Kelly Mulder | Cuddlebugs

Cassy Fiano

Hi everyone! My name is Cassy Fiano. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida. My husband and I met when we were twelve, at a birthday party where he fell on the pool deck and broke one of his front teeth. I worked in several different fields until I got married. My husband and I knew that we wanted to have a family and that when we did, I would be a stay-at-home mommy. Last July, we found out I was pregnant, and on the day of my first doctor’s appointment, he deployed to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, during my pregnancy, I ended up with preeclampsia. Luckily, my husband returned the morning of my scheduled induction, so the day he came home from Afghanistan was the day we went to the hospital. 16 hours and a c-section later, we had our beautiful little boy, Benjamin. Being a parent has changed my life. I’ve learned to be more patient; that it’s possible to operate on two hours of sleep, and I’ve also learned that I never really knew what stress was until I experienced a baby crying inconsolably for four hours straight. I’ve learned that looking at my son sleeping in my arms can move me to tears, that I never really loved anyone the way I love my him, and that all of the hard times can be completely wiped away with one little smile. The last four months have been an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to share the rest of it with you!

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Hello Everyone! Let me introduce myself by telling you all a little bit about me. In 2008 I married Garrett, the love of my life. He is a Marine and of course I followed him here to Jacksonville, NC. I have a graduate degree I don’t use and instead I’m the happiest stay at home Mom ever to our daughter, Nora, who is almost two years-old. Garrett recently got home from his second deployment and surprise, surprise! (okay, not really) I’m pregnant! Garrett and I are happily expecting our second child on or around October 1st. We’re hoping this is the second of six pregnancies for us. Yes, you read me correctly. We want a BIG family! I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences as a mom!

Hurry Up and Wait; One more time (Part 2)

August 22nd, 2011 Kelly Mulder

Hearing we have to wait 7 hours in a hot, stuffy, waiting room broke my spirit. My pregnant body was exhausted, my two year old was exhausted, my husband was exhausted and I was now beyond annoyed. Many of the …
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Hurry Up and Wait; One more time (Part 1)

August 21st, 2011 Kelly Mulder

I need to provide for my little darling!

As you read here, we FINALLY made it on the plane, headed to Okinawa.

We arrived in Yokota, Japan after nine and a half hours of flying and two meals. …
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Hurry Up and Wait; Attempt #4

August 20th, 2011 Kelly Mulder

Nora and Mommy hanging out at the airport

Read about attempts #1, #2, and #3.

At 10:30pm we caught the hotel shuttle back to the airport and waited in line yet again to check our …
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Hurry Up and Wait; Attempt #3

August 19th, 2011 Kelly Mulder

My traveling toddler

Read about attempt #2 here.

At 9am the next morning, we got to the airport (finally feeling well rested for the first time in several days!). We were very anxious and excited to get …
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Hurry Up and Wait; Attempt #2

August 18th, 2011 Kelly Mulder

Read about attempt #1 here.

Me with all of our luggage

Diligently we woke up at 2am the morning of August 12th excited to catch our plane to Okinawa. Nora, Grammie, Pawpaw, my pregnant belly and I piled …
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Hurry Up and Wait; Attempt #1

August 17th, 2011 Kelly Mulder

Grammie and Nora

Editor’s note: We will be publishing the story of Kelly’s trip overseas in a series of seven posts. These will publish consecutively for the next week, starting today.

There is a joke among the …
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