PG/Mom Check-In -- week of 9/15

[aegis2005]

Pregnant
Sara (sara76) due 11/19/2013 (Team Blue)
Kathy (mrsjason) due 11/26/2013 (Team Green)
Lauren (lauren9317) due 12/31/2013 (Twins - Team purple!)
Mayette (etteyam) due 1/15/2014

Moms
Liz (aidensmom) mom to Aiden (1/25/2008)
Kathy (mrsjason) mom to Macy (12/8/2009)
Danielle (dvroxy) mom to MacKenzie (4/10/2010) and Madeline (7/23/2012)
Jennifer (jennifer8080) mom to Kennedy (2/19/2011) and Caleb(8/6/2012)
Chelsea (mrschelseap09) mom to Lila (3/11/2011)
Mayette (etteyam) mom to Sophia (5/3/2011) and Juliana (11/14/2009)
Marissa (amellis2) mom to Amelia and Abigail (6/4/2011)
(lovethesun) mom to Mason (7/22/2011)
Sara (sara76) mom to Amelia (12/27/2011)
Meghan (mrsmew) mom to Ellie (3/29/2012)
Melissa (mellis74) mom to Mia (4/27/2012)
Shawna (mrsshawanab) mom to Blake (5/22/2012)
Jen (jen812) mom to Dominic (5/31/2012)
Angela (loskadoodle) mom to Drew (6/28/2012)
Janelle (dearselah) mom to Selah (6/29/2012)
Krystal (krystalskitsch) mom to Cannon (9/9/2012)
Kara (April17) mom to Ethan (9/14/2012)
Carolyn (moonstone523) mom to Samantha (9/30/2012)
Stephanie (surfbetty530) mom to Lauryl (10/14/2012)
Terri (may07wedding) mom to Cooper (1/17/2013)
Kate (mskateb) mom to Lily (7/26/2008) and Brendan (1/23/2013)
Heather (aegis2005) mom to Shane (2/18/2013)
Jen (mrsjenrn) mom to Zoe (2/17/2011) and Jack (3/12/2013)
Aly (alzi) mom to Alexandra (3/18/2013)
Lauren (babybchbum) mom to Triston (8/8/2011) and Owen (5/1/2013)
Tasha (tashaandsage) mom to Annabel (5/30/2013), Maisy (3/22/2011) and Beckett (1/28/2008)
Kim (kimandross) mom to Quinn (2/25/2008) and Hudson (8/10/2013)

[sara76]

Well hello! All is well here. Just getting bigger by the day. I was brushing my teeth last night and H asked, "is your belly button popping??" He knows I was so afraid of that happening the first time and so happy that it didn't. Well here I am 31 weeks and almost cooked. My growth sono showed a big boy... duh! He has a big head (Amelia's is 95% while her weight is 5% so they both take after their father) but she said he has a big ol belly to go with it so its not strangely big. Hmmm. He weighed in at 4 pounds. I don't remember what Amelia weighed at 30 weeks, the only thing I took with me that day was she was breech. Little Ben (maybe? That's just what we're calling him right now) knows how to follow direction and is head down. Go figure. Since I'm scheduled at 39 weeks they don't give a care about his size or position but if I was a first time mom I'm pretty sure they'd be talking about "is he toooo big?"

Amelia. What can I say? Love of my life. I can't believe my heart is capable of growing more but everybody swears. I'm just really excited to meet my son! I feel like having a boy is such a huge responsibility for a mom. Not that a girl isn't, but I judge grown men by their relationships with their mother. It's pretty much a qualification on their date ability . (I had 1 really bad experience and I'm scarred). So I'm up to the challange of raising a good one!

[mrsjason]

I am trucking along, although the sale is rising quickly these days. I know that is expected when pregnant, especially in the last trimester, but it's still hard to see! I have been HUNGRY, like FUNGRY all the time these days and I have been eating like a teenage boy, so I expect my numbers on the scale will keep rising at a fast pace. I was shooting for a 25-30 lb weight gain and so far I am at 20lbs......so it will be close but I have a feeling it will be more like 35lbs. Oh well, I will worry about my body after I am holding the baby in my arms.....

Macy is doing good too! She is super excited about the baby. I am really, really, really looking forward to her meeting the baby for the first time at the hospital. I can only imagine how amazing that moment will be. 

[jen812]

Sara, Ben has a nice ring to it.

Kathy, have you come up with any names yet?

D still hates daycare. He's not crying all day long like he used to, but I can tell he'd rather be anywhere else but there.

[amellis2]

I have a copy cat drama queen on my hands! Ms. Abigail likes to repeat *everything* I say. Last night she was on my lap and said,"I tell you every night!"

Not sure what she tells me everynight, but, uh, ok. Pretty sure I have said that before.

A few nights ago we were hanging out at ny mom's house. Nana told Abby "no" about...something...

My goodness. The wailing and gnashing of teeth that I heard! And she went and hid her face in the seat of the rocking chair.

This kid? Her father's child, for sure.

[april17]

Took Ethan for his one year checkup yesterday.  He is 33 inches long and weighed 24 lbs.  Kid is growing like crazy!  Grew almost 2 inches in 3 months as he was just over 31 inches at his 9 month checkup.  Had his party on Saturday, included just family.  Just had a small party at home and did hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill.  He went to town on the smash cake.  Loved getting it all over his fingers and kept smacking the cake and then licking the icing off his hands.  Then proceeded to turn his head to the side and lay down on the cake!  Silly boy.

Hard to believe a whole year has gone by.  I will probably be going back to work after the first of the year, so it's time to start looking for a job.  A part of me would like to stay home with him longer, but another part of me is excited about getting back out into the world and being me.  Does that make sense?  I miss my life prior to baby, so I think I will be happy back at work, however I also tell myself that if I think I have no free time now, it will be even less once working. 

It's been a hard couple of months for my family.  My mom had an accident July 23 and has been in the hospital and now a rehab facility ever since.  I was hopeful she would be home in time for Ethan's birthday, but that didn't happen.  Too many setbacks during her recovery that have resulted in it taking forever.  Just really want her to be able to be back on her feet and home soon.

Love my little guy!  He is so adorable and just brings such joy to all of our lives.

[mrsmew]

april, so sorry about your mom's accident. I hope she's back home before you know it. And happy birthday to your little man!

We've been having a rough week. Ellie has been sick with a little cold but it is really impacting her mood for the first time ever. She's been relentlessly whiny and the temper tantrums are flowing freely. She has also gotten more physical in her tantrums - throwing stuff, biting, hitting, etc. Don't love it. The other day I was trying desperately to keep her from throwing anything and everything around her in a fit of rage, so she finally walked away from me, went to the kitchen and got a pack of cookies out of the cabinet, brought them to where I could see her, looked me dead in the eye and chucked them as far as she could.   So, yeah. We have some stuff to work on.

I'm also struggling with weaning. I was going to try to have her weaned by this weekend b/c we're spending the weekend away from her for the 1st time, and I get almost nothing when I pump anymore so I didn't see any other option. She has never had formula and won't drink cow's milk so there's no "stand-in" option, either. But since she's been sick I haven't been able to bring myself to do actually it, so basically I have no idea what the plan is for this weekend. I also don't really want to be done yet so I'm having a hard time pushing myself to just do it.

And I'm so conflicted about this weekend away from here. I feel terrible leaving her when she's going through whatever it is she's going through right now, but on the other hand, I NEED the break. I hope she does okay, because I think it's going to be really good for H and me.

[amellis2]

Sept 17, 2013 9:36:50 GMT -5 mrsmew said:

april, so sorry about your mom's accident. I hope she's back home before you know it. And happy birthday to your little man!

We've been having a rough week. Ellie has been sick with a little cold but it is really impacting her mood for the first time ever. She's been relentlessly whiny and the temper tantrums are flowing freely. She has also gotten more physical in her tantrums - throwing stuff, biting, hitting, etc. Don't love it. The other day I was trying desperately to keep her from throwing anything and everything around her in a fit of rage, so she finally walked away from me, went to the kitchen and got a pack of cookies out of the cabinet, brought them to where I could see her, looked me dead in the eye and chucked them as far as she could.   So, yeah. We have some stuff to work on.

I'm also struggling with weaning. I was going to try to have her weaned by this weekend b/c we're spending the weekend away from her for the 1st time, and I get almost nothing when I pump anymore so I didn't see any other option. She has never had formula and won't drink cow's milk so there's no "stand-in" option, either. But since she's been sick I haven't been able to bring myself to do actually it, so basically I have no idea what the plan is for this weekend. I also don't really want to be done yet so I'm having a hard time pushing myself to just do it.

And I'm so conflicted about this weekend away from here. I feel terrible leaving her when she's going through whatever it is she's going through right now, but on the other hand, I NEED the break. I hope she does okay, because I think it's going to be really good for H and me.

Have you tried other milks?  Unsweetened Almond Milk is popular with the Under 2 crowd these days.  It's sweet like breastmilk, but not sugary.  My girls drink AM (which is almost identical to cow's milk in terms of nutrients and what not, just lacks the cholesterol and yucky stuff.  And it has more calcium and it will be better used by the body....yadayadayada) and love it in cereal, but some reason they prefer soy.  Weird. 

[mrsmew]

amellis, I'll try that, thanks. I haven't branched out, although the thought did cross my mind. Do they have almond milk just at the grocery store near the cow milk?

However now my problem is that if she can see it's anything other than water in her cup, she won't even taste it. I tried buying a cup that isn't so transparent but she won't drink out of that, either.

Kids, man. They're crazy.

[lauren9317]

I am 25 weeks today. Not too much to report, glad to still be feeling pretty good. I have my second ultrasound at the perinatal office next Friday and I'm excited to see the babies again. We've made a bit of progress with the nursery and will do more this weekend! I'm excited about that. I'm also starting to prepare at work for leaving and training the new person. Can't wait to be done here! My last day got pushed up to Fri Oct 25. Cannot wait. All in all doing well and just hoping the babies are good, wish I could look in and see them!

[sara76]

The scariest thing that's ever happened to me happened today. I was feeling good, getting dressed to go out and run errands. All of a sudden I started getting cramping in my upper abdomen and in my back between my shoulder blades. No matter what I did it wouldn't stop. It started getting really scary. Then I started getting really dizzy and sweating. Like drenched!! I couldnt stand up. I felt like I needed ER but couldn't drive. I called Brian and started crying and suddenly the pain and sweats stopped as quickly as they started. It lasted about 30 minutes. I called my Drs nurse line and left a panicked message at 11am. STILL haven't heard from them. I feel completely fine now. Baby's movement is good and normal. But I'm pissed that I haven't heard from Dr. That was nuts. If that's labor than nooooo thank you. Maybe if I wasn't alone with Amelia but that was too much.
ETA. Nurse called. 3 hours. Not bad I guess :/. She said it sounds like gas pain. I said but what about the sweating and faintness and she said since that didn't start until about 20 minutes in that is the way your body reacts to pain. Seriously. I almost called an ambulance because of gas pain. How embarrassing.

[lauren9317]

Oh no that sucks, Sara That sounds really scary. Glad all is ok. I've heard of the gas pains near the shoulder blades thing.

[mrsjenrn]

H is waiting for my work schedule to come out to schedule the big V! Part of me is very happy, but part of me is sad that we are done having babies. Is it normal to feel this conflicted? It is much more cut and dry with him. He would've done it this Friday if they had had any openings. It just seems so.....final...which is what we want, but it's so....final. KWIM?

Seeing Jack and Zoe play with each other now is the cutest thing ever. Not so cute when she bites him, hits him too hard, or pushes him, but overall they play nicely. I seriously think my heart is going to explode sometimes!!

Interspersed between Zoe's funny personality/cuteness there is a demon lurking. I have heard that 3 is worse than 2 and she is definitely heading down that road. H and I aren't very good disciplinarians so we are working on getting a plan together to stay on the same page. It's kinda hard to even talk to each other these days with our crazy children that don't like to sleep until 11pm. Something's gotta change, man. This is just a rough spot right? But they're just so darn cute, it somehow makes the insanity worth it. I am loving this stage, but it is very hard at the same time.

They're only little once, but I'd be lying to myself and you all if I said I was coping well. Can you have postpartum depression 6 months after your baby is born? I knew going back to work would be hard, and there was a very short time where I was ok, but I have this constant feeling of being overwhelemed. So overwhelemed I wanted to cry so many times but couldn't. Until yesterday when Zoe picked a weed ("sunflower") and gave it to me just as I was leaving for work. I cried the whole way there. I have claustrophobic attacks at least 3 times a week about the shit everywhere in my house. I have no idea what to do with it or how to even start with it.

I feel like 1 of my kids is always getting neglected. My parents are moving to Miami which, as much as I love them, is way too close and is already causing problems in my marriage. I still don't feel comfortable working at my job. I am miserable being full time. I just hired a new nanny. I got my blood results back and I am prediabetic. All of these problems seem so trivial when I write them down, but I am so stressed.

This post is happy one minute, depressed the next minute, which is kinda how I feel. Up and down. Up and down. Getting out of the house helps A LOT I have noticed. Anyway, thanks for "listening."

[amellis2]

Sept 17, 2013 15:29:43 GMT -5 mrsjenrn said:

H is waiting for my work schedule to come out to schedule the big V! Part of me is very happy, but part of me is sad that we are done having babies. Is it normal to feel this conflicted? It is much more cut and dry with him. He would've done it this Friday if they had had any openings. It just seems so.....final...which is what we want, but it's so....final. KWIM?

Seeing Jack and Zoe play with each other now is the cutest thing ever. Not so cute when she bites him, hits him too hard, or pushes him, but overall they play nicely. I seriously think my heart is going to explode sometimes!!

Interspersed between Zoe's funny personality/cuteness there is a demon lurking. I have heard that 3 is worse than 2 and she is definitely heading down that road. H and I aren't very good disciplinarians so we are working on getting a plan together to stay on the same page. It's kinda hard to even talk to each other these days with our crazy children that don't like to sleep until 11pm. Something's gotta change, man. This is just a rough spot right? But they're just so darn cute, it somehow makes the insanity worth it. I am loving this stage, but it is very hard at the same time.

They're only little once, but I'd be lying to myself and you all if I said I was coping well. Can you have postpartum depression 6 months after your baby is born? I knew going back to work would be hard, and there was a very short time where I was ok, but I have this constant feeling of being overwhelemed. So overwhelemed I wanted to cry so many times but couldn't. Until yesterday when Zoe picked a weed ("sunflower") and gave it to me just as I was leaving for work. I cried the whole way there. I have claustrophobic attacks at least 3 times a week about the shit everywhere in my house. I have no idea what to do with it or how to even start with it.

I feel like 1 of my kids is always getting neglected. My parents are moving to Miami which, as much as I love them, is way too close and is already causing problems in my marriage. I still don't feel comfortable working at my job. I am miserable being full time. I just hired a new nanny. I got my blood results back and I am prediabetic. All of these problems seem so trivial when I write them down, but I am so stressed.

This post is happy one minute, depressed the next minute, which is kinda how I feel. Up and down. Up and down. Getting out of the house helps A LOT I have noticed. Anyway, thanks for "listening."

Jen, read "Eat to Live " and/or "The End of Diabetes" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It advocates a vegan, low oil, healthy fats lifestyle (limited to moderate avocado, walnut, coconuts.)

Luis has gone 90% vegan and his a1c

You are going to die when I tell you...

Was 14. 14! I don't even. ..I just can't. ..

But after 3 month of being 90% vegan, he brought his avg fasting glucose to 105 and his a1c is 8. A few more months and he will be off his meds completely! Diabetic for 6 months.

Just an fyi, his fasting glucose at dx was 305.

you can always message me on FB Iif you need recipes, help, or questions.

[etteyam]

Sept 17, 2013 13:10:29 GMT -5 sara76 said:

The scariest thing that's ever happened to me happened today. I was feeling good, getting dressed to go out and run errands. All of a sudden I started getting cramping in my upper abdomen and in my back between my shoulder blades. No matter what I did it wouldn't stop. It started getting really scary. Then I started getting really dizzy and sweating. Like drenched!! I couldnt stand up. I felt like I needed ER but couldn't drive. I called Brian and started crying and suddenly the pain and sweats stopped as quickly as they started. It lasted about 30 minutes. I called my Drs nurse line and left a panicked message at 11am. STILL haven't heard from them. I feel completely fine now. Baby's movement is good and normal. But I'm pissed that I haven't heard from Dr. That was nuts. If that's labor than nooooo thank you. Maybe if I wasn't alone with Amelia but that was too much.
ETA. Nurse called. 3 hours. Not bad I guess :/. She said it sounds like gas pain. I said but what about the sweating and faintness and she said since that didn't start until about 20 minutes in that is the way your body reacts to pain. Seriously. I almost called an ambulance because of gas pain. How embarrassing.

Sara, glad you're okay now. I, too, had a scary incident yesterday. We were leaving J's ballet class; as we were walking through the parking lot, I felt my heart pounding fiercely for about 5 seconds, followed by  dizziness. I thought for sure I was gonna black out. I clutched on to DD's shirt. Luckily, we were a few steps away from my car at that point and H was with us, so I don't have to drive. I debated calling my OB but I've read before that arrhythmia is quite normal in pregnancy due to increased workload on the heart. I'm just glad it passed quickly!

[amellis2]

Sept 17, 2013 12:06:08 GMT -5 mrsmew said:

amellis, I'll try that, thanks. I haven't branched out, although the thought did cross my mind. Do they have almond milk just at the grocery store near the cow milk?

However now my problem is that if she can see it's anything other than water in her cup, she won't even taste it. I tried buying a cup that isn't so transparent but she won't drink out of that, either.

Kids, man. They're crazy.

Usually, yes. Silk makes some, and Blue Diamond makes some. You are in Jax, so if Trader Joes is near by, it might be worth a trip in!

[sara76]

Mrsmew I'm so sorry about your lady's crankiness. Hang in there and enjoy your weekend. You do need it and she will be in capable hands. Even if she gives trouble, they can give her back after the weekend. Try not to worry. I know, easy for me to say. As far as the milk, A has days where she won't touch the stuff. All she wants to drink is "wawe". Those days I try and make up for it by giving her lots of cottage cheese, string cheese sticks, cream cheese and full fat Greek yogurt, and get her fat and calcium in that way. I know E is a picky eater too so that may not be an option but just drinking water for a couple of days will not end her. And if you're out of milk when you get back than likely she will start weaning and getting her milk other ways. I never thought Amelia would self wean in a million years but pretty sure it's because I ran out by 20 weeks pregnant and she gave up. She hasn't looked back since (although she still is a little fascinated with my boobs and puts stuff down my shirt every chance she gets. When I get undressed I usually find one of her socks between my boobs, or a nickle stick to my belly).

[sara76]

Jen, absolutely it is possible to have PPD 6 months in. I think I started getting depressed when A was 8 months and it was super hot out and I started getting claustrophobic. The Y saved me. I needed to get out and do something for myself, and get my heart pumping again. You might be coming down from the adrenaline high of having your vbac birth and need something to replace it with. Work isn't cutting it so hopefully you can find another outlet. Starting a new healthy diet may really help. Brisk walking and low fat diet to get you feeling good again? Do you have a pool nearby? Go under water and scream your head off?

[sara76]

Mrsjason you may gain more than you hoped but you look absolutely amazing! And that will all come off in no time! I'm so glad your pregnancy us going smooth.

Lauren you too! I would love a belly pic!! You must look adorable with two in there:)

Etteyam, um scarrry! Our bodies have some messed up ways to communicate with us don't they? I hope that doesn't happen again to either of us!

[lauren9317]

Here's from today!

[lauren9317]

Um wow. I just looked at Kathy's pics on FB. Kathy, the pics are amazing!

[sara76]

Ahhhh Lauren that pic just put the biggest smile on my face!! Love it, you look awesome!!

[lauren9317]

Thank you!!

[mrsjason]

Sept 18, 2013 10:18:08 GMT -5 lauren9317 said:

Um wow. I just looked at Kathy's pics on FB. Kathy, the pics are amazing!

Ha, well, I was a little outta my element posing for photos. To be honest I felt ridiculous.

Funny story though, during the photo session this super old mexican guy came shuffling by and stopped the photographer. I was an earshot away and this is how their conversation went:

Old Man: Is she like a model? (spoken in a think Mexican accent) 
Photographer: No, I am a local photographer and we're doing a photo session for her to keep
Old Man: Oh. Is going to take her top off or something?
Photographer: No, she's not pulling a Demi Moore today.....
Old Man: Who?
Photographer: You know, Demi Moore.....Married to Bruce Willis......Posed naked when she was pregnant....
Old Man: ::glances back at me:: Oh, chingow, I didn't notice she was pregnant. Never mind.....

Ha. Dirty old man. 

But anyway, Lauren I love the photo! You're bump is perfectly round! And I am jealous of your cute butt too! I think with my old age my once perky butt has turned to a pancake. Wtf? ha. 

[mrsjenrn]

Lauren you look great!!

[lauren9317]

Thanks Jen Kathy that is too funny, lol.

[aegis2005]

I hope Shane wakes up feeling better than he has all week. He's had a cold and has been miserable, and I'm attempting airport security using an ergo today (instead of stroller). I'm hopeful he wants to be held ... or else it's going to be a long trip.

[mrsmew]

Lauren, you look fantastic! What a perfect bump!

Sara, glad you're feeling better now but I'd be wicked pissed that I called my doc in a panic and it took them 3 hours to get back to me. Ugh! Also thanks for the words of encouragement. Ellie seems to be on the upswing and my H has been able to put her down using almond milk in a bottle (thanks, amellis!!!) two nights in a row now. She doesn't really drink much of the milk but she clearly doesn't NEED to nurse to go to sleep so I guess I serve no purpose anymore, haha. I've still been nursing her here and there during the day, just if she's really out of sorts or something. I guess we'll see how this weekend goes and play it by ear when we get back. I'm really getting the feeling though that she's more ready to wean than I am. Waaaaah. What's next, college?!

aegis, good luck. I much prefer a carrier to a stroller at the airport, but I never prefer a miserable baby. Hope he feels better and just sleeps through the whole trip for you!

[amellis2]

Lauren and Kathy, I love your bumps (kind of partial to Lauren's, though. We gots to stick together )

mrsmew I'm glad that worked! Have a good weekend, you crazy kids!