Rights Reserved by Valerie Renèe

Thirty Two Weeks – The 411

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How my baby’s growing

By now, your baby weighs 4 1/2 pounds (about the size of a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You’re gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. She’ll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

She is sleeping approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day.

Most of her wrinkles are disappearing, especially on her face, as more fat is deposited under her skin. Her hair is becoming thicker with each passing week, and you may even be able to see it on an ultrasound! She will also begin to settle in the head-down position, as her birth is fast approaching.

How mommy’s life is changing

To accommodate you and your baby’s growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your doctor or midwife know right away, particularly if you haven’t had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it’s not preterm labor that’s ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

32 Weeks !!  Woot Woot !!!

How Big Is The Little One?

The baby is the size of a jicama

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I have gained 1 lb 3 oz this week for a total gain of 8.5 pounds.  I lost 27 lbs the first trimester.

Maternity Clothes?

I am still rocking maternity jean, capris, body con dresses, and oversized tees and running leggings.

Sleep?

I am sleeping most of the night with the exception of getting up to pee.  Occasionally I fall asleep earlier than normal and I wake up for a few hours and watch tv before going back to sleep.

Best Moment of the Week?

Although the baby shower day started off bad for me, as we got stuck in traffic and arrived 40 minutes prior to the start of the shower and we were 20 mins late starting because we had to set up and I was already upset that 12 people (some rsvp’d for 2 ppl) cancelled the week of the shower, some the day or two before, and  8 people were no shows, causing me to lose $2500 , after the room was put together, I calmed down and decided to just enjoy this day I had worked so hard on for the past several months. Those who were supposed to be there were and those who wanted to be there and could not were there in spirit and the all the rest… EFF THEM ! 🙂    The room decor, the floral arrangements, the food, etc … was perfect.  The event was very elegant and beautiful, just the way I envisioned it.  My family and friends had an amazing time and loved the decor.

After the baby shower, we packed up and cleaned up the party room.  Before I could get the car out of the garage, I noticed I had 26 invites on Instagram and a ton of replies to some posts on Facebook.  I click on it to see that two of my friends posted pictures from the event without asking me.  That started a shitstorm of comments, emails, inboxes, calls and texts !   My personal life is private and I keep it very separate from my public life.  Everyone who I wanted to know about my pregnancy and life, knew.  Now all of the 5000 FB fans, old classmates, other family whom I do not even deal with nor speak too, associates etc, were seeing the pics posted and started asking if I was pregnant or congratulating me… all of which I ignored !   I DO NOT comment on my personal life PERIOD.   I ended up at the mall after my mom’s physical therapy appointment on Monday, so I changed my cell phone number, which I had planned to do some time ago when the whole stalking situation was in full swing.  The FBI and NYPD I was dealing with suggested I not change it at that time so that the stalker would keep contacting and they could document it and build a case.   It was time to do a purge anyway.  Too many people over time have been given my number for various reasons and I do not stay in contact with these people.  It amazes me that they felt it appropriate to text me and ask if I were pregnant.  I went to the posts on FB and changed the audience viewing on the pics so that only those tagged in it and those I wanted to see the pics could actually see it and now the drama has died down.  I was livid that my friends posted those pics.  You do NOT do that.  Just because you were invited to an event does not translate to you posting pics for the world to see unless you clear it with the event host.  I hired a professional photographer and a professional videographer to document the event and to put together a video and photo cd for the guests. Now I see why people make you put cell phones in a basket at the entrance to venues !    There is a previous post I made about my baby shower.  Take a peek to see the pics…

Today, I went to LabCorp for a ton of blood work.  I was supposed to have an OB appointment, but I did not feel up to the 3hr train ride to NYC from DC and back.  My legs were very swollen after the baby shower all the way up to my hips !  My legs and ankles looked like they belonged to someone else…   I had the blood work ordered stat and sent to CNY as well as my OB.  I have my next appointment in 2 weeks anyway and also an MFM appointment for a scan and other testing, so unless I start feeling symptoms or feeling bad, I am good with that !

Symptoms?

My skin has been feeling like it is crawling and is super sensitive.  My sister told me to take Benedryl for the itching and crawling feeling and it worked !  I took a few doses of liquid children’s Benedryl and I have been fine since.  My baby feels a lot heavier and she does not move as much as she was before.  It is like she is asleep most of the time.

My boobs FINALLY stopped hurting !   I was in so much pain and the pain evolved to a shooting and stabbing type pain.  On Saturday, it finally just went away !

I have kankles ! 😦

Food Cravings?

I have had no real cravings lately.  Today, I wanted bbq chicken and fresh cooked veggies, so I made that, ate a plate and got over full after eating only half the plate.

Food Aversions?

My aversions are pretty much gone, thank goodness !

Gender?

It’s a GIRL !!!!

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss

Sangria and a nice glass of wine

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Being able to see this baby and bond with her.  Getting back to the beach for the Winter and hanging out on the beach with the baby and my mom.

Bump?

Still a soccer ball !   I have not gotten much bigger.

Navel In/Out?

In

Baby / Mommy Purchases?.

The only things I have bought were Aden & Anais swaddling blankets I found at SAMS Club for $6.41 and $4.91 for a FOUR pack !!  Such a steal so I bought 24 of them lol.

I will finish up my registry at the end of the month after I wait to see what other items are purchased by those who claim they are going to send a gift who didn’t bother to show up for my shower.  I was waiting for Amazon and Target to post the 15% off completion coupon.  They finally posted them this week so I will wait until the first week of September and then order the few things that we will need, which is basically her Mamaroo swing/bouncer, 4Moms play yard/bassinet, high chair, crib sheets, and burpy bibs. Everything else, I have already purchased along the way or was gifted for the shower.

Diamonds & Diapers Baby Shower 

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Make My Cake, NYC

My sisters and I

Custom diamond and diaper cookies from @Bananabakery_cookies of Dallas Tx

My besties from acting class

Floral arrangements by Starbright NYC

Cake by celebrity baker Make My Cake & Cupcakes by Sprinkles

I’m the pregnant one.. she is showing her rings ! Lol

My best friend, J and my godson. (She is having a girl in November)

Irene won a game gift !

#diamondsanddiapers

My mom and I going over games

 

Setting up…

 

Excitement Over Baby Shower Wained- The 411

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I am up, dressed, and the car is packed.  I am NOT excited at all to be leaving for NYC for the baby shower.  In the past few days, I have had 12 people text or email me (not call) and cancel their rsvps for various reasons.  None of the reasons are sufficient for contacting someone a few days prior to an event that costs $125 per person and rising…  to cancel when you have known about the event for three months.  A save the date was sent out and invites were mailed out at the end of May.

The latest person to text me was one of the godparents.  He is an actor and got called in to do ADR work for a film he recently completed and because he is in Charleston, there are no flights arriving in NYC the next day in time for him to make the shower, so he can’t get the ticket changed.

I am certain that the day of the event , there will be others who will not arrive.  Of those who cancelled, I have gotten gifts from TWO people.

What is disappointing is that people who know my family KNOW that when we host events, it’s not a come over for cake and cup of punch kinda event !   We hired the florist who was Joan Rivers personal florist to do floral arrangements for the shower !  Butterfield’s is catering !  Sprinkles is hosting  !  Make My Cake is providing the two tier cake !  Banana Bakery of Dallas TX, Leri Sweets of Raleigh NC, and Cakes Etc of Cleveland OH made the favors for the shower !  We ordered white linen chair covers with an organza chair tie in silver for each guest chair !  Ordered silver chargers, bought beautiful dining-ware !   White Linen Table Clothes !  Glass Globes for the tables to put snowball cookies in…. Linen placemats… white platters… white risers and cake plates etc…   It is going to be beautiful…

I was over capacity (as in standing room only) by 13 guests so I really should not be upset because now everyone will be able to be seated, but it is just the unmitigated gall of people NOT showing up and the excuse being bullshit like “it is my mom’s or son’s birthday”….  Really?  You KNEW that when you accepted the invitation.  The $1500 that is being wasted for no shows would have paid for a vacation after baby is here or paid for her crib at Restoration Hardware.   I do not have $1500 to just throw up a cat’s behind !  So yep… I am bitter and pissed off.   I NEVER cancel on rsvps. I have been present at every shower, wedding, birthday, movie premiere, awards show, play etc of every person that I invited… I have even shown up sick as a dog, but was there.   I do not get people’s perception of friendship.  To me, it is about SHOWING UP !  After nearly three years and after seventeen medical procedures to have this kid, not including the one I am having to get her out, this is kinda a BIG DEAL !   Any woman having her first child is a BIG DEAL !

On top of that drama, I have people calling me and asking if it is okay to wear pink or black  to an ALL WHITE party !  At this point, I am over it and wish I had never had the brilliant idea to have this event.  It is too late to back out now and I am sure that I will be okay by the day of the event… I have the rest of the day to rest up once we get to the hotel in NYC.  My sister and niece are flying in and will be at the hotel by the time we arrive.  My other sister is driving up with her daughters and the baby boy.

What is the saying?  Que se ra se ra ?   However the hell you spell it….