Melinda's Paul Mitchell Relaxer

So, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, my sister-in-law, Melinda came in as a semi-willing volunteer for a relaxing. She has wavy hair and never blow-drys, which is plain to see.

We started by putting protectant on her hairline.







Next, we parted her hair into four quadrants.

We started at the back left quarter, applying the mild formula of The Relaxer a half inch from the scalp, through the ends. Since she does nothing to her hair EVER, I wasn't concerned about pulling it throught the ends.

I finished the back and moved onto the front 2 quarters,

leaving the hairline out for the last part. At which point,

I combed thru with a wide toother!

We left it on for 10 minutes, I checked it and it wasn't ready. I check by putting a knot in the hair and if there is any spring left, the turkey isn't done. I basically couldn't stand to watch the wincing on her face any longer and I decided to rinse, although it was 20 minutes and that was the maximum. I am a sadist.

I rinsed for 5 minutes and then went a little extra. I shampooed with Lavender Mint and conditioned with it, as well.

I blowdryed and was very pleased with the job it did.

I do quite a bit of Japanese straightening and I would argue that the result was comparable with 2 advantages...

1. The Relaxer took less than an hour and a Japanese Straightening can take 4 hours. 2. There was no neutralizing step. Doing this in ONE step is pretty amazing!

Downfalls...Melinda and her mom don't like it. My mother in law said, "I hate it! It doesn't look like Melinda!" You know how mothers always want you to look like you did when you were 3! What a pain in the ass!

The Big Delivery!

Well, I fell behind in blogging. Sorry. This was the last time I walked - right before the epidural. Heidi followed me and took pictures of me peeing, which, had I been more spry, I would have jumped up and knocked her out with her own camera.

I dilated really quickly after the magical epidural. Roxanne was our nurse and she asked me to "practice push". I did and she said it was great and we would have an easy delivery.

Dr. Fraser came down an hour later and I pushed once. It was great! That was all it took for us to have Flora Louise Ilima Dollarhide. She is sweet and snuggly and looks a lot like Georgia, with the exception of hair color. Flora has brownish hair. She weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces. It was the best delivery and I had so much fun with my friends from Rose. The nurses were all coming in to visit and helping out. We were so lucky to have such a great experience and new baby!

Oct 1rst 1:30 PM

At noon the water was broken and I was dilated at 5 cm. I got the epidural and am now dilated at 6cm and am very happy. Oh! epidural you make everything better. I'm thinking about our third child now.

Oct 1rst

The call at 10: 30 came @ 5:00 am. We got to the room at 6:00 am, and got settled. At 8:20 Erin finally let the nurse put an IV into her arm, so now they can start the various drips. Dr. Fraiser says expect good news at around supper time. Roxxanne says we should see he/she at around noon. Any takers! We will keep you posted. posted at 8:10

September 30 - 9 p.m.

Ok - so we got the call around 6pm that they were taking us for an induction tonite. It was going to be tomorrow night, but we were pretty excited! We made our calls and told everyone! Georgia is in bed and they next time she sees us, she'll be a big sister!

We just have to wait for the call from Rose Medical Center to tell us when to get in the car and go down there. They will induce me at midnight! This could be the last time you see me smiling for the next couple of hours!

We are so excited to find out what we are having!

There is enough hair - sort of - for pony tails. She puts up a mean fight, but I keep trying to explain that people pay me good money for these styles!

She just wants her afro to be free and wild.

This is me on my first day back to work! It was a miracle to make it through the day, but I was really glad to have done it . Every day gets easier.

It looks as though I will find a new place to call "work" upon my return after the baby is born. I will be back to work on October 25, so at that point I'll be in a new spot! I have nothing better to do than to move right now. What could make my life easier?!

I am so looking forward to seeing the baby's face! I wish my water would break and we could start the process! The induction will be on October 2, but if you want to send wishes for tonite, that would be ok with me!

In the big clean for the baby, I managed to reorganize my makeup drawer. For anyone who has seen my makeup drawer of the past, you will view this as a GD miracle!

I had to save the picture, though because I didn't realize that my belly was in the frame. It just gets in the way and I don't even notice!

This is Georgia in her dress from Kelly and trying to wear her rain boots from Rachel! The boots are 2 sizes too big, but she loves putting them on her feet!

Georgia played with her magic castle until she passed out! It's exhausting being a princess! There is so much to do!

We spent my daily 30 minutes of non-bedrest time by going to breakfasts and walks with Georgia! After the 8 weeks on bedrest in the hospital, I put in another 2.5 weeks. Playing with Georgia was the best and I had my helpers there to make life easier! Thanks to Rebecca, Liz, Heidi and Felix! We couldn't have done it without you!

So, I found a bunch of the very same Laura Ashley material at Back on the Rack, that my best friend from high school, Kelly Lee, had in her room growing up! This is it, to the left. Total 1985 throw back! I loved spending the night at Kelly's! The whole room was in this print and there were 2 twin beds. We would watch movies and eat pizza and in the morning, her mom, Auntie Anne would make breakfast. It was the best! When I saw this bedroom set, I was so excited to get it for Georgia's room!

Then, I had to convert the guest room into a magical place for Georgia! So, in my condition, I had a team of helpers that came in and turned our guest room into Georgia's new room!

Special thanks to Auntie M, Heidi, Rebecca, and Matty for ironing linens, hanging curtains, moving furniture and fulfilling my McDonald's request in the middle of it all!

Maximum 13 Days Left!

Ok, so I haven't done the blog since I came home from the hospital. Sorry, fans! I decided, since the clock is tickin', I would get in the latest before I forget about it!

So, these are pictures from the morning that we left the hospital! Georgia woke up really excited and helped with the trips to load up the car! We all said goodbye to Donita, Georgia's favorite red-head! The night before, we had said our goodbyes to our nurses and it was really hard to leave them! They were all such angels and we love them so much! It was really tough! So, we go back and visit them! Georgia walks down the hall by herself now and they squeal, "Is that Georgia?!"

We were so lucky to be in Rose Medical Center with the best nursing care! We look forward to being back there for a delivery!

The first weekend home happened to be Labor Day, so we made sure it was ok with Dr. Fraser and moved my bedrest to the Aviator Pool! Heidi, Zeb and Maya met us there and we spent the entire day there! It felt great to be in the outdoors! To feel the sun and air on my face was the sweetest thing and to be with my family and friends was even sweeter! I ate deviled eggs and sipped on Hansen's Diet Peach Soda. How could life be better?

Heidi and Maya bought Georgie a new dress! It's her "Mommie's getting out of jail" dress.

The Last Day in Jail...Day 56!

Today's the last day in solitary for me. I secretly traded some Ambien for a small axe and at night I've been chiselling away at an underground path that leads to Hale Parkway. I hang a poster of Michael Phelps over the hole that I've been digging, so no one is onto me. I should be out by 11 am tomorrow, if things go my way! I imagine the press will be there, which is the last thing that I need! All that attention! Ugh! I just want to get back to my normal life and be a good girl on parole.

I am so excited to get out and reach the confines of my bedroom! I'll miss my nurses and pals that I've made, but somehow, I'll try to smile!

Matt, Georgie and I had 2 wheelchair rides yesterday. G played in the sandbox and returned with a sand-filled diaper and needed a shower. Her bottom is great! It was the last time she will take a shower in the hospital!

Saturday, I went to the pool and returned to take off my swimsuit. The reality hit me that I would never wear the suit again! I felt complete and fulfilled. My aunt drew this picture of me in the pool for her next book. Enjoy the visual!

One of my cellmates, who is 27 weeks got diagnosed, while in here with Hodgkins Lymphoma. She is having to start treatment and has no support system. It made me so grateful for what I have had. Thank you to everyone who spent their days visiting, taking care of Georgia, sending meals and care pakages, or even just calling/emailing me. I am so lucky to have the support that I have and when I see someone with none of that and a far worse situation, I have so much gratitude. Thank you!

Day 52!

The Mooneys are watching Georgia today. Gina sent me a message from Georgia, as she sat on Gina's lap. This is what she had to say...

211i6 ge7bbbbbbbbbbbbjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj1111111111;l,00256666666.nb ,pppppp gfh
Nhgmmmhbinb®l
/ vcgfgfj/ .bv

Ah, a message only a mother could love...

Day 50! 50 is Nifty!

Ok - so, Dr. Fraser said this morning that my discharge date will be next Tuesday! For sure! We are so excited to have a concrete date to look forward to! I will go home, be on bedrest there until 36 weeks and then it's back to work until the water bursts!

There's a new chick in my pool club. Totally anorexic. It's awesome to be in a swimsuit with her. I don't want to go with her. Me no likey. Me only pool friends with chubby pregnant people!

Well, Hira is leaving tomorrow and we have been so gratetful for the help! She has made our home an oasis and I look forward to seeing all the work! Georgia has loved her time with her and so have I! What a gift! Thanks, Team Baby Doll!

Day 46 - 10 Days Left!

Georgia has made friends with the Rose Medical Center Valet Parkers, Mario and Erica. They lets her chauffeurs get away with murder, and the other day thought she was being kidnapped, when Heidi left with her. He had never met Heidi and since Heidi had Georgia and a "black little girl " with her he thought it could be part of a child smuggling ring. Thanks, Mario! It was just Heidi and Maya taking G for a trip to the shoe store!

There's a chance I could get out this coming Wednesday, but if not for sure, the following Wednesday. So get down here and have some grapes before out time here is over!

Today is the 2nd day of raining all day. Baby Dollarhide and I are watching Elf, which is what I watched every day of my 1st Trimester with Georgia's pregnancy. I remember fondly the barfing and then laughing at the movie. What a fun time! It makes me so excited for Christmas! If I was home today, I would make Hira and Matt pull out the Christmas decorations and put them up! It would be so much fun!

Day 44 - 12 Days Left of Hard Time!

I just got back from the ultrasound. I went in and announced that I thought the baby would weigh 4lbs 9oz and they said the high 3s would be more realistic. So, they checked and it was 4lbs 9oz. I love being right! It's the 'roids! Our sweet little juicer!

Also, the baby in no longer breech. The head is down and I got to see it's hair. It looked curly, but it could be that it was in fluid. Stay tuned for early October!

Day 42 - 6 weeks down! 2 to go!

A whole lotta belly! I'm going for an ultrasound on Thursday! We'll have an update on the weight of the baby, but it should be at least 4 lbs. Stay tuned...



"French Jackie" again. Today, I heard about how someone said her grandchild was not attractive. She was very upset and french. Again, an extremely condensed version. Mon Dieu!

Day 41 in the Clink!

Today, Heidi and Maya have Georgia and they took her shoe shopping. Thank goodness, since I was feeling so badly about the shoe issue of last week. She pulled the boxes down and started putting the shoes on her feet. She's a natural!

Apparently, at the house, we have plums growing! Which is nice, like a return on my investment. I will be selling these for $400/plum to cover costs right now. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Today's nurse is called "French Jackie". She got the nickname because she is French and her name is Jackie. She talks like Pepe Le Pew. She likes to tell me about her daughter's deadbeat Brazilian boyfriend in Miami. Apparently, if her daughter lets him move in, she won't stand for it. She has worked too hard to put her daughter through med school to have a Brazilian with no job come and ruin everything. She'll even give her house in France to her sister instead of her daughter over this! (This is a VERY condensed version of the story that I learned while standing next to my bathroom, while waiting to pee.)

I got a care package from Hawaii today of 2 boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts and 6 cans of macadamia nuts, with instructions for me not to eat it all at once. This is what Audrey thinks I eat for a light snack in one sitting. If someone could bring me down a loaf of bread and a stick of butter, I could really turn it into a meal! Just kidding, Audrey! Thanks for the package! And for the rest of you, get down here for a Hawaiian sampling before Matt devours it!

Day 39 - Saturday!

Today, Rebecca came down to visit with Georgia. Rebecca and Felix are her best friends. We've all accepted it!

Hira and Judy came down today and took Georgia on a spin in her wheelchair. Hira and Judy have been making dinners and bringing them down every night, along with visits from G. It's been great and we appreciate the break from the divine Rose Medical Center meals. I kind of miss the moldy grapes, but what can I do? It would be rude not to eat the food they bring.

Uncle Andy and Tia Ana came into town for Cousin Jennie's wedding. Andy took a break from being a waiter at the wedding to hold his neice. I asked Dr. Strubel-Lagan if I could have a hall pass to go to the wedding in Greeley. She said that not only could I not, but that she also recommends that I not go to Greeley, even after the baby's born and healthy.

Georgia got a new dress from her Auntie Kelly, in Los Angeles. I tried desperately to find hot pink shoes to match, but was unsuccessful. I know I am a failure as a mother. I feel like I let my baby down. She went in older sandals. I think this really drives home the point that our family is really going through a tough time. Please don't judge us.

Lastly, Grace and Trinity stopped by on an illegal mission to deliver lemon sorbet! It was very sweet and just what a diabetic chick needed! Thanks girls, for the covert op!

Day 30 - 30 Weeks Pregnant!

So, my front tooth fell out since I've been in the clink, while eating a salad. It's making me crazy and I am afraid that the nurses, who have not known me any other way, think this is how I normally am! Just a poor redneck, who wound up in the hospital with insurance that doesn't cover anything maternity. Pure white trash. Room 381.

Well, Dr. Strubel-Lagan said I could make a dental appointment for 34 weeks! That's right, everyone! I'll have the old bucky fixed on September 2! The day after Labor Day, so I can still open your beer bottles with my front tooth at the Labor Day Celebration and no one has to be disappointed!

Speaking of Labor Day, I will still be on bedrest, but can do that poolside. I will be at the Aviator Pool for the weekend, if anyone wants to come by and say goodbye to the smile no one has grown to love. I'll be the whitest, fattest person, as the sun hasn't touched my skin in 4 weeks. you should be able to find me.

Day 28 - 4 Weeks down - 4 Weeks to go - then another 6.

Today is Bea's last day! Bea has been Georgia's favorite nurse since the beginning. She will cry when Bea leaves the room and she'll won't go to anyone else, if Bea's around. Bea has taken Georgia into delivery rooms to "give laboring moms something to look forward to," taken her on "rounds" and even staff meetings. Bea is leaving after 23 years. We are so sad that we won't see her all the time anymore! She's the best and it's a bummer. On that note, I'll take a Zoloft.

Heidi had Georgia yesterday and gave her a bath. She loves baths and thankfully, Heidi likes giving them, which is good, because it's probably the only one she's getting each week. Just kidding.

My aunt, Hira is coming to town for 3 weeks of assistance and gets here Thursday. Matt's brother, Andy and his wife Ana get in on Friday for cousin Jennie's wedding. I was supposed to be leaving for Vegas on Saturday, but alas, I will stay here and skip the wedding and Vegas and incubate.