Between my daughter and myself, I don't even have a full day of sick leave from work. To make up the time I needed for sinusitis last week, I've had to work both Friday and Saturday last weekend and this weekend. On top of that, dealing with the general public (many of whom seem completely helpless) is draining no matter what. I'm still easily tired, and my daughter's cough and chest rattle are stressing me out. Thankfully, my husband is taking her to the doctor on Monday morning to see if there's anything we can do besides her nebulizer or inhaler. Maybe she has RSV, we have no idea. Just hearing her cough and seeing her look so tired makes me sad that there's nothing we know to do to make her better.
In other news, you may have seen on Facebook that there was some major drama involving alcohol last weekend. Everything/one is on the right track now, thank God! But here's my stance on things: once you get married, there are going to be things that you may have enjoyed while you were single that can no longer be indulged. Once you have a kid and you intend on being a responsible parent, you can't party till all hours of the night and come home drunk and unable to remember anything. Or maybe that's fine with your spouse, but it doesn't fly in my house. Anyway, like I said, we're recovering and it seems as though everything will be fine. The situation is making us stronger and better as a couple.
But then there's always my husband's work schedule. Let me just say, if you don't already know, shift work sucks (probably anyway), but especially if you have a family. This week we see each other briefly in the morning before our daughter and I leave for school and work (respectively), and at night, we're already asleep by the time he gets home. Next week, he'll work overnights and while he's around to help in the evenings getting baby to bed, and in the mornings to help get her ready for school so I can get ready for work, he's so tired and there's not much time for bonding left. The shift I think both of us prefer he work is the one that's 6a-3p. She's easy in the morning as long as you make a bottle for breakfast the night before. Getting her to bed, feeding myself, and trying to get anything else done before my bedtime is a lot after a whole day at work and when it's just you.
And to end on a happy note, she's taken her first crawl - just a few short "steps" - and is trying to pull herself up. She loves standing while holding onto her crib or playpen or leaning up against the floor mirror in our bedroom. She'll be eleven months old on Christmas Day, so her first birthday party is already getting planned for January. It's exciting!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Time Is Flying!
How are we already in Thanksgiving week?! Last night we had the privilege to attend the Celebration in the Oaks Family Preview Party for free. It was a really nice experience since it was much less crowded than a regular night. We got to ride the train and see all the lights (except in the Botanical Garden, which wasn't ready/open yet); which is really hard to do during regular Celebration in the Oaks hours because it always sells out before I get there! She instinctively waived at Santa, and said hey....then again, we also told her to waive and all the other kids were doing it.
Of course, the chilly fall temps have left us, so it doesn't feel super seasonal this week, but it will be nice for Thanksgiving. We're doing our typical three dinners - my in-laws at lunch, my brother's at dinner, and my cousins' on Friday. It's going to be exciting to see lil bit with all of her cousins, especially now that she's getting more and more mobile. She'll roll, or now she's starting to scoot to get around on her own. I keep waiting for her to crawl because she gets in position and rocks for a few minutes, but she never takes off. Instead, she gets into rolling position and takes off that way. She's a trip!
She's getting tons of gifts from my husband's side of the family, and we're done shopping for her, too. Oh, our tiny home is already bursting at the seams, but it's her first Christmas! Her first birthday is just one month later! Her Amazon wish list is quickly dwindling. I'm not complaining, though. She is very loved.
There are lots of holiday events we're hoping to do in the next few weeks, so we'll be pleasantly busy. I'm looking forward to seeing her open presents for the first time, playing with all of her cousins, and for the family time we'll all get. My husband and I will even get some time to ourselves, which we really need. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
Of course, the chilly fall temps have left us, so it doesn't feel super seasonal this week, but it will be nice for Thanksgiving. We're doing our typical three dinners - my in-laws at lunch, my brother's at dinner, and my cousins' on Friday. It's going to be exciting to see lil bit with all of her cousins, especially now that she's getting more and more mobile. She'll roll, or now she's starting to scoot to get around on her own. I keep waiting for her to crawl because she gets in position and rocks for a few minutes, but she never takes off. Instead, she gets into rolling position and takes off that way. She's a trip!
She's getting tons of gifts from my husband's side of the family, and we're done shopping for her, too. Oh, our tiny home is already bursting at the seams, but it's her first Christmas! Her first birthday is just one month later! Her Amazon wish list is quickly dwindling. I'm not complaining, though. She is very loved.
There are lots of holiday events we're hoping to do in the next few weeks, so we'll be pleasantly busy. I'm looking forward to seeing her open presents for the first time, playing with all of her cousins, and for the family time we'll all get. My husband and I will even get some time to ourselves, which we really need. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
Friday, October 10, 2014
Family Ties and Tying Up Loose Ends
In the last post, I mentioned weight being an issue for me. I don't know that I'm losing pounds, but I've been hearing a lot of compliments about how much smaller I look lately. We stopped eating premade frozen dinners, except for the occasional pizza, I've tried walking more (mostly at work), and I do 25 crunches once a week. It's nice to fit into some of my old favorite clothes again, but I've also been seriously cleaning out my closet, which is mentally freeing.
Also, one of the families I commented about in a previous post, has seemed to clean their act up a bit. There are now two children, and the father seems much calmer with them both - even sweetly affectionate to the newborn baby. The mom seems more attentive, and the older child seems better behaved. Maybe the pregnancy was just that stressful on them before. Either way, I'm glad they seem so much happier and loving toward each other.
Our sweet bugaboo is already 8 months old! A friend commented the other day that her time in my belly didn't seem to go as quickly as her growing up now. It's true! Watching our sweet bebe learn and understand things is amazing and awesome! This morning, she put her hand up to her mouth to blow me a kiss! As she grows, I think learning about her family is very important. I don't have living grandparents, and all of my great aunts are gone, too; that's why her middle name is my maternal grandmother's first name. I wish I'd have known her better. Her first name is my mom's middle name, and unbeknownst to me during the baby naming process, was also my dad's mother's name; however, she's mostly named after St. Ann, but with an 'e'. AMB finally met some cousins on my side of the family a couple of weeks ago, including a second visit with one of my uncles and his wife. My sister-in-law and I feel that our girls need to know where they come from and develop a good support system. Extended family is really important to both of us.
Also, one of the families I commented about in a previous post, has seemed to clean their act up a bit. There are now two children, and the father seems much calmer with them both - even sweetly affectionate to the newborn baby. The mom seems more attentive, and the older child seems better behaved. Maybe the pregnancy was just that stressful on them before. Either way, I'm glad they seem so much happier and loving toward each other.
Our sweet bugaboo is already 8 months old! A friend commented the other day that her time in my belly didn't seem to go as quickly as her growing up now. It's true! Watching our sweet bebe learn and understand things is amazing and awesome! This morning, she put her hand up to her mouth to blow me a kiss! As she grows, I think learning about her family is very important. I don't have living grandparents, and all of my great aunts are gone, too; that's why her middle name is my maternal grandmother's first name. I wish I'd have known her better. Her first name is my mom's middle name, and unbeknownst to me during the baby naming process, was also my dad's mother's name; however, she's mostly named after St. Ann, but with an 'e'. AMB finally met some cousins on my side of the family a couple of weeks ago, including a second visit with one of my uncles and his wife. My sister-in-law and I feel that our girls need to know where they come from and develop a good support system. Extended family is really important to both of us.
Friday, August 29, 2014
August
Where'd it go? I can't believe we'll be in September on Monday! Our sweet girl is already 7 months old and trying to crawl and sit up all by herself!
When working on my budget sheet for August, I realized that I hadn't been to yoga at all this month! I also found out, after a wellness visit to my GP that my LDL is high. For the next six months, I need to be on a low-fat diet and then I'll get to fast again for another blood test. Oh, joy.
Over the course of the last two weeks, three different people asked me if I was pregnant again or when I was due. The first time I was just shocked, although, I knew I wasn't getting any thinner. The second time I was really upset, and the third time I used it as a motivator to start walking in the evenings. Well, that happened twice, but then it was getting dark too early by the time we could get out of the house, and now my allergies are severely cramping my style.
I weighed myself a few days ago and discovered that I have gained 4.5 lbs.. That plus the 20 lbs. I'm still carrying around post pregnancy has had me reading about gastrointestinal issues and healthy eating without dieting - basically trying to figure out not only why I'm not losing weight, but gaining. Is it simply because I have a desk job? The book that I've really gotten into to help is called Joyous Health. At first, I thought it was a bunch of hippy dippy fluff, but turns out it is really cool to know how different foods affect your body.
I have not yet taken the blood test for celiac disease, but according to everything I've read online and in books - even down to bowel movements - it sure sounds like that's what I have. That would explain the weight gain and tummy issues I've been experiencing for a while, but not the LDL. And no, I'm not one of those jump on the bandwagon types with the gluten-free fad and I've never dieted before. I've known a girl with a gluten sensitivity and tried some of her food; it's not a diet I'm looking forward to switching to if that does turn out to be what I have. Plus, husband's a beer brewer, so how ironic would that be?
We also need to figure out if there's a connection between baby girl's eczema and her food. The last time she was getting a check up, it was suggested that we get a blood test done to see if she's allergic to anything in her formula since she keeps getting eczema flare ups. She's a happy little sprite, though, so at least she's not really suffering. Of course, I just found this, which says there's no connection to food. Life, the never ending learning experience!
That's what we've been up to lately. A few friends have deemed it "survival mode" (there are books on it, though!). Hopefully, September will include more exercise, free time, and a healthier diet for a happier momma. However, I am very thankful for our girl's and my husband's good health!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Baby's First Christmas
What do you give your own kid for their first Christmas outside the womb??? Grandparents and extended family will spoil her, no doubt, and our home is already bursting at the seams! Plus, her birthday is in January!
Here are some suggestions we've gotten from friends, which we're taking into consideration:
Savings bonds. We've also read into 529 plans. College, even at a public one, is going to be expensive and as the saying goes, "it's never too early to start saving".
The rule of 4. Give something she needs, wants, reads, and something to wear. I've made her a list of books on Amazon (with some other things), she needs diapers, containers to put food in once she gets more into solids (which we assume she will be by Christmas), and ummm, I can't think of anything else at the moment. By the time Christmas and her birthday get here, she'll need more clothes, but right now she's got tons and it's a point of contention between her dad and I (storing them, that is). As for something she wants, well, she doesn't say actual words yet, so maybe closer to Christmas we'll have a clue. She's already got a decent collection of stuffed animals and probably a blanket for each one of them.
Somehow, when I was celebrating my first Christmas, I had lots and lots of huge boxes to unwrap (as I've seen in photos), so what in the world was I getting? Sister-in-law and I hit up Home Goods the other day and got things started with gifts for the girls (my niece will be celebrating her first Christmas out of the womb, too!) - a musical toy, two board books, and a bath toy set for my girl - and I'm not telling what I got for my niece because I want it to be a surprise for her parents, too!
What did you get your kid(s) for their first Christmas?
Sunday, July 20, 2014
When Will I Get My Me Time?
Before I begin to vent, let me say that I love being a mother to this girl and a wife to this man. And now, I commence.
I know all of this is normal for being a parent, first time or not, and it's a shame that it has to be this uphill battle for so long since having a family is such a blessing. How is it that I (and I think many mothers) barely get any time to myself? My husband still gets a decent amount, and he's not a lazy or uninvolved dad. In fact, he's one of the most involved dad's I know by a long shot! It's just the way things fall with our schedules.
He's often off during the week, so I'm at work and our daughter is at daycare; therefore, he gets entire days to himself. He's not necessarily playing video games or wasting time; most of the time he's taking care of chores or running errands, but it is easier to do any of those things when you're on your own. I'm off every other Friday/Saturday and every Sunday. When I'm off, our daughter is also home so whether it's doing chores, paying bills, or running errands, everything is more complicated because of diaper changes and feeding and needing attention.
An example is today. Husband went to work early to help out with a project, so from about 7 AM till about 9 PM, I have taken a 30 minute nap with our daughter; done two loads of laundry; baked lasagna not from a box; gone to the grocery; gone to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get some things off our registry; laid out driftwood and cap and can pieces for sculptures that need to be made by August 1; put away most of our daughter's laundry; bathed our daughter; picked up a folding table from a friend for the market August 1; fed our daughter multiple times - feeding her a bottle with one hand right now and just fed her oatmeal a few minutes before (she holds her bottle sometimes, but not always); changed her diaper several times, two of which were poops; put a bag of baby items together to bring to a consignment shop sometime this week; cleaned up oatmeal from the dining area since our baby thinks it's fun to wear her food and also believes that everyone and everything else should, too. I also washed dishes, nearly filled the dishwasher, and cleared some counter space off in the kitchen. I still need to bathe myself, get my lunch ready for work tomorrow, and put some of my laundry away so I can actually sleep in our bed.
The upside to all this insanity is that I get to spend time with our baby girl - see and hear and make her laugh, watch her achieve her milestones, like holding her bottle, trying to sit up on her own, and waiving; hear all her shrills and shrieks and other sounds she likes to make; watch her interact with her toys; show her off when we run errands; tell her how much I love her; and kiss her and put her to bed every night. Her daddy doesn't get to do all that nearly as often, especially putting her to bed at night.
This isn't newborn hard - nothing is as tough as that was! - but this isn't easy. I've even toyed with the idea of working part time just so we could eat dinner at a semi-normal time instead of 9 PM or later many nights, and to have more time to work with our daughter's physical achievements like tummy time, working toward crawling, and introducing more solid foods. When she's at daycare, I could run errands, finish the several art projects I have laying around, actually finish reading a book, make phone calls that I usually have to make on my lunch breaks.
See, my lunch break isn't mine either. At the beginning, I'd go visit her at daycare because I missed her. I still miss her, but she's getting to the point that she knows if I'm not there. Then I had to go to give her her inhaler for a couple of weeks. Now I have to get gas, call doctors and or insurance companies or make other business hour phone calls that I can't make when I get off work because everything of that nature closes at 4:30 or 5.
I've just put her to bed, which she and I are both very happy about, but my husband just walked in the door and again, any chance of "me time" is squashed. Thankfully, he needed a shower so I can at least finish this post before starting to do things once again - serve dinner, talk about our day, be affectionate, and superficially ignore the fact that our love life isn't wonderful because we are tired or stressed. It's no wonder I can't lose these last twenty pounds, am fighting a sinus infection, and feel just as unrested as any other day after a weekend. By the way, we can't afford me to work part time so full time it is. Ah, the life of a parent. Yet, I still can't close the door on the idea of possibly having another child one day. We'll see, though....right now, we're definitely good with just one!
I know all of this is normal for being a parent, first time or not, and it's a shame that it has to be this uphill battle for so long since having a family is such a blessing. How is it that I (and I think many mothers) barely get any time to myself? My husband still gets a decent amount, and he's not a lazy or uninvolved dad. In fact, he's one of the most involved dad's I know by a long shot! It's just the way things fall with our schedules.
He's often off during the week, so I'm at work and our daughter is at daycare; therefore, he gets entire days to himself. He's not necessarily playing video games or wasting time; most of the time he's taking care of chores or running errands, but it is easier to do any of those things when you're on your own. I'm off every other Friday/Saturday and every Sunday. When I'm off, our daughter is also home so whether it's doing chores, paying bills, or running errands, everything is more complicated because of diaper changes and feeding and needing attention.
An example is today. Husband went to work early to help out with a project, so from about 7 AM till about 9 PM, I have taken a 30 minute nap with our daughter; done two loads of laundry; baked lasagna not from a box; gone to the grocery; gone to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get some things off our registry; laid out driftwood and cap and can pieces for sculptures that need to be made by August 1; put away most of our daughter's laundry; bathed our daughter; picked up a folding table from a friend for the market August 1; fed our daughter multiple times - feeding her a bottle with one hand right now and just fed her oatmeal a few minutes before (she holds her bottle sometimes, but not always); changed her diaper several times, two of which were poops; put a bag of baby items together to bring to a consignment shop sometime this week; cleaned up oatmeal from the dining area since our baby thinks it's fun to wear her food and also believes that everyone and everything else should, too. I also washed dishes, nearly filled the dishwasher, and cleared some counter space off in the kitchen. I still need to bathe myself, get my lunch ready for work tomorrow, and put some of my laundry away so I can actually sleep in our bed.
The upside to all this insanity is that I get to spend time with our baby girl - see and hear and make her laugh, watch her achieve her milestones, like holding her bottle, trying to sit up on her own, and waiving; hear all her shrills and shrieks and other sounds she likes to make; watch her interact with her toys; show her off when we run errands; tell her how much I love her; and kiss her and put her to bed every night. Her daddy doesn't get to do all that nearly as often, especially putting her to bed at night.
This isn't newborn hard - nothing is as tough as that was! - but this isn't easy. I've even toyed with the idea of working part time just so we could eat dinner at a semi-normal time instead of 9 PM or later many nights, and to have more time to work with our daughter's physical achievements like tummy time, working toward crawling, and introducing more solid foods. When she's at daycare, I could run errands, finish the several art projects I have laying around, actually finish reading a book, make phone calls that I usually have to make on my lunch breaks.
See, my lunch break isn't mine either. At the beginning, I'd go visit her at daycare because I missed her. I still miss her, but she's getting to the point that she knows if I'm not there. Then I had to go to give her her inhaler for a couple of weeks. Now I have to get gas, call doctors and or insurance companies or make other business hour phone calls that I can't make when I get off work because everything of that nature closes at 4:30 or 5.
I've just put her to bed, which she and I are both very happy about, but my husband just walked in the door and again, any chance of "me time" is squashed. Thankfully, he needed a shower so I can at least finish this post before starting to do things once again - serve dinner, talk about our day, be affectionate, and superficially ignore the fact that our love life isn't wonderful because we are tired or stressed. It's no wonder I can't lose these last twenty pounds, am fighting a sinus infection, and feel just as unrested as any other day after a weekend. By the way, we can't afford me to work part time so full time it is. Ah, the life of a parent. Yet, I still can't close the door on the idea of possibly having another child one day. We'll see, though....right now, we're definitely good with just one!
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Surrounded by Idiots: Raising a Child in Modern Society
Did you ever sit in a bar or coffee shop and get into passionate discussions with friends about politics or the state of the economy? While I try to avoid confrontational conversations like that with people these days, I at least sat in on several of those types of discussions into my late twenties. Especially as I got into my thirties, I began to think - mostly quietly, but along with everyone else - that raising a child in today's society was a scary idea. So scary, in fact, that I was hesitant to have my own children because trying to protect them from so many things seemed impossible.
Well, now I have a daughter. Her dad and I have a great relationship and we think she'll grow up to be a good citizen. We recycle, we love animals, we're health conscious....heck, we're conscious! Which, unfortunately, I can't say is true for a lot of people. The following examples are things that I have dealt with first hand. While it would be annoying to my pre-pregnant/parent self, it's maddening to me as a parent.
When I was nine months pregnant I went to Barnes and Noble one evening. There were some teens hanging out in front, and as I was walking to the doors, two of them walked in in front of me. The first one held the door for his friend, but the second one (his friend) did not hold the door when I was right behind him. There are two sets of doors, so the first time I blew it off and thought the guy didn't see me. The second set of doors, however, the teen actually turned to me, took his hand off the door and said, "oh sorry....I wish", and looked back at me. Had I not been nine months pregnant, I imagined that I would have grabbed him by the shirt collar and yanked him back before yelling at him about what a crappy kid he was, what would his parents think, etc. In real non-pregnant/hormonal life, I'd have said something clever and snarky with the same sentiments as my pregnant/emotion/hormone filled self was thinking.
Another time when I was driving home from work and on my way to pick up our daughter, a car full of twenty somethings stopped in my lane until I got really close with my car, only to then floor it into a parking lot. They all looked at me and laughed, as though causing an accident or even getting killed was hilarious. Again, where did things go so wrong in their lives that they have no respect for themselves, their parents, each other, life? How is a situation like that humorous?
It's been a while since I've seen this family, but every time the scenario is the same. There was a cute little boy in library with his parents. He was having a good time playing with the activity center in the children's section, his mother was using a computer, and his father was in and out of the library to get things out of the car, or to smoke. The entire time the mother is on the computer, the child keeps asking his dad to play with him, while the dad looks at his son with disdain and either tells his son to stay put or makes him come outside while he smokes. At one point, the little boy comes running out of the children's section, cigarette lighter in hand and he trips, the lighter sliding across the floor (how I noticed what it actually was). This poor child is being treated like he's not important or a burden. His mother seemed to semi-humor him once she got off the computer, but she was still preoccupied with her thoughts. My take is trashy parents raise trashy kids. This little boy would likely grow up to be a good kid if his parents gave him attention, and presented themselves better. Instead, he's playing with cigarette lighters, begging for attention, and will likely grow up to do something crazy for attention and possibly end up in jail or worse.
Am I being judgy? You bet! Am I making assumptions? Yes. But I don't think they're too far off. I'm betting the Barnes and Noble teens are from a well-off family and they feel entitled; the awful driving twenty-somethings could be from anywhere, and it's obvious that the library family is not well off. Point being, money has nothing to do with it. Raising a child is one of the most, if not the most important thing you will do in your life (only second to like, finding a cure for cancer or Alzheimer's). Have fun with it, but take it seriously. It's kind of a big deal. Setting good examples and breaking bad habits is hard, and we are far from perfect or experts. It's just common sense and being aware. And really the whole point of this post is not to tell anyone what to do or how to be, but that I don't want our daughter growing up in this nation of idiots that we seem to live in. I want her to be in a society that is aware, conscious, and tries to do their best, even if it's tough. And no, we're not hipsters, or hippies - just two educated, conscious, working parents who try to do our best no matter how tired or broke we might be.
Well, now I have a daughter. Her dad and I have a great relationship and we think she'll grow up to be a good citizen. We recycle, we love animals, we're health conscious....heck, we're conscious! Which, unfortunately, I can't say is true for a lot of people. The following examples are things that I have dealt with first hand. While it would be annoying to my pre-pregnant/parent self, it's maddening to me as a parent.
When I was nine months pregnant I went to Barnes and Noble one evening. There were some teens hanging out in front, and as I was walking to the doors, two of them walked in in front of me. The first one held the door for his friend, but the second one (his friend) did not hold the door when I was right behind him. There are two sets of doors, so the first time I blew it off and thought the guy didn't see me. The second set of doors, however, the teen actually turned to me, took his hand off the door and said, "oh sorry....I wish", and looked back at me. Had I not been nine months pregnant, I imagined that I would have grabbed him by the shirt collar and yanked him back before yelling at him about what a crappy kid he was, what would his parents think, etc. In real non-pregnant/hormonal life, I'd have said something clever and snarky with the same sentiments as my pregnant/emotion/hormone filled self was thinking.
Another time when I was driving home from work and on my way to pick up our daughter, a car full of twenty somethings stopped in my lane until I got really close with my car, only to then floor it into a parking lot. They all looked at me and laughed, as though causing an accident or even getting killed was hilarious. Again, where did things go so wrong in their lives that they have no respect for themselves, their parents, each other, life? How is a situation like that humorous?
It's been a while since I've seen this family, but every time the scenario is the same. There was a cute little boy in library with his parents. He was having a good time playing with the activity center in the children's section, his mother was using a computer, and his father was in and out of the library to get things out of the car, or to smoke. The entire time the mother is on the computer, the child keeps asking his dad to play with him, while the dad looks at his son with disdain and either tells his son to stay put or makes him come outside while he smokes. At one point, the little boy comes running out of the children's section, cigarette lighter in hand and he trips, the lighter sliding across the floor (how I noticed what it actually was). This poor child is being treated like he's not important or a burden. His mother seemed to semi-humor him once she got off the computer, but she was still preoccupied with her thoughts. My take is trashy parents raise trashy kids. This little boy would likely grow up to be a good kid if his parents gave him attention, and presented themselves better. Instead, he's playing with cigarette lighters, begging for attention, and will likely grow up to do something crazy for attention and possibly end up in jail or worse.
Am I being judgy? You bet! Am I making assumptions? Yes. But I don't think they're too far off. I'm betting the Barnes and Noble teens are from a well-off family and they feel entitled; the awful driving twenty-somethings could be from anywhere, and it's obvious that the library family is not well off. Point being, money has nothing to do with it. Raising a child is one of the most, if not the most important thing you will do in your life (only second to like, finding a cure for cancer or Alzheimer's). Have fun with it, but take it seriously. It's kind of a big deal. Setting good examples and breaking bad habits is hard, and we are far from perfect or experts. It's just common sense and being aware. And really the whole point of this post is not to tell anyone what to do or how to be, but that I don't want our daughter growing up in this nation of idiots that we seem to live in. I want her to be in a society that is aware, conscious, and tries to do their best, even if it's tough. And no, we're not hipsters, or hippies - just two educated, conscious, working parents who try to do our best no matter how tired or broke we might be.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Body Image
Oh you last 15-20 pounds...if you didn't make me look like I ate too many donuts or drank too much beer, I might not care as much. Or if I didn't have a closet and a half worth of size 4 clothes that don't fit because I'm now a size 12, and I don't want to buy too many size 12 clothes in case I actually lose some more weight by the end of the year. That's my goal. What I've been told by other mothers and friends is that it took "9 months to put the weight on, it'll take at least 9 months to get it off".
I'm not joining a gym or changing my diet or anything else. I'm just doing my regular thing and if I lose weight, awesome! Maybe I should put some more effort into it. I don't know. I keep saying I'll try sit-ups or that I should ride my bike more, but it's hard to do things by yourself when you have a 5-month old and a husband who works 12-hour shifts. That's right - we got married a week ago! Woohoo!
Anyway, we all vent about our weight or being out of shape at some point. Just as I did not like to hear comments about being so thin before (people assumed I was vegetarian or watched what I ate all the time; it's called genetics and a high metabolism), I don't want to hear comments saying that I "have no room to talk" because I've never weighed over 200 pounds or that I've never been a size 22. I'm sorry you've always been the "fat kid" and that you got made fun of (their words, not mine). I'm proud of you for trying to change your life so you can lose some weight. My reality is different from yours. I used to weight 123 pounds and now I weigh 143 pounds. The vast majority of my clothes no longer fit and stare at me from my closet. I'm talking shoes, undergarments, shirts, pants, dresses, skirts....most of my clothes.
Am I excited about revamping my closet/style/wardrobe one day? You bet! But it's expensive and can't all be done at once. I got some great pieces at the Gulfport Outlets during our honeymoon to wear to work. I also keep reminding myself that most of my coworkers wear the same outfits over and over again every week so I don't need as much variety as I think I do in my closet. So far, it's working.
I'm not joining a gym or changing my diet or anything else. I'm just doing my regular thing and if I lose weight, awesome! Maybe I should put some more effort into it. I don't know. I keep saying I'll try sit-ups or that I should ride my bike more, but it's hard to do things by yourself when you have a 5-month old and a husband who works 12-hour shifts. That's right - we got married a week ago! Woohoo!
Anyway, we all vent about our weight or being out of shape at some point. Just as I did not like to hear comments about being so thin before (people assumed I was vegetarian or watched what I ate all the time; it's called genetics and a high metabolism), I don't want to hear comments saying that I "have no room to talk" because I've never weighed over 200 pounds or that I've never been a size 22. I'm sorry you've always been the "fat kid" and that you got made fun of (their words, not mine). I'm proud of you for trying to change your life so you can lose some weight. My reality is different from yours. I used to weight 123 pounds and now I weigh 143 pounds. The vast majority of my clothes no longer fit and stare at me from my closet. I'm talking shoes, undergarments, shirts, pants, dresses, skirts....most of my clothes.
Am I excited about revamping my closet/style/wardrobe one day? You bet! But it's expensive and can't all be done at once. I got some great pieces at the Gulfport Outlets during our honeymoon to wear to work. I also keep reminding myself that most of my coworkers wear the same outfits over and over again every week so I don't need as much variety as I think I do in my closet. So far, it's working.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Green Parenting
Green as in new, and as in respecting the planet.
Probably about two years ago, maybe longer, I was made aware of parabens and phthalates in make-up and lotions. I checked out an audio book from the library by Dr. Daniel Amen who talked at length about hormones, things we put into and onto our bodies, like parabens and phthalates. Both are known to cause cancer. I read the ingredients of all of my lotions and was bummed to find out all contained at least one of the chemicals. Parabens are preservatives and phthalates are commonly used in products with scents. My initial thought was to throw all the lotions away, but then I thought how wasteful that would be since I have so many. I'm slowly using them all up, and will start fresh with naturally made lotions from places like Green Oaks Apothecary, Mum Mum's or Lush. There are some things made at places like these for babies, too, but I'm not 100% comfortable using them without asking her pediatrician. Aveeno, Yes to...(carrots, blueberries, grapefruit, tomato), and Burt's Bees are great natural products, too, that can be found almost anywhere. This may be backwards, but I am comfortable using these commercially made products on baby because they meet certain guidelines.
Probably about two years ago, maybe longer, I was made aware of parabens and phthalates in make-up and lotions. I checked out an audio book from the library by Dr. Daniel Amen who talked at length about hormones, things we put into and onto our bodies, like parabens and phthalates. Both are known to cause cancer. I read the ingredients of all of my lotions and was bummed to find out all contained at least one of the chemicals. Parabens are preservatives and phthalates are commonly used in products with scents. My initial thought was to throw all the lotions away, but then I thought how wasteful that would be since I have so many. I'm slowly using them all up, and will start fresh with naturally made lotions from places like Green Oaks Apothecary, Mum Mum's or Lush. There are some things made at places like these for babies, too, but I'm not 100% comfortable using them without asking her pediatrician. Aveeno, Yes to...(carrots, blueberries, grapefruit, tomato), and Burt's Bees are great natural products, too, that can be found almost anywhere. This may be backwards, but I am comfortable using these commercially made products on baby because they meet certain guidelines.
Organic food is something that's interested me for a while, too. Unfortunately, claiming something is orgnaic is no guarantee it really is certified (from a grocery store standpoint) so buying from farmer's markets is the next best thing at this time. Fiance' and I are both interested in learning more about growing our own veggies and having somewhat of a mini-farm with chickens, etc. (one day) but without feeling exhausted from keeping up with that, and our regular jobs that pay the bills. Organic clothing, like Burt's Baby Bee, interests me, as well, but I haven't really had any experience with any of it. I'm assuming natural dyes are used and hope it's not all made in China or in a sweatshop. Anyone know if it's really worth it?
Biodegradable diapers seem like a good idea, but I've read that sometimes just because something's labeled as biodegradable, it isn't always true. There is an easy and organic way to make your own baby wipes that are not only good for baby's skin, but are so simple, they don't cause any environmental harm - thanks sis-in-law for the idea! I was considering trying cloth diapers, but fiance' said, 'no way'. Some friends said they'd find other ways to be green.
I'm still researching toys for baby. I'm not a fan of things that are cheap plastic, noisy contraptions that are made in China (yes, that's a big general swath); but I am a big promoter of 'imagination time'. Toys that are simple, that inspire her, don't overwhelm/overstimulate her, like some of the ones I've seen available through Little Pnuts or Citrus Lane. Toy cell phones make me batty, but I'm not sure why. We grew up with play phones and that didn't make me any more of a phone talker (I'm not a big phone talker). Plus, she sees both of us play on our phones, so it's inevitable she'll want to be like Mommy and Daddy and have her own.
When she's a little older and can stand on her own, I hope to do yoga together. I've done yoga for several years off and on, and I'm making a point to get back into it full-time again (see future post on anxiety). Other activities like bike riding, exploring outside, going to the park ranger talks at nature centers and state parks (I loved the one at Fort Pickens in Florida when I was a kid) will likely foster a respect for nature, which her dad and I both have.
Anyway, just parenting thoughts and ideals for nurturing our sweet bebe' who already seems to really like spending time on the patio looking at trees and listening to birds - thanks to TAG (my dad) for introducing her to that!
I'm still researching toys for baby. I'm not a fan of things that are cheap plastic, noisy contraptions that are made in China (yes, that's a big general swath); but I am a big promoter of 'imagination time'. Toys that are simple, that inspire her, don't overwhelm/overstimulate her, like some of the ones I've seen available through Little Pnuts or Citrus Lane. Toy cell phones make me batty, but I'm not sure why. We grew up with play phones and that didn't make me any more of a phone talker (I'm not a big phone talker). Plus, she sees both of us play on our phones, so it's inevitable she'll want to be like Mommy and Daddy and have her own.
When she's a little older and can stand on her own, I hope to do yoga together. I've done yoga for several years off and on, and I'm making a point to get back into it full-time again (see future post on anxiety). Other activities like bike riding, exploring outside, going to the park ranger talks at nature centers and state parks (I loved the one at Fort Pickens in Florida when I was a kid) will likely foster a respect for nature, which her dad and I both have.
Anyway, just parenting thoughts and ideals for nurturing our sweet bebe' who already seems to really like spending time on the patio looking at trees and listening to birds - thanks to TAG (my dad) for introducing her to that!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Bittersweet: the New Routine
Last Monday, I started back at work full-time. We had a truly lovely weekend together as a family. Fiance' was off Friday through Sunday, and we spent time with extended family, had a date night, saw old friends, and got dressed up and attended Easter Mass. It was exactly the type of weekend I needed before completely changing our routine.
Everything is different. The physical place where I work is different because the other building is getting renovated; the drive to work is a totally different route because of where daycare is located (but I actually feel safer taking this new route); not spending the majority of everyday with my Sweet Pea has been an adjustment; the routine at home is different because so much time is spent getting ready for work, but thankfully it's not been as militant as I was anticipating.
We've survived the first week. She's happy at daycare, so we're happy. Some friends have said that I'll never get over leaving her everyday, others say it takes a few weeks to a few months. Thankfully, I get lots of vacation time with federal holidays so time won't drag on too long before a day off pops up.
It's a good feeling knowing I'm contributing to our family's financial well-being again. I know that was a bit stressful for fiance'; however, I'm so thankful we were able to afford me staying home with Little Love for twelve weeks, even though I was getting stir crazy for a bit in there. It is so hard to leave her every day, but it is what it is. We'll eventually even things out with money as I start getting paid again. Being a parent really puts things in perspective. Quality time with those I love is much more important to me than anything else in this world!
Everything is different. The physical place where I work is different because the other building is getting renovated; the drive to work is a totally different route because of where daycare is located (but I actually feel safer taking this new route); not spending the majority of everyday with my Sweet Pea has been an adjustment; the routine at home is different because so much time is spent getting ready for work, but thankfully it's not been as militant as I was anticipating.
We've survived the first week. She's happy at daycare, so we're happy. Some friends have said that I'll never get over leaving her everyday, others say it takes a few weeks to a few months. Thankfully, I get lots of vacation time with federal holidays so time won't drag on too long before a day off pops up.
It's a good feeling knowing I'm contributing to our family's financial well-being again. I know that was a bit stressful for fiance'; however, I'm so thankful we were able to afford me staying home with Little Love for twelve weeks, even though I was getting stir crazy for a bit in there. It is so hard to leave her every day, but it is what it is. We'll eventually even things out with money as I start getting paid again. Being a parent really puts things in perspective. Quality time with those I love is much more important to me than anything else in this world!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Reflections on the First Two Months
Is there such a thing as postpartum nesting? Or is it just spring (fever) cleaning? I want to clean things out, donate, and return items to friends who wanted their borrowed baby things back or are things we couldn't use. Granted, our place is small, but I still want to declutter and clean out even though it won't really give us any more space. In the same vain, I'm not getting rid of any of Sweet Pea's clothes that she's already outgrown. I cried when none of her newborn outfits fit her anymore as I was folding them to pack away. She got to wear each of them at least twice, though, so hooray for that! Socks are interesting - she has so many yet they are either way too big or too small, and some that never got worn because they were buried in her sock drawer. Yes, she has a sock drawer.
Organizing my clothes has been interesting, also. I've packed away just about all of my maternity clothes and nursing bras. Some are in the dirty clothes basket and will soon join the others in the bags. The line running down the center of my tummy (linea negra) is slowly disappearing. I loved being pregnant, so this is also a little sad. I'm currently in an Old Navy size 8 (other brands seemingly a 10). Pre-pregnancy I was an Old Navy size 4. My actual weight doesn't bother me, but the flabby skin that is part of my muffin top does. Almost immediately after Sweet Girl's birth, I lost 20 pounds. These last 15-20 seem to be hanging on for dear life. I'm not so concerned about getting back to a certain size except that almost all of the clothes in my closet are too small for me right now. I've finally gone shopping and bought some shorts that are not maternity, and today I tried jeans shopping, but I kept coming across ankle length (is that "in" now?) and I'm used to boot cut. Oh yeah, and my greasy skin is back now that my hormones have gone back to "normal". Other than rosacea, if I got any sun on my face, my skin looked pretty good during pregnancy.
In just two weeks, I'll be going back to work. In the last ten weeks, I've realized that I could not be a stay-at-home mom. I need more social interaction. Daycare is not something any of us are looking forward to, but I've also realized that it wouldn't matter if she had a sitter come to the house everyday or stayed with a relative. We're still going to miss out on aspects of her development. To be blunt, it sucks. Maybe working part-time would be ideal, but financially it is not an option. And then there's the whole argument about working to pay for daycare. She's already a social butterfly, however, so she'll do just fine. We've never been apart for more than a few hours, though, since conception, so it will be especially hard on me to leave her for 9 hours a day. Life will be very regimented once I'm back at work, which I'm also not looking forward to. Routines for getting ready for work, both at night and in the morning, will be in place and weekends will be the only time we really get to relax. Even then, her dad's work schedule can be wonky so we won't always get family time.
We've figured out that pregnancy is the cheapest time of this whole process. There are no diapers or formula to buy, no daycare to pay for, and no feminine products to buy either. Most baby clothes and needs are given as gifts or loaned, so that's another money saver. Oh, and there's no wine to be bought either, for obvious reasons.
Despite the probable negative tone this post has, we love our tiny dancer more than anything and we are enjoying being parents. It is a lot tougher than we would have guessed, but she makes it a lot easier than it could be because she's so sweet and adorable. She also give us long stretches of sleep during the night - usually 7 hours. When she got her two month shots, she slept a solid 10 hours! We couldn't believe it, and were so grateful. It is nice to enjoy a glass of wine or have a beer in the evenings again, and it's been great getting outside more on these lovely sunny days to go for a walk/stroller ride. A lot happens quickly in a child's life. It's amazing and incredible, and we're doing everything we can to keep up!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Breastfeeding
This is a very sensitive subject. Please remember that this post is what's right for me and my baby and our family and may not be what you would do for your child and your family. That being said, I welcome comments and feedback on your experience and encourage discussion, just as I do with any other post.
So many things I read and so many people warned me to not get upset if my birth plan didn't happen for this baby. In fact, it's said the birth plan you make for your first child will likely be what happens for your second child. Well, that's not entirely true. Other than her arriving a week ahead of schedule, things went pretty close to my birth plan. I was open to changing it if necessary, but thankfully it wasn't. What did not go according to plan was breastfeeding.
Our daughter is now just over a month old. While in the hospital, the lactation consultants came around every day to check how feeding was going and gave advice. The nurses would always comment, "oh, she has a great latch". Foolishly, I believed that meant things would be simple. Once we got home, breastfeeding was quite challenging. Baby girl would keep falling asleep while feeding, and I had no idea if she was getting enough to eat. The three of us went to see the lactation consultants twice. The first time was fine. Milk was coming in, the engorgement got worked out, they gave us lots of samples of formula just in case, and while there was mild concern baby was losing weight, it was also expected since all newborns do that. I was told to start taking Fenugreek to help increase production and try out a pumping schedule to get more milk in faster.
The next appointment was a recommended follow-up a week later. Still had a sleepy eater, but milk was in and I was able to pump a little bit at home and see what I was really producing. Here's when the crazy advice started. Baby had lost more weight, even though it was still expected since she was only a week and a half old, so the lactation consultant recommended getting a prescription for domperidone, which is $65 and since it's not regulated by the FDA, probably also not covered by insurance; having our daughter's frenulum (the thing that attaches the underside of your tongue to the floor of your mouth) cut by an ENT so she could suck more; and alternating pumping and breastfeeding every hour to increase production. We left feeling sad and stressed.
In the meantime, we had gone to see the pediatrician for the first time who recommended the pumping and breastfeeding routine, but with more time in between. It still seemed like a lot, but allowed for a little more sleep/potty/personal hygene time. The next pediatrician visit was only a week later because they were freaking out about our daughter's weight loss. She NEVER lost more than what she weighed when she left the hospital so we still don't know what the big deal was. Babies are supposed to lose some weight after they're born and then they gain it back and keep on gaining! Ugh! Anyway, at this second appointment, the doctor told me the every hour routine thing, and I started crying. How on Earth was I going to feed myself, get enough water (they tell you that so many times - drink enough water!), get any sleep, use the bathroom, bathe, etc. if I was supposed to breastfeed every other hour and pump all the in between hours?! It was not the first mental breakdown I had about breastfeeding since baby girl had been born.
To complicate matters, my left side barely makes anything (I'm guessing because of two biopsies years before) while my right side produces an okay amount, but combined I don't even make two ounces for fifteen minutes of pumping. Babies start eating two ounces of food and by three weeks old, they're eating three to four ounces every few hours. I'm not able to store any because I don't pump often enough, so I've decided that when I go back to work she'll just be on formula. She's fine with bottles, fine with formula, fine with breastfeeding, and fine with refrigerated breast milk. She's gained almost two pounds since birth and is steadily filling out. She's a healthy, beautiful, and smart little girl. Pediatricians say she looks great and is meeting all the milestones. We, as her parents, know she's exceeding some milestones, too.
On WDSU the other night, they covered an Ohio State study which reveals that breastfed babies are more likely to develop asthma, and there were no health benefits shown between kids who were breastfed and kids who were formula fed over time. Lactation consultants everywhere must be livid.
Here's my take on things based on my experience: there's A LOT of bullying about breastfeeding. I love being able to comfort my daughter by letting her latch on and feed or just use it as a pacifier. That's the bonding aspect of this for us. If things had worked out like I hoped and planned, I'd be a milk producing machine and she would get all of what she needs from me without formula. That is not an option for us and I finally realized that pride was costing me my sanity. I am beginning to wean from the pump because it is physically uncomfortable (tried two shield sizes) and the asthma thing bothers me. Will she get asthma anyway since her dad and I both have it? I would imagine so. Supposedly, relactating is easy if I decide to do so later. Figuring out feeding has been the hardest part of raising her so far.
To the mothers who make more than enough milk and to those who have done the every hour routine of pumping/feeding, bless you! I hope your children know what a gift they have in you as their mom. I also hope that my daughter has gotten some benefits from me for the time that I've been feeding her. Additionally, I hope that one day, I no longer see myself as a selfish person who wanted to sleep and stay sane, rather than continuing to provide food naturally for my girl who means the world to me.
So many things I read and so many people warned me to not get upset if my birth plan didn't happen for this baby. In fact, it's said the birth plan you make for your first child will likely be what happens for your second child. Well, that's not entirely true. Other than her arriving a week ahead of schedule, things went pretty close to my birth plan. I was open to changing it if necessary, but thankfully it wasn't. What did not go according to plan was breastfeeding.
Our daughter is now just over a month old. While in the hospital, the lactation consultants came around every day to check how feeding was going and gave advice. The nurses would always comment, "oh, she has a great latch". Foolishly, I believed that meant things would be simple. Once we got home, breastfeeding was quite challenging. Baby girl would keep falling asleep while feeding, and I had no idea if she was getting enough to eat. The three of us went to see the lactation consultants twice. The first time was fine. Milk was coming in, the engorgement got worked out, they gave us lots of samples of formula just in case, and while there was mild concern baby was losing weight, it was also expected since all newborns do that. I was told to start taking Fenugreek to help increase production and try out a pumping schedule to get more milk in faster.
The next appointment was a recommended follow-up a week later. Still had a sleepy eater, but milk was in and I was able to pump a little bit at home and see what I was really producing. Here's when the crazy advice started. Baby had lost more weight, even though it was still expected since she was only a week and a half old, so the lactation consultant recommended getting a prescription for domperidone, which is $65 and since it's not regulated by the FDA, probably also not covered by insurance; having our daughter's frenulum (the thing that attaches the underside of your tongue to the floor of your mouth) cut by an ENT so she could suck more; and alternating pumping and breastfeeding every hour to increase production. We left feeling sad and stressed.
In the meantime, we had gone to see the pediatrician for the first time who recommended the pumping and breastfeeding routine, but with more time in between. It still seemed like a lot, but allowed for a little more sleep/potty/personal hygene time. The next pediatrician visit was only a week later because they were freaking out about our daughter's weight loss. She NEVER lost more than what she weighed when she left the hospital so we still don't know what the big deal was. Babies are supposed to lose some weight after they're born and then they gain it back and keep on gaining! Ugh! Anyway, at this second appointment, the doctor told me the every hour routine thing, and I started crying. How on Earth was I going to feed myself, get enough water (they tell you that so many times - drink enough water!), get any sleep, use the bathroom, bathe, etc. if I was supposed to breastfeed every other hour and pump all the in between hours?! It was not the first mental breakdown I had about breastfeeding since baby girl had been born.
To complicate matters, my left side barely makes anything (I'm guessing because of two biopsies years before) while my right side produces an okay amount, but combined I don't even make two ounces for fifteen minutes of pumping. Babies start eating two ounces of food and by three weeks old, they're eating three to four ounces every few hours. I'm not able to store any because I don't pump often enough, so I've decided that when I go back to work she'll just be on formula. She's fine with bottles, fine with formula, fine with breastfeeding, and fine with refrigerated breast milk. She's gained almost two pounds since birth and is steadily filling out. She's a healthy, beautiful, and smart little girl. Pediatricians say she looks great and is meeting all the milestones. We, as her parents, know she's exceeding some milestones, too.
On WDSU the other night, they covered an Ohio State study which reveals that breastfed babies are more likely to develop asthma, and there were no health benefits shown between kids who were breastfed and kids who were formula fed over time. Lactation consultants everywhere must be livid.
Here's my take on things based on my experience: there's A LOT of bullying about breastfeeding. I love being able to comfort my daughter by letting her latch on and feed or just use it as a pacifier. That's the bonding aspect of this for us. If things had worked out like I hoped and planned, I'd be a milk producing machine and she would get all of what she needs from me without formula. That is not an option for us and I finally realized that pride was costing me my sanity. I am beginning to wean from the pump because it is physically uncomfortable (tried two shield sizes) and the asthma thing bothers me. Will she get asthma anyway since her dad and I both have it? I would imagine so. Supposedly, relactating is easy if I decide to do so later. Figuring out feeding has been the hardest part of raising her so far.
To the mothers who make more than enough milk and to those who have done the every hour routine of pumping/feeding, bless you! I hope your children know what a gift they have in you as their mom. I also hope that my daughter has gotten some benefits from me for the time that I've been feeding her. Additionally, I hope that one day, I no longer see myself as a selfish person who wanted to sleep and stay sane, rather than continuing to provide food naturally for my girl who means the world to me.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
AMB's Birth Story
My water had broken and was a slow leak. I just figured I was urinating on myself a tad more than usual (was wearing full sized pads all of the third trimester for that reason). I was also experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for at least a week, but had no idea that's what they were. All I had been told about labor contractions from friends was that I would know when it was time. My OB had told me what they'd feel like once they were strong, but since every woman is different, she couldn't give me a definite description of what they would feel like for me.
Fiance' and I had gone to my OB for the weekly check-up and I casually mentioned the extra leakage. She decided to do a nitrozine test just to see if it was amniotic fluid. It was! Fiance' had just worked a 12 hour overnight shift and was planning on coming home to take a long nap. I didn't have any plans in particular since it was my day off. Our plans were made for us. OB said we had to go to the hospital that day since I'd been leaking for two days already. I asked if we could go home and eat and shower first. She said that was fine, but we shouldn't dilly dally since all of a sudden this was a high risk situation - the amniotic fluid could become septic at any time. I started crying and fiance' was just in shock. Our baby girl was on her way a week early!
We drove home, ate lunch (this was the last full meal I would be allowed to have until after she was delivered), and showered. Thankfully, the hospital bag was mostly packed. By 11:30 AM we were on our way to Lakeview Hospital. Latent labor lasted for fourteen hours. There was lots of walking around the hospital to get real contractions going. That night, I decided to try getting Stadol in the IV, which was supposed to take the edge off of the contractions. All it did was make me feel high and give me the shakes. Sometime much later that night, I decided to get the epidural. At that point, I was dilated seven centimeters. Thanks to the ice storm and late hour, it took the anesthesiologist over an hour to get there; although, physically getting the epidural was much easier than I ever imagined.
Around 10 AM on Saturday, January 25, active labor began. My OB showed up and we began pushing. Three hours later, our beautiful baby girl was born! She was a healthy six pounds, twelve ounces and measured eighteen inches long. Just perfect!
Fiance' and I had gone to my OB for the weekly check-up and I casually mentioned the extra leakage. She decided to do a nitrozine test just to see if it was amniotic fluid. It was! Fiance' had just worked a 12 hour overnight shift and was planning on coming home to take a long nap. I didn't have any plans in particular since it was my day off. Our plans were made for us. OB said we had to go to the hospital that day since I'd been leaking for two days already. I asked if we could go home and eat and shower first. She said that was fine, but we shouldn't dilly dally since all of a sudden this was a high risk situation - the amniotic fluid could become septic at any time. I started crying and fiance' was just in shock. Our baby girl was on her way a week early!
We drove home, ate lunch (this was the last full meal I would be allowed to have until after she was delivered), and showered. Thankfully, the hospital bag was mostly packed. By 11:30 AM we were on our way to Lakeview Hospital. Latent labor lasted for fourteen hours. There was lots of walking around the hospital to get real contractions going. That night, I decided to try getting Stadol in the IV, which was supposed to take the edge off of the contractions. All it did was make me feel high and give me the shakes. Sometime much later that night, I decided to get the epidural. At that point, I was dilated seven centimeters. Thanks to the ice storm and late hour, it took the anesthesiologist over an hour to get there; although, physically getting the epidural was much easier than I ever imagined.
Around 10 AM on Saturday, January 25, active labor began. My OB showed up and we began pushing. Three hours later, our beautiful baby girl was born! She was a healthy six pounds, twelve ounces and measured eighteen inches long. Just perfect!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Updates
Happy 2014 to all!!
Had our last two week check up today. Now doctor visits will be weekly until our baby girl arrives. Last visit, she had definitely dropped and my appetite had increased as well as trips to the potty all day and night. This visit, I am no longer dilated, have not been as hungry lately, but still need to go to "my second office" - as we're referring to it at work - quite frequently. I will admit, I am disappointed by this week's news. I thought surely she'd tell me I was at least 2 cm now. According to the online forums, like Baby Center, this is not unusual. There are still 2.5 weeks until baby's due, and she may go up and down a few more times until real contractions start. Thankfully, she is in the correct position - posterior and head down. There's also only one more layer of the cervix that she needs to go through until I'm dilated again, so she's just a little gun-shy for now I guess.
I am a reference librarian. At work, a lot of what we do is help people use computers. Trust me, when I applied for and accepted this job, I had no idea so much of what's required would fall under the social work category. I thought it would be mostly helping students will school projects, and every now and again directing people to the health or legal resources they needed for whatever situation they're in. We get that, too, but a lot of what people need is help filling out government assistance applications online. How on Earth does this have to do with the mom blog? Great question. I recently learned that since I am engaged, therefore, still considered to be a single mom, I can also apply for government assistance to pay the remainder of the medical bills, plus get coverage for our little angel for her entire first year of life. Filling out the form online for La Moms helped me sympathize with many of those that I help at work everyday. While I have the necessary typing and computer skills that many of these people don't, the information the government wants is repetitive and sometimes confusing. Thankfully, it was not a long application and according to my doctor's office, I should know something in about a week.
Baby's room was all nice and ready, although, a little cramped. Now it's a disaster area because we've temporarily moved the sewing machine out to make room for her bookcase and a night table (and to get it fixed) - stuff is everywhere! It's renewed the nesting instinct in me that had only gone dormant for about a week. I'm not even kidding when I tell you that my plan is to drag the garbage can behind me as I walk about the house getting rid of things that we don't need or that I just can't bare to look at anymore. I'll also put things where they belong as I walk. Clutter has really been driving me crazy lately.
Other than that, we can't wait to meet our little love and hope that we continue to have a healthy and naturally progressive pregnancy. Cheers, everyone!
Had our last two week check up today. Now doctor visits will be weekly until our baby girl arrives. Last visit, she had definitely dropped and my appetite had increased as well as trips to the potty all day and night. This visit, I am no longer dilated, have not been as hungry lately, but still need to go to "my second office" - as we're referring to it at work - quite frequently. I will admit, I am disappointed by this week's news. I thought surely she'd tell me I was at least 2 cm now. According to the online forums, like Baby Center, this is not unusual. There are still 2.5 weeks until baby's due, and she may go up and down a few more times until real contractions start. Thankfully, she is in the correct position - posterior and head down. There's also only one more layer of the cervix that she needs to go through until I'm dilated again, so she's just a little gun-shy for now I guess.
I am a reference librarian. At work, a lot of what we do is help people use computers. Trust me, when I applied for and accepted this job, I had no idea so much of what's required would fall under the social work category. I thought it would be mostly helping students will school projects, and every now and again directing people to the health or legal resources they needed for whatever situation they're in. We get that, too, but a lot of what people need is help filling out government assistance applications online. How on Earth does this have to do with the mom blog? Great question. I recently learned that since I am engaged, therefore, still considered to be a single mom, I can also apply for government assistance to pay the remainder of the medical bills, plus get coverage for our little angel for her entire first year of life. Filling out the form online for La Moms helped me sympathize with many of those that I help at work everyday. While I have the necessary typing and computer skills that many of these people don't, the information the government wants is repetitive and sometimes confusing. Thankfully, it was not a long application and according to my doctor's office, I should know something in about a week.
Baby's room was all nice and ready, although, a little cramped. Now it's a disaster area because we've temporarily moved the sewing machine out to make room for her bookcase and a night table (and to get it fixed) - stuff is everywhere! It's renewed the nesting instinct in me that had only gone dormant for about a week. I'm not even kidding when I tell you that my plan is to drag the garbage can behind me as I walk about the house getting rid of things that we don't need or that I just can't bare to look at anymore. I'll also put things where they belong as I walk. Clutter has really been driving me crazy lately.
Other than that, we can't wait to meet our little love and hope that we continue to have a healthy and naturally progressive pregnancy. Cheers, everyone!
Quick Thoughts on Baby Showers
A party for my baby thrown by friends, family, coworkers that love you. "Oh what fun!", you'll think. Don't worry, I'm not going to be a sourpuss, but up until the actual event, it's not all roses. The constant changing of dates, planning around everyone's schedules, colors/themes/decorations - oh my! Unnecessarily stressful.
Who to invite to which shower or at all.
Post showers - stuff EVERYWHERE! Hardly anyone uses registry. Lots of clothes and hooded bath towels for gifts! Turned down lots of offers on clothes and baby things thinking we'd get them at the showers. Lucked out for the most part, but wish we'd have been less stressed/more open to hand-me-downs now knowing what we got/didn't get. I am a clothes horse, so too will be our daughter (as I'm sure is the case for all girls).
Thank goodness for gift cards, though!!! And the hand-me-downs we have gotten! and the generosity of excited grandparents! And two anonymous gifts we have received from Target - just recently found out who sent them! Hooray!
Both showers ended up being fun, and we've gotten most of what we need and plenty of fun other items to start our daughter's life off on the right foot. Thanks to all who planned, attended, sent us gifts, and love us and our new little family!!!
Who to invite to which shower or at all.
Post showers - stuff EVERYWHERE! Hardly anyone uses registry. Lots of clothes and hooded bath towels for gifts! Turned down lots of offers on clothes and baby things thinking we'd get them at the showers. Lucked out for the most part, but wish we'd have been less stressed/more open to hand-me-downs now knowing what we got/didn't get. I am a clothes horse, so too will be our daughter (as I'm sure is the case for all girls).
Thank goodness for gift cards, though!!! And the hand-me-downs we have gotten! and the generosity of excited grandparents! And two anonymous gifts we have received from Target - just recently found out who sent them! Hooray!
Both showers ended up being fun, and we've gotten most of what we need and plenty of fun other items to start our daughter's life off on the right foot. Thanks to all who planned, attended, sent us gifts, and love us and our new little family!!!
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