--Acid Reflux (I kid you not, I think I just got reflux from watching The Food Network. JUST FROM WATCHING IT)
--the return of sciatic nerve pain, and pain in nerves I didn't know I had in places I didn't know could hurt like this. The nerve pain also causes me to twitch, grimace, cry out, or walk with an interesting limp/waddle.
--Braxton-Hicks contractions.
I'm so ready to be done...on the upside, I'm fearing childbirth a lot less these days because at this point I'd almost be willing to cut off my own arm if it meant getting this baby out. Aside from "I'm ready to be done because being pregnant sucks," I just really want to meet this kid! I want to see who he looks like, which personality he inherited (please don't let it be mine!), and if he moves around as much outside the womb as he does inside. I can't wait to see Ava interacting with him (I might regret that if she ends up hating him, although I don't think that will happen...she is constantly asking if he's "done yet" and she loves to give my belly hugs and kisses, and tries to "share" food and toys with CJ) and I am looking forward to being able to snuggle with both of my babies. :o) I know it will be worth it in the end but right now....I'm so not loving the last few weeks.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
WARNING: TMI Post!
Seriously...it's going to be bad. Leave now, or don't complain later. ;o)
First of all, let me give the standard disclaimer: we have been extremely blessed in many ways with this baby: quick conception (as opposed to the many months it took to get Ava), no real pregnancy complications, a healthy baby, etc. etc. I am very happy and appreciative and cannot wait to meet my little boy. Having said that, however...
THIS PREGNANCY SUCKS HARD.
I really want to know how it is that, measuring on target instead of big like his sister, this child is causing me so much discomfort that I don't know whether to scream or cry (actually, I do both on a fairly regular basis). Thank goodness for the book "Pregnancy Sucks" that I read during my first pregnancy, or I'd think I was some kind of freak of nature! Okay, I still feel like a freak of nature. How? Let me count the ways...
1. Hemorrhoids from HELL
Yeah, I'll get right to the point: they're painful and disgusting and embarrassing, and I have them something AWFUL. Got a mild case with Ava (I remember calling my mom and asking her why it suddenly looked like my butt had turned itself inside out and when she told me what it was, I cried), but now it's just downright wicked. Nothing gives me any relief...it feels like I'm walking around with sharp rocks shoved up my backside, and I have a lovely walk to match. As if that's not bad enough, I made the mistake of taking a look at them just to see what was going on, and I've felt like throwing up ever since. Eight days until my next doctor appointment and I am hoping they can do something for me...I mean, doctors can conceive children outside of the womb via in vitro fertilization, can do heart transplants and brain surgery...surely they can help me out with this one measly little thing?!
2. Nausea and constipation
They go hand in hand, and were supposed to go away after the first trimester, but they didn't...the latter is more common these days and adds to the issues mentioned above. Good times! I am feeling so sexy right about now...
3. Speaking of below the belt...
Everything down there is swollen. Everything. I don't need to spell it out, do I? It's quite uncomfortable and this did not happen the last time around.
4. Sleeping even sort of comfortably no longer exists.
I slept very well in my third trimester while pregnant with Ava, but this time there is nothing I can do to get comfortable. Sleeping on the stomach or back are not options...I am supposed to be sleeping on my left side but this causes a lot of pain in my ribs, shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea. Sleeping on my right side usually starts out fine, but how am I supposed to sleep an entire night in one position? I either roll over into a less comfortable one in my sleep, or I do stay that way most of the night and wake up aching. Or, more often, I just never get into a very good sleep for very long.
5. Shopping sucks
Not because of the physical discomforts associated with walking around a lot (although that doesn't help much), but because the nature of shopping has changed for me. I just dropped a nice bundle of cash this week, not in Victoria's Secret or Loft, but in Motherhood....on nursing bras and nursing camis. I don't care how shallow it sounds, the fact that this creature has taken over my body before his birth and will continue to take it over afterwards (thank you, breastfeeding :-P) is leaving me feeling more like livestock and less like a woman. And don't give me that crap about "nothing is as womanly as having a baby" yadda yadda...the way I explained it to Craig was, I love being a mom, I don't like feeling like one. Does that make sense? Do I care? I don't necessarily mind how I look right now--we just spent a couple of days in Myrtle Beach and I was surrounded by girls ten years younger than me with perfect bodies, and it didn't even faze me (even though I was 33 weeks pregnant and rocking my non-pregnancy bikini)--but shopping for things like nursing apparel just did me in.
Anyhow, that's the worst of it at the moment. I'm very ready to be done. In fact, I think that the third trimester is God's way of making women ready to face childbirth, because we finally reach a point where shoving another human being out of our private parts is preferable to continuing to live like this. ;o) Yeah, I know, it's going to be worth it in the end...but that doesn't make it suck any less right now.
First of all, let me give the standard disclaimer: we have been extremely blessed in many ways with this baby: quick conception (as opposed to the many months it took to get Ava), no real pregnancy complications, a healthy baby, etc. etc. I am very happy and appreciative and cannot wait to meet my little boy. Having said that, however...
THIS PREGNANCY SUCKS HARD.
I really want to know how it is that, measuring on target instead of big like his sister, this child is causing me so much discomfort that I don't know whether to scream or cry (actually, I do both on a fairly regular basis). Thank goodness for the book "Pregnancy Sucks" that I read during my first pregnancy, or I'd think I was some kind of freak of nature! Okay, I still feel like a freak of nature. How? Let me count the ways...
1. Hemorrhoids from HELL
Yeah, I'll get right to the point: they're painful and disgusting and embarrassing, and I have them something AWFUL. Got a mild case with Ava (I remember calling my mom and asking her why it suddenly looked like my butt had turned itself inside out and when she told me what it was, I cried), but now it's just downright wicked. Nothing gives me any relief...it feels like I'm walking around with sharp rocks shoved up my backside, and I have a lovely walk to match. As if that's not bad enough, I made the mistake of taking a look at them just to see what was going on, and I've felt like throwing up ever since. Eight days until my next doctor appointment and I am hoping they can do something for me...I mean, doctors can conceive children outside of the womb via in vitro fertilization, can do heart transplants and brain surgery...surely they can help me out with this one measly little thing?!
2. Nausea and constipation
They go hand in hand, and were supposed to go away after the first trimester, but they didn't...the latter is more common these days and adds to the issues mentioned above. Good times! I am feeling so sexy right about now...
3. Speaking of below the belt...
Everything down there is swollen. Everything. I don't need to spell it out, do I? It's quite uncomfortable and this did not happen the last time around.
4. Sleeping even sort of comfortably no longer exists.
I slept very well in my third trimester while pregnant with Ava, but this time there is nothing I can do to get comfortable. Sleeping on the stomach or back are not options...I am supposed to be sleeping on my left side but this causes a lot of pain in my ribs, shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea. Sleeping on my right side usually starts out fine, but how am I supposed to sleep an entire night in one position? I either roll over into a less comfortable one in my sleep, or I do stay that way most of the night and wake up aching. Or, more often, I just never get into a very good sleep for very long.
5. Shopping sucks
Not because of the physical discomforts associated with walking around a lot (although that doesn't help much), but because the nature of shopping has changed for me. I just dropped a nice bundle of cash this week, not in Victoria's Secret or Loft, but in Motherhood....on nursing bras and nursing camis. I don't care how shallow it sounds, the fact that this creature has taken over my body before his birth and will continue to take it over afterwards (thank you, breastfeeding :-P) is leaving me feeling more like livestock and less like a woman. And don't give me that crap about "nothing is as womanly as having a baby" yadda yadda...the way I explained it to Craig was, I love being a mom, I don't like feeling like one. Does that make sense? Do I care? I don't necessarily mind how I look right now--we just spent a couple of days in Myrtle Beach and I was surrounded by girls ten years younger than me with perfect bodies, and it didn't even faze me (even though I was 33 weeks pregnant and rocking my non-pregnancy bikini)--but shopping for things like nursing apparel just did me in.
Anyhow, that's the worst of it at the moment. I'm very ready to be done. In fact, I think that the third trimester is God's way of making women ready to face childbirth, because we finally reach a point where shoving another human being out of our private parts is preferable to continuing to live like this. ;o) Yeah, I know, it's going to be worth it in the end...but that doesn't make it suck any less right now.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Career Moves
Craig and I do not share a checking account: we've always both had jobs, he's always traveled for work, and we've each taken responsibility for certain bills over the years, so it didn't make sense to merge. (We do have a joint money market account to which we both contribute.) So a few months ago when he started questioning me about what I spend on things (groceries, day care for Ava, electric bill, etc.) I figured he was just trying to get the big picture about our money--even though I contribute financially, he does bring home more bacon than I do. ;o) Then about a month ago he dropped a bomb on me: I was on my way out the door for a massage and he said, "I don't think you should work for a few years after the baby is born."
Wow....WOW.
I've never thought of myself as stay-at-home mom material: I have always taken pride in having a career (maybe too much pride?) and contributing to our family's financial well-being. I always figured staying at home would drive me crazy and maybe with just Ava to take care of, it would have. I've also liked not having to answer to anybody about what I spend: I pay my share of the bills, contribute to my share of the savings, and then I'm free to spend the rest how I want...if I didn't work, that wouldn't be possible. I'm not a big spender, but I've also never had to budget or really pay attention to what I spend. Craig has also been immensely pleased with being a two-income family and agreed that staying at home would make me insane, so his sudden announcement shocked me, to say the least. However, I have to admit--and anyone who keeps up with my facebook page probably knows this--being pregnant, working full-time, wrangling Ava, taking care of the house, and doing it by myself has really been taking its toll on me. I've been incredibly worried about how I would handle all of those things with an infant thrown in the mix. Craig has been traveling more and more for work (the upside is that he at least makes more money for his efforts, even if I'd rather he was here with us) so I'm on my own most of the time, Monday through Friday. I am stressed out, exhausted, cranky, and stretched too thin to give any one part of my life (family, work, other responsibilities) the proper care and attention it deserves.
Anyhow, after I got over my initial shock and Craig explained how things would work financially, it seemed to make perfect sense. I felt an incredible sense of relief and a weight off of my shoulders that had been there for so long, I almost didn't realize I was carrying it around. I prayed, "God, if this is meant to be, please just let things fall into place." And fall into place they have...financially, emotionally, mentally...I never in a million years would have thought I'd be this excited about giving up my career to stay at home. Not that I don't love my family, I just didn't think it was "me." Now there is so much I am looking forward to: the time with my kids, not having to worry about being a good teacher/reliable employee AND a good mom/wife, being able to keep up with housework and errands during the week so when Craig is home on the weekends, we can just have quality family time, cooking real meals instead of throwing together something that vaguely covers a few food groups after a long day at work. I want to make homemade bread and grow herb gardens that don't die because I'm never around to take care of them. I want to enjoy mornings spend in pajamas with the kids instead of waking them before the sun is up, throwing some clothes on them (yelling at them when they don't cooperate) and tossing something that passes for breakfast in a lunch box and shuffling them off to day care (not that this is BAD, but the poor kids already have one parent who's never home, and not much quality time with the remaining parent). On the other side of it, I also don't want my career to suffer because I'm the only parent around to take care of this kids if they get sick, have a doctor appointment, etc and am constantly calling in....better to just resign my job over to someone who's able to devote themselves to it more fully. A couple of weeks ago I went in and let administration know I would not be back next year, they're in the process of interviewing for open positions and I wanted to give them ample time to find a replacement, and end things on a good note: this isn't a door I necessarily want to shut (even though I'm also considering going back to school for accounting while I'm home these next few years), and things are ending there on a very positive note: I was told I'd be welcome back if and when I decided I was re-entering the work force. :)
With all the good that's going to come of me being at home, there have been sacrifices: I will have to give up my financial independence and rely on Craig as the sole breadwinner. Like he says, we've never really been the Cleaver family, so this is going to be particularly difficult for me: again, I'm not a big spender but there will be no more Ann Taylor or Baby GAP for awhile--I know Craig won't have a problem with me buying clothes for myself or the kids when necessary, but I've always enjoyed making those purchases for fun, even when it wasn't really needed. (Luckily, I have built up a pretty good wardrobe over the years and not being able to spend freely will definitely encourage me to lose the baby weight and fit into all of my nice stuff...I also have a few gift cards left over from birthday/Christmas that I plan on using for a few staple wardrobe items post-baby.) Although we'll be watching our spending and I will cut out unnecessary purchases, we're fortunately not going to have to live on a strict budget, and Craig won't have a problem with little things like my once-a-week cup of Starbucks when I do my shopping at Super Target. Anyhow, I'm also pretty bummed about having to completely pull Ava from day care: part-time is still too expensive. She absolutely LOVES her teachers and friends, and she's been learning so much since she started: she can count and do letter sounds like a pro, memorizes weekly Bible verses, you name it. It's been so good for her and it breaks my heart to take that away. I plan on doing my own preschool with her and getting involved in things outside of the house (play dates, maybe some other activity) but it isn't the same. Finally, although I'm okay with giving up many aspects of my career, the most difficult part for me to come to terms with has been the fact that I'll no longer be working with my team: I've been blessed in my time at FA to work on a team with some of the most wonderful women I've ever met and I love them dearly. Luckily, we will still see each other as we work on a community project together...so I'm only partially giving that up.
Anyhow, if you are still reading through this rambling post at this point, I don't know if that makes you crazy or really dedicated! ;o) I'm so very blessed that this is an option for our family, and am looking forward to this new adventure! Who knows? Maybe I'll even update the old blog a little more... ;o)
Wow....WOW.
I've never thought of myself as stay-at-home mom material: I have always taken pride in having a career (maybe too much pride?) and contributing to our family's financial well-being. I always figured staying at home would drive me crazy and maybe with just Ava to take care of, it would have. I've also liked not having to answer to anybody about what I spend: I pay my share of the bills, contribute to my share of the savings, and then I'm free to spend the rest how I want...if I didn't work, that wouldn't be possible. I'm not a big spender, but I've also never had to budget or really pay attention to what I spend. Craig has also been immensely pleased with being a two-income family and agreed that staying at home would make me insane, so his sudden announcement shocked me, to say the least. However, I have to admit--and anyone who keeps up with my facebook page probably knows this--being pregnant, working full-time, wrangling Ava, taking care of the house, and doing it by myself has really been taking its toll on me. I've been incredibly worried about how I would handle all of those things with an infant thrown in the mix. Craig has been traveling more and more for work (the upside is that he at least makes more money for his efforts, even if I'd rather he was here with us) so I'm on my own most of the time, Monday through Friday. I am stressed out, exhausted, cranky, and stretched too thin to give any one part of my life (family, work, other responsibilities) the proper care and attention it deserves.
Anyhow, after I got over my initial shock and Craig explained how things would work financially, it seemed to make perfect sense. I felt an incredible sense of relief and a weight off of my shoulders that had been there for so long, I almost didn't realize I was carrying it around. I prayed, "God, if this is meant to be, please just let things fall into place." And fall into place they have...financially, emotionally, mentally...I never in a million years would have thought I'd be this excited about giving up my career to stay at home. Not that I don't love my family, I just didn't think it was "me." Now there is so much I am looking forward to: the time with my kids, not having to worry about being a good teacher/reliable employee AND a good mom/wife, being able to keep up with housework and errands during the week so when Craig is home on the weekends, we can just have quality family time, cooking real meals instead of throwing together something that vaguely covers a few food groups after a long day at work. I want to make homemade bread and grow herb gardens that don't die because I'm never around to take care of them. I want to enjoy mornings spend in pajamas with the kids instead of waking them before the sun is up, throwing some clothes on them (yelling at them when they don't cooperate) and tossing something that passes for breakfast in a lunch box and shuffling them off to day care (not that this is BAD, but the poor kids already have one parent who's never home, and not much quality time with the remaining parent). On the other side of it, I also don't want my career to suffer because I'm the only parent around to take care of this kids if they get sick, have a doctor appointment, etc and am constantly calling in....better to just resign my job over to someone who's able to devote themselves to it more fully. A couple of weeks ago I went in and let administration know I would not be back next year, they're in the process of interviewing for open positions and I wanted to give them ample time to find a replacement, and end things on a good note: this isn't a door I necessarily want to shut (even though I'm also considering going back to school for accounting while I'm home these next few years), and things are ending there on a very positive note: I was told I'd be welcome back if and when I decided I was re-entering the work force. :)
With all the good that's going to come of me being at home, there have been sacrifices: I will have to give up my financial independence and rely on Craig as the sole breadwinner. Like he says, we've never really been the Cleaver family, so this is going to be particularly difficult for me: again, I'm not a big spender but there will be no more Ann Taylor or Baby GAP for awhile--I know Craig won't have a problem with me buying clothes for myself or the kids when necessary, but I've always enjoyed making those purchases for fun, even when it wasn't really needed. (Luckily, I have built up a pretty good wardrobe over the years and not being able to spend freely will definitely encourage me to lose the baby weight and fit into all of my nice stuff...I also have a few gift cards left over from birthday/Christmas that I plan on using for a few staple wardrobe items post-baby.) Although we'll be watching our spending and I will cut out unnecessary purchases, we're fortunately not going to have to live on a strict budget, and Craig won't have a problem with little things like my once-a-week cup of Starbucks when I do my shopping at Super Target. Anyhow, I'm also pretty bummed about having to completely pull Ava from day care: part-time is still too expensive. She absolutely LOVES her teachers and friends, and she's been learning so much since she started: she can count and do letter sounds like a pro, memorizes weekly Bible verses, you name it. It's been so good for her and it breaks my heart to take that away. I plan on doing my own preschool with her and getting involved in things outside of the house (play dates, maybe some other activity) but it isn't the same. Finally, although I'm okay with giving up many aspects of my career, the most difficult part for me to come to terms with has been the fact that I'll no longer be working with my team: I've been blessed in my time at FA to work on a team with some of the most wonderful women I've ever met and I love them dearly. Luckily, we will still see each other as we work on a community project together...so I'm only partially giving that up.
Anyhow, if you are still reading through this rambling post at this point, I don't know if that makes you crazy or really dedicated! ;o) I'm so very blessed that this is an option for our family, and am looking forward to this new adventure! Who knows? Maybe I'll even update the old blog a little more... ;o)
Friday, March 4, 2011
FAIL.
Well, I sort-of failed the stupid glucose test...meaning, I didn't eat for something like 14-15 hours, went to the doctor, chugged a bottle of nasty sugary stuff, and then got poked with a needle three times: twice the numbers were fine, and the third time was a little high. Soooo....I can't eat or drink and then you force pure sugar down my throat and my blood sugar looks a little high...oh, YA THINK?! I know, I have no understanding of the medical world so it probably makes perfect sense, but to me it doesn't seem very rational. Ah well. Anyhow, one failing score apparently means I don't have gestational diabetes but they want to put me on the most horrifying diet I have ever seen, just for the fun of it. I thought it would just be cutting out sugary things like soda and cookies, but NOOOOOO....they don't want me to have fruit juice or fruit or even honey. So, let me get this straight: I can't have wine. I can't have caffeine. And now you want to take away not only chocolate but FRUIT JUICE from me? Even though I do not actually have diabetes? Yeah, homie don't play that! The diet basically consists of very plain meat, whole-grain, and veggies. No sugar, little fruit, and few "convenience foods." In other words, they want me to starve to death in the next ten weeks. Well, I have made an executive decision to tell this diet to bite me....I am going to cut out Starbucks, soda, ice cream, and unnecessary dessert (meaning: if I go to a birthday party, I'm going to have a friggin' cupcake, I'm just not going to sit at home and randomly eat three cupcakes after work for no reason). I will water down my fruit juice, but until I have proof that a full-on diet is medically necessary, the rest is not happening. I'm healthy and haven't even gained much weight (18 lbs), CJ is measuring right on target in the 50th percentile (diabetes babies are big), and there is no way for me to follow a diet that suggests things like "17 grapes" or "1 oz. of tunafish" as snacks. I didn't even last 24 hours trying to be really good, because I became so hungry I almost ate my own arm in that time.
Anyhow...in other baby news, no more visits to Duke Perinatal for us--the spot that was showing up on CJ's stomach is gone, and all is well! We finally got a cool ultrasound tech who flipped on the 4-D images for us, and we got to see his little face all squished up in there...couldn't make out much detail but it was cool anyhow. We don't think he looks like Ava, but at this point can't really tell who he looks like...I'm voting for me (just because it would be cool to have a kid look like me), but with Craig's personality. We'll see!
Anyhow...in other baby news, no more visits to Duke Perinatal for us--the spot that was showing up on CJ's stomach is gone, and all is well! We finally got a cool ultrasound tech who flipped on the 4-D images for us, and we got to see his little face all squished up in there...couldn't make out much detail but it was cool anyhow. We don't think he looks like Ava, but at this point can't really tell who he looks like...I'm voting for me (just because it would be cool to have a kid look like me), but with Craig's personality. We'll see!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
*sigh*
I have a lot on my mind right now, most of which I cannot share at this moment in time, but I'll be able to speak freely eventually. ;o) Since my last post, Craig has continued to travel relentlessly, Ava had a stomach bug that kept me home with her for two days (but thankfully I did not catch it!), and work just keeps getting more stressful. Anyhoo...
Had my glucose test done last week, and now I'm being called back to do the three-hour test because I failed it. I think it's because they told me I could have breakfast that morning, because it was only off by a little bit. I'm seriously toying with the idea of canceling the stupid test...I'm so over being poked and prodded--most likely for no reason--because the doctors have to cover their butts on EVERY LITTLE THING to avoid lawsuits. I totally get why they do it, but I am DONE. I do not have gestational diabetes. They will NOT be taking chocolate out of my diet....I've completely given up alcohol, I have coffee about once a week...THEY AREN'T TAKING CHOCOLATE TOO. That is all I have left to get me through these last twelve weeks!!! I have to deal with Psycho Toddler who never sleeps (and do it by myself), cramps and sciatic nerve pain, issues at work, and everything in between...I'm not going to do it while eating like a freaking rabbit. Also at my last appointment, the baby had flipped head-up....GAHHHHHH!!! I was suspicious because for a few days prior, I'd felt a lot less movement and the kicks I did feel were aimed towards my bladder and intestines, I was also feeling pressure in weird places. Doc confirmed it: BREECH. Apparently, it's okay until 36 weeks so I'm not going to worry yet, especially because I think he just flipped back to the head-down position a few days ago...movement and pressure and definitely more consistent with how it was before. YEAHH!!! Here's hoping!
By the way, I apologize to anyone signing in who was expecting to read a post written by Susie Sunshine... ;o) This pregnancy (and all the other things going on right now) has taken me to all new levels of sarcasm, cynicism, and general crankiness. I'm very happy about the baby but other things are getting me down. And speaking of the baby...he FINALLY has a name: Craig Jonathan, just like his dad. :) We're still planning on calling him CJ. Also--and for some reason I'm finding this highly amusing--I sat down to make a huge list of things we need, and it turned out to be...not so huge. The usual consumable items: diapers, wipes, bath stuff, Mylicon, etc. and a few other things: crib bedding (I already have extra crib sheets from Ava, so we just need to order the bedding set we want to use), clothes, I would like a video monitor and Craig wants a Diaper Genie. That's seriously about it. We're not doing a double stroller, I plan on carrying CJ in a sling/carrier/whatever and letting Ava use the stroller for as long as possible, and since she'll be four years old when he's 8 months, I figure by then or shortly thereafter she'll be old enough to walk and he can take over the stroller.
That's all I've got for now. Craig is anxious for me to get off of my butt and clean the kitchen so we can "hang out" for awhile, but seeing how last night he was asleep by the time I put Ava to bed (8:30!!!!) I'm guessing we won't be spending time together tonight either, and I'll be catching up on our TV shows alone. I should really be used to this "alone" thing by now, you know? :-P
Oh, side note: Ava is still waking up in the middle of the night and relocating to our room. I'm going to attempt to put a stop to that, if not in the next few nights then over track-out in four weeks. It's INSANE...last night she came in at 2am and was a raging monster the entire night, waking us up about every half hour to demand snacks, television shows, songs, etc (none of which she received of course) and I am so tired today I could just about choke someone. We're gonna throw down about this and I don't even care. I'm over it...she needs to get her act together before I'm dealing with two of them!
Had my glucose test done last week, and now I'm being called back to do the three-hour test because I failed it. I think it's because they told me I could have breakfast that morning, because it was only off by a little bit. I'm seriously toying with the idea of canceling the stupid test...I'm so over being poked and prodded--most likely for no reason--because the doctors have to cover their butts on EVERY LITTLE THING to avoid lawsuits. I totally get why they do it, but I am DONE. I do not have gestational diabetes. They will NOT be taking chocolate out of my diet....I've completely given up alcohol, I have coffee about once a week...THEY AREN'T TAKING CHOCOLATE TOO. That is all I have left to get me through these last twelve weeks!!! I have to deal with Psycho Toddler who never sleeps (and do it by myself), cramps and sciatic nerve pain, issues at work, and everything in between...I'm not going to do it while eating like a freaking rabbit. Also at my last appointment, the baby had flipped head-up....GAHHHHHH!!! I was suspicious because for a few days prior, I'd felt a lot less movement and the kicks I did feel were aimed towards my bladder and intestines, I was also feeling pressure in weird places. Doc confirmed it: BREECH. Apparently, it's okay until 36 weeks so I'm not going to worry yet, especially because I think he just flipped back to the head-down position a few days ago...movement and pressure and definitely more consistent with how it was before. YEAHH!!! Here's hoping!
By the way, I apologize to anyone signing in who was expecting to read a post written by Susie Sunshine... ;o) This pregnancy (and all the other things going on right now) has taken me to all new levels of sarcasm, cynicism, and general crankiness. I'm very happy about the baby but other things are getting me down. And speaking of the baby...he FINALLY has a name: Craig Jonathan, just like his dad. :) We're still planning on calling him CJ. Also--and for some reason I'm finding this highly amusing--I sat down to make a huge list of things we need, and it turned out to be...not so huge. The usual consumable items: diapers, wipes, bath stuff, Mylicon, etc. and a few other things: crib bedding (I already have extra crib sheets from Ava, so we just need to order the bedding set we want to use), clothes, I would like a video monitor and Craig wants a Diaper Genie. That's seriously about it. We're not doing a double stroller, I plan on carrying CJ in a sling/carrier/whatever and letting Ava use the stroller for as long as possible, and since she'll be four years old when he's 8 months, I figure by then or shortly thereafter she'll be old enough to walk and he can take over the stroller.
That's all I've got for now. Craig is anxious for me to get off of my butt and clean the kitchen so we can "hang out" for awhile, but seeing how last night he was asleep by the time I put Ava to bed (8:30!!!!) I'm guessing we won't be spending time together tonight either, and I'll be catching up on our TV shows alone. I should really be used to this "alone" thing by now, you know? :-P
Oh, side note: Ava is still waking up in the middle of the night and relocating to our room. I'm going to attempt to put a stop to that, if not in the next few nights then over track-out in four weeks. It's INSANE...last night she came in at 2am and was a raging monster the entire night, waking us up about every half hour to demand snacks, television shows, songs, etc (none of which she received of course) and I am so tired today I could just about choke someone. We're gonna throw down about this and I don't even care. I'm over it...she needs to get her act together before I'm dealing with two of them!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Oops...
I didn't even realize my last post was a month ago...time has been flying by! Craig has been working a LOT and in addition to flying solo most of the time, my job has been extremely busy and extremely stressful for a variety of reasons. Ava is sick again (what appears to be a cold) and as a result we haven't been sleeping well, and I've broken all of my own rules and let her sleep in my bed this week. To be fair to myself, I do start her off in her own bed but after a few hours she wakes up from coughing or night terrors, and it's just easier to put her in bed with me: she's within easy reach so I can prop her head back up on the pillow or give her a drink, and we both lose less sleep. I've been telling her constantly that she's only allowed in the bed when Daddy isn't home, so hopefully it won't be a problem when he's home this weekend!
In pregnancy news, I'm torn between wanting to be done already and terrified because we've done nothing thus far to plan for the baby, who, by the way, still doesn't have a name...Craig is insisting on naming him, but won't actually pick anything out....he just knows he definitely wants to go with the family tradition of giving him the initials "C.J." He also wants to call him that--CJ. I'm not thrilled but really, I'm not thrilled with any boys' names so it's just as good as the next one I guess. ;o) So our kid has a nickname but no name, he has a nursery full of pink blankets and Christmas decorations...that about covers it. Guess we'd better get moving, only 14 1/2 weeks left! On the other hand, it feels like a lifetime: CJ is sitting on my sciatic nerve, which is annoying and painful. Sometimes I'm fine, other times I'm limping around, dragging my right leg because it's too painful to take normal steps. I can't even go to a chiropractor because Craig is never around to watch Ava. So this weekend, I'm going to get a facial and a pregnancy massage (what, you didn't know facials were good for the sciatic nerve? ;o)...that should help the physical pain and hopefully dissipate some of the stress and tension that's been building the past few weeks. Oh, and I'm glad I hoarded some of my Zofran pills...I'm still hit with occasional bouts of nausea. Nothing like the morning sickness of the first trimester but it still isn't fun. There IS good news though--by the grace of God, I've been spared thus far (knock on wood) from any real illnesses, and they are running rampant at school right now. It really grosses me out...I wash and sanitize my hands frequently while I'm working. I've also been spared--again, knock on wood because I have 14+ weeks left--from stretch marks. If I can pull that one off, I will be a happy camper for sure!
That's about it for now, mostly because I'm too tired to continue typing. I'm going to have some nighttime tea, read for a bit, and go to bed. Ava will probably be up from coughing and/or night terrors in a few hours, I need all the sleep I can get.
In pregnancy news, I'm torn between wanting to be done already and terrified because we've done nothing thus far to plan for the baby, who, by the way, still doesn't have a name...Craig is insisting on naming him, but won't actually pick anything out....he just knows he definitely wants to go with the family tradition of giving him the initials "C.J." He also wants to call him that--CJ. I'm not thrilled but really, I'm not thrilled with any boys' names so it's just as good as the next one I guess. ;o) So our kid has a nickname but no name, he has a nursery full of pink blankets and Christmas decorations...that about covers it. Guess we'd better get moving, only 14 1/2 weeks left! On the other hand, it feels like a lifetime: CJ is sitting on my sciatic nerve, which is annoying and painful. Sometimes I'm fine, other times I'm limping around, dragging my right leg because it's too painful to take normal steps. I can't even go to a chiropractor because Craig is never around to watch Ava. So this weekend, I'm going to get a facial and a pregnancy massage (what, you didn't know facials were good for the sciatic nerve? ;o)...that should help the physical pain and hopefully dissipate some of the stress and tension that's been building the past few weeks. Oh, and I'm glad I hoarded some of my Zofran pills...I'm still hit with occasional bouts of nausea. Nothing like the morning sickness of the first trimester but it still isn't fun. There IS good news though--by the grace of God, I've been spared thus far (knock on wood) from any real illnesses, and they are running rampant at school right now. It really grosses me out...I wash and sanitize my hands frequently while I'm working. I've also been spared--again, knock on wood because I have 14+ weeks left--from stretch marks. If I can pull that one off, I will be a happy camper for sure!
That's about it for now, mostly because I'm too tired to continue typing. I'm going to have some nighttime tea, read for a bit, and go to bed. Ava will probably be up from coughing and/or night terrors in a few hours, I need all the sleep I can get.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year!
I don't do resolutions...in fact, we don't even do New Year's Eve around here, as it's our goal every night to be asleep before midnight. ;o) This year I was awake (thanks, neighbors exploding things for three solid hours!) and watching Food Network, but fell asleep from approx. 11:45 to--I kid you not--12:01. Kind of lame to miss the new year by one minute, but oh well...I was more bummed about missing who became The Next Food Network Star, ha ha! Things are relatively calm here but will pick up quickly: my dad arrives in a few hours, in-laws and mom on Thursday, then it's a school work day, Ava's birthday on Saturday, and back to work for the dreaded 3rd quarter on Monday. UGH....I hate third quarter. Anyhow, enough whining....here's the rundown on kid stuff:
Baby Boy:
*I'm now 21 weeks: more than halfway there! Woohoo! Aside from the awful first trimester and one pregnancy side effect that is persisting (which I will not discuss because it's TMI) and the fact that I'd love some wine but cannot have any, I'm having a great second trimester. I'm so much more relaxed than I was with Ava, when I feared disaster around every corner...baby boy is very active (heaven help us, I really need a calm baby this time!) and the constant kicks are reassuring, but even during periods of no kicking I'm not worried. Considering how much I'm not a fan of being knocked up, I really do enjoy this part, where I feel the baby move but am not horribly sick or uncomfortable. It's pretty awesome. :)
*I don't seem to be gaining much weight. Not worried...I just hope it means this will be a smaller baby, although there's still plenty of time for me to blow up. Apparently I should've gained 10-16 lbs. by now and I'm at about 7 lbs. Hmmmm.
*We're working on a name, and are almost there...but this is turning out to be more of a problem than it was with Ava. I had her first name picked out before conception, and then let Craig pick the middle name...we had it all settled about 48 hours after we found out she was a girl. Craig, however, is VERY opinionated this time around: first of all, he wants the baby to have the traditional Haynor boy initials of CJH. We don't like ANY of the same "C" or "J" names though. He then suggested naming the baby after himself, which is fine with me--but then he decided he doesn't want the kid to be a "junior" and wants a different middle name....which we cannot agree upon. There's one we're tossing around, I just don't think it goes very well with Craig. Ah well. Either way, the kid will be called "CJ" so we've got that settled...Baby CJ. We just don't know exactly what it stands for yet.... ;o)
Ava:
*She is so, so excited about her baby brother! She even asked if we could invite him to her birthday party, ha ha! Like he really has a choice.... ;o) I think she'll actually be pretty helpful once he arrives and am very grateful for their 3 1/2 year age difference: old enough that she knows what's going on and can help out, but not so old that she was accustomed to being an only child and will resent being "replaced." We're trying to include her as much as possible in the process so she feels like this is her baby too, which he is, instead of feeling like she's being pushed aside. I don't remember feeling any resentment when Michael was born, and he and I were the same distance apart as Ava and her brother.
*We have started to solve some of the sleep issues, woohoo! Taking her off of Zyrtec seems to have helped a bit with the restlessness and crying out at night, and I came up with a solution for bedtime: instead of one of us sitting in her room, her Tinkerbell doll sleeps in her bed with her. I leave the door open about six inches with the hall light on, and I promise to come back and check on Ava periodically. If she's particularly restless I'll check within 5 minutes so she knows I'm not lying, otherwise I wait 10-15 minutes and she's usually asleep. We also had to admit defeat with the afternoon naps...she's just over them. We had to fight to get her to go to sleep, she'd finally go down and then we'd have to wake her up, and then she was too awake to fall asleep at night. She's dropped them with almost no problem, except right now she's passed out cold on the couch. Fell asleep with a stick of string cheese in her hand and everything, ha ha! She had a restless night last night (I still think she has night terrors, she was crying out about bees) and then a busy morning with a play date, so she was worn out. I'm trying not to think about what this will do to her bedtime.
*My 3-year-old has become so articulate and easy to talk to, I almost cannot believe it...talking TO her instead of AT her, having conversations she really understands, etc. I know this is probably normal but to me, she seems like such a smart little thing (okay, not so little...she's almost in 5T clothes, yikes!)...good grief, what a "mom" thing to say.... ;o) Although she is still stubborn and tempermental and can throw down one heck of a tantrum when the mood strikes her, they seem to be dying out at least a little bit. I'm hoping the road to her fourth birthday will be some smoother every day! Technically she's not even three yet though, so I'm not getting my hopes up too much!
*I could start a blog simply based on the funny things she says...and actually a lot of people probably wish I would, rather than constantly posting them on Facebook...haha! I cannot help it...she's so wild and she just cracks us up!
Well, that's about it for now...I'm enjoying some tea and getting a few thank-yous and other letters mailed off, and am going to have to make another attempt to wake the sleepingbeast beauty before I completely wreck her bedtime!
Baby Boy:
*I'm now 21 weeks: more than halfway there! Woohoo! Aside from the awful first trimester and one pregnancy side effect that is persisting (which I will not discuss because it's TMI) and the fact that I'd love some wine but cannot have any, I'm having a great second trimester. I'm so much more relaxed than I was with Ava, when I feared disaster around every corner...baby boy is very active (heaven help us, I really need a calm baby this time!) and the constant kicks are reassuring, but even during periods of no kicking I'm not worried. Considering how much I'm not a fan of being knocked up, I really do enjoy this part, where I feel the baby move but am not horribly sick or uncomfortable. It's pretty awesome. :)
*I don't seem to be gaining much weight. Not worried...I just hope it means this will be a smaller baby, although there's still plenty of time for me to blow up. Apparently I should've gained 10-16 lbs. by now and I'm at about 7 lbs. Hmmmm.
*We're working on a name, and are almost there...but this is turning out to be more of a problem than it was with Ava. I had her first name picked out before conception, and then let Craig pick the middle name...we had it all settled about 48 hours after we found out she was a girl. Craig, however, is VERY opinionated this time around: first of all, he wants the baby to have the traditional Haynor boy initials of CJH. We don't like ANY of the same "C" or "J" names though. He then suggested naming the baby after himself, which is fine with me--but then he decided he doesn't want the kid to be a "junior" and wants a different middle name....which we cannot agree upon. There's one we're tossing around, I just don't think it goes very well with Craig. Ah well. Either way, the kid will be called "CJ" so we've got that settled...Baby CJ. We just don't know exactly what it stands for yet.... ;o)
Ava:
*She is so, so excited about her baby brother! She even asked if we could invite him to her birthday party, ha ha! Like he really has a choice.... ;o) I think she'll actually be pretty helpful once he arrives and am very grateful for their 3 1/2 year age difference: old enough that she knows what's going on and can help out, but not so old that she was accustomed to being an only child and will resent being "replaced." We're trying to include her as much as possible in the process so she feels like this is her baby too, which he is, instead of feeling like she's being pushed aside. I don't remember feeling any resentment when Michael was born, and he and I were the same distance apart as Ava and her brother.
*We have started to solve some of the sleep issues, woohoo! Taking her off of Zyrtec seems to have helped a bit with the restlessness and crying out at night, and I came up with a solution for bedtime: instead of one of us sitting in her room, her Tinkerbell doll sleeps in her bed with her. I leave the door open about six inches with the hall light on, and I promise to come back and check on Ava periodically. If she's particularly restless I'll check within 5 minutes so she knows I'm not lying, otherwise I wait 10-15 minutes and she's usually asleep. We also had to admit defeat with the afternoon naps...she's just over them. We had to fight to get her to go to sleep, she'd finally go down and then we'd have to wake her up, and then she was too awake to fall asleep at night. She's dropped them with almost no problem, except right now she's passed out cold on the couch. Fell asleep with a stick of string cheese in her hand and everything, ha ha! She had a restless night last night (I still think she has night terrors, she was crying out about bees) and then a busy morning with a play date, so she was worn out. I'm trying not to think about what this will do to her bedtime.
*My 3-year-old has become so articulate and easy to talk to, I almost cannot believe it...talking TO her instead of AT her, having conversations she really understands, etc. I know this is probably normal but to me, she seems like such a smart little thing (okay, not so little...she's almost in 5T clothes, yikes!)...good grief, what a "mom" thing to say.... ;o) Although she is still stubborn and tempermental and can throw down one heck of a tantrum when the mood strikes her, they seem to be dying out at least a little bit. I'm hoping the road to her fourth birthday will be some smoother every day! Technically she's not even three yet though, so I'm not getting my hopes up too much!
*I could start a blog simply based on the funny things she says...and actually a lot of people probably wish I would, rather than constantly posting them on Facebook...haha! I cannot help it...she's so wild and she just cracks us up!
Well, that's about it for now...I'm enjoying some tea and getting a few thank-yous and other letters mailed off, and am going to have to make another attempt to wake the sleeping
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