Editor’s Note: I recently met Casey of Moosh in Indy when I was at BlogHer, the largest women’s blogging conference in the nation. She is beautiful, vibrant, the life of the party, has a darling daughter and a husband in law school. After talking to her for just two minutes, I felt on top of the world.

Please join with me in welcoming Casey. She may not be a local mama but her struggles with depression are universal.

I overdosed on prescription medication when I was seven months pregnant.

On purpose.

I didn’t want to be pregnant anymore. Pregnancy was (literally) killing me. I hadn’t eaten more than a half cup of food at a sitting in seven months. Ninety percent of what went into my mouth came back out. Every muscle in my body ached from dry heaving. My throat was constantly scratchy from vomiting up bile. Every smell was toxic.

And no one believed that I truly was sick.

One woman told me I was eating the wrong kind of crackers. Other people said I was being over-dramatic. Several people thought I was faking. My husband Cody thought I was a wimp.

I didn’t even know if I wanted a kid all that much, I mentally could not get myself excited about having a baby.

The depression built gradually (I am bipolar). Read on …

Things have been kind of rough with my 5-year-old son Declan lately. He has done a lot of growing up this summer, which has been both good and bad. He’s always been a very sensitive, thoughtful child - so to see a wild streak finally emerge is disconcerting. Who is this child leaping off the couch? Who is this child throwing a punch at my husband? Who is this child willfully sticking his chin out at me and stubbornly stomping around the house!?!?

But at the same time - seeing him stand up for himself also brings a level of satisfaction, a level of relief! It shows me he is *not* so defenseless out there in the big, bad world. Even though he is pushing back against ME, and it is driving me CRAZY.

Where is that sweet, sensitive soul? I know he still there. He is just coming into himself too. Which is ALSO pretty awesome to watch. Read on …

The only time I’ve been to Vegas was when my soon-to-be in-laws took Kyle and me there in January 1997. It was loud and smoky and bright. In every single casino. Even the ones that were high-end. Total overstimulation, just like with babies. But I couldn’t scream my head off until someone took me into a dark room and rocked me until I fell asleep. So I enjoyed what I could - the shows, the food, the people-watching. But that wasn’t enough to entice me to return.

Since then, we’ve visited Atlantic City twice, as well as a few Indian-run casinos in Oregon while visiting my in-laws. The trips to AC were birthday presents for Kyle, who enjoyed playing poker at the Trump Taj Mahal. Kyle also played poker at the casinos in Oregon, while I searched for the nickel slots. I did play poker myself one evening in AC, which is probably the most entertaining game for me. If you understand the game, can control your reactions, and can read other people relatively well, you can spend an evening playing low-stakes poker without losing your shirt (if you lose anything at all). But I certainly don’t enjoy it the way that Kyle does.

I can understand the appeal of playing poker with a group of buddies, as many guys like to do. It’s male bonding - a guy’s version of Ladies’ Night Out. Read on …

We bought a brand spankin’ new car last week.

Before you send your congratulations, know that this was like those “Oops!” pregnancies and our purchase was unplanned. I am not quite sure how it happened; I wasn’t even ovulating at the time.

From the moment of conception purchase a few years ago, we have had problems with my husband Jamie’s Jetta. But the past month has been a non-stop stream of breakdowns. The car, not me. Mostly.

We had planned to trade it in next year but we were stressed about all the nickles, dimes and dollars we were pouring into its repairs. The worst part of all is the mechanic could not ascertain the problem.

And so we had a tough decision: sustenance for the children or a new car.

Please send food.

I have never made a huge decision so quickly. Well, with the exception of Read on …

Congratulations to Mary Elizabeth Graff, winner of our ultra-cool Alpha Buddies shirt!

With my recent travel perils, the last thing I want to do these days is fly.

Unless, that is, it involves Fly Me to the Moon! In the first animated film ever shot in 3D, three young flies set off on a courageous mission to become the first insects on the moon by hitching a ride on the historic Apollo 11 space flight. Based on the actual transcripts and the original blueprints from NASA, the film’s stunning visuals and meticulous attention to detail introduce a whole new generation to the awe-inspiring achievements of the space program’s most momentous mission.

Fly me to the Moon opens in theatres August 8 but Mile High Mamas has 10 seats that are exclusively reserved for your viewing pleasure at the pre-screening on Saturday, August 2nd at the AMC Westminster Promenade at 10 a.m.

To enter, simply email us at with “Fly Me to the Moon” in the subject line and then let us know who you would bring on this space adventure. The contest deadline is July 31, 2008. Note: Please do not enter if you are unavailable to attend on August 2.

Lori ignores her two kids blogs from a NW Denver suburb. Weebles Wobblog chronicles her attempts to live mindfully; Drama 2B Mama recounts her infertility and adoption journeys; and All Thumbs Reviews gives sassy purchasing advice on everything from hair decor to refrigerators to wine — essentials for a Mile High Mama.

If I call her “my daughter’s other mother” it may seem different from what it is.

I met Crystal because we each had a problem. Mine had nooks with crannies, and hers had crannies with nooks. Our oddly- shaped problems fit together, and we became each other’s solution.

Seven years ago, I was experiencing the famine that is infertility; Crystal was dealing with the feast that is an unintended pregnancy, while living in an untenable situation.

In a way, we share a daughter.

It might seem normal for the story to have ended back where it began — with a tiny, squalling baby. One of us leaving the hospital with Tessa, and the other going home empty-armed. A winner and a loser.

But nothing about our situation has been “normal.” Read on …

You asked and Mile High Mamas answered! We have compiled a comprehensive schedule of this fall’s children’s consignment sales, many of which are just in time for your back-to-school shopping.

For those not in the know, these consignment extravaganzas feature children’s clothing from newborn to size 12, maternity clothing, car seats, cribs, bedding, feeding supplies, high chairs, potty chairs, bouncy chairs, swings, strollers, toys, books, videos, etc. at a fraction of the cost. Most of the sales have a nominal entrance fee and have half-price deals on the final day.

And did I mention killer deals?

Also, if you have items you want to sell, many of these sales are looking for consigners so checkout their individual Web sites.

So, forward this link to your friends and make a day–or a couple of months–out of hitting the following sales together….
Read on …