This is a tearjerker! You may have heard Matt's story already, but if you haven't, it's a poignant and inspiring story about a dad's love for his daughter in the wake of his wife's sudden death. ____ Matt Logelin: Just the two of us Matt Logelin's wife, Liz, died hours after the birth of their first baby. Sarah Franklin was one of the thousands of people moved by his blog about bringing up their daughter alone By Sarah Franklin On 24 March 2008, Matt Logelin announced the birth of his daughter on his blog. "Madeline is here!" He added: "The proud parents will continue to update everyone on our beautiful baby. Look forward to even more good news." But the next post, four days later, contained the opposite of good news. Headed "Liz", it was an obituary for Matt's wife, who had died of a pulmonary embolism 27 hours after Madeline's birth. Liz collapsed as Matt and her nurses were getting her ready to go and see her baby. Madeline was born at 33 weeks and went straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Excited about the visit, Liz took a practice walk around her hospital room after five weeks of bed rest. As she lowered herself into her wheelchair, she murmured, "I feel lightheaded", and fainted. As Liz fell, Matt staggered to support her, amazed at how heavy his petite wife suddenly felt. His elation turned to concern, then panic. Liz's nurses, initially almost dismissive of her fainting spell – "It happens all the time" – quickly realised it was an emergency and hustled Matt out as the medical teams swarmed in. "All of a sudden it hit me," he says. "She was going to die, today, here in this hospital. And she was never going to hold her baby." By the time Matt had summoned their extended families to the ward, Liz was dead. Despite being surrounded by family, Matt felt starkly alone. He went to the only place that could offer comfort. In the NICU he took Madeline from the tearful nurses and held her for the first time. Liz had seen Madeline only fleetingly after an emergency Caesarean. She had never held her and never would. Matt and Liz Logelin had been together for 12 years – since high school. Liz, who was 30 when she died, was a high-flying Disney executive: highly motivated, driven, full of energy. Matt worked for an internet search engine; he was mellower, a counterbalance to his ambitious, successful wife. Unlike some couples who meet as teenagers, they had grown closer and endured a complicated pregnancy. Now Liz was gone and Matt had to deal with his loss as well as having to cope with a newborn baby on his own. "I always thought I'd be a good parent alongside Liz," he says. "Doing it alone had never occurred to me." He stumbled through the first weeks. Every Tuesday, every time the clock reached 3.11pm, the time Liz had died, he was compelled to remember when the best time of his life turned into the worst. From the start, his daughter gave him a reason to go on. He couldn't afford to lose himself in grief. After the funeral, Matt took off for the hospital, feeding Madeline from a bottle while still dressed in his funeral suit. At times he thought dying himself might be the only way through his pain, but he never seriously contemplated suicide: "The thought of our child as an orphan turned my stomach, and I hated myself for even thinking something so selfish." In the first few weeks after Madeline came out of hospital, Matt couldn't bear to be at home, surrounded by so many reminders of Liz (she had left hairbands on every door knob, to save having to hunt for one when she needed it). But when he took his baby out, strangers would often ask difficult questions, such as "Where's Mummy?" When he replied truthfully – "She passed away the day after the baby was born" – he would find himself comforting strangers. Soon after bringing Madeline home from hospital, Matt experienced an extreme version of the nerves felt by any new parent. To ward off loneliness, he posted to the online parenting forum run by his old home town's newspaper, the Minnesota Star Tribune. "I'm a proud new father ... doing it on my own (my wife passed away the day after our baby was born). It's been a tough two weeks." The forum facilitators contacted him, and a front-page feature followed. Matt was in Minneapolis for Liz's second memorial service when the story ran and was confronted at the airport by rows of newspapers featuring himself and Madeline on the front page under the headline, "Without Liz, but not alone." Suddenly, Matt's blog was flooded by people drawn to this most universal of tales and traffic soared. Writing through a haze of heartbreak, he found it comforting but bizarre that he and Madeline were recognised by strangers who had seen photographs and knew their story. I was one of those strangers. I stumbled on Matt's blog about a month after Liz's death. Like many others, I kept returning to the blog, often starting my day in tears as I read the latest bulletin from a father I had never met but could so easily relate to. Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/02/matt-logelin-single-father?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

I'm Sara, and I just wanted to take a few minutes to introduce myself to you, and let you know a little about what I do. I'm a Disney vacation planning specialist. My services are completely free because Disney recognizes the value of experts helping families plan their vacations. Here are just a few of the things that I can do: **assisting in making reservations and monitoring for new discounts **least crowded parks recommendations ** a custom itinerary showing park hours, parade times, crowd levels, and dining arrangements **tips on best viewing spots for parades and fireworks ** photo pass tips **attraction tips **fast pass tips **a list of free things to do at Walt Disney World ** unlimited access to me via phone or text to answer any questions that may come up during your vacation! You can reach me by email at sara@magicalmemoriestravel.com or by phone at 815-214-9832. You can also check out the blog for fun tips or to request a quote at www.disneyinstyle.blogspot.com

Hi Cooper! Thanks for telling me about your circle. Don't know how I missed it! Absolutely LOVE it :)

Cellphone Ban Propsoed For Drivers by National Transporation Safety Board
By John Crawley
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. safety investigators called on Tuesday for a nationwide ban on texting and cell phone use while driving, a prohibition that would include certain applications of hands-free technology becoming more common in new cars.
The National Transportation Safety Board recommendation covers portable devices only but still goes beyond measures proposed or imposed to date by regulators and states, most of which already ban texting while behind the wheel.
"When it comes to using electronic devices, it may seem like it's a quick call or a quick text or a tweet, but accidents happen in the blink of an eye," said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. "No emails, no texts, no calls. It's worth a human life."
To read the rest of the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/cellphone-ban-national-transportation-safety-board_n_1146723.html?ref=technology"

Get more sleep!!! I know I need to! _______ 7 Telltale Signs You’re Sleep Deprived By Babble.com People love to joke about sleep deprivation and new parents. Ha ha, it's so funny - you'll never sleep again, they say. Of course no one is kidding. Seriously, it's not a joke. You have a new baby, you don't sleep. And you don't sleep, you're not in the mood to laugh. Or live, really. There are telltale signs that you're a sleep deprived new parent. They're hard to miss. Unless, of course, you're so tired that you miss everything. In that case, here are the top 7 signs you're in need of an Ambien (or 12): 1. You put things where you shouldn't Is that cream I grabbed out of the fridge and put in my coffee? … Or was it breastmilk? On second thought, who cares as long as it's coffee I put in my coffee. 2. You know all the players on C-SPAN I'm not a political junkie, but at 3 a.m. I'm not going to even attempt to fetch the remote when it falls to the ground - because the very fragile baby in my arms just fell asleep. Maybe I can't figure out how to sleep while my baby sleeps, but after 7 straight hours of Key Capitol Hill Hearings on C-SPAN, I've actually figured out how to run the government. So I've got that going for me. 3. You drive like it's your 90th birthday Yep, that's me driving 9 mph in the right lane. You're right, I probably shouldn't be driving on negative sleep. And you're right, the reason I keep drifting into your lane is because I can't remember where I'm going. But that's what the right lane is for (well, that and my grandpa). Get in the left lane, be thankful I didn't have that fifth espresso (because do you really want me driving faster when I'm sleep-deprived and can't remember where I'm going?), and keep moving, buddy. 4. You forget to actually replace the diaper Oh, right. A new diaper. Whoops. When you take off a dirty diaper, you're supposed to replace it with a clean one immediately after. That's something that being well-rested would help me remember to do. Otherwise being peed on helps me remember. Either way. (But preferably the former.) Read more: http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/7-telltale-signs-8217-sleep-deprived-153600388.html

I'm asking for prayers for my friend Nancy, her husband Eric and their 11 year old daughter Sarah. Nancy found out yesterday there is a mass on one of her lungs and that there is a 98% chance it is lung cancer. Please pray for them as they navigate the early stages of this process.

Hi, my name is Pennie, I have 2 boys with aspergers. Just looking to talk with someone who understands. Having issues at school with bullies. Husband that although I love him to death also not a big help, still in denial. Does understand "issues" which creates issues.... just need some advise .

Mountains, the beach and the sky: being close to nature, where my mind can be calm. These settings give me a zen feeling. What about you?

1. That not just one, but TWO of my favorite people on the world were born this day. Happy Birthday Brandie and Robin!!!! xoxo 2. That the security woman who was hit by a reckless 16 year old in our HS's parking lot yesterday afternoon, just moments after I waved at her is hanging on and continues to fight for her life. Surviving the impact alone is a miracle. 3. My son's well thought out letter on the reasons why he needs a cell phone. (not saying he is getting one, but I appreciate his thinking)

Hmmm Guilty Pleasures: Reality TV, Travel, Celebrity Gossip, and Reading

First Lady writes book on edible gardening Washington (CNN) – First lady, wife, mother, careerist, fashionista - Michelle Obama can now add "author" to her list of credentials. Obama has written a book that highlights one of her most visible initiatives as first lady: promoting better nutrition and edible gardening as a means for Americans to get and stay healthy. "American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities" aims to explore "how increased access to healthy, affordable food can promote better eating habits and improve the health of families and communities across America," according to a press release issued Monday by the Crown Publishing Group. "Mrs. Obama will describe how her daughters Sasha and Malia were catalysts for change in her own family's eating behavior, which inspired Mrs. Obama to plant an edible garden on the South Lawn - the first since Eleanor Roosevelt's "Victory Garden," planted during World War II." The first lady did not accept an advance for the book and will donate all proceeds to a charity to be revealed later, the statement says. Random House Inc., Crown Publishing Group's parent, will also make a donation to a charity. The book will be on sale nationwide starting April 10. Original article: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/24/flotus-writes-book-on-edible-gardening/

MIT project tries to turn trash into a game CNN - Here's the problem with recycling: It's boring. But maybe it doesn't have to be. A Boston company called Greenbean Recycle is trying to make the act of keeping bottles and cans out of the landfill into a fun, competitive and engaging game for students at MIT. The new company, which won an innovation prize this week from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has converted a beefy recycling machine on MIT's campus into a point tabulator of sorts. When students approach the high-tech trash can to dump in their recyclables, they punch their phone number on a touch screen. A bar-code reader in the machine counts the number of cans, bottles and the like that the person has dropped off - and then uploads that data to Greenbean's website. Recyclers can track their progress online, and even engage in competitions with fellow students. "We want to be like the Zynga of recycling," said CEO Shanker Sahai, 38, referring the maker of such social games as "FarmVille." Competitions between fraternities at MIT have been particularly fruitful, he said, with the houses trying to compete against each other to get the top spot on an online recycling leaderboard. Continue: http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/09/mit-project-tries-to-turn-trash-into-a-game/?hpt=hp_bn6

15 Ways to Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank.... I am very committed to eating really healthfully and feeding my family as much nutritious food as possible. Many people complain to me that they can’t buy fresh, organic food because it’s too expensive. It’s interesting to me that 100 years ago we spent twenty-five percent of our disposable income on food and now we only spend ten percent. Furthermore, we’re actually consuming more food than before, while getting fatter and sicker. But I do think we’re starting to make the connection that we have a lot of cheap food in this country, and that cheap food has hidden costs—to our physical bodies, as well as the environment. To read on: http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/01/30/eat-well/

We've all been there--with the screaming baby or toddler on a plane (and frankly I'm glad I'm not there anymore!)--but file this funny story under "It could be worse!!" By http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/author/lisa-belkin/ http://jojostein.com/Site/Blog/Entries/2009/7/8_How_to_Survive_a_Mid-Air_Disaster.html , a TV writer, who describes herself as a “first time parent and long-time neurotic,” read my http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/a-crying-child-kicked-off-a-plane/  about the mother and child who were escorted off a Southwest flight last week, and sent me an essay she wrote about being that parent — the kind whose child won’t stop screaming.Many of us have been where she sat. But, she warns, most of us would never want to do what she did.http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/how-not-to-calm-a-child-on-a-plane/?hp . 

Apps to Keep Children Happy By MICHELLE HIGGINS WITH Christmas upon us and New Year’s just around the bend, many families are contending with long road trips and crowded flights. All those hours in the car and at the airport are bound to bring out tantrums in toddlers, squabbles among siblings and the familiar “I’m bored” from tweens. To help stave off meltdowns and keep the children entertained, I asked a range of experts, from professional toy-reviewers to travel-savvy mothers, for the best apps for iPads and iPhones. As a parent who is prone to guilt attacks when my own daughter spends too much time in front of a screen, no matter what its size, my aim was to find that sweet spot that falls somewhere between the ruthless thrill of hurling birds at pigs and the rigor of dividing fractions. I’ve also thrown in some unplugged options. Below are top picks organized by age. Ages 1 to 4 Elmo Loves ABCs, for iPad, $4.99. (Now on sale for $1.99.) Frequent encouragement by Sesame Street’s favorite red fur ball keeps children engaged exploring the alphabet. Why it’s a travel hit: Elmo’s shrill voice may drive you — and seatmates — nuts if your child doesn’t wear headphones (in which case, it’s better for car trips than plane rides). But with loads of songs, more than 80 video clips, 75 coloring pages and interactive games about letters, this app pays for itself in entertainment value, said Jamie Pearson, co-publisher of BestKidsApps.com. Plus, the fact that your children are learning the alphabet reduces the guilt when they won’t put it down. Memory Train, for iPad and iPhone, $1.99. Focus and concentration are rewarded in this memory game that doles out badges and peanuts to children who help Spacey the Elephant recall colors, shapes, numbers and other objects spotted from the train. Why it’s a travel hit: It’s engaging and fun. And because the app is visually based, it can still be played with the sound turned off for young children without headphones on long flights. Read more: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/travel/apps-to-keep-children-happy.html?hpw

This web page has some great tips for staying organized! They include... - store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match. - re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags. - use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor. - use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door. More here: http://www.thedailybuzz.com.au/2011/11/25-clever-ideas_household-tips_storage-ideas/

Study finds 10% of tweens, teens have 'sexted' (CNN) -- "Sexting" -- the practice of taking sexually explicit photos and sending them to peers via cell phones or the Internet -- may be less common among U.S. adolescents than previous research and media reports have suggested, according to a new nationwide study. In contrast to a widely cited 2008 survey in which 20% of teens reported sending or posting sexual pictures of themselves, the new survey -- in a younger group of Internet users, some as young as 10 -- found that only 10% of teens and tweens had done so. And just 1% reported sending or receiving nude or partly nude images. "It's still something that we need to talk to kids about, but not all kids are doing it," says Kimberly J. Mitchell, Ph.D., a study coauthor and a research associate professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire, in Durham. "It's a bit reassuring, because a lot of the other studies about this have come up with much larger numbers." The new findings, which appear in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics, shouldn't be interpreted to mean that sexting isn't a serious problem, says Amanda Lenhart, a senior research scientist at the Pew Internet & American Life Project, in Washington, D.C. "Even if you look at 1% or 2% of kids in a high school of a thousand kids, that's 10 to 20 kids, and that's plenty of people for whom this is a big issue and for whom this is a troublesome problem in their lives," says Lenhart, who has researched teen sexting but was not involved in the new study. Continue reading: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/05/health/teens-sexting/index.html?hpt=hp_bn10

Happy new year everyone. I hope 2012 is a great year in which you are surrounded by caring and loving people, that you all have good health, and that your troubles are light and easy to get through. :)

I love these croutons!  Here's the recipe, from http://giverslog.com/ . 

Google search undergoes 'most radical transformation ever' (CNN) -- Google search is about to get way more personal. In a change that's been called the "most radical transformation ever" to Google's search engine, the Mountain View, California, company on Tuesday announced an update called "Search, plus Your World," which causes Google's robots to incorporate data from its social network as well as the public Internet when delivering search results to people. "Search is pretty amazing at finding that one needle in a haystack of billions of Web pages, images, videos, news and much more," Google said in a blog post on Tuesday morning. "But clearly, that isn't enough. You should also be able to find your own stuff on the Web, the people you know and things they've shared with you, as well as the people you don't know but might want to ... all from one search box." The company added: "Search is simply better with your world in it." On the prominent blog Search Engine Land, Danny Sullivan writes that the updates fundamentally change the way Google's search engine functions, calling it the "most radical" change ever. "The new system will perhaps make life much easier for some people, allowing them to find both privately shared content from friends and family plus material from across the Web through a single search, rather than having to search twice using two different systems," he writes. "However, Search Plus Your World may cause some privacy worries, as private content may appear as if it is exposed publicly (it is not). It might also cause concern by making private content more visible to friends and family than those sharing may have initially intended." Keep reading: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/10/tech/web/google-search-plus/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6