Yes, I'm getting very lazy about posting here. Mostly I find that I don't have any creative spin to write with, and when I do, I spend that moment of productivity playing Candyland, packing school lunches, taking out the trash, or sneaking in a chapter of whatever I'm reading at the moment. But, so you know, things are good.
Cleo started first grade and now occasionally eats more than a bite or two of her sandwich at school. She's also taking art lessons and begins ballet today. She is lucky to be in the same class as two of her best friends from last year so it's the same moms hanging out before and after school, and the same group for play dates, etc.
Gigi began pre-school this week. She likes it in concept, but gets teary when it's time for mom and dad to leave. So far she's liked it, and seems to talk non-stop about the projects she's working on, the rules of the classroom, and how she wants to be just like Sharpei (in High School Musical). She's also starting ballet classes, which fits her desire to be a diva.
David is a great sleeper, but has a cold right now so he's up a fair amount. He's almost six months old, and huge! I think he weighs at least 20 pounds and will confirm that next week at his check-up. He's starting to crawl, and when he sees something he wants nothing can stop him from crossing the room to get to it (except walls, shoes, tables, chairs, a distracting toy.) His eyes are still bright blue and even his ripples have ripples.
I'm a busy person these days with constant meetings and projects at Cleo's school and at church. Diet Coke keeps me going most days, along with help from my spouse and nice friends who are willing to carpool my kids when I'm behind.
JL is back at work and busy as ever. He's not able to put off work travel for any longer and will be overseas for a week in October, and other trips closer to home.
OH--gotta run, I can hear David in his crib growling that he is awake.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Why Blog When You Can Nap?
It's been a whirlwind 12 weeks since David joined our family. Things are going really, really well. He's so easy going, sleeps up to 6 hours in a row at night, and doesn't mind being carted to school, ballet, swimming lessons, or shopping. He does drool a lot, and spits up fairly frequently, but is such a doll I happily clean his face-shirt-arms-pants.
Here's some funny things that have been said since he joined our family.
By Dad: He's a reasonable baby.
By Cleo: Do you need me to stay home from school to help take care of David?
By Gigi: (After a discussion of stretch marks) Good job stretching, Mom.
Aunt Heidi: David forgot to get in the chin line in heaven, but got in the nose line twice.
My recovery from the C-section went quite well. I'm walking upright and am pain free--neither of which I was at this point after having Cleo.
David, to his credit, now weighs in at 14 pounds (exactly what Cleo weighed at 12 months, and Gigi was at 14 months.) It's bizarre to have an average sized baby--they eat and sleep so much better than a preemie does! He feels so sturdy and strong compared to my other two children when they were young.
Naturally, I'm tired, and am looking forward to sleeping through the night, but now that I'm getting up to 6 hours in a row life has become quite manageable.
I'm having issues with my computer--so no pictures for this post. I'm crossing my fingers for a Digital SLR for my birthday, so with luck I'll get some great pictures soon.
In other family news, Cleo's last day of kindergarten was celebrated today with a luau. I still can't believe she's a school girl, though now that she wears glasses (pink or purple depending on the outfit) she looks a bit older despite being so tiny. She's already looking forward to first grade and told me in the car that we need to start shopping for"a really pretty pair of jean-pants with hearts on them and a cute shirt with a rainbow for the first day of first grade."
Gigi is now signed up for pre-school. After agonizing over where to send her and not finding any options I was happy with, I got a slot in our city run program that's only a mile from our house! Beginning in September, she'll go three mornings a week. She's so smart, but I worry about her being shy with strangers and crying about leaving me like she does at primary. Also, it's been exactly three years since we adopted Gigi! I can't believe it's gone so fast. Just this week I befriended someone through school who is from the same province as Gigi and she invited me to visit her family there anytime we visit. Wahoo!
JL is still working away. After taking a hiatus from work travel because of our addition, he's now gearing up for more travel--possibly international. As long as I get enough sleep I'm okay with this, though of course I'd rather have him home.
Lastly, if anyone is looking to buy a cheap house in Virginia, let me know. Our home there is like a big black hole--sucking money and time and giving back nothing but anxiety.
Here's some funny things that have been said since he joined our family.
By Dad: He's a reasonable baby.
By Cleo: Do you need me to stay home from school to help take care of David?
By Gigi: (After a discussion of stretch marks) Good job stretching, Mom.
Aunt Heidi: David forgot to get in the chin line in heaven, but got in the nose line twice.
My recovery from the C-section went quite well. I'm walking upright and am pain free--neither of which I was at this point after having Cleo.
David, to his credit, now weighs in at 14 pounds (exactly what Cleo weighed at 12 months, and Gigi was at 14 months.) It's bizarre to have an average sized baby--they eat and sleep so much better than a preemie does! He feels so sturdy and strong compared to my other two children when they were young.
Naturally, I'm tired, and am looking forward to sleeping through the night, but now that I'm getting up to 6 hours in a row life has become quite manageable.
I'm having issues with my computer--so no pictures for this post. I'm crossing my fingers for a Digital SLR for my birthday, so with luck I'll get some great pictures soon.
In other family news, Cleo's last day of kindergarten was celebrated today with a luau. I still can't believe she's a school girl, though now that she wears glasses (pink or purple depending on the outfit) she looks a bit older despite being so tiny. She's already looking forward to first grade and told me in the car that we need to start shopping for"a really pretty pair of jean-pants with hearts on them and a cute shirt with a rainbow for the first day of first grade."
Gigi is now signed up for pre-school. After agonizing over where to send her and not finding any options I was happy with, I got a slot in our city run program that's only a mile from our house! Beginning in September, she'll go three mornings a week. She's so smart, but I worry about her being shy with strangers and crying about leaving me like she does at primary. Also, it's been exactly three years since we adopted Gigi! I can't believe it's gone so fast. Just this week I befriended someone through school who is from the same province as Gigi and she invited me to visit her family there anytime we visit. Wahoo!
JL is still working away. After taking a hiatus from work travel because of our addition, he's now gearing up for more travel--possibly international. As long as I get enough sleep I'm okay with this, though of course I'd rather have him home.
Lastly, if anyone is looking to buy a cheap house in Virginia, let me know. Our home there is like a big black hole--sucking money and time and giving back nothing but anxiety.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Introducing....
David Calder
- Born Sunday March 16th, at 1:07 am (missing his parents 12th wedding anniversary by an hour)
- 10 days late
- 7 lbs 8 oz
- 20 inches
- Prominent nose, dimpled chin, and blond hair with a hint of red (just like his oldest sister)
- Born via C-section after 16 hours of induced labor due to low heart-rate and failure to progress
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Paperwhites
For Christmas I was given a paperwhite bulb kit. The instructions were easy and they were guaranteed to bloom within 4-6 weeks of planting them in the provided pot. Thinking it would be fun, I postponed planting the bulbs until 6 weeks before I was due and told myself that when the flowers blossomed I'd have the baby.
I've been watching my paperwhites for 7 weeks now. They've sprouted multiple 12 inch green stocks, but week after week they've failed to blossom. I've (my doctor and I) have decided that it's not longer important to have the flowers bloom at the same time I have the baby, and to go ahead and induce tomorrow.
I'm excited, but leery, knowing that this really increases my chances of having a c-section, and the OB was quick to tell me that if things don't go perfectly routinely that a c-section is likely to happen. I was even told by my doula that she's surprised they are even still letting me try for a VBAC, since I'm a week overdue, and they are more successful earlier on.
My next post, whenever that may be, should announce the arrival of our baby! Wish me luck!
Monday, March 10, 2008
"My legs feel like they have Mexican jumping beans implanted in them."
This is how my friend Sarah describes how her legs feel right now in late pregnancy, and I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. Leg issues are one of my biggest issues right now. When I try to sleep I wake up with the uncontrollable urge to move them. So for the past several nights I've gotten up between 1 and 4 at least twice and gone on a 1/2 hour walk looping my kitchen island and table, then done the stairs as many times as I can manage, and then done what stretches I can figure out to make the unbearable sensations go away before attempting to go back to bed again.
JL has a theory about this. He thinks that my restless legs, and continual walking are sending a message to the baby saying "don't come out yet--we haven't reached safety." I think my body is doing this to get my body read for the restless nights that come with a newborn. Either way, I'm tired of having my legs feel like they belong to someone else and hope the feeling goes away after delivery.
Speaking of delivery, there are no signs that anything is happening. At my last ultrasound, when the tech was measuring the fluid levels, she commented that there was plenty of fluid for the baby to stay inside another month! This is exactly what I don't want to hear! Usually your fluid levels drop as your body prepares to deliver, but mine are slowly rising, and creating a La-Z-Boy environment for our little guy. Maybe if it were less comfortable in there he'd consider coming out! At my next appointment in 3 days, when I'll be 41 weeks, we'll talk induction, but I doubt it would happen sooner than next week since my appointment is on a Thursday, and they won't want to rush it, or do it on the weekend. Here's hoping things happen naturally before then.
JL has a theory about this. He thinks that my restless legs, and continual walking are sending a message to the baby saying "don't come out yet--we haven't reached safety." I think my body is doing this to get my body read for the restless nights that come with a newborn. Either way, I'm tired of having my legs feel like they belong to someone else and hope the feeling goes away after delivery.
Speaking of delivery, there are no signs that anything is happening. At my last ultrasound, when the tech was measuring the fluid levels, she commented that there was plenty of fluid for the baby to stay inside another month! This is exactly what I don't want to hear! Usually your fluid levels drop as your body prepares to deliver, but mine are slowly rising, and creating a La-Z-Boy environment for our little guy. Maybe if it were less comfortable in there he'd consider coming out! At my next appointment in 3 days, when I'll be 41 weeks, we'll talk induction, but I doubt it would happen sooner than next week since my appointment is on a Thursday, and they won't want to rush it, or do it on the weekend. Here's hoping things happen naturally before then.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Zip. Zilch. Zero.
Nada.
Nothing.
That's right. It's March 6, 2008. The day I've been counting down to for the past 9 months, and I've got nothin' but a huge stomach and heartburn. It's almost midnight so there really is no chance that this baby will come on time.
At my appointment on Wednesday I was dilated to a whopping 1, and not even fully effaced. So despite the 2 hour walks I've been dragging my husband and kids on every day, I'm not even close to delivering. My OB says that if I make next Wednesday's appointment we'll talk about inducing, which will put me more than a week overdue. I have mixed feelings about this.
On the pro side of waiting it out, I know that the baby can't stay in here forever (right?), a few more nights of sleeping in more than 3 hour stretches (if I'm lucky) won't hurt, and that my labor is likely to be smoother if I let nature, and this baby, take its course. Also, inducing is more hazardous with a VBAC, and is more likely to end in another c-section than waiting it out. One totally irrelevant plus is that Cleo will be able to go to a classmates birthday party this weekend if the baby isn't born yet.
On the con side, I'm just really, really uncomfortable. I may be sleeping in slightly longer stretches than what a newborn allows for, but I'm not sleeping well. It' takes me 5 minutes just to roll over and find a new less-painful position to rest in once my body in. And I'm still up all the time peeing, with heartburn, trying to rub my overtaxed and aching joints, etc.. Also, JL is officially on paternity leave and while his work is very generous with their leave for new fathers (they offers 6 weeks paid paternity leave, but he really isn't able to take it all thanks to various factors), so the clock is ticking. Additionally, we plan to fly my in-laws in as soon as we hit the hospital and their schedules are much more flexible in the next few days than they will be by the end of next week, though I know they'll make it either way.
My OB did re-offer the option of having a scheduled c-section, but I immediately ruled this out. My recovery from having Cleo via c-section was really, really awful. I couldn't walk upright for weeks and weeks, was in constant terrible pain (thanks to drug allergies that severely limited what I could take), and still have pain from the incision. I can't imagine trying to recover from this type of surgery while caring for our two girls and a demanding newborn.
There is one bit of irony in all this. Our doula and the friends that are planning on watching the girls for us when it's hospital time are all planning to be out of town either the whole weekend or all day Saturday and will be a minimum of 4 hours drive away. If Murphy's Law holds true, I'll deliver right when the help we've been planning on for months is the least available.
Nothing.
That's right. It's March 6, 2008. The day I've been counting down to for the past 9 months, and I've got nothin' but a huge stomach and heartburn. It's almost midnight so there really is no chance that this baby will come on time.
At my appointment on Wednesday I was dilated to a whopping 1, and not even fully effaced. So despite the 2 hour walks I've been dragging my husband and kids on every day, I'm not even close to delivering. My OB says that if I make next Wednesday's appointment we'll talk about inducing, which will put me more than a week overdue. I have mixed feelings about this.
On the pro side of waiting it out, I know that the baby can't stay in here forever (right?), a few more nights of sleeping in more than 3 hour stretches (if I'm lucky) won't hurt, and that my labor is likely to be smoother if I let nature, and this baby, take its course. Also, inducing is more hazardous with a VBAC, and is more likely to end in another c-section than waiting it out. One totally irrelevant plus is that Cleo will be able to go to a classmates birthday party this weekend if the baby isn't born yet.
On the con side, I'm just really, really uncomfortable. I may be sleeping in slightly longer stretches than what a newborn allows for, but I'm not sleeping well. It' takes me 5 minutes just to roll over and find a new less-painful position to rest in once my body in. And I'm still up all the time peeing, with heartburn, trying to rub my overtaxed and aching joints, etc.. Also, JL is officially on paternity leave and while his work is very generous with their leave for new fathers (they offers 6 weeks paid paternity leave, but he really isn't able to take it all thanks to various factors), so the clock is ticking. Additionally, we plan to fly my in-laws in as soon as we hit the hospital and their schedules are much more flexible in the next few days than they will be by the end of next week, though I know they'll make it either way.
My OB did re-offer the option of having a scheduled c-section, but I immediately ruled this out. My recovery from having Cleo via c-section was really, really awful. I couldn't walk upright for weeks and weeks, was in constant terrible pain (thanks to drug allergies that severely limited what I could take), and still have pain from the incision. I can't imagine trying to recover from this type of surgery while caring for our two girls and a demanding newborn.
There is one bit of irony in all this. Our doula and the friends that are planning on watching the girls for us when it's hospital time are all planning to be out of town either the whole weekend or all day Saturday and will be a minimum of 4 hours drive away. If Murphy's Law holds true, I'll deliver right when the help we've been planning on for months is the least available.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Waiting And Hoping
I'm definitely getting tired of this whole pregnancy thing. Everything hurts from my hips, to my feet, my neck and my back, even my fingers feel tired. But, at a check-up with my OB on Wednesday there was no indication that this baby has plans to come out soon, despite my hopes that we'd have a Leap Day Baby. So this weekend the plan is to walk, and walk, and walk. I'm technically not due for another 6 days, but I'm so uncomfortable I'd welcome a delivery this instant!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
