Book Samples

"If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle."
   — Vincent van Gogh

I have more than eighteen years of experience caring for preemies, newborns, and children. I've seen it all, but I must say you can never stop learning how to make things better. For the families whose babies I've taken care of, learning has become an art. I specialize in twins and triplets, and I've seen new perspectives in this area of childcare. By getting involved in multiples cases, I took a massive and very important turn in my profession. I have felt a strong elevation of skills, love, respect, and insight that my hospital experience could not have delivered. But working at a New York Hospital helped constructed a solid ground for me to leap from and grow-to go to the next level in infant care.

I've mastered my art. For so many years, I've struggled and fought to dissect my work.

I want to share with all people my advice for helping new parents release the stigma or judgment of others, "You're a first-time parent. It's not easy." I want to share with all people my advice for helping parents who can or cannot afford my private at-home services as an independent traveling baby nurse to become, as I've grown to become, an insider to their newborn's peace and a guardian of their baby's full and restful sleep and happiness.

"The best way to make children good is to make them happy."
   — Oscar Wilde

Yes, you can be happy now by changing the way you take care of your new baby or by incorporating a better way to accomplish this. Just make sure when you've made up your mind to do The Baby Schedule Ruler that you know that you are doing the best service you can-not only for your baby, but also for your whole family.

How do parents get through the day with their new responsibilities? I will discuss the important things to do to accomplish this main task. Parents will gain confidence in everything they do. I will express most of what is lacking in a lot of childcare books, and that is the insider knowledge. I will share the wisdom and experience of being with newborn single babies, twins, and triplets twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week with only occasional breaks (two to three days off a month, and sometimes just one day off a month, depending on a family's needs). Every family and newborn is different, and this difference always requires a new way for me, the baby nurse, to diagnose and adapt to the family's needs. We all have a unique lifestyle. By writing The Baby Schedule Ruler, I can share with all parents a way to go about their days according to their lifestyles. I want all people to view the schedules and practice all the Baby Schedule Ruler chapters one diaper at a time and be successful!

We will develop proper skills like daily feeding times and amounts, breastfeeding, taking walks with your baby at least once a day, activities, baths, massages, proper burping, and most of all, scheduling. I will teach you the truth about being flexible with a baby and how to use flexibility for the advancement of your child as well as how to be inflexible and reap the sleep rewards. It's normal for babies to be fussy, and sometimes the best efforts cannot work.

If you could live night and day in a baby's world, you would be astonished at its delicacy and surreality; to be a part of it all will make you feel so blessed. Being here to learn all you can to advance your awareness of your newborn is wonderful. If you remain true to this road map, you will find that like many families, it will give you overwhelming success and peace of mind. To all who've trusted my judgment and reaped all the great benefits that these skills provide, please know I have loved your little one with all my heart and studied him or her to the fullest to write and finish The Baby Schedule Ruler. Thank you for listening with trust. To make this book possible, you are the true rulers.

The one thing I ask of you is to read the book twice to enhance your understanding of some of these new techniques. I also ask you to go out and teach these skills to loved ones, friends, and family. Also, I realize we understand more when we express and show the type of care we want for our children. People will not feel alienated because of the course of care you hope to accomplish for your family. Sometimes it can be difficult to get people to see it your way. But it's good to teach friends and family all what you want them to understand.

"A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors."
   — Henry Ward Beecher, American politician (1813-1887)

I asked myself the other day: who do you love? Without the things and people I love, where would I be, how would I live, and what job would I have? I would certainly feel very depressed if I was separated from the things I love, like music and the arts, going to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, being with friends, going to shows, reading a book, enjoying the spa, singing my favorite songs, telling hysterical jokes to friends, and creating something worthwhile. I asked, "Who do you love?" to parents, took it to the streets of New York, and charted the responses.

Most parents who have children in schools from daycare to high school answered that they loved their cars, homes, last vacations, children, fathers, pet Oscar, or simply themselves. These answers were not so amazing, but what I noticed was the order people gave me. Most of the parents (five out of ten) spoke of their children second, third, or fourth. This is not to suggest they don't love their children, but what intrigued me was that when a newborn has become a part of families I've worked for, they've put their infants first. They've told me, "Dee, my child is first and foremost in my life, and everything revolves around him." I wondered what could have possibly happened over the years for some parents to see things a little differently. Maybe they got tied up in all society wants every day, the needs of loving something material, or just following a trend they see others following like buying homes, celebrating with friends, or going to the blow out sale of the week. I thought of what happens to some new parents who put away those things they loved to do frequently before their babies were born.

The first year of life is full of new adventures and activities directed to the baby. We get comfortable with our little ones growing up, and we gradually begin to care about or pay attention to those things we so used to love doing. What in the world happens to fun times and creative involvement when a baby comes home from the hospital? I have seen that it almost comes to a stop in some families and causes much hardship. But I've witnessed that if we can combine the daily love of things we enjoy doing, being a part of it all (society), and getting creative after just having a baby, we as humans can certainly be happy again. This is the fountain of youth-to love oneself while being a parent, keep the mind moving to improve, and to be the unique you.

Put on your best, look good, and keep up your hygiene. Being a mother doesn't mean forgetting about yourself. Look good every day, not just when it's important to wear makeup. Even on a walk, let your hair blow in the air. You're alive, not about to be committed in the psychiatric department of a hospital. No more complaints of not having time-make time. Call a friend over for an hour, tell your family to stop in, and hit the shower, go to the spa, have a pedicure, and visit the hair dresser and tell her you're having a good day. I personally love the book Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin. He teaches you how to be glamorous, because you're the only one that can create a positive you. Oh yes, stop listening to horrible opinions from nosy people who need to mind their own business. We don't need adult babies to host.

Putting on make-up is not the only way to look or feel positive, doing good deeds is far more important. We can help out our favorite charities or volunteer in our communities. This gives a great feeling of hope and purpose, a respect of life. Being handy to friends by listening and expressing your opinions sometimes can be stressful depending on the topic but is also healing.

Keep those encouraging friends or family around you. With all the difficult times you've endured, you need peace. This peace can only start in your mind and around you. Taking good care of yourself is the same as taking good care of your baby. Why would you want to treat yourself worse than your baby?