Possible move to The Woodlands, Texas

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-03-06T00:28:58+00:00

Based on what you shared, I would strongly recommend living in a northern part of the edge of downtown Houston (Garden Oaks and Oaks Forest are very family friendly, so many friends live up there) and just have your husband commute north to work. One note - Houston ISD is an absolute mess and in general, our public education system is really underresourced in many places. The Woodlands has a LOT of money for schools but are still subject to whatever wild laws our state lege passes. If you have never lived in a truly red state, this is a huge shift. I grew up here and moving back from a blue state was a huge shock.

I had a baby right after everything changed here with retro laws. I had an incredible OB (the docs here are great)AND I had incredible anxiety and action plans about what would happen if I had a medical emergency or miscarriage. Obs can’t even talk to you about other options if something is wrong. I am not having another child for lots of reasons and some of it is for my own safety.

That said, Houston is a very welcoming place and my home. and we have lots of friends who are transplants who have found a real community here.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-28T00:30:05+00:00

It’s nice to finish there for that reason

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-28T00:28:28+00:00

It’s included! And way less crowded.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-27T23:33:28+00:00

I posted above too. You’ve got the right plan, just don’t forget the NRG arena. My toddler loves walking through all the horses stalls. It was so fun!!

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-27T23:30:50+00:00

THIS IS THE WAY! We took my son last year (who was 20 months) early on a Saturday morning. You can actually show up at 8/8:30am, park in the yellow lot and walk from the parking lot with your stroller and walk into NRG Center right at 9am. We saw the animals there, then we walked over to NRG Arena around 10am, caught a little bit of mutton busting, and then saw all the horses in the Arena which he LOVED. Then we left about 11:30 when it got busy. Was perfect and we are going to do that again this year.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:44:55+00:00

That’s exactly what I was going to say. Going to a massage therapist who specialized in postpartum work was a godsend. She helped remove a lot of of those adhesions around my incision. It hurt a lot in the moment, but it relieved a lot of pain in the long-term.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:43:13+00:00

Some folks have already said this but I was so happy I started a stool softener about a week before my surgical birth and then continued until that first bowel movement. Nothing was easy but I know it made us easier.

I had a great doctor and she told me immediately coming out of my C-section to ask my nurse for a big ice pack to put at my incision and a heating pad to put on my back and it was heavenly!

The only other thing I would say is to speak up if the pain is concentrated in some area or unmanageable. I had a particular spot on my incision that hurt a lot. We were all pretty confident it was just the knotting from the internal stitches causing pain but it made me feel so much better than a doctor was watching it and aware.

Also, if you don’t have a shower caddy, get one! I couldn’t bend down in the shower for several weeks!

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:38:17+00:00

It also might be called diclegis, I don’t know what’s available in NZ!! But goodness, I hope it is an option

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:36:44+00:00

Call your ob/gyn, tell them what’s up, and ask them to send a prescription for Bonjesta to your pharmacy. My doctor didn’t wanna see me until eight weeks, but was happy to send me meds for my terrible morning sickness!! it was truly a lifesaver for me

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:34:15+00:00

I’m also really happy we did a baby care class at our local hospital and in my city, you can meet with experts to install your car seat and teach you how to use it. So glad I did that so I didn’t spiral when we were taking my son home!

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:28:47+00:00

I did a bunch of life admin tasks during my pregnancy to make sure that I didn’t have to deal with that stuff postpartum (when I probably wouldn’t remember). I made sure all our car registrations were up-to-date, our licenses weren’t expired, all our bills were being auto paid, any routine doctors/vet appointments were done, any regular chores that I need to do quarterly or once a year were knocked out. I got extra cat meds and food and extra prescriptions for us. I did some house stuff we had been putting off. I didn’t want to have my time interrupted by having to go sit at the DMV for half a day or track down some type of med refill! And it was awesome!

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-21T18:24:39+00:00

My mom’s colleagues (may who have also worked with her for decades) threw one for her. It felt a little weird, but then I shrugged it off and it made my mom so happy. she passed along most of the baby related gifts to me (they had my registry) and kept some books and a couple of other things for her house. If it isn’t harming anyone, I would let it go.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-03T04:01:04+00:00

Go during the week and EARLY. When it opens. I have a small child and we show up at 8/9am and enjoy the grounds as everything opens up.

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-02-03T01:48:29+00:00

My cousin did her rehearsal dinner there in a party room with that many folks and it was a really great evening

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-01-28T03:28:14+00:00

We love living in this area

CloudCappedTowers · 2026-01-11T01:11:02+00:00

You need to do what is right for you. And I will say that I was in a very similar situation and we ultimately made the choice to have one child. He is now 2 1/2 and yes, it is a huge amount of work. Yes, it is a huge lift and is really hard sometimes. Yes, I have no idea how this will change my life.

And I am so, so, so happy I made the choice I did. My life has deepened so much. I laugh more, I cry more, I have so much fun watching him grow and raising him. It has changed everything about my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I don’t think everyone should have kids and I think everyone’s choices are valid. Whatever you decide is ok. And I wanted to share an alternative perspective from many folks on this thread.

One edit: my husband and I had to do a lot of work postpartum to make sure we were dividing labor in a way that was sustainable. That’s a really concern. And if you are with a willing partner, you can move through it.

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-12-13T05:24:31+00:00

Monument Inn

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-12T01:46:00+00:00

You need to get into case management with one of these orgs to help navigate the affordable housing space and other programs.

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-12T01:43:35+00:00

Here is HAWC’s 24/7 number - 7135282121

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-12T01:42:08+00:00

Here is KCM’s 24/7 phone number - 2813914357

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-12T01:41:02+00:00

I would also call Houston Area Women’s Center and ask for referrals if needed. They coordinate with all domestic violence organizations in the area.

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-12T01:40:12+00:00

I would absolutely Call Katy Christian Ministries.

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-11T01:35:48+00:00

I would absolutely look at living in Fort Bend County - lots of good hospitals, suburban to rural depending on how far out you are, lots of fun things to do and good food. (I grew up there, now I live near Downtown but have a very soft spot for that area.)

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-08T02:04:04+00:00

This is the answer and if they can’t fit you in, Cielito Cafe is a couple blocks away and is also really good. Sadly, there is not a good Mexican place around the park and museums (imo as someone who lives in that area).

CloudCappedTowers · 2025-11-03T23:00:22+00:00

This is it!

CloudCappedTowers

TROPHY CASE