Morning Janice..And Thanks!!!! Not sure if I will get a cake…but if I don’t Ill have an extra tasty fruity drink at dinner….

Hope the classes go ok and you find it at least somewhat worth your time….

Gina and TnDeb….thank you both as well !!!

Happy Birthday Dawn!

Hey Janice…

I am glad you enjoyed your day off and got some things done…especially that nap.

We still have snow on the ground from yesterday..but it will probably melt later today, when the temp reaches 40. It was pretty while it lasted.

I didn’t go to any baby classes when I was expecting, so you will have to give us the 411 on those. I’m sure they will be interesting.

Have a great day,
Deb

Good morning to everyone!!

I JUST WANT TO SAY THEY YOU GREAT ON AIR, BUT I THINK YOU TOOK THE COMMENT YOU ARE SO BIG TO PERSONAL, YOU SHOULD BE GLAD THAT YOUR BABY IS GROWING. I DONT THINK THEY MEANT IT THE WAY YOU TOOK IT. BE HAPPY!!!

My post went through that time. I didn’t use any smiley faces. could that be the problem?

I have noticed when I use alot of them, it doesn’t go through????

Hey Janice,

I’m glad you got a lot accomplished on your day off, especially that nap! (Those are very important.) I sure could use a nap right now because this cold I have is getting worse & I wish I were home in bed. It’s a good thing I didn’t have to sing Happy Birthday to Dawn because I’m starting to lose my voice & it would have sounded even worse than my usual off-key singing! I hope you learn a lot in your baby class. I’m sure you & Sean are getting more excited each day as the time draws near.

You mentioned Christmas music, so I have to chime in with my story. When my parents & I went to the Chinese restaurant Saturday we didn’t hear the traditional music they usually play. They had a radio station on that was playing Christmas music. It was an eclectic assortment but very pleasurable. We even heard the classic Alvin and the Chipmunks! They played a little country music, Andy Williams, Gloria Estefan, & everybody in between! They had the volume low so it wasn’t intrusive & I really enjoyed it. I just listened to my Donna Summer CD here at work & enjoyed that.

Hey Deb,
I’m glad to see your comment didn’t get “vortexed” this time! Please keep your snow down there in Tennessee because I really don’t want any around here! That was a nice picture you e-mailed me last night but I got cold looking at it! I do think snow is beautiful but I just don’t like the cold that goes along with it.

Well, I’ve run out of characters before I’ve run out of things to say (sigh!) Margie

Janice,

I thought I would share a story with you about my daughter when she was in labor with her first child. She had a couple of brief birthing classes to teach her breathing techniques and tips for a more comfortable delivery. She was doing fine the first couple of hours and smiling and chatting between labor pains. But when the pain was getting more intense, she was all tensed up and not using her breathing advice. So I was by her bedside coaching her to breath and relax (easy for me to say)..and of course I was acting out her breathing as she should be doing it. In and out…slow..the whole 9 yards. After a while of this, she looked at me, with a Linda Blair Exorcist’s possessed glare, and said “Stop Breathing for ME!!! “.. so with that I fetched the Dr. and he fixed her right up with some medication and an epidural. And she was all happy and unpossessed.

She laughs about it now, and say’s she doesn’t remember saying that, but I’m not convinced of that. Ha.

Margie..

I e-mailed Mother Nature..and told her not to bring snow to Cumberland, MD…but no response yet.

BTW…My post are going through without the smiley faces.

Having my first two kids 40 and 42 years ago were no problem. We adopted my daughter when she was 30 days old and my son was 8 days old. My wife had an epidural for # 3 and went natural for # 4 because she was really into the show Dallas. If you went ‘natural” they gave you a room with a TV. That was the only way she got to see the show. Even though we went to the classes the nurses were great in getting her to breathe. Frankly I think this breathing bit is a crock. I can’t believe by breathing a certain way eliminates pain. I think it’s a way to get you to concentrate on breathing to divert your attention to the labor pains. So say’s Dr. Don…lol

JD – good luck at your class. We had a pretty class on lamaze and having the baby – some good tips (though my wife definitely got the drugs!).

As for classes on parenting or magazines or books – forget about it. Learn by doing. We’re programmed by nature/God on how to do these things. They’re not always easy, but you can do it!

Back to smallpox!

Tony

Dr. Don,

The breathing doesn’t eliminate the pain, but it does help. By taking slow deep breathes…and blowing them out slow..it helps you relax and the pain isn’t so intense..

Deb (done some slow breathing X’s 2, a boy and a girl)

BTW…I’m glad your wife didn’t miss Dallas..I loved that show too.

I cant speak to breathing when it comes to labor pains….But I can speak to breathing to help try and relax the muscles so that pain in general is lessened…

I wont go into details about the various medical proceedures I have had that were quite painful…But I do know that if I “tried” to “relax” as much as possible there was “some” reduction in pain….

Janice…I know you have had spinal taps…that is one that comes to mind…

But trying to relax when one’s instinct and pain tells one to tense up is no easy feat….

However you and Sean go about it Janice…I wish you nothing but the best….

Dawn..aka Birthday Girl,

You are right about the breathing, it will help with any pain, not just labor pains.

Happy Birthday Dawn!

I so miss Dallas. That was the Friday night ritual when I was a kid. (What were my parents thinking?) I was so miffed about being in high school those last 2 seasons because I had to miss it since I was in band and busy on Friday nights (and of course we had no VCR to tape it).

Janice, I never did the classes either. I knew that I wanted the epidural, and Epidural Man was my best friend all three times. (And the last 2, I didn’t even have to wait for it to get ugly before Epidural Man could hook me up!) The one class I wish I could have taken was a breastfeeding class the last time around. Live and learn. Even if you don’t get anything out of the classes, the majority of the things you need to know are common sense anyway. One book that I can recommend is “What to Expect the First Year”. It’s saved me countless calls to the pediatrician over the years, and also helped me earn my “Mommy medical degree”.

I also took a giant step forward last night. I set up my own facebook page, and immediately started having fun with my in-laws. None of my family has it, but several of the in-laws do.

Janice,

If you want to have your son a couple days early do what our grand parents did. Take 2 oz of castrol oil in 8 oz of grapefruit juice and you will be in active labor in 3 to 4 hours.

I will keep that in mind Don! Good advice. I’ve heard french onion dip and a bumpy car ride should do the trick too!

It was my wife’s doctor who told us of the caster oil. She took it and was in labor in 3 hours. She was due on a Monday and had Ken on Friday.

Janice,

I’m scared about the epidural wearing off too!! That’s one of my biggest fears…. next to going into labor early while my husband is away at OCS (he’s in the Marine Corps) He’s due to graduate March 20th and my due date is April 8th! I’m so nervous about that! Especially since I dont have any family around and only a couple close military friends, but they have babies, jobs and school of their own to worry about! We’re having a little boy also… and it’s our first! The other day, I saw you were talking about baby names…. we’re naming our lil man Mason Louis! (Louis is his daddy’s middle name and his g-pa’s name)

and from your “rant” the other day about people who dont take our feelings into consideration (the preggies) at thanksgiving.. my mom told my whole family “you should see her stretch marks! They look really bad… and dark! and i think she looks big for 5 months, I wasnt that big!!” I just thought… “gee thanks mom.. no ‘hey hun, ya look great’” what makes people think it’s okay to say stuff like that! haha I’ve only gained 10 lbs in 5 months and my preggie books say i’m right on schedule! haha

Anyway.. good luck with the rest of your pregnancy… you’re getting so close to the end!! I’ll keep watching Fox and checking your blog for updates! Cant wait to see how handsome that little guy of yours will be!

Hey Guillaume (and anyone else who’s interested),

I came across a really fun web site today called discoverthis.com that has all kinds of cool educational science kits and toys. They have a bunch of microscope stuff. I did notice their products don’t have as many reviews as Edmund Scientifics or Amazon, but they have some great stuff. I ordered a set of microscope slides to include with the microscope I’m getting the kids. They have some interesting sets for kids, which is good because I don’t think they’d be interested in looking at frog intestines, etc.–yuck! I got them one with plants, but they have all kinds of other ones with animal and biological specimens.

Hey Janice, when your little weather machine intern gets older, you should keep in mind this site, too. They have all kinds of weather stuff. My favorite is the Tornado Maker! Actually, it’s a liquid tornado so I don’t think it would get too out of hand! Thinking about a tornado maker reminds me of the Family Matters episode where Urkel helped Richie make a tornado for a science fair project and things, like they usually do with Urkel, got a little out of hand. We wouldn’t want that for you!

Anyway, if anyone is looking for educational science stuff for kids, check out the site. Since I’m a kid at heart, I would love to play with some of that stuff!

Margie

Jennifer …thank you

Guillaume…You asked about if I have ever done the DVD rentals by mail….the answer is yes…At one time I was with Netflix and another time with Blockbuster…Its been a few years though…

I am toying with the idea again though….Back then I did find that the turn around time for Netflix was quicker than the blockbuster…But with the Blockbuster one I would get two free store rentals per month along with the whatever the terms of the package was….

For me sometimes I just have to let ideas swirl before I make a decision….and the mail rental idea is still a’swirlin’

Ah Margie…Great website

Wish I knew about it when the older nieces and nephew were younger…Do have a couple more coming up in the ranks but they are still on the very young side…(oldest is 3…the babies will both be 1 in a few weeks…)

Gonna keep that website handy

Thanks Margie, that is a great website.

And I love Urkel..”Ya got any cheese?” and ” Did I do that?”…to funny

Hey Deb,

I loved it when Myrtle Urkel paid a visit to the Winslow house. That Jaleel White was (and still is) a talented actor to be able to pull off all the things he did. I also loved it when Donna Summer appeared as his Aunt Oona from Altoona–she was a riot! That was a great show.

Margie

Happy Birthday Dawn 29 feels so good again doesnt it?

As for the epidural I know your saying Kel your a guy what would you know. Well my last 1st cousin OK COUSIN ah who cares 1st 2nd. LOL Anyway the youngest cousin of mine was born in 1996 and my Aunt had an epidural with her she thought she was going to be paralyzed after it. It hurt so bad according to her although I can see the fascination gimmie a drug so I dont feel the pain. I understand I’ve had surgeries before. Its all how the croaker (doctor) doing the procedure does it I guess.

It was one of my favorites Margie..and Urkel was my Hero..

I also loved it when Donna Summer appeared as his Aunt Oona from Altoona–she was a riot! That was a great show.

And of course no surprise that Aunt Oona sang. Almost like Elvis Presley in his movies always sang

Our man Urkel…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncw70Hw1ffs

I reposted it..but it got vortexed.

It’s the Urkel dance.

This just in — Breaking News from Los Angleles….

In a move whose rationale must be limited to the executives at Fox-owned Los Angeles television stations KCOP-TV (Ch. 13) and KTTV-TV (Ch. 11), as of yesterday, Dec. 1st, Ch. 13 will no longer broadcast its one-hour late-night news show from 11-12 pm. Instead, with some personnel changes, it will continue as a 30-minute newscast with two male anchors. Ch. 11 will keep its one-hour newscast at 10 pm.

This decision has devasted every male in Los Angeles.

Why? Because co-anchor Lauren Sanchez and weather forecaster Maria Quiban are no longer part of the 11 o’clock newscast on Ch. 13.

Lauren is a 30-something drop-dead gorgeous, well-endowed, very sexy mother of three. She is a runner and keeps her body in tremendous shape. You can learn more about Lauren here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_S%C3%A1nchez

Lauren will work at KTTV-TV (Ch. 11) as an entertainer reporter. It is not clear whether Lauren asked to reduce her workload because of her three young children.

Maria Quiban has been reassigned to the morning news shows at KTTV-TV (Ch. 11). Maria also is gorgeous, another 30-something woman with a teenage daughter. Maria is an American-Filipina born and raised in Hawaii. Read about her here:

http://community.myfoxla.com/blogs/Maria_Quiban

I often think of something my father often said whenever I see Lauren or Maria on television:

“What they don’t have, they don’t need!”

George Spink
Los Angeles

Hey Deb,

I just got settled at my computer at home after doing some shopping after work and I saw your Urkel link. I guess Janice released it from the vortex at some point. I love that Urkel dance! That was a really good episode, too. I can tell that I’ll be singing, “do the Urkel” all evening!

I found a good cure for my tiredness. Actually, I’m not sure it cured it but it definitely was a pick me up. And you know what it was–a toy! It’s the kid in me again! I had a package on my porch when I got home and it was my nephew’s Christmas gift. Over the weekend I discovered he likes fire engines, so I bought him a cool Tonka fire engine that makes all kinds of cool noises and it comes with a motorized ladder and 2 action figures. The lights flash at the press of a lever and it has some great sound effects. Not only does it have a siren sound effect, but it has voices, too: “We have a 4-alarm fire, chief!” Of course, I had to check it all out to make sure it works. It says “Try Me” on the package, so I did!

I’m still all congested, but at least I’ve had some silliness to make me laugh. I guess I’m reverting back to my childhood! It will be real fun at Christmas when my nephew opens up his present and I can show him all the cool stuff!

Hey George,

I’m sorry you’re in mourning for the changes at the TV stations. It’s a trying time, but be strong! (I’m just teasing.) Everyone will have to change their routines if they want to see the pretty ladies.

Margie

There is indeed a big difference between inducing pregnancy with Castrol Oil and castor oil,
although both can jump start something big (Oops, I mean something HUGE! )

Tony

Margie…that sounds like a great fire engine..I’m sure your nephew will like it as much as you do. haha

Urkel is so cool…don’t you just love his flood pants?

Have a good night everyone, and Goodnight Urkel wherever you are.

Hi Janice,
I love to see you on TV you always are so up.I am so happy for you and your husband good luck and get those naps every chance you get . bless you

Are the smiley faces the real cause for the the Vortex insatiable appetite??
Really?
I thought it was random since I always used them!

ah well….I will refrain….. (sad face…happy face!)

Can’t believe we are already in December…time is really flying by. (or am I getting older??! Smiley/wink face!)

Thank you so much for that website Margie: it is a GREAT source of ideas for my Christmas shopping for my nephews!!!
I’m debating now between chemistry or astronomy…

Dawn, I go with Netflix now. I resisted a long time because I still love to go to the movies…well actually I find the movie experience more and more difficult because of the rude crowd. But let’s say I love cinéma on a BIG screen!
But I still enjoy the opportunity to watch movies at home.
And to return them by mail.

In any case, I definitely hope you had a nice filet mignon and a great company to celebrate your Bday, Dawn!

by the way, I love filet mignon!
Can you believe the term filet mignon is rarely used for beef in France but for pork instead?!! I got confused several times. For beef, we call it simply “filet” or “tournedos”.
So be ready when you celebrate your Bday next year in Paris!

On another topic, I was also very surprised to learn there is no living species of hedgehogs native to North America. Really?!!
no wonder our little fellow is not more popular in children books around here as it is in Europe. But luckily there are many cute videos on line (smiley face!!)

Guillaume

Hey Guillaume,

Both chemistry and astronomy sound like great ideas for a gift. My brothers and I had a chemistry set growing up and I’ve always been interested in astronomy. I took an astronomy class in college, which I really enjoyed. I have the telescope that we’ve had for years. Before my parents moved into the retirement community, they lived out in the country and that was a great place for stargazing (and moon gazing). I loved looking at the moon through the telescope. I live too far into the city now to be able to take it out for stargazing. I need to find someone to accompany me somewhere where it’s dark enough, although I imagine transporting a telescope in the car would be a little tricky.

You’ll have to let us know what you decide on. I still need to find something else for my niece. She loves horses, so I got her a couple small books, but I need something else. Maybe I’ll see if I can find something science-related for her. She’s hard to please, so it might be a challenge!

Have a great day everyone!

Margie

This will probably get sucked into the vortex, but there is a picture in our paper today that I thought would make a great cute break:

http://www.times-news.com/homepage/images_sizedimage_338002558/resources_photoview

Hopefully that link will work

Margie

Mornigng….Had a Great evening….SIS and BIL surprised me by showing up at the resturant!!With Ballons!!!! Harmony isn’t so sure Mylar gallons aren’t going to attack her or something

Guillaume….I love movies too on the big screen….I’m just a tightwad about what I can and am willing to spend to see one….When I lived in UT there was a dollar theater where the new releases would be moved too once their new release was over…I had a car and I would go a lot …..even by myself.

My birthday in Paris?!? Have passport!!!! Will travel!!!

Talking about movies…I’m hoping my folks (or at least mom) will be interested in Frost/Nixon…..I need a ride!!! LOL.

Hi Janice and everyone, got back in town from CA yesterday afternoon after a long night flight, very bad turbulance going out and on the way back to london, had a very awesome thanksgiving with my family, ate way too much turkey, and it was also great to get me some sunshine too! , Janice i did send you a postcard and christmas card to the FNC address in NY, so hope you got them, i,ll post some pics soon , just catching up on the time difference, and piles of laundry to do , plus the weather is freezing over here literally, talk to you all soon ,

God bless Richard