2010 January « Gemini Girl

Archive for January, 2010

Delurk Much?

January 28, 2010 at 12:21 am · Filed under prematurity

I have a bit of writers block since I’ve been confined to my bed due to the lovely side effects of my new chiropractor (apparently you can have flu- like symptoms after having chiropractic work done while your body, muscles and nerves adjust).

I’ve decided to make today’s post a delurking one. Delurking means to come out from behind the computer screen and leave a message.

Reach out and “Touch Someone”- in a proper way of course.

If you have commented before, comment again!

If you never have -go ahead and leave a comment!

I would love to get to know some of you (since you all know a lot about me!)

Tell me something about yourself.

For example: I HATE ANYTHING orange flavored but LOVE oranges.

I know, crazy.

For every comment I will donate $1.00 to the March of Dimes ( BABIES!!)

*You know, unless I get a million relpies… bec then I would be broke yo*

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She’s Not Going to Massage Your Back

January 26, 2010 at 12:28 am · Filed under Uncategorized

My back has been out since Friday. I awoke with a soreness, but it got worse as the day progressed. On Saturday it was so bad, I couldn’t lift the girls.

At all.

Or move my neck.

On Sunday I woke up feeling better. That is until I sneezed. My neck and back stiffened up and I could not move.

My mom massaged my back. I asked her to do this since they say that the first-born child in every family has magical healing powers in their hands. Umm, no idea who came up with this old wives tale, but it’s sort of been passed on from generation to generation in my family. Since my mother is the oldest, I asked her to massage me. She had no problem. I told her I asked Neve to massage me, but she didn’t want to. My mom responded “Well, she’s a baby. She’s not going to massage your back!”

My humor is obviously lost on her.

***

I had company over last night. This was a toughie for me because of the pain I was in, but I had already made the plans.

My husband’s former neighbor from Israel lives in our city. it’s kind of strange that from a tiny farming village in Israel, they both ended up here. And ironically, he ran into her where? At our IVF clinic when I was going through fertility treatments! She was older and newly married, and after having 3 embryos implanted, one of them took and produced a son.

Gotta love our fertility clinic.

***

I went to a chiropractor today for the first time ever. I searched for one in my insurance directory and came across one who was located a block away from work.

I went during lunch.

She has a small office and no secretary.

There were no other patients.

I started to wonder.

She was also a bit off, but aren’t we all?

She did some sort of ultrasound on my back and pushed and pulled on me and determined that I have some sort of slipped something or other in my neck that is pretty bad.

I left there feeling MUCH better.

I have another appointment this week. I always knew my back was not aligned and funky. Now I have the proof.

***

So, we all know that Baby Spohr was born on Friday. I sat and cried when I heard. I needed for this to go right. I needed this for Heather and Mike. Heather and I are sort of intertwined by fate. We both had the same type of pregnancies with our firsts, at the same exact time. Hell we would even watch the same episodes of Fresh Prince sitting in our respective hospital beds across the U.S. Our girls were born 2 days a part. They were preemies. A few months after my girls were born, Heather found my blog and emailed me. We call one another soul sisters…. and always say that our girls were intertwined somehow.

When Maddie passed, it was personal. I always saw her as an extension of my girls. I always had fun sending her things. She was so animated. And then she was gone. And it broke me. And then Heather told me she was pregnant when she was 8 weeks along. And I screamed.

I kind of knew it was going to happen, because I had a dream.

I can’t wait to love on Annabel.

Shamelessly stolen from Heather

***

I came into work today and there was a voicemail from my cousin. This cousin.

F1150014 108_3310

My partner in crime.

She has been married since March of 2007, and has been trying to get pregnant ever since.

Until now.

She’s pregnant.

I am over the moon.

She told me she’s thinking of the name Anna for a girl.

Two important Anna’s in my life.

***

2010 is kicking ass so far.

Ever been to a chiropractor before? I’ve heard some horror stories. If so- please share.

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Just Call Her Micky

January 21, 2010 at 11:24 am · Filed under Sol

I usually walk through the door at around 6:35pm on work days. At that time, the girls are usually eating their dinners and strapped into their high chairs.

We have toddler plates that are divided into 3 sections. We place a protein, a carb and a vegetable. ALWAYS.

Although Neve is not a fan of vegetables AT ALL (esp if they are green) I make sure to still put a veggie on her plate in the HOPES that she may one day look at a string bean and say ”hm.. I’ll give you a try. CHOMP CHOMP… why have I never known how tasty you are??? Run Away with me…. “ – or something of that sort…

I have always been a fan of vegetables. No matter which one it was, my mom would put it on my plate and I would eat it. I like to eat.

Soleil is JUST like me. She will try and eat anything. I love that she is adventurous. It makes me smile. Not only does she look like me, she has my food preferences.

Neve, on the other hand is JUST like her dad. My husband is not a vegetable fan. He loves starches and carbs. If I could cook the same 4 meals over and over again on rotation, he would be happy.

I hate this about him, because I am a secret foodie who LOVES to cook. Unfortunately for me, I picked a man who doesn’t eat anything (eats to live, unlike me who LIVES to eat). He wont touch 98% of vegetables with a ten foot pole. He doesn’t eat red meat, sea food, etc.

And now my first-born, is following in his footsteps. It makes me wonder if it’s nature or nurture.

At this point, it’s safe to say its nature.

So last night, I sat with the girls while they finished up their dinner. I decided to bring out the tub of frozen yogurt and a spoon and give them each a little bit as a treat.

As I was giving each girl their spoon full I would say “One for Neve and one for Soleil”. As I kept repeating it, Soleil interrupted me to finish my sentence.

She kept saying “Soleil, Soleil”….

My mouth dropped.

My heart was overflowing with joy.

She finally said her own name- and she knew it was her name.

I know that by this point most children say their names. They are over 2 years old. But for me, it meant so much more.

Up until this point, they have both called each other Neve. I hear that’s fairly common in twins.

But to hear her say her name… Soleil… the name that I chose for her.

The name that would get me a head tilt/ puzzled looks from people when asked what I was going to name my girls.

The name that I had to fight my husband for (he knew he couldn’t go head to head with me… after all I was the one who went to hell and back to have them and give birth to them).

The name that my father-in-law still can’t pronounce (he now calls her Micky).

The name that everyone cannot spell.

The name that I had vowed to name my future daughter since I fell in love with it at age 18.

The name that means Sun…. and she is my sun.

My sunshine girl.

Soleil.

What does the name you chose (or will choose) for your child mean to you?

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A Night Away.. plants seeds of Change.

January 19, 2010 at 5:52 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

I spent a nice long weekend with my family.

I made (or attempted to make) Pink pancakes for my girls on Saturday:

Unsure of this mom

(when they are old enough to appreciate pink pancakes- i will be the “cool mom”)

We went to the Park:

And spent some quality time together as a family.

***

The other day Affinia hotels was running a contest promoting the season premier of 24. If you tweeted about it, then you were entered into a giveaway where you could stay at their hotel for $24.00 a night. Sounded good to me, so I tweeted about it a few times.

A day later, I received a direct message from them with the special promo code! I booked the room for Sunday night, which was perfect since I wasnt working the following Monday (MLK holiday).

My mom slept over my house to watch the girls, and off we went into the city for our night away. Mind you, we have never taken a night away (to the city no less). I don’t think I ever slept in a hotel in Manhattan before (since I live within the 5 boroughs).

Let me tell you, for $24.00 – we got an AMAZING little room!

We didn’t let the foul weather stop us from going out to dinner:

We went to an adorable Moroccan restaurant a few blocks from the hotel… I LOVE middle eastern food. Love.

Hummus, Eggplant Salad - Yumms

Veggie Cous Cous

Although when we realized how high our bill was going to be, we decided to start shoveling the food down.. you know, to get the most for our money.

We then went straight back to the hotel, bought some snacks (yes, more food- don’t judge) and watched the Golden Globes. I was so HAPPY Micheal C. Hall won for Dexter…you could tell he’s been sick, poor guy..

A very well deserved win

MONIQUE!!! I have yet to see Precious (I will as soon as it’s out on DVD) but I hear her performance was amazing. Did you all know that Monique does not believe in shaving her legs? G-D bless her. I mean, I usually walk around like that myself, but not out in public… or when I win a Golden Globe.

***

So after the golden globes (which I truly enjoyed thanks to Ricky Gervais) we started watching HGTV. We came across a program about people who were house hunting. The episode we stumbled onto was about a couple in Atlanta looking for a home. The homes they were shown were HUGE! The prices were so low, you could never ever get a house like that in New York for that price.

That got me thinking…

Maybe we should move to Atlanta.

I spoke to a few friends and co workers (my company’s headquarters are in ATL) and apparently we could live off of one salary. Since my husband is in school (which is a 3 hour commute each day)… it’s hard for him to find a job that would allow him to drop the girls off at day care, go to school, come back and pick them up. He just has no time.

If we moved to ATL he could go to a great school (ranked #5 in engineering schools) and said school happens to be across the street from our work offices!

To top it off, the school has family housing and a daycare. I commute about 2 hours a day.. to not have to do that would be beautiful. It would mean I would get to spend more time with my children.

So.. my husband applied to the school today, and I spoke to my company’s HR department.. told them I was thinking of moving in June. They will be keeping their eyes open for a position for me.

It’s scary and exciting all at the same time.

I mean, I was born and raised in NY.

I don’t know anything else.

But, I mean – why not?

The financial burden on my back is driving me a bit batty. There is no way we can continue to survive off of my paycheck in NY.

Just not possible.

I want my husband to be able to go to school and focus solely on that…

So, if all goes well.. if he gets accepted into the school for the fall/ if they manage to find me a position there… we will be moving.

I just hope it’s the right move.

Have you ever moved anywhere far from home? How was that experience?

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My Two Cents

January 13, 2010 at 5:42 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Conan/ Leno

I am SO pissed off about this. You have no idea.

I don’t think Leno is funny at all. I also don’t think that Conan is everyone’s cup of tea- but to move the Tonight Show to 12:05am? To follow Leno again? I mean why hire Conan as the host of the Tonight Show in the first place if you’re just going to want him to stay in the same time slot and follow Leno?

The press release that Conan sent out yesterday was truly a class act.

I had the privilege of seeing his show live many times when he was in New York. All I remember is Conan coming out into the audience prior to the start of the show and dancing with the one audience member who looked the most uncomfortable to be there. He was and is so genuine.

I truly believe Leno should just retire. He has been around for a long time, and he could go back to stand up- his original roots. He would sell out. He could also, you know – go out and buy more cars. He should have fallen on the sword, not Conan. Just give Conan a chance. Jay would look classier if he decided to leave. He would have much respect.

Until all this is resolved- this will be my avatar and facebook picture:

Plus, I owe him a debt of gratitude, you know for helping me name my daughter-( I first heard the name Neve from him when he announced that he named his daughter Neve O’Brien)

***

Dexter

So after I finished watching 3 seasons of Mad Men a few weeks ago, I decided to find another show to watch. I got some great suggestions from all of you- but the one who influenced me was Chastity and her facebook updates.

Dexter was going to be the new show.

Now, I have known that Dexter is always nominated for something or other, but the whole morbid thing turned me off. Dexter is a show about a murdered (Michael C. Hall who is AMAZING)- but a murdered who only kills really bad people, so you kind of have sympathy for him.

After one episode, I was hooked. The writing and acting are SUPERB (yes I used the word Superb).

I have a Netflix account, and they had a watch instantly option for the first 2 seasons… and watch I did. I was even watching it as the ball dropped. I didn’t know it was 2010 until I heard firecrackers going off outside. I was in a Dexter zombie-like trance.

Of course, now that I am on the 3rd season- they have cut me off. I need to WAIT for the DVD’s to arrive in my house. It was like a drug dealer who gives you a taste of crack for free, but if you want more you have to pay.

DAMN YOU NETFLIX and your ways!

***

Homeless Man

I have a bone to pick with Johnny Depp.

Yes, we get that you are a good actor who wants to be taken seriously for your acting chops and not your looks.

But really?

Morning Links

That is all.

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A Typical Night at Grandma’s

January 12, 2010 at 11:22 am · Filed under Family, Neve

A few weeks back, my parents came over for Friday night dinner at my house. Usually, I don’t have them over for dinner too often because well.. I am not a big fan of my mother. I do love how much my girls enjoy spending time with their grandparents though, so I grin and bare it. They call my mother “Tata” (Safta means grandma in hebrew) and “Baba” (Saba means Grandpa in Hebrew).

When my parents were set to leave for the night, Neve was not a happy camper. She clung to my mother and cried. She didn’t want her to go. I jokingly put Neve’s coat and hat on and told my mom she was going home with her. My mother wasnt too keen on the idea because she knows that when one of them sleeps over, she doesn’t get much sleep (she is SUPER PARANOID).

Neve took the coat thing seriously and made her way to the door. When I tried to get her, she was so clearly upset- that my mother decided to take her home.

I put together a quick overnight bag and away they went.

That was at 7:3opm.

At 8:23pm I get a call from my mom :“She cut her lip and she’s bleeding. What do I do”?

I asked her if it was a deep cut that needed stitches and she said no. Once I heard that, I told her that there was nothing to worry about, and to apply pressure to her lip.

9:00pm: “It’s still bleeding. What should I do?”

I asked her how exactly she raised two kids and her answer was “Hysterically”.

Touche’.

No wonder I was such a drama queen as a child.

She told me to search the internet to find an answer.

I told her she was being crazy.

She then said “Well, I am glad you and your husband are not effected when things happen to your kids (this was supposed to be a burn I suppose)”

I googled home remedies to help stop bleeding and it said to put flour on the area.

10:00pm: “Mom, put flour on the cut.”

“You mean baking flour?”

“Yes.”

She gets some flour and puts it on the effected area.

“Is it stopping?” I ask.

“Every time I put the flour on, she licks it off. Stop eating the flourrrrrr!!”

It’s a wonder I didn’t turn out crazier than I am.

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She Puts Martha Stewart to Shame

January 7, 2010 at 2:16 pm · Filed under Family

My husband and I are going on a little trip to Ireland next month and we are super excited. It will be our second trip away from our girls since they were born. Most people feel torn about leaving their kids behind- not us. I definitely feel as though we NEED this trip.

We need to focus on us.

I have NEVER been to Europe- and not for a lack of yearning. Most of my trips entailed back and forths from New York to Israel. That my friends, costs A LOT of money. My father-in-law speculated that he MIGHT buy us all tickets for passover (to Israel). That’s over FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS- just for flights. Of course, a 10 hour flight with two toddlers… oh boy.

My FIL could technically just give us that money because he knows that can help us. But I know just how much he wants to see all of us, and wants us to have a nice trip away.

Have I mentioned how much I adore my father-in-law? He’s like the father I never had.

So back to our little trip next month.

As I was thinking about our trip away, another thought popped into my mind: What if GOD forbid something happened to the both of us? Who would take care of my girls?

My husband and I are lucky to have an abundance of AMAZING family members and friends that would step up to the plate. We are VERY fortunate.

But WHO exactly would I WANT to raise my girls?

My parents would DEFINITELY not be on that list. They didn’t do such a great job raising my brother and me, so add to that 30+ years and it’s a recipe for disaster.

We wouldn’t have My husband’s dad raise them either. He is a man with short patience and A BIG temper sometimes (of course, he also has a heart of gold). Since my husband’s mom is no longer with us, that would rule out his parents completely.

So who?

Then it hit me.

My Aunt Shlomit.

Shlomit & I

She is like the older sister that I never had. She is my mom’s sister, and is completely different from her.

We are smiliar in many ways, and I always felt understood by her.

Shlomit is only about 12 years older than me, and I have looked up to her since I was a little girl. She is a stong woman with unmatched intelligence. Shlomit (who we call Shuli) is beautiful, funny and probably one of the best mother’s that I know. She will sit and help her kids for hours with their homework. She is a pillar of strength. She has 3 sons, and always wanted a daughter. Her second son was an IVF baby, and she was the one who pretty much was my shoulder when I was TTC.

This is a woman who decided to go to college at the age of 36 (with 3 young sons at home), and is now completing her Masters in English Education.

As a teen, I would often spend weekends with her while in Israel. She always made me feel welcomed and loved – especially when I was sometimes un-loveable as a teen (weren’t we all un- loveable back then?).

Shuli is an AMAZING gift giver. She really takes the time to think about her friends before she gets them something perfect. The way she wraps a present would put Martha Stewart to shame. I try to emulate that to this day.

Shlomit is also an AMAZING baker. If I lived at her house, I would probably weigh about 400 lbs.

Shuli’s husband is a gem as well. He is in so many ways like my husband. He is a handy man who can fix anything, and quite intelligent to bat. I remember watching him with his kids when they were little… always hugging and kissing them- he was never afraid to show his love for them. He had a wealth of patience for them- always playing games with them, talking them through their issues – always teaching.

They were always the perfect couple in my eyes. Funny enough, my husband and I are very similar to them- and yet…we are far from a perfect couple.

Marriage takes a lot of work.

Anyway, getting back on track… I called Shuli the other day to ask her if she would be joining us in Ireland (which she had mentioned might happen). She can’t make it, since her niece is getting married that week (shotgun wedding of a pregnant 19-year-old).

Then I spoke to her about being the one that I would want to raise my kids in case something would GOD FORBID happen to us.

The first thing she did was SCREAM at me for talking about such things. After that she said that she would be honored to raise them.

Of course, she also said that I need to have it in writing somewhere because my mom would probably fight her for custody and wouldn’t understand why I wouldn’t leave them with her.

I will do JUST that.

There is NO WAY that I would EVER want my kids to be raised by her. She is an amazing grandmother… which pretty much means she is lousy at discipline and controlling her words or emotions.

I would hope that my husband and I will be the ones to raise our girls…. but in case that’s not in the cards- I am glad to know there is someone out there who would make me proud.

Question: Who would you want to raise your kids and why?

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Better Late Than Never!

January 6, 2010 at 1:32 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

In 2009, I…

Opened up the new year with friends

Became the mother of TODDLERS.
Went to LA for the first time since I was 2.

Totally freaked out by Mickey

Met my dear friends Heather, Mike & Maddie for the first time( face to face).
Went on EVERY.SINGLE.RIDE at Disneyland and was not ashamed (even if I may have pushed some 7 year olds out of the way)
Went to a Motocross Race and was the only olive- skinned person there. I was affraid.
Had my heart-broken when Maddie passed. Life will just not be the same again.
Did my first COMPLETE March for Babies walk
Realized that I am NOT ready for a third child and am OK with it.
Have lost most of my gut wrenching jealousy when I see big beautiful pregnant bellies.
Lost another 15 lbs. (only 12 lbs to go!)
Turned 28 and actually had a REALLY GOOD day.

Had my first root canal
Realized that just because you have known someone for 22 years doesn’t mean you need to continue a toxic friendship.
Went to my first Blogher Event and had a blast.

Went to Chicago for the very first time and had deep dish pizza (NY is way better)
Attended a SUPER SECRET PIZZA PARTY

Sat in First class for the very first time… and am now ruined forever.
Had my grandmother come to me in a dream, and brought with her my other grandmother who I had never met before (she passed before I was born). That was NO dream.
Went to a farm and actually picked corn. and then ate it. Very agricultural of me.

Danced with a Belly Dancer
Realized that going out with co workers or friends sometimes- does not make me a bad mother. It makes for a SANE mother.
Celebrated my daughters Second Birthday.