An Updated Reading List in Preparation for my 34 by 34 List

A few years ago, I called upon my audience to help me come up with the "MUST be read in your Lifetime" Book List. I have recently updated that list to reflect what I have read thus far in my 32+ years. What else needs to be on this list in your opinion? I am not talking about books on the Best Sellers List or anything, I mean books that have impacted your life and that are works of art. Let me know what else I need to read. For my 4 classics for the 34th year of my life, I am planning on ready Walden, Dracula, Fahrenheit 451, and Watership Down. Little Cat's Little List of Books  1984 The Adventures of Augie March The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Age of Innocence Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass American Gods Are you There God? It’s Me Margaret The Art of War As I Lay Dying Atlas Shrugged Atonement The Awakening The Bell Jar Beloved Beowulf The Best Science Fiction of Isaac Asimov The Blind Assassin The Book Thief Bossypants The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Brave New World Brideshead Revisited The Bridge of San Juis Rey Bridget Jones Diary A Brief History of Time The Brothers Karamazou The Call of the Wild Candide Canterbury Tales Catch 22 The Catcher in the Rye Charlotte's Web The Color Purple Common Sense The Confessions of Nat Turner The Constitution of the USA The Count of Monte Cristo Crime and Punishment Dangerous Liaison David Copperfield Deliverance The Divine Comedy Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde Doctor Zhivago Don Quixote Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Dracula Electra Ender's Game Everything is Illuminated Fahrenheit 451 For Whom the Bell Tolls The Fountainhead Frankenstein Franny and Zooey Gilead The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Giver (the subsequent sequels) The Glass Castle Gone with the Wind Grapes of Wrath Great Expectations The Great Gatsby Gulliver’s Travels The Handmaid’s Tale Harry Potter Series Heart of Darkness His Dark Materials Trilogy The Historian The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings I, Robot The Iliad Inferno The Interpretation of Dream by Freud The Invisible Man Jane Eyre Janet Evanovich Mysteries The Joy Luck Club The Jungle The Killer Angels Kite Runner Lady Chatterley’s Lover The Last of the Mohicans Le Morte d’Arthur Legends of the Fall Les Miserable Life of Pi The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe Little Women Lolita Look Homeward, Angel Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Madame Bovary Mathilda Medea Mein Kampf The Metamorphosis Middlemarch Moby Dick Mrs Dalloway The Murder on the Orient Express Naked Lunch Never Let Me Go The Odyssey Oedipus Rex Of Mice and Men The Old Man and The Sea On the Road One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest One Hundred Years of Silence One Thousand and One Arabian Nights Paradise Lost  Peter Pan Phaedra The Picture of Dorian Grey The Poisonwood Bible The Portrait of the Lady The Postman Always Rings Twice The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The Princess Bride Ragtime The Red Badge of Courage The Red Tent Robinson Crusoe Saint Joan The Scarlet Letter Siddhartha Sirens of Titan Six Characters in Search of an Author Slaughterhouse-Five Sophie’s Choice Stranger in a Strange Land Starship Troopers The Sun Also Rises A Tale of Two Cities Things Fall Apart The Three Musketeers The Time Machine To Kill a Mocking Bird Tom Jones Treasure Island Ulysses The Unbearable Lightness of Being Uncle Tom’s Cabin Vanity Fair Wuthering Heights Watership Down War of the Worlds War and Peace Walden Waiting for Godot The Wanderer’s Necklace The Wind and the Willows The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Series Collected Works of Austen Collect Works of Chekhov Collected Works of Ibsen Collected Works of Moliere Collected Works and Sonnets of Shakespeare Collect Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collected Works of Edgar Allen Poe

The Pioneer Woman: PB&J Struesel Muffins

As you might have gathered with the choice of recipes I decide to try, I really like The Pioneer Woman. I think that she is an intelligent, talented woman and I enjoy her blog posts.


This one was a simple recipe, and while it was very rich, I will make it again in the future. I think though that only one half an English Muffin is needed per adult, unless they have a very sweet tooth.

PB&J Streusel Muffins

Ingredients

1/2 stick Cold Salted Butter
1/2 cup Flour

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Oats (Quick Or Old-fashioned)

Dash Of Salt

4 whole Whole Wheat English Muffins

1/4 cup Peanut Butter

1/4 cup Jelly Or Jam Of Your Choice

Method

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a bowl, use a pastry cutter to cut together the butter, flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt until the mixture is slightly crumbly. Sprinkle in a couple of tablespoons of water if it seems too dry.
Split the muffins and spread on a thin layer of peanut butter, followed by jelly. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the 8 muffins and pop it in the oven for 10 minutes. Turn up the heat to 350 and bake for another couple of minutes or until slightly golden on top.

What I actually "needed" in my hospital bag

Hello all,

Well, Miniski has entered the world and the first 3 months have gone swimmingly. Seriously. We have a baby with the best temperament ever. He only cried when something was wrong for the first 2 months (he likes to let us know more things now, though I suppose his "hey I'm over here cry" is more of a whine then a cry), he started sleeping well a month in, and he latched while in recovery and our breastfeeding relationship has been solid and mostly pain free.

Looking back on my birth experience and story, I see how incredibly fortunate I was. I got everything I wanted in my birth plan: 

I had my husband in the operating room with me.

I had my family (blood, step, and inlaws) in the room before going into surgery, but they cleared out right when they needed to.

My Anesthesiologist was an old pro and got me numb quickly and calmly.

The nursing team assisting my doctor was skilled, comforting, and supportive.

My Baby was delivered by my doctor.

I had a planned C-Section as it was the safest way for Baby and I to get through the process

I had skin to skin in recovery and Baby managed to latch while we were there.

My husband and I named our son based on what name he looked like, not the names we loved.

Then while we were in mother/baby, the nursing staff was stellar and knowledgeable.

A lacation consultent stopped by everyday to see how we were doing. When it was looking like baby would most likely be losig 10% of his body weight, we started supplementing via the Five French Technique per the suggestion of our night nurse Jenn who brough us all the things to do so and taught us how BEFORE I got stressed out about the verdict that baby losing so much weight. I am forever grateful to Nurse Jenn's thinking ahead on this.


So here is what I found that I needed from my original list. Obviously, this might not  be what YOU need in your hospital bag, but now I have a reference for the *next* time.

Hospital Bags

Clothes:
Robe <Nope, we had a thermostat in the room so I was a comfortable as could be>
2 sets of loose lounge Pants <I lived in a hospital gown the 2 of the 4 days, so one pair was really enough, though it was nice to have a back up in case of bleeding through>
2 Easy Nursing PJ blouse <Again, the hospital gown was awesome so only one of these was necessary>
Nursing Tanks - 2 <Now that I have a vague idea of how to breast feed, I would use these, but when I was learning to over the 4 days in the hospital, these weren't used as they just seemed to get in my way. granted, I pretty much just hung out naked when it was just Husband and I>
Nursing Bra - 1 <specifically sleeping nursing bra, and I should have had two or three. I pretty much lived in the one I had and my lounge pants>
Warm Socks (with slip protection) - 2 <These were used, not for warmth, but for germ protectors on my feet. It was warm enough in my room, but my slippers didn't fit my (even more) swollen feet>
Slippers - 1 <didn't use as they were moccasin style and didn't fit my swollen feet>
Black maternity pants and blouse - for possible Photos and for going home <this was a good idea, both for the photos, but also for feeling like a looked a LITTLE slimmer in the coming home photos and blended into the background>
Comfy Cardigan (for use in hospital and going home) <This was used as I am prone to feeling comforted with something wrapped around me. Fortunately, I packed a light one so that it wasn't too hot>
Cozy Scarf (for use in hospital and going home) <didn't need due to thermostat and SUMMER>
Slip on Shoes (for going home) <Fortunately, I packed Flip Flops which I used all the time thank to fat feet>
Absorbing Panties aka Depends (dignity is left at the door after another person enters the world via you) - <Didn't need as the hospital provided me with MEGA PADS>
Granny Panties to hold in the pads - <these were also provided by my hospital and actually held up the mega pads as well as being comfy, though I can understand someone not liking them and want their own version of granny panties>
Pillow (in a colored pillow case) <yes, this was great because it felt a little like home>
Front Opening Fleece/sweater/jacket (for use in hospital) <didn't need due to in room thermostat>

Snacks:

Pineapple Juice <yes because I love it and crave it even when I am not preggers/delivered. It supposedly helps with clogged ducts with breast feeding, but I don't think that was a thing for me at the time>
Applesauce <didn't have, didn't miss>
Dry Cereal <didn't pack didn't miss because I had GRANOLA BARS which were super helpful for both husband and I>
Hard Candy <I have a couple dum dums (my fave lollipops) and they were welcome>
Gift for Husband <I gave him a 6 pack of not your father's root beer at the hospital which he had one of at the hospital and enjoyed the rest later at home. I later gifted him with Bluetooth headphones for while he was out working in the yard. He appreciated that I thought of him, and gift giving is one of my love languages so I think he felt the extra love knowing what it means to me to give a gift>

Toiletries & Makeup (light and natural): usual stuff

Only needed a brush, Shampoo Conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, and deodorant. Didn't bother with makeup (though some women might want to)

Tech Kit:

DSLR, Batteries, Battery Charger, SD Card - <My DSLR is dated and the iPhone ended up taking a clearer picture, but if it had been a newer model, then this would have been used more>
Kindle, Kindle Charger - <Not as needed since I have an iphone, but was nice to use for youtube, email, internet since I don't like having my phone near my head (or baby's!) more than necessary thanks to brain cancer from cellular waves>
Headphones - <yes, I was bunked with my husband and we though we slept when baby slept, I sometimes needed a relaxation you tube video in order to fall asleep>
Cell Phone, Cell Phone Charger - <I put it on airplane mode with WiFi active most of the weekend to keep the cellular waves away from my son's brain as well as mine. Also I figured anyone who wanted/needed to stop by, would know to contact my Husband, the person who didn't just have major surgery>
Music Device, Bluetooth Speaker - <Didn't bring, but I sort of wish we had for listening to music on our phones or something like that>
Notepad and Pen - <yes, but I like making notes and lists on real paper. I kept a list of people to write thank you cards to after they stopped by with a present or something. I think thank you notes are important so I found that useful.>
<<Addition: Thank you cards, address book, and stamps. These are important to me, so I am happy I though to bring them. I then had the cards written for any gifts or visits I thought deserved a card be fore I left the hospital and the real work started.>>


Mommy After Delivery Kit:
Gum - <didn't bring, kinda wish I had some for a quick freshen up for when guests came by.>
Wisps (Disposable toothbrush) - <see above>
Nursing pads - <didn't need as my milk didn't come in until the day I went home from the hospital
Sanitizer - <hospital had a dispenser of it at the door, so didn't need>
Sea Bands - <never felt like I would have needed these>
Nipple Butter - <didn't bring, got some of the GOOD stuff from the lactation consultant/nurses (I asked a few of them so I went home with 4 mini tubes)>
Tums - <didn't need, but was glad to have it as husband needed them after some cafeteria food
Lip Balm - <YES BRING THIS>
Stool Softener pills - <forgot to bring. I can't remember, but I think the hospital provided these for me>
Spray Bottle - <didn't need, also hospital provided>
Witch Hazel - <didn't need>
MAXI pads - <Hospital provided>
Flushable wipes - didn't bring, but would have been nice.
Prenatal Vitamins - I forgot to bring these, but should have
Handheld Back Massager (with batteries) - YES, even if you are have a C section. Being bed bound makes for some crazy back pains sometimes. As I understand it, this would be extra awesome during labor.
<<Addition: A BACK SCRATCHER. this was a life saver for me.>>

Dad Hospital Bag:

Wallet/ID - duh
Cell Phone Charger, Cell Phone - duh
A Change of clothes (with button down shirt for skin to skin) - Should have though this through and had him bring more since he stayed the whole 4 days with me and baby was having a great time spitting up
A set of Pjs in case of sleep - again he stayed all 4 days so 2 sets would have been better. I ended up (with help from my auntie) sending him home for a meal, a beer, shower, and prepping the home for baby (aka diapers) on Sunday (the 3rd day). He needed to get out. He was getting some major cabin fever. So keep that in mind when packing your partner's bag. He might just need to visit the land of the not in the hospital for a couple hours one day.
Pillow (colored Case) - better quality pillow than a hospital pillow, easy to recognize and felt comforting
Blanket - the hospital provided him with one, but I was happy to have my fuzzy Doctor Who blanket as it made me feel like I was in a comfortable place
Change for vending machine - there weren't any close. It was more money for the cafeteria/I always ordered more food than I needed so I had a snack for him

iPad charger, iPad - he used it a few times
Book to pass time - HAH what time?
Bible - had it on his phone
Ibuprofen - YES he had a headache and body aches from sleep deprivation and the bed thing so these were a good idea
Water bottles - good idea, though the nurses stand had a great water dispenser, so really he just needed a reusable one
Pre made gift bags for nurses/nurses station - YES, I made 2 and gave one to the night crew the first day I was there and the other to the day crew on the morning of my 3rd day so all the nurses serving me had a chance to get some noms. THEY LOVEd IT! I put these together a month before I was due after a quick trip to the dollar store. If you think about it, do this.                                        
Extra bag for gifts/hospital free bees - YUP, I also rather craftily slowly emptied the bassinet of items like the newborn diapers, wipes, and pacis etc so that they refilled it the 2nd night Iwas there. Worth it
Who to call/text list - I ended up prepping an email with everyone on a blind cc that we wanted to let know and then filled in the specifics: Name, Date, Time, Length, Weight, and Picture. Be warned though. About 10 minutes after we sent out the email, the picture and info was posted on Facebook by 3 people who weren't at the birth. Perhaps I should have written a request saying that we would like to announce it on Facebook. I ended up asking the people to adjust the posts to not include his middle name was all, expressing my desire to protect his privacy while I could.
Cash for valet - it is free valet (no tipping!) at our hospital so wasn't needed
Dopp kit: Usual stuff 

Baby Hospital Bag

Car seat - duh
Go home outfits (2 in case of accident) - didn't do anything crazy for this like some people might want to. We just a couple pairs of pants/shorts and then the shirt the hospital provided (they provided 2) and a little T-shirt that we had received as a hand me down.
Cozy hat - hospital provided
Romper - NOPE, because of belly button tag
Socks/booties - didn't use because summer
Nail mittens - didn't use and still don't
Finger nail clippers - I brought them but didn't need them until he was about 6 days old.
Receiving blanket - Hospital provided
Book for photo/to read to baby - YES bring all the things for this. I also filled in things while I was sitting in my hospital bed, unable to get up, and couldn't sleep
Diaper Bag: We didn't need any of this as the hospital either provided it or it wasn't something needed for a 4 day old child in the hospital. Though this is a good reference for later on.
Diapers - Hospital Provides.
Butt paste - Didn't need anyway
Wipes - Hospital Provides.
Extra outfit - Hospital Provides a shirt.
2 burp clothes - Hospital Provides.
Stuffed animal  - Baby doesn't know the difference yet.
Changing pad - Hospital Provides.
Pacifier - Hospital Provides.
Nursing cover - as mentioned before, I was just topless the whole time. Or I used the receiving blanket if I thought it necessary. Or I just used feeding baby as an excuse to kick people out.
Swaddle blanket - Hospital Provides.
Baby lotion - Didn't need anyway
Breast pump - I started pumping while I was in the hospital. Next time, I will start even earlier with the colostrum. Hospital Provides.
Pump bottles - Hospital Provides.

Paper Work File:

Hospital Admission Forms - I preregistered my birth online
Driver's License - duh
OB Contact Info - yes
Pediatrician Contact Info - yes
Copy of Social Security Card - yes, though I just had my actual one
Copy of Insurance Card - yes, though I just had my actual one
Copy of Driver's License - yes, though I just had my actual one as noted above
Paperwork for Baby's birth certificate, Social Security Number, and Insurance - Birth certificate paperwork came from the hospital, the Social Security Number paperwork also came from the hospital, and the Insurance just needed to be handled in 30 days from the day he was born so I handled that when I got home.
Insurance phone number to let them know I am leaving for maternity leave aka first day out of office call - I did do this.

What's in my hospital bag...

Hello all!


Sorry I have been so absent. Between the job (which I have been at for nearly a year now!), the extreme exhaustion of pregnancy, and the readying the house for Mini-Ski, I have been terribly MIA. I have feeling this will continue for the 2 months of pregnancy and at least the first 6 months of my child's life. With that in mind, I wanted to ask you, the readers, as mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc., if you had anything thoughts and suggestions for what should be in my Hospital bags for when Mini-Ski joins us! Here is what I have so far....it feels like too much currently, so people who have gone through this, let me know your thoughts:

Hospital Bags

Clothes:
Robe
2 sets of loose lounge Pants
2 Easy Nursing PJ blouse
Nursing Tanks - 2
Nursing Bra - 1
Warm Socks (with slip protection) - 2
Slippers - 1
Black maternity pants and blouse for possible Photos and for going home
Comfy Cardigan (for use in hospital and going home)
Cozy Scarf (for use in hospital and going home)
Slip on Shoes (for going home)
Absorbing Panties aka Depends (dignity is left at the door after another person enters the world via you)
Granny Panties to hold in the pads
Pillow (in a colored pillow case)
Front Opening Fleece/sweater/jacket (for use in hospital)

Snacks:

Pineapple Juice
Applesauce
Dry Cereal
Hard Candy
Gift for Husband

Toiletries & Makeup (light and natural): usual stuff

Tech Kit:

DSLR
Batteries
Battery Charger
SD Card
Kindle
Kindle Charger
Headphones
Cell Phone
Cell Phone Charger
Music Device
Bluetooth Speaker
Notepad and Pen


Mommy After-Delivery Kit:
Gum
Wisps (Disposable toothbrush)
Nursing pads
Sanitizer
Sea Bands
Nipple Butter
Tums
Lip Balm
Stool Softener pills
Spray Bottle
Witch Hazel
MAXI pads
Flushable wipes
Prenatal Vitamins
Handheld Back Massager (with batteries)

Dad Hospital Bag:

Wallet/ID
Cell Phone Charger
Cell Phone
A Change of clothes (with button down shirt)
A set of Pjs in case of sleep
Pillow (colored Case)
Blanket
Change for vending machine
iPad charger
iPad
Book to pass time
Bible
Ibuprofen
Water bottles
Pre made gift bags for nurses/nurses station
Extra bag for gifts/hospital free bees
Who to call/text list
Cash for valet

Dopp kit: Usual stuff 

Baby Hospital Bag

Car seat
Go home outfits (2 in case of accident)
Cozy hat
Romper
Socks/booties
Nail mittens
Finger nail clippers
Receiving blanket
Book for photo/to read to baby

Diaper Bag:

Diapers
Butt paste
Wipes
Extra outfit
2 burp clothes
Stuffed animal
Changing pad
Pacifier
Nursing cover
Swaddle blanket
Baby lotion
Breast pump
Pump bottles

Paper Work File:

Hospital Admission Forms
Driver's License
OB Contact Info
Pediatrician Contact Info
Copy of Social Security Card
Copy of Insurance
Copy of Driver's License
Paperwork for Baby's birth certificate, Social Security Number, and Insurance
Insurance phone number to let them know I am leaving for maternity leave aka first day out of office call

 

 

Guest Post

My best friend has been a whole mess of stuff lately (and is still in the midst of most of it currently). One of those things that she has had to deal with is a miscarriage. She wrote a piece about her experience and I thought that perhaps I could spread her experiences to other women who might be going through the same thing. I think that it is something that needs to be talked about more, by everyone.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Why are we told not to say we are pregnant until 12 weeks in?  Why is this a thing?  Most people know that “rule” and follow it. Maybe you tell your closest family members or best friend but the reveal is always right before a bump starts showing and the first trimester is behind you.  

Not only do I think this is an archaic tradition, but also detrimental and unhealthy for women and couples.

We have this rule because of the risk of miscarriage.  Because in the tradition of English standard decorum we do not want to trouble our friends and family with the uncomfortable feelings of loss.  We are supposed to carry that burden solemnly and privately, many times women feeling utterly alone as a man can have a hard time understanding the pain and mental anguish of a loss he never saw or connected with.

So why, when the rest of the world gets to spew every thought in their head these days with all of our social media and instant information, half of the population is supposed to keep quiet about the most exciting news that person may ever have to tell? Because they might have to announce they lost the pregnancy?  

20-25%. That’s how many pregnancies end in miscarriage. 20-25%!  And yet almost every time a woman experiences a miscarriage she feels alone and responsible – because no one around her has ever shared that they too went through a miscarriage.  Then, behind closed doors with her close friends and family, she tells them the sad news and she start to hear about this aunt or that friend or how HER OWN MOM went through the same thing. 

WHY IS THIS A THING?!

We need to be open about miscarriage.  We need to not be afraid to talk about it. The more women that open up and share the more women will be able to move on and not feel so alone, responsible, and distraught.  How do we do this?  

We let our friends and family know the moment we find out we are pregnant.  

Celebrate and let them in to the happy news right away. That way everyone can feel what 20-25% feels like.  When that no longer feels like a surprising number, we will all be able to handle the sadness of loss in a healthy, open way.

I found out I was pregnant 1/12/16.  I had 4 weeks of pregnancy joy.  Then the ultrasound around week 8 showed no growth or heartbeat.  I had what is called a blighted ovum which basically means the embryo stopped growing.  On 2/23/16 I had to have what is called a D&C (Dilation & Curettage) procedure to remove everything as my body was not taking care of the miscarriage naturally.  It was horrifying and very painful. So painful that the doctor had to stop the procedure and reschedule me later in the day so I could be put under anesthetically. 

I am not ashamed.  I know I did nothing wrong. On the contrary, I did everything they tell you to do to have a healthy pregnancy.  My husband and I had been so excited to have our first child.  But 20-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.  And my pregnancy was one of them. And that is ok.

Please Share. #mymiscarriage