Moms to be Part 4

[ArielSRL]

All..............well unless labor happens naturally on it's own, this kid will be coming Friday, May 13th!!!!!!!

Please say a prayer for a friends baby...she is due July 11th but they are taking the baby tomorrow because the baby is no longer growing. She is a young mom but a sweet gal...I just hope everythign goes ok!

Whoo hoo to May 13th!!

Keeping your friend in my thoughts. Hope all went well. My DH's cousin had to have her baby at 24 weeks back in the fall. They just got to take her home last weekend. But she's finally there!

 

[esbrick]

Congrats E!!!! Glad to hear everything is OK.

AKL: Both you and I are on the girlie team.


I have been doing some cooking today, I got the crab cakes and Lentil Soup DONE. This weekend I will do the chimichangas and lasagna. I also need to sort through all the baby clothes we have received and see what it is we still need. Much to do!

Seriously I would love that Lentil Soup recipie. Maybe I can try to make it this weekend? Lentils are good for us!

 

[esbrick]

Hi all, just checking in to see how you all are doing. Congrats on all of the good news recently - boys, girls, healthy babies, stocked freezers, etc!

Me and Baby John have had some ups and downs over the last 4 weeks. Everything went beautifully for the first 2 weeks. he gained tons of weight for his 2 week appt, and I was feeling great. Then the 3rd week hit. My older 4 kids were home for spring break, and it was the first week that I didn't have my mom here to help. My oh my am I still spinning from the experience. Trying to keep baby nursed and keep the others busy , fed, and where they needed to be almost killed me. (had lots of dentist, doctor appts scheduled for spring break, and they also still had sports practices) I noticed that I was having more trouble keeping baby fed and happy, and worried a little about him, but he seemed to be having plenty of wet and dirty diapers, so I thought I would wait until this week to have his weight checked when the kids were back in school. Well, then I got mastitis, which I pray none of you ever experience. I was sick as a dog and it knocked me flat on my back for 2 days until the antibiotics started to work their magic. (BTW - Thanks be to God in Heaven for antibiotics - I truly think I would have died with out them.) So my milk supply diminished to almost nothing between the busy week of running and the mastitis making it so hard to nurse that I was supplementing with formula. Again, this is my 5th child and I have nursed my other 4 very successfully with zero problems, and 100% joy. This kid is a pirahana at the breast and is sucking so vigorously I have blisters on both sides. i rather go through labor 2 more times than have to experience the pain of one nursing session with him right now. So I went to the lactation consultant at my pediatricians office and she weighed the baby adn found that since his 2 week visit he had only gained 2oz. (not good). I think he had probably been ok, up until the mastitis and then lost lots of weight. So i am supplementing after every nursing with formula and then have to pump 8 times a day to get the milk supply back up. i nurse every 3 hrs. around the clock (3 hrs. from start to start). It takes him at least 15 min. on each side, sometimes longer, plus time to get him latched on correctly and he keeps falling asleep which makes it take longer, so sometimes it's an hour of time. Then I have to change him, make a bottle of formula to supplement him and feed it to him, which takes a while with those slow infant bottle nipples, then put the pump together, pump for 10 min on both sides (I don't have a double pump, so 20 min after every nursing.) and store the milk and wash all the parts and put out to dry for next time. Add in keeping myself fed, this accounts for the other 2 hrs. between feedings and it;s time to nurse again!!!! Literally 24 hrs of non stop work with minutes of sleep at times at night. Which I would be up to if he was my only child to take care of, but the others have homework and all 4 of them need rides to 4 different baseball/ softball practices and / or games tonight. Of course, my DH can help with some of that, but he coaches one of them, so he can't run them all to where they need to be. I haven't even thought or covered the subject of dinner yet.

So sorry for the long whine, but I needed to vent - and I really need some prayer right now. My DH is telling me I'm justto busy to keep the nursing up and get my milk supply back, but I really want to try to get through this rough spot and not lose out on the experience of nursing this last baby of mine. It is so nice and enjoyable when it is going right. So any prayers you all can offer i appreciate - and I pray you all continue to have healthy smoot pregnancies and deliveries.

OMG honey! I'm so sorry! You will be in my prayers! One thing i will say and I'm sorry if it's not right. It sounds like you have an AWEFUL lot on your plate right now and I'm hoping that the BFing goes better, however, I know that you want to do it but please don't knock yourself out about it or feel bad if it just can't be. I know I don't understand and I won't pretend to but it's your health and well being that is so important for Baby John and I know, from reading about you and your posts, that you will find wonderful ways to bond with John through your love. The way you think of him alone and feel him is an unbreakable bond which will only get stronger because you won't have it any other way! You are a great mom and not being able to do this, as much as you so want to, will not change that bond! Best of luck and please check in to let us know how you are!

E

 

[esbrick]

E---- WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!! COngrats on a great amnio!!!

Tulabelle............HUGS. You certainly have been thru a lot these past weeks. Hopefully your DH will be a bit more supportive on b/f. Have you tried Fenugreek? It is a supplement to help increase milk supply. I used with with success with both boys!!!!


All..............well unless labor happens naturally on it's own, this kid will be coming Friday, May 13th!!!!!!! My mom came over last night and helped FINISH the nursery SO this baby has a room to come home to (although he/she will be in our room for hte 1st few weeks) and then we went to my appt today, which lasted THREE HOURS...OMG, it took forever. I had my NST, which was ok, baby was moving around so it was hard ot get a good strip. Then I was to have my 36wk check and fluid check, but the OB was SOOOO behind that they told me to go to my appt at the perinatal center then come back. So we went upstairs to the peri and everything looked good. This lil bugger AGAIN would not allow for any pictures, but is at least head down and ready to go! Then we went back down to the OB and they dipped my urine......LOTS of protien....yay...not. So I am the proud owner of a 2nd pee jug (I did one 3 weeks ago) and have to do another 24hr urine. I am a 'fingertip dilated' and 'long' so if by next week I am not dilated more they will have to start the induction the night before with cytotec rather than jsut the pictocin the day of.....so my choices are DTD with DH to see if that helped or say what will be will be and see how I am next week!! LOL! Of course if the 24 hour urine shows a lot of protien this kid may be getting served eviction papers sooner. But at least my bags are packed and we have childcare set up for the other 2!!!!!

Please say a prayer for a friends baby...she is due July 11th but they are taking the baby tomorrow because the baby is no longer growing. She is a young mom but a sweet gal...I just hope everythign goes ok!

Fingers crossed for May 13th lady or before! Your friend is in our prayers most definately. Let us know how she is when you get a chance.

 

[esbrick]

Just checking in, it has been a LOOOONG time, still doing good and waiting for this little mystery baby!

Ooops I misread your ticker! Thought we were a week apart looks like you are much farther along! Best of luck and looking foward to hearing about your Mystery baby!

 

[scottishduffy]

Hello all!

Star: Hope your baby makes it's debut soon!

Snow: Sorry to hear you are still feeling sick.

E: Okey dokey, one lentil soup recipe coming right up! I'll post it at the bottom the bottom of this post.

We had our informal shower yesterday and it was so much fun. Probably more fun than the formal one last week. Of course this shower was just our local friends and people we socialize with all the time. My friend, Catherine, who organized the shower had a great idea where she bought newborn onesies and a bunch of puffy paint. Everyone at the shower made a onesie and decorated it. We currently have them strung up finishing the drying process in the babies room.

DH's favorite onesies are one that says "Daddy's new toy: iBaby" and another that says "I poop skittles". The all came out cute, even our 3 yr old niece got in on the action and made one or two.

Tomorrow it is my goal to organize that mess of a room. I may start tonight with that. The clothes is all sorted by size, I just need to put it away and make the room look tidy. I need to break down the diaper cake we got and put away diapers, wipes, and all baby shower gifts we received.

Alright, now for the lentil recipe:

Lentil Soup


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Method:
Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately, or transfer to containers and freeze. Makes 8 servings.

Tweaks: 1) add a few cloves of garlic, minced. 2) substitute pepper for GoP, with a dash of nutmeg.

Nutrition: I don’t have the exact numbers, but judging by similar recipes should be between 200 – 250 cals per servings... probably a bit less.

 

[ArielSRL]

We had our informal shower yesterday and it was so much fun. Probably more fun than the formal one last week. Of course this shower was just our local friends and people we socialize with all the time. My friend, Catherine, who organized the shower had a great idea where she bought newborn onesies and a bunch of puffy paint. Everyone at the shower made a onesie and decorated it. We currently have them strung up finishing the drying process in the babies room.

DH's favorite onesies are one that says "Daddy's new toy: iBaby" and another that says "I poop skittles". The all came out cute, even our 3 yr old niece got in on the action and made one or two.

OMG! That is awesome! And aww so cute! LOVE IT!

 

[ArielSRL]

Hi, ladies!

So we had our early pregnancy class last night. We both pretty much knew all the stuff the instructor told us, but it was nice to go to a class at the hospital.

Not much going on today except realizing that Mother's Day and Father's day have new meaning this year. I plan to get my husband something for Father's Day this year from AJ (he actually already is a father but it was a previous marriage so I don't have much to do with that) but I'm not sure that he realizes he should get me something (even if its just a card). I mean, it wouldn;t be the end of the world if he didn't but it would be so sweet if he did. So I am sort of trying to hint at it. How about all you other FTMs?

Also, just realized that Monday is the due date of our little angel. A little sad about that, but AJ does make it a little better.

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[esbrick]

Hi, ladies!

So we had our early pregnancy class last night. We both pretty much knew all the stuff the instructor told us, but it was nice to go to a class at the hospital.

Not much going on today except realizing that Mother's Day and Father's day have new meaning this year. I plan to get my husband something for Father's Day this year from AJ (he actually already is a father but it was a previous marriage so I don't have much to do with that) but I'm not sure that he realizes he should get me something (even if its just a card). I mean, it wouldn;t be the end of the world if he didn't but it would be so sweet if he did. So I am sort of trying to hint at it. How about all you other FTMs?

Also, just realized that Monday is the due date of our little angel. A little sad about that, but AJ does make it a little better.

Hope you all have a great day!

We are making our appts for classes starting in June. We were at the dr's office this AM (all went well!) and I forgot to ask the nurse about the Cecerian classes. We are going for our next appointment on 5/23 where we will have the anatomy scan and another check of my cervex to make sure it is still holding. It was fine as of today and the dr was pleased. I was totally unprepared for that check though, maybe not such a bad thing When we left the dr's office they wished me a happy mother's day. That was lovely. I'm lucky that my DSD makes me a Mother's Day gift during the year and I give one to her mother as well. I'm sure your DH will think of something for you! Keep on hinting though, and hint strong. Men are like that no matter how much they love us, they just don't think

I'll keep Monday in mind next week and say a prayer for your and your angel.

 

[Disneymom3304]

Just found this thread..how great! I have had a question that no one seems to want or know how to answer. I am pregnant with my second child a boy. We have a 7 yr old daughter. My question is should I let my mom and SIL throw us a baby shower? I feel torn. I have read that a second shower is a big no no. Any suggestions would be wonderful or what you did with a second child would also help. Thank you

 

[esbrick]

Just found this thread..how great! I have had a question that no one seems to want or know how to answer. I am pregnant with my second child a boy. We have a 7 yr old daughter. My question is should I let my mom and SIL throw us a baby shower? I feel torn. I have read that a second shower is a big no no. Any suggestions would be wonderful or what you did with a second child would also help. Thank you

Hi Disneymom3304 and Welcome! IMHO I think that since you are having your second child 7 years after your first AND a Boy a second shower is fine. One thing I am learning is that every year things change as to what is good for your child or what can be reused, ie bottle materials; onsies; even cribs and what they are made of! I'd say go for it. Celebrate your baby boy! It's not like your going to use your little girls ruffled onsies and tutus on him any way right? I vote yes

 

[ArielSRL]

We are making our appts for classes starting in June. We were at the dr's office this AM (all went well!) and I forgot to ask the nurse about the Cecerian classes. We are going for our next appointment on 5/23 where we will have the anatomy scan and another check of my cervex to make sure it is still holding. It was fine as of today and the dr was pleased. I was totally unprepared for that check though, maybe not such a bad thing When we left the dr's office they wished me a happy mother's day. That was lovely. I'm lucky that my DSD makes me a Mother's Day gift during the year and I give one to her mother as well. I'm sure your DH will think of something for you! Keep on hinting though, and hint strong. Men are like that no matter how much they love us, they just don't think

I'll keep Monday in mind next week and say a prayer for your and your angel.

We'll be taking our birthing classes in July (we could've waited until August but I prefer to do it while on Summer Break) and my Breastfeeding class in September. We may also do a Infant CPR class.

Yah for good appt. My next appt is May 24th (one day after you) for our anatomy scan.

Yah for being wished Happy Mother's Day. I told my mom I wonder if he will get me anything, so I'm wondering if she won;t call him and ask him directly...lol.

Thank you for the prayers.

 

[ArielSRL]

Just found this thread..how great! I have had a question that no one seems to want or know how to answer. I am pregnant with my second child a boy. We have a 7 yr old daughter. My question is should I let my mom and SIL throw us a baby shower? I feel torn. I have read that a second shower is a big no no. Any suggestions would be wonderful or what you did with a second child would also help. Thank you

I know that some people think it is tacky...but for one, its been 7 years since you had a baby, and two, this one is a different gender. So I think it is fine. Plus if people WANT to do it for you, let them.

This is my first but we do plan to have another fairly quickly so if someone wants to do it, I'll have like a diaper or "sprinkle" party for the next. Fortunately we know what our plan is so this time, we will register for non gender specific big ticket items.

 

[esbrick]

My little boy is very active today! He could be a morning person, God help me, like his dad! Except the tap dance on my bladder is a little unsettling at times, gotta admit! I ordered a cute dress from Destination Maternity the other day and I'm hoping it is here in time for Mother's day cause then I can wear it to mass. If not i'm pretty much in whatever I can find for the day. I received an email from my cousin yesterday saying that she was 12 weeks pregnant! i am so excited for her and we are about the same age so it's nice that we will be able to share this time! I spent most of my summers in Ireland growing up and Eileen and I were inseparable during the summers when I lived there, high school - freshman year of college. I started looking at BRU yesterday and looking at reviews but I'm going to try and wait until after Memorial Day to start a registry. Stilll very supersticious but I'll have to get over it at some point!

Hope everyone is doing well!

E

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I have been a bit supersticious too. I have my ultrasound tomorrow and I have to admit I don't want to get too excited until that is over with. We chose not to do any of the testing during the earlier months and now I am worried that they may find something. Not really worried - maybe concerned is a better way of putting it.

On a happy note, we are hoping to find out what we are having tomorrow. It has been a huge topic of discussion around here that has intensified over the last few weeks. My DDs really want to know what we are having and I have been on the fence about finding out. If I weren't so practical I would wait, but I know that if we don't decorate the baby's room this summer it won't get done FOREVER!

E - I am glad you are feeling the little guy! How fun!

 

[esbrick]

I have been a bit supersticious too. I have my ultrasound tomorrow and I have to admit I don't want to get too excited until that is over with. We chose not to do any of the testing during the earlier months and now I am worried that they may find something. Not really worried - maybe concerned is a better way of putting it.

On a happy note, we are hoping to find out what we are having tomorrow. It has been a huge topic of discussion around here that has intensified over the last few weeks. My DDs really want to know what we are having and I have been on the fence about finding out. If I weren't so practical I would wait, but I know that if we don't decorate the baby's room this summer it won't get done FOREVER!

E - I am glad you are feeling the little guy! How fun!

Oooo yippee! Team Blue or Team Pink either way we are gonna cheer! I too am practicle. I'm glad I found out. I have to say that our poor boys get quite the bum rap when it comes to the cutie clothes but looks like our boy is gonna be a rocker cow boy look and to boot it's so hard to find cute clothes right now for October and not knowing whether the baby is going to be a big boy or not is kinda the adventure. I think I'm going to go for the onsies and swaddlers when I get home and that should cover bases (ESK being positive here) If I don't get over myself this poor child will have nothing to play with or to survive and we will be rushing at the last minute

Fingers crossed for tomororow Rose and looking foward to reading your post

 

[skuttle]

Just found this thread..how great! I have had a question that no one seems to want or know how to answer. I am pregnant with my second child a boy. We have a 7 yr old daughter. My question is should I let my mom and SIL throw us a baby shower? I feel torn. I have read that a second shower is a big no no. Any suggestions would be wonderful or what you did with a second child would also help. Thank you

Hi! I'm not pregnant anymore, but still lurk on this thread. I just had my second baby on January 28th. My older son is 7 years old. I had two baby showers for the new baby....one with family and one at work. I wasn't at my current employer when I had my first son, so they were all very excited to give me a shower. My family shower, I had a much smaller guest list than I had for my older son...just close family and friends.

I felt a bit uncomfortable about it at first, but everyone really wanted to do it. I enjoyed them both and they helped get us ready for a new baby as well. I kept some of the bigger items from our older son, but I didn't keep any clothes, bibs, burp clothes, etc. Also, all of our old bottles we had to throw out because of the BPA stuff. There was more stuff that we needed and didn't have than I realized. I was very thankful for our two showers.

 

[Disneymom3304]

Thank You all for the replys about the second babyshower I think if they want to throw one for us I should let them. I just need to get over the awkward feeling. It would be a smaller one than the first and like a couple of you have already said we do need some things, it has been awhile We were able to trade alot of stuff in at BRU a month or so ago when they did the great trade in promotion so we are good on the big stuff. Thanks again

If there are more stories or ideas I would love to hear them

 

[ArielSRL]

My little boy is very active today! He could be a morning person, God help me, like his dad! Except the tap dance on my bladder is a little unsettling at times, gotta admit! I ordered a cute dress from Destination Maternity the other day and I'm hoping it is here in time for Mother's day cause then I can wear it to mass. If not i'm pretty much in whatever I can find for the day. I received an email from my cousin yesterday saying that she was 12 weeks pregnant! i am so excited for her and we are about the same age so it's nice that we will be able to share this time! I spent most of my summers in Ireland growing up and Eileen and I were inseparable during the summers when I lived there, high school - freshman year of college. I started looking at BRU yesterday and looking at reviews but I'm going to try and wait until after Memorial Day to start a registry. Stilll very supersticious but I'll have to get over it at some point!

Hope everyone is doing well!

E

YAH to pregnant cousin!!!

I actually did start my BRU registry but I barely put anything on it. My DH and I decided on most of the big ticket items but I didn't really have time to add them the other day. I will go back once I am on Summer Break!

 

[ArielSRL]

I have been a bit supersticious too. I have my ultrasound tomorrow and I have to admit I don't want to get too excited until that is over with. We chose not to do any of the testing during the earlier months and now I am worried that they may find something. Not really worried - maybe concerned is a better way of putting it.

On a happy note, we are hoping to find out what we are having tomorrow. It has been a huge topic of discussion around here that has intensified over the last few weeks. My DDs really want to know what we are having and I have been on the fence about finding out. If I weren't so practical I would wait, but I know that if we don't decorate the baby's room this summer it won't get done FOREVER!

E - I am glad you are feeling the little guy! How fun!

Keeping my fingers crossed that all is fine! Hope you find out the gender! Whoo hoo!!