I'm officially delivering an eviction notice to this little bundle of joy. Little tasks are getting harder. Simply picking up John feels like hoisting an elephant over my head. Walking up the stairs from the basement makes me breathless like I've just finished a half-marathon. Cleaning up toys from the floor requires me to do full squats since bending at my non-existent waist just isn't happening any more.
We're 60 days from our due date. With that - I find myself mixed between excitement, anxiety, fear, hope, and happiness. Part of me can't wait to meet our little addition. I'm excited to have a newborn in the house again (even with the sleepless night that come with it). Both Matt and I are really looking forward to seeing John interact with his sibling. I'm also looking forward to not carrying around a bowling ball in front of me....(but that's a little selfish)
At the same time - I worry about being able to handle two little ones at the same time. I know Matt will take a week off to help with the adjustment, my mom and sister will be out of school for the summer and willing to assist, and my mother-in-law is planning on spending as much time as possible up here - just like she did when John was born (although I think we're going to ask her to come up at the beginning of August when I lose my mom and sister to school).
Additionally, we're still not settled in our rental house. We should be moving in at the first of the month. I'm worried about getting things put in place, John getting used to a new setting, and filling the freezer with some meals - all while being 8 months pregnant.
Perhaps the thing that has surprised me most is that I have recently been thinking a LOT about John's delivery/birth. My head tells me that every pregnancy/delivery is very different. I know this! Yet, I find myself worried about all the complications we faced with John's delivery. Frankly, I didn't handle the contractions well. Then again, neither did John as was evident by his decreasing heart rate. He was delivered with forceps resulting in a very, very long and painful healing process. John wasn't breathing at birth and received an initial APGAR score of 1. We spent 4 months getting blood transfusions and meeting hematologists to later find out that my breast milk was culprit and was attacking his red blood cells. These are things I NEVER want to go through again... I'm scared.
I'm hopeful these fears will pass. I've got an appointment with my midwife on Monday. I'll bring these things up then. But I also have to talk to her about the past week because I've had some bleeding. The doctor has examined me, saw nothing to worry about and I'll be getting an ultrasound tomorrow to check on the internal things. Nonetheless, my stress levels are a little high. THIS TOO SHALL PASS!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Insomnia & Other Loveable Side Effects of Pregnancy
So, it's about 3:30 am....the body and brain are both exhausted, but they both refuse to give up and go back to sleep. The middle of the night bathroom runs have been in full force for a while now (this baby seems to like sitting on my bladder more than John did). However, the insomnia that follows the trip to the bathroom has just recently kicked in. So - I find myself updating the blog at the crack of dawn. Really, let's be honest, it's the middle of the night.
John has taken to sleeping through the night again. Let's hope this is a trend that sticks this time since in about 2 months we'll have a little one who isn't the least bit interested in sleeping at night. We've been putting him down between 8:30 and 9....he's been sleeping until 6:45 or 7. We consider this a success. I personally think he'll sleep even better if we get past allergy season and he can actually breathe at night. Right now he sounds like he's drowning in snot all night long.
We're still waiting to sell the house in NC. No real prospects recently. We call our real estate agent regularly but she claims the market is just slow. Unfortunately, squeezing 4 family members into one bedroom in my parents already crowded house isn't going to work - So we are planning on moving into a rental house at the end of the month. It's not the ideal situation (we'll be paying a mortgage and rent) but it will work until the house sells and give us enough room for our expanding family. Luckily, we're renting from some friends of the family so they are sympathetic to our situation.
Well, time to try to fall back asleep. More updates later!
John has taken to sleeping through the night again. Let's hope this is a trend that sticks this time since in about 2 months we'll have a little one who isn't the least bit interested in sleeping at night. We've been putting him down between 8:30 and 9....he's been sleeping until 6:45 or 7. We consider this a success. I personally think he'll sleep even better if we get past allergy season and he can actually breathe at night. Right now he sounds like he's drowning in snot all night long.
We're still waiting to sell the house in NC. No real prospects recently. We call our real estate agent regularly but she claims the market is just slow. Unfortunately, squeezing 4 family members into one bedroom in my parents already crowded house isn't going to work - So we are planning on moving into a rental house at the end of the month. It's not the ideal situation (we'll be paying a mortgage and rent) but it will work until the house sells and give us enough room for our expanding family. Luckily, we're renting from some friends of the family so they are sympathetic to our situation.
Well, time to try to fall back asleep. More updates later!
Monday, April 12, 2010
I'm Back!
Well, once again it's been a while since I posted anything. I have several updates for our friends and family who follow the blog.
First, Easter was wonderful and we snapped some cute pictures of John hunting eggs in the backyard. He found the egg hunt entertaining for about 6 eggs - then decided it was more fun just to step on the eggs. Nonetheless, he looked just dapper in his pale blue sweater vest and he enjoyed every one of is 6 Easter baskets.
Second - I spent the evening of Easter Sunday at the hospital getting fluids. While John enjoyed all the candy and goodies that Easter brought, Mom spent the vast majority of the day either in bed or hanging my head over the toilet. So around 7pm Matt packed me up and took me to the hospital to get 2 bags of fluids and some nausea medicine. Good news is that baby is fine, mom is fine, and the stomach bug has now passed (after 5 days of vomiting).
Third, John has started speech therapy. Right now they are working on some new sign language with him and a LOT of repetition of sounds. He did well with his therapist - playing on the floor, even inviting her to sit a little closer at one point. Since his ear tubes have been put in place he's definitely become more vocal, so we're hopeful that a little speech therapy will have him talking our ears off.
Fourth, John has become an outdoor boy. Given his options, there is nothing he would prefer more than playing on the swing set. He loves to swing and go down the slide. No amount of outdoor time satisfies his need for swing set time - resulting in crying every single time we leave the swing set. I suppose when you find something you like - stick with it.
:)
Well, that's our update for now. More to come and pictures to follow. (PS-I typed this whole post without a "t" key on my keyboard. It fell off and broke last week. And of course, my computer is out of warranty so I have to pay Dell to mail me a new letter "t")
First, Easter was wonderful and we snapped some cute pictures of John hunting eggs in the backyard. He found the egg hunt entertaining for about 6 eggs - then decided it was more fun just to step on the eggs. Nonetheless, he looked just dapper in his pale blue sweater vest and he enjoyed every one of is 6 Easter baskets.
Second - I spent the evening of Easter Sunday at the hospital getting fluids. While John enjoyed all the candy and goodies that Easter brought, Mom spent the vast majority of the day either in bed or hanging my head over the toilet. So around 7pm Matt packed me up and took me to the hospital to get 2 bags of fluids and some nausea medicine. Good news is that baby is fine, mom is fine, and the stomach bug has now passed (after 5 days of vomiting).
Third, John has started speech therapy. Right now they are working on some new sign language with him and a LOT of repetition of sounds. He did well with his therapist - playing on the floor, even inviting her to sit a little closer at one point. Since his ear tubes have been put in place he's definitely become more vocal, so we're hopeful that a little speech therapy will have him talking our ears off.
Fourth, John has become an outdoor boy. Given his options, there is nothing he would prefer more than playing on the swing set. He loves to swing and go down the slide. No amount of outdoor time satisfies his need for swing set time - resulting in crying every single time we leave the swing set. I suppose when you find something you like - stick with it.
:)
Well, that's our update for now. More to come and pictures to follow. (PS-I typed this whole post without a "t" key on my keyboard. It fell off and broke last week. And of course, my computer is out of warranty so I have to pay Dell to mail me a new letter "t")
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Way To Go Mommy!
This week's successes seem remarkably easy to find - which either means I had a highly productive week or I'm so desperate to find the upside of things I'll make anything a success...
Whichever one applies....here are the highlights of our week:
1. Laundry is caught up! Not an easy task considering Matt has been on the road for the past 3 weeks and keeps dumping a weeks worth of clothing on the laundry room floor. (Oh yeah, John and I traveled one week too...so laundry has been building up in excess!)
2. I passed my 3 hour glucose test (no big surprise since I only missed my 1 hour by 3 points and I had stupidly drank a 20 oz soda on an empty stomach 15 minutes before the test). But more impressive is that I took the 3 hours test with John in tow and we didn't have any problems despite the lab that we use being the most un-kid-friendly place around.
3. Today I'm watching a friend's 11 month old and I haven't lost my mind yet. Maybe I can do this 2 child thing!
Bonus 4 - I've scratched about 1/2 the things off my to-do list this week. Including some things that I have been avoiding for a while now. Maybe I'll be caught up by the end of the week? ;)
Make sure to check out other motherly successes over at Faith and Family Live!
Whichever one applies....here are the highlights of our week:
1. Laundry is caught up! Not an easy task considering Matt has been on the road for the past 3 weeks and keeps dumping a weeks worth of clothing on the laundry room floor. (Oh yeah, John and I traveled one week too...so laundry has been building up in excess!)
2. I passed my 3 hour glucose test (no big surprise since I only missed my 1 hour by 3 points and I had stupidly drank a 20 oz soda on an empty stomach 15 minutes before the test). But more impressive is that I took the 3 hours test with John in tow and we didn't have any problems despite the lab that we use being the most un-kid-friendly place around.
3. Today I'm watching a friend's 11 month old and I haven't lost my mind yet. Maybe I can do this 2 child thing!
Bonus 4 - I've scratched about 1/2 the things off my to-do list this week. Including some things that I have been avoiding for a while now. Maybe I'll be caught up by the end of the week? ;)
Make sure to check out other motherly successes over at Faith and Family Live!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Successes, Both Big and Small
So my promise of updating the blog more during the Lenten season hasn't really been a success of mine. What can I say - I'm a work in progress. So today starts a new page and my commitment to keeping our friends and family posted is no less real.
Not to make excuses but the last few week have been a ridiculous roller coaster of events. After my post about runny diapers, blocked bowels and trips to the hospital - things just continued to spiral out of control. We received a phone call from the hospital a few days later asking us to come back for some additional tests. So off we go to the hospital for ultrasounds and xrays. Many, many hours later after 3 ultrasounds and an xray we were discharged from the hospital. We were told we had nothing to worry about, all our tests were clear, and our pediatrician would probably call the next afternoon just to check in on us and give us final radiology reports. Instead, just 2 hours after being discharged the hospital called back and asked us to return at 10am the next morning to Hem/Onc clinic because they determined the calcium build ups were in his adrenal gland.
Now don't get me wrong - the Hem/Onc clinic at SLCH is fabulous and we love Dr. Bednarski. But we were more than happy to be released from his care last June. Back to Hem/Onc! John and I spent the next day at the clinic taking a urine test and talking with Dr. Bednarski. While we both agree that this is most likely a big nothing with a bunch of radiologists who are all a twitter over a bad stomach bug, we are still proceeding with caution because watery stools, distended tummy, and calcium in the adrenal gland are signs of neuroblastoma.
We got the results of the urine test a week later. They were good....only one of two hormones were elevated (normally both would be elevated if there was neuroblastoma). We are now in a wait and see pattern with tests to be re-run in early June. In the mean time, Matt and I are on the lookout for other signs/symptoms, but are hopeful that come June we can put all this behind us.
So on to our successes....
1. We've survived the past few weeks! Assuming you read the prelude to these successes, you should agree that this is one of the bigger successes.
2. We spent a week in Omaha at a water park and John learned how to go down a slide all by himself! Oh, what a big boy is he!
3. John got ear tubes yesterday and did great! The whole surgery took less than 8 minutes from the time John was taken out of my arms to the time the doctor returned to our room with post-op update. Now our ears are draining properly and hopefully his hearing is improved.
Bonus 4. We took a bunch more pictures of John! Yay! Be on the lookout for some picture posts!
Not to make excuses but the last few week have been a ridiculous roller coaster of events. After my post about runny diapers, blocked bowels and trips to the hospital - things just continued to spiral out of control. We received a phone call from the hospital a few days later asking us to come back for some additional tests. So off we go to the hospital for ultrasounds and xrays. Many, many hours later after 3 ultrasounds and an xray we were discharged from the hospital. We were told we had nothing to worry about, all our tests were clear, and our pediatrician would probably call the next afternoon just to check in on us and give us final radiology reports. Instead, just 2 hours after being discharged the hospital called back and asked us to return at 10am the next morning to Hem/Onc clinic because they determined the calcium build ups were in his adrenal gland.
Now don't get me wrong - the Hem/Onc clinic at SLCH is fabulous and we love Dr. Bednarski. But we were more than happy to be released from his care last June. Back to Hem/Onc! John and I spent the next day at the clinic taking a urine test and talking with Dr. Bednarski. While we both agree that this is most likely a big nothing with a bunch of radiologists who are all a twitter over a bad stomach bug, we are still proceeding with caution because watery stools, distended tummy, and calcium in the adrenal gland are signs of neuroblastoma.
We got the results of the urine test a week later. They were good....only one of two hormones were elevated (normally both would be elevated if there was neuroblastoma). We are now in a wait and see pattern with tests to be re-run in early June. In the mean time, Matt and I are on the lookout for other signs/symptoms, but are hopeful that come June we can put all this behind us.
So on to our successes....
1. We've survived the past few weeks! Assuming you read the prelude to these successes, you should agree that this is one of the bigger successes.
2. We spent a week in Omaha at a water park and John learned how to go down a slide all by himself! Oh, what a big boy is he!
3. John got ear tubes yesterday and did great! The whole surgery took less than 8 minutes from the time John was taken out of my arms to the time the doctor returned to our room with post-op update. Now our ears are draining properly and hopefully his hearing is improved.
Bonus 4. We took a bunch more pictures of John! Yay! Be on the lookout for some picture posts!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day By Day
Each day with John has brought new adventures for our family. We love watching him grow and learn as every day passes. It's hard to believe that a little over a year ago he was born not breathing. And if you looked at him today, you would never believe me when I told you that he has been the recipient of 9 blood transfusions. Instead, all you'll see is a little boy who is outgrowing shoes left and right, running around the house, crawling up onto every chair he can find, and scarfing down more chicken nuggets at any one meal than his pregnant mom! What a difference a year makes!
We're still working on some things...
John is still behind on the speech realm, but we're hopeful that getting ear tubes and speech therapy will get us going.
He is really shy around other kids (with the exception of his two 'girlfriends', Maeve and Gwen) so we're trying to get him involved in some activities where he is required to interact with other kids.
John's immune system seems to be on the fritz most of the time with ear infections, sinus infections, and belly problems. We're hopeful that tubes help with the first two. After all the gut problems of the last two weeks - we're scheduled for an ultrasound of his GI tract to look for any more abnormalities. Right now we know he has enlarged bowels, gas in his tract, and potentially calcification in his intestines. We'll know more as we progress.
We haven't been great about picture taking these past few months, but we're trying to get back to snapping "every day" shots. Look for them in the near future - you won't believe his growth!
We're still working on some things...
John is still behind on the speech realm, but we're hopeful that getting ear tubes and speech therapy will get us going.
He is really shy around other kids (with the exception of his two 'girlfriends', Maeve and Gwen) so we're trying to get him involved in some activities where he is required to interact with other kids.
John's immune system seems to be on the fritz most of the time with ear infections, sinus infections, and belly problems. We're hopeful that tubes help with the first two. After all the gut problems of the last two weeks - we're scheduled for an ultrasound of his GI tract to look for any more abnormalities. Right now we know he has enlarged bowels, gas in his tract, and potentially calcification in his intestines. We'll know more as we progress.
We haven't been great about picture taking these past few months, but we're trying to get back to snapping "every day" shots. Look for them in the near future - you won't believe his growth!
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