So, I have about a week and a half left in my maternity leave before its back to reality. These 3 months have flown by at lightening speed and I'm not ready to go back. Pregnancy complications, a week in the hospital, an emergency c-section, a painful but fairly short recovering and readjusting to having a newborn in the house - yeah, its been quite a lively 12 weeks around here. But you know what, I wouldn't change it for anything.
I have a happy, healthy family that now includes a bouncing almost-9-week old little boy. I'm blessed beyond measure.
One thing being home on maternity has made me realize is just how much I enjoy being a full-time stay at home mom. Granted, I still worked my online teaching job while home but besides that, I truly enjoyed it. I was able to stay home for 10 weeks with my first son and this time I was able to stay home for 12 weeks. Since we planning on baby #2, I would like to take a full year off of work, but that's a story for another day...
As much as I'm going to miss being home every day and shopping online for hours on end, we have bills to pay that won't pay themselves so back to work I go.
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Friday, January 9, 2015
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
So, I had a baby...
Hey there! Yes, it's me. Yes, I'm really blogging. Yes, I had a baby...7 weeks early.
One thing about pregnancy is that it isn't an exact science. You never know when and how things will shift at any given moment. I plan to do an entirely different post about my birth experience because my story is worth sharing. For now, I tell you that I am basking in the new mommy glow of having not one but two sons.
One thing about pregnancy is that it isn't an exact science. You never know when and how things will shift at any given moment. I plan to do an entirely different post about my birth experience because my story is worth sharing. For now, I tell you that I am basking in the new mommy glow of having not one but two sons.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Thoughts about a large family
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| via Google Images |
When my husband and I were still friends, we both expressed our desires for a large family. When we had our son, we knew we would want to expand beyond one because who really wants just one kid in life? Lately though, I've been feeling some kind of way about the judgment people have when we tell them we want to have two more kids.
"If you knew better, you would get your tubes after this second one."
"Four?! Are you guys crazy?!"
"You're crazy to want more than two. Two is a great balance."
I've heard these statements not only from strangers but from family members as well. WE want more than one child. WE want to have as many kids as the good Lord will let us. So why all the judgment folks? Why all the pushing to get my tubes tied? I would think decisions about MY reproductive system are MY decision but seems I missed the memo on that.
It's a little frustrating to keep hearing this from people, especially from some people who have 3+ kids. Just because your situation is your situation doesn't mean it will be the same for me. I am married to a man who wants to have a whole basketball team of kids and says he's willing to live on farm if need be to raise them all.
I don't think it gets any better than that.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Random Thoughts about Bean #2
When they say each pregnancy is different, they were not kidding. This second pregnancy has been a whirlwind of activity starting from the day I finished my last pack of birth control pills two months before our wedding. And then I read this blog post today by Susan Sarandon's daughter who is expecting a baby girl in August and felt ok. I realized after reading that post that I need to cut myself some slack. I have been way too hard on myself about feeling great and looking great that I'm not allowing myself to enjoy every single moment.
My son's pregnancy was textbook. It was all rainbows and smiles with virtually no issues at all. I mean, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect pregnancy. I glowed, I gained weight slowly, I still played tennis until I was about 6 months pregnant. Literally, I was a poster child for pregnancy. I felt beautiful despite a spreading nose and swollen lips.
This current pregnancy has been the total opposite. From the day we found out at 4 weeks, I have been plagued with nausea, vomiting, food aversions and crazy fatigue. I feel so bad for my poor husband because I fall asleep mid-conversation and don't even realize it. And the fatigue! Lord the fatigue! I've had to hire my brother while he's home from college for the summer to watch my son for about 2 hours each day so I can nap and rest when getting home from work. And don't even get me started on the cravings. I send my husband to the store every other day to stockpile fruit because that's all I want to eat. Which may explain why I'm going into my fourth month and have only gained 5 pounds.
Anyway, I say all of this to say, that we still have 5 more months to go and something tells me that this little peanut of mine is going to keep us on our feet. I'm already starting to feel little flutters daily (you tend to feel the baby sooner with second pregnancies) and if he/she is anything like his/her big brother, we better get ready.
My son's pregnancy was textbook. It was all rainbows and smiles with virtually no issues at all. I mean, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect pregnancy. I glowed, I gained weight slowly, I still played tennis until I was about 6 months pregnant. Literally, I was a poster child for pregnancy. I felt beautiful despite a spreading nose and swollen lips.
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| 39 weeks and 3 days (2008). All belly! |
Anyway, I say all of this to say, that we still have 5 more months to go and something tells me that this little peanut of mine is going to keep us on our feet. I'm already starting to feel little flutters daily (you tend to feel the baby sooner with second pregnancies) and if he/she is anything like his/her big brother, we better get ready.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
9 weeks
I am at the end of my 9th week and feeling fine. I went in for my first appointment this week and boy do I have a story to tell about that!
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired and bloated.
What I'm craving:
Spicy foods (particularly Indian) and fruit of any kind
How I'm sleeping:
As soon as my eyes close, I'm out!
Thoughts:
I had my first appointment this week and boy what an appointment it was. I was pretty anxious and antsy the entire day because I was so ready to see this little bean and just know that everything ok. Hubby found out that someone at work had leave early so he was stuck there and couldn't be with me. He was pretty pissed about it but I told that was ok. I'm not going to lie and say that my feelings weren't hurt because they were but I know he felt horrible as is so I didn't want to add to it.
Anyway, my midwife (the same one I had with my son) and I met to do my examination. She started out with the ultrasound before we got into the other stuff. While doing a vaginal ultrasound, she grew quiet and said that she couldn't find the baby or the sac. Of course my heart dropped by I remained optimistic. She tried abdominally with no luck that way either. So here I am on the exam table and this woman is telling me that we don't know what's going on but she wants to run more tests.
Long story short, I was sent to radiology and they did a formal ultrasound where the technician remained quiet the ENTIRE time no matter how much I kept trying to engage her. After 20 minutes of moving this wand around in me, she showed me this:
So yes, everything is ok and the baby is doing well. It has a very strong heartbeat and I couldn't be happier. I was so emotionally tore up during the wait and the exam; I couldn't even call my husband and tell him what was going on because I knew he would freak out. Needless to say our little bean is doing great and is scheduled to make an appearance on December 25th! Look at God!
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired and bloated.
What I'm craving:
Spicy foods (particularly Indian) and fruit of any kind
How I'm sleeping:
As soon as my eyes close, I'm out!
Thoughts:
I had my first appointment this week and boy what an appointment it was. I was pretty anxious and antsy the entire day because I was so ready to see this little bean and just know that everything ok. Hubby found out that someone at work had leave early so he was stuck there and couldn't be with me. He was pretty pissed about it but I told that was ok. I'm not going to lie and say that my feelings weren't hurt because they were but I know he felt horrible as is so I didn't want to add to it.
Anyway, my midwife (the same one I had with my son) and I met to do my examination. She started out with the ultrasound before we got into the other stuff. While doing a vaginal ultrasound, she grew quiet and said that she couldn't find the baby or the sac. Of course my heart dropped by I remained optimistic. She tried abdominally with no luck that way either. So here I am on the exam table and this woman is telling me that we don't know what's going on but she wants to run more tests.
Long story short, I was sent to radiology and they did a formal ultrasound where the technician remained quiet the ENTIRE time no matter how much I kept trying to engage her. After 20 minutes of moving this wand around in me, she showed me this:
So yes, everything is ok and the baby is doing well. It has a very strong heartbeat and I couldn't be happier. I was so emotionally tore up during the wait and the exam; I couldn't even call my husband and tell him what was going on because I knew he would freak out. Needless to say our little bean is doing great and is scheduled to make an appearance on December 25th! Look at God!
My Fertility Journey
*sigh* Where do I begin with this?
5 years ago, the Lord blessed me and my husband (then boyfriend) with a bouncing baby boy. Long before he was born, there were people around me who had visions of his happy, giggly baby boy and he finally showed up. You would think after having one baby 5 years ago with no complications, things would be easy the second time around? Eh, not so much.
In April 2013, several months before our wedding, my husband and I decided to start working on expanding our family. I had spent the prior months working on my health and mentally preparing myself for motherhood again. We were both excited and eager for more kids immediately. Once I finished my last pack of birth control pills, it was on! I remember talking into the late nights about how awesome it would be to pregnant on our wedding day and sharing the news. Fast forward 3 months later, 6 months later, 9 months and every single test still showing a big fat negative.
There is nothing more discouraging and unsettling than giving something your all and feeling like it was for nothing. 9 months of trying and nothing. There was even a point where my period was 100 days late and I wasn't pregnant. After all of this, I decided it was time to see a doctor. Test after test revealed that everything was ok, except for one test. I can't recall what it was but it led my then-doctor to believe that I may be suffering from PCOS. My friend, Mr. Google, and I spent countless hours researching and talking to friends with this condition. Their stories of more than 7 years of trying to conceive were not encouraging at all to me. I truly hit a low point and wasn't sure if it was meant to be.
I hated tracked everything from when I slept to when we made love. When talks of semen analysis and surgery for me came up, I decided I had enough. I threw it all away. My husband and I sat down and said that we were done with all of this and that we would just let things go as they may. If that meant not having a baby for another year or two then so be it.
I found another doctor for second opinion, a specialist this time, who confirmed that the prior diagnosis was wrong and that I did not have PCOS. Instead, I was suffering from "trying too hard". One year to the day that we started trying, I discovered that I was pregnant and about 4 weeks along. I could not believe it!It was so surreal. I took test after test and each was positive.
And here we are today, I'm going into my 8th week and can't wait to share the news with everyone. This baby has been the baby we prayed for. During this journey, I reached out to Adrienne to let her know what was going on. I needed someone to talk to who could remind me that things don't happen in my time but in HIS time. She immediately sent me back scriptures which I recited every single and believed. I knew that when it was time, we would be blessed with the child we prayed for: I Samuel 1:27
5 years ago, the Lord blessed me and my husband (then boyfriend) with a bouncing baby boy. Long before he was born, there were people around me who had visions of his happy, giggly baby boy and he finally showed up. You would think after having one baby 5 years ago with no complications, things would be easy the second time around? Eh, not so much.
In April 2013, several months before our wedding, my husband and I decided to start working on expanding our family. I had spent the prior months working on my health and mentally preparing myself for motherhood again. We were both excited and eager for more kids immediately. Once I finished my last pack of birth control pills, it was on! I remember talking into the late nights about how awesome it would be to pregnant on our wedding day and sharing the news. Fast forward 3 months later, 6 months later, 9 months and every single test still showing a big fat negative.
There is nothing more discouraging and unsettling than giving something your all and feeling like it was for nothing. 9 months of trying and nothing. There was even a point where my period was 100 days late and I wasn't pregnant. After all of this, I decided it was time to see a doctor. Test after test revealed that everything was ok, except for one test. I can't recall what it was but it led my then-doctor to believe that I may be suffering from PCOS. My friend, Mr. Google, and I spent countless hours researching and talking to friends with this condition. Their stories of more than 7 years of trying to conceive were not encouraging at all to me. I truly hit a low point and wasn't sure if it was meant to be.
I hated tracked everything from when I slept to when we made love. When talks of semen analysis and surgery for me came up, I decided I had enough. I threw it all away. My husband and I sat down and said that we were done with all of this and that we would just let things go as they may. If that meant not having a baby for another year or two then so be it.
I found another doctor for second opinion, a specialist this time, who confirmed that the prior diagnosis was wrong and that I did not have PCOS. Instead, I was suffering from "trying too hard". One year to the day that we started trying, I discovered that I was pregnant and about 4 weeks along. I could not believe it!It was so surreal. I took test after test and each was positive.
And here we are today, I'm going into my 8th week and can't wait to share the news with everyone. This baby has been the baby we prayed for. During this journey, I reached out to Adrienne to let her know what was going on. I needed someone to talk to who could remind me that things don't happen in my time but in HIS time. She immediately sent me back scriptures which I recited every single and believed. I knew that when it was time, we would be blessed with the child we prayed for: I Samuel 1:27
6 weeks
I am officially 6 weeks pregnant. We still haven't told anyone yet and its killing me to keep this a secret for another 6 weeks. I'm ready to share our big news.
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired, and suffering from allergies
What I'm craving:
Nothing in particular besides salad
How I'm sleeping:
Ok; same is usual
Thoughts:
Right now the baby's heart is beating and my firsst appointment is scheduled at 10 weeks. I am SO excited to see and meet this bean. Of course we are anxious because we don't know if we're having one or two at this point. I won't really go into the details of our TTC journey, but I will say that the likelihood of multiples is high due to the medicine I was on. Either way, I'm exicted and happy. Baby Boy is so excited too. He keeps rubbing my telling and asking if his brother or sister is ok.
*awwww* I can't wait for them to meet and grow up together.
Other than that, I'm feeling fine and just taking care of myself as I should.
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired, and suffering from allergies
What I'm craving:
Nothing in particular besides salad
How I'm sleeping:
Ok; same is usual
Thoughts:
Right now the baby's heart is beating and my firsst appointment is scheduled at 10 weeks. I am SO excited to see and meet this bean. Of course we are anxious because we don't know if we're having one or two at this point. I won't really go into the details of our TTC journey, but I will say that the likelihood of multiples is high due to the medicine I was on. Either way, I'm exicted and happy. Baby Boy is so excited too. He keeps rubbing my telling and asking if his brother or sister is ok.
*awwww* I can't wait for them to meet and grow up together.
Other than that, I'm feeling fine and just taking care of myself as I should.
Easter Surprise
I've been holding this for a long time and can finally share the news! The Easter Bunny arrived on my birthday and left behind a little egg....
I'm pregnant! I've been waiting to finally say it until I was out of the first trimester but yes, I am pregnant with my second child. My husband, son and I are over the moon. How cool is it that we are pregnant on our first anniversary? Anyway, stay tuned for many pregnancy posts and updates during this journey. I am due in December so we are having a Christmas baby!
I'm pregnant! I've been waiting to finally say it until I was out of the first trimester but yes, I am pregnant with my second child. My husband, son and I are over the moon. How cool is it that we are pregnant on our first anniversary? Anyway, stay tuned for many pregnancy posts and updates during this journey. I am due in December so we are having a Christmas baby!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
7 weeks
I am officially 7 weeks pregnant. We still haven't told anyone yet and its killing me to keep this a secret for another 4-5 weeks. I'm ready to share our big news.
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired, and more tired
What I'm craving:
red grapefruit, apples, chili slaw hot dogs, scrambled eggs and sleep
How I'm sleeping:
Rough. I'm trying to get used to not sleeping on my stomach again. Ugh.
Thoughts:
I am tired. I forgot how rough the first trimester can be. I don't remember being nauseous all the time time with Baby Boy the way I am with this Little Bean. Everything makes me sick, which makes me wonder if this is a girl or more than on baby *gulp* My boss is about to go out on her maternity leave in about two weeks which will leave me here pregnant and managing the staff. I just hope the stress of work doesn't get to me.
I'm ready to start exercising but I'm trying to wait until I've talked to my doctor before doing anything besides walking.
How I'm feeling:
Nauseous, tired, and more tired
What I'm craving:
red grapefruit, apples, chili slaw hot dogs, scrambled eggs and sleep
How I'm sleeping:
Rough. I'm trying to get used to not sleeping on my stomach again. Ugh.
Thoughts:
I am tired. I forgot how rough the first trimester can be. I don't remember being nauseous all the time time with Baby Boy the way I am with this Little Bean. Everything makes me sick, which makes me wonder if this is a girl or more than on baby *gulp* My boss is about to go out on her maternity leave in about two weeks which will leave me here pregnant and managing the staff. I just hope the stress of work doesn't get to me.
I'm ready to start exercising but I'm trying to wait until I've talked to my doctor before doing anything besides walking.
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