Unfolding Dreams

Disclaimer: Links to all the products I mentioned are included. I am not being paid to promote any of them and do not receive payments. Skin sensitivity may impact your experiences with these products. Recovering from my laparoscopy has been a journey, and honestly, some days are more uncomfortable than others. Over the past week, I’ve found a few products that have made a huge difference in how I feel—both physically and mentally. Here’s what’s been helping me get through it: 1. Body Wash That Feels Safe Before and after surgery, I wanted something gentle that still felt clean. I’ve been using Dove Antibacterial Body Wash , and it’s been perfect. It keeps the incision area clean without stinging or irritating my skin, which is such a relief.  2. Underwear That Actually Works I never thought I’d get excited about disposable underwear, but Frida Mom Disposable C-Section Underwear has been a game-changer. They’re soft, supportive, and don’t press on my stomach—exactly what ...

     In a previous post on my blog, I wrote about which ovary I ovulated from. That post can be found in When to Expect Positive Ovulation Tests .       This new post is inspired by my previous one, but for a slightly different reason.  I had a visit to the Emergency Room, where my health care provider noted that I had a complex cyst on my left side, which was most likely due to ovulation. I generally would go to the Emergency Room around menstruation due to severe abdominal pain. I decided to create a chart of when I likely ovulated and would ovulate in future cycles.      More recently, I had my second laparoscopy for Endometriosis, and my right fallopian tube was removed. When a woman has one fallopian tube, timing ovulation becomes necessary for natural conception and/or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).  Ovary Rotation Chart (June 2024 – December 2026) Month/Year Ovary Likely to Ovulate June 2024 Left ✅ July 2024 Right Au...

  My Frida Mom Basket for Post-Laparoscopy Care. Why I Love the Frida Mom Line (Even Beyond Motherhood) One of the things I’ve really come to appreciate is how versatile the Frida Mom line is—not just for new moms, but for anyone recovering from abdominal surgeries, such as laparoscopies for endometriosis. After surgery, comfort and gentle care are everything. That’s where the C-section recovery underwear comes in. Even if you haven’t had a baby, the design makes sense—when you have incisions on your abdomen, you need something soft, high-waisted, and non-restrictive. These disposable underwears are a lifesaver compared to standard disposable Depends. The big difference? You can build your own pad system . Start with the underwear. Add a menstrual pad. Layer on a witch hazel perineal liner, perineal cream, or both. Attach an optional heating pad for cramping. It’s completely customizable depending on what your body needs that day. I also want to mention the liners pack...

Photo by Katie Smith on Unsplash My child was developing as expected until about 18 months . I noticed a drastic change in his diet and behavior between 18 and 24 months . My pediatrician encouraged us to wait 6 months, but there was no improvement .  We were at a point where all he ate was peanut butter sandwiches .  That was a scary and challenging time for us .  We didn't know what had caused the change and why . Or even how to help him . Our pediatric visits indicated he was growing, but he was on the smaller side for his age . After diagnostic testing, he was diagnosed with a severe speech delay and Autism Spectrum Disorder .  This is a long and winding road to increasing my child's diet . However,   I am happy to report at 8 years old, my child is eating and trying more foods! This is more than I could have ever hoped for when I saw his drastic regression . I say that to say, that even when you feel like your child might have reached the maximum level of ...

One of the hardest things about my child's autism diagnosis is I didn't know what to expect .  Even though I wasn't a first-time mother, I struggled with things that shouldn't have seemed like a struggle .  For example, picking out toys, because my child wasn't playing with any .  I wasn't sure how to decorate his bedroom, because he climbed everything .  But I didn't want him to be in an empty room either .   I remember relying heavily on Google searches for "sensory rooms" and "sensory toys" and any posts in my online support groups that popped up about sensory items .  This is the kind of post I would have liked to see when I was starting out .  Without further ado, here are some of my favorite sensory items and children's furniture for toddler to elementary-age  children .   Remember all furniture should use safety straps to prevent injuries .   1 .  12 Cubby Tray Cabinet (Amazon) 2 .   Sensory Rollers  (Amazon) 3 ....

      I was separated for 3 years and recently got divorced. It's surreal and strange that this is my new normal. Things haven't gotten easier, but I've gotten better at dealing with the roller coaster of emotions. However, I would be lying if I said I didn't feel sad sometimes. Or cry over the broken or unfulfilled dreams I still wanted.      Developing my old hobby of reading has truly helped me get through the thick of some of those lonely, painful nights. It's provided my mind an escape from my consuming thoughts of the past and present and worries for the future.     Below is my list of the books I read in 2023. I discovered a new author named, Lola Glass on Amazon's digital book selections and spent much of 2023 reading her books.  I've grouped the book titles by series. As a disclaimer, if you are sensitive to intimate scenes described, some profanity, battle scenes, or mentions of magic, or sorcery, one or more of the following book t...

💻 Introduction Welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by.  If you're looking for an insightful blog and helpful tidbits about trying to conceive, pregnancy, parenting, and new beginnings, you've come to the right place! I share my experiences and the information I've learned on my journey, hoping it encourages others not to give up on theirs. Trying To Conceive My Trying to Conceive page has 29 Tips. I'll share the first 5 tips I've gathered here: 1. Have a Fertility-Friendly Diet 2. Eat Breakfast 3. Take a Prenatal Vitamin 4. Store food in Glassware 5. Use a Glass Water Bottle Autism Spectrum Disorder My section dedicated to Autism Spectrum Disorder has some detailed posts about: Autism Signs (The Parent Perspective) Parenting an Exceptional Learner Sensory Toys To Try Last Edited: January 6, 2024