So, I'm at my 6-week postpartum visit and filling out a written medical questionnaire, asking me what medicines I'm taking, breast or bottle feeding, etc., when I come to the question:

What are you using for contraception?

Um...jeez. Who can think about that? I remember them asking me in the hospital, too, after just having delivered a day prior. Talk about getting on your case. At the time, we were still under the impression that my husband was being deployed to Iraq for 8… Read More

I did my residency in internal medicine back in the day before there were work-hour restrictions for residents. Actually, the year I finished, they were just instituting these more humane hours for training physicians to take full effect RIGHT AFTER I LEFT.

Because of that, I feel that I belong to a tougher club than those who went through their training with the protection that the restrictions provide. It's like your parents saying kids today have it easy; they walked to… Read More

Jolie loves gymnastics class. I mean LOVES.

On Saturdays, we start off the morning by asking her, "Do you know what today is?"

"MASTICS?" she guesses excitedly. Yay! Mastics!

We started her in a toddler gymnastics class when she was 18 months old, the youngest this particular gym takes, and it's been a mutually loved experience, us as much as her.

Her class is held in a real gym, a huge warehouse-like expanse full of real gym equipment - vaults, balance beams, full-sized… Read More

Aside from two pediatrician check-ups, our soon-to-be 4-week old has not left the house. It's been so cold here and smack in the middle of winter, I'm filled with fears of viruses waiting to prey on him in any enclosed space.

I think his big sister Jolie made her first public appearance at 5 days old...but it was beautiful and April. I remember being out at the park with her, enjoying the fresh air together during the early weeks.

I've made some… Read More

Speaking of baby boy genitalia, I am discovering what a dangerous world diapering can be. I mean, when you've got to wear protective gear in order to avoid being hit by the super-soaker...where did I put my safety goggles?

I had all the advice beforehand: cover his little guy loosely with a diaper in case of a mid-change pee event, blah blah blah.

We did this, but quickly realized that once the pee event happens, all the disposable diaper does is shield… Read More

You would think that we would be pro's when it comes to babies, having gone through this before. Yet, still, we find ourselves falling in the role of Supreme Troubleshooters.

As in, HOW DO WE FIX THIS???

Thank goodness for baby books and the internet, that's all I have to say.

Our first major issue was frequent diaper leaks. I mean, leaks which necessitated full wardrobe changes. Leaks which mysteriously sprung up the sides of his bodysuits. Leaks which seemed to escape snug,… Read More