Victoria's Not-So Secret Blog

In addition to candy and flowers, this Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me some lovely and thoughtful presents.

First there was the purple-trimmed toolbag because, yes, I have been begging for a toolbag for a long time!!!  He also gave me some purple electrical tape, and the coolest tool ever – a wire-nut spinner. Last but not least was a wiring book which I had been admiring, and my husband used his phone to order it on the spot.

Now that’s love!  It might seem lame to some of you, but I was giddy to receive these gifts.  As I’ve been studying solar photovoltaic design and installation, I’ve become a licensed Apprentice Electrician!

Happy 7th Birthday Amanda

Today my middle child, Amanda turns 7 years old.  She requested a party at Chuck E. Cheese.  I was happy to oblige and thankful for the easy planning.

She also requested a Hello Kitty cake so I bought the Hello Kitty cake pan and made a white cake with strawberry cream cheese filling and butter cream frosting.  Then, hours were spent piping stars all over the cake.  Decorating cakes brings me joy, so this was a lot of fun.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe so much time has passed since she was born even though there’s no forgetting her eventful arrival!

On this day 7 years ago, I was suppose to drive down to San Antonio to visit family and have a baby shower.  However, I had been coughing and lethargic for several days and thought I had bronchitis.  Since it was a weekend and my doctor’s office was closed, we made a visit to the E.R. for a visit.  We thought we’d only be there for a couple hours…..

“Just give me some antibiotics and cough medicine, and maybe we can still make it to San Antonio.”

To which they replied, “Honey, you’re not going anywhere.  You have a fever, you’re dehydrated, and you have double pneumonia.”  Well.  Guess that explains why I felt so badly.

White cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting and buttercream frosting

After a few hours of IV fluids and some rest, I started to feel minor contractions.  The drugs given to stall the labor didn’t work.  It had been my wish to attempt another natural labor/ birth even though the sonogram warned she would be a hefty giant.  However, since I couldn’t catch my breath, I knew I didn’t have the strength to endure another marathon.  As the contractions became stronger and stronger, I was prepped for an emergency C-section.

She was born shortly there after, weighing 10 lbs 7 oz.  We spent a week in the hospital while I recovered.  It was such a blessing to have a healthy baby.  The only difficult part was the excruciating respiratory percussion therapy which made me cough uncontrollably.  Try enduring endless coughing while holding a pillow over your c-section incision and hoping your guts down fall out.

But one look in her face made it all worth it!

Happy Birthday Amanda with Big Sister Lauren

A MOTHER isn’t defined as the woman who gives birth to the child, but rather the woman who extends her hands and time to help with the child’s raising and her heart to love the child through ANYTHING!!!  Blood doesn’t always make you a MOTHER.  Being a MOTHER comes from the heart…  Any fool can birth a baby, but it takes a real woman to raise a child.

• A real mother does what is best for the child, not what is best for herself.
• A real mother surrounds her child with as many loved ones as possible, and does not expect exclusivity of love.
• A real mother understands it is her role to be an active participant in her child’s life, not a spectator waiting for an invitation.
• A real mother understands her responsibility is a LIFE-LONG one and doesn’t simply vanish when the child leaves the nest.
• A real mother invests in her children and her GRANDCHILDREN (all of them).
• A real mother would never be able to write her children out of her life for any reason whatsoever.
• A real mother could never intentionally inflict hurt and pain on her own children and would never seek to do so.
• A real mother owns up to her own failings, knows how to apologize, and is an example of forgiveness and conflict resolution.

A real mother is a living example of UNCONDITIONAL love.

Thank you to all the mothers I’ve had in my life.  Some of you are friends, others are aunts, cousins, a sister, a sister-in-law, stepmoms…  You have all helped me in some way when I felt lost.  You have given me strength to face the day when loneliness and grief have overtaken me.  You have helped me understand the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to me with the precious lives of my own children.  You have helped me define the kind of mother I want to be.  I love you and appreciate your support.

My daughters recently joined Girl Scouts, and they are really excited to earn badges for selling cookies this year.  If you need a cookie fix, we would be grateful for your support of Lauren’s Junior Troop and Amanda’s Daisy Troop.  … Continue reading →