Mommybloggers dish with Sarah
Mommybloggers: Your blog name is great. I assume your "goon squad" refers to your kids. How did the name come about?
Sarah: Gabe started calling the kids "The Goon Squad" in utero. It just stuck. Then one day I had to pick a blog name, I didn't really give it much thought. I never really planned on blogging, I just needed to sign up with blogspot so that I could comment on Bridgette's site (Live From the Wang of America) and so I picked "Sarah and the Goon Squad". After my first post I got addicted.
Mommybloggers: What were your first thoughts when you found out that you were expecting twins?
Sarah: I thought that it couldn't be possible. Only people on TV had twins. I felt like I was lying when I told people that there were two babies.
Mommybloggers: Having lost a baby to miscarriage before, did it amplify your fears with this pregnancy? Just the fact that you were having twins made you more high risk.
Sarah: Oh sure, but my miscarriage was very early (somewhere between 7 and 8 weeks) so once I got past about 10 weeks with the twins, I got a whole new set of fears.
Mommybloggers: You were put in the hospital for early labor. How early were you put in and how long did you have to stay until the kids were born?
Sarah: I started going into labor at 28 weeks. At first my contractions were very mild, but since they were causing dilation and my cervix to thin the doctors knew that I could go into hard labor at any time. I went to a doctors appointment for my "Braxton-Hicks" contractions and he sent me straight to the hospital. I lived there for five weeks until they couldn't stop the labor anymore. Ian and Claudia were born at 34 1/2 weeks gestation, which isn't too bad for twins. All said, I was in the hospital for 41 days.
Mommybloggers: What did the doctors tell you about your prognosis when you were in the hospital?
Sarah: When we first got to the hospital they told us that if the children were born right then there was a 95% chance that if even one of them were to live they would have severe problems. They told me that every day they could keep the twins from coming out would improve there chance of survival. It was terrifying.
Mommybloggers: Having twins, what is the biggest pet peeve you encounter when it comes to other people's comments or questions?
Sarah: The thing that pisses me off the most is when people say "Oh, you did it the easy way." I'm not sure what they think the hard way is!
Mommybloggers: You know we have to ask...are you planning on having anymore children?
Sarah: No. Hell no. We've had it "taken care of".
Mommybloggers: Okay, so let's talk sports. You are the editor at BlogHer for their sports section. What is your favorite sport to watch? What about to play? Do you play sports?
Sarah: I love football. I really love football. In fact, my favorite sport to play is fantasy football. In real life I am a lazy ass and don't get nearly as much physical activity as I should. I'm not very athletic.
Mommybloggers: Are you jealous that Jenn had tickets to the NHL All Stars Game? (She said we have to ask.)
Sarah: You know I am.
Mommybloggers: A little birdie told us that you were in a sorority. Seriously? You have to confess now that we know. What sorority?
Sarah: It is true. I was/am a Delta Gamma.
Mommybloggers: Do you see yourself as a sorority girl still?
Sarah: I don't think I thought of myself as a sorority girl even in college. I was very active, but I don't think I was ever what you think of when you think about sorority girls.
Mommybloggers: We loved hearing that you are a trained opera singer. Would you belt out some opera if we asked you to?
Sarah: If I was drunk enough... or really prepared.
Mommybloggers: Do you sing to your children and more importantly, do you like it?
Sarah: Constantly. I love it. There is very little I would rather do. Of course, the kids tell me to be quiet a lot.
Mommybloggers: So do you listen to opera a lot? What are your favorite types of music to listen to?
Sarah: Sometimes. Not as much since Squad has been able to express their opinions verbally. We listen to a lot of punk rock around here because all four of us like it. Honestly, i try to play them everything. I don't want them to be limited. We listen to classical, metal, old jazz standards, reggae, 80's, classic rock - really almost everything... except country and top 40.
Mommybloggers: What is one thing about you that people don't know that may shock or surprise us?
Sarah: Besides the sorority thing? I am scared of Harry Connick Jr.
Mommybloggers: Now, you know there has to be a follow-up to that one. Harry Connick Jr.??
Sarah: Uhhhhh....yeah, that one is going to need an explanation.
Hasn't anyone else seen that movie "Copycat". Scary. I'm scared of him AND public restrooms. I hope he's happy.
Mommybloggers: Describe yourself using only 7 words that will give us a better sense of who Sarah really is.
Sarah: I write just like I talk, dammit. (You said I had to use seven, right?)
Mommybloggers: Is there anything in regards to your blog that you will not write about?
Sarah: I try not to write too much about my sex life. My mother and my mother-in-law read my blog. I can only assume that they don't want to hear about it. Hell, none of you probably want to hear about it.
Mommybloggers: When it comes to "hot topics" that flare up on Mommyblogs (or the blogosphere in general), how do you feel about getting involved? Is it something you try to stay out of and remain neutral or do you feel as a fellow blogger you should add your two cents?
Sarah: I don't mind getting involved if I have something to say. Sometimes I just feel like I can't say anything that 40 people haven't already said, often better than I could have.
Mommybloggers: Is there any topic that you are so passionate about that you would go to the mat on your blog for regardless of what other people think or say?
Sarah: I am very pro-gay marriage (not civil unions - that is separate but equal in my book) and very pro-choice.
Mommybloggers: And here are the questions we subject all of our featured bloggers to (*With apologies to Bernard Pivot and Inside the Actors Studio):
1. What is your favorite parent related word?
kiss2. What is your least favorite parent related word?
morning3. What is your favorite creative censored curse word used around children?
I actually say "Mother F" but I don't think it is very creative - or really all that censored either.4. What is your favorite hiding place within your home when you need to get away from it all?
There is no hiding in this house. They can find me anywhere.5. What hiding place have you been found in too often and can no longer use?
The bathroom sure doesn't work.6. If Oprah exists, what would you like to hear her say when you arrive at the Oprah Winfrey show when she features the Mommybloggers?
You're cleaning service and personal shopper will be there tomorrow. I've already paid them for the next 20 years.
Comments
Sarah! Copycat is one of my fave movies! But I could never watch Will & Grace when Harry was on. :) Go figure!
Great interview! I waited all day to read it!
Posted by: dana | February 5, 2007 5:55 PM
I'm tellin' you,again, if you would just watch Memphis Belle you would feel differently about Harry Connick. It would undo the psychological damage Copycat wielded on your psyche.
Remember I know where you live and I have Netflix...
Posted by: Devra | February 5, 2007 10:20 PM
I have to argue with Devra - bad memories of Memphis Belle. Now I think I'm scared of Harry Connick Jr. too.
Loved the interview, Sarah. Looking forward to hearing you sing at BlogHer '07.
Posted by: mothergoosemouse | February 5, 2007 11:12 PM
You're a trained opera singer? That's amazing. You're just full of surprises!
Posted by: Izzy | February 6, 2007 9:41 AM
Look. Harry Connick Jr. is scary and you all know it. He wants to kill me in a public restroom. I am sure of this.
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | February 6, 2007 11:45 AM
Trained opera singer? Die-hard football fan? Love all kinds of music? Are you sure we're not related, maybe separated at birth? :)
Posted by: Daisy | February 6, 2007 8:37 PM
totally with you on the Connick. And can't believe you missed The Nipple.
great interview--I'm about to stalk her bloggy now.
Posted by: joy | February 13, 2007 7:39 PM
Seriously? Opera???
Send Harry my way. I have no fear of that man. At all.
I'm a little frightened, however, that:
1. you were featured by mommybloggers and dI didn't KNOW it.
and
2. That you are trained. At anything.
Awwww. You know I love ya more than my luggage. ;-)
Posted by: Mocha | February 24, 2007 10:43 PM