Surviving a Surgery with a Toddler: Things I Learned

For anyone that missed my blog last week, my two-year-old daughter Morgan, had a minor surgery to remove an umbilical cyst. Here is the first post to get you up to speed just in case.

I am so happy to report that she is doing GREAT.

I learned so many things from going through this experience I wanted to share my tips on surviving a surgery with a toddler.

Many of the things I learned I have YOU to thank for. The support and advice…

Click here to read more…

Umbilical Cyst Surgery

My two-year-old, Morgan is having surgery on Monday to remove a growth on her belly button which is what they think is some sort of umbilical cyst.

It has gotten bigger as she has, and after visiting with a pediatric surgeon, we learned there is risk of it getting infected, so it has to be removed.

I am sure when she is bikini shopping 15 years from now she will be thanking us for getting it taken care of before she can remember. But as a mom, the thought of her having surgery is rough.

I was hoping it would be a quick procedure with a local anesthetic, but at her age, she has to be put under for the surgery and the thought of it scares me.

Click here to read more…

My Thoughts on “Don’t Carpe Diem”

My sister, a fellow mommy of a toddler in the trenches, forwarded an article on HuffPost Parents a couple months ago with two words: GOOD READ. In CAPS. She never forwards me articles so I was intrigued.

The article obviously struck a chord with mamas all over, as it has been shared and shared again, so I am sure many of you have read it already, and if you have, it is worth reading again.

But for those who haven’t, I wanted to write about this article today because her words have stayed with me.  And because the article stirred up so many emotions in me, I also felt compelled to share my thoughts on “Don’t Carpe Diem.”

At first I was intrigued by the title. I am sort of a “Carpe Diem~glass half full~positive” kind of gal, so I couldn’t see myself totally agreeing with whatever was going to come next….

Click here to see it…

My First Horseback Riding Lesson at Ivy Gate Farm [Video]

Last week I checked off one of one of my Life List things. Life List = Bucket List but I prefer it as I think it sounds a little more uplifting, don’t you?!  And one of my Life List things was to take a horseback riding lesson.

(Side note: I had bad experience on a horse one time on the beach in Ensenada when I was about 19 so I hadn’t been back in the saddle since and had always wanted to tackle this fear by taking a lesson the RIGHT WAY!)

And there is no better place in Orange County to do so than Ivy Gate Farm in San Juan Capistrano. Ivy Gate Farm is a hunter / jumper training facility in OC and trains people of all levels from children up to adults, beginner (like me) up to people that go to the top horse shows. I wrote about Ivy Gate HERE if you want more info on the amazing facility.

And it was completely exhilarating. I am also afraid it might be a tad addicting.  My experience is outlined in the short video above. Hope you enjoy!

Click here to see it…