The Road to Mongolia

On Monday nights, I play Magic The Gathering with a group of guys. I was introduced to Monday Night Magic by my doula, Cori's, husband Kodjo. One of the regulars at Monday Night Magic is Ernie. One fateful night, Ernie mentioned that he was going to do something crazy over the summer. He, and a couple of guys that he trains with at New York Jiu Jitsu, Jumanji and James, were going to raise the money to buy an ambulance and drive it from England to Mongolia. On this journey, they would pass through 17 countries and they might even blare the siren on the ambulance some of the time, just because they can.

When I found out about this, I thought it was an awesome concept, and I told Ernie I wanted to make the guys a video describing their trip. Without further ado, here's what I came up with, The Road to Mongolia.

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In this photograph, you are barely three. It's hard to believe that you won't stay this small forever. You're growing taller every day, and with that physical growth comes along emotional change. You are no longer a baby, but a boy; a boy who questions things, a boy who will one day be a man. In three months you will be four. Four years ago you entered this world. I love your persistence, you never give up. When you're determined to do something, you try and try until you learn it. Never give that up. You are so strong, and so loved. I cannot wait to see the man you will become.

This post is a part of "Memories Captured."

Mama/Son Day Out

Last night, Ari and I did something we haven't done in a long time. We spent a night together. It was just Ari and I, no Samara, no Wil. Just us. We ate pizza and cupcakes, rode the D train and made funny faces. I had a blast, and I think he did too.

It was really nice for us to spend time together. I didn't realize how much I missed indvidual time with my boy, until we had our night together.

I've noticed lately, that Ari has been doing a lot of baby talk and general regressing because of Samara, but there was none of that happening last night. We had full on conversations, and enjoyed hanging out and being silly.

This night was a reminder that I need to make a concerted effort to have a regularly scheduled individual time with my boy.

I also noticed that he was really well-behaved, and didn't act out, which is unusual as of late. I realized that he's been acting out in order to get attention from me.

Last night, we were hanging out and having one on one time, he didn't need to act out to get attention. We could just be ourselves and have fun!

Ari, I had a blast last night. Maybe you'll read this one day when you're a teenager, and too cool to hang out with me. I loved eating cupcakes together and talking about the different subway stops on the D train. I love that every time we get on the train you make a stranger get up so that I can sit down. You always demand two seats. You're going to go far in life with that determination. I love you Ari bear!

Hi!

Samara's favorite word to say is "Hi." In fact, "hi" was her first word. Ari's first words were "What's that?" He was, and is, a curious boy. Samara, it turns out is a social butterfly. I've compiled a few videos of her saying hello to other people, and to herself. Enjoy!

A Sad Day- The End of Nursing

Today is a sad day. Today is the last day I will nurse Samara.

I didn't want to wean her just yet, but I'm in a situation where I have to stop breastfeeding to preserve my own health. I have another MRSA infection, and it's on my face.

MRSA, for those of you that don't know, is an more aggressive form of staph bacteria. It is not responsive to typical antibiotics and requires the use of stronger medications.

The dermatologist has prescribed me a more potent antibiotic that will probably make me shit my brains out, but will also ward off MRSA. I'm taking probiotics so here's hoping they will combat the gastrointestinal war that is about to take place in my body.

Earlier today, the dermatologist laid it all out for me:

" The most effective treatment for an abscess is drainage. Since you're breastfeeding there are limited medications that we can give you." She said matter-of-factly.

"What would give me if wasn't nursing?" I wanted to know.

"A stronger set of antibiotics. We want to knock MRSA out."

"Okay..." I said, bewildered. I didn't know what to say, or what the right decision was. Should I go with drainage alone, or opt for the more aggressive antibiotic?"

As I was sitting there staring into florescent light, having my facial abscess drained, I started to cry.

"I don't want to do this again."

"Okay..." said the stoic dermatologist as she continued to cut my face open.

When she was done, and I was sitting there with a facial bandaid, trying to reconcile what just happened to my mandible, we continued our conversation:

"I want to take the antibiotics."

"That's what I would do if I were you," she said.

"She's been nursing for a year, she's had a lot of breast milk." I said trying to reassure myself more than my emotionless dermatologist.

"She'll be fine." She said without smiling.

I know she'll be fine. She's had a year of breast milk, but I'll miss the intimacy of nursing :(.

Playtime! How I Went to the Theater While Ari Made Art With an Artist

Today, my mom and I went to the theater. We saw a black comedy called Assistance about trying to stay sane while working for a crazy abusive boss.

While we went to see a show, Aunt Mimi and Uncle Mike watched Samara at their house. I'm told she had a great time playing with toys, eating a banana, and attempting to say the word "banana." Thanks guys!

I cannot remember the last time I've been to the theater, which is bizarre since I'm an actor myself and come from an extensive performing arts background. I was a theater major at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts and went on to study theater at Ithaca College and New York University.

This day would not have been possible if it hadn't been for an awesome organization called Playtime

I found out about Playtime on Twitter. Once my nemesis, now Twitter and I are becoming friends.

Leslie Marcus, Managing Director at Playwrights Horizons and mother of two, along with her co-workers, dreamt up Playtime.

Playwrights Horizons noticed that there was a lapse in theater goers who were parents. The reason for this was that it was too expensive for parents to hire a babysitter, and they felt guilty leaving their kids at home while they went off to enjoy a cultural experience.

Enter Playtime, a program that provides childcare for kids ages 4-12 while parents go to the theater. There is something very unique about the childcare provided by Playtime; the "babysitters" are also artists. They are musicians, photographers, actors, and writers from an organization called Sitters Studio. Here's how it works: you buy tickets to a Playwright's Horizon's show. For $15 you can purchase a slot in a Playtime for your child. While you attend the performance, your child is engaged in a artistic experience with real artists.

After my mom and I saw the show, I had a chance to sit down with Leslie to talk a bit about Playtime. Here's what she had to say:

My mom and I loved Assistance. It was very clever, dark, unique and entertaining. I'm thinking about dragging Wil to see it.

Ari had a blast with the Arts Sitters from Playtime.

I felt great knowing that while I was watching a play, he was involved in creative projects too!

o

For more information about Playtime visit their site here

Guest Post By Leah: The Medela Manual Breast Pump Kept Me Breastfeeding!

My amazing friend Leah recently gave birth to her daughter, Suri in January. I've known Leah since we were 18, we met at Ithaca College. I can't believe we've been friends for 13 years!

She was intent on nursing, but ran into some trouble in the begininnng. Thankfully she happened upon a manual breast pump that actually ended up helping her nursing experience. She talks about her experience with The Medela Manual Breat Pump here.

When I gave birth to my daughter, one of the first things the nurse said to me was "your baby is tongue-tied." Having no idea what this meant, I looked at my doula, Gail. She told me that my baby's frenulum (the one under the tongue) was too short and it might make breastfeeding difficult since her tongue can't extend far enough. The first couple of nights home from the hospital were tough, whether it was related tothe short frenulum or just getting the hang of things, I can't be sure.

I think she was having a hard time getting the colostrum. After being home for two days, she latched incorrectly on one breast; it was incredibly painful and impossible to nurse! Looking closely, I saw as mall red scab had formed and I started getting nervous that I wasn't going to be able to nurse on both sides. Was I going to have to giveup breastfeeding?

Consulting books and the internet was absolutely no help. All the books said to put Lansinoh on my nipple and to expose it to air. Theoretically these were nice suggestions, but they didn't help with the actual feeding of my baby. My nipple wasn't going to heal instantaneously and everytime she nursed, it felt like being poked with needles. I asked my doula what to do and she suggested getting a manual pump so that I would at least be producing milk on that side and I could feed it to my baby with a syringe.

My mom (thanks, Mom!) bought me the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump. I wasreally wary of manual breast pumps (one author of a baby book likenedit to milking a cow on the farm), but it was one of the best purchases! I was able to pump without pain at my own pace and it gave me time to heal. After a couple of days the scab healed, fell off, and I was able to go back to nursing on both sides. I hope that a new breastfeeding mom having trouble with sore nipples gives a manual breast pump a try because it can be a lifesaver! The Medela Harmony Manual pump is extremely easy to use, clean, andvery affordable. On Amazon is priced at $30.49.

This wouldn't be a practical purchase for someone who is going back to work

and needs to pump quickly and every day, but it is great for occasional pumping.

Leah Greenwald lives in Monsey, NY, with her husband, six stepkids, and
new baby Suri!