I'VE MOVED!! NEW BLOG!!!

Hey guys! Please head over to my new blog if you had previously followed along with this one! I have giveaways and ramblings galore! www.whopood.com See you there!

SKIP*HOP Versa Giveaway!!!

I was thinking the other day about how blessed I am. About how much God has given me and how truly grateful I am. I have this company that enables me to stay at home with my beautiful children! Do you have any idea how impossible the idea of staying at home with my kids was 2 years ago?? Still, I had faith and look at what happened!!
What's more, I've gained these amazing friends! People who follow my company on Facebook and/or order from my company for their children's diapers and accessories. Many have been faithful customers since I began my company 2 years ago and many are new customers who are just discovering LPD. I love them all equally! Without you, my miracle would not be. You are my blessings! You are my miracle! I value you to the greatest extent! 
So, how the heck do I manage to get you to understand how much you mean? Gifts!! YAY!! I host special, 1 day deals exclusively on my Facebook page for freebies so that you can satisfy that fluffy urge without pissing off your significant others too badly. "But we save so much money! It's a serious bargain hunny!"
Aaand, I give chances to win prizes like a brand spankin' new SKIP*HOP Versa Diaper Bag worth $70!!!!!

This is the diaper bag that I personally use and fell in love with! It's my purse/ diaper bag for 2 in cloth! Plenty of space for all of our needs on the go! Love, love, love this bag! 
Want one??? You know you do!! Just enter using the Rafflecopter below! It will run for 2 weeks! Good luck and THANK YOU!!! Seriously guys...thank you!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ermahgerd!!

I just love "ermahgerd's" so I had to contribute! Lol!

Same Diapers, Different Label?

There has recently been a lot of talk within the cloth diaper community about the "cloth diaper clones" or "China diapers". I have even had some people inquire about the diapers I sell privately and respectfully as well as publicly and disrespectfully. I would very much like to address the topics placed before me and clear up any misconceptions.
First, a little background. After all, wouldn't you want all of the information prior to screaming out a guilty or not guilty verdict?
I had my first child in November of 2010. The moment I laid eyes on her, I was a goner! In the first 2 weeks of my maternity leave I began to panic at the thought of returning to my 45+ hour a week job as a manager in the financial industry. I searched desperately for a way to earn money while still being with her. Many of you know this feeling. I am a very strong believer in God. I believe in praying for miracles. So, I began to pray for mine. After researching HARD to find affordable cloth diapers I came across a bunch of manufacturers in China. I tried as many as I could and finally found a manufacturer that I fell in love with. I ordered my personal stash from them and used them daily. I remember telling my husband that I wished more people could have affordable diapers without having to do all the leg work and research. I considered doing something about this but prayed first. I asked God to either open every door or slam one in my face so I know whether or not I should proceed. Well guess what? Yup, every door opened. I was very cautious, but they just kept opening. So I walked through each one and every step I took I had total faith in God that He was leading me in the right direction. I quit my job about 1 year after I started my company because the hubby and I just happened to pay one of our big loans off so my income was no longer needed to support our meager lifestyle. I could quit and we'd still break even! All I've ever prayed for is just enough. That's what we have and I am SO grateful!
So, on to the issue at hand. I have mentioned many times in various places that I personally found and tested a TON of cloth diaper manufacturers in China. Just about every single one of them used the same PUL patterns, but almost everyone of them had differences in their designs.( I SO wish I had not donated these diapers so that I could include photos to prove my point.) Two thirds of them were low quality and out of the ones I did like, only one had safety certifications and could prove a great work environment for their employees. I was sold! Do they have a standard pocket diaper that they manufacture with any companies label? Yes. Do they manufacture for other companies as well? Of course they do. Most, I believe, sell their diapers for significantly more than I do. (They also most likely pay themselves because of it.) Can you buy a diaper that is practically identical to my "Classic" style for $2 less? Yes, and it will take 4-6 weeks for you to receive it because it's coming directly from China...where it's made. Which is most likely why they can sell it for $2 less than I do. They aren't paying for shipping fees, customs fees, taxes and duties so they can charge a bit less. Do I make any money on my "Classic" diapers? Not hardly, but I will NEVER raise the price on them because I believe everyone should have access to affordable fluff. Since I'd like to stay in business and you can't operate a business without some form of profit, I designed the Rave, the LPD Cover and the soon to be released LPD Newborn diaper. These cost more to manufacture since they are not "clones" and therefor I have to charge more. However, they are still considerably less than others on the market with similar features. I also offer a bunch of accessories like prefolds which look shockingly similar to other prefolds on the market but nobody complains about those.
I'm not out to cheat people or lie. I've always been 100% honest with people. Yes, my diapers are all made in China. Yes, they have been tested for chemicals and lead and fully comply with all CPSIA regulations. Yes, I sell "clones", but I sell them for less than any other company that operates from the US and you'll get them within 5 days or less. I also sell other styles that are not clones, as well as a heap of accessories.
I understand that it can be frustrating to see the same diaper on different sites for $5, $7, $10, all the way up to $29! (That one made me laugh too!) I know it bugs that some say they designed the "clone" diaper. I agree with these points! I never claimed to design my "Classic" style. I have however sent in the specifications for the other styles I sell, as well as my soon to be released newborn design, and had them produced according to my requests.
I just needed to put this out there so that everyone would know that I'm not trying to hide anything or pull the wool over your eyes. I've always answered the questions that have been asked honestly and will continue to do so. I have had so many people show such gratitude for what I provide and it makes it an absolute joy to do what I do! I can't tell you what my customers mean to me! There just aren't words to express how very much every single one of them mean to me. Seriously!!
I am just a mom who has had her prayers answered. I do my very best to provide quality diapers at rock bottom prices with fast shipping times and exceptional customer service. If you don't like my company or products, don't support or buy. It's that simple. There are enough people out there that do, and "enough" is all I prayed for.
(I hope I haven't offended anyone. It's a touchy subject for many.)

Two Deliveries and My Bell's Palsy Experience

 I recently had my second child on May 14th, 2012! An adorable little boy that I affectionately refer to as "Peanut". Although I adore everything about this little man, I very much do not adore how he arrived to this world. It was nothing like I had hoped and very different from my first L&D. Here are my stories...
 Our first child, a girl, was born Thanksgiving day 2010. My little butterball! We had taken all of the classes, read all the books and learned all we could about what to expect so I was pretty confident when I had my first contraction at 11am on 11/24/2010. They repeated themselves about every half hour. I just happened to have an appointment that day and when I arrived, my doc assured me it would be in the next 2 days as I was already in labor. The excitement was tremendous! As the evening progressed, so did the contractions. With our bags packed and things ready to go we settled into bed around 9pm to get as much rest as we could before the big event. At 10:15pm I was awakened by a much more intense pain. I laid there for about a half an hour, but they were hitting every 10 minutes and it was very uncomfortable to lay down. I went into the living room and snuggled up with a warm blanket in front of the TV. Lovely fresh snow was beginning to fall outside so I opened the blinds and relaxed. I wrote the times of every contraction down on a small notepad in order to monitor how they progressed. (I still have the paper in her baby book). Around 5am and at 5 minutes apart, I decided to have our cousin/roommate wake the hubs who jokingly came running out towards the front door with one leg in his pants, sleepily shouting, "Alright! Let's go! I'm ready!" All the while trying to hop into his pants. He is always good for a laugh!
We began getting things set to head out. I was bent over breathing slowly every 3 minutes now. They were noticeably stronger and I was most comfortable bent over when they hit. With the car packed, we set out. A few stops at the gas station and McDonald's so hubs could get some food and we were in route to the hospital. Things were comfortable. There wasn't any real panic. We were excited, but calm knowing what we were going into. There was a nice bit of snow and ice from the night before and it was very cold. I love those snowy mornings with no cars on the road. It was perfect.
The hospital was the norm. Triage, some walking, then finally by about 10am a room. I was still at about 2-3 minutes apart and about 5 cm. Lots of walking and talking through the halls with the hubs. Around 12:30pm we returned to the room where I was encouraged to get in the tub. I could labor there, but not give birth. The nurse checked my cervix and said I was at a 6. After 24 hours I was only at a 6! I asked how much longer she thought I had. She believed 4-6 hours.
 The water was wonderfully warm and I relaxed immediately. So did my previously painful contractions! I felt awesome! Until the nurse asked if I could get out and be checked. The first contraction out of the tub was 100 times more painful then just 30 minutes earlier! They were hitting back to back and as I laid in the bed unable to speak, I began to cry. I asked for an epidural feeling totally weak and defeated. I really hadn't wanted to get one, but I knew I could not endure 6 more hours of that insane pain. I was disappointed in myself. The hubs reassured me that I had nothing to be sad about. I had done great for over 24 hours.
The anesthesiologist was there right away with it. It went in smoothly and within seconds I felt a TON better.

I still felt my contractions, but the intensity was reduced dramatically! The nurse had neglected to check me after I got out of the tub. She decided to check my cervix about 5 minutes after the epi. Remember, I was about 6cm before the tub. She looked at me and said I was ready to go!! I could tell she was shocked. When I went in the tub she had guessed I had another 4-6 hours which was why I decided to get the epi in the first place. If only I had known the reason it hurt so bad after the tub was because I had relaxed my way to a 10. UGH! I could've done it. That was the peak! If only... eh well. Too late. The delivery was amazing! I felt everything! It was just slightly dulled. At least I had that. My beautiful girl had arrived! We got an hour of skin to skin before they took her to be weighed and measured ect.It was undoubtedly the best day of our lives!

                     Mama and baby girl! 7 days postpartum.

Alright, so fast forward a year and a half. Baby #2 is expected any day. I'm 39 weeks and determined to have the birth I want. Non medicated, natural water birth at the new birthing center, delayed cord clamping and retaining my placenta for encapsulation! I'm stoked!
May 12. I had a strange tingling in the left side of my face. I assumed it was associated with the earache I'd been having the past few days. Tylenol was my good buddy those past days since nothing seemed to help my ear. The tingling though, that was new. It was like half my face was going kind of numb. Weird. I called the midwife and was asked to come in just in case. I was assured I'd be in and out. After 8 hours, an MRI, ultrasound of my carotid arteries and a few other tests, I was told I was fine and I could leave. Gee...thanks. The next day was Mother's day and I had a wonderful time with my family. Around 6pm at dinner the face thing happened again, but worse. The hubs could tell that something was wrong as the left side of my face was shutting down. Back to the doc we go, bag in tow just in case it's bad news. I was told I have Bell's Palsy and they wanted to induce in order to start a steroid treatment. Bell's whaty? It was something I had come across the day before when researching my symptoms online. It's one of those, "we don't know why it's happening or what it is so we'll call it this and guess how to treat you" illnesses. Awesome right? My hopes of a natural water birth were dashed. I was looking at pitocine. The dreaded drug I never EVER wanted to have pulsing through my veins. I cried a lot. Everything I had been planning on, all the research I had done, gone. I did want to start treatment though. The sooner the steroids started, the higher the chance of recovery. So we were taken to a room and I was hooked up. The nurse was a bit impatient I guess and kept coming in and doubling the dosage as it wasn't progressing to her satisfaction. I was hit with massive contractions!! They were so painful!  There was no build up as with my first pregnancy. No time for my body to build up strength and adjust. It was just BOOM, pain!

 During a big contraction. Thanks hunny for documenting my pain! :)

 I asked for an epi, feeling defeated again. It was painful this time as the anesthesiologist didn't use enough numbing medicine. (I'm still sore in that spot 5 weeks later). Eventually it set in. This time I had started coughing and itching. The coughing stopped after about 5 minutes, but the itching lasted about an hour. This is why I hate these drugs.

Around 5am on the 14th the hubs decided to walk across the street to the gas station for some energy drinks. A few minutes after he left I felt a gush below and knew my bag had ruptured. I called him and he ran back. When the nurse came to check, I explained my water broke. She glanced under my sheet,"no it didn't". "Uh, ya it did" I replied. She looked again and said,'oh, I guess it did. Yay." I wasn't a fan of her. Everything I said she contradicted. She left after a quick clean up and I continued to labor. I began feeling serious pressure right away after the water broke. An hour later the nurse returned. I told her about the pressure and she said that was good, but she'd wait to check me as the risk of infection was higher now that my water had broke. An hour after that my midwife came in. I asked to be checked since the pressure had been going strong for 2 hours now. She was surprised to feel zero cervix and my son's head ready to come out. Dumb nurse!! So in came the team and I started to push. Three pushes later, there he was!

 (Notice I'm strategically shielding the left side of my face as it was totally paralyzed at that point.)


 I was able to have the delayed cord cutting and the placenta, but those were the only things that went as I had hoped. At that point however, I didn't really care.  I had a beautiful little boy!
So there are my L&D experiences. Now onto the Bell's Palsy. What a trip this virus is! It really plays with your emotions! I wasn't sure if there was any postpartum depression or just depression about my face, but I was feeling pretty low most days for that first week. It's crazy how it effects so much. You wouldn't think having one side of your face paralyzed would be all that bad, but let me tell you!
Eating and drinking? Forget it! With half a mouth you can't bite into a sandwich or burger without biting your lips. You can't chew properly since your tongue is only half working so you can't move food around your mouth from side to side. I used a TON of napkins trying to learn to eat. It was impossible to drink without a straw as it all dribbled out the left side. I used a straw in the far right side of my mouth and tilted my head to swallow. I would forget the straw almost every morning when I sat down to my morning coffee.
Eyes? With only one blinking things can get blurry. My left eye had to be blinked manually using my fingers. I had to use drops, and tape to hold it closed at night while I slept.
Speech? I repeated things a LOT. S, F and B words gave me the most trouble. I sounded like that Droopy dog cartoon character. I also drooled occasionally when speaking.
Sound? The BP caused my left ear to be incredibly sensitive to sound. Dishes clanging, children screaming or the like caused me intense pain. I couldn't speak to my sister on the phone for weeks since she has 3 loud kiddos that turn up the volume every time she's on the phone. It was super frustrating. Especially since I had a loud 18 month old at home already.
The hardest part was not knowing how long it would last. For some, it's weeks, others never recover. After about a week I decided to get over it! I hadn't left the house for anything other than my son's checkups and people would stare like crazy. I am a very animated person and in those first couple weeks I tried very hard to avoid smiling and other expressions as they made it much more noticeable. I didn't feel like myself and I decided that just wasn't a way to live. It was very possible that I would have half a face for quite some time and I wasn't going to behave like a recluse. I did a lot of praying and realized how much I was blessed. I had two gorgeous, healthy kids, an amazing husband and wonderful family. What did I have to be sad about? So I went on with things like normal. Very slowly I began to see slight changes in my face. A tiny flare of my left nostril. A little movement in my left eyebrow. Within a months time I was about 70% recovered. It was as if accepting it had started the healing process. As I write this now, I am about 90-95% recovered. My eye still gives me trouble, but my smile is almost back entirely!
I can honestly say I am so very grateful to God for the experience! I am a very image conscious person. One who doesn't take compliments well because I never believe them. However, after realizing how blessed I was to have a fully functional, healthy body, I changed my perspective. I am almost 100% and even if I hadn't recovered at all, I would still be happy because this body is just a shell. It's my mind, heart and soul that people love and appreciate.
Normally I would be super embarrassed to show pictures of myself, but like I said, I just don't care anymore.  Also, I think it helps others with BP to see what someone else has experienced. So here they are!

    May 13th. Right after dinner, before heading to the hospital. By 11pm I had lost 100% of movement in the left side.

       May 21. Total dead face. Still couldn't move any part of the left side.

   June 7. I have seen some improvement! There are more teeth showing in my smile!

                          June 19. Almost fully recovered!!


 I love my life, family and God and am very, very happy!  :)

Christmas Giveaway Day 7 - CJ's Prize Pack!!

Day 7's CJ's prize pack had 108 comments! And the winner is...

Comment #108!!!! Wow! I've never seen that!

"boyzrule said...

fb share https://www.facebook.com/demimo/posts/248445298556417 dmoretti1967 at yahoo dot com

December 22, 2011 8:11 PM "

 

Congrats to boyzrule!!!  

Christmas Giveaway Day 6 - Fluffy Accessories Pack!!

Day 6 brought our fluffy accessories pack full of much needed additions to anyone's fluff stash! We had 105 qualifying comments! And the winner is.....

Comment #92 Felicia R.!!!

"Felicia R said...

tweeted about the giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/Loves_Fluff/status/148580515262373889 fmgrice2(at)yahoo(dot)com

December 18, 2011 5:50 PM "

Congrats Felicia!!!