The Miracle Happened - Now let's get some sleep!

Sleep Better Tonight!

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Me?  I was not able to sleep at all.  This was one very emotional and exciting morning.  I rushed to the hospital at 12:30 AM (4/8/10) and sat up in a chair as I helplessly watched  Veronica bravely ride through her contractions  every 5 minutes, for a few hours before the pain got unbearable.  At about 2 AM an Epideral was given.  Later, the epideral stopped working.  At around 8 AM and many excruciating contractions later, the anesthesiologist came in to inject some stronger medication in order to ease the pushing pain and help move things along.  At 9 AM we began the actual delivery process and by 9:45 Frida Gutierrez was introduced to the world.  A very content and cute little baby girl was born!  Well not so little!  She weighed a little under 10 lbs (9 lbs 13 oz to be exact) and 21" long!  She has lots of black hair just like her Mommy;  and her cute little eyes look just like her grandma's! 

The Kaiser staff and midwives did a fantastic job of quickly removing the umbilical cord from the baby's neck and body.  She had it wrapped around her twice as she rocked and rolled inside of mommy.  The baby was brought to life and as her beautiful pastel skin color emerged, we knew that we had nothing to fear.   Mommy and baby are now resting quietly,  And me?  Well I am going to sleep!

For those of you that have trouble sleeping for other reasons, other than helping to deliver a baby....

 Loss of sleep  can take a toll on your health. What’s more, recent studies also show being sleep deprived can affect your ability to lose weight and keep it off. Making certain you clock in enough sleep each night should also be part of your routine. Getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night will not only help you stick to your healthy eating plan, but you’ll also combat stress-related weight gain. If counting sheep isn’t working for you, try these five tips to help you sleep better soon:

1. Create a regular sleep routine. Stick to going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. Some people find that setting a bedtime alarm as well as a morning alarm is a good reminder of when it’s time to go to sleep. You’ll find that once your body adjusts to a regular routine, you’ll start to wake up refreshed.
2. Reserve your bed for sleeping and sex only. Avoid stressful, sleep-robbing activities, such as watching TV news or scary movies, (or paying bills!). Some people find that a hot bath or soothing music before bedtime helps. If insomnia does strike, leave the bed and walk around for a while.
3. Don’t go to bed hungry. Enjoy a high-protein snack, such as, reduced-fat cheese, a slice of deli turkey, or reduced-fat yogurt and a few nuts before going to bed.
4. Avoid caffeinated beverages or other foods containing caffeine after about noon, and limit alcohol in the evening. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 24 hours, and while alcohol may make it easier to fall asleep initially, it also causes more frequent nighttime awakenings.
5. Refrain from exercise three hours before bedtime.Regular exercise is encouraged during the day because it can give you more energy and help you sleep better at night, but it also releases the hormone epinephrine, which can make you more alert. That’s why it’s best to exercise earlier rather than later if you suffer from insomnia.

The Miracle

My daughter is expecting a baby, and now on her last few hours of this miraculous adventure, we wait excitedly.   The contractions were about one hour apart. Then down to 10 min apart but stopped. The next day (today) they resumed, resonating through her body with excruciating pain.    We are all on pins and needles hoping for  the moment of arrival to be soon, but all she can do is pace the floor and all we can do is wait!  So to ease my nerves I write a poem:

Waiting and waiting for our sugar and spice.

Waiting and waiting for someone nice.

We've been waiting so long and can't wait no more;

Waiting and waiting we create a path on the floor.

We feel it's time to play peek-a-boo.

We feel it's time to come out,

So we can meet you.

Come out, come out

Wherever you are

You have many waiting

from near and afar!

So come out, come out

it's time to play

"What a cute baby,"

We all want to say.

Written by Grandma

on Easter Day

xox

The Miracle 

Listening to the old classic songs,

Reminiscing as I sit here, 

 with memories of yesteryear. 

Now, I can only think of you......

Not wanting to get blue,

but daydreaming of all the things we can do

wondering

if I will ever get the chance

wondering

how beautifully my life 

you will enhance

and

praying for a miracle!

from "Awakening Love" -  a book of love poems

Written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia

www.victoryp.com

Happiness comes from within

It is a pill to be sad and lonely, and yet we do this to ourselves.  If we were to search our soul, we would clearly see that we really don't need anyone to be happy.  We can be happy with ourselves, we can enjoy ourselves.  We can be happy for no reason.  Our happiness resides within us.

The great mistake most of us make is looking for it somewhere outside of ourselves.   Often times, in order to prevent this "lonliness,"  we settle with anyone that crosses our path.  This is not only the wrong thing to do, it is unhealthy and handicaps us from searching and persuing the real joy of being with ourselves.

 If I decide that it takes another person to make me happy, then I have just put my happiness into someone else's hands.  Do I really expect that another person will do exactly what I want him or her to do so that I can be happy?  Maybe, but unrealistic, and unfair.   That is why so many of us are disappointed in our relationships. I can't expect them to put my happiness first.  Only I can do that.  And the only person I want to determine my happiness is me!

When I'm happy I am productive.  When I'm happy, I pass it on.  When I 'm happy, my happiness ripples out all around me and has an effect on others around me.  I think that my happiness can actually make a difference in other people's lives.

Don't settle!   You have the power of your own happiness.

Abraham Lincoln said, "People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

   What Has Happened To Our Freedom?

What has happened to our freedom?

So much has been taken away.

We meet the wrong person,

Seems to be the case of the day.

What has happened to our freedom of speech?

We have to be careful with what we say.

Do only what he wants, 

and our words we have to weigh.

So many freedoms we have lost

While others grow in size.

We try everything to make them happy,

ending up with little white lies.

A lot of our freedoms go unnoticed,

Just the way with each other we interact.

Their subtle ways to make us see,

They make sure we get sidetracked. 

We are being used like puppets,

While one by one they try to control.

Enacting rules that benefit themselves,

While they attain their goals.

So watch your freedom disappear,

They’re going one by one.

Soon you won’t have any left,

No more freedoms to be won.

Written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia

from "Awakening Love"  www.victoryp.com

     

CALMNESS IN OUR LIVES

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.

By following simple advice heard on the Oprah show, you too can find inner peace.

Dr. Oz proclaimed, 'The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished."

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a 1/2 bottle of White Zinfandel, the rest of the Tequila, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how good I feel right now!

Laughter Prolongs Your Life

"The Most Wasted Day of All is the One in Which We have not Laughed"

* * * * * * * * * * * *
A woman once said that a man is like a deck of playing cards....you need :
A Heart to love him,

A Diamond to marry him,

A Club to hit him over the head to wake up,

A Spade to bury the bastard.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Succulent
Written By Yolanda Pacheco Garcia

 


Succulent pleasure what a delight,
Long and hard, could last all night.
Tongue is excited when it starts to feel,
The look alone, has much appeal.

Slightly dark and very strong,
With this inside one can't go wrong.
Perfect texture, rich creamy taste,
Taking it slow, not a drop to waste.

Licking long, oh, what a treat!


Chocolate Ice Cream bars are good to eat!

Body Image

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and

wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out
to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my posterior in the mirror I will think,
Good grief, look how smart I am!
Must be where 'Smart Ass' came from!

Losing Gravity

Exuberant senses had been awakened

Skyrockets exploding in the galaxy of love

Voyages to unexplored territories

and excitement of undoubting pleasure

And then

My sense of belonging lost its gravity

Through muddled territory unbeknownst to me

Emotions swirling down beyond the vast sea

As I drowned in the tears of my sadness.

(However, I grab a carton of ice cream and start to feel better)

Written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia

http://www.victoryp.com/

How to Travel Successfully With a Partner

 5 Easy Tips on

 How to Have a Successful Vacation Together:

(with the "friend" or new relationship)

1-Pick a destination that you will both enjoy; that will cater to both your  interests.

2-Make sure you really like each other, that you are compatible and enjoy each other's  company

3-Remember that the journey is more important than the destination-being together is  what counts.       Speak up if you have concerns, without judging, nagging or blaming your sweetie.

4-Keep your cool, be flexible and keep a positive attitude when something goes wrong.

    and last but not least

5-Be on the same page. Communicate with each other about what you want in the relationship.

Talk about expectations.  Is it a fun romance with no strings attached, or are you both looking for a long-term love that lasts?

Loving Journey

Imprisoned by desires and distance we know

I think of you where ever I go.

Your face is a dream that lights up my soul,

your words are my fire that make me glow.

Take my hand and body too,

for I shall spend the whole night with you.

Scaling heights of newfound pleasure,

caressing and loving, what a wonderful treasure.

We shall drink eternal bliss

and welcome love's exquisite kiss.

You are a song within my heart,

love's melody shall never part.

In this dream hand in hand we will go

for our love to the world, we will show.

Feelings and hearts, will be set free,

as we partake in this loving journey.

Written by Yolanda P Garcia     

http://www.victoryp.com/