A Collection of Poems, Songs, Drawings, and Paintings for Art Therapy Sessions.

Charlotte arrived quite unexpectedly and very early on Friday morning!!! Here are her stats and a couple of pictures and I will post her birth story once I get settled in at home. The boys are in Gadsden and have not met her yet. I'm posting these pictures from my phone so I hope it works!

Charlotte Emma-Faith
7lbs 15 oz
20 1/4 inches
12:50 am
11/13/15

Here are a few pictures from Charlotte's first week. I'm planning to write up the story of her birth in the next few days so I will not forget anything.

Things to know before reading:

1. Charlotte was breech
2. I had a version preformed to flip her
3. She flipped back


When I last left off, I was waiting on our planned c-section. I had a list of things to do and by the Thursday before her Saturday arrival, nearly everything was finished. All of our school work for the semester was complete and all of the laundry in my house was washed, folded, and put away. The only major family thing I had left to do was packing. I never got around to packing.

Thursday afternoon I noticed I was having about 4 contractions an hour. I paid no attention to these because in my previous pregnancies, I had weeks and weeks of contractions prior to actual labor. This pregnancy, I had NO "practice" contractions. I just assumed it was because she was breech and so there was nothing to get ready for. My cervix was also closed at every appointment in the last weeks which is also not normal for me. I normally am between 3-4 cm before I go into labor. So back to the few contractions, I just assumed these where the ones I had been without for the last 6 weeks.

I started cooking dinner on Thursday night and got about halfway through cooking when I felt the first painful and long contraction. It was at 5:15. From that point on, they were coming every 2-3 mins without stopping and lasting over a minute. They went from 0-60 immediately. I couldn't finish making dinner so I really have no idea what the kids ate that night. Rick walked in the door at 6 and I asked him to take Kate to dance and take all of the other kids with him. He asked if it was "time" and I said, "No, I just need to try and make them stop." I had 2 times with Luke where I had similar contractions prior to labor that lasted 2 hours and then stopped. I was assuming that's what was going on here. So from 5:15-9:15, I walked around my house, laid down in my bed, took 2 baths, but nothing was stopping them. It was the same pattern, 2-3 mins apart and lasting from 1-2 mins. I wasn't getting any relief or downtime in between contractions. At some point during this 4 hour period, Rick picked Kate up from dance, printed and folded the bulletins for Sunday, and took them to the church.

I told myself if they were still going at 9:15 that I would call my doctor. My doctor told me to come on in and get checked out and that they would probably keep me overnight to monitor me and decide what to do early Friday morning. I still wasn't sure if I was in labor or not and really didn't want to go and then get sent home so I was relieved that they were going to keep me and that Charlotte would probably be born the next day when my doctor was on call. (He delivered all 7 of our other kids.)

I texted my sister to come stay with the kids and started packing my bags. I always wondered why people packed their hospital bags early. I thought you would have plenty of time in between contractions to get what you needed. Haha! I ended up at the hospital with 6 shirts and 1 pair of shorts. :) I guess I really was in pain.

The ride to the hospital was horrible. Every bump magnified the pain. The contractions didn't slow down and that was when I finally realized that I was actually in labor. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the hospital. I think we arrived around 11:00pm and I was taken to triage to get things checked out. I had never actually been to triage so that was something new. They monitored me for an hour and I had to lay on my back that entire time. That was horrible. I'm pretty sure you are not meant to lay on your back without pain relief during labor. :) They also did an ultrasound to check her position and she was in fact, still breech.

Around 12:20am, Friday morning,  the doctor on call came in said it was time for Charlotte to be born and that we couldn't wait any longer. My contractions were not stopping and my cervix was opening.  From that point on, everything moved quickly and slowly at the same time. The anesthesiologist came in and said I would be getting a spinal because they couldn't wait for an epidural to work. He told me all of the side effects but I'm not really sure what he said. I had to sign about 20 pages of release forms and they I was wheeled off to the operating room while Rick waited in triage to be called back.

I remember the operating room being very, very bright and there were a lot of people in there - I think 10. I'm used to the quiet dark delivery rooms with just one nurse and the doctor so this was a change. I moved from the triage bed to the operating table and was given my spinal. I do remember the anesthesiologist saying that if the spinal didn't take for some reason that they would immediately knock me out and that when I would wake up I'd have a baby. I was hoping that didn't happen. He poked my arm with some kind of sharp object and then would poke on my stomach to make sure I didn't feel anything. The first 2 times he did it I felt it but by the third time, I couldn't feel anything. At that point Rick was let in the room and they began. They had been prepping and draping me during this time as well. Charlotte was born at 12:50 am. She was born toward the beginning of the surgery and it seemed that the bulk of the time was spent getting stitched back together.

She was immediately shown to me over my drape and then taken to get cleaned up a bit. About 2 minutes later she was brought over to me and placed on my chest and I held her for about 5 mins. She was then taken away (in the same room again) to be weighed, etc and Rick went with her. She was then brought back to me all bundled me for a few kisses and then Rick was able to carry her to the recovery room to wait for me. I was in the recovery room for 2 hours and during that time my parents came up to see her. I was able to nurse her which was great. I was also given a pump for my pain medication. The nurse sacred me because she told me to push the button every 8 mins and to stay on top of the pain. She warned me not to fall asleep because if I did and then woke up an hour later, I would not be able to handle the amount of pain I would be in. It was 2:00 in the morning and I was drugged up on morphine and she was telling me not to fall asleep! I guess it worked because I didn't sleep until later that morning, after the pump was turned off. :)

I was in love with her from the moment I saw her. My main concern with having a c-section, prior to having it, was that I would somehow feel like I missed out on the birthing process. I never felt that way. I carried her for 9 months and she arrived in the safest way possible for both of us. It was perfect. The only thing I was sad about was that my doctor missed delivering her by 5 hours. However, that was the Lord's will too. He was on call all weekend so he checked on me everyday while I was in the hospital. C-section recovery is painful. That's all I want to say about that. I just want to remember the hours and minutes before, during, and after her birth. I am thankful for every moment of it.

Now for any fan of The Godfather this is a must. This stainless steel Datejust Rolex was gifted to Brando after he won the Academy Award for best actor in his portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in this iconic movie in 1973, is now up for auction. It’s engraved with ‘Vito’s’ MB’ and comes with a handwritten letter of provenance...

Can't settle on a security cam? Arlo's latest Essential camera does it all for under $100.

Yes it’s back. If you’ve been a regular reader, you might remember we had already published the final report of this particular Kushaq Monte Carlo. Thing is though, a lot of us really love this bright red SUV. So when we asked Skoda if we could keep it a bit longer, they very kindly obliged. These days it’s rare to find a mass-segment offering that’s high on driving pleasure. Most are set up to deliver a comfortable but anaesthetised drive. Not this one. And that’s why we all love driving it.

Shapur loves the 1.5-litre TSI engine that’s strong and makes the Kushaq quick off the line as well as in roll-ons. Hormazd took it to his favourite haunt – Mahabaleshwar – and came back proclaiming this to be the best mass segment DSG by a long shot. And I am really smitten with its ride and handling balance. These traits have really come in handy during the monsoons – overtaking black-and-yellow cabs, struggling through rain-ravaged streets with fogged up windscreens is a breeze. Flex your right foot and you get by in an instant, and if you need to, tug on the paddle and the gearbox is super quick to respond. The best part is it rarely second guesses you, so it does exactly what you want and that’s what Hormazd really liked. Coming down through the ghats, one to two successive paddle pulls, and gear changes are delivered quickly and without hesitation. A side note: in very-low-speed traffic, it does trip up, fumbling between first and second gears.

The monsoons have also put the suspension to the test. While I like the ride and handling overall, my preference leans towards handling, with a firmer setup. And although this means you don’t have a cushy ride over the rough stuff, it also means it does not bottom out on the many potholes and sharp edges that are literally everywhere.

The wet stuff has managed to trip up the rearview camera though. On two occasions – both during a heavy downpour – the feed began to stutter rapidly, making it impossible to see and judge your parking. It’s most likely moisture or water related and might disappear come drier days, but in any case, we will have the dealership inspect the connections as it’s not a screen issue.

That aside, the monsoons have been a breeze for the Kushaq. Even the AC, which used to struggle maintaining low temperatures in the summer heat, does just fine in weather like this. Fuel efficiency has not dropped too much, either. A slower pace overall has seen me get single-digit figures – around 7kpl – but in freer-moving traffic, it does rise to low two digits. That’s thanks to the cylinder-deactivation function, which, during steady low-load cruising, shuts down two cylinders for better efficiency. I’m definitely going to hang onto this one until the rains stop. I’ve got an out-of-town trip planned, and so far I’ve not had to contend with water-logged and flooded streets. But if I do, the Kushaq’s 155mm laden ground clearance will certainly come in handy.

Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo long term review, 12,200km report

Skoda Slavia, Kushaq prices down by about Rs 1 lakh

Fr. Stephen looks at the image of Christ with the unrighteous gathered around Him and recalls a famous passage in Dostoevsky.

What does the Orthodox Church have to say about Charlottesville? In the vocabulary of the day, nothing. In the language of the redemption of mankind: the Good News of Redemption found alone in Jesus Christ, and a life committed to imitation of his Royal way. The greatest mistake any human person can make, in this situation or any other, is to think that human means and ways will solve the tragedies and disasters of the fallen world. The solution must come from outside us, above us. Salvation is not found in killing our neighbor or our enemy. Salvation is found is seeing the Lord Jesus Christ in neighbor and in blessing our enemy, both. So if you wish to be saved, and if you want to make “a positive change in the world,” look neither to the Left, nor to the Right. Look up to Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the World.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Fr. David Mezynski, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, on the book titled Harlots of the Desert by Benedicta Ward.

1. Carlos Alcaraz - Andrey Rublev en direct: ATP Finals - Tennis  Eurosport FR
2. Carlos Alcaraz - Andrey Rublev, ATP Finals, Masters (Turin), Groupe John Newcombe, Mercredi 13 novembre 2024  L'Équipe
3. PRONOS PARIS RMC Le pari sûr d’Eric Salliot du 13 novembre – Tennis - Masters  RMC Sport
4. EN DIRECT - Alcaraz-Rublev : Alcaraz prend le premier set  Le Figaro
5. Pronostic Carlos Alcaraz - Andrey Rublev, ATP Finals  SportyTrader

We reconnect with Arlo Iron Cloud, our partner at KILI Radio, The Voice of the Lakota Nation, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He tells us how life has changed for him and his family over the past few years. We also check back in with Lei Ann Shiramizu in Seattle’s Chinatown International District to hear how she and her neighbors have coped with the pressures of the pandemic.

Charlotte Church is the latest artist to state her opposition to performing at US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. Writing to Trump’s account on ... Read more

The post Soprano Charlotte Church becomes latest to snub Trump inauguration appeared first on CMUSE.

From its humble beginnings in a Toyota Corolla, CPI Security — originally Crime Prevention Inc. — has operated with a singular focus.

Bolt-together, non-penetrating protection for smoke hatches and venting skylights. Free-standing design maintains waterproof integrity. Galvanized bases for resistance to the elements. Rail height 42-inches. Meets OSHA 1910.23(a)(4) and 1926.501 (b)(4). Standard and custom sizes. Rubber foot pads to prevent sliding or damage to membranes.

Click here for more information from Garlock Safety Systems

SkyGuard: Bolt-together, non-penetrating protection for smoke hatches and venting skylights. Free-standing design maintains waterproof integrity. Galvanized bases for resistance to the elements. Rail height 42 inches. Meets OSHA 1910.23(a)(4) and 1926.501 (b)(4). Standard and custom sizes. Rubber foot pads prevent sliding or damage to membranes.

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Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

Bolt-together, non-penetrating protection for smoke hatches and venting skylights. The free-standing design maintains waterproof integrity. Galvanized bases for resistance to the elements. Rail height of 42 inches. Meets OSHA 1910.23(a)(4) and 1926.501 (b)(4). Standard and custom sizes. Rubber foot pads help prevent sliding or damage to membranes.

Click here for more information from Garlock Safety Systems

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

New software capabilities in RMCProfile allow researchers to study the structure of materials by combining machine learning interatomic potentials and reverse Monte Carlo.

Structure refinement with reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) is a powerful tool for interpreting experimental diffraction data. To ensure that the under-constrained RMC algorithm yields reasonable results, the hybrid RMC approach applies interatomic potentials to obtain solutions that are both physically sensible and in agreement with experiment. To expand the range of materials that can be studied with hybrid RMC, we have implemented a new interatomic potential constraint in RMCProfile that grants flexibility to apply potentials supported by the Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) molecular dynamics code. This includes machine learning interatomic potentials, which provide a pathway to applying hybrid RMC to materials without currently available interatomic potentials. To this end, we present a methodology to use RMC to train machine learning interatomic potentials for hybrid RMC applications.

This work introduces a completely rewritten version of the program RMCProfile (version 7), big-box, reverse Monte Carlo modelling software for analysis of total scattering data. The major new feature of RMCProfile7 is the ability to refine multiple phases simultaneously, which is relevant for many current research areas such as energy materials, catalysis and engineering. Other new features include improved support for molecular potentials and rigid-body refinements, as well as multiple different data sets. An empirical resolution correction and calculation of the pair distribution function as a back-Fourier transform are now also available. RMCProfile7 is freely available for download at https://rmcprofile.ornl.gov/.

Three applied research centers at the Charlotte Research Institute will install instrumentation and conduct experiments at the Eco-Complex, an expansion of innovative waste reduction and waste processing technology already underway at the Complex.

Catawba County Director of Utilities and Engineering Barry Edwards has been named one of the winners of the 2013 Energy Leadership Awards by the Business Journal of Charlotte.

Following a national search, Carlotta M. Arthur will join the National Academies as the new executive director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education on Feb. 14.

Today, I am inviting Temo, who is from the academic discipline marketing team, and he looks after the physics discipline. He will share his Pick from the field of optics.This week's Pick is MCmatlab... read more >>

Charlotte Pipe’s large diameter fittings include injection-molded and fabricated fittings produced by experienced fabricators with the latest technology available.

NeXT Charlotte (NXT|CLT,) a non-profit entrepreneur support organization (ESO) whose vision is Transforming Lives to Equitably Serve Entrepreneurs in Our Communities, announced receiving a generous donation of $100,000 from NC IDEA Foundation.

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Entrepreneurial couple artist Greg Robinson and his girlfriend Danielle Booker bring nostalgic West Coast foodie trend To Charlotte, NC with the grand opening of Day & Night Exotic Cereal Bar Charlotte

Carlos Palacios Tenreiro is recognized for his extensive expertise in corrosion control and integrity management

NXT | CLT continues its work to grow and scale untapped talented BIPOC business owners in Charlotte.

FastAid Appliance Repair, a rapidly growing appliance repair company serving Charlotte and the surrounding areas, is proud to offer a comprehensive range of appliance repair services.

Uptown Charlotte Dentist and Orthodontist Offers State-of-the-Art Services and a Commitment to Patient Comfort and Happiness

Innovative platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections help treat patients in the Charlotte NC area for painful joint conditions.

Charlotte's First and Only Upscale Cannabis Store Wins Charlotte's Best for 2023

Catch Your Breath

A Family Dentist that Provides Expert Pediatric and Family Dental Care for a Healthier Smile - from teeth cleanings to oral surgery

If you're looking for a children's book that celebrates self-expression and the beauty of one of the most vibrant colors in the spectrum, look no further than "Red Is My Favorite Color" by Charlotte Kemmerer.

Starloop Studios announced today that it has completed a major rebranding. Along with it is their new logo, brand-new website, and new service offerings focusing on providing AAA-quality results across the board.