tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35876219594661546282024-02-21T13:38:25.313-05:00Adventures of JKLJKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.comBlogger410125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-5971296262615908252013-08-08T14:56:00.003-04:002013-08-08T14:56:31.490-04:00Getting Organized for Fall- Chore ChartsI have always loved fall. For me fall is my "fresh start." I think it is because fall was the start of a new school year, and since I have spent the better part of my life in a school system, from Kindergarten to Graduate school, this is what feels natural to me I guess.<br />
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Even though I'm enjoying the <strike>choas </strike> freedom of summer, taking the kids to the pool, traveling, picnics, etc. I am really missing the weekly schedule we used to have during the "school year." I am amped for this upcoming year. I have kept Mimi in her dance class and added soccer to the mix. We also are starting a Kindergarten homeschool curriculum, and plan to do some field trips and such with our playgroup. <br />
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I am excited to get back on a more regular gym "schedule" too. Before our trip to CA and the wedding trip I took, I was hitting the gym 5 days a week. I need to get back at this, because I feel amazing when I work out more. The kids both really enjoy the YMCA. Olive gets to see other kids and gets lots of hugs and holding, and Mimi enjoys the kid fit and the arts and crafts. Trips to the YMCA will definitely be in our rotation for fall!<br />
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We are taking the month of August to get organized. We are currently deciding which homeschool curriculum to try. We have re-worked our budget and are going back to a cash/envelope based system for spending. We are setting up our calendar to organize our weekly activities, and scheduling some fall camping trips. I plan to blog about all of the above.<br />
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Here is one thing I finished today. <br />
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Mimi's new chore chart. Mimi is now 4 years old. In my opinion a child her age can be expected to complete the tasks we have chosen (maybe even more). I had seen <a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/01/chore-chart-cards.html" target="_blank">this chore chart</a> on a homeschooler blog (which you can print for free) and it seemed too intense for our needs. Mimi has 4 tasks per day. She is to feed our dog morning and night. She is asked to clear her dishes after each meal. She needs to clean up her room before bed each night. She needs to brush her teeth twice a day. For every day that she completes the said task, she gets a star (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reward-stickers-used-Star-Chart/dp/B006WAR0WI/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1375984628&sr=1-1&keywords=star+reward+stickers" target="_blank">something like these</a>). Now, you will see at the bottom that there are a range of allowances granted for her work on a weekly basis. If she receives between 5-10 stars in a week, she will receive $1, 11-20 stars she will get $3, and >20 stars she will receive $5. <br />
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Originally I wanted to giver her $5 a week in allowance. I thought that realistically, there are days she will not complete all of her tasks, and wouldn't warrant the full allowance, but certainly deserves some reward. Hell, I don't even do all my "chores" daily sometimes. I thought this would help her see that she reaps the benefits of her work. The harder she works, the more she gets. I am not sure if this will work, but we'll give it a try. <br />
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We also have stopped buying her things when we go out just because she asks. I think I'm the culprit here on this bad habit. I grew up pretty poor, we never got "stuff" every time we went to the store just for asking. When Mimi was 2 and 3 I got in the habit of rewarding her good behavior with a toy or treat every time we went somewhere, now she just flat out expects us to buy her stuff for no reason and throws fits when she doesn't get what she wants. Now we tell her to save her money and she can buy things with her own money, or wait for her birthday or Christmas. This makes her feel excited to save, and in control of her choices. She has her eyes set on a new princess dress (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Princess-Sparkle-Dress-White/dp/B007MO2BQS/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1375984996&sr=1-1&keywords=snow+white+princess+dress" target="_blank">like this one</a>). We keep reminding her of how much it costs and how she can keep saving. <br />
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I'll have to check back with you all in a month or two and see if this is working. If you want to know how I made this, I can easily do a post on it. It can be personalized however you would like.<br />
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Do your children do chores? Do you give an allowance?<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-64214933739212848322013-06-27T22:17:00.000-04:002013-06-27T22:17:16.545-04:00Pool Days and Sunscreen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I keep telling myself over this last month that Olive cannot be my last baby! This is way too much fun to not do all over again! </div>
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This summer has been the best summer of my life. I am loving being a stay at home mom in such a wonderful family friendly city. My life this year is such a starke contrast to how I was with Mimi at this same age. Mimi was in full time daycare by the time she was 5 months old. For financial reasons, I could only stay home with Mimi part time until she was 5 months, then she was at daycare 45 hours a week! I look back on that now and I think about how much I missed! I loved our daycare provider, she was a family friend who happen to run a at-home licensed daycare. She was affordable and I knew her long before I was even married. Mimi learned so much and always seemed happy. I was the one that was unhappy. The weekdays were a chaotic mess of alarm clocks and rushing here to there. </div>
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Now I wake up with no alarm clock. My kids are my built in alarm clocks. My husband has the flexibility to start work whenever he wants before 10, so our mornings are pretty leisurely. After we all wake up and have a home cooked (!!!) breakfast (something our fulltime working days never allowed), my husband leaves for work and I have this empty canvas day. Errands can be run whenever we feel up to it. The house gets cleaned and messed up throughout the day...most days I am in my pajamas drinking coffee until at least 9am. </div>
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From May to August our days mostly look like this....</div>
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No joke, Mimi is a fish. Mimi will be 4 this July and can swim with no floaties. I am beyond proud of this kid. Swimming takes it out of her like nothing else. We go to the YMCA a lot and I will workout for an hour while the kids play with toys and color pictures in the childcare. Then we have a picnic lunch outside and swim until Olive gives us the sign that she's had enough, which is usually about two hours. We go through our <a href="http://www.bluelizard.net/" target="_blank">favorite sunscreen</a> like crazy! Sunscreen is one thing I'm pretty picky about. I am fair skinned and burn very easily. In my 7 years in FL working on the water in the hot FL summers, this was the one sunscreen I found that stays on, doesn't irritate my skin or eyes, and works amazing! It was only natural to use this one for my kids too.<br />
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This fall we start homeschooling Mimi, which is shaping up to be another adventure! For now I'll enjoy these carefree pool days...<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-44120743337442678102013-06-25T00:10:00.001-04:002013-06-25T00:18:27.230-04:00Watching Mimi with OliveWatching Mimi with Olive melts my heart daily. When I as pregnant I worried about jealously and juggling. Mimi being jealous of the time I spent with the baby or the attention she receives, and juggling the needs of both kids and not feeling like either is getting less than what they need from me. These were my two concerns. So far jealously had not been an issue. Mimi had nothing but love for her baby sister. Sometimes too much love lol....<br />
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Juggling the needs of both is hard sometimes. Mimi is still young and can't always understand why Olive's needs come first. I try really hard to balance the time I spend with both. I make so many attempts to spend quality one on one time with Mimi. I enjoy the quiet late night nursing sessions (or early mornings when everyone else is asleep. Everyday it gets <strike>easier</strike> more and more natural to divide my time between them, and enjoy them together.JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-1338900795141040272013-06-25T00:02:00.000-04:002013-06-25T00:02:03.836-04:00The other side arrivesA few days after my mother and brother left, my husbands family arrived for New Years. We had 8 people camped out in our tiny Austin house for a very cold TX New Year. <br />
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It as really nice to watch the entire family meet and snuggle Olive, and of course our big girl Mimi. Our girls are the only grandkids on my husbands side and they are definitely the center of attention.<br />
<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-151502953181302942013-06-24T23:57:00.000-04:002013-06-24T23:57:29.744-04:00A full house for ChristmasAfter those last three depressing posts you need something positive right? Damn I do. <br />
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When I was pregnant with Olive, they scheduled an induction on December 17 if I had not had her yet. My mom booked her plane tickets accordingly and arrived that day. Little did we know when we booked them that little olive would be over a month old! We spent that week before Christmas cuddling our new bundle and enjoying the first Christmas that my mother, brother, and I had been together for Christmas in 10 years! My brother's baby was 6 months old at the time. She is my only niece and she is such a puddin! Watching him as a father is amazing.<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-71284307150708569102013-06-24T23:40:00.001-04:002013-06-24T23:46:35.176-04:00Don't google it...Over the next two weeks, Olive was doing really well. She was down to 1/2 liter of oxygen and was nursing and bottle feeding well. I drove to the NICU for as many of the "touch times" and feedings as I could manage with my husband being back at work. On Thanksgiving morning the NICU called us to tell us they wanted us to bring in her carseat for her test and she may go home soon. We were so excited. We had to purchase a new carseat because Olive as too small to fit in the GRACO seat we saved from Mimi. On the evening of black friday I waited in line for two hours at Toys R Us to buy a Chicco Keyfit that the NICU recommended. <br />
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I got to the hospital late Friday night and my heart sank when I walked in to find my baby back on oxygen and full of IVs again. I broke down and cried right there in my little visiter chair next to her isolet. The nurse handed me some tissues and got the doctor to come and tell me what had happened. They explained that they had found blood in Olive's diaper, along with a lot of vomit in her crib. She also had a distended belly and was very lethargic. <br />
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Olive was diagnosed with <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/nec.html" target="_blank">Necrotizing Entercolitis</a>. The first thing the doctor told me was "don't go home and google it" which of course I did. I wish I hadn't. My browser screen was flooded with statistics like "only 40-60% of babies survive.." Officially wished I hadn't googled it. More tears over the next 10 days as they filled her body with hardcore antibiotics, had to move her IV every few days, attempt putting in a PIC line. She was on a 10 day course of these drugs, with no food allowed. She was sustained by IV sugars and electrolytes. For the first few days I was not allowed to hold her. Once her x-rays showed that the gas in her intestines was reducing, I was allowed to hold her every few hours if I could get to the NICU. The poor thing would root and root for food and I wasn't allowed to feed her. <br />
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After 10 days, they slowly introduced food again and then nursing again. I am still feeling so blessed that I had all the milk she needed. She had to be weaned off oxygen again as her body healed. In retrospect, Olive was so lucky. Her doctors pinpointed the symtoms quickly enough to reduce the damage to her intestinal track and avoid surgery.<br />
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After she tolerated the volume of food that was required for her to maintain weight and was off oxygen for 48 hours, she took her 10 hour apnea test and her carseat test. After anxiously waiting the doctors answer....On December 13th Olive came home.<br />
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Even though Olive is home safe in my arms and growing strong to this day, this whole experience has scarred me. My heart will never be the same after experiencing the pain of leaving my baby in that hospital day after day for an entire month. I missed so many firsts. I will never forgive myself, because it was my body that couldn't make it to 40 weeks. When they had done my c-section they discovered my placenta was in fact torn, and I my amniotic fluid was filled with blood. My placenta was heavily calcified, as if I was past 40 weeks in my pregnancy, not at 34 weeks. The doctor told me after that we had made the right decision to take her out when we did.<br />
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Olive was put through so much. No mother should have to face this challenge and no baby should spend those first few precious weeks in a hospital and not in their mother's arms. I pray if we have any more babies that this is not in our future again. JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-54350720604659990742013-06-24T23:18:00.000-04:002013-06-24T23:18:22.110-04:00The Hardest Month of My LifeOlive's crazy pregnancy and birth story were only a sample of the challenges I would have to face. The emotions that I went through the month Olive was in the NICU have been safely packaged up and tucked deep into my hard and far from my memory for a reason. To this day I cry when I remember how if felt to be without her. I cry now as I am typing this. I want to remember though, so I am going to write it out.<br />
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Olive was born 6 weeks early, and although I received the steroid injections, her lungs were not ready to breath air yet. She needed oxygen support soon after birth. I wasn't allowed to hold her until she was three days old. I could go down the NICU in a wheelchair during my stay at the hospital and sit with her as much as I was able. My blood pressure was really messed up after the birth due to the toxemia, that I had these crippling headaches whenever I was upright. I tried once a day to go see her if I could. <br />
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My friend Emily came to see me in the hospital on the third day and took me down to the NICU to see Olive. The nurse let me hold her for all of a minute, but it as amazing. I hate looking at these pictures because they make me cry to this day, but I am happy Emily took them for me.<br />
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I stayed 6 days at the hospital total, 4 after her birth. I pumped milk religiously every 3 hours night and day and they took it down to Olive and she received it through a tube. Thank god for one thing going right! My boobs knew their job man and the nurse were blown away by my supply after only 2 days post partum. <br />
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Each day Olive grew stronger and eventually came off CPAP. They were telling us she may be there only 1 or two weeks.<br />
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Being discharged from the hospital without your baby was heart wrenching. I walked past the nurses station, my husband holding my hand tight, passing by all the moms with their babies nestled in their carseats ready to go home. This heart wrenching feeling was the same each time I left the hospital over the next month....<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-41375493184915089302013-06-24T23:00:00.000-04:002013-06-24T23:00:29.209-04:00Olive's Birth StoryI always knew in my heart my baby would come early. Maybe it was all those warnings the fetal maternal doctor gave me about hypertensive mothers, or in my heart I just knew. Our little baby swayed back and forth in utero from the 10th-25 Percentile over my last trimester. My blood pressure slowly started climbing again, and the doctors would give me that side squinty eye look when they reviewed my bp levels I was recording. To add insult to injury, I developed gestational diabetes, and even with my paleo diet, my morning fasting numbers were super high. <br />
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On November 11th, I remember feeling really crampy all day in the top of my stomach. I thought maybe I had been on my feet too long, and after dinner I had resolved myself to lay low. As I was loading the dishwasher, at 33 weeks and 6 days pregnant, something happened. Something inside me felt horrible. I was in some of the worst pain, pain that would not subside. I crawled to the couch and lay there screaming. I remember gripping the couch with my fists and clenching the fabric waiting for it to pass. My husband felt helpless and kept asking what he should do, but I couldn't speak. I got to the tub, hoping the warm water would relax me or something. I called the OB office after hour call line and they told me someone would call me back. An hour went by, still motionless in pain in my bathtub. Finally my husband calls again and they tell us to come in. We wake up poor Mimi, and we go to labor and delivery at 11pm. <br />
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An ultrasound confirms that I tore a 3 cm piece of my placenta, but the baby was stable. They admitted me and began steroid shots to strengthen the babies lungs. The doctor told me that the baby was stable, but the amount of pain I was in was concerning. She felt that after 3 rounds of steroids they wanted to deliver the baby. I sat for two days in the hospital under constant monitors. After the first 24 hours, I was in so much pain it hurt to breath, the tear was near the top of my belly and the expanding of my lungs was excruciating. I finally accepted some pain medication. The next 24 hours my husband and I felt like we were on a plane stuck on the runway waiting to take off with the flight attendants and captain giving us different information. It didn't help that the doctor who admitted us, now went off call and the new doctor had a different idea of what we should do. New doctor decides that since the babies heart is stable, we should wait as long as possible (even weeks) and just be on constant standby for an emergency c section. When she said this to me I broke into tears. I was in this unimaginable pain, like flesh tearing apart inside me. Every move of my body was becoming excruciating. I was not allowed any food or even water by mouth over the last 36 hours. I looked at my husband eyes searching for him to make a decision so I didn't spend the rest of my life feeling guilty that I had my baby early because I couldn't' take this pain any longer. The doctor left it up to us, have a csection now and the baby will surely go to the NICU for an indeterminate amount of time, or wait it out in this constant state of pain dampened by pain medication. I hated the doctor for making me feel like I had to chose between me stopping the pain and the baby going to the NICU. My husband could read my face, he saw my pain. I think we both knew in our hearts something was wrong and it was time to have the baby. <br />
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We signed all the paperwork, they began to prep me for my surgery, and then the doctor knocks again. She tells me the NICU is full and that as soon as I have my baby, it will be transferred to another hospital and I will have to stay. My husband was furious, I of course began to cry again. Not only would my baby be in a NICU, but one across town. How can this be happening?<br />
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I put my hands on my husband shoulders to calm him down and looked him straight in the face and for some reason at that moment, I was the strong one. I told him that the important this is that the baby will be ok. We can get through this, I told him. He was so angry, I had never seen him that upset. The charge nurse must have overheard our conversation. She told us in this whisper that we don't have to sign the release forms for the baby to be transfered and that they will find a place for the baby. She called the NICU and found out that private quarantine rooms were available which could technical house our infant. <br />
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Two amazing things happened next. As I was prepped for surgery in the OR, the doctor came in and told us they found a place for our baby in the NICU, then minutes later, this amazing little girl came out screaming, which is music to a mothers ears....<br />
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5 lbs, 3 oz of love, 17 inches long at 34 weeks. <br />
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What I didn't realize was the hardest part was still ahead of me...JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-73903990381711448632013-06-24T22:36:00.000-04:002013-06-24T22:36:03.804-04:00It's been awhileWell blog, It's been awhile. About 8 months to be exact. How does somebody that blogged more than once per week (and enjoyed it) stop all of a sudden and not post for 8 months? Life. Life has thrown me some curve balls this year. <br />
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Remember tiny little <a href="http://adventuresofjkl.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-look-so-small.html" target="_blank">pregnant me last October </a>complaining that people thought my belly looked so small? Well this little creature popped into my life about 6 weeks early....<br />
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Meet Olive Rose. Olive came unexpectedly 6 weeks early due to my placenta tearing. She came out screaming...more on that later.<br />
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So, after 8 months, with some ups and incredibly low downs, how does one catch up? You see I write this blog not only for you few followers that take a peek into my life, but for me. I write this blog overfull with pictures of my kid(s), food, adventures, typos, and grammar mistakes for myself. Remember that one Harry Potter movie where Dumbledoor (sp?) has that <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Pensieve" target="_blank">bird bath looking device</a> in his office full of memories? He can pull one out and relive it anytime? That's my blog to me. I don't want to leave an 8 month whole in my bird basin lookin' device....<br />
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I am going to make 8 posts, one for each month that I have missed. They will likely be full of pictures and written with tears streaming down my face, as I relive months of emotions I have tried to tuck deep into my heart.<br />
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Then hopefully I can go back to posting my happy adventures to share with you all. I miss using my camera, I miss venting about things that bug me, sharing food fails when I try new recipes, etc. <br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-11982168501199834672012-10-17T01:08:00.001-04:002012-10-17T01:08:51.611-04:00You look so smallSometimes I read forums on babycenter and whattoexpect.com where other December 2012 Moms posts topics, questions, photos, etc. You find a lot of stupid crap, but one day I read a post about things people say to you when you're pregnant that bother you. There were a lot of silly ones, like people hating being called "preggers" which reminded me how mad my friend got when I called her baby "nubs" when she became obsessed about the "nub theory" of determining the baby's sex in early ultrasounds...my point is we all have things that may seem silly to others, but they really bother us.<br />
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There are two things that people say to me that I really with wish they wouldn't. One is the title of this post "wow you look so small!" now don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my self control through this pregnancy in fighting my cravings and gaining only the recommended weight. But when your doctor is telling you your baby is growth restricted and not getting the nutrient it needs, and people keep telling you (however innocently) how "small" your belly looks for your gestational age, it really makes you want to cry and second guess everything you eat (or don't eat) and everything you do with your body. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I look small. I met a lady today at the deli that was ) weeks ahead of me and we were sporting the same size bellies! I also want to point out that I forced myself to eat my entire grilled cheese and salad, even though I was full after half out of guilt and anxiety over this whole growth restricted thing.<br />
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The second thing that gets to me is when people (including my own mother) like to remark how "hard this pregnancy has been" for me when<br />
I fill them in on what's going on. I know this pregnancy hasn't been perfect, but I try so hard to stay focused on positive things surrounding my pregnancy and that is really hard when people keep reminding me of all the bad stuff! So I have Hypertension, so my baby is<br />
Growth restricted, so I failed mg blood glucose test, so I have a BAZILLION doctor apts... You know what? So far this baby is doing ok, I'm still up<br />
And mobile, and I have great doctors an insurance to cover them. I am able to conceive and carry my own babies. I have a loving husband who takes care of me and a little bright three year-old gearing up to be one darn good big sister. <br />
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Life is good.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgj4JX7BlWgr1hziFPBRmp1BO1ry5Lhd9lM-j1-g2vozy_bk4iS6TsTlm9Z0GdJMnO84ZCdCDWPtRs_x6YkkbgbEzYkZGxLKgxWdPJvYtf2Lic7ZszeqCYkmwN57Tby0FTzoDepCof6TW/s640/blogger-image-1659000133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgj4JX7BlWgr1hziFPBRmp1BO1ry5Lhd9lM-j1-g2vozy_bk4iS6TsTlm9Z0GdJMnO84ZCdCDWPtRs_x6YkkbgbEzYkZGxLKgxWdPJvYtf2Lic7ZszeqCYkmwN57Tby0FTzoDepCof6TW/s640/blogger-image-1659000133.jpg" /></a></div>JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-31046949107560513232012-10-12T17:18:00.001-04:002012-10-12T17:18:10.728-04:00Obligatory Pumpkin Patch Trip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkIfmjr_qJicmeGSEgx2_IpAK0aJhVav874ldvc_M4dObTfwreL0C4UmtNkL8RmyobJ2dqslFzUE3TyETo6DycCGYxuNd1bxbYx7E4hruQiTV3fhr1Gk5yFccMcnr7qL1L89fRI-CV054/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkIfmjr_qJicmeGSEgx2_IpAK0aJhVav874ldvc_M4dObTfwreL0C4UmtNkL8RmyobJ2dqslFzUE3TyETo6DycCGYxuNd1bxbYx7E4hruQiTV3fhr1Gk5yFccMcnr7qL1L89fRI-CV054/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a>I didn't know if I'd make it to the pumpkin patch today as planned. I've been pretty sick all week and the weather was looking pretty iffy...<br />
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Alas, we made our way out to Elgin today for our annual trip to the "Elgin Christmas Tree Farm" pumpkin festival. It actually worked out perfectly. My husband was working from home and needed some quiet, and the overcast clouds kept the weather cooler and offered a nice breeze. <br />
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If you live in Austin (or near Elgin for that matter), please take your kids to this place. It's $5 per person, but if you sign up for their newsletter via email you can get a buy one get one free admission, and I think kids under two are free. <br />
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We packed our lunches, put on our "festive" orange colored clothing, and made the 45-minute trip out to Elgin. This place has farm animals (that bite so watch out), pumpkin decorating, hayrides, playgrounds, picnic areas (all free) and a train ride for $2 per person. We easily spend 3 hours there playing and riding. <br />
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I have to laugh, where I grew up, in mid-october I'd be wearing some sort of jacket, and certainly not shorts! Mimi and I actually could have used some sunscreen, and more water. I'll have to take Mimi up to my Mom's place in upstate NY some fall so she can see what fall <i>really </i>is like.<br />
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Enjoy some photos!<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-33815389724993165062012-10-05T22:37:00.002-04:002012-10-05T22:37:24.549-04:00Instant AnxietySo far this pregnancy, I've been really "comfortable" yet cautious with how things were going. When I had my first apt with my new OB practice and they told me I'd need to see a fetal maternal specialist because of my chronic hypertension, I felt scared. As I progressed from 8 weeks past 20 weeks, visiting both the OB and the specialist on a regular basis, along with monthly growth scans, I started to feel really comfortable, even confident that I'd carry to term with no real problems. <br />
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I was blind sided this week (week 28) by not only failing my glucose test, which is surprising to me after following a pretty strict primal eating plan since last January, BUT I also had some disheartening news at our most recent growth scan. At 25 week, my growth scan showed Gummy Bear being in the 43rd percentile for growth, not too shabby. Alas, this week they show Gummy being only in the 10th percentile. I'm not upset with the specific numbers, because I know ultrasounds are not 100% accurate. I'm more concerned that the numbers dropped so much in just 3 weeks. If the doctor told me Gummy was in the 20 or 30's for weight/size percentile I don't think I'd be as anxious.<br />
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Basically the fetal maternal specialist told me that I'm not diagnosed as having Inter Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) <i>yet, </i>but if Gummy drops below 10 they want to talk early c-section. Scary. I spent the day trying not to get upset. I tried to be optimistic and positive. I even reassured my husband that it doesn't mean anything <i>yet</i>. We will have weekly growth scans from here on out. Regardless of whether I make it term or not, this baby will be smaller than expected. <br />
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I of course ran out to Carters and bought some newborn sleepers, using consumer therapy to soothe my fears. Then I went home and opened up the bin of clothes I saved from Mimi's infancy, sorted, organized and made piles to wash. Really Jen? At 28 weeks you're washing onesies? Shit I even contemplated packing a hospital bag. Then I saw how irrational I was acting. I stopped.<br />
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I woke up today feeling crampy and <b>not</b> noticing any of my normal "good morning" kicks from Gummy. Of course I panicked, ate a huge croissant (figured carbs can't hurt my poor lean baby), and a fruit smoothly and laid on my couch poking at my poor belly hoping for reassuring kicks. I was able to elucidate a fairly week response from gummy. I spent the day worrying, fretting, daydreaming of bad outcomes, second guessing my diet and weight gain, all things any mom would do. <br />
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Luckily, as I sit here tonight on the couch relaxing with my husband I have been slammed by one huge kick after another from Gummy. Big enough kicks to move my body around. Gummy may be small, but he/she is in there still kickin'. <br />
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I'm going to try and relax and have faith in my doctors that all will be okay. Hopefully Gummy's numbers improve next week and I can at least stop daydreaming of having my poor baby in a NICU for two months before I can bring him/her home.<br />
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Here I am in all my bump showing glory at 28 weeks pregnant.<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-20730481198357774872012-09-24T01:05:00.001-04:002012-09-24T01:05:56.183-04:00Holy 3rd TrimesterI can't believe this. I'm in the THIRD trimester?! <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWWpKV3oya64FhzeZTcZ4OPqirt0_obNwV7GmmyAz0X8X3XvSCvNg1uMln7xP7FnkbHjlTcuM9Eu2UnOhvFlK-VI5np5lqpIti_gUb_ObGjPzcW3VO2zqb32oXecD3S0Kf331obbvzZkc/s640/blogger-image-957341160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWWpKV3oya64FhzeZTcZ4OPqirt0_obNwV7GmmyAz0X8X3XvSCvNg1uMln7xP7FnkbHjlTcuM9Eu2UnOhvFlK-VI5np5lqpIti_gUb_ObGjPzcW3VO2zqb32oXecD3S0Kf331obbvzZkc/s640/blogger-image-957341160.jpg" /></a></div>JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-50294406360683290362012-09-20T11:23:00.002-04:002012-09-20T11:23:19.085-04:00Leggings as Pants Today I had to restrain myself from dropping Mimi off at Preschool in leggings, or pajamas pants. Both I feel can be equally inappropriate for such occasions. I love leggings, but very few of us can pull of "leggings as pants." Some of you lucky ladies have the butt and legs to do it, this lady does not....<br />
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I really want to find more maternity tunic tops that cover my butt but allow me to wear leggings. I"m seriously feeling like a house these days, and maternity jeans are just not comfortable to me this time around. First off, when I got pregnant I was a size 12, so most of maternity jeans (Gap brand) are 12's. Well, what fit up to 5 months pregnant, does not fit anymore. Well, they "fit" as in they go over my <strike>large ass</strike> robust figure, but I feel really uncomfortable. I ordered another pair size 14 (gasp, it hurt my feelings to do it...) and they're too long and need to be hemmed, so I haven't worn them yet. But to be perfectly honest, trying them on even after washing them, I wasn't as impressed as I am with leggings. Maybe I'll just live in yoga pants the rest of this pregnancy, the perfect twist of pajamas and pants. <br />
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I am also restraining myself from cleaning and/or sleeping while Mimi is at preschool today. I put her in Mother's Day Out/Preschool two 1/2 days a week to have time to finish writing my dissertation. Some days I feel awesome, I can sit at my computer and crank out the work, but today I feel as though I have no writin' mojo. I desperately want to put fresh sheets on my bed and crawl in it and set an alarm for lunchtime. God, I hate this feeling. I know I'm pregnant and I need rest blah blah blah, but these days I seriously feel unbelievably drained. <br />
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Please send some mojo my way....JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-34071345751614276022012-09-17T00:30:00.001-04:002012-09-17T00:30:29.196-04:00Rainy Texas WeekendHoly rain Batman. In the entire first year we lived here in Austin I think it sprinkled 2 or 3 times--for less than 10 minutes, no joke. It has been non-stop rain since Thursday night and we are LOVING it. Is it sad when you're blessed with such hot sunny weather so consistently that you celebrate overcast rainy days like it's Christmas? We shut off the AC, opened the windows, welcomed the humidity and snuggled all weekend. <br />
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Friday night I had a girl's night over at my friends house. We all agreed to wear pajama pants, which made this pregnant lady pretty happy. We ate dip and chatted until 1:30am, which is late for me. I spent a large chunk of Saturday afternoon napping on the couch recovering from staying up past my usual bedtime of 11:30. The rest of Saturday was kind of a blur. I remember going out for coffee and coming home afterwards with a pretty wicked headache and nausea (thank you pregnancy hormones) and ended up watching Vanilla Sky on my Iphone in the bathtub. Exciting right? <br />
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Today is my "work" day, where my husband and Mimi go off on an adventure from 10-1 and then I work during that time and her nap. I was amazed at the work I was able to get done today. Last night I went to bed with a positive attitude towards spending Sunday at the computer. I find that is I psyche myself up like that, it really isn't' that bad. <br />
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I had been craving spaghetti, but with my husband's gluten allergy and our low-carb lifestyle, we don't eat pasta anymore. Luckily I've found a brand of gluten free (and corn-free) pasta that doesn't taste like crap. I whipped up some sauce during Mimi's nap with fresh basil, carrots, onion, garlic, tomatos, and mushrooms and we feasted on gluten free (yet not low-carb) brown rice pasta piled high with freshly grated parmesan. It really was a treat!<br />
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I hit the grocery store after dinner in an outfit that would appall my friend Kim, the friend who actually tells you when you look in appropriate. I squished my pregnant tree-trunk legs into some gray leggings with a maternity shirt and cardigan and drove my fat pregnant but to HEB. Is it sad that going to the grocery store alone (sans toddler and annoying husband who gives me the evil eye for buying granola) is like a mini vacation at a spa? I roamed the aisles putting things in my cart that would get me the stink eye from my husband, like spiced cider and pudding cups for Mimi's lunch. <br />
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Now it's time for a new week to start. I am 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow. Whoa. This whole birth of our next baby thing is really creeping up on me! I kind of want things to slow down a little. <br />
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Here's some photos of Mimi hanging out in her Pjs Saturday morning, it's all I got! I need to get my camera out more....<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-58956993849636629712012-09-10T12:59:00.000-04:002012-09-10T12:59:03.178-04:00Is it tacky?I avoided doing this for months...literally. For some reason it felt awkward sharing about this pregnancy on facebook. It almost felt tacky. Here on my blog, only a few of my followers know me in real life, so sharing with you guys has been effortless and fun. I think that I put it off for so long because I knew I'd get comments like "wow, what about your dissertation?!" that would painfully remind me of the weight I carry on my shoulders to finish writing before baby #2 comes, because I'd have even less time and energy.<br />
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I need to point out that we planned for, wanted, and are excited for this baby. Not wanting to share the news was in my mind I guess a way to avoid the guilt I felt when people did bring up my dissertation, because I am angry and frustrated that I haven't finished writing. <br />
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Today when I dropped off Mimi at Mother's Day Out/Preschool, I mentioned to the lady about the baby coming in December and she looked straight at me and was shocked I was pregnant. I was like Whoa lady, do you not see my giant belly? I'm 6 months along now! Then I thought, sh*t people just think I've packed on the pounds I guess. Maybe I should tell people instead of letting them wonder if it's too many snowcones or a baby. <br />
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I was talking to my dear friend Emily about not "sharing the news" and she said to not care about the comments of others, or what they think. She said not to let them steal my joy over this pregnancy. My husband and I (and Mimi) are excited about our Christmas baby coming soon. No my facebook world can be excited for us too I guess. One nasty dissertation comment and they're blocked though!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz43GxUhDLRa4nLljMvRyZQ1lB5JqEERUJOFPAWrCqWOR-N82chrWSKXRj9kG2QES6mUmNU-WWZJAWKmllD59CGGdmOjSE9lGipMpNqjNr6UJIWld5N4o486EFtSO53-ppIpMot73JYs0n/s1600/24+weeks+3+days.t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz43GxUhDLRa4nLljMvRyZQ1lB5JqEERUJOFPAWrCqWOR-N82chrWSKXRj9kG2QES6mUmNU-WWZJAWKmllD59CGGdmOjSE9lGipMpNqjNr6UJIWld5N4o486EFtSO53-ppIpMot73JYs0n/s1600/24+weeks+3+days.t.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby at 24 weeks 3 days, measuring in at 1 lb 9oz</td></tr>
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-30758794190193672882012-08-25T00:30:00.001-04:002012-08-25T00:30:57.217-04:00Confessions I'm not the best at following all these pregnancy "rules."<br />
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Confession 1. I'm laying on my bed, on my belly, typing this blog. What?! Almost 23 weeks pregnant with a uterus the size of a cantaloup (or bigger) and I still lay on my belly sometimes? Yup. Gummy bear doesn't like it, Gummy squirms a lot. ]<br />
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Confession 2. I ate raw sushi tonight. What!? Yup. It was delicious too. I think if you eat sushi from a reputable place, raw or cooked, your risk of parasite and bacterial infection is the same pregnant or not. Trust me. I'm a fisheries biologist. Go ahead, argue with me. While we're on this subject, I eat my yokes runny, my lunchmeat cold, and I think I even ate some brie this pregnancy, let's throw in some feta for good measure....I have women who stuff their face with processed carbs, genetically modified foods and sugar and point a finger at me for eating sushi and runny eggs. This makes no sense to me.<br />
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Confession 3. I don't want to gain weight, and actually get disappointed when I do. My fetal maternal specialist actually said to me at my last apt that as long as the baby measures fine (which Gummy is in the 68th percentile at 20 weeks) I could gain nothing and still have a healthy baby and he wasn't worried. So to those friends who lecture me when I say i'm happy i've only gained 7 lbs in 22 1/2 weeks, call my doctor. I assure you he knows what's he's talking about. I'm not a preggorexic or anything, I just know that because I started off this pregnancy at the heavier end of my suggested weight, I dont' need to pack on 35 lbs.<br />
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Confession 4. I don't tell people i'm pregnant because I dont' want to talk about it. I'm not hiding it, but I don't advertise it. No facebook updates, no formal announcement, nothing. If you see me and you say "gee are you pregnant" I'll gladly say "why yes I am." This is weird because with Mimi's pregnancy I would shout it from the rooftop if someone let me. If you showed the slightest interest in talking about it, I'd talk you ear off about it. This time I just feel way more quiet and private. Like this is something for me, my husband, and Mimi. <br />
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Ok, there, now that I have that off my chest, I'm going to go eat some watermelon.JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-84579161918311468412012-08-18T00:09:00.001-04:002012-08-18T00:09:46.939-04:00Finished Year 3The other night I finished Mimi's 3 year photo book. I have used IPhoto each year to make hardbound photobooks for her to look back on (and me too) as she gets older. I wished my parents had kept better photo books of me as a child, although I guess with most photography being digital, it is easier and less expensive these days to create photo books. <br />
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As I "flipped" through the pages (it's still in digital form), I shed a few tears. Maybe hormones, maybe sadness as my "baby" has grown up so quickly. I feel so blessed everyday that we chose for me to be a stay at home mom. It's such a privilege to watch her grow everyday. I never take it for granted.<br />
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Today Mimi and I unwrapped her old bouncer and infant carseat from plastic we sealed them in for "baby 2." I watched her strap her baby dolls in the seats and my heart began to melt at the thought of her being a big sister in a few short months. <br />
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I'll leave you with a few photos from the end of her book...her third birthday party.<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-75130215810790111662012-08-12T21:50:00.001-04:002012-08-12T21:50:22.179-04:00Dreamt of RunningI've been having some pretty "real" feeling dreams lately. I'm not sure if it's pregnancy craziness or just the fact that my sleep is constantly interrupted by tossing, turning, peeing, blowing my nose, getting water, etc. <br />
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Last night I dreamt of running. I think I actually ran a 5K in my dreams. I can remember the terrain of the run, the cool breeze in my face (obviously I wasn't home in TX in my dream)....I could even remember the clothes I had on. I didn't look like a husky pregnant lady in my dream. I felt awesome. Then I woke up, rolled over the heavy belly and remembered I'm pregnant and had to quit running at 9 weeks along. <br />
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I don't think I could run now if I was being chased by a rabid dog. I feel so run down, queasy, and just heavy almost everyday. My legs and feet have begun to swell (already) at only 21 weeks along. Now I shouldn't feel too terribly heavy, I've only gained 3 lbs! One of those pounds in the baby, and god knows there's at least another two in my boobs! Not to mention the extra blood volume, fluids, etc. So I shouldn't feel so husky right?<br />
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I'm really having one of those weeks where I just don't feel comfortable in my body. I am excited about this baby. I am feeling happy and blessed to be pregnant, I just yearn to have my happy, active life back. I want to wake up feeling refreshed, satisfied when I eat (not sick feeling), and run with the <strike>cool breeze</strike> hot Texas air in my face.<br />
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I'm due to have this baby mid December, so hopefully by the beginning of March I'll be back on the road in my Asics feeling like my old self again (but with two sports bras probably). <br />
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Here I am in the last 5K I ran, well correction, I ran one when I was 7 weeks pregnant, but this was the last one I ran when I was really rockin' the running. Can you believe this girl used to be 250 lbs!?<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-27188420954291155202012-08-04T19:16:00.000-04:002012-08-04T19:16:31.084-04:00Home AgainAfter 3 1/2 weeks away from home, we are back. We got back late Wednesday night, well technically Thursday morning as JetBlue lost our carseat so we had to wait around until 1am to get a loaner until they found ours the next day....anyway....<br />
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It feels AMAZING to be home. Don't get me wrong, it felt right to take time to help my mom, I enjoyed the pleasant cool weather of upstate NY, but there's nothing like coming home. Home to a place we only moved into a week before I left!<br />
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My husband of course lived like a bachelor while I was away. There was sausage and beer in the fridge, dingy sheets he was too lazy to change (gross) and we won't even talk about the bathrooms. After two days of cleaning, we were back in business. <br />
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Friday we had Mimi's birthday party with her little friends at a local bounce house place and my dear friend Courtney drove up for the night and helped me out bigtime. The party was a success, despite rude people who RSVPed "not attending" the morning of (how horribly inconsiderate). I was a little frazzled, I even forgot my camera, but luckily Courtney had hers so the occasion will not be lost in Mimi's photobook this year!<br />
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We're all just relaxing this weekend after a month of being apart as a family. My husband fixed Mimi's trike and my jog stroller, and I tidied the garage and we're all just bumming around in the AC now. I have this crazy overwhelming urge to organize stuff....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutql32M4QNJviLfm9YVG2PSxNoFijDkEsjTm5LeTL-j-mYLK16IC6obs0q1Bem_CO9GpRnl8YWu6HHyB3Wa1xMTg4dg9HNj0dShdNVXGOLZ7wMk7gP_GZKas-O0bQF33_EwPgPj55Go4c/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutql32M4QNJviLfm9YVG2PSxNoFijDkEsjTm5LeTL-j-mYLK16IC6obs0q1Bem_CO9GpRnl8YWu6HHyB3Wa1xMTg4dg9HNj0dShdNVXGOLZ7wMk7gP_GZKas-O0bQF33_EwPgPj55Go4c/s320/IMG_1891.JPG" width="320" /></a>Lord help me it is hot in Texas. I dont' know if it makes me especially miserable because I just spent a month is cool Upstate NY, or because I'm 20 weeks pregnant and a human furnace. Either way, I am crabby outside in this heat! <br />
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Pregnancy wise, I'm only up 3 lbs so far this pregnancy, but you wouldn't have guessed that by the belly! (see photo at left!) I'm feeling tired, but otherwise pretty good. Monday morning I have my 20 week "big" anatomy scan, where we'll <i>try</i> not to find out with baby #2 is. If it's a boy, I imagine in the hour long ultrasound, at some point he will show the goods and we might see...we'll see what happens!<br />
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Alas, some photos of our trip for you...<br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-54751655642350053122012-07-17T17:32:00.003-04:002012-07-17T17:32:50.999-04:00updating from the sticksSo we've been here in rural upstate NY for just over a week. It is pretty crazy to go from our high-paced play-date/wifi-filled life to the sticks, where my mom had dialup, my cell phone doesn't work at all (except 10 miles away in town), and I'm pretty isolated!<br />
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I actually have really enjoyed this last week. I've been helping my mom with cooking, cleaning, and general care as she just had double foot surgery a little over 2 weeks ago. I've been relaxing and watching movies with her at night after Mimi goes to sleep and just enjoying the cool fresh air. <br />
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I've just now gotten to a state of boredom and isolation lol. Luckily my mom can make longer outings now that she has orthodic boots to help with walking and isn't so drugged on pain meds. Also she can be left for a little longer periods so I've been able to take Mimi out to the lake to swim, or to library story hour, etc.<br />
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Pregnancy wise, I feel pretty exhausted and have had a lot of headaches. Otherwise I feel pretty good. When I wake in the morning, I can feel a hard lump on one side of uterus, and it changes position throughout the day. I never felt this with Mimi, maybe because I was heavier. I still haven't gained any weight, but the bell is rounding out nicely! I let Mimi tatoo my belly with washable markers the other morning to help curve her boredom, I think she did a great job! <br />
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Her birthday is this weekend. We're having a big family picnic at one of the parks on the lake. My husband will be travelling up this weekend too. I miss him so much and can't wait to be together as a family for awhile! <br />
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<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-63786200679275434242012-07-05T17:10:00.001-04:002012-07-05T17:10:15.320-04:00Belly Pics - Week 16 & Fourth of JulyI'm coming up on 16 weeks here folks, and man, it gets harder everyday to conceal "the belly." Obviously I wore a pretty tight tank top this day (4th of July) because the people I was with all knew I was pregnant. Can you believe how big it looks?! And do you like my festive outfit? I'm pretty wardrobe challenged right now.<br />
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I should see if I have a photo of me 16 weeks along with Mimi's pregnancy, because I don't *think* I looked this big, even though I weighed a good 30-40 lbs more! Tomorrow I go for another anatomy/growth scan of "Gummy Bear" as we affectionately call this baby. Then I have my traditional 16 week OB apt. Hopefully all is well.<br />
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We had a good time this year for the 4th. I took Mimi to a parade and festival in the morning while my husband slept in and enjoyed his first day off in months. Later that night we went to a BBQ at a friends house and lit some fireworks and saw some nice fireworks. I was so spent by the end of the day! <br />
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Saturday I leave for 3 weeks for my Mom's in upstate NY. I'm excited about the trip but a little stressed about tying up loose ends before I go. <br />
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I hope you all had a great Holiday (for those of you in the States)!JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-34218911014274134152012-07-01T15:46:00.002-04:002012-07-01T15:46:56.769-04:00Feeling Very DrainedI have been the world's worst blogger lately. I used to have all sorts of ideas of things to blog about. I would get excited when I had a few minutes to sit down and put up a post. I hate to be one of those women who gets pregnant and falls off the grid, but man am I drained.<br />
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I can't tell if it's because I'm older this time around (30 instead of 26), or if it's because I have high blood pressure (an added stress on my body), or if it's because I'm chasing around an almost 3 year-old and setting up the new house. For whatever reason, I feel so drained. I wake up feeling pretty rested usually. Now that I'm over the first trimester sickness, I have a lot of energy from about 7 am to 1pm. By the time I get Mimi home for lunch from one of our outings, I feel as though I'll collapse by 2pm. Maybe it's because it's over 100 degrees here? I have been taking naps with Mimi in the afternoons and I wake up around 5pm with sweaty Mimi snoring next to me, and I feel worse. Have you ever woken up from a nap and felt worse!? It's such a crappy feeling. I wake up feeling shaky, dehydrated, headachy, etc. <br />
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Between 5 and 6:30 (when my husband gets home) I try to muster together the energy to make him (and us) for dinner. At least food actually sounds appetizing now. Infact, I dream of food at night, and wake up desiring all sorts of random things. I find myself craving things like fresh cut up vegetables, yogurt, pickles, and fruit. Not bad right?<br />
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As far as my (and the baby's) health goes, everything seems fine. My appointments are a lot closer together than when I was pregnant with Mimi. I see a normal OB office every 4 weeks for your normal pee in cup/weight/bp type stuff. I usually bring Mimi to those apts, I figure it's good for her to get used to it now, and also the office seems to really accomodate children, with toys, coloring sheets, letting her "help" with the doppler, etc. I also go see a Maternal Fetal Specialist every 4 weeks for more "advanced" care I guess? I get anatomy/growth scans every 4 weeks, then at 32 weeks, weekly. I get additional blood and urine tests at those appointments, usually for stuff I dont' understand! Oddly enough, I feel more supported and "taken care" of by the doctors and staff at the Maternal specialist, which I did not expect. My normal OB office rotates me around 6 doctors, so each time I go, I see a perfect stranger. Hopefully it gets better. <br />
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So far the growth scans have gone well, and baby seems to be growing fine. It's odd because when I was pregnant with Mimi, she routinely measured days ahead on the ultrasound, whereas this baby measure dead on each time, to the day. Is it crazy that I actually worry that this baby isn't' even a day ahead?<br />
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I've resolved myself to only keep my maternity clothes in my closet after the move to the new house since I had to reorganize the closet anyway. It still feels weird to think I'm having another baby in December. I still forget sometimes that I'm pregnant. I've definitely started looking a little rounder these days. I'm still a few pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, but I eat when I'm hungry and try all day to keep my fluids going in, so I'm not really too worried. The numbers will go up eventually. I am now back to eating primal again after some first trimester buttered toast binges.<br />
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I'm had to stop my workouts. I stopped running at about 8 or 9 weeks along because I would get spotting after each run, but no spotting when I wouldn't run. Both my doctor and I agreed that it was best to stop. It breaks my heart, running is something I really enjoy (and now miss). I just keep getting excited to train again after the baby is born. I picked up swimming laps when I discontinued running, but soon realized I was too exhausted and couldn't make it through the day watching Mimi on the days I swam, and her happiness is important too. Now I just do 1-2 mile walks with her and the dog.<br />
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This upcoming weekend Mimi and I head to upstate NY to help take care of my Mom after she had double foot surgery. I'm both excited and apprehensive about the trip. I haven't been back to my hometown in many years. I also have a lot of loose ends to tie up here in Austin before I go. Mimi and I will be gone 3 weeks, but I think it will fly by. My husband will travel up for Mimi's birthday weekend in the middle, which will be really fun. <br />
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Hopefully I'll have some photos soon, sorry for the long update!JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-67222923116006971032012-06-12T16:16:00.000-04:002012-06-12T16:16:41.788-04:00World's Worst BloggerSo I was reading <a href="http://lifewiththeladniers.blogspot.com/2012/06/hairy-situation.html">this post</a> from one of my fellow blogger/youtube friends (Gee Sarah I hope it's okay to call you my friend lol), and she mentioned the phenomenon where young woman become mothers and seem to make this transition into frumpy moms, not finding the time to wash their hair and put on mascara, or heck even shower. I had friends that before I had Mimi told me the horror stories of how they never even had time to shower. I'll admit that when I first had Mimi, I <b>always</b> made time to shower, mostly because my kid was the world's most frequent puker, but I hardly ever put on clothes that fit me properly, or makeup. I just tried to be clean and look awake. After a few months (sadly yes, <i>months</i>), I managed to pull myself back together, and look like a young woman again. <br />
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I think there is this other phenomenon that occurs, but not to <i>you</i>, but to your house. Before I had Mimi, my laundry never piled up, the floors were always lemon fresh and spotless, my bed was made, the dishes were put away, and mail never piled up on my table. After 3 years, I feel like my house/home has slowly become completely chaotic around me. I can sit here on my bed, which I happened to make today, and I see a desk piled with papers, receipts, a blood pressure machine, a pair of Mimi's underwear, you name it. I can see Mimi's daypack on my kitchen counter overflowing with our stuff from today's outing, surrounded by unopened mail and empty juice glasses from this morning. My living room is covered in blankets and toys Mimi had dragged out of her room while she was watching a show. Let's not even talk about the bathrooms. Or worse, my closet. <br />
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Today my husband came home from lunch and something snapped inside him and he started on this rant about mess and clutter. He was frustrated at the mess and warned me how he felt this was unacceptable. I couldn't help but laugh. I laugh because even if I clean EVERYDAY my home looks and feels like this. Luckily we are moving to a bigger place soon with more space and storage. Moving is a great opportunity to get rid of stuff, and believe me I will take advantage! <br />
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I hate how my home has transitioned to an acceptable level of mess. Now, I am going to cut myself a little slack here, being in my first trimester of pregnancy, I've been pretty tired and sick. The last thing I want to do is clean. But our life was kind of getting "messy" before the pregnancy too. <br />
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With the move, and the new baby coming this year, I really want to de-clutter my home, and find a cleaning schedule that works for me and actually keep up with it. <br />
<br />JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3587621959466154628.post-59115235907643125582012-05-22T20:24:00.000-04:002012-05-22T20:24:08.085-04:00In Other News....So I've been a little busy with life lately. Travelling, doing the SAHM thing, trying to finish my dissertation, growing a human life... you know all in a days work...<br />
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So okay, right now the human life resembles a gummy bear more than a human baby. Gummy bear measured right on target at my first apt, and had a heartbeat of a whopping 175 bpm! Mimi's little heartbeat wasn't ever that high I don't think. <br />
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So we're excited to welcome gummy bear (God willing) on or near December 24, 2012. Awesome due date right? I imagine when people ask me when I'm due I get to say "oh well Christmas Eve..."<br />
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If you're religious, say a little prayer that our gummy bear keeps growing strong. I've been really anxious and uneasy about gummy bear's future for some reason this time around. There have been a lot of losses among my family and friends lately, and I guess i'm just paranoid. So far, all is well and we're just excited for every day that passes and I'm still healthy and pregnant!<br />
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More to come later on gummy bear....JKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039062769342305550noreply@blogger.com4