Reed's birth story

I know I said I wanted to be better at blogging, and I haven't been, but it's a new year so let's try this again.  Reed's due date was January 5th and he was born December 30th.  Just barely a week early.  I really did not want to be induced this time around, even though my experience was not bad with Stella.  I just wanted to let things take their natural course.  Towards the end however, the anticipation was starting to give me anxiety.  Dalton and I discussed it, and we both agreed that we never had that feeling with Stella.  With Reed I had consistently measured big, sometimes up to 4 weeks ahead and both my Dr and I were pretty sure I would go early.  The week of my company's Christmas party (a week before Christmas) I had my Dr's appt early in the week.  My Dr said she was pretty sure this was MY week! I hoped so too, especially because she would be on vacation the following week and I really wanted her to deliver me.  She was pretty sure that my labor would go fast since I think at that point I was already dilated to 3-4cms.  Really? That is almost half way there! At that point I really had no idea that women could walk around being that dilated and NOT be in labor! Little did I know that you could walk around much more dilated than that and not be in labor, as I would soon find out. My Dr was so confident I would have the baby that week that she ALMOST didn't have me make an appt.  Now I know better than to listen to Dr's predictions, but I feel like I am pretty in tune with my body, and I FELT like it was almost time.  Anyways... I made it through the week.  Bummer!  The following week was Christmas, and since my Dr was out I had to see another Dr in the practice.  She checked me and I was 4-5 cm's dilated 80% effaced.  At this point I am thinking.. maybe this WILL be a Christmas baby.  Christmas Eve I kept waking up with contractions, but nothing consistent enough to be concerned.  Christmas came and went and NOTHING! This baby was perfectly content staying right where he was but I was ready to evict him!
 That brings us to December 30th.  I had asked Dalton to come with me to my appt, just in case they did send me to the hospital, which at that point I doubted.  As a matter of fact I had a little bit of a nervous breakdown driving to the hospital and I cried telling Dalton that I was just ready to NOT be pregnant anymore.  That really is unlike me because I really don't mind being pregnant, and I have to say that I am blessed to have fairly easy pregnancies, but the anticipation was killing me.  The fact that we kept thinking he was coming and he wasn't PLUS that I was beginning to get pretty uncomfortable was making me really dislike pregnancy.  My Dr's appt was that morning.. somewhere around 9:30-10ish.  When my Dr walked in the room I told her, "Look who is STILL pregnant!" We both laughed about it, she checked me and I was still 4-5 but she decided to send me over to the hospital and put me on a low dose of pitocin to see if we could get things kicked started.  Remember how I was telling you that I really wanted my Dr to deliver me? Well now comes the fun part.  The Dr tells me, I have two surgeries today, one at 1 and another at 3.  If you have the baby while I am in surgery someone else will deliver you.  OMG, now I have a window? WTH? Ok, fine.  About 10:30ish I am all checked into the hospital.  I feel good, contractions are small, still nothing I can't handle.  At about noon  my Dr comes to check on me before her first surgery.  As she is checking me, my water breaks, I am 5-6 cm's. It is now about 12:30, and this, for me, is when my labor really started.  Fast forward 2 hours.. I am now in some serious pain.  They won't let me get in the bathtub (possibly because my water was already broken?), they don't have a birthing ball.  Sitting hurts, standing hurts, pretty much anything I do hurts.  I am looking at the clock because I know that my Dr will be out of surgery in an hour and a half.  I didn't want to get an epidural too soon because I knew that with Stella I went from 3cm's to 8-9 cm's in an hour after getting the epidural. By 3pm I tell them I need an epidural, at this point breathing is not helping, I can't get into any comfortable positions, plus I am hooked to the IV for the antibiotics for the GBS so I have to drag that thing around everywhere!   You know that moment, when you are in labor and you FINALLY decide to get an epidural when you are in excruciating pain and you have to WAIT for the anesthesiologist to come? Ya I am there.  The anesthesiologist gets there probably about 3:20 or so and I get my epidural.  After he leaves they check me, I am 7-8cms.  No wonder I was in so much pain! It is now about 3:40.  Just after 4pm my Dr comes by.  She is now out of BOTH surgeries and I am officially in the clear to deliver LOL.  She checks me and says, I think we can start getting ready to push! Holy cow! I can't believe it is time.  The nurses start getting everything ready, and before you know it, it is time to push.  If you've given birth before you know that they have you push with each contraction, counting to 10, taking a breath and then pushing again.  Basically that means you push for 10 seconds, take a breath, push for another 10 seconds, etc.  After just 3 pushes (aka 30 seconds) Reed Michael was born.

I hear the Dr and nurses say, he is a big baby! I remember looking at him and thinking (out loud), well how big is he? I hear a nurse say 10.9.  I don't think I can believe my ears.  I say, did she just say 10.9?  Holy cow!  Just two weeks prior the Dr told me she didn't think he would be more than 8 1/2lbs.. I was thinking more like 9 1/2lbs, but 10.9!? Looking at him I couldn't believe that I had been carrying something that big in my stomach!  He was perfect of course.  Dark hair and eyes, ten fingers, and ten toes.  It wasn't until we got moved to our room that they got a chance to measure him.  He was 22 1/2 inches long!

 Now THAT is a big baby! I honestly couldn't have asked for an easier labor, or a better Dr.  The recovery after giving birth was MUCH easier than with Stella. My Dr came by to check on me the following morning and told me that since we were both doing so well, she would allow us to go home IF we wanted to.  UM YES PLEASE! LOL It is New Years Eve and I just want to be home with my babies.  I missed Stella so much being in the hospital just a day.  Later that afternoon my mom brought Stella by to meet her baby brother.  I think she cared more about investigating the room, but my heart overflowed with love holding these two in my arms.  

Just a few hours later we were able to pack up and go home.  My little bear in his going home outfit. 

A YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knucklebutt, a year ago today you came into our lives and made them better.  It sounds so cliché to say that, but it is so true.  The moment I met you my heart expanded in ways I didn't even know were possible, and not just in love for you, but in love for your father.  There is something about creating a life together from the love you have for each other and seeing that love look back into your eyes that cannot be explained in words.  In this year, things have changed so much, yet I honestly could not imagine going back to a life without you.  Every day I see you become smarter and stronger.  You are independent, like me, and you have a good sense of humor like your daddy.  You are beautiful from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and everywhere in between.  I hope you never doubt the love we have for you and I hope you will be proud to call us your parents, like we are proud to call you our daughter.  The words from My Wish by Rascal Flats sum it up in a nutshell:

 " My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too"

I know there will be times that my patience is tested, and I know there will be times that will be tough, but I hope you will always know that no matter what, you are loved to the ends of the Earth and beyond.  We will always be here for you, supporting you and loving you.  We are, and will always be, your biggest fans.  Sometimes I wonder if there will ever come a time in my life that I have forgotten what you were like as a baby, and then I remind myself, that it will always seem like I just brought you home yesterday.   As I write this, I cannot help but feel a little sad.  This year has whizzed by quicker than I wanted it to, and even though it has been amazing to watch you grow and learn new things, I want to keep you this small forever.  I know there will come a time when you won't want to hang out with us, or cuddle with us, that you might even be embarrassed by us, so I know that I have to savor all of these little moments now.  I am excited to see you grow into a young woman, to see you realize all your dreams, and to eventually start your own family.  Your daddy and I love you to pieces little girl.  You are my dream come true, and if I never accomplish anything else in my life other than giving birth to such a beautiful and amazing life, my life would still be complete.  

With all our love, 

Mommy and Daddy

  

Baby # 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is April 29th, my little knucklebutt turned 10 months old today and yesterday we found out she was going to be a big sister.  I don't plan on posting this till after her bday, but I wanted to write down all the things going through my heart and my mind right now.  First of all let me precede this with saying that I know that babies are blessings, I just wasn't expecting to be blessed so soon! I love my knucklebutt SOOOOOO much!!!! She truly lights up my day and makes going home that much sweeter!!!! If any of you TRULY know me, then you will know I am a planner.  Dalton had wanted to get pregnant right away, while I had wanted to wait till she was at least a year and a half old, which would put us "trying" in January.  Now, we will be having a baby in January! I won't get into all the details of how and why we weren't expecting this to happen.
My handy dandy period tracker told me I was supposed to start on Wednesday, a couple days later nothing!  Before having Stella my cycles ran like clockwork, but since having her they have been all out of whack, which I read can happen with the constant fluctuations of hormones.  By Sunday, I just knew I needed to take a test if I was going to ease my mind at all.  I had Dalton go get me a HPT, told him a two pack would be good and it didn't have to be anything expensive. When I found out I was pregnant with Stella I took a test while he was at league.... and it INSTANTLY read positive.  I am telling you, this Period Tracker is NO JOKE! I took the test, set it on the counter while Dalton was holding Stella and we both just sat there and watched, and right away I knew. Dalton of course was like are you sure?

So yes, I am pregnant again, and I have a 10 month old. I have officially joined "THAT" group.  LOL I am terrified, and I have been crying off and on all day.  I honestly wanted to have Stella all to myself, and for her to have me all to herself for a couple years.  I don't want her to ever feel that she never got enough attention or love from us.  I know that with time I will get more excited, and I know as they grow and always have each other to play with my heart will be filled with love. But, for now, I am terrified! I always tell my friends with two young kids, better you than me! Now I am that you! Dalton is very excited, and he is obviously pulling for a boy, ironically, another girl would suit me just fine.  But, as long as God makes it happy and healthy then I will be happy with whatever he chooses to give us.  I have even more of a reason to write in this blog more now! Holy cow... mother of two! 

Bluebonnets !!!!!!!

Anyone that lives in Texas knows that the true symbol of spring coming is wildflowers sprouting up along the interstate.  Last year, I wanted to take the dogs out and get a picture of them in the bluebonnets but we got so busy it never happened.  I should have really made a better effort to do it cause I think I could have gotten some super cute pregnancy pictures in them.   Oh well... maybe next time. :)  Anywho, with the state tournament coming up I knew we would be limited on time to take the pictures and now that we have Stella I definitely wanted to make the effort to go out.  Especially since they don't last all that long.  We got some definite wall hangers and I can't wait to go out again next year! Here are just a few.

9 months old

HOLY COW! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were bringing Stella home from the hospital.  I know I have been MIA and haven't been keeping up on my blog like I said I would, bad me! I had planned on writing an entry for Thanksgiving and our trip to Hot Springs and Illinois and still plan on it.  I have so many pictures and videos. I also have been working on a home movie using all of our pictures and videos..it has just taken time (that I don't have) and I haven't gotten around to posting anything about it.  We had a blast and it was much needed family time! Now, onto our knucklebutt.

Stella turned 9 months old March 29th.  It is hard to believe that in 3 short months it will already be a year since she was born.  It is such a bittersweet moment to know that she will never be this little again and we will never have these moments again.  I try so hard to remember all the little things she does on a daily basis because " I don't want to miss a thing" insert cheesy Aerosmith song here.  Stella started crawling the week after she turned 8 months old and she has been on the go ever since! She now pulls up on EVERYTHING! She thinks she can let go and stand by herself but she hasn't quite mastered that.  She stands whenever she gets the chance.  Even if she is playing with something on the ground she will stand, while still touching whatever it is.  Yes, picture this, hands on the ground, butt in the air.  It's so funny but she is building those little leg muscles.  You can tell when she has been standing a little too long cause her little legs start to quiver and finally give out.  She is now standing in her crib too.  She is so funny to watch on the monitor.  She sure is a restless sleeper.  I swear she covers every sq inch of that crib every night.  Other than that she smiles when she sees you, especially her daddy, laughs at the dogs, they must look really funny, and reaches for you when someone else is holding her.  That is probably the sweetest thing ever.  Just the other day Dalton was holding her and she reached her arms out for me.  It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.  We still have NO teeth! Not that I am complaining and I want her to be cranky, but if she had some teeth we could open up our food options a little bit. We had our 9 month check up this past Thursday and she is growing just fine.  Dr said she is perfectly proportioned.  She is almost 20lbs and 28inches tall.  I love this little girl to pieces!

Baptism

We finally baptized Stella on March 09th!  I say finally because it was a long drawn out ordeal, but I won't go into any of those details on here because they just aren't necessary.  My brother was the godfather, or nono, like we say in Greek.  It was a very small affair, just immediate family.  My parents, Dalton and I, my Aunt Phyllis, cousin Tori, baby #2 in her belly, and her little girl Gabby, Dalton's dad, my brother, my niece Jaeden, and my brothers girlfriend Carrie. Things all really came together when I found out that Father Stelios, who we have known for a very long time, was the new priest at the Greek church in Galveston.  He had actually baptized my niece years ago and we had driven all the way to Corpus Christi to have him do it. As much as I had wanted to do it in the church where we were married, things just weren't working out that way, and I wanted to have her baptized before our Lent started because otherwise we would have to wait till after our Easter on May 5th to get it done.  The older the child, the more difficult imo. 

I won't bore you with the details, but a Greek baptism is steeped in traditions, and it isn't as easy as just picking someone to be your child's Godparent.  There are a lot of responsibilities a Godparent has to tend to both before, during and after a baptism.  I am very thankful that my brother was able to do it otherwise this post might not have been happening right now.  I am also very thankful that I found out that Father Stelios had moved closer to us.  I really wish they would move him back to Houston.  One of the most important things in a priest in my opinion is being down to Earth.  If people don't feel like they can talk to you, they will shy away from the Church and its teachings.  The whole point is not to feel like you are being judged, but accepted and that the Church is your home.  After all, aren't we taught that only one person can truly judge you?  Rant over.  Anyways, the service was very nice, intimate, and afterwards we went over to my cousin Nicky's restaurant The Original Mexican Cafe. I am so grateful to everyone that was able to join us in witnessing such a wonderful thing.  Photo dump below.  :) 

I was honestly surprised she cried.. she really loves her baths.  

First communion.

Yes the picture is blurry, and so is our photographers eye sight. 

the girls

The grandpa's 

Classic Redumis family Shenanigans. 

Jaeden and Stella

Thanksgiving Road Trip!!!!!

Dalton and I are going to visit his family this year in Illinois for Thanksgiving.  While it is not our first trip up there, it is our first one with Stella.  From here to Springfield its about a 15 hour drive.  That's more than half a day and that is not taking into account the many stops I am sure we will have to make along the way.  I am super excited though! We found a really nice B&B in Hot Springs to stop as our halfway point going there and we are going to spend a couple days (well really just a day and a half) exploring the town and nearby state park.  Then we will drive on to Illinois to spend a couple days with his family, and then make the drive back the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe some where in there we can sneak in a visit to some a cave or two. We are going to stop right outside of Little Rock on the way back.  Hopefully this will be as great of a trip as we think it's going to be.  Praying for great weather and safe travels!

Travelling with a baby

  Travelling with a baby doesn't have to be hard.  Dalton and I are pretty determined to take Stella places with  us and to let her experience tons of stuff. What you don't realize is all the stuff you have to pack with you to make a trip successful.  You have to pack all the regular diaper bag stuff, diapers, wipes, and Desitin.  You have to pack changes of clothes, bibs, blankets, a carrier or a stroller.  You have to pack, milk/formula, you have to pack your pump if you are a pumping momma like me and of course lets not forget the baby.  So far we have been pretty successful taking Stella out and about.  When she was a month old, Dalton's mom came to visit and we went to Galveston for the day.

Wrapping up for Bishops Palace

Enjoying the aquarium with Grandma Cheryl

OOOO look at all the fishies

Then about a month later we went to Austin with my family who was visiting from Greece.

Wrapped up headed to the Salt Lick 

Snoozing at the Salt Lick with Papou

Even great BBQ can't wake me up

A couple weekends ago we went on another trip to Austin actually Georgetown to Inner Space Caverns.  She pretty much slept the whole time we were in the caverns.  As a matter of fact, the people on the tour with us said they didn't realize I even had a baby with us.  We got a chance to get some cute family pics too.

Just hanging out in my Ergo. 

What are you looking at??? 

All in all she is proving to be pretty adaptable which will prove great for this Thanksgiving when we make our way to Illinois.

Stella's birth story

I have been thinking about how I would like to start regularly keeping a blog.  Not for myself, but for Stella.   To remember the funny and maybe not so funny things she does or will do.  To remember every precious smile, giggle, cry, every mommy or daddy she will ever say, to remember basically every little thing I am so scared I will eventually forget.  What better place to start than the beginning of her life? So, here we are.

I think I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, that is up until the very end.  The doctors were pretty sure Stella would be a big baby like Dalton so we did lots of growth scans to check on her size.  At one of my last appointments they were concerned that my fluid levels were low, but not low enough to deliver.  That Sunday I thought my water had broken and went to the hospital.  They ran some tests and determined that it wasn't my water at all, or so they said.  The following week I continued "leaking" up until my last Dr's appointment on Friday June 29th.  I went to the hospital for my ultrasound and went to the Dr's office but my Dr wasn't in.  I told the nurse practitioner I wanted to wait till she got in.  I was pretty sure they were wrong about my water.  Dr. Samuel's came in and said we would induce on Monday unless of course I started leaking between then, or I went into labor, or started bleeding.  I told her all about the "false alarm" and the continuous leaking and she looked concerned.  Without even skipping a beat she said,  " Change of plans, we're having a baby today." I was so excited that I would finally get to meet the sweet baby who had been growing inside of me for the last nine months.  They immediately sent Dalton and I over to the hospital, luckily we had brought the hospital bags with us.  My Dr said, "We are just going to tell them your water broke."  

They hooked me up to all the monitors and started the pitocin by about 10:30.  We had been up since about 5am since our ultrasound appt was at 6am and I hadn't eaten so I was pretty hungry. The on call Dr came and checked for my water bag to break it in case it hadn't ruptured completely, remember they told me earlier in the week that it wasn't my water that had broken.  Well, lo and behold, she wasn't able to find a bag period, and when she poked me with the little dilly bobber that breaks your water nothing came out!   This leads me to believe that my water had indeed broken and they made a mistake.  Scary when you think about it because going more than 24 hours with your bag ruptured can lead to infection.  Thank the Lord that nothing like that happened. . I was determined to have her naturally, but unfortunately the pitocin made that impossible.  By that afternoon I was in so much pain I ended up getting the epidural.  I knew that having her naturally while being induced would be tough.. but I didn't realize that I was tensing up so badly I wasn't allowing my body to progress.  They called the anesthesiologist to come give me the epidural.  That was the longest wait of my life.  Dalton had to leave the room while they did it and we were both in tears when he left.  I was so worried I would disappoint him if I didn't have her naturally.  He told me later he wishes we would have discussed it because he didn't want me to be in pain, he had no idea I was holding out because of him.  So, I get the epidural and Dalton heads out to get something to eat.  My nurse was the sweetest thing.  I can't remember her name now, and she was already off by the time Stella was born, but she truly made the experience pleasant.  I asked her when they were going to check me again and she said in about an hour to an hour and a half.  She told me, when we check you, you are going to be at an 8-9, we are putting it out there so that's what it will be.  At close to 8 she checked me and she started smiling, "Guess what?"  I couldn't believe it.  I was 8-9cm's.  Time to get ready to push! We called Dalton and told him to start heading back.  

 The one thing people don't tell you about when you are pushing is how dizzy you get.  You have to take a deep breath in before you start pushing, and when your contractions are coming so close together you don't really have time to take another one before its time to push again.  I had to stop a few times because I was lightheaded.  I then realized the quicker I got through this the sooner it would be over with, and the sooner Stella would be in my arms.  From then on, every time my nurse asked if I needed to take a breather I said no.  She kept telling me how great I was doing, and I asked her if I really was because I obviously couldn't feel anything.  Within an hour they called the Dr in, and a whole slew of people came in the room.  Since I was donating the cord blood someone came in for that.  I had my nurse, plus about 4-5 other nurses that came in to take care of Stella when she was born, plus the Dr, and the anesthesiologist came in too. Everything from there on was a blur.  According to Dalton I pushed 4 times and out she came.  I remember them telling me to look down, and I remember debating with myself whether I wanted to see.  I remember saying to myself, look down! LOL   Out she came, this beautiful baby, that they put on my tummy for just a brief moment before they took her to clean her up and swaddle her.  I remember that I thought how come I didn't cry? Honestly I think it was all such a blur that I didn't have time to.  She cried just a brief cry and instantly started looking around to see what all the excitement was.  Stella Zoe Riley, born 6/29, 8lbs, 20 1/4 inches long. 

 I only got to spend an hour with her before they took her to the nursery to bathe her and check her all out.  That was the fastest hour of my life! 

 They got me all ready and prepped to wheel me up to my permanent room. 

We even snuck in a quick picture before we left the room.  This is our first picture as parents. 

I cannot express enough what giving birth to your first child feels like.  Aside from all the pain, it is understandably the most exhilarating moment in your life. Add to that, sharing that moment with your best friend.  Shortly after I had Stella I posted this status on my FB. "Nothing like giving birth to a child to reaffirm your love for someone....love you Dalton! Stella and I are the luckiest girls in the world!" In those first days, and weeks after giving birth I truly fell in love all over again.  In love with my daughter, but also in love with my husband.  He saw me at my weakest most vulnerable moments, and with every ounce of love in him, supported me and showed me what the true meaning of love is.  I wouldn't change anything in the world because, in the end, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, that was both made in love, and brought into this world enveloped in the most pure love imaginable.  All my fears of being a parent were totally washed away when I saw my husband hold his daughter.

                                                           

First car ride home

Everyone tells you how your life is going to change after you have a child.  Honestly, I don't feel like a different person.  I still feel like me, maybe it hasn't sunk in yet.  What I do feel though, is the most joyous feeling when I see that little face of hers.  When I see her growing and changing every day it reminds me that every day is a gift from God,  and that the love of a mother for her child is truly the greatest gift of all.

Fast Eddies Houston

So I decided to play in the Fast Eddies stop this weekend held at the Fast Eddies off of 1960. I haven't been playing in many tournaments, and since Dalton was going to be back on Sunday anyways, still in the winners I decided I would go as well. I didn't do that great. I was on and off. Ended up getting 7th-8th. Dalton got 5th-6th. I was happy with one win in particular though. I'm not even going to bother mentioning this persons name, but we all know her, and most have had problems with her before. I tend to have a difficult time playing her. She free strokes A LOT and doesn't really play shape... it's a little annoying to watch and she just rubs me the wrong way. So, our match is announced... I go to the table, we flip the coin and I get the break. I tell her I am going to run to the bathroom, the whole time her attitude stinks. I win the first game. I get up to rack and as I walk away from the table back to my seat I realize she is re-racking my rack. Ok whatever. She looks up and says " The one ball rolled off. " I say ok.. and she asks me if I want to check it, I say no. I think she wins that one. Next time it is my turn to rack I rack, taking a lot of time, because the tables weren't racking that great. I get the balls frozen and walk away. As I walk past her she says " You can't see that the fucking one ball isn't touching anything? " OK, at this point I am annoyed. I respond with " If the one ball rolled off after I walked off that's not my fault." She says " It didn't roll off you didn't rack them right from the get go." Meanwhile I am trying to rack and she says "I gave you the chance to come look at it." She then says " You got a fucking attitude." I warn her not to cuss at me and she replies " I'll say whatever the fuck I want." So I say " and you can rack your own racks too." I go sit down knowing full well she is trying to get under my skin because she isn't playing well. This is just the type of player she is. After she racks she looks up at me with this stupid hand gesture like " see? " So I say " What do you want me to tell you... you rack better than I do.. congratulations." I am so annoyed at this point my heart is pounding my temperature is rising and I am trying to really not go off on her. As she walks past me she says " You really are a bitch aren't you." Now normally if I was in a bar, this might have escalated a lot more. I say " If you think I am a bitch now... I am about to show you what a bitch looks like." I know.. I probably shouldn't have even responded but I couldn't help myself. She asks me what I am going to do... the whole time I am thinking in my head... I AM GOING TO POUND YOU!!!!!
The rest of the match was a blur... I end up beating her and when I run out the last rack she makes a disgusted noise and starts packing up her sticks. I say good game and walk off. WHAT A BITCH!!!!! She didn't even have the common courtesy to shake my hand. Go figure. It was pure pleasure to put her out of the tournament... and nothing else that day even mattered. LOL Sad but true...
I am working really hard at not letting my emotions get to me during a match, and all in all I feel I am doing pretty good. If you would have seen my second match in Vegas that would have been proof enough. I know that most women feel like they have something extra to prove since most people think this is a man's sport... but seriously.. do you have to be so ugly to the other women you play too??????

Fasting and Easter Traditions

OK.. so this past week, starting on Sunday I have been fasting for our Holy Week. Some of you might wonder what Holy Week I am talking about. Well this Sunday just so happens to be our Easter.. and by "our" I mean Greek Orthodox. I know most Eastern Europeans also celebrate Easter this weekend. It has been a LONG time since I have fasted for Easter. Those who are very dedicated fast throughout the year, including twice a week, AND the 40 days before Easter which some of you might call Lent. The main difference between say Catholics fasting and me fasting is that Catholics usually give up one thing. I cannot eat any of the following, meat, fish, any dairy, eggs, pretty much anything that comes from an animal. The very strict also don't include oil or wine in their diet. So skipping out on meat is not too terribly hard.. it's the dairy that kills me! No cheese, no butter, no milk..... Want a salad for lunch... no dairy based dressings... I bought some snack mix and crackers yesterday to snack on at my desk and when I read the ingredients I realized the crackers had butter in them! DUH! I also have been CRAVING chocolate... but probably only because I can't have it.. what's the first word in milk chocolate? Breakfast is probably the hardest... no cereal, no eggs, no bacon.. I have resorted to toast with peanut butter. Last night I had a pretty yummy dinner... I made a Greek style potato salad which consists of boiled potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper. I threw in some marinated mushrooms and had some dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) on the side. I also went to the gym yesterday for the first time in a couple weeks I would say... We have gone running at the park several times but I haven't been to the gym... it felt really good to get in there and get a good sweat going. Today out of curiosity I weighed myself. I weighed 9lbs less than last week!!! How is that possible?!? I guess all that dairy, and meat really makes a difference. Note to self.. maybe I should take up fasting twice a week. :)
Today I went to my mom's house for lunch... since she is fasting too it's pretty easy for me to get a fast friendly meal there.. hehe When I walked in it smelled like church... she had the incense burning and the liturgy streaming live from Greece on her computer... we started talking about traditions of Easter and I thought I might mention two very important traditions the red Easter eggs and the Holy Fire.
Saturday we will attend the late night liturgy at church.. it starts at 11pm and goes till about 1-2am. It's a long service.. but I remember going as a child and just loving the way it sounded when you could hear everyone singing "Christos Anesti" (Christ is Risen) in Greek. Halfway through the service the church goes completely dark and one by one.. we receive the Holy Fire from the priest... It really is a beautiful site to see the church lighting up slowly. The tradition of the Holy Fire comes from the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.

My mom has told me that the Archbishop of Greece actually makes the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and brings the fire back with him, as do all the other Patriarch's from other countries. The Miracle of Easter starts here at this church. A Patriarch enters the church with what I have been told is a bundle of candles, but some say it's only two.. after saying a prayer the light rises from the stone where Jesus' body was laid, from there the candles are lit and the Holy Fire is given to others. I read once that we tried to get together with other religions to celebrate our Easter on the same day as everyone else.. but when they entered the tomb the candles would not light.. the following week when they entered they lit.. so our Easter remains as it is. There are some pretty amazing videos on this site... http://www.holyfire.org/eng/index2.htm and on YouTube of course... Not only do the candles miraculously light, the other fixtures in the church light themselves, and people "wash" themselves with the fire that doesn't burn. You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

I know there are going to be plenty of non believers that say it's impossible.. and that's fine.. but maybe someone out there will be touched by this miracle. After all, wasn't it a miracle in itself that Christ rose?

At the end of the liturgy for those of us who have followed the fast we take our communion and we receive our red Easter egg. Greeks traditionally dye their eggs red. This itself comes from a miracle. The story goes that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus with a basket of eggs for the women mourning his Crucifixion. When she arrived at his tomb and saw it was empty and the stone had been moved she asked for a sign that He had risen.... upon which her eggs turned bright red.. some say it is to represent the blood of Christ.

So we drive home in our cars with our candles lit and our red easter eggs in tow. At home we feast on all the things we couldn't eat while fasting and "tsougrisoume" eggs. That pretty much means we clink our eggs together. You take your egg with another person point to point, first they hit your egg and say "Christos Anesti" (Christ is Risen) and you reply with "Alithos o Kurios" (truly He is risen). I have never been a very religious person.. but I have always believed... and Christmas and Easter services have always held a special place in my mind. This one will be extra special.. it will be Dalton's first Easter at church. I hope one day he has fond memories of these celebrations as well.