Seven years ago today, I had one of the biggest scares of my life. The reality that something could go wrong during a birth. I had 2 pretty normal pregnancies and births with my first 2 kids. My pregnancy with my 3rd was pretty normal too other than being really REALLY tired. But his birth was by no means “normal.”

Nicky’s Birth Story

I was having contractions and the doctor wanted me in the hospital because I was about an hour away and my past history showed that I am slow to start, but once I start, watch out! He figured better safe than sorry. We went to the hospital late in the evening on the 12th, the nurses got me all hooked up, got a bed set up for Jason, gave me a sleeping pill and told me to relax because nothing was happening that night. I wasn’t very far at all, but they weren’t sending me home. They turned the lights out and closed the door. Jason fell asleep and my sleeping pill slowly kicked in and we were both off in lala land, probably for the last time in a few weeks.

I don’t know how long I was asleep, it felt like only minutes. The nurses came RUNNING into my room screaming “turn her over, turn her over.” I had no idea what they were talking about and to whom they were talking. Jason jumped off the cot and I have no idea what he did. I was freaking out because they were trying to get me to turn over, but I was drugged so not really “getting it.” It was probably a matter of seconds, but it seemed like hours. They got me on all fours and were doing all sorts of things to my stomach…pushing, prodding, poking. Then they got me a shot of something. Then finally things in the room calmed down and they told me that the baby had stopped breathing, but they got a heartbeat after the shot, but it was slower than they’d like.

I vaguely remember them on the phone with my doctor while all the turning over yelling was going on. Then I looked up and he was standing there looking like he just rolled out of bed (which he had done since it was about 2am). They decided to do an immediate c-section and not take any chances.

It turns out that he had the cord wrapped around his neck 2 times. I think often about what could have happened that night. If my doctor hadn’t insisted on me going to the hospital, that would have happened at home, but I wouldn’t have known.

Nicky’s First Birthday

Here he is on his First Birthday. I was already 6 months pregnant with my 4th on his first birthday. The early years were tough. Nicky has always been such a charmer.

Nicky’ 3rd Birthday

Nicky’s lucky number is 3. He was born on 3/13/03 at around 3:10 in the morning. He is the 3rd child. The number 3 always pop up during his life in various ways. Here he is on his 3rd Birthday.

Today

Now I have a healthy and happy 7 year old boy. This was this morning as he was opening his presents.

Happy Birthday Nicky! I hope you always keep that smile and your passion for whatever you are doing. It also means you passionately dislike the things you don’t want to do which drives me batty.

The 64 GB wifi iPad. I feel happy, oh so happy, so happy and giddy and….. Some of you will get this and some of you will think I’m nuts. But seriously, being the geek that I am, ordering a new gadget is the ultimate high for me. It’s better than any drug. The only thing better is that moment when this geek first get the new gadget still in the box in my geeky little hands. It’s even better when it’s from Apple because Apple has figured out how to make even the packaging look AWESOME. In case you’ve been living in the remote jungles of some far off land and do not know what the iPad is, here is a picture of my new baby…

And some of you may not quite “get” what it does, so here is the commercial. It’s so much better to see it in action.

Now I have to wait until April 3 to get it into my hands. That is also my daughter’s 11th birthday. I think that is a fine present for me because I am the one who gave birth. This also means my hubby gets a new Nook (mine). I’m going to be reading my books in COLOR!!!

So, why did I choose the wifi and not the 3G version? My biggest reason was the AT&T service. There is no way I’m giving AT&T more of my money for 3G service. If they would let me tag onto my iPhone account, I would have gone for the 3G. Yeah, it would have been nice to have the 3G service, but I’d rather have the 64 GB and NOT pay AT&T. That’s how much I dislike AT&T.

Did you order an iPad? What is it that gets you feeling like a kid? Is it gadgets? Yarn? Scrapbooking supplies? Tell me!!

The Steve Spangler Leprechaun Science kit is an awesome way to get your kids interested in science experiments AND have a blast. Steve Spangler Science sent me one complimentary Leprechaun Science kit to review. As soon as I opened the box and my kids saw what it was, they were jumping up and down. They remember the last science kit we got from Steve Spangler and how much fun we had exploding soda out of a bottle and growing wiggly ice cubes. Steve Spangler Science makes learning about science really fun. My kids don’t even know they are learning, they think we are playing (shhhh, don’t tell).  If you aren’t sure who Steve Spangler is, check out Wikipedia for the details.

There are 7 project in the Steve Spangler Leprechaun Science kit. We decided to spread it out over the week. I will show you 3 of the 7 today and then offer the giveaway. Then the other 4, I will show you on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Leprechaun Science Kit projects

• The Leprechaun Bag
• Rainbow Glasses
• Leprechaun Snow
• Green Worms
• Rainbow Beads
• Leprechaun Eggs
• Color Changing Carnations (includes directions, however you need to provide the carnations, food coloring and cups)

Each of the first 6 projects comes with most of the items you need. You will have to add the water and sunshine. All of the instructions include the items you will need, boring stuff for the adults (explains what is happening more techy terms), leprechaun secrets for kids only (a fun explanation of what you are going to do) and step by step instructions. There are also links after each project to a web page with more information and different things you can try. All the items you need come in a container that looks like a gallon of paint.

Steve Spangler leprechaun Science Kit

Leprechaun Snow

This was the first experiment my kids wanted to try (I guess the 4 ft of snow we had in February wasn’t enough). Watch the video and see how we created a cup of green snow. We just did a small cup full, but on St. Patty’s Day, I’m going to get a big bucket and make a bunch for them and figure out something fun to do with it.

The Leprechaun Bag

This one is more like a magic trick than an experiement. While, it is teaching you fast moving streams of air, you can present it to your friends as a magic trick and amaze them! Leprechauns just love playing tricks on their friends.

Rainbow Beads

I had my 5 year old daughter and her best friend help me with this experiment. The basic project is creating a bracelet, but the fun comes in the type of beads you are using.

Contest

Steve Spangler Science is offering to send one of my readers the Leprechaun Science kit that I reviewed above. You must live in the U.S. to enter the contest. Contest ends at 11:00 pm EST on March 14, 2010. I will draw the name randomly at 11pm on March 14th and winner will be notified via email. The kit will be sent out quickly, but you may not receive it in time for St. Patrick’s Day. However, the projects can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Contest Entry

To enter
Visit the Steve Spangler Science online catalog and find ONE product that you think is pretty cool AND not mentioned here in my review. Put a link to it in the comments below.

For extra entries, please leave one separate comment below for each of the extra entries.

1. Visit the Steve Spangler blog and follow the RSS feed.
2. Follow @ScienceToys on Twitter.
3. Follow @Spanglerscience on Twitter.
4. Follow @Stevespangler on Twitter
5. Connect to my blog using the Google Friend Connect on the right side of my blog.
6. Follow my blog using either RSS or by email.

disclosure: I received one Leprechaun Science kit for free to review and Steve Spangler Science is going providing one kit to one of my readers (winner of contest). I received no money for this post and all opinions are my own.

We are waiting in the doctor’s office and Megan brought a snack. Shhhh. Not supposed to eat in here. But doc taking a long time.

March 10 @ 10 PM ET

Passages to Empowerment Bootcamps Online

Guest: Susan Liddy, MA, PCC, CPCC
Life Coach, Writer, Speaker

Over the past 9 months, I have participated in the Women’s Empowerment Bootcamp with Susan Liddy. I have seen numerous positive changes in my life. I am not a completely different person at all, but that was not my goal. I feel…well, empowered! I still struggle with all the same fears that I struggled with a year ago, but now I have the tools to work through them and not let them stop me from attaining my goals. I have read every self help book out there and tried all the programs. But the one thing that was always missing was the support and accountability. I was always trying to do it alone. As with anything in life, when we have the support of others, we are more successful. That is where the Passages to Empowerment bootcamp helps.

Susan has created a new Passages to Empowerment Bootcamp which is kicking off this week. Come find out how Susan’s bootcamp helped me and Susan will be there to talk about her new program and answer questions.

Here are a few links for you to Susan’s site, videos and the Passages to Empowerment Bootcamp. (disclosure: I am now an affiliate of Susan’s bootcamps, however I paid for my bootcamp entirely on my own. If you use these links and sign up for her bootcamp, I will receive an affiliate payment. I can honestly back up and promote this bootcamp because I have personally seen the results and I believe in it)

Free empowerment videos

Passages to Empowerment Bootcamp

Aspire Life Coaching

Secrets to Ultimate Living Blog

Secrets to Ultimate Living Free eBook

EA SPORTS Active is expanding it’s line of interactive fitness products. Not only will the EA SPORTS Active be available for the Wii, but also the Playstation 3, iPhone and iTouch. We will never be to far away to workout.

As many of you know, I was a 6 week challenger for the EA SPORTS Active More Workouts. One of the reasons, I love this product has a lot to do with the interaction EA SPORTS has with it’s customers. They listen to us, they talk with us, they support us, they motivate us. It’s quite obvious with this new 2.0 (working title) version of EA SPORTS Active, that they have been listening to their customers.

According to the EA SPORTS Active blog,

… the new fitness program will feature a wireless control system which will make it that much easier to get a great workout.

There will be leg and arm straps with motion sensors along with a heart rate monitor.

EA SPORTS Active Challenge 2.0 style

With any fitness product, I want to be challenged, supported, motivated and heard. The 2.0 version will include a 3 phase 9 week challenge along with an online community where we will track and share our fitness data. We will be able to support and motivate each other with workout groups and messaging. New workouts will be available for download to keep our workouts new and exciting. The EA SPORTS Active online hub will be the “one stop shop” for all our fitness needs.

I am so excited about this new version, although we won’t be able to get our hands on it until this Fall. EA SPORTS Active is keeping this geek fit and healthy. I have been the most successful in my healthy lifestyle efforts when I’ve had a support system and EA SPORTS Active 2.0 has added that key element to their interactive fitness product.

If you go to the EA SPORTS Active website, there is picture of the wireless arm/leg bands.

Have you tried either of the EA SPORTS Active Personal Trainer or More Workouts? Will you buy the new 2.0 version?

disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I wrote it because I am SUPER excited about this new 2.0 version and I’m sharing my joy!

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!! That describes the SITS Bloggy Bootcamp I attended in Baltimore. This was the fourth blogging conference I’ve attended in the last year and the smallest, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I had heard some positive feedback from the SITScation in Las Vegas last October (and so jealous I couldn’t attend), so I was expected to be WOWed. And I was!

I don’t like comparing conferences because each one has it’s own purpose and I’ll do another post on that. Bloggy Bootcamp was a 1 day conference with less than 100 attendees. The vibe from this conference is one of inclusion. No one feels left out. I hadn’t met @SITSgirls before, but by the time I left Bloggy Bootcamp, I found myself referring to her as Tiff. (Sorry Tiffany if you don’t like that shortened version of your name, but it shows how open and warm you are). Everyone was really open and warm and it felt like I’d known them all for years (most I just met).

How it started

Tiffany started the Bloggy Bootcamp because she wanted to bring something small to the local areas and she didn’t want one person to stand alone and feel out of place. She definitely accomplished that with the Bloggy Bootcamps. And on top of that I learned a lot. I was concerned about the sessions because there weren’t any choices. We all sat through the same sessions, but there was definitely something for everyone. With each of the speakers, we all had assigned tables. I was a tad nervous about this at first, but this is set up so that we all meet many new people and no one ever sits alone. By the end of the day, I loved it!

Bloggy Bootcamp Morning

In the more beginner session, there was a lot of interaction between the speakers, @SITSGirls @mamakatslosinit, @ScaryMommy and those of us listening. I learned some new tips and tricks. It never hurts to take a refresher course on the topics you think you know a lot about.

Then @resourcefulmommy rocked the PR Roadmap. I came away with a plan of action to make my blog more PR friendly and what to do in different situations.

Bloggy Bootcamp Lunch

We took a break for lunch where we also had assigned tables. The conversation at the table was just an extension of the sessions. I learned a lot from my lunchmates and enjoyed hearing about their blogs and sharing information. The food was delicious. I do not know what the sauce was on the chicken breast, but it used a roll to be sure I soaked up every last bit of the sauce. Then the decadent (to steal FitBloggin’s, Roni’s word) chocolate cake was mouth watering yummy. Think layers of moist chocolate cake with fudgy chocolate between the layers. Then on top there was a smooth milky chocolately fudgey frosting like topping with chocolate chips sprinkled on top. Add a bit of raspberry (I think that’s what it was) sauce, whipped cream (I left that on the plate) and a strawberry and you have the most decadent chocolate cake I have every tasted. I ate every last bit!

Bloggy Bootcamp Afternoon

After lunch, @feelslikehome showed me that SEO matters and it doesn’t have to be scary and complicated. She broke it down into manageable steps and great examples and instructions. I once again have a plan of action for my blog and SEO. UPDATE: Tara posted her Bloggy Bootcamp SEO presentation on her blog.

The afternoon networking session was a bit more relaxed and no assigned tables. We all had a chance to meet many people so no one had to sit alone. We just chatted, networked, ate jello pudding, took pictures, exchanged biz cards, laughed, tweeted, whrrled and enjoyed our new friendships.

Then @justicefergie (who I had planned to meet, but never go to) explained some of the FTC guidelines to us in simple and plain english! I didn’t think that was possible, but she did it and now I feel more confident that I’m doing all that I should be doing.

At the end of the Bloggy Bootcamp, I was sad for it to be over. I met so many wonderful people and learned so much. Saturday night will get it’s own blog post. @TheBudgeBunch and I had an interesting eventing.

Bloggy Bootcamp Thanks Video

I am much better at showing my appreciation that writing about it, so I created this video to thank the SITS Girls for a wonderful Bloggy Bootcamp. I know this song is a “love” song, but if you think of it in terms of friendships & blogging, this is the perfect song….

More to come on my new friends, what I learned and my Saturday night adventure. Thank you to the Pier 5 hotel. They were very gracious hosts and everyone was super nice. The rooms were very warm, just like the entire conference.

Bloggy Bootcamp will be in several other cities in 2010. Go to the Bloggy Bootcamp website and see if they are coming to a city near you. It is definitely worth attending. I know I plan on attending the one in Philly.

I love this Blog Parade because I get to answer a bunch of really fun questions and you all get to know me a little better and I get to know a lot of other people better. When you are done reading my answers, go to the 32nd Street Blog Parade , grab the questions and answer them yourself.

1. What’s your favorite time of the day, and why?

That changes so much for me. Right now it’s from about 8am to 11am because the house is quiet. Everyone is either at school or work. I can do anything I want. What do I usually do? Sleep or work, but just knowing I can do anything is enough.

2. If health wasn’t an issue, what food could you live off of?

Mexican Food DEFINITELY

3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?

My first thought was money cuz I could do so many of the other things I want to do if I had an endless supply of money, but I want to be more creative. So, I’m going to say time to do anything I want. Meaning I always start projects and never find the time to finish them. There are so many other things I want to do, but just don’t find the time.

4. What’s one thing that you get teased about a lot?

I’d say probably being short. I do not mind being short at all. I kinda like it. It is the first thing people say to me when they meet me in person, “I didn’t realize you were so short.” Even when I’ve told them I wss short, they are surprised I am SOOO short. I’m 5 feet even.

5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?

Easy…Sex And The City and I’d want to be Carrie. That show is how I envisioned my life after college and before getting married and having a family. I dreamed about being some big time executive in NYC.

Image by Kramchang via Flickr

6. If you could have one talent that you don’t already have, what would it be?

To be able to sing WELL!

7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?

Definitely the beach in the Caribbean. I love the clear water and white sands.

8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?

Pop. I love catchy pop tunes.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?

That’s easy, the Apple store! I love my Apple products and anything that goes with them.

10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?

Can I pick the future? I would love to see all the cool stuff that happens with technology in the future.

11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?

Orange!!!

12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be? (Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)

Bashful probably. Everyone is surprised when I say I’m shy, but I am. I’m just good at hiding it I guess.

13. What’s the last album you listened to?

OH geez. I never listen to albums anymore. I just download songs that I like from iTunes. The last song I listened to was Lady GaGa’s song with Elton John.

14. What’s something we’d be surprised to know about you?

Hmmmm, I can’t think of anything. I’m such an open book. LOL! Let’s see. I went to Travel school after college and I was going to either work on a cruise ship or be a travel agent. Why didn’t I? I ended up meeting my hubby on AOL and the rest is history.

Isn’t this the coolest bathroom sink? I wish it was mine, but it was in the bathroom at Guapo’s, a new Mexican restaurant near us. My kids were so excited when they came back from the bathroom so I had to make a quick stop on the way out just to take a picture.

I did another Monday Mingle. I think my goal should be to do at least 2 every month. It is a nice way to start out the week though because you get to see my smiling face and I don’t have to think about what I’m going to say.

Monday Mingle 030110 from Michele McGraw on Vimeo.

Go check out the Monday Mingle (click on button above my video) and then do your own.