So, Emmett is doing much better at night now. He has slept through the night twice. Not in a row, but I think he is getting the hang of it! He likes sleeping in his crib. He definitely gets a better quality sleep than he used to.
He has always been a pretty happy and mellow baby, but now, he is even happier! He takes a bottle really well. Sometimes he likes to be fed, and sometimes he just likes to fall asleep in his bed.
A couple of nights he was also cutting one of his front teeth. So, I think that definitely affected his sleeping. The night before last he woke up twice. Still, all in all, he is doing so good!
It took me a few days to get used to not waking up so frequently, but things are getting back to normal for me too, which is nice.
Jeffrey...well, Jeffrey occasionally sleeps in his toddler bed. He things sleeping in his older brother's bed is even better. So, we'll see how that all pans out.
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Changes II
Well, it has been a few days since Friday...and...wow. After Emmett realized that he wasn't going to be sleeping anymore with me, he started waking up every hour. EVERY HOUR. I looked. It helped me realize a few things... one, he was used to sleeping with me, and two, it was a habit. Not a horrible thing, but seriously.
Jeffrey, successfully slept in his new bed one night. ONE. The next two nights he decided it was more fun to play and turn on all the lights and make messes while everyone else was sleeping. Since I was awake anyway...last night I put him back in his crib since Emmett wasn't using it. I had lost my resolve on that one. That and I was the only adult at home so it was hard to be strong emotionally. Plus it was almost one in the morning.
So, Jeffrey finally fell asleep in the crib, and Emmett still woke up EVERY HOUR even though he was sleeping with me.
A few weeks ago my mom had told me she would help care for Emmett when I was ready to start weaning him. Well...after this weekend, I was ready! So, she is watching him today and tonight and bringing him back tomorrow. I don't know how much change that will cause, but it's a start I suppose.
Now to figure out how to keep Jeffrey in his bed without keeping Harrison up all night. ;)
Jeffrey, successfully slept in his new bed one night. ONE. The next two nights he decided it was more fun to play and turn on all the lights and make messes while everyone else was sleeping. Since I was awake anyway...last night I put him back in his crib since Emmett wasn't using it. I had lost my resolve on that one. That and I was the only adult at home so it was hard to be strong emotionally. Plus it was almost one in the morning.
So, Jeffrey finally fell asleep in the crib, and Emmett still woke up EVERY HOUR even though he was sleeping with me.
A few weeks ago my mom had told me she would help care for Emmett when I was ready to start weaning him. Well...after this weekend, I was ready! So, she is watching him today and tonight and bringing him back tomorrow. I don't know how much change that will cause, but it's a start I suppose.
Now to figure out how to keep Jeffrey in his bed without keeping Harrison up all night. ;)
Friday, January 3, 2014
Changes
Tonight is going to be an interesting night. It will be good though...and hopefully not long and restless...we shall see!
Now that I have you thoroughly confused, I will explain.
So, way back before Emmett was born we bought a 2nd crib. We had every intention of having it put together and ready for use before he was born. We ran into a snag though...WHERE would we put it? We couldn't figure it out, and then Emmett was born, Jeffrey was still sleeping in the office/nursery, Emmett was sleeping by me because I was nursing him, and it just got put on the backburner.
Well, as the year has progressed, it has become more and more apparent that we needed to figure something out.
Then as I took Emmett to more of his well-checks, it became apparent that things needed to change.
This last time, I had to take him in for a weight check because he wasn't gaining anything. Yes, he had been sick, but he had gained NOTHING over a three month period. Not good for a baby that was now nine months old!
We were encouraged to feed him more solid foods, supplement with formula that would help give him complete nutrition, and cut back on the times he was breastfed. He was also supposed to begin to sleep through the night.
Well, that was complicated when his bed was the pack n play in our room and he knew I was about three feet away from him and could hold him and he could eat. At nine months he was still waking up 2-3 times in the night, if not more.
So, when we went in for his weight check today, talked about it with the pediatrician, and he told me when I was ready, that I really needed to try and get Emmett sleeping through the night. Also, that he should really only be nursing three times a day now TOTAL.
On the plus side though, he had gained enough weight that the pediatrician was happy with his progress and told me to keep doing what we were doing.
So, I came home and told Shane it was time to put the other crib together as a toddler bed for Jeffrey (which had been part of the plan from the get go) put it in Harrison's room, and start putting Emmett to bed in the crib outside our room.
Things have been going pretty well. Jeffrey has only woken up once. He was so happy about his toddler bed, that initially, he put himself to bed at first tonight. After he woke up we gave him the option to sleep where he wanted, and again he picked the toddler bed in Harrison's room. Emmett slept for about an hour and woke up. I fed him again until he was asleep, put him back in the crib, and so far he is still sleeping.
Now I need to go to bed! Hopefully, this will be a good transition for Emmett, and he will start to sleep longer. We shall see!
Now that I have you thoroughly confused, I will explain.
So, way back before Emmett was born we bought a 2nd crib. We had every intention of having it put together and ready for use before he was born. We ran into a snag though...WHERE would we put it? We couldn't figure it out, and then Emmett was born, Jeffrey was still sleeping in the office/nursery, Emmett was sleeping by me because I was nursing him, and it just got put on the backburner.
Well, as the year has progressed, it has become more and more apparent that we needed to figure something out.
Then as I took Emmett to more of his well-checks, it became apparent that things needed to change.
This last time, I had to take him in for a weight check because he wasn't gaining anything. Yes, he had been sick, but he had gained NOTHING over a three month period. Not good for a baby that was now nine months old!
We were encouraged to feed him more solid foods, supplement with formula that would help give him complete nutrition, and cut back on the times he was breastfed. He was also supposed to begin to sleep through the night.
Well, that was complicated when his bed was the pack n play in our room and he knew I was about three feet away from him and could hold him and he could eat. At nine months he was still waking up 2-3 times in the night, if not more.
So, when we went in for his weight check today, talked about it with the pediatrician, and he told me when I was ready, that I really needed to try and get Emmett sleeping through the night. Also, that he should really only be nursing three times a day now TOTAL.
On the plus side though, he had gained enough weight that the pediatrician was happy with his progress and told me to keep doing what we were doing.
So, I came home and told Shane it was time to put the other crib together as a toddler bed for Jeffrey (which had been part of the plan from the get go) put it in Harrison's room, and start putting Emmett to bed in the crib outside our room.
Things have been going pretty well. Jeffrey has only woken up once. He was so happy about his toddler bed, that initially, he put himself to bed at first tonight. After he woke up we gave him the option to sleep where he wanted, and again he picked the toddler bed in Harrison's room. Emmett slept for about an hour and woke up. I fed him again until he was asleep, put him back in the crib, and so far he is still sleeping.
Now I need to go to bed! Hopefully, this will be a good transition for Emmett, and he will start to sleep longer. We shall see!
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Phases
There are all different phases that you go through and deal with as a parent. As my kids have gone through different ones, I have come to realize there is certainly a distinct phase of childhood that I tend to dislike more than the others.
"The Terrible Two's" I always felt was inappropriately named. More like the 18 month to 4 years old time of craziness. My older two kids have already gone through this phase, and we all survived, and they are enjoyable great kids most of the time. No one's perfect. :)
Jeffrey is right in the midst of this phase of life. I keep reminding myself of all the kids as curious and energetic as him and how wonderful they are now. It gives me hope when I want to lash out unrationally and have a meltdown like him.
Of course there are silver linings to each phase... his great smile. Their learning of language. I am sure that Jeffrey will have some great thoughts, just like his older brother did.
It also helps me enjoy and appreciate the phase of life that Emmett is in right now as a baby. He still wants to cuddle and just be loved. Jeffrey still does too, but not as much as he tries to exert his independence.
"The Terrible Two's" I always felt was inappropriately named. More like the 18 month to 4 years old time of craziness. My older two kids have already gone through this phase, and we all survived, and they are enjoyable great kids most of the time. No one's perfect. :)
Jeffrey is right in the midst of this phase of life. I keep reminding myself of all the kids as curious and energetic as him and how wonderful they are now. It gives me hope when I want to lash out unrationally and have a meltdown like him.
Of course there are silver linings to each phase... his great smile. Their learning of language. I am sure that Jeffrey will have some great thoughts, just like his older brother did.
It also helps me enjoy and appreciate the phase of life that Emmett is in right now as a baby. He still wants to cuddle and just be loved. Jeffrey still does too, but not as much as he tries to exert his independence.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Signs
It's been a long, although mostly enjoyable day. I was going to write a really profound and deep post yesterday, but then I didn't, and now, I can't even remember the topic I was going to write about.
I would chalk this up to me being ornery. I don't know if I'm ornery because I never get good sleep anymore...and it finally caught up to me today, or if it's just being a female and dealing with hormone fluctuations... I don't know, but I know that if I was someone else, I wouldn't want to be around me. So, of course that's a sign to me that I need to CHILL OUT and change my attitude.
So, I've been trying. It hasn't been very successful so far.
This probably has something to do with my 2 year old, whom I dearly love, but who is definitely NOT a morning person, and I had to wake him up before he woke up on his own this morning, and WOW, yeah, it was pretty bad. Of course, when I really think about it, he is just behaving the way deep down inside I wish I could behave right now, because I feel the same way! Even though I am a morning person.
I have slowly been trying to get Emmett used to sleeping on his own in a pack and play. We initially bought a crib, but then spent about eight months trying to figure out where we were going to put the crib, and well, it has never even been put together. New in the box. *sigh* If we move in time to use the crib, I don't know if we will. Maybe we will because it does convert to a toddler bed and we do need a toddler bed for Jeffrey, which was kind of the whole point in getting a second crib anyway... Still, a crib won't fit in our room, and that's where Emmett sleeps, so pack and play it is.
I also have one that we got for my mom (she asked) and I have it set up in our living room for when Emmett takes naps. He isn't completely going for it yet though. Most of the time he instantly wakes up and looks at me like I just did the most horrible thing. There are times where he stays asleep though, and they are becoming more frequent. So, I figure if we keep working at it eventually it will be the place where he sleeps!
And I'm still ornery... blah.
I would chalk this up to me being ornery. I don't know if I'm ornery because I never get good sleep anymore...and it finally caught up to me today, or if it's just being a female and dealing with hormone fluctuations... I don't know, but I know that if I was someone else, I wouldn't want to be around me. So, of course that's a sign to me that I need to CHILL OUT and change my attitude.
So, I've been trying. It hasn't been very successful so far.
This probably has something to do with my 2 year old, whom I dearly love, but who is definitely NOT a morning person, and I had to wake him up before he woke up on his own this morning, and WOW, yeah, it was pretty bad. Of course, when I really think about it, he is just behaving the way deep down inside I wish I could behave right now, because I feel the same way! Even though I am a morning person.
I have slowly been trying to get Emmett used to sleeping on his own in a pack and play. We initially bought a crib, but then spent about eight months trying to figure out where we were going to put the crib, and well, it has never even been put together. New in the box. *sigh* If we move in time to use the crib, I don't know if we will. Maybe we will because it does convert to a toddler bed and we do need a toddler bed for Jeffrey, which was kind of the whole point in getting a second crib anyway... Still, a crib won't fit in our room, and that's where Emmett sleeps, so pack and play it is.
I also have one that we got for my mom (she asked) and I have it set up in our living room for when Emmett takes naps. He isn't completely going for it yet though. Most of the time he instantly wakes up and looks at me like I just did the most horrible thing. There are times where he stays asleep though, and they are becoming more frequent. So, I figure if we keep working at it eventually it will be the place where he sleeps!
And I'm still ornery... blah.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Differences
I read an interesting news article the other day. It was a guest column. I found myself experiencing conflicting emotions for different reasons.
The author tried to write an article on infertility, but because she had never experienced it, turned it into an article about hyper fertility and how the stress is the same. At least, that is kind of what I got from it. My opinion when I read it was that they are NOT the same. I still feel that way. After reading comments, I realized that I wasn't alone in that feeling.
It was also interesting for me to read, since I am not dealing with infertility now. I do, however, have a very keen memory on what it was like. Even as I was experiencing it, I remember thinking about women who had a difficult time preventing pregnancy. I tried very hard to be empathetic toward them, but it was hard. I could understand and visualize the stress. I could think about how difficult it would be to find out you were pregnant with another child when the money wasn't there to care for them and how stressful that would be... but it was difficult, when at that time, all I longed for was another baby to hold and care for.
It was a long seven years, broken up by a miscarriage. There was a lot of heartache. If I ever even come close to forgetting, all I have to do is look up my infertility label on my blog, and it all comes back.
I think the difference really, is that in dealing with infertility you are dealing with grief. Every month. Every time the test comes back negative. Every time, if you try in-vitro... it fails. Every time your cycle is late you get a glimmer of hope only to have it dashed again. If you do get pregnant... the ultrasound with the heartbeat that isn't there and the sad look on the doctor's face as they tell you things aren't going the way they are supposed to. So, every month, you start the grief cycle over again. You mourn the children that aren't there. They are very difficult emotions to deal with. They are emotions that only completely go away when you get a child.
I haven't dealt with hyperfertility, but in my mind, that stress and emotion is more of an overwhelming, what am I going to do and how am I going to handle this? How am I going to handle the stress of mothering another child? And, like I said before, I can see it, I can visualize how stressful it would be...but still, very different emotions then dealing with infertility.
I don't think you can compare the two.
The author tried to write an article on infertility, but because she had never experienced it, turned it into an article about hyper fertility and how the stress is the same. At least, that is kind of what I got from it. My opinion when I read it was that they are NOT the same. I still feel that way. After reading comments, I realized that I wasn't alone in that feeling.
It was also interesting for me to read, since I am not dealing with infertility now. I do, however, have a very keen memory on what it was like. Even as I was experiencing it, I remember thinking about women who had a difficult time preventing pregnancy. I tried very hard to be empathetic toward them, but it was hard. I could understand and visualize the stress. I could think about how difficult it would be to find out you were pregnant with another child when the money wasn't there to care for them and how stressful that would be... but it was difficult, when at that time, all I longed for was another baby to hold and care for.
It was a long seven years, broken up by a miscarriage. There was a lot of heartache. If I ever even come close to forgetting, all I have to do is look up my infertility label on my blog, and it all comes back.
I think the difference really, is that in dealing with infertility you are dealing with grief. Every month. Every time the test comes back negative. Every time, if you try in-vitro... it fails. Every time your cycle is late you get a glimmer of hope only to have it dashed again. If you do get pregnant... the ultrasound with the heartbeat that isn't there and the sad look on the doctor's face as they tell you things aren't going the way they are supposed to. So, every month, you start the grief cycle over again. You mourn the children that aren't there. They are very difficult emotions to deal with. They are emotions that only completely go away when you get a child.
I haven't dealt with hyperfertility, but in my mind, that stress and emotion is more of an overwhelming, what am I going to do and how am I going to handle this? How am I going to handle the stress of mothering another child? And, like I said before, I can see it, I can visualize how stressful it would be...but still, very different emotions then dealing with infertility.
I don't think you can compare the two.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Summer Days Past
Well, my older kids have been back in school for three days now. This has been a little odd for me because they went back a week before the other schools in our district. Their school decided to align school schedules with their sister charter school, which is in a different district.
The other reason it has been odd... because it's fair week! That's why our school district always starts almost last out of all the districts in our state. We have the last county fair before the state fair starts.
So, it has been interesting to have to worry about taking the kids to school, and also remember the days to take things to the fair, and the schedule of the fair. If my kids raised animals for the fair though...I don't know, they would have a tricky time being involved with that and going to school... They don't, so it's not really a worry. Knowing our school, I'm sure they would work with whomever had that situation. They are pretty good about things like that.
It's been an unusual August in that in has been cooler than all of July. So BIZARRE!
And in kidling news...
Jeffrey is talking up a storm. I don't think I would be able to count all the words he says. I guess we use polite words all the time because he says those too. Water please. Tank you. C'mon please. Everything has a please. I am not complaining! He has a hard time with the yeh sound though. So, if you ask him something and the answer is yes, he will say "sure" instead.
He loves cars and pretty much anything with wheels.
Emmett is five months old...getting closer to six months old every day, which is just crazy! He loves his jump a roo and wiggling and rolling on the floor. He loves to watch people talk to him, and just a few days ago started reaching for my face so he could touch it. It is so cute. We started feeding him baby cereal since he constantly tries to grab the food off our plates. He has handled that really well, and eats it really well too.
And that, in a nutshell is pretty much all that has been going on the past little bit!
The other reason it has been odd... because it's fair week! That's why our school district always starts almost last out of all the districts in our state. We have the last county fair before the state fair starts.
So, it has been interesting to have to worry about taking the kids to school, and also remember the days to take things to the fair, and the schedule of the fair. If my kids raised animals for the fair though...I don't know, they would have a tricky time being involved with that and going to school... They don't, so it's not really a worry. Knowing our school, I'm sure they would work with whomever had that situation. They are pretty good about things like that.
It's been an unusual August in that in has been cooler than all of July. So BIZARRE!
And in kidling news...
Jeffrey is talking up a storm. I don't think I would be able to count all the words he says. I guess we use polite words all the time because he says those too. Water please. Tank you. C'mon please. Everything has a please. I am not complaining! He has a hard time with the yeh sound though. So, if you ask him something and the answer is yes, he will say "sure" instead.
He loves cars and pretty much anything with wheels.
Emmett is five months old...getting closer to six months old every day, which is just crazy! He loves his jump a roo and wiggling and rolling on the floor. He loves to watch people talk to him, and just a few days ago started reaching for my face so he could touch it. It is so cute. We started feeding him baby cereal since he constantly tries to grab the food off our plates. He has handled that really well, and eats it really well too.
And that, in a nutshell is pretty much all that has been going on the past little bit!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sleepy
I feel like about 90% of the time I am just tired. This has especially been the case the past few weeks. Technically I should be taking a nap right now because Emmett is actually sleeping in the swing without me holding him, and Jeffrey is downstairs playing with Hazel... this probably means he is watching Curious George, but hey, I'll take it. :)
I often wonder how celebrities who are in their 40's can handle taking care of small children...and then I remember that the vast majority of them have nannies. I know that some of them don't, but most of them DO. There is no way they could do it otherwise! That or I am just a wimp!!
I am extremely grateful that my two older kids are very willing to help out. While I am extremely grateful for my two younger sons, I am beyond grateful, it is very exhausting and tiring to have two kids that close together in age. I actually had my friend who has twins tell me she thought it was more difficult to have two kids close in age then to have kids who are the same age, because the twins go through the same stages at the same time, and I have to deal with two hard ages at the same time... hmm, never thought of it like that!
Of course, I've also been told, when I made the comment that it was almost like having twins... "said by someone who has never had twins..."
So, here's what I say... being a parent is hard. Period. It is exhausting. Period. Instead of criticizing and judging over who has it hardest, let's just say that everyone has it hard at some point. Some people have talents in dealing with small children. I don't think I have that talent. They make me tired. :) I keep reminding myself that at some point they will be potty trained, and able to talk, and they won't whine and throw temper tantrums when they don't get their way.
The reward for me, really, is when Jeffrey smiles, because he has an amazing smile, or the day we put him in a little kid swing at the park and watched him grin and say "whee" over and over again. There is nothing like seeing a child exhibit pure joy, to help you remember why it is all worth it.
The other reward for me, is seeing my children's pictures on the wall. I know that sounds silly, but for the longest time there were only two, when I knew there should be more. Now there are four, and I just sit and look at them in awe sometimes, grateful for the miracles that I have been given.
I often wonder how celebrities who are in their 40's can handle taking care of small children...and then I remember that the vast majority of them have nannies. I know that some of them don't, but most of them DO. There is no way they could do it otherwise! That or I am just a wimp!!
I am extremely grateful that my two older kids are very willing to help out. While I am extremely grateful for my two younger sons, I am beyond grateful, it is very exhausting and tiring to have two kids that close together in age. I actually had my friend who has twins tell me she thought it was more difficult to have two kids close in age then to have kids who are the same age, because the twins go through the same stages at the same time, and I have to deal with two hard ages at the same time... hmm, never thought of it like that!
Of course, I've also been told, when I made the comment that it was almost like having twins... "said by someone who has never had twins..."
So, here's what I say... being a parent is hard. Period. It is exhausting. Period. Instead of criticizing and judging over who has it hardest, let's just say that everyone has it hard at some point. Some people have talents in dealing with small children. I don't think I have that talent. They make me tired. :) I keep reminding myself that at some point they will be potty trained, and able to talk, and they won't whine and throw temper tantrums when they don't get their way.
The reward for me, really, is when Jeffrey smiles, because he has an amazing smile, or the day we put him in a little kid swing at the park and watched him grin and say "whee" over and over again. There is nothing like seeing a child exhibit pure joy, to help you remember why it is all worth it.
The other reward for me, is seeing my children's pictures on the wall. I know that sounds silly, but for the longest time there were only two, when I knew there should be more. Now there are four, and I just sit and look at them in awe sometimes, grateful for the miracles that I have been given.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A Bunch of Little Things...
Life seems to be a little busier and a litter crazier than normal... of course it has kind of felt that way since Emmett was born. :) Still, we are very grateful he is here and a part of our family.
Anyway, the house is almost painted. The main color is on, and now we are working on trim, shutters, the second main color on the shakes and carport, and it is starting to come together and look really good! No more ghetto house!
We took Jeffrey to the pediatric plastic surgeon yesterday. It went really well, and they (we saw two doctors, probably a resident and then the doctor we had an appointment with) concurred that the bump should be removed. They didn't think anything needed to be done about his lip at this point. Then their assistant came in and we scheduled the surgery. I felt much better about this whole experience then what we dealt with, with the other doctor. Not that the other doctor was bad or anything, but we were able to ask questions, get a good idea of what was going to happen, and it was very nice. I think Shane felt better about it too.
We also went and visited my parents for a brief moment. We went and had lunch with them where they are serving their mission, and that was fun too. I got Jeffrey a sugar cookie and since he was really tired and kind of ornery by that point, the cookie was definitely a good idea. It was quite amusing to see him with a frosting mustache. My mom took a picture of him while he was eating the cookie, and I am definitely going to need a copy of that one!
This week seems to be off balance because of the holiday yesterday, and unlike most schools my kids are busy doing school projects and activities. No slowing down for them, even though school will be out for the summer on Friday!
And last but not least...Emmett is almost three months old!! He has started cooing and giggling and grinning. It is super cute. I need to take more pictures, but seriously, my camera has disappeared, and my cell phone camera has a delay on it that makes it really hard to take cool pictures!
Anyway, the house is almost painted. The main color is on, and now we are working on trim, shutters, the second main color on the shakes and carport, and it is starting to come together and look really good! No more ghetto house!
We took Jeffrey to the pediatric plastic surgeon yesterday. It went really well, and they (we saw two doctors, probably a resident and then the doctor we had an appointment with) concurred that the bump should be removed. They didn't think anything needed to be done about his lip at this point. Then their assistant came in and we scheduled the surgery. I felt much better about this whole experience then what we dealt with, with the other doctor. Not that the other doctor was bad or anything, but we were able to ask questions, get a good idea of what was going to happen, and it was very nice. I think Shane felt better about it too.
We also went and visited my parents for a brief moment. We went and had lunch with them where they are serving their mission, and that was fun too. I got Jeffrey a sugar cookie and since he was really tired and kind of ornery by that point, the cookie was definitely a good idea. It was quite amusing to see him with a frosting mustache. My mom took a picture of him while he was eating the cookie, and I am definitely going to need a copy of that one!
This week seems to be off balance because of the holiday yesterday, and unlike most schools my kids are busy doing school projects and activities. No slowing down for them, even though school will be out for the summer on Friday!
And last but not least...Emmett is almost three months old!! He has started cooing and giggling and grinning. It is super cute. I need to take more pictures, but seriously, my camera has disappeared, and my cell phone camera has a delay on it that makes it really hard to take cool pictures!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Definitely a little crazy...
Here's the crazy that has happened this week...
-Jeffrey got sick Saturday night. Then my side started hurting. Not as bad as gallbladder pain which I would rate a high ten, but bad enough to wonder what was going on and have Shane take me to the E.R. .. twice, to rule out appendicitis.
The second time we went they referred me to the general surgeon that has done surgery on me twice, which I thought was a little odd, but fine with me since he is nice and competent and willing to figure out what is going on.
Monday I still hurt so I went to my follow up appointment. I got put on an antibiotic and ibuprofen to see if we could get the pain to go away since it seemed to be in my right kidney. I was supposed to try it for two days and then let him know if it seemed improved or not. If not, then we would need to do some more tests on my kidney.
That night, Shane got SICK. I got SICK. Oh so SICK. It was AWFUL.... I could describe the details, but even in my medical mind, it's just not good. Suffice to say, I lay there thinking of the blog post I would write if I felt good enough to type, and it would have been a list... things that should not be allowed. Mom and Dad should not be allowed to be sick at the same time, because then there is no one to take care of anyone.
Tuesday morning Hazel got sick. At least we didn't make her go to school. Shane was feeling mostly better. I was having a hard time keeping even tiny, miniscule sips of pedialyte down, which suffice to say, made taking the whole antibiotic/pain reducer thing pretty near impossible. So I called his office.
We have eaten a LOT of bananas this week. It's really weird when bananas are the only thing that sound good because your body can digest them.
Wednesday, Harrison got sick, and Hazel was still recouperating. I felt good enough to start the antibiotic and ibuprofen regimen, and YAY by Thursday the pain seemed to be less. In all of this, can I just tell you how grateful and relieved I am that Emmett did NOT get this nasty little stomach bug? So very grateful.
More crazy---
The dryer stopped heating. Blah. Of course it would happen this week, when we all get sick and there's no way Shane would have time to fix it. Because, on Saturday we are supposed to repaint our house!!! Did I mention I don't know the exact color our house will be painted? I'm guessing it will be a light brownish gray color. I know that doesn't sound very appealing, but it will look cool.... I hope....
This blog entry isn't very organized... which is fitting because it has been a very long unorganized week.
The positive good crazy: Emmett started smiling. :) Jeffrey has started saying all kind of different words, but I have to admit that my favorite one, is "Memmett." Makes my heart smile every time he says it.
-Jeffrey got sick Saturday night. Then my side started hurting. Not as bad as gallbladder pain which I would rate a high ten, but bad enough to wonder what was going on and have Shane take me to the E.R. .. twice, to rule out appendicitis.
The second time we went they referred me to the general surgeon that has done surgery on me twice, which I thought was a little odd, but fine with me since he is nice and competent and willing to figure out what is going on.
Monday I still hurt so I went to my follow up appointment. I got put on an antibiotic and ibuprofen to see if we could get the pain to go away since it seemed to be in my right kidney. I was supposed to try it for two days and then let him know if it seemed improved or not. If not, then we would need to do some more tests on my kidney.
That night, Shane got SICK. I got SICK. Oh so SICK. It was AWFUL.... I could describe the details, but even in my medical mind, it's just not good. Suffice to say, I lay there thinking of the blog post I would write if I felt good enough to type, and it would have been a list... things that should not be allowed. Mom and Dad should not be allowed to be sick at the same time, because then there is no one to take care of anyone.
Tuesday morning Hazel got sick. At least we didn't make her go to school. Shane was feeling mostly better. I was having a hard time keeping even tiny, miniscule sips of pedialyte down, which suffice to say, made taking the whole antibiotic/pain reducer thing pretty near impossible. So I called his office.
We have eaten a LOT of bananas this week. It's really weird when bananas are the only thing that sound good because your body can digest them.
Wednesday, Harrison got sick, and Hazel was still recouperating. I felt good enough to start the antibiotic and ibuprofen regimen, and YAY by Thursday the pain seemed to be less. In all of this, can I just tell you how grateful and relieved I am that Emmett did NOT get this nasty little stomach bug? So very grateful.
More crazy---
The dryer stopped heating. Blah. Of course it would happen this week, when we all get sick and there's no way Shane would have time to fix it. Because, on Saturday we are supposed to repaint our house!!! Did I mention I don't know the exact color our house will be painted? I'm guessing it will be a light brownish gray color. I know that doesn't sound very appealing, but it will look cool.... I hope....
This blog entry isn't very organized... which is fitting because it has been a very long unorganized week.
The positive good crazy: Emmett started smiling. :) Jeffrey has started saying all kind of different words, but I have to admit that my favorite one, is "Memmett." Makes my heart smile every time he says it.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
2 months
Emmett turned two months old last week. I know, I'm behind. :) His two month checkup was on Monday though, so I didn't really want to write anything on it until I knew how he was doing growth wise. He weighs 9 lbs. WOW!!! That means he has gained three pounds since he was born. That doesn't sound like a lot, but that is great!! His head is also growing a lot, probably so he can keep up with his brothers and sister in the large noggin department.
He smiled his first official smile at me last night. I keep trying to convince him that midnight is not the time to be bright eyed and bushytailed, but I haven't succeeded in convincing him of this yet. He is typically a happy and content little baby though. Definitely the easiest of our kids so far....knock on wood! This could also be because the older we get, and the more kids we have, the more mellow we are.
I need to take some more pictures. I actually have been doing pretty good in taking pictures of him, it's just posting them that I have a struggle with!
Crazy to think that two months have already passed by. It has zoomed!
He smiled his first official smile at me last night. I keep trying to convince him that midnight is not the time to be bright eyed and bushytailed, but I haven't succeeded in convincing him of this yet. He is typically a happy and content little baby though. Definitely the easiest of our kids so far....knock on wood! This could also be because the older we get, and the more kids we have, the more mellow we are.
I need to take some more pictures. I actually have been doing pretty good in taking pictures of him, it's just posting them that I have a struggle with!
Crazy to think that two months have already passed by. It has zoomed!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Deep Cleansing Breath...
I think one of the most difficult things about having a newborn is not getting the sleep I am used to. :) With my first two kids, this wasn't really an issue because they were both formula fed and slept 4-5 hours at a time, right from the get go.
Since Jeffrey and Emmett have been nursed, they have both started out sleeping in 2 hour intervals. I think my friend must have iron milk, because she nurses her baby and he sleeps 5 hours a night! Jeffrey really didn't start sleeping longer until I had to stop nursing him when I had to have additional surgeries a month after he was born.
Anyway, one bonus is Emmett likes to snuggle. It makes the lack of sleep more bearable. :) He has started sleeping in slightly longer intervals at night...at least it feels that way. I might just be hallucinating in my lack of sleep blurriness... Still, he has started sleeping an hour longer. That doesn't sound like much, but it it's a start, and definitely better than two! :)
Well, poor little Jeffrey has been the unlucky child to get painful illnesses. First he got the cold sore outbreak in his mouth. That was six months ago I think...all I remember is how horrible it was for him, and for us!
Now he has roseola. That in itself wouldn't be too horrific...but he is also teething. Big teeth. Yowch! So, if he didn't already feel kind of miserable, now he certainly does. Since I am already on lack of sleep anyway, this has really helped improve my patience and compassion. Sure, it would be easy to lose my cool, especially since there have been many times in the past 4 days where Jeffrey has been inconsolable.
Today, for example, he has basically cried nonstop the whole time he's been awake. (no worries peeps, we took him to the doctor AGAIN just to make sure he didn't have an additional infection going on. I think I've talked to the pediatrician every day for the past four days...)
Still, I just think of how miserable he is and how much pain he must be in that nothing helps temper, and my compassion level goes up about four notches.
After all the crying today though, he did finally eat something! And it wasn't a cookie! He ate dinner, including vegetables (which seem to be his favorite anyway) and drank some more juice. Normally we don't give our kids juice, but when they are feeling cruddy and it's all they will drink... they get some.
So, hopefully he will continue to improve and get better and better. My other hope is that Emmett didn't contract this illness. On that one, we will just have to wait and see. I also hope those monster teeth finally come through! Some more sleep would be nice too, but we'll just take what we can get.
Since Jeffrey and Emmett have been nursed, they have both started out sleeping in 2 hour intervals. I think my friend must have iron milk, because she nurses her baby and he sleeps 5 hours a night! Jeffrey really didn't start sleeping longer until I had to stop nursing him when I had to have additional surgeries a month after he was born.
Anyway, one bonus is Emmett likes to snuggle. It makes the lack of sleep more bearable. :) He has started sleeping in slightly longer intervals at night...at least it feels that way. I might just be hallucinating in my lack of sleep blurriness... Still, he has started sleeping an hour longer. That doesn't sound like much, but it it's a start, and definitely better than two! :)
Well, poor little Jeffrey has been the unlucky child to get painful illnesses. First he got the cold sore outbreak in his mouth. That was six months ago I think...all I remember is how horrible it was for him, and for us!
Now he has roseola. That in itself wouldn't be too horrific...but he is also teething. Big teeth. Yowch! So, if he didn't already feel kind of miserable, now he certainly does. Since I am already on lack of sleep anyway, this has really helped improve my patience and compassion. Sure, it would be easy to lose my cool, especially since there have been many times in the past 4 days where Jeffrey has been inconsolable.
Today, for example, he has basically cried nonstop the whole time he's been awake. (no worries peeps, we took him to the doctor AGAIN just to make sure he didn't have an additional infection going on. I think I've talked to the pediatrician every day for the past four days...)
Still, I just think of how miserable he is and how much pain he must be in that nothing helps temper, and my compassion level goes up about four notches.
After all the crying today though, he did finally eat something! And it wasn't a cookie! He ate dinner, including vegetables (which seem to be his favorite anyway) and drank some more juice. Normally we don't give our kids juice, but when they are feeling cruddy and it's all they will drink... they get some.
So, hopefully he will continue to improve and get better and better. My other hope is that Emmett didn't contract this illness. On that one, we will just have to wait and see. I also hope those monster teeth finally come through! Some more sleep would be nice too, but we'll just take what we can get.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Reality
Shane went back to work on Sunday night. I was really glad that he was able to spend as much time with me as he did. I'm glad that he had the PTO to be able to do it. It was extremely helpful. Of course, with that comes reality...
It's much easier to take care of a newborn and an 18 month old when there are two adults around... especially if you are recovering from a c-section. I read some recommendations that kind of just made me laugh a little... "the mom will need time to recover. It is best if she can have a nap in the morning and a nap in the afternoon..." I guess if there is just one baby and no other kids this might be a feasible thing...
I have a much greater appreciation for women that have a bunch of kids all close together...and no help. I honestly don't know how they do it!
Things have been going pretty good though. For the most part anyway... My two older kids have been an abundance of help. I try not to take advantage of their helpfulness, and let them know how much I appreciate them and all they do. A little gratitude goes a long way!
Jeffrey has been improving. He hasn't been crying as much, and he hasn't been throwing as many tantrums either. You can tell that he is going through that toddler phase where he is trying to test the boundaries though. :) I think it's good to have kind of a routine. I've started putting him to bed when the older kids go to bed for school. I also, have gotten into a habit of starting the dishwasher. For some reason, it's soothing to him. Kind of like a white noise machine I guess. Works for me! Added bonus is that by the time Jeffrey is completely asleep the load/cycle is done and I don't have to listen to it all night long.
I admit that yesterday was a rough evening for me. I don't know if it was just everything coming down at once... the realization that I didn't have anything for dinner, and no easy way to make something... I guess the extra or lack of hormones could have something to do with it too. :) Chocolate was looking more and more appetizing!
So, today we made sure to go to the store and get some meals that are made, and just have to be heated up. Not extremely healthy, but still better than going a restaurant every night, which we wouldn't have been able to do anyway, and at least gives me some ability to continue to take it easy until I'm given the go ahead to do whatever I want.
Still, things have been going pretty well for the most part, and unlike after my other pregnancies I am still feeling pretty good emotion wise. At least now I know for sure what I am dealing with and how to deal with it if I start heading down the postpartum depression road. Haven't started there yet though, so here's to hoping!
While I am grateful that my c-section went as well as it did, I will be really glad when I am cleared to do everything I feel like doing. Occasionally I have to break the rules. There are times when Jeffrey has to be held, and the only way to do it is to pick him up (which I try to do as carefully as I can!). Other than that though, I try to do what has been recommended.
One of these days I will write a post that has nothing to do with pregnancy, babies, toddlers, or c-sections... it might be a while though! :)
It's much easier to take care of a newborn and an 18 month old when there are two adults around... especially if you are recovering from a c-section. I read some recommendations that kind of just made me laugh a little... "the mom will need time to recover. It is best if she can have a nap in the morning and a nap in the afternoon..." I guess if there is just one baby and no other kids this might be a feasible thing...
I have a much greater appreciation for women that have a bunch of kids all close together...and no help. I honestly don't know how they do it!
Things have been going pretty good though. For the most part anyway... My two older kids have been an abundance of help. I try not to take advantage of their helpfulness, and let them know how much I appreciate them and all they do. A little gratitude goes a long way!
Jeffrey has been improving. He hasn't been crying as much, and he hasn't been throwing as many tantrums either. You can tell that he is going through that toddler phase where he is trying to test the boundaries though. :) I think it's good to have kind of a routine. I've started putting him to bed when the older kids go to bed for school. I also, have gotten into a habit of starting the dishwasher. For some reason, it's soothing to him. Kind of like a white noise machine I guess. Works for me! Added bonus is that by the time Jeffrey is completely asleep the load/cycle is done and I don't have to listen to it all night long.
I admit that yesterday was a rough evening for me. I don't know if it was just everything coming down at once... the realization that I didn't have anything for dinner, and no easy way to make something... I guess the extra or lack of hormones could have something to do with it too. :) Chocolate was looking more and more appetizing!
So, today we made sure to go to the store and get some meals that are made, and just have to be heated up. Not extremely healthy, but still better than going a restaurant every night, which we wouldn't have been able to do anyway, and at least gives me some ability to continue to take it easy until I'm given the go ahead to do whatever I want.
Still, things have been going pretty well for the most part, and unlike after my other pregnancies I am still feeling pretty good emotion wise. At least now I know for sure what I am dealing with and how to deal with it if I start heading down the postpartum depression road. Haven't started there yet though, so here's to hoping!
While I am grateful that my c-section went as well as it did, I will be really glad when I am cleared to do everything I feel like doing. Occasionally I have to break the rules. There are times when Jeffrey has to be held, and the only way to do it is to pick him up (which I try to do as carefully as I can!). Other than that though, I try to do what has been recommended.
One of these days I will write a post that has nothing to do with pregnancy, babies, toddlers, or c-sections... it might be a while though! :)
Monday, March 18, 2013
Blurry
There are many things that I enjoy about having a newborn to take care of. I love how all my kids have been little snugglebugs. You hold them and they would just curl up into a ball content to be held and loved.
Probably the most difficult thing for me at this phase of life is the lack of sleep. :) I think it's that way for most people. Last night was hard. Emmett slept in 30 minute increments. Makes for one tired mama!
Still, I am grateful for the opportunity to have more kids. I look back two and a half years ago and remember how I wondered if we would be able to have more kids in our family, or if we would only be blessed with two. :) My how things have changed in just two years!
I am glad that I can be allowed to cherish these moments again.
I am also glad that Jeffrey is starting to sleep normally again! He took a nap today, and even fell asleep tonight without crying! He hasn't done that for two weeks!
So many things to be grateful for. So many blessings.
Probably the most difficult thing for me at this phase of life is the lack of sleep. :) I think it's that way for most people. Last night was hard. Emmett slept in 30 minute increments. Makes for one tired mama!
Still, I am grateful for the opportunity to have more kids. I look back two and a half years ago and remember how I wondered if we would be able to have more kids in our family, or if we would only be blessed with two. :) My how things have changed in just two years!
I am glad that I can be allowed to cherish these moments again.
I am also glad that Jeffrey is starting to sleep normally again! He took a nap today, and even fell asleep tonight without crying! He hasn't done that for two weeks!
So many things to be grateful for. So many blessings.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Kangaroo Care
Emmett's birth was definitely an interesting experience. I'm sure if you've kept up on my posts you probably realized I had more than a little anxiety about delivering Emmett too early.
So, when the big day happened, I was excited but a little concerned as well. While he was technically out of the preemie phase, and considered full-term, I still wondered and hoped that his lungs would be fully developed and that he would breathe all right, and that nothing would be wrong.
When he was born, he was breathing okay and you could tell he was getting enough oxygen, but you could also tell that he was working harder to get air. The main reason you could tell this was because he would "sing." That's what they called it anyway. Basically he would make a noise every time he breathed. He also wouldn't nurse. I could barely pry his mouth open with my finger, and even when I did he wouldn't suck on it like the typical baby would.
Of course this concerned me! Right after he was born and I realized that it was going to be a bit different experience than what I had dealt with, with Jeffrey, I called my sister-in-law. She has a lot of knowledge in this area, and if she had the desire could probably be a lactation consultant. Anyway, she came down and held Emmett, and talked to us for a little bit and then told me a few suggestions that she had.
One of her main suggestions was that I do skin to skin with him (also known as kangaroo care). I was like, duh! Why didn't I think of that?! :) So we tried that for about 10 minutes and then a nurse came and told me they were moving me to a different room. So, we moved all our stuff over to the other room, and then I held Emmett again, and here is the wonderful and amazing thing.... he puckered his mouth, and latched on. SERIOUSLY.
Ten minutes! My sister-in-law was still there at that point, and she was as impressed as we were at the rapid response Emmett had had. It was like a switch had been flipped. He only improved from there. He stopped singing, he started to nurse better, and just continually got better and better until we were released from the hospital.
So, when the big day happened, I was excited but a little concerned as well. While he was technically out of the preemie phase, and considered full-term, I still wondered and hoped that his lungs would be fully developed and that he would breathe all right, and that nothing would be wrong.
When he was born, he was breathing okay and you could tell he was getting enough oxygen, but you could also tell that he was working harder to get air. The main reason you could tell this was because he would "sing." That's what they called it anyway. Basically he would make a noise every time he breathed. He also wouldn't nurse. I could barely pry his mouth open with my finger, and even when I did he wouldn't suck on it like the typical baby would.
Of course this concerned me! Right after he was born and I realized that it was going to be a bit different experience than what I had dealt with, with Jeffrey, I called my sister-in-law. She has a lot of knowledge in this area, and if she had the desire could probably be a lactation consultant. Anyway, she came down and held Emmett, and talked to us for a little bit and then told me a few suggestions that she had.
One of her main suggestions was that I do skin to skin with him (also known as kangaroo care). I was like, duh! Why didn't I think of that?! :) So we tried that for about 10 minutes and then a nurse came and told me they were moving me to a different room. So, we moved all our stuff over to the other room, and then I held Emmett again, and here is the wonderful and amazing thing.... he puckered his mouth, and latched on. SERIOUSLY.
Ten minutes! My sister-in-law was still there at that point, and she was as impressed as we were at the rapid response Emmett had had. It was like a switch had been flipped. He only improved from there. He stopped singing, he started to nurse better, and just continually got better and better until we were released from the hospital.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
37
So, today I am officially 37 weeks along.
I know for most people this would give them a sigh of relief, and give them warm fuzzy happy thoughts that they made it to "full-term" or the "safe zone."
It doesn't equal that for me. I know that every baby is different, but Hazel was mid-way into her 37th week of development when she was delivered, and you know what? She was not okay, and she was not ready to be born.
Whenever they have measured Emmett via ultrasound, he always measures a week smaller. When they would measure Hazel she measured 2 weeks smaller. So, it will be interesting to see how big Emmett is when he is actually born.
So, I am content (not comfortable) but definitely content to let the days continue to tick by until Emmett is ready.
If I actually make it to the date of the scheduled c-section, I am perfectly fine with that. Of course, Shane would prefer a Friday because then he can take more time off without having to use his PTO. :)
I know for most people this would give them a sigh of relief, and give them warm fuzzy happy thoughts that they made it to "full-term" or the "safe zone."
It doesn't equal that for me. I know that every baby is different, but Hazel was mid-way into her 37th week of development when she was delivered, and you know what? She was not okay, and she was not ready to be born.
Whenever they have measured Emmett via ultrasound, he always measures a week smaller. When they would measure Hazel she measured 2 weeks smaller. So, it will be interesting to see how big Emmett is when he is actually born.
So, I am content (not comfortable) but definitely content to let the days continue to tick by until Emmett is ready.
If I actually make it to the date of the scheduled c-section, I am perfectly fine with that. Of course, Shane would prefer a Friday because then he can take more time off without having to use his PTO. :)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Turned
So, I went to my 36 week doctor appointment today. I told my doctor that I had gone to the chiropractor and wondered if Emmett had turned and he told me he would check.
Well, from what he could tell, Emmett turned and went head down! Cool beans! :) If I wasn't having a c-section I am sure I would be even more excited.
The c-section is now scheduled. Most people don't think I will make it to that date, but we shall see. If I do, then it will be the first c-section I've had that has been in the evening. All my c-sections have been in the morning. Hazel's was the latest and hers was at about 10:30 in the morning.
So, it will be interesting to see what happens.
Technically on Saturday I will be 37 weeks, and if I start having contractions the way I was before, then they will just deliver the baby if it happens after that point.
It's getting close people! So close!
Well, from what he could tell, Emmett turned and went head down! Cool beans! :) If I wasn't having a c-section I am sure I would be even more excited.
The c-section is now scheduled. Most people don't think I will make it to that date, but we shall see. If I do, then it will be the first c-section I've had that has been in the evening. All my c-sections have been in the morning. Hazel's was the latest and hers was at about 10:30 in the morning.
So, it will be interesting to see what happens.
Technically on Saturday I will be 37 weeks, and if I start having contractions the way I was before, then they will just deliver the baby if it happens after that point.
It's getting close people! So close!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
3 days
It's been a whole three days and I haven't had to go to the hospital once! Yay! I have been pretty diligent about staying down and not getting stressed out, so I am sure it is part of it.
Yesterday we went to the chiropractor and got adjusted. I know, you are probably wondering how I could get adjusted while pregnant, but it is possible, especially if you have a good chiropractor who knows what they're doing, and we do!
Getting adjusted when I was pregnant with Jeffrey was so good to help relieve pressure and pain. So, it was no surprise that getting adjusted this time helped immensely too. My chiropractor even mentioned that because of how my pelvis was torqued it may have been preventing Emmett from transitioning to the head down position, and that now it was adjusted he might end up head down instead of breech.
So, now I am super curious and wondering if he turned! Of course, in my situation it doesn't really matter either way since he will be delivered by c-section, but it still makes me wonder. :)
Jeffrey has been a real trooper through all of this. There's been a lot of changes to his world the past few days, and I could definitely tell he was glad to be home yesterday evening. We put him to bed, he fell instantly asleep, and is still asleep this morning.
We are 1 week closer to the 37 week goal, and 2 weeks away from my own goal of making it to 38 weeks.
It's amazing what you can accomplish on bedrest though. I have Emmett's blanket edging all pinned, and it just needs to be sewed. I have the blanket I was tying for Jeffrey almost done, and then it's edges just need to be sewn. I looked through all the baby clothes we used with Jeffrey to see if there was anything we needed to add to, and I think we're set for the first couple of months, until we can go yardselling for summer clothes, since Jeffrey was opposite seasons from what Emmett will be.
I am feeling much better about being prepared for this little guy now! The new crib even came and we just need to get it put together.
In just a few weeks we will have a new baby!
Yesterday we went to the chiropractor and got adjusted. I know, you are probably wondering how I could get adjusted while pregnant, but it is possible, especially if you have a good chiropractor who knows what they're doing, and we do!
Getting adjusted when I was pregnant with Jeffrey was so good to help relieve pressure and pain. So, it was no surprise that getting adjusted this time helped immensely too. My chiropractor even mentioned that because of how my pelvis was torqued it may have been preventing Emmett from transitioning to the head down position, and that now it was adjusted he might end up head down instead of breech.
So, now I am super curious and wondering if he turned! Of course, in my situation it doesn't really matter either way since he will be delivered by c-section, but it still makes me wonder. :)
Jeffrey has been a real trooper through all of this. There's been a lot of changes to his world the past few days, and I could definitely tell he was glad to be home yesterday evening. We put him to bed, he fell instantly asleep, and is still asleep this morning.
We are 1 week closer to the 37 week goal, and 2 weeks away from my own goal of making it to 38 weeks.
It's amazing what you can accomplish on bedrest though. I have Emmett's blanket edging all pinned, and it just needs to be sewed. I have the blanket I was tying for Jeffrey almost done, and then it's edges just need to be sewn. I looked through all the baby clothes we used with Jeffrey to see if there was anything we needed to add to, and I think we're set for the first couple of months, until we can go yardselling for summer clothes, since Jeffrey was opposite seasons from what Emmett will be.
I am feeling much better about being prepared for this little guy now! The new crib even came and we just need to get it put together.
In just a few weeks we will have a new baby!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Another Day Another Dollar
Well, late last night I ended up back in the hospital. I was having regular contractions on the nifidipine and pain, so, back we went.
It was a good thing in a way though, because this morning I was able to talk to my doctor and ask him a bunch of questions that I had been having...namely, when exactly should I come back. What should the determining factors be... so, that was a good conversation.
He also told me that we really wanted to wait until I was at least 37 weeks along to do anything extreme like deliver the baby ( which I agreed with 100%) unless I ended up in actual labor and then, they would do it.
So, again, I am back at home, on the nifidipine, with orders to do as little as possible, avoid stairs, carrying anything over ten pounds, and so, here I am in bed. :)
I am so so grateful to all the people that have helped so far. There is NO way we could have done this without them. My poor mom is in a situation where she has to hear about this happening from afar, and I know it is just emotionally hard on her to not be able to help out.
Anyway, I am also glad that the baby hasn't been born yet. The largest reason for that is that I know his lungs aren't done developing yet, and he would be little, and he just needs more time! He's been a champ though. His heartrate has been good, movement has been good, and so that is definitely encouraging.
So, positive affirmation here... we can make it three more weeks! My body is a healthy and happy place to be!
It was a good thing in a way though, because this morning I was able to talk to my doctor and ask him a bunch of questions that I had been having...namely, when exactly should I come back. What should the determining factors be... so, that was a good conversation.
He also told me that we really wanted to wait until I was at least 37 weeks along to do anything extreme like deliver the baby ( which I agreed with 100%) unless I ended up in actual labor and then, they would do it.
So, again, I am back at home, on the nifidipine, with orders to do as little as possible, avoid stairs, carrying anything over ten pounds, and so, here I am in bed. :)
I am so so grateful to all the people that have helped so far. There is NO way we could have done this without them. My poor mom is in a situation where she has to hear about this happening from afar, and I know it is just emotionally hard on her to not be able to help out.
Anyway, I am also glad that the baby hasn't been born yet. The largest reason for that is that I know his lungs aren't done developing yet, and he would be little, and he just needs more time! He's been a champ though. His heartrate has been good, movement has been good, and so that is definitely encouraging.
So, positive affirmation here... we can make it three more weeks! My body is a healthy and happy place to be!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Today
So, other than feeling like an emotional pile of goo, today hasn't been too bad. :) The medicine makes me sleepy, which isn't a terrible thing because it helps the day go by. That is kind of sad to write I think, but true.
I have been kind of trying to keep busy by finishing the quilt I started for Emmett. It's basically almost done, I am just working on the edges, which has gotten a lot more interesting since I am doing it by hand, since I can't sit at my sewing machine right now. Still, it is calming in a way, and gives me something to do.
I keep telling my body to relax, and to not have contractions. I don't know that it would be working very well if I didn't have the medicine in me, but it is working ok. I have to keep reminding myself of the emotional turmoil and heartache we went through when Hazel was born.
I will never forget the sounds and experience of her birth. I remember the gurgled cry that came out of her throat because her lungs were full of fluid and not fully developed yet. I remember the rush of people around the OR and knowing that everything was NOT all right, especially when they started saying the phrases to me that they tell people when they need the patient to calm down, and I was the patient!
I remember them taking her out of the room and hearing her desperate screams in the nursery because she couldn't breathe right. (Yes, I could hear her, and I knew it was her.)
Most of all, I remember wondering why I had been so impatient for her to be born, and wishing that I could rewind the clock.
I remember them wheeling her into my room as they prepared to transfer her to another hospital with a more advanced NICU and seeing her hooked up to a ventilator, sedated, and ready to be transported.
I remember all these things, and it helps motivate me to not desire or even remotely want to have Emmett delivered any time soon, unless Emmett needs it.
So bed rest it is! Body, cooperate! :)
I have been kind of trying to keep busy by finishing the quilt I started for Emmett. It's basically almost done, I am just working on the edges, which has gotten a lot more interesting since I am doing it by hand, since I can't sit at my sewing machine right now. Still, it is calming in a way, and gives me something to do.
I keep telling my body to relax, and to not have contractions. I don't know that it would be working very well if I didn't have the medicine in me, but it is working ok. I have to keep reminding myself of the emotional turmoil and heartache we went through when Hazel was born.
I will never forget the sounds and experience of her birth. I remember the gurgled cry that came out of her throat because her lungs were full of fluid and not fully developed yet. I remember the rush of people around the OR and knowing that everything was NOT all right, especially when they started saying the phrases to me that they tell people when they need the patient to calm down, and I was the patient!
I remember them taking her out of the room and hearing her desperate screams in the nursery because she couldn't breathe right. (Yes, I could hear her, and I knew it was her.)
Most of all, I remember wondering why I had been so impatient for her to be born, and wishing that I could rewind the clock.
I remember them wheeling her into my room as they prepared to transfer her to another hospital with a more advanced NICU and seeing her hooked up to a ventilator, sedated, and ready to be transported.
I remember all these things, and it helps motivate me to not desire or even remotely want to have Emmett delivered any time soon, unless Emmett needs it.
So bed rest it is! Body, cooperate! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)