I am sitting here on a Saturday night thinking I should blog while all is quiet in the house. Johnny is sleeping, Brian is at his friend's house watching UFC, Duffy and Sonny are having a sleepover and are on the couch, and I am here with my delicious glass of Chardonnay. My night will consist of surfing the internet for a new purse and watching some Tivo'd shows. Right now I am very content but I have to say I am getting a little anxious about the fact that life will be changing once again in a week. That is I will be completing my maternity leave and heading back to work.
It has been the fastest and happiest 5 months of my life and while I would love to be at home with Johnny I am truly excited to go back to work. I am excited to be with my team again, be busy, settle into my new office and accomplish more than just changing a diaper without getting peed on. I mean there hasn't been alot of mental stimulation these days which has been great but I do need to rengage again. However with that said I am getting anxious because I have no idea how I am going to balance it all with work and a baby. I have to find time to get ready, feed the baby, get to meetings, pump at work, somehow workout, cook something healthy for dinner, get my work done, sleep, and spend time with my family. I don't know if 24 hours in a day is enough. Thank god for my mother who is going to be my nanny.
So anyways this last week of being on maternity leave I am going to try and not stress out about how I am going to make it all work and just enjoy my time with Johnny. We have had so much fun together and I know he will have a great time with grammies. Good thing for my mom's phone as I will expect lots of daily picture texts and videos.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Bath Time
My new favorite time with Johnny is bath time. For some reason I think he is so handsome when his little hair do is slicked back and his eyes are so blue. Plus he splishes and splashes and is so happy in the tub. Normally at home we have this little plastic baby tub that doesn't let him kick around but when we were in Maui he had to lay in the big tub with a towel under his head. He loved it so much and so I am going to go buy something that lays in the big tub for him at home. Had to share some of my fav pics of little handsome Johnny. (Had to leave out the "privates" even though he is a baby per my husband. Johnny will thank him later when he is grown up)
Our Frequent Flyer
I think that I am the luckiest parent in the world because my baby is so easy and will just tag along anywhere we go. He really proved himself by being the perfect traveler this last week when we took him to Maui. This is now his 2nd trip where he did perfect in airport and the plane as well as throughout all of the festivities. My mom came with us on the trip which was such a blessing because she spent so much time loving on him and allowed us to get away for some date nights. I feel so blessed to have such an easy baby but know that this probably means my 2nd baby will be the complete opposite so we are living it up now. Johnny will probably have one more trip this year to see Papa and Noni for Christmas since he has proven to be able to handle it.
Maui was a different trip this year having a little one in tow and everything we did felt like we were saying "oh I can't wait until Johnny can do this next year". Since he is under 6 months you can't put sunscreen on him so exposing him to the sun was a no no so we made sure to keep in the shade which the non-sun worshipper (grandma) did most of the time. Next year we want to play with him in the pool and take him to the beach and let him play in the sand. We did dip his toes in the pool for a little bit which he seemed to like. We had a little ritual in Maui since it was so hot to let Johnny have nudy time so that he could let his skin breathe and that meant no diaper. I am too lazy to post more pics of the trip since I just did on Facebook so I only have one which is of Johnny enjoying nudy time during the World Series. I just can't help loving his little Jabba the Hut belly. :)
Maui was a different trip this year having a little one in tow and everything we did felt like we were saying "oh I can't wait until Johnny can do this next year". Since he is under 6 months you can't put sunscreen on him so exposing him to the sun was a no no so we made sure to keep in the shade which the non-sun worshipper (grandma) did most of the time. Next year we want to play with him in the pool and take him to the beach and let him play in the sand. We did dip his toes in the pool for a little bit which he seemed to like. We had a little ritual in Maui since it was so hot to let Johnny have nudy time so that he could let his skin breathe and that meant no diaper. I am too lazy to post more pics of the trip since I just did on Facebook so I only have one which is of Johnny enjoying nudy time during the World Series. I just can't help loving his little Jabba the Hut belly. :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Playing with Photoshop
I have always loved photography and so I downloaded Lightroom and editing tool to see if I liked it. It is a bit overwhelming so I am just playing around but I edited the following pictures and think they turned out ok. This is Johnny at 3 months. 
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
3 months already
Where did the time go? My little monkey is already 3 months old and gets bigger by the day. Literally he grows so fast and I am constantly having to change his outfit because the one I put on him doesn't fit. Guess its time to see what we have in 3-6 month size. He is getting a little buddha buddy and his cheeks are sure filling out. The older he gets the more he is looking like Brian even though you can tell he is my son with some of his features.
It is amazing how much more you love them every day and it is so exciting to watch them grow into their own little person. Johnny sure has his own little personality and everything he does makes me smile. Even his sad pouty face when he pushes out his bottom lip makes me smile because it is so darn cute. He has discovered his hands and constantly has them smashed in his mouth or if he has a blanket than he chooses to suck on that. He smiles a ton and trys to talk and I swear he can say hi and dadda.
Two more months we have together before I go back to work and we are staying very busy with play dates, mommy classes, shopping trips, working out and going out to dinner with daddy. Couldn't be having more fun with my little buddy.
3 months
It is amazing how much more you love them every day and it is so exciting to watch them grow into their own little person. Johnny sure has his own little personality and everything he does makes me smile. Even his sad pouty face when he pushes out his bottom lip makes me smile because it is so darn cute. He has discovered his hands and constantly has them smashed in his mouth or if he has a blanket than he chooses to suck on that. He smiles a ton and trys to talk and I swear he can say hi and dadda.
Two more months we have together before I go back to work and we are staying very busy with play dates, mommy classes, shopping trips, working out and going out to dinner with daddy. Couldn't be having more fun with my little buddy.
3 months
2 months
1 month
Little Traveler
In September we took our first family trip down to Southern Cal. I was super nervous thinking about flying with Johnny and making sure I had packed everything and in the end everything went super smooth. I even flew home by myself with Johnny from Palm Springs. I have to say that is the best airport which made it pretty stress free.
We flew into LA and stayed in Redondo Beach to attend EJ's wedding where Brian was the best man. It was a beautiful wedding which was not kid friendly so it was the first time we left Johnny with someone we didn't know. The babysitter who we found from Brian's company was super sweet and nurturing and Johnny did just fine. We then took off for Palm Springs on Sunday and stayed at the JW Marriot before arriving in La Quinta to stay with Aunt Betty and Uncle Rod. It was a different but fun experience to have a baby when staying in hotel rooms. We made sure to get double beds and Johnny and I slept in one and Brian had his own. I brought all of my bottle gear and pump so the bathroom doubled as my little pumping station. Thank goodness for mini fridges.
It was a great way to finish the trip with Betty and Rod and I don't think I spent more 20 minutes at a time with Johnny to nurse him since Betty held him the whole time. It was nice to have Betty snuggle with him all week since they don't get to see him very much. Basically we worked out and laid around in the 108 degree weather. The nice thing is it is so sunny in Palm Springs and dry. I can handle that for sure. The pictures I posted below are from Arnold Palmer's Resturant which is our favorite. We got to hang out there on our last night out on the patio. Great drinks and service there.
Brian had to go back to LA for a sales meeting and so Johnny and I went home without him but it was a great trip and glad we know that Johnny can handle the plane since we leave in 3 weeks for Maui.
We flew into LA and stayed in Redondo Beach to attend EJ's wedding where Brian was the best man. It was a beautiful wedding which was not kid friendly so it was the first time we left Johnny with someone we didn't know. The babysitter who we found from Brian's company was super sweet and nurturing and Johnny did just fine. We then took off for Palm Springs on Sunday and stayed at the JW Marriot before arriving in La Quinta to stay with Aunt Betty and Uncle Rod. It was a different but fun experience to have a baby when staying in hotel rooms. We made sure to get double beds and Johnny and I slept in one and Brian had his own. I brought all of my bottle gear and pump so the bathroom doubled as my little pumping station. Thank goodness for mini fridges.
It was a great way to finish the trip with Betty and Rod and I don't think I spent more 20 minutes at a time with Johnny to nurse him since Betty held him the whole time. It was nice to have Betty snuggle with him all week since they don't get to see him very much. Basically we worked out and laid around in the 108 degree weather. The nice thing is it is so sunny in Palm Springs and dry. I can handle that for sure. The pictures I posted below are from Arnold Palmer's Resturant which is our favorite. We got to hang out there on our last night out on the patio. Great drinks and service there.
Brian had to go back to LA for a sales meeting and so Johnny and I went home without him but it was a great trip and glad we know that Johnny can handle the plane since we leave in 3 weeks for Maui.
Monday, September 13, 2010
25 Things you Don't Know About Me
Each week when I get my USWeekly I read the 25 Things You Don't Know About Me which spotlights a celebrity. Even if I don't like them or know who they are I love reading random facts about people. When I read it I think what I would put down and so I decided to do it:
1. I have subscribed to US Weekly for over 10 years
2. My favorite foods are salad and pasta
3. If I could do something amazing I would want to be Olympic track athlete and win the gold medal in the 800 meters
4. I am scared to death of snakes
5. I am embarrassed for anyone to listen to my iPod because my song list is SO random
6. Completing a marathon is on my bucket list
7. I recently became a major fan of iced tea w/splenda
8. The celebrities that annoy me are Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan
9. I love to travel but end up missing home by the 5th day
10. I feel very fortunate to finally be a mom after 30 years
11. My favorite country besides the US is Italy
12. I would love to visit orphanages and just hold the babies so they could feel loved
13. My celebrity crush is on JFK Jr. (yes he is dead but hey it ain't going to happen anyways)
14. For the longest time I wanted 3 Italian Catholic boys but now I totally want a girl and I am not Catholic
15. I am a major recycler at my house
16. I am the messiest tooth brusher on the planet and my husband makes so much fun of me
17. I guess you could say I have an addiction to good wine
18. I have a desire to learn more about photography but want someone to just show me how to take better pictures
19. My husband and I are both Capricorns and are very much alike
20. I have to watch Wheel of Fortune every night at 7pm
21. I miss having actual buttons on my cell phone and hate typing on a screen
22. I would have loved to be a teenager in the 70's but had hair like people in the 80's
23. I am the biggest day dreamer and always have been since I was little…it really passes time
24. I can't watch the animal abuse commercials or the images stay with my for days and I get depressed
25. Kids who scream for attention make my skin crawl
1. I have subscribed to US Weekly for over 10 years
2. My favorite foods are salad and pasta
3. If I could do something amazing I would want to be Olympic track athlete and win the gold medal in the 800 meters
4. I am scared to death of snakes
5. I am embarrassed for anyone to listen to my iPod because my song list is SO random
6. Completing a marathon is on my bucket list
7. I recently became a major fan of iced tea w/splenda
8. The celebrities that annoy me are Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan
9. I love to travel but end up missing home by the 5th day
10. I feel very fortunate to finally be a mom after 30 years
11. My favorite country besides the US is Italy
12. I would love to visit orphanages and just hold the babies so they could feel loved
13. My celebrity crush is on JFK Jr. (yes he is dead but hey it ain't going to happen anyways)
14. For the longest time I wanted 3 Italian Catholic boys but now I totally want a girl and I am not Catholic
15. I am a major recycler at my house
16. I am the messiest tooth brusher on the planet and my husband makes so much fun of me
17. I guess you could say I have an addiction to good wine
18. I have a desire to learn more about photography but want someone to just show me how to take better pictures
19. My husband and I are both Capricorns and are very much alike
20. I have to watch Wheel of Fortune every night at 7pm
21. I miss having actual buttons on my cell phone and hate typing on a screen
22. I would have loved to be a teenager in the 70's but had hair like people in the 80's
23. I am the biggest day dreamer and always have been since I was little…it really passes time
24. I can't watch the animal abuse commercials or the images stay with my for days and I get depressed
25. Kids who scream for attention make my skin crawl
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mommy and Me Class
Every Wednesday Johnny and I go to Overlake to hang out with other moms and babies that are his age. It is so good to talk with other people and what they are going through to know that you and your baby are "normal". I have always loved participating in things like this because I am a talker and have to talk about my feelings and it is always good to be surrounded by other people going through the same things as you. That is why I loved being in a sorority because I was an 18 year old girl trying to figure out life on my own with 40 other crazy 18 year old girls. Sometimes I sit and laugh because someone is talking about their week in class and saying I can't figure out what is wrong with my baby and they say "have you guys figured it out" and it is like no way sister. It seems that when you do finally figure it out they have passed that phase and you are on to another issue that you can't figure out. Ah the joys of first time parenthood. You don't have clue what you are doing most of the time but whatever it is your child is doing just fine.
Maelle punching Johnny
Maelle punching Johnny
Johnny getting her back by trying to suck on her hand
Wheel of babies
Mommies and the babies
Monday, September 6, 2010
Finally getting it
Johnny is 2 months (9 weeks today) and I can finally say that I am getting this motherhood thing. When Johnny is fussy I know what he actually wants at least most of the time. I wonder if it takes other moms this long to figure it out. The fact that I know his tired cry vs. hungry cry and get him what he needs is very rewarding. Brian always wants to feed him when he crys and now I can say oh no he is actually just tired so swaddle him up in his green blanket (which I also figured out he loves) and give him a binkie and he will be fine. I feel kinda bad that I have to tell Brian what he needs to do but I think he is okay with it as long as he stops crying.
In our mommy and baby class we all say that it is hard because we feel bad telling our husbands what they should do but in reality we are with them 24 hours a day and just know more. I love watching Brian parent and he is trying to get it but isn't 100% there yet. He typically is sitting down when holding Johnny and when he is crying he doesn't get up to bounce him or walk around and occasionally will lay him on the pillow to talk to him. I just stand there and hold my peace and then after a minute or so I say hey why don't you try bouncing him since that usually works. He will get up and walk around and sing to him and then I find him in the front room sitting on the couch trying to console him. It must be tiring for him to bounce or something. I chuckle a little bit and think oh he will get it some day but for now I will let him figure it out more on his own unless of course the baby is screaming his head off.
In our mommy and baby class we all say that it is hard because we feel bad telling our husbands what they should do but in reality we are with them 24 hours a day and just know more. I love watching Brian parent and he is trying to get it but isn't 100% there yet. He typically is sitting down when holding Johnny and when he is crying he doesn't get up to bounce him or walk around and occasionally will lay him on the pillow to talk to him. I just stand there and hold my peace and then after a minute or so I say hey why don't you try bouncing him since that usually works. He will get up and walk around and sing to him and then I find him in the front room sitting on the couch trying to console him. It must be tiring for him to bounce or something. I chuckle a little bit and think oh he will get it some day but for now I will let him figure it out more on his own unless of course the baby is screaming his head off.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Pregnancy/Baby Advice
Since I have had Johnny I have been talking to all my friends about how things went and how they are going with my pregnancy, delivery and parenting. One friend asked me if I could send her everything in an email and so I thought why not add it to my blog. I love sharing my experiences so here is my list of what I can offer a newly pregnant friend or blog reader to help her get through the 9 months of pregnancy and first two months after birth.
Please note this is all my personal advice and not intended to offend anyone as I know many people have different beliefs on breastfeeding and childbirth.
RESOURCES
Books I would recommend reading
· Nursing your baby by Gayle Pryor
· What to expect when your expecting
· What to expect your child first year
· Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
· Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
· Girlfriend's guide to pregnancy by Vicki Lovine
Websites or other resources
· Apps for your mobile phone- search pregnancy, parenting, new mom (It really kills time in lines or waiting in doctor's office to play on your phone)
· http://www.babycenter.com/- make sure to get on the weekly email list for milestones
· http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/- good info for flying with baby
· Childbirth classes- good for husband really so that they can view birth videos and hear about childbirth
FAVORITE BABY ITEMS
· Graco Snap and Go stroller is the best and buys you time to figure out what stroller you really need when the baby is 6 months old or out of their infant car seat (It is so light and convenient for getting around)
· Swing - any kind
· Bouncy seat- this allows for you to take a shower
· Pack and Play with bassinet and changing station
· Muslin blankets-pack of 4 at Target for $29
· Play mat with the toys that dangle so the baby can be stimulated (good dog toy as well)
· Soothie pacifiers- apparently these are the best if you are breastfeeding
· Dr. Browns or Medela bottles
· Lots of burp cloths
BREASTFEEDING
· Pump as much as you can the first few weeks after birth to get your milk supply going and also to freeze some milk for future on the go use or when you are out and have a sitter
· Medela pumps and bottles are my favorite and for the first month I would recommend renting the hospital one but then also get one for yourself to keep like the Medela Pump in Style or Freestyle. I got my Freestyle off of Craigslist for $175 which is normally $380 and I just got new parts
· Pump in the morning if possible to have bottles for the day when you are out and about. Pumping in the morning is the best since that is when your milk supply is the most full.
· Breastfeeding hurts at first and is hard I am not going to lie so try to stick it out for 3 weeks before giving up. I used a nipple shield (hospital made me due to Johnny being a preemie) for the first 7 weeks and it really helped and shielded a lot of the pain. Lactation specialists will be against them however if you are in such pain and just need a little extra help I would recommend getting one. In the end if it keeps you breastfeeding in the long run than by all means I would do it.
ADVICE
· Registering - It is hard and overwhelming because you have no idea what you need or what your baby will like but definitely get some things that you think you will need for the first couple of weeks and then return what you don't need after baby comes. I promise you will be at Babies R US the first month anyways so you have plenty of time to exchange and figure out what you really need.
· Baby station for downstairs- If you have a two story house having a baby station for the downstairs away from the baby room is super helpful and convenient. The pack and play with changing station downstairs is a lifesaver and so is having a bunch of clothes for baby since running up and down the stairs is hard when you are trying to run out of the door. I also couldn't walk up the stairs due to my C-section a lot so it was super helpful for me to have two sets of everything. I still have a toothbrush downstairs.
· Read -Read some of the parenting books BEFORE baby comes. You will be too tired and would have wanted to know a lot of the stuff you are reading. I always read books in the bath or at night but now with baby here I am too tired to read and end up skimming stuff.
· C-section-Don't be afraid of a C-section even though I know it isn't the best way to deliver a baby. I say these because many people don't want one however sometimes your body will not let you deliver naturally and so my advice is for pregnant moms to understand what happens in a C-section and to be open to it. Your delivery will go much better if you are open to it. My recovery was amazing and I was actually really happy my delivery ended up in a C-section after all is said and done. The pros for me was no vaginal issues or healing needed.
· Venturing out- Try to get out of the house with baby for an outing around 3 weeks or sooner not only for your sanity but also to test run being out and about with baby. We went to a winery and it was our first experience dealing with being responsible for a baby outside of the home and it really boosted our confidence that we could do it. We had to quiet the baby when he woke up, feed him and change him in a bathroom without a changing table. That night we felt so much better that we "did it" and now go out all of the time with him.
· Help when baby comes- Let your mother or someone close to your aside from your husband help out when you come home from the hospital. I was super overwhelmed when I came home and having someone to help keep the house organized and help out with the baby saved me.
Please note this is all my personal advice and not intended to offend anyone as I know many people have different beliefs on breastfeeding and childbirth.
RESOURCES
Books I would recommend reading
· Nursing your baby by Gayle Pryor
· What to expect when your expecting
· What to expect your child first year
· Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
· Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
· Girlfriend's guide to pregnancy by Vicki Lovine
Websites or other resources
· Apps for your mobile phone- search pregnancy, parenting, new mom (It really kills time in lines or waiting in doctor's office to play on your phone)
· http://www.babycenter.com/- make sure to get on the weekly email list for milestones
· http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/- good info for flying with baby
· Childbirth classes- good for husband really so that they can view birth videos and hear about childbirth
FAVORITE BABY ITEMS
· Graco Snap and Go stroller is the best and buys you time to figure out what stroller you really need when the baby is 6 months old or out of their infant car seat (It is so light and convenient for getting around)
· Swing - any kind
· Bouncy seat- this allows for you to take a shower
· Pack and Play with bassinet and changing station
· Muslin blankets-pack of 4 at Target for $29
· Play mat with the toys that dangle so the baby can be stimulated (good dog toy as well)
· Soothie pacifiers- apparently these are the best if you are breastfeeding
· Dr. Browns or Medela bottles
· Lots of burp cloths
BREASTFEEDING
· Pump as much as you can the first few weeks after birth to get your milk supply going and also to freeze some milk for future on the go use or when you are out and have a sitter
· Medela pumps and bottles are my favorite and for the first month I would recommend renting the hospital one but then also get one for yourself to keep like the Medela Pump in Style or Freestyle. I got my Freestyle off of Craigslist for $175 which is normally $380 and I just got new parts
· Pump in the morning if possible to have bottles for the day when you are out and about. Pumping in the morning is the best since that is when your milk supply is the most full.
· Breastfeeding hurts at first and is hard I am not going to lie so try to stick it out for 3 weeks before giving up. I used a nipple shield (hospital made me due to Johnny being a preemie) for the first 7 weeks and it really helped and shielded a lot of the pain. Lactation specialists will be against them however if you are in such pain and just need a little extra help I would recommend getting one. In the end if it keeps you breastfeeding in the long run than by all means I would do it.
ADVICE
· Registering - It is hard and overwhelming because you have no idea what you need or what your baby will like but definitely get some things that you think you will need for the first couple of weeks and then return what you don't need after baby comes. I promise you will be at Babies R US the first month anyways so you have plenty of time to exchange and figure out what you really need.
· Baby station for downstairs- If you have a two story house having a baby station for the downstairs away from the baby room is super helpful and convenient. The pack and play with changing station downstairs is a lifesaver and so is having a bunch of clothes for baby since running up and down the stairs is hard when you are trying to run out of the door. I also couldn't walk up the stairs due to my C-section a lot so it was super helpful for me to have two sets of everything. I still have a toothbrush downstairs.
· Read -Read some of the parenting books BEFORE baby comes. You will be too tired and would have wanted to know a lot of the stuff you are reading. I always read books in the bath or at night but now with baby here I am too tired to read and end up skimming stuff.
· C-section-Don't be afraid of a C-section even though I know it isn't the best way to deliver a baby. I say these because many people don't want one however sometimes your body will not let you deliver naturally and so my advice is for pregnant moms to understand what happens in a C-section and to be open to it. Your delivery will go much better if you are open to it. My recovery was amazing and I was actually really happy my delivery ended up in a C-section after all is said and done. The pros for me was no vaginal issues or healing needed.
· Venturing out- Try to get out of the house with baby for an outing around 3 weeks or sooner not only for your sanity but also to test run being out and about with baby. We went to a winery and it was our first experience dealing with being responsible for a baby outside of the home and it really boosted our confidence that we could do it. We had to quiet the baby when he woke up, feed him and change him in a bathroom without a changing table. That night we felt so much better that we "did it" and now go out all of the time with him.
· Help when baby comes- Let your mother or someone close to your aside from your husband help out when you come home from the hospital. I was super overwhelmed when I came home and having someone to help keep the house organized and help out with the baby saved me.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Growing up
Johnny is 8 weeks today and I can't believe it has gone by so fast. We basically just hang out all day long and try to keep ourselves busy. JV sleeps pretty much all the time so it is pretty easy to be out and about as long as I have a bottle. Not into the public breastfeeding yet so I make sure to pump every day to have a bottle on hand. For the most part life is simple with mommy classes, shopping, working out, going to appointments and organzing the house. Lately I have been a nut and have organized the crap out of my house. Not sure why I am a freak but my house is sure in order.
Johnny is doing well however seems to have developed acid reflux which is common in premie babies. At first a doctor at his practice diagnosed him with a sinus infection and prescribed amoxicilin. Well that sucked and his changing table on his pack and play has a permanent pee smell that disgusts me every time I smell it. I have tried so hard to get it out and it is pissing me off. More so because the stupid doctor that we saw misdiagnosed him and the smell of the antibitoics reminds me that my little 6 week old had to take such a strong antibiotic for no reason. So I went back to the doctor for a 2nd opinion and unfortunately our main pediatrician has been on vacation so we had to see yet another doctor. He said Johnny has reflux which is why he is so congested. He doesn't spit up or anything so it was a shock that congestion is a sign of acid reflux. So now my little one takes zantac every day. It makes me sad that my under 2 month old baby has to take meds already but I am hoping he grows out of it and gets better.
Johnny is growing up fast and I am just happy that I have 3 more months with him at home before I got back to work. For the most part he is pretty easy and is a good eater and sleeper even though he doesn't sleep through the night. He wakes up at least every 2-3 hours which is pretty painful but he gets back to sleep fairly easy which is good. He is happy when he is awake but then gets fussy which I still don't know why. Not sure if he needs to move around, is hurting or just tired. I haven't had a real smile yet but am hoping it comes very soon. With him being 4 weeks early people keep telling me to wait as he is really 4 weeks old and not 8 but it is still a milestone I am anticipating daily.
Love the picture w/Johnny and Brody since they are trying to look at each other
Johnny is doing well however seems to have developed acid reflux which is common in premie babies. At first a doctor at his practice diagnosed him with a sinus infection and prescribed amoxicilin. Well that sucked and his changing table on his pack and play has a permanent pee smell that disgusts me every time I smell it. I have tried so hard to get it out and it is pissing me off. More so because the stupid doctor that we saw misdiagnosed him and the smell of the antibitoics reminds me that my little 6 week old had to take such a strong antibiotic for no reason. So I went back to the doctor for a 2nd opinion and unfortunately our main pediatrician has been on vacation so we had to see yet another doctor. He said Johnny has reflux which is why he is so congested. He doesn't spit up or anything so it was a shock that congestion is a sign of acid reflux. So now my little one takes zantac every day. It makes me sad that my under 2 month old baby has to take meds already but I am hoping he grows out of it and gets better.
Johnny is growing up fast and I am just happy that I have 3 more months with him at home before I got back to work. For the most part he is pretty easy and is a good eater and sleeper even though he doesn't sleep through the night. He wakes up at least every 2-3 hours which is pretty painful but he gets back to sleep fairly easy which is good. He is happy when he is awake but then gets fussy which I still don't know why. Not sure if he needs to move around, is hurting or just tired. I haven't had a real smile yet but am hoping it comes very soon. With him being 4 weeks early people keep telling me to wait as he is really 4 weeks old and not 8 but it is still a milestone I am anticipating daily.
Love the picture w/Johnny and Brody since they are trying to look at each other
This is what I look at all day...a sleeping Johnny
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fun Game
I don't have much to blog about right now and I found this fun game on my friend Melissa's blog so I thought I would do it.
A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 72
B- My BEDROOM theme is: nothing really at the moment..new colors, red and yellow but still blue bedding...so needing to be decorated
C- The CAR in the driveway is: Black BMW X5
D- My DESK looks: Organized but messy at the same time
E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: Whenever Johnny gets up which is anywhere between 8:30-11:00
F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: My face with some cheap face wash
G- My GARAGE is filled with: 2 cars, tools, shoes, and a lot of crap
H- My HOUSE is: Filled with baby stuff...I think I have two of everything one for the upstairs and one for the downstairs
I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: a bed unmade and my husband's clothes everywhere which is soooo annoying
J- My favorite JUICE is: Grapefruit but I buy OJ
K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: All of my dishes...I have so many things to entertain with
L- The LAST person who visited my home was: Susy and her girls and we colored
M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: Babies R US coupon book and student loans
N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: Lissy just gave me a ton of baby stuff and everyone else looks at me to see if I had my baby which I think they now realize
O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: A lot more condiments than real food, beer and wine and breast milk.
P- My last house PARTY was: Crap I have no idea. Probably a family function but we will be having UFC and poker parties much more often now that baby is here.
Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: Mac & Cheese or something in the microwave
R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: The kitchen since I love to keep it organized and spend most of my time there
S- The SHAMPOO brand I use is: Kerastase
T- My largest TELEVISION is: 46" but we need to upgrade in our family room since apparently Brian can't see the score in a game anymore from our kitchen
U- UNDER my bed you will find: Luggage, clothes, and dining room table
V- The last time I VACUUMED was: Months ago when the painter was here...I am not disgusting I just have a housekeeper who vaccums
W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: Too many houses by mine. I think you can see 5 from my deck. So need a bigger yard.
X- I wish I had X-TRA: Time to sleep at night
Y- My YARD is: Tiny
Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: Around 10-11ish
A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 72
B- My BEDROOM theme is: nothing really at the moment..new colors, red and yellow but still blue bedding...so needing to be decorated
C- The CAR in the driveway is: Black BMW X5
D- My DESK looks: Organized but messy at the same time
E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: Whenever Johnny gets up which is anywhere between 8:30-11:00
F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: My face with some cheap face wash
G- My GARAGE is filled with: 2 cars, tools, shoes, and a lot of crap
H- My HOUSE is: Filled with baby stuff...I think I have two of everything one for the upstairs and one for the downstairs
I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: a bed unmade and my husband's clothes everywhere which is soooo annoying
J- My favorite JUICE is: Grapefruit but I buy OJ
K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: All of my dishes...I have so many things to entertain with
L- The LAST person who visited my home was: Susy and her girls and we colored
M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: Babies R US coupon book and student loans
N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: Lissy just gave me a ton of baby stuff and everyone else looks at me to see if I had my baby which I think they now realize
O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: A lot more condiments than real food, beer and wine and breast milk.
P- My last house PARTY was: Crap I have no idea. Probably a family function but we will be having UFC and poker parties much more often now that baby is here.
Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: Mac & Cheese or something in the microwave
R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: The kitchen since I love to keep it organized and spend most of my time there
S- The SHAMPOO brand I use is: Kerastase
T- My largest TELEVISION is: 46" but we need to upgrade in our family room since apparently Brian can't see the score in a game anymore from our kitchen
U- UNDER my bed you will find: Luggage, clothes, and dining room table
V- The last time I VACUUMED was: Months ago when the painter was here...I am not disgusting I just have a housekeeper who vaccums
W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: Too many houses by mine. I think you can see 5 from my deck. So need a bigger yard.
X- I wish I had X-TRA: Time to sleep at night
Y- My YARD is: Tiny
Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: Around 10-11ish
Sunday, August 8, 2010
First Family Photo
Ever since we got Sonny I wanted to capture a family photo to post on my blog header but for some reason we never really got one hence the reason for a 5 year old wedding photo. I mean we never really sat down and tried to take one and so it has been important for me to get some of our newly expanded family. One night when my mom was here we decided last minute to do a little photo shoot on our front porch even though we were not camera ready but the baby was awake and we thought why not. I would love to say that they are the first family photos but really the one at the Logsdon's is our true first but definetely not blog header worthy. Some turned out kinda cute so I thought I would post some runner ups to the one I ended up going with. I love that Sonny is the best looking in all of them. Oh and I decided to keep the name of our blog the "The Vivaldi Family" since someone once told me it sounded like we were in the mafia or something. I think that is the idea Brian is going with and don't be suprised if our second kid comes out being called Pauly, Vinny, or Guido....totally kidding. :)
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Night and Day
Little did I realize that having a baby is like training a dog. I have learned that you have to create or change behaviors with your baby so that you can cohabitate just like we have been doing with Sonny. What is the behabior that we are trying to change you ask? It is teaching Johnny what is night and what is day. We have been dealing with a little baby that likes to be wide awake at night and sleep all day. I read somewhere that newborns are awake for 16 hours. Well my baby is probably awake for 20. I am sure that since he was pre-term this has something to do with it but I am curious to see what life will be like once he is actually awake more. If J sleeps all day then you can be certain that he will be awake for 3 hours during the night which is becoming very difficult since I don't seem to be napping a whole lot during the day. Little did I know the protocol for night which I have started to do and so far seems to be working. You are supposed to keep the lights off and only change your baby if they have a poopy diaper. You shouldn't talk to them a ton and act very subdue. I was doing it all wrong. I was turning the lights on and sometime changing him twice. Ugh! If only I knew this weeks ago. Well glad to know how things should be and praying that I get more sleep in the near future.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
3 Weeks Later
It has been 3 weeks since Johnny has been born and it seems like it has been way longer than that. Let me say that it has been an emotional roller coaster as well as overwhelming however we are enjoying every minute of it. We are figuring things out and as long as Johnny is happy and healthy than we are alright. We had a very big milestone today at the doctor and turns out Johnny has gained 1lb. and 4 oz. in one week. That is over 2 ounces a day which the doc just wants them to gain 1 ounce. So he is doing very well. I couldn't be happier and am celebrating for sure. I no longer have to pump and supplement with a bottle to make sure he gets enough since apparently he is getting plenty. The doctor also said we can let him sleep longer during the night which will be great.
Johnny is a super easy baby and sleeps and eats a lot and when he crys he is very easy to console. Let's cross out fingers that this keeps up. My favorite thing about J is of course his adorable hair but the little sounds that he makes. When he is mad or trying to pass gas he makes these little grunting sounds and sometimes it turns into a giggle. I could just sit and listen to him all day. Below are some pictures of what we have been up to these past few weeks.
First Bath
Hanging w/Sonny
Awake Time- Need to differentiate between night and day
Play Time
Kisses
Friday, July 16, 2010
Johnny's Arrival
I am happy to say that I am finally a mom. After 10 days of enduring motherhood I finally have the time to sit down and write about how Johnny came into our lives. I decided that it would be best instead of writing a big paragraph story to break it up into parts and highlights the different events that took place around July 6th. Enjoy!
A Premonition
On July 4th I had a feeling that I would go into labor. Even though I was at 36 weeks I thought that he could come early since all that had been happening. I stopped taking my medicine to stop labor per doctor's order on July 4th and sure enough it had been working. For some reason I just thought that it could happen and I kept singing the "Born on the 4th of July" song in my head. Brian and I didn't make any plans that day and so we just laid around and watched tv. I had been really tired since the day before so it was nice nap and snuggle with Sonny. I also had noticed that Sonny had been super clingy which was a tiny bit different than his normal behavior. That night we went to dinner at the Barking Frog in Woodinville and I started having these back pains and some stomach pains. At one point I had to get up from the table and walk around because it hurt so bad. I didn't think too much of it and thought maybe from sitting my back was hurting but I also had in the back of my head that it could be labor. Sure enough it was the start of labor.
The First Sign
We went to bed the night of July 4th to surrounding sounds making it feel like we were in Iraq. At 4:30 I woke up and felt like something was a little weird "down there" and so I went to the bathroom. Sure enough I was bleeding. I didn't panic at all which was strange for me and told Brian that I was bleeding. I called labor and delivery and they said that I should come in so they could check it out. We were both so tired that we wanted to go back to sleep but I knew that bleeding was a normal sign of pregnancy so I packed my bag and we headed to Overlake in Bellevue.
Is It Really Happening?
We get to Overlake with Sonny in tow and are immediately sent to the oasis (triage room). They hooked me up to see what was going on and did a test to see if the blood had amniotic fluid in it. When they checked me they couldn't really find my cervix as it was super posterior so we thought okay good sign maybe this isn't labor and we get to go home. Poor Brian was not feeling very well from too many cocktails the night before and so going back home sounded really nice. However the test came back positive that one of my bags of water had started leaking and they were going to admit me. I asked "so are we having a baby today?" and they said yes. At that point it started to sink in for me however Brian was still completely oblivious to what was happening which I understand.
Early Stages of Labor
We were admitted into labor and delivery at 7am and the first people we called were my parents. They weren't answering their phone so Brian drove to their house to drop off Sonny and to tell them the news. While he was away they hooked me up to various machines and got me settled into my room. My mom came to the hospital and spend the next 12 hours with us going through what you would call the early stages of labor. Pretty early on Johnny's heart rate was not doing what the doctor's wanted and so they were a little worried that they would need to take me into do a C-section that afternoon. I told them I didn't care how he came out but to just get him out when necessary. They appreciated my openness to delivery and I felt safe that they would take care of things. The only problem with this is they would not let me eat. Ugh I was sooo hungry.
Pre- Labor
The time was passing by super fast and nothing was really happening. I was having a ton of contractions but they didn't really hurt and I was only dialated to a 2. The doctor broke my other back of water around 2pm and finished the other one that was leaking and that is when Brian finally came to realize that we were having this baby and started to text and call people which I had done hours ago. Finally by about 7pm I believe they allowed me to eat a turkey sandwich and some popsicles because they were going to start the petocin. It was the best sandwich I have ever had seriously. Contractions didn't really kick back up until about 10pm which is when labor stared to really happen.
Give Me An Epidural
My contractions picked up but were not out of control so my mom left so we could try and sleep. Poor Brian was super sick with a cold of some sort and was hungover and so he needed to rest if we were going to make it through the night. I needed him to be alert and feel okay once the baby came so they rolled in a cot for him. Below is a picture of what he looked like that afternoon when he was having a chills attack. Around midnight is when the big contractions started to kick in and the nurse wanted me to try and last as long as I could so that we could see if they could get things progressing faster. From 12-2am I was in hell with the worst back labor contractions ever. I moved around from the ball to the rocking chair to try and get through them. Finally at 2am the nurse looked at me and said I am calling the anesthesiologist. She stopped the pain and I fell asleep.
The Decision
At 4am the nurse work me up to let me know that Johnny was not responding well to the contractions and so she had to stop the petocin. She also checked me and I was only at a 4 which meant that things were not progressing and they didn't think I would do anything more on my own. They called the doctor and the decision was made to do a C-section. I was fine with it and just wanted Johnny to be okay. Brian and I got ready and they wheeled me into the OR.
The C-Section
I will be quite frank and say that I didn't like the surgery. I was so numb that I could not swallow and I wanted to move my legs for some reason. They had numbed me so much that I didn't feel pressure or anything and had to ask Brian if they had started cutting yet. He said yes and was having a hard time watching even though he got some great pics and captured the moment. The surgery took about 10 minutes and a crying Johnny was shuffled to get cleaned up. I remember watching Brian's face which was pure shock. I was so drugged that to be honest I didn't really have any emotion then. I remember asking "is he cute" and seeing his conehead and Brian was like yeah. I don't think he could register that he had arrived.
We got to hold Johnny for a minute or so and meet him before they had to take him to the NICU for 6 hours. We were told before that since he was born at 36 weeks that it is protocol for him to have to go to the NICU for 6 hours and so we were prepared. It did give us some time to recover and sleep after the surgery but we started getting really anxious to be with our little son.
Meeting Johnny
I ended up growing impatient to being with Johnny so I told Brian to go to the NICU and take picture of him. He took the camera and got a ton of shots of our little man getting taken care of. Turns out he was perfectly healthy and passed all the tests. Below is a picture of him chillin which is definetely one of his popular poses. He loves his arms and uses them all the time. My favorite is when he takes his hands and puts them over both of his eyes like he is trying to count to 10 or something. When Johnny came down finally at 11:15am we were so happy to be with him. Brian started to cry and we definetely had the emotions we expected.
A Premonition
On July 4th I had a feeling that I would go into labor. Even though I was at 36 weeks I thought that he could come early since all that had been happening. I stopped taking my medicine to stop labor per doctor's order on July 4th and sure enough it had been working. For some reason I just thought that it could happen and I kept singing the "Born on the 4th of July" song in my head. Brian and I didn't make any plans that day and so we just laid around and watched tv. I had been really tired since the day before so it was nice nap and snuggle with Sonny. I also had noticed that Sonny had been super clingy which was a tiny bit different than his normal behavior. That night we went to dinner at the Barking Frog in Woodinville and I started having these back pains and some stomach pains. At one point I had to get up from the table and walk around because it hurt so bad. I didn't think too much of it and thought maybe from sitting my back was hurting but I also had in the back of my head that it could be labor. Sure enough it was the start of labor.
The First Sign
We went to bed the night of July 4th to surrounding sounds making it feel like we were in Iraq. At 4:30 I woke up and felt like something was a little weird "down there" and so I went to the bathroom. Sure enough I was bleeding. I didn't panic at all which was strange for me and told Brian that I was bleeding. I called labor and delivery and they said that I should come in so they could check it out. We were both so tired that we wanted to go back to sleep but I knew that bleeding was a normal sign of pregnancy so I packed my bag and we headed to Overlake in Bellevue.
Is It Really Happening?
We get to Overlake with Sonny in tow and are immediately sent to the oasis (triage room). They hooked me up to see what was going on and did a test to see if the blood had amniotic fluid in it. When they checked me they couldn't really find my cervix as it was super posterior so we thought okay good sign maybe this isn't labor and we get to go home. Poor Brian was not feeling very well from too many cocktails the night before and so going back home sounded really nice. However the test came back positive that one of my bags of water had started leaking and they were going to admit me. I asked "so are we having a baby today?" and they said yes. At that point it started to sink in for me however Brian was still completely oblivious to what was happening which I understand.
Early Stages of Labor
We were admitted into labor and delivery at 7am and the first people we called were my parents. They weren't answering their phone so Brian drove to their house to drop off Sonny and to tell them the news. While he was away they hooked me up to various machines and got me settled into my room. My mom came to the hospital and spend the next 12 hours with us going through what you would call the early stages of labor. Pretty early on Johnny's heart rate was not doing what the doctor's wanted and so they were a little worried that they would need to take me into do a C-section that afternoon. I told them I didn't care how he came out but to just get him out when necessary. They appreciated my openness to delivery and I felt safe that they would take care of things. The only problem with this is they would not let me eat. Ugh I was sooo hungry.
Pre- Labor
The time was passing by super fast and nothing was really happening. I was having a ton of contractions but they didn't really hurt and I was only dialated to a 2. The doctor broke my other back of water around 2pm and finished the other one that was leaking and that is when Brian finally came to realize that we were having this baby and started to text and call people which I had done hours ago. Finally by about 7pm I believe they allowed me to eat a turkey sandwich and some popsicles because they were going to start the petocin. It was the best sandwich I have ever had seriously. Contractions didn't really kick back up until about 10pm which is when labor stared to really happen.
Give Me An Epidural
My contractions picked up but were not out of control so my mom left so we could try and sleep. Poor Brian was super sick with a cold of some sort and was hungover and so he needed to rest if we were going to make it through the night. I needed him to be alert and feel okay once the baby came so they rolled in a cot for him. Below is a picture of what he looked like that afternoon when he was having a chills attack. Around midnight is when the big contractions started to kick in and the nurse wanted me to try and last as long as I could so that we could see if they could get things progressing faster. From 12-2am I was in hell with the worst back labor contractions ever. I moved around from the ball to the rocking chair to try and get through them. Finally at 2am the nurse looked at me and said I am calling the anesthesiologist. She stopped the pain and I fell asleep.
The Decision
At 4am the nurse work me up to let me know that Johnny was not responding well to the contractions and so she had to stop the petocin. She also checked me and I was only at a 4 which meant that things were not progressing and they didn't think I would do anything more on my own. They called the doctor and the decision was made to do a C-section. I was fine with it and just wanted Johnny to be okay. Brian and I got ready and they wheeled me into the OR.
The C-Section
I will be quite frank and say that I didn't like the surgery. I was so numb that I could not swallow and I wanted to move my legs for some reason. They had numbed me so much that I didn't feel pressure or anything and had to ask Brian if they had started cutting yet. He said yes and was having a hard time watching even though he got some great pics and captured the moment. The surgery took about 10 minutes and a crying Johnny was shuffled to get cleaned up. I remember watching Brian's face which was pure shock. I was so drugged that to be honest I didn't really have any emotion then. I remember asking "is he cute" and seeing his conehead and Brian was like yeah. I don't think he could register that he had arrived.
We got to hold Johnny for a minute or so and meet him before they had to take him to the NICU for 6 hours. We were told before that since he was born at 36 weeks that it is protocol for him to have to go to the NICU for 6 hours and so we were prepared. It did give us some time to recover and sleep after the surgery but we started getting really anxious to be with our little son.
Meeting Johnny
I ended up growing impatient to being with Johnny so I told Brian to go to the NICU and take picture of him. He took the camera and got a ton of shots of our little man getting taken care of. Turns out he was perfectly healthy and passed all the tests. Below is a picture of him chillin which is definetely one of his popular poses. He loves his arms and uses them all the time. My favorite is when he takes his hands and puts them over both of his eyes like he is trying to count to 10 or something. When Johnny came down finally at 11:15am we were so happy to be with him. Brian started to cry and we definetely had the emotions we expected.
Recovering
I have to say that I loved my hospital stay and getting taken care of by the nurses. They also took such great care of Johnny that I didn't want to leave. We stayed from Monday morning to Thursday afternoon and hung out, learned how to nurse, visited with friends and family and the best part of getting to take a shower after two days. Nothing felt better than cleaning up after childbirth. When it was time to leave I broke down and cried as it was reality that I needed to take care of this perfect little baby at home without all this help. Plus I had fallen in love with him and had this overwhelming emotion come over me that I could only get out with crying. Seems to be a common theme these days for me.
Going Home
We arrived home and after about 2 hours I broke down and decided that I needed my mom to come over and help me. Brian was amazing but due to my condition of having to lay low and recover from the surgery I was getting nervous that I was going to over do it and starting to buzz around the house to get it organized. The last thing I needed was to have a crabby husband that I was bossing around and a house that was a mess that I felt I always wanted to have in order. So my mom came over to take care of the household so Brian and I could focus on the baby and Sonny. My mom has been the best blessing for us and she comes over each day to help out with things when Brian isn't around. He only got Friday and Monday off after we got home from the hospital so it was important for me to have support. Since my doctor told me I could not go up and down the stairs more than once a day we decided to set up a "baby center" downstairs in the family room. We sleep on the couch which is actually really comfortable and have everything from the changing table to the breastfeeding/pumping station. Since Johnny is so young we are on a strict feeding plan which entails nursing, bottle feeding breast milk and pumping. I have been told it is temporary but super draining and can't wait for it to get easier. It is the best for Johnny though so hoping he keeps gaining weight. Nursing exclusively is my ultimate goal for us. I am happy that he takes a bottle, nurses and takes the binky though. He just rolls with the flow and takes whatever he gets. 
Where We Are At
At this point we are 10 days in and the sleep deprivation is kicking in. I think the first week you are so hyped up on adrenaline and you don't feel sleepy for some reason. Now I can see that sleep is a thing of the past. Johnny is back up to his birth weight and we have another weigh in next week so hopefully he keeps on gaining. He sleeps all the time and we have to wake him up for the feeding and changing sessions since he is so young. The doctors tell us this is normal for a pre-term baby. He has some jaundice as well which is why his skin is orange/yellow and so much more tired but with time and feeding it was go away. He is super strong and moves his arms and legs like crazy. He hates being swaddled with this arms down at his side so we make sure to keep them out so he can mash them on his face and play with them. He also makes the cutest sounds and faces. We are very much in love with him and can't believe that he is finally here. Sonny also loves him and we let him sniff and lick his hands so he can give him love too. We have had a lot of visitors and they all say the same thing. He has great hair and he looks like Brian which I agree with. Brian and Johnny have the exact same hairline and cowlick which I think is adorable. He is our little man and even though I want time to stop I am also so excited to see him grow and develop into a little boy. Never have I felt this type of love before and I am loving every minute of it. 
Friday, July 2, 2010
Baby Room
Last night my wonderful parents came over and mounted all of the shelves to the wall and helped me organize the baby's room. It is now almost done however needs some more items such as a rug, drapes, little table, mobile and something to go over the crib. It feels so good to have a lot of the room done so now I feel like I don't have to scramble and decorate it. Everything on the shelves is from my mom's old baby room that was for my niece and nephew except for the Oh Boy sign which my friend Susy made for my shower and I loved it so much I wanted to have it in the room. There isn't a theme as I couldn't really decide on one however the colors are all sorts of greens and blues. I am kinda mixing different tones together.
Sonny has also taken a liking to this room and relentless to jump in the crib and get the squeaking bunny that is for the baby. We have to keep the door closed and this will be very interesting when the baby comes what Sonny is going to think it his vs. baby. I have a feeling all of the baby toys are going to turn into dog toys. Ugh!
Changing table/dresser
Sonny has also taken a liking to this room and relentless to jump in the crib and get the squeaking bunny that is for the baby. We have to keep the door closed and this will be very interesting when the baby comes what Sonny is going to think it his vs. baby. I have a feeling all of the baby toys are going to turn into dog toys. Ugh!
Changing table/dresser
Recliner/rocker
Crib (need something above it)
Catching Sonny in the act
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
6.6 pounds
We had an ultrasound today and baby is weighing 6.6 pounds. He is in the 80th percentile so he is not too big or too small. I feel a lot better knowing that if he was born right now that he would be just fine and probably wouldn't have to go to the NICU. His head is way down which I can feel a little pain sometimes in my pelvis and his butt is all the way up by my ribs. I guess you can tell that he is getting uncomfortable. I am crossing my fingers that he comes the week of July 12th which is when I am 37 weeks. I was totally expecting to have a Leo but I am reading up on Cancers. Who knows though he could wait to come on his due date.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
No more dessert
By recommendation of the doctor I had to take the glucose 1 hour test again which I passed with flying colors at 28 weeks. At 34 weeks they wanted me to test again just to try and rule out that high glucose could be the reason for more fluid. Unfortunately for me the 1 hour test came back positive which doesn't actually confirm anything but my doctor gave me two options...come back for the 3 hour test and wait a week for the results or change my diet and monitor my sugar levels on my own. Since this baby could come any day and I have no desire to sit in my doc's office for 3 hours I decided to just monitor on my own. So what does that mean? It means that right now I could potentially have gestational diabetes and need to modify my diet and start tracking my blood sugar levels with this kit that is being sent to me. For me this really means no more candy, ice cream, less fruit and mac & cheese which are some of my favorites right now. My doctor doesn't think that I have GD but better to be safe than sorry and eat better. It will only make it easier to start the weight loss once baby comes.
I have been feeling lately that my eating has gotten a little ridiculous so this actually is going to be good for me even though I hate the feeling of restriction. It bums me out that I can't eat whatever I want but I think I owe it to myself and the baby to be much healthier than I have been. I have only gained 20 pounds so I have been taking that "I am pregnant and can eat what I want" literally so this will get me back on track. It will be interesting to prick my finger every day and check my blood sugar levels since I have grown up with Hypoglycemia which is just the opposite. I have always had low blood sugar level vs. high so this will be good to see how food reacts in my body. It is like a medical experiment for me. Wish me luck!
I have been feeling lately that my eating has gotten a little ridiculous so this actually is going to be good for me even though I hate the feeling of restriction. It bums me out that I can't eat whatever I want but I think I owe it to myself and the baby to be much healthier than I have been. I have only gained 20 pounds so I have been taking that "I am pregnant and can eat what I want" literally so this will get me back on track. It will be interesting to prick my finger every day and check my blood sugar levels since I have grown up with Hypoglycemia which is just the opposite. I have always had low blood sugar level vs. high so this will be good to see how food reacts in my body. It is like a medical experiment for me. Wish me luck!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Hanging in there...35 weeks
Well baby still hasn't come yet thank god. He is as active as ever but has decided to stay put for now. I am still on "bed rest" which is very hard since I hate laying around but I am making the most of it. I got the okay to go to my grandma's 80th suprise b-day so I was able to get some decent shots below. It felt so good to get dressed up and put a full face of make-up on. I am in that I feel fat and ugly stage because I lay around in sweats all day. I am feeling pretty good otherwise with my pregnancy. I would not say that I am super uncomfortable yet and my body hasn't started swelling yet so that is nice. I don't sleep that great because I get up to pee about every 2 hours. The hardest part is getting comfortable on the couch with pillows and having everything I need around me. Then when you get comfortable you have to get up to pee or do something and it is hard to get up off the couch. A frustrating cycle. I go to the doctor on Tuesday so we will see what he has to say with how things are going. The last appt. I had they made me run over to the Maternal Fetal Medicine place for an ultrasound because my stress test wasn't 100% good so I am hoping to have a drama free appt. I will write another update then. But for now gotta go catch up on some Baby Story.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
My Baby Shower
My best friend Susy and her mom Carol hosted my baby shower at Willows Lodge on Saturday, June 12th. It was the most beautiful day of the year and an event I will always remember. Susy is the most creative person I know and she went with a vintage theme and the venue was absolutely stunning. Brunch and mimosas were served as we mingled and open presents in the 70 degree weather. It was one of the best 3 hours of my year. I was so happy that my friends and family were able to come and celebrate baby boy.
The venue- patio in the herb garden
Game Table
My favorite table-game w/family baby photos
Cupcakes w/baby boy
The mom's and me
The hosts- Susy and Carol
Gifts- the monkey seat that my mom could not find and was so happy I got
Opening gifts
Friends!
Friends!
My niece Meggie and I
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)